Chapter 234

Quest (3)

I had originally intended to obtain several World Tree saplings.

Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—only one was available.

Apparently, because they were World Tree saplings, they couldn’t simply be handed out freely.

When we first spoke, I had definitely thought she would give me several, but that wasn’t the case.

[Let’sGrowTrees: To be honest, even the one I gave you last time was something I secretly took!]

[Wild Grylls: If you don’t mind me asking, just how valuable are World Tree saplings? It seems like only high-ranking officials can obtain them.]

[Let’sGrowTrees: To put it bluntly, think of them as ridiculously expensive potted plants that are politically troublesome and possess enormous symbolic value!]

[Wild Grylls: So, simply put, they’re more trouble than they’re worth.]

[Let’sGrowTrees: That’s because anyone capable of growing a World Tree would become a hero to the elves!]

However, according to Let’sGrowTrees, no such hero had appeared even after several centuries.

Countless people had attempted to grow one or researched how to do so, but every one of them had failed.

The greatest obstacle was mana.

A World Tree sapling devoured mana like a pig, usually leaving the surrounding land completely barren.

There was a reason Alvenheim, where the World Tree stood, was described as a land flowing with milk and honey.

But if she secretly took it... isn’t that basically embezzlement?

Even if they were more trouble than they were worth, their symbolic value must have been enormous.

Yet she had simply taken one without permission.

Just who was this woman?

She could commit acts like that and remain perfectly fine.

In any case, I handed the World Tree sapling over to the squirrel.

One might ask whether I was investing far too much in a mere squirrel, but—

I mustn’t create more enemies.

My goal was to avoid making another enemy.

This forest already contained far too many dangers.

Whenever possible, I planned to turn the creatures I encountered into allies—or at least neutral parties.

The gorilla troop was already close to becoming our enemy.

Besides, Namu ppareumbo told me not to kill it.

The squirrel might prove tremendously helpful someday.

More importantly, there was something I wanted to know.

Its teleportation ability.

It seemed to have something to do with the golden acorns, but I intended to ask for the details.

"Hey, squirrel."

"Chrrk?"

I called out to it.

The squirrel was cheerfully planting the World Tree sapling with a broad smile.

Apparently, it had also recognized the sapling’s true value.

It wasn’t a bad trade.

That aside—

"How did you teleport?"

"Chrrk?"

"You were jumping from one tree hollow to another."

The deer had teleported using its own ability, but this squirrel was different.

Whatever it had done to the hollows allowed it to leap through space itself.

If Namu ppareumbo hadn’t warned me in advance, it would have defeated me with a single strike.

"Chrrk! Chrk!"

The squirrel proudly thumped its chest as it answered.

Unable to understand it, I turned toward Kkobong.

"My ability."

"...It’s your own ability?"

"Chrrk! Chrk!"

"All my kind can do it."

I see.

There was a reason Namu ppareumbo had told me to spare it.

Space might constantly shift throughout this region, but things would be different if we could establish fixed coordinates.

Then does the raccoon family possess special abilities too?

The father raccoon, in particular, always brought medicinal herbs with incredible effects.

He could also perform various tricks using fire.

He certainly wasn’t ordinary.

Apparently, some animals possessed unique abilities.

Perhaps Namu ppareumbo’s speed was one of them.

This forest truly was terrifying.

"If I can make proper use of this..."

The deer’s teleportation ability applied only to itself, but the squirrel’s did not.

The tree hollows it created transported anything that entered them somewhere else, like the rabbit hole from Alice in Wonderland.

If I reached an agreement with the squirrel and had it enlarge the hollows, exploring the forest would become significantly easier.

This could work.

I didn’t know what the squirrel might want, but it was worth negotiating.

I stroked my chin before signaling Kkobong with my eyes.

It was time for him to interpret.

"Ahem. Mr. Squirrel?"

"Chrrk?"

The squirrel, which had been inspecting the sapling from every angle, looked at me as if wondering what I wanted this time.

For this very moment, I knelt on one knee and discreetly held out a Fasting Pill I had prepared in advance.

