I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 234

I had originally intended to receive multiple World Tree Saplings.

Very unfortunately(?), there was only one World Tree Sapling available.

Supposedly because it was a World Tree, it couldn’t be given away recklessly.

Up until our conversation, I clearly thought he was giving me several, but nope.

[Let’s Grow Trees: Honestly, when I gave you one last time, I secretly sneaked it out too!]

[Wild Grylls: Excuse me, but how valuable is a World Tree Sapling? It seems like only high-ranking officials get them.]

[Let’s Grow Trees: To put it bluntly, you can view it as a damnably expensive bonsai that’s politically annoying and holds symbolic status!]

[Wild Grylls: Simply put, a chicken rib (useless yet wasteful to discard).]

[Let’s Grow Trees: Because if someone can actually nurture a World Tree, that person becomes a hero of the Elves!]

But such a hero hasn’t appeared even after hundreds of years. That was Let’s Grow Trees’ explanation.

Countless people had attempted or researched it so far, but every single one of them failed.

The biggest reason among them was mana. Consuming mana all by itself like a pig, it usually desolates its surroundings.

It’s not for nothing that Alfheim, where the World Tree resides, is described as a land flowing with milk and honey.

’Wait, if he sneaked it out... isn’t that basically embezzlement?’

Even if it’s a white elephant, its symbolic value must be absurdly high, yet he stole it.

I wonder what kind of guy he is. Committing a crime like this and walking around totally unscathed.

At any rate, I handed over the World Tree Sapling for the squirrel’s sake.

One might ask if I was overinvesting in just a squirrel, but...

’I shouldn’t make enemies.’

It was to avoid making enemies. This forest had far too many risk factors.

If I could turn them into allies or neutral parties, I planned to strive for that as much as possible.

After all, even the gorilla group was close to a hostile relationship initially.

’Besides, even Bbareumbo told me not to kill it.’

It might prove to be a huge help in the future.

Above all, there was something I was curious about: this guy’s teleportation ability.

It seemed connected to the Golden Acorns, but I planned to ask for details.

"Hey, squirrel."

"Squeek?"

I called out to the squirrel. The squirrel was planting the World Tree Sapling with a wide grin.

Looks like it recognized the true worth of the World Tree Sapling too. Not a bad trade.

That aside.

"How did you teleport?"

"Squeek?"

"You were travelling back and forth through the tree holes."

The deer teleported itself directly, but this squirrel was different.

I don’t know what it did to the tree holes, but it bypassed and leaped through spatial concepts.

If Bbareumbo hadn’t warned me in advance, I would have been felled in a single hit.

"Squeek! Squeek!"

The squirrel thumped its chest proudly as it spoke.

Not understanding what it meant, I turned to look at Lackey.

"My ability."

"...Its own ability?"

"Squeek! Squeek!"

"All my kind can do it."

"...."

I see. Indeed, Bbareumbo didn’t tell me to spare it for no reason.

Even if space shifts momentarily in this region, fixing spatial coordinates would be a whole different story.

’Then does the raccoon family have special abilities too?’

Father Raccoon, in particular, brought back amazingly effective medicinal herbs every single time.

Along with various tricks using fire. He certainly wasn’t ordinary.

Apparently, certain animals possessed special abilities.

Was Bbareumbo’s speed like that as well? Truly a terrifying forest.

’If I can just utilize this properly....’

The deer’s teleportation ability was individual, but the squirrel’s was not.

The tree hole it dug allowed movement to other locations, like the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland.

If I reach a proper agreement with the squirrel and make the holes bigger, exploration will become much easier.

’Sounds pretty good, right?’

I didn’t know what the squirrel would want. But it was worth negotiating.

Stroking my chin, I signaled Lackey with an eye flick. A signal to prepare for translation.

"Ahem. Mr. Squirrel?"

"Squeek?"

The squirrel, inspecting the sapling back and forth, looked over with a ’what is it now?’ expression.

For this moment, I dropped to one knee and subtly extended a pre-prepared Fasting Pill.

