Chapter 8 - Driven Mad by Sweetness Lmao

The room reeked of ammonia, packed to the brim after I'd finally taken care of that big business. I'd caused a minor incident with the gallery shutdown extended by 12 hours, and now I was staring at the gallery screen from inside this bathroom-turned-hazard zone.

Just 10 minutes until the gallery reopened. Rain pattered outside, mingled with the wolves' howls filling my rickety house. The calm before the storm.

I couldn't even explain why it had taken so much longer than expected. But the preparations were complete. Whether this was just a simple mistake or a chance to leap forward using that very slip-up—well, the results would tell.

"Apology post is ready to go as-is, and I've got the shop items lined up in advance..."

The moment the gallery opened, I'd have to post without delay, so I'd prepped everything meticulously. The gallery users' anxiety and fear? Just nudge it in the right direction, and it'd make perfect kindling to set the whole place ablaze. In any direction.

And there was something I really wanted to check with the new features. The wolves outside. No way they hadn't caught my scent.

"I'm dying in here myself—think they missed it? Sure, they're huge, but they're still good ol' doggos, right?"

I'd debated holding it until I could buy the bunker, but human dignity won out, so I'd handled it that afternoon. After an epic battle, I emerged... only to spend the next hour staring at the door, holding my breath. What if the wolves sniffed it out and came charging?

But the outcome? Here I was, alive and well.

"Maybe they're not regular wolves. I mean, we made eye contact on day one."

After that initial stare-down, I'd been too spooked to venture out, but on the third night, I'd found a tiny gap letting in the wind. I'd peek through it a few times a day, praying please just go away—but no movement. Like, don't they eat? Walkies? Are they even wolves?

Shockingly, they just hung around like they didn't need any of that. I wanted to snap a pic and ask the gallery the second it opened, but that'd undermine the apology's sincerity, so I scheduled it for tomorrow.

While I mulled over the wolves, the upgrade end time crept right up.

"Apology page open, image for it ready on top, shop item list prepped..."

All set. And after 36 long hours, the gallery finally resumed operations.

Update complete notifications rang out too. Posts flooded in fast from elves, dwarves, and humans shaking with separation anxiety.

"Whoa, why so quick...? I haven't even finished the apology yet."

In the time it'd taken me to write it, fresh posts had blown past 10 pages. The gallery was still clean for now, but once bellies were full and backs warm, the trolls would rise up. Better scout sub-mod candidates early.

"Copied it over, attached the image... perfect."

I double-checked and posted the apology.

I nodded as I watched the reactions. "Exactly as I planned."

A moderate, not-overdone apology. Divert attention to new features. And drive it home with fresh shop items.

Fruit jam for folks barely scraping by day to day? The moment it hits their tongues, they'll lose their minds in bliss.

I hit Yes, of course.

I registered it right away so users could buy. Full price, as promised—items with a bit of heart behind them.

Satisfied with the clean wrap-up, I called for Sora.

"Sora? You there?"

So nice to see her again. Staring at the screen responding instantly like yesterday, I felt a strange calm.

"Nah, just calling to say hi."

Honestly, I'd been pretty lonely. Losing that one day hurt more than the week of nothing from the start.

Sora worried about me? Whoa! Sora's watching over me! After so long with someone caring, I got awkwardly shy and changed the subject.

"Checked the new features work, so now ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I can browse a bit and crash. But when the gallery closes, do you fully shut down too?"

Mid-sentence, a sudden curiosity hit, so I asked. After a brief pause, Sora replied.

Not speculation or conclusion, but "similar"—seemed even Sora wasn't 100% sure.

"Huh? What could make posts feel that desperate..."

"Oh, they've collectively lost it?"

Sora's "desperate longing" seemed to be straight-up madness. Not just any madness, but a frenzy for sweetness.

"Might as well add more then."

I'd announced full-price drops, so no worries about sudden house calls. 1000 sold out fast, so 2000 should do—registered and checked the shop.

"Huh? I just added them?"

Sold out again already? No way in that short time...

"Psh, probably hit the wrong button and it didn't register."

2000 gone in seconds? Nah. Registered again, rushed back to check stock—and watched it hit 0 live.

"Sora! Can normal items auto-register too?"

Phew, no all-nighter jamming jams. Gallery was on fire, so auto-register was needed.

"But... what if stock piles up? Bankruptcy city, right?"

No real worry about dead stock—it'd sell eventually, so "bankruptcy" was hyperbole. But with bunker funds urgent and fees tanked, I couldn't afford wasted points tying up space.

"Gotta post a notice then."

Scared of leftovers? Points spent stocking? Just announce the next item upfront, say I'm taking a tiny cut. Watched the sweetness-crazed gallery blaze while drafting.

Everyone seemed unhinged. Clock function in good use too— not how I'd intended, but whatever.

"Alright, toss in more sweets then?"

My first profit item. First one where I pocket 1P, so max cost-performance. Obviously that one.

Upload the ultimate value king—no one'll care about full price then.

"Green grape candy. Let's go with that."

Keep that sweet scent in their mouths all day.