Chapter 56: The Tiger is Dead (3)
YW6SThe heart is the most important organ of all animals.Ih9Lw
64VzLFYou can live without a kidney, and even if you lose a lung, as long as the heart is fine, you survive.ClN
NoVTdBut if the heart fails, even partially, the probability of dying increases tremendously.CWFs
NJd7MBlood is essential for all organs.0spk
dy9qxAnd the heart is what pumps it.xeV
Bx872ksEven the brain, which controls everything, without blood is nothing more than soft jelly.Ftg1cg
icoNmSo the reason blood was still coming out, despite having lost so much, was because the heart was still alive?bL35c
m0nyYAll the organs, including the brain, were dead but only it was still “alive.”YQoSZOP
o7UOsThump! Thump! Thump!Vb4N0p
vXrS“….”k0DY
MWsnFTAA heart bigger than my head was beating strongly, showing its vitality.RrR
rGBFkEven though all the other organs, including its owner, had stopped it alone remained active.CqzA
E1a‘Damn. What the hell is going on?’C4fyt
JVVE2soI felt like all my common sense was being denied.jgjiS6y
CNYmjLA heart beating even after its head was torn off?jCmS
1pf3And after more than 6 hours dead?H8sa
2Rh5mWas this saber-toothed tiger a zombie or what?hSpHr
hjslss2No not even zombies work like this.SSZa
PSzAt least they walk like corpses.H9Urwb
OdZu9This had no logic at all.UQtJ
DNG7ZThe heart shouldn’t be able to beat but there it was, beating as if it were alive.1Ka
NRYmMy mind went blank.tOGwZXG
7t6kCs‘F-for now, I’ll finish the rest.’hVXjXv
zue2Rigor mortis something like thatxFgJ85Q
07DBKLUThat’s what I tried to believe.oeQF
nsxh9iFrom what I knew, rigor mortis only affects muscles.5cug6S2
SynzXBut screw that.MEp5
4nEThis isn’t a world where my logic works.QVS
3FetdzSWhat mattered now was finishing the butchering.5IHpEp
bzbktx3Thump! Thump! Thump!CX6cPEv
Sqj0lMSomehow I managed to remove all the organs, leaving only the heart.HxB
a8fI hesitated whether to cut it or not but decided to do it.LrPj
uwvMulThe arteries and veins were so tough that even with the dagger coated in aura, it was hard to cut them.glY6YT
XUoI4rAnd every time I cut, blood spurted out, making everything more difficult.pSvw
H60Ic“Huff…”Mtl2se
LOuynEZOnly after extracting the heart could I finally breathe calmly.8lkp1
IbuUYPdI held the heart, much bigger than my head, with both hands.5Vl
RpJEven though I had torn out all the blood vessels, it was still beating strongly.HtVHaQ
r2yJ‘Is this possible? For a heart to beat on its own?’P5NlJ
35aNsEven with that doubt, I carried it carefully.05Ez4
9ZTsI stored it in the box where I previously kept the golden mushrooms.FEbRz
PFUKBut it was so big that the box looked small.uYdvO
nLpTwl4Thump! Thump! Thump!nSUgp
dLFeEach beat made the box shake.495WS
ZWI8vCWIt showed no sign of stopping.5y8y807
y6xVeI looked at it with mixed feelings and then moved on.p7Gw
FXKznG‘First, I’ll finish the rest.’U2ad1lZ
kylpiI still had to finish the butchering and throw the entrails into the river.WkBlG
sFlaIf by then the heart was still beating I don’t know. I’ll ask in the gallery.AKKp5
zCu1Then I washed the inside of the tiger, now without organs.wnnfqrR
QyQAfter that, following the gallery’s instructions, I separated each part.ue3
UfFIJust in case, I checked for signs of decomposition, but found nothing.edG
HWJzaD‘I guess I’ll have to smoke it.’n2CJ
hw2I looked at the large amount of clean meat.XPGL
jT33eIBefore, I had dismissed that idea out of fear of attracting predators.3Ahg
pKbrjBut wasting so much meat was also absurd.p8bGhi
