I Will Never Submit to Miss Grim Reaper - Chapter 469

Chapter 469: The Sleeping Forest!

As the sun of Grandis gradually set in the west and the sky began to take on that “afternoon” feeling, I found a small stream in the forest.

Judging by the stream, it likely connects to an underground river, with the water flowing from deep within a super hidden cave in the thicket. The water is so incredibly clean, like a pure spring, that even using “Purification” barely consumed any magic power.

“Meow!”

Placing my bag to the side, I carefully lay down on a large rock by the riverbank, bent over, and took a few sips directly from the stream.

Hmm… the water is refreshingly cold and sweet, even better than many so-called “natural spring waters” on Earth.

The last time I remember drinking similar spring water was inside the stalactite cave Xiao Mo discovered on Moon Orchid Island. Before that, it was probably back in the first or second grade.

There was a small stream deep within the Shenzhen Medicinal Botanical Garden, and when we kids got tired from playing, we would drink directly from the stream, especially in the summer when the water was incredibly thirst-quenching.

As a human, I didn’t really understand the difference between regular mineral water and the spring water you drink directly in the mountains. But after entering elf mode and trying the spring water on Moon Orchid Island, I finally realized—there is indeed a very noticeable difference in taste.

Elves have especially sensitive taste buds, particularly when it comes to experiencing things related to “nature.”

The biggest difference between a flowing mountain spring and regular mineral water is that the spring water has a “spirit” to it.

Ordinary mineral water has almost no additives and tastes similar to pure water, but spring water flows from underground and picks up some soft soil, comes into contact with algae on the surface of pebbles, and absorbs the scent of the grass along the stream’s edges as it flows. The spring water takes on minerals from the soil, the flavor of algae from the pebbles, and the aroma of the grass.

The most important element in this mix is the “scent of the grass.”

The earth itself is the resting place for the roots of trees and grass. These roots soak in the water, much like people steeping tea leaves, releasing some of their essence into the water, which all comes together to create “spring water.”

Also, when we usually encounter spring water outside, it’s often in very hot weather, and the coolness of the river gives it a refreshing feel, similar to drinking iced tea.

“Gulp, gulp, gulp…”

After running for almost an hour and not knowing where I had ended up, I happily stayed in a prone position, using my tongue to lap up the stream water.

If I were in human mode, I might have filled a water bottle and chugged it down. However, in catgirl mode, I prefer drinking this way—though I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone since many ponds on Earth aren’t clean and may contain parasites. I only drank after confirming that the water in this other world was completely clean.

In catgirl mode, my tongue not only has barbs but also has exceptional “dexterity.”

I recall that in human mode, I could hardly control my tongue to do many things. But in catgirl mode, if you gave me a string and put it in my mouth, I could tie a bow with it in a few seconds.

Besides, the barbs on my tongue in catgirl mode can also be used to “peel” certain fruits.

For example, apples. Although most of the nutrients in fruits are in the skin, I really don’t like the smooth texture of apple skin. In cat mode, I can easily use the barbs on my tongue to scrape off the skin.

“Mmm… satisfied.”

After drinking a lot of the spring water in one go, I stretched out my arms, lifted my butt, and held this straightened posture for a few seconds. Then, I leaned forward and stretched.

Next, it’s time to find a comfortable spot to prepare a “nest” for the night.

I looked around the small stream and focused on the tallest tree nearby.

The branches above where I am now aren’t too dense, allowing plenty of sunlight to slant through the gaps in the trees. The “underground river” beside me isn’t very wide, and there aren’t many aquatic animals in it.

But there’s a lot of fruit here.

For example, along this small river, there are many green plants that look like willow trees, with an average height of two to three meters. These plants have branches loaded with fruits about the size of small watermelons, weighing down the “willows.”

In addition to these “willows,” there are several clusters of red “grapes” not far away—small fruits that resemble bunches of cherry tomatoes, looking particularly tempting.

Next to the grapevines are a few oddly shaped “dragon fruit” plants.

Then there’s that big tree I’ve been eyeing. Its fruits are large and pink, resembling peaches but much bigger.

Since this is my first time playing in the wilderness of Grandis, I can’t tell if these fruits are poisonous in catgirl mode, but I can in elf mode.

Catgirl mode loves meat, so if I want to fill my stomach, I’d have to catch the wild chickens or rabbits around here and cook them, which feels like a lot of hassle. It’s easier to just switch to elf mode and eat fruits.

I’m not sure if this counts as exploiting a “bug” in my own body.

In catgirl mode, I crave meat, but in elf mode, I can instinctively identify which fruits in Grandis are safe to eat. I can survive on just fruits and feel full after eating only a small amount.

So, my plan is to switch to elf mode when it’s time to eat, let my body digest the food, and then switch back to catgirl mode to run around once I’ve regained my energy.

“Hoot hoot—”

Perhaps noticing my gaze, a creature that looks like an owl on that big tree let out a cute sound.

“That’s the spot!”

A thick branch next to the owl caught my attention.

In theory, elf mode is immune to all natural animal attacks. I’m not sure if this is due to some kind of pact formed over thousands of years of evolution in this world, but whether it’s insects, snakes, mice, or even fierce beasts, none of them will attack elves, and elves won’t proactively attack these small creatures either.

In other words… if I switch to elf mode at night, I won’t have to worry about mosquitoes or other insects, and there won’t be any poisonous snakes or tigers coming to eat me.

But I still prefer to sleep in a higher place.

If I sleep there… I should be able to see the stars at night, right?

My body type is on the petite side, and it’s even smaller in elf mode. The branch where the owl is perched is at least fifty centimeters wide, so I can easily lie down and sleep there without any problem.

What I need to do now is move some of the fruits from the ground up there, then find some sturdy branches to build a simple “cat nest” on the trunk of the tree.

Hmm… the height looks to be around fifty meters. Climbing up and down might be tiring, so I should take as much as I can up at once.

I walked over to one of the “willow trees” by the river, tried to pick off a branch, and then bent it back and forth to test its strength.

Great, I think I can use this branch to build a safety net up there, so I can sleep safely tonight.

I pulled down three or four “willow branches” at once, holding them in my mouth, and grabbed onto the vines growing on the trunk of the large tree.

No problem, my weight won’t cause the vine to break!

I took a deep breath at the base of the tree.

Alright then…

Let’s go!

“……”

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