Chapter 54: The Tiger is Dead (1)

I dreamed after a long time.

It wasn’t a dream of flying freely through the sky, but a dream of when I lived at home.

They weren’t exactly normal days my parents died in an accident when I was a child, so I had to live alone.

I didn’t want to depend on my relatives.

They were good people, but I felt like I would be a burden to them.

Besides, they weren’t in a good situation either, so I couldn’t ask them for help.

In fact, I felt guilty, so I barely contacted them.

I simply survived on my own, however I could.

There wasn’t a part-time job I didn’t do, and I couldn’t properly attend school either.

I barely managed to meet the attendance requirement, but it was enough for me to drift away.

University wasn’t even an option.

After that, my memories become blurry, as if covered by fog.

I only focused on surviving.

Even with such a messed-up life maybe it was just about not dying.

“Park Jonghyuk, we’re fine, why don’t you come live with us?”

“Hey, Park Jonghyuk. When you finish work, let me know. Let’s go to the cyber café. Don’t have money? I’ll cover some.”

“Do you like soccer? Or baseball?”

“You worked well, so I’ll give you more. People like you aren’t seen much these days.”

I had what you’d call good luck with people.

My relatives truly cared about me, my friends were considerate, and the bosses at my jobs paid me well, probably out of pity.

If they showed me so much kindness shouldn’t I return it?

That’s the bare minimum as a person.

I lived with that mindset.

The military wasn’t a problem either.

I just had to do what I was told.

For someone who had nothing, a structured life was more comfortable.

I even thought about staying for life but since I was lost, I gave it up.

If I had done it, what would have happened?

There’s no point in thinking about it.

‘God you’re quite strange.’

I wasn’t religious, but I didn’t deny his existence either.

When things went badly, I cursed him.

When they went well, I believed in him.

Or I looked for him in moments of crisis.

I guess that’s human instinct.

‘For me, the people who help me are God.’

Whoever helps someone in trouble that’s a god, at least for me.

Even here, in this forest, people I don’t even know helped me without asking for anything in return.

They are bonds I cannot lose.

Kindness for kindness.

Gratitude for gratitude.

And more than receiving first I want to be the one who gives.

Even if they don’t give anything back, it doesn’t matter.

Even if they call me a fool.

Because otherwise, those who helped me would end up looking like idiots.

At least, that’s what I think.

“Ugh…”

I opened my eyes with difficulty.

My vision was blurry, so I had to blink several times.

‘Where…?’

My mind wasn’t reacting well.

First, I looked at what was in front of me.

Little by little, my vision cleared and I saw an intensely blue sky.

Clouds floating softly.

I thought how beautiful.

‘Why is the sky…? I… what was I…?’

As soon as I thought that, something appeared in my view.

A calm expression almost foolish.

But strangely adorable.

I stared at it and immediately understood who it was.

“Why are you here—”

I didn’t finish the sentence.

The memories came back like lightning.

The night attack.

The brutal fight against the giant tiger.

Claws tearing my flesh.

Fangs piercing my body.

And finally when I crushed its head, but collapsed while confirming its death.

Everything came back at once.

“Aaah! Ugh…!”

I got up abruptly, but the pain all over my body, especially in my right shoulder, forced me to fall again.

Of course my shoulder had been destroyed.

I couldn’t even give myself first aid.

With fear, I looked at my right shoulder.

“Huh?”

But it was intact.

The uniform was torn to shreds by the bite, but the flesh underneath was completely fine.

But what…?

Then I saw a glass bottle on the ground.

It was the bottle of the elixir that StarlightPrincess gave me.

“…Did you use it?”

I asked the sloth.

“…..”

The sloth just looked at me with his usual dumb expression.

But that was enough of an answer.

“Pfft…”

A laugh slipped out.

How many times has he saved me already?

If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have survived.

‘And the tiger…’

If the sky looks like this, it’s already morning.

And if I’m still alive then the tiger is dead.

I turned my head with difficulty.

There it was.

The enormous body of the tiger, fallen like a house.

Not moving.

Definitely dead.

I let out a sigh of relief.

‘The time…’

From the light in the sky, it was already quite late in the morning.

I frowned and got up unsteadily.

I should stay still, but at least I wanted to lie down somewhere comfortable.

‘And Wonmo?’

When I reached the cave, he wasn’t there.

