Chapter 44

The gallery posts often faced deletion.

However, it was rare for such conceptual posts to be erased so blatantly.

Moreover, there were even monsters I’d never seen before.

– Ah; I had grown fond of it, though.

– Even though I’m an elf-hater, I didn’t want it to go this way…

– How are we supposed to catch this?

The appearance of the new monster was certainly enough to stir the gallery.

“Besides, it seems to have some intelligence.”

The Pumpkin Head Monster stalked the elves as if it were hunting prey before killing them.

[Title: Why This Incident Is So Damn Suspicious…]

(Pumpkin Head Monster holding a scythe meme)

During the Great War, the monsters invaded mindlessly from outside.

But recently, they seemed to have started to gradually take it easy in waves.

Doesn’t it feel like they’re trying to think strategically since they can’t conquer the continent all at once?

– For real, something feels off.

– It seems like they’re holding back for an attack.

– A monster using its head? Seriously, come on.

But even that monster seems a bit…

– Shouldn’t we catch that thing first?

But who’s going to catch something like that…?

(Full-Peel Elf) They’ve already organized a hunting party.

Oh.

Damn it, I believed in the Deputy of the Gallery!

Fortunately, the elves of Elard took the incident seriously.

Led by the Deputy, the hunting party aimed at dispatching the monster was already heading to the scene.

[Concept Post: Monster Hunting Record 1.jpg]

Author: Full-Peel Elf

(Meme of dozens of elf hunters wielding swords and bows)

(A meme of Full-Peel Elf holding a high-explosive grenade)

(An elf confidently giving a thumbs up meme)

They discovered the corpse of the dragon.

Now it’s time for vengeance!

[Recommended 9999+] [Not Recommended 14]

– Let’s bring in the Head of the Gallery’s weapons~

– Damn, they just use their ultimate skills like it’s nothing, haha!

– Wow, aren’t those the Queen Knight Order members? Look at their strength, whoa!

– Seems like the elves are pretty damn pissed.

Yeah, for real, they’re bringing grenades, haha!

– They used to treat those like their lives!

“Looks like their expressions are deadly.”

The elven hunters’ faces were filled with rage.

The fact they brought grenades, which the elven kingdom had been hoarding, proved that.

Furthermore, the elf hunting party was comprised of specially chosen elves to apprehend the occasional variant monsters in waves.

As usual, this incident seemed like it would end with just one monster taken care of.

“But something feels strange.”

However, my feelings were a bit different.

There was an unsettling feeling.

Was it because the Pumpkin Monster’s expression seemed different from ordinary monsters?

It was around the time I started thinking that it wouldn’t be so easy to catch.

(A tranquil scene of the incident site)

(Elves looking bewildered meme)

?? What the hell is this?

Where did they all go?

– Huh?

– Did the monster run away?

– The corpses show no signs of having been eaten; it’s all clean!

– Where did they all go?

A newly posted article appeared.

It communicated one thing.

The monster had fled.

Having previously charged in mindlessly, the low-intelligence, violent monsters had withdrawn before the fight even started.

“Could it be…?”

As the ominous feeling grew, a new comment was added to the post.

– Monster sighted inside Elard!!!

– (Meme of the Pumpkin Monster disappearing at the edge of the vision)

– (Pictures of the elf caretakers of the sacred tree, who suffered tremendously)

– They killed a few elves and fled again!

Deleted comment.

– Elves, what’s going on!?

A new Pumpkin Head Monster.

It was now attempting to engage in a battle of wits against intelligent beings.

*

The Pumpkin Monster was cunning.

It would flee thoroughly when faced with the hunting party it couldn’t win against, selectively hunting down weaker or lone elves.

– It was spotted in the eastern part of Elard!

– It tried to invade inside the Elf Kingdom but fled!

– What the hell is going on here?

– A monster using its head…?

The elves’ perplexed posts flooded the gallery.

As a result, other races couldn’t just sit back and watch either.

