I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 191

The fact that Ludwig had sparred with Lackey and Speed Sloth spread rapidly.

Not just within the Gallery, but into reality, especially among the people of the Holy Kingdom.

Though Ash, Kadir, and Asella were famous, the celebrities of the Holy Kingdom were too numerous to count even with both hands.

Furthermore, while the Hero was ultimately symbolic, Ludwig was the Guardian of El Dorado.

He had devoted his entire life to his homeland and Goddess Aris, and accordingly, many people were indebted to his grace.

"Thankfully he seems to be doing well... but is he really in the Forest of the Four Seasons?"

"How many times must I say it’s the Forest of the Four Seasons? That damn Papal See forced him into it!"

"Shh! Keep it down! What if you get dragged away?"

"Let them drag me away if they can! With even Lord Ludwig gone, there are no true paladins left in the Holy Kingdom!"

As if drunk in broad daylight, a middle-aged man shouted at the top of his lungs.

Normally, people would glare sharply at such public disturbance, but no one restrained him.

That was the current state of El Dorado. The statement that there were no true paladins stung painfully true.

"How on earth did even Lord Ludwig end up like this..."

"It’s all the Pope’s fault. He purged everyone just because they weren’t to his liking."

"Pushing him into the Forest of the Four Seasons and calling it what? Missing? Don’t make me laugh."

Even besides the shouting middle-aged man, everyone harbored deep discontent.

Fortunate that this was another city and not the capital, otherwise they would have taken to the streets in protest long ago.

"What’s the situation in the capital right now?"

"It’s an absolute mess. Feels like it’s gonna blow up any second."

"Has the Papal See said anything?"

"As if they would! At best, they’ll just claim it’s wild rumors from the Gallery and can’t be trusted."

"I’m sick and tired of them blaming everything on the Gallery."

Currently, public sentiment toward the Papal See had plummeted to rock bottom.

With countless incidents steadily filling the powder keg, Ludwig’s testimony had set the fuse ablaze.

Destined to explode at the slightest spark, it was bound to detonate even without one.

Propaganda claiming it was false rumor from the Gallery held no sway at all.

To the extent that the press argued El Dorado must do just as Ludwig had done in severing his rot-infested foot.

That rotten place was naturally the Papal See, which was effectively tantamount to demanding its head.

The government had been pushed to the absolute brink of collapse.

Considering the Papal See’s karma over the years, it was only natural.

But at the same time, they were afraid.

"What is the Pope going to do next..."

"Indeed. He’s a guy who chopped off everyone’s head if they didn’t suit his taste."

Because no one knew what the backed-into-a-corner Pope would resort to.

He was a Pope who had hidden his own shame through media control and information suppression.

Yet out of nowhere, from the Forest of the Four Seasons, and on the Gallery of all places, the hideous truth was exposed.

The Forest of the Four Seasons was an inhuman hellscape beyond even the Pope’s control.

To top it off, Ludwig had blown the whistle from inside, cornering the Papal See completely.

A cornered rat will grow violent enough to kill even a cat.

Having seized control of the military by purging Ludwig, there was no telling what atrocities the Pope might commit.

"If only the Hero were here at a time like this..."

Someone muttered softly. At that murmur, the atmosphere fell silent.

The Hero. A symbol that evoked incredibly complex emotions.

What was the Hero? The very symbol and pride of the Holy Kingdom.

Successive Heroes had fought Demon Kings to preserve peace.

In particular, the Previous Hero had sacrificed himself, taking down the Immortal King along with him.

Even though the Papal See’s pressure had played a role in that sacrifice, its value remained untarnished.

"...Do you really believe the Hero will bring about our nation’s destruction?"

"Wasn’t it a prophecy?"

"What if the Papal See fabricated that prophecy?"

"Man, how do you fabricate a prophecy? If they had, divine retribution would’ve struck immediately."

"There were so many witnesses too. Too many testimonies."

But this current Hero was somewhat different. Her fall had been as intense and shocking as her radiant status.

For a prophecy had been declared: ’The Hero of this generation shall destroy El Dorado.’

Following that prophecy, the Hero fled under the frame of being a traitor.

Even taking the Holy Sword, Revolution, with her. Thus, anxiety could only mount among the citizens of the Holy Kingdom.

