Got a Gallery in the Wild

The Immortal King Incident that broke out about thirty years ago.

The Immortal King was born in the Kingdom of Balkan, and countless clergymen were deployed to defeat him.

However, they were completely powerless against necromancy’s greatest strength numerical superiority.

No matter how powerful the clergymen were, they could do nothing against such an overwhelming difference in numbers.

That was why the previous Hero and the Mage King, Kadir, had no choice but to infiltrate the heart of the enemy army as a special operations unit.

While they pushed their way to the core, the Holy Knights did everything they could to hold back the undead army.

Title) They were basically just meat shields

In theory, they “held them back,” but in reality, they merely served as meat shields.

ㄴ Besides, the Immortal King didn’t even withdraw any troops. He threw his entire army against Eldorado.

ㄴ Wasn’t it because of the Immortal King that Eldorado’s military strength was reduced by half?

ㄴ It wasn’t even just half. Between the cursed clergymen and those who lost arms or legs, they actually lost nearly two-thirds of their forces.

ㄴ On top of that, the Immortal King attacked Eldorado with an unhealthy obsession. The casualties in Alvenheim could be counted on one hand.

ㄴ It got so bad that other countries had to directly assist with the reconstruction.

ㄴ If someone had invaded at that time, they wouldn’t have fought the army—they would have fought all the people of Eldorado.

ㄴ Now that I think about it, it’s chilling. Back then, we assumed the Immortal King attacked Eldorado because he was the Demon King.

ㄴ And it turns out Eldorado was the one that created the Demon King.

ㄴ What if they create another Demon King?

ㄴ The Pope is already on the level of a Demon King. Hahaha.

During the holding action, countless clergymen died, and in the end, the Immortal King was defeated.

Although he left an irreversible wound on Eldorado, their sacrifice was noble.

They fought for their homeland and to fulfill the mission entrusted to them by Goddess Aris to eradicate evil.

Thanks to that, although many survivors were left with physical disabilities, very few suffered psychological trauma.

The people of Eldorado also honored that noble sacrifice and supported them in countless ways.

Financial assistance.

Recognition.

And respect for those who survived.

All of that became yet another source of national pride.

Until a truth came to light that was not only shocking.

But revolting.

“You damned bastards!! My father was a great Holy Knight!! He devoted all his loyalty to Eldorado!! And this is what he gets in return!? This!?”

“My mother was the kindest person in the world. I still remember watching her walk away… Why did she have to sacrifice herself?”

To some, those who had fallen were the parents they had admired and dreamed of becoming.

“I always blamed my husband for leaving our children before us! But why did he have to die!!”

“My wife wasn’t someone who was meant to die like that!! She was someone who should have lived much longer!!”

To others, they were the person with whom they had promised to spend their entire lives.

“My son…! Cough! My son…! W-Why… did he… have… to die…? Cough!”

“Give me back my daughter!! Give me back my daughter!! Give me back my daughter!!!”

And to many.

They were children for whom they would have gladly given their own lives.

Everyone had firmly believed that those deaths had not been in vain.

But the truth was cruel.

They were sacrifices brought about by the sins of the State itself.

A tragedy that could have been avoided.

A senseless death that should never have happened.

Those who had devoted their entire lives to their country were sacrificed to conceal that very country’s mistakes.

Who wouldn’t feel anger?

Who wouldn’t weep?

That was exactly what was happening in Eldorado.

These were not people desperately struggling to survive.

They were people unable to contain their rage and grief, weeping inconsolably.

“T-The people…”

“…It’s incredible. Even after seeing it in the Gallery, it didn’t seem this overwhelming.”

Asella and Reis witnessed the scene with their own eyes.

Even saying it looked like a sea of people failed to do it justice.

In front of the Papal Palace.

In the square.

In the streets.

The overwhelming majority of the citizens had abandoned all economic activity to participate in the protests.

They all shared a single goal.

To force the Pope to personally admit his crimes.

The people of Eldorado, who had spent generations living under the constant threat of the Demon King, had always tended to unite during times of national crisis.

But never in history had such an enormous crowd gathered.

That alone showed just how deep the disappointment and sense of betrayal toward the Vatican had become.

‘And even so, they still haven’t said a single thing…?’

As she gazed upon the massive sea of people, Asella recalled the Vatican’s response.

Up until now, it had remained as unwavering as it was stubborn.

They continued insisting that they were right and that the protesters had been deceived.

A lie that no one was willing to believe.

The more she heard it, the angrier she became.

It was as though the Vatican itself kept pouring oil onto the flames.

“Asella. Just in case, keep your hood on until the very end.”

“Huh?”

“Your hair attracts too much attention. At least I blend in much better.”

“But you’re very beautiful too, Sister.”

“Well. It’s nice to hear you say that. Though I’m not nearly as eye-catching as you are.”

That wasn’t true.

Reis also had a very distinctive appearance.

