Golden Poison Frog (2)
Falling asleep in the wild without any precautions is incredibly dangerous. Just yesterday, I nearly died after being attacked by a mad dog while sleeping. But staying up all night causes your physical abilities to plummet. If you have no choice but to sleep, the best you can do is prepare as much as possible. That's why I splurged on snake and insect repellents. I roughly blocked the cave entrance with wood and stones, and kept my sword right next to me just in case. Thanks to that, I got through the night safely.
Strong and mighty morning! YasaengGrill (photo of the cave with faint light shining in)
If anyone asks, it's me, YasaengGrill!
└Still alive lol
└Last time you got bit by a mad dog
└It's only day 2?
└YasaengGrill Yeah, but my mouth's all crooked. I'm screwed.
└lololol
└lolololol
└Sleeping on a cold floor does that lol
└Hang in there lolol
└YasaengGrill My lower back's killing me;;
But yeah, my lower back ached—maybe from the hard stone floor, or the lack of a pillow. On top of that, my mouth was crooked too. The dawn was chilly enough for dew to form. I quickly lit the remnants of last night's firewood, which still held a bit of warmth. Warmth is essential right now. Thank goodness I had the uniform from ChangguPrincess to use as a blanket; otherwise, it could've been bad.
'It's way too cold, even for this place. Did it rain at dawn?'
It hadn't been this frigid the day I got bit by the mad dog. I warmed up a bit inside the cave before stepping out. Once outside, I realized it had rained during the night.
'Rain makes it this cold?'
Fog had rolled in too, making visibility poor. Shivering, I hurried back into the cave. It was so cold I even put on the uniform ChangguPrincess gave me. It was incredibly warm. For now, I'd wait inside until the fog lifted. Then I'd hunt the golden poison frog.
'Time... 6 AM. Woke up too early.'
The forest gets dark early, so you end up sleeping early too. Luckily, the Gallery kept me from losing track of time. I scarfed down a Wall Valley Pill for breakfast and figured I'd wait until the weather fully cleared.
'Might as well practice lotus position till then.'
My back hurt, but that was just stiffness. A quick stretch should loosen it up. After some simple stretches, I grunted and forced myself into lotus position. Surprisingly, it was much better than yesterday. Yesterday it felt like my joints were twisting in agony; today it just stung a little.
'Great for me, I guess.'
And that wasn't all. Despite the backache, my body overflowed with energy. Maybe from the Wall Valley Pill Cheonma gave me? She said it was made from various herbs, so that tracked.
Gurgle rumble!
"Ah."
Separately, my stomach hurt a lot. Especially since it was mostly poop—cleanup was no joke. Good thing PassingDwarf gave me toilet paper; otherwise, I'd have been in real trouble multiple times. I made sure to bury it deep so the smell wouldn't spread. Gotta build a proper toilet later.
'Time to gear up.'
I gathered my gear for the golden poison frog hunt. Starting with the most important crossbow, Cheonma's sword, and the golden shield from SunForever. Could I carry it all? Yeah. I'd stripped fibers from tree bark to make rope-like cords.
'Temporary, but sturdy.'
Not perfect, but fine. Shield on my back, sword at my waist. The crossbow was too big to sling, so I'd hold it. All set. With antidote too, I was prepared for emergencies.
'Gotta think shield block.'
Before heading out, I posted on the Gallery. This hunt could be my last, so I wanted a record.
Here I go! YasaengGrill (photo holding the crossbow)
20k gold. I'm off.
└Oh, finally lol
└What if we don't hear from you?
└Dead, duh lol
└Waaah save him T_T
└StarlightPrincess Everyone, please cheer him on...
└Cheonma If it's dangerous, this lady will post a trade immediately
└No time for trades lol
└One hit and you're gone~
└But fr, you think it'll really give 20k gold? lol
That last comment hit sharp. Would Olfather really pay 20k gold for a golden poison frog? Even if not, no big deal—I needed to catch it for clean water anyway. If he pays, great; if he flakes, I cut losses next time.
'Or just process it myself.'
With poison, it'd be tricky like fugu. Better to avoid risking death over it—I'd rather grill bugs. And improper disposal could contaminate me or the water. So processing it myself, plus giving one to Olfather? Win-win.
'Safety first for now.'
I skimmed the comments and cautiously stepped out. Dawn dew had given way to partial sunlight. Had to watch for beasts, so every step was careful.
'If I get time, install a fence.'
Just blocking the entrance isn't safe. One owl bear smash and it's over. I'd use the narrow cave passage to fight, but if the entrance crumbles, too late. Best to build a fence from nearby trees bit by bit. Time-consuming, but worth it.
'Then axe and dagger too, not just sword.'
