Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Heaven's Gift Trove
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"You really gonna go in?"
"Of course I am. Baekseol, wait here just a sec. I'll bring back something tasty."
"Me too!"
Baekseol started wriggling the moment I tried to hand her off.
"Baekseol, remember how salty the seawater was earlier?"
"Yeah."
I scooped up the squirming Baekseol and locked eyes with her, and only then did she settle down.
"I'm gonna dive right in there. I'll be back in a flash. Okay?"
Baekseol gazed up at me obediently, then stretched out a tiny paw to rub against my cheek.
"Come back quick."
"Yeah, super quick."
I leaned in close to her face, and she nuzzled my cheek.
"Take care of Baekseol for me."
"You got it. Trust me. I'll guard your precious friend."
"Thanks, Nella."
Instead of words, Nella flashed a cheerful grin.
"If anyone messes with Baekseol, make sure you get a good look at their face. I'm killing that bastard first."
"O-okay..."
The kid's so small, but she keeps picking fights.
— [Good luck, boss] ─Click, click.
"Hoo─"
I handed Baekseol over to Nella and glanced around. The ground was littered with branches.
I picked up a thick one and ran my knife along it, sharpening it to a point in no time.
"This oughta do it."
Nella, cradling Baekseol, gave me a thumbs-up.
— [Come back safe, leader] [Bring back lots of tasty stuff] "What're you talking about? You guys are coming with me."
— [How?] [Phone'll break] "Like this."
I pulled the item I'd gotten permission from the organizers for out of my pocket.
A diving waterproof pouch rated for 200 meters depth.
Slip the main and sub phones into the pouches, strap on the head mount, and done.
"Can you see okay?"
— [Ugh stop shaking] [lololol] I shook my head to check the mount, and the viewers seemed dizzy.
Head mounts have the advantage of freeing up both hands.
— [Whoa, you're really going in?] [You're insane lol] "I'm really doing it."
"Come back safe, friend."
"Baekseol, bye-bye."
"Bye-bye."
— [See ya Baekseol] [Let's gooo] Baekseol, nestled in Nella's arms, waved her little paws too.
That tiny thing keeps tugging at my heart—heavy as lead.
"Hoo─"
I tossed my cigarette to the ground and stepped forward. Water rose to my ankles in moments.
Splash, splash.
The deeper I waded, the higher the water climbed.
It went from ankles to waist in the blink of an eye.
— [Holy shit, ocean right below] [You're nuts] "My babies. You ready?"
— [Ready!!!] [Dive in!] Splash!
The moment my head hit the seawater, a breathtaking sight unfolded—like my breath was stolen away.
─Bubble.
Not even a gasp escaped me.
It felt like the thrill from the uninhabited island, amplified tenfold.
When in life do you witness something like this?
Majestic and awe-inspiring.
Beneath the waves lay a new world unknown to us.
Fish swam freely, vibrant coral bloomed like flowers.
— [Whoa....] — [Never thought I'd see this in my life] — [Insane] — [Your streamers don't show this shit?] — [lol should've picked better streamers] [fr lol] My first ocean swim, yet my body felt light—almost floating away.
More comfortable than on land.
─Bubble.
A slow kick of my legs propelled me forward.
Fish truly differ from land animals—it hit home.
Fearless or confident, they didn't flee even up close.
"Mmph! Mmph!"
— [YES YES SAW IT!!!] [Holy sea turtle!!!] [Turtle so cute lol] A turtle leisurely munched on seaweed in a rock crevice.
After watching it for a while, a massive fish streaked by.
— [Wtf speed demon] [What just whooshed by] Even faster than me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Humboldt Penguin-Level Swimming Lv.4] Aquatic swimming speed increased Aquatic acceleration increased Micro skin breathing of dissolved oxygen in water Fish taste even better [Price: 80,000,000 won]
Whoosh─!
I kicked off like shoving the ground, accelerating fast.
— [Insane, tuna? It's huge] [Ocean makes it look so pretty] The receding fish closed in instantly.
Thrust!
— [So cute] I speared it, and blood clouded the crystal-clear water.
