From Pawn to King: Ruling a Harem of Chaos
Chapter 202: The Fall of the Goblin Kingdom, Hidden Plot Unfolds Early, but… (3)

Chapter 202: The Fall of the Goblin Kingdom, Hidden Plot Unfolds Early, but... (3)

The sense of camaraderie among the group grew stronger. They exchanged glances, no longer filled with helplessness but with renewed determination.

Seeing their spirits lifted, Shia felt a quiet sense of satisfaction.

His skillful speech wasn’t all natural—his [Charm Ring] amplified the effect, subtly swaying their hearts.

In an instant, the disheartened girls found their resolve, their collective morale solidified once more.

Turning, Shia cast his gaze across the group.

“Let’s go. Together, we’ll find a new way out!”

With that, he took the lead, stepping forward into the unknown.

The others followed without hesitation, their eyes and hearts no longer filled with despair.

Violet, Sistine, and Rong watched his retreating figure, momentarily spellbound.

Unbidden admiration welled up within them.

He was truly dependable.

It felt as though, with him around, they could trust him unconditionally.

Rong gazed at Shia with pride and adoration, her heart swelling.

This was her boyfriend—so outstanding and strong that he shone no matter where he went, a figure capable of capturing the admiration and affection of countless girls. She was proud to have him by her side.

Violet’s eyes reflected admiration and longing. Someone with such leadership and charisma seemed destined for greatness—a true king.

Sistine’s emotions, however, were more complicated.

He was someone worth relying on, and at this moment, it was as though he radiated light.

Her heart raced, a strange and unfamiliar feeling blossoming within her.

For the first time, she felt this whirlwind of emotions for a man.

Taking charge, Shia led the group cautiously, his expression unusually serious.

Once they had explored their immediate surroundings, he gathered everyone in a hidden spot.

In the darkness, his expression was somber.

He had realized it long ago—they had likely been ensnared in the Goblin Emperor’s elaborate scheme.

From the moment they stepped into the shadowy forest, they had been marked.

For goblins, survival instincts were paramount. Beyond that, their greatest biological drive was reproduction.

And the girls?

They were perfect candidates for breeding.

Shia glanced around at the vibrant, beautiful young women surrounding him and sighed inwardly.

This many exceptional girls—it was no wonder they had been targeted.

Though he had initially confirmed that this wasn’t the site of the Goblin Kingdom’s emergence, he hadn’t accounted for the possibility of the underground kingdom relocating over the past six months.

Now, it seemed they had stumbled into something far worse than a simple trial.

But there was still hope.

If the Goblin Emperor had emerged half a year early, it meant he was still in his juvenile stage—not yet fully matured.

And that meant one thing.

He could be killed.

Gathering the group, Shia laid out his plan.

“All the exits we’ve seen are heavily guarded. That’s why my plan is to head deeper underground.”

The girls looked at him in surprise.

“These goblins are too organized for this to be random. I suspect there’s a leader coordinating everything.

“If we can take down that leader, the rest of the goblins will crumble.”

Though his words were bold, his primary goal was clear: create a diversion and lead them to safety.

At this moment, most of the goblin forces were focused on hunting them down. The closer they got to the exterior, the higher the chances of encountering a full-scale goblin assault.

Thus, the inner sanctum of the underground palace was the most vulnerable.

Even if they couldn’t eliminate the "brain" of the goblins, they could hide there and wait for the academy's rescue.

Conversely, trying to escape now would almost certainly lead to being surrounded and overwhelmed. If traps like the one they had just encountered were so heavily guarded, the real exits would undoubtedly be even more secure.

Caught amidst the massive goblin army, exhausted and out of strength, capture would be their only fate.

As Shia explained his reasoning, the faces of the gathered girls turned pale.

This was supposed to be a relatively simple trial for freshmen—no one had anticipated it would devolve into such a perilous scenario.

The mere thought of what might happen if they were captured by goblins was enough to paralyze their imaginations.

The girls exchanged uneasy glances, their minds torn by hesitation despite their belief in Shia’s deductions.

It was then that Shia pushed Sistine forward.

“Sistine-senpai is renowned as the Sword Saintess, the one most likely to surpass the current Lunar Queen Sword Saint.

"Her strength is unparalleled, already reaching the pinnacle of swordsmanship. With her leading us, how could we not succeed?"

"All we need to do is eliminate that brain, and we’ll be safe.

"Even if we only hide, Sistine-senpai’s power is more than enough to protect us.”

