I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 608

"Huff... huff..."

"What on earth... huff... was with that kind of ladybug?"

It happened in an instant. An adventurer on the verge of reaching 1st Rank was done in without even putting up a proper fight.

It was closer to getting what he deserved, but even Recol hadn’t provoked the ladybug without a thought.

In his own mind, he had probably kicked it thinking he could force his way through somehow.

However, the Forest of the Four Seasons made using mana extremely difficult, and being physically built wasn’t a catch-all solution.

Even Grylls had lived as quiet as a dead mouse before he properly understood the forest.

Even with the Gallery’s help and Bbareumbo’s protection, there were countless times he had ’almost died’.

"Are they chasing us?"

"No. They all swarmed that dumbass, so they aren’t coming after us."

The adventurers who fled frantically checked if the ladybugs were following.

Fortunately, there was no sign of the ladybugs.

But a vague dread washed over them irresistibly.

"..."

"..."

The adventurers caught their breath for a moment, after which a heavy silence fell.

Though a team of troublemakers, that didn’t mean it consisted solely of inexperienced rookies.

Except for Brown, most were 2nd and 3rd rankers, so they realized it quickly.

That in the Forest of the Four Seasons, there was nothing you could touch lightheartedly.

That touching something by mistake in total ignorance meant dying a dog’s death like Recol just now.

"Ah. If I knew, I would’ve captured at least one. The Magic Tower would pay big money for it."

"Can you seriously spit that bullshit out in a situation like this?"

"What? The dead guy is dead, and this is business."

The adventurers clicked their tongues at the gambling addict’s nonsense.

Yet his words weren’t entirely wrong. After all, shouldn’t they do their job?

Their goal wasn’t clear-cutting, but exploration. Frankly, turning back right now wouldn’t be a problem.

Of course, returning like this would mean facing glaring stares.

Above all...

"I agree with him. Recol died a dog’s death, so it’d be a waste to go back now."

"Shouldn’t we at least bring back some rare medicinal herbs?"

As adventurers, they couldn’t restrain their pride, nor their greed.

Most people who made an active lifestyle their profession naturally derived pleasure from it.

Adventurers especially were exposed to various thrills: finding rare herbs, discovering hidden ruins, and the like.

To back off over just this, the mystery called the Forest of the Four Seasons held them captive.

"We can still track where the entrance is, right?"

"Fortunately, we aren’t far. Let’s set up a signpost here."

"Since compasses don’t work, we have no choice but to mark our trail carefully."

"How long until it closes?"

"About two hours left. We need to head back at least 30 minutes prior to be in the safe zone."

Humans possessed a unique trait compared to other races.

Even if they went at each other’s throats normally, they cooperated in times of crisis.

Though a gathering of troublemakers, they had no choice but to unite in the face of ’survival’.

"If you see anything around us, speak up immediately. Don’t touch a damn thing."

"Yeah, yeah. Understood. By the way, who’s the highest rank here? That bastard Recol was a 2nd ranker."

"I’m 2nd rank."

"Me too."

As a result, a 2nd ranker—and a senior one at that—took on the role of leader.

Seeing this, Brown thought they had managed some organizational structure, but there was a bigger problem.

"By the way, what did that guy say to be careful of?"

"Isn’t it just small animals we need to watch out for?"

"Haah, shit. How is there not a single person who actually watched it?"

"I was dragged here against my will too."

Even if they were battle-hardened, that was strictly on the outside; this was everyone’s first time in the Forest of the Four Seasons.

Even if they read Grylls’ posts, it was a place where countless unknown variables sprang forth.

A blessing in disguise was that plenty of the insect repellent Brown brought remained.

"Seriously, if we didn’t even have this, I don’t know what would’ve happened."

"Hey kid. Are you a professional porter?"

"I’m an adventurer. I just act as a porter because I lack talent in fighting."

Brown answered while gripping a Molotov cocktail tightly in his hand.

Since he didn’t know when, where, or what would pop out, it was best to always be prepared.

The same went for the other adventurers. They thoroughly searched the surrounding area starting from the entrance.

There was no reason to stray far from the entrance; doing so would only lower their chances of survival.

"By the way, why are the trees here so bare? Did those ladybugs earlier eat everything?"

"From what I know, ladybugs eat aphids, not grass."

"Different ladybug species have different diets. Herbivorous ladybugs are classified as pests, not beneficial insects."

Brown freely shared his knowledge as someone from a farming village.

He hadn’t expected to use it in the Forest of the Four Seasons of all places, but usefulness was usefulness.

"...Good knowledge, but wouldn’t every insect here eat humans?"

"That’s true."

Brown nodded in agreement at the female mage’s words.

Didn’t all sorts of crazy bugs appear in Grylls’ posts? Here wouldn’t be any different.

"I wonder if there’s anything to gain from this place."

"Worst case, we scoop up some dirt. Isn’t this all top-grade fertilizer?"

"True, but insects might have laid eggs here. We should send it to the Magic Tower."

