I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 742

Since the sky is always higher than anyone else, it is only right to maintain a lofty dignity.

This was a story Yoo So-wol had heard so often it had practically left calluses on her ears as she watched the festival from afar.

To her ears, it was indeed a correct statement, and she could clearly perceive what kind of existence the sky was.

Is that not why she always maintained an arrogant attitude and honed her skills to justify that demeanor?

To make it appear as confidence rather than arrogance, she had carved her bones and flesh with the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

Thanks to this, she had reached an incredible realm at a young age, becoming the sky respected by all.

However, as a reaction to that, unless they were of the same sky, no one could easily approach her, forcing her to keep solitude as her only friend.

’I did not know being alone would be this lonely.’

Yoo So-wol leisurely walked through the sky, looking down at the festival.

After parting with Grylls, she had made this choice to enjoy the festival in her own way.

She could have mingled with the countless crowds to enjoy various events, but it did not suit her personality.

’My benefactor—no, I want to walk with my husband.’

Yoo So-wol had now proudly begun to call Grylls ’husband’. Her face turned subtly red.

If anyone else found out about this, they would have been utterly shocked.

Since the title of ’husband’ practically meant a spouse.

It was only because Yoo So-wol compromised that she stopped at this; if she had been as shameless as a certain someone, she would have settled on ’gaga’ altogether.

’I wonder what my husband is doing right now.’

Yoo So-wol leisurely wandered the sky like an immortal, searching for Grylls.

She already knew he was walking with Asella because she had heard the news.

Because of this, she had left the Heavenly Demon Palace and begun to look around the festival grounds.

’Still, it is heartwarming.’

Not a single person looked sad or left out at the festival grounds.

Regardless of age, gender, status, or nationality, everyone sincerely enjoyed the festival together.

Though there were occasional arguments, they reconciled immediately or someone mediated.

Among them, what caught Yoo So-wol’s eye were the children. Children enjoying the festival with their parents.

"Children! Go slowly!"

"Y-You shouldn’t go there!"

Their smiles were enough to warm Yoo So-wol’s heart, but the children from the orphanage stood out even more.

They were enjoying the festival under the guidance and direction of teachers and volunteers, but because of their large numbers, they seemed a bit lost.

Fortunately, since everyone in the Heavenly Demon Cult knew the orphanage children well, they all treated them kindly.

Even the distinguished guests from foreign countries seemed to overlook it lightly when the children caused trouble.

It was not just the Heavenly Demon Cult; the entire world was quite favorable toward growing children.

To the point where the Chief God himself had designated Children’s Day as a public holiday.

’It seems my husband likes children.’

Not in a weird way, but in a truly pure sense.

Was it not said that even the Twin Gods were originally back-alley orphans before the Chief God took them in himself?

In particular, even though Aris was an incomparable tomboy, she grew into a respected goddess.

’I am truly curious. Why did one born as the sky choose not to reign?’

Grylls’s current personality and the traces of his days as the Chief God that he had found.

Comparing these two, there were parts that were strangely similar yet different.

Despite possessing powerful strength, he chose to embrace all people rather than oppress or reign over them.

He created a world where all could live well, yet he himself chose to enter eternal sleep.

He was a mysterious person in many ways, seeming understandable yet incomprehensible.

But one thing was clear. Whether as Grylls or the Chief God, he never let go of ’love’ until the very end.

Because Yoo So-wol also realized how sweet that love was, she could respect him.

’Perhaps my husband is not the sky, but...’

Could it be that because he is the world itself, he could become any existence?

At the same time, was he not lonelier than anyone else because of that?

Around the time she was thinking that, a certain group caught Yoo So-wol’s eye.

On the surface, they looked like a married couple enjoying the festival with children.

However, even though they were far away, the sight was as clear as if it were right in front of her.

’My husband? And next to him...’

He was giving a shoulder ride to a girl who hadn’t even reached the age of fifteen, and holding another boy’s hand with one hand.

The orange-haired woman next to him was also holding a girl’s hand.

Lastly, a boy exuding a mature air was leading the way, but he kept looking back, clearly showing he wanted to enjoy the festival.

"..."

Who could they be? First of all, they weren’t related to Grylls and the woman next to him, Asella.

Since their appearances were all different, and there was no way Grylls could have children.

Still, just in case, Yoo So-wol quietly listened in.

