Chapter 46 - Lakeside (1)

The internal energy cultivation method really did seem to relieve fatigue. Even when I substituted cultivation for sleep, I felt full of energy the next day.

Well, it still wasn't perfect. It didn't do much for mental exhaustion. Physical fatigue was manageable, but sleep was the only solution for the mental kind.

XXX has requested a trade. Would you like to accept?

@@@ has requested a trade. Would you like to accept?

Gonna Be a Duke has requested a trade. Would you like to accept?

"What's all this now?"

Countless trade requests floated in front of me as soon as I logged into the forum. Had something else happened while I was away?

I searched my username just in case, but nothing particularly stood out. Other than the fact that yesterday's incident had sent my credibility soaring, I suppose?

Apparently, registered users who'd been hesitating over whether to trust me had now sent trade requests.

'Come on, people... I told you I'm as fragile as a sunfish.'

Or were they trying to suck me dry before I actually dropped dead like one?

From what I'd heard, even a mature mandrake was worth an enormous amount. They must have figured one of those would be plenty, even if they couldn't get an inner core.

'Offer something I'd actually want.'

I searched the names of the registered users who had sent requests. Some accounts were brand-new; others had been active for a surprisingly long time.

Gonna Be a Duke, in particular. I was pretty sure this person had requested a trade before. Persistent, sure, but right now it just annoyed me.

'And they haven't even made a post.'

I'd already told them I would initiate a trade if they posted something I needed. Apparently, they'd forgotten already. With no other choice, I wrote another post.

A reminder

Wild Grylls

Woke up to countless requests for a handshake... I mean, a trade.

As I said before, I don't intend to trade unless it's something useful to me.

If you're interested, please make a post showing the item first. I'll take a look and decide.

└Heavenly Demon You're awake. Any discomfort?

└Wild Grylls Combining sleep with cultivation makes me feel a lot more refreshed!

└Heavenly Demon Circulating your qi and regulating your breathing will do that. Your foundations are still lacking, but once you achieve mastery, you will be perfectly well without sleep.

└Wild Grylls Wooow.

└Starlight Lady You're up! Is today Day 5?

└Wild Grylls Yes. Honestly, I wish I could get out of here as soon as possible.

└Starlight Lady As the saying goes, more haste, less speed. I made another Elixir today, so I'll request a trade in a bit!

└Wild Grylls Huh? Didn't you already give me all the Elixirs?

└Starlight Lady It's an Elixir for animals. Use it for Roundfur and the speed-sloth. One photo of Roundfur is all I need in return, so please accept it!

└Wild Grylls Thank you. You're still in good health, right?

└Starlight Lady Like I said before, I feel like I've been born again. My parents are still worried, though.

└Wild Grylls That's parents for you. Take your rehabilitation slowly, just in case.

└Starlight Lady Thank you. I'll keep cheering you on. You've got this!

└Wild Grylls Thanks, haha.

└Passing Dwarf Hey. Finished the fish trap. Hurry up and present me with my drinking snacks.

└Wild Grylls Before the snacks, there's something I'd like to ask for.

└Passing Dwarf What? I'm not doing it for free.

└Wild Grylls I do have a conscience. I need a scabbard, but it has to be really sturdy.

└Passing Dwarf A scabbard? Just buy any old one.

└Wild Grylls The sword Heavenly Demon gave me is too good for that. It slices through trees like tofu.

└Passing Dwarf Oh. Yeah, you get those sometimes. I'll throw one in with the fish trap, so use it for now. If you want a proper one made, give me something good.

└Wild Grylls Thanks, thanks. I'll trade with Starlight Lady first, then get you your stuff.

└Slutty Princess Hellooo! The pants I mentioned yesterday are ready!

└Wild Grylls Thank you so much. When's Chae U playing?

└Slutty Princess Soon! It's the Boxing Day schedule, so they're playing about once every three days!

└Wild Grylls I'll be hoping for a win. Go, Chae U!

└Slutty Princess Thank you, hehe.

