I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 431

Fortunately, we were able to shake off the rabbits charging at us.

It was partly because we exploited their sensitive hearing by shouting, and also because I used frost.

Freezing the ground caused all of them to slip and fall. Seeing that, I even harbored the thought, ’Should I subdue them using frost?’

Kwagwang! Kwagang!

Until I saw with my own eyes that they blew up even that frost.

It seems they possess the ability to detonate anything related to mana.

However, since it only triggered through direct contact with their feet, its limitation was also clear.

It was just annoying to deal with. So we ran for our lives.

"Phew... Is everyone okay?"

"I am fine."

"What about the others?"

As soon as I judged that we had shaken off the rabbits, I checked on the other companions.

Because we ran in a hurry, someone might have been left behind along the way.

[The children are safe. Doesn’t seem like anyone in the party was left behind.]

"That’s a relief."

No companions were left behind. Ludwig was riding Largo, so he didn’t fall off either.

I took a deep breath and looked around. Evasion of the rabbits had led us deeper inside.

I didn’t know where this was, but since we had Cheongseol’s ability, returning wasn’t difficult.

’The environment hasn’t particularly changed, so it should be fine to keep exploring like this.’

Since the explosive rabbits were no longer chasing us, we could proceed with exploration without trouble.

After checking several times that the companions had no injuries, I moved my feet.

In between, I used my Eye Lantern to gather nutrient-rich herbs or look for other tracks.

We continued various activities, but nothing particularly eye-catching was seen, nor did any beasts ambush us.

The same went for beast corpses. Unlike the area where the rabbits resided earlier, it was extremely clean.

’Usually, there are two cases like this...’

Either a very powerful apex predator resides here, or beasts have a hard time approaching.

The latter case is similar to the Shelter where jammer devices were installed. But even so, it was strange that not even a single small beast was visible.

"Just in case, let’s prepare for battle. Seeing no signs of beasts gives me a bad feeling."

At my words, the party quietly drew their weapons. I also clutched the Sword of the Heavenly Demon.

It felt empty not having a shield in my left hand, but it was something I had to get used to.

So, how long had we walked? We faced an unexpected situation.

"This is..."

[It is a building. Quite a massive one, at that.]

Just as Cain said, a building—a exceptionally large building—was situated there.

Although lower in height than the building where the Butcher Ogre previously resided, its footprint was extremely wide.

Also, even though covered in moss, its color close to pure white was impressive. Overall, it gave a clean image.

[Allfather: It seems you’ve discovered an ancient ruin again. Let’s enter quickly.]

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: There isn’t another bizarre weapon in there, right?!]

[Passing Dwarf: Oh. What are you going to do this time?]

"I haven’t done anything yet."

The fixed users expressed worries as soon as they saw the building that looked like a laboratory.

Given what I had pulled off so far, I couldn’t deny it.

I gave them a quick retort and looked around the building. As I said earlier, it was a fairly large size.

Also, except for being covered in moss, there were no traces of beasts using this place as a lair.

To enter or not to enter. That is the question. Here, I sought the opinion of the companions.

"Should we go in? We have no idea what might be inside."

"I will leave it to your choice."

"Me too."

[I shall leave it to your choice.]

"Look at these guys."

They’re dumping it on me because they don’t want to take responsibility.

I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t speak, but it meant they respected me that much.

I let out an internal sigh and stared at the pure white building. It was a building that looked anything but ordinary.

’It’d be a disaster if the security system activates...’

Perhaps a hermit crab might be hiding under there for all I know.

Didn’t the bunker hermit crab do that last time? Caution was necessary.

Hwik! Tuduk—

So I threw a stone. One must tap even a stone bridge before crossing it.

I threw it with all my strength using aura so that any security system would activate.

Even after getting hit repeatedly by stones, and even after the building’s wall was slightly damaged, there was no reaction.

’Why is there no reaction? The lack of reaction makes it even scarier.’

I’d rather it fire away with machine guns or something. That way I could at least feel relieved.

I backed the companions up and approached stealthily. Activating Body-Protecting Gangqi just in case was a bonus.

