I hurried toward Jakan's tent, clutching the Muscle Potato.
It was a hidden item that would strengthen Jakan, the one-man army of our tribe.
Since it was a precious thing bestowed directly by the goddess herself, Jakan had to eat it.
“Jakan.”
When I called to him quietly at the tent entrance, a large shadow inside flinched.
But just as I was about to enter, an uninvited guest intervened.
“Izak, why you go after stop farming with me?”
It was Malko.
Malko, who had been pulling weeds at my side while saying he would help me, had followed me.
The man did not have even as much awareness as a potato skin. He came running up and blocked my way.
Why was this bastard following me? Had he somehow noticed the Muscle Potato?
I waved a hand as though it were nothing.
“Farming is over for now. Go.”
“No. I help Izak. I stay beside Izak.”
What kind of damn stubbornness was this?
That tiger-nosed horse of a man wore a stubborn expression and stuck closely to my side.
After seeing me create potatoes, he had practically followed me like an ancestral god.
I was grateful for his loyalty, but right now, he was in the way.
Before I knew it, I could feel Jakan's gaze from the tent.
Jakan stared at Malko, then looked at me. His eyes were asking what this was about.
'Shit...... There is only one Muscle Potato.'
It was a hundred times more right for Jakan to eat it than Malko, who was plainly just a tall, gangly brute.
And that was your way to live too, Malko!
But, without any awareness, he insisted that he would stay together with Jakan and me, and tried to follow me inside.
With a sigh, I used my final resort.
“Malko.”
“Why?”
“As I thought, only you can help me.”
With a solemn expression, I grabbed his shoulder.
His ugly nose twitched.
“Organize and guard the storehouse. Potatoes will soon come pouring in. If not you, who guards those precious potatoes?”
“Ooh......!”
The simple man's eyes sparkled.
“By the shaman's authority, I appoint you Great Storekeeper. Specially.”
“Gasp—! G-G-Great Storekeeper? And special? Shaman personally appoints me!”
Malko covered his mouth as though overcome with emotion, then let out a high scream.
In truth, the storehouse did not even have a rat in it.
And it did not have a door, either.
But apparently it sounded like a weighty duty to him.
“Understood! I guard storehouse. No one gets in.”
Malko ran toward the storehouse, delighted.
Watching his back as he ran off without even looking back, I let out a relieved breath.
All right, the nuisance was gone. Now, could we get to the main point?
Jakan stared blankly for a moment in the direction Malko had disappeared, then abruptly turned and strode into his tent.
I hurried in after him, but he did not so much as look at me.
'Huh?'
He went to his bedding, turned his back, and sat down.
What was wrong with him this time?
In any event, that was not the important thing. The Muscle Potato. I had to feed him the Muscle Potato.
I lit a fire in the small brazier at one corner of the tent and placed a pot over it, but Jakan still did not move.
“Hey, are you hurt?”
“......”
Not a word. He sat there facing the wall without even answering.
Did he have a cold? He did not seem like the sort who would catch a cold at that size.
As I thought while looking at his turned back, the water in the pot boiled.
Soon, the nutty scent of cooking potatoes spread through the tent.
When I poked it with a branch, it went in without resistance. It was cooked perfectly.
“Jakan. Eat this.”
“I do not eat.”
He answered bluntly.
This was frustrating!
“This is a special potato. It is good for your body.”
“I do not eat.”
“This is an amazing potato. Only one has appeared among all the potatoes we have dug up so far!”
“I do not eat. Give it to Malko.”
Crack.
My patience cracked.
No matter how much he was going through puberty, could he really fail to come to his senses at this moment of life and death?
“Jakan!”
When I raised my voice, Jakan's shoulders flinched.
“I brought this special potato to give to Jakan, so why do you not eat it!”
“......You brought it for me?”
Jakan cautiously turned his head.
“Yes. I brought it for only Jakan to eat. This is Jakan's.”
“Hmm......”
He looked once at the steaming potato, then held out a hand.
After receiving it, Jakan stared at the potato for a moment, then gave a faint smile.
What was that? Really.
Without even blowing on the hot potato, he put it in his mouth in one bite and chewed it with a crunch.
It had clearly said it was tough and tasted bad.......
[Jakan has consumed the ‘Shining Muscle Potato.’ Strength permanently increases by +1.]
In any event, he had eaten it, so that was enough.
Looking at the message window that appeared, I asked with hopeful eyes.
“How is it? Do you feel stronger?”
“......It tastes bad.”
Jakan said with a frown.
Even if it tastes bad, it is good for your body, you brat. Eat it.
Raising children was really hard.
I let out a sigh and was about to leave the tent when a small voice stopped me.
“Thank you...... Izak.”
At his rough thanks, a small smile escaped me.
***
Time passed, and there was one day left until the Red Moon.
The field, after its final harvest, was empty.
