"BOOM!!"
With a violent explosion that shot into the sky, the entire Sargon rainforest seemed to tremble.
This earth-shattering explosion was exceptionally clear in the dead of night.
Many members of the [Eunectes Tribe] who were already asleep were scared out of their beds by the blast, rolling onto the floor, blankets and all. Some shot up and hit the ceiling. Some Fidia men who were still awake, hoping to relax with their wives and explore some biological mysteries, had just gotten into a good "state" when the loud explosion scared them into a state of permanent flaccidity.
It's her again!!!
At this moment.
One figure appeared in the minds of everyone in the tribe.
"Zumama!! *Tribal Profanity*, what are you doing up so late at night!!!"
Although this had become a regular occurrence.
Everyone still couldn't stand this girl who was so out of step with the entire tribe, even though her strength was indeed formidable...
This was a rainforest in Sargon, far from the jurisdiction of the empire.
Completely different from modern cities.
This primitive rainforest was home to countless tribes. And because these tribes had been isolated from the world for many years, with no contact with outsiders, their way of life was the same as it was hundreds of years ago. You couldn't even see any products of modern society here.
Acahualla region, Sargon rainforest.
"Zumama!!"
Early in the morning.
A large group of villagers once again headed to the back mountain where the [Eunectes Tribe] was located, all looking furious as if they were about to demand an explanation. The back mountain, usually deserted, was now covered with all sorts of old mechanical parts.
These Ancients, who all had the heads of crocodiles or lizards, scoffed at the mechanical parts scattered on the ground. For the Tiacau tribes, who revered personal martial prowess, these metal chunks from the outside world were, aside from being hard enough to hit people with, completely useless in their eyes.
Although Zumama had tried to educate them before, explaining that these things were called mechanical parts and that by assembling these small pieces in a special way, they could transform into a "mechanical beast" far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary person, even being used for farming or flying in the sky.
Of course.
These words were far too absurd for the natives here.
Unbelievable.
Who would believe it?
A pile of junk made of metal scraps could be stronger than the mightiest warrior in the tribe? Don't be ridiculous!
Zumama had also once shown the various books she obtained from the outside world through the [Inam Merchant Guild] to these tribe members, but...
Unfortunately.
They were illiterate.
Over time.
Zumama became nothing more than a weirdo in the eyes of the residents of the [Eunectes Tribe].
But...
If she were just a mediocre weirdo, it would be one thing.
No one would bother with her.
But she possessed the most formidable physique in the entire tribe, and even in the entire Tiacau confederation. A few years ago, she had even fought to a standstill with Gavial, who had challenged everyone in the tribe. After Gavial left, Zumama had practically become the hope of the entire village, with the potential to defeat everyone at the "Mawil-sotria" and become the Great Chief.
Sigh...
This little girl just didn't get it.
Spending all day reading those trashy books from the outside world!
Reading!
Reading!!
All she does is read!!
What's the use of reading!!
Fighting is the true path. What future is there in reading!!
In short, many in the [Eunectes Tribe] had an expression of finding it a pity that she wouldn't live up to her potential.
Many of the tribe's residents passed through the mountains of accumulated mechanical parts and finally found Zumama in a corner of the back mountain, sitting cross-legged on a pile of metal materials, engrossed in a book.
Zumama was very, very beautiful.
In the [Eunectes Tribe], where snake-headed Ancients were the norm, she was like a white swan that had landed among a flock of ducks, incredibly dazzling.
Her skin was almost naturally fair. Even though she spent all year in the tribe without any skincare products, makeup, or even facial cleanser, her racial traits ensured that her skin remained smooth and unblemished despite the constant wind and sun, as supple as a baby's and as white as jade. Perhaps this was the gift of the Fidia, the snakes.
Her figure was also like a python, curvy and well-proportioned. The skin on her body was as smooth as snake scales. Her chest was high and full, a small black bandeau unable to conceal her charm, like mountain peaks. Her thighs were fleshy, the edges of her black leggings cinching the plump flesh of her upper thighs...
Her attire was simple and unadorned, yet not at all boring, because one could never get tired of looking at it.
"Zumama!!"
The villagers rushed forward.
"Can you stop tinkering with these metal scraps in the future? Do you have any idea? The thing you were messing with last night exploded, and my husband was so scared he couldn't 'stand up' for hours."
"Sigh~~ Zumama, fighting is the true path. Don't spend all day reading these evil books from outside. These books are used by outsiders to poison our minds!!"
