Otherworld Destruction Gallery

Wine Lovers (2)

"Do you believe in the Head Moderator?"

One day, such a title appeared in the gallery.

It was a phrase that had a distinctly cult-like vibe.

However, the post soon garnered a lot of attention and proudly occupied a spot in the featured posts.

Author: Ju-Hwang-Pa

(A picture of a cute girl version of the Head Moderator)

"It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe in the Head Moderator now.

Isn’t it enough to start believing from this moment on?

All of you in this gallery must have received the Head Moderator’s help at least once.

Perhaps it even saved your life.

No, it surely did.

Even if it wasn’t your life, perhaps the lives of your family, relatives, friends, lovers, or acquaintances were saved by the Head Moderator.

Then why don’t you believe in the Head Moderator?

Why do you refuse to believe in the Head Moderator but fervently cheer for gods of other religions who have done nothing for you?

We must recognize this contradiction.

Now, believe in the Head Moderator.

Join the Ju-sa-mo.

Let your mind and body prosper within the gallery.

It’s not too late yet."

[Upvotes: 1023] [Downvotes: 4023]

"Wow, look at the number of downvotes."

"What kind of meme is this now?"

"Wow, look at the artwork."

"(With arms wide open, praise!)"

"Honestly, it reeks of a cult, but when you read it carefully, it kind of makes sense."

ㄴ "That’s how you fall into a cult."

ㄴ "Soon enough, you’ll lose all your money to the leader and work forever as a servant."

ㄴ "Mind and body both? lewd noises"

Naturally, the initial reactions were not good.

In a collapsing world, the image of a cult evokes nothing but greed, opportunism, and borderline criminality.

Indeed, many pseudo-cults were springing up everywhere, spreading repulsion.

The gallery’s cold reception was expected, but the more people engaged with it, the more they noticed something different.

"Haha, they’re just crazy money-hungry lunatics. You think they won’t extort money under the guise of donations?"

ㄴ Ju-Hwang-Pa: "Donations are voluntary."

ㄴ Ju-Hwang-Pa: "Donations are purely a gesture of faith made by believers of their own accord. Why would we coerce them?"

ㄴ "?!"

ㄴ "Wait, what?"

They didn’t forcibly collect donations.

Voluntary donations.

The atmosphere grew curious at this statement, but anyone can make bold claims with words.

"Yeah, anyone can talk big, even me. I’m the Head Moderator too, okay?"

"Right? Who knows if they’re just all talk?"

"Yeah, then I’m Frederick."

ㄴ "?!"

ㄴ "A Frederick-catching Head Moderator, huh?"

ㄴ "LOL, so you admit you’re the Head Moderator too."

Everyone brushed it off as just another run-of-the-mill cult.

Surely, they must fund themselves through illicit means.

But everyone’s assumptions were easily overturned.

[Title: I commissioned a pseudo-cult artist…jpg]

(A picture of a half-elf cute girl version of the Head Moderator)

"Wow... Umm... Haha.

Anyway, the detail is insane.

Are they seriously a pseudo-cult but ridiculously talented?

And they only charge 50 mana pellets for this quality?!"

[Upvotes: 10] [Downvotes: 0]

"Oh."

"Whoa."

"WTF, this is so well-drawn."

"The clothing folds, the detail, it’s insane!"

Diehard Vampire: "Masterpiece."

"Why are they working so hard and earning money properly though?"

The members of Ju-sa-mo, the group called "The People Who Love the Head Moderator," funded their operations entirely through honest labor.

And they were diligent about it.

Especially in the arts.

Commissions, sculptures, novels, and so on.

"Wow, they’re really different."

"Seriously, every time I see their commissions, I’m amazed."

"I should ask the Head Moderator to draw something for me too."

ㄴ Head Moderator: "Why do people keep saying it’s me?"

ㄴ Head Moderator: "The drawing doesn’t even look like me to begin with."

ㄴ "What does strong denial mean?"

ㄴ (A picture of a cute girl version of the Head Moderator blushing in a skirt)

ㄴ Head Moderator: "AHHHHHHH!"

Voluntary donations and diligence?

Even the gallery members’ reactions started shifting to favorability.

“We can’t even ban them…”

The only issue was that they kept using their talents to draw and sculpt representations of the Head Moderator, but they cleverly never crossed the line.

