I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 716

The opening day of the Heavenly God Martial Festival. That morning, the sun rose beyond the dim twilight.

As the Heavenly God Martial Festival was beginning, countless people moved busily from early morning.

Starting from the Demonic Brain, Wi Seol-ak, who commanded most of the Heavenly Demon Cult, to the elders in charge of each department.

Everyone was incredibly busy, but only one person, Yoo So-wol, did not leave her bedchamber.

"Haa..."

The Heavenly Demon, Yoo So-wol, had not slept a wink because of what had happened just three days ago.

Since her realm was what it was, it didn’t matter if she didn’t sleep, but resolving her mental fatigue was no easy task.

Indeed, as if to prove it, she remained holed up in her bedchamber except when performing her duties as the Heavenly Demon.

Furthermore, holding the Rose of Sharon flowerpot gently in her arms, she wore a deeply pensive expression.

’Without beating around the bush, a person’s heart cannot be confirmed...’

The words Ash had spoken during their spar cluttered her mind. She wanted to shake her head to dispel them, but they kept lingering.

Despite her fame and honor as a Sword Master, Ash had proudly declared her feelings. On the other hand, Yoo So-wol could not.

She was confused whether she was bound by her position as the Heavenly Demon, or simply embarrassed as a woman.

While communicating with Grylls, she could treat him as a human being rather than the Heavenly Demon, but her inexperience was unavoidable.

’Long live the Heavenly Demon! Absolute submission of ten thousand demons!’

’Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand, ten thousand years!’

Shouts heard occasionally from outside. All of those shouts were directed toward the Heavenly Demon.

Not a single praise was directed at Yoo So-wol. It had to be that way.

That was how she was taught, how she was raised, and how she was born.

A destiny like a cart silently rolling along well-laid tracks.

Occasionally derailing from that destiny to enjoy herself was the Gallery, and her conversations with Grylls.

’I do not know.’

Yoo So-wol raised her head and looked up at the ceiling. The tightly closed ceiling met her eyes.

Even if she had ascended to the position of the supreme ruler, if she was ultimately bound to that seat, freedom would be nothing but a dream.

Though she had sworn to look at the same sky, she began to confuse whether the subject of that oath was the Heavenly Demon or Yoo So-wol.

’If even our benefactor were bound to this place, I wonder... if he would be happy.’

Grylls was bound to the Forest of the Four Seasons. Yet, he was freer than anyone.

On the other hand, Yoo So-wol was not. This difference created a massive chasm.

Perhaps that was why she obsessed even more over the flowerpot he had gifted her. Aside from the Gallery, it was the only object connecting her to him.

But due to the bombshell declarations left by not only Ash but also Kaylin, she realized that this was far from being unique.

’This lady is the Heavenly Demon whom all subjects must look up to. I cannot betray their expectations.’

The place she would run to the moment her duties ended was the Forest of the Four Seasons. To look at the same sky as him.

But would she truly be able to completely escape the seat of the Heavenly Demon even then? Such a doubt arose.

Since it was a sincerity she couldn’t even speak aloud, showing it through actions was utterly absurd.

It was a mindset that would seem incredibly frustrating to others, but that was how Yoo So-wol had been taught.

Even if she derailed occasionally, she ultimately returned to the tracks, so a complete derailment was a difficult task for her.

"..."

Yoo So-wol raised her head and looked at the Gallery. Due to the opening of the Heavenly God Martial Festival, the Gallery had been buzzing since morning.

Among them was a post by Ash, whom she had bickered with yesterday. As always, it was a post completely lacking in substance.

But the most eye-catching post was, without a doubt, Grylls’s. Even though it hadn’t been long since he posted it, it immediately became a Recommended Post.

Title) Oh! Today is the day I go to the Heavenly Demon Cult!

Wild Grylls

(Roughly an alarm clock meme)

Not much time left until the Heavenly God Martial Festival, so I better go quickly!

ㄴSword Matstar) Did you happen to hit your head somewhere?

ㄴThat’s so mean...

ㄴShe really shatters all dreams and hopes, lololol

ㄴYou should at least give him a little hope, lololol

ㄴDoes she not have a human heart?

Yoo So-wol smiled gently as she looked at Grylls’s shitpost. It seemed he also wanted to watch the Heavenly God Martial Festival.

