Ddyudyaddya-i, Part 3
The next morning.
"Yaaawwn~"
Waking up with a long, lazy stretch, I stepped out into the hallway and glanced briefly into Reina's half-open room.
"Zzz..."
Because Liv and Reina were sound asleep, I quietly closed the door. I made a mental note to get another bed for them as I held onto the railing and walked down to the first floor.
"Looks like nothing major happened in the gallery last night."
Just in case, I had given the ID of the guy who claimed to be the leader of the Demon King's direct Special Operations Unit to Ancient Demon God and RD1234, asking them to keep a close eye on him.
- RD1234) That ID hasn't been active since then.
- Ancient Demon God) No one else hath spreadeth suspicious rumors about the Hero either.
- Juddak) Got it. Thanks for the hard work, everyone.
It seemed he hadn't caused any chaos in the gallery.
"Well, it's not like they'd gain anything from it anyway."
Judging by yesterday's chat logs, they seemed to want to cover up the Hero's existence and secure her as quietly as possible.
Of course, I wasn't the kind of pushover who did everything he was told. I hadn't taken down the post containing Liv's photo like he asked, and thanks to that, about four or five popular recommended posts about it were up.
While it hadn't blown up into a massive scandal that consumed the gallery all day, it was still meaningful because the gallery users were now aware of Liv's existence to some extent.
"There's absolutely no way I'm taking it down."
I finished washing up and was scrolling through the gallery while having a cup of coffee and toast when a message popped up.
- FQDD41245) Good morning, Juddak-nim.
- Juddak) ?
"What? I thought he'd given up."
The guy from yesterday had messaged me again. Apparently, he hadn't given up. Well, she was the Hero, after all. He couldn't just give up easily.
- FQDD41245) If you just hand over the Hero, no one will get hurt.
- FQDD41245) Could you please cooperate with us for the peace of the Demon Realm?
- Juddak) I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
- FQDD41245) Juddak-nim?
"If I just play dumb, what can you guys even do?"
The photo I posted was just a picture of a human woman from an unknown source that I'd picked up somewhere. I had never claimed to have taken it myself, nor had I ever mentioned that I was keeping the girl in the photo.
Besides...
"This is a fantasy world's Demon Realm. It's not like there's a Cyber Crime Unit here."
To put it bluntly, even if I made explicit jokes here, I wouldn't get arrested for sexual harassment over digital media. There were no such laws, and the administrative and judicial enforcement wasn't as precise as in modern society back in my previous life.
Granted, there was a guy who once mobilized dozens of wizards to use necromancy to find and kill me based on some kind of principle...
"But I blocked it, right?"
With the gallery barrier active, I had nothing to worry about.
- FQDD41245) Juddak-nim, I beg of you!
- FQDD41245) Please help the Demon King's Army, which has just turned the tide of war and is rushing toward ultimate victory!
"Hmm, something's weird."
The messages he was sending didn't particularly sound desperate, and most of the content was completely hollow. It was just...
"It feels like he's repeating the same thing over and over with slightly different wording."
Almost as if he was buying time.
Right then.
[Warning!]
A tracking spell targeted at the 'Gallery Administrator' has been detected.
[Blocked.]
"What?!"
A 'tracking spell' aimed at me? So the feeling that he was stalling wasn't just my imagination...
"You were playing nice on the outside while trying to dig up my location data from behind my back?"
This was way too insolent. You want a piece of me right now, don't you?
- Juddak) Hey.
- FQDD41245) Yes?
- Juddak) (Image of the warning window)
- Juddak) Are you kidding me?
- Juddak) Because I won't do what you want, you're trying to track me down and finish me off? Lmao.
- FQDD41245) Wait a minute, Juddak-nim! It's a misunderstanding!
- Juddak) Misunderstanding my ass.
[This user has been banned for '7 days'.]
[1 malicious user banned.]
[A total of 80 points has been awarded.]
"You guys started it."
Special Operations Unit or whatever, I decided I wasn't going to take it anymore.
[Title: Emergency Notice lol]
[Author: Juddak]
(Liv's photo from yesterday) (Screenshot 1 of the exchange on the marketplace 1-on-1 chat) (Screenshot 2 of the exchange on the marketplace 1-on-1 chat) (Screenshot 3 of the exchange on the marketplace 1-on-1 chat) ...
