Goblin Library - Chapter 58

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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 58

The Dung Carrier Goblin winced, realizing she had said something she shouldn’t have mentioned to Yu Tae-poong.
Seeing her expression, Yu Tae-poong shook his head.
“Working here, you pick up all sorts of stories. If you worry about every little thing, it’ll be hard to talk with me. Just speak freely.”
“Still… wouldn’t humans be a bit troubled if they knew about the Afterlife?”
People could live with such volatility, doing as they pleased, precisely because they remained ignorant of what came after death.
According to religious teachings, those who sin while living according to doctrine face punishment and damnation after death. But because people don’t believe this, they commit sins.
Even those who practice religion rarely take seriously what happens after death. That’s why even among the faithful, there are those who commit fraud and wickedness.
But what if humans discovered that the Afterlife truly existed?
At first glance, it seemed the world would operate more righteously… but that was uncertain. It could actually become worse.
People might choose the Afterlife over this wretched life. If someone lived diligently and virtuously in this world, yet their life was miserable… they might think it better to depart for the Afterlife sooner and receive the rewards of their suffering.
So there was no benefit in knowing too much about the Afterlife.
Seeing the Dung Carrier Goblin regard him with worried eyes, Yu Tae-poong smiled and spoke.
“The existence of the Afterlife is surprising, but… there’s nothing particularly strange about it.”
Yu Tae-poong alternated his gaze between the Dung Carrier Goblin and the Pot Goblin.
“As I often say, goblins exist right before your eyes like this.”
“Then you’ll be fine?”
At the Dung Carrier Goblin’s words, Yu Tae-poong smiled and nodded.
“Besides, I haven’t lived a wicked life, so there’s no reason to fear the Afterlife. Those punished in the Afterlife are those who committed sins—not ordinary people like me.”
At Yu Tae-poong’s words, the Pot Goblin lightly slapped the desk.
“Correct!”
Startled by the sudden sound, Yu Tae-poong’s eyes widened as the Pot Goblin laughed and spoke.
“You’re right, Yu Tae-poong. Fear of the Afterlife comes from worry about punishment… People can’t live without committing some sins, but if you’ve lived reasonably and ordinarily, there’s no reason to fear.”
“I think so too. So… well, it doesn’t matter. It’s not like I’m about to commit some grave sin now.”
Yu Tae-poong smiled as he looked at the Dung Carrier Goblin.
“So don’t worry. My life has been far too dramatic lately to be shaken by something like that.”
At Yu Tae-poong’s word “dramatic,” the Dung Carrier Goblin nodded, but suddenly her expression darkened.
Noticing this change, Yu Tae-poong asked in confusion.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um… do you perhaps dislike spending time with the goblins?”
“What?”
“Well…”
The Dung Carrier Goblin, who had paused, looked at Yu Tae-poong.
“If you hate working here, just say so. I’ll tell the Bamboo Sword Goblin to let you quit. And I’ll erase all your memories of this place.”
“What?”
As Yu Tae-poong looked bewildered, the Dung Carrier Goblin continued with a pained expression.
“If you hate working here… that’s the thing. Oh, and your dream was employment, right? The protagonist of a novel I wrote long ago is a small company president. It’s not a large corporation, but I could arrange a job there for you too.”
Yu Tae-poong stared at him blankly for a moment, then smiled and answered.
“At first, I was surprised and scared. Because you’re goblins, you know? If you look at the goblin stories in our fairy tales, that’s how they are.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin nodded seriously. Yu Tae-poong continued with a smile.
“But being here, I’ve realized goblins aren’t so different from people. The passionate and warm Pot Goblin, and though you seem cold….”
Yu Tae-poong trailed off, searching for the right words.
“And the Company President, who seems a bit frightening but always looks after what’s needed. And….”
Yu Tae-poong looked at the Dung Carrier Goblin.
“My older brother—there’s no need to say more about him. He simply thinks of me in various ways and… he’s truly someone I’m grateful for.”
Noticing the Dung Carrier Goblin’s face brighten slightly, Yu Tae-poong continued.
“So far, I’ve only met good people, but someday I might meet a frightening goblin. But that’s the same with people too, isn’t it? People are all different—some good, some bad.”
“That’s true.”
“So for now, it’s fine. I’m just spending time with some rather special individuals. A kind of….”
Yu Tae-poong smiled as he spoke.
“VIP membership club, you might say.”
Then Yu Tae-poong looked at the Dung Carrier Goblin.
“You were even going to ask the Company President for my sake… I’m truly grateful. Thank you for thinking of me like that.”
At Yu Tae-poong’s words, the Dung Carrier Goblin laughed heartily.
Once the conversation had settled somewhat, Yu Tae-poong glanced at the laptop in front of the two goblins and asked.
“How are your serializations going?”
Yu Tae-poong was already familiar with the trends in serialization view counts, so there was no real need to ask.
But the atmosphere had become somewhat touching yet awkward, so he decided to change the subject.
At Yu Tae-poong’s question, the Dung Carrier Goblin smiled and replied.
“My first episode views have surpassed two hundred.”
“That’s quite an increase.”
“Right? And comments are starting to come in too.”
At the Dung Carrier Goblin’s words, Yu Tae-poong smiled and looked at the Pot Goblin. The Pot Goblin sighed.
“Mine isn’t rising much.”
At the Pot Goblin’s words, Yu Tae-poong thought for a moment, then spoke.
“It’s probably because this site has a lot of male-oriented novels. You should try changing your serialization platform to a female-oriented site.”
“There are sites like that?”
“This place is strong in martial arts and fantasy, but there are sites with a lot of romance readers too.”
“But my novel isn’t really a romance?”
“Still, since Hong-ae is the protagonist, it might appeal more to female readers’ tastes. Give it some thought.”
“What’s there to think about? It’s better if more people see it by serializing in multiple places.”
At the Pot Goblin’s words, Yu Tae-poong told her about other serialization sites.

