I Became a Gallery Manager in Another World

Chapter 131: Lifting Elfrida (1)

1 hour and 50 minutes before the date with Elfrida.

The designated meeting place, ‘Universal Land,’ gradually came into view.

Although I usually arrived about 10 minutes early for appointments, today I set off 3 hours in advance to avoid being late.

‘…I don’t know what might happen if I’m late.’

Thump─!! Thump─!!

My heart pounded violently at the thought of Elfrida.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t due to the sweet anticipation of a first date, but rather a tension born from survival instinct.

“I must succeed.”

I clenched my fist and made a resolution.

Honestly, I doubted if I could survive the ‘true madness’ of Elfrida.

「Elfrida Carlerea」

Dazzling appearance, top grades in the first year, exceptional athletic skills, and breaking the stereotype that high elves are arrogant by mingling with various races—a true paragon.

‘…and she personally helped me a lot too.’

Even in Estelle’s incident, if it weren’t for Elfrida’s help, it would have resulted in the worst outcome.

Despite being someone who naturally drew affection from others…

‘Is it because I know her true nature as JustSayNiceThings■?’

No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that Elfrida was barely hiding her true self behind a facade.

Swoosh─

[JustSayNiceThings■] = [Elfrida Carlerea]

[Post 484489 Comments 21413]

[Search Posts] [Go to Gallog] [Block]

Look.

And tremble.

At the overwhelming ratio of posts to comments.

The gallery’s average post-to-comment ratio is about 1 to 3, but Elfrida’s is a staggering 22 to 1.

According to the post-to-comment ratio theory, Elfrida’s disruptive power was at least 66 times that of ordinary gallery users.

Of course, this didn’t include posts made by temporary accounts, so if you factored in VPN spamming, Poporing might rank higher.

“…But Poporing is a fake madman.”

I didn’t rate her like that just because she gave me a titjob recently.

Logically, could someone who called themselves one of the top 3 villains really be a true villain?

The very fact that she used a ‘VPN’ to spam and tried to become a villain with ‘tactical nukes’ meant she’s a ‘fake’ who couldn’t become a ‘real’ one.

However…

JustSayNiceThings■ = Elfrida was different.

[Author: JustSayNiceThings■]

[What do olives and dark-skinned demons have in common?][13]

(A picture of black olives and dark-skinned demons.jpg)

Did you think it’s because they’re black?

Such racially discriminatory thoughts hurt the continent.

‘The correct answer is that you can squeeze juice out of them if you hit them.’ Lol.

[Author: JustSayNiceThings■]

[Elves are the most superior beings on the continent and excel above all other races.][32]

High elves, in particular, are the most superior, and this can be proven magically. Humans are trash scattered across the continent, beastmen are subhuman lowlifes, and dark-skinned people are the lowest creatures, unworthy of mention.

[Author: JustSayNiceThings■]

[What the f you little s of a demon, let me stick a tactical nuke up your a.][3]

At first glance, these posts might seem like typical supremacist rants common in the gallery, combined with attention-seeking behavior.

“The truly scary part is that Elfrida seems to genuinely believe this, not just playing a character…”

No joke, I once thought JustSayNiceThings■’s discriminatory comments were crossing the line and blocked her for 72 hours.

JustSayNiceThings■: Moderator, you motherless b, why are you blocking an innocent user?

JustSayNiceThings■: Answer.

JustSayNiceThings■: Answer me, you fing condom-company-apology-letter b.

JustSayNiceThings■: Wow, you’re really not going to answer until the end? You don’t know my temper. Today, you’re going to suffer.

...

..

Seeing her flood the gallery with unspeakable insults the moment the block was lifted, I was horrified.

‘Really… It’s a good thing I don’t actually have a mother.’

If I did, she would have been deeply hurt.

Anyway, after calming down the rampaging Elfrida and explaining why she was blocked, her response was equally astonishing.

JustSayNiceThings■: ?

JustSayNiceThings■: Is that really something so bad that it deserves a block?

