I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 85

At first glance, evolution sounds like a good thing due to its nuance or image in media, but in reality, that is often not the case.

Because if evolution progresses in a bizarre direction, it could even threaten one’s own life.

To begin with, evolution itself is something achieved through birth after birth over generations.

No one knows what effect genes altered like this now will have in the future, nor is it easy to predict how they will change.

Evolution, where a living creature changes to fit its ’environment’.

The problem is that it cannot be viewed purely in a positive light.

’Evolution, huh...’

I narrowed my eyes after hearing the hypothesis Allfather brought up. Hearing someone else’s opinion directly gave it a different feeling.

It was also strange that I felt mana all at once when I wasn’t even the protagonist of a novel or comic.

Just like Allfather’s hypothesis, it made sense that my body was changing to match the Forest of the Four Seasons.

Since Earth was a civilization built purely of steel, where mana didn’t even exist, let alone magic.

It doesn’t sound entirely like good news.

[Wild Grylls: Are you saying I might turn hideous?]

[Allfather: The form itself will likely remain similar to a human.]

However, as you can see from the shark giant, it could also change bizarrely.

What are people who are attuned to mana usually like?

[Wild Grylls: Do their forms get all twisted or anything like that?]

[Allfather: They maintain human form, first and foremost.]

In particular, most of them have good physical conditions.

The vessel to hold mana must fundamentally be good.

My height is around 175 cm. The average of averages.

Because I ate only instant ramen, my body was skinny-fat, loaded with visceral fat.

However, perhaps because I’ve suffered so severely recently, I could feel my body fat slowly decreasing. That made sense. But...

The muscle buried beneath began to stand out. That, I couldn’t understand.

’Normally, fat should be overwhelmingly advantageous for survival, right?’

I vaguely recalled hearing that obesity becoming a social issue hadn’t even been around for a hundred years.

Until then, humanity lived by accumulating fat. Because it was advantageous for survival.

And evolution is closely related to ’survival’. It didn’t add up.

Is losing weight and gaining excessive muscle also due to that influence...?

I don’t get it.

[Wild Grylls: Isn’t fat more important for survival than muscle?]

[Allfather: It’s not that Grylls-ssi is adapting to the Forest of the Four Seasons of his own free will, but rather the Forest of the Four Seasons is adapting Grylls-ssi to itself.]

Is that possible?

[Wild Grylls: It feels like all my common sense is blowing up;;]

[Allfather: It is merely a hypothesis.]

Nothing about the Forest of the Four Seasons has been revealed.

I am merely analyzing based on what Grylls-ssi shows me.

I wiped my dry face with both hands. It felt like things were getting increasingly complicated.

However, one thing was certain: my survival was under threat.

It wasn’t just a matter of supplementing food and protecting myself from surrounding threats.

This forest itself was threatening my life in real-time.

’Though it’s not confirmed yet...’

Based on various circumstances, it could be deduced that my body had changed.

A body suddenly transformed into a constitution accustomed to mana.

Physical capabilities beginning to grow stronger to an almost abnormal degree.

Furthermore, my skin peeling away and new flesh growing in.

These were things that could not happen unless it was the ’evolution’ Allfather mentioned—and an environment-tailored evolution at that.

’Did Speed Sloth evolve this way too?’

I glanced at Speed Sloth, who was still clinging to my back.

As always, hanging there with a relaxed face.

Could he also be considered a product of ’evolution’?

’The Mature Mandrake is the same.’

Not just animals, but plants too.

Whether because it absorbs massive amounts of mana, or for some other reason.

Its growth is abnormally fast.

[Allfather: As I have repeatedly emphasized, nothing is certain.]

More evidence will be needed.

Evidence, huh... First, I’ll need to explore.

Thank you for your help.

[Allfather: I haven’t helped with anything.]

It’s all Grylls-ssi working hard. I hope you hang in there in every way.

I feel heavy-hearted, but I’ll do my best.

My conversation with Allfather ended there. As soon as the chat disconnected, I let out a sigh.

Is this what it feels like to understand something even when you don’t want to?Find the original chapter at novelping . com.

The evidence up to now turned into conviction, breeding anxiety.

Humans always harbor fear toward the unknown.

I was quite terrified of how this forest would transform me.

’I don’t need to know the cause. I just need to escape...’

Realizing that mere survival wasn’t enough made me feel utterly deflated.

To the extent that all the hardships I’d suffered so far felt meaningless.

’All the more reason I can’t give up.’

I pulled myself together once more. It was still too early to despair.

At least my body had changed in a good direction so far.

The hypothesis Allfather put forward was merely a hypothesis; nothing was certain.

’I can only be certain after finding more evidence.’

Before that, there was something most important. I shifted my gaze.

Where my gaze landed, an empty cast-iron pan was left sitting alone.

The fish that the shark giant had wolfed down completely. A fish I had even basted with oyster sauce after a long time.

’Let’s eat first.’

Koreans run on rice power. I don’t have rice, but food is important anyway.

I consumed all of the tiny bit of oyster sauce that was left.

It was really delicious. Unlike before when I only had a bite, this time I ate it all.

’It’s so annoyingly delicious.’

Perhaps because I heard bad news, even after eating my fill, I didn’t feel good.

However, I needed to shake off this mood quickly. Negative thinking tends to erode willpower.

As I said earlier, nothing is set in stone yet.

Who knows? The shark giant I killed might actually exist on the outside too.

After eating, I completed my Mental Cultivation Method and prepared for exploration.

The place to explore was upstream, not downstream. I’d be able to see a lot up there.

’If I’m lucky, I might find another river branch.’

I really hope so. I really hope it doesn’t crush my hopes into dust.

I made thorough preparations, such as wiping the blood off the Sword of the Heavenly Demon with oil paper.

