Chapter 13

13.

Frederick: Sorry about that.

Head of the Gallery☆: ?

Frederick: Here, take this.

(A rusty-looking great sword gif)

It’s the official Holy Sword of the Empire.

I can also provide a certificate if needed.

“Why is he suddenly acting like this?”

He really had changed.

He was acting completely different, to the point where I was beginning to suspect him.

It felt like he was holding me at gunpoint, demanding an apology.

Head of the Gallery☆: ?

Frederick: I’m truly sorry for trying to forcefully shake you around.

[‘Frederick’ has requested an exchange for ???.]

I unexpectedly received a bribe of apology.

The massive great sword that had just been delivered was proof of that.

[Failed to gauge ???’s emotions.]

The problem lay in that obscured name.

“Is this really what a Holy Sword looks like?”

I squinted and examined the great sword.

It had a tremendously rusty and ancient appearance.

It looked like it would inflict tetanus just by being touched.

How could something like this be a Holy Sword?

Still, it wasn’t right to just stash it in a corner like it was nothing, so I decided to give it a shot.

Brrrrr.

“Wait, what? It’s incredibly light?”

No, it felt even lighter than light.

With its length and thickness comparable to that of an adult male, there was no way it could be this light.

But it didn’t feel hollow either.

“Oh.”

Crack!

I accidentally swung the great sword, smashing an innocent wooden box to pieces as it flew everywhere.

That’s when the extraordinary event occurred.

[‘???’ transformed into ‘Old Holy Sword’!]

[Old Holy Sword]

A Holy Sword used by the Hero of Adrian.

It is now so old that it has become merely a tale from overly dated folklore.

Only those deemed worthy can wield it.

Features a Light On/Off function!

Honestly, it sounded like some shoddy advertisement tagline.

The moment I thought that, a tremendous light began to erupt from the great sword!

“Argh! Huh, what? It’s not blinding?”

It instantly illuminated the dark interior of the warehouse, which had been dim with only the light of lamps.

Furthermore, it even had an automatic eye protection feature.

“Okay, you’re now Light No. 1 starting today.”

No need for any other light.

Moreover, this seemed like it could work as an infinite power light that didn’t devour Mana Pills.

As I contemplated whether to lean it against the nearby wall, I recalled the most important thing.

Click!

“I can’t resist posting about this!”

Title: Hey, anyone know what this is?

Author: Head of the Gallery☆

(A pic of the shining Holy Sword)

What the heck is this? Any clue how to use it?

I’m thinking of using it as a light since it shoots out light, lol.

ㄴ Argh!!!

ㄴ Wait, what the hell is this at night…

ㄴ All the nearby monsters are gonna swarm over, fuck!!!

ㄴ Head of the Gallery☆) I didn’t realize it was night, my bad, lol.

ㄴ ??

ㄴ Teacher, please live your life…

– But isn’t that the Holy Sword of Adrian?

ㄴ Huh? It does look like it, though.

ㄴ Why do you have it?

ㄴ Head of the Gallery☆) Frederick gave it as a bribe for my disruption.

ㄴ ???

ㄴ Oh fuck, the Crown Prince has messed things up for the Empire.

ㄴ Season 34234: The Empire’s done for.

Title: Wait, is Head of the Gallery a Hero now?

What on earth is causing it to shine?

ㄴ Why did the great sword that couldn’t be wielded during the Great War suddenly light up now?

ㄴ What kind of qualifications does Head of the Gallery possess?

ㄴ Is Head of the Gallery a female Hero?

ㄴ Huh?

ㄴ Oh?

ㄴ Full-Peel Elf★: Is it for real?

ㄴ Not too shabby.

“What’s with everyone? No one is reacting?”

As I boasted with my certification post, I cautiously observed everyone’s reactions to see if this would turn into a problem.

If it truly is a Holy Sword, it would be a treasure of the Empire, and coming into possession of it would do more harm than good for me.

I wasn’t a Hero; I was just the Head of the Gallery.

But no one seemed interested.

Of course, some did question it.

– Isn’t that a Holy Sword? Is it okay to be given away like that?

ㄴ Why do I care about that?

ㄴ No, it’s still a royal artifact from the Empire.

ㄴ Do I need to know about such things?

ㄴ So it’s a ban on alcohol?

ㄴ I’m hungry; what’s for dinner?

ㄴ Adrian’s future looks bright, lol.

The Holy Sword hadn’t manifested even once throughout the Great War.

