Chapter 1: Infinite Regression Gallery
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Han Seol, 24 years old.
Proud GED graduate. With nothing to do, I voluntarily enlisted and served out my full term in the Army. The only certificate I have is my driver’s license.
For the record, I have no parents, and my job was selling rice. Not actual rice, of course.
All I knew how to do was click-click and say, “Holy shit, that physique is insane.”
Making money in a virtual world for eighteen hours a day, selling rice so I could eat—that was my entire life.
"Hmm."
So where was this place?
It had been my home until I dozed off in front of my computer and planted my face on the keyboard.
I’d been diligently selling rice day after day through some game in my room... no, living.
But when I opened my eyes, I was somewhere I’d never seen before.
It was a dimly lit place, like a circular cave.
‘Five passages.’
Mysterious passageways whose interiors were completely invisible had been carved into the walls.
If I had to describe their positions, there was one each at roughly one, five, seven, and eleven o’clock, evenly spaced apart.
And at twelve o’clock, there was one comparatively small passageway.
‘So what the hell is that?’
-1-
[Apocalypse 364:16:54:35]
[Section 6:16:54:35]
[ 0 / 7 ]
Glowing letters and numbers floated above the passageway at twelve o’clock.
The numbers were decreasing by one every second. Probably a timer.
The one on top was probably a year, and the one below was probably a week.
‘The word apocalypse is concerning, but...’
There was something more concerning right now, forcing me to turn my head.
Sparkle, sparkle.
A star was radiating brilliance before my eyes.
More precisely, something like a silver star-shaped candy was casting light in every direction.
A dark space with no apparent meaning, and an equally inexplicable star floating in midair and glowing.
Other than that, all I had was this one body of mine. My sweet bed was gone, as was the computer that had been my workplace.
‘...Is there really nothing else?’
If I’d been summoned somewhere, couldn’t someone at least explain things to me?
My mouth went dry. My heart pounded on its own in this nonsensical situation.
Was this one of those otherworld summons I’d only heard about? Had I suddenly died in my sleep? Or had someone kidnapped me? I didn’t care who it was. I just wanted someone to explain.
After scratching my head for a while in the utterly unhelpful situation, I felt something heavy in my pocket.
"Oh."
My little strong Han Seol... no, my phone.
If my computer was my workplace, my phone was where I went on business trips.
Whenever my back hurt too badly to endure, I’d lie down on the bed and remote in.
‘I’m losing farming time.’
But when I tried to open my remote-control app without much thought, the app wasn’t there.
The mobile games I’d installed, the web novels, webtoons, even the streaming services—every bundle of dopamine that had helped me grind was gone.
No signal. I couldn’t turn on Wi-Fi or mobile data either.
‘...Am I fucked?’
I couldn’t even report this.
What the hell could I do with a phone that couldn’t even send out an SOS—
‘Gallery?’
White letters on a blue background.
As I scrolled through the screen, I found an app that was far too familiar.
Maybe it was because I’d found something familiar in a situation detached from reality, but I felt myself relax a little.
There was also an actual gallery app, a photo album, and a camera app beside it, but those didn’t interest me much.
"Gallery..."
My blood suddenly began to boil.
The heart of a beloved (not beloved) fixed-nick user (not a fixed-nick user) was pounding.
Here, I too was a ninja and a witch. I could use as many alts... no, shadow clones as I wanted.
There was no VPN, so one IP ban would probably finish me off, but my heart was pounding regardless.
‘Can I even log in?’
Wondering whether it would really open without an internet connection, I tapped Gallery.
[Infinite Regression Gallery]
[A gallery where those trapped in endless hell share their stories.]
‘Brutal.’
I let out a hollow laugh at the name of the sole gallery that appeared as soon as I entered.
Infinite regression was usually never a good thing. Some anime and some web novel had both been pretty damn brutal.
[Tower of Luck Floor 100 is fucking awful no matter how many times I come here, fuck] (12)
[What’s the 100th-run hideout reward?] (7)
[Three days until the apocalypse timer runs out and I still have ninety floors left lmao] (54)
[I’m a newbie, do people use this while watching the timer all the way to the end?] (14)
[When is an Irregular gonna show up... I really want to go home] (35)
‘The regular posts don’t look like they’ll help right away.’
