Chapter 254

Illegal Dumping (4)

I heard the whole story from the head admin and the Heavenly Demon. Most of it concerned the illegal dumping of garbage.

The head admin had dumped his trash without even "sorting" it, while the Heavenly Demon had tried to sort hers, only for the garbage to walk into the forest on its own.

Calling people garbage might sound excessive, but those people deserved to be treated that way.

One group consisted of parasites who had been eating away at their nation, while the other was a band of murderous maniacs who killed people whenever they had the chance.

’When you look at it that way, Eldorado’s criminals are better.’

I heard from the Heavenly Demon that the Blood Cult had plundered countless villages in preparation for this undertaking.

They had even implanted self-destruction techniques in the slaves they used as porters, intending to use them to buy time.

I did not know whether those techniques would work inside the Forest of Four Seasons, but that alone proved they were garbage.

They must have planned to use the porters as shields and escape if things went wrong.

They were terrifying people in more ways than one.

’The problem is that I don’t know whether these people are dead or alive.’

The Eldorado prisoners were preferable, at least. Most of them were already fairly old.

Besides, Ludwig was standing guard here, so even if they reached this place, they would not be able to try anything foolish.

"Mister, what will you do if the people who banished you show up here?"

"$#&&."

[He says he’ll throw them back across the river.]

Though it seemed he intended to send them back across the river before they could try anything.

They had originally been sentenced to death anyway, so I did not care whether they lived or died.

This place was not some prison for violent criminals, and I had no intention of showing them mercy.

Still, just in case, I removed all the nearby signposts.

I would have liked to remove the bridge as well, but dealing with it would have been difficult, so I left it alone.

’Their chances of survival are practically zero.’

Even Ludwig would have died long ago if he had not possessed his mithricon sword.

Could those people survive intact without receiving any support?

Honestly, there was no chance.

The remnants of the Blood Cult had slightly better odds, however, precisely because of their martial arts.

According to the Heavenly Demon, the Blood Cult’s newly invented martial art specialized in strengthening the external body.

One might wonder what use that was when mana could not be used inside the forest.

However, their martial art was different because it converted all of their internal energy into external conditioning.

The internal energy that would normally be gathered in the dantian was instead spread throughout the body and stored in the muscles and bones.

[Wild Grylls: Is that even possible? Storing it in the bones and muscles instead of the dantian?]

[Heavenly Demon: It is not particularly difficult. It is simply so inefficient that no one bothers. However, I found evidence that the Blood Cult even conducted human experiments. They must have improved its efficiency, if only slightly.]

That was the gist of it.

It showed just how much the Blood Cult had committed to this undertaking.

The Blood Cult was treated like a punching bag on the Gallery, but when it came to sheer viciousness, no group could compare.

’And the Demonic Cult wiped out that Blood Cult.’

A post about it had appeared on the Gallery.

It contained footage of the real Heavenly Demon—not merely the assistant admin called Heavenly Demon—slaughtering the remnants of the Blood Cult.

Since the post had gone up while the head admin was briefly away, it spread throughout the Gallery in an instant.

Her overwhelming strength drew attention, but her beautiful appearance played a part as well.

Photos and videos normally failed to capture a person’s beauty in its entirety.

That was not the case with the Heavenly Demon.

’Because of that, the Gallery has become...’

The problem was the aftermath.

Posts worshipping the Heavenly Demon sprang up like weeds.

Since she was a person who lacked nothing whatsoever, it was only natural that people would begin following her.

Well, those were only the Gallery’s reactions. Things might have been different in the real world.

Title: The Heavenly Demon Is My Wife

(A photograph of Yu Sowol’s face as she massacres the Blood Cult)

Anyone who disagrees is wrong.

└ Aren’t you going to show us your face?

└ Why would I have to?

└ I have no rebuttal.

└ Heavenly Demon: This Lady does not yet have a husband.

└ Get lost, fake.

└ Heavenly Demon: What would you do if this Lady were the true Heavenly Demon?

└ I’ll believe you if you show us your face.

└ Heavenly Demon: This Lady’s noble countenance is not something to be viewed carelessly.

└ So you’re ugly, lmaooo.

└ Hey, you old martial-arts fossil. Go grow some plants or something.

As expected of the Gallery, the revelation had produced some unintended side effects.

Occasionally, a post went too far, but those disappeared almost immediately. The Heavenly Demon had probably banned whoever posted them.

The Gallery would likely be buzzing with talk about the Demonic Cult for a while.

It did not have much to do with me.

’Wait. She really is the Heavenly Demon.’

I could not say it was completely unrelated to me.

From now on, I would be fully aware that Heavenly Demon was the actual Heavenly Demon.

She had not admitted it herself, but based on the circumstances, there was a ninety-nine-percent chance it was true.

Her annihilation of the Blood Cult remnants was proof.

Besides, had she not personally told me the outcome?

That made me even more curious.

Why had she indirectly revealed the identity she had gone to such lengths to conceal?

