Cough, Cough, Plague Gallery (1)

A warning that a great threat is coming to the Demon Realm.

It was the kind of phrase that brought to mind scruffy doomsday prophets shouting in busy streets with massive placards hanging from their necks. But the one who had uttered those words was none other than the Gallery's Operator.

"Hmm."

Since I was constantly monitoring posts about the war between humans and demons, I didn't think any trouble would brew from that front. Take the post just uploaded by the Fixed Nick 'War Correspondent', for example.

Although the Allied Forces had swollen to a massive scale, they had ended up self-destructing with bizarre antics after their vanguard was wiped out. Thanks to that, the frontlines secured by the Demon King's army remained perfectly stable.

"Then what kind of disaster is supposed to happen?"

What, is a meteor going to fall from the sky? Or maybe a Mecha Tyrannosaurus sleeping deep inside some cave is going to burst out?

"...As if."

Even though it was my own thought, it was still utterly ridiculous.

However, I truly didn't have a single clue. That only made me grow increasingly anxious.

I wasn't usually one to believe in superstitions, but...

"Just in case."

I reached into the back of my bookshelf and pulled out the Stone of Fortune, which I had kept safely tucked away.

Since it had been neglected for a while, a thick layer of dust had settled on it. I dusted it off carefully, stroked its smooth surface, and made a silent wish.

Please don't let anything bad happen. And if something is already happening, please let it be resolved smoothly.

Naturally, nothing happened. It was just a pebble, after all.

I put it back where it belonged and stepped out of the room.

"I wonder if Reina is feeling better by now."

About three minutes after the Head Mod closed the door and left.

Flash!

The Stone of Fortune flickered with a brief, intense light three times.

Unlike the Gallery, which was in a festive, celebratory mood after their grand victory,

"Dammit!"

The Ared Empire was in utter chaos.

The once-brilliant Crown Prince was nowhere to be found, leaving only an emperor whose mind and body were thoroughly ravaged by consecutive defeats and overwork.

"Aaargh!!! We have been utterly humiliated by the Head Mod!"

"Y-Your Majesty! Please, calm yourself!"

No matter what methods the Empire employed, they couldn't even reach the soles of the Head Mod's feet.

Rumors about the Head Mod and the Gallery had spread far and wide. Consequently, even the soldiers on the frontlines began accessing the forum.

Although they couldn't use all of its features, they were still able to access the Gallery to read and write posts and comments.

And the moment the soldiers started browsing the forum, they quickly realized just how miserable their own treatment was.

Once they realized that the demons—whom they had despised as cursed wretches—were actually eating better food and enjoying a far superior quality of life, the unrest boiled over.

In a way, it was only natural that morale plummeted and desertions skyrocketed.

When the high command cracked down harshly to prevent desertion, the situation escalated to the point where soldiers would literally run straight ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to the frontlines to surrender to the enemy.

To stop this, the Emperor emptied his personal coffers to have hamburgers and pizzas made and distributed to the troops.

At the same time, he ordered his researchers to replicate the incredibly powerful artifact weapons the enemy had displayed.

However, every single attempt ended in failure. Morale sank so low that it was a miracle military discipline was maintained at all.

Eventually, even the Holy War armies of various nations summoned by the Empire began to openly defy orders.

If this keeps up, we're all doomed!

Clinging to his fraying sanity, the Emperor analyzed the cause of their failure.

"Why? Why are they so obsessed with that Gallery? Do we not have the Yggdrasil Network, a far more noble and secure community?"

"That is precisely the problem."

"Gallery Surveillance Director?"

The Gallery Surveillance ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Director placed a report on the table and spoke.

"The Yggdrasil Network operates on a strict membership system. In an environment where one's real name, race, and rank are displayed right next to their ID, people are bound to walk on eggshells."

"Naturally, genuine communication is stifled, and the vast majority of soldiers perceive it as an uncomfortable space. This makes it impossible for us to gauge public sentiment. It is the exact opposite of the Gallery."

"Therefore, I believe we must adopt a free-flowing atmosphere similar to the Gallery."

In other words, he was suggesting they transition to complete anonymity, just like the Gallery. However...

"If we do that, what will we do when insolent fools appear to mock the imperial family and the nobility?"

"It is simple. We can just ban those users, just like the Head Mod does."

"What?!"

Perhaps a more flexible emperor could understand, but the nobles absolutely could not accept this.

"To let such insolent bastards off with a mere account ban!"

"Director, the crime of insulting the imperial family and the nobility is grave!"

"And yet, that is exactly how the Head Mod handles it."

The Gallery Surveillance Director picked up the report and fluttered it in the air. At that, the nobles fell silent.

"Why do you think the high nobility of the Demon Realm unanimously praise the Head Mod as a 'magnanimous leader'? It is because unless it is an exceptionally severe case of trolling, he only hands down a light punishment of a '7-day ban'."

"A... A mere seven days?"

"Indeed. Even when our surveillance agents are caught, they receive a seven-day ban instead of a permanent IP block. Do you think the rumors of the Head Mod being merciful even to his enemies arose out of nowhere?"

The Director wisely omitted the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fact that his own account had been banned multiple times.

"Your Majesty, the Yggdrasil Network has so far been used only for limited purposes, such as command reporting and supply transport. However, before it is too late, we must transform it into a flexible and open environment, just like the Cheerful Demon Realm Village Gallery. Only then can we catch up to the Demon King's army, the Head Mod, and the Gallery."

In short, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it was a direct plea to learn from and adopt the Gallery's strengths. Hearing this, the Emperor finally spoke.

"...You speak the truth."

"Your Majesty!"

"This could incite even greater chaos!"

"Enough. To catch up to the Head Mod, it is only right that we adapt. Bring me the communication crystal."

Since the management of the Yggdrasil Network was handled by the Elves who tended to the World Tree, the Empire could not modify or add features at their own whim.

Thus, to request cooperation, the Emperor contacted the Elven Senate via the crystal.

-Human Emperor, have you lost your mind?

"...Excuse me?"

-To change the Yggdrasil Network as you please? We cannot agree to this. And did you even obtain the consent of those dwarf scoundrels?

"...This decision was made after deep deliberation. Then, at the very least, create a separate free bulletin board that only humans can access. We truly need this—"

-Have you forgotten the charter we signed when forming the Alliance? Let me read it to you myself: <There shall be no actions that hinder cooperation between races>. Yet you ask for a private space that excludes Elves and Dwarves?

-If that is your intent, stop leeching off the Yggdrasil Network and build your own community.

"Leeching?!"

Bzzzt!

The Elven Senate unilaterally cut off the transmission. It was stark proof of just how far the Ared Empire's prestige had fallen.

Silence hung over the gloomy conference room for a long while. Until...

Knock, knock, knock.

"Your Majesty, an urgent missive from the Holy Church has arrived."

The letter brought by the Count of the Palace was sealed with holy magic so that only the Emperor could open it. Without hesitation, the Emperor tore open the envelope and read its contents.

A moment later, he muttered with an expression of profound bewilderment.

"'A plague destined to bring down the Head Mod and the Gallery has arrived. Prepare yourselves, as this may also affect the soldiers on the frontlines...'? What on earth does this mean?"

Today, as always, the Gallery was flooded with a moderate amount of trolling, a moderate amount of NSFW art, and countless shitposts.

But as I was monitoring the board, I spotted a strange post of a kind I rarely saw.