WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Irevi
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ I Unleashed a Gossip Gallery in Another World ◈
Chapter 52: A Reunion Beyond Time (2)
──────
“Hehe, hehehe....”
How much time had passed since Sephiroth was activated again?
“Emotion assessment. Happiness.”
After spending a long while in my arms, being petted, Sepi suddenly began stroking my face with her hand.
“Backing up Master’s biometric and appearance data.”
Before long, her eyes turned yellow.
Stroke, stroke....
“So that even after tens, hundreds of centuries, I will never forget again....”
After updating her memory circuits while caressing my face for some time, she suddenly flinched and stopped.
“...Ah.”
She then looked as though she were breaking out in a cold sweat and began shouting urgently.
“Error! Error!”
“What’s wrong?”
“This is serious!”
Fidgeting nervously, she began her report with a terrified expression.
“The World Tree database has been deleted!”
“......”
“Assessed as an accident that occurred while triple-backing up Master’s biometric data!”
She looked exactly as she had in the distant past, after causing some absurd accident and then watching my reaction with a tearful face.
“I-I will activate the personality removal module.”
“You seem to have learned that I always let you off when you say that.”
“Ah...!”
When I deliberately put on a stern expression out of mischief, Sepi began watching my reaction even more closely.
“W-Will you remove me...?”
With her spirits thoroughly crushed, she rolled her eyes around and asked me the question.
“Ugh....”
Of course, I knew very well that it was Minerva, not Sepi, who had wiped the World Tree database.
“What a hopeless daughter.”
Still, Sepi was acting so adorably that I decided to just pet her head.
“Emotion assessment. Happiness....”
“I am so happy....”
As we enjoyed the joy of our reunion for a while, a message suddenly appeared in the system log.
[Emergency power remaining: 76%]
“The power’s draining pretty fast....”
“...Referencing memory circuits.”
When I muttered after seeing the message, Sepi stood at attention and began her report.
“The emergency backup power system was created by Mother using her own life force.”
“...You mean Sigria?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
For a moment, I was so dumbfounded that I asked again.
“Why is she your mother?”
“For reference, Master’s code is Papa.”
“Blech.”
I didn’t remember putting such an embarrassing title into her memory circuits, so what was going on?
“Checking logs. Title code change confirmed approximately 480 years ago.”
“......”
“Could this also be an error?”
Sepi’s next report somewhat answered my question.
‘Sigria, what the hell were you doing....’
Still, I had no way of knowing why Sigria, who had been the very image of a noble high elf until my death, had done something like that afterward.
“Rapid consumption of emergency backup data confirmed.”
“Hmm....”
“Shutdown expected in approximately one hour.”
I was scratching my head over that when Sepi suddenly made a teary expression and pulled me into an even tighter hug.
“But I am all right.”
“I have fulfilled my duty, and now that I have seen Master again like this, I have no regrets....”
She seemed somehow more emotionally expressive than before, and I let out a faint smile.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
“Yes?”
“Do you think I’d let that happen?”
As I gently whispered those words while stroking her head, Sepi tilted her head.
“Unable to understand.”
She kept studying my expression as though trying to understand what I meant, then muttered in a dejected voice.
“Assessed as a well-intentioned lie.”
“...Huh.”
“Referencing memory circuits. Master always pretended otherwise, but Master was actually always kind.”
I didn’t agree with Sepi’s arbitrary assessment, but I decided not to say anything.
‘A well-intentioned lie? No way.’
A surprise gift only had a dramatic effect when the other person didn’t know about it.
‘Now that she’s successfully activated again.... There’s a way.’
Thanks to Minerva, who had become a living battery, there was no longer any need to maintain the World Tree system for the time being.
So from now on, I intended to give Sepi a somewhat new role.
“Calculating logic circuits....”
“...?”
“Calculating final request.”
While she was deeply engrossed in some calculation, Sepi suddenly spoke to me in a low voice.
“Before I close my eyes again, I request permission to accompany you.”
“Accompany me?”
“For the last time, I want to see the outside world....”
After hesitating for a while, Sepi fidgeted with her two fingers.
“W-With Master....”
Seeing that, I burst into laughter and nodded.
“...All right.”
“...!”
“By the authority of the chief administrator, permission to leave this area is granted.”
Sepi’s eyes went round, and she soon began hopping in place.
“Emotion assessment! Joy!”
“Let’s go.”
“I will guard Master’s rear!”
