Chapter 8: The Bone Warrior

Chapter 8: The Bone Warrior

Sung-Woon learned history by playing games. Therefore, he didn’t really know what the actual history of mankind’s development was like.

‘But in the game of The Lost World, it was one of the two.’

And that was either livestock farming or agriculture.

‘There are always pros and cons.’

Agriculture was a stable option for the development of civilization. Creating an environment that could block attacks from the outside while stocking up on food allowed the population to grow continuously. In fact, human civilizations on Earth often started in river basins.

‘Of course there are difficulties.’

The problem with agriculture was the environment. Even in modern times on Earth, human will alone wasn’t enough to prevent droughts and floods, and the less technologically advanced a society, the more vulnerable it was to natural disasters. Until technology advanced further, difficulties would continue to arise in the work of maintaining rivers to control floods, selecting seedlings to grow crops, and all other aspects of agriculture.

‘But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to farm livestock either.’

Within Sung-Woon’s area, none of the tribes had started farming livestock, but there were most likely other players whose first choice were tribes starting out with livestock farming skills. However, having those skills didn’t automatically guarantee good potential.

‘There are many cases in which I can’t tell whether the land is dry or fertile until I actually visit it myself. And until I accumulate enough experience in surrounding lands, I’ll only be able to do small, primitive farming of livestock..’

As a result, it was best to do what could be done at that time according to the tribe chosen.

‘And I chose the Lizardmen.’

If he had chosen Frogmen, it wouldn’t have been impossible to farm livestock since the tribe started with the concept of ‘salmon farming’, but a player would normally go with agriculture instead. On the other hand, Lizardmen did have an advantage in farming livestock and looting due to their physical builds.

‘I’m sure they’re strong enough on average at this time.’

Therefore, Sung-Woon believed there was nothing to be afraid of. It was a bit unfortunate they had to leave the altar made of bones as it was used in the beginning to give a generous amount of Blessings to Lakrak’s Clan of 50 Lizardmen, but these kinds of early altars were disposable as they were made of bones which wouldn’t last long. However, it seemed Sung-Woon was the only one who didn’t have lingering feelings for it.

The next day, Lakrak gave orders to Yur and the other warriors to bring in as many living water buffaloes as possible. They would find a herd of buffaloes that Sung-Woon had intended for them to find, and they would appease and bring the herd over before it was too late.

It wouldn't be possible for the water buffaloes to be domesticated right away, but the Lizardmen could still raise them since they were strong enough to drag the buffaloes along by force. If they continued to do so, the skill: Livestock Farming would be obtained, resulting in the buffalo herd becoming more manageable. In the end, they would be able to increase the number of buffaloes they brought with them.

‘Everything takes time.’

During the day, Lakrak helped the Iron Craftsman build the fire. To be exact, the craftsman made a ‘soot tree.’ They made a brazier and put lots of firewood on top. Then they applied mud to the outer surface to prevent the fire from escaping. Once the fire was lit, the holes that were left to allow airflow to help the fire get started were blocked, and they waited for the wood to completely burn.

Lakrak couldn’t really understand why it was done that way, but he decided to just trust the Iron Craftsman. When it came to God’s will, he knew he was right, but he acknowledged his ignorance in other matters.

Sung-Woon saw a system message that said ‘charcoal’ next to the soot tree the iron craftsman was standing by.

That wasn’t the end of the Iron Craftsman’s skills. The craftsman took two wooden boards that had been split and placed them in front of the fire hole, putting them together in a way that looked like a pinwheel. Its role was not much different from that of a pinwheel, either. The craftsman then tied a wooden stick to the center of the pinwheel-like structure before pushing it with his palm, allowing wind to easily access the fire hole. This was a primitive bellow.

‘It seems enough heat has been secured. I don’t think we’ll have any problems with the ironware.’

As night came, Lakrak met again with the guide who was also a star catcher. The night sky had changed just as the star catcher said it would. However, Lakrak thought that one night could just be out of coincidence, and the star catcher agreed. The star catcher thus told him how the stars would move again, and Lakrak kept it in mind.

***

A few days later, the first iron spear was made. It was clunky, but because of its hardness, it was sharper than any other spear Lakrak had ever touched.

‘Considering the quality, it does seem a bit softer than a well-made spear would be in the Bronze Age.’

But there was no reason for Sung-Woon to step in and throw a spanner in the works. The advantage of ironware was not only that it was hard. Compared to the Bronze Age, it was easier to obtain iron above ground, and outside of alloy, it was easier to work with than bronze. The right temperature to melt the iron was all that was needed. Still, it was impossible to do without the necessary knowledge and skills.

