I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 466

Usually, when a smart person becomes aware of their own intelligence, various problems tend to arise.

Arrogance—the emotion typically harbored by outstanding individuals. This arrogance alone eliminates the need for any other explanation when trouble occurs.

Humility wasn’t counted among virtues for nothing; most who harbored an arrogant disposition eventually fell to ruin.

The even bigger problem arises when one merely deludes themselves into believing they are smart. This is different from a clever fool.

To put it simply, it’s the type of person who is incompetent yet diligently active. The harm and toxic influence of this type need no separate explanation.

Because of this, Wi Seol-ak had once harbored such a mindset himself, but living in the Heavenly Demon Cult had completely cured him of it.

And naturally so, considering there was a monster present who reduced his own brilliant brain to absolute insignificance.

Therefore, whenever he crafted a plan, he made it far more thorough and detailed than anyone else.

Through this meticulousness, he was able to gather all kinds of information, and the Mercedes Duchy was no exception.

’There were rumors that she once suffered from an incurable disease before recovering.’

Wi Seol-ak quickly scrutinized Selena, the ducal lady who had greeted him with an elegant demeanor.

Unlike the beauties of the Central Plains, who often carried a modest aura, her striking western features stood out with dazzling glamor.

Accompanied by a dress that elevated her beautiful appearance even further, she lacked for absolutely nothing.

If the legendary snow woman of myths were to appear in reality, would she not look just like this?

’It seems the rumor about her illness was true.’

Moreover, she looked so healthy that it belied the fact she had suffered from a disease—let alone an incurable one.

However, the fact that she had suffered from an incurable disease for a long time seemed genuine.

One reason for this was her pale complexion. He hadn’t likened her to a snow woman for nothing.

While children of noble families—especially daughters—tended to have fair skin, Selena’s paleness was quite severe.

’When I saw her in the Gallery, I thought she had been forced to step forward...’

In truth, he had already obtained information beforehand that Selena had recovered her health. Pictures of her had also been posted on the Gallery.

But Wi Seol-ak was not one to believe things easily until seeing them with his own eyes. If he believed everything at face value, he wouldn’t have joined the Cult in the first place.

He had assumed the photos of Selena posted on the Gallery were merely released for political motives.

’An intriguing person.’

Just as Wi Seol-ak swiftly observed Selena, Selena was observing Wi Seol-ak in equal measure.

On the surface, he was a Central Plains native with an intellectual aura. Though she didn’t know who had been tormenting him, his weary gaze left quite an impression.

Generally, the Demonic Cult was perceived as a pseudo-religious cult, but the Central Plains man before her did not fit that description at all.

He exuded the distinct aura of a seasoned politician who had weathered all kinds of trials. He was not someone to be taken lightly.

’And I see no impure intentions whatsoever.’

Selena could read the gazes and atmospheres of men who approached her captivated by her looks.

Most were annoying, but the Central Plains man before her was different. It felt more like he wanted to hurry, finish his business, and leave.

Whether he was suppressing it with superhuman patience or genuinely had no interest could be verified in due time.

"Though I am lacking, I shall guide you on behalf of the Duke. He was called away on urgent business."

"Not at all. On the contrary, having the Ducal Lady herself step forward is a tremendous courtesy for us."

Wi Seol-ak did not act rashly. Every single word he uttered passed through careful deliberation in his mind.

While receiving praise—or something akin to praise—only within the Gallery, in reality, the Demonic Cult was merely a rebel faction rising up in the Central Plains.

From the standpoint of a foreign noble—and a ducal family at that—outside the Central Plains, there was zero reason to meet them.

It was a move that could needlessly invite fault, not to mention bearing immense risk.

One wrong step could result in demotion of rank, or in the worst-case scenario, having one’s head chopped off.

Considering how crucial a justification was in the world, just as Wi Seol-ak said, the Mercedes Duchy had extended enormous consideration.

’They must have accepted the meeting just to figure out our intentions.’

Naturally, Wi Seol-ak had designed it that way. A proposal that the Mercedes House had no choice but to invite him over for.

Not a request to lend their strength, but a request to refrain from meddling in their affairs no matter what happened.

From the ducal house’s perspective, they couldn’t tell what the Demonic Cult was plotting. Driven by anxiety, they had no choice but to accept the proposal.

"How do you find our ducal fief, Wi Seol-ak-nim?"

"I could clearly hear the sound of children’s laughter."

"Is it not similar in the Central Plains?"

"Perhaps in places that are well governed, but not in neglected areas. Our Cult embraces those very places."

