«Wooowaaah!»

A beat-up subcompact pushing three hundred thousand kilometers on the odometer tore across the wasteland.

No pavement meant every pass kicked up thick clouds of dust. Still, it ran fine.

«Doran, get your head in. Close the window too.»

«But, my Lord! This feels amazing!»

«Tch.»

Doran had her upper body half out the window, whooping like mad. Pure childlike mischief lighting up her face.

‘Well, she is a kid, I guess.’

Go Byeonggap snorted and floored the accelerator. The needle passed ninety as the chassis shuddered and clattered. Doran’s cheers only got louder.

‘Nothing useful out here, huh.’

They’d circled a twenty-kilometer radius around Baltadren. Found nothing worth mentioning. A few wandering Grugles scouring the wasteland, that was about it.

‘Then again, Ea said the spirits hid in the mountains.’

According to Ea, most of the continent was barren wasteland. Even spirits couldn’t survive that harshness. The mountains were the only livable spots, so the spirits burrowed deeper and deeper into them.

‘Still, I scouted a few good spots. Gotta be satisfied with that.’

It wasn’t a total loss. He’d seen a major river, and a sprawling mountain range. That’d come in handy when they set up a third stronghold someday.

«Time to head back.»

«Yes!»

He turned the car around, heading back toward Baltadren. The western sky was draped in sunset, painting a magnificent afterglow across the horizon.

Say what you would, but the scenery was killer. Byeonggap couldn’t resist and pulled the car over.

«Huh? Lord, why?»

«Just wanna take a picture. You get out too.»

«A picture?»

He and Doran stepped out of the car. Byeonggap switched on his phone’s camera and snapped a few shots of the sunset. Doran, standing beside him, watched with curious eyes.

While he was at it, he turned the lens toward her and took one of Doran.

Click! The sound startled her, and she flinched.

«Wha—what was that?»

«Take a look.»

«Wow! That’s me, isn’t it? How did you do that?»

He gave Doran a rough explanation of what a photograph was. Sharp as she was, she caught on quickly.

«Then I’ll take one of you, Lord.»

«Of me? Ah, don’t bother.»

«Hurry up!»

«Fine, fine…»

He handed the phone over, acting reluctant. Doran struck various poses and clicked away.

‘Not bad at all.’

With a backdrop this killer, even a sloppy shot turned out beautiful. The bare hill against the sunset was especially stunning.

They snapped pictures for a while before climbing back into the car. Driving while taking in the scenery, they reached Baltadren in no time.

«Open the gate!»

«The Lord has returned!»

The guards at the gate scrambled to open it. Byeonggap rolled down the window and waved.

«You’re working hard.»

«No, my Lord!»

«Good work.»

The goblins were winding down their workday. Baltadren, once little more than ruins, was slowly taking on the shape of a lived-in place.

A group of goblins passed by, carrying building debris. Byeonggap opened his mouth out of habit.

«Hey, where’s Gobungi…»

«Yes?»

«Ah… nothing. Just keep at it.»

‘Right, Gobungi’s not here.’

It had become a habit to look for Gobungi first whenever he needed something done.

‘That little bastard made giving orders so much easier.’

Gobungi’s absence, left behind in Somnium, felt enormous.

‘Guess I need to pick a few work foremen.’

Byeonggap moved on, mulling over a few candidates.

His destination was the residential district. He entered one of the few buildings that had been cleared out inside.

«Ah. Lord. You came?»

A Tiny goblin rose to greet Byeonggap.

Byeonggap casually glanced around the house. The only furniture was a simple cot. In one corner, empty formula cans were stacked high.

«Anything unusual happen?»

«Uh. Nothing unusual. But…»

«But?»

«This one. Keeps eating. Doesn’t stop. Eats.»

Tiny glanced sidelong at the bed. A strapping infant lay there, sucking down formula with savage intensity.

«Three bottles today. Drank. Shit. Drank. Shit. That’s all he does.»

«Hm…»

«If I don’t feed him? He screams. Loud.»

Three days ago, he’d taken in the child that came from the harpy’s belly.

If it had been an ordinary monster cub, he’d have killed it outright. But what came out was, incongruously, a human child.

He couldn’t just let it die.

Go Byeonggap let out a heavy sigh before answering.

«Keep feeding him for now. Better than starving him.»

«Right. Got it.»

By the time the sun had set, the goblins were gathered in murmuring clusters for dinner. In their midst, Go Byeonggap picked out ten hob goblins.

