I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 475

After Selena returned home due to family affairs, Ash also returned home for the first time in a long while.

There was nothing much to do idling around in Avalon, and above all, Ash’s status was a bit of a problem.

Given Ash’s standing, leaving her post empty for too long ran a high risk of inviting suspicion.

Heading secretly to a foreign nation without notifying anyone? Even if it was close to a simple trip for Ash, to the higher-ups, it was an emergency.

If, by some chance, she defected, it would be no different from having their most crucial military asset stolen right out from under their noses.

Therefore, even if it was an unofficial visit, reporting it to the higher-ups was unavoidable.

’Although Selena didn’t tell me what she’s doing...’

Ash had zero intention of doing anything like defecting, but that was just how politics worked.

Let alone in a world where individual people were components of military might. Meticulous caution was essential.

Thus, rather than pointlessly idling there, returning to the Empire was better.

"So, did you meet a good man in the Holy Kingdom?"

"Ah, Mom. I told you, I didn’t go there to meet a guy."

"I heard the paladins of the Holy Kingdom are so polite and upright, though."

"I said no, really."

Should she have just stayed there? Ash felt fatigue piling up from her mother’s nagging.

It felt like the nagging was particularly severe today. Normally, her mother would bring that up once every three days.

But this time, asking once a day—no, even more frequently than that—left Ash sick and tired of it.

"Why are you being like this? There’s still plenty of time until my youngest sibling is born."

"Silly girl. I’ve watched you for over thirty years; do you think I can’t catch a change in your expression?"

"What is that even supposed to mean?"

"You recently found a man you’re interested in, didn’t you?"

Ash flinched at those words. At the same time, she subtly checked her mother’s expression.

No matter how praised she was as a Sword Master by the world, in the end, she was her mother’s daughter.

Reading her daughter’s heart just from her facial expression was second nature.

"...No, I haven’t?"

Ash flatly denied it, but her mother’s smile only deepened.

It was a look that seemed somehow relieved, even proud.

It was the complete opposite of the expression she wore whenever she nagged Ash before.

"What do you mean ’no’? Your mother has never seen you make a face like that before."

"I’ve been consistently looking for a man, you know?"

"And you haven’t seen any man who satisfied your standards, haven’t you?"

"..."

Ash was rendered speechless. Originally, no child wins against their parent.

Nor could any child beat a parent in worldly experience. Ash was a talent who rose from a commoner to receive a countship through peerless talent.

In the process, she had accumulated wisdom through countless experiences. And her mother had watched all of that by Ash’s side.

Since she closely observed every single minor change, her mother could easily spot Ash’s subtle shifts.

"So who is it? Tell your mother just a little bit."

"It’s nothing like that."

"For such a tomboyish girl to act so shy...! Your mother is truly delighted. I’ll wait, so make sure to tell me later."

Leaving after saying only what she wanted to say, the Countess Mother left the room. Ash sighed at the situation that had swept past like a storm.

She couldn’t be any more ridiculous. Thinking so, Ash quietly faced the mirror.

’Is my expression really that obvious?’

Ash felt her face. Her appearance had grown younger thanks to the Golden Apple and honey gifted by Grylls.

Due to her constitution where mana accumulated just by breathing, she had already looked young, but now she was genuinely youthful.

’Every time I look, it really is pretty.’

First of all, her face. Silver hair shimmering with a faint bluish light and eyes blue as the sea.

As expected of a Westerner, she boasted gorgeous beauty, and her physique was equally striking.

A figure sculpted through endless training. Her clearly defined curves were more than enough to ignite the hearts of any man.

An appearance that personally demonstrated age was just a number. It wasn’t for nothing that her mother nagged her out of regret for her to marry.

While worrying about Ash’s future was one reason, above all, wasting the beauty she was passed down was such a pity.

’Would he like a look like this?’

The only problem was that she didn’t really know what Grylls’s taste was.

Normally, men couldn’t resist a pretty woman.

But surprisingly, since each man had firm preferences, she couldn’t let her guard down.

After all, there were plenty of men who preferred plain beauties, saying glamorous ones were overwhelming.

’During that VS match earlier, he stayed quiet, right?’

He might not have been interested, or given his situation, he might have just ignored it.

What was more important was that Selena was also showing a considerable amount of interest.

It was confusing whether that was gratitude toward a benefactor or romantic feelings.

’...What on earth am I thinking?’

Self-praise like this was meaningless. As long as Grylls didn’t come out, it was all futile.

Even if they conversed enthusiastically on the Gallery, ’special feelings’ would only form once they met face-to-face.

’If it’s strictly about emotion, Selena’s feelings would be much more tender.’

Selena’s life was saved through Grylls’s goodwill. Naturally, she couldn’t help but feel deep gratitude.

On the other hand, what about herself? Aside from helping Grylls, she lacked such profound, tender feelings.

Should she say there was no clear catalyst? It was closer to greed than a romantic attraction.

What an embarrassing sight. If anyone else saw this, they would shout at her to get a grip.