Naturally, as someone bound to the Forest of the Four Seasons, he could never watch it. Unless someone broadcasted it in real-time on the Gallery.

A real-time broadcast put a massive strain on the eyes, making it practically impossible. Therefore, they would pinpoint and show only the key scenes.

Wouldn’t Grylls be pleased with just that? Yoo So-wol smiled warmly again at the thought of him being happy.

’...It seems I like our benefactor very much.’

At the belated realization, her face flushed for no reason.

At first, it was certainly a small ripple. Like throwing a stone into a calm lake, a ripple that would soon disappear.

But at some point, the frequency of throwing stones increased, and then a massive boulder fell, creating a wave. She hadn’t even been prepared.

Just as if swept away by a wave, her heart was swept away too. Now, she had surrendered her body and mind to that wave.

She didn’t dislike it. Rather, riding that wave made her feel even more excited.You are reading on novelping(.)com, the official source.

’It seems best to surrender myself to the wave for the time being.’

Yoo So-wol resolved so and hugged the flowerpot in her arms even tighter.

If she applied any more strength, the pot might break, but she knew this and controlled her force.

Then, looking at the Rose of Sharon, which had not yet fully bloomed and only had buds, she slowly brought her face close.

Jjok-

Yoo So-wol lightly kissed the flower bud. An act filled with deep affection.

If anyone else saw this, they would have fainted, but there was no one else here.

That was why she could behave like this. The greatest expression of affection that Yoo So-wol, not the Heavenly Demon, could make.

Something she could never have done to the person who gave her the flower, rather than the flower itself.

"..."

Even though she had kissed the flower and not the person himself, her face burned.

Yoo So-wol slowly set the flowerpot down on the windowsill. It was a spot bathed in bright sunlight.

Since the Heavenly God Martial Festival was being held today, it was time to maintain her dignity as the Heavenly Demon. Yet, strangely, the burning in her face did not subside.

’T-To think that white woman actually kissed our benefactor when it is such an embarrassing thing... I truly cannot understand the open-minded thinking of those from the Western Kingdoms.’

She cursed Ash in an attempt to divert her mind, but it was of little use.

Profound Realm or not, the emotions that had sprouted in her heart could not be easily controlled.

Fortunately, however, she was able to master her feelings before anyone noticed.

"Heavenly One. All preparations are complete."

"I understand."

Yoo So-wol moved her steps, guided by the elder.

Since it was time to issue the so-called ’Heavenly Mandate’ announcing the opening of the Heavenly God Martial Festival, there was no need to rush.

It was around the time Yoo So-wol stepped out of the Heavenly Demon Palace with the elder.

Seuseuseuk-

The flowerpot Yoo So-wol had left on the windowsill, the Rose of Sharon.

The buds of the Rose of Sharon slowly squirmed, and then...

Seuseuseuk!

Little by little, very slowly, it began to bloom as if attempting to burst into full flower.

It was a blooming that no one would witness, but precisely because of that, it shone even brighter.

Seuseuseuseuk!

The flowers, a harmonious blend of white and pink, gradually began to bloom in full.

The Heavenly God Martial Festival had begun. Countless spectators gathered to watch the spars, and the participants began warming up in their own ways.

Most of the participants in the Heavenly God Martial Festival were either already famous or highly talented.

Not to mention participants from famous sects of the Central Plains, there were even participants from entirely different countries.

Although those from other countries had come purely for scouting purposes, they also did their best since a battle of pride was involved.

"Winner! Ludwig!"

"Hmm."

The Guardian of the Holy Kingdom, Ludwig, was one of them. He was able to secure a clean victory over a skilled fighter from a famous sect.

His prosthetic leg was not a problem at all. He could use it freely now.

Rather, by utilizing that leg to execute unpredictable attacks, he had become far stronger than before.

"Good work, Teacher. How was your opponent?"

"They were just decent."

"Hearing you say that means it was easy."

The Hero, Asella, was proud of Ludwig. The teacher who had taught her had become much stronger than before.

This, too, must be Grylls’s grace. Indeed, had it not been for Grylls, Ludwig would have lost his life, let alone his leg.

