Energetic and glorious morning!
(Photo of a thumbs-up)
If anyone asks, I am Grylls!
[> Heavenly Demon: You have awakened. Did anything untoward happen overnight?]
[> Wild Grylls: Nope. Slept like a log. Did you sleep well, Heavenly Demon-nim?]
[> Heavenly Demon: Given my current realm of cultivation, sleep is entirely unnecessary.]
[> Wild Grylls: Ah. Right...]
Even if funny drama popped off while I slept, my daily routine remained unchanged.
Namely, my survival check-in post. The thread marking the start of a new day.
Familiar fixed handles, including Heavenly Demon, left their greetings.
Along with fixed handles, quite a few anonymous floaters left comments as well.
[> Hey Grylls. Did you see the posts from earlier this morning?]
[> Wild Grylls: What posts?]
[> Posts begging to buy mature mandrakes from you. There are tons of them.]
[> Wild Grylls: Ah saw those yeah. Got a mountain of trade requests actually.]
[> Are you gonna sell?]
Well. As I said before, I didn’t have the luxury to do so.
It wasn’t like I was hurting for cash, nor was there anything specific I desperately needed right now.
Almost everything basic could be bought from the auction house anyway.
The people I’d traded with so far had offered pure goodwill, which was why I traded willingly.
User xxx has requested a trade.
User @@@ has requested a trade.
User Anonymous has requested a trade.
Before long, endless trade requests flooded in.
I stared at the trade requests and searched their usernames.
Most were empty accounts with zero posts, created very recently.
They seemed to be trying everything to snag a mature mandrake from me.
’First off, reject them all.’
I needed to make an official post first.
If I just kept ignoring them, it might get even more annoying later.
Plus, I intended to write it so the Orange Badge administrator would notice the situation.
Title: To everyone sending me trade requests
Wild Grylls
Looks like you’re trying to get mature mandrakes, but I have no intention of trading right now.
My situation is what it is, and I have no idea what items you guys are offering.
So instead, post a thread specifying what item you want to trade.
I’ll check it out and decide whether to request a trade.
And please refrain from asking for regular, continuous supply.
I’m a guy who might drop dead tomorrow.
[> What, the rumor was real?]
[> Well he really had mature mandrakes, so makes sense?]
[> But saying he might die tomorrow lolololol]
[> Brutally self-aware lmaooo]
[> Hard to argue with that logic]
[> Praise the Sun: If it’s cash you want, talk to me. I’ll buy it for a higher price than anyone else lol]
[> Damn, whale alert shiver...]
[> Look at that flex lolol]
[> Rich Dark Elf hyung shiver...]
[> Don’t Abandon the Hero: Hmm! I think I understand what’s happening! I shall keep an eye on this!]
[> Wild Grylls: Thank you. Orange Badge-nim, do you happen to need a mandrake too?]
[> Don’t Abandon the Hero: Eek! I haven’t helped Grylls-nim yet!]
[> Wild Grylls: It’s a bribe lol]
[> Don’t Abandon the Hero: Noooo you can’t!]
[> Lmaooooo]
[> Just casually dropping ’It’s a bribe’ lololol]
Now that things were roughly sorted out, I began my daily routine.
First, I sat in a full lotus position to work on my physical flexibility.
Just three days ago, it felt like my whole body was twisting into knots, but now it felt manageable.
’I should be ready to learn from Heavenly Demon soon.’
Internal Cultivation Art or Mana Cultivation Method.
If I could learn those, I’d definitely be better off than I was now.
Heavenly Demon wouldn’t teach me anything weird.
’Axing and shoveling will probably get easier too, right?’
Right now, the most critical task for me was shelter maintenance.
Part of me wanted to chop down trees using the Sword of the Heavenly Demon instead of an axe.
However, if the blade chipped, I’d be in deep trouble, so I had to stick to an axe.
Same with shoveling. Everything was backbreaking labor.
’No notable posts popping up either.’
After I posted my thread, nothing particularly eye-catching appeared.
As usual, I filled my stomach with a Fasting Pill for breakfast.
’Today, I should dig traps first.’
Ever since deciding to adapt and survive in the Forest of the Four Seasons, my routine was simple:
Divided between morning and afternoon—either exploring the surroundings or repairing the shelter.
Yesterday was mostly spent exploring due to the mature mandrake incident, so today was shelter day.
Though "repairs" mostly meant chopping nearby trees with an axe or digging holes with a shovel.
Just 10 minutes of it made my bones ache, but it was essential for my safety.
’Whether it’s luck or what, there’s no sign of an Owlbear around here.’
Whenever I heard a rustling sound, I flinched, but nothing had happened so far.
Though I was far from where the Owlbear had been spotted before, I couldn’t lower my guard.
The Gallery had warned me that Owlbears were extremely territorial creatures.
