I don't know exactly how the Eagle Festival is conducted. However, the word eagle gave me some idea.
'Is this a festival to catch eagles?'
At that moment, a notification sound came into my head indicating that the quest was completed.
[Quest: Rescue the people trapped in the iron mine (at least 5 people)]
[Reward: Lots of experience points}
[Tiring!]
[Quest completed]
As I ruled the country of 'The Sun in the Sky', quests were triggered even when I was not there. Just like the recent completion of the Mohegan Tribe Alliance quest, this quest was also handled well by the Chief of Staff and the heads of each administrative organization on my behalf.
'I was worried that the iron mine would collapse and cause many casualties.'
Anyway, appointing 'Splendid Sunset' as the chief advisor was a stroke of genius. While I was looking at the transparent message, it kept talking about the 'Eagle Festival' which was 'left as a scar'.
"… … The young people who have come of age this time will feel great pride."
I couldn't turn down his request, as it was a Shawnee tribal tradition. And I personally was curious about how they catch eagles.
When I readily agreed to participate in the 'Festival of the Eagles', a bright smile appeared on 'Left as a Scar's face.
"… Thank you, Your Majesty the Emperor!"
* * *
The capital of the 'sun in the sky', a 'very big' city. A funeral was held to honor those who did not survive the collapse of the iron mine.
Families of the victims and people in the city gathered to commemorate their deaths. Although he is the head of the Ministry of Education, today he is the great shaman, and 'Wind and Cloud' reverently guides the dead to the gods, spirits, and ancestors.
"…the Creator God and the spirits will be with them."
And the shamans of each tribe came out and prayed to their various gods. After a while, the Emperor's chief aide, 'Splendid Sunset', who represents the 'Sun of the Sky', appeared in front of the graves of the victims buried in the national cemetery.
"… As the head of the administrative organization, I cannot help but feel sorry for the victims who passed away in the accident. In the future, the state will take responsibility for the victims' families."
As people were sacrificed in the state-run iron mines, the state needed to take responsibility for them. For a while, talk of compensation and support came out of 'Splendid Sunset's' mouth.
Boom boom!
"…I didn't know the country would provide this much support."
"… I thought only warriors who died in war were buried in national cemeteries."
"… Since the country will definitely take responsibility for the victims' families, the victims can go with peace of mind."
Those attending the funeral nodded their heads repeatedly, seemingly satisfied with the country's support. In particular, those working in the mines watched the funeral with much more relaxed expressions than before.
Before we knew it, 'Splendid Sunset' had finished talking about welfare policies and stepped back.
'…I wonder if His Majesty the Emperor foresaw the current situation and decided on a welfare policy in advance?'
The more I thought about it, the more I was amazed by the wisdom and foresight of His Majesty the Emperor in 'The Brilliant Sunset'.
* * *
The Shawnee tribe, the Raccoon Clan village, on the western plains. It seemed like all the Shawnee Raccoon Clan men had come out to the vast plains that seemed endless.
Unknown weeds and plants grew ankle-high and announced the beginning of summer. At that time, the raccoon clan chief, 'Remaining as a scar', came forward and began to give a congratulatory speech.
"… You are now adults. However, you must undergo a final rite of passage to become brave warriors of the tribe."
"...."
The Shawnee men, who had just come of age, listened to the chief's words with slightly nervous expressions.
"… Despite his busy schedule, His Majesty the Emperor of our 'Sun of the Sky' will attend and grace the occasion."
"...."
Even in the Raccoon Clan Village, miracles were performed every day through 'God's Treatment'. Is that why? The Shawnee youths all looked at me with eyes full of awe and respect.
'Left as a Scar' approached me and asked me to give a speech.
"…Your Majesty the Emperor! Everyone is waiting. I would like you to say a word."
Having heard in advance how the Eagle Festival was conducted, I readily accepted the speech.
"Yeah."
The young men, adorned with colorful tattoos and costumes all over their bodies, once again straightened their postures with nervous expressions.
"… I too am very much looking forward to being with you at the Eagle Festival. I hope that you all will be reborn as brave warriors without any accidents."
As soon as I finished my short and concise speech, the Shawnee youths cheered in unison with excited expressions.
Adadadadadadadadadadadada!
'Hmm! That sound is the same wherever I go.'
I still can't get used to that monstrous roar. At that time, 'Leave a Scar' came forward and announced the start of the 'Eagle Festival'.
"… Return here safely in three days! Let's go!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sound of drums made of buffalo hide resonated in all directions.
* * *
The young men of the Raccoon Clan quickly dispersed in pairs with the veteran warriors of the village to find a place to hunt eagles.
I, along with the grand champions and the bodyguard warriors, joined the young men of the Shawnee tribe. Since it was a wide open plain, there was no need to check the map window.
However, I looked up at the map window every so often to find an eagle flying in the sky.
"Go that way."
'Into the Great Nature', which was in the same group as me, glanced back anxiously as if it was far away from the other groups and gave a short answer.
"Yes, Your Majesty the Emperor!"
Then, according to tribal tradition, he quickly followed in the direction I was guiding him, carrying a basket containing various goods and food on his shoulder.
After a while, the sun began to set and darkness began to fall on the plains. With a cold sweat dripping down his face, 'Into the Great Outdoors' was digging a hole in the ground with a hoe in his hand.
