Chapter 380: Two Kingdoms, Two Reports

Arthur was still scrolling through the messages when the Wyverns finally reached its destination.

The ship had barely finished docking before he stood up.

"Let’s go!"

Vedas, who had been sitting beside him, didn’t move.

"Where?"

"Back to the Academy, obviously."

"We are already here."

Arthur looked toward the dock, then back at him.

"Right. I knew that."

Mithra shook her head as she stepped past them. "You’ve been staring at those reports for so long that you’ve forgotten how to disembark."

"I was reviewing important information."

"You were reading the same notification three times."

"It contained important information."

Vedas rose and adjusted his equipment. "If the information is that important, perhaps you should finish reading it before running off."

Arthur grinned. "That’s exactly what I’m planning to do."

The group gathered their belongings and stepped onto the dock. The Wyvern was already securing its position nearby, and students from the other ship began unloading their equipment. Professor Roland and Professor Scolding coordinated the return arrangements, making sure the expedition records were transferred safely.

Arthur, however, had found a quieter spot near the dock.

He opened the first report.

"Let’s see what they’ve been doing."

Vedas came to stand beside him.

"Start with Utopia."

Arthur nodded.

A familiar system window appeared.

[Utopia Kingdom Report]

[Kingdom Status: Stable.]

Arthur’s expression brightened.

"Stable. That’s good."

Vedas folded his arms. "It is. Continue."

Arthur scrolled through the latest developments.

[Royal Workshop: Development Progressing.]

[Training Grounds: Improvements Ongoing.]

[School Operations: Stable.]

[Food Production and Storage: Stable.]

[Defensive Construction: Progressing.]

[Citizen Morale: Improving.]

Arthur paused at the last notification.

"Morale is improving."

Vedas nodded. "That is important."

Melo leaned over Arthur’s shoulder. "Isn’t everything improving?"

"Not necessarily," Athena replied. "A kingdom can have enough food and strong defenses while its citizens remain dissatisfied. Those things are connected, but they aren’t the same."

"Exactly," Vedas said. "A kingdom isn’t just its walls."

Arthur looked at him.

Vedas continued, his expression thoughtful. "When we first began rebuilding Dawn, most of the Goblins were concerned with surviving the next day. They needed shelter, food, and protection. Those were the immediate priorities. But a kingdom cannot remain focused on survival forever."

He looked at the report again.

"People need reasons to wake up in the morning beyond finding enough food to survive. They need work, education, opportunities, and something they can build toward."

Arthur smiled. "Sounds like someone has been thinking like a king."

Vedas gave him a flat look. "I am the king."

"Right. Sometimes I forget."

"You should stop doing that."

Melo giggled while Sun crossed his arms.

"A proper kingdom must also have a proper army. I trust the training grounds have improved considerably."

Arthur opened the next section.

"Looks like they have."

The report showed that the training grounds had continued improving, while the defensive structures and outer wall were also progressing. The Royal Workshop was developing alongside the Forge, and the Goblins had continued their experiments with Frost Iron.

Athena examined the information.

"The Royal Workshop could become particularly important. If their experiments continue successfully, they may be able to produce equipment that isn’t limited to basic weapons and tools."

"That’s what I want to see," Arthur replied. "I wonder what they’ve made."

"Probably something useful," Athy said.

"Or something dangerous," Vedas added.

Arthur looked at him. "Why would you assume that?"

"Because I know the people involved."

Melo covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

Arthur scrolled further.

One notification caught his attention.

[Schools: Attendance and Practical Training Improving.]

He smiled.

"That’s nice."

Eden leaned closer. "The children are still studying?"

"Looks like it. They’re learning while the adults work on the kingdom."

Arthur remembered the earlier days, when the Goblins had been focused almost entirely on survival. Now children were attending school, practicing together, and learning skills that would help them contribute to their community.

He imagined them sitting in a classroom in Dawn, arguing over lessons and trying to impress their instructors.

