Gallery 16 - Dumpster

I Gained a Gallery in the Wild - Eps 16 Health (1)

There are countless things in this world that money can buy just as many it cannot.

Health, mind, time, and so on. Most are intangible, yet they hold immense weight in the human experience.

Among these, health can be deemed especially important as it often directly connects to 'life' itself.

No matter how high one's status, how vast their wealth, or how great their fame, all becomes meaningless without health.

Most people go through life without realizing the importance of health, only to understand it when it’s too late.

By the time one tries to reclaim their health, it is often beyond reach.

Even an emperor who reigns with absolute authority is reduced to the same fragile human when faced with illness.

Moreover, once health deteriorates, it’s rarely easy to recover.

Though medicine and technology have advanced with the passage of time, they remained few and far between.

Often when one complains of discomfort in one area, the issue lies elsewhere, and many are born with inherent discomforts.

Humans are built in such a way that from the moment they are born, their health gradually declines.

To be granted life is to be promised death.

And yet, there are some for whom that cycle runs cruelly short.

Some even receiving a death sentence the instant they are born.

"Cough! Cough!"

A woman lying in bed let out a harsh cough.

She hastily pressed a handkerchief to her mouth.

Her hair and eyes were as white as snow, and her skin was pale.

Altogether, she evoked the image of fresh snow and gave off a mysterious aura.

"Haa..."

After her rough bout of coughing, she slowly lowered the handkerchief

Streaks of dark crimson marred her pristine white handkerchief.

Her condition was visibly severe, yet she seemed indifferent as she handed the handkerchief aside.

A young maid with chestnut-brown hair stood nearby.

“Mary. Would you take care of this, please.”

"My Lady."

The brown-haired girl glanced worriedly at the handkerchief and then at the woman.

Her eyes were reminiscent of a deer’s.

The pale and pure white woman seemed to read the emotion in that innocent gaze and let out a soft smile.

Or she tried to. But she did not.

Her expression remained rigid and cold, as if frozen.

"Perhaps it would be better to speak to the Duke again....."

"It's a common occurrence. Don't make a fuss."

“But lately your coughing has been too...”

“I said I’m fine. Quickly bring me another one."

She spoke in chilly and curt tone.

The maid, Mary, hesitated before taking the handkerchief and placing it in a basket on the drawer.

The basket was already full of blood-stained handkerchiefs.

Showing just how much blood had been coughed up.

"...We’re running low on handkerchiefs. I’ll fetch new ones."

"Please. Bring tissues if there aren’t any."

"Understood."

Mary hesitated at the door, unable to hide her worried gaze before finally stepping out.

The white-haired woman remained expressionless.

Before long, once Mary had also stepped out, the snow-white woman turned her head forward

A chill hung in the air, as cold as her demeanor.

"Haaah..."

Selena let out a long sigh and leaned back against the bed.

Her expression remained rigid, but now tinged with gloom.

She lifted her arm and stared at her own wrist.

It was so slender it looked like it would snap at a mere light tap.

Her skin, abnormally white, appeared as if powdered with makeup.

One only needed to recall the blood-stained handkerchief to understand the severity of her condition.

In fact, saying it was ‘terrible’ barely covered it.

'Not much time left.'

Selena thought this without any change of expression.

A congenital incurable illness that was born with her.

This illness did not gradually shorten her life span so much as set its end in stone.

By the time she reached adulthood, death was guaranteed.

According to physicians from the Central Plains, it was 'the worst of the worst, called ' Nine Yin Severed Meridians.'

It occurs when an overabundance of yin energy completely throws the body’s balance off, slowly destroying it.

The most distinct symptom is the progressive blockage of the blood and mana circuits.

Mana circuits were vital for living.

It is especially closely related to the health that Selena so desperately desires.

People often collapse from heart attacks. This happens when the mana circuits near the heart are blocked due to illness or poor health.