He wasn’t by my side asking for food he had disappeared.

A bad feeling ran through me.

“Wonmo! Wonmo, where are you!”

“Kyu?”

He answered from behind.

I turned, but he wasn’t there.

I called again.

“Wonmo?”

“Kyuu.”

This time I heard him clearly.

But it was coming from the tiger’s side.

For a moment I was confused, but I soon understood why.

“Kyuu…”

Behind the fallen tiger, Wonmo appeared.

He didn’t jump, but climbed with effort, crawling.

It was pathetic but also adorable.

I smiled fondly at the sight, but immediately noticed something strange.

“Wonmo. What is that in your mouth? Isn’t that blood?”

“Kyuu!”

Wonmo responded energetically, smiling widely.

Yes, it was blood.

Something started to give me a bad feeling.

I asked carefully.

“Where did you get dirty? Don’t tell me it’s from the tiger?”

“Kyuu!”

Wonmo hit the ground that is, the tiger with his front paw.

I had no choice but to rub my face in frustration.

While I was unconscious, he must have been eating the tiger’s corpse.

The neck was practically destroyed, so he probably ate mostly that part.

I let out a heavy sigh and told him.

“Well. Eat in moderation. Your stomach is going to burst.”

“Kyuu.”

Wonmo answered yes.

I’ve already confirmed that Wonmo is fine, so I returned to the cave.

Then I lay down on the soft mat to calm my body and mind.

‘Ah… right. The time.’

I immediately entered the gallery.

I hoped it was still early.

[10 unread messages]

As soon as I entered, the notification appeared.

The only person I have private chat with is HeavenlyDemon.

They were surely messages from her.

‘It’s already past noon…’

No wonder Wonmo was eating the tiger’s corpse.

More time had passed than I thought.

Well after that fight, it’s not strange to have been unconscious that long.

Besides, if the sloth hadn’t used the elixir, I would have bled to death.

‘First I’ll reply to HeavenlyDemon.’

I was curious about the gallery, but replying to her was a priority.

I opened the notification and entered the private chat.

[HeavenlyDemon: Young one. It’s morning and there is no news from you.]

[HeavenlyDemon: If you went to sleep late yesterday, I understand.]

[HeavenlyDemon: Young one. You are waking up too late.]

[HeavenlyDemon: Young one?]

[HeavenlyDemon: You haven’t even connected to the gallery.]

[HeavenlyDemon: Has something happened to you?]

[HeavenlyDemon: If you see this, respond.]

[HeavenlyDemon: Young one. It is already noon. Did something really happen?]

Messages full of concern.

She worries too much about me.

I felt a bit embarrassed, but I replied to reassure her.

[WildGrills: I’m sorry, HeavenlyDemon. Last night I was attacked by a huge tiger and lost consciousness.]

[HeavenlyDemon: A huge tiger? How big was it?]

[WildGrills: Its eye level was more than a head above mine.]

[HeavenlyDemon: Worthy of being called the king of the mountain. Are you alright?]

[WildGrills: It tore holes in my body, I almost died. The sloth used the elixir and saved me.]

[HeavenlyDemon: What a relief. Were you unconscious for a long time?]

[WildGrills: Yes, I think so. It still hurts where it bit me.]

[HeavenlyDemon: If you wish, I can send you a herb with a strong analgesic effect.]

[WildGrills: It’s fine. I can use the elixir. For now, I want to rest.]

[HeavenlyDemon: After an intense battle, the most important thing is rest. Rest well. I always knew you would return.]

[WildGrills: Thank you. I’ll post in the gallery later.]

I ended the conversation with her words of concern and encouragement.

I moved with difficulty on the mat and approached the elixir.

My whole body hurt, and I didn’t know if the sloth had applied it properly.

His claws were not exactly suited for delicate work.

Glup—

I took a sip of the elixir and began removing my clothes slowly.

The dried blood and wounds made even taking off my clothes painful.

‘It seems it regenerated even internally.’

The uniform blocked the tiger’s claws but not its fangs.

It had holes everywhere, so it would no longer function properly.

Even so, the fact that a simple garment endured that much was incredible.

‘So it wasn’t a joke that adventurers wear uniforms.’

I took off the uniform and examined my body.

Not even the elixir completely healed serious wounds.

The scars were deep.

Especially where the fangs had bitten.

