The mist had completely vanished.
For the first time since Goblin's Grove was formed, Lee Jun could see the horizon—dense forest stretching endlessly, towering trees like natural walls, and a winding river sparkling in the distance. It was a beautiful sight, but one that carried a sense of unease.
"This world... is bigger than I thought," Jun muttered softly, standing on the freshly revealed open ground.
Behind him, the goblins were busy clearing new farmland. The soft, moist soil near the river was perfect for crops. Using primitive tools made from stone and wood, they dug, tilled, and planted with newfound enthusiasm. Even Godon joined in, despite his body being more suited for combat than farming.
The previous farm had been destroyed in the war, but to Jun, it felt like a chance—an opportunity to rebuild from scratch, on a grander scale.
"We need the granary finished before the rainy season," Jun said, crouching and sketching rough blueprints into the dirt. "And we'll need two watchtowers. One facing north, one to the west."
Godon nodded and barked orders to the fighter goblins. A few archers joined in, carrying thick tree trunks from the forest to serve as foundation beams.
But threats didn't just come from nature.
The night before, one of the goblin sentries reported seeing a shadow dart between the trees. It didn't move like an animal. It didn't feel like a regular goblin either. Jun's instincts tingled—some of the wild goblins who escaped the battle might still be lurking nearby.
So, he implemented patrols—two goblins would sweep the perimeter every morning and evening. If they saw anything suspicious, they would blow a crude horn made from animal hide.
Meanwhile, Jun took stock of his forces.
He now had 29 goblins, including fighters, archers, farmers, and scouts. With the system's updated limit raised to 35, he had room for six more.
That very afternoon, Jun ventured deeper into the forest with a small team to find surviving goblins. After hours of quiet tracking, they found three young goblins—separated from any horde, lost and frightened.
They tried to run, but Jun's skill had grown stronger. His calming aura now pulsed steadily, and one by one, the goblins submitted. He successfully tamed all three.
Returning to Goblin's Grove, he assigned the newcomers to the expanding farmlands. Under Godon's supervision, they were quickly integrated into the growing goblin society.
As night fell, Jun stood watching the campfire flicker in front of the new farm plots. The goblins gathered in a loose circle, eating their meals. Some of them hummed strange, off-key tunes—primitive but oddly comforting.
Jun exhaled.
"This place... it's starting to feel like home."
But deep within the woods, two unfamiliar eyes watched silently from behind the leaves. It wasn't a goblin.
It wasn't a beast.
Something else was observing them.