Got a Gallery in the Wild — Chapter 99: Firewood (2)

Chapter 99: Firewood (2)

This‌ world is a place where numerous‍ races and different‌‍ peoples coexist.

Precisely‌ because of that,⁠‌ it is absurdly⁠ complex, and due to the enormous‍ cultural differences, conflicts⁠‌ have existed since‌ ancient times.

People, by nature, tend⁠ to discriminate against⁠ or look down‌‍ on things that‌‍‍ are different.

That⁠ is why, beyond‍ conflicts, it was⁠⁠ natural for both⁠ large and small‌‍‍ disputes to arise.⁠‌

However,‌ among all those‍ differences, there existed‍⁠ one single thing⁠ capable of uniting‍‌‍ a huge number‍ of people.

The⁠‌‍ gods.

Or‌‌ more precisely, religion.‍‌‍

Religion‍ has exerted enormous‌ influence from ancient‍‍ times, an era‍‍ filled with wars,‌‌ all the way‌‍ to the present‍ day.

And‍‍‌ on top of‍ that, in this‌ world the existence of the gods‌ is clearly proven.‌‍

The‍ proof of that‌⁠ is “Sacred Power.”‌‍⁠

The‌⁠‍ divine force obtained‌‌ from the gods,‍‌ also considered the‌‍ purest form of⁠⁠ mana.

Those⁠‍ who use Sacred⁠‌⁠ Power can display‍⁠ strength far beyond⁠ that of other‌‍⁠ beings.

Of‍ course, there is‌‍ the condition of⁠ possessing genuine faith,‍⁠⁠ but even so,⁠⁠‌ it is still⁠⁠ an enormous advantage.⁠

Where did all the gods go?

They⁠ say that in⁠‌‍ the past the‌ gods descended directly‌ into the world.⁠⁠ So where are‌‍ they now?

└They‍ probably went home.⁠‌

└What‍ home are you‌ even talking about hahaha

└It’s⁠ something far too⁠ ancient, so nobody‍ knows. Not even‍ the elves or⁠ demons know.

└I‍ think they simply⁠ taught magic and⁠‌ mana to humanity‌ and that was‌ it.

└They’re‍‌‌ surely still somewhere.‌ They aren’t gods‌‌⁠ for nothing.

Although‌⁠‌ countless gods exist,‍‌ if one had to choose the⁠ most famous, it⁠‌ would be Aris.‌

The‌⁠‍ Goddess of War⁠ and Wisdom.

And‍‍ also the younger‌⁠⁠ sister of Aragorn,‌ the God of⁠ Magic.

There⁠⁠ existed a chief‌ god above even⁠‍ them, their father,⁠ but he had‌‌ less influence than‌⁠ Aris.

Because⁠ Aris was the‍ goddess who protected‌ humanity from the‍‌ evils of the world when humans‌ were still weak.⁠

That⁠⁠ was why an‌ enormous number of⁠‍ people worshipped Aris.

And that even included⁠⁠ the demons.

After⁠‍ all, being the⁠⁠ Goddess of War,‌‌⁠ there was no‌⁠ reason for demons‌⁠ not to worship⁠‌ her.

Thus,⁠ Aris and the⁠⁠ other gods left‌‌ enormous marks upon⁠‌ human history.

And‍ that was still⁠ happening even now.⁠

Just‌‍‌ as with Eldorado,‍ the nation founded⁠⁠ to worship the‌‍⁠ gods.

Bang!⁠⁠‌

“How‌ the hell did‍ this happen?! We⁠‌ believed we had⁠ hidden it perfectly!”⁠‍

An‌‌ elderly man with⁠ a stern appearance‌⁠ slammed the table⁠‍ with his hand‌ while shouting.

His⁠‍⁠ voice sounded aged,⁠‍⁠ but it was⁠ impossible to hide‌‌ the venom contained⁠‍ within it.

“And‍‍ how were we‍⁠ supposed to predict‍ something like this?⁠ First, we should‌ calm down. The⁠‍‌ people are still‍ only demanding an explanation. They do‌⁠ not fully believe‍⁠ it yet.”