Beast or human, anything inside their territory gets torn to shreds.
Considering their house-sized bodies, running into one meant instant death.
’Or I could lure it all the way to the cave.’
I paused my trap-digging and glanced at the cave entrance.
An entrance just large enough for a Mad Dog to squeeze through.
A mountain-sized Owlbear wouldn’t be able to pass easily.
Add the traps laid out at the entrance, and with a bit of luck, I might actually slay it.
’It’d be better to figure out its territory first, though.’
I kept shoveling vigorously and checked the depth of the pit.
This should be deep enough. All that’s left is camouflage.
Why not plant sharp spikes inside the pit, you ask?
If I planted those recklessly, I might end up falling into them myself.
It wasn’t just near the cave; the trap right at the cave mouth was my absolute last resort.
’Something to substitute for a tarp in the auction house...’
I bought a cloth sheet from the auction house to cover the top.
Next, I secured the edges tautly with heavy rocks and disguised it with dirt.
And with that, one trap was complete. A wave of pride swelled in my heart.
’...Why am I getting proud over a damn hole?’
Before long, a sigh escaped my lips at my own pathetic plight.
It was too early to celebrate finishing just one.
The hardest part—logging—was still waiting for me.
Just thinking about felling trees made my future look pitch black.
Rustle—
Just then, the sound of rustling bushes brushed past my ears.
Startled out of my wits, I ducked down instantly.
I turned toward the origin of the noise, staying on high alert.
"...."
Was it just my imagination? Even as I glared at the foliage, nothing happened.
I let out a sigh of relief and stepped inside the cave.
Of course, jumping cleanly over the trap before stepping inside was a given.
’Maybe placing a wooden plank across would be safer?’
Hopping over it every single time might lead to a disaster in an emergency.
Trial and error like this was how one gradually adapted.
Slinging the felling axe over my shoulder, I headed back outside.
’Honestly, I respect lumberjacks so much now.’
How did people cut down so many trees back in eras without chainsaws?
They even built entire wooden buildings and ships out of that timber.
Day by day, I was realizing the sheer greatness of human civilization.
As time went on, that appreciation would only grow.
’Can’t I ask Passing Dwarf to make a chainsaw or something?’
A useless thought crossed my mind, but I quickly abandoned it.
He drank heavily yesterday, so he was probably nursing a hangover right now.
Besides, I was more curious about Starlight Lady’s status than Dwarf’s.
Thwack! Clang!
I started with the tree I had left halfway chopped yesterday.
The trunk was far too thick for manual sawing.
Still, as the saying goes, no tree stands after ten strikes—keep hacking, and it’ll fall eventually.
’I should make it fall toward the cave entrance, right?’
To achieve that, I needed to chop from the opposite side as well.
I caught my breath for a second, then stepped around to the other side.
Rustle—
Once again, the sound of leaves rustling struck my ears.
I heard it loud and clear this time. Tensing up instantly, I turned around slowly.
Rustle— rustle—
Not a delusion. The bushes were definitely swaying.
The rustling grew louder, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that something was approaching.
Backing away step by step, I readied myself to sprint into the cave at a moment’s notice.
Swoosh!
Finally, the owner of the noise breached the dense foliage and crawled out.
The instant I locked eyes with its face, I gasped sharply.
Sharp, fierce golden eyes. A terrifying bird beak.
And finally, a monstrous body as big as a house.
"Krrrng?"
"...."
An Owlbear. Tension froze my body rock-solid.
Fortunately, the Owlbear didn’t attack immediately.
Maybe because encountering a human in the Forest of the Four Seasons was a first for it?
It seemed to be probing first. I slunk backward millimeter by millimeter.
"Krrrrng..."
"Phew..."
I glanced back, gauging the distance to the cave entrance.
Needlessly provoking the Owlbear wouldn’t just result in injury—I’d end up dead.
Fortunately, this Owlbear’s frame was so massive that it seemed physically incapable of squeezing into the cave.
’Is there a way to distract it...?’
I fumbled through my pocket. My fingers grazed something round.
It was a Fasting Pill I had kept as an emergency ration.
Maybe this could draw its attention away.
I carefully tossed the Fasting Pill near the Owlbear’s feet.
"Sniff, sniff. Sniff."
"...."
The Owlbear began sniffing the Fasting Pill that landed on the ground.
Seizing that opening, I managed to retreat all the way near the cave mouth.
Deciding the scent was harmless, the Owlbear scooped the Fasting Pill into its mouth.
"Nom."
"...."
"Munch. Munch, munch."
The Owlbear savored the taste for a second, then—
"Kuaek! Kuaeeek! Kieeeeek!"
It screeched in agony at the characteristic bitter taste of the Fasting Pill!
The moment I heard that roar, I realized one crucial fact:
If I didn’t get inside the cave right now, I’d be torn limb from limb!
