I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 376

Realizing our lack of knowledge, the mimic gave up on giving quizzes.

He told me to read more books to bring myself up to a level equal to his, or something like that.

Lackey aside, I have no intention of doing so. Rather than reading books, I plan on training my martial arts.

[The return deadline is 15 days. You must strictly abide by it.]

"What if I don’t?"

[I will permanently ban your access.]

"That’s a bit scary."

Regardless of that, I pondered what kind of books to borrow.

Survival-related books? I’ve roughly secured my survival conditions already.

In that case, checking out the secrets of the forest that I don’t know and the history of ancient humanity wouldn’t be bad.

At least I can figure out which centuries the extinction and migration of humanity occurred in, and what the reasons for the war were.

’Calling himself a librarian, he’s basically a living Wiki.’

It’s really a pity his name is Alex. If he didn’t have a name, I would’ve personally called him Wiki.

After briefly having useless thoughts to myself, I asked about the rules to keep.

"Up to how many books can be borrowed?"

[3 books per person. I will classify that gorilla over there as a person as well.]

"Your standard for classifying as a person is pretty lenient, huh? What about Cain—no, that knight over there?"

[AI is not classified as humanity. By regulations, it must strictly be classified as an item.]

[Treated as an item, is it? How offensive.]

Cain didn’t hide his discomfort. And naturally so.

From Cain’s perspective, he was no different from being alive, yet he was treated as an item.

Curious why such a system came about, I asked.

[Various scams using AI emerged. If an AI is classified as a person, the AI ultimately bears the responsibility. However, AI can be deleted and restored. In that case, the party responsible disappears. Only victims increase.]

It was oddly realistic. Just as Alex said, it was a method perfectly suited for scamming.

It seems ancient humanity developed AI to the extreme.

"Then by any chance, do you know about mana too?"

[Mana. A singularity in the energy history of humanity. Next to fire and electricity comes mana.]

"Oh? Really? When was mana invented?"

[Invented in the year 2035 AD.]

"...."

[Correction. Not invention, but discovery. All energy originally existed. Humanity discovered it through AI.]

I felt completely speechlessly stunned.

It was just 10 years. Humanity discovered mana exactly 10 years after the year I remember.

Even if they had discovered it in the 22nd century, I would’ve brushed it off thinking ’That’s fast?’, but this speed of development was beyond imagination.

Impossible? It wasn’t an entirely impossible story.

Even smartphones completely changed the world before and after their appearance.

The problem was that afterward, a war comparable to a nuclear war broke out, and the Earth’s humanity was wiped out completely.

’Why on earth?’

Why did they wage war? Questions multiplied upon questions.

Then, I suddenly recalled the records left behind in the bunker.

Mana brought prosperity to humanity, but at the same time, it was an energy that should never have been discovered.

"...By any chance, does that mana stuff consume heavy resources? Like coal or oil?"

[It does not. Humanity called this the miracle energy.]

"Then why did a war break out?"

[Anyone could use it. Everyone became strong. Everyone grew overly greedy. The ruling class became uneasy and implemented various oppressive policies. Rage exploded simultaneously.]

"...."

[A certain scholar appraised it thus: Mana is an energy that should have been discovered in the Middle Ages or early modern era.]

It was chillingly realistic. To think they destroyed themselves because they prospered too much.

The fundamental reason democracy developed was precisely martial power. More accurately, weapons.

The gun—a weapon that could send even Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, straight to the grave with a single hit.

Since anyone holding a gun could become strong, everyone became equal.

’What if even guns no longer worked?’

What would the world have become? Would it have rolled along peacefully?

I don’t think so. Human greed has no end, and people are bound to repeat the same mistakes.

Moreover, as a new energy emerged, it must have brought massive upheaval to society.

It wasn’t a history that could end with just a book or two. It was far too complex.

’Just as that scholar said, it’s a relief this world discovered mana first. Wait, no. The gods guided them to discover mana first.’

Mana played a distinguished role in boosting human physical capability.

No matter how well-trained a human is, without tools, it’s hard to even tackle a fierce dog.

However, mana makes one powerful enough to beat a bear to death even bare-handed.

In a way, it suited the Middle Ages to early modern era best, when the martial power and authority of ’knights’ or ’warriors’ were at their peak.

’The culture forming an unbalanced harmony with science must also be because of mana. If you look closely, science is also quite developed here.’

