Chapter 52 - Night Attack (1)

My animal friends and I thoroughly enjoyed the crabs I'd brought back. Maybe because they were roasted rather than steamed, even the shells tasted good. Thanks in particular to Roundfur's cleanup efforts, there was barely anything to throw away. Not that it mattered; I'd have ground up any leftovers and dumped them in the river.

“Ahh. I'm stuffed.”

“Kyuu.”

“...”

With our bellies full, all of us went completely limp. Roundfur flopped onto its back, rubbing its bulging belly, while the speed-sloth lay facedown. We'd divided the food appropriately between the one human and two animals, so none of us was too full to move.

'Roundfur sure ate a lot, though.'

I looked at Roundfur lying on the floor. That swollen belly was adorable. It squirmed when I gave its belly a few pokes. How could every little thing it did be so cute?

“Roundfur, don't sleep out here. Go inside the cave.”

“Kyuu...”

Apparently, it was too full to move. Well, considering it had eaten the shells too, that was understandable.

I easily picked up the potbellied Roundfur and carried it into the cave. Soon it was sprawled on the mat, taking a nap. What a cushy life.

'It's not going to turn into a pig at this rate, is it?'

It was still growing, so all that food would go toward building its body, but I couldn't help worrying. Taking it for walks nearby might not be a bad idea, even if we didn't go exploring. I needed to teach it how dangerous it was outside the cave.

'Wait. Wouldn't it already know that from following its mom around?'

It felt weird that I was the one who'd sent that very mother to the great beyond. How would Roundfur see me if it found out later? It wouldn't go, “You killed my mother!” and stab me, would it?

Setting aside those pointless worries, I finished cleaning up. I planned to do the laundry using the charcoal left from burning the firewood.

'Charcoal really is surprisingly useful.'

You could use it as soap. You could use it as a deodorizer. You could even use it to add flavor when cooking. It was perfect, with nothing lacking. If I had to name a downside, it was that the warmth could attract snakes. But I kept applying repellent, so I didn't need to worry about those either.

THWACK! THWACK!

I turned on the hose and started washing my clothes. After all that rolling around, muddy water poured out of them. I'd bought a laundry paddle at the auction house. It was handy for beating the hell out of things.

Once I was done, I hung the laundry on a makeshift clothesline. All that took was sticking two branches in the ground and running a line between them.

'Feels like I've already adapted.'

I had absolutely no intention of living in the wild, yet somehow I was doing pretty well. The forum kept me from getting bored, and Roundfur and the speed-sloth made it less lonely. Whenever I had spare time, I diligently practiced my internal energy cultivation method. My life was surprisingly busy.

'I've really gotten too comfortable.'

But my desire to escape this place hadn't disappeared. It was far too dangerous here. There was no telling when or where a dangerous animal might appear. Especially that building-sized crab I'd seen at the lake. Even from a distance, it had made me feel powerless.

'Let's stay away from the lake for a while. Even if I do go, I'll just grab some crabs and leave.'

The place was crawling with even the giant crabs. My best option was to collect only what I needed for the dwarf and return. If the giant crabs swarmed me on the way, well... I'd have to run like hell.

'I should mark points along the route. Places like where the river's lower reaches begin.'

It was always best to use the river as a reference. It was a landmark in a forest where even compasses didn't work. Or I could put up signposts myself. It would take some effort, but I needed to prevent myself from getting lost.

Getting lost here? My survival odds wouldn't just hit rock bottom; they'd plunge straight into the abyss. I'd only found this cave by sheer luck in the first place, and it had already had an owner. It hadn't become mine until I killed the bastard. Finding another cave would be difficult.

'First, let's mark it on the map.'

I marked the river and drew the lakeshore at its end. I didn't know how big the lake was, but I drew it as small as possible. After all, the Forest of Four Seasons alone was supposedly the size of a small country.

'Map done. Time for internal energy cultivation.'

Before starting, I checked Heavenly Demon's messages. Not the ones asking how I was doing, but the messages further up: the foundational knowledge underlying the internal energy cultivation method. I read them carefully every time I practiced.

'This information is all over the forum, but I should learn from someone I can trust.'

