It’s a well-known fact that I’m an orphan who lost my parents.
But I’m not foolish enough to accept an adoption proposal from a gorilla.
I’m not that desperate for affection.
Of course, occasionally I do wish I could meet the father I’ve never seen.
After seeing the content about my father in Deshnan’s journal, I felt this even more strongly.
“A very special species of Serpent, he says. If I get the chance, I’d love to see it too. And unlike the Medusa Serpent, it’s said to be docile, so it should be fine.”
Even Pelerian said as much.
But if I were to become part of the gorilla’s family, what would our relationship be?
‘Are you male or female?’
I asked that.
Of course, since it couldn’t speak, asking the gorilla this question was quite a challenge.
After drawing all sorts of bizarre shapes and obscene pictures, the gorilla finally answered.
The gorilla was female. So would she become my older sister?
I was shocked, as I thought it was a male gorilla due to its large build.
“Would you like… me to… become… your mother? If so… will you…
set me free?”
No way, you fool!
Anyway, after much deliberation, I made a decision.
“Thank you… truly thank you…”
I released this talking gorilla from the cage.
Up close, the gorilla looked quite emaciated.
In the cage where it had been, there were dried-up corpses of various monsters.
They must have been trapped together, but there were no signs of them being eaten.
“I eat… fruit… I like fruit… and insects too…”
Listening to it, the gorilla’s diet was more gentle than I thought.
How could it have such bulging muscles eating only those things?
I slightly tightened my grip around the gorilla’s nape.
It wasn’t an expression of affection, but a threat.
A cold threat that if what it said wasn’t true, I would kill it.
“I keep… promises… I’ve seen a big, magnificent snake… The Wise One knows… where it is… The Wise One…
knows everything.”
Reason number 1 for releasing the gorilla:
The gorilla had seen our dad. And it was certain that its kind would know dad’s location.
“Festival… I’ll teach you how to pick fruit too… if we come across any on the way…”
And it said it would tell me about the ‘festival’ that takes place here.
“I too am aware that there’s often a ‘Fruit Week’ in the great forest. It’s a period when flowers bloom on the World Tree’s branches, and fruit grows on the exposed roots on the ground. And I know that during this time, monsters become stronger and Named monsters are born.”
Even Pel-muwiki didn’t know everything.
“However, it’s difficult to accurately understand how the monsters that gather at the roots behave. Access is restricted to areas where Fruit Week has begun.”
Deshnan’s knowledge seems to be more detailed about the monsters’ behavior patterns and specific ecology.
But even after searching Deshnan’s room, there was only vague information about the festival.
“For the fruit… monsters… unite. Us too… and the insects.”
It’s rare for monsters to form groups unless they’re of the same species.
Even monsters of the same species often fight and kill each other.
That’s the instinct of monsters born with the categorical imperative to ‘become stronger’.
But the monsters here in the Shadow Forest have formed groups.
According to Deshnan’s records, there are currently two groups.
Primates with hands, probably primate-type monsters.
And an army of insect-type monsters.
Perhaps the King Centipede we parted ways with joined the insect-type monster army.
‘Why do monsters form groups?’
With this question in mind, I tapped the gorilla’s forehead twice.
This meant to spill everything it knew.
The gorilla was more intelligent than I thought.
According to Pelerian, only a few of the higher-level monsters can speak.
This gorilla wasn’t that high-level of a monster.
Despite that, it could speak, albeit clumsily, probably because it’s an intelligent primate.
If the secret to speaking was a skill, I could have borrowed it with Billy’s Horn.
Surprisingly, the language the gorilla spoke was similar to human language.
The intonation and vocabulary were quite different, but even Pelerian standing nearby could understand it to some extent.
Pelerian explained that the gorilla’s language, that is, human language, is the ‘common language’.
Apparently, it’s a language that has continued from ancient times. He said that even monsters who naturally awaken to language, and even dragons that can no longer be seen, use this language.
“If you eat the fruit, you become stronger… But when you eat the fruit, you stop. Someone has to… protect you…”
Stop, he says.
Does he mean the body freezes?
Well, if that’s the case, I’d need a reliable companion to protect me.
I slightly turned my head to look at Spot following behind.
When our eyes met, Spot wagged its tail back and forth.
It seems risky to eat this ‘fruit’ thing trusting only that Spot.
But do I intend to become part of the gorilla’s family?
Not really. I’d rather trust the King Centipede mom.
Still, shouldn’t I at least find out what kind of bunch the gorilla’s group is?
It seems I’ll be staying here for a while.
Come to think of it, does that mean my father doesn’t belong to any group?
“Originally… there was one more group… Now it’s gone. The leader… died.”
So that’s the inside story.
Each group has a leader, huh.
“Our boss is… a silver monkey… very strong…”
If it’s the leader of the primates, could it be some Monkey King Sun Wukong?
It might be a dangerous fellow.
I was heading to the forest where they said they lived, along with the gorilla.
They call it the Monkey Forest, but to get there, we have to pass through a hilly area.
There was something there that caught my eye.
‘Is that a tree or what?’
“It’s a root.”
Something smooth and huge like a baobab tree catches the eye.
A massive pillar-like structure was protruding from the middle of the hill.
“It’s an exposed root of the World Tree.”
What kind of root is that big?
The fine roots branching out in various directions looked just like tree branches. But the fact that there are no leaves confirms that it really is a root.
Several of these roots were visible on the way to the forest beyond the hills.
They say fruit grows there.
Apparently, even though the full-fledged Fruit Week hasn’t started yet, a few unripe fruits have already grown and fallen.
“There, there… Our forest.”
A dark forest was visible ahead.
The forest dominated by primates.
‘Spot!’
I stopped the gorilla and had Spot wait here.
I’ll ride Spot back when we return.
Spot’s sprint ability is amazing, to the extent that the primates would find it difficult to chase.
Getting back here was the problem.
To prepare for that, I had already borrowed a skill that could be used for escape from a monster in the zoo.
「Using Magic: Invisible Hand lv3.」
I drew my sword.
This was the secret to receiving the ‘adoption proposal’.
Though invisible, I clearly have hands.
‘If you try anything funny, I’ll kill you. You and your kind.’
I made a hissing sound while raising my scales.
Monsters seemed to find this sound quite threatening.
When I pointed my sword at it, the gorilla nodded as if it understood what I meant.
We entered the forest.
Indeed, several monkeys were observing us while swinging through the trees.
They look so small and weak that it’s hard to tell if they’re monsters or just animals.
Perhaps they’re sentries. They hurriedly retreated deeper into the forest, making ‘ooh-ooh’ sounds.
“They will… welcome us…”
Joy could be heard in the gorilla’s voice.
I slightly tightened my body wrapped around its neck.
Just try to make a move.