Even if they were far away, if she focused her hearing, she could tell what they were talking about.

"Are you worried about your sister? You keep looking back."

"Isn’t that obvious? My sister cannot see."

"I’ll protect her, so you enjoy yourself too. Don’t you trust me?"

"I-I can trust the Heavenly God, but..."

The conversation between the mature boy and Grylls, and the following chatter with the other children.

Through this, Yoo So-wol could immediately tell that the children were from the orphanage.

It seemed they had decided to bring the remaining children from the orphanage to enjoy the festival together.

It was not much different from the sight shown in the Holy Kingdom of Avalon during the Christmas Miracle.

A scene that was very Grylls-like, and not strange at all.

’I do not like that there is another woman next to him, but...’

She couldn’t just barge in and ruin it.

Above all, if Yoo So-wol intervened, they wouldn’t be able to enjoy the festival properly.

’How strange. Even though we are of the same sky, my husband blends in so naturally.’

Coincidentally, she had thought of something similar earlier.

While Yoo So-wol was the sky that everyone looked up to, Grylls was the world itself, so it was not strange for him to be by their side.

Even now, there were many passersby glancing at Grylls, but none of them bowed or prostrated themselves.

Grylls’s usual easygoing behavior played a part, but the biggest reason was that he approached them first without any pretense.

If he walked alone, he would only exude majesty, but with children, he looked like an ordinary person.

"Heavenly God-nim. I hear something popping from above, is this what they call fireworks?"

The girl riding on Grylls’s shoulders asked in a voice like a nightingale.

The girl had a bandage wrapped around her eyes, as if she could not see.

"That’s right. It’s as beautiful as flowers blooming in the sky."

"Can you tell me what it looks like?"

"Hold out your palm. I’ll draw it for you myself."

Grylls answered in a gentle voice, tracing a drawing on the girl’s palm.

The blindfolded girl also seemed accustomed to his physical contact and waited quietly.

"Wow... do they really engrave flowers like this with fire? That’s amazing!"

As if there was no problem feeling the world even without sight, a bright smile spread across the girl’s face.

It was the purest smile in the world, perfectly fitting a girl of her age.This chapter is updated first at novelping dot com.

"Then, would Ha-yoon like to describe the sound? What does the sound of fireworks feel like?"

"Hmm... it sounds like the cheers of stars blooming all at once!"

"Ha-yoon, have you ever seen a star?"

"No, I haven’t. But if a star made a sound, I think it would be like this."

A girl who could not see the world. So Grylls made sure she could ’hear’ the world.

Not just the girl, but he even accommodated the other children according to their circumstances.

’To show such kindness and love even to children he is meeting for the first time...’

If he had his own children, how much more beautiful love would he give them?

Yoo So-wol was startled by her own thoughts.

Along with that, her face turned burning red.

While Grylls likely had no such thoughts, she was already imagining a distant future.

Perhaps that was why. Yoo So-wol unconsciously turned her steps toward the Heavenly Demon Palace.

The outside was still lively with the festival, but she struggled to suppress the hot flush in her bedroom.

’S-Still...’

She slowly closed her eyes and imagined.

Herself giving unstinting love to her children.

But after a moment, one major problem came to mind.

’...I do not know how to give love.’

She had also grown up in an orphanage, but unfortunately, her talent blossomed at too early an age, so she had never properly received love.

Since she stood out in martial arts from childhood and grew up as the Heavenly Demon.

She received praise and expectations from her master and elders, but there was almost no real love.

She had only maintained her humanity thanks to the existence of the Gallery.

If not even for the Gallery, only the ’Heavenly Demon’ would have remained, not Yoo So-wol.

’Once the festival is over... I should visit the orphanage.’

Not as the Heavenly Demon, but as Yoo So-wol.

To realize how to love an ordinary neighbor, not just the object of her affection, she would take a step forward.

Though she might be clumsy at first, everyone is clumsy at first.

’My husband will be pleased too.’

Yoo So-wol resolved in her heart.

Many parents say that children’s stamina is close to infinite.

Even if you barely manage to drain it, they recharge quickly with a nap.

Since it was mentioned in various media, I knew to some extent, and having taken charge of children in the Forest of the Four Seasons, I knew how hard parenting was.

But the children of the Forest of the Four Seasons were nothing compared to this. Human children were several times harder.

