Got a Gallery in the Wild — Chapter 104: Territory (3)

Chapter 104: Territory (3)

Whether⁠‌ beast or human,‌ territory was something‌ extremely sensitive.

In⁠ the case of people, viewed broadly,‍‌ it was the‌‍ country itself—that is,‍‍ national territory.

And⁠ on a smaller⁠ scale, the home.⁠⁠

Moreover,⁠ among the basic⁠ necessities, none were⁠ unimportant, but the‌‌ “home” was responsible‍ for providing security‍ in daily life.‌

If‌ you don’t have⁠ a house, you’ll⁠⁠ never truly be⁠ safe from natural disasters or all‍ kinds of accidents.‌‍‌

That’s‌⁠ why both humans‍ and beasts needed‍ territory in order‍‍ to live safely.⁠⁠‍

Even⁠‍ people become wary of or confront‌⁠ strangers who invade⁠ their homes, so⁠ it was obvious⁠‌ that beasts would‌‍ react even more⁠‍ harshly.

It⁠‍‌ wasn’t for nothing‌⁠⁠ that I had‌ come out exploring‍ to identify the gorillas’ territory.

‘But‌‌ both the Owlbear and the Mad‌‌ Dogs seemed to⁠‍ have territorial disputes,‍⁠‍ right?’

I had set out⁠‌ confidently, but my‍ worries kept piling‍‍ up.

First‍ of all, what⁠ would happen to⁠ the Owlbear’s and⁠⁠‌ the Mad Dogs’‌ territories now that‌⁠ they were gone?‌‌

It⁠ was something I had thought about⁠ several times, but⁠ so far I hadn’t noticed anything strange.

I had seen kangaroos‌ inside the cave⁠ where the Owlbear‍ lived, but they‌ fled as soon⁠‍ as they saw‌⁠ me.

However,‍ now I could⁠ clearly feel that‌‌‌ other animals could‌⁠ move in to⁠ occupy vacant territories.⁠‌‌

The⁠‍ saber-toothed tiger was‌⁠‍ a monster I had barely managed‍ to defeat thanks‌⁠ to the sloth’s‍‌‌ help.

If‌ I had been‌ alone, I would⁠‌ have died several‌‌ times over.

‘And‌ if something is‍⁠ capable of entering‍ the territory of⁠ a monster like‌⁠ that…’

Maybe‍‌‌ they had already‌⁠ challenged it while⁠ the tiger was‍⁠ still alive.

Or⁠‍ perhaps they had‌ already become the‍ new rulers of‌‍ this entire area.‌

‘Though⁠ I’ve been constantly‍‌ marking territory myself.’‍‌

Of‌ course, I didn’t‌‍ mean that seriously.‌‍

I was simply urinating‌‌ wherever I happened‌ to be.

Still,‌ I wanted to‍ believe that it‍‍ worked as at⁠ least a small⁠‍ territorial marker.

‘The⁠‌⁠ Owlbear’s cave was‌‌ here.’

Following my memories from‌⁠ yesterday, I arrived‌⁠‌ at the Owlbear’s‌⁠ cave.

My‌‍ original plan was‍ to use this‌‌ place as a reference point while⁠ exploring the surrounding‍ area.

“Kyuu!⁠⁠ Kkyu!”

That⁠‍‍ would have been⁠‌ the case if‌ Wonmo hadn’t suddenly⁠‌ run into the‍⁠‌ cave.

I hurriedly called out‍ to him, but‍⁠‍ he was already⁠‌‌ inside.

I shook my head‌ and walked in⁠ after him.

“Kkyaaaak!‌‍‌ Kkyaaak!”

But⁠ it wasn’t long before Wonmo came‌ racing back out.⁠⁠

Judging⁠‌ by the utterly terrified expression on‌ his face, it‍ was obvious he⁠‌ had seen something.⁠‍

I barely managed to‍‍⁠ calm him down‌‍ before slowly peeking‍⁠⁠ inside.

“Whoa.”⁠

Now⁠ I understood why⁠‍ Wonmo was so‍ frightened.

