Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Dinosaur Strategy
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Atop a massive tree in the Dinosaur Forest.
Crunch-
Munching on a fruit I'd picked nearby, I started writing a post on the gallery.
📰 Gallery Post [Something More Stimulating Than Yushun-i's Panties] [Author] [Shihanbu] (Photo of Dinosaur Island taken from the treetop) 💬 Comments — Anonymous Whoa, that's lava? — Anonymous There's an ice cave in the center of the lava? — Anonymous On either side of the lava zone, there's a snowy mountain and the sea too. — Anonymous ↳ Reply Ice... lava... sea... snowy mountains all in one frame? Is that even possible? — Knowledgeable Person Nope, impossible. — Anonymous But it's right there in reality. — Knowledgeable Person Then there's only one cause. Dinosaurs. "As expected. It was the dinosaurs' doing."
I'd half-guessed it, but yeah.
Powerful dinosaurs could even influence the environment itself.
It was scary, but also a relief.
The scary part was not knowing just how strong the dinosaurs that could alter the environment really were.
The relieving part was that I was in the forest.
"At least there aren't any of those monsters around here."
I let out a sigh of relief at that fact, but only for a moment.
This time, I began surveying the forest where I'd been living.
From the high vantage point, I could see the entire forest at a glance.
After observing for a good while, I realized something.
"The fact that I'm still alive is a miracle."
There were four dinosaurs living in this forest.
First, the water dinosaur that swallowed the yapping dinosaur in one bite.
Then, the one that stole my fish from the lake.
Another was the one that bursts out from underground to snatch prey when it comes near.
And finally, the small dinosaur that swings its claws at blinding speed.
These four dinosaurs inhabited the forest.
The interesting thing was that these four weren't fighting each other.
"Precisely, these four dinosaurs have divided the forest into five territories."
Each had its own domain and showed no signs of encroaching further.
But right now...
Those boundaries were shaking.
"They're gradually expanding their territories toward my location."
They must have noticed that the owner of this sector—the yapping dinosaur—was dead.
They were claiming the ownerless land as their own.
"Looking at it like this, I got lucky."
On the first day I was summoned to this other world...
I encountered the yapping dinosaur.
Because it got killed by the water dinosaur, I'd survived this long.
If not for that, I'd have kept running and ended up hunted by one of those five dinosaurs.
"I really got lucky."
But that luck was running out now.
The three dinosaurs—excluding the one stuck in the water—were steadily approaching my area.
And they were closing in fast.
"Roughly three days left, huh."
Within that time, I had to hunt one of the three.
Only then could I preserve my life.
With that conclusion, I observed the three dinosaurs.
I stayed up in the tree until sunset, watching them.
And I picked one.
"I'll hunt you."
In my sights was a dinosaur swinging its claws at a fleeing bear.
Slash—
A chill trailed in the wake of the dinosaur's claws.
And the bear froze solid on the spot.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The moment I finished scouting and returned to the burrow.
"Awoo! Awoooo!"
The wolf pup wailed pitifully and rubbed its face against my leg.
"Waited a long time, huh?"
"Awooo!"
Its cry sounded like, You think?
It felt like it was scolding me.
I couldn't help but laugh at the sight and gave it the fruit I'd brought from outside.
"Here, have this. Don't be mad."
"Awoo!"
As if saying it'd let it slide this once, it stuck right to my side and started devouring the fruit.
I stroked its head while opening the gallery.
To find info on the one I'd decided to hunt.
"Oh. Here it is."
The gallery, used like a communication tool back in the Dinosaur Era.
Finding info on it wasn't hard.
📰 Dinosaur Encyclopedia [Author: Knowledgeable Person] Name: Cryoraptor Size: Around 2m / Weight 85~100kg Classification: Small theropod Appearance: Sleek body covered in feathers, blue camouflage coloring, red crest as key features Temperament: Extremely ferocious. Habits: Once it locks onto prey, it pursues relentlessly until death. Danger Level: Grade 5. "Danger Level 5."
Danger Level.
The strength index for monsters, measured by the otherworlders of the Dinosaur Era.
It starts at 1 and goes up to 20, with "?" above that.
"? are the dinosaurs no human has ever hunted."
Ancient dragons that could single-handedly annihilate a city without harm.
Divine dragons whose mere appearance spells a nation's doom.
Those two fall into this category.
"Grade 5."
Someone in the chat had mentioned it before.
The Abandoned Land Ghost was Danger Level 3.
