I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 282

’Regrettable.’ That was the very first thought they had.

Though they had drained countless lives until now, never before had anything felt so delicious.

No. Had they ever felt ’delicious’ in the first place?

That presence, so rich that just sensing it made saliva drool continuously.

They wanted to feel it again. They wanted to absorb every single drop of energy that entity possessed and turn it into nourishment.

Devouring light along with life, they lusted. ’Let’s eat everything.’

This place, teeming with vitality. Let’s devour everything here to fill our nourishment.

The instinct fundamentally harbored by living beings: appetite.

They had awakened that instinct, one that should never have been awakened.

Seumeol- seumeol-

Roots fused with the others that were originally ’competitors,’ turning from many into one.

The cave enveloping them was nothing more than a shell. Before long, vines had wrapped around the entire cave.

’Let’s eat.’

Cheujeujeujeujeuk-

The vines wrapping around the entire cave soon spread to the surrounding trees.

The moment trees came into contact with the vines, they rapidly withered into dry husks.

’Let’s fill up.’

The vines even affected the soil. The life-bearing ground cracked open as if struck by severe drought.

"Squeak?! Squeak-squeak!"

A squirrel nearby panicked and fled.

However, the greedy entity did not miss the fleeing lifeform.

Chwararak!

Extending vines in an instant, it ensnared the squirrel.

Before long, the squirrel rapidly dried up, leaving behind nothing but bones.

Wareureu-

As if its internal organs had been completely absorbed, the squirrel-shaped bones tumbled onto the ground.

’Not enough.’

Still not enough. It craved.

Overflowing vitality. That presence that had stimulated its instinct.

’Not enough.’

Its surroundings gradually began to darken.

Diverse founding myths exist in the world.

These reflect a nation’s history, culture, and faith, playing a vital role in uniting its people.

And naturally, founding myths existed in this world too, though slightly different from Earth’s.

Because the myths of this world were not wild fabrications, but legitimate ’history.’

The Central Plains’ founding myth was no exception. Originally, the Central Plains was not a single nation, but splintered into numerous realms.

The First Emperor who unified them was said to have lived over 300 years despite being an ordinary human, enjoying supreme authority.

As Sword Matstar mentioned, most dismissed it as a typical legend or rumors of him being a half-elf.

’But the reason that Emperor could live for so long was because of this Immortal Herb?’

I stared at the blood-red flower, the Immortal Herb.

A flower that created absolute darkness by absorbing not just life, but light itself.

It was close to a kind of Herb of Eternal Youth, but gave off an eerie vibe.

’Isn’t it basically containing other lives?’

A flower growing by feeding on life force—something straight out of a dark fantasy.

However, since the First Emperor of the Central Plains, the Immortal Herb had never been discovered again.

From what I heard from Heavenly Demon, the First Emperor burned them all down himself.

So that no one like him would ever emerge again, he eradicated them root and branch.

’And it’s a record obtained from Heavenly Demon personally beating up the Emperor, so...’

The Gallery simply treated it as a fine medicinal herb—a herb so superior that such legends arose.

Perhaps because of this, the Gallery was packed with posts begging me to give it to them.

Of course, I had zero intention of giving it away. It was far too dangerous a plant.

’It leaves an uncomfortable aftertaste.’

Ingesting this herb would surely grant terrifying power.

Didn’t goblins evolve into hobgoblins right before our eyes?

Maybe it could even trigger Body Metamorphosis once again.

However, I had no particular desire to use it.

’The side effects are severe too.’

Because there were side effects.

As Ggambu said, if you aren’t worthy, you die.

Given its colossal effects, that was expected, but it still felt ominous.

And above all, one more thing.

Kkumeul- kkumeul-

"Holy shit."

The roots of the Immortal Herb moved as if alive and stuck to my skin.

It actually tried to dig inside my skin to use me as nourishment.

A flower is a living thing, but this was just plain creepy. I immediately peeled the Immortal Herb off.

When I tore the Immortal Herb off, its roots wriggled like worms. It didn’t drain life force for nothing.

’Cook this thing?’

I posted this bizarre thing on the Gallery.

Title: Can someone actually eat this?Find the original chapter at NovelPing.

