I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 759

A certain scholar once said.

Though biologically impossible, if insects were as large as humans, humanity would have had to fight against terrifying predators.

Ants forming armies, highly reproductive cockroaches, and dragonflies, the agile hunters of the sky like hawks.

Starting from insects that could directly harm humanity, to termites that gnaw on various wooden buildings, and so on.

As mentioned earlier, it directly contradicts biology, and since they have no way to survive the harsh winter, such a case never actually happens.

However, if we look at Australia, we can roughly predict what would happen, and first of all, their appearance is hideous.

Without going far, let’s say a human-sized cockroach approaches me with a shashashak!

Even worse, cockroaches are omnivorous and can even eat humans, making them extremely dangerous.

Not only that, but insects with excellent stealth abilities like inchworms could pass right over our heads.

We can rest easy because such things are virtually impossible, but after the appearance of ’mana,’ the story changed.

An energy that turns the physics knowledge possessed by humanity into kindling.

When a single slash of a human sword can destroy a tank and cleave a mountain, would insects not be affected?

Buuuuung!

"It’s coming! Everyone, back away!"

I urgently shouted as the rhinoceros beetle, glowing with a brilliant golden hue, charged forward.

Not only Lackey and Cain, who usually accompanied me, but also the newly adapted Elia followed the instruction.

Before long, along with the unique buzzing of insect wings, the rhinoceros beetle’s massive horn charged toward my body.

Kuung!

I blocked the front of that horn with sheer strength.

I had deduced it after seeing the charging speed, but a terrifying force was transmitted through my hands.

The charging force was so strong that my body was pushed back slightly.

’Come to think of it, did they say some insects can exert force dozens of times their own body weight?’

After experiencing that power for a brief moment, I immediately took action to counter.

First, I firmly grabbed the horn so the creature couldn’t attack again.

The rhinoceros beetle, seemingly never imagining that I would grab its horn so firmly, could only flap its wings in midair.

Unless it had other means of attack, this would have been all the rhinoceros beetle had.

Chwareureuk! Kkwaang!

From afar, along with the sound of chains, a massive coffin flew and collided with the rhinoceros beetle.

The coffin-flail throw, one of the main attack patterns of the Dullahan Cain.

The coffin itself was extremely hard, so ordinary foes would easily be shattered to pieces.

Ujik!

"Heh."

But surprisingly, the rhinoceros beetle was finer than expected, with only its outer shell slightly cracked.

Given its golden surface, it seemed to be an exceptionally strong individual even within the Forest of the Four Seasons.

"Jjireureureu."

Attacked while defenseless, the rhinoceros beetle let out a bizarre sound. It didn’t seem to be in pain.

Insects have a different nervous system from general animals, so the degree to which they feel pain is different.

Aready, it was highly likely thinking that a troublesome event had occurred even now.

Buuuuung!

Deciding it wasn’t working, the rhinoceros beetle began to fly high into the sky.

No matter how strong my power was, the moment my feet left the ground, my strength would easily disperse.

Having experienced such situations often, my response was quick.

"Heeup!"

After putting strength into both hands holding the horn, I pulled it down using pure physical strength.

My feet, which had floated slightly, landed on the ground again, and I didn’t stop there.

"Haa!"

Kkwaang!

Lackey was not one to miss this opportunity.

For the first time in a very long while, he used martial arts instead of magic, and though its power wasn’t quite on Dolsoe’s level, it was still highly formidable.

No matter how hard an insect’s carapace is, striking a part that was already damaged would cause severe damage.

Kwajik!

Lackey’s Palm Strike landed precisely on the spot hit by Cain’s coffin flail.

The sound of internal organs being ruined beyond the carapace.

"$$%#!"

Kwajijik! Kwajik!

Timely, a spear made of fire pierced that spot. Elia had used magic.

Normally, having entered the Forest of the Four Seasons not long ago, it would be difficult to use magic freely.

But since she had anticipated this and brought plenty of World Tree branches, consecutive attacks were possible.

"Jjireureureu...!"

Being attacked consecutively, the rhinoceros beetle flailed violently.

