Chapter 50: Underground Ruins in the Magic Horn Tree Forest
Because there were too many uncertainties, Owen merely made a note of this matter. Then, he activated his Demon Lord Aura and continued deeper into the Magic Horn Tree Forest with Charle. Today’s destination wasn’t here.
Many people assumed that the Magic Horn Tree Forest wasn’t that scary because it looked no different from an ordinary forest from the outside. Even bandits and the noble alliance dared to enter the forest. In reality, this was a grave mistake. This misconception existed because the Magic Horn Tree Forest was divided into two layers: inner and outer.
The outer perimeter of the Magic Horn Tree Forest was no different from an ordinary forest. Otherwise, Owen wouldn’t have built a logging camp here. However, the inner layer was different. The true Magic Horn Tree Forest only had one type of plant: the Magic Horn Tree.
The Magic Horn Tree was called a tree, but in appearance, it looked more like a giant thorny vine. It was flowerless, leafless, pitch-black like iron, and very hard. The Magic Horn Tree thorns could easily pierce flesh and carried a terrible poison. No creature was willing to go near it.
Moreover, the Magic Horn Tree was highly invasive. Within its growth radius, only the same species could survive. Other flowers, plants, and trees had no room to grow. Therefore, although the Magic Horn Goblins lived within the Magic Horn Tree’s range, they wouldn’t truly venture deep inside. They needed to forage in the outer forest for food. The Magic Horn Trees were merely their barrier against external enemies.
The Heavy Armored Demon Sheep was agile and powerful. Like an antelope, it leaped through the forest, quickly carrying them through the outer forest and into the true Magic Horn Tree Forest.
This place was like a forest cursed by a witch in a fairy tale. Giant, pitch-black, thorny vines, thick enough to be embraced by several people, were everywhere. They grew wildly like prehistoric pythons, extending countless fine vines from their bodies that intertwined in the air, forming a net that left almost no gaps. Coupled with the dense, sawtooth-like thorns, it was like a jungle of needles. No normal creature would enter here.
If Goblins weren’t so weak, with their super breeding ability and adaptability, they wouldn’t have entered the growth radius of the Magic Horn Tree and mutated.
For the sake of gathering his forces, the Goblin General didn’t choose to stay inside the Magic Horn Tree Forest. Instead, he found an open space outside. Currently, dozens of tattered tents were haphazardly set up, garbage and excrement littered the ground, and an iron pot simmered with half a Goblin inside, attracting a group of young Goblins who drooled around it. However, none of them dared to get close. It was likely that some unlucky ones had fallen in before and become ingredients.
Having just survived the winter, the Goblins were in a state of starvation. They threw their kind that didn’t survive the winter or were weak into the pot to eat. However, the number was ultimately limited, so they were busy foraging for food. Only the Goblin General and a group of young Goblins remained in the camp.
“Demon Lord!” The Goblin General, who was about to train the young Goblins, hurried over to salute when he saw Owen arrive.
“This place looks terrible. Even if you’re Goblins, at least try to make it look presentable!” Owen said with dissatisfaction.
“It’s my fault. I’ve failed the Demon Lord’s trust!” The Goblin General immediately broke out in a cold sweat, kneeling and admitting his mistake.
Seeing that his reprimand had taken effect, Owen decided to stop there and let him report on his work. After all, with the limited resources he had given and the Goblins’ special circumstances, maintaining the status quo was already not bad.
As the scene before him showed, the situation wasn’t good.
The large gathering of Goblins made foraging for food very difficult. After all, Goblins didn’t farm, they didn’t raise livestock, and even hunting depended on luck. What’s more, it was only early spring. Even wild beasts were skinny and hungry. If they encountered each other, it was unclear who would eat whom.
Furthermore, Goblins were difficult to manage. They were fine in battle, but in their daily lives, they were basically like herding cats. Don’t even think about making them obediently follow orders. This gave the Goblin General a big headache.
At this moment, Owen thought of something. If serfs and surrendered soldiers could be transformed into system units through system buildings, could Goblins also be transformed?
“Demon Lord, these were found in the Magic Horn Tree Forest.” Perhaps to improve his impression in front of the Demon Lord, the Goblin General brought out several chests from his tent. They contained broken gold and silver coins and some strange objects. The common feature was that they were all man-made, not natural products.
“You’re saying there are ruins resembling a dungeon in the Magic Horn Tree Forest?” Owen didn’t disbelieve the Goblin General. As a monster from the dungeon game, he might not recognize other things, but he could recognize a dungeon with his eyes closed, just by smelling it. What he found strange was, how could there be a dungeon in the Northland?
Could it have been built by the Northland Barbarians?
Why build it in the Magic Horn Tree Forest?
What was the purpose of building it?
Countless questions left Owen in a daze. However, after regaining his senses, he had already decided to explore the dungeon. He couldn’t just sit back and watch this unstable factor by his side. He urgently wanted to know what secrets were hidden in the ruins.
Although this world had magic, building a dungeon was no small feat. It might not be a national-level project, but it was definitely not something an ordinary noble could build.
To spend such a huge price, it couldn’t be for future archaeological purposes. There must be an important reason.
Actually, Owen wished it was just an ordinary ruin because that would mean there was no danger. If it was used to seal a Demon Lord, he would have to consider when it would be best to run away.
Fortunately, the ruins had existed for so many years. There was no need to worry about them having problems in a short time. Owen decided to try the Goblin transformation first.
As for personally exploring the underground ruins with Charle, Owen said he wasn’t that crazy.
He had spent so much effort farming and developing his subordinates, wasn’t it so he could stay safely in his territory without any risk? Why would he go wherever there was danger?
In the middle of the night, the Goblin General personally led a group of Goblins to the territory. The scent of humans and animals, and the buildings made the Goblins restless. Their cunning eyes constantly flickered, clearly wanting to do something like burning, killing, and looting.
Fortunately, Owen was prepared. He had a large pot of food cooked in the barracks. With the Goblin General making an example of a few, these Goblins obediently entered the completely independent and heavily guarded barracks.
Owen was also a little nervous. Although he had mobilized many soldiers, there would definitely be casualties if a real fight broke out.
Fortunately, the risk was worth it. After some experimentation, Owen discovered that it actually worked, and the progress value consumed was much lower than for ordinary people. One progress value could transform ten Goblins into Goblin Farmers.
Although the transformed Goblin Farmers still had cunning in their eyes and still looked wretched, their obedience was much better.
In addition, just like system farmers, as long as they were willing to spend time, Goblin Farmers could also become basic units through training in the barracks.
If Goblins weren’t so weak and ugly, transforming them into the main population would obviously be more cost-effective. However, this was fine too. At least they were good enough as cannon fodder.
