Chapter 30: Internal Core (1)

Thanks to the help of the fast-sloth, I was able to reach the riverbank safely.

The first thing I did upon arriving was check the hose.

Just in case it had caught another fish like before, I looked inside and, as expected, it had.

Splash! Splash!

“It caught another one again.”

In that short time it had already caught another.

This one was also red.

Its size was more or less similar to the previous fish.

From what it seems, that must be the average size of the fish that live in this river.

‘I will fish this one later.’

Now what matters is the Golden Frog.

First is the exchange with AllFather.

But for that I would first have to get the fast-sloth off my back.

I lightly tapped its back and asked,

“Can you get down for a moment? It is urgent.”

“……”

Crawling… crawling…

As if it understood my words, it slowly got down.

Then it stared at me with that face that looks a bit dumb.

It gives the feeling that it is urging me to hurry.

It is probably just my imagination.

‘I have to call the Golden Frog.’

Before, the individual that seemed like the leader would come out as soon as I put my hand in the river.

Will it be the same with the others?

I carefully put my hand into the water.

About three seconds passed.

Splash!

A sound was heard from the middle of the river.

“Croak.”

It was a Golden Frog.

The Golden Frog climbed onto a rock that stuck out in the middle of the river.

It was smaller than the one I saw before, but still quite large.

As soon as it appeared, I quickly stepped back without thinking.

I also did not forget to raise the shield just in case.

“Kyaaak!”

The Golden Frog’s head tilted backward.

The sound was like it was building up phlegm.

It seems it was going to spit poison.

But I was already far away.

Except for the fast-sloth, which was still sitting calmly in its place.

“Hey! What are you…!”

“Ptooey!”

Before I could shout, the Golden Frog spat poison.

A purple liquid shot out at great speed.

The target was exactly the fast-sloth.

The fast-sloth stared at the approaching purple poison and then slightly tilted its head.

Fwoosh—

The poison passed brushing past its face.

The liquid hit a tree and began to melt the bark.

As I expected, its agility is incredible.

‘Now.’

While the Golden Frog was focused on the fast-sloth, I prepared the crossbow.

I loaded a harpoon-type arrow and aimed at the Golden Frog.

“Kyaaak!”

“Kyaak!”

“Kuuk!”

Meanwhile, other Golden Frogs climbed onto the rock.

I had already hidden, but the fast-sloth was still there calmly.

Even if it is the fast-sloth, dodging consecutive attacks should be diffic—

“Ptooey!”

“Ptoo!”

“Ptoo!”

Whoosh— Whoosh—

…It was not.

Even though it remained sitting in the same place, it simply turned its body slightly and dodged everything.

Even its expression remained relaxed.

It looked like a hidden master.

‘Does that bastard have Observation Haki or what?’

Otherwise it does not make sense.

I let out a mental sigh.

But that is one thing and this is another.

I had already finished preparing.

I aimed at one of the Golden Frogs and pulled the trigger.

Fiuu—

Thunk!

The harpoon pierced the Golden Frog perfectly and fell into the fast-flowing river.

Immediately I pulled the rope.

During that time the other Golden Frogs did not attack me.

They seemed too shocked by what happened to their companion.

Although saying they were shocked is just my assumption.

But the fact that they all stopped attacking at the same time suggests that they at least perceived it.

The creatures that live in the Forest of the Four Seasons are extraordinary.

Splash!

The group of Golden Frogs jumped into the river.

They probably will not be a threat for now.

All that remains is to deal with the rest.

I pulled hard on the rope connected to the harpoon.

Before it was like struggling in a tug-of-war, but now I only needed to apply a bit of strength.

“Hup!”

The Golden Frog I pulled out of the water was quite large.

Not as big as the previous one, but about the size of a small puppy.

Now only the exchange with AllFather remains, but first I must take care of the fish.

‘I will hang it on my waist first.’

It is knowledge that AllFather taught me.

If purple liquid starts to come out, it means the poison sac broke.

Now no purple liquid was coming out.

That means it is safe.

I have already finished hunting the frog.

Now only the fish remains.

I do not know what it ate to grow like that, but it was quite big.

‘Today I am having luck.’

With this I already have lunch and dinner solved.

I lifted the fish that was still thrashing strongly.

‘I would not be able to catch this with a fishing rod.’

It is so strong that it still tries to hit my face with its fins.

I held it firmly with both arms so it would not escape.

If I had not become stronger, I would have already lost it.

Crawling… crawling…

With the fast-sloth hanging on my back, I finished preparing to return.

‘I hope it tastes good, although I am probably being too optimistic.’

Taste does not matter to me.

In my situation, taste is a luxury.

Besides, I can buy seasonings at the auction house.

Splash.

When I returned to the cave, I put the fish into the iron container.

