Go Byeonggap worked the Synthesis Furnace tirelessly. Without a moment’s pause, it spat out wooden swords and wooden staffs.

The two women, who’d come to watch, helped him move the finished items.

«Lord. Why are you making these?»

«To train the kids.»

Doran looked like she didn’t quite understand.

«Combat training?»

«That’s right.»

«Why?»

«What else? If I’m going to fight and beat enemies, I need to train.»

«Ah. You mean to fight those monsters outside the fog?»

«How do you know there are monsters outside the fog?»

«Ea told me.»

«I did? Told what?»

Right on cue, Ea appeared, wiping the sweat from her forehead as she caught her breath.

«How many are you planning to make? I feel like I’ve already moved thirty of them.»

«Well. First I need to make enough for the kids’ head count.»

«Then you’ll have to make over three hundred more.»

Pssssshhhhh…

The alchemy device finished another bundle of wooden staves. Go Byeonggap opened the container and pulled out all the contents.

They were truly simple weapons. Byeonggap swung one experimentally — it felt solid and well-made.

«That alchemy thing. I’d like to learn it too.»

«You?»

«Yes. Last time I saw it, there wasn’t anything you couldn’t make with that. Clothes, weapons—I like making things. I’ve got pretty good hands for it, too.»

«Hoh. That’s not bad.»

He nodded, a slow motion of agreement.

Up till now, he’d been teaching alchemy to Gobungi, but contrary to expectations, Gobungi’s progress wasn’t great. It seemed alchemy demanded a level of imagination that was just beyond him.

‘Ea, though—she feels like she’d be good at this.’

That ever-chattering spirit, Ea.

From what he’d seen of her, she handled tasks with meticulous care and solid competence. She had an inherent delicacy about her.

«Alright, I’ll teach you this evening, then.»

«Oh, really? Thank you!»

«What about me? Teach me too!»

«You…»

Doran cut in abruptly. Go Byeonggap’s voice trailed off.

‘That one’s the fumble-prone type.’

Doran’s movements were somewhat clumsy. Whatever she did, it always felt like it came up just two percent short.

Go Byeonggap paused for a moment, then answered as if dodging the question.

«Let me think about it. Move these for now.»

With that, he shoved a bundle of wooden poles into her arms. Doran pouted, but somehow managed to accept them.

She wobbled away, carrying well over ten wooden poles in her arms.

‘She’s strong.’

Small frame, skinny limbs—where did all that strength come from? Meanwhile, Ea struggled with just five poles, grunting under the weight.

Go Byeonggap lit a cigarette to catch his breath, staring at the pile of timber.

“Hoo, won’t be done with this until evening at this rate.”

After a moment, he stubbed out the butt and dove back into work. The alchemical device hummed all day long.

* * *

-Bweep-bweep-bik! Bweep-bweep-bik!

The alarm blared loudly. Go Byeonggap cracked one eye open and fumbled for his phone. 5:30 in the morning.

‘Let’s take the day off.’

He shut off the alarm and closed his eyes again. His whole body ached. Yesterday he’d made four hundred wooden swords and spears combined, then stayed up late teaching Ea alchemy.

Byeonggap might have been verging on superhuman, but tired was still tired.

He let himself sleep in. When he opened his eyes again, it was around nine in the morning.

He threw together a simple meal, ate, and crossed over to Asvillam.

“Hwaaah.”

He stretched wide. Asvillam was as quiet and peaceful as ever.

The first place he headed was the chicken coop.

Bok bok bok.

The hens pecked at their feed with a haughty air. They seemed bigger than yesterday.

Wondering if there might be eggs, Byeonggap scanned the inside of the pen.

“No way, there actually are?”

There they were. A few hens were brooding over them protectively, even though they were unfertilized and would never hatch into chicks.

‘Kind of amazing, honestly.’

Hell. Who would’ve ever imagined he’d be raising chickens and collecting eggs?

Seeing those eggs gave him a strange surge of confidence. Maybe he could raise cattle, pigs, goats too.

Kkok-kko-DEK!

A more aggressive sound came from the adjacent pen. Byeonggap glared over, and the roosters glared right back.

‘Why are those bastards so hateable?’

