I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 715

Although the Heavenly God Martial Festival had not yet begun, the battle between the two did not end until dusk.

Unlike the light exchanges at the beginning, they were now pressing each other, mixing in Lethal Techniques.

Although they still did not use swords and fought purely bare-handed, the destructive power was terrifying.

With every exchange of blows, shockwaves erupted, and as time passed, the ground they stood on began to crack.

"You’re surprisingly weak against provocations, aren’t you?"

"Quiet."

Even in the midst of this, Ash did not stop running her mouth. Yoo So-wol disliked her even more for it.

She had disliked her from the beginning, but facing her in person, she realized they were practically polar opposites.

Especially every time Ash brought up Grylls, every time she confidently declared she would steal him away, anger surged deep within her.

When was the last time she had felt such anger in reality, rather than on the Gallery? She could barely even remember now.

But since she had come to feel that emotion of anger so vividly today, it didn’t matter anyway.

"Is it common in the Western Kingdoms to wag one’s tongue in the middle of exchanging martial forms?"

"That applies to sparring, but this isn’t that, is it? I can’t exactly use sweet words with someone who’s trying to kill me."

"Annoying, but a sound argument."

At that moment, Yoo So-wol’s palm strike flew straight toward Ash’s face. A surprise attack.

Ash caught the attack with both hands, then twisted it gently, forcing Yoo So-wol’s upper body out of balance.

But Yoo So-wol used that force to her advantage instead. The moment Ash twisted her arm, she spun around and unleashed a kick.

With counter after counter naturally following, backing away quickly was the best Ash could do.

"Honestly... can’t you just let me hit you once?"

As a brief lull set in, Ash lightly brushed the dust off her body.

Although they had been fighting bare-handed for hours, she showed no signs of exhaustion. This was the same for Yoo So-wol.

Aside from their mutual dislike, the level of their martial arts was roughly equal.

Jjirit-

At least, on the surface.

Ash slightly furrowed her brow at the tingling pain in her wrist.

She hadn’t been hit directly, but it felt as if she had struck a boulder with her bare fists.

Part of it was that Yoo So-wol had reached the Profound Realm first, and furthermore, the depth of a Central Plains martial artist’s Internal Cultivation Art was on a different level.

"Hmm..."

It wasn’t much different for Yoo So-wol. If Ash had suffered minor internal injuries, Yoo So-wol had sustained external ones.

She looked back and forth between the scratch on the back of her hand and Ash, who had caused it.

Perhaps because Ash possessed martial arts as vast as the ocean, the variety of her techniques was immense.

No matter how great the Heavenly Demon was, unless she had personally witnessed that ocean, she was bound to be caught off guard at least once.

They didn’t know each other well, but precisely because they didn’t, they could truly realize it.

This person, this woman, was absolutely no easy opponent. Perhaps she was a lifelong nemesis they would have to face forever.

"...I still do not like you."

"Me neither."

"Our benefactor is wasted on a woman as jealous as you."

"Wouldn’t the same go for a woman who acts all arrogant, calling herself the ’Heaven’ or whatever?"

"I cannot understand. This lady gave her heart to our benefactor because she received his grace."

Though, that wasn’t really for Yoo So-wol to say. She had only met Grylls in person once as well.

And even then, it was for less than a minute on Christmas. Yet, that brief moment was a gift more precious than anything to her.

She held him in her heart not just because of that moment, but because they had shared emotional connections on a regular basis. But she couldn’t understand Ash at all.

At least in Yoo So-wol’s eyes, there was only one reason Ash courted Grylls: she saw his potential to grow stronger than herself.

Of course, Ash had courted him diligently even when he only showed a glimmer of potential, but that had felt closer to a joke. To the mindset of a Central Plains native, it made no sense.

"Do you truly hold our benefactor in your heart? Is it not just because you missed the marriageable age and are desperate?"

"Otherwise, why would I have gone as far as kissing him? And my very first kiss as a virgin, at that."

"Hmm."

A type who acts rather than talks. Yoo So-wol nodded.

It wasn’t that such people didn’t exist. Those who couldn’t explain with words, so they charged straight ahead with actions.

