WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Irevi
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ I Unleashed a Gossip Gallery in Another World ◈
Chapter 55: A Repository of Knowledge
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[✪(Breaking) Great Forest Gallery manager delegation notification just dropped lolllllllll]
About half a day after unrest broke out in the Great Forest.
[📢The manager of Great Forest Gallery is scheduled to be delegated. (Elf Queen Minerva -> High Elf Sigria)]
At last, the notification I had been waiting for began appearing in Great Forest Gallery.
‘Right. This is how it should be.’
For reference, I had pried the manager authority away from Minerva, who had been trapped in virtual reality.
When I told her I would spare her if she transferred the manager position to Sigria, she tremblingly handed it over.
Of course, the moment she did, I locked her back inside the tree.
[Great Forest Gallery]
[(General Notice) Regarding the events that took place in the Great Forest and Elder Elf Sigria’s return as queen.]
In any case, once normal operations had finally been restored to Great Forest Gallery, an announcement that would shock everyone went up.
(Author: High Elf Sigria)
[✪A Summary of This Incident That Even Orcs Can Understand!]
Naturally, at the same time as that absurdly complicated announcement loaded with flowery language, a neat summary was uploaded to Gossip Gallery as well.
----------
[✪Title: A Summary of This Incident That Even Orcs Can Understand!]
Author: Anonymous (High Elf Sigria)
Minerva <<< She joined hands with the high-ranking elves, started a rebellion, sealed Sigria, and corrupted the World Tree.
Minerva’s gang, who seized control of the dungeon that way, are the ones behind this Southern Continent Dungeon Demonic Realm crisis.
Their goal was to gather negative karma to completely remake the existing gallery system created by the Hero and the Goddess.
----------
Thus, not only the Southern Continent but the entire continent learned the truth behind the Dungeon Demonic Realm crisis and the Great Forest.
Anonymous1: Wow, that was super easy to understand hehe
Anonymous2: (Orc emote pushing up its glasses as its eyes shine)
Anonymous3: So the Great Forest never had an elder council to begin with? I knew it lolllllllll
Anonymous4: Sigria <<< Recs if you believed in her lol
Anonymous5: So Minerva was the one who impersonated the Dungeon Master and made that post last time? That’s creepy as hell lol
But it was still too soon for everyone to be shocked.
[(Additional Notice) Further Exposé on Those Behind the Dungeon Demonic Realm Crisis]
The additional notice immediately uploaded to Great Forest Gallery contained something just as enormous as the first.
Anonymous1: No, fuck, there are more people behind this???
Anonymous2: Well, it was too big for that damn elf queen <<< to pull off alone lol
Anonymous3: But if the people behind her are on Minerva’s level lol, it’s pretty obvious who they are
Of course, even without checking the evidence attached to the notice, most users had already roughly guessed who stood behind Minerva.
[✪The people behind the damn elf queen <<< Why do familiar faces already come to mind? Is it just me? hehe]
[✪Damn lol, who could it be? I seriously have no idea~]
[✪Recs if you think the bald guy is really screwed this time lol]
[✪But if this gets proven true, won’t the entire continent be turned upside down???]
And it was right then.
[✪(Breaking) Great Forest Gallery access restricted, holy shit lolllllllll]
Sigria had bought as much time as possible by avoiding direct accusations, but Great Forest Gallery was ultimately hit with an access restriction.
[This gallery has restricted access.]
[Reason: Clear violation of international agreements, distribution of false information]
After seeing that absurd reason, Gossip Gallery’s users naturally began to rage all at once.
[✪Bald head mod <<< Is he the only one still living like Gossip Gallery never existed???]
[✪Yeah, restrict access all you want lol, the evidence files are uploaded right here on Gossip Gallery lolllllllll]
[✪Recs if you’re an Empire resident eagerly waiting for information that’ll make you drop your neutral stance hehe]
Naturally, since Sigria had bought them time, the files attached to the exposé post had been seen by many people and began spreading throughout Gossip Gallery.
Anonymous6: So how are we supposed to interpret the evidence attached there?
ㄴAnonymous7: Dunno?
ㄴAnonymous8: (Orc emote making a stupid expression)
ㄴAnonymous9: Several centuries’ worth of logs were uploaded all at once, and they’re all in ancient writing and ancient rune systems. It’ll take ages to interpret them....
But there was one problem. Individuals had no way to decipher that vast and impossibly complex body of information.
