I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 211

The Immortal King crisis that broke out roughly thirty years ago.

The Immortal King was born in the Balkan Kingdom, and countless clergymen were dispatched to subjugate him.

However, they were completely helpless against the greatest feature and advantage of necromancy: ’sheer numbers.’

No matter how powerful the clergymen were, they were hopelessly outnumbered by the overwhelming horde.

Therefore, the Previous Hero and the Mage King, Kadir, had no choice but to infiltrate the heart of the enemy like a special forces unit.

While they infiltrated the heart, the paladins somehow held back the undead army.

Title) They were basically meat shields

Saying they "held out" is just fluff; they were literally meat shields.

Especially since the Immortal King didn’t even turn back and deployed his entire force into Eldorado.

Re: Didn’t Eldorado’s military power get cut in half because of the Immortal King?

Re: Saying half is being generous. With all the cursed clergymen and those who lost arms and legs, practically two-thirds were wiped out.

Re: Plus, the Immortal King targeted Eldorado with relentless obsession. Alfheim’s casualties were probably countable on one hand.

Re: It was so bad that other countries had to step in directly to help rebuild them.

Re: If anyone invaded back then, they’d end up making the entire populace of Eldorado their enemy, not just the military;;

Re: Thinking back, it’s chilling. At the time, people thought it was obvious the Immortal King was attacking Eldorado because he was a Demon King.

Re: Turns out Eldorado literally created the Demon King themselves;

Re: Aren’t they gonna end up creating another Demon King at this rate?

Re: The Pope is already Demon King-level lol

In the process of holding the line, countless clergymen were sacrificed, and the Immortal King was finally subjugated.

Although it left an indelible wound on Eldorado, their sacrifice was noble.

For their motherland, and inheriting the mission of Goddess Aris, they purged evil.

Thanks to this, even if the veterans became physically disabled, hardly any of them suffered mentally.

The citizens of Eldorado also showed respect for their noble sacrifices and supported them in various ways.

Starting from financial aid to honor, and deep respect for those who survived. This remained as another source of pride.

Until a truth that went beyond shocking to become utterly hideous was revealed.

"Hey, you bastards! My father was a magnificent paladin! He devoted all his loyalty to Eldorado! But is this what he gets in return?! Is this it?!"

"My mother was kinder than anyone else. I can still recall the sight of her back. Why did my mother have to be sacrificed?!"

Some of them were parents who were their children’s role models and dreams.

"I always resented my husband for leaving his children behind and passing away first! But why did my husband have to die?!"

"My wife wasn’t someone who deserved to die like this! She should have lived longer than anyone!"

They were spouses who had pledged lifelong love to someone.

"My son...! Cough! My son... Why did my son... have to... die... cough!"

"Bring back my daughter! Bring back my daughter!! Bring back my daughter!!!"

They were children for whom parents wouldn’t hesitate to give up their own lives.

Everyone firmly believed their deaths were by no means in vain, yet the truth was cruel.

Scapegoats produced by the sins committed by the state.

A disaster that could have been prevented beforehand, a death so meaningless that it should never have happened in the first place.

Those who devoted their entire lives to the nation were sacrificed just to cover up the nation’s mistakes.

Who wouldn’t be enraged? Who wouldn’t weep?

Such was the nature of the protest currently sweeping through Eldorado.

It was not a struggle for survival, but a sorrowful cry from being unable to contain their fury and grief.

"P-People are..."

"...Incredible. It looked serious when I saw it on the Gallery, but still."

And Asella and Reyna were able to witness that sight clearly with their own eyes.

Describing it as a sea of people wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

Not only in front of the Vatican, but spanning from the plaza all the way to the streets.

Most citizens had ceased all economic activity and joined the protest.

With only one single goal: to make the Pope admit his wrongdoings himself.

Having always suffered under the threat of the Demon King, the people of Eldorado had a strong tendency to rally together during national crises.

But historically, almost never had such a terrifying crowd gathered like this.

That was how extreme their sense of disappointment and betrayal toward the Vatican had become.

’And yet they haven’t said a word until now...?’

Asella recalled the Vatican’s response even while watching the terrifying wave of people.

Up to this point, the Vatican’s stance was persistent to the point of stubbornness.

A lie that no one would believe: claiming that they were right and that the protesters were being deceived.

The more one heard it, the more infuriating it was. It was practically the Vatican fueling the fire themselves.

"Asella. Keep your hood up just in case."

"Huh?"

"Your hair stands out way too much. Mine is relatively ordinary, at least."

"Eonni, you’re pretty too."

"Oh my. Hearing you say that makes me happy. But still, my looks aren’t as distinctive as yours, are they?"

That wasn’t true. Reyna had a very distinctive appearance as well.

It was just that Asella was far too glamorous. She couldn’t say anything to dispute that.

