Chapter 140
Chapter 140
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Strongest in the Lee Jia Universe Worldview
Yoo Euisul spent the entire time I was eating tteokbokki gleefully calling me a crazy shotacon.
It was a trial of endurance.
Honestly, I hadn't done anything that big wrong, so I couldn't figure out why I felt this wave of shame.
I did try to explain myself.
I'd bought it simply because it was cute. There were no other intentions.
"Who's saying otherwise? I just thought, 'Huh, so there really are people in this world who buy stuff like this.' That's all."
"...That's the kind of statement that makes you enemies of a million otaku across the country."
I had no idea why I was even explaining myself to Yoo Euisul.
...There had been a brief hiccup, but the Anomalous Phenomenon training proceeded normally.
It had been two months since Yoo Euisul started training me on Anomalous Phenomena.
I'd been pretty diligent about it, so now I felt like I had a decent grasp of Anomalous Phenomena and items.
In truth, no matter how much training and theory you absorb, actually applying that knowledge when facing an Anomalous Phenomenon in the field isn't easy at all.
As Yoo Euisul had emphasized to me several times.
The most important thing in resolving an Anomalous Phenomenon is quick situational judgment, without a doubt.
In the face of phenomena where situations change by the second, knowledge becomes practically meaningless.
Even so, the reason I'd been training so hard on Anomalous Phenomena was...
"Quick judgment only comes from what's already in your head," Yoo Euisul had stressed.
It made sense.
Like in the Olympics or esports, where situations shift in 0.1-second increments—you need that built-up knowledge to make the right call fast.
"Well, that's general advice for normal Awakeners. You're a bit different."
"Why?"
"Why? 'Cause your body's tough as nails, and you're already half-mad, so mental attacks barely faze you. So just keep charging in brainlessly like always, relay info to me quick, and you're golden."
"I'm not mad. My strong mentality is all thanks to Reflecting Myriad Stars's grace..."
"Nah, you're mad. Paying good money for that figurine proves you're already nuts."
"W-We agreed to drop that!"
"When did I?"
"..."
I was itching to commit insubordination.
Why the heavens...
Why did Reflecting Myriad Stars give birth to Yoo Euisul before me?
If I'd been born first, if I were older than her...
I'd give her a thorough personality adjustment until she couldn't think straight.
In any case, today's Anomalous Phenomenon training was over.
It reminded me of the first time I'd resolved one.
Back when I faced the 'Golden Piggy Bank,' I was so scared my body shook uncontrollably.
It might be a bit arrogant, but now, heading out to resolve an Anomalous Phenomenon was just a hassle—not scary anymore.
And for good reason.
Anomalous Phenomena were no longer a threat to me.
My body was tough.
My mentality was solid.
I could even figure out resolutions with a single snap.
No need to fear Anomalous Phenomena at all.
Of course, Yoo Euisul said all the ones I'd handled so far were mid-level difficulty, so I hadn't faced the truly dangerous ones yet.
Even if I did, though, I doubted they'd pierce my body or mind.
So from now on, what I really needed to watch out for wasn't...
Anomalous Phenomena.
It was the other 'Fervent Devotees.'
In recent months, Anomalous Phenomena cycles had shortened from two weeks to one.
And a Fervent Devotee had personally descended to Earth.
No one could call that normal.
The other Fervent Devotees would probably keep showing up on Earth.
This wasn't just speculation. I had some logical basis.
Archivist's Duty, Article 4.
4. Strictly prohibit revealing your [True Name] upon contact with other [Fervent Devotees].
Why would Reflecting Myriad Stars add that rule?
It meant situations where we'd keep running into other Fervent Devotees were coming.
In that sense, we needed to prepare not just for Anomalous Phenomena, but...
For the other Fervent Devotees who would soon appear.
I asked Yoo Euisul straight up.
What would we do if another Fervent Devotee showed up?
She shrugged and said,
"Beats me."
"Isn't that kinda irresponsible?"
"It's not irresponsible; we just don't have enough data. So far, the only Fervent Devotees we've seen are that flesh lump you caught and you."
"...True."
Yoo Euisul pondered for a moment, then looked at me as if she'd realized something.
"Wait. If we figure out how to kill you, doesn't that mean we can kill other Fervent Devotees too?"
"Uh... y-yeah?"
Scary words from Yoo Euisul, but not entirely wrong.
