As mentioned before, the method for capturing Mandrakes is simple.
Once pulled out, if there’s any sign of it screaming, beat it like a dog on a hot summer day.
It still tries obstinately to scream? Stuffing its mouth with dirt renders it completely helpless.
In that manner, I harvested Starlight Lady’s portion first, since hers was most urgent, and then slowly gathered the rest for the other fixed handles.
The person I gave it to next after Starlight Lady was Heavenly Demon. The one who provided me the greatest help.
[Wild Grylls: I think eating this will replenish your vitality. How is your body feeling?]
[Heavenly Demon: It was only dangerous back then; I am completely fine now. Rather, it is thy bodily condition I worry for.]
[Wild Grylls: Aside from my stomach hurting a few times a day—maybe because of the Fasting Pills—I’m alright.]
[Heavenly Demon: That is proof that impurities within thy body are being purged. Since thou hast not undergone Body Metamorphosis, they are discharged in such a manner.]
[Wild Grylls: That’s a good thing, right?]
[Heavenly Demon: Good indeed. If thou desirest, I can bestow more upon thee. Coincidentally, thou hast also given me something beneficial for the body.]
[Wild Grylls: I’m fine.]
[Wild Grylls: It’s enough if you just give me the antidote and tinnitus remedy we spoke about earlier.]
[Heavenly Demon: I feel apologetic for merely receiving from thee.]
[Wild Grylls: That’s what I should be saying.]
I always thought this, but Heavenly Demon possessed truly fine character.
Everyone mocked her for being an old boomer, but she was someone who definitely gave when she received.
This is what an elder should be like. I don’t know why a person like this is even in the Gallery.
No, wait. Looking at the posts she usually uploads, she’s an exemplary Gallery degenerate.
Perhaps living life leisure and free got boring, so she killed time scrolling the Gallery.
’So this is the antidote, and this one is good for tinnitus.’
After finishing the trade with Heavenly Demon, I checked the items I received first.
They were written in characters similar to Hanja, confusing me for a moment, but Heavenly Demon informed me.
The Gallery had automatic translation, but that was limited to the Gallery itself; languages differed across regions.
Come to think of it, who on earth created the Gallery and built in automatic translation features?
In many ways it was a strange world, but it wasn’t something to worry about right now.
[Sword Matstar: No; I told you I don’t want to get healthier? Just consider it payment for the Elixir I gave you last time. Or you can give it to an acquaintance who is sick. Or sell it.]
[Sword Matstar: Um... Alright. Putting it that way makes it awkward to refuse. Thank you.]
I conducted the trade with Sword Matstar almost by forcing it on her.
Why refuse when it can make you even healthier than now?
’Won’t she regret that later?’
The world was filled with people who neglected their health and kicked the bucket.
In the first place, health is something difficult to maintain even if you want to.
You have to manage it consistently from now on to avoid suffering down the line.
[Praise the Sun: This is that precious herb?]
[Wild Grylls: Yes. I heard it’s expensive. You gave me a shield before, so I’m giving it as a present.]
[Praise the Sun: Does this happen to have stamina enhancement or anything like that?]
[Wild Grylls: Uh... They said it’s an Elixir ingredient, so wouldn’t it?]
So he was a man. Well, looking at his handle, I could roughly guess.
[Praise the Sun: Thanks. I’ll give you an awesome present later.]
[Wild Grylls: I already got the shield. If I find more stuff good for the body, I’ll give you more.]
[Praise the Sun: You’re too damn nice, kid. Then every time you give me a Mandrake, I’ll give you one thing you want. Sounds good?]
[Wild Grylls: Sounds good.]
Mandrakes were overflowing here.
The colony area was quite vast, providing enough volume to continuously supply fixed handles.
But I had no intention of harvesting them recklessly.
If I ran out when I truly needed them, it would be a disaster.
It would be convenient to think of it as an emergency fund.
