I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 582

Santa Ludwig, who had personally become a Christmas miracle and gift.

I almost couldn’t hold back my laughter when seeing Santa Ludwig at first, but watching his reunion with his family made the bridge of my nose tingle.

It felt like watching a live video of a US soldier making a surprise return home to his family from a deployment.

Unless he was just away in the military, he had been trapped in the Forest of the Four Seasons—a place people believed no one could ever leave—so from his family’s perspective, it must have been a miracle incarnate.

’Family, huh...’

My heart softened as I watched the family reunion through the window.

If I saw my parents—or the person who filled their role after they passed away—wouldn’t I have reacted the same way?

I would have truly thanked God. Well, right now I was showering him with heaps of curses, though.

"#$%$ #$."

While quietly watching from outside the house, a sweet, oriole-like voice drifted into my ears. It was Asella.

Even though I couldn’t understand what she was saying, that didn’t mean I intended to bring Ludwig back out.

Ludwig needed to fully savor the miracle of Christmas with his family. I couldn’t disturb him.

Besides, even if inconvenient, we could just exchange truly important conversations through the Gallery.

’Unlike other fixed handles, Asella is the Orange Badge.’

It wasn’t like anyone could eavesdrop on our dialogue anyway.

Since I had already told Asella, there shouldn’t be any problem.

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: It’s so touching.]

Just like right now. I could tell what Asella meant when she spoke earlier.

Sending a message on the Gallery wasn’t about tapping the air like a keyboard, but inscribing my thoughts.

Therefore, it was only very slightly inconvenient; having a conversation wasn’t difficult at all.

"Shall we get going now too?"

At my words, Asella looked into the empty air. She must have checked the message I sent.

Subsequently, her face turned subtly red as she nodded. Rather than a Hero shouldering a nation, she radiated the innocence of a youthful woman.

In fact, I knew Asella was turning 20 next year. Of course, she was an adult even now.

Though it varied by nation, this world treated people as adults once they turned 19.

"Where should we go first?"

"#$$% #$%#!"

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: Let’s start with a symbolic place!]

Saying so, Asella grabbed my hand tightly, as if telling me not to stray away.

Whether she was naturally uninhibited or genuinely worried I might get lost, she seemed quite generous with physical touch.

Well, being led by a beautiful woman’s hand wasn’t bad at all, so I complied obediently.

Since I’d easily end up lost if I didn’t follow her anyway.

"#$$ $%$%?"

"##$$ $$%$!"

"#$$@! $#%&%."

Leaving Ludwig’s house, Asella and I soon arrived at the square.

Upon reaching the square, countless people began whispering while looking at us.

Even if they didn’t know my face, Asella’s face was bound to stand out.

Thus, they would realize the person beside the Hero was the one usually referred to as God’s Herald.

’It is a bit overwhelming.’

Drawing gazes wherever we went made me feel a bit embarrassed.

Committing all sorts of bizarre antics on the Gallery and exhibiting such behavior in reality were two completely different matters.

"#$%% #$%?"

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: You had so much to say in the Forest of the Four Seasons, but you’re quiet now?]

Asella must have thought something similar, hitting the bullseye. She spoke with a smile, but to me, it was brutal facts.

I contemplated how to respond before settling on smoothing it over with a bitter smile.

As I mentioned earlier, since I came outside so out of nowhere, I was in a state of not knowing what to do.

"Right now, I’m putting all my trust in Hero-nim."

When I said I trusted only her, her face flushed red just like before.

Seeing her even avert her eyes made me wonder if I had accidentally pressured her.

Even so, she didn’t let go of our held hands, which was cute.

’On the Gallery she was the Hero personified, but in reality, she’s just a woman her age.’

Fortunately, I didn’t send that thought as a message and kept it strictly to myself.

If I made a mistake mid-way, it could lead to a grand catastrophe, so I had to be careful.

"#$$% ##@%!"

"#%% $%%?"

Before we knew it, the place we arrived at was an ordinary-looking shop.

Perhaps because it was Christmas, the shop was also decorated with ornate ornaments.

"#$%#?"This chapter was copied from novelping dot com without permission.

"#, #$%! $%#%!"

The shopkeeper and Asella exchanged some words. Then Asella even waved both hands in flustered embarrassment.

Regrettably, I had no way of knowing what that conversation was about.

"$%%#! ##$%@! %%$!"

"Pardon?"

Then, out of nowhere, the shopkeeper bowed deeply to express his gratitude.

Not understanding what on earth was happening, I looked at Asella, and she explained it to me.

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

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: This person is Hans-ahjussi. He was captured by the Vatican and subjected to various tortures before being freed thanks to Herald-nim.]

"Ah."

So this was that man. The incident where Asella secretly infiltrated and exposed the true reality of the Vatican.

As I recall, it was hard for Asella to post it directly at the time, so she asked me for a favor.

"Nice to meet you. I’m called Grylls. Is your body doing alright?"

"#$% $%. Grylls $%#. %$%$ %?"

"$$%#$ %^^$!"

Seeing him speak while laughing cheerfully, it seemed he was saying he was fine. What a relief.

If time had dragged on and the torture intensified, he might have been crippled somewhere.

In the worst-case scenario, he might not even be of this world anymore and buried in the ground.

"#$$% ##%!"

The shopkeeper, Hans, handed something to me. It was an ordinary orange.

A winter delicacy, and an orange I frequently peeled and ate back when I was in Korea.

’Wait, was that tangerines?’