Even though Bbareumbo clinging to my back gripped my shoulder tightly, I tried hard to ignore it.

"Wanna try eating this? It’ll be delicious."

"Sniff sniff. Sniff."

Sniffing the Fasting Pill, the squirrel accepted it right away.

Turning it over like an acorn, it took a huge bite.

"Squeeeeeek!! Squeek!"

The expected reaction came out. As soon as it savored the Fasting Pill, it wore an ecstatic expression.

Not only that, but seeing its tail stand up stiff, one could easily guess its reaction.

"How is it? Tasty, right?"

"Squeeek-squeek! Squeek!"

"Tastiest of all acorns. Where did you get it."

Lackey translated at the perfect timing.

Considering this an opportunity, I smirked.

"I didn’t procure it. I made it myself."

Well, I actually got it from Heavenly Demon, but whatever.

"If you help me, I can give you this often. How about it?"

"Squeek! Squeek!"

"Of course. What do you want?"

Hooked line and sinker. I smiled triumphantly on the inside.

What I wanted was simple: creating a hole connecting this place to the Shelter.

Of course, considering the squirrel’s size, there was a high chance it wouldn’t work, but wasn’t it worth trying?

"You know those tree holes you made? Those holes originally connect to other holes, right? That’s why you can move back and forth everywhere."

"Squeek!"

"Did you make them?"

"Squeek!"

Nodding incessantly, while continuously nibbling hard on the Fasting Pill.

Part of me wanted to stroke its head with a finger, but I suppressed it as much as possible.

"Then can you make more of those holes? Preferably big enough for my body to fit inside."Enjoying the story? Read on at novelрing.com.

"Squeek?"

"If possible, over a long distance too. Is it doable?"

At the question of whether it was possible, the squirrel fell into deep thought, backed up a couple steps, and looked at me.

To help it gauge my size, I slowly rose from my kneeling posture.

The squirrel stroked its chin, measuring my height and build.

Ludwig was bigger than me, but as long as we could squeeze our bodies into the hole, it didn’t matter.

’Expecting Largo to fit inside would be greedy.’

What I wanted was a waypoint or a front-yard expansion base.

The Forest of the Four Seasons shifted space dynamically, but the whole area didn’t change haphazardly.

It was as if space was neatly partitioned by environment. That’s why I could make such a request.

"...."

The squirrel looked back and forth between me and the World Tree Sapling, then scratched its head.

An ambiguous reaction. I ought to ask what the issue was.

"Is there a problem?"

"Squeek. Squeek."

"Possible. But need more."

"World Tree Saplings?"

At the answer that another World Tree Sapling was needed for it to be possible, my eyes widened.

The World Tree Sapling located at my Shelter was burned to ashes by Vanir’s breath.

And yet it needed one more.

"Can you explain the principle?"

"Squeek. Squeek. Squeeeeek."

The squirrel’s explanation was unexpectedly simple.

Trees growing in the forest each possess their own unique ’domain.’

If this domain overlaps with another tree’s, it means a tree hole can be created to travel back and forth.

However, it is only possible between the exact same species of tree, and mostly their ranges are extremely narrow.

"And as long as the World Tree Sapling grows, its range will become incredibly broad. Is that what you mean?"

"Squeek!"

"How about right now? Is it wide even now?"

"Squeeeek!"

"Wide. Enough to reach the river."

"Still insufficient."

Ultimately, it meant I had no choice but to plant a World Tree Sapling at my Shelter again.

The problem was Vanir. Vanir was hostile enough to blast a breath weapon the moment she laid eyes on a World Tree Sapling.

Truthfully, planting it here was also fairly dangerous, but for the sake of convenience, it couldn’t be helped.

’Wait a second. Then what about the World Tree Vanir mentioned?’

That World Tree was colossal beyond compare to any ordinary tree.

If I could utilize that, wouldn’t I be able to travel back and forth over an even broader area?

The reason Vanir couldn’t utilize the World Tree might be because they are hostile toward each other.

