Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Golden Piggy Bank
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The past.
When Anomalous Phenomena had only just begun appearing in the world.
Anomalous Phenomena were treated as a kind of great disaster.
Though some humans awakened with special abilities the moment an Anomalous Phenomenon occurred,
even the most powerful Awakeners were like infants before them.
Many Awakeners died.
Many civilians were sacrificed.
However.
The moment humanity realized how useful "items" were as tools,
they gained the means to fight back against Anomalous Phenomena.
Anomalous Phenomena were no longer disasters.
The combination of an Awakener's ability and an item didn't just create simple synergy between the two.
Adding one to one produced
at least five,
perhaps ten or more synergies.
In that sense,
Yoo Euisul's ability, which granted immunity to mental attacks,
and the item "Iron Sword No. 3," which could slice away any "property,"
formed a theoretically invincible combination—the ultimate spear and ultimate shield in one.
Here's where things get tricky.
If the ultimate Awakener, Yoo Euisul, who possessed both the ultimate spear and ultimate shield,
also had prior knowledge of the Anomalous Phenomenon's information,
just how much synergy would that produce?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Is it activating?"
"No, we need to get closer."
I could see it.
Once we crested the hill, the Golden Piggy Bank and diffuser came into view far in the distance.
It was too far to make out the details.
It would have been ideal if my ability worked from this range,
but unfortunately, I had to get right up close to the Anomalous Phenomenon to use it.
Yoo Euisul said to me,
"Which one first?"
"...I get to choose?"
"Yeah. We can't tell if it's an item or the Phenomenon until we get close anyway. Doesn't matter if I pick or you do."
"Is it better to approach the item first, or the Phenomenon?"
"Obviously the item. Let's put some faith in your luck."
"...I'm the unluckiest person in the world."
In South Korea.
No, on Earth—who else but me turns into a gender-swapped fanatic after watching a VTuber stream in their room and encountering black smoke?
I pondered for a moment which to approach first.
Then I decided.
"Piggy bank first."
"Good. Lead the way. I'll watch your back, so don't freak out."
"I'm not freaking out. Not anymore."
I wanted to trust in my sturdy body a little.
It wasn't certain, but
Reflecting Myriad Stars seemed to hold me in pretty high regard.
Despite all the blasphemy, I was still alive and kicking.
Of course, the "Archivist's Duty" that Reflecting Myriad Stars imposed on me—a former ordinary person—was pretty harsh.
But
my duty was just to write the wiki entries.
Not resolve Anomalous Phenomena.
Leave that to the experts.
All I had to do was relay the info to Yoo Euisul.
So, Reflecting Myriad Stars.
If you have any conscience, protect me a bit.
You need me, that's why you're keeping me alive.
At least bless me or something.
With that, I approached the Golden Piggy Bank.
Up close, the Golden Piggy Bank looked...
What the hell.
"It's freaking adorable!"
Was a piggy bank allowed to be this cute?
As I got distracted by its appearance, Yoo Euisul yelled at me.
"What are you doing? This isn't the time to space out. Get the info quick and get the hell out!"
"Ah... Y-Yeah."
I'd been scared stiff thinking it was an Anomalous Phenomenon, but facing something so unexpectedly cute had thrown me off.
I closed the distance to ability range
and activated it.
Ah.
Damn it.
"I-It’s an Anomalous Phenomenon!"
Right then.
No sooner had I finished speaking than the Golden Piggy Bank's eyes glowed crimson.
And it began summoning dozens of blades around us.
Swords.
Spears.
Axes.
Scythes.
They varied in type,
but each one looked razor-sharp enough to freeze me in place.
People—
ordinary folks who'd spent their lives watching VTuber streams without ever worrying about Anomalous Phenomena—
tend to freeze when faced with threatening blades.
The blades moved.
Dozens of them zeroed in on me with terrifying speed.
My mind went blank.
Thought stopped.
Ah.
Am I dying like this...
BAM!
"Oink!"
Yoo Euisul kicked me full force.
I dodged the blades thanks to her.
W-Wait.
Does that mean Yoo Euisul took the blades instead...
"What are you doing? Get up."
"..."
She'd deflected them all.
No.
Not deflected—sliced.
Sliced away their properties.
