I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 727

A duel that had somehow come to be. It wasn’t an official match, but closer to an event.

According to the martial artist who had pointed me out, he didn’t care if he got eliminated after this duel.

He said he knew he couldn’t win anyway, so he did it fully prepared for elimination.

Hearing that put my mind at ease to some extent, but it wasn’t as if I had nothing to worry about.

The problem was that I didn’t know exactly how strong my current power was. I had used my strength during Christmas, but by my standards, it hadn’t been that difficult.

After all, I just had to become Rudolph and pull the carriage carrying the children. With mana, anyone else could have easily done it.

But testing my strength elsewhere was awkward, as it was hard to find a suitable place to practice.

There was a place where Yoo So-wol used to train, but it was in a mountain range far away from the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Going all the way there would take too much time, so in the end, I decided to use the absolute minimum amount of force.

"My dear. Try throwing a punch at my hand."

A few hours later, with the duel against the man who had challenged me drawing near.

As I was looking over a sword temporarily borrowed from the Heavenly Demon Cult, Yoo So-wol spoke to me.

A sudden proposal to punch her hand. While momentarily bewildered by the suggestion, I locked eyes with her.

Yoo So-wol wore her usual blunt expression, but the moment our eyes met, she subtly averted her gaze.

Then, a faint blush bloomed on her cheeks as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

Though she probably did it unconsciously, it exuded a strange atmosphere. It felt like the fresh, innocent sensibility of a young girl.

Every time we faced each other like this, my heart felt like it was fluttering, but I suppressed it with an effort and spoke.

"Throw a punch? In what way?"

"It is simple. I shall show you my palm, and you need only thrust your straight punch into it."

So it’s basically sparring. I nodded at her words.

Normally, I would use a wooden dummy or a straw scarecrow, but in my case, controlling my strength was an urgent matter.

Since I would probably break them all, receiving Yoo So-wol’s assistance to adjust my strength was the top priority.

"Roughly what percentage—no, how many tenths of my strength should I throw it with?"

"It would be best to start with three-tenths first."

"Three-tenths... including internal energy, right?"

Yoo So-wol nodded. Hearing that, I gathered my mana.

Ever since I attained the Unity of Self and Object, controlling the mana inside my body wasn’t difficult.

But that didn’t mean I didn’t need practice. Just remember what I eat in the Forest of the Four Seasons.

Everything I eat at every meal is basically a degraded version of an inner core, so my body can’t help but accumulate mana.

Moreover, because of my unique constitution, ordinary people wouldn’t even be able to digest it, but my body was completely different.

With that, I channeled three-tenths of my mana and thrust my straight punch toward Yoo So-wol’s palm.

Teong!

My punch connected with Yoo So-wol’s palm. Rather than a soft palm, it felt like striking a solid wall.

Our palm and fist remained in contact, and Yoo So-wol didn’t move for a while, seemingly lost in thought.

Instead, her brow furrowed slightly, letting me know that it had exceeded her expectations. At this, I quietly watched her reaction.

"...Is there a problem?"

"...Noble sir. Was that truly three-tenths?"

It was an ambiguous question. I couldn’t tell if it was a positive or negative reaction.

I nodded and awaited her judgment.

Yes. I intended to wait.

Seueuk-

"...Heavenly Demon-nim?"

"Is there a problem?"

"No. Well..."

Until Yoo So-wol quietly closed her palm and grabbed my fist.

Up to this point, there wasn’t much of a problem, but it was so blatant that it bothered me.

Beyond simply holding it, she was kneading and squeezing it like clay.

She even had a genuinely puzzled expression, making me wonder if I was just overthinking it.

While that subtle confrontation lasted, Yoo So-wol gently let go of my fist.

The soft sensation was so vivid that it made me feel needlessly embarrassed.New chapters come out on novelping(.)com first.

"First, let me state the conclusion."

Yoo So-wol spoke to me in a deliberately strict voice. Her tone was one of serious advice.

At her tone, I also cleared my stray thoughts and prepared to take her words to heart.

"In this upcoming duel, it would be best if you do not use any internal energy at all."

"Pardon?"

Not even telling me to use just one-tenth, but telling me not to use it at all. A wave of bewilderment washed over me.

But Yoo So-wol, if nothing else, was a person who was incomparably serious when it came to ’martial arts’.

Didn’t Wi Seol-ak mention it before? That since long ago, whenever she had free time, she did nothing but delve deeply into martial arts.

The combination of such effort and heaven-sent talent allowed her to reach the Profound Realm.

Considering she had only recently passed her youth, it was nothing short of terrifying.

’If we’re talking about this kind of thing, is her talent superior to Ash’s?’

Of course, Ash had spent a long time slacking off. There might also be a difference in breathing techniques.

I didn’t know what realm Ash was in right now, but since she had freeloaded off me so much, wouldn’t her level have risen compared to before?

Anyway, putting that aside, I needed to hear why Yoo So-wol was telling me not to use internal energy at all.

"The internal energy currently contained within you has far exceeded my expectations."

"Exceeded your expectations? Hmm..."

I felt puzzled upon hearing Yoo So-wol’s answer.

As far as I knew, a master like Yoo So-wol could gauge an opponent’s skill just by looking at them.

Just like how the ground is clearly visible when looking around from high up in the sky.

Yet even Yoo So-wol said it exceeded her expectations. It felt a bit contradictory.

"I know what you are thinking. However, the internal energy you possess is similar to the Forest of the Four Seasons."

"The Forest of the Four Seasons? That sounds like you’re saying the concentration is too dense..."

"Precisely. Normally, accumulating such a concentration of internal energy is extremely difficult. That is why those who enter the Profound Realm undergo Ascension to Immortality."