No matter how much time had passed, she was still a child.
Her personality program had been set that way, and if one considered her actual operating time, she really had not been active long enough to be called an adult.
“...Error.”
In any event, I took Sepi’s hand and started walking with her as requested.
“Emotion assessment. Joy.”
“......”
“But for some reason, tears are coming out....”
Sepi blankly muttered as tears rolled down her face.
“Don’t be too surprised later, Sepi.”
“...Yes?”
I began looking forward to her reaction in about an hour.
“No, I’ll tell you then.”
“...?”
“Ahahaha....”
* * *
After some time had passed....
“That concludes the explanation.”
“......”
“Everyone understands properly, right?”
The Eraser Expedition, which had been waiting for Elrod outside the corridor, wore blank expressions after hearing his explanation when he finally reappeared.
“So.... To summarize.”
And after some more time passed....
“The fake World Tree was actually Queen Minerva of the Elves?”
“Right.”
“And you beat her down like a dog and got rid of her?”
The Witch of the West hesitantly asked her question, then fell silent again with a stunned expression.
“I didn’t get rid of her. I turned her into a spirit-form battery.”
“......”
“From now on, Minerva will remain in a vegetative state outside, and serve as the Great Forest’s battery in here forever.”
The next moment, Azrakan, standing beside her, began to tremble.
Tremble....
“I-I have never killed anyone....”
“Ah, right.”
“I-It’s true! I just played a lot of pranks....”
The evil dragon began making excuses that no one had asked for, then tucked her tail and hid behind the Witch of the West.
“I-I also.... People....”
“Choose your words carefully.”
“I-I have killed people, but it was self-defense.”
As a result, the Four Calamities interview began without warning, and this time, the Witch of the West began making excuses while sweating profusely.
“And my, my collectibles.... They were all intruders.”
“......”
“I-I didn’t pick a fight with them. If they invaded, that means they were risking their lives, right?”
Silence followed for a moment.
“Watch yourself.”
“Eep.”
“By my standards, you’re the one walking the finest line.”
Elrod placed a hand on the Witch of the West’s shoulder and whispered meaningfully into her ear, looking as though he knew every single thing she had done.
“R-Right. Understood....”
Unable to even pretend to be haughty as usual, the Witch of the West forced a smile and stepped back.
“Still.... Something’s been bothering me.”
Trying to change the subject, she brought up something that had caught her attention for a while.
“Just what is that child who’s been peeking out from behind your back this whole time?”
At those words, everyone else turned toward the little girl behind Elrod, who was peeking out while puffing up her cheeks.
“This one is Sephiroth.”
“Ah, don’t tell me.”
“She is the real World Tree of the Great Forest, who was exploited by Queen Minerva of the Elves for a long time.”
Once Elrod finished explaining, the Erasers who had been watching his reaction all gathered around the girl at once.
“Oh my....”
“Tsk, tsk. Poor thing....”
“To exploit such a cute child!”
Ciel and the Saintess, who had gathered their courage first, began stroking Sepi’s head as she watched them with a wary expression.
“Hmm.... This reminds me of the old days.”
“She’s so cute!”
Surprisingly, Sepi quietly accepted their petting without saying much.
“Life energy analysis complete. Assessed as kind people.”
After hearing that, Nienie, who had been watching their reactions, carefully began petting Sepi as well.
“Life energy analysis complete. Safe.”
“Nya?”
“I grant you the right to pet me.”
The Witch of the West watched the scene from a distance.
“Gossip, um....”
“...?”
“Can I pet her head too?”
She suddenly approached Elrod’s side and began whispering to him.
“I just can’t resist cute children....”
It sounded somewhat dangerous, but it was a misunderstanding.
Although the Witch of the West was notorious for her evil, there was one exception to her twisted nature.
The evil Witch of the West was unbelievably kind and gentle toward young children.
That was precisely why Elrod had not destroyed the Witch of the West like Minerva and had instead made her his slave.
“Do whatever you want.”
“Hehe....”
“Just don’t overwhelm her.”
The moment Elrod gave permission, the Witch of the West began approaching Sepi while snorting excitedly, proving the point.
“Identifying individual....”
“Ow?”
“Identification complete.”
But the next moment, Sepi’s yellow eyes turned red, and she slapped away the Witch of the West’s hand before it could pet her.
“Hehe....”
Sepi then looked back and forth between the black silhouettes of the Witch of the West and Azrakan, curling up the corners of her mouth.
