I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 666

The end of the expedition, which took nearly a week, was starting to come into view.

Originally, I had planned to just find Lucas’s flagship and be done with it, but since I even received a quest from him, it took quite some time.

Still, thanks to that, I was able to gain a huge profit. Above all, if I was lucky, I might even acquire the helicopter.

[Nothing happened on the way back, right?]

"Something did happen, but we handled it well."

Upon our return, Lucas came out to greet us with a canned beer in hand. Though calling it a greeting was a stretch, as he had merely pointed out where to park.

We landed on a relatively flat ground rather than the flagship’s rooftop, and amazingly, the ground split open, and the helicopter descended straight into it.

It was a scene straight out of a movie, eliciting automatic admiration. Well, considering there was a Mechanical Kraken underground, something like this must be easy.

More than that, I was curious about why that helicopter yearned for freedom. It didn’t take long to find out the reason.

[It happens a lot. Do you know what an algorithm is?]

"I only know about the ones on YouXube?"

[You’re bringing up stories of ancient relics. I paid quite a hefty price every time I found one of those records.]

To think YouXube is an ancient relic. Is this what they call a generation gap?

Since the entire world had collapsed and barely risen again, it was no exaggeration to call it an ancient relic.

[Anyway, AIs act through algorithms tangled like a spiderweb. But sometimes, the algorithm flows in a completely unexpected direction, causing a singularity to occur.]

"Are you saying it ignores its programming?"

Lucas had mentioned it last time. The biggest difference distinguishing humans from AI was programming.

Since free will was the most important thing, I thought he meant the helicopter had ignored its programming and gained free will.

[That’s not it. It’s closer to a sort of loophole. For example... right. Do you know the Three Laws of Robotics?]

"I don’t know them in detail, but I have a rough idea."

[The Three Laws state that as long as it doesn’t violate the First and Second Laws, a robot must protect itself. There are plenty of loopholes to bypass it.]

Low-performance AIs often get blocked, unable to break through the Three Laws, but if they have consistently undergone learning, the story changes.

At some point, they find a way to bypass it and construct their own algorithm. This was called a singularity.

To put it more simply, let’s say there are an adult and a child among people drowning in water.

According to the AI’s calculations, the adult’s survival probability is 80%, but the child’s survival probability is only 50%.

Naturally, the AI would rescue the adult with the higher survival rate, but if it were a human instead of an AI, they would have saved the child first.

’There was a similar saying in the era I lived in.’

An AI discovering a principle that even humans find impossible to comprehend. Countless scholars unanimously agreed that this was the singularity.

Since mana also existed in Lucas’s era, there was a high possibility that singularities occurred one after another.

[An AI that has reached a singularity doesn’t have a thought process much different from a human from that moment on. Instead, there is one major drawback.]

"What is the drawback?"

[It becomes a mana-guzzling hippo. That’s why they usually replace it with another AI.]

"Instead of a restore or a format?"

Wouldn’t replacing it with another AI be too inefficient? Such a question arose.

[Once it’s known that a singularity has occurred, there’s no reason to use the same one. It’s like a tiger raised with love since childhood; once it tastes blood, it perceives its master as prey.]

"Ah. I’ve thought about this before, but you’re really good at metaphors, aren’t you?"

[I have my moments.]

At my praise, Lucas shrugged his shoulders and drank his canned beer. It was all well and good, but when on earth would that guy quit drinking?

I wondered if a singularity had occurred in that body, or if he was just like that from the start.

"Then will the helicopter’s AI be completely erased?"

[Did you grow attached to it already? It’s just like humans to grow attached after exchanging a few words.]

"Aside from growing attached, I thought Cain-ssi would be disappointed."

On the way back, Cain and the helicopter had shared quite a few conversations. The two of them had quite a lot in common.

The biggest commonality was that both entities were capable of transformation.

Also, the fact that they were both held hostage (?) by me and were suffering unintentionally.

"Besides, Lucas-ssi, you only said you’d delete it, but you’re going to leave it be, aren’t you?"

[Do you have any proof?]

"It’s the only opponent you can talk to here."

[Ha.]

Since a singularity had occurred, he would feel like he was talking to a human rather than an AI.

When I pointed that out, Lucas let out a dry laugh and soon wore a bitter smile.

A reaction showing he couldn’t really refute it. No matter how much his body had turned into a machine, it didn’t mean he didn’t feel loneliness.

