The Automatic Rooting Range Is Too Wide - Chapter 80

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Auto Looting Range Too Wide Episode 80

Episode 80: Count (1)

‘This thing is supposed to be a count?’

Mincheol looked down at the count with disbelief written all over his face.

Not even a Hop Goblin, but an ordinary goblin.

Even his build looked small compared to regular goblins.

His eyes were calm, and a gentle smile graced his lips.

‘Rather than a warrior… he looks more like a scholar?’

He never thought he’d use such words to describe a goblin, but there seemed to be a glimmer of intelligence in his face.

It was hard to believe he was skilled enough to face three knights simultaneously.

“Warrior of Nasalga. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The count extended his hand as he spoke.

His deep baritone voice and disciplined movements.

It struck home just how much of a high-ranking noble he truly was.

“Uh, nice to meet y— I mean, nice to meet you.”

He almost slipped into his usual polite speech pattern.

Naturally, Mincheol was more comfortable with formal speech than casual talk.

He only spoke roughly in front of enemies because of Michael Alzen’s advice not to be looked down upon.

“I’ve prepared food for you.”

The count tried to guide Mincheol into the inner castle.

But Mincheol didn’t readily accept the count’s hospitality.

“What about Lord Nasalga?”

First, he needed to confirm that Nasalga was safe.

That was the reason Mincheol had risked danger to accept the count’s invitation.

“Haha, looking after your lord’s safety first. What remarkable loyalty indeed.”

Mincheol was flustered by the count’s words.

Lord? Loyalty? What kind of nonsense was this?

“Nasalga is safe. I haven’t touched a hair on his head. For now, that is.”

There was an edge to those words.

It seemed like he was saying to act cooperatively if he wanted Nasalga to remain safe.

“Why did you invite me?”

Mincheol was almost certain the count’s invitation was a trap.

But upon arriving, he saw no armed soldiers, and the count was being hospitable.

“How about we fill our bellies first? Let’s talk slowly over a meal.”

The count subtly postponed his answer and entered the inner castle.

Mincheol had no choice but to follow the count.

That didn’t mean he let his guard down though.

Throughout walking down the corridor following the count, he kept all his senses sharp.

So he could respond no matter when, where, or how he might be ambushed.

But no matter how far they walked down the corridor, no ambush came.

‘What’s he really plotting?’

While Mincheol tried to read the count’s intentions, they arrived at the banquet hall.

‘It’s really big.’

The banquet hall was spacious enough to easily accommodate dozens of people.

Not only that, but the ceiling was also incredibly high. No matter how you looked at it, this wasn’t a place for just two people to dine.

“Please, sit.”

The count pointed to a table in the center of the banquet hall.

The table was quite large, but still seemed small compared to the banquet hall.

As Mincheol sat across from the table, servants came rushing in.

Soon the servants began placing plates of food on the table.

‘Ugh.’

The moment he saw the food, Mincheol had to suppress his nausea.

Soup made from crushed larvae.

What looked like roasted whole legs of large insects.

Completely rotten fruit swarming with flies.

“Don’t be shy, eat to your heart’s content.”

Mincheol was dumbfounded by the count’s words.

‘How do they eat this stuff?’

At least the Three Brothers cooked the bugs themselves, but this was literally rotten food.

He was seriously starting to doubt it.

But the count began eating the food as if nothing was wrong.

Even with incredibly disciplined and elegant dining manners.

‘This food wasn’t made to torment me?’

Just as Mincheol was inwardly horrified.

Suddenly the count put down his utensils and began clapping.

Clap clap.

Mincheol could only be bewildered by this unexpected behavior.

“Solsol bug larvae, jar beetle juice, fermented chuck chuck fruit. These are delicacies that any goblin would dive face-first into. Yet you won’t even glance at them.”

So these garbage-like foods were delicacies to goblins?

Even knowing the truth, he still didn’t feel like eating them.

“Does this mean you have no intention of filling your belly while your lord is captured in enemy territory? What remarkable loyalty indeed.”

Mincheol felt awkward.

He simply had different tastes because he was human, yet he was receiving high praise out of nowhere.