Things would have been easier if Sepi still had the data, but we had no choice but to use the backup data left in the Great Forest control room.
Furthermore, the regular galleries under the Emperor’s rule had already begun blocking keywords in bulk.
Although Emperor Rudric was an incredibly pathetic bastard, he was quite capable when it came to information warfare.
Our bald head mod was probably going to do everything in his power to bury the truth of this incident.
‘Of course, I could interpret it and upload it myself....’
Naturally, I could quickly analyze that information and announce it.
However, as the head of an Unauthorized Gallery who was at odds with the continent’s ruling class, my interpretation would lack the impartiality needed to persuade everyone.
After all, many people held negative views of Gossip Gallery even if they were not part of the ruling class.
‘He seems to have been counting on that.... But it won’t work, Emperor.’
Still, I had anticipated even that much.
There was precisely one group that could convince everyone more firmly in the open, rather than having Sigria or me reveal the truth from the shadows.
Moreover, that group possessed independent authority that even the Emperor could not easily suppress.
[✪(Breaking) The Academy declared it’s entering the fight!!!!!!! Holy shitttttt]
The Academy, which had maintained its neutrality until the very end during the Dark Age, was finally stepping into the incident.
* * *
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[(Notice) Academy Minor Gallery Statement on the Current Crisis]
Author: Academy Student Council President Celine
His Majesty Emperor Rudric is clearly attempting to conceal the truth regarding this Southern Continent Dungeon Demonic Realm crisis.
Therefore, I, Student Council President Celine, chair of the Student Council and representative of the Academy Council, hereby issue this declaration.
As of today, the Academy declares a state of crisis and will use a firewall plugin linked to the gallery system to block all outside access.
This decision was not made unilaterally by the Student Council. It is the result of a vote by the entire student body, conducted with the consent of Academy Head Oswald and International Mage Association head Lugnox...(Rest omitted)
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While evidence concerning the Great Forest incident and those behind Minerva circulated through Unauthorized Galleries, the Academy Minor Gallery posted its statement on the current crisis.
To summarize the lengthy declaration, all one had to read were the final two paragraphs.
----------
(Rest omitted)
We understand that Unauthorized Galleries violate international law.
However, that does not mean the truth should be buried in darkness.
Our Academy will analyze the World Tree system’s complete logs as soon as possible and share them with the entire continent in a format everyone can easily understand.
----------
And while everyone who read that notice was writing posts praising the Academy in Gossip Gallery...
“Sister Celine.... Will this really be okay?”
“Hmm?”
“This.... The Imperial Palace won’t just sit back and do nothing.”
In the student council president’s office at the Academy, built upon a historic artificial island at the edge of the Western Continent, student council officers with determined expressions were having a somewhat serious conversation.
“Since when has the Academy cared what the Imperial Palace thinks?”
However, Student Council President Celine, who had uploaded the declaration moments ago, maintained a calm attitude.
“You all know the Academy will never fall, even if every Imperial Knight storms the place.”
Just as she said, the Academy, called a sanctuary of knowledge, was the only place free from the Magnesia Empire’s centralized information control.
The Minor Gallery system was one of the previous Hero’s legacies.
Even the Imperial Palace, which currently monopolized control over the regular galleries through some means and acted as their superadministrator, normally could not directly interfere with Minor Galleries.
For that reason, the Magnesia Empire had devoted enormous effort over the years to filling Minor Gallery head mod positions with pro-Empire figures.
Thanks to that, after many years, most Minor Galleries had ultimately fallen under Imperial control.
All except Academy Minor Gallery.
It was thanks to its status as the final line of defense during the Demon King’s invasion, its reputation as a sanctuary that had produced outstanding intellectuals, and the strongest defensive system the previous Hero had linked to Academy Minor Gallery before retiring.
As a result, the Academy enjoyed autonomy comparable to that of a nation. It had endured by openly disregarding the Grand Compromise Accord and passing the head mod position only to student council presidents.
Occasionally, a pro-Empire figure would become student council president, but even they had no choice but to step down upon graduation due to rules established by the Hero.
The Academy itself also overwhelmingly favored commoner student council presidents over pro-Empire students or children of noble families.
And it was finally time for the spirit of resistance the Academy had maintained for so long to shine.
“The Hero put special effort into Academy Minor Gallery for times exactly like this.”
“I see....”
“It’s in the preface to Continental History, which everyone has to take in their first year. Didn’t any of you pay attention?”
