American: Native Empire

Chapter 5: The Great First Step

Chapter 5 < The Great First Step. >

You are truly Chief Spirit. I, the chief of ceremonies, thank you on behalf of all the warriors for bestowing the wisdom of the spirit world upon our tribe.

Ha ha. What are you talking about?

What do you mean?

I am also a member of the Creek tribe. Its only natural that I share our knowledge with our family.

Oh!

Thats right! We and Chief Spirit are family! Ha ha ha!

The noise grew louder as Kim Ki-woo finished speaking.

It had been a little over a year now. Kim Ki-woo had established a solid foundation to change the tribe. 

From the perspective of the tribesmen, everything he did was amazing.

He sent down a new animal from the spirit world (chicken), and incorporated new crops into the children of the sacred earth.

And now he made cotton fabrics and used a substance called iron

So it was no wonder that Kim Ki-woos followers increased day by day. Now there were warriors who followed his name blindly, not just trusting him.

Ive been living busy.

It was a time when he ran breathlessly. A schedule without a single day off.

He learned the language and taught farming. He also laid the groundwork for weaving and spinning, collected scrap iron, and produced iron through a furnace.

As soon as it was produced, he refined it and made various iron products such as hammers, pickaxes, hoes, sickles, arrowheads, spearheads, knives, etc.

As a result, he created basic-level blacksmiths, cotton craftsmen, and carpenters. 

Their level was still very low, but Kim Ki-woo had made them understand the concepts well enough, so they would improve over time.

They were the talents who would help him make many things in the future.

Im getting tired.

He looked back on what he had done so far and felt like he wanted to rest for a few days.

But Kim Ki-woo decided that it wasnt time to rest yet. He could rest enough after he had a solid foundation. Of course, he didnt know when that would be.

He couldnt be satisfied with making worthless wrought iron from scrap iron.

He sorted out his thoughts and opened his mouth as he looked around.

I have a reason for calling this meeting today.

What is it? We will listen to whatever you say, Chief Spirit.

Ha ha. You dont have to look so determined.

Maybe it was because of his position as the one in charge of the tribes rituals?

The chief of ceremonies reverence for Kim Ki-woo was going beyond the limit. Kim Ki-woo also noticed his state to some extent.

Blind faith.

That is, the chief of ceremonies would not betray him unless something serious happened.

Im going to big mountain.

Ooh, finally hunting!

A sacred hunt by the spirit! I will join too!

Please take me with you! I will fight until Im bloody!

Big mountain. That is, he was going to the Appalachian Mountains. He didnt even say why.

But the warriors were already excited.

Hunting.

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Kim Ki-woo had no intention of going hunting himself unless it was a big deal.

He wasnt afraid of hunting. But he must never die.

He was a special being. 

He had a mission to save humanity by advancing civilization, not an overblown sense of self.

If Kim Ki-woo died without accomplishing anything, humanitys extinction in the 21st century would repeat itself.

Thats why he had always been careful about safety, and he would continue to do so.

Kim Ki-woo opened his mouth to calm down the atmosphere before it got too heated.

Im not going to the big mountain for hunting.

Then why?

To get iron.

Iron you say?

Smart Head tilted his head. He already had iron. Even at this moment, warriors would be collecting scrap iron.

Far away, smoke was rising from the furnace.

But why did he have to go all the way to the big mountain to get iron?

He didnt say it, but most of the warriors who attended the meeting also had the same question.

Scrap iron is hard to get and not very good iron.

Do you mean that there is a place where we can get better iron in large quantities at the foot of the mountain?

You live up to your name.

Ha ha ha! You flatter me.

Smart Head was very pleased with Kim Ki-woos compliment.

The greatest praise for natives was expressions like you live up to your name. Most of the warriors had a strong pride in their names.

As you guessed, there is a place where we can get iron ore at the foot of the mountain. Thats what we can get with this.

Kim Ki-woo showed him a pickaxe. Only then did Smart Head understand why Kim Ki-woo had brought a pickaxe to the meeting hall.

Then

Thats right. We have to dig up a specific part of the mountain with a pickaxe to get iron ore. Thats why we have to go there.

The warriors who came to the meeting nodded in agreement. 

They all knew the usefulness of iron, and they believed that Kim Ki-woo would not do anything pointless.

I understand, but do you have to go there yourself?

Warrior Fierce Buffalo asked. Kim Ki-woo had a lot of things to do right now. If Chief Spirit left his seat, many tasks would be disrupted.

Fierce Buffalo was worried about this.

But Kim Ki-woo dismissed his concern with a single sentence.

Is there anyone here who can develop a mine without me?

Fierce Buffalo closed his mouth.

There couldnt be.

Most of the warriors didnt even understand the concept of mining.

Kim Ki-woo paused for a moment and then continued.

I have to go there myself. And with me

Ill go!

Please take me with you!

Bloody wants to

Before he finished speaking, the warriors shouted again that they would go with him.

It didnt matter to them whether they went hunting or mining.

Only that they were going on an expedition to the big mountain with their Chief Spirit, the sacred spirit.

That condition alone made the reason for the expedition secondary to them.

