Goblin Library - Chapter 47

—————

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

—————

Chapter 47

At the Dung Carrier Goblin’s words, Yu Tae-poong pulled a yellow key from his pocket and examined it.
“It’s not all convenient, is it?”
“It is convenient. But… it’s too convenient, which means there’s plenty of room for problems to arise.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin spoke with a laugh.
“The Bamboo Sword Goblin probably didn’t activate it for that very reason.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“If you ever want to see or meet a character later, just tell me. We can go together.”
“Together with you?”
“If I’m there, you won’t get into trouble.”
“That’s true enough.”
After all, if the Dung Carrier Goblin didn’t release the invisibility, I’d have to remain in that state indefinitely.
“So, did you meet your friend yesterday?”
At the Dung Carrier Goblin’s question, Yu Tae-poong smiled and replied.
“I’m not sure if it was coincidence, but a character from the novel 【Lee Gang-hun】 turned out to be my friend.”
“Really?”
“I was reading the book and found it interesting that they had the same name, so I made plans to meet. When I saw them, their name was written above their head.”
When you encounter characters you’ve seen in books in person, their names and descriptions appear above their heads.
“Korea is surprisingly small. That’s why I sometimes see people with names floating above their heads when I’m walking down the street.”
Then he added as a word of caution.
“Just don’t get excited and strike up a conversation if you happen to meet a character you like. You know them, but they don’t know you.”
“I know that much.”
Yu Tae-poong smiled as he looked at the Dung Carrier Goblin.
“Thank you for the explanation.”
At Yu Tae-poong’s words, the Dung Carrier Goblin shook his head.
“No. When you asked me about invisibility before, I should have explained it better. I didn’t expect you to ask the Bamboo Sword Goblin about it so quickly.”
“I was a bit impatient. And I had some alcohol yesterday too.”
Yu Tae-poong stood up from his seat with a smile, having drunk the honey water.
“I should get back to reading now.”
“Sounds good.”
As he spoke, the Dung Carrier Goblin went to the bookshelf and retrieved the book he’d been reading yesterday.
Yu Tae-poong also took a book from the shelf and opened it.

