Chapter 229

Exploration (1)

Training the little troublemakers had kept me busy, but I somehow managed to finish.

However, children were still children, and they often failed to resist their impulses.

So, besides thoroughly drilling the rules into them, I also placed Kkobong in charge of watching them.

If the children showed any sign of wandering off, he was to stop them immediately.

"If we make it through the entire expedition without a single unexpected incident, I’ll give you a sweet potato!"

Kkobong’s eyes widened when I offered him a sweet potato as a reward.

Perhaps because he had eaten so many sweet potatoes over the winter, his cheeks had grown plump.

Even now, he would stamp his feet excitedly whenever he saw one, but ever since my stern warning, he no longer caused a commotion.

Naturally, his eyes lit up when I offered one as a reward.

"Got it?"

"Leave it to me!"

"Ah, there’s one more thing."

That wasn’t Kkobong’s only responsibility.

In an emergency, he would also have to put gas masks on the animals that walked on all fours.

Animals with forepaws instead of hands couldn’t easily put on gas masks by themselves.

That was why each of us had been assigned a specific animal. I was responsible for Tyrano.

Ludwig and Kkobong were responsible for Largo and Wonmo, respectively.

’Tyrano still doesn’t like being touched by anyone else.’

It wasn’t as though he growled and refused to let anyone near him. He simply ran away.

Ludwig had been trying consistently, but he had made no progress yet.

On the other hand, whenever I petted Tyrano, he would wriggle his entire body and even roll over to expose his belly.

Since he showered me with every imaginable form of affection, I had no choice but to take responsibility for him.

"Piii. Pii."

"Yes, yes. You adorable little thing."

Just like now.

When I gently scratched under Tyrano’s chin, he smiled brightly and wagged his tail.

He even started purring like a cat. Just looking at him brought a smile to my face.

’I have to post this.’

I couldn’t keep it to myself. I immediately made a post on the gallery.

Title: Dragons Are Cats

Wild Grylls

(Video of Tyrano enjoying having his chin scratched)

That is all. I will not accept any arguments.

└ Heavenly Demon: This lady would like to raise one as well. Come to think of it, do Western dragons not lay eggs?

└ SwordMaster: Are you planning to ask him for one if he finds another?

└ Heavenly Demon: It would be shameless of me, but I would like to.

└ SwordMaster: It wouldn’t be shameless. Mr. Grylls posted that video, so this is technically his fault.

└ Wild Grylls: How is this my fault? Lmao.

└ Look at this shameless bastard. Where’s the head admin?

└ Head admin, someone’s breaking the rules over here.

└ Don’t Abandon the Hero: I’ll give you five minutes. Upload ten more photos and two more videos!

└ Don’t Abandon the Hero: But first, let me save this!

└ Lmaooo, you can’t resist something this cute~

└ WhyAmITheOnlyOneWithoutAHatchling: Why am I the only one without a hatchling? Why am I the only one without a hatchling? Why am I the only one without a hatchling? Why am I the only one without a hatchling?

└ Not having one is normal ;;

└ Praise the Sun: If I paid someone, would they capture a hatchling for me?

└ That would get your country destroyed ;;

└ We already told you. The Iris Kingdom nearly got screwed because someone tried smuggling hatchlings in the past.

└ Praise the Sun: Wouldn’t I just have to show them that I could raise it better? Dragons hoard gold and treasure in their lairs, right? Do they have more than I do?

└ It isn’t about money. It’s about doing what any parent naturally would ;;

└ Praise the Sun: I’d be adopting it.

└ This bastard is seriously going to cause an international incident soon, lmao.

The satisfying reactions poured in one after another. As the head admin had demanded, I uploaded more photos and videos afterward.

However, it was almost time to stop lounging around.

We would soon be leaving on the expedition.

I had received wallgokdan from the Heavenly Demon yesterday evening and had prepared various other supplies.

Now, before departing, I was checking the necessary items once again.

"Let’s see... We have food, gas masks, security beads, a purification canteen, elixirs..."

This time, rather than revisiting somewhere I had already explored, I planned to travel far away. Thorough preparation was essential.

I also had to account for the possibility of becoming stranded.

There was no telling what dangers might be lurking—or what kind of supernatural circumstances might unfold.

Having already experienced such situations several times, I needed to be even more careful.

[My friend, may I ask you a question?]

I was putting the finishing touches on our preparations with Ludwig when Cain approached me, apparently curious about something.

"What would you like to ask?"

[Since you have the gallery, I wonder whether all these preparations are truly necessary.]

I could understand why Cain might see it that way. Ludwig probably felt the same.

However, even before they arrived, I had repeatedly made a promise to myself.

I would not depend entirely on the gallery.

Even dragons found my existence extremely abnormal. That was precisely why I needed to be especially cautious.

"You never know what might happen. I can use the gallery here, but couldn’t there be some region of the Forest of Four Seasons where even I can’t access it?"