— [KYYAAAA crazy bitch!!] [Murderer murderer murderer!!] The impaled fish thrashed, vibrations strong through the wooden spear.
Crack!
Its power snapped the thick spear.
I grabbed the tail quick—strength fading from the wound.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Northern Bluefin Tuna] 1M 21cm Bluefin tuna school, so this lone one must be a straggler.
Small for its kind, but plenty for two.
— [What the hell is Ga-eul really?] [Leader been diving how many minutes???] [Yeah?] Lucky tuna find wrapped up the hunt quicker than expected. More would spoil fast in the blazing sun.
For finale, I returned to the turtle spot and yanked up a handful of seaweed.
─Bubble.
— [Yeah let's surface] [I'm suffocating] Signaled the viewers and swam up slow. Sunlight from the surface grew brighter.
Pretty underwater, but now I craved fresh air.
Desire sped my kicks.
Surface neared.
"Pha!"
— [Out!] [Wildest experience lol] [Life with leader is a thrill ride lol] [Like drugs...] "Haa, guys, check this—tuna."
— [Saw it you maniac lol] Even I couldn't help bragging, the thrill so novel.
Fresh air finally filled my lungs.
"Haa─ Feels good."
I'd gone farther than thought—Nella and Baekseol waved from afar.
"Guys, I caught one!"
They shouted back, but too faint to hear.
Swam leisurely over. They drew closer.
"Ga-eul. You caught it!?"
"Yeah."
I pushed through ankle-deep waves to shore. Nella's eyes widened.
"Wh-what the hell is that."
"Tuna."
"Holy crap."
Small for tuna, but half dragged on the ground.
"Anything happen while I was in?"
Nella, eyes bulging, snapped to.
Suddenly smug.
"While you were in the sea, I found a stream."
She proudly held out a dented bucket, full of water.
"Whoa, freshwater? How'd you find it?"
"Heh."
Nella wiped her nose instead of answering.
Then Baekseol wriggled from her arms into mine.
"Whoa. I'm soaked."
Didn't care—clung right on.
"You good?"
"Yeah!"
Licked my cheek, then face-washed me.
"Pffft. Salty, huh."
"Fun!"
Now, prep time.
"Russians like fish?"
"We eat canned fish daily. Fresh? Never."
"Then clean it up."
Offered the tuna. She looked baffled.
"No, canned..."
"Don't wanna eat?"
"I'll handle fish like a pro. Leave it to me, friend."
"And wash a flat stone for the grill."
"Ga-eul, you're tough on people..."
Grumbling, she took it—then dropped it.
"Ah, no..."
Glancing between me and the fish, she grabbed the tail base and strained.
Easy 80kg—heavy work.
"Too heavy? Hack off the head and toss."
"Ah!"
"I'll be by the shade. Bring it when done."
"Set up over there. How to carry the cleaned stuff?"
"Non-woven bag. Fill with enough to eat, ditch the rest. It'll spoil anyway."
Nella nodded, grunting toward the shore.
Heading island-center, I spotted her setup spot.
Luckily untouched—coconuts scattered as left.
"Baekseol, how'd you find water?"
"Heard it!"
Baekseol perked her ears. Sharp hearing caught the flow.
"You found it?"
"Yeah!"
So Nella just picked up the tossed bucket.
─Click, click.
"Hoo─"
Diving felt profoundly beautiful—but one wrong current, and you'd be dead before you knew.
"Cook here."
— [OK] [Nice spot] Nella cleans, I cook tasty.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Cooking Lv.3] Ingredient prep Seasoning Fire control Kitchen knife handling Dry heat cooking Wet heat cooking Skill level rises with stacked purchases [Price: 8,000,000 won]
Tuna's fatty—skewers grilled lean would be delicious.
"Alright. First up: coconut oil."
Book's coconut section stuck most.
Edible oil, flammable fuel—versatile.
Husk as fire starter. Zero waste superfood.
"Hmm... right? Gotta start a fire first?"
Grabbed two scattered branches.
— [Classic survival hurdle #1] [lol firestarting's legit] "Easy. 1-circle magic: Fire."
Fizzle!
**