It really did pay to be a good person. Here were people leaving comments the moment I woke up.

Not that I had no concerns. The admin might see this and think we were forming a clique. The rules prohibited excessive socializing. What a vague line to draw.

'They must know Heavenly Demon's been doing me favors, too.'

Apparently, this much was allowed. Or maybe it was because of my unusual circumstances.

Starlight Lady has requested a trade. Would you like to accept?

After I announced the start of my day, Starlight Lady was the first to send a request.

Before accepting, I looked over at Roundfur. The cub was still sprawled out asleep. Funnily enough, it was lying spread-eagled like a person.

I'd heard animals only slept like that when they felt safe. It left me with a strange feeling.

Starlight Lady has listed an item for trade.

Starlight Lady

Here's one Elixir for animals, along with another gift!

Huh? Another gift?

Starlight Lady

You'll like it, Grylls.

So, where's my photo?

(Photo of Roundfur sleeping spread-eagled) Will this do?

Starlight Lady

So cute!

How can it sleep like that?

I thought it was pretty amazing, too.

Starlight Lady

I'll keep wishing you well! You've got this!

Our conversation ended there, and I checked what she'd sent me.

She'd called it an Elixir for animals, but the golden glow made it look like an ordinary Elixir in every respect. I wasn't even sure animal Elixirs existed. I'd just think of it as a gift.

The other item, the one she'd assured me I'd like, was a little surprising.

'Cake?'

A slice of cake sat on a glass plate decorated with an elegant design. Whipped cream covered the soft-looking sponge, and a small strawberry rested on top.

She'd even thoughtfully included a fork. Swallowing eagerly, I picked it up.

"Ahh..."

A sigh of delight escaped me the moment I put a small piece in my mouth. Sweetness filled my mouth, that unmistakable sugary sweetness teasing my tongue.

I salted my fish every time I ate it, so I hadn't forgotten what salt tasted like. But it had been ages since I'd tasted something so sweet it almost made my tongue ache.

'What a thoughtful gift.'

I set the cake down for a moment and opened the forum. I still had other registered users to trade with.

The next request after Starlight Lady's had come from Passing Dwarf. He seemed like the type to get straight to business.

Passing Dwarf has listed an item for trade.

Passing Dwarf

Put in the fish trap and a temporary scabbard.

You know how to set the trap, right?

Yeah. Going to widen the spot where I put the hose.

Passing Dwarf

That'll work. Figure out the scabbard yourself, and make sure I get those snacks. Okay?

Do you like raw fish?

Passing Dwarf

My mouth's watering already, lol.

Except I'm bad at slicing it, lol.

Passing Dwarf

You fucking bitch.

Anyway, I'll try. Thanks for the stuff.

Once the trade was over, I checked what the dwarf had sent.

'Why's this fish trap so big?'

It was enormous—almost as big as me. A little startling, but perhaps that was a good thing. Considering the size of the fish I'd caught so far, it was just about right.

'Setting this up will take a while. I'll do it after exploring.'

I put off installing the trap. It looked liable to eat up all my time.

Next was the scabbard. The one he'd told me to use temporarily was inside the fish trap.

'Looks like an ordinary scabbard to me.'

It was black and roughly the right size for Heavenly Demon's sword. I picked up the sword from against the wall and slid it inside.

SHH—CLICK!

Heavenly Demon's sword slid smoothly home without catching on anything.

He'd said it was temporary, but I was very satisfied. It even came with a belt, which opened up all kinds of uses.

'That dwarf's a pretty nice guy underneath it all.'

I chuckled and contacted my next trading partner: Slutty Princess.

Go, Chae U!

Don't be too discouraged, even if their slump drags on!

No team stays on top forever!

Slutty Princess

Thank youuu!

I'll throw in another jersey, just for you!

Whose is it this time?

Slutty Princess

The legendary midfielder, Seon!

Unusually enough, he's from the Central Plains!

Thank you!

Can't I watch Chae U's games on the forum?

Slutty Princess

You have to pay for broadcast magic, so only highlights will be posted!