"You bastard, trying to hog it all for yourself?"

Was it because nothing happened after Recol’s futile death? They began exchanging jokes.

However, their nerves, strung to the limit, grew quickly exhausted.This story is hosted at novelping . com.

"Eek?!"

"What is it?"

"A-a bug grazed past my ear."

Moreover, whenever the sound of a bug buzzed by their ears, they jumped out of their skins.

Although bugs didn’t approach recklessly thanks to the repellent, they were inevitably sensitive due to Recol’s example.

"Let’s rest here for a moment."

"Haaah... Why does this drain my energy so much? Is it because we can’t use mana?"

"That too, but it’s mainly because we have to stay on constant alert."

Even though they were a team of battle-hardened veterans, they were taking a break after just 30 minutes.

Normally, an hour would be easy, but they were exhausted physically and mentally.

"Where are we heading next?"

"We’re circling around the signpost, so anywhere shouldn’t matter—"

The adventurer appointed as temporary leader stopped talking. He stared blankly at one spot.

Standing frozen with his mouth agape, his expression said he was seeing something impossible.

Naturally, the other adventurers grew suspicious, wondering why he was so startled.

"What? Stopping mid-sentence—"

The adventurer leaning his back against a rock realized the leader’s gaze was directed at him.

Turning around, what met his eyes was:

Chrrrkt!

What he thought was a rock was actually the maw of a gigantic grasshopper.

Crunch! Crack! Crunch-crunch!

It happened in a split second. The grasshopper bit clean through the adventurer’s neck.

Blood spouted like a fountain, staining the giant grasshopper’s mouth bright red in an instant.

As if trying to resist, the adventurer pushed against the grasshopper with both hands, but it was already too late.

Uncapable of using mana, and with his neck already torn open, he could do nothing.

Thus, unable to even scream, the adventurer perished on the spot. The adventurers witnessing this gruesome sight froze solid.

Though they had faced numerous monsters and beasts, they had never heard of nor seen such a horrific monster.

"D-dammit! Everyone, prepare for battle!"

"Are you sure we can take it?!"

"Then are you just gonna stand there?!"

The adventurers chose battle over flight. It was a choice made because they had a chance of winning.

If it were a ’swarm’ like the ladybugs earlier, that would be one thing, but this was a single entity.

Moreover, since it was currently devouring an adventurer, the moment its guard was down was their chance.

"Watch out, that bastard might be able to fly!"

"Legs! Cut the legs first!"

Like true veterans, they knew how to handle a large target.

Furthermore, although they couldn’t use mana, they had honed physical capabilities and weapons bought with vast sums.

Shatter! Crunch! Snap!

"Chrrrrt! Chrk!"

Combining these two conditions with one of humanity’s strengths—gang violence—even the giant grasshopper couldn’t hold out.

Yet even while being beaten, it kept tearing off and eating the adventurer’s head, presenting a truly horrifying spectacle.

"S-should I throw a Molotov cocktail?!"

"Are you crazy?! Who are you trying to burn alive?!"

Grylls used fire almost as an all-purpose tool, but that was because he was skilled at it.

Normally, setting fire to a monster thrashing about like this made things far worse.

Furthermore, Grylls possessed cold energy capable of extinguishing fire immediately, allowing him to use it at will.

Crack-crack-crack!

Instead, the female mage fired an Ice Spear, completely sealing the grasshopper’s mobility.

Normally a spell that would activate in less than ten seconds, but in the Forest of the Four Seasons, it took over thirty seconds.

It was also cast at the cost of one Mana Stone, making it extremely inefficient. But so what?

"I froze it! You go and stab it quick!"

"Y-yes!"

As long as they could kill the grasshopper, it was enough.

With Brown joining in to hack away at the grasshopper, it collapsed onto the ground before long.

Even then, its mouth was still chewing on the adventurer’s head, grotesquely unsettling.

"Dammit... Because it’s a bug, it’s still flailing around."

"Can’t we kill it completely?"

"Decapitating it should work. Careful. It might try to bite like a snake."

The adventurers separated the head and body of the grasshopper lying on the ground.

The axe-wielder hacked at the neck area first, then used a sword like a saw to sever it completely.

Thanks to that, the giant grasshopper’s head fell to the ground, and naturally, the adventurer clamped in its jaw slumped over.

"...What do we do with this guy?"

An adventurer asked, pointing at the corpse whose head was torn to shreds.

Blood poured out like an open faucet. A corpse nauseating just to look at.

"Shit... How did he survive in a place like this?"

"Let’s just snatch his belongings and wrap it up. We need to leave quickly because of the smell alone."

The gloomy atmosphere lasted only a moment before the temporary leader hurriedly wrapped things up.

This was an adventurer’s fate. A profession with no luxury for a proper burial no matter where you died alone.

There was a reason countless parents begged their children never to become adventurers.

You couldn’t verify life or death, and it was hard to even receive a proper body.

"By the way, isn’t there anything to harvest from this grasshopper?"