After ending the trade with Praise the Sun, I sought out Princess Chaenggu.
Princess Chaenggu had also helped me out, so I planned to gift her one as well.
[Wild Grylls: I’ll give you one of these.]
[Princess Chaenggu: Thank you~. I’ll give you another jersey too~.]
[Wild Grylls: Thank you.]
[Wild Grylls: Who is it this time?]
[Princess Chaenggu: It’s the legendary Chaeyu goalkeeper Gioni Sader~.]
As expected, I had no idea who that was. Still, since I received clothing, let’s express gratitude.
When I first got the jersey, I wondered if it would be helpful, but surprisingly it was proving to be a huge help.
Given the fabric material, it was very stretchy and didn’t feel suffocating.
[Wild Grylls: Thank you. Was it Champs? I hope they win the championship there.]
[Princess Chaenggu: It’s Chals, not Champs~!]
[Wild Grylls: Thanks anyway~.]
[Wild Grylls: Chals was where all clubs in Mephisto played in a tournament format, right?]
[Princess Chaenggu: Yup! It’s the greatest competition in the world~. It’s a tournament where not only Mephisto but other nations cooperate too~.]
I didn’t have a team I cheered for, but I personally liked football.
When underdog Republic of Korea beat world powerhouse Germany, I felt it was a miracle.
When I saw Argentina win the World Cup, I thought, That actually happened?
Football is a sport where even the world’s best players and teams fall victim to miracles.
Because its unpredictability alone is incredible, it is the most popular sport in the world.
Especially since entertainment in this world was nonexistent outside of the Gallery, it was only natural for sports to be popular.
’Is there no World Cup equivalent?’
The Challengers Cup—hereafter Chals—mentioned by Princess Chaenggu allowed entry not just for Mephisto’s clubs, but also clubs from other nations.
From what I heard, there were tournaments held domestically and tournaments where foreign clubs also participated.
Maybe in the old days, but now different races were mixed into each team, turning it into a battle of club pride.
However, there seemed to be no World Cup that followed one’s ’origin’ rather than clubs.
’Not like it’s my concern.’
I have my hands full just trying to survive.
Even if I was interested in football, I had no leeway to care.
Still, curiosity is curiosity, so I plan to look it up sometime.
I heard roughly that as human influence rose day by day, the standing of the sovereign state, Mephisto, was also shaking.
’I should make a question post and ask.’
The Gallery sure is convenient at times like this.
I wanted to ask Princess Chaenggu more, but unfortunately time was short.
I heard adjusting private chat time was only possible for the Orange Badge, making me wonder if I should submit a suggestion.
[Wild Grylls: Thank you. Fighting, Chaeyu!]
[Princess Chaenggu: Thanks~! I pray you survive tomorrow as well~!]
The conversation with Princess Chaenggu ended while cheering for Chaeyu.
The remaining fixed handles were just these two: Allfather and Passing Dwarf.
[Wild Grylls: Hello, Allfather-nim. I’ll give you one Mature Mandrake.]
[Allfather: Oh! Thank you so much. How much money should I pay you?]
[Wild Grylls: You gave me precious information, so you don’t need to pay.]
[Wild Grylls: By the way, is there any progress on the Golden Frog antidote?]
[Allfather: May I speak candidly?]
Seeing the words Allfather brought up, I felt doubtful.
Asking if he could speak candidly sounded somewhat negative.
[Wild Grylls: Did a negative result come out?]
[Allfather: Yes. It is an especially critical matter for Grylls-ssi.]
[Wild Grylls: Mmm... Please explain.]
[Allfather: The Golden Poison Frog’s venom is stronger than anticipated. My laboratory nearly melted down from the venom.]
[Wild Grylls: Shivering... Are you alright?]
As everyone knows, the Golden Frog’s venom is exceedingly powerful.
It wasn’t even acidic, yet trees melted down, which says it all.
I had warned Allfather too, but seeing that his laboratory almost melted, it must have been a perilous situation.
