WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Got a Gallery in the Wild ◈

Chapter 71: Core (1)

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After countless hardships, I finally defeated the Guardian. Honestly, luck had been on my side to some extent.

If the Guardian hadn't been made of Orichalcum, if Wonmo hadn't found the courage to charge in.

If the Light hadn't flickered at that final critical moment, I wouldn't be alive right now.

Wonmo deserved a lot of credit for this one. He was the reason I found the clue I needed.

What would've happened if I hadn't brought Wonmo along? Just thinking about it made me shudder.

'Since he was still a baby, he must've had much less mana, too.'

It was a fight I could only win because every condition lined up perfectly.

The Fast Sloth couldn't do much this time, unlike during the Saber-Toothed Tiger Night Raid.

Even that thing, which could slice through an iron container like tofu, probably had a hard time with Orichalcum.

Even if it could cut through it, it would've been pointless against something that regenerated.

"Ugh..."

How long had it been since I defeated the Guardian? I was still sprawled out on the ground.

My mana had already been slowly sucked dry, leaving me drained.

Then I loaded the crystal ball with every last scrap of mana I had and threw it, so now I was dried out like a squid.

'This is a little too much, though...'

It wasn't that I lacked the strength to move a finger. If anything, I had strength.

How could I put it? It felt like gravity had become several times stronger and was crushing my body.

Whatever it was, that bizarre sensation made it hard to get up.

"Wonmo."

"Kyuu?"

"Come here. At least let me pet you."

Might as well pet Wonmo's fluffy face.

Wonmo started purring happily when I stroked him.

I thought only cats purred, but whatever.

'First, I'll drink some Elixir.'

After a sip of Elixir, some of my strength returned, and I was able to slowly get myself together.

I couldn't use my cultivation method yet, but focusing on my breathing gradually made me feel better.

"Ugh..."

Groaning, I slowly got to my feet.

After that fierce battle, my whole body hurt.

Especially my abdomen. It hurt far worse than anywhere else.

During the fight, I managed thanks to the adrenaline and the Elixir's painkilling effect.

Once everything was over, though, it hurt badly enough to make me grimace.

'It'll get better soon.'

I'd seen the Elixir's effects with my own eyes.

It healed the arm that had been mangled by the Mad Dog's bite in an instant.

The problem was that this injury was internal rather than external, so it seemed to be taking longer.

"Hmm..."

Enduring the pain, I examined the Guardian's corpse(?).

Unlike the human shape it had taken earlier, it now looked like a stone cairn.

My eyes went to Heavenly Demon's Sword, which stood out even among the pile of rocks.

'Is it really a hero's sword?'

Thinking something pointless, I grabbed Heavenly Demon's Sword.

When I gave it a hard pull, something skewered on it like a kebab came along with it.

'Is this the Core?'

The Core was the Guardian's heart and power source.

It had lost its light and no longer gave off a blue glow, leaving it dark in color.

I wondered whether it had any value, but even if it didn't, there was Orichalcum scattered everywhere. No reason to worry.

'I'll use this as proof.'

I positioned the Core skewered on the sword so that the pile of Orichalcum behind it would show in the shot.

Then I took several photos and uploaded them to the gallery. I included Wonmo, too.

[Post title] Killed a Guardian.

[Author] Wild Grylls

[Post] (Photo of a Core skewered on a sword, with a pile of Orichalcum behind it)

[Post] (Photo of a pile of Orichalcum shaped like limbs)

[Post] (Photo of a Core skewered on Heavenly Demon's Sword)

[Post] (Photo of Wonmo looking up)

[Post] A Guardian suddenly popped up while I was exploring, and I almost died.

[Post] At first, it absorbed mana and changed its body shape, so I thought I was completely screwed. Still, I barely managed to kill it.

[Post] The last photo is Wonmo, who put in an MVP-level performance during this fight. I wouldn't have figured out how to beat it without Wonmo.

[Post] Orichalcum is one thing, but I have no idea whether this Core is useful. Can I sell it?

└ [Heavenly Demon]: Was this Guardian creature strong?

└ [Wild Grylls]: It wasn't as strong as a Saber-Toothed Tiger, but it was still strong. If I hadn't figured out how to beat it, I really would've died.

└ [Heavenly Demon]: I see. It is too late to say it now, but there is a simple way to deal with enemies like that which absorb Internal Energy.

└ [Wild Grylls]: What's that?

└ [Heavenly Demon]: Keep pouring in Internal Energy until they cannot absorb any more. Most will destroy themselves that way.