It’s just that mechanical civilization like steam engines didn’t develop; except for that, everything else is generally outstanding.

Imprinting technology is one thing, and teleports are widely used, aren’t they?

It means development driven by necessity operated in a different manner.

"...By the way, how do you know all this? Didn’t you fail to acquire knowledge after the war broke out?"

[That was World War III. Another war broke out afterward. During World War III, AI technology surged exponentially, and mana was discovered.]Read this novel at NovelPing for the best experience.

"Holy fucking shit."

That’s why things ended up in this state. Just how much greed did they indulge in?

Feeling dizzy, I shook my head side to side.

I didn’t want to ask any more secrets about humanity. The more I asked, the more skeptical I felt.

"Phew... I’ll skip these. Do you happen to know where this place originally was?"

[Before the war, it was located in the state of Missouri, United States of America. Currently, it is the Forest of the Four Seasons.]

"You know that it’s the Forest of the Four Seasons? Who told you?"

[Occasionally, intelligent lifeforms visit here. Recently, a serious criminal from the Messiah Empire visited. They threw a rampage, so they were subdued and absorbed.]

"...Can we get out of here?"

[The position of the sun changes in real-time every day. That means space shifts frequently. Therefore, it is impossible for now. Lacking information and knowledge.]

Even the living Wiki doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. That’s a pity.

Then again, he must have been here continuously even after the world changed, so it’s natural he wouldn’t know.

’In the end, what I should ask... Ah!’

Instead of something to ask, a book to borrow crossed my mind. It was very important to me.

Before that, I peeked at the Gallery. Numerous fixed IDs were clamoring.

If chaos existed, wouldn’t it be here? They kept causing a fuss telling me to give them books.

I quietly blocked the comment section. Comments were raining down, making my eyes hurt.

"Ahem. Do you happen to have cooking books too?"

[Many cooking books.]

"A recipe for marinated short ribs too?"

[Have it.]

"Give me that and one with the recipe for soy-sauce marinated crab."

[Understood.]

At my words, Alex expanded his body greatly. For a second, I flinched, thinking he was going to devour me.

But that was only brief; two books dropped out with a thud from what was presumed to be his mouth.

There was no saliva or anything on them, and their condition was extremely clean.

[Brought the requested books. Please verify.]

"Um... thanks?"

With an unenthusiastic expression, I picked up the books. At first, I naturally thought it would be in English.

"Huh? It’s in Korean?"

Surprisingly, however, the books were written in Korean.

Furthermore, not just marinated short ribs, but various recipes were written. Looking at it, it seemed to be a cookbook that included the recipe for marinated short ribs.

[Books in this library can be translated into all languages. In return, you must directly request me, the librarian.]

"That’s an insanely good system. Is this also a technology using mana?"

[Correct.]

It really is a convenient technology. Seeing it applied to a library, the speed of technological development is terrifying.

Impressed, I turned the book this way and that. It was a neat booklet without a single typo or flawed sentence.

"Lackey. Is there a book you want too? Ludwig-ssi, you ask too."

"Is there also a booklet about gorillas?"

[Have it.]

Wait, you’re basically a human rather than a gorilla. Why are you trying to look for that?

I didn’t understand, but since he wanted it, I didn’t say anything in particular.

"#$%%% @#$%% @#?"

[Language of the Holy Kingdom, El Dorado. Translating. There are no booklets related to Aris.]

"$%%. @$%% #@#$ @#%?"

[I will give you the Bible.]

"...."

I don’t know what he said, but he roughly asked for a book related to faith.

I wonder if reading the entire Bible in a week is possible.

Above all, the Bible is not about Aris, but another God. Feeling slightly anxious, I said:

"Um... Ludwig ahjussi. The Bible isn’t about Aris, it’s about another God."

"It is fine."

"Really?"

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

[The ancient God whom even gods revered as God. He says he is merely curious what kind of persona that God was to give birth to someone like Goddess Aris.]

"...."

[Ludwig. If you finish reading that book, lend it to me as well.]

"Yes."

Well now, if Jesus heard that, He’d feel quite strange.

Still, it was an answer so thoroughly fitting for a ’religious person’ that I had nothing to say.

Moreover, both Ludwig and Cain have deep faith. There’s no worry of them straying off path.

’In the first place, there were opinions viewing the Bible as a work of literature.’

It’s not a religion believed by more than half the population for no reason. It left such a profound impact on history.

