I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 588

Daily life returned after ending an outing that lasted a mere single day.

Calling living in the Forest of the Four Seasons one’s ’daily life’—in many ways, it was a catastrophic story.

If anyone else heard it, they’d say what kind of nonsensical nonsense is that.

But I had already transcended survival and entered the realm of living.

Thus, living in the Forest of the Four Seasons was my daily life and my routine.

Tta-ang! Ttang! Ttang!

And right now, I was forging gauntlets for the gorilla—no, Wukong brothers.

For Lackey, I used Mythricon to draw out magic power further, and for Dolsoe, metal with Adamantium added to it.

Thanks to the experience of having crafted them before, I could forge them smoothly. To begin with, materials were overflowing.

"Dolsoe-ya. Are your palms more important than fists?"

"That is right. But now I think I will punch a lot too."

"Because your hands changed to look like human hands?"

Asking about the brothers’ preferences here and there, I proceeded with custom crafting.

Furthermore, a situation might arise where these guys would have to craft and repair arms themselves in the future.

So I had them watch me hammering by my side.

Even if leading the crafting was hard, at least they could serve as my assistants.

’Because now I have to sharpen the swords myself.’

Maintenance of tools, including swords, was originally Ludwig’s role, but he had departed from the party.

In the end, I had no choice but to take over that role. It wasn’t for nothing that I assigned work to the Wukong brothers.

Thus, for three days, I holed up in the smithy and crafted a single gauntlet.

Because each finger joint had to be crafted meticulously, it naturally took a bit of time.

"It’s best if Lackey equips this one first. Dolsoe, I’ll make yours next."

"Understood."

"You’re not upset, right?"

"Brother is higher in rank than me. It is only natural."

If this guy Dolsoe joined the army, senior soldiers would adore him. Every word and action reeked of an ace.

To be precise, his personality was close to Ludwig. Clearly Ludwig had left, yet it felt like one more was still remaining.

[While we’re at it, how about teaching them faith...]

"Eo-heo. Don’t teach them strange things."

[You’re probably the only person who describes faith as something strange.]

I chuckled at Cain’s grumbling. Naturally, it was a joke.

They already had so much to learn, so if they learned faith on top of it, it seemed like it would be tough—that was why.

’It is a fact that faith helps in enduring harsh trials.’

It was a fact proven several times, so there was no need to give examples.

Besides, in a way, I possessed faith too. It just worked in a negative direction.

Faith isn’t forced; whether out of curiosity or sincerity, what matters is one’s heart being moved.

If the brothers genuinely wished to learn faith, I intended to willingly oblige.

[Wild Grylls: (Roughly a video of assembling gauntlets) Is this the right way to do it?]

[Passing Dwarf: Yep, just do it like that. Trying it is the hard part, once you do it it’ll be easy.]

Normally, I would have sent the gauntlet components to Dwarf. Because assembly was somewhat tricky.

However, Dwarf had been busy recently due to personal reasons, and I focused on improving my own skills.

Fortunately, gauntlet assembly itself was as Dwarf said—the first time was hard, but from the second time onward it wasn’t.

Above all, even if I failed and messed up, the fact that I could keep trying was huge.

[Wild Grylls: By the way, why are you busy these days? Year-end settlement?]

[Passing Dwarf: There’s that too, but I ended up representing us at the New Year festival.]

[Wild Grylls: Is there some kind of contest at the New Year festival?]

[Passing Dwarf: A heavy drinking contest.]

[Wild Grylls: Fucking dwarf-like contest kekeke What do they give if you win?]

[Passing Dwarf: They do give supreme-grade booze, but I don’t care about that, I’m just participating because I wanna drink tons of liquor keke]

[Wild Grylls: Seriously, your whole species is gonna die of liver cancer;;]

Dwarf had become a body that barely got drunk thanks to the Dragon Heart I gave him.

But as the saying goes ’a crow tit tears its legs trying to walk like a stork,’ I was worried other dwarves would suffer because of this guy.

[Passing Dwarf: That’s true, but my kids probably won’t die of liver diseases kek]

[Wild Grylls: Huh? Were you married?]

