Territory (2)
The oven is a culinary invention with quite an illustrious pedigree. Without looking too far, humanity would never have been able to bake bread—the quintessential Western staple—in the absence of an oven. It was conceived to elevate the primitive craft of fire-roasting to the next level. Well, one could argue that throwing ingredients into a pot to boil is the true next tier of civilization, but setting that aside, the presence or absence of an oven makes a monumental difference to my everyday quality of life.
"Aah..."
I let out a breathless sigh of admiration as I stared at the mouthwatering roasted fish before me. Even if it was an improvised, makeshift contraption, an oven was still an oven—the fish had cooked through with exquisite, golden-brown perfection. Whenever I grilled fillets over an open iron pan, certain edges charred black while the thickest cuts remained raw in the center. But an oven bathed food in radiant heat from all directions, ensuring an even, thorough bake.
If the chance presents itself, I might even be able to bake actual bread.
My mouth was practically watering as I carefully lifted the roasted fish out. I made sure to wear thick gloves to keep from scalding myself; I had bought a sturdy pair of kitchen mitts from the auction house today specifically for this moment.
Munch, chew.
"Mmm!"
It tasted exactly as marvelous as I had imagined—which was to say, utterly sublime. Even when pan-fried, the flesh had carried a rich, savory essence reminiscent of meat, but roasted in the oven, it tasted like genuine pork. It took me back to the rare, extravagant treats of my past, when I was scraping by all alone, penny-pinching every won and finally splurging on thick slabs of grilled pork belly. Naturally, it wasn't an exact replica—the texture especially had its own distinct flake—yet the richness didn't fall a bit short of the finest pork.
Even the outer skin that looks slightly charred gives way to tender, succulent flesh inside.
I could already tell I was going to become hopelessly devoted to this oven. Basking in culinary bliss, I thoroughly savored my meal. I didn't forget to pack up generous portions to send over to the fixed-handle regulars either—this time, to Heavenly Demon and the dwarf. Both of them tasted the oven-baked fish and sent back glowing praise. So it wasn't just my biased wilderness palate; it was objectively delicious.
How on earth did our ancestors even think to invent something like an oven?
I chewed thoughtfully, admiring the curved masonry of the oven. The firewood had completely burned down into glowing embers, and thin ribbons of pale smoke drifted peacefully from the clay flue. Truly, an invention that rendered peerless service to human gastronomy. Without the oven, there would be no bread.
Could I make pizza in that thing?
No, get a grip. That's absurd luxury talking. Unless I harvest my own wheat, grind flour, and somehow source fresh dairy and eggs, it's nothing more than a pipe dream. For now, I should count my blessings with freshly baked fish. Besides, this oven will be just as invaluable for reheating cured and smoked meats.
"La-la-loo~"
As my living standard took a leap forward, my spirits soared along with it. And in survival, an increase in morale invariably translates into an increase in combat readiness. While singing high praise of my newfound masonry, I laid out my schedule for the afternoon.
Time to confirm where the gorilla troop's territory actually lies.
The official cause of death for Lyse Kraone, the last royal scribe of the Balkan Kingdom, had been suicide. Yet the man had only taken his own life because a festering wound from the beasts left him beyond salvation, meaning the gorilla troop was the true culprit behind his demise. Only by pinpointing the precise boundaries of their territory could I ensure my own long-term safety.
Which means I need to grasp gorilla biology and behavior first...
I had no idea what adaptations gorillas had undergone to survive in the Forest of the Four Seasons. That meant any preconceived notions from Earth might have been completely turned on their head. Even so, basic knowledge was infinitely better than walking in blind. I opened the messaging console and drafted a message to the most qualified scholar I knew.
So the information NecromancyIsLove had provided was genuine. Did that compel me to accept him as the legendary Undying King? Hardly. It was far safer to assume he was simply an exceptionally knowledgeable fellow deeply committed to his forum roleplay. And even if he truly were the Undying King, it made little practical difference to me.
In the end, strict vigilance was my only recourse. If possible, I had to avoid encroaching upon their territory at all costs. But right now, I didn't have the faintest clue where their boundaries began or ended. In nature, wild beasts established territorial borders through excrement. Tracking their droppings was likely my best lead.
I'll have to take Wonmo with me.
