Con Artist (6)
Fuck, the trap's a bust.
YasaengGrill: Just checked the pit trap, but instead of a rabbit, a spider was living in there. Pitch-black fur, insanely grotesque. Too scary just to look at, so I left it alone. Gotta use snares instead of pits from now on.
└Cheonma: Hang in there. If it's too tough, this lady shall send thee meat.
└YasaengGrill: I'm fine. I can hold out for now.
└? : How big was the spider?
└YasaengGrill: At least a meter? Nearly passed out on sight;;
└Eek;; What kinda spider is that huge?
└YasaengGrill: Too scared to even take a pic. Better to just ignore it lol
└Why not grill it up?
└YasaengGrill: Thought about it, but even if there are babies, can't kill the mom.
└Lmao fucken gentleman showed up lololol
└And this guy's the one who killed Wonmo's mom?
└YasaengGrill: She was trying to kill me tho;;
└Lololol fair point
└I wonder what Wonmo thinks? The guy who raised her is actually her mom's killer... and her mom tried to kill that guy...
└Recommend a novel like that. Sounds fun?
└Instant plot hook lol time to write
└Olfather: Overall, what did it look like?
└YasaengGrill: Ran away as soon as I saw it, so not sure. Just a spider with pitch-black fur?
└Olfather: Hmm. Hard to say from that. Seems like a tarantula type—recommend not catching it.
└YasaengGrill: Was thinking of just burning it anyway. Lives in a pit, so oil and fire would do it quick. But no point going through the hassle. Not even gonna look. Imagine lifting the cover and a horde of those ugly fuckers swarming out. Trauma city. 'Where the hell did that spider even come from?' In just a few hours, it turned the pit into its home. Kinda makes sense but doesn't—nature's mystery.
Eventually, I had no choice but to make dinner with Wall Valley Pills. Fingers crossed for fish in the morning.
'Smoked maybe?'
Not a bad idea. Smoking keeps bugs away. Worry is beasts, but if one was coming, it'd have shown up already. No dangerous ones so far means something's up.
'Finding owl bear shit is hopeful at least...'
Wonmo's mom, the owl bear, might've come scouting like me. She chowed down on that mad dog corpse, after all. With the territory rival gone, she's checking her old haunt.
'Gotta keep scouting steadily.'
The Four Seasons Forest is a place where anything can happen. Preparing for the worst isn't optional—it's mandatory.
As dusk fell, I grabbed some firewood and headed into the shelter cave. Inside, Wonmo was sitting there all bleary-eyed from waking up.
"Awake? Want food?"
"Kyuu!"
Cute little thing. I bought a big hunk of meat from the auction house. No money worries for a while. Sold those inner cores for a fortune. Funny part? That scammer didn't even get to eat one. Karma, bitch.
'Olfather'll want frogs tomorrow, right?'
Tomorrow's plan: Scout in the morning, back before lunch. Hunt golden frogs for Olfather trade, and if possible, get a fish trap from the dwarf. If I snag that trap, no more food worries. Dwarf-made means durable as hell.
'Dilemma is upriver or down...'
Easiest way out when lost? Follow the river downstream. Civilizations start near rivers. Even without a country, there's gotta be a village.
'Problem is the space gets all wonky—could cut off midway.'
Wonky space. Sounds weird, but it's accurate. Across the river was a snowy mountain one sec, desert the next, changing live. Last time, fog-shrouded zone. Blew my mind. So if it feels off, I'll bail no hesitation.
'Nothing's easy.'
I sighed. That's why adaptation beats escape right now. Space shifts constantly—escape's a pipe dream.
'Map getting bigger bit by bit is some comfort.'
I turned to the wall. Big paper map centered on the cave, marking odd spots up down left right. Golden frog river. Adult mandrake grove. New golden mushroom cave, etc. Compass doesn't work, but it's a huge help.
'Downriver tomorrow.'
Won't get lost following the river. Sun fully set, I lit the campfire. Warmth spread through the cooling cave.
"Nom nom nom."
Wonmo devouring the meat. I petted her head. She flinched at first but settled in. Fully used to my touch now.
'Just need her to wean off.'
Owl bears take years to mature, per Gallery. But they can hunt solo sooner. Size doubles in a year or so.
I watched her munch raw meat, then turned. Ppareumbo stared with its usual dumb face.
"You're full-grown, right?"
"……"
"Yeah, figured."
Look at me, it seemed to say. My guess, anyway.
Quick Wall Valley Pill dinner, then out to wash before bed. Hygiene matters.
'Why does Ppareumbo hate baths so much?'
Lucky no issues yet, but better safe. Till I clean it, I'll stay spotless.
Washed up, back inside.
