Refugees, Part 2
Chapter 9: Refugees (2)
I felt a sense of pride, but at the same time...
"That’s a pretty big hemorrhage."
I let out a sigh looking at my completely cleaned-out remaining points.
[Remaining Points: 240 pt]
I had spent a whopping 40,000 points just on sausage bread and bottled water for the refugees.
"When I added the bandages, blankets, tents, and the extra supplies for the Magallers who didn't get their apple compensation, it just..."
Yikes, I’ve become a beggar.
Of course, even at this very moment...
Since I was busy farming and digging up points alongside Padak.
"Well, at least I won't starve."
With the faith that I could restore my points in no time, I diligently managed the gallery.
"Ah, shit."
Just now, I banned another elf bastard (presumably) who posted a gore pic.
[Head Mod is so kind.]
"No, I’m not that nice of a person."
Let me state this once more: I am not someone who is all that altruistic or possesses a strong spirit of self-sacrifice. That was true in my past life, and it remains true in my current life as Derek.
However.
"Still, I can afford to bestow at least a single meal to refugees who have lost their livelihood."
As long as they survived and spent their time active on the gallery , it was a fact that it would ultimately benefit me as well.
The issue, though, was what happens after today.
"I can't personally provide meals for tens of thousands of people every single time."
There were also the points that Padak had squandered. And since I had thoroughly emptied my point savings to send out emergency relief goods, unless hate-posters kept flowing in from somewhere, a sustainable form of donation couldn't be maintained.
At least, that was the case until an alert rang out.
—Ding!
"Hmm?"
[The gallery manager's good deed has been verified.]
[We are refunding 50% of the points used for this good deed!]
"Oh? A point payback?"
[Refunded Points: 48,460 pt]
With this, I might actually be able to support them steadily for the time being.
Dangling from a hammock, I logged into the normalized gallery. Now that the urgent fire had been put out, I thought, 'Maybe I should browse the gallery for a bit to clear my head.'
[Title: Drew the person who is the literal "Light" of the gallery]
Author: Ma-Gallery Cartoonist
(A holy drawing of a voluptuous yet slightly tsundere beautiful girl, a half-succubus with long flowing blonde hair, handing out bread to refugees)
An imaginary drawing of Head Mod
How is it?
[Upvotes: 454] [Downvotes: 2]
[Comments]
* -WowKyaPya!!!
* -This is it!
* -I worship you, Great Head Mod
* -Is Head Mod a girl???
* ㄴ Didn't you know? She's a tsundere half-succubus beautiful girl whose milk from her secret private life tastes delicious.
* ㄴ ^That copy-pasta^
* -Because she's a girl, she was rubbing shoulders with Ya-jji-cheong noona lol
* ㄴ FR, I thought she was a total girl-crazy simp, but she wasn't lol
* ㄴ Until the ice fortress completely melts...
* ㄴ Frost Queen) No!!!
* -Hurry up and draw the imaginary pic of Head Mod producing banana milk!!!
* ㄴ Look how rushed this bastard was, he even made a typo keke
* -Mom, Dad! When I grow up, I want to be Head Mod!
* ㄴ Instead of becoming Head Mod, it makes more sense to smash Head Mod lol
* ㄴ Head Mod) You little shits?
* ㄴ Beautiful girl, come over here right now!!!
"What on earth is this again?"
Not long ago, they were turning my perfectly fine, living parents into deceased people. Now, they were erasing my johnson entirely at their own whim.
There is something that gallery managers must guard against above all else.
* -Ancient Demon God) Art thou speaking of the naked, king-sized mole troll grandma pic?
"Oh shit, not just a grandma, but a troll grandma?"
I felt like I might have seen something like that at some point back when I was purely Derek. However, my brain violently refused to conjure up that specific image.
"Just how horrific is it?"
* -Head Mod) It's not that lol;
* -Ancient Demon God) What a pity. This lady took a screenshot as evidence for the ban, so I was going to show thee.
"Please keep that kind of stuff to yourself."
For a very brief moment, I genuinely contemplated stripping her of Padak status and banning her.
* -Head Mod) Anyway, there is only one thing the Ju-Padaks must guard against.
