I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 71

After untold hardship, I defeated the Guardian. Honestly, luck played a big part.

If it hadn’t been a Guardian made of Orichalcum, if Wonmo hadn’t mustered the courage to charge in...

And finally, if Light hadn’t flickered at that critical moment, I wouldn’t be among the living anymore.

In particular, Wonmo deserves huge credit this time. Thanks to Wonmo, I was able to catch a clue.

What would have happened if I hadn’t brought Wonmo along? Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.

’Since he’s a cub, his mana must have been far lower.’

It was a battle I could win only because various conditions aligned perfectly.

Speed Sloth also couldn’t exert his strength this time, unlike during the Saber-toothed Tiger night attack incident.

Even for a guy who sliced through an iron bucket like tofu, Orichalcum must have been tough.

Even if he could cut it, the monster regenerated anyway, so it wouldn’t have mattered.

"Aigoo..."

How much time had passed since defeating the Guardian? I was still lying flat on the floor.

Having had my mana sucked dry left me overcome with exhaustion.

On top of that, squeezing every last drop of mana into the crystal orb before throwing it dried me up like a shriveled squid.

’Still, isn’t this way too extreme...?’

It wasn’t that I lacked the strength to even twitch a finger. In fact, physical force was there.

How should I put it? It felt as if gravity had multiplied several times, crushing down on my body.

Anyway, because of that strange sensation, it was hard to force my body up.

"Wonmo-ya."

"Kkyuu?"

"Come here. Let me pet you at least."

Instead, let’s just feel Wonmo’s fluffy face.

When I petted him, Wonmo purred softly, showing how good it felt.

I thought purring noises were usually made by cats, but oh well, whatever.

’First, let’s drink some Elixir.’

As my vitality returned to some degree, I was able to compose myself little by little.

A sip of Elixir, followed by slowly regulating my body through breathing.

I couldn’t run a Mental Cultivation Method yet, but focusing on breathing gradually made me feel better.

"Egogo."

Groaning, I slowly stood up.

After going through such a fierce battle, every part of my body throbbed with pain.

Especially my abdomen. Compared to anywhere else, my abdomen hurt ridiculously bad.

During the fight, I managed to endure it thanks to the adrenaline rush and the Elixir’s pain-killing effects.

But now that it was all over, it hurt so much that my face automatically scrunched up.

’It’ll heal in a bit.’

I had witnessed the performance of the Elixir with my own eyes.

After all, it instantly healed my arm that was shredded from being bitten by Mad Dog.

It seemed that because the problem was internal rather than external, it was taking longer.

"Hmm..."

Enduring the pain, I checked the corpse (?) of the Guardian I had slain.

Unlike its humanoid shape from earlier, it now looked like a pile of rocks.

I gazed at the Sword of the Heavenly Demon, which still radiated a dominant presence amidst the pile of rocks.

’Is it really the Hero’s sword?’

Entertaining useless thoughts, I grabbed the Sword of the Heavenly Demon.

Then, pulling hard, something skewered onto it came sliding out.

’Is this the core?’

The Guardian’s heart and power source: the core.

Having lost its light, it no longer radiated a blue glow and appeared dark.

I wondered if this had any value, but even if it didn’t, Orichalcum was scattered everywhere around me, so I set my worries aside thinking it wouldn’t be a problem.

’I should upload proof like this.’

I adjusted my angle so both the skewered core and the Orichalcum heap behind it were visible.

After snapping a few photos, I uploaded them to the Gallery. I posted Wonmo while I was at it.

Title) I beat the Guardian.

Wild Grylls

(Photo of the core skewered on the sword and the heap of Orichalcum behind it)

(Photo of the limb-shaped Orichalcum heap)

(Photo of the core skewered on the Sword of the Heavenly Demon)

(Photo of Wonmo looking up)

I was exploring when a Guardian suddenly jumped out and I almost died.

At first, it was absorbing mana and even mutating its body, so I thought I was screwed. But I barely managed to take it down.

The last photo is Wonmo, who pulled off MVP-level performance in this desperate battle. Without Wonmo, I couldn’t have figured out the strategy.

Anyway, Orichalcum aside, I don’t know if the core is useful. Can I sell this?

└ Heavenly Demon) Was this creature called a Guardian strong?

└ Wild Grylls) It wasn’t as bad as the Saber-toothed Tiger, but it was strong. If I didn’t know the strategy, I would’ve actually died.

└ Heavenly Demon) I see. It is late to mention it now, but if you encounter an enemy that absorbs internal energy like that, there is a simple countermeasure.

└ Wild Grylls) What’s that?

└ Heavenly Demon) Keep shoving internal energy into it until it can no longer absorb it. Then, most of them end up destroying themselves.

