I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 430

A massive explosion occurred right in front of my eyes along with a blinding flash of light.

Because it detonated right in front of my face, beyond just ringing ears, I couldn’t hear a single sound.

Fortunately, I hurriedly defended with my Body-Protecting Gangqi, so I managed to end up with minimal damage.

"Kgh... Cough."

Even if it was minimal damage, an explosion is an explosion. I didn’t even realize my body floated up and blew away.

By the time I barely regained my senses, the surroundings were completely obliterated.

The trees surrounding the area were all shattered into pieces, forming a small clearing.

"#%$$%!"

"@$%%2#"

"#$%$$"

I barely managed to secure my line of sight, but my hearing was not safe. Noticing something warm dripping from my ears, I put my hand to them.

Bright red blood was leaking from my ears. It seemed my eardrums had suffered severe damage.

On top of that, my stomach felt slightly nauseous. That meant the explosion’s power was considerable.

’Other than this, injuries... none.’

Thank goodness, though I lost my hearing, my body was fine.

Thanks to protecting myself with Body-Protecting Gangqi, not a single bone was broken.

What’s more important is that rabbit bastard. I don’t know what kind of ability it has, but the moment it clashed with the Sword of the Heavenly Demon, it exploded.

Just like how Mad Dog’s body bulged and blew up earlier, it possessed a bizarre ability.

The beasts of the Forest of the Four Seasons, especially the smaller ones, possessed extraordinary abilities, and this was exactly like that.

’It might actually be a real headache of a creature.’

Even while feeling dizzy, I looked for the Sword of the Heavenly Demon. It was clutched in my hand.

I had kept a tight grip on it even while flying through the air from the explosion.

Now all that’s left is to find that rabbit bastard. I could hear the voices of the other party members, but the rabbit was nowhere to be seen.

Hwik! Shasok! Shok!

Looking around, I was able to spot it. The explosive rabbit was facing off against Bbareumbo.

The explosive rabbit hopped towards Bbareumbo, but Bbareumbo dodged all of its approaches.

In the end, whether the explosive rabbit got angry or not, it straightened its back completely. After that, it even threw a rapid flurry of strikes with its front paws.

Of course, its reach was so short that it wasn’t of much use. In the first place, its speed was noticeably slower than Bbareumbo’s.

Tak-tak! Tak!

When its own attacks didn’t hit properly, it began stomping the ground with its hind legs.

I know the meaning of that behavior. It means it’s pissed off because things aren’t going its way.

While Bbareumbo bought me time, I quietly pulled out my bow and arrow.

Kkigigik—

Very slowly, so the rabbit wouldn’t notice, I nocked an arrow on the bowstring.

Bbareumbo glanced over here and started moving slyly. He was luring the explosive rabbit so it wouldn’t look in my direction.

I waited for the moment the explosive rabbit leaped toward Bbareumbo. If I shot predicting its landing spot, it wouldn’t be able to dodge.

Tak!

As expected, the explosive rabbit leaped toward Bbareumbo. I estimated its landing spot and released the bowstring.

The moment I released the string, the arrow shot forward with the sound of cutting wind. Just in case, I didn’t imbue any aura into it at all.

Tak!

However, the explosive rabbit was not to be underestimated either. The creature perked up its long ears and twisted its body without even looking back.

Using that recoil, it narrowly dodged the fired arrow. Although slower than Bbareumbo, a beast is still a beast.

Its reaction showed that an attack of this level wasn’t even an issue.

"..."

Was it because of the arrow flying from behind? The explosive rabbit’s head turned toward me.

I hadn’t noticed earlier, but its eyes were blood-red, giving off a glimpse of madness.

’By the way, that bastard is completely fine even after an explosion? Was there a different reason?’

I got up from my spot and finished readying myself. The explosive rabbit’s attention returned to me.

Furthermore, seeing Bbareumbo subtly back away, it seemed he intended to leave this job to me.

’To be precise, it’s closer to dumping an annoying chore on me, though.’

Still, he did his part. Since he filled the gap well while I was knocked out.

Because of this, I became curious about the status of the other party members. Why didn’t the others deal with the explosive rabbit?

At that, while the explosive rabbit slowly approached my direction, I turned my head.

"#%$%!"

[#$%%]

"...?"

Checking now, the status of the other companions wasn’t looking very good either.

First, Lackey. I don’t know what happened, but a severe wound had formed on his forearm area.

How severe was it? To the point that the flesh and muscle were almost entirely blown away, revealing the bone.

