Goblin Library - Chapter 22

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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 22

I tilted my head in confusion at the mention that one couldn’t enter without an invitation.
“Do I really need an invitation? I’m a Goblin.”
“A home is a place of protection. I can enter shops and common spaces that anyone can access, but private spaces like homes—where only the owner and invited guests are permitted—reject Spirit Servants like us. Of course, once the homeowner extends an invitation, that restriction lifts.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin chuckled as he glanced around Tae-poong’s Apartment.
“So what should we eat?”
At the Dung Carrier Goblin’s question, I opened the refrigerator and felt a pang of dismay.
I’d forgotten that living alone meant I only kept kimchi on hand and hadn’t stocked any proper food.
“Oh, I have some thinly sliced pork belly.”
After rummaging through the freezer, I brightened up. I occasionally grilled thinly sliced pork belly when I craved meat, and fortunately some remained.
“Thinly sliced pork belly?”
“Do you dislike it?”
“I don’t dislike it.”
It was an ambiguous answer that suggested he wasn’t particularly enthusiastic either. I pondered for a moment, then asked the Dung Carrier Goblin.
“If there’s something else you’d prefer, we could have that instead?”
“How about that? Give me a moment.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin opened the door and stepped outside. I tilted my head in bewilderment watching him leave.
“Is he going to shop for groceries?”
With that thought, I spread out a dining mat and arranged kimchi and ssamjang on it.
Then I laid down newspaper and retrieved a portable burner.
Meat always tasted better when grilled fresh on a portable burner right at the table.
The Dung Carrier Goblin might not bring meat, but I decided to grill the thinly sliced pork belly anyway.
As I was preparing to cook, the door opened.
Click!
“I’m back.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin entered with a cheerful greeting.
I turned toward the door and laughed at what he was holding.
“You bought toilet paper?”
The Dung Carrier Goblin held a plastic bag in one hand and a large pack of toilet paper in the other.
He lifted the toilet paper with a grin.
“It’s my first time visiting a friend’s place. I brought toilet paper as a symbol of smooth sailing ahead. And this is Korean beef.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin held up the bag in his other hand.
“Korean beef?”
I asked in surprise as the Goblin opened the bag and pulled out what he’d bought.
“I have a Livestock Cooperative Mart I frequent in Gangwon Province. I got it from there.”
“Gangwon Province? You went all the way there and came back?”
“I just opened a door and walked through. No big deal.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin answered as if it were nothing special.
“The Livestock Cooperative Mart is in an area with many livestock facilities, so even if there’s a smell, no one pays attention.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin smiled as he placed the meat on the table, then suddenly gazed into empty space.
“It’s gotten better than it used to be, but there’s no helping that unique smell livestock workers have. Just like me.”
At the Dung Carrier Goblin’s words, Tae-poong looked at him before taking a seat.
Click! Whoosh!
Tae-poong turned on the burner and placed a frying pan on top of it.
“Still, Korean beef… Thanks to you, Dung Carrier, we’re really eating something special.”
At Tae-poong’s words, the Dung Carrier Goblin laughed and tore open the plastic wrapping around the meat.
“I bought good quality meat, so let’s enjoy it.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin pulled out the fat from the package of meat and placed it in the frying pan.
Sizzle!
The beef fat melted and spread across the frying pan. As the fat splattered everywhere, Tae-poong pulled out a wet tissue.
Seeing this, the Dung Carrier Goblin pulled out a cloth that was rolled up around his waist.
“This will do the job.”
He wiped away the splattered oil with a swift motion, and Tae-poong spoke with a puzzled expression.
“Wet tissues would clean better than a dry cloth, wouldn’t they?”
The Dung Carrier Goblin laughed and tapped the cloth.
“This is no ordinary cloth—it’s a goblin’s cudgel. It handles stubborn grime, water stains, rust, everything in one go.”
At the Dung Carrier Goblin’s words, Tae-poong touched the floor where the cloth had wiped.
Squeak! Squeak!
The floor made a squeaking sound, as if someone were polishing a freshly washed dish.
“Wow! It’s incredibly clean.”
At Tae-poong’s voice full of admiration, the Dung Carrier Goblin’s laughter deepened.
“And…”
Toss!
As he threw it into the air, the cloth unfurled and floated above both their heads.
Then the smoke rising from the sizzling beef fat began to be drawn into the cloth.
“Wow…”
“Now, let’s put the meat on.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin placed the meat on the pan with a swift motion, and the delicious sound of it cooking began to sizzle.
Seeing this, Tae-poong swallowed hard and held out a soju glass.
“Have a drink.”
“Sure, sure. Thanks.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin accepted the soju that Tae-poong poured and poured some for him as well.
“Let’s eat.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin raised his soju glass, and Tae-poong raised his as well, clinking them together.
Clink!
With a light sound, one human and one goblin drank their soju.

