Rain (3): Judaek is Invincible, YasaengGrill's Authority is Supreme. Praise Judaek! Trading Restrictions Lifted—Now I'm Free!
└Cheonma: Congratulations, this lady sees you've cast off those shackles that bound your body.
└SwordTasteStar: Congrats! So, no commemorative gift or anything?
└Cheonma: Tsk tsk. You villainous flea, sucking the liver from even the smallest prey. Have you no conscience?
└SwordTasteStar: Can't I even joke around? You're so stingy;;
└Cheonma: Jokes must be timed properly. You lack any sense.
└SwordTasteStar: I've even done politics, you flawless head mod;;
└YasaengGrill: Hey, hey, calm down both of you. If I cook up some fish, I'll share a bit. It's really good.
└PassingDwarf: Gimme some too.
└YasaengGrill: You ate some last time too;;
└PassingDwarf: That's why I want more, it's that good lol
└YasaengGrill: You're not pairing it with booze again, right?
└PassingDwarf: Why would you even ask something so obvious?
└YasaengGrill: ;;;
└Anonymous: No way you're giving it to all the high-nics?
└Anonymous: The fish supply in the Gallery's gonna dry up lololol
└YasaengGrill: Gotta give to everyone who's helped me. Got a ton, so a little each is fine.
└StarlightPrincess: I'm good. I hate the fishy smell.
└YasaengGrill: No fishy smell at all, tastes like meat though?
└StarlightPrincess: Hmm, that changes things... Is fish good for workouts?
└ChangguPrincess: If you're exercising, white meat like fish is better than red meat!
└StarlightPrincess: Really?
└ChangguPrincess: Yep! Sports players with frequent injuries use this diet to cut down on them.
└StarlightPrincess: Got it. Thanks for the great info!
└Olfather: Fish grown in the Four Seasons Forest. I'm dying to know how it tastes. My knowledge grows thanks to you.
└YasaengGrill: After all you've done for me, this is the least I can do.
└SunForever: Sounds delicious. Mind if I try some crabs later?
└YasaengGrill: I'll do my best when I can reach them. Might be stuck eating just crabs till the trap nets are up.
"Hee hee."
In a dimly lit alley where hardly a soul passed, someone wrapped in rags that barely qualified as a robe let out a small chuckle.
It was hard to make out their full figure under the all-encompassing robe, but the silhouette gave a rough idea: slightly narrow shoulders accentuating feminine curves. Strands of orange hair peeking from the hood confirmed it was a woman.
'Glad you're happy.'
She smiled at the visible Gallery window. The high-nic drawing tons of attention lately, YasaengGrill. Lifting his trading ban had sparked controversy, but it passed with overwhelming approval. That showed just how much trust he'd built.
'Never broken a promise.'
She'd been keeping close tabs on Grill's activities too. Dropped into the Four Seasons Forest, unearthing all sorts of rare creatures. Sure, crises popped up now and then, but high-nics' help and his own skills got him through.
Day by day, even wilder creatures, and Grill growing stronger. A raw, extreme reality you rarely saw in the Gallery—it had a certain addictive thrill.
'Grill won't abuse trading.'
Grill was fundamentally a good guy. Extremely so. Even in the anonymity of the Gallery, he stayed polite, never badmouthing others casually. Things changed if someone was rude first, but that was rare.
No hidden agendas either—stuck in the Four Seasons Forest, his only goal was survival. Nothing to worry about there.
'Said he'd give up privileges once he escapes.'
She was a stickler for principles. Rarely broke established rules. But Grill sought fairness over mere equality, and his arguments were compelling. The unique hell of the Four Seasons Forest sealed it. Only he could access the Gallery from there.
Head mod Judaek, aka Don'tAbandonHero, decided to monitor him even closer.
'Gave me this too.'
She pulled a round orb from her pocket—a gift from Grill. More like a bribe, but she'd accepted it.
'Stuff like this is just lying around in the Four Seasons Forest?'
She turned the orb over, marveling. The energy emanating from it was no joke. Consuming it alone would grant immense power.
'Not much use to me, though.'
To her, it was just a high-end mana restorative. She was always in the running for world's strongest, after all. Blessed by the goddess, forged by the church to face the Demon King herself.
The Hero, Asella, examined the inner core before popping it in her mouth.
'Better to eat it now than sell.'
Inner cores lost potency over time, making them iffy for trade. Her mana was nearly depleted anyway—perfect timing.
"Hoo."
Asella exhaled deeply. The core's energy coursed through her body. Her empty mana hole (dantian) filled up, fatigue vanishing like mist.
She hadn't slept properly lately; this would tide her over.
'When will the misunderstanding clear up?'
Asella glanced out of the alley. Unlike the dark, deserted lane, the street bustled. Kids laughing as they ran, parents calling out warnings with chuckles. The lively hum of people.
'They haven't reached this city yet.'
Relief washed over her. She'd have some breathing room. But no slacking—church pursuers could show anytime.
'Goddess, please bless me. It has to be a misunderstanding.'
Muttering inwardly, she logged into the Gallery. As head mod, not Hero. Fugitive or not, she stuck to her duties.
'This must be another trial from the Goddess.'
