Chapter 5: Crisis (2)

Contrary to the notices posted by the moderator, the gallery has tacit rules.

No matter how harsh the situation is or how pitiful someone seems do not help lightly.

Even if there are injured people do not help lightly.

The reason these rules emerged is very simple.

Title) Shit, scammer son of a bitch

(Photo of a sickly girl lying in a bed)

Does everyone remember this photo?

A user said his daughter had an incurable disease and asked for help, and it turns out the bastard abused her and even deliberately starved her,

On top of that he said he had no money and asked for donations, I sent him help and it turned out to be a fucking scam.

ㄴCan a person even do that? Not even demons would do something like that

ㄴPrincessOfDemons) We demons do not do things like that. What kind of monster is that?

ㄴThen dark elves?

ㄴPraiseTheSun) We also have a conscience. What, because we have dark skin you think we also have black souls?

ㄴYou gave yourself away, hahaha.

ㄴPraiseTheSun) Shit, where does he live? I’m going to find him.

ㄴAnd how did they expose him in the end?

ㄴHe was gambling using his daughter as an excuse and they found out. Now he has no eyes.

ㄴFuck…

ㄴSatan) Uh… this is already too much…

There were tons of cases like that.

The gallery can be used by anyone who meets certain conditions.

But precisely that “anyone” was the problem.

People without a clear identity could also use it.

From important figures at the very top to criminals sunk in the deepest abyss.

That is why criminals are fitted with mana-control anklets to prevent them from using the gallery.

And serious criminals have their eyes extracted directly as punishment.

Title) What if it really is someone sick?

There are people who truly cannot get treatment because they have no money.

Should they just die?

ㄴEarn the money honestly, idiot. What is this about going around begging?

ㄴAnd what about us? Do you think money grows on trees for us?

ㄴShit, there’s no humanity left anymore, hahaha.

ㄴHumanity my ass. Ignore those who ask for money. Most are gambling addicts.

ㄴI don’t give anything to anyone who isn’t a fixed user.

So the gallery users came to an agreement.

Those who ask for money, ignore them whenever possible.

And not only money even medicines or potions are given only after thinking very, very carefully.

Healing potions, just by reselling them, already made a profit.

It may seem cold, but that is how all the accumulated malice up to now shaped it.

Of course, all of this is a personal choice.

It is not recommended to help, but it is not forbidden either.

In the end it is not your problem. Do whatever you want.

ㄴThat’s more or less how things are. Stay strong.

ㄴWildGrills) Fuck, thanks for the explanation, pain in the ass.

ㄴIt’s nothing, hahaha.

ㄴWith that wound, not even a potion is enough. On top of that there’s a risk of infection.

ㄴWildGrills) Then what do I do?

ㄴCut it off.

ㄴHow extreme, hahaha.

“Fuck…”

I understand it, but it is a disgusting rule.

I spat out a curse.

It was my fault for letting my guard down.

I was so tired that I closed my eyes for a moment and ended up like this.

Luckily they did not bite my neck, only my arm.

I used that moment to cut its neck with the sword.

‘What if I just cut it off?’

I looked at my ruined right arm.

Not only did it have holes all over, it was torn apart.

That shitty dog bit it and started shaking it wildly.

It almost ripped it off.

‘I have to stop the bleeding…’

I looked inside the cave.

It was a wild dogs’ den, there was almost nothing.

Only bones, probably from other prey.

That alone should have made me realize.

‘Do I sell the sword at least…?’

I feel terrible for Heavenly Demon, but if I do not sell the sword I cannot get medicine.

My life is in danger right now.

The gallery does not seem like it is going to help me.

Verify identity?

Who the hell is going to believe I come from another world?

They would take me for a madman.

At this point, trading is the best option.

Enduring the burning pain in my arm, I looked for comments.

‘First a fixed user… who…?’

[SwordTasteMaster has requested an exchange. Accept?]

I was breaking out in a cold sweat while hesitating when suddenly the request arrived.

It was that fixed user who always gave strange advice, the crazy hard worker.

For a moment I thought.

“Why is this one…?”

But the pain in my arm hit me again and I immediately accepted.

[SwordTasteMaster: Are you the one with the injured arm?]

[WildGrills: Yes.]

[SwordTasteMaster: I will give you a potion. If you apply it, you will be fine.]

[SwordTasteMaster has registered an exchange item.]

[SwordTasteMaster: You do not need to give me anything. Take it quickly.]

Here is an angel without wings!

I did not even have time to get emotional; I accepted the exchange instantly.

I closed the gallery and looked at the ground.

Normally, when an exchange is completed, the item appears there.

‘…What is this?’

I blinked.

Inside a small cylindrical glass flask there was a bright golden liquid.

It did not look strange.

At least it was not shining like the stars.

Before thinking what the hell it was, I grabbed it.

With only one healthy arm, opening the flask was quite a challenge.

Glup—

“Aaargh!!”

Even though I took a deep breath before pouring it, it burns like hell.

My eyes filled with tears.

They can say I am a man and should not scream over that, but fuck, it hurts like I am being killed.

It is like putting Albothyl on a sore, but about five times worse, and on top of that over a huge area.

