«Raise… a tree. Is that. What you mean?»

Gobungi asked with a look of utter bewilderment.

Go Byeonggap just smiled and moved his fingers.

[Do you wish to purchase the ‘Seed of Enlightenment’?]

A hologram asking for purchase confirmation. He didn’t hesitate and accepted. A moment later, space warped, and a seed the size of a kidney bean dropped down.

A seed smaller than a fingernail. Though its size was unassuming, its presence was anything but.

The seed glowed faintly with a rainbow hue and radiated a sparkling aura.

«Ohhh!»

«Wha, what. In the world. Is that?»

The startled goblins stumbled backward. Go Byeonggap handled the seed with the care of a man holding a family heirloom.

«I don’t really know either, but if this sprouts, something good will happen for us.»

«S-something good. You say? What kind…?»

«Who knows? Maybe you guys’ll get a little better-looking?»

Go Byeonggap said playfully, moving his body.

«You, go grab a shovel.»

«Ah, got it!»

A normal goblin sprinted over, breathless, and returned with a shovel. Go Byeonggap moved to the sunniest patch of the field and began to dig.

He dug deep enough, until the earth was moist. Gently, he placed the seed into the soil and covered it back over. Then he drove the shovel into the ground at the spot and spoke.

«Gobun, build a fence around this area. Don’t make it too wide. And make sure no one steps inside the fence.»

«Fence. No one. Enters. …Yep! Understood.»

«Good. And once a day, mix the elixir with water and pour it on this spot. Same as growing potatoes in a field.»

«That. I will do.»

«We still have plenty of elixir left, right?»

«Yep. Enough. We have.»

«Good.»

‘Broke as hell now…’

He’d bought an item worth a full ten million crystals. What remained was barely ninety thousand or so.

Time for austerity mode.

«Um, well. My Lord.»

«Hm? What?»

«This thing. You planted. It’s valuable. Isn’t it?»

«Oh, yeah. Damn expensive.»

Gobungi hesitated. Byeonggap waited, curious what he’d say, until the creature finally spoke.

«Is… it okay. To trust me. With this?»

«For crying out loud, I was wondering what you were getting at.»

Go Byeonggap let out a quiet snort of laughter.

«Why? Think you’ll mess it up?»

«A little. I’m worried. That it might go wrong…»

«So what if it does?»

«Huh?»

«I said so what if you mess up raising it? Just save up more crystals and start over.»

Gobungi’s lips twitched. Go Byeonggap patted his shoulder and continued.

«Don’t worry about that kind of stuff. We’ve got plenty of time. And I’m putting you in charge because I figure you’re better at raising things than I am.»

The precious Seed of Enlightenment.

There were two reasons he’d chosen to grow it in Somnium.

First, safety. Second, the environment.

Even though he was in Baltadren now, that place was exposed to all kinds of dangers. Go Byeonggap hadn’t forgotten what Ea had said about ‘a Grugle the size of a mountain.’

It might be peaceful for now, but disaster could strike at any moment, in ways no one could predict. In that sense, entrusting the seed to Somnium—the ‘last bastion’—was the right call.

And the environment.

No matter how much they improved the soil through reclamation, the truth was it still fell short in many ways. A tree would sink its roots deep into the earth as it grew, but if the subsoil was poor, growth would be stunted.

For those reasons, he’d decided to grow the World Tree in Somnium.

«Look at the time already. Anyway, Gobun, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just do what you always do.»

«Ah, I understand! I’ll do my best! …But, are you leaving already?»

«I have to. There’s work to do.»

As he spoke firmly, the goblins’ faces—Gobungi among them—fell into a sullen gloom.

Go Byeonggap forced brightness into his voice to lift the mood.

«Today, we’re starting the work to cut a road through the mountain. Once it’s done, traveling back and forth will be a lot easier. I’ll be able to come and go three or four times a day.»

«R-really?»

«Yeah, I need to get supplies to you lot, so I’ve got to push it through fast.»

Go Byeonggap exchanged brief goodbyes and hurried out of Somnium. The work crew would be arriving any minute now.

Sure enough, when he made it to the mountain’s foot, panting for breath, over five hundred workers were already waiting for him.

‘This is going to kill me. What’s this, some kind of survival training?’

He was on the verge of becoming an iron man against his will. To spare himself this hardship, he had to get that road finished as soon as possible.