As I was contemplating whether to let them be or not, a familiar face appeared just in time.

[Title: Do Not Be Tempted by the Whisperings of Heretics]

It was none other than the church, whose face reddens the most at any mention of religious topics.

As always, the church initiated the first move.

[Title: The Head Moderator Is Still Human]

No matter how extraordinary they are, they are not a god.

Why would a human worship and pray to another human?

Do not fall for the whisperings of heretics.

[Upvotes: 4332] [Downvotes: 1203]

"But that’s true, though."

"The Head Moderator is undeniably amazing, but they’re just an incredible human, not a god."

"I want to kiss the Head Moderator, but worshipping them as a god is a bit much."

ㄴ Head Moderator: "Can’t you just not do either?"

The church, trusted by the majority during medieval times, had plenty of experience dealing with heresies.

This time too, they attempted suppression through sheer numbers and media play.

However, the problem was that the world was no longer your typical medieval era.

[Title: So, Did Your God Save the World?]

(A thumbs-up hedgehog meme)

Was the god you believed in so great that they just stood by and watched as the world ended?

Did they drop even a crumb of stale bread from the heavens?

Or perhaps provide muddy water to the thirsty?

Or were they just using religion as a business to make money while you starved?

The believers were skin and bones, yet the bishops were rolling in fat.

How many donation scandals must there be before people stop falling for them? LOL.

[Upvotes: 3043] [Downvotes: 2032]

"You blasphemous wretch!!!!!"

ㄴ "LOL, can’t deny those facts."

ㄴ "Fact check: True."

"Now that I think about it, this makes sense."

"LOL, look at how the upvotes are overturning the downvotes."

"This is so satisfying~~"

"Truth always prevails, even from a heretic."

ㄴ "That heretic’s boldness is impressive."

"But aren’t these guys also crazy?"

ㄴ "They’re drawing lewd pictures of the Head Moderator they supposedly worship. WTF LOL."

ㄴ Author: "That’s also faith."

ㄴ Author: "What’s wrong with venerating and honoring the beautiful Head Moderator as a goddess?"

ㄴ Author: (A picture of a half-elf Head Moderator lowering her skirt shyly)

ㄴ "Fwoosh~"

ㄴ "Wow, that actually makes sense now."

The so-called cult was, in truth, harmless to society.

"Well, except for me."

No matter what, the church had nothing left to say.

In reality, they were guilty of countless scandals involving corruption, forced donations, and even abuse of their believers.

"Has the church issued a rebuttal?"

ㄴ "LOL, they’re too scared to say anything."

ㄴ "Every time, they’re quick to speak, but now they’re silent because they can’t come up with anything."

The church, clearly losing the argument, resorted to a predictable response.

[Title: Religious Tribunal Held in Adrian]

(A picture of heretics tied to crosses)

(A picture of them being whipped and humiliated)

"I was doing a commission for one of the cultists, and suddenly the inquisitors stormed into the tavern.

Then they dragged the cultist away and held a religious tribunal like this.

They’re beating them mercilessly. What do I do?

I feel so bad I can’t even watch."

[Upvotes: 5320] [Downvotes: 102]

"Oh, sh*t, this is too much."

"Even Satan would reject this."

"What did they even do wrong to deserve this kind of treatment?"

Author: "Even now, the cultist refuses to admit fault and is shouting something."

ㄴ "What are they saying?"

ㄴ Author: "They said something like this. I heard it clearly."

ㄴ "Damn, we’ve been tricked."

The church had launched straight into religious trials and witch hunts.

When Adrian was split into two factions, over 80% of the church decided to stay in Adrian.

The church, still holding significant power, began aggressively oppressing cults within Adrian.

Of course, in Kellyerton, where many cults were based, resistance arose in defiance of the church.

[Title: Chaos in Kellyerton ㄷㄷ]

(A picture of a church believer lying on the ground)

(A picture of cult believers gathering around them)

A church believer went on a rampage in the town square, loudly cursing the cults, and it seems the cultists couldn't take it anymore.

A group assault broke out in the square ㄷㄷ.

[Upvotes: 4302] [Downvotes: 302]

"What is happening that it’s become this chaotic?"

ㄴ Author: "The believer threw filth at the statue of the Head Moderator, enraging the cultists."

ㄴ "Oh, yeah, that’s crossing the line."

