Goblin Library - Chapter 149

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 149.

“Do you know where my son’s shop is?”
“I heard he runs a White Rice Restaurant in the Neighboring District. If you go there quickly, it takes about twenty minutes.”
Kang Young-moon looked at Grandmother.
“But I don’t know the name. Do you know what the shop is called?”
“It’s Kohyang Baekban.”
Fortunately, the shop’s name came back to me. At Grandmother’s words, Kang Young-moon asked.
“Where is it located?”
“There’s an Alley next to the ** Bank. It’s inside there.”
“I know the ** Bank. I’ll let the Company President know.”
Kang Young-moon took out his phone and opened YouTube. Then he held the phone out to Grandmother.
“It’s entertaining. It’s not scary. Watching this makes time pass quickly.”
He had turned on a YouTube video—specifically a cartoon he enjoyed—so Grandmother wouldn’t be lonely and frightened by herself.
“Th-thank you.”
“I’ll call you once I meet the Company President. I’ll receive the call on my phone.”
Then Kang Young-moon set a bag down beside Grandmother.
“Eat it if you get bored.”
After placing the bag, Kang Young-moon began to walk away quickly, but without running.
Grandmother watched in a daze as Kang Young-moon moved swiftly forward, his hips swaying side to side to avoid breaking into a run, and she gripped the canned beverage in her hand tightly.
Just moments before, she had felt so terrified and alone in the world… but now the warmth of the drink—no, the warmth of Kang Young-moon’s kindness—had melted away her fear.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Kang Young-moon walked briskly toward the Neighboring District. People passing by noticed his hurried pace and called out to him.
“Young-moon, where are you rushing off to?”
“I’m heading to the Neighboring District.”
“The Neighboring District? Why would you… oh, he’s gone.”
Kang Young-moon disappeared with remarkable speed—not quite running, but moving far faster than an ordinary walk. The person who had called out tilted their head in confusion before resuming their own journey.
Passing by those who pretended to know him, Kang Young-moon walked swiftly toward the Neighboring District.
Upon arriving at the Bank, Kang Young-moon surveyed his surroundings. There were alleys on both sides of the Bank.
“There are alleys beside the Bank. Two of them, in fact. Not knowing something isn’t a failure. Not knowing simply means I need to ask for help.”
Kang Young-moon murmured softly to himself, then approached a passing pedestrian.
“Hello. My name is Kang Young-moon. I’m looking for Kohyang Baekban. Do you know where it is?”
Something about his awkward demeanor and peculiar speech pattern made the person he addressed give him a bewildered look before hurrying past.
Kang Young-moon flinched momentarily at the rejection, then quickly shook his head.
“I mustn’t stop just because I’ve been refused. Grandmother is crying.”
With that, Kang Young-moon approached another passerby and attempted to speak.
“Hello…”
But the words never came. The other person didn’t even make eye contact, simply hurrying past.
And there were several more like that. Even when a normal person speaks to strangers, they typically pay no attention.
But when someone with an odd manner of speech approaches them, they avoid even more eagerly.

