Luke stepped back, wiping sweat from his brow as the furnace roared to life. The blower mechanism worked perfectly, the leaf-bladed fan spinning as Grut pulled the rope with enthusiastic vigor. Flames danced inside the furnace, their heat radiating outward in waves.
"Perfect," Luke said, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "Now, for the charcoal."
He gathered dry wood, chopping it into manageable pieces with a stone axe. The goblins watched intently as he arranged the wood in the newly constructed charcoal pit burner. With a spark from flint and steel, he lit the fire, and soon, smoke began to rise in thick plumes.
Solus, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines, finally spoke up. "What's all this for now?" he asked, his tone cautious but curious.
Luke glanced at him, still smiling. "It's for fuel. Charcoal burns hotter and longer than regular firewood. Perfect for the furnace."
Solus furrowed his brow, his mind racing. "For smelting iron ore?" he ventured, his voice tinged with both suspicion and awe.
"Exactly," Luke replied, his grin widening. "Once we get the ore, we can start making tools. Real tools. Not just stone axes and clay pots."
The goblins murmured excitedly among themselves, their eyes gleaming with newfound hope. Tog, in particular, was utterly fascinated. The young goblin had been watching Luke's every move, absorbing every word as if his life depended on it. He crouched near the furnace, his eyes darting between the blower mechanism and the charcoal pit, his mind clearly working overtime.
Solus, however, was far less enthusiastic. His expression darkened as he watched Luke work. This is what I was afraid of, he thought, his jaw tightening. He's not just teaching them to survive. He's teaching them to thrive. If they learn to smelt iron, forge weapons, and build defenses… The thought sent a chill down his spine. I'll have to do this tonight, when they're all asleep.
Luke's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "You okay?"
Solus blinked, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "No, I was just… thinking about something," he said quickly, his tone unconvincing. Without waiting for a response, he turned and headed toward his hut, his mind already racing with plans.
Luke watched him go, his smile fading. He didn't trust Solus—not one bit. The human was too quiet, too calculating. Turning to Grut, who was still manning the blower, Luke leaned in and whispered, "Watch his every move. If he does anything suspicious… kill him."
Grut's eyes gleamed with a feral excitement. "Finally, fun to do," he muttered, cracking his knuckles. "Not worry, Lok. My eye on him."
Luke nodded, his expression grim. He couldn't afford to let Solus sabotage everything he'd built. The village was finally making progress, and he wasn't about to let one scheming human ruin it.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the village was bathed in the warm glow of the furnace and the flickering light of the charcoal pit. The goblins worked tirelessly, their laughter and chatter filling the air. But beneath the surface, tension simmered. Solus's hut was dark and silent, a stark contrast to the lively activity outside.
Inside, Solus sat cross-legged on the dirt floor, his eyes closed in concentration. He reached into the pocket of his tattered robe and pulled out a small, intricately carved stone—a focus for his magic. His fingers trembled slightly as he began to channel his mana, the air around him growing heavy with energy.
Tonight, he thought, his resolve hardening. I'll send the message. Master Solmund will know what to do.
Outside, Grut crouched in the shadows, his sharp eyes fixed on Solus's hut. The older goblin's grin was predatory, his spear resting comfortably in his hands. "Try, human," he whispered to himself. "I dare you."
The night stretched on, the village caught in a delicate balance between progress and peril. Luke stood by the furnace, his gaze shifting between the glowing embers and the dark silhouette of Solus's hut. He didn't know what the human was planning, but he was ready for whatever came next.
The rest of the day passed in a flurry of activity. The goblins, energized by Luke's leadership and their newfound skills, worked tirelessly to improve their village. Teams of goblins made the long trek to the riverbank, hauling back baskets of clay to reinforce their huts. Slowly but surely, the crude structures began to transform, their walls covered in a layer of clay and soil that made them sturdier and more insulated.
Luke, meanwhile, turned his attention to the village's sanitation. The toilet, though a significant improvement, still had its flaws. The branch floor was unstable, and the smell… well, it was far from pleasant. Using a mixture of clay and ash, Luke reinforced the structure, sealing the gaps and covering the stinky mess beneath. As he worked, a notification appeared in his vision:
[ You have improved the conditions of the toilet.
+0.3 Tech Points Per Usage ]
Luke smirked. "Every little bit counts," he muttered, wiping his hands on his tunic. The goblins nearby cheered, clearly impressed by his ingenuity.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the village gathered for a feast. The goblins proudly used their newly made clay utensils—plates, cups, and jars—to serve the food. The air was filled with laughter and chatter as they celebrated their progress. Even the chief, usually reserved and stoic, seemed to be in high spirits.
Standing atop a makeshift podium, the chief raised his clay cup and addressed the village. His voice was rough and guttural, but it carried authority. "Listen, goblins! Lok teach us… build, make, grow. No more fear. No more dirt. We strong now. Together, we rise!"
The goblins erupted into cheers, their voices echoing into the night. They stomped their feet, beat their chests, and howled in approval. Luke stood among them, a proud smile on his face. He had come a long way from being a manga enthusiast in another world. Now, he was the catalyst for change in this one.
As the cheers died down, a new notification appeared in Luke's vision, its golden text glowing brightly:
**[ You have achieved a great feat. By your actions, the goblin village has entered a new age.
Rewards:
Goblin Village Management Function: Member and Guests Lists Unlocked: You can now see each villager's skills, stats, and loyalty. You can also see guests' stats and intentions.
Goblin Village Management Function: Goblin Village Evolution Unlocked: You can upgrade the stats of the goblins using their own Attribute Points and evolve them when they reach a certain threshold.
+150 Tech Points
+50 Goblin Village Attribute Points
+30 Attribute Points ]**
Luke's eyes widened as he absorbed the information. This was huge. Not only could he now track the progress and loyalty of every goblin in the village, but he could also guide their evolution. The possibilities were endless.
He quickly opened the Member and Guests List to test the new function. The names of the goblins appeared in his vision, each accompanied by their stats, skills, and a loyalty rating. Most of the goblins had high loyalty, especially Tog, whose loyalty was marked as "Fanatic." Grut, on the other hand, had a loyalty rating of "Reliable," which made Luke chuckle. Of course, Grut was more interested in fighting than blind devotion.
Next, Luke checked the Guests List. Only one name appeared: Solus. His stats were mediocre, but what caught Luke's attention was the "Intentions" section. It read: "Planning to send a message to Master Solmund. Hostile intentions."
Luke's smile faded. He had suspected as much, but seeing it confirmed was another matter. He glanced toward Solus's hut, his expression hardening. Not on my watch, he thought.