Chapter 71 - Core (1)

After one hell of an ordeal, I had finally defeated the guardian. Truth be told, luck had played a part.

If it hadn't been made of orichalcum, if Roundfur hadn't bravely charged at it, and if the Light spell hadn't flickered at that final, desperate moment, I wouldn't be among the living anymore.

Roundfur deserved a lot of the credit this time. He was the one who had given me the crucial clue. What would have happened if I hadn't brought him along? The thought alone made me shudder.

'He must have had much less mana because he's a cub.'

I had only won because so many things had lined up perfectly.

Unlike during the saber-toothed tiger's nighttime attack, the speed-sloth hadn't been able to do much. Even a creature that sliced through iron drums like tofu would have trouble with orichalcum. And even if it could cut the stuff, that wouldn't have mattered against an enemy that regenerated.

"Ugh..."

How long had it been since I defeated the guardian? I was still flat on the floor.

Having my mana sucked dry had already left me utterly drained. Then I'd poured every last scrap into the crystal orb and thrown it, leaving me as shriveled up as dried squid.

'Still, this is a bit much...'

It wasn't that I lacked the strength to so much as move a finger. In fact, I still had strength. How could I describe it? It felt as if gravity had multiplied several times over and was crushing me.

Whatever it was, that strange sensation made it hard to get up.

"Roundfur."

"Kyuu?"

"Come here. At least let me pet you."

I might as well stroke his fluffy face instead. Roundfur purred contentedly under my touch. As far as I knew, purring was usually a cat thing, but who cared?

'First, some Elixir.'

As a little strength returned, I could start putting myself back in order. I took a sip of Elixir, then used my breathing to slowly settle my body. I couldn't manage my cultivation method yet, but concentrating on my breathing made me feel better little by little.

"Oof."

Groaning, I slowly got up. After that fierce battle, I hurt all over. My abdomen in particular hurt far worse than anywhere else.

During the fight, adrenaline and the Elixir's painkilling effect had kept me going. Now that it was over, though, the pain was enough to make me grimace involuntarily.

'It should heal in a little while.'

I'd seen firsthand how effective Elixir was. It had healed my mangled arm in moments after a mad dog bit it. Apparently, it was taking longer because this injury was internal rather than external.

"Hmm..."

Enduring the pain, I inspected the guardian's corpse(?). Instead of the human shape it had held earlier, it now looked like a stone cairn. I gazed at Heavenly Demon's sword, which stood out even amid the rubble.

'Is it really a Hero's sword?'

Entertaining that pointless thought, I grabbed Heavenly Demon's sword. When I pulled hard, something came out skewered on the blade.

'Is this the core?'

The core: the guardian's heart and power source. Its blue glow was gone, leaving it dark.

I wondered whether this was valuable too, but put the concern aside. Even if it wasn't, there was orichalcum everywhere around me.

'Time to post proof.'

I positioned the skewered core so that both it and the mound of orichalcum behind it would be visible. Then I took a few pictures and uploaded them to the forum, throwing in a picture of Roundfur while I was at it.

Killed a guardian.

Wild Grylls

(Photo of a core skewered on a sword, with a heap of orichalcum behind it)

(Photo of heaps of orichalcum shaped like arms and legs)

(Photo of a core skewered on Heavenly Demon's sword)

(Photo of Roundfur looking up)

A guardian popped up out of nowhere while I was exploring and nearly killed me.

At first I thought I was screwed because it absorbed mana and even reshaped its body. Still, I just barely managed to kill it.

The last pic is Roundfur, the MVP of this fight to the death. Without him, I wouldn't have figured out how to beat it.

Anyway, I know about the orichalcum, but is the core useful? Can I sell this?

└Heavenly Demon: Was this guardian creature strong?

└Wild Grylls: Not as strong as the saber-toothed tiger, but definitely strong. I'd have died for real if I hadn't figured out how to beat it.

└Heavenly Demon: I see. It is rather late to tell you now, but there is a simple counter to enemies that absorb internal energy like that one.

└Wild Grylls: What's that?

└Heavenly Demon: Pour more into them until they can absorb no more. Most will destroy themselves that way.

└Wild Grylls: Please, Master...

└Sword Masta: A guardian that absorbs mana? I've killed quite a few guardians, but that's a first for me. The shapeshifting part is the same, though.