Wonmo possessed an astonishing sense of smell, so sniffing out territorial markers would be a walk in the park for him. Conveniently enough, he had skipped his afternoon nap and was bouncing around the cave full of energy anyway, so bringing him along was the obvious choice. I tapped out a reply to thank Allfather for his guidance.
What is this, Planet of the Apes? No matter how sharp an ape might be, tool-assisted warfare was crossing a line. That was horrifying to think about. One wrong move and my skull could get fractured by a calcified bludgeon. And if these apes had dialed up their aggression on top of tool usage, a coordinated troop could easily gang up and pulverize me into meat paste.
...Should I just call it off?
Hearing Allfather's warning took the wind right out of my sails. But after a brief lapse in nerve, I shook my head vigorously. At times like this, calculated risks were mandatory. The presence or absence of critical intelligence was the difference between life and death.
I'm only going to confirm their boundary lines.
Mapping the perimeter was my sole objective. I would do that and turn straight back. Even if a legendary miraculous herb was sprouting right before my eyes, I promised myself I would ignore it.
Concluding my conversation with Allfather, I geared up for the scouting expedition. It paid to be thoroughly prepared in case I tripped over their border by accident.
He said gorillas are herbivores, right?
Allfather had verified that gorillas sustained themselves primarily on fibrous tree bark and foliage. They ate nothing but bark and leaves, yet naturally possessed the greatest physical mass and strength among all primates. An irrational spike of envy flared up in my chest, but I brushed it aside. Humans possessed far superior intelligence, after all. As a diplomatic peace offering, I tucked several Inedia Pills into my pouch. If things got tense, I planned to toss out the pills to curry favor.
Fast Sloth gobbles them down like candy, so gorillas ought to love them too, right?
Or maybe I should buy a banana? Whenever people thought of apes, bananas were the gold standard. Entertaining these stray thoughts, I finished my preparations. Fast Sloth settled comfortably onto my back, and Wonmo bounced around my ankles, whining impatiently for us to leave. Everything was in order to depart...
Grumble—!
"Ah."
Looks like departure had to be postponed for a few minutes.
Only after thoroughly evacuating his bowels did Grylls finally set off on his scouting mission. The cave shelter left in his wake settled into tranquil silence, devoid of any presence. The only sound was the occasional pop of dying embers in the hearth; an eerie, undisturbed quiet enveloped the camp.
Rustle! Rustle!
Just then, from the direction opposite the path Grylls had taken—along the trail winding down toward the river—the overgrown bushes flanking the path began to tremble. At first, it was barely a tremor, but within seconds, the thick foliage shook with violent urgency.
Swish—
At last, something breached the green curtain. It hadn't emerged entirely; only a single face peeked cautiously out into the clearing. Broadly speaking, its contours bore a striking resemblance to a human visage, yet its flattened nasal bridge and jet-black skin told an entirely different story. Crucially, the coarse dark hair sprouting across its cheeks and brow left no doubt: it was an ape.
"...Ooh! Ooh!"
After peering around Grylls's shelter for a long moment, the ape let out a hushed, throaty cry. In response, the surrounding brush rattled with even greater clamor.
"Ooh-ooh!"
"Ooh! Ooh-ooh-ooh!"
A troop of apes—specifically, the gorilla troop that Grylls had been treating with extreme wariness. Communicating in their distinct, guttural vocalizations, the gorillas stealthily crept into the perimeter of the shelter. At a glance, they appeared to be ordinary gorillas, yet a closer examination revealed several unnerving discrepancies.
To begin with, while the gorilla who seemed to be the leader held nothing in his massive hands, the followers trailing behind him brandished crude bludgeons. Their weapons varied wildly in shape and form: thick beast femora, dense wooden boughs, and even primitive, hand-chipped stone hand-axes. It was glaringly evident that these creatures belonged to a category vastly removed from ordinary wildlife.
"Ooh-ooh-ooh."
"Ooh-ooh."
The apes methodically inspected the campsite. From the water-filled iron tubs holding live fish to the wooden bins collecting crushed charcoal, all the way to the clay oven standing near the hearth.
"OOK-EEEEK!!"
"Ooh-ooh?!"
Suddenly, one of the younger gorillas shrieked in agony. At that screech, its brethren rushed over in alarm. The gorilla was rolling on the ground, frantically clutching its burned paw. Right before it stood Grylls's newly constructed oven. Evidently, the ape had shoved its hand into the oven before the internal masonry had cooled, suffering a painful scorch.
