I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 775

Most men in the Republic of Korea are bound to serve in the military, and you can meet a truly diverse range of people there.

But even in a military filled with all kinds of people, there are always the stubborn, old-fashioned types.

One representative position for this is the first sergeant. Seriously, no matter which first sergeant you meet, they all have a lot of similar traits.

In particular, first sergeants are usually master sergeants with plenty of service years, and having that much experience means they possess deep wisdom.

Furthermore, due to the nature of military bases, which are often surrounded by natural environments, many first sergeants tend to cultivate small vegetable gardens.

’It’s not just first sergeants; even the sergeant majors who wander around like Mountain Spirits tend to do that.’

However, having a greenhouse sitting right there on a military base... no matter how you look at it, it makes no sense.

Experienced first sergeant or not, that’s a one-way ticket to a court-martial.

If this were some remote, backwater base where "farming" was the default, maybe, but at least not this base.

This is a place equipped with various interception systems; who in their right mind would leisurely set up a greenhouse and farm here?

’Maybe someone like the Sovereign or the twin siblings could pull it off...?’

Those three possessed authority far exceeding that of a division commander, or even the president.

Since they wielded near-absolute power, if they ordered it, everyone had no choice but to obey.

Of course, given their personalities, they would rarely do such a thing, but seeing the greenhouse in person made me think otherwise.

"First, let’s look around and see what kind of place this is. We’ll check out the greenhouse last."

"Is that what you call a greenhouse? What is it?"

"It’s easiest to think of it as a system that allows you to cultivate various vegetables or fruits regardless of the season."

Thanks to greenhouses, fruits or vegetables can be grown even in the harsh winter.

Since the four seasons, especially winter, were exceptionally shitty on the Korean Peninsula, it was almost a necessity to install them.

And the fact that the greenhouse was operating meant that the power to this base was constantly running.

Considering that the AI that threatened us earlier was also functioning perfectly, there was definitely something inside.

"Perhaps there is a World Tree here as well."

[Seeing that the power is running, it’s half-certain.]

Jjonggeut!

Was it because the existence of the World Tree was half-certain?

Elia’s ears, as she looked around the greenhouse from afar, twitched.

Soon, after wearing the brightest smile in the world for a brief moment, she quickly put on an expression as if she were holding it in.

I seriously don’t know when her damn love for trees will ever end.

’It probably won’t.’

’In fact, wouldn’t the moment it ends be even more dangerous?’

Thinking so to myself, I looked around various parts of the base. First was the overall layout of the base.

Except for the guardhouse, many parts were different from what I used to know.

First of all, starting from the layout, there were weapons that had never existed before sitting right there.

As it seemed, the gods had remodeled this place separately.

’Did the AI also adjust the accuracy of the interceptor missiles?’

Having looked around the exterior of the base, now it was time for the interior.

Since the probability of a World Tree being inside was extremely high, I felt slightly tense.

’I should also look for the power room while I’m at it.’

To be precise, a room where we could replace the owner of this base with Cain.

Because among the bases we had found so far, we obtained many authorities by plugging Cain in.

Soon, we entered a building with a large antenna installed.

Paat! Pat!

As soon as we opened the door and stepped inside, the fluorescent lights turned on automatically.

Looking at the building, it roughly resembled a command and control room, making it perfect for searching for data.

’I wonder if there are any records related to Aris here?’

If it’s really ambiguous, I’ll just have to ask the AI directly.

Touching the worn-out and crumbling documents, I spoke.

"Is there an AI in charge of this place?"

[Please issue your command.]

An answer came back immediately after I asked.

It didn’t have a personality like other AIs; it felt like a truly pure AI.

"What is your name?"

[My name is Yellow.]

"Right. Yellow. You treated Cain with utmost respect earlier, didn’t you? Then you must know Aris as well?"

[I am an AI created by Aris-nim.]

The expected answer came back. I raised my head.

As I raised my head, a light flickered on the screen in front of the command and control room.

And what appeared inside was...

"...Why is it a Korean Melon again?"

It was a Korean Melon. A vibrant, yellow, ripe Korean Melon.

The AIs active on the Ghost Ship or in the City of Alund were all in human form.

But for some reason, Yellow was in the shape of a Korean Melon. A pure Korean Melon with no arms or legs.

’Is it because it’s not a high-performance AI?’

That was the only thing I could think of right now.

Still, I should consider it a relief that it’s friendly to us.