It still had a lot of strength, because the container moved slightly.

I had better forget about catching this with a rod.

If I am not careful, instead of catching it, the fish will catch me.

Using traps or fish baskets seems safer.

Just seeing that I had two huge fish already made me happy.

‘Time to trade with AllFather.’

After organizing my things, I posted a message in the gallery.

A message asking AllFather to initiate the trade if he was present.

[AllFather has requested a trade. Do you wish to accept?]

It did not take long before AllFather initiated the trade.

I gave a fasting pill to the fast-sloth and accepted.

[AllFather: Hello. I saw your post and requested the trade.]

[WildGrills: Hello. I will upload the item right away. The poison sac did not break.]

[AllFather: Thank you. Thanks to this the research will be easier.]

[WildGrills: I am glad. Ah, and I have a question.]

[AllFather: Go ahead.]

[WildGrills: The fast-sloth climbed onto me and will not get down. Do you know why?]

[AllFather: Do you mean the sloth that even caught an arrow?]

[WildGrills: Yes. As unbelievable as it sounds, that one.]

[AllFather: To be honest, I do not know either. Something like that has never been reported in the academy.]

A species that even AllFather does not know?

What kind of place is the Forest of the Four Seasons?

While sighing to myself, AllFather presented his hypothesis.

[AllFather: But I can make a guess. According to your post, did you say it took money from you?]

[WildGrills: Not money. It took a fasting pill from me.]

[AllFather: It may have mistaken you for a tree.]

[WildGrills: A tree?]

[AllFather: Yes. A tree that gives it food.]

[WildGrills: That sounds…]

[AllFather: …like a stupid but reasonable theory. I think so too.]

AllFather said it just like that.

It seems even he was not very convinced.

But even so it was the most logical explanation he had.

[AllFather: Is it still hanging on you?]

[WildGrills: Yes. It does not seem to want to get down.]

[AllFather: Since it is not hostile, it might not be a bad idea to raise it.]

[WildGrills: It does not bother me that much. Today a snake almost bit me and it helped me.]

After talking a bit more with AllFather, we exchanged the items.

I gave him the corpse of the Golden Frog.

AllFather gave me a pill that grants resistance to poison.

[AllFather: Preferably take it after eating. It is better if digestion is complete.]

[WildGrills: Would it be good to absorb this also with the breathing technique?]

[AllFather: Yes. You can consider it as a kind of internal core.]

An internal core.

I remembered HeavenlyDemon’s explanation.

A crystal that forms when qi accumulates inside the body of a spiritual creature.

When the internal core was mentioned, I suddenly became curious and asked AllFather.

[WildGrills: AllFather, have you ever consumed an internal core?]

[AllFather: I have not consumed an internal core, but I have ingested a Dragon Heart.]

[WildGrills: And what is that?]

[AllFather: Literally the heart of a dragon. It contains an enormous amount of mana.]

I more or less know what kind of creature a dragon is.

They are sometimes mentioned in the gallery.

They are powerful enough to treat humanity as if it were worthless, although they are not absolutely invincible beings either.

Above all, I have heard that their number is extremely low and that is why they are considered an endangered species.

‘Would they also exist in the Forest of the Four Seasons?’

If they did, it would be a total disaster.

I am an extremely weak human.

How am I supposed to capture something that flies freely through the sky and spits fire from its mouth?

[AllFather: Thank you as always for the good transactions. If you find any interesting animal, do not hesitate to ask me.]

[WildGrills: I also saw something that looked like a mix between a chameleon and a snake.]

[AllFather: And what is that?]

[WildGrills: I thought it was a branch, but it was a snake. It changed the color of its body instantly.]

[AllFather: Oh. That place really is full of fascinating things!]

[WildGrills: Do you want to come?]

[AllFather: This old man no longer has good knees. I will have to decline the invitation.]

[WildGrills: ㅠㅠ]

The conversation ended like that.

Even AllFather seems to avoid the Forest of the Four Seasons.

And for good reason.

Who would want to come to a hell like this?

At least I am lucky.

The others cannot even use the gallery.

“Hmm.”

I looked at the pill that was on my palm.

A round pill of light purple color.

I obtained it in the exchange with AllFather.

If I take it, according to his explanation, I will gain resistance to poison.

‘First I will eat lunch.’

I put the pill in my pocket and approached the iron container where the fish was.

There are only two fish and even so the container is completely full.

‘How am I going to cook this?’

When I lived at home, since I lived alone, I at least knew how to cook.

But I always used pre-prepared ingredients.

Preparing fish myself is another story.

At times like this there is only one thing to do.

Ask in the gallery.

It is better to gain at least some knowledge than to do it blindly.

Title) I am going to clean a fish, help!

WildGrills

(photo of the fish inside the iron container)

Can anyone give some advice?