‘It would be better for supplying agricultural equipment, but supplying weapons isn’t all that bad.’

Initially, Lakrak the tribal chief was holding a spear made of stone, so the change of blade was great progress.

***

Another few days later, Yur and the other warriors led a herd of water buffaloes back. Most of the warriors were exhausted even with the Blessing of Insects, but the herd of water buffaloes they brought back had already given up resistance and stayed in formation. There were 20 altogether.

‘They’ll likely celebrate and consume a few, but that I can deal with.’

However, contrary to what Sung-Woon had thought, Lakrak did not do so. They had already made wooden fences to temporarily keep the herd of buffaloes in, and once they locked them in there, a sentry was placed to prevent the buffaloes from being secretly slaughtered. There was a stir among the Lizardmen that there were 20 delicious buffaloes but they couldn’t eat any of them. Zaol even asked Lakrak on behalf of the men.

“Everyone wants to eat the water buffaloes.”

“I know. I want to eat them more than anyone else.”

“Then why...”

Lakrak was next to the water buffaloes and standing guard himself.

“According to calculations, there’s no need for us to eat them when we aren’t starving. They will be valuable food when we go out into the wilderness. Looking at the bigger picture, it will benefit us greatly later on.”

[The Lizardman Lakrak’s ‘Willpower’ has increased.]

[14 → 18]

Sung-Woon nodded. He didn’t know much about the development of human civilization, but he assumed that the base for development was the result of resisting the small gains at the moment for bigger gains in the future. The small and trivial willpower used to persevere for the future was what caused the change. Zaol was also later convinced.

“But the warriors are hungry and tired. Yur is good and follows you, but there are some who are dissatisfied. Not all the Lizardmen are as wise as you are.”

“I understand.”

Lakrak looked up at the sky and seemed to think for a moment.

He then opened his mouth and said, “ Wake up the warriors who are tired and asleep right now.”

“What?”

“No, wake everyone up. Hit the metal to make a loud noise. Put lots of branches into the fire to shake off everyone’s drowsiness.”

“Are you being serious?”

Lakrak looked at Zaol rather disapprovingly. He stepped onto the altar and took a deep breath before shouting.

“Wake up, warriors! Wake up! Children of the clan!”

Only then did Zaol realize Lakrak was serious.

Sung-Woon watched this scene with interest. Something was about to happen.

Zaol first woke up her immediate subordinates, then proceeded to wake the entire tribe with a loud noise. Finally, she put more tree branches into the fire to make it bigger just as Lakrak had told her to do. It was early morning, but it wasn’t time to wake up yet. Lizardmen also had difficulty waking up when temperatures were low. Smoke started rising from the fire that had been dying throughout the night, and so the Lizardmen of Lakrak’s Clan started to murmur and gathered in front of the altar.

The warriors who had brought the herd of buffaloes were lined up in front of the altar just as Zaol had prepared. They looked tired, but also seemed nervous as they stood in front of Lakrak, the clan’s wisest and strongest Lizardman and the High Priest. Especially because they didn’t know what his intentions were.

“This morning, we are leaving,” stated Lakrak.

The clan started to talk quietly among themselves. They knew they would leave soon after the buffaloes were brought back, but no one seemed to have thought it would be right the next day.

“There, star catcher. Come here.”

The curious one-armed, turquoise skinned guide and star catcher approached Lakrak.

“For the past few days, you have told me where the stars would move, and I have confirmed that you were correct. Therefore, I hereby announce in front of everyone that you are worthy to be a star catcher, as well as our guide. You are not a liar, nor are you a fraud.”

“Thank you for trusting me.”

“So, tell us about the place you have decided to lead us to.”

“I say it myself?”

“Yes. To everyone here.”

The star catcher then said, “When morning comes, the sun will rise from over there. We will go to the right of the sun, and once we walk for another 10 days, there will be small lakes that smell rotten and are so hot that they bubble. Another 15 days to the right side of the lakes, we will encounter a steep and desolate mountain path. And after another three days through that valley, we will see wild grass.”

“And after that?”

“There is continuous vegetation.”

“Even if we go 5 more days?” n0vεLuSb.c0M

“I haven’t gone that deep in there. There are many wild beasts, and there is also a tribe of another species.”

Lakrak laughed and said, “So it’s a good place to live.”

Some of the Lizardmen warriors laughed at the remark.

“You may go back to your spot. Thank you, star catcher.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Lakrak said as he walked up onto the altar, “Time has passed since God led us to this land. We could have made a different choice. That choice would have been to drive away the bigger tribe with the help of God’s power and continue to live on our own. Then we would have been able to stay on this land for a long time, and those who were kicked out would have died in the wilderness.”