***

Hong-ae lay alone in a private room at Gyeongseong Hospital.
Rustle! Rustle!
She was reading the newspaper.

「…A bombing attack by radical insurgents occurred at the opening ceremony. Among the Joseon people who participated in the event, fourteen were killed and twenty-three suffered severe injuries.」

Hong-ae’s eyes narrowed as she crumpled the newspaper.
『Joseon people…. The Japanese casualties were not insignificant.』
The newspaper’s content was distorted. It was true that the Independence Army had caused the explosion, but more Japanese had been killed.
Moreover, many of them were high-ranking Japanese officials and prominent figures. Yet that part was omitted, and the article was written as though only Joseon people had died and been injured.
Of course, all the Joseon people who participated in the event were pro-Japanese collaborators, so their deaths or injuries were acceptable. But the problem was that the newspaper made no mention of their names or status—it simply referred to them as Joseon people.
If their names and positions had been listed, people would have been delighted that traitors had been punished, but written this way, they could misunderstand that innocent Joseon people had been victimized by indiscriminate ‘terrorism’ and condemn the independence activists.
『This must have come from Muroda’s mind.』
Muroda, the newspaper company president, was skilled at subtly distorting events in this manner.
As Hong-ae bit her lip while looking at the crumpled newspaper, a knock sounded at the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
『Miss Hong-ae, may I come in?』
Hong-ae steadied her breathing and replied.
『Please come in.』
The door opened, and Mitsuda limped in, a splint on his leg.
『My goodness! Are you alright?』
At Hong-ae’s words, Mitsuda smiled bitterly in response.
『There are people who are dead, so I should say I’m fine with this much.』
Mitsuda sighed and looked at Hong-ae.
『Are you doing well, Miss Hong-ae?』
At Mitsuda’s question, Hong-ae looked down at her own body.
『I’m just dealing with some bruising.』
『I’m sorry. It’s because of our event….』
『No, no. You’re the one who was hurt worse than me, sir.』
Hong-ae sighed as she looked at Mitsuda’s leg. Seeing her expression, Mitsuda shook his head slightly, then suddenly noticed the newspaper she was holding.
『That newspaper?』
There was nothing strange about reading a newspaper, but the one Hong-ae held was badly crumpled—as if she had gripped it with all her strength.
『Ah….』
Hong-ae unfolded the newspaper and pointed to the article about the Mitsuda Department Store explosion.
At this, Mitsuda sighed.
『You seem quite angry. I was also furious when I saw the article and tore up the newspaper.』
Though their reasons for anger differed, Hong-ae nodded in agreement.
『I don’t understand why these radical insurgents do this. Why do they do such things to innocent people…. When I think of those who welcomed me and smiled at me that day… it makes me angry.』
At the sight of Hong-ae’s trembling voice and the slight tears in her eyes, Mitsuda nodded.
『Indeed. These people claim to act for Joseon, but in reality, innocent Joseon people are the only ones suffering because of them.』
Nonsense!
Hong-ae smiled while cursing inwardly.
『You’re right. So many Joseon people died just from this incident alone.』
『Miss Hong-ae is correct. They truly are… pathetic.』
At Mitsuda’s words, Hong-ae nodded and looked at him.
『But are you really alright? I heard you’d need to stay in bed for about five weeks?』
At Hong-ae’s words, Mitsuda sighed.
『Handling the aftermath comes first.』
『Ah….』
『I have no idea how to manage this….』
With so many high officials dead, he had no sense of how to handle it.
Mitsuda pressed his forehead as if troubled, then looked at Hong-ae with a bitter smile.
『Still, I’m grateful that Miss Hong-ae is safe.』
At Mitsuda’s words, Hong-ae looked at him and spoke.
『Apologize with all your heart. Then the bereaved families will accept your sincerity.』
『Thank you.』
Mitsuda bowed his head and left the hospital room. As Hong-ae watched him go, her eyes turned cold.
It was lamentable that not only Kuroda but Mitsuda as well had escaped with their lives.
Mitsuda Company…. It was a business that sent young Joseon people to Japan as laborers.
Of course, they didn’t offer ordinary jobs. Mitsuda Company lured young people with promises of earning money, or forcibly took them and sent them to coal mines—work nobody wanted to do.
And… those who went there lost contact one by one. Mitsuda Company claimed they had decided to do different work in Japan and disappeared, but that was a blatant lie.
The truth was they died in the coal mines. Moreover, wages were paid only the first one or two times; after that, they weren’t paid under various pretexts.
Food expenses, lodging fees, clothing costs, equipment fees, medical bills, and so on were all deducted.
Thus the young people of Joseon died in foreign lands. And Hong-ae knew this.
Mitsuda had laughed and told her at a drinking gathering how much money he had made.
And Hong-ae could never forget that sight.

-Stupid Joseon bastards. If there were profitable jobs, we’d offer them to Imperial subjects, not Joseon dogs. They come running with just a word about making good money and a few advance payments…. Hahahaha!

Hong-ae bit her lip, recalling Mitsuda’s laughter as he found it so delightful.
And she apologized in her heart.
I’m sorry, my fellow countrymen…. This time, I failed to kill Mitsuda.
Thinking of her compatriots who had died lonely in Japanese coal mines, crying from hunger, longing for home, yearning for their mothers and fathers and children, tears welled up in Hong-ae’s eyes.
And… she resolved that even if she died, she would take at least one more person with her as a companion.

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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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