I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 696

I stared at the words written on the signpost for a while. Though it was a worn and weathered inscription after the passage of long years, the Hangul was clearly written.

Why was there a signpost written in Hangul here? This curiosity was quickly resolved.

The Republic of Korea, or precisely the Korean Peninsula, is a terrain where 70% of the land is covered by mountains.

Even in a large city, mountains are plainly visible just by looking around. Because of this, hiking culture is widely spread.

[Seeing that it’s written in Hangul... is what I’m thinking correct?]

"It’s not certain yet."

With an extremely low probability, someone might have played a prank. It was difficult to reach a complete certainty.

Therefore, as I slowly moved my steps forward, I checked the weather first. The Korean Peninsula is a place with four distinct seasons.

But I immediately realized it was a meaningless judgment. Even my house in the Americas had seasons changing every week, didn’t it?

The weather of the Korean Peninsula was originally terrible, and now it was inside the Forest of the Four Seasons. There was no telling how it had changed.

Thus, I slowly moved my steps along the hiking trail. First, it was important to grasp where this place was.

"Seuuup... Haaa...!"

"...."

It was while we were walking along the trail. Elia breathed in through her nose and mouth, then exhaled as if refreshed.

I didn’t even know how to describe her expression, but at least this much was certain.

Even if someone were high on drugs, they wouldn’t be able to make such a face. I had no idea what was wrong with her mind.

"It’s really... such a refreshing place! The trees scattered all around and the unique freshness! It’s a truly beautiful place!"

"Why don’t you live here for the rest of your life then?"

"I can’t do that! Because it will be much more refreshing beside the World Tree at Grylls-nim’s house than here!"

It was to the point where Lackey gave her a scolding like that. Even so, Elia lightly brushed it off.

To think the atmosphere would be like this just because one person was added. In many ways, she was an amazing human—no, Elf.

Whoosh!

Just then, a chilly wind blew. It wasn’t a snowy mountain or the Tibetan Plateau, but a fairly chilly spring breeze.

At the same time, the trees shook gently, and bright yellow pollen fluttered. It wasn’t the heavy yellow dust storm often seen at home, but light pollen.

Seeing this, I lightly blocked it with my arm, and Lackey did the same.

Even if it was light, the moment it entered one’s nose, it would cause extreme itching.

"Seuuueup... Keok! Keok! Kollok! Kollok!"

"Oh, boy."

Except for Elia, who had been inhaling the air like a drug, completely immersed in the freshness of the forest.

No matter how pretty a face is, shedding tears and snot makes for an unsightly view. Since it was her own doing, I could only sigh.

Still, since I didn’t know what might happen if left alone, I roughly rinsed her with water.

"Thank y— Echwi! Huljjeok."

"Truly a high-maintenance female."

"Don’t call her a female, call her a woman. I told you before."

"I prefer ’female’."

"Fine. Call her whatever you want."

There was no point in me trying to force a correction. I checked that Elia was fine and moved my steps again.

Since there wasn’t much left until Wanbong Peak, we would be able to see the surrounding scenery once we reached the summit.

Fortunately, no dangerous creatures appeared along the path. Only the peaceful singing of birds could be heard.

Even bird songs could be dangerous in the Forest of the Four Seasons, but because it was a hiking trail, it was strangely peaceful.

Moreover, although it had become worn over a long time, the trail was well-paved, so there were no issues with movement.

Kwajik!

[Mmh. The wood is old and breaks easily.]

"Would you mind getting off your horse before talking?"

Well, even so, it couldn’t withstand Cain’s heavy weight.

In any case, there were no signs of maintenance, and since it was a trail no one would use, it wasn’t a big deal if it got damaged.

After walking steadily after that, we eventually reached Wanbong Peak—the summit.

Reaching the summit, the view was wide open in all directions, making it very easy to secure visibility. More important than that was where this place was.

"Master. Is this the summit?"

"It is the summit."

"But looking at the signpost here, it says there is another summit."

Upon reaching the summit, just as Lackey said, another signpost and a map were hung.Get faster updates on novelрing.com.

It was a characteristic of hiking in the Republic of Korea. Having numerous peaks, like the West Peak or East Peak.

Furthermore, even if it wasn’t a summit, it was sometimes described as some kind of garden.

"Our country was always like that. By the way..."

I looked around from the summit. As mentioned earlier, because it was an open area, the surrounding scenery was fully revealed.

And I could see green mountain ranges spread out in all directions. It was truly nothing but green mountains.

Since even the place presumed to be the summit was covered in trees, it was difficult to grasp properly.

The summit we were on now was also densely packed with trees, but it was relatively better, allowing us to at least check the signpost and map.

’Over there... looks like a city....’

Fortunately, a place presumed to be a city was visible in the distance.

Seeing it surrounded by mountains on all sides, it certainly looked like a characteristic of a city in the Republic of Korea.

However, that place was exceptionally surrounded by mountain ranges. It was a somewhat familiar terrain.

’...I can’t be sure yet.’

First, knowing which mountain this is is the priority.

Unfortunately, although there was a signpost and a map, they were too old and worn to be legible.

Only the single character for ’Mountain’ was visible. Moreover, I didn’t know mountains very well.

"Let’s look around the other peaks first. That way we’ll know where this is."

[If you do know, what will you do?]

