CHAPTER 106: CHAPTER 106: I’LL CALL YOU...GOB

They started searching again, and Owen suddenly pointed toward another cell at the far end. "Hey, Axel. There’s someone here."

They approached carefully. Inside the dark corner of another cell, a figure was sitting quietly. "Hey! You’re free now. Get out of there!" Axelius called.

The figure turned, revealing its face. Owen squinted. "Wait... that’s a goblin, idiot."

Just as Axelius prepared to swing his katana, the goblin suddenly dropped to its knees and bowed deeply over and over. Now that they could see it more clearly, this goblin was different. It had red skin, unlike the green ones. Its body was skinny, and its clothes were ragged and dirty.

"What the hell are you saying?" Axelius frowned as the goblin kept squeaking.

Owen said. "I think... it’s begging. Poor guy. He probably got mistreated because he looks different."

Axelius sighed. "Alright, alright. I get it. I’m not gonna hurt you. You’re free now. Go, or if you know where the treasure is, show me." The red goblin stood up quickly and nodded.

Then it motioned for them to follow. They followed him into a hidden corner, where he tapped a strange rock in the wall. A hidden door slid open.

Axelius’s eyes lit up. "You genius little goblin!" He patted the red goblin’s head. They entered the room. Inside were three large treasure chests. One was full of gold coins, the second was packed with weapons and armor likely looted from past victims, and the third chest sparkled with rare crystals, potions, diamonds, and pieces of mithril.

"Hahahaha! I lost a lot making this katana, but now I got it all back!" Axelius shouted. "Come on, Owen! Grab everything!"

"Yeah, yeah," Owen muttered. "Let’s hurry. I don’t think we can handle the Goblin King if he shows up."

But Axelius ignored him and kept throwing treasures into Owen’s body to store them.

An hour passed, and the room was completely emptied. Suddenly, the red goblin grabbed Axelius’s arm and pulled him.

"What is it now?" Axelius asked. "Eeek! Eeek!" the goblin cried.

Owen’s eyes widened. "It’s warning us! The Goblin King is coming! Let’s go, Axel!"

Axelius finally listened and let himself be dragged. They ran out of the cave and hid behind some thick bushes. A few seconds later, the Goblin King arrived. His aura was overwhelming. Just standing near him made the air feel heavy.

"Told you," Owen whispered. "This guy’s way too strong. We need to go."

The red goblin looked at Axelius and nodded as if agreeing at Owen. But as they moved further away, they noticed the red goblin was still following.

Axelius stopped and turned around. "What? Why are you following me?" The goblin bowed again and again.

Owen beside Axelius. "He wants to follow you. He’s probably got nowhere else to go."

Axelius raised a brow. "Do you even understand what he’s saying?"

"A little bit," Owen shrugged.

"Come on, tame him. He’ll just die here alone." The red goblin gently grabbed Axelius’s hand and started kissing it—especially the ring on his finger.

Axelius pulled his hand back. "Alright, sit still." The red goblin sat quickly, still bowing now and then. Axelius placed his palm on its head, focused his aura, and began the taming process.

As the glow formed between them, Axelius casually said, "I’ll call you... Gob."

The red goblin’s body glowed faintly. A new bond was formed.

Axelius stretched his arms wide and let out a long yawn.

"Man, I’m sleepy," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

Beside him, Gob tilted his head, watching closely. Axelius turned and patted him once on the head.

"You did well, Gob. Time to rest."

With a flick of his fingers, Gob vanished into the air, pulled back into Axelius’s storage space like smoke disappearing into the wind.

"I’m sleepy. Let’s go back," Axelius said, barely keeping his eyes open.

Owen glanced up at the sky. "Expect scolds. It’s already past lunchtime, and we’re still not back."

The two began walking out of the forest, stepping over roots and fallen leaves. The path led them back toward the academy grounds and the Chancellor’s building.

As they neared the gate, Axelius slowed down when he saw someone pacing back and forth. Owen snickered.

"Oh-oh. Your wifey’s waiting."

Elena was at the gate, arms crossed, walking left and right with a worried look on her face.

"Aahh, I’m too sleepy to argue," Axelius muttered.

He quietly slipped away from the path and circled around the building. With practiced ease, he climbed the outer wall, reached the second-floor window of his dorm room, and slipped inside.

He landed softly, walked straight to his bed, and threw himself onto the mattress.

"Ahh, feels good!" he said, tucking himself under the covers.

"Don’t disturb me, Owen."

"Yeah, yeah," Owen replied, chuckling as he leaned against the wall.

Axelius was out in seconds, breathing softly and deeply.

********

Meanwhile, back at the Chancellor’s main hall, the mood was far more tense.

Elena stood now near the entrance, her eyes fixed on the path leading into the forest. Her fingers fidgeted with the fabric of her sleeve, and her expression was tight with concern. She hadn’t stopped moving, walking a short distance forward, then turning back, over and over again.

Her father, who had just stepped down from the hallway, approached her slowly and glanced around. "He’s still not back?" he asked, his voice low but firm.

Elena shook her head, her voice nearly cracking as she answered, "No. What are we going to do, Father? If the Grand Duke finds out that Axelius is missing... and if something happened to him... what then?"

The older man rubbed the bridge of his nose and sighed heavily, the stress of the situation weighing on his shoulders. "I’ll explain it to the Grand Duke myself. We can’t hide this. I’ll head to the estate right now—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall, and a maid came rushing in, breathless and wide-eyed.

"Young Lord Axelius!" she called out. "The Young Lord is back! He’s safe—he’s currently asleep in his room!"

Both Elena and her father froze for a moment.

"...He’s what?" Elena asked, blinking in disbelief.

"Asleep?" her father echoed.

The moment the maid’s words sank in, the heavy atmosphere that had wrapped around Elena and her father began to ease.

Elena’s hands, which had been clenched tightly in front of her, slowly relaxed. Her eyes, once filled with panic, softened. "He’s really back...?" she asked, just to be sure.

The maid nodded with a small smile, still catching her breath. "Yes, miss. One of the servants saw the window in his room open and checked. The Young Lord is there, fast asleep."

"Should we... go check on him?" she asked.

Her father shook his head. "Let him sleep for now. If he came back and went straight to bed, he must be exhausted. We’ll talk to him later."