Chapter 183

The Paladin Riding a Giraffe (1)

“I’ll win it back and repay you.”

It was a phrase used not only by gamblers, but in a surprisingly wide range of situations.

Though it was perhaps more fitting for those chasing a big score than for gambling addicts.

“Come on. Let’s trust Kkobong just this once. You know how strong Kkobong is too.”

When I wagered the Fasting Pills, Fast Sloth stared silently at me.

All he did was look, yet it was terrifying.

“It’s only three pills. Three! If we win with these, we can get even more Fasting Pills.”

“And if Kkobong loses, I promise I’ll never do this again.”

After my desperate persuasion, Fast Sloth finally allowed me to place the bet.

However, the arena operated only from noon until shortly before sunset.

What did I do until then?

I trained while browsing the Gallery.

Title: Arnold, the New Emperor of the Messiah Empire

(A video of Emperor Arnold riding in an open carriage as the spectators cheer)
(A photograph of Emperor Arnold receiving flowers from a child)
(A photograph of Emperor Arnold delivering a speech)

As of today, a new sun has risen over the Empire.

└ Look how handsome he is. He really is a different kind of sun.
　└ Don’t ever exercise. Consider this a warning.
└ Does an emperor even have time to exercise? He’ll probably be busy processing paperwork every day, lol.
└ Why is he alone, though? The previous emperor had someone beside him.
　└ Emperor Robert married young. As far as I know, Arnold still isn’t married.
└ He’s unmarried at his age? Could he possibly be...?
　└ Don’t say anything weird. He used to have a fiancée, but their engagement was broken off.
└ His engagement? With the Crown Prince?
　└ Was it Lady Mercedes? Anyway, I heard they ended the engagement because she was gravely ill.
└ Isn’t that a lie?
　└ No. Rumors that she could die at any moment were widespread among the nobles.

Photographs posted on the Gallery often reproduced exactly what the eye could see.

In other words, Gallery photographs were practically identical to photographs taken in the real world.

The handsome man in those pictures probably looked exactly the same in person.

He’s ridiculously handsome.

He was the archetypal Western beauty.

Rather than looking ruggedly masculine, he possessed refined and graceful features.

How nice would it have been to be born with a face like that?

Not that it would be useful in this forest.

It would have made life easier before I fell into the forest, but it meant nothing here.

This was a place where physical ability mattered far more than one’s face or anything else.

Still, I could not help feeling envious.

Women must line up for a chance to be with him.

I started to leave a comment, then decided against it.

There was no point.

Title: Ash Attended the Succession Ceremony Too

(A photograph of Ash in uniform)
(A photograph of Ash making eye contact with the poster)
(A photograph of Ash grinning mischievously)
(A video of Ash walking toward the Imperial Palace)

Is this woman really in her mid-thirties? Judging by her face, she looks like she’s in her early twenties.

└ She really is beautiful. If she hadn’t been so demanding, she would have married long ago.
└ Ash still hasn’t gotten married?
　└ Yeah, but it’s not that she couldn’t. She simply chose not to.
└ She said she refuses to marry a man weaker than herself, lmao.
└ What a waste of such a beautiful face, lol.
　└ Forget her face. Isn’t she rather tall?
　　└ She’s probably about as tall as the average man.
└ Why is Ash’s skin so flawless? Does she take special care of it?
　└ It probably takes care of itself. She’s a Swordmaster.

I finally got to see Ash’s face, which I had always been curious about.

She was every bit as beautiful as the rumors claimed.

Searching for Ash on the Gallery rarely produced photographs. There were only countless rumors about her.

Apparently, she rarely left her home, which was why so few photographs of her existed.

Her uniform looks impressive too. But her skin...

I examined Ash’s skin carefully.

It was so smooth and lustrous that it practically gleamed.

I had wondered why it looked familiar. Then I realized it resembled my own skin.

I did not know what effects yesterday’s honey possessed, but this was what it had done to me.

It was almost as though I had taken a rejuvenation medicine.

Though I had no idea how long the effect would last.

Hmm... I don’t know. Let’s forget about it.

What did it matter even if Ash was secretly one of the registered users I knew well?

The world was vast, and she was a swordswoman of great standing in the Messiah Empire.

She probably maintained a regular skincare routine.

If not, perhaps her body naturally maintained itself.

Title: Wasn’t Selena Supposed to Have an Incurable Illness?

(A video of Selena stepping out of a carriage)
(A video of Selena receiving the attention of countless people)
(A video of Selena waving to the crowd)
(A photograph of Selena wearing her usual expressionless face)
(Selena photograph 2)
(Selena photograph 3)

She came to the succession ceremony. What’s going on?

