Shoes (1)
Because of the commotion from the leeches, I quickly posted on the Gallery. Asking what to do if bitten by a leech. I'd accidentally grabbed and yanked off the one on the back of my neck.
└What the hell. Why'd you rip off the leech like that? You trying to get infected or something?
└YasaengGrill I'm totally clueless though...
└Whatever, if you have potions, slap some on the bite. Might be parasites, so take deworming meds too.
└YasaengGrill It's not potions, it's elixirs. That okay? Do elixirs disinfect? I know they regenerate.
└Just slap it on;; What kinda weird question is that;;
└Elixirs are top-tier potions lol
└Feels like watching a rich noob lol
└Ripping it off by hand? Definitely bare-handed for sure.
└Teeth might still be stuck in there, so pull those out first then apply.
After getting that affectionate(?) advice, I could finally take proper measures. Normally you'd need deworming meds too, but they said one elixir was enough. Next time out, I gotta wrap something around my neck.
What kinda hardship is this. I sighed.
Still, it wasn't a total loss, which was some comfort. Back at the shelter cave, I'd have to dry my damp clothes and shoes, make food—busy times. Wanted to set up the trap net if possible, but with wet shoes, that'd be tough.
Shoes are a must-have no matter what.
The shoes I had on were sneakers. The same ones I'd worn before dropping here. You might wonder why I had shoes on at home before isekai'ing. No clue beyond that—I only remember drinking booze.
Lucky, I guess?
At least I had sneakers. Better than nothing. I trudged on, dampness and all.
The river narrowed and the current strengthened the closer I got. Only when I reached the river with the trap net did it hit me that I was fully back.
Went pretty far this time.
I checked the time via the Gallery. 12:20 PM. Shorter than expected. More time walking the river than scouting the lakeshore.
Wonmo's gonna want food. Or maybe freak out 'cause I was gone. That thought made me hurry a bit.
Finally arriving at the now-familiar shelter cave, I saw it clear as day.
"Kuuu..."
"..."
Wonmo sprawled out asleep, belly fully exposed. Scratching it with her claws, no less. Napping away whether I was there or not.
"..."
"...What the heck, dude. What're you staring at?"
Ppareumbo just sat there dumbly. Unnecessary worry—I let out a sigh.
Anyway, cleanup time. I set down the backpack full of crabs. Peeking inside, they just wriggled—no escapes.
Fire first.
Mountain of tasks. I stripped off my somewhat dry clothes. Better to wash the body first, laundry later. Checked everywhere thoroughly—no more leeches hiding.
Only one on my neck, huh. That guy who latched on when I fell? Impressive.
I turned on the hose and rinsed everywhere clean. Soap's essential. Per Gallery users—adventurers specifically—I used unscented.
"Fuu."
After a rough wash, I toweled off as much water as possible. Then huddled by the pre-lit campfire to dry fully.
Temp shoes first.
Sneakers soaked—needed backups. Hit the auction house, snagged cheap leather shoes. Didn't check size. Just slippers for now, close enough.
Laundry pile here, body's dry—time for fresh clothes.
Plenty of uniforms from ChangguPrincess. Pants? Shorts. Long pants essential for scouting, so laundry/drying today. Charcoal for washing? Plenty—adventurers insisted on stocking it.
Now for the rest...
Grill the crabs. Dumped them in the cauldron. Added water to keep 'em fresh. Fish too—cauldron's a lifesaver.
Now post on Gallery for prep tips. "Gut 'em roughly(?)"? No idea. Posted:
Anyone know how to prep crabs? (Pic of crabs in cauldron)
Gonna grill not steam. Anyone know prep?
└PassingDwarf Whoa. Looks delicious. Gimme one?
└YasaengGrill Tomorrow, like I said. Can't trade anyway.
└PassingDwarf Ugh, seriously;; Knew it—shouldn't have skipped trading.
└YasaengGrill Hang in there one day. Can't even do that?
└PassingDwarf Yeah, my beer's shaking in my hand rn
└YasaengGrill Damn, alcohol withdrawal. Cut back on the booze
└lolololol
└Telling a dwarf to quit drinking lol
└Might as well quit drugs fr
└You do drugs?
└Nah just example lol
└This guy's sus
└Crab prep's easy. Slight gap at the mouth? Twist a knife in, drains blood/water.
└Grilling not steaming? Skip re-watering, grill straight.
└Body won't cook through fully, no worries.
└Drain moisture max. Else it boils not grills.
Twist the mouth first, got it. Nodded, pulled my dagger. Grabbed one crab from cauldron, inspected.