After skimming the posts whose contents I couldn’t understand, I immediately checked the recommended posts.
[☆ Why isn’t our head mod a cute girl?] (117)
[★ Newbie review after finishing their first climb.txt] (260)
[☆ Ah fuck, I think the newbie I was looking after died?] (320)
[★ Winner of the 548th-run illegal water mage vs. fire mage duel] (999+)
[★ 6373] (999+)
There were more comments than I expected. Of course, one person could have posted multiple times, but there seemed to be more people in this gallery than I’d thought.
‘Doesn’t look like this will help much either.’
It seemed to have undergone some degree of self-moderation, but it didn’t look all that different from the regular posts.
I was about to tap the post titled “Newbie review after finishing their first climb,” when I found myself drawn to a post that had just reached the recommended list.
[★ Holy fucking shit, found an Irregular on my 263rd run lmao] (178)
[Author: Luck Fairy]
(Photo of a sparkling star floating in the air)
Fuck, finally, finally, finally, finally!!!!!!!!!!
Later, you pathetic unlucky losers. This big bro is ascending first lmao.
Upvotes 63 Downvotes 291
[Comments]
Anonymous: Legendary username checks out.
┗376: Wasn’t this the guy who was always cheering people on and complimenting them? Lmao.
1344th Run: I was already jealous that it showed up before the triple digits, but what? The 263rd run? The two hundreds??
Rabbit Hops: I’m so jealous! I’ll be taking some of your luck. Hop hop...
┗Rabbit Hops: (Sticker of a rabbit smiling and nodding)
┗Dog That Barks at Idiots: (Sticker of a dog barking like crazy)
260th Regression: That’ll be my future. Go on ahead and wait for me lol.
┗Anonymous: Think he’ll even be alive in three years?
Anonymous: Ah. Fuck. This goddamn newbie. Ah.
6373: Ah.
┗dd: LMAOOOOOOOOOO.
┗mm: It’s always fucking hilarious when an Irregular proof post comes up.
┗Not Anonymous: Our brother on his 6300th run is weeping right now ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ.
┗Third Run Here: Isn’t this making him a named user?
┗Anonymous: This bastard’s been here longer than the mods. Of course he’s a named user.
┗Third Run Here: Then shouldn’t he be mod material?
┗Anonymous: Fact is, you need to get an Irregular before you can become a mod...
Not an Eraser🔸: Please leave kind comments, everyone...
┗Orange Sex: I want to fuck the head mod.
┗Not an Eraser🔸: One-month ban for sexual harassment...
┗Orange Sex: sry, please let me off just this once.
"Hmm..."
The comment count was rising every second, as were the downvotes in proportion.
I had no idea how many people were permanently camped in this gallery, but either way, this post was causing a huge stir.
Swipe.
‘No matter how I look at it, it’s exactly the same as the photo...’
I lowered my phone and compared the photo in the recommended post with the thing floating before me.
So, I didn’t really get it.
But apparently, this star-like thing floating in the air was something called an “Irregular.”
‘Is it... some kind of item?’
I had no idea what Irregulars or ascension were supposed to mean.
I didn’t know much, but I could roughly understand that this was valuable.
Fwaaaaaash—!!
A blinding light poured out from the star.
Every time I refreshed the gallery, dozens of comments were added.
Twitch.
The corners of my mouth rose on their own.
‘Okay.’
Where this place was, what this thing was.
Forget figuring out the whole situation. I realized what I needed to do right now.
Nothing would change if I just stood around trembling like an idiot.
There was something that could only be done at this exact moment.
I immediately exited the gallery and opened the camera.
The only thing I’d ever used a camera for in my life was taking pictures of chicken to upload at dawn, but this was on a different level.
Click!
[Is this a good thing?]
[Author: Anonymous]
(Photo of a sparkling star floating in the air)
I don’t know where this is, but when I woke up, there was something like this here...
I’m starving to death. Instead of this, they should’ve given me something to eat... ㅠ
‘Forward, reverse, four-wheel-drive, neckbeard, let’s go.’
I couldn’t resist this.
*
Ding!
Ding ding.
Ding ding ding ding ding ding ding—
"Whoa."
