Got a Gallery in the Wild — Chapter 84: Fishman (3)

Chapter 84: Fishman (3)

When⁠⁠ does a person‍‌‍ feel the most‌‍‍ rage?

When‍⁠⁠ they come face to face with⁠⁠ their parents’ killer?‌‍

When someone steals the‍ person they love?‌

When‍ a scammer takes‍ away the money‌‌ they struggled so‌‌ hard to save?⁠‌

All⁠ of those are‌⁠ valid answers.

And‌‌ they all have⁠‌ something in common.‍

Something‍‌ valuable was taken‍‍⁠ from you.

When‌ someone takes something⁠ important from you⁠ without paying the‍‌‌ proper price, it‌⁠ is inevitable to become furious.

And⁠ right now, I was feeling a comparable level of rage.

Was‌‍ something important taken⁠ from me?

More⁠ than important, it‌ was something directly⁠ tied to my survival.

Something I obtained through‍‍ tremendous effort and⁠ suffering.

And‌ it was stolen⁠⁠ right in front⁠‍ of my eyes.⁠

It⁠‌ would be strange‍ not to lose‍‌ my mind.

“Son‌⁠ of a bitch!!!”‍

I had never felt⁠‌ such fury before.⁠

Not even when my⁠ parents died or⁠⁠ when I saw⁠ the face of‍‌ the person responsible for the accident⁠ did I feel something like this.‍

At‍‌ least that bastard‍ no, that person‍⁠ apologized and paid compensation.

But‌‍‍ this shark-headed thing?‌⁠⁠

It‌‍⁠ swallowed the food‍⁠ I worked so‌ hard to prepare!‌⁠‍

And it even had‌ a satisfied look‌ on its face.⁠‌

There⁠ was no way‍ I wouldn’t get‍⁠‍ angry.

“Gruh?”⁠⁠⁠

The shark giant looked‌ at me with⁠‌ a confused expression‌ as I charged‍‍‌ toward him.

He⁠‌ still seemed unable‌ to understand the‍‌ situation he had‍ gotten himself into.‍

“Roaaar!!”‍

Though⁠ apparently, his intelligence⁠ was not as⁠‍ limited as that‍ of a real‍⁠‌ fish.

The⁠⁠ shark giant sensed that my fury‌⁠ was abnormal and‌⁠⁠ opened his jaws.⁠

Sharp,⁠ tightly packed teeth‍⁠ filled his entire‌ mouth.

If‌⁠ that thing caught‌‌‌ me, it would⁠‌ be over.

But‍ that was exactly‍ where he made⁠⁠ his mistake.

He‌⁠ already had a hunched posture, and‌‌ when he tried‌ to bite me, he lowered his⁠ body even more.

If he had been‌‌ a quadrupedal animal⁠ like a tiger,‌⁠ maybe it would‍ have been different,‌⁠ but because he‍ walked upright, it‍⁠ was inevitable for‍‌‍ him to lose‌ balance.

Slash!⁠

I easily dodged his‍ bite by twisting‍‍ my body to‌‍‍ the left.

When⁠‍‍ his jaws closed,‍‌ it sounded like‍ two blocks of⁠ metal crashing together.‍

But⁠‌ after slightly losing‍ his balance, his entire body was⁠⁠ left full of‍‌ openings.

‘Big‌⁠ guys are easy‌ for me.’

My‍ target was his⁠‍ legs.

If⁠ he lost one,⁠‍ his mobility would be severely limited.‍

It was a tactic‍ I always used⁠‌ against enormous creatures.‍‌

Of‌‌ course, there were⁠‌ exceptions sometimes, like the saber-toothed tiger‌‌ or the orichalcon‌ Guardian.

Slash!‍‍

“Guooooh!!”‌

But‌ this shark was⁠‌ not one of⁠ them.

The‍⁠ HeavenlyDemon sword, wrapped‌‌ in aura, cleanly‌⁠‍ sliced through his‍ leg.

