I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 590

The end of the year is the busiest time regardless of status.

This is because, beyond settling various accounts including taxes, one must also consider the schedule for the New Year.

At least commoners only had to worry about taxes or New Year schedules, but nobles were different.

Though in words they only needed to spend the year-end with family, in reality, the largest social gathering of the year was scheduled.

As high-and-mighty nobles from every region, including the Emperor, gathered in one place, it was immensely important.

Innumerable pieces of information exchanging hands was the bare minimum; if lucky, one could even secure investment opportunities to raise capital.

It was effectively an arena where one could deduce where next year’s storms would blow.

"Mom. Do I really have to go too?"

"Oh, dear. Staying cooped up at home all the time isn’t good either. Besides, didn’t they say an esteemed guest was coming today?"

"You mean Lady Mercedes, right? I’ve already been meeting her."

"Shouldn’t we officially announce that now?"

This was no different even for Ash, who was praised by the world as a Sword Master. Rather, because she was Ash, attendance was mandatory.

No matter how sick and tired of politics she was, a noble was ultimately a noble.

A powerful storm was scheduled to sweep in, so staying idle was not a good idea.

Wasn’t the reason the Menethil family could enter central politics solely due to her standing?

If she kept ducking out, the family’s prestige might fall, so showing her face at crucial moments was best.

"It’s not an official announcement... just saying that we’re simply meeting each other is fine, right?"

"Hoho. It means the two families have grown closer, so it’s the exact same thing."

"It’s a personal closeness, so if done wrong, they might get angry."

"That’s why we’re going to meet her in person, isn’t it?"

Is this person really from commoner origins? Ash let out a dry smirk.

To anyone watching, she felt like someone who had conducted politics for decades.

Well, she had actually done so for over ten years, so it wasn’t wrong.

This wasn’t just true of Ash’s mother, but also her father. Although he didn’t attend social gatherings in person, he was a high-performing civil servant.

The reason he wasn’t attending this social gathering was precisely because he was a civil servant whose body was being ground down in real-time.

"Mom! Ash eonni!"

It was just when they were about to step outside the mansion and board the carriage. A woman’s voice as cute as a canary cut in.

A woman whose pure white hair was striking, just like Ash and her mother.

A woman whose cute impression stood out more than maturity was standing side by side with a man.

Ash’s younger sister, Emily, who was currently carrying on the family lineage.

Beside her was Emily’s husband, Viscount Vesta, who was engaged in the trade business.

"Our daughter and son-in-law are here. Was your journey comfortable?"

"Oh, Mom. Our home is right next door, so of course it wasn’t uncomfortable."

"Hello, Mother-in-law. And Count Menethil."

Following Emily, Vesta greeted them politely. Ash also bowed her head slightly in greeting.

The head of the house was neither her mother nor her father, but Ash. Greeting her like that was proper.

’No matter when I see them, they’re an enviable couple.’

Emily possessed an innocence and cuteness that Ash lacked. Whenever she saw her, she almost wanted to pinch her cheeks.

Vesta also radiated an intelligent aura, making them a very well-matched pair.

Their marital harmony was so exceptional that they already had five children. It was a grand blessing for the Menethil family.

"By the way, Emily, you gave birth to the youngest not long ago, will you be fine?"

"Ayy, Mom. It’s only hard the first time or two; from the third onward, you can pop them out smoothly."

"Your mom stopped after having just the two of you, so how would I know that?"

"Ah. That’s true too."

...Sometimes she said things unbecoming of a noble that made one’s head spin. Let’s be understanding since she was originally a commoner.

Still, that they were a harmonious family remained unchanged. In a way, it was the greatest blessing.

Thus, after the entire family gathered, they boarded the carriage. While riding, they chatted about various things.

"By the way, is our son-in-law’s family not attending today’s social gathering?"

"Yes. Given the situation in the Central Plains, it couldn’t be helped. Even I barely managed to make time to come."

