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Summer. The season of scorching heat and rampant insects. In Korea, mosquitoes are the prime culprits. They're so specialized in pissing people off that even calling it "rampant" feels insufficient. Bites itch like hell, they buzz in your ears when you're trying to sleep, and catching them is a nightmare. If cockroaches are disgusting, mosquitoes are just plain annoying—that's the common refrain. No wonder creative ways to kill them have popped up everywhere. Though lately, with global warming making summers brutally hot, mosquitoes have been scarce. You'd maybe spot one or two buzzing around late summer or early fall.
But the bugs in the Four Seasons Forest? They defied description. Winter brought blizzards, spring pollen storms, and summer—swarms of insects. They announced the season's arrival by blanketing everything, blotting out the sky entirely.
'Where the hell do this many bugs even come from?'
I hustled Kkobong—who'd been chewed, bitten, tasted, and toyed with by the bugs—back into the cave. Slathered him with bug repellent, and the swarm backed off. It had solid reviews, but the effect was even better than expected.
EEEEEEEEENG!!!
After rescuing him, I peered out from the cave. An unholy horde of insects ravaged the forest, engulfing the entire Four Seasons Forest. They filled my vision completely, their noise a deafening roar. Like a helicopter hovering overhead.
'Even when I first settled here—late summer at earliest—there weren't this many.'
Early summer effect? Or just a freak occurrence? Did Rice Kraone's journal mention it? Questions piled up.
'Hope the Raccoon Family's okay. Kinda worried.'
If this was unusual, they were in real trouble. Even Kkobong would've been screwed without the repellent. A family of raccoons? Way worse. Good thing they weren't locusts, or we'd be stripped to the bone.
'...Come to think of it, locust swarms would be a total disaster.'
Locusts have a notorious rep. Korea's winters keep bugs in check, but year-round warmth elsewhere? Different story. One swarm wipes out crops entirely. If Korea's locusts are mere pests, these would be apocalyptic in perpetual summer.
'Thank god for the temperature swings.'
Constant warmth would've meant regular swarms. Horrifying to imagine. Stuck until they cleared, I settled for smoked meat breakfast. Kkobong's food? Asked Ppareumbo directly.
*Shake, shake.*
No dice. Seemed like a discipline thing. Kkobong was too shell-shocked anyway.
'Fish outside... hope the bugs don't get 'em.'
Should've covered the container. Might lose the whole stock. Boar haul yesterday helped, but still a waste.
'Gotta protect those inner cores at least.'
Waste aside, unknowns loomed larger. Bug eats an inner core and mutates? Nightmare fuel. Winter might limit it, but no guarantees.
The swarm ignored the cave entirely, so I fired up the auction house. Bought the top-reviewed repellent from before. Smeared it everywhere just in case—their total avoidance was suspicious.
'Is this really it?'
Time to test. Grabbed a rock, slathered it thick and sticky.
*Whoosh!*
Arced it out; bugs parted like the sea. It rolled to a stop, and they skirted it wide.
EEEEEENG!
Soon, they gave it a growing berth. Hated the smell, apparently.
'Damn, this stuff's legit.'
No wonder the hype. Worked even in the Four Seasons Forest. (Same high-nick made the snake version too.)
Bought more, then posted to show the chaos. Not advertising—just context.
Title: What the hell is this?
YasaengGrill
(Video: Bugs blotting out vision entirely)
(Photo: Bug-battered Kkobong)
Woke up to pitch black outside—turns out it's all bugs;; Can't do shit, activity or otherwise. Holed up in the cave.
Oh, anyone know a good bite remedy? This bastard Kkobong's scratching like crazy from the bites.
ㄴCheonma: Seen locust swarms, but vision-blockers? First time.
ㄴYasaengGrill: How do you handle 'em, Cheonma?
ㄴCheonma: This lady doesn't care for bugs either. Filthy shit, so I avoid. Scared? Pfft.
ㄴSwordTasteStar: Folks who say that are always the scared ones, though?
ㄴCheonma: Laughable. This lady, felled by mere bugs?
ㄴPost cockroach or moneybug pics, try commenting there.
ㄴBet you'd get insta-banned lol
ㄴCockroach aside, no moneybugs; Nearly passed out last time.
