Got a Gallery in the Wild

Badir suddenly told me to eat the sphere she had just coughed up from her mouth.

I looked at her with a completely blank expression.

Meanwhile, Badir merely tilted her head in confusion, as if she couldn’t understand what the problem was.

‘It’s not like I’m a baby bird.’

No matter how undiscerning I was when it came to food, I wasn’t about to eat something that had come out of someone else’s mouth.

And on top of that, it hadn’t just come out of her mouth—it had come from inside her body.

To make matters worse, it also looked suspicious.

It wasn’t a normal color.

It shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow.

“…What is this? Is it some kind of internal core?”

So I asked cautiously.

More than being disgusted, I first wanted to know exactly what it was.

Hearing my question, Badir stroked her chin for a few moments as if thinking about how to explain it before answering.

— It isn’t an internal core. In fact, you could say it’s something even better.

“Better?”

— Our species has enormous bodies, so digestive capacity is extremely important. Even when we use Polymorph, that doesn’t change very much.

That made sense.

Maintaining a body much larger than a building required an absurd amount of energy.

Humanity had also evolved an enormous capacity to store energy simply to survive.

Although nowadays, that same capacity had become the cause of obesity from overeating.

Dragons were gigantic.

Naturally, digestion was something fundamental for them.

— That’s why we create this inside our stomachs. It facilitates digestion and allows us to absorb energy more efficiently. It’s similar to how birds and lizards swallow sand or stones.

“I think I understand what you mean.”

It was like a gastrolith.

The difference was that dragons generated it themselves.

I had no idea why it glowed with rainbow colors, but I decided to trust that it was genuinely something valuable.

“Do you expel it from time to time, like just now?”

— When it stops being useful, we simply expel it from the body. Either from the front or the back.

There was no need to go into that much detail.

At least I was glad it had come out from the front.

“So then, what effect does it have? If it’s something dangerous, I’d rather not accept it.”

— If it’s too difficult for you, simply keep it in your mouth while absorbing its energy. As for its effects… they’re quite simple.

“Does it increase the body’s mana?”

Most internal cores worked that way.

Although the internal core from Pumpkin Jack that I had consumed before had been quite a special case.

But this could hardly be called an internal core, so it probably had a different effect.

— That too, but overall it will improve all of your physical abilities. Above all, it will greatly increase the efficiency with which you absorb energy.

“That means…”

— You’ll also defecate much less than before. All of that energy will be converted and utilized by your body.

It was an effect entirely geared toward survival.

And an excellent one at that.

Right now we were still stockpiling supplies, but the number of mouths to feed had also increased.

As time passed, we’d need even more food.

‘Besides, I’m going to keep exploring. I also need to prepare for when our emergency supplies run out.’

In the future we’d spend many more nights camping or sleeping outdoors instead of staying in the shelter.

And when that time came, I wouldn’t be able to eat as freely as I did now.

I looked at the rainbow-colored sphere.

There wasn’t a single reason to refuse it.

Although there was still one thing that worried me.

“Does it have any side effects?”

— I can’t say it has none. Your organs, especially your heart, may be placed under some strain. However, once your body adapts, it will no longer be a problem.

“How long does that take?”

— That depends on how strong you are.

What an irresponsible answer.

Though I could understand it.

Badir was a dragon.

I was just a ridiculously weak human.

The gap between us was so enormous that it was impossible to establish any common standard.

— Don’t worry too much. Last time even a tiger ate one without any problems.

“A tiger?”

— That’s right. At first I intended to devour it, but since it was still a cub, I let it go. If it managed to adapt, it’s probably quite strong by now.

“…Did it happen to have especially long fangs?”

— How do you know?

How would I know?

Because I had nearly died trying to hunt that very damn tiger.

Badir seemed to figure it out from my reaction and didn’t bring it up again.

‘So if I eat it… will I obtain a Dragon Heart?’

A heart that was practically a biological bomb?

