Welcome to Language (3)
Language. The alpha and omega of civilization. If we apply human standards directly to beasts, one might say they have no language at all. But what if we define language as communication itself? Can we truly say it doesn't exist? They simply lack the complex, segmented systems humans possess. Yet the greatest divide between humans and beasts is intelligence, and that gap shines through in their languages. It creates vast differences. Humans can grasp other languages to some degree with effort and study. Beasts cannot. Language isn't just memorized—its true value peaks only with full comprehension. We could say beasts fail to grasp that essence.
And now, all that common sense was crumbling from the Leader Gorilla's mouth like an avalanche.
"……."
Was this what it felt like to have the universe unfolding in your head? Human words from the Leader Gorilla's mouth. Speech far removed from beastly cries. Had the one who taught it martial arts also taught it language? But beyond that, the key point was mastering human-like communication. Offering bananas as an apology. Bowing its head politely. The Leader Gorilla clearly possessed intelligence rivaling a human's.
Now that I look closely, it's got a lot of wrinkles. Its face was lined like the other gorillas', exuding a sense of seasoned wisdom. So who the hell was this being that taught it language?
I pondered, then decided to pick up the bananas first. Given its polite tone and demeanor, they were definitely an apology. Even if it attacked suddenly, with Ppareumbo here, I had nothing to worry about.
"Ni chou na ri ra?"
"……What the hell are you saying."
As I grabbed the bananas, the Leader Gorilla spoke human words again. But I couldn't understand a single language of this world.
The intonation sounds kinda like Chinese... This world had Jungwon, a place like wuxia lands. If it matched what I knew, speaking something Chinese-like wasn't weird. But I still didn't get the meaning. This was where the Gallery came in. I logged into the Gallery and started recording video. Planning to upload it.
"Uh... could you say it again?"
I gestured by twirling my hand, asking it to repeat. I slipped into polite speech without thinking but brushed it off. Luckily, it seemed to get my gesture. The Leader Gorilla stared at me blankly, then repeated the same words.
"Ni chou na ri ra?"
"Hold on."
I uploaded the recording straight to the Gallery. Praying it was Jungwon language. Then Cheonma would translate right away.
Whoosh!!!
The gorilla speaks human words!!!
YasaengGrill (Video of Leader Gorilla speaking human words)
I'm getting really scared rn. Does anyone know what this guy's saying?
Gorillas in the Four Seasons Forest speak human language.
Anyone who can translate?
└Cheonma ??? Why is a gorilla speaking Jungwon language? Is this real life?
└YasaengGrill Wish I could live-stream, but can't. It's real.
└Cheonma Hm... No idea where that gorilla learned it, but it's using Jungwon language. An archaic form, even.
└YasaengGrill Archaic?
└Cheonma It means the speech of elders.
└SwordTasteStar Aren't you an old-timer yourself?
└Cheonma Did I not say it's been mere moments since I etched my age?
└SwordTasteStar With that speech pattern? lol
└Olfather Oh. My. God. Aragorn, mercy. What have I just witnessed?
└YasaengGrill Video of a gorilla speaking human words.
└Olfather Oh. Fuck. Signs of the apocalypse.
└YasaengGrill You okay??
└Olfather Brb, gotta vent some urges.
└YasaengGrill Dude;;
└Wait, a real gorilla speaking human words?
└Monsters that talk happen sometimes. Orc shamans, goblin witches.
└Sure, but you ever seen a gorilla do it?
└Nah lol what even is this lol
└Learned Jungwon language too lol
└Who taught it?
└Sounds like super ancient dialect? Like Blood War era speech.
└Blood War? When was that?
└Like 60 years ago?
└Why's it wearing clothes lol
└Like dead guy's rags?
└Gorilla fashion lol
In under a minute, comments flooded in. Mostly disbelief or accusations of ventriloquism. Wild speculation. But this was my reality.
Anyway, it asked where I came from, right? Time to answer. Keeping it waiting might ruin first impressions. But I didn't know its language. Cheonma-nim. Cheonma-nim. Can you help?
Cheonma You want me to teach you its words?
Whoa. How'd you know?
Cheonma Given the situation, it's obvious. But the Gallery can't convey speech, only text. If I knew your mother tongue, maybe, but probably not.
Can you show me the word "Republic of Korea" in text then?
Cheonma Easy enough. Wait a moment.
While Cheonma wrote the word, I tried chatting with the Leader Gorilla. It just looked confused—no progress. Just buying time, so I waited patiently.
Cheonma (Text written in Jungwon script: Republic of Korea) This work?
