So this was the beetles' main food. Jude nodded. According to the leader's drawing, food was hard to find in winter, because the sap this liquid came from froze. That seemed to be why they had sneaked into his cave in the first place.
"You guys had it hard too..."
Fortunately, they could now live with him in this cave. It was warm, safe from menacing monsters, and they could eat their fill here. All he asked in return was simple, metalwork. And lately, since they seemed to have more free time, they had started making something out of the gold ore he had collected. It was a gold bar the size of a finger.
"Well done..."
Looking at the heavy little ingot, he could only admire it. Properly worked, it would surely be useful. But not now, while the world was still ending. Maybe in the future.