They immediately poured an Elixir over it, but because it was such a severe wound, regeneration took time.

’That’s not a wound caused by an explosion. It’s as if Mad Dog...’

Hwoong!

It was while I was lost in thought for a moment. A shadow fell over my face.

The explosive rabbit had leaped toward me. Because I couldn’t hear, I didn’t hear it approaching.

However, thanks to the Golden Carrot, my reaction speed had drastically increased. I forcibly twisted my body.

The moment I twisted my body, the explosive rabbit’s attack naturally missed. Since it was a leaping attack, landing took time.

Siing!

Seizing that opening, I swung the Sword of the Heavenly Demon. An Aura Blade was added for good measure.

Right before the Aura Blade was about to slice the rabbit’s body in half, the creature acted.Read this novel at NovelPing for the best experience.

Peok!

A light back kick. But the aftermath was not light at all.

Kwaang!

It was clearly just a back kick, but in an instant, a flash flared up and an explosion occurred.

Though it had less power than before, it was enough to send my body flying backward.

Chwaaak!

"Kugh...!"

I barely regained balance of my mid-air flying body.

Since it wasn’t an explosion powerful enough to knock me unconscious, I could pull my mind together.

However, perhaps because my eardrums were damaged, the dizziness was no joke.

The explosive rabbit aimed for that opening as well. Though slower than Bbareumbo, that was only by Bbareumbo’s standards.

To my eyes, it was a remarkably nimble critter, making even evasion difficult.

Tuk—

In the end, its front paw touched my left wrist. Body-Protecting Gangqi was still active.

I didn’t stay still either. In the first place, the reason it could touch my left wrist was due to my counterattack.

Peok!

It touched my left wrist, and I slammed my fist right into its head.

The rabbit’s body flew far away before rolling on the ground.

Peo-ang!

At the same time, an explosion occurred at my left wrist, which it had touched.

As if my Body-Protecting Gangqi acted like gunpowder, a massive shock was dealt to my left wrist.

"Kugh...!"

Examining the place where the explosion occurred, the wound was more severe than expected.

Torn flesh was basic, and even the muscle underneath was exposed.

Although the bone wasn’t exposed like Lackey’s, this alone was dangerous.

’Is this bastard using mana as a medium to cause explosions?’

If not that, it might just trigger an explosion through mere contact.

Whatever the case, the moment I make contact with that rabbit, it becomes dangerous. No wonder Bbareumbo dodged it; it seems to be for this reason.

’If I had used a shield, it would have been even more dangerous.’

This fight had to be conducted with a focus on evasion rather than defense.

If I had stuck to defense, I might have taken massive damage.

At the same time, a certain guy came to mind.

’A shield was meaningless against that alpha gorilla, too.’

That guy completely ignored defense and broke my arm.

Even now, clad in Body-Protecting Gangqi, there was a high possibility that attack would work.

Holding the Sword of the Heavenly Demon with both hands, I glared at the explosive rabbit.

"Ptooey."

Was it because it got hit by my punch just now?

What spat out of its mouth wasn’t spit, but pure white teeth.

On top of that, as if proving it was furious, it even thudded the ground with its hind legs.

It’s a signal that it’s going to attack. As soon as I saw that signal, I inhaled deeply.

Tadat!

The moment I inhaled, the creature leaped toward me. It was a faster speed than before.

The explosive rabbit’s attack was certainly threatening. Since it caused an explosion just by touching its foot to something.

It must have brought down numerous beasts with that single ability. It was broken enough.

’However...’

It relies far too much on that ability. Furthermore, every time it leaps, there are far too many openings.

The creature knew that well too, so it twisted its body in mid-air or dodged.

It devised its own measures, but there’s one thing it doesn’t know. Crucially, it’s a rabbit.

It is extremely sensitive to ’sound’. Before any ability, that’s its trait as a beast.

Therefore...

"Hraaaah!!!"

A single sonic attack was highly likely to leave it completely defenseless rather than just creating an opening.

"?!"

The long ears of the explosive rabbit that had leaped into the air perked up. Its entire body stiffening was a bonus.

Just like the sonic attack I used this morning, it was extremely effective.

"S-Squeak...!"

In the end, the explosive rabbit fell powerlessly to the ground. Its body trembled violently.

Though it was enough to finish it off like this, I didn’t let my guard down.

Because there are so many crafty bastards in this forest, letting your guard down could lead straight to the grave.