“Since you seem uninterested in food, let’s have a drink.”

The count snapped his fingers. Then a goblin came carrying a bottle.

‘A young goblin?’

Perhaps it was thanks to frequently dealing with goblins.

Now he could distinguish the approximate ages of goblins.

The goblin first poured alcohol into the count’s cup, then approached Mincheol.

‘This isn’t something weird too, is it?’

Contrary to Mincheol’s worry, the alcohol was ordinary. It actually had a very pleasant aroma.

‘Maybe I’ll try this one.’

Just as Mincheol was contemplating.

Suddenly, his eyes met with the goblin who was pouring the drink.

Then the goblin smiled with its eyes.

‘Why is it smiling?’

As if that wasn’t enough, it even lightly caressed Mincheol’s thigh.

Shiver—

Instantly, goosebumps rose all over his body.

In all his time climbing the Tower, this was the first time he’d felt so creeped out.

‘Could it have been a female goblin?’

As if confirming Mincheol’s guess, the goblin swayed its hips left and right as it disappeared.

Mincheol couldn’t come to his senses after the female goblin’s coquettish behavior.

It was so shocking that he wanted to run away immediately.

“Hmm…”

Then, the count let out a long sigh.

“A beauty carefully selected after scouring the entire region. Yet you show not even the slightest interest.”

Mincheol felt like he’d been hit in the head with a hammer.

‘So right now you’re… using a honey trap on me?’

To think he’d experience a honey trap from a goblin in his lifetime.

Mincheol’s mind became hazy.

“Or perhaps you prefer handsome young men? I can procure one immediately.”

“If you do anything else pointless, I won’t hold back this time.”

Mincheol hastily issued a warning to the Count.

It wasn’t said out of anger, but out of desperation.

If he had to witness a male goblin acting coquettish, he might faint from the shock.

“Hahaha, it was just a joke.”

“What exactly are you scheming with this nonsense?”

Mincheol asked with displeasure.

“I was trying to relax your body and mind before moving to the main topic. But your spirit is like that of a sage, so it can’t be helped.”

The Count took a sip of alcohol before speaking.

“I want to receive your loyalty.”

In other words, he was telling Mincheol to come under his command.

It was a proposal Mincheol couldn’t understand at all.

“Have you forgotten what I’ve done?”

“You killed two of my knights and massacred my Elite Soldiers. My heart feels like it’s tearing when I think of the damage suffered.”

“And yet you want to make me your subordinate?”

“Losing the Elite Soldiers was regrettable. But the core of war is knights. The tide changes when knights step forward, and battles end when enemy knights are defeated.”

The Count brought the wine cup to his lips again.

“Ultimately, what matters is knights. The stronger a knight’s power, the more wars can be won, and the greater the force that can be built.”

“But I killed those two knights?”

“Yes, you killed them. Without a single wound on yourself.”

The Count continued speaking as he set down his empty wine cup.

“Skilled fighters like you are rare. I guarantee you’d be among the top ten in this country.”

The Count’s voice gained strength.

“I covet you. Enough to completely forget your actions.”

Mincheol was wary of the Count, wondering if this was another trap.

But the Count’s expression was utterly serious.

“If you serve me as your lord, I’ll give you wealth you couldn’t spend in a lifetime.”

The Count snapped his fingers.

Then five servants came carrying a large box.

“I’ll prove my words aren’t false with this. If you swear loyalty here and now, this treasure is yours.”

Curiosity quietly raised its head at the mention of treasure.

‘What kind of treasure is it?’

Since it was treasure brought by a great noble like the Count, it wouldn’t be an ordinary item.

Mincheol waited for the box to open with an excited heart.

And the moment the box opened, he couldn’t help but be disappointed.

‘…It’s just dirt?’

The box was filled with black soil.

‘Maybe it has some hidden effect?’

Mincheol approached the box and checked the soil’s information.

【Gerogero Forest Sedimentary Soil】

-Grade: Rare

-Description: Soil that has accumulated in Gerogero Forest over a long time. Rich in nutrients. Among goblins, it trades for more than its weight in gold.

But even after checking, it was no different.