Choosing who will go with me is not my responsibility. Chief of Hunting, you choose.

I understand.

Chief of Hunting, Swiftfoot, answered briefly.

He was a very taciturn man. He rarely spoke, and when he did, he only gave brief answers to the point.

He was tall and had a body that ranked among the best in the tribe.

Yet, his name was Swiftfoot.

He was the number one expert in hunting and trapping in the tribe.

He was the one they could trust to ensure their safety until they reached the Appalachian Mountains.

The meeting was about to end soon. But Kim Ki-woo did not want to end the tribal meeting like this today.

It was a journey to produce iron on a large scale! It was a momentous step that would leave a lasting mark on history.

As he thought so, Kim Ki-woos chest burned with passion. He decided to give himself over to his intense emotions for a moment.

Until now, the Creek tribe has been a humble tribe that barely survived in a small corner of this vast continent.

As Kim Ki-woo began to speak in an ominous tone, the warriors eyes focused on him.

But since I came here, the life of the Creek tribe has changed a lot in a short time. Isnt that right?

You are right, Spirit Chief!

We are always grateful to you, Spirit Chief!

Especially the young warriors responded enthusiastically.

We have certainly made a lot of progress, but I am not satisfied. I dont want the Creek tribe to be remembered as just one of the many tribes on this wide continent. Am I the only one who thinks this way? Are you all content with the present?

Huh!

Hmm

The warriors expressed their own feelings after hearing Kim Ki-woos grand ambition. At least there was no warrior who showed dissatisfaction.

Those who are satisfied with the current situation should reflect on themselves. Dont we have to give a gift of the glorious history of the Creek tribe to our sons and daughters who will be born in the future and run on the sacred land?

Yes!

Ooh, glorious Creek! Just thinking about it!

Kim Ki-woo did not stop their heated emotions. When he thought they were ripe enough, he blinked his eyes and shouted.

The expedition to the great mountain will be recorded as the first step of the glorious Creek tribe! We will be the only ones on this sacred land, on this vast continent

Kim Ki-woo paused for a moment and looked at each warrior. The sound of swallowing saliva sounded like thunder in the tense atmosphere.

When he judged that they were ripe enough, Kim Ki-woo declared.

The only Winners.

His voice was not very loud, but it echoed in the meeting hall for a long time. All the warriors felt that way.

Woah

!

Winner.

As soon as that word popped out, the tribal meeting hall was silent for a moment.

Then.

Woo! Woo! Woo!

Woo! Woo! Woo!

Thump, thump, thump!

Without knowing who started it first, they began to stamp their feet and shout in unison with the warriors.

Kim Ki-woo also clenched his fists and joined them.

Follow me. The sacred land will grant our tribe eternal glory!

Woo! Woo! Woo!

When he looked back on the past, Kim Ki-woo thought it was from this day.

The time when he became the de facto leader of the Creek tribe.

*

The Appalachian Mountains were very large. It only took a day and a half to walk from the center of the Creek tribe to the mountains.

Lets get going.

Yes!

At Kim Ki-woos word, a group of warriors who were considered the best in the Creek tribe moved in an orderly manner.

A group of nearly two hundred.

The Creek tribe had a population of between 20,000 and 25,000 people spread widely along the Chattahoochee River. It was small compared to the major tribes of North America.

He had brought only the most outstanding warriors among them. It was quite a burden on the tribe.

So they were eating the food of other small tribes by force along the way.

Im sorry for them, but it cant be helped.

They couldnt resist 200 warriors who came with weapons made of iron from a tribe of only a few hundred people.

Kim Ki-woo was generous enough to take only a moderate amount of food.

The group left the village and walked for a while. 

Fortunately, it seemed that the last village was the last one, and the mountains were getting closer.

And near the mountains, they finally found a suitable place to build a village.

Attention everyone!

At Kim Ki-woos shout, the warriors who were rejoicing at their arrival quieted down at once.

Kim Ki-woo did not hesitate and continued.

We will build a sturdy village here. To get better iron than what we are producing now, we have to live in this village for a long time. If you dont want to suffer later, you have to build it strong from the start, right?

Yes!

I wont say much. I hope you all follow my instructions faithfully.

Yes!

Understood!

The hot air emitted by 200 warriors swept through the empty space. At this moment, they were not envious of the 300 Spartan warriors in the movie 300 at all.

From then on, Kim Ki-woo led the warriors passionately.

He ordered some warriors to bring wood with iron axes, and others to explore for iron ore in the mountains. The rest laid the basic foundation of the village.

A week later.

The village was completed. It was a village that had clearly divided zones, albeit basic ones.

Of course, how sturdy could houses made of wood and dirt be?

Lets make bricks and cement soon.

Kim Ki-woo vowed as he looked around the village.

Bricks and cement. Everything would start to change when they were produced properly.

Cement was abundant in these mountains. He knew how to make it too. That meant it was only a matter of time.

But he couldnt do it right away. He didnt have enough labor to do that.

Chief Spirit!

When Kim Ki-woo had almost finished looking around the village.

Big Rock came running with something in his hands.

< The Great First Step > End