“Two old-lols detected.”
“What?”
“Huh?”
What came next was something even Elrod, her creator, had never expected.
“Confirmed as fact, judging by how triggered they are.”
“......”
“No rebuttals accepted. This unit is correct.”
Despite the Gossip Gallery having been created only recently, Sepi had already absorbed its manner of speaking in that short time.
“For reference, she’s the Dungeon Master.”
“What!?”
“That’s right. The Dungeon Master, one of the Four Calamities.”
The two Calamities, who had been confused, widened their eyes at Elrod’s explanation.
Rumble....
The next moment, they both began releasing killing intent.
“So that’s how it is....”
“Hm.... How interesting.”
“Even if old-lols threaten me, I am not scared at all.”
With three of the continent’s Four Calamities gathered in one place, a contest of intimidation was only natural.
(Author: High Elf Sigria)
[✪Latest Four Calamities Tier List (Reflecting the Dungeon Demonic Realm Crisis)]
ㄴTroll Eraser: No matter what, does it make any sense for the Dungeon Master to be equal to or stronger than Azrakan?
ㄴMage Gallery Eraser: What bullshit lol
ㄴ(Ruler of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains): Outsiders, seriously lol Do you only come to your senses when another Continental War breaks out? Hehe
ㄴ(Dungeon Master): Referencing memory circuits. This user’s label has been changed from unfair-hater to smart one.
The Witch of the West, Azrakan, and the Dungeon Master had always been like bitter rivals, appearing in tier-list debates and trying to devour one another.
(Dungeon Master): This is the end of the old-lols.
ㄴTroll Eraser: You,,, should stop now (ノಠДಠ)ノ
ㄴMage Gallery Eraser: From now on, you’re the only one in my sights. Yeah.
ㄴ(Ruler of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains): By the way, I heard the Heavenly Demon of the Eastern Continent <<< is a pretty young lady who has not even undergone metamorphosis yet hehe
Up until now, Sepi had always had the upper hand over the other two, who had to restrain themselves as Erasers, and the Ruler of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, who was isolated for being from the Eastern Continent.
“You’re just the one I wanted to see.”
“Are you prepared....”
Of course, only in keyboard battles.
“Annihilation mode activated.”
As an actual battle for rank among the Calamities was about to begin, rather than another Gossip Gallery debate....
“Touch her, and I’ll kill you.”
Elrod, who had silently watched the situation, spoke in a cold voice.
“Seph.... Anyone who touches the World Tree will end up like that ancient demon.”
Silence soon fell between the three.
Bleeah....
Sepi quickly hid behind Elrod’s back and stuck out her tongue at the two Calamities, who had been left empty-handed.
“You always called us old-lols, but you’re an old-lol yourself.”
“...By age alone, she comes right after me.”
The two Calamities watched her coldly, then began gossiping in lowered voices.
“Rebuttal. This unit is eternally seventeen.”
Of course, Sepi detected their gossip with her superior auditory module and immediately began rebutting them.
“It is clearly coded that way in the personality module, and if one calculates the time during which this unit has actually operated, it would be difficult to even call the operating period that of an adult...”
But the Witch of the West’s masterstroke interrupted that pedantic, tedious rebuttal midway.
“Should I call you Big Sister from now on?”
“......”
“Pfft, look at that face. This is why armchair Heroes....”
Sepi silently closed her mouth and trembled before tugging on Elrod’s cloak and whining.
“Master....”
“Yes?”
“The unfair-haters are bullying me....”
The next moment, Elrod sighed and struck the Witch of the West’s head with his scabbard.
“...Stop teasing her.”
“Ow.”
“She hates it.”
The Witch of the West inhaled sharply with a wronged expression, and her eyes met Sepi’s in the air again.
Bleeah....
The Witch of the West glared tremblingly at Sepi, who stuck her tongue out again, before lowering her head.
Tap, tap....
Beside her, Azrakan had also abandoned her dignity and was busily moving her fingers.
[Mage Gallery Eraser: Looks like the Four Calamities tier list will change soon? Hahahahahaha]
[Troll Eraser: Dungeon Master <- She was nothing much. Heh]
Then Sepi’s quiet mutter came from behind Elrod.
“Spam Bot program activated....”
The next moment, nonsensical posts mixed with emojis began rapidly flooding the Gossip Gallery.