"For now, let’s get to the very front line somehow. We need to see what those bastards are spouting."

"Okay."

Ideally, she wanted to stay quiet until the protest ended.

It was always darkest under the lamp, after all. The Vatican probably wouldn’t imagine that the Hero was in the capital.

"Excuse us. Passing through."

"Excuse us."

The two pushed through the rough wave of people and moved forward.

The further forward they moved, the louder the protesters’ voices became.

A major accident could easily have occurred, but surprisingly, there was ample room.

-$%^%$!

A voice amplified further by voice-amplification magic reached their ears.

It seemed they were finally reaching the front line.

Just in case, Asella pulled her hood down even deeper.

Soon, when they arrived at the front row, a voice entered her ears.Visit novelp‌ing.com for the full chapter.

—Everyone, you are being deceived! We never utter falsehoods!

A voice steeped in lies.

Perhaps because it used voice-amplification magic, it was heard much more clearly.

Disgusting. Asella unconsciously thought to herself.

Ever since Ludwig’s exposure, trust in the Vatican had hit rock bottom.

Could there truly be a rock bottom lower than that? The thought even crossed her mind.

’Why has Eldorado...?’

It was right when Asella’s mind was growing even more troubled.

Cheok! Cheok! Cheok! Cheok!

Disciplined footsteps were felt in front of the Vatican gates.

Being sensitive to senses, Asella could clearly perceive where those footsteps were coming from.

"T-The Paladins? Why are the paladins...?"

The voices of the people standing in the front row, previously filled with anger and sorrow, instantly turned into fluster.

"All forces! Fall in!"

The fully armed Paladin Order had stood before the protesters.

Honestly, paladins blocking the front of a protest wasn’t particularly strange.

There were safety regulations, and violent riots could break out.

But an entire ’army’ blocking the way instead of a few paladins was unprecedented.

"Did this crazy Pope mobilize the army?!"

"A-Are they seriously trying to start a civil war?!"

"Aris help us. Why has Eldorado...?"

The absolute worst-case scenario automatically popped into the protesters’ minds. The same went for Asella.

With a hardened expression, she reached her hand toward the Holy Sword.

Should the worst situation erupt, she planned to step out head-on to protect the citizens.

"Beloved citizens of Eldorado! Please lend me your ears!"

Fortunately, the army did not act. Instead, a single clergyman simply stepped out before them.

He was no ordinary clergyman. The hierarchy of clergymen was mostly distinguished by their attire.

In particular, it could be distinguished by the shape of their hat.

The hat currently worn by the clergyman was somewhat elongated.

"A C-Cardinal?"

"A Cardinal stepped forward?"

A Cardinal, who could be considered the rank directly below the Pope.

As the Cardinal himself stepped forward, confusion inevitably spread among the protesters.

And this was precisely what the Pope’s side aimed for.

"We are well aware that you are disappointed in us. However, we have never spoken falsehoods."

Just before the shameless lies poured out and made the crowd flare up—

"Above all, we have learned a far more shocking truth. Currently, you all... are under a curse!"

"What? A curse?"

"What curse out of nowhere?"

"If the Pope’s very existence is a curse, then sure."

Because it was such an absurd confession, the protesters felt half-baffled and half-flustered.

Asella was not much different. She was also well aware of curses.

Only clergymen could uncurse them, and the stronger a clergyman’s divine power was, the higher their uncursing capability became.

"The remnants of the evil Immortal King still linger! Since the Immortal King created undead through various methods, you too could easily turn into undead if you are careless!"

"W-What? U-Undead?"

"We’re going to turn into undead? Is that true?"

The shocking claim that one could turn into undead while still alive.

At those words, people sought confirmation from one another. The first to step forward were retired soldiers.

"...Those words are true. I saw it clearly with my own two eyes."

"The Immortal King’s necromancy was powerful enough to turn even living beings into undead."

As testimonials from war veterans poured out, the anxiety of the citizens escalated further.

But Asella harbored doubts. If they were cursed, shouldn’t they just be healed?

That was why clergymen existed, yet the Vatican did nothing.

Rather, they only amplified anxiety. No matter how she thought about it, it was strange.

"Therefore, purification is necessary! If you remain gathered like this, even we will have no way to help you!"

So please cooperate. Disperse the protest.

Otherwise...

"Should you refuse to comply, we will have no choice but to take the worst measures to stop the curse."

Cheok!

Simultaneously with those words, the paladins stomped their feet in unison. To anyone’s eyes, it was practically a threat.

Archers were even standing behind them. Seeing this, the protesters fell into extreme panic.

With the army taking such a firm stance, could we be the ones who are mistaken?

Even the boy who cried wolf told the truth in the end. Could they trust them just one more time?

