The morning air in Goblin's Grove was fresh and cool. The thick mist that formed the dungeon's boundary still hung dense, but the artificial blue sky above shone brightly, providing enough light for the plants to grow.
"Whoa…"
Lee Jun stood at the edge of the field, gazing at the hundreds of radish sprouts pushing through the soil. For the past six days, he and the goblins had worked tirelessly—plowing, planting, watering, and caring for the land. Now, their efforts were showing clear results. Every little sprout was proof of their hard work.
Godon stood beside him, nodding in satisfaction.
"Grah!" the goblin exclaimed, pointing at a healthy-looking sprout.
"Wait—don't pull it out!" Jun shouted as one of the goblins nearly yanked the radish sprout from the ground, mistaking it for a weed. The goblin quickly let go and smiled sheepishly.
Jun chuckled. "We harvest later, not now."
A Simple Logbook and Hope
That evening, Jun sat in a small hut made of branches and leaves. In his hand was a worn notebook where he recorded the progress of the crops.
Day 6. All sprouts are healthy. The soil in Goblin's Grove might be infused with natural mana… they're growing faster than usual.
He looked at the soft glow of the flame burning in a dungeon-forged lantern.
"If things continue like this, maybe we can even harvest earlier than ten days," he murmured.
The Training of a Rank-F
After all the farm work was done, Jun didn't just rest. He began training his body. In an empty patch of land, he performed push-ups, sit-ups, and jumping drills. He wasn't strong—still a Rank-F—but he refused to stay weak.
Using a wooden stick, he practiced swinging, mimicking the movements of hunters he had seen before.
Godon watched him carefully, then started swinging his own stick, trying to copy Jun—though his form looked more silly than fierce.
"At least someone appreciates my effort," Jun laughed, catching his breath.
A Warm Night
That night, they shared a meal in front of the hut. Jun boiled a few test-radishes with some salt and oil. He had also brought rice from outside the dungeon—just enough for everyone.
"You guys worked hard today. Eat well," he said, passing bowls of steaming food.
Godon and the goblins devoured the meal happily, grinning from ear to ear. Even though it was just simple boiled radish and rice, no one complained.
Jun stared into the firelight and whispered to himself,"Maybe… this is what a home feels like."