Four Seasons Forest (4)
I have no thoughts. Because I literally have zero thoughts. Ever since returning to the cave, I'd just been spacing out blankly. The reality I'm stuck in is too unbelievable. I desperately wished it was all a dream. But time passes, and nothing changes. This godforsaken place is the Four Seasons Forest, and that's where I woke up. My mental state couldn't help but crumble. Thanks to that, I spent the whole day posting despair-filled shitposts on the Gallery.
Live-Streaming the 5 Stages of Death
[Don't bullshit me. Look a bit more.]
Denial
[Why me? Fuck, what did I do wrong?]
Anger
[I'll be your lifelong slave, anyone coming to pick me up?]
Bargaining
[Send me home. I wanna eat the leftover kimchi jjigae from yesterday.]
Depression
That's Grills posting in real-time lol
└lolololol
└lolololol
└That's science lolol
└What's kimchi jjigae?
└No idea lol
└StarlightPrincess So sad…… similar to my terminal illness……
└Not quite terminal
└StarlightPrincess Of course not?
└Mayfly life?
└lolololol
└Facts lolol
└StarlightPrincess You're really mean
One user kindly even documented the timeline. Seeing that made me chuckle despite myself. Honestly, I was starting to think it was time to move to acceptance. Sticking around in denial forever wouldn't help. I have no idea why I have to suffer here, but I can't keep escaping reality every time.
There might be a way out…… right? Nah, probably not.
The Gallery told me. The entire Four Seasons Forest is one big barrier. Even if you break through one, another pops up, and the broken one repairs itself in a different pattern eventually. This applies to the ground, underground, and even the sky. Once you're in, you can never get out.
First, I need to map out the area around my forest.
Just in case I end up settling here, I should properly scout the surroundings. The cave is right here, but getting lost would be a total village comedy skit—and the problem is, that happens way too often. Gotta be careful.
Let's head to the river first. Better check if the water's drinkable.
I didn't check yesterday because my head was a mess. I was too distraught and wanted to cry. The forest water should be safe enough in general. What I really want to know is what's living in it. This place is crawling with anaconda-sized snakes, house-sized bears, and all sorts of monstrosities—why would the riverbank be safe? Man-eating fish wouldn't surprise me. I could die just trying to drink.
If it's drinkable, I can make this cave my base.
Two days in, and aside from the original mad dog owner, nothing's come sniffing around. An owlbear did show up nearby, but let's gloss over that—I bolted fast. Plus, it's a great spot defensively, so I'll probably stick here unless something changes.
Should I ration the Wall Valley Pills to hold out?
That's tricky. I mulled it over and stood up. River first, then worry about it later. Or maybe poll the Gallery. I'll set it to high-nics only, though. If it's not their problem, most would be like "not my circus, not my monkeys." Group intelligence? More like group idiocy.
Whiiiish—
"Whoa. What the hell is this."
Arriving at the stream I'd eyed yesterday, I couldn't help but gasp. Dangerous beasts? Nope. Man-eaters? Nah. It was the scenery beyond the stream. Yesterday, it was a desert. Plain as day.
Kids, check this out.
YasaengGrill (Photo of snowy mountains visible beyond the stream)
Desert yesterday, snowy mountains today. What's tomorrow? Haha
└Four Seasons Forest confirmed!! Thud thud!!
└Wtf?? What is that??
└Whoa…… what do you even say at a time like this?
└StarlightPrincess Just cheer him on
└SwordTasteStar Pardon, but you're not a criminal, right?
└YasaengGrill Touched my mom's wallet as a kid?
└SwordTasteStar Didn't you say you were an orphan?
└YasaengGrill She was around back then……
└SwordTasteStar ;;; Sorry
└YasaengGrill All good lol
└SwordTasteStar I did that too haha;;
└YasaengGrill What're you waiting for, come already?
└SwordTasteStar Busy with my job
└YasaengGrill What job?
└SwordTasteStar House guard haha
└Just a NEET lol
└lolololol
└How's Grills doing fr?
└Idk anymore lol
└Just survive on your own
└Shouldn't we give disaster relief funds? Lol
└Cheonma Pretty mountain
└ChangguPrincess Right? Like my face haha
└Cheonma ?
└?
└?
└?
