Merfolk (4)
Evolution sounds great at first glance, thanks to its connotations and the heroic images in media, but there's a lot more to it than that. If it veers off in a weird direction, it could even threaten your own life. Evolution itself is a process born from birth after birth. No one knows how these suddenly altered genes might play out in the future, or how they'll mutate next. It's a change in living beings adapted to their "environment." The problem is, you can't view it as purely positive.
"Evolution, huh..." I narrowed my eyes as I mulled over Olfather's hypothesis. Hearing someone else's take directly hit different. It was weird enough that I'd sensed mana right away, and I wasn't even some novel or comic protagonist. If Olfather was right, my body was adapting to the Four Seasons Forest. Earth was a world of steel and concrete—no magic, not even mana.
It doesn't sound all that great to me. Does that mean I could turn into something hideous?
Olfather: Your form should stay roughly human. But as we saw with that shark giant, it could get monstrous.
What about people already attuned to mana? Don't they usually avoid twisting into weird shapes?
Olfather: They maintain a human shape, for the most part. Especially with prime physical conditions. You need a good vessel to hold mana in the first place.
I'm around 175cm tall—average of averages. My body's the dry-fat kind from slurping instant ramen nonstop, loaded with visceral fat. But after all the recent ordeals, I could feel the fat starting to melt away.
That made sense. But then...
I noticed muscles buried underneath popping out. That didn't add up.
"Fat should be way better for survival, right?"
I'd heard somewhere that obesity only became a social issue in the last century or so. Before that, humans hoarded fat to survive. And evolution's tied closely to "survival." It didn't line up.
Is losing fat and bulking up muscle part of that effect...?
I don't get it. Isn't fat more crucial for survival than muscle?
Olfather: It's not you adapting to the Four Seasons Forest of your own will—it's the forest reshaping you to fit it.
Is that even possible? My common sense is exploding left and right;;
Olfather: It's just a hypothesis. Nothing about the Four Seasons Forest is proven. I'm only analyzing based on what you show me, Grills.
I rubbed my dry face. Things were getting more complicated by the minute. But one thing was crystal clear: my survival was on the line. It wasn't just about restocking food or shielding from external threats. The forest itself was gunning for my life in real time.
"It's not confirmed yet, but..."
The circumstantial evidence pointed to changes in my body. A sudden shift to a mana-friendly constitution. Physical abilities ramping up to abnormal levels. Even the skin sloughing off to reveal fresh layers underneath. Stuff like that couldn't happen without Olfather's mentioned "evolution"—and not just any evolution, but one tuned to the environment.
"Did Naembitbo evolve like this too?" I glanced at the sloth-thing still slung over my back. As always, it hung there with a chill expression. Maybe it was one product of evolution.
"Adult mandrakes too."
Not just animals—plants followed suit. Absorbing massive mana, or for some other reason, they grew at freakish speeds.
Olfather: As I keep stressing, nothing's certain. We need more evidence.
Evidence, huh... Guess I'll have to scout some out.
Thanks for the help.
Olfather: I haven't helped much. You've done all the grunt work. Keep pushing on all fronts.
It's heavy, but I'll do my best.
The chat with Olfather ended there. I let out a sigh the second it did. Was this what it felt like to understand something you didn't want to? All the prior clues hardened into conviction, breeding anxiety. Humans always fear the unknown. I was straight-up terrified of how this forest would warp me.
"I don't need the cause. Just escape, and it's done..." Realizing bare survival wasn't enough deflated me hard. All my efforts so far felt pointless.
"No giving up now." I steeled myself again. Too early for despair. My body's changes had been positive so far. Olfather's idea was just a hypothesis—nothing solid.
"More evidence, then certainty."
But first things first. I turned my gaze. There sat an empty iron pan, all alone.
The fish the shark giant had wolfed down. The one I'd slathered with oyster sauce for once.
"Food first."
Koreans run on rice. No actual rice here, but meals matter. I used up the last dregs of oyster sauce. Damn, it was good. Unlike before, when I'd only nibbled one piece, I scarfed it all.
"Frustratingly delicious."
Maybe because of the bad news, even a full belly didn't lift my mood. Had to shake it off quick. Negative thoughts sap the will. Like I said, nothing's set in stone. Who knows—maybe shark giants like that exist outside too.