"Come to think of it, doesn’t even ordinary fish in the Forest of the Four Seasons have Inner Cores? Does this one have one?"

"Inner Core, my ass. We’d be lucky not to get infected by parasites."

There was a high chance an Inner Core was inside, but it was an uncomfortable task in many ways.

Though they were adventurers who had butchered countless beasts, this was the Forest of the Four Seasons.

But as the thirsty man digs the well, the gambling addict adventurer stepped forward willingly.

"Then I’ll butcher it, okay? If there’s one, it’s mine."

"Do whatever you want. Better than your life’s worth."Read the latest chapters at novelping dot com.

"Offering just this to the Magic Tower would earn a fortune, man."

Nobody stopped the gambling addict.

Soon, the addict began rummaging through the grasshopper’s innards with a gleeful face.

The texture, entirely different from ordinary animals, should have been unpleasant, but he didn’t care at all.

And then...

"F-found it! It really has one!"

"Really?"

"Look at this! The brilliance!"

He actually found an Inner Core. The adventurers stared with fascinated expressions at the Inner Core held in the addict’s hand.

It was the size of a small marble, but the energy contained within was extraordinary.

They had only heard rumors until now; this was their first time seeing an Inner Core.

"It really is. How much would this go for?"

"Whatever you name. If we consume this, we’ll get several times stronger."

"Euhahaha! I’m rich now!"

It was when he was drawing everyone’s envy.

Brown, while feeling envious watching the situation, sensed something strange.

A shadow suddenly cast over his head. At this, Brown looked up.

"Huh? What..."

WHOOOOOOSH!

Before Brown could even say a word, a winged entity flashed past at high speed.

It whipped by like the wind, so fast that he couldn’t even properly make out what it was.

But that lasted only a second. The adventurers realized the gambling addict had vanished completely.

Leaving behind only the Inner Core rolling across the ground.

—Aaaaaaaaaaargh!!!

Soon, a scream echoed from the sky. The adventurers jumped in shock and raised their heads.

In the blue sky, entities defying perspective were flying about.

"W-what is that now?!"

"D-dragonfly? Isn’t that a dragonfly?!"

"Why is a dragonfly that big?!"

"It’s the Forest of the Four Seasons! Just accept it as it is!"

It was a dragonfly. And a dragonfly vastly larger than even the grasshopper.

That dragonfly had snatched the gambling addict away. An ambush and hunt executed in an instant.

Furthermore, it wasn’t just one, but two, and the result was equally gruesome.

No. Perhaps even more catastrophic.

Though they had already flown far, the adventurers could see it clearly with their own eyes.

Riiip! Snap!

—Gwaaaaah!!

The two dragonflies grabbed the addict’s upper and lower body and tore him right in half.

Beyond his upper and lower body being separated in the blink of an eye, he was devoured on the spot.

Just like ladybugs, there was a fact many people overlooked.

That dragonflies, which usually only ate mosquitoes, were masters of the hunt.

It vividly demonstrated what happened when the prey became ’human’.

"..."

"..."

The adventurers didn’t say a word. No, they couldn’t.

Because they had painfully realized that this place was hell made real.

"L-let’s get out of here quick. We got an Inner Core too!"

"Y-yeah. No need to stay here any longer!"

Having gained what they needed, the adventurers decided to rush outside.

Yet was it because of the blood spilled by the adventurer eaten by the grasshopper? Or was it due to the gambling addict’s scream?

"Kikikiki!"

On the path back, the king of insects—a mantis—appeared.

Its height was at least 2 meters by rough estimate. Considering a mantis’s body structure, it was absurdly huge.

"Dammit! I’ll block its attacks, so hit it from the side!"

The temporary leader shouted, holding his sword up to block the mantis’s attack.

Who knew having a leader could feel so reassuring?

"Keeeeek!"

The mantis fiercely swung its razor-sharp scythes. Agility fit for the king of insects.

The temporary leader swung his sword the moment he saw the attack.

He judged that no matter how strong it was, those wafer-thin scythes could easily be severed.

However, there was a fact he had overlooked: even Grylls had strictly used a ’shield’ in the beginning.

And because there were plenty of creatures capable of piercing even that shield, he had suffered immensely.

Slicccce!

The mantis’s scythe swept past the leader’s sword cleanly.

A movement as fluid as flowing water. Without the slightest hesitation.

While the leader went "Huh?" looking at that, the mantis’s scythe swung diagonally.

Sweeping neatly past the leader’s sword and through his torso, the mantis’s scythe slash executed its work. The result was as expected.

Sliddeee—

A line was traced across the leader’s body, accompanied by a gruesome sound.

Thud!

His upper torso separated diagonally and dropped to the ground.

Yet his lower body remained standing upright, highlighting the brutal nature characteristic of the Forest of the Four Seasons.

"Keeeeeeek!!"

"..."

Looks like they were well and truly fucked.

The adventurers who witnessed the leader’s futile death thought precisely that.