[Passing Dwarf: Nop, but if I win this contest, tons of women are scheduled to flock to me kek]

[Wild Grylls: So drinking tons of booze makes you popular, is that it?]

[Passing Dwarf: Isn’t that obvious? Jealous?]

Honestly, that "Jealous?" statement provoked me a little.

While someone’s dream ended after a single night, this Dwarf fellow was planning to dream starting now.

Was that why? I apologized to Asella in my mind and sent a message.

[Wild Grylls: (Photo of Grylls walking around with Asella) Nope kek]

[Passing Dwarf: Seriously, I can’t understand the aesthetic standards of tall guys. Why call such an ugly woman pretty?]

[Wild Grylls: Isn’t your guys’ aesthetic standard the weird one?;;]

[Passing Dwarf: For saying that, you humans call even Demons pretty. Other species detest Demons.]

Words impossible to deny. In truth, except to humans, Demons were rated as having somewhat hideous appearances.

And with good reason, as dwarves were merely short, at least possessing human-like appearances.

But Demons had sclera, and skin tinged blue, making them somewhat alien.

Humans are the species that swoon over even Demons if they’re attractive.

’But they are pretty, though.’

This too was a cultural difference between species. It was best to understand and move on.

After that, ending the conversation with Dwarf, I raised my head and looked up at the sky.

Just a little while ago it was Christmas, which felt like a dream, but soon it would be the New Year.

Back on Earth, the New Year brought no emotion to me. I just felt ’Ah, I ate another year of age.’

’Come to think of it, how old am I again?’

Slowly counting my fingers, I tried to figure out how old I was. But I quickly realized it was meaningless.

When my memory wasn’t even intact and there was a past even I didn’t know about, what did age matter?

As long as I didn’t feel like I was aging day by day, that was enough. Let’s think simply.This chapter was taken from novelping . com without permission.

"Cain-ssi."

[Hmm?]

"Cain-ssi, you prayed to Aris-nim every New Year, right?"

Thinking of the New Year, I became curious about the resolutions of the rest of the group.

To be precise, asking what they did every New Year. Cain first of all.

Being a devout believer, I expected he prayed toward Aris.

[I simply prayed for tasty breakfast tomorrow.]

"..."

[In my era, even making a living was hard. Just being full was a blessing.]

In reality, the era Cain operated in was an era overflowing with all kinds of monsters.

The gods only subjugated truly hopeless monsters like dragons, leaving minor monsters unattended.

To be precise, rather than unattended, calling it leaving them as trials for humanity would be more fitting. Roughly picturing the beasts of Greek and Roman mythology makes it easy to visualize.

"What about Lackey and Dolsoe? You must have learned the concept of the New Year from Wi Ho-chang, right?"

"Isn’t it a day to eat delicious food?"

"Brother’s words are right. We ate delicious food in celebration of the New Year."

Having said so, the brothers looked at each other, nodded, and said to me.

"Seeing you say such words, is it New Year soon? I hope we eat delicious food too."

"I agree with Brother’s words."

"..."

They hit it off only at times like this, seriously. I let out a dry laugh.

It seemed eating delicious food on New Year was the same on Earth and here alike.

I decided that if the New Year came, I’d cook tasty food as they wished. Rice cake soup should be enough.

’Rice cake soup... The one Mom made was really delicious.’

Rice cake soup looks easy on the surface, but varies drastically depending on the cook’s capability.

In particular, the broth and the seaweed or soy sauce giving the salty flavor would be important. Adding dumplings depending on taste was good too.

’Let’s see... Spring will arrive before the New Year.’

Counting the dates, I calculated which season it would be in the New Year.

Whichever season it was, outdoor activity was impossible on the very first day.

Fortunately, when New Year’s morning dawned, it would be the second day of spring, so outdoor activities seemed possible.

’Could there be an entity granting wishes on the New Year just like Christmas?’

I should make a proper wish this time.

Not letting me out for just one day like a recruit leave, but letting me escape outside once and for all.

Having laid out plans step by step like that, dinner time approached before I knew it.

