I Got a Gallery in the Wild - Chapter 858

Founded to revere Aris, the Holy Kingdom of Avalon saw its prestige climb higher with every passing day.

That had been true ever since Cain’s advent, but lately, things had grown hectic in more ways than one.

Mediating between Alfheim and Mountain had caused relations with Alfheim to sour dramatically.

Then Grylls declared he would bring the residents of Large Field to the Holy Kingdom.

Those two issues alone were enough to spin anyone’s head, yet Asella also had personal matters weighing on her.

"Haaah..."

In the office where she handled her administrative duties,

Asella sat at her desk and let out a sigh heavy enough to cave in the floor.

Stacks of documents piled high on her desk, though this was actually a massive improvement.

Over the past year, thorough reforms across the Holy Kingdom had put an end to the insane administrative gridlock.

A new Pope was slated to be elected soon as well, which would naturally ease her workload.

A lighter workload also meant the power concentrated in her hands would be dispersed.

Even if she stepped back from political power, her standing and authority as the Hero wouldn’t diminish; if anything, they would only rise.

’Am I really a bad person...?’

But to Asella, all of this felt like an unwelcome poison.

To the outside world, she was a universally praised Hero, but her inner thoughts were embarrassingly devious.

During their drunken confessions, Ash had laid bare her true feelings without shame, whereas Asella hadn’t been able to do the same.

What was worse, she had even harbored underhanded thoughts of exploiting it. That said it all.

Asella found it hard to stomach, tormented by self-reproach over whether this sly scheming was truly her nature.

It felt as if an inner devil was constantly whispering in her ear.

’My feelings for Grylls-nim are genuine. But... but...!’

The urge to hoard all of Grylls’s affection for herself kept rearing its head.

Not because he was the Chief God, but because she felt faith blossoming toward the man named Grylls himself.

She had thought she could get ahead by subtly using her position as the Orange Badge, but she had been wrong.

Ash respected Grylls with utmost maturity and never acted greedy.

On the surface, Ash acted like an old maid desperate to marry at any moment, but deep down, she always treated others with consideration.

’Whereas me? Why am I harboring such shady desires?’

Harboring desires like these, how in the world had she been chosen as the Hero?

The person called Asella was full of greed and teeming with deviousness.

Such agonies constantly plagued Asella, making it impossible to focus on her work.

Becoming an ugly person was the last thing she wanted, yet her desire for Grylls only grew by the day.

’Just seeing how he treats the people of Large Field fills me with pride...’

Grylls had rescued people bred like cattle by Manatology and shown them what real freedom was.

He might bicker with Lackey and the others from time to time, but he never truly oppressed anyone.

The more she saw of him, the clearer it was to anyone that behind his lighthearted demeanor lay a genuinely thoughtful man.

’If only I were the only one who knew that... No, no. There I go again, having weird thoughts...’

Shady thoughts kept creeping in, driving her up the wall.

Agonizing over it, Asella let out another sigh and lifted her head.

She lacked the guts to make a direct move like Ash, yet stooping to dirty tricks left her wracked with guilt.

’...Still, I’ll have to reveal the truth someday.’

She couldn’t keep her identity as the Orange Badge hidden forever.

So she would either have to lay the groundwork step by step, or stop playing dirty altogether.

Besides, even if she couldn’t charge in head-on like Ash, she could at least flirt a little.

Ash had mentioned that the reason she maintained such a good relationship with her long-distance sweetheart (Grylls) was because of the various photos she sent him.

To Asella’s eyes, those pictures were fairly scandalous, yet Grylls had welcomed them all.

’Grylls-nim is a healthy man after all...’

Being patient was one thing, but being healthy was another.

Considering he hadn’t crossed any lines even with Elia right beside him, he was undeniably a gentleman.

But unless desire found an outlet, it was bound to build up, and if it boiled over, problems would arise.

’Y-yes. So that Grylls-nim doesn’t lose his nobility...!’

Bolstered by self-justification and Ash’s advice, Asella clenched her fists.

She was the Orange Badge anyway, so sending him pictures like that wouldn’t cause any trouble.

With a determined look, Asella quietly returned to her room.

It was break time anyway, and with her light workload today, a little deviance(?) could be excused.

Rustle...

’Ugh... Why do people in the Central Plains like clothes like this? I thought they were supposed to be conservative...’

It was a Central Plains-style outfit she had bought during the Heavenly God Martial Festival at Kaylin’s urging.

