The fire on the tip of a tree branch continued to emit smoke. The 'brave wolf' and the warriors slowly approached the hive.
"The bees are nervous. Smoke more."
"Keep the bees away."
Wheeeeeeeeeeee! Wheeeeeeeeee!
The bees sensed a sense of danger and began to flee from the smoke. The Lenape people were adept at driving away bees because they had often collected honey.
I was watching from a distance, smoking smoke, for fear of getting stung by a bee.
'Good job.'
After a while, the 'fast-footed deer' came carrying a whole honeycomb in a basket.
"Chief! I think this will be enough."
So far I have collected about twenty honeycombs with honey. A honeycomb of this size is enough to make a lot of glue.
I nodded and gave instructions to the 'brave wolves' and warriors who were smoking on one side to keep the bees away.
"Go back to the village."
"Yes, Chief!"
* * *
A 'very large' village came into view. Two watchtowers towering above the fence guarded the surrounding area tightly.
"It's the chief!"
"Open the door."
He handed over the hive to the villagers who entered through the fence entrance past the trap.
"There is a lot of honey."
"great job."
As always, the townspeople warmly welcomed us back safely from the dangers outside. After a while, 'The Moon Rises' and the women of the village looked curiously at the pottery placed on the hearth.
"Chief! What are you making this time?"
"Is that what makes your face white like soap?"
The village women asked with curious eyes.
"candle."
"······."
The village women tilted their heads and chattered at my answer.
"candle?"
"What is that?"
"I don't know either."
"Just wait a moment. The chief will explain once he's finished making it."
Whether they were talking or not, I continued to stir the honeycomb in the pot with a wooden stick until it was completely dissolved.
Of course, we also removed foreign substances from time to time. When the honeycomb inside the pottery had completely melted, he said to 'The Moon Rises'.
"Bring the prepared bowl."
"okay."
'The Moon Rises' and the women of the village each placed the pottery they were holding on the floor. There are ten pottery pieces on the floor.
"Witness!"
"huh."
Since it had been explained in advance, 'The Moon Rises' and the village women moved quickly. A wick made of bulrush fruit was placed inside an earthenware vessel on the floor, with the tip of the wick hanging outward.
"Back off. It's hot."
"okay."
I held the pottery over the hearth, wearing thick leather gloves on both hands, and carefully poured the honeycomb water into the pottery placed on the floor.
"Okay. Just wait a moment until it cools down."
After a while, he took a candle out of the clay pot and stepped forward to demonstrate it in front of everyone. After putting out the remaining firewood in the stove, I lit the wick of the candle.
Waaaaaaaaaah!
'The moon rises' and the village women exclaimed as if they had made soap last time.
"It's on fire."
"I didn't know there was something like this in a beehive."
"If I had this, my house would be brighter at night."
"This is really amazing!"
I felt good about creating another specialty of my own.
"The moon is rising! When the honey is harvested, the honeycombs are gathered separately and candles are made from time to time."
"huh."
[Tiring!]
[A new item has been introduced.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You are given +1 ability and +2 ability points randomly.]
[Your leadership stat increases by 1 based on the random ability increase.]
Even though I've recently created new technologies or items, my leveling up speed has definitely been slower than before.
Still, I felt good because I leveled up after a long time.
* * *
There was a lot to do and little time. I summoned the sorcerer 'Wind and Cloud' and slowly walked around the village.
The village was not yet fully developed, so trees and grass were growing luxuriantly here and there. I need to sort this out too···
It seemed like it would take quite some time. 'Wind and Cloud' followed me quietly without saying a word. At that moment, an appropriate place caught my eye.
"There's moss. There's bracken too···"
I turned my head and took a closer look at the trees around me.
"The leaves are particularly lush on this side."
With my knowledge of architecture, there was a good chance that there was water here. underground water. But I needed a little more confidence.
Last time, I asked 'Wind and Cloud' in passing if they could also communicate with water spirits. As they have great spiritual powers, 'Wind and Cloud' can also communicate with water spirits.
"Wind and clouds! Check if there is water under the ground."
"······."
Tilting his head, 'Wind and Cloud' asked me cautiously.
"Are you testing my spiritual powers?"
"······."
I was a little taken aback by the sudden and respectful behavior of 'Wind and Cloud'. However, confirming where there was water through the spirit was also a test.
'Will it work?'
For now, I plan to trust him.
"okay."
When I nodded, 'Wind and Cloud' answered briefly with a nervous expression.
"All right."
"······."
"It takes some time to communicate with the spirit. Please wait a moment."
I took a few steps back and waited for him to commune with the spirit.
'But why do you keep speaking formally to me? Is it because you're the chief?'
I thought it would be better to do that if it was convenient. At that moment, 'Wind and Cloud', who was mumbling something as if reciting a spell, started to roll his eyes so much that the whites of his eyes were visible.
"······God of the Earth! Spirit of the Forest and Water! Is there water in this land?"
"······."
I was performing a sacred ritual, so I kept quiet so as not to be disturbed. Finally, 'Wind and Cloud', who had been sweating coldly on his forehead, returned to his original eyes.
"Whew!"
