Chapter 141
Three days passed like that. In that time, they'd trekked at least 40 kilometers beyond the forest, but there were no scary beasts or dangerous areas to speak of. Hanyaseong had grown so relaxed that he wandered around without even drawing his weapon, casually foraging as he went.
Crossing just one forest had revealed all sorts of bizarre wonders. The strangest by far was an animal with three eyes. No matter how many heteromorphic creatures he'd seen, nothing like this had ever crossed his path—and here it was, just three days into the far side of the woods. Two eyes were normal, like any beast's, but the third protruded from its forehead like an antenna. With three eyes staring blankly, it had this dopey, dim-witted vibe. It was so utterly weird he couldn't even think of a name for it; he just stood there gawking in disbelief for a good while.
This place really was a new world. If Earth's scholars came here, they'd spend their whole lives researching and die happy—the sheer volume of novelties was overwhelming. Hundreds of exotic flowers and fruits, untold varieties of heteromorphic animals... he couldn't even begin to catalog them all.
Still, the lack of danger was a small comfort, even if it meant failing their original goal, which felt disappointing.
"No gold or diamonds, huh? Something pricey we could sell would be nice..."
After roaming the forest for over three days, there was no sign of gold or diamonds, nothing that could fetch quick cash. Fruits and flowers wouldn't sell fast; you'd need researchers to test them first. Gems were the ticket for instant money, but none turned up. It was forest after endless forest, flowers, trees, and heteromorphic critters everywhere.
By the fourth day, even that got boring—he didn't want to sightsee anymore.
"Yadong, isn't there anywhere else? This place is too dull."
Calling it a "full belly complaint," Yadong scowled and scanned other regions. Hanyaseong could guess what his underling wanted. It seemed like he was after those glowing stones the giants had favored long ago. Giants used them to build temples and light fires. Yeah, this guy wanted them too.
But those stones lay in dangerous territory, home to colossal carnivores. Even giants ten times Yadong's size got devoured in seconds. Yadong had no intention of dying, so he resisted going—until an old memory surfaced, sending him toward a certain spot.
He recalled fragments of glowing stones by a streambed. Hanyaseong followed, backpack and all. Yadong was smart; he seemed to understand commands. Eating human food was turning him more human-like. Obedient as a Jindo dog—it made raising him worthwhile.
Yadong trekked all afternoon before reaching the stream. Seeing clear water trickling through the forest, Hanyaseong whooped.
"Nice one, Yadong! Water was running low anyway."
They'd been rationing drinking water, so arriving at this abundant stream lifted his spirits. Hanyaseong dropped his pack, kicked off his sneakers and socks, and waded in. The water was icy cold and crystal clear. Tiny heteromorphic bugs wriggled away in panic.
Watching Yadong lap it up, Hanyaseong scooped some in his hands and drank. He always checked if Yadong ate or drank first—better safe than sorry. The water tasted... off. Similar to the stream by their shelter, but subtly different. Sweeter, maybe. Not the same water, just like it wasn't the same forest.
After a few gulps, the signal hit fast. He dashed into the woods, dropped trou, and squatted. This stuff had powerful detox effects—felt like it was flushing everything from gut to bowels.
He had explosive diarrhea, leaving him drained as he stumbled back to the stream.
"Damn, this beats an enema... everything's coming out..."
The shelter stream had mild detox too, but nothing like this. Yadong drank, then ducked into the woods to squat and purge as well. Other animals didn't react this way, but human food seemed to affect him similarly. It really drove home how toxic human grub was for beasts—they didn't get the runs right after drinking.
Gut empty, Hanyaseong slumped on a big stream rock when something glinted underwater. Curious, he stood and approached.
"What's this?"
He fished it out—a glass shard? But it sparkled like a lightbulb. Gem? Diamond? Definitely not ordinary rock or glass. It screamed precious stone.
Looking closer, the streambed glittered with more. At first he'd thought it was sunlight on water, but no—these were gems twinkling below.
Hanyaseong scooped them all up. Back home, he'd have senior Choi Yujin appraise them. Hands full now—easily two kilos. If diamonds or gems, worth tens or hundreds of billions.
Finding something valuable thrilled him.
"Good boy, Yadong."
That night, he topped Yadong's rice with instant curry powder. The beast devoured it like mad.
Over a week later, they finally reached the far edge of the forest—11 days from the shelter. But it wasn't the end. Another boundary loomed, with yet more forest beyond. Yadong wouldn't go farther; even he hadn't ventured there.
Forest beyond forest—like dominoes. Hanyaseong didn't feel like pushing on. Mountains beyond mountains, forests without end—maybe infinite. Food supplies were low anyway, so he decided to head back. But someday, stronger, he'd explore further.
That night, he pitched the tent and sketched a map by firelight. He'd printed internet tutorials beforehand, so it was straightforward. He marked "Forest 1," dividing safe zones from unexplored. The temple forest was "Forest 0," naturally. Future trips would map the chain.
Finishing Forest 1's map with notes on oddities, Hanyaseong felt the urge to pee and headed to nearby grass. As he whipped it out and let loose, something splashed. Puzzled, he finished, parted the thick grass with a stick, and froze.
"What the hell?"
Ignoring the piss on it, he snatched it up. Urine smell? Whatever. Shock left him speechless.
It was a can of coffee.
"Why is this here?"
Unbelievable. A canned coffee? In this wilderness? Empty, too—someone drank it and tossed it. Who? Were there people here?
Too absurd for words. He scanned the dark—nothing. Washing it in the stream, he examined closely. All English, no Korean. American or British make.
Utterly ridiculous.
"Americans or Brits here?"
The question felt stupid. Other people? Foreigners? Another portal traveler like him?
Anxiety surged. Someone was here, no doubt. He wasn't the only one portaled to this planet. Maybe the US government had sent troops.
Panic hit. Other countries couldn't find this place... It was his world. Knowing others knew soured his mood.
Gripping the can, Hanyaseong scowled. No one should know. Tourists or explorers? Fine. But armies or governments? Disaster. This place would be ruined—or worse, taken.
No, he didn't want to lose it. Not like the Native Americans, stripped of land and slaughtered. This was his world. No one would take it from him. Ever.