From Slave to King: My Rebate System Built Me a Kingdom With Beauties! Chapter 234: Drekk And Murkfang’s Relationship

The goblin settlent was being run with remarkable efficiency under Murkfang’s capable leadership, the goblin proving that experience and wisdom could accomplish what raw strength sotis couldn’t. They had transford into a genuinely self-sufficient society in ways that would have seed impossible just months ago under Byung. The ore they mined from the expanded tunnel systems now had practical usage—they’d established proper forges, learned talworking techniques, created tools and infrastructure that elevated their entire civilization.

The goblins were working constantly, the settlent buzzing with productive activity from dawn until well past dark. The sounds of hamrs on anvils, of ore being processed, of construction filled the air with purposeful noise. But more impressively, they had produced significantly more weapons than there were goblins to wield them, creating surplus inventory that ensured they would never run out regardless of future conflicts.

Racks of spears, swords, axes, and daggers lined the armory building constructed specifically to house their military equipnt. The quality varied—so pieces were crude but functional, others showed genuine craftsmanship. All of it represented capability that hadn’t existed before Byung’s transformative leadership.

Murkfang stood near the central area, observing daily operations with satisfaction, when his attention was drawn to how the female orcs had begun to mingle naturally with the goblin population. The initial awkwardness had faded, replaced by cautious friendliness and occasional cooperation. The orc won helped with heavy lifting, shared combat training techniques, participated in communal als without segregation.

But Murkfang seriously doubted that any of the goblins had actually managed to lay with any of them despite the increasing familiarity. The size difference alone made such encounters challenging, but more importantly, there was a respectful distance being maintained.

He was genuinely impressed that the male goblins had controlled themselves so admirably given their typical lack of impulse control. One of his deepest fears when the female orcs first arrived had been that so foolish goblin would do sothing unforgivable—attempt assault, make unwanted advances, cross lines that would destroy the fragile alliance.

But Byung’s explicit warning before departing must have set them absolutely straight. The goblin king had made it crystal clear what the consequences would be, and that ssage had been internalized by even the dumbest mbers of their population.

Murkfang was deeply glad this restraint was holding, and he understood with so bitterness that this wouldn’t have been possible if he had tried to enforce the sa standards. His authority had slipped long ago, eroded by years of being unable to protect the settlent.

The goblins respected him now, but they didn’t fear his displeasure the way they feared Byung’s.

Drekk had been conspicuously nowhere in sight for a few days, barely interacting with any other goblin and focusing solely on getting stronger. A goblin who had always loved war had experienced his first genuine glimpse of real battle, and that exposure had delivered a harsh realization: he was nowhere near ready to face the actual threats that existed.

His body had undergone visible transformation during this intense training. He was considerably more muscular now, carrying lean, functional strength. He had relentlessly honed his combat skills with Naruz serving as his primary instructor. Drekk had responded by showing as much raw potential as a goblin possibly could, his natural talent refined into sothing approaching true martial competence.

Then one afternoon, Drekk showed himself for the first ti in quite a while, erging from the training grounds and approaching Murkfang with purposeful strides that imdiately drew attention from nearby goblins.

"Murkfang," Drekk greeted simply, his voice carrying none of the threatening edge it once held.

Murkfang returned the greeting warmly. "Drekk. Good to see you haven’t worked yourself to death."

Drekk noticed imdiately that the fear this goblin had once held for him had completely disappeared. Murkfang t his eyes directly, spoke without the subtle deference that used to mark every interaction. The change spoke to fundantal shifts in their settlent’s power dynamics.

They had once considered Drekk an unstoppable force, the most dangerous goblin in their population. But Byung had decisively shown everyone that there was absolutely no one who couldn’t taste defeat no matter how strong they appeared. There was always soone stronger, always another level of power beyond your current peak. That lesson had fundantally reshaped how the settlent viewed strength.

Still, Murkfang greeted Drekk with genuine respect, acknowledging his capabilities even while no longer fearing him. "What brings you out of your self-imposed exile?"

Drekk took a breath before responding. "I wanted to... I need to apologize. For how I ruled before. For how I snapped when I thought there was no goblin king. I was cruel. Excessive. I let anger control instead of using it productively."

Murkfang was genuinely shocked. Drekk apologizing? Admitting fault? These were behaviors so unlike the warrior’s character that hearing them felt surreal.

But after processing the surprise, Murkfang smiled warmly. "I accept your apology, Drekk. And I’m glad to see you trying to turn over this new leaf. Growth isn’t easy."

What surprised Murkfang even more was the complete absence of malice or resentnt Drekk displayed regarding what Byung had done to his brother Vrognut. That public humiliation must have been incredibly hard to witness, much less for a sibling.

But Drekk had never once batted an eye at the punishnt, had never questioned Byung’s judgnt. It was almost like he believed in Byung’s decisions one hundred percent regardless of how harsh or seemingly inhumane they might appear. That level of trust was rare.

"My brother deserved what he got," Drekk said quietly. "I know that. He betrayed everything we’re trying to build. I have no complaints about the king’s judgnt."

Drekk clearly wanted to ask about Gribnox specifically but was having visible difficulties forming the question. His jaw worked, words starting and stopping. The farr goblin had been soone Drekk had particularly terrorized, and that guilt apparently weighed heavier than other regrets.

But Murkfang could easily tell what Drekk was struggling to ask. "Gribnox has forgiven you too. Long ago, actually. He told himself that holding grudges against you served no purpose, that you were a product of desperate tis and that those tis are past."

For what might genuinely be the first ti in his entire violent life, Drekk smiled. It was not a pretty smile by any conventional standard—his scarred face wasn’t designed for joy, his teeth were too sharp, his features too harsh to pull off genuine warmth gracefully. But it was absolutely, undeniably a genuine smile that reached his eyes and transford his entire bearing from threatening to almost peaceful.

"Thank you," he said simply. Then after a pause: "For everything. For being better than I ever was."

Murkfang clapped him on the shoulder, the gesture carrying real affection. "We all have our roles to play, Drekk. Yours is becoming the warrior we need for what’s coming. Mine is keeping the daily operations running. Neither is more important than the other."

They stood together in companionable silence for a mont, two goblins who’d survived terrible tis and were cautiously optimistic about potentially better futures. Around them, the settlent continued its busy work—hamrs ringing, voices calling, life happening in all its productive glory. Female orcs laughed with goblin workers over so shared joke. The forges burned bright and hot.

The transformation from what they’d been to what they were becoming felt almost miraculous. Standing there with Drekk—once the embodint of their worst impulses, now trying genuinely to beco sothing better—Murkfang felt sothing he hadn’t experienced in years.

Hope. Real, tangible hope that they might actually survive whatever was coming. That they might build sothing worth protecting. That goblins could be more than scavengers and victims if given the chance.

"Co on," Murkfang said, breaking the silence. "Let show you the new weapons. I think you’ll be impressed."

Drekk nodded, and together they walked toward the armory, two unlikely allies bound by shared history and uncertain futures, ready to face whatever ca next.