Wild Horses (2)
The greatest troll of all time, all thanks to Kkobong. We'd barely started, and things went sideways right away. He'd poked the temper of a flame horse that didn't look ordinary even at a glance. I figured he'd pulled this stunt just to mess with me, but...
"Ukiiaaaak!"
"Heeheeheehiiing!"
What kind of place is the Four Seasons Forest? Even raccoons are sharp, but gorillas here boast intelligence on par with humans. And horses, even back in my world, were basically at the top of the smarts scale among animals. Wild horses, contrary to their image, live in herds. Naturally, they follow set rules, so their social skills are top-notch too.
We already know all too well what happens when an already clever animal starts living in the Four Seasons Forest, right? Yeah. This horse was way sharper than I'd imagined—great instincts and quick to read the situation.
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from the flame horse's mouth, not at me, but straight at Kkobong. The guy couldn't even use mana, so he was too busy dodging to fight back. The flame horse zeroed in on Kkobong, ignoring me completely. Did it know I was innocent(?), or had it caught the culprit red-handed? Either way, I got to watch leisurely from a safe distance.
The heat was intense, but not unbearable.
"Kkhiing."
"This is yummy. Eat up."
I even fed the flame horse's foals while I was at it. I'd wondered why it freaked out the second it saw Wonmo—turns out there were babies in the cave. True to form, the foals' flames weren't as big as their mom's. Their eyes flickered like tiny embers.
"Wuak! Kuak! Kkueeek!"
"Whoa, she's really giving it to him."
After the chase, the flame horse chomped down on Kkobong and started spinning him around like a top. Kkobong's no small fry, but her bite force must be insane. She toyed with him for a while before hurling him far away. His white fur was charred black; he was a total mess. He twitched now and then, so he was still breathing, at least.
Serves you right—don't play dirty tricks.
He probably thought I'd take off the suppressor if he got me in a bind. Considering the flame horse's power, it was a solid plan. I could sense he'd schemed about Ppareumbo too. Kkobong knew Ppareumbo was our ultimate last resort.
Did he catch on last time when he begged me for training and I brushed him off? He'd seen me train, so he'd been plotting since then. I have no idea what twisted logic led him to provoke another creature, but one thing was clear: hoist with his own petard.
Idiot.
I snickered inwardly at Kkobong while subtly gauging the flame horse. She'd vented her rage and approached her foals. She glanced at me and nodded toward the exit, like get lost. No interest in fighting, I backed off quietly. We'd started it, after all.
"Qyuueeng! Qyueng!"
"Kkuiiing!"
As I left, the foals started wailing. I'd only given them some emergency Wall Valley Pills and petted them a few times, but they'd already gotten attached. While the mom soothed them, I headed to Kkobong. His mouth hung open like his soul was half gone. Smoke even wafted from it.
He protected those glasses to the end, huh. Funny—he'd guarded them fiercely, not wanting to lose his new eyes.
Waste of an elixir, but... no choice.
I dosed Kkobong with an elixir. Half a bottle—didn't want to waste a full one. His fur wasn't my problem; healing the worst wounds was enough.
Crackle!
"Wuaaaang!"
Healing aside, punishment was due. I smacked his arm hard with my palm, triggering the suppressor. He flailed from the stinging current, worse than flames. Given the situation, I kept it short instead of cursing.
"We'll talk at home."
"......"
Kkobong said nothing. Probably couldn't. He might mouth off to me, but he's still a slave. Today's stunt could've endangered me, so I needed a more serious approach. My mind was made up—I'd rethink how to handle him. Even if harsh, I needed efficient, effective methods. Carrots work, but sticks too.
Tap tap.
As I wrapped things up to head out, Ppareumbo on my back poked my nape with a claw. Curious, I turned. He pointed at himself with a talon.
Leave Kkobong to me?
Like I said, Kkobong's still a beast at heart. Even if he speaks fluently, beasts have their ways. Since Ppareumbo stepped up, handing him over made sense.
He's the top dog here anyway. I watch my step around him without Wall Valley Pills. And I owed him my life multiple times. He slacks off daily, but he gets shit done.
"Kkuiiiik!"
"Whoa, this area's all fire beasts?"
First, scouting. I marveled at a wild boar with flames instead of a mane.
Fire boar, I guess? No wonder the area's ashen.
"Kkuiiiiik!"
"Hot hot hot!!!"
Its temper matched. I barely dodged its fire breath. No blocking that—even a shield would burn you. I wrapped my body in aura instead. Couldn't absorb it all, but some protection was better than none.