An accident born of reckless curiosity. The leader gorilla hurriedly approached to inspect the injury.
"Ooh-ooh!"
Having assessed the blistered skin, the leader pointed toward the iron drum holding the live fish. His gesture clearly conveyed that there was cold water inside, ordering the injured ape to submerge the burn at once. Heeding the command, the scalded gorilla frantically thrust its paw into the water.
Splash!
The instant its paw sank into the icy river water, the gorilla let out a shuddering sigh, its face melting into sheer relief. The captive fish trapped inside the drum thrashed and splashed in sudden terror, but the apes didn't pay them the slightest mind. The leader wore a relieved look for a fleeting instant before fixing a sharp, inquiring gaze back onto the oven. Perhaps he detected the lingering, savory aroma wafting from within; he leaned close to the opening, sniffing repeatedly.
Yet unable to fathom its purpose, he merely tilted his massive head in confusion. Losing interest, he soon shifted his attention elsewhere.
"Ooh-ooh!"
One of the subordinate gorillas pointed toward the drum brimming with fish—Grylls's vital reserve of fresh rations. However, the leader shook his head with a stern grunt. It was an unmistakable sign that hauling an iron barrel heavy with water was too cumbersome. Disappointed, the subordinate accepted the call nonetheless.
Turning away from the food stores, the leader surveyed another corner of the camp. His gaze landed on the garments drying along the clothesline.
"Ooh."
Examining the hanging fabric with deep curiosity, the leader reached out and gave a casual tug. Unable to withstand the gorilla's monstrous strength, the makeshift drying rack collapsed limply into the dirt. The leader lifted the athletic jersey Princess Chaeng-gu had gifted Grylls, inspected the bright fabric, and tossed it disdainfully onto the ground. He had zero interest in textiles.
"OOH-OH-OH-OH!"
"OOH-OH! OOH-OH-OH!"
Just then, the gorillas that had been foraging deeper inside the cavern came bounding out into the sunlight. These weren't shrieks of pain like the burned ape's earlier, but rowdy, triumphant cheers. Curious about what they had unearthed, the leader watched as the scouts dropped their prize onto the ground.
What they had hauled out was none other than the heavy burlap sack of Inedia Pills that served as Namu-Ppareumbo's staple sustenance.
"Hrmmm..."
"Ooh-ooh! Ooh-ooh-ooh!"
His subordinates chattered frantically, urging the leader to make a decision, but the chief remained cautious. Reaching a thick, leathery finger into the sack, the leader plucked out an Inedia Pill and popped it into his mouth. Before long, the dense pill was crushed beneath his powerful molars.
"OOH-OH-OH?! OH-OH-OH?!"
The leader gorilla's eyes bulged wide as an ecstatic bellow tore from his throat. It was a reaction that screamed pure delight by any standard—an expression as though he had just experienced the greatest gastronomic revelation under the heavens. Seeing this, the other gorillas eagerly swarmed the sack, cramming Inedia Pills into their jaws.
"Ooh-ooh-ooh?!"
"Ooh-oh-oh-oh?!"
"OH-OH-OOK!!"
Just like their chieftain, the rest of the troop reacted with unbounded frenzy. What might taste like a chalky, bitter emergency ration to human tastebuds was apparently an exquisite, concentrated nectar to herbivorous ape palates.
"Ooh-ooh-ooh!"
"Ooh-ooh!"
After gobbling down several more pills, the gorillas reverently gathered up the mouth of the sack. They couldn't hoard this divine ambrosia all to themselves; they had to share it with the rest of their clan back in the canopy. The leader gorilla wholeheartedly agreed, hoisting the bulging burlap sack onto his broad shoulder without a second thought.
"Ooh-ooh!"
"Ooh-ooh-ooh!"
And just like that, the gorilla troop departed Grylls's shelter. Though Grylls's most treasured artifacts—such as the Elixirs and spirit Neidans—remained untouched, the plundered loss was catastrophic nonetheless.
"Ooh-ooh!"
"Ooh-ooh!"
Unaware and completely unbothered by the human's impending despair, the gorilla troop marched merrily back into the deep woods, their hearts overflowing with unadulterated joy.