Firewood (3)
El Dorado Holy Kingdom: The truth is this. El Dorado had long since caught on to the Immortal King's plan. It was the foundation for turning the citizens into undead in an instant. They thought that dying as humans, not undead, was the only way to preserve a minimum of dignity, so they had no choice but to commit murder. Because of this, many people are suffering from mental aftereffects. And all these lies came from the Gallery. Therefore, we will designate the Gallery as evil from now on. Do not dare question the will of God. We are doing our best. That's about the gist of what I heard? These bastards are trying to label the Gallery as evil again lol
└Saint Country's all like that lol
└They could've just not mentioned the Gallery, but they always gotta fuck it up lol
└But they don't seem to fully believe that crap?
└Yeah, the vibe was like "what bullshit is this?" Saint Country's image is already in the toilet, so that's probably why
└They're supplying their own firewood lol
└If it was really like that, they'd have said something ages ago
└Who'd believe that lol
└They strutted around all "will of God" this and that, and now look at 'em
└Breaking: Cardir issues statement. Previous Hero chose suicide
└??? What's that now?
└Didn't the previous Hero die with the Immortal King?
└Yeah, but it was basically suicide
└Whoa;; Thought the previous Hero was a really good guy
└Did the Saint Country pressure him? People say priests these days have zero faith
└If that's true, riots are coming
└Not full riots. What if they deny it to the end?
└If testimonies start coming out one by one, it'll be a different story
└Don't need any of that, just upvote if Saint Country getting fucked feels good lol
└Me first lol
└Honestly, feels so good! Those bastards yap "will of God" at every chance lol
└And the funny part? They tell believers "the path is open" but won't let non-Saint Country folks become bishops lol
└Demon discrimination is insane. Treated like terrorists? That was bait I tossed without thinking. Thought it'd fizzle out in a day. But that bait blew up into a massive inferno in reality too.
Every post was cursing the Saint Country, nothing good at all.
What the hell did El Dorado do wrong, Gallery bros? Did they pressure neighboring countries with "will of God"? Did they brand innocent people heretics and torture them to death? Did priests go into slums and kill people? Did they admit they skipped prayers because they were busy? Did they double local taxes for not paying tithes? Did they call sports drugs and get hit with Molotovs from fans? Did they get caught posting wild porn while banning the Gallery? Did they make a law capping other countries' people at archbishop? Did they call the masses pigs and dogs, saying we'd forget soon? Did they try forcing a federation for Demon King subjugation and get roasted by the Empire? And then pick a fight with Vulcan Kingdom too? During the Immortal King crisis, did they send back refugees as "infected"? When undead plague spread, did they experiment on humans? What the fuck did El Dorado do to deserve this mockery? No idea.
"Whoa."
Just totally rotten bastards. Rotten to the core. Stagnant water rots, but this has turned into straight-up oil. No, oil's at least useful somewhere—this is just trash.
Every country has its dark side, but this is too much.
I instantly got why the Saint Country's image sucks from that post. Especially that other countries' folks can't rise above archbishop. That's them openly saying they're hogging it all. Total unfairness.
Can a religion rot this bad?
I hate gods but not religions or believers. I dislike extremists, but a religious person helped me in tough times. But this... more like rotten politicians than religious folk. Unless those guys die off or a rebellion happens like someone said, it's not changing.
People are the same everywhere.
Worlds differ, but people don't. I eyed the Gallery getting plastered with memes, then quietly closed it. Gonna take a while for what I want to show up. Worst case, ask Olfather.
Labeling the Gallery as evil? Pfft.
Not even military-style handling—what's this nonsense? At least they're not gunning for me, so they've got some brains. Even if they tried, Four Seasons Forest makes it impossible. I just do my thing.
"Cough! Cough! Ugh."
I hacked up from the acrid smoke. Bonfire was dying, so I added more wood—too much. Can't take it out now, kinda stuck.
Time to think of other cooking methods.
Direct grilling or pan-frying over iron. Enough to live on, but downside: my staple fish are huge. Skip the head, still a pain to flip. Ends up burnt or undercooked in spots.
