WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Irevi
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ I Unleashed a Gossip Gallery in Another World ◈
Chapter 35: The Spear That Pierces the Shield
──────
[✪(News) Holy Church-Wide Notice]
[Upvotes: 10,087] [Downvotes: -10]
The notice from the Holy Church Gallery, posted on the Other Races Gossip Gallery, was soon registered as a featured post with an overwhelming number of upvotes.
[International Other Races Gossip Gallery]
[✪Holy Church <<< Actually showing some sense for once? lol]
[✪If you think they're a likable Church today, not a “likable” Church, upvote lololololol]
[✪Spirit Realm <<< This is why they shouldn't have acted up so much lol]
[✪(Scary story) They say this is only the second time in history the Golden Shield has been activated since it was deployed in the Eastern Continent.]
[✪Goddess <<< Guess we should start worshipping her too?]
Even the Other Races Gossip Gallery, which had never had much goodwill toward the Holy Church because of its religious persecution, was filled almost entirely with praise in its follow-up reactions.
That was how many users had grievances against the spirits.
Anonymous1: So are the spirits going to wither and die now because they can't make contracts?
ㄴAnonymous2: Unless they're spirits already under contract, you can basically assume they won't be getting any work lol
ㄴAnonymous3: If they don't want to disappear, they'll have to go back to the days of pounding the pavement for work, yeah
ㄴAnonymous4: Without the Gallery, they'll have to bear the full penalty for failed contracts, so they probably won't be able to act tough anymore lol
Spirits were mana-based lifeforms that returned to mana when they failed to form a contract.
But when contracts were made through the Gallery, there was no penalty.
They could make contracts with multiple beings, and as long as they succeeded before their power ran out, it was very easy to guarantee their survival.
Naturally, spirits were far more dependent on the Gallery than other races.
And now that the Golden Shield had blocked them from that Gallery, it was only natural that the spirits would soon back down and ease their contract conditions.
[Anonymous: But isn't that teaser post from earlier kind of suspicious?]
[Anonymous: Isn't it weird that they activated the Golden Shield as soon as someone said an exposé was coming....]
[Anonymous: Holy Church <<< You people still trust them? lol]
Still, while most people were celebrating, there were some who viewed the situation with suspicion.
There were too few of them, however, and that sentiment was quickly buried.
[🔒Moderators, get in here.]
Meanwhile, Elrod's dedicated Erasers, who had been watching the situation closely, reacted as follows.
Noble Lady Gallery Eraser: Golden Shield <<< Can this thing be applied to an individual too?
ㄴMage Gallery Eraser: Theoretically, yes.
ㄴMage Gallery Eraser: But it isn't cost-effective, so that probably won't happen unless it is absolutely necessary.
Lady Yurian, who had called everyone together for a genuinely serious reason this time, returned to her usual self as soon as she realized she was almost certainly not going to be excommunicated.
Noble Lady Gallery Eraser: Then can't the spirits <<< just browse the Gallery in reality instead of the Spirit Realm? lol
ㄴMage Gallery Eraser: You airheaded imperial noble-lady bitch.
The one who answered her rather noble-lady-like question was Azrakan, who had nearly become a target of the Golden Shield several times before.
ㄴTroll Eraser: Of course, leaving the area designated by the Church removes one from the Golden Shield's effects.
ㄴTroll Eraser: However, spirits are lifeforms whose souls are bound to the Spirit Realm.
ㄴTroll Eraser: Since the entire Spirit Realm has been blocked, there is no way for spirits to use the Gallery.
That was roughly why the continent's public enemies and the demon race had not become Golden Shield targets.
It was more efficient to simply ban the Four Great Calamities, of whom there were only four on the entire continent, and the demon race, which was spread throughout the world, than to use the Golden Shield on them.
The Golden Shield's main purpose had always been to prohibit Gallery usage over vast areas, such as the Eastern Continent, its first target, and the Spirit Realm, its target this time.
Other Races Gallery Eraser: The spirits did do wrong, but spirit mages and dwarves will suffer terribly too....
ㄴSwordsman Gallery Eraser: Doesn't matter to me. I'm not a mage lol
ㄴOther Races Gallery Eraser: The Full Moon Rite needed for Dwigellium is Spirit Magic....
ㄴSwordsman Gallery Eraser: Fuck, my custom-made sword!!!!!!!!!!
As the Erasers discussed the situation, its repercussions gradually began to reveal themselves.
OtherRacesGalleryDeputyMod1: The age of the demon race has arrived!!!!!!