***

Oh Myeong-seok climbed toward the rooftop, iced Americano can in hand, heading out for a cigarette.
In the grueling corporate world, cigarettes and iced Americano were Oh Myeong-seok’s oasis—his vital source of rejuvenation.
Of course, they weren’t good for his health…
‘Still, having a well-stocked break room is our company’s greatest perk.’
Muttering to himself, Oh Myeong-seok glanced at the beverage can. With work being so demanding and stress so abundant, the company’s break room was always well-supplied with various drinks.
Arriving at the rooftop in good spirits, Oh Myeong-seok’s expression hardened as he approached the smoking area.
There stood his supervisor, Jung Deputy Manager, smoking with Han Deputy Manager from the adjacent department.
『Oh! Myeong-seok!』
At Han Deputy Manager’s cheerful call and wave, Oh Myeong-seok sighed and approached them.
『You’re both here.』
Han Deputy Manager grinned and pulled out his lighter as he spoke.
『Oh! Myeong-seok! Let me light that for you.』
Oh Myeong-seok chuckled lightly at Han Deputy Manager’s habit of playfully breaking up his surname like an exclamation whenever they met.
The man had a heavy sense of humor, but he wasn’t a bad person.
『Thank you.』
As Han Deputy Manager lit his cigarette with a grin, Jung Deputy Manager, who had been watching with obvious disapproval, shot a blunt question at Oh Myeong-seok.
『You finished organizing those documents?』
『I’m working on it now.』
『Slacking off, are you? Not doing your work, just goofing around up here?』
Han Deputy Manager laughed at Jung Deputy Manager’s rebuke.
『Goofing off time is included in our salary. If you didn’t want us slacking, you should’ve paid us more.』
Jung Deputy Manager smacked his lips and took a sip of coffee while eyeing Han Deputy Manager.
『By the way, I heard Manager Park is leaving soon. You must be disappointed.』
At Jung Deputy Manager’s words, Han Deputy Manager sighed.
『Yeah, I am disappointed.』
『No wonder—you’re in Manager Park’s faction. Look at your face, all gloomy.』
『Shh! Don’t say things like that.』
Jung Deputy Manager laughed at Han Deputy Manager’s nervous glances around.
『Everyone who needs to know already knows. What’s the point of hiding it now?』
Han Deputy Manager sighed at Jung Deputy Manager’s words.
『Haaa!』
『What? Something wrong?』
The sigh was so heavy that Jung Deputy Manager looked at him with curiosity.
『Actually… Manager Park asked me to leave with him.』
『Leave with him?』
『He said he’s opening his own office and asked if I’d like to go work with him.』
『Ha! So? You didn’t actually agree to leave, did you?』
Han Deputy Manager quickly shook his head at Jung Deputy Manager’s words.
『Am I insane?』
『Right. No matter how foolish you are, you can’t be that foolish.』
Han Deputy Manager sighed at Jung Deputy Manager’s words.
“It seems you’ve told Min Deputy Manager and Jin Deputy Manager as well.”
“Oh! Taking care of your old team members. Manager Park really does have loyalty.”
“Don’t be sarcastic.”
Han Deputy Manager glared at Jung Deputy Manager.
“Why are you upset with me?”
At Jung Deputy Manager’s words, squinting his eyes, Han Deputy Manager sighed once more.
“If Manager Park stays at the company and gathers our team again… we’d follow even if we faced hardship. But asking us to leave the company? That’s a different matter entirely.”
“So that’s what’s bothering you?”
“It is. Manager Park protected us as much as possible, worried we might face disadvantages even as he was pushed out himself.”
“If Manager Park hadn’t done that for you three, you’d probably be stationed at some remote overseas branch by now.”
At Jung Deputy Manager’s words, Han Deputy Manager pressed his forehead as if troubled and spoke.
“If I were single, I’d pretend to be crazy and follow him. But I have a family to support.”
Jung Deputy Manager patted the shoulder of Han Deputy Manager, who spoke as if making excuses.
“You did the right thing. Have you ever seen anyone who left the company and started their own office succeed? Even if the company is difficult, the outside world is hell. Getting a steady paycheck while enduring is the best you can do.”
“Manager Park should hold on a bit longer too.”
Jung Deputy Manager watched Han Deputy Manager, who was muttering apologetically, and then spoke.
“Let’s have a drink tonight.”
“Are you buying?”
“My colleague is troubled. That much is nothing.”
“Thank you.”
Jung Deputy Manager, who had been having a warm conversation with his colleague, stubbed out his cigarette and spoke to Oh Myeong-seok in an irritated voice.
“How much longer are you going to smoke?”
“Ah…”
“Never mind. Hey, Myeong-seok needs a break too. We’ll head down first. Take your time and finish up.”
Even as Han Deputy Manager dragged him away, Jung Deputy Manager continued to grumble.
“You’re too nice to the kids.”
“You’re the one being too harsh. Be reasonable. We were like that once too.”
“When you’re nice, they put off their work.”
“Like I’m any different.”
Oh Myeong-seok, watching the two men walk away in conversation, extinguished his cigarette. Having smoked while listening to their talk, he couldn’t even taste it properly, and it didn’t feel like he’d smoked at all.
“So he really is leaving.”
If he’d already told his former team members, the resignation must be decided. Even if it hadn’t been decided yet, with rumors like this spreading through the company… he would have to leave.
Oh Myeong-seok glanced at the ashtray.
Among the cigarette butts piled in the container filled with soil, Oh Myeong-seok’s gaze fixed on a black cigarette.
The cigarette Jung Deputy Manager had been smoking…
Oh Myeong-seok, staring intently at the cigarette Jung Deputy Manager had extinguished, bit his lip.
“That’s right. I have a wife. I have a child.”
Oh Myeong-seok, muttering softly, crushed Jung Deputy Manager’s cigarette with his own.
Only after thoroughly crushing Jung Deputy Manager’s cigarette did Oh Myeong-seok turn away.

