Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Ghost House - 4
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"Urghhh..."
About three months ago, my race had changed from human to Fervent Devotee.
But just because my body got tougher as a Fervent Devotee didn't mean my stomach got any stronger.
Thump thump.
Wriggles.
Walls, floor, ceiling.
Pinkish chunks of flesh clung densely to every surface above, below, and all around, constantly shifting.
Some throbbed like heartbeats.
Others writhed like veins.
One thing was certain: it was so grotesque that I instinctively wanted to squeeze my eyes shut.
Even so, I pressed forward.
It wasn't like some sudden burst of courage fueled by the resolve to 'rescue Yoo Euisul and Ahn Soohee!'
No.
The entrance was just sealed shut, damn it.
I could come in whenever I wanted, but getting out? Not so much.
I made a vow right then.
From now on, I would never dare rebel against Reflecting Myriad Stars.
I advanced slowly through the giant's innards.
The squelching sensation transmitted up from my shoes still hadn't grown familiar.
But from the start, moving forward was my only option.
How many minutes had passed?
It felt like at least thirty.
The air flow shifted.
The moment I stepped ahead, something terrifying would happen—I was certain of it.
There was no evidence, but my gut screamed, 'Danger ahead.'
Was it my Fervent Devotee danger sense, or Reflecting Myriad Stars warning me?
I had no idea.
But since I was already inside the Ghost House, running back wasn't an option.
I let out three heavy sighs and took a step.
Splat.
Suddenly, I face-planted into the squishy flesh carpeting the floor.
"Gyaahhh! Fuck!"
I spat out every curse under the sun in my mind while hacking up saliva nonstop.
My tongue had touched the flesh.
It was horrific.
...Cases where I randomly face-plant into the ground are only ever the price of blasphemy, right?
Just moments ago, I hadn't blasphemed—in fact, I'd resolved to obey Reflecting Myriad Stars from now on.
So why the penalty for blasphemy?
Maybe Reflecting Myriad Stars was warning me again that it was dangerous ahead?
...Nah, that didn't seem right.
Before entering the Ghost House, I'd already gotten plenty of warnings.
Whatever the case, it looked like Reflecting Myriad Stars had decided to trust me once.
Blocking me now wouldn't change...
Splat!
"Gyaahhh!"
About a minute later, I face-planted into the flesh again.
What the hell?
Not blasphemy—maybe the Anomalous Phenomenon affecting me?
Just in case, I checked the wiki with my ability.
Still, it was plastered with censored deletions.
Exactly one minute later.
After face-planting once more, it hit me.
Ah.
I just need to run like hell.
If I don't want to keep smashing my face into this nauseating flesh, I need to resolve this filthy Anomalous Phenomenon as fast as possible.
Squelch, squelch.
Splat!
"Urghhh..."
Squelch, squelch.
Splat!
"Urp..."
And so I started sprinting, kicking off the flesh.
Before long, something appeared ahead.
"...Huh?"
It was Ahn Soohee.
For some reason, she lay collapsed on the floor, her left arm wrapped in bandages.
"H-Hey! Over here! Soohee? Are you okay? Hey!"
This was bad.
Ahn Soohee was an Awakener dozens of times stronger than a nobody like me.
If the Grand Magus herself was passed out like this, there was no guarantee Yoo Euisul was safe.
I yelled at her unconscious form, but no response...
"Ahhh... Good sleep. Huh, Jia? Weren't you supposed to wait outside?"
...She was just sleeping.
......
......
......
I got the full story from her once she woke up.
"So, every 2,000 meters, whatever that person hates and fears most manifests, and it even affects reality. Right?"
"Spot on. This is a new type of Anomalous Phenomenon for me too—I was totally thrown off. So, Jia, you should probably just stay here quietly with me. You know Euisul..."
"Is completely immune to mental attacks."
"Yeah. Euisul is the perfect counter to this Anomalous Phenomenon, so if we just wait..."
Splat!
"Guaahhh!"
"...I've been wondering since earlier, but are you scared of face-planting into the floor?"
"Yeah, kinda..."
To be precise, it was the price of blasphemy I feared, but same difference.
I wasn't sure if it was a blessing or curse that the Ghost House floor was all soft, squishy flesh.
Anyway.
"I'll go ahead after Euisul unnie. Soohee, you wait here."
"...Didn't you hear me? The farther you go, the scarier it gets for you."
"I heard. But it's fine."
