Even though the war was over, there may still have been remnants of the Pequot tribe. I put off checking the message and went into the village with the warriors who had fought alongside me.
The strong smell of blood and the corpses that died in horrible ways. The flesh was roughly torn, the head was cracked, and pieces of flesh were strewn about, no one knowing where they were attached.
My stomach churned to the point of nausea.
"Separate the dead and wounded!"
"No mercy. Kill the living Pequot warriors!"
The 'Big Turtle' warriors moved busily at the firm instructions of the 'Forest Hunter'. Just then, the 'Forest Hunter' saw us entering the village and spoke happily.
"Good job. If you hadn't disturbed the enemy's rear, it would have been very difficult to deal with the Pequots. Especially the very big two thousand days!"
"······."
"Thank you. You have been a great help to the village in its crisis once again."
"no."
I could see sincerity in his eyes. The 'Forest Hunter' turned his head and spoke to the 'Brave Wolf' this time.
"Brave wolf! I would let you rest, but there may still be Pequots left, so take your warriors and scout out the area."
"Understood, Chief!"
When the 'brave wolf' answered briefly and tried to take the warriors away, I also did not stay still and moved with them. No, I just couldn't be here.
I felt like I would go crazy if I didn't get some fresh air.
"Let's go together."
* * *
A dark, pitch-black food storage area. The cover covering the entrance opened, letting in sunlight.
"Can everyone come out?"
"······."
The food storage area, which had been filled with fear and tension as if someone were to open the lid and come in as Pequot warriors, was filled with exclamations of relief here and there.
"I survived!"
"Okay, baby! Don't cry!"
"Everyone calm down!"
"Are there any injuries?"
The women guarding the entrance, holding windows, hugged each other with tears in their eyes. After a while, villagers came out one by one to the food storage.
The first thing that greeted them were gruesome corpses. These were familiar yet unfamiliar sights. The 'Big Turtle' women found their husbands and sons.
'The Moon Rises' found someone while watching the warriors moving the corpses from the entrance. His father, the 'Forest Hunter', was directing his warriors after the battle.
One by one, he began to see familiar faces and tilted his head with anxious eyes.
"Where did you go?"
At that moment, the 'Strong Soul Warrior', the chief of the 'Yellow Tree', cried out as he looked at the 'Red Face' who had fallen to the ground while kneeling.
"Son! Don't die!"
"······."
'Red Face', who had lost consciousness, had his face covered in blood as if he had been hit by a club. A few warriors from the 'Yellow Tree' hurriedly approached and carefully moved 'Red Face'.
At that moment, looking at that sight, 'The Moon Rises' reminded me of someone.
"A very big two thousand days! No way! No way?!"
With an expression that looked like tears would burst out if even a touch was made, 'The Moon Rises' ran towards 'The Hunter of the Forest'.
* * *
riverside. I looked around the map window, but there were no Pequot warriors. The 'Big Turtle' warriors who had been widely scouting the surroundings arrived one by one.
"doesn't exist."
"Fortunately, there was no trace of going the other way."
"It looks like they're heading straight for the village."
There were dozens of canoes on the river. The 'fast-footed deer' ran towards the river where the canoe was with a bright expression on his face.
"What the heck is this? It's a canoe. I thought you'd make a canoe to survive for a while since we already have a shortage of food. Hahaha!"
"Hehehe! There are so many canoes! There are so many canoes! But, there is no canoe for me to ride."
When the 'Humble Bear', who had been excited at the sight of the canoe, quickly took on a sullen expression, the 'Big Turtle' warriors, who had become more relaxed than before, spoke to the 'Humble Bear'.
"Honest Bear! We'll make you a canoe that's just right for you."
"okay."
While they were talking, I ran to the river and diligently washed the blood off my body with water. I killed the enemy to survive, but when I came back to my senses, I was belatedly overcome by guilt.
It was quite a shock. I fought the Pequot warriors with my own mental armament. But I was just a kid who had just graduated from high school and had an adult body.
'I killed someone... I'm not a murderer.'
Last time I fought the Pequot warriors, I didn't kill them. I tried to get over the shock by dipping my head into the water.
As I came out of the water, the 'brave wolf' asked me with a worried look in his eyes, as if he had sensed that my mood was off for a while.
"A very big two thousand days! Are you okay?"
I wanted to say no, but I didn't want to break this good mood that came with winning the war.
"It's okay."
"okay?"
"huh."
'Brave Wolf' didn't seem to believe me. But, knowing that I needed some time alone to sort things out, he turned around and patted my shoulder without saying a word.
"Let's go back to the village."
"okay."
The canoe, the spoils of war, was left in the river and he and his warriors headed toward the village.
* * *
"Great Warrior, very big two thousand days!"
When I returned to the village, the 'Forest Hunter' stood me in front of his warriors and shouted at me.
Adadadadadadadadadada!
"Great Warrior, very big two thousand days!"
The village warriors shouted my name over and over again, shouting in victory.
"······."
I became a hero of the Lenape tribe, but I couldn't adapt to this atmosphere.
"······."
The 'Forest Hunter' tilted his head when he saw that I was not particularly pleased with my outstanding performance in this war.
"You look very tired. You should go in and rest."
I didn't want to necessarily decline his consideration. Because I was mentally very tired.
"yes."
