I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 741

Because of my joke-like remark, Asella had almost ended up wearing the traditional attire of the Central Plains.

If it were ordinary martial robes, it would be one thing, but since it was such a sensual outfit, I had no choice but to stop her.

Thanks to that, even though there was a brief commotion, we quickly moved past it and could enjoy the festival merrily.

Peobeobeong! Peobeong!

"Wow..."

A single streak of firework shooting high into the sky.

As the firework burst, it created a beautiful shape like a flower. Truly, a flower blooming in the night sky.

Fireworks, which I had seen a few times back on Earth.

Perhaps due to technological limitations, they weren’t as multicolored as on Earth, mostly blooming in red and orange, but this alone was beautiful.

It was a culture fitting for the Central Plains, raising the festival atmosphere to another level.

"It’s beautiful."

Asella, who was watching the fireworks with me, murmured quietly.

Glancing at her, I saw her blankly admiring the fireworks with a lamb skewer in her hand.

She was so focused on watching that she didn’t even realize the sauce was dripping onto her hand.

"Asella. The sauce on your hand."

"Pardon? Oh, ah!"

When I pointed this out, Asella hurriedly licked the sauce off.

A reaction completely devoid of any dignity as a Hero, pure as could be.

Rather, it was so typical of Asella that it only brought a smile to my face.

"Ahem! I’ve shown you an unsightly sight. The fireworks were so beautiful that I ended up spacing out. Please understand."

"I understand."

"Have you ever seen fireworks before, Grylls-nim?"

Asella asked, taking a delicious bite of the lamb skewer.

Her attempt to somehow change the subject was quite cute.

’More than that, fireworks...’

I raised my head and looked up at the sky. The fireworks sparkling as if carving flowers.

Objectively speaking, I had seen fireworks much more splendid than that quite a few times.

’Back in my hometown, they set off fireworks every time the baseball team won the championship.’

That was a story from when I was in elementary school. This, too, was one of my distant memories.

The reason I remembered this memory was very simple. I had gone with my parents.

Even though my parents had passed away early, they had gifted me many memories during that short time.

"I have. I’ve even watched them with my parents."

"Mmm! As expected, it’s certain that the gods passed down fireworks!"

"Is there really a need to jump to that conclusion?"

Fireworks are an extremely old culture even by Earth’s standards. As far as I knew, China was the origin.

Therefore, it wasn’t strange even if they originated in the Central Plains, which had a very similar culture.

"Grylls-nim! Try this too!"

"What is this?"

"They say it’s one of the specialties unique to the Demonic Cult!"

Even while the fireworks were ongoing, we looked around various parts of the festival grounds.

First, starting with the most basic: street food exploration.

It could be called the alpha and omega of a festival, allowing us to taste various foods.

"Oh. There’s tanghulu too."

"Is this what’s called tanghulu?"

"Yes. It’s extremely sweet. Oh, by the way, you don’t have any cavities, do you?"

"I-I brush my teeth every single time after eating three meals a day! What do you take me for!"

Originally, I had planned to enjoy the festival with my identity hidden.

But somehow, I ended up sticking by Asella’s side, enjoying a date that wasn’t quite a date.

Since Yoo So-wol was the Heavenly Demon, she was busy in many ways, and Ash would have passed out in her lodging by now.

Therefore, the only person available to walk around with was Asella.

’And I was the one who spoke to her first, too.’

Well, since Asella was the Hero, even if I openly revealed my identity, everyone just accepted it and moved on.

Many posts would probably be uploaded to the Gallery, but I didn’t care much.

[Wild Bbareumbo: Hey.]

[Wild Grylls: Huh? Is something wrong?]

[Wild Bbareumbo: (Photo of walking with Asella 1) (Photo of walking with Asella 2) (Photo of walking with Asella 3)]

[Wild Bbareumbo: Having fun? Someone is suffering? Not coming quickly? Kill you?]

No, I guess I should care.

In the middle of enjoying the festival, I let out a hollow laugh at Bbareumbo’s messages that came flooding in.

From Bbareumbo’s perspective, while he was working his ass off, I was leisurely playing around, so he must be furious.

Still, since I would depart tomorrow at the earliest, or within two days at the latest, I gently coaxed him.

’Even if we depart, I don’t know how long it will take to reach home.’

Perhaps it might take more than a month.

In the worst-case scenario, we might never return, or we might die on the way.

After gently soothing the furious Bbareumbo, I focused on the festival with Asella.

"It definitely feels different from Christmas in the Holy Kingdom."

"How is it compared to the Holy Kingdom?"

"That’s like asking whether chess or janggi is the better board game."

"Tsk..."

Asella smacked her lips in disappointment.

I had felt this before, but her swinging between joy and sorrow at my every word was strangely cute.