In a way, she was similar to Grylls. People who could clearly reach a conclusion, but found it difficult to explain the process in detail.

Usually, this was called intuition or insight, one of the chronic ailments of those whose talents touched the heavens.

"I cannot understand those from the Western Kingdoms. You call it open-minded, but I cannot shake the feeling that it is simply lewd."You are reading on nov‌elping.com, the official source.

"It’s better than being a block of wood who can’t even proudly declare her feelings."

The bickering continued. But perhaps because they had just fought a fierce battle, it wasn’t as sharp as before.

It was closer to mere squabbling. Since dusk had settled, they had to prepare to head back.

Dungsil-

At this, Ash placed the flowerpot she had sent into the air back onto her palm. She had kept it afloat using the Telekinetic Blade Technique during her fight with Yoo So-wol.

Despite their bare-handed sparring causing immense destruction, the flowerpot remained perfectly intact without a single scratch.

Yoo So-wol glanced at the flowerpot and felt an inexplicable sense of defeat. Ash likely hadn’t been able to spar properly because she was busy worrying about the pot.

"Surely you do not intend to participate in the Heavenly God Martial Festival while holding that flowerpot?"

"I’m only going to watch, though?"

"Participate. Otherwise, this lady will personally call you out."

"You really have a knack for being annoying. If we spar, the arena we barely managed to repair will be completely destroyed, you know?"

"It does not matter. This lady feels she will only find peace of mind once she defeats you. More importantly..."

Yoo So-wol turned her head and stared intently at a certain spot. Specifically, toward the sky.

Not just her, but Ash as well. Both of them were looking at the exact same spot.

As if someone was there.

"Let me ask one more thing."

"Go ahead."

"Have you ever met anyone from the Demon Race?"

"I fought them a lot in the past. They’re such a bellicose race that many challenged me."

The two suddenly discussed the Demon Race. Looking at the same spot, they exuded a subtle atmosphere.

"Then, by any chance, does the Demon Race enjoy voyeurism?"

"You know about sports, right? Seeing how obsessed they are with them, they definitely love watching. Especially matches where a winner is decided."

"I see."

Yoo So-wol nodded and picked up a small pebble from the ground. Anyone could see she intended to throw it.

But before she could, a change occurred in the empty sky. A certain section shimmered unnaturally, and its true identity gradually revealed itself.

The blue skin and inverted eyes unique to the Demon Race. And the horns growing from her head.

Though highly exotic compared to other races, she possessed a beauty that made these features seem like mere charming traits.

"Oh my. I only wanted to watch, you know?"

The Trolling Princess—no, the Demon Princess Kaylin—descended slowly from the sky with a sweet smile.

She thought she had completely concealed both her presence and appearance with magic, but this alone was not enough to deceive the sharp senses of the two.

Because of the shockwaves generated by their exchanges, she hadn’t been able to make out what they were saying.

So she had crept closer and closer, but their conversation ended at that exact moment.

She could have eavesdropped using magic, but since that was a rather high-level spell, she would have been detected immediately.

"I’m late in introducing myself. My name is Kaylin, princess of Mephisto. It is an honor to meet the noble Heavenly Demon and the Sword Master."

Kaylin placed her hand over her chest and bowed politely. On the surface, she looked like a well-mannered princess.

But Yoo So-wol and Ash were not fooled. They vividly felt the competitive spirit radiating from Kaylin.

No matter how much she tried to hide it, a demon was a demon. It was difficult to conceal a fighting spirit that was practically a racial instinct.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have personally traveled to this dangerous place.

"How insolent. Does the Demon Race believe it is polite to watch a martial artist’s battle from afar?"

"Isn’t the Heavenly God Martial Festival a tournament meant to show exactly that?"

"Peeping on an unofficial spar like this, rather than an official match, is hardly polite."

Yoo So-wol and Ash’s scolding followed. Despite their rebukes, Kaylin did not lose her composure.

Rather, as if that made it all the more amusing, she expressed the unique mindset of the Demon Race without filter.

"A battle filled with sincerity, rather than just for show, is always the most entertaining. And missing out on that is something a demon cannot easily let pass."