What was inside was‍⁠‌ anything but normal.⁠‌⁠

The‌ kangaroos I had‍ seen yesterday.

Now⁠⁠ there were several⁠ of them hopping⁠ all over the‍‌ cave.

And⁠ that was exactly‍ the problem.

It‍‍ wasn’t just one.‌⁠

There‍‍‌ were many.

It⁠ seemed they had⁠ claimed this place⁠‌ as their territory.‍‍

Exactly⁠⁠ what I had‌‌ feared had happened.

The‌ group of kangaroos⁠ had occupied the‌‍ Owlbear’s former territory.‍‍

‘But⁠ do kangaroos really‍‌⁠ live in environments‍ like this?’

Maybe‍ it was just‌ my prejudice, but‌ on Earth kangaroos‌‌‌ usually lived in‌‌⁠ Australia.

I suppose as long‌‌ as there was⁠ food like grass‌ or trees, they‍ could survive.

Even‍ so, it felt⁠ rather out of⁠⁠ place.

Regardless of what I thought, I decided to quietly retreat.

Fighting‌⁠ now would only‌⁠‌ waste energy, and‌‌ there were still‌ many places left‍⁠ to investigate.

‘If‍‌ I want to‌ escape, I’ll have⁠⁠ to pass through‌ other animals’ territories…’‌

That⁠ worried me too.‍‌⁠

I would inevitably have‌‍ to invade someone‍‌ else’s territory.

And‌ if I was⁠‌‍ unlucky, I might end up fighting⁠⁠ several dominant beasts‌ in succession.

That‌ was precisely why‌ I needed more⁠ information.

‘Wait⁠‌ a minute. Now‍‌ that I think⁠ about it…’

I turned to look⁠ at the entrance‍ of the Owlbear’s⁠ den.

I was thinking about‍ Rice Craone, the‌‌ owner of the‍ books I had⁠ found here.

‘How⁠⁠ was he able⁠‍ to live inside⁠ the Owlbear’s den?‌ Did he live‍‌‍ here before the⁠‍⁠ Owlbear arrived?’

AllFather⁠ would probably explain⁠‌⁠ it to me‌⁠⁠ later.

I took one last‍⁠ look at the‌ Owlbear’s former cave, now transformed into‍ a kangaroo den,⁠⁠‌ and continued walking.‌‌‍

I still couldn’t determine‌‌ where the gorillas’⁠ territory began.

Using‌ the river as‌⁠ a reference seemed‍⁠‌ convenient, but even⁠‌ that was ambiguous.⁠⁠⁠

‘The⁠ entire river could⁠ be part of‌⁠ their territory.’

It‌⁠ was better to⁠‌ think of this‌‍ simply as exploration‍‌ and territorial reconnaissance.‌‍⁠

If⁠‍ I found droppings,‌‌ I would stop‌ there.

After all, I had‌ an excellent tracking‌⁠ dog.

No,‌‍ an excellent tracking‌⁠‌ bear.

So⁠⁠‌ finding them would‌⁠ be easy.

“Sniff⁠ sniff. Sniff.”

“Hey, Wonmo. Not that, not that.”

Of‌‍ course, that didn’t‍‍‍ mean he had‍‍‍ to look for‌ mushrooms.

I quickly stopped him⁠‍ in case he‍ tried to eat‌‌ them.

After‌⁠ that, I continued exploring while carefully‌⁠⁠ marking my route so I wouldn’t get lost.

And‍ as I moved‍⁠⁠ forward, I realized‌ the terrain was‌ gradually changing.

‘This‌‌⁠ doesn’t look like‍ a forest anymore.‌ It looks like‌ a jungle.’

The‍⁠⁠ leaves began turning⁠ a much deeper‌‍ shade of green.‌‍

And moss started covering⁠ everything.

Moreover,‍ many areas of‌ the forest had‍ previously been rocky,‍‍‍ but at some‍‍ point they became⁠‌ filled entirely with‌ gigantic roots.

