Neighbors (3)
Handing off the subcontract to Appa Raccoon meant less work for me and a ton of saved time. Time was more precious than gold to me right now—no, more like diamonds. So I planned to manage him smoothly, making sure he didn't hold any grudges.
But how do you even build a house? Since he'd be a frequent neighbor from now on, I thought about making a small shelter in the yard. But I was a bit stumped on what kind of structure he'd like. He already had a neat nest set up, so I had no intention of making him move. This was just for a shelter. A spot to relax comfortably by a bonfire during the cold winter.
A full house might be too much— a shelter should be just right. As long as it let him feel the full warmth of the fire, that'd be enough. Problem was, my own nose was barely above water, so I couldn't build it right away. The forge and oven came first, not the raccoon family's shelter. Like I said, they already had a nest, so I could make it when I had some spare time.
At least lay down a mat or something. I checked the wind direction. Taking the cave entrance as reference, it was blowing steadily from behind. Wind was consistent, at least, which made planning easier.
More importantly, make sure Wonmo doesn't see them as food. Before hibernation, Wonmo had been plump and round, but now she was skin and bones. In less than ten days, she'd bulked up fast, then slimmed right back down. Ppareumbo, on the other hand, seemed resistant to the cold—no changes there.
It's been three weeks already since I started living here. Today marked exactly day 21, the start of week three. Another week, and it'd be four—a full month. At first, time dragged like hell, but lately it flew by. Probably because winter meant short days, and I mostly holed up in the shelter, so it felt faster.
Not a good sign. Experience piling up was fine. But that didn't mean I'd gotten any escape intel. Adapting and escaping were two different beasts. Still, it wasn't zero gains. I'd learned a crucial bit: don't even think about escaping when winter hits. Getting swept by an avalanche would end me.
Tadak! Tadak!
"Kkiing."
"Neng."
I was sketching out the full shelter layout when Eomma Raccoon and Saekki Raccoon gathered by the bonfire. Appa Raccoon was off working, so why were these two here?
But what's that on the stick? Especially the stick in Saekki Raccoon's paw—it grabbed my eye. Something was skewered on it. As questions piled up, Saekki Raccoon held the stick preciously with both paws. She glanced at me, then cautiously approached.
"Kkiing."
Saekki Raccoon offered me the stick she'd held so carefully. I wondered if she could handle fire like Appa Raccoon, but no. Clear as day, a golden-roasted grub was impaled on it.
Creatures in the Four Seasons Forest were huge, even as kids. Saekki Raccoon was already small-dog sized. And that grub on the stick? No ordinary size either.
"...This for me to eat?"
"Neng."
I pointed at myself to ask, and she nodded affirmatively. What the hell was this? I glanced at Eomma Raccoon—she had her paws clasped tight, eyes pleading please accept my child's kindness. What raccoon makes eyes like that?
Bugs are kinda iffy, but... Couldn't refuse a heartfelt gift. Close my eyes, choke it down once, and it'd be fine.
"Thanks. I'll dig in."
"...!"
The second I thanked her, Saekki Raccoon scampered off. Hid right behind Eomma Raccoon. Shy, apparently. But peeking out expectantly? Kid(?) was hoping.
Couldn't crush a child's expectations. Neighbor's gift and all. I inspected the surprisingly well-roasted grub, then popped it in my mouth whole. At least it's cooked, so it'll taste like protein...
Splurtch!
"...!"
...Or so I thought. A seriously ominous sound came from my mouth. And with it, something slimy and sticky oozed out.
Was it wrong to judge by human standards? Or did the kid undercook it without knowing? I fought down the nausea rising from my gut and forced myself to chew.
...Right. In emergencies, you eat 'em raw anyway. Couldn't disappoint Saekki Raccoon, so I powered through. Swallowing was the real crisis—the texture and taste were historically awful.
"Mmm, delicious!"
"Kkiing! Neng!"
"Kiing."
I thumbs-upped it, and Saekki Raccoon bounced with joy. Eomma Raccoon petted her head but kept sneaking glances at me. Yeah, definitely undercooked.
Saekki Raccoon gave me a gift YasaengGrill (photo of Saekki Raccoon holding out the stick) (photo of thick grub skewered on the stick)
That wasn't the only neighbor gift. Baby raccoon roasted it herself over the fire lol. A bit underdone, but I ate it anyway.
└Cheonma Every time I see these guys, I think—they really know manners.
└SwordTasteStar Eugh. Why's that grub so huge? Four Seasons Forest thing?
└YasaengGrill Probably? Everything here's massive.
└Was it tasty, bug?
└Looks plump and delicious.
└Eww;; Anyone actually like eating bugs?
└Goblins don't eat 'em? They got that nature-loving vibe, right? Bet they do.
