Chapter 6
Baek Eunwol.
She was the Head Mod who had awakened an ability to manage the gallery, and a Hunter recognized by the Control Bureau, the only public institution remaining in this ruined world.
As an administrator, Eunwol's standards were firm.
[Head Mod] You're banned lol
ㄴ Why!!! Why me when you leave all the others alone!!!
ㄴ [Head Mod] You spread way too much false information ㅇㅅㅇ
ㄴ Shiiiiiiit!
You bastard, how could you blatantly lie that a wave had hit the refugee camp?
ㄴ We got mobilized because of you, you son of a bitch ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴ A bastard like that deserves an IRL raid ㅋㅋ
She showed no mercy to malicious false information that directly endangered people's survival.
You guys know that?
ㄴ ?
ㄴ Apparently, a US carrier strike group is finally coming to the Han River to provide support tomorrow ㅇㅇ
ㄴ You've finally lost it...
Why doesn't this bastard get train-fed??
ㄴ [Head Mod] Because it's funny...?
ㄴ ?!
Mmm, yeah, Head Mod, your standards really are whatever the fuck you feel like.
ㄴ [Head Mod] ?
ㄴ Got train'd lol
[Speedrun] There is no more time to staaaaaall!!!!!!
ㄴ Ah, fuck, he's here again
Conversely, she let minor eccentricities that didn't harm others slide, giving people room to breathe.
But the shop rumor currently circulating through the gallery was dangerous.
People needed hope, but not like this.
That was why Eunwol looked up the account's IP, but.
"...."
All she got in return was a warning.
[Unable to trace the target's unique IP and coordinates!]
[Error: IP does not exist on the network.]
Eunwol could not hide her confusion.
“...?”
IP lookup was a unique ability possessed only by the Head Mod, allowing her to pinpoint a user's actual location and coordinates exactly.
She had never once seen an error message like this before.
“A user who can't be traced...? Then what about blocking them?”
Sensing the gravity of the situation, she reached toward the blue UI window floating in the air.
[★Starplex★ << 3-day ban]
[This blocks the user's access to the gallery and all activities for 3 days.]
[Processing...]
Under normal circumstances, a ban notification should have appeared within one second.
However.
[Warning!]
[Unauthorized access]
[Blocking hostile access and forcibly ejecting the target]
Bang-!!
“Urk...!”
The blue system window floating in the air flashed red as if exploding, and the recoil sent Eunwol flying backward.
“Uh... uh! Head Mod! Are you okay...?”
“I'm fine...”
At the employee's words, Eunwol wiped the blood flowing from her nose and blankly stared up at the warning flashing in the air.
“It's not a user...”
An ordinary user had no right to refuse access to Eunwol, the gallery administrator. She held the absolute position of administrator, after all.
But this account had instead refused Eunwol's access, then.
It had even inflicted physical impact on her.
There was only one being in the world capable of interfering with Eunwol, who served as administrator, to this extent.
“No way... T-the system?”
The Head Mod's conclusion was simple and clear.
“Could the system really have opened the shop itself...?”
*****
Meanwhile, the gallery was in an uproar because of a post from the shop account.
If this were a system update, there'd at least be an announcement [3134]
Ban that account lol
Shop concept << What a load of crap [412]
If the shop really exists... [41]
Tried banning it? Just ban it already lol [144]
At that moment, an announcement from the Head Mod appeared in the gallery.
Title : [Head Mod] Announcement Regarding the Shop Concept
The shop account isn't roleplaying ㅇㅇ
I think the system must have been updated;;
??!!
ㄴ Huh?
ㄴ Uh???
You mean that bastard isn't a troll...?
ㄴ Did the actual shop system post this itself?
ㄴ [Head Mod] Yeah...
ㄴ ...?
ㄴ ??
So the Head Mod became a troll...
ㄴ How did the Head Mod end up joining hands with a troll...
Head Mod, we're serious.
ㄴ This isn't the time for jokes lol
The users had assumed the Head Mod was joking, but.
Their attitude changed completely after the Head Mod's next comment appeared.
Title : [Head Mod] I'm not joking either...
IP lookup doesn't work, and I can't ban it either;;
Huh?
ㄴ What kind of bullshit are you talking about;;
The Head Mod's IP lookup doesn't work?
