I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 144

The unexpected arrival of neighbors.

I didn’t know why the raccoon family moved here, but it certainly wasn’t bad news—in fact, it was good news.

First of all, raccoons are smart and polite. That alone was enough to make them vastly more likable than those gorillas.

Plus, he was skilled at handling fire, so if we lived in mutual cooperation going forward, it would be a huge help.

To do that, I needed to figure out what this family wanted.

’The most basic thing would be food... that shouldn’t be an issue.’

Aside from the difficulty of hunting, the Forest of the Four Seasons is a region rich in food.

I didn’t know what raccoons ate, but they were probably omnivores.

Besides, since they were "neighbors" rather than "family" living together like Speed Sloth and Wonmo, he would take care of things to some extent on his own.

Helping out only in truly dire situations would be enough.

"Keung. Keeng."

"This is your house?"

Introduced by the raccoon family, I also located their house.

A tree located not far from the cave—in fact, calling it right next door wouldn’t be wrong.

A large hollow hole ran through the center of the thick tree.

It seemed they lived inside that hollow hole.

’I didn’t plan to log this spot anyway, so that’s a relief.’

If it overlapped with the planned logging area, it would have been slightly troublesome.

But it didn’t overlap, and the distance was close enough for frequent visits.

I watched the raccoon family climb into the tree hollow.

Following them, the raccoon peeked his head out. Beside him was the cub raccoon as well.

I had no choice but to take a picture of this. I immediately snapped photos for the Gallery.

Title) Raccoon family moved in

Wild Grylls

(Photo of raccoon family appearing in front)

(Photo of herb given by raccoon)

(Photo of raccoon family peeking their heads out from home)

(Photo of raccoon waving paw in greeting)

The family of the raccoon that came to my cave moved nearby. Not sure if it’s a housewarming gift, but he gave me an herb.

Their home is a hollow in a nearby tree. Seems like we’ll be visiting each other often yep yep.

At least these guys are way more social than those gorilla brats. I’m glad I got neighbors too.

└ Heavenly Demon) What adorable neighbors. I hope you get along well.

└ Sword Matstar) Wow. So jealous. I don’t even have neighbors.

└ Heavenly Demon) As if you’d even go outside anyway; what neighbors are you talking about.

└ Sword Matstar) Damn it, do YOU have neighbors then? You don’t go outside either.

└ Heavenly Demon) This venerable one has subjects, not mere neighbors. Like that raccoon, they occasionally offer good things. Has thee ever shared items with others?

└ Sword Matstar) ...No?

└ Heavenly Demon) Show thy face once in a while. There are those who would be delighted just seeing thy face. Ah, of course, if thee possess an ugly appearance, it might backfire.

└ Sword Matstar) Hey, I’m pretty -_-

└ Proof please.

└ Can’t believe without proof LOL

└ Heavenly Demon should post proof too. Who’s calling whom ugly LOL

└ Heavenly Demon) As stated before, this venerable one once claimed the title of World’s Greatest Beauty.

└ Sword Matstar) By that logic, rumors of my beauty have spread far and wide too haha

└ Clash of Two Strong Fools is insane LOL

└ Who is the World’s Greatest Beauty in the Central Plains?

└ The old era was Yang Seol-hwa, and currently it’s Heavenly Demon, but the rumors are a bit terrifying.

└ What rumors?

└ Something like even drenched in other people’s blood, her beautiful appearance couldn’t be hidden? Terrifying as it sounds, that’s what I heard.

└ Wasn’t her martial alias Blood Flower before she became the Heavenly Demon?

└ Blood-soaked flower shudder

└ shudder

└ Don’t Abandon the Hero) Mmm! How cute! But unfortunately, I shall ban you for 1 hour!

└ Wild Grylls) ??? Why? What did I do wrong?

└ Don’t Abandon the Hero) There’s no video! No video! If you post a video, I’ll let it slide!

└ Wild Grylls) (Video of raccoon family) Is this good enough now?

└ Don’t Abandon the Hero) I shall forgive you just this once!

└ Just this once...

└ Orange Badge hypocrite told Blue Badges not to abuse power, yet she’s abusing it herself LOL

└ Double Standard is a passive skill for forum mods anyway LOL

└ Still, it’s pretty cute LOL

└ Is that a cub? I wanna hug it once.

└ What happens if Grylls takes the cub?

└ Just visiting next door, what else LOL

└ Ah, I see.

