Gallery 54 - Dumpster

I Gained a Gallery in the Wild - Eps 54. The tiger died (1)

I had a dream for the first time in a while.

Not a dream of flying freely through the sky, but a dream of the days when I was home.

Ordinary days... I couldn’t exactly call them that. My parents died in an accident when I was young, so I had to live alone.

I didn't want help from my relatives. They were good people, but I felt like I was being too much of a burden.

Moreover, their own circumstances weren't well-off, so I couldn't ask for their help.

Rather, I felt more sorry and hardly contacted them.

I just stubbornly survived on my own. There wasn’t a part-time job I didn’t do, and I couldn’t even attend school properly.

I barely scraped by attendance-wise, but it was enough to drift through life. College was never even a dream.

After that, my memories are hazy as if fog had settled in my head. I only focused on making a living.

It was a mess of an environment like this, but perhaps it was a sign not to die?

"Jonghyeok. We're fine, so how about living together?"

"Hey. Park Jonghyeok. Let me know when you're done with your shift. Let's go to a PC room. No money? I'll chip in.'

"Do you like soccer? Or baseball?"

"You worked hard, so I'm giving you more. People like you are rare these days."

I had what you might call 'people luck.'

My relatives genuinely cared for me, and my friends looked out for me without hesitation.

The owner at my part-time job also seemed to pity my situation and made sure I was paid well.

If they showed me such kindness, shouldn’t I return it too?

It's a virtue that one should rightfully practice as a human being. I lived uprightly with such feelings in my heart.

Even the military wasn't a problem. Just do what you're told, and that's it.

For someone with nothing like me, a rigidly set path was actually comfortable.

I even considered re-enlisting, but since I was still drifting, I put it off.

What would have happened if I had put down roots then? It’s a meaningless what-if.

"God is really strange."

I didn't particularly believe in any religion. However, I didn't deny its existence itself.

When things got tough, I could curse God. When things went well, I could believe in God.

Or seek God in moments of crisis. I guess it's human instinct.

"From my perspective, people who show kindness to me are God."

People who show kindness to those in need.

To a person in need, what is that if not God? At least, that's what I thought.

Even when I suddenly fell into the Forest of Four Seasons, there were people who showed me kindness without asking for anything in return.

People whose faces I didn’t even know. They’re connections I could never give up.

Kindness for kindness. Gratitude for gratitude.

Above all, let's become a person who gives, not one who receives first.

Even if they don’t return the kindness, just let it go. Call me pushover, that's fine.

Because if I don't, the people who showed me kindness will become the fools.

At least, that's what I thought.

"Mmmmm...."

I forced my heavy eyelids open.

Even after opening them, my vision was so blurry I couldn’t help but blink several times.

‘This is...’

My mind was dazed and my thoughts weren't working well. I first checked what was visible to my eyes.

Soon, as my dim vision began to clear up a little, I saw a clear blue sky.

A sky with fluffy clouds floating gently. I found myself thinking, It’s beautiful.

‘Why the sky... What am I...’

Swoosh—

Just as I was wondering what I had been doing, something came into my view.

A leisurely yet dumb-looking expression. A face that felt somewhat cute.

I stared blankly before realizing.

"Why are you..."

It was before I could even finish saying ‘here’.

The situation from before I fell asleep flashed through my mind like a lightning bolt.

The night raid. The fierce battle with the giant tiger.

Not just getting my flesh ripped by its claws, but its huge fangs piercing through my body.

Finally splitting the tiger's skull, only to collapse while trying to confirm the kill.

As those events came rushing back to me, I bolted upright.

"Ahh! Ugh...!"

But the excruciating pain shooting through my entire body, especially my right shoulder, forced me back down.

Come to think of it, my shoulder was completely shattered.

I was so focused on confirming the kill that I didn't even perform first aid.

With a sense of dread, I looked at my right shoulder.

"Huh?"

But my right shoulder was surprisingly intact.

Sure, the uniform had been torn to shreds from the tiger’s bite, but the bare skin underneath was unscathed.

Just as I was wondering how this could have happened, I was able to spot a glass bottle rolling around on the ground.

It was definitely the bottle of elixir I had received from StarlightPrincess.

"...Did you pour it on me?"

"..."

I asked DizSpeed in a dazed voice.

DizSpeed just kept its signature dumb expression. But that alone was answer enough.

"Puhah."

A laugh escaped me. How many times had this guy saved my life now?

If it weren’t for DizSpeed, there’s no way I would’ve survived.

'Come to think of it, where's the tiger?'

The clear blue sky suggested it was morning. The fact that I'm fine until morning means the tiger is definitely dead.

I barely managed to turn my head and saw the house-sized tiger collapsed on the ground.

Seeing that it wasn't moving at all, it was definitely dead. That put my mind at ease.

'What time is it now....'

