"······."
Do you have a lot to tell me? 'Big Mouth' acted as if he knew from the beginning why I came. Suddenly, I remembered the advice that 'The Moon Rises' gave me.
'I'll go crazy if I don't vent my frustrations to someone. Okay, let's go in.'
I turned around and entered the hut where the sorcerer was staying. The first thing that greeted me was the pungent smell of herbs and tobacco mixed together.
The inside of the hut, with its roaring wood fire, created a very gloomy atmosphere. In addition, it was eerie to see deer skulls, bear skulls, and various other animal skulls hanging or dangling from the pillars and walls.
"Why are you just standing there blankly? Sit down."
"······."
He sat down with a slightly nervous look at the words, 'You have a big mouth.'
'I wasn't alone.'
I turned my head and looked at the man sitting quietly in the right corner. 'Wind and Cloud', who had just become an adult, raised one hand toward me and gave me a light greeting.
I knew him because I had met him a few times while passing by on quests and saying hello. I too raised my hand in the tribal greeting and squinted my eyes to pretend to know.
'Is it because of the firewood fire? The pockmarks are particularly noticeable.'
Then, after our greetings were over, 'Big Mouth' spoke in a sharp voice.
"When I return to the embrace of my ancestors and spirits, you will be the shaman of this village in my place. There will be no major problems if you stay here. However, if you are uncomfortable, I will let you leave."
'The Wind and the Clouds' were clearly watching, but I couldn't bring myself to tell them to leave.
"It can be there."
"Thank you."
'Big Mouth' turned his head and looked at 'Wind and Clouds' and said.
"Wind and clouds!"
"yes."
"I wish you could help me perform the sacred ritual."
"All right."
'Wind and Cloud' got up from their seats and moved quickly to bring branches, herbs, and tobacco. Meanwhile, the 'big mouth' took out animal bone fragments from a leather pouch.
I just watched them with slightly nervous eyes.
"Take off your upper body clothes."
At the words 'big mouth', he quietly took off the leather clothes hanging from both shoulders. Finally, 'Wind and Cloud' approached carrying a branch soaked in water containing finely crushed herbs.
Chance! Chance! Chance! Chance!
'Wind and Cloud' muttered a spell, tapping the branch in his hand against my body.
"···Nakarara! Rakkiri! Mukuma!"
"······."
The 'big mouth' man, who was smoking a pipe, kept blowing smoke into my face. Then he handed me his pipe.
"It will cleanse your soul. Inhale deeply and spit out the cigarette!"
Although I was suspicious of the cult-like rituals, I just followed his instructions obediently. Use it! As the strong cigarette smoke went deep into my lungs and was exhaled, my head started spinning.
With his eyes closed, 'Big Mouth' continued to recite the spell without stopping. At that moment, 'Big Mouth' opened his eyes and the atmosphere changed completely.
"Do not be afraid or anxious, for all the spirits are watching you.
"······."
Even though I didn't say anything about my concerns, 'Big Mouth' started talking on his own. I blinked and continued to listen to what he was saying.
"······As with all people, the past, present, and future are interconnected. Where you are is the future, the past, and the present. It is God's will that you came here. Everything you know can be a blessing to the world, or a disaster. Never, fear not. Accept your destiny as it is. Create your own destiny. That is why you came here."
"······."
Although I was not used to the Zen-like conversations with Buddhist monks, there were some parts that surprised me. It is the future, the past, and the present?
In particular, these words accurately reflected the reality I was facing. and···
'What I know can be a blessing or a curse?'
Those words kept echoing in my head. At that moment, 'Big Mouth' returned to his original gaze and spoke with a weary expression.
"That's all I have to say. Do you have any more questions?"
I suddenly asked out of curiosity.
"You. Say. It. Yourself?"
"Big Mouth" shook his head as if he understood my awkward grammar.
"I did not tell you what was bothering you. I simply conveyed the will of the gods and spirits on your behalf."