"Heavenly God-nim! I hear something flapping!"

"That’s the sound of a fish flapping."

"Can I touch it?"

"That’s really dangerous, so you can’t."

"Ah! There’s another delicious smell over there...!"

Their high energy was one thing, but answering every single one of their nightingale-like chatterings was exhausting.

Moreover, since Ha-yoon couldn’t see, I had to explain things even more carefully.

’It would have been nice if she could be cured with an Elixir or Empty Sky Stone Milk.’

Unfortunately, neither is a cure-all.

An Elixir can heal external wounds in an instant, but it is far from ’restoration’.

Empty Sky Stone Milk is great enough to treat dementia, the devil’s disease, but restoring lost body parts is difficult.

You might remember the child with a bad leg being healed by Santa during the last Christmas Miracle.

Asella had been steadily receiving Empty Sky Stone Milk from me, so if it were possible, she would have healed that child’s leg long ago.

’If Selena does research, could she replicate the miracle Santa showed?’

I don’t know about that. In the first place, I don’t even know what kind of miracle Santa performed.

Seeing things like this made me keenly realize that I am not the Chief God.

What kind of god can’t even show light to a child?

I’m just a person trying my best to make a child smile.

"Heavenly God-nim. Heavenly God-nim."

"Why are you calling me?"

"Just because. Hehe."

Still, seeing Ha-yoon smile brought a smile to my face too.

Not just Ha-yoon, but the other children brought from the orphanage were busy enjoying the festival.

Even the boy who acted like the eldest son was blending in and laughing, wasn’t he?

"Hero noona. Can I do that?"

"Yes. You can. Noona will help you."

Asella also faithfully granted the timid girl’s request.

Perhaps because of that, even the people of the Heavenly Demon Cult, who originally guarded against her, treated her favorably.

I happily spent the festival with Ha-yoon on my shoulders, feeling proud.

As this seemingly eternal time passed, the heat of the festival also began to gradually die down.

"It seems we should head back now."

"Ehh... I want to play more..."

Ha-yoon expressed her disappointment at the words that they had to return.

Saying she didn’t want to go to the festival, that she felt like a nuisance to me, that it was meaningless since she couldn’t see anyway, and so on.

As if she had never said those self-deprecating words, her being the most disappointed when the festival actually ended was quite cute.

"Ha-yoon, you were the one who hated going out the most. Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

"I didn’t know it would be this fun!"

When the child who came with her pointed it out, Ha-yoon pouted her lips and grumbled.

Her brother, the mature boy, was not much different.

"Heavenly God-nim. Since you are the Heavenly God, can’t you order them to keep the festival going?"

"Then it wouldn’t be fun. A festival is more fun when it’s done voluntarily, not by force."

"Tch."

The boy who had previously introduced himself as ’Tae-seok’ expressed his disappointment.

No matter how mature he acted, in the end, he was just a child of that age, so he was just cute in my eyes.

Anyway, as the heat of the festival gradually waned, Asella and I took the children back to the orphanage.

Perhaps because several children had already returned, the director and other teachers were guiding them.

"We’re back, Director."

"Ah! Thank you, Heavenly God-nim. And as I’ve said before, you don’t have to use honorifics..."

"I’m comfortable with this. And are the other children all asleep?"

"Yes. They were all busy running around."

Indeed, the inside of the orphanage was quiet. It meant everyone had fallen asleep.

Since making noise would be a nuisance, we quietly went inside.

"Asella. I’ll leave the other two children to you."

"Yes."

After leaving the other two children to Asella, I finished preparing the beds for Ha-yoon and Tae-seok.

Both of them were mature enough to prepare their own beds, but I helped them from the side.

Because the desire to act spoiled doesn’t change even as you grow older.

"Heavenly God-nim."Read the latest chapters at novelpi⁠ng.com.

"Yes, Ha-yoon."

"Are you coming tomorrow too, Heavenly God-nim?"

It was just as they were about to go to sleep. Ha-yoon asked quietly.

Tae-seok was also pretending not to care, but he was clearly listening.

I let out a bitter smile and shook my head.

"No. I probably won’t be able to come tomorrow. I have to leave for a far place because I have work to do."

Since Ha-yoon cannot see, she knows nothing about the Gallery.

Therefore, she wouldn’t even know that I have to return to the Forest of the Four Seasons.