To put it simply, it meant that the human body physically couldn’t withstand the mana contained within it, causing them to ascend.

But my body wasn’t like that. It was as if a massive sheet of paper had been folded multiple times to minimize its volume as much as possible.

Even if the volume was reduced, the concentration remained the same, meaning I could accumulate far more mana than others.

"To return to the conclusion, your body itself possesses the exact same traits as the Forest of the Four Seasons. It can be said to be not a body blessed by heaven, but the body of heaven itself."

"That doesn’t sound very pleasant."

Suddenly, I remembered my friends who had passed away right before my eyes, unable to withstand Qi Deviation.

If they were going to leave, it would have been nice if we left together, but instead, I was left to hold their funerals all by myself.

"Did not the god of the dwarves say so? That the Chief God possessed the greatest amount of internal energy among all the gods."

"Then how much internal energy do I have right now?"

"It is more than twice my own."

"Oh."

An exclamation escaped my lips. Yoo So-wol was objective when it came to martial arts.

Last time, Lucas had said that my current total mana capacity was about one-third of Aris’s.

Since time had passed since then, I figured the gap must have narrowed significantly.

At the same time, what was surprising was the amount of mana Yoo So-wol possessed. Unlike me, who had doped on all kinds of inner cores in the Forest of the Four Seasons, hers was pure internal energy.

Of course, I had handed her a Crescent Moon Spirit Herb in the middle of it, but that was when she was in real danger, so let’s pass over that.

Anyway, since she said it was twice as much as hers, I needed to act even more carefully.

"So that’s why you told me not to use it at all. Because even one-tenth is dangerous."

"It is the same principle as an elephant stepping on an ant without even realizing it."

"Then that means I have to rely purely on technique... It’s a bit embarrassing. It’s my first time using pure technique."

A duel where I couldn’t use internal energy. The moment I used it, my opponent would become an ant crushed by an elephant.

Therefore, I had to face them purely with technique, which honestly felt more burdensome.

’Because there’s a difference between remembering something and actually moving your body.’

The dreams presumed to be my past. Furthermore, even the flashbacks shown at the World Tree.

As these two things were forcibly driven into my brain, I naturally acquired the techniques I had mastered during those times.

However, the Forest of the Four Seasons was a place where physical weight class was more important than technique, and furthermore, technique wasn’t of much use against giant monsters.

It was uncertain whether using technique could subdue them, and above all, I possessed a reliable method (archery).Follow the newest chapters on novelping(.)com.

"Ah. Heavenly Demon-nim. Would it be possible for me to bring a bow and arrows as well?"

"The Heavenly God Martial Festival permits any weapon. If you wish, I shall have them prepared immediately."

"Thank you. I feel like I’m constantly receiving help."

"It is far from enough compared to you saving my life."

Still, I always felt sorry because it felt like I was only receiving help. Afterward, I received a bow and arrows from Wi Seol-ak, whom she had summoned.

You might ask why I didn’t just use the ones I had at home instead of getting them here?

’My house is already a chaotic mess, so it would be inconsiderate to ask for something like this.’

Above all, the duel with Ash, which could be called the main event, still remained. I would receive all my gear back then.

Now that all preparations were complete, I packed the temporarily borrowed equipment and set off.

"Be careful."

Yoo So-wol spoke quietly from behind. Hearing her, I looked back at her.

"...Are you saying that because you’re worried I might kill my opponent, or are you genuinely worried about me?"

"Is it not only natural to worry about you?"

"Uh... well... yes."

She sounded completely sincere, so I let it go. I quickly walked away to escape the awkwardness.

As I finally stepped onto the martial arts arena, instead of roaring cheers, a heavy silence hung in the air.

When other martial artists entered, passionate cheers erupted, but because of my status, everyone seemed to be walking on eggshells.

"Glory to the Chief God-nim!"

Except for one single person, Asella.

Her voice was distinct even in the quiet arena. Thanks to that, I could see where she was sitting.

When I turned my head, she was waving her hands as if advertising, ’I’m over here!’ It was cute enough to make me chuckle.

"It is an honor to duel with the Heavenly God."

It was when I stood on the arena. The martial artist opposite me politely clasped his hands in a martial greeting.

I also clasped my hands in a Central Plains-style greeting to return the gesture. Since he showed courtesy first, it was only right for me to return it.

[Let the duel begin!]

After greeting each other, the duel began with the announcer’s shout.

Though it was a duel that had somehow come to be, didn’t I have Yoo So-wol’s warning?

To absolutely not use internal energy in this duel. Lest I unconsciously become an elephant stepping on an ant.

’Even without using internal energy, I still have the external arts I’ve trained all this time... I’ll have to stay focused.’

For now, we were distanced from each other. I resolved to prepare my bow instead of my sword.

Just as a simple keeping-at-bay measure. Meanwhile, the martial artist standing before me also prepared himself.

"Then, here I come! I shall show the Heavenly God my secret technique!"

With those words, the martial artist erupted with internal energy. To refer to himself as ’this seat,’ he must be a man overflowing with self-esteem.

As I thought this, the martial artist began to swing a massive falchion with surprising smoothness.

His fierce impression and the scars covering his body. These alone spoke of the harsh hardships and trials he had overcome.

’First, one shot.’

Watching him, I quietly notched an arrow to my bow.

Naturally, the arrow was fitted with a blunt tip, possessing absolutely no lethality.

Piing!

With the intention of keeping him at bay, I released the arrow, and—

Peok!

"Kkeu-eok!"

The blunt arrow tip struck the martial artist squarely in the forehead, knocking him flat on his back.

"..."

"..."

"...No, wait."

Why didn’t he block it?