Gallery 29 - Dumpster

I Gained a Gallery in the Wild - Eps 29 Thief (3)

Sloth, no, should I call it DizSpeed now?

The DizSpeed looked at me with an expression that radiated both laziness and ridiculousness.

But I didn't feel upset or anything like that. Rather, a sense of tension built up.

Ttuduk!

The arrow that had been caught in its hand broke in half.

What worried me more than that was its claws. The viciously grown claws.

The moment I fall victim to those, my life would bid farewell right then and there. I couldn't help but be tense.

'I don't know when it might pounce.'

I couldn’t understand why something with such agility still moved so sluggishly.

Maybe this is it.

[I knelt to gather momentum!]

Originally, Sloths move sluggishly to conserve energy. AllFather told me.

But in the Forest of Four Seasons, that's difficult, so it evolved in a different direction.

Like just now, they only show tremendous agility in moments of crisis.

It’s a pretty convincing theory. This world is insane.

Slowly— Slowly—

The DizSpeed began moving slowly again.

Maybe because I had seen that agility earlier, it looked different now.

Not that it’s slow, but that it’s taking its time.

There’s a reason why HeavenlyDemon and AllFather had told me to be careful.

'If one's skill is exceptional, can they tell even from a video?'

I'm not sure about that. But it's certain that their intuition was correct.

So what should I do now? I put down the crossbow for now.

There's no point in firing arrows when it will just dodge or catch them with its hand.

'Hand-to-hand combat too.... Honestly, I think I would lose.'

I was at a severe disadvantage in speed. This thing had caught an arrow midair.

On the other hand, me? I’m struggling to even track the arrow’s path with my eyes.

This is a situation where I can’t help but be tense. If I let my guard down, those claws could pierce my neck.

'No. If it was going to pierce me, it would have done so already.'

Then it's one of two.

Either that DizSpeed is a pacifist or it has no intention of killing me.

The former would be ideal, but the latter still made it potentially dangerous.

With that level of speed and agility, it will definitely become a threat.

'...It might be toying with me.'

On the other hand, it could be taking it easy because I’m not a threat.

I watched the DizSpeed inch closer before glancing back.

Inside the iron tub was the fish I caught this morning.

'Should I just give this to it and make it retreat peacefully?'

Not a bad choice. The probability of winning in a fight is slim.

I received the elixir from StarlightPrincess, but that only worked if I was in one piece.

Once a vital spot is properly hit, there’s a high chance the elixir will be useless.

I thought about it for a while before slowly grabbed my shield.

I didn't grab my sword. I had a separate plan.

Then I adjusted the shield so that it was facing the Sloth and walked towards the iron tub.

Even during this time, the creature was only approaching very slowly.

Geugeugeugeuk! Geugeuguk!

Before long, I was dragging the iron tub with the fish inside with one hand.

I wondered if that creature really wanted the fish.

And the DizSpeed approached me with its characteristic slow movements.

It definitely seemed to want the fish. But another question arose.

'Why exactly?'

I heard that leaves are its staple food, so why does it want fish?

Do animals that adapt to the Forest of Four Seasons change their diet too?

'Or is there something special about the fish?'

Suddenly, I remembered what HeavenlyDemon had said.

The fish I caught is similar to a spiritual creature.

A spirit creature that contains inner energy core. I don't know if that's true yet.

After contemplation, I first dragged the iron tub into the cave.

Despite the loud noise, Round Fluff remained blissfully asleep, oblivious to the world.

It's really unreasonable that some people feel their lives are threatened while others sprawled asleep.

'Well, he's just a baby......'

By then, the DizSpeed had entered the cave.

There's nowhere to run. I held my sword and shield and stood guard.

The only option left is one. Waiting for the moment it takes the fish to strike.

Since I don't know when it might thrust those ferocious claws at my neck, I plan to eliminate it.

"...."

Then the DizSpeed came to a sudden halt.

It had never paused before, no matter how slowly it moved, so I couldn't help but be curious.

It was staring intently at something. I shifted my gaze in the same direction.

Its focus was fixed on the sack of Byeokgokdan pills.

Slowly— Slowly—

“Huh?”

Byeokgokdan are big no-no. I rushed to the sack in panick.

