Chapter 10 : Minor Bulletin Board

I had been very busy the past few days.

The amount of usable spiritual resources steadily increased as I purchased elf slaves. I created a ‘voice-image’ encryption system using the demon’s ability to store sound and crafted simple magic tools that could operate solely on Mana Stones, without relying on the system.

Adding secondary functions like Listen Again and music streaming, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I worked 240 hours a day.

But…

Hard work always pays off.

“The era of the internet revolution has finally arrived!”

I finally succeeded in creating a device that could use ‘network magic.’

This device, shaped like a Wi-Fi router, allowed the use of network magic within a 10-meter radius. It was also portable, so you could just carry it around and use it outside.

I no longer needed to transmit data by forcibly routing it through myself using the system.

“The only available functions are the bulletin board and music upload… but that’s enough for now.”

So…

It was time to distribute this worldwide.

[“Hello, friends! This darn mage is back from the dead again. Oh, messages are already pouring in. I want to read them as soon as possible, but first, I have some important news.”]

[“Remember how I said my goal was to connect the entire world on the first day of the broadcast?”]

[“I connected the souls of the entire world with network magic, but until now, only I could use this magic. Others could only communicate with me by sending messages or using the Megaphone during the broadcast. I was connected to the entire world, but others weren’t.”]

[“But now, it’s different.”]

[“Network Magic Tool.”]

[“I’ve created a special magic tool that allows you to use network magic within a 10-meter radius, and I’ll be distributing it to everyone. Anyone within the range of the magic tool will be able to communicate with each other, no matter where they are in the world.”]

[“You no longer have to rely on my broadcasts, waiting for me to read your messages or using the Megaphone. You can post directly on the bulletin board.”]

[“Not only that, but you can even create and upload your own voice content. Others can download and listen to your voice. If you’re a bard, you’d want to share your music with the world, right? Now you can upload it directly. The Listen Again function, which required a mid-grade Mana Stone each time, can now be used repeatedly with just one download if you have the magic tool.”]

[“Ah, you do have to charge the magic tool with Mana Stones, but even a low-grade Mana Stone will keep it running for several hours, so don’t worry.”]

[“So, you’re curious how you can get one, right?”]

[“From this moment on, 30,000 people. I’ll choose 30,000 people who send me messages and give them the ‘Network Magic Tool’ as a gift. Anyone within a 10-meter radius can use network magic, so the actual number of users will be even greater. You can even install the magic tool in a public place for everyone to use.”]

[“Ah, but don’t try to monopolize them or take them by force. Especially the Empire. If you try to confiscate them all for military use and supply them to your expeditionary forces, I can also reveal the locations of your troops in real time to the entire world. Understood? Of course, it’s fine if your soldiers send messages and win, so feel free to encourage them to send messages.”]

[“So, you understand?”]

[“Now, compete.”]

Demon Realm. Demon Monarch’s Castle.

Demon Monarch’s Office.

[You are a user who has been blocked from using the message function.]

“Graaagh—!”

The Demon Monarch was still blocked for threatening another user.

Since the block period still had a few hours remaining, she couldn’t participate in the competition for the Network Magic Tool, even if she wanted to.

“I’ll kill them! I’ll kill them! I will definitely kill that damned ‘AloneisSad’ bastard!”
“Demon Monarch, the documents you need to process today…”

“I’ll kill them—!”
“E-Eeek?! I-I’ll come back la— ”

“Wait! Hey, Chief Administrator!”
“Y-Yes?!”

The Demon Monarch, screaming in a fit of rage, stopped the terrified Chief Administrator.

The reason was simple.

“Immediately order all the Demon King’s Army. Tell them to send messages to the unknown Archmage.”
“Yes?”

If she couldn’t send a message herself, she could have the demons under her command do it.

[“Of course, it’s fine if your soldiers send messages and win, so feel free to encourage them to send messages.”]

That’s what the mage had said.

Come to think of it, this was a battle between groups. The side that sent more messages and secured more magic tools would win.

And…

The Demon Realm had Mana Stones in abundance.

