Gallery 28 - Dumpster

I Gained a Gallery in the Wild - Eps 28 Thief (2)

Sloth.

An animal whose name combines ‘tree’ and ‘slowpoke’.

True to its name, it's famous for each and every one of its actions being excruciatingly slow.

So slow, in fact, that even zoologists who studied them for two years reportedly gave up out of sheer frustration.

You would think that makes it hopeless in the wild, but it's surprisingly a rational animal.

It is said to be the aesthetic of slowness, and being slow means consuming less energy.

'But this is the Forest of Four Seasons?'

I'm not sure if that aesthetic of slowness applies in the Forest of Four Seasons as well.

Even now, having come face to face with me, isn't it moving at a snail's pace?

What it was after was clearly the fish in the tub.

But I'm not sure if sloths are omnivores. What's needed at times like this is the gallery.

---

Title: What the hell is this thing?

Author: WildGrills

(Photo of a sloth caught stealing fish)

Went up the river came back down and found this guy.

Looks like it got caught trying to steal fish. Do sloths even eat meat?

---

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) Leisure exudes from its very expression. Be careful.

ㄴ ??? Don't you know what a sloth is?

ㄴ Telling us to be careful of a sloth lololol

ㄴ Can’t believe this lmao

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) Thou will regret only after being pierced by those fierce claws.

ㄴ AllFather) I didn't know sloths live in the Forest of Four Seasons. They should dwell in jungle.

ㄴ WildGrills) Sloths don't eat fish, right?

ㄴ AllFather) Leaves are the staple. Sloths cannot walk, they must crawl. But this one’s knuckle-walking like a gorilla. Perhaps it's not a sloth.

ㄴ WildGrills) (Video of sloth moving extremely slowly)

ㄴ AllFather) It is a sloth. What on earth is that?

ㄴ WildGrills) I don't know either

ㄴ Seeing the clip broke my brain lolol

ㄴ Even Professor

ㄴ Even the professor hasn't seen this specimen before (⊙_⊙)

ㄴ Practically research material?

ㄴ AllFather) It is, but stay alert. The plants and animals that live in the Forest of Four Seasons each have their own weapon.

HeavenlyDemon and AllFather both reacted by telling me to be careful.

The difference is that AllFather cautious about the unknown, while HeavenlyDemon is closer to intuition.

Anyway, being told to be careful of this slow-moving sloth was not harmful.

'Can't I just catch it?'

I could easily grab it with my hand. Still, I won't catch it.

Might catch a disease or get bitten by bugs.

Round Fluff's fine because I washed him thoroughly, but not this guy.

‘First I should chase this guy off.’

Since it targeted my fish, I have no intention of letting it off easily.

But as killing it would make me feel a bit sorry, I just intend to intimidate it a bit.

"Shoosh. Shoosh. Go away."

"...."

Tapping its back with the flat of my blade, the sloth inched backward.

Even its retreating movement was so sluggish that I felt like I was going to burst watching it.

But this fish is for my lunch. I can't give it to the sloth either.

"You should eat leaves. That's your natural diet."

"....."

"You don't like it? Why not? Go climb a tree. There's plenty to eat."

"....."

The sloth's expression, which had always been at ease, changed slightly.

Its expression shifted just minutely, as if it was somewhat angry.

Like it was saying, ‘You are the one who chopped that tree,’ with its expression.

If true, my bad. But the fish stays mine.

"It's no use making that kind of expression. Scram off."

"...."

“Tsk. This won't do."

Even poking it with the back of my sword didn’t make it retreat anymore.

I looked around and picked up a suitable branch.

Poke— Poke—

When I poked it with the branch telling it to go away, the sloth finally retreated.

Maybe if I push it all the way to the trees, it’ll leave?

Thump—

"Huh?"

But the world doesn't work according to my wishes.

The sloth clasped the end of the branch with its hand.

I panicked briefly and pulled to free the stick.

Creeaak!

"What strength...?"

It would not come loose. The sloth was stronger than I thought.

Maybe it's natural for an animal that climbs trees to have strong arm strength.