└ Wild Grylls) Master;;

└ Sword Matstar) A Guardian that absorbs mana? I’ve slain quite a few Guardians myself, but that’s the first time hearing of such a thing. Mutating their body is the same, though.Read this novel at NovelPing for the best experience.

└ Wild Grylls) It’s probably because its body was made of Orichalcum. Do other Guardians mutate their bodies too?

└ Sword Matstar) Yes. A Stone Guardian can control rocks, a Tree Guardian controls trees, and a River Guardian controls river water.

└ Wild Grylls) What about firing an energy beam from its core?

└ Sword Matstar) That’s another first for me. What on earth did you kill;;

└ Wild Grylls) So this bastard was the weird one lol

└ Starlight Lady) Are you hurt anywhere? Every time I see posts like this, I worry.

└ Wild Grylls) I did take a satisfying gut punch. But I have an Elixir, so I’ll be fine.

└ Starlight Lady) What a relief. However, internal injuries require extra care. Unlike external wounds, they’re difficult to heal directly.

└ Wild Grylls) Yes. I’ll be careful.

└ Starlight Lady) Speaking from experience, you should be cautious.

└ Wild Grylls) Got it.

└ Passing Dwarf) Whoa. Look at all that Orichalcum;; How much is all that worth?

└ Wild Grylls) Can you make anything with that?

└ Passing Dwarf) There’s plenty you can make, but it’s probably useless for you specifically. The core is just an energy source too.

└ Wild Grylls) Is there really nothing I can do with the core?

└ Passing Dwarf) It’s like coal, so meh? Still, a size like that could sell for a high price.

└ Wild Grylls) I don’t need money though. Can’t I hook it up to a fridge or something? Like a portable power bank.

└ Passing Dwarf) If that were possible, I would’ve already built a portable brewery.

└ Wild Grylls) Everything leads back to booze with you, seriously;;

└ But is Grylls really a beginner? Everything he kills is insane?

└ Fr, he won some with terrain luck before, but now I can’t believe it. How is that a beginner?

└ Is he seriously faking weak?

└ Wild Grylls) (Photo of severely bruised, dark red abdomen) What was that?

└ Sorry;;;

└ Damn, that must really hurt;;

└ Didn’t he take a hit on purpose? lol

└ Won’t believe it until you show the process lol

└ Wild Grylls) Can I show it? Taking pics with the Gallery obstructs my field of view, so it’s hard.

└ Dunno?

└ Doesn’t Orange Badge know?

└ Go ask Orange Badge.

└ Wild Grylls) Irresponsible bastards;;

After messing around on the Gallery, I started cleaning up.

Calling it cleanup felt awkward, though. Aside from the core, everything around was Orichalcum.

I grabbed a few decent-sized pieces and stuffed them into my Subspace Bag. I put the core in as well.

Though fairly heavy, it wasn’t enough to hinder my movement. My mana was also gradually recovering.

’I should probably give the core to Allfather or something.’

Allfather would probably find researching the core interesting.

Thinking that, I headed out of the cave... wait, no, I looked for the Light Crystal Orb first.

The crystal orb was fine, with only a minor scratch despite taking a laser hit. Looks like I’ll be using it a lot in the future.

’Practically speaking, King Reor saved my life.’

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m going to root for Reor.

I have to remain loyal to Princess Chaenggu. Instead, I’ll give him Orichalcum as a reward.

After stepping outside the cave, I tapped the crystal orb twice.

With that, the light floating gently in the air faded away, and the crystal orb lost its glow.

’As soon as I get back, I need to operate my Mental Cultivation Method.’

Since my mana was almost drained dry, I needed to refill it with the Mental Cultivation Method.

Furthermore, my stomach was bruised black-and-blue, so I needed to rest until it healed completely.

’This means I can’t go catch crabs again.’

Things I felt sorry to Passing Dwarf for kept adding up.

Good thing I gave him fish yesterday, or else I would’ve lost his trust.

If worst came to worst, I could just give him more Orichalcum as an apology.

Even if he only used it for a brewery or refrigerator, that would be enough.

’By the way, is there no crystal orb with a recording feature?’

I recalled the Gallery comment asking if I could show the battle process.

At first I brushed it off as nonsense, but thinking about it, there was huge merit to it.

As the old saying goes, seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.

Even though I’m getting guidance from fixed handles, learning strictly through text poses a lot of inconveniences.

’It’s a matter worth considering seriously.’

There might be camera angle limitations, but even so, it would be a huge advantage.

The problem was how to record video. There are no smartphones here.

’I’ll just have to ask Orange Badge.’

I needed to look closer into the Gallery’s functions.

With those thoughts in mind, I returned to the shelter.

Perhaps because I had been through a fierce fight, coming back felt comfortable, like coming home.

