Chapter 45: The Gallery... is Ending Service! (3)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 45: The Gallery... is Ending Service! (3)[R-18]
—One week ago.
“What should I do to calm down a mob that’s absolutely furious?”
I threw the question out because Estelle was reading some difficult book titled The Psychology and Domination of the Masses or something like that.
It wasn’t that I had a specific motive; I just wanted to make small talk since I was bored...
And considering my position as a ‘Manager’ who attracts a lot of aggro, I figured I might end up being lynched in the Gallery someday, so it seemed wise to prepare.
“...That’s random.”
“Was it?”
“...Yes. But I’m interested.”
Thud—
Estelle closed her book and looked me straight in the eye.
“First, tell me your status. Are you a member of the angry masses?”
“No, I’m probably... the King?”
It was a bit embarrassing to describe a mere Gallery Manager as a King, but I couldn’t think of a better comparison.
“Then it’s simple... First, open the storehouse and hand out bread.”
Estelle spoke with a slightly excited voice.
To be honest, I didn’t think she’d be interested in this kind of topic, so it was unexpected.
“Bread?”
“Yes. Bread and circuses are the traditional methods rulers use to control the masses. Most rulers who were murdered by the people died trying to protect bread they couldn't even finish eating in a lifetime. It’s a foolish thing to do.”
“What if the anger doesn't subside even after opening the storehouse?”
“Bread is only a temporary fix... While they’re filling their bellies with bread, you must sow discord. Favor a specific group so that the people’s spears point at each other instead of the ruler. It’s called 'Divide and Rule.'”
“...And what if someone still tries to stir up trouble despite that?”
“Then you kill them, obviously.”
Estelle’s voice was cold enough to send shivers down my spine.
“Once you’ve successfully split them, the chirping of a few won't have much impact on public opinion anyway. You can’t silence every single person, but snapping the necks of a few canaries isn't that hard, is it?”
Having said that, Estelle asked in a strangely seductive voice.
“But Ian... why the sudden interest? Did you suddenly develop a desire for power?”
I felt like saying ‘Yes’ right here would change the entire genre of my life, so I shook my head firmly.
“No, I was just curious. That’s all.”
“...I see.”
Estelle looked a bit disappointed as she turned her gaze back to her book.
Gulp—
I made a decision.
I would never bring up this kind of topic with Estelle ever again.
*
▶ [You have (346) unread notifications!]
The number of notifications kept climbing.
[Seriously!!! What the hell is the Manager doing? FUCK!!!!!] [5]
[The Gallery is burning because the Manager is incompetent lol] [11]
[Upvote if you think 8WanksADay is dead lololol] [37]
Posts expressing rage toward the Manager were being uploaded incessantly.
“...Whew.”
Recalling my conversation with Estelle, I posted in the Gallery.
[Author: 8WanksADay◆]
[Line up for 30 Chicken Burger Sets until the 15-minute mark] [0]
The Manager has nothing to do with this maintenance. End of explanation.
The reason I’m giving out chicken burgers is that I feel responsible for being lax with Gallery management lately, and I’m doing this to show I’ll be a better Manager in the future... Anyway, the maintenance is only for one day, so please just bear with it for today.
Now, leave a comment saying “Long Live 8WanksADay” by the 15-minute mark.
MojitoDelivery■: In
ㅇㅇ(124.804): In
ChildhoodFriendRapist■: “Long Live 8WanksADay”
NeverGetAnA■: “Long Live 8WanksADay”
ㅇㅇ(122.39): “Long Live 8WanksADay”
Apivel123■: Damn... I knew I could trust you. “Long Live 8WanksADay”
ㅇㅇ(511.462): “Long Live 8WanksADay”
ILoveTenantFarmers■: “Long Live the GOD GOD GOD GOD”
...
[Upvote if the Manager suddenly seems adorable lololol] [6]
Me first lolol
[??: Yes, yes. Surprisingly, that is the truth] [27]
Our bro just drops 30 chicken burgers at once.
Just as Estelle advised, once I handed out the bread, public opinion shifted to positive in an instant.
“The bread distribution went well...”
But I couldn't let my guard down.
This was only the beginning.
8WanksADay◆: Ah, I forgot to mention in the post, but Dynamic Nicks are excluded...
ㄴCatEatingDogFood■: Damn... This is it...
ㄴㅇㅇ(122.39): ???? Why exclude Dynamic Nicks? Is it okay for the Manager to discriminate?
ㄴPyeolkwaelkwael■: It’s probably to prevent VPN abuse.
