Wild Horse (1)
I even reinforced the bridge legs with cement, making them as sturdy as can be. Now it was solid enough that even something crawling could cross it without issue. With the Gallery field trip wrapped up, there wasn't much left to keep an eye on.
Aside from teaching Kkobong Korean and training him, everything I could or should do was done.
I'm starting to get a feel for the cold energy.
The way I'd figured out to use cold energy was like this: I'd separate it out normally and only deploy it when needed. It took time to recombine it, but once I got used to it, that'd speed up too.
What now?
Waiting around idly until the environment across the river changed or people showed up wasn't a bad plan, but it was a huge waste of time. In the ever-shifting Four Seasons Forest, the wilds—this place where everything changed by the minute—doing nothing and just hoping something happened was as good as saying you wanted to die.
Maybe train with Kkobong?
You might ask what kind of training a gorilla could offer, but what I wanted was martial arts. Kkobong's skills were on an insanely high level. Sure, his realm was lower than the leader gorilla's, but his fundamentals were rock-solid.
Me? I didn't even have proper punches, let alone fundamentals. I only seemed strong because I'd powered up like some freak—inside, I was hollow.
Beating Kkobong had only worked because he didn't know about the cold energy I had.
Cheonma said something about my qi being overwhelmingly deficient during body tempering, right?
Even Cheonma and SwordTasteStar couldn't teach me 'qi.' And I mean couldn't, not wouldn't. SwordTasteStar's posts were designed to maximize effect only if you had a foundation. So I'd asked Kkobong if he could at least teach me the basics...
"No."
"Why?"
"You. Hate."
"..."
His sassy response killed that idea instantly. Threats wouldn't work either—if I screwed up, he'd teach me some twisted crap I couldn't undo.
So, with the bridge complete and time suddenly on my hands, I thought maybe it was time for some scouting.
If that's the case, it'd be better to release Kkobong's suppressor...
Yeah, right—he'd bolt the second I did. Obvious. At least until we could fully trust each other, the suppressor stayed on.
Or just use him as a pack mule?
That seemed like the best option. My subspatial backpack reduced volume but not weight, so it was still heavy as hell. Hand it all off to Kkobong, and scouting would be a breeze. Plus, as a gorilla, he could haul the heavy stuff no problem.
The more I think about it, the better it sounds.
Having one extra worker made this big a difference. Awesome.
I was mentally mapping out a plan when I checked the actual map. With Kkobong in tow, the gorilla territory was obviously off-limits. No telling what friction might spark if we wandered in—especially if we ran into the leader. Kkobong might flip out.
"Hmm..."
Come to think of it, evening was closing in fast. Just scout for an hour or two and head back. Places I'd been before were fair game too—the seasons had changed, so checking how the terrain shifted each time was smart.
And that massive tree needs verifying.
That lone towering giant. Did Kkobong know it? Actually, better ask Appa Raccoon too, not just him.
"Kkobong. Know any spot with a tree way bigger than the rest?"
"Don't know."
"For real?"
"Yeah."
He was answering fluently already, just days after I started teaching him Korean. If even a ronin like him didn't know, time to hit up Appa Raccoon.
"Kkeang?"
"Looks like you don't know either. Thanks for the herbs anyway."
No dice, so I'd have to find it myself. But getting there would take at least a day—maybe more. Compasses didn't work there, so one wrong turn and I'd be lost forever.
Just carving marks on trees won't make reliable signposts.
Better to make proper markers and plant them everywhere new. No compass? This was the next best thing. With a worker along, transport was no issue.
"Kyuu?"
I was pondering routes when Wonmo sidled up cautiously, probably sensing something off from my face. I stared at her adorable mug—cuter now that winter had slimmed her down from chubby to perfectly plump—and scooped her up.
Her fur shed in a flash too.
Fur and fat both dropped fast. Cleaning it up was a chore, but overall she was still growing steadily.
"Alright, Wonmo. Pick a spot you wanna go."
"Kyuu?"
"Anywhere's fine."
Too vague for her to choose? Leave it to luck then. More like a walk to get fresh air than serious scouting.
Wonmo got it, peering intently at the map. Then her stubby front legs flailed cutely before pointing somewhere.
"Kyuu!"
"Here? That's..."
An empty blank on the map. Unexplored. Near the path the leader gorilla had personally cleared for me. I'd meant to check it out someday, but other stuff kept piling up.
I hesitated, then nodded. Quick in-and-out, should be fine.
"Okay, let's go. But we're coming right back, got it?"
"Kyuuu!"
Wonmo beamed at the green light for our outing. How is she this cute? I rubbed my cheek against her precious face, then set her down gently. She immediately bounced around everywhere, thrilled to be out.
"Alright, Kkobong, carry this."
"Uh."