It is huge.

ㄴExperts kill the fish instantly by stabbing a knife or spike into the brain. If you are not an expert, just cut it whole.

ㄴBefore cutting it, hit its head with the back of the knife to stun it. That is the best moment.

ㄴRemoving the entrails is easy. Just open the belly.

Since I am not an expert, I decided to use the method of hitting the head.

Anyway I am going to roast it immediately, so I do not need any aging.

“Kyuu.”

“Wonmo, wait a moment.”

As soon as lunchtime came, Wonmo woke up immediately.

Look at those bright eyes asking for food.

If it were up to me, I would throw him a piece of meat right away, but first I have to clean it.

I took the fish out of the container holding it with both arms.

Flap! Flap!

The fish struggled as if demanding that I let it go.

No way.

I placed the fish on a flat stone that I had prepared.

It was so big that even the stone, which was quite wide, seemed small.

‘They said to hit the head hard.’

It is too big to do it properly with a normal knife.

In moments like this, HeavenlyDemon’s sword is useful.

Since I am not going to use the blade, I brought it down hard without worrying.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

After hitting it about three times, there was a reaction.

Just as they said in the gallery comments, the mouth and gills opened completely.

It took the hit directly.

I immediately started cleaning it.

Just in case I could cut myself, I used a normal dagger instead of HeavenlyDemon’s sword.

The dagger was well sharpened and opened the fish’s flesh easily.

“Wonmo, do you want this?”

“Kyuu!”

I cut off the head and gave it to Wonmo.

He devoured it eagerly.

They say they even eat rotting corpses, so a fish head is easy for him.

The fast-sloth is more interested in fasting pills than in fish, so there is no need to worry.

‘Now I open the belly.’

From time to time blood came out, so I washed it with water.

I slowly opened the belly of the fish, which was already motionless.

The feeling on my fingers was not very pleasant, but I will have to get used to it.

‘Can the entrails be eaten?’

When I opened the belly I saw that it was full of organs.

You just have to take them out and wash them with water.

When I put my hand in to remove the entrails

“Hm?”

Something was felt in my hand.

At first I thought it was the heart.

But it was too hard to be that.

I moved my fingers and finally took it out.

It was a small sphere the size of the first phalanx of a finger.

Its color was also red, like the fish.

‘What is this? Could it really be an internal core?’

Probably not.

Spiritual creatures with internal cores are not that common.

But considering that there are adult mandrakes everywhere made me doubt.

Also, the first thing I found here was a New Moon Spirit Herb.

“Hmm…”

I stared at the red sphere before making a decision.

These kinds of things are better to ask in the gallery.

And more specifically, to an expert.

And if we talk about experts, obviously it is HeavenlyDemon.

The first person who mentioned internal cores.

Besides, she does not seem like someone who would keep something like that to herself.

Title) HeavenlyDemon, I have a question

WildGrills

(photo of the red sphere)

I found this while cleaning a fish.

It looks like the internal core you mentioned before.

Can it be identified?

If you are not sure, I can send it to you through trade.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Did it come out of a fish?

She replied just three seconds after posting the message.

A terrifying speed.

ㄴWildGrills) Yes. I found it while removing the entrails.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Hmm. From the photo I cannot be sure. It could simply be a pearl.

ㄴWildGrills) Can fish produce pearls?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) That is what I understand.

ㄴSwordTasteMaster) Do pearls not come from oysters and not from fish?

ㄴExactly. What ignorance to say that so confidently hahaha

ㄴEven if she is old, that is too much…

ㄴIs she not just dumb?

ㄴSmartMind) Sigh even I feel embarrassed seeing this.

Suddenly they began to criticize HeavenlyDemon’s lack of knowledge.

That made me a bit nervous.

But she was the one who taught me the breathing technique, so I decided to trust her.

ㄴWildGrills) I will start the trade. Just confirm whether it is an internal core or not.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) If it really were an internal core, what do you plan to do?

ㄴWildGrills) Eat it. They said it is good for the body.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) I do not recommend it. As I said before, your internal energy is already saturated. If you are not careful, a problem could occur.

I nodded after hearing her advice.

It is true, everything in excess is bad.

If I consume an internal core in this state, it could be dangerous.

Then there is only one option left.

Give it to HeavenlyDemon.

SwordTasteMaster would probably reject it saying she does not want to become healthier.

ㄴWildGrills) Then do you want to eat it, HeavenlyDemon?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Internal cores no longer increase my level. That stage is far behind.

ㄴWildGrills) Then what do we do?

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) It is simple.

HeavenlyDemon’s answer was simple.

ㄴHeavenlyDemon) Why do you not put it up in the auction house?

It was an overly carefree answer.

‘Would that be a good idea?’

And little by little I began to lean toward that option.