Still, one thing was certain.You are reading on no​velping.com, the official source.

’Someone I want to get close to.’

That she liked the person named Grylls himself.

Not to mention the Gallery crowded with all sorts of people, he was a good-natured man rarely seen even in reality.

A man who could take what he wanted and wipe his mouth clean, yet was desperate to offer goodwill to the very end.

Even when his martial strength grew in unintended directions, he just laughed it off, enduring through countless hardships steadfastly.

Even moving forward silently in situations where a normal person would have despaired long ago.

She was drawn to him as a person, not as a romantic interest. If he was like that on the Gallery, he’d be even more of a good person in reality.

’If someone like that was by my side...’

Ash recalled her past. A life that had already passed thirty years.

In that life, there was no ’companion’ she chose herself, apart from her family.

Most people who approached her because of her god-given talent harbored an ’ulterior motive.’

Whether positive or negative didn’t matter. Having an underlying motive itself sparked immense revulsion in Ash.

Because she was far too strong, she was surrounded only by people approaching with motives, ultimately growing up in solitude.

Her stubbornness in picking a prospective husband was close to a reaction to that. She intensely longed for a ’life companion’ above all else.

Although it all came to nothing due to her talent that was practically a curse, looking back, it was the right choice.

If she had been blinded by greed and hastily chosen a husband, her life would have been filled with nothing but misery.

Unintentionally, she had contracted a distrust of humans, feeling disillusioned and entering seclusion.

Though the reasons differed, one could say she followed the textbook path of a shut-in loner.

Appropriately, the Gallery was also available, making it perfectly suited for becoming a shut-in recluse.

’If I had spent time with him since I was young, I might have genuinely fallen for him. Purely hypothetical, of course.’

Though she didn’t harbor romantic attraction, she was drawn to him as a person, keeping him on her mind.

She had declared to Selena that she would definitely make him her husband and so forth, but she needed to adjust her mindset.

How should she put it? She felt that if she shouted "Marry me!" the moment Grylls came outside, she might lose a precious friend.

Romantic attraction naturally arises when a man and woman see each other face to face; for now, helping him get out was the priority.

’Still, I’m curious.’

Ash rolled around on her bed and sent a message to Grylls.

She was someone who regularly sent messages saying, "You, become my husband."

Every time, Grylls laughed it off, but this time was different.

[Sword Matstar: Grylls-nim. Are you there?]

[Wild Grylls: I can’t marry you right now.]

[Sword Matstar: That’s not it;;]

Look at this. Just how much had she hit on him for such a response to come out automatically?

Ash realized her embarrassing behavior late and her face burned hot.

The sorrows of an old maid oozed forth, but she forcefully suppressed it.

Right now, she had something to ask not as a prospective husband, but as a ’friend’.

’...Does Grylls consider me a friend?’

Her self-deprecating mutter lasted only a moment. Ash asked tentatively.

[Sword Matstar: I’m asking because I’m curious. How close are you with the other fixed-nicks, Grylls-ssi?]

[Wild Grylls: Fixed-nicks?]

[Sword Matstar: Seeing how you talk normally, there are a few people you talk to without any reserve.]

[Wild Grylls: It’s hard to pinpoint specifically. I’m the type of person who believes treat others as you wish to be treated.]

A sort of Golden Rule. Ash nodded her head.

It sounded easy in words, but doing it in practice was hard. There were many people who only took when in trouble and then wiped their mouths clean.

’Seeing how many people fail to keep it even though it’s a virtue specified by the Chief God Himself... you can tell how difficult it is.’

Though Grylls was a special case, he was currently in the position of an absolute superior.

Just listing Mithril on the auction house could plunge the global economy into ruin.

’He’s in a position where he could enjoy pleasure without responsibility. Yet he steadfastly extends goodwill.’

Furthermore, it was the Forest of the Four Seasons. A place where no one could stop him no matter what crazy things he pulled.

This part showed how good-natured Grylls was, and how strong his sense of responsibility was.

[Sword Matstar: Then what do you think of me?]

[Wild Grylls: As a friend, or as a romantic interest?]

"Ah..."

The moment the word ’friend’ appeared, Ash let out a cute sound. She unwittingly glanced around her surroundings.

There was no chance anyone would hear, but just in case. She felt bashful for no reason.

’Why am I getting so nervous?’

Following that, she cleared her throat and gathered herself as much as possible.

Her face flushed subtly in anticipation, but without realizing it, she sent the message.

[Sword Matstar: I’m curious about the latter, but I’m more curious about the former. What do you think?]

[Wild Grylls: You mentioned before that you were a soldier, right?]

[Sword Matstar: I was a soldier, yes?]

[Wild Grylls: Then you must have stood night watch duty when you were a recruit, right?]

[Sword Matstar: Of course.]

Duty she never wanted to experience again. Especially the shift right before the last shift—that pre-final watch—its horrible nature was beyond words.

