I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 216

Title: Praise Aris.

(Photo of the giant Cain statue)

(Video of the Cain statue moving)

(Video of the Cain statue ascending into the sky)

(Photo of the Hero smiling brightly)

The great Aris shall manifest her will, and Cain hath arrived in response to that call!

↳ Shouldn’t we praise the Hero instead of Aris?

↳ Heard the Hero blocked the whole army. That’s a real Hero right there.

↳ As expected of the Hero. Merciless in front of the Demon King.

↳ Just think of the Hero as Aris’s sword and will too lol

↳ What happens to Eldorado now? All the higher-ups got blown away.

↳ Idk? Someone said it might become a republic?

↳ What happens if it changes to a republic? Does the Papal Palace disappear?

↳ No no no, not that. First, the Hero restored the demoted commanders to their original posts. They’ll probably maintain the system itself.

↳ Seems like they’re making a separate faction to keep the Pope in check? Pope, Hero, plus one more, so a trio.

↳ Having three will definitely keep each other in check.

↳ Plus, with Cain appearing, her influence might grow even stronger. It means Aris is watching over them.

↳ Where the heck did that statue pop out from?

Title: Forget all that.

(Photo of Eldorado stock prices shooting to the moon)

(Photo of stock tickers filled with red)

If your stocks went to the moon, hit like ROFL

No paper-handed fools sold just because of a protest, right? Hahaha

↳ My friend. That’s not shooting to the moon, that’s called normalization...

↳ Just 3 hours ago it was crawling on the floor;;

↳ Wasn’t it almost at rock bottom when Hans’s status was posted?

↳ Yeah, but what’s Eldorado that it has so many stocks?

↳ It’s because it’s sandwiched between Alvenheim and the Messiah Empire. If Eldorado gets fucked, trade becomes practically impossible.

↳ Cain literally saved all the retail investors lol

↳ Great Aris, restoring not just the Holy Kingdom but the stock market too;;

Title: By the way

Where on earth did that statue come from?

Did it really just drop right out of the sky?

↳ Yeah, according to witnesses?

↳ (Video of Cain dropping from the sky) Look at this. It dropped like this.

↳ Wow;; It fell fucking fast, but the ground was only damaged a little bit.

↳ Can she keep summoning stuff like that?

↳ Nobody knows. Seems like even the Hero summoned it by accident.

↳ Still, the biggest factor is that Aris is watching over them.

About two hours had passed since the Cain statue fell like a meteor.

During those two hours, I suffered immensely trying to patch up the collapsed ceiling.

Because even our spare supplies were completely exhausted, I had no choice but to call Lackey outside.

"Don’t wanna work! Too cold!"

"Sweet potatoes confiscated."

"Actually fat. Will exercise."

I persuaded him roughly like that. Every time I talk to him, I suspect he’s actually a human in disguise.

Anyway, now that the Eldorado protest had ended well, all that remained was the Blood Cult.

According to Heavenly Demon, there wasn’t much major activity yet, but she informed me it would be soon.

’By the way, did this statue really become that huge?’

I stared at the Cain statue, which was presumed to have saved Eldorado.

The photo on the Gallery showed it two or three times larger than most buildings, but what I was looking at right now was quite small.

Could something this small really transform into a stone statue much bigger than a building?

Calling it a coincidence was far too exquisite timing. Its appearance matched identically as well.

Above all, seeing how it wriggled after crashing down, it undoubtedly possessed an independent consciousness.

’Even if that’s true, why is it here? Inside a Mimic, no less?’

Examining it piece by piece, there were many parts that made no sense.

However, this was the Forest of the Four Seasons. It was easier to lightly burn away things like common sense.

’What if...’

If I rode this and flew up, wouldn’t I be able to escape outside? Such a thought crossed my mind.

Just hearing it sounded beyond retarded, like a suicidal act, but I was serious.

To do that, conditions were required. First was the Hero.

’According to Ludwig, it soared up saying it was answering the call.’

And in the Gallery video, it replied that it had answered the call.Find the original chapter at novelping dot com.

That call was almost certainly from the Hero, Asella.

The Holy Sword must have acted as a sort of beacon for Cain to reach that place.