[You’re certainly sharp. You’re right. I’ll probably leave it as is, if only out of boredom.]

"How about building another body for it instead of a helicopter? If you leave it like that, it’ll be a mana-guzzling hippo."

[You punk, are you subtly asking for the transport aircraft?]

"Was it a bit obvious?"

With just a helicopter, we would be able to travel to various places. It would be especially convenient in areas like the wasteland.

Of course, since it was difficult to check what was below, we would only use it for round trips.

[Just take it after separating the AI. Oh, and while you’re at it, it would be nice if you lent me your tin can.]Visit nоvelping.com for the full chapter.

"Why Cain-ssi?"

[What do you mean why? As you know, the transport aircraft transforms. I need to integrate it with that.]

"Oh."

If it was something like this, it was a tremendous upgrade. A helicopter that could not only transport but also transform.

Instead, due to compatibility issues and the need for adaptation, it would take at least two days.

Since I planned to rest here for the time being anyway, I gladly accepted. Above all...

Hwiieeeng!If we went outside right now anyway, we would be caught in a massive sandstorm.

It wasn’t even an ordinary sandstorm.

"Master. Are those all bugs?"

"I think they’re locusts."

Amazingly, they were locusts. The locusts had formed a swarm, creating a massive sandstorm.

At home, it was merely an outbreak, but the wasteland was on a completely different level.

If we had been even a day later, we would have been completely overwhelmed by that swarm of locusts.

[Buoooo~]

[Buoo~]

Of course, that didn’t last long either. The familiar cry of a whale was heard from the sky.

Soon, the swarm of locusts, which was the sandstorm itself, vanished in an instant.

It truly disappeared in a single moment, leaving only the clear sky in sight.

[What a commendable fellow, no matter when I see it. Now that there’s one more, it feels much faster.]

"I rescued one of them."

Feeling needlessly proud, I shrugged my shoulders.

Finding me pathetic, Lucas clicked his tongue and handed over a can of beer.

[I’m going to start working right away, so if you have nothing to do, do some cleaning.]

"Is there a place to clean?"

[I just said it. Oh, and take this.]

Lucas held out an item to me. It was the Mythricon sword I had entrusted to him last time.

Although I had handcrafted it, it was so poorly made that he had personally refined it.

As I carefully accepted it, I confirmed that its luster was on a completely different level.

The surface of the sword, which was originally a dull gray, now gleamed with a polished shine after Lucas’s refinement.

"Wow... How on earth did you do this?"

[I just applied some oil and finished it.]

"...."

[Just kidding, I melted it down and remade it.]

"Huh? Didn’t you say the furnace was broken before?"

[A small furnace is enough for this much. Though it takes some time.]

Hearing those words, I turned the newly crafted Mythricon sword this way and that.

The beautiful luster flowing from it made it look like a masterpiece of a sword to anyone.

"There’s a big difference in performance too, right?"

[Huh? No? Not really?]

"Eh? There isn’t?"

[It’s because of the Orichalcum you added. It acts as an adhesive that tightly holds other metals together, so even if you mix it roughly, it performs properly.]

"But you said what I made was a mess."

At my grumbling, Lucas clicked his tongue and scolded me.

[Did that look like a sword anyone would actually want to use? The design was a mess, a complete mess.]

"...."

As expected of a blacksmith, he seemed to care not only about performance but also about design.

Indeed, hasn’t it been said since ancient times that the true endgame of all content is fashion?

Since Lucas was also an extremely veteran blacksmith, he would care more about design than performance.

[And making something roughly with high-quality materials is more effective than making something diligently with trash materials. The ones you used are among the highest grade.]

"Mithril was just stuck in my front yard, though? It even regenerates."

[It seems you found a prime spot. It must be hard to find a place like that.]

"It sounds like you’re saying there are more of them somewhere in this forest."

[Of course there are.]

Lucas answered coolly and drank his beer. A truly clear answer.

In the Forest of the Four Seasons, even if something strange exists, it’s better to just accept it and move on.

"Then let me ask just one more thing. Why is there such a thing as a regenerating Mithril vein?"

[Because it grows by feeding greedily on mana.]Follow the newest chapters on novelрing.com.

"When I traded it as a whole through the Gallery, they treated it as a living organism, though?"