└Wild Grylls: I think it's probably because its body was made of orichalcum. Other guardians can reshape their bodies too?

└Sword Masta: Yes. Rock guardians can control rock, tree guardians can control wood, and river guardians can control river water.

└Wild Grylls: What about firing an energy beam from its core?

└Sword Masta: That's another first. What on earth did you kill...?

└Wild Grylls: So this bastard was the weird one, lol.

└Starlight Lady: Are you hurt anywhere? Posts like these always worry me.

└Wild Grylls: I took one hell of a hit to the stomach. But I have Elixir, so I should be fine.

└Starlight Lady: That's a relief. Still, internal injuries require extra care. Unlike external injuries, they're difficult to heal directly.

└Wild Grylls: All right. I'll be careful.

└Starlight Lady: I'm speaking from experience, so please do take care.

└Wild Grylls: Will do.

└Passing Dwarf: Whoa. Look at all that orichalcum... How much is that worth?

└Wild Grylls: Can you make anything with it?

└Passing Dwarf: Plenty, but I doubt any of it would be much use to you. The core's just an energy source too.

└Wild Grylls: Isn't there anything I can do with the core?

└Passing Dwarf: It's like coal, so not really? Still, one that size should fetch a good price.

└Wild Grylls: I don't need money. Can't you hook it up to a fridge or something? Like a portable battery.

└Passing Dwarf: If that were possible, we'd have built portable breweries already.

└Wild Grylls: Everything comes back to booze with you, seriously...

└But is Grylls really a beginner? Everything he kills is insane.

└For real. Sure, he's won some fights thanks to the terrain, but I don't buy it anymore. How is that a beginner?

└Isn't he just pretending to be weak?

└Wild Grylls: (Photo of a bright red bruise across his abdomen) What was that?

└Sorry...

└That must seriously hurt...

└Maybe he took a hit on purpose? lol

└Not buying it until he shows us the fight, lol.

└Wild Grylls: Is there a way to show you? Recording through the forum blocks my view, so it's difficult.

└Dunno?

└Maybe the admin knows?

└Try asking the admin.

└Wild Grylls: Irresponsible bastards...

After messing around on the forum, I started cleaning up. Though it hardly qualified as cleaning up, since everything apart from the core was orichalcum.

I picked out a few reasonably sized pieces and put them in the extradimensional bag along with the core. They were pretty heavy, but not enough to impede my movements. My mana was starting to recover too.

'I should give the core to Allfather or something.'

Surely he'd find studying it interesting.

With that thought, I headed out of the cave... except first I went to find the Light crystal orb. Despite being hit by the laser, it was intact apart from a few scratches. I had a feeling I'd be getting plenty of use out of it.

'King Leor practically saved my life.'

Of course, that didn't mean I was going to support Leor. I had to stay loyal to Slutty Princess, didn't I? I'd give him some orichalcum as thanks instead.

Once I was outside the cave, I tapped the crystal orb twice. The light bobbing overhead faded away, and the orb went dark too.

'I'd better practice my cultivation method as soon as I get back.'

My mana was nearly depleted, so I needed to replenish it through cultivation. Besides, my abdomen was bruised blue. I needed to rest until it healed completely.

'Now I can't get those crabs again.'

I kept accumulating reasons to feel bad toward the dwarf. Good thing I'd given him fish yesterday, or I'd have lost his trust.

If all else failed, I could give him some extra orichalcum as an apology. It would only end up in a brewery or a fridge, but that was good enough.

'On another note, are there crystal orbs that record video?'

I remembered the forum comments asking me to show the fight. At first I'd dismissed them as nonsense, but on reflection, the idea had real advantages. Wasn't there an old saying that seeing something once was better than hearing about it a hundred times?

The registered users were teaching me, but learning everything through text had plenty of drawbacks.

'This is worth serious thought.'

There would be limitations to the viewing angle, but even so, it would be hugely beneficial. The problem was how to record it. There weren't even smartphones here.

'I'll just have to ask the admin.'

I needed to look into the forum's capabilities a little more.

With those thoughts, I returned to the hideout. Maybe it was because I'd just been through such a fierce battle, but I felt at ease, as though I'd come home.

'I shouldn't get used to this.'

What if I ended up settling here for good? Not that it would happen.