Kong pointed at the screen.

"Are they learning how to cook?"

Arthur blinked. "Why would a school teach that?"

"Because cooking is important."

"Not every school teaches cooking."

"Then they’re missing something."

Athy sighed. "I’m beginning to think your priorities are impossible to correct."

Kong looked completely unbothered.

"That’s because I’m right."

Vedas continued examining the report. "The important thing is that they are learning skills they can use. Not every Goblin needs to become a warrior. Builders, smiths, healers, and scholars are just as important to the kingdom."

Arthur nodded.

He remembered how the different Goblin evolutionary paths had opened possibilities beyond combat. Their strengths could be used in many ways, and Utopia was beginning to reflect that.

"It’s working," Arthur said.

Vedas looked at him.

"What’s working?"

"Everything we hoped to build. Dawn isn’t just a place where the Goblins can hide anymore. They’re actually creating a kingdom."

Vedas stared at the report for a moment before his expression softened.

"Yes. They are."

Arthur closed the Utopia report and opened the second one.

"Now for the Cronwell Tribe."

A separate system window appeared.

[Cronwell Tribe Report]

[Current Tribe Level: 20.]

[Current Settlement Size: Town.]

[Recent Developments]

Arthur smiled.

"Still Level 20. Still a town."

Vedas nodded. "As expected. The tribe has been developing, but a settlement doesn’t expand simply because time passes. They need the population, resources, and organization to support it."

"I’m not complaining," Arthur said. "I just want to see what they’ve accomplished."

He scrolled through the report.

[Hunting Routes: Improved.]

[Patrol Organization: Stable.]

[Crop Production: Improving.]

[Food Storage: Maintained.]

[Relations with Neighboring Beasts: Stable.]

Arthur’s eyes stopped at the last notification.

"Relations are stable. That’s good."

Vedas nodded again.

"The Direwolves were one of the biggest concerns when we first left. If the Goblins can maintain their agreement with them, it will make the surrounding territory safer."

Mithra leaned closer. "They managed to maintain it without you?"

"Apparently," Arthur replied.

"That is impressive."

Vedas studied the report with a quiet expression.

"They needed to learn how to do that."

Arthur looked at him.

Vedas continued. "I helped them establish the first routes and organize their defenses. But if they depend on me to make every decision, then the tribe will never become stronger. They must learn to manage their own territory."

Athy nodded. "Otherwise, every problem becomes a reason to wait for the king."

"Exactly."

Arthur scrolled further.

The report showed that the Goblins had continued organizing their patrols and hunting routes. Their crop production had improved with the help of a natural mana spring, and the settlement’s storage remained stable.

"Look at this," Arthur said. "Their food production is improving too."

Kong immediately climbed onto the table.

"More food?"

"That’s what it says."

"Excellent!"

Melo looked at him. "You haven’t even asked how they improved it."

"I know how."

"Really?"

"They made more food."

Melo stared at him for a moment before laughing.

Athy crossed her arms. "I am certain the report contains considerably more information than that."

Kong pointed at the notification.

"Food production improved. Food storage maintained. Those are the important parts."

"Of course they are."

Arthur continued reading.

There were also updates about the tribe’s watchtowers, construction work, and training organization. The Goblins were not simply expanding their settlement. They were improving the systems that allowed them to protect and maintain it.

One detail caught Arthur’s attention.

"Wait. The patrol routes have been reorganized?"

Vedas leaned closer.

"Yes. It looks like they’ve adjusted the routes around the hunting grounds."

"Why?"

"Probably because their territory has become more difficult to manage as the settlement has grown. A single patrol route would leave too many gaps."

Athena examined the report. "The new arrangement should also make it easier to coordinate the hunters and scouts. If they know which areas are being monitored, they can avoid unnecessary overlap."

Arthur smiled.

"So they’re improving their organization without us."

