Chapter 125

– No way, the monsters are breaking the curse!

– Isn’t that cheating?

– Seriously, if a few of those things gather, a small kingdom would melt away!

I used my brain and set a trap.

The Gallery was buzzing about a new type of monster.

This was a monster unlike any seen before.

– So, I tried making tuna mayo, how is it?

ㄴ (Tuna mayo rice bowl gif)

ㄴ Damn, are you a genius?

ㄴ Wow, such a lovely kid.

ㄴ (Cheering Elf Con)

Well, they were just buzzing.

Of course, one Gallum died.

But for the Gallery to be shaken by that, they were already living in the thick of a war.

After a moment of mourning, the Gallery didn’t worry too much.

[Title: Aren’t you scared?]

Author: Head of the Gallery*

A kid who was in the top tier of bounties just died?

It didn’t even have eyes, was well-prepared sensor-wise, and flashbangs didn’t affect it!

That big thing is that fast?

[Recommended 4211] [Not Recommended 12]

– “So what?”

– Aren’t you curious?

– Quack quack quack? Hmm, this is a snack viral.

ㄴ ?

ㄴ Speaking of which, how about some snack recommendations?

ㄴ Honey Butter Chips gacha, let’s go!

“Wait, what?”

Based just on difficulty, it might be tougher than all the variant monsters that have come out so far.

Yet, surprisingly, everyone was calm.

It’s good to keep a steady mind, but why is everyone so peaceful?

The answer was in a most unexpected place.

– Hey, you know…

– It’s really not worth panicking with the Head of the Gallery around.

– If you’re unsure, think about it from the opposite perspective.

ㄴ Allied Arachne vs Enemy Head of the Gallery.

ㄴ Shit, life is short.

ㄴ Oh, now it makes sense!

ㄴ Head of the Gallery*) No way.

I had a lot of weapons that could catch Arachne.

But this time was different.

Arachne’s cave was located deep in the forest.

“Well, fire is out of the question.”

I thought about chemical weapons, but quickly dismissed it.

“Is there really any need to screw up the forest?”

The costs outweigh the benefits.

Then I thought about mines or machine guns, but the cave was really dark.

If they hide deep inside, those wouldn’t be very useful.

“Then should I just bury the cave?”

After a brief contemplation, I posted a message in the Gallery.

[Title: Someone who claims to be great at throwing balls]

Author: Head of the Gallery*

Support requested.

– ?

– What’s with the sudden…

– He’s doing it again, just eat.

But surprisingly, the reaction wasn’t too great.

“Did I write it too briefly?”

I added a few more conditions and modified the post.

[Title: Someone who claims to be great at throwing balls (Revised)]

Author: Head of the Gallery*

(High-Explosive Grenade, Shaped Charge Grenade pile gif)

For bounty hunters against Arachne!

I can roughly pinpoint the cave location via IP, so I’ll let you know.

Just pull the pin and throw it in, and I won’t ask for a fee even if you catch Arachne, okay?

[Recommended 7239] [Not Recommended 1]

– Ah haha, why didn’t you say so first?

– My nickname is the Devil of Playing with Balls, you know.

– I just love balls.

– If I catch a ball, the sun will fear and hide, making it night ㅇㅇ

ㄴ What the hell, haha.

“Wait, based purely on difficulty, it might be tougher than all the variant monsters released until now.”

Surprisingly, everyone was somewhat cool.

Of course, keeping a steady mind is good, but why are they so relaxed?

The answer was in a surprising place.

– Hey, you know…

– Honestly, it doesn’t make sense with the Head of the Gallery around.

– If you’re in doubt, think in the opposite direction.

ㄴ Allied Arachne vs Enemy Head of the Gallery.

ㄴ Damn, life is short.

ㄴ Oh, now it makes sense!

ㄴ Head of the Gallery*) No way.

I had many weapons capable of dealing with Arachne.

But this time was different.

Arachne’s cave was deep in the heart of the forest.

“Well, fire is out of the question.”

I thought about chemical weapons again, but quickly dismissed that too.

“Do we have to screw up the forest?”

That would cause more harm than good.

Then I considered whether mines or machine guns would work, but the cave was incredibly dark.

If they curled up and hid inside, neither would help much.

“Should I just bury the cave itself?”

After a brief moment of contemplation, I posted a message in the Gallery.

[Title: Someone who swears they’re good at throwing balls]

Author: Head of the Gallery*

Support requested.

– ?

– What’s up with the sudden…

– Eating again, I guess.

Surprisingly, the response was underwhelming.

“Maybe I wrote it too briefly?”