Go Byeonggap steadied his frantic heartbeat as he commanded the work crew.

«Alright! Let’s get to work, now!»

* * *

Road construction was in full swing.

A long path from the base of the mountain to its midsection was being laid out. Felling trees and clearing boulders was grueling work. Yet not a single one slacked off; they were all focused.

With everyone united, the progress was terrifyingly fast.

While the work crew handled construction, Doran and the infantry guarded the area. There had been a few skirmishes over the past several days.

Thankfully, the attackers were all weak Grugle, so there was no damage.

«I have to go on a subjugation today, so you two will have to manage the kids yourselves. Can you do it?»

«No. Problem at all!»

«Trust. And leave it to us!»

«I love that confidence. Alright, I’m counting on you.»

Once a foundation was laid, things moved along smoothly even on their own.

‘The kids have to be able to survive without me.’

Seeing the goblins handle tasks on their own, proactively—that was Go Byeonggap’s ultimate goal.

He would entrust them with more and more in the future. So that someday, they could stand on their own without the Lord’s help.

‘Because I can’t be with you forever.’

As they crudely put it, isn’t a hunter’s life one where you never know what tomorrow might bring? Go Byeonggap wished the weight of being the Goblin Lord would lift from his shoulders sooner rather than later.

That day, he went on subjugation rounds. By the time he worked through one B-rank and one C-rank rift, it was around two in the afternoon.

On any other day, he would have crossed straight into Asvillam, but today he had other business.

“Yes, sir. I’ll see you around five, then.”

—Yes, yes, I’ll be waiting.

After the subjugation, his destination was a pig farm in Yeoncheon County. Of course, he wasn’t there to grill up some samgyeopsal.

“Asvillam’s second livestock will be pigs.”

He’d been planning to raise pigs for a while. With stability settling over Baltadren, it was time to bring in livestock and crops alike.

He’d even rented a livestock trailer for the trip to the pig farm. From the moment he stepped out of the car, the pigs’ squealing was relentless, a wall of noise that hit him full in the face.

“Oh, welcome, welcome!”

“Good to meet you, haha.”

The farmer barely exchanged pleasantries before cutting straight to business.

“Right this way.”

He led Go Byeonggap to the pen where the young sows were kept.

“These are Yorkshires, eight to nine months old — prime breeding age. All their shots are up to date. Go on in, take a look.”

“I can?”

“Of course.”

Byeonggap stepped into the pen. The sows were sleek, their hides clean and bodies sturdy. Bright-eyed, the kind that would drop litters smooth and easy.

“They look good. I’ll take thirty of these.”

“Yes, sir, excellent choice. Now let’s go see the boars.”

“Sounds good.”

Byeonggap bought eight strong boars and thirty sows in total.

“SKREEE! SKREEE!”

“SQUEAL!”

“Damn it, you idiots! You’re not going to the slaughterhouse! Cooperate!”

They threw a fit as he crammed them into the trailer. After a grueling struggle, he finally loaded every last pig and got behind the wheel.

The moment he was clear of the farm, he transferred them all into Asvillam — and himself along with them.

“SQUEAL!”

“SQUEAL! SQUEAL!”

‘Shit! This is bad!’

The pigs, now touching Baltadren’s soil, scattered in every direction.

Byeonggap lunged and grabbed the nearest one, wrestling it down.

“SQUEAL! SQUEAL!”

“Goddammit! We’re in trouble!”

«M-My Lord?»

A group of goblins happened to be passing by. Byeonggap shouted without hesitation.

«Hey! Grab those things — one each! Now!»

«We are to. catch these. beasts?»

«Don’t talk, just catch them!»

«Yes, sir! Understood—!»

«Krrrrowk! Krowk!»

«…Huh?»

Something astonishing happened. One beast goblin let out a savage roar — and the pigs froze solid. Like mice before a cat.

The beast goblin kept growling.

«Krrrowk!»

“Sque… squeal…”

Completely deflated, the pigs shuffled together in tiny steps, trembling like puppies desperate to shit.

The beast goblin asked calmly.

«My Lord. Where shall. we drive them?»

«Wow… you guys are full of tricks, huh?»

«Hehe. It is. nothing.»

«Well, you did great! Follow me.»

He led the pigs to the pens he’d built the day before. They were comically large for just thirty-eight head, but that didn’t matter — the numbers would swell soon enough.