Looking at the clear sky, it's well past morning.

I grimaced and shakily raised my body.

Considering I was badly wounded, it would’ve been better to stay lying down, but I want to at least lie down on a soft surface.

‘What? Where’s Round Fluff?’

As I staggered and arrived at the cave, Round Fluff was gone.

He wasn’t even there to ask for food, and his sudden disappearance made me anxious.

“Round Fluff! Round Fluff, where are you!"

“Kyu?”

I called Round Fluff’s name loudly, and a reply came from behind me.

Wondering what it was, I turned around, but Round Fluff wasn't there. So I called again.

“Round Fluff?”

“Kyuu.”

This time I heard it clearly. But it came from the direction of the tiger.

That sound made me pause for a second, but it was quickly resolved.

"Kkyuuu..."

Round Fluff appeared behind the collapsed tiger.

The sight of him struggling to climb up rather than jumping was both pitiful and cute.

I smiled warmly at Round Fluff’s appearance, but only briefly, as I noticed something strange.

"Round Fluff, what's that in your mouth? Is it blood?"

"Kyu!"

Round Fluff cheerfully answered with a beaming smile. It’s definitely blood.

Something starting made me feel uneasy. I asked with a hopeful heart.

"Where did you get it from? Could it be the tiger?"

"Kyuu!"

Round Fluff tapped the ground, or rather the tiger, with his paw.

I could only rub my face in exasperation. Seems like he had been gnawing on the dead tiger's corpse while I was unconscious.

Since the neck area had become almost completely tattered, he probably focused on eating that part.

I let out a complicated sigh and then said to Round Fluff.

"Fine. Eat in moderation. You might burst your stomach."

"Kyuu."

Round Fluff responded as if to say got it. With his survival confirmed, I headed back into the cave.

Then I laid down on the soft mat to soothe my body and mind.

'Ah. Right. The time.'

I immediately logged into the gallery. I hoped it was still morning.

[10 unread messages]

As soon as I logged in, I got a notification that I had unread messages.

HeavenlyDemon is the only person I have private conversations with. It must have been her.

'It's well past noon.'

No wonder Round Fluff was eating the tiger corpse. More time had passed than I thought.

Then again, after fighting that fierce battle yesterday, it might be natural that I was unconscious for a long time.

Besides, if DizSpeed hadn’t sprayed me with the elixir, I would’ve died from blood loss.

'Let's reply to HeavenlyDemon first.'

Though I was curious about the gallery's current state, answering her took priority.

I entered the glowing notification window and opened our private messages.

[HeavenlyDemon: Benefactor. It's morning but there's no news from thou.]

[HeavenlyDemon: If thou hast slept late, I shall understand.]

[HeavenlyDemon: Benefactor. Thou are rising far too late.]

[HeavenlyDemon: Benefactor?]

[HeavenlyDemon: Thou haven't even logged into the gallery.]

[HeavenlyDemon: Could it be that something has happened?]

[HeavenlyDemon: If thou see this message, I would have thine answer.]

[HeavenlyDemon: Benefactor. It's already noon. Is something really wrong?]

Messages filled with worry. She seems to be worrying about me too much.

Feeling oddly embarrassed, I quickly sent a reply to ease her mind.

[WildGrills: My apologies, HeavenlyDemon-nim. I fainted yesterday after being attacked by a huge tiger.]

[HeavenlyDemon: A huge tiger attacked? How large was it?]

[WildGrills: Its eye level was at least a head taller than mine.]

[HeavenlyDemon: It was indeed a creature worthy of being called a mountain lord. Is thy body alright?]

[WildGrills: I almost died when it punched a hole through my body. I survived because DizSpeed sprinkled an elixir on me.]

[HeavenlyDemon: That is a relief. Were thou unconscious for a long time?]

[WildGrills: Yes. I think so. Even now, the bite wounds hurt enough to kill me.]

[HeavenlyDemon: If thou wishest, I shall send herbs with excellent pain-relieving effects.]

[WildGrills: It's okay. I can drink the elixir. I just want to rest a bit now.]

[HeavenlyDemon: After intense battle, rest is better than anything else. Then rest comfortably. This One never doubted that thou would return.]

[WildGrills: Thank you. I'll post on the gallery soon.]

I ended the conversation with HeavenlyDemon's concern and encouragement.

I shifted and shuffled off the mat toward the elixir.

My body hurt terribly, and DizSpeed might not have been able to pour it meticulously.

After all, those claws weren’t exactly made for delicate work.

Gulp.

I took a sip of the elixir and slowly began to take off my clothes.

Some blood had dried and stuck, and with holes pierced through my body, even taking them off was difficult.

'Guess the wounds closed up after healing from the inside.'

The uniform blocked the tiger's claws. But it couldn't stop its fangs.

It's riddled with holes, so it probably won't be able to function properly anymore.

