I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 286

I was confused whether the situation I had just witnessed was real.

And with good reason—the "behavior" shown by the World Tree sapling, or rather, the World Tree itself, was truly astonishing.

Checking the reactions of the rest of our party, especially Ludwig and Cain, they also looked completely dumbfounded.

A collective reaction that none of them had dreamed the World Tree would act like this.

"...Does the World Tree usually do this?"

Still, I had to ask. I questioned carefully.

Even if Ludwig didn’t know, I figured Cain might have a faint idea.

[I am seeing this for the first time as well. Is this truly the World Tree?]

Not at all. Cain replied as if he was seeing this for the first time in his life too.

Scratching my head, I looked at the World Tree and the fruits it had just borne.

Fruits borne immediately after absorbing the Immortal Herb Core. They were the exact same color as the Immortal Herb.

What would happen if one ate this? I was curious, but I couldn’t act rashly.

Nor could I just leave them be. Why?

’In the worst-case scenario, it becomes an Immortal Herb disguised as a World Tree.’

If that happened, we’d have to abandon the Shelter immediately.

No. Not just the Shelter, we shouldn’t even come anywhere near this area.

The Immortal Herb Colossus alone was overwhelming, but combined with the World Tree?

No matter what we did, it would be almost impossible to deal with. Luckily, there were no signs of that.

"...For now, let’s not pick the fruits and get to what we need to do."

There was no choice but to ask the Gallery about this. The moment I acted rashly, it would only create more problems.

At my words, the party members stole glances at the World Tree while stepping away.

"Ah. I remembered."

"What is it?"

Ludwig spoke just before leaving. Did he know something?

Ludwig looked at the fruit borne on the World Tree and explained to me.

"@#$%# #$%^# #$%%%."

[Are you referring to that legend? I have heard of it quite well myself. Though the process is frightening, it roughly checks out.]

"Don’t just talk among yourselves, ahjussis."

[We were talking about the fruits that bear on the World Tree. It is a sort of legend.]

"Does it pass as a legend even to you, Cain-ssi?"

[I too am a person from a long time ago, but the gods existed far longer ago than that.]

This was somewhat surprising news. Cain was a figure who was active in the Age of Heroes right after the Mythological Age.

Even to such a person, the World Tree seemed to be a tree that appeared in legends.

’Well, Tyranno’s mother mentioned it too.’

At any rate, I needed to know about that legend. I asked Cain.

"So what is the content of that legend? I hope it’s nothing troubling."

[They say the World Tree bears fruit when it purifies something evil.]

"Should the Immortal Herb Core be considered... evil?"

[It absorbs life as if ravenous, so wouldn’t it have judged it as evil? The World Tree has an ego as well.]

"Mmm...."

Though it made sense in its own way, it still felt uneasy.

Besides, there was no way to know what kind of effect was gained by purifying the Immortal Herb Core.

In the end, it seemed there was no choice but to post it on the Gallery and ask.

"Got it. I’ll ask the Gallery first. I can ask them to research the fruit as well."

[There wouldn’t be anything bad, so wouldn’t it be fine to eat one?]

"What if I end up getting strangely strong again?"

Sure enough, my mana could increase exponentially.

It was mana that had about half remaining even after being drained by the Immortal Herb. Even this was a lot.

’Even that wasn’t a permanent drain.’

Though slow, it was slowly recovering. If I even did Internal Energy Regulation, it would fill up in no time.

It differed from the Great Art of Star Absorption. The Great Art of Star Absorption reduced even the total capacity of internal energy, whereas the Immortal Herb merely absorbed the mana itself.

In that sense, I couldn’t predict what kind of effect the fruit borne by the World Tree would have.

Ttok!

As the party left to do their respective tasks, I harvested one of the fruits borne on the World Tree.

Appearance-wise, it looked like a wild raspberry the size of a fist. Just with a slightly deeper color.

Also, it didn’t sprout vine tentacles like the Immortal Herb. It was an ordinary fruit.

Title) World Tree Bore Fruit

Wild Grylls

(Photo of the World Tree with red fruits)

(Photo of the World Tree fruit held in hand)

(Photo of the traces left when the World Tree dragged off the Immortal Herb Core)

FYI, the World Tree absorbed the Immortal Herb Core.

I pulled it out once as a test, and roots came out and dragged it away just like that. The photo below is the trace of it.

Cain said that the World Tree bears fruit when it performs a purification process. Is this true?

↳ Heavenly Demon) What a sweet-looking fruit. Have you eaten it?

↳ Wild Grylls) I’m feeling uneasy, so I haven’t eaten it yet. I’ll let you know when the results come out.

↳ Sword Matstar) I also heard a rumor once. That the World Tree bearing fruit is an omen of destruction.

↳ Wild Grylls) You’re joking, right? Please tell me you’re joking.

↳ Sword Matstar) Of course it’s a joke, haha

↳ Wild Grylls) Don’t make such ominous jokes, even as a joke;;

↳ But I think there was a similar story

↳ There’s a legend that if it blossoms flowers instead of fruit, a disaster will occur. It’s kind of a prophecy, right?

