Got a Gallery in the Wild — Chapter 109: Welcome To… (1)

Chapter 109: Welcome To… (1)

Since‍‌‍ I started living‌ in the Forest of Four Seasons,‍⁠ I went through‌ many hardships.

And‍‌ every time something‍⁠‍ like that happened,⁠⁠‍ I ended up‌‌ completely exhausted, spending⁠ the entire day⁠ inside the cave‍ or resting.

I rested in my⁠‌ own way and,‌ from time to‍ time, also circulated‍ the breathing method.‌

But⁠⁠ I didn’t smoke⁠ often.

Only‌‍ when both my⁠ body and mind⁠ were equally wrecked.‍

I decided not to‍‍⁠ smoke except in⁠‍ moments exactly like⁠‍ this.

Fwoosh!‌‌

And‍‌ right now, I was in one‍ of those situations.‍⁠

I lit the tip‍‌ of the cigarette⁠⁠ with the ignition‌⁠⁠ stone.

Soon,⁠ smoke slowly began‌ to rise from⁠‌ the burning tip,⁠‍ so I brought it to my‍ mouth and took‍⁠ a deep drag.‍

Instead‍ of being harsh,⁠‍ a refreshing aroma filled my lungs‍‌ and cleared my‌ mind.

“Huuu…”⁠

I exhaled the smoke⁠ with the World‌ Tree cigarette between‍ my lips.

The‍ smoke that slowly‌ rose began to‌ disperse.

I felt like my‌‌‍ mind became a little clearer whenever‍⁠ I smoked it.‍

Although⁠ everything was still‍ complicated.

I wanted to stay away from tobacco whenever possible, but‌⁠‌ this time it‌‍ was difficult.

‘I⁠ also have to‍‌ get rid of‍ the gorilla corpses…⁠ and those guys‌‌ might come back⁠ for revenge… haa…’

Thanks‌‌ to the elixir,⁠ my broken ribs‌ had recovered to‍ some extent.

My‍ stamina wasn’t too‍ depleted either, so‌‍ physically I was‍‌‍ still in pretty‌ good shape.

But‍‍ my head was‍ a mess.

That’s‌‍ why I ended up putting the⁠ cigarette in my⁠ mouth.

Because there were too‌‍ many things about⁠‍ the gorillas that‍‌ I needed to‌ think about.

‘Who⁠‌ the hell taught⁠ him martial arts?’‍

I could accept the‌⁠⁠ gorillas using tools.

AllFather‍⁠‍ had already warned⁠‍ me about that.

Besides,‍‍ their obsession with tools had actually⁠ made them easier‌ to fight.

But‍⁠ the gorilla using⁠‍⁠ martial arts was‌‍‍ another story.

He‌⁠⁠ was an extremely⁠‍ difficult enemy to⁠⁠ deal with.

The combination of a gorilla’s monstrously powerful body and soft,‍ refined techniques.

Every‍‍⁠ single one of his attacks was⁠ lethal.

Thank‌‍ goodness I had⁠ trained my reflexes with Sloth.

If⁠ not for that,‍‌ my head would‌‌‍ have already exploded.

‘Considering‍‍ the circumstances, I’m sure the one⁠ who left that⁠ handprint on the‌ tree is the‍‍ one who taught‍‌⁠ him.’

With⁠ the cigarette between‍‌ my lips, I organized my thoughts.‌‍⁠

To⁠ discover the truth, I would have⁠ to enter their‍‌ territory directly.

Even‌ if I captured⁠‌ the gorilla leader,‌⁠ that didn’t mean he could talk.‌

They‍‌‍ couldn’t speak, but‍ their intelligence was absurdly high.

The‌⁠ fact that they‍ had learned martial‍‍ arts already proved⁠ that.

‘How‍ intelligent do they⁠⁠ have to be‌‌ to use martial⁠‍ arts?’

In‍⁠ martial arts, who‍‌ teaches is important, but so is‍‌ who learns.

That’s‌⁠ why the word‍‌‍ “talent” exists.

