A new day had begun, with pale morning light filtering through the entrance of the cave. I rubbed my eyes and sat up. The hard stone floor was starting to feel almost like a soft bed. Perhaps exhaustion carried a kind of magic that made the body accept any surface. Despite the early hour, the inside of the cave was already stirring. Brug, with his massive frame, was hauling a stone chest from one place to another; Zip darted around impatiently; Krag was taking notes in a corner, and Tuk was still yawning sleepily in another. And of course, Gob… Rubbing his eyes, he approached me with that familiar cheerfulness in his voice.
“Gob?” he said.
I paused for a moment and took a deep breath. Everything we had made over the past weeks... it was all here, assembled on the stone floor. Carefully arranged, polished, and inspected one last time. I looked over them attentively:
? Alpha Wolf’s Fang - High-Quality Dagger → 2 units
? Alpha Wolf’s Pelt - Stealth Armor → 1 unit
? Alpha Wolf’s Claw - Poison-Enhanced Dagger → 3 units
? Steel Fang Wolf’s Fang - Throwing Knives → 12 units
? Steel Fang Wolf’s Pelt - Reinforced Light Armor → 6 units
A total of twenty-four crafted items. Each one was the product of our hands, our labor. It was not just a reflection of production but also of patience and harmony. Each goblin had shown incredible progress throughout the process. Brug now handled heavy tasks in the blink of an eye. Krag had become quite skilled in measurements and resource calculations. Zip’s energy accelerated the workflow, and even Tuk’s clumsiness had become his own unique method. But most importantly… Gob. We could almost understand each other without words now. There was a glint of a craftsman in his small eyes.
Gob looked at me. He raised his hand in a salute of sorts. "Gob!" he said proudly.
I bowed my head slightly and smiled. “Yes, Gob. It’s time to take these items out and see if they’re worth anything in the Tower.”
Gob’s brows furrowed with curiosity. “Gob?”
“Yes,” I said as I slowly stood up. “I’m going to the city square. I need to see what the other craftsmen are selling, how valuable our creations really are. I must understand the trade system inside the Tower. If we’re serious about this, I need to know the worth of each item we sell, the flow of the economy, and the demand.”
One by one, all the goblins started gathering around me. Brug frowned, Zip paused, Krag set his notebook down. Even Tuk stopped yawning. But it was Gob’s expression that caught my attention the most. His brows drooped, and his eyes were filled with worry.
“I know…” I said softly. “I can’t take you with me. If the city people see goblins… they’ll panic. They might think you’re a threat. They could hurt you. Or follow us. This cave, this order we’ve built… it could all be in danger.”
Gob’s shoulders slumped. He pouted. “Gooob…” he murmured. His eyes were almost teary. A heaviness settled in my chest. I never wanted to see him like this. He wasn’t just a helper anymore—he was a true friend.
I crouched down, meeting his gaze. Placing my hand on his shoulder, I said, “But I need someone to protect this place while I’m gone. Someone to lead the others. Someone who will show them how to work, who will keep the cave safe. Gob… That someone is you.”
Gob’s eyes widened. For a moment, he was speechless. Then, that familiar spark returned to his gaze. His eyes lit up as he nodded firmly. “Gob!” he shouted with enthusiasm. Then suddenly, he raised his tiny hand to his head in a comically sincere salute, like a soldier—proud, ready, and determined.
All the goblins watched him. For the first time, he stood like a leader. Zip clapped with bright eyes. Even Brug nodded proudly. Krag scribbled something down, and Tuk quietly moved to stand behind Gob.
I smiled. “That’s it,” I said. “While I’m gone, this place is your responsibility, Gob. Don’t let anyone see you. Keep working. When I return… maybe I’ll bring you something nice from the city.”
Gob instantly leapt into the air. “GOB!”
I let out a quiet breath, then slung my bag over my shoulder. As I walked toward the entrance, I glanced back one last time. Six small figures were lined up at the cave’s mouth. Each one different, but each a vital part of this team. I stepped into the sunlight. The city square awaited me. But my heart… was still in the cave.
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As I moved forward through the dark exit of the cave, the silence around me was suddenly pierced by a glowing notification. A system panel appeared in the air, flashing with a golden shimmer:
[New Title Acquired!]
Gob has been appointed as Leader.
Thanks to the [Workers] skill, one of your goblin assistants has been promoted to the “Leader” position.
Leadership automates basic task management and increases the efficiency of your workers.
