Chapter 29
It happened in an instant.
[A member has accepted the invitation!]
Before my reason could react, something inside me burst out at an instinctive, animalistic speed and pressed the invite button first.
It was far too incredible for me to say I should have resisted.
“But how was I supposed to resist this!”
What man among us could possibly throw a stone at me?
I had been here alone for over half a year. What else was I supposed to do?
“Well, one out of 4,000 people ought to be fine...”
At this rate, no one would notice if I picked someone for personal reasons.
Besides, in a way, this was also related to the grand cause and good deeds and whatever Head Mod and Wiki Guy had talked about.
Anyway, it was related.
If I quietly let this pass, nobody would find out.
“Of course.”
Absolutely.
But that complacent thought of mine was blown to pieces just three seconds later.
- Crazy!!!!! Holy crap!!!! It really worked!! What do I do!!! ㅠㅠㅠㅠ [3334]
The woman who had posted the breast pic I invited had uploaded a verification post.
“Hey.”
That was supposed to stay a secret between us. Why did you share it?
The Gallery exploded.
Title : System <<< this bastard really knows what gets people going lol
A fucking legendary situation has occurred
Got invited for posting a lewd pic, legendary lol
ㄴ No, isn't the AI malfunctioning??
ㄴ How the hell is this possible lol
ㄴ Yepㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
The System understands the art of getting horny, I tell you lol
ㄴ System <<< totally knows what's good lol
[Shop Wiki] No... The System... gave someone a passing grade after seeing a lewd pic?
ㄴ [Shop Wiki] For real, this is a variable...
ㄴ Yepㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ “Variable,” my ass lol
ㄴ Yepㅋㅋ
“Uh... well...”
Similar posts began appearing.
Title : Is... this okay too...?
(A random hip-and-navel photo. JPG)
Head Mod didn't crop the breast pic....
So I thought....
Maybe the System would be okay with this too...
I'm the System, and this is okay.
ㄴ I'm the System, and I approve this ㅇㅇ
ㄴ [Unemployed Troublemaker] You just saved a man's life
ㄴ Yepㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
[Upstanding Young Man] Ma'am... my dear... truly... beautiful...
ㄴ Oh, come on, boomer...
ㄴ Confiscate his dentures!!!
Title : Is something like this okay too...?
(A random “ooh-ah” butt photo. jpg)
I think it's okay...
I think it's okay, fuck lol
ㄴ I think so too
ㄴ [Unemployed Troublemaker] Ah, good stuff
ㄴ This is legendary, absolutely legendary;;
ㄴ Uhh
[Unlucky Gallery Doctor] No need for a catheter...
ㄴ [Unlucky Gallery Doctor] Angioplasty <<< was all a scam...
ㄴ No, no, Doctor, you mustn't say things like that
ㄴ [Unlucky Gallery Doctor] It's fine, it's fine, it's fine, it's fine, it's fine
ㄴ Hey
ㄴ You
ㄴ Calm down
If the Gallery users are happy and I'm happy conducting the interviews, isn't that good enough?
“But... shouldn't I be choosing more capable and impressive people?”
It was while I was struggling with that dilemma of choosing.
[Speedrun] ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ [Speedrun] Everyone must respect the System; the System is a man, so we must understand that looking at lewd pictures is simply being true to its desires
ㄴ The System had a gender...?
ㄴ That's a new idea...?
System (dick dangling)
ㄴ Eㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ Ah... our System was aimed at men...
But seriously, what happened?
ㄴ That's what I'm saying lol
ㄴ Fuck, isn't this an error?
ㄴ How can this be possible!!!
“What the fuck?”
How did Speedu know I was a man?
“Is someone watching me from somewhere?”
No, that's impossible. How could anyone see this place?
Just then, an announcement appeared and calmed the Gallery's chaos.
Title : *Discussion Thread [Head Mod] From now on, let us begin a dignified discussion
Until now, I had thought of the System as nothing more than an incorporeal god maintaining this world—an abstract entity without any physical form...
