Chapter 60 - A Bizarre Adventure (2)

Have you heard the medical term PTSD? Most people probably have. Post-traumatic stress: the psychological suffering that comes from experiencing something horrific.

The human body can recover perfectly well from injury. The mind, however, is considerably more fragile. Quite often, something seemingly trivial can leave someone severely traumatized.

Worse, there is no set method or time frame for healing psychological wounds. Sometimes they never even become scars. They simply remain open wounds.

"Ugh..."

I was no exception. I dragged a hand down my face.

The tiger's nighttime attack had come back to me in a dream. It had been a dream, but it had felt terribly real. The predator's piercing eyes. Its sharp fangs.

When it bit my right shoulder, I jolted awake. The first thing I felt was dampness. The nightmare had left me drenched in cold sweat. I immediately checked my surroundings.

Thankfully, Roundfur and the speed-sloth were sleeping peacefully. Seeing them, I tried to go back to sleep, but it wasn't easy. I was terrified that another predator like the tiger might attack at any moment. Of course I couldn't sleep properly.

"Haa..."

Even after dawn, my head was foggy. I dragged a hand down my face again.

Practicing my internal energy cultivation method let me get by on less sleep, not none at all. I hadn't even met that minimum requirement, so the exhaustion was inevitable.

'At least I can practice the cultivation method again...'

It could relieve physical fatigue, but could it do anything about mental exhaustion? I wasn't sure.

After zoning out for a while, I looked around. Roundfur and the speed-sloth were still in dreamland.

'Must be nice.'

I wasn't so sure about the speed-sloth, but I certainly envied Roundfur. He could sleep without a care in the world.

Still, moping wouldn't accomplish anything. Besides, Roundfur would help me hunt once he grew up. I shook my head and quietly logged onto the forum. I'd woken so early that I hadn't checked the time.

'It's only six.'

I usually woke up at eight. Today, I was up a whole two hours early. Nothing I could do about that, with that damned dream ruining my sleep.

I might as well use the extra time to practice my internal energy cultivation method. That would at least let me start the day feeling a little more refreshed.

'Slowly, just like she taught me...'

I closed my eyes and began, circulating the mana inside me as usual. This should have relieved my fatigue, but a certain memory kept tormenting me.

[ROAAAR!]

That desperate nighttime battle with the saber-toothed tiger. Its towering height, far above my eye level. Its enormous paws. Its sharp fangs. Those images kept surfacing in my mind, breaking my concentration. I couldn't focus at all.

I could distinctly feel my heart pounding wildly and cold sweat streaming down my body.

"..."

In the end, I had no choice but to open my eyes and stop.

How could I fix this? I thought it over, then sighed.

'I'll have to ask Heavenly Demon.'

It seemed I needed advice from either her or Sword Masta.

When I logged onto the forum, some time had passed. It was already six thirty.

'Six thirty... Would she be up yet?'

Old people didn't sleep much, as far as I knew. Still, wouldn't messaging her this early be rude?

I chuckled at that thought. This was the forum, after all. It wouldn't send her an immediate notification, so I wouldn't be bothering her. I was just leaving a message.

Heavenly Demon, are you there?

Please get back to me if you are.

Heavenly Demon

I am always waiting.

You have risen early today.

But she replied the instant I sent the message. Surely she hadn't spent the whole night on the forum? I couldn't help wondering. Or maybe the timing was simply good. Perhaps she'd gotten up early and logged on. Putting my brief unease aside, I brought up what was troubling me.

Actually, something's been bothering me.

I'd like to talk to you about it.

Heavenly Demon

You seek my counsel, my honored friend? It sounds rather serious.

It's nothing serious.

I just keep losing focus whenever I practice my internal energy cultivation method.

Heavenly Demon

Losing focus... Have you succumbed to an inner demon?

It's not that bad.

What happened was...

I explained everything to her in detail. I'd slept badly because of a nightmare about the saber-toothed tiger attacking me. Worse than the lack of sleep, the memory kept coming back whenever I practiced my cultivation method. I tried to ignore it, but couldn't calm down, and so on.

Speaking openly about it put me more at ease. But feeling better and solving the problem were two different things. I quietly waited for her answer.

Heavenly Demon

I understand what is happening.

I once went through something similar myself.

Whenever the memory returns, does your heart race and do you break out in a cold sweat?

