Chapter 19: Health (4)
XANu7AIt sounds like a ridiculous story, but the gallery is a place that even the upper echelons observe closely.eRdUkK
OAkC3UInformation gathering, leak verification, situation analysis, the daily life of other countries, etc.bVNM
YncAlthough the gallery is filled almost exclusively with trash posts, very valuable things can also be obtained from there.ik7yrs
Y2jGAbove all, the greatest advantage is that it allows one to capture “public opinion”, something the upper echelons must pay close attention to.Q3g0RY
rZsBecause of the era they live in, it is difficult to properly know public opinion, so the gallery has practically become the only window.2zjJ
rq3bOf course, relying only on the gallery also has many limitations.snexVR
Q8RvO32In the past there were frequent cases where they believed only the opinion of the gallery and protests and rebellions ended up breaking out.Jcwnr
wtHEbSince then they began to distrust the “loud minority”, filtering what needed to be filtered.wFlh
V8HC9UxEven so, the enormous influence of the gallery could not be denied.AK5
GeWL7hzEspecially because anyone can participate in the gallery, regardless of age, sex, or social class.JaGzf
iQtThere is even a famous story about a noble who criticized the gallery and turned out to be a genuine addict to it!THkyE
UYkAfter all, belonging to the upper echelons does not mean that a person’s desires disappear.7JqA5sX
Rb2xqHRather, since they spend so much time pretending to have dignity, many release their stress in the gallery.bQvKmvf
9B6Because of this, the upper echelons tend to desperately hide any activity they have there.uyexv
zgs8Even when they are discovered, most excuse themselves by saying they only read without commenting.jUnv
yohnEO4Almost nobody believes those excuses, but private life must be respected.RnA930
gNaY8vFor that reason there is an unwritten rule among nobles not to mention the gallery.8kZQnh
jB9Even if it is mentioned, it can only be done among very close people.bxxhLXk
PZzQF8“Your Highness. This matter must not be ignored under any circumstances.”eypGK
KCm“I know. But that man has a life as fragile as that of a fly. Isn’t it too hasty?”4z0ZS3
WRrA man with blond hair and blue eyes, with the typical appearance of a perfect young noble.4k493o
vw2D0With his robust physique, he seemed to lack nothing, but it was he who expressed that negative opinion.seMl9u
uYfAt those words, a middle-aged man with graying hair opened his mouth in a somewhat hurried tone.kY6u9
Hod“That is precisely why we must make sure to obtain as many adult mandrakes as possible before he dies.”KO1k9KV
ZWp96u“Count Gorgon. I thought you were a prudent person.”RA7x4f
oBDlOHp“Sometimes quick decisions must be made.”YUuz
wuO3At the advice of his loyal vassal, Count Gorgon, the handsome blond young man fell into thought.k12
D3lfHe was the future emperor of the Messiah Empire.yun1p
L8VArnold Louis Messiah.Ileb
W9dCcAmSince the current emperor was bedridden due to a chronic illness and overwork, Arnold was acting as regent.hhNI
kboeN“If we manage to trade with that man, we could considerably reduce the influence of the Magic Tower. In particular we could pressure the Kingdom of Iris.”CGC
XBj“That is only a happy thought, or rather too optimistic. Lately the behavior of the elves has also been unstable. There is no need to provoke the Magic Tower as well.”TOKq
LMOtl“But…”MPzl
GqBO“That’s enough. I don’t want to talk about someone who might die tomorrow.”dYD9Y25
7gv“If we give him support, the situation could change.”ZyR
uROtCount Gorgon did not give up and continued insisting.dKJ56l
WCJdJHLHe was quite stubborn, but Arnold did not reprimand him.pWUYAc
PXU2After all, Count Gorgon was famous for his extraordinary ability of foresight.AZY
Qeg5EThat was why it was so strange to see him influenced by rumors born in the gallery.K4Xc0
0eBnFjThat only demonstrated how much power the gallery had.jWZQE
cjJ“If we give him support, perhaps he will survive longer. But let me ask you something. Who will take care of this?”fVdO9
5uxMx“I know someone.”J8QK4m
23VDYt“It wouldn’t be you, would it?”y9T
EXE“……”168Y9YU
v261oAt Arnold’s direct question, Count Gorgon closed his mouth.j4Jiuu
