The Goblin Lord did not leave.
Marcus noticed it almost immediately after entering the territory.
She simply stood there, just beyond the faint shimmer of the barrier, partially hidden between two trees. Her yellow eyes watched the settlement quietly, never blinking, never approaching closer.
But she also didn't attack.
Didn't threaten.
Didn't even move.
Marcus leaned against the wooden fence, arms crossed.
"...Well that's unsettling."
Beside him, Lyrielle followed his gaze.
Her violet eyes narrowed slightly.
"She has remained there for several minutes now."
Marcus nodded.
"Yeah."
The rabbit girls gathered nearby as well.
They peeked over the fence cautiously.
The green-eyed rabbit girl frowned.
"Why is she not attacking?"
The black-eyed one gripped her spear tighter.
"Goblins normally attack humans."
Marcus shrugged.
"Maybe she's broken."
The hazel-eyed rabbit girl tilted her head.
"Broken?"
Marcus gestured toward the goblin.
"Yeah."
"Like a glitch."
Lyrielle raised an eyebrow.
"A glitch?"
Marcus waved his hand.
"Never mind."
His attention shifted back to the territory interface.
Because there was something far more important to deal with.
His level cap.
He opened the Territory Core Menu.
Territory Level: 1
Max Player Level: 10
Max Unit Level: 10
Upgrade Requirements:
Wood: 2000
Stone: 1800
Spirit Shards: 2000
Marcus looked at his resources.
Wood: 2,140
Stone: 1,960
Spirit Shards: 2,430
Marcus grinned slowly.
"Oh."
Lyrielle noticed the expression immediately.
"My lord?"
Marcus looked up.
"Guess what?"
She folded her arms.
"What?"
Marcus tapped the interface.
"Upgrade territory."
The system confirmed instantly.
Territory Upgrade Initiated
Level 1 → Level 2
Energy surged outward from the Territory Core.
The ground vibrated softly.
Golden light spread through the entire settlement.
The wooden fence glowed brighter.
The buildings shimmered faintly.
Marcus watched as the transformation happened.
The wooden fence thickened, the posts becoming sturdier.
The watchtowers grew slightly taller.
Even the ground inside the barrier seemed healthier.
Three seconds later—
The glow faded.
Territory Successfully Upgraded
Territory Level: 2
Max Player Level: 20
Max Unit Level: 20
Safe Zone Radius Expanded
Marcus stretched his arms with a satisfied grin.
"There we go."
Lyrielle's eyes widened slightly.
"My lord… the territory grew."
Marcus looked around.
She was right.
The barrier had pushed outward nearly twenty more meters in every direction.
More land.
More room to build.
More resources to gather.
Marcus chuckled.
"No more level cap."
He opened his status screen.
Marcus Hale
Level: 10
Max Level: 20
Talent: SSS – 100% Drop Rate
Skill: Meteor (S Rank)
Current Cast Limit: 9
Marcus cracked his neck.
"Now we can level again."
Behind him, the wolf demi-humans were inspecting the expanded territory.
The arachne moved gracefully between the new trees now included within the barrier.
The rabbit girls looked excited by the extra space.
Everything was going perfectly.
Except for one thing.
Marcus looked back toward the forest.
The Goblin Lord was still there.
Watching.
The same quiet stare.
Marcus sighed.
"Alright."
Lyrielle looked at him.
"My lord?"
Marcus started walking toward the gate.
"I'm gonna go ask her."
Lyrielle immediately stepped beside him.
"I will accompany you."
The rabbit girls tried to follow.
Marcus raised a hand.
"You four stay here."
They pouted slightly.
Marcus smirked.
"I'll be fine."
He stepped through the gate.
The mist air returned immediately, slightly heavier than the clean air inside the territory.
Lyrielle followed him quietly.
They walked slowly toward the Goblin Lord.
She didn't move.
Even as they approached within twenty feet.
Her yellow eyes simply studied Marcus.
Up close she looked even more unusual compared to normal goblins.
Her posture was upright.
Confident.
Her armor pieces were crude but functional.
And her expression…
Was intelligent.
Marcus stopped a few steps away.
He placed his hands on his hips.
"...Alright."
He looked directly at her.
"Why are you watching me?"
The Goblin Lord tilted her head slightly.
For a moment she said nothing.
Marcus waited.
Then finally—
She spoke.
Her voice was rough but clear.
"You killed the Champion."
Marcus blinked.
"...Yeah."
She looked toward the territory behind him.
"Then you returned."
Marcus shrugged.
"That's where I live."
The Goblin Lord studied him for another long moment.
Then she asked something unexpected.
"Why did you not chase me?"
Marcus scratched his head.
"You weren't attacking me."
She frowned slightly.
"Humans usually attack goblins."
Marcus shrugged again.
"Goblins usually attack humans."
The Goblin Lord considered that.
Then she spoke again.
"You are different."
Marcus smirked.
"Yeah."
"I get that a lot."
Lyrielle quietly observed the exchange.
Her hand remained near her bow, just in case.
Marcus tilted his head.
"So… are you planning to attack my territory?"
The Goblin Lord looked at the glowing barrier.
Then back at Marcus.
"No."
Marcus blinked.
"...Okay."
Then he asked the obvious question.
"So why follow me?"
The Goblin Lord's yellow eyes glinted slightly.
"You are strong."
Marcus folded his arms.
"That's not a reason."
She paused.
Then finally said something that made Marcus blink.
"I am curious."
Marcus stared at her for a moment.
Then slowly laughed.
"...You know what?"
"Fair enough."
Behind them, the lights of Marcus's growing settlement glowed warmly as night began to fall.
And for the first time since arriving in this world