"Still, isn’t a prophecy just a prophecy? To me, it looks like the Pope is the one who’s gonna ruin our country."

"That may be true... but it’s uneasy. It’s not just anything, it’s destruction."

"I heard she was an endlessly kind person. Couldn’t something be wrong?"

Like it or not, El Dorado was directly and indirectly connected to Goddess Aris.

A nation originally founded upon faith. They had no choice but to pay heed to the prophecies delivered by the object of their devotion.

Therefore, the prophecy foretelling the destruction of their homeland was inevitably uncomfortable to bear.

"Honestly, destroying it might not even be bad. Let it wipe out the Papal See entirely."

"I wish destruction meant something like that."

Sigh. "Just drink your liquor. The Papal See is corrupt, the Hero is a traitor. What kind of state is this country in?"

All they could do was complain. The people heaved deep sighs.

"Maybe it was better when we knew nothing."

"Our minds would’ve been at ease then. It’s just that future generations would suffer terribly."

"We’d better consider ourselves fortunate that we are the ones suffering first."

Information propagation in this world was exceedingly fast due to the existence of the Gallery.Follow the newest chapters on novelping(.)com.

Though falsehoods mixed in occasionally, the speed was nonetheless terrifying.

Originally, the institution known as the ’press’ originated from people gathering to distinguish truth from lie on the Gallery.

This was precisely why the press had developed so remarkably compared to the era.

At the same time, it was why the Papal See desperately tried to suppress both the press and the Gallery.

As an obscurantist policy, the control of information was tantamount to the control of the populace.

Indeed, had they not succeeded in suppressing the truth regarding the Immortal King?

Until some unexpected variable appeared in the Forest of the Four Seasons, that was.

"The country is... so unsettled. Will we even be able to return to the capital?"

"..."

And there were figures directly experiencing that public sentiment.

Two women wearing hooded cloaks, overhearing the people’s conversation.

One was Race, and the other was Asella, whose name was on the tip of every citizen’s tongue.

"...Eonni."

"Yeah. Go ahead."

"Is... no, is the Hero really going to destroy El Dorado?"

Asella asked in a crestfallen voice. Currently, they were returning to the capital.

Originally, they intended to continuously evade pursuit, but as various incidents erupted, plans changed.

The decisive factor among them was Ludwig’s exposure. Through that exposure, the innocence of Ludwig’s faction was proven.

Moreover, because things looked so ominous that a civil war might break out at any moment, they were returning in haste.

"The Hero? How would she destroy it?"

Still, watching one’s tongue was essential. The pursuit hadn’t ended completely.

At Race’s question, Asella seemed to ponder for a moment before closing her mouth.

As if expecting that, Race chuckled softly and drank her beverage.

"Don’t worry too much. It’s just a prophecy, right? Goddess Aris must have her intentions."

"So you’re saying the prophecy isn’t wrong."

"..."

Race offered a bitter smile. She couldn’t deny those words.

Aris’s prophecies were famous for coming to pass in one form or another.

There were even records stating that every struggle to escape a prophecy ended up being part of the prophecy itself.

Therefore, Asella faced an inescapable destiny. This was truly tragic.

"Well... who knows. This is a realm even I can’t comment on."

"I see."

"Still, you’re going to protect El Dorado to the very end, aren’t you?"

"...I must protect the citizens."

’I must protect the citizens.’ That single sentence revealed what change of heart Asella had undergone.

Originally, she would have thought it was a misunderstanding, that the Pope misjudged, and so on.

Though she had firmly trusted the Pope, doubts had begun to blossom recently.

Decisively, Ludwig. His exposure had shattered her trust toward the Papal See.

’If an armed conflict breaks out, should I stop it?’

Branded a traitor, could she really do that?

Though returning to the capital in haste, she had no idea how things would unfold.

Around the time Asella was sighing over this...

Deolkeok!

Someone forcefully shoved the tavern door open.

It was a deliberate act, as if demanding everyone look over.

"What the?"

"Why are paladins here?"

"Did they hear us badmouthing them?"

The identities of those entering the establishment were none other than paladins.

As the paladins appeared, the patrons harbored doubts for a brief moment before reacting with indifferent apathy.

With even Ludwig purged, they judged that no true paladins remained in El Dorado.

"Attention, everyone. We have received intelligence that a traitor is currently present in this location."

