Finally, Enlightenment (4)
Now I finally got it. This godforsaken forest is the polar opposite of innocence. The obviously dangerous things—like bears, tigers, or Guardians—are actually fine. They give off an instinctive threat from their appearance, so you know your life’s on the line if you don’t respond.
But the small ones? No. The ordinary-looking or truly tiny ones are way more dangerous. Even in wuxia novels, they say to watch out for kids, old folks, and women. These small things have survived in the Four Seasons Forest despite their puny size. What does that mean? It means they’ve got at least two ways to thoroughly wreck you.
Why two, not one? One’s the visible move to threaten enemies. The other’s the unexpected, final blow that hits where they least expect it. You need both to survive in the Four Seasons Forest—that’s what I figured.
It was just a hunch until moments ago. But getting done in by that damn pufferfish convinced me.
‘Small peppers are the spiciest,’ fits perfectly.
But this pepper isn’t just spicy. Eat it, and your body literally melts. What if a yellow rat that shoots lightning shows up next? Or a dinosaur breathing fire from its mouth.
Why bring this up out of nowhere?
“Wonmo-ya.”
“Kyuu?”
“Appa’s body... won’t move.”
I’d been hit by the porcupine pufferfish’s poison, wrecking half my body. Slurred speech was the least of it—my body wouldn’t move as I wanted. I’d drop things while grabbing them, and even walking had me staggering.
Somehow I kept my balance and made it back to the cave. Otherwise, I’d have collapsed in the middle of the forest.
Swoosh—
Sensing how serious my condition was, the silently watching Ppareumbo handed something over. An elixir sloshing with golden liquid. I barely managed to take it and gulped it down.
Not just that—I chugged the antidotes I’d prepared in advance. And finally, the Internal Power Method.
I did everything I could.
“Ugh...”
Time passed, and my body returned to normal. Strength started flowing back in. I let out a long sigh and replayed what happened.
It’d been a close call.
‘Without Olfather’s medicine, I’d have dropped right there.’
Even then, my poison resistance kept it to this level. Without that, instant death. The pufferfish poison was called “tetrodotoxin” or something. Anyway, the deadliest in the world.
And since it lived in the Four Seasons Forest, it was extra vicious—no way it was milder.
‘This place really is scariest with the small stuff.’
I’d been diligently applying bug repellent to avoid insect bites. Imagine getting poisoned or a secondary infection. I didn’t even want to think about it.
I meticulously checked for issues, sensing if everything was back to normal. Thanks to the elixir and antidote combo, nothing felt off yet. The Internal Power Method flowed smoothly too, so full recovery.
Gallery users all agreed: nothing beats the method for checking your condition.
‘If I’d lacked even one of these, I’d be dead. The Gallery really saved my life.’
Lower your guard here, and you’re gone. You’ve gotta stay vigilant about everything to survive.
‘Speaking of, maybe I should make a proper door...?’
I eyed the iron bars blocking the entrance. Today’s siege came to mind. Beasts probably driven homeless by the downpour had tried forcing their way in.
Luckily, my honed Aura made it easy to fend them off. But who knows what’s next.
If a strong one like Ppareumbo had demanded the house... that’d have been tough.
‘At least during rain, I need solid defenses.’
I planned to keep using the bars as shields like today. Installing a door would make counterattacks impossible, and it’d shatter anyway. One wild boar charge, and my carefully built door could crumble like my resolve.
‘If I’m unlucky, I might have to fend off waves weekly.’
Grumbling inwardly, I stood. Body recovered—no time to slack.
Like the shark giant that visited before, who knows what animal might show up next. I’d need to stay alert around here for at least a day or two.
Crackle! Crackle crackle!
First, fire up the campfire. To dry the rain-soaked surroundings. Then check the river for flopping fish, inspect drainage—finished all tasks as evening approached.
Sky darkening.
‘Day 18 tomorrow, huh?’
I marked the cave wall, thinking. About three days since the expedition incident. If Ludwig really entered the Four Seasons Forest, today’d be his first day’s end.
Would he be okay? Or dead? Unlike me, no elixirs.
‘Should’ve given him an elixir too.’
Regret comes quick. I prayed he’d make it to my spot. If even that failed, it’d be beyond raccoon jerky levels.
Rumble!
...or so I nearly thought, but human affairs are unpredictable. I peeked outside. Thunder aside, no rain. Was the sky listening?
