Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Check Out the Red Boom Elixir Before You Go~ [13]
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Hello~ neighbors~
Lately, the wind's been chilly and biting~
Are you all taking good care of your health~~?
Today, I wanted to tell you all about Red Boom (apparently also called the Red Explosion).
(A photo of Red Boom held up in one hand)
It's such a thin metal can~ But the main attraction is what's inside this metal thing!
Drink it, and suddenly your strength surges?! (That weird feeling where an enormous power just bursts out of nowhere?)
They say even if you think it's the end, chugging one lets you pull off a massive comeback like this!
(A screencap of a mountain made of beast corpses)
And that's all about what the Red Boom elixir is.
(A smug-faced Lime giving a thumbs-up in a comic)
> Wtf is this shit?
> Thought it was an info post but it's just some diary entry
> I'm just scared of this guy...
> That weird writing style with the blood-soaked pics makes it straight out of Jason;
> Mommy, I'm scared
No idea if a day passed or two.
The only thing I'm sure of is that even after possessing this body, I've been steadily keeping up my gallery posting.
"...Is this a Red Boom side effect too?"
While checking the Red Boom effect post, I stumbled on one with a hint of subtle madness.
"Anyway, the reactions are explosive."
Contrary to my worry that it might flop, the response was definitely there.
>-Plz sell more plz
>-What's the original below? Seems like there are other flavors too, I wanna try 'em!
>-Listen up, Judak. If you don't put up another thousand Red Booms, I'm shitting right here
>> Why the fuck you shitting, you psycho
I'd already sold at least a hundred more cans, but that wasn't enough—posts begging for more were everywhere.
But there was one big problem here.
[Owned Mana Balls: 500]
"So how do I even deal with these?"
The profits coming back from sales weren't all that useful.
If I were blended into civilization, sure, but stuck in isolation, I had no clue if mana balls were even a thing.
Even lurking the gallery only told me they were vaguely used as currency.
"...Eh, they'll come in handy someday."
Points were easy to farm anyway, so no real loss—not a huge deal.
Figuring they'd be useful eventually, I checked new posts, and weird bait started circulating the gallery.
>-So what's Judak's race anyway? [5]
>-Why Judak has to be an elf girl...jpg [3]
>-Race aside, is it a girl?
At first, I thought it was just one of the usual baits.
The gallery had weird bait rolling around all the time, after all.
★ -Why Judak Has to Be a Delicate Elf Girl [75]
"What the hell is this."
But this bait wasn't normal.
(A screencap of Judak's bottled water purchase proof)
Look at this photo closely first.
Grainy quality, but check here—you can see the ring finger and pinky.
Even accounting for shake, you can tell the fingers are slim.
If you trace the photo and clean up the blur, it looks about this size.
(A screencap imagining and drawing Judak's fingers)
And look close—the skin's super pale, right?
That doesn't happen unless you're holed up indoors forever or it's genetic.
But holing up at home in this ruined world means death.
So it has to be naturally pale and pretty fingers—which means only one race fits.
Elf.
Therefore, definitely a delicate elf girl ㅇㅇ
"What the actual fuck."
Suddenly stuck choosing between crazy bastard or delicate elf girl, I was left dumbfounded.
Were there really people buying this?
But this was the gallery.
A world where being normal was abnormal.
> Oh, sounds plausible
> Wtf, is Judak an elf girl??
> Wasn't Judak a half-elf beauty?
> Fine, say it's a girl
> [OP] Not bullshitting, it's for sure
> ㅇㅇ Anyway, elf proof? Why so sure it's an elf?
> [OP] Cuz I want it that way
> ??
> [OP] Can't handle a delicate, pretty, snow-white elf girl Judak
> Thought it was a fallen noble lady, disappointed it's not, Judak.
> [Judak☆] Wanna find out what falling really means?
> Understood;
I'd had my hand on the 999-day ban button, but damn, they catch on quick.
And the speculation didn't stop there.
Me being an elf, or actually a polymorphed dragon beauty—pure nonsense everywhere.
Ignoring most of it, I was digging for dopamine hits from other posts when...
-(Help Request) Antares Mountains Beast Wave Appears
One serious post popped up.
*
Dwarves were the continent's master smiths.
Most heroes' gear came from their hands, and unbelievable architecture too.
But after the Great War, they fled underground to escape beasts, holing up defensively—and that's where it all went wrong.
...Or so the info post said.
