God of the Gallery
God of the Gallery
"......."
The truth I heard from Noxir was truly shocking.
'So, that bastard Lucifer sacrificed 90% of humanity to absorb the power of their souls?'
This was the world's catastrophe that Noxir spoke of.
And Lucifer, having absorbed this 'soul power', woke up after a whole 100 days.
With his resurrection came the birth of the God of Light.
'And after that, he gathered the remaining humanity and built his own world...'
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, those who knew the truth like Noxir secretly formed a resistance.
While they were secretly operating after forming the resistance, the previous administrator suddenly appeared at their hideout.
"......."
But how did the previous administrator manage to cross over?
Several hypotheses came to mind, but they were all just guesses.
<Survivor★(2ch): Do you happen to know the previous Admin's nickname?>
<GreenNoxir(6ch): It's 'Protagonist'.>
'Protagonist?'
It seems the previous administrator was quick to grasp the situation.
'Well, I suppose he would think of himself as the protagonist, having obtained the time-stop ability he wanted.'
It's just my guess, but I imagine he must have felt like he owned the world.
After all, with time-stop, he would have been confident he could defeat any enemy.
'Anyway, it seems the previous administrator did join the resistance and cooperate.'
Unfortunately, the result wasn't good.
One way or another, he died at the hands of the God of Light.
<GreenNoxir(6ch): Can you help me now?>
<Survivor★(2ch): Helping aside, what are you going to do with the food and weapons?>
<GreenNoxir(6ch): I plan to let the world know the truth and fight.>
'That's a very reckless statement.'
How would they spread the truth to the world, and how would they fight an opponent who even beat the time-stop ability?
Besides, if they wanted to spread the truth, using the Gallery would be much better than running around on foot.
<Survivor★(2ch): How do you plan to spread the truth?>
<GreenNoxir(6ch): I'll have to secretly distribute flyers or something.>
Flyers?
<Survivor★(2ch): Why? It would be much safer and better to use the Gallery instead.>
<GreenNoxir(6ch): The God of Light can track locations through Gallery nicknames.>
'Ah.'
Now that I think about it, the current temporary administrator is the God of Light.
The temporary administrator could track locations, and they were wary of that.
'The previous administrator didn't obtain the authority of the Integrated Channel Administrator.'
Because they didn't obtain the Integrated Channel Administrator's authority, they couldn't revoke the God of Light's temporary administrator position.
Not only that, but if they hadn't become the Integrated Channel Administrator, the things they could do would have been extremely limited.
<Survivor★(2ch): I'll do the spreading for you.>
<GreenNoxir(6ch): You? Ah. You're in a different channel, so the Inquisitors won't be able to find you.>
<Survivor★(2ch): And stop attacking, too. Once I've finished assessing the situation, I'll handle that as well.>
<GreenNoxir(6ch): You're in a different channel, aren't you?>
Noxir asked back as if not understanding what I meant by saying I would also handle the attacking.
It seemed they couldn't understand how I, being in a different channel, could also handle the attacking.
<GreenNoxir(6ch): Ah. Don't tell me you can move to other channels?>
<Survivor★(2ch): No. Just think of it as me having a way.>
But before that, I needed to verify if what Noxir said was true.
'The problem is how to verify it.'
Is there really no choice but to talk to the God of Light?
'Other people will only chatter about the facts that have been spread.'
It seemed there was no other way than to talk directly to the person involved.
In short, I had to talk to the God of Light directly, but it felt uneasy since I didn't know what kind of tricks the bastard might pull.
<Survivor★(2ch): Anyway, I'll contact you again later.>
<GreenNoxir(6ch): Weren't you going to help me?>
<Survivor★(2ch): I need to look into it a bit more.>
I answered like that, but I already trusted Noxir more than halfway.
The reason was that the previous administrator appearing at the resistance hideout and joining them was decisive.
'No matter what, they wouldn't have sent him into enemy territory.'
Therefore, it was highly likely that Noxir's words were the truth.