ㄴMage Gallery Eraser: The demons are about to end up competing with spirits for work. What are they celebrating? lol
ㄴTroll Eraser: Foolish girl. Many of the servants commanded by the demon race are dark spirits as well.
ㄴOtherRacesGalleryDeputyMod1: Fuck, I hadn't considered that....
But at the time, no one knew.
No one imagined that a situation several times worse than what the Erasers expected would unfold.
[✪(Breaking) The spirits are pulling out, fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
The one who revealed that development was an anonymous user with suspiciously extensive knowledge and connections.
----------
[✪(Breaking) The spirits are pulling out, fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
Author: Anonymous (High Elf Sigria)
I'm actually kind of close with the Spirit Realm....
They asked me to post a statement for them.
“The Spirit Realm acknowledges its wrongdoing and is withdrawing from the continent.”
That's roughly what it says....
Are they out of their minds!?!?
You're all going to die!!!!!!
----------
Anonymous1: “I'm quitting the dungeon, giving away all my potions” <<< Is this that?
Anonymous2: There are crazy bastards choosing suicide over easing their contract conditions!?!?
Anonymous3: Fuck, then what are spirit mages supposed to do now??????
Anonymous4: Did they all eat something bad or what?
Anonymous5: Uh, excuse me??????
From that point onward, spirit mages active on the Gossip Gallery began panicking all at once.
(Author: Beastfolk Spirit Mage Rierie)
[Anonymous: A spirit I was friends with for twenty years, then cut ties with, came crying yesterday to return all my gold coins and disappeared....]
(Author: Imperial Spirit Mage Ariana)
[Anonymous: This spirit-gallery user's feelings are weird.... When I woke up, the friend who always made my life miserable had left an apology letter and vanished.]
(Author: Demon Commander Lilith)
[Anonymous: I never thought even the dark spirits would disappear.... Didn't you turn to the demon race.... Big Sister is sorry....]
Only then did they realize something was wrong.
And that perhaps they had misunderstood something all along.
[Anonymous: Spirit Realm <<< Did the Holy Church get some kind of weakness or hostage on them? lol....]
ㄴAnonymous1: Gasp....
ㄴAnonymous2: Hmm....
ㄴAnonymous3: There isn't any evidence yet....
But there was nothing the spirit mages, who had lost their companions overnight, could do.
(Author: Dwarf Master Craftsman Urd)
[Anonymous: If this happens, mass-producing Dwigellium <<< will likely become difficult....]
(Author: Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army Elosia)
[Anonymous: Without spirits, maintaining the northern front will become difficult. Does the Church truly desire such an outcome?]
(Author: High Elf Sigria)
[Anonymous: The Great Forest will be so lonely without the sound of spirits laughing....]
It was not only spirit mages who would be in trouble if the spirits vanished like this.
The Holy Church, the cause of the incident, had handled matters according to its principles, and the Spirit Realm had accepted the punishment.
So at least in reality, there was nothing they could do.
“......”
Only one person.
“Phew....”
Except Elrod Durgel, who had finally decided to intervene directly.
[(Emergency Notice) The 1st Gossip Gallery Moderator Conference Has Been Declared.]
* * *
----------
[(Emergency Notice) The 1st Gossip Gallery Moderator Conference Has Been Declared.]
Author: Gossip Gallery Eraser
Tonight at 10 PM.
All Erasers must attend.
[Comments: 3]
Noble Lady Gallery Eraser: Huh? For real?
Mage Gallery Eraser: Are you serious?
Swordsman Gallery Eraser: ??????????
----------
As I watched the situation unfold, I abruptly declared the 1st Gossip Gallery Moderator Conference amid the chaos.
Before long, that declaration caused a massive stir throughout the Gossip Gallery.
[✪The moderators are cliquing together again, fuck lololololol]
[✪Pleasepostawriteuppleasepostawriteuppleasepostawriteup....]
[✪I guarantee they're going to have an afterparty lol]
[✪I knew it from the moment he started collecting slaves, yeah]
[✪I spend my weekends browsing the Gossip Gallery, while someone else is building a harem of beautiful-girl moderators and swinging his dick around.... Tch....]
‘Why is everyone losing their shit?’
I was briefly taken aback, but then I remembered one thing and put a hand to my forehead.
Noble Lady Gallery Eraser: Sorry, Gossip, but I have a boyfriend lol
Mage Gallery Eraser: Is Gossip doing a face reveal? Hehe
Swordsman Gallery Eraser: You really got yourself into it this time lolololol
Other Races Gallery Eraser: It takes a month just to travel to the Empire....