Otherwise, it couldn’t have arrived so precisely in front of the Papal Palace in Eldorado.

’In other words, to test it out, I need the Hero’s cooperation...’

Honestly, I have roughly guessed who the Hero is.

The Gallery Orange Badge, Don’t Abandon the Hero.

A person whose upright heart was impressive, in contrast to her somewhat deficient(?) speech and behavior.

Her occasional comments about being pursued, her devotion to Aris.

Above all, granting all sorts of favors and telling me to help Ludwig.

’Still, I should consider the assumption that she might not be.’

Since she’s probably busy with cleanup right now, asking her directly will be postponed for later.

The same goes for posting it on the Gallery. There’s no telling what kind of ripples it would cause if I foolishly uploaded it.

If people find out the statue moved, there might be folks recklessly venturing into the Forest of the Four Seasons, calling it a ’holy relic.’

Isn’t it better if more people come to the Forest of the Four Seasons, you ask?

I repeat: ’recklessly.’ If they were thoroughly prepared, I wouldn’t stop them either.

’Still, I’m curious about the mechanism of operation.’

I should ask Allfather. It’s best to ask him about stuff like this.

Putting off posting on the Gallery for a bit, grasping the situation takes priority.

[Wild Grylls: Hello, Allfather-nim. Are you around by any chance?]

[Allfather: Oh! Hello, Grylls-nim. It has been a while since we talked like this.]

Had he also heard about the current situation in Eldorado? He was logged into the Gallery.

I was worried since there was no news right after he asked for more ambergris last time.

[Wild Grylls: Was the problem resolved smoothly?]

[Allfather: Thanks to you, it was resolved well. I was just contemplating how to repay you.]

[Wild Grylls: Then instead of a reward, could you grant me one favor?]

[Allfather: Gladly. What favor might that be?]

[Wild Grylls: (Photo of the Cain statue) You know this, right?]

[Allfather: I read the posts Grylls-nim uploads regularly.]

Then this should be simple. I explained the general situation to Allfather.

I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, but the statue that appeared in Eldorado and this statue are highly likely the same entity.

Sailing up into the sky suddenly, falling back down as a meteor moments later, and so on.

Allfather listened silently to my explanation, then soon gasped in marvel.

[Allfather: Good heavens. Such a thing existed? My lower half is throbbing once again...!]

[Wild Grylls: Is this also some kind of mythical entity?]

[Allfather: It is a mythical entity, but virtually a myth manifested in reality. A stone statue with an independent consciousness cannot exist in this world. No, I thought it impossible. By any chance, can you trade the statue?]

In fact, I had planned to send the statue over to make it easier for Allfather to analyze.

However, as soon as I attempted to list the statue, the exact assumption I dreaded unfolded before my eyes.

[Living beings cannot be traded.]

"..."

The rule that could be called the First Principle of the Gallery.

Living beings cannot be traded. In other words, this statue counts as a ’living being.’

’A stone statue is alive? Are you fucking kidding me?’

I had my doubts, but seeing those doubts turn into reality was utterly ridiculous.

To be sure, the giant statue posted on the Gallery acted as if it were alive.

It even spoke, didn’t it? It crossed my mind that even the cave’s mithril, which couldn’t even speak, had been ruled a living entity.

[Wild Grylls: It says it can’t be traded because it’s a living being.]

[Allfather: Indeed, it is certain that an independent consciousness resides within it. It might be a higher-tier conceptual upgrade to a Guardian.]

[Wild Grylls: Then what about its size expanding when it went outside the Forest of the Four Seasons?]

[Allfather: It might have reacted to the Holy Sword, or it could be due to the intense pressure unique to the Forest of the Four Seasons. Perhaps both are possibilities.]

[Wild Grylls: So it’s hard to figure out.]

[Allfather: It is practically a relic—no, a holy relic—from the Mythic Era, so even I dare not presume to predict it.]

Ultimately, it meant there was no choice but to keep observing.

If a problem arises in Eldorado again, Cain will likely react.

Why not catch a glimpse of the possibility of escape then? It could be a decent method in its own right.

