Got a Gallery in the Wild — Chapter 102: Territory (1)

Chapter 102: Territory (1)

Putting⁠ aside the rumor‌⁠ that AllFather was⁠⁠ actually Kadir, I continued with what⁠ I had to‌ do.

Although‍ that newbie(?) with⁠ such an exaggerated‌ concept made me‌‍‌ lose a bit‍⁠‌ of time, it⁠ was only about⁠⁠ 10 minutes.

It‍ didn’t affect my overall routine, and⁠⁠ in the end,‍ it was just‍ another gallery session.‌

‘Today is day 13.‍⁠⁠ In two days,‌ it’ll be exactly‍⁠‌ half a month.’⁠‌

Time‍‌ seemed to pass both slowly and quickly at the‍ same time.

If‌ life were repetitive,‍‌ it would probably⁠ feel fast, but⁠ right now I was going through all kinds of‌‍ hardships.

‘It wouldn’t be so‍⁠ bad to suffer‍ a little less.’⁠

I grumbled to myself as I began‍ training.

After⁠‌ the Heart Method‌‍ came sword training.

In‌ two days, that‍⁠ is, when exactly‌ fifteen days had‌ passed, I planned‍‌ to consume the‌ Internal Core.

I had already mentioned‍ it to HeavenlyDemon⁠‍ before.

Because⁠ of that, this‍⁠‌ time she explained⁠‍ a much deeper⁠ theory.

[HeavenlyDemon:‍⁠⁠ It seems you’ve‌ polished the fundamentals quite well.]

[HeavenlyDemon:‌ You truly have⁠ extraordinary talent.]

[WildGrills:⁠ How long does‌ it usually take⁠ to master the⁠ fundamentals?]

[HeavenlyDemon:‍ Everything is difficult‌ at the beginning.]‌⁠‍

[HeavenlyDemon:‌⁠ The amount of‍‌ time it takes‌ each person to⁠‍ perceive the internal⁠ energy of the‍‍ dantian is different.]‍

[HeavenlyDemon:‍ On average, it‌ takes between a week and fifteen‌ days, but you‌⁠⁠ felt it in⁠ just one day,⁠ so it can‌ be said that‍⁠ you’re a genuine‍⁠‌ genius.]

[WildGrills:‍‌ I’m embarrassed to‌‍ hear that.]

[HeavenlyDemon:‍ You shouldn’t be embarrassed, but proud.‌ I’m also happy⁠⁠ to be able⁠‌‌ to teach someone‍ with talent like‌ yours.]

Mm.‌‍

This‌⁠ was a true‍‍ adult.

Someone‍ who didn’t feel‍‍ jealous of the‍⁠‌ progress of those‍ beneath her(?) and‌ who sincerely congratulated them.

That⁠⁠ was why, even though I cursed‌‍‌ the heavens, I didn’t want to‌ hate people.

There‍ were terrible people,‍‍‍ of course, but‌‌‍ there were also‌ good people like‌ HeavenlyDemon.

Smiling‌ in a good mood, I sent⁠‍‍ her a message.‌

[WildGrills:⁠‍ I wouldn’t have⁠ gotten this far without you either,‍ HeavenlyDemon.]

Especially‍ the verses she‍ taught me had⁠ helped me tremendously‌ whenever I was⁠ in danger.

[HeavenlyDemon:‍⁠ A carp that‌ lives in a lake will always⁠‌ be bigger than‌‍ a carp that‍‌⁠ lives in a pond.]

[HeavenlyDemon: But if even⁠‌‍ the carp in the lake cannot survive, then there‌‍ is no meaning‌‌⁠ in it.]

[WildGrills:‌ So the Heavenly⁠ Demon Divine Art‍‌ is the lake⁠ and I’m that⁠ carp?]

[HeavenlyDemon:⁠ You understand immediately.⁠‌‌ I like that.]‍

She⁠ was definitely an⁠ older person, judging by the poetic‌‌ way she spoke.‍⁠‍

Although‌⁠ she sometimes said‍⁠ strange things, I preferred to think⁠‍ it was the‍⁠ gallery’s influence.