The more I thought about it, the more hesitant I became.

But when I remembered the regenerative ability the saber-toothed tiger had displayed,

I couldn’t help feeling tempted.

It recovered from almost any wound in the blink of an eye.

That was an incredible advantage.

Of course, that didn’t mean I’d obtain exactly the same regenerative ability.

I might develop an entirely different one.

‘On top of that, my eyes are already glowing. That makes me hesitate even more.’

Even so, I’d probably end up consuming it someday.

Throwing it away would be too wasteful.

As Badir had said, all I had to do was keep it in my mouth.

Besides, it was almost the size of a baseball.

I wouldn’t even be able to swallow it whole if I wanted to.

“…Wait a minute. Even putting this in my mouth is a problem.”

— Ah, right. Wait a moment. I’ve spent too long transformed into a human and forgot how the human jaw is structured.

Badir picked the sphere up from the ground, swallowed it again, and shortly afterward spat it back out.

Now it was much smaller.

It was barely the size of a marble.

That said, it was still completely covered in saliva.

It almost would’ve been better to wait until it shrank on its own.

I was planning to wash off the dirt and dust anyway, but that didn’t make it any less disgusting.

— Cough… cough… I really must be going now. Is there anything else you want to ask me?

“A question…? Ah, right. There’s one more.”

“In fact, it’s probably what I’m most curious about.”

— What is it?

“The animals that live here are very different from the ones I know. Is it because there’s something special about this forest?”

That didn’t just apply to me, but also to Ludwig and anyone else from the outside world.

There were gorillas that spoke like people, an absurdly fast Sloth, kangaroos that practiced wrestling, and many other things.

Not only had the animals’ basic size increased enormously, but they had also evolved along completely bizarre paths.

There were even giraffes—animals that should only exist on Earth.

It was obvious this place hid countless secrets.

— Even I don’t know. This place is more like an enclosure built by the invaders. It’s best to simply accept it without overthinking it.

“Hmm… I understand.”

— Even so, that Sloth is quite a useful specimen.

A dragon had personally acknowledged Sloth’s strength.

I smiled bitterly as I looked at Sloth, who remained perfectly still with his usual carefree expression.

How many more times would he end up helping me?

He was truly someone I could rely on.

— But don’t forget. Not only that one, but this place is full of creatures far more dangerous than I am.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Fwoosh.

As soon as I finished speaking, enormous wings spread from Badir’s back.

Then she beat them and rose into the sky.

It was a truly magnificent sight.

— My son.

“Peeeeep!”

— Listen well to your master and don’t cause him any trouble. This mother will return soon.

“Peeeeep!”

When had I become his master?

I couldn’t help smiling bitterly.

After saying goodbye to Tyran, Badir looked back at me and gave me a slight nod.

I returned the gesture politely.

There was never any harm in being courteous.

Flap.

A short while later, Badir soared upward until she disappeared high into the sky.

As soon as she reached a certain altitude, she released her Polymorph and returned to the form of a gigantic dragon.

Watching a dragon soar through the sky with wings far larger than its own body was a breathtaking spectacle.

“Hmm…”

Badir’s appearance had been like a storm that came and went.

As soon as she disappeared, I picked up the rainbow-colored sphere from the ground.

‘I’d better keep it for a while.’

I had no idea what might happen if I consumed it recklessly.

After all, it was a gastrolith that had a tremendous effect on the internal organs.

And if one of them suffered serious damage, I doubted even an elixir could heal it.

‘I suffered enough when the Guardian hit me.’

I put the gastrolith into my pocket and then looked around.

Ludwig and the others all had the same expression that seemed to say,

‘So what do we do now?’

I wasn’t any different.

Badir’s visit had made it impossible to continue with what I had planned for today.

“Let’s eat first.”

Even if it was late, the best place to start was with breakfast.

‘Thanks to the beating of Badir’s wings, the pollen storm had completely disappeared as well.’

At my instruction, everyone began preparing breakfast without wasting any time.