If the Academy, the last remaining bastion from the Dark Age, verified this matter and announced the truth, even Emperor Rudric would not emerge unscathed.
If it became even slightly clear that he had directly participated in the heinous sin of summoning the Demon God, the foundation of his power itself would be shaken.
“President. Some noble students are deeply dissatisfied.”
“Ha. I’m sure they are.”
Of course, even at the Academy, not everyone shone with the spirit of resistance.
“Fortunately, there has been no notable movement so far.... But I think we need to remain thoroughly vigilant.”
The Academy’s most important principle was that everyone had the right to an education.
And even pro-Empire figures and children of pro-Emperor families were no exception.
In particular, the current student council president, Celine, had drawn opposition from many children of noble families because she was a commoner.
“How is the log analysis progressing?”
“Not just the students, but the professors are pitching in as well.”
“We should be able to find conclusive evidence before this weekend is over.”
Nevertheless, in an Academy run by ability rather than status, the student council president held tremendous power.
“That’s a relief....”
The position enjoyed standing comparable to that of an elected head of state rather than a mere student council president, so there were no noble students who openly defied Celine’s orders.
“No matter what that bald Emperor tries, no one can invade the Academy.”
For that reason, the analysis of the World Tree system’s backup logs was progressing at a surprising speed.
“So everyone, keep it up....”
But just as Celine, wearing a satisfied smile, was encouraging everyone once more...
“S-Sister Celine!”
“Hmm?”
“P-Please check the gallery!”
The student council secretary, who also served as a deputy mod, suddenly spoke with a pale face.
“...What?”
Celine hurriedly opened the gallery, only to make a stunned expression the next moment.
[📢Academy Minor Gallery Promotion to Regular Gallery Notice]
“What kind of bullshit is this?”
Something that absolutely should never have happened was appearing before her in the form of a popup.
“I-In Empire Village Gallery....”
And the cause was soon uncovered by the student council as they desperately tried to grasp the situation.
“Supreme Governing Authority has been declared.”
“...What!?”
Gallery Supreme Governing Authority.
A portion of the previous Hero’s authority, which the Magnesia Empire had seized through some means, had been invoked under Emperor Rudric’s direct authority.
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[(Notice) As of this time, I declare Supreme Governing Authority.]
Author: Emperor
I, Rudric Rag Magnesia, deeply regret the Academy’s false slander and incitement.
I will present all Imperial citizens with evidence that I have no connection to this incident.
(Photo attached.)
----------
The student council officers hurriedly checked the notice in Empire Village Gallery and began muttering through gritted teeth.
“What evidence....”
“They’re all things that could be fabricated so easily!”
“This is ridiculous....”
But they already knew.
“......”
Without having analyzed the logs yet, they had no physical evidence.
Therefore, regardless of whether it was true, the Emperor’s explanation could not help but carry clear force for now.
----------
(Rest omitted)
Of course, because I am magnanimous, I attach an Oath of Veracity that I will make no threats whatsoever against Academy students.
(Photo attached.)
Instead, based on this evidence, I, as the gallery system’s superadministrator, will exercise Supreme Governing Authority.
Under that authority, Academy Minor Gallery will begin the procedure for promotion to a regular gallery as of this time.
Therefore, let every student who sees this post remember.
Do not be deceived by the fabricated lies of Unauthorized Galleries. Please act according to your conscience.
----------
As a result, the atmosphere in the Academy Student Council gradually began to sink.
“Everyone.... There’s no need to worry.”
Yet even amid that, Celine forced a smile as she encouraged everyone.
“Emperor Rudric is only waging war through the gallery system’s rules.”
“......”
“Of course, no one will be hurt. Look. There are too many eyes on him, so he even attached an Oath of Veracity.”
Fortunately, Emperor Rudric seemed to have retained a final shred of conscience, so there were plenty of ways to fight back.
“But.... If this continues.”
“It’s okay. I’ll exercise my veto.”
Although Academy Minor Gallery had faced the threat of being promoted to a regular gallery several times before, such an attempt had never succeeded.
Student Council President Celine: As the manager of Academy Minor Gallery, I will exercise my veto against its promotion to a regular gallery.
ㄴEmperor: It is acknowledged.
ㄴEmperor: Then, according to the Minor Gallery promotion procedure established by our great Hero, we must hold a vote.
The reason was the safeguard built into the Minor Gallery system by the previous Hero.
“See? There’s no problem....”
Emperor Rudric was not the true superadministrator. He merely impersonated the previous Hero’s authority, so he could not help but remain bound by the gallery system’s rules.