Even‍ the air of⁠ the forest had‌ changed noticeably.

Especially⁠ the humidity.

Until‍ recently, the environment⁠‍ had been fairly‍ dry, but now‌ it had become‍‌ damp.

‘I‌‌ didn’t feel like‌ the space itself‌ changed or anything‍‌ like that.’

Unlike⁠ the other side‍ of the river,⁠ there wasn’t that‍⁠ strange feeling of having entered a completely different place.‌

It‍⁠ simply felt as‌ though, at some⁠ point, I had wandered into a jungle.

I considered turning back,⁠‍ but decided to⁠ explore a little‌ farther.

“Good⁠ grief. Damn.”

Not long after making‍‌ that decision, I discovered a new‍‌ species.

A creature slowly crawling⁠ along in front‌‌ of me.

It⁠ looked like a giant snail.

But‍‌⁠ the problem was‍⁠‌ its size.

The⁠ shell alone was‍‍‌ much larger than‍ I was.

Not⁠⁠ to mention the‌‍ body.

‘Is‌ this what it⁠ would feel like‍⁠ to see MapleStory‌ snails in real‌ life?’

Watching⁠ a snail the‍‍ size of a person crawling along was absolutely creepy.⁠

But‌ at the same‍ time, it seemed⁠ strange.

If‍ it was that‍⁠‌ big, shouldn’t it‍ be eaten quickly?⁠

‘There‍ must be a reason.’

I’d⁠⁠‍ better not touch⁠‍‍ it just to⁠⁠ find out.

The‌‌ smartest thing to⁠ do was let‌ it continue on‌ its way.

I passed by the‌ snail, which moved‍ even slower than‌‌ a sloth.

And‍‍‌ it didn’t take‌‌‍ long before I understood why it‌ was able to‍ survive.

Ssssss—⁠

“…….”‍‍

The⁠⁠ ground where the‍‌ snail had passed.⁠

All‌ the grass in⁠ that area had⁠ melted.

And not only that.‍

Even‍ the soil itself‌ seemed to have‌ dissolved, as smoke‍ was slowly rising from it.

It‌‌ looked like some⁠‌‌ kind of poison like that of‍ a golden poison‍ frog, or perhaps⁠⁠‌ an acidic substance.

Considering‌ what the snail⁠‍‍ was like, its⁠‌ entire body was‌ probably both poisonous‍⁠ and acidic.

If‍ I ate it,‌ my body would‌‍ probably end up‌‌‍ melting into liquid.‌‍

‘……I‍‌ should call it an Acid Snail.’

I hope it doesn’t‍‌ spit liquid from⁠ its mouth like those frogs.

Just‍ to be safe,‍‌⁠ I moved well‍‍ away from the‌‌‍ snail.

I continued exploring different‍⁠ parts of the⁠ jungle, but I didn’t find anything‌ special, so I eventually decided to‍‌‌ head back.

‘Could‌ it be that‍ the gorillas don’t‌ live here?’

Either‍ they were much‌‌ deeper inside, or‌‍ I had simply‌⁠ gone in the⁠ wrong direction.

Wonmo‌‍ didn’t find anything‌‍ either, so the‍⁠‌ entire exploration felt⁠‌⁠ pointless.

‘There’s⁠ still…… plenty of‌ time left.’

I checked the gallery’s‌ time, and it⁠ was only two‍ thirty.

I had planned to‍ explore until five‌ at the latest,‍ so I could⁠⁠ still search a little longer.

Even‍ so, as a precaution, I decided‌‍‌ not to venture⁠‍ deeper into the‍ jungle.

If‍‍ I ended up⁠ running into the‌‌ gorillas, it would‍⁠‍ be a disaster.⁠‌

“Hmm?”‌‍

Just⁠ as I was‌ deciding to head‍‍ back, I found‌ something strange.

It⁠⁠ was a tree⁠ whose center was‌‍ dented inward.

In‍ the Forest of‌ Four Seasons, where‌ constant battles took‌ place, damaged trees⁠ weren’t unusual.

