"I like that sound."
Running Deer exclaimed in admiration. His eyes sparkled.
"We really are making a real knife."
Solid Rock said. His voice held awe.
The people watched quietly. No one spoke, and only the sound of the whetstone rubbing against bronze rang out.
"It is hard."
Hot Hands said in admiration.
"It cannot even be compared to copper."
"How is it different?"
Fierce Eyes asked.
"With copper, the edge becomes crushed after only a few passes, but bronze remains intact no matter how much I grind it! This is the first time I have seen metal this hard."
The old man stopped his hands for a moment, checked the blade, and touched it lightly with his finger. Carefully.
"The edge is forming. Very sharply."
He began grinding again, this time on the opposite edge. He repeated the same process. His hand movements were steady, maintaining a constant rhythm.
"Right?"
I asked with a smile.
"That is why bronze is strong. Tin makes copper hard."
"The edge takes very well."
Hot Hands nodded.
"It is sharp. At this level, it could cut through animal hide in a single stroke. Even bear hide would be no problem."
As time passed, the knife was completed. An hour passed, and the old man ground without rest. Sweat flowed, but he did not stop. Drops of sweat formed on his forehead, and the muscles of his arms pulled tight. But he paid no attention.
Two hours passed, and the blade shone like a mirror. The surface was smooth. The rough surface from the beginning had completely disappeared, and it was glossy like glass.
We prepared a wooden hilt. Oak. Hard and heavy wood. It was carved to the size of a handle, and a groove was cut for the blade to enter. Precisely. It had to be fitted down to the millimeter. If the groove was too large, the blade would shake, and if it was too small, it would not go in.
We fitted the blade in. It fit perfectly and did not shake. We tied it firmly with tendons, wrapped it several times, and applied pine resin to fix it in place.
With the wooden hilt attached, the blade flashed. The hilt made from oak was fixed firmly, and the blade shone like a mirror. It was a perfect Bronze Sword.
Ding!
『Bronze Sword Complete!』
→ Attack Power: +25
→ Durability: High
→ Trait: 3x performance compared to stone weapons
"It is complete."
Hot Hands held out the knife and lifted it respectfully with both hands.
"Chieftain, please receive it. This is the first Bronze Sword of the Peregrine Tribe."
I accepted it. The weight settled perfectly in my hand. It was a perfect balance, neither heavy nor light.
In particular, the center of gravity was perfect, and even when I raised the knife, there was no strain on my wrist. At this level, there would be little fatigue even if I swung it for a long time.
A golden blade shining in the sunlight. It reflected the sun and gleamed dazzlingly. When I swung it lightly, it made a sound as it split the air.
SWISH—!
A sharp sound rang out, the sound of cutting through air. It was keen. It was on a completely different level from a stone knife.
"Good. Perfect. It could not be better."
I spoke with satisfaction.
"Please test it."
Solid Rock brought over a block of wood. It was hard oak as thick as a forearm. A block of wood used by the warriors for training. It was a hard piece of wood that would take ten strikes with a stone axe to cut. Its surface was rough, bark still clung to it, and the inside was even harder.
"Will you test it with this?"
Solid Rock asked.
"With this?"
I examined the block of wood. I tapped it with my hand.
Tap. Tap.
It made a hard sound, and the wood was solid all the way through. If it could cut this in one stroke, it was a true weapon.
"Yes. Let's try."
Solid Rock stood the block of wood upright and drove it into the ground. So it would not shake. He fixed it firmly.
I raised the knife high and gathered all my strength. Every bit of strength in my shoulder, arm, and wrist. I breathed in deeply and focused.
I lifted the knife above my head. I checked the center of gravity, spread my feet shoulder-width apart, and took my stance. I aimed at the target. The center of the wood block. Exactly at the middle.
Then I brought it down.
SLICE—!
The knife came down, cutting through the air, fast and precise. It touched the wood. There was almost no resistance.
The block of wood was cut in one stroke. It was sliced smoothly, as though cutting through tofu. The blade passed through the wood without stopping, without catching. The two pieces fell to the ground.
THOCK.
THOCK.
The cut surface was smooth as a mirror, and the grain of the wood was clear enough to see. Each growth ring inside the wood could be seen distinctly. It showed just how sharp the knife was.
"Waaaaah!"
Cheers burst out, and the people shouted as they jumped up.
"In one stroke!"
A man shouted.
"He cut it in a single strike!"
Another man exclaimed in admiration.
"That would take ten strikes with a stone knife!"
Solid Rock said in shock.
"I cannot believe it!"
Running Deer shouted.
"So this is the power of bronze!"
Fierce Eyes exclaimed in admiration.
"You are incredible, Chieftain!"
Hot Hands knelt.
"Truly incredible!"
"We did it!"
The people cheered. Their voices surged into the sky.