Before long, only after approaching the door blocked by a glass door did I realize it was safe.

"I think you can just come over."

[Passing Dwarf: What a total coward. Just go in coolly lol]Read the latest chapters at NovelPing.

I lightly ignored the dwarf’s teasing. I will never let my guard down.

Jjaenggeurang!

After lightly breaking the tightly closed glass door, I entered the building.

The inside of the building was covered in dust and moss. However, the structure was relatively intact.

’I’m confused whether this is a hospital or a laboratory.’

However, I was able to lean toward a laboratory. The reason appeared right away.

"Master. What is this?"

"A security scanner."

Because a scanner like the ones seen at airports was sitting right there. Along with a device where you place your palm.

It meant no entry unless you were authorized personnel. It was definitely not a hospital.

I stared intently at the palm scanner device, then quietly placed my hand on it.

Naturally, since all power was turned off, there was no reaction.

[What are you doing?]

"No. Nothing."

I tilted my head, then ventured deeper inside.

As we went further in, numerous doors could be seen positioned along the hallway.

Opening one at random, an ordinary room appeared. To be exact, it looked like a hospital room.

’A hospital room in a laboratory?’

An uncomfortable feeling arose. I thoroughly rummaged through the room.

Just like finding records in the bunker before, there was a chance I might find documentation.

Unfortunately, even calling them records, there were only crumbled, decaying books.

It was a pity; if these books were intact, things would have been much easier.

’This looks like a stand for hanging IV drips...’

Still, it wasn’t completely gainless. I became certain that this was a hospital room for managing patients.

Instead, it wasn’t as if uncomfortable parts were entirely absent. Namely, surveillance cameras.

This wasn’t even a psychiatric ward, yet surveillance cameras were prominently installed.

"Doesn’t look particularly dangerous, so let’s check other rooms. Make sure the kids don’t disappear."

I instructed the companions to split up and search other rooms.

However, even after searching all the rooms, nothing noteworthy came up. Most were hospital rooms.

"Most are hospital rooms. No matter how I look at it, it seems like a hospital."

To the point that even Ludwig, who was unfamiliar with modern hospitals, voiced such an opinion.

The other companions harbored similar thoughts, but I was different.

"Normally, hospital rooms aren’t single-occupancy like this. Furthermore, surveillance cameras wouldn’t be installed."

"What about the possibility of it being a psychiatric hospital?"

"...It’s not an entirely impossible story."

If it were a psychiatric hospital, it was a structure that could be fully understood. However, the laboratory facility was vast.

Furthermore, because the inside was much wider than what was visible from the outside, there was no telling what was in store.

Carrying a bit of unease, I moved my steps. In between, surveillance cameras caught my eye, but they didn’t move.

’By the way, for what reason do beasts not enter this place?’

Even the Butcher Ogre took an entire building as its personal residence.

An unknown creature might be hiding inside. I couldn’t let my guard down.

Thus, the further we walked, the quieter the atmosphere became, and the surroundings also grew darker.

Although we illuminated the area brightly with Light Crystal Orbs, the eerie atmosphere remained unchanged.

"Ggyuu..."

"Right, right. Daddy is right here."

To the point that even Wonmo, who loved roaming around, was overwhelmed by the atmosphere and clung to me.

I patted Wonmo’s back to reassure him. Then Wonmo’s trembling gradually stopped.

Just when I thought we might end up finding nothing like this, suddenly, I encountered something that couldn’t be easily overlooked.

"That’s a remarkably large door."

[Feels like something is contained inside here.]

A massive door incomparably larger than the doors found earlier. We stood before that door.

What on earth could be beyond it? I approached cautiously.

Only a quiet silence was felt. There was almost no presence felt from beyond.

At this, taking a deep breath, I slowly opened the door. Surprisingly, the door opened easily.

"..."

Before long, the sight that met my eyes upon opening the door left me speechless.

Because it was a scene right out of a movie. A movie related to human experimentation, no less.

"What is... this?"

"..."

