I was hesitant, but still looking forward to it.
"These are potato beans."
'The Moon Rises' handed me a potato bean root. It was just the size of a potato. But, in terms of shape, is it something between a horse and a potato?
If you look at it differently, it looks like a sweet potato.
"The fruit can be roasted and eaten like other beans, and the root can be boiled or dried in the sun like this. The texture is a bit odd, but it's edible."
"···hmm!"
Without realizing it, I smiled bitterly with a look of disappointment on my face. Bottom line is, it wasn't the potato I knew.
"Why are you looking like that? Did I do something wrong?"
"No, it's just that it's not a crop I know."
"···I feel sorry for no reason."
When she looked a little depressed, I quickly changed the mood and said:
"You said this was edible, right? Cook me some potato bean roots for dinner later."
"Okay, I'll do it."
After a while, it became evening. A sumptuous meal was laid out before me. Cornbread, meat, and potato bean roots.
"It's roasted, so try eating it starting from the root of the potato bean."
"huh."
I cut the potato bean root in half and took a bite, the skin of which was charred black.
"It's delicious."
"It seems to suit your taste."
I nodded in front of 'The Moon Rises' and said it was delicious, but honestly, it didn't taste good at all. What should I say?
It was just tingly.
'It might be good if you fry it in oil and eat it with honey or maple syrup.'
Maybe it was because I learned beginner cooking skills that various dishes came to mind. And even though they weren't the potatoes I wanted, I was still satisfied with just finding something edible.
To be exact, that's not what I found. Because the villagers were already growing potatoes.
"Eat this too."
I cut the meat into bite-sized pieces and gave it to 'The Moon Rises'.
"thank you."
Even that small action brought a happy expression to the face, like 'the moon is rising'.
* * *
West of the Kwannetucket River (Connecticut River). Pequot tribe village. Because the Mohegans were at war, warriors from other Pequot tribes continued to arrive at the village where the chief was staying.
"Warriors here, this way."
"The Grand Master, please come forward."
"You can lead these warriors and go to the Black Forest in the North."
Small-scale fighting was taking place here and there. However, as time went on, the situation in the war tilted towards the Pequot tribe.
Is that why? The Pequot warriors, their spirits lifted, were brimming with confidence. Meanwhile, in the communal hut where the chieftain was staying, the 'Burning Weasel' was being reported.
'Strong Power', who returned from investigating the pursuit party that had lost contact, told in detail what he had seen and felt.
"······The pursuit force was annihilated in an ambush attack."
"That's too bad."
"But, while investigating, I discovered some strange things."
"Tell me."
"Yes, first of all, there were only about ten enemies who ambushed us. And not far from the battlefield, there were about fifty people taking refuge. Finally, when I examined the dead soldiers, I found traces of weapons I had never seen before."
"The ambush attackers may be skilled warriors, including great warriors, and those taking refuge are likely wandering tribesmen."
"······."
The 'Burning Weasel' was more curious about the weapon he had never seen before than about anything else.
"Is this the first time you've seen this weapon? I'd like to hear more about it."
"······The wounds on several of the corpses were cleanly cut. They were definitely not the clubs or spears used by Mohegan warriors."
"······."
The 'Burning Weasel' looked deep in thought for a moment and then slowly opened his mouth.
"It certainly wouldn't be the Mohegans. They would have no choice but to use that new weapon during the war. Then it would be some other tribe than the Mohegans..."
'The Weasel' brought to mind the surrounding tribes. The Wampanoag, Mohawk, Lenape, and the wandering tribe of the Queli Phi.
And as far as the Abnaki tribe.
"Maybe it wasn't the Mohegans who ambushed us."
"I didn't report it because there was no concrete evidence, but I also suspect that."
"If it is as you described, it seems like an incredible weapon."
'Strong' nodded as if agreeing with those words.
"Yes."
"Okay. First, we need to find out where that new weapon is. You take responsibility and investigate the surrounding tribes."
"All right."
'Strong' answered forcefully and stepped back. Left alone in the communal hut, the Burning Weasel immediately realized the value of the new weapon.
"If we get that weapon, we'll have an overwhelming victory in the war against the Mohegans. No, maybe we'll even be able to pacify this region."
* * *
A 'very big' town. The day has dawned. The whole village was busy building new houses and new fences. And as always, the warriors started their day with morning training without fail.
First, the 'Brave Wolf' led the warriors around the village three times. After a while, when basic training was over, I stepped forward.
"It's been a while since we had a one-on-one duel. Cold tree!"
"Yes, Chief!"
'Cold Tree', who had been sitting on the ground with the warriors, got up from his seat and came forward.
"Today, the cold tree is not my opponent. Roaring thunder! Come forward."
'Roaring Thunder' sat there blankly for a while before suddenly jumping up from his seat.
"Thank you, Chief!"
After giving us a few pointers, he started sparring right away. I watched their duel from a distance with the warriors. The warriors were divided into two groups, but they almost unilaterally cheered for the 'Cold Tree'.
"Cold tree! Finish it in one go."
"Don't forget the skills you learned from the chief."
'Roaring Thunder' spoke to 'Cold Tree' with eyes full of fighting spirit.
"You don't know how long I've waited for a place like this. This time, I have to be prepared."
"······."
The 'cold tree' stood still with a calm expression, saying nothing.
Would that have made it worse?
"Still unlucky."
'Roaring Thunder' rushed forward terribly and swung his fist with a loud fist full of his anger.
"It's over."
