The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Mikhailis sat up abruptly, his eyes wide with shock as he held the still-glowing talisman in his hand. The sensation of the goblin's body, the eerie realism of it all, still sent a shiver down his spine. He took a few deep breaths, his heart pounding hard against his ribcage.

"Rodion, what the heck was that?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly, trying to regain control over himself. The room seemed to warp in and out of focus as he waited for a response.

The seconds dragged on, each one longer than the last. Mikhailis could feel the tension creeping up his spine, and he rubbed his temples in frustration. He wasn't used to being scared, not like this. Not when he was dealing with something that seemed to go beyond his understanding.

Finally, Rodion's calm, mechanical voice echoed in his ears.

<Analyzed data suggests that your consciousness has been momentarily transferred to the hypnotized goblin. There appears to be a connection between Hypnoveil's recent evolution to the [Viscount] rank and the interaction with the talisman. This has resulted in an unprecedented phenomenon, perhaps it's the ability of the talisman that ignited the reaction>

Mikhailis blinked, still processing the explanation.

"Wait, wait... are you saying that somehow I ended up inside that goblin's body? My consciousness actually transferred to it? That's... that's insane!"

<Affirmative. Hypothesis is supported by data analysis. Moreover, there is a concerning correlation between your consciousness transfer and the goblin's survival. Should the goblin die while you are within its body, there is a probability that your consciousness would not be able to return to your primary body so it would be best to not experiment rashly before we have significant amount of data.>

Mikhailis went still, his fingers curling tighter around the talisman as a chill ran through him.

"So... if that goblin dies, there's a possiblity that I could die too?" He swallowed hard, trying to shake off the fear gnawing at him.

<Correct. It is highly probable that such an event would sever your consciousness permanently. Advising extreme caution>

Mikhailis stared at the talisman, holding it away from him like it was a venomous snake.

"This thing is dangerous then! I need to figure out how to handle it without risking my life," he muttered, his voice shaking slightly.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

As he examined it, the talisman glowed again, brighter this time, and before Mikhailis could react, he felt a sudden, disorienting pull.

"Oh shit,"

The world around him seemed to twist and contort, and in an instant, he was no longer in his body.

The sensation was terrifying—a swirling, disorienting rush as if being sucked through a vacuum. When the world finally came into focus, he found himself standing, or rather squatting, in the middle of the forest. He blinked, his vision sharp but in a different way, his senses heightened, the air heavy with the damp scent of soil. He looked down, and his heart sank. He was back in the goblin's body.

No, no, no! Not again!

His limbs felt different—shorter, wiry, and his hands were clawed and covered in rough, green skin. He could feel the uncomfortable weight of his crooked, goblin body. Everything seemed foreign yet oddly visceral—the sharpness of smells, the uneven ground beneath his feet, the staccato beat of his goblin heart.

This is bad. Real bad.

He tried calling out to Rodion.

"Rodion! Are you there? Can you hear me?" But there was no response. Silence. The AI's reassuring voice was absent, leaving him truly alone.

Great. Just great. I'm on my own now.

A surge of panic bubbled up in his chest.

What if he couldn't go back? What if this was permanent? He had to think—had to find a way back to his real body. He looked around frantically, trying to make sense of his surroundings. He could see the other goblins, their hunched forms skulking around him, moving with purpose as they communicated in grunts and growls.

He considered taking drastic action—maybe if he hurt himself, the shock would send him back? But the fear of dying, of getting stuck permanently in this goblin body, kept him frozen. He couldn't take that chance. He needed another plan.

Okay, just play along, blend in. Maybe I can figure something out while I'm here.

Suddenly, one of the goblins, a larger one with a makeshift helmet, stomped towards him. Its eyes were small and beady, glaring at him with impatience. The goblin captain barked something in a guttural voice, words that somehow Mikhailis could understand.

"You... Go. With me... Front..."

The words were crude, broken, almost like a child attempting to form sentences. But Mikhailis understood. The Language of the Soul, he thought, remembering the same reason of why he could communicate and unknowingly learn the language of this world. Maybe that was why he could understand them—some weird phenomenon that let him connect with the goblins on a basic, primal level.

"Yeah, yeah... I'm going," he muttered under his breath, his goblin voice raspy and low. He stood up, or more accurately, hunched over and shuffled forward, trying to mimic the way the other goblins moved.

The goblin captain glared at him, then turned and began marching deeper into the forest, gesturing for the others to follow. Mikhailis fell in line, trying to keep his head down and avoid drawing attention. The goblins moved with surprising cohesion, their formation tight as they wound their way through the dense underbrush.

Where are we going? Mikhailis wondered, glancing around as they trudged through the forest. He could hear the distant calls of nocturnal creatures, the rustling of leaves as they moved, the soft crunch of twigs beneath their feet. Everything felt heightened, his senses on overdrive. It was both exhilarating and terrifying.

The group moved quickly, their pace relentless. The goblin captain barked orders every now and then, the other goblins responding instantly, their movements almost instinctual. Mikhailis tried his best to keep up, mimicking their actions, doing his best to blend in.

After what felt like hours, they arrived at a cave entrance, hidden beneath a thick canopy of vines and foliage. The goblin captain gestured for them to enter, and the group began filing in, disappearing into the darkness. Mikhailis hesitated for a moment, staring at the yawning blackness before him.

This is it... The goblin nest.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and followed the others inside. The air grew colder as they moved deeper into the cave, the walls narrowing, the ceiling dropping low enough that even the goblins had to hunch further. The dim light from outside quickly faded, replaced by the flickering glow of crude torches mounted along the walls.

The cave opened up into a larger chamber, and Mikhailis' eyes widened at the sight before him. It wasn't just a cave—it was an underground network, sprawling and complex. Goblins moved about, each one with a purpose—some carrying supplies, others sharpening weapons, a few tending to large, snarling wolves chained near the far wall.

Mikhailis could see Goblin Shamans gathered in a circle, their staffs adorned with bones and feathers, their eyes closed in concentration as they chanted in low, rhythmic tones. There was an order to the chaos, a structure that belied the goblins' usual portrayal as mindless beasts. This was something else—something far more dangerous.

This isn't just a nest... It's an operation.

He watched as the goblin captain spoke with one of the shamans, their conversation brief but intense. The shaman nodded, pointing towards a tunnel that led further underground, its entrance flanked by two hulking goblin guards.

Mikhailis swallowed hard, his mind racing. He needed to get out of here, needed to find a way back to his own body. But for now, he had to stay alive, had to blend in and figure out what the goblins were planning. Continue your adventure with empire

He shuffled forward, following the rest of the group as they moved deeper into the nest. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and smoke, the flickering torchlight casting long, dancing shadows on the rough stone walls. The further they went, the more Mikhailis realized just how vast this underground network was—tunnels branching off in every direction, some leading to crude living quarters, others to storage rooms filled with supplies.

He watched, listened, tried to take in every detail. The goblins were preparing for something—something big. He could see it in their eyes, in the way they moved, the urgency that permeated the entire nest.

This is... The goblin nest... he thought, a sense of dread settling in his stomach.

And he was right in the middle of it, trapped in the body of one of their own.