There was a word: bait. Ordinarily, it meant something used to lure fish. That quality of drawing fish in meant the word was often used in other senses, too.

The forum was no different. Toss out a big piece of bait, and the fish would swarm. The bigger the bait, the more fish it attracted, and sometimes you even landed a whopper.

Upvote if you want the Holy Kingdom to fall lol

I feel sorry for the Undying King too.

Turns out Eldorado was the real Demon King lol

Demon Kings aren't born.

When's the Holy Kingdom going to respond?

'When is this going to die down?'

Time had passed, and dinner had rolled around. I wondered as I watched the forum, still ablaze over the Undying King. I didn't know whether it was because this had happened relatively recently or because of the Holy Kingdom's ugliness. One thing was certain: there was no sign of the fire going out. I was starting to understand what I'd done.

'All they have to do is give a decent statement tomorrow.'

I closed the forum. It was about time to head up to the river. The outside world could take care of its own affairs. I just had to survive.

Enjoying myself without taking responsibility, was I? What was I supposed to do when I couldn't take responsibility even if I wanted to? Besides, I could hardly call it enjoyment. I'd posted those records to improve my odds of survival, however slightly. I'd had no idea they contained secrets about the Undying King or the world's ills.

'Though I'd have posted them even if I'd known.'

What did I know about this world, anyway? I'd woken up in the Forest of Four Seasons before I could learn a thing. Sure, I had the forum, but an online community wasn't where you learned about the world.

'Will this cause problems once I get out?'

Even that came with a condition: the admin would have to broadcast my location in real time. Otherwise, there was no way anyone could find me.

'Ugh, forget it. There's no point thinking about this.'

I'd just watch and see what the Holy Kingdom had to say tomorrow. Sighing inwardly, I reached the river. There were exactly two fish in the trap. Another feast today. Delighted, I hauled it up.

Something wriggled.

"Huh?"

Fish weren't the only things caught in the trap. An octopus was squirming inside, though I had no idea where it had come from. Its body wasn't glowing blue to suggest it was venomous. Just an ordinary octopus. It didn't look as monstrous as the one I'd encountered in the sand last time, either.

'Is this because the sea flows backward into the river?'

Ever since the downpour, I'd been catching all sorts of things. Well, more food was good news for me. Besides, I hadn't eaten octopus in this forest yet. Giving it a try wouldn't hurt.

'Were octopuses' arms always this thin? Maybe it's a long-arm octopus.'

For now, I'd carry the whole trap back. It was small, so I planned to eat it straightaway. Boiling or stir-frying it would probably do. Whatever kind of octopus it was, it was still my dinner. That hadn't changed.

Eventually, I returned to the cave and was about to transfer the food in the trap into a container when—

SWISH!

"Huh?"

The octopus, long-armed or otherwise, wrapped itself around my arm. It was so fast that I froze for a moment, and its arms coiled around something else, squeezing hard.

"Gah! Ack!"

My neck. I couldn't breathe.

I struggled desperately to pull off the octopus arms strangling me. But they were so strong that they wouldn't come loose. I could even feel something sticking to me. Its suckers must have latched onto my neck.

"Ghh...! Gack...!"

At this rate, I was going to suffocate. My senses growing hazy, I groped around with one hand. My fingers closed around the dagger I'd set out to prepare the food.

SLICE! SLICE! SLICE! SLASH!

I hacked desperately at its arms, and soon the pressure on my neck eased. But the octopus hadn't given up. It squeezed harder with its remaining arms. My vision was starting to turn yellow. I circulated the mana inside my body as I cut through them.

SNAP! RIIIP!

I cut off every arm constricting my neck. Finally, I seized its head and forcibly pulled it free. The octopus was desperate to kill me right to the end, but its arms had already been severed.

"Cough! Cough! Hah. Ugh."

Coughing, I glared at the octopus in my hand. It had one arm left. The sight of it thrashing around, trying to cut my throat with that single remaining arm, was ridiculous.

THUNK!

I showed no mercy to animals trying to kill me. I carried out its execution on the spot, slamming it onto the cutting board and driving my dagger into its head. I must have hit a vital spot, because the octopus rapidly turned white, then went limp.