Namu ppareumbo tightened his grip on my shoulder, but I did my best to ignore him.

"Would you like to try this? It’s delicious."

"Sniff, sniff."

After smelling the Fasting Pill, the squirrel immediately accepted it.

It turned the pill around in its paws as though it were an acorn, then took a large bite.

"SCREECH! Chrrk!"

Its reaction was exactly what I had expected.

The instant it tasted the Fasting Pill, an ecstatic expression spread across its face.

The way its tail shot straight up made its opinion even clearer.

"Well? It’s delicious, isn’t it?"

"Chrrrk! Chrrk!"

"Most delicious acorn. Where did you find it?"

Kkobong translated at precisely the right moment.

Recognizing my opportunity, I grinned.

"I didn’t find it. I made it myself."

Technically, I had obtained it from the Heavenly Demon, but what did that matter?

"If you help me, I can give you these regularly. What do you think?"

"Chrrk! Chrk!"

"Of course. What do you desire?"

I had it.

I smiled triumphantly on the inside.

What I wanted was simple.

I wanted it to create a hollow connecting this place to my shelter.

Considering the squirrel’s size, there was a high chance that it couldn’t create one large enough for me.

Still, I had to try.

"You know those tree hollows you made? They’re connected to other hollows, right? That’s how you were moving from place to place."

"Chrrk!"

"Did you make them yourself?"

"Chrk!"

The squirrel nodded repeatedly while diligently gnawing on the Fasting Pill.

I desperately wanted to stroke its head with one finger, but I restrained myself.

"Then can you make more hollows like those? Preferably one large enough for my body to fit through."

"Chrrk?"

"And I’d like it to connect to somewhere far away, if possible. Can you do that?"

When asked whether it was possible, the squirrel contemplated the question before taking a couple of steps back and looking at me.

I slowly rose from my kneeling position so it could properly judge my size.

The squirrel stroked its chin while estimating how large I was.

Ludwig was taller than me, but it wouldn’t matter as long as he could squeeze through the hollow.

Expecting Largo to fit would be too greedy.

What I wanted was a waypoint—or something like a forward expansion base.

Space within the Forest of Four Seasons constantly changed, but the entire forest didn’t shift randomly.

Rather, space appeared to be neatly divided according to each environment.

That was why I could make such a request.

The squirrel alternated its gaze between me and the World Tree sapling before scratching its head.

Its reaction suggested that the request was somewhat difficult.

I needed to ask what the problem was.

"Is something wrong?"

"Chrrk. Chrk."

"It is possible. But it needs another one."

"Another World Tree sapling?"

My eyes widened when it told me that another World Tree sapling was required.

Banir had burned the World Tree sapling at my shelter to ashes with her breath.

But now I needed another one.

"Can you explain how it works?"

"Chrrk. Chrk. Screech."

The squirrel’s explanation was surprisingly simple.

Every tree growing in the forest possessed its own unique "domain."

If one tree’s domain overlapped with another’s, the squirrel could create hollows that allowed it to travel between them.

However, this only worked between trees of the same species, and the effective range of most trees was extremely limited.

"And once the World Tree sapling grows, its range will become enormous. Is that what you mean?"

"Chrrk!"

"What about now? Is its current range wide?"

"Chrrrk!"

"It is wide. Enough to reach the river."

"That’s not enough."

Ultimately, this meant I had no choice but to plant another World Tree sapling at my shelter.

The problem was Banir.

The moment Banir had seen a World Tree sapling, she had immediately incinerated it with her breath.

Planting this one here was already considerably dangerous, but I had little choice if I wanted the convenience it offered.

Wait. Then what about the World Tree Banir mentioned?

That World Tree was large enough to rival any tree imaginable.

If we used it, wouldn’t we be able to travel across a far wider area?

Perhaps Banir couldn’t use the World Tree because the two sides were hostile to each other.

I couldn’t know the truth after hearing only one side of the story.

Of course, I had absolutely no intention of making Banir my enemy.