I squinted at the panel. “So the [Workers] trait allows this too…” I murmured. Until now, I hadn’t realized it—but ever since I assigned the goblins as workers, I hadn’t truly examined them through the system. I had only focused on their visible skills and behavior. But now… with this notification, I understood. Over the course of those long weeks, these little creatures had truly grown. By carrying stones every day, polishing armor, tending the forge, filing sword hilts, and patiently carving processed bones… They had advanced slowly but steadily.
I reached my hand to the side. The system interface appeared again. I opened the worker panel and began reviewing each goblin, one by one.
[Worker Information]
? Name: Gob [Leader of The Goblin Gang]
? Race: Goblin
? Gender: Male
? Age: 3
? Level: 10
? HP: 65/65
? Mana: 15/15
? Stats:
? Strength: 9 (+4)
? Endurance: 11 (+4)
? Intelligence: 5 (+2)
? Agility: 13 (+4)
? Luck: 3 (+1)
? Skills:
? [Basic Task Awareness]
? [Focus]
Note: Gob has taken his leadership role incredibly seriously. Weeks of coordination and observation have significantly enhanced his awareness of his surroundings. He's no longer just a doer — he's become a guide.
? Name: Grob
? Race: Goblin
? Gender: Male
? Age: 4
? Level: 4
? HP: 70/70
? Mana: 6/6
? Stats:
? Strength: 13 (+6)
? Endurance: 12 (+4)
? Intelligence: 5 (+1)
? Agility: 6 (+1)
? Luck: 2
? Skills:
? [Resilient]
? [Silent Work]
Note: Grob's muscle mass has visibly increased. The loads he's carried have only made him tougher. Still silent, still reserved... but now a true master of heavy lifting.
? Name: Zip
? Race: Goblin
? Gender: Male
? Age: 4
? Level: 5
? HP: 60/60
? Mana: 6/6
? Stats:
? Strength: 5 (+2)
? Endurance: 6 (+2)
? Intelligence: 11 (+3)
? Agility: 14 (+5)
? Luck: 5 (+1)
? Skills:
? [Quick Hands]
? [Agile Movement]
Note: Zip has become a star when it comes to fast-paced work. His small but nimble hands are incredibly efficient with detailed craftsmanship, especially in assembling small mechanical parts.
? Name: Brug
? Race: Goblin
? Gender: Male
? Age: 4
? Level: 4
? HP: 75/75
? Mana: 6/6
? Stats:
? Strength: 15 (+7)
? Endurance: 11 (+4)
? Intelligence: 4 (+1)
? Agility: 4 (+1)
? Luck: 2
? Skills:
? [Strong Grip]
? [Steady Stance]
Note: Brug has grown into a true powerhouse. He hauls armor panels solo, extracts massive boulders from the quarry. He doesn't think before acting — but everything he does is spot-on.
? Name: Krag
? Race: Goblin
? Gender: Male
? Age: 4
? Level: 5
? HP: 55/55
? Mana: 7/7
? Stats:
? Strength: 2 (+1)
? Endurance: 3 (+1)
? Intelligence: 14 (+4)
? Agility: 3 (+1)
? Luck: 4 (+1)
? Skills:
? [Analysis]
? [Enhanced Memory]
Note: Krag rarely puts down his notebook. He has observed material reactions, analyzed furnace temperatures. His knowledge has far surpassed simple observations.
? Name: Tuk
? Race: Goblin
? Gender: Male
? Age: 4
? Level: 3
? HP: 55/55
? Mana: 5/5
? Stats:
? Strength: 5 (+2)
? Endurance: 4 (+2)
? Intelligence: 4 (+1)
? Agility: 12 (+3)
? Luck: 3 (+1)
? Skills:
? [Fast Run]
? [Escape Skill]
Note: Tuk is still a bit clumsy, but incredibly fast. He excels at transporting parts quickly and finding escape routes during sudden dangers. He’s become a kind of “emergency courier.”
After reviewing the whole screen and closing it with a final glance, I let out a deep sigh and smiled.
These six little creatures... they were no longer just workers. They had each grown into specialists in their fields, with settled habits — tiny masters in their own right.
And now, under Gob’s leadership, each one knew exactly what to do.
With my pack slung over my shoulder, and the forest path stretching before me, I stepped into a new day — the sound of footsteps inside the cave echoing in my ears.
Work wouldn’t stop while I was gone, because now… they had a leader.
“Gob!” his voice echoed from afar, bouncing off the stone walls.
I smiled.
Leadership had finally landed on the shoulders of the one who deserved it most.
But there was still one thing I wanted to check — my own growth.
