NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17
Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: Saphartlantis
========================
< Chapter 17 >
In the gallery, truth doesn’t matter.
Conversely, it means you can say whatever you want and insist on it!
He spoke what he thought as if it were the truth.
Title : Found out some info about the Moderator ㅇㅇ;
The bed looks pretty expensive.
100% a noble ㅇㅇ
ㄴAre you a genius?
ㄴIf you’re this smart, can you get into the academy?
ㄴYou can definitely be a NEET at home
ㄴYou can’t resist home-cooked meals lololol
ㄴSo does the academy serve home-cooked meals? lolol
“They’re really deducing from the most trivial things.”
Moderator chuckled.
Even after buying a mana photo camera with points and posting a picture of his room, this is what he gets.
This is the Otherworldly Gallery, where slander is rampant!
Seeing how it’s no different from a gallery on modern Earth, it shows that people are the same everywhere.
Title : Moderator is a female student at the academy ㅇㅇ
So they’re asking around at the academy ㅇㅇ;;
ㄴ??? : Excuse me, but are you Moderator?
ㄴFuck lololol
ㄴThe academy’s in tears lololol
ㄴWhat kind of extreme job is being an academy security guard? lolol
ㄴBut he’s using this line to pick up a girl and go out;;
ㄴIs this guy insane?lololol
ㄴWhy does this even work lololol
ㄴShe laughed and giggled because it was funny. What to do.;;
ㄴWhat do you mean what to do lolol You’re caught lolol
ㄴThat’s why good-looking guys shouldn’t joke around lolol
ㄴYou fucking bastard, how handsome are you
ㄴPlease, three centimeters. Three centimeters.
ㄴHey, you bastard, don’t show your face around
ㄴI’ll kill you
ㄴDon’t mess around in the gallery
ㄴI also asked because I wanted to get a girlfriend, and got slapped for being crazy
ㄴYou… no, never mind…
ㄴHang in there, fight…
ㄴYou’re the best. I’m always rooting for you
ㄴWhat’s with the difference in reactions lololol
ㄴUgly guys shouldn’t joke around…
Title : I believe that Moderator is a female student
There’s a good smell when you enter the gallery
ㄴFucklololol
ㄴWhat’s with this guy again lololol
ㄴIs he gay lololol
ㄴFor real lololol thinking the Moderator is an academy girl makes browsing the gallery three times more fun?
ㄴA cold beauty academy girl (continent’s top beauty, S-class, virgin) enters the trash gallery, curses with a look of contempt, and blocks you? For real, this is irresistible lololol
ㄴVirgin, you damn pervert lololol
ㄴImagining being cursed makes me hard
ㄴI just got unblocked after 3 hours, and I came
ㄴWhy did you come after being blocked, fucklolol
“Seriously, fucking insane bastards.”
Could there be a more fitting description?
Laughing, he gave the malicious bastards a 30-minute block.
And while reading the posts, it was all lies everywhere.
Out of all the wild speculation, there were few decent posts.
No… actually there were none at all.
Title : Found out why this jerk Moderator likes chicken skewers
Demon King-chan << This guy is also obsessed with chicken mayo rice bowl.
They have a connection, for sure ㅇㅇ
ㄴGasp
ㄴGasp
ㄴGasp;;
ㄴNo way
ㄴWhat kind of relationship do you have with Demon King-chan?
ㄴExplain, explain, explain, explain, explain, explain
Title : Moderator, explain yourself
What kind of relationship do you have with Demon King-chan?
ㄴOur Demon King-chan fan club has 20 billion members who won’t leave you alone.
ㄴSeriously, what kind of relationship do you have with the cute Demon King-chan!!!!!!!!!!!
ㄴPlease don’t mess with Demon King-chan… I just bought Demon King-chan merchandise…
ㄴWhat is that?
ㄴI bought it because it was being sold at an auction ㅇㅇ;;
ㄴAre you crazy lololol
ㄴWhy did you buy that lolol
ㄴThat was 100 gold, do you have money to burn? kekekek
ㄴThat’s not even official merchandise lololol
ㄴIt’s cute, how could I resist…
―Moderator
Title : I have no relationship with Demon King-chan lolol
Anyway, I don’t lolol really don’t lolol
ㄴHey, you bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ㄴStop!!!!!!!!
ㄴDon’t mess with our Demon King-chan!!!!!
ㄴProtect Demon King-chan!!! I support Demon King-chan… Kill the evil Moderator ㅠㅠㅠ
ㄴFuck, all the evil Demon King fans are gathered here
ㄴAre these guys Majeros residents?
ㄴDo you think they’re Majeros residents lolol They mock the Demon King with the name Demon King-chan lolol
ㄴI’m a current Majeros resident, and I like Demon King-chan ㅇㅇ;
ㄴAll my peers love Demon King-chan~~
―Demon King-chan
Title : Gasp… We’re not in any kind of relationship~!
