Noa lay still on the straw bed.
Noa's inner voice:
I want to end it... It hurts. It hurts so much. It's not my eyes that ache—it's my heart. But somehow... this pain in my eyes dulls the pain inside. The agony in my chest… is it any different from the pain of the flesh?
Just then, two goblins entered the hut. One of them was Gobuto.
Gobuto: "We brought you food."
Inside, he thought: So this is the new lord's companion… What happened to him? His eyes are bandaged, his arms bound... Did they flee from battle?
Noa turned his head slightly.
Noa: "What's your name?"
Gobuto: "My name is Gobuto, right hand to Lord Rion. If you need anything, you can call me."
Noa: "Right hand…" — his voice was cold, but deep inside there was respect. Yes... he's better than me.
Gobuto fell silent, unsure how to respond.
Noa: "Leave me alone. Pretend I don't exist," he whispered bitterly.
Gobuto: "But the lord ordered me to take care of you."
Noa: "Is that so? And what is Rion doing?"
Gobuto: "He's exploring the village and meeting the locals."
Noa: "Listen, Gobuto. If you keep disturbing me... I'll kill you."
Gobuto froze in fear.
Gobuto: "U-understood!"
He hurried out.
Noa spread his arms and stared up at the ceiling.
Noa (thinking): I think I understand now. I don't need anything... But why do I feel pain, not hatred or revenge? Normally people would scream... or rage...
Maybe it's a good thing my eyes are gone — they cover the pain in my heart.
He exhaled deeply.
In silence, he battled his thoughts — the wounds inside him screaming louder than any voice.
---
Outside the hut
Rion stood in the center of the village square. Around him, goblin warriors were gathered.
His tone was cold, but sharp with command.
Rion: "From this moment on—no more disorder!"
Gobuto stood beside him.
Rion: "Gobuto, what are these warriors assigned to?"
Gobuto: "Twenty are responsible for hunting. The rest guard the village."
Rion: "And what do the hunters do when they're idle?"
Gobuto: "They rest."
Rion: "Nothing else?"
Gobuto: "Well... they also help with reproduction."
Rion covered his face with a hand.
Rion: "And the guards? What do they do when there's no attack?"
Gobuto: "They rest, help with reproduction, and train the young ones."
Rion: "That's it?"
Gobuto: "Yes, my lord."
Rion sighed in frustration.
Rion: "From now on, I'll reorganize everything."
His voice cut through the air like steel.
Rion:
"First — you'll train formation discipline. Ten per row, four rows. Or five per row, eight lines. No more chaos!
Your current structure is idiotic.
Two goblins will guard the village entrances — always within sight of each other. Seventeen will focus solely on defense. Watch one another. Stay alert.
Three will train the younglings — twenty-eight of them in total. Two instructors will take nine each, one will take ten.
Gobuto will be with me, so each of you will have nine.
The remaining eighteen goblins will hunt.
No resting during the day. Rest only at night.
At night — you'll also help with reproduction.
Two goblins will stand guard near the hut where my companion rests.
Hunters, divide into two teams!"
The goblins cheered.
Goblins: "Yes, Lord Rion! We'll obey your command!"
Rion turned to Gobuto.
Rion: "Gobuto, you'll handle reports. One day, you'll govern this village."
Gobuto's eyes lit up.
Gobuto: "Y-yes, my lord! I'll do my best!"
Inside, he thought:
This lord... he's nothing like the others. Our village is evolving.
A true leader has arrived — we will rise.
The sun hung high, but the goblin village already felt different.
Rion had been here less than a day, yet the air itself seemed changed — sharper, disciplined, alive.
He entered the hut quietly. In his hands was a small bowl, steam rising from it.
Inside, Noa lay still, curled under a blanket, facing the wall.
Rion spoke softly:
Rion: "Are you awake, Noa? I brought you food."
Noa didn't turn. His voice was cold and trembling:
Noa: "Go away... Leave me alone."
Rion sat down, placing the bowl beside him.
Rion: "You need to eat, Noa. I understand. It's hard... but how long will you keep lying here?"
