After the feast ended, I returned to the pit house.
Outside, I could still hear the people's laughter. The joy of celebrating the birth of the Bronze Sword had spread through the entire village.
But I had to return first. There was something I had to do.
I opened the system window. I stretched my hand into the air, and a transparent window unfolded before my eyes. A blue light glowed faintly. It was clearly visible even in the darkness inside the pit house. It was a cold blue light, different from the glow of the campfire.
Ding!
『Current Status』
→ Level: 5
→ Combat Power: 33
→ Technology Points: 6
→ Completed Quest: Dawn of the Bronze Age
→ Known Technology: Smelting Technology Lv.1
I had as many as six Technology Points.
That was because I had received many rewards for successfully smelting bronze. The Quest completion reward had been generous. It had given me five whole points at once.
What should I invest in?
I hesitated, and there were many choices. Each technology had its own strengths and weaknesses, and I had to choose carefully. Once I invested in one, I could not take it back. If this were a game, I might be able to reset it, but this was reality.
Ding!
『Technology Tree』
→ Smelting Technology Lv.2 (Cost: 3 Points): Metal smelting efficiency +40%, smelting time -20%
→ Agriculture Technology Lv.1 (Cost: 2 Points): Crop yield +15%
→ Construction Technology Lv.1 (Cost: 2 Points): Building durability +20%
→ Combat Technology Lv.1 (Cost: 2 Points): Combat Power +3
→ Combat Technology Lv.2 (Cost: 3 Points): Combat Power +5, Reaction Speed +10%
→ Exploration Technology Lv.1 (Cost: 2 Points): Grants Mineral Detection Ability
There were more choices than before.
I examined them one by one. When I pointed at each item with my finger as if touching it, a detailed explanation appeared. It was a convenient system.
Smelting Technology Lv.2 was appealing. If efficiency increased by as much as forty percent, we could make more bronze with the same materials. But it was not what I needed right now. First, I needed materials before I could smelt anything. Without copper, greater efficiency was useless.
Agriculture Technology was good in the long term. If crop yield increased by fifteen percent, the food problem would be solved. But it was not what I needed immediately. It would not be too late to consider it after the war ended. We had to survive before we could farm.
Construction Technology was the same. It would be useful when building defensive facilities, but what was most urgent right now was weapons. No matter how sturdy a wall was, we could not fight without weapons.
Combat Technology was certainly necessary. If Combat Power rose, my chances of survival increased. Tomorrow, we were going near the Tiger Tribe's territory, and a fight might break out. I had to prepare.
Exploration Technology caught my eye. Mineral Detection Ability. It was a technology perfectly suited for going to find copper ore. If I could find minerals like a radar, it would save a great deal of time. It was far more efficient than wandering through the mountains searching for ore.
Time was important. Not many days remained before the Tiger Tribe attacked. Calculating precisely, there were about ten days left. But we needed time to find copper, smelt it, and make weapons.
We had to find copper quickly, return quickly, and make weapons quickly. There was no time.
'Acquire Exploration Technology Lv.1.'
I gave the command in my mind.
Ding!
『Technology Acquired: Exploration Technology Lv.1』
→ Grants Mineral Detection Ability
→ Technology Points: 6 → 4
For a moment, I grew dizzy, and my head spun.
A new sense appeared in my mind. New information poured into my brain. The properties of minerals, the forms of ore veins, the structure of strata. Countless pieces of knowledge flooded in all at once. It felt as if I were learning four years of university curriculum in a few seconds.
After several seconds, I calmed down, and the dizziness disappeared. When I closed my eyes, I felt as if I could faintly sense ore veins beneath the ground. It was not as though I could see them clearly. It was blurred, like seeing something through fog. But I could definitely feel it.
As if a magnet were drawing iron filings, my awareness was pulled toward the direction where minerals existed. It was a strange feeling, like a sixth sense. I could tell where minerals were. Something pulled at me from the west. A weak but definite signal. There seemed to be a copper vein there.