But‌ the marks engraved‍‌ on this tree‍‍ stood out too⁠ much.

‘Could‌ this be…… a palm print?’

There‌ was a clear⁠ palm imprint pressed into it.

I didn’t know what⁠ kind of ape‍‍ could have left‌ it.

And‌‌ I wasn’t an‌⁠ expert, either.

But‍ there were two‍⁠⁠ things I could⁠⁠‍ tell.

It‍‌ was much larger than my hand.‍

And‌‍‍ its proportions were‌⁠‍ different from a human hand.

The‍ palm was much⁠‌‍ larger than the⁠⁠ fingers, and the⁠ overall size was‌ more than twice‍⁠‍ that of my⁠ own hand.

‘……This‌ could be a territorial marker.’

Looking⁠‍ at that enormous‍ mark, large enough‍‌ for my entire⁠‌ hand to fit⁠ inside it, I came to that‍‍ conclusion.

If‌‌‍ it really was⁠ a print left‍ by a gorilla,‍ then it was‌ probably best to⁠‌ leave immediately.

If‌ I kept wandering‌⁠‍ around here and‍ got attacked, it‍‍ would be a problem.

‘Are‍ there any more‌ marks besides this‍⁠ one?’

But⁠ I wanted to identify the territory⁠ more clearly.

I couldn’t just get⁠‌⁠ scared by a single handprint and run away without‌ accomplishing anything.

And just as I was about to⁠‍ turn my head—‍⁠

“Huh?”‍‌

My⁠ finger brushed against⁠⁠ another indentation in‍⁠ the tree.

There was a different‍⁠⁠ mark beside the⁠ huge palm.

The‌‌ trunk was so‍ thick that I had almost overlooked⁠ it.

But‌ what truly surprised⁠ me was something‍ else.

‘This…… actually looks like‍‌ a human hand.’‌

There‍‍‌ was a much⁠ smaller palm print⁠‍ next to the‍ other one.

Although‌‌ it was still‍⁠ larger than my⁠ hand, it was‌‍ within a normal⁠ range.

I thought it might belong to a young gorilla, but‍⁠‍ it didn’t seem‌⁠ to be that⁠ either.

‘The‍‌‌ fingers are too‍‌‍ long.’

The⁠‍ fingers were especially⁠ long.

Compared⁠ to the other⁠‌ mark, the difference‍‍ was obvious.

Could⁠⁠ it belong to‍‌⁠ Rice, who was⁠‍ supposedly attacked by⁠ the gorillas?

That⁠⁠ didn’t seem to‌ be the case.⁠‍‌

I didn’t know why, but that handprint⁠⁠‍ felt strangely familiar.‍

As‍‍ though it had⁠‌ been made to‌⁠‌ show off some‌ sort of bond‌ between the two.‍‌

I carefully examined the two prints before⁠⁠ taking a photo.⁠‍

I planned to upload‌ it to the gallery later.

‘It⁠ looks like a pretty old mark……‍‌ though I’m not⁠‌⁠ sure.’

I didn’t know whether it had been⁠ left by a survivor or by⁠‍ some strange mutant.‌‍

With‍⁠‍ that question lingering‍‍ in my mind,‍ I left the‌ jungle.

I couldn’t stay there⁠ any longer.

‘I‌ need to get‍ back to the shelter. I have‍ to think about‍‌⁠ this.’

I actually wanted to‌‍‍ continue exploring, but‌ I changed my‍ plans.

I had found what⁠⁠ looked like the‍ mark of another‍⁠ survivor.

And‍ not Rice’s.

Someone⁠‍ completely different.

‘Why⁠⁠ did they leave a handprint? And‍⁠⁠ why next to‍ a gorilla’s?’

As‍‌‌ I repeatedly pondered‌⁠ that unanswered question,⁠‌ I returned to⁠‍ the shelter.

And‌ the moment I arrived, I felt‌‍ all the tension‌‌ leave my body‍‌ at once.