Without‍ talent, no matter how much you‍‍‌ train, you barely⁠⁠⁠ make any progress.‌

For a moment, I thought that gorilla⁠ might actually have⁠‍ more martial talent‌⁠ than me.

‘…This‌⁠⁠ forest is seriously⁠ messed up.’

I couldn’t help letting‌ out a hollow laugh.

I took a long⁠ drag from the‌⁠ cigarette and slowly⁠‍ exhaled the smoke.‌

For‍ now, it was‌‌ better to stop‍‍ thinking about the⁠ gorillas and focus‍ on what I needed to do.

‘Wonmo‍ is asleep.’

It‌ was the first‍ time Wonmo had⁠‍ been injured.

After⁠⁠‍ receiving treatment, he‌⁠ was now sleeping‌⁠ deeply on the‌ mat.

Normally,‌ he slept completely‌⁠⁠ stretched out, but‍ now he was‌‍ curled up into‍⁠ a ball.

Probably‍‌⁠ because intruders had invaded our territory⁠‍ and he wanted⁠⁠‌ to be ready‍⁠ to act at‍‌‌ any moment.

‘Now⁠ even the house‍‍‌ isn’t safe.’

I didn’t know when⁠‍ the gorillas would‍ return.

On‌‌ top of that,⁠‍⁠ they had stolen⁠ the fasting pills.

It wasn’t something I could take lightly.⁠‌⁠

I couldn’t leave someone⁠ on guard permanently‌‍‍ either.

Even⁠‍ Sloth would be‍‍ in danger.

‘In‌ the end, I absolutely have to‌ install a door.’‌

And‍ it would have‌ to be an‌ extremely sturdy door.‌

One⁠‍‌ that even the‍ gorillas couldn’t easily‌⁠ break.

That⁠ meant it would‌‌ have to be‌⁠ made of steel.

There⁠ was no choice‍‌ but to ask‌ the dwarf for‌‌ it.

Although I’d have to install it myself.‌⁠

‘Maybe‌‌ a few pieces‍ of orichalcon will‌‍ be enough.’

I took one last⁠ deep drag before⁠ opening the wooden⁠‌ box.

Then I tapped the‍ ash into the‍ ashtray and cut off the burned⁠‌‍ tip with the‌‌ short dagger.

I could still smoke‍‌ it a few‍‌‌ more times.

I didn’t have many left, so I had to conserve⁠‍ them.

‘But‌‍ it really does‌⁠ taste good.’

If‌⁠ I ran out⁠ later, I’d have‌ to ask LetsPlantTrees‍ for help.

Although⁠ I didn’t know‍⁠ what she would⁠‍ want in return, I’d have to⁠ ask.

I picked up the‍ shovel and several‍‍ tools before heading⁠‌ outside.

And⁠ as soon as‌ I stepped out,⁠ I saw the⁠‍ gorilla corpses scattered‍⁠ across the ground.⁠

The most shocking one⁠ was the decapitated‌ gorilla.

The‌ one Sloth had⁠ killed.

‘First,‍ I’ll take a few pictures for⁠ the gallery.’

There‍ were too many‍ things I wanted⁠ to ask about,⁠ so documenting the⁠‍ scene was essential.‌⁠‌

I even photographed the‌⁠ tools the gorillas had used before‌ beginning to clean everything up.

Since⁠ the gorillas were enormous, even moving‌⁠⁠ the corpses was⁠‍ exhausting.

‘Should⁠ I just bury‍‍‍ them?’

The‍⁠ simplest method was⁠ to dig a hole and bury⁠⁠ them.

There‍⁠ was no need⁠ to carry the‌‌‌ corpses all the‌‌ way to the⁠ river.

Besides,‌⁠ if something attacked⁠ me on the⁠ way, it would‌‍‌ be a disaster.⁠

Especially‍‌‍ because the escaped‍ gorilla leader could return with another‍⁠ group seeking revenge.⁠‌‍

‘Cutting them apart also⁠ feels wrong.’

They‌⁠‍ weren’t beasts like‌‍ the saber-toothed tiger.‌

They⁠⁠‍ were primates, so‍ dismembering them made‌ me uncomfortable.

Besides,‌‍ some of the‍ corpses were already‌ mutilated enough.