It was simply that Asella stood out even more.

There was no arguing with that.

“For now, let’s try to make our way to the front row. I want to hear the nonsense those people are spouting.”

“Yes.”

What she truly wanted was to remain hidden until the demonstrations were over.

After all, the darkest place is always beneath the candlestick.

The Vatican would probably never imagine that the Heroine was still in the capital.

“Excuse us.”

“Pardon us.”

The two of them pushed their way through the enormous crowd.

The closer they got to the front.

The louder the protesters’ voices became.

It felt as though an incident could erupt at any moment.

Surprisingly, though, there was still plenty of room to move.

— $%^%$!

A voice amplified by magic reached their ears.

It seemed they had already reached the front line.

Asella pulled her hood even lower, just in case.

And the moment they reached the front.

A voice rang clearly in their ears.

— All of you are being deceived! We have never uttered a single lie!!

A voice completely tainted by lies.

Thanks to the voice amplification magic, it could be heard with perfect clarity.

How disgusting.

That was the thought that unconsciously crossed Asella’s mind.

Ever since Ludwig’s revelation, the trust she had once placed in the Vatican had sunk to rock bottom.

Could there possibly be a bottom even deeper than that?

She even found herself asking that question.

‘How could Eldorado have ended up like this…?’

Just as Asella’s unease continued to grow.

Step. Step. Step. Step.

Perfectly synchronized footsteps echoed from in front of the Vatican’s gates.

Since Asella’s senses were exceptionally sharp, she immediately identified where they were coming from.

“Huh…?”

“T-The Holy Knights? Why are they here…?”

The voices of those standing in the front row, which until moments ago had been filled with anger and grief, turned into confusion.

“Everyone! Formation!”

A fully armed detachment of Holy Knights lined up in front of the protesters.

In truth, it wasn’t unusual for a few Holy Knights to guard a protest.

There were security concerns, and there was always the possibility that violence might break out.

But these weren’t just a few knights.

It was an army.

And that was completely unprecedented.

“Has that damned Pope mobilized the army?”

“H-He isn’t really planning to turn this into a civil war, is he?”

“By Aris… how could Eldorado end up like this…?”

The worst possible scenario began to take shape in the minds of the protesters.

And in Asella’s as well.

Her expression hardened as she placed a hand on the Holy Sword.

If the worst happened.

She intended to step forward and protect the citizens.

— Beloved citizens of Eldorado! Please, listen to me!

Fortunately, the army did not act.

Instead, a priest stepped forward and stood before everyone.

And he was no ordinary priest.

Among the clergy, rank could almost always be distinguished by their attire.

Especially by the shape of their hat.

The one this man wore was tall and elongated.

“A-A Cardinal?”

“A Cardinal came out personally?”

A Cardinal.

The rank immediately below the Pope.

His appearance inevitably confused the protesters.

And that was exactly what the Pope had intended.

“We are fully aware that many of you feel disappointed in us. However, we have never lied to you.”

Just as the protesters were about to explode with outrage at such a blatant lie.

“And more importantly, we have discovered an even more horrifying truth. At this very moment, all of you are under a curse!”

“What? A curse?”

“What the hell is he talking about?”

“If we’re talking about curses, the Pope himself is one.”

The claim was so absurd that the crowd split between confusion and disbelief.

Asella’s reaction wasn’t much different.

She knew curses better than anyone.

Only clergymen could dispel them.

And the greater their holy power, the greater their ability to break them.

“The remnants of the evil Immortal King still remain among us! The Immortal King created countless undead through various methods. If this continues, all of you may become undead as well!”

“W-What…? U-Undead?”

“We’re going to become undead? Is that true?”

Those words struck the crowd like a hammer.

To become undead while still alive.

The crowd immediately demanded an explanation.

The first to respond were the war veterans.

“…It’s true. I saw it with my own eyes.”

“The Immortal King’s necromancy was so powerful that it could even turn the living into undead.”

With the testimony of those who had fought in that war.

The citizens’ anxiety grew even stronger.

But Asella couldn’t stop wondering about one thing.

If they really were cursed.

Wouldn’t it be enough to simply purify them?

That was exactly what clergymen existed for.

And yet the Vatican wasn’t doing anything at all.

On the contrary.

They were only spreading even more fear.

No matter how she thought about it.

Something about all of this was strange.

“That is why we must purify you! As long as you remain gathered together like this, we cannot do anything!”

In other words.

Cooperate.

Disperse the protest.

Because otherwise.

“If you refuse to cooperate, we too will be forced to make the worst possible decision to stop this curse.”

Clank.

At that very moment, every Holy Knight stepped forward in unison.

It was an unmistakable threat.

And behind them.

Archers stood ready.

At the sight of that, the crowd fell into deep confusion.

What if they were the ones who were wrong?

If the army had taken such a firm stance.