"I don’t know how world affairs will unfold. Recently, relations between Setan and Mephisto have been tense as well."

"Nothing will happen that harms the empire."

As the world moved so rapidly, those in the trade business were tightly strung up.

The Central Plains was one thing, but a case like Setan couldn’t easily be overlooked, if only because of the mana stones.

"Furthermore, because the Forest of the Four Seasons was recently partially opened, power might shift over to that side."

"Ah. I heard about that. But didn’t they say adventurers would enter in their stead?"This chapter was copied from novelping dot com without permission.

"It’s a bit awkward to say this, but it’s practically pushing them to their deaths. Rather than high-ranking adventurers, low-ranking adventurers will be entering first."

As soon as topics related to the Forest of the Four Seasons came up, Ash pricked up her ears as well.

It was a miracle created by the companion (?) she might spend the rest of her life with, so she couldn’t ignore it.

Moreover, if the adventurers failed, next was the state—that is, knights like Ash might enter.

"They haven’t entered yet, right?"

"Yes. For now, they are deciphering the rules. Full-scale exploration will likely begin right after the New Year."

Right after the New Year—meaning full-scale exploration would proceed starting January 2nd.

One couldn’t get full on the first bite, but they must still be harboring great expectations.

As it was a chance to hit the jackpot for adventurers as well, a vast number had gathered.

"Are you interested too, eonni?"

"Huh?"

It was when she was only listening while staring out the window. Emily spoke to Ash.

She was clearly just looking out the window, so how did she know? Reading her thought, Emily wore a mischievous smile.

"It’s written all over your face, eonni. There’s no way you wouldn’t be interested."

"...Well, that’s true. I am indeed interested."

"If it requires Count Menethil to personally step up, it would be when a dangerous monster appears."

At Vesta’s words, Ash nodded. However, they did not know.

That Ash had already clashed several times with animals or beings inhabiting the Forest of the Four Seasons.

Since Selena and Kadir’s experiment had not yet been announced to the world, it was only natural they didn’t know.

Therefore, even if a time came when Ash had to step forward, she would not struggle.

’I just need to watch out for their unpredictability.’

The greatest hurdle of the entities living in the Forest of the Four Seasons was their unpredictability.

Not to mention the cat that reflects damage, or the porcupine that shoots explosive quills, and so on.

Equipped with all kinds of bizarre abilities as they were, dropping her guard was forbidden.

"Come to think of it, eonni, you seem to look younger with each passing day. Your skin looks great again today."

Following the Forest of the Four Seasons, Emily praised Ash’s appearance. Ash was honestly impressed by her sharp eye.

Having recently entered Grand Master rank and undergone Body Metamorphosis, it was only natural her beauty reached its peak.

However, since she boasted a beautiful appearance from the start, there wasn’t a huge difference.

Right now, even her mother merely thought her skin had improved and nothing beyond that.

"Fufu. Emily. Mom knows the reason."

"Huh?"

But when her mother spoke with a nuance that implied she knew the reason, she couldn’t help but be flustered.

The fact that her stage of mastery had risen had not been disclosed to anyone.

Since Ash was the one who tidied up her messed-up bed, she thought there was no way she’d be caught.

"You know? What is it?"

"Emily. As you know, the more a woman falls in love, the more beautiful she becomes."

"Huh? Wait a second. That means..."

Not only Emily, but Vesta also stared at Ash with wide, surprised eyes.

Ash waved her hand uselessly out of embarrassment under those gazes, staring out the window as a bonus.

However, she couldn’t stop her ears from turning bright red.

"Eonni! Is Mom’s word true?! Are you seeing a man?!"

"...It’s not like that yet."

"What do you mean it’s not? I remember how you were dying of joy all by yourself on Christmas."

"Ah, Mom!"

Up until this moment, she didn’t know that she should have shut her mother’s mouth.