└ Rather than that, won’t Wonmo eat it?

└ Wonmo: I woke up, why did my emergency rations increase?

└ Who was the original emergency ration anyway? Don’t tell me it’s Grylls LOL

└ He IS emergency rations LOL

Although said in jest, it couldn’t be dismissed purely as a joke.Find the original chapter at novelping(.)com.

Even if I accepted the raccoons as neighbors, would Wonmo acknowledge them?

At least Speed Sloth seemed to accept them, but there was no telling what would happen with Wonmo’s appetite.

’The weather seems to be warming up slowly, so Wonmo will probably wake up soon too.’

Looking up at the sky rather than the trees, I let out a sigh.

The temperature had noticeably risen. The breath exiting my mouth had thinned out slightly as well.

By tomorrow, the weather would shift completely, or at least show clear signs of it.

’I’ll know when Wonmo wakes up.’

Since Wonmo entered hibernation the moment winter started, the reverse should hold true as well.

I gazed intently at the raccoon family before returning to the cave.

Since they were creatures adept at using fire, I planned to keep a campfire lit in the yard.

Tadak! Tadadak!

After making a campfire for the raccoon to use comfortably, I went inside the cave.

The herb the raccoon gave as a housewarming gift. I needed to identify its true nature first.

’Heavenly Demon usually knows these things well, right?’

Heavenly Demon was quite knowledgeable about Inner Cores and herbs of this nature.

Even if she didn’t know, she could swiftly identify what kind of energy was contained inside.

Examining the snowy-white Snow Ginseng back and forth, I sent a message to Heavenly Demon.

[Wild Grylls: Heavenly Demon-nim, are you there?]

[Heavenly Demon: Speak.]

You know the photo in the post I put up earlier.

[Wild Grylls: The one that looks like snowy-white ginseng.]

[Heavenly Demon: This venerable one was looking at it.]

It appeared to be no ordinary medicinal herb.

This venerable one conjectures it to be a Snow Ginseng laden with Yin energy.

Shall I send it to you so you can take a look?

[Wild Grylls: Eating it right away feels a bit risky.]

[Heavenly Demon: Very well.]

I shall send word after inspection.

I sent the white ginseng to Heavenly Demon. A reply would arrive before long.

In the meantime, I pondered how to get along well with the raccoon family.

Simply lighting a campfire might not be enough.

’Seeing how he finds rare herbs, could he be a massive help?’

What if the white ginseng turns out to have incredible effects?

I would request him directly: "I’ll give you food, so you give me medicinal herbs."

Whether I consume these herbs myself or hand them to Heavenly Demon to craft Fasting Pills, it’d work out.

This was mutual benefit and the very mechanism of how an economy operates.

Without currency, calling it an economy was a bit ambiguous, but let’s gloss over that.

[Heavenly Demon: Noble Sir.]

Art thou still present?

Yes.

I’m here.

[Wild Grylls: Did you identify it?]

[Heavenly Demon: That raccoon bestowed a truly precious medicinal herb upon thee.]

It is no ordinary ginseng, holding internal energy comparable to a Thousand-Year Ginseng.

[Wild Grylls: So it’s insanely rare?]

[Heavenly Demon: Though not on par with Humanoid Snow Ginseng or the monarch of all ginsengs, the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng King, it is still an extraordinarily rare herb.]

Its potent Yin energy poses a slight issue, but since thee already possess cold energy, it should not be a major problem.

[Wild Grylls: Is it possible to craft Fasting Pills with that?]

[Heavenly Demon: It is possible, but this venerable one feels it would be a waste.]

This venerable one believes it would be far better for Noble Sir to consume it directly.

[Wild Grylls: Then how long until the Fasting Pills are finished?]

[Heavenly Demon: A whole sack will be completed shortly.]

I’ll pay for it with that instead.

I’m already struggling to control my current energy, so eating that on top of it feels like asking for trouble.

[Heavenly Demon: Thy words make sense.]

I shall bestow this upon a close confidant.

If it’s a confidant, they can probably sell it for a high price.

That would be far more helpful than keeping it myself.

I asked Heavenly Demon to wait a moment, then stepped outside.

Because I had something to ask the raccoon briefly.

"Keeeng."

"Keung."

"King-king."

Heading outside, I saw the raccoon family gathered cozily around the campfire.

Everyone was extending both paws to warm their cold bodies.