ㄴ "You don’t mess with the cute Head Moderator statue ㅇㅇ."

Eventually, verbal disputes escalated into real-world violence.

What started as a simple religious conflict drew the attention of unrelated outsiders who began getting involved.

And it seemed this chaos had caught the attention of moderators as well.

[Admin Chat]

Diehard Vampire: "This is getting interesting."

Diehard Vampire: (Popcorn-eating cute Head Moderator meme)

Full Elf: "It looks like tactical nukes are being launched indiscriminately ㅡㅡ."

Full Elf: "What will you do now?"

Head Moderator: "Hmm."

It was a situation teetering on the edge of total chaos.

The moderators waited for my decision.

"Head Moderator, help!!!"

"Do something, Head Moderator!!!"

As unrelated gallery members began to feel real-world consequences, the confusion intensified.

"Well, it’s not hard to solve this."

Fortunately, I had learned a method from a certain organization back in pre-transfer Korea.

It was called collective responsibility.

And as always, that method worked wonders.

[The Head Moderator’s Marketplace item ‘Cola’ will be removed.]

"????"

"WTF, Head Moderator! What are you doing!!!"

"Head Moderator bro?"

It would bring about a solution.

Cola vanished from the marketplace.

Gallery members, accustomed to drinking cola daily, descended into chaos in an instant.

"How am I supposed to live without cola?"

"Are we supposed to die of thirst?"

ㄴ "Just drink water."

ㄴ "How is water the same as cola?"

ㄴ "We’re talking about cola, and you’re bringing up water. I swear, I’ll...!"

ㄴ "???"

The cult gallery members, who found peace of mind in the refreshing liberation brought by carbonation, suffered the most.

"I’m pausing commissions temporarily..."

"This is divine will. Accept it as such..."

"It’s all the church’s fault!"

ㄴ "For real, if the church had just stayed quiet..."

ㄴ "Wait, isn’t this all because the cultists acted up?"

ㄴ "Who let the dog bark LOL."

ㄴ "Church folks don’t need cola anyway LOL."

Of course, amidst all this, the blame game began, with people arguing over who was at fault.

But even in situations like this, there’s always a good solution.

[The Head Moderator’s Marketplace item ‘Castella’ will be removed.]

"AHHHHHHH!"

"No, this is insane!!!"

Removing yet another item from the marketplace.

Particularly with castella, even the church couldn’t act as arrogantly as before.

"Isn’t the church holding communion soon?"

"Should they bake some bread since there’s no castella?"

"A communion with no holy offering?! Boom-shaka-boom."

"Church goers in shambles."

This was because castella was the church’s communion bread.

"God, I want to strangle these religious nuts LOL."

ㄴ "Gagging noises"

ㄴ "For real, what did I even do wrong?"

"Um, why did the Head Moderator’s castella suddenly disappear from the marketplace?"

"There must be some kind of error!"

"Also, I don’t see cola anymore either ㅠㅠ."

ㄴ "Ugh, Elf users are always so slow at gathering intel."

ㄴ "?? What, are you just now catching onto this thread?"

The atmosphere grew more and more heated.

"Still, I think they’ve probably learned their lesson by now."

The church, in particular, already scarred from past incidents, was quick to bow its head.

Now, if only these so-called Ju-sa-mo members would reflect.

...They’re too quiet.

"What’s going on?"

Why did everything suddenly get this quiet?

[A bartering request has been sent to you.]

At that moment, a gallery member suspected to be part of Ju-sa-mo suddenly sent me a bartering request.

"Huh, out of nowhere?"

When I entered the bartering chatroom, I saw this.

Ju-Hwang-Pa: "Oh, Head Moderator!! I am overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude that you have responded to my request!!!"

Head Moderator: "Yeah, so what do you want to trade?"

Ju-Hwang-Pa: "It’s not that—I have a pressing question that this lowly believer dares to present in prayer!!!!!"

Head Moderator: "What."

"Are they seriously trying to be this openly friendly with me?"

This was as blatant as the last time someone tried to suck up to me after the World Tree incident.

Before banning the gallery member, I decided to see what they were trying to say by initiating the bartering chat.

And the question they asked was utterly ridiculous.

Ju-Hwang-Pa: "Head Moderator, may I ask where you live?"

They were openly trying to dig into my personal information right in front of me.