Was this what life as a popular kid was like?
This feeling of everyone’s attention in the world focusing on me—it made my body tremble with excitement.
Whenever I refreshed, five more comments... no, ten more comments appeared.
The upvote count was increasing by one every second. The downvotes were rising about five times as fast, though.
[Comments]
Anonymous: ???
Trueborn Illegal: What the hell? Is this real?
┗Water >> Fire: And what if it is?
┗Trueborn Illegal: Water-mage scrub, fuck off.
263: The proof post from that guy on the same run was already absurd, but what? First run? Fuck, how does that make any sense?
Anonymous: Isn’t this a new record? Insane lmao.
┗Anonymous: He’s just pretending to be on his first run. You think it’s real?
┗Anonymous: These are the kinds of people who believe tower experiment conspiracy theories.
Rabbit Hops: How can this be... How is something like this possible...?
┗Rabbit Hops: (Sticker of a rabbit blinking)
┗Dog That Barks at Idiots: (Sticker of a dog barking like crazy)
6373: ?
┗Anonymous: LMAOOOOOOOOOO.
┗dd: This is the first time I’ve seen him not sigh under an Irregular proof post, for real.
┗Anonymous: If I were him, I’d just wait for the apocalypse to take me.
┗Anonymous: It’s obviously fake. Don’t worry.
┗Anonymous: Fake or not, he’s probably regressed fewer times than that guy lol.
Superiority of Dual Swords: Why?! Why can’t I get one while guys like this do?!
Not an Eraser🔸: Could you tell us which run you’re on...?
┗Anonymous (Author): I just woke up and was here... Does that make it my first run?
"They don’t believe me?"
I replied to the comment from the administrator—probably—whose familiar orange badge was attached.
Well, of course they wouldn’t believe a newbie who had just arrived if he posted proof that he’d gotten an endgame item. Naturally, they’d think he was lying, trolling with a stolen picture.
‘Though I don’t know if it’s really worth that much.’
I stared quietly at the star candy glittering like a karaoke mirror ball.
I was still afraid to touch it. I felt like I’d touch it eventually, but at least that time wasn’t now.
As I smiled for a while at the cheers and uproar directed at me, I blankly blinked at a window that suddenly appeared on-screen.
[This ID has been banned by the Infinite Regression Manager.]
[Ban Duration: Permanent] / [Reason: Theft, impersonation, baiting.]
[Handled by: Not an Eraser]
"...What?"
The perfect trinity. I’d been branded a troll.
Why? What had I even done?
If the reason for the ban had been shameless flexing, then fine, but theft, impersonation, and baiting?
‘And permanently?’
No, this was seriously unfair.
It was so unfair that I wanted to ask why and argue with them, but I couldn’t even enter the gallery anymore.
What kind of gallery wouldn’t even let you view posts at all?
Shouldn’t they at least let me explain myself?
‘There’s no option to change my ID, either...’
The settings screen only had an option to change my nickname.
Creating a new account or changing my IP was impossible.
"I shouldn’t have posted in the gallery..."
I should have gotten information first if this was going to happen.
Sparkle, sparkle.
"..."
My only means of communication, my only place to get information, was gone.
The only option left to me was touching this glittering star myself.
‘...Still.’
It looked better than passing through those pitch-black corridors, at least.
They said this was valuable.
Gulp.
I recalled talk in the recommended post about ascension and whatnot. Would touching this star turn me into some kind of angel?
"Phew..."
After hesitating for a long time, I gritted my teeth and stretched out my hand toward the star.
Then the star radiated a dazzling light and exploded—
"...As if that would happen, right?"
Nothing happened at all.
Thud.
‘What the hell is this, really?’
It was hard. No matter how much I tapped it, there was no response.
I even threw it on the ground while scared shitless, but it neither cracked nor broke.
No strange doll appeared to turn me into a magical girl, nor did a dragon appear and tell me to make a wish.
"Hmm..."
Hugging the star candy, I blankly looked up at the ceiling.
Where the hell was this? Did the endless hell mentioned in the gallery description refer to this meaningless space?
"I want to get back into the gallery..."
I hadn’t even gotten to enjoy all the reactions yet, and I hadn’t gained even a scrap of information.