[WildGrills:⁠ When will you‌⁠ teach me the⁠‍ second verse?]

[HeavenlyDemon:⁠ You said you’ll‌ consume the Internal⁠‍ Core soon, so I’ll teach it‌ to you then.]‌‌

[HeavenlyDemon:‍⁠ If the first⁠ verse consisted of⁠ entrusting your body⁠ to the heavens,‍ the second consists⁠⁠‌ of perceiving the⁠‌ strength of the‍⁠ heavens.]

[WildGrills:‍‌ Entrusting it instead of controlling it?]‍‌

[HeavenlyDemon:‍‌ To control a force, you must‍‌ first understand the⁠‍ essence of that⁠ force.]

[HeavenlyDemon:⁠ Do you think‍⁠ you could forcibly‍‍ bend the flow⁠ of a mighty‍⁠ river?]

[WildGrills:‌‍ That would be⁠ difficult.]

[HeavenlyDemon:⁠⁠ The heavens are the same. The⁠‌‌ closer they seem, the farther away‍⁠ they become.]

[HeavenlyDemon:‍ All of this‍‌ is to get‌ even a little⁠ closer to the‍⁠ heavens.]

The‍⁠ explanation was incredibly‌‍ easy to understand.

I nodded as I listened to HeavenlyDemon’s⁠ words.

That eel I had‍‌ eaten before.

I knew perfectly well‌ all the side‍ effects it had‌⁠ caused.

At⁠‌ the time, I felt like I was truly going‍ to explode, but‍‌‍ somehow I managed to disperse the‌ energy.

I would probably have‌⁠‍ to proceed in‍⁠ a similar way⁠ this time.

Without⁠‌‍ realizing it, I felt as though I had already‍‌ been practicing beforehand.⁠⁠

‘That’s⁠‌ even better.’

After‍ receiving various pieces‌⁠ of basic knowledge‍‍‌ from HeavenlyDemon, I began circulating the‌‌ Heart Method.

Little⁠ by little, I started to better‍‌⁠ understand what the⁠ fundamentals really were,⁠ so the amount‍⁠‌ of time I devoted to the‌‌‌ Heart Method began to increase.

One⁠ would think it‍ should decrease, but‌⁠ as HeavenlyDemon said,‌‌ the fundamentals were‌‍‍ the roots.

The‌ deeper and broader the roots became,⁠⁠ the more water they needed.

‘If‍⁠ I want to‌‌ increase purity, I have no choice‍‌ but to improve‌ my lung capacity.’‍‍‌

And‍‍ that could only⁠⁠⁠ be achieved through‍ constant breathing training.‍‍

As‌ I circulated the⁠ Heart Method, my⁠ lung capacity gradually increased as well.⁠

My‌ goal was to⁠⁠‌ breathe normally in⁠‌ the same way‌‍⁠ I breathed while‍‍ using the method.‌

HeavenlyDemon⁠⁠ said that wasn’t⁠‌ simply strengthening the‌‍‍ fundamentals, but hardening‌‍‍ the roots themselves.‍‍‌

Something‍ that was still‌‌ far beyond me.‍‌

Even⁠ so, if I kept working hard,‍‌⁠ it was possible.‍

‘Next‍‍ is sword training.’⁠‌

Once‌ I finished the⁠ Heart Method training,‍‌⁠ I continued with‍⁠⁠ swordsmanship practice.

I had been following Swordmaster’s posts step‌‍‌ by step, but‍ there was one⁠ part where I was stuck.

Others⁠‌ said that anyone‍‌ could become a generic Swordmaster(?) just⁠‌ by reading those‌ guides, but I had no one by my side.‌‍

In‍‌ martial disciplines, the‍ existence of a master was extremely‍‌⁠ important.

So⁠‍ training completely alone⁠‌‍ was a bit‍⁠‌ depressing.

[Swordmaster:‌ So, which part⁠⁠‌ are you struggling with?]

[WildGrills:‍ I feel like‌‍‌ I lack stability.⁠ As if the‍ sword keeps trembling.⁠⁠‍ That’s why I decided to ask Swordmaster directly.]