“Ghh… o-oh!?”

But the effect was brutal.

The recovery was incredibly fast.

The holes in my arm closed within seconds.

Although I could not clean all the blood, that could be washed off later.

“Wow…”

I moved my now intact right arm.

It was completely healed.

Not only that, it even felt firmer.

I cannot think of any word other than miracle.

Without wasting time, I returned to the gallery.

Title) Is SwordTasteMaster a god?

(Photo of the completely healthy right arm)

(Photo of the flask with golden liquid)

Is SwordTasteMaster a god?

Is SwordTasteMaster a god?

Is SwordTasteMaster a god?

Is SwordTasteMaster a god?

I want to thank SwordTasteMaster for giving me my arm back.

By the way, what is this yellow liquid?

ㄴOh? Your arm is already healed? Congratulations

ㄴI was also thinking of giving you something, what a pity

ㄴStop talking nonsense haha

ㄴWhat the hell did he give you for an arm like that to heal?

That was exactly what I was wondering.

I looked at the remaining golden liquid, about one third.

I kept it just in case.

ㄴSwordTasteMaster) It’s nothing special. My superior gave it to me. I have many at home.

ㄴWildGrills) Then what is it called?

ㄴSwordTasteMaster) Elixir. Ah, and since there is a risk of infection, you’d better drink what’s left.

ㄴWildGrills) Yes!

Following her advice, I drank everything that remained.

It was effervescent, like soda, a strange but familiar taste.

Like that orange-flavored syrup they gave you as a child when you were sick.

ㄴElixir? He gave him an elixir?

ㄴNo way, why would he give something like that away?

ㄴThe truth is, it was the only thing that could save him, yes

ㄴBut how rich is that guy? That his superior gives him that?

The gallery’s reaction was very strange.

Everyone was in an uproar.

Confused, I wrote.

ㄴWildGrills) I’m kind of dumb, but… is elixir expensive?

ㄴOf course it’s expensive;;

ㄴThe lowest quality one costs the same as an entire month of expenses for an average family.

ㄴWildGrills) I don’t know how much that is.

ㄴConfirmed, he’s dumb.

ㄴHahaha

Well, I understood that it is expensive.

It is not absurdly expensive always, it depends on the materials.

They say that the better the ingredients, the more intense the golden color.

I do not know anything about that.

But one thing is certain.

I owe my life to SwordTasteMaster.

I wanted to repay her somehow.

‘More than repaying it, I am the one who should be receiving help…’

For now, at least let’s write something.

Even if it is just to express the intention.

ㄴWildGrills) Excuse me, is there anything I can do?

ㄴSwordTasteMaster) Become strong and marry me.

ㄴWildGrills) Huh????

ㄴHahaha, look at his face.

ㄴThis bastard, if he sees potential, he proposes marriage to anyone, hahaha.

Ah, right.

SwordTasteMaster was not exactly a normal person either.

An absurd feeling of emptiness washed over me.

ㄴSwordTasteMaster) It’s a joke. Read my posts from the beginning. They will be useful to you.

ㄴI don’t know about the others, but this guy’s posts are definitely useful, you absolutely should read them.

ㄴSeriously, pure premium content.

ㄴThe Empire crying, hahaha.

“Are they that good…?”

Since I still did not understand well how this world worked, I could not grasp it fully.

Even so, I had received a favor, so the right thing was to reciprocate.

Not doing so would be rude.

Besides, the only weapon I had right now was a sword.

If I wanted to use it properly, the logical thing was to read.

ㄴHeroDontThrowAway) Aaah…! While I was sleeping everything was already solved! Thank goodness!

ㄴThe sucker has arrived.

ㄴHas the sucker appeared already?

ㄴHeroDontThrowAway) I will delete the injured post in one minute! It was too grotesque!

When the situation was more or less under control, the moderator appeared.

Immediately they began mocking him, saying the sucker had arrived.

I did not understand why they called him that, until another user explained it to me.

ㄴGrills, please, do not let the moderator see your face.

ㄴWildGrills) Why? What happens?

ㄴHe doesn’t know how to say no, he accepts everything like an idiot.

ㄴWasn’t it because of that that he gave away all his money?

ㄴEven though his “all” was like 10 gold coins, hahaha.

ㄴHahahahaha.

“He really was a sucker.”

Too good of a person.

Now I understood.

Of course that did not mean I was going to ask the moderator for anything.

And if I ever did, it would be through a fair deal.

I still have some conscience left.

‘If I later find medicinal herbs, I will give them to SwordTasteMaster.’

Now it was time to clean everything up.

I dragged away the dogs’ corpses that were still bleeding warm.

The smell of blood could attract other animals, so the entrance also had to be blocked.

‘I will stay here until Heavenly Demon sends what she promised.’

I carried the bodies far away and piled stones near the entrance to seal the cave.

When I finished, I untied the bundle of food.

It was what I had eaten before going to sleep.

‘No matter how I look at it, it looks like an onigiri.’

In size and shape, it was identical.

But not the taste.

I stuffed the onigiri, the size of a child’s fist, into my mouth and chewed it forcefully, making a horrible face.