ㄴㅇㅇ(122.39): ??? How many people even use VPNs??
ㄴㅇㅇ(74.890): For real, probably only the Dark Emperor can use them anyway.
ㄴMemoriesOfMorak■: If you’re salty, just make a Fixed Nick lolol
ㄴㅇㅇ(598.215): lolol You think Fixed Nicks are good? If you make a Fixed Nick, all your records are saved. Who knows what’ll happen later lol
8WanksADay◆: Don’t fight. Excluding Dynamic Nicks isn't discrimination. It’s just because they don't have a User Log. I can’t just post the coupons out in the open...
ㄴㅇㅇ(122.39): No, you can just reply to the comment and delete it immediately, it’ll still stay in the notifications;;;
ㄴCatEatingDogFood■: Fuck, how is he supposed to do that for 30 people lolol. And if someone steals it while he’s doing that, you’ll just blame the Manager again.
ㄴㅇㅇ(122.39): ;;; He’s always done it like this when giving out burgers before;;
ㄴCatEatingDogFood■: Man, these Dynamic Nicks are whining so much. You want the chicken burger but you don't want to make a Fixed Nick? lol
ㄴㅇㅇ(113.111): This is seriously ridiculous. What does a Fixed Nick have to do with a chicken burger?? Is the Fixed Nick pride that insane?
ㄴPyeolkwaelkwael■: For real, these Dynamic Nicks just want pleasure without responsibility lolol. Truly disgusting lololol
As planned, the fight between Fixed Nicks and Dynamic Nicks began.
“After the bread, comes the division.”
Aiming for the limited chicken burgers, the Fixed Nicks attacked the Dynamic Nicks to reduce the competition, and the Dynamic Nicks attacked the Fixed Nicks to reclaim their right to the burgers.
Of course, there were still those who continued to incite the crowd instead of lining up for a burger.
[Hey, you fuckers!! You idiots!! Don't get baited by chicken burgers like pigs and focus on the fact that the Gallery is dying!!] [0]
“...I have no personal grudge against you.”
It was merely a sacrifice for the peace of the Gallery.
Click—
[15-Minute Ban]
Normally, this was a ban that could cause a severe backlash for abuse of power.
However...
In 15 minutes, the chicken burgers would be distributed, and 30 Fixed Nicks would be on my side.
By then, no matter how much UseNiceWordsOnly■ screamed, he would just be seen as a troll throwing a tantrum because he didn't get a burger.
‘If it looks like it’s going south, I’ll just say it was a mistake.’
Today, I was the ‘Likable Manager’ who gave away 30 chicken burgers.
If I, who essentially held a one-day indulgence, even offered an apology, what could UseNiceWordsOnly■ possibly do?
[I suddenly feel like the Manager is amazing] [15]
Even though he did nothing wrong, a guy who drops 30 burgers on the Gallery is amazing...
[“Lady Ellis? Why aren't you starting the service?”] [55]
“8WanksADay hasn't arrived yet.”
As you can see, even before the results were out, the Gallery’s public opinion was already on my side.
“...This much is Estelle’s teaching.”
It was already a perfect score answer, but I had no intention of stopping there.
Swipe— Swipe—
I subtly slipped a few ‘1st-tier Fixed Nicks’ into the winners' list to bring the Gallery completely to my side.
【Rigging the Ladder】
In the Gallery, this was a capital crime treated on par with, or even worse than, murder.
Obviously, it would be a disaster if I got caught...
“But I just won't get caught, right?”
Anything is a crime if you get caught, but it becomes art if you don't.
*
“....”
As the self-proclaimed Dark Emperor and the Manager’s Archenemy, Poporing was naturally running wild on the side of the Dynamic Nicks.
[Author: 8WanksADay◆]
[Results] [36]
(Ladder game winner screenshot.jpg)
Please comment by the 35-minute mark.
-ChildhoodFriendRapist■
-MojitoDelivery■
-VirginAppraiser■
-ILoveTenantFarmers■
...
That was, until she saw her own Fixed Nick written in the results.
Grumble—
Poporing was hungry.
Grumble—!
She was very hungry.
In her heart, she wanted to scream, “Do you think you can tempt me with a mere chicken burger set?!” but...
She couldn't even remember the last time she had eaten something other than ramen.
Gulp—
Just imagining a chicken burger dripping with oil and juice made her mouth water.
“I... I have... no choice....!”
Poporing usually kept her Gallery persona and her real-life persona separate, but...
She was still human.