└ChangguPrincess If you're jealous, fuck off then
└Cheonma Where do you live? Now stamping dojos too.
I let out a hollow laugh. Yesterday's desert beyond the stream was now a snow-capped mountain range. Pure white peaks. Was I in the wrong spot? Nah, that didn't make sense. Desert next to mountains? The boundary was crystal clear. It wasn't a gradual shift—the environment just changed at the stream.
Who's screwing with me?
I sighed and approached the stream. Lots of minnows—water quality seems good. Silver lining. I'll bring Cheonma's canteen next time. Still, better test it.
Splash—
The moment I dipped my hand, coolness gave way to confusion. Was I seeing things? But my arm kept sinking deeper. No bottom. Crystal clear, but way deeper than it looked.
Deep enough.
Not impossibly so. I could wade across if needed. But with mountains on the other side, no point unless I wanna suicide.
"Ribbit."
"Huh?"
I'd just pulled my arm from the river when a weird sound hit my ear. Close by, so something nearby. I turned toward it.
"Ribbit."
"……A frog?"
A frog. A golden frog. Perched on a rock in the river's center. Its whole body gleamed gold—super suspicious. Bright colors usually mean poison. Better back off. Poison's a hard no. Even without, it's small-dog sized—creepy.
"Kraaaak!"
"Whoa? Whoa?!"
As I turned to leave, the golden frog went berserk. It stood tall on its long legs, threw its head back like a human hawking a loogie, then snapped forward.
"Ptooey!!"
Piiing!
Sticky golden goo shot out like a bullet—straight at my face. I flinched and dodged. It whizzed past, hitting a tree behind me dead center.
Tsssizzle!!
"Whoa. Fuck."
The tree melted. Not poison—acid. No time to admire, though. Frog was reloading. Escape first. I bolted before it spat again.
"Ptui!"
"Ugh!"
Dodged again by a hair. Wouldn't have if I hadn't ducked. Luckily, no chase. Seems it claims the river as territory.
"Huff…… huff……."
Back at the cave, panting like mad. What kinda bullshit is this? Found clean water, now scared off by a frog. Ridiculous.
River's too deep to approach casually……
Bow would help, but fat chance—I don't even know how. Wasn't there yesterday. Dipping my hand triggered it? Questionable if I can drink now. Worst case, it spits in the river.
Kids, found a golden frog.
YasaengGrill No pic, was running. This bastard spits acid—what is it?
└Acid-spitting frog? What kinda frog lol
└Four Seasons Forest my ass, sounds fake lol
└No pic = 99% bullshit ㅇㅇ
└Olfather Did you find it in the river by chance?
Amid the useless comments, a high-nic asked. Olfather. He pops in rarely, comments and ghosts. Few posts—magic or alchemy stuff, full of jargon I ignored. Professor vibe. Mostly polite, so I match it.
└YasaengGrill Yeah, found it in the river. Spat right after I dipped my hand.
└Olfather How big?
└YasaengGrill Dog-sized.
└Olfather Must've grown big in the Four Seasons Forest. Normally finger-joint size.
└YasaengGrill You know it?
└Olfather Yes. Official name: Golden Poison Frog. Rare in clear waters, venom so potent many died capturing them. Be careful.
└YasaengGrill Acid or poison?;;
└Olfather Venom's that strong.
Animals of every stripe. Frog with near-acid venom. And the whole river's its fortress—like an archer on castle walls.
I just want safe water……
Show my face too often, it'll wait for me. Tricky. Notifications kept pinging meanwhile. Posts blow up lately.
└Olfather If you catch the Golden Poison Frog, I'll pay 20,000 gold. Wanna study it.
└That's "go die" politely, right?
└Fr lol
└Catch it, I'll give 50k lol
└YasaengGrill Gotta catch it…… or no water…… Other advice?
└Olfather Sorry, too rare—little known. Active mornings mostly. Might need antidote.
└Go at night for water then ㅇㅇ
└YasaengGrill Night's worse;;
└What comes out?
└YasaengGrill Dunno what, that's why worse
No攻略法. Gotta solve it myself. Water's a must—prep thoroughly.
First, return the compass.
Return everything except Cheonma's. Posted publicly, then traded after 5 mins. First: StarlightPrincess. Gallery dweller—accepted instantly.
