There is a slang term: "turned to shit". In other words, a total clusterfuck.
It was a post simply uploaded to express gratitude, but a few people jumped in and the comment section turned to shit in an instant.
Starting with Princess Chaenggu to King Reor barging in out of nowhere, plus numerous anonymous floats.
Each hurling slurs or family insults. Comment notifications rang without rest.
’Doesn’t the Orange Badge moderate stuff like this?’
I knew that if things overheated too much, the Orange Badge would step in. There was a similar rule in the announcements.
Even if sports fans were arguing, once personal attacks were thrown, it could no longer be classified as sports discussion.
ㄴDon’t Abandon the Hero: Stop it! If you keep spamming, I will issue a ban!
ㄴPrincess Chaenggu: That bastard started picking a fight first~?
ㄴKing Reor: She’s talking absolute nonsense.
Don’t Abandon the Hero: Still, don’t fight in someone else’s post! I’ll open an Arena, so fight there!
ㄴPrincess Chaenggu: Okie~
ㄴKing Reor: OK OK
Right as I thought that, the Orange Badge appeared. The Orange Badge’s command to stop fighting in my post and take it to the Arena.
Everyone complied with those words and vanished. Finally liberated from notification hell.
Before long, a post created by the Orange Badge popped up in the Gallery.
Arena: Which Team Has More Heritage?
Refreshing once brought a downpour of comments. Heading in there wouldn’t yield anything helpful.
I heard posts inciting conflict between nations were banned, but since this was sports, it seemed to pass.
Of course, if it overheated, the Orange Badge would directly intervene. She handles her work well.
’I should just do my own work.’
Now that I’ve returned all the compasses, I devised a strategy to deal with the Golden Poison Frog.
First off, the stream where the Golden Poison Frog resided was a natural fortress in itself.
The water was so crystal clear that gaugeing its depth was difficult, and the current was quite swift.
Step inside, and a single poison spit would kill me. Thus, a ranged attack was essential.
’A bow is... tough. Is a crossbow the best choice?’
I didn’t know how to use a bow. At least a crossbow would be relatively easier to handle.
The balance currently charged in my Gallery account was about 650 Gold. Money obtained by selling the Steel-Scale Serpent.
I wasn’t sure if this was enough to buy a crossbow—and a customized one at that. Let’s post first.
Title: Question about Crossbows
Wild Grylls
Planning to catch a frog, is there a harpoon-like crossbow? So the arrow and crossbow are tethered, allowing me to drag it in upon hit.
ㄴSword Matstar: Why do you need a crossbow?
ㄴWild Grylls: Need it to catch the frog. The stream is too deep to go in recklessly
ㄴSword Matstar: Can’t you just unleash Sword Qi?
ㄴWild Grylls: ;;;
ㄴSword Matstar: Or you could just walk on water
ㄴWild Grylls: Ma’am?
Is this person joking? Dumbfounded, a hollow laugh escaped me.
But considering she posted such high-level swordsmanship tips, she might have said it in complete seriousness from her perspective.
Only after emphasizing to Sword Matstar several times that I was a normal human did things settle down.
ㄴHeavenly Demon: How about mastering all the internal cultivation arts this seat imparts before hunting it?
ㄴWild Grylls: I need to drink water to survive too, Ma’am
ㄴHeavenly Demon: If it is water, this seat can provide plenty.
ㄴWild Grylls: Then I won’t get help when I really need it.
As I said before, I planned to accept help when I really needed it. A chance card of sorts.
Until then, I needed to be self-sufficient. Or earn money to buy from the auction house.
Moreover, a crossbow had immense potential to be useful in many situations like this.
ㄴPassing Dwarf: Modifying what you asked for is doable.
ㄴWild Grylls: Roughly how much?
ㄴPassing Dwarf: Since it’s Dwarf-made, it’s about 500 Gold, you okay with that?
"What the fuck..."
Why so expensive? Is it encrusted with diamonds? An amount beyond expectations.
Since about 300 Gold was said to be a commoner’s monthly living expense, this far exceeded it.
It might be because it was Dwarf-made like in typical web novels, though I didn’t know if that logic applied to this world as well.