ㄴ Head Mod, you used that to go on IRL raids just fine!!!
ㄴ What do you mean, you can't ban it?
[Head Mod] I don't know, fuck, I tried banning it and it said I didn't have permission before kicking me out
ㄴ ???
ㄴ [Head Mod] It gave me a nosebleed ㅇㅅㅇ...
ㄴ You don't have permission...?
ㄴ If the Head Mod doesn't have permission... then who does?
Don't bullshit us, you Head Mod bastard!!!
ㄴ Are you pulling a hidden-camera prank right now!!!
[Head Mod] It's not a prank;; Because...
ㄴ [Head Mod] I got invited too
ㄴ [Head Mod] (Roughly, a proof photo. JPG)
ㄴ ?
ㄴ !!
ㄴ Fuck... it's real...?
Then the system really did get updated...?
ㄴ A shop appeared in the gallery...????
ㄴ That account really is the shop...?
Breaking news... breaking news...!
ㄴ Head Mod confirms it... the shop exists...!!
It was quite an entertaining sight.
“Wahahahahaha!!!”
I had nearly overlooked the fact that I could use two gallery accounts.
[Shop Lv. 1]
[Active] - You possess your own exclusive shop page and official gallery account. You may freely invite or expel members.
[Available Accounts]
1. [★Starplex★]
2. [Trolling NEET]
The first was the official shop gallery account, while the second was simply my personal account.
The plan I had devised to pick out customers who met my standards was simple.
I would use this shop account strictly for announcements.
There were two reasons I had made up my mind that way.
The first was, naturally, practical.
To maintain a mysterious persona and conceal my identity.
There was absolutely no reason to shoulder the risk of revealing my identity in the apocalypse.
The customer and I were in a business relationship—we only provided each other with what we needed, and that was enough.
This announcement account would become the cornerstone of my safety.
And the second reason?
“Because... it's fun...!”
That was all. There was nothing I could do here except browse the gallery.
So my entertainment was a matter of grave importance, and as long as I was having fun, that was all that mattered.
Use the shop account to post announcements while freely trolling and browsing the gallery with my main account?
“This is gourmet stuff, mm-hmm.”
But I hadn't expected people to mistake this shop account for a system update.
“Who cares?”
I was having fun, and that was good enough.
[A member has accepted the invitation]
[Member List]
[Head Mod]
“What? They actually accepted?”
The Head Mod seemed to wield considerable influence in the gallery, so I'd sent an invitation as a gesture of goodwill and to bring her on board. I hadn't expected her to bite so readily.
“Well... there's no harm in giving someone wearing a mod badge preferential treatment.”
My first member was the Head Mod. What a successful start.
-Starplex-
[Item : Oda Water 500ML]
[Price : 20 mana stones]
[Stock : 100/100]
But since she wasn't buying right away, she apparently wasn't someone who urgently needed bottled water.
That was fine. This was only the beginning.
So I wrote and uploaded my next post with a light heart.
Title : [★Starplex★] You Are Invited
Capacity 1/100
!!!
ㄴ Fuck, it's up again!!!
ㄴ Did the Head Mod get invited and fill one spot...?
ㄴ [Head Mod] Seems like it
[Oda Water Bro] No!! I told you it really exists, you fucking bastards!!!!
ㄴ Shut up!!!!
ㄴ How are we supposed to believe you, you bastard!!!!
Shop owner!! Please invite me too!!!
ㄴ Please!!!
ㄴ Please invite me too!! I'll beg like this!!!
The gallery users began rushing in to leave comments in a frenzy.
“No, no.”
Begging alone wouldn't get them anywhere.
I had to check whether they met the standards I had established.
Anyone get invited??
ㄴ No, it seems like nobody has yet
Head Mod!! How did you get invited!!!
ㄴ Tell us right now!!!!!!
ㄴ [Head Mod] Don't order me around...
No, seriously, how did you get invited...?
ㄴ I'm asking;;
ㄴ [Head Mod] Dunno;; It just suddenly showed up;;
ㄴ Fuck, what are the criteria!!!!
I muttered that while watching the users making all that noise.
“Main account, sortie!!!!”
