Neighbors (2): An Unexpected Neighbor's Arrival
I have no idea why the raccoon family decided to move here, but it's not bad news—far from it. For starters, the raccoons are smart and polite. That's more than enough to make them way more likable than those gorilla bastards. Plus, they handle fire pretty well, so if we cooperate going forward, they'll be a huge help. To make that happen, I need to figure out what this family wants.
The basics are probably food... but that shouldn't be an issue.
The Four Seasons Forest is abundant in prey, regardless of hunting difficulty. I don't know exactly what raccoons eat, but they're probably omnivores. And since they're 'neighbors' rather than 'family' like Ppareumbo or Wonmo, they'll handle their own needs to some extent. Just helping them in real emergencies should suffice.
"Keng. Keong."
"This is your house?"
Thanks to the raccoon family's guidance, I'd scoped out their home. It was a tree not far from the cave—close enough to call it right next door. A massive hole gaped in the thick trunk's center. Looked like that's where they lived.
Good thing I never planned to chop it down.
If it overlapped with my logging plans, it would've been a hassle. But it didn't, and it was near enough for frequent visits. I watched the raccoon family slip into the tree hole. Then a raccoon poked its head out, followed by the baby raccoon beside it.
Can't resist snapping this.
I immediately pulled up the Gallery and took photos.
Raccoon Family Moved In
YasaengGrill
(Raccoon family appearing in front photo)
(Herbs from the raccoon photo)
(Raccoon family peeking from nest photo)
(Raccoon waving happily photo)
The raccoon family that came to my cave has moved nearby. They gave me these herbs as a housewarming gift or whatever. Their home's a hole in a nearby tree. We'll probably visit each other often.
ㅇㅇ At least they're way more sociable than those gorilla kids.
I like having neighbors too.
└Cheonma What cute neighbors. Hope you all get along well.
└SwordTasteStar Whoa, jealous. I don't even have neighbors.
└Cheonma As if you'd ever go outside anyway. What neighbors?
└SwordTasteStar Shit, do you have neighbors? You're a shut-in too.
└Cheonma This lady has subjects, not neighbors. They bring me nice things now and then, like that raccoon. Have you ever shared with yours?
└SwordTasteStar ...No?
└Cheonma Show your face once in a while. Some people will like you just for that. Ah, unless you're ugly—then it'd backfire.
└SwordTasteStar I'm pretty, -_-
└Proof or it didn't happen.
└No proof = fake lol
└Cheonma prove it too. Who's uglier lol
└Cheonma As I said before, this lady once held the title of the world's greatest beauty.
└SwordTasteStar By that logic, I'm famous as a beauty too haha
└JangangDutcheon Lmao wild
└Who's the greatest beauty in Jungwon?
└Old era was Yang Seol-hwa, now it's Cheonma but the rumors are scary.
└What rumors?
└Something like even covered in others' blood, her beauty shines through? Brutal but yeah.
└Cheonma's old title was Blood Flower, right? Before we believed it was her.
└Blood-soaked flower whoa
└whoa whoa whoa
└Don'tAbandonHero Wow! So cute! But regretfully, 1-hour ban!
└YasaengGrill ??? Why? What'd I do wrong?
└Don'tAbandonHero No video! Video! Upload a video and I'll let it slide!
└YasaengGrill (raccoon family video) This good?
└Don'tAbandonHero Letting it slide this once!
└Just this once...
└Judaek This bitch tells sub-mods not to abuse power but does it herself lmao
└Classic hypocrisy passive for badges lol
└Still cute tho lol
└That's a baby? Wanna hug it.
└What if Grill takes the baby?
└Just visiting next door lol
└Ah.
└But won't Wonmo eat it?
└Wonmo: Woke up and emergency rations increased??
└Who were the original rations? Grill? lol
└Totally emergency rations lmao
I'd said it as a joke, but I couldn't just brush it off. Even if I'd accepted the raccoons as neighbors, would Wonmo? Ppareumbo seemed to approve, but Wonmo's appetite was unpredictable.
Weather's warming up, so Wonmo should wake soon.
I looked up at the sky—not the tree—and exhaled. The temperature felt noticeably higher. My breath was thinning out. By tomorrow, the seasons would fully shift, or at least show signs.
I'll know when Wonmo stirs.
Wonmo had hibernated right as winter hit, so the reverse should hold. I stared at the raccoon family a bit longer, then headed back to the cave. Since they were good with fire, I planned to light a bonfire in the yard.
Crackle! Pop pop!
I built the bonfire for the raccoons and went inside. Time to identify those herbs they'd given instead of rice cakes.