Troll Eraser: Beloved administrator Gossip Gallery Eraser,,, prepare yourself for this conference,,, (☆▽☆)
‘Crazy bastards.’
In an era where Galleries were nothing like ordinary Galleries, a moderator conference was a real-life meetup hosted by the emperor of a hegemonic nation.
The Erasers and users, accustomed to that common sense, apparently thought I had finally decided to reveal my identity.
‘Like hell I'd hold an IRL meetup.’
But I had absolutely no intention of meeting users in reality as Gossip Gallery Eraser.
Then how would I hold a moderator conference?
How else? Like this.
----------
[Title: The 1st Moderator Conference]
(An image has been attached.)
Share everything you know about the Church's current situation and Golden Shield technology.
Mage Gallery Eraser, review whether the Magic Circle I attached can be realized.
Troll Eraser, submit a detailed report on your experience with deploying Multidimensional Magic.
Any Demon King reading this, immediately send an additional year's worth of Mana Stones to the coordinates.
Anyone who knows about Golden Shield technology may participate in the conference, even if they are not a moderator.
----------
Obviously, a moderator conference should be held publicly through the call bell, shouldn't it?
The rumor that moderators secretly held conferences in a moderator group chat was well-known nonsense.
...Probably.
Anonymous1: (Shock, Horror, Weird) There's a crazy bastard holding a moderator conference in public!?!?
Anonymous2: lololololololololololololololololololol
Anonymous3: The moderators who were getting all dressed up are freaking out lol
Anonymous4: This guy is seriously crazy lolololol
Anonymous5: He even left the comments open? This is genuinely ridiculous lol
Anyway, the 1st Moderator Conference I began with that perfectly ordinary common sense swiftly drew everyone's attention.
‘The more attention, the better.’
Of course, that was exactly what I wanted.
I had no intention of hiding what I was about to do.
Noble Lady Gallery Eraser: Church <<< They've been kind of suspicious lately. I even heard rumors that priests have been using black magic? lol
Swordsman Gallery Eraser: An acquaintance of mine was a holy knight, but they disappeared recently. They were an incredibly righteous person, and I still haven't heard from them. ㅠㅠ
‘As expected, they aren't serving the goddess.’
Making my actions public would serve as an even clearer warning and declaration of war against the Holy Church.
(Saintess of the Holy Church): Golden Shield <<< There's a rumor it emits electromagnetic radiation, so the Saintess opposed it really strongly!
(Saintess of the Holy Church): But it is strange. How can divine power block the goddess's boon...?
‘Our foolish Saintess really doesn't know anything.’
The reason I suspected the Holy Church was not serving the goddess was simple.
If the goddess were still being properly worshipped, the Gallery would never have changed this much.
‘I begged her so much. She wouldn't simply let it go.’
The goddess had a personality that even I found hard to handle, but she was not someone who broke promises.
If she could communicate only through the Saintess and could not influence the Holy Church, there was only one possibility.
Mage Gallery Eraser: A power that prevents people from enjoying the goddess's boon, which has taken root not only across the continent but in neighboring dimensions as well....
Mage Gallery Eraser: I don't know for sure, but Golden Shield <<< definitely isn't divine power lol
The current Holy Church could only be serving something other than the goddess.
Gossip Gallery Eraser: Could it be connected to the Demon God Cult or black magic?
ㄴMage Gallery Eraser: I can't be certain unless I see its operating principles for myself.
ㄴMage Gallery Eraser: You don't seem to know much about it either, so why would I? lol
But anything beyond that was speculation.
Unless I could see its principles firsthand, as the Witch of the West said, identifying the force behind it with the information we had was nearly impossible.
‘The important point is that it only applies to a specific area and has no effect beyond it....’
But did that mean there was no solution?
Not at all.
Mage Gallery Eraser: Anyway, the Magic Circle you attached seems like it can operate....
Mage Gallery Eraser: But what the hell is this???
‘...Then it should work after all.’
I had completed a means of resolving this situation several days ago.
‘I never expected to need it so soon....’
Thinking it would be necessary someday, I had been researching various new Gossip Gallery features.
The means I would use to resolve this incident was one of those new functions.
Troll Eraser: Multidimensional Magic is,,, my specialty (・ω<)☆
Troll Eraser: Because I am a great and terrifying....
ㄴGossip Gallery Eraser: Cut it out.