I added a few more conditions and refined the post.

[Title: Someone who claims to excel at throwing balls (Revised)]

Author: Head of the Gallery*

(High-Explosive Grenade, Shaped Charge Grenade pile gif)

This is support for the Arachne bounty hunters.

I can roughly deduce the cave’s location via IP, so I’ll inform you.

Just pull the pin and toss it in; I won’t ask for a commission even if you manage to catch Arachne, cool?

[Recommended 7239] [Not Recommended 1]

– Ah haha, why didn’t you just say so beforehand?

– My nickname used to be the Devil of Ball Games, you know.

– I just have a love for balls.

– If I catch a ball, the sun will be afraid and become night-time, right? ㅇㅇ

ㄴ What the heck, haha.

As soon as I modified the post, the system notifications went off relentlessly.

I delivered grenades to the applicants near the cave.

Soon, grenades rolled into the cave, leading to a series of explosions.

Then the hunters followed in to check.

“Huh?”

…and they came back out not long after.

[Title: Did we actually take it out?]

(Injury gif of torn arm muscles)

Ah haha, I almost got taken out myself.

– Ugh, what the hell?

– Are you serious? Did you hit it and not die?

ㄴ Author) The cave is way deeper than I thought. It seemed like they were all hiding down below.

ㄴ Author) (A complicated tunnel structure gif)

ㄴ I was close to dying;

“Seriously, it’s not dying after all that.”

The grenades didn’t have that much effect.

The cave was deeper than its appearance.

I considered closing the entrance and burying it all, but it didn’t seem like a good idea.

Dragon Dragon X: Arachne can use magic.

Dragon Dragon X: Even if you block the entrance, it seems likely to make another path.

Head of the Gallery*: Hmmm…

Well, that naturally meant I couldn’t use chemical weapons.

If I spread it, I might end up with the entire forest wilting away.

“I need to know what’s going on inside to prepare.”

Though I’d seen many monsters enter, witnessing one set up a camp was a first.

As the hunters struggled to enter, remaining around the cave…

– 1.7.000.3) But do we even need to catch it?

– 1.7.000.3) Monsters are abundant, so why are we fixated on this one?

“Wait?”

At that moment, I noticed a Gallum with a strange IP address.

It was ambiguous, suggesting disruption, even with an IP address I’d never seen before.

“Is that address even real?”

The leading number 1 signifies a human.

The 7 indicates the area of the forest located in Elard.

The following numbers should refer to its dwelling or affiliation, but something felt off.

000, and then there was a 3 attached at the end?

“Gotcha.”

I dove into the Gallum’s gallery log.

Through previous posts, I realized he was a Gallum killed by Arachne earlier.

Now it dawned on me that the 3 also indicated a curse.

– 1.7.000.3) If the Head of the Gallery feels it’s all over, just give a thumbs up haha.

Recently, all his posts were connected to Arachne.

I left a reply for that Gallum, or the Gallum controlled by a curse.

ㄴ Head of the Gallery*) Haha, capture complete!

ㄴ 1.7.000.3) What have you captured? Haha, if you have time for this, focus on other things haha.

ㄴ Head of the Gallery*) Aren’t you Arachne?

In a moment, the Gallum’s activity froze at my message.

In a bizarre twist, the word “haha” he frequently used shifted away from his topic.

ㄴ Head of the Gallery what’s going on?

ㄴ Oh, that guy’s tone is kinda off.

ㄴ (Elf Con resting chin on hand)

– 1.7.000.3) You’re saying weird stuff again haha.

ㄴ 1.7.000.3) Haha, isn’t it? Why care about Arachne’s den? Haha.

ㄴ 1.7.000.3) Seems like a waste of time, doesn’t it? Haha, really haha.

– Why is their tone shifting like that…?

ㄴ Huh, it feels a bit off.

ㄴ Something… is something but…

ㄴ I can’t put my finger on it, but it gives me the serious creeps.

As I cornered that Gallum, other Gallums began to take notice too.

I laid down the final blow to the Gallum whose speech was faltering, like it was breaking down.

– Head of the Gallery*) Call Arachne a little bastard.

ㄴ 1.7.000.3) …

ㄴ 1.7.000.3) FasaSasaSak!

And the Gallum vanished with an odd noise.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

But I had no intention of just letting it go.

Mad Bounty Hunter: Head of the Gallery, we found a suspicious man near the cave.

Mad Bounty Hunter: What should we do?

There were plenty of Gallums nearby that could be used as manpower.

[‘Pepper Spray’ has been dispatched!]