Previously,‍‍ I could only ask questions by‌‍ making posts, but‍‌ now I could‌ also send messages.‍

Swordmaster‍‌‌ was as excellent‍⁠‌ a teacher as‌ HeavenlyDemon, so I paid close attention.‌‍

[Swordmaster:‍‍ I think I understand what you⁠‌⁠ mean. But as‌⁠⁠ long as you use the sword‌⁠ with one hand,‌⁠ that’s inevitable.]

[Swordmaster:⁠⁠ It’s natural for⁠⁠ one hand to‍ have less stability than two, don’t‍‍⁠ you think?]

[WildGrills:⁠⁠ So there’s no‌‍ solution?]

[Swordmaster:‍‍ There are many.‌ If you want⁠ advice, move forward‍ the foot opposite‌ to the hand‍ you attack with.‌‌ Since you’re right-handed,‍‌ you should put‍‌ your left foot‌ forward.]

[WildGrills:⁠ But that’s what‌⁠‌ I always do.]‍‌

[Swordmaster:⁠ Did you do‌ that during training⁠ as well?]

[WildGrills:⁠‍ Oh.]

[Swordmaster:‌ And another piece‌ of advice. Stop‌‌ thinking about cutting‌‍ your opponent in‌⁠ half.]

[Swordmaster:‌ Stability is important‍⁠‍ in swordsmanship, but‌ when you use⁠ a sword with⁠‌ one hand, it‍⁠ inevitably loses stability‌⁠⁠ and you end‍ up applying too⁠ much force.]

[WildGrills:⁠‌‌ So eventually I’ll‍ have to abandon‌‌ the shield?]

[Swordmaster:⁠‍‌ That depends on⁠⁠ your personal preference.‌ The lack of‍ cutting power can be compensated for with aura.]

So‍ in the end,‌‍ I had no‌‍ choice but to⁠ practice aura.

[Swordmaster:⁠‌ Exactly.]

[Swordmaster: If you work‌‌ hard, you’ll bear⁠‌ fruit someday.]

[Swordmaster:‍ Ah, and one⁠ more piece of‌‍ advice. Practice thrusts‍ a lot!]

[WildGrills:⁠‍ Thank you very‍ much!]

[Swordmaster:‍‍ …]

[Swordmaster:⁠‌ Become a wonderful⁠ man quickly and‌‍ marry me!]

[WildGrills:⁠⁠ Master?]

Hearing‍⁠‌ a joke that‍ didn’t fit her⁠‌ character at all⁠ left me completely⁠ stunned.

Now⁠‍ that I thought about it, I had been neglecting‌⁠ thrusts.

I had gained quite‌ a lot from⁠‍ this conversation.

I followed Swordmaster’s instructions‍‌ and continued training‌ both swordsmanship and‍‍⁠ aura.

Training‌ focused on increasing‌‌ lost stability and compensating for inevitable‌‍ shortcomings with aura.‍

‘And‌ I’ll practice thrusts‍ too.’

Not‍‌⁠ only did I need to practice‌⁠ thrusts, I also‍‍‌ had to gradually⁠ adjust my fighting⁠⁠ style.

Until‌‌ now, my way‌ of fighting consisted‌ of taking advantage‍ of an opportunity‌⁠ to limit the‌ enemy’s mobility and⁠ then slowly wearing‍ down their stamina.‌⁠

Since‍‌ most of the⁠‍ creatures I faced‌ were enormous monsters,‍ it was a strategy that worked‌ quite well.

But‌ that was also‍ possible thanks to‍ HeavenlyDemon’s sword, an‌⁠ absurdly overpowered item.‌

In‍‌ addition, I needed‌ to think about‌⁠ how to deal‌‍ with beasts that‌ weren’t gigantic.

‘What‍ would happen if‍‍ a fight dragged⁠⁠ on too long?’⁠

Although‍ it was rare‌ for that to⁠ happen, who knew.‌

This⁠⁠‌ was the Forest of Four Seasons.‍‍⁠

I was probably weak in prolonged battles.

After all, how was‍ I supposed to‌ train physical endurance‍ here?

Even‌ though my lung‌ capacity had increased‌ thanks to the‍ Heart Method, I couldn’t let my‌ guard down.

