Chapter 27: Thief (1)

I looked at the red fish that was completely blocking the passage.

Around the channel there were stones placed to regulate the current.

I had made that channel in an improvised way with a shovel, so it was not very deep.

It seems the fish entered the channel by bad luck and then could not get out.

The current is quite strong and, in addition, its size fits the channel perfectly, so it must be difficult to escape.

‘Why is it so big?’

It was large enough to fill the entire channel.

When I first saw it I thought it was not a normal fish, but a catfish.

But aside from the fact that its body is red, it looks like an ordinary fish.

Normal fish are usually narrower, but this one is even wide.

If I lifted it with my hands, I would have to use both.

I do not know much about fish, but at least I can assure it is not a catfish.

‘Will I be able to eat it?’

I looked at the fish that kept desperately jumping.

It tried to escape with all its strength, but unfortunately the water was too shallow.

Its mouth came out of the water and opened and closed desperately, so it seems it could not even breathe well.

Flap! Flap! Flap!

“It has quite a lot of strength.”

I hugged the fish with both arms and lifted it.

It was so large that it could almost be compared to my own torso, so keeping my balance was difficult.

If it jumped back into the river it would be a problem, so I moved as far away as possible.

I plan to carry it with my own hands to the cave and store it in the container.

‘Just in case, it would be better to run.’

If I encounter some wild animal along the way it could be problematic.

In that case I would use this fish as a distraction to escape.

Fortunately none of that happened and I was able to return without problems.

“Kyuu?”

“No. You already ate.”

As soon as I brought the fish, Wonmo showed curiosity.

I moved him aside a little and put the fish inside the container.

Since the container was empty, I also made sure to fill it with water.

When I added the water, the red fish finally calmed down a bit.

Now that I look at it carefully, it really is enormous.

Normally Wonmo and I use that container to bathe, but this fish almost fills it completely.

Title) A huge catch!

WildGrills

(photo of a red fish the size of a shield)

Today the water was not coming out well from the hose, so I went up to check and this guy was blocking it.

It really is huge.

I already had breakfast, so I plan to eat this for lunch.

It looks like I will have a feast after a long time haha

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Oh. It is quite a large specimen. Because of its size and color it almost looks like a Solar Carp.

ㄴWildGrills) What is that?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) A spiritual creature that contains the energy of the sun. It is extremely rare. Although I only say it looks like one, it is unlikely that it really is one.

ㄴWildGrills) How can you check if it is real?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) First we would have to see if it possesses an internal core.

An internal core?

Is that something like when an oyster produces a pearl?

I do not know very well, but I suppose it would have an effect similar to a spiritual pill.

Anyway I did not really believe this fish was a spiritual creature.

Even if it were, it does not matter.

I already decided that today it will be my lunch.

ㄴNo, seriously, every time something happens a spiritual creature appears hahaha

ㄴIs that really a Solar Carp?

ㄴWho knows. Grills will have to check.

ㄴWas there not something similar to the Solar Carp?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) If you mean the Ten-Thousand-Year Carp, then yes. It literally is a carp that has lived ten thousand years.

ㄴStarlightLady) If it were before I would have told you to open it immediately, but now it is no longer necessary.

ㄴWas that “before” not literally yesterday?

ㄴStarlightLady) For me it is already the past. Every day felt like a year.

ㄴI suppose it can feel like that

ㄴWould it be like being reborn?

ㄴGugu. I have just been reborn. Give me milk.

ㄴDamn you hahaha

ㄴLol

ㄴLmao

ㄴHaha

ㄴStarlightLady) You all are always the same. You really look like idiots ^^

But right now it is my lunch.

No matter what they say in the gallery, this fish will be my midday meal.

That is why I think it will be better to repair the shelter first before going out to explore.

There is a possibility that Wonmo will eat the fish.

Even now he is staring at it inside the container, waiting for his opportunity.

“Hey!”

I warned Wonmo when he tried to approach the fish.

Then he looked at me with round and huge eyes.

He had an expression like saying, what did I do wrong?

With that innocent face he looked even more adorable.

“You cannot eat that. After lunch I will give you honey.”

“Kyuu.”

“That is right. Our Wonmo is good.”

I patted his head several times and looked around.

To build the wall I first have to clear the trees.

Just thinking about it already made my chest feel heavy.

When will I be able to clear all this?

‘They say grain by grain a mountain is made. It has to be done.’

I murmured to myself while walking toward the trees.

Why are they so thick?

But today I feel in good shape.

I gripped the axe tightly and swung it.

After several attempts I had already gained some technique, I could even use the strength of my waist more easily.

Crack!

“Hm?”

As soon as the axe struck the tree, a sound of surprise came out of my mouth.

And it was because the situation was completely different from yesterday.

Yesterday I had to strike many times for the axe to penetrate the trunk.

But not today.

The blade of the axe sank deeply into the tree.

Even the sound was different.

‘What is going on? Could it be that this tree is weaker than yesterday’s?’

The axe had not changed.

Maybe today I am in better condition, or the tree is weaker.

Although the doubt remained, for me it was something good, so I let it pass.

‘Well, as long as it is good it is fine.’

Crack! Crack! Thud!

After striking the tree about three more times, I looked at the center of the trunk.

Surprisingly, the inside was already almost completely opened.

If I strike from the other side, it will probably fall.

‘Already?’

Until yesterday I needed to spend the whole day striking to cut a single tree.

And in the middle of that I encountered the owlbear and almost died.

Simply saying it is another tree or that today I am in better condition did not resolve all the doubts.

But there is something different compared to yesterday.

‘Could it really be because of the breathing method?’

That is the most likely explanation.

