Chapter 27: Vivani? Vivani! (2)

“So you’re saying it just kept getting harder all along?”

After hearing Bobby’s story, Suho asked.

“We only eat Ironwood over there, but one day, the Ironwood suddenly became very hard. Look at that dam over there. It’s rotted and its color darkened a bit, but originally, Ironwood looks like that.”

Bobby pointed to the tree that build the dam.

It had turned dark after absorbing water, but its color was still that of a normal tree.

“But it changed like that.”

Then he pointed to the bushes lining the riverbank.

They were all covered with pitch-black, glossy trees.

“All that black forest by the riverbank is all Ironwood?”

“That’s right. The color got much darker than before. And since then, it got really hard.”

“So, you can’t digest it?”

“No, that’s not it. We can digest it if we swallow it, but we can’t wrap it with our teeth. Since we can’t cut it, we can’t eat it.”

As he spoke, Bobby opened his mouth.

One of his two long front teeth was broken in the middle.

‘So all I have to do is cut it down, right?’

Suho started to think of a solution.

Just as he expected, a message popped up.

[Dimensional Mission [Must Eat to Survive] acquired.]

Suho quickly checked the mission details.

[Must Eat to Survive]

• One day, Bobby’s staple food, Ironwood, became extremely hard. Prepare a way to cut the Ironwood and save Bobby and his kind from starvation.
• Reward: Bobby’s Satisfaction. Bobby’s Reward.

‘Bobby’s Reward!’

Suho’s eyes brightened at the mention of a reward.

‘Whenever a reward was mentioned, what I recieved was Fire Flower Water, right?’

When the Dimensional Mission reward ‘Tarunga’s Reward’ appeared, Suho had gained Fire Flower Water.

Thanks to that, he developed resistance to poison and fire.

That became the source of Suho’s power.

‘I have to succeed no matter what.’

Suho vowed to complete the mission.

Maybe it was his determination, but suddenly, a thought popped into his head.

“Bobby, I’m going to try cutting that Ironwood.”

“You think you can? It’s really hard.”

“Just let me try once. Wait a moment.”

Suho searched his desk for scissors.

He was going to try again what he had done in the Dwarf Village.

Meanwhile, Bobby sent the young Vivanis into the water.

“It’s ready now. Go ahead.”

Suho brought the scissors close to the slender Ironwood branch.

He tightened his grip on the scissors.

But the scissors hardly moved.

Snap!

Suho squeezed his hand even more.

Ping—

The scissor blade snapped.

“Damn…”

“Guess it really won’t work? We’re doomed then.”

Bobby’s tail dropped limply to the ground.

Seeing this, Suho quickly spoke.

“There are other methods. Just wait a moment.”

Suho drew out the Flame Thorn Magic Sword.

“Woah! A red blade! It looks sharp!”

“I’m going to try cutting with this.”

The Flame Thorn Magic Sword had Intermediate Severance Enhancement attached and a durability of 450.

This might work.

Suho swung the sword toward the Ironwood.

The moment the blade touched the wood—

Kiiiiiing!

“Ah! My ears! My ears hurt!”

Bobby screamed and fell into the water.

Suho frowned.

‘This is several times worse than a chalkboard squeak.’

Suho didn’t give up.

Though the resistance was strong, he felt the blade gradually carving into the wood.

Is it cutting?

After several saw-like motions, the branch finally got cut off.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Suho sheathed the Flame Thorn Magic Sword.

“Bobby! Come out! It’s all done.”

Plop.

After a few calls, Bobby climbed out of the water.

“You serious? Is everything ruined now?”

“No, look. It’s cut.”

“Wow! Really! It’s really cut Ironwood!”

“Um, can you pass me that piece? I’ll just push it toward me like I’m throwing it.”

“Got it! Wait!”

Feeling hopeful, Bobby quickly handed the piece to Suho.

Soon, a branch as thick as a forearm appeared before Suho.

“This is crazy. This is wood?”

After reading the description of Ironwood, Suho’s voice burst out in shock.

***

Kkam- kkam-

Ttung- ttung- ttung-

The Dwarves were repairing the broken Barrier Wall.

Dalkong, the chief of the Light Hide Tribe Dwarves, watched the scene silently.

“The Barrier Wall…”

Due to the last Monster Invasion, Dalkong was certain.

This place was the world’s last safe haven.

That was why seeing the repairing Barrier Wall was unsettling.

“It’s not enough. This place alone is too cramped for everyone.”

The Village was built to accommodate 2,000 members of the Red Hammer Tribe.

That made it too small to include the Light Hide Tribe as well.

“Dalkong, why do you look so serious?”

Tarunga approached quietly.

Dalkong didn’t hide his inner thoughts.

“Just this place alone can’t fit the Light Hide Tribe too. It’s too cramped.”

“Hmm. Our tribe isn’t all here yet, so there’s still some room. Let’s live together until then and figure out another way.”

Tarunga, who had been silent, urged Dalkong.

But Dalkong’s anxiety didn’t ease easily.

“After seeing the ogres, I realized we can’t hold with an ordinary Barrier Wall. That broken part was made from materials given by the Giant, right? Even so, it got destroyed. But right now, we don’t even have those materials. All we have are logs. That won’t do.”

“It might take some time, but the Giant said he’d try to get more Rapid-Hardening Cement. So don’t rush your thoughts. Last time, we hurriedly poured cement on the wooden structure. If done properly, it’ll be much sturdier.”

After a moment of silence, Dalkong finally spoke.

“The problem is that the Monsters aren’t finished.”

“…The Magic Beasts?”

“Yeah, Magic Beasts. They’re spreading all over the world below that mountain. If they take over the area down there completely, where will we go next?”