“With such a powerful guardian, what’s there to fear?”

The girls turned their gazes toward Sistine, their expressions gradually firming with resolve.

Yes, they still had their senior with them.

She was so strong; with her combined with Shia’s plan, they could definitely succeed!

The girls’ spirits were buoyed once again, reassured by Shia’s encouragement.

Standing close to Sistine, Shia leaned slightly toward her and spoke softly.

“Now’s the perfect time to rally everyone. Step forward and say something.”

Sistine remained silent, gripping her sword tightly, her hands trembling slightly.

Shia noticed and sighed inwardly.

"Even just a few words would help. A team with unity and confidence performs far better than one riddled with doubt."

“Hmph…”

A faint grunt escaped Sistine’s throat, her trembling hands tightening even more around her sword, her brows furrowing.

Shia stepped back, giving her space. It was clear that her resistance to even minimal interaction was still strong.

But Sistine herself was confused.

Just now, when Shia leaned in to speak, she had felt an unfamiliar sensation spread through her body. It was peculiar—she had never reacted like this before.

She didn’t understand it, didn’t know where it came from, but it was undeniable.

Her brows furrowed further as she struggled to suppress these strange feelings.

---

With their plan in place, Shia reminded everyone before they set off:

“Be as quiet as possible along the way, and avoid unnecessary fights.”

The girls nodded in agreement.

In enemy territory, especially when the goblins were actively searching for them, even the smallest noise could draw nearby forces, leading to a downward spiral of endless combat until exhaustion claimed them.

“And above all, stay away from that pink mist.”

The girls, though listening intently, still held some doubts.

“Why is that?” one asked.

“That stuff messes with your rationality,” Shia replied solemnly.

Violet tilted her head, her curiosity piqued.

“How do you know so much about this?”

She studied him carefully, sensing an unusual depth to his knowledge.

Shia lowered his gaze, meeting Violet’s inquisitive eyes for two seconds before answering.

“Reading more books has its advantages.”

As he spoke, he smiled gently and patted Violet’s head.

Her soft, silky hair felt pleasant under his hand—a small, indulgent gesture.

The girls nodded at his words, murmuring their agreement. They’d read more in the future; it seemed to be genuinely helpful.

However, Violet wasn’t as agreeable. With a look of disdain, she shook her head free of his hand.

“Ugh! Who gave you permission to touch my head? This princess’s hair isn’t for just anyone to mess with!”

She raised her chin proudly, her expression a mix of annoyance and indignation, like a feisty kitten trying to appear fierce.

It was… oddly cute.

Shia smirked and tousled her long hair further, eliciting a puffed-up glare from Violet as she inflated her cheeks in frustration.

“Consider it encouragement,” he teased.

“Who needs your encouragement? Certainly not me!” Violet huffed, flipping her hair dramatically.

Despite the tense situation, their playful interaction lightened the mood, offering a brief respite from the suffocating tension.

Shia walked over to Sistine, his expression softening.

“Senpai, are you okay? You’re not feeling unwell, are you?”

His concern was evident as he examined her pale face.

He had noticed her earlier reactions when he approached her and was deeply worried.

The pink mist was potent, and Sistine had inhaled even the smallest trace of it. That alone had heightened her sensitivity.

Even now, with Shia keeping some distance, she could clearly catch his scent—a strange, enticing fragrance that made her heart flutter unexpectedly.

Her reaction was stronger than normal due to her unique constitution. While others might not be affected by such a minimal dose, Sistine’s body felt like it was crawling with restless energy.

It was uncomfortable, unsettling, yet she kept it hidden, avoiding Shia’s gaze.

“I’m fine,” she said curtly.

Shia, reassured by her response, didn’t press further. He knew the pink mist’s effects could be devastating in larger quantities but hoped the minor exposure wouldn’t have lasting consequences.

The source of the mist’s power, however, was far more sinister. It originated from a relic held by the Goblin Emperor—a device designed specifically to amplify lust and lower rationality, especially in women.

It was a weapon of devastating effect, explaining the rapid expansion of the goblin population. In just half a year, it had caused unprecedented calamity.

Though Shia had initially suggested waiting for reinforcements, he was determined to take action now if possible. Leaving the threat to grow unchecked would only ensure disaster later.

His gaze settled on the [Ring Panel] interface before him.

The progress bar of the Dreamer's skill was already at 90%, accelerating with every passing moment.

If he could finish it…

As he contemplated, a faint, floral fragrance drifted into his senses, interrupting his thoughts.