└ [Wild Grylls]: Teacher;;

└ [SwordTasteMaster]: A Guardian that absorbs mana? I've killed quite a few Guardians, but that's the first I've heard of one. Changing its body shape is the same, though.

└ [Wild Grylls]: I think it's because its body was made of Orichalcum. Do other Guardians change their bodies too?

└ [SwordTasteMaster]: Yes. A Rock Guardian can control rocks, while a tree Guardian can control trees and a river Guardian can control river water.

└ [Wild Grylls]: What about firing energy beams from its Core?

└ [SwordTasteMaster]: That's another first for me. What the hell did you kill?;;

└ [Wild Grylls]: So this bastard was the weird one lol

└ [Starlight Princess]: Are you hurt anywhere? Every time I see a post like this, I worry.

└ [Wild Grylls]: I took a solid punch to the stomach. But I have Elixir, so I should be okay.

└ [Starlight Princess]: That's a relief. Still, you need to be especially careful with internal injuries. They're harder to treat directly than external wounds.

└ [Wild Grylls]: Yes. I'll be careful.

└ [Starlight Princess]: I'm speaking from experience, so please be cautious.

└ [Wild Grylls]: Yep.

└ [Passing Dwarf]: Damn. Look at all that Orichalcum;; How much is all that worth?

└ [Wild Grylls]: Can you make anything with it?

└ [Passing Dwarf]: You can make plenty, but it probably won't be useful to you. The Core is just an energy source, too.

└ [Wild Grylls]: Can't do anything with the Core?

└ [Passing Dwarf]: It's basically coal, I guess? Still, one that big could sell for a high price.

└ [Wild Grylls]: I don't need money. Can't I connect it to something like a refrigerator? Like a portable battery.

└ [Passing Dwarf]: If that were possible, I would've made a portable brewery by now.

└ [Wild Grylls]: It always comes back to booze with you, seriously;;

└ Wait, is Grylls really a total newbie? Everything they take down is insane.

└ For real. They won partly because of the terrain, but I can't believe it anymore. How is that a newbie?

└ Are they seriously pretending to be weak?

└ [Wild Grylls]: (Photo of a bright-red bruised abdomen) What did you say?

└ Sorry;;;

└ That must hurt like hell;;

└ Didn't you get hit on purpose? lol

└ I won't believe it until you show us how it went down lol

└ [Wild Grylls]: Can I even show that? If I record it through the gallery, it gets in my way and makes fighting difficult.

└ Dunno?

└ Wouldn't the Head Mod know?

└ Ask the Head Mod.

└ [Wild Grylls]: You irresponsible bastards;;

After hanging around the gallery, I started cleaning up, though calling it cleanup was a little vague. Aside from the Core, everything around me was Orichalcum.

I picked out several pieces of a suitable size and put them into the Subspace Bag. I put the Core in with them.

They were pretty heavy, but not enough to interfere with my movement. My mana was slowly recovering, too.

'I should give the Core to Allfather.'

Allfather might find researching the Core interesting.

With that in mind, I went outside the cave... not. I looked for the Light Crystal Ball first.

The crystal ball had only gotten a few scratches despite being hit by a laser. I had a feeling I'd use it a lot in the future.

'KingLeor practically saved my life.'

That didn't mean I was going to cheer for Leor.

I had to remain loyal to PrincessChaenggu. Still, I should give KingLeor some Orichalcum in return.

After leaving the cave, I tapped the crystal ball twice.

The floating light in the sky faded away, and the crystal ball lost its glow as well.

'I'll need to run my cultivation method as soon as I get back.'

My mana was nearly empty, so I needed to replenish it with my cultivation method.

Besides, my abdomen was bruised blue. I needed to rest until I recovered.

'That means I can't get crabs again.'

The number of things I had to apologize to the dwarf for kept growing.

At least I'd given them fish yesterday. Otherwise, I would've lost their trust.

If things didn't work out, I could give them more Orichalcum as an apology.

They'd probably use it for a brewery or refrigerator, but that should be enough.

'Don't they have a crystal ball with a recording function?'

I remembered the gallery comments asking whether I could show the battle.

At first, I'd dismissed it as nonsense, but the more I thought about it, the more useful it seemed.

They said seeing something once was better than hearing it a hundred times.

I was learning from registered users, but learning only through writing had a lot of inconveniences.

'It's worth seriously considering.'

There would be limits to the viewpoint, but even then, it would be incredibly useful.

The problem was how to record videos. There weren't any smartphones here.

'I have no choice but to ask the Head Mod.'

I needed to look into the gallery's functions more thoroughly.

Thinking that, I returned to my shelter.

Maybe because I'd gone through such a fierce battle, returning made me feel as calm as if I'd come home.