The hated get the extra cookie, he supposed. Byeonggap tossed a handful of feed into the roosters’ pen, then moved on.

Next was the field. From a distance, he could tell something was wrong.

‘…What the hell is this.’

Yesterday, this was definitely a field.

Today, it was a jungle. The potato and sweet potato sprouts had grown almost knee-high. The weeds too.

‘If I leave this, shit’s going to hit the fan.’

Byeonggap strode into the middle of it. He grabbed a sweet potato vine and pulled carefully. Something heavy resisted underground.

“No… how the hell…!”

Byeonggap braced himself and yanked the vine. A moment later, something massive burst out of the soil.

His jaw dropped.

“Is—is this a sweet potato or a pumpkin?”

It was no exaggeration: a sweet potato the size of a grown man’s calf had popped out. Easily bigger than three or four normal ones combined.

Byeonggap was staring dumbly at the sweet potato when—

«Oh? Lord. You’re here?»

«Lord. Hello.»

Two normal goblins appeared carrying watering cans. They moved with practiced ease, scooping water from a rubber basin.

«Hey hey. What are you two up to?»

«Water. Giving. You told us to. Remember?»

«Hey. Stop, stop.»

Go Byeonggap cut in quickly.

He held up a sweet potato bigger than his own face.

«What are you gonna do, build a house with sweet potatoes? Hey, Tiny. Go to the cave and bring about ten of the others.»

«Ten?»

«Yeah. We’re pulling all of these today.»

«Ah, got it.»

The designated goblin scrambled into motion.

Go Byeonggap brushed the dirt off the sweet potato, then split it in half. The white, firm flesh was exposed.

He roughly peeled off the skin and took a big bite. Sweet juice flooded his mouth.

As he chewed the sweet potato, he felt someone staring. He held out the other half.

«Try it.»

«Thanks!»

«Hey, hey. You gotta brush the dirt off before you eat it.»

«Ah. Got it.»

The goblin peeled the skin with its teeth, just like Byeonggap had. Then it sank its teeth into the revealed flesh, taking a huge bite. After chewing a few times, its eyes went wide.

«Good, right?»

«Good! Sweet!»

«It’s even better grilled. I think we’re having roasted sweet potatoes for lunch today.»

«Great!»

A little later, the goblin sent to fetch reinforcements returned. Go Byeonggap put the twelve goblins to work.

«You lot go to the storeroom and bring a cart. The rest of you, come here.»

Go Byeonggap gathered the goblins in a circle and showed them how to pull sweet potatoes.

«You can’t just yank them out. Gently, carefully… like this!»

«Ooh!»

Another sweet potato saw the light of day through his hands. The watching goblins gasped in awe.

«This way the vine doesn’t snap and the tuber comes out clean. You try.»

«Ah, yes, sir!»

The hob goblin stepped forward with a determined air. It mimicked Byeonggap’s movements exactly and pulled out a sweet potato.

«Good job. That’s how you do it.»

«Yes!»

«We’re pulling every single sweet potato here today. Alright, let’s start.»

Go Byeonggap rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward.

«The Lord… will do it himself?»

«Yeah. I don’t have anything else to do this morning anyway. What, you don’t wanna work with me?»

«No, sir! It’s good!»

«What are you all standing around for? Get to it.»

«Yep!»

Go Byeonggap pulled sweet potatoes alongside the goblins. Every time a big one came up, gasps of admiration erupted from all around.

While they worked, the goblins he’d sent on an errand came back pulling the cart.

«You two load the sweet potatoes we’ve pulled onto the cart. Then take them toward the encampment.»

«Understood!»

Warm sunlight streamed down, and a cool breeze blew across Asvillam.

Go Byeonggap and his goblins formed a line and steadily cleared the field, row by row.

The vines, stripped of their tubers, were piled in one spot. Even those could be stir-fried into something edible if you had to.

«What are you doing, Lord?»

He was just getting into the rhythm when Doran’s voice came out of nowhere.

Byeonggap straightened his back and let out a sigh.

«Pulling sweet potatoes. What are you up to? Shouldn’t you be helping Ea?»

«I was helping, but I came to see what the goblins were carrying. They’re all dragging something weird.»