“All we need to do is prevent promotion to a regular gallery through the vote. Then we can keep the Academy’s defense system.”
Naturally, such an obvious vote had no chance of succeeding at the Academy, where students with no intention of returning to the Empire or students from other regions held considerable influence.
And commoners who had to remain in the Empire could not possibly be penalized either.
The voting system, which only actual active users of Academy Minor Gallery could participate in, used the anonymous system that had now become almost a tale of the past.
‘Did the Hero.... foresee even a situation like this?’
Having calmed her wildly beating heart somewhat, Celine recovered her composure and smiled faintly.
‘As expected, he’s the person I respect most....’
Other Minor Galleries may have bowed to such a vote, but Academy Minor Gallery, with its unique standing, would never bow.
That was thanks to the safeguard left behind by the previous Hero she so deeply respected.
“P-President....”
“The v-vote count....”
“Is this.... Really going to be okay?”
But the next moment, Celine’s smile slowly began to disappear.
Anonymous1: I agree.
Anonymous2: I agree.
Anonymous3: I agree.
Unexpectedly, quite a large number of students agreed to promotion to a regular gallery.
“The alliance of noble students was expected.”
But that much was still within her expectations.
“However, if the commoner students and professors join forces....”
According to Celine’s calculations, the opposition rate would surely become overwhelming once the professors participated.
Academy Magic Professor Elizabeth: I agree.
Academy Swordsmanship Professor Igor: I agree.
Academy Spirit Studies Professor Isabelle: I agree.
“Huh?”
That was, until the professors openly cast votes in favor without even using the anonymous system.
“That can’t be....”
“W-Why would the professors!?”
“T-This can’t be happening....”
The student council officers began to panic at the betrayal of the Academy faculty they had trusted.
With the Student Council and Academy Head’s approval, Academy professors were selected from among those as fair and just as possible.
Naturally, most of the professors currently voting in favor were such people as well.
“M-My advising professor isn’t answering....”
“M-My advising professor is out of contact too....”
“Urgh....”
Unable to understand why those professors had begun casting votes in favor, Celine gritted her teeth and sprang from her seat.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
She ran straight to Academy Head Oswald’s office on the Academy’s top floor.
“Academy Head! Please open the door!”
“......”
“I know you’re in there!!!”
But no answer came from inside, no matter how hard she pounded on the door.
“Damn it...!”
After striking the door until her hands were raw, Celine had no choice but to turn away dejectedly.
“Why.... Why is this happening....”
The student council meeting that continued long afterward ultimately ended without finding any effective solution.
“......”
By the time the sky had grown dark, Celine returned to her dormitory with a completely exhausted expression.
Anonymous121: I agree.
Anonymous122: I oppose.
Anonymous123: I agree.
Anonymous124: I agree.
Anonymous125: I oppose.
As she checked the vote, whose gap was steadily widening thanks to the professors openly supporting it, she silently opened her dorm room door.
“......?”
The next moment, she discovered something and her eyes widened.
「To my dear Celine.」
A note in Academy Head Oswald’s handwriting had been left upon her bed.
「About one hour ago, an anonymous user left guestbook entries on the Gallery Logs of every faculty member, including myself.」
“Ah....”
Only then did Celine realize why the professors had been urging students to vote in favor.
「The message said that if we did not agree to promotion to a regular gallery, every magical tome and paper stored in the gallery system would be deleted at once.」
Since the gallery system had taken root across the continent, most papers and magical tomes had been stored within it.
Of course, many were also written on paper and parchment.
However, there were too many essential Magic Circles that only functioned when linked to the gallery system, which was like a blank canvas capable of bringing anything into being.
Emperor Rudric had been aiming for precisely that.
「We must choose between reducing to nothing the knowledge left behind by sages and saints across the continent, or promoting the Academy to a regular gallery.」
Of course, no matter how ruthless Emperor Rudric was, he had never tried to take the Academy by using such an extreme method before.
Naturally, because he would lose more than he gained.
But now that the roots of his power were on the verge of being shaken, the Emperor had no choice but to begin struggling desperately.
「The professors have already divided in opinion and are in conflict. Of course, I, the Academy Head, do not believe I can hold out much longer either.」
And the problem was that the Emperor’s desperate struggle, backed by his control over the gallery system’s administration, was far too powerful.
「Several professors attempted to expose this, but I stopped them. At that moment, the continent’s progress would regress by five hundred years.」
Celine’s hand began trembling violently as she stared blankly at the note.