Yu Tae-poong sighed as he read the account.
“These people—he’s just asking for directions. They could show a little kindness and help him out.”
At Yu Tae-poong’s words, the Dung Carrier Goblin, who had been cutting a slice of cake and putting it in his mouth, shook his head slightly.
“Perhaps that’s simply natural human behavior.”
“Why is that?”
“Kindness isn’t an absolute code of conduct. It’s something people offer based on circumstance and inclination. If everyone were kind all the time, people wouldn’t even think of treating others well as something virtuous.”
“I… suppose that’s true.”
“And you wouldn’t teach children to ‘be kind to others’ if it were something everyone did naturally. There’s no need to teach what comes automatically.”
“That’s fair.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin glanced at the paper before speaking.
“My former master rarely experienced kindness from others. When he walked down the street, people would avoid him. When he went to an unfamiliar neighborhood to do his work and tried to ask someone for directions, they’d flee as if from plague. My master endured much hardship.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin shook his head as he spoke.
“Kindness is given to those you wish to be kind to.”
“What do you mean?”
“If a well-dressed, handsome person asked for directions, I’d probably search on my phone to help them, even if I didn’t know the way. Or if someone looked so pitiable that I felt compelled to help them. But when someone who seems odd asks for directions… I’m sorry to say this about Young-moon, but unless someone is truly virtuous and kind, it’s difficult for them to help.”
“I wouldn’t be like that.”
At Yu Tae-poong’s response, the Dung Carrier Goblin laughed and spoke.
“You’re right. You wouldn’t be. In fact, seeing someone like that, you’d make time to give directions, and if they seemed unable to find it, you might even take them there yourself.”
“I’m not quite that kind… but still, when I see someone in difficulty, I feel inclined to help them, whether they’re well-dressed or poorly dressed.”
“That’s because you possess compassion.”
“Compassion for the suffering…”
Yu Tae-poong muttered softly, then let out a sigh.
“Still, seeing people just walk past like that… it’s a shame, isn’t it?”
“Don’t worry though.”
“Why not?”
“She came to the restaurant. That means… someone helped her.”
“Ah!”
Yu Tae-poong nodded and shifted his gaze to the paper.

He’d spoken to several people, but they all hurried past as if they had urgent business.
At that, Kang Young-moon’s face grew anxious as he glanced around nervously.
『Grandmother is crying. I must hurry.』
In a situation like this, one might normally explore both alleys, but Kang Young-moon did not.
He’d always been told by Kang Young-sik never to venture down unfamiliar paths—if he needed to go somewhere, he should ask people for directions.
When he was younger, Kang Young-sik had warned him carefully, worried he might get lost if he wandered about freely.
Looking around with a troubled expression, Kang Young-moon spotted a female student and approached her.
『Hello. My name is Kang Young-moon. I am looking for Kohyang Baekban. Can you tell me where it is?』
The female student initially hesitated and stepped back, but after hearing what he said, she asked a question.
『Are you looking for directions?』
『Yes, that is correct.』
『Kohyang Baekban? Just a moment.』
The female student pulled out her phone, opened a map app, and searched for Kohyang Baekban.
After confirming the location, confusion crossed her face.
『You just need to go 50 meters down the alley on the left side of the bank.』
It was an extremely close location—just down the alley. No wonder she found it strange that he was asking for directions to such a nearby place.
『Left alley, 50 meters. Thank you. Thank you so much.』
Kang Young-moon bowed repeatedly, then turned to leave before glancing back at her once more.
『I am truly grateful.』
Then he hurried toward the left alley, and the female student murmured to herself.
『Is it a famous restaurant?』
Seeing someone who appeared to have low intelligence searching for it so earnestly made her wonder if it was a famous restaurant.
The female student tilted her head and walked on while searching for reviews of Kohyang Baekban.
Following the directions the female student had given, Kang Young-moon entered the alley and soon spotted a shop with “Kohyang Baekban” written on its sign.
At that, Kang Young-moon quickly entered the shop.
『Hello.』

