I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 93

The reaction speed training started with Speed Sloth.

It was closer to a one-sided assault than training, but I endured it steadfastly.

Speed Sloth was holding back in his own way, and my reaction speed was also gradually improving bit by bit.

At least, if I maintained focus to the end, I wouldn’t take hits helplessly.

I could at least react to catch it, so it was sufficient as training.

"Wonmo-ya. Daddy’s having a hard time."

"Ggyuu?"

"So come here."

Lunchtime. Hugging Wonmo who woke up from his nap, I healed my gloomy heart.

Wonmo also purred, feeling good without knowing what was going on.

I settled my mood, which had been down due to training, and prepared lunch.

Lunch was the fish captured this morning. Incidentally, two more fish had been caught.

It was happiness to have abundant food. I could feast on fish for the time being.

’I should explore in the afternoon.’

I had said I would stay here for a long time, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t explore at all.

From now on, rather than recklessly going far, I planned to map out what was around more precisely.

If I was lucky, I might discover herbs no less valuable than a Mature Mandrake.

Otherwise, I might find high-value minerals like in the Orichalcum Cave.

’Sometimes I can’t tell if I’m lucky or unlucky...’

I finished lunch and got ready alongside my animal companions.

On my left hip, the Subspace Bag. On my right hip, various bottles including Elixirs.

All preparations were complete. Before that, there was something to test.

’Shall I try drawing the bowstring?’

The bow gifted by the fixed-handle user presumed to be an elf, Let’s Grow Trees.

Previously, even pulling it was overwhelming, but how about now?

Since my muscular strength had noticeably increased, there should be meaningful progress.

Kkigigigik-

As expected, the string was drawn much easier than before.

Even so, it wasn’t at a level usable in actual combat.

Unlike before when I pulled with all my might, now it was just a bit of a struggle?

To draw it effortlessly, an even higher strength was required.

’Dwarf isn’t answering, maybe he’s drinking.’

Originally, I was supposed to receive the barricades from Dwarf.

Whether he was busy or drinking, he didn’t reply.

It seemed better to just receive the barricades after returning from exploration.

’Today, I’ll head deep into the forest rather than the river.’

Yesterday, I realized walking along the river was meaningless.

It was better to explore various parts of the forest to expand the map.

Finding rare herbs or discovering animal territories along the way.

Making this vicinity my ’territory’ just like animals do.

’Though I won’t be marking my territory like them.’

If I marked territory like an animal for no reason, I might be ambushed.

I also didn’t want to discard my dignity as a human.

I already suffered an ordeal every time my stomach ached; I had no desire to relieve myself out here.

"Woah. What is this again?"

It was while exploring with thoughts of finding mysterious herbs. I found a mushroom, not a herb.

A creature looking like blue deer antlers that anyone unfamiliar would never think was a mushroom.

’Is it like a relative?’

The Red Staghorn Mushroom, so-called the ’King’ of poisonous mushrooms.

Just as the name suggested, it looked like red deer antlers.

Its toxicity was so severe that a mishap could cause damage equivalent to radiation exposure.

Moreover, rumors had it that mere contact could trigger dermatitis.

’It’s fascinating, so I should record it.’

I pulled out a prepared notebook and drew the shape of the mushroom. Drawing it like deer antlers should do.

Then I looked around to see if there was anything unusual. There might be a case like the Golden Mushroom.

’Looks like a mushroom growing normally.’

Nothing stood out in particular. I closed the notebook and posted it on the Gallery.

Title) Found a blue mushroom

Wild Grylls

(A blue mushroom shaped like deer antlers)

Anyone know what mushroom this is?

It clearly looks like a poisonous mushroom so I didn’t touch it, but I’m curious.

ㄴHeavenly Demon) It seems to be loudly advertising not to eat it.

ㄴSword Matstar) Right. It looks uncomfortable to even touch. But it might be similar to Heavenly Demon-nim?

ㄴHeavenly Demon) Are you teasing my face as a mushroom?

ㄴSword Matstar) Because you’re blue lolFollow the newest chapters on novelping dot com.