JustSayNiceThings■: If you don’t like it, you shouldn’t have been born as a dark-skinned person. Lol.

“….”

Still, I thought this was just her ‘gallery’ persona.

The gallery persona being opposite to real-life behavior wasn’t exclusive to Elfrida.

Yuris or Laplace also thoroughly distinguish between reality and the gallery, didn’t they?

However, when Elfrida’s veil was lifted and her true nature was glimpsed, all that remained in me was fear.

-I’m really fine and I can understand everything. But… it seems the spirits aren’t okay with it.

-So, when will you go? When are you going? What month, what day, what time?

-Senior Ian… Do you have to keep that promise this time…? Or not…

The look in Elfrida’s eyes when she said that was completely off.

I wasn’t trying to say I was right and Elfrida was wrong, no matter what.

It wasn’t intentional, but just as Elfrida said, I only sought her out when I needed information and avoided her otherwise.

If someone treated me like that, I’d be angry too.

‘…But to summon all four high spirits?’

But summoning all four high spirits was crossing the line, no matter how you looked at it.

Even now, I could still feel the overwhelming presence of the high spirits that surrounded us.

After all, what were high spirits?

They were the pinnacle of spirits, save for the legendary ‘Spirit King.’

No matter how skilled an elf, handling even one high spirit of a single attribute was a difficult task. Handling two would make them sought after everywhere, and handling three would elevate them to a national power-level spirit mage.

I knew Elfrida was a genius…

Ever since the entrance exam, people had been buzzing about the monstrous genius high elf who could handle high spirits of all four attributes. So, I knew Elfrida could control high spirits, but I never imagined I’d see it with my own eyes.

‘So today, I have to be careful not to show any signs.’

I was a pretty perceptive guy.

For some reason, I knew Elfrida had feelings for me.

I was really grateful for that, but…

Unfortunately, Elfrida seemed too overwhelming for me to handle.

[Author: ㅇㅇ(312.849)]

[Top 15 Worst Things To Do On A Date][31]

Talking about other people.

Making your date pay for everything.

Begging for gifts.

Barely listening to your date’s stories.

Asking “What should we do?” without any plans.

...

..

.

‘Let’s show just the right amount of unlikable behavior to lower Elfrida’s affection!’

My goal today was to remain just a good senior in Elfrida’s eyes.

Step─ Step─

As I reviewed my date plans once again while walking towards the entrance of ‘Universal Land.’

“Huh…?”

I had a feeling I saw Elfrida’s distinctive twin tails.

“….”

No, it wasn’t just a feeling; Elfrida, wearing a straw hat, was really there.

‘She arrived this early with 1 hour and 30 minutes still left until the appointed time?’

As I was pondering what to do with my plan already derailed from the start, a sudden gust of wind blew.

Whiiing─

“….”

As she held down her straw hat with both hands to keep it from being blown away, her smooth armpits without a trace of hair and the refreshing mint scent wafted from somewhere.

Raising both hands naturally, her white dress went up dangerously high, showcasing her plump, healthy thighs.

“…Right.”

I was thinking incorrectly.

No matter how villainous Elfrida… or rather, JustSayNiceThings■ had been, she was still nothing more than a ‘young girl’ younger than me.

There was no need to be afraid or nervous.

‘Yeah, yeah. Sometimes, even high spirits might threaten you in life.’

That didn’t mean what Elfrida did to me was right.

But why were adults respected?

Because they were the ones who took responsibility.

‘If a child walks the wrong path…. That’s not the child’s fault. It’s the adult’s responsibility.’

Even though it was only a two-year difference, I had the responsibility to guide Elfrida down the right path as an ‘adult.’

Moreover, wasn’t I a ‘gallery administrator’?

Not only did I have the responsibility as an adult, but also the duty as an ‘administrator’ to return a disruptive member to a normal gallery user.

“Oh my! Sunbae~! You’re early!”

Squeeze─!

Seeing Elfrida’s bright smile…

I didn’t choose to be a gallery administrator, but with grit and determination, I decided to take responsibility for Elfrida.