<GreenNoxir(6ch): What do you mean by looking into it more? You aren't planning to contact the God of Light, are you?>
<Survivor★(2ch): I can't move after hearing only one side of the story.>
I answered that and ended the 1:1 chat.
'Then now, all that's left is talking to the God of Light in the Arena.'
Thinking this, I decided to get help from the Great Witch Moriana just in case.
<Moriana☆(5ch): Mental protection item? I happen to have one, so I'll give it to you.>
I contacted Moriana, explained the situation in Channel 6, and asked for an item to protect my mind.
Then Moriana said she happened to have one and gave me some kind of hair circlet through a 1:1 trade.
'This looks like it's for women.'
Channel 5 is witches. So, since there are only women, it might be natural.
<Moriana☆(5ch): It will block most mental attacks.>
<Survivor★(2ch): Yes. I'll use it well and return it.>
<Moriana☆(5ch): It doesn't really matter, but aside from that, I'm curious how the dimension travel is going.>
<Survivor★(2ch): I'm working hard on leveling up Modern Item Purchase. It's level 5 right now.>
I'm constantly using Modern Item Purchase, so I'm accumulating experience points steadily.
<Moriana☆(5ch): I see. If you need anything else, tell me anytime.>
When I told her that, Moriana answered as if she was reasonably satisfied.
Having obtained the mental protection item, I finished preparing for camp in the evening and entered the Arena.
"Sirien-ssi. I'm counting on you."
"Yeah. Don't worry."
However, this time Elisicia also showed an intention to participate.
"I'll go too."
"Hero-nim, you too?"
"Yes. Because we don't know what might happen."
On top of this, Rubyel and Aila approached, and it looked like they intended to go too.
"Are you two planning to go as well?"
"How can we just send Elisicia and Sirien alone? At least Aila and I should be there."
Rubyel said that she, as a mage, and Aila, as a saint, needed to be there.
I don't know about Rubyel the mage, but it felt like having Aila the saint would be good for preparation in many ways.
'If four people come like this again...'
Naturally, Riness the elf and Tipina the fox-kin beastman remained.
Thinking of Veronica who couldn't enter the Arena, it seemed better that at least those two remained.
"Yes. Then I'll enter the Arena."
[Entering the Arena.]
After entering the Arena, I called the four members of the Hero Party.
I thought about calling the people from Channel 1 like usual, but decided to call them after the talk with the God of Light, just in case.
'First, put on the hair circlet.'
When I put on the hair circlet, my head felt slightly clearer.
Thinking that with this effect, it might be okay even when I have a headache, I looked at Sirien next.
"Sirien-ssi."
"Yeah. Match request."
Next, after Sirien and I entered the match state, I turned on the surveillance camera toward the God of Light again.
'The God of Light is...'
He was very calmly enjoying the scenery outside the window.
Then, perhaps noticing the Gallery surveillance camera again, he slowly turned his head.
「You've returned as expected.」
'Will a 1:1 chat work this time?'
Just in case, I requested a 1:1 chat with the God of Light.
[The other party has declined the 1:1 chat.]
'As expected.'
The God of Light answered with his still benevolent expression.
「Given my age, even writing is difficult. I hope you understand.」
[A message has been sent to nickname, 'God of Light☆'.]
So I sent a message this time, but as expected, he didn't even pretend to check it.
It was as if he was telling me that if I wanted to have a proper conversation with him, a video call was the only way.
'Can't be helped.'
I trusted the Arena function and the hair circlet that the Great Witch Moriana gave me, and initiated a video call.
[The other party has accepted the 1:1 video call.]
「Ho. So you are the new Admin.」
"Is there a reason you insist on a video call?"
Naturally, since I didn't know what tricks the bastard might pull, I didn't share the Gallery window.
「There is a reason to insist. Haven't I seen the face of the new Admin like this?」
"How did the previous Admin die?"
「Hmm. He stabbed a knife into my neck. I killed him in the moment he let his guard down, thinking it was over.」
The God of Light was unexpectedly forthcoming.
