Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Fresh Newbie, 100% Guaranteed Straight from the Source
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Probably, I'm the first one ever.
Getting banned right after signing up.
"Pathetic weaklings."
I thought this was a gallery where Cthulhu summoning circles or insane hallucination memes casually floated around.
[The post has been deleted by the Moderator.]
[Your gallery access is currently blocked.]
Over just one harmless meme?
Even Cthulhu fans see that stuff.
Is this worse than that?
I followed the rules properly.
This isn't some gore pic of a corpse or dismembered body, right?
I immediately submitted a formal request to the Moderator for an unjust ban lift, and a chat window popped up soon after.
[Moderator Hearing]
['Grad Student No.12' has entered.]
The Moderator's first words dripped with deep regret and lament.
[Grad Student No.12]: Sigh... Our gallery's gone rotten.
I typed a reply to ease the Moderator's worries.
[Newb120053]: I'm completely normal.
[Newb120053]: I didn't do anything wrong.
[Grad Student No.12]: You know, everyone who says that is never actually normal, right?
[Newb120053]: Agreed.
I knew that well.
It's a type you run into a lot in online communities.
[Grad Student No.12]: Still, the ones who won't listen—
[Newb120053]: But I'm not one of them, at least.
The chat went quiet for a moment.
[Grad Student No.12]: Fine. Not the first time I've seen this crap. Yours was shocking in a different way, though.
[Newb120053]: Hang in there. I get it.
[Grad Student No.12]: ...You get it?
The chat window spun with typing indicators. Seemed like they were composing something.
Soon, the message appeared.
[Grad Student No.12]: You think you know how I feel? A badass newb shows up, and I rush in after the alert for their first post.
[Grad Student No.12]: Oh? Instead of some pure 'What should I do first?' or 'Hi, I'm a new member here,' it's a glowing radioactive waste blob stripping naked, grinning at me, and dancing? Huh? Yeah?
Oh dear.
High blood pressure's bad for your health.
[Grad Student No.12]: This is the first time something like this has happened since I started moderating.
So I left some words of comfort.
[Newb120053]: Feels good knowing I gave you your first experience.
[Grad Student No.12]: ...
[Grad Student No.12]: ..You're new, so you probably haven't read the rules and guidelines yet. I'll let it slide this once.
[Newb120053]: Ah, there were rules like that? Had no idea.
[Grad Student No.12]: ...I'll be watching you.
['Grad Student No.12' has left the chat room.]
['Newb120053's chat is now permanently unblocked.]
['Newb120053's Anomalous Gallery permanent ban has been lifted.]
I posted again.
[Title: Hi, I'm Newb120053, the latest newbie here.]
-Author: Newb120053
Hello, everyone.
First time using a gallery like this, so it's kinda awkward.
Still, I've seen my name mentioned a lot in the Horror Gallery, so I figured I should properly introduce myself once. Hardworking efforts ahead.
P.S., what should I do first?
Not even a minute after posting, the gallery's resident ghosts swarmed in, comments piling up fast.
[Dark Merchant]: For a sec, thought you wandered into the wrong gallery.
[Horror Cross-Eyed]: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Pray you're screwed, newbㅋㅋㅋㅋ
[Mountain Corpse123]: Out of all the galleries, you pick the Horror Gallery to join.
[Coffin Fairy]: Dark + Souls + Mental Illness + Mistrust of Humanity = Horror Gallery
Confirmed my earlier realization wasn't wrong.
I'd held onto a sliver of hope.
Guess dreams and hope are off the table, huh?
[Upvotes 152] [Downvotes 0]
[Longest-Living Anomalous Gallery Member]: Pro tip: Log the "Rules." Everything has a price tag.
[Whispering Ant]: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Just hilarious.
[Spectator Why Am I Here]: Newbie post means you're still in one piece.
[Real Deal]: (Image: Welcome cake.jpg)
[Grinning Hyena]: What to do? "Don't die." Simple, right?
The hyena's last comment stuck in my eye.
Simple? Or not.
[Screaming Rabbit]: Still passed. Most can't even post before vanishing.