In times like this, it's better to find another branch than struggle in strength contest.

‘Or I could just lift it with gloves on?’

That sounded easier. The gloves were in my pocket.

After putting them on, I moved behind the still-slowly-retreating sloth.

It barely moved when I reached its back, and even when I grabbed its shoulders.

"Hup!"

"....?"

Its expression changed to surprise as I lifted it up.

Even its change in expression was as slow as its movements.

Amazing how something so sluggish could look shocked.

After moving the sloth to the tree, the situation finally settled.

Now I just need to grab the antidote and go hunt Golden Frogs.

'Surely it's not coming this way?'

I looked back while thinking 'No way’. Sure enough.

It was painstakingly inching toward me again. Almost pitiful to watch.

Why was it so obsessed with these fish? I sighed.

‘....This won’t do.’

Words (?) alone won't work. A more definitive threat is needed.

Especially since that sloth is a thief trying to steal my precious meal.

I aimed the crossbow at the slowly approaching sloth.

I don't feel right about killing it outright, so I plan to just fire an arrow into the ground to intimidate it.

Swiik— Seueuk—

‘....This is really frustrating.’

To waste time like this because of one slowpoke.

If I was cruel, I would have punched a hole in his head.

But the sloth has not directly harmed me.

The animals I have killed so far all threatened my life.

I aimed the crossbow at the ground and fired where the sloth wouldn't be hit.

Piing! d!

The bolt flew fast and stuck in the earth.

The sloth slowly lowered its head.

Then it stared intently at the arrow stuck in the ground before raising its head again.

Creak— Creak—

"I'm going crazy."

What on earth is inside this little bastard’s head?

Despite all this, it showed absolutely no intention of retreating.

In the end, I got frustrated and asked help from the gallery.

---

Title: Way to chase away this bastard please

Author: WildGrills

(Video of sloth approaching)

It keeps eyeing my fish. I even moved it to a tree, but it's still doing this.

Tried threatening with a crossbow, but it stubbornly keeps coming. Any advice?

---

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) What a persistent creature. Learn from it.

ㄴ SwordMaster) Maybe just give it the fish? It will keep pestering you.

ㄴ WildGrills) Master, I want a proper meal too. Round Fluff eats better than I do.

ㄴ Lmaoooo

ㄴ Lolololol

ㄴ Actually sad lol

ㄴ Why is that thing like that? Is there something in the fish?

ㄴ WildGrills) No, more like it’s mad I broke its house.

ㄴ Why’d you break its house?

ㄴ WildGrills) I chopped down a tree that was apparently its house

ㄴ That sloth even talks?

ㄴ WildGrills) No no, just my intuition lol

ㄴ So it’s BS lolol

ㄴ Grills. Are you going to become a human who loses even to a sloth?

ㄴ WildGrills) No, but killing him feels a bit wrong.

ㄴ Just kill it, eat it, or give it to Round Fluff. Ez.

ㄴ WildGrills) Is it tasty?

ㄴ No, heard it tastes bad. That's why they survived humans

ㄴ AllFather) This is the first time I've seen a sloth act like this.... Interesting.

ㄴ Professor Is this your first time seeing it, too?

ㄴ AllFather) I don't know much about the Forest of Four Seasons either. I don't even want to go near it.

No particularly helpful advice came.

Most people said that killing the sloth would be a good idea.

But sloth meat tastes bad and the hide is worthless.

It would be fine if Round Fluff took care of it, but dealing with the aftermath was also concerning.

'But I can't give it my fish.'

Judging by its stubbornness, it would steal the fish given enough time.

When I could have a proper meal after a long time, should I give that up?

Not a chance. I loaded an arrow and aimed at the sloth.

This time, not at the ground but for a real threat.

Even if he was slow, he would feel dangerous if an arrow passed near his head.

'If I accidentally kill it...'

Would I feel a bit sorry?

I aimed beside the slowly approaching sloth's head.

The moment it inched one step closer I pulled the trigger.

Ping!

The arrow barely grazed past the sloth's head.

