The night was unusually quiet.
The two wild goblins were still tied up in the corner of the wooden hut, their limbs bound with thick vines. Lee Jun sat cross-legged in front of them, his eyes steady—not threatening, but deeply observant.
"Godon," Jun called softly. "Can you speak to them?"
Godon stepped forward. His gaze was stern, but his voice was calm as he began speaking in the goblin tongue—a series of growls, clicks, and hissing sounds that Jun still hadn't fully mastered.
The conversation was tense. One of the wild goblins spat on the ground, the other kept its head low. After a few minutes, Godon returned to Jun with a solemn expression.
"They're scared," Godon said. "They weren't paid to attack. They were just... told to walk through the fog. They thought this land was unclaimed. And they're hungry."
Jun let out a slow breath. "So they're not enemies. Just pawns."
Kang Minho leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "You're not thinking of keeping them, are you?"
Jun looked over his shoulder. "I'm thinking of taming them."
Minho blinked. "You're crazy. What if they stab you in your sleep?"
Jun stood up and took a piece of emergency bread from his pouch. Slowly, cautiously, he approached the goblins and knelt before them. He extended the food, not saying a word.
The goblins hesitated. One glared. The other sniffed the bread.
Then, one by one, they took it.
A system notification popped up before Jun's eyes.
[Two wild goblins show signs of submission.][Would you like to attempt taming?][Yes / No]
He selected [Yes].
[Taming initiated…][Goblin 1: Success.][Goblin 2: Success.]
[Current tamed goblins: 7 / 25]
Jun gave a small smile. "From now on, you're part of the family."
Godon stood beside him silently, watching the new recruits with wary eyes. His posture was tense—he understood what this meant. Leadership might soon be challenged.
Jun turned to Minho, who still looked unconvinced.
"I can't face the world alone," Jun said. "And if I have the power to tame... I'll use it to build something bigger than just a farm."
Minho scoffed. "Just don't let them bite your hand off later."
But Jun already knew.
This was more than survival. This was the beginning of something greater.