I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 52

My animal friends and I devoured the crabs I brought back with great relish.

Maybe because they were grilled instead of steamed, they were delicious even when eaten shell and all.

In particular, thanks to Wonmo playing the role of scavenger, there was almost nothing left to throw away.

Even if there were, I would have ground them up finely and dumped them into the river anyway.

"Ugh, I’m so full."

"Kkyuu."

"..."

Perhaps because our stomachs were thoroughly stuffed, everyone—including me—slumped down endlessly.

Wonmo patted his bloated belly and lay sprawled on his back, while Speed Sloth lay flat on his stomach.

Since one human and two beasts had shared it appropriately, it wasn’t to the point where moving was impossible.

’Wonmo really ate a lot.’

I looked down at Wonmo lying on the ground. His plump, swollen belly was adorable.

When I poked his belly gently, he squirmed. How could every single thing he does be so cute?

"Wonmo-ya. Don’t sleep out here, go inside the cave."

"Kkyuu..."

He was saying he couldn’t move because he was too full. Well, considering he ate even the shells, that made sense.

I lightly picked up Wonmo with his bloated tummy and carried him into the cave.

Before long, Wonmo stretched out in a spread-eagle pose on the mat and began taking a nap.

He looked totally carefree and living the good life.

’He won’t turn into a pig at this rate, will he?’

He was in a growth period so everything he ate would go to building his body, but anxiety was still anxiety.

Even if it’s not full-on exploration, walking around the area together wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Because I needed to teach him that outside the cave was dangerous.

’Wait, no. Wouldn’t he already know it’s dangerous from following his mother around?’

Though the weird thing was that I was the one who sent that mother off to the United States.

If Wonmo finds out later, how will he view me? He wouldn’t go "My mother’s nemesis!" and stab me, right?

After indulging in useless worries for a moment, I finished cleaning up.

I planned to use the charcoal left over from burning firewood to do the laundry.

’Charcoal is low-key super useful.’

You can use it as soap. You can use it as a deodorant. You can even use it to add aroma when cooking.

It’s perfect with nothing lacking. If I had to pick a downside, it’s that snakes might be drawn to the heat.

But since I consistently applied repellent for snakes too, there was no need to worry.

Puerk! Puk!

I turned on the hose and started washing clothes. Maybe because I had tumbled around earlier, muddy water streamed out continuously.

The laundry club was purchased from the auction house. It was convenient for beating the clothes.

Once I finished the laundry, I hung the clothes on the makeshift drying rack.

The makeshift drying rack was simple: just stick two tree branches into the ground and connect a string between them.

’I feel like I’ve already adapted.’

I didn’t have the slightest intention of living in the wild, but somehow I was doing pretty well for myself.

Thanks to the Gallery, I wasn’t bored, and thanks to Wonmo and Speed Sloth, I felt less lonely.

When I had spare time, I steadily practiced the Internal Cultivation Art, so it was actually quite a busy life.

’I’ve gotten real comfortable, haven’t I.’

However, my desire to get out of this place had not faded.

Because this place was too dangerous. You never knew when or where a dangerous beast would appear.

Especially that building-sized crab I saw at the lakeside. Even seeing it from a distance made me feel utterly helpless.

’Let’s not go to the lake for a while. Even if I do go, I should just grab the crabs and leave.’

It was a place where even giant crabs gathered in swarms.

It’s best to just grab what I need for Passing Dwarf and head right back.

If giant crabs come swarming in midway, well... I’ll just have to run for my life.

’Let’s make check-in points along the way. Like the starting point of the river’s downstream area.’

It’s best to always use the river as a baseline. It’s the landmark of a forest where even compasses don’t work.

Or I could make landmarks myself. It takes effort, but preventing myself from getting lost is essential.

Getting lost here? Survival rate wouldn’t just crawl along the floor, it would plunge straight into the abyss.

In the first place, I only found this cave by luck, and it originally belonged to someone else.

It only became my cave after I beat up its original owner; finding another cave would be tough.

’First, I should mark it on the map.’

I marked the river and drew the lakeside at its end.

I didn’t know how big the lake actually was, but I drew it as small as possible.

Since they said the Forest of the Four Seasons alone was roughly the size of a small country.

’Now that mapping is done, time for the Internal Cultivation Art.’

Before practicing the Internal Cultivation Art, I checked the messages from Heavenly Demon first.

Not asking how I was doing. Messages pinned higher than that.

The foundational knowledge that served as the root of the Internal Cultivation Art. I thoroughly read through them every time before circulating the technique.

’Even though it’s knowledge widely spread on the Gallery, I should take guidance from someone trustworthy.’

The basics themselves were spread across the Gallery too. As Heavenly Demon mentioned, this was the absolute basics of basics.

But it wasn’t objective. Most people added their own personal tricks.

