"Two knives and one axe. They are extremely precious."
"Are they hard?"
"Better than stone, but they bend easily. That is why we use them mostly for rituals."
"Not in actual combat?"
"No. If they bend, we have to straighten them again, and that is troublesome. Stone knives are more practical."
As expected.
Pure copper was too soft. Its hardness was low, so it could not be used as a proper weapon.
'If I mix in tin, it becomes bronze.'
Bronze was much harder than copper. If ninety percent copper was mixed with ten percent tin, the hardness increased dramatically.
At that moment, the system window appeared.
Ding!
『Quest Generated: Dawn of the Bronze Age』
Objective
→ Alloy copper and tin to produce bronze
→ Produce at least 3 bronze weapons
Rewards
→ Level +3
→ Combat Power +15
→ Technology Points +5
→ Civilization Level 1.0 → 1.5
Time Limit
→ None (Recommended: complete before Tiger Tribe invasion)
'There are quests too?'
It was becoming more and more like a game. But I was in no position to complain. If there were rewards, I had to use them.
'Raising the Civilization Level is especially important.'
According to the system's explanation, if the Civilization Level rose, my abilities would rise as well.
On top of that, the intelligence of the tribe members would also increase.
This was an enormous advantage. With this ability, passing on technology would become faster.
"Solid Rock, let me ask you something."
"Please speak."
"Have you ever seen blackish stones around the village? Heavy, shiny stones."
Tin ore was mostly black or brown.
It had a high specific gravity, so it could easily be found near rivers or streams.
"Black stones?"
Solid Rock scratched his chin.
"Well... Ah, I heard there were stones like that near the upper river."
My heart began to pound.
"Who did you hear that from?"
"The hunter Swift Wind. Swift Wind said he saw them while hunting in that area."
"Where is that?"
"Half a day's distance from here."
"Is it dangerous?"
"There are many beasts. In particular, there are rumors that a large bear lives near that place, so even hunters do not go there often."
"Doesn't matter."
I spoke firmly.
"I'm going there tomorrow."
"Pardon? You personally, Chieftain?"
Solid Rock's eyes went round.
"Your body has not fully recovered yet...."
"I'll recover faster if I move. You're coming with me."
"But...."
"Don't worry. Whether it's a bear or anything else, there'll be a way to deal with it."
I kicked off the hide blanket and stood. My legs trembled, but it was bearable.
When I stepped outside the pit house, a small village spread out before my eyes.
A little over ten pit houses were huddled together, there was a wide clearing in the center, and the site of an extinguished campfire was visible.
'Is this the place I have to protect?'
It did not feel real.
Until yesterday, I had been someone who taught students in lecture halls. Yet today, I was the chieftain of a primitive tribe.
"The Chieftain has come out!"
Someone shouted. It was a woman's voice.
People stopped what they were doing and gathered around. The women put down their stone mortars, the children stopped playing, and even the men who had been resting in the pit houses came outside.
"Chieftain!"
"Lord Black Panther! You are alive!"
"What a relief!"
The people's faces were filled with relief and joy.
One woman shed tears, and one old man clasped his hands toward the heavens.
"I'm sorry I worried you."
I raised my arm.
Pain came from my shoulder, but I did not let it show on my face.
"As you can see, I'm fine. So return to your work."
"Yes, Chieftain!"
The people answered all at once.
"What a relief. Truly, what a relief!"
A young woman stepped forward.
She looked about twenty.
Her eyes glistened with tears as she spoke.
"What would happen to us without you, Chieftain?"
"That's why I didn't die."
I answered calmly.
"I won't die after this either, so don't worry."
"Son!"
Someone called from behind me.
When I turned around, an old woman with white hair was standing there.
She held a basket of medicinal herbs in her hands, her hair had turned as white as snow, and deep wrinkles were carved into her face.
But her gaze alone was fierce.
"Mother...."
The word came out on its own.
This seemed to be a memory of this body. A warm emotion rose from deep within my chest.
"You foolish boy, what are you doing getting up already?!"
The old woman strode toward me.
For her age, her steps were quick.
"I am fine, Mother."
"What nonsense are you talking about? You were unconscious for three whole days!"
"If I only lie down, my body will stiffen."
"Even so, you should rest for one more day!"
"There is something I must do."
I spoke firmly.
"Something? What?"
"I must make the tribe stronger. Before the Tiger Tribe invades."
The old woman's expression stiffened, and her gaze sharpened.
"I heard about that too. I hear that bastard Blood-Soaked Claw is plotting something again."
"That is why we must prepare."
"How?"
"I will make new weapons. Weapons far harder than stone."
"New weapons?"
The old woman narrowed her eyes.
"Do you mean copper knives? But those are too soft."
"That is not it, Mother."
I spoke with confidence.
