Chapter 25

There were three distinct categories in the Gallery.

Disruptors, Lurkers, and Idiots.

Title: Dirty Ground Dogs

Author: Duke Isaac

To post a warning in such small letters…

The intention is highly impure.

Moreover, to dare drink while forging—

This is nothing less than mockery of me.

Title: I’m Sorry, Allow Me to Apologize

Author: Dwarf Blacksmith

Those who expected a genuine apology letter are sorely disappointed, lol.

(Broken sword meme)

(Dwarf partying while drinking meme)

Not sorry at all, haha!

First, two idiots set the stage.

Then, naturally, the lurking spectators gather, and soon plenty of downvotes start piling up.

Concept Post) Declaring War on Dwarves

Concept Post) Avoiding a Fight is Not My Style

Then, finally, the disruptor appears.

– Reason why Dwarves are idiots… jpg

– Dwarf) Humans are no different from monkeys

– The EU that must engage in war

– Humans ← These guys are always the problem, lol

Cunningly, they both bait Dwarves and humans, gradually escalating the scale of the fight.

Ultimately, the topic balloons to unmanageable proportions within just a few hours.

– Oh, what’s this? I drew the adult content I requested.

– Post it!

– Oh, haha, I have to see and fight now.

– Can’t resist a cute girl head of the Gallery adult meme.

– No such thing as untimely posting memes; just go ahead and post it for downvotes, haha.

– (Elf looking tearful giving a thumbs up)

Of course, amidst the occasional adult memes and Beastfolk selfies, the bait did momentarily halt.

“At this rate, it won’t end, will it?”

The Gallery was on the verge of chaos.

Posts related to fights began saturating all categories: General, Free, Concept Posts, Questions, and Help.

But there was no intention to put a stop to it.

Instead, I announced the creation of a new category.

Title: grow

Author: Head of the Gallery ☆

Hi.

I have created a new category.

If you want to fight, please head to the Fight/Real-life category.

– No way, haha.

– You should be the one to stop it, you fool, haha!

– The Head is not mediating but rather stoking the flames, lol.

– But should we seriously intervene?

– Get lost.

– For real, why intervene?

– Offering to give endorphins in a decaying world, lol.

– ?

– Dopamine, idiot.

– But what’s with “grow”?

– Looks like some ancient script, haha.

– I’m a historian, and I agree with the above Gallum.

– But why “grow”?

– As expected, the idiot is Orange.

– Orange really has bad foreign language skills.

– Orange, I’m embarrassed for you.

Fight/Real-life) Ready to deploy

Author: Isaac

(Declaration of war with the Emperor’s seal)

(Poster of a knight pointing forward)

The Empire’s army needs you!

Join us as a soldier and engage in honorable battle!

*Please procure your own equipment before participation.

*Food rations may contain sand.

– Do they really seem to want war?

– The significance of the Duke’s sword is quite deep.

– How the hell did they get permission?

– Dukes are really close to the Emperor.

– No joke, but it seems like they got pretty angry after the weapon broke?

– Can I apply?

– Isaac) Of course, welcome. Where do you reside?

– The Antares Mountain Range.

– Isaac) ? How do you live there?

– Haha, isn’t it because I’m a Dwarf?

– Lol, silly Duke.

– Isaac) You!!! Dare mock me!

The atmosphere began to heat up.

But it didn’t matter.

Lying in bed all day had been unbearably boring.

Such bait was always welcome in a time when fresh stimulation was needed.

Fight/Real-life) Ready to deploy

Author: Isaac

(A large number of human army memes)

Dwarves, you better hide in your kingdom with your tails between your legs.

I shall personally pay you a visit.

Fight/Real-life) Ha-ha

(Armored Dwarf army meme)

What do you intend to do with that equipment?

I’ll crush you flat, just wait!

And the result of all this watching was always one.

Both armies fully armed were indeed preparing to take the field.

*

“How’s our equipment?”

“Perfect. We just replaced it all recently, so it won’t fail!”

“Ha-ha, good.”

Dwarf King Taldain stood at the forefront of the army, a satisfied smile on his face.

Though outnumbered, each Dwarf was a war machine.

He knew no fear leading the Steel Legion.

“When did I want to fight like this.”

In truth, Taldain bore no deep animosity toward humans.

Most gathered here felt the same.

But as is typical of Dwarves, they simply wanted to channel the rising bloodlust.

The recent recapture wars had ended, and fighting had largely reduced to sporadic encounters with monsters.

After having endured body-itching due to the lack of human vs human combat, this could be great timing.

“To defend the honor of Dwarves, I shall fight with pride.”

“I will follow as well!”

“For the Dwarves!”

A thunderous roar echoed through the square.

In reality, they just wanted to fight.

“Now, let’s deploy!”

Taldain shouted boldly.

Just as the Steel Legion finished their preparations and started following behind him.

“Oh right, you brought the alcohol, right?”

“Of course! Hundreds of bottles flow into the Marketplace each day; that’ll suffice.”

Alcohol was essential even in war.