Since it was winter, I intended to eat just about anything and finish up, but out of nowhere Lackey said this to me.

"Master. I want to try cooking."

"Suddenly?"

Lackey revealing a desire to cook. I couldn’t help but be puzzled.

Since he was a guy who always took on other tasks on the grounds that cooking was super annoying.

"In exchange, grant me one permission. To freely enter and exit the food storehouse..."

"No."

Figures. I firmly rejected it.

After giddily eating sweet potatoes since Christmas, he must have said that because doing so would be hard from now on.

I treated it as absurd given his transparent ulterior motive, but Lackey was persistent.

"Then let me enter the food storehouse whenever I cook."

"What kind of cooking are you gonna do? If you make candied sweet potatoes, I’ll beat you."

"It might be hard for us to eat to our fill, but at least I can make it delicious."

I didn’t know what kind of confidence was making him step forward like that.

It was a situation where Lackey had been with me for well over half a year.

Wondering if he learned something over my shoulder all this time, trying it once wasn’t bad.

"Tell me what you’re gonna make first."

"I will cook with the chicken obtained from the Meat Forest and Wine Pool."

We were currently airlifting lots of food from the Meat Forest and Wine Pool.

Because letting it rot out of anxiety was a waste.

There was one decisive reason here as well.

’Lately, animals seem to be avoiding me.’

Was it because I ascended to the position of an apex predator? Or was it due to another reason?

Normally, animals would have ambushed us, but recently their tendency to avoid us was strong.

The frequency of Hunters, who were so desperate to devour me, appearing had also dropped drastically.

It meant I had grown strong, but to that extent, we had no choice but to hunt directly for food.

"...Well, if you’re confident, go ahead. I’ll help if you need supplies."

"Then Master. Look at this."

Lackey handed a booklet over to me. A book borrowed from the library before winter arrived.

I thought he borrowed a novel as usual, but what do you know. He borrowed a cooking recipe book just like me.

The language of the booklet was Korean rather than Central Plains language. Thanks to that, I immediately recognized what he wanted to cook.

’Jar-roasted chicken...?’

Back when I lived on Earth, it was a dish I saw quite a bit on Yo*Tube. Most reviews said it was genuinely delicious.

The key was shoving a beer can into the chicken’s rear end. This could be resolved easily enough.

The same went for other ingredients, spices, and seasonings. They could easily be bought at the auction house.

"Master. Can you forge me a jar by any chance?"

"...Not give you one, but forge one?"

"Like the grill plate last time, it will allow even more delicious cooking."

"..."

It wasn’t pure nonsense, so I made one for now.

Though a jar and Mythricon were totally different materials, since he begged, I couldn’t help it.

"Now. Everyone. As you can see right now, Lackey is cooking."

ㄴ Heavenly Demon) A cooking Sun Wukong. Just looking at it piques one’s interest.

ㄴ Sword Matstar) In all my life, to see a gorilla cooking.

ㄴ Don’t Abandon the Hero) It looks fun...!

ㄴ Praise the Sun) But why is he doing it instead of you? Something like "Today I am the chef"?Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping dot com.

"I don’t know. He said he wants to."

I couldn’t not show this super fun situation to everyone. I explained to the fixed-handles one by one while watching Lackey’s preparation process.

First, following the recipe, he heavily slathered seasonings onto a well-trimmed chicken.

One might ask where those seasonings came from; a few were purchased at the auction house.

It was just that the rest were medicinal herbs directly sourced from the Forest of the Four Seasons. Since they had been used a few times, safety was guaranteed.

Following that, after stuffing garlic and various ingredients inside the chicken, he plugged it tightly with a can filled with beer.

That can was received from Dwarf. He said it was being recycled anyway so it didn’t matter.

"The process itself looks legit, doesn’t it?"

ㄴ Allfather) Though using ingredients from the Forest of the Four Seasons is concerning, it’s quite decent.

ㄴ Internal Cultivation Master Robert) It looks delicious. If the result is good, I should try it too.

ㄴ Suspiciously...) Looks delicious.