"Ugh. Seriously."

POP! POP!

I peeled the arms off my neck. The suckers were attached so firmly it felt like pulling off duct tape.

"Whew..."

The arms were still writhing when I placed them on the cutting board. They looked so hideous I wanted them out of sight already.

'What kind of octopus strangles people?'

Since it hadn't sprayed ink, maybe it really was a long-arm octopus. Either way, that had been close. Small didn't mean I could let my guard down.

'I'm going to chew you extra thoroughly.'

Those arms had been wrapped around my neck, but I didn't care. A "minor" hygiene issue like that wasn't a problem. While I was at it, I could write about the long-arm octopus in my journal. I'd gained a lot today.

SIZZLE!

Eating it raw and wriggling didn't appeal to me, so I decided to pan-fry it. There was a spicy stir-fried octopus dish, but I didn't have the sauce for that. Tossing it in while I cooked the fish would do.

I chewed away.

"Mm. That's good."

It had that characteristic seafood smell, but its rich, savory flavor completely covered it. And I was eating it with fish. The savoriness of the fish complemented it perfectly, delighting my taste buds.

"Roundfur, you can have the head."

"Kyuu!"

I gave Roundfur the head. Naturally, I'd cut it up carefully before cooking it so he wouldn't choke. The speed-sloth, for the record, flatly refused. Fair enough. It was an herbivore, after all.

Another satisfying dinner finished. There had been a crisis along the way, but I'd gotten through it well enough.

'The smaller things are, the more dangerous they are here.'

Up until now, it had been huge monsters threatening me. But looking at it now, being bigger seemed to be a disadvantage for survival. Just look at the speed-sloth. It was smaller than me, yet absurdly strong. The saber-toothed tiger with the dragon heart was a particularly good example. Its regeneration was powerful, but its huge body left plenty of openings. The same went for the orichalcum guardian. The little ones were more dangerous.

'... Let's make an exception for the crab and crayfish.'

Those things deserved to be called "monsters," so I was better off treating them as exceptions.

Once I'd finished cleaning up, I went into the cave to write in my diary.

SCRITCH, SCRITCH.

The corpse mattered, but the long-arm octopus was the most important thing. I recorded everything about it in detail.

After the rough lesson I'd had today, I probably wouldn't fall victim to a similar attack. Still, keeping a record was essential. There was always the remote chance I'd hurt my head and lose my memory.

'Diary's done. Time to practice my cultivation method.'

I was getting used to cultivation now. All I had to do was close my eyes and concentrate a little, and I could vividly sense the mana within me. Starting tomorrow or the day after, I'd begin consuming inner cores. Just one to start with.

After finishing all my training, I logged into the forum to see whether the Undying King discussion was still burning bright.

'Same as ever.'

Not much had changed. The forum was still blazing away. It was remarkable that it could keep burning so long without anyone adding more fuel. Even the admin wasn't stopping it, despite the rule prohibiting posts that stirred up conflict between nations.

'Is it because the rule says BETWEEN nations?'

The countries being discussed were the Holy Kingdom, Eldorado, and the Vulcan Kingdom. But the Vulcan Kingdom had fallen long ago. There couldn't be a conflict. Mephisto, the nation of demons with its "Demon King," did occasionally get a mention, but barely. Most of the posts were criticism and condemnation aimed at Eldorado.

'I'd better ask the admin and Heavenly Demon, just in case.'

I wasn't worried about Eldorado. I felt nothing in particular. How shitty must its reputation have been for everyone to leap at this chance to trash it? But with posts like these springing up everywhere, the moderators would be exhausted. I wasn't concerned for Eldorado. I was concerned for the people who'd have to do the work.

Heavenly Demon, are you there?

Heavenly Demon

I am always waiting for a chance to speak with you, my honored friend.

Heavenly Demon was the first person I contacted. The admin sometimes disappeared, so I planned to ask her afterward.

The forum seems to be in an uproar because of me.

I was wondering if it's keeping you busy...

Heavenly Demon

I see what you mean.