"Those words. Do they represent Mephisto as a whole, or just you personally?"

"Beyond Mephisto, the entire Demon Race likely thinks so."

A reply fitting for a demon fanatically obsessed with sports. Ash chuckled upon hearing this.

The Demon Race did not just love sports; they loved the competition itself. One could say they enjoyed watching the dividing line between victory and defeat.

The development of numerous sports today was part of that, whereas in the past, they fought real battles instead of sports.

That was why the Holy Kingdom had suffered for so long. It wasn’t for nothing that the ruler of the Demon Race had been called the ’Demon King’ for generations.

"If I have offended you, I apologize. And I also plan to participate in the Heavenly God Martial Festival..."This chapter was taken from novеlping.com without permission.

Kaylin trailed off, looking at the two. Neither Yoo So-wol nor Ash would participate directly.

To be precise, they were highly likely to participate as the highlight and ’event’ of the Heavenly God Martial Festival.

"You two aren’t participating, are you? What a shame."

"I heard rumors that the princess herself would participate, but I didn’t expect it to be true."

"Even if I lose, it doesn’t matter. As long as I can feel the joy of battle, that is enough."

"What amusing people."

Perhaps Yoo So-wol liked Kaylin’s way of thinking, as the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

Just moments ago, Yoo So-wol and Ash had been busy growling at each other as if to tear one another apart, but they relaxed with Kaylin’s intrusion.

To be precise, they had no choice but to relax. They couldn’t bring up that topic in front of someone who knew nothing of the circumstances.

Thus, the three formed a strange connection. Though rather than a connection, it was closer to keeping an eye on one another.

"You two are heading back straight away, right? Since the sun has set, further sparring would be difficult."

"Even if the sun were up, we would not have sparred. We cannot perform like clowns while you peep on us."

"Then what about watching openly instead of peeping?"

"Your shamelessness is quite similar to this pale woman here."

"You know that’s a racist remark, right?"

"I was referring to your hair, though?"

The three bickered as they made their way toward the Heavenly Demon Palace. Of course, they parted ways once they nearly reached it.

If anyone were to see them like this, nothing could be more troublesome.

Although they had been caught by Kaylin, they could just bury this as a personal secret.

"Hmm."

Meanwhile, Yoo So-wol looked back and forth between Ash and Kaylin. Specifically, at their chests.

Both women boasted outstanding curves, making her wonder if everyone from the Western Kingdoms was like that.

Even the Hero she had encountered in the audience chamber this morning was extraordinary, wasn’t she?

Of course, Yoo So-wol was by no means lacking in size, so she felt no jealousy whatsoever.

"Why are you staring like that?"

"It is nothing."

"If my face is pretty, you can just say so, you know?"

"Tsk."

How could she be so identical to Ash? Yoo So-wol clicked her tongue.

Soon, just as the three were about to go their separate ways, Kaylin spoke as she soared into the sky.

"Oh, by the way, Ash-nim?"

"Yes?"

"That flower. It looks beautiful."

Up to this point, it was fine. It sounded like a normal compliment.

But Kaylin’s next words...

"...Just like the one I’m growing. The one I’m growing hasn’t bloomed yet either."

"...Pardon?"

"What?"

...were more than enough to deliver a massive shock to both Yoo So-wol and Ash.

By the time the two froze in shock, unable to do anything, Kaylin returned to her quarters with a meaningful smile.

Even if returning meant just going inside the Heavenly Demon Palace, it didn’t matter. Right now, she just wanted to run away.

Having returned to the Heavenly Demon Palace, Kaylin went back to her bedchamber and rolled around wildly on her bed.

"Kuuuuh...! Thrilling! Fresh! This is so much fun...!"

As always.

"How can I resist something this thrilling!"

The Demon Race was a species crazy for dopamine.

Even if she was at risk of having her fixed nickname exposed, it didn’t matter.

’Even if it’s revealed that I’m Princess Chaenggu, it doesn’t matter. I can just expose everyone so we all die together!’

This situation, where they had strapped bomb collars to each other’s necks.

To the Trolling Princess—no, Princess Chaenggu Kaylin—it was an incredibly thrilling situation.