Clearing my throat, I gave an instruction to Yellow.

"By any chance, are there any remaining records here?"

[There are two remaining records. One can be played immediately, while the other requires authorization.]

I raised an eyebrow at the answer that authorization was required.

Even though it treated Cain as a higher authority, did it require an even higher level of authorization?

"Even with Cain here, authorization is required?"

[An even higher authority than that is required.]Get faster updates on novelрing.com.

"I bet it’ll be solved if Master puts his hand on the World Tree."

Lackey said nonchalantly while picking his nose.

Just as he said, if I placed my hand on the World Tree, there was a high possibility that another memory would unfold.

In that case, it would be best to watch the record that could be opened right now.

"Then show us the record that can be opened without authorization first."

[Accepting instruction. Playing record...]

Along with an extremely mechanical reply, the screen in front turned black.

I waited quietly with anticipation, wondering what kind of record it would show.

Buseureok- buseureok-

Before long, a rustling noise was heard.

[Oh, seriously. Why are you telling me to eat something like this?]

[Because it’s delicious. Give it a try.]

A young girl’s whining, and a man’s voice responding to it endearingly.

[Teacher. By the way, is a Korean Melon a vegetable or a fruit?]

Even a young boy’s innocent question.

Soon, the pitch-black screen brightened, appearing to be filmed by a roughly installed camera.

Captured by that camera was a man peeling fruit, with a young girl and boy waiting beside him.

Perhaps because the camera angle was set awkwardly, the screen was cropped, and the man’s face was not visible.

[Since it grows from the ground, wouldn’t it be a vegetable?]

[Is there actually something even Teacher doesn’t know?]

[Just because I’m a teacher doesn’t mean I know everything. And watermelons are classified as vegetables, yet they’re sweet, aren’t they? Tomatoes are also vegetables, not fruits.]

The man answering the boy’s innocent question in a gentle voice.

It was a pleasant baritone, strangely captivating.

"First of all, that’s not Master. Master has never spoken like that."

"Be quiet."

Lackey spouted nonsense beside me, but I easily brushed it off.

Because what mattered right now was the record being shown on the screen.

[What does it matter if it’s a vegetable or a fruit? As long as it’s delicious, that’s all that matters!]

A blonde girl with chubby baby fat spoke crankily.

A girl whose beauty would be guaranteed if she grew up like this.

However, her expression carried a lot of the typical crankiness of a mischievous child.

[Aris. Teacher is just trying to give us something delicious.]

On the contrary, a calm and gentle-looking boy sharply scolded the girl.

It was fascinating how they looked identical, yet their impressions were subtly different.

Meanwhile, as if upset by the boy’s pointing out, the girl retorted.

[Who asked for it?]

"Oh."

She is a total brat.

The murals seen at the Theme Park, and Lucas’s testimony.

Based on these, I knew that the young Aris was a brat.

However, seeing it directly through video rather than drawings or testimonies made it a whole different level.

And there was someone who couldn’t stand this.

Ppak!

It was the Chief God, wearing a suit instead of his black martial arts robes.

Disliking Aris’s behavior, he lightly flicked her forehead.

The action itself was clearly light, but the sound coming from Aris’s head was by no means light.

[Ow! Why did you hit me again?!]

Seeing the modifier ’again’ attached, it seemed she had been flicked on the head more than once or twice.

I realized anew what a formidable brat Aris was.

[Haven’t I told you repeatedly? When someone shows you goodwill, you should return it accordingly.]

[What if there’s poison in their goodwill?! Teacher, you’re far too soft-hearted.]

[Even so, letting your mood dictate your attitude is wrong.]

[Hmph...]

It was when Aris was gently rubbing her head where she had been flicked.

The Chief God sliced the Korean Melon into small pieces and handed them to her first.

Aris looked back and forth between the Korean Melon and the Chief God, then took it coyly.

Ageujak!

[Is it delicious?]

[...It’s delicious. What did you say the name of this was?]

[Cham-oe.]

[Cha-m... oe?]

[Just call it Korean Melon for convenience.]

[What is Korean?]

[....]

In that moment, the Chief God’s hand, which was about to hand a piece of Korean Melon to Aragon, froze.

As Aragon expressed confusion, the Chief God spoke.

[...I misspoke. Instead of Korean, you can just call it Yellow.]

[Yellow Melon? It’s intuitive, so I like it.]

[Munch, munch... It’s incredibly sweet. This flesh is delicious too.]

