I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 713

A strange silence settled between the two women. On the surface, they looked as if they stood at opposite poles.

Yoo So-wol had a translation crystal orb in her bosom, so she could understand her words, but she did not bother to reply.

Rather, she was more concerned with the flowerpot in the hands of the woman before her, Ash.

’...What’s with this person?’

Yoo So-wol wasn’t the only one on guard. Ash, who had spoken first, was no different.

The moment she saw Yoo So-wol, the surrounding air grew heavy. It wasn’t just her aura; her beauty also played a part.

Having seen countless handsome men and beautiful women in her life, Ash found a beauty as distinctive as the woman before her to be rare.

Moreover, people of the Central Plains generally had black hair and black eyes, and were relatively plain compared to the West.

Yet the woman before her boasted a figure that made even such generalizations meaningless, making her feel even more fresh and special.

’Wait a minute. This person is the Heavenly Demon, right?’

After being momentarily captivated by her appearance, Ash belatedly realized her identity.

Rather than a fixed nick who just posted weird things in the Gallery, the Heavenly Demon of reality was an impressive woman in many ways.

She had felt it when seeing photos or videos, but facing her in person made it even more intense.

’I had my doubts... but I didn’t expect her to truly be Grand Master-level.’

Ash vividly felt the Heavenly Demon’s aura. It was an extremely faint yet sharp sensation that she wouldn’t have felt at all before her realm ascended.

She had anticipated it through the martial prowess she had seen in the Gallery, but the Heavenly Demon was an incredibly strong person.

To the point where Ash also tensed her senses in wariness. There was no way Yoo So-wol would fail to notice this.

"Hooh..."

Yoo So-wol’s gaze was stolen by the flowerpot for a moment before she faced Ash’s face again.

Ash was included among the ’persons of interest’ Wi Seol-ak had informed her about. Even if she weren’t, Yoo So-wol had a personal interest.

If one were to name the absolute best experts in this world, Ash’s name was always mentioned.

It meant her prestige was exceptionally high, and Yoo So-wol was also someone who personally wanted to clash with her.

’I wondered why she was always mentioned despite having lived in seclusion for so long, but there was a reason.’

The Heavenly Demon, who had reached the Profound Realm, could feel it through her skin. The woman before her, Ash, was an expert who had stepped into the Profound Realm.

Although she was presumed to be in the early stages of the Profound Realm, judging by her well-contained energy, she was an opponent one could never let their guard down against.

Yoo So-wol was about to reveal her rising competitive spirit, but she realized this was the Heavenly Demon Palace and barely suppressed it.

More important than that was the flowerpot she was holding. Yoo So-wol glanced at the flowerpot and then looked directly at Ash.

"Intriguing. To think there is someone who dares to stand face-to-face with this lady."

Yoo So-wol’s words were automatically translated by the crystal orb. At this, Ash also looked directly at Yoo So-wol.

It was an introduction that had already passed long ago, and furthermore, they had already realized who each other was.

Ash pondered what to say in this situation before quietly opening her mouth.

"So you are the Heavenly Demon..."

"Indeed. I am the sky."

"I see."

Silence once again. Since neither of them was particularly talented at conversation, only brief words were exchanged.

Needless to say for Yoo So-wol, and even for Ash, unless it was in the Gallery, she didn’t have the sociability to act casually with someone she met for the first time.

Moreover, she wasn’t just an ordinary person, but the master of the Heavenly Demon Cult. In essence, a king or emperor had suddenly appeared, which was incredibly awkward.

"Hmm... It’s a bit late, but I will show my manners. I suppose bending one knee is appropriate in the Cult as well?"

Ash decided to show manners first before any trouble could brew.

Just as she was about to slowly bend her knee, Yoo So-wol spoke.

"This lady is not on an official outing. Furthermore, this is not the audience chamber, and you are not even a Demonic Cultist. There is no need for you to lower yourself before me."

It was a lie. Even if it wasn’t the audience chamber, and even if she didn’t make an official appearance, the moment any Demonic Cultist saw her, they would prostrate themselves and show respect on their own.

Foreigners were no exception. Even Ash would bend one knee when facing a king or emperor of another nation.

Ash was puzzled for a moment, but she slowly stood back up according to her words.

Perhaps because Ash’s height was slightly taller than an average adult male. Even though Yoo So-wol was also on the taller side, Ash was looking down at her.

But Yoo So-wol didn’t care at all and spoke in her characteristic dignified voice.

"If you are not busy, I would like to have a chat with this lady."

"Hmm... I don’t mind."

Ash nodded and agreed. It was free time until the Heavenly God Martial Festival commenced.