Let’s plant it first and worry about the consequences afterward.

Hadn’t people always said that it was easier to ask forgiveness than permission?

If this could increase my chances of escaping by even 0.0001 percent, I had no other choice.

Banir would probably understand to some extent.

If she didn’t, the World Tree sapling would simply end up being burned again.

It felt slightly irresponsible, but this seemed to be my only option.

What wouldn’t I do to escape?

Anyone in my position would make the same decision.

"All right. Then how many days will it take for this sapling’s range to expand?"

"Chrrk?"

"It does not understand what ’days’ means."

"Then how many times must the morning sun rise?"

"Chrrk!"

"At least five times."

Five days.

That was surprisingly short.

However, I didn’t know whether Let’sGrowTrees could obtain another sapling within that time.

Moreover, she might ask for something else in return.

Orichalcum, for example.

It doesn’t sit right with me, but I have no choice.

If possible, it would be best to make it a proper trade.

I asked the squirrel if it needed anything else.

"Chrrk."

"Fasting Pill. Give me."

"Here you go."

I could spare one more Fasting Pill.

The squirrel smiled brightly and eagerly began gnawing on it.

Meanwhile, I gathered the acorns.

Then something suddenly occurred to me.

How did it make the acorn explode?

I asked how it had created the acorn bomb.

According to the squirrel, it had been an ordinary acorn. It simply exploded whenever the squirrel threw one with enough force.

Just in case, I tried throwing an acorn myself, but it didn’t explode like a bomb.

I suppose that’s another ability unique to this squirrel.

This forest truly was mysterious.

After collecting all the acorns, I said goodbye to the squirrel.

It was about time to return, but I planned to explore for another thirty minutes first.

"$%#%%!"

[It is asking what you intend to do with the acorns.]

We had just set off again when Cain interpreted for me in Ludwig’s place.

It might have understood if I had taken only the golden acorns, but I had gathered every ordinary acorn as well, leaving it puzzled.

If they had been Korean, they would have immediately realized what I intended to make.

But this wasn’t Korea.

I wonder if the Central Plains has anything similar.

I didn’t know.

I had only ever eaten it myself.

After considering how best to explain it, I started with the simplest answer.

"Have you ever heard of acorn jelly?"

[Acorn jelly? What is that?]

"Exactly what it sounds like—jelly made from acorns. The Central Plains probably has something similar."

Even if acorn jelly itself didn’t exist there, other types of muk probably did.

Besides, I only intended to treat the acorn jelly as a snack.

It was famous as a diet food, which meant it was extremely low in calories.

It was hardly suitable as survival food.

I might as well try making it while I have the chance.

Soy sauce would be essential if I wanted to enjoy it properly.

I could add chili peppers and various vegetables as well.

Older people often ate it as a drinking snack, so I could give some to the dwarf too.

Would the Heavenly Demon like it?

She would probably be familiar with muk itself, so it seemed worth giving her some.

Moreover, I wouldn’t be making it from ordinary acorns but golden ones.

I was rather curious to see what the result would be.

Glint! Glint!

Some time later, just as we finished exploring and prepared to return, something gleaming caught my eye.

It was difficult to see because it was hidden by the undergrowth, but I barely managed to spot it.

After pushing the brush aside, I discovered a truly peculiar plant.

"This is..."

[It looks like an ordinary weed.]

As Cain said, it resembled an ordinary weed.

But rather than normal foliage, it appeared to be covered in thick fur.

Tiny silver berries grew at the ends of its stalks.

It was an exceedingly strange plant, and its entire body glittered.

I should collect it and ask the Heavenly Demon.

Since the ground beneath it wasn’t glowing, it probably wasn’t a guardian.

I carefully harvested the plant and began our return journey.

Thanks to Kkobong’s diligent management of the thread, finding our way back wasn’t difficult.

Of course, since we would have to return here later, I didn’t forget to carve markers along the route.

"Phew. We’re finally back."

[That was truly exhausting.]

"Cain, all you did was hang from me."