Even with a different nervous system, it must have instinctively realized it was in danger.

I didn’t miss this, putting strength into my arms and slamming it straight into the ground.

Kwaang!

Given its massive size, just slamming it down caused vibrations to echo through the ground.

Without stopping there, I pinned the base of the horn with my foot and snapped it vertically.

Ujijik! Ujikkeun!Visit novelрing.com for the full chapter.

The muscles in my arms surged as the rhinoceros beetle’s proud horn was completely snapped off.

I didn’t know snapping off a single horn would be this difficult.

But since the horn was already broken, all that was left was the finishing blow.

Kwajik!

By plunging the broken horn straight into the rhinoceros beetle’s head.

Due to the rhinoceros beetle’s structure, there are soft joints that the hard carapace doesn’t cover, and I aimed precisely for that spot.

"Strike it!"

The rhinoceros beetle was pinned to the ground, its body pierced by its own horn.

All that was left was to completely crush it through a group lynch.

Since it was an insect, it would flail for a while even if its neck was pierced, making a finishing blow essential.

"Jjireureureuk..."

After suppressing it for a long time, only then did the rhinoceros beetle stop moving.

Although it occasionally twitched its legs, anyone could tell it was dead.

I let out a deep sigh and retrieved the horn I had plunged into the seam of the rhinoceros beetle’s carapace.

Realizing it only now, it seemed like it would be more useful than most spears.

"Master. Is this real gold?"

While I was carefully examining the rhinoceros beetle’s horn, Lackey showed interest.

Since it was a carapace shining brilliantly with a golden light, it seemed to catch his attention.

"Probably not, right? It might just be the color. But why?"

"I think it would bring in a tidy profit if we post it on the Gallery."

"Hmm..."

If it were in the past, I would have scolded him, asking what kind of nonsense that was, but not anymore.

It wasn’t real gold anyway, and there was no benefit in leaving it abandoned here.

’It would only attract other insects for no reason.’

Especially if guys like ants came, the situation would get terribly complicated.

It was much better to dispose of the corpse beforehand.

"Insects are also delicious if you roast them!"

"...."

Or, as Elia said, we could eat it ourselves.

Of course, since there was still a lot of time left until mealtime, I excluded her opinion.

’Though the moment I put it on the auction house, it will cause an uproar...’

[Wild Grylls: I’ll leave it in your hands again this time.]

[Allfather: Thank you as always.]

I sent it to the professor to research.

Allfather, perhaps highly interested in researching human-sized or larger insects, willingly accepted.

Word has it that even outside the Forest of the Four Seasons, human-sized insects are hard to find.

To grow this large, it practically had to be a being close to a ’spiritual beast,’ and indeed, there was an Inner Core inside the rhinoceros beetle.

’Why does everything in this damn forest have an Inner Core inside?’

Anyway, now that we’ve dealt with the rhinoceros beetle, shouldn’t we get back on our way?

Befitting an insect lair, there were considerably more places thick with bushes than trees.

’And for some reason, the weather feels hot too.’

It felt like muggy summer weather rather than spring.

It was like being in a steamer. Of course, it could just be my imagination.

"Master."

"Why, wha... are you okay?"

But when I actually looked at Lackey, I realized it wasn’t my imagination.

That was because sweat was pouring down him like rain.

The time we entered the insect lair and the fierce battle with the rhinoceros beetle.

It certainly hadn’t even been an hour, but it was a bit strange.

"I can endure the heat. But it feels like being soaked in water."

"Mmm..."

"The wind is hot too."

Typical East Asian summer weather.

Unlike other places, even the humidity was extremely high, making it easy for insects to run rampant.

And Australia is a place where such weather continues all year round.

Even though the humidity was lower than in East Asia, it was the perfect environment for insects to grow large.

"So Master. Hurry up and wrap your body in ice."

"So that was your goal?"

Lackey nodded. His expression showed that he was starting to feel uncomfortable even speaking.

As for me, I didn’t really mind, but the opinions of others were also important.

Since Cain was a Dullahan, I skipped him and checked on Elia first.

"Elia?"

"Yes?"

