Chapter 13: Exchanging

After skinning the corpses, Dux hung the skin on a tree branch. Next, he used his axe to cut some branches that he could use as sticks to puncture the animal meat.

After cutting some branches, Dux began to shape the branches into sharp sticks. He easily finished such a task and began to cook the meat.

Dux was rather uncomfortable with Hnung's gaze. But he decided to ignore such an intense observing gaze and focus on the meat.

…

"Hah"

Cedric was stretching his body, he finished the hidden mission of saving Dux. Now he had two hidden missions to complete, some missions though would take some time for him just to complete.

After eating the meal that Dux made, Cedric decided to leave the game to get some sleep in the real world whilst the system took over the wolf's body.

"I still have work tomorrow…"

Cedric hummed himself to sleep. He had a job to start tomorrow and he had; already spent 12 hours inside the game.

Soon morning came. Cedric got ready, he put on some cologne and wore a black t-shirt with grey skulls as its design and a pair of jeans. After getting dressed up, he ate his breakfast consisting of eggs and bacon.

The smell of the meat cooking filled his nostrils, Cedric hadn't had a nice breakfast in a while due to some financial problems.

After eating, Cedric brushed his teeth and put on his clothes. But before leaving, he visited the system's room. He sighed in relief, his creation was alive and well.

He was worried about their safety since Cedric was too busy completing the hidden mission of saving Dux. The Beastmen were rather still in their grief stages, Fortis and Celer has been the ones hunting whilst Lenta was being examined by Callidus due to her 'illness'

"Guess the effects of pregnancy are taking a toll on her."

Callidus was rather busy all the time, he was busy experimenting with many plants he found around the area. He also began researching Lenta's condition.

Whilst Lenta had a hard time moving, her stomach wasn't that big and was still in the beginning faces, but she already developed problems a woman has in her full term.

Such as her having trouble walking or moving, and having morning sickness unlike much more intense than other pregnant women.

Everyone in the small tribe is trying their best to take and protect each other after Dux's presumed death. Callidus, Fortis, and Celer also made a fence. It was just sticks with sharp edges put around their homes. Celer and Fortis also began to train even harder.

Since Cedric paused the mermaid race, the system began to fully take care of the Beastmen race. Moving on, Cedric glanced at Dux and Hnung. Dux's clothes has dried and he was wearing his gear.

Not only that Dux would even train by the lake, It's already been two days in their world. But there was a scenario that made Cedric curious.

In these two days, the two of them began to fight each other after seeing the small time-lapse of their time in two days. Dux attacked Hnung first, he wasn't over the whole incident yet.

And of course with the sheer amount of difference between their strengths and build Dux lost. But this didn't hurt Dux's ego at all, instead, he became even more determined to win in a fight between them.

Dux started to train hard, he would practice punching trees and using his axe, and even running around the lake for many laps.

Currently, they were both fighting.

Dux had better flexibility than Hnung, as such Dux would use his legs to fight as well. They weren't holding any weapons and were just fighting with their fists.

And unlike the first time, Dux was slowly having an advantage over Hnung, it looks like Dux has managed to understand and learn Hung's fighting patterns.

Dux also hit some parts of the body such as vital nerves at Hnung which immediately brings Hnung to groan in pain. But even so, Dux was still beaten.

But what also piqued Cedric's curiosity is the system that is in the guise of Lux or Orcus would send messages to Dux and Hnung.

After checking that everything was fine. Cedric left the systems room to go on to his job.

"It's already 8, I'm gone be late!"

Meanwhile in the game world.

[You have done well, rest up and continue your training after your stamina is filled up.]

"Yes, my goddess."

Dux who had a hard time breathing, wiped the sweat off his head. He still had that angry and dislike eyes pierced at Hnung. Dux began to rest up near the lake.

[You still lack proper fighting techniques Hnung. The beastman is slowly analyzing and learning your attack pattern. I suggest that you change your Attack pattern and practice more in using your body.]