Gallery said mouth splits sideways. Slide dagger in, twist...
Squelch! Nice sound, mouth forced open. Flipped it—clear blood dripped with water.
"Kyuu."
"Oh. You're up?"
Wonmo woke while I prepped. Ppareumbo crept closer too—food time.
"Wait a sec. Got something super tasty for ya."
"Kyuu!"
"..."
Wonmo's eyes sparkled at "tasty." Ppareumbo no reaction, but expectant.
Blood drained...
Shoved it on the fire! Big enough to cover the whole blaze. Added logs for even cook on body and legs. Not too black—kept it off direct flame.
20-30 mins, they said?
Meanwhile, auction house for shoes. Tough specs: ventilation/comfort a given, waterproof too. Toughness above all—foot injury tanks survival.
Like I told the dwarf: military boots base.
Military boots? Army flashbacks.
First march as rookie? Thought I'd die. Worse after—blisters, raw skin everywhere. Me? Fine. Boots heavy but comfy enough.
Nothing fits.
Even pricey ones lacked specs. Mostly sports: soccer cleats, basketball shoes.
Post a request, then. Bought a measuring tape first—no unit sense, so compare to foot.
Shoe commission pls.
YasaengGrill (Pic: tape by foot side)
(Pic: tape over foot top)
As-is. Need exploration shoes. Strict conditions:
1. (Most important) Tough. Foot injury = disaster.
2. Waterproof. Lotsa wet scenarios.
3. Ventilation & comfort. Comfort > vent—high altitudes possible.
4. Anti-slip. Nearly died slipping.
5. Leather pref. Same as 3.
Make to spec, get adult mandrake. Pics/vids of performance test appreciated. Hope lotsa views.
└Cheonma May this lady join?
└YasaengGrill Huh? Why you, Cheonma?
└Cheonma Bored, gu-na.
└YasaengGrill Teacher;;;
└SwordTasteStar Bored? Spar with me? I'll go easy.
└Cheonma Foolish. Very well. I shall call upon you.
└PassingDwarf Can I proxy? Know a guy killer at armor.
└YasaengGrill Yeah go for it. But you need adult mandrake? More booze?
└PassingDwarf That too, but friend's nagging for a sip. Easier to give one?
└YasaengGrill Up to you. Just need shoes.
└PassingDwarf Oke. Deadline?
└YasaengGrill Sooner better. Min 2 pairs?
└PassingDwarf Oke got it.
└Gongjage doelgeoya Really giving adult mandrake as prize?
└YasaengGrill Nothing else to offer. Or these grilling crabs?
└Gongjage doelgeoya No need. Will source ASAP.
└YasaengGrill Thanks.
└Gongjage doelgeoya If mine outperforms winner, take it?
└YasaengGrill Basically a trade—if I like it, sure.
└Gongjage doelgeoya Noted.
Refined speech. Ambitious nick. Event-like, but trade really. Clear give-take.
No shoes won't stop scouting—plenty spots. But avoid if possible. Near-death yesterday? Caution time.
Crackle! Pop!
"Done... Hot hot hot!"
Poked with finger—insane heat. Pulled back fast—no burn luck. Gloved up, extracted the golden-brown crab.
Normal crab? Bigger than king crab—tons of meat.
Legs first.
Prime spot. Sliced leg off—crisp snap. Cut side, pried slow—steam rose.
"Whoa."
Look at that firm flesh. Drool instant. Salt only—no seasonings. Blew on it—burn risk.
"Munch. Munch. Haa."
Damn good. Just salt, but umami explosion. No fishy smell—easy eating.
Lakeshore crab hordes flashed by.
Crunch!
"Kya!"
Crab = shell-off. Peeled back—guts revealed, I cheered. Brief steam regret—devour fast.
Guts not fishy?
Tasty too. Perfect all around. Guts gone, tore a leg for Wonmo.
"Wonmo. More later—eat this."
"Kyuu!"
"Ppareumbo, you want?"
"..."
Gesturing sloth. Sliced leg for him too.
Ppareumbo grabbed bare-handed—flailed arm. Sleepy eyes wide—shocked.
Yeah. Scalding.
Gloves for me, not him. Punk's pranked me plenty—this payback's light. I snickered.
Smack!
Then this jerk hurls it at me. Hit face dead-on. Sloth shoulder + hot crab combo. Pain then searing heat.
"Gaaah!"
Just you wait.
*****
While Grills enjoyed his crab mukbang.
"You must have seen the Gallery post."
"You mean..."
"Fetch the craftsman. Now. Not a moment to lose."
"Yes!"
A subtle tension began to ripple through the world.