I gave him the tools and sundries. Kept valuables like elixirs on me. Slung Ppareumbo on my back, and we were set. Set up some CCTV too, just in case someone broke in while we were gone.
Title: Long-Awaited Scouting Trip
YasaengGrill (Photo of Kkobong Turned Pack Mule)
Heading out scouting after forever. Just poking around nearby, so back soon. Pic is Kkobong as my new porter. One extra hand and it's this convenient.
ㄴCheonma) The glasses definitely make him look tamer.
ㄴSwordTasteStar) That face is full of complaints, though? lol
ㄴIf he weren't suppressed, what could he even do lol
ㄴㄹㅇ Fr, like he can do more than grumble lol
ㄴYasaengGrill) Kkobong's cursing in Korean now. Says I taught him.
ㄴCheck that learning speed;; Smarter than most people, no?
ㄴ보실수록 so true lol
ㄴOlfather) Out on an excursion, eh? What do you expect to find this time?
ㄴYasaengGrill) Unicorn shows up, pic incoming.
ㄴOlfather) If you do, I'd appreciate the horn. Heh heh.
ㄴYasaengGrill) That expensive?
ㄴGotta get stabbed by one to learn;;
ㄴHunters who've died to unicorn horns? Plenty. Just ignore 'em.
ㄴNasty tempers too—best not to engage.
I'd just tossed out a joke, but the warnings flooded in. Guess their tempers were worse than I'd imagined. Knew it since the virgin-only rider crap. No sane personality would act like that.
Well, that's if I actually meet a real unicorn.
I headed down the path the leader gorilla had carved. Wonmo up front, Kkobong bringing up the rear—formation set. Probably stick with it awhile.
Nothing much changed...
I'd figured the path led to ordinary woods. Nope. This area felt barren more than lush. Gray zone all the way—fallen leaves, trees, everything. Scorched traces everywhere.
Recent wildfire?
Nah, a fire would've wiped it clean.
More like all the moisture got sucked out, turning everything gray. Something off here. I proceeded cautiously.
"Hey, Kkobong. Know why this place is like this?"
"Fire."
"Fire?"
"Fire."
All he said was 'fire.' Seemed like that explained the gray, but details? No clue. Good thing it was far from shelter, or I'd have taken a hit too.
What fire-related thing could turn a whole zone like this?
Not a spatial shift like across the river. Felt more like 'fire' had claimed this whole area as its territory.
I stepped carefully through the leaves, checking for venomous bugs.
Whooooosh—
"..."
Then I spotted a cave that screamed bad vibes the instant I saw it. My gut said someone was inside. Better not disturb the owner.
Right as I turned to sneak away quietly.
"Kyuu!"
Wonmo spotted some new critter and bolted straight in. Vanished into the dark in a blink. I jolted, about to chase after her—
Whoosh!
"Kyaaaack!!!"
A massive blaze lit up the whole cave. Wonmo realized it was bad news and hightailed it out, trembling behind my legs. She was bold usually—this level of fear meant serious trouble.
Clack-clack-clack-clack—
Soon, flames rose from the cave, advancing slowly. The insane heat forced me back, stumbling. Now I got why the woods were gray and bone-dry.
Shaaaa—
I stirred my inner energy, ready to unleash cold at any second.
Finally, the territory's master emerged from the cave.
...A horse?
The flame-wreathed beast was a horse—and a big one. I had to crane my neck a bit to meet its eyes. Flames flickered where a mane should be. Eyes blazing like engulfed in fire. Pitch-black body radiating menace.
"...Prff."
It huffed like, Why interrupt my nap? I backed away slowly, hands up—no fight here. Wild horses had foul tempers; no point provoking it.
Slowly... slowly back...
Thud!
A pebble sailed over the flame horse's head. Landed with a clink! on its skull.
Roooar!!
Flames surged fiercer. To prove its rage, the fire shifted from red to blue.
"Fucking perfect?"
"..."
And the culprit who threw it was grinning ear to ear. Clearly messing with me on purpose. Figured if I died, great; if not, he could run.
"You little shit!"
You're getting a padlock on those glasses later.
*****
Just before Grill clashed with the flame horse, out on the plains.
Ludwig was still mounted on his giraffe. His leg wound was too severe for walking. He'd scavenged what herbs he could for first aid, but it wasn't enough.
Have to amputate?
The injured area was clearly necrotizing. When circulating mana, that spot alone seemed to vanish.
Bracing for the worst, Ludwig gazed across the river. Just barren rock over there now.
-Groooar!!
-ROOOAR!!
And two massive beasts were duking it out. Skins tough as armored elephants. Legs thicker than an elephant's, perfect balance. Tusks sharpened to blades.
Fear-inducing just to look at.
This the 'river-view fireworks' they meant?
Ludwig watched the beasts battle impassively.
"Aaaahhot!!!"
One had plunged straight into the flames, though.