"That’s what we wanted," Vedas replied.

Sun nodded approvingly. "A proper warrior must know how to protect his territory. It seems the tribe is finally learning."

Mithra glanced at him. "And what have you learned from this report?"

"That their warriors should continue training."

"Anything else?"

Sun thought for a moment.

"Food is important."

Kong nodded enthusiastically.

"See? Sun understands."

"Don’t look so proud," Athy said. "You both arrived at the same conclusion for entirely different reasons."

The group laughed.

Arthur continued examining the report. He was particularly pleased to see that the Goblins were maintaining their relations with neighboring Beasts. Their agreement with the Direwolves had once been a major step toward securing their territory. Now it was becoming part of the tribe’s normal operations.

That was the kind of progress he wanted to see.

Not a settlement that grew only when he was present, but a community that could make decisions, solve problems, and continue improving on its own.

"I’m proud of them," Arthur said.

Vedas looked at him.

"So am I."

There was no hesitation in his answer.

For Vedas, the Cronwell Tribe was more than another group of Goblins. They were the people who had first trusted him when he had struggled to believe in himself. He had left them to pursue his own evolution, but he had never stopped caring about what happened to them.

Seeing them continue growing without his constant supervision meant something.

Arthur noticed his expression and smiled.

"You should visit them when we get the chance."

"I intend to."

"And Dawn too."

"Of course."

"Maybe we can bring some supplies."

Vedas gave him a suspicious look. "You are not going to turn the visit into another expedition, are you?"

Arthur looked away.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because you are already thinking about what else we could discover."

Mithra laughed. "He’s right."

Arthur sighed. "I can’t even make plans anymore."

"You can," Vedas replied. "Just make reasonable ones."

"That’s a very restrictive definition of planning."

Arthur closed both reports.

For a moment, he simply looked at the empty space where the notifications had been.

Utopia was stable. Dawn was developing into the capital of a growing kingdom. Its citizens were rebuilding their homes, attending schools, working in the Forge and Royal Workshop, and improving their defenses.

The Cronwell Tribe had reached Level 20 and established a town-sized settlement. Its Goblins were managing their territory, improving their hunting routes, maintaining their crops, and cooperating with neighboring Beasts.

Neither community had been waiting for Arthur to return.

They had continued living.

That was the most satisfying part.

Arthur smiled. "We’ve done well."

Vedas glanced at him. "They have done well."

Arthur looked at him, then laughed.

"Right. They did the work."

"Exactly."

Eden smiled. "I think they’d be happy to know you’re proud of them."

"Then we’ll make sure to visit when we can."

Star bounced on Arthur’s shoulder, and Kong raised both hands.

"And eat!"

"Of course," Arthur replied.

Before anyone could continue, footsteps approached from behind.

An Academy official stood near the group, holding a sealed message.

"Arthur Cronwall?"

Arthur turned. "That’s me."

The official handed him the message.

"Principal Steven requests your immediate presence in his office."

Arthur looked down.

The message contained only one sentence.

[Report to my office immediately.]

He stared at it.

Then he slowly raised his head.

Vedas looked at the message over his shoulder.

Mithra leaned closer, while Melo’s expression shifted into barely concealed amusement.

Sun folded his arms. "Perhaps the Principal wishes to congratulate us on our achievements."

Athy looked at him. "Does that sound likely?"

"No."

Kong tilted his head. "Will there be food?"

"No," Vedas answered.

Arthur folded the message and slipped it into his pocket.

"Well, we should go. We have a lot to tell him."

Vedas stared at him.

"Congratulations. You have successfully survived another expedition."

Arthur smiled. "Thank you."

"I wasn’t finished."

Arthur paused.

"You have not yet survived the consequences."

Mithra burst out laughing, and even the Academy official struggled to keep a straight face.

Arthur looked toward the Academy buildings.

"Come on. How bad could it be?"

Vedas sighed.

He already knew the answer.