Before I could finish my words, 'Cold Tree' grabbed 'Roaring Thunder's' arm and threw it to the ground using the recoil of his waist.
thud!
A cheer went up among the warriors.
Wow!
"This is the Chief's overturning technique!"
"You really finished it in one go."
"The thunder roared and I fainted."
"Are you a great warrior?"
"The chief said he was a great warrior."
I approached the 'cold tree' and lifted his hand, saying:
"Cold tree! Win!"
The 'cold tree' sat down in its place amid applause from the warriors. He turned his head and looked at the 'Roaring Thunder' who had lost consciousness, and gave the warriors a brief evaluation of this match.
"······You must never let your guard down just because you are a great warrior. You must always do your best when fighting."
"Yes, Chief!"
After that, I continued to have sparring sessions with the warriors I had pointed out.
* * *
A few days passed quickly. The construction to expand the village has finally been completed. The newly built fence quadrupled the size of our village.
I would have liked to have built a wall, but there was a problem with stone, and it would have taken too long. Today the villagers were building a watchtower.
"Bring me some wood."
"tether!"
"Where is the ladder?"
Several people were pulling carts and carrying materials along the well-trodden road. Certainly, having a cart has improved work efficiency.
The Curie Pi people who settled in our village also adapted well without any problems. Although the townspeople were busy in the cold weather, it was more peaceful than ever.
Returning to the hunt with the warriors, I nodded while watching the villagers.
"Now that we have a minimum population, we need to run the village systematically."
Furthermore, if I become a chief, I will lead the Lenape tribe, and they will become my hands and feet.
* * *
"puppy!"
"house!"
"mom!"
I was finally able to let go of school. I put people who learned Korean quickly in my stead as teachers and had them teach the villagers.
Of course, it's just the beginning, so the villagers are just writing down the words the teacher says. But things were gradually getting better.
As soon as a new word came out of the teacher's mouth, the villagers wrote on the ground with sticks.
"chief!"
Other teachers went around among the villagers, checking each word written on the ground to see if it was correct.
"That's right."
"Wrong. It's not a claim, it's a suggestion. It's a chief."
After all the tests were over, the teacher in front said a new word.
"The moon is bright!"
I watched the scene from the back of the classroom and then turned around with a pleased expression. And then I walked straight to the workshop.
* * *
Hwaaaaah!
The flames rose again. The molten bronze was carefully poured into the window mold. I couldn't just sit there and play while the window formwork cooled.
He took out the unfinished axe and began to sharpen it on a whetstone.
Crunch! Crunch!
After a while, he picked up the sharp axe with a joyful expression.
"I finally mastered it."
I went to the workshop from time to time to level up my metal refining skill.
"Status Window!"
[Beginner Metal Refining Skills (20/20)]
[You can now learn the intermediate metal smelting skill.]
But, I couldn't learn it right away. Current level is 37. I've completed quests big and small so far, but my level has only gone up two levels.
"I still have a long way to go before I reach level 40."
As the level went up, the speed of leveling up definitely got slower. I took a closer look at the status window that was on.
[Lv 37. Two thousand days]
[Affiliation: Lenape Tribe, Chief, Great Warrior]
[Trait (5/8): Map, Cartography, Mind's Eye, Language Magician, Teleportation]
[Ability]
Strength: 33
Agility: 33
Stamina: 33
Wisdom: 36
Command: 32
[Remaining points: 24]
[Beginner combat skills]
– Spearmanship (20/20), Archery (16/20), Blunt Weaponry (12/20), Throwing (9/20), Fencing (4/20), Survival Skills (5/20), Shield Skills (3/20)
[Intermediate Combat Skill]
– Martial Arts (3/20)
[Beginner Non-Combat Skills]
– Weapon Crafting (12/20), Architecture (10/20), Military Strategy (9/20), Farming (5/20), Stonecraft (4/20), Crafting (10/20), Herbalism (7/20), Mining (5/20), Metalworking (20/20), Pottery (4/20), Animal Technology (5/20), Cooking (2/20), Shipbuilding (0/20)
[Advanced Non-Combat Skills]
-Lenapair (20/20)
Agility and Stamina each increased by one as a random ability. And overall, skill proficiency was also increasing little by little.
"There are a lot of points left."
I invested 13 of my remaining points to evenly raise my abilities. Of course, I did invest more in wisdom because of the map window.
[Ability]
Strength: 35
Agility: 35
Stamina: 35
Wisdom: 40
Command: 35
[Points remaining: 11]
"it's okay."
Soon, we will be leaving for the village of 'Big Foot' to elect a chief. It seemed necessary to adapt to the increased abilities before leaving the village.
* * *
Lenape tribe, 'Big Foot' village. The long winter has passed and spring has come. The chiefs from each village gathered in the village square.
"Who didn't come?"
"Well, I don't know."
"I don't see the hunter of the forest."
Boom boom!
The meeting was delayed because there were still several chiefs who had not arrived. At that moment, the door opened and several people came into the village.
"He is a warrior of God!"
"The warrior of God is a very big two thousand days!"
My name was heard from all directions.
"It's a date palm···."
Is it because you know how important this meeting is? I was secretly nervous.
#
Potato Bean (Apios) - Apios is a perennial vine of the legume family. It is native to the United States and Canada. It has been cultivated and consumed for a long time by Native Americans such as the Lenape, Meskwaki, Sioux, Ojibwa, Iroquois, Cree, and Potawatomi for its edible fruits and tubers.