Building a base was one thing, but building a base with this group of misfits? Practically impossible without reinforcements. So, the next morning, we set out on a "recruitment drive."
By "we," I mean Grumpy, the goblin leader (who insisted on being called Gorn), and me. The other goblins and ogres were tasked with guarding the half-finished fence and not setting anything on fire.
"Alright," I said, addressing the duo. "The plan is simple: we find potential recruits and convince them to join us."
Grumpy crossed his arms. "Convince them how?"
"With charm and diplomacy," I said confidently.
Gorn snorted. "Charm and diplomacy? From you?"
"Hey, I can be persuasive!"
"Sure you can, boss," Gorn said, grinning.
Grumpy rolled his eyes. "Let's just get this over with."
---
Step 1: Locate Recruits
Our first stop was a nearby stream where I'd spotted some smaller monsters during my earlier explorations. Sure enough, a group of lizardmen was basking on the rocks, their scales gleaming in the sunlight.
"Perfect," I whispered. "Lizardmen are strong and good with tools. Let me handle this."
I approached the group with my most disarming smile. "Greetings, noble lizardmen! I come in peace."
One of them opened an eye, looked me up and down, and promptly went back to sunbathing.
"Uh… hello?" I tried again.
Another lizardman yawned, its forked tongue flickering lazily.
Grumpy leaned over. "Great charm and diplomacy there, boss."
I glared at him before turning back to the lizardmen. "Listen, we're building a base nearby, and we could really use your help. In exchange, you'll get food, shelter, and protection."
This got their attention. The largest of the group—a lizardman with bright red scales—stood up and hissed something in their language.
"Uh… translation?" I asked Gorn.
"He said, 'What's in it for us?'"
"I just told you—food, shelter, protection," I said. "And maybe some treasure if we find any."
The red-scaled lizardman seemed to consider this before hissing again.
Gorn sighed. "He says they'll join you if you can beat him in a duel."
"A duel?!" I glanced at the massive, muscle-bound lizardman and then down at my tiny ogre body. "That hardly seems fair."
Grumpy smirked. "You did say you were persuasive."
---
Step 2: Fight for Their Allegiance
The lizardman cleared a space by the stream, his claws gleaming in the sunlight. I took a deep breath, activating Spore Manipulation.
"Alright, big guy," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt. "Let's do this."
The duel began, and I immediately launched a Spore Cloud, filling the area with a thick, glowing mist.
The lizardman charged blindly through the fog, swiping at the air. I dodged his attacks, using my smaller size to my advantage.
"Can't hit what you can't see!" I taunted, darting around him.
Unfortunately, my smugness was short-lived. The lizardman let out a roar, dispersing the spores with sheer force.
"Uh-oh."
He lunged at me, claws extended. I barely managed to activate Spore Burst, creating a small explosion that sent him stumbling back.
The crowd of lizardmen hissed and cheered as the fight continued. Gorn and Grumpy watched from the sidelines, making unhelpful comments like, "Don't die, boss!"
Eventually, I managed to trip the lizardman with a well-placed kick and pinned him down using the last of my strength.
"Yield!" I gasped, my tiny ogre arms shaking.
To my surprise, he did. The lizardman let out a low growl and nodded, signaling his surrender. Yay!ヽ(*≧ω≦)ﾉ
---
Step 3: Expand the Workforce
The lizardmen agreed to join us, much to Grumpy's surprise.
"You actually pulled it off," he said as we led the group back to the clearing.
"Told you I was persuasive," I said, grinning despite my exhaustion.
Back at the base, the other goblins and ogres gawked at our new recruits. The lizardmen wasted no time getting to work, using their claws and tails to clear debris and strengthen the fence.
"This might actually work," I said, watching them.
"Don't get cocky," Gorn warned. "We still need more people."
"Right," I said, already plotting our next move.
---
Step 4: More (Chaotic) Recruitment
Over the next few days, we managed to recruit a few more groups:
1. A family of porcupine beasts – They were surprisingly good at digging trenches and laying traps.
2. A trio of mischievous imps – They mostly caused trouble but were useful for scouting.
3. A lone wolf monster – Literally. It seemed to follow us out of curiosity and ended up staying.
Each new addition brought its own challenges, but the base was starting to take shape.
---
The imps quickly became the bane of my existence. They loved stealing tools, playing pranks, and generally being a nuisance.
One day, I found them trying to tie Grumpy's shoelaces together (not that he had proper shoes).
"Cut it out!" I yelled, chasing them around the clearing.
The imps giggled and scattered, leaving me fuming.
"You're the boss," Gorn said, smirking. "Maybe you should set an example."
"Oh, I'll set an example, alright," I muttered, plotting revenge.
---
By the end of the week, the base was looking more like an actual fortress. The fence was reinforced, trenches surrounded the perimeter, and we had basic shelters for everyone.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Progress: 50% Complete.
"Halfway there," I said, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion.
The others seemed equally satisfied. For the first time, the group felt like a team—a chaotic, dysfunctional team, but a team nonetheless.
As I sat by the fire that night, watching the lizardmen and goblins share food, I couldn't help but smile.
"Maybe this recruitment thing wasn't such a bad idea after all," I said, clutching the Boss Relic Shard in my pocket.
But deep down, I knew the hard part was still ahead.