Gallery 27 - Dumpster

I Gained a Gallery in the Wild - Eps 27 Thief (1)

I stared at the bright red fish blocking the water channel.

The channel was lined with stones to control the water flow.

Because the channel is a makeshift path dug with a shovel, the depth isn’t great.

Seems this unlucky fellow swam in and got trapped.

The current itself is quite strong, and with its body fitting exactly into the channel, it would be difficult to escape.

'Why is it so big?'

It's large enough to completely fill the channel.

At first glance, I mistook it for a catfish rather than a regular fish.

But except for the reddish body, it looks like an ordinary fish.

Typical fish tend to be narrow in width, but this one is larger.

I would need both hands to hold it properly.

I don't know much about fish, but I am sure it is not a catfish.

'Should be safe to eat, right?'

I looked at the fish that was busy flapping vigorously.

It thrashed to get free, but the water was shallow.

Seeing its mouth protrude above water and gasping, it seems to be having difficulty breathing.

Flap! Flap! Flap!

"It's strong too."

I hugged the wildly thrashing fish with both arms.

It was so big that it was comparable to my torso, so keeping balance was hard.

I tried to get as far away as possible so that it wouldn't jump back into the river.

For now, my plan is to directly carry it to the cave with both hands and store it in a tub.

'I should run just in case.'

Last thing I needed was wild animals intercepting me.

"No. You already ate."

Round Fluff immediately showed curiosity as I brought the fish in.

I shooed Round Fluff back and put the fish in the tub.

I did not forget to add water to the empty tub.

The red fish became somewhat docile when I added water. Seeing it like this, it really is huge.

It fills the tub that Round Fluff and I normally use for washing.

---

Title: Catch a game

Author: WildGrills

(Photo of a red fish the size of a shield)

The water wasn't flowing well from the hose today, so I went up to check and found this guy blocking it. It was really huge.

Had breakfast already, so I plan to have lunch with this fellow.

Feels like a feast for the first time in ages haha

---

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) Oho. A tremendously large one indeed. Judging by size and color alone, it's no less than a Sun Carp.

ㄴ WildGrills) What's that?

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) A spiritual creature imbued with the sun's energy. It is very rare. However, it's merely similar, the possibility of it being real is likely low.

ㄴ WildGrills) How do I check if it is real?

At that point I would use the fish as bait and run.

Fortunately, nothing like that happened, and I was able to return safely.

"Kyu?"

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) First, one must see if it contains an inner core.

If it's inner core, isn't it that? Similar to clams making pearls.

I’m sure, but I think it has similar effects to an elixir.

Not that I actually believe it's spiritual creature.

Even if it were a spiritual creature, it doesn't matter. I've decided this one will be today's lunch.

ㄴ No. Everything becomes a spirit creature with you lol

ㄴ Is that really a Sun Carp?

ㄴ Who knows. Grills has to check.

ㄴ Wasn't there something similar to a Sun Carp?

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) If thou speakest of the Ten-Thousand-Year Hwari, then yes. Literally, a carp that has lived ten thousand years.

ㄴ StarlightPrincess) In the old days, I would have told you to tear it open immediately, but now there's no need.

ㄴ Wasn't that ‘old days’ just yesterday?

ㄴ Starlight Princess) It's the old days for me. Each day felt like a year.

ㄴ I can see how it might feel that way

ㄴ Maybe like being reborn?

ㄴ Waa. I've been reborn. Gimme milk.

ㄴ Crazy bastard lmao

ㄴ Lmafaooo

ㄴ Lmafaooo

ㄴ Starlight Princess) You guys are always the same. Utter fools ^^

But now it's my lunch.

No matter what the gallery says, this thing is going to be my lunch.

So I think it would be better to start with repairing the cave rather than exploring in the morning.

In case Round Fluff eats the fish.

He's still staring at the iron tub, waiting for an opportunity.

"Hush!"

I warned Round Fluff as he tried to reach for the fish.

He looked at me with eyes so round they were almost perfectly circular.

An expression asking what wrong he had done wrong. The innocent face made him cuter.

"You shouldn't eat that. I'll give you honey after lunch."

"Kyuu."

"Yeah. Our Round Fluff well-behaved."

I patted Round Fluff’s head a few times and looked around.

In order to build a barricade, the first priority is to clear the trees.

Maybe that’s why my chest already felt tight. When will I finish all that?

'They say many drops make an ocean. I have to do it.'

Grumbling to myself, I walked toward the tree. How could it be so thick?

But I was in good shape today. I gripped the axe hard and swung with force.

After a few swings, I seemed to get the hang of it and could use my waist efficiently.

Thwack!

“Huh?”

The moment the axe struck the tree, a questioning sound escaped me.

And for good reason, because the situation was drastically different from yesterday.

The same axe that barely made a dent after multiple swings yesterday wasn’t struggling today.

The blade sank deep into the wood. Even the sound was different.

‘What? Is this wood weaker than yesterday’s?’

I haven’t changed axe.

My condition is good today, and the tree seems weak too.

Either way, the question remained unanswered, but I let it go since it worked in my favor.

'Good is good.'

Thwack! Thwack! Crack!

After a while, I chopped the tree three more times and looked at the center.

The wood's center was almost completely hollowed. One more strike on the opposite side would make it fall.

'Already?'

Just yesterday, it took me an entire day of swinging the axe to chop down a single tree.

Then ran into an Owlbear and nearly died.

To simply say it's because it's a different tree, or because my condition is good, raised several questions.

But it's not without some explanation. There were differences from yesterday.

'Is it really because of the breathing technique?'

That’s the most likely answer. That’s the only difference from yesterday.

Anyway becoming stronger can never hurt, and in an environment like this strength matters greatly.

