Gallery 42 - Dumpster

I Gained a Gallery in the Wild - Eps 42 Swindler (3)

The Demonic Brain, Wi Seol-ak, had overcome countless crises in his life.

Among them, the greatest crisis was the oppression from those in high positions.

Wi Seol-ak, possessing an extraordinary brain, was threatening to those in high positions.

A mere commoner Wi Seol-ak being far superior to the children of proud families?

That was something they could never tolerate. So they kicked down the ladder every chance they got.

But Wi Seol-ak climbed his way up through sheer grit and venom. He didn’t need ladders.

By this point, they might have acknowledged him, but unfortunately, Wi Seol-ak had no luck with people.

Thus, what he received in return was terrifying oppression. In this process, he developed a venomous resolve.

Carrying that poison, he entered the Demonic Cult, and using his distinctive extraordinary mind, he rose to the position of Demonic Brain.

"Why do thou hesitate? Do thou perhaps also use the Gallery?"

"That is...."

And today, Wi Seol-ak faced yet another greatest crisis of his life.

A command from the Heavenly Demon, the one revered above all, a being who stood in the heavens.

Upon hearing the Heavenly Demon's command, Wi Seol-ak's mind raced.

The result of spinning it frantically was one answer.

'I’m fucked.'

Royally fucked.

For such an absurd reason, he was facing the greatest crisis of his life.

Since Wi Seol-ak was also an avid gallery user, he fully understood the current situation.

The news that the inner core put up at the auction house was fake. It was an incident related to 'Grills,' which had recently caused a stir.

'WildGrills. She must have stepped in to help him.'

It was clear that Yoo Sowol summoned him to assist that person. That much was within expectations.

But asking him to access the gallery was something Wi Seol-ak had not expected.

Here, Wi Seol-ak quickly turned his head and opened his mouth.

The moment even a second of silence flowed, Yoo Sowol would become suspicious.

"O’ Heaven. By gallery.... do you refer to the Continental Integrated Gallery?"

"That is correct."

"As it is Heaven's command, I shall obey. However, this foolish one struggles to grasp the situation. May I humbly ask for your reasoning?"

Even while stalling, Wi Seol-ak’s brain kept turning nonstop.

To follow the order, log into the Gallery, and leave a verification post.

If he did so, all the posts in which he usually badmouthed Yoo Sowol would be exposed.

He felt even more crisis because he happened to be active with a fixed nickname rather than a temporary one.

'I chose a fixed nickname out of necessity, but for things to turn out like this...'

Why did Wi Seol-ak choose fixed nickname? It was for trading and the auction house.

The Demonic Cult was located in a rather remote area. So supply is crucial.

In the old days, it was almost at the level of neglect, with quite many people starving.

Now it has improved considerably after Wi Seol-ak reformed it and Yoo Sowol's appearance in the martial world followed.

'I must resolve this matter without being caught as much as possible.'

t the time, he had done it out of necessity and hadn't thought much of it.

But who would have thought that Yoo Sowol would openly say, 'Reveal your nick'?

It was Wi Seol-ak’s mistake not to predict just how unconventional her way of thinking was.

'Would Heaven truly respect privacy?'

'HeavenlyDemon' Yoo Sowol has a tyrannical and overbearing personality.

A person who doesn't care about others' feelings and only does her own thing.

She also possessed the martial prowess to back up that personality, earning her the awe and reverence of the cult members.

'She has to. Otherwise, I'm dead.'

On the other hand, HeavenlyDemon in the gallery is strangely different.

Her characteristic overbearing attitude and self-centered personality were still present, but she did possess a shred of humanity.

This can be inferred from seeing her provide infinite conveniences to Grills.

Wi Seol-ak desperately hoped that she would extend the same conveniences to him as well.

Or he'll die socially and physically.

"Reason, you say... Must This One inform thou of such things?"

"..."

"Or is there some truth thou wish to hide from the gallery?"

"I do not use the gallery. Heaven."

"Thou speak falsehoods without even moistening your lips with saliva."

"..."

Fuck. Wi Seol-ak cursed inwardly.

He had spoken as steadily as he could, but she saw through him.

But he had no choice but to lie. Only then could he hope for Yoo Sowol's 'understanding'.