Wild Grylls

(Video of the Immortal Herb wriggling its roots)

Holy fuck, I eat live octopus, but I can’t eat this shit.

└ Heavenly Demon: Truly fit for the Immortal Herb. How heinous. If you hand it over to this maiden, I shall dispose of it accordingly.

└ Sword Matstar: Don’t slyly try to swipe the good stuff.

└ Heavenly Demon: Something that atrocious must be tamed. This maiden can refine it.

└ Starlight Lady: I can refine it too. I think it’d be best if you gave it to me.

└ Heavenly Demon: Foolish. If you are not careful, all your life force could be drained.

└ Allfather: I can preserve research data, so I believe passing it to me would be suitable.

└ Anonymous: Man, everyone is so full of greed lolll

└ Anonymous: Just honestly ask to gulp it down lolll

└ Praise the Sun: Hey. Can you give me one too? I’m curious if it can grow well even if planted in the desert.

└ Anonymous: Immortal Herb: Save... me...

└ Anonymous: ???: Water... give me water...

└ Anonymous: Isn’t that actually trying to kill it? LOL

└ Anonymous: But Grylls, do you eat live octopus? I heard that’s a delicacy in the Central Plains.

└ Wild Grylls: Yep, delicious. I wanna eat it here too, but I can’t.

└ Anonymous: Why?

└ Wild Grylls: Last time, some bastard—don’t know if it was an octopus or a squid—strangled my neck and I almost died.

└ Anonymous: LMAO

└ Anonymous: LOL

└ Anonymous: That’s fucking scary lmfao

It was a real event. I almost died back then.

I looked at the Immortal Herb whose roots were still wriggling, then stashed it into my Subspace Bag.

There was nothing inside the Subspace Bag, so it should be fine. Elixirs and Fasting Pills were stored in another bag.

’What was that cave where these things were scattered everywhere?’

Suddenly, I became curious about the history of the goblins.

How did they obtain the Immortal Herb, and how did they refine it?

Though asking for the refinement method was being greedy. That was likely top secret.

Listening to an old tale would be the best I could do. So I asked Ggambu.

"Kuraraneu. Baluka ak naunoana..."

Ggambu’s story was a bit long. Cain had a tough time translating it.

Listening to the rough story, it was simple: they treated that cave as a trial.

If one passed the trial and returned with the flower from inside, they gained power.

This story spread through oral tradition, leading them to set up home near the cave.

’Oral tradition... Come to think of it, these guys don’t have a written script.’

They had spoken language, but no writing system. Given the era, it was expected.

This was a significant factor, as the presence of a writing system capable of conveying intentions across eras leads directly to the development of civilization.

Language is the alpha and omega of civilization, and script is contained within it.

’Would it be good to teach them a script?’

This goblin settlement was a place I’d be visiting frequently in the future.

I couldn’t just verbally convey messages every time I requested the Herald.

However, I had my own hands full; I didn’t have time to teach script to others.

’Maybe it’s better to take a few goblins like Ggansu, teach them, and have them spread it to the settlement?’

Since Ggansu was already adapted to our Shelter, he was chosen.

Besides, didn’t his learning from Lackey get cut off halfway? It was a solid choice.

"Hey. Lackey."

"Hmm?"

"Write ’Hello’ in written characters."

At my instruction, Lackey looked puzzled for a moment, then wrote characters on the ground.

Naturally, it was Central Plains script. I stared at it blankly before shaking my head.

’As expected, Central Plains script is way too damn hard to learn.’

Central Plains script, like Hanja, contains countless meanings within a single word.

It’s not about combining characters to create a word.

"This won’t do. Park Kkobong."

"Hmm? When did my surname become Park?"

"From now on your surname is Park. Got it?"

"..."

Lackey had not only his given name but also his surname changed. A complete family registration enrollment.

The expression of the guy forcibly enrolled into the family register was intense in many ways.

It had the look of ’I want to punch you once, but I’m holding back because you’re my superior.’

"One serving of candied sweet potatoes."

"My name from now on is Park Kkobong."

"Mmm. Good."

He was just a slave to food after all. Wi Ho-chang was a man who had already passed on to the heavens.