***

The next morning, I entered the Goblin Library with a haggard face.
‘Ugh! I’m dying.’
The Dung Carrier Goblin could really hold his liquor. Because of that, only I—who’d been drinking alongside him—was suffering like this.
I wondered if all the other goblins drank like that, but they said it wasn’t the case.
The Dung Carrier Goblin explained that there were plenty of goblins who couldn’t handle alcohol, but he was uniquely good at it.

-My original master—the one who carried the dung—he was a great drinker. That’s probably why I am too.
-So the habits of the person who used you rub off on you?
-They say the patina of use leaves its mark, right? That must be it.

Recalling the conversation I’d had with the Dung Carrier Goblin, I surveyed the interior of the library.
The Bamboo Sword Goblin was nowhere to be seen. I felt relieved at that and began boiling water.
Then I opened the drawer where the tea was kept. After examining the various teas, I pulled out a hovenia dulcis tea.
‘Hovenia dulcis tea is good for hangovers, wasn’t it?’
In one of Kim Hyang-i’s books, several teas beneficial for hangovers had been introduced, and hovenia dulcis tea was noted as particularly effective.
I placed the hovenia dulcis fruit in a teacup and poured hot water over it.
Plink, plink, plink!
Watching the water turn brown, I waited for the tea to steep sufficiently.
As the aroma began to rise, I inhaled it deeply.
“Ahh! Perfect.”
As the warm essence and savory fragrance seeped into my nose, my stomach and liver—hardened by the hangover—seemed to soften and relax.
I slowly took a sip of the tea.
“Mmm!”
Letting out a small groan as if I’d just drunk alcohol, I felt the warmth spread through my body.
Because I’d overslept from drinking too much, I hadn’t even eaten ramen, but the hangover cure was working.
“Ah… it’s curing the hangover.”
Murmuring softly, I took another sip of tea and smiled.
“Tea really is something wonderful.”
After leisurely curing my hangover with the hovenia dulcis tea, I rinsed out the teacup.
Then I turned on the macro and began cleaning.
After finishing the cleaning, I brewed another cup of hovenia dulcis tea and drank it.
Then I set down the cup, stood up from my seat, and walked between the bookshelves. I moved slowly, casually surveying the books lined up on the shelves.

Park Dae-hyun
Author: Red Pepper Goblin
Jang Moon-soo
Author: Long-Life Goblin
Do Won-gyu
Author: Violence Goblin
….