└ Holy shit, she’s insanely beautiful. Is she an elf?
　└ Even elves aren’t that beautiful.
└ She’s literally glowing, lmao.
└ Why is everyone only looking at her face? Lol.
　└ Wouldn’t you look if someone looked like that?
└ According to the people of her territory, her condition recently improved. Her complexion has returned too, so she might be completely cured.
└ Wasn’t Selena practically a skeleton in the past? Her face was beautiful, but her body was extremely frail.
　└ I attended the Academy with her, and she really was that thin. She looked like she would break if you so much as grabbed her.
└ Now she’s filled out completely, lmao.
└ Can someone really change this much?
└ Why did the poster take so many photographs, anyway?
　└ Because she’s beautiful.
　　└ Fair.
　　　└ “Fair,” my ass, lol.

Perhaps it was because the succession ceremony had drawn such a large crowd.

As more nobles gathered, posts featuring all sorts of faces continued to appear.

Among them, Selena was undoubtedly the most striking.

Ash also had white hair, but hers possessed a faint bluish tint. Selena’s hair, by contrast, was completely pure white.

Her skin was also as pale as snow, inevitably making her stand out from everyone else.

But this woman’s skin too...?

The luster of Selena’s skin was equally unusual.

Moreover, there were stories that she had been in poor health due to an incurable illness.

When I considered those two facts, Starlight Princess naturally came to mind.

Starlight Princess had also suffered from the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, an intractable disease, until she was cured with my help.

But this... probably doesn’t matter either, right?

Starlight Princess was an extremely important person who regularly supplied me with elixirs.

If I carelessly exposed her and earned her resentment, I would be the only one who suffered.

Besides, I had nothing more than circumstantial evidence.

Even if I ran my mouth on the Gallery, hardly anyone would believe me.

After browsing the steady stream of posts about the succession ceremony, I checked the time.

It was almost the perfect time to eat lunch and head for the arena.

“Hah!”

“Kkuu!”

“Hah!”

“Kyu!”

When I stood up, I found Kkobong and Wonmo practicing straight punches together.

Kkobong refused to teach me anything, yet was teaching Wonmo.

I had mixed feelings about it, but let it go on the grounds that animals possessed a mutual understanding.

Besides, Wonmo looked adorable thrusting out those tiny forelegs.

At this rate, Kkobong might even teach Wonmo an internal energy cultivation method someday.

“Let’s get going.”

“Kyu!”

“...”

After completing all our preparations, we headed for the arena.

Fast Sloth still seemed displeased that I had wagered the Fasting Pills, but he let it slide.

We eventually arrived at the arena. Just like yesterday, two kangaroos stood guard at the entrance.

“Puo.”

Unlike yesterday, they readily let us through.

I offered them a brief word of thanks and entered.

The moment we stepped inside, we were greeted by a lively commotion.

“Puoooo!”

“Woooooo!”

One kangaroo spread its arms and roared triumphantly while the spectators cheered in response.

Not long afterward, that kangaroo left with a female.

I had learned that this happened every summer during mating season, but it was still absurd every time I saw it.

As for today’s participants...

More importantly, I needed to see who had entered the tournament.

I turned toward the VIP seats.

A bear and various other contestants were seated there. There was even a deer among them.

I could not tell whether they had entered out of boredom or for some other reason.

“Kkobong, take these Fasting Pills and sit over there.”

“Understood.”

“If any of them complain about the Fasting Pills, give them one each.”

I even provided some samples in case the animals were dissatisfied with the pills.

Naturally, I felt Fast Sloth’s fierce glare boring into me from where he clung to my back, but I did my best to ignore it.

Kkobong then headed toward the gathered contestants.

Kkobong placed the Fasting Pills among the prizes.

Perhaps they were displeased by the appearance of a new rival—or because Kkobong had wagered only three Fasting Pills.

“Grrr.”

“Prrr.”

Both the bear and the deer showed their dissatisfaction.

The moment Kkobong saw their reaction, Kkobong followed my instructions and handed each animal a Fasting Pill.

They wore puzzled expressions at first, but their reactions changed the instant they ate them.

“Kuoo? Kuoooo!”

“Prrrk...!”

The bear’s eyes widened, and even the deer, which always maintained a cynical demeanor, stared in astonishment.

To the animals of the Forest of Four Seasons, Fasting Pills apparently tasted like some sort of processed snack.

An exceptionally delicious one at that.

Perhaps they were something like chocolate to them.

In any case, there was no longer any problem with wagering the Fasting Pills.

All that remained was for Kkobong to win.

