“Guess it’s time to head out.”

Go Byeonggap stood at the entrance and swept his gaze across the inside of the house. The neatly organized living room felt oddly cold. It lacked the cozy warmth of a six-pyeong bachelor pad.

He pushed the bitterness aside and stepped out. He had no intention of returning for the next two to three weeks.

Ah, you’re wondering where he’s headed?

“I just hope the goblin farming pays off.”

He was off to find new recruits.

Asvillam currently housed 457 goblins. Add Ea, Doran, and Go Byeonggap himself, and the count stood exactly at 460.

That was over ten times the original thirty-three, but it still wasn’t enough. Byeonggap wanted at least 1,500.

‘If I leave five or six hundred in Somnium and march out with a thousand, that’d be perfect.’

He wasn’t sure he could even add another hundred and fifty, let alone reach 1,500, but he hit the road anyway. Stand still, and you’re just a sack of rice waiting to be tied.

He slid into his compact car and drove hard. Even two weeks felt tight for crisscrossing the country two or three times.

* * *

«Alright, step through this gate and you’re in Asvillam. Single file.»

«Ooh! Asvillam!»

The start was promising.

He’d found 107 goblins in the first D-rank rift he stepped into. As they say, a good beginning makes a good ending.

«Gobungi! Take the newbies!»

«Yep!»

«Get them washed and fed first.»

«Got it!»

He left the training to Gobungi and headed straight for the next rift, a grin spreading across his face.

“Hehehe. At this rate, I’ll be rolling in it in five days.”

……Surprisingly, that didn’t happen.

Second strike — nothing.

Third strike — nothing.

Fourth strike — still nothing.

“Ugh — hack!”

“What the hell, why is it only Duduri popping out!? Is this a theme park or what?”

Byeonggap slashed his sword with irritation. The plant-type monster Duduri burst into fragments and died all around him.

‘Can’t even eat these things. Should I just leave? …No. I’ll use them for firewood or materials.’

It was late anyway — no more rift exploring today. With a firm resolve, he swung his sword like a storm, clearing the hidden world.

By now, an E-rank rift didn’t even qualify as a warm-up.

His day ended with gathering the Duduri harvest. He crossed back into Asvillam.

The rapid changes over the past few days made Asvillam feel unfamiliar.

‘At first, there was truly nothing here.’

Now it had the feel of a proper village. Sure, it had a rustic edge, but wasn’t that Asvillam’s charm?

«Ah! Lord. You’ve arrived?»

«Hey, Gobbung-gobbung Gobungi. Had dinner?»

«Just. Ate. And you, Lord. Have you dined?»

«I’ve eaten too. What about the new ones?»

Gobungi pointed with his finger toward the barracks.

«To the barracks. Led them. Will teach them. Starting tomorrow.»

«Good, well done.»

«Hehe!»

«More importantly, Gobungi. Round up the kids.»

«Now?»

«Yes. Have everyone gather in front of the clock tower — the new ones too.»

«Understood!»

Gobungi sprinted off toward the encampment. Go Byeonggap lit a cigarette and started walking toward the fields.

On the way he stopped by the chicken coop. He’d been putting the roosters and hens together more often lately, and now spirit-chicks and regular chicks were popping up all over.

‘I just expanded this coop not long ago, and I’m already going to have to make it bigger. …These guys just go ahead and breed on their own if you leave them alone.’

Looking at the chickens, he couldn’t help thinking of the goblins.

Rooster and hen, together.

Male goblin and female goblin, together—

“Tch. That’s a bit…”

He felt his mind fog up and quickly shook the thought away.

Honestly, his position was awkward too.

Back when he’d first shelled out the big money for a female goblin, he’d pictured a harmonious goblin couple smoothly producing offspring.

But the moment he saw Doran, that vision shattered. Doran was, at best, fourteen or fifteen years old.

‘How the hell am I supposed to do that to such a little kid? No way.’

Of course, applying human ethics to goblins might be pointless. But what could he do? He was human.

Actually, ethics aside, the goblins’ own mindset was the real problem. Those bastards had none of the “certain desires” a “male” was supposed to have.

‘Dorma told me about it, but I never imagined it was this bad.’