'Fascinating.'
It was truly fascinating. Scientifically, it made no sense, but I could really feel it.
Modern science could not explain this. Humans had no sensory organ that could detect minerals.
It was the power of the system. The laws of this world, which worked like a game. In this world, the system took priority over science.
Four points remained. I should raise Combat Technology too. Tomorrow, we were going near the Tiger Tribe's territory, and a fight might break out. So I had to prepare. I had to increase my Combat Power.
The Tiger Tribe warriors were all trained fighters. Their average Combat Power would be over 20. My Combat Power of 33 was high, but it would be dangerous if several enemies attacked. No matter how strong I was, it would be difficult if two or three came at me at once. I had to become even a little stronger.
'Acquire Combat Technology Lv.1.'
Ding!
『Technology Acquired: Combat Technology Lv.1』
→ Combat Power +3
→ Combat Power: 33 → 36
→ Technology Points: 4 → 2
This time, a change came over my body. It felt as though my muscles were tightening.
My arms, legs, back, and chest. Every muscle tensed and then relaxed. My bones creaked, and it felt as if my joints were being realigned. It did not hurt. Rather, it felt refreshing, as if muscles that had been knotted for a long time were being loosened.
My vision became clearer, and I could see better inside the dark pit house. My eyes focused faster.
I also felt as though my reflexes had improved. I moved my fingers. They responded quickly. I was more agile than usual. My breathing deepened, and it felt as though my lung capacity had increased. More oxygen entered me. Strength overflowed through my whole body.
Combat Power 36. Three times the beginning. From 12 to 36. It was tremendous growth. At this level, I should be able to defeat most opponents. I could easily handle one or two Tiger Tribe warriors. No, perhaps even three.
Of course, I could not grow arrogant. Combat was not decided by numbers alone. Experience, skill, luck. Many factors were involved.
The Tiger Tribe warriors were men who had trained in combat since childhood. My body had grown strong, but I lacked combat experience. Even so, I had certainly become stronger, and confidence rose in me.
'I will save the rest for later.'
I would leave two points for emergencies. That way, I could immediately acquire a technology in a dangerous situation.
They would be useful if I stood at the crossroads of life and death. If my Combat Power suddenly rose during battle, the enemy would be shaken. I would leave them as my final card.
Footsteps sounded outside.
Rustle.
Rustle.
The sound of dry grass being stepped on. Heavy footsteps. It was Solid Rock. There was a distinct rhythm to them. Each step landed firmly. The footsteps of a warrior.
"Chieftain."
It was Solid Rock's voice. Low and deep.
"Come in."
Solid Rock entered the pit house, holding something like paper. No, it was tree bark. Birch bark. Thin and tough bark. It was the only material one could write on.
Of course, it was not writing. It was pictures, signs, and symbols. There was no script in the primitive age.
"I have decided who will go tomorrow."
Solid Rock spoke. His expression was serious.
"I carved the names into this tree bark."
He held out the bark. Symbols representing each person were carved into it. Solid Rock was represented by the shape of a rock, Running Deer by the shape of a deer, and so on.
"Who?"
I asked.
"Me, Running Deer, Fierce Eyes, and Swift Wind. Four of us."
Solid Rock answered.
"All of us are experienced warriors. We have experience fighting in the forest, and we have encountered the Tiger Tribe before."
"Why did you choose those four? Are there other reasons?"
I asked. I wanted to hear Solid Rock's judgment.
"Running Deer is strong, so he can carry a lot of baggage."
Solid Rock explained.
"Copper ore will be heavy. If we want to bring back a lot, we need someone strong. Running Deer is stronger than I am."
"And Fierce Eyes?"
"Fierce Eyes has excellent observation skills, so he can detect danger quickly. If there is anything strange in the forest, he notices it before anyone else. His ability to read footprints is excellent as well, and he can even detect enemies by smell. He will serve as the eyes of the scouting party."
