I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 462

"Kkyuu...?"

Wonmo’s reaction to my firm words could be described like this: a expression like his entire world had collapsed.

Tears welled up in the eyes of the cute Owlbear, who remained adorable despite putting on fat and fur.

Anyone watching would think I was the villain, but it couldn’t be helped. What had to be rejected had to be rejected.

’Harmless or not, a frog is a frog. And a frog living in the Forest of the Four Seasons, at that.’

Most animals inhabiting the Forest of the Four Seasons possessed high intelligence.

But that was strictly limited to ’mammals’. Other creatures were mostly typical.

To explain more precisely, they rarely acted like ’humans’.

Of course, there were occasional individuals comparable to spiritual beasts, but they fell far short compared to mammals.

’That giant frog before even tried to eat Tyranno.’

Tyranno was a hatchling. Most ordinary beasts wouldn’t even dare approach him.

Touching a hatchling meant directly facing the full wrath of a dragon.

But amphibians—whether due to low intelligence or for some other reason—had no such caution.

Though it was a long time ago, a giant frog had once tried to swallow Tyranno whole.

Furthermore, if I approached first, dragon wrath or whatever meant nothing; they would all pounce with life-or-death abandon.

Therefore, taking in a frog, which wasn’t even a mammal, carried huge risks. Cute as it was, it was a hard no.

"If things go wrong with that, our Shelter will be in danger. So go put it back right now."

"Kkyuuuu..."

At my strict order, tears pooled even heavier in Wonmo’s eyes. It was a gaze that naturally broke one’s heart.

Pretending to glare at Wonmo, I opened the Gallery. This was an issue that needed to be preserved in photos.

Badung- badung—

Just as a quiet war of nerves was taking place between Wonmo and me—

The Rain Frog, which hadn’t even cried, struggled to move its potato-like body.

It was clearly a frog, yet its body was chubby and its limbs were extremely short. Just as Allfather said, it truly looked completely harmless.

"Ppiyung."

Soon, the Rain Frog climbed onto Wonmo’s head. Watching this, I couldn’t help but be flabbergasted.

Because the Rain Frog proudly stood on two legs. Let me repeat: it stood on two legs.

How could those stubby legs support a body as huge as a potato? Even seeing it with my own eyes, I couldn’t believe it.

’That makes it look like it popped right out of an animated show.’

A visual right out of a kids’ cartoon. Meaning, it was cute.

But cuteness aside, reality is cold. I spoke in a stern voice.

"Wonmo. No matter how much you want to raise it, no means no. Who is going to take care of it?"

"Kkyu, kkyu!"

"He says he will raise it himself."

Sensing peak drama, Lackey quietly crept closer to translate.

I looked at him in disbelief before refocusing on the main point.

"You’ll raise it yourself? Wonmo, winter is almost here. You have to hibernate too. That’s why you bulked up, isn’t it?"

"Kkyukkyukkyuu! Kkyuuu!"

"He says he’ll stay awake without hibernating this time."

"Haah..."

I had no choice but to facepalm. What on earth is this, puberty?

Frankly speaking, that was completely out of the question. Wonmo had to hibernate if only for his own growth.

It was palpable that his size increased slightly after every winter.

There was no telling what consequences enduring without hibernation might bring.

’Above all, he gained weight specifically for hibernation, so that would become pointless.’

If things went wrong, that fat might just stay on him forever. It wasn’t good for Wonmo’s health either.

What concerned me most was the true ability of that Rain Frog.

In the Forest of the Four Seasons, smaller creatures were often far more threatening than big ones.

Even if it seemed endlessly harmless on the surface, you never knew when it might snap.

"Kkyuuuu... kkyuu..."

"He is confident he can raise it well. If it makes a mistake, he will take the punishment himself."

"Haaah..."

I facepalmed again. How could he not deviate a single inch from expectations?

It felt like watching my younger self. I used to say the exact same thing back then.

But it fell through due to my parents’—especially my father’s—adamant opposition. I sulked real hard after that.

’Well... I only realized late that it was due to Father’s trauma.’

Father didn’t hate pets. On the contrary, he adored animals dearly and had raised them before.

It was just that he knew how heavy ’responsibility’ was, and how scary ’affection’ could be, which was why he opposed it.

’He said being together—whether with animals or people—was what truly mattered.’

Not just beside you, not trailing behind, but together.

I only realized how sorrowful that word was after my parents passed away.

The feeling of the person who was always on my side vanishing vainly—words couldn’t describe it.

"...Wonmo."

I knelt down to match eye level with Wonmo.

Matching eye level is very important. It signified communicating as equals.