Ludwig muttered in a heavy voice. That was understandable, as it was a remarkably unsettling sight.

Capsules connected to various mechanical devices. Among those capsules, very few were intact.

At least for one of them, the glass wasn’t broken, but it wasn’t operating at all.

"Master. Many skeletons here."

"I see them too."

Near those capsules, a considerable number of skeletons were strewn about.

What kind of incident had occurred for it to turn into this state? I couldn’t tell.

’Experimenting using humans is a bit...’

Similar to Necromancy, but an experiment even more unethical than that.You are reading on novelping dot com, the official source.

At least Necromancy targets the deceased, whereas human experiments often use living people as test subjects.

In particular, the Manatology cult we encountered previously. The atrocities committed by those fanatics naturally came to mind.

Compared to that, this was just more scientific, but the nature was identical.

[What kind of place is beyond this glass wall?]

"High probability it’s a place where experiments were conducted."

[What kind of experiments...]

"We can find out step by step."

If we could find the corpse of the person in charge like in the bunker, nothing could be better.

Otherwise, restoring power is the best option. We meticulously searched inside the laboratory.

"Master! Something here! Similar to what we saw before!"

Right on cue, Lackey found the desired item. The problem was that it was a laptop.

Naturally, that laptop’s battery was completely drained, so it couldn’t operate.

In other words, power had to be restored to peek into the records.

"..."

[...]

"..."

[What.]

"Could you work your magic again this time? You’re curious too, aren’t you, Cain-ssi?"

[Haah.]

When I asked Cain carefully, he let out a dry sigh.

However, humans are creatures of curiosity. No matter how much one’s physical body has changed, instincts cannot be suppressed.

[Understood. Let us restore that power first.]

"Great choice."

We searched every corner of the laboratory’s interior. Surely an emergency power source would exist.

Sure enough. In a secluded corner of the laboratory, a power charging device existed.

The battery fallen beneath it was a bonus. As soon as I saw this, I called Cain.

"Cain-ssi?"

[Hoo.]

Sighing, Cain’s vessel—that is, the Dullahan’s body—collapsed.

At the same time, the stone statue popped out of the coffin. I plugged that statue into the device.

Wiiiiing!

The moment the statue was inserted, an operational sound rang out. It meant power was restored to the entire facility.

As soon as the power returned, I immediately booted up the laptop Lackey had found.

Despite countless years having passed, the laptop worked. However...

[Please enter the password.]

"..."

"Master. What is password?"

"A secret code."

I didn’t expect this. Just when I thought that.

Ujik!

An ominous noise sounded from behind. Startled by this, I turned around.

Jjeojeojeok! Jjeojeok!

Cracks began to form on the capsule that was relatively intact.

The moment I saw cracks forming on the capsule, I hastily drew my weapon. The other companions did the same.

Jjeojeojeok! Jjaenggeurang!

Before long, the wall of the capsule shattered, scattering pure white smoke. Seeing as it was cold, it seemed to be cold vapor.

Cheolpudeok!

While the thick smoke was scattering, something fell out from inside the capsule.

Not a very good sound, nor a good omen. I tensed up completely.

"Eueo-eo..."

It sounded almost like a person groaning. The entity making that sound slowly stood up.

Outwardly, it really looked like a human. But its skin was different.

’Skin... blue?’

Because it resembled the skin of the Demon Race frequently seen in the Gallery. Not only this.

Along with the horns on its head, it had inverted eyes. All of these were characteristics of the Demon Race.

The entity presumed to be of the Demon Race looked at us, and then...

"Aaaah... Aaaagh...!!"

Out of nowhere, it clutched its body and began to scream. A scream filled with agony.

Screaming alone would be fine, but something was off. Was its body not swelling up little by little?

Feeling an ominous foreboding, I hastily backed away from that entity. Asking if it was okay felt like it would lead straight to getting fucked over.

And that prediction was spot-on. The body of the Demon Race entity, which was gradually swelling up.

"Kraaaagh!"

Peo-ang!

Along with a painful scream, the Demon Race member exploded like a balloon.