The Dawn of Humanity (6)
A little time passed. Humans, whose numbers kept growing, spread out across the world, and eventually, some of them reached the Lizardmen's territory.
Well, it wasn't supposed to be the Lizardmen's territory originally. Thanks to the method I taught them for maintaining body temperature with eternal fire, the Lizardmen had surpassed their racial limits and expanded their domain.
In the midst of that, they made contact with humans and learned of their existence, which left them pretty flustered. How must the Lizardmen have felt seeing creatures that had no scales, no tails, were covered in fur, but walked upright on two legs just like them?
Fortunately, because I'd met the Lizardmen in my human form, they didn't treat the humans as enemies. Though if it came to a fight, the Lizardmen would win anyway. The sturdy bodies formed by compressing the massive bulk of dinosaurs possessed overwhelming power that frail humans couldn't hope to match. And while humans just used simple wooden sticks, the Lizardmen warriors wielded extremely sharp weapons made of obsidian.
Really, it was a good thing the Lizardmen had such kind natures. If a proper war had broken out, humans wouldn't have stood a chance—they'd have been massacred without lifting a finger.
Anyway, the humans and Lizardmen who met like that began to form relatively amicable relations, eventually exchanging things they each needed. Well, most of the needs were on the humans' side.
Food? Lizardmen with their superior physiques were natural-born hunters who almost never failed at the hunt. They had the strength to beat down even ferocious beasts single-handedly, and they could nimbly swim with their thick tails to catch fish barehanded. So they never lacked for food. And considering they were even growing corn, beans, and squash using the farming methods I'd taught them... they were probably the ones giving food to the humans, not the other way around. They wouldn't have demanded anything in return. In fact, they were sharing food with humans to build closer ties.
As they interacted with humans like that, I caught glimpses of Lizardmen teaching them bits of language. It was truly moving to see savage humans who could only howl like beasts start awkwardly speaking under the Lizardmen's guidance.
After that, the Lizardmen gave humans one final gift: how to make stone tools. The method of chipping rocks sharp enough to grip in one hand as hand axes. They passed down all their know-how from long years of working obsidian and other stones.
Of course, due to the physical differences, humans struggled a bit... Lizardmen could casually smash one rock against another held in their hand, but it wasn't easy for humans. Still, learning to twist grass into primitive ropes and bind them to branches to make crude axes and spears must have been a huge leap for humans.
In return for bestowing so much on humans, the Lizardmen asked for obsidian and pure white flowers. They had moved due to sudden environmental changes to survive, but in their haste, they'd had to abandon their old obsidian quarry. Sure, they had some stockpiled, but stockpiles don't grow. Eventually, they'd run out.
So while expanding in search of a new quarry, they encountered humans... Humans, unbound by body temperature limits, could search farther than Lizardmen.
As for the white flowers... something about needing them for festivals. Hey, I'm happy they still remember the white flowers they offered me, but they don't need to strain themselves holding festivals like that... Hmm... Should I mention it next time I visit the Lizardmen? But I don't want to pour cold water on their festivities. Gotta think about it a bit. Or maybe I could just make a flower field for the Lizardmen and solve it that way? Eh, later. Later.
The White Flower Festival is the most important celebration for the Lizardmen.
It commemorates the Genesis Dragon who bestowed treasures upon them in exchange for humble white flowers, while also cleansing the world's sins with white flowers so the Genesis Dragon does not grow angry. This festival begins on the first day of the new year.
Streets filled with pure white flowers. The whirlwind spirit carries their fragrance, creating an illusion of strolling through clouds.
How about welcoming the new year with pure white flowers?
Human progress continued rapidly. They learned to make stone tools and even mimicked Lizardmen farming methods. By this point, different human groups were meeting to trade necessities or sometimes engaging in small fights. Humans were starting to do all sorts of things.
I had a new gift ready for such humans. A tool for making thread: the drop spindle, the first of its kind. Then thread made with the spindle and bone needles. And finally... a wooden fishing rod. Honestly, the rod was a bonus! The main event was the thread and spindle.
Fishing... Humans were still throwing stone spears into the water to catch fish. It was about time for thread, right?
I approached the human group I always visited. The group had grown much larger than when I first came—so big I worried if they had enough food.
"Kik? W-who?!"
"Oh, you can speak properly now!"
A human speaking a bit haltingly. Holding a stone spear, probably a guard.
"I've come to see the leader of this group. Make way."
"You...!"
The guard looked shocked, then bowed deeply in greeting.
"P-please, come in!"
Such polite manners. His movements radiated intelligence, making their beastly days feel like ancient history.
"I'll... guide you."
"Good. Lead on."
The guard led me through paths between countless huts, and I followed. Numerous humans stared at us as we went... but eh, this happened every visit, so I was used to it.
"That's the one..."
"She's here again. Thank... you..."
They even remembered my face now. Makes sense—I came often. The guard recognized me too.
Following his lead, we arrived at a hut unlike the others. A large house atop a small mound of piled earth. Unlike the conical huts, it had several thick pillars and was properly built. This must be the leader's home.
I entered as guided and saw the leader sitting on a broad rock.
"What is it... Gasp! You!!"
A younger human than the previous leader. I vaguely remembered seeing him before.
"P-please, come in..."
"You're... the son of the previous leader?"
"Yes."
Indeed, the old one must have died of age. He wasn't bad, even if communication was tough. But as living beings, they couldn't escape mortality.
"I am the new leader."
His face was so hairy it was hard to guess his age... but around thirty-something, maybe.
But...
"Why do you have twigs on your head?"
The new leader wore a crown-like thing made of twigs.
A primitive crown? Or like a laurel wreath? Wouldn't that prick his head?
"This is, well..."
He removed the twig crown and held it, saying,
"I wanted to imitate... you."
"Imitate?"
Imitate... me? Like my horns, wearing twigs on his head?
"As new leader, others... wouldn't listen. Imitating you... they listened."
Hmm. So that's it. Rebellion against the new guy, huh. Smart thinking.
But that twig crown looked ugly, and the branches would poke his head...
Right. Time for an extra gift.
I created a lump of pure silver with my creative power, then shaped it with mana. Let's mimic a laurel wreath for the form. Not too heavy, comfortable to wear. Won't slip off the head. Even added magic to adjust size to the wearer. And ornate decorations to symbolize authority.
Felt like the silver was transforming into something else as mana seeped in... but not my problem.
The finished product was a splendid silver crown.