Luck (2)
Day 40 had dawned. With the routine settling in, time was flying by surprisingly fast. It wasn't all great, but it wasn't terrible either. No injuries, still in one piece—no complaints there. I decided to count my blessings. All I had to do was glance at Ludwig van Errolt's leg to know I was one of the lucky ones. Early on, he'd nearly died from a mad dog bite, only saved by SwordTasteStar's help.
Title: Today's Gallery Lord—YasaengGrill (Wonmo sound asleep) (Wonmo stretching out a paw for food) (Wonmo chowing down happily) (Wonmo startled with a "Doooong!")
Here's today's Gallery Lord pic. You guys don't have one, huh? lol
ㄴCheonma) Hm. This lady wants one too.
ㄴSwordTasteStar) Raise that thing and your house is toast.
ㄴGrills is barely managing it too, right?
ㄴYeah, skip a meal and it'll eat Grills instead
ㄴTrue master lol
One small change to my daily routine: photos. I still posted every morning upon waking, but starting yesterday, I added Wonmo shots too. The second Gallery Lord showed up, everyone swarmed in, recommendations pouring like rain. Points rolled in, and I got to brag a bit—win-win.
'Of course, our Tyrano's cute too.' No playing favorites, so I made sure to post Tyrano pics as well. After breakfast, I messaged one high-nick user. Daramjwi's promised time had come; time to plant a World Tree sapling here too.
[GrowTrees: Ah! Sorry! I haven't prepared yet! Afternoon okay?]
[YasaengGrill: Sure. No rush—I'm the one getting the help anyway.]
[GrowTrees: Thank you! Just a bit longer!]
Too bad it got pushed to later. Busy folks gonna busy. Still, plenty to do. Summer hadn't hit full swing yet—no bug swarms meant I could scout around. I packed up quick and headed to Daramjwi's area. Just a look-see, so I asked Ludwig van Errolt to guard the shelter.
Arriving at Daramjwi territory—my second shelter now.
"Whoa."
I let out a gasp at the World Tree sapling Daramjwi had nurtured. As expected from Ratatosk's descendants, legendary beasts. What started as a plain sapling had grown into a proper tree.
'Looks ordinary enough...'
The World Tree appeared no different from any tree at first glance. But it was perfectly symmetrical, leaves sparkling like jewels in the light. Alvenheim's was city-sized, so this was just a baby.
"Chijik!"
While admiring it, a sound buzzed in my ear. Turning, I spotted Daramjwi peeking from a freshly dug tree hole—right after the tree grew, no doubt. I asked,
"All done now?"
"Chijik! Chik!"
"Conditions met. Just dig the holes now."
Kkobong, tagging along, translated. Come to think of it, where were the Mamuts? Scanning around, I found them quick.
"Kkyaaang!"
"Kyaaang!"
"You guys fighting again?"
Poking each other's chests. Always brawling. Construction crew or not, I soothed them gently. Turns out, it was over food—hilarious, like humans arguing.
'Just like people.'
"Figure out lunch yourselves. Priority's the tunnels." We needed their tunnels for transport.
"Can you take me through one?"
They paused their spat and led me to it.
"Wait, tunnel? This is just a door?"
Not a tunnel—a piled-up earth doorway. More convenient, honestly. Even Largo could duck in. Still curious, I asked why.
"Kkaang. Kang."
"You're too big. Piling's easier."
Made sense. Four Seasons Forest beasts were sharp. But not done yet—needed their help at my shelter too.
'Test first, though.'
Had to verify if this "portal" really teleported. Asking the Mamuts, they'd anticipated—installed one nearby in the bushes, hidden well. Ready, I stood tensely at the entrance. Pitch black beyond—no glow, just unnerving void.
"...This is safe, right?"
"Kkaang!"
Thumping chests like "trust us." No mistakes from them. Steel myself, step in. Sucking sensation, then—familiar forest. Turn: World Tree sapling and Mamuts facing opposite.
"Whoa..."
Teleportation? Piece of cake. Performance? Mind-blowing. Boosted escape odds big time. Priceless workforce.
"Good job. Here's a Wall Valley Pill each."
"Chijik!"
"Kkaang!"