Noa (snapping): "Don't talk like you understand me!"
Pain flickered across Rion's face. He was silent for a while, then said quietly:
Rion: "Maybe I can't share your pain... but I'm your friend. Just know — I'm here."
His voice was calm, but full of quiet sorrow.
Noa took a deep breath; his lips trembled.
Noa: "I know, Rion... you saved me twice. And I'm grateful.
But that life you saved... it's useless now!"
He suddenly turned, throwing the bowl. It shattered against the wall. Silence fell heavy as stone.
Rion's eyes dropped to Noa's hands — the bandages were gone. Beneath them, fresh wounds and reopened scars bled faintly.
Rion: "Noa... show me your hand."
Noa: "Leave me alone, Rion. You'll never understand."
Rion: "You're right... I don't. But even so, I won't let you hurt yourself. Please — rebind it."
Inside, Rion thought: Arguing now will only make it worse. He just needs time.
Noa: "Why? What does it matter if I heal? I need nothing!
Just leave me... or kill me!"
His voice broke. Rion stood in silence, then bowed his head slightly.
Rion: "I'll go... but I'll send goblins to rewrap your wounds. Let them help you."
Noa: "Fine. Just go. Leave me."
Rion rose, walked toward the door. Before stepping out, he looked back — his eyes heavy with pain and regret.
He drew a long breath.
Rion's thoughts: Now isn't the time to break... I can't show weakness before them.
He closed his eyes for a moment, steadied his breath, and stepped out.
---
Outside, Rion stood under the dimming sky, unarmed, wrestling with his thoughts.
Noa won't return to who he was... will he? The fear echoed inside him.
Gobuto approached.
Rion: "Send someone to the hut — elders who know how to treat wounds. They are not to disturb him more than necessary."
Gobuto: "Understood, my lord. The elders will handle it."
Rion nodded and walked back toward the training ground.
He sat on a stone and watched the goblins practice — every movement whispering an unspoken answer to his turmoil.
---
Inside the hut, two elder goblins entered quietly.
Noa lifted his head slightly, his tone icy.
Noa: "Didn't I say not to bother me? Are you here to test your luck?"
Elder Goblin: "The lord sent us to bind your hand."
Noa: "Fine. Do it quickly and leave."
He sat up.
One goblin took a strip of cloth and a curved horn, approaching carefully.
Goblin: "Can you give me your hand?"
Noa extended his broken hand.
The goblin set down the horn and began wrapping the wound.
Goblin: "Does it hurt?"
Noa: "If only it didn't…"
The goblin stayed silent, finished the binding, and quietly left.
Noa lay down again.
Words burned inside him like fire:
I'm useless. My life means nothing. I want to die.
It hurts… not sharp, but endless.
I'd rather they break my bones than live with this pain.
The sun sank.
Rion came to the hut once more. Through a small crack, he saw Noa lying motionless.
He stood there for a while, then walked away.
---
Later that night, Rion sat inside his own hut, staring at the star-filled sky.
Outside, the faint chatter of goblins carried on the wind.
Gobuto: "My lord!"
Rion: "Come in."
Gobuto: "May I ask you something?"
Rion: "Go ahead."
Gobuto: "Your companion… who is he to you?"
Rion: "You mean Noa? He's… my only friend."
Gobuto: "Noa, huh… I've been with you all day, observing.
You seemed… different, quieter.
Noa doesn't deserve a friend like you.
I heard how he spoke to you. You were kind, but he was harsh.
He wronged you.
After lunch, your spirit changed.
We should punish him. He doesn't respect your kindness—"
Rion stood abruptly, his gaze wild yet filled with pain.
Rion: "Gobuto, if you ever say that again — I'll kill you.
And feed your flesh to the warriors."
Gobuto froze, trembling.
Gobuto: "F-forgive me, my lord… I misspoke."
Inside, Gobuto thought:
My lord... though you've been here just a day, I've seen enough.
To serve you is an honor.
But that dragon… Noa... he hurt you.
One day, I'll make him pay.
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