That's a shame.

I wanted to watch a match myself.

Slutty Princess

I'd love to give you that too, but the broadcast won't reach the Forest of Four Seasons.

Why do you want to watch, though?

I feel like all I do is receive things.

I wanted to show you I'm genuinely cheering for them.

Slutty Princess

Ahh...! That's a wonderful attitude!

Nobody could have a better mindset!

I hope you get out of there soon!

Thank you.

If I find something good, I'll send it right over.

What would Slutty Princess like? That would take some thought.

Anyway, first I had to check her gifts. As promised, she'd sent long pants and a jersey. Like the jerseys, the pants were made from a wonderfully stretchy material. And there were two pairs, not just one.

Smiling in satisfaction, I put a pair on. They felt noticeably different.

'I could live in these.'

They reminded me of the days when I'd lounged around at home in nothing but sweats. I tossed my old pants into a corner of the cave. Those were my emergency pair now.

'Now that the trades are done, time for cake... Huh?'

My glee at the prospect of enjoying the cake was short-lived.

I'd only eaten a single bite. Why was the plate empty?

I blinked at the incomprehensible sight, then looked around. Roundfur was busy sleeping on the mat. That only left the speed-sloth...

"..."

"... Hey."

The speed-sloth tilted its head at my voice. Its shameless behavior made anger well up inside me.

"How about wiping the cream off your mouth?"

"..."

Only then did it feel around its mouth. It wasn't a tiny smear of whipped cream, either. It was a huge blob.

The speed-sloth looked at the cream on its claw, then very slowly put it in its mouth.

"Yum."

"..."

"Munch, munch."

Could anything on earth be more infuriating? The sad part was, I had no way of beating this thing.

In the end, there was only one thing I could do.

"You little bastard!!!"

Roar at the top of my lungs. It worked surprisingly well: the speed-sloth covered its ears.

"Kyawk?!"

Oh. Right. Roundfur was here.

I felt terribly guilty when the cub jolted awake in fright.

'This is all the speed-sloth's fault.'

Thinking that to myself, I gently soothed Roundfur. Fortunately, the cub only looked bewildered and didn't seem to understand what had happened.

"Roundfur, want breakfast?"

"Kyuu!"

Even if it had understood, breakfast would've settled the matter anyway.

I gave Roundfur some meat and went outside. When I opened the hose, water came gushing out. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be any fish.

'Better get ready.'

Breakfast was another fasting pill. Maybe it was because I'd just tasted something sweet, but it seemed especially bitter today.

'... Should I ask for another slice?'

That seemed too shameless, so I dropped the idea. The day had barely begun, and I already felt drained.

'Please let me find somewhere with plenty of food.'

That was my little wish. With a sigh, I got ready.

The speed-sloth might be obnoxious, but it was the only one who could protect Roundfur. I'd just consider the cake a reward for all its hard work guarding the house. That made it easier to stomach.

"Hey, Speedy."

"?"

The speed-sloth cocked its head when I called.

"I'm heading out. Guard the house while I'm gone, all right? You've got to earn that cake."

"..."

It lazily waved an arm back and forth as if to say it understood. I chuckled at its response and finished getting ready.

At my waist hung a small bag and the scabbard containing Heavenly Demon's sword. In my left hand was the golden shield, ready for any unexpected attack.

I kept my right hand free so I could catch my balance if something suddenly happened.

'One round of cultivation before I go, too.'

With my cultivation properly completed, all that remained was to set off. Nervously, I headed for the river. Once I reached it, I planned to follow it downstream.

'It'd be nice to find a clue to getting out of here.'

Did this world know how I felt, or not? Or was its god deliberately messing with me?

"Ha. F*ck."

After following the river downstream, I couldn't help swearing at the "environment" spread out before me.

It wasn't that space was changing in real time, like on the other side of the river. This was clearly connected to the river.

The environment itself was simply so shitty that I couldn't help cursing.

"Is this an ocean or a lake?"

A vast lake stretched out before my eyes.