Below the part where Kang Young-moon said “Hello,” the conversation between Yu Tae-poong and the Dung Carrier Goblin was one they both understood.
However, after the two of them left the shop, there was nothing written.
“Looks like there’s nothing more.”
“We received the manuscript from the Bamboo Sword Goblin right after we left. That’s why there’s nothing else.”
Then the Dung Carrier Goblin took out his phone and called the Bamboo Sword Goblin.
“It’s me. There’s more to the story. Give me that. Yeah, okay.”
As the Dung Carrier Goblin ended the call, Yu Tae-poong glanced around.
He thought the Bamboo Sword Goblin would come to deliver the manuscript. But….
Whoosh! Whoosh!
More words began appearing on the paper. And several more pages materialized as well.
Yu Tae-poong looked at the paper in surprise. It contained a new story.
“Huh? It works like this too….”
Yu Tae-poong marveled at how the story could be written on the paper without the Bamboo Sword Goblin coming in person, then smacked his lips.
“Of course it would.”
“Right.”
As he spoke, the Dung Carrier Goblin took another bite of the sweet potato slice cake.
“This sweet potato slice cake is really delicious. Try some.”
At the Dung Carrier Goblin’s words, Yu Tae-poong cut a piece of sweet potato slice cake with his fork, put it in his mouth, and nodded.
“It’s really soft and has a nutty flavor.”
“Exactly. I need to eat a few more slices of this.”
Watching the Dung Carrier Goblin stand up and head to the counter, Yu Tae-poong looked at the table.
Ten empty bowls of sweet potato slice cake that the Dung Carrier Goblin had already devoured were stacked on the table.
It was a completely different class from when a group of friends would come to a cafe and eat one or two slices of cake.
‘What even is a goblin….’
Knowing that a goblin could devour an entire cow on the spot if it tasted good, Yu Tae-poong dismissed the thought with ‘Ten slices of cake is nothing,’ and began reading the manuscript.

Kang Young-moon was drinking water from a paper cup at the water purifier placed by the restaurant entrance.
Gulp! Gulp!
Having walked briskly all the way to the Neighboring District, I was quite exhausted.
Just as I was drinking, the Company President, who had been seeing off customers, came back inside.
Did you run here?
I don’t run.
Seeing how much I was sweating and how tired I looked, he wondered if perhaps I had run, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
Though it was called the Neighboring District, the distance was too far to run.
As he was thinking this, Kang Young-moon continued speaking.
I walked here.
You walked?
I walked quickly. If I run, I fall, and if I fall, it hurts. So I don’t run—I walk quickly instead.
At Kang Young-moon’s words, the Company President stared at him blankly before asking.
You walked here? All the way from our house to here?
Yes. And I must get home. Grandmother is waiting.
Yes, of course.
The Company President looked toward the dining area. The Shop Owner was there organizing dishes.
Dear, it seems Mother needs something.
I heard the call too. Go ahead and check on her. I’ll just tidy up here and head in.
Why don’t we just go together?
I want to, but if I leave all this food like this, insects will swarm. It’ll start to smell too.
As his wife looked at the food in the dining area with worried eyes, the Company President sighed.
Wouldn’t it be better to hire one more person?
You come in often and help with the dishes, so we’re fine for now. Once business picks up more, we’ll hire another staff member then. Now go check on Mother. She seemed quite worried.
At his wife’s words, the Company President nodded and looked at Kang Young-moon.
Let me give you a ride in my car.
I must get home.
As Kang Young-moon spoke, the Company President was about to nod in agreement when his wife said something.
Your phone is at our house. You need to take it with you.
Ah, that’s right. I can’t lose my phone. Phones are expensive.
At Kang Young-moon’s response, the Company President realized his mistake. His mind had been so focused on his mother’s situation that he hadn’t thought that far ahead.
Then let’s go. I’ll drive you home.
I shouldn’t ride in a stranger’s car. But you’re a customer at our restaurant. You’re not a stranger.
At Kang Young-moon’s words, the Company President chuckled and hurried out of the restaurant.
Kang Young-moon followed, but suddenly turned back and bowed to the Restaurant Owner’s Wife.
Thank you for your hard work.
Thank you so much today.
Yes.
As Kang Young-moon followed the Company President outside, the Restaurant Owner’s Wife sighed and took out her phone to call her mother-in-law.
Yes, Mother, he’s left now. You were quite startled, weren’t you? I know. From now on, please keep your phone with you. Dementia? No, you just forgot for a moment.
The Restaurant Owner’s Wife spoke with Kim Un-hyun’s Mother over the phone, soothing her concerns.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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