Oven might be good for this.
With an oven, minimize burning/raw issues. Plus, frees me up while cooking. Planning long-term stay here, oven's basically essential.
Gotta make one.
Asking Gallery's iffy, but perfect high-nick for it. And I can source materials from him too. Two birds.
Yo. You there?
PassingDwarf: Here, why?
Up late? Thought you'd be passed out drunk.
PassingDwarf: Didn't drink much yesterday. Why'd you call?
Nothing big, making an oven. Bricks from auction, but want tips from you.
PassingDwarf: Not every dwarf makes everything;; I'm metallurgy specialist, human.
Don't all dwarves have good craftsmanship?
PassingDwarf: Separate from specialization. But can hook you up with a plate for the oven, so spit it out.
Big enough for fish easy. You know the size?
PassingDwarf: OK, make it. Give me a slice baked in it later.
OK. Oh right, barricade too.
PassingDwarf: Forgot. Toss in iron plate then.
Till dwarf delivers, prep time. Woke at 6 AM. Gallery took 30 min. Usually breakfast 7 or 7:30, so finish oven by then. If tough, iron plate grill for breakfast. No issue.
Splash! Splash!
Three fish in trap today. Waking up: always three. Otherwise two.
No octopus?
Even if not, alert for anything else. Good, only fish. Whistling, hauled trap down.
Rustle!
Bush sound by ear. Gripped weapon, went alert instantly. Natural from past ambushes.
"......"
Just rustling. Eased guard, glared at source.
Not below, bit above... bird?
No wing flaps though. Puzzled, back to cave. No incidents.
Splash! Splash!
Supply outpacing demand now. Need bigger iron drum. Rain aside, no live storage means rot.
Its own headache.
Fish too big. Boon early starvation days, now flaw shows. But filling meals too good to quit.
Can't not stockpile though.
Never know shortages, so steady food gathering for safety. Eyed swimming fish in drum, moved on.
Breakfast time nearing, better start oven even a bit.
Where to install oven?
Sudden dilemma. Inside cave: cramped, smoky. Outside: weather. After agonizing, right at cave mouth.
Designed rain-proof though.
After oven, tarp over. Slant waterproof for drainage.
Whole fish means big oven. Checked auction for bricks. Tons of types, used before.
Flat base first.
Oven needs prep work. Breakfast as usual then.
Prep materials and done.
Brick pile. Tarp. Poles for tarp etc. Stacked near entrance, prepped breakfast.
Wonmo waking right on time.
This plate fine for oven.
Fish breakfast, straight to oven. Flattened base max, stacked bricks fish-sized.
Key: chimney for smoke. Not smoking, so exit path. Rain-minimal.
And... oven structure?
Gallery checks mid-way for oven pics. Auction has 'em, pricey/ wrong size. Angular square better than round. Easier too.
Fish size means long.
Low height OK, needs depth. All considered, topped chimney.
Perfect.
Flawless.
Bought slab from auction, no worry. But not done. Need dwarf's part.
He'll make, but measure myself.
(Overall oven photo)
(Photo measuring oven entrance with tape)
This good?
PassingDwarf: Pretty clean build. Smear mud between bricks. Seals heat, burns better. Pro tip thx
Mud per dwarf tip. Gross but oven worth it.
"Kyuu?"
"Dad's working."
Wonmo approached, but oven focus. Curious, plopped to watch. Nearly hugged cuteness, held back.
Mud done, finished. Tarp later, slow OK.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Grinning at finished oven. Time to brag on Gallery.
Entered Gallery then.
El Dorado: Declares will catch spreader of false info lol
Unmissable title hit eye. Concept post btw. What idiots said that? Clicked.
Aggro or flyer, check essential.
El Dorado: Declares will catch spreader of false info lol
Asked how, said via admin smooth talk. But reporter in Four Seasons Forest? No prob lol Even wilder: Forming pursuit team for Grills lol
What. Supplying survivors to Four Seasons Forest for me?