Still, it was incredibly efficient for a uniform to achieve this level of performance.

'So it wasn't a joke that adventurers wear these uniforms for their activities.'

I took off the uniform and checked my physical condition.

It seems even an elixir can't completely heal a severe injury, as a prominent scar remained.

Especially where I was bit by the long fang. The scar there was particularly severe.

Just in case, I applied more elixir to the scarred areas.

While minor scars faded somewhat, the puncture wounds from the fangs remained unchanged.

'Better treat the other wounds too.'

I applied the elixir to each wound to prevent infection.

After a while, I applied elixir to all wounds and closed the cap.

The pain in my shoulder had eased.

While it had been difficult to even get up before, now I could at least walk.

'I would've been in serious trouble without this elixir.'

I expressed my endless gratitude to StarlightPrincess for the beneficial trade.

Next, I decided to go into the gallery and report that I was alive.

[Where did Grills go? He's dead?]

[Is he really dead?]

[Grills. Come back.]

When I entered the gallery, quite a few people were looking for news about me.

Some weird posts popped up here and there, but they were quickly deleted.

I guess the mod or HeavenlyDemon immediately banned them. All that's left is for me to report my survival.

---

Title: Survival Report

Author: WildGrills

(Photo of a severe scar on the shoulder)

(Photo of a blood-covered body)

It's me. A fucking huge tiger showed up last night and almost died of it ;;

I was passed out for over 10 hours and just now came to. The scars are from where the tiger bit me yeye

I think I should just rest well today without doing anything. My body hurts too much and it's hard to even move ;;

---

ㄴ SwordMaster) You were alive. Tigers are aggressive so it must have been tricky... You were really in danger.

ㄴ WildGrills) I was so scared I thought I was going to piss myself.

ㄴ SwordMaster) It’s not like anyone was there anyway lololol Even if you did, I would understand.

ㄴ WildGrills) SwordMaster-nim, have you ever caught a tiger?

ㄴ SwordMaster) Yes, it was a fairly large one.

ㄴ WildGrills) I'll post pics of mine later. It's really huge.

ㄴ PassingDwarf) Yo. So no crab today?

ㄴ WildGrills) Yeye, probably not. Really sorry… I think I'll actually die if I go there.

ㄴ PassingDwarf) Then give it to me tomorrow. I can give you the shoes in a little bit.

ㄴ WildGrills) Ty ty. You’re seriously gonna be blessed. I’ll get the Mature andrake if I can find one.

ㄴ StarlightPrincess) Your scars are really severe.... So much blood too...! Did you use the elixir?

ㄴ WildGrills) Yes. DizSpeed sprayed it on me while I was unconscious. I would have died otherwise, you know?

ㄴ StarlightPrincess) You talk about terrifying things so casually. Anyway, I’m just glad you’re alive.

ㄴ WildGrills) It's thanks to the elixir, StarlightPrincess-nim. Really appreciate it.

ㄴ StarlightPrincess) I owe Grills my life. I hope you recover quickly.

ㄴ ChaengguPrincess) What happened to the uniform~?

ㄴ WildGrills) (Photo of a tattered uniform) It turned out like this. But thanks to it, I got through a few dangerous moments. I really appreciate it

ㄴ ChaengguPrincess) So it had protective effects~! I’ll send you more uniforms later~!

ㄴ WildGrills) I feel like I’m just on the receiving end, so feel free to take your time. I still have some left anyway.

ㄴ Where's the tiger?

ㄴ WildGrills) I'll post again soon. I want to eat first.

ㄴ Are you going to sell that tiger too?

ㄴ Of course, he has to sell it. Butchering it is a fucking pain lol

ㄴ I know you’re opening your mouth to gulp it down.

ㄴ Got caught lol

Well. My thoughts are different.

Normally, I would’ve just put it up at the auction and moved on, but I’ve changed my mind.

It was the thing that nearly killed me, and the hide seems quite valuable.

Especially if properly cared for, the hide has many uses.

'Instead, it might not be a bad idea for me to butcher it myself.'

That's a good idea.

Round Fluff has already eaten the flesh, and it's time for me to upgrade myself.

I might have to do the butchering myself someday, so now's the chance.

ㄴ WildGrills) Nah, this time I'm just going to butcher it myself. I should start practicing.

ㄴ? Didn't you say you were hurt?

ㄴ WildGrills) Yeye. Still gotta do it. It'll rot if I leave it.

ㄴ If you’re gonna do it, absolutely ask the butcher bros for advice.

ㄴ Do what the guy above said. They’re all super nice. For real.

ㄴ They'll probably tell you all the professional knowledge too. Though I'm not sure about tigers.

ㄴ Wild Grills) Is there a reason?

ㄴ It's a place where you get stabbed if you curse, so they have no choice but to be kind.

It was such a rational reason that I trusted it even more.

---

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