April 25th.

«Alright, let’s move!»

«Yes, sir!»

«Let’s gooo!»

The giant goblins, each fitted with a harrow, advanced in unison. The earth churned evenly, and furrows were completed in an instant.

Half a day of that land-clearing work yielded over three thousand pyeong of arable soil.

Since they were laying out paddies and fields outside the castle walls, they could cultivate a very wide area.

Of course, that came with its share of risk.

«My Lord! Grugle have appeared in the eastern forest!»

«Everyone, halt!»

Go Byeonggap stopped the goblins with a loud shout, then turned to the guard who’d come running with the report.

«Grugle appeared? How many?»

«We’re still assessing, but it seems like about fifty or sixty.»

«Fifty or sixty.»

He was unfazed.

«Did you report to Doran?»

«Ah! I came to you first, My Lord…»

«Hey there, Hop-friend.»

«Yep!»

«I told you last time. From now on, report anything about guard duty to Doran first. He’s the Captain of the Guard.»

«R-right.»

«Go back. Ask Doran whether we should bring the workers outside the walls into the Inner Fort, or just let them keep working. Come back to me with the answer.»

«Ah, understood!»

The kid bolted off, panting.

Go Byeonggap let out a small sigh.

«I miss Gobungi.»

«My Lord, what shall we do?»

«What do you mean, what? We’ve gotta get all this planted by today. Stop slacking off and get back to work.»

«Yes!»

Dozens of goblins each took a furrow and started planting the crops they’d brought in.

Go Byeonggap paced between the rows, offering tips or showing them how it’s done himself. As he was at it, the guard he’d just sent away came back.

Go Byeonggap straightened up for a moment and asked.

«What did Doran say? Are we evacuating into the Inner Fort?»

The guard hesitated, then answered.

«The Captain said he’ll handle it himself, so My Lord need not worry.»

Only then did Go Byeonggap smile, satisfied.

«Good. That’s how it should be.»

May 13th.

New mouths arrived in Asvillam.

Not human. Not quite goblin, either.

“Maaah.”

“Moo.”

“Cluck-cluck! Buck-buck! Bawk!”

Livestock.

Cows, goats, and chickens — five hundred head in all.

«M-My Lord, where did you get so many beasts?»

«Where? Bought ‘em all with cash. In my world, there’s nothing money can’t buy.»

Go Byeonggap pressed thumb and forefinger together, forming a coin shape.

The livestock filed into pens under the beast goblins’ guidance.

Go Byeonggap picked fifty goblins to handle the animals full-time, then gave them a crash course: how to cook mash, mix feed, and collect dung for compost.

«From now on, you’re in charge of managing the livestock. I spent a fortune feeding these bastards.»

«Yep! We’ll give it our all!»

«Good.»

Go Byeonggap swept his eyes over the penned-up livestock, then clicked his tongue. Something felt two percent off.

“Should I bring in a few dogs?” he murmured.

The next day, Go Byeonggap hauled ten mongrel mutts from the market back into Asvillam.

May 26th.

«Oh, Gubong-Gubong Gobungi. Long time no see?»

«Huff, huff. My… My Lord!»

Gobungi burst through the door, chest heaving. He’d been in the middle of work when he heard the Lord had come—and sprinted straight over.

«What brings you here without any notice?»

«Notice? Since when do I ever send notice for anything?»

«Ah… now that you mention it, I suppose that’s true.»

«Enough of that. Here, take this.»

Go Byeonggap handed over a cardboard box. Gobungi peered inside, a question mark practically floating in his eyes.

«Wh-What is this?»

«Can’t you see? It’s a puppy.»

«But why would you…?»

«Hey, it’s a gift, alright? Just raise it and play with it.»

Gobungi looked utterly perplexed.

Go Byeonggap unveiled his miraculous logic for the creature: ‘Dogs are cute and loyal—keeping one nearby will lift your spirits.’

«This mountain hollow’s gotta get boring if all you do is swing a pickaxe. I’m saying, look at the pups and cheer up a little.»

Hearing that, Gobungi’s face crumpled into one of deep emotion.

«Thank you! I’ll treasure it for a thousand, ten thousand years!»

«Hey, hey… what’s with the thousand-and-ten-thousand-years talk? Anyway, how’ve things been lately?»

«Heheh, what could there be to tell? Everyone’s doing well.»

Go Byeonggap sat across from Gobungi and caught up on all the news they’d missed.

He felt it every time he came to Somnium—there was something genuinely warm here. A warmth he couldn’t quite name.

«Nothing lacking or needed?»

«Yes! Nothing at all.»

«Yeah? Well, I saw everything looked good just now. The kids have a nice sheen to them.»

«Indeed they do.»

«How about the new ones?»

Go Byeonggap asked, recalling the king goblins he’d sent to Somnium.