The Heavenly God Martial Festival continued steadily afterward, and several other skilled fighters stepped forward besides Ludwig.

Kwang! Kwagang!

"Haha! You have to entertain me more!"

"Aaargh!"

For example, the Demon Princess, Kaylin.

She pressured her opponents using the powerful magic unique to the Demon Race, to the point where it was practically playing with them.

Isn’t it strange to use magic in a martial arts tournament? Anywhere else, perhaps, but the Heavenly Demon Cult didn’t care.

Since one’s own ability could be considered their martial arts, there was no reason to impose restrictions.

Furthermore, the Heavenly Demon Cult itself was originally a place where marginalized or persecuted people gathered to form a group.

As long as it wasn’t an unethical act like those of the Blood Cult, anything was fine.

"They said those with blue skin like that are the Demon Race, right? Quite a fascinating appearance."Visit n⁠ovelping.com for the full chapter.

"I heard the Demon Race is mostly a species strong in battle."

"Is that so? Then what about, where was it, the Elves? Didn’t they say Elves are similar? The Demon Race participated, but I don’t see any Elves."

"I heard they have serious internal issues right now. Don’t you even read the newspaper?"

As time passed, the Heavenly God Martial Festival grew even hotter. The same went for Yoo So-wol, who was watching.

Although she did not participate directly, it was difficult to suppress her inner competitive spirit just by watching.

Above all, for some unknown reason, her face had been burning and her Internal Energy was not settling well.

It was far too strange to attribute it to what had happened over the past few days. She was even sweating due to the heat.

"Huu..."

"Heavenly One. Are you feeling unwell?"

"No. It is nothing. Just..."

Sweat poured and her breath grew shallow as if she had caught a fever. The consumption of her Internal Energy was also unusual.

It felt as if her Internal Energy was leaking away somewhere like a broken dam. She could not fathom the reason.

’What is this? I couldn’t have been poisoned...’

She had no choice but to circulate her Internal Cultivation Art, but even this was meaningless.

The more she circulated her Internal Cultivation Art, the more her Internal Energy drained away.

"Ugh...!"

"Heavenly One!"

"Physician! Call the physician!"

In the end, Yoo So-wol collapsed mid-circulation.

Wi Seol-ak, who was watching from her side, as well as the elders, could not help but be horrified.

Wi Seol-ak was especially shocked, as it was practically the first time the always-haughty Yoo So-wol had shown such a state.

"What? What’s going on?"

"Did the Heavenly Demon collapse?"

"Suddenly? What on earth..."

Naturally, the Heavenly God Martial Festival was suspended. It was only natural, given that the supreme leader had suffered a health emergency.

Even as everyone was in a stir, Yoo So-wol found it difficult to endure the boiling heat.

It was fortunate that she had reached the Profound Realm; an ordinary person would have been in critical danger long ago.

"What is the matter!"

"Her Internal Energy... her Internal Energy is draining rapidly."

"What? Her Internal Energy?"

"Yes. But it is strange. There are no abnormalities..."

It was at that moment.

Kwagagang!!!

A loud noise erupted from the center of the Heavenly Demon Palace, and a massive pillar of light shot upward.

Everyone’s attention was bound to be stolen by that pillar of light. It was such a colossal and beautiful pillar.

The pillar of light, soaring to the very edge of the sky, showed no signs of fading; rather, it maintained its form as if earnestly wishing for something.

"What on earth is that..."

"Light...?"

Abnormal phenomena occurred one after another.

Paat!

"Huh?"

"Master?"

"W-What is this?"

A pillar of light descended around Grylls, who was eating at home.

If it were simply light coming down, it would be one thing, but the problem started after that.

"Huh? Uh, uh?"

"M-Master?!"

"Grylls-nim?!"

Grylls, who had been eating while looking forward to the highlight of the Heavenly God Martial Festival.

"Aaaargh?!"

As if being abducted by aliens, he was sucked into the pillar of light and soared high into the sky.

The companions who saw this hastily reached out to Grylls, but...

Chijijik!

"Ah, hot, hot, hot!"

"Argh!"

When they touched the pillar of light, it was as hot as being burned by fire, making it impossible to take any action.

"Uaaaargh!"

Thus, Grylls soared high into the sky along the pillar of light.