Rain (4)
As soon as the trading restrictions lifted, the first thing I did was hand out some modest bribes—no, gifts—to the high-nics. The gifts were just fish fillets skewered up nice. The fish were so huge that even after giving some away, I still had plenty left for myself.
"How's the taste?"
Cheonma: Superb. A delicacy among delicacies. The most delicious thing this lady has ever eaten.
"You're too kind. I'm just glad you liked it haha."
Cheonma: No exaggeration. To think it tastes this good with such a simple method. I wonder what it'd be like properly cooked.
"I'll make it for you when I have some free time."
Cheonma: "Free time," you say. Who knows how long that might last. This lady is fine either way.
Cheonma, as expected, gave glowing praise. She'd probably be thrilled no matter what I gave her. Still, her kind words put me in a good mood.
SwordTasteStar: This fish tastes like meat? Eating this every day... I'm jealous.
"Wanna come over?"
SwordTasteStar: But my mom's cooking is the best. It's been so long since I had hers, I wouldn't know anymore.
SwordTasteStar: Ah;; sorry. Really sorry.
"Just kidding haha. But it does taste good, right?"
SwordTasteStar gave it rave reviews too. I felt so proud. It was just salted and grilled, but even that simple prep brought out amazing flavor.
PassingDwarf: Hey. Gimme more. Not enough for drinking snacks.
"You heartless bastard."
PassingDwarf: Leave me alone, it's your fault for making it smell so boozy in the post;;
The dwarf... well, he spouted some shameless nonsense. The post reeking of booze made it seem like he was already drunk. I had no intention of squeezing blood from a stone like him, so I didn't push the conversation further.
Beyond them, I shared portions with StarlightPrincess, ChangguPrincess, Olfather, SunForever, and the others who'd been good to me. Mostly rave reviews, which left me beaming with pride.
Finally, even Judaek. And with that, the giveaway event(?) wrapped up.
That said, Judaek really seems like a religious type.
I had a quick chat with her here, and she asked if I had any thoughts on believing in God. It felt a bit preachy and uncomfortable, but she didn't push, so I didn't snap back. She was just curious why I badmouth gods. So I told her everything.
KRAAACK!
And now this is the result. Payback for trash-talking gods.
I could only sigh at the thunder rumbling through the much thicker downpour than before. Exploration was off the table today. The weather had worsened even more. With thunder and lightning cracking like this, it was basically a full-on ritual telling me to stay inside.
This is driving me nuts.
At least I had plenty of stockpiled food. And I'd dug drainage ditches during a brief lull in the rain. Without those, the moat would've been overflowing or flooded for sure. Working in that mess would've been hell.
Might as well install some barbed wire just in case.
This morning, when the rain started, some raccoon broke in. It warmed itself by the fire and even stole some Wall Valley Pills. Ppareumbo gave it what it deserved, turning it into Wonmo's snack, but I needed to watch for more intruders.
Lucky it was just a raccoon—could've been dangerous otherwise.
Even raccoons aren't safe. If it'd had rabies, that could've been bad. Ppareumbo's risky too in that sense, but what can you do? The thing hates baths.
I stared at the rain filling my vision, then shook my head.
Wasting a whole day like this left me feeling glum.
"Wonmo. C'mere."
"Kyuu?"
So I scooped up the chubby Wonmo to soothe my gloom. Hugging that round ball of fluff always calmed me down. Wonmo accepted it quietly, without a fuss.
This one's gonna end up way bigger than me someday, huh?
Wonmo's mom, auctioned off. "Auctioned" sounds off, but yeah, she got sold. Anyway, that owlbear was truck-sized. Meaning Wonmo would grow to match in time.
At least not while we're in this forest.
Full growth took owlbears at least three years, I'd heard. Insane compared to regular bears needing ten.
But they eat like crazy as payback.
Owlbears traded explosive growth for insane appetites. Still, the Four Seasons Forest had plenty of food, and I had cash loaded in the Gallery.
SHHHHAAAA!
The problem was the rain. A downpour like this could spell trouble for survival. River flooding aside, stuff like that raccoon intruder could happen anytime. Even with barbed wire, some beasts could smash right through.
Thud thud thud—
Like that lizard trying to climb over right now. No smashing needed—even climbers get punished.
"Wonmo. Want that one too?"
"Kyuu!"
The lizard became Wonmo's snack. Rain brought every damn animal trying to barge into the cave. No exploring, nothing to do. But I couldn't let my guard down.
Sleep... nah, better run the Internal Power Method.
Perfect for downtime. Wiped away fatigue like nothing else.
I was about to sit cross-legged and breathe when Ppareumbo, standing right in front of me, caught my eye. Staring at me with that usual chill expression.