The day the church branded her a 'traitor' and gave chase, she'd fled and become Gallery head mod. She'd had no clue it existed, but now she was used to it. Hateful images were tough to stomach sometimes—enough to make her pray to the goddess on sight.
YasaengGrill has requested a trade. Accept?
"Huh?"
She was fulfilling head mod duties under the goddess's guidance when the hot-topic high-nic pinged her.
For a split second, she wondered if it was a mistake, then accepted.
Hello, Head Mod. Just wanted to give you one more thing.
Don'tAbandonHero: A gift?! What's that! No bribes!!
Unlike her bleak reality, Asella always replied with energy. She wondered what Grill could be sending— she'd just gotten an inner core, nothing to give back.
Got some fish I caught. It's really tasty.
Don'tAbandonHero: Whoa! Shouldn't you eat that, Grill?! And you're sharing with others too!
This is fine. Thanks to you, things got easier. Take it—or not, if it feels off.
But Grill's gesture was pure kindness, not gift or bribe. Asella was flustered by this rarity, unseen even in the Gallery.
What was the Gallery? A place where folks tore into each other at every chance, spewing desires.
And she was head mod. Immense power, but a constant punching bag. When floaters bombarded with hate pics, she'd want to quit everything.
'Amazing.'
Even so, head mod authority was strong—undeniable. Users cozied up for favors, leading to cliques, then scandals.
This 'kindness' was clique-building 101.
'But Grill can't clique up?'
Stranded in the Four Seasons Forest, no real-world meetups possible. So Asella could accept his kindness at face value. A warmth transcending the Gallery, rare even in reality.
Gurgle—
Her stomach growled right on cue. After agonizing, she reluctantly accepted.
'Goddess's guidance... right?'
The trade complete, chopsticks appeared in her hand, skewering three thick slabs of fish. Mouthwatering.
"...Nom."
Asella bit in without hesitation. Salty from the seasoning, then a nutty savoriness flooded her mouth. Zero fishiness. Umami rivaling meat brought a smile.
'Delicious!'
Truly. Especially on an empty stomach. Plus, a surge of vitality through her body.
"Nom nom nom! Nom!"
Eyes sparkling, she devoured the rest. Not enough to fill her, but the kindness warmed her belly nicely.
'Wish there was more.'
Having polished off Grill's kindness, Asella—brighter now—messaged him.
Don'tAbandonHero: Thanks for the meal! Sooo good!
Right? Catch more later and send some?
Don'tAbandonHero: No! I have some shame! But thank you!
Really nice guy. Asella thought. But even he had flaws: his faith—or lack thereof.
He'd blasphemed before. Gallery anonymity saved him; in person, he'd be heretic fodder. She'd warned him in shock, but he'd brushed it off.
'Times like these call for strong faith...'
As a Hero, her devotion rivaled the Pope's. Labeled traitor and hunted, she clung to it.
'Time to proselytize.'
Grill had suffered—and still did. So had she, orphaning trials overcome by Goddess Aris's blessings. Faith lets you endure; believe in hard times.
Don'tAbandonHero: Grill! Ever thought of worshipping Goddess Aris?!
Nope? Oh, can I curse her then?
Don'tAbandonHero: Cursing isn't worshipping!!
Then I won't.
Grill was unchanged. Zero interest in gods. Baffling to Asella. Gods existed, yet his attitude was beyond weird—grotesque.
Don'tAbandonHero: Why curse her?! Don't you believe in gods?!
I believe they exist. Just curse 'em.
Don'tAbandonHero: That's insane! Believing yet cursing?!
Some demand divine punishment if gods are real. But Grill was different. He believed and hated them. Contradictory to confusion.
Don'tAbandonHero: Why think that?! Hate all the faithful too?!
I hate gods, not people.
Straight answer, mind-numbing. Hates gods, not people. Seemed contradictory, but clear distinction made sense.
As her head spun, Grill added:
I don't wanna hate people, so I hate gods instead. I'm the type who needs to hate someone.
Don'tAbandonHero: No desire to stop hating?! That's not human!
Jealousy's a thing for a reason.
Don'tAbandonHero: So you hate gods...!
Yeah. Keeps me at peace.
Don'tAbandonHero: What if they smite you?!
A god too gutless for hate ain't a god. Baldy twig-dick.
"Eek!"
Asella yelped, glancing around fearfully. Gallery was private, but gods might watch.
'Wh-what blasphemy...! What is he thinking?!'
Trembling, she stared at the chat. Casual irreverence—no, sacrilege. Deserved smiting.
'B-but if it's faith... it is faith...!'
Believing to hate. Paradoxical faith, soaked in irreverence. Asella couldn't grasp it.
Plop—
As she sorted her thoughts, fat raindrops fell on her head. Looking up, dark clouds shed more.
'Gotta dodge the rain first.'
Asella hurried off. But her mind replayed Grill: hating gods to spare people. Stuck like glue.
'Truly unknowable person.'
Separate from that.
'Kind, but weird.'
His kindness warmed her heart.
*****
Roooaaar!
"Ah, damn."
Did cursing gods do it? Rain poured again. I muttered at the downpour outside.
'If so, really baldy twig-dick.'
BOOM!
Thunder crashed right after.