As I weakly turned around and walked towards the shack, 'The Moon Rises' ran towards me as if it had been waiting for me.
"Very big two thousand days! Are you hurt anywhere? Your expression looks gloomy, are you okay?"
"······."
I understand her concern for me, but today I just wanted to be alone.
Thud thud!
I waved my hand as I passed by 'The Moon Rises'.
"I'm not hurt. I'm okay."
After a while, I came into the shack and let out all the anger I had been holding in.
Whoa whoa!
I just lay down in bed, leaving the debris as it was. Scenes of killing Pequot warriors like in a movie kept flashing through my mind.
"What the hell am I doing here?"
I stared blankly at the ceiling and continued to laugh like a madman.
* * *
Two days passed quickly. 'Big Mouth', who had left the village for a while to train, returned and held a funeral.
"······God will lead you to the river of souls. So don't be sad. You will meet them someday."
In a solemn atmosphere, 'Big Mouth' was guiding the souls of the warriors who died in this war. The villagers, without exception, held wild flowers in their hands and prayed reverently for the warriors lying in the ground.
I too was standing with the villagers holding flowers. A total of seven soldiers died in this war. Five 'Yellow Tree' warriors, two 'Big Turtle' warriors.
The reason the warriors from the 'Yellow Tree' suffered so much damage was because they ignored the formation I had taught them and blindly charged into battle with the Pequot warriors.
Although we weren't close, the two warriors who had beaten me a few days ago were also lying there. I wasn't sad.
However, it was a pity. If I wasn't stronger than them due to the game system, I would probably be lying there.
'I have to become stronger to survive in this cruel world.'
Two days ago, still reeling from the shock of war, a new goal arose. After a while, after the eulogy for 'Big Mouth' was over, the elders and people, starting with the chieftain 'The Hunter of the Forest', placed flowers one by one for the warriors who were to be buried in the ground.
"Ke Tanu Tuwit will guide you to the resting place of your soul."
"Have a nice trip."
"The spirits will be with you."
When it was my turn, I bowed my head slightly toward the flower-covered warriors. The earth was covered, and cries of sorrow could be heard here and there among the villagers.
Only then, as the reality of their deaths began to creep in, did I once again resolve to do so.
'I have to become stronger.'
* * *
The sorcerer's hut. In a heavy atmosphere, 'Big Mouth' and 'Wind and Clouds' were having a conversation while passing cigarettes back and forth.
'Wind and Cloud' mostly talked, and 'Big Mouth' was all I heard.
"······The stone spear suddenly disappeared from his hand?"
When I asked back with a surprised look, 'Your mouth is big', 'Wind and Cloud' answered with a confident expression.
"Yes. I saw it with my own two eyes. Even the stone spear disappeared, and in an instant, a club and shield were in the hands of 'Very Big Two Thousand Days.'"
"······hmm!"
For a while, 'Big Mouth' remained deep in thought, not saying anything, as if his mind was complicated. He himself prophesied through the spirits that the 'very great two thousand days' would lead to a new world.
However, he himself was not sure exactly how he would lead.
'Is this really Ke Tanu Tuwit sent by God?'
He himself was curious about the great steps he would take in the future. At that time, 'Wind and Cloud' asked cautiously.
"Is this witchcraft using the power of the spirits?"
'Big mouth' shook his head and answered.
"It's definitely not witchcraft. However, as I told you last time, it is definitely a messenger from God."
"···okay."
"Maybe that's not all his power is. For some reason, he seems reluctant to show off his powers… For now, I think it would be best for us to keep it a secret until he says so himself."
"···All right."
And there was silence for a while, as if they both had a lot to think about.
* * *
As soon as I returned to the hut after the funeral, three puppies that had just opened their eyes greeted me with whining.
The mother dog who had been fed by me unfortunately died at the hands of Pequot warriors. Not only the mother dog but also several other dogs guarding the village died.
"Is this fate too?"
I took the meat out of my inventory and tore it into small pieces for the puppies to eat. I petted the puppies one by one as they ate all the meat in my hand.
As we sat down to sleep, the puppies also took up a spot and played among themselves.
Phew!
The sight of the puppies playing made me forget reality for a moment and a smile appeared on my face. The shack that was always lonely and alone was filled with warmth because of these guys.
What should I name my puppy? Thunder? Lightning? Thunderbolt? While I was thinking about a name, the puppies were already sleeping with their bellies exposed.
It was a little absurd.
"How do I sleep? I sleep right in the middle of the bed."
And time passed and it became deep night. I decided to accept this reality as if I was accepting the game system and become stronger.
I prepared myself mentally and checked the messages I hadn't checked before. As it was a difficult quest, I gained a lot of experience points and my level went up by three levels.
Current level is 10. Each random ability increased strength, agility, and stamina by one. The remaining unused points are 10.
And the rewards didn't end there. Unlock the Celestial Library and new abilities.
[You have reached level 10.]
[You have reached a special level and are given a special reward.]
[As a reward, you will be able to acquire books from the 'Celestial Library'.]
[Would you like to confirm? Y / N]
[Congratulations.]
[As a special reward, a new ability will be unlocked.]
[Would you like to confirm? Y / N]
For a moment, I was confused about which one to check.
"Because I've been to the Library of Heaven."
I moved my hands without hesitation. What abilities will be unlocked?