They say the photo I uploaded yesterday is indeed the Hero lol. And they threatened to punish me for treason if I didn't hand her over.
(Meme of a frog demon flipping the double bird and shaking its hands around erratically)
Screw you lol. Demon King's direct Special Operations Unit my foot.
(Text stating that a location tracking spell was cast but blocked by the gallery barrier)
If you beg for help upfront but plot underhanded schemes like this behind my back, do you think I won't get pissed off? Fixed nickname 'FQDD41245' <<< I tracked this bastard's IP and it's Kronendike? I guess the Special Ops headquarters is in the Demon King's Castle or something lol.
Therefore, as the Head Administrator, I view the current situation as a grave crisis and hereby announce that the IPs of the Royal Capital and its surrounding areas will be banned entirely starting right now.
To the gallery users included in this region? To you guys... I'm sorry... Haha;
[Upvotes: 5453] [Downvotes: 4251]
[Comments]
* - Is Juddak fighting again?
* ㄴ Juddak~ His opponent is~
* ㄴ The Demon King's Special Operations Unit~
* ㄴ Following a Corps Commander, an Ineld troll, and an Empire high official, now it's the Demon King's Special Ops Unit ㄷㄷ
* ㄴ A guy who just smashes everything if he doesn't like it...
* ㄴ Which makes him even cooler...
* ㄴ True.
* - I think my house is caught in the Kronendike regional IP, please spare me...
* ㄴ Juddak) Haha;; My bad... lol!!
* ㄴ Juddak, you son of a bitch!!!
* ㄴ Ahㅋㅋㅋ if you don't like it, then moveㅋㅋㅋㅋ
* ㄴ You've been enjoying the sweet life in the metropolitan area all this time~ Just take the hit~!
* ㄴ Harpy Queen) The West welcomes your migration, chirp-
* ㄴ If I move to the West, can I meet you?
* ㄴ This guy is openly trying to form a clique right in the notice post ㅋㅋㅋ
* ㄴ Harpy Queen) (Disgusted 'Drop dead, trash' Harpy Queen emote)
* - But how did you pick up the Hero?
* ㄴ Juddak) 1. I didn't pick her up.
* ㄴ 2. I received it through a marketplace chat, and posted it in the gallery just in case.
* ㄴ 3. But a Special Ops agent certified that she's the Hero and told me to take the post down lol.
* ㄴ Who the hell does he think he is, bossing people around to take a post down or put it up ㅋㅋㅋ
"For now, I should keep it like this."
That way, they wouldn't be sure whether I actually had the Hero or not.
Even so.
[Warning!]
A tracking spell targeted at the 'Gallery Administrator' has been detected.
[Blocked.]
"It looks like they still have no intention of giving up."
Since the notifications kept ringing, I muted them for the time being.
- RD1234) Are they those who wish to harm Juddak?
ㄴ RD1234) Input the target and coordinates. They can be thoroughly destroyed.
ㄴ Uh, uh, not this person...
ㄴ Tin-can sister, stop the rampage!!!
ㄴ Juddak) Can I ask you if I need to?
ㄴ RD1234) Just say the word anytime.
ㄴ Juddak) Okay, but I'm fine for now.
ㄴ Gasp!!!
ㄴ Harpy Queen) Moving to the comfortable West... is a must, right? Chirp-
ㄴ Juddak-nim, I'm going to move, so please give me some time, please!!!
- Demon King's Army <<< If you think they're pathetic bastards who were getting utterly crushed in the war against Ineld until they survived thanks to Juddak, yet think they turned the tide themselves, upvote this ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ Upvoted ㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ Upvoted for truth.
ㄴ Seriously, Juddak plowed through everything from the East to the West, so what have they done to act so smug? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Fortunately, public opinion in the gallery was quite favorable toward me. It was all thanks to how terrible the reputation of the Demon King's Army and its leadership was.
"Well, this is their own karma catching up to them."
A war so old that everyone had forgotten why it even started. The Demon King, the Regent, and the Elders had turned a blind eye to the suffering people of the Demon Realm, entirely consumed by victory. Incompetent commanders dragged young men away only to return them to their hometowns as corpses. Day in and day out, villages near the front lines were stripped of their food, various supplies, and even the oxen and horses used for plowing fields. All while spouting empty promises that they would pay them back someday—promises no one believed anymore.
So, of course, no one would take their side.
