The Rising Star of Ira Village

"Alternatively, we could all take turns transporting the debris to the wasteland, moving a little each day. It should be finished within a month or so."

"Ah, we have no other choice."

"Damn we are truly unfortunate to be burdened with such a task in this sweltering heat..."

Tyler patiently waited for the villagers to finish speaking before seizing the opportunity to step forward.

"Esteemed elders, do you not plan to utilize these precious charcoals?"

The newcomer's inquiry caught the attention of the villagers.

"Charcoal? What is that?"

"Yes, what is this 'charcoal' you speak of, Banning?"

The villagers reacted as Tyler anticipated; in this underdeveloped village, no one was familiar with the concept of charcoal. Consequently, Tyler picked up a piece of charred "wood" from the ruins and displayed it to the villagers. He explained that charcoal, a dark brown or black porous solid material, is produced when wood undergoes incomplete combustion or pyrolysis in an oxygen-deprived environment, making it an excellent fuel source.

"Incomplete combustion?"

"Pyrolysis?"

The villagers were perplexed, and some immediately stepped forward to challenge Tyler.

"Hey hey hey, young man, are you joking with us? What use could that rubbish have? Stop trying to deceive us!"

"Indeed! How can something already burnt be used as fuel? I have never heard of such a thing in all my trips to town!"

Amidst the skepticism, Tyler refrained from providing further explanation. Noticing the absence of wind, he gathered a few high-quality charcoals nearby.

"Would any kind-hearted uncle, auntie, brother, or sister be willing to help me light a fire?"

As Tyler surveyed the area, the villagers hesitated. At that moment, the village chief, Woodall, emerged from the crowd.

"I'll help you light the fire!"

Woodall, an experienced hunter, always carried flint with him. Seeing the village chief's assistance, the other villagers temporarily ceased their doubts. Some nearby villagers even volunteered to bring dry firewood, a testament to the goodwill Tyler had earned by helping out around the village.

Tyler gathered stones to form a circle, placed the charcoals inside, and laid the dry firewood on top before setting it alight. The fire quickly roared to life, producing thick smoke that forced the villagers to step back. However, everyone knew that the firewood was burning now, and they would have to wait until it was entirely consumed to determine the truth of Banning's claims. If the so-called "charcoal" failed to burn in the end, Banning would become a laughingstock, exposed as a mere attention-seeker.

However, Tyler remained utterly unperturbed, believing that the villagers had failed to discover the utility of charcoal for two reasons: its unappealing blackness and its difficulty in igniting compared to dry firewood. Additionally, the village's isolation and lack of information access rendered their ignorance unsurprising.

Before long, the firewood had burnt away entirely, leaving neither flames nor smoke. It appeared as if the fire had been extinguished.

"Hey, hasn't the fire gone out?"

"Indeed! We haven't seen a single spark!"

"Banning, just admit it – you've been deceiving us all along!"

The villagers who had previously doubted Tyler began to clamor once more. Unruffled, Tyler gestured for them to come closer and feel for themselves. As they approached, they saw that although the flames had vanished, the once-black charcoal now faintly glowed red and emitted a constant wave of heat. A few bold villagers touched the charcoal, only to be scorched and yelp in pain.

"Listen, everyone," Tyler explained, "when charcoal ignites, it doesn't produce flames like dry firewood. Nonetheless, this flameless combustion generates a sustained high temperature that lasts longer than an equivalent weight of wood and produces no smoke or choking fumes. It's convenient for both heating and cooking."

Upon hearing Tyler's explanation, the villagers marveled, and mischievous children occasionally stretched out their hands to feel the heat from the charcoal, only to be caught and scolded by their parents. Having witnessed the wonders of charcoal firsthand, the villagers now praised Banning, grateful for his guidance. Even those who had initially doubted him apologized and made amends.

Subsequently, under the village chief's organization and Tyler's instruction, the enthusiastic villagers dismantled the fire-damaged houses and collected the usable charcoal. The village chief inquired about Tyler's mentioned barbecue method, asking whether it was similar to the way he had roasted rabbit meat over firewood while hunting in the mountains.

Tyler briefly described the charcoal grilling method, which the village chief eagerly embraced. He then gathered the villagers on an open ground and announced a grand barbecue event that very evening.

Nothing motivates people more than food, and with Chief Woodall's call to action, the entire Ira village set out to learn the art of grilling.

Tyler first taught a few sharp and agile young men who then dispersed to instruct more villagers. Before long, everyone was immersed in grilling.

Typically, barbecues focus on meat dishes, but Ira Village's productivity levels couldn't support such a feast. Instead, Tyler taught the villagers how to grill vegetables like eggplants, potatoes, green peppers, and corn, which were equally delicious when grilled. Unfortunately, the village lacked sufficient supplies to create classic sauces like garlic paste, which would have further elevated the flavors.

As the barbecue atmosphere intensified, Chief Woodall climbed onto a table and rallied the crowd.

"Everyone, listen up! We're hosting this barbecue for three reasons!"

"First, to commemorate our fellow villagers who perished in the fire, may they rest in peace!"

"Second, to celebrate our survival in the face of disaster!"

"Third, to welcome the newest addition to our village, Banning!"

The villagers applauded and cheered, especially when Tyler was mentioned. After graciously greeting everyone from the (makeshift) stage, Tyler descended and became the center of attention, with villagers flocking to introduce themselves and befriend him.

Amidst the throng, Avril was also present.

Avril attempted to approach Tyler several times but was consistently pushed away by the crowd. After multiple unsuccessful attempts, she sighed in resignation, watching the throngs of people surrounding Tyler, and silently turned to leave.

At noon, Tyler had been a feeble figure on the verge of death, yet now he had swiftly become the most sought-after newcomer in Ira Village. Avril struggled to accept this striking contrast, feeling as if a dear friend had suddenly transformed into an unattainable dignitary. However, her relationship with Tyler was far from the closeness of a best friend; they had only just met earlier that day.

(Why do I care so much about him... He's just a newcomer who arrived in the village today... Sigh...)

What Avril didn't realize was that Tyler had spotted her amidst the crowd early on and had deliberately prevented her from getting close enough to speak with him.