Handing them out with thanks. Next jobs? Vigorous nods. No sapling yet, but soon. Squeeze—
"Got it, got it. No running out of Wall Valley Pill seeds, so chill."
Reassuring food-worried Ppareumbo. Skipped last time, greedy now. Maybe the three extras? Tidied up, back to shelter.
'Nothing till the sapling arrives.'
Just Ludwig van Errolt's training. Progress kept me compliant. Style switch threw me briefly, but adapted fast.
"Alright, lunch time."
"Kyuu!"
"Piiik!"
Lunch done, waited for GrowTrees's message. And waited. Till evening. Busy? Didn't nag, but worried a tad.
'Don't push. World Tree saplings are rare.'
I'm the eager one. Cut trade? Disaster. So, wait. Browsed Gallery meanwhile.
[Elf Queen's big reveal tomorrow.]
[Queen causing another mess?]
[What's she unveiling...?]
Elf Queen stirring trouble again. Week ago, national address. Speech showed skill, but radical streak's the issue.
'Let's see... New machine tomorrow? From elves?'
Skimming: machine announcement. Elves, not dwarves? Odd. But she's no liar, from what I'd heard. Not my problem, shrugged off.
'Bugs tomorrow maybe. Prep.'
Sealed entrance with tent, slathered repellent. Ludwig van Errolt, new to forest summers, questioned but helped once explained.
"#$%%^^?"
[Asking if sky whales are real.]
"They are. Good luck, maybe another dragon lily."
Ludwig van Errolt curious too—mythic beast. Blew my mind first time. Prepped thoroughly, day passed uneventfully.
Weeeeeeng!!!
Next morning: summer hit, massive bug swarm. Ludwig van Errolt's shock—first time this bad. Sleeping out? Bug food.
'He was on plains—no bites? Lucky guy.'
Aris blessing? Breakfast inside: prepped meat.
"Nom nom!"
"Nom nom!"
"Tasty?"
Wonmo and Tyrano devouring—mood boost. Pics and vids, of course. Cuteness must spread. Breakfast done, endless Gallery scrolling—
-Bwoooo!
Familiar whale cry outside. Peeked, lifted tent slightly. Bugs swarming, but repellent held.
Shoooo!
Sky whale sucking them up. Trees shook, but safe. Bugs gone, took Ludwig van Errolt out.
-Bwoooo!
Head up: massive whale tail-flicking through sky. Mythic sky whale. Ludwig van Errolt gawked.
"Whoa..."
[Impressive.]
Cain's first live sight too—gasp. Even holy knights marvel at wonders. Sky whales in myths and fairy tales, apparently.
-Plop!
Snapping pics/vids—sky whale excreted, like before. Dragon lily for sure. "Everyone see that? Gotta grab it."
[Wait, sky whale shit?]
"Yep. We need it."
"......"
Ludwig van Errolt and Cain's faces—priceless. But priceless item. 'Olfather hasn't figured full effects...' Uses aplenty. Fertilizer worst case. Geared up, traced drop path—
"Ah. Can't get this one."
[Why?]
"That area's... scary."
Gorilla territory. Tricky still. Plus Kkobong here—could freak.
"......"
Wait, Kkobong blank-faced. Scoped around, asked cautiously,
"Hey. You know where this is?"
"Know."
"Pretty chill for you? No revenge?"
"?"
Kkobong tilted head, then,
"Ah. Right."
"......"
Right my ass. Staring dumbfounded, Kkobong replied,
"Full belly, warm back. Why bother?"
Speechless.
*****
YasaengGrill gave up the dragon lily, returned to shelter. Plenty else to do. So what happened in gorilla turf?
"Woho?"
"Wohoho. Woho."
As YasaengGrill predicted, gorillas found it. But not the expected lily lump. Intact form—human-shaped, caked in filth and goo. "Dead?" pose.
"Woho? (Dead?)"
"Wooo. (Take it back.)"
"Woowo. Wooo. (Stinks, toss it.)"
Scouts debated.
"Wooo. (To boss.)"
"Wohoho. (Good call.)"
Haul the "corpse" back.
"Wohoho? (Similar guy nearby?)"
"Wohoho. Woho. (Later.)"
Unrecyclable trash delivered.