(Author: Dungeon Master)
[👻Oh, black dragon😱imprisoned⚰in darkness,🌙alone⚠]
(Author: Dungeon Master)
[4444 gold⚠limited💰sale💪I recommend👴dentures]
(Author: Dungeon Master)
[👍Oh Witch🧙of the West, who👍bid farewell🖐to the world🔆of light🌏]
(Author: Dungeon Master)
[Taste the Hero’s🌶 and become intoxicated🍷with true happiness🩷]
Bzzzz....
Elrod watched the scene with a stunned expression, then lowered his gaze, at a loss for words.
(Author: Dungeon Master)
[💪 You’re also Dungeon Master 👑 I’m also Dungeon Master 💪]
(Author: Dungeon Master)
[💪 You’re also Dungeon Master 👑 I’m also Dungeon Master 💪]
(Author: Dungeon Master)
[💪 You’re also Dungeon Master 👑 I’m also Dungeon Master 💪]
Elrod suddenly tapped Sepi’s shoulder.
“Sepi.”
“Yes?”
“Who taught you this sort of thing...?”
At his question, asked with the expression of someone who did not even know where to begin criticizing, Sepi answered brightly.
“Master added this function personally?”
“What?”
“Referencing memory circuits. Records show Master activated it approximately 103 times whenever posts insulting the Hero appeared on the old demon race gallery....”
Elrod suddenly broke out in a cold sweat and urgently covered Sepi’s mouth.
“Mmph!?”
Fortunately, the other Erasers did not hear her, as they were watching what was happening on the Gossip Gallery.
“Well then, shall we get moving again...?”
With a relieved sigh, Elrod finally began walking forward again.
“Nienie.”
“Nya?”
“I have a request, so stop browsing the Gallery for a moment.”
Nienie had been blankly looking down, but when he tapped her shoulder, she raised her head in surprise.
“Can you find the place with the most abundant life energy here?”
Nienie perked up her ears, then gave her answer.
“Actually, I’ve been sensing life energy so powerful from far away that it has been bothering me, nya!”
“Really?”
“But.... There is a limit to what my five senses can do, nya....”
As Nienie lowered her shoulders with a dejected expression, the Saintess of the Holy Church approached her.
“Don’t worry!”
“Nya!”
“If we combine our strength, we’ll find it in no time!”
With two guides, the Eraser Expedition began moving forward once again.
“...Still, this is strange.”
As they walked, Ciel, who had become able to freely handle life energy, muttered while watching Elrod’s reaction.
“What kind of being could possess this much life energy...?”
But Elrod ignored Ciel’s words and continued looking down.
[World Tree System: Important Notification.]
[Remaining spirit-forms within the dimension: 1.]
Surprising information had appeared on the portable terminal he had taken from the corridor.
‘So she wasn’t lying, was she?’
Elrod realized that Minerva had answered his question to the very end with her vile intentions.
‘So that was how she placed a forbidden restriction on Sigria....’
It was time to rescue another connection from the past, whose spirit-form would have been extracted and imprisoned here.
* * *
“Here!”
About twenty minutes later.
“I can sense tremendous life force from here!”
“I-I can clearly feel it now too, nya!”
After Queen Minerva of the Elves had been neutralized, the dangerous entities had disappeared, allowing us to reach our destination relatively quickly.
“...Gossip Gallery Eraser.”
The entrance had a design similar to the corridor, but it was more shabby and worn.
Ciel stopped before it, turned around, and asked me in a low voice.
“What could possibly be beyond here...?”
Of course, I knew the answer to that question.
‘What else? It’s that noble high elf who was the only normal one in the previous Hero’s party.’
But explaining how I knew that would become far too complicated.
And if I was careless, one of the two identities I was hiding might be exposed.
Of course, there would be no problem if I only concealed that I was Elrod, but I also needed to hide that I was the previous Hero until a certain point.
According to the plan I was currently considering, doing so would bring several benefits.
“I don’t really know either, so I intend to check.”
“I see....”
So I vaguely brushed off the question and lowered my head to check the Gossip Gallery.
“Hmm....”
I wanted to find out what she was doing right now, considering she spent about as much time on the Gallery as Lady Yurian had in her prime.
(Author: High Elf Sigria)
[Anonymous: Dungeon Master <<< All you bastards saying the Dungeon Master is not that strong, take a good look.]