’Can’t it smell bitterness beforehand?! I thought bears had a great sense of smell!’
As I bolted, a terrifyingly lethal aura erupted behind me.
So this was bloodlust. My knees literally shook.
Tap-tap!
Mindful of the trap I had set at the cave mouth, I took a flying leap into a dive.
My legs and knees would get scraped up badly, but doing this was my only shot at survival.
BOOM!
"Kyaaaaargh!"
Proving my instincts right, a deafening crash reverberated behind me.
Accompanied by the Owlbear’s savage roar.
Chills ran up my entire spine as I scrambled to my feet in a panic.
"Haa... haa..."
"Kyaak! Kyaak!"
Slash! Slaaash!
The Owlbear’s razor claws shredded the dirt floor. Gasping for air, I watched the scene.
Its colossal torso was halfway through. In other words, it was stuck!
If the cave mouth had been even slightly larger, it would have burst straight inside.
Furthermore, thanks to the trap pit, its short bear legs couldn’t find solid footing.
’N-Now’s my chance!’
No time to stand around gawking. I immediately grabbed a weapon other than the axe.
The crossbow I got from Passing Dwarf.
I loaded a regular arrow instead of a harpoon.
Even a regular arrow was dwarven craft, so the impact would be devastating.
Thwip! Puk!
No need for precise aiming. Simply pulling the trigger landed a hit right on its face.
"Kyaaaaargh!"
With an arrow plunged deep into its eye, the Owlbear thrashed frantically.
Its brute strength was so terrifying that the cave structure trembled.
The brief relief vanished instantly—its monstrous force was causing the cave mouth to crumble step by step.
’I’m fucking doomed...!’
The second the entrance collapsed, my life was over.
Puk! Puk! Pak!
Without hesitating, I fired bolt after bolt in rapid succession.
The more bolts sank into its face, the crazier the Owlbear thrashed—there was no sign of it calming down.
’Does this bastard not have a brain?!’
I shot bolts and even fired the harpoon tied to a line.
The final harpoon pierced its remaining good eye. With that, the Owlbear completely lost its sight.
Yet its violent thrashing made it nearly impossible to approach safely.
’A spear! Right! Buy a spear!’
I logged onto the Gallery in a frenzy and bought a spear from the auction house.
I didn’t care about reviews or prices. Any spear was enough.
Gazing at the still-rampaging Owlbear, I gripped the spear with both hands.
"Haaa!"
Puk!
And plunged the spear straight into the Owlbear’s head.
Landed right in the dead center of its forehead—pure luck.
Before the beast could frenzy any further, I pinned it down with all the strength in my body.
"Keeeeeeek!"
Snap!
However, a spear was still just a spear. The blade was metal, but the shaft was made of wood.
A desperate swipe from the Owlbear’s claw snapped the wooden shaft in half.
I nearly lost my footing, but caught myself just in time.
Rumbleeee!
"Uh-oh?"
The disaster I feared finally struck. The cave mouth crumbled almost completely.
Right as I panicked at the collapse, the Owlbear breached the cavern.
Fucked. I was truly, utterly fucked.
Even while thinking that, I raised the Sword of the Heavenly Demon and the Golden Shield.
The worst-case scenario had arrived, but the Owlbear was on the verge of death anyway.
If I seized the right opening, I had a real shot at winning.
"Kkiaaaaak!"
BOOM!
With bolts and a spearhead embedded in its skull, the Owlbear charged straight at me.
Startled, I hastily raised the shield to guard myself.
In that split second, Sword Matstar’s post flashed in my head, allowing me to brace in time.
BANG!
"Kuh-ack!"
Even with a shield, completely blocking a charging Owlbear was impossible.
The weight class difference was overwhelming—I was a frail human, and it was a giant bear-bird.
Thump!
My feet left the ground, and I was launched through the air.
Fortunately, I merely tumbled onto the floor without slamming into the cave wall.
Still, relief was premature. I never took my eyes off the Owlbear for a fraction of a second.
"Kyaaaaargh!"
The Owlbear pounced toward me as I lay sprawled on the ground.
Even blinded, it was pinpointing my location roughly by sound.
Its attack accuracy was bound to be low. I maintained absolute focus.
’...Left paw!’
The Owlbear raised its left paw high into the air.
All that remained was predicting where it would strike down.
Widening my eyes, I watched the monster’s motion.
The raised left paw came crashing down right toward my left shoulder.
BOOM!
I twisted my body slightly and dodged by a hair’s breadth.
However, the thunderous impact ringing next to my ears left a slight ringing in my head.
I already had tinnitus anyway, so I didn’t care much.
What mattered was the counterattack right after.
"Raaaaagh!"
Shouting a battle cry, I thrust the Sword of the Heavenly Demon up into the Owlbear’s chin.