"And Swift Wind?"
"He is skilled at scouting."
Solid Rock answered.
"He knows the forest paths better than anyone. He has gone to the western mountain several times. And his feet are fast, so he can send word in an emergency. If a dangerous situation occurs, Swift Wind can run to the village and inform them. He should reach the village in half a day."
A good choice. Four people was appropriate. If there were too many, we would stand out, and if there were too few, it would be dangerous. Running Deer was strong, Fierce Eyes had excellent observation skills, and Swift Wind was skilled at scouting. Solid Rock could handle both combat and command. It was a perfect combination. He had chosen well.
"Good. You can serve as both scouts and guards. That should be enough."
I nodded.
"Thank you, Chieftain."
Solid Rock lowered his head. Relief flashed across his face. He looked glad that I had approved.
"What will you do if we encounter the Tiger Tribe?"
Solid Rock asked cautiously. His expression was stiff, and his eyes were worried. It seemed this was what he had truly wanted to ask.
"If we can avoid them, we will avoid them. If we cannot, we will fight."
I answered calmly.
"Our objective is to bring back copper. It is better to avoid fighting. If we fight, someone may be injured, and we will lose time. But if we encounter them, there will be no choice. Then we will have to fight."
"Then will you take the lead, Chieftain?"
Solid Rock asked again. His voice trembled.
"Will you?"
He was truly worried. Fear lingered in his eyes. He was afraid of losing me.
"Of course."
I raised the Bronze Sword.
"But...."
Solid Rock tried to cut in.
"If you are hurt, Chieftain, the entire tribe...."
"Do not worry."
I spoke with a smile.
"I am different from before."
I lifted the Bronze Sword. Even inside the pit house, where no sunlight entered, the blade shone faintly, and the campfire light reflected off it, casting shadows on the wall. I moved the blade slowly, and the light moved along the wall. As if alive. As if the blade were dancing.
"I have this sword, and I have grown stronger. My Combat Power is 36. Three times what it was at first."
I spoke with confidence. Of course, Solid Rock did not know the concept of Combat Power. But he would understand that I had become stronger.
"I brought down the bear too."
Solid Rock would remember. The battle against the bear. I had brought down the enormous bear alone. When my Combat Power was 12, I had defeated the bear with a Combat Power of 35. Now, it was 36. I was far stronger. Stronger than that bear.
"I will believe you."
Solid Rock lowered his head. He seemed to believe me sincerely. Fear vanished from his eyes, and trust bloomed there.
"I will believe in you, Chieftain. Then I will see you at dawn tomorrow. Please rest well. I will prepare and sleep too."
"Yes, you rest well too. Tomorrow will be a long journey. We have to save our strength."
I nodded.
Solid Rock left. His footsteps grew distant.
Rustle, rustle.
They gradually faded. Outside, the sounds of the feast could still be heard. Laughter, singing. But I was alone.
I looked at the Bronze Sword. The first weapon I had made. The result of modern knowledge and primitive technology combined. My face reflected in the blade looked unfamiliar. It was not Kim Do-hyun, the professor at Seoul National University, but Black Panther, chieftain of a primitive tribe.
A rough face, a firm jawline, sharp eyes. A completely different person. A beard had grown, my skin was rough, and there were several scars. Sunburned skin, a face stained with dirt and sweat.
But the eyes alone were different. Eyes different from the old Black Panther's. Eyes filled with intellect and resolve. A modern person's eyes were contained within a primitive man's face.
'Can I protect the tribe with this?'
There was still a long road ahead. One weapon was not enough. I needed more bronze and more weapons. Twelve knives, twelve spears, dozens of arrowheads. And tactics. Defense plans. Traps. There was a mountain of things to prepare.
But I had taken the first step. I had accomplished something that had seemed impossible and made bronze. In the Neolithic Age, I had created bronze.
I had changed history.
'I can do it. I must.'