Chapter 35
A few days earlier...
The monster Varg had nearly destroyed our entire village.
And Western Volcano Tribe Chief Burta had fled to us after being chased by it.
Zakan and I killed the monster Burta had brought.
Then we treated his injuries and sent him home.
After that...
A brief period of peace returned to the Rock Tribe.
So he really keeps his promises.
I sat beside the fire.
Across from me sat a man from the Western Volcano Tribe.
A messenger.
He had arrived several days after Burta returned home.
Burta had clearly sworn that he owed us his life...
And that he would definitely repay the favor.
If you really want to repay me, give me hidden treasure or artifacts.
Why send an invitation?
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
East.
West.
North.
South.
Those were only convenient names the barbarians had given different parts of the enormous Northern Frontier.
Several centuries ago...
The Empire had pushed the barbarians beyond the Black Wall as living shields against the demonic lands.
Then sealed them inside this place while giving it the pleasant-sounding name of frontier.
Even inside this barren frontier...
The barbarians had divided territories among themselves to survive.
Our Northern Rock Tribe lived in the north.
The Volcano Tribe lived farther west.
According to Zakan...
There were also barbarian tribes in the east and south.
And... other races as well.
While I reviewed all that old L.O.C setting information...
The messenger finally spoke.
His expression was still shocked.
“I-Incredible.”
He looked around.
“Is this truly the Rock Tribe?”
Zakan answered in his usual emotionless voice.
“Yes. This is the Northern Rock Tribe.”
The messenger’s eyes trembled.
He wasn’t looking at Zakan.
He was looking past him.
At the structures rising behind us.
He had probably expected a poor settlement surviving behind a rotten fence and a few worn-out tents.
To be fair...
That would have been correct only a short time ago.
Back then...
Even that rotten fence had been completely destroyed.
But things were different now.
The village was protected by a sturdy Steelwood wall.
A massive gate stood at the entrance.
It could easily withstand the charge of most monsters.
And that wasn’t all.
In the center of the village...
A strange giant cow-headed plant was chewing flying pests.
Crunch-crunch.
Meanwhile...
The delicious smell of Crab Potato Croquettes filled the air.
The messenger looked utterly confused.
He muttered things like unbelievable and a miracle under his breath.
Zakan finally grew tired of waiting.
“Why did Burta send a messenger?”
“Ah!”
The messenger snapped back to reality.
Then pulled a necklace from his clothes.
A red leather cord.
A beast fang hung from it.
“This is Burta’s necklace.”
He held it out.
“It proves that I carry his words.”
Zakan examined the necklace.
The messenger stood.
“As a warrior of the Volcano Tribe, I also thank you for the kindness shown to Burta and our tribe.”
He bowed deeply.
Then sat again.
“To repay the debt, the Volcano Tribe will hold its greatest feast.”
His voice became formal.
“The Chief and Shaman of the Rock Tribe are officially invited.”
A feast?
Zakan looked toward me.
His eyes asked what I thought.
For barbarians who valued honor and promises...
An official invitation from another tribe’s Chief probably wasn’t something that could be rejected casually.
But...
I wasn’t interested.
What kind of food would barbarians serve at a feast?
Probably smelly meat burned black over a fire.
No salt.
No seasoning.
Nothing.
Why spend an entire day traveling just to chew rubbery, smelly meat?
I would rather steam a fluffy C-Rank Potato from my own field.
It would taste hundreds of times better.
Zakan studied my expression.
“Izak. Do you not wish to go?”
I opened my mouth.
I was going to reject it immediately.
“Of course I don’t...”
When did I have time to leave the village?
I had C-Rank Potatoes to harvest.
I needed to raise everyone’s Trust and unlock Tenant Farmers.
I had to keep progressing through the village development tree so we could survive.
There weren’t enough hours in the day.
Why waste precious time at a barbarian drinking party?
Then...
A piece of information from L.O.C suddenly flashed through my mind.
Wait.
I stopped.
Then swallowed.
We had built a sturdy wooden defensive wall.
That was enough to resist simple external threats.
But...
Would it really be enough against the disasters coming in the future?
No.
Not even close.
There would be more Red Moon waves.
As time passed...
Stronger Demon Beasts and monsters would appear.
Steelwood had limits.
And our children...
Still didn’t even possess proper weapons.
If I wanted to transform the Rock Tribe into a true fortress...
And raise a real barbarian army...
We needed something beyond wood and stone.
Metal.
Ore strong enough to create steel-quality equipment.
And I know the easiest way to obtain some of the best ore in the Northern Frontier.
But...
I needed something first.
And now...
I had officially been invited into Volcano Tribe territory?
As the person who saved their Chief’s life?
That meant I could enter a restricted area that would normally be impossible to access.
No.
Maybe they’ll simply give it to me.
I’m their Chief’s lifesaver.
Something that normally required a ridiculous amount of effort...
Might become easy.
My eyes lit up.
A plan formed in my head almost instantly.
“...There is no reason not to go.”
Zakan and the messenger both flinched.
They had clearly expected me to refuse.
I suddenly smiled.
“Let’s go, Zakan.”
I nodded seriously.
“Rejecting the invitation of the Western Volcano Tribe’s Chief would be rude.”
Then I looked at the messenger.
“Return to Burta and tell him that we gladly accept his invitation.”
Zakan passed on my answer.
The messenger nodded.
Then quickly departed for the Volcano Tribe.
Just wait, Volcano Tribe.
Two days later.
[C-Rank Potato target harvest has reached 4,000.]
[1,000 remaining until target harvest of 5,000.]
[Level Up! You have reached Level 11. Lv.10 → Lv.11]
[Level increase grants +1 Stat Point and increases Class Skill proficiency.]
[Available Farming Slots increased. Active Farming Slots: 100 → 120.]
I had spent the morning crouched in the field until my back felt ready to break.
But...
My level finally increased.
Leveling is definitely slower after reaching Intermediate Farmer.
Even when I harvested two thousand potatoes at a time.
For now...
It was time to distribute the Stat Points I had been saving.
I had accumulated five unused points through my recent levels.
The choice was easy.
My Mental Strength was currently 17.
I invested three points.
Mental Strength reached 20.
The remaining two points went into Agility.
==========
Strength: 20+5
Agility: 15+2
Constitution: 22
Intelligence: 20+1
Mental Strength: 8+12