After‌⁠‍ losing one leg,‌‍‍ the monster’s balance⁠ completely tilted to⁠ one side.

Just⁠ as expected, the‍ shark giant fell⁠ forward.

He⁠ tried to support⁠ himself with his⁠ arms, since he had two legs‍‌ and two arms‍ like a human,⁠‍ but it was useless.

‘Now‍ the head…!’

Whoosh!‌

Just⁠⁠⁠ as I was‍ about to stab‍ the sword into‌⁠⁠ his head, I heard something strange⁠ to my left.

Sensing‌⁠ danger, I instinctively⁠‍‍ raised my shield⁠ without even looking.‍

Claaang!!‍‌‍

“Ugh…!”⁠‍

A brutal impact crashed‍⁠ through the shield.‌‍

And⁠ my body was⁠‍ sent flying.

Fortunately,‍‌ I had expected‍‍‍ an attack like‌⁠‌ that, so I managed to cushion my fall while⁠ flying through the‌⁠ air.

‘The⁠‌ tail?’

When⁠‍ I looked at‌ what had hit‍ me, I saw a thick tail.⁠

Just⁠‍ like a real‍‌ shark’s, the tip‌‍ was split in two.

It‍⁠ seemed this shark‍ giant had all‍‌ the characteristics of⁠‌ one.

“Kyuuuuuu!!”‍‌

“Groaaar!!”⁠

But‌‌ it didn’t matter.‌‍‌

It was a monster⁠‍ that had already‍‍ lost one leg.⁠

Wonmo⁠ even managed to⁠⁠ climb onto its face and slash⁠ at it wildly⁠‍ without meeting any‌ real resistance.

The tail could not even reach its⁠‌‍ face and only⁠ flailed around desperately.‍

Sometimes‌ it opened its‍ huge jaws to‍ intimidate him, but⁠ unfortunately for it, Wonmo simply climbed‍ on top of‍ it.

Despite‌⁠ its size, it⁠‍ seemed like an⁠⁠ easy enemy to‌‌ deal with.

Though‌‍‌ I still could‍⁠ not let my⁠ guard down.

‘Or‌⁠ is it because it’s outside the‌ water?’

Maybe.‍

While‍⁠ the monster writhed⁠‍ violently, I approached‍‌ cautiously.

And when I finally‍ got close to‍ its head, I shouted at Wonmo,⁠‍‍ who was still⁠ on top of‌‍ it.

“Wonmo!‌ Move away!”

“Kyuu!”⁠

As always, Wonmo was‍⁠ smart.

He‌ jumped away immediately the moment he‍‌ heard my voice.⁠

And‍ I used the‍ opening to drive‍‌ the HeavenlyDemon sword⁠ into the shark‍‍ giant’s head.

Stab!‍

The⁠⁠⁠ aura-covered sword penetrated‍ easily.

The‍ monster writhed for⁠ a moment after‌ receiving the blow‌ to the head.‍

And⁠ then it stopped⁠⁠‌ moving completely.

Even‍⁠‍ the tail, which‍ had still been⁠⁠ flailing desperately, fell⁠‍ motionless.

Bright‌ red blood began‌ pouring out from its head.

Stab!‍ Stab!

Just⁠⁠ in case, I stabbed the sword‌ into it several‍‌ more times to⁠ make sure.

I did not know⁠‌‍ where its heart‌‌ was, so the⁠ safest option was‍ to completely destroy‍ its head.

And‍⁠‌ so ended the‌ dangerous yet strangely easy hunt of⁠‌‍ the shark giant.‍

I shook the blood‌ off the HeavenlyDemon‍‌ sword as a question arose in‍ my mind.

‘What‌⁠ the hell is⁠⁠ something like this‌‍ doing here? Is⁠‍⁠ there a sea‌⁠ nearby?’