As I examined the titles of books lined on the shelf and the names of their Goblin authors one by one, I muttered in bewilderment.
“Just how many Goblins exist in this world?”
Looking at the Goblin names written in the books, their numbers seemed truly vast.
“Should I try counting them?”
Suddenly curious about how many Goblins existed in this world, I murmured to myself.
“Pointless.”
At the sudden voice, I turned my head. There stood the Bamboo Sword Goblin, leaning against the bookshelf.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Since I never left, it must be you who came.”
That was true. The Bamboo Sword Goblin’s home was the Goblin Library, after all.
“Aren’t you going to see Lim Sung-un today?”
“I can’t always be by his side.”
“But what if something happens while you’re away?”
“Being absent doesn’t mean I’m unaware of what befalls Lim Sung-un.”
“Do you use some kind of clairvoyance?”
At the mention of clairvoyance, the Bamboo Sword Goblin let out a soft chuckle.
“Some Goblins possess such abilities, but unfortunately I am not among them.”
Then, glancing around the bookshelf filled with volumes, he spoke.
“And not all the Goblins who wrote these books still exist.”
“They don’t exist?”
“Because some Goblins have returned.”
At the Bamboo Sword Goblin’s words, I looked at him with confusion.
“What do you mean? Returned?”
“Exactly as I said. Just as humans die, Goblins disappear by returning. Many Goblins have returned and vanished over time. So not all the Goblins who authored these books still exist as Goblins.”
The Bamboo Sword Goblin picked up one of the books from the shelf.

Cha-dol
Author: Cha-dol Goblin

The Bamboo Sword Goblin, who had been gazing at the cover in thought for a moment, handed the book to Tae-poong. Tae-poong examined the book he’d received and tilted his head in confusion.
“This is…? The author and the protagonist have the same name? And the protagonist’s family name is Cha and his given name is Dol?”
I wondered what kind of parent would name their child Dol. Moreover, with the family name Cha, wouldn’t that literally make him Cha-dol?
The Bamboo Sword Goblin answered.
“It was a common name among the slaves of Joseon.”
“Joseon…”
“Yes. This book was written by the Cha-dol Goblin, based on Cha-dol, who was a slave during the Joseon Dynasty Era.”
Then the Bamboo Sword Goblin extended his hand. Tae-poong returned the book to him.
The Bamboo Sword Goblin held the book in his hand, caressed it once, and spoke.
“Goblins can do many things compared to humans. But when we’re born, we’re as immature as human infants and have much to learn. Such a goblin is brought by the closest goblin nearby and educated as a goblin.”
At the Bamboo Sword Goblin’s words, a sudden hypothesis occurred to Tae-poong.
“Could it be that the Cha-dol Goblin brought you?”
“That’s right. And I was there when he wrote this novel about Cha-dol.”
The Bamboo Sword Goblin, who had been silent for a moment, continued.
“And now he has passed on.”
‘Does “passed on” literally mean he died? But it doesn’t quite feel like death either… Passed on?’
As Tae-poong pondered the meaning of “passed on,” the voice of the Bamboo Sword Goblin that followed pulled him from his thoughts.
“Humans eat rice to live, and Goblins eat amusement to live.”
“Amusement?”
“It’s not that Goblins simply seek what’s fun because they want to live amusingly. Goblins lose the will to live without amusement. When that happens, they can no longer live and thus pass on.”
Tae-poong was bewildered. The Bamboo Sword Goblin and he were at best in a boss-and-employee relationship, hardly close enough to be considered intimate.
The topic of conversation was somewhat heavy for such a relationship to share.
“Does ‘passing on’ mean dying?”
“It’s different. Goblins are born, but we don’t die. We simply pass on.”
Still not quite understanding, Tae-poong tilted his head and cautiously asked.
“But… why are you telling me such things?”
“Humans often say no one knows what the future holds. And the same is true for us Goblins. If one day I find the world no longer amusing and I pass on…”
The Bamboo Sword Goblin looked at Tae-poong.
“It means you should work hard under your new Goblin boss.”
Tae-poong’s eyes narrowed.
“Even if you’re not here, I still have to work here?”
“A Goblin’s grudge runs deep. I cannot simply let the price of deceiving a Goblin go unpaid just because I’m gone. You must work here until you die. That’s why I’m telling you this—don’t even think of running away if I pass on.”
At the Bamboo Sword Goblin’s words, Tae-poong sighed and tilted his head.
‘When you think about it, this is actually sweet. Job security until death?’
The Bamboo Sword Goblin had imposed this as punishment, but wasn’t it not a punishment for modern people these days?
Despite the issue of working with a Goblin, a company that paid a large corporation’s salary and guaranteed employment until death would be the best workplace imaginable.

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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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