A1V50B1Choose an uncertain future or immediate security?wpJE
XNTEven throwing away the parts that are hard to eat, it was still a huge amount of meat.X7Z
OavMrs‘…Yeah. Better to smoke it. After all, the biggest danger is running out of food.’jUdI7
P5z29fxAfter fighting the tiger, I understood it.5AnQV
vQCZ4FAt least beasts I can defeat.pHOpz
2ybwMfBut hunger?Oga2w9
C0mCould I survive without food?3XE
AkYg5I have emergency pills, but now they are the sloth’s main food.Cx6JRI
HmBAnd if the gallery disappears at any moment smoking the meat is the best option.V59JJ
y3vMh‘I’ll ask in the gallery.’pD1n
h1xiaGoMaybe there are other preservation methods.yuCY
jMpjgUmBefore the meat spoiled, I made a post.os2dZ5
8quTitle) Someone who knows how to preserve meat for a long timeXfmB
fIsWildGrillsGaj
mjBWI butchered a tiger and got a lot of meat.AaULC
2Z5bI want to preserve it if possible, but I only know the smoking method.r8d
tawzIn0Does anyone know another way?9qu
ODtQyyㄴStarlightPrincess) Can I explain it?RW6GRb
Y4SBㄴWildGrills) Of course, I’d love that.tMdvk
37rgRuㄴStarlightPrincess) First you need a lot of salt. Salt extracts moisture from the meat. That way it lasts longer.vjuTg
ByhㄴWildGrills) And I can smoke it afterward without problem?NK5s
NPNJBㄴStarlightPrincess) It’s even better! I’ll upload a post with instructions later, just follow it.hEd
yungAjㄴWildGrills) Thank you very much. By the way, how do you know all this?wjTIiI
SAOAtㄴStarlightPrincess) Some things I read in books and others I researched myself.
Since I spend a lot of time at home, I learned quite a bit.sSuhS
xTyㄴDidn’t you say you were always in bed?f3ux
gm1xTCzㄴDemonPrincess) Yes. And?47Sru
FyPan88ㄴThen that knowledge must be…779
HZOㄴOh, how indecentoMAL
wMOEㄴI see…auXQk
dULTㄴah lol now I get itbZmV3zJ
ooNㄴStarlightPrincess) You guys are really idiots.3OnoLUm
YR5If it’s advice from DemonPrincess, I can trust it.8u5X
uGuoeyxFirst, I bought a large amount of salt.WMeO
c7YwIt was expensive, but worth it.kVn
TEX‘Let’s store the meat in jars.’Nob
JiCI found some perfect jars in the auction.dgpBio
6vmhI bought five of an appropriate size.rCI
CKaSBI would put the meat with salt in them.mIe
HfFRCI didn’t put the meat whole.1JViK
LJi8w8qI cut it into manageable portions to cover it well with salt.Gpu
crylo9It was tedious, but necessary.kCSVD
8u55I‘Also remove the fat.’jITNc
UyqRAfter repeating the process, the jars were full.JPc
K0rXSWdAll filled with meat mixed with salt.IjI6hy
GH38That reassured me a bit.hlfZKd
w3jPAs DemonPrincess said, decomposition should slow down a lot.ZJiq47
IbrThen I took everything to the cave, which was cooler.qtixB
BzL‘For smoking, first I clean everything and then prepare.’lscRr
H2kaBWI wiped the sweat and looked at the box.f6N
uvrThe box with the heart was still moving.vkxxd
KxJIt was still beating.L9Yr
eNiWldH“Damn…”qziNE
lGxQzmI was so stunned that I couldn’t find words.Vpsvire
eOgIt was as absurd as when the golden mushrooms disappeared.1sxIcfX
nqz‘It’s not like the heart will grow legs and walk away too, right?’ueSAVI
IzTsI said it as a joke, but I let out a nervous laugh thinking it might actually happen.tahA
I9U“Sloth. Get on. Let’s throw this away.”zJTE
NEsNYES“……”CToe
ZeDfyIt was time to get rid of the barrel full of blood and entrails.99zHOM
kqwdRIThe barrel was big and heavy, so moving it was uncomfortable, but there was a way.EbevPC
HY7KU5Use the rope I had left over from the auction.VWsf
djjjxIf I could carry the barrel like a backpack, I could move it without problems.9Y1orm
