Goblin Library - Chapter 83

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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 83.

Yu Tae-poong’s suggestion to use imagination struck the Goblins like a thunderbolt. Until now, they had never written a single word through imagination. They had only composed sentences based on what they saw with their own eyes and heard with their own ears.
But to write using imagination….
Observing the hesitation of the two Goblins, Yu Tae-poong spoke with evident bewilderment.
“You’ve never tried writing through imagination before?”
The two Goblins exchanged glances before shaking their heads in unison.
“We haven’t.”
“You haven’t?”
“We write exactly as we observe the people we’re watching. There’s nothing particular to imagine.”
“That said… well, even nowadays when ghostwriters compose autobiographies for politicians and businessmen, they listen to their life stories but also add situations and narratives through the writer’s imagination, don’t they?”
“Is that so?”
The Dung Carrier Goblin nodded with a serious expression before speaking.
“So you’re saying I should use imagination to construct the parts I haven’t seen?”
“Since you can directly observe and hear most things, you can continue writing as you have been. But when the subject matter goes abroad like with the Shoe Goblin, you can’t see or hear it directly, so you can’t write anything. In those cases, wouldn’t it work to write using imagination?”
The Shoe Goblin spoke in a contemplative tone.
“I’ve never written that way before, so it won’t be easy….”
“Writing itself isn’t easy, is it?”
Watching the Shoe Goblin nod and fall into thought, Yu Tae-poong continued.
“And looking at the manuscript volume, there isn’t much material left because of the foreign sections.”
“He hasn’t returned from abroad yet. From what I heard on the phone call, it sounds like he’ll need another week or so. That’s why there isn’t much content to write about.”
“Then I think it would be good to reinforce the manuscript from now on.”
“Is that so?”
Yu Tae-poong nodded in response to the Shoe Goblin’s question.
“When I was reading the book, you must have felt it too, but I was anticipating the parts where Lee Gang-hun shines abroad. However, those sections are too sparse. If we see the part where he overcomes interference from Chinese businessmen and makes profits by selling goods, it would be entertaining to read.”
Hearing Yu Tae-poong’s words, the Shoe Goblin slowly tapped the ground with his shoe. In fact, he had also received the emotions Yu Tae-poong felt while reading the book.
Though he hadn’t read his exact thoughts at Yu Tae-poong’s request, he felt strongly enough from the emotions alone that he was disappointed.
So the Shoe Goblin was disappointed too.
After thinking for a moment, the Shoe Goblin lightly tapped the desk with his palm.
“Alright! I’ve decided.”
“You’ll write it?”
“Your point about writing through imagination is good. Sometimes imagination can be more thrilling and entertaining than reality.”
“Exactly.”
“But… our imagination is impoverished.”
“That could be the case.”
After all, some humans have abundant imagination while others lack it entirely.
“No, it’s different from what you’re thinking. Lacking imagination is a characteristic of all Goblins.”
“All Goblins?”
Yu Tae-poong asked with a puzzled expression, and the Shoe Goblin nodded in acknowledgment.
“Imagination begins with wanting to become something, or feeling that something is lacking, or wanting to see something different.”
The Shoe Goblin steadied his breathing and continued.
“It’s difficult to define precisely, but imagination arises when something is lacking—like an escape from reality. Or when you desire something better. But we goblins lack nothing. From the moment we’re born as goblins, there’s nothing more we wish to become. And….”
The Shoe Goblin lightly tapped the ground with his shoe.
Tap! Whoosh!
Suddenly, the table overflowed with gold bars. As the table’s legs groaned under the enormous weight and began to splinter, the Dung Carrier Goblin waved his goblin club’s cloth.
Flutter!
The table, which had been on the verge of breaking, regained its strength and bore the weight of the gold.
“If this breaks, the Bamboo Sword Goblin won’t let it slide.”
“I suppose I demonstrated the example a bit too dramatically.”
The Shoe Goblin laughed and pointed to the gold on the table.
“Each gold bar there would be worth around nine million won at current market rates. And there are roughly three thousand of them here?”
After speaking, the Shoe Goblin tapped the table with his hand.
“This table is quite sturdy. It’s holding up three tons without collapsing immediately.”
“The Bamboo Sword Goblin does things thoroughly when he takes them on.”
The Shoe Goblin nodded at the Dung Carrier Goblin’s words and gazed at the gold on the table.
“We goblins don’t circulate gold on this scale. It would affect human economics. But regardless, we can create whatever we need. That’s why we lack nothing. And lacking nothing, we don’t imagine.”
The Shoe Goblin pointed to the clothes Yu Tae-poong was wearing.
“Humans imagine themselves wearing such fine clothes, but we simply create them and wear them.”
“So material abundance leads to a lack of imagination.”
“Precisely. That’s why we can’t create our own games. Even when we think about what might be fun to play, we can’t come up with truly new games. So we simply imitate and play human games—wrestling, drinking, gambling….”
The Shoe Goblin held up a book and smiled lightly.
“…and things like books.”
“I see.”
Yu Tae-poong, who had been nodding, asked.
“But what decision have you made?”
I understood that a lack of imagination made writing such stories difficult… but a decision?
“I’m going abroad.”
“Abroad?”
“I didn’t want to go because it’s bothersome and inconvenient, but it seems I need to venture out if I’m to write a truly good novel.”
“You mentioned there are restrictions when going abroad. Are you certain about this?”
“I can’t always do only what’s comfortable. Sometimes I must do things I’d rather not… to become a good writer.”
The Shoe Goblin stood up and brushed off his seat. Then he took out his phone and made a call.
“Book the fastest flight to ***. First class.”
The Shoe Goblin gave his brief instructions and quickly ended the call.
“Who did you have make the flight reservation?”
“The employees who work under me.”
“You have employees?”
“I’m the representative of a shoe shop, after all.”
The Shoe Goblin pulled out his wallet as if the timing couldn’t be better. Then he withdrew a gift card and handed it over.