I smoothly moved on to the next step. Just as I had announced, I configured the settings so that Kronendike and its neighboring IPs could no longer access the gallery, marketplace, and shop.
"Complain if you want."
Well, they couldn't even if they wanted to now.
The Royal Capital, Kronendike, and its vicinity were among the wealthiest regions in the Demon Realm. Upon checking the sales history of the gallery shop, over 50% of the volume had been sold to that very area.
"You've been enjoying a comfortable life all this time, right?"
Now try living without the shop.
By banning the region heavily reliant on the gallery shop and pinning the blame on the intimidation from the Demon King's direct Special Operations Unit in the notice...
"They'll bite, tear, and fight each other on their own, won't they?"
The duration would be about a fortnight.
"Let's see how this plays out."
[Warning!]
A tracking spell targeted at the 'Gallery Administrator' has been detected.
[Blocked.]
"Until this notification stops popping up, I am absolutely never lifting the IP ban."
I finished my work and was about to eat the rest of my toast when—
"Heehee~ So that's what happened?"
"Wh-What?"
Reina, who had woken up at some point, beamed a bright smile from behind me. Right beside her stood Liv, rubbing her eyes while holding Reina's hand.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well... you looked busy taking care of Liv yesterday."
"Even so, I'm still a Sub-Administrator, you know?"
Reina pouted her cheeks with a huff and sat in the chair opposite me. I served toast and coffee to Reina as well , and gave Liv a glass of 100% pure orange juice.
"I wanted to help too."
"If you get tangled up with me for no reason, the entire Succubus race could face repercussions."
"When have succubi not been persecuted? Until just a few years ago, we were treated as low-lives, called filthy women who bewitch men and a race of whores."
Reina took a sip of her coffee and continued.
"If it were my mom, she'd probably side with me and say, 'Yeah, the Demon King and the Regent have been doing whatever they want anyway, so good riddance. I'm going to the Royal Capital to give them a piece of my mind.'"
Gulp. Wait, what?
This wasn't exactly the Succubus Queen I had imagined. Why did she feel less like a noble, enchanting queen and more like a friendly neighborhood aunt?
"...Juddak-nim, I think you're having strange thoughts again."
"N-No, I'm not. Anyway, thanks for worrying about me."
Of course, if the Succubus Queen actually moved herself, it would create an immense political burden. Burning another race's destiny just to get through a single crisis was a bit...
'It's better to solve this on my own somehow.'
Just as I was thinking that—
"Um... excuse me, but..."
"Wh-What?"
"Where is this? Oh, the toast was delicious. It felt like eating I-SAAC Toast after a long time."
Suddenly, our Dduddaeddai had returned to normal.
The Royal Capital of the Demon Realm, Kronendike.
Between the numerous complex buildings and spires of the Demon King's Castle, a large-framed old man ran frantically.
'If I get caught, I'm a dead man!'
It felt like the booming voice roaring behind his back was catching up to him.
—CHO!!! CO!!! LATE!!!!!!
Even though she hadn't reached adulthood yet, the roar unleashed by the ruler of the Demon Realm was fierce.
"Pant, pant, pant!"
Regent Yugelt rushed into the Special Operations Intelligence Department, gasping for breath. Fortunately, once the thick door slammed shut, the terrible lion's roar could no longer be heard.
"Leader of Unit 2! Where are you!"
"Y-Yes! Your Excellency!"
"What on earth happened! I told you to find Juddak's location, did I tell you to stir up trouble in the gallery?"
"Well, about that, sir..."
The leader of Unit 2 explained as quickly and thoroughly as possible.
"Sigh!"
Regent Yugelt collapsed into a seat with a heavy sigh.
"We've ruined everything. I have no face to show the late Demon King."
"Your Excellency..."
Unusually intelligent for a troll, Yugelt possessed both literary and martial prowess. Thanks to his exploits on the battlefield, he had earned the favor of the previous Demon King and risen to his current position as Regent.
He shook his head violently, stood up abruptly, gripped the shoulders of the Unit 2 leader, and shook him back and forth.
"What exactly did you do to make Juddak lock down the gallery!"
"As per your orders, we proceeded with negotiations upfront, and used an artifact from behind the scenes to pinpoint Juddak's location."
"When did I tell you to use such petty tricks! Didn't I tell you to proceed covertly!"
There was no way a figure of Juddak's caliber would easily fall for a tracking spell. Instead, detecting the tracking spell would have only displeased him.