ㄴHeavenly Demon) I feel like turning you blue too. I should suggest it to the mod.

ㄴSword Matstar) I’m sorry;;

ㄴComment) Seems she really hates turning blue lol

ㄴComment) How much must she hate it lol

ㄴComment) But is Heavenly Demon working as sub-mod??

ㄴComment) Yeah, maybe cause she’s unemployed, dirty posts disappeared a lot.

ㄴStarlight Lady) There is a similar mushroom in the Central Plains called the Red Staghorn Mushroom, but I’ve never seen that one before. Could it be a variant?

ㄴWild Grylls) There’s a mushroom like that there too? We had them where I used to live.

ㄴStarlight Lady) Yes. It is famous as an extremely lethal poison. But blue is a first for me.

ㄴAllfather) I have never seen such a mushroom either. If it is not rude, could I ask for one for research purposes?

ㄴStarlight Lady) If possible, I would like to request one as well.

ㄴWild Grylls) Yes. Understood.

Just in case, I put on gloves and harvested the mushrooms.

Since I wasn’t going to eat them anyway, the trades went smoothly without a hitch.

’Given all the wild variants, there seem to be many new things even by outside standards.’

I walked along and continued exploring.

Wonmo took the lead, using his acute animal sense of smell to detect anything unusual in advance.

Even though he was a cub, an Owlbear was an Owlbear—his sense of smell was quite remarkable.

Whenever I missed animal droppings along the way, Wonmo alerted me every time.

’This is Owlbear poop. Pooped a long time ago.’

I had seen Owlbear droppings before.

A long time had passed, and rain had fallen in between, so it had mostly washed away.

Still, the shape remained, making it easy to distinguish.

’Looks like this was originally Owlbear territory.’

Since I had been exploring along the river until now, I hadn’t known at all.

In that case, now that the Owlbear was gone, who claimed the territory?

Seeing no visible traces yet, it seemed no one had claimed it so far.

’Even the Owlbear had its territory seized by the Saber-toothed Tiger.’

Even if the Owlbear was strong, winning against a Saber-toothed Tiger was impossible.

The Saber-toothed Tiger even regenerated fast, making it no match in a battle of endurance.

"Ggyuu. Ggyu."

Just as I was looking around to see if there were other signs—

Wonmo urged me to hurry. The sight of him pointing forward with his tiny forepaws was adorable.

I smirked and followed behind Wonmo. Since Wonmo was better at finding tracks, I could leave it to him.

I just had to look carefully for plants or mushrooms along the way. If a snake appeared, I’d dispatch it immediately.

"Ggyuuuu!"

Then Wonmo discovered something and began jumping around in full excitement.

Puzzled, I pushed through the dense trees.

Passing the trees, a surprisingly wide clearing greeted me,

"A cave?"

And I discovered a cave with a massive entrance.

The cave I lived in had a fairly large entrance as well.

However, this one was on a grander scale, and I could even feel a cool breeze.

’The wind is blowing inside.’

I geared up just in case.

Because I knew nothing about what was inside.

I didn’t bother turning on the Light Crystal Orb.

Light entered the cave, suggesting openings in the ceiling.

"Alright. Let’s go."

"Ggyuu!"

With all preparations complete, I entered the cave. Wonmo bounded forward excitedly, sprinting ahead.

I wanted to tell him not to run and go slowly, but it was already too late.

If there was something else inside, he would scream.

"Ggyuaaaaakkk!!!"

Just like right now. Disappearing behind a boulder, Wonmo screamed in sheer terror.

Startled, I sprinted over urgently. Soon, an animal came into view.

I didn’t particularly care about the numerous bones scattered around.

My mind simply went blank because of the animal choking Wonmo.

Exceptionally long legs, a torso slightly hunched forward. A melancholy facial expression.

And above all, bulging upper body muscles visible even from afar.

’A-A kangaroo?’

A random kangaroo had Wonmo trapped in a headlock with its burly arms.

Calling it a headlock was polite; seeing Wonmo thrashing around, it was practically a sleeper choke.