Fortunately, it seemed I could resolve the most important issue needed to execute the operation by calling on Azrakan.
A higher-dimensional lifeform like a dragon could interfere with dimensions.
Troll Eraser: Why are you raining on my parade, fuck
ㄴGossip Gallery Eraser: I let you troll instead.
ㄴTroll Eraser: That is true lololololol
ㄴTroll Eraser: Make me do lots of things like this from now on too lol
And if that dragon was Azrakan, the de facto strongest on the Northern Continent, this operation would succeed without difficulty.
OtherRacesGalleryDeputyMod1: Um, the Demon King says....
OtherRacesGalleryDeputyMod1: They'd appreciate it if you could settle for six months' worth....
ㄴGossip Gallery Eraser: Tell them to quit bullshitting.
ㄴOtherRacesGalleryDeputyMod1: Okaaay....
Of course, the Demon King, still pretending to be a low-ranking succubus, was also one of the key figures in this operation.
Gossip Gallery Eraser: We all know the demon race will be in trouble without dark spirits too, so if you don't have enough Mana Stones, make them and send them anyway.
ㄴOtherRacesGalleryDeputyMod1: Got it! I said I got it!
“......”
After making the rough preparations, I closed the call bell and quietly lurked through the Gallery.
Anonymous17: So what the fuck is this guy trying to do now???
Anonymous18: Spirits <<< Are they actually innocent?
Anonymous19: Stop talking like only you guys know what's going on!!!!!!
ㄴMage Gallery Eraser: We don't know what the fuck he's talking about either
Anonymous20: I can't even begin to understand what kind of bizarre structure that Magic Circle has anymore lolololololol
Until the very moment the call bell closed, I could see the ordinary users' cries of confusion.
[✪If it looks like we're getting a dopamine rush, upvote lol]
[✪How about the Pope, who's lurking with cold sweat pouring down their back right now, gives this an upvote? lol]
[✪But wasn't the Spirit Realm ultimately at fault? I'll stay firmly neutral for now hehe]
[✪Trusting the Spirit Realm VS trusting the Holy Church lolololol]
Since I had not said exactly which side I supported, public opinion was still split in half.
(Author: High Elf Sigria)
[Anonymous: I might fall for you if you solve this too lol]
(Author: Beastfolk Spirit Mage Rierie)
[Anonymous: Will I be able to apologize to my friend again...?]
(Author: Saintess of the Holy Church)
[Anonymous: Please protect my and my husband's baby from the Golden Shield's electromagnetic radiation!]
Some defended the Spirit Realm for various reasons.
(Author: High Priest Ulrich)
[Anonymous: So what can Gossip Gallery Eraser <<< even do if the Gallery gets blocked? lolololololololololol]
(Author: Spirit Studies Graduate Elbert)
[Anonymous: Spirits <<< They were the ones at fault in the end, so he isn't just taking his anger out on innocent people, right? lol]
(Author: Queen Minerva of the Elves)
[Anonymous: Gossip Gallery Eraser <<< Only knows mental attacks lol. I heard the Dragon Lord found a countermeasure recently hehe]
And others defended the Holy Church for equally varied reasons.
‘This time, you should really prepare yourselves.’
Watching both sides, I sat on the edge of my bed and checked the call bell with a cold expression.
Troll Eraser: Delivery complete lol
Troll Eraser: I Polymorphed, so my identity wasn't exposed lol
The first die in the Third Gallery Hegemony War had already been cast.
‘First, I'll get rid of that irritating shield.’
* * *
Meanwhile, at that moment in the Spirit Realm.
“Mother....”
“......”
“Is this truly.... the best choice?”
The queen had hastily gathered all the spirits and fairies. At the words of her daughter, who had stood in silence with a twisted expression for a long time, the queen quietly closed her eyes.
“I have no choice either, Princess.”
When she opened her eyes again, she continued while looking at her daughter.
“The Pope contacted me just now. If we want the Golden Shield removed, we must double the life force we supply to the Church.”
Not only her daughter Sereniel, but countless spirits and fairies had gathered to listen to the queen.
“Until now, I thought it could not be helped, as I am one of the ruling class. But this is too much....”
“......”
“As queen, I can no longer give the order to destroy our contractors' lives and take their life force....”
A cold silence followed for a while.
“The young spirits will wither and die.”
“......”
“And spirit mages who lose their friends will spend their entire lives drowning in guilt....”
Sereniel looked around for a moment, then finally summoned the courage to speak for everyone's hearts.
“...Spirits must always stand by their contractors.”