«Hmm… they all seem to have adapted well. They take the lead in work and are smarter than the others—a big help.»

«Glad to hear it. They learning their letters properly?»

«Yes! Before lunch we all gather and study writing. Everyone enjoys it.»

Gobungi spoke proudly. The corner of Go Byeonggap’s mouth lifted, almost without him noticing.

He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and put it between his lips. After blowing out a few streams of smoke, he said in a relieved tone, “Phew…”

«Phew. If everything’s running itself, looks like you won’t need me around anymore.»

«My… Lord.»

«Huh? Why?»

«Why do you speak as if you’ll leave all of a sudden? I’ve grown a little frightened.»

Gobungi asked, his voice tinged with worry. Go Byeonggap stared at him for a few seconds, then let out a short laugh.

«Hey, nothing to worry about. I’ll still be by your side for a good while yet.»

«Phew…»

«But still, someday I’ll have to go.»

Gobungi’s expression turned rapidly somber. Go Byeonggap couldn’t keep smiling either.

«Hey, Gobungi. It might sound cold, but I can’t stay by your side forever. I’ve got a life out there too.»

«That’s… a fair point.»

«Don’t know when it’ll be, but once Mom gets out of the hospital, I’m moving to a quiet countryside town to live with her. I’ll quit being a hunter too. Maybe find a decent girl there, get married, live a simple life tending a little garden. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?»

«Yesss…»

Gobungi nodded without spirit. Then he snapped his head up and looked at Go Byeonggap.

«When the Queen Dowager recovers, can’t she come live with us in Asvillam?»

«Kekeke. Hey, if my mom saw you guys, we’d be lucky if she didn’t faint on the spot.»

«Ah…»

«Don’t make such a sad face. I won’t come as often as now, but I can still visit sometimes.»

Gobungi paused for a moment, then broke into a bright smile and nodded.

«Yes! That alone is more than enough for me!»

«Oh, and there’ll be a feast in Baltadren in six days. You all should come.»

«A feast?»

«Nothing too grand. Since it’s already June, I figured we could take a few days off to rest. Whip up some good food and relax. You’ve all been working nonstop, haven’t you?»

«It seems the Lord has worked the hardest out of all of us.»

«Enough, you bastard. What did I even do?»

«No! If it weren’t for the Lord, we never would have made it this far!»

«You… you really know how to talk, don’t you.»

He’d heard sweet talk plenty of times before, but today, for some reason, it sat better with him.

«Anyway, I’ll come get you in five days. Have everything ready to leave by then.»

«Yep! I’ll be sure to remember.»

Go Byeonggap spent a while in Somnium, then slipped out around dusk as the sun began to set.

Climbing into his old compact car, he rolled through the darkening streets—and suddenly Gobungi’s words surfaced in his mind.

‘Come live in Asvillam with Mom, huh… Well, that wouldn’t be so bad.’

Nowhere else could match this place for clean air and fresh water. Mom, who loved the countryside, would surely be satisfied too.

The only blot on the picture was the absence of a decent-looking bride, wasn’t it?

‘No, wait—why not just bring a goblin girl along to live with us? Or raise Doran right and… Aish, I’ve lost it. What the hell am I thinking?’

He entertained the idle thought for about five seconds, then let it go with a hollow laugh. No matter how he looked at it, a goblin wife was just too much.

* * *

Six days later, June dawned. The goblins, as previously notified, bustled about preparing the feast.

The busiest of all was Ea. She was the head of the kitchen — essentially the Lord of the dining hall. Rising before dawn, she churned out all manner of dishes.

The goblins who’d crossed over from Somnium looked like country bumpkins on their first trip to the capital. They gaped, utterly entranced by the grandeur of Baltadren.

And yet, the goblins worked together, building a festival atmosphere.

Go Byeonggap, of course, did nothing but open his wallet again today.

“Boss, is it okay to leave it here?”

“Yeah, yeah, just put it all down over there.”

“Oh my, looks like you’re having some kind of festival?”

“Haha… yeah, something like that.”

Four thousand 1.5-liter PET bottles of soft drinks.

Four thousand cans of 500ml beer.

Three hundred pizzas, four hundred chickens, two hundred fifty large plates of bossam.

The total came to just under thirty million won.

‘Being a Lord sure is expensive.’

Back when Asvillam had only about a hundred mouths to feed, a few pounds of pork had been plenty…

For a moment, Go Byeonggap found himself missing those days.

Time passed, and evening fell.

«Giggle!»

«Hee-hee-hee!»

The goblins sat in a wide circle, devouring the feast. They sang, they danced.

A few cans of beer had been sprayed around, and now their faces were all flushed red. As long as nobody started a fight, he’d consider it a win.

“Tch. Maybe I shouldn’t have given them booze.”

«My Lord. There you are.»

«Oh, Dorma?»

