Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Fervent Devotee of the Shiver Devourer, Beginning.
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Harsh as it was, Yoo Euisul's words were facts.
Just as she said—who else but me could do it?
I flashed a grin at Yoo Euisul, bold as brass, and spoke.
"Don't worry. With the blessing of the Reflecting Myriad Stars, I'm invincible."
It wasn't just empty words to lighten the stiff atmosphere.
I genuinely believed I was close to invincible right now.
Physical attacks? Near immunity.
Mental attacks? Near immunity.
Attack power?
...Honestly, not so confident there.
But if push came to shove, the Reflecting Myriad Stars would probably judge the 'enemy' for insulting me in their stead.
Sure, it might lean a bit too much on a 'Reflecting Myriad Stars, handle it!' mindset...
But honestly, aside from Anomalous Phenomena, I handle everything myself.
I stream diligently, fulfill my duties without fail.
I've done everything I can for the Reflecting Myriad Stars my way, so receiving this much grace is only natural, right?
For some reason.
I sensed Yoo Euisul wore an expression full of guilt.
Having spent quite some time facing her, I could now pick up on her subtle facial shifts.
This woman.
No way.
Was she thinking she'd driven me into the jaws of death herself?
Man, the more I see, the more sentimental she seems.
I ignored Yoo Euisul's words.
I ignored the Reflecting Myriad Stars' warning.
Even Ahn Soohee's suggestion to wait—I ignored that too.
So why the guilty face?
I approached the door next and reached out.
First, I checked the wiki.
...As expected.
The wiki's form resembled the fake Yoo Euisul's corpse.
Earlier, checking the corpse's wiki had thrown me off a bit.
But now? I'd half-expected it, so no real shock.
No need to agonize anymore.
This haunted house.
No.
The unidentified 'enemy' using the haunted house to wreak havoc had been mine to smash from the start.
I cautiously pushed the massive door.
It swung open easily, as if welcoming me.
Without looking back, I said,
"Wait right here. I'll come back after blasting it with the Reflecting Myriad Stars' normalization beam."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I'd boasted confidently to Yoo Euisul, but...
A little.
No, pretty damn scary.
The first time tackling an Anomalous Phenomenon, I'd hidden behind Yoo Euisul, dreaming only of riding her coattails.
Now, solo-facing an unidentified threat? How could I not be scared?
Nothing changed after the door opened.
The repulsive flesh walls remained, stretching endlessly.
At least the mental attacks had stopped—that was a relief.
Soon, a red glow appeared ahead.
This endless flesh tunnel finally ended.
I plunged toward the red light without hesitation, escaping the passage.
There.
A vast space unfolded, too immense to gauge.
Floor still flesh.
No walls or ceiling in sight.
...Unbelievable.
I'd entered a haunted house the size of a single storefront, yet inside hid a horizon-spanning expanse.
Any prior Anomalous Phenomena like this?
I'll ask Yoo Euisul once resolved—clear up the curiosity.
I had a rough idea where to go.
Something floated midair, a bit distant.
Something, literally.
From afar, no clue its shape.
Up close? Same.
Impossible to describe.
Squelch, squelch.
Closing in, I touched it, checked the wiki.
Couldn't help but flinch.
...I'd guessed from the Reflecting Myriad Stars' warning and prior info, but didn't expect it so blatant.
I swallowed hard.
Then addressed the something.
"Hey."
"..."
"Hey!"
"..."
"Customer's here—answer, you mute fuck. House owner? Wait, wrong. Not owner, intruder."
"..."
"I already know you're a Fervent Devotee."
"……………………….!"
Twitch.
It reacted to my words.
This.
Wasn't an Anomalous Phenomenon.
This was.