‘Nah, coincidence.’
Shaking it off, I logged into the Gallery. What chatter during cleanup?
Usually a mess of shitposts, but lately mostly expedition talk. Still the same—over half El Dorado or expedition bait.
Bait cools fast, but real-world ties kept it hot.
‘Nothing catches my eye.’
Newest bait: Messia Empire, the emperor. The one dying of illness had recovered.
He’d led Messia to prosperity. Fully backed the famed Swordmaster Ash, with supportive policies.
But that’s it. Mediocre diplomacy fit “domestic emperor.”
Emperor wakes up, what about crown prince?
I’d rather Arnold inherit fully.
Hate the emperor lol.
└Why?
└His shit policies jacked up magic item prices.
└Ah lmao get it.
└Still bad side effects?
└Yeah, better now tho.
└Without that crap, public opinion wouldn’t be fucked lol
└Current Messia emperor sucks at diplomacy lmao
└AbsoluteProArnoldKingKing That was then, later fine no? Policies are long-term.
└Bullshit no. Iris Kingdom magic imports—know the cost?
└That guy’s noble prob. Doesn’t get commoner struggles.
└AbsoluteProArnoldKingKing No. His Majesty saw far. Future praise sure.
└So what? We’re struggling lol
└Plus SwordTasteStar posts boosted continent avg strength—useless now lol
└Can’t we just say emperor’s incompetent? Why so wordy lol
└AbsoluteProArnoldKingKing Uneducated trash. Know my dad?
└Why? Mom not tell ya?
└Ooh lmaoooo
└Scary scary lmao
└Wtf that mean?
└Roundabout saying raised by single mom lol
Typical Gallery. Drips everywhere. But all politics now—boring. Head mod absent, or she’d rein it in. Cheonma only snipped extremes.
‘Chaeyu game tomorrow—relief.’
Politics’d get drowned by goal dopamine. Which wrecks tomorrow? ChangguPrincess safe?
Staying put anyway, easy Gallery browsing. Wandering might invite weirdos to shelter.
‘Smoked food till then.’
Shark giant sniffed me out—who knows next. No guarantee, but prep hurts none.
‘Why so cold tho?’
Not normal rain—downpour. Dampness gone, but chill set in. Campfire saved me from shivering.
ChangguPrincess’s uniform too: long sleeves/pants, great insulation.
‘Tiger skin as blanket.’
Usually carpet. Tonight, blanket. Sudden cold—fire alone not enough.
Human body frail—must stay warm. Slip, and you ascend in sleep.
Crackle! Crackle!
Added logs, raising cave temp. Chill fading. Cozy.
“Kyuuu...”
“...”
Cave pals warmed by fire. Wonmo sprawled, dozing.
‘Why’s she so chubby now?’
She’d plumped up gradually... now fully round. Soon rolling like her name. Cute tho. Rounder, cuter. Fat in wild means energy stores.
‘Cub needs to eat big.’
Scarce food here. Gaining weight’s good.
My Internal Power Method kept fat off—muscles only. Human muscle inefficient vs animals.
‘Can’t skip building it.’
Danger everywhere—muscles essential. Efficiency be damned.
Posted daily wrap-up on Gallery, lay down. Chilly weather curled me up.
“Ppareumbo-ya. Cover up. Cold out.”
“...”
Covered Wonmo, urged Ppareumbo. But he just stared, no move.
I spread blanket, inviting again. “C’mere.”
“...”
Ppareumbo backed away. Hate it that much?
‘Wait, hasn’t that guy bathed?’
Mold and bugs crawling—forgot. He slept apart. Fire-near, safe.
Before sleep, closed eyes, circulated mana. More feeling it than method. Training enough.
‘Aura Blade still no feel.’
Control ever-growing Aura? Shoved anxiety, slept. Cold worsening, but fire held.
Thus ended turbulent day. Next morning—
“Brrrr...”
Bone-chilling cold woke me early. Why so freezing? One downpour shouldn’t wreck weather like this.
‘C-campfire... light campfire first...’
Hugging myself, stepped out. And...
“...Huh?”
All white forest greeted me. Forgot cold, gawked at snowy scene. Everywhere white. Oven, furnace piled high.
That white was...
“...Snow?”
Snow. I muttered blankly.
Why called Four Seasons Forest.
“...Fucking finally.”
I kinda got it now.