Lakeside (1)
Internal power method really seems to have a fatigue recovery effect. Even substituting sleep with the technique leaves me feeling refreshed the next day. Well, it's not perfect yet—mental fatigue is still hard to shake. Physical exhaustion improves somewhat, but mental weariness can only be fixed with actual sleep.
XXX has requested a trade. Accept? @@@ has requested a trade. Accept? Gongjage doelgeoya has requested a trade. Accept?
"What's this now?"
The moment I logged into the Gallery, a swarm of trade requests floated around like buoys. What the hell happened while I was offline? I searched my name just in case, but nothing major popped up. Just that my credibility had skyrocketed from yesterday's fiasco? Looks like the high-nics who'd been dragging their feet over trust issues were finally reaching out.
No way. These people... I said I'm a guppy, and they're still doing this. Or maybe they plan to suck me dry before I actually turn into one. Word is, even a single adult mandrake holds insane value. They must figure one of those is plenty, inner core or not.
Put out something worth my while. I searched the high-nics who'd requested trades. Some were fresh accounts, others surprisingly veteran. Especially Gongjage doelgeoya—he'd hit me up before too. Persistent, sure, but right now it just felt annoying.
And they didn't even post. Like I said last time, if they show me something I need, I'll initiate the trade. Guess they forgot quick. No choice—I posted again.
Reminder: Woke up to a flood of trade requests flying at YasaengGrill... As I said before, unless it's something useful to me, no trades. If you're serious, post the item and details first. I'll judge from there.
└Cheonma You're awake. Any discomfort?
└YasaengGrill Pairing it with internal power method makes mornings way more refreshing?
└Cheonma That's the benefit of circulation exercises. Your foundation's weak, but once you reach mastery, you'll be fine without sleep.
└YasaengGrill Whoa.
└StarlightPrincess You're up! Day 5 today?
└YasaengGrill Yeah. Wish I could escape ASAP.
└StarlightPrincess Haste makes waste, they say. Made another elixir—trade incoming soon!
└YasaengGrill Huh? Didn't you give me all the elixirs?
└StarlightPrincess Animal version. Use on Wonmo and Ppareumbo. Payment: one Wonmo pic!
└YasaengGrill Thanks. You feeling healthy?
└StarlightPrincess Like I said, reborn. Parents still worry, though.
└YasaengGrill Parents gonna parent. Take it slow with rehab, just in case.
└StarlightPrincess Thanks. Cheering you on forever. Fighting!
└YasaengGrill Thanks haha
└PassingDwarf Yo. Fish trap's done. Hurry up and gift this body some booze snacks.
└YasaengGrill One request before snacks.
└PassingDwarf What? Ain't free.
└YasaengGrill Got a conscience. Need a sword sheath—super sturdy one.
└PassingDwarf Sheath? Buy any old thing.
└YasaengGrill Cheonma's sword is too good. Slices wood like tofu?
└PassingDwarf Ah yeah, happens sometimes. Tossing a temp one with the trap. Use that. Want proper? Bring good stuff.
└YasaengGrill Got it. Trading with StarlightPrincess first.
└ChangguPrincess Hi there~! Pants from yesterday are ready~!
└YasaengGrill Truly thanks. When's Chaeyu’s match?
└ChangguPrincess Soon~! Boxing Day vibe, every 3 days~!
└YasaengGrill Rooting for victory. Chaeyu fighting!
└ChangguPrincess Thanks~ haha Truly, live kindly and it pays off. Waking to comments like these.
Of course, not worry-free. Judaek might see it as excessive clanning—public notice bans over-friendliness. Tricky line.
Cheonma's pulling strings for me, probably. This much seems overlooked. Or my special status.
StarlightPrincess has requested a trade. Accept?
After kickstarting the day, StarlightPrincess traded first. Before accepting, I checked Wonmo. Still sprawled out. Funny part: limbs splayed human-style. Animals sleep like that when they feel safe—odd feeling.
StarlightPrincess has registered trade items.
StarlightPrincess Animal elixir and a little extra gift~!
Huh? Extra gift?
StarlightPrincess Something you'll love. Pic? (Wonmo sprawled starfish-style pic)
This enough?
StarlightPrincess Too cute! How does it sleep like that? Blew my mind.
StarlightPrincess Wishing you safety ahead. Fighting!
Chat with StarlightPrincess ended there. I checked her items. Called animal elixir, but golden glow screams premium. Wonder if animal versions even exist. Just a gift, then.