Before,‍⁠ I had seen⁠‍ a bull shark that tried to‌ attack a deer‌‌ and ended up getting knocked out‌ with a kick.‍

But‌ that shark and‌ this shark giant⁠⁠ were completely different.‌‌

The‍ bull shark at‍‍ least was still⁠ a normal shark.‌

This‌‌ thing was literally⁠ a humanoid shark.

I did not know whether something like‍‌ this existed only⁠ in the Forest⁠⁠ of the Four‍‌ Seasons or if‍ it was a “monster” like the⁠ mushroom men.

‘Though‍⁠‌ now that I think about it,‌‌‌ that bull shark was strange too.‌‍ There’s only a lake down here.’

Even though bull sharks⁠ can live in⁠‌⁠ freshwater, their main‍ habitat is still⁠ the ocean.

That‍⁠‌ meant there was‍ probably an ocean‌‍‌ beyond that enormous‌‍ lake.

‘This⁠‌ is insane. Why‌ would there be‌ a sea inside⁠⁠⁠ a forest…? No, wait.’

Maybe‌ it was not‍ that strange.

Beyond the river, the‍‍ environment constantly changed.‍

Sometimes⁠‍ there were deserts.‌

Sometimes‍‍ snowy mountains.

Sometimes‌⁠ swamps.

So‍ there was probably‍ a sea somewhere‍‌ in the forest‌ as well.

Logic⁠ could go straight‌‌⁠ to hell.

“Haa…”⁠‍

I still needed to‌‍‍ investigate more, but⁠ it was a fairly convincing hypothesis.

The‌‌ bull shark that‌‍ moved back and forth between freshwater⁠ and saltwater.

And‍ now the sudden⁠ appearance of this shark giant.

What I did not⁠‍ understand was why‍‌ it appeared here‌‍ specifically.

If‌ it had come‍⁠‍ attracted by the‍ smell, other animals⁠‍ should have appeared‌⁠‌ too.

‘Guess⁠‍ I’ll have to‌ ask.’

No‌⁠ matter how much I racked my‍ brain, I still⁠⁠ knew far too‌ little about this‌‍‍ world.

So‍ the only option‌⁠ left was to‍ ask the gallery.⁠

If⁠‍‍ anyone could solve⁠ this question, it⁠ would be Fathermon‌ no, AllFather.

Title) Beastmen exist here‍⁠ too, right?

WildGrills

(Photo‍‍ of the shark⁠ giant bleeding from⁠‌ the head)

Does‌⁠ this count as‌‍ a beastman too?‍‌‍ I mean, it’s⁠ still an animal.⁠⁠

Anyway,‍ this bastard suddenly⁠‌ appeared out of nowhere and stole‌ my lunch.

I got furious and⁠‍ killed it, but⁠⁠ what the hell⁠ even was this‌⁠⁠ thing?

└HeavenlyDemon)‍ This one has⁠‍ seen people with‍ animal faces before,‍⁠ but never one‌‌‌ with a shark‌⁠ face.

└Swordmaster)‌‌ At first glance‍‍ it looks like‌ a fish-man, though⁠ fish-men do not⁠⁠ look like that‌‍ either.

└WildGrills)‌ Do fish-men count‍⁠ as beastmen?

└Swordmaster)‌‌‌ They are monsters.⁠ Just like mermaids,‍ who are technically⁠ “ningyo” and not‌ fish-men, but are⁠⁠ still considered monsters.‍

└Suspiciously)⁠ A beastman at⁠ least needs to‍ have fur. That‍‍ is literally a fish;;

└WildGrills)‌ Well, fish are‍‌ animals too, so⁠⁠‍ that’s why I asked.

└Suspiciously)⁠‍ Did you try‍ talking to him?‍

└WildGrills)‍ Talking? That bastard stole the fish‍ I worked so‌‍ hard to prepare,‍ so I killed‍‍‌ him.

└Suspiciously)⁠ Nah, then you‍‍⁠ did the right‍ thing. That definitely⁠⁠‌ is not a beastman.