[Allfather: Yes. Fortunately, no disaster occurred. But what is more critical is that the venom is so potent that even antidotes failed to neutralize it.]
[Wild Grylls: Then...?]
Did it mean I had to buy water? As I was thinking that, Allfather proposed a suggestion.
[Allfather: However, it was not entirely without gains. Thanks to researching the venom sac, I discovered something else.]
[Wild Grylls: That sounds positive.]
[Allfather: Yes. If all goes well, Grylls-ssi might gain immunity to venom.]
Allfather’s explanation went roughly like this.
As a result of researching the Golden Frog’s venom sac, he found a special component within it.
If this component was utilized, my body could gain resistance.
[Wild Grylls: Isn’t that even better?]
[Allfather: However, you will need to ingest it for at least 2 weeks. Only then will you gain resistance to the Golden Poison Frog’s venom.]
[Wild Grylls: Sounds like you’re telling me to catch more frogs?]
[Allfather: You are quick-witted indeed.]
Haha. Man, this guy.
I chuckled dryly at Allfather’s shamelessness.
However, it was well worth trying.
Since he said I would gain resistance to poison itself, it would be especially effective for me.
’Bugs are way more dangerous than frogs right now anyway.’
The Golden Frog’s venom could at least be blocked with a shield or dodged.
But poisonous snakes, poisonous insects, and poisonous herbs would pop out from unexpected places.
In particular, I suffered rather severely from plant rashes, so Allfather’s proposal was attractive.
[Wild Grylls: Not bad.]
[Wild Grylls: But I’d appreciate it if you made the stuff from what I gave you earlier first.]
[Allfather: I have my shame as well. I will process a proper dosage and send it to you within two days.]
[Wild Grylls: Thank you.]
The conversation with Allfather ended, but I was a bit worried.
Since he said it was a format where the body gradually gets used to the poison rather than an antidote.
It meant the effect wouldn’t appear immediately. Prime condition to get backstabbed.
’For now, I’ll hold out with the antidote Heavenly Demon gave me.’
I didn’t think Allfather would scam me.
If he were going to scam me, he would have done it when I handed over the Golden Frog.
Seeing how he held such vast funds, his skill must be real.
’Now all that’s left is Passing Dwarf.’
Lastly, I presented a Mandrake as a gift to Passing Dwarf.
But this bastard went and infused it into booze before long.
How dumbfounded I was seeing that.
I would understand if he had traded it for money instead.
└ Passing Dwarf) I’m rich lol
└ Wild Grylls) Yeah, yeah. Big shot, aren’t you.
└ Passing Dwarf) Thanks for the compliment
└ Wild Grylls) You son of a bitch kekeke
└ kekekeke
└ kekekekeke
└ I’m lost for words kekeke
I shouldn’t even waste my breath.
Someone is dying today or tomorrow due to terrible health, while someone else just turns it into booze and calls it a day.
I felt once again how truly unfair the world was.
Though my dropping into the Forest of the Four Seasons was unfair right off the bat.
At any rate, having given gifts to the fixed handles I owed, I set about my next task.
Pa-ak! Pak!
"Aigo. I’m dying."
Digging traps at the entrance of the cave.
If I pushed it back day by day, I’d regret it, so I needed to do it consistently.
My whole body aching the next day? Better than dying.
’Times like this make me wanna take a shower so bad.’
For now, I just had to endure.
Even if the threat of the Golden Frog vanished, taking a shower every day would be tough.
The cleanup wasn’t the issue; the clothes were the problem.
To minimize contact with insects and plants, clothing wasn’t an option—it was a necessity.
But wearing the exact same clothes every day would jeopardize hygiene.
Therefore, laundering them periodically was required, which naturally demanded large quantities of water.
’I’m gonna need a lot of soap.’
In a place like this, hygiene is extremely crucial.
Because catching a disease by mistake would be perilous.