Probably not~!
ㄴWhat
ㄴThis is not reality, there’s no way my Demon King-chan wrote this
ㄴModerator, you bastard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ㄴFrom now on, my only thought is to kill Moderator…
ㄴThis Moderator << worst Moderator ever
ㄴSeriously
ㄴFuck, you’re saying Demon King-chan isn’t in any kind of relationship????
ㄴSeriously
ㄴModerator : Shall I permanently ban you then?
ㄴSorry;;;
ㄴModerator : No
ㄴPlease spare me;;;;
“Crazy bastards”
I chuckled as I posted the comment.
Since Demon King-chan became a sub-moderator, a weird fan club has formed.
What kind of gallery is this?
If everything in the gallery was true, it was hell itself.
Moderator is a female student at the academy, and Demon King-chan is actually the real Demon King, who enjoys slacking off in the gallery while deliberately using cute language.
Normally, she’s an aloof Demon King, but in the gallery, she’s Demon King-chan?
Thinking about it, it’s quite arousing. From now on, Demon King-chan is the Demon King pretending to be cute.
At that moment, a new post appeared.
Title: Is Moderator from the Empire?
ㄴ??
ㄴ? Really???
ㄴFor real, seriously;
“?”
I saw the post and thought, “They’re at it again,” and brushed it off lightly.
Dwarves, elves, demons. Lies like those have been posted more than a few times.
─Moderator
Title: Yeah, I’m from the Empire
Seems like you’ve only realized now my true power !!!
ㄴFor real???
ㄴModerator: For real
ㄴWow, so you’re from the Empire
ㄴYou believe this? lol
ㄴIs it true?
“Fools.”
The gallery was peaceful today as well.
Well only Moderator thought like this.
* * *
The Emperor of the Theseus Empire.
Chris Carl Theseus wanted to know the identity of the moderator.
What kind of guy is this moderator?
The one who obliterated his chance to absorb the kingdom!
It was also the same heinous guy who wrecked the empire’s economy through the auction house!
Although the cola was tasty.
And we gained the benefit of revitalizing the domestic economy through the auction house.
The Emperor did not like Moderator.
He was determined to capture the moderator and give him a flogging!
In front of the resolute Emperor lay numerous reports.
─List of Suspected Moderators─
The empire was a nation with vast lands and formidable power.
The empire had many talents, and a lot of information flowed in.
“Hmm….”
As a result, they were able to narrow down numerous suspects for the moderator.
The content deduced by the kingdom was somewhat similar.
There was a high probability that the moderator was in the empire.
“Moderator….”
Once I catch you, I will ‘repay’ you.
While reading the reports containing the suspects, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
“Your Majesty. It’s Knight Commander Ersha.”
A beautiful female knight with long silver hair fluttering as she walked in.
She was the Emperor’s direct First Knight Commander.
“I have something to report.”
“What is it?”
“There are no suspicious individuals except within the empire. We scrutinized the kingdom with great attention, but there was no one outstanding among the nobles.”
“I see.”
He gritted his teeth.
He felt like his insides were rotting.
Of all places, the moderator was in the empire. He had to turn his blade inward.
“Is this certain?”
“Yes. There are some peculiar individuals in the kingdom… but most of them are commoners. Quite a few are not even titled.”
He sighed, contemplating what to do.
Should he cut out the flesh at this time?
As his worries lengthened, Knight Commander Ersha quietly opened her mouth.
“Your Majesty…”
“Speak freely.”
Ersha had a long-standing connection with him since childhood.
They had a relationship similar to that of childhood friends. He was willing to listen to her because of that.
Often, her words contained wisdom, so it was not a loss to listen.
“Are you worried about attracting attention?”
“Yes.”
He was concerned that if he acted rashly, it might tarnish the empire’s image.
If word got out that the empire was rotting from the inside….
That would be unbearable for the Emperor.
“Then we should identify the facts and handle it quietly.”
“Quietly?”
“I will send the commander of the Third Knights Order, who appears to be an ordinary person.”
“The commander of the Third Knights Order….”
I tried to recall his face, but the image was blurry.
A common face seen anywhere.
Yes. If it’s him, it would be rare for anyone to pinpoint him.
“If the person brought in turns out to be the real Moderator, we should keep him close.”
“Yes, killing him unnecessarily would be a poor choice.”
We couldn’t kill him until we had made up for the losses the Empire had suffered.
“If he continues to oppose the Empire… we will find someone who looks just like him to act as a double and then dispose of him.”
“…Cruel.”
To give everything he had to a double and then exile him to a desolate place.
If even his position as Moderator was given to someone else.
He would experience unbearable pain.
“Then, Your Majesty, shall I bring the most suspicious person for interrogation?”