“....I’m... only letting it slide... temporarily... this once...”
She couldn't bring herself to insult the 'armband' as a Dynamic Nick while accepting a burger as a Fixed Nick.
Tap, tap—
ㄴMojitoDelivery■: “Long Live 8WanksADay” Thank you. I’ll eat well! I love you!
*
[101 Reasons Why ‘Magical Girl Urara’ is Superior to ‘Bratty Witch’ Analyzed from an Objective Perspective.reason]
...
Reason - 73
(Bratty Witch Chapter 57.jpg)
As you can see, in ‘Bratty Witch,’ the “jagged speech bubble indicating a loud voice” is used “identically” for “explanatory text,” making the “contrast and distinction ambiguous.”
(Magical Girl Urara Chapter 73.jpg)
On the other hand, in ‘Magical Girl Urara,’ it is used “exactly once when it’s important,” maximizing its effect. This alone proves the difference in artistic caliber between the two manga.
Reason - 74
(Shot of Bratty Witch’s clothes torn from battle.jpg)
(Shot of Bratty Witch’s clothes not torn in the very next cut.jpg)
The author must have dementia; the torn clothes are restored in a single cut.
This is a mistake that has never happened in ‘Magical Girl Urara,’ which clearly depicts even bruises.
Reason - 75
Clack!
The fingers that had been moving incessantly like a piano player suddenly stopped.
[Save Draft]
“...Shall I stop here for today?”
The Second Princess of the Empire, Laplace Mapleflower, spoke in a cold voice.
“It took longer than I thought...”
She thought she’d find 101 reasons in no time, but after writing about 50, it became difficult to find even 8 a day.
Still, she had no intention of reducing the number.
Once she decided on 101, she would finish with 101.
That was Laplace Mapleflower.
【Notice: Gallery Maintenance and Downtime due to Addition of Gallery Functions!】
“....The Gallery is closing?”
It was then that Laplace, checking the notice late, stroked her chin.
“Why so suddenly? ...Is it because of the Manager?”
The only major change in the Gallery recently was the appearance of the Manager.
Considering that in the past few years, there had never been a function addition or Gallery maintenance.
She could only conclude that the maintenance was happening because of the Manager.
“It’s a bit disappointing... but the timing is good. I can finish the work I’ve been putting off during the maintenance.”
Slide—
Laplace’s eyes glowed red as she pulled a camera out of her desk drawer.
*
【Notice: Gallery Maintenance and Downtime due to Addition of Gallery Functions!】
“Hmm. To think I won't be able to use the Gallery for 24 hours... This is quite a problem.”
As the owner of the seductive voice shook her head, her long purple hair, reaching down to her waist, swayed as if dancing.
Laura Lavandula
She was a figure evaluated simultaneously as the greatest Saintess and the worst Saintess in the history of the Church.
“What ever shall I do...”
In fact, if the Church were in a normal state, the position of ‘Saintess Candidate’ held by Yuris should not have existed.
Ever since the Goddess Ellis descended upon this land, the position of Saintess had always been for life.
The method of finding the next Saintess wasn't through humans electing a candidate, but rather the current Saintess receiving a revelation from Goddess Ellis near the end of her life to pass the position on.
Laura herself had become the Saintess by receiving the position from the previous one in that manner.
However, 15 years ago.
Laura obtained ‘Necromancy’ at the cost of discarding ‘Foresight,’ which was called the greatest blessing.
The Church was thrown into an uproar by the unprecedented event of a Saintess turning her back on the Goddess.
In a world where the existence of God was ‘proven,’ it was extremely rare for a member of the clergy to fall.
In particular, no one ever imagined that the Saintess, who received the Goddess’s favor, would betray her.
As a result...
Laura was designated as a ‘Special-Class Subjugation Target’ by the Church.
—Special-Class Subjugation Target—
It meant she was an existence that must be subjugated, even if it meant pouring in all the Church’s power.
The Church judged that the existence of the ‘Fallen Saintess Laura’ could shake the very foundation of faith in Goddess Ellis.
“...It seems I must shut myself in the dungeon for a while.”
Despite her status dropping from ‘Saintess’ to ‘Special-Class Subjugation Target’ in an instant, Laura remained unshaken.
She simply avoided, hid, and fled, spending 15 years constantly collecting ‘souls’ and building her strength.
Because she needed greater power, even if it meant giving up everything else.
“Do not allow anyone to enter until I give permission.”
Creeak— Clack—
Simultaneously with Laura’s command, the ominous sound of bones clashing against bones echoed through the air.