This was just dirt.

“It’s soil scraped from the deepest part of Gerogero Forest. Can’t you feel its value just from the smell?”

Unlike the disappointed Mincheol, the Count spoke excitedly.

“With that soil, any insect would grow plump and fat. You could even raise Songsong caterpillars, whose single larva is worth more than a thousand gold.”

Ah, so that’s why it’s expensive.

Mincheol closed the box with a thoroughly disappointed face.

At that action, the Count shouted with a deeply shocked expression.

“Impossible… Even Gerogero Forest soil couldn’t move your heart! Why do you show such loyalty to Nasalga!”

“I’ve been wanting to say this, but I’ve never pledged loyalty to Nasalga…”

“How regrettable. Truly regrettable. How did someone like Nasalga obtain such a loyal warrior.”

But the Count wasn’t listening to Mincheol’s words at all.

“I didn’t want to say such things, but to change your heart, I have no choice.”

“No, just listen to what I’m saying first.”

“Nasalga is not someone worthy of your devotion. He’s nothing but a filthy hypocrite.”

What is this about now?

Mincheol had no choice but to close his mouth and listen to the Count’s words.

“The plague that Nasalga has been treating was originally created by him. The biochemical weapon that Nasalga the Alchemist of the Plague created for war mutated into that plague.”

Mincheol’s expression crumpled.

Nasalga created that terrible plague?

“A demon who received a title by spreading all kinds of diseases on battlefields now wants to treat goblins? Isn’t that ridiculous.”

Mincheol couldn’t refute the Count’s words.

Honestly, he couldn’t view it entirely positively.

“Do you understand now? Nasalga is not worthy of your devotion.”

The Count extended his hand toward Mincheol.

“Warrior of Nasalga. Abandon your false lord and swear loyalty to me!”

“No, that’s a bit…”

Mincheol refused without a moment’s hesitation.

Then the Count’s expression completely crumbled.

“Even knowing the truth, you would still pledge loyalty to Nasalga!”

“Uh… well, it is shocking.”

From Mincheol’s perspective as a human, it was a past that didn’t really matter to him.

Above all, it was true that Nasalga was working to eliminate the plague.

“Indeed… Even so, you won’t abandon your lord? How can you be so foolish, yet so noble!”

The Count took out a handkerchief from his front pocket and dabbed at his eyes.

It was a ridiculous misunderstanding, but Mincheol no longer tried to explain.

It seemed like no matter what he said, it wouldn’t get through.

“I’ve never encountered such a coveted warrior! So I’ll use extreme methods to obtain your loyalty!”

The Count’s eyes changed.

As if the intelligence he’d shown was a lie, they became sharp and fierce.

‘So it was a trap after all.’

Mincheol shot up from his chair.

Preparing to face the soldiers who would soon come rushing in…

Crash-

Suddenly the table split in half.

At the same time, a blade tip rushed toward his face.

There was no time to draw his sword. Mincheol raised his sheathed sword to block his face.

Clang-

The moment the blade tip struck the sheath, a thunderous sound erupted.

“Kugh.”

Mincheol was pushed back and let out a short groan.

It wasn’t just a tingling sensation – his entire forearm bone was throbbing.

It was an attack so fast it was hard to react to, and so shockingly fierce it was stunning.

“You seem quite surprised.”

At the spot where the table had been.

The Count spoke while holding his side sword extended straight out.

“People who meet me often misunderstand. They think a mere Goblin, not even a Hop Goblin, couldn’t possibly be strong.”

The Count said as he withdrew his side sword.

“But the world is vast, and there are many Goblins. Wouldn’t there be Goblins stronger than Hop Goblins too?”

The Count swung his side sword through the air several times.

Swish- Swoosh-

Sharp and eerie sounds burst forth. It was so fast that not even afterimages could be seen.

“Oh right, you said earlier that you’d probably rank within the top ten in this country? I rank within the top three.”

The side sword stopped in front of the Count’s face.

The Count’s face was reflected in the blade held straight up.

It was such an eerie face that it was hard to distinguish which was the Goblin and which was the sword.

“Let’s see your skills then.”

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