Though he didn’t answer, Tarunga knew too.

Magic Beasts increase their numbers.

They kill people mercilessly, ending their lives.

So the moment they realize people are here, the Magic Beasts will surely attack.

But despite such grim thoughts, Tarunga wasn’t afraid.

“I’m an old man. I haven’t been afraid for a long time.”

Dragon, ogres.

Even Magic Beasts, he said.

Why do you think that is?

“Ahh….”

At Tarunga’s added words, Dalkong burst out laughing.

“So believe me too. The Village is too small? We lack materials to build the Barrier Wall? Don’t worry. All we can do is do our best.”

Dalkong’s expression lightened a little.

Tarunga patted Dalkong on the shoulder.

And at that moment—

“Tarunga-nim! Dalkong-nim! If you’re not busy, please come see this!”

The Giant’s voice was heard.

“Lets go see for it ourselves. Haha.”

Tarunga ran toward a spot in the Village where the air shimmered.

Dalkong hurried after him.

[Ironwood]

• Extremely hard Ironwood has absorbed various substances and evolved stronger. Despite being a plant, it has hardness and toughness surpassing ores. Its brittleness makes it difficult to process and unsuitable as equipment material.
• Material Item
• Item Grade: Rare
• [Intermediate Durability Increase]
• Durability: 999

“Ha ha, this is truly an amazing branch, Giant-nim.”

“This hardness is unimaginable for a plant.”

Tarunga and Dalkong were amazed as they received the branch.

Suho completely agreed with them.

“I was surprised too. It really was hard.”

“But why did you show this to us?”

“Can you make a tool that can cut this?”

“A tool? What kind do you want?”

Tarunga didn’t look like he thought it impossible.

Feeling hopeful, Suho explained once more.

“Please look into that as well.”

Soon, a few small branch fragments fell at Tarunga’s feet.

Tarunga picked one up.

“This isn’t Ironwood. It’s just an ordinary branch fragment.”

“There’s some bite marks here. Looks like a pack mule bit it.”

Tarunga and Dalkong looked at the fragment.

“That’s right. Those are bite marks. What I want to ask is… dentures. Dentures that fit those bite marks exactly.”

“Dentures?”

“Yes. Dentures that are strong enough to bite through Ironwood.”

After a moment of thought, Tarunga replied.

“It’s possible. If we mix some materials with steel, it should be doable. But who’s going to wear them?”

“It’s Vivani, squirrel-like friends. They need dentures so they can bite through Ironwood.”

Then Dalkong spoke.

“Rather than making the worn parts metal, it’s better to overlay specially processed skin. Let me help with that.”

They had fun coordinating armor before, hadn’t they?

No reason not to.

“If Dalkong-nim cooperates, I’m grateful.”

Suho happily agreed.

But then, Dalkong cautiously added.

“Judging from the size of the Ironwood branch, it must originally have been much bigger, right?”

“Yes, several times taller than you, Dalkong-nim.”

“If it’s possible, could we get some of that Ironwood? Our tribe needs to expand the Barrier Wall to make space, but we have no suitable materials.”

At that moment, an idea flashed in Suho’s mind.

‘Maybe I can get another Dimensional Mission?’

As if to confirm Suho’s thought, a message appeared.

[Dimensional Mission [Procure Wall Materials] acquired.]

Suho hurriedly checked the mission.

[Procure Wall Materials]

• With the Light Hide Tribe joining, the Dwarf Village is too cramped. Expanding the Barrier Wall is the solution. However, there are no suitable materials nearby for the Barrier Wall. Supply the Dwarves with sturdy and durable materials.
• Reward: Light Hide Tribe Satisfaction.

A smile appeared on Suho’s face as he read the mission.

“I’ll try to get some. Please wait a bit.”

“Thank you. It’s not an easy task, but you’re so willing…”

“It’s fine. Then please take good care of the dentures.”

Suho smiled pleasantly as he spoke.

***

Kiiiiiing—

“Ugh, really.”

Kiiiiiing—

“Ugh…”

Kiiiiiing—

“Last one.”

Kiiiiiing—

“Okay. Done.”

Suho sheathed the Flame Thorn Magic Sword.

The Ironwood fragments, cut to sizes that could fit into Vivani’s mouths, were stacked on the riverbank.

“That sound really never gets less annoying, no matter how many times you hear it.”

[Flame Strike] made cutting a bit easier.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to chop the Ironwood like this.

Phew!

As Suho caught his breath, a voice came from the river.

“Suho! Suho! Is it all done?”

“Yeah, it’s done. Take it and feed the little ones.”

“Woah—! Thank you! I will definitely repay this favor!”

Bobby slipped back into the water.

A little later—

Plop— popopopop— plop—

Ten round heads lined up and appeared on the surface.

“Woah—food!”

“It’ll be delicious!”

“I’m going to eat two!”

“Suho cut it for us! Good Vivanis always say thanks before eating!”

At Bobby’s shout, the baby Vivanis all hurriedly greeted him.

“Thank you, Suho-uncle!”

“Thanks for cutting the wood!”

“I’ll eat well! You’re the best, uncle!”

The pain in Suho’s ears from cutting suddenly felt like it was healing.

Watching the Vivanis eat with uneasy expressions, Suho fell into thought.

‘As expected, the mission won’t be completed like this.’

Cutting the Ironwood by hand was only a stopgap.

‘The dentures really need to be finished soon.’

Just as Suho thought this, a voice came from behind.

“Giant-nim! Giant-nim!!”

It was Tarunga’s voice.

“Finally.”

Suho hurried toward the freezer.

It was time to fit new teeth for Vivani.