Forests Don't Support Idle Goblins

"Agatha, I have something to ask you," Charles said, standing by the table and looking at the hag who was drawing with her head down. "Have you ever heard of a kind of magic called the curse of group language?"

"A curse of collective language?" Agatha asked, measuring the line with a ruler. "Where did you hear about this spell?"

"Uh, just tell me if you have it or not."

Agatha put down her pen, straightened up, and looked up to recall, "It sounds like dark magic, but I've never heard of a language curse. Is it a spell that makes someone mute? The only things I know about language are truth spells and the mute curse."

"Could it be a spell you don't know about, perhaps a very advanced or rare one?" Charles stared intently at Agatha in front of him and asked again.

"That's possible, but as you know, I read a lot of books on dark magic before I started researching the transformation curse. I know the names and specific effects of many of the dark spells recorded in those books. As for the group language curse you mentioned, I'm sorry." Agatha shook her head slightly.

"So, you've heard of the 'mass intelligence reduction curse,' right?"

"A mental debuff curse? It's a group curse too? It sounds like something a cult would do," Agatha said, slowly stroking the drawing paper on the table while frowning a few times. "Charles, where did you hear this from? I've never heard of this name before."

"No?" Charles pursed his lips, somewhat surprised. He had always thought that the magic he had learned from there must be spells that magicians had already mastered, but now it seemed that was not the case.

"So you've heard of the Demon Lord, right?" he asked tentatively, then his lips twitched as he realized he'd asked a stupid question.

Soon, Agatha looked at Charles with an expression as if he were an idiot. "Of course I've heard of the six great demon lords. Who on this continent hasn't been taught never to beg from demons?"

"Then tell me," Charles paused for a few seconds, carefully choosing his words, "what kind of magic does the demon lord use?"

“I know that. They use fel-powered spells, like Felblast, which is a very representative one,” Agatha said, holding up a finger. “But the two spells you mentioned aren’t mentioned in any books. Have you been fooled by someone?”

"Really? I've been tricked?" Charles frowned. "I can't be."

He discreetly brought up his control panel.

[Monument Material: Charles Mello]

Race: Goblin (Human)

[Danger Level: 0.8, Capable Waste]

[Subordinates: 1350/1375]

【personality:???】

[Individual Abilities: Mass Intelligence Reduction Curse (5/5 remaining uses per day), Mass Language Curse (5/5 remaining uses per day)]

[Personal Status: Advanced Transformation Curse (Negative), Heart of a Hero (Positive), Blessing of the Mother Tree (Positive), Blessing of the God of Earth and Life (Positive), Blessing of the God of Battle and Glory (Positive), Newborn Queen Ant (Positive, Growing), Soul Contract with the Demon Lord (Negative, Ten Years)]

Title: Leader of the Forest South Group

"The panel doesn't look like we've been fooled. Could it be that this kind of magic isn't something humans can control?" Charles muttered.

"What are you muttering about?" Agatha picked up her pen again to draw. "If you have time, go check if the lame ones have completed the launch experiment."

"A launch test?"

"You said you wanted to prepare simplified aiming devices, so I can only use multiple shots to define a range, and then have your goblins set it up simply according to the range markings," Agatha said with a shrug. "I wonder if the lame ones have finished it yet, and when will that warhead cap you mentioned be ready?"

"Uh, I've already given the blueprints to Mary, and the samples should be delivered in the next few days," Charles said quickly, but then he asked again, "You really haven't heard of any language curse magic?"

"No, it's true," Agatha stared at Charles for a few seconds, convinced that her old classmate had some strange dream today. "Did you read some weird books, those brainless fantasy novels about commoner girls and noblemen?"

"No, of course not. Even if I were to watch, it would be to see the wicked life of a noble young master," Charles quickly waved his hand.

"Alright, don't bother me while I'm drawing." Agatha crumpled the drawing paper in front of her and threw it aside. Charles's interruption had caused her lines to veer wildly.

"Alright, you go ahead with your work." Charles had no choice but to leave with his hands behind his back.

"Could it be that these two spells weren't learned by humans, but rather mastered by that guy himself?" he muttered to himself as he walked.

Since discovering that Broken Tooth had learned new abilities by hiding in the shadows for long periods of time, he would often use the group intelligence-reducing curse on himself. Since he only had five chances a day, he would save the last chance and use it before going to sleep.

After doing this for a few days, he discovered the fel energy clone that he had hastily "snatched" from the Feathered Serpent God, which further strengthened his resolve to cast mind-numbing spells on himself every day.

After doing this for a few days, he discovered the fel energy clone that he had hastily "snatched" from the Feathered Serpent God, which further strengthened his resolve to cast mind-numbing spells on himself every day.

Just today, as he was preparing to use it on himself, he unexpectedly discovered changes to his interface.

"This blessing from the God of War is no joke. I've actually comprehended a new spell on my own," he said, stroking his chin as he returned to the underground fortress. "I got the Mind-Destroying Curse from that strange spellbook, and now I've comprehended a new curse spell. And it seems that this spell is unique to the Demon Lord."

Charles couldn't be certain that these two spells weren't possessed by human mages, but since even a top student like Agatha said she didn't know them, there was a certain probability that such spells didn't belong to ordinary mages.

"If I continue to cast mind-degrading and verbal curses on myself every day, will I learn more spells quickly?" he pondered as he walked. "However, I've heard that demon lords can change the gender of their avatars at will, sometimes appearing as men and sometimes as women. I think I don't need to learn such spells."

He brought up his control panel again and looked at the contents.

[Curse of Mass Language: When facing an enemy, you can actively cast this spell, or you can cast it on yourself. This will make it easier for anyone you perceive as an 'enemy' to be persuaded verbally.]