* -Head Mod) Having your popularity rise lol
* -Ancient Demon God) The meaning of popularity that this lady knows is a good thing, though?
* -Head Mod) In gallery slang, "popularity" is a bit different.
"Gaining popularity."
If a random user with a strange IP leaves exactly those four characters on a post you wrote a year ago—and in the dead of night, no less —and if you happen to be a Head Mod or a Padak, you might be profoundly screwed.
"Because those guys are usually absolute psychopaths."
For a while, I suffered immensely from surprise 'H-gook' raids during the early hours of the morning. Of course, the Sing-Magallers weren't quite that malicious. Compared to the gallery from my past life, the hate-posters here weren't even as spicy as Jin Ramyun Mild. You could even call the hate-posters cute.
But still...
"It would be problematic if Head Mod becomes an idol."
And besides, I am a man.
Wondering why everyone was acting like this, I searched the logs, and it turned out the trigger was a title written by 'Speed Skeleton Tank' back when he was trying to bait attention.
[Title: Spine-chilling) Let's look into the secret private life of the beautiful girl Head Mod]
At first, petty posts like "Is Head Mod really a girl?" popped up. Eventually, it began to be utilized for sexual jokes.
"These bastards are continuously crossing the line, huh?"
Before I knew it, my image had morphed into a half-succubus, half-cow beastkin (female) who produces sweet banana milk.
Padak must have seen it too, as she slyly inquired.
* -Ancient Demon God) Head Mod, art thou by chance a half-succubus and half-cow beastkin, and thus personally making daily sustenance for the gallery members?
* -Head Mod) I said I'm not;;
I figured the trend would die down if I just ignored it for a few days, but for some reason, it showed no signs of abating. That was when Padak proposed a plausible solution.
* -Ancient Demon God) Then would it not end if thou takest a photo and postest a verification?
* -Head Mod) Oh, are you a genius?
However, since my face or specific body parts shouldn't be directly exposed...
"A hand should suffice."
I took a photo of the back of my hand and uploaded a post.
[Title: Please stop!]
Author: Head Mod
(A photo revealing the back of a pale, fair hand)
I'm a man.
Stop making up fake rumors!!!
[Upvotes: 32] [Downvotes: 4323]
[Comments]
* -How the hell is this a man's hand?
* ㄴ Head Mod) No, then does this look like a woman's hand to you?
* ㄴ ? No, then does this look like a man's hand to you?
* ㄴ Did Head Mod get hit by a Blind skill or something?
"Uh-oh, this isn't right."
Come to think of it, that was the reality. While others were busy working outside and farming just to survive...
"My body inherently couldn't do that."
I was a half-demon, half-human, a creature that demons despised even more than humans. Forget a social life, it was difficult for me to even walk outside the house comfortably. Therefore, my skin could only be a flawless, milky white, akin to a noble young lady's.
* -Ehehehe... Head Mod, you seductive wench! Are you tempting me with the back of your soft hand?
* ㄴ Psychopath loloooo
* ㄴ Wow, typical average Demon-Gallery user sb lolol
* -Head Mod-nim,,, you are beautiful,,, hya,,,
* ㄴ If I could,,, just hold you,,, once in my arms,,,~
* ㄴ Wow, the boomer smell is getting out of hand;
* ㄴ You boomer, go clean your dentures
* ㄴ You insolent,,, punks,,, I,,, am a skeleton,,, so I do not,,, eat meals,,, eh?!
* ㄴ Oh shit;
The ^copy-pasta^ beautiful girl Head Mod trend refused to be easily extinguished. I felt like I was going to lose my mind.
No, if it had ended there, it might have been fine.
[Head Mod! Head Mod!]
"My head is splitting, why are you making a fuss too?"
When I turned my head at the Operator's clamor, she sent me a link.
[Look at this!]
"What on earth is this now...?"
I checked the contents of the post and smacked my forehead.
A few days prior, at the Arkenia refugee camp.
"Everyone, have you all regained your strength?"
"Yes, we feel like we can finally live now."
Thanks to the food and relief supplies Head Mod had provided without asking for anything in return, the lives of the elderly and young children were saved.