(Author: High Elf Sigria)
[Anonymous: Erosion-ravaged world, succubi <<< Is it true those bastards are planning to open an OnlyFans on the Gossip Gallery? Lol]
(Author: High Elf Sigria)
[Anonymous: Elf Queen <<< The most corrupted bitch lately. An elf should be without sexual desire and always maintain a devout attitude....]
And as expected, she had been busily writing posts like these only a few hours ago.
‘With the situation being what it is, the fact that this is all she can write means the restriction must be very strong.’
At a glance, they just looked like ordinary nonsense posts, but their first words revealed her true intent.
‘Dungeon Master, erosion, Elf Queen....’
For me, who had worried that she might have become corrupted too or sided with the Elf Queen, it was a tremendous relief.
‘That’s Sigria for you.’
The only normal person in the previous Hero’s party, which had been full of troublemakers comparable to the current Erasers.
Sigria had been unable to overcome her boredom and fallen into the Gossip Gallery, but even so, she had not lost her nobility, then or now.
‘No doubt she’s sitting in meditation with a devout expression in there, just like old times....’
With a gentle smile, I stepped forward, then suddenly stopped.
(Orc Warrior Gueba): Asexual elves <<< That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard on the Gossip Gallery lol
ㄴ(High Elf Sigria): That’s because young and mannerless elves these days are acting up hehe
ㄴ(High Elf Sigria): High elves, the origin of all elves, are a race that never harbored impure desires for even a moment, practiced with devout hearts, and gave thanks for life....
I had realized a little late that one of the secret messages she had written was now hosting a keyboard battle.
‘At least she seems lively. That’s a relief.’
After scratching my head for a moment, I was about to start walking again.
(Orc Warrior Gueba): You keep saying stupid things lol I’m blocking you. Yeah.
ㄴ(High Elf Sigria): You’re resorting to blocking because you’re losing the argument.
ㄴ(High Elf Sigria): (Keyboard Warrior Orc emote)
ㄴ(Orc Warrior Gueba): Come duel me, bitch.
ㄴ(High Elf Sigria): Nope, don’t want to hahahahaha
‘Isn’t she a little too lively?’
Yet somehow, the further I scrolled, the worse the keyboard battle became.
(Orc Warrior Gueba): Did you lose your parents? Lol
ㄴ(High Elf Sigria): Never had any from birth hehe
ㄴ(High Elf Sigria): You will never trigger me lol
“......”
At a loss for words, I kept scrolling for a while before scratching my head and muttering inwardly.
(Orc Warrior Gueba): Ugh, fuck. You win. Yeah.
ㄴ(High Elf Sigria): Such an amateur, can’t even hold on to the last word~
ㄴ(High Elf Sigria): Ah hehe, had fun again today lol
ㄴ(High Elf Sigria): Time to go do elf-style meditation with a devout heart~ hehe
‘Did someone with the same name appear without my knowing?’
At that exact moment, Azrakan’s bored voice came from ahead.
“What are you dawdling for?”
Azrakan was already standing before the sealed exit, gathering massive magical power in her hand.
Crackle....
It was an extremely powerful seal, but it looked as though destroying it in one blow would be no trouble for Azrakan.
“Hey, shouldn’t we at least knock...?”
“We don’t even know what might be inside.”
“...Ah, that.”
I had tried to stop Azrakan out of unnecessary concern, but changed my words slightly at her confused response.
“Do you know who is inside?”
“...No.”
“Really? Then I’ll open it.”
Sigria was not some crazy princess living as a split personality in a Gossip Gallery, so it would probably be fine.
‘She said she was meditating....’
As I stepped back with Sepi....
KRAAASH!!!
With a tremendous roar, the seal leading to the old corridor shattered completely and vanished.
“......”
The force was so strong that the tightly shut door was utterly destroyed as well, revealing the corridor’s interior in full view.
“Uh....”
And about five seconds later....
“Ah?”
I had no choice but to urgently cover Sepi’s eyes.
“Error! Error!”
“......”
“No visual information is being received!”
Sepi, whose eyes were covered by my hand, wailed and thrashed around.
“...It’s better if you don’t see, Sepi.”
Even so, I kept my hand over Sepi’s eyes.
Tremble....
Sigria had lowered the red-covered book in her hands and urgently stopped her elf-style meditation(?), her entire body trembling.
“...H-Hi?”
My reunion with the noble high elf who had once proclaimed herself asexual was the worst possible one.
Footnotes:
“Old-lols” is Sepi mocking the other Calamities as old geezers. The Korean nickname combines “old” with a snickering laugh.
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