In‍‍‌ response to that‍⁠ shout, another old‍‌‍ man seated in‍‌‍ front of him answered.

His thick beard suited him rather well,‌‌ but his snake-like⁠‍ eyes radiated malice.‌‍

His‍ voice was no⁠‌ less sinister than‌‌ the stubborn elder’s.

“Cardinal‌‍ Morgan is correct.⁠ The people are⁠ still waiting for‌⁠ our response.”

Said⁠⁠ an old man‌ with a peculiar⁠ mustache while slowly‌⁠ stroking it.

The‍‍ way he kept‌ his chin slightly‍‍ raised conveyed unbearable‌‌⁠ arrogance.

All‍⁠‍ of them had⁠⁠ different appearances.

But‍‍ they shared one‌ thing in common.‍

They‍ wore white priestly‌ robes that conveyed‍ holiness.

Though⁠ the golden ornaments‍⁠ seemed to reveal‌‍ their greed.

“This⁠ is not the⁠ time for us‍ to fight amongst⁠‌ ourselves. Outside, citizens‍‍ are demanding explanations. We must find‌ a solution.”

A solemn and authoritative⁠ voice echoed out.‌⁠

At‌‍ the same time,⁠ a faint pressure‍‍‌ could be felt.‌‌

The⁠ elders turned their⁠‌‌ gaze toward the‍‍ main seat.

Deep‌‌‌ wrinkles compared to‍ the others.

Yet‍ his eyes were‌ still as lively⁠ as a young⁠‌ man’s.

Although‌‍ that liveliness conveyed something sinister, the‌ old man possessed‍ an aura impossible‌‌‍ to challenge.

“If‍‍‍ you have a good idea, speak.”

Luis⁠ II, the current Pope of the‌‌⁠ Holy Kingdom of‍⁠ Eldorado, spoke calmly.‍‌⁠

At‍‍ that command filled⁠ with pressure, the⁠⁠ elders cleared their⁠ throats.

Then,‌‌ the elder who⁠ had slammed the‍⁠‍ table spoke first.‌

“For‌‌‍ now, we must⁠ absolutely deny everything. After all, the⁠ only evidence is‍ a few posts uploaded to the⁠ gallery.”

“Cardinal⁠‍ Howards is right. Information from the‍ gallery is famous⁠ for lacking credibility.”⁠⁠

Currently,‍ Eldorado had been⁠‌ thrown into chaos‌ since morning.

Everything‌ began with the⁠ Immortal King topic⁠‌ in the gallery.‌

And⁠ that topic had‌‌ finally spread into‍ the real world.‍⁠⁠

The‌ Immortal King incident⁠ had happened only‌ thirty years ago.⁠

And‌ the scars still⁠‍ remained deeply engraved.

People‍‌ who lost their⁠ parents.

People‌⁠‍ who lost their⁠ children.

People‍ who lost their⁠‍⁠ homes.

People‌ who lost parts‌ of their bodies.⁠

People‍ who lost everything.‌

All‍‌ of them had‍‌ gathered in front⁠ of the Vatican‌‌ to protest.

Crash!!!‍

While‍ the secret meeting‍‌‍ continued, a stained-glass⁠⁠ window exploded into⁠‍ pieces.

The⁠‌ cardinals flinched for a moment, and⁠‍⁠ furious shouting immediately‌ began to be heard from outside.‌‍

[Give‌ us back our⁠‌⁠ children! Give us⁠‌⁠ back our children!]

[And you still call‌⁠ yourselves priests?! You still claim to⁠‍⁠ believe in the‌‌ gods?!]

[If you have mouths,‍ then speak already!]‌

The‌‌ voices came from‌ beyond the shattered‌ window.

In‌⁠⁠ truth, the room‍ they were in⁠‌ was located very‌ far from the‍⁠ Vatican entrance.

They⁠‍⁠ had decided to gather on the⁠‍ upper floors precisely‍ for safety.

And‍ yet the stones had still managed‍‍ to reach that‌‍ far.

After‍ all, among the‍⁠ protesters were former⁠‍ knights.