Not a single one of Asvillam’s goblins harbored romantic feelings for Doran. They didn’t even show a hint of it.

To them, Doran was just a fellow goblin or a terrifying instructor. The reverse was no different.

Go Byeonggap couldn’t decide whether to feel relieved or sigh at this point. Whatever the case, it was fortunate there were no incidents or accidents…

“Can’t exactly shove a bunch of clueless horny bastards under one roof either. Ugh, what a headache.”

«My Lord! Everyone. Is gathered!»

Gobungi waved his arms over his head and shouted. Go Byeonggap got to his feet.

«Oh, coming now.»

Time would take care of it. That was the conclusion he settled on. Once he broke the curse on the goblins, things would work out somehow.

In front of the clock tower, a crowd of goblins had assembled. Doran and Ea were there too.

«Is everyone here?»

«Yep! Not a single one. Is missing.»

«Good. Gobungi, you stay by my side.»

Gobungi, who’d been about to slip away, froze. The guy had a question mark all over his face, but he did as he was told.

«Did you all eat well?»

«Yes!»

He asked about their evening meal. The goblins answered in unison, making the field ring.

God, my ears… Go Byeonggap made a gesture as if to lower the volume.

«Sorry to drag you all here while you were resting. I gathered everyone because I have a few announcements to make.»

«What is it, Lord?»

«First, I’m giving this place a name. Effective today, this rocky mountain shall be called Somnium! Somnium will serve as the first stronghold of Asvillam.»

«Somnium?»

The word seemed unfamiliar to the goblins; they muttered it over and over, letting it settle on their tongues.

«Remember it well. Later, when I tell you to head to Somnium, this is where you’ll come. Understood?»

«Yes, understood!»

«Good. And another thing.»

«Huh?»

He grabbed Gobungi by the arm and yanked him forward, planting him in front of his own feet.

«Gobungi here will be the head of Somnium. When I’m not around, you listen to him. Got it?»

«Understood!»

«Alright, Gobungi—say a few words.»

«Uh? W-Words. You mean, like… speaking?»

The poor thing kept glancing back and forth between the crowd and the Lord, panic flickering in his eyes.

«Hurry up. You’re keeping everyone waiting.»

«Ah! Yes! Um… p-please take care of me!»

«Now, applause.»

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Amid the thunderous applause, the modest appointment ceremony came to an end.

There was no dissent, no objection—not a single one. All goblins were equal under the Lord, and the Lord’s word was absolute.

«And now for the main matter. Doran!»

«Yes, Lord!»

Doran answered with a crisp, spirited voice when her name was called. Go Byeonggap continued.

«And the First and Second Platoons—the infantry. You lot I called out, stand up.»

The goblins Go Byeonggap had pointed at rose to their feet.

Sixty-one of them, in total.

«Starting tomorrow, you’re exempt from the work details.»

«Huh? What do you mean by that?»

One goblin asked. Go Byeonggap put off answering and instead turned his head toward the mist. The goblins naturally followed his gaze.

«When tomorrow’s sun rises, I’m going to clear that mist away.»

«Huh!?»

«Suddenly? But Lord, you said there was still time left, didn’t you?»

Dorma asked, a note of bewilderment in his voice. The other goblins buzzed with the same confusion.

«I didn’t say we’re descending the mountain. We’re going to build walls around Somnium.»

«Walls, you say?»

«Right. We need to build the walls with the river inside them. To do that, we’ll have to fell trees from the forest and clear away the rocks.»

Go Byeonggap turned his head to look at Doran.

«Doran. From now on, you’re the infantry captain. Starting tomorrow, you’ll lead the platoon and stand guard.»

«Guard duty? What exactly am I supposed to do?»

«Simple. Patrol the area around Somnium and keep an eye out for any threats. From tomorrow morning, armor up as soon as you wake. Be ready to fight at any moment.»

«I think I get it. Got it!»

«First and Second Platoons—the infantry. From now on, you follow Doran’s orders. Understand?»

«Yes! Understood!»

«Good. I’ll brief you on precautions and detailed protocols tomorrow. Gobungi.»

«Ah! Yes!»