She hadn’t planned to buy it since it hugged her figure so revealingly, but that happened to be right when she ran into Grylls.

Grylls had complimented how pretty she looked in it, and she had bought it as if entranced.

Of course, buying it was all she did; she had never worn it again.

Even if she had reason to visit the Central Plains later, she would have worn something else and refused to put this on.

’It feels tight around my chest whenever I put it on... but that’s probably true for everyone else too, right?’

Managing to squeeze into the dress, Asella exhaled and stepped forward.

She moved before a full-length mirror, which clearly reflected her entire form.

’Ugh... this is so embarrassing...’Read this novel at novelping dot com for the best experience.

It was a qipao-style dress with a unique charm.

Mystical cranes and cloud patterns embroidered in delicate gold thread shimmered softly across the pure white silk, while the mandarin collar and keyhole opening accentuated her neckline.

A bold slit running up her right thigh was adorned with traditional knots and long, trailing red tassels, drawing the eye with every step she took.

The contrast between her pale skin showing through beneath and the edge of her lace-trimmed stockings was all the more alluring.

Looking at her reflection, Asella’s face was already burning hot, but she wasn’t done yet.

She slowly raised both hands and struck an adorable pose.

Bringing her slender fingers together, she formed a perfect heart over her chest.

It radiated youthful freshness, like a bashful, secret confession of love.

Now all she had to do was snap a picture and send it to Grylls.

"Phew... haah..."

Her face had turned as red as a ripe tomato.

Her eyes spun in dazed circles; anyone looking would have thought she’d just fought a grueling battle.

’Should I send it? I should, right? I’m sending it!’

Yet for all her frantic inner turmoil, her finger remained frozen.

It was almost comical that someone capable of underhanded tricks against a romantic rival could be such a coward when it mattered.

After agonizing over it back and forth, she shut her eyes.

"Here goes!"

She tapped the button to send the message to Grylls.

She had double- and triple-checked to make sure she didn’t send it to the wrong person, so there shouldn’t be any problem.

Not even thinking about changing out of the dress, Asella stared intently at the screen.

In a stretch of time where every second dragged like an hour, she waited anxiously for his reply.

’W-what if he calls me vulgar? Or worse, what if he says I look plain compared to the others...?’

Ash and Yoo So-wol were peerless beauties beyond question, and to top it off, Elia was standing guard right by Grylls’s side.

His standards had to be astronomically higher than most. Would something like this even satisfy him?

Even looking at the ancient memes that kept surfacing, the era Grylls came from seemed brimming with strikingly attractive men and women.

Whereas she was just ordinarily(?) pretty, leaving her to fret over whether she could catch his eye.

Ding.

Just as her endless waiting was driving her anxiety to a peak—

At the notification chimes indicating a reply had arrived, Asella snapped her head up to check the message.

Half expectant and half terrified, she looked.

[Wild Grylls: Oh wow;;; This picture is practically glowing. You didn’t send this by mistake, right?]

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: I didn’t send it by mistake...! I just wanted to ask what you thought of it, Grylls-nim...!]

[Wild Grylls: It’s almost a shame you’re the Hero, because I can’t bring myself to say something vulgar.]

He wanted to say something vulgar, but he was holding it in.

To Asella, no words could have been higher praise.

Her anxiety melted into pure joy, igniting a spark of euphoria.

Even so, her embarrassment lingered, causing the corners of her mouth to tremble.

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: It’s the outfit you said was pretty last time, Grylls-nim!]

[Wild Grylls: You look pretty in anything, but this is... mm haha]

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: Hehe!]

"Hehehe!"

Asella let out a silly giggle, just like in her message.

For some reason, she had the uncanny illusion that the stone statue of Aris in the corner of her room was looking at her with utter pathetic pity.

But overflowing with happiness as she was, Asella paid it no mind.

After all, she had brought joy to Grylls—meaning the Chief God—so Aris would surely be pleased as well.

[Wild Grylls: You should wear clothes like that regularly... Well, maybe don’t walk around in public like that, but try wearing different outfits. You need a break from feeling stifled sometimes, right?]

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: What kind of clothes would you like to see, Grylls-nim!]

[Wild Grylls: I don’t really have an eye for fashion. Especially women’s clothes—I don’t know much about them.]

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: Even though you have the Elf Queen right beside you!]

[Wild Grylls: (Photo of the Elf Queen wandering around wearing only a football jersey) Haha]

Elia, the Elf Queen, was someone who would happily strut around in rags if Grylls gave them to her.