[Heavenly Demon: Because I failed to keep my promise to you.]

[Wild Grylls: Promise?]

[Heavenly Demon: You have shown this Lady nothing but kindness and grace, yet I placed you in danger. Thus, I wished to apologize.]

The reason was simple.

She felt guilty.

Apparently, if she had dealt with all of them, she had planned to let the matter pass without telling me.

For a moment, I wondered when I had ever made such a promise with the Heavenly Demon. Then I decided to comfort her first.

[Wild Grylls: You don’t have to be too upset. The chances of them making it all the way here are practically nonexistent anyway.]

[Heavenly Demon: This Lady failed to keep her promise, yet you would forgive me?]

[Wild Grylls: For one thing, I don’t remember us ever making that promise. Anyway, what will you do from now on? You’ll probably be busy with matters concerning the Demonic Cult for a while.]

[Heavenly Demon: I can leave the affairs of the Demonic Cult to a close confidant. This Lady intends to cultivate the medicinal herbs you gave her.]

That confidant of hers must have had it rough.

Their superior was the Heavenly Demon, so they could not even complain.

Of course, people could act differently on the Gallery than they did in real life, but the Heavenly Demon... probably was not that different.

’I bet she even talks like this in real life.’

She practically radiated dignity in the photos and videos.

It was rather surprising that someone like her used the Gallery, but the world was a big place.

Nothing bad could come from remaining on friendly terms with her, and I had no intention of exploiting her for anything.

[Wild Grylls: It sounds like you’ll have a difficult time ahead. Let me know if there’s anything you need.]

[Heavenly Demon: Before that, this Lady wishes to ask you something. You must have realized by now that this Lady truly is the Heavenly Demon.]

The Heavenly Demon hesitated for a moment before carefully asking me a question.

[Heavenly Demon: What do you think of this Lady?]

[Wild Grylls: A kind, beautiful, and powerful person?]

It was an easy question, so I answered immediately.

I did not care who the Heavenly Demon truly was.

The same applied to everyone else.

As someone trapped in the Forest of Four Seasons, the fixed-nickname users on the Gallery were the real people to me.

[Heavenly Demon: Is that all? Do you not find this Lady frightening or difficult to approach? Does it truly not bother you?]

[Wild Grylls: I’d probably feel that way if you came to the Forest of Four Seasons.]

[Heavenly Demon: Ah.]

That single "Ah" seemed to contain countless emotions.

The Heavenly Demon remained silent for quite some time before sending another message.

[Heavenly Demon: This Lady still has a long way to go. I prided myself on understanding martial arts better than anyone, yet people remain difficult to comprehend.]

[Wild Grylls: To be honest, part of me does want to worship you.]

[Heavenly Demon: Truly?]

[Wild Grylls: If you came to the Forest of Four Seasons.]

[Heavenly Demon: Hehe. This Lady wishes to say something harsh, but she shall restrain herself.]

After I teased her a little, the Heavenly Demon seemed to relax.

I began typing another message, only to delete it.

I had considered telling her that she really was incredibly beautiful, but that would have been far too forward.

[Wild Grylls: I look forward to getting along with you from now on.]

[Heavenly Demon: This Lady swears that one day, she shall show you the sky beyond that forest.]

That concluded my conversation with the Heavenly Demon.

It had been quite meaningful.

I closed the Gallery and headed outside.

When I emerged, I found Kkobong roasting and eating sweet potatoes.

Wonmo, Tyrano, and even Largo were gathered companionably around him.

"Come on, guys. It’s time to work. We need to build the drying shed."

"Just one bite."

"You’re seriously going to get fat at this rate."

The little guys had developed a taste for sweet potatoes lately, which was becoming a problem.

Their obsession had continued all the way from winter until now.

It was probably because sweet foods were difficult to find in the wild.

Honey was far too sweet, while sweet potatoes were just right.

’They’re not going to get diabetes, are they?’

The idea of animals developing diabetes sounded funny, but I could not dismiss it entirely.

Once snack time was over, I started working on the drying shed.

"They said candles were good for reducing humidity."

That was what I had heard from the dwarf.

Candles and newspapers were supposedly excellent for absorbing moisture.

Besides, the drying shed was only intended for drying dates.

There was no need to build anything large, especially with summer just around the corner.

’Let’s just put together a basic frame.’

My companions and I finished constructing the frame, then took a break.

Browsing the Gallery while resting was practically mandatory.

Most of the posts would probably be about the Demonic Cult.

[Shouldn’t we choose a Gallery Icon soon?]

As I browsed through the trending posts, I noticed one with an unusually high number of recommendations.

Its title said we should choose a Gallery Icon.

Puzzled, I immediately opened it.

Title: Shouldn’t We Choose a Gallery Icon Soon?

The Gallery has become much more active lately, so I think it’s time we chose a Gallery Icon.

└ True. We haven’t had one until now.

└ This Gallery has been unusually quiet about that, lmao.