And since the Dwarves had no foundry at hand, they were entirely relying on the Head’s Marketplace.

“Ha-ha, splendid! Let’s set off!”

Just as he struck his armor a couple of times and began to venture forth.

[The Marketplace function in the Gallery will be disabled.]

[Reason – Concerns of supplying military supplies.]

Title: Fight/Real-life Announcement

Author: Head of the Gallery ☆

Due to the ongoing species slaughter in the Gallery, the Marketplace will be closed for war fund concerns.

“What now?”

Taldain’s expression hardened in an instant.

Clunk, clunk.

At the sudden noise, Taldain turned back.

There he saw Dwarves sitting dejectedly with hollow eyes, lacking all motivation.

“…No alcohol?”

“…Oh, no! That can’t be!”

“Brother, why?!!!”

And the situation didn’t significantly differ just because it was the Empire.

“Now, the Marketplace is closed!”

“What?!”

He had intended to purchase tuna cans with ridiculously long shelf lives for their long campaign preparation.

But suddenly, the Marketplace had closed, and no items could be bought!

Duke Isaac momentarily panicked but decided to see this as an opportunity.

“No, this actually works for the best.”

“Yes?”

“The closure of the Marketplace means the Dwarves can’t procure alcohol! We will win this fight!”

Humans loved their alcohol too, but they wouldn’t become useless wrecks without it.

The moment Duke Isaac stepped out into the square to give his speech, he sensed victory.

“Oh, what is it? The Marketplace has closed?”

“Dammit, it’s saying that food will change from tuna cans to moldy bread.”

“Ah… The treatment of Imperial soldiers is off the charts, huh?”

The soldiers’ mood grew ominous.

Disorganized and chaotic atmosphere.

“Soldiers of Adrian, lend me your ears!”

The Duke, startled yet again, raised his voice once more to garner attention.

But the soldiers did nothing but lift their heads briefly before returning their gaze to the Gallery window.

They were giving reactions as if listening to a sermon they wished to ignore.

And at the same time, anonymous posts began flooding into the Gallery.

– Ah, haha, old geezers catch a disease if they can’t go to war?

– I need to drink cola; damn!

– The Marketplace is closed, you idiots!!!!!

– Bring me my tuna cans!

– Is there a Gallum who knows how to use a bow?

“Wha… What are these people!”

Duke Isaac had been unaware.

Ever since the Head appeared and handed out all sorts of modern items.

He also had no idea how much the young generation’s mindset had completely shifted by listening to the Head.

– The Head says there’s no meaning to class differences?

– Haha, If you die, what kind of immuno skill do you expect to have? Haha.

– Is war really that important, you dolts!

– When will Honey Butter Chicken be sprinkled on us!!!

– Head, please reopen the Marketplace!!!!

The majority of the younger generation had been influenced by the Head and the culture he’d unleashed.

Unlike the old generation, which would fight without question, there began an inquiry of “why?”

“Can we not turn off the Gallery right now?”

The Duke’s angry shout echoed through the rise of new posts.

– Can we not… just turn off the Gallery…@!!!

Haha, you idiots!

Haha!

– When forcibly conscripted, the Empire’s sons, do they not return injured or dead, yes?

– My father lost an arm.

– I lost a toe, yet I’m dragged here.

– Return my brother, you bastards.

– Why be loyal?

– For real, who cares?

– I’d rather pledge loyalty to the Head than to the Adrian Empire, haha.

– Agreed!

– If it comes down to it, I could sacrifice an arm.

– Thanks to the Head, my entire family is saved.

After the Great War, the absolute power once held by the royal family was not as it used to be.

Their incompetence displayed during the Great War was significant.

For every person killed by monsters, many more had died due to inadequate medical facilities, poor military direction, and lack of war preparation.

It had become a time in which a single reply from the Head was deemed far more valuable and honorable than the royal family’s insignia.

– Ah, haha, I seriously feel like revolting.

– Don’t you think it’d be better if the Head became the Emperor?

The Adrian Empire was beginning to show signs of fracturing from its roots.

*

“The omen of the Empire’s decline has arisen.”

On a dark, chilly night,

Frederick spoke softly.

Around him were gathered several nobles, listening intently.

This was not the typical vibe of a debate.

“That’s neither the Great War nor famine.”

“The point is…”

“The omen has come in human form. The Head, that guy is the omen of the Empire.”

Frederick and the allied noble families were now uncertain of their status.

Whether the Head desired it or not was irrelevant.

The issue lay in how the Head’s thoughts and the items he distributed were instilling impure thoughts among the citizens of the Empire.

“We must kill the Head.”

“Indeed. He poses a threat to the Empire!”

“But how can we kill him?”

At some point, the Head had gained the ability to conceal his own position.

Attempts had failed previously, and it now seemed they would have to watch as their own destruction unfolded.

But just then, Duke Isaac slowly rose.

“We can kill him.”

“What? How so?”

“I stepped on his tail.”

The Duke, famed as a sword genius since his youth, placed his hand on the sword sheath as he spoke.