Knowing this all too well, Asella nodded, then fell into thought.

’Clothes... Ash-nim didn’t seem particularly interested in fashion either...’

Ash was someone who proudly showed up in uniform even to formal events.

Most of the photos she sent Grylls were in workout gear, too.

Of course, there was no rush to figure that out now; she could put it off for later.

With all kinds of lavish garments sent from Mephisto as well as the Central Plains, she had plenty to choose from.

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: I’ll send you more photos like this next time!]

[Wild Grylls: I certainly won’t complain, but don’t push yourself too hard. Looking at the photo, your face looked ready to explode.]

[Don’t Abandon the Hero: That’s just because I was happy!]

[Wild Grylls: If you say so.]

Having gotten what she wanted from the sweet exchange,

this was just the first step. Now that she had taken one step forward, other things would be possible too.

’If I show him bit by bit and make him even more curious by Christmas...!’This story is hosted at novelping(.)com.

Naturally, her devious streak remained intact.

Still, moderation was essential, lest she end up doing all the work only for someone else to reap the reward.

What if Grylls lost control of his desires and pounced on Elia right next to him?

’Christmas. I’ll take it one step at a time until that day!’

Whatever she was planning, it was Asella’s personal business, so let us move along.

In high spirits, Asella stood before the full-length mirror once more.

It was still embarrassing to look at, but she felt like she could hold her head a little higher now.

’I-it’s just that the others are exceptionally gorgeous; I’m pretty too!’

All the hardships she had suffered had left her with a lingering sense of inferiority.

But now she had breathing room, and her desires were gradually beginning to awaken.

The funny thing was, this didn’t mean she had abandoned her mindset as the Hero in the slightest.

Thrum...

Look at how the Holy Sword beside her resonated.

Its reaction seemed to say that after everything she had suffered, a little harmless deviance was perfectly permissible.

Knock, knock, knock.

[Hero-nim. Are you inside? You weren’t in your office, so I came here.]

"!!!"

When the attendant’s voice came from outside the door, Asella froze stiff.

If she was caught looking like this? She would bite her tongue and die on the spot.

This outfit was meant strictly for Grylls’s eyes only.

"J-just a moment!"

Clatter! Crash!

Scrambling in a frantic panic, Asella barely managed to change her clothes.

She then gave permission to enter, maintaining an outward mask of calm.

Creak.

"...?"

Opening the door and stepping inside, the attendant looked at Asella with confusion.

Setting aside the inexplicably stifling heat in the room, Asella looked slightly disheveled.

Assuming she must have been doing some light exercise, the attendant turned to the urgent matter at hand.

"Forgive me. The news was urgent, so I bypassed protocol to seek you out."

"I-it’s fine. But urgent news?"

"Yes. Something extraordinary has occurred in Alfheim."

Alfheim.

At the name of that nation, Asella’s brow furrowed involuntarily.

Having caused so many incidents lately, it was impossible to ignore.

"Alfheim... What happened there?"

"Well..."

After a brief hesitation, the attendant spoke.

"It has not been confirmed, but the World Tree reportedly delivered a prophecy to the Senate. They are calling it a revelation."

"Pardon?"

A prophecy.

The weight carried by that single word was immense.

All the more so because the prophecy came directly from the World Tree itself.

"A prophecy... In all of history, the World Tree has never..."

"Never delivered one, indeed. Even Alfheim seems to find it difficult to believe. Therefore..."

The attendant held out a sheet of paper to Asella.

It was none other than an official document from Alfheim formally inviting the Hero.

"Alfheim has formally invited you, Hero-nim."

"...Could it be a trap?"

"It is difficult to determine at present."

Which meant she had no choice but to go see for herself.

Facing an increasingly baffling situation, Asella picked up the document.

And...

[The ’revelation’ delivered by the World Tree mentions a ’false god.’]

A heavy premonition took hold of her.

Strong enough to blow away every trace of her earlier joy.

[Wild Grylls: Ah. Asella. There’s something I need to tell you.]

[Wild Grylls: It looks like the gods on Aragon’s side have started making moves in earnest. They killed Gerdi the Golden Dragon.]

[Wild Grylls: If anything happens out there, let me know. I’ll help as much as I can.]

On top of that, the information Grylls had just passed along.

Asella slowly read through the document, her eyes fixing upon the final sentence.

[The voice of the revelation has been identified as belonging to a ’female.’]

Thrum!

The Holy Sword, Revolution, vibrated.

As if it had encountered an unwelcome foe.