Byung was done with Murkfang, but something told him he might have made a mistake. However, it wasn't in his nature to let someone he could help suffer.
This wasn't something he would be able to live with, because it paid to be kind.
Maybe this was why he was brought into this world—to give his knowledge to evolve this current civilization.
"I can't believe I was reborn as a goblin… But maybe my purpose was to help redeem this race as their messiah?" Byung muttered to himself, showing signs of a god complex.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER THERE!? BACK TO WORK!" a voice screamed at the top of their lungs, and this startled Byung.
He was distracted because he was in the same cave that seemed to have messed with his head.
The dead end—he oftentimes lost himself in thought staring down that path.
He wondered what would happen if he decided to go back there. Would it open up and swallow him like before?
Byung knew he had to concentrate, but there were talks of a ceremony for the night.
This was for those who had been promoted, meaning he would be a participant.
He wondered what they had in store for him, but either way, he had to focus on the present.
He couldn't let his guard down, not for a second, because he was aware there was still so much he didn't know.
Byung returned to work and noticed the other goblin he got into a scuffle with observing him closely like he was some animal in the zoo.
It wasn't just Murkfang that caught on to his abnormal behaviour—others were slowly catching on as well.
There were three types of goblins in this world: the ones dominated by lust, the others dominated by violence, but there was one abnormality that occurred every once in a few hundred years—
The one in control. And this fascinated the others. But once again, he was too young to have this much control over these urges.
If anything, it was a lot harder for younger goblins to keep their desires in check without extensive practice.
They worked and worked until the sun set in the distance, which brought an end to their daily labour.
Byung, alongside three other goblins, was selected. But the other two goblins had a similar build to him, as opposed to the third.
They also seemed acquainted with one another as they conversed among themselves, with Byung feeling like the odd man out.
He was slowly coming to realize that work wasn't the only thing that was important here—socializing was just as crucial.
They were all seated in a carriage, and a horse was used to transport them to an unknown location.
Byung was nervous because this was the first time he was leaving the mines to get a glimpse of the world that awaited them. But a goblin sat beside him.
The first thing Byung noticed was his smell. It wasn't as wretched as the others', showing this one actually cared about his hygiene.
"I don't think we have officially met," the goblin said, stretching forth his hand, showing he at least had some etiquette.
"Hello, I'm Byu—!" Byung stopped himself from completing the sentence, as he was aware they had no names—not yet at least.
"...402. And you?" Byung managed to save himself at the very last second.
"That was close, I nearly slipped up!" Byung thought to himself.
"Wow! 402!? I'm 008," the goblin responded. There was an air of innocence around him.
He had slender limbs, but there was a scar just below his right eye.
"008? You must be among the first! That is awesome!" Byung was quick to praise him.
"It is nothing. If anything, it should show my shame—I could have been promoted earlier," 008 downplayed it.
It was rather strange for a number system to be in place, but Byung knew that this only meant they weren't worthy of names.
But how sad would it be to die without ever getting a name? Byung couldn't imagine how meaningless such lives would be.
It made him sad thinking about it. Everyone deserves a name—an identity to let the world know they exist.
The goblin who fought him earlier noticed that they were getting along, but something told him to stay away from Byung.
They arrived at their destination as the carriage came to a halt. No one could contain their excitement, because this would be the first time they would be experiencing whatever it was that lay beyond the door.
Byung could feel his heart pounding in anticipation as they could all hear singing and dancing—
Music they had never heard. But the door opened to welcome them into this world.
Byung was grateful to whatever god brought him here, as it gave him a second chance to become something other than a cripple.