But the queen answered her daughter firmly.
“We cannot dishonor the will of the young spirit who sacrificed herself for the previous Hero.... like this.”
Having said that, the queen hesitated for a moment before finally speaking in a trembling voice.
“Even if.... I must sacrifice myself.”
At that moment, all the spirits and fairies listening to the queen began to look horrified.
“If I return to mana, I will be able to supply life force to the spirits for a while....”
“Mother!”
“Of course, it is not a solution, but it should at least buy us time to join our strength and resist the Church....”
The queen ignored her daughter's near-scream from before her and forced a smile.
“I'm, I'm sorry, Your Majesty....”
“......”
“I, I.... If only I hadn't foolishly posted that teaser....”
A lower spirit flew over with tears in her eyes and bowed to the queen.
“It is not your fault, Pippi.”
But the queen looked down at the lower spirit, then gently smiled and stroked her head.
“All spirits are under surveillance.”
“......”
“Even if you had not made your announcement on an Unauthorized Gallery, the Church's Golden Shield would have prevented your exposé.”
That was why the queen had been unable to reveal the sins forced upon her to anyone until now.
“And you know, do you not?”
“......”
“The moment we tell someone this fact directly in reality, we will become targets of the Church....”
There was a hierarchy even among the Gallery ruling classes of the current era.
And unfortunately, the queen's rank was not very high.
That was because the ancestors who tried to protect the will of the previous Hero and the young spirit had refused to sign the Grand Compromise Accord until the very end.
“This sin, we....”
Driven to the very brink, the Spirit Queen had ultimately been forced to agree to that ugly accord, and she knew her own sins well.
“No, I alone must bear it.”
Even if she had once been a victim, she was now a perpetrator.
After becoming part of the ruling class herself, she had agreed to adjust contract conditions under the Holy Church's threats.
She had even joined, despite having no choice, in threatening the new Dwarf chieftain, Ugrin, during the moderator conference.
No matter how unavoidable it had been, it was still a sin.
‘In the end, I too.... believed this was providence.’
No one knew that better than the Spirit Queen herself.
“Your Majesty....”
“Sniff, sob....”
“D-Don't die....”
But she could say with certainty that these pitiful spirits crying before her were innocent of even the smallest sin.
“Do not be sad.”
“......”
“I am only returning to my original form....”
That was why the queen only hoped that those sins would not fall upon the entire Spirit Realm.
“...Princess.”
Of course, she wished the same for her beloved daughter.
“May you, at least, not be swayed by the ruling class as I was.”
It was enough for her alone to be judged.
“Please find a way to make our spirits be called everyone's friends again....”
At least then, perhaps, she would barely be allowed the dignity to face the previous Hero in the heavens.
‘...Big Sister, I'm sorry.’
The queen gazed for a time at the statue of the Hero and the spirit who had once been her dearest friend, standing before the throne of the Spirit Realm. Then she slowly closed her eyes.
“Mother....”
“......”
“No, Mom....”
As she tried not to listen to her daughter's cries from before her and concentrated her mind, urgent voices suddenly rang out.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“Please wait a moment!”
“S-Something amazing happened!”
“A-And it's completely strange!”
The queen flinched slightly at those desperate voices, opened her eyes, and tilted her head.
“Amazing, yet strange?”
The lower spirits guarding the exit to the Spirit Realm circled around the queen with sparkling eyes.
“A-A fairy we've never seen before appeared in the Spirit Realm!”
“That strange fairy left us a gift!”
The queen looked around in confusion until dizziness overcame her and she shrank back.
“A-And.... What did they say again?”
“They said they were some incredibly great dragon....”
“What else did they say.... Hmm....”
The lower spirits stopped before the queen, searching their memories with blank expressions. Then their eyes suddenly lit up.
“R-Right. Unauthorized Gallery!”
“Yes, that was it!”
What came out of their mouths was a rather unexpected phrase.
“They said this was the Unauthorized Gallery's gift to the Spirit Realm!”
“Do you know what that is, Your Majesty?”
Having finished speaking, the spirits pointed with sparkling eyes at a blue barrier floating in the air and tilted their heads.
“......”
The queen narrowed her eyes and read the continental common language written on the barrier.
“Uh....”
At last, she slowly murmured her interpretation, one letter at a time, in a somewhat awkward voice.
“...V, P, N?”
Veiled Position Nexus (Location Protection Network).
It was the moment the continent's first VPN technology arrived in the Spirit Realm through the Gossip Gallery.
Footnotes:
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