The two probed each other, striving to glean even a fragment of information.

No matter how much information one gathered through various channels, seeing and hearing directly was a world apart.

"By the way, your fluency in our imperial language is remarkable. Have you studied it separately?"

It was just before they reached the reception room. Selena threw out the question.Read the latest chapters at novelping dot com.

It wasn’t a question laced with a hidden dagger, but one born of pure curiosity.

And understandably so, for Wi Seol-ak’s imperial language skills were exceptionally fluent—enough to work as an interpreter.

"The Messiah Empire possesses the greatest power among the Western Kingdoms. Moreover, since it engages in extensive trade and exchanges with the Central Plains, mastering the language is only natural."

Wi Seol-ak spoke the long sentence without a single hitch. He didn’t just know the language of the Messiah Empire.

To truly understand a nation, one had to grasp not only its language but also its various slangs and colloquialisms.

While the Gallery provided automatic translation by default, slang remained difficult. Slang, after all, was deeply intertwined with culture.

Furthermore, his rhetoric praised the empire while subtly elevating his own worth.

It was an expression stating, ’We know you this well and respect you.’

"Thank you. Since you hold our empire in such high regard, I am sure we can build a good relationship moving forward."

The only problem was that his counterpart was Selena—a woman who had gained extraordinary intelligence as a trade-off for suffering from the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.

Wi Seol-ak felt slightly taken aback when native-level Central Plains speech spilled from her lips.

"...Does the Ducal Lady also speak the tongue of the Central Plains?"

"Learning knows no end, after all. Besides, unlike our Empire, is not the Central Plains the conqueror of conquerors that unified the entire Eastern Realm?"

The Imperial Court rules over such a Central Plains—can your faction truly overthrow them? We know you well, too.

Though it sounded like a compliment, a sharp warning was embedded within it. Wi Seol-ak maintained his composure as best he could.

He had anticipated it, but she was no easy woman. It felt as though the rumors of her being bedridden were entirely false.

It seemed he needed to exercise double the caution. If he let his guard down, all his intentions would be read like an open book.

After a brief battle of wits, they arrived at the reception room. Only Selena and Wi Seol-ak entered the room.

Guards were posted in the corridor outside the reception room to ensure no foolish moves could be made.

"Is there any particular refreshment you would prefer?"

"Is there not a continental proverb that says, ’When in Rome, do as the Romans do’? I shall enjoy Western-style refreshments."

"Hmm? Does the Central Plains not have the four-character idiom Ip-hyang-su-sok?"

"Haha. Your pronunciation is so clean that I feel I have committed a discourtesy. You seem to know far too much about the Central Plains."

"Consider it a hobby of mine. But Rome..."

Selena muttered softly as she touched her lips—a habit that emerged whenever she fell into deep thought.

It was still too early to dive into the main point; she lacked information on the man named Wi Seol-ak.

Though she had half-succeeded in seizing the upper hand initially, Wi Seol-ak was a veteran who had weathered countless storms, capable of effortlessly shrugging it off.

She needed to discern what intentions this man harbored and what kind of nature he possessed.

"Do you happen to know what kind of place Rome is, Wi Seol-ak-nim?"

"With my lacking intellect, no matter how much I researched, nothing came up. I merely speculate that it is the name of a nation that failed to leave even its memory behind."

"I share a similar view. It is not just Rome; there are many sayings whose origins remain entirely unknown."

"Has there not been a recent hypothesis suggesting these terms originate from the world where the gods once lived?"

In this world, there were numerous words whose true origins could not be traced at all.

Da Vinci construction method, cement, Rome, and so forth. Where they derived from was completely unknown.

"It was a hypothesis that existed before, but I heard it has gained much greater traction recently. The reason being..."

"Thanks to the Herald living in the Forest of the Four Seasons."

But now, things were different. What used to be a subject of intense debate had begun to converge into a single conclusion.

That they originated from the world of gods—more precisely, the world before its collapse.

This was possible because a being who validated that hypothesis sat right there in the Forest of the Four Seasons.

"The Forest of the Four Seasons. If it is the Herald operating there, I have heard plenty about him as well. They say he is a most peculiar individual."

"Beyond peculiar, he can navigate the ecology of the Forest of the Four Seasons and trade all manner of rare goods."

Selena had her life saved thanks to a Mature Mandrake.

Wi Seol-ak had received immense help in terms of funds, which had been the Demonic Cult’s greatest weakness.

Both had received favors large and small from Grylls, yet neither mentioned it directly.