Thanks!
Cheonma Call anytime. Looks like you'll need me ongoing.
I copied the text from Cheonma's photo onto the ground. Wanted to use my cave notebook, but no telling what might happen en route. The Leader Gorilla shifted its gaze as I wrote, tilted its head, then looked up at me.
"Bu chi tta o."
I recorded and sent to Cheonma. Translation: "I don't know."
Of course. Republic of Korea's from another world.
"Yao. Sha bi?"
"Bu."
"Kai. Za ma. Ju beo?"
"Jun ja tung peo."
Then the Leader Gorilla chatted with the spear-wielding one beside it. Looked like its guard—elite retinue. Fluent from the leader, halting from the guard. I recorded and sent to Cheonma.
Cheonma: That monkey's asking if it shouldn't just kill you. Says you're the enemy of its kin.
What?
Cheonma Leader monkey says no need. Finding kin bodies comes first.
Kin bodies. Probably the ones I killed yesterday. Even knowing language, apes are apes—talking openly with me right there. Or maybe on purpose, for me to hear. I waited for their reaction.
"Ssu chi do ren ma?"
Cheonma translation: Where are the dead kin? The ones who stole my food—no way I'd tell easily. Plus, might seem weak. Had to be careful.
Swoosh- swish. I wrote on the ground: What if I don't wanna say?
The Leader Gorilla studied it, then replied:
"Hwi u rul se da."
Translation: You'll see blood... Half-threat in the tone—I got the gist.
Even metaphors? More shocking: conveying nuance. How high was this thing's intelligence?
I locked eyes with the Leader Gorilla's fierce glare, then glanced sideways.
Assuming Leader Gorilla's stronger than Ppareumbo... Including guards, about five gorillas total. Outnumbered. Fighting meant certain loss. Better avoid low-odds battles. Especially since it tossed bananas—sign of peaceful intent.
Avoid the fight.
I wrote a condition: Tell you where kin are, you leave immediately. Leader Gorilla nodded. No clue if it'd honor it, but best agreement for now.
"Here."
I pointed to the burial spot. Leader Gorilla nodded; a regular trooper-looking one stepped up and dug—bare-handed. Gorilla specs made it excavator-fast. Soon, bodies emerged. Freshly buried yesterday, pristine no decay.
This good? I watched them load bodies, glanced at Leader Gorilla. It stood sentinel unmoving till subordinates vanished into the forest.
Then it said to me:
"Shin cha."
"Huh?"
"Shi shin pan geol lao te ra."
Still no clue. But the Gallery's always there. Sent recording to Cheonma.
Cheonma Means "personal talk" time.
Story time?
Cheonma Not a great omen. In the martial world, distinguishing public/private often precedes fights.
No way I gotta fight this thing. I backed away slowly.
Leader Gorilla saw, opened its mouth impassively:
"Chin pa li ryu shi eo meon kwo eo."
"……"
"Sun zu shi bi ra. Ni shi ye jeung pan deo."
Territorial intrusion was our fault. Grandson was rude. You were justified.
"Keo shi ban ju join shi en shin. Ha i o sso kong."
But 'this seat' is the group's leader. And the grandson's grandsire.
Hearing "Benjwa"—this seat—I froze. Cheonma reacted too, spilling her feelings post-translation.
Cheonma Arrogant ape. Calling itself Benjwa? Who taught it that?
Didn't its teacher use it?
Cheonma Whoever, taught sloppily. No one but the world's best uses it.
More pressingly, gorilla's aura grew ominous. Guards backing off—fight imminent. I circulated mana, infused Cheonma's sword with aura.
Unless ambush, toppling Leader Gorilla seemed tough.
"Ssu ai."
So.
"Na jo i keu beo."
I'll take one arm.
Cheonma's translation ended—I charged. Aura shimmered like heat haze on her sword. No, far beyond. Flames. Aura roiled like fierce fire. One slash would bisect it.
Don't call it cowardly. My best shot. For survival, what's off-limits? Survivors are the strong.
Gotcha good!
Leader Gorilla didn't flinch as sword neared. Maybe too slow to react. Chance! One cut through torso and...
Thud-
No such luck. Unbelievable sight unfolded.
Flaming aura. Cheonma's sword brimming with it. Enough to slice flesh and bone effortlessly.
"……"
But Leader Gorilla caught it casually. Not whole hand—thumb, index, middle: three fingers.
In shock from the impossible, it spoke calmly:
"Hao chil reo."
No idea what. But one thing clear: Leader Gorilla was stronger than I'd dreamed.