Despite nearly dying, his expression remained extremely relaxed.

Does he really not know he almost died, or is it because he's slow?

Now it just seemed shameless, making me laugh bitterly.

'This isn't working.'

I gave up on the option of scaring him away.

It needs a hole in its body to come to its senses.

I needed to hunt the Golden Frog, but too much time had been wasted.

I steeled myself and took aim at the sloth’s shoulder.

The arrow was already nocked. All that remained was to fire.

'Don't come back again.'

I muttered internally and pulled the trigger.

There was no hesitation. I had already given it plenty of chances.

Piiing!

The arrow shot forward at lightning speed. It was headed straight for the sloth's shoulder.

Even an Owlbear rampaged after taking one hit with this power.

If its hide was weaker than an Owlbear's, it should pierce through.

Yes. If it was as I expected, it should have been like that.

Swish!

If only the sloth hadn't slightly twisted his body to avoid it.

It narrowly avoided the arrow at the last moment.

Far from slow, its movements are incredibly agile.

"Eh?"

Having witnessed that scene in real time, I couldn't help but let out a stupid sound.

What on earth did I just see? Did I just watch a sloth dodge an arrow?

I was flustered for a moment by a reality I could hardly believe, then hurriedly loaded another arrow.

That must have been a coincidence. It was so slow that I failed to predict its movement properly.

I reassured myself and aimed the crossbow again. The sloth was still moving slowly.

Piiiing!

The crossbow bolt fired once more.

Sasak!

As if to prove it wasn't a mistake, the sloth dodged the arrow with a swift movement.

That alone was absurd, but what left me even more speechless was its next action.

As though nothing had happened it approached me with its sluggish steps.

'…Dangerous.'

I narrowed my eyes and kept on guard. This is definitely not a creature to take lightly.

It actually saw the arrow and dodged it. And with such simple body movements too.

The speed of an arrow released from a bowstring is extremely fast. Seeing and reacting to it is inherently difficult.

---

Title: Is there anyone who can see arrows with their eyes and dodge them?

Author: WildGrills

Isn't that supposed to be difficult? Please answer excluding HeavenlyDemon and SwordMaster.

---

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) Why does thou excluding This one?

ㄴ WildGrills) Because if I ask you, HeavenlyDemon, I think the only answer will be that it is easy.

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) You have come to know This One well. I am most pleased.

ㄴ Swordmaster) It's actually kind of easy. Just look at it and dodge.

ㄴ WildGrills) Haaah...

ㄴ Rather than seeing it and dodging you have to predict the path.

ㄴ Yeye, and you gotta watch the archer's hand. Makes it easier.

ㄴ Easy my ass lololol the arrow hits as soon as the archer releases the bowstring.

ㄴ hose saying it's easy are probably holding shields lmao

ㄴ Busted lol

ㄴ But why asking?

ㄴ WildGrills) The sloth sees the arrow and dodges.

ㄴ ???

ㄴ ????

ㄴ What kind of nonsense is that?

ㄴ WildGrills) I wish it were nonsense.

Even the gallery agreed it was difficult.

They said the speed of an arrow after leaving the string cannot be followed with ordinary human eyes.

When I said a sloth did that they did not believe it either.

'I don't believe it even when I see it with my own eyes.'

Meanwhile, the sloth came even closer.

By rough estimate, about 10 meters away now.

At this distance, dodging by sight should be impossible.

I loaded another arrow and aimed the crossbow at the sloth.

Now that its danger was confirmed, there would be no more mercy.

'Let's aim for the head this time.'

I immediately pulled the trigger without a moment's hesitation.

As soon as I pulled the trigger, the sharp arrow was fired toward the sloth's head.

At this rate, it would pierce the middle of the head and take its life.

But this is the Forest of Four Seasons. A place where all manner of bizarre creatures dwelled.

Thump!

“…Good heavens. Crazy.”

The sloth caught with its hand the arrow that was fired toward its face.

Then it slowly lowered the hand that had covered its face and stared at me blankly.

The creature’s utterly relaxed expression seemed to be telling me this.

—Too slow.

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