Chapter 37 — Gollum: Curse You, Curse You!
The Goblin Kingdom
[Quest: Recruit the Goblin King for the Dragon Kingdom]
Reward: Upgraded Silver Blind Box ×1
[Quest: Obtain the One Ring]
Reward: Golden Blind Box ×1
---
"You should know that I possess vast quantities of gold and gemstones," Smaug said calmly.
Many were aware of the staggering wealth of Erebor. The bloated, hideous Goblin King was among them, and he nodded instinctively.
"I know."
"I am willing to share part of that wealth," Smaug continued, "in exchange for you and your people relocating to my territory."
"????"
The Goblin King froze, then asked instinctively,
"Why?"
To be honest, the wealth Smaug offered was tempting—but the Goblin King had no desire to move.
The reason was simple.
They had lived here for ages. Everything functioned just fine. And more importantly—what use did goblins really have for piles of gold?
"Because I like things lively," Smaug smiled faintly.
"I already have several hundred humans, one skin-changer, and seven stone giants."
"But even combined, they're still… too few."
"I thought about it long and hard," Smaug continued his nonsense with a straight face,
"What kind of creature has numbers?"
"The answer is—you."
Smaug went on smoothly, then added,
"There's another reason. Have you heard of a prophecy concerning the Lonely Mountain?"
The Goblin King's eyes darted.
"Vaguely. Something about the birds of old returning to Erebor… and your rule ending."
"Do you believe that prophecy?" Smaug asked lightly.
The Goblin King reacted instantly, shaking his head hard.
"Of course not! You're far too powerful. Who could possibly end your reign?"
"The dwarves?" He sneered.
"You took Erebor effortlessly. They could only flee in panic."
After a pause, he shamelessly added,
"If you'd wanted, there wouldn't be a single dwarf left in Middle-earth."
"Hahaha," Smaug laughed arrogantly.
"You make a good point. Perhaps I should have wiped them all out back then."
"Sadly, there are no 'ifs.'"
"But here's the problem," Smaug said, his voice dropping slightly.
"You don't believe the prophecy—but I do."
"So I recently consulted a very powerful seer."
"The seer told me that the prophecy can be overturned."
"And that to do so, I must find you—and have you relocate to Erebor."
"????"
The Goblin King was stunned.
What kind of nonsense diviner dragged him into this?
Still unwilling to move, he struggled desperately for a way out.
"Noble Smaug, I truly wish to accept, but—"
"There's another method," Smaug interrupted bluntly.
"The seer said that if you no longer exist, the prophecy will also be broken."
Thump.
The Goblin King's body trembled.
No longer exist?
As in… burned to ash?
He didn't want to die.
Immediately, he forced a smile and changed his tune.
"Noble Smaug! You honor us greatly. We will begin preparations to relocate at once!"
See?
A truly intelligent Goblin King.
"Much appreciated," Smaug replied cheerfully.
"I'm sure you'll love Erebor. It's changed greatly."
"I know you dislike sunlight and can't travel much during the day. I'll wait half a month at Erebor—will that be enough?"
The Misty Mountains weren't far from the Lonely Mountain.
Goblins hated sunlight, but it wasn't unbearable.
Half a month would be enough.
"Plenty of time," the Goblin King nodded.
"We'll arrive without fail."
"Excellent. I'll have food and drink prepared. We'll celebrate properly," Smaug promised.
"Now then—one last small matter. I need your help with something."
"May I come closer and explain?"
!!!!
The Goblin King's heart lurched.
Closer?
Is this dragon planning to ambush me?!
But he couldn't refuse.
"…Of course," he said stiffly.
"Allow me to approach you instead."
He hurried forward, surprisingly nimble.
Smaug glanced at the ram-skull scepter in the Goblin King's grip, remaining alert and ready to transform instantly.
For a fleeting moment—just one—the Goblin King felt the urge.
If I smash this eagle's head right now…
But the thought vanished instantly.
He only had one life.
And he knew—if he gambled and lost, he would die.
So he didn't dare.
"There's a small friend of mine," Smaug said quietly,
"living in the tunnels below."
"I want you to send a capable team to capture him—alive."
"Bind him securely. No killing."
"And keep it quiet. He's extremely alert."
"????"
That's it?
The Goblin King relaxed internally.
"No problem. I'll handle it immediately."
"Many thanks," Smaug replied.
"I'll treat you to roast lamb later."
---
Soon after, the Goblin King personally selected a squad of fifty fully armed goblins.
They set off at once.
Smaug wasn't idle either—he transformed into a raven, blending into the darkness as he followed from above.
Gollum was not to be underestimated. Smaug intended to supervise personally.
---
Deep within the tunnels, by the underground lake
As expected, the starving Gollum was feeding on a goblin who had fallen earlier.