In the past, there was no way to deal with a heart attack, but now at least emergency treatment is possible through CPR.

'Even God is too cruel.'

But Nine Yin Severed Meridians was different.

If only it blocked specific parts like a heart attack, but this is no different from the entire body's mana circuit being blocked.

Like a vessel with a fixed capacity, overfilled to the point of shattering.

Instead, she can exert power that surpasses that of an ordinary person.

When Selena could still move around, she was called a genius.

Especially in magic, she was so gifted that people said no one could rival her.

Her intellect was also extraordinary, so much so that even her father, Theodore, would sometimes seek her advice.

'It's all meaningless now.'

Yet as time passed, none of it mattered.

Born into the most prestigious ducal house of the Messiah Empire and possessing great talent, yet helplessly dying like this.

In the face of health, everything else paled in significance.

The more time went by, the more she wished for just one thing.

To break free from the bed and proudly run on her own two feet.

She knew full well that it was impossible.

She had received every form of aid, yet her health showed no sign of improving.

There are three ways to treat the spleen vein.

There were three possible ways to treat Nine Yin Severed Meridians: consume a spiritual creature brimming with yang energy, have a physician perform direct treatment, or receive yang energy into the body.

The first method was practically impossible, even with the duke's power, wealth, and information network.

They kept tabs on the black market, but all they found were drugs and human trafficking, nothing like a spiritual creature.

The second had been abandoned by physicians themselves.

The surgery’s difficulty was extreme, and none dared handle the aftermath.

The third method.... She would rather die.

She would rather bite her tongue than share intimate relations with a total stranger.

She didn't want to extend her life at the cost of her chastity.

'Besides, such men are hardly common.'

To be sure, it would have to be someone worthy of the title strongest.

But as it stood, most of those at the center of current strongest-alive debates were women.

At least there is Kadir, referred to as the 'King of Magic', but he is old.

There were even rumors he was an eccentric, which only made her more uneasy.

'I don't want to die like this...'

Death terrified her. So she had devoured every scrap of knowledge she could find.

She studied alchemy and medicine on her own to prolong her life even just a little.

But the more knowledge she gathered, the more she concluded that treatment was impossible.

Could despair be any more profound? That's why she once cried at the top of her lungs.

Her parents, deeply feeling their powerlessness, wore increasingly troubled expressions as days passed.

Little by little, Selena’s face lost all expression.

She had reached the stage where she was no longer clinging to hope, but rather beginning to accept despair.

She couldn’t even remember the last time she laughed freely.

'Doing something is better than nothing.'

That didn’t mean she was willing to just sit and wait for death to come.

Selena lifted her head and stared into space.

Before her eyes, a translucent window appeared.

The gallery she had only accessed after accepting her death.

‘I used to hate the idea of even looking at it.’

The gallery could be accessed by anyone, regardless of age or gender, provided certain conditions were met.

And that very inclusiveness was what made many people avoid it.

There were those who loathed how drenched in desire the place was.

Selena was one of them, but her thoughts changed after her health deteriorated.

'How time flies.'

She became absorbed in the gallery at the same time her health took a drastic turn.

Stuck in bed all day, she did nothing but browse the gallery.

At first she just lurked, but eventually she started posting updates to count the passing days, thinking she might as well leave a record.

That was already five months ago. In other words, her health had been deteriorating for five months.

'It's not just terrible people.'

When she received criticism and mockery, she was disappointed, ‘As expected’.

But as time went on, people realized she was sincere and not just putting on an act, then many began to cheer her on.

Even the mod, though eccentric, was just. They handed out instant bans for excessive insults.

Because of this, I was able to access the gallery with a more comfortable mind than before.

People become truly free the moment they accept death.

Little by little Selena got used to that den of desires, the gallery, and was able to evolve into a seasoned user.

Even her dried-up emotions returned, even if just a little.

Interestingly, most of those emotions were 'envy' or 'jealousy.'

“Even these kinds of people can live and walk freely. So why not me…?”