Doran hesitated a beat, then went on.

«Can I try too?»

«Suit yourself.»

«Awesome!»

She bounded into the field, brimming with enthusiasm. Byeonggap showed her how to pull sweet potatoes.

«Think you can manage?»

«Of course I can! Just grab and yank—»

Snap!

The vine gave way limply in her hand.

«Huh? Why’d it break?»

«Hey, you gotta be gentle. If you rip at it like that, it’ll snap every time!»

Byeonggap clicked his tongue.

«Come here. Watch.»

He carefully loosened the earth around the broken stem and dug out the severed potato.

«I-I want to try again!»

«The furrow next to me is empty. Go work there.»

«Got it!»

She dove in with gusto. The results were abysmal.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

Every vine she grabbed snapped clean off. By now, Byeonggap was starting to wonder if she was doing it on purpose.

«What do you think you’re doing?»

«Th-this keeps… why does it keep…»

Doran shrank, her stammering voice trailing off. Byeonggap let out a heavy sigh.

«Sorry. I just wanted to help.»

«It’s fine. Everyone messes up sometimes.»

«R-right? Then let me—»

«Go help Ea. Lunch is almost ready.»

«……»

She blinked, her lips pressing together. Finally, shoulders drooping, she nodded.

«Yes…» With a listless tread, she trudged out of the field.

She trudged out of the field, her steps heavy.

Lost in the work, Byeonggap didn’t look up until lunchtime. The sweet potato field was about half done.

‘Afternoon, I’ll have the kids finish the rest. Sweet potatoes tomorrow.’

«Time to eat!»

«Yes sir!»

Byeonggap led the work crew back to camp. Ea was bustling about, all smiles, as she laid out the meal.

The spread was simple: leftover soup rice from yesterday, paired with baked sweet potatoes. But the smell was irresistible.

The goblins blew on the steaming potatoes before taking bites, their eyes lighting up with every crunch of approval.

Byeonggap squeezed in among them and bit into his own sweet potato. Each one was so huge that a single serving was nearly a full meal.

«Ah! You’ve arrived, have you?»

As he was about to dig in, Ea approached and spoke. She was practically buzzing with excitement.

Ea pointed to a pile of sweet potatoes stacked in a corner of the campsite.

«I’ve never seen such magnificent crops in my entire life. I was wondering what you’d planted in the field, and it turns out it was treasure like this.»

«Good timing, actually. I had something I wanted to tell you too.»

«Something to tell me? What is it? Is it about Doran again?»

«No. You know the chicken coop where I put the hens, right?»

«Yes, of course I do. Why? Did something happen to the chickens?»

«Not that. There should be eggs in there. Use those for cooking too.»

«Oh, really? That’s wonderful news.»

Ea let out a tinkling laugh.

Then she suddenly revealed something she’d been hiding behind her back. Go Byeonggap looked at it, curious.

«Ta-da! What do you think?»

«…Did you make this?»

«Yes! I made it with the alchemy you taught me yesterday!»

It was a coat. A coat made from monster hide.

The construction was simple, but the shape and finish were quite impressive.

‘To achieve this much in a single day? That’s amazing.’

He didn’t show it on his face, but inside, he was genuinely impressed.

Then Ea held out what was in her hands to Go Byeonggap.

«This is for you.»

«For me?»

«Yes! I wanted to give you a gift in return for learning something good from you. After all, I’m a spirit of propriety.»

«You should have made one for yourself. But anyway, thanks. I’ll wear it well.»

He took the coat. Honestly, whether he’d actually wear it was another question—especially a thick leather coat in the middle of summer.

Still, being given a gift put him in a good mood.

«……»

Meanwhile.

Doran watched from a distance as Ea and Go Byeonggap chatted. Unease flickered in her eyes.

Lunch ended shortly after.

Go Byeonggap ordered the goblins not to head out for work but to gather in the field instead. The goblins obeyed without complaint.

Before long, everyone had assembled except for those sent to work in the fields and with Ea.

The first thing Go Byeonggap did was have them imprint a combat manual.

«Everyone start.»

«Yes, sir!»

The goblins began imprinting the swordsmanship manual. Since they all had experience, the groundwork was done quickly—though the aftereffects were another matter.