Can’t know for sure listening to only one side.

Of course, I had not the slightest intention of turning Vanir into an enemy.

’Let’s plant it first and think later.’

As the old saying goes, it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

To raise the odds of escape even by 0.0001%, this was the only way.

Vanir would probably understand to some degree. If not, the World Tree Sapling would just get incinerated again.

Though it felt a bit irresponsible, it seemed like the only method right now.

What wouldn’t one do to escape? Anyone would do the same in my shoes.

"Got it. Then how many days need to pass for this sapling’s range to expand?"

"Squeek?"

"Does not know meaning of ’days’."

"Then how many times must the morning sun rise?"

"Squeek!"

"Must rise at least five times."

5 days. Surprisingly short amount of time.

But whether Let’s Grow Trees could provide a sapling in that timeframe was unknown.

Moreover, that person might request something else. For example, Orichalcum.

’Even if uncomfortable, there’s no helping it.’

It would be best to trade if possible.

I asked the squirrel if there was anything else it needed.

"Squeek."

"Fasting Pill. Give."

"Here you go."

I could spare one more Fasting Pill.

Before long, smiling brightly, the fellow nibbled deftly on the Fasting Pill.

In the meantime, I gathered up the acorns. Then something suddenly struck me.

’How did it make the acorns explode?’

I asked about this too. How did it craft acorn bombs?

The answer that came out was that they were just ordinary acorns. If it throws them hard enough, they burst.

Just in case, I threw one myself, but it didn’t explode like a bomb.

’Must be an ability unique to this guy.’

Truly a mysterious forest. I picked up all the acorns and said goodbye to it.

It was getting time to head back, but I planned to explore for about 30 more minutes.

"$%#%%^."

[He asks what you are going to do with the acorns.]

Just as I was setting off to explore. Cain translated in Ludwig’s stead.

If I had only taken Golden Acorns it would be one thing, but taking all the ordinary acorns made him curious.

If they were Koreans, they would have instantly guessed what I’d make with these acorns. But not here.

’Is there a similar dish in Zhongyuan?’

I didn’t know that far. I only ever ate it myself.

Pondering how to explain, I voiced my answer first.

"Do you happen to know what Acorn Jelly is?"

[Acorn Jelly? What is that?]

"Literally jelly made from acorns. It probably exists in Zhongyuan too, right?"

Even if Acorn Jelly specifically wasn’t known, jelly itself should exist.

And Acorn Jelly would strictly be treated as a ’snack.’

It’s famous as a diet food. Meaning its calorie content is ridiculously low.

Far from food meant for survival.

’Might as well try making it once.’

Soy sauce is essential to eat it properly. Add chili peppers while at it.

Elders often eat it as a side dish for drinks, so giving a bit to the dwarf should be fine.

’Would Heavenly Demon like it too?’You are reading on nоvelping.com, the official source.

She’s likely familiar with jelly, so it would be good to give her some.

Plus, I’m going to make it with Golden Acorns instead of ordinary ones.

I was looking forward to what kind of result would come out.

Sparkle! Sparkle!

Time passed, and just as we were about to wrap up exploration and head back, a glitter caught my eye.

Concealed by thickets, it was hard to see, but I barely managed to spot it.

Parting the bushes, I discovered a truly bizarre plant.

"This is..."

[It just looks like a weed?]

As Cain said, it looked like an ordinary weed.

But to call it a weed, it looked almost like thick hair.

Furthermore, at the tip, tiny silver berries were hanging.

A peculiar plant through and through. The entire plant was glittering.

’I’ll harvest it first and ask Heavenly Demon.’

Seeing as the ground didn’t sparkle, it wasn’t a Guardian.

I carefully harvested the plant and began our return.

Thanks to Lackey managing the thread well up until now, returning wasn’t difficult.

Naturally, since we had to come back here, I didn’t forget to carve markers along the way.

"Phew. Finally back."

[That was truly exhausting.]

"Cain-ssi, you were just hanging onto me the whole time."

