Taboo (8): Not a Parallel Universe?

"Does that mean gallery users can actually meet each other?"

The moment that thought crossed my mind, comments started pouring in.

For now, it seemed like gallery users couldn't actually meet each other, just as I'd originally thought.

So what did it mean that the premise of parallel universes was crumbling?

I could finally grasp what they were getting at.

'The tower's structure and monster levels are perfectly identical.'

I might be the one putting a dent in that hypothesis.

And if it collapsed because of me, all the info they'd built up so far could become worthless.

Laws don't tolerate even a single counterexample.

They seemed scared of that.

But then, 574F stepped in like he was trying to calm everyone down.

The situation was settling down.

Looking like it would end as a minor hiccup.

As someone said, it was probably because 574F's words carried too much weight.

That was when my shinigami master left a comment for me.

The shinigami were buzzing among themselves in shock.

The 710F shinigami explained further.

But I was baffled.

"Huh?"

Yin and Kak? I'd never seen those skills before.

"What? The Death Verdict I learned wasn't that?"

Puzzled, I hurriedly typed a reply.

"……"

Stunned, I typed another comment.

Silence.

The responses that followed were like this.

4th stage instant kill? The one I used on the guy?

Utter disbelief.

I snapped a selfie with my status and skill windows open. Death Verdict - Slash, Death Verdict - Gaze. I uploaded the two skills clearly listed there to the gallery.

Then.

My master's response that followed was pretty shocking.

I never imagined he'd say that.

Question marks and derisive laughs flooded in. Confused replies kept coming.

It was total chaos. But a hunch flashed in the corner of my mind.

"...Ah."

I think I knew why I got two.

I was uneasy, but I had to confess.

This time, no silence. An enormous roar exploded.

Bigger than before—like a thousand lightning bolts crashing down in text form.

His all-time most shocked reaction had cold sweat pouring down my back. Seemed like big trouble. I hammered the keyboard frantically.

The gallery flipped out again.

A cheerful mix of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mockery and admiration. Just as I was starting to relax in the vibe.

My master's heavy comment came back.

He looked more serious than ever.

"……"

The price for getting two instant kills.

Looks like I'd be wanted in the Shinigami Realm.

But I wasn't the type to regret spilled milk.