You need not worry so much. This has always happened quite often.

It happens often?

Heavenly Demon

Indeed. Whenever something happens in the world, the forum tends to flare up like this.

Sometimes the trouble spills over into the real world, but that is exceedingly rare.

So if we just leave it alone, it'll die down on its own.

Heavenly Demon

Provided this Holy Kingdom does not add fuel to the fire.

In the end, we'd have to wait until tomorrow to see how things went. I'd already guessed as much, so I didn't dwell on it.

Then what if the Holy Kingdom gives a strange explanation?

Heavenly Demon

It will burn even hotter.

That is when things will become busy.

I hope that doesn't happen.

Heavenly Demon

Are you worried?

Of course.

My posts could get buried.

Heavenly Demon

Hmm. A most serious matter indeed.

The rate of new posts was insane. If I closed the forum for a moment and opened it again, it would have moved on a page or two. That was a very serious problem for someone as dependent on the forum as I was. Thank goodness I could trade privately now. Otherwise, it would have been a real headache.

Heavenly Demon

Do not worry. I will read your posts even if I must search for them, my honored friend.

You will always have my support.

Thank you.

After Heavenly Demon's reassurance, I moved on to the admin, Don't Abandon the Hero. She probably had the worst headache of anyone on the forum right now. She was also the one who'd granted me privileges, which made me feel even worse.

Admin, are you there?

Don't Abandon the Hero

Yes! I'm here!

What is it?

Fortunately, she seemed to be online. After wondering what to say, I asked about the current situation.

You've dealt with situations like this a lot, right?

Don't Abandon the Hero

It happens often!

And it's a nuisance!

Since I'd created that nuisance, I couldn't help feeling guilty.

I didn't know this would happen either. I'm sorry.

Don't Abandon the Hero

There's nothing to apologize for!

I don't believe you posted it with that intention, Grylls!

Thank you.

But what happens to me once all this dies down?

Don't Abandon the Hero

It would be different if you'd meant harm,

but since you didn't, Grylls, there shouldn't be any problem!

That's a relief.

Don't Abandon the Hero

Besides, deleting it now could set the forum even more ablaze!

That certainly made sense. I'd heard of that effect: trying to hide something only drew more attention to it. Ultimately, we'd have to wait until tomorrow to see whether the discussion would die down.

I've unintentionally made things hard for you.

I'd like to apologize again.

Don't Abandon the Hero

Not at all!

If the Holy Kingdom did something wrong, then it did, and if it didn't, then it didn't!

Are you from the Holy Kingdom?

Don't Abandon the Hero

Yes! It's a nation blessed by the gods, especially the goddess!

Her answer practically overflowed with patriotism. Wouldn't she lose some of that affection if those atrocities turned out to be real?

Don't Abandon the Hero

Again, there's no need for you to apologize, Grylls!

There must be some misunderstanding!

You think so?

I hope they give a good explanation.

That way, my posts wouldn't get buried. I ended my conversation with the admin and browsed the forum. Almost everything was about the Undying King. There wasn't a single entertaining post. A few people tried to exploit the distraction, but their posts were deleted soon enough.

'I'll just practice aura until bedtime.'

With nothing entertaining on the forum, I practiced controlling my aura. As time passed, it kept increasing on its own, making it difficult to control, but I still had to try. I fed mana into Heavenly Demon's sword, generating aura that shimmered like a heat haze. My first task was to give it a sharp shape.

'...'

Sure enough, it wasn't easy. Probably because this was a matter of talent. I extinguished the aura and tended to my equipment.

'There really isn't much to do without the forum.'

There was especially little to do before bed. I could train, but too much of anything was harmful.

'I only smoke when things get rough, too. I'll just practice my internal energy cultivation method.'

Until I found a suitable hobby, it looked like I'd have to fill the time with cultivation.

And so that eventful day passed, and the next morning dawned. By now, the forum discussion should have cooled off somewhat. Unless someone had added fuel to the fire, it ought to have lost at least a little steam.

Holy Kingdom of Eldorado: Here Are the Facts.

"?"

I was already getting a bad feeling about this.