I had no idea why a kangaroo was in the forest, let alone in a cave, but rescue came first.

I hurriedly rushed toward the kangaroo and swung my sword.This chapter was copied from nove‌lping.com without permission.

Since it was threatening Wonmo, I fully intended to kill it.

Shaak!

However, fitting for an animal of the Forest of the Four Seasons, the kangaroo dodged lightly.

Though it released the arm choking Wonmo’s neck, I couldn’t let my guard down.

Wonmo ran toward me while whimpering.

’No, seriously. How is its physique better than mine?’

I was rendered speechless by the kangaroo’s visibly ripped physique.

The Mushroom Person had grotesque limbs, so I didn’t think of it as muscular.

However, the kangaroo had bulging muscles defined beneath its hide, making me all the more tense.

"..."

Ggeugeugeuk-

The kangaroo stared at me for a while, then slowly lowered its upper body.

Hearing the creaking sound of tension built in its powerful hind legs, it seemed prepared to charge.

I thrust my shield forward just in case.

Kkwaang!

Tensing its hind legs, the kangaroo leaped high.

It leaped so high that it sailed right over my head.

I didn’t take my eyes off the kangaroo until the moment it leaped.

Kung! Kuung! Kung!

Sailing past me, the kangaroo fled toward the cave entrance. Fortunately, it seemed to have no intention of fighting.

Meeting a kangaroo in a forest of all places. This too was only possible because it was the Forest of the Four Seasons.

’So a lot of creatures crossed over from across the river.’

Like Speed Sloth who inhabited the jungle, or the kangaroo just now.

Apparently, they were cases of creatures crossing over from places where space was warped and being unable to return forever.

I exhaled a long breath and checked on Wonmo.

"Ggyuu... ggyu..."

Having been caught in a chokehold must have hurt quite a bit, as he clung tightly to my leg.

Wasn’t this probably the first time he felt pain since being born?

Even when subjugating the Orichalcum Guardian, he wouldn’t have felt this kind of threat.

"It’s okay. I’m right here."

"Ggyuu..."

I stroked Wonmo to reassure him. Thanks to that, Wonmo regained his energy.

Now that the kangaroo was gone, all that remained was to investigate every corner of the cave.

Seeing numerous animal bones scattered everywhere, some creature must have lived here.

’I don’t think that kangaroo just now did this.’

Kangaroos are herbivores. Even if it chokes animals with its muscular arms, it’s still a herbivore.

Of course, the Forest of the Four Seasons might have triggered a mutation turning it carnivorous.

However, the kangaroo fled out of the cave the moment I threatened it.

At the very least, it meant it didn’t recognize this place as its ’territory.’

’Is that a nest?’

Bones weren’t the only notable thing. There was a massive bird-like nest.

What was even more intriguing was that Wonmo walked over to it and comfortably laid down as if it were his own home.

Seeing him occasionally emit noises with a sad expression, I caught on to where this was.

’This was the Owlbear cave.’

Even the nest was much larger than an extra-large king bed.

It was a spot just right for an Owlbear to lie down.

’By the way, do Owlbears have a habit of building nests?’

Not knowing, I searched Owlbear in the Gallery.

Perhaps because Owlbears were famous creatures, there were plenty of related posts.

And I was able to realize that Owlbears had the habit of constructing nests inside caves.

My thoughts on how full of wonders the world was lasted only a moment before I inspected the rest of the cave.

Jol-jol-jol-jol-jol-

A stream, though shallow, was flowing inside the cave.

Seeing minnows swimming around, the water quality seemed clean.

’I want to move here.’

With proper defenses set up, it could be used as a natural fortress.

However, since the ceiling had open gaps, rain would cause serious headaches.

Furthermore, being overly spacious could act as a disadvantage. Large animals could easily enter and maneuver around.

’...Huh?’

It was while I was looking around the nest. I flinched upon noticing one bone among the littered pile.

One bone caught my eye far more than the rest of the animal remains.

’...Don’t tell me this is a skull?’

It was a human bone.