I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 461

Though it was a plant, the Life Herb had eyes and even teeth.

Since it writhed around like an hagfish, I didn’t think it would be helpful for the body.

Rather, I even wondered if eating it would cause it to take over my body like a parasite.

’Still, if I decoct it properly and drink it, it should be fine.’

More important than that was who to give the Life Herb to. First off, regular Gallery users were excluded.

Listening to Allfather, the Life Herb was an herb capable of increasing Innate Primordial Qi.

And since Innate Primordial Qi was closely linked to ’life force’, it was a crucial energy for me.

It didn’t matter if I consumed it myself, but doing so would likely shatter the power balance severely.

The balance within the Shelter had to be even so it would be convenient when dividing into squads later. We couldn’t just swarm around in a giant group forever.

Setting off to explore far away was one thing, but for other tasks, dividing into teams was necessary.

’In that sense, the one who needs power the most is....’

I looked around my surroundings—specifically including Bbareumbo clinged to my back.

Since it was an herb that boosted Innate Primordial Qi, it was better to keep worst-case scenarios in mind rather than normal times.

’If Bbareumbo and I faced a worst-case scenario, it would mean the situation was truly hopeless.’

If I was a sturdy shield, Bbareumbo was the insurance policy that helped when that shield collapsed.

If even that insurance failed, it meant there was nothing to be done. Innate Primordial Qi or whatever would likely be meaningless.

Therefore, rather than raising the ceiling, it was necessary to raise the floor. After long deliberation, I looked at two of my companions.

’The ones to give it to are Ludwig or Lackey....’

The deliberation didn’t last long. I chose Ludwig over Lackey.

Currently, Lackey had mastered all sorts of skills and was quite versatile. He could even cast magic effortlessly, which said it all.

On the other hand, Ludwig was somewhat stagnant at the moment. Honestly, this couldn’t be helped.

Aside from adapting to the Forest of the Four Seasons, his mana was still restricted.

Though he could channel mana through his Mythricon sword, it was only around 20-30% at most.

Furthermore, he wore a prosthetic leg, leaving his mobility lacking as well. He was saddled with every penalty imaginable.

’Seeing how he persevered and survived even in that state....’

Meeting me was stroke of luck, but grasping that stroke of luck was Ludwig’s own capability.

Whatever else might be said, as expected of a knight, his skill baseline was exceptionally high. That baseline needed to be raised even further.

"Ludwig-ahjussi, eat this."

"...."

At my words, Ludwig blinked with his signature solemn expression.

Did he realize belatedly that all eyes were on him?

He pointed at himself with an index finger and spoke in a dubious voice.

"...Me?"

"Who else named Ludwig is here?"

"I am fine."

Ludwig gently refused. It wasn’t out of a clergyman’s characteristic consideration.

He just didn’t want to eat it. Honestly, even I wouldn’t want to eat something that looked like that.

But for the sake of the future, he had to eat it. The wild was a place ruled by raw weight class rather than technique.

Case in point, except for archery, most of my skills were dismal.

Moreover, Ludwig’s weight class, which was already low due to his penalties, had dropped even further.

"Eat up. I’ll cook it so it’s easier to consume."

[It seems Grylls is worried about your stagnation.]

"...."

Perhaps because even his grand senior spoke up, Ludwig reluctantly acquiesced.

Afterwards, I traded 10 Fasting Pills for the Life Herb. As I made the trade, Bbareumbo’s claws poked my shoulder, but I blithely ignored it.

The mole also had a satisfied expression, seemingly pleased with the trade. However, it wasn’t over yet.

"What should I do when I want to trade again later? Do you have something like a call bell?"

I needed to trade with this fellow continuously. Expensive as they were, it had plenty of useful items.

The raccoon family—specifically Papa Raccoon—handed over herbs occasionally, but that alone wasn’t enough.

Also, since I had decided to help Ludwig grow, I needed to gather supplies regularly.

"Kkawuu. Kkawu."

"There is no call bell. It will visit whenever it feels like it."

"So it’s completely random?"

"Kkawuu."

Listening to Lackey’s translation, it basically meant it would drop by before winter arrived.

That meant roughly once a month, which wasn’t too bad.

A month was enough time to prepare thoroughly. I nodded.

"Alright. Here, eat one more of these before you go."

"Kkawuu!"

Before the mole departed, I gave it a free Fasting Pill. A bribe, of sorts.

A gesture asking it to bring good stuff when it returned to my home in the future.

Sensing my intent, the mole patted the back of my hand a few times. Truly a human-like fellow.

Soon, having finished all business, it retreated back into its hole. Then, something amazing occurred.

The wide-open hole from just moments ago was completely sealed without a gap. It seemed intended to prevent tracking.

"Now then, since the mole is gone..."

I turned my head to look at Ludwig. For the record, the Life Herb was clutched in my hand.