Next, he handed out wooden swords and wooden clubs to the goblins. He also picked up a wooden sword for himself.

«Listen up. Some of you may already know, but beyond that mist, monsters called Grugles are running wild. We’ll probably have to fight those bastards eventually.»

Go Byeonggap swept his gaze over the direction of the mist and continued.

«You’ve gotten a lot stronger lately, but it’s still not enough. So starting today, we’ll be doing combat training. Since it’s the first day, we’ll all train together—from tomorrow, I’ll set up a rotation.»

«Yes, sir! Understood!»

«Alright, then — pair up in groups of three. I don’t care how you split it. Just find two other bastards you can stand and get it done.»

The goblins glanced at one another. It lasted only a moment. Then they followed Go Byeonggap’s orders and huddled into trios.

«Hey. Raid-team guys step out.»

«We’re sitting this out?»

«That’s right. You don’t need me to teach you — you’ll figure it out on your own.»

«Ah… Yes, sir.»

The raid team — the ones who entered the rifts alongside Byeonggap — had little left for him to teach them.

They’d likely already pushed their manual mastery rates up plenty.

«Now then. You three — step forward.»

«Ah— Y-yes, sir!»

A team of two normal goblins and one hob goblin shuffled out.

Go Byeonggap spoke to them flatly.

Training’s simple. Come at me. And I mean u2014 come at me like you’re trying to batter me into paste.

«Huh?»

The goblins flinched. No wonder — the training method was beyond radical.

‘This is the only way for now.’

Go Byeonggap was no tactician or strategist. He wasn’t some ancient general who’d carved his name into history.

So there was only one kind of training he could run right now.

‘Build up individual skill.’

He couldn’t forge a dream team. But he — could — forge a dream individual.

And when you gather outstanding individuals, a great team tends to form on its own.

‘Plus, sparring with the kids will naturally sharpen my own skills.’

He’d get stronger too — all in all, a pretty damn good training setup.

«What are you waiting for? I said come at me!»

«B-but… we… how dare we raise a hand to… our Lord…»

The goblins hesitated. They clearly felt awkward about aiming a weapon at their Lord.

Go Byeonggap sighed in exasperation and put the fear in them.

«For crying out loud — listen up, all of you! Anyone who doesn’t throw themselves into this training is going to regret it!»

«Eep! Y-yes, sir!»

At last, the goblins turned serious.

«Come!»

«Sir!»

The three goblins charged in unison.

The result played out exactly as expected.

«Ugh!»

«Gek!»

The goblins went flying before they could even land a proper swing.

Byeonggap’s sword-art manual stood at nearly ninety-five percent mastery; theirs had only just begun to sink in.

‘They’ve got basic combat sense, sure. But it’s all too raw and sloppy.’

The goblins fought purely on instinct. Their movements were big, excessive, wasteful.

All of it would need correction as they absorbed the manual.

‘Once every goblin in Asvillam finishes the low-grade manual, we’ll be ready to head out without trouble.’

Go Byeonggap thought as he sidestepped a wooden staff swinging at his head, then stabbed forward in a fluid follow-through.

«Aagh!»

The goblin hit by the practice sword tumbled flat on its back. Byeonggap had held back, so no real harm done.

He sheathed his sword and murmured.

«Done. Get the next group ready.»

The training continued. Goblins, paired in groups of three, rushed at Go Byeonggap one after another.

Occasionally, a team would push him back. The groups made up of a giant goblin and a beast goblin did just that.

But in the end, the picture was always Byeonggap overwhelming them. The gap in swordsmanship was just too wide.

They sparred without rest for a long while. Drenched in sweat, Byeonggap slumped to the floor.

«Hoo. Let’s take a break and then keep going.»

«My Lord, while you rest, may we take over watching the children?»

«Oh, that works. Alright. You guys look after them.»

«Understood.»

Six members of the raid team took Byeonggap’s place, facing off against the goblins.

Byeonggap lit a cigarette and watched. The whole scene looked pretty decent.

Just as Byeonggap found himself wishing for a tub of popcorn, a clear voice rang out from behind his head.

«What are you doing?»

It was Doran and Ea.