⚙ OMNIA WIKI ⚙ [Nameless (Devourer)] [Name (True Name): Nameless (Devourer)] [Age: Immeasurable] [Race: Fervent Devotee of the Shiver Devourer] [Gender: Intersex] 1. Overview Nameless, one of the Devourers and a Fervent Devotee of the Shiver Devourer. As a Fervent Devotee of the Shiver Devourer, Nameless bears the endless duty to devour fear. 2. Details Nameless's life before becoming a Devourer is unknown. Whether it was he or she, what life Nameless led—none mattered. [The Shiver Devourer] made Nameless a Fervent Devotee and erased its past. (Censored and redacted hereafter) 3. Characteristics As a Fervent Devotee of the Shiver Devourer, its abilities specialize in enacting a Great Being's will. ° While Fervent Devotees as proxies of Great Beings typically have sturdy bodies, Nameless's durability varies by adopted persona (mask). ° It oversees fear-devouring, thus inherently immune to fear. ° Can discern a target's fears. - Even for inanimate objects. ° Can manifest a target's fears as a persona (mask) in the world. - Even if the persona (mask) is inanimate. - Manifested fears appear only to the target but affect reality. 4. Trivia - First among the Shiver Devourer's three Fervent Devotees, overseeing fear. - Once had a 'true self,' but lost it permanently after the Shiver Devourer erased its past. - Can freely switch personas and personalities. (Censored and redacted) [Devourer's Duty] 1. Hunger is a blessing. Filling hunger without devouring fear leads to forcible return to the Satiety and Curse Chamber. 2. Must devour a new [living being]'s fear at least once a month. [This month's duty fulfilled] 3. Must (censored and redacted) a new [Anomalous Phenomenon]'s (censored and redacted) at least once a month. 4. (Censored and redacted) 5. (Censored and redacted) 6. Failure to uphold duties results in immediate revocation of Devourer status and disposal. - Devourer's duties update in real-time. That's right.
This wasn't an Anomalous Phenomenon.
It was a Fervent Devotee like me.
Truth be told, I'd known since checking the fake Yoo Euisul's corpse earlier.
⚙ OMNIA WIKI ⚙ Fake Yoo Euisul's Corpse 1. Overview One of the [Fervent Devotee of the Shiver Devourer]'s personas (masks). A persona manifested from the fear of the 'pink-haired Fervent Devotee,' the Devourer's prey. 2. Details A device to inflict mental attacks on prey 'pink-haired Fervent Devotee' and draw out fear. The 'pink-haired Fervent Devotee' fears 'Yoo Euisul's death' second-most, making it highly effective for mental assaults. From the fake Yoo Euisul corpse check, I'd realized the mental attacks in this haunted house weren't from an 'Anomalous Phenomenon' but a 'Fervent Devotee.'
Simple question: where's the line between Anomalous Phenomenon and Fervent Devotee?
Location: Anomalous Phenomenon.
Source of mental attacks: Fervent Devotee, obviously.
Nameless (Devourer)'s wiki confirmed it.
It inflicts mental attacks to feed on fear.
The 'something' before me was behind all this.
I spoke to it.
"You've probably noticed, but I'm a Fervent Devotee too. How about a chat between kin?"
Fervent Devotees recognize each other.
At least, Anum - Jihad, 'Fervent Devotee of the Distorted Constellation,' knew I was one before we talked.
Recognition methods probably vary per Devotee.
Anum - Jihad, a pure messenger, sniffed me out that way.
This one likely manifests targets' fears as masks to infer identities.
For me.
Omnia Wiki reveals if they're Fervent Devotees.
Needing touch-range contact puts me at a disadvantage compared to others.
But I can snap and get full info without chit-chat.
Pros and cons, balanced trait.
Glurp, glurp.
The something began writhing.
Soon, the indescribable form.
Shifted gradually to human shape.
Ugh.
Revolting sight.
If I had such grotesque powers, I might resent the Reflecting Myriad Stars a tad.
The Fervent Devotee before me, Nameless (Devourer).
Transformed fully human and spoke.
"You."
Whoosh.
Face changed mid-sentence.
"Which Great Being do you follow?"
Felt like talking to two different people.
Which Great Being?
"Why should I tell you?"
With the messenger, I'd been naive.
Blabbed from the start I was Reflecting Myriad Stars' Fervent Devotee.
Huge mistake.
Humans grow from errors.
My base model's human, so same here.
They don't know me.
But I know them.
That's the true edge of a 'Fervent Devotee of the Reflecting Myriad Stars.'
I pressed on.
"Might tell you, depending on terms. Curious?"
Nameless (Devourer) shifted masks, replying.
"Meeting another Fervent Devotee."
"Wasn't in my expectations."
"However."
"Nothing changes."
"The moment you entered my Sanctum."
"You."
"Became."
"My."
"Meal."
"Nothing changes."
"Dare not bargain with me."
"Choice."
"Isn't."
"Yours."
"It's mine."
Child, adult, elder.
Man, woman.
Polite, rude.
Modern tongue, ancient speech.
Each mask swapped tone and self.
...This bastard beats around the bush.
Time to cut to the chase.
"My demand: vanish from Earth forever. Or die."
To it, or her.
I offered mercy.
For the first and last time.