ㄴIt’s Dwarf-made. Obv expensive yeah
ㄴIsn’t that actually on the cheap side? For a crossbow
ㄴCrossbows vary wildly depending on the craftsman
ㄴCrossbows are probably the worst after swords
ㄴPassing Dwarf: Factor in modification costs too. This is seriously cheap. It’s because I feel bad.
ㄴWild Grylls: Feel bad about what?
ㄴPassing Dwarf: Telling you to become fertilizer. Didn’t know your situation was that dire.
ㄴWild Grylls: Hmm. How much is a normal crossbow?
ㄴPassing Dwarf: Don’t know much about human ones
ㄴRoughly around 30 Gold, right?
ㄴYeah, normal bows are around 10 Gold
ㄴWild Grylls: What kind of fucking premium markup is that?
ㄴPassing Dwarf: Don’t buy it if you don’t like it then
ㄴWild Grylls: Woah, woah. I didn’t say I wasn’t buying
ㄴLOL look at that instant stance shift
Whatever the case, this was an opportunity. Only Passing Dwarf could provide the exact form of crossbow I wanted.
Though expensive, it was said to be trusty Dwarf-made quality, so I could readily pay the money.
Even if it turned out to be a scam, I could just never buy from him again. If worst came to worst, I could get a crossbow from someone else.
ㄴLet’s Grow Trees: A bow is superior to a crossbow. This fact is proven in the murals of the World Tree.
ㄴWhat’s up with this knife-ear?
ㄴSpouting that World Tree mural meme again
ㄴHistorically speaking it’s true, but...
ㄴYou say everything is in the World Tree murals, right? LOL
ㄴWild Grylls: Using a crossbow because I’m in a rush. I don’t know how to use a bow
ㄴLet’s Grow Trees: I see. Then while realizing the greatness of us Elves, why not practice the bow?
ㄴGreatness my ass LOL
ㄴThere are so many people who shoot bows better than knife-ears LOL
ㄴHere go the knife-ears flexing again;;
ㄴLet’s Grow Trees: But generally speaking, the symbol of Elves is the bow. Let me ask in reverse: when you think of bows, which race comes to mind?
ㄴShit, annoying but true so nothing to say
ㄴKnife-ears do shoot bows well LOL
ㄴSo what? They have no vanguard so they get crushed LOL
Contrary to being steeped in imperialism, the bow being the Elves’ symbol seemed to be common knowledge.
At least this part aligned with my general knowledge. I posted a comment under the chaotic thread.
ㄴWild Grylls: My country was really good at archery too
ㄴLet’s Grow Trees: Are your ancestors perhaps Elves?
ㄴWild Grylls: No no;;
ㄴLOL look at him having zero prejudice
ㄴIs that good or bad? LOL
ㄴWild Grylls: And the world I lived in had only humans
ㄴLet’s Grow Trees: Only humans in the world? Impossible!
ㄴHe said he’s from another world. Cut him some slack
ㄴPoor guy, let’s just let it slide
ㄴIt’s a roleplay concept LOL
It’s real, not a concept, but no one believes me. Well, doesn’t really matter.
Whether they believe it or not, all I need to do is survive here.
ㄴBut you guys really shot bows well?
ㄴWild Grylls: Yeah, insanely well. Not me, though
ㄴAny reason? Like a racial trait or something
ㄴWild Grylls: Because there were lots of countries above and below us we wanted to shoot at LOL
ㄴLOL
ㄴOOF LOL
ㄴIs this guy fucking crazy LOL
ㄴPassing Dwarf: Hey. Finished modification. Send trade.
While waiting, Passing Dwarf seemed to have completed the modifications. I sent a trade request immediately.
A crossbow made by a Dwarf. How good would it be? Please let it be worth the heavy price tag.
Passing Dwarf has registered the trade items.
[Passing Dwarf: Added the harpoon arrow you asked for plus a few other arrows. Mind you, the harpoon arrow’s range is damn fucking short, so keep that in mind.]
[Wild Grylls: How short?]
[Passing Dwarf: Max range is around 50 meters.]
Around 50 meters. Hearing that, I recalled the width of the stream where the Golden Poison Frog resided.
It was narrow enough to be called a creek rather than a river, so it wasn’t that wide. It was just very deep.
However, considering the poison spit from the Golden Poison Frog, that range was pushing it close.
It was best to conceal myself and launch an ambush if possible.
[Wild Grylls: OK for now, putting up the money.]