And I could tell that the previous administrator had indeed died because he let his guard down.
「But if I had known a new Admin would come like this, I should have thought differently; there was no denying I was too hasty.」
I thought after listening to the God of Light.
'He doesn't seem to have any intention of hiding it.'
Is he that confident?
"Is it true that you obtained your current power by sacrificing humanity?"
「It's like you're interrogating me. What do you think?」
"It's highly likely to be true."
The story of becoming a god by sacrificing humanity was more plausible than becoming a god by stopping a catastrophe.
「You are being deceived.」
At that moment, the God of Light said I was being deceived.
"What am I being deceived about?"
「Everything from the beginning. I can see it. Even your past.」
My past?
「Your father passed away when you were young, and you almost suffered school violence.」
"......."
In an instant, I felt like I knew why this bastard insisted on a video call.
'Was he able to see even the past by looking at the target's face?'
「The one who saved you back then was your friend, right? Thanks to that, you two became close. But what if that whole situation was the friend's intention?」
"What does it matter that I became close with that guy?"
As the God of Light brought up my past, I threw away the polite speech.
「It does matter. Thanks to that, aren't you now the Gallery Admin, moving around diligently?」
"......."
「Moreover, you still trust that friend even now. That there's a reason for doing this. Even that is all intended.」
Setting aside the friend story, the fact that he could see the other person's past meant the God of Light was no ordinary bastard.
「Also, aside from that friend, you didn't have anyone else you were close with. Don't you think it's starting to get strange?」
Indeed, many questions still remained regarding the friend.
Whether the God of Light knew that or not, he poked very sharply, but nevertheless, I asked again.
"Talk about sacrificing humanity first."
「If you join hands with me, I will resolve all your doubts.」
"If you don't say it, I'll take it as true."
「My, my. It seems you've been thoroughly bewitched. Or perhaps you've prepared thoroughly.」
The God of Light, perhaps giving up on persuasion, slowly changed his expression.
If his expression was benevolent at first, now it became arrogant and haughty, as if looking at a trivial person.
「Then what do you intend to do?」
And just like I did, the God of Light also dropped the honorifics and asked what I was going to do.
'Was this the bastard's true self?'
While I was thinking, the God of Light's words continued.
「How do you think you can do anything to me, who has become a god, when all you can do is block nicknames and communicate with other channels?」
"......."
「Not to mention you are in a different world. But that has its own use. So take my hand. If you do, I will save all worlds.」
All worlds?
"How are you going to save all worlds?"
「Gather faith in me in other channels as well. If a certain amount of faith is gathered, I will be able to descend there. Then saving all worlds won't be a problem.」
I didn't know what it was, but it seemed like he could exert influence if people praised him in other worlds too.
Furthermore, I could tell he was making me do it because he himself couldn't communicate with other channels.
"What if I refuse?"
「Refusal isn't bad either. Just as you can't do anything to me, I can't do anything to you for now.」
The God of Light said we couldn't do anything to each other, but that wasn't true.
But seeing that he didn't know that, one thought flashed through my mind.
'It seems that even if he reads my past, he can't read anything related to the Gallery.'
He said he became a god, but it didn't seem like he was the real god I thought of.
'Anyway, friend-or-foe identification is over.'
I defined the God of Light as an enemy and declared war.
"I'll end you."
Since the God of Light was the cause of the destruction, I had sufficient reason to eliminate him.
Of course, it was clear that killing a bastard who was perfectly fine even after having a knife stabbed in his neck wouldn't be easy.
「Are you going to kill me? A mere human cannot kill a god. The previous Admin proves that.」
At those words of the God of Light.
Suddenly, the words of the Channel 1 Heavenly Demon, Yeon Wol-rin, came to mind.
-Can you kill a god by joining forces? What can kill a god is another god.
Then.......
"No. I am not a mere human."
「If you are not a mere human, then what are you?」
I opened my mouth while making eye contact with the God of Light, who was still looking at me with an arrogant face.
"I am the God of the Gallery."
I, too, will become a god.