Head of the Gallery*: Initiate normalization.

It was time to turn the Gallum that Arachne attempted to use as a spy against her.

*

This curse ran deep.

It took around five sprays when just two should have sufficed for him to regain his senses.

“Wait, hold up! I’m back to normal!”

“Doesn’t seem like it.”

“Ahh, Arachne little bastard!!”

“Oh, welcome back to normal, mate.”

The Gallum I thought was dead had just been mentally enslaved by Arachne.

Arachne’s method of cursing was straightforward.

It would inflict a wound on the head.

And during the healing process of that wound, it would cast the curse, turning them into a puppet.

“The method of resolution is equally simple.”

One just needed to apply enough shock until they regained their senses.

Typically, one could get hurt in that process, but pepper spray had the benefit of being harmless to the skin.

Thanks to that, the Gallum returned, holding onto the full memory of the brainwashing without sustaining any wounds.

[Title: Head of the Gallery, Arachne cave structure]

Author: Mad Bounty Hunter

(Complex cave interior structured like an ant tunnel)

Seems like we can’t break it.

Also appears there are cracks deep within.

– It’s basically a maze.

– How do we get in there?

– Just looking at it makes me want to vomit.

This would prove helpful for mapping out Arachne’s lair.

“Wow, it’s larger than I expected.”

The cave was unexpectedly, no, exceedingly vast.

It took on a dungeon-like structure resembling a huge ant nest.

Levels were separate, and there were dead ends.

That’s why grenades wouldn’t do a thing.

– Wouldn’t using light magic work?

ㄴ Might as well draw a target on my head and call it a day.

ㄴ Haha, shouldn’t I just shout that I’m here instead?

Plus, due to the cave’s nature, lighting wasn’t an option.

Yet, I couldn’t rely solely on magic.

– So, wouldn’t we be unable to use magic?

ㄴ That’s right! There are anti-magic capabilities, aren’t there?

ㄴ Hmm, there are, but…

ㄴ It’s a sustained casting type spell, haha;

ㄴ What?

In fact, the casting requires maintaining concentration.

So I didn’t expect much.

Nor could I sit back due to the rift.

“Uh, this is quite messy?”

The game is being played dirty.

Yet claiming this would only compliment the opponent’s strategy.

A simple solution would be to get dirtier than them.

[Shop/Aerial Weaponry]

[GBU-28] – 140,000p

An aerial bomb developed in the U.S. in 1991.

Is the opponent performing a “screw-it” maneuver?

Then let’s really go for it.

“Should I just buy it?”

Commonly referred to as a bunker-buster.

Given that it can break through rock and concrete, it could easily bury a tunnel as well.

Yet, I hesitated before hitting the purchase button.

“Isn’t that way too grand in scale…?”

Of course, firing it would bury all the monsters.

Bandwidth and including the area itself.

And the elves in Elard wouldn’t escape either.

“Wow, it’s my first time contemplating something this powerful.”

Due to its immense power, I couldn’t bring myself to use it.

“Is there something effective enough, yet manageable in the darkness?”

Just as I pushed my longing aside and searched for alternatives, it happened.

“…This is it!”

I found a perfectly fitting item just in time.

*

Inside the gloomy cave.

In a light-blocked area, a man wandered aimlessly.

“Ahh…”

He desperately fumbled around the walls, seeking an exit.

But the man was completely unaware.

The deeper he went with every step.

– Ahahaha!

“!”

At that moment, an artificial laugh of a woman brushed by his ear.

He wasn’t unfamiliar with this place.

After all, it was Arachne’s domain, which had garnered interest in the Gallery.

“Ah, it’s Arachne.”

The man trembled in fear.

But the more he feared, the more prime prey he became.

The Arachne lurking around sensed his fright and slowly began to close in.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Ahhh!”

The sound of countless spider legs knocking against the floor froze the man in place.

– Ahahaha!

Arachne slashed her mouth wide open and charged at the man.

– Ah?

Suddenly, the man deftly twisted his body, dodging the attack.

As a bewildered Arachne slowly turned her head in the man’s direction.

– Click!

A sinister sound echoed forth.

Arachne knew this sound all too well.

With each burst of flame spewing from over there, monsters more formidable than herself were wiped out like leaves.

“My dear children.”

Moments ago, the voice that had been terrified had now completely transformed.

“Do you enjoy the impact of Head of the Gallery’s magic?”

With a shotgun in hand, the Gallery Doctor grinned broadly.

“Merry Christmas.”

– Bang!

With the sound of an intense gunfire, the belated year-end greeting reverberated throughout the cave.

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