The basics themselves were widely available on the forum. As Heavenly Demon had said, these were the most basic of basics. But the posts weren't objective. Most people added their own tips and tricks. Heavenly Demon's teaching, on the other hand, was straightforward and honest. Some of the terminology was difficult, but her approach stuck to the fundamentals.

'The important thing when practicing is whether I can feel mana—in other words, internal energy—flowing through the Conception and Governing Vessels.'

Simply circulating it mindlessly wasn't enough. I slowly began practicing.

Understand the subtleties of the internal energy cultivation method and take them in naturally. Breathe and circulate energy without consciously thinking about the circulation. Finally, make ordinary breathing produce the same effects as actively practicing the method.

Heavenly Demon recommended progressing through these three stages little by little. Listening to her, it all made sense.

'Even the second stage is a struggle.'

Breathing and circulation still felt separate. Heavenly Demon had taught me to work toward doing both simultaneously and unconsciously. According to her, it was a goal even someone like me could reach with enough effort. I focused as hard as I could every time I practiced, not wanting to disappoint her.

“Whew.”

But I wasn't a genius. I wasn't even from this world. No matter how many times I regulated my breathing, I wasn't making any real progress.

'Breathing, huh... Would increasing my lung capacity make this more efficient?'

Since breathing was the foundation, lung capacity had to play a substantial role. But all I could do here was bodyweight exercise, and strength training at that. Cardio? Running all over the place was a perfect way to get lost. For now, I'd have to make do with taking deep breaths and exhaling slowly.

'Or so Sword Masta told me.'

Most of these handy tips came from Sword Masta: taking longer breaths rather than shorter ones, advice on aura, and so on. Thanks to the combined efforts of Heavenly Demon and Sword Masta, I was improving, however slowly. It was a turtle's pace, but there was no need to rush.

'Time to set up the fish trap. And catch a golden frog.'

With my breathing practice finished, it was time to get to work. I slung the crossbow onto my back and called the speed-sloth.

“Hey. Stop lying around and get on.”

“...”

At my command, the speed-sloth slowly climbed onto my back. It settled into a comfortable position where the crossbow wouldn't get in its way.

All that remained was to bring the fish trap...

“Why is this thing so big?”

I thought it every time I looked at it, but the trap really was huge. It could easily fit two or three of the fish I'd caught before.

The thought of installing it already made my head spin, but it had to be done. That way, I could get on with things without worrying about food. From now on, fasting pills would be exclusively for the speed-sloth.

SHHHHHH!

A wave of mixed feelings washed over me when I reached the river. How long would it take to set all this up? There was also the threat of the golden frogs. I needed to eliminate that first.

“Hey. Get down. Let's get ready.”

“...”

The sloth slowly climbed down at my instruction. Then I put my hand in the river to lure out the golden frogs.

SPLASH! SPLASH!

“Ribbit.”

“Ribbit. Ribbit.”

As expected, a group of golden frogs leaped out of the river. Only one thing remained.

THWACK!

Shoot my crossbow while the sloth drew aggro. The first time was the hard part; the second was easy, and the hunt went smoothly.

'That really is incredible.'

The speed-sloth's dodging was truly a marvel. A single hit from a golden frog's poison would kill it, yet it stood there boldly dodging. I was too much of a coward to do that. Only the speed-sloth could pull it off.

SPLASH! SPLASH!

Before long, the golden frogs returned to the river. Unlike before, they didn't keep firing poison even after one of their companions went down. Apparently, their poison wasn't limitless; they had to replenish it.

'They said animals like that consume other toxins and make them their own.'

Which meant that without poisonous plants and animals to eat, they were ordinary frogs. Anyway, now that they were gone, all that remained was installing the fish trap. I just needed to widen the spot where I'd installed the hose and put it in.

I'd hunted the golden frogs beforehand because I had no choice but to step into the river. My shoes were like slippers, so I could step into the water without worrying.

'Surely a giant fish isn't going to swallow me, right?'

I kept glancing around nervously. In a place this terrifying, letting my guard down was out of the question. Fortunately, no enormous fish gobbled me up in one bite. With the trap installed, I immediately sent Allfather a trade request. He must have been on the forum just then, because he accepted right away.

Hello.

Allfather, I caught a frog. Would you like it?