There‍ might be creatures‌‍‍ in this forest‌‌ with much better⁠ lungs than mine.⁠

“…”‌

“…What⁠ are you doing?”

“Fuuu…”⁠⁠‌

I asked the sloth⁠‍ what he was‍ doing, but he‍‌ only let out⁠⁠ something like a sigh.

Well,‌ more than a sigh, it seemed‍ like he was‌‌ simply breathing.

It was so absurd⁠‍ that I ended‌⁠ up laughing.

Don’t⁠⁠ tell me he‍ was imitating the⁠‌⁠ breathing method I taught him before.⁠⁠‌

No,‍‌ impossible.

‘I’d‌‌ sooner believe a gorilla learned a breathing method.’

Gorillas‌⁠ were animals capable‍ of literally tearing⁠ a person in half.

And‌‍⁠ on top of⁠ that, they learned breathing methods?

That⁠⁠ would be a complete catastrophe.

Besides,‌‍ breathing methods, or⁠ rather Heart Methods,‍‍⁠ required a certain⁠⁠ level of intelligence.‌‍

Unless⁠‍‍ the Forest of Four Seasons had‌‍ evolved monkeys to‌ a level close‍ to humans, it‌ was impossible.

‘And‌‍‍ besides, nobody would‌‍⁠ have taught them.’

Thinking‍ that, I stood⁠‌ up.

It‌ was already lunchtime.

Since‍⁠‌ I had finished‌‌ the oven, I planned to use‌‍ it.

And‌ the dwarf had‌‌ probably finished my‍ things by now‌ as well.

“Let’s⁠ go, Wonmo.”

“Kyuu!”‌⁠

Fortunately,‌ Wonmo was awake⁠ too, so I took him with‍ me.

And‍⁠ of course, the⁠‍ sloth was hanging‍‌⁠ from my back.⁠‍

I started walking, wondering⁠⁠ how many fish‍ had fallen into‍⁠‍ the trap.

Splash! Splash!

“What⁠ a beautiful sight.”⁠⁠

Two⁠‍ fish again.

This⁠ truly made me‌‌‍ happy.

As‌ I dragged the‍ trap, I imagined⁠‍ the feast I would eat for⁠‍ lunch.

Rustle!⁠‍‌

It‌⁠‍ happened just as⁠⁠ I was returning⁠ carrying the trap.⁠

I heard something brushing‌⁠ against the bushes.‌⁠‍

The‍ moment I heard‍ the sound, I immediately assumed a defensive stance just⁠ like that morning.‌‍

But‍ after that, nothing‌‍‍ else could be⁠ heard.

‘Am‌‌‌ I becoming too‍ paranoid?’

Or‌‍‌ perhaps after everything‍‌‌ that had happened recently, I was‌ starting to suffer‍ from auditory hallucinations.‍⁠‌

I rubbed my face‍ with both hands‍ before looking at‌‍ Wonmo.

Wonmo‍ was staring fixedly‌ at something.

Specifically⁠ toward the upper‌‌ part of the‌‍ trees.

“Wonmo.‍‍‍ Was there something‌ there?”

“Kyu?”‌‌‍

“Never⁠ mind. Let’s go.”‌⁠

If‍ I kept obsessing‍ over it, I’d‌‍‍ only end up‍‌ mentally exhausted.

Besides,‍‍ even if something⁠⁠‍ tried to ambush‌ me, having the⁠‍ sloth with me⁠‍ gave me some‍‌‌ peace of mind.‍⁠

After placing the two‍‍ fish I had⁠‍ caught into the‍ iron container, I began preparing everything.

[DwarfPassingBy:⁠ Here are the⁠‌ barricades and the‍ covered tray you‌ requested. The tray⁠‌ is pretty heavy,‍ so be careful.]⁠‌‌

[WildGrills:⁠ Thanks, thanks. I’ll‌⁠ give you what‌ I promised later.]⁠

[DwarfPassingBy:‌‌ My mouth is already watering~ hahaha.]⁠

[WildGrills:‍ Yours too, huh?⁠ Same here.]