It was unfair that I’d been permanently banned over a picture that wasn’t even stolen.
"If only the internet would connect, I could just make duplicate accounts..."
The moment I lay spread-eagled on the floor and muttered what I wanted as if entranced—
"...?"
The star candy in my arms somehow began to grow warm.
The light pouring from it was becoming stronger and stronger.
"W-wait... What is this? Is it going to explode?!"
Startled by the sudden change, I sprang up and hurled it away with all my strength.
I trembled as I watched the star in the distance pour out light bright enough to hurt my eyes.
"Please save me, please save me, please save me...!!"
I’ll never laugh while listening to the Director’s songs again.
I won’t use AI to make weird animated edits and post them to galleries anymore, please...!!
Fwaaaaaaaash—!!
I squeezed my eyes shut and curled up.
With all that light bursting out, I expected an explosion, but it was quieter than I’d expected.
"...Huh?"
When I carefully opened my eyes, a translucent window was floating before me.
"What is this...?"
[■□□□□□□□□□]
A loading bar?
This wasn’t even a game, so why now?
[■■■■■□□□□□]
The star candy had vanished.
In its place, the window before me was slowly filling up.
[■■■■■■■■■■]
For a moment, I just stared blankly at the fully filled bar.
Ding!
A strange notification sound rang beside my ear.
No, more precisely, it felt like it rang inside my head. There was no notification on my phone.
[Your wish will change to suit your current location.]
‘Change to suit my current location?’
I didn’t know what that meant, but if it was adapting itself for me, wasn’t that a good thing?
[Your wish will be reinterpreted to suit the circumstances.]
A voice rang inside my head. The voice of someone I didn’t know echoed on its own.
[.........]
After falling silent for a moment, the voice—
Vwoooong—!!
[The star approves your wish.]
With a powerful vibration from my phone, a voice that sounded as if it were smiling whispered into my ear.
Swipe.
"...Internet?"
[Camera] [Photo Album] [Gallery] [Internet]
When I came to my senses and checked my phone, a new app had appeared beside Gallery.
‘I thought I’d awakened some kind of power, but all it did was install an app?’
Even as I grumbled quietly to myself, my entranced finger tapped Internet.
[Gallery] [StarWiki]
Rather than an internet browser, it was a mysterious window with icons simply lined up inside it.
‘Can I get in through here?’
Why was Gallery inside Internet when I already had a Gallery app?
StarWiki caught my attention too, but wondering whether I really needed it, I instinctively tapped Gallery—
"...!"
I had no choice but to widen my eyes at the window that appeared the instant I entered.
[Create New Account]
It seemed God had given me the ability to create burner accounts.
*
[Infinite Regression Gallery]
The account creation was a success.
Though I’d only entered this gallery a few times, I smiled as if I had returned home.
‘Then from now on, it’s time to murder the mod badge in righteous fury—’
Just as I was about to find my recommended post and see what comment the head mod had left before banning me—
"..."
I froze when I saw that my post was nowhere to be found.
All the recommended posts I’d seen earlier were still there, but not the one I had written.
Out of all those recommended posts, only mine had vanished.
‘That can’t... be...’
My hand trembled. I could have seen the greatest number of upvotes and downvotes of my entire life, but apparently that incompetent Eraser had deleted the post.
I couldn’t take it anymore. This was practically asking me to turn the complaint board into an arena.
This wasn’t something I could let slide easily.
Even if they banned me, they should have left my post up. This had clearly crossed a line.
[How long has it been since someone used an Irregular to bait for attention, though?] (21)
[Isn’t getting permabanned actual hell?] (11)
[6373 << This guy was trapped in the tower before the gallery even existed lmao] (56)
[I can laugh because I’m only on my 100th run, but I’d probably lose my mind past 1000 runs] (34)
[He’s just an idiot. It’s not even the first time someone’s done this, why react so hard?] (17)
Looking through the list, the aftermath of my post still remained.
Several pages were more or less covered in posts about me. At first, people had seemed unsure whether it was real, but public opinion appeared to have shifted the moment I got banned.
They were treating me as a low-grade attention seeker, a troll who stole pictures.
[A newly permabanned user for the first time in eighty years lmao] (57)
Judging by their reactions, permanent bans didn’t seem to be common either.