Title: Antares Mountains / Iron City Kilgrot / Help Requested for First District Reclamation Battle
Category: Help Request
(A photo of dwarves defending the second wall of Kilgrot Kingdom against beasts)
The first wall fell yesterday.
The second won't hold much longer.
If we fall, you fall too.
The beasts are targeting Kilgrot relentlessly, so we're asking for aid.
We've run out of food mid-defense.
Our brothers can't fight without strength, so provide rations and we'll repay the favor.
"...Seeing it like this really hits home."
The world in the photo was despair incarnate.
Thousands of beasts scaling walls like mountains.
Iron-clad dwarves knocking them back with hammers and spears their own size.
Yet the dwarves were slowly being pushed.
"Food shortage, huh?"
The dwarves looked gaunt and haggard in the pics.
Far from the dwarves I knew.
> Whoa ㄷㄷ; Been ages since a help request
> Dwarves asking for help??
> ㄷㄷ; Look how skinny they got
> If they struggle, what chance do we have?
> Fuck, wanna kill all those gross beast bastards
Watching that scene, it was no wonder the gallery was fired up.
I'd never seen a help request either.
"Categories exist but no posts ever regen'd."
Heard during the Great War, they flooded in.
But as people died off or lost, now it's just everyone cornered and holding out.
No one has the strength left to help or ask, so the category went dead.
Obviously, despite the gallery's rage, no way to help them.
>-Sucks having to just watch this shit
>-We're really doomed. Humans won't last much longer either
>-Our elven enemies, but didn't want to see you fall like this
>-Feels so powerless. Pisses me off
Even other races were thrashing on the brink of extinction.
I felt that same helplessness wash over me until the system window snapped me out.
"No, I've got plenty I can do."
The shop. The market.
By isekai standards, I had power beyond compare.
[Welcome to the Shop.]
[What item would you like to purchase?]
*
[Owned Points: 525]
"Lucky, points are plentiful."
I'd been trapped in this underground warehouse.
Only thing to do was gallery posting, so I'd stockpiled plenty.
Not as generous as the first ban payout, but 525 was enough.
"But how do I send it?"
[Help Request category posts allow 1 item delivery per month.]
"Oh."
Good thing the system covered everything.
*Food
[Tuna Can] - 1 point
[Vegetable Tuna Can] - 1 point
[Spicy Tuna Can] - 2 points
[Water 250ml] - 1 point
.
.
.
[Tuna Can] 250 purchased!
[Water 250ml] 250 purchased!
Remaining points: 25
"Turn the rest into tuna cans too?"
But I stopped.
Instead, remembering how the gallery always longed for booze, I headed to the liquor section.
*By Country
ㄴBy Brand/General
ㄴAle/Lager/Other Liquor
"What. I thought beer was just draft, dark, etc.?"
No clue what anything was.
Categories got deeper and more arcane the further in—scary to click.
In the mess, I spotted the most straightforward label.
Discount! [Draft Beer 500cc] - 3 points → 1 point
"This is it."
I ordered 25 cans of Draft Beer 500cc.
*
"Guess no help's coming after all."
Dwarf warrior Taldru sighed at the gallery.
Half a day gone, no responses to his plea.
Deep down, he knew.
Smuggling food into these winding mountains? Impossible.
It was just a last-ditch thrash at survival's edge.
"Disgusting bug bastards, so damn many."
Even the harsh snowy peaks teemed with beasts.
A brief lull now, but next wave? No victory possible.
Even a hundred dwarf warriors per day couldn't survive without food and rest.
Gripping his hammer tighter, he prepared for honorable battle.
['Judak' has responded to the Help Request post.]
"Huh?"
Sudden fanfare with the gallery notice.
Dwarves resting nearby snapped their heads over.
[Taldru: What is it, Judak?]
[Posted a support request, so ㅇㅇ]
[Taldru: ??]
[Anyway, hope it helps. Take a look.]
Thud!
[Items delivered safely!]
Cheerful voice with the parcel boxes.
"What."
"Where'd these come from?"
"Paper? Using paper for big packaging like this?"
Curiosity piqued, dwarves swarmed to open them.
And one thing caught their eyes.
"Booze?"
"What."
Glass—flawlessly crafted glass holding beautiful amber beer.
Shocked voice sparked a meerkat-like head surge.
"Booze?"
"Lifeblood?"
"My everything?"
Stampede!
Seconds of silence, then dwarves rushed the wall where Taldru stood.