Jackpot (1)
I'd installed the signposts perfectly all the way to the milestone and made it back to the shelter. It might sound weird coming from me, the guy who built it, but it really felt like a place where people lived. Plus, I'd already advertised(?) it on the Gallery, so everyone would recognize it.
I don't expect we'll meet anytime soon, though.
I'd done everything I could, but I wasn't holding out much hope. The Four Seasons Forest was a massive area the size of a small country. More than that, space here shifted constantly, so no one could predict when or how we'd cross paths. If luck was on our side, maybe right away. If not, we might never meet in this lifetime.
Or they might settle somewhere else...
In the worst case, they could already be dead. That worried me the most. Could the investigation team really make it here in one piece? No way to know. At least with Judaek's location tracking, we could gauge their survival odds.
Just keep an eye on Ludwig's position.
The high-nick who'd announced their entry into the forest. I'd monitor their movements. Perfect timing too—Judaek seemed worried about them, so I could just ask her regularly. If I couldn't pinpoint their location, it'd be heartbreaking.
I'm not exactly safe myself.
Sure, my own nose was barely above water, but I had solid allies. Ppareumbo, who I guessed had tangled with the leader gorilla. And Wonmo, the owlbear cub with her top-notch calming effects. The investigation team had nothing like that. Especially not a powerhouse companion like Ppareumbo—the difference would be huge.
I survived those truly weak early days.
Now I could handle crises, but not on day one. The mad dog bite had me thinking it was over, and the sword-tooth tiger nearly killed me for real. Grateful to still be breathing, I arrived at the shelter.
Time to get to work.
I'd gifted Ludwig my sword, so no spares left. Needed to make a new one. Good thing I'd stocked up on charcoal—it wasn't hard. Plenty of materials too, no hesitation.
Gotta keep stocking mithril and orihalcon steadily.
Never knew when I'd need to hand one off to someone. Two extras for others should do. But I'd consult the dwarf first. Rude to just dump it on him.
Yo. Sending another sword soon—can you sharpen it?
PassingDwarf
No prob, but you actually gave away a sword?
Yeah, figured they needed something going into the Four Seasons Forest.
It's better for everyone if they survive.
PassingDwarf
You're clueless about the world, buddy. What if that high-nick killed everyone and bailed?
That sword's already scary as hell.
I got what the dwarf was worried about. Classic scammer move. Even Cheonma had called it overpowered. So he figured they'd run off with it out of greed.
Everyone says they're good people though? Judaek knows them.
PassingDwarf
Aigoo. You just believed them? ;;
Too late now, can't take it back.
But hey, about that...
PassingDwarf
What?
Honestly, I don't care lol
PassingDwarf
This asshole ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Enjoying the ride with zero responsibility ㅋㅋㅋ
Words like that, but truth was, Judaek's request sealed it. Without that, I'd have hesitated. I knew from the Gallery Ludwig was on the team. But the old man's proof plus Judaek's plea made it feel right.
Gotta boost their escape odds even a little.
The more outside attention on the Four Seasons Forest, the better my survival chances. I'd work to draw eyes my way too(?). Simplest way: spread mithoricon. But screw up, and like the dwarf said, war could erupt. Metal everyone was dying for. Flood the market, and tragedy follows.
Lucky part: can't process it without a special forge. Only I could make it. I'd leverage that. Weirdos might swarm me, but I'd ignore 'em and build deterrence.
Done making it. Sharpen please.
PassingDwarf
The more I think, the more ridiculous. Some folks never even touch it their whole lives, you got it flooring your house and yard ㅋㅋㅋ
Jealous? ㅋㅋ
PassingDwarf
Shut it ㅋ
From the dwarf's view, total jackpot. And yeah, it was. Intense heat was rough, but process wasn't hard. Infinite retries anyway—made it stress-free. I inspected the freshly sharpened sword, then leaned it against the cave wall.
Made one more. Sharpen it.
PassingDwarf
ㅅㅂ How long ago did you make the last one?
Just melt and pour together, done.
PassingDwarf
ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Unbelievable.
Idiot, that's suuuuuper hard work, duh?
Dunno? It worked doing what you said.
Hammering's the toughest part.
PassingDwarf
True... sigh. Fine, I'll take it.
