After failing to cultivate rare plants like Moonshade Grass and Veilroot, Lee Jun realized one thing: if he wanted to make use of the natural riches within Goblin's Grove, he couldn't rely on farming. He had to find them himself—or more precisely, with the help of his goblins.
That morning, he stood before dozens of goblins gathered at the village center. The fog that once blanketed the area had completely vanished, revealing the vast, shadowed forest beyond. The air was damp, heavy with the scent of wet earth.
"Starting today, we'll go deeper," Jun said, eyes fixed on the dark forest. "We need more Veilroot. And maybe other rare plants waiting to be found."
Godon stood beside him, wielding his new weapon—a black, spiked spear looted from the elite goblin leader they once fought. Behind him, three Goblin Scouts and one Goblin Shaman were ready.
They formed a small expedition unit. Their mission: to explore the eastern edge of Goblin's Grove, a part of the forest that had remained untouched since the fog disappeared.
Their steps crushed fallen leaves and roots as they pushed deeper into the woods. The dense canopy allowed only slivers of sunlight through, casting long shadows and giving the place an eerie, otherworldly feel.
Hours passed.
Eventually, they found it—a patch of damp soil beneath a fallen tree, and there, twisting through the dirt, were deep violet roots, coiled like serpents.
"Veilroot…" Jun muttered, crouching to touch one. It was cold, soft, and gave off an unnatural chill. "Another one."
Before he could harvest it, the surrounding brush began to rustle.
Hissss…
A sound Jun had started to recognize. From within the tall grass emerged slender shapes with thorn-covered hides.
Needle Lizards. But this time, there were more of them. At least ten. Maybe more.
"Defensive formation!" Jun shouted.
Godon stepped forward immediately, his black spear slashing through the first lizard that leapt from the right. Two Goblin Scouts loosed arrows from the back, while the Shaman hurled a small fireball into a bush where another monster hid.
The fight was fast and violent.
Needle Lizards weren't just quick—they were smart. They tried to flank and separate the goblins. One of the scouts took a hit to the arm, pierced by a thorn shot from a tail whip.
Godon roared and counterattacked. With a brutal thrust, he impaled one lizard through the head, then swept the spear into another. Two fell in seconds. Thick green blood splashed across the forest floor.
Jun joined in, though his movements were limited. He focused on dodging and giving commands rather than attacking directly.
After five brutal minutes, the remaining lizards retreated into the forest. Three lay dead. The rest disappeared into the shadows.
The goblins were panting. Exhausted—but no one died. Jun quickly tended to the wounded scout using a leftover healing potion.
As they made their way back to the village carrying Veilroot and monster corpses, a glowing portal opened—and Kang Minho stepped out, dragging a large backpack.
"Whoa, just came back from a hunt?" he said, waving casually.
Jun looked at him, breathless. "Perfect timing. We were just attacked."
Minho raised an eyebrow, then noticed the roots being carried by the goblins.
"That's Veilroot? Damn… Do you know how much this stuff sells for in the alchemist's market?"
Jun shook his head. "Not really. I don't even know what it's for."
Minho laughed. "Lucky you. I brought a basic alchemy kit with me. Let me show you how it works."
That day marked the start of something new. Not just farming. Not just fighting. But learning. Creating. Growing stronger. In this isolated world of his own, Lee Jun and his goblins were beginning to build their own ecosystem.
And the hunt had only just begun.