└GrowTrees Eek! We don't eat bugs! Elves love meat too!
└Elves eating meat? Can't picture it.
└Probably prejudice. Goblins are political geniuses—built that eco-image.
└Yeah, opposites of demons, so they milk it. Plus World Tree.
└They're catching flak now for nonstop tree-planting, but still no bugs lol
└What do dark elves eat? Desert—no meat, right?
└SunForever We got sweet jujubes. Who needs meat? lol
└Tons of dark elves got diabetes from those lololol
└True, they're sweet. Top export.
└So Grill, tasty? Looks yummy, all plump.
└YasaengGrill One bite and guts exploded out my mouth.
└GYAAAAAH!!!
└Kuhhhh;;
└Ugh;; Imagining it makes me hurl.
└You finish it?
└YasaengGrill Baby raccoon staring all expectant—how could I not? Choked it down.
└She was pranking you with that shit lololol
└Pure evil lololol
└Devil raccoon lololol
└Devilcoon lolol
└StarlightPrincess That's weird. Raccoons usually wash food in water first. Why roast it?
└Still folks who don't get Four Seasons Forest. There's reasons for everything.
└StarlightPrincess What's the reason? Don't spout nonsense.
└Water-washing raccoons all died off. Didn't see the river by Grill's place? Poison-frog ambush lol
└Convincing...!
└Four Seasons Forest overrides instincts ㄷㄷ
└StarlightPrincess For once, not moronic. Yeah, raccoons wash food. Funny vid of one despairing after cotton candy dissolved. But smart learners—stopped after losing a few. Forest raccoons probably same. Learned water > fire danger.
Fire ability because of that too? Weirdly convincing. Not impossible.
To wash away the lingering grossness, I took a bite of smoked meat. More palate cleanser than meal—snack level.
Bananas are peak snack, though. Thinking snacks brought back the gorilla's bananas. Tossed 'em instead of Wall Valley Pills, total scam trade. But damn tasty. Forest-exclusive, though—their turf. No-go zone, so no munching.
Forest got no fruit at all? Mushrooms galore, fruit? Nah. Or just nasty rotten stuff.
Idle thoughts over—I closed my eyes and circulated the technique. Shelter design was roughed out. Now wait for next season. Nothing else to do but train.
Cold qi clumping bit by bit... Separating from mana going smooth. First times hardest—once momentum hits, easy. But no slacking sword training. Balance is key, I knew that well.
"Hoo."
Training wrapped—lunchtime already. Time to eat, I thought—
-Keeeeng!!! Keeng!!!
A raccoon's scream pierced from outside. More shriek than shout. Sounded like Appa Raccoon. Anxiety spiked; I bolted out armed.
Yard empty, but screams from their nest. I headed there geared up.
"Sususuk-"
"Keeng!! Keng!!"
As expected—neighbors in peril. Huge snake climbing their tree. Appa Raccoon at the entrance, torch in paw, resisting fiercely. Eomma and Saekki probably inside.
"Take this, you bastard!"
I charged the snake. It sensed me—body curved, then sprang back like a spring. Insane elasticity, pure Four Seasons Forest beast.
"Shaaaa!!!"
It leaped from another tree, mouth wide—dripping fangs. Old me would've panicked. But forest-seasoned now. I sidestepped casually, slashed down.
Sek!
Cheonma's sword plus aura—clean bisect. Wound froze over, spreading. Vs steel-scale snake prepped me—no holding back.
Flail! Flail! Crackle!
Writhing hard at first, soon fully iced. I lopped the head for good measure. Dead for sure.
Snake should've been hibernating... means... Winter's ending, confirmed.
I kicked the frozen head far off, turned. Appa Raccoon with torch—finally relieved.
"You okay?"
"Keeng."
Bowed deeply in thanks. Family peeked out, grateful too.
No torch, and it'd have eaten him. Lucky. Most beasts fear fire—even snakes. Appa could breathe flames too, so snake wary. Stalemate till I showed.
Thought to spray snake repellent soon—but family climbed down.
"Keng!"
Poked the frozen snake body. Wanna eat it?
"Eat?"
"Keeng."
"Hm..."
Big enough for all. Never had snake, but... fresh kill, can't waste. Fridge ready now too.
"Yeah. Let's eat."
"Keng."
Appa nodded, went back in—returned holding something.
"Keeng!"
Brown mushroom. Looked ordinary. Hated shrooms, but must have reason. Maybe knew effects?
"What's this do? Shrooms kinda sketchy..."
"Keeng."
Got it? Instead of words, he demonstrated. Whoosh—whoosh—vigorously shaking hips back and forth. Arms too.
No explanation needed. Man or beast, guys are guys.
...But I got no use for it? Rubbing in he has a mate?