Morning sunlight poured into Marcus's small clearing, warm and golden as it filtered through the tall forest canopy. Dew clung to the grass, sparkling like tiny jewels across the ground.
Marcus stepped outside his house and stretched.
His muscles popped pleasantly as he raised his arms above his head.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Day two."
The air felt clean and cool inside the territory barrier, completely different from the faint poisonous bite of the mist beyond the fence.
Behind him the wooden door creaked open.
Lyrielle stepped out.
The elf's long blonde hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, and her violet eyes immediately scanned the surroundings with calm vigilance.
"Good morning, my lord."
Marcus smiled.
"Morning."
Then he noticed something.
Or rather… several somethings.
Behind Lyrielle, the four rabbit girls were peeking around the doorframe.
Marcus blinked.
They all froze.
Four sets of long white ears slowly rose into view.
Deep blue eyes.
Green eyes.
Hazel eyes.
Nearly black eyes.
All staring at him.
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"...You guys planning to ambush me or something?"
The hazel-eyed rabbit girl stepped out first, looking embarrassed.
"We were not ambushing."
The green-eyed one followed, crossing her arms slightly.
"We were waiting."
Marcus scratched his head.
"For…?"
The blue-eyed rabbit girl answered softly.
"For you to wake up."
Marcus looked between them.
"...Why?"
The four rabbit girls glanced at each other.
Then—almost simultaneously—they stepped closer to him.
Marcus suddenly had four fluffy rabbit girls standing very close around him.
Very close.
Lyrielle hid a small smile.
The black-eyed rabbit girl spoke bluntly.
"You are the strongest here."
The hazel-eyed one added shyly.
"And you saved us."
The green-eyed one nodded.
"So we stay close."
Marcus blinked.
"Ah."
"That makes sense."
He cleared his throat.
"Alright then."
Just as he was about to say something else—
A notification appeared.
Territory Notification
Scout Unit – Gray Wolf
Kill Confirmed
Enemy: Goblin Lv.3
Spirit Shards +30
Loot Delivered to Territory Warehouse
Marcus froze.
"Wait."
Another notification appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +20
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +40
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +30
Marcus stared at the rapidly scrolling messages.
Lyrielle tilted her head.
"My lord?"
Marcus laughed.
"Oh this is great."
More notifications appeared.
The wolves were busy.
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +30
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +50
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +40
Marcus rubbed his hands together.
"The scouting plan worked."
Lyrielle's eyes widened slightly.
"They are fighting goblins?"
Marcus nodded.
"And because they're my units…"
He pointed toward the warehouse.
"The drops go straight into storage."
The green-eyed rabbit girl blinked.
"...Without carrying them?"
Marcus grinned.
"Yep."
They all turned to stare at the warehouse.
As if expecting it to explode from all the loot.
Another notification appeared.
Goblin Defeated
Spirit Shards +30
Loot Delivered
Marcus opened the warehouse interface.
The inventory numbers were climbing fast.
Spirit Shards: 1,120
Goblin Ears: 35
Rusty Weapons: 21
Cloth Scraps: 40
Marcus whistled.
"Thirty five goblins already?"
Lyrielle looked impressed.
"The wolves are efficient."
Marcus chuckled.
"Yeah."
"Alpha wolf doing good work."
Then a new notification appeared.
A rare one.
Special Loot Obtained
Structure Card
Dining Hall
Marcus blinked.
Then grinned widely.
"Oh ho."
Lyrielle leaned closer.
"What is it?"
Marcus pulled the glowing card from his inventory.
The illustration showed a large wooden building filled with long tables and benches.
Structure Card – Dining Hall
Rank: C
A building designed to feed large numbers of people efficiently.
Boosts morale and stamina recovery.
Lyrielle's eyes lit up.
"A communal hall."
Marcus nodded.
"This is huge."
The rabbit girls gathered closer to look at the card.
Their ears twitched with curiosity.
The hazel-eyed one whispered.
"A place to eat together…"
Marcus looked around his growing settlement.
"Yep."
"And I know exactly where it should go."
He walked toward the open space near the barracks.
Then activated the card.
The card dissolved into golden light.
A construction circle appeared.
Three seconds later—
Wood and stone formed from thin air.
Walls rose.
A wide building took shape.
Large windows.
Two doors.
And inside—
Rows of sturdy tables and benches.
The Dining Hall stood proudly beside the barracks.
The rabbit girls gasped.
Marcus admired his work.
"Now this is a settlement."
Lyrielle smiled softly.
"My lord, may I ask something?"
Marcus nodded.
"Sure."
She looked down at the weapon rack inside the house.
"My equipment…"
Marcus snapped his fingers.
"Oh right."
He hurried inside.
The A Rank bow from the treasure chest rested against the wall.
Beside it sat the A Rank light armor set.
Marcus picked them up and brought them outside.
"Lyrielle."
She looked surprised as he handed them to her.
"My lord?"
"You're my best fighter."
He nodded toward the gear.
"Use the good stuff."
She accepted the items slowly.
The armor shimmered faintly as she equipped it.
Light silver plates formed over flexible leather.
Elegant.
Protective.
Perfect for an archer.
Then she took the bow.
The moment her fingers wrapped around it—
Her violet eyes widened.
"This bow…"
She pulled the string slightly.
The wood hummed with power.
"It is extraordinary."
Marcus grinned.
"Good."
"Because you're my sniper."
Lyrielle smiled gently.
"I will not disappoint you."
Behind them the rabbit girls watched with fascination.
The green-eyed one leaned toward Marcus slightly.
"You are generous."
Marcus shrugged.
"If my people are strong…"
He tapped the ground.
"So is the territory."
The hazel-eyed girl moved a little closer to him again.
Then the blue-eyed one.
Then the green-eyed one.
Then the black-eyed one.
Marcus noticed something.
They were all standing close to him again.
Very close.
Almost like they were unconsciously forming a small circle around him.
Lyrielle noticed too.
She hid a smile.
Marcus scratched his head.
"...You guys really like personal space huh?"
The hazel-eyed girl blushed slightly.
The green-eyed one crossed her arms defensively.
"It is normal."
The black-eyed one spoke bluntly again.
"You are our protector."
The blue-eyed one nodded softly.
"So we stay near."
Marcus sighed with a small smile.
"Alright."
"I guess I'm the rabbit magnet now."
The morning sun continued rising above the trees.
The wolves continued hunting in the forest.
And Marcus's territory—
Was growing faster than anyone in this new world could possibly imagine.