Depth and width enough for two people to fit in. I was just watching as the raccoon clan chief spoke.
Phew! Phew!
However, I felt a little sorry while watching 'Into the Great Outdoors' with heavy breathing rising up to my throat.
"There's no one here, should I switch places with you?"
"No, I will do it alone as a warrior of the Shoni tribe."
"okay."
I sat there comfortably and waited until the hole was dug. And then I secretly activated my mind and checked the ability of 'Into the Great Nature' once again.
[Into the great outdoors]
[Affiliation: Sun of the Sky, Shoni Tribe Warrior]
[Trait: Strong and patient. High potential to grow into an elite archer.]
[Ability]
Stamina: 8
Strength: 7
Agility: 11
Wisdom: 7
Although their personalities were clearly different, they were warriors of a type similar to a 'fast-moving deer'. Of course, it will take some time to grow into an elite archer.
'… Not bad.'
If it was fate that I met this young man among the countless warriors, then it was fate. Of course, you can't help but be interested.
Since I hadn't even lit a fire, I checked the darkness surrounding me through the map window once again. Fortunately, no dangerous carnivores such as the couguaku (puma) or a pack of wolves were visible on the map window.
* * *
As I entered the completed pit with 'Into the Great Outdoors', I was a little taken aback by the narrower space than I thought.
"Your Majesty the Emperor! I will cover the entrance."
"okay."
I nodded while squatting down and quietly watched 'Into the Great Outdoors'.
'Into the Great Outdoors' stood up and reached out from the hole, carefully blocking the entrance with a cover made of branches and leaves.
A rotten piece of meat was tied to a rope on top of the lid.
'So they're using that meat to attract eagles.'
I have a rough idea of how to catch an eagle. 'Into the Great Nature', wearing a leather glove on his right hand, squatted down again with a tired expression.
An awkward silence fell into the deep pit. Perhaps because my position as the ruler of the 'Sun in the Sky' was burdensome, 'Into the Great Nature' was silent and focused only on catching eagles.
"...."
His gaze was turned towards the night sky visible through the gap in the canopy. Red, bloodshot eyes, stubborn gaze and plump lips.
It was just an ordinary face, like those commonly seen among the Shawnee tribe.
Phew!
As his personality suggests, I don't think he'll listen even if I tell him to get some shut-eye. So I opened my mouth first and broke the awkward atmosphere.
"You're an adult, so you're fifteen years old?"
"yes."
"What about your family?"
"I have two parents and five younger siblings."
Like all tribes, they tend to have many children.
And considering the environment and medical standards of today, there were probably more children in the family who died from illness or accidents.
"What kind of person is your father?"
"…hmm!"
'Into the Great Nature' seemed a little taken aback by the question, then thought for a moment and began to talk about his father with a gentle smile on his face.
"My father is a kind man. He is also good at hunting… ."
I spent a long night with my eyes wide open asking this friend about his family history.
* * *
The sun was rising and the day was dawning. Now that I was a little more comfortable, 'Into the Great Nature' began to talk to me through sleepy eyes, telling me stories from my past.
"… I almost died because a buffalo chased me."
At that moment, I quickly raised my hand and stopped the words, 'Into the great outdoors.'
"wait for a sec!"
"...."
I raised my head and checked the map window and said with a meaningful look in my eyes.
"Coming."
"yes?"
'Into the great outdoors' blinked with eyes full of questions.
"Get ready to hunt the eagle."
"Oh, yes."
'Into the Great Outdoors' took a stance, looked up at the ceiling, and prepared to reach out. At that moment, an eagle (a bald eagle) that had been circling the pit since a while ago flew in at incredible speed and snatched a piece of meat from the pit.
Okay!
At the same time, 'Into the Great Nature' stretched out his leather-gloved right hand and instantly grabbed one of the eagle's feet.
Pada dadadadadak! Pada dadadadadak!
As soon as the eagle, struggling with a rough cry and flapping wings, was dragged into the hole, 'Into the Wild' grabbed the creature's head and twisted its neck.
"Got it!"
"...."
An eagle, whose neck was broken and whose life had suddenly stopped, was held in the hands of 'Into the Great Nature' with its head hanging limply.
"Congratulations. You are now a full-fledged warrior of the Shoni tribe."
"Ah? Yes, thank you. Your Majesty the Emperor!"
'Into the Great Nature' still stood there with a bewildered expression, as if it had not expected that an eagle would be caught so quickly.
"It was worth staying up all night. Shall we head back to the village?"
"Oh, yes."
Only then did 'Into the Great Nature' realize the reality of the present and cheered with joy. First, I came out of the pit and looked up at the blue sky of the great plains.
As with other tribes of the Great Plains, eagles were a valuable food source for the Shawnee. And I heard that eagle feathers are used to decorate their heads.
"… This is fun."
At that moment, a message saying that the quest was completed came to my mind, and a smile spread across my face without me realizing it.
* * *
A few days had passed since we inspected the village of the Shawnee tribe. I, my knights, and my bodyguard warriors were riding buffalo at incredible speeds toward the Susquehannock territory.
Knock knock! Knock knock! Knock knock!
As I neared the foot of the Appalachian Mountains and the Susquehannock Tribal Territory, a map window covered in red and blue dots caught my eye.
"stop!"
"...."
I gave orders to the knights and the bodyguards with a stern expression.
"Prepare for battle!"