Chapter 206
"Sigh..."
So it had come to this. He'd gotten his hopes up for nothing.
Han Yaseong was disappointed, but he figured it was for the best and started preparing to head through the portal. There was no point staying in this world if he wasn't going to fool around with them anyway.
He called the Chinese place and ordered a ton of jjajangmyeon, tangsuyuk, and the like. He had to feed Yadong too, after all. The way to make that beast work was through food.
While munching on it and bingeing movies and variety shows, it hit 7 p.m. He turned everything off, packed up the leftovers, and headed up to the attic.
A little later, a shimmering transparent light rippled into view, forming the portal. Han Yaseong shoved in all the groceries and charged through.
Thud, tap.
This time, he landed properly without tumbling. But of all the luck, it was winter. The air was frigid, snow blanketing everything in sight. The ground was frozen solid—digging would be a nightmare. Instinctively, Han Yaseong grimaced.
"Damn... what now?"
All the pits he'd dug before were buried under snow. Work would be tough for a while.
Shaking his head in regret, Han Yaseong bellowed into the wild.
"Yadong!"
After a few calls, Yadong slunk out from the burrow, looking rumpled like he'd just woken up. The beast trudged down with an annoyed expression.
"This is for you."
Han Yaseong handed over the takeout bag packed with jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk. Yadong sniffed it eagerly, then snatched it up and hauled it off.
Han Yaseong grabbed several bags of supplies in both hands and headed toward the burrow area near the roots. Sensing food had arrived, the other wild beasts emerged from underground and gathered at the drop-off spot.
"Grab all that and bring it over. Chocolate bars for whoever does."
As he walked from the burrow and gave the order, the beasts understood, each snatching a bag in their jaws just like before and heading back.
Thanks to them, everything was transported effortlessly in no time. He broke up chocolate bars and passed them out; the beasts happily clamped them in their mouths and scampered off.
Yadong had already unpacked his bag and was devouring the jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk, sauce smeared all over his muzzle.
"No trouble while I was gone?"
Yadong was too busy stuffing his face to answer, which probably meant nothing had happened. If there'd been an issue, he'd have let him know. Looked like that bastard hadn't made it this far.
Han Yaseong tidied up roughly, then pulled out the massive plastic-wrapped winter bedding and clothes from one corner. He spread out the blankets, bundled up in the winter gear, and lit a bonfire to warm the burrow nicely.
Then he headed to the stream for a drink and to detox. Once he emptied his bowels, the fatigue melted away.
"This place really is the best."
It was close to home, easy to come and go—no villa or campsite could compare. Sure, no pretty girls was a downside, but he didn't want to get frisky even here, so no plans to bring anyone. He could get plenty of that at home.
Much later, once he'd conquered or tamed this place, he'd bring Seniors Choi Yujin and Jang Euna for a threesome. Bending them over naked and pounding their pussies would be a riot. The wild beasts would crowd around to watch, too.
Han Yaseong patrolled the Forest 0 boundary for a while, confirmed nothing unusual, and returned to the burrow. Yadong, stuffed full of jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk, had conked out by the fire from food coma. What a carefree life.
Han Yaseong dumped some store-bought ugoji gukbap into a pot to boil, then dug up the golden gold bar buried underground. If he could just crack its secret, something amazing might happen—but figuring it out was proving impossible. A real headache.
Now with winter here, the frozen ground made digging even harder... The beasts wouldn't touch it either; they hated tough jobs. He'd never seen them dig in winter. They burrowed like moles for hibernation, only popping out for food or water before holing up for days.
Figuring it'd be summer next visit, Han Yaseong reburied the gold bar, ate his gukbap, and turned in early that night.
The next morning, he grabbed his Wild Sword and Wild Bow and headed to Forest 1. He crumbled a chocolate bar and scattered it on the snow; the scent drew beasts popping out from everywhere.
Even the three-eyed one showed up, snagging a piece and chomping away.
"Anyone spot a stranger?"
No one had, apparently—they were all too focused on eating. Han Yaseong pushed up to the Forest 1 boundary. No new camping traces, so the intruder hadn't returned. Or maybe he'd gone elsewhere. Han Yaseong half-hoped he'd wandered into Forest 3 and gotten eaten by the cyclops monster. One less problem for him.
From the Forest 1 edge, he peered into Forest 2 and stepped in a bit. The jellyfish-like things still floated and undulated in the air. No clue what they were for. Weird plants blocked further progress, so he had to turn back.
He needed Yadong to scout it, but the beast refused. Going alone was suicide. He'd end up dead here, erased from that world, never getting laid again. If he vanished, Senior Choi Yujin would snag some rich guy quick; Senior Jang Euna would keep getting her pussy inspected by her dad before marrying some chaebol heir or rising political star, offering up her ass. He'd be wiped from everyone's memories like he never existed.
He couldn't stand that. No, it terrified him. The thought alone was horrifying. Before, it hadn't fazed him, but now he wanted to linger in someone's memory.
Han Yaseong returned to Forest 0 and started training. Out of practice, his body felt stiff. He swung the Wild Sword in mock combats one-handed. Even if he ran into that guy later without a gun, Han Yaseong would win. But if the bastard had his firearm... it spelled trouble. If only that American prick didn't have a gun...
After two sweaty hours of simulated fights, he headed back for lunch prep. Yadong, hating the cold, had no intention of venturing out.
"Hey, really not going? To Forest 2?"
Yadong grumbled and turned away—don't push it.
Annoyed while boiling curry, Han Yaseong swept Yadong's bowl aside.
"If you're not going, no more food."
Yadong grumbled and eyed him—let's settle this. A challenge to prove who was boss.
Ridiculous. Han Yaseong shook his head and slid the bowl back. No point fighting; he'd just lose out.
"Fine, let's go somewhere else. That spot where you got the gold bar—can we head there?"
Yadong grumbled and hugged the bowl protectively. But his body language said it was okay.
"We can go there?"
Grumble. Eat first. But yeah, they could go. Not a dangerous area, apparently.
"Alright, curry then we'll check it out."
Not a bad idea to see where Yadong had snagged the gold bar. Guards might be there, risky, but probably Yadong's level—no big scare.
After finishing curry, they geared up. Backpack on, weapons ready—Yadong rose lazily, strapping a dagger to his leg. The beast wasn't scary bare, but that dagger made him deadly, slashing with fangs. Han Yaseong regretted giving it, but it helped with hunts, so no taking it back.
Yadong took point, trudging through the flurries down an unfamiliar path. Eventually, at Forest 0's edge, he halted abruptly.
"What?"
Nothing there. Weird for him to stop like they'd arrived. Not heading to another forest either. Instead, Yadong dug into the ground and vanished inside.
"Hey, what the hell? Where you going?"
Suddenly underground. Han Yaseong blinked, then got it.
"Oh, it's down there!"
He'd assumed it was aboveground somewhere. But no—the hole was Yadong-sized, too small for him.
"Damn, how am I supposed to get in?"
He shrugged off his pack, grabbed a shovel, and dug. It was pre-dug earth, so it gave way easily. Flashlight revealed a long tunnel stretching ahead.
Looked like a long way down. Tricky.