***

Today at the Goblin Library, I finished reading Oh Myeong-seok’s story and smacked my lips softly.
“He chose a difficult path.”
As I murmured this, the Shoe Goblin’s voice reached my ears.
[How is it?]
“It’s fascinating.”
[I heard you and Oh Myeong-seok know each other. So I expanded Oh Myeong-seok’s portion a bit.]
“Ah… So you increased Oh Myeong-seok’s section because of me.”
[I have to write the stories readers want to see.]
After a brief laugh, the Shoe Goblin continued.
[It would be ideal if my writing preferences aligned with the readers’, but I can’t overlook what the readers want to see.]
“You’re a wonderful author.”
[Hahaha! Some of those stubborn goblins only write what they want, but I’m different.]
I nodded at the Shoe Goblin’s words and asked.
“When did this happen?”
[That was yesterday.]
‘It’s been about a week since I drank with Myeong-seok… So this happened six days ago.’
I murmured to myself while reading, then smacked my lips again.
“It’s pitiful.”
[Lee Gang-hun?]
“He boasted that he’d bring three people when he drank with Manager Park, didn’t he?”
[He did.]
“Manager Park said it wouldn’t work out, and he was right—it didn’t. Lee Gang-hun was rejected by people he trusted… It’s just pitiful.”
[It’s foolish. I’ve written many office worker stories, so I know—office workers bury their bones in the company.]
“Their bones?”
[Yes, their bones. They won’t leave until the company tells them to. Lee Gang-hun trusted his team members too much. But they’re not individuals—they’re breadwinners for their families. How can a breadwinner follow someone out on loyalty alone?]
The Shoe Goblin paused before continuing.
[Lee Gang-hun is decisive and thorough when working, but he has a naive side in these matters.]
Hearing the displeasure in the Shoe Goblin’s voice, I asked.
“You dislike that?”
[I don’t like naivety. I prefer those with ambition. And ambition and naivety don’t go well together.]
Thinking about the Shoe Goblin’s words, I realized that ambition and naivety were indeed incompatible concepts.
Then I looked at the book with wide eyes.
“Gasp!”
[Huh? What? Why are your emotions like this?]
At the Shoe Goblin’s words, I asked in confusion.
“My emotions?”
[I’m not reading your thoughts just because you’re human. But since you’re a reader of my book, I’m reading your emotions.]
The Shoe Goblin who had spoken suddenly added something as if remembering it.
[Ah! This is naturally the kind of comment a writer receives. I can’t tell you not to do this either.]
“I understand that.”
The writer goblin receives the reader’s thoughts like comments. If the reader is a goblin, they can only project thoughts they want to show the writer, but since Tae-poong is human, his thoughts are read exactly as they are.
That’s why the Shoe Goblin had been reading only emotions like comments, filtering out the thoughts.
But seeing Tae-poong’s emotions suddenly shift to astonishment and admiration, the Shoe Goblin was startled and spoke.
[But why did your emotions fluctuate like that?]
“I was wondering if this might be the condition for awakening.”
[Awakening?]
“In novels and comics, the protagonist awakens to something triggered by a certain incident, right? Then they become incredibly strong and accomplish great things.”
[Awakening, huh….]
“Just as you said, ambition and naivety don’t suit each other. And through this incident, I’ve learned that trusting people so naively was a mistake… so I could change.”
Tae-poong smiled as he spoke, looking at the book.
“Of course, since this is reality, it probably wasn’t something you intended as the writer, Shoe Goblin.”
[….]
The Shoe Goblin, who had been silent as if deep in thought, spoke with a voice slightly higher than before.
[If it goes that way… would it be interesting? No, it seems like it would be interesting?]
“It would be interesting. The naive protagonist who suffered gets stronger and then returns the favor.”
[Right. Yes, it would definitely be interesting that way.]
Excitement was evident in the goblin’s murmuring voice. Then the Shoe Goblin suddenly expressed a concern.
[But… what if that guy doesn’t achieve this awakening?]
The Shoe Goblin was a writer goblin who wrote by observing Lee Gang-hun, not a human writer who wrote based on imagination.

—————

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

—————