"···hmm!"
"Do you have any other questions?"
"does not exist."
"I'm tired because I used up too much mental energy today."
I got up from my seat when I saw 'Big Mouth's' face, which looked pale and bloodless even at first glance.
"I can't go far. I hope you understand."
I felt less suffocated than before, so I bowed my head slightly to him and expressed my gratitude.
"Thank you."
"no."
I left the shaman's hut, escorted by the 'wind and clouds'. Meanwhile, 'Wind and Cloud' hurriedly went into the shack as 'Very Big Soy Sauce Master Lee Cheon-il' disappeared from sight.
Knock knock knock!
'Big mouth' was coughing as if vomiting.
"Are you okay?"
Looking at the 'wind and clouds' supporting him, 'Big Mouth' said with a faint smile.
"I think I overused my spiritual power. It's not very good."
"Was I supposed to do that?"
At the worried look in 'Wind and Cloud's' eyes, 'Big Mouth' immediately shook its head.
"No. It was something I had to do anyway. You just have to think about how to support him from now on. And your job now is to constantly communicate with the spirits and increase your spiritual power."
"······yes."
'Wind and Cloud' reminds me of Lee Cheon-il, and my clear eyes sink deeper.
* * *
"Create my own destiny?"
When I returned to the shack, I couldn't sleep for a different reason than yesterday. I kept thinking about what 'big mouth' had said.
Everything I know can be a blessing or a curse. That was right. This place, which remains stuck in the Neolithic Age, was sure to have enormous ramifications if I were to unravel even one bit of my modern knowledge.
I thought back to all the groundbreaking inventions I learned about in history class during my school days.
"Bronze, pottery, iron, letters, wheels, numbers, paper, oil, clothing, soap, guns···"
I spoke without any particular order, just as my thoughts came to mind, but inventions kept coming out of my mouth. Even the Internet, laptops, and smartphones.
"······There are games too."
However, although I knew what those inventions were, I didn't know exactly how to make them. Paper is made by grinding trees, and iron is made by smelting iron ore...
Besides, I only vaguely remember historical events and don't know the details. I was confused about what was happening in Europe before the discovery of the New World, and whether 1400 years ago was the Goryeo Dynasty or the Joseon Dynasty in our country.
"I see that the knowledge I have is a tremendous opportunity."
However, knowledge without depth is just a pie in the sky.
"Damn! I should have studied harder when I was in school."
I have some regrets about my school days when all I did was exercise. No, not a lot. My heart, which had been extremely excited, suddenly became cold.
"What can I make now?"
I looked back on my time here and thought about things I would need in my daily life. When washing, use soap; when hunting, use iron weapons; when building a house, use solid bricks; when sleeping, use a soft bed; when catching fish, use a trap...
At that moment, a notification sound suddenly came into my head.
[Tiring!]
[Infinite Quest has been activated.]
[Quest: Introduce or invent a new technology (∞).] [Reward: A large amount of experience points for each quest completed.]
"Infinite Quest?"
I was momentarily confused by the infinite quest that was suddenly activated, but then my eyes opened as if my mind had opened up.
"Just wait, game system, level up, rewards, heavenly library, knowledge acquisition···"
If you level up and remove all restrictions, you will be able to read all the books in the Celestial Library. Suddenly my heart started pounding.
If that happens, we can make railroads, paper, and soap. No, I could make whatever I wanted.
"In the end, it's all about using this game system well. By the way, what should I make with the knowledge I have?"
Suddenly, the fish trap I had been thinking about earlier came to mind.
"Yes, it's a fish trap. Fish traps are easy to make."
After a while, I calmly organized my complicated thoughts and lay down comfortably in bed. Sadly, I can't go back to the world I originally lived in.
Once I accepted that, my heart felt a lot lighter. It's the past, but it's the present. And I don't know what will happen in the future.