’I shouldn’t get too comfortable, though.’

What if I end up settling down here permanently? Not that that would happen.

I harbored a constant hope of getting out. I wanted to see human faces again.

It was a longing that cute Wonmo and bickering Speed Sloth couldn’t satisfy.

Just being able to exchange actual ’words’ face-to-face could satisfy it to an extent, but right now that was impossible.

’Should I really draw a face on a ball and talk to it?’Read this novel at novelрing.com for the best experience.

I chuckled to myself while sorting my gear. Even I thought it was a dumb idea.

Yet that might just become my future.

’I’ll leave the core here, and place the Orichalcum next to it.’

After finishing the organization, I checked the time.

It’s roughly an hour until lunchtime. I can check my physical condition in the meantime.

First, I checked my stomach, which had been bruised deep red.

Originally, my entire abdomen was bruised, but now it had visibly shrunk.

If not for the Elixir, wouldn’t it have been dangerous?

’While someone struggles desperately to win, someone else does it in a single strike...’

It’s unfair, but what can I do? I’m just a weak, fragile human.

Gently rubbing my belly, I lay down on the soft mat.

Whether because of the hard-fought battle or the depletion of mana, I felt sluggish.

’Even if I take a nap, I should eat lunch first.’

Until then, I’ll just browse the Gallery. I accessed the Gallery.

Wondering if there were posts about me, I searched for my nickname.

I’m honestly jealous of Grylls.

"Huh?"

There was a post that made me blink in disbelief. What kind of lunatic is jealous of me?

I couldn’t help but be intrigued, so I naturally clicked into it.

I’m honestly jealous of Grylls.

(Photo of a dilapidated slum)

(Photo of a cramped, tiny shack)

(Photo of a roof leaking rain heavily)

Just a common slum Gallery user here. Everyone says poor Grylls, poor Grylls, but I’m actually jealous.

Honestly, as long as you have the Gallery, making a living isn’t a problem, right? Plus, it’s the Forest of the Four Seasons, so expensive stuff is lying around everywhere.

Slums don’t even have that. My dad took off long ago, and my mom is out selling her body.

I get beaten up regularly while begging on the streets. Just know that what looks pitiable to someone might be heaven to someone else.

Being safe? That’s all bullshit. Before, some bastard pulled a knife on me just to steal my begging bowl.

This place is just fucking hell. Even if I want to leave, I don’t know where to go, so I can’t leave.

So I’m jealous of Grylls living in the wild without worrying about money.

└ What is the Temple doing? Didn’t they say they’d relieve the slums?

└ They do, but it’s meaningless lol There’s a tons of bastards who gamble it away or run off with it.

└ Slums aren’t slums for nothing. Unless you wipe them out, there’s no solution.

└ Hang in there.

└ Looking at this, maybe Grylls is better off?

└ Nah. That’s not it. This guy can at least do something, but Grylls has to risk his life every single time he does anything;;

└ If the wild was good, everyone and their mother would be living in the wild lol

Numerous comments flooded in—criticism, pushback, and empathy alike.

Watching that, I couldn’t help feeling strange. Realizing things could be viewed like this too.

I could understand. Where this user was living was a different kind of hell from mine.

Their circumstances were just different; suffering was suffering all the same.

’Is the grass always greener on the other side?’

In fact, I was jealous of this person. At least there are people around him.

Being somewhere with the warmth of human presence is far better than being dropped into the wild all alone.

So I left a comment. One closer to a temptation than an insult.

└ Wild Grylls) (Photo of cave with mat laid out) Buddy. Want to come here? It’s surprisingly cozy. If you come, we can do anything!

└ What is this now lololol

└ Thought he’d curse, this is bewildering lol

└ Forest of the Four Seasons vs Slum. What an epic showdown;;

└ Honestly, strictly considering fucked up futures, former wins hands down lol Forest of the Four Seasons has no future or shit, literally nothing lol

└ Only because there’s the Gallery, without it everything would have to be done manually;;

└ Imagine comparing this lol Whatever it is, it’s better than the Forest of the Four Seasons

└ What ridiculous comparison is this shit

└ Are you making fun of me right now?

└ Wild Grylls) No no, I’m dead serious. If you come, I’ll do everything I can for you.

└ I’m a guy though?

└ Wild Grylls) I’m all alone.

└ I’m gay.

└ Wild Grylls) I’m single.

└ Fuck, creepy as hell, I’m not going. Piss off.

└ Wild Grylls) T_T

└ Hahahahaha

└ Hahahahaha

└ Hahahahaha

└ Instantly cured lololol

The self-pity post was promptly suppressed. Most scolded the poster, telling him to compare things that actually make sense.

Yet did they know?

’Once again, I’m the only one being serious.’

That I was 100% serious.