[That was even harder.]

Back home, so cleaning up comes first.

I told Tyranno and Wonmo to go take a nap and that I’d call them at dinnertime.

They were probably exhausted too, as they began snoring as soon as they entered the cave.

"You worked hard too, Ahjussi. Go rest."

"$%%#%?"

[He says he has one favor to ask.]

"What is it?"

Ludwig asking for a favor first was a rare occurrence.

Asking in a curious voice, Ludwig answered while gesturing as if brushing down something.

"$."

[A brush, he says.]

"A brush? Ah. Because of Largo?"

He needed a brush to groom Largo’s body.

Don’t tell me he’ll end up trimming his hooves later.

I handed him a brush bought from the auction house.

Ludwig immediately started vigorously brushing Largo’s body.

Anyone could see they had grown attached. That too was quite strange.

’I should post on the Gallery first. Before that....’

I plan to hand over the weed-like herb to Heavenly Demon first.

It looked like a real weed on the outside, but seeing it glitter, it must have some effect.

[Wild Grylls: Heavenly Demon-nim. Are you around by any chance?]

[Heavenly Demon: I am always present.]

As expected of Heavenly Demon who permanently resides on the Gallery, a reply came immediately.

Smirking briefly, I registered the herb.

[Wild Grylls: (Rough photo of the herb) Here is the herb I brought back today. It looks like a weed, but it glitters so it must have some effect.]

[Heavenly Demon: It even has berries at the tip. I have never seen such an herb either, so I shall inquire with the physician.]

[Wild Grylls: Thank you. Ah, do you happen to like jelly?]

[Heavenly Demon: I am not a picky eater.]

[Wild Grylls: Then have you ever tried Acorn Jelly?]

[Heavenly Demon: Jelly made from acorns is something I have never heard of before.]

Seems Acorn Jelly doesn’t exist in Zhongyuan.

Come to think of it, I vaguely heard that it’s a dish made exclusively in Korea.

Still, jelly is jelly, so it should suit the palate of Zhongyuan people who are similar to Easterners.

[Wild Grylls: I’ll give you some later. It’s made from special acorns, so it’ll definitely be tasty.]

[Heavenly Demon: Since you guarantee it so, I look forward to it. I shall wait.]

Now that I sent the weed—no, the herb—to Heavenly Demon.

All that remained was posting on the Gallery.

’Wait, no. Before that, I need to sort the acorns.’

Come to think of it, I have a lot of work to do. I organized my Subspace Backpack.

Acorns poured out in heaps. Golden Acorns caught my eye here and there.

Now I have to make jelly with these... I know the recipe.

Back when my parents were alive and well, my mother used to make it often. I watched from the side.

’...Is there no millstone around here?’

I’d better ask.

While Grylls was diligently digging through the auction house to find a millstone.

Yoo So-wol summoned Wi Seol-ak to check the medicinal effects of the herb received from Grylls.

On the surface, it looked like a weed with tiny silver bells at the tips of the leaves.

Yoo So-wol, Wi Seol-ak, and even the Demonic Cult’s top physician were seeing this herb for the first time.

"We must test it by consuming it first to find out."

"Report back if anything happens."

"Yes."

Saying so, the physician took the herb and returned to his quarters.

A short while after that.

"...Is that you, Physician Song?"

Yoo So-wol showed a rare expression of fluster.

Opening her eyes slightly wide, anyone could see she was shocked.

And small wonder.

"Yes, Haneul-isiyeo. Though my appearance is like this right now..."

Physician Song, who until a moment ago bragged a broad forehead line from half-balding.

"As a result of testing the herb, it appears to regenerate dead hair follicles."

Currently, he appeared possessing hair and a beard fuller than anyone else.

One could tell how overjoyed he was from his excited expression.

Shortly, looking up at Yoo So-wol with eyes filled with deep sorrow and joy, he spoke.

"It can truly be called a miracle."

"...."

Yoo So-wol tried her best to conceal her awkward bewilderment.