And the other one. The "you'll love it" item mildly shocked me.
A cake?
Slice perched on a glass plate with fancy art. Soft-looking bread slathered in whipped cream, topped with a tiny strawberry. Thoughtful—fork included for easy eating.
I gulped, grabbed the fork.
"Mmm..."
One small bite, and a groan escaped. Sweetness flooded my mouth. Sugar's tangy delight teased my tongue. Salt on fish kept savory alive, but this tongue-tingling sweet? Long time coming.
Such good taste.
I set the cake down, hopped into Gallery. More trades pending. Next: PassingDwarf. Dude seems straightforward.
PassingDwarf has registered trade items.
PassingDwarf Trap and temp sheath in. Know how to set trap? For widening hose spot.
Yeah that'll do. Sheath's on you. Snacks mandatory. Ok?
Like sashimi?
PassingDwarf Drooling already lol But I suck at slicing lol
PassingDwarf Damn it. Anyway, try.
Items good. Trade done.
Checked Dwarf's haul.
Trap's huge? Nearly my size. Daunting, but maybe better. Matches fish we've caught.
Setup'll take forever. After scouting.
Postponed trap. Time sink otherwise.
Next: sheath. Temp one bundled with trap.
Looks plain? Black leather-ish. Fits Cheonma's sword size. Tested on wall-sheathed blade.
Shlick—click!
Smooth entry, no snags. Temp my ass—perfect. Belt loop for versatility.
Dwarf's got a soft side.
I smirked, moved to next: ChangguPrincess.
Chaeyu fighting! Don't get too down in dark times—no eternal champs!
ChangguPrincess Thanks~! Extra uniform too~!
Who's this?
ChangguPrincess Legendary midfielder~! From Jungwon, uniquely~!
Thanks!
No live Chaeyu matches in Gallery?
ChangguPrincess Broadcast magic costs money—highlights only~!
Bummer. Wanted to watch.
ChangguPrincess Wanna give you access, but Four Seasons Forest blocks~! Why watch?
Feels one-sided. Wanted to show real support.
ChangguPrincess Grr...! Perfect attitude~! Best mindset ever~! Escape soon~!
Thanks. Find something good, pass it your way.
Wonder what she'd like. Food for thought.
Check her gifts first. Long pants and uniform top, as promised. Stretchy material like the uniform. Two pairs even.
Satisfied grin—I slipped them on. Feels worlds better.
Could live in these. Reminded of home track pants days. Old pants tossed in cave corner. Emergencies only now.
Trades done. Time for cake... Huh?
Bliss at cake thoughts was short. Ate one slice—why's the plate empty?
Baffled blink, scanned around. Wonmo snoring on mat. Ppareumbo left...
"..."
"...Hey."
Ppareumbo tilted head at my call. Blatant act fueled my rage.
"Wipe that cream off your mouth?"
"..."
Finally noticing, pawing lips. Huge cream smear. Licked claw slowly.
Nom.
"..."
Chomp chomp.
Most infuriating creature alive? Can't even beat it. Only option:
"You little shit!!!"
Lion's roar. Worked—Ppareumbo clutched ears.
"Kyak?!"
Oh right. Wonmo.
She jolted awake—I felt awful.
All Ppareumbo's fault.
Soothing her helped. Wonmo just dazed, clueless.
"Wonmo. Breakfast?"
"Kyuu!"
Would've settled her anyway with food. Meat for her, out I went.
Hose relief: refreshing flow. No fish, sadly.
Prep time.
Wall Valley Pill for breakfast. Fresh from sweets? Bitterness hit harder.
...Beg for one more? Too shameless—passed. Day just starting, already drained.
Hope for food-rich spot.
My little wish. Sigh, geared up. Hate Ppareumbo's mug, but it's Wonmo's sole guard. Gift for house-sitting—eases mind.
"Hey. Ppareumbo."
"?"
Tilted head.
"I'm heading out. Guard house good. Got it? Pay that cake debt."
"..."
Wave wave—got it signal. I chuckled, finished preps.
Hip: sheathed Cheonma sword, small bag. Left: golden shield for surprises. Right empty for balance in crises.
Circulate before go.
Perfect flow—ready to roll. Tense steps to river.
Follow downstream plan.
Grab escape clue, please.
Does it know? Or world's god trolling?
"Ha. Fuck."
Downstream, the "scene" ahead forced a curse. Not real-time space warp like river-crossing. Clearly connected.
Environment was just shit.
"Sea or lake?"
A vast lake sprawled before me.