Eating—while complaining bitterly.
"Filthy goblins. Tastes awful."
"But there's nothing else to eat."
"Precious… Precious…"
"We don't want to eat goblins."
After a long string of muttering, Gollum finally focused on eating.
Then—
A sound.
His ears twitched.
Without hesitation, he abandoned the food and scuttled into the darkness, grabbing a stone as a weapon.
The noise continued—closer now. Coming from above. Many of them.
"Precious…"
"What's happening?"
"The goblins never come down here."
"Why now? And why so many?"
His large eyes rolled rapidly.
No answer came.
But Gollum decided he had one.
He crawled silently to a safer vantage point.
---
Soon, all fifty goblins descended into the tunnel.
Bones littered the ground.
No one cared.
Goblins fell to their deaths here all the time. Who would rescue them?
Fifty goblins advanced silently with torches raised.
Before long, they entered Gollum's view.
Fear surged.
"Precious… They're coming for us!"
"We must hide—no! We can't move!"
Gollum clamped a hand over his mouth and froze.
The goblins searched carefully.
Smaug watched from above.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
A minute.
"There's nothing here," one goblin muttered.
"Yeah, no idea what the king wants us to catch," another replied.
"Shut up!" the squad leader snarled.
Silence returned.
But the damage was done.
Gollum understood.
"They're here to catch us!"
"Ordered by the Goblin King!"
"But why?!"
"We can't stay here. We must flee!"
Decision made, Gollum began moving—silently.
The tunnels were cramped. Enemies were many.
Running now was the best choice.
He was confident.
Too confident.
The goblins noticed nothing—
But Smaug did.
Spotting Gollum's ghostlike movement, Smaug immediately flapped forward.
"Caw! Caw!"
The harsh cry echoed.
All fifty goblins turned.
"There! Grab him!" the leader shouted.
They charged.
"Damn crow! Curse you! Curse you!" Gollum shrieked as he sprinted for the exit.
Smaug didn't answer.
He raced forward at full speed.
Because if Gollum escaped now—
In a world this vast, finding him again would be nearly impossible.
Fortunately…
The worst did not happen.
Gollum was fast—but goblins were numerous.
A goblin leapt forward—
Thud!
Pinning Gollum to the ground.
"Got you!"
Gollum was vicious.
The instant he was knocked down, he twisted violently, smashing the stone clutched in his hand straight into the goblin's skull.
One blow—fatal.
Without making a sound, Gollum scrambled to his feet, claws and limbs moving together as he tried to flee.
Too slow.
Several goblins lunged at once.
In the blink of an eye, more than twenty goblins piled onto him, crushing him to the ground. Gollum thrashed and writhed with all his strength—but he couldn't break free.
"Precious! We're caught!"
Seeing there was no escape, Gollum screamed hysterically,
"Curse you! Curse you, filthy goblins—curse you all!"
He howled nonstop.
The remaining forty-nine goblins ignored him completely, swiftly binding him until he was tied up like a cocoon.
Seeing this, Smaug wasted no time.
He shifted forms, becoming an eagle, and landed.
The goblins didn't know the raven from before had been Smaug—but they did know this eagle was him.
"Good," Smaug said immediately.
"You may leave now. Hand him over to me."
None of the goblins dared refuse. They fled at once.
Soon, only two remained in the tunnel—
Smaug, in eagle form, and Gollum, tightly bound and still writhing on the ground.
Looking at him, Smaug silently let out a long breath.
This operation's greatest risk had been one thing—
That Gollum might put on the One Ring and vanish.
Thankfully, in his half-mad state, Gollum hadn't done so.
"What are you?" Gollum struggled harder and harder, trying to tear free.
"Why can you speak?! Curse you—curse you!"
"Gollum, stop shouting," Smaug said gently.
"I won't hurt you."
"Believe it or not, I want to be your friend."
Gollum didn't believe a word of it.
"You sent those filthy goblins to catch me! I don't want friends like—"
He cut off abruptly.
Because Smaug transformed again—this time into a miniature ogre.
Gollum had never seen anything like it. His eyes widened in terror.
"What are you?" he shrieked.
Smaug didn't answer.
He took two steps forward, crouched beside Gollum, and reached for his waist.
Found it.
The One Ring.
"No! No!"
Realizing what Smaug intended, Gollum screamed in sheer panic,
"Precious! My precious!"
Smaug still didn't speak.
He simply removed the Ring.
The moment it touched his skin—
A voice, seductive beyond measure, surged into his mind.
Smaug felt nothing.
"Ha—go to hell," he laughed aloud, instantly realizing the Ring had no effect on him.
"You still dare try to tempt me?"
He sounded almost amused.
Gollum, meanwhile, lay bound on the stone, staring in absolute despair.