└AllFather)‌ Even I have⁠⁠ never seen a species like that‍⁠ before. Not even fish-men are such‌⁠ exact mixtures between‍ human and shark⁠ what the hell⁠ is that?

└WildGrills)⁠‌‍ So fish-men do⁠‌ not look like this.

└AllFather)‍‌ (Photo of a monstrous-looking fish-man) This⁠‍ is a fish-man.‌

└AllFather)⁠‌‍ (Photo of a mermaid with a fish lower half)⁠‍ And this is⁠ a mermaid known⁠ as a “siren.”‍‌

└AllFather)‍‌ Neither of them⁠ looks like that‍ shark.

└WildGrills)‍‌ Uh so does‌‍ that mean it’s‌‍⁠ a new species?

└AllFather)‌ You could say‌ that, though I am not completely‍ certain. I do not know whether it is a simple mutation or‌ if the Forest of Four Seasons‍⁠ is causing this.‍

Not⁠ even AllFather knew.‌‌‍

And‍ neither did anyone‌ else.

It‌⁠ was a completely‍ unknown species, something⁠⁠ never seen before‍ in the world.

Very‌ fitting for the‌‌ Forest of Four‍ Seasons, where all‌⁠‍ kinds of creatures‍‍ appeared.

└Now⁠ that I think‍‍⁠ about it, the⁠ fast sloth was‍⁠ originally a normal sloth too, right?⁠⁠‍ Sloths are not⁠⁠ supposed to be‌‌ able to walk.‍

└AllFather)‌⁠ Good observation. Indeed, due to the structure of their legs, a normal‍⁠⁠ sloth could never‍⁠ walk. But this⁠‍ sloth is different.⁠‍

└What a ridiculously weird⁠ forest. Better not‌‍ even go near‍ it.

└What⁠‌ the hell is‍‌⁠ going to appear‍⁠ next and what‌‌ if some animal‌ with an absurdly‍‌‍ long neck shows‍ up?

└Fighting‍ something with a neck like that⁠⁠ sounds fun lmao‍

└What‌ a ridiculously stupid‍‍‍ thing lol

Wasn’t‌⁠ that literally just‌‍⁠ a giraffe?

Could‌ it be that‍ giraffes do not‍‍ exist here?

└WildGrills)‍ Do horses with‍ horns exist here?⁠⁠

└If⁠⁠‌ you mean unicorns,⁠‌ of course they⁠ exist. Why do‌‍ you ask?

└WildGrills)‌ Just curious.

To‌‌ me, a horse⁠‌ with a horn‍‍ was far stranger.‍

I guess it was some kind of‍⁠ cultural difference or‌ something.

Putting‌ the nonsense aside, the problem now⁠‍ was what to‌ do with this‌⁠ shark giant.

The⁠‍‍ best option was‌‍ to give it‍ to AllFather.

If‍ I offered it, he would surely‍ accept it happily.‌

‘It’s‍‌ not like I’m⁠‍⁠ going to make‍⁠ shark fin soup‍⁠ out of this⁠‍ thing.’

So⁠ I handed it⁠‍ over immediately.

And‌ just as expected,‌ AllFather became extremely‍ excited.

I also wanted to⁠‍ hear the results⁠ of his research,⁠‌‍ so I had‍ no problem trading‍‍‍ it away.

[AllFather:⁠ Thank you for⁠⁠⁠ giving me a new research subject‍ every day.]

[WildGrills:‌ It’s not that⁠‍ big of a deal. If you‍⁠ think about it,⁠‍ I’m just getting‍⁠ rid of trash.]‌‌

[AllFather:⁠ Please, do not⁠‌ hesitate to throw‍‌ all the “luxury trash” you want‌⁠ at me. Jojojo.]‌‌‌

“Luxury‌‌ trash” sounded pretty‍⁠ strange.