Truly ironic. Yet she couldn't disconnect from the gallery.

Especially recently, with the emergence of a peculiar fixed nickname.

'WildGrills... How did this person end up in the Forest of Four Seasons?'

When you explore the gallery, you inevitably see things that defy common sense.

Recently, someone claimed to be stranded in the Forest of Four Seasons.

The Forest of Four Seasons, where space constantly changes, is a region where gallery access is impossible.

Despite this, not only can they access it flawlessly, but they've also verified multiple times, thereby receiving the greatest attention.

---

Title: Anyone wanna bet on how long Grells lasts?

I’m giving him maybe two weeks max lol

---

ㄴ Half a month is already being generous lol

ㄴ He might just die tomorrow lol

ㄴ Literal mayfly lifespan

ㄴ I think the gods hate Grills

ㄴ WildGrills) Hey, you little shits. I’m surviving till the end.

ㄴ So what did you eat today?

ㄴ WildGrills) 3 Byeokgokdan...

ㄴ Ever tried meat? lol

ㄴ WildGrills) No....

ㄴ Want some?

ㄴ WildGrills) Make a fixed nickname first lol

ㄴ lol

She used to just see them as a pitiful person but her view changed after making a deal with them.

They could’ve just swallowed the compass and been done with it, but they insisted on returning it.

That alone was proof he wasn’t some heartless jerk.

'There’s something weirdly relatable about his mayfly’s lifespan.'

If Selena is terminal, Grills is mayfly’s lifespan.

This subtle dynamic was gradually taking root in the gallery.

Sometimes there would be threads debating who would die first, but they disappeared quickly.

Probably because the mod decided it was going too far and banned them.

Weighing human lives like that, getting banned was well deserved.

‘If only the herb he first found had been a different one...'

That was the thought that came to her mind every time she read Grills's post.

The rare herb he stumbled upon Crescent Moon Spirit Herb.

Unfortunately, Crescent Moon Spirit Herb specializes in stabilization rather than any particular energy.

She couldn't express how regrettable it was.

Had it been an herb full of yang energy, she would have stopped at nothing.

'Would HeavenlyDemon have been in danger then?'

It was possible to infer this just by looking at HeavenlyDemon's behavior, who was presumed to have received Crescent Moon Spirit Herb.

HeavenlyDemon is one of the famous fixed nicknames in the gallery.

Therefore, Selena was able to figure out her behavioral patterns to some extent.

'If someone with very strong self-esteem treats a person like that, it is clear that they received Crescent Moon Spirit Herb.'

HeavenlyDemon is famous for frequently writing shitpost.

No matter what people said, she never cared and just kept posting.

Thanks to this, Selena was able to infer HeavenlyDemon’s personality from their posts.

A type with extremely strong self-esteem and confidence.

Especially self-esteem that is noticeably strong.

Looking at how they spread all sorts of shitposts in their own way, the answer roughly emerged.

‘Did 'gal' mean to scold in the language of the Central Plains?'

Such a person displayed urgency during Crescent Moon Spirit Herb incident.

After receiving Crescent Moon Spirit Herb, they even treated Grills with respect.

It was clear the HeavenlyDemon was in poor health and had been helped by Grills.

'This person Grills.... seems a bit pushover.'

Selena analyzed Grills with her usual blank expression.

Grills' personality can be explained in one sentence.

Kind words beget kind replies. That showed in his actions.

Even though he was stuck in the Forest of Four Seasons and needed to survive, he still tried hard to repay any help.

'What strange creatures exist in this world.'

Selena checked Grills’s posts often.

She felt a subtle sense of kinship because of their mayfly’s lifespan, but above all she was uneasy

Because if his posts stopped, it basically meant he was dead.

'That's why I'm even more curious.'

That’s why she grew even more curious.

What kind of creature would they encounter next, and how would they survive the harsh conditions?