Because the only difference between yesterday and today is that.

Anyway, becoming stronger is not a bad thing.

And in an environment like this, strength is extremely important.

‘I will have to work harder from now on.’

Just a breathing method reducing the work time this much this world is really strange.

It is a proper mixture between fantasy and martial arts, and superhumans capable of destroying mountains also exist.

But curiously these people do not believe that a bomb can destroy a city.

When their own existence is practically a nuclear bomb.

‘I am really curious about the outside world.’

The world that the gallery shows is small.

And extremely subjective.

Well, the fact that the country of the elves, Alvenheim, has such a bad reputation seems to be something universal.

While thinking about those things, I moved to the opposite side of the tree.

If I strike here, the tree will fall in the direction I want.

Crack! Crack! Craaack!

After several strikes, the tree began to wobble.

I checked the direction and pushed the tree with my foot.

The tall tree began to fall slowly with a creaking sound.

Boom!

I had cut down a tree in less than ten minutes.

It was a ridiculously fast work pace.

I looked at the fallen tree and checked the state of my body.

I was a little tired, but not enough to need rest.

‘I will do a little more before stopping.’

After cutting down another tree, I finally felt some fatigue.

But it was only a sensation of tiredness.

I could even cut down another tree without problem.

So I ended up cutting down three trees in total and registered them in the auction house.

‘It seems the area is expanding.’

Maybe because I already cut down four trees, the space around the cave looked wider.

I smiled with satisfaction for a moment, and then entered the cave to truly rest.

Snore… sss…

When I entered the cave, Wonmo was taking a nap.

As I said before, Wonmo is still a cub.

He will probably sleep all day.

‘The fish is still there too.’

Inside the container it was still, not even moving.

I left the axe and entered the gallery to see if anything had happened while I was working.

There was nothing particularly striking, but there was something that caught my attention.

‘The moderator’s activity has decreased a little.’

The moderator is the administrator of the gallery.

Normally they should immediately ban users who upload pornographic images, grotesque content, or excessive insults.

[Photo of older girls]

[Let all the elves die]

[Warning: unpleasant image) photo of my hand]

Those posts had been published for more than ten minutes and were still there.

Normally they would remove them immediately, but this time they did not.

The users took it as an opportunity and began unleashing their desires without any shame.

“……”

I also pretended I did not care and opened some posts.

Since there is absolutely nothing here, the gallery is my only entertainment.

Of course, it is not something urgent.

It is only to distract my eyes.

Right now I am too busy surviving to think about anything else.

[Mr. Grills. Please see this.]

After refreshing the page several times, a title appeared that caught my attention.

‘AllFather?’

Normally I would have ignored it, but the author was a user I knew.

I entered immediately.

Title) Mr. Grills. Please see this.

AllFather

The item I promised is already ready.

You can start the transaction whenever you want.

It seems the medicine we talked about earlier is already finished.

The medicine made with the Golden Poison Frog.

He said that if you take it you obtain permanent resistance to poison, so it is something I absolutely need.

ㄴWildGrills) Have you already finished making the medicine you talked about?

ㄴAllFather) Yes. I prepared enough for ten days. But I will need more samples.

ㄴWildGrills) If I catch another Golden Frog I will send it to you immediately.

ㄴAllFather) Thank you. I will be waiting.

If I obtain resistance to poison, my chances of survival will increase enormously.

For that I will have to hunt Golden Frogs again.

Since I was resting anyway, I took the crossbow that was leaning against the wall.

The arrows that had been stuck in the owlbear’s head last time were also intact.

‘How strange.’

At that time I was in such a hurry that I uploaded the whole corpse to the auction with the arrows still stuck in it.

But it seems the arrows did not count as part of the object, so they were automatically separated.

I almost lost those arrows and the harpoon that I obtained with so much effort.

Creeeak—

I tightened the crossbow string.

The string tightened easily.

Before I had to use all my strength, but now I only needed to grit my teeth a little.

‘I am definitely stronger.’

With that I confirmed it.

It is not that yesterday I was hitting weak trees.

My physical strength really increased.

Just because of a breathing method.

It was such a dramatic change that, more than admiration, it made me doubtful.

Later I should post in the gallery and ask HeavenlyDemon or SwordTasteMaster for advice.

‘Preparation is complete…’

I looked at Wonmo, who was sleeping deeply, and at the fish inside the container.

There did not seem to be any problem.

Now all that remains is to hunt another Golden Frog.

Just in case I also carried my sword and shield.

I did not forget to put several fasting pills in my pocket.

After preparing everything, I left the cave.

‘I hope no thieves enter…’

Thinking nonsense, I walked toward the river.

***

After Grills went to the river to hunt.

The cave was filled only with the sound of the fish splashing and the soft breathing of the small owlbear.

Aside from that, everything around the cave was completely silent.

Occasionally birds could be heard, but nothing important.

Rustle—

Then a noise was heard among the dense trees.

At first it seemed like just the wind.

But it was not.

Rustle—

An animal appeared among the trees.

It had long arms compared to its short legs.

At the tips of its hands long sharp claws protruded.

The animal, completely covered in fur, advanced very slowly.

Supporting its long arms on the ground like a gorilla, its destination was clear.

Splash! Splash!

The container where the fish was.

Although its advance was desperately slow, no one was watching.

Sooner or later it would reach the container.

The animal advanced with a calmness that reflected its own relaxed face.

“What is that?”

If Grills had not returned because he forgot the antidote.

The animal, which had already almost reached the container, turned its head when it heard the voice.

Even that movement was extremely slow.

Grills, who had just come face to face with an unexpected thief, murmured quietly.

“…A sloth?”