Marcus sat at one of the long wooden tables inside the new Dining Hall, staring at the territory interface floating in front of him.
The building still smelled like fresh wood and sawdust. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting bright rectangles across the floor.
It felt… real.
Not just a temporary shelter anymore.
A settlement.
A base.
His base.
Across from him, the four rabbit girls sat together on one of the benches, whispering among themselves while occasionally glancing his way.
And, just like earlier, they had chosen the seats closest to him.
Marcus tried not to notice.
He failed.
Lyrielle stood near one of the windows, testing the pull of her new bow again.
The A-Rank weapon gleamed softly in the sunlight.
She drew the string back slowly.
The bow flexed smoothly.
Powerfully.
Then she released.
The arrow buried itself into a wooden training post Marcus had set up outside.
THUNK.
Dead center.
Marcus nodded approvingly.
"Yeah… that bow was the right call."
Lyrielle turned back toward him with a small smile.
"My accuracy has improved significantly with this weapon."
"Good," Marcus said. "Because we're going to need it."
Just then—
The system chimed again.
Territory Notification
Scout Unit – Alpha Dire Wolf
Enemy Detected
Combat Initiated
Marcus leaned forward slightly.
"Oh?"
Then the notifications began again.
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +30
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +20
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +40
Marcus grinned.
"The wolves found another group."
The rabbit girls leaned closer to look at the floating interface.
Their ears twitched with excitement.
The green-eyed one spoke.
"They fight far away?"
Marcus nodded.
"And anything they kill gets sent straight here."
Another notification popped up.
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +50
Loot Delivered to Warehouse
Marcus opened the warehouse inventory.
The numbers jumped again.
Warehouse Storage
Spirit Shards: 1,420
Goblin Ears: 41
Rusty Weapons: 26
Cloth Scraps: 47
Marcus whistled.
"They're wiping out goblins fast."
Lyrielle stepped closer to read the screen.
"It appears the goblin tribe near this territory is quite large."
Marcus leaned back in his chair.
"Which means two things."
The hazel-eyed rabbit girl tilted her head.
"What things?"
Marcus raised two fingers.
"One."
"Goblins equal experience."
He raised another finger.
"And two."
"Goblins equal loot."
Right on cue—
The system chimed again.
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +30
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +20
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +30
Marcus laughed.
"Yeah… they're farming."
The rabbit girls exchanged looks.
Then the blue-eyed one spoke hesitantly.
"If there are many goblins…"
She paused.
"Will they attack here?"
Marcus thought for a moment.
"Eventually?"
The rabbit girls stiffened.
Marcus quickly raised his hands.
"But that's why we're preparing."
He stood up from the table.
"Speaking of which."
He opened his inventory again.
The C-Rank Goblin Archer unit cards were gone now—sold earlier.
But another card remained.
The C-Rank Fireball Skill Card.
Marcus held it up.
Lyrielle looked curious.
"My lord?"
Marcus tossed the card lightly in his hand.
"This would be better on someone who focuses on magic."
The rabbit girls all leaned forward eagerly.
Marcus laughed.
"Hold on."
"We'll figure that out later."
Right now he had something else to do.
He opened the Unit Command Interface.
His summoned wolves appeared on the map.
Five moving icons spread across the forest.
The Alpha wolf was leading the pack in a circular patrol around the territory.
Marcus nodded approvingly.
"Good."
Then he opened the Territory Management tab.
A new section had appeared.
Army Management
Active Units: 6
Lyrielle – Archer (A Rank Equipment)
Alpha Dire Wolf – Scout Commander
Gray Wolf x4 – Scout Units
Marcus tapped the screen thoughtfully.
"Not bad."
"But we need more."
He turned toward the rabbit girls.
"You four ever fight before?"
They exchanged glances.
Then the black-eyed one answered.
"Yes."
The green-eyed one nodded.
"Our village defended itself many times."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"Good."
He pointed toward the barracks.
"Then we start training."
Their ears perked up.
"Training?"
Marcus grinned.
"If goblins are already this active…"
He pointed toward the forest.
"Bigger monsters are coming eventually."
Lyrielle stepped beside him.
"My lord is correct."
She gestured toward the practice field outside.
"I can teach basic archery and survival skills."
Marcus nodded.
"And once we get more weapons…"
He looked at the rabbit girls.
"You'll all be part of the defense."
The hazel-eyed girl smiled shyly.
"We will help."
The green-eyed one cracked her knuckles.
"I will enjoy killing goblins."
Marcus chuckled.
"I like your attitude."
Another notification appeared.
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +40
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +30
Marcus checked the total.
Goblin Kills by Wolves: 35
Marcus leaned back.
"Thirty-five goblins."
Lyrielle looked impressed again.
"The wolves are extremely effective."
Marcus smirked.
"That's what happens when your talent gives 100% drops."
Then another thought crossed his mind.
"Actually…"
He opened the warehouse again.
All the goblin junk items had value.
And the player market was still desperate for materials.
Marcus grinned slowly.
"Oh yeah."
Lyrielle raised an eyebrow.
"My lord?"
Marcus stood up.
"We're about to make a lot more money."
The rabbit girls leaned closer again automatically.
Their fluffy ears brushing his shoulders as they tried to see the interface.
Marcus sighed.
"...You guys really do stick close."
The hazel-eyed one smiled softly.
"It feels safe."
Marcus chuckled.
"Alright."
He opened the market listings again.
Goblin materials were selling like crazy.
Players everywhere were still struggling to survive.
But Marcus?
Marcus had wolves farming goblins for him.
And a growing army.
And a territory expanding faster than anyone else.
Outside the walls—
The forest continued watching.
Because deeper within the mist…
A much stronger creature had just noticed the growing human territory.
And it was already moving closer.