Selena was probably busy discussing things with Wi Seol-ak, and during that time, Ash had planned to wander around the Heavenly Demon Palace or check out the training grounds.

Soon, Yoo So-wol turned around and headed somewhere, and Ash quietly followed behind her.

Thus, the two left the palace while maintaining silence. Despite being two picture-perfect beauties, no one paid them any mind.

Since both of them knew things would get troublesome if they were seen like this, they had suppressed their presences beforehand.

Even if someone saw them, they had adjusted it so that it would only seem like a passing illusion in the corner of their eye, so there was no issue.

"Did you say your name was... Ash?"

"Yes."

Although she had never mentioned her name, Ash answered readily. It didn’t have much meaning at this point anyway.This chapter is updated first at novelping dot com.

Yoo So-wol glanced back upon hearing Ash’s reply. Her gaze kept drifting toward the flowerpot.

At the same time, her mind was busy deducing the connection between Ash and Sword Matstar.

’I felt it when we debated swordsmanship. That she is someone with a deep level of martial arts. Considering that it is the truth and not a bluff...’

The formula of Sword Matstar = Ash was established. All her doubts were resolved by a single flowerpot.

But since there was no coincidence like this, it was difficult to jump to conclusions.

Her instincts kept shouting that they were the same person, but unusually, her reason gently urged her to watch a little longer.

Although Yoo So-wol usually acted as she pleased, she didn’t just behave recklessly.

Because she thought when she needed to think, she was able to reach the Profound Realm.

Of course, Grylls’s help was involved in that process, but she lightly brushed it off, calling it a destiny ordained by heaven.

"The level of your martial arts seems exceptionally deep..."

"It is probably lacking compared to yours, Heavenly Demon-nim."

"How amusing. You have lived longer and experienced more of the world than this lady, yet you claim to be lacking? Indeed. Though your depth may be lacking, it must be as wide as the sea."

Yoo So-wol mentioned the words she used to bring up whenever she debated swordsmanship with Sword Matstar in the Gallery.

Whether Ash felt something or it was just because Yoo So-wol was the Heavenly Demon, she flinched slightly.

A brief silence followed, and then she spoke. It was a refined voice.

"As wide as the sea... That is high praise. There are many people wider than me."

"Who is there?"

"Most notably, in the Forest of the Four Seasons."

"..."

At the mention of Grylls, Yoo So-wol momentarily paused her steps before moving again.

The sea Yoo So-wol described referred not just to simple internal energy, but to overall capability including it.

There was no way Ash wouldn’t know this, and the Sword Matstar she knew had quite a discerning taste.

One could tell just by looking at the swordsmanship theories she consistently posted. They were so sophisticated and effective that even Yoo So-wol took an interest.

Furthermore, Sword Matstar was the one who delivered bone-deep truths whenever she bickered with other Gallery users.

"Are you speaking of that person who is only ignorantly strong in power but lacks depth? I did not expect you to say such a thing."

Thus, she deliberately disparaged Grylls to test her. To make herself appear arrogant.

Of course, she didn’t forget to apologize to Grylls in her heart. For Yoo So-wol, whose words and actions almost always aligned, this was a truly difficult task.

"..."

Ash knit her brows upon hearing those words, then slowly relaxed them. On the surface, it could seem that way.

In reality, Grylls was closer to someone who fought relying solely on his powerful physical build.

His technique, at best, had only barely escaped the basic level.

Although it was recently revealed through past recollections that his technique was also outstanding, he hadn’t shown it himself yet.

Therefore, she was only considering the circumstances up to now.

"...On the surface, it does look that way. But Heavenly Demon-nim, may I ask you a question?"

"Speak."

"Can you subjugate a dragon from the mythical era, Heavenly Demon-nim? Even if it’s a Bone Dragon, a dragon from the mythical era at that."

"Hmm."

Yoo So-wol pondered. She hadn’t particularly thought about it.

Since they were bound to share the same sky in the future, she wondered if there was any need to think about it.

His martial power was her martial power, and her dignity was his dignity.

But if she separated them and evaluated... honestly, even for Yoo So-wol, it would be difficult.

"Many factors would have to be considered. But I cannot deny that it would be difficult."

"I admit his depth is lacking. But he has the ability to cover for it."

As the two conversed, they had stepped outside the Heavenly Demon Palace before they knew it.

The place they were heading to was the back mountain where Yoo So-wol usually trained. Though called a back mountain, it was practically a mountain range.

As if showing how Yoo So-wol had trained all this time, the shape of the mountain range was unique.

Some parts were pierced as if holes had been punched through them, and other parts were bizarrely shaped, looking as if a giant had taken a bite out of them.

Seeing scars that could never have occurred naturally, Ash estimated Yoo So-wol’s martial power.