"Based on my knowledge, I’ll consider whether to head toward the city or just proceed toward the coordinates."

If this mountain was one I knew, I planned to head straight for the city. If not, we would follow the coordinates.

It was just as we were moving along the trail. I thought it would be a perfectly peaceful hike, but I was mistaken.

"Kueoeong!!!"

A massive bear suddenly revealed itself in front of us. Bears were scattered all over the Forest of the Four Seasons, so I could let it slide.

I was just quite flustered by the fact that there was a bear on a hiking trail on the Korean Peninsula.

But soon, even this was meaningless, as humans had vanished from Earth for hundreds... no, over thousands of years.

It wouldn’t be strange if the Asiatic Black Bears released on Mount Jiri had made their way to other places.

Peok! Peok!

"Kkueong! Kkueong!"

"You startled me, you rascal."

For now, I merely disciplined this bear with a beating.

When I delivered a beating with Mistilteinn, the bear shrieked and curled its body.

Covering its head as if begging me not to hit it anymore, it looked almost like a human getting beaten.

Once the bear finally quieted down, I put away Mistilteinn and checked the creature.

I had used the Asiatic Black Bear as an example, and now I wanted to verify if it truly was one.

’It really is an Asiatic Black Bear?’

Looking at the clear crescent moon-shaped fur on its chest, it was definitely an Asiatic Black Bear.

If so, it was half-certain that this place was Mount Jiri, but something was off.

I had been to Mount Jiri on a middle school trip, and in my memory, the scenery was far too different.

Since the trail itself was different, I immediately realized it was a different mountain.

"Hey."

"Kku, kkueong?"

"Tell the truth while I’m still being nice."

"By any chance, did you always go around threatening animals, Grylls-nim?"

"I went through it too. Get used to it."

Let’s ignore the two troublemakers whispering behind me. Right now, information is the priority.

The Asiatic Black Bear, beaten half to death by me, quickly straightened its posture when I growled.

Kneeling and placing both paws neatly on its lap. I don’t know who taught it, but it was a very polite posture.

’...Is it trying to become Ungnyeo?’

I dismissed the useless thought. First, finding out this fellow’s birthplace was the priority.

"From what I know, you should be in a place called Mount Jiri. Right?"

"Kku, kkueong?"Enjoying the story? Read on at novelрing.com.

"It’s asking what Mount Jiri is."

"I mean a mountain other than this one."

"Kku, kkueong!"

"Yes. My family came from another mountain."

As expected. This fellow wasn’t from Mount Jiri.

Then the question was where this mountain was, which I would have to find out gradually.

"Get lost quickly. Before I beat you more."

"Kkueong!"

The bear bowed its waist politely as if in gratitude and scurried away.

Its behavior was truly no different from a human’s, leaving me speechless.

Anyway, I should slowly scan the trail. As I was moving my steps like that, I suddenly reached an awkward spot.

If it had been consistently managed and maintained, it would have been a somewhat wide space, but now it was an area overgrown with weeds.

If it had been trees instead of weeds, I might not have known, but I could tell this place was a kind of landmark.

"Master. Look over there. There’s something big."

While looking around the weeds, Lackey pointed at something.

There existed a rock and a stone statue covered in moss, with a somewhat familiar appearance.

I quickly removed the moss and vines covering the stone statue. I wanted to set it on fire to resolve it quickly, but I endured.

Soon, the stone statue was roughly revealed. The statue took the form of a ’Buddha statue’, and uniquely, a square stone slab was placed on top of it.

Structures made of stone often maintain their original form even after thousands of years.

Although there were signs of damage here and there due to lack of maintenance, it was clear what this was.

"...It’s Gatbawi."

[What is Gatbawi?]

"It’s a place I came to with my parents in the past."

Gatbawi. In other words, the name of this mountain is Mount Palgong.

And Mount Palgong is a national park where many cities intersect. I had been here quite often with my parents when I was young.

At first, I whined that it was annoying and that I wanted to go to an amusement park, but I had many memories of actually enjoying the hike.

It was to the point where even my parents told me to go slowly as I ran ahead.

Lost in memories for a moment, as soon as I realized it was Mount Palgong, I couldn’t help but hesitate.

My hometown is Daegu, which is near Mount Palgong. Since thousands of years had passed, the appearance of my hometown must have changed.

Should I risk the danger and go, or should I return home?

Above all....

"...Everyone."

"Speak, Master."

[Speak.]

"Would it be alright if I pursued my personal desires for a moment?"

First, I asked my companions for understanding. This matter was strictly personal.

It was no different from taking a detour when we didn’t know how long it would take to return home.

But if not for this opportunity right now, I would never be able to fulfill my wish.

"Follow Master’s will. I will follow."

[I am of the same mind.]

"My life is held hostage by you, Grylls-nim!"

"...That’s all well and good, but Elia, your phrasing is a bit strange. Anyway, what I want is only one thing."

As I had mentioned before, I lost my parents in an accident during my student days.

There was no will, let alone any proper last words. Afterward, the pastor had guided me when I was wandering.

Therefore, what I want is exactly two things.

"I want to go see my parents. And I also want to pay a visit to the pastor who saved me."

Finding the charnel house where my parents were laid to rest, and searching for traces of the pastor.

"Would that be alright?"

I asked in a rarely timid voice.