On the other hand, Heavenly Demon’s teachings were straightforward and honest. Even if there were difficult terms, they were textbook orthodox.

’What’s important when practicing the technique is whether you can feel mana—that is, Internal Energy—flowing through the Conception and Governing Vessels.’

I shouldn’t just blindly circulate it. I slowly operated the cultivation technique.

Understanding the subtle mystery of the Internal Cultivation Art and accepting it naturally.

Breathing, yet doing so without consciously forcing the circulation.

Finally, making everyday breathing produce the same effect as executing the cultivation technique.

Heavenly Demon recommended taking these three steps bit by bit. Listening to it, every word was correct.

’Even the second step is overwhelming.’

It still felt like my breathing and energy circulation were separate.

Heavenly Demon taught that breathing and circulation should occur simultaneously, urging me to work toward doing them unconsciously.New chapters come out on novelping dot com first.

Hearing it, it sounded like a goal even someone like me could achieve with enough effort.

So that she wouldn’t be disappointed, I focused with utmost concentration every time I circulated the technique.

"Phoo."

But I’m not a genius. I’m not even a person of this world.

Though I regulated my breath several times, there was hardly any progress.

’Breathing, huh... Would increasing lung capacity boost efficiency?’

Since the basic foundation was breathing, it likely had a significant connection to lung capacity.

However, all I could do here was bodyweight exercises, and specifically strength training at that.

Cardio? Roaming around here and there is a perfect way to get lost.

For now, I have no choice but to replace it by taking deep breaths in and long exhales out.

’Or so Sword Matstar told me.’

Useful tips like this were mostly provided by Sword Matstar.

Things like keeping the breathing intervals long rather than short, as well as info on Aura and so on.

Thanks to the combined advice of Heavenly Demon and Sword Matstar, I’m making progress little by little.

Even if it’s at a turtle’s pace, there’s no need to rush.

’Time to go set up the fish traps. And catch some Golden Frogs.’

Now that breathing practice was done, it was time to get to work.

After slinging the crossbow on my back, I called Speed Sloth.

"Hey. Stop lying around and climb on."

"..."

At my instruction, Speed Sloth slowly climbed onto my back.

He hung comfortably so as not to get in the way of the crossbow.

All that was left was bringing the fish traps, but...

"Why are these so big?"

Every time I looked at them, I couldn’t help but think the fish traps were quite large.

They were big enough to easily hold 2 or 3 of the fish I caught before.

Just thinking about setting these up made me dizzy already, but I had no choice.

That way, I could move around in the future without worrying about food.

From now on, Fasting Pills would become Speed Sloth’s exclusive food supply.

Swoooooosh!

Arriving at the river, a wave of gloomy exhaustion washed over me. When would I finish setting all these up?

Moreover, there was also the threat of Golden Frogs. I needed to eliminate that threat first.

"Hey. Get down. Let’s start getting ready."

"..."

At my direction, Speed Sloth slowly climbed down.

Next, to draw out the Golden Frogs, I stuck my hand into the river.

Chumbong! Chumbong!

"Gaegul."

"Gaegul. Gaegul."

As expected, a swarm of Golden Frogs leaped out of the river.

Only one thing left to do.

Puerk!

While Speed Sloth drew aggro, I fired the crossbow.

Only the first time is hard; from the second time on, it’s easy, leading to an effortless hunt.

’It’s seriously marvelous.’

Speed Sloth’s evasion was truly at a marvelous level.

Golden Frog venom will send you straight to the afterlife with just one hit, yet he stood there boldly dodging it.

I’m a coward, so I couldn’t pull off something like that. It’s an action only Speed Sloth could perform.

Chumbong! Chumbong!

Before long, the Golden Frogs retreated into the river.

Unlike before, even when their comrades were hit, they didn’t keep shooting venom continuously.

It seems venom doesn’t generate infinitely, but works on a recharge system.

’Because they said animals like that consume other poisons to make it their own.’

If they don’t eat poisonous flora or fauna, it means they’re just ordinary frogs.

Anyway, now that the Golden Frogs went back, all that remained was installing the fish traps.

I just need to widen the spot where the hose is installed and put the traps in.

The reason I hunted the Golden Frogs beforehand was that I inevitably had to step into the river.

Since my footwear was sleeper-style shoes, I could step into the water without any hesitation.

’A giant fish won’t swallow me whole, right?’

Anxious, I kept looking around repeatedly.

Since it’s such a terrifying place, letting my guard down is strictly forbidden.

Fortunately, no giant fish swallowed me in one bite.

With the trap setup finished, I immediately sent a trade request to Allfather.

Coincidentally, Allfather was also logged into the Gallery, accepting the trade right away.

Hello.

Allfather-nim. I caught the frogs, should I give them to you?