↳ Let’s Grow Trees) Ah! Even the World Tree of Alfheim has never borne fruit! This is definitely a miracle! Eat it quickly!

↳ Wild Grylls) How do I know what kind of effects it has;;

↳ Let’s Grow Trees) Then can I eat it first? Since it’s a fruit borne by the World Tree, I can guarantee there won’t be any bad effects!

↳ Look at them sneakily trying to be greedy kekThe source of this chapter is novelping . com.

↳ Do they know something, or are they really volunteering as a human test subject?

↳ Let’s Grow Trees) Because it’s a fruit borne by the World Tree! Nothing bad will happen!

↳ At this point, it’s starting to get creepy;

↳ Are all point-eared elves like that? Fanatically believing in the World Tree?

↳ Can’t be helped, right? It’s a gift from the gods.

↳ I have a question: what happens if you burn down the World Tree?

↳ Instant execution, you lunatic LMAO

↳ Wild Grylls) Whatever. Since you’re an elf, don’t you know anything about the World Tree fruit?

↳ Let’s Grow Trees) That’s all there is! It purifies evil things and bears that purified energy into fruit!

↳ Wild Grylls) This thing also sprouted vine tentacles like the Immortal Herb and dragged the core away though?

↳ Let’s Grow Trees) That’s a common phenomenon in plants! Eliminating competitors!

↳ Wild Grylls) Aren’t plants usually at the bottom of the food chain?;;

↳ Allfather) Plants fit ’competition’ rather than the food chain. Growing quickly first to hinder the growth of other plants.

↳ Let’s Grow Trees) But the World Tree is different! Its leaves and branches let sunlight penetrate so that other plants can grow!

↳ Wild Grylls) Then why did it absorb the Immortal Herb Core?

↳ Allfather) It seems that even in the eyes of the World Tree, it thought this thing was hopeless.

↳ Let’s Grow Trees) The World Tree doesn’t cause harm to the world! It’s just that the land can’t endure it!

↳ That’s the exact same thing, fuck

↳ In the first place, even if these guys plant trees other than the World Tree it’s a problem. Other trees also suck up land fertility like crazy LMAO

So at any rate, it means it doesn’t do any harm.

The reason it absorbed the Immortal Herb Core was also because it judged that it would cause harm to its surroundings.

While it ate moderately (?), the Immortal Herb sucked life away hopelessly.

Thinking about it this way, there was nothing that would become a problem. Only the fruit was the issue.

’For now, I’ll send them to Allfather and Starlight Lady....’

Sagak- sagak- sagak-

Just as I was about to send them to the fine researchers, a strange sound caught my ear.

Wondering what the sound was, I turned my head and saw the squirrel delicious-lookingly munching on the fruit.

As if cracking open an acorn, it was eating very skillfully.

"...."

"Jjijik?"

As I stared silently at that sight, perhaps the squirrel noticed my gaze as well.

It stopped eating the fruit and stared back at me. Tilting its head was a bonus.

Chyapchyapchyapchyapchyap!

Beneath it, another sound was heard. I quietly lowered my gaze.

Two marmots that were still staying at my place. Those two were eating the fruit delightfully.

The smacking sound was quite savory. Their appearance was cute too.

"...Lackey-ya!"

Watching them, I called Lackey.

Lackey, who was teaching Ggansu, came over right away while grumbling at my call.

"You see those guys over there, right?"

I pointed out the squirrel and marmots to Lackey.

At this, Lackey looked around at them and then said to me. His expression was one of disbelief.

"Eat it?"

"As expected, you’re smart."

As expected, he was incredibly quick on the uptake. No wonder his language ability was so outstanding.

I offered the fruit to Lackey, whose face was rotting in real-time.

"Eat it."

"...."

"Those guys are eating it fine, so you won’t die."

The expression of Lackey, who received the fruit from me, could not be easily defined.

Something like an expression saying he wanted to beat the shit out of me, but couldn’t because I was his master.

Of course, it wasn’t like I was making shameless statements either. I planned to prepare thoroughly.

"No need to worry too much. We have Elixirs and mature Mandrakes."

"Mmm...."

Lackey looked back and forth between the fruit in his hand and the small friends.

Since the squirrel and marmots ate it fine, it shouldn’t be any different just because it was Lackey.

"Let me watch first."

"Watch?"

"Yeah. What happens after eating is what’s important."

Surprisingly, Lackey was cautious. He said we should watch the reaction of the squirrel and marmots first.

Indeed, what came after eating was far more important than the moment of eating. I nodded as if convinced.

Subsequently, I quietly watched how the squirrel and marmots changed.

"Burp."

"Gburp."

They were all belching and causing a scene. As of yet, not much had changed.

Even after 5 minutes, and 10 minutes, it was the same.

Seeing this, Lackey judged that it was fine and popped the fruit into his mouth.

"Munch munch munch."

"Is it tasty?"

"Sweet. Though not as much as sweet potatoes."

The taste seemed to pass. However, it wasn’t the taste, but the effects that mattered.

I quietly waited to see what changes would occur to Lackey.

Even if the little ones were fine, a big guy might be different.

"Is anything different?"

"I don’t really know."This story is hosted at novelping(.)com.