Standing between the furrows, I checked my Status Window.
==========
【Player Information】
• Name : Izak (Kang Jin-ho)
• Race : Barbarian (Northern Rock Tribe)
• Class : Novice Farmer
• Level : 4
【Base Attributes】
• Strength : 20+1 / Agility : 15 / Vitality : 22 / Intelligence : 20 / Mental Strength : 8+2
• Fame : 4
• Remaining Stat Points : 4
【Farming Log】
• Potatoes
- Harvest Yield 620/2000
- Comprehension 40%
==========
What a shame. I wanted to reach Level 5 quickly.
But I could not farm any more here.
'I should invest the four points into Strength.'
The Red Moon would rise tomorrow. Would that not help my survival, even a little?
Next...... I had to erase all traces of farming before the Western Volcano Tribe arrived.
If I left the field empty like this, it would just look like a wasteland where weeds did not grow.
“This should be enough.”
I sighed as I looked at the empty field.
But the unease in one corner of my heart did not go away.
Would the kids carry out my plan well? What if an unexpected situation arose?
“Izak! Let's eat dinner!”
The children called to me from afar.
Shaking off my stray thoughts, I headed toward the village.
Today was the Red Moon Eve Festival.
It was time to enjoy our last feast.
.
.
.
The bonfire crackled as it burned.
The open space in the center of the village was thick with the scent of stew filled with potatoes and dried meat.
Of course, I had made it.
We were greatly...... No, almost completely short on spices, but it was still better than starving.
The tribe members sat in close groups and enjoyed their meal.
“Delicious! Potatoes best!”
“Lots meat too. Today bellies burst!”
Broth smeared around the children's mouths, Chieftain Jakan silently tearing into meat, and Malko telling the children the heroic tale of how he became the Great Storekeeper.
'Peaceful.'
I rested my chin in my hand and watched them, overcome by a strange emotion.
At first, I had begun this only to survive and level up.
But why did these forty barbarians feel like family to me?
Was it because I had not had a family in my previous life?
This feeling was certainly unfamiliar, but at the same time, it was one I had always yearned for.
'I want to protect them.'
I hoped this peaceful dinner would not be the last.
I hoped the children's laughter would not turn into screams.
Near the end of the meal, Jakan stood up.
He quietly called a few warriors over.
Malko, and the older warriors in their late teens.
They were the core strength of our Northern Rock Tribe.
“Do you understand?”
Jakan's voice was low and serious.
“The Red Moon rises tomorrow. The Western Volcano Tribe will come.”
“I know, Chieftain.”
“We ready.”
“Remember. The goal of this battle is not victory.”
Jakan glanced at the tents where the children slept.
“Survival.”
“......”
“While the Western Volcano Tribe fights, we protect. If anything breaks through, you must stop it.”
“Understood!”
Solemn determination filled the air.
As Jakan's eyes were fierce, so too were the eyes of the young warriors standing before him.
I approached them and spoke quietly as well.
“And one more thing. The Western Volcano Tribe is strong, but we are strong too.”
“Right!”
The warriors nodded.
We exchanged glances.
We knew without speaking.
We were looking toward the same place now.
Time flowed like water, and before I knew it, the next night had grown deep.
The sky just before the Red Moon rose had been dyed a sickly purple.
'So this is what it looks like.'
I imprinted the sight, which I was seeing for the first time, into my eyes.
In the oppressive air and eerie silence where not even insects could be heard, we checked the barricades and fences at the village entrance and tended our weapons.
I did not know how effective the crudely made barricades and fences would be, but they would be better than nothing.
After making the preparations, I took fifty potatoes from the storehouse and placed them in a sack.
They were the payment for the Western Volcano Tribe. They had demanded one hundred potatoes, but I had no intention of following their demands blindly.
I buried the rest deep inside the cave behind the village.
“They are coming.”
Jakan drew his greatsword.
Dust was rising on the far side of the canyon.
BOOM. Thump. Thump.
With the ground rumbling beneath their massive footsteps, red-skinned giants came into view.
The Western Volcano Tribe.
Led by Chieftain Burta, around twenty warriors had arrived.
'The rest must be guarding their own land.'
Looking closely, I did not see the tribesman who had come with them on the first day.
“You were waiting, little ones of the Northern Rock Tribe.”
Burta approached with a grin.
His gaze swept over Jakan first, then settled on me.
And last, he smacked his lips as he looked at the sack of potatoes piled behind me.
“I came as promised. Are potatoes ready?”
“They are here.”
When Jakan pointed at the potato sack, Burta frowned slightly.
He probably felt that the amount was insufficient.
“Is this the promised amount?”
Jakan nodded and spoke exactly as I had instructed.
“It is half the promised amount. We give other half after Red Moon passes.”
“A contract is sacred. Do you plan to break your promise!”
“I never said I would break it. I will keep the promised amount exactly. But before that, the Western Volcano Tribe must protect us completely.”