I eyed it back, and suddenly a wild idea hit me.
This thing seems to get what I say. Could I teach it the Internal Power Method?
People would call me nuts if they heard. Which made it worth a shot. Bonus: Ppareumbo gets stronger too. Already tough, but powered up with internal power? Irresistible.
First, check the Gallery though. Worth confirming.
Can animals run cultivation methods?
YasaengGrill (Photo of Ppareumbo staring blankly)
Wanna teach this dummy the Internal Power Method, but can animals even do it?
It's already faster than me—getting stronger wouldn't hurt.
└Cheonma: You wouldn't be thinking of sharing this lady's method, would you?
└YasaengGrill: It wouldn't get even a verse anyway.
└Cheonma: Hm. True enough. Still, isn't it a clever beast?
└YasaengGrill: Intelligence and wisdom are different, teacher.
└Cheonma: I see. Though I've never heard of animals running methods.
└SwordTasteStar: Mana Circulation Method, maybe not, but similar cases exist. Smarter monsters like orcs, goblins, trolls. Liches are transformed humans, so exception.
└YasaengGrill: They can handle mana?
└SwordTasteStar: Yes. But more mutation than trained. Point is, they can use it.
└YasaengGrill: No animals though?
└SwordTasteStar: None among monsters I've seen. Would've been chaos otherwise.
└Olfather: Ancient texts mention teaching Mana Circulation to monkeys or apes. Zero successes.
└YasaengGrill: Wasted effort?
└Olfather: Not sure. As SwordTasteStar said, "mutations" might differ. Ppareumbo's a mutant itself—possible.
└Yeah. Gets any stronger like that, you're dead.
└Kills you and steals all the Wall Valley Pills.
└Feels like it'd do it fr.
That last one sent a chill. I glanced at Ppareumbo right after reading. Face screaming "I'm totally harmless~". But those terrifying claws lurked beneath.
"Ppareumbo."
"……."
"You won't kill me even if you get stronger, right?"
Nod—
Damn thing actually nodded, like it got me. "Why would I? Killing you gains me nothing."
└YasaengGrill: Asked it—says no.
└How you know?
└YasaengGrill: Nodded. I saw.
└Obvious lie lol
└Ready to backstab anytime lmao
└You trust animals? Gonna get got lol
└YasaengGrill: It's already stronger than me—what backstab;;
└Waits till you catch up then strikes. Obvious?
└YasaengGrill: Don't diss my Ppareumbo;;;
Even if true, I'd saved my skin thanks to Ppareumbo tons of times. Just keep it stocked with Wall Valley Pills to avoid grudges.
Anyway, decided to teach Ppareumbo the Internal Power Method—no, Mana Circulation Method. All sounded insane, but fun.
└SwordTasteStar: Why even try that;;
└You a girl?
└SwordTasteStar: Why ask?
└Can't comprehend then lol
└Weird shit? Gotta do more!
└Yup. Yup.
I tabled the Gallery and faced Ppareumbo. It just chill-stared, no moves.
"Alright, Ppareumbo. Copy me."
"……."
I sat cross-legged; it slowly followed. Thought short legs vs. long arms might make it impossible, but nope. Slow as molasses, but it managed. Surprisingly flexible. And core strength to not topple backward.
Well, it climbs trees.
I straightened up; it did too. Now, breathing. I relayed Cheonma's teachings straight.
"Now breathe. Tense your lower belly—you'll feel something."
"……."
"Watch."
I demo'd the Internal Power Method briefly, not full session. Ended, opened eyes—Ppareumbo still watching.
"Your turn. Focus on breath and lower belly. Got it?"
"……."
"Know where your lower belly is?"
Explained step-by-step nicely. It mimicked perfectly, like it understood. I sensed mana quick—Wall Valley Pills (three per meal) and forest mana helped.
So Ppareumbo might too. I waited quietly, expectant.
"……."
"……."
"……Huuu."
"……."
About three minutes later, it inhaled. Mouth opening slow as hell, but I endured.
Inhale done—now exhale. Session end.
"Huuu……."
"Fuck this."
My patience snapped too. No wonder animal researchers ditch sloths. Everyday slowness is maddening.
It's strong without me anyway.
I sighed, sat cross-legged myself. Better me cultivating than waiting eons.
Just feed it Wall Valley Pills good.
With that, I dove into the method.
*****
While Grills closed his eyes, focusing on the Internal Power Method.
"Huuu……."
Ppareumbo was breathing—slow, but surely.
"Huuuuh……."
Excruciatingly slow, sure.
"Huuu……."
But it was progressing, bit by bit. Undeniable.