No one said it out loud, but it was obvious that everyone was hungry.

“Muoo.”

“Ah, right. You’re still here too.”

Since winter had already ended, it seemed the deer was also preparing to leave, so he came to say goodbye to me.

I wanted to at least invite him to breakfast before he left, but the stubborn fellow refused again and again.

He really did seem like an animal that understood manners.

So I saw him off.

“Take care. And if you ever want to come back, you know where to find me.”

“Muoo.”

Whoosh!

The very next instant, he vanished right before my eyes.

Sloth at least left an afterimage when he moved, but that deer left absolutely nothing behind.

He literally disappeared as if he had teleported. Without leaving the slightest trace.

‘…Don’t tell me this guy’s ability is teleportation?’

No wonder he kept appearing here and there all the time. I had already found it strange back when he brought the Golden Apple.

Could an animal capable of teleportation really exist?

I’d dare say no.

Teleportation belonged to the domain of magic. You could practically say he was using magic.

‘Never mind. This is the Forest of Four Seasons. I’d better not overthink it.’

Right now, breakfast was what mattered.

Today’s breakfast consisted of meat we had stored beforehand and various vegetables.

There was plenty of food.

But starting tomorrow we’d begin exploring, so sooner or later it would no longer be enough.

“Kyuuu……”

“You’re awake already, Wonmo?”

While I was at it, I also prepared food for Wonmo, who had just awakened from hibernation.

Even though he still looked half asleep, he didn’t hide his eagerness to eat in the slightest.

After finishing that hearty breakfast, I returned to the cave.

[There’s a huge Owlbear over there! Let’s fight it together!]

“Peeeeep!”

“Kyu… kyuu?”

Outside, Cain was keeping the little ones entertained.

Meanwhile, I entered the Gallery.

I had a lot to talk about.

I hadn’t told Badir, but I had also taken a picture of her in her Polymorph form.

‘I also need to tell LetsPlantTrees what happened to the World Tree sapling.’

I wondered how she would react.

If I had to bet, I’d say she’d fly into a rage.

She was someone who adored trees, so it would be a perfectly normal reaction.

And most of the users would probably be delighted to see it.

After all, she’d been building up a terrible reputation for quite a while.

Title) Dragons can use Polymorph.

WildGrills

(Photo of the dragon transformed with Polymorph)

(Video talking with the dragon)

(Photo of the World Tree sapling completely burned to ashes by the dragon’s breath)

But as soon as she saw the World Tree, she said it was an evil tree and reduced it to ashes;;;

ㄴ HeavenlyDemon) Is that really a dragon? It looks like someone just stuck a lizard’s head onto a human body.

ㄴ WildGrills) I was pretty shocked too.

ㄴ Swordmaster) Huh? Aren’t most dragons transformed with Polymorph supposed to be incredibly handsome men and beautiful women? No, wait… Dragons can actually use Polymorph!?

ㄴ WildGrills) Apparently she was a dragon who lived during the Mythological Era.

ㄴ Swordmaster) And you expect me to believe that?

ㄴ WildGrills) Well, Celestial Whales already exist. At this point, it’s not that hard to believe.

ㄴ Swordmaster) Ah, when you put it that way… you’re right.

ㄴ What about my dream!? They weren’t supposed to look like this in the myths…!!

ㄴ That’s exactly why they’re called myths. The fact that dragons capable of using Polymorph exist is already shocking enough. LOL.

ㄴ At this point… nothing would surprise me anymore. LOL.

ㄴ Aren’t the scholars crying right now?

ㄴ The theologians too. Damn, they’re going to have to rewrite all of mythology.

ㄴ Less than a week ago Cain descended, and now a dragon from the Mythological Era shows up. LOL.

ㄴ AllFather) Oh. So dragons communicate through telepathy? It sounds like the voice resonates directly inside your head.

ㄴ WildGrills) Exactly. It was an incredible experience.