Only those who’d been in Asvillam long enough.

«As of today, you’re work foremen.»

«W-work… foreman?»

«What’s… that mean?»

«Don’t overthink it. Just do what Gobungi did back in Somnium—manage the kids, oversee the work.»

«Ah…»

«For now, that’s all you need to know. You won’t have anything to do right away.»

«Understood.»

‘I should give them names too.’

If he wanted to call them easily going forward, names were a must. He decided to mull it over through the night.

The next morning, Go Byeonggap woke up in his officetel.

Since he’d planned to handle Asvillam business today, he skipped the hunts. He’d already run two rounds each day for the past three days anyway.

After a quick breakfast, he headed to a large stationery store. There, he bought ten armbands and ten name tags.

“What the hell do I name them… Something so trivial, and it’s a headache.”

He stood there for a long while, holding a permanent marker, hesitating. Then, with a flash of inspiration, he started scribbling.

“Keep it simple. Ilbungi, Ibungi, Sambungi, Sabungi…”

Honestly, even he couldn’t stifle a sigh at the depth of his own creativity.

Anyway, he crossed over to Asvillam with the armbands and name tags. The goblins had just finished breakfast and were preparing for the day.

Perfect timing—everyone was gathered in one spot.

‘Convenient.’

He shouted in a loud voice.

«The ones I appointed as work foremen yesterday—step forward!»

«Ah! Yes!»

Ten hob goblins scrambled out.

Go Byeonggap fastened armbands and name tags onto them, holding a brief inauguration ceremony.

«Listen up, everyone. From now on, whatever they say is my word. You’ll obey them accordingly.»

«Yes! Understood!»

«Good. Work foremen, follow me for a moment.»

He gathered Ilbungi through Yeolbungi in front of him and set the tone.

«Starting today, we’ll be cutting a path into the mountain.»

«Which mountain… do you mean?»

«I’m talking about the mountain where Somnium sits. Fortunately, the slope’s gentle—just need to clear some rocks and trees, patch up a few spots, and it should be an easy job.»

«Ohh. Is that so?»

The work foremen nodded, their faces lit with admiration.

Go Byeonggap let out a groan, then split the foremen into two groups.

Ilbungi through Chilbungi on the left, the rest on the right.

«You lot are coming out with me. Uh—excluding Tiny and his kind, pick seventy workers each. Grab axes, shovels, and hoes. Got it?»

The goblins exchanged glances, then nodded.

«Understood. Each. Seventy men. And grab axes, shovels, hoes. That’s it, isn’t it?»

«Yeah, spot on. Good work.»

«Where do we. Rally?»

«Assemble in front of the South Gate.»

«Yes, sir!»

The work foremen vanished in a flash. Now it was time to task the ones left behind.

«You finish up here while we’re out. Just keep doing what you’re doing.»

«Keep doing. Is that it? Understood.»

«Ah, Yeolbungi.»

«…Ah! Yes, sir!»

«Take about twenty Tiny-goblins to the river and scoop up some dirt.»

«Dirt… you say?»

«Yeah, grab something like buckets and take it easy scooping it up. I’ll tell you where to pile it later.»

«Understood. But. How much. Should we scoop?»

«Just keep at it until I get back.»

«Understood.»

«I’ll tell the guards to keep an eye out—if any Grugles show up, you retreat into the fortress immediately.»

«I’ll keep that in mind.»

After giving those orders, Go Byeonggap went to find Doran. He told her to gear up with the 1st and 2nd Infantry Divisions and wait at the gate.

«Okay, I got it. Is that all?»

«Ah, and go to the cold storage and grab 510 combat rations. Same amount of bottled water.»

«Five hundred ten of each? Sure! I’ll pack them up.»

«Looks like we’ll have to eat lunch outside. Anyway, I’m leaving it to you.»

«Don’t you worry about a thing! Hehe!»

«Come to the South Gate once you’ve got everything.»

Preparations flew by like clockwork.

Go Byeonggap scurried around issuing orders, and in the meantime, the work crews gathered before the South Gate.

Go Byeonggap drove the light car over.

The waiting goblins stared wide-eyed as their Lord rolled up in a vehicle.

He got out briefly to inspect the personnel and supplies. Everything was in order.

«Doran.»

«Yes, Lord. But why did you drive here?»

«I’m heading ahead to scout Somnium first. You lead the kids to the Rock Mountain. Can you do it?»

«Of course I can! No problem.»