As I grabbed the sack, the DizSpeed quietly looked up at me.

Click— click—

In that very state, it even clicked its ferocious claws.

Anyone could tell it wanted one.

Seems like a threat that it would kill me if I didn’t give one right away.

"....Should I give you one?"

“...”

Even at my question, it just stared at me intently.

It's good that its interest shifted from the fish to Byeokgokdan pills.

Besides, there were still a lot of Byeokgokdan left.

I carefully took one out.

"H- Here…?"

Poke—

It poked at Byeokgokdan with its claws without saying a word (though it never speaks anyway).

Then it slowly took it with its mouth.

Even that action was so sluggish that I felt tense just watching.

"Hm."

"....."

The DizSpeed moving its chin up and down as if savoring it.

It was the same Byeokgokdan that Owlbear and Round Fluff spat out right away.

Even I only eat them to survive, never for the taste.

Nevertheless, it chewed them thoroughly. Even its characteristic relaxed expression didn't change.

Click— click—

"....One more?"

"...."

"That's a bit..."

Swoosh!

Just as I was about to reply that I didn’t have anything else to give.

The DizSpeed’s claws aimed for my throat in the blink of an eye.

If it had gone in just a little more, a large hole would have been made in my neck.

I felt my whole body freeze, a cold sensation running through me. I couldn’t even see it coming.

Click— Click—

While I gulped down my saliva, the DizSpeed twitched its other hand.

If you don’t give it to me, I’ll kill you. Anyone could tell that it meant that.

“...Ha. Shit.”

The world is really shitty. I sighed and gave it one more Byeokgokdan pill.

Then the Sloth took retracted its claws. It looked satisfied after eating Byeokgokdan.

Fortunately, it seems 2 pills were the end as it didn't ask for more.

Moreover, it didn’t seem interested in the fish either. I let out a sigh of relief.

Crawling— Crawling—

"Huh? What? What are you doing?"

But the DizSpeed’s antics didn’t end there.

It suddenly crawled up my body.

It was considerate enough not to poke me with its sharp claws, so it didn’t hurt.

Tok—

"....."

"....."

Finally, it rests its chin on top of my head.

Does it think I'm some kind of tree with leaves growing on it?

I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t even speak.

I wanted to shake it off, but I couldn’t.

‘If I force it off, I’ll be the one in pain.’

I couldn’t just throw it off, especially with those dangerous claws.

The only good thing was that it had almost weightless.

Strangely enough, it isn’t bad smell. Rather, it smelled pleasant.

'This guy probably has ticks too...'

Still, I should wash it just in case. I let out a deep sigh.

Not even a week has passed, and I've experienced all sorts of incidents and accidents.

There's only one place that can listen to these complaints.

---

Title: Live Update: being extorted by a Sloth

Author: WildGrills

This is the Sloth I posted before. This bastard ate Byeokgokdan and then threatened me with its claws to get more ╥╥

The world is so cruel. In all my life, I never thought I would get extorted by a sloth.

---

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) Did thou yield merely because it pointed its claws?

ㄴ WildGrills) This bastard can see and catch arrows.... It almost stabbed my neck with its claws at that speed.

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) Hmm. If that’s the case, I can understand it to some extent. It might actually be a great sparring partner.

ㄴ WildGrills) Spar with a Sloth? (ᵕ—ᴗ—)

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) Since thou said thou slower than the Sloth, it wouldn’t be idea.

ㄴ WildGrills) Ha;

ㄴ SwordMaster) What is that Sloth doing now?

ㄴ WildGrills) It's hanging on my back.

ㄴ SwordMaster) What kind of nonsense is that?

ㄴ WildGrills) Sounds ridiculous, right? It’s real. I’ll post a pic later.

ㄴ After all this time living, I'm hearing that a Sloth extorted someone and hung on them lolololol

ㄴ This is legends lmao

ㄴ Is it really a Sloth?

ㄴ WildGrills) I named it DizSpeed randomly yeye

ㄴ DizSpeed lol

ㄴ Better than Fluffy lol

ㄴ WildGrills) What's wrong with Fluffy?

ㄴ Don’tAbandonTheHero) It’s lame!

ㄴ The mod come all of a sudden?

