I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 797

Asella and Ash’s drunken heart-to-heart talk continued until late into the dawn.

While Ash spoke without hesitation since she had already laid all her cards on the table, Asella had no choice but to watch her step.

Because she could never say she was the Orange Badge, even if she died. She simply couldn’t summon the courage.

Because of this, while Asella drank at a level of just sipping, Ash drank as much as she could.

This meant there was a very high probability of getting sick from alcohol the next day.

"Uwoooo-eok..."

And indeed, a hangover struck.

"Are you okay?"

"No... my stomach... my stomach... uuk!"

"It feels like your stomach is turning inside out, right? I understand."

Not to Ash, but to Asella.

As if her dignity as a Hero didn’t matter at all, Asella was busy gripping the toilet bowl and spraying the contents of her stomach.

She thought she had slept soundly with a pleasant buzz, but waking up in the morning was hell.

It was unfair enough that she had thrown up all the food inside her, but even after throwing it all up, her retching wouldn’t stop, which was extremely painful.

She had occasionally read posts on the Gallery about stomachs turning inside out due to hangovers, and she finally realized exactly what that meant.

’If I knew it would be like this, I would have circulated my mana before sleeping like Ash eonni said....’

Was it because it was her first time drinking until she got drunk?

To check her alcohol tolerance and to enjoy the tipsy feeling, she had gone to sleep without even circulating her mana.

Ash had warned her that she would regret it, but due to the alcohol, she had let it go in one ear and out the other.

As a result, Asella was able to properly taste what hell was.

’Do Dwarves feel this kind of hell every day?’

Along the way, she realized how strong the Dwarves’ mental fortitude was.

Since they supposedly experienced this hell every day, their mental strength had no choice but to grow strong.

"Wait just a moment. I’ll go find something good for hangovers."

"I-I’m fine... uuk!"

"You don’t look fine at all."

Ash patted Asella’s back and then headed outside.

The inn where the two of them were currently staying was a VIP lodging personally prepared by the state.

Therefore, there were Dwarves waiting outside beforehand, and she made a request to them immediately.

"Is there something like a spicy hangover soup?"

"Of course. We will prepare it right away."

Perhaps because it was Mountain, not long after she asked, a hangover soup that would warm her stomach appeared.

Even in her dazed state, Asella soothed her empty stomach.

"Do they usually soothe hangovers like this in Mountain?"

"From what I heard earlier, it seems they have a separate hair-of-the-dog drink?"

"...."

"You thought they were a crazy race in your mind, didn’t you?"

"No?"

In any case, after eating a hearty bowl of hangover soup, she was able to come to her senses through mana circulation.

Now that she had come to her senses, it was time to go back to work.

It was time to announce the news that they had discovered the World Tree in Lucas’s Brewery.

"If it’s hard, I’ll help you out."

"No, eonni. If the Messiah Empire gets involved in this situation right now, it will become a headache for everyone."

"What if it’s my personal will?"

"You know that’s still a no, right?"

"Tsk..."

Ash showed her disappointment at Asella’s firm refusal.

Every time this happened, her reputation as a Sword Master held her back.

She clearly wanted to represent her personal will, but the Messiah Empire naturally dragged along with it.

"Are you going to announce the existence of the World Tree soon?"

"Before that, consulting with Alvenheim comes first. If we announce it without even consulting them, it would be a diplomatic discourtesy to Alvenheim."

"Ah, right. I forgot. Weren’t they supposed to send a delegation originally?"

Ash, who had filled her stomach heartily with hangover soup, asked.

Originally, a delegation from Alvenheim was also planned to visit for this brewery exploration.

But whether it was because their internal situation was complicated, or because they had other schemes, they didn’t show up until the very end.

"That was the case, but it seems they had their own circumstances. Since Mountain invited them directly, they will probably visit soon."

"Hmm... it won’t be dangerous, right?"

"We should accommodate Alvenheim as much as possible. Mountain also knows they pushed too hard."

As emphasized repeatedly, only the entrance of Lucas’s Brewery is in Mountain, while the interior is Alvenheim’s territory.

Therefore, they were in a situation where they had to accommodate Alvenheim’s demands as much as possible, and Mountain knew this too.

Mountain said they only needed permission to enter and use the brewery, but they were worried about whether Alvenheim would accept it.

"At least if you mediate, nothing serious will happen."

"You never know. The Senate is so cunning. It’s a pity; it would have been so convenient if the Elf Queen were here."

"Even though she seems a bit out of her mind, it’s true that she is competent."