Maybe that’s why, the Gallum from Adrian were more focused on immediate survival rather than an incompetent metal artifact.

As soon as the situation concluded, logical posts began to surface.

Logical Post) Head of the Gallery, if you don’t provide alcohol soon, we’re done for!!

Right now isn’t too late!!!

So hurry up and bring the drinks!!!

ㄴ Head of the Gallery☆: No, I mean the Holy Sword…

ㄴ Author) Ah, lol, I don’t care; just bring the drinks, lol.

ㄴ Drink Sword? What? Did you say drink sword?

ㄴ Can we drink it?

ㄴ Wow; you should see how those dwarves go crazy over the alcohol ban.

Logical Post) Head of the Gallery, I need to ask this now!!!!

Author: Taldru

Can we attack Adrian now?

Can we attack that Crown Prince now?

Then will you provide us with alcohol?

ㄴ Give life to the Dwarves!

ㄴ Free our lives!

ㄴ (A frogkin crying while pointing a spear at himself)

ㄴ I want to drink; it’s been a long time, and even in my dreams, thoughts of alcohol consume me.

No one cared about the Holy Sword.

I fell into a daze for a moment and let out a hollow laugh.

Title: Me

Author: Head of the Gallery☆

(A photo of the brightly shining Holy Sword)

For real, I’m holding this? I’m gulping this down?

No regrets later, right?

ㄴ Oh fuck, Author!!! Just bring the drinks!!!!!!!

“Forget it, I don’t care anymore.”

[Draft Beer 500cc] – 5 Mana Pills

[Black Beer Can 500ml] – 5 Mana Pills

[A Bottle of Good Day Soju] – 3 Mana Pills

I unleashed the alcohol into a gallery full of alcohol zombies.

*

The lost alcohol returned to the gallery.

Just that alone caused the gallery to erupt into chaos.

– Kyaaaa!!! Finally!

– Wow~ This is so good~~~~

– I was just about to step away, and you saved me, Head of the Gallery!

– It’s back, my Yas!

Title: Thanks to Head of the Gallery, I survived another day.

(A screenshot of an elf leaning against a dewdrop.)

Elves need to live off dewdrops.

I’ll leave a small thank you as gratitude ovo.

ㄴ Wow, wow, wow.

ㄴ (An elf with tears in their eyes giving a thumbs up)

ㄴ Is that the dewdrop dewdrop? lol.

ㄴ For real, wow… wow.

ㄴ So is Healthy God also coming?

ㄴ Does our Affectionate Konik also have something prepared for us?

ㄴ A post popped up about the Drying Machine!!!

ㄴ What!!!

Title: Thank you, Head of the Gallery!

Author: Healthy God

(A picture with only the eyes peeking out)

(A shot of a high-proof distilled liquor beside a thumbs up)

Head of the Gallery is our hope!

We love you ^^

ㄴ Huh…

ㄴ Tsk, disappointing.

ㄴ You’ve lost your original intention. I’m let down, Drying Machine.

ㄴ Author) I don’t really understand what everyone is saying ^^

ㄴ Head of the Gallery☆: You said you love me! You said you love me!!

ㄴ Author) …^^

Title: In place of Healthy God, I’ll post this for you >v[

Author: Living Alone and Sleeping Well

(An inappropriate something by an unhealthy male)

I’m embarrassed, but… please at least be satisfied with this ]o<

ㄴ Ah!!! F*!!! You jerk!!!!

ㄴ …You bastard!

ㄴ What do you expect satisfaction from, you son of a b*tch!!!

ㄴ Ow, that’s hot!

ㄴ Author, go take a big bite of the life-taking herb

– Oh.

ㄴ ?

“Oh crap.”

I saw it.

This was a tactical nuclear weapon, possibly more than that.

I instantly clicked the member information and gave them a 999-day ban.

But that alone didn’t soothe my mind.

I hurriedly grabbed the casually left Holy Sword, turned on the light function, and rubbed it in my eyes.

[Holy Light]

Purifies the polluted and rotten mind.

“Phew…”

Only then did my greatly shaken thoughts begin to calm down.

The Holy Sword had a feature to purify eyes aside from its lighting function, after all.

“Anyway, I wonder if what I gave really went well.”

What Frederick had given me was at least something like this that could create a stir.

For the time being, it might be fine, but it could pose problems in the future.

Swallowing something like this might spell trouble.

In that sense, while pondering what would be good, I recalled the complaints that often popped up in the gallery.

– Ah, the food really isn’t tasty…

– I do eat it because I have to survive;

– Eating raw meat with only water after eating market food isn’t easy.