[Hmm. You make a reasonable point. Still, I would prefer it if we brought a more plentiful supply of food.]

"That’s why we’re only carrying wallgokdan."

Wallgokdan was emergency food, after all. Namu ppareumbo was the strange one for treating it as his staple diet.

If possible, I wanted to replenish our food through hunting. If that proved difficult, I could obtain more through the gallery.

I would probably need to purchase food mainly for Tyrano and Wonmo. Fortunately, I had plenty of money.

’Largo can survive just by eating the grass nearby.’

Kkobong was an omnivore, so he could make do with plants as well.

Wouldn’t he complain about switching to plants after eating meat? If he didn’t like it, he could hunt for himself.

I could make allowances for the children because they were still growing, but Kkobong was fully grown.

"The remaining problem is the ambergris."

Until now, I had kept the ambergris inside the subspace backpack.

It floated in the air like a helium balloon and had become an excellent toy for the children.

However, that didn’t change the fact that it was an exceptionally powerful item.

I needed to do something with the ambergris inside the backpack, but deciding what to do was difficult.

’There’s no telling what might happen if I bury it.’

At worst, the ground itself might tear free and begin floating through the air.

That was merely my speculation, but I couldn’t rule it out.

’Hmm... I suppose leaving it with All-Father would be best.’

I had spoken to him about it yesterday evening.

I had nowhere to store the ambergris, so I asked whether he could hold on to it temporarily.

All-Father said he didn’t mind, but asked if he could take a small portion for himself.

I had no use for it anyway, so I gladly agreed.

[All-Father: Thank you. This should allow my research to make considerable progress. Hohoho.]

[Wild Grylls: What have you been researching lately?]

[All-Father: I have been studying what theories the gods left behind. I recently experienced an "opening of the eyes," allowing me to perceive a broader world.]

[Wild Grylls: You mean you attained enlightenment, right? Congratulations.]

[All-Father: This is all thanks to you, Mr. Grylls. I plan to begin researching the Forest of Four Seasons soon.]

[Wild Grylls: I appreciate the thought alone.]

Now that I had entrusted the ambergris to All-Father, all the preparations were complete.

I checked our necessary supplies several times and examined the condition of my companions.

"Mr. Ludwig, nothing feels uncomfortable, right?"

"My foot is uncomfortable."

"That doesn’t count."

[O God.]

There was a minor incident, but our preparations for the expedition were finally complete.

Immediately before departing, I announced our departure on the gallery.

Title: Expedition Preparations Complete!

Wild Grylls

(Photo of the entire group gathered closely together)

(Photo taken through a mirror, showing Namu ppareumbo clinging to my back)

We’re heading out. See you later.

└ Heavenly Demon: Take care of yourself. This lady shall pray for your journey to be a safe one.

└ SwordMaster: You absolutely cannot die. I want to get married as soon as possible.

└ Wild Grylls: Ma’am?

└ Her true feelings slipped out, lmao.

└ Isn’t Grylls pretty strong in his own right?

└ Yeah, but he’s probably the weakest one in that group.

└ True, but isn’t he stronger than Kkobong?

└ Who knows what would happen if they fought again?

└ Wild Grylls: It’s not that I’m weak. Namu ppareumbo is just absurdly strong;

└ Starlight Princess: Did you pack your elixirs? I haven’t finished making the potions yet...!

└ Wild Grylls: I packed the elixirs. Besides, I can receive supplies during the expedition, so don’t worry.

└ Starlight Princess: That’s a relief. The photo’s composition is so good that you could even frame it.

└ Alas, this photograph would never be placed in a frame.

└ After a desperate struggle in the Forest of Four Seasons, Team Grylls...

└ Was wiped out as if it had all been a lie in the ensuing battle against a monster.

└ Wild Grylls: You bastards ;;

└ Starlight Princess: Pay no attention to those fools~

└ Honestly, there’s probably nothing to worry about with Sir Ppareumbo there.

└ What if they run into something like a dragon?

└ Then they’ll just have to die.

└ Didn’t they say there are creatures in there even stronger than dragons?

└ Yeah. Honestly, I’m curious about them.

└ Grylls will show us.

└ It feels like dropping a loach into a tank full of piranhas.

└ Wild Grylls: These bastards are even worse.

Having received the enthusiastic support(?) of both named and anonymous users, I approached the cave wall.

The areas I had explored so far were drawn on it.

The map wasn’t accurate, but it was better than having nothing at all.

’I should avoid the places with the gorillas and chickens if possible.’

We couldn’t go near the gorillas because of Kkobong, and the chickens were dangerous.

I might have managed alone, but a group this large would pose a considerable threat to them.

That left only one option: the mandrake colony.

I had never traveled beyond the mandrake colony, so I planned to continue straight past it.

’I just need to tie the World Tree thread here and keep moving forward.’

The route was perfect.

I turned to look at my companions.