ㄴ Suddenly pops in and drops facts lol

ㄴ WildGrills) What were you doing until now?

ㄴ Don’tAbandonTheHero) I was being chased for a bit and had to escape! I’m safe now! Though I still have to sleep outside!

ㄴ Ah....

ㄴ Aahh....

ㄴ Aaahhh....

ㄴ WildGrills) If that’s the case, why not come to me? It's surprisingly fulfilling here.

ㄴ Don’tAbandonTheHero) I'm sorry! The goddess doesn't forgive suicide!

ㄴ WildGrills) That's too much.

ㄴ Father) DizSpeed.... Perhaps you've discovered a new species. Scholars might be interested.

ㄴ WildGrills) Do normal sloths have a lot of ticks?

ㄴ AllFather) They don't have ticks. Instead, moths and beetles live on them and eat the ticks.

ㄴ Ah. Damn.

ㄴ AllFather) Moreover, fungus is probably preventing infections.

ㄴ WildGrills) That's not good for me at all?

ㄴ AllFather) That's right. It's filthy. Very much so.

So, it seems like I’ll have to wash it somehow.

But I’m not sure if this thing will come down willingly.

The good thing is that there's no uncomfortable feeling.

As I said before, it didn't stink, so it was bearable.

'I have no choice but to catch a Golden Poison Frog in this condition.'

After catching Golden Poison Frog and trading with AllFather, let's have fish for lunch.

The sudden appearance of DizSpeed made things a little complicated, but it's okay now.

I gathered the necessary items with the DizSpeed perched on my back.

Originally I had to sling the crossbow on my back, but because of the DizSpeed, it's difficu....

Swik—

"Hm?"

When I tried to sling the crossbow on my back, it quietly moved aside.

After I secured the crossbow, it climbed back on top.

What a smart animal.

I felt it when it was threatening me, but it seems its intelligence is quite high.

‘Just like Round Fluff, does it understand what I’m saying?’

Probably not. It is just that smart.

I carefully adjusted the crossbow trigger to ensure DizSpeed wouldn’t accidentally press it.

Perhaps noticing my intent, DizSpeed hung in front so that it would not be uncomfortable.

Thanks to that, I could see its face head-on. A face that looked undeniably stupid to anyone who saw it.

Yet this creature even snatches arrows once they are fired. The Forest of Four Seasons is truly strange.

Seuseuseusu—

It was when I was going up to the river where Golden Frogs live.

A sinister sound reached my ear, as if a snake were flicking its tongue.

Having been hit hard by a Steel-Scale Snake before, I was vigilant about my surroundings.

But nothing was in sight. For a moment I wondered if it was my imagination.

"Shaa!"

What was clearly a brown branch spread its jaws wide open.

At the same time, its brown body turned green.

Two sharp fangs protruded menacingly inside its mouth.

It was not a branch but a venomous snake.

'Cha- Chameleon?!'

A snake mimicking a chameleon's camouflage. What a grotesque combination is this?

I was so stunned I couldn’t even react properly.

I had thought it was a tree branch and couldn't tell the difference.

Chwaaak!

But there was one animal that moved before I did.

It happened in such a split second that I could not really watch the process.

Yet I could see the result clearly with my own two eyes.

"Shaaah! Shaa!"

"....."

Claws more ferocious than the sharp fangs pierced the viper's head.

The snake, properly skewered by the claw, writhed violently.

It tried to coil around the claw to escape, but it was futile.

It was also much smaller than the Steel-Scale Snake I had met before, and its fate was sealed the moment its head was pierced.

Jjaaaaak!

The DizSpeed strongly pulled the snake with its empty hand.

Thanks to that, the viper’s head was torn vertically in half.

Thud—

Thrown to the ground, the viper writhed. Its vertically split head was quite repulsive.

I stabbed it with my sword just in case it bit me.

The viper's body soon went limp.

Occasionally its body would writhe, but it’s dead nonetheless.

“...”

“...”

I looked at the DizSpeed hanging on my back.

As always, it had a relaxed expression.

It looked so peaceful as if nothing had just happened.

"...Should I give you one more Byeokgokdan?"

Nod—

DizSpeed nodded.

Truly, there was nothing slower than it.

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