"Then please lend me your ears for a moment!"
Ribark, the young village chief who was leading the refugee camp, climbed onto a rock in the center. The crowd's attention shifted to him instantly.
"Everyone! I am originally a gallery user of the Sing-Magal. I was the one who spread the word about the Gallery Shop to you in our time of urgency!"
In a way, he was the origin of all the hate-posting—the exact person Head Mod wanted to find most.
"Until not long ago, that place was chaos and lawlessness itself! However! Everything changed after Head Mod appeared. He drove out those vile humans, elves, and dwarves from the gallery meant for demons! The very bastards who trampled our homeland and are currently attacking our fortress!"
"He drove out the humans?"
"Those powerful bastards?"
For the past several decades, the offensive from the Humans, Elves, and Dwarves (Hum-Elf-Dwarf) persisted both online and offline. Ever since the Hero was summoned two years ago, the main force of the Demon King's army hadn't dared to face them openly. The fractured Demon Realm failed to unite and was helplessly battered.
Thus, Head Mod's 'victory report' brought immense consolation to the refugees.
"That is correct! And you and I have received a massive grace from the highly esteemed Head Mod! Even if we live our entire lives diligently, we probably won't be able to repay even a hair's breadth of it!"
The refugees understood what Ribark meant. Since the management of Sing-Magal had historically been held by the high-and-mighty figures of the Demon Realm, they naturally assumed this current Head Mod was a grand noble comparable to them.
'Someone with the capability to feed tens of thousands of people all at once.'
'Perhaps a great noble of the Demon Realm who rivals the Demon King.'
It wasn't difficult for the refugees to reach this common conclusion. They presumed Head Mod was a flexible individual who looked after the people rather than someone rigid and strict.
"Head Mod-nim told us not to disrupt the gallery activities, take what we needed, and get the hell out, instead of punishing us directly! Since we owe him our lives twice over, shouldn't we rightfully repay that debt?"
"Where did he tell us to go? The answer is simple. The besieged Arkenia Fortress! By doing so, is he not telling us to prove for ourselves that we were worth saving?!"
For generations, village chiefs had protected their towns' interests against the nobles of the Demon Realm, so they possessed sharp wits. Therefore, Ribark tried to fathom the intentions of the high noble 'Head Mod' to ensure the Arkenia refugees wouldn't face punishment from him later on.
He opened the gallery window and zoomed in on the imaginary drawing of Head Mod that Ma-Gallery Cartoonist had drawn to show the people.
"Ohhh, this person is that very Head Mod-nim!"
"As expected! Beautiful and noble!"
"Just like his heart, his appearance is magnificent too!"
The effect of the beautiful girl propaganda was outstanding.
"Those whose bodies are whole! Those without families to support! Those who believe they owe a great debt to Head Mod-nim! Anyone! Be it stones, clubs, or whatever, grab it! Let us march and fight!"
"Let's not waste the opportunity Head Mod has provided for us, and give those humans and elves a taste of our sting!!!"
"Hear, hear!"
"Waaaaah~!!!"
Following Ribark, the refugees returned to their homeland, where only ashes remained.
"Commander! A large-scale force has appeared from the direction of the flanking forest!"
"What?! The Hero clearly stated that the Demon King's army on the eastern front was small in number."
"The night is too deep to verify properly. Furthermore..."
The sentry pointed toward the Elf army camp to the west.
"We have been contacting them for a while now, but they are not responding at all."
"These damn pointy-eared bastards!"
The friendship between humans and elves was never particularly tight ; it was closer to a contractual relationship cooperating for mutual interests. In the contract to push back the eastern Demon Realm, the plains were to be taken by humans, and the forests by elves. Since the Arkenia Fortress on the plains would naturally fall into the hands of the Ared Empire, the elves were not proactive in the assault.
"We retreat."
"Sir?"
"Due to the uncooperative nature of the pointy-ears, demon reinforcements have swarmed in, and we have failed to capture the fortress."
The Imperial army general had absolutely no intention of weathering a demon night-raid alone. And for good reason: 'I have no intention of exhausting my precious troops here.' The core of the force was filled with his private soldiers.