A Gallery Icon.

In other words, the symbolic figurehead of a Gallery.

Online communities were generally divided according to their respective subjects.

Someone connected to the subject—or simply the most famous person associated with it—would often become the Gallery Icon.

Simply put, they were the Gallery’s mascot.

Being chosen meant that person was incredibly famous.

’I wonder who the Gallery Icon was before.’

Curiosity suddenly struck me, so I left a comment.

└ Wild Grylls: Who was the previous Gallery Icon?

└ Wi Hochang.

└ Wild Grylls: ;;

└ Wi!

└ Ho!

└ Chang!

└ It was because of that shit that the Blood Cult multiplied.

└ But the Blood Cult has been destroyed now, so I guess it doesn’t matter anymore.

└ Before Wi Hochang, it was the Undying King, lmaooo.

└ Necromancy Is Love: It seems We were quite famous indeed.

└ Stay out of this, old man.

There had been a time when the Blood Demon and the Undying King were the Gallery Icons.

Just what kind of place was this Gallery?

I could only let out a baffled laugh.

Then someone posted another comment.

└ Honestly, isn’t the next Gallery Icon already obvious?

└ Yeah. I was thinking the same thing.

└ Anyone who doesn’t know is an idiot, lmaooo. The whole world is in chaos because of him.

└ I don’t think anyone would complain if he became the Gallery Icon.

Those comments filled me with an intense sense of foreboding.

I thought about what kind of existence a Gallery Icon actually was.

Wasn’t the Gallery Icon the person everyone mocked, tore apart, chewed up, and toyed with whenever they had the chance?

To put it simply, they were the community’s punching bag.

Someone who got beaten up despite doing absolutely nothing.

└ Wild Grylls: Sorry, but I have no intention of becoming the Gallery Icon.

└ We don’t need your opinion, so shut up.

└ Wild Grylls: Why don’t I get a choice?

└ Because this is the Gallery.

└ If you didn’t like it, you shouldn’t have done things worthy of becoming the Gallery Icon, lmaooo.

└ Head admin, start the vote already. Our new Gallery Icon has arrived.

└ Heavenly Demon: This Lady would also like to become this "Gallery Icon."

└ You mean the Heavenly Demon? Sorry, but Grylls has far more influence than you.

└ Yeah, no matter how incredible the Heavenly Demon is, she’s still nowhere near Grylls, lmaooo.

└ Have you ever hunted a dinosaur? If not, don’t talk.

└ Heavenly Demon: That is reasonable. This Lady shall strive harder.

└ Wild Grylls: No. Why are you accepting that?

As the situation grew increasingly ominous, someone soon appeared to deliver the finishing touch.

└ Don’tAbandonTheHero: Indeed! We should begin voting immediately! It’s about time we chose a Gallery Icon!

└ Wild Grylls: Ma’am?

└ Don’tAbandonTheHero: Everyone is cheering for you, Mr. Grylls!

└ Wild Grylls: This feels like an elaborate attempt to publicly execute me.

└ Grylls, there’s no need to be embarrassed.

└ Just show us your face already. Wait, don’t we have that picture of him after he ate Pumpkin Jack’s core?

└ Yeah, we can use that one, lmaooo.

They cheerfully ignored my opinion.

At that point, even I gave up.

Whatever. Let them do what they wanted.

Perhaps becoming the Gallery Icon and attracting attention would be useful in its own way.

More people would take an interest in me, and I might be able to gather more people capable of helping me.

Title: Gallery Icon Vote!

Don’tAbandonTheHero

We’ll now begin voting for our Gallery Icon! The candidates are one person and two animals!

Wild GryllsWonmoTyrano

That’s everyone!

└ Aren’t there some strange candidates mixed in?

└ Don’tAbandonTheHero: But they’re adorable!

└ Agreed.

Wonmo and Tyrano had been added out of nowhere, but nothing unusual would happen.

Time passed, and the vote began.

...

Title: Voting Is Over! Here Are the Results!

Don’tAbandonTheHero

Wild Grylls: 11%Wonmo: 49%Tyrano: 40%

Wonmo has been elected as our new Gallery Icon!

Everyone, please give him a thunderous round of applause!

└ Daaamn it! I knew you could do it, our adorable Wonmo!

└ A cute animal is way better than some gloomy-looking man, lmaooo.

└ I want to see more pictures of Wonmo already, haha.

└ We won’t get banned if we plaster Wonmo’s face everywhere, right?

└ SwordMaster: Wonmo certainly is popular.

└ Starlight Princess: I’d love to raise an animal like Wonmo too.

└ PraiseTheSun: Lmaooo. I have so much to say, but I’ll keep quiet.

Defying everyone’s expectations, Wonmo had become the new Gallery Icon.

I stared blankly for a moment before calling him over.

"...Wonmo."

"Kyu?"

"Let’s take some pictures."

There was no way I could resist this.

READ MORE ChapterS HERE : https://beastnovels.com/