[☆ I banned them, so please don’t mention this any further...] (335)
[Author: Not an Eraser🔸]
There was even a post where the head mod personally said they had banned me and asked people not to mention it further, and they were receiving praise in the comments.
No, what had they even done? Why were they being praised?
I hadn’t posted because I wanted compliments, but after banning me for [Theft, impersonation, baiting], wasn’t this going too far?
[★ Upvote if you praise the head mod lmao] (108)
[Author: Orange Sex]
(Picture of a cute girl personifying the head mod)
As expected, the one restoring Infinite Gallery to order is our head mod (the cool, beautiful girl rumored to be the prettiest in the gallery, S-rank body, virgin).
Upvotes 348 Downvotes 1
[Comments]
Anonymous: Head mod! Head mod! Head mod!
Anonymous: Look at how the one downvote on the head mod is invisible;
Trueborn Illegal: Ah, I should’ve gotten confirmation that they were a water mage before they got banned.
┗Water >> Fire: Fact is, they obviously looked like an average fire mage lmao.
┗Trueborn Illegal: Shut the fuck up.
Not an Eraser🔸: I gave you a three-day ban... If you come back without changing your nickname, I’ll ban you again...
┗Not an Eraser🔸: And please don’t attach strange descriptions to me...
┗dd: What? The head mod isn’t a cute girl?
┗Anonymous: She is. Looks like she’s not a virgin out of those three.
┗dd: (Sticker of a unicorn weeping)
Long-Eared Noble O, Elf X: Hah... I only did what I had to do. What’s with all this...
┗Anonymous: Granny, no jealousy.
┗Long-Eared Noble O, Elf X: They haven’t even shown proof once, so how could you possibly know they’re a cute girl...!
┗Anonymous: It’s common knowledge that the head mod is a cute girl, though?
┗Long-Eared Noble O, Elf X: I’m a cute girl too, you know?!
┗Anonymous: Where are you going to find a cute girl who’s 1,500 years old lol?
The head-mod praise post that had just gone up had reached the recommended list within seconds.
The head mod was taking all the upvotes and comments that were supposed to be mine.
‘This can’t end with a one-on-one deathmatch.’
I, Han Seol, was disappointed in the gallery users.
My mood had been ruined, so they needed to feel the same way.
‘Save posts as drafts.’
It wasn’t easy trolling with just one phone, but it wasn’t impossible.
If I saved the same post as a draft dozens, hundreds of times, then positioned my finger—
[Head mod, why did you ban me?]
[Head mod, why did you ban me?]
[Fuck, do people write posts from the depths of their hearts now??]
[Head mod, why did you ban me?]
[?? How are you alive if you got banned?]
[Head mod, why did you ban me?]
[Head mod, why did you ban me?]
[Head mod, why did you ban me?]
I had completed a pseudo-spam bot that didn’t require me to write every post individually.
[This ID has been banned by the Infinite Regression Manager.]
‘Called it.’
As soon as the banhammer fell, I immediately made another account.
[Head mod, why did you ban me again?]
Then twice, three times, four times.
After repeatedly getting banned and creating accounts for a while,
at last, a declaration of surrender arrived from our dear Eraser.
Not an Eraser🔸: What on earth is going on...? How do you keep getting in after I ban you...?
┗Not an Eraser🔸: I thought you were someone else, but are you really the person from earlier...?
┗Banned Newbie (Author): Why’d you ban me?
┗Banned Newbie (Author): Answer me.
┗Not an Eraser🔸: It says that stealing an Irregular proof picture results in a permanent ban...
┗Banned Newbie (Author): Where does it say that?
┗Not an Eraser🔸: In the rules...
┗Banned Newbie (Author): Who reads those?
┗Not an Eraser🔸: Pardon...?
Who reads gallery rules?
Besides, it wasn’t impersonation or theft in the first place.
[Head mod, look here.]
[Author: Banned Newbie]
(Photo 1 of a sparkling star floating in the air)
(Photo 2 of a sparkling star floating in the air)
Posting pics from another angle in case you don’t believe me.
You don’t believe I’m on my first run? If there’s another way to prove it, I’ll do that too.
I uploaded several more photos that I had taken beforehand.