Thanks to that, she had a fun time writing comments that she didn't even do often.

A tiny ripple began to stir in Selena’s heart.

"Cough! Cough!"

Splash!

If only her body weren't deteriorating day by day.

Selena hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand as a sudden fit of coughing seized her.

Since it was precisely when Mary had gone to fetch handkerchiefs, she had no choice but to cover it with her hand.

"...."

She fought back the dizziness and looked down at her palm.

Seeing blood pooled there instead of a handkerchief made death feel more real.

It was a sign that she was reaching her limit.

Click—

"My Lady. I’ve brought the handkerchief... My Lady?!"

Mary returned just in time and rushed over in shock.

"...Mary."

"I'll call the physician right away. The blood today is...."

“No. I’m fine. It’s all right now.”

“My Lady?”

Mary looked at her with disbelief when she heard Selena not to call the physician.

Selena saw what was in her eyes and gave a small nod.

"I really don't think I have much time left."

"M- My Lady, if you give up so quickly...."

"I'm also an expert in medicine, Mary. I know my body condition the best."

In her struggle to survive, Selena had once devoured every piece of medical knowledge she could find.

But she gained nothing. She only gained the only the certainty that her time was limited.

Mary looked at her with trembling eyes, but Selena was firm.

"Thank you for the handkerchief. You go get some rest. I’ll call if I need you.”

"...My Lady."

“I’d like to be alone. Go on.”

At Selena’s icy dismissal, Mary reluctantly stepped out.

She did not forget to cast a worried glance until the very end.

Selena felt her heart warm at such a nature of hers.

Her expression was still cold as if it was a coldness.

'I should ask Father to take Mary in as an adopted daughter.'

This is a final request and a reward for Mary who stayed by her side until the end.

With that thought, Selena leaned back against the bed.

The dizziness had eased slightly, but her body grew heavier.

She couldn’t even muster the strength to move a single step from the bed.

'Grills.... Are you okay?'

When she felt herself getting even closer to death, a certain person came to mind.

If she were to express that she was infinitely approaching death, then Grills was always hovering right in front of death’s door.

She barely opened her dimming eyes and accessed the gallery.

'Mandrake.... Mature? What is this?'

As expected, it was Grills. Always finding something new and strange.

Though it wasn't an animal but a plant, it attracted even more attention because of that.

'As far as I know, mandrakes contain yang energy....'

Maybe this could help her, even just a little?

With that in mind, she left a few comments here and there and learned something surprising.

‘A mature mandrake might actually be able to treat me?'

But there was a catch. And it was an extremely cruel one.

She needed at least six mature mandrakes.

Even seeing just one in a lifetime was hard, so six was nothing short of torture by hope.

She was about to give up on it entirely when a comment that she absolutely couldn't ignore was posted.

ㄴ WildGrills) There are fucking loads of them?

ㄴ StarlightPrincess) What?

She was so startled she left a strange comment. It was hard to believe.

Even for the Forest of Four Seasons, isn't that a bit much? Such thoughts came to mind first.

But after seeing the post and photos Grills uploaded, she changed her mind.

'Perhaps?'

With Grills' help, might she be able to escape this hellish illness?

Selena had crafted elixirs before.

She had spent her entire life trying to cure her body.

As it happened, Grills wanted elixirs rather than money.

She could provide an elixir anytime if it meant being cured.

‘Is this how HeavenlyDemon receive help too?’

Suspicion that they might be a scammer? Such thoughts didn't arise.

Wasn't HeavenlyDemon, a living witness, openly treating them as a benefactor?

Of course, Selena wasn’t sure if mature mandrakes would work for her Nine Yin Severed Meridians.

She was just grasping at straws. It fit perfectly.

‘Can Grills even gather them in time?’

It wasn’t a matter of days or weeks. She could die as soon as tomorrow.

If only Grills had found them a little sooner, she might’ve had breathing room.

'Gathering mandrakes will take a long time... Will they be alright?'