Oh! Yes! Exactly!

I hadn't mentioned those details, but she'd pinpointed the symptoms straightaway. An expert really was an expert. My trust in her skyrocketed.

Heavenly Demon

It is not only your mind that vividly remembers what happened, but your body as well.

The fear of death has been etched into your body.

That's rather abstract.

Is there any way to fix it?

Heavenly Demon

Of mind and body, wounds to the mind are difficult to heal.

You must overcome them rather than recover from them.

So I just had to try haaaarder. I let out a hollow laugh at her reply. I'd more or less expected it, but hearing even an expert say that was disheartening. It wasn't a question of anyone being incompetent. That was simply how difficult healing the mind could be.

That's a tough one.

How did you overcome it?

Heavenly Demon

I gritted my teeth, devoted myself to training, and overcame it by defeating the being responsible.

Have you not already defeated the saber-toothed tiger, my honored friend?

Yes. But since it attacked at night, it keeps coming back to me.

Heavenly Demon

Then recall how you defeated the tiger.

Imagine yourself standing tall after vanquishing it.

That should ease your mind.

Thank you for the advice.

Heavenly Demon

Reciting the formulas I taught you while you picture it should help as well.

She had taught me how to overcome it, rather than recover from it. Now that was real advice. I thanked her and did as she'd instructed.

'I was attacked by the tiger, but I need to cover that with the memory of beating the bastard.'

The saber-toothed tiger had certainly been strong. Without the speed-sloth's help, I would have died several times over. But I'd beaten it. Through all that hardship and adversity, I'd defeated the lord of the mountain. Though we'd both collapsed, I was still alive. Meanwhile, the tiger had left behind its hide and meat, becoming an excellent source of food.

In the wild, it wasn't the strong who survived.

Those who survived were strong.

'And finally, if I recite the formulas Heavenly Demon taught me...'

I recited her formulas to steady my mind and body. I pictured myself standing proudly with my foot planted on the saber-toothed tiger's back.

THUMP! THUMP... THUMP...

My wildly pounding heart gradually settled, and the mana inside me regained its stability. Before I knew it, both my mind and body were still.

"..."

After a while, I slowly opened my eyes. They had been tired from my poor night's sleep, but now they felt completely clear. Not just my eyes, either. All my fatigue had vanished.

I felt as refreshed as if I'd just woken from a good night's sleep. The indescribable freshness made me smile.

'That's Heavenly Demon for you. I can always count on her.'

My respect for her blossomed. I immediately logged onto the forum to thank her.

'What? It's been two hours already?'

It had felt like an instant, but the time had flown by. Briefly startled by how I'd seemed to lose all sense of time, I sent her a message.

Heavenly Demon, thank you so much. Thanks to you, my mind and body feel clear.

Heavenly Demon

It appears to have worked.

Remember this.

However strong your opponent may be, it is the one left standing at the end who can reach the heavens.

I'll remember.

I'll take those words to heart.

Heavenly Demon

I cannot conceal my joy at your growth, my honored friend.

I do hope you will soon rise to the same heights as I.

I'll do my best.

Of course, effort alone probably wouldn't be enough. Heavenly Demon was far stronger than me, after all. Becoming as strong as her was nothing more than a wish.

'Still, getting stronger can't hurt.'

Strength was essential in a wilderness filled with dangers.

Feeling far more refreshed in both body and mind, I stepped outside. A breeze cooler than yesterday's greeted me.

'Nice weather, too.'

Perfect weather for exploring. I put up a post right away.

A strong and spirited morning!

Wild Grylls

If anyone asks who I am, I'm Wild Grylls! Day seven begins!

└Sword Masta: As lively a post as ever. Nothing happened last night, right?

└Wild Grylls: A nightmare kept me from sleeping properly, but I'm fine.

└Sword Masta: A nightmare?

└Wild Grylls: Yes. I dreamed about the tiger attacking me. I'm okay now.

└Sword Masta: Glad you're all right. Work hard at getting stronger today, too, so you can hurry up and marry me.

└Wild Grylls: Excuse me?

└Heavenly Demon: Hahaha. My sides ache.

└Sword Masta: Why are you laughing at me? I'm serious, you know?

└Heavenly Demon: Hahahaha.

└Sword Masta: -_-;;

└All Hail the Sun: You're up. I'll send you a trade request in a bit, so accept it. I'll give you one hell of a shield.