“This place’s food culture was somewhat underdeveloped.”

To be precise, it had been underdeveloped by a great deal.

With the outbreak of the Great War, everything culture had been turned to ash, causing the perception of food culture in this Other World to become fixed to this single point.

– Hey, would you rather die from food complaints?

– If you’re full and it has nutritional value, that’s all that matters.

It was purely related to survival.

With that in mind, I decided to gift magic powder to Frederick, who had initiated the barter exchange, as a means of calming the public sentiment.

– But this is something the royal family was distributing; what’s this?

– It’s a smooth little paper, huh?

– Is it a seasoning? They said to sprinkle it on food?

Indeed, magic powder.

It was Msg.

*

A certain four-person party crossing the mountain range.

The knight walking at the forefront said.

“Let’s camp around here for today.”

“Phew! Finally over!”

“It was tough, but I feel proud.”

“I’ll start preparing the meal right away!”

This was a party led by Roks, a knight from the Kelton Kingdom, who had gambled his life on Head of the Gallery’s energy drink.

Uniquely, the party consisted of an Elf, a Dwarf, a Frogkin, and a knight, and their goal was straightforward.

“By the way, how many did we catch today?”

“Hmmm, I think we got about eighty.”

It was simply about taking down monsters.

Because Roks had roamed about, burdened by the guilt of not being able to protect the Kelton King, the party had naturally formed.

However, it was indeed a bizarre combination at first glance.

Each had a great hatred for monsters, and they had a connection born from it.

But even that wouldn’t solidify a multi-racial party.

There was a definitive reason that glued this party together.

“So, did the marketplace open?”

It was Head of the Gallery’s marketplace.

Delighting in the difficult journey, enjoying the foods of the marketplace.

It truly was a divine rest.

However, the expression of Gilly, the Dwarf who opened the gallery, was not bright at all.

In fact, it was an expression mixed with despair and suffering.

“… it was.”

“Huh?”

“Everything was sold out! Head of the Gallery opened the marketplace an hour early!”

“Whaaat?!!!”

Gilly’s wail caused the faces of all party members preparing for camp to sour.

At least except for Roks, the energy drink fanatic.

The ears drooping Elf, Nadia, closed her eyes tightly and shouted.

“Gilly, it’s your turn to check the marketplace! Why didn’t you do it earlier?”

“Did you think I’d know it would come to this? Damn it, if I had known, I would’ve saved some beer…”

And once the focal point is lost, division follows quickly.

“You stupid Dwarf! Because of you, we missed out on soju today!”

“Wha-What did you say?”

“Give me my True Soju!”

“Is it you again, you eared brat?”

In an instant, the mood turned dire.

But luckily, the porter and human rogue, Sophia, had farmed items in advance.

“You lowly beings of other races! Calm down! I still managed to grab one here…!”

“Ugh… then what about…”

“But wait a moment, Sophia. What did you just say…”

“Look here!”

What Sophia brought out was the seasoning, MSG, that Head of the Gallery had spread through Frederick.

To quell the dangerous public sentiment, it had been shared recklessly, hence a copy made it to the party.

And as they gathered around the campfire, they each marveled for their own reasons.

It was none other than the magic powder MSG that was currently all the rage in the gallery.

“Oooh… how could such exquisite packaging material be made?”

“If you add this to food, it supposedly makes it taste deliciously, like magic?”

“Truly, Head of the Gallery. Is he a god…?”

“Now, everyone, it’s a bit noisy, so…! Please be quiet, and I’ll show you a demonstration…!”

Tap tap.

Sophia sprinkled MSG into what looked like a disgusting monster stew.

Once, twice, and then emptied the entire packet.

“Hmmm… is this really gonna work?”

Nadia’s expression turned into a unique one.

No matter how many magically delicious things Head of the Gallery brought, this felt too unrealistic.

“Alright! Nadia! You go first and try some!”

“Ehh, me?”

“You’re the oldest!”

“…”

Nadia felt weird.

Sophia, with her cute, golden hair and not fully grown, was seemingly adorable.

‘For some reason, I feel like I keep getting scratched…’

During that time, all three gazes intensified upon her.

With her ears drooping and feeling timid, Nadia finally mustered her courage to take a sip of the monster stew.

“Hyieeeeek?!”

“Nadia, are you alright?”

“This is… so delicious!!”

Nadia’s pointed ears perked right up.

It was the moment when monster meat turned to be sweet and tasty for the very first time in this Other World.