「Of course, I hate even thinking of it, but if I cannot persuade the board and find a solution to this situation....」
At the end of the note, the Academy Head’s writing, bearing traces of having been erased and rewritten several times, was pressed heavily into the page.
「Say that you were only following my orders.」
Before she realized it, Celine was biting her lip.
「After the promotion to a regular gallery, I, as Academy Head, will take responsibility for everything.」
She could keenly feel just how much anguish had been poured into the note before her.
「I am sorry I could not help you, Celine.」
“......”
“...Ngh.”
About ten minutes later, Student Council President Celine logged into a gallery in the shadows rather than Academy Gallery.
* * *
On the night that the vote to promote Academy Minor Gallery to a regular gallery began.
>(Student Council President Celine): The above is a summary of what is currently happening at the Academy.
“Hmm....”
After reading the secret post sent through Gallery Log by Academy Student Council President Celine, I frowned and leaned back in my chair.
>(Student Council President Celine): And from this point on, this is my deduction.
>(Student Council President Celine): I deduce that you are a being close to a demon or Demon King.
‘That’s awfully harsh toward the previous Hero.’
I made an incredulous expression at Celine’s next words, but soon my face grew serious.
>(Student Council President Celine): And I, a mere powerless human, will make one wish of you.
Even though it was only conveyed through a guestbook, I could feel the other person’s sincerity piercingly.
>(Student Council President Celine): Please save the Academy.
“Haah....”
After sighing and pressing my forehead for a moment, I lowered my gaze to the guestbook, which was still updating.
>(Student Council President Celine): In return, I will offer you my soul.
>(Student Council President Celine): I have been a devout believer of the Church since birth, and in my first year, I served as disciplinary committee president...(Rest omitted)
What exactly did this girl think I was?
>(Student Council President Celine): Taking all these facts together, my soul will probably be very delicious for you to eat.
>Gossip Gallery Eraser: What do you think I am?
>(Student Council President Celine): An eccentric demon who is kind to humans.
After quietly moving my fingers to ask the question, her answer hurt my feelings a little.
>Gossip Gallery Eraser: That’s harsh, damn it?
>(Student Council President Celine): I’m sorry.
>(Student Council President Celine): But it is a rational deduction....
Still, thinking about it, her misunderstanding was somewhat understandable.
‘Why am I picking a fight with an Academy student?’
I had no desire to quarrel with an Academy student over something this childish.
‘More importantly, that bald Emperor....’
There was something far more pressing to worry about.
‘I didn’t think he would move exactly as I predicted to this extent....’
I had confirmed that the Emperor had taken the bait Sigria and I threw out perfectly.
>(High Elf Sigria): Hey, what exactly are you doing?
>(High Elf Sigria): How could you send so much data that the Great Forest database gets overloaded!
Speak of the devil, a flood of scolding was already pouring in from Sigria through Gallery Log.
>Gossip Gallery Eraser: Sorry hehe
>(High Elf Sigria): Not “sorry,” tell me what you’re doing, you damn Hero!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unable to endure her scolding, I closed the Gallery Log and quietly turned my eyes to the side.
“Sepi.”
“Yeees?”
“How is the progress coming along?”
As I asked, Sepi, who had been eagerly joining in on my plan, answered with sparkling eyes.
“Gallery data fork, 90 percent complete.”
“It’s already that far along?”
“Emotion circuit. Excited!”
She clasped both hands and bounced in place, raising her voice brightly.
“My belly is about to burst from all this varied information!”
I gently stroked her head with a finger and praised her.
“Aww, good girl.”
“Hehe!”
“That’s my Sepi....”
As Sepi adorably pressed her head forward and giggled, she suddenly asked in a voice full of curiosity.
“By the way, Master.”
“Hmm?”
“What shall the new project be called?”
Then, a brief silence followed.
“I didn’t tell you that, did I?”
In that silence, I awkwardly scratched my head before quietly lifting the corners of my mouth.
“Alert! Master is making an evil expression again....”
“I’ll enter the project name, so store it properly in your memory circuits.”
“...Ah! Understood!”
The name of the collective intelligence project that would end the Magnesia Imperial Family’s era of information monopoly.
Naturally, I had decided upon it long ago.
“...Sepi Wiki.”
“Let’s call it the Sepi Wiki Project.”
It was about time to distribute the decisive plugin that would lead the project to normalize the continent’s rulers to the world.
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