I taught Lackey Hangeul. It was the best I could do.

While doing so, Ggansu crept closer; since it was break time, he seemed curious about our conversation.

"Write ’Hello.’"

"Understood."

Having learned roughly from me, Lackey wrote characters on the ground.

With his outstanding language ability, there was no hesitation.

[Master is an idiot.]Get faster updates on novelping . com.

"...Candied sweet potatoes confiscated."

"My apologies. I will write it properly."

This guy really knows how to ask for a beating. Smirking, Lackey wrote the text I wanted.

"An-nyeong... ha-swe-yooo?"

"Oh."

And watching from the side, Ggansu read it aloud.

My eyes widened as I looked at Ggansu. Lackey was equally surprised, wearing the same expression as me.

"Ggansu. How did you read that?"

"Kkireuk?"

"Ah, hold on."

I brought Cain over, who was talking with Ggambu.

I felt bad, but I had no choice. This was a matter of grave importance.

[Insolent! I was expounding upon Lady Aris’s majesty!]

"Don’t tell me you were proselytizing even to goblins?"

[Is it not obvious? Their survival was owed to the power of Aura. And Aura is power bestowed by the gods.]

It made so much sense that it was even more absurd.

Moreover, Ludwig had demonstrated overwhelming martial arts, which must have swayed the goblins’ hearts.

Even now, Ludwig was teaching various things to the hobgoblin chieftain and other hobgoblins.

The hobgoblins treated Ludwig like a Martial God, their eyes sparkling.

Since he had knocked them down with a few simple moves, it was a natural reaction. Lastly, Bbareumbo...

"Ooh. Bbareumbo. Ooh."

"Kereureuk. Kereuk. Kek."

"..."

He was being worshiped by the goblins. Looks like those guys noticed too.

That the strongest in our Shelter was Bbareumbo. Bbareumbo had a somewhat satisfied look, so I let it slide.

"Anyway, please translate. Ggansu. Did you read this?"

[Did you read this?]

"Kereuk. Kki-ik kkaku."

[He says he read it just as he heard it from the side.]

Is he a genius too? Or is his learning fast because he’s young?

Either way, the good news remained unchanged. I am definitely taking Ggansu.

I could use him as labor while teaching him script on the side.

’No need to teach Korean language. As long as there’s script, it’s enough.’

What they needed was not speech, but script. That was something to keep in mind.

Of course, expressing speech perfectly would be hard. Time will solve that part.

Hangeul and the Korean language also have massive differences compared to ancient times.

"Then..."

Right as I was about to call Ggambu to take Ggansu with us,

Ku-ung!

A vibration echoed across the entire settlement. At that shock, everyone stopped moving.

Even Bbareumbo actually turned his head; something unusual seemed about to happen.

"What’s that?"

"Kkirik?"

Without hesitation, I drew my weapon. The other goblins did the same.

A vibration meant something was coming.

Ku-ung! Kung! Kung!

It wasn’t just once, but multiple times. And heard from nearby.

Before long, the entity causing those vibrations revealed its identity.

And right from inside the goblin settlement.

[──────]

"...What the hell is that again?"

A giant plant... except it didn’t look like a plant.

It looked almost like walking vines. However, uniquely, its chest area had a bizarre shape.

As if it were a weak point, that area alone was thick and bulky.

A form that looked as if the entire cave had been ripped out and wrapped in vines.

Arm and leg-like appendages formed around that center like roots.

The problem was that those roots...

Kkumeul- kkumeul-

They were wriggling as if alive. Just like the roots of the Immortal Herb.

Finally, its head took the shape of a flower. Identical to the petals of the Immortal Herb.

Chwareureueuk!

"Ke-eeek!"

Right when everyone’s gaze was stolen by the bizarre giant,

a wriggling vine swiftly snatched a goblin.

Then it wrapped his entire body tight in vines before releasing him soon after.

Hududuk-

However, the released goblin had already turned into a skeleton. The bones clattered to the ground, driving everyone to horror.

The result of having his life force drained in an instant. This, too, was one of the Immortal Herb’s abilities.

[─────]

A grotesque screech echoed out.