[WildGrills:‌ Though, AllFather, you‍⁠ said this was‍‌⁠ your first time seeing something like‍ this too, right?]⁠

[AllFather: Correct. I have‌ lived for a very long time,‌ but I have‌⁠‍ never seen a species like this. Just as with⁠⁠‍ the saber-toothed tiger’s‍‍ heart, it is⁠‍ obvious that the‍‌⁠ Forest of Four‌ Seasons alters things.]⁠

[WildGrills:‌ And when do⁠⁠ you think that‍⁠ change could start‍‌ affecting me?]

That was the part that frightened me the most.

The‌‍ idea of changing‍⁠ without realizing it.‌

I did not want‍‌ to end up⁠⁠ deforming into some‍‍⁠ bizarre thing.

[AllFather:⁠‍⁠ Now that you⁠ mention it, you‌‌‍ said you came‍⁠⁠ from another world,‍ Mister Grills?]

[WildGrills:‍‍ Yes. Though nobody‌‍ believes me. Do⁠‍ you believe me,‌ AllFather?]

[AllFather:⁠⁠‌ Let us say‌‍ I will consider⁠ that possibility. Even‍ for me, it‌ is a difficult‍⁠‌ story to believe.]⁠

It⁠ was a little‌‌ disappointing, but I could understand it.‍‍⁠

Still,⁠ the fact that he was at‌⁠‍ least willing to‌⁠ consider it was‍ already pretty good.‌

[AllFather:⁠ Mister Grills, what‌‌ do you think‌ mana is? A force that helps‍ people become stronger?]⁠‍

[WildGrills:⁠ Isn’t it something‌ like that?]

[AllFather:⁠⁠ In theory, yes.‌‍ Then allow me‍ to ask you‍ something. Do you‌ think anyone can⁠⁠⁠ use mana?]

[WildGrills:‍‌⁠ They can’t?]

[AllFather: There is much‍ academic debate regarding⁠ this, but personally‍ I would say⁠ no. People speak‍‌⁠ of talent, but‌ in the end⁠ it all comes‌ down to the‍⁠‍ vessel that is,⁠⁠ the body. Just‍ as all animals‍ and plants evolve,‌‍ humans are also‍⁠ creatures that evolve.]⁠

AllFather‌ began speaking about⁠ evolution.

And‍⁠ I listened carefully.⁠

All living beings had⁠ evolved to reach⁠ their current forms.‌⁠

Humans were no different.‌

[AllFather:‌⁠ In the distant‌‌ past, only the⁠⁠‍ chosen could use‍ mana. But over‍ time, more and‍ more people began‍ to wield it.]⁠⁠

[WildGrills: That definitely sounds like evolution.]

[AllFather: Exactly. Nowadays, even those without talent‍⁠‍ can feel mana‌‍ without too much⁠‌ difficulty. So let‌‍‌ me ask you‍ another question. In‍‍⁠ the world where‍ you lived, was‍‍ there anyone capable of sensing mana?]‌‍⁠

AllFather’s⁠ question was incredibly⁠⁠ sharp.

And‌‍ the moment I saw it, I answered immediately.

I did not even need to think‌‍ about it.

It‌ was an absurdly⁠ simple answer.

[WildGrills:‌⁠‌ No. In my‌⁠ world, mana did‍ not exist. Instead, science and technology⁠ were extremely advanced.⁠‍‌ There were bombs⁠ capable of destroying‍ entire cities.]

[AllFather:‍‍‌ Then nobody could⁠ use mana. Including‌ you, Mister Grills.]⁠

[WildGrills:⁠ Yes. The first⁠‍‍ time I felt‌ it was after arriving here.]

[AllFather:⁠⁠‍ Then everything fits⁠ perfectly.]

The‌‍ conclusion AllFather reached,‌ after countless hypotheses,⁠‌‌ was—

[AllFather:⁠⁠ Mister Grills. Listen⁠⁠ carefully.]

[WildGrills:⁠ I’m listening.]

[AllFather:‍⁠ It is possible‌ that you are‌‌‌ already undergoing a process of “evolution.”]⁠‌

Those‌ words left me‍ completely shocked.