For currently, Grylls had been officially proclaimed as the ’Herald’ by Avalon, the Holy Kingdom.

Having ascended to a position that could not be spoken of lightly, they treated the topic with utmost respect.

’I must ensure this man cannot exploit Grylls-nim.’

’I must avoid mentioning that we received help from him at all costs.’

Same bed, different dreams—though discussing the same subject, they harbored completely different thoughts.

Of course, unless one possessed mind-reading abilities, discerning each other’s true intentions was impossible.

The two smoothly segued past the topic of Grylls and steadily continued their mutual probing.Read the latest chapters at novelping dot com.

"I heard the Heavenly Demon Cult revere the being known as the Heavenly Demon as their sole heaven. Is that correct?"

"That is correct."

"That is something the Holy Kingdom would take quite sensitively... What are your thoughts on that?"

Before long, the refreshments prized by the Mercedes Duchy were served, and they entered the main discussion.

Rather than dissecting Wi Seol-ak’s personal intent, Selena brought up the scope of influence.

A question regarding the very essence of the Heavenly Demon Cult prior to any aid. It was a sharp question indeed.

As the name implied, the Heavenly Demon Cult was no ordinary faction. It was a religious organization that worshipped the Heavenly Demon as a deity.

From the standpoint of the Holy Kingdom, they were beyond mere pagans—they were a cult. A target to be rejected, if not eradicated outright.

However, the reasons for not declaring a holy war against them were somewhat complex.

"The people of the Heavenly Demon Cult originally looked up to the sky. They prayed for rain upon land cracked dry by drought."

"..."

"Yet the sky did not answer. Since the sky gave no response, we set out to find a new sky. It was not the sky that was foolish, but us."

To those who are parched, the entity that brings forth rain is the true sky.

The poetic expression characteristic of the Central Plains flowed smoothly from Wi Seol-ak’s mouth.

And Selena understood every word of it. It meant: when we were struggling just to survive, why should we care about the Holy Kingdom’s position?

It sounded like blasphemy, but to the Heavenly Demon Cult, it was something to laugh off. Furthermore, it would cause no small stir even within the Holy Kingdom.

Because it implied acknowledging Aris, the goddess served by the Holy Kingdom, as the sky. He hadn’t denied it.

"Yet for the Holy Kingdom, that sky ultimately answered. Directly, at that."

"Even if you pour water on rice stalks that have already dried to dust, the roots are dead—no new stalks will ever sprout."

"It seems best to drop this topic."

Their positions were far too different. They were bound to run on parallel lines.

In the end, Selena had no choice but to step back first. Still, there was a takeaway.

That Wi Seol-ak and the Heavenly Demon Cult merely possessed strong religious colors; at their core, they were simply refugees searching for a place to live.

Farmers rarely abandon land they have cultivated all their lives. Yet they left.

For a single reason: to survive. When they moved just to live, who could blame them?

"Then why ask us not to interfere? We have no stake in this, but shouldn’t your side be grasping at straws?"

"Because so long as there is no foreign intervention, we are fully prepared to serve our new sky."

"You possess immense confidence. Are you saying you can defeat the Grand General of the Imperial Court?"

The Grand General of the Imperial Court was a world-class powerhouse, lacking only in widespread fame.

Whether they could break through countless troops—let alone the Grand General—was the key question.

"An army can crush an army, but the will of the people can crush a nation."

"Since ancient times, rebels collapsed because they failed to win the people’s heart. It will not be an easy path."

"If you please, I would prefer you refer to us as a revolutionary army, not rebels."

As Wi Seol-ak firmly corrected her, Selena raised an eyebrow.

Nuances might vary by a single word, but the power inherent in a name was formidable.

For the pen was mightier than the sword. This was a truth easily observed even through the Gallery.

"Revolution... So that is how the Heavenly Demon Cult views it."

"Yes, that is correct."

"Then your goal is..."

Selena realized what Wi Seol-ak truly desired.

She set down her teacup and spoke in a solemn voice.

"To help the Heavenly Demon Cult become known as a revolutionary army, rather than rebels... is that what you are asking?"

A statement that struck right at the core. Yet inside, Wi Seol-ak cheered silently.

"Someone once said this."

They possessed strength and wealth, as well as more than enough justification.

"If it fails, it is treason; if it succeeds, it is revolution."

The Heavenly Demon Cult had arranged this meeting to earn the title of a revolutionary army, not rebels.

"We wish to be granted the name of Revolution."

A name held that immense a value.