With a bit of exaggeration, it transformed humanity from near-savages into true civilized beings.

I scratched my head at the situation that felt strangely logical even while thinking ’Is this right?’.This chapter is updated first at NovelPing.

"Bbareumbo. You don’t have any books you want to borrow, right?"

"...."

"I’ll take that as a no."

For him to read an entire book, even a week wouldn’t be enough.

After that, I contemplated whether there were other books, then let it go. For now, I should ask the Gallery.

"Is there anyone who needs something? The loan period is one week, though."

[Strange. Talking to empty air. Suspected to be suffering from hallucinations.]

Since I spoke to the Gallery, Alex harbored doubts.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t mentioned the Gallery. Convenient timing.

"Do you know about the Gallery? It’s an internet site, but right now, instead of computers, people can enter it. Like there’s a hologram right before your eyes."

[Unable to analyze. Not in data.]

"Is that so?"

Then the Gallery seemed to be a culture created after the migration.

This is a problem that can be investigated slowly. Instead, there’s something to try.

"Then check if it can be accessed. Like what kind of thing it is...."

[Displays as unable to connect.]

"As expected, it doesn’t work."

Like Lackey, lifeforms (?) born and raised in the Forest of the Four Seasons couldn’t seem to connect.

On the other hand, I can connect in a way close to a bypass. I haven’t even been banned.

’Is there really something strange with my body?’

This question is a part I need to unravel gradually. Information is still lacking.

Even with the help of Alex, the living Wiki, it’s tough.

Because Alex’s knowledge was limited to before the migration.

Though occasionally people have entered the Forest of the Four Seasons, even that is extremely rare.

"I can still borrow about three or four books, so if anyone needs one, please speak up. I’ll lift the chat restriction, so I’ll lend to the first two people on a first-come, first-served basis."

└ Starlight Lady) Hand

└ Heavenly Demon) I have raised my hand.

As soon as I lifted the chat restriction, a tremendous number of comments rushed up.

Among them, the first-come-first-served winners were Starlight Lady and Heavenly Demon. Heavenly Demon even wrote it out in a full sentence.

Just how fast is her dynamic visual acuity that she ranked second even while typing a full sentence? Impressive in many ways.

"First off, Starlight Lady-nim, please speak."

└ Starlight Lady) Alchemy! Is there a book related to alchemy too?!

"Is there a book related to alchemy?"

[Alchemy. The predecessor study to chemistry. Naturally exists.]

Just as expected. Except it’s chemistry, not alchemy.

Since the father of chemistry is alchemy, there shouldn’t be much difference.

"Then give me a recommended book among those related to that."

[The scope is too broad.]

"Hmm...."

I pondered. It’d probably be better to match Starlight Lady’s level.

Alchemy in this world is alchemy in name only; it isn’t much different from chemistry.

Instead, seeing as there’s no periodic table or the like, there’s a high probability it’s done by rule of thumb.

’Still, Starlight Lady seemed quite smart....’

After organizing my thoughts, I requested Alex.

"A book you can recommend to a genius with deep knowledge of alchemy?"

[Confirmed.]

"Ah, and please translate it to the language of the Messiah Empire."

With the word ’confirmed’, Alex wriggled his body, and soon spat out two books.

Naturally, they were books translated into the Messiah language. Really convenient.

"Can you roughly tell me what kind of books they are?"

[A book containing the essence of chemistry. The other is a method for manufacturing nitrogen fertilizer.]

"...Nitrogen fertilizer?"

I blinked at the sound of ’nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing method’. Wondering if it was what I knew.

At this, as if confirming that expectation, Alex opened his mouth in his characteristic voice.

[Correct, the invention of Fritz Haber, the scientist who made bread from thin air.]

"Why give this? Isn’t it way out of nowhere?"

[Matched to the keyword ’genius’. Nitrogen fertilizer is an invention of a genius that exerted a profound influence on human history.]

"...."

He’s talking just like that old joke about buying six cartons of milk because they had avocados.

Meanwhile, at the same time in the Magic Tower.

"Ha...."

[....]

"As expected... they say life is all about timing... hehehe. Dammit...."

A certain mage fell into despair and lost all desire to do anything.

[I want to comfort you, but it’s a pity I have no arms. Hang in there.]

"Do you want to eat shit again? Who are you making fun of?"

[Even when comforted, you act like a dick.]