It‌⁠ was inevitable.

“What the hell are you doing?! Catch‍ the one who‍⁠⁠ threw that stone⁠ immediately!”

“I-it’s‍ difficult to identify‌⁠ him……!”

“Useless‍⁠‍ fools!!”

They‌ could not blame‌‍ the Holy Knight‌ who arrived late‌ too much.

That⁠‌ only demonstrated how‌ fiercely the people’s‍ fury burned.

All this just because‌ a post appeared‍ in the gallery?⁠⁠⁠

It‌⁠‍ sounded absurd, but……⁠

After all, this was a world with‌⁠ newspapers and the‍‌ press.

And‍‍ the press always‍‌ pounced on any⁠ sensational story.

Even‍ if the origin⁠‍‌ was merely a topic born from⁠‌⁠ the gallery, it⁠‍ did not matter.

We‌ believed in the⁠ gods, not in‍ you!

If‌‌‍ you still have‌ any conscience left,‍ the Pope should⁠⁠‍ resign immediately!

You‍⁠‍ are tarnishing Lady‌‌ Aris’s name!!

And‍ above all, it⁠‌‌ was also influenced‍ by the fact‍⁠ that Eldorado’s public‌ image had already been bad for⁠‍⁠ a long time.‌

Eldorado‍ was originally a country founded to‌‌ worship the gods,‍ so at first‍‍‌ it had a clean image.

Conveniently,⁠‌‍ it was founded during the era‌ when the demons‌⁠ of Mephisto were‌ running rampant, so⁠ they could present‌ themselves as representatives‍⁠⁠ of “justice.”

But⁠ as time passed, the demons became‌‍‌ obsessed with “that‌⁠ simple ball game,”⁠ and the rivalry‌ between the two‌‌ sides gradually weakened.‌‌‍

And‌‍⁠ as that rivalry‌‍⁠ disappeared, the atrocities⁠‌‍ committed by Eldorado⁠ slowly began coming‍⁠ to light.

‘How‌ irritating.’

Luis⁠‌⁠ II frowned as⁠ he pressed his‍‍ fingers against the⁠‍ bridge of his‌ nose.

Seeing‌⁠ that, the other‍ cardinals could only carefully observe his‌ mood.

The‌ current Pope, Luis,‍‌ was the figure⁠⁠ with the greatest power in all⁠‌ of Eldorado’s history.⁠‌

A single wrong word‍‌ was enough to‍ place their necks‌‍ in danger.

Being‍ a cardinal meant⁠‌ nothing.

“……Now‌⁠ that I think about it, has‌‍ no other country issued a statement?”⁠‍‌

“A-ah,‌ yes! Not yet.”⁠‌

“Not⁠‍ yet……?”

As‌ mentioned before, Eldorado‌ had committed countless‍‍ atrocities.

And‌ one of them⁠ had been pressuring‍⁠‌ neighboring countries using‍ the name of‍ the gods.

Even⁠ if it was‌‌‍ Alvenheim, the kingdom‍‌⁠ of the elves,‍⁠ it did not‌‍ matter.

Eldorado’s‌‍⁠ will was the‌‌ will of the⁠ gods.

And anyone who opposed‌ divine will became‍‌‌ an enemy of‌ the world.

Originally,⁠‍‍ the will of⁠ the gods was‍⁠ supposed to become⁠ Eldorado’s will.

But‌⁠ the situation had‌‌⁠ become completely reversed.‍‍

That⁠ demonstrated just how much power and‍ authority religion possessed.‌

And as always happens,⁠‌ stagnant water eventually⁠ rots.

The‌⁠ stench of that‌‍ corruption had surpassed‌‌⁠ even divine will‌‍ to the point‍⁠‌ where it could‌‌ no longer be⁠ ignored.

“Then,‍‌ do you have⁠ any method?”

“Huh?”‌

“I⁠ asked if you‌‌ have a solution. If you are⁠ going to remain silent, then leave.”‍‍

The‍⁠ moment they walked‌⁠ out of there,‍‌ they would lose‌‌ their heads.