After all, there was no guarantee such monsters wouldn’t appear in their own territories.

Above all, the Pumpkin Monster hadn’t crossed any lines.

– It’s only roaming in places without the World Tree.

– If it ventured deeper inside, we could at least track its location.

– (Full-Peel Elf) I want to kill it!!!

Up until now, the monsters had typically attacked together, and defense had been the usual countermeasure.

Thus, even deep within the vast Elard forest, elves could move around freely.

[Title: Notice from Elardrien]

Author: Armin

All elves residing in the Elard forest must return to Elardrien immediately.

Until the Knight Order dispatches to eradicate the monsters, leaving the kingdom will be prohibited.

[Recommended 4692] [Not Recommended 142]

– Nooo! T_T

– We just got out… T_T

– Elardrien is too suffocating…

– An elf should ideally spend their whole life in Elardrien, right? ^^

– You must be too young to understand, there’s no kingdom as good as Elardrien! ^^

– Yikes! If you go out, there will be monsters, and the humans will kidnap you to make you a slave; just stay inside quietly.

– …What era are you talking about? T_T

– Wow, has the entire elf community posted a notice now?

– How crazy is this that I’m actually seeing this? Haha.

– We usually only see the elder council posts, but it’s been a while since official news from the Elf Kingdom! O_O

– Wow, the Queen!

Now that was also closed off.

Hearing that the Pumpkin Monster was only hunting lone elves, the Elf Kingdom decided to issue an official stance.

As a result, young elves overflowing with curiosity were absolutely miserable.

– Cough cough, I want to go out…

– It’s too suffocating here; there’s nothing to do…

– You can read books! ^^ Practice your ability to sit still and read! ^^

– Whee T_T T_T T_T

– This is why elf homes are so frustrating!

“It seems they’re even mobilizing the Knight Order now.”

The hunting party was made up of capable elves from among the elf knights and soldiers.

If the situation escalated, just as during the sudden wave incident last time, the Knights would personally take action.

The elves hoped that the situation would soon come to an end thanks to the Knights…

But the situation was turning out to be more complicated than expected.

[Concept Post: Pumpkin Monster Tracking Day 3]

(Meme of an exhausted elf knight sitting down)

(Meme of drooping pointed ears due to the heat)

(Meme of clothes fluttering between armor)

Ugh, it feels like I’m going to die from the heat.

No sight of monsters… The weather is so hot…

Armor in this heat is brutal…

[Recommended 9999+] [Not Recommended 42]

– Damn, you still haven’t caught it? T_T

– Hurry and send us out!!!

– I don’t want to read anymore…

– Please stop participating in gallery activities at the library ^^ Our young elf might be too clueless about etiquette.

– Whee T_T T_T T_T

– But why is this still a conceptual post…?

– It feels like an ordinary post instead…

– That’s… haha.

– Elves’ only advantage.jpg

– Could it be that I’m starting to feel fond of elves?

– (Author) Oh!

– (Author) What about humans?!!!

– Hehe, look at this!

– I’ve already taken a screenshot, ^^.

To catch the monster, you couldn’t rely on just one or two elves.

Yet, if they moved in numbers, the monster would sense it and hide far away.

Little by little, the elves’ morale and stamina visibly faltered.

– Deputy of the Gallery*) Could you help us a bit?

At this point, I felt it was about time to ask for help.

Then the elves began to respond with enthusiasm as if they were waiting for that moment.

– !!!!

– Of course, you’re welcome anytime!!

– Deputy of the Gallery*) But isn’t it a bit intrusive to interfere in the elves’ business?

– Who said that!

– (Full-Peel Elf): I believed in you!

– But Deputy, can we really help continuously without any rewards?

– Ah.

At that moment, I saw a post of concern.

As Gallum said, I often helped the Gallem without receiving anything in return.

The reason behind that was tied to both the preservation of the Gallery and my own survival, yet the Gallum did express concerns occasionally.