xcgT“Can you hang on behind?”MHaX1
KQ1“……”kJ2V
jZhThe sloth, instead of hanging on, decided to climb onto my shoulders.WV46
E9tfEIt was uncomfortable—quite uncomfortable—but I endured it, thinking it would only be this once.fxREdAr
Rc4EHMBesides, the river wasn’t that far.3Fx6OO
VY63cypAnd if something happened, the sloth could react.dOdxK
Y5ux1Thus, walking with effort, I reached the usual river.mlM
AvuL9JSplash! Splash!n2MI2
HZul“Oh! Did I catch quite a few?”NqCAvC
9fDIn the trap I had set yesterday, there were several fish.4dAvow
MG8JjNo less than three.ejCbZl
aw4sBut they were so big that with just three, it was already full.fKwlxck
nVog2CI smiled, satisfied, as I poured the blood and entrails into the river.KWov1E
HX7nKIt felt like illegally dumping trash, but it wasn’t toxic waste, just entrails, so it should be fine.gmJq3p7
bAuAZTududududud!iX808L
L7mAs soon as I threw in the blood and organs, a huge number of fish rushed in.dwjU
4EdzyThere were so many that you could literally cross the river stepping on fish.oFhy
xWFPfuJust in case, I hurried to finish.nuV4k
IGXI felt like if I let my guard down, they’d eat me too.F1fk41T
nTsIvI‘What kind of fish are these…?’Epmou8
EWENow I understood why I always caught fish.UE4rTN
WOuThere are simply too many.oGooS
55EmJzEven though the current is strong, there is far more life than I imagined.wZ38hH
exYtNls‘I’ll collect the trap later.’NE5Xd
Jv4I still had things to do, so I left it for later.1S0Rusk
QJtAs long as they’re trapped, they can’t escape.OSpNB
h0DlrpSAfter getting rid of the entrails, I returned to the cave.C1DT
0FFThump… Thump… Thump.UuNUlug
pjqzJ“……”KEpxS
SgH261FThe heart was still beating.6ENAX4g
9GREOoI couldn’t believe it.v4rwa
WLXKMKAnd then I understood.n3F
gjTT1OgThat heart has some kind of special power.pzUTPh
cOJkmoYBut since I didn’t know what it was, I had to ask.bvXUNUm
1TbI made a post in the gallery.4JhD
JluquTitle) Is it possible for a heart to keep beating after death?QEq
t93jtWildGrillsy9ObMo
f2hI killed a saber-toothed tiger, but the heart is still beating.ra5w
nFUXa4MEven after butchering it, it’s still beating.HRSCS
MnvMXrNIf you don’t believe me, I’ll upload a video.iUx
EfaTCIPIs this possible? I’m asking seriously.LD6hcH
bPHQ00mㄴHeavenlyDemon) How much time has passed since it died?qRbQHpf
7HWVnㄴWildGrills) At least more than 6 hours.d1hp
kJcuinㄴHeavenlyDemon) Then I don’t know. I’ve also seen hearts beat, but shortly after death.9X0P
HzWㄴWildGrills) …It wasn’t a person, right?yqhjG8m
PnIxㄴHeavenlyDemon) Yes, it was. Is there a problem?9fb0i
gzNㄴWildGrills) No… nothing.HXoxRV
Rbm9FTnㄴSwordmaster) What do you mean only the heart is beating? I don’t understand.Xzk9AK
VpadDㄴWildGrills) Do you want to see it? It might be a bit unpleasant.icPTf7
MuTyㄴSwordmaster) Yes.I1L2L
Ww1ㄴWildGrills) (video of the beating heart) What do you think?iIhC2Y
macVhㄴSwordmaster) Wow… is that possible?ewx
D5aㄴWildGrills) That’s why I’m asking hahahahwWpA
QiyㄴLook at the size hahaha why is it so big?lIqHB
G1wFRFlㄴIf you saw the tiger, you’d understand, it’s hugembKuc
1gwOcㄴAnd the one below was also big?oxF
NYIZ7VㄴWhy are you asking that, idiot?Ecv0
QhdㄴDamn, one can be curiousRci8K
jRd7a64ㄴAllFather) It is an interesting phenomenon. It is not common for a heart to beat on its own—did you feel any kind of energy inside?ts1FR6
KNS7ㄴWildGrills) I wouldn’t know I’m bad at noticing those things.edCS