「Hwaro
1,000,000 Won」

The card bore a path drawn from flower petals, with the name “Hwaro” and the amount of one million won written on it.
“Hwaro?”
“It’s not a big chain, but it’s quite famous for custom-made shoes. There are about three locations in Seoul, so search it up and get yourself a pair fitted.”
“The amount seems too generous….”
“It’s a gift. And….”
The Shoe Goblin glanced at the shoes Yu Tae-poong was wearing.
“Ready-made shoes from luxury brands are comfortable enough, but they can’t compare to custom-made shoes crafted to fit your feet perfectly.”
After finishing his words, the Shoe Goblin sighed and made another call.
“Yes, this is the Shoe Goblin. It’s not about anything else—I need to take a business trip to ***. Yes. I haven’t booked a flight yet, but I’m trying to go as soon as possible. Understood. I’ll contact you again once the date and time are confirmed.”
Yu Tae-poong asked the Shoe Goblin after he hung up.
“Who were you talking to?”
I wondered who would introduce themselves as the Shoe Goblin and speak so formally. The Shoe Goblin set down his phone and answered.
“The Spirit Immigration Office.”
“Ah. You mentioned earlier that there’s a place managing Spirit Servants’ entry and exit.”
“Right. It’s similar to how humans fill out paperwork when going abroad. We also have to call the Spirit Immigration Office to schedule when we’re traveling to other countries, then go to the Spirit Immigration Office at the airport or harbor to complete the paperwork. This was essentially a reservation call.”
Bewilderment flickered across Yu Tae-poong’s face at the Shoe Goblin’s explanation.
“So there’s a separate Spirit Immigration Office for Spirit Servants at airports and harbors….”
“We have to take planes or ships when going abroad too. That’s why the office is there.”
Yu Tae-poong nodded in understanding and asked.
“Now that you mention it, you said earlier there are Spirit Servants who smuggle themselves in.”
The Shoe Goblin nodded at Yu Tae-poong’s words.
“Spirit Servants wanted by JS get caught at the Spirit Immigration Office and can’t leave the country. In those cases, they smuggle themselves in without the office knowing.”
“Wanted by JS?”
“Spirit Servants who do bad things to humans or negatively influence human society get wanted by JS. And then they’re captured.”
“So Spirit Servants can be wanted too.”
“It’s the same as the human world. Do something wrong and you get punished and taken away.”
Then the Shoe Goblin stood up.
“Well, I need to prepare for my trip abroad. Oh! Next time I come, I’ll bring you a gift.”
“Then I’ll gratefully accept it.”
The Shoe Goblin smiled and nodded at Yu Tae-poong’s words.
“Right. I’ll visit often.”
The Shoe Goblin, about to leave, looked at the Dung Carrier Goblin.
“Looks good.”
Then he gave a thumbs up and left the Goblin Library.
Watching the Shoe Goblin leave the Goblin Library, Yu Tae-poong turned to look at the Dung Carrier Goblin.
The Dung Carrier Goblin wore a genuinely delighted expression. The Shoe Goblin’s praise had hit its mark perfectly.
Yu Tae-poong, observing the Dung Carrier Goblin, spoke with a smile.
“JS is quite a fascinating and entertaining place. There’s even a Spirit Immigration Office for the Spirit Servants.”
“JS is no different from the living world if you didn’t make others cry or commit sins while alive. But if you lived making people suffer and committing sins… it’s the same as the hell you know.”
“Then, brother.”
Yu Tae-poong sat down in front of the Dung Carrier Goblin and asked.
“What’s the standard for committing those sins?”
“A standard?”
“I’m just wondering how much sin one needs to commit to qualify for the hell you mentioned.”
At Yu Tae-poong’s words, the Dung Carrier Goblin looked at him and laughed.
“Why, are you planning to live moderately badly, just outside that standard?”
“Come on! I would never do such a thing.”
“Right, you wouldn’t live that way.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin nodded and raised his hand after a moment. Then a book flew over from somewhere.
This was a book from human society, not a goblin book.
“Though times have changed considerably, this book expresses the Afterlife quite well. If you read it, you’ll understand what hell is like.”
At the Dung Carrier Goblin’s words, Yu Tae-poong received the book.
“【Korean Traditional Mythology Collection】….”
“In there, you’ll find information about hell in Buddhism and Korean traditional folklore. That’s where the hell most Koreans imagine exists. Ah, but you should know that people of different faiths envision different hells.”
“So people with faith and those without faith go to different hells?”
“If someone has no religious faith, they usually go to the hell described in that book, but if they believe in a religion, they go under that religion’s jurisdiction.”
Then the Dung Carrier Goblin laughed and spoke.
“I heard from a JS employee that a truly wicked person died once. You’d recognize the name if you heard it.”
“And then?”
“But apparently that person had a weak grasp of their religion. So when that person died, the religious staff and the JS staff both claimed jurisdiction, and it even escalated to a legal dispute.”
“Jurisdiction? So they were trying to take the person with them?”
So even hell had separate jurisdictional areas depending on region and religion….

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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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