Furthermore, because Ash was a commoner, she had frequently been forced into taking the pre-final night watch.

Naturally, since it was duty, it couldn’t be changed recklessly, but... wasn’t the military originally such a place?

Thanks to her constitution, she was able to endure it steadfastly, but she still couldn’t forget the sorrow and rage she felt back then.This story is hosted at novelping dot com.

[Wild Grylls: Then that makes it easy to explain. I’d be willing to take over night watch duty for you whenever you wanted, Sword Matstar-nim.]

[Sword Matstar: That much? Even if it’s the pre-final shift?]

[Wild Grylls: If that feels burdensome, let’s just say I’ll take it over every time you get stuck with the pre-final shift.]

"Oh my...!"

Ash let out an involuntarily feminine reaction, cupping her mouth with one hand to boot.

Soldiers would know just how tough that was, and how incredible of an offer it was.

Therefore, the touched feeling surged twofold. It felt like receiving a confession.

’Why on earth? What have I even done for him?’

Ash felt her heart flutter for the first time in a long while. Was this the famous flirting?

Though she had received confessions from countless men in reality, Grylls felt uniquely special.

Up until now, she had been the one flirting with Grylls, never on the receiving end, so she had almost no immunity.

[Sword Matstar: Really, that much? Unlike the others, I haven’t really done much of anything...]

[Wild Grylls: (Photo of empty Elixir bottle) You see this? What does it look like to you?]

[Sword Matstar: Don’t tell me that’s... the Elixir I gave you?]

[Wild Grylls: When I get outside, I want to meet you in person and give it to you. To show that thanks to you, Sword Matstar-nim, I was able to come out safely.]

"Keuuugh...!"

Clenching both fists tightly, Ash let out a strange noise. The thrilling sensation rushed over her twofold.

She had heard a similar answer last time, but this time was on a completely different level.

Emotion, admiration, affection, overwhelming joy, and more. All kinds of feelings mixed together.

’He kept it until now when he could’ve just thrown it away? This man, seriously...!’

He knew how to captivate a person’s heart all too well. No wonder Selena held such tender feelings for him.

Ash conversed a few more times after that before quietly exiting the Gallery.

Grylls was busy in his own right, so she couldn’t keep holding him up.

"Ehehe."

But Ash was still flailing in a wave of emotion.

Spot-on analogies, flirting that hit entirely differently, and finally, proof.

With the trifecta perfectly aligned, she could hardly snap out of it. To feel such sweetness when they weren’t even lovers!

’There was a reason my younger sibling looked happy every single day.’

How happy would life be with a person like this? Saliva virtually drooled in desire.

But she had to endure. She couldn’t act embarrassing again.

She had to say it playfully once in a while; the moment she put genuine sincerity into it, things would become awkward.

’There are still plenty of chances. I just need to start trying from now on.’

Ash felt like she was soaring into the sky.

She expected this feeling to last for at least a week.

[You have been appointed as Vice-Manager.]

Right up until she became a Blue Badge.

It was right around the time she was heading to the Mercedes Duchy to return to the Holy Kingdom.

The sudden news of becoming Vice-Manager—that is, a Blue Badge—was like a bolt out of the blue for Ash.

’No. Why on earth? It was just my usual flirting. It wasn’t even that severe?’

Ash couldn’t understand it for the life of her.

Orange Badge—that is, Don’t Abandon the Hero—instructed her to work unpaid without bothering people.

Had she really bothered Grylls then? Even if she threw passes at him, she had never been annoying.

A situation where she couldn’t tell what the problem was at all. It wasn’t like her stomach was twisted in jealousy, and she couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

’Even so, if I ignore it, she’ll ban me... Ha, damn it. What kind of person is this?’

Ash scratched her head, showing her dilemma.

It was true she had as much free time left over as the wealth of Setan’s rich. But not recently.

Because she had to travel here and there to help Selena, managing the Gallery was quite burdensome.

’If I end up actually getting banned like this...’

That absolutely could not happen. Her connection to Grylls would be severed.

Although with Selena around it wouldn’t be cut off completely... she wanted to maintain her personal connection.

Literally a situation where she had to bite the bullet. Ash let out a long sigh.

’First, I’ll have to talk with Selena.’

How would Selena react upon hearing that she was forcibly made a Blue Badge?

Harboring all sorts of chaotic thoughts, Ash arrived at the Mercedes Duchy.

Since official documents had already been sent, clearance proceeded swiftly.

’Not just the Gallery, I also need to hear about the Demonic Cult. Especially since His Majesty is paying attention to it.’

Even though they had parted not long ago, things to talk about had piled up like a mountain.

Thus, Ash followed the guide toward the reception room where Selena was waiting, and...

"You’ve arrived?"

"...Selena?"

"Yes. What is it?"

Just what kind of existence a ’fairy’ as often described in the Central Plains was...

"Are you about to fly off into the sky anytime soon?"

"You mean fine clothes make the man—or woman—right? Thank you. Heheh."

...she was able to realize anew.