I installed the barricades the dwarf had‌ given me in⁠ the location I wanted.

Since‍ my physical strength‍‌ was much greater‍‍‌ than before, moving‍⁠ them wasn’t difficult.⁠

Then‌‌‌ came the steel‌ tray made to‍‍ the proper size.‍

I planned to place⁠‍ the fish on‍⁠ it and put‍ it inside the⁠ oven.

‘He⁠‍ was thoughtful enough‍ to raise the⁠ edges so the‍ oil wouldn’t spill.’‍

I slid the tray‍‍ in and out of the oven⁠‍‍ entrance several times‌ to test it.‌

It⁠⁠ was somewhat heavy,‌ but that was‌⁠ inevitable.

Even⁠ so, it was excellent.

I felt like my quality of life‌ was gradually improving.‌

Crackle!‌⁠‍ Crackle!

I lit a fire in the lower‍‌ section to slowly‍‌‍ preheat the oven.‌

While‌‌ it heated up,‍ I prepared the‍‍ fish.

Even⁠ if I used‌‌ an oven, the‍⁠ cleaning process didn’t⁠⁠‍ change much.

However,‌ I spread them‍⁠⁠ out properly so‍⁠‌ they would cook⁠ evenly.

And⁠‍‍ I didn’t forget to add salt.‌‌‍

Slide—‍ Thunk!

Finally,⁠ I placed the‌ fish inside the‍‌ preheated oven and⁠‌ that was it.‍

The‍⁠ length and height⁠ of the tray‌⁠ fit perfectly.

The‌‌ dwarf had really‌‍ given me something good.

‘He‍‍ said it would take between 15⁠ and 20 minutes,⁠ right?’

Until‍⁠ then, I’d play⁠ with Wonmo.

It‌ was a kind⁠ of training to⁠‍ improve his hunting‌‌ skills.

Although⁠ “training” was an‍ exaggerated word.

I simply tied a string to a branch and hung⁠ a fish head‍ from the end.⁠

It‌⁠‌ looked more like⁠⁠ playing with a cat.

Well,⁠ they had something‌ in common.

Both⁠⁠ were adorable.

And‍ on top of‌⁠ that, this would‌‌ also help improve⁠ my reflexes a little.

“Kyuu!‍‍ Kyuuuu!”

“That’s‌ it! Very good!”‍

While‌ the fish slowly‌ cooked inside the‌⁠ oven.

“…”⁠⁠

The⁠‍‍ sloth simply kept staring fixedly toward the trees.

Rustle!⁠⁠

Rustle! Shhk!

Among‌ the trees, several⁠⁠⁠ beasts moved rapidly,‌ forcing their way‍ through.

They‍‌‌ weren’t running along⁠ the forest floor,‌ but traveling swiftly by lightly stepping‌‌⁠ on branches.

At‌ first glance, they‌ had a somewhat‌ human-like shape, but⁠ their long arms⁠ and the fur⁠ covering their entire⁠ bodies made it‌ clear they weren’t‍ people.

Eventually,‌ those beasts crossed⁠‍ the forest at‌ incredible speed until they reached a specific area.

And‍ as soon as‍⁠ they arrived there, the first thing⁠ they saw was⁠ an ape resting⁠ peacefully on a tree.

Generally‍⁠ speaking, it looked⁠‌‌ like a gorilla,‍⁠ but there was⁠⁠⁠ something unsettling about⁠‍ the atmosphere surrounding⁠‍ it.

“Uuuh!⁠ Uuuuhhh!”

“Uuuhhh!”⁠⁠‌

The⁠ group of gorillas‌ that had gone‌‌ out on reconnaissance(?)‍ began roaring as⁠ if trying to‌⁠ communicate something.

Hearing‌ that, the gorilla‌‌ that had been‌ resting peacefully on‍‍‍ the tree slowly⁠‍ stood up.

Unlike‍ before, when it radiated a relaxed‍ attitude, its expression‌‌ was now completely‌ serious.

“Uuuh?”‌⁠

“Uuuuhhh!”‍⁠

“Uuuh…!”⁠

A strange wind began‌‍‌ to blow through‍‌ the forest.