After eating, I finished my cultivation method and prepped for scouting. Target: not the river bottom, but upstream. Plenty to see there.
"Lucky, and I might find another river branch."
God, I hoped so. Hoped it wouldn't crush all my hopes.
I wiped the blood off Cheonma's sword with oiled paper and geared up fully. Complicated head? Work the body. Timeless fix.
Heading out to scout!
YasaengGrill (Photo of sword and shield in hand)
Going upstream this time. Cheer me on, everyone!
└Cheonma: Push on. Know that this lady always cheers for you.
└SwordTasteStar: Forgot anything?
└Cheonma: Your conscience?
└SwordTasteStar: I was asking Grills? lol
└Cheonma: Merely teasing, as is this lady's way.
└SwordTasteStar: Bored? Wanna spar?
└Cheonma: Just what I desired. Show me that meager skill of yours.
└StarlightPrincess: Always be careful. Broken limbs are fine—just stay safe, please.
└YasaengGrill: That's cheering, right?;;
└StarlightPrincess: Was that weird? I meant don't worry with elixirs on hand.
└YasaengGrill: Thanks;;
└Talking weird when it's not their business lol
└Not "glad it's not me"?
└Suspicious~
└StarlightPrincess: You people are awful.
└SunForever: Uh. What? Where's the shark? You didn't give it away, did you?
└YasaengGrill: Yeah, gave it. Nothing else to do with it.
└SunForever: Shit. Missed out—had something come up. Wanted it for display.
└YasaengGrill: Why display something so grotesque?;;
└SunForever: Rare animal. Perfect collectible.
└YasaengGrill: ;;;
The post filled up instantly with half-cheers, half-teases. I chuckled—business as usual—and set off with my two animal buddies... or not.
"Ppareumbo. Guard Wonmo good, yeah?"
"..."
Wonmo might nap after lunch, unavoidable for a cub, but no big worries.
"Fence is up, Ppareumbo's here—perfect."
Time to roll. I scanned the cave.
"Gonna need more barricades."
The shark giant had squeezed through a less-dense spot—left open for river access, perfectly sized for it. Even with barricades, it'd probably smash through anyway given its bulk.
"Inconvenient, but gotta deal."
I eyeballed spots for more barricades and moved out.
Shhhhaaaa!!
The river still roared with fierce current. I stared, then looked up.
This crossing would be...
"Whoa. That a volcano?"
Volcanic zone. Far off, a volcano belched lava. Distance kept the impact minimal, but still impressive. Barren ground cracked wide, lava oozing from fissures. A forest that blew your mind every time.
Maddening.
"Space all fucked up? Getting used to it."
I turned upstream. Rushing water, distant eruptions—excellent. Decided to normalize this crap. Just marvel and move on.
"No bear from yesterday, right?"
Not slacking, though. Big beasts could lurk, so I stayed vigilant. Animals would come to drink, after all.
Splash!
Like right now. But...
Wait, this guy's not drinking. Something flew from the woods and plopped into the river. What the hell?
Bob...
Soon figured it out. Floating up against the current: spotted pattern, long tail, four legs. Leopard or cheetah? Didn't matter—carnivore for sure.
"...What hit it to send it flying?"
It drifted powerless, knocked out cold. Like the deer that beat the bull shark—something similar inside?
I glanced sideways, half-expecting. Denser trees than elsewhere. Don't even think about entering.
Ooo-ooo! Ooo! Ooo!
Monkey cries from within. Or not monkeys. Multiple, anyway. I slipped past quietly. No dreams of going in. Even normal monkeys outmuscle humans.
"...Huh?"
Trudging along the river path, spotted something odd. Eight legs, hump on top. Sleek, aquatic vibe.
"...Why's there an octopus?"
Octopus. Purple-spotted one. Looked venomous, but weirder: "Octopuses live in the sea, right?"
Why here? Octopuses are ocean dwellers. Freshwater ones? Not in my knowledge. Maybe this world has 'em.
"Nah."
I shook off unease and pushed upstream. The higher I went, the stronger the smell assaulting my nose. Salty, briny wind. As it intensified, anxiety filled me.
Steps quickened, focus narrowing.
Finally, river's end—forest's edge. What met my eyes:
Shhhhaaaa—
The vastest, bluest sea imaginable. I stared and spat,
"...Fuck this. Goddamn it."