Whenever your head is complicated, making your body suffer is always the answer. Since ancient times, this has been the best remedy.

Title) Setting out to explore!

Wild Grylls

(Photo holding sword and shield)

Going up river this time. Everyone support me!

ㄴ Heavenly Demon) Stay strong. Always keep in mind that this one is cheering for you.

ㄴ Sword Matstar) Didn’t you forget something?

ㄴ Heavenly Demon) Your conscience?

ㄴ Sword Matstar) I was asking Grylls-ssi? haha

ㄴ Heavenly Demon) This one was merely teasing.

ㄴ Sword Matstar) If you’re bored, wanna spar swords with me?

ㄴ Heavenly Demon) Just what I desired. Show me your paltry skills then.

ㄴ Starlight Lady) Being careful is always important. It’s fine even if your arms and legs break, so please be careful.

ㄴ Wild Grylls) Is that really encouragement?;;

ㄴ Starlight Lady) Did my words sound strange? I meant don’t worry since you have Elixirs.

ㄴ Wild Grylls) Thank you;;

ㄴ Look at them talking weirdly just because it’s not their problem lol

ㄴ Isn’t she saying that because she survived?

ㄴ Sounds suspicious~

ㄴ Starlight Lady) You people are truly mean.

ㄴ Praise the Sun: Oh. What. Where did the shark go? Did you give it away?

ㄴ Wild Grylls) Yes. I didn’t really have anything to do with it, so I gave it away.

ㄴ Praise the Sun: Ah, damn it. Something came up so I missed it. I was planning to use it for display.

ㄴ Wild Grylls) Why would you display something so hideous;;

ㄴ Praise the Sun: It’s a rare beast. Perfect as a collectible.

ㄴ Wild Grylls) ;;;

As soon as I posted on the Gallery, it was filled with comments—half encouragement, half playful teasing.

Thinking "they never change," I chuckled and set off with the two animals... Not.

"Bbareumbo. You have to guard Wonmo well, okay?"

"..."

Regardless of the morning, Wonmo unconditionally sleeps after eating lunch.

Since he was still a cub, it couldn’t be helped, but I wasn’t too worried.

’I built the iron fence, and Bbareumbo is here, so it’s perfect.’

I think I can set off now. I looked around the overall view of the cave.Find the original chapter at novelping(.)com.

’I should ask for more barricades.’

The shark giant invaded through a spot where the barricade was less dense.

It was a gap left slightly open for going back and forth to the river, and it fit his size perfectly.

Well, even if the barricade had been there, considering his size, he would have smashed through it anyway.

’It’ll be inconvenient, but I have to endure it.’

I roughly eyeballed the spots to set up barricades and set off.

Swaaaa!!

The river I eventually reached still boasted a fierce current.

I stared blankly at the river and then raised my head.

Across the river this time was no less than...

"Wow. Is that a volcano?"

A volcanic region. In the distance, a volcano retching up lava came into view.

Fortunately, the distance was absurdly far, so it didn’t affect me, but I couldn’t help admiring it anyway.

Not a single blade of grass grew on the cracked ground, and lava flowed through those crevices.

It truly was a forest that left one in awe. It’s driving me insane.

’Let’s just get used to space being completely fucked up.’

I turned around and headed upstream.

The sound of the strong current flowing and the sound of the volcano erupting far away. Magnificent.

I decided to just get used to things like this. Just admire it and move on, what else?

’By the way, that bear I saw yesterday won’t pop out, right?’

Even so, I wasn’t being relaxed by any means.

Since a large beast might appear, I maintained vigilance in everything.

Because animals coming to drink water were bound to exist.

Pungdong!

Just like what I’m seeing right now. But... looking closer, this guy didn’t come to drink water.

Something came flying out of the forest and plunged straight into the river. What on earth just flew over?

Dungsil—

Before long, I was able to realize its identity. Something floated to the surface of the violently flowing river.

A four-legged beast with spotted patterns and a long tail.

My knowledge was lacking, so I wasn’t sure if it was a leopard or a cheetah, but it was definitely a carnivore.

’...What the hell hit it to send it flying?’

The animal drifted down the river without any strength. Looking at it, it seemed to be knocked unconscious.

Just like the deer that defeated the bull shark, could there be something similar in there too?

With a feeling of "no way," I turned my head to the side.

A place where the trees were exceptionally dense compared to other areas. Let’s not even think about stepping inside.

U-u-u! U-u! U-u!

Because I heard some monkey sounds coming from inside. It might be something other than monkeys, though.

It wasn’t even just one; multiple creatures were making that noise. I passed by quietly.

I didn’t even dream of going in there. Even an ordinary monkey is far stronger than a human.

"...Hm?"

As I followed the river endlessly, I found something weird on the path.

An animal with eight legs and something protruding like a lump on top. Overall, a smooth-looking aquatic creature.

"...Why is there an octopus?"

It’s an octopus. And one with purple spots all over it.

It looked poisonous at a glance, but there was a more puzzling part.

’Don’t octopuses usually... live in the sea?’

Why is an octopus here? As far as I know, octopuses live in the ocean.

I don’t know if there are octopuses living in freshwater, but at least within my common sense, there aren’t any.

Maybe in this world, there are octopuses that live in freshwater.

’...Probably not.’

Stifling my anxiety, I headed even further upstream.

The further I went up, the stronger the scent stimulating my nose became.

The scent of a wind heavily laden with salt.

As that smell grew stronger, my heart gradually filled with anxiety.

Thus, my footsteps gradually quickened, pushing forward without caring about my surroundings.

Eventually, when I reached the end of the river and the end of the forest, what came into my eyes was...

Swaaaa—

A sea wider than anything else, endlessly blue.

Looking at it, I...

"...Bullshit. Fucking hell."

...couldn’t help but curse.