ㄴMoneybugs aren't that bad, right?
ㄴNah, East has moneybugs, West has grimaces
ㄴStarlightPrincess: I can whip up a salve. You get bit too, Grill?
ㄴYasaengGrill: Nah, repellent saved me. Kkobong slept outside.
ㄴStarlightPrincess: Got it. Making some now—hang tight!
ㄴYasaengGrill: Thanks. Inner core as payment?
ㄴStarlightPrincess: Not an elixir, so no need.
ㄴOlfather: Such a massive swarm... Eerie yet wondrous. Journal had something similar.
ㄴYasaengGrill: Similar?
ㄴOlfather: Aye. A zone blanketed black by bugs. Seems Rice Kraone's area was outside it.
ㄴYasaengGrill: So just here?
ㄴOlfather: Yes. Journal says they vanish quick—no worries. Though curious how.
ㄴNot entering the cave? Tent would've been tough.
ㄴYasaengGrill: Repellent. This one's killer.
ㄴWhat brand?
ㄴYasaengGrill: Top review. Icon high-nick made it—cool to name-drop?
ㄴDon'tAbandonHero: Light promo's fine! Seller eats the fees anyway!
ㄴHead mod's here. Still on the run?
ㄴDon'tAbandonHero: Docked at port, fishing! Super chill! Oh, Grill! No Ludwig yet?
ㄴYasaengGrill: Nada.
ㄴGrill, demo the effect. How good?
ㄴYasaengGrill: (Video: Bugs swerving around repellent-smeared rock) Like this. Solid, right?
ㄴHoly shit, that's amazing? Lmao
ㄴGonna grab some. Adventurers'll love it.
Accidental ad, but real-user review. No harm, I shrugged it off.
Gallery killed some time, but conclusion: wait 'em out.
'Or slather up and go out?'
Sounded good. Coated myself, tested with an arm out.
EEEEENG!!
Bugs ignored it. Whole body too—they dodged like I was one organism. Killer efficacy. Staple from now on.
'Fish check...'
*Splash! Splash!*
Barrel full—my worry was for naught. Fish were devouring bugs like mad. Whale-mouthed frenzy.
Fine as-is. Raccoons next.
*Pat pat!*
At their tree: Appa Raccoon frantically stoking a bonfire. Bugs fled the smoke.
"Keeng! Kek! Kelok!"
Poor guy, chained to the fire. Slathered repellent, handed a whole jar for the family.
Duty done, back to cave. Swarm parted surreal-ly.
'Grab 10 jars.'
Handy long-term. Hit auction—
[Sold Out]
"...?"
Blinked. "What the?" Where'd my stuff go?
*****
Gallery auctions take a brutal cut, but insane circulation covers it. Catch: earnings stay in-gallery. Fatal flaw. Thus, listings are singles or tiny batches—mostly ads. Fine for vendors, meh merit otherwise.
"Guildmaster! Bug repellent orders flooding in!"
"Uh... huh?"
"Guildmaster! Adventurer guild requesting repellent...!"
"Uh..."
Icon Guild's boss, Marshal, couldn't process. Dreaming big as usual, then boom—repellent requests exploded, stock gone.
Massive demand. First time for this stuff.
"Why's it selling? What happened? Post was just promo."
"Ever check gallery?"
"Not lately?"
"Four Seasons Forest survivor reviewed it."
"Four Seasons?"
Marshal tilted his head. Knew the high-nick survivor tale, but tuned out—busy life, no supply possible.
"Yes. That demonic forest of unknowns."
"Know someone's scraping by there. They reviewed?"
"Showed video of bugs fleeing even there. Get it?"
Oh yeah. Wheels turned. Golden opportunity. But snag: ingredients.
'...Dad's recipe.'
Father's wisdom. Meant sourcing hell. Not a core product anyway—market flooded, cutthroat comp.
After agonizing, orders to aide: "Tally incoming by priority, total volume. Demand spiked—stock uncertain."
"Yes, sir."
"Secure minimum for that survivor, steady supply. Priority one."
Marshal seized chances.
"Support with survival gear too?"
"Gear... sir?"
"Aye. Essentials."
World spun on. "Watch reviews from now."
Grill ground his teeth as premium tags hit the repellent in real time.