Writhing like an hagfish, the Life Herb bit into my hand with its sharp teeth. Still, it didn’t hurt.

It felt closer to brushing past a thorny bush. Even if I got injured, I healed almost instantly anyway.

"You’ll have to eat this, right?"

"...."

Ludwig stared blankly at the Life Herb in my hand. Then his eyes shifted back to me.

It was a silent question asking if he really had to eat it. But for the sake of the Shelter’s balance, he had to.

"You can’t live as a mana eunuch forever."This chapter was taken from novelрing.com without permission.

[Devastating choice of words, but nothing fits better.]

Cain agreed with my statement. As before, disobeying the grand senior was a tough proposition.

However, eating it raw was a bit sketchy, so it would need to be decocted in a medicinal pot.

’Since the Heavenly Demon gave me one last time... Did she say it was obtained from the Sichuan Tang Clan?’

When decocting the deer antlers, I used a steamer. But now I had a medicinal pot.

I had learned how to use the medicinal pot on the side. It required boiling for several hours, but that was fine.

"Kkwa-ak! Kkwak!"

Just as I was about to drop the Life Herb whole into the medicinal pot, it instinctively sensed danger and went wild.

Beyond squirming like an hagfish, it wrapped its limbs tightly around my hand.

It even tried to plant its roots into my hand as if it had turned into an actual parasite.

I hurriedly deployed Body-Protecting Gangqi, but surprisingly, it even absorbed that rapidly.

"Uh? Uh-oh? Ma-Master, why is that thing getting bigger?"

"I-I don’t know either!"

To make matters worse, it grew in size. A creature I could originally hold in one hand was now trying to break free.

Realizing this couldn’t go on, I decided to suppress it by force. And what was that suppression method?

Peok! Peok! Peok!

"Kkwek! Kkwee-e-ek! Kkwek!"

Just like I did to the Mature Mandrake: beat the crap out of it.

No need to stuff soil in its mouth; beating it up was all it took. Thus, before long, the Life Herb went completely limp.

Judging by its occasional twitches, it wasn’t dead. Perfectly suitable for putting into the medicinal pot.

’Since it might wake up halfway through and throw a tantrum....’

Putting it in the medicinal pot wasn’t the end of it. In case it ran amok, I sealed the lid tightly.

Since extraction would take a considerable amount of time, checking on it periodically was a bonus.

Bogle-bogle-bogle—

Water began to boil inside the medicinal pot. All that was left was to wait until it was fully extracted.

During that time, I moved on to other chores. A harsh winter would arrive starting tomorrow or the day after.

We had plenty of food, but just in case, I cultivated easily storable vegetables.

’Mostly sweet potatoes, though.’

There was no better winter snack than sweet potatoes. The kids loved them too, so it would be plenty.

Thinking of the kids made me turn my head to check on them.

Wonmo had grown chubby with fat and dense fur before I knew it, while Tyranno’s activity levels had decreased.

Cheongseol was the same. Nidhogg would likely tear through space to visit soon.

"Kkyuuu..."

"Wonmo. Going to the bathroom?"

While I was cleaning up, Wonmo raised his heavy body.

Having gained both fur and weight simultaneously, his body was nearly twice its original size. Even moving looked like a struggle.

Because of this, I had to stay by his side every time Wonmo went to the bathroom. It was his most vulnerable phase.

"Come here. Let me hold you. Daddy will take you."

"Kkyuuu..."

Wonmo waddled over and snuggled into my arms. Since his body was so plush, even holding him was tough.

Still, for Wonmo’s sake, I gladly endured it. I escorted him all the way to the bathroom.

After wiping him clean with toilet paper, all that was left was to head back to the Shelter.

"...Kkyuu?"

"Wonmo, what’s wrong?"

Wonmo turned his head as if he spotted something. Full of doubt, I looked in the same direction.

In the distance, I saw something lying belly-up on the ground. It was slightly larger than my fist.

Curious, Wonmo heaved his thick body forward step by step toward it.

Since I was curious about its identity too, I approached quietly.

"...A frog? No, is it a toad?"

To call it a frog, it looked like a steamed bun; to call it a toad, its limbs were too thin.

What on earth was the identity of this frog? I took a picture while Wonmo expressed his curiosity.

Of course, it might possess poison or bizarre abilities, so I kept my distance.

Title) Anyone know what this is?

Wild Grylls

(Photo of a frog shaped like a steamed bun)

(Photo of Wonmo staring at the frog)

A frog showed up at the Shelter, looking cute. Is this a narrow-mouthed toad (Maengkkongi)?

Re: Heavenly Demon) It looks like a potato.

Re: Sword Matstar) Are there frogs like that? Plump and cute.

Re: It seriously looks harmless lol

Re: Try poking it once.

Re: Won’t it explode the moment you touch it? lol

Re: Why would a frog explode;;

Re: It’s the Forest of the Four Seasons.