If they called even this impersonation or theft, there would be no answer, so I also said I’d provide any other proof they wanted.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
When I refreshed at the madly ringing notifications, dozens more people were piling on with question marks.
[Comments]
Anonymous: Wait, is this for real?
dd: Did an actual Irregular show up? Doesn’t look stolen.
6373: Are you really on your first run...?
┗Anonymous: This is actually fucking hilarious lmao.
┗476th Run: First time I’ve ever seen this person talk;
Anonymous: Nah, we still don’t know. These could be stolen too.
Rabbit Hops: More importantly, how are you entering after being banned?
┗Rabbit Hops: (Sticker of a rabbit opening its eyes wide in surprise)
┗Dog That Barks at Idiots: (Sticker of a dog barking like crazy)
While I was looking through the dozens of comments all saying roughly the same thing, I found one that looked vaguely helpful.
Anonymous: If you’re not lying, the number of your run is displayed above the hideout. Take a picture of that and upload it.
‘Hideout?’
I didn’t know what a hideout was, but the only thing floating around was the numbers above that passageway.
Wondering whether the topmost number represented the run, I immediately photographed them.
[Is this the run number?]
[Author: Banned Newbie]
(Photo of numbers and timers floating in the air)
-1- ? That means first run, right? See? It’s real.
‘...Why aren’t I getting notifications?’
The sound that should have been ringing madly didn’t come. Not only were there no comments, no new posts were appearing either.
Maybe it was lagging, because the world... no, the gallery had stopped.
[Did I get banned again?]
[Author: Banned Newbie]
Why isn’t anyone saying anything?
Just in case, I made another post, but I hadn’t been banned.
After scratching my head for a while because there was still no response no matter how many times I refreshed,
Ding ding ding ding ding!
"Look at this firepower."
I let out a hollow laugh as I looked at my phone going crazy again.
Comments that could only be described as shock and confusion kept pouring in.
Most were question marks, but the heated response made me feel weirdly proud of myself.
‘I, Han Seol, can control your emotions.’
[Alright, I get it, so only the head mod answer.]
[Author: Banned Newbie]
Hurry up and apologize, won’t you?
You branded someone a troll and now you’re keeping your mouth shut?
When things were this hot, there was no need to leave comments.
Just posting would duplicate recommended posts. Why would I need comments?
[☆ Alright, I get it, so head mod answer.] (131)
[☆ Did I get banned again?] (71)
[★ Is this the run number?] (320)
[★ Head mod, look here.] (468)
‘Four recommended posts in a row is a new record.’
There were hundreds of comments on each one. The total number of upvotes was greater than most best posts.
As I smiled for a while at the cheers and uproar filling the gallery, a comment finally arrived from the head mod.
Not an Eraser🔸: I’m sorry... I’ve never seen one appear on a first run... I thought they didn’t appear on the first run in the first place...
┗Banned Newbie (Author): Okay, I’ll let it slide.
┗Not an Eraser🔸: I’m truly sorry for doubting you... I’ve lifted all your bans...
┗Not an Eraser🔸: There were several incidents involving stolen pictures, so I’ve been moderating strictly...
┗Banned Newbie (Author): Okay, no problem!
I’d gotten the head mod’s apology, so I coolly forgave them.
One recommended post had been copied into four, so I could say I’d been compensated enough.
Ding!
Not an Eraser🔸: Sorry, but how did you keep creating accounts...? There shouldn’t be a function like that...
‘Mm-hm, that makes sense.’
From the head mod’s perspective, it must have felt like nothing but a disaster.
A monster like me had appeared in a world with no concept of burner accounts.
┗Unbanned Newbie (Author): I held that star and said I wanted to use the gallery, and then I could.
After giving an especially kind explanation, I waited for the head mod’s reply.
Ding ding ding ding ding ding!!!!
I blinked at the response, which was incomparable to anything so far.
Under the comment I’d sent to the head mod, literally everyone in the gallery was commenting.
‘...What’s wrong with them?’
Every last one of them was stunned.
Some were laughing like crazy, but no one would tell me why.
Seeing hundreds of comments all react the same way, I tilted my head and made a new post.
[So what was that star candy I uploaded??]