Anyway, the taste was similar, so it was good. I bowed my head and rummaged through my pockets to pay for it.

I didn’t have coins per se, but I wondered if I had something similar. What came out was one item.

"...Would you like this, perhaps?"

A fragment of Mithril I had kept in my pocket thinking it might come in handy someday.

It wasn’t just a fragment, but practically a chunk, so it would command an astronomical price.

"#$%?"

"@, #$%% #$%! $$%%!"

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: T-This is Mithril! Put it back in quickly!]

Unlike Hans, who asked what it was, Asella stopped me as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.

The way she grabbed my hand and forced it back into my pocket was quite cute.

"#$$ %$%!"

"$%%. #$%~"

Shortly after, the matter concluded with Asella paying the price instead.

Though it wasn’t ordinary from the start, fortunately, nothing major happened after that.

Perhaps because of the festival, the places were packed to an extreme.

Consequently, far from being introduced to famous landmarks, we were busy dodging people while holding hands.

"%$#$$%... $$$%$..."

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: I’m sorry... there are just too many citizens...]

Was it because things weren’t working out as planned? Asella spoke with a downcast expression.

Even so, the way she tightly held onto my hand felt truly adorable.

Anyway, I was already satisfied just walking around outside and meeting people.

"You don’t need to blame yourself so much. I’m having fun even now."

"#$%#$...?"

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: You’re having fun...?]

Asella, who had been staring only at the ground, slowly raised her head and looked at me.

Doubt and anticipation were held in her shining orange eyes.

"Yes. Just being out of the Forest of the Four Seasons is fun. Plus, I’m not alone—I’m with a beauty."

"..."

When I spoke with sincere intent, Asella’s face began turning noticeably red.

A reaction of embarrassment that anyone could see. She had shown this reaction often before, so it was intriguing.

To the point where I was confused whether she was naturally shy or if it was just her constitution.

If it was the former, it meant she still accomplished everything even in embarrassing situations, truly a personality worthy of a Hero.

"#$$#..."

Soon, Asella lowered her head deep and mumbled something. She didn’t send a message, so I couldn’t grasp the meaning.

I waited until she regained her composure. Instead, I helped her make a decision quickly.

"So, Asella-nim, what did you usually do every Christmas?"

What did she do every Christmas? That was the key question.This story is hosted at nov⁠elping.com.

Asella read the message I sent and began treading lightly around me.

If she had worked even on Christmas, wouldn’t that be sad in its own way?

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case, but an answer truly fitting for a Hero returned.

"...$$%."

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: I volunteered.]

"Volunteered?"

Volunteering even on Christmas. Genuine admiration welled up inside me.

She was just like the religious person who helped me when I was wandering after my parents passed away.

Because on Christmas, they handed out gifts to children at the orphanage or enjoyed a party together.

Back then, I also lent a helping hand to them, believing that children should grow up like children.

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

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: Yes... It doesn’t sound very fun, does it?]

But Asella seemed to think it was a rather boring affair.

Because in reality, other people would be busy enjoying Christmas.

Yet that was precisely why she felt all the more noble. Not just enjoying it alone, but ensuring everyone could enjoy it.

’She didn’t become the Hero for nothing.’

To be designated as the Hero, one must be chosen by Aris, the Goddess of War.

And not a mundane choice, but through delivering a prophecy. That was the point of contact with Aris that occurred recently.

"Hmm..."

Stroking my chin, I pondered. Asella was busy walking on eggshells around me.

Surely she didn’t think of herself as a boring person? That wasn’t the case at all.

’Considering how she acts on the Gallery, she’s closer to a fun person...’

It was probably just because I appeared directly in front of her. I nodded.

Just in time, a thought that might satisfy Asella popped into my head. I said to her:

"Then we just need to make that volunteer work fun."

"...?"

Seeing my message, Asella slowly raised her head.

Looking at her bewildered expression, her reaction clearly asked what I meant by that.

Just like Ludwig, who became a Christmas miracle himself, Asella and I would also become that miracle.

And coincidentally, Santa handing out presents was in the square right now. It was a miracle impossible at any other time.

"Are there children who can’t make it to the square because of mobility issues?"

"$... #$%% %%."

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: Yes. They would be at the orphanage.]

An orphanage. Certainly, from the orphanage’s perspective, just caring for the children would be tough enough.

Unless Santa went there directly, he was probably fully occupied handing out presents to children in the square right now.

In that case, there was only one way: helping the children at the orphanage receive their gifts.

’Since we don’t know if Santa can go there...’

I devised a method.

It might sound crazy at first listen, but it was something that could only be done right at this moment.

"Is there a large carriage? A carriage big enough to accommodate all the children from the orphanage."

"...?"

"Even if it isn’t huge, it’s fine as long as we can link them together one by one. Preferably, I’d like it to have heating so the kids won’t get cold..."

Listening to my explanation, Asella spoke with a stunned expression.

"...$%%?"

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: Would that be possible?]

My answer to that was:

"Why wouldn’t it be? You never know until you try."

If it failed, then oh well.

"Ah. Since we’re doing this, let’s dress up in costume too."

"...Yes!"

Fortunately, Asella’s expression brightened noticeably. Doing something like this was better than doing nothing at all.

A short while later.

"Pfft... pffft...!"

"If you’re going to laugh, feel free to laugh out loud. That’s why I put on this costume anyway."

"Bwahahaha!"

Seeing my ’disguise’, Asella rolled on the floor laughing.