"That's right, that's right. Look at you. You were so lively as a child, always fighting with Gavial from next door. And now? You've become so dazed. Reading these books has made you stupid!! Sigh.... our tribe is counting on you to become the Great Chief."
Zumama ignored them. In the past, she might have tried to explain or argue, but now she couldn't be bothered.
After so many years of 'cultural' baptism, Zumama felt that she had transformed. Her past self was too naive; the customs of this tribe were too barbaric.
"Sigh... don't you guys think fighting is barbaric?"
Zumama sighed.
However.
Her words just confused the villagers.
"What nonsense are you talking about? If you can't fight, you'll never get married!"
Zumama shook her head. "What's the use of being a good fighter? You can fight two, three, ten people, but what about fifty? A hundred? A thousand? Is there nothing you can do then?"
"Sigh..."
Seeing Zumama start to speak nonsense they couldn't understand again, they all shook their heads, sighed, and turned to leave.
Zumama continued to read the book in her hands, a copy of "Mechanical Engineering Design" from Columbia. On the ground next to her lay other books: "University Physics", "Information Engineering Technology", and a novel from Higashi called "Mobile Armored Trooper".
Ever since she was very young and first saw a mobile city from the outside world, she had been captivated by this super-large mechanical device. The beauty of its power, the oppressive feeling like that of a giant beast, had shaken the beliefs of the young Zumama, who once thought she was the best fighter in the world.
In the face of such large machinery, the physical body was insignificant.
So what if you were strong?
Could you withstand the movement of a mobile city?
And since that time.
Zumama gradually lost all interest in so-called fighting. She began to save up to buy books from the outside world through the Inam Merchant Guild. As a member of an isolated tribe, she naturally couldn't read the common Terra language, nor could she even read her own country's Sargon language.
Who knows how long it took her to teach herself the Sargon and Terra languages, and then start learning knowledge from the outside world from the most basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
The biggest influence on Zumama was a novel from Higashi called "Mobile Armored Trooper". The mechs in the book, over ten meters tall, capable of flying in the sky and impervious to blades and spears, became the thing Zumama fantasized about the most over the years.
Constant attempts, constant failures, constant improvements—this had basically been the theme of Zumama's later life.
"Sigh~"
Zumama let out a heavy sigh and did a graceful flip, jumping down from the pile of machinery.
Although she had been working hard every day for years, the more she learned, the more she realized her own shortcomings. Relying solely on these books to create the mechs from the novel was impossible; even creating a small robot was a problem. She lacked too much in basic theory. According to the descriptions in the books, there seemed to be a place in the outside world called a university, where one could specifically study all kinds of knowledge.
It was very frustrating.
After saying a few words to the High Priest, Zumama gave a bored yawn and headed down the mountain. She rarely left the back mountain, only choosing to take a stroll in the center of the tribe to clear her head when she was very frustrated.
She wandered aimlessly through the rainforest.
Zumama habitually came to the center of the Tiacau tribes, the shared temple of the several branch tribes, which was also the core of their communities.
Almost all residents of the Tiacau tribes believed in the deity enshrined in this temple. Every few years, a Great Chief challenge ceremony would be held under the temple's witness. The former Zumama was also a devout believer of the deity in the temple.
However, after learning about the mechanical technology of the outside world, Zumama had a nagging feeling that... the faith in this temple would only hinder the entire tribe's progress.
Humans have limits.
But machines do not!
Climbing the huge steps.
Zumama walked into the temple. Because no one maintained it, the outer stones of the temple had already corroded slightly after long exposure to wind and rain. Green moss even grew in the cracks at the edges.
The face of the deity's statue in the temple was already blurred.
Zumama raised her head, her jewel-like, brilliant eyes meeting the indistinct face of the statue. Then she slowly lowered her head, praying silently as a member of the tribe.
"Lord Deity, the people of the tribe say you are omnipotent, but no one has ever seen you perform a miracle. I wonder if you can help me build the mech of my dreams."
As she made this wish.
Zumama suddenly laughed at herself.
Sigh...
"Zumama, are you stupid? What's the point of talking to a stone statue?"
"Even if there really is a god, she definitely doesn't understand mechanical engineering... she probably can't even read. I should just go back and read my books."
Just as Zumama was about to leave.
A strange voice sounded in her mind.
"Have you ever considered the possibility that, actually, I can read?"