The⁠‍ cardinals could easily⁠ foresee their future.‍

How‌⁠ much had they suffered to reach⁠ those positions?

They‍ could never give⁠ them up.

“It will be difficult‍ to simply deny⁠ everything. If even‌⁠ one survivor from⁠ the Valkhan Kingdom‍‌⁠ appears, the situation‍‍ will become even⁠ more complicated.”

“We⁠ can say that⁠‍ we also had‍‍‍ no choice. After‌‌‌ all, the real⁠‍⁠ problem is the‌ order of events,‍ isn’t it? According⁠‍ to that, the‍‍‍ Immortal King was already carrying out‍‌⁠ experiments to turn⁠⁠⁠ his citizens into⁠ undead.”

The⁠⁠ cardinals squeezed their‍ brains in order‍ to avoid the‌ Pope’s wrath.

Anyone⁠⁠ who heard that⁠ meeting would immediately⁠ understand that the‍‌⁠ records uploaded by⁠ Grills to the‍⁠ gallery were real.‍

Just⁠‍ as they say‌ stagnant water rots,‍ there was no‍ trace left of the noble faith⁠ they once possessed.⁠

All‍ they did now was desperately try‌ to hide their⁠ own sins.

“Good.‍‌ Then we will⁠⁠ do that.”

“When‍ the people hear‍ our version, they‌⁠‍ will surely regret‍ it.”

“By‍‍ the way, what‌⁠ will you do‌ about the gallery?”⁠‌

At‍ the mustached cardinal’s⁠ words, the relaxed‍‌ atmosphere instantly sank‍‍ once again.

Because this entire situation‌ had begun precisely‌ from the gallery.⁠

And⁠ nobody knew what‌‍⁠ other explosive topic⁠ might appear afterward.‌⁠‍

“That‌ is simple.”

Luis‌⁠ opened his mouth.⁠⁠⁠

And⁠ he did so‍ with an unsettling⁠‌⁠ smile.

The⁠ cardinals looked at‍‍ him, and then⁠ Luis proposed the⁠ solution.

“Let‌‌ us use this‌⁠ opportunity to declare‍‌⁠ the gallery evil.”‍

“The‌ gallery……?”

“Yes.‌ We are the‍ ones blessed by‌ the gods. Our‍‌ will is divine‍‌‌ will. Therefore, if‌⁠‍ we declare the‌ gallery evil, that‍ means the gods‌‍ also consider it‌‌ evil.”

As⁠ stated before, everything⁠‌ had become completely⁠ reversed.

The⁠‌ desire to follow divine will had‍ become corrupted long‍ ago.

But‍‌⁠ the desire for‍ power was something⁠‍ difficult to control.⁠

“That‌ sounds excellent. Let‌ us also take‍ this chance to⁠⁠ completely restrict the⁠ gallery. Hahaha.”

“There‍‌ is nothing more‌⁠‌ dangerous than ignorant⁠‌ people accessing false‍ information.”

“Now‌‌⁠ that I think⁠ about it, they⁠ say obscene things‌ are uploaded there‌ too, don’t they?⁠ Truly, this world‌ is going to‌‍ hell.”

They‍ began declaring the gallery evil.

Of⁠ course.

‘Though‌ I will still‌ use it.’

‘I’ll‍ just have to⁠‍ do it secretly.’‌‌‍

‘As⁠ long as I don’t get caught,⁠‍ it doesn’t matter.’‌⁠

Hypocrisy‌‌ was practically a passive skill for‌⁠ them, so they‍ merely spoke elegant‌⁠ words in public.‍

After‍⁠ that, the meeting‌‌⁠ ended and a spokesperson appeared before‍ the people.

In⁠‌ a situation like‌ this, normally the⁠ Pope himself should⁠ appear personally.

But‌ the mere fact⁠‍ that they sent‌‌‌ a spokesperson already‌ demonstrated their arrogance.

“Listen,‌ descendants of the‍‌ gods! This entire incident is nothing⁠‍‌ more than a misunderstanding! The evil⁠‌ king of the‌‍ Valkhan Kingdom, the‍ Immortal King, had⁠ long been conducting‌ necromancy experiments on‍ his own citizens……!”‌

The truth is this.