Lakrak let out a single breath from his nose.

“But that was wrong. God wanted salvation, not exclusion. That is...”

Lakrak’s eyes sparkled.

“Because it benefits more people.”

The group of Lizardmen were now completely silent and listening to Lakrak speak. His declaration was of value to the entire tribe. He was announcing that the aim of life wasn’t just to merely survive, but to live with a greater rule and cause.

“Yur!”

Standing the very first in the line of warriors, Yur looked up when he was suddenly called.

“Yes, Lakrak!”

“You must have been a bit sad that you couldn’t eat the buffalo yesterday, right?”

“To be honest, yes, a little bit. We didn’t eat a single buffalo while hunting for them as you had ordered. I thought we would eat them together once we got back.”

“But you do know the reason why I gave those orders and why I didn’t allow you to eat a single buffalo even though you were all exhausted once you got back.”

“Yes, I know. You’re saying we need to endure it now so that we can receive more later on, right? God wants that.”

“Yes.”

“Then I will continue to endure it. If God has that expectation upon us, we should live up to it.”

The other warriors nodded at Yur’s words, and Lakrak smiled.

“All right. Since you have shown patience and respect for the Nameless Beetle God, you shall be rewarded accordingly... Where is the Iron Craftsman?”

At those words, the craftsman walked out from the group.

“Yes, I am here.”

“Give them the iron blades that were prepared.”

“I will do so.”

This was a pre-arranged event. After all, it was obvious for the best warriors to have the best equipment. However, it appeared to the other Lizardmen as well as Sung-Woon that there was something dramatic about what was happening.

‘Did he plan all this?’

Sung-Woon thought Lakrak’s surprise event would come to an end by now. But it wasn’t.

“Starting with Yur, come up onto the altar.”

“What?”

“Come on now.”

In a somewhat pious manner, Yur walked up to the altar made of buffalo bones.

In the meantime, Lakrak said, “We are now leaving this blessed hill and the bone altar. However, as God’s will is with us, location is no longer important. Even the bone altar is only a figure rather than where God truly resides. God existed before that.”

When Yur came up, Lakrak took the skull of a water buffalo that was at the very top of the altar and placed it onto Yur’s head.

“From now on, use this skull when you act as a warrior. God will be with you, and you will be the ‘Bone Warrior’ who acts on behalf of God. These are God’s will.”

Yur seemed to be getting choked up by these words. Tears welled up in his eyes.

“Lakrak.”

“Go back down and properly tighten it with a string. Next warrior, come up.”

And that was how 23 Bone Warriors were born. The Bone Warriors thought they were rewarded much more than just being able to satisfy their hunger, and indeed they were.

[The Lizardman Yur’s ‘Trust’ had increased.]

[4 → 7]

[The Lizardman Yur’s ‘Level (Warrior)’ has increased.]

[2 → 3]

‘His abilities and XP have actually gone up.’

Sung-Woon had seen something similar happening in the game The Lost World, but these kinds of events were not intended. After all the Bone Warriors received their buffalo skulls, Lakrak also placed one on his head. At the same time, the sun rose.

The Lizardman tribe cheered with enthusiasm as the warmth of dawn enveloped them. The Bone Warriors weren’t the only ones who had developed.

[The Lizardman Lakrak’s ‘Leadership’ has increased.]

[7 → 14]

[The Lizardman Lakrak’s ‘Level (High Priest)’ has increased.]

[1 → 2]

[The Lizardman Lakrak’s ‘Level (Warrior)’ has increased.]

[2 → 3]

‘The special ability that wasn’t visible has been revealed. His level even went up 2.’

Not acknowledging the cheers, Lakrak was standing on the remains of the bone altar and looking up at the sky. Sung-Woon thought Lakrak was just identifying the constellations that were disappearing into the light of dawn, but he wasn’t. Lakrak was muttering something.

“Please forgive me for saying it was God’s will alone.”

Then Sung-Woon realized that Lakrak had been speaking to him.

‘It wasn’t me who chose the Bone Warriors, it was Lakrak.’

But of course, Sung-Woon had nothing to be upset about. Perhaps a player who wanted to move and control all their characters wouldn’t be very satisfied, but it was Sung-Woon himself who chose Lakrak, who had high ‘Willpower,’ to be the High Priest in the first place. Thus, these results were to be welcomed.

‘Come to think of it, these guys haven’t tasted any protein lately.’

Sung-Woon agonized and eventually decided to conjure a Miracle that would be welcomed by the Lizardmen.