The poison sac is intact.

Allfather

Oh. Thank you very much.

I should be able to give you the medicine tomorrow.

Thank you.

By the way, would you mind if I asked something?

Allfather

Ask me anytime.

What would you like to know?

The golden frogs went back after shooting poison for a while. Do they have to replenish it?

Allfather

Yes, that's right.

Once their poison sacs run dry, they lose their means of attacking.

They have to eat something poisonous to replenish it.

Just as I'd suspected. That meant something carrying a terrifying poison must be living nearby. Probably poisonous bugs.

'I'd better keep applying repellent.'

I finished the trade with Allfather and returned to the cave without further incident. Once back, I logged onto the forum to check the time. It was past three, probably because installing the trap had taken so long.

'Sword practice until dinner... and fasting pills for dinner.'

Maybe I should have brought one more crab. It was a bit of a shame, but what was done was done. I didn't want to go to the lake just for that. I planned to wait until I at least had my new shoes before going back. That should help prevent accidents.

Please save me. I woke up in the Forest of Four Seasons.

“Huh?”

While browsing the forum, I spotted something I couldn't just scroll past. A post claiming someone had ended up in the Forest of Four Seasons. I hurriedly opened it.

Please save me. I woke up in the Forest of Four Seasons.

Third stall in the men's public restroom on Menesil Street, Duchy of Danos. Please. There's no toilet paper.

└Lmao, incredible bait. Came running as soon as I saw it.

└Same lol. Thought we were getting a second Grylls.

└Normally I'd scroll past, but I clicked because of Grylls lmao.

└Oh, right. The forum normally doesn't work in the Forest of Four Seasons lol.

└To the kind stranger who helped me, thank you so much. You saved my life. For me, that restroom was the Forest of Four Seasons.

└Okay, that counts as the Forest of Four Seasons lmao.

└Can't argue with that...

└Even Grylls would go, “Oh. Yeah, fair enough.”

“...”

Fine. As long as you made it out of the Forest of Four Seasons.

* * *

The forest was quiet at night. Apart from the chirping insects and the distant howling of wolves, it was the perfect place to close one's eyes.

At the same time, the forest at night was exceedingly dangerous. Darkness so deep one couldn't see a step ahead, and beasts that might spring out from anywhere. In the wild, herbivores couldn't even get a proper night's sleep, struggling desperately to evade approaching death.

SNAP.

A branch cracked underfoot. At the sound, the loud chorus of insects fell silent all at once. The difference was subtle, but even the insects knew: a dangerous predator was on the prowl.

The predator was heading toward a cave whose campfire was on the verge of going out. Even a small fire was no different from sunlight in a world of pitch-black darkness. Perhaps it was only natural that it had caught the predator's attention.

“Grrr...”

The predator growled as it grew wary. It was a very low growl, but one animal was sensitive enough to react even to that. Not the deeply sleeping human, nor the baby owlbear that still needed protection.

“...”

It was the sloth, a creature that might be eaten at any time, anywhere. It slowly opened its eyes. The presence outside felt ominous. The sloth—no, the speed-sloth—slowly rose.

CRACK!

“...”

This time, it heard clearly. A branch breaking. The speed-sloth turned its head. The human was still wandering through dreamland, utterly devoid of vigilance. The speed-sloth found the human, Grylls, terribly pathetic, but a companion was a companion.

So it raised its arm high to wake him.

THWACK!

“Urgh!”

The sudden blow to his face jolted Grylls awake. Even deep sleep offered no escape from pain. He sat up, still groggy.

“W-what? What's going on?”

“...”

Without a word, the speed-sloth pointed outside the cave. Still looking dazed, Grylls turned his head in that direction.

“Grrrr...”

“...”

What had he just heard? Grylls looked dumbfounded. But it didn't take him long to realize the sound belonged to a beast—a dangerous predator at that.

'Fucking hell...!'

Cursing inwardly, he hastily armed himself. This was dangerous. Really dangerous. That was all Grylls could think.

Once roughly equipped, he slowly stepped outside the cave. The speed-sloth climbed onto his back as well, ready to fight at any moment.

At last, Grylls caught sight of a light. It flashed—a pair of lights gleaming menacingly within the thick veil of darkness.