Just as Selena was enveloped in anxiety, a trade request came flying in.

[WildGrills has requested a trade. Do you accept?]

It was Grills. Selena blinked and stared at the trade request window.

Did they really collect them all that fast? She hoped, but soon shook her head.

'They’re probably giving me what they caught earlier.'

That's reasonable. Let's not harbor false hope.

She tempered her expectations and accepted the request.

[WildGrills: Hello. StarlightPrincess. I collected 7 mature mandrakes.]

[StarlightPrincess: What?]

Selena was taken aback by the story Grills told her as soon as she accepted the trade request.

Her face stayed expressionless, but mentally, she was reeling.

'No. You've already collected them ALL? How?'

She expected it to take at least a day, but this completely defied expectations.

[StarlightPrincess: You've already gathered them all? Is that possible?]

[WildGrills: If you punch them before they scream, they will become quiet? Stuffed dirt in their mouths too, so they’re safe.]

[StarlightPrincess: (O_O)]

Selena was at a loss. She blinked twice.

She wondered if that was really how you were supposed to harvest mandrakes.

Normally, silence or sleep magic was the standard method.

'Is this what they call magic (physical) in the gallery?'

(D: Denken would approve this fr. This magic consume natural resource called stamina.)

Anyway, if they had already collected them, all she had to do was receive them.

Selena swallowed hard and continued the conversation.

Contrary to her stiff expression, her responses showed various reactions.

[StarlightLady: Are you sure this is okay? You’re giving me all of this precious stuff…]

[WildGrills: You look like you're in a lot of pain.]

[StarlightPrincess: What if I'm lying?]

[WildGrills: Then I'll just stop trading with you from now on.]

Such a naive way of thinking. Or perhaps it was just their mindset of ‘If not, then so be it’.

Selena let out a short sigh and went back to her usual blank expression.

But the corners of her lips were ever so slightly upturned.

This must be why HeavenlyDemon was courting (?) them so much.

Even if they occasionally did strange things, at their core, they were a genuinely good person.

[StarlightPrincess: Thank you so much. It’s just so sudden, I probably can’t give you the elixir right away. Is that okay?]

[WildGrills: Just send me a trade next time. That’ll work.]

[StarlightPrincess: Thank you. Really, thank you so much.]

She felt like the tiny spark of hope that had been little more than embers was slowly growing again.

Selena filled her heart with hope and then suddenly became curious.

Grills is a person closest to death, just like herself.

A body that wouldn’t be strange to die tomorrow.

[StarlightPrincess: Grills. May I ask you one thing?]

[WildGrills: What is it?]

[StarlightPrincess: If you were to die tomorrow, what would you do?]

There's a saying.

Even if the world were to end tomorrow, I would plant an apple tree.

(D: From Martin Luther King Jr.)

It’s become so cliché that it barely feels fresh.

She expected Grills to say something similar, but their response defied her expectations.

[WildGrills: Why think about dying tomorrow?]

[StarlightPrincess: Then?]

[WildGrills: You should think about living today.]

"...."

Think about living today. Those words dug deep into Selena’s heart.

Once, she truly wanted to live.

However, this cursed body shattered that heart.

Since then, she had merely waited for death, day after day.

'But now...'

She stared blankly at her lap.

The trade had just ended, and a few bright-red mandrakes were laid out before her.

'I want to live.'

Ding!

Selena rang the call bell without hesitation.

As soon as she rang the bell, Mary, who had been waiting outside, came rushing in.

"Is there anything you need, My Lady?"

"Mary. Take me to the lab."

"The lab?"

"Yes."

Selena made another request to the still bewildered Mary.

“Bring these too.”

She pointed to the mature mandrakes.

Mary tilted her head at them.

"What are those ugly plants? Where did they even come from?"

"Um..."

Selena thought about how to explain, then quietly opened her mouth.

"It's just something."

For now, she had no choice but to keep things vague.