I could get attacked by a puma or a bear and die, or I could live a normal life or become a king with the knowledge and power I have.
However, I decided not to think about those things and just live faithfully in this life for now.
"Who should I ask for a trap? I'll have to ask the fast-footed deer."
A new goal has emerged. Level up by gaining experience.
* * *
Two days passed quickly. Today, as usual, I woke up early in the morning and did my morning practice. The children were taught basic training, the warriors basic training and basic fighting techniques.
After the 'Brave Wolf' joined, the number of warriors increased again in just one day. Thanks to them, I was able to complete the quest safely and gain experience.
"dissolution!"
"Very great Master Lee Cheon-il! Thank you for teaching me."
What if it's the manager? What if it's the soy sauce? I don't really care about titles anymore. As my disciples dispersed for breakfast, I walked back to my hut and looked at the newly updated warrior quest.
[Quest: Raise a Warrior (7/20)]
Considering the gender, age, and sex of the people in this village, there are probably about twenty young people. There is no deadline for completing the quest, but it seems like it will take quite some time.
"Anyway, you're going to be very busy today."
After a while, we finished a quick breakfast and did the finishing touches to the food storage. The food storage area, which could be considered a cave, had a narrow entrance, but was quite spacious inside, enough to fit twenty adults.
As the mud covering on the ceiling and walls was finished, the 'Forest Hunter', who had been carefully inspecting the food storage like a day labor supervisor, said with a satisfied smile.
"Good job everyone."
"Chief! Thank you for your hard work."
"It will take a few more days for the mud to harden, so everyone go outside using the ladders."
"Understood, Chief!"
One by one, the young people who had been working in the food storage, including me, climbed up the ladder and came out into the world.
The 'fast deer' took a deep breath and spoke to the 'brave wolf' with a relieved expression.
"It was stuffy underground, but now I feel a little better. Phew! By the way, it looks like the food storage is finished for today, so I guess you can rest well this afternoon?"
The 'brave wolf', whose jaw swelling had gradually subsided, shook his head and poured cold water on himself.
"The women said it was late and that they would go out to collect maple water in the afternoon."
"Damn it! I'm so tired, why today of all days?"
The 'stubborn bear' next to the 'fast deer' who was grumbling said without thinking.
"Hehe! I'm hungry! I have to eat! If I eat until I'm full, I'll grow big like 'A Very Big Soy Sauce, Two Thousand Days'! I'll drink a lot of maple water and eat a lot!"
"Even if you drink maple tree water, it will only taste sweet and not fill your stomach."
"A bear that is good eats. It eats a lot."
When the 'stubborn bear' could not communicate at all, the 'fast-footed deer' shook his head and let out a long sigh.
"Whew! I'm an idiot for talking normally with you. Yeah, you eat a lot."
"Hehehe! Dan··pungnamu water! It's the most delicious."
As I was listening to their conversation from the sidelines, I held back laughter.
'Maple water? What is that?'
Just then, when the 'Forest Hunter' appeared in the food storage, a message appeared saying that the quest was completed.
And then a new quest appeared.
[Tiring!]
[Quest has been activated.]
[Quest: Help the tribesmen harvest maple syrup.]
[Reward: A small amount of experience points.]
It was only after seeing the quest that I realized that the maple water they were talking about was maple syrup.
"Each of you rests on your own, and when the sun sets in the west, you help the women collect maple water."
"Understood, Chief!"
At the chief's instructions, everyone dispersed to rest without saying a word. Instead of going straight back to the shack, I hurried to a nearby stop.
At that moment, the tribesman guarding the village entrance shouted loudly.
"You are a guest!"
"The guests have arrived!"
I stopped walking and looked at the village entrance with a puzzled expression.
'Guests? Did they have any guests?'
The people who had been working on the food storage with me also stopped walking and looked nervously toward the entrance.
In particular, young, unmarried people grumbled with a not-so-pleased expression.