But after seeing the System's choice this time, I've changed my mind a little ㅇㅇ
I believe the System is not the cold machine or abstract concept we imagine, but a transcendent being with a physical body like ours, or an equivalent form of existence.
That is why it does not deny humanity's primal desires, but instead encourages and responds to them.
What do you all think? I would like to open a dignified and authoritative discussion on the subject.
“Huh.”
With this announcement as the starting point, the Gallery's great debate of the century began in earnest.
Fuck, I was right!!! It's a constellation!!! A constellation!!!! Nobody believed me until now!!!
ㄴ It reacted one second after someone posted a lewd pic!! It's obviously a livestream junkie!!!
ㄴ Ah lol, that's insanely persuasive lol
ㄴ The constellation school wins again and again lol
[Head Mod] Hmm... The vulgar term “livestream junkie” does bother me a little, but this is a fairly plausible hypothesis...
ㄴ [Head Mod] I agree ㅇㅇ
ㄴ Head Mod agreed lol
ㄴ The constellation theory is really becoming the leading theory lol
[Shop Wiki] Head Mod's insight is excellent, but I find it difficult to agree with the premise that the System is a transcendent being with a physical body.
ㄴ [Head Mod] Say one more stupid thing and I'll ban you.
ㄴ [Shop Wiki] ...Please hear me out to the end...
[Shop Wiki] The System is most likely a perfectly designed system that responds according to meticulously arranged data and conditional rules.
ㄴ [Shop Wiki] It did not respond because it has a body; an immediate acceptance data signal was sent because specific conditions had been met!
ㄴ Oh... That sounds plausible.
ㄴ Wiki Guy's still got it lol
[Head Mod] Then why did it accept such a primal photo in one second?
ㄴ [Shop Wiki] The reason the System sent down meat to save children in a world destroyed by the apocalypse and invited posts about sex is simple!
ㄴ [Shop Wiki] It must have been programmed to respond to vibrant, life-filled data in order to raise humanity's rock-bottom birth rate, promote reproduction of the species, and bring about abundant births!!!
ㄴ !!!!
ㄴ ?!!!
ㄴ [Shop Wiki] Therefore, we must affirm and encourage this great flow!!!!!!
“Huh?”
Did I just unknowingly encourage rising birth rates and the desire to reproduce?
“That's how they're interpreting it.”
The other users looked just as baffled as I was.
Fuck lol, they're basically saying to let people post lewd pics as they please
ㄴ Wiki Guy <<< You ended up surrendering too lol
The march of the times, my ass << lol
ㄴ He's carefully dressing up the idea that lewd pics should be allowed because they're arousing lol
ㄴ Yepㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
But Head Mod's reaction was different from what I expected.
[Head Mod] Wait a moment...
ㄴ [Head Mod] It... does make sense...?
ㄴ Huh?
ㄴ ?!
[Head Mod] That's true... It's been a long time since the world changed...
ㄴ [Head Mod] Have I been trying to moderate according only to the notions of the previous era...?
ㄴ [Head Mod] Come to think of it, why have I been censoring posts like these all this time?
ㄴ He's... convinced...?
ㄴ This is working?
ㄴ Huh?
[Shop Wiki] Exactly, Head Mod! Now is the time to see the world anew!!
ㄴ [Head Mod] ...Fine!
ㄴ [Head Mod] Everyone, appeal for an invitation by posting content true to your desires, as long as you don't cross the line!!!
ㄴ [Head Mod] I encourage lewd pics!!!
ㄴ !!!
ㄴ Huh??
“What???”
And so, under Head Mod's official permission, granted in such a casual and roundabout manner.
This is actually working!!!
ㄴ Shop Wiki, you magnificent bastard!!!
ㄴ Play this as a fan-made montage at Wiki Guy's funeral
[Shop Wiki] (Grin...)
ㄴ This bastard lolㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ Yepㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
The constellation understands the philosophy contained in curves!!!! You dullards mired in this bland everyday life!!!!
ㄴ No!! The System has realized the true good-ness of it all!!!!