As could be seen from the fixed-handles and me giving praise, the process was exceedingly superb.

There were no mistakes terrible cooks usually make, like using completely different ingredients claiming they give a similar flavor.

If there was any problem, it was that he put in a fair amount of medicinal herbs sourced from the Forest of the Four Seasons.

Though verified by having eaten them a few times, the problem was that he mixed them all together at once.

ㄴ Starlight Lady) I’m a bit anxious. You’re sure he’s distinguishing between cooking and alchemy, right?

ㄴ Smart Demon) Isn’t that a Mature Mandrake rather than ginseng?

ㄴ Princess Chaenggu) I think I see an Ice Snow Flower too~

Lackey, who threw in Ice Snow Flower and Mature Mandrake instead of ginseng.

Seeing this, anxiety rose, and I asked quietly.

"Hey. Are you sure it’s okay?"

"Yin and Yang are properly harmonized, so it is fine."

"Was that in the cookbook?"

"No."

"..."

I feel like I understand a bit of how that strongman felt facing the Beer Can Chicken incident. That was really hilarious back then.

But now that I became that person, I couldn’t bring myself to laugh. And this is the Forest of the Four Seasons.

"...It might explode, so let’s step away for a moment."

[It’s simple cooking, would it explode?]

"I heard a rumor that a certain cook once created lava."

While I said so, Lackey covered the chicken with the Mythricon jar.

After stacking firewood around it, he set it ablaze as is. Now, just waiting quietly was the end of it.

"Everyone. If the chicken skyrockets whole along with the jar, or completely evaporates, just brush it off as one of those things."

ㄴ Heavenly Demon) Since it is the Forest of the Four Seasons, such things might happen.

ㄴ Sword Matstar) It’s a place where abnormal things happen as naturally as breathing.

ㄴ Starlight Lady) Will it really be okay...?

Well, according to the cookbook, I knew it had to be cooked steadily for about 1 hour.

Until then, spending time chatting cosily was all that was needed.

Above all, chicken was close to an appetizer. Satisfying the Shelter party with just that single thing was difficult.

Deulseok! Deulseok!

It was when about 30 minutes had passed. The jar covering the chicken rattled.

I wondered ’no way,’ but signs of it actually soaring like a rocket were visible. I moved further away.

"Master. Why are you running away?"

"Are you not running away even after seeing the jar rattling like that?"

"This is merely aging for flavor..."

Teong!

Right as Lackey made excuses, as expected, the jar launched high into the sky.

Whether it couldn’t withstand the internal pressure or because the chicken actually exploded was unknown.

"...It’s fine though?"

I looked at the chicken to check, but the chicken skewered on the can was merely cooked to a golden brown and completely intact.

Having been utterly terrified the moment the jar blew off, Lackey saw this and acted shameless.

"Look. Master. Now if we just eat this..."

"Kkkodek. Kkkokk!"

"...?"

What. Just now.

What sound did that chicken just make?

I stopped all actions at the chicken crowing sound that pierced my ears out of nowhere.

Unless I misheard, that was definitely the crowing of a chicken.

"Just now..."

"Kkogogok!"

I hadn’t misheard. Lackey’s roasted chicken burst out crying.

Beyond even bursting into cries, it was flapping its scrawny wings. A deeply terrifying situation.

"Kkogogok! Kkogok!"

Padadak! Padak!

The golden-brown roasted chicken was bouncing around while flapping its wings energetically.

Staring with an expression of utter disbelief, I glanced at Lackey.

Lackey also hadn’t predicted this situation at all, wearing an indescribable expression.

"...Hey. Park Kkobong."

"..."

"Don’t you dare sleep until you eat all of this. Got it?"

This bastard didn’t cook or practice alchemy, he’s sitting here performing necromancy.

Lackey stared blankly at the roasted chicken he had revived(?), then opened his mouth.

"N-Now if Master dies, I can resurrect you! Behold my skill!"

"Shut up and just eat it."

ㄴ Necromancy is Love) Truly an astonishing ability. Even We cannot help but express admiration.

Get lost, roleplayer.