After the night of celebration, the village quickly returned to its rhythm. The sound of hammers striking wood replaced the clanging of weapons, and laughter was now paired with labor.
Houses were being rebuilt, the palisade walls reinforced, and the training fields echoed once more with the grunts of soldiers honing their skills.
At dawn, after his usual morning training with Jen, Lumberling rolled his shoulders and headed toward the construction site. He had finished drafting new blueprints for several key structures, larger barracks, reinforced storehouses, and expanded living quarters.
He knelt beside a group of goblins laying out timber near the east wall, correcting measurements and explaining load distribution.
'The plan to build another base deeper in the forest will have to wait,' he thought, glancing at the half-finished walls. 'Most of the stockpiled wood was used here… and we'll need to restock weapons and armor soon. I'll have to visit Turpan City again.'