"You communicate well with this lady. Can we discuss other things as well?"

"Like what?"

"For now, only martial arts come to mind."

Unless it was a story related to Grylls, she had no interest.

What kind of status Ash held, what her family relations were, for what reason she participated in the Heavenly God Martial Festival, and so on.

None of that was necessary; they only talked about martial arts endlessly. Just as Wi Seol-ak had evaluated, Yoo So-wol’s heart toward martial arts was sincere.

Ash also met someone she could communicate with and happily conversed. Because it felt just like talking to the Gallery’s fixed nick, ’Heavenly Demon’.

’...It couldn’t be, right?’Read the latest chapters at nоvelping.com.

A sense of incongruity struck her for a moment, but she suppressed it with effort. She wasn’t certain yet.

After a while, they reached the plain where Yoo So-wol usually trained. A massive mountain stood right in front of them, at a distance from the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Yoo So-wol stopped her steps there. Ash also naturally stopped and stared at her back.

"By the way, I have a question. Do you always carry that flowerpot with you?"

Yoo So-wol asked while remaining stopped. Unlike before, it felt as if there was a slight edge to her voice.

Ash noticed that subtle change. But a question was a question, so she answered sincerely.

"Yes. I always carry it. It is truly precious."

"Precious... Can you tell me who you received it from?"

"I received it from my future groom."

"..."

For a moment, harsh words almost burst from Yoo So-wol’s mouth, but she barely suppressed them.

However, the aura that erupted in that split second left Ash with no choice but to be puzzled.

"Ahem. Ahem."

Yoo So-wol coughed to cover it up. Following that, she still didn’t look back and only stared ahead.

Whether in the Gallery or in reality, lying like breathing was the same. Or perhaps she was testing her.

"From your future groom... Seeing how you brought it all the way from a distant foreign land to the Cult, it must be truly precious."

"Of course."

"Do you always carry it? Even so, it must be difficult."

"Let me show you something interesting."

Saying so, Ash quietly let go of the flowerpot. Normally, it should have fallen to the ground and shattered according to the laws of gravity.

However, just before colliding with the ground, the flowerpot began to float up as if defying the laws of gravity.

The floating flowerpot flew elegantly and soon moved right in front of Yoo So-wol’s field of vision.

Yoo So-wol let out an exclamation of "Heh," at Ash’s Telekinetic Blade Technique (?). She had never dreamed that she would accompany it in this manner.

’A precious object should be kept in a safe place...’

Clicking her tongue inwardly was a bonus. No matter how progressive, a person of the Central Plains was still a person of the Central Plains.

Her way of thinking was bound to be conservative compared to Westerners. It was closer to Yoo So-wol choosing not to do it even though she could.

Moreover, even without learning trivial tricks (?) like the Telekinetic Blade Technique, she was strong enough.

Whether in the Gallery or in reality, she was equally displeased in many ways.

Then what about carrying a flowerpot during the last Martial Arts Tournament? She had carried it because she was confident.

Crucially, the value of the Hair Growth Herb back then and the Rose of Sharon she received recently was as different as heaven and earth.

Since even a single leaf of the Rose of Sharon was precious.

"Come to think of it, didn’t you also have a hobby of carrying a flowerpot around, Heavenly Demon-nim?"

"I did."

Yoo So-wol spoke while still not turning her back and only looking ahead. Ash didn’t particularly care.

Afterward, the two discussed at length how they had grown their respective flowerpots.

Surprisingly, they communicated quite well in this area and even exchanged their own know-how.

"But my lady. There is something this lady is curious about."

"Speak."

It was when they had exchanged a reasonable amount of words. Yoo So-wol spoke as she slowly turned around.

The two finally faced each other. Black eyes and blue eyes locked in the air.

Hwiiiiing—

The wind blew. The chilly wind characteristic of the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Yoo So-wol lightly tidied her fluttering hair and said with a soft smile.

"You mentioned a future groom earlier... How strange."

"What is strange? That I have a future groom?"

"Indeed. From what I know, the person you have taken an interest in... cannot leave the Forest of the Four Seasons."

There was no need to hide it anymore. They had already vaguely guessed each other’s identities.

Yoo So-wol raised one corner of her mouth as she looked at the flowerpot floating around Ash.

An expression that was not just arrogant but close to a sneer, unlike anything seen before.

"Do you truly believe the benefactor will fall into your arms? How utterly arrogant."

Yoo So-wol addressed Grylls with the respectful title of ’benefactor’, just as she did in the Gallery.

Ash’s reaction to this was:

"Ha. This woman..."

She said with a smirk, as if dumbfounded.

"So you already knew everything?"

Polite speech was not needed between the two.