Does Heavenly Demon really eat these things?

A pungent smell of medicinal herbs hit my nose.

And the taste?

Disgusting. Extremely bitter.

Not a trace of sweetness.

‘Well, better than nothing.’

Later I will ask Heavenly Demon what the hell she makes this with for it to be so horrible.

Curiously, it did not get stuck when swallowing.

It simply tasted disgusting.

When I finished the first one, I leaned against the wall.

Too many things had happened today.

‘At least now I know it is not a dream.’

What the hell did I do to open my eyes and appear here?

And what the hell is this gallery?

For a moment I wanted to cry from the existential crash, but I held it in.

First I had to understand what kind of world this was.

And for that, I had to enter the gallery.

Right now, the only thing I could rely on was it.

[Photo of an absurdly attractive sister of another race]

[0]

“…….”

As soon as I entered, that post was planted at the very top.

I flinched and looked around reflexively, even though I knew perfectly well there was no one there.

‘Well… it’s at the very top, so…’

I justified myself as I clicked.

“Aaaah!!!”

I suffered critical mental damage.

Title) Sons of bitches, you are sick

Author: WildGrills

Where did you get that photo, bastards?

How disgusting, fuck fuck fuck

ㄴWelcome, hahaha

ㄴAh~ today another victim has fallen

ㄴSo? Isn’t our dwarf sister beautiful? Give us a rating

ㄴWildGrills) Fuck, shut up.

ㄴIsn’t this the same guy who posted that he almost lost his arm?

ㄴHe already healed and is back at work, hahaha

ㄴOf course, he cannot skip the daily routine, hahaha

ㄴSuch is the sadness of the creature called man

Definitely, the gallery is a nest of mentally ill people.

***

“At least it seems he’s fine.”

Ash smiled as she watched Grills suffer mental damage and unleash insults.

The elixir she had given him was one of the many gifts the emperor had granted her.

She did not even remember when she had received it.

Besides, she had elixirs to spare.

If necessary, she could ask the emperor for more and that would be it.

‘I wonder what reaction Heavenly Demon will have.’

More than anything, that was the reaction she was most curious about.

The post with the wound photos had already been deleted by the moderator.

For Heavenly Demon, this must be confusing.

“What the hell happened for this guy to be venerating me?”

She would surely be thinking that.

‘And that he is a normal civilian? Don’t make me laugh.’

Ash let out a mocking laugh.

Grills was far too skilled in combat to call him a “normal civilian.”

If he truly were, he would not even have been able to resist the Mad Dog and would have died right there.

But he sacrificed an arm and counterattacked.

He had potential.

‘And besides, he’s fun.’

If she gave him support here and there, Grills would grow little by little.

And it was not as if he accepted everything blindly.

He always tried to return favors.

That made him endearing.

Ash, with her typical perfect-toothed smile, continued watching the gallery, in case Grills needed anything else or had another question.

It was a new experience.

[Guys, I’m in serious trouble]

[0]

“Here it comes!”

Ash clicked immediately.

She did not know what problem he had now, but first she had to see.

Title) Guys, I’m in serious trouble

Author: WildGrills

I need to shit and I have no paper. I’m screwed.

“…….”

This one was also a top-class idiot.

Ash let out an incredulous laugh.

“Do I wipe with my pants? There’s no one anyway… God, please.”

But for Grills, who had fallen into the wilderness with nothing but what he wore, this was a very serious problem.

He could not do it inside the cave, and even if he did, cleaning afterward would be hell.

Right now he could only rely on collective wisdom.

It was so urgent that he could not even think.

ㄴCan’t you wipe with leaves?

ㄴWildGrills) I’m afraid of getting an allergy

ㄴThen wipe with the monster you just killed. Tear off its skin with the sword.

ㄴWildGrills) Oh! Thanks, thanks.

ㄴHeroDontThrowAway) Noo! If you use Mad Dog skin, bacteria can get in

ㄴAnd how do you know that?

ㄴHeroDontThrowAway) Uh…

ㄴHahahahahahaha

ㄴWildGrills) Fuck, then what do I do?

Grills faced another kind of crisis.

Just when he was about to sacrifice his pants…

ㄴDwarfPassingBy) I have some torn underwear, does it work for you?

ㄴWildGrills) Yes, give it to me now

ㄴDwarfPassingBy) By the way, I’m a man

ㄴWildGrills) I don’t care, it’s urgent, fuck fuck fuck

ㄴThis guy is real, hahaha

ㄴDwarfPassingBy) Seems serious, better I give you paper

ㄴWildGrills) Oh, fuck, my God, thank you

ㄴHahaha, what religion is that?

ㄴWildGrills) When you’re desperate, anyone who helps you is a god

ㄴSounds stupid, but it makes sense

Thanks to the paper from the dwarf passing by, the crisis was resolved.

It was unexpected chaos, but the gallery users understood something upon seeing Grills’s urgency.

ㄴDoes this guy really have nothing? This is too chaotic

ㄴAt least he’s not a scamming son of a bitch

ㄴHe’s pitiful, hahaha

At least, it was clear that he was not a scammer.