Had Yoo Sowol truly been a rampaging tyrant, his head would’ve flown off long ago. Thankfully, she wasn’t that kind of tyrant.

At the very least, she was someone who knew how to respect those beneath. If not, she would have commanded him to forcibly break through the Forest of Four Seasons.

Hoping for understanding after telling a lie was ridiculous, but to pierce through even that tiny probability, he had no other option.

The moment he enters the gallery, physical death is certain. It's essentially a life-or-death gamble.

"I shall believe thy lie. But from now on, it would be better to speak the truth."

"I shall keep it in mind."

"Good. Did you ask for a reason earlier? I shall tell thou everything."

What a relief. Truly, what a relief. Wi Seol-ak sighed inwardly.

The gamble with his life as the bet ended successfully. But that did not mean the crisis was over.

"My benefactor is being unjustly framed. Lend me your wisdom to resolve this situation."

“All the wisdom of this humble one belongs to Heaven. Please give your command.”

“As for the situation…”

Yoo Sowol’s explanation was simple, yet packed with all the relevant points.

Of course, Wi Seol-ak had already seen through all the circumstances, so it was closer to pretending to listen.

His mind had already formulated countless hypotheses, and it wouldn’t be hard to lay them out one by one.

"Does thou understand?"

"I understand. To think there are those who not only doubt Heaven's insight but even stoop to falsehoods. They truly deserve divine punishment."

"..."

Yoo Sowol narrowed her eyes at Wi Seol-ak.

It was a look that said, ‘Do you, who just lied, have the qualifications to say such things?’

Wi Seol-Ak couldn’t see her expression as he bowed, but he could feel it.

His conscience wasn't just pricked it felt as if it were being repeatedly stabbed with a dagger. He forced himself to ignore it

If he could save his life with a single lie, it was a remarkably cheap price.

"May I offer my opinion?"

"Speak."

"First, we cannot exclude the possibility that the successfully bid inner core truly has no effect whatsoever and is an ordinary pellet. While I cannot speak for the one Heaven bestowed upon this humble subject, there is no guarantee the other one was a genuine inner core either."

"Hmm."

Yoo Sowol nodded. In fact, she too was concerned about that point.

The reason she overlooked Wi Seol-ak's lie was because it couldn't be resolved by thinking simply.

Her plan was to first confirm whether he knew about the gallery or not, and then borrow his wisdom.

She had only ordered him to reveal his nickname because of her uniquely domineering way of speaking, but Yoo Sowol herself didn’t realize that.

'He seems to have something he cannot be proud of.'

Anyway, Yoo Sowol understood him. The gallery is a cultural asset suitable for releasing desire and stress.

He must have engaged in behavior too shameful to show others.

All Gallery users were like that. It was fully understandable.

"Then is there no method?"

"Since they've gambled on uncertainty, we must skillfully use that against them. It's a matter of credibility."

"I would think mine benefactor has higher credibility."

"This isn't a matter to be taken lightly. Those who use the gallery are like jackals. When they discover prey, they bite and tear regardless of consequences."

"Jackals..."

Yoo Sowol nodded at the comparison of gallery users to jackals.

Users who rush in like crazy when an interesting incident occurs.

Truth or falsehood doesn't matter. They simply bite and tear because it's fun.

Conversely, if credibility is secured, that pack of jackals could become allies.

“The one spreading the slander probably has one goal. To push Heaven’s benefactor into an amicable settlement.”

"An amicable settlement?"

"If the Benefactor were to receive even a suspension, their life could become endangered. The accuser are targeting that point."

"So they're toying with people's lives."

Yoo Sowol feigned a displeased expression.

If it were up to her, she would track their location and crush them.

However, only mod can track location.

She didn't think the mod would grant that permission, especially not in a case like this.

"Is there a solution?"

"There is a simple and easy method."

"What is it?"

"Heaven simply needs to make an appearance in the gallery."

The phrase 'make an appearance in the gallery' sounded comical, but the point was this.

I want you to verify yourself at the gallery, that is, verify that you are the real 'HeavenlyDemon'.

To have Yoo Sowol, once known for posting shitpost under her fixed nickname and now a sub-mod, prove that she is the real Heavenly Demon.