The sight of the cub raccoon stretching out its tiny paws was impossibly cute.

’It’s nice, but...’

Gaining neighbors was great, but someday I must get out of here.Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping(.)com.

Still, until that day came, we had to live side by side.

It was comforting that they showed goodwill first.

Until then, let’s cooperate mutually and reap benefits.

"Hey, Raccoon."

"Keung?"

When called "Raccoon," he somehow understood and popped his head up.

The other raccoons were the same. His mate and cub lifted their heads together to stare at me.

’Should I give him a name?’

Or maybe calling him Dad Raccoon would be better.

At any rate, I led Dad Raccoon along for a moment. Dad Raccoon followed me without any guard up.

Stepping inside the cave, the place we headed to was none other than the map. The map marked while exploring up until now.

"Alright, Dad Raccoon. See this thing you gave me?"

"Keung."

"If there’s anything similar to this, could you give it to me? If you bring them..."

Clack-

I showed the white Snow Ginseng the raccoon gave me and dragged over an iron barrel.

Inside were fish still frozen rock solid. Environmentally friendly frozen-stored fish.

"I’ll give you these fish. They’re frozen now, but the weather will warm up soon so you can eat them."

"..."

"If you don’t like these fish, I can give you something else. Fasting Pills will arrive soon, and I’ll give those to you."

Tap-

The moment I said that, I felt someone place a hand on my shoulder.

Wondering what it was, I turned my head to see Speed Sloth staring straight at me.

A look that clearly said: "We barely have enough for ourselves, and you’re giving THOSE away?"

Normally Speed Sloth possessed almost no greed, but Fasting Pills were a whole different story.

Especially after having them stolen by those gorillas last time, he was a bit sensitive.

"You only eat them one by one anyway. And we can make more using the herbs he brings."

"..."

"He’s practically our supplier for Fasting Pill ingredients, so cut him some slack."

Swayed by my persuasion, Speed Sloth retracted his arm.

No matter how overflowing the Forest of the Four Seasons was with herbs, I was practically an amateur.

So wouldn’t it be better to leave it to the expert(?), with appropriate compensation as a bonus?

"..."

Dad Raccoon seemed to ponder my offer for quite a while.

It seemed he didn’t quite trust me yet, or perhaps because it was close to a formal "deal."

It meant that if he made a misstep, he could end up on the losing end. He had a family to support.

But even with the risks of the deal, did he judge me as a trustworthy person?

"Keung!"

Extending his paw, the raccoon readily accepted my proposal.

I shook Dad Raccoon’s tiny paw, marking the successful deal.

But that wasn’t the end. There were things I had to let him know.

That was precisely why I brought him over to the map.

"Alright. See here and here? This is where the gorillas live. They’re real nasty to intruders, so never step foot in there."

"Keung."

"And here is the cave where the kangaroos gather. See that pig-like fella there? He got attacked the moment he stepped in. Not nice guys. And down here is the lake, but on the path to the lake, there’s a deer..."

Fearing the raccoon might suffer harm, I meticulously pointed out the dangerous spots.

Unless it was his original habitat, he might not know this area well.

Finishing the deal with Dad Raccoon like that, I sent the white ginseng to Heavenly Demon.

’Glad I gained good neighbors.’

Are we business partners now rather than just neighbors?

Whatever the case, as long as we get along, it doesn’t matter.

’By the way, should I build them a house near the campfire?’

This was something worth considering.

Around the same time, Heavenly Demon Cult.

"I STRUCK GINSENGGGG!!!"

A certain Demonic Cultist shouted at the top of his lungs while clutching a snowy-white ginseng.

That Demonic Cultist’s identity was Wi Seol-ak. In his hands was held the snowy-white ginseng.

It was a ginseng unexpectedly gifted by Heavenly Demon, who had summoned him.

At first he was bewildered, but before long he realized it contained an immense amount of internal energy.

’Th-there’s no doubt Grylls gave this... but to grant something like this...!’

Converted into monetary terms, it was worth several years’ budget.

Inner Cores had clear origins making them burdensome to sell, but ginseng was a different story.

He could simply pass it off as "found buried in the back mountain."

In a world structure ruled by money and martial power, to Wi Seol-ak, it was worth far more than welcome rain during a drought.

No, not just welcome rain, but perhaps a flare signaling a "bounteous harvest."

’Heavenly Demon is God. Grylls is invincible.’

His favor toward Grylls began to skyrocket vertically.