C38 Chapter 36 – Visitors from the Endless Sea

Three red dots had appeared.

Not in the northern forest.

Not near the cliffs.

They were approaching...

From the sea.

And they were getting closer with every passing second.

---

The warning bell echoed across Hope Island.

Dong...

Dong...

Dong...

Aiden immediately grabbed his Bone Spear and newly forged Iron Knife before climbing the Stone Watchtower.

His heartbeat quickened as he looked toward the eastern coastline.

At first...

He saw nothing.

Only waves crashing against the shore.

Then...

Three small wooden rafts emerged from the morning mist.

"They're not monsters..."

"They're people."

Each raft carried a single figure dressed in ragged clothes.

The three struggled against the waves before finally reaching the beach.

The System suddenly released a new notification.

---

World Event

Survivors Adrift

Some Island Lords fail to protect their Island Cores.

The lucky ones perish.

The unlucky ones drift across the Endless Sea in search of hope.

Event Rank: Common

Current Survivors Detected: 3

Warning:

Your choices may permanently affect Hope Island's future.

---

"So..."

"They're survivors."

Aiden frowned.

Morris' words suddenly echoed in his mind.

«"There are islands that have already fallen."»

He had thought it was merely a warning.

Now...

He was seeing the proof with his own eyes.

---

Aiden hurried toward the beach but stopped nearly thirty meters away.

He kept his spear lowered but remained alert.

The three strangers looked exhausted.

A middle-aged man supported an elderly woman while a teenage boy collapsed onto the sand, gasping for breath.

Their clothes were torn.

Their faces were thin.

They looked as though they hadn't eaten properly in days.

The old woman noticed Aiden first.

"Please..."

"We don't want trouble."

"We only need water."

---

Before Aiden could respond, the System appeared again.

---

Event Choice

Survivors Found

Choose your response carefully.

Option 1: Drive them away.

Reward:

- None

Risk:

- Low

---

Option 2: Offer temporary shelter.

Reward:

- Reputation +20

- Civilization EXP +10

Risk:

- Unknown

---

Option 3: Recruit them as settlers.

Requirements:

- Trust

- Food Supply

- Housing

Reward:

- Unlock Population System

Risk:

- High

---

Aiden stared silently at the three choices.

One decision...

Could change Hope Island forever.

He looked at his drying rack.

The wheat field.

His small storage.

He barely had enough food for himself.

Recruiting strangers now would be reckless.

Yet...

Driving them away would almost certainly condemn them to death.

After several moments...

He made his choice.

---

"I can offer temporary shelter."

"But while you're here..."

"You'll follow my rules."

The three survivors immediately bowed.

"Thank you."

"You've saved our lives."

---

Event Completed

You chose:

Temporary Shelter

Rewards:

- Reputation +20

- Civilization EXP +10

New System Unlocked:

Reputation

Current Reputation:

30

---

The middle-aged man introduced himself.

"My name is Roland."

"I used to be a carpenter."

The elderly woman smiled weakly.

"I'm Martha."

"I know herbs and medicines."

The teenage boy scratched his head awkwardly.

"I'm Leo."

"I can hunt..."

"...a little."

Aiden's eyes lit up.

A carpenter.

A herbalist.

A hunter.

None of them were warriors.

But each possessed useful knowledge.

---

He led them back to the camp.

The three stared in amazement at the wooden hut, farmland, drying rack, and towering watchtower.

Roland couldn't hide his admiration.

"You built all this..."

"By yourself?"

Aiden nodded.

"It took time."

Roland laughed softly.

"If you'll allow it..."

"I'd like to help."

---

Hidden Talent Detected

Roland

Profession:

Carpenter (Common)

Potential:

★★★

---

Martha

Profession:

Herbalist (Common)

Potential:

★★★

---

Leo

Profession:

Hunter Apprentice (Common)

Potential:

★★☆

---

Aiden blinked.

"So everyone has talents..."

The Population System wasn't simply about increasing numbers.

Every person brought unique skills.

---

Back at the camp, Aiden divided the remaining food.

It wasn't much.

But nobody complained.

As they ate, Roland spoke quietly.

"Our island..."

"It didn't survive."

A heavy silence fell over the campfire.

"What happened?"

Aiden asked.

Roland looked into the flames.

"The monsters came every night."

"We fought."

"We built."

"We survived..."

"For a while."

"But when the Blood Moon arrived..."

"Our Island Lord died protecting us."

"The Island Core shattered."

"Everything collapsed."

Martha lowered her head.

"We were the only ones who escaped."

Leo clenched his fists.

"I wasn't strong enough."

---

Aiden looked toward his own Island Core.

For the first time...

He truly understood what failure meant.

If he lost...

Hope Island wouldn't simply disappear.

Everyone living here would lose their home.

---

That evening, Aiden gave the three survivors a temporary place to sleep inside a simple shelter beside the workshop.

It wasn't comfortable.

But it was safe.

Before going to bed, another notification appeared.

---

Population Updated

Hope Island Population:

1 → 4

Island Prosperity:

10 → 18

Civilization EXP:

10 / 100

Next Milestone:

Population 10

---

Aiden smiled faintly.

Hope Island no longer belonged to only one survivor.

It had become the beginning of a settlement.

Yet...

Far beyond the northern forest...

The Shadow Wolf King stood atop a rocky cliff.

Its crimson eyes watched the smoke rising from Aiden's camp.

One human...

Had become four.

The Wolf King slowly turned toward the ancient stone gate hidden beneath the mountain.

This time...

The glowing runes spread farther across its surface.

From the darkness beyond the gate...

A low voice whispered once again.

"Protect them while you can..."

"Because the first wave..."

"...is almost here."