"This is just a magic spell used to deceive people. That makes sense. Those demon lords can fool so many people into helping them find eyes and ears. On one hand, the other party has something to ask for, but these demon lords do use sweet talk," Charles said, pursing his lips. "But this spell still has some problems for me. The one described above is easier, meaning there's still a chance the other party won't believe it at all. But I'm not like those demon lords who can be both male and female. I'm just a 1.3-meter-tall goblin. Who would try to believe a goblin when he's using sweet talk?"

Thinking of this, Charles's lips twitched. He had already foreseen the scene to come: a goblin, seemingly harmless, stretched out its arms and walked towards a group of fully armed knights. "Hey, friend, don't do this. Fighting is bad. Sit down and eat some lamb skewers with us."

Then, probably with a flash of sword light, he was completely bewildered.

"But no matter what, I've mastered two spells, which has even improved my level. I'm no longer a 0.5 piece of trash," Charles sighed. "Now I'm a 0.8 piece of trash."

"Growing up quickly," he kicked a small pebble away. Although it could directly steal the magic from his spellbook, recalling the previous battles, it was almost like walking on a tightrope every time. It was like that with the Terrorclaw Bear, the Mind Flayer, and even with Vesans before.

Before each battle, he made extensive preparations, and during the battle, his mind raced to make choices, utilizing every available resource. However, no one would willingly experience such a dangerous situation.

"The benefit of this experience is that I now see those goblin armies and I don't feel any emotional fluctuation at all." Charles chuckled self-deprecatingly as he slowly turned into his stone house. This afternoon, he was going to lead his men to inspect the new territory in the north.

"Alright, this afternoon..." He squinted his eyes briefly as he spoke, then continued without pausing, his tone slightly discouraged, "I'll take some people to the north to search carefully and see where the item the Forest God asked me to find is. Sigh."

After speaking, Charles walked to his desk and began tidying the items on it. His reflection in the mirror in the corner of the stone house was doing the same thing, but Charles knew... Looking at myself in the mirror.

The night before, when he was about to leave, he threw the Domain Star at the other party, so that as long as the other party reappeared within his domain, a notification would be sent.

Charles originally thought that these demon lords had come to him, a goblin, with such seriousness to find an item, and that they probably wouldn't pay much attention to him in the future, and might just forget about him. After all, compared to humans, goblins are still somewhat weak. But now it seems that this guy is not so easy to let him go.

Could it be that I "copied" a new spell from its magic book without its consent today, and that's why the original owner came after me?

Charles picked up several drawings from the table. They were his new designs for the centaur cabin. "You can take this junk out and throw it away for now."

As he spoke, he leisurely walked out of the stone house. After confirming that there were no mirrors around to reflect his image, he quickly cast a mind-degrading curse and a speech curse on himself.

"Now we'll see how effective this new magic is," Charles said quietly, squinting. He wasn't sure if these abilities would be enough to fool everyone. Unfortunately, he didn't have any other earth-shattering abilities, nor could he slay demons and dragons like Siegfried, the dragon-slaying hero from 110 years ago. To protect himself, he could only use his abilities to the fullest extent.

"Where are you headed?" A voice sounded from behind. Charles ignored it and continued walking forward, pretending that the other person wasn't talking to him, since the voice behind him hadn't called his name.

Unfortunately, after taking two steps, his body turned around on its own, completely disobeying his will, and he walked back into the stone house. Charles's eyes were filled with astonishment, and cold sweat even seeped from his forehead.

Inside the stone house stood a goblin who looked exactly like him, grinning at him.

"Damn it, that smile is so weird. Even if I turned into a goblin, I'd still look handsome when I smile," Charles thought angrily, but his face remained terrified. "What's wrong with me? Who are you?"

Hearing Ciel's reaction, he couldn't help but sigh, "Goblins are goblins, incredibly stupid."

Then it dispelled the spell, and seeing that Charles had fallen to the ground in a panic, it slowly said, "You've forgotten me. You signed a contract, after all."

"You are... the God of the Forest?" Charles rubbed his knees and calves, struggling to his feet. He'd fallen quite hard during his performance. "How did you get here?"

"Of course I'm here to ask about the progress of things." The clone paced back and forth a couple of times, clenching its fists several times, clearly showing some impatience. "Still a bit clumsy. If I hadn't heard you say you were going to the north to search for me, I probably wouldn't want to see you again."

"God of the Forest," Charles quickly bowed respectfully, "I didn't know it was you. I was indeed leading my men to explore the north, hoping to find what you need as soon as possible."

"This guy feels weird, kind of familiar." It frowned and looked Charles up and down. Just as it was about to examine him more closely, Charles didn't give it any more time.

"Gods, there's some danger in the north. Goblins came from the north and said there's a powerful goblin kingdom there. They all worship another god, a feathered serpent that can fly." Charles spoke respectfully, gesturing wildly to emphasize his point. "I don't know if we can defeat them; they're too powerful."

"Feathered Serpent? An evil god?" With a shrug, this demon lord wasn't afraid of a mere evil god. "Even knowing the opponent is strong, you still plan to lead your subordinates north?"

"Yes, God of the Forest." Charles nodded firmly, his eyes resolute.

"Um," Hearing this answer, I was unexpectedly satisfied. Although it was just a goblin in front of me, it was really willing to do things. Compared to those humans who were only superficially compliant, this goblin clearly took its work to heart.

Was this all just for show? It shook its head slightly. What a joke! It couldn't possibly have known in advance that it had come here through the passage in the mirror and met Charles.

"You did a great job, I'm very satisfied." He nodded and said with a smile.