"...Really? Can’t you stay with me?"

I could hear a tearful tone in Ha-yoon’s voice.

Since she had even untied the bandage covering her eyes, her expression was clearer than before.

Seeing her long eyelashes trembling, she really seemed unwilling to let me go.

"I’m sorry. Instead, I’ll ask the other teachers to take good care of Ha-yoon and Tae-seok."

"But I want to stay with you, Heavenly God-nim..."

Ha-yoon whimpered, shyly pulling up the blanket.

I smiled at her whining and gently stroked her hair.

"You don’t have to worry. As long as you don’t forget me, I’ll return someday."

"But I don’t even know your face, Heavenly God-nim. I might forget you faster than others."

"Just because you can’t see doesn’t mean you can’t remember, right?"

Saying that, I guided Ha-yoon’s hand to my face.

She hesitated for a moment at the guidance, then began to feel around my face.

Starting from the eyes at the top, to the nose, mouth, chin, cheeks, and finally the ears.

As if determined never to forget this moment, Ha-yoon’s touch was meticulous yet shy.

Eventually, as if she had felt everything, her hand fell away from my face.

"...Heavenly God-nim."

"Go ahead."

"I wish there were many days like today."

Ha-yoon said with a broad smile. It was a smile from the bottom of her heart.

Even though she had hated going out so much, her attitude was completely different now.

It was no different for Tae-seok. Although he had a sense of responsibility as an older brother, the unique innocence of a child remained.

"There will be many more in the future."

"Really?"

"Yes. Because you will remember today, Ha-yoon."

There is a saying that looking back, everything becomes a memory.

I keep the memory of going on picnics with my parents when I was young.

I clearly remembered what kind of nonsense I talked about with my friends at the PC bang.

I never forgot what kind of teachings the pastor gave me.

Life is like rough waves, but memories are buoys that help you not get lost.

"If you remember today, you’ll be able to build many more memories. Besides, you have a reliable older brother and friends, don’t you?"

"I can’t see, so I won’t be of any help..."

"Instead, you can hear things others can’t. And even if you can’t see, you can still walk the right path."

I patted Ha-yoon and spoke in a gentle voice.

Perhaps because she played so hard today, Ha-yoon’s voice grew softer and softer.

"Heavenly God-nim..."

"Why are you calling, Ha-yoon?"

"..."

Along with that call, even breathing could be heard from Ha-yoon. She had fallen asleep.

I patted her more so she could fall into a deeper sleep, then checked on Tae-seok.

Tae-seok was also breathing evenly at some point, seemingly using our conversation as a lullaby.

After stroking Tae-seok’s hair as well, I quietly moved my steps so they wouldn’t wake up.

"...Thank you, Heavenly God-nim."

Before heading out, I received sincere thanks from the director.

I also bowed my head to her and left the orphanage.

Since it was dawn and the festival was almost over, a quiet atmosphere lingered.

"Grylls-nim."

A familiar voice reached my ears. I knew who it was without even checking.

Turning my head, Asella was looking at me with a proud smile.

"Did you put the children to sleep well?"

"Yes! They must have been tired, they fell asleep as soon as they lay down."

"That’s a relief."

I replied as such and walked with Asella.

It was to chat and also to plan for the future.

Even if the plan was just returning to the Forest of the Four Seasons, this was still better.

"Um... Grylls-nim."

"Go ahead."

"Grylls-nim, do you still dislike gods?"

It was while we were walking. Asella asked in a cautious voice.

I answered that question without a single moment of hesitation.

"Yes. I dislike them."

"Because you don’t want to resent people?"

"That’s also true."

"Then why..."

Asella hesitated, looking as if she had a lot to say.

Seeing me sincerely volunteering, anyone would think I was a devout believer.

Since I could understand her feelings, I explained within the limits of what I could say.

"I believe following a person and following teachings are two different things."

"..."

"And I am simply following what the pastor taught me."

"What is that teaching..."

I smiled gently at Asella, who asked cautiously, and replied.

"As long as you do not let go of love, the world will be beautiful."

"...Ah."

While Asella was in awe, I looked at the slowly rising morning sun and spoke.

"What a beautiful world, isn’t it?"

Of course.

"Though it doesn’t change the fact that life is fucking shit."

"...Give me back my touching moment."

I didn’t forget to complain about life.