Hostage (2)
Two gorillas had broken into Grills' house again. One was pinned down by an arrow from Grills, but the other desperately fled. Crashing through thick bushes and dense trees, it climbed up and leaped from branch to branch. Shockingly agile for such a bulky gorilla. That meant things were urgent.
"Uuu! Uuu!"
Soon enough, the fleeing gorilla reached its group. Right now, the gorilla pack was in the middle of an impromptu Wall Valley Pill party. But with its comrade rushing up in such a panic, they had to pause the festivities.
"Uuu?"
"Uuu! Uuuu!"
Sensing something was off, the leader gorilla stepped forward. The escaped one explained the whole situation. Once it heard everything, the leader's face grew grave, and it promptly issued orders.
"Uuuu. U!"
"Uuu!"
First, send out scouts and observe. We invaded their territory. If the territory's owner killed one of ours, then we retaliate. Something along those lines. The other gorillas nodded in agreement.
"Uuuhoo."
"Hoo...."
The leader handed over a Wall Valley Pill to calm its kin. A fight seemed inevitable soon. That's what I figured.
*****
After fully subduing one gorilla, what I did next wasn't killing... it was binding. I wanted to lop off its head and mount it as a warning, but that didn't fit my style. More importantly, these things had decent intelligence, so there were factors to consider.
If they have camaraderie, they'll definitely come back. Better to keep it alive for that.
Seeing a dead comrade might enrage them more. One alone? Manageable. But a group? That'd be tough. Even with Ppareumbo and Wonmo, I didn't know the gorillas' full strength. What I needed was intel. Using this captured one as a hostage to extract info seemed smart.
Let's see. Arms behind the back, tie 'em tight. Legs too... It's gonna be strong, so wrap it good.
Gorillas had insane strength among primates. And this was the Four Seasons Forest. Ordinary-sized animals here were terrifying. So I bound the unconscious gorilla thoroughly with rope. No way it could break free with brute force alone.
The arrows embedded in its body? I just handled them roughly. They were clean shots, so snapping both ends sufficed. Elixir? No way I'm wasting that on thieves. Cheapest potion from the auction house, slap on some bandages, done.
Thieves captured.
YasaengGrill (Photo of gorilla tightly bound with rope)
Some anon said criminals always return to the scene. These gorilla bastards weren't satisfied with the Wall Valley Pills—they tried stealing my fish too. Two of 'em; nailed one with the crossbow, the other got away. Gonna use this one as a hostage to get some info.
└Cheonma: Nicely tied up. Since ancient times, food thieves get flogged.
└YasaengGrill: Food is life for me, so I'm thinking worse punishment.
└Cheonma: Cutting off their hands so they never steal again isn't bad.
└YasaengGrill: Eek;; Flogging it is.
└SwordTasteStar: Just cut the hands off. I hear repeat offenders get that in our lands too.
└YasaengGrill: ;;; Kinda brutal, but it fits the era. Savage yet makes sense.
└Olfather: Tied up tight. Definitely a gorilla.
└YasaengGrill: Right? Thought they were herbivores, but they went for my fish.
└Olfather: Diet's changed. Be careful—they'll come back.
└YasaengGrill: Accounting for that. Waiting.
└SusanghalJeongdorok: Male or female?
└Why ask?
└SusanghalJeongdorok: Heard gorillas are matriarchal.
└Gorillas or orangutans?
└Orangutans males roam solo, I think.
└Beastkin don't even know that lol
└SusanghalJeongdorok: Could be ignorant ㅅㅂ Gallery always has crazies.
I chuckled but didn't reply. Let 'em bicker. Mods would handle it if it crossed lines. No need to butt in.
Wonder when this guy's waking up.
I stared at the still-unconscious gorilla. Frothing at the mouth and passing out at the sight of Ppareumbo. Made me curious about Ppareumbo's past, but not now. Intel was priority. Better leave it be for a bit.
If only I could talk to animals.
Druid powers or whatever. Checked for fantasy beast speech skills—nada. Some claim to hear animals, but mostly BS.
Humans have language barriers; animals even more so.
I examined the gorilla closely while lost in pointless thoughts. Huge compared to me, otherwise ordinary. Nothing special.
"Sniff sniff. Sniff."
"Wonmo, no eating."
"Kyuu?"
Watched so Wonmo wouldn't snack on it. My job: wait for its buddies. If they don't show... have to kill it. Bury or dump in the river—no issue.
Dig a hole preemptively?
As I pondered and slyly grabbed a shovel—
"Uuu...."
The gorilla started stirring. I set the shovel down quietly as it came to.