[Allfather: However, it is certain that it is connected to the Holy Sword. I tell you in advance, but it would be wise to give up any idea of escaping with this.]

[Wild Grylls: Huh? Why is that?]

[Allfather: You really were thinking along those lines. Do you happen to know the concept of fixed coordinates? It is a concept similar to warping.]

[Wild Grylls: Is it something you eat?]

[Allfather: You can think of it as similar to a vacuum tube.]

A vacuum tube is a kind of communication device. A device replacing landline phones in steampunk.

The Holy Sword and statue operate on the same principle. The problem lies in its method of operation.

[Allfather: Do you know what lies beyond the sky?]

[Wild Grylls: Space.]

[Allfather: You know well. As I estimate it, it seems to launch up into outer space and travel to the set coordinates.]This chapter was taken from novelpi⁠ng.com without permission.

[Wild Grylls: ...Not teleportation?]

[Allfather: Yes. If it were teleportation, it would not have soared upward.]

Holy shit.

What kind of stone block has missile-like capabilities packed into it?

It’s practically on par with an Intercontinental Teleportation Missile. What kind of absurd tech is this?

Although it was merely a hypothesis, it was extremely persuasive.

Combined with its soaring into the sky and its falling like a meteor.

Its accuracy alone was astounding. There wasn’t even a large margin of error.

[Wild Grylls: Then how is its return possible?]

[Allfather: I am not quite sure up to that point. Has Ludwig-ssi ever prayed to the statue by any chance?]

[Wild Grylls: A few times, yeah.]

[Allfather: There is a high probability that the coordinates were locked through that. Especially since you said his divine power is high, it is not impossible.]

The moment I heard that, I looked over at Ludwig.

Whether because I had shared the news with him, he was quietly praying.

I was so dumbfounded I had no words. Part of me wanted to just throw it away.

[Wild Grylls: Then I guess I should throw out any idea of escaping with this?]

[Allfather: If you wish to become a meteor yourself, I will not stop you.]

[Wild Grylls: I can’t endure it?]

[Allfather: It reaches several thousand degrees—would you be alright?]

[Wild Grylls: ;;]

Ultimately, I cleanly abandoned escaping via the statue. Not knowing when this thing might fly off was bad enough.

There was no choice but to live as usual while seeking out potential escape routes whenever possible.

’Let’s not post this on the Gallery.’

Uploading it wouldn’t help anyway. I’ll just keep it as a decoration.

Instead, since I don’t know when it’ll launch, I should probably build a separate launch hatch.

’The launch hatch... should I make it over there?’

The ceiling that the statue smashed twice. Currently blocked with wooden planks.

I wonder if I can set it up like a chimney later.

"Ahjussi. Stop praying and let’s go cook dinner."

"Mm."

Besides, I couldn’t be obsessed with a single stone statue.

I called Ludwig and started preparing for the meal.

Before long, Tyranno went outside, and just as I was about to move as well.

Clack—

A clacking sound echoed from behind. Hearing that noise, I looked back.

The statue I had roughly placed on top of a box was lying on the floor.

Come to think of it, hadn’t it clattered frantically when it crashed down too?

When that thought crossed my mind, I tilted my head up. Toward the ceiling patched with wooden planks.

"...Hey."

"..."

"Stop pretending to be a toy and drag your ass over here."

Who does it think it is, a toy from some children’s movie?

I clearly knew it had a self-awareness, and it even spoke back in Eldorado.

So even now that it’s small, it should be fully capable.

"I’ll give you 3 seconds. Get over here before I use you as a foot pumice stone."

"..."

"3... 2..."

Right before I said 1.

Clack! Clack! Clack!

The statue waddled over stiffly like a nutcracker doll.

If someone who didn’t know saw this, it would be a deeply horrific sight, but not in my eyes.

It was nothing more than a white elephant that smashed the cave ceiling.

Before long, the Cain statue stood proudly before me.

And then...

[$%$#%$... #$%#%]

The statue uttered the same language as Ludwig.

Of course, I couldn’t understand it, but I caught the nuance.

That it had answered the call.

"...Sigh."

First a dragon, now a talking stone statue.

It really pulls out all the stops.