Indeed, she was someone who would back out amazingly fast if she sensed danger.This chapter was copied from novelping . com without permission.

On the other hand, the current Senate is, how should I put it... they fight among themselves and are quite poor at discerning right from wrong.

In addition, the unique elitism of the Elves was deeply ingrained, making it unpredictable how they would act.

After that, Asella, having completely resolved her hangover, headed to the royal castle.

Since she had to coordinate with the King and ministers of Mountain.

"We also intend to grant Alvenheim’s demands. However, we have no intention of giving up the rights to the brewery."

"What if Alvenheim also cannot give up the brewery?"

"Then we must take it by force."

Mountain’s resolve was firm.

They would give them the World Tree or whatever, but the brewery must absolutely be theirs.

Hearing that determined declaration, Asella smiled bitterly to herself.

Because it was a fully understandable situation, which made it even more troublesome.

Fortunately, they were willing to grant Alvenheim’s demands, so she judged that the negotiation itself would be fine.

’As long as Alvenheim doesn’t make truly unreasonable demands, it should be fine.’

In truth, Alvenheim was in a very advantageous position.

The location of Lucas’s Brewery is within Alvenheim’s territory. Plus, the condition that the World Tree must exist for it to operate.

From Mountain’s perspective, they really just needed the ownership of the brewery, so they were conceding as much as possible.

"The delegation from Alvenheim will visit shortly."

It was when she was conversing with the King of Mountain, Modin III.

A servant reported to Modin III.

That the delegation dispatched from Alvenheim would visit shortly.

Though called a delegation, it was essentially the chief elder of the Senate coming, so they had to be on high alert.

Asella was scheduled to attend the negotiation table as the representative and mediator of the Holy Kingdom.

Since she was fully equipped with a Translation Orb, it wouldn’t be difficult to check what opinions were being exchanged.

’I’m nervous. Although I’ve gone to mediate before....’

The atmosphere was different from back then. Now, it was deeply connected to the Holy Kingdom as well.

It was none other than an issue involving a Holy Land and holy relics.

Therefore, it was also a place to test Asella’s diplomatic abilities.

Kkiik—

It was when she was just fidgeting with her Holy Sword out of nervousness.

As the servant opened the door, the delegation from Alvenheim entered.

As expected of the long-lived Elves, most had young faces, but one was different.

He had an appearance that, if he were human, would seem like he had just entered middle age.

For an Elf to age like that meant his age was at least over 200 years.

"Welcome to Mountain. I am Brek, the Foreign Minister."

"Nice to meet you. I am Paris, an elder of the Alvenheim Senate."

While shaking hands, Paris’s gaze was directed elsewhere.

The place his gaze was directed was none other than toward Asella.

Shaking hands without making eye contact was a considerable discourtesy, but Paris didn’t care.

"You must be..."

"I am Asella, a faithful servant of Aris-nim. It is an honor to meet you."

"You must have gone through much trouble serving Aris-nim."

Asella was puzzled by the words dripping with kindness.

He seemed to do it half-heartedly when shaking hands with the Foreign Minister, so why was he so kind to her?

Perhaps he thought she would take his side because she was neutral.

’Since the negotiation table is overwhelmingly in Alvenheim’s favor anyway, they won’t push too hard... right?’

In her mind, Asella compared the Elf Queen and the Senate.

The Elf Queen was famous for walking the line well and was needlessly competent, often grating on people’s nerves.

But the evaluation of the Senate was rather poor. Just think about how they had lost the initiative to the Elf Queen in the first place.

She wondered how thoughtless they must be to have been pushed aside by Elia, a novice politician.

’Well, still, they’ve lived much longer than me.’

Of course, that thought was completely shattered before long.

"Mountain will not touch the World Tree. We will also recognize the World Tree as Alvenheim’s. Instead, we would appreciate it if you would transfer the rights to the brewery to us."

"Isn’t that a natural demand?"

"Yes?"

"The very fact that Mountain wants Lucas’s Brewery is something for which you must seek permission from our Alvenheim."

It was when very simple opinions were exchanged and they got down to business.

While Mountain seemed to take a few steps back, Alvenheim did not.

They answered very confidently, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

Already, anxiety was creeping in, and Asella felt it too.

"...Paris-nim. Please be careful with your phrasing. This place right now is not a place for bestowing favors, but a place for negotiation."

Asella spoke hurriedly as soon as she saw the face of Mountain’s Foreign Minister turn red.

If the negotiation fell through already, the future situation would be seriously tangled.