tr8LwArnold smiled ironically and waved his hand.pLOd1S
e4VZZH“It seems you were planning to take advantage of the gallery’s anonymity, but it was too hasty. You may withdraw.”QJcdR
rF90“Your Highness.”BFdNeP
GLFuU79“If you want to do it, do it under your own responsibility. But if someone suddenly trades large quantities of adult mandrakes, everyone will suspect you.”xOQ
qT5YJ“……”5tcyig
nr1W“By the way, you haven’t written insults about me in the gallery, have you?”qCUUH
eSQ“Never.”FQ0
NEXOf course not. Arnold did not believe him.qd7fbUA
zl5When no one is listening, even the king is insulted.3jymOp
C2u5oxhAnd not to mention the gallery.UqBL
oQbHe had received all kinds of insults there every time he made a wrong political decision.PTo8
kXKDTL“Only three days have passed since that man Grills fell into the Forest of the Four Seasons. Let us have a little patience.”z74Nujp
slH“…I understand. I think I was too impetuous.”LnM1czV
f6QF“Then withdraw. I have a lot of work.”clIKDi
jkb6zdAt the clear signal of dismissal, Count Gorgon left the room.7IT0
wwoWFinally Arnold was alone.hhMhA
fkabxXHe leaned back in the chair and looked at the ceiling.D7jXX
TeL‘It’s not that I’m not worried.’EwI
xvvMc8kIn his field of vision the gallery appeared.4RgEhN
lzeIt was currently burning with an unexpected rumor.uvw
FUxwEverything began when DwarfPassingBy uploaded a photo of an adult mandrake.7jsBeD
7gdGrills had gifted some to the veteran users who helped him, but none of them uploaded verification photos.dSnHlC
o4OLThey did not feel the need, and it also carried the risk of revealing their identity.Rc8ELt
MuaBecause of that there had been doubts at first, but DwarfPassingBy’s post ended up confirming everything.VSl
jTOxAnd as if that were not enough, earlier Grills had even uploaded a photo of a colony of adult mandrakes.70Jt
QnLXSo those who followed the gallery reached a conclusion.REOYnz
WWxIf they helped Grills, they could obtain an adult mandrake.21R
CtfAll of this happened in just a few hours, while Grills slept.wgt
R0toIEvTitle) Right now the nobles of the Empire are in chaosC9YS
Ca5ItOMy friend is a knight and says the emperor ordered an adult mandrake to be brought hahaOh7vqJC
54mSpㄴSeriously?AxyA2
jM2pㄴYes, it’s real. The rumor has already spread everywhereX7t
s8vㄴThey must be in a meeting right nowzKwSUS
5XkㄴBah. Isn’t it just an absurd rumor?M2CUs1
97yArAㄴBut there are too many similar posts for it to be just a rumorkOXyov
SfszArnold read that and let out a small laugh.QSXISA
ZRZV0It was an absurd rumor, but it could not be dismissed so easily.4Bl90T
7uGvAfter all, Count Gorgon had gone to beg him.x723t
vps43JGIf even he acted like that, other nobles would surely think the same.zAgZJt
Z9lWYmsThey would try to gain Grills’s favor in order to trade with him.WJd
HISrJekTitle) Hasn’t the Magic Tower reacted?Xl36Ifx
5d3J8GThe Magic Tower monopolizes mandrakes. Won’t they say anything?x4nzsMT
OyqnAYㄴFor now no, but they will react soonj9OKG
8sIOCoㄴThe Magic Tower is in the Kingdom of Iris, right?GRpVp
07T4BㄴYes. If it gets complicated, it could end in conflict with the EmpirefKib2
7ltㄴFight over a mandrake?w1isS1
JlKCCOㄴNot fight, but at least protest. Besides, the Magic Tower will not like this situation eithernzNIK
VGHVNnㄴWhy not?YDc
KLo7nLㄴBecause it has the monopolyEgt
aDlRbTitle) Summary of the current situationG4sigl
Ukg1. Mandrakes are extremely rare and very important as material for elixirs.voT
7KiOXA2. Originally the Magic Tower administered the mandrakes.qhWgA84
F2u3. Thanks to the monopoly, the Magic Tower’s profits are enormous.PAQJOUH
MTMD4. But what Grills found are adult mandrakes and in large quantities.hoBt
SFZi0rL5. With a single adult one you can create a top-tier elixir!vZ9BJEs
Zjo0bjJ6. Instead of trading with the Magic Tower and losing money, it is better to buy directly from Grills.RN7e
HEAㄴEverything is fine, but Grills cannot maintain the supply, right? If he pulls them all out they will run outVOkhG
5xmeㄴWith that argument, the same happens to the Magic Tower. They only manage them, they cannot cultivate themBZtM
Kpkhd7BㄴSo they all obtain them from outsidexuTriI