"Pack up properly and retreat! We can just requisition the supplies from the Hero anyway!"
Preserving his troops was his top priority, so the Imperial army gathered their men as much as possible and pulled back.
And then...
The sharp-eyed elves watching this from afar began to whisper.
"Are those humans getting scared and fleeing on their own?"
"Perhaps they intend to dump the battle entirely onto us."
The elves largely agreed with that opinion. Before the Demon King appeared, the forests they had lost due to disputes with the cunning humans numbered over ten.
"Even if we win, it is not a fortress we will claim. Retreat."
"Yes, sir!"
The Arkenia Fortress, which was on the verge of fall, survived just like that. It was a miracle born from the fusion of refugee relief goods, the actions of refugees moved by the beautiful girl Head Mod's drawing, and the deep-seated distrust between humans and elves.
[Title: Long Live Head Mod!]
Author: Ribark
(A photo of the sun rising over the fields in front of Arkenia Fortress)
(A photo of the Human and Elf armies fleeing, abandoning all their supplies)
Head Mod-nim!
We did it!
Following your will, we were able to personally reclaim our homeland!
As expected, because you possessed such foresight, you told us to "get the hell out"!
Just as you commanded, we will diligently engage in gallery activities from now on!
[Upvotes: 3721] [Downvotes: 42]
[Comments]
* -???
* -No, you won?
* -What the, how did you do it you crazy bastard lol
* ㄴ Author) It worked because we did exactly what Head Mod told us to do hh
* ㄴ FR?
* ㄴ The humans were total push-overs, wow kekeke
* -Head Mod) ???
* ㄴ Author) Oh! You've arrived! Thank you so much!
* ㄴ Head Mod) What the, how did you do it?
* ㄴ Author) Pardon?
* ㄴ Head Mod) ?
* ㄴ If you don't know, Head Mod, then who the hell does, you bastard kekeke
"No, I never issued an attack order though?"
I tried to urgently clarify the situation, but like typical Magaller shits, they wouldn't listen.
* -Head Mod! Head Mod! Head Mod![32]
* -The natural enemy of Hum-Elves, Great Emperor Head Mod[45]
* -Those fucking human and elf bastards got wrecked in the gallery and now they lost on the battlefield too, right?[98]
* -
"Oh?"
In the midst of it all, pissed-off human and elf hate-posters exposed themselves on their own accord, transforming into valuable points.
"Fine, since you won, just enjoy yourselves today."
I decided to match the vibe just for today.
[Title: Hawawa~ I'm a beautiful girl~]
Author: Head Mod
(A collection of imaginary Head Mod drawings drawn and posted by Ma-Gallery Cartoonist)
Hawawa...
Actually, Head Mod is even prettier than this...
[Upvotes: 942] [Downvotes: 33]
[Comments]
* -Are you tempting me?
* ㄴ FR kekeke
* ㄴ Wow... I really want to say something, but I feel like I'll get banned if I do...
* ㄴ Just do it lol. Ah~ I want to pin Head Mod down and boldly go uryat-uryat~
* ㄴ
* ㄴ Rest in peace, martyr ㅠㅠㅠ
* -I feel like bad words are going to pop out...
* ㄴ Heeeung, Head Mod noona...
* ㄴ Being embraced by the voluptuous Head Mod, ehehehe...
* -This seductive wench has finally revealed her true colors!
* -(It got bigger.kon)
* ㄴ (I'm putting it in.kon)
* ㄴ Head Mod) You, get out
* ㄴ Dumbass keke
* ㄴ Farewell lolol
* -(It's time for heroic figures~.kon)
* ㄴ (Bring forth sausage bread and banana milk!.kon)
* ㄴ While you're at it, I want to see a drawing of Head Mod personally feeding bread and pouring banana milk.
* ㄴ Ma-Gallery Cartoonist) Oh...
* ㄴ I guess I'll have to draw it, right?
I mined points while enduring all kinds of sexual jokes.
"Ah, so sweet~"
During all that...
"Head Mod, you look frail. To think you dared to intervene in a war without knowing how terrifying the world is?"
Completely unaware that a new crisis was beginning to approach...