"I will mix copper with another stone and make an entirely new metal."
"Is that possible?"
"Yes. I know the method."
The old woman stared at me for a long while. Her eyes were sharp. I could feel the particular insight of an elder who had lived for decades.
"Your eyes have changed."
"Pardon?"
"They are different from three days ago. There is some unknowable light in them."
The old woman took one step closer.
Her eyes pierced through me.
"It is as though you have become another person."
My heart lurched.
This old woman was frighteningly perceptive.
'Did she figure me out?'
No, there was no way she could realize I had possessed this body.
She only sensed that something had changed.
"I had a dream during those three days."
"A dream?"
"Yes. The ancestors taught me many things. I think that is why I seem different."
It was a lie. But I could not tell the truth.
The old woman's eyes narrowed.
She looked into my eyes for a long while.
Her expression made it impossible to tell whether she believed me or not.
"A revelation from the ancestors...."
The old woman murmured.
"That may be so. Before your father died, he also said he had a strange dream."
"Truly?"
"Yes. Your father said he saw the tribe's future."
The old woman sighed. It was a deep and long sigh.
"Fine. Do as you wish. But take care of your body."
"Understood, Mother."
The old woman turned to leave, then stopped. Without looking back, she spoke.
"Son."
"Yes?"
"Your father also died trying to protect the tribe. I don't want to lose you too."
Her voice trembled, and her shoulders shook faintly.
My chest grew heavy.
"Please do not worry. I will not die."
I had already died once.
There would not be a second time.
"That is a promise."
"Yes, I promise."
The old woman nodded and went into the pit house. Her back looked lonely as she went.
I let out a sigh.
'This won't be easy.'
But what I had to do was clear.
Make bronze. Make weapons. Protect the tribe.
That was what I had to do now.
The next morning.
Before the sun rose, I left the pit house.
Three warriors were already waiting in the clearing.
Solid Rock, Running Deer, and Fierce Eyes.
Each of them held a spear and a stone knife.
"Chieftain, we are ready."
Solid Rock lowered his head.
"Everyone's here. Let's go."
"Yes!"
The four of us left the village and entered the forest path.
The morning air was cold.
When I breathed in, my lungs felt cool, and the dew on the blades of grass glittered in the sunlight.
"Chieftain, is your body all right?"
Solid Rock asked cautiously.
"Don't worry. I'm much better than yesterday."
"That is a relief. But you must not overexert yourself."
"I know."
I nodded.
"By the way, is the path to the upper river rough?"
"It is fine at first. But the forest becomes deep from the middle onward."
Running Deer answered.
"Are there sections with many beasts?"
"Wolves or leopards appear from time to time. If we stay alert, there will be no major problem."
"Understood. Don't lower your guard."
"Yes!"
The three warriors answered all at once.
As I walked along the forest path, I examined the surroundings.
The trees stood densely packed, birdsong reached my ears, and the wind shook the leaves.
"Chieftain."
Running Deer approached my side.
"What is it?"
"About the black stone you mentioned yesterday. Can you truly make strong weapons with it?"
"Of course. I can make knives far stronger than stone knives."
"How strong?"
Running Deer's eyes shone.
"A piece of wood that would take ten strikes with a stone knife to break could be cut through in one."
"Truly?"
Running Deer's eyes went round.
"In one strike? Is that possible?"
"It is possible. I'll make one myself and show you."
"Ohhh! Then we will be able to sweep away those Tiger Tribe bastards!"
Solid Rock chimed in.
"With weapons like that, that bastard Blood-Soaked Claw will not be frightening either!"
"Fear him? We should make that bastard fear us instead."
I spoke firmly.
"First, we need to find the stone. How much farther is it from here to the upper river?"
"If we hurry, we will arrive when the sun reaches the middle of the sky."
Fierce Eyes answered. He was a taciturn-looking young man.
As his name suggested, his eyes were sharp, and although he was a man of few words, he was constantly observing the surroundings.
"And there is nothing dangerous on the way?"
"There is no major danger. However...."
Running Deer trailed off.
"However what? Say it."
"There is a rumor that a huge bear lives near the upper river. No one in the village has seen it directly, but they say there were traces."
"Traces?"
"Swift Wind said he went near that place last year and saw footprints."
"How big were the footprints?"
"They say they were the size of my head."
Solid Rock cupped his own head with his hands, showing the size.
"With footprints that size, the bear must be enormous."
"Yes. Even if three or four men attacked at once, it would be hard to win."
'A giant bear....'
In the Neolithic Age, large bears such as cave bears lived.
They were far larger and stronger than modern brown bears.
Their shoulder height exceeded a person's height, and when they stood on their hind legs, they were over three meters tall.
"Let's proceed carefully. Tell me if you see any bear traces."
"Understood!"
The four of us entered the forest path side by side.