"But to be honest... Christmas in the Holy Kingdom will be much more memorable. More than any other festival."Read this novel at novelрing.com for the best experience.

"R-Really?!"

"Yes. Since it was my first time coming out of the forest, and many meaningful things happened, didn’t they?"

I wasn’t talking about Ludwig’s family reunion.

It was about becoming Rudolph myself and pulling Santa for the children living in the orphanage.

The smiles the children showed back then would absolutely never be forgotten.

"Come to think of it, what happened to the children in the orphanage? I recall even the child with the bad leg stood up perfectly fine."

"They are living much more peacefully than before. Many people have sponsored the orphanage. Moreover, some children have been adopted by good parents. They even adopt from foreign countries."

Asella wore a happy smile as she said that.

Eating the delicious tanghulu must have doubled her joy.

I was equally pleased. I smiled gently and took a bite of the tanghulu.

’It is a blessing for children to mature as late as possible.’

A child maturing early meant there was a big problem in the family, or an accident of comparable scale had occurred.

That was how I was. I had to take responsibility for everything myself when I was in high school.

If not for the pastor’s support and my friends’ consideration, I would have gone greatly astray.

"Asella."

"Yes?"

"Would you like to check out the Heavenly Demon Cult’s orphanage while we’re at it?"

When I casually suggested it, Asella’s eyes widened.

"I-I didn’t think of that...!"

"Chew properly first."

Pieces of sugar and starch syrup flew out of Asella’s mouth. How could she speak when she still had tanghulu in her mouth?

Asella also seemed to realize her mistake belatedly, as she quickly gulped it down.

"Kehek! Kek!"

"Oh, dear."

I lightly patted her back.

Choking because she swallowed too quickly, it only brought a hollow laugh.

Who could ever think of such a clumsy girl as the Hero? She seemed to fall apart particularly often in front of me.

"Cough! Cough! I-I’m sorry. I’ve shown you an unsightly side again..."

"I see it often, so it’s fine."

"Ugh..."

Asella’s face turned red. If I teased her any more, she looked like she might cry, so I should restrain myself.

"Anyway, you’re going to visit the orphanage, right?"

"Y-yes! Cough! Of course! I heard that since the Heavenly Demon Cult is a place where marginalized people gather, its welfare systems are well-established. Still, just in case, it would be best to check in person."

Although the Heavenly Demon Cult was a faction with strong religious overtones, ironically, that was why its welfare was quite excellent.

It was just that the voices of strange individuals were loud; otherwise, it was mostly religion that illuminated the blind spots of welfare.

Also, both past and present, the public security of the Central Plains could not be called good even as an empty promise.

Why else would the imperial court leave public security to each faction under the principle of ’Non-Interference Between Government and Martial World’?

’It is the fate of a country with a vast territory.’

The Republic of Korea has a cramped territory, and there is almost nowhere to flee overseas.

With North Korea to the north and the sea on the other three sides, if you commit a crime, you are bound to be caught unless you smuggle yourself out.

Even if you do smuggle yourself out, the statute of limitations stops at that moment, so you can never return.

On the other hand, countries with vast territories have many places where public authority doesn’t reach, so self-reliance is the default.

The country where this point is particularly prominent is the land of the free, the United States.

To protect oneself from wild animals and various crazy people, keeping a self-defense gun is a basic necessity.

The reason why the government’s clamor for gun control is so sluggish is due to these realistic aspects.

’Even with all that, they say they can’t stop gangs from dividing territories and running rampant.’

The United States is a mild flavor; for the spicy flavor, one only needs to look at Mexico down below.

A country where the power of criminal groups is so vast that even the military cannot stop them, filming a real-life Spring and Autumn Period.

How much worse would it be in this world, where military power is divided according to individual martial might?

Because of this, there are many places where public security has collapsed, which is why people rely on the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Even if it was a remote place, at least they didn’t have to worry about making a normal living.

"I know the location, so please follow me!"

"Have you visited before?"

"I was guided by the Demonic Brain once. Though I was too busy to go inside."

Asella grumbled slightly. Given her personality, she probably wanted to do volunteer work as well.

It was likely either because she was truly busy, or because the Demonic Cult kept her in check.

Since it was currently a festival period, and if she went with me, the Demonic Cult had no excuse to stop her.

Thus, following Asella, we reached the orphanage. It wasn’t in a remote place, but in an area where passersby frequently came and went.

Moreover, just as Asella said, it was visible to the eye that it was steadily managed and sponsored.

’I heard that orphans have increased recently due to the civil war... Will they be able to live decently at this rate?’

I stepped forward on behalf of Asella.

Currently, Asella was not in a position to be very welcomed by the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Missionaries naturally faced such circumstances, and there was no need to cause unnecessary friction.

Knock, knock, knock—

I lightly knocked on the orphanage door and waited.