Re: Ah, true.

Re: Allfather) Its overall appearance resembles a Rain Frog. It is one of the most harmless animals in the world.

Re: Wild Grylls) Harmless?

Re: Allfather) Unlike general frogs, it lives underground and cannot even swim. Occasionally, it is even afraid of large bugs.

Re: Wild Grylls) Why is a creature like that in the Forest of the Four Seasons then?

Re: Allfather) Who knows? Perhaps it possesses potent poison?

Certified by Allfather as one of the most harmless animals in the world. But I couldn’t lower my guard.Read this novel at novelping dot com for the best experience.

This was the Forest of the Four Seasons. As one user said, it might explode upon touch.

Pa-ak!

So I scooped it up along with the dirt using a shovel and tossed it straight into the bushes.

Wonmo made a disappointed sound, but I couldn’t take any risks.

"Let’s go, Wonmo."

"...."

Wonmo stared blankly at the bushes where the Rain Frog had vanished before following behind me.

Time passed, and the extraction in the medicinal pot was completed. Remarkably, the color of the extracted herbal medicine was golden.

As expected of an herb that boosts Innate Primordial Qi, it had a fitting color. So what happened to the Life Herb after full extraction?

"Kkwee-e..."

"What? It’s alive?"

Astonishingly, it was still alive. What a persistent life force.

I thought I had squeezed out every last drop, but I was mistaken. Staring at the limp Life Herb, I handed it to Ludwig.

"Chew on this first."

"...."

Ludwig glared at me. It was the expression of a streamer handed a raw fish head.

But knowing it was good for his body, he couldn’t disobey my words.

In the end, he squeezed his eyes shut and popped the fully drained Life Herb into his mouth.

Drinking the extracted medicine straight away might strain his body.

So chewing the Life Herb first was to help his body adapt to it.

Ggumteul! Ggumteul!

"Ugh..."

"Master. I am feeling nauseous."

Me too. I grimaced at a scene where calling it hideous didn’t even do it justice.

The Life Herb writhing in Ludwig’s mouth like live octopus tentacles—even politely, it couldn’t be described as appetizing.

Yet, exerting a Paladin’s characteristic perseverance, he thoroughly chewed and swallowed it. He’d probably handle live octopus pretty well too.

’If I knew this would happen, maybe I should’ve given him some vinegared red pepper paste.’

While I had idle thoughts, Ludwig finished chewing down the entire Life Herb.

He didn’t gag, but his complexion turned beyond pale to ghostly white. I’d be the same way.

At any rate, now that he had chewed up the Life Herb, all that remained was the Mana Cultivation Method. Thus, Ludwig sat down and initiated his cultivation.

Since all energy had been drained from the Life Herb, absorbing it didn’t take long.

The real challenge was the extract—the herbal medicine. How much of it he could digest would determine Ludwig’s new baseline.

"Drink this tonight. You might need to practice your cultivation method all night long."

"Understood."

Time passed, evening slipped away, and night fell. The weather grew noticeably chilly.

Judging by the feel, winter was bound to hit tomorrow. Thus, I placed bonfires all over the Shelter to prepare for snow.

"Huh? Wonmo, you’re not sleeping?"

"Kkyuak?!"

Even after setting up bonfires, Wonmo was strangely awake.

In fact, when I called out, he flinched in surprise. I narrowed my eyes.

Wonmo acting suspiciously definitely meant he had something to hide.

Moreover, he was attempting to conceal something behind his bulky body. He couldn’t fool my eyes.

"Wonmo. What are you hiding behind your back?"

"Kkyuuu..."

Wonmo wriggled his body while avoiding my gaze.

He thought he was concealing it well because of his large size, but...

[Ppiyung.]

He couldn’t hide the sound coming from behind him.

Hearing that, Wonmo broke out into a cold sweat.

"Ppi-ppikkyuung...!"

"...."

Do you really think mimicking the sound will work? You’re an Owlbear, not Lackey.

Watching Wonmo desperately trying to hide his wrongdoing, I gave a gentle smile.

"Wonmo, if you tell me honestly, I won’t get mad."

"...."

Wonmo gave me a "Really?" look, hesitation written across his face.

I coaxed him gently so he would feel at ease. It worked.

Trusting me, Wonmo turned around and placed something on his paws.

Glancing at me, he tentatively held it out with a cautious expression.

"Ppiyung."

"...A frog?"

A frog—and specifically, the same frog from earlier.

It was lying there as if dead, but did he seriously bring it here?

"Kkyuu! Kkyuuu."

"He felt sorry for it, so he brought it."

"...Without eating it?"

I thought he’d eat it, but he brought it back? Truly shocking.

An Owlbear’s appetite needed no explanation. Yet he brought it back, which meant he felt pity.

"Wonmo."

"Kkyuuu...!"

Of course.

"Go throw it out right now."

What can’t be done can’t be done.