It was better to‌ simply bury them.⁠

First,‍ I gathered all the bodies in one place.

By⁠‌‌ the way, finding⁠ the decapitated gorilla’s‌ head was a real headache.

‘The⁠⁠ grave has to‍‌ be dug far‌ away.’

There‍ was no way⁠⁠‍ I was burying⁠‌ them near my‌⁠ shelter.

I planned to bury⁠‌⁠ them quite far‍‌‍ away.

And in case other⁠‌‌ beasts tried to‌⁠ dig them up,‍ I planned to⁠‌ dig as deep‌‍ as possible.

‘This‌⁠⁠ should be enough.’⁠

Behind⁠⁠ the cave.

A wide and suitable⁠‌‍ space.

A perfect place to‍‍ call a backyard.‌⁠

There, I dug a deep hole.

Moving‍‍ the corpses one⁠ by one was⁠‌ annoying, but there‍‌ was no other‍ choice.

And‌ it wasn’t until‍ an hour later⁠⁠ that I finally‌ managed to bury‍⁠⁠ them.

Thank‍ goodness my strength and physical abilities‌‍ had increased.

Otherwise,‍⁠ it would have‍ taken me more‌‍ than two hours.‌

Title)‍‍ The Gorilla Massacre

WildGrills⁠⁠

(Photo⁠‍ of a dead‍⁠ gorilla)

(Photo⁠‍ of a gorilla‌‍‌ lying on the⁠⁠ ground)

(Photo⁠ of a dead‍ gorilla bleeding)

(Photo‌ of a gorilla⁠ with its neck⁠‍ cut, carefully censored)‍

(Photo‍ of the tools⁠⁠ used by the⁠ gorillas)

(Photo‌⁠ of the gorillas’‌⁠ corpses gathered together)⁠⁠‌

Eliminated⁠‍‌ all the gorillas‍ who came to⁠‍ rescue the hostage⁠‍ I captured.

There was a gorilla⁠ leader, but that⁠‌ bastard escaped.

And on top of‍⁠ that, the gorilla‌⁠ leader used something⁠⁠⁠ similar to martial‍‌ arts. Does that‍‌ even make sense?;;‌⁠⁠

└HeavenlyDemon:‍‌ A gorilla using⁠ martial arts? What⁠ kind of techniques⁠‌‍ did he show‌ exactly?

└WildGrills: It’s hard to explain properly, but⁠⁠ I’ll describe the‍‍ stance first. He⁠ had his left hand extended forward‍ with the palm‍‌⁠ facing out, and his right hand clenched into a fist at waist‍ level.

└HeavenlyDemon: That’s not enough.⁠‍‍ Could you explain in more detail‌ what kind of⁠‍ martial art he‌‌ used?

└WildGrills:⁠‌ He used a lot of palm‌ strikes. And he⁠ was absurdly fast.

└HeavenlyDemon:⁠‍‍ Hmm. There are‌ too many martial‍ arts that use⁠ long-range strikes. I need more characteristics…‌‍

└Swordmaster: Before that, isn’t⁠ anyone surprised by‌ the part where⁠ a gorilla used‌‌ martial arts?;; We’re⁠ talking about something‍‍ completely absurd.

└HeavenlyDemon:‍‌ You’re right. I’ve seen countless people⁠ worse than monkeys,‌ but I never‍ imagined seeing an‍ actual monkey use⁠ martial arts.

└Swordmaster: You do know⁠‍‌ the difference between⁠ a primate and⁠ a monkey, right?‍

└HeavenlyDemon:‍⁠ Isn’t it just⁠⁠⁠ the difference between‍‍‍ having a tail‍ or not? They’re‌⁠ all monkeys in‌ the end as⁠‍⁠ far as I’m⁠‍ concerned.

└Swordmaster:⁠ Well, I suppose‍ you’re not wrong.‌ Anyway, weren’t you‍ injured anywhere?

