Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Bone Warriors
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Choi Seong-un had learned history through games.
So he didn't know the actual trends in human historical development.
'But in the game Lost World, it was one of two things.'
That was herding or farming.
'Each has its pros and cons.'
Farming was stable for civilization development.
By creating an environment that could fend off external attacks and stockpiling food, the population would continue to grow.
In fact, human civilization on Earth had often been based on civilizations that arose in river basins.
'Of course, it's not without its difficulties.'
The problem with farming was the environment.
Even in modern Earth, droughts and floods couldn't be stopped just because you wanted to.
And civilizations with low technological levels were especially vulnerable to natural disasters.
River management projects, not to mention selecting seedlings for crops—farming faced ongoing issues until technology advanced.
'That said, herding isn't easy either.'
Within Seong-un's domain, no other tribes had started herding, but there were probably players whose tribes already had the Herding skill from their first choice.
But having the Herding skill alone didn't mean tremendous potential.
'You can't tell which areas are barren or fertile until you go there yourself. Until long-term experience accumulates in the surrounding lands, you can only do small-scale primitive herding.'
In the end, the best approach was to adapt to the tribe's situation at the time.
'And the one I chose is Lizardmen.'
Even if he'd chosen Froglin, herding wouldn't be impossible with the concept of 'salmon herding,' but generally, they'd go for farming.
On the other hand, Lizardmen's physical prowess suited a raiding-style herding.
'At this timing, they'll be decently strong.'
So Seong-un saw no reason to hesitate.
It was a shame to leave behind the bone altar where he'd generously bestowed blessings on about fifty of Rakrak's initial tribe members, but early altars like this were disposable. Made of bone, they wouldn't last long anyway.
But it seemed not just Seong-un felt lingering attachment.
The next day, Rakrak ordered Yur and the warriors to capture as many live water buffalo herds as possible.
They would find the water buffalo herd moving as Seong-un intended, and bring it back tamed without too much delay.
Domesticating wild water buffalo right away was impossible, but they could herd them by force for now.
In time, they'd acquire the skill: Herding, the tamed buffalo would become easier to handle, and the herd size could grow.
'Everything takes time.'
During the day, Rakrak helped the Blacksmith start a fire.
To be precise, the Blacksmith first made 'charcoal wood.'
He built a kiln, piled it high with wood,
coated the exterior with mud to prevent the flames from escaping,
then lit it, sealed the air holes completely, and waited for the wood to fully combust.
Rakrak didn't fully understand the process, but he decided to trust the Blacksmith.
He knew he was right about the god's will, but he admitted his ignorance in other matters.
The Blacksmith's techniques didn't end there.
The artisan wove two split wooden planks in front of the furnace into a pinwheel shape. Its actual function wasn't much different from a pinwheel. By tying a straight wooden stick in the center and pushing it with the palm, air could easily be blown into the furnace—this was a primitive bellows.
'Firepower is guaranteed. Iron tools should be no problem.'
That night, Rakrak met again with the guide and Star Reader.
The night sky had changed as the Star Reader predicted.
But Rakrak thought it could just be coincidence for a day, and the Star Reader agreed.
The Star Reader spoke of the stars' changing movements again, and Rakrak committed it to memory.
A few days passed, and the first iron spearhead was made.
It was crude, but thanks to its hardness, it was sharper than any spear tip Rakrak had ever touched.
'In terms of quality, it's probably softer than well-made contemporary bronze, but...'
There was no need for Seong-un to intervene.
The advantage of iron wasn't just hardness.
Iron was easier to obtain from ores than bronze, and pure iron was simpler to make without alloying. It required knowledge and skill, but once you could reach the melting temperature, it was feasible.
'It's even better for spreading farm tools, but just arming with weapons is good enough.'
Rakrak, the tribal chief, had been wielding a stone-tipped spear.
Switching to metal blades was a huge leap.
A few days later, Yur and the warriors returned leading the water buffalo herd.
Even with the Blessing of Bugs, most warriors were exhausted, but the herd had given up resistance and followed in formation.
There were twenty in total.
'They'll probably enjoy a festival and lose a few. That's acceptable.'
But contrary to Seong-un's expectations, Rakrak didn't.
He'd already fenced a temporary corral with wood and locked them all inside, posting guards to prevent secret slaughtering.
The tantalizing twenty buffalo caused unrest among the Lizardmen, who couldn't eat even one.
Jaol came forward as representative to ask Rakrak.
"Everyone wants to eat the water buffalo."
"I know. More than anyone else."
"Then why..."
Rakrak was by the buffalo pen, standing guard himself.
"But if we do the math, we don't need to eat them when we're not starving. They'll be valuable food on the plains, and looking further ahead, even greater gains."
Seong-un nodded.
He didn't know about human civilization development.
But he guessed that enduring small immediate gains for larger future ones formed the basis for progress.
That small, trivial will to endure for the future changed something.
Jaol nodded belatedly in agreement.
"But the warriors are tired and hungry. Yur is loyal and follows you, but there are those with complaints. Not all Lizardmen are as wise as you."
"I understand."
Rakrak looked up at the sky thoughtfully, then spoke.
"Wake the sleeping warriors."
"Pardon?"
"No, wake everyone. Have the Blacksmith make noise banging metal. Stuff branches into the campfires to chase away their sleep."
"Are you serious?"