Burta stamped a foot with a BOOM.
I was terrified inside, but my body, controlled by Barbarian Mind, did not even blink.
In that regard, it was quite a useful trait.
After staring at us for a moment, Burta grimaced as though he had no choice and bit down on his lip.
“Cunning little ones. Fine. I keep promise. Tonight, I not let even one hair of yours be touched.”
With frightening eyes fixed on us, he turned his head and slowly surveyed the village.
Like a predator scouting out prey.
'There is something about this bastard.'
I knew it instinctively.
This bastard was suspicious after all.
They had not come today merely to act as mercenaries.
They had come to gain something greater than that.
That was when it happened.
RRAAAAAAWR!
A beast's cry rang out from the distance.
It was not the sound of a wolf or bear you would commonly hear.
This was...... This was a chilling demonic beast's roar that seemed to tear through the very air!
I reflexively looked up at the sky.
The black clouds parted, and at last, it revealed itself.
A giant moon dyed blood-red.
The Red Moon, which looked ready to drip blood at any moment, seemed to float right before us.
[The Red Moon has risen.]
[The Demonic Beasts begin to go berserk.]
[The first wave is approaching!]
“It has begun.”
Burta smiled as he slung his axe over his shoulder.
His white teeth gleamed eerily in the Red Moon's light.
“Come, warriors of the Western Volcano Tribe! Let us earn our food!”
“Barbariaaan—!”
The Western Volcano Tribe warriors roared and charged forward.
Behind them, I swallowed dryly.
I was scared and afraid.
But gathering myself, I gave Jakan's back a light pat.
“Come on, Chieftain. We have to guard too.”
Jakan nodded heavily.
As the earth shook, a black tide was surging over the black wall.
The Demonic Beast Wave.
At its head was a pack of Black-Maned Wolves.
Creatures that would ordinarily have been as large as calves had been transformed into the size of houses by the Red Moon's magic. Behind them, Spiny Boars and Mutant Black Bears charged forward, shaking the earth.
“Hold them!”
“Barbarian!”
At Burta's roar, the tribe warriors who had rushed forward collided with them.
CRASH—!
The axes of the Western Volcano Tribe warriors shattered wolf skulls, and the charge of a boar dented a warrior's shield.
Blood and flesh flew in every direction in an instant.
'Those are barbarians.'
It was closer to butchery than battle.
The first time I saw barbarians fight, it was overwhelming.
To the point that I wondered whether I should even consider those things tearing Demonic Beasts apart to be people.
The most striking among them was, without question, Burta.
“More are coming this way.”
Jakan's voice snapped me out of my daze as I watched them.
But they could not block every Demonic Beast completely.
There were simply too many.
The clever Demonic Beasts chose to bypass those strong warriors rather than fight them, and naturally, their target was us.
One agile shadow sprang from a gap in the Western Volcano Tribe's defensive line.
A dog-shaped Demonic Beast with exposed red muscles: a Blood Hound.
It raced toward us at insane speed, precisely toward the cave where the children were hidden.
SHNK.
A black flash flared.
The head of the charging Blood Hound flew into the air, and in a fountain of blood, Jakan stood with his greatsword raised.
“Protect the children!”
At Jakan's command, the young warriors of the Northern Rock Tribe moved as well.
Malko thrust his spear into the flank of a boar, while the other warriors locked shields and formed a defensive line.
Our first battle was clumsy.
We lacked strength.
But they were not weak. They had family to protect behind them.
And I.......
WHOOSH!
“Skreeee!”
Why was this working?
Before I knew it, I had thrown an axe at a Blood Hound charging Jakan and split its skull!
“......!”
Jakan looked at me in surprise for a moment, then swung his greatsword at the Demonic Beasts charging in.
It was a desperate battle.
An inferno of blood, screams, and the smell of burning flesh mixed together.
'This is the Red Moon.'
This was not a game now. It was reality.
In the midst of suffocating terror, I too silently cut down the Demonic Beasts that charged at us, again and again. Perhaps because of Barbarian Mind, I was not disgusted despite it being my first time, and I could move like the other barbarians despite it being my first time.
How much time had passed? The Demonic Beasts' momentum had weakened considerably.
The vanguard of the wave had been annihilated by the Western Volcano Tribe's overwhelming strength.
The canyon floor was piled with mountains of Demonic Beast corpses.
But something was strange.
Even though the battle had ended, the Western Volcano Tribe did not pull back. They still stood holding their weapons, as though encircling our village.
“Jakan.”
When I called to him quietly, he turned to me.
“Look there.”
Jakan looked where I pointed.
At the center of the battlefield.
The last remaining Demonic Beast, a giant Mutant Black Bear, was panting while covered in blood.
For some reason, Burta was looking down at it without killing it.
At that moment.
Burta's eyes met mine.