"You refused This One's command yet dare to make suggestions. There's no greater contradiction."

"I apologize. Heaven."

"Speak your true heart without a single lie. Do you have no intention of verifying yourself?"

"I would rather hang myself and die."

"Hmm."

So he detested the idea of authenticating himself that much? Yu Sowol nodded.

She didn’t want to lose someone as capable as Wi Seol-ak over something so ridiculous.

"Moreover, even if I were to verify, it wouldn't have great meaning. They could say we coordinated our stories."

"I see."

"What would Heaven..."

"But I refuse."

(D: DAGA KOTOWARU!)

A resolute answer came from Yu Sowol's mouth. A flat refusal.

Wi Seol-ak had questions about her decision but didn't dare to ask.

'Is she embarrassed?'

It's not unlikely. Especially since he knew about the gallery sub-mod HeavenlyDemon’s activity logs.

That's likely why she had generously overlooked his lie. Empathy is the starting point of understanding.

‘If she reveals her identity, there's no reason for her to be on the gallery.’

But Wi Seol-ak's thoughts were completely off the mark.

The reason Yoo Sowol doesn't reveal her identity on the gallery is embarrassment? Absolutely not.

'The freedom to interact wildly by instinct, without any decorum or dignity. How could I give that up?'

On the contrary, Yoo Sowol was honest and confident.

Whether in reality or in the gallery, her words and actions hadn't changed at all.

The joy of being one 'human' freed from the mold of 'HeavenlyDemon'.

Yoo Sowol is very pleased with that life. That's why she was reluctant to reveal her identity.

If she had to live as the 'Heavenly Demon' even on the gallery, it would become monotonous to the point of outright boring.

'There would also be those who approach seeing only This One's dignity.'

A favor sent to a 'Heavenly Demon', not a 'human'. No different from reality.

If that happened, she would immediately quit the gallery.

Therefore, Yoo Sowol could never give up her anonymity.

Originally, anonymity is typically used as a shield, but for her it was a means to reveal herself as she truly was.

‘Benefactor doesn’t seem to care who This One is.’

This was also why she had taken a liking to Grills.

Care and respect filled with pure goodwill. And courtesy.

It was a warmth that Yoo Sowol had never felt in her entire life, so she wanted to help.

“If thing doesn’t work out, I can put my name on the line. But I wonder if it’s worth as such.”

"You speak the absolute truth."

Indeed, even Heavenly Demon is ultimately a human. She knows how to feel shame.

While Wi Seol-ak continued in his not-quite-a-misunderstanding misunderstanding, Yoo Sowol parted her graceful lips.

"Is there no other way?"

“There is. We can shift the jackals’ attention onto the accuser. And since Benefactor has already built up trust, it should be easy."

"Speak once... wait a moment."

Yoo Sowol said those words while looking up at the air.

Wi Seol-ak stole a glance at that behavior and immediately entered the gallery.

There must been something happening in the gallery. Otherwise, she wouldn’t acted like that.

‘Nothing?’

The gallery was no different. Still full of posts cursing Grills.

Now and then, there were those who defended him, but they were only a handful.

It was almost at the level of spamming, so much so that even the mod had issued a warning.

“Demonic Brain.”

“Yes. Heaven.”

"This One's Benefactor has obtained another inner core."

“Yes?”

Upon hearing those words, Wi Seol-ak's head shot up. His round eyes represented his state of mind.

But who is Wi Seol-ak? He regained his composure and spun his mind.

Before long, he reached a conclusion and offered a proposal to Yoo Sowol.

"O Heaven. A brilliant idea has come to me."

"Speak."

"By any chance, is there a subject in the gallery who has not only trust and skill, but also no flaws in character?"

"Hmm...."

Yoo Sowol frowned at the question, tapping her cheek with her finger.

An expression as if merely imagining it was unpleasant. Her beauty was such that even that was beautiful.

"There is. Why does thou ask?"

"Because we need that person’s help. Though I don’t know if they’ll agree to it."

"They will help. This One guarantees it."

"Understood. Then..."

Wi Seol-ak bowed his head even deeper and proposed.

"Please persuade Benefactor to give the inner core they found to the collaborator."

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