Just as the protesters were fidgeting in uncertainty, someone raised their hand high.

"Hey there! Then let me ask just one thing!"

It was a husky yet friendly voice.

The protesters made way for the man stepping forward with his hand raised.

Thanks to that, Asella was able to clearly see the man’s face.

’Ahjussi Hans?’

It was a face she knew very well. The ahjussi who sold fruit in the plaza.

A man who treated everyone kindly and was very popular for his humorous sense.

Furthermore, he was exceptionally well-connected. No one living in the capital had never eaten Hans’s fruit.

Meanwhile, Hans walked proudly to the very front of the protest and confronted the Cardinal.Get faster updates on nоvelping.com.

"You said we’re cursed?"

"That is correct."

"I don’t know where you got such information, but I’ll believe it for now. However! It should be fine as long as we verify whether I am cursed or not. Go ahead and prove it."

If I am cursed, prove it. Are you not clergymen?

An unassailable sound argument among sound arguments. Yet the Cardinal spoke in a deeply sorrowful tone.

"The Immortal King’s curse is extremely powerful. And sinister. Because it is so difficult to detect, it must be verified in person."

"Is it tough even with a Cardinal’s power?"

"Regrettably, yes. The Pope himself must personally verify it."

It was practically saying one had to meet face-to-face with the Pope. A heavy risk would follow.

However, Hans snorted, then answered confidently.

"Even better. I’ll go myself."

"..."

At Hans’s statement that he would go himself, the protesters said nothing.

Aside from an ominous feeling, they were curious whether the curse actually existed.

Since they even resorted to hardline tactics like mobilizing the army, they surely wouldn’t be lying.

"Thank you for your cooperation. This way."

The Cardinal bowed to Hans and guided him toward the Vatican entrance.

As Hans subsequently entered the Vatican, the fiery atmosphere of the protest slowly subsided.

"W-What should we do?"

"For now, we have no choice but to wait for Ahjussi Hans’s result."

"Everyone, let’s head back for now. We can use this time to get organized."

The protest dispersed. However, Asella remained behind until the end, staring at the Vatican entrance.

Was what the Vatican said really true? Those people who spouted nothing but lies?

She felt anxious.

’Not yet, but...’

She fiddled with the Holy Sword.

A sword she would never draw unless it was an emergency.

Asella gazed blankly at the Vatican before turning her back.

Reyna beside her likewise turned her back.

"Hey. Asella."

"Yes, eonni."

"If Ahjussi Hans doesn’t come out tomorrow... what are you going to do?"

At Reyna’s question, Asella answered without a moment’s hesitation.

"I’ll have to break in. Secretly."

"Alone?"

"Yes."

Removing a curse could be resolved quickly—assuming one’s skills were good enough.

Someone of the Pope’s caliber should be able to lift most curses rapidly.

So if Hans did not return by tomorrow... it definitely meant something had happened.

’Aris-isiyeo...’

Asella prayed fervently in her heart.

’Please protect Ahjussi Hans...’

It was right when Asella was praying desperately in her heart.

"W-What is the meaning of this?! Are you people truly...!"

"Quiet! Blindfold him right now!"

Hans, who had entered the Vatican, was suppressed by paladins before long.

Although he was built larger than most, it was meaningless in front of paladins.

First, his arms were restrained, and his eyes were covered with a blindfold so that he couldn’t use the Gallery.

Thus, Hans was dragged off somewhere. He hadn’t expected this at all.

"He’s here."

The paladins dragged Hans into an interrogation room. The blindfold over his eyes remained untouched.

Hans raised his head at the voice coming from in front of him. And shouted loudly.

"What in the world is the meaning of this! Do you really think Aris will forgive you for this?!"

No tremor could be felt in his voice. Only a sense of betrayal and fury.

But the Cardinal sitting across from him didn’t budge an inch. Rather, he merely uttered these words.

"Now then. From this moment on, you are..."

Hearing his words, Hans felt—

"...a minion of the Immortal King. Do you understand?"

"What...?"

It felt as though he were staring into the abyss beneath the floor.

Deolkeok-

"Huh?"

Grylls turned his head at the clattering sound.

In the direction he turned, there stood the stone statue of Cain inside the Mimic.

It wasn’t like Cain’s statue moved on its own, so why did it suddenly clatter?

’Did I mishear?’

There was something more important than that. He stared fixedly at the fireplace.

Not just him, but the other animals were there as well.

"This should be about done, right?"

He pulled something out of the fireplace.

It was none other than roasted sweet potatoes baked to a golden crisp.

Soon, peeling back the skin revealed the inside glowing resplendently in golden yellow.

"Kiya. Looks delicious."

"Piiiiek! Piek!"

"Got it. Wait a sec."

During a cold winter, nothing beats roasted sweet potatoes.