«Tomorrow morning, pick out a hundred and fifty workers and have them wait in front of the kitchen. Make sure they bring shovels and axes.»

«Yes, sir! Understood.»

«Good. That’s all for the briefing. Everyone, dismissed!»

«Thank you for your hard work!»

At the order to disband, the goblins scattered.

Go Byeonggap spotted Ea among them and called her over.

«Ea.»

«Hm? Did you call for me?»

«Yeah. Let’s talk a bit.»

«Alright. I suppose you have something to say to me?»

«What is it? Are you two going to talk alone again? Let me in on it!»

«…Fine, Doran. Come here and sit down too.»

Ea and Doran approached. The three of them crouched down on the steps of the clock tower.

«What’s this talk about? The look on your face is making me nervous. Is it bad news?»

«Ea.»

«Yes. Go ahead.»

«As you probably already know, I’m planning to lead the goblins out soon to find a new base.»

«Yes, I know. You mentioned it the other day in the kitchen. I was there too, after all.»

«So, about that…»

As Go Byeonggap hesitated, Ea tilted her head.

«Should I brace myself for a surprise? You’re not usually one to beat around the bush.»

«Ea, do you want to stay here? Or come outside with me?»

«What?»

Ea’s eyes went wide. Before she could answer, Go Byeonggap asked Doran the same question.

«Doran, think it over. Do you want to stay here, or come with me—»

«I’ll follow you, Lord! No question about it!»

Doran answered before he could even finish. Go Byeonggap let out a small sigh.

Doran clung to his arm, pleading.

«You’re not going to leave me behind, are you? Please, take me with you!»

«Don’t worry. I was planning to take you from the start.»

«Really? Phew…»

Doran patted her flat chest in relief.

«What about you, Ea? I’m fine with whatever you decide.»

«Hmm…»

Ea fell into thought for a moment. After a while, she lifted her head and asked.

«Do you need me on your journey?»

«I need your knowledge. No one knows better than you what’s beyond the mist. Of course, I’m not forcing you. Whether you stay here or come along, I’ll be satisfied either way.»

«Will you give me some time to think?»

«Alright. But let me know as soon as you can.»

«I’ll tell you by tomorrow.»

«Good. You two can go now.»

«Lord. Good night!»

«Aye. Sleep well, you too.»

He sent the two women off. Go Byeonggap’s mind was a tangle of emotions, so he stuck a cigarette between his lips.

* * *

«Is everyone here?»

«Yes!»

The goblins answered with a booming chorus.

A hundred and fifty workers, each holding a shovel or an axe. Beside them stood infantry and a raid team, armed with spears and blades.

«I already told you — speed is everything. Stay sharp, and let’s wrap this up as fast as we can.»

«Yes, sir! Understood!»

«And Doran.»

«Yes, My Lord!»

«If you so much as catch a whiff of a Grugle, do not — I repeat, do not — engage recklessly. Reporting is your top priority. Remember that.»

«Got it! Leave it to me!»

«Raid Team. You’ll move with Doran today, backing her up.»

«As you command.»

Dorma answered for them all.

Go Byeonggap nodded, satisfaction tugging at his lips as he called up the shop window.

‘Ancient Shop’

[Explorer’s Flag]

-Price: 500,000 Crystals

-Description: The banner of Landriol, a legendary explorer and conqueror of the continent. When planted in unclaimed land, it expands your territory.

‘Finally buying it. The Explorer’s Flag!’

Without a moment’s hesitation, he purchased the flag. Light shimmered in the air, and then a magnificent banner materialized before him.

It was a large, broad flag — the kind a standard-bearer would carry. On its triangular fabric was emblazoned a winged sword.

The moment he gripped the flagpole, a hologram flickered to life.

[Plant the flag in unclaimed land.]

‘I know.’

Go Byeonggap took the flag in both hands. He strode forward, step by step. As the fog loomed just ahead, his heart thumped against his ribs.

Unease and anticipation tangled together, stirring a strange brew of emotion inside him.

He glanced back at the goblins. Every single one of them looked tense.

A wide grin spread across Go Byeonggap’s face as he shouted.

«Let’s move! This is New Asvillam’s first foray!»

With a roar, he drove the flag into the mist.