The twin siblings ate with different expressions, but the emotion contained within was clearly ’happiness’.Find the original chapter at novelping dot com.

Perhaps the Chief God knew this as well, as he stroked their heads with his rough hands.

The children also felt warmth from that touch and quietly munched on the Korean Melon.

[If you ever want to eat it, just let me know. Teacher will peel it for you.]

[Hmph. I can peel it myself too.]

Aris spoke coyly while munching on the fruit.

To think that such a cranky kid would grow up to be worshipped as the Goddess of War. The world is truly unpredictable.

[Aris. Last time, you cut yourself while peeling fruit alone and cried...]

[Please, oppa! Shut your mouth!]

Kwang!

[Aaack! Why again!]

[Watch your mouth.]

Pu-heup!

To think that siblings who got along so well would later split up and engage in fratricide.

The more such happy records appeared, the bitterness doubled.

Soon, the screen slowly turned black, and just as I thought the record was ending.

[...There was a time like that too, wasn’t there, Teacher?]

Instead of the sharp, high-pitched voice unique to a young girl, a mature woman’s voice flowed out.

The screen that had turned black brightened once more, and this time, it was a completely different situation from before.

Sagak- sagak-

As if a long time had passed, Aris, who had grown into a beautiful woman, was sitting in a chair.

Sitting in that chair, she was peeling the Korean Melon that the Chief God had once shared, all by herself with a fruit knife.

The warm atmosphere from just moments ago had vanished without a trace, leaving only melancholy and silence.

’But Aris’s body is...’

She was not wearing her usual armor, but only a cool sleeveless top.

Thanks to that, her well-toned body was fully revealed, but what stood out more were her wounds.

Her sleeveless top, presumably originally white, was stained red, and there was not a single spot without a wound.

It was no exaggeration to say it would be faster to find a spot without wounds.

There was also a large wound on her beautiful face, making it look as if her face had been painted over with blood.

Even though she had clearly visited a doctor and received treatment last time, it seemed all her wounds had burst open because she had overexerted herself afterward.

[Oppa won’t be able to move for a while. I played a little... prank on him. Fufu.]

Who was she speaking to? Aris spoke with difficulty as she peeled the Korean Melon.

Following that, she even placed the neatly peeled Korean Melon on top of a rectangular box right next to her.

I only noticed it now, but the shape of the box was quite elongated.

Just like a coffin where someone was laid to rest.

[Look, Teacher. I can peel fruit well now.]

Aris spoke in a bitter voice.

Thanks to that, I could immediately realize who was inside that coffin.

It must be the corpse of the Chief God, who was said to have entered eternal sleep.

I heard that Aris had taken the coffin where the Chief God rested, and Aragon had resorted to all kinds of schemes to steal it.

[I think I must enter a long sleep now too. Perhaps because I absorbed too much mana, my body has been gradually collapsing.]

Indeed, quite a few cracks had formed on Aris’s body.

Cracks appearing on the body of a goddess revered as a deity.

I had no idea how much mana she had absorbed, or what kind of battle she had fought.

[So...]

In Aris’s bitter voice, moisture suddenly welled up.

Next, she gently caressed the coffin upon which the Korean Melon was placed.

She seemed to be forcing herself to hold back her tears, but soon, as if her emotions exploded, she began to shed tears.

Her blood-stained face was washed down by her tears, mixing with the blood and making it look as if she were crying tears of blood.

[Just once... Can’t you eat it just once...?]

"...."

[There are still... still so many things I haven’t said...]

Unable to contain her bursting emotions, Aris finally collapsed onto the coffin and began to sob.

Though she was worshipped as the Goddess of War, ironically, she showed an extremely human side.

A child who failed to show filial piety and respect to their parent, regretting it too late.

When one realizes that a presence that seemed eternal is gone forever, immense regret is bound to rush in.

’At least Aris felt regret, but...’

Aragon did not.

Far from regretting, hadn’t he even abandoned his sense of ethics to turn back time?

It was much better to prepare to let go while feeling regret like Aris.

[....]

After lying face down on the coffin and crying for a long time, Aris slowly stood up.

Though her face was a mess due to tears and blood, it could not hide her beauty.

[...Yellow.]

[Yes. Aris-nim.]

Aris then called for Yellow.

[Prepare the cremation.]

She spoke in a voice filled with resolve.

[So that Teacher can rest beside his parents and friends.]

...What?