Chapter 7: Under the Stairs

I stared wide-eyed at the shadows beneath the opposite staircase, listening intently for any sound around me.

“Can’t sleep, can’t sleep.”

But I was so tired. Overwork and hunger-induced low blood sugar made my eyelids heavy.

Just then, I heard scattered footsteps from the second-floor platform. The pace didn’t match anyone from our group.

I snapped to attention!

“Could I be about to meet the female lead?!”

Given this hellish level of transmigration, I was certain there had to be a long-haired beauty in the crowd.

All I had to do was latch onto her, and I’d definitely escape this miserable life.

I didn’t want to be a s*ave forever!!

Thinking that, I continued eavesdropping.

“Viscount, I’m terribly sorry. My daughter has embarrassed herself.” “Hehe, it’s fine. Your daughter is quite unique.”

I listened carefully, but I didn’t recognize either voice.

Most importantly, I didn’t hear a female voice! So I didn’t dare peek.

“I’m so sorry. When I get back, I’ll discipline her strictly.” That person was still apologizing.

Was this a marriage interview? I hugged my knees and listened timidly.

“It’s all right, Lord Gongcheng, really no need.” “What are you saying…” Lord Gongcheng? Probably a name.

Just then, I heard the sound of a large door opening—the creaking of an ancient city gate.

“The door opened?”

I wanted to peek so badly! But I couldn’t.

“It’s fine, really. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.” From the footsteps upstairs, it seemed they were coming down.

Although I’d only heard two people speaking, the footsteps weren’t just two—there were probably guards behind them.

“Huh, well then. The Viscount is magnanimous. I won’t say more. Until we meet again.” “Ah, yes. Oh, by the way, I offended your daughter earlier, so I didn’t have a chance to mention it. On the 17th, my father, Langfeng, will come to pay respects to His Majesty. I could take the opportunity to visit you as well. I wonder if that day suits you, Lord.” “Of course! It suits me perfectly. I’ll be waiting for your arrival.”

I listened in a daze—Viscount, His Majesty, Lords… all very confusing.

Anyway, I heard the sound of a carriage outside, so the speakers had probably left.

Then the door closed, and that group went back upstairs.

“Milord, you seem rather dissatisfied?” “Huh?! That’s the tall goblin!”

Hearing that voice suddenly startled me.

Milord: “Hmph! That mere Bangu tribe scum—just because he acknowledged a father, he dares to propose to my daughter? Pah! Shameless!”

Milord: “Because he saved me once, he thinks he can covet my daughter? Disgusting!”

Tall Goblin: “Yes, Milord. What then do you intend?” Here, the goblin paused slightly. I guessed he had used some gesture.

Milord: “Eh, no rush. Keep him around for now, as a favor to Langfeng.”

Milord: “After all, with them as a natural barrier, the Red Demons won’t dare act rashly. Wait until…” The voice faded, and I didn’t catch the rest.

“Oh hoho, Bangu tribe, Red Demons. Hmph, interesting. It’s quite chaotic.”

“So this world is still at war?”

“Right, what kind of magic transmigration would it be without war?”

“But you don’t have any power…”

“You haven’t met the female lead yet! You haven’t even found a buddy!”

In an instant, I was struck by my own self-criticism.

But at least I’d gained some information. Better than nothing.

I crouched under the stairs, waiting.

“Ah… so hungry…”

My stomach growled.

At that moment, the tall goblin suddenly appeared before me.

Even so, I could only see his suit trousers; his upper body was hidden by the stairs.

“Oh ho, so that’s where you were hiding,” the goblin said disdainfully.

“Completely different from the groveling tone he used with his master just now,” I thought in disgust.

“Well, hierarchy exists everywhere.”

I scrambled out nervously, standing before the goblin with my head lowered.

“Had my eavesdropping been discovered?”

“Was I about to die?”

I was extremely tense.

“Hmph, you did a decent job cleaning. At least you know to find a spot after finishing work—some brains after all.” I didn’t hear reproach in the goblin’s tone.

I forced a bitter smile and nodded.

“Mm-mm.” The goblin looked at me as I remained silent, his face full of kindness.

But suddenly, his gaze turned vicious. “Did you eavesdrop on the conversation just now?!”

Though his expression was terrifying now, it was far better than when he had been beating the blonde woman earlier.

Besides, I had mentally prepared myself. So I stared blankly at the goblin and nodded once. I wasn’t sure if my expression was convincing, but I tried to convey with my eyes that I wouldn’t tell anyone.

It was just a gamble. Nodding or shaking my head seemed equally risky.

“Tsk.” The tall goblin clicked his tongue in displeasure. Clearly, my expression hadn’t been right, and his eyes hardened.

Realizing I might have angered him, I immediately lowered my head.

“Hmph, what a…” The goblin had been angry, but seeing me lower my head so promptly, he paused slightly and continued, “…strange child.”

His tone reminded me of my math teacher’s praise for me in eighth grade.

Back then, I insisted on participating in the math olympiad (to earn some pocket money for gacha games), but my teacher forbade it because the monthly exam was near. In the end, when I brought back a second-place prize in the olympiad and a score of 103 on the monthly exam, my teacher’s voice—full of disbelief and satisfaction as he praised me—sounded exactly like the goblin’s now. (Well, I didn’t get the equipment I wanted from that event.)

Then the goblin said coldly, “Don’t speak nonsense! I think you understand.”

I still didn’t speak, just kept nodding. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the goblin’s expression had improved considerably.

“The disdain is gone!” I thought. Maybe my earlier performance had earned his trust?

My current body looked exactly like an elementary school student. To be able to talk to a goblin without changing expression was probably unheard of in this world.

Anyway, I felt I had done well enough today.

Maybe I had relaxed a bit too much, because my stomach growled again…

The goblin’s expression had just softened, but now he frowned and said sarcastically, “Can’t even control your own stomach. In the end, you’re just a child.”

Then the goblin turned and went up the stairs, and I quickly followed.

As he turned, I noticed that the tools that had been behind me were gone—vanished at some point.

“Hoho… that was fast.”

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