"Kkuiiiik!!!"
The boar snorted flames and scraped the ground with its front hoof. Clear warning: I'm charging. And it did, wreathed in fire, radiating massive pressure.
Swoosh.
But that was its mistake. What sword was I holding? I just positioned Cheonma's blade in its path. It barreled right through, cleanly bisected, then flopped down—frozen solid by the cold aura. The cleaved edges stuck like glued by ice.
No rot worries.
Dinner sorted. I stored the boar in my subspace backpack and headed back. No other beasts en route.
"Qyu iiiing!"
"Qyuhee ing! Qyuhee ing!"
The foals clung to me, though—wanting more pills or pets? I barely pried them off and returned to the shelter.
Animals like human touch because we scratch hard-to-reach spots, right? Makes sense. Plus the pills—I must've registered as the nice uncle. Wanted to tame them, but flame manes? I'd burn up riding one. Pass.
Even absorbing fire essence wouldn't help. I could wield cold now, but no cold resistance.
Back at shelter, dinner prep. First, butcher the half-frozen boar.
...How do I even do this?
Tiger meat hadn't been an issue. But this was already split, edges frozen. Thaw it, and no membrane to hold guts—everything spills.
Bloodletting's a pain. Just eat the good parts.
Missed samgyeopsal. Wonder if they call this cut that here.
Stumped, I posted on the Gallery.
Subject: Caught a wild boar, YasaengGrill (pic of bisected frozen boar)
How do I butcher this? It's split and refrozen—tips pls.
ㄴCheonma: What a sturdy-looking boar. Meat after so long.
ㄴYasaengGrill: Looking forward to it.
ㄴSwordTasteStar: Reminds me of my knight days hunting boars.
ㄴYasaengGrill: Ever eat snakes?
ㄴSwordTasteStar: Of course. We'd eat anything back then—we were starving.
ㄴAigoo. Splitting it makes butchering a nightmare.
ㄴGut it and bleed first. Hack off the head.
ㄴOnly ribs edible?
ㄴBoar's tough—stick to tender bits.
ㄴStarlightPrincess: That boar's weird-looking. You okay?
ㄴYasaengGrill: Mane like flames, snorted fire.
ㄴStarlightPrincess: Sounds like a fire boar?
ㄴYasaengGrill: Rare?
ㄴStarlightPrincess: Elemental beast—super rare. Structure's same as regular boar, though. Hide infused with fire warmth—great for clothes. High value in cold areas.
Already halved, tough harvest. Still, worth trying. Winter gear if unsellable.
I butchered carefully, bagged guts, and ordered Kkobong to dump them in the river. He obeyed without gripe—flame horse fiasco teach him? Nah, sly fox faking it. No letting guard down. Affection only after true submission.
Decent haul. Sizzle sizzle—
"Kya."
Meat's always right. Fish good, but meat's color, aroma... And plenty today.
Plus freezing now? Game-changer. Meat party ahead. Mix in fish.
Passed Wonmo a big chunk. Her eyes sparkled.
"Wagu! Wagu! Wagu!"
"Tasty?"
"Qyu! Nyam nyam!!!"
Wonmo buried her face in it. I petted: "Slow down."
"You want some?"
"......"
Ppareumbo, fine with pills, took a rib bite. Chewed slowly—likes it?
Kkobong next... "Wu!" Demanding like he earned it. Pitiful face—
Smack!
Ppareumbo zipped over, slapped his cheek. Shocking from the sloth. Kkobong's eyes bulged, stunned.
"......"
Ppareumbo pointed cheek-rib-me-rib. Respect me first if you want food. Didn't like Kkobong's stunt either.
Shoo.
Kkobong had no choice—suppressed, starving. Food = life in wild. Brutal punishment.
"......"
He slunk back, dejected glances. Self-inflicted. Not pitiful.
Hope he doesn't snap. Anyway, ignore—enjoy ribs.
Why smoky? Damn good. Fire essence. Lucky streak.
Weeeeng.
Post-dinner cleanup, bug landed on hand. Caught pre-bite—dodged germs.
Need bug spray. Summer coming—bugs rampant. Bought, applied everywhere. Snakes too. Zero tolerance.
Summer surprises? No mosquito swarms, pls.
And sure enough.
Weeeeeeng!!!
Next morning, speechless at the horrific swarm outside. Pitch-black, zero visibility. Without spray? They'd invade, feast on me. Tent saved us.
...Dark swarm? Plagues next?
"Ukiiaak! Aaaak!"
"Oh. Right."
He slept outside. Forgot.