Then I made another. Backup for the backup. Wanted one more, but time and materials short. Plus, time for other tools now. Like a pickaxe. Dwarf gave me one, but wanted better for mithril. New metal made, might as well.
Pickaxe best forged by hand.
Build skills bit by bit. Give dwarf good stuff, get advice. No master meant no rapid progress, but opportunities aplenty, as said.
Evening already.
Lost track finishing chores—sun dipping, darkening. Time for dinner prep and Gallery browsing. Browsing priority. Important posts might've buried during work.
Wonder if Ludwig's in yet.
Dwarf's scam worry in mind. World wasn't as kind as I hoped. Good folks aplenty, but plenty of rotten ones too.
"Investigation team scattered?"
Was eating dinner, circulating qi, browsing Gallery—mostly concept posts amid respawns—when this caught my eye.
Investigation team scattered right now?
Just back priest buddy told me.
Team scattered at Four Seasons Forest entrance.
Buddy says leader rebelled and bailed, idk.
Anyway, fact they bolted is true.
Won't be long till papers, spoiling for Gallery buds ㅇㅇ
└Whoa, spoiling major news ㅅㅂ
└Jealous? Become a priest
└Prefer rich NEET over priest lol
└Same, wanna be rich NEET. Too scary here ㅠㅠ
└Then Grill's friends all gone?
└Lmao yeah ㅋㅋ
└Poor Grill, all lonely... made signposts n all.
└Better rebel than die.
└Practically forced in, I'd fight too ㅋㅋㅋ
└Grill gave 'em a sword right?
└ㅇㅇ Sounds like galaxy in green?
Doubted BS at first ㅋㅋ
└Sword glowing green? ㅋㅋㅋ
Shocking stuff. Team scattered—just like dwarf feared. Heart sank. Users skeptical, but I had to believe. Sword description matched mine perfectly.
Th-then where's Ludwig?
Messaged Judaek pronto. She'd seen it too, replied fast.
Don'tAbandonHero
Just in case, but Ludwig's no ingrate!
Always prays to the goddess, does good deeds!
Fine, but where is he now?
I wanted location, not defense. Post made his position key.
Don'tAbandonHero
Um... sorry, can't track location...!
What?! ;;
Don'tAbandonHero
Real! Says location untrackable!
Then what's with me? Doesn't add up.
Was Judaek lying? Doubt flickered. She'd tracked me fine before—dead center Four Seasons Forest. But not Ludwig? Contradiction.
Don'tAbandonHero
I swear on the goddess! Can't track location but can message!
If high-nick dead, says nonexistent user!
So high chance entered forest!
Still weird can't track ;;
Don'tAbandonHero
You could use Gallery from start!
You're the exception probably!
Pretty convincing. Not sarcasm, for real. Better treat myself as outlier. How often had my actions shocked everyone? Judging my experiences by world's standards was off.
Anyway, high chance in forest...
Nothing I could do now. No real-time tracking—wait quietly.
Guess gotta wait.
Don'tAbandonHero
Um...! I know it's tough, but can you find Ludwig?!
Can guide to me, but finding's hard.
Don'tAbandonHero
That's enough! I'll help max!
How?
Don'tAbandonHero
: Hmm...!
She pondered, then cautious reply.
Don'tAbandonHero
Pray to goddess each time for her to help you find Ludwig?
Prayers get answered?
Don'tAbandonHero
Yes!
Speechless. Did goddess really answer? If so, true jackpot.
If real, I'd pray eyes closed.
Of course. Pouring rain!
"Ah. Seriously. Again?"
If this damn rain would just stop...
*****
Rain frequent in forests. Hampering Grill's moves. But plains divided rainy/dry seasons—different from forest. Dry season unrestricted animal movement.
Now dry season.
"......"
New arrival Ludwig same. Staring at a cave.
Normally scout inside, but situation hesitated him. External mana overload nearly blocked mana use. Lucky his skill let tiny amounts.
Shaaa—
Even that sparked green glow on sword.
Ludwig eyed sword and entrance, nodded.
Best scout it.
Might be empty if lucky. Entered hoping so.
Moments later.
"GRRAAAAAHHH!!!"
"......"
Ludwig fled the three-headed lion.