Hello. Applied trade to return compass.
StarlightPrincess Ah, yes! No need, really…… Cheonma's is enough. Others too bulky.
StarlightPrincess Got it. Let's both hang in there. Thanks. Get well soon.
Seems she's really ill. Nice personality too.
Next: SunForever. Suspected dark elf high-nic.
Hello. Trade to return compass.
SunForever Keep it.
Still, gotta return favors.
SunForever Don't want that chump change.
;;; Too cool, embarrassing. Said I'd repay big later—got a weird reply.
SunForever I like you. Need anything else? Looks like you could use a shield?
Need one, but buying with steel scale snake money.
SunForever Don't want chump change.
;;; You're a dark elf, right?
SunForever ㅇㅇ
Dark elves: Same roots as elves but opposites. Peace-loving elves vs. dirty tricks, but not crossing lines. Power for peace mindset. Socially awkward though. Don't apply my world's standards—elves here are imperialist af.
SunForever Lots of rich ones? Setan spits gold/resources. Common sense?
I’m from another world, clueless.
SunForever That your gimmick?
It’s real…… believe or not.
Forest hermit life—origin irrelevant. He got it, moved on coolly.
SunForever Anyway, dark elves softer/nice than crazy boomer elves. Ok?
Emphasizing…… used to be different?
SunForever Opposite back then. Settled desert, got rich, mellowed. Discrimination made us mean.
Realistic.
SunForever Don't underestimate. Desert survival = badass fighters.
No plans. Anything to watch?
SunForever Call us "blennies," curse you dead.
Like Earth's black folks? Chill till provoked. Speciesism here—be careful.
Gotta learn slowly.
Anon or not, overt bigotry ain't me. Building rapport now—antagonize, hurts me.
SunForever You registered trade item.
SunForever Take this, give health stuff. Hurry, no time.
Thanks. Won't forget this favor.
SunForever Yeah. Stay safe.
Gallery all saints? Or high-nics? Cut connection, checked item.
"……?"
Blinding sparkle. Shield-shaped, gold-covered. Literal golden shield. How rotten-rich to send this.
……Performance good?
Light, comfy. Test durability—not with Cheonma's sword, might chip.
Next: ChangguPrincess?
Weird name. Sounds female. Gallery regulars 90% nuts. Who's this?
Hello. Trade to return compass.
ChangguPrincess Hi~ Just keep it~
Like SunForever. No need. Obvious—they gave freely. Gotta build ties.
Gotta return—nothing to give rn.
ChangguPrincess Cheer for Chaeyu then. That's enough~
Don't know this world—Chaeyu team?
Sports exist here, but details unknown. Different world, races.
ChangguPrincess OMG! Don't know Mephisto's most famous/rooted Chaemes United?! Half life wasted~!
Rest of mine's iffy.
ChangguPrincess Oops! Sorry~ Mayfly life~!
True, but blunt hurts. Why my life like this.
ChangguPrincess You registered trade item.
ChangguPrincess Take this, you're Chaeyu fan now~
What is it?
ChangguPrincess Famous Nebes & Bannir uniforms~ Great material, wear 'em. Sending 2 home, 2 away~
Ah…… ok…….
Bit awkward. Needed clothes—good timing. Soap's buyable, but need spares while washing. Fine now, but need grows.
ChangguPrincess Chaemes United: 200-year history club. Grills'll be hooked soon~
Confirm if my sports knowledge matches first. Anyway, thanks for clothes.
ChangguPrincess No prob~ But one request~
What?
ChangguPrincess Chaemes City—fake ones, ignore! Sustained by Setan's dirty gold money. No roots. None.
"……."
Why familiar vibe from stranger. Hollow laugh escaped.
ChangguPrincess said special vid soon—watch for peace of mind. Chat ended.
Checked clothes: Uniforms with big names.
Language unknown.
Gallery auto-translates? Emblem cool tho. "Rooted" feel. White/blue mix pretty. Not wilderness camo, but clothes priority.
Great material too?
Super stretchy. Versatile. Smiled briefly, checked Gallery. She'd post soon—thanks/comment planned.
Chaemes United Special Collection
Clicked instantly.
"Huh?"
Eyes widened at vid.
Soccer?
Why soccer? Baseball too? Mental cases pop up—coincidence?