Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Barbarians' SimCity
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The next day.
I headed back to the abandoned mine.
Thanks to the tracking ritual I'd planted on that bastard yesterday with Aila's help, finding its location was a piece of cake.
This time, I didn't bring any warriors with me.
Having confirmed it was safe, it was just Aila and me, the two of us, seeking out the kobold colony.
The thing was hiding even deeper than yesterday, tucked away in a narrow hole that no one would ever think to look.
"Here you are? Hidey-hidey, don't let me see a single hair."
As I peered into the hole and grinned, its eyes went white with terror.
Kiiiek!!
I grabbed it by the scruff of its neck, dragged it out, and started beating it without a word.
Thwack–!
Splat–!
"Kyaaak! Kyaang!"
Then I dangled a shiny mana stone in front of its face again.
"This. Got it? This. Mana stone. Remember it well."
If a monster could understand even this much, it wouldn't be a monster.
This was just the beginning.
Day 3.
The leader had dug straight into the ground and sealed up the entrance.
But I dug through the dirt and found the bastard anyway.
"Hey there? Not a dog anymore—you've turned into a mole?"
Thwack–
Splaaat–!
"Kyaaak!"
Day 4, Day 5, Day 6…
I showed up at the same time every day, punching the clock like it was my job.
The thing hid in every conceivable spot.
Hanging from the ceiling like a bat one time, or just barely breathing inside a filthy shit bucket the next.
But the result was always the same.
About ten days in, the leader started pissing itself on reflex at the mere sound of my footsteps.
A solid formula had been imprinted in its tiny brain.
'Me = unavoidable disaster.'
And then, the long-awaited Day 11.
When I entered the cavern where the leader was hiding, it didn't run this time.
Instead, it was trembling in the corner, frantically stuffing something into its grasp.
It was a leather bundle filled to the brim with mana stones that it'd made its underlings dig up.
The creature crawled hesitantly toward me and offered the bundle with both hands, politely as could be.
Then it squeezed its eyes shut and hunkered down, as if to say, 'Hit me if you're gonna hit me,' in total resignation.
But.
Instead of swinging my fist, I patted its head.
"Good boy."
And I tossed it a thick, salty chunk of jerky I'd brought from my pouch.
Plop.
The leader's eyes flew wide open.
Meat? Not a beating, but meat? It was a look of pure wonder.
The moment a new formula took hold.
"Yeah. If you'd done this from the start, you wouldn't have gotten hit so much."
I flashed a grin and pocketed the hefty bundle of mana stones.
"See you again in a few days, ya mutt."
A few days later.
I brought along one spry young warrior who was unusually sharp for a barbarian, heading back to the nest.
He was the so-called 'collections guy' to handle the mana stones in my place.
Sure enough, the mutt had the bundle prettily wrapped and waiting.
It even wagged its tail.
"See? Just grab this and go. If the bundle's missing or light on quantity, let me know. Gotta retrain it then."
"I-it's real… A monster paying tribute… Understood, Kel Bark."
The young warrior scooped up the mana stones with an incredulous look.
And just like that, I'd created an automated 'Kobold mana stone mine.'
Zero labor costs. Maintenance? Just tossing it a few scraps of jerky now and then.
Quantity? Beat it a bit more, or visit a tad more often, and it'd ramp up on its own.
This perfect system wouldn't collapse easily until the mana stones ran dry.
Gathering money without lifting a finger—what a beautiful, ruthless capitalist machine.
I stretched under the pouring sunlight.
"Haa… Feels good."
But the road ahead was still long.
I'd only just scraped together the startup capital.
Yet strangely, this barbaric method felt like the path of a king—the one I'd walk.
'Being a barbarian… Not as bad as I thought? No, it suits me.'
It was the moment my latent barbarian instincts blossomed, twisted together with my experiences in the empire's back alleys.
Half a month later.
I visited the Silver Fox Merchant Guild in Sand Port again.
The difference this time? My hands weren't empty.
Five wagons loaded with cargo were lined up behind me.
"Welcome, Chieftain."
Fox came out to greet me all the way to the reception room.
His eyes were glued to the wagon train stretching behind me. A mix of suspicion and anticipation.
"You still have a month left on our deal, but… are you ready already?"
"I'm the impatient type. Sooner is better, right?"
I chuckled and pulled back the cover on the first wagon.
Rumble–
The mana stones packed inside gleamed with a iridescent purple under the sunlight.
"……!!"
Fox's eyes nearly bugged out.
He picked up one stone with trembling hands.
"Th-this… isn't this top-grade mana ore? The mana density… My god. And this quantity…"
"What do you think? Enough for ya? And this is just the start. I'll keep this volume coming every month for a while."
Fox couldn't close his mouth at my words.
Demand for mana stones always outstripped supply. This much wouldn't even dent the market price.
Barbarian tribes had trickled in small amounts before, but this overwhelming volume was a first even for him.
"Oh, and I brought this too—figured it might fetch a price."
I pulled a gourd bottle from the second wagon and tossed it to Fox.
"Give it a taste."
Fox uncorked it curiously.
Pop–
In that instant, a rich, sweet aroma filled the room.
"This scent…?"
Fox took a cautious sip.
And then.
