The wooden gates of Goblin's Grove creaked open, greeted by the roaring cheers of dozens of goblins. Godon's team marched in with firm steps, their bodies still stained with the marks of battle. The air was thick with the scent of blood and damp earth, but what caught everyone's eyes were the bulging leather sacks they carried.
"Finally back!" Kang Minho waved, calling for the porter goblins to help unload.
In the central clearing, the Fangclaw loot was laid out one by one—thick green scales, long curved claws, thumb-sized fangs, and sacs of dark greenish venom. Godon himself carried a special sack, which he opened with pride, revealing three mana stones the size of fists, their faint glow pulsing softly, and one large mana stone from the Fangclaw Alpha, radiating a deeper green light.
"This stone… the purity is incredible," Moji murmured, his eyes gleaming. "With this, I could extend the range of my communication magic… or create a ward to shield the entire Grove."
I nodded and decided, "We'll keep the large stone for a special project. The smaller three—use them for your experiments, or we'll sell them to Argus."
The distribution of loot went smoothly:
Fangclaw scales would be crafted into armor for the warriors.
Fangs and claws turned into blades, some coated in venom.
The venom itself stored by Moji for potions and arrow tips.
The meat… sent straight to the kitchen for tonight's feast.
While the goblins cheered and bustled about, Draksra stepped forward with his report. He laid out a rough map drawn on animal hide, pointing to three separate marks outside the newly explored territory.
"I found three groups of wild goblins—five to seven in each," he explained. "They're unconnected, not moving closer. Looks like they're just surviving on their own."
I studied the map for a moment."We're not hunting them now. Mark their locations. They'll be reserve recruits if our numbers ever drop."
Draksra gave a curt nod before stepping back.
Night fell, and the victory feast began. A roaring bonfire lit the center of the clearing, Fangclaw meat roasted over open flames, its aroma drifting through the entire Grove. Goblin laughter mixed with the simple music of drums and handmade bamboo flutes. Godon told the story of how he felled the Fangclaw Alpha with fiery enthusiasm, while Minho mimicked the monster's movements in an exaggerated, comical way—sending the goblins into fits of laughter.
But amid the celebration, my gaze caught something in the sky. A massive black bird's silhouette circled lazily between the clouds, its wings spread wide, occasionally looping above our territory before vanishing westward.
Moji stopped chewing. "That aura… it's not from an ordinary monster," he said softly, his eyes narrowing into the darkness.
I took a deep breath. "Starting tomorrow, we build watchtowers and large nets. Draksra, your scouts keep an eye on the skies. If that bird returns, I want to know where it's headed."
In my hands, the map of Goblin's Grove stretched out—now with newly charted zones and the marked locations of the wild goblin groups. One thing was certain—this world was getting busier. And the Fangclaw was only the beginning.
Tamed Goblins Count: 100