Go Byeonggap had been slouching in a corner, trying to light a cigarette and brood in peace, when Dorma approached. Unlike the tiny fools who’d gotten drunk on a few cans of beer, Dorma was stone-cold sober.

«Eat your fill?»

«Yes, I ate plenty. But why are you alone out here, My Lord?»

«Just wanted some air. What about you?»

«Heh. The noise doesn’t really suit my temperament either.»

«Is that so? Don’t just stand there. Sit.»

«Yes.»

A smile bloomed across Dorma’s face. He stared for a long moment at the raucous crowd on the other side, then murmured.

«It’s been a while. Having a feast together like this.»

«Yeah. We used to have times like this often.»

«You’re referring to when we were in Somnium.»

Dorma paused for a beat, then continued.

«When I look back, the days that have passed feel like a dream.»

«Huh?»

«I’m saying I’m truly glad I met you, My Lord.»

«Hey, hey. If you’re gonna get all sappy, stop. It’s disgusting, two guys doing this.»

«Heh-heh-heh. My apologies.»

Dorma laughed. Go Byeonggap let out a small chuckle along with him.

«Ah! My Lord! Loooord!»

Just then, something came stumbling toward them from a distance. Squinting, he saw it was Doran.

«…What’s her deal?»

«She was drinking the beverage you gave us — the beer. She seems intoxicated.»

«Lord! Why are youuu here? Let’s play togeetheeer—whoa!»

Doran’s foot caught on nothing, and she toppled into Go Byeonggap’s arms. He clicked his tongue.

«Eheheheh! I fell dooown!»

«I swear, just looking at you gives me a headache. Doran, what am I going to do with you?»

«Hmph! Why are you always only yelling at meee? I’m hurt…»

«What? Hurt?»

«You’re so mean, Lord. I like you sooo much… sniff.»

«Dorma, she’s hopeless. Take her and put her to bed.»

«Yes, I underst—»

«Go away, you ugly fool! Get lost!»

Doran snarled like a wildcat and burrowed deeper into Go Byeonggap’s arms.

Dorma shot him a look—What do we do now?

Go Byeonggap sighed and scooped Doran up.

«Fine. I’ll handle it.»

«I’m sorry for the trouble, My Lord.»

«Ah, don’t worry about it.»

«My Lord. Play with meeee.»

«…Should I just toss her over the wall.»

«Even like this, she’d take down a hundred Grugles and climb right back up.»

«Yeah, figured.»

Go Byeonggap carried Doran toward her quarters.

He left the raucous gambling den behind and entered the residential district. Opening the door to the house she usually stayed in, he stepped inside.

But the room was lit. Someone had left the lamp on.

«What are you doing here?»

«Ah, My Lord.»

It was Merilin. She sat alone cross-legged in the empty house.

«What brings you here?»

«This one’s dead drunk. Brought her here to sleep it off.»

«Ah! I—I’m so sorry. I should have been looking after her. Please, hand her to me at once.»

«Back off, Auntie!»

«A—Auntie!?»

«Hmph…»

«Leave it. I’ll do it.»

After some struggle, Go Byeonggap laid Doran down on the bedding. The moment her head hit the mattress, she was out cold.

Merilin kept muttering apologies.

«By the way, what are you doing here? Have you eaten?»

«Yes, quite enough.»

«Why not go out and have some fun? Even on a day like this, you’re holed up inside.»

«Ah… I’m fine.»

Merilin just trailed off. Go Byeonggap nodded as if he understood.

«You’re Dorma’s type too, huh?»

«Huh? What do you mean?»

«Nothing. Anyway, I’m resting for the next few days, so you should get some proper rest too.»

«Yes, understood. May you rest well, My Lord.»

Go Byeonggap waved a hand dismissively and grabbed the doorknob.

Just then, Merilin called out from behind him.

«Um… My Lord!»

«Yeah? What is it?»

She hesitated for a long moment. He waited in silence, watching to see what she wanted to say.

«Well… about what I mentioned before.»

«What did you say?»

«Going to the holy city of Verbonia. I have something more to say about that—!»

«Ah, don’t worry, don’t worry.»

Go Byeonggap cut her off.

«I was planning to go soon anyway. Baltadren stabilized faster than I expected. Let’s head out as soon as the feast is over.»

«Th—That’s not what I wanted to say…»

«Aw, there you go, acting like an old-timer. Let’s not talk shop on our day off. Okay?»

«Ah… yes. Understood.»

Go Byeonggap stepped out the front door, then turned back with a bright smile.

«Get some real rest, Merilin. I’m damn lucky to have you.»

«…»

The celebration — three full days of laughter and feasting — had finally drawn to a close.

Somnium’s goblins returned to their posts. Baltadren slipped back into its daily grind.

Another five days passed.

Go Byeonggap, Merilin, and Dorma set out on a long journey.