[Author: Unbanned Newbie]
I get that it’s something amazing.
[Comments]
Not an Eraser🔸: We call it an Irregular... Um... to explain it simply...
┗Unbanned Newbie (Author): Yeah, just spit it out.
I replied impatiently to the head mod’s immediate response.
Not an Eraser🔸: It’s a star that grants wishes... More precisely, it’s the only means of escaping this place...
┗Unbanned Newbie (Author): ?
┗Not an Eraser🔸: And you wished for it to let you browse the gallery with it...
┗Unbanned Newbie (Author): ?
┗Not an Eraser🔸: You can get one about once every thousand years—
Smack!
Reading the head mod’s comment, I immediately threw my phone away.
A-a thousand years? There was no way a person could live for a thousand years.
I’d used a wish-granting star candy, the only means of escaping this inexplicable place, to wish for the ability to create burner accounts?
Ding!
"..."
It couldn’t be true. There had to be some misunderstanding.
Even as I clung to that futile hope, I picked up the phone that kept ringing.
As if entranced, I tapped the notification for the newest comment and slowly looked at the screen.
Dog That Barks at Idiots: (Sticker of a dog barking like crazy)
"Ah."
This was driving me fucking crazy.
*
"Haa..."
How much time had passed?
I sat slumped on the floor, staring only at my phone.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
"Heh heh heh..."
I let out a hollow laugh at the phone that wouldn’t stop ringing.
It wasn’t particularly funny, yet I couldn’t stop laughing somehow.
Anonymous: This guy is genuinely legendary.
Anonymous: There’s someone who throws a thing everyone else wants for their entire life onto the ground?!
2183: I’ve been around a pretty long time too, but this is the first time I’ve seen an Irregular proof post and not felt jealous. Fucking lmao.
Baldness Not Stopped Even by a Ninth-Circle Archmage: No!! If you were going to do that, you could’ve transferred it to someone!! Why!!!
Anonymous: This is so fucking absurd lmao.
‘Still... well.’
After sitting blankly for a long while, I slowly raised my head.
I didn’t regret it. Really.
I didn’t know where this was, or what an Irregular was, anyway.
If I’d touched that star and made some weird wish, maybe I wouldn’t even have been able to view the gallery anymore.
Unbanned Newbie (Author): As long as you guys had fun, it’s fine.
┗Anonymous: Wow... Just looking at you, I can tell you’re going places.
┗Dog That Barks at Idiots: (Sticker of a dog squinting and tilting its head)
┗Anonymous: Idiot power so overwhelming that even Barking Dog is contemplating it. Damn.
Even if I went home, it wasn’t as if my life would be beautiful.
I had no parents, no friends to meet in reality.
A life spent locked in my room for eighteen hours a day, selling rice.
A life spent baiting for reactions that never came, chasing short-term dopamine through the day.
Rather than going back to that kind of life, maybe having some kind of different experience would be better.
At least right now—
Ding! Ding ding!
The wildly ringing comment notifications made me feel alive.
‘It’s great that I can browse the gallery!’
Good is good, isn’t it?
Not an Eraser🔸: Still... you mustn’t give up. You have to climb the tower...
┗Not an Eraser🔸: You can see the section timer, right? Please read the rules... Please, really...!
┗Not an Eraser🔸: I’ll be cheering for you... I’m worried because you don’t know anything...
┗Unbanned Newbie (Author): Cheering for me, my ass. You banned me, so now I can’t leave.
┗Not an Eraser🔸: I’m sorry... If you have any questions, I’ll answer all of them...
┗Unbanned Newbie (Author): Just joking lol. It was my fault for shamelessly flexing.
┗Not an Eraser🔸: (Sticker of a grotesque creature shedding tears)
‘I have to climb the tower, huh.’
After roughly replying to the head mod’s apology, I turned my head.
The small passageway at twelve o’clock.
Was there something called a tower inside it?
[Section 6:16:31:18]
Looking at the timer with less than a week left, I slowly rose to my feet.
‘Anyway...’
There was no undoing spilled water.
Then there was only one thing left to do.
"Why don’t I try going in once?"
I slowly began walking toward the passageway.
With an inexplicable smile on my face, I threw myself into the pitch-black darkness.
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