If what Asella said was true, there was a high probability that the children of the orphanage were also enjoying the festival.

But not the children who were sick in body or mind. Just because it was the Heavenly Demon Cult didn’t mean there were no marginalized people.

Squeeeak—

"Who is i... Huh?"

A moment later, the door opened, and an elderly middle-aged woman revealed herself.

She wore ordinary clothes and even spectacles, exuding an air of benevolence.

What was more surprising was the aura felt from her.You are reading on novelping dot com, the official source.

On the outside, she looked like an ordinary middle-aged woman, but a presence that couldn’t be underestimated was felt.

’Well, she is someone who protects children.’

Meanwhile, the middle-aged woman scanned me up and down, then slowly widened her eyes.

Since my face was already widely known within the Heavenly Demon Cult, she couldn’t possibly not know.

"H-H-Heavenly God..."

"Shh. May I come in for a moment?"

I placed my index finger to my lips to calm her down.

There was no reason to make a fuss, and it was solely to check if the children were doing well.

"Y-yes! Of course! Please come in!"

"Thank you. You are the director of the orphanage, correct?"

"Yes. Though I am lacking, I am in charge of this orphanage according to the will of heaven."

Having replied, the director glanced at Asella, who had come with me.

I saw her brow twitch for a moment, but perhaps because I was there, she didn’t say anything.

Soon, after entering the well-managed orphanage, I questioned the director.

"Is this the only orphanage of the Heavenly Demon Cult?"

"They are divided by age. This place protects children before the age of fifteen."

"Where do they go after that?"

"Many children set their minds on academics and head to other regions, or learn martial arts to assist heaven."

The director explained kindly, even mentioning that the number of orphans had increased due to the civil war currently breaking out in the Central Plains.

When asked why the orphanage was particularly quiet, she said they had all gone out to enjoy the festival.

’It seems there are many volunteers and teachers.’

It made sense given the strong religious color.

As I said earlier, religion is intertwined with welfare in many aspects.

One can easily tell just by looking at the myths of ancient times, namely Greek and Roman mythology.

’They say the temple of Zeus served as an orphanage.’

There was even a theory that those orphans were called the children of Zeus, which was why he was stigmatized as a womanizer.

There is a hypothesis that the trials coming upon the children were sent by Hera, and if they endured steadfastly, they could become heroes.

Seeing that even ancient religions played such roles, religion is inseparable from humanity.

"Then are there children who haven’t been able to enjoy the festival yet? Seeing that you are guarding this place, director, it seems so..."

"You do not need to use honorifics with me, Heavenly God-nim. And unfortunately, there are children who cannot enjoy the festival due to circumstances."

"Are they children who are sick in body or mind?"

"Rather than that..."

The director hesitated for a moment, then sighed and replied.

"...Children with physical or mental discomforts can enjoy the festival thanks to the teachers and volunteers. The children who haven’t gone out to the festival now are those who realized the ways of the world too early."

"You mean they matured too early."

"It is exactly as you say, Heavenly God-nim. The more we try to persuade them, the deeper their wounds seem to grow..."

In a way, it was the most difficult and regrettable part.

They were children who should be building memories, but having matured too early, they chose isolation.

Rather than isolation, they quietly hid because they didn’t want to cause trouble to others.

"May I meet them?"

"Since it is your wish, Heavenly God-nim, I will only follow. Still..."

"Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to hurt the children."

I gently reassured the director.

Demonic Cultists were people who wouldn’t find it strange to commit suicide immediately if heaven ordered them to die.

Yet, seeing the director hesitate until the end, I could realize how much she worried about the children.

"It is here."

A moment later, the director guided Asella and me to a certain room.

There was no need to announce my arrival, and I planned to approach slowly.

Since children who had matured early were usually highly wary.

’One, two, three, four... four in total. One of them is...’

Children, each of different genders and ages.

Especially, one of them was wearing a blindfold over her eyes, as if she couldn’t see.

"Ah!"

"Careful."

"Th-thank you, oppa."

Just as the girl wearing the blindfold tripped over something at her feet and was about to fall, a boy caught her.

Seeing them rely on each other was heartwarming, but it also brought a pang of sadness.

"But oppa. I think someone has come..."

"Someone has come?"

Was she sensitive to presence and sound since she couldn’t see?

At the words of the girl wearing the blindfold, the boy, who exuded a mature air, turned his head.

The other two children were the same. Each stopped what they were doing and turned their heads toward us.

"Huh? That person is...?"

Before the boy could even recognize me, I spoke first.

"Hello, children."

Suddenly, a memory of the past came to mind.

"What are your names?"

My first meeting with the pastor who had guided me.

Although I am not a religious person like him, and it would be hard to become one.

"Is there anything this ahjussi can help you with?"

I thought that perhaps I could at least give them the ’love’ that he had given me.