"Is it just good-tasting and that’s it?"

Tilting my head, I picked another fruit.

Soon, looking over the fruit from various angles, I took a big bite out of it.

As Lackey said, it was sweet. It tasted a bit like a well-ripened strawberry.

’It really is delicious.’

If it was an ordinary fruit, I should give some as gifts to the other gallery regulars.

Having eaten a whole fruit by myself, I spoke to Lackey.

"First, let’s harvest this... gasp?"

I gasped in surprise mid-sentence. To be precise, it was when I took a breath.

"What’s wrong?"

"W-Wait a moment."

I told Lackey to wait and took a deep breath.

I hadn’t realized it until now, but I felt it vividly as I breathed.

’M-Mana refills this quickly?’

With every breath I took, the consumed mana recharged at a rapid speed.

Just as someone once said—gaining mana just by breathing.

Seeing that mana didn’t recharge when I stopped breathing, breathing was the most crucial part.

’Isn’t this just a perpetual engine?’

It felt like taking only the good parts from the Immortal Herb’s effect.

I immediately told Lackey to consume some internal energy.

Lackey looked puzzled at my words for a moment, then consumed internal energy and took a breath.

"Mmm? Internal energy is...."

"You feel it too, right?"

It really was a groundbreaking fruit. No matter how transcendently huge a person’s mana reserve was, it was bound to run out eventually.

But this fruit rapidly boosted the recovery speed.

’I’ll have to check whether this is permanent or has a time limit, but...’

Even if there was a time limit, it displayed an performance so overwhelming that it wouldn’t even matter.

I handed out these fruits to everyone in the party.

"Ahjussi. How is it?"

"Astonishing."

Ludwig also showed a fairly positive reaction. Saying it would be even better if we were outside.

He was still unable to use all his mana.

For now, only I could project such tremendous efficiency.

’I should give some to Heavenly Demon too.’

Heavenly Demon would surely see great benefits from this as well.

I immediately sent a message to Heavenly Demon. There was also something I wanted to ask while I was at it.

[Heavenly Demon: Are you saying that fruit boosts the recovery speed of internal energy to the extreme?]

[Wild Grylls: Yes. It might be because we’re in the Forest of the Four Seasons, but the effect alone is outstanding. It’ll definitely be good for you too, Heavenly Demon-nim.]

[Heavenly Demon: I do not know if a powerhouse capable of draining my internal energy even exists in this world, but I shall accept it with gratitude.]

[Wild Grylls: Ah. And there’s one more thing I want to ask.]

[Heavenly Demon: What is it?]

[Wild Grylls: By any chance, could you tell me about that martial art invented by the Blood Cult?]

The martial art said to redirect all internal energy into external arts. The means I needed to control my aura.

Perhaps Heavenly Demon didn’t expect me to ask about that martial art, as she spoke with a rather flustered air.

[Heavenly Demon: Passing it on to you is no issue. But why do you require the martial arts of those wicked half-breeds?]

[Wild Grylls: Because I don’t have a suitable method to control aura—I mean, internal energy. It seems I can at least control it if I redirect it into external arts.]

[Heavenly Demon: Mmm... Very well. However, I shall modify it personally before teaching you. The things invented by those Blood Cult bastards are riddled with defects.]

[Wild Grylls: Can you modify it that quickly?]

[Heavenly Demon: I am capable of it.]

Well, she was a kind of genius after all, so it made sense.

Plus, since a trustworthy person was teaching it, there wouldn’t be side effects.

[Wild Grylls: If you teach me, I’ll start right away.]

[Heavenly Demon: First, it would be wise to prepare the basics. You shall do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and 100 squats.]

[Wild Grylls: Uh... By any chance, do I run as well?]

[Heavenly Demon: Come to think of it, that is not suitable for your environment. I shall find another method.]

[Wild Grylls: Don’t tell me the side effect is going bald or something like that?]

[Heavenly Demon: How did you know? That is precisely why I intend to fix it myself. Looking at it, this martial art seems to cause an excessive secretion of a specific energy.]

Come to think of it, I had heard a rumor once.

That male hormones, specifically testosterone, induced hair loss.

Hair loss prevention medication also merely redirected that hormone elsewhere, rather than curing hair loss itself.

’Wow. Then do those Blood Cult bastards become unfilial children as a group?’

That’s a bit pitiable.

"Ha. Dammit. It fell out again."

Meanwhile, Gu-chil, who had joined the gorilla pack.

As soon as he woke up in the morning, he was despairing over a handful of fallen hair.

The more he trained in martial arts, the more rapidly his hair density thinned.

He didn’t know the reason. He only speculated it was because it was a martial art focusing intensively on building "muscle."

’They said in the Western Kingdoms that working out promotes good energy for men—that is, Yang energy....’

The problem was that the Yang energy induced hair loss.

The Blood Cult’s martial art maximized that energy, so side effects were bound to follow.

"You are gradually becoming one of us."

Regardless, this damned alpha gorilla kept grating on his nerves.

Gu-chil felt a surge of anger for a second, but managed to suppress it.

’Not yet. I must build my strength first...!’

There was a long way to go.