I raised the knife toward the sky, and sunlight reflected off the blade with a flash. It shone so brightly that it dazzled the eyes.
"This is bronze!"
I shouted loudly.
"With this, we will drive back the Tiger Tribe! This is our power! This is the power of the Peregrine Tribe!"
"Ooooooh!"
"The Peregrine Tribe!"
"Long live the Peregrine Tribe!"
"Lord Black Panther!"
"Long live Lord Black Panther!"
The cheers pierced the sky. The entire village filled with shouts. It seemed to echo beyond the mountains.
That night, another feast was held.
It was a feast celebrating the birth of bronze. People sat around the campfire, and the smell of roasting meat filled the air. There was still a great deal of bear meat left.
The children looked at the bronze knife in fascination, and the adults poured out admiration again and again. They wanted to touch the knife, and the adults touched it as they exclaimed in wonder. One child reached out toward the knife and was caught by his mother.
The golden blade, reflected in the flames, shone mysteriously in the darkness. It sparkled in the campfire light, shining as if it were alive.
"Did we truly make that?"
A man whispered.
"I cannot believe it."
Another man answered.
"It is truly fascinating."
"It looks like a divine weapon."
A woman exclaimed in admiration.
"The Chieftain made it."
Running Deer said proudly.
"We helped too!"
Fierce Eyes cut in.
"Right, we blew the bellows too."
"Even so, without the Chieftain, we could not have made it."
Solid Rock said.
"Because the Chieftain taught us everything."
"Chieftain, congratulations."
Solid Rock approached me, holding a cup of liquor.
"I wish to drink a toast with you."
"This is still only the beginning."
I shook my head.
"We cannot win a war with one knife."
I accepted the cup. It was liquor made from grain. It had a bitter yet sweet smell.
"Will you make more?"
Solid Rock asked.
"Of course."
I nodded.
"At minimum, we need to give every warrior a bronze weapon. All twelve of them."
"Twelve whole blades?"
Solid Rock asked in surprise.
"That many?"
"Yes. And we need to make spearheads and arrowheads too."
I spoke while counting on my fingers.
"Knives alone are not enough. We need spears, and we need arrows. All of them must be made of bronze. Weapons made of stone cannot stand against bronze weapons."
"Do we have enough materials?"
Running Deer asked.
"We have enough tin."
I answered.
"The problem is copper."
I set down the cup. The atmosphere grew heavy.
"Ah...."
Solid Rock let out a sigh.
We had melted all the copper tools and made one knife. To make more, we needed more copper. To make twelve knives, we needed twelve times as much copper. Including spearheads and arrowheads, we needed even more.
"What do we do if we lack copper?"
Fierce Eyes asked worriedly.
"We have to get copper ore."
I answered, then asked Solid Rock.
"Where can we get copper ore?"
"It comes from the western mountain."
Solid Rock answered.
"But...."
Then he trailed off. His expression darkened.
"But what?"
I pressed him.
"It is near the Tiger Tribe's territory, isn't it?"
I already knew. It was in this body's memories.
"Yes, it is dangerous."
Solid Rock lowered his head.
"The Tiger Tribe often patrols that area. The chances of running into them are high."
"We still have to go."
I spoke firmly.
"Without copper, we cannot make weapons. Without weapons, we cannot fight the war."
"But Chieftain, it is too dangerous."
Running Deer said worriedly.
"Even if it is dangerous, we have to go. We have no choice."
I shook my head.
"I will form a scouting party."
Solid Rock said resolutely.
"I will go."
"No, I will go myself."
I spoke firmly.
"You, Chieftain?"
Solid Rock was startled and waved his hands.
"It is too dangerous! If you are injured, Chieftain, the entire tribe will collapse! Absolutely not!"
"I am the only one who can properly recognize copper ore."
I explained.
"If someone else goes, they may bring back the wrong stones."
"But...."
Solid Rock tried to cut in.
"Copper ore is special."
I continued explaining.
"You can tell by its color, weight, and luster. It is a stone with green or blue tones. If we bring back the wrong stones, we will only waste time. We do not have time."
"Even so, it is dangerous."
Fierce Eyes cut in.
"What will we do if you are hurt, Chieftain?"
"We will go in your place!"
Running Deer struck his chest.
"Please leave it to us!"
"What work isn't dangerous?"
I spoke firmly.
"When we have to go, we have to go. The time to fight the Tiger Tribe is right before us. We cannot only avoid it."
Solid Rock lowered his head. After thinking for a long while, he opened his mouth.
"Understood."
Solid Rock knelt.
"Then I will guard you. I will protect you with my life."
"I will go too!"
Running Deer raised his hand.
"Me too!"
Fierce Eyes said after him.
"I will protect you, Chieftain!"
"Good. We leave at dawn tomorrow."
I nodded.
"We have to leave early. Before sunrise."
"Yes!"
"We will prepare!"