[Mackerel Eyes]: Me too. But newb, there was a post earlier that got deleted right after going up. What was that?
Giggling as I tossed up the post, one comment caught my eye.
Someone must've seen that post from earlier that vanished almost instantly.
The ghosts really haunt this place 24/7.
[Mackerel Eyes]: Me too. But newb? There was a post earlier that got deleted right after going up. What was that?
ㄴ[Newb120053]: … First time in a gallery. Tried to edit by mistake and hit post instead. Deleted it quick, but you saw? Embarrassing.
ㄴ[Mackerel Eyes]: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Scrolling through the comment log.
I spotted a downvote appear.
[Upvotes 152] [Downvotes 1]
[Grad Student No.12]: ...
No words.
But I had a pretty good idea who hit that downvote.
The Moderator's appearance in the Horror Gallery caused quite a stir.
ㄴ[Storm Emperor]: What the, Moderator! Said you were busy lately.
ㄴ[Flop]: Moderator got excited over a fresh newb too?
ㄴ[Grad Student No.12]: …Fresh?
Guess Moderators rarely comment directly like this.
Feeling friendly, I left a greeting too.
Still, the first entity I chatted with after accessing the Horror Gallery.
ㄴ[Newb120053]: It's the Moderator. Nice to meet you. Like all you cool folks, I'll become a member the Horror Gallery can be proud of.
['Grad Student No.12' has muted 'Newb120053' from chat for 30 seconds.]
Ah, teased too hard.
***
The place was blazing with the newbie boot drama the Moderator just stirred up.
I'll leave it be for now.
Using the 30-second chat ban timeout, I decided to check out something else.
The Anomalous Gallery wasn't just chat.
Top right of the phone screen.
A shiny resource icon caught my eye. — Horror Coins.
[Horror Coins: 345]
Current balance: 345.
Wonder what they're for.
I remembered getting coins as a clear reward from that subway station earlier.
Seems like more than before, but hard to tell right now.
My gaze drifted to the button below.
[Horror Shop]
My brain, tempered by childhood RPGs, connected the dots easily.
[※ All transactions accept only Horror Coins. Barter or other payment methods not accepted.]
[※ Interfering with the shop via abilities, powers, magic, superpowers, anomalies, apostles—any method—results in permanent loss of access and full coin confiscation.]
Warnings flashed briefly, then the shop screen opened.
[Basic Goods]
[Rule Fragment] (50 Coins)
Grants 1 random rule in fragmented form.
(※ Fragments may be incomplete.)
(※ 'Incomplete rules' can be more dangerous.)
[Safe Return Ticket] (200 Coins)
One-time return from current Horror space.
However, "safe" is subject to system discretion.
[Anonymity Mask] (100 Coins)
Blurs anomaly perception for a set time.
(※ Ineffective on humans.)
[Recorder's Pen] (150 Coins)
Records rules for permanent preservation.
(※ Can share memories. Recorded info isn't always accurate.)
[Red Coin] (??? Coins)
Price varies each time.
(※ Effect unknown.)
(※ But using it will definitely make 'something' disappear.)
[Voice of the Dead] (300 Coins)
Summons voice of one prior victim.
(※ No guarantee of truth.)
[30 Second Immunity Ticket] (80 Coins)
Ignore all rules for 30 seconds.
(※ Warning: Anomalies won't stay quiet toward rule-breakers.)
[Nullification Shield] (20 Coins)
Blocks one physical attack.
(※ Effect duration: Only 1 minute.)
[Current Coins: 345]
Purchase?
Plenty more items, sorted into categories too.
[Basic] [Recommended] [Best-Sellers] [Mercenaries] [Premium] [Limited] [Specials]
Basic: Exactly what it sounds like—fundamentals.
Recommended: Auto-suggested based on user situation.
Best-Sellers: Top sellers across all users.
Mercenaries: Not sure exactly, but seems like hiring help for jobs.
Premium: Pricey but guaranteed quality.
Limited: Rare items available for limited time.
Specials: Clearing inventory on slow-movers.
No need to tap through lists.
Instant understanding.
That's the power of Korea's early education.