I prayed to whatever was listening that this strike would be the fatal blow.
Puk!
As expected of the Sword of the Heavenly Demon. It bored through the Owlbear’s jaw and pierced straight through its brain!
With its brain destroyed, the Owlbear merely shuddered and ceased all struggle.
Its nerve center was so completely wrecked that its body could no longer receive signals.
THUD!
"Ugh!"
The Owlbear’s massive corpse collapsed right on top of me. It was insanely heavy.
I groaned and wriggled my way out from under the beast.
As I squirmed free, I caught sight of the state of my legs.
’Completely scraped up.’
Must be from that emergency dive earlier. My knees were shredded.
Calling it "scraped" didn’t even cover it.
The skin was peeled so deep that muscle tissue was almost visible.
Any deeper and I probably would have seen bone.
"Ow, ow, ow..."
As the rush of adrenaline slowly faded, agonizing pain throbbed throughout my body.
That single dive had left cuts and gouges across my knees and limbs.
If I hadn’t been wearing clothes, my upper body would have been slashed to ribbons too.
’First, an Elixir... ah, I don’t have any.’
’Guess I’ll buy a potion.’ Normally, I would have traded with Starlight Lady for an Elixir.
However, Starlight Lady hadn’t even posted a survival check-in post today.
And trade requests were still on cooldown for me anyway.
Drip—
"Ahhhh..."
I bought a reasonably priced potion from the auction house and poured it onto the wounds.
True to potion tradition, it was bright crimson. It should at least disinfect the wounds.
Next, I wrapped separately purchased cloth around my wounds like bandages.
Since I had cuts everywhere, I ended up wrapping cloth around every arm and leg.
’All that’s left is disposing of the Owlbear carcass.’
An Owlbear with countless bolts bristling from its face, and a bolt and harpoon embedded into each eye socket.
Looking at the corpse made me feel a bit pitiful, but the bastard tried to kill me first.
Title: Killed the Owlbear
Wild Grylls
(Photo of Owlbear corpse)
Almost died trying to kill this thing;;
Putting it up on auction house soon, so do as you like
[> Woah. How did you kill that?]
[> Wild Grylls: Cave entrance was narrow so lured it there. Then blasted its face with a crossbow.]
[> Lolol look at its face. Bolts and harpoon in place of eyes]
[> Are you seriously just a regular human?]
[> Slaying an Owlbear while being a regular guy shiver...]
[> Heavenly Demon: Are you uninjured?]
[> Wild Grylls: Besides a bunch of bad scrapes, I’m unhurt.]
[> Heavenly Demon: What a relief. Every time I see posts like this, I feel your fundamental martial prowess is extraordinary—is it merely my imagination?]
[> Wild Grylls: If not for the sword you gave me Heavenly Demon-nim, I couldn’t even have finished it off.]
[> Heavenly Demon: Hearing you say that gladdens my heart. Do you require any other weapon?]
A needed weapon. I definitely felt the need for a solid spear.
However, I had no intention of asking Heavenly Demon for one.
As I’ve said time and again, relying too heavily on someone else isn’t good.
[> Wild Grylls: None right now. Ah! I’m getting used to the full lotus posture, so could you teach me an Internal Cultivation Art?]
[> Heavenly Demon: That is welcome news indeed. I shall organize it so that it is easy for you to comprehend.]
[> Wild Grylls: Thank you.]
[> Sword Matstar: Impressive. You said you lured it into the cave mouth?]
[> Wild Grylls: Yeah.]
[> Sword Matstar: Seems your head works surprisingly fast under pressure.]
[> Wild Grylls: Haha thanks.]
[> Sword Matstar: Someday you’ll be able to face one fair and square in 1v1.]
[> Wild Grylls: Do you have a strategy for dealing with Owlbears?]
[> Sword Matstar: It’s quite easy. An Owlbear’s main weapon is its claws, so you just cut off its legs. When it lifts its foreleg to slam down, slice it off right then. Easy, right?]
[> Wild Grylls: ;;;]
"Easy" only to a freak genius like her. How could a mere mortal ever understand a genius?
I browsed through the Gallery reactions, then proceeded to dispose of the Owlbear carcass.
Once I listed it on the auction house, the Owlbear carcass vanished instantly.
Then the bidding started. The auction deadline was set for 24 hours.
’Will it fetch a high price?’
I wasn’t sure. What I desperately needed right now was rest.
Before that, I had to check the trap. The Owlbear had destroyed it, so repairs were mandatory.
"Huh?"
"?"
However, the moment I stepped outside the cave, I came face-to-face with something odd.
Bright, round golden eyes. A signature bird beak.
A body roughly the size of a medium-sized dog, and a face overflowing with curiosity.
"Kkyu?"
A baby Owlbear tilted its head right in front of me.