Chapter 33 — Gollum… My Precious!
High in the air, Smaug clearly remembered the scene from the original film—the moment when two Stone Giants fought.
That spectacle had been nothing short of earth-shattering.
Compared to that, the so-called Battle of Five Armies… honestly felt a bit underwhelming.
Smaug was practically buzzing with anticipation. He quickly found a mountaintop—far enough from the battlefield to stay safe, yet close enough for a perfect view—and settled down to enjoy the show.
---
At the same time—
Deep within the Misty Mountains.
The commotion was impossible to miss. The Stone Giants were simply too massive, too loud. Almost every goblin in the Goblin Kingdom heard it and immediately realized something was happening.
"Why are those Stone Giants fighting again?" the Goblin King grumbled from his ramshackle, scrap-metal throne, irritation plain on his face.
"Go see what's going on."
A sycophantic goblin sprang into action at once, rounding up a group of underlings before scurrying out of the mountain tunnels.
---
Time passed.
Two Stone Giants finally tore themselves free from the mountainside.
They locked eyes.
No hesitation.
The battle began.
First came the rocks—enormous boulders ripped from the mountains and hurled at each other. After trading volleys, the giants closed the distance and began smashing fists together in brutal, thunderous blows.
The remaining five Stone Giants formed a loose arc around the battlefield. They didn't intervene—only watched.
"So it's not a group brawl," Smaug muttered, mildly disappointed.
Only mildly.
Because these Stone Giants were every bit as terrifying as he'd imagined.
Orcs? Wargs?
Against creatures like this, they'd be nothing more than ants underfoot.
And that thought made Smaug's grin widen.
If I can get these Stone Giants back to the Lonely Mountain…
Heh.
The two giants continued their clash, each blow shaking the land itself.
A short while later—
A group of goblins emerged from one of the mountain exits and stared in disbelief at the battle unfolding before them.
"They're fighting again? Damn those Stone Giants!"
"Isn't it always over that stupid queen?"
"They've been at it for years—haven't they had enough?"
"Seriously, something's wrong with their heads."
"…"
Smaug watched it all from afar, eyes gleaming.
Beautiful, he thought.
Absolutely beautiful.
A cluster of goblins chattered noisily.
Suddenly—
The goblin in the lead—the sycophantic lackey—narrowed his eyes sharply. His gaze locked onto a distant mountaintop.
Smaug.
After a single glance, the goblin staggered backward in sheer terror.
"Sm—Smaug! Smaug!"
The other goblins instantly fell silent and followed his line of sight.
A moment later—
Without a word, the entire group spun around and bolted.
---
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
Panting, the lackey skidded to a stop before the Goblin King.
"It—it's still those two Stone Giants fighting! And—and the dragon Smaug is outside!"
The grotesquely obese, hideous Goblin King—who had been guzzling wine—misunderstood completely. His expression snapped tight.
"Smaug?!" he shouted. "The dragon Smaug?! He came to see me?!"
"No, no!" the lackey hurriedly corrected himself.
"He's on a mountain peak nearby! I—I don't know what he's doing!"
The Goblin King instantly relaxed. Then, furious, he hurled his wine cup straight at the lackey's head.
"You idiot! Why didn't you say that clearly?!"
"Smaug just passing by has nothing to do with us! What are you panicking for?!"
The lackey didn't dare dodge. He was sent rolling across the ground before scrambling back up.
"My king, I was worried he might be after us! He loves gold—and he breathes fire!"
"You brainless worm!" the Goblin King roared.
"Think! He's that big—how would he even get in here?!"
"…Ah."
The lackey blinked. "Right."
The Goblin King grabbed another cup of wine.
"Go check again. When Smaug leaves, come tell me."
A goblin didn't become king without at least some brains.
Though he spoke boldly, a trace of unease lingered in his heart.
The reason was simple.
Living deep underground, the Goblin King wasn't well-informed. He'd heard Smaug had awakened and founded a dragon kingdom at the Lonely Mountain—but little beyond that.
So to him…
Was this really just coincidence?
Was Smaug truly just passing through?
Or had he come for gold?
After all, the Goblin Kingdom did possess a modest hoard.
The lackey had already led his men back out.
---
At the same time—
Deep within the tunnels of the Goblin Kingdom.
Hungry. Starving. Long deprived of anything resembling a real meal.
Gollum crouched beside a cold underground lake, turning his head toward the thunderous sounds coming from outside.
"Precious…"
"The Stone Giants are fighting again."
"But they're all stone… we can't eat them."
"What should we eat, Precious?"
"…."
Gollum muttered endlessly to himself.
---
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
The two Stone Giants clashed with earth-shaking force, boulders shattering and debris flying everywhere.
They fought for nearly half an hour—
"Enough."
At last, the Stone Giant Queen spoke.
Her voice halted the battlefield instantly.
The two battling giants froze.
"Yes… Queen."
"Obey… Queen."
Well then.
The show was over—and that was Smaug's cue.
All seven Stone Giants were awake.
No time to waste.
Smaug immediately pulled out a massive pile of gemstones from his system storage, clutched them in his talons, and flew toward the Stone Giant Queen.
"Honored Queen," Smaug called out politely before drawing too close.
He had no intention of being pelted by seven mountains' worth of rocks.
He could see it clearly—one word from her, and the other six giants would attack without hesitation.
"I am Smaug," he continued.
"I have brought you gifts."
As expected—
All seven Stone Giants turned their attention toward him.
And then—
Toward the gemstones in his claws, glittering brilliantly in the sunlight.
Food.
The truth was—
Like Gollum, these Stone Giants had gone countless years without a proper meal.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have slept for so long.
"A dragon… of Morgoth…"
The Stone Giant Queen finally spoke, emotionless.
"I did not expect… any to still live."
"I am the last," Smaug replied calmly.
"May I land upon your shoulder?"
"…You may."
Only then did Smaug flap his wings and descend carefully.
Once steady, he wasted no time and offered the gemstones.
"Honored Queen, I hope you enjoy these gifts."
She was hungry.
And she had no interest in formalities.
The Stone Giant Queen raised her hand and accepted them—then immediately began to eat.
The remaining six Stone Giants stood motionless, watching.
Envious.
What choice did they have?
After all these years…
They were starving too.