«Then I’ll leave it to you. Take it slow. No rushing, got it?»

«Yes!»

«Good, then I’ll see you later.»

The gate swung open. Go Byeonggap gunned the engine and shot out, the car tearing away from the fortress.

He floored the accelerator, heading for the rocky mountain. Minutes of smooth, untroubled sprint across the open wilderness, and he was already there.

But the real work started now. A long climb to Somnium still lay ahead.

‘Need to get there and back before the kids arrive. Better hustle.’

He released his internal energy the same way he did in a fight. For an instant his body blurred, and then he was scaling the mountain without pause.

He moved like a wolf—no, a peregrine falcon, each stride effortless and precise.

Whenever his breath ran short and strength flagged, he pulled the prepared jerky from his pocket.

‘Jerky made from Gold Dragon meat, no less.’

A strip that cost a whole 2,000 Crystals. Too precious to devour all at once; he bit off only a knuckle-sized piece.

A nutty, savory richness spread across his tongue. Almost immediately, the drained vitality surged back into his limbs.

He climbed on, brimming with renewed power.

In just thirty minutes, he reached the mid-slope where Somnium stood.

“Haaah! Haaah! Geez, I’m about dead.”

He stumbled out of the forest on leaden legs. Ahead, a massive wall rose before him.

Goblins on watch patrolled the ramparts. Worried they might mistake him for a target, he raised both arms—

«It’s the Lord! The Lord has come!»

Shouts erupted from the other side, and the gate swung open.

‘Little bastards, making such a fuss.’

As he stepped through the gate, the first to greet him were the guards.

They bubbled with joy, calling out, “My Lord! My Lord!”

«Where’s Gobungi?»

«He should be… at the cave. I think.»

«Is that so? Got it. Everyone, back to your business.»

Setting foot on Somnium soil after so long felt incredibly good. Go Byeonggap took his time, savoring the atmosphere as he walked.

“Whoa, you’ve expanded the chicken coop? And the fields are lush.”

At a glance, they seemed to be doing well. The goblins working the fields and the coop spotted him, their eyes going wide.

Then they came running at full tilt.

«Lord! Lord!»

«Lord! When did you get here!»

«My Lord!»

«You boys been doing all right?!»

Go Byeonggap laughed brightly, greeting them all. The commotion outside must have carried into the cave.

Someone peeked out from the cave entrance. It was Gobungi.

«L-L-L-Lord!?»

«Oh, Gobungi!»

«The Lord is here! Everyone, come out! The Lord is here!»

«What? The Lord?»

A moment later, goblins spilled out of the cave in droves. They all looked sleek and well-fed.

«My Lord! Wh-when did you arrive?»

«Just now. Man, Gobungi, it’s been a while.»

«Yes! It’s been… sob!»

«Aish, why are you crying again? That’s disgusting.»

The goblins’ eyes reddened. Despite their looks, these guys were surprisingly sensitive.

«Are you getting along alright here? Eating properly?»

«Yes. We never skip meals. We make sure to eat. Well.»

«Well, that’s a relief. How about the Grugle?»

«After My Lord left. They appeared a few times. But only. One or two. At a time.»

«I was worried, but that’s good to hear.»

«By the way. What business. Brings you here? Alone.»

«Business? No, I just got curious how you all were doing.»

«Is that so? My Lord. We’ve truly. Missed you.»

«Aigoo, stop with that disgusting talk.»

Even as he said it, a smile never left Go Byeonggap’s face.

Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he spoke.

«Ah, right. There is one thing I need to do.»

«Hm? Is there. Unfinished business. In Somnium?»

«Yeah, I’ve got something to entrust to you.»

«Uh… What is it?»

Instead of answering, Go Byeonggap opened the Ancient Shop.

[Ancient Shop]

– Construction

– Technology

– Sundries

– Other

[Crystals Held: 10,089,469]

‘Finally buying it. Finally.’

Yesterday, the number of crystals held had passed the ten million mark.

Go Byeonggap’s fingers moved without hesitation, searching for the item he wanted.

[Seed of Enlightenment]

– Price: 10,000,000 Crystals

– Description: A seed of the World Tree, Yggdrasil. It contains the lost spirit of a race whose wisdom was taken by a god’s wrath. If the World Tree sprouts, it can calm the god’s anger.

Go Byeonggap looked at the shop window with satisfaction and spoke.

«It’s nothing major. Just raise one tree, like you raised those chickens.»