[That was what made it so exhausting.]

Now that we were home, it was time to clean up.

I told Tyrano and Wonmo that I would call them at dinnertime and sent them to take a nap.

They must have been exhausted because they began snoring the moment they entered the cave.

"You worked hard too, sir. Go get some rest."

"$%%#%?"

[He says he has a favor to ask.]

"What is it?"

Ludwig rarely asked me for anything first.

When I questioned him in surprise, he made a sweeping motion with one hand as he answered.

[A brush, he says.]

"A brush? Oh, because of Largo?"

Apparently, he needed a brush to groom Largo.

At this rate, he might start trimming Largo’s hooves next.

I handed him a brush purchased from the auction house.

Ludwig immediately began diligently brushing Largo’s coat.

Anyone could see that he had grown attached to the giraffe.

Even that was a truly peculiar sight.

I should make a post on the Gallery first. Before that...

I intended to give the weed-like medicinal herb to the Heavenly Demon.

It genuinely resembled a medicinal herb, and its glow indicated that it must possess some effect.

[Wild Grylls: Heavenly Demon, are you there?]

[Heavenly Demon: This lady is always present.]

As expected of the Heavenly Demon, who practically lived on the Gallery, she immediately replied.

I chuckled before registering the herb.

[Wild Grylls: (Picture of the herb) This is a medicinal herb I brought back today. It looks like a weed, but it was glowing, so I think it has some kind of effect.]

[Heavenly Demon: It even bears fruit at the ends of its stalks. This lady has never seen such an herb either, so I shall ask a physician.]

[Wild Grylls: Thank you. Oh, do you like muk by any chance?]

[Heavenly Demon: This lady is not a picky eater.]

[Wild Grylls: Then have you ever tried acorn jelly?]

[Heavenly Demon: I have never heard of muk made from acorns.]

Apparently, acorn jelly didn’t exist in the Central Plains.

Come to think of it, I vaguely remembered hearing that it was a uniquely Korean dish.

Still, it was a type of muk, so it would probably suit the tastes of the people of the Central Plains, whose cuisine was similar to East Asian food.

[Wild Grylls: I’ll give you some later. I’ll be making it with special acorns, so it should taste good.]

[Heavenly Demon: Since you are so confident, I find myself looking forward to it. I shall wait.]

Now that I had sent the Heavenly Demon the weed—or rather, the medicinal herb—all that remained was to make a post on the Gallery.

No. I should sort the acorns first.

Come to think of it, I had a lot to do.

I emptied my subspace backpack.

Acorns poured out in a shower, with golden ones visible here and there among them.

Now I had to turn them into acorn jelly.

Fortunately, I knew how to make it.

When my parents were still alive and well, my mother used to make it often.

I had watched her from beside her.

"Would they have something like a millstone here?"

I would have to ask.

While Grylls diligently searched the auction house for a millstone, Yu Sowol summoned Wi Seorak to determine the effects of the medicinal herb he had sent her.

At first glance, it resembled a weed with tiny silver bells growing at the tips of its blades.

Neither Yu Sowol nor Wi Seorak had ever seen such an herb.

Even the Demonic Cult’s finest physician was unfamiliar with it.

"We will only know after testing it."

"Report to me if anything happens."

"Yes."

With that, the physician took the herb and left.

A short while later—

"...Physician Song?"

Yu Sowol displayed a rare hint of bewilderment.

Her eyes widened slightly, making her surprise obvious to anyone who saw her.

And for good reason.

"Yes, Heavenly One. Although my condition may appear like this now..."

Until moments ago, Physician Song had possessed a broad forehead thanks to his severely receded hairline.

"After testing the medicinal herb, it appears to have regenerated my dead hair follicles."

Now he stood before her with thicker hair and a fuller beard than anyone else.

His elated expression made it obvious just how overjoyed he was.

Physician Song looked up at Yu Sowol with years of sorrow and resentment contained within his gaze, then opened his mouth.

"It can only be described as a miracle."

Yu Sowol did her utmost to conceal her discomfort.