‘I’ll have to work even harder from now on.’

Who knew a single breathing technique could cut labor time this much? What a strange world.

From the appropriate mix of fantasy and martial arts, to the existence of superhumans who can blast apart mountains.

Ironically, these same people refused to believe a single bomb could wipe out a city. When their very existence is nuclear bomb itself.

'I really am curious about the outside world.'

The world shown through the gallery is narrow. And extremely subjective.

Well, the poor treatment of the elven country Alvenheim is universal across all nations.

I moved to the opposite side of the tree while thinking about random things.

Striking here would make the tree fall in the direction I want.

Thwack! Kwadeuk! Kwadeudeuk!

After a few more swings, the tree began to sway.

I checked the angle and gave it a final kick.

The tall tree started to lean slowly with a kwadeuk! sound.

Kuung!

I felled one tree in less than ten minutes. The work speed is fast, too fast.

I looked at the fallen tree and checked my physical condition.

I’m a bit tired, but not enough to need rest.

'I'll do it a little more before taking a break.'

Chopping a second tree left me somewhat fatigued.

But it was literally just a feeling of tiredness, and I could cut down one more tree without any problems.

After felling three trees total, I finished registering them in the auction house.

'Starting to look spacious now.'

Perhaps because I've felled 4 trees so far. The area around the cave has widened.

I smiled with satisfaction for a moment, then entered the cave for a proper rest.

Saeaek— Saeaek—

Round Fluff was napping when I entered the cave.

As I said before, Round Fluff is still a cub. He'll probably sleep all day.

'The fish are safe too.'

It sat calmly in the iron tub without a single flop.

I set down the axe and logged into the gallery, wondering if anything had happened.

There was nothing particularly noticeable, but there was something that bothered me.

'The mod's been less active lately.'

The mod's activity had somewhat reduced. Mod is the gallery manager.

Normally, he would be banning users for NSFW (Not Safe For Work/Obscene/Lewd) posts, gore, or extreme slurs.

[Pics of Noonas]

[All elves should die]

[Gore warning) Photo of my hand]

Such posts have remained for 10 minutes despite being uploaded.

Normally they would be cut down in an instant, but this time they were not.

Users took that as a chance and began unloading their desires without restraint.

"...."

I pretended not to care but sneakily clicked on a post.

Being in this empty wilderness, the gallery is my only pleasure.

Of course, it is not an urgent need, more a bit of eye-candy.

I'm busy just trying to survive, so I don't have the luxury for such things.

[Mr. Grills. Please look.]

After refreshing several times, a title caught my eye.

'AllFather?'

Normally I would have passed over it, but the author is a familiar fixed nickname so I couldn't ignore it.

I clicked immediately.

---

Title: Mr. Grills. Please look.

Author: AllFather

The item you asked for is ready. Feel free to open a trade any time.

It seems that the medicine I mentioned before is complete. Medicine made from Golden Poison Frogs.

They said consuming it would permanently gain resistance to poison, so it's absolutely necessary.

---

ㄴ WildGrills) Have you completed the medicine you mentioned before?

ㄴ AllFather) Yes. I made ten days' worth. I think I’ll need more specimens for the rest.

ㄴ WildGrills) I'll give them to you right away when I catch Golden Frogs.

ㄴ AllFather) Thank you. I'll be waiting.

Poison resistance would skyrocket my survival odds.

Which means I must hunt Golden Poison Frogs again.

I must have taken a proper rest, so I took the crossbow placed against the wall.

The arrows I had shot into Owlbear's head last time were still intact.

'Amazing.'

In my panic back then, I had auctioned the carcass with the arrows still stuck.

But the arrow stuck in his head fell off on its own, as if it wasn't included.

I nearly lost the arrows and harpoons that I had worked so hard to get.

Kiiiik—

I drew the crossbow string. It yielded effortlessly.

What originally required all my strength to pull now ended with just clenching my teeth tightly.

'My strength definitely improved.'

This gave convinced me. I’m not just targeting weaker trees.

My strength has genuinely increased. Just because of a simple breathing technique.

It was such a dramatic phenomenon that questions arose rather than admiration.

I should post in the gallery soon and ask HeavenlyDemon or SwordMaster for advice.

‘Preparations are done...’

I checked Round Fluff, napping soundly, and the fish in the steel tub.

There's nothing problematic. Now I just need to hunt Golden Poison Frogs.

Just in case, I carried my sword and shield to prepare for contingencies.

I didn't forget to put a few Byeokgokdan in my pocket.

After completing all preparations and stepping outside the cave.

‘A thief won’t show up, right?’

I walked toward the river while having strange thought.

*****

It was after Grills had left for the river to hunt.

The cave echoed only with fish splashes and the baby Owlbear’s soft snores.

Aside from those, the cave was quiet and peaceful. Occasionally bird sounds could be heard, but nothing noteworthy.

Rustle—

Then a rustle came from the thick trees.

At first, it seemed to be just the wind, but it wasn't.

Swish—

An animal appeared between the thick trees.

It had long arms compared to its short legs. Razor claws stretched long from its fingertips.

Its fur-covered body moved very slowly, really slowly.

Walking on long arms like a gorilla, its destination was clear.

Splash! Splash!

It was the iron tub containing the fish.

Though it was a slow advance, there was no one standing guard.

Even if it takes time, it will eventually reach the iron tub.

The animal advanced as leisurely as its leisurely-looking face.

"What?"

Had it not been for Grills who came back because he forgot the antidote.

The animal, which had nearly reached the iron tub, turned its head upon hearing the voice.

Even the act of turning its head is extremely slow.

Grills, who unexpectedly came face to face with this thief, muttered softly.

"...Sloth?"

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