Rakrak looked at Jaol somewhat displeased.
He climbed the altar and took a deep breath.
Then he shouted.
"Rise! Warriors! Awake from sleep! Children of the tribe!"
Only then did Jaol realize Rakrak was serious.
Seong-un watched with interest.
Something was about to happen.
Jaol first woke her direct subordinates, then as Rakrak ordered, made loud noises to rouse the tribe and stoked the fires.
It was late dawn—not time to wake.
Plus, Lizardmen struggled to rise in the cool morning air.
Still, as smoke rose from the dying campfires, Rakrak's tribe gathered murmuring before the altar.
As prepared, the warriors who'd captured the buffalo stood lined before the altar.
They looked weary, but tense standing before Rakrak, the tribe's strongest, wisest Lizardman and Priest. Above all, they didn't know his intent.
Rakrak spoke.
"This morning, we depart."
The tribe murmured.
They knew bringing the buffalo meant leaving soon, but not the very next day.
"You there, Star Reader. Come here."
The one-armed turquoise-skinned guide and Star Reader approached puzzled.
"For days, you've foretold the stars' movements to me, and I've confirmed them all correct. Thus, before everyone, I declare you skilled not just as Star Reader but as guide. You are no liar or fraud."
"Thank you for believing."
"Then speak of the place you agreed to lead us to."
"Myself?"
"Yes. To everyone here."
The Star Reader spoke.
"At dawn, the sun will rise there. We'll walk to the sun's right, and after ten days, we'll reach small lakes with rotting stench and bubbling heat. Skirting those lakes to the right for a fortnight more, we'll meet a barren sloping mountain path. Three days into that valley, the grass ends."
"And then?"
"Vegetation continues."
"For five more days?"
"I haven't gone that deep. Many wild beasts and otherkin tribes."
Rakrak laughed.
"Sounds like a good place to live."
A few Lizardman warriors chuckled.
"Return to your places. Star Reader. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Rakrak ascended the altar and spoke.
"The god led us to this land, and time has passed. We could have chosen differently. Driven out larger tribes with the god's power and lived alone. We might have survived here longer. The exiles would die in the wilderness, of course."
Rakrak snorted.
"But that was wrong. The god desired not exclusion, but salvation. Because..."
Rakrak's eyes gleamed.
"...it benefits more people."
The Lizardman tribe now listened in complete silence.
Rakrak's declaration gave the entire tribe purpose.
Not mere survival, but aspiring to a greater cause and code.
"Yur!"
Suddenly called, Yur—the foremost warrior—snapped his head up.
"Yes! Rakrak."
"You must have been disappointed not to eat buffalo yesterday?"
"Yes, honestly, a bit. We didn't eat a single one during the hunt, per your orders. We thought we'd share upon return."
"But you understand why I gave that order, and why even exhausted after capture, we ate none."
"Yes... I do. Endure now for greater returns? As the god wills."
"Yes."
"Then we'll endure ahead. If the god expects that of us, we must meet it."
Other warriors nodded at Yur's words.
Rakrak smiled.
"Good. You've shown patience and reverence to the Nameless Beetle God, so receive fitting reward. ...Where's the Blacksmith?"
The artisan stepped forward from the crowd.
"Here."
"Give them the prepared iron spearheads."
"Understood."
This was a pre-planned event.
Giving the best warriors the best gear was natural.
Yet even to Seong-un, it felt dramatic.
'Did he plan all this?'
Seong-un thought Rakrak's surprise event ended there.
But no.
"Then, Yur, come to the altar first."
"Pardon?"
"Hurry."
Yur ascended the buffalo-bone altar with reverent demeanor.
Meanwhile, Rakrak spoke.
"We now leave the blessed hill and bone altar. But united in the god's will, place matters no more. Even bone altars are mere forms; the true dwelling of god predates them. The god has always existed."
As Yur arrived, Rakrak took the buffalo skull atop the altar and placed it on Yur's head.
"Use this skull when acting as warrior. The god's blessing accompanies you; you are the god's proxy, 'Bone Warrior.' These are the god's words."
Yur seemed moved to tears, eyes welling.
"Rakrak."
"Descend. Secure it with cord. Next warrior."
Thus, twenty-three Bone Warriors were born.
The Bone Warriors felt they'd received more than mere hunger relief—and they had.
'Actual stats and experience rose.'
Seong-un had seen similar events in Lost World, but they didn't trigger on command.
After all Bone Warriors received their buffalo skulls, Rakrak placed one atop his own head.
Dawn broke simultaneously.
The Lizardman tribe cheered with the dawn's warmth and night's fervor enveloping them.
Growth wasn't limited to the Bone Warriors.
'Hidden special stats are revealed. And two levels up at once.'
Rakrak stood atop the remaining bone altar amid cheers, gazing skyward.
Seong-un first thought he was reading fading constellations at dawn.
But no.
Rakrak was muttering something.
"Forgive me for declaring it as your will alone."
Only then did Seong-un realize Rakrak was addressing him.
'I didn't choose the Bone Warriors; Rakrak did.'
But naturally, Seong-un wasn't displeased.
Only a player needing total control over characters would mind; Seong-un had chosen high-Will Rakrak as Priest from the start.
Such outcomes were welcome.
'Come to think of it, these guys haven't tasted protein lately.'
Seong-un pondered, then decided on a miracle Lizardmen would welcome.