h0GVrsㄴAllFather) It’s just a guess, but there must be something inside the heart maintaining its activity. For example, an internal core. Why don’t you open it?mpKy
CXjyHㄴWildGrills) And if there’s nothing?j913M4d
uBmㄴAllFather) I’m sure there is something. In this world, there is no result without a cause. Something inside that heart is making it beat.3FutL3
7MtㄴWildGrills) I’ll think about it.dvQjgOi
vR59CxㄴWildGrills, did you notice signs of decomposition in the meat?N9IDZ
3B3kㄴWildGrills) I’m not sure, but I didn’t see discolored areas.OlwVot
0OUㄴThen it makes sense. Since the heart is still beating and blood circulates, decomposition is slowing down.9i8wE
z2tㄴWildGrills) Ah, that’s how it works?CN0zSB
THSㄴIt’s just my assumption.JUiI
m9MㄴHeroDontThrowAway) Ugh! That’s disgusting! Excuse me, can I block the comments!4L2r
C6fgt1NㄴWildGrills) What happens if you block the comments?aRcg2
Rh56ㄴHeroDontThrowAway) The video doesn’t disappear completely! The comments are just hidden!Fe7
ngtcㄴWildGrills) If you consider it an unpleasant video, you can do it.IC9thx
dZ8rSFgㄴHeroDontThrowAway) Thank you for your cooperation!PCjYQu
M1HㄴWildGrills) Do you know why this is happening?4L8Au
SqsㄴHeroDontThrowAway) No! But like AllFather said, there’s surely something inside! Or you could grill it! The heart becomes very elastic and delicious!pdV2vv0
asWBaPㄴDwarfPassingBy) That’s my snack for liquor. Don’t touch it.wk603
zX9D2ㄴHeroDontThrowAway) Ah! Sorry!6aZVefY
GjocㄴWildGrills) And what are you now…?UiK
cFFkUbgThere was a small commotion.8ep
1s7dreAs AllFather said, it seemed better to open the heart.w26
9aEEovEven if there was nothing inside, it didn’t matter.FL5qv
o6QwMpIt wouldn’t harm me.Kpbk11
LqgI took the heart stored in the box with both hands.M5m
gAOwGuThe moment I grabbed it, it seemed to beat even harder.yCzSkb
2Na6‘It might splash blood—I’d better change clothes first.’aBEY
F3Ng3I put on the uniform downgraded to work clothes.tWqV
qdOfThen I placed the heart on a flat stone and observed it silently.v8W
56eThump. Thump. Thump.TgItTk
gl59Will there really be something inside as AllFather said?rSJL
8UBIf there is, would it be an internal core?DUaMBaW
6kmgU70It’s quite likely.kBpa
OWI0I took the dagger I used for butchering.jAXh
g9gI had already decided.5Zi1
RxbxMeWhatever is inside, I’m going to open it.PV3W
s9kdWI’m not going to die because of this.kQkt
5baClack—dygNt0X
44r‘Even the heart is impossible to cut…’nqy
uoW1No matter how much I tried to cut it with the dagger, I couldn’t make a single scratch.PipdRz
lSJEXRather, as if warning me not to continue, the heart began to beat harder.Dsg
aUVBut that only made me more stubborn.Syavy
b3BrhYI channeled aura into the dagger.tP29WVo
bHa7wIt might be my imagination, but it felt easier to activate than yesterday.8VF9cJ
kX3I0Uv‘No matter how tough it is, it’s still a heart.’0UVm0
GHbHdI brought the aura-coated dagger closer to the heart.fcy
pQiWooooong—PfvGfyB
UxhO2vR“Huh?”2KND
rkEtWANThen, as if the heart had gotten angry, it began to swell.zjoYnx
49woyNot only that, but the veins started to bulge.Dsn6
QauUnNBad sign.v4xN1JT
rggI immediately let go of the dagger and stepped back.sXBkzg
Ra4pUThe heart began to tremble violently.G0OV
ehDZ0EPBoooom!!fGml
ldkKWith a blue flash, it caused a massive explosion.nHyqIm
WMPAnd as I faced that explosion, I only thought one thing.mevC1j
mt1abk“Shit, fuck.”tNYC
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AzHar Sologuy
MortalJudging by the context, I am pretty sure that this is Starlight Princess and not Demon Princess.