Fervent Devotees varied in abilities based on their patron Great Being, but they had common traits.
As zealous followers of gods, they were extremely hard to kill.
No.
Bluntly put, killing a Fervent Devotee was outright impossible.
Nameless had told me as much.
Fervent Devotees didn't have a concept of 'death.'
Whether that was figurative for how hard they were to kill, or literal, I wasn't sure.
Either way, driving off Fervent Devotees was no easy task.
Thinking back...
All the Fervent Devotees I'd encountered before had been repelled by Reflecting Myriad Stars, not me.
So...
Could a mere human repel a Fervent Devotee with their own power?
If, as Yoo Euisul said, we found a way to kill me...
Theoretically, it would work on other Fervent Devotees too.
Suddenly, Yoo Euisul caressed her cherished sword, 'Iron Sword No. 3,' and said,
"I've always wondered—does my sword cut you?"
"...It probably does?"
The 'Iron Sword No. 3,' which severs the properties of its target, seemed like it could deal me real damage.
Yoo Euisul drew the blade with a utterly impassive expression.
"Let's test it."
"You're joking, right?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Her face was dead serious.
Pretty flustered, I said,
"A-Are you insane? I'm not doing self-harm for a show or anything!"
"Who said stab your heart? Just touch the tip to your fingertip lightly. See if it cuts."
"Oh."
I'd thought she meant to slash me for real.
Pouting, I extended my finger toward Yoo Euisul.
She pressed the sword's tip to my fingertip.
And swipe.
A very light cut.
Then...
"Gyaaaaah! B-Blood! It's bleeding!"
Dark red blood beaded on my fingertip like dew.
Yoo Euisul watched, intrigued.
"Oh, it does cut. Honestly thought it wouldn't."
"Q-Quick, heal it! It's still bleeding!"
"It stopped."
"Huh."
...It really had.
While we bantered, the bleeding stopped.
And it wasn't just the bleeding.
The wound had already healed completely.
I knew my body regenerated fast, but not this fast.
Is this even human?
Even I didn't think so.
"So attacks do work. If I lop your head off in one swing, even you couldn't regen, right? Means Fervent Devotees can be killed."
"...Euisul unnie, you know you sound like a total psycho right now?"
"Don't overreact. It's valuable intel."
Well, yeah, it seemed important to me too.
Nameless definitely said 'Fervent Devotees can't meet death.'
But as Yoo Euisul pointed out—if she beheaded me with that sword, could I survive?
Did Nameless lie to me?
Or...
No way.
Could I even survive decapitation?
Th-That'd be too horrifying.
I couldn't test it right now, so I shook my head to banish the grim thought.
Yoo Euisul sheathed the sword and said,
"Item effects work on Fervent Devotees too. I'll report this to the Association as-is. No complaints?"
"None."
"'No complaints'? Anything else?"
"Well... it's not like chopping my head off is that easy."
"What do you mean? Right now, if I just draw—"
"Reflecting Myriad Stars wouldn't sit idly by."
"..."
No need to overthink 'ways to kill me.'
The answer was already set.
Reflecting Myriad Stars.
Had not permitted my death.
If Yoo Euisul ever tried to kill me for real...
Reflecting Myriad Stars would mercilessly exact payment from her.
Ah.
Damn.
I finally got it.
What facing other Fervent Devotees really meant.
We weren't just fighting the Fervent Devotees.
To take down a Fervent Devotee, we had to deal with the existence behind them too.
The Great Being.
I shared my theory with Yoo Euisul.
She gave me a look of disbelief.
"So, to kill a Fervent Devotee, you have to worry about their god too?"
"At least in my case. Don't you think so?"
"Yeah. If you were about to drop dead right there, that Reflecting Myriad Stars wouldn't just watch."
"Never."
"But if you're right... when you took down that Nameless guy, what was his backing god doing?"
"Who knows. Maybe chickened out and didn't show because of me."
"What are you?"
"A Fervent Devotee of Reflecting Myriad Stars."
"...That's it? Kinda flimsy evidence."
"Flimsy? What better proof is there?"
I was a Fervent Devotee of Reflecting Myriad Stars.
My faith in Reflecting Myriad Stars was the real deal.
Without a shred of doubt, I continued,
"In the Lee Jia Universe, Reflecting Myriad Stars is the strongest in the worldview."