‘I’ll need to bring in crops tomorrow. Plant soy and corn for pig feed, and use the remaining land mainly for famine-relief crops.’

A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth from the rising anticipation.

One day passed. Then two.

Five days, eight, ten — they slipped away without mercy.

And then came the eleventh day.

At last, the road to Somnium was pierced through.

When construction finished, they all shouted hurrahs with one mind, one voice.

«Go Byeonggap, I’m taking one of these myself.»

«Yes, sir!»

Two trucks had been parked in Somnium. They decided to move one to Baltadren.

He climbed into the truck and took to the freshly paved road.

‘It’s a bit bumpy, but good enough to travel on, isn’t it?’

Even with two drums of diesel loaded in the bed, it didn’t hinder the drive at all. Now that the supply route was open, moving meat and materials would be far easier.

‘But there’s still no word on the seeds I planted.’

Twenty days had passed since he planted the Seed of Enlightenment in Somnium. Yet the seed hadn’t even sprouted.

He worried something might have gone wrong, but digging it back up wasn’t an option.

‘…Let’s not dwell on it. I guess it just takes a long time to sprout. Worrying won’t make the tree grow any faster.’

Shaking off the distractions, he hummed a tune as he drove the truck.

Ever since the road was completed, a different sight had unfolded in Asvillam.

The truck bed was packed with frozen meat. Ea sat in the driver’s seat, Doran in the passenger’s.

«Well, we’re off!»

Ea grabbed the wheel, her voice bright with excitement.

«Drive carefully. Don’t be reckless.»

«Hehe, nothing to worry about. You said it yourself last time, didn’t you? That I’m a pretty capable driver. I think I’ve got a knack for it too!»

«Yeah, yeah. Just make sure you deliver the meat well.»

«Of course! Alright, we’re really going now.»

«Lord, see you later!»

The truck, packed with meat, rolled out through the city gate. With Doran along, even if a Grugle showed up, nothing too bad would happen.

«Sigh, time to get to work. Chilbung, Palbung!»

«Yes, Lord!»

«Let’s go pick corn. Grab the tools.»

«Yes, sir!»

February passed without incident in Asvillam.

Before he knew it, spring was arriving.

* * *

Naju, South Jeolla Province. A place long famous for its wide plains and gukbap.

But these days, the first keyword that came to mind when speaking of Naju was ‘magic stone Power Complex.’

In fact, since the new fuel source called magic stone appeared, 90% of South Korea’s electricity came from magic stone power plants. And not just Korea — the whole world was the same.

Magic stones performed near-perfectly on efficiency, generation cost, and environmental impact. There was simply no need to keep burning outdated fossil fuels.

Some scholars even predicted that within a decade, every power source would be replaced by magic stones.

That was how revolutionary the material was.

Either way, Naju boasted the largest power-generation complex in all of South Korea.

But then—

“H-huhk! Wh-who the hell are you!?”

“C-call security right now—gkk!”

On the last night of February, thick with darkness, masked raiders stormed the plant. A group of awakeners, each carrying a sword so massive it made your jaw drop.

The pressure they radiated was absolutely crushing. No one even dared to think about resisting.

“Master, all taken care of.”

A girl’s voice, still young. At her feet lay the unconscious bodies, scattered in a heap—not a single person dead.

“Good work.”

A tall woman answered, her tone clipped.

“Now take these people and get them somewhere safe.”

“Yes, after moving these people, I just need to head to Point H, right?”

“Mm.”

The woman gave a calm nod.

Then another masked figure spoke — this time a boy’s voice.

“Master, are you sure you’ll be fine alone? Wouldn’t it be better if we helped?”

“I’m more than enough on my own. We’ve already wasted time. Go now.”

“…Yes, understood.”

“See you later, Master.”

“Be careful.”

The three figures hoisted the unconscious people onto their shoulders and vanished.

The tall woman closed her eyes, waiting until her subordinates were far enough away.

‘This should be far enough.’

Sensing the compound was empty, she raised her sword. In an instant, karma surged toward the blade like an avalanche.

She swung — and everything in front of her crumbled to dust, erased from existence.

After collapsing the command post, she began systematically dismantling the power facility.

By any measure, she was no ordinary awakener. A single sword-strike could cleave a fifteen-meter concrete building in two.

That day, all twenty power plants crammed into the Naju Development Complex collapsed.