"Yes, my god."

Hnung glanced one more time at Dux who was resting beside the lake. This all started yesterday after they finished eating. Dux attacked him out of nowhere, and Hnung fought out of self-defense.

He thought by beating Dux, he would stop, but it started from there onwards. Dux would ask him for a fight, and currently, it's 2-0. 2 is Hnung whilst the 0 wins is Dux.

Hnung who was beside the bonfire Dux made was cooking some fish he caught in the lake. Hnung wanted him and Dux to leave the animosity and dreadful past behind and start a friendship or even a bond.

He was thinking about the future of his tribe due to his actions. Hnung could see that Dux was talented, as the champion of his tribe Hnung knew that some are blessed in fighting.

He could see such a blessing gifted to Dux. Hnung was worried that Dux who had hatred for him, would develop to hate his race as well.

Hnung wanted to avoid a conflict between the two of them, since not only were their God acquaintances, but Hnung saw that their gods were friends as such they should also be friends.

Hnung grabbed the fish he had cooked. The fish on his hands were small, Hnung handed the fish to Dux who was throwing pebbles on the lake.

"Here…"

Dux glanced at the Fish that Hnung was holding out. The goddess told him to be on his best behavior and even try to befriend Hnung, Dux who considers his god's words absolute took the fish from Hnung's hand. Taking a bite, Dux could taste some salty flavor in it.

"What did you add to it?"

"Oh, you meant the salty flavor?"

"Yes.."

It was the first time Dux had tasted such flavor. It also goes well with the fish.

"It's called salt. My tribe makes it, mostly the females since they were skilled in catching fish. I learned from one of the females in our tribe, for my tribe we put salt in many of our foods. It adds to the flavor, what do you think? Doesn't the fish taste even yummier than before?"

Dux nodded his head. It was the first time he tasted such flavor. Usually, the food they eat were bland, even the fish. This was the first time he tasted this burst of flavor.

Dux knew that if he learned how to make salt, then he can also teach it to the others in his tribe. He was thinking of the fact that salt will amaze everyone's taste buds.

"Can you teach me how to make the salt?"

"Sure it's relatively easy. But on one condition.."

"Condition? What kind of condition is it?"

"Umm, you also have to teach me how to make a fire.."

Dux glanced at Hnung one more time. For Dux and his tribe creating a fire was relatively easy as such he was quite baffled by the condition of Hnung.

"Anything else?"

"Yes, I would like you to teach me how to make a weapon! And that thing you did with the animal skin!"

"You don't know how to build a fire? A weapon? And you don't know how to Tan?"

"Y-Yes...My tribe has been facing that issue about the fire. My tribe does not know how to create one, that's why we eat our prey raw, though sometimes we can cook the meat if one of us accidentally creates one."

"The weapons, that one you used, you called it an axe. It's sharp and can even cut trees as well, it will be useful for my tribe. We don't have such sharp weapons, instead, we use trees or boulders as our weapons…And tanning? That thing you did with the skin of the animal to use it as clothing? No, we don't possess such knowledge."

"My tribe has been having trouble sleeping at night due to the extreme cold. Wearing clothes such as that will keep us warm.."

"Oh…"

Dux never really thought of the Ogre's tribe. He never knew how much they were lacking in many aspects. It even made Dux feel sympathy.

"I'll gladly teach you then... But you must promise to teach me how to create salt.."

"Of course, I'll gladly do so!"

Dux saw how happy Hnung was. This also made him smile.

"Your teaching will be very useful for my tribe.."

'Maybe we aren't so different after all..'

"How about we get started right now?"

'Maybe, just, maybe he isn't that bad? I can see clearly that he thinks a lot of his tribe. Guess that's the same between us.'

'I miss everyone, Hnung must also miss his tribe. Maybe I was wrong about him? Maybe something happened at that time to cause him to rampage like that…'