Cheonma would know this stuff best, right?
Cheonma was an expert on inner cores and such herbs. Even if not, she'd sense the energy inside quick. I examined the pristine white snow ginseng from all angles, then messaged her.
Cheonma, you there?
Cheonma Speak.
That photo in my post—the white ginseng-like thing.
Cheonma I saw it. No ordinary herb. This lady suspects it's snow ginseng, brimming with yin energy.
Want it? Too risky to eat raw.
Cheonma Understood. I'll check and reply.
I sent the white ginseng to Cheonma. Reply shouldn't take long. In the meantime, I pondered how to get along with the raccoon family. Just bonfires might not cut it.
They find herbs well—could be a big help?
If the white ginseng proved valuable, I'd ask directly: I'll give you food; you give me herbs. Eat them myself or have Cheonma make Wall Valley Pills. Mutual aid, economy in motion. No currency, but whatever.
Cheonma You still there?
Yeah.
Figured it out?
Cheonma That raccoon gave you a real treasure. Not mere ginseng—holds power rivaling a millennium root.
Super rare, right?
Cheonma Not quite as rare as doll snow ginseng or the king of ginsengs, ten-thousand-year emperor, but still extremely precious. The heavy yin energy's an issue, but you already bear cold qi, so no big problem.
Can it make Wall Valley Pills?
Cheonma Possible, but a shame. Better for you to consume it.
How long till the next Wall Valley Pills?
Cheonma One batch nearly done.
I'll pay with that. Hard enough controlling energy now—eating this could cause trouble.
Cheonma Fair point. I'll give it to an aide. She can sell high.
That'll help more than me.
I asked Cheonma to hold on, then headed out. Had a question for the raccoon.
"Keeoong."
"Keng."
"King king."
The family huddled by the bonfire outside, warming their chilled bodies with outstretched paws. The baby raccoon's fern-like hands were adorable.
Nice... but...
Having neighbors was great, but I'd leave someday. Until then, we'd rub along. Their goodwill made it easy. Mutual benefit till then.
"Raccoon."
"Keng?"
Calling it worked—it perked up. Mate and baby too, all looking at me.
Should I name them? Or stick to Appa Raccoon?
I took Appa Raccoon aside. He followed without suspicion. Inside the cave, I went straight to the map—my explorations marked out.
"Here, Appa Raccoon. See what you gave me?"
"Keng."
"Can you give me more like this? If so..."
Rattle—I showed the white snow ginseng and dragged over the ice chest. Still-packed frozen fish inside. Eco-frozen storage.
"I'll give you this fish. Frozen now, but weather'll thaw it soon."
"...".
"Don't like fish? Wall Valley Pills coming soon—I can give those."
Thud—suddenly, a hand on my shoulder. Turned: Ppareumbo staring.
No food for me, and you give that away?
Ppareumbo rarely greedy, but Wall Valley Pills were different. Especially after gorillas stole last batch.
"You eat one anyway. And we can make more with his herbs."
"...".
"He's basically a Wall Valley Pill supplier. Cut him slack."
Ppareumbo relented at my persuasion. Forest's herb heaven, but I'm clueless. Better leave to experts(?). With fair pay.
"...".
Appa Raccoon pondered my offer. Distrust? Or 'trade' risks? Family to feed.
But he trusted me enough.
"Keng!"
He extended his tiny paw, accepting heartily. I shook it—deal sealed.
Not done, though. Had to warn him. That's why the map.
"See here and here? Gorillas live there. Hostile to intruders—stay out."
"Keng."
"Kangaroo cave here. See that pig-looking one? Attacked me on sight. Not friendly. Lake below—and on the way, deer..."
I detailed dangers meticulously. New area for them, maybe.
Deal done, sent white ginseng to Cheonma.
Lucky to get good neighbors.
Partners now? As long as we get along.
Maybe build them a house by the bonfire?
Worth considering.
*****
Around the same time, at the Heavenly Demon Cult.
"SHIM! LOOK AT THIIIISSSS!!!"
A demon clutched the pristine white ginseng, bellowing like the world was ending. The demon: Wisarak. Cheonma had gifted it casually after summoning him.
Initially puzzled, he soon sensed the immense inner power.
From Grill for sure... but this?!
In money terms: years of budget. Inner cores traceable, hard to sell. Ginseng? "Dug it from the backyard~" done.
In a money-and-might world, worth more than drought rain to Wisarak. No—herald of bumper crops.
Cheonma is divine. Grill invincible.
His fondness for Grill skyrocketed.