Making the cave my base meant needing more tools. Gallery made buying easy—as long as you had cash. If I snag 20k from the frog, I'd buy everything needed.
'Food... better hunt myself if possible.'
Crazy fees made buying food a luxury. And reliability sucked. If there was chicken or pizza, maybe, but no such luck here. Sure, buy ingredients? Nah, rarely listed thanks to auction fees. And what was there looked suspiciously expired.
'But salt is a must-buy.'
Salt's pricey, but essential for survival. They say one's worth in salt equals one's worth in gold. Vital stuff. On Earth, food's pre-salted; here, judging by the era—medieval to early modern—salt's precious.
Whoosh—
Lost in settlement thoughts, I reached the stream. Rain or whatever, the current was stronger than yesterday. Still, crystal clear, bottom visible.
'How to lure the frog?'
Here, but no lure plan. Can't wait forever. Dip arm like yesterday? Wastes the crossbow. Gotta strike before it notices. Extra careful with poison.
Splash!
Something burst from the stream as I pondered. I looked—golden thing puppy-sized soaring high, salmon in its mouth. Then a frog fully gold landed on a rock. Tail flapping outside its mouth—fresh kill.
'Lucky.'
As Olfather said, morning active. I hid in bushes, quietly aimed crossbow. One shot only. Miss, and who knows next chance. Tension high, I aimed slow. Farther than yesterday's practice, but dwarf-tuned crossbow—good aim hits. Plus puppy-sized target.
"Ribbit."
"..."
Meal done, I held breath.
Twang!
Harpoon arrow flew like a spear, rope trailing. Slight wobble, but dead on.
Thunk! Splash!
Hit the frog, yanked it in.
"Yes...! Huh?!"
Joy short-lived—crossbow nearly slipped as frog thrashed. Alive despite harpoon? Or current? Anyway, fishing time began. I gripped the rope, not crossbow. Gloves saved my hands from shreds.
"Grahhh!"
Teeth gritted, pulled. Soon dragged it out. Hands clasped together—raw, stinging.
'Ugh. No breaks at least.'
Gloves off—marks but no cuts. Rubbed palms. Carefully reeled in, checked pierced frog. Long tongue and half-eaten fish out—dead for sure, no twitch.
"Heh heh heh."
This pup-sized thing worth 20k gold. Smirked slyly. 20k gold's like 200 million won. Fees or not, endless possibilities. Still, handle careful—even gloved, just in case.
"Ribbit."
"Huh?"
What? Alive? Tilted head at frog's croak. But check—no, dead with tongue out. Not from this one.
'Not this... then...'
Dread hit, turned to stream.
"Ribbit ribbit ribbit."
"Ribbit. Ribbit."
"Ribbit."
There—dozen golden frogs on rocks. Mine puppy-sized; these toad-sized. But numbers... family? Lots.
'...Photo first.'
Backed away slow, snapped pic. Not for flex—curious Olfather's reaction. Do they pay 20k each? Less? And future water?
Already grimy sans shower.
"Kyaaak!"
"Kak!"
Frogs reared heads—poison spit signal. One, dodgeable; many, no. Hurriedly grabbed back-slung golden shield.
"Ptoo!"
"Ptu!"
"Phu!"
Golden venom flew fast. Backpedaled, shielded. Acid? No, just poison—shield fine. Or top quality. Owe SunForever thanks later. Priority: cave retreat.
'Fucking hell.'
Finally back, sighed. Mountains beyond mountains. But harvest: boss frog? 20k gold consolation. Water problem later.
ㄷㄷㄷ lmao YasaengGrill (photo of harpooned golden poison frog)
Frog skewered lol
└Whoa, check the size lolol
└That's a frog? lolol
└Wtf's in its mouth?
└Fish?
└YasaengGrill Yeah, snagged while eating
└Mid-meal kill? lololol
└Savage af lolol
└You don't even touch dogs while eating lol
└YasaengGrill Ain't a dog lol
└Cheonma No injuries?
└YasaengGrill Nah, all good. Hunt was easier than expected.
└Cheonma Glad. This lady prepped antidote just in case—say if needed.
└YasaengGrill Fine, got one. Stuff to think over tho.
└Olfather Oho, caught it. Trade now?
└YasaengGrill Hold up, posting one more. You'll love it.
└Olfather I'll love it? Intriguing. Very much so.
Knew it'd hook him—pre-snapped. Gallery has photo album; upload anytime. Posted pic of happy frog family.
Check this out, Olfather YasaengGrill (photo of golden poison frogs gathered)
They group up like this? Tons of 'em
└Olfather Ooooo...! Vulgar, but down below's stirring...!
└lolololol
└lololol
└Fr a prof? So trashy lolol No normals in the Gallery.