However, because Ash herself was enjoying it a little, she didn’t step in.

And so, they arrived at the venue of the social gathering. As it was a year-end party, a staggering number of nobles had attended.

Starting from key political figures to strangers she had never seen before. Ash already felt a sickening churn in her stomach.

’Right. Let’s just endure today.’

If she endured just today, she could enjoy an exciting unemployed life starting tomorrow.

Periodically setting off to conduct experiments with Selena, or chatting with Grylls, and so forth.

Though called unemployed, there were more things to do than expected.

"Thank you all for gathering despite your busy schedules. Today..."

In the middle of the party, Emperor Arnold’s celebratory speech and address began.Find the original chapter at novel‌ping.com.

The content itself was nothing special. To devote oneself to the empire next year as well, that although many events lie ahead they can overcome them well, and so on.

’Does His Majesty not get married?’

She became curious about Arnold’s personal life on the side, but let it go.

Ash gave half-hearted replies to the nobles who approached her, then quietly headed toward the terrace.

Stepping onto the terrace, the brutally fierce winter cold battered her.

Fortunately, she was wearing a uniform instead of a dress, otherwise she would have shivered uncontrollably.

"I knew you’d be here."

As she watched the night sky from the terrace, a familiar voice drifted into her ears.

Turning her head at this, a striking beauty with snow-white hair like her own was smiling softly.

Furthermore, she wore a dress interwoven with Central Plains silk that exuded a celestial maiden’s aura.

"Lady Mercedes."

"There’s no one here right now, eonni."

"Still, someone might be listening."

Saying so, Ash stepped back inside.

Outside was too cold to carry on a conversation on the terrace.

Observing formality was tedious, but for Selena’s sake, stepping inside was better.

"Have you been doing well recently?"

"Yes. I had some somewhat busy affairs, but it was good."

The Hero, Asella, had no choice but to depart due to a conference with Mephisto.

She would probably visit the Holy Kingdom again after the New Year passed, but there were many things to think about in various ways.

"Come to think of it, Lady Mercedes, did you see Santa?"

Santa was currently one of the hot topics of the social gathering. Santa could not fail to be mentioned.

Hearing that question, Selena pondered carefully before shrugging her shoulders and speaking.

"I did see him. But since I had already received a gift, I wasn’t particularly moved."

"You received a gift?"

"Didn’t I receive a new life in advance?"

"Ah."

Hearing her response, Ash nodded.

Indeed, for Selena, it must have been an irreplaceable gift and miracle.

"A real Santa truly came and went, then. From your perspective, Lady."

"Yes. So I wanted to see his face at least once, which makes it a pity."

I saw him. We even kissed.

Ash barely managed to suppress the itch on her lips.

If she blurted this out, there was no telling how Selena would react.

Their relationship might needlessly sour, and whatever the case, running her mouth was the problem.

But those thoughts lasted only a moment.

"Count Menethil. Is it true that you have a lover?"

"Could you tell us who it is? We’re so curious!"

Numerous young noble ladies crowded around while she was conversing with Selena.

At the topic brought up by those noble ladies, Ash couldn’t hide her flustered bewilderment.

And Selena, hearing this...

"...A lover?"

As if she had misheard, she wore an indescribable expression.

Right now, only one person came to mind. Becoming lovers with that one person... was not easily believable.

"By any chance... it’s not someone I know, right?"

Was it because her head had briefly become confused? Selena uncharacteristically made a slip of the tongue.

The noble ladies were not ones to miss that slip of the tongue. Their eyes widened, and they began inflating the rumor in real-time.

"Huh? Is it someone Lady Mercedes knows as well?"

"A gentleman known to both of you...!"

"Ah..."

Realizing her mistake too late, the milk was already spilled.

It took no time for rumors to gain traction, and this news would spread quickly.

’...This is bad.’

It felt as though a bomb had cleanly exploded at the end of the year.

The story of none other than the Sword Master herself.