In other words, the dinosaur I had to hunt now was at least two grades stronger than that wolf-turtle.
"Starting off and already drained."
With a sigh, I kept searching for Cryoraptor info.
Then a title caught my eye.
📜 Cryoraptor Practical Strategy Guide [Nickname] [Dinosaur Hunter]
>[Posted] [115 years ago]
>(Recommendations 712,374 / Scraps 298) ■ Before getting into the main content, one thing upfront. If you die even after reading this? That's on you. For real. ■ First, Cryoraptor info. It's a theropod dinosaur about waist-high, over 2m long. Pretty small for a dino. ■ Its specialty is claw swipes, and man, are they tricky. The claws carry a chill aura. Get hit once, and you might as well amputate that limb. ■ But the real problem? Those claw swipes are insanely fast. See the claws in your vision? That means you've already been slashed and it's pulling back. ■ So don't even think about dodging. The first hit requires amputation, plus it slows you down. One hit and you're chowing down ginseng tonic next to your ancestors. ■ But don't worry too much. This thing's a total bonehead. Plus, its habit of chasing locked-on prey to the death is pure gold. Lure it into a trap, and you're done. ■ Pro tip: Sticky trap recommended. Anything else, it shreds with claws. Once bound, game over. Stab under its left ribs—its weak spot when immobilized—and finito. ■ One caveat, though. Despite being small, its skin is tough as hell. Swordsmen can't hunt without sword aura. Mages need 5th-circle attack spells minimum. TL;DR: 1. Never get hit by those chill claws. 2. Use a sticky trap. 3. No sword aura or 5th-circle magic? Don't even make eye contact. That's the Cryoraptor guide. Stay alive against the dinos, folks. After reading the full strategy, I dove straight into the trading tab to search for sticky traps.
A flood of listings popped up. But...
"Why is everything so expensive?"
Average price was over 1,000 points.
I had about 700 points.
"This is bad."
Sighing, I scrolled down slowly.
That's when I saw it.
⭐ For Sale — [Selling Sticky Trap.] Sticky trap that bursts into compound slime on contact. For sale. [Price: 700 Gallery Points]
It was exactly the price of my entire fortune.
I snapped it up immediately.
Suddenly, a cylindrical iron plate—like a landmine—appeared in my palm.
"Now all that's left is firepower."
I closed the trading tab and posted on the gallery.
📰 Gallery Post [400-Year-Old Elf Insists She's Still in Her Prime—Is This Legit?] [Author: Shihanbu] - Gotta hunt a Cryoraptor, but I can't use sword aura. - No 5th-circle spells either. - But I must take it down. - Anyone got a technique as strong as sword aura? 💬 Comments — Anonymous Ooh! Finally going dinosaur hunting?! — Anonymous When's it going down? Tell me so I can grab some beer! — Anonymous Aren't you being a bit shameless, Shihanbu? Asking for techniques for free? Total thief vibes. — Anonymous LOL fr — Shihanbu Sorry. But it's life or death. — Anonymous Fair enough. I'd be shameless too if I were Shihanbu. — Shihanbu So, you gonna tell me? — Anonymous Me? I'm just a farmer. Was empathizing with the swordmasters, that's all. — Anonymous LMAO what makes you think you can empathize — Anonymous This guy's nuts lol The comments devolved into their usual banter again.
Ignoring them, I scrolled down further.
Then one comment caught my eye.
⭐ Top Comment — Heavenly Demon I possess such a sword technique. Care to learn? It was from the Heavenly Demon.
"...Hmm."
Scratching the back of my head, I checked her past posts.
— Heavenly Demon [I've gathered some wild greens. Join the Divine Cult and dine with me?] — Heavenly Demon [Picked some plump wild strawberries today. Join the cult now, get a whole basket.] She was... what? Seemed like she was living a similar chill life to mine.
"Kinda gives off 'Do you know the way?' vibes."
In short, not super trustworthy.
But no one else offered a technique before the post got buried.
No choice—I initiated a 1:1 chat with the Heavenly Demon.
💬 Private Chat Heavenly Demon: First, before I teach you, one request. Shihanbu: What is it? Heavenly Demon: What I shall teach you now is a portion of the absolute art permitted only to the cult leader's kin. Heavenly Demon: Should it leak to anyone, I will kill you. Can you promise not to divulge it? Shihanbu: Yes. I promise. Heavenly Demon: Good. I shall now impart to you the 4th stance of the Heavenly Demon Eight Wastelands Ten Annihilations True Scripture: Blood Wave Sword.