[Wild Grylls: The poison sacs didn’t burst.]

[Allfather: Oh. Thank you very much.]

I think I can give you the medicine tomorrow.

Thank you.

[Wild Grylls: By the way, is it alright if I ask you one thing?]

[Allfather: Feel free to ask anytime.]Read the latest chapters at novelping dot com.

What are you curious about?

[Wild Grylls: The Golden Frogs shot venom and then returned to the river, is their poison on a recharge system?]

[Allfather: Yes. That is correct.]

Once the poison in their poison sacs runs out, they lose their means of attack.

To recharge it, they must consume something containing venom.

As I expected.

This means there’s something around here carrying terrifying poison. Probably poisonous insects.

’I should keep applying the repellent consistently.’

I concluded the trade with Allfather and returned to the cave. Nothing else happened.

After returning, I logged into the Gallery to check the time.

Perhaps because I spent quite a bit of time installing the traps, it was past 3 o’clock.

’Practice swordsmanship until dinner... and dinner will be Fasting Pills.’

Had I known, maybe I should’ve brought back one more crab.

A bit disappointing, but what’s done is done. Even so, I don’t want to go to the lakeside.

I plan to go to the lakeside only after receiving new shoes. That way I can prevent accidents.

Help me. I opened my eyes and I’m in the Forest of the Four Seasons.

"Huh?"

While browsing the Gallery, I saw a post title I couldn’t easily scroll past.

A post claiming they dropped into the Forest of the Four Seasons. I hurriedly clicked in.

Help me. I opened my eyes and I’m in the Forest of the Four Seasons.

Danos Dukedom, Menethil Street public restroom, men’s 3rd stall. Please. There’s no toilet paper.

LMAO crazy clickbait. Ran over here the second I saw it

Me too LMAO thought a second Grylls was appearing

Normally I’d skip this, but clicked because of Grylls LMAO

Ah right. Gallery doesn’t work inside the Forest of the Four Seasons anyway LMAO

OP: Thank you so much to the anonymous savior. You saved my life. For me, that restroom was the Forest of the Four Seasons.

Forest of the Four Seasons valid LOL

Have to admit it’s valid;;

Even Grylls would be like "Ah, this one is valid"

"..."

Yeah. As long as you got out of your "Forest of the Four Seasons," that’s what matters.

The forest night is quiet.

Aside from the chirping of insects and the distant howling of wolves, it’s perfect for closing one’s eyes.

At the same time, the forest night is extremely dangerous. Pitch blackness where one cannot see an inch ahead, and beasts that could leap out from anywhere.

Herbivores in the wild cannot even sleep properly, struggling desperately to avoid impending death.

Dduduk-

The noise of a twig being stepped on. Along with that noise, the clamorous insect chirping ceased in an instant.

It was an extremely subtle difference, but even the insects knew: a dangerous predator was walking.

Soon, the place that predator headed for was the cave where the campfire was just about to go out.

Even a small campfire is no different from sunlight in a place enveloped by absolute darkness.

Perhaps it was only natural that it caught the predator’s eye.

"Kreuung..."

The growl of the beast entering the perimeter.

Though it was a very low growl, there was an animal that reacted sharply even to that sound.

Not the human fallen into a deep sleep, nor the owlbear cub that needed protection.

"..."

A sloth that never knew when or where it might get eaten. The sloth slowly opened its eyes.

Because the presence felt outside was ominous. The sloth—no, Speed Sloth—sluggishly raised his body.

Udeudeok!

"..."

This time he heard it clearly. The sound of a branch snapping.

Speed Sloth turned his head smoothly.

The human was still wandering in dreamland. A posture devoid of even a shred of vigilance.

Speed Sloth found such a human, Grylls, terribly pitiful, but a companion was a companion.

Therefore, to wake Grylls up, Speed Sloth raised his arm high.

Puerk!

"Kkueog!"

Getting smacked in the face out of nowhere, Grylls woke up with a startled shock.

Even in deep sleep, one feels pain. With a half-asleep face, he raised his body.

"Wh-what? What’s going on?"

"..."

Speed Sloth silently pointed his arm toward the outside of the cave.

At that directional cue, Grylls turned his head with an as-yet bewildered expression.

"Kreurung..."

"..."

What did I just hear? Grylls wore a dumbfounded expression.

But it didn’t take long for him to realize that the sound belonged to a beast—a dangerous predator at that.

’Holy shit...!’

Cursing inwardly, he hurriedly equipped his gear.

Dangerous. Truly dangerous. That was Grylls’s inner thought.

Soon, roughly equipped, he slowly stepped out of the cave.

Speed Sloth also climbed onto his back, ready to enter battle at any moment.

Finally, a single light caught Grylls’s vision.

Flash!

Within the veil densely blanketed by darkness, a pair of menacingly glowing lights.