"Traitor? Are you talking about the Hero?"

"No, he means the Pope."

"Haha. That’s true too!"

Since these were people drinking from broad daylight, pleasant words were hardly going to be exchanged.

Only mockery. The paladins frowned, but soon ignored it and proceeded with their task.

"We will now conduct an inspection. Please remain seated and cooperate."

"Inspection? What nonsense! Talking bullshit!"

"Go back right now and arrest the Pope, you bastards!"

"Got the energy to hunt down the Hero, but no strength to catch the Pope, huh?"

—Hahahahaha!

The tavern instantly erupted into a sea of laughter. A sea of laughter filled with contempt.

The paladin captain finally barked out.

"Silence, all of you! How dare you slander the Pope! Do you not fear Goddess Aris’s wrath!"

"My wife’s wrath is scarier, though?"

"Hahaha! That’s true too."

"I won’t tolerate any more of this! Arrest all these wicked fools! They have publicly insulted the Pope!"

At the commander’s order, the paladins began to move.The source of this chapter is novelping . com.

The citizens didn’t particularly resist and allowed themselves to be dragged off obediently. A scene showing not a shred of trust.

Startled by this, Asella bolted up from her seat, but Race hastily grabbed her wrist.

"E-Eonni?"

"Not yet. Those people bought us time. Let’s run right now."

"B-But just for cursing..."

"They’ll just undergo a simple interrogation and be released. If even you get caught, El Dorado is truly finished."

"..."

At Race’s realistic judgment, Asella had no choice but to prepare for escape.

Around the time the paladins led the citizens outside...

Wajangchang!

"Huh? T-Those bastards! Catch them!"

"Damn it! Of all times!"

The two broke the window right beside them and fled.

Seeing this, the paladins frantically pursued them.

"What? The Hero was actually here?"

"Her attire was suspicious, to be fair."

As the paladins began the chase, the detained citizens were naturally released.

Watching the pursuit, the citizens sat back down as if it were no big deal.

"The Hero is far better. The country falls, not us, right?"

"That’s true too."

"I hate the Hero."

While everyone defended the Hero, only one person criticized her.

It was the shop owner who had been cursing the Pope alongside them just moments ago.

As people looked puzzled by the sudden change in stance, the shop owner let out a long sigh.

"I’m gonna hate her until she pays for my window."

"Hmm... I’ll grant you that."

"Tell her to compensate you later."

"Yeah, right."

The public sentiment of El Dorado was plummeting vertically.

What was the Papal See, facing that public sentiment head-on, currently doing?

Were they thinking of stepping down voluntarily? Or were they considering choices more extreme than that?

"Understood. So doing it like this is all it takes?"

"Yes. That is correct."

"And if it fails?"

At Pope Louis II’s question, the Cardinal answered.

"We will have no choice but to raise an army. For we have justification."

"Hmm."

"Goddess Aris will also forgive us."

Words that a leader should never speak—to raise an army against his own people.

Originally, it should only be raised in cases of enemy invasion or internal rebellion.

The military is the citizen’s sword and shield. One must never forget that.

A sane person would naturally refuse, but...

"Understood. I grant permission."

"Thank you."

"What wouldn’t we do for Goddess Aris?"

The power-mad fools rationalized their actions.

Claiming that signs of internal ’rebellion’ were already becoming apparent.

Thus, the Pope stamped the document firmly!

Before long, the Cardinal withdrew, leaving him alone.

’That bastard Ludwig finally caused trouble.’

Louis II clicked his tongue.

If he had just stayed quiet, none of this would have happened.

If he hadn’t posted it on the Gallery at the very least, this mess wouldn’t have erupted.

’What is he doing right now? If he talks nonsense again...’

What was he doing, you ask?

"Hey. Put it here, not there."

"I did put it down."

"No! Why are you so clueless at work?! You’re a soldier!"

He had transformed into Grylls’s excellent labor force.

Putting a man with an impaired leg to manual labor, isn’t that too harsh, you ask?

’So what? He’s way stronger than me.’

I don’t give a damn about that, his hands work fine so it’s fine.

"Not human..."

"What are you saying? You work too. This is the house you’re gonna live in."

"Bad guy. Truly bad guy."

"No food for you?"

"Actually good master."

They were living pretty well in their own way.