It was a method my parents often used whenever they persuaded me. Naturally, I got completely persuaded every single time.

"I’m the person responsible for this Shelter. So I have to eliminate risks as much as possible."

"Kkyuuu..."

"The raccoon family at least could communicate, but this frog can’t, right? If things go wrong, we could be put in danger."

I didn’t know if Wonmo fully understood my words, but I conveyed my intent clearly.Get faster updates on nov‌elping.com.

Not a matter of lacking resources, but a decision as the manager of the Shelter. It wasn’t something to be settled by emotion.

"Kkyuuung..."

Wonmo dropped his head as tears trickled down. Naturally, it affected the Rain Frog perched on his head.

As Wonmo lowered his head, its body started sliding down. The sight of it frantically flailing to avoid falling off was quite peculiar.

Cuteness and harmlessness hit me simultaneously, causing my heart to waver slightly. But I suppressed it firmly.

"Got it? Put this little guy outside..."

Tuk- tuk-tuk—

Just as I was about to gently wrap up the conversation, Bbareumbo tapped my shoulder.

Wondering what was up, I turned my head. As always, he wore his signature leisurely expression.

Seueuk—

Bbareumbo slowly extended his hand and pointed at Wonmo—or more accurately, the Rain Frog on his head.

Then he pointed to himself. Realizing the meaning of that gesture, I spoke in a shocked voice.

"What? You’ll take responsibility, so let’s keep it? Are you serious?"

"...."

Bbareumbo nodded with his characteristic slow speed.

He was quiet by nature, but I could grasp the meaning of all his actions.

Which was why Bbareumbo’s intention was all the more incomprehensible. He wasn’t the type to do anything detrimental to the Shelter either.

For a guy like him to suggest bringing in a potentially dangerous Rain Frog felt more absurd than surprising.

"Based on what? Do you really think it’s harmless?"

"...."

Bbareumbo nodded at my question. He even thumped his own chest.

It meant he would personally take responsibility if a problem arose. Seeing this, I exhaled a dry breath.

Coming from Bbareumbo of all companions, making a call like that left me flustered.

"...Can you really back up those words?"

Bbareumbo was our Shelter’s insurance policy. If even he failed, the damage would snowball out of control.

Furthermore, history showed that the decisive factor behind powerful empires collapsing was internal breakdown rather than external threats.

Rome, famous as a thousand-year empire, was like that, and though I didn’t know the full details, even the United States collapsed helplessly.

It was impossible to know what kind of havoc this steamed-bun-shaped frog might bring.

"...."

Bbareumbo nodded at my solemn question. Even that motion was slow.

I turned my head to look at Wonmo and the Rain Frog. Wonmo, realizing hope had surfaced, wore an expectant look.

’...Fine. I can just keep a close eye on it.’

If a dangerous situation arose from the Rain Frog, dealing with it immediately wouldn’t be too late.

Before that, I’d have to check whether it possessed poison. Besides, this was Bbareumbo’s decision.

Since he had lived in the forest longer than I had, he likely had a rough idea about the Rain Frog.

"Whew... Fine. Let’s keep it."

"Kkyuuu!"

Once my permission dropped, Wonmo danced and cheered. The Rain Frog clinging to his head strained with all its might not to fall off.

Only time would tell whether this was the right decision.

"Wonmo. You said you’d take full responsibility for raising it. I won’t get involved at all."

"Kkyu!"

Wonmo replied as if telling me not to worry and leave it to him. But I knew.

I knew that resolution would shatter before long. He’d probably be sleeping peacefully come evening.

Having taken in a new family member (?), I checked its abilities first.

If it carried poison, it could be dangerous. I planned to intentionally threaten it to induce it to reveal its abilities.

Tuk- tuk-tuk—

"Ppiyung! Ppiyung!"

When I poked it with my finger, the Rain Frog burst into squeaks and squirmed away.

It seemed to cry out, "Stop it!" Even so, it looked infinitely harmless.

’Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to have poison... Does it really have nothing?’

Thinking that poking it continuously would only ruin its perception of me, I stopped midway.

Afterwards, I checked what it ate and where it would be best for it to sleep.

It seemed fine sleeping anywhere, but we had plenty of large companions around here.

One wrong step while walking and it could get crushed to death, so it was right to prevent that in advance.

"Hmm..."

[....]

"Hmm-mm..."

[...Why are you looking at me so ominously?]

"I was just wondering where you sleep at night."

[I do not require sleep. But if I must say, I stay inside the box where empty bottles are gathered.]

A box. The place where empty bottles leftover from using Elixirs were kept.

Buying any random box from the Gallery would be sufficient.