But Paris, as if he didn’t care, spoke in a calm voice.

"The Hero does not know the meaning of the World Tree."

"It’s not that I don’t know. As a servant of God myself, I know it better than anyone."

"Can you truly boast that you know it better than we Elves?"

"...."Follow the newest chapters on novelp‌ing.com.

An extremely arrogant remark. But at the same time, a plausible one.

Unlike the Holy Kingdom, for the Elves, the World Tree is their origin and racial identity itself.

Indeed, countless studies had been conducted, and various byproducts had been obtained.

"The World Tree is a sacred token bestowed upon us Elves. For hundreds, thousands of years, our ancestors have protected the World Tree, and as long as it exists, the brewery also belongs to us."

"What kind of nonsense is..."

"I heard that without the World Tree, the brewery cannot operate. Is that truly what you want?"

"We do not want its utility, but its very existence!"

Voices gradually began to rise. The officials of Mountain already had faces as red as if they were drunk.

Furthermore, that remark just now was truly unpleasant even from Asella’s perspective.

Because a Holy Land had to be revered purely for its existence. On the other hand, Paris was different.

Didn’t it sound like he would discard even the World Tree if they couldn’t find a use for it?

"The entrance to the Holy Land belongs to our Mountain."

"What meaning does it have where the entrance is? Sacred things are not divided by borders."

"...."

"Therefore, separate from handing over the administrative rights of the brewery to Mountain, the religious management rights must be taken by our Alvenheim."

"I have already stated that we are willing to accept that condition."

Mountain’s Foreign Minister exercised his patience to the utmost.

Mountain and Alvenheim were in a relationship where they usually bickered and even had armed conflicts.

This level of insult was a basic passive trait, so he could endure it.

In the first place, if he couldn’t even endure this much, he wouldn’t have been able to sit in the position of Foreign Minister.

"That is not all."

The problem was that Alvenheim’s outrageous behavior was beyond imagination.

Paris began to make demands in a serious voice.

"Every Dwarf entering the brewery will have to obtain Alvenheim’s permission."

At those words, Mountain’s Foreign Minister glanced at the document.

It was indeed a listed matter, and because he had read it beforehand, he could maintain his composure.

"Every liquor produced in the brewery must receive Alvenheim’s approval, and Alvenheim’s clergy shall have the right to permanently reside around the World Tree."

"...."

At that statement, this time, Asella’s expression stiffened slightly.

As a cleric before being a Hero, it was a demand that was not just sensitive, but dangerous.

What is liquor to a Dwarf? It is their racial identity itself.

Yet they had to leave the permission for brewing to another nation, and their arch-rival Alvenheim at that?

"Alvenheim views this as a reasonable compromise."

"...Are you saying you are taking away our Dwarves’ legitimacy?"

"To operate the brewery, the World Tree is needed, and since that World Tree manages us, isn’t it only natural?"

"Heh..."

The Foreign Minister let out a sigh, dumbfounded.

A sigh would have been fine, but the other Dwarves looked ready to kick back the negotiation table and leave right away.

In effect, it was a move to lay the foundation to place Mountain beneath Alvenheim.

Asella, feeling that she couldn’t let this go on any longer, spoke in a low voice.

"Alvenheim representative."

"Speak."

"Do you know what you are demanding right now?"

"Of course I know."

"No."

Asella’s eyes flashed sharply.

The spirit of a Hero was revealed, completely different from her usual silly self.

While Paris flinched at that spirit, Asella continued.

"Alvenheim is not negotiating to protect the World Tree."

At those words, Paris’s expression stiffened.

"The World Tree will remain noble in its place. Mountain also knows this, which is why they conceded. As you can see from the document, they are actually willing to recognize Alvenheim’s ownership and even accept the management rights."

Even so, they did not concede.

They even provoked the opponent by touching upon their racial identity.

What was even more shocking was the Alvenheim representatives babbling such things as if they were completely natural.

"Despite that, Alvenheim continues to increase unreasonable demands. Even going so far as to touch upon sensitive matters."

"We are just... our legitimate rights..."

"Legitimate rights and privileges are different. Alvenheim is not managing the World Tree right now; you are exploiting it."

Even as she spoke, a question arose.

What on earth was this person thinking to make such demands?

Was it to build up his own achievements, even though everything was destined to change once the Elf Queen, Elia, returned?

Or else....

’These people....’

Asella narrowed her eyes and stared at the representatives of Alvenheim.

’Could they be planning to quietly assassinate the Elf Queen when she returns?’

Suspicion began to pile up.