"Haaah!!! Aaaaah!!! Aaaaah!!!"

"..."

So I just kept shouting until the explosive rabbit passed out. Narrowing the distance little by little was a bonus.

Every time I narrowed the distance, I infused even more mana into my voice.

Ujik!

How long had passed in that state? Cobweb-like cracks formed on the hard ground.

If even the hard ground ended up like this, how bad must it be for the bastard directly hit by my sonic attack?

It struggled somehow to stand up, but it was already too late. It is a rabbit with sensitive hearing.

Jureuk—This chapter was copied from novelpin​g.com without permission.

In the end, bright red blood dripped from its ears just like mine. Its hearing had been thoroughly wrecked.

It didn’t end with its hearing being wrecked. It ends when the bastard loses consciousness.

Pusuk!

Blood gushed profusely from its long ears. At the same time, the rabbit’s body went completely limp.

Beyond fainting, it felt as though something inside it had snapped.

Kwaak!

The moment the creature lost consciousness, I didn’t hesitate and thrust the Sword of the Heavenly Demon straight into it.

Whether its breath had already cut out or not, it showed no reaction even when its neck was impaled.

"Phew... It’s over."

[Passing Dwarf: Is that what they call a Lion’s Roar or something?]

[Sword Matstar: That’s different from the Lion’s Roar I know though;;]

[Smart Demon: Sorry to burst your bubble, but Lion’s Roar is closer to a mental attack, not a physical one;;]

[Passing Dwarf: Then what the hell is that guy doing?]

[Smart Demon: How should I know? Even the Heavenly Demon would find it hard to pull off a Lion’s Roar like that.]

Glancing at the chat for a moment, reactions half in admiration and half in shock popped up.

It’s not that I activated a Lion’s Roar either; I just did it to burst its eardrums.

Besides, it’s a technique I can’t use often. My throat hurt like hell from screaming.

’It’d be nice if I had a throat lozenge or something.’

Carrying the dead rabbit carcass, I returned to the companions.

Perhaps because an Elixir was poured over it, Lackey’s arm had completely healed before I knew it.

However, since it was a severe wound where the bone was exposed, he’d need to rest for a while.

"Give me one too."

"@$%%?"

"I hurt my ears, so I can’t hear."

I also recovered my eardrums through an Elixir. Only then could I clearly hear the surrounding sounds.

After listening to the whole story from the party, it turned out the time I was unconscious was quite long.

In the meantime, they had managed to face off against the explosive rabbit, but suffered major injuries.

If Bbareumbo hadn’t marked it, they would have suffered significant damage.

[A beast that detonates mana. As expected of the Forest of the Four Seasons.]

"Weren’t there animals like this in the past?"

[There were a few similar ones, but I only ended up with minor bruises.]

"..."

At the words that he only ended up with minor bruises, I stared at my left wrist.

Although I healed it with an Elixir now, it was a wound severe enough to expose muscle.

As expected, people who reached the pinnacle in the Age of Heroes are on a completely different level.

"Then how did you deal with them back then?"

[Didn’t I just shoot Sword Qi to kill them?]

"You didn’t use a sonic attack, right?"

[Don’t assume there is another person like you.]

"..."

At the succinct point, I had nothing to say. I made an effort to brush it off.

Anyway, after checking Lackey’s condition several times, I pondered whether to move forward or not.

Though Lackey only needed to provide support from the rear, you never know. An even worse monster might appear.

"That guy ruled this zone. High probability there are no other beasts."

"That’s true, but..."

"Master. Nature does not tolerate a vacuum. Exploring when a vacuum is created is the real opportunity."

"You really talk well."

Nature does not tolerate a vacuum. What a cool line.

Thus, we decided to explore a bit more. And...

"Hey, Lackey."

"Speak."

"You said nature doesn’t tolerate a vacuum, right?"

"Correct."

"Then what the fuck is that over there?"

Looking at what I was pointing at, Lackey answered briefly.

"Looks like this is rabbit territory."

"..."

I know that, you gorilla.

While I stared with a rotten expression on my face.

Jjong-geut! Jjong-geut! Jjong-geut!

Having heard our conversation, the rabbits’ ears stood straight up.

At the same time, they even glared over here with brutal eyes.

Crouching their bodies as if ready to pounce at a moment’s notice was a bonus.

If those rabbits also possess explosive abilities... it’s extremely dangerous.

"Hey, Lackey."

"Speak."

"When we get back home, start practicing the guitar first."

I should have trusted Lackey’s foresight.