What if, this time, the Vatican was telling the truth?

After all, even the boy who cried wolf had told the truth once.

Would it be right to believe them one last time?

Just as the protesters began to waver.

Someone raised his hand.

“Hey! Then let me ask just one question!”

It was a hoarse voice.

But a familiar and friendly one.

The protesters stepped aside to let him through.

Thanks to that, Asella was able to clearly see his face.

‘Uncle Hans?’

She knew him very well.

He was the man who sold fruit in the town square.

Always kind to everyone.

With a wonderful sense of humor.

And known by practically everyone in the capital.

In fact, anyone who had lived there had eaten Hans’s fruit at least once.

Meanwhile, Hans walked resolutely to the front row and stopped in front of the Cardinal.

“You say we’re cursed?”

“That is correct.”

“I don’t know where you got that information, but for now I’ll believe you. However! It should be easy to verify whether I’m truly cursed. Go ahead, prove it.”

If he truly was cursed.

Then prove it.

After all, they were clergymen.

It was an argument that couldn’t be refuted.

But the Cardinal replied in a voice full of feigned sorrow.

“The Immortal King’s curse is extraordinarily powerful. And extremely insidious. It is very difficult to detect, so we must examine you personally.”

“Not even a Cardinal can do it?”

“I’m ashamed to admit it, but no. It must be confirmed personally by His Holiness the Pope.”

That meant meeting the Pope directly.

And that carried enormous risk.

Even so, Hans let out a snort and replied firmly.

“Even better. I’ll go myself.”

“……”

After those words, none of the protesters said anything.

Despite the ominous feeling they all shared.

Everyone wanted to know whether this so-called curse really existed.

The army had even been mobilized.

It was hard to believe they would lie after going this far.

“We thank you for your cooperation. Please follow me.”

The Cardinal gave a slight bow and led Hans toward the Vatican’s entrance.

Once Hans disappeared inside.

The atmosphere among the protesters gradually relaxed.

“W-What do we do now?”

“I guess all we can do is wait for Uncle Hans to come back.”

“Let’s all head home for today. We should take the opportunity to get some rest.”

The protest gradually dispersed.

But Asella remained there until the very end, staring at the Vatican’s entrance.

What if the Vatican was actually telling the truth?

They, who had done nothing but lie until now?

She couldn’t shake her uneasiness.

‘Not yet… but…’

As she slowly caressed the Holy Sword.

A sword she would never draw except in the worst possible situation.

After standing there for a long time, staring at the Vatican.

Asella finally turned around.

Reis did the same.

“Hey, Asella.”

“Yes, Sister.”

“If Uncle Hans doesn’t come back tomorrow, what will you do?”

Asella answered without the slightest hesitation.

“I’ll go in.”

“In secret?”

“Yes.”

“Alone?”

“Yes.”

Dispelling a curse didn’t take very long.

As long as the one performing it possessed sufficient ability.

If it was the Pope.

Any curse should be easily removable.

So.

If Hans didn’t return the following day.

It could only mean one thing.

That something had happened.

‘Goddess Aris…’

Asella offered a fervent silent prayer.

‘Please protect Uncle Hans…’

***

While Asella prayed desperately…

“W-What does this mean?! D-Don’t tell me you people…?!”

“Shut up! Blindfold him already!”

Shortly after entering the Vatican, Hans was subdued by several Holy Knights.

Although he was a large man.

He was no match for them.

The first thing they did was restrain both of his arms.

Then they covered his eyes with a blindfold to prevent him from accessing the Gallery.

And just like that.

They dragged him away to somewhere unknown.

He had never imagined something like this.

“He has arrived.”

The Holy Knights escorted Hans into an interrogation room.

The blindfold still covered his eyes.

Hans raised his head when he heard the voice in front of him and shouted at the top of his lungs.

“What kind of atrocity is this?! Do you really think Aris will forgive you for something like this?!”

There was no fear in his voice.

Only betrayal.

And anger.

But the Cardinal seated across from him didn’t even flinch.

He simply said.

“Very well. From this moment onward…”

Hans listened to those words.

“…You will become a servant of the Immortal King. Do you understand?”

“What…?”

It was like staring directly into the abyss.

***

Clack.

“Huh?”

Hearing that sound, Grills turned his head.

It had come from the statue of Cain that he had found inside the Mimic.

The statue hadn’t moved.

So then.

Why had it made a sound?

‘Was I just imagining it?’

But there was something far more important.

Grills turned his gaze back toward the fireplace.

And he wasn’t the only one.

All the animals were watching as well.

“With this, it should be ready.”

He took something out of the hearth.

It was a roasted sweet potato.

Perfectly golden.

When he peeled away the skin.

A brilliantly glowing golden flesh was revealed.

“Looks delicious.”

“Peep! Peep!”

“Alright. Wait.”

There was nothing better for a freezing winter.

Than a good roasted sweet potato.