“…Do so.”
“Yes.”
She nodded and carried out the order.
Moments later, the commander of the Third Knights Order moved outside the castle.
“Just now… haven’t we seen that person before?”
“Indeed.”
“A face seen somewhere….”
A vague impression that even the guards couldn’t recognize just because he had removed his armor.
‘Viscount Whisen… this isn’t an ordinary matter.’
The surroundings became quiet as if a storm was approaching.
* * *
Viscount Whisen.
He had a very small hobby.
“Ah, this is the taste.”
He enjoyed drinking rare wines from across the continent.
An alcoholic to the point where he could identify the region a wine came from just by its aroma!
He wasn’t just any ordinary alcoholic.
“I’m out of snacks….”
To drink, he headed out to the territory in his slippers as usual.
He went out to buy snacks, but he used another reason.
To check the state of his territory while taking a stroll.
This was it.
Viscount Whisen, following his nose, headed to his usual shop.
“Oh. My lord, you’ve come again?”
“This place is the tastiest. Perhaps you’ve put drugs in it? I should investigate.”
“Oh no… Such words are too scary. I’ll give you another one. Please overlook it.”
“Ahem. That’s better!”
A blatant bribe. Viscount Whisen laughed pleasantly as he received another salt-grilled chicken skewer.
What could be better than a blatant bribe given to regular customers?
It’s called a service in public, but isn’t it a bribe after all?
With his steps lightened by the bribe, Viscount Whisen set off.
This time, he was going to drink a 27-year-old Adena.
A slightly bitter but richly flavored wine that would surely go well with chicken skewers.
His mouth watered.
He headed towards the castle through a shortcut.
He only needed to pass two more alleys.
Thud.
Something touched his back.
“Don’t move.”
A common voice that seemed familiar from somewhere.
Despite that, his survival instinct reacted, and chills ran down his spine.
Move and you die. His life screamed.
Someone threatening your life… is it because you did something deserving of it?
Who in their lifetime hasn’t committed a sin?
Flashes of memories swept through Viscount Whisen’s mind.
“…Ah. It must be that.”
When I was young, I stole and ate your candy.
Eric, I am sorry.
The retribution has finally come.
“Follow me.”
He did not resist.
What strength does a man who has spent his entire life at a desk have to resist?
He quietly moved as the person directed and boarded the carriage.
“If you run.”
“I understand….”
You die.
Or you face something equivalent to it.
Even if they just cut his Achilles tendon, he wouldn’t be able to escape.
He shivered as he was taken somewhere.
While the chicken skewers grew cold…
The carriage continued to move.
Viscount Whisen arrived at a place he knew well.
“…Here.”
Isn’t this the capital of the empire?
The place he was taken to under the threat of the coachman was the imperial palace.
“Your Majesty, I have completed the task as ordered.”
“Bring him in.”
Led by the pressure, Whisen moved inside while tripping on his slippers.
There, familiar faces awaited him: the Emperor and the First Knight Commander, Ersha.
“Your Majesty, why have you…?”
“You must be curious.”
The Emperor took a breath and continued.
“I simply want to confirm something.”
“What…?”
“The gallery. Are you the Moderator there?”
“…No, no…!”
Viscount Whisen shook his head vehemently.
“Absolutely, absolutely not!”
“Then write a post.”
“Th-that’s….”
“Can’t do it? You’re not going to tell me now that you’ve never been to the gallery.”
“Ugh….”
The Emperor laughed as he watched Viscount Whisen’s legs tremble.
Right. You can’t do it. There must be a reason.
The reason being. Because he is the Moderator.
The Emperor stood up and approached Viscount Whisen.
“Do it.”
“Y-Your Majesty, I truly….”
“Prove your innocence by writing a post.”
“Ugh….”
“Just do it lightly. Write it under the title ‘Cola.’”
Under the pressure, Viscount Whisen’s hands trembled.
He knew what kind of future awaited if he didn’t comply.
It was fine if he died alone. But what about his family and relatives in the estate? And his friends?
He struggled to write the post.
“Good.”
The Emperor smiled inwardly.
If he is this afraid, it means there is something that troubles him.
The reason being.
Because Viscount Whisen is the Moderator!
The Emperor accessed the gallery and checked the posted message.
─FurryBestFurryLove
Title : Cola
“?”
(Recent posts)
─IWantToFillMyMouthWithFluffyFur.
─IWantToBePinnedDownByASmallFurry.
─HonestlyICanDoItFiveTimesWithFurrylolol
─IWantToNibbleOnCutePawPads
─IWantToSleepWhileSniffingThatSweetScent
“Just kill me, please.”
The reason he didn’t want to write.
Was it because he didn’t want to reveal such a shameful side of himself?
Realizing this, the Emperor’s face hardened.