3pAFxIUㄴYes. Their main job is to keep them healthy so they can produce elixirs whenever they wantF4T6
Ziuw1XHㄴAnd with that they have a monopoly? What nerve hahaha6eYPcp
qsxAWXㄴFact: Grills is in the Forest of the Four Seasons, so nobody can pressure himk3oPC
9xIMiㄴIs this really happening? Uff…oc9
zEUuThey know one thing and are unaware of two.lgTkh27
NPN2IArnold shook his head.wp0AC1
qcCKnIt would be perfect to trade with Grills and obtain adult mandrakes.Q3BS
Jc00But Grills was too unstable.VgzhUA
bOaFar too unstable.GpBeHdb
FsL3As long as he lives in the Forest of the Four Seasons, he could die at any moment.Cbwl7
G6js‘It’s not something that can be bought with money either.’jQzI6B5
15kJWhat Grills needs is not money, but objects necessary for survival.z2Ef7c
uQetdSRecently he received a large sum from a fixed user called AllFather, so he probably no longer has greed for money.KW7R0Td
tpm4uPbThat means there is no choice but to trade through barter, and that also creates instability.Ukp
wyv‘It will be better to observe.’h489ST
JWfFGgUIf you act without thinking, you could end up getting nothing.BrQuDP
xvuDznIf at least one thing were stable it would be different, but everything is full of uncertainty, so it is not very tempting.AxRp
0KXUut2‘Although, personally, one alone would be worth it…’WSJZsiq
eKBHwxRIf it were not a public matter but a personal one, the story would be different.wQJm
RZE1Ve1The emperor’s health has worsened recently, so it is impossible not to feel temptation.XflOC2c
UTbiA top-quality elixir was so expensive that even the imperial palace budget found it heavy.Lw7Frbi
X6LFIf the emperor recovered his health thanks to an adult mandrake, he could consolidate his position.8fXLLC1
M9MvIt is not that his brothers are trying to take his position.FwWGD
rDO9mArnold has a total of two younger brothers and two younger sisters.dBIZv
ndYKUOne would think that at least one would aspire to the throne, but surprisingly it was not so.F7p7SjT
ctebQ‘I should consider it luck…’hYxQs
FXFThe second son is very interested in culture and ended up sitting in the position of minister of culture.YfO72Y
ZheHCXThe third son is very devout and went into religious life.TKHt
jltbAccording to what they say, he became a holy knight.UFSuJ
HybuzThe other two sisters also married, and thus the competition disappeared naturally.ynjZ
6n7Qb‘It would be better if father handed the crown directly to me instead of only giving his approval.’oZ6O
ZtOUnless the emperor personally hands it over, someone will always appear who raises objections.NuQmbN
dwYhTo prevent that in advance, he needed at least one adult mandrake.LDGz
yndnmZ“……”1f90Tp
BJSHowever, Arnold hesitated.miq
bCFTIt was not because contacting Grills felt burdensome.vEm
zK2SOlkHe sighed and checked his username in the gallery.9fs
UiLadA nickname he had chosen as a child, unable to control his youthful impulsiveness.IbEL
Pnx0YL[SuperStrongArnold]VmQRH
P9Uilr“Ha…”ZsR
9l2Just seeing it was already embarrassing.MD2lR
5dS8Why the hell had he chosen such a name?C7t
12umYIt would have been better to remain an anonymous user from the beginning.zrZPD
dkvuzGjNo matter how much he thought about it, he could not understand the self of that time.bPcGG76
saJWktBFortunately, no one knew that fact.ECfSDe4
4fK7jnIf someone had discovered it, he probably would have thrown away the position of crown prince and run away long ago.ersZe
QT26‘Can’t the nickname at least be changed?’uQdVQSx
POWzwpThe gallery was a technology ahead of its time, but it was not perfect.ruP2
3cGAfter many errors various conveniences were added, but changing the nickname was impossible.Y3t6TQ
taLlSLBecome an anonymous user again?nW9dyK
XW39JtvThere was only one method.5I5r8
Nvm2Expel all the mana from the body and fill it with a new one.vvb
5QgByIt was practically like completely washing one’s own body.b8aB6
vvN5UNot even undergoing a bodily transformation would allow something like that, so the nickname was permanent.SUgC
BFPLLkd‘If I obtain an adult mandrake or help father, everyone will notice.’8MPm
SUKG5And then they will naturally discover my nickname.5rW8nn
esr5jWHe did not even want to imagine it.oopAHRU
