Chapter 22 - Home, Safe, Waterfall, Forest

I was shocked when I saw the system message and I couldn't help but speak my mind out loud.

"Is this part of the increased Luck? Or was this always supposed to be here? What do I choose?"

I have no idea which benefit to choose and what they would bring for me. Does population mean I get NPCs from the box? Will I get to increase my stats like the previous reward? What does it mean by resources? Do I only get one piece of equipment? What is an artifact? There were so many questions that ran through my head. I sit down and stare at the blue screen and the golden box. I put my hand under my chin and think intently.

"I have to choose wisely."

I psych myself up and taker a deep breath. I clear my mind of the questions and look at each benefit closely one by one and try to figure out the reason behind each benefit.

Population usually means increasing the NPCs however I find it unlikely that NPCs would appear from a box. This means that it either increases the chances of random NPCs finding me or it is an item that summons NPCs. This would be good regardless because I need more people for a village, town or city.

Stats should mean the increase of stats just like the previous award. The difference is most likely the system randomly increases a stat rather than me choosing one. I don't think I would need this since I won't be at the front lines all the time.

Resources are very ambiguous. It could mean food, water or even raw metals. I don't need food or water and metals can't be processed yet so getting resources might end up being a waste.

Equipment would mean getting a piece of equipment. No matter how good the stats are in the equipment it only helps in fighting monsters rather than improving the lifestyle of everyone.

Lastly is the artifact. Looking at all the previous options the artifact is most likely an item that gives a buff. It could be anything as well which makes it hard to choose since the effect might be useless.

A hard decision for this ancient ruin but at least from how the system worded its message it means there are more ancient ruins yet to be discovered.

"What do I need the most right now?"

I look around as I silently said those words. I see everyone picking up random objects that the goblins had before. From stone forks to random pieces of animal skin to stored fruit. I think back to the base and remember there are only 2 people there. With most of the people here helping me the base ends up vulnerable. Thinking about that I decided to choose Population.

I tap on the blue screen and selected Population. The golden box opens and an orb is inside. I pick up the orb and the description of the orb appears in front of me.

[ Goblin Spawn

Place the orb in the ground at a location desired. A goblin house will be erected. Goblins that spawn from this house and are MAX LP.

1 Goblin / Day ( Max 30 Goblins ) ]

The golden box crumbles into dust and my face starts to twitch, I couldn't hold back my grin. I couldn't believe my eyes. With this orb, I can solve problems with manual labor as well as be able to send out scouting parties to search deeper in the forest without risking the NPCs' lives. I hold onto the orb and went back to the test of the group since it looked like they have finished searching the encampment. We had gained from this encampment 15 goblin knives, 5 goblin clubs, 50 pieces of animal skin, some fruits and various stone utensils.

Following Oscar back towards the base I ending up thinking about the name for the base. For a whole week, there was no name for the place and I could hear other people refer to the place as a base however it would be easier if there was a name attached to the place. I rack my brain trying to think of a suitable name and not before long we had come back. Howard greets us at the gate and helps Lucina carry the basket full of animal skin. We gathered all the loot near the fire and started to store away the loot. Placing the weapons in a wooden barrel, animal skin inside the mud house and storing the food in the shelter. The stone utensils were collected into one basket and placed next to the weapon barrel.

Using this opportunity I raised the question that was on my mind.

"Does anyone have a name for this place?"

Howard shrugs his shoulders and moves off to the side carrying more weapons to be placed in the barrel. Luke and Oscar stay silent while old man Hus looked like he ignored the question. David and Robin just waited for me to say something else while Owen looked at everyone not knowing what to say until Lucina spoke up.

"Isn't the name something you should decide Ian?"

I look at Lucina confused. I reply to her.

"Why me?"

"Because you helped everyone here. You find us this place, saved Robin, Owen, Oscar and David. Stepped forward in the battle last night even though you knew yourself that you were not a fighter. You have more than enough qualification to decide the name since everyone here whether they voice it or not thinks of you as our leader."

I could see some small nods coming from the group as I look around.

"Even so, I don't know what the name should be. Does anyone have any suggestions?"

"Ian, just take your time to decide. Or think about what this place means to you?"

Lucina gives me some advice and while I thought about it my thoughts came out of my mouth.

"This place means home to me or a safe haven. Living here lets me feel the warmth of the sun in the day. It allows me to hear the rushing water from the waterfall next to us as well as the voices from the forest. The words I think of when I think of this place are home, safe, waterfall and forest. So maybe the name of this place should be something to do with one of those words."

After giving this a moment's thought I smile.

"I will hereby declare this place we live in to be called HavenFall."