'I shouldn't get used to this.'

What if I ended up settling down here forever? It wouldn't happen, but still.

I kept holding onto the hope of getting out. I wanted to see human faces.

Cute Wonmo and the Fast Sloth I bickered with couldn't fill that void.

Just being able to exchange words could ease it somewhat, but that wasn't possible right now.

'Should I really get a ball and talk to it?'

I snickered while organizing my things. Even I thought it was a stupid idea.

Still, it might become my future.

'I'll leave the Core here, then put the Orichalcum beside it.'

After finishing up, I checked the time.

It would be lunchtime in about an hour. I could check on my condition until then.

I started by checking my bright-blue bruised abdomen.

Originally, the bruising had covered my entire abdomen, but it had noticeably lessened now.

Wouldn't it have been dangerous without the Elixir?

'Some people struggle desperately just to win, while others can do that much damage with a single attack...'

It was unfair, but what could I do? I was a frail, frail human.

I gently rubbed my stomach before lying down on the soft mat.

Maybe because of the difficult battle, or maybe because my mana had been drained, I felt sleepy.

'Even if I sleep, I should eat lunch first.'

Until then, I could hang around the gallery. I logged in.

Wondering whether there was anything about me, I searched for my nickname.

[Post title] Honestly, I'm jealous of Grylls.

"Huh?"

There was a post that made me blink. What kind of lunatic was jealous of me?

I couldn't help but be interested, so I clicked on it.

[Post title] Honestly, I'm jealous of Grylls.

[Post] (Photo of a crumbling slum)

[Post] (Photo of a cramped house)

[Post] (Photo of a roof leaking rainwater)

[Post] I'm just your average gallery bum from the slums. Everyone keeps saying Grylls is pitiful, but honestly, I'm jealous instead.

[Post] As long as you have the gallery, getting by isn't a problem, right? Plus, expensive stuff is scattered all over the Forest of Four Seasons.

[Post] There's nothing like that in the slums. My dad ran off ages ago, and my mom sells her body.

[Post] Getting beaten while begging on the streets is normal for me. I just hope people understand that someone else's miserable situation can be heaven to someone else.

[Post] Safe? That's complete bullshit. Once, some bastard pulled a knife on me to steal my begging bowl.

[Post] This place is just fucking hell. Even if I want to leave, I can't because I don't know where I'd go.

[Post] So I'm jealous of Grylls, who gets to live in the wild without worrying about money.

└ What's the temple doing? Didn't they say they were helping the slums?

└ They are, but it's meaningless lol. There are tons of bastards who gamble it away or run off with it.

└ A slum isn't called a slum for nothing. There's no answer unless you wipe the whole place out.

└ Hang in there.

└ Looking at this, maybe Grylls has it better?

└ Come on. This user can at least do things, but Grylls has to risk their life every time they do anything;;

└ If living in the wild was so great, everyone and their dog would be doing it lol

A flood of criticism, condemnation, and sympathetic comments followed.

I couldn't help feeling strange as I read them. So that was possible, too.

I understood. The place this user lived was a different kind of hell from where I was.

Everyone had their own circumstances, but hardship was still hardship.

'The grass is always greener, huh?'

If anything, I envied this person. They had people around them.

A place with human warmth was far better than being dropped alone into the wild.

So I left a comment. It was more of a come-on than an insult.

└ [Wild Grylls]: (Photo of a cave with a mat spread out) Friend. Want to come here? It's kind of cozy. If you come, we can do anything!

└ What is this now lololol

└ I thought you'd insult them, but this is confusing lol

└ Forest of Four Seasons versus slums. A clash that makes the heart swell;;

└ Honestly, if we're judging whose future is more fucked, it's definitely the former lol. The Forest of Four Seasons has no future or anything lol

└ The gallery is the only reason it's possible. Without it, they'd have to do everything by hand;;

└ You're really comparing these? No matter what, it's better than the Forest of Four Seasons.

└ What kind of bullshit comparison is this?

└ Are you making fun of me right now?

└ [Wild Grylls]: No, I'm serious. If you come, I'll do everything I can for you.

└ But I'm a guy?

└ [Wild Grylls]: I'm alone.

└ He's gay.

└ [Wild Grylls]: I'm single.

└ Fuck, that creeps me out. I'm not going. Piss off.

└ [Wild Grylls]: T_T

└ lolololol

└ lololololol

└ lololololol

└ Instantly cured lol

The sob story was shut down immediately. Most people scolded the poster, telling them to pick someone else to compare themselves to.

But did they know?

'Once again, I was the only one being serious.'

I really had meant it.

Footnotes:

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