The next day, I sat in front of the empty patch of land inside Goblin's Grove. Godon and the new goblin were nearby, trying to communicate using crude gestures.
Two out of ten.
I let out a long sigh.
Ever since my skills improved, I thought this would be easier. But in reality, trying to tame wild goblins in public dungeons alone was suicidal.
I nearly died yesterday—for just one.
I looked up at the same gray sky as always. Then, a name surfaced in my mind.
Kang Minho.
It had been a while since I last talked to him. Back then, I was still just an F-rank porter, hauling other hunters' bags through dungeons.
But Minho was different.
He was one of the few people who didn't laugh when I told him I could tame goblins. In fact, he burst out laughing and said:
"If you can tame one, tame a whole squad! Make a goblin army!"
I thought he was joking at the time. But now… I really needed him.
Two hours later, I was sitting in a small ramen shop near the Hunter Association building. It was the same place we used to hang out back in high school.
Minho arrived five minutes late—like always. He walked in with his worn hunter's jacket slung over one shoulder and sunglasses he refused to take off, even on cloudy days.
"Yo!" he grinned as he dropped into the seat across from me. "Long time no see, Mr. Goblin Tamer!"
I gave him a tired smile. "I need your help."
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow. "Usually people start with lunch, not favors. But hey, I like it. Hit me."
I told him everything. About my personal dungeon. About Godon. About the new summon skill and the increased taming capacity—now up to ten goblins.
He listened carefully, slurping ramen in between.
"And the problem is…" I paused. "I can't tame that many goblins on my own. Other monsters keep interfering. Sometimes I nearly die before I can finish the process."
Minho set his chopsticks down.
"So, you're asking me… to go into a dungeon with you and guard your ass while you try to tame a bunch of goblins?"
I nodded. "You're a D-rank hunter. You can handle the monsters while I work."
He scratched his head, then gave me that mischievous grin I remembered so well.
"I'm down—as long as you buy me ramen for a month."
I stared at him, then laughed. "Deal."
Kang Minho wasn't someone to underestimate, even with his laid-back, goofball personality. He used to be the ace of a small-time E-rank team, and now he'd made it to D-rank with a focus on melee combat. His reflexes were sharp, and he was fast—perfect for guarding me in close-quarter chaos.
But more than that, Minho was a friend. One of the few who hadn't changed since the world had turned upside down.
And now, we were going back into the dungeon together.
But this time, it wasn't just about surviving.
This time, we were building something.