[That Night]
A well-dressed female goblin with certain... features guided Lukas to his house. Although he had wanted to offer up the Goblin Lord's space as a common ground for everyone to visit, the goblins weren't having it.
"Our god live well!"
"We wants you live there!"
'Well, who am I to say no then?' Lukas decided.
As he took in the vast expanse of the deceased Goblin Lord's estate, Lukas knew that was a good decision. There was around an acre of smooth white marble leading up to a fairly large house that was surrounded by a few smaller outhouses.
The house seemed to be made out of some fine stone that complemented the marble perfectly. It was 2 stories tall, more than big enough for what Lukas had planned.
Lukas followed the female goblin through the front door and up an ornate staircase. As he looked around the interior of the house, it was impossible for him to hold his reaction. Multiple chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their candles lighting up the inside as if it were the middle of the day.
Some other candles let off a nice, aromatic scent.
Overall, the entire atmosphere was one he expected from a frivolous goblin who put his desires over his people's needs.
Although Lukas figured he could use his status as a god to scam them into giving him this lifestyle, he didn't want to. Not only because his conscience wouldn't allow him, but because he had other important things to do.
"This is your room," the goblin began before she started sliding off her gown.
Lukas's face grew red as his hands shot up, yelping, "H-hey! No need for that!"
Her fingers stopped just before the gown slid off. However, enough skin was shown for Lukas to notice a scar lining her right shoulder.
There was a group of scars, as if she had been whipped.
Trembling, the goblin whispered, "D-did I do something wrong?"
Lukas was stunned for a second, not exactly sure what to say. This Goblin Lord... he was worse than he even imagined.
Giving her a soft smile, as reassuring as he could make it, he said, "No. You did just fine. Uh, whatever the Goblin Lord made you guys do... you don't have to anymore."
Tears welled up in her eyes as emotions overwhelmed her. For so long, they had suffered endless cruelty from the Goblin Lord but couldn't do anything because he had protected them.
Now that they had a new protector, a god who helped them simply because he was kind...
"Thank you!! I promise, I'll do whatever you need me to!" The goblin began with a furious scream, dropping into a wholehearted bow. "Whatever you need, whenever you need it! I promise!"
'Fuck. I was just trying to be nice...' Lukas thought, growing slightly uncomfortable.
He hadn't expected her to devote her life to him just because he had shown some basic human decency. It wasn't like he had done anything special.
"Uh, thanks," Lukas began before mentally slapping himself. What kind of weak response was that?!
Clearing his throat, Lukas started over as he said, "Thank you, your devotion will not go unnoticed. For tonight, I would like to retire to my chambers alone. In the meantime, why don't you get a meal from our chefs?"
Her eyes grew wide the more he spoke. Not only did he offer thanks, but... he offered her his food? The chefs only cooked for the master!
"You- you're too kind!" She squeaked, still unable to control her emotions. However, she still remembered he had said he wanted to sleep alone.
Therefore, she used all of her strength to compose herself and walk to the kitchen.
Now that he was alone, Lukas shook his head before looking around the room.
It was weirdly colored. Three walls were the regular pristine white, but the last one was red–
[Don't look at the red wall directly]
The system's chime stopped him just seconds before he was going to.
Even then, he felt a strange pull. The same one he felt when he looked at the mountains.
As if, no matter where he was, they were going to call for him.
'What the hell is up with that?' Lukas wondered before casting aside the thought.
There were more important matters to analyze.
'System 91... hmm... can I call you Nina?' Lukas asked, changing his question because he realized the system didn't have a name. Just like the goblins.
Because they had been objects, and objects don't get names.
[You are really peculiar. But yes... I suppose it isn't against protocol.]
Lukas nodded with a smile before asking his real question. 'Would I be able to use this house as a store? It's very nice, the nicest part of this tribe by far. I think it would be far better suited as a store than my house.'
In sales, first impressions were important. Far more important than living the life of a pampered prince.
[Sure, I don't see why not. However, it cannot be integrated into the Infinite Wealth System until you have a shop slot]
Nodding, Lukas said, "Thanks. That's fine."
Then, as if he were a machine, he moved on to his next task—meditation.
It was hard at first because of how much his mind was racing. So much had happened in just a single day.
He died, met a god, died again, became a god, and was now in charge of an entire tribe of goblins—his own little army.
Soon he would go find that stupid chalice for Physsus. After that, he would be free.
Free to find some way to his old life, to make sure his little brother was okay.
After all the times he fucked up, that was the least he could do.
'Damnit!' Lukas groaned internally. Meditation was supposed to be calm and relaxing.
Instead, he just felt himself become more and more anxious. This was a strange and dangerous world, and yet he was already playing with the realm of the gods.
Sweat perspired off his back as he remembered how easily Physsus changed the entire environment. Even if he was 'just' a Low-Immortal god, he effortlessly teleported Lukas and him onto some cloud.
After the chalice was returned, could he really trust such a being to just let him go? After he had even damaged the god's ego?
And then there was Alara. Although Lukas was sure she wasn't a threat, he knew other people existed with her skill set.
If he stopped for even just a moment, it would be his undoing.
Drawing in a deep breath, Lukas found a weird sort of calm under that pressure. He took in a few more deep breaths before his second fight against Alara played in his mind.
Studying that fight in his mind, he spent his entire night trying to understand her stance and techniques.