[Trolling NEET] << Login
Rather than the shop account, I logged in with my regular gallery account—the one tied to my identity as an Awakened—and wrote a post.
Title : [Trolling NEET] Sheesh ㅋㅋㅋ You pathetic bastards ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
Let's assume the shop is real ㅋㅋㅋ
Do you think you'll get invited acting like that??
Sheesh, fuck, your level is seriously pathetic ㅋㅋ
What??
ㄴ Why are you suddenly picking a fight, fuck
ㄴ Are you saying you know something?
Look at your nickname. What could you possibly know?
ㄴ For real, your nickname alone says you're just a troll..
ㄴ Trolling NEET, my ass;;
ㄴ You're seriously a shut-in stalker
[Trolling NEET] No;; Think about it from the shop system's perspective.
ㄴ What kind of bullshit is that
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] Do you think it'll invite you just because you beg???
ㄴ Then how do we get in?
[Trolling NEET] Isn't it obvious when you look at who the Head Mod invited?
ㄴ Huh?
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] Before the apocalypse, if you asked a bank to lend you money, would it lend it to you even if you had no job and a terrible credit score?
ㄴ What the fuck are you talking about
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] You guys seriously have no clue ㅋㅋ
[Trolling NEET] The shop obviously chooses people with clear identities and dependable abilities, doesn't it?
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] You should at least write out your circumstances. Do you really think you'll get invited by doing nothing but beg?
ㄴ [Trolling NEET] Everyone's brainpower is truly pathetic;;
ㄴ Uh?
ㄴ Huh?
ㄴ ????
This was it.
Use the shop account to post announcements with ruthless precision, and use my main account to thoroughly manipulate public opinion while trolling.
“Ahh, this is fun.”
The dopamine was shooting through me.
“So this is why people talk about having multiple accounts.”
That... actually makes sense...!?
ㄴ Now that you mention it, that's not exactly wrong...?
So... then...
ㄴ Are you saying we should advertise ourselves?
ㄴ Seems like that's what he meant...?
No, fuck, are we supposed to tell the system who we are or something?
ㄴ Are we supposed to go through an interview?
ㄴ That's fucking weird
ㄴ For real...
Hmm, but the Head Mod did say the shop account was the system, and
ㄴ If that means the system is checking the gallery...
ㄴ Then that isn't logically wrong, is it...?
Can't hurt to try it once, right...?
ㄴ If there's a chance of getting invited, I'll do anything, fuck fuck
ㄴ Nothing to lose, at least;;
The buzz sparked by what my main account had said began spreading out of control.
I Appeal Myself to the Shop...? [33]
I Will Introduce Myself [25]
Age 23. Gender: Female. Income is... [314]
I Wrote Down My Stats; Please Take a Look [456]
Shop Owner, Please Look at This Post!!! [418]
Can I Prove My Assets Too...? [412]
Self-Promotion Post [111]
“Wahahahahaha!”
At the same time, a smile began blooming across my face.
“Good! Good! This is how you get noticed!!!”
Of course, I had no intention of checking every single one and inviting them.
That would be impossible, and far too inefficient.
But at least I could ensure some basic vetting and maximum fun, right?
“Heeheeheeho.”
I smiled as I looked for the post with the most comments.
My daughter is suffering from dehydration... Never mind me... [912]
“Holy shit... This is obviously going to be sad and touching...”
I didn't even need to read the post.
He must be a true father of this era, someone who valued responsibility and cherished his family more than his own life.
Without hesitation, I hit the button to send an invitation and shouted,
“Sir...! Congratulations, you've passed!!”
I sent the invitation immediately.
[Member List]
1. [Head Mod]
2. In a Mountain Valley Where the Sun Sets, on Falling Leaves...
“Whew.”
Even just from the nickname, I could tell he was definitely a dad-generation user.
“I told you, my instincts never fail.”
I've got ten years of gallery experience.
And just as I was grinning and looking through the gallery again.
- I have a wife and children...! [323]
- Please look at my children's pictures just once... [772]
- I'm running an orphanage... [444]
- Please look just once, I beg you [311]
- I want to give it to my daughter. Could I buy just one bottle of water...? [555]
- My older brother hasn't eaten in days... [521]
Before I knew it, the self-introduction trend had changed.