Title: Kkobong Enters the Arena
Wild Grylls

(A photograph of Kkobong sitting in the VIP seats)

Everyone, please cheer for Kkobong. Kkobong is going to win the prizes.

└ Heavenly Demon: There is no sense of incongruity whatsoever. It looks as though that creature has always belonged there.
└ What did you wager?
　└ Wild Grylls: Fasting Pills.
└ Fast Sloth didn’t complain?
　└ Wild Grylls: He glared at me like he wanted to kill me. That’s why Kkobong absolutely has to win.
└ What if Kkobong loses on purpose?
　└ Wild Grylls: Then I’ll immediately give Kkobong an electric shock, lol.
└ Cheonggu Princess: It looks like you’re placing bets again today! I’m definitely going to win some points!
　└ King Leon: Do you even have any points left? Didn’t you spend them all yesterday?
　　└ Cheonggu Princess: I still have 100 points! I’m going to become rich with them!
　　　└ King Leon: Don’t come begging for disaster relief points later.
　　　　└ Cheonggu Princess: Even if I do beg someone, it won’t be you!
└ I hope those two go broke together, lmao.
　└ That would be hilarious, lol.
└ Praise the Sun: Hmm. Shall I begin with a modest wager of 1,000 points?
　└ How many points do you even have?
　　└ Praise the Sun: 1,000 points, lol.
　　　└ You crazy bastard, lmaoooo!
　　　└ Isn’t this guy completely insane? Lol.
　　　　└ Praise the Sun: Only those with the heart of a beast can become rich.

As the arena opened, the Gallery users prepared their ammunition as well.

Time passed, and the tournament began.

“Prrk.”

“Uuugh...”

“No. Wait...!”

Kkobong suffered an overwhelming defeat at the deer’s hooves.

I could hardly believe what I was seeing.

Even if Kkobong could not use mana, I had never imagined Kkobong would lose to a deer.

No, wait. It defeated the bear. Is that deer simply absurdly strong?

One look at those enormous, magnificent antlers was enough to reveal the deer’s strength.

It was apparently a creature that ruled over an entire region, after all.

Even taking that into account, however, I had never expected Kkobong to be defeated so overwhelmingly.

└ Cheonggu Princess: Aaaaaaaah!!! My points! My points!!!
└ ...
└ King Leon: Hurry up and have that damned gorilla stuffed and mounted.
└ Praise the Sun: Give it to me after you do. I’ll sell it and recover my losses.
└ Here come the people who got burned badly by Kkobong, lmaooo.
└ Now I understand why gladiator owners get so furious, lol.

Numerous Gallery users had wagered on Kkobong and suffered devastating losses.

Then there was Fast Sloth’s glare, which had grown even more terrifying than before.

“Let’s just go home for now.”

I took the dazed Kkobong and returned to the shelter.

After being struck squarely by those antlers, Kkobong needed quite some time to regain consciousness.

“Can you walk?”

“Ugh... That bastard... was strong.”

Kkobong had actually admitted that the deer was strong.

The frustration in Kkobong’s voice was an added bonus.

Even though Kkobong had been unable to use mana, the defeat was apparently still humiliating.

Still, reaching the semifinals—or whatever they were—must have offered some consolation.

We shouldn’t enter whenever that deer is participating.

I could not think of any way for Kkobong to defeat it.

I could hardly remove Kkobong’s restraint either, so whenever the deer participated, we would have no choice but to watch.

I was thinking this as we returned to the shelter.

“Is that...?”

As we drew closer, something strange entered my field of vision.

Between the towering trees, I could see something yellow.

What in the world was that?

Had another strange animal come to visit?

With those thoughts in mind, I finally arrived at the shelter.

And there, I came face-to-face with someone.

Who was it?

A paladin riding a giraffe.

The armor he wore was not merely filthy, but badly dented as well. His appearance was equally dreadful.

His haggard complexion made it clear just how much hardship he had endured.

“—@#$...”

Thud!

He uttered something incomprehensible and collapsed to the ground.

Since he had fallen from the giraffe’s back, the heavy thud rang loudly in my ears.

Startled, I hurried over to him.

I was delighted to have finally encountered another person. I had absolutely no intention of disposing of a corpse.

“A-Are you all right?! Please, wake up!”

“$%@#%...”

I could not understand a single word he was saying.

Just as I was about to voice my frustration—

Grrrrrrumble!

A tremendous noise erupted from the paladin’s stomach.

The sound was so vivid and unmistakable that I could only stare awkwardly.

Meanwhile, the paladin barely managed to open his eyes and quietly said:

“$%#%...”

I did not understand the words, but I thought I knew what they meant.

I’m hungry.