ㄴ AllFather) Hahaha! Excellent. Excellent! At last the debate over how dragons communicated will disappear!

ㄴ WildGrills) Was it really such a heavily debated topic?

ㄴ Hey, we’re talking about the Mythological Era;;;

ㄴ Almost nothing was known about it, and what little there was consisted entirely of rumors.

ㄴ Now everyone will have to accept it. LOL. Dragons transformed with Polymorph communicated through telepathy.

ㄴ WildGrills) Hmm. I see.

ㄴ “I see,” he says. LOL.

ㄴ Every time you post something, it’s another bombshell;;;

ㄴ But why is that dragon in the Forest of Four Seasons?

ㄴ WildGrills) According to her, after the gods won the war during the Mythological Era, they expelled all the dragons and confined them here.

ㄴ Ah, if that’s the reason, then it makes sense.

ㄴ HeroDontThrowAway) Did that dragon speak badly about the gods or something?

ㄴ WildGrills) She called them invaders, but according to her, the dragons did things that deserved getting them expelled.

ㄴ That’s true. They went around killing people every chance they got. LOL.

ㄴ So what? Hahaha. Sounds perfectly fine to us. Haha.

ㄴ Now that I think about it, that means this dragon can’t leave the Forest of Four Seasons either, right?

ㄴ WildGrills) Be quiet. I’m already depressed enough because of that.

ㄴ Lmaooo.

ㄴ LOL.

ㄴ Stay there forever. Haha.

ㄴ Dragon: I can’t leave either. Haha.

The reactions were exactly what I had expected.

Everyone was jumping from one surprise to another.

But among them all, one topic stood out above the rest—the World Tree.

Everyone reacted differently upon learning that a dragon had reduced it to ashes with her own breath.

ㄴ Wait. The dragon burned a World Tree sapling?

ㄴ WildGrills) Yep. See that completely black thing? That was the World Tree sapling. LetsPlantTrees gave it to me.

ㄴ Damn. It was already ridiculous that she gave you a World Tree sapling, but the fact that a dragon burned it the moment she saw it is even funnier. LOL.

ㄴ Even dragons hate elves. Haha.

ㄴ Hating elves is completely justified! The dragon has already delivered her verdict!

ㄴ But speaking of that… what kind of person is the one who gave you a World Tree sapling?;;

ㄴ Wait… World Tree saplings actually exist?

ㄴ They do. But they can only grow near the World Tree.

ㄴ LetsPlantTrees) The dragon burned it!? What an evil dragon!

ㄴ Evil? Not at all. I’d say she was pretty smart. Haha.

ㄴ Doesn’t anyone else feel like this is only going to make people hate elves even more?

ㄴ Absolutely. Everyone’s already been like that lately.

ㄴ LetsPlantTrees) No! I see it completely differently! What the dragon did was personally acknowledge the World Tree’s nobility!

ㄴ Does that woman have her brain wired backwards or something?

ㄴ What’s this nonsense she’s come up with now?

But LetsPlantTrees’ reaction was the complete opposite.

ㄴ LetsPlantTrees) Ever since ancient times, dragons have been known as evil beings! And yet that dragon chose to burn the World Tree!

ㄴ So according to you, that means it’s such an extraordinary tree that even an evil dragon felt the need to destroy it?

ㄴ LetsPlantTrees) Exactly! From now on we’ll be able to promote tree planting even more! Trees from Alvenheim that even dragons consider a threat!

ㄴ Am I the only one who feels like this somehow just got even worse?

ㄴ I’ve got a really bad feeling about this too. Haha.

ㄴ How the hell did she arrive at that conclusion?

ㄴ The worst part is… somehow it actually makes sense. ;;

“Wow…”

I couldn’t do anything but stare in admiration.

Her way of thinking was completely different from that of a normal person.

‘If someone like that ever becomes a real leader, we’ll be in serious trouble.’

If I could feel that insanity just from her posts, I didn’t even want to imagine what meeting her in person would be like.