“We must secure the most magic tools in the Demon Realm! Even if it means mining Mana Stones all day, flood him with messages!”
“Y-Yes! Understood!”

The Chief Administrator rushed out.

The Demon Monarch finally leaned back against her throne with a satisfied smile.

‘That ‘AloneisSad’ fellow said they were alone several times.’

There would be a limit to the number of messages one person could send.

The Demon Monarch intended to ensure that ‘AloneisSad’ wouldn’t receive a single magic tool.

Empire. Capital City.

Imperial Palace. Court Mage’s Tower.

“This is our chance to analyze the network magic! From now on, all the Mana Stones in the tower’s reserves will be used to send messages!”

The Court Mages were also busy trying to secure the ‘Network Magic Tool.’

They opened the tower’s Mana Stone reserves without limit.

“If we run out of low-grade Mana Stones, split the mid-grade and high-grade ones! Even if it means using all the Mana Stones in the tower’s reserves, we must secure the magic tools!”
“B-But Commander, if we use all the reserve Mana Stones, the mana supply to the Imperial Palace will be disrupted…”

“We mages can supply the mana ourselves!”
“Yes?!”

“It doesn’t matter if we collapse from mana exhaustion! Securing those magic tools is our top priority!”
“U-Understood!”

Sitting in the Mana Stone reserve, writing messages…

The young court mage could only pray that this summer wouldn’t be too hot, and this winter wouldn’t be too cold.

A court mage collapsing from mana exhaustion while operating the heating and cooling magic circles… wouldn’t that be too tragic?

Empire. Underground Sewers.

The hideout of the Demon Cultists.

“This is our chance to spread our ideals to the world! To show those hateful followers of God who is truly great!”

The Demon Cultists saw this as a tremendous opportunity.

If they could secure even one magic tool, they could spread their demonic cult’s ideology to the world.

The day would come when praises to the truly great one, not to a god who didn’t answer prayers, would resound throughout the world.

“Oh, Great One! Aid your servants!”

Although they had wasted many Mana Stones failing to summon a demon in the Magic Kingdom…

Most of the Mana Stones needed for demon summoning were mid-grade or higher, so they actually had plenty of low-grade Mana Stones.

And so…

The Demon Cultists also joined the competition for the magic tools.

Various nations and groups with vested interests, merchants trying to advertise their goods worldwide, bards wanting to make a name for themselves, even a hero and a vampire somewhere who simply wanted to talk to others…

Literally everyone in the world competed for Mana Stones.

Hundreds of millions of low-grade Mana Stones were consumed, and in the process, the price of low-grade Mana Stones skyrocketed, making adventurers who mined Mana Stones in labyrinths incredibly wealthy. Lords with Mana Stone mines earned several months’ worth of tax revenue in a single day.

The world’s supply of Mana Stones completely dried up.

[“The magic tools will be sent automatically through the blue window, just like the giveaways.”]

After a fierce competition, the winners of the Network Magic Tool were decided.

Truly…

The entire world was connected into a single network.

After the broadcast, I finished sending 30,000 Network Magic Tools using magic.

I left the workshop and activated ‘Universal Network Magic’.

I wondered if people were adapting well.

“Let’s see…”

[Free Bulletin Board]

[Hello!!!]
[How do you write here???]
[Recruiting party members to raid the Great Labyrinth.]
[Praise the truly great one.]

“They’re adapting well.”

Perhaps everyone was testing out their new magic tools; hundreds of posts were being uploaded every second.

I was slightly worried, but the server was holding up well.

“But with only one bulletin board, the posts are being buried too quickly.”

Imagine all the internet users in the world writing on a single bulletin board.

In just a few minutes, newly written posts would be buried in the depths.

“Hmm…”

I pondered for a moment, then slightly modified the magic to add another function.

It didn’t take long, since it was one of the features I had already tested during the simulations.

The function I added was simple.

[Minor Bulletin Board Creation Guide]

Minor Bulletin Boards.

What they called ‘forums’ on Earth in my past life.

“The essence of internet communities is forums.”

Once again, the advanced culture of Earth revealed itself in this world.