└Wild Grylls: Thank you. Would you like a mature mandrake in return?

└All Hail the Sun: Just one. This one's for my son.

└Wild Grylls: You have a son?

└All Hail the Sun: Young man. I'm a dark elf over five hundred years old.

└Wild Grylls: Ah, gotcha. Give me a moment. I'll get it to you right away.

└Passing Dwarf: Hey. What about my drinking snack? I'm getting it today, right?

└Wild Grylls: Don't worry, you'll get it. I'm heading out as soon as I get the shield.

└Passing Dwarf: Okay.

└Wild Grylls: Wait, don't tell me you're planning to drink first thing in the morning?

└Passing Dwarf: Why not?

└Wild Grylls: You're going to wreck your liver, you idiot;;

└Leave him be. Dwarves would keep drinking even with jaundice.

└Yep, true. That's why their average lifespan is about the same as humans' lol

└Wasn't their life expectancy supposed to be 150 years?

└Somewhere around there, probably? But their livers kill them around sixty-five.

└Bet they have booze flowing through their veins instead of blood;;

└Wild Grylls: Oh, right. The trade limit means I can only give it to you after lunch.

└Passing Dwarf: Ah, fuck, I forgot. Fucking admin.

└Don't Abandon the Hero: ?

└Passing Dwarf: I meant the admin four admins ago who imposed the limit and ran away.

└LMAOOOO

└Power brings him to his senses lol

Having chatted with the registered and anonymous users, I took care of breakfast. I ate the smoked meat I'd made yesterday. Salty, but delicious.

"Roundfur, eat this."

"Kyuu!"

I'd bought a suitably sized piece of meat from the auction house for him.

The speed-sloth had eaten fasting pills, so there was only one thing left: harvesting a mature mandrake.

'I'd better make this quick.'

I got ready without much fuss and set off. I wasn't taking the speed-sloth. I wasn't going golden frog hunting, so there was no real need.

"Look after the place while I'm gone."

"..."

The speed-sloth nodded as though it understood. I could trust Speedy to handle things.

'Roundfur will probably sleep, right?'

I glanced at the cave, then continued on my way.

* * *

Whether human or beast, a fragile baby needs looking after in all sorts of ways. Raising young is particularly difficult for every animal, regardless of species.

So what demands the most care when raising a baby? Healthy food? Protection? Love?

All correct, but the most important thing is this: never take your eyes off the baby. That is the alpha and omega of childcare, because there is absolutely no predicting what a baby might do.

Babies are innocent and curious because they have to learn about the world. And curiosity brings countless dangers. The curiosity natural to any animal could sometimes lead it into trouble.

"Kyuu."

Roundfur, a little ball of wonderfully fluffy fur, opened his bright eyes. Normally, he would be taking a nap, but today he was wide awake.

Those wide-awake eyes were fixed on the world outside the cave. Looking at how much brighter it was out there, Roundfur grew curious. Why was it so bright outside? What was out there?

Should he go have a look? Dad (Grylls) wasn't here, anyway. His big brother (the speed-sloth) was, but he didn't seem likely to interfere.

"Kyu."

Roundfur began crawling toward the entrance, ready to head straight outside.

The speed-sloth watched it happen. At first, it thought little of it, but then a bad feeling crept over it. Where was the kid going? Its meal ticket (Grylls) wasn't even here.

The speed-sloth moved slowly, but it didn't think slowly. Its mind was quick enough to snatch an arrow out of the air, after all.

Just before Roundfur could leave, the speed-sloth smoothly extended an arm. Don't go out, the gesture said. Roundfur stared at it.

But Roundfur was a cub, and at the height of his curious phase, no less.

"Kyuuuu."

"..."

He completely ignored the speed-sloth's gesture and went past.

The speed-sloth reacted, albeit slowly.

SNAG!

Its fearsome claws caught on Roundfur's jersey.

Naturally, the speed-sloth found itself being dragged along. It wriggled around to avoid getting hurt.

"Kyu?"

"..."

Somehow, the speed-sloth had ended up riding on Roundfur's back. Roundfur gave it a puzzled look, then started walking.

An absurd yet adorable turn of events in Grylls's absence.

"Kyuu!"

"..."

And so began Roundfur and the speed-sloth's bizarre adventure.