"Mind if I ask why?"
"Reflecting Myriad Stars is protecting me."
"..."
Ahn Soohee looked baffled at my words.
But I was more sincere than ever.
Reflecting Myriad Stars would.
Bestow grace to keep my mind from breaking and protect me from harm.
When I dug in my heels, Ahn Soohee sighed.
"Fine. You're an Awakener that stubborn Euisul approved of, so I won't stop you anymore. I don't even have the strength to anyway. But Jia, remember this one thing."
Ahn Soohee closed her eyes briefly, recalling something.
Then, her face paling to a deathly shade, sweat pouring down, she spoke.
"The 'thing' I faced at the third point... No human mind could endure it. I... I didn't even know I feared something like that."
"..."
"Once this Anomalous Phenomenon is resolved, I'm asking the Association to wipe today's memories entirely. Yeah, otherwise, I probably..."
I didn't ask what she'd seen.
Thanks to her, I understood the Anomalous Phenomenon's attack pattern.
A major gain.
I bowed ninety degrees to her.
"Thanks for the advice. But I've got Reflecting Myriad Stars behind me, and I'm not human anymore, so it'll be fine."
"...Is that so?"
"Yes. Then, pass out again. Want me to knock you out?"
"Not surprising you're Euisul's friend—you're clearly not normal either. No need, I can knock myself out. See you."
Ahn Soohee forced a smile and said to me.
"Let's properly introduce ourselves later, Jia."
With that.
She passed out.
......
......
......
I reached the end of the first point.
Face-planting into flesh every minute was driving me insane.
But better than bare ground by a hundred—no, a thousand times.
At least the squishiness meant no pain.
Alright.
Next up: the second point.
Where the Anomalous Phenomenon's second mental attack hits.
Ahn Soohee hated zombies, so she started seeing hundreds of them.
And they even physically affected her.
Wonder what I'll see.
I don't even know what I fear...
...Whatever it is, Reflecting Myriad Stars will protect me.
As I entered the second point.
Suddenly.
A holographic something appeared in my vision.
I was used to holograms from the wiki, so it didn't shock me much.
Weird, do I fear the wiki?
No.
Looking closer, it wasn't the wiki.
This was.
📺 Live Chat - Me - Rock - Me - Rock - Me - Rock - Die bitch. Die bitch. Die bitch. Die bitch. Die bitch. - Res~~~~t forever. Res~~~~t forever. Res~~~~t forever. - ㅈTuber tanked hard, karma's a bitch ㅋㅋ upvote if satisfying ㅋㅋ ㅈTuber tanked hard, karma's a bitch ㅋㅋ upvote if satisfying ㅋㅋ - Jump out a window lol A chat window.
Mm, no doubt about it—this was definitely a chat.
My vision's chat was flooded with "rock bottom."
After the chat, communities started appearing.
📰 Breaking News Title: Lee Jia Controversy Complete Summary Nickname: Lee Jia Hunter 1. Pretended to be a woman despite being a man 2. Not a concept—real cult leader. 3. Real goal was recruiting followers as cult leader 4. Not even human lol ㅋㅋ 5. ... ... ... 100. Fucking slut. Hops from one male streamer to the next. One of the things I feared.
Was my stream tanking into oblivion.
Others might call it pathetic, fearing something so trivial.
But for me, where streaming tied directly to my livelihood...
...I-It's fine!
It's all fake anyway.
I can grit my teeth and ignore this false info.
However.
Ahn Soohee's words—that the Anomalous Phenomenon's mental attacks affect reality—unsettled me.
What if this really got posted as a summary thread on the domestic VTuber gallery?
I wanted to pull out my phone and check right away.
But no signal.
It won't be.
It can't be.
It must not be.
I pushed down the anxiety and kept walking.
Splat!
"..."
I didn't even scream when I face-planted anymore.
Not because I'd gotten used to it.
'Rock bottom' gripped me with greater terror.
Ahn Soohee was right—the deeper you went, the worse it got.
So.
What was the third one?
What had Ahn Soohee seen to declare she'd erase all memory of today?
I wasn't curious, didn't want to see it.
But turning back now was way too late.
I stepped into the third point.
And soon.
The third fear assailed me.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Roll roll.
A round something rolled from far away and dropped at my feet.
No downhill here.
It was strange.
I looked down.
For an instant.
My heart seemed to stop.
The identity of that round thing at my feet.
Was Yoo Euisul's head.