That morning, Lee Jun was inspecting the remaining work on the fortress with Godon.The massive wooden gate now stood tall, stone walls encircled almost the entire Goblin's Grove, and the new farmland was neatly sectioned.There were still a few rough spots to fix, but overall, the place now looked like a real defensive stronghold.
While Jun was giving instructions, a message came through his communicator.It was from his mother.
Hana wants to come to your place today. She said she's bringing ingredients.
Jun pinched the bridge of his nose. This isn't exactly a sightseeing spot…
An Arrival That Spells Trouble
In the end, Jun went to pick Hana up at the safe point outside the Grove.The moment she stepped into the otherworldly forest, her eyes widened in awe.But her steps froze the moment they passed through the gate.
Dozens of goblin eyes were staring right at her.Hana pressed herself against Jun's back and whispered:
"They're not going to eat me… right?"
Jun tried to hold back a laugh. Minho, who had tagged along, smirked and said:
"If they get really hungry… maybe."
Hana glared and hugged her grocery bag like a shield, drawing curious tilts of the head from a few goblins.
A Tour of the Grove
Jun decided to show Hana around so she could get used to the place.First, they passed by the nearly completed fortress walls. Hana looked up, astonished by their height.
"Wait… this was really built by goblins?"Godon happened to walk past and nodded proudly.
Next was the farmland, where rows of freshly planted crops stretched out.Small goblins were running around carrying potato seeds and little buckets of water.One tripped over a tree root, spilling soil all over the path before scrambling to scoop it back into the bucket.Hana covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.
A goblin farmer approached and offered her a potato seed, as if inviting her to plant it.Hana hesitated, but Jun said, "Just take it. It means they like you."
Kitchen Chaos
When they reached the cooking area, Hana unpacked the ingredients she had brought.A few goblins sniffed at the onions and vegetables, about to eat them raw.Hana rapped them on the head with a wooden spoon.
"Patience! If you want it tasty, wait until it's cooked!"
Minho teased her, "If you keep cooking here, they'll like you more than they like your brother."Hana immediately threw a vegetable at him.
A Feast to Remember
With the help of several goblins who could follow simple instructions, Hana prepared a massive pot of meat soup.The delicious aroma spread through the Grove, drawing every goblin in.The meal was full of laughter—especially when a few goblin warriors burned their tongues after joining Minho's "soup-drinking contest."
One small goblin shyly approached and tucked a wildflower into Hana's hair.She froze for a moment, then smiled warmly.
"Okay… maybe they're not that scary after all."
Jun smiled quietly, but in the back of his mind, he thought, If she keeps coming here, I'll have to make her a special place.