[Wild Grylls: How much are those? I’ll give you more money.]
[Passing Dwarf: Don’t be a sucker, just take it;;]
He was the guy who willingly gave toilet paper, so I felt bad taking more. Yet somehow I received gloves as well.
Since mishandling the frog could lead to disaster, he had gifted quite an appropriate item.
I should give him some good medicinal herbs later if I get any. Or maybe leather.
Being a blacksmith, giving leather would definitely be better than herbs.
’Let’s see. He sent it in a crate.’
When the trade ended, a crate materialized. I opened the top of the square crate.
Opening it, the crossbow along with the gloves caught my eye first.
Next to them, a bottle was stored inside, baffling me as it was completely unexpected.
’What’s this?’
A brown bottle sealed with a cork stopper. Through that cork stopper, I realized what it was.
Alcohol. I remembered the Dwarf telling me before that he’d give me alcohol so I wouldn’t commit suicide.
Who knew he’d actually give me booze? Beneath his gruff exterior, he was secretly soft-hearted.
’Let’s save this for later.’
I’ll use the alcohol later like an anesthetic or painkiller. Intoxication helps dull pain to some extent.
I set the liquor bottle carefully against the wall so it wouldn’t shatter, then examined the crossbow.
It was a crossbow with an overall sleek black base, and being Dwarf-forged, its design looked pretty cool.
’Ah, it’s connected to the arrow.’
A harpoon-like arrow and the crossbow were connected by a thin rope. I could roughly understand how to use it.
I should test it. I knew that while making a crossbow was difficult, operating one wasn’t particularly hard.
I slid my foot into the stirrup-like piece at the front of the crossbow. I heard this was how you stepped on it.
Placing the crossbow below, securing it with my foot, and pulling the string to cock it...
Deolkeok-
"Huh?"
...was supposed to work, so why wasn’t it budging? I panicked slightly.
I pulled the string, but it wouldn’t budge. Trying to yank it made my whole body lurch.
At first, I wondered if it was stuck. But as I pulled harder, the string gradually came up.
"Ghaaaaa!"
Only after shouting a battle cry was I barely able to cock it. Catching my breath, I was dumbfounded.
What kind of insane crossbow was this that even cocking it required so much effort? Was this normal here?
Given that this world had superhumans who could smash mountains barehanded, it wasn’t impossible.
Sighing, I loaded the arrow. Starting with the harpoon arrow first.
Since I had to save other arrows, I intended to use the reusable harpoon first.
’It has a stock too, so aiming will be easy.’
The weight was surprisingly light compared to its size, making aiming smooth.
I stepped out of the cave and aimed at a tree standing at some distance.
Firing into hard cave walls might ruin the harpoon, so a tree was suitable.
’Hold my breath...’
Pa-ang!
The moment I pulled the trigger, the sound of tearing wind hit my ears.
The draw weight was so immense that my hair whipped back in the gust.
Peo-eok!
The harpoon shot forth, piercing straight through the center of the sturdy tree.
To clarify, it didn’t just lodge in—it completely penetrated through. Truly terrifying power.
With this, that Golden Poison Frog wouldn’t stand a chance. It wouldn’t even know what hit it.
’So there was a reason it was expensive.’
Marveling at power that far exceeded my expectations, I reeled back the harpoon.
Thanks to being connected to the rope, retrieval itself wasn’t difficult.
’Still, I need to practice.’
In my heart, I wanted to hunt the Golden Poison Frog right now. But as the saying goes: haste makes waste.
Given that reloading took a damn long time, I only had one shot. I had to sever the frog’s breath in that single chance.
If I failed, I’d have no choice but to run for my life on the spot. Getting hit by poison meant instant death.
I had to thoroughly prepare so I could drink water freely from now on. I definitely wasn’t blinded by Allfather’s 20,000 Gold.
’If only to get rid of this gross feeling, I will take a shower no matter what.’
Having not washed for two days, I felt disgusting. Thank goodness the weather was moderately warm; if it were muggy, it’d be absolute hell.
From then on, I practiced continuously until daybreak. I also got a bit more used to yanking the string.
As time passed and dusk began to settle, I retreated into the cave.
’With the remaining money...’
After buying the crossbow, I had roughly 100 Gold left. I planned to buy as much as I could with this.