"Hey. You awake?"
"Uuuuu...?"
Dazed, it looked at me blankly. Hadn't registered my face yet.
"U... Uuu? Uuu?!"
Suddenly, it thrashed wildly. Realized it was tied up, from the shocked expression. Good thing I used tons of rope—otherwise it'd be free already.
"Auuu...."
Arrow wounds didn't vanish, though. It calmed quick from the pain.
Time for "talks."
"Hey. Look at me."
"......"
It slowly raised its head. Pain-twisted face turned stern. Wouldn't talk no matter what. Almost human.
Can't understand you anyway.
Called it just to test reactions. Decide treatment based on that. Stubborn one.
What about Ppareumbo?
I fetched Ppareumbo, who'd been staring into the forest impassively. No resistance as I carried it over, set it in front of the gorilla's face.
"You know this gu—"
"Ukkiaaak!!"
Full-on freakout at Ppareumbo. Even bound, the power was palpable. Pure terror.
I blankly watched it freak, then glanced at Ppareumbo. It raised a hand slowly at the thrashing gorilla.
Gonna kill it? As I moved to stop—
Smack!
Ppareumbo slapped it clean. Gorilla went meek instantly. Depressed expression bonus. Or more like... lost the will to live.
What the hell has this thing been up to?
I knew Ppareumbo's skills: untouchable speed, razor claws. Famous among gorillas? Or just this one? Anyway, it worked.
Rummaged my bag for a Wall Valley Pill. Emergency rations slash goodwill gesture.
"Hey. See this."
"...?"
"You know what this is."
Showed one pill—gorilla's eyes shook hard. Knew it, confessed by proxy. Case closed.
I snorted, gestured slowly.
"Wall Valley Pill."
First, the pill.
"Ppareumbo."
Then Ppareumbo.
"Food. Okay?"
Mimed eating last—gorilla paled. Black skin and fur, but I felt it. Trust me?
Anyway.
Wait for its friends, then.
Asked Ppareumbo to watch it. Check weapons till the pack shows. First, trusty crossbow—string it up, ready to fire.
Rustle rustle—
"Kyuu?"
"......"
Speak of the tiger... or gorilla. Turned with crossbow ready toward the sound.
Rustle!
No hiding—they emerged from bushes. Not one or two: exactly five. Center one huge. Led the way, leader vibe. And "equipped" differently.
Olfather was right.
Leader bare-handed, others gripped stuff. One with a stone axe—shocked me. Meant they grasped "crafting." Smarter than expected. Tense up.
"Uuuu! Uuuk...!"
Hostage saw comrades, wailed. But arrow wounds—grimaced in pain.
Leader glanced at hostage, fixed on me. I gripped sword and shield, ready to fight.
"Uuu! Uuu!"
"Uaah! Uaa!"
Then gorillas near leader freaked. Horror at something.
"......"
Ppareumbo. Slipped to my side unnoticed. Gorillas trembled at it. Leader stayed calm-ish, face stiff. Ppareumbo's rep was fearsome. Negotiation easier.
I started talks.
Swish—
Showed the stolen Wall Valley Pills. You guys took this, right?
Leader nodded, got it.
"U."
Short call, gestured. One gorilla fetched something. Leader gripped, tossed it.
Thud—
Empty sack mid-air drop. The Wall Valley Pill sack. No pills inside.
Ate 'em all already.
That quick? Sigh. Apologize? Or brazen? Ppareumbo's rep might force sorry, but...
Check Ppareumbo first.
"Whatcha gonna do?"
"......"
Ppareumbo stared at sack, then moved. Pack watched tensely, no moves.
Approached bound gorilla. Half-expecting release... but
Slash!
No. Beyond imagination. Claws severed neck clean. Iron-like bonds? Snapped. The claws I'd maintained. Bones and flesh? Effortless.
Squish!
Ignored gushing blood, stomped rolling head like a fork. Lifted slowly, hurled at leader.
Thwack! Thud! Roll roll—
Head landed before leader. It gazed down solemnly.
Way past provocation—war declaration. Realized wild "food" value crystal clear.
...Psycho.
Total alpha male. Unnecessary fight? But for "territory," perfectly valid.
Swish—
Chilled air, leader picked up head. Solemn, faint rage.
Whoosh—
Tossed it up. Weird—not at me. What?
Stepped left foot forward, shield ready.
Fwooo—
Head fell, leader pulled right arm back. At eye level—
thrust forward.
BOOM!!!
Brutal roar.
Whiiiiiing!!
Gorilla head rocketed like a cannonball.