And just like that, life settled back into a peaceful, somewhat boring routine for the next two weeks.
The skull-marked stick remained stubbornly planted where it was, but eventually, I stopped obsessively staring at it every few hours.
Sure, the goblin situation still felt pretty hopeless. They continued to avoid my castle like the plague, and I had no idea how I was supposed to convince them to come back.
But then again...
What if, one random day, I suddenly had an actual human visitor?
Or perhaps another fantasy race with greater intelligence and potential?
Thinking about that, I felt a little better.
There was no point obsessing over the goblins forever. I just had to wait for another opportunity.
Meanwhile, more and more animals continued to move into my territory.
Or rather, they returned.
Now that the goblins were no longer disturbing them, the animals seemed to have finally relaxed and started spreading throughout my territory again.
The rabbits multiplied rapidly. Birds built more nests across my towers and windowsills. Even the raccoons seemed perfectly content with their little sanctuary.
And before long...
I even received an achievement for it!
[Ding!]
[You now have more than 100 animals living within your territory!]
[Achievement Unlocked: Wildlife Haven!]
[+20 Points!]
[Points Remaining: 352]
"Nice!"
I couldn’t help feeling a little proud.
"Now let’s aim for 1,000 animals!!!"
******
But then, one random evening, everything changed.
I had almost accepted that my relationship with the goblins was over.
They would avoid my castle forever, and I would probably spend the rest of my life regretting that stupid mistake with the human statue.
But that evening, it was as if the gods of this world had decided to give me one last chance.
It was another stormy night.
Just like before, the sky roared with fury. Thunder split the heavens again and again, each deafening crack making my stone walls tremble. Rain hammered down in heavy sheets, while violent winds screamed through the ancient forest like enraged spirits tearing through the trees.
And there I was, once again, quietly enjoying the raw chaos of nature.
At some point, I even found myself making a stupid little bet with myself.
I wonder if I’ll get struck by lightning again like I did on Day 10? Hehe.
They say lightning doesn’t strike the same place twice. So if I get another strike, shouldn’t that be another achievement?
Boom!
Zap!
A few bolts came dangerously close, briefly illuminating the entire clearing in blinding white flashes.
But this time, no direct hit came.
That made me pause.
"Should I build a lightning rod?"
I mean, I had Iron now.
A simple iron pole shouldn’t be too difficult to make, right?
I was still thinking about it when my external vision suddenly picked up frantic movement at the edge of the forest.
Two small figures burst out from between the trees, running as fast as they could.
I immediately zoomed in.
Goblins!
Two goblins stumbled desperately through the muddy clearing, soaked to the bone as they slipped and scrambled forward.
Their breathing was ragged, their movements frantic.
They weren’t simply running.
They were running for their lives.
For a moment, I couldn’t help wondering what could possibly terrify goblins this badly.
Then I heard it.
"Awooooo—!"
My attention snapped back toward the forest.
The bushes suddenly exploded outward as a massive shadow leaped into the clearing.
A wolf!
No...
Not just a normal wolf.
I’d never seen anything like this before!
The creature was enormous, easily the size of a bull. Its thick gray fur was slick with rain, while two curved horns jutted from its skull, giving it an almost demonic appearance.
Its glowing eyes remained locked onto the fleeing goblins, filled with nothing but predatory hunger.
Then another shadow emerged.
Then another.
And another!
Within seconds, an entire pack poured out of the forest, snarling and barking as they continued the chase.
Their howls mixed with the thunder, creating a terrifying symphony as the hunt continued across the rain-soaked clearing.
And that alone answered one of my earlier questions.
So this forest really does have other, far more dangerous monsters!
Compared to those beasts, the two goblins looked absolutely tiny and fragile.
I could see them more clearly now.
One was slightly taller and more muscular, most likely male.
The other was smaller and thinner, with a ponytail and distinctly feminine features.
Both had the same strange white markings painted across their faces.
That similarity immediately caught my attention.
Are they family?
Perhaps siblings?
For now, that was my best guess.
So I watched in silence as the tense scene unfolded.
The two goblins were running straight toward my castle now.
More accurately... that was the only direction left for them to run.
Then it happened.
The smaller goblin’s foot suddenly slipped on the rain-soaked ground.
Oh no!!!
She lost her balance and crashed face-first into the thick mud.