"are you okay?"
"It's okay, Chief!"
Looking at 'Wind and Clouds', which looked a little difficult, I felt sorry for no reason.
"The water spirit says that water is flowing in this very place."
"······."
I don't know how they communicate with the spirits, but all evidence points to water flowing beneath the ground.
"great job."
"No, Chief!"
After a while, just in case, I decided on two places to dig a well with 'Wind and Cloud'. I called out to the 'Lazy Beaver' who was working hard to build a workshop with the villagers.
"Chief! Are you ordering me around again?"
The 'lazy beaver' came over with a sad expression, as if he knew that I was ordering him around when I called him. I knew full well that he was suffering because of me, so I patted him on the shoulder and offered him a carrot.
"Take a nap later. I'll let you sleep."
"Not once or twice. I don't believe it. I don't believe it."
"I'll work with you too. Seriously. I'll let you take a nap."
'Lazy Bibi' weakly responded to my earnest persuasion.
"I'll trust you one last time."
'Did I work you too hard? I really need to give you a break.'
* * *
"I put the dirt in the basket. Take it."
The village warriors were digging deep into the ground with stone hoes and wooden sticks. When I dug a little deeper than my height, the 'stubborn bear', whose upper body and face were covered in dirt and sweat, shouted loudly.
"Water! Water!"
The warriors who had been working underground with me also looked at me with wonder as the water rose little by little, as if seeping into the ground.
"I couldn't believe it, but water really is coming out of the ground."
As soon as they heard the news, the villagers came rushing in.
"It's water!"
"Water is coming out of the ground."
"But what are you making?"
Amidst the crowd's commotion, I hastily sang 'Lazy Beaver'.
"Lazy beaver! Bring me a brick."
"Understood, Chief!"
While 'Lazy Beaver' went to get some bricks baked in the kiln, I said to 'Stupid Bear',
"Thank you for your hard work so far. Go up."
"Ahhhh. Hehe! I'll do whatever Chu-Jang tells me to do."
After a while, we were busy laying bricks with the 'Lazy Beaver'. He also occasionally explained how to stack bricks to the 'lazy beaver' who had to build one more well.
"······So that it doesn't collapse. It has to be built well."
"I understand, Chief!"
* * *
Finally, one well was completed. Just in case the children fell into the well while playing, they built a circle of bricks as high as their waists around the well.
And using the lever principle, the gourd frame was installed. Of course, a roof was also built to keep out rain and foreign substances.
People gathered at the well and watched me draw water with a gourd.
"Okay. Using this gourd mold, it's easy to scoop up water."
"From now on, I won't have to go to the river to get water."
"How can you make something like that?"
"That's really great."
As the days passed, the townspeople looked at me with increasing respect and awe. I felt their gaze on my whole body and looked down at the water filling the wooden bucket.
Was it because it hadn't even been a day since the well was completed? The water was completely muddy. Perhaps it would take a few days for the debris to settle before the water became clear.
Even so, I couldn't drink this well water straight away. For the time being, villagers were instructed to use well water to wash their faces, hands and feet, and to water their crops.
"Understood, Chief!"
"Haha! Now I can wash my body in this well."
"Chief! Can I use it when cooking?"
"······."
When the village woman asked me with a serious expression, I was momentarily troubled. It is cleaner than the river water because it is groundwater, but it is still early.
"Later. I'll talk to you separately."
"Yes, Chief!"
As she stepped back, answering forcefully with sparkling eyes, I was lost in thought again.
'You made a well, so should you make a water purifier too?'
* * *
It's night. 'The Moon Rises' in my arms said while looking at the lit candles in the room.
"It's nice that the house is not dark and cozy. I don't have to worry about getting burned by a wood fire while I'm sleeping. It's really nice."
"·····"
Even without saying anything, it seemed like she was in a very good mood.
"I didn't go to the river today, but washed with well water. And that too with the soap you made for me."
"You look prettier today because you washed with soap."
Maybe it was because of the candlelight, but it was sincere. 'The Moon Rises' smiled brightly.
"Everyone in the town envies me. And do you know how much they praise you?"
"What are people saying?"
"First of all, he's great. And he's wise and smart and he's leading us well."
"okay?"
"Yeah. I don't know what to do because you keep praising me so much that my ears are worn out."
"Just take it easy."
"Yeah. I'll do as you say."
'The Moon Rises' was held deep in my arms.
Her eyes looking at me seemed to be longing for something. That night··· With tireless stamina, he shared a passionate love affair with 'The Moon Rises'.
Sometimes I was worried that her scream-like sounds might be heard by others.
"Huh! As expected, you're a very big guy!"
* * *
A few days passed quickly. During that time, I spent my days busy creating new weapons in the workshop without resting.
And again, starting today, I started morning training with the warriors of the village. After a while, when the training was over, all the villagers were called except for the children.
People were chatting and murmuring as they looked at the object I was holding.
"What is that?"
"The chief says it's a new weapon···"
"I don't know exactly either."
As I nodded while everyone was focusing their attention on me, the 'brave wolf' ran as if he had been waiting for me.
"Everyone, be quiet. The chief is going to show you a demonstration."