The‌‍⁠ Immortal King was‍ carrying out evil‌‌ experiments on his‍ citizens.

The Holy Kingdom discovered‍⁠ it before it⁠⁠ was too late,‍ and that is⁠‍ why they were‍‌‍ forced to carry‌⁠ out the massacre.‌

After all, wasn’t it better to die⁠‍ as humans than‍‌ end up transformed⁠‍ into undead?

All‌‍‍ of that was⁠ divine will.

And‌ the people affected⁠‌⁠ by that incident‌ were merely suffering⁠ psychological aftereffects.

With‌ that explanation, the‍⁠⁠ people gradually began⁠ to calm down.‌‍‍

Though they still did‍ not seem convinced.‍

But‍‍ at least explanations were being given.‌‍⁠

“Wow,‍‍ at least they‌‌ really do have‍‌ thick enough faces‍ to come out⁠ and talk.”

Trust⁠‍‍ in the Holy‌ Kingdom had already‌ fallen to rock bottom.

And‌ now everyone was⁠ watching to see⁠ whether there was‍‍‌ still an even‍‌⁠ deeper abyss below⁠‌‌ it.

“And‍⁠ furthermore, His Holiness‍⁠‌ the Pope has declared that the‌ gallery is the true evil, and‌ anyone who believes‌ the false information of the gallery‌⁠ will be severely⁠ punished……!”

“Hey,⁠ sons of bitches!!”

“I‍ already knew you’d‌ say something like‍‍ that! You’re just⁠ trying to hide‌ something!”

“What‌‍ the hell do⁠ you have against⁠ the gallery?! Do you want to⁠ end up beheaded‍‍‍ like the Emperor⁠‍ of the Central‍ Continent?!”

“Stop⁠ blaming the gallery!‌⁠ We’re already sick of that!”

Who was it that‍⁠ said even the⁠ bottom has another‌‍ deeper bottom beneath‌ it?

Every‍‌ time some problem occurred, they always‍ blamed the gallery.‍

It‍‍ was a routine‍‌ repeated countless times.⁠‍

Normally,‌ people would have‌‍ reacted with a simple.

“Ah…‌⁠ these bastards again‍⁠ with the same⁠⁠ thing.”

But⁠ the fury had‌ already completely surpassed‌ its limit.

And‍ even that did‍ not work.

“Everyone,⁠‌ breaking news! The⁠‌⁠ Magic King Kadir‍ has just issued‌‌ a statement!”

“What?⁠‍ The Magic King?”‍

“Wasn’t he a close⁠ friend of the‌ previous Hero?”

Amid⁠ the chaos, someone‌⁠ announced the news.‌⁠‍

The‌‌ spokesperson felt a bad premonition.

But‌‍ it was already⁠⁠ too late.

“The‍‌‍ previous Hero did‍‍‍ not die together with the Immortal‍ King! He chose‌ to die alongside‌ him! All because⁠‌ of the pressure‌ and coercion exerted‌⁠‌ by the Holy‌‍ Kingdom!”

“What⁠ the hell does⁠ that mean?”

“The‌⁠‍ previous Hero chose⁠‌⁠ death? Are they‍⁠ saying he committed‍ suicide?”

“Can‍ that really even‍ be called suicide?‌ That’s practically……!”

And‍⁠ right at that⁠⁠ moment, Kadir threw‌⁠⁠ a log soaked‍ in oil into⁠‌‍ the fire.

“Bring‍ out the Pope!⁠ Let him come‍⁠ out personally and‍‍ give explanations!”

“Give me back my‌‍ son!”

“Give⁠⁠ me back my⁠⁠ father!”

The‌‍ flames showed no‌ signs of dying‌‍ down.

Meanwhile,⁠ at that exact⁠‍‍ same moment, in‍ the Forest of⁠⁠⁠ the Four Seasons.‍

“Cough.⁠⁠⁠ Cough! Ah, did⁠‌ I put in‌ too much firewood?”‍

Grills‌⁠ was adding firewood to prepare breakfast.‍⁠⁠