I still held on to the hope of getting out. I wanted to see another human face. That was a need neither adorable Roundfur nor the speed-sloth I bickered with could fill. Just being able to exchange spoken words would help to some extent, but that wasn't possible right now.

'Should I seriously get a ball and talk to it?'

I chuckled as I unpacked. Even I thought it was an idiotic idea. And yet, that might be my future.

'The core goes here, and the orichalcum beside it.'

Once everything was put away, I checked the time. Lunch was roughly an hour away. I could check my condition until then.

I started with my stomach, which had been bruised bright red. The bruise had originally covered my entire abdomen, but it had now shrunk noticeably. Without the Elixir, I might have been in serious danger.

'Some of us have to fight tooth and nail to win, while others finish things in one hit...'

It was unfair, but what could I do? I was only a frail, weak human.

Rubbing my stomach gently, I lay down on the soft mat. Whether from the grueling fight or the mana loss, I felt drowsy.

'If I'm going to sleep, I should at least have lunch first.'

I might as well browse the forum until then. I logged on and searched for my username to see if anyone was talking about me.

Honestly, I'm jealous of Grylls.

"Huh?"

That post made me blink. What lunatic would envy me? There was no way I could ignore it, so naturally, I clicked.

Honestly, I'm jealous of Grylls.

(Photo of a crumbling slum)

(Photo of a cramped little house)

(Photo of a roof leaking rain everywhere)

Just your average forum loser living in the slums. Everyone keeps saying poor Grylls, poor Grylls, but I'm actually jealous.

Honestly, as long as you've got the forum, food and basic necessities aren't a problem, right? And since it's the Forest of Four Seasons, there's expensive stuff lying all around him.

The slums don't even have that. My old man ran off ages ago, and my old lady's out selling her body.

Getting beaten up while begging on the streets is just part of my daily routine. I just want you to know that what looks pitiful to one person can be paradise to another.

You think it's safe here? That's complete bullshit. One asshole even pulled a knife on me to steal my begging bowl.

This place is just fucking hell. I want to leave, but I can't because I don't know where to go.

That's why I'm jealous of Grylls, living in the wild without worrying about money.

└What's the temple doing? Didn't they say they were helping the slums?

└They do, but it's pointless, lol. The place is full of assholes who gamble away the aid or run off with it.

└Slums are slums for a reason. There's no solution short of wiping them out.

└Hang in there.

└Seeing this, maybe Grylls does have it better?

└Nah, no way. At least this guy can do things. Grylls has to risk his life every time he does anything...

└If living in the wild was so great, everyone and their dog would be doing it, lmao.

The post drew countless comments of condemnation, criticism, and sympathy. Reading them, I couldn't help feeling strange. I hadn't realized someone could see things that way.

I understood. This user lived in a different kind of hell from mine. Our circumstances differed, but we were both struggling.

'I guess the grass is always greener?'

If anything, I envied this person. There were other people around them. A place with human life in it was far better than being stranded alone in the wilderness.

So I left a comment. Less an insult than an invitation.

└Wild Grylls: (Photo of the cave with a mat laid out) Hey, friend. Want to come here? It's surprisingly cozy. With you here, we could do anything!

└What the hell is this? lmao

└I thought he'd curse him out. This caught me off guard, lol.

└Forest of Four Seasons vs. the slums. What an awe-inspiring showdown...

└Honestly, if we're comparing fucked-up futures, the former wins hands down, lmao. In the Forest of Four Seasons, there's no future or anything else, lol.

└The forum's the only reason he gets by. Without it, he'd have to do everything by hand...

└You're actually comparing these? lol. Whatever the case, it's better than the Forest of Four Seasons.

└What kind of bullshit comparison is this? Fuck.

└Are you making fun of me?

└Wild Grylls: No, I'm serious. Just come here and I'll do everything I can for you.

└I'm a guy, you know?

└Wild Grylls: I'm alone.

└I'm gay.

└Wild Grylls: I'm single.

└Fuck, you're creeping me out. I'm not coming. Piss off.

└Wild Grylls: Sob sob.

└LMAOOOO

└LMAOOOOO

└LMAOOOOO

└Instantly cured, lmaooo.

That put an immediate stop to the self-pity. Most people scolded the poster for making such a ridiculous comparison.

But did they know?

'Once again, I'm the only one who means it.'

I'd been serious.