I Became the Only Reptile in the Community

Chapter 35

—–CROW—– 

“[The Gallery Master hasn’t been around lately.]”

“[The gallery atmosphere is ruined.]”

“[Damn. Is this for real?]”

“[Guys, I have a question.]”

The Hero’s Gallery, a communication community for everyone dragged into the world of SEH (Save Earth Hero).  The traces of the Imugi El, the only non-human being called the Gallery Master, had suddenly vanished.  Some people speculated that he had died, while others suggested he was busy or had left because the gallery had changed too much.

“[Hey, everyone, get a grip!]”

“[Sigh. What a mess because of that troll.]”

“[Recommended Hunting Grounds by Class]”

“[My time has stopped since the Gallery Master disappeared.]”

“[I miss the kitty.]”

“[Gallery Master, when are you coming back?]”

The gallery didn’t collapse without the Gallery Master. But the atmosphere had definitely become more subdued.  The two main reasons were the Gallery Master’s sudden disappearance and YOLO Swordmaster’s post.

YOLO Swordmaster’s post, in particular, had poisoned the gallery, triggering the very incident El had worried about before leaving.

“[Preemptively eliminated the future cancer.]”

-Author: Trilobite

Lena was going to backstab me again, so I killed her.

This should eliminate any future problems, right?

-Damn.

-Seriously, what’s wrong with the gallery these days?

-You killed Lena now? Are you insane?

-My Lena!!

└Since when was Lena yours lol.

-You’re screwed now.

└(Author): Why?

└”Why?” he says lol.

A bloody wind had begun to blow through the gallery.  This unpleasant, blood-tinged wind showed no signs of stopping, and eventually, some people, like El, started leaving the gallery.

“[Ah, it’s that time again.]”

“[Gallery maintenance test~]”

“[Damn. I hope all the trolls disappear this time.]”

“[Please let us get through this safely.]”

Time flowed like water, and the day of the annual gallery maintenance test arrived.  A notification appeared before everyone, from experienced users who had taken the test multiple times to those taking it for the first time, having passed their first year.

[It is now time for the Gallery Maintenance Test.]

[If you do not ‘pass’ this test, you will be unable to use the gallery.]

Among them, an Imugi, who had distanced himself from the gallery, saw the notification and his eyes gleamed.

“[The Gallery Maintenance Test. Is it time to go back?]”

It was time to return to the gallery, like returning to a home he had left. Of course, he had to pass the test first.

***

‘The Gallery Maintenance Test.’

It had already been over a year since he started using the gallery and arrived in this world. How difficult it had been to quit the gallery because of that strange troll, YOLO Swordmaster.

‘It was incredibly hard at first.’

Imagine what he did here.  It was like suddenly being deprived of his phone, computer, or laptop, his access to the internet, in his normal daily life.  Just enduring a single day had been incredibly difficult.

He had focused more on Cheong, Silphy, and Ceres during that time, deepening their bonds, but his boredom had persisted.  And now, the opportunity to alleviate that boredom had arrived.

[The Gallery Maintenance Test will now begin.]

The Gallery Maintenance Test. This test marked his return to the gallery.

‘I hope things have calmed down a bit.’

Of course, he had to pass this test first to see for himself.

*Crackle. Flash!*

‘What’s this?’

With the start of the test, a bright white light flashed before his eyes, and he was suddenly pulled into a space bathed in auroral light.

‘Where is this?’

To be transported like this without any warning… What kind of test required a separate space? He couldn’t let his guard down.  Who knew what kind of arrows or dangers might suddenly appear and attack him?

“You don’t need to be so tense.”

A familiar voice came from behind him.  Then, a soft, white hand lifted him up.

“[Who are you?!]”

“Have you forgotten my voice?”

The mysterious being turned him around so they could face each other, and he could clearly see their appearance.  Shining golden hair and eyes, as if made from molten gold.  And clothes distinctly different from modern attire, resembling a character cosplay, complete with translucent, wing-like sleeves that added to the mystical aura.

There was no mistaking it.  Those facial features, the striking beauty, the attire that matched his memories, and the unique wing-like sleeves.  Everything pointed to one being he knew.

“[…Rine?]”

“Yes, Hero.”

