Chapter 39
Wow.
We’re getting this that easily?
An item infamous for being incredibly difficult to obtain?
I couldn’t stop the corners of my lips from twitching.
I jumped over the newly opened gap.
Malko rushed after me.
“WAAAAAH! Treasure!”
His eyes shone.
“Izak! There’s treasure everywhere!”
Zakan followed more cautiously.
He continued scanning the surroundings.
Malko spread both arms toward the Dragonblood Stones scattered everywhere.
“So many!”
His face lit up.
“The Rock Tribe is rich now!”
Then he shouted,
“Let’s take all the treasure!”
“No.”
I stopped him immediately.
“One.”
Malko froze.
“We’re taking exactly one.”
His face twisted.
“No! There is lots of treasure!”
He whined.
“Why only one?! I want to take many and give one to every Rock Tribe barbarian!”
You idiot.
It isn’t because I only want one.
The game mechanics only allow us to carry one safely.
“Watch carefully, Malko.”
I pulled one Dragonblood Stone from the ground.
Then slowly approached another Dragonblood Stone nearby.
HUMMMMM...
HUMMMMM!
Malko jumped.
“Huh?! The treasure is crying!”
It did sound a little like that.
The Dragonblood Stone in my hand had originally released a gentle warmth.
But as I approached another...
Its color became bright red.
HISSSSS!
Malko’s expression changed.
“Huh? It started getting hotter!”
Then...
“AAAAH! Too hot!”
He jumped backward.
I also quickly moved away.
The temperature had become unbearable.
The moment I increased the distance...
The Dragonblood Stone stopped glowing.
Its temperature returned to normal.
This was called thermal resonance.
When two or more Dragonblood Stones came within a certain distance...
Their mana collided.
That produced extreme heat.
“Understand now?”
I held up the stone.
“If two Dragonblood Stones get too close, they can explode.”
“Hiiiik!”
Malko immediately backed away.
His eyes darted around nervously.
So...
Out of this entire Dragonblood Stone deposit...
We could safely carry only one.
“If we can only take one...”
I looked around.
“Then we should choose the biggest one.”
I activated my farmer’s hawk eyes.
If I only got one...
I wanted the largest and finest one possible.
I carefully scanned the pile.
Then spotted a perfect candidate.
At the center...
A huge, majestic Dragonblood Stone shone brilliantly.
Nice.
I was about to approach it.
Tap. Tap.
Something touched my calf.
“Hm?”
I looked down.
The helpful stalker puppy that had bitten the Salamander’s nose...
Was wagging its tail.
Then it spat something onto the ground in front of me.
“What?”
I picked it up.
“Did you choose this for me?”
It was a small gray stone.
Its color was cloudy.
Compared to the magnificent Dragonblood Stone I had just chosen...
It looked tiny and miserable.
But...
Something about it felt strange.
There was an indescribable energy inside.
Could it be...?
And this wasn’t just any random animal.
A highly intelligent baby Divine Beast had personally chosen this rock.
“BARBARIAN!”
[Skill ‘Peeking’ activated.]
==========
【Target Information】
• Name: Primordial Dragonblood Stone
• Classification: Legendary Item
【Details】
• The root and origin of all Dragonblood Stones, containing the very source of the boiling earth.
• Dragonblood Stones grow in places where the Primordial Dragonblood Stone exists.
※ A Fire Chili Pepper seed is embedded within the core of this Dragonblood Stone.
==========
“...Gasp!”
My eyes almost popped out.
J-J-Jackpot.
No...
Chili pepper jackpot!
A chili pepper?!
I came here for a Dragonblood Stone...
And it has a chili pepper seed inside?!
Pant. Pant.
The black Divine Beast stood beside my feet.
Its tongue hung out happily.
Its tail wagged.
At the entrance of the Western Volcano Tribe village.
BWOOOOOO!
A horn rang.
“The warriors of the Rock Tribe have returned!”
The guards shouted.
“The children of Rock have passed the trial of the Ancestor Spirit!”
The quiet Volcano Tribe village erupted.
Burta had been anxiously waiting in the village center.
The instant he heard the announcement...
He ran toward the entrance.
Dust flew behind him.
“Zakan! Izak!”
He saw us approaching.
Not even a strand of hair had been singed by the fierce Flames of the Volcano.
Burta’s eyes became wet.
Despite how he looked...
This guy was surprisingly softhearted.
“Oh... Ancestor Spirits, thank you.”
Burta pulled us into a powerful hug.
“I’m truly glad you returned alive!”
Then he turned toward his tribespeople.
His voice boomed proudly.
“Look, warriors of the Volcano!”
He raised a fist.
“My eyes were not wrong!”
Then he pointed toward us.
“The warriors who saved my life are great warriors who even conquered the Flames of the Volcano!”
“WOOOOOOOO!”
“BARBARIAN!”
The Volcano Tribe’s cheers shook the village.
Then...
“M-Move...!”
Someone gasped.
“Haa... Haa...”
Three figures appeared at the village entrance.
They looked like defeated soldiers who had barely escaped a massacre.
They didn’t die?
Karga.
The second-in-command who had been laughing confidently at us.
And his two subordinates.
They looked terrible.
Serves you right.
Half of Karga’s proud red hair had burned away from the Flame-Horn Salamander’s fire.
Their clothes were torn apart.
Their bodies were covered in burns and injuries.
They must have fought desperately against the monster inside the cave.
Burta stared.
“Karga... What happened to you?”
Everyone’s attention moved toward them.
Karga saw us standing completely unharmed while being celebrated.
His eyes turned red with rage.
Then he screamed,
“Do not be fooled, brothers!”
His teeth ground together.
“Those demon-like Rock Tribe brats are filthy cheaters who disgraced the pride of the Volcano Tribe!”
Karga shouted as if coughing blood.
“Those cowards used a dirty trick to awaken a forbidden monster that had been sleeping!”
He pointed toward us.
“They made that insane Salamander ambush us from behind!”
His expression twisted with rage.
“We were about to reach the Dragonblood Stone first and return!”
Then he shouted,
“They stole our treasure and ran away!”
The performance was impressive.
His screams sounded genuinely wronged.
And...
Considering how badly burned and injured they looked...
The Volcano Tribe warriors began murmuring.
“They used a trick like that?”
“Something is suspicious.”
“Karga wouldn’t have been injured that badly otherwise.”
The crowd became unsettled.
Burta listened to Karga’s nonsense with a hard expression.
Then sighed.
He shook his head.
“...Karga.”
His voice was cold.
“Your cheap tongue is now trying to deceive even the Flames of the Volcano.”
Burta glared.
“Your words are lies.”
Karga froze.
“W-What are you saying, Burta?!”
He shouted.
“Why are you protecting outsiders over me, the second-in-command of the tribe?!”
Then his eyes narrowed.
“Tell us the truth!”
Karga pointed at Burta.