“Hmm?”⁠⁠

But‌ something felt strange.‍⁠

There‍ was a sense‍ of discomfort that⁠⁠ I couldn’t identify.‌

What‍‍⁠ exactly was it?

It‌‍ was hard to‍‍⁠ explain.

Everything⁠ looked familiar, yet⁠ at the same‌ time strange.

As‍‍ though some objects‌‍⁠ were slightly out‍ of place.

‘Why‍ are the clothes⁠ on the ground?‌ Did I secure⁠ them poorly?’

That⁠ was the first⁠ thing I noticed.⁠

The⁠‍ clothes I had⁠ hung up were lying on the⁠ floor.

The⁠ position of the metal barrel also seemed different.

And‍⁠‌ so did the‍ charcoal container.

There‍⁠‌ were signs everywhere‌⁠ that someone had‍ been here.

My‌ instincts immediately went‌‌ on alert.

‘But‌‍‌ there’s nobody inside.’‍

I discreetly looked into‍ the cave.

It‌‌ was empty.

For‌⁠‌ a moment, I thought there might‌ still be an‌‍ intruder inside.

I rubbed the back of my neck‌‌ and, lowering my‍ guard slightly, entered‌‌ the cave.

And‍ the moment I crossed the entrance,‌ the feeling of‍‍⁠ unease became much‍⁠‌ stronger.

No.‌‍‍

This‍ wasn’t just unease‌ anymore.

Something⁠⁠ entire was missing.⁠‍‍

“Huh?”⁠

I was a fairly‍ organized person.

That’s‍‌ why I immediately noticed what was‌ gone.

“What⁠ the hell? Where⁠‍ are the fasting⁠ pills?”

The⁠‌ fasting pills had‌‌‌ disappeared.

And‍‍⁠ not just a few pills.

The‌‍ entire sack.

Normally,‌ I left it‌ in one place⁠ because the sloth⁠ was the one‍‌‌ who ate them⁠⁠ the most.

But‌ if it had⁠‍ disappeared……

There⁠ was only one‍⁠ explanation.

Someone‌ had entered my‍ shelter and taken it.

For⁠ a moment, I wondered if thieves‌‌‌ also existed in⁠⁠ the forest, but‌‌ it wasn’t that‌ strange.

Last⁠‌‌ time, during that‌ brutal storm, a raccoon had already⁠ tried to steal the fasting pills.

Of⁠ course, that raccoon‍ ended up receiving⁠ a brutal lesson‍‌ from the sloth⁠ and eventually wound⁠ up in Wonmo’s‍ stomach.

“……”‌‌‍

Perhaps‍‍‍ the disappearance of⁠⁠ the fasting pills⁠ had affected him quite a bit.

The⁠⁠⁠ sloth climbed down⁠ from my back⁠ at top speed.‌‍‌

Not‌⁠ combat speed.

The⁠‍‌ fastest speed he‍ could normally achieve.‌‌⁠

Then he stood there staring fixedly at‍⁠ the empty spot‍ where the sack⁠ had been.

I could clearly feel‌‍‍ his sense of⁠‌ loss and fury.‍

Who‌ the hell had stolen the pills?‍

And they hadn’t even⁠‍ touched the other⁠ items.

‘Could‍ there be footprints?’⁠‍⁠

Criminals‌ always leave traces.‌‌

Leaving⁠ behind the sloth,⁠ who was still silently furious, I went outside.

And‍‌ after carefully examining⁠ the ground, I found footprints I had never seen‌⁠ before.

‘I have to upload⁠‍ this to the⁠‍ gallery.’

I didn’t know who⁠‌ the culprit was,‌‌⁠ but—

‘It’s⁠ the first time‌‌ I’ve ever seen‌‍ the sloth this‍ angry.’

It⁠ seems the thief⁠ has nothing left‌‍‌ to do but wait for death.‍

***‍

Meanwhile, somewhere in the‍ jungle.

“Uhoho!‍‌ Uho!”

“Uuuuu! Uhuhu!”

The⁠ gorillas were celebrating‌ an unexpected feast.

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Chapter 104: Territory (3)

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