The most urgent need was snake or bug repellent. I’d been lucky so far, but I could get bitten by venomous snakes or bugs in my sleep.
Aside from that, antidotes and various medical supplies were necessary. Antidotes especially were a must because of the frog.
’The auction house has most things, but... everything is expensive.’
The insane transaction fees held me back. Even with the merit of bypassing logistics, it was too expensive.
Yet I couldn’t just not buy it. Swallowing my tears, I purchased one bottle of antidote.
Since I could get scammed, I carefully read reviews just in case.
’Repellent... let’s buy this one.’
Buying a few things left me with only 20 Gold. I didn’t feel it was a waste, though.
Especially considering it extended my life. I sprayed repellent at the cave entrance and around my sleeping spot.
Whether this would actually work I didn’t know, but I could only hope. I even read reviews thoroughly.
Ujeok- ujeok-
"Ugh. Tastes fucking horrible."
I didn’t forget to eat a few Fasting Pills for dinner. A bitter medicinal herb taste spread across my mouth.
Since I had to survive on Fasting Pills for the time being, I had no choice but to endure. Better to have this than nothing.
"Nnnngh..."
After consuming the Fasting Pills, I strove to sit cross-legged. It wasn’t time to sleep yet.
The instant I crossed my legs, a joint-twisting pain shot through me, but I stoically endured.
In this stance, they said I’d practice Mana Cultivation Methods or Internal Cultivation Arts or whatever.
Since Heavenly Demon promised to teach me, practicing sitting cross-legged should suffice.
’Will I get used to it after about a week?’
Flexibility doesn’t increase overnight. I’d have to put in persistent effort over several days.
Still, I had nothing better to do until bedtime, so I had plenty of time. Had I been home, I’d just be grinding video games endlessly.
’Glad I at least have the Gallery.’
While practicing cross-legged sitting, I browsed the Gallery. Truthfully, the Gallery played a massive role.
Humans are creatures that struggle to endure loneliness. That’s why we’re called social animals.
Was it Robinson Crusoe? I remembered reading a novel where a person stranded on a deserted island treated a ball like a human.
That’s how essential communication is to humans. Right now, the Gallery fulfilled that need instead.
’Time to sleep.’
Time flew by as I browsed the Gallery. I uncrossed my legs.
Looking at the Gallery while sitting cross-legged made me forget the pain before I knew it.
Of course, the moment I became conscious of it again, immense pain flooded back.
Enduring joint-tearing agony, I prepared my bed.
It was warm during the day, but temperatures plummeted at night, making fire indispensable.
Tadak! Tadak!
I lit a fire using the Ignition Stone from Heavenly Demon and wood from outside. Thanks to that, the cave felt a tiny bit warmer.
On the first day, I was so exhausted I didn’t even realize it was cold. In the first place, I nearly died after getting bitten by a Mad Dog.
I tossed in a few logs and authored a post in the Gallery.
Title: Day 1 of Survival Complete
Wild Grylls
(Picture of a tally mark drawn on the wall)
(Picture of a blazing campfire)
Day 1 of survival is officially over. Time to sleep now~
ㄴHeavenly Demon: Thou hast worked hard. Rest peacefully.
ㄴSword Matstar: Get some good rest.
ㄴDay 1 starts today?
ㄴSeems so. If it cuts off...
ㄴEww;; that would feel gloomy
ㄴStarlight Lady: Let’s do our best together. I’ll be waiting for Day 2.
ㄴFly’s lifespan vs Terminally ill
ㄴMy heart swells with grandeur shudder shudder shudder
ㄴThank you for supporting Wild Grylls up until now
ㄴStarlight Lady: You people are truly terrible
Right. What could I possibly expect from those dumbasses?
Ah. Just to clarify, I mean the anonymous floats, not the fixed handles.
Most fixed handles cheer me on, but as for the floats... well, no explanation needed.
’Still, better than nothing.’
Smirking, I closed the Gallery. Then I lay down on the hard stone floor.
If I catch the Golden Poison Frog tomorrow, should I buy a blanket first? Or maybe a pillow would be nice too.
Having gone through such exhausting work today, those thoughts were soon overwhelmed by sleepiness.
As my eyes slowly closed and the chirping of insects faded away...
’I want to go home.’
With that earnest yearning, my consciousness blacked out completely.