ㄴ You lecherous bastard of a System!!!!
ㄴ Well done!!!!!!!
Following the System's grand cause, I think I'll start a business like a dating app for compulsive daters too.
ㄴ How about a play featuring divorced men and women?
ㄴ It would probably sell well in the Orange Zone
System <<< really knows what's good lol
ㄴ Fuck, this is actually working...
All the schools of thought that had been fighting so fiercely united into one in an instant.
“Wow. Was birthrate policy always this easy?”
What are politicians doing? If they did this, the birthrate would pass 2.0 immediately.
“Ah, they're all gone.”
If you look at the CCTV, the National Assembly building is basically half-destroyed.
- 168, 51, 75C, please? [3134]
- System... Please look kindly upon me.... [313]
- I have a pelvis made for easy childbirth...! [4223]
...
"...."
And so, the age of Head Mod-approved lewd pics began.
If everyone is having fun, I suppose that's good enough.
"Ahem..."
In the midst of this chaotic situation, I quietly cleared my throat.
“Th-Then, well...”
I began pressing the invite button without hesitation.
****
And so, while the Gallery was swept up in a festive mood following the grand unification between Head Mod and Shop Wiki.
“Guild Leader...! None of our guild members have been invited yet!”
“Still? Not a single one?!”
The conference room of [Myth], the massive guild in charge of the eastern area of the Orange Zone.
Guild Leader Yoon Seo-jin irritably ran a hand through her hair and tightly bit her lips for no reason.
“Haa... This is driving me crazy...”
Myth, currently one of the Orange Zone's great powers, was suffering the worst humiliation in its history.
They had failed to be chosen by the System for the sole reason that they had holed up instead of sending support to the strongholds during last night's zombie wave.
Of course, Seo-jin had a reasonably rational basis for her sense of injustice.
She had not made a cowardly run for it. She had simply calculated the guild's survival thoroughly and coldly.
‘If those things from the Red Zone push down here... the outer strongholds of the Orange Zone are finished. We should have built a new defensive line...’
But she did not know.
That the overwhelming Awakened named Cha Do-hee, Speedrun, would protect the Orange Zone.
And above all, that the System itself would help the survivors and bestow a miracle upon them.
“Phew... What's done is done.”
Seo-jin glared at the Gallery window with bloodshot eyes, then turned her fierce glare on the executives and snapped,
“Think, all of you!”
“......”
“The plan to force our way in with mana stones got shot down when that troll bastard tore it apart earlier. And our justification of the grand cause and good deeds was blocked because we laid low last night. Come up with an idea for how we can squeeze our way into those 4,000!”
The executives all kept their mouths shut under Seo-jin's berating.
The initial expansion to 200 members had been absurdly small for the major guilds to target.
That was why the large guilds had focused not on being invited themselves, but on absorbing members who had been lucky enough to receive invitations.
But this time, the situation was different. An unprecedented expansion to a whopping 4,000 members.
If the guild leadership could not enter this massive wave directly, their authority in the Orange Zone would obviously be driven into the dirt.
They absolutely had to make it onto this list.
“Guild Leader, the thing is... I analyzed the Gallery's public opinion from top to bottom.”
At that moment, the deputy guild master, who had been quietly monitoring the Gallery's trends, cautiously spoke up.
“Go on.”
“The current Gallery meta... under an agreement between Head Mod and Shop Wiki... hasn't it united around an extremely... primal direction of encouraging human reproduction and the birthrate?”
“The Gallery is flooded with nothing but lewd pics of crazy horny women... What does that have to do with me?”
The deputy guild master pushed up their glasses and said,
“Guild Leader Seo-jin. We can't break in with a normal sob story or an appeal based on mana stones anyway.”
“W-Wait... Don't tell me you're suggesting...”
“Ahem... I'm sorry, Guild Leader, but...”
“Hey... Hey! Are you crazy?! Do I look like I'd do something like that?!!”
As the guild leader shouted wildly as if the suggestion were absurd, the deputy guild master drove home the point with a grim expression.
“Why don't you take it off...?”