└WildGrills:⁠ I almost died‍‍⁠ from a blow‌ to the ribs,‍‍ but I survived‍‍ somehow. Though I also broke the‌‌ gorilla leader’s arm.‌‌⁠

└HeavenlyDemon:⁠‌ What a peculiar⁠‍‍ situation. But I doubt he learned‌‌ martial arts on⁠ his own. I’d‌⁠ bet someone taught‌‌ him.

└WildGrills:‌ (Photo of the‍⁠ center of the‍ tree with the‍‌ gorilla handprint and‌‍ the human handprint)⁠‌ Looking at this,‍‌ I’m sure someone⁠ taught him.

└HeavenlyDemon:⁠ That is definitely‌ a reasonable conclusion.

└AllFather: There may still‌ be a survivor⁠‌ alive. If someone‌⁠‍ was capable of‌‍‍ teaching martial arts‍ to a troop‍ of gorillas, that‍ means they managed‍‌ to defeat them⁠ in combat.

└SunForEver:⁠‌ I’m more impressed‍ that they use‍⁠‍ tools. Could it⁠ be that they’re‍ actually evolving into‍ humans?

└AllFather:‌ That’s a fairly‍ plausible hypothesis. Either‌⁠‍ they are individuals‌⁠ with abnormally high‍ intelligence, or the‌‍ Forest of Four‍‍ Seasons is accelerating⁠ evolution.

└Just‌⁠⁠ hearing that is⁠ terrifying;;

└That’s‌‌ why there are‍ so many elixirs⁠‍‌ and treasures in⁠‍ that forest. Surviving⁠ there must be hell.

└So‍ Grills just got⁠‌ lucky.

└Haha,⁠⁠ but that means⁠ Grills is inferior⁠ to a gorilla,‍‍ doesn’t it?

└WildGrills: Shut up. I didn’t lose.

└If⁠ you lose to a gorilla then‌‌ you’re worse than‌‌ an ape LOL‌

└Literally⁠‌ worse than a primate haha

└WildGrills:‌ Don’t worry. I’m‌‍‍ already worse than⁠ a sloth.

└Ah,‌⁠‍ right lol

└I’d‍‌‌ forgotten lmao

└HAHAHAHAHAHAHA‍‌

As‌ soon as I uploaded the post‌ to the gallery,‍ everyone started talking‍⁠ in their own‍ way.

It‌ was already shocking⁠‍ that the gorillas⁠ used martial arts,‌‌ but on top‍ of that they‍ used tools.

Why‌‍ did humans reach‍‌ the top of‌‌ the food chain?‍‍

Precisely because of the⁠⁠ use of tools.‌

Thank⁠‍ goodness they only⁠‍ used clubs.

If‍ they had used‌ spears, it would⁠‌⁠ have been much more difficult.

‘And‌‍ the person behind⁠ all this…’

There⁠ was definitely a “Master” who had‌‍ taught martial arts‍ to the gorillas.‌

But‍‍ the real question‍‌‌ was whether that‍‍ Master was still⁠ alive.

The⁠ gorillas already recognized⁠‌ me as an enemy.

If‍ there really had⁠‌ been a human‍ teacher behind them,‌⁠⁠ they would have⁠‌ at least shown‍ some curiosity toward⁠ me.

‘Besides…’‌‌

I turned my head‌ toward Sloth.

Was‌ it because he⁠‍‌ had lost the‍ fasting pills even‌‌⁠ after beating up the gorillas?

Today‍ he looked particularly⁠ depressed.

But⁠ I couldn’t make‌‌‌ new fasting pills‍⁠ immediately.

And‌ there was also‌‍ something that intrigued‌‍ me.

What⁠ kind of creature‌ was Sloth for‌ the gorillas to‍‌ fear him so‌⁠‌ much?

Thanks‍ to that fear,‍⁠ I was able‍ to drastically lower‍‍ their morale.

That‍ was crucial.

“Sloth.”‌

“……”‍‌

“How‍‌‌ strong are you exactly for those‌ gorillas to be‌⁠‌ afraid of you?”‌

I was curious about‌‍ Sloth’s past.

He‌ was strong.

Far‍ stronger than I had imagined.

He‌‍ treated me as‍‌ if I were⁠ insignificant, and even‍ among the gorillas he seemed to be a creature⁠‍ of terror.