"……Haa!"
His pupils dilated in ecstasy.
"Wh-what is this liquor? It goes down smooth as silk, but the finish burns like fire… And there's even a subtle mana recovery effect!"
"Hm… It's made from Busenrak, so no special name. You're the seller, so name it whatever. 'Tears of the Desert' or something poetic."
"B-Busenrak? That foul… Ah, no! You turned that revolting stuff into this exquisite vintage?"
"Heh, even I can't stomach straight Busenrak, so I refined it a bit. Think it'll sell?"
Of course it would.
Still, I asked to gauge his merchant's eye.
"Sell? It'll fly off the shelves! This is worth whatever you ask! Fit for the royal court itself!"
Fox clutched the gourd like a treasure chest.
No trace of doubt in his eyes anymore.
Only awe for the man before him, and the greedy merchant's passion ignited by the scent of insane profits.
"I acknowledge you, Chieftain."
Fox bowed deeply and sincerely.
Genuine respect.
"Honestly, I never dreamed you'd bring goods like this so quickly. King of the South might be a stretch, but 'Prodigy of the South'? You've earned that."
I burst out laughing at Fox's words.
"Yeah, still a long way to call myself king. This is just pocket change level."
I flopped into a chair and crossed my legs.
"Alright, inspection's over. Time to deal."
"Of course. Mana stones and this new liquor at top market price, paid in gold. Roughly 50,000 gold…"
Fox had already eyeballed and tallied the value in seconds.
But that wasn't what I wanted.
"Nah."
I waved him off.
"Don't need money."
"Pardon? Then…?"
"Need people."
I placed a pre-written parchment list on the table.
"Architects, civil engineers, masons, blacksmiths, furniture craftsmen… And a top chef. Oh, agriculture experts would be nice too."
Fox scanned the list and went blank-faced.
"This is…"
As expected, he clocked my intentions right away.
"You're planning to 'educate' them. Build a civilization?"
I grinned.
"Bingo. On top of that, spruce up the territory a bit. Can't have barbarians rolling in the dirt and raiding forever, right? Take the good stuff, make even better. First step to me becoming King of the South."
Fox paused, then chuckled and nodded.
"Got it. I'll scour the kingdom for the best technicians. On my name, only the top talents."
A week later.
Grom Kel's oasis had transformed into a massive construction site.
"Heave-ho!!"
Barbarian warriors with steel-hard muscles effortlessly hauled hundred-kilo bricks one-handed, while the kingdom's engineers marveled and barked orders.
"Whoa, these laborers are beasts! No need for cranes!"
"Hey! Careful with that… Holy shit! They're tossing it and catching?!"
What should've taken months was progressing at unbelievable speed, thanks to the barbarians' overwhelming physiques.
And finally.
In the heart of the oasis rose Building No. 1: red brick walls, smoke puffing from the chimney.
The first hygiene facility in barbarian history, built by my iron will and orders.
"At last! Grand public bathhouse, open for business!"
With my shout, the doors swung wide.
Hot water gushing from oasis pipes, heated by desert geothermal vents and a mana stone boiler—a massive bath.
Complete with its own purification system.
A few pricey mana parts, but nothing I couldn't afford.
Mana stone mine was printing money, after all.
Of course, separated into men's and women's sections.
Tribe members who initially grumbled, 'It's already hot—why hot water?' hesitated, then one by one stripped and slipped in.
And then.
"Uuuuuh…"
"W-warm…!"
"The grime… it's melting off! Was my skin this pale?!"
Exclamations erupted everywhere.
For folks who'd only ever rinsed with cold water or sand, warm bathwater was pure magic bliss.
And on top of that.
"All you bathers, to the mess hall! Time to eat!"
The new brick dining hall served special meals by the imperial chef: steaming beef stew and juicy steaks dripping with gravy.
Not just charred meat, but real 'cuisine' flavored with spices and sauces.
The ones trained in these recipes? Not warriors—ordinary tribe women.
They weren't lazy about cooking.
Nomadic life just favored preserved foods.
But I planned to make this a settled base.
Feasting like this? No problem.
"Hng…!"
Karack took one bite, and fat tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Kel Bark…! This meat… it-it melts without chewing! Magic!"
Monta was inhaling food like a possessed vacuum.
"……."
I'd seen this somewhere before.
A pink round character slurping stuff up…?
"D-delish! So delish! Monta's happy! Sweeter than honey!"
The other tribe members were licking their bowls clean.
I watched with crossed arms, smiling contentedly.
"This is civilization. This is cooking. Got it? Civilization ain't all weak and bad. Enjoy the good parts."
"I-I misunderstood! Thought civilization was evil! Now I get why empire folk are fat!"
"Traditions matter. Your tattoos? That's our unique power—can't let that die. But no need to cling to bad stuff just 'cause it's tradition."
The tribe's eyes changed.
Not mere obedience, but genuine respect and loyalty sky-high.
They'd dive into hellfire for me now.
If only to protect the tasty food and warm baths.
'Perfect.'
Territory development underway, funds solid for now.
Morale at peak.
One thing left.
Solid 'military might' to protect this abundance.
I pulled out a map from my pouch and unfurled it.
"Alright, next up: here."