I could fill it with dirt so the Rain Frog could rest comfortably, and feed it while I was at it.

’In the end, raising it actually fell on me.’

Sighing, I crafted a cage so the Rain Frog could rest comfortably.

Meanwhile, Wonmo was playing with the Rain Frog while forcing his sleepy eyes open.

Come to think of it, not just Wonmo, but Rain Frogs were a species that hibernated too.

Perhaps there wouldn’t even be a need to care for it during winter.

"Here. This is your home now."

"Ppiyung."

Did it like the cage modified from a box? The Rain Frog wriggled and quietly stepped inside.

Soon it dug into the dirt and buried its body inside. It clearly took a liking to it.The source of this chapter is novelpi​ng.com.

While at it, I carved a wooden block to make a tiny house too. What remained was food.

’For food... giving it small bits of meat should do.’

Having built a house, placing Cain inside the cage too completed it.

"Mm. Fits nicely."

[Why me?]

"You’re similar in size, so enjoy cozy conversations together."

That wasn’t all. I quietly took a picture as well.

Not to post in the Gallery, but just because it was funny.

Time passed, and around dusk, a visitor arrived outside.

"Mu-o."

"You’re here."

It was the Spirit Deer—a visitor who arrived right before winter every year.

As always, it brought a glowing Golden Carrot. A vegetable that was extremely useful to me.

After accepting the carrot, just as the deer turned to walk away—

"Ppu-ek!"

"Huh?"

"?"

A cute, tiny sound rang out from the ground. Both the deer and I looked down.

Without anyone noticing when it got there, the Rain Frog had been stepped on by the deer’s hoof. Fortunately, it was stepped on lightly, so it didn’t die.

"Ppieeeeng."

Apparently endowed with high durability, the Rain Frog scampered back into the house.

Its waddling figure was quite cute. By the way, why did it come out in the first place?

"...It’s our Shelter pet."

"...."

The Spirit Deer entered the guest room without a word. I felt awkwardly self-conscious for no reason.

Returning inside, I checked on the Rain Frog. The fellow had crawled back into the box before I knew it.

Seeing it quietly burrowed in the dirt, it seemed perfectly fine.

’And Wonmo... Sigh. Figures.’

Wonmo was fast asleep, living the good life. Responsibility my ass—looks like I’m raising it all on my own.

Still, since it was definitely harmless, I didn’t worry much.

On the contrary, I had to watch out for stupid accidents like just now where it could die senselessly.

Title) Got a pet

Wild Grylls

(Photo 1 of the Rain Frog in the box)

(Photo 2 of the Rain Frog in the box)

(Photo 3 of the Rain Frog in the box)

Decided to raise the Rain Frog I took a picture of earlier.

At first I said no, but Bbareumbo said to keep it, so we’re raising it now.

But I have no idea what abilities it has. Are there creatures like this in the Forest of the Four Seasons too?

Re: Heavenly Demon) Truly a endlessly harmless-looking creature. I sense not a single trace of threat.

Re: You can tell just from photos?

Re: Heavenly Demon) This maiden is capable of doing so.

Re: Isn’t it gonna spew poison out of nowhere later?

Re: Wild Grylls) Even when I poked it with my finger, it just squeaked. No poison.

Re: Bbareumbo is raising two pets now.

Re: Wild Grylls) What are you talking about?

Re: The first pet is you.

Re: Hahahahahaha

Re: Hahaha

Re: True lololol

Re: Bbareumbo was raising one all along lol

Re: Wild Grylls) These bastards.

That’s way too harsh. I’d rather be treated as a tree bearing food.

You might say they’re one and the same, but there’s a world of difference.

Time trickled by, and pitch darkness blanketed the night. A harsh cold descended as a bonus.

Midday, Nidhogg swung by to pick up Cheongseol, and I lit bonfires throughout the yard.

Lighting the fireplace was the final touch. Bbareumbo climbed down from my back and stood in front of the fireplace.

"...Why are you standing?"

"Ppiyung."

The Rain Frog, which I assumed would hibernate, was also standing.

Standing on its extremely short two legs was utterly adorable. Apparently, it was instinctively drawn to the warmth.

Since it didn’t seem harmful, I casually brushed it off. I’d find out once tomorrow arrived.

’So far, there don’t seem to be any major issues....’

And so, just as it always did, a brutal winter arrived.

"...What are you doing?"

"Ppiyung."

I caught the Rain Frog holding a piece of wood in its mouth, diligently carrying it to the fireplace.

Looking for all the world like it was trying hard to prove its worth.

"...."

The sight was so pitiful that I was left completely speechless.