There, the scar was much more pronounced.

Just in case, I poured elixir over the wound.

The smaller scars improved, but the fang wound did not change.

‘I’ll apply it to other areas too.’

To prevent infection, I put elixir on all the wounds.

After a while, I finished and closed the bottle.

The pain in my shoulder began to subside.

Before, I could barely stand now at least I could walk.

‘If it weren’t for the elixir, it would have been the end.’

I felt deeply grateful to StarlightPrincess.

Then I entered the gallery to report that I was still alive.

[Where is Grills? Did he die?]

[He’s not actually dead, is he?]

[Grills, come back.]

When I entered, many people were asking about me.

There were some strange comments, but they were quickly deleted.

The moderators or HeavenlyDemon probably banned them.

Now it was my turn to report my status.

Title) I’m still alive

WildGrills

(photo of shoulder with severe scar)

(photo of body covered in blood)

It’s me.

Last night a huge tiger came and I almost died;;

I was unconscious for more than 10 hours and just woke up.

The scar is from when the tiger bit me.

Today I’m not going to do anything.

I’m going to rest. My whole body hurts too much;;

ㄴSwordmaster) You’re still alive. Tigers are aggressive and difficult… it was truly dangerous.

ㄴWildGrills) I almost shit myself from fear.

ㄴSwordmaster) In the end, no one was watching you lol. Even if you did, it would be understandable.

ㄴWildGrills) Have you hunted tigers before?

ㄴSwordmaster) Yes. One quite large.

ㄴWildGrills) I’ll upload the tiger I hunted later. It’s huge, really.

ㄴDwarfPassingBy) Hey. So you can’t give me the crab today?

ㄴWildGrills) Yeah, probably not. I’m really sorry;; if I go there again, I think I’ll die.

ㄴDwarfPassingBy) Then give it to me at least tomorrow. I can give you the shoes soon.

ㄴWildGrills) Thx thx, you’ll really get good luck. If I can get an adult mandrake, I’ll get one.

ㄴStarlightPrincess) The scars look very serious… there’s so much blood…! Did you use the elixir?

ㄴWildGrills) Yes. While I was unconscious, the sloth applied it. If not, I would’ve died for sure.

ㄴStarlightPrincess) You talk about something so terrifying like it’s nothing. But still… I’m glad you’re alive.

ㄴWildGrills) It’s thanks to you giving me the elixir. Thank you very much, really.

ㄴStarlightPrincess) I’m the one who owes you my life, Mr. Grills. I hope you recover soon.

ㄴDemonPrincess) What happened to the uniform?

ㄴWildGrills) (photo of the uniform torn to pieces) This is how it ended up. Even so, thanks to it I managed to get through several dangerous situations. Thank you very much.

ㄴDemonPrincess) Then it really had a protective effect! I’ll send you more uniforms later!

ㄴWildGrills) I feel like I’m receiving too much, so you can take your time. I still have some left.

ㄴWhere is the tiger?

ㄴWildGrills) I’ll upload another post later. For now I’m going to eat first.

ㄴAre you going to sell that tiger too?

ㄴObviously he should sell it. Butchering it is a hassle lol

ㄴI already know you’re opening your mouth to swallow it all

ㄴYou got exposed lol

Hmm. I think differently.

Normally I would have just uploaded it to the auction and that’s it, but I changed my mind.

That thing almost killed me, and it also seems its skin could be quite useful.

Especially the leather, if handled properly, can be used for many things.

“What if I butcher it myself?”

It’s not a bad idea.

After all, Wonmo already ate part of the meat, and it’s also time for me to improve.

Someday I’ll have to do it myself, so this is a good opportunity.

ㄴWildGrills) Nah, this time I’ll butcher it myself. It’s time to practice.

ㄴDidn’t you say you were injured?

ㄴWildGrills) Yeah, but I still have to do it. If I leave it like that, it’ll rot.

ㄴIf you’re going to do it, make sure to ask butchers for advice.

ㄴListen to the guy above. They’re all very kind people. Seriously.

ㄴOtherwise, they even teach you technical knowledge without any problem. Though I’m not sure about tigers.

ㄴWildGrills) Is there any reason?

ㄴBecause if you insult them, they’ll stab you with a knife. That’s why they’re kind.

A pretty logical reason, so it gave me even more confidence.