After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

Today’s bonus chap is here! Again, thank you for your support guys!! I won’t be high in Golden Ticket rankings without youuu!

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While Alterra was celebrating love and longevity, two men were preparing to find their own respective soul mates. It took them a few days to settle everything in Iron Mountains before they could head out, but they had been preparing everything before it was time to finally leave.

Gill and Helios had filled up their spaces with important supplies that could last them weeks, hopefully. For instance, they put in a lot of non-perishable food and sauces. Gill, especially, was aware of the food situation of this place. After being spoiled by Alterra’s cuisines, outside food would’ve been torture.

They also brought in other essentials like water bottles, extra equipment, potions, and the like. They bought the ones ’the territory’ (i.e. Althea) sent to sell, at the commercial price used in the Alterra Shop.

It so happened that Althea’s pharmacy had also released potions that could serve even Gill’s level, probably having an effect until he reached level 30. From what he knew, sister-in-law had managed to tap into the plants they got from Ferrol back then, including a plant called Goldenroot.

They were sent out by friends and family, reluctantly seeing them by the gates.

”Be careful,” Hugo said as he patted his nephew’s shoulder. ”No matter what happens, your life and health come first.”

Helios chuckled, rubbing his nose in embarrassment. He felt a bit like a teenage boy being sent out by his father. ”Of course, uncle.”

Next to him, Gill was talking with Rowan, Silvia, and Reno. He was also telling them some things to watch out for.

”We know that Guia has an actual master. If anyone from a city—or an unfamiliar town, for that matter—enters the territory, alert Alterra immediately.”

They nodded, taking note of everything. ”Did you bring a messenger bird ’port’ with you?” Silvia asked.

It was a base that the birds would look for when they were sent out. The territory sent another one so both men had one in their space. They had to let it hang around their clothing for the most part though, otherwise what was their point if they couldn’t get detected?

”Sure, but they’re not entirely reliable,” Gill couldn’t help but reiterate. Who knew if the birds would get eaten?

Of course, if they landed in a territory that had a Post Office, they would use that instead. They would send it to Ferrol, for now, and their team there would send the messenger bird in their stead. The Bird port was just there in case there was an emergency and—although unlikely—Alterra had to send a letter to them instead.

”Well, it’s better than nothing.”

Anyway, the duo was sent with more reminders before finally heading out. However, before the two men could turn, a group of small voices caught their attention.

”Wait, sirs…”

They paused and turned, seeing a group of several dozen goblins running towards them. For a moment, they thought they were being sent off by the little ones, too.

”We would like to beseech something, good sirs.”

The two men looked at each other and then to the goblins. ”What is it?”

They looked quite meek, especially as they asked for favors. Unlike the goblins in Alterra or even in Limestone Valley, the goblins in this place were far more shy.

After all, they had grown up here and—without a new environment—they would have the tendency to act as they always had. There was also the fact that the citizens here were mostly aborigines, and therefore looked down on goblins by default.

Of course, after a lot of the citizens who bullied goblins were punished, the discrimination had become much more muted. Not to mention, a certain fraction of humans had also become neutral with the goblins after their pivotal roles during the heatwave.

However, discrimination was still pretty prevalent in some groups. Even until recently, when a few goblins bravely ventured outside the mines, they encountered hostile citizens who tried to ’put them in place’. Violence was not allowed due to the rules, but they could certainly harass with words.

(Of course, they would soon find out that even verbal harassment would receive warnings now—thanks to Winona’s grandmother).

At the time though, the rule hadn’t been implemented yet, so the case got very big.

The goblins were convinced by Kimura and Linlin to go out and explore with them, though the fun quickly turned sour when they encountered the racists.

The aborigine bullies said mean things like ’rats should stay underground’ and the like, naturally leading to an all-out war of words that very nearly turned physical.

It was contained quickly thanks to the guards, but it showed how long it’d take for them to contain things completely.

They knew it’d take time to integrate, so they didn’t force the little things and just allowed them to settle in the dormitories built near the mines. This was why it was unexpected to see so many out in the open right now.

What they didn’t know was the goblins came in such huge groups because going out in small groups would be too scary for them.

”What is it?” Gill repeated, a bit in a rush and had minimal patience for reluctant asking.

”You see… we would just like to ask, if you ever find goblins, would you take them?”

It might be a bit much… but they knew there were thousands of goblins trapped in human territories.

This made the humans blink. When they didn’t answer immediately, the goblins felt very sad.

But Gill nodded and their eyes widened. ”Sure, if it’s within our ability—and without compromising our own team’s safety.”

The goblins’ shoulders slumped in relief, their large disproportionately big eyes lined with tears. ”That is already very good, sirs. Thank you.”

It’d be too difficult to find the Home Place, but at least there were places in the human territory where they could be treated with decency.

”We promise to pay you back somehow.” The little things sniffed, looking at them, though still not daring to look directly in the eye.

”No problem,” Gill said, and Helios nodded, though he couldn’t help but look at the goblins a bit deeply.

”Good bye good sirs, please be blessed with success,” they said in sync, blessing them with good health and a bit of luck.

Before they left though, Helios stepped forward and stood in front of the goblins. They flinched, a bit intimidated, and were shocked when he kneeled down so he was at their eye level.

By instinct, they turned, avoiding his eyes.

Helios smiled as he tilted his head so he could be in their peripheral vision. ”Look into our eyes sometimes, eh? Otherwise, you’re delaying a very important trip of ours. Do you not see Gill getting angry?”

Gill-who-hadn’t-said-anything: ”...”

Regardless, the goblins did do as they were told. Helios smiled, satisfied when they stared into his eyes, even if only for a second.

”And oh, try to lift your head higher when you’re walking around, too.”

Awkwardly, the goblins tried to do so, their backs straightening up a bit in effect as well.

”Better. You’re Alterrans now, after all—” he said, finally standing up. ”And us Alterrans are proud.”