– Seriously, aren’t you giving too much?

– Honestly, none of the items that come up at the marketplace can be made here, for real, haha.

– Elves really have no face!

– Are humans the ones to talk?

– They’ve really benefited the most from the Deputy’s help and are only squealing now!

– Shhh, shhh!

– Humans, this is why you can’t deal with them.

– Yeah, the official pests of the World Tree.

– You want to die?

As always, the Gallery began to ignite again in no time.

However, unlike the Gallum’s worries, I wasn’t getting nothing in return.

From the Holy Sword, the fame sword, various mana pills contributing to leveling up…

Despite plenty of points acquired that the Gallem would not know…

– Deputy of the Gallery*) No need for rewards this time.

– He is a god…!

– He is x A half-elf girl who turned into a boy for verification through magic, the tsundere Deputy of the Gallery o

– (Moved elf meme)

– (Author) Is that really true? But why…?

– Deputy of the Gallery*) I’ve already received it.

I opened a meme.

There was a snow-white elf exhausted from the heat captured in a snapshot.

“Ugh.”

– (Author) Ah!

– (Author) How could you…!!!

– (Deputy of the Gallery*) Ugh ugh.

– Ugh ugh.

– Ugh ugh.

– (Author) I’m dying!!!

– (Full-Peel Elf) Haha.

“An intelligent monster? Not difficult at all.”

I navigated to the category of the shop for modern weapons, specifically among some listings.

Along with those grand names and illustrations.

[M14 Anti-Personnel Mine] – 74 points

[KM16A1 Bounce Mine] – 90 points

[M6 Anti-Tank Mine] – 125 points

.

.

It was just in time since the elves had already returned to the kingdom; I could use them freely.

“Honestly, I kind of want to see them too.”

I had only heard the names but had never actually witnessed their effectiveness.

So I decided to exchange a few with the Full-Peel Elf.

*

Highly skilled elves recognized in the Elf Kingdom, all gathered in one place, perked their ears, showing curiosity.

“What is this…?”

“Is this the weapon the Deputy just handed us?”

“…It looks strange.”

There were crude-looking items attached atop round barrels.

The cold colors, the unintelligible English, and most importantly, thinking of the weapon performances shown by the Deputy made me feel a strange sense of dread.

“Is it really that effective?”

Eliana felt the same way.

She held the KM16A1, the bounce mine, with a complicated expression.

Perhaps it was because of the cold warnings the Deputy had incessantly shared while handing it over.

Deputy of the Gallery*: Just remember this before you use it.

Full-Peel Elf: Of course!

Deputy of the Gallery*: Never forget the burial location.

Within a 200m radius, even if you went insane, you must not enter, nor should any elves approach out of curiosity.

Absolutely not a meme, keep that in mind.

Make a mistake and you’ll end up half-dead.

“Ugh…”

Even if you wouldn’t die from stepping on those mines, I’d rather wish for death.

If the Deputy, who always displayed a lighthearted demeanor, warns so strongly, there must be a good reason.

“Is this how I’m supposed to bury it?”

Carefully, Eliana buried the mine, then retreated at least 500m away.

And just as instructed, she was watching the opposite side attentively.

“Captain Eliana, it’s appeared!”

Just as one elven knight shouted, the Pumpkin Monster indeed appeared over there.

That’s how it had been since yesterday.

It would stand far away, staring at the elves as if mocking them before fleeing.

It felt like it was waiting for the right opportunity.

But that unsettling feeling would soon come to an end.

“Just a little more… Got it!”

With the elf’s exceptional eyesight, at the moment the unsuspecting monster stepped on the mine.

Eliana expected a huge explosion, just like the previous high-explosive grenade.

Swish!

“Huh?”

However, it turned out to be quite the opposite.

Rather than a grand explosion, it seemed the mine just hopped slightly into the air.

Crack!

– Boom?

The terrifying fragments buried inside began to explode outwards in all directions.