"I-I'm sorry!"
Unfortunately, the experienced elites of the Special Operations Unit were deployed to the front lines and the rear of Ineld. Yugelt only now poignantly realized that the currently available Special Ops forces were mostly lower-quality troops who used to root out anti-Demon King factions in the rear.
"For now, yes, finding a way to lift Juddak's gallery shop embargo comes first. Understood?"
"But if we do that, the Hero..."
"The Hero isn't what's important right now! Do you still not get it? Right now—"
CRACK!
The thick iron door split open like a sheet of paper.
"Eek!!"
"Uncle Yugelt, are you here?"
"D-Demon King. It is a hot day, so you shouldn't wander outside recklessly without a retinue. It goes against the basic etiquette of a lady."
"Cut it out. Why are you ignoring my words?"
"I-I'm sorr—"
THUD!
The enraged Demon King stepped inside, her red eyes trailing long streaks of light as she grabbed Yugelt by the collar. It was a mystery how the tiny Demon King managed to grab the collar of a troll over three meters tall, but the Unit 2 leader soon witnessed that she did so while floating in mid-air as Yugelt spun around.
"Where. Is. My. Chocolate?"
"W-We will have it prepared."
"It hasn't become completely unobtainable, right? Correct?"
"Y-Yes! It's nothing like that, so you do not need to worry!"
"I couldn't access the gallery a moment ago. If you did something fishy behind my back and ruined our relationship with Juddak—"
The Demon King extended her left hand, levitating the iron door that was rolling on the floor, and immediately clenched her open hand into a tight fist.
CRUNCHHH!!!
The thick mass of iron crumpled up like a thin piece of paper.
THUD!
"N-No, Your Majesty! It is a misunderstanding! We will clear it up and present the chocolate to you posthaste!"
FLOP!
"I can't wait long."
The Demon King turned on her heel and left, and only then did the unit leader realize the severity of the situation.
"Pant, pant, pant!"
"Y-Your Excellency! I will contact him immediately!"
"Do it quickly! Hurry!"
Yugelt shouted, clutching his throat.
'Juddak, what a terrifying bastard!'
Because of the rumors that he was a great wizard or a succubus, they had prepared thoroughly to block any magic, curses, or charms...
'To think he would retaliate in this manner!'
After selling a massive quantity of goods that only Juddak could produce and sell in the Demon Realm, he had even tamed the picky palate of the Demon King with them. Then, the moment a conflict arose, he cut off the supply, forcing the desperate side to bow down.
They had urgently searched the entire Royal Capital for chocolate, but...
— Can we not find any chocolate? — Well, about that, sir... because it melts easily in the heat, and the shop restocks ample inventory every day...
Everyone had thought, 'It gets sticky and melts in the heat anyway, so can't I just click and buy it from the shop when I need it?' or 'I'll just buy and eat it tomorrow~', so no one kept extra stock. In the end, they couldn't even procure a supply within the wealthy Royal Capital.
This method wasn't tedious like sending curses or assassins, nor did it cost money or leave traces. Yet, the effect was far superior.
'I should have paid more attention when I received the report about the Eastern Corps Commander!'
At the time, Yugelt had been focusing on the tense situation of the Central Front, and had naturally neglected the relatively less important reports from the Eastern Front. All of those things had compounded to cause the current disaster.
'I thought wrong. We don't even need a trivial thing like the Hero!'
Publicly executing the Hero to boost the morale of the Demon Realm was utterly trivial compared to turning Juddak into an enemy.
Yugelt immediately headed to the eastern tower of the Demon King's Castle and mounted a wyvern. His destination was a place untouched by the IP ban.
SCREECH!!!
The wyvern carrying the massive troll flapped its wings with great effort. To apologize to Juddak and request the lifting of the IP ban around Kronendike, Regent Yugelt flew out of the Kronendike jurisdiction.
And below his feet, within Kronendike...
"We can't live without the gallery!"
"Let's march to the Demon King's Castle!"
"They say this is all because of the Special Operations Unit!"
"Why can't I eat sausage bread!!!"
The citizens of the Royal Capital rose up one after another, gathering on the main streets and beginning to march.
Meanwhile, at that very hour.
"You don't remember anything?"
"Y-Yes... what I remember is—"
I heard a rather shocking story from Liv, who had returned to normal.