sHFUZG1He also could not delay the moment, because handling mandrakes is extremely difficult.xwmvqGS
zXTyIt is not for nothing that the Magic Tower is responsible for their management.vNCdEhg
Ku14WFFortunately, he had deleted all his posts.BzW
PdZPIf the function to delete one’s own texts had not existed, they would have remained as eternal shame.wcTRt
2aAb‘Should I ask my brother…?’QoRpMSK
Sk2ue4Arnold crossed his arms while thinking.nhY
bUNThe second son is minister of culture only in name; in reality he spends his time loafing around.QhwlxK
9N5HWhenever he has the chance he goes to watch football or baseball, so he is practically a loafer.5Cb
lYa0He says it is better to live like that than to sit in a position full of responsibilities.oOzoA
hRu3WNG‘For now it will be better to observe the gallery. Also confirm who has the adult mandrakes.’WmC5
P8dnEFor now that seemed the best.HKO
qtkJOnly three days have passed.s5Tx
Tq35CEAIt is still too early to stir things up.oRBt
LBFu5Arnold continued exploring the gallery while stroking his chin.iReAG
qV6‘Even so, I should take a look at the culture of the place.’jVAC
cyfpqmAnd for that the best thing would be to write a post.SJgAWa
FGiArnold immediately posted a message.l1RU
yfeAlthough his nickname was embarrassing, a simple question should not be a problem.0x66Xx8
oGnOTitle) Hello. Nice to meet you.xAIAnN
rHuqYpSuperStrongArnoldvrnZ
9xmr5UIt’s my first time in the gallery, how does it work more or less?Evmjrn2
lKU7oIrㄴAre you new?q5B47YZ
UsQfㄴSuperStrongArnold) Yes, that’s right.1Nhobiu
MiECNㄴThen don’t speak with formalities, idiot.uyUb
tjoㄴYou’re new and you speak respectfully?OlF
oa5ㄴLook at that nickname hahadtjDJz
zQIe‘???’NXn
8DFiArnold’s eyes filled with confusion.reV2fq
VJaY***Kymim
HuWwDj“Uuugh…”Cu8
EQyiO9SI stretched while loosening my stiff body.qNnP
O4UqzLThanks to the mattress and pillow I bought at the auction, my body was not aching.ekg
VpE6If I knew it would be like this, I would have bought them earlier.tBn0A9
pvm5At least I realized relatively quickly.oof5RY
XnAaIu‘The gallery… what is this? Why are there so many trade requests?’cjxTnL
jvSI opened my eyes wide.yihvQ
NKCgQWhile I was sleeping, quite a few trade requests had arrived.fsyP
M5MWhen you close the gallery no notification sounds.c66K3
gkXcJThanks to that I could sleep peacefully, but it was still strange.QKHbAq
31U5sA‘Most are fixed users I don’t know. Could it be because of the adult mandrakes?’b45Mj
RwxyRIt is very likely.B56DX
1wdYesterday the dwarf posted that post.gue
AL7cAn adult mandrake is an extremely expensive plant even if you only have one.BgtOB
l4RIf they help me survive, I am willing to trade.7AzFp
u0HBut not in large quantities, only one at a time.FqrNd
DHUjuI can barely handle my own survival, so nothing of constant supply.4xF
CFaIf I die while supplying them, it would make no sense.PA38kI
vjGp[A typical adaptation to the gallery]tzTzw
rvkUPUb[118]K4Q5n8I
TOlb“Huh?”8wgm
8gE6XIThen I found a post that caught my attention.QSn
ieGeJC7Not only did it have many comments, it also had quite a few recommendations.AF9O
vZkWhat had happened while I was sleeping?el65F9
n1IgCqIt seems that interesting things always happen while one sleeps.W2Vv1GJ
wvpFncTitle) A typical adaptation to the gallerygHKC
zeHwnLV[Damn bastards.]EdVZ4
Ip969S[I am the crown prince, sons of bitches.]q5olG
M5OwJ1s[What a bunch of idiots.]SWiIE
nOIlUyp[Ah, seriously.]GWgq5v
NDeUSv[I haven’t done anything wrong.]JhTu
vHxb[Why is everyone insulting me?]DmbUHxk
TpFNgwW[Hey, listen first.]MHm7j7s
KrN[Is this the average?]aZfv3C
Bwkkl[The gallery is quite aggressive.]bFEQf
N6W[Hello. Nice to meet you.]NYbhk6A
RR0epvRead from the bottom.JKmtVIx
p2gpx18ㄴLolAkADQ
H6tMBMQㄴHahaLElM5w
FufxㄴHe adapted by force hahaXMsucb
Y9z1NQㄴWhat the hell is that nickname?fDdd
QLTㄴI don’t know, it seems like a child entered the gallery.2Dsae
HfWCZ6bㄴThat’s a nickname my father would use.ZB5Ta
GFfo1FㄴIf it has things like “Strong”, “Super” normally it’s from old people.dxT
y889ㄴNo, no. Nowadays there are people who use it on purpose.N8gSQC
n0vusO‘……’a6YdyUl
VLjD3AIt was another quiet day in the gallery.IbzgwD
Ek7 0Kn
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