The goddess Rine, the creator of this world and the land that would be called the Criado Continent in the future.  She smiled gently at him.

“[W-Why is the goddess…?]”

“Hmm? Who else could do something like this?” she said, sitting down on an ornate chair that seemed to have materialized out of thin air. “First of all, congratulations on safely passing one year in this world.”

Words of congratulation from the goddess to someone who had endured a year in an unfamiliar world.  However, he frowned.

“[Did you drag all the gallery users, including me, into this world?]”

“You’re one-fourth correct.”

“[O-One-fourth?]”

What was that vague number?  Not half, but one-fourth? That meant there were at least three other accomplices besides her.

*Pat. Pat.*

“But it’s still fascinating. Everyone else arrived with their original bodies.”

“[Didn’t you deliberately make me like this?]”

“Of course not. I don’t have that kind of power.”

Rine gently stroked his body as she spoke. “Are you uncomfortable?”

“[Not particularly, now.]”

There had been many inconveniences at first.  But as time healed all wounds, he had completely adapted to his current body.

“[So, why did you bring me here?]”

“For the Gallery Maintenance Test.”

“[Then what do I have to do here? Do I have to take some kind of test?]”

A written test, or a combat test?  He stared into her eyes, trying to discern her intentions.  As if she knew what he was thinking, she gave a small smile, touched the tip of his nose with her finger, and said, “It’s not that kind of test, so don’t worry.  You just have to have a simple conversation with me.”

“[That’s all?]”

“Yes. Simple, right?”

He couldn’t help but nod.  But judging from the reactions in the gallery, everyone else seemed to be in a panic.

“The reason is simple. Everyone forgets what happened here. They wait for the results without knowing anything about the process, so naturally, their anxiety increases.”

“[How did you read my mind…?]”

“I may look like this, but I’m a goddess. Reading minds is easy.”

He nodded again at the implied warning not to lie.  Since she could read his mind, lies were pointless.

“Now! Let’s begin the test~. Our Hero. What is your name?”

“[El Grace.]”

“El Grace…?”

“[The name I created here.]”

“Ah, right.”

*Rustle*

A small cluster of light gathered to his right, forming letters.

Examinee: El Grace

Age: 1 year old

Gender: Male

Years in the World: 1 year

“[What’s that?]”

“Just some basic personal information.”

As he was checking the information being added, a question suddenly flew at him.

“How is the gallery?”

“[It was good for relieving boredom.]”

“You make it sound like it isn’t anymore.”

“[You’re not asking because you don’t know, are you?]”

The goddess who created the gallery couldn’t possibly be unaware of what had happened.  As expected, the upturned corners of her lips indicated that she knew and was asking on purpose.

“[Rine. As a goddess and the creator of the gallery, can’t you resolve the current situation?]”

“If I intervened, I could.”

“[…You’re not going to do anything.]”

So, it was the usual “I don’t interfere in mortal affairs” kind of thing?

“Hero. I respect the choices of all the heroes who come here.”

“[So, you’re saying you’ll leave the trolls alone because they’re also heroes?]”

“Heehee. That’s right. The gallery is a place for heroes to communicate freely. I, as a goddess, cannot suppress your freedom.”

Rine smiled, her face full of conviction in her choice.

“[As I thought.]”

Seeing that face, he finally understood.  So that was it.  It had been strange from the beginning.

“[You’re not Rine.]”

The one pretending to be Rine stopped stroking his body.  For some reason, they looked wronged.

“I am Rine, the one you just called, the goddess who created the Criado Continent. What’s wrong?”

“[…Your appearance, your voice, all the information I’ve gathered from SEH points to you being Rine.]”

*Whoosh*

He stirred the wind and escaped from the imposter’s embrace.  As if to hear what he had to say, they released him without resistance.  He continued, “[But my gamer’s intuition tells me you’re not.  Answer me. Who are you?!]”

“…”

They stared down at him, then their lips curled into a strange, unsettling smile, completely different from before.

“Oh my.”

*Tzzzzt*

“How unpleasant.”

The beautiful, golden hair and eyes turned into a deep, abyssal black. The benevolent smile was replaced with one of clear contempt and mockery.

“How did you know?”

Three pairs of black wings unfolded behind them, and a vast darkness engulfed the space.

—–CROW—–