Sickness isn’t something that instantly heals just because you take medicine, either.
Was it because of that? As dusk fell, I halted my work and bought water.
Having sweated, let’s wash the necessary areas at least for hygiene’s sake.
A freshness once experienced was hard to forget.
Though spending money hurt, thinking of it as the price of my life made it cheap.
’Is today Day 2?’
After a quick wash, I logged into the Gallery.
Having neatly finished today’s routine, it was to leave a log.
I’ll probably post daily logs just like Starlight Lady.
Title) Survival Day 2
Wild Grylls
(Photo of bonfire)
Survival Day 2 finished! See you tomorrow.
└ Heavenly Demon) Rest comfortably.
└ Sword Matstar) Good work. I gave the Mandrake to my mom.
└ Princess Chaenggu) Thanks for the gift~. Stay healthy~!
└ Praise the Sun) Post a thread right away tomorrow. I’m worried about you.
└ Don’t Abandon the Hero) Great work!
Maybe it’s because I’ve gotten somewhat close to the fixed handles.
Most comments were well wishes, telling me I did good work or labored hard.
The Orange Badge was among them too. Looks like I’m getting more attention than I thought.
I didn’t particularly mind the anonymous lurkers. Most were busy venting their own desires anyway.
└ Passing Dwarf) Hey. After brewing liquor with what you gave me, I can’t fall asleep keke
└ Wild Grylls) Just drop dead already
└ Passing Dwarf) Burp burp kekekeke
└ Holy fuck I can smell booze coming from this post kekeke
└ kekekekeke
└ kekekekekeke
Even if there was one useless guy, he’s helpful, so I let it slide.
Despite his talk, he was the guy who felt sorry before and even gifted me booze.
’Come to think of it, what happened to Starlight Lady?’
I feel anxious because there’s no news at all. I hope she posts a thread tomorrow.
I slowly lay my body down on the ground. It didn’t feel hard, but slightly plush.
Thanks to the mat and pillow purchased from the Auction House. Heard they stuffed straw inside.
’It is... plush.’
Perhaps due to the fatigue of today’s struggles combined with the plushness, drowsiness washed over me.
Unable to withstand the sleepiness, I slowly closed my eyes.
Hoping that tomorrow brings only good things.
Around the time Grylls completed his day’s work and fell fast asleep.
The Gallery was actively pulsing day and night.
Usually, the Gallery overflowed with random shitposts, but recently that had changed.
The hot topic was none other than Wild Grylls, who had reportedly dropped into the Forest of the Four Seasons.
After it was confirmed he landed in the Forest of the Four Seasons, he began receiving immense attention.
People thought the Mature Mandrake incident would be treated as just another ordinary happening.
Real-time Gallery bro fucked up;;
My friend is a knight and his superior told him to trade with Grylls and bring back Mature Mandrakes;;
└ Fr?
└ Yeah fr, he’s high rank
└ Feels so out of nowhere
└ They didn’t say anything, but they were keeping an eye on him? Seems they got convinced after seeing the dwarf’s post.
└ kekeke At this rate won’t the Emperor ask for some too?
└ More than that, I’m curious about the Magic Tower’s reaction
└ Why the Magic Tower?
└ They have a monopoly on Mandrakes. They’re probably watching most closely
└ Nah. Would they really make a fuss over just this?
└ You don’t know the former-former Orange Badge incident?
└ What incident?
└ Someone from another fief made a secret deal with Dwart Fief and sent goods tax-free. That fief almost went bankrupt because of it.
└ Shivering
└ Shivering
└ But doesn’t Grylls lack supply?
└ By that logic, Magic Tower is low on supply too. They don’t farm Mandrakes, they just manage them.
└ So they get them from the outside too?
└ Yeah, they have high authority and monopoly rights, so I heard their tyranny is no joke
└ From the Magic Tower’s perspective, Grylls must be pretty uncomfortable.
The atmosphere began to flow in a strange direction.