What‍ the hell had‍‌ he done before‍ I arrived?

Today⁠ I was more‍ curious than ever.‍

“……”⁠

Instead‍⁠ of answering, Sloth‌ simply stared at‍⁠ me.

As‌‍‌ if asking whether‌ I really wanted‌ to know.

I held his gaze‌ for a moment‌ before nodding.

Even though it hadn’t‌⁠ been a month⁠‌ yet since I met him, I could more or⁠‍ less understand what‌ he was trying⁠‍ to express.

Shhk-⁠⁠ Shhk-

Then‌‍ he started drawing⁠‌ something on the⁠ ground.

I focused my attention⁠ on it.

Since‍⁠‍ he was a sloth, his movements were incredibly slow,‍⁠‍ but I waited‌‍ patiently.

‘No,‌⁠⁠ wait a second. Is he drawing?’‌

I glanced sideways at‍⁠ Sloth.

On‌ the outside he‌ looked like an‍‍ ordinary sloth, but‌‍ I was beginning⁠⁠ to seriously suspect‍ that there was‍‌‌ a person inside.‍

Though,⁠‌ just like with‍ the evolved gorillas,‍‌ perhaps he had‌ simply evolved in⁠ a different direction.

In‌‌ the Forest of‌ Four Seasons, nothing⁠‌‍ was strange.

So‍ I decided not⁠‍ to think too⁠⁠ deeply about it.‌

If‌ I kept overthinking‌‌‌ it, my head would explode.

Shhk-‌‍ Shhk-

After‍ about ten minutes,⁠ the drawing began‌‍ to take shape.⁠‍

The‌‌ first thing Sloth⁠⁠⁠ drew was himself.‍⁠

Long⁠⁠⁠ arms.

Short‌ legs.

Claws at the tips⁠‌ of his fingers.‌

And‍ that eternally relaxed‌ expression.

Anyone‌‌‌ would immediately recognize‌‍ that it was⁠‍ Sloth.

But‌ there wasn’t just one.

Two, three, four, even‍‌ ten.

It‌‌ looked like a drawing of Sloth’s⁠ “family.”

Tap-‌ Tap-

Then⁠ he pointed with⁠‌ a claw at‌‍ the smallest sloth⁠⁠ of all.

He⁠⁠ seemed to be⁠ indicating that it‌‍‍ was himself.

I nodded to show‍‍‌ that I understood.‍

‘But‍ there weren’t any‍ other members of his family here…’

And⁠ just as I thought that.

Scrraaatch-⁠

Sloth⁠⁠⁠ crossed out one‍‍ of the members‍ of the group‍ with his claw.

It⁠ was an unmistakably‌ clear representation of‌⁠ “dead.”

Scrraaatch-‌ Scrraaatch-

Then he crossed out⁠ all the other‌⁠⁠ sloths one by⁠‌‌ one, except for‍ himself.

He‌‍ finally stopped only after crossing out‌ even the one‍ standing right beside‍ him.

From⁠ that, I was⁠⁠‍ able to form‍‌ several hypotheses.

The‌‍ first.

That⁠ Sloth had once‌ had a group⁠‍ of his own.‍

The‌‌ second.

That group had been‌ exterminated for some‌‌‍ reason, and he‌‍‍ was the sole‌ survivor.

And‌ the third.

“……Was‌⁠ it because of‌‍ the gorillas?”

“……”⁠

Sloth⁠‍ didn’t answer.

He‌ simply kept staring‍‌ at the ground.⁠⁠

But⁠ that was already answer enough.

Sloth’s‍‍ group.

Had‍⁠ been defeated by‌ the gorillas.

And⁠‍ he was the‍ only survivor.

‘An⁠ entire group of‍⁠ creatures as strong‌ as this guy?’‍

It‌⁠ seemed the gorillas‌ were far more‍ dangerous than I had imagined.

Or‌ perhaps.

‘The⁠ person who taught⁠ them martial arts⁠‌ fought personally.’

And‍‌ that wasn’t a very encouraging thought‌⁠⁠ either.

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Chapter 109: Welcome To… (1)

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