'Oh right, scabbard.'
Saw Cheonma's sword in its stand. Can't carry it bare everywhere. Logged into Gallery, DM'd Cheonma.
YasaengGrill: Cheonma-nim. You there?
Cheonma: Speak.
Instant reply. Kinda threw me.
YasaengGrill: Uh, the sword you gave me—does it not have a scabbard?
Cheonma: It did. But the blade was so sharp, it shredded it.
YasaengGrill: Makes sense. Scabbard might not even matter much.
That sword bisected a mad dog clean. But carrying bare sucks for travel.
YasaengGrill: If you want a scabbard, this lady shall order one from an aide.
Cheonma: No need. Know PassingDwarf?
Cheonma: That drunken dwarf? No direct chat, but aware.
YasaengGrill: Thinking of asking him. Seems like a top blacksmith.
Cheonma: Not bad, but why not just carry bare?
YasaengGrill: True, but handy for inspections or handling. Happens a lot. Better than nothing. Life lesson here.
Cheonma: Thy life differs from this lady's—respected. But 'twill not be easy, mark mine words.
YasaengGrill: Made with Man nyeonhan cheol or whatever, right? Good stuff?
Cheonma: Aye, and by a master smith.
YasaengGrill: Ah, a legendary sword among legendaries. And you gave it to me.
I offered returns every time, but she refused.
Cheonma: Shouldst thou think to return it, nay. This lady clings not to weapons.
YasaengGrill: Want anything?
Cheonma: Inner cores, perchance? For an aide, not this lady.
YasaengGrill: Got it. Can you pass on my thanks?
Cheonma: Of course.
Chat ended. One thing left: Ask PassingDwarf for a scabbard. But will he bite? Trap was for booze, but scabbard? Unless top ore, probably no.
'Need good loot after all.'
Gotta expand scouting. Wonky space spots like across the river—prime targets.
'Hard to find, though.'
Effort time. Reckless for escape? Necessary.
Snapped campfire pic, posted.
Day 4 done! (campfire pic)
Everyone, bye! See ya tomorrow!
└Cheonma: Well done.
└SwordTasteStar: Good work.
└StarlightPrincess: See you tomorrow!
└SunForever: Tough day cuz of that starfish punk.
└ChangguPrincess: Bye-bye-yong! Don't die-yong! Sending pants tomorrow-yong!
High-nics cheering, randos bitching—logged off.
Time for Internal Power Method training, then bed.
'Running it melts away fatigue.'
Was forcing sleep, but had to. Night outings = suicide. Forest night vs day? Total diff, even if visible.
'Then...'
Good idea hit. Method clears fatigue? Run it till fatigue builds. Nothing else to do—best bet.
'Bet sleep comes.'
Simple plan, ran the method. Mana cycled slowly, breathing pumped faster.
'Basics slow...'
Time's plenty. Refined Cheonma's roots meticulously.
"……"
Bit by bit, sank into stillness.
*****
While Grills dove deep into the Internal Power Method, the Gallery buzzed on.
One high-nic missing? Gallery don't stop.
But most posts tied to Grills.
Gotta snag whatever Grills auctions next—no duds lol
Everything he posts is gold lol
Inner cores next? Mithril soon? Lol
└Mithril lmao, ain't no street pebble.
└Then inner cores are marbles?
└Ain't that big a deal anyway.
└Still inner cores tho. Lowbie to peak? Wild.
└Buy it, no regrets.
└Adult mandrake grove alone is cheat mode ㅇㅇ
└Fuck that scammer—coulda been cheaper
└Pretty much cuz of him high-nics get first dibs. Sudden rage
Real-time Gallery collapse ㅈㄷ. Boss pushing me to link with Grills ㅅㅂ Said no, now get out or comply. Legal recourse? Privacy invasion;;
└SmartMine-nim: You trash-talk boss usually?
└You don't?
└SmartMine: I do. Boss told me to bash high-nics recently—nearly fucked ㅋㅋㅋ
└How'd you survive?
└SmartMine: Told him off. Try bashing high-nics to your boss. He'll back off.
└ㅇㅋㅇㅋ gold tip thx
└Whatever Grills finds next, I believe. What tho?
└Told ya. Minerals for sure ㅇㅇ Believing hard.
Honestly, picky af. What Grills needs? Survival gear. Don't need cash. Barter basically, but tough trades? Unless legendary weapon.
└No more threats working either. Trades got harder;;
└Inner cores/elixirs? Eats em, done lololol
└Weapons? Got most already. What else?
└Yajjal?
└O.
└O agreed lmao
└That's your need lol
└Nah fr could need. No cap.
Gallery burned with not-quite-debate. More heated than last time.