I had planned to tell them to brace themselves because the journey would take a long time, but—

"Kkyaaaak!"

"Piaaaak! Piak!"

"Oh, come on, you two."

I had to struggle to separate Tyrano and Wonmo, who were fighting yet again.

In the end, I skipped the speech entirely. I also warned them that they wouldn’t get any food if they fought again.

Fortunately, they listened exceptionally well whenever food was involved, so they quickly settled down.

"We’ll maintain the formation we discussed yesterday. I’ll take the lead, you’ll stay in the middle, and Kkobong will guard the rear. Understood?"

"Understood."

Naturally, Ludwig would be riding Largo during the journey.

He would travel alongside us with a little distance between us.

Largo was overwhelmingly large, so this arrangement was necessary to keep him from impeding our movement.

"I’m warning you in advance: don’t eat anything without my permission. Mushrooms are especially forbidden. Got it?"

"Kkyuu?"

"Piik?"

I repeatedly emphasized the rule right before our departure.

Now it was time to get moving.

The preparations had taken a long time, but that was normal for something like this.

All that remained was to reach the mandrake colony. The expedition would begin in earnest from there.

Maintaining our formation, we eventually arrived at the colony as planned.

The area had been the site of a territorial struggle until two days ago, but it was quiet now.

’This is my first time going beyond this point.’

I thought about that as we passed countless mature mandrakes.

Each one was a tremendously valuable plant-type monster.

Other plants had taken root throughout the colony, likely because of the recent territorial conflict.

I had no idea what those plants were, but it would be better not to touch them for now.

Eventually, we crossed beyond the mandrakes and the unidentified plants.

"The scenery is already changing."

We encountered a forest with an unusually pale-green hue.

Most of the vegetation near the shelter was dark green, but everything beyond the mandrake colony was light green.

It looked exactly like the sort of place where countless varieties of plants would thrive.

The unfamiliar sight made me slightly nervous, but we couldn’t turn back now.

"Plant-type monsters often release poison, so keep your gas masks ready."

After warning the group, I continued forward.

Perhaps it was because the forest partially resembled a jungle, or simply because it contained so many different plants, but there were vines everywhere.

I used the Heavenly Demon’s sword like a machete to cut through them.

’Nothing stands out.’

I had gained an appraisal ability from Pumpkin Jack’s inner core.

Even with that ability, however, I couldn’t see anything particularly noteworthy.

Some things occasionally glimmered, but not enough to warrant concern.

’It’s surprisingly quiet.’

I couldn’t hear insects or birds.

The only sound was that of our footsteps.

Something was wrong. I realized it instinctively.

"...Stop for a moment."

Everyone stopped at my quiet command.

The animals looked confused, but Ludwig and Cain reacted differently.

"It’s quiet."

[I hear neither insects nor birds.]

The unnatural silence must have made them suspicious as well.

The pale-green forest appeared full of vitality, yet despite its appearance, there was no actual life within it.

’I can’t see anything. But...’

It felt as though something were constricting my body.

What was this ominous sensation?

My companions and I examined our surroundings, but nothing appeared unusual.

Still, if we ignored this unease and simply stood around, there was no telling what might happen to us.

There really could be a plant-type monster hiding nearby.

"Kkobong, give me the materials for a torch."

"Understood."

I decided to light a torch.

If plant-type monsters were secretly spread throughout the area, it would be best to prepare fire in advance.

Plants hated fire more than anything.

The same was true of wild animals.

Fwoosh!

When I touched a firestarter to the oil-soaked torch, flames surged upward.

This was bound to provoke a reaction.

Rrrrrrrumble!

Just as expected, something reacted the moment I lit the torch.

I was about to shout for everyone to prepare for battle.

That was when—

Rustle-rustle-rustle!

—the entire pale-green forest began to move.

And when I say the entire forest, I mean the surrounding bushes, trees, vines, and even the leaf-covered ground.

All of it was moving as though fleeing from us.

It sounded impossible, but it was really happening.

"Run in the opposite direction!"

We ran against the direction in which the forest was moving—back toward the mandrake colony.

If we allowed ourselves to be dragged away like this, we would likely end up in serious trouble.

Thanks to that quick decision, we managed to escape in the opposite direction.

Then—

Rustle-rustle-rustle!

I stared dumbfounded at the "entrance to the forest" fleeing into the distance.

The ground beneath my feet was now ordinary earth.

It was completely barren, without so much as a single blade of grass.

[It is a Thicket Hell.]

"...A Thicket Hell?"

[Do you know of antlions? It is a similar creature. It disguises itself as a thicket and lures in various small prey. Normally, even a fully grown specimen is only the size of a patch of bushes...]

Even Cain sounded dumbfounded, as though this had exceeded his expectations.

[I never imagined one could grow large enough to become an entire forest. Had we continued onward, we would have eventually reached its stomach.]

This truly was an insane forest.