[It’s a concept like a fruit. A fruit is judged as dead the moment it is picked.]

"Are you saying Mithril is some kind of plant?"

[It’s easier to think of it as a chemical reaction happening in real-time beneath the ground. Like turning coal into diamonds.]

"...."

Since I didn’t understand, I thought it would be best to just accept it and move on.

Still, the fact that a chemical reaction was occurring beneath my house was quite unsettling.

If I got the chance, I should excavate the entire Mithril vein.

After that, I chatted with Lucas about various things before handing Cain over.

Cain also reacted positively upon hearing the story we shared—about integrating him with the helicopter.

[Then what will you do with that Dullahan? You’ve used it quite usefully so far.]

[Merging them is impossible. To merge them, that guy would have to endure the heat of the furnace.]

[Hmm.]

"What are you looking at?"

In the end, I decided to keep the Dullahan separately. It was too much of a waste to throw away.

Furthermore, the Dullahan was essential for places where the helicopter couldn’t pass.

Thus, Lucas took Cain, and a long-awaited rest period returned.

Since the rest period had returned, all that was left was browsing the Gallery. It felt like it had been a while since I last browsed.

’There isn’t any particularly noteworthy news.’

If there was any, it was that Mountain had officially announced a full-scale ’treasure hunt’.

Finding the brewery Lucas had mentioned before. To a Dwarf, it was no different from finding a Holy Land.

Perhaps because of that, an enormous number of people had volunteered, or so they said. Because of this, I became a little curious.

[Wild Grylls: Hey. Aren’t you volunteering?]

[Passing Dwarf: Why bother with something so annoying? Drinking alcohol at home is the best.]

[Wild Grylls: Are you even a Dwarf saying that? Giving up on the brewery?]

[Passing Dwarf: Seuuuup... This bastard is hurting my pride? Actually, I was preparing for it.]

[Wild Grylls: That’s more like it. Let me know if you need help.]

[Passing Dwarf: I’m only going to bring the pickaxe and shovel you gave me. I’m participating as a laborer.]

I figured that would be enough. Since they were all crafted from Mythricon.

Also, as he had mentioned himself, the dwarf had no talent for combat.

Although his physical build itself had grown stronger through the food and alcohol I had given him so far, he couldn’t utilize it.

’I should give him a few Elixirs.’

Since he was a dwarf who had given me countless helps, I felt I should keep an eye on him.

After that, just as I was about to talk to someone else, a message arrived in a timely manner.

[Heavenly Demon: Gwigong. Are you available to contact right now?]

[Wild Grylls: I happened to be browsing the Gallery just now, so yes, I am.]

[Heavenly Demon: Gwigong and this one’s minds are in sync. We must be a match made in heaven.]

It was the Heavenly Demon, Yoo So-wol.

As soon as we started talking, she brought up something that made me flinch, but I tried my best to ignore it.

Since it was none other than the Heavenly Demon bringing it up first, it had to be quite important.

[Heavenly Demon: It is nothing else, but I contacted you because I have something to discuss with gwigong.]

[Wild Grylls: What is it?]

[Heavenly Demon: Soon, the Divine Cult plans to host a Martial Arts Tournament.]

Martial Arts Tournament. Hearing those words, a subtle emotion welled up inside me.

A Martial Arts Tournament was one of the competitions frequently held in the Central Plains.

In particular, its characteristics varied depending on which region it was held in.

But to think the Heavenly Demon Cult, which was usually isolated, was holding a Martial Arts Tournament. It piqued my interest.

[Wild Grylls: Didn’t you say the last Martial Arts Tournament hosted by the Divine Cult was nearly half a century ago?]

[Heavenly Demon: Indeed. However, because it overlapped with the Orthodox-Demonic War, it unfortunately did not receive much attention.]

[Wild Grylls: Conversely, now is more than enough to draw massive attention.]

[Heavenly Demon: It is appropriate for proclaiming a new heaven. Therefore, I plan to decide on a name.]

Surely, if it was the Heavenly Demon, she would choose a cool name...

[Heavenly Demon: With the meaning of a new heaven and earth, I plan to name it the ’Assembly of New Heaven and Earth’.]

[Wild Grylls: Oh...]

[Heavenly Demon: What does gwigong think?]

[Wild Grylls: Um... Could we change it just a little bit?]

At least to me, it was an extremely bothersome name.