"Uh... never mind."New chapters come out on novelping(.)com first.

Elia’s condition was also no joke.

Not only was sweat pouring down her like rain, but when I looked earlier, she even had her mouth tightly shut.

Her determination to keep her mouth shut entirely so as not to cause any unnecessary trouble as the discomfort index rose.

I enveloped myself in cold air for the first time in a while so that the two of us could explore more easily.

It wasn’t difficult, as I just had to infuse cold energy into the Body-Protecting Gangqi covering my body.

"Ohhh... so cool...!"

"Heua..."

As the cold air drifted around, the two of them wore expressions of pure relief.

I ended up becoming a human air conditioner, but I didn’t have any complaints.

Don’t Abandon the Hero: Aren’t you guys too close!

Heavenly Demon: Shouldn’t you maintain your dignity as a queen?

Smart Demon: Are you guys jealous by any chance?

Heavenly Demon: This lady merely spoke of what was visible to her eyes. The heavens must naturally maintain their dignity.

Smart Demon: What a shameless thing to say.

I tried my best to ignore the two who were acting jealous. There was something more important than that.

"Kiriririk!"

"It was a rhinoceros beetle earlier, and now it’s a stag beetle?"

The unprecedented rival of the rhinoceros beetle, the stag beetle, had appeared right before us.

However, the stag beetle’s appearance was a bit peculiar, looking like a half-and-half mix with a human.

An appearance that looked like it could come out of the famous Digimon from the past.

I thought it looked hideous when I saw it as a child, but seeing it in person (?) made it even more grotesque.

Chaekang! The hideous stag beetle’s pincers clashed, making a harsh sound. It was a threatening movement.

Just as I armed myself, wondering if we were going to fight right away,

"Huh? Grylls-nim. Look at the tree behind there."

Elia, who was also quietly preparing magic, pointed somewhere.

It was the tree behind the stag beetle, and its color felt deeper compared to other places.

"What about that tree?"

"Usually, trees like that are good places for rhinoceros beetle or stag beetle larvae to live. You know grubs, right?"

As expected of a tree expert, she grasped the stag beetle’s intention at once.

Indeed, if it had intended to ambush us, it would have done so long ago.

Starlight Lady: It’s truly unusual for an insect to have maternal love.

Suspiciously...: Did it realize its feelings for its offspring as it evolved into a spiritual beast?

Allfather: How interesting. Indeed, as intelligence increases, such tendencies tend to grow stronger.

The registered users also exchanged a word or two about the unusual situation.

Since we had no reason to fight, we decided to bypass it.

As we moved further away, the frequency of the stag beetle clashing its pincers also decreased.

"We almost had more orphans manufactured by Master."

"What kind of crazy talk is that?"

Lackey’s trivial—no, rather disastrous joke was a bonus.

While I asked in disbelief, Cain chimed in from the side.

[Is it not true? Even in the case of Wonmo...]

"Wonmo is even worse, to the point of asking if his mom tasted good."

[Besides that, you have made numerous orphans.]

"Forget it."

There was no use talking further; it would only tire me out.

Even though we warded off the heat with cold air, hot was still hot, and it would only get harder.

"Come to think of it, Grylls-nim, you didn’t have parents either, right?"

Now Elia is spouting nonsense too.

Still, unlike Lackey, it was a pure question, so I took it lightly.

"Both of them passed away in an accident. But why?"

"I don’t have parents either! I’ve been alone ever since I could think."

"Ah... really?"

"Yes! That’s why I grew up strong all by myself."

So that’s why she’s so out of her... ahem.

I almost blurted out something strange, but I tightly suppressed it.

"Hmm. Then does that mean Master is a second-hand orphan, and Mistress is a natural-born orphan?"

"You crazy bastard."

I really need to sew that guy’s mouth shut.

To spout such bullshit just because the weather got a bit hot, it’s unbelievable.

Of course,

Buuuuung!

"Master. What is that?"

"What do you mean, what is it? It’s a mosquito."

"Were mosquitoes always that big?"

"Shut up and just prepare a flame thrower magic."

There was plenty of work to do.