But cutting the blades didn't weaken the Golden Piggy Bank.
It summoned more.
"Too late to run now. Stick by me; it's safer. Spill the info."
"Info... Right!"
This wasn't the time to zone out.
I checked the wiki info again.
📚 OMMNIA WIKI 📚 [Golden Piggy Bank (Anomalous Phenomenon)]
1. Overview A Catastrophe (Καταστροφή)-grade Anomalous Phenomenon that resembles an ordinary piggy bank but is extremely dangerous, as it slices open living beings' bodies to extract coins (gold pieces) from within. 2. Characteristics A piggy bank shaped like a golden pig, with unknown origins and history. Despite its cute appearance, it is highly dangerous. 1. It can slice open living beings' bodies to extract coins (gold pieces) from inside. 2. Extracted coins (gold pieces) can be inserted into the coin slot on its back. 3. It grows stronger the more coins (gold pieces) it accumulates in its body. Blade cutting power is proportional to accumulated coins (gold pieces). 3-1. At this time, it can summon blades equal in number to the coins (gold pieces) it holds. 3. Containment Grade (Danger Level) The true reason the Golden Piggy Bank is rated Catastrophe (Καταστροφή) is its ability to accumulate coins (gold pieces) indefinitely. If the accumulated coins are few, it would be easier to resolve than other Cosmos (κόσμος)-grade Phenomena. But if it has many accumulated coins, resolution by ordinary means is absolutely impossible. 4. Resolution Method Attack the Golden Piggy Bank in close range. If the attack succeeds, one coin (gold piece) from inside the Golden Piggy Bank's body will pop out through its nose. Once all accumulated coins are depleted, the Golden Piggy Bank loses all power. This fucking...
I thought it was just a cute piggy bank, but nope—psycho piggy bank from hell.
I summarized the wiki info as concisely as possible for Yoo Euisul.
She deflected the barrage of blades and replied,
"Don't need the rest! Just the resolution method again, quick!"
"Attack it! Close range only! Ranged won't work!"
The Piggy Bank had summoned about three dozen blades.
Not exact, but around thirty-ish.
Meaning,
we had to hit that Piggy Bank thirty times to end this.
"You don't just attack Anomalous Phenomena willy-nilly! You sure?"
"Positive! It weakens with each hit!"
"Got it."
Her confidence in attacking solidified.
"Eek."
Yoo Euisul suddenly grabbed my collar tight.
Dragging me like a dog with one hand, swinging her sword with the other,
she advanced on the Piggy Bank.
However,
dragging a deadweight like me slowed her,
or maybe the sheer number of blades made it tough.
Approaching wasn't easy.
Still, she managed to close in and land one hit.
Clink!
With a clear chime, a coin popped out of the Piggy Bank's nose.
It was like a cartoon scene from that blue hedgehog game.
The coin wasn't gold—it was bronze.
As per the wiki, one blade vanished.
Right.
Just one down.
Eventually.
Slash!
"Ah, shit..."
Yoo Euisul took a hit from a blade.
Sliced her side.
Not a deep wound,
but true to the wiki, a coin popped out from her torn flesh.
The coin flew straight into the Piggy Bank's slot.
One more blade appeared.
So Yoo Euisul just lost health for nothing.
As she sliced incoming blades, pondering briefly,
she said to me,
"Hey, this isn't working."
"Huh?"
"You survive on your own."
"Th-That's so irresponsible..."
"No, I took a hit. You'll be fine. But if my wounds keep piling up..."
"...The cutting power increases."
"You get it. Too late by then. You'll get sliced too. Got it? You're bait now. Pull your weight. At least tank some aggro."
"Even so, bait is too sudden..."
Whoosh.
"Eeeeek."
Yoo Euisul hurled me straight at the Golden Piggy Bank.
Dozens of blades flew at me.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Yoo Euisul, you crazy bitch!
Stabstabbitystab!
I didn't turn into Swiss cheese.
It stung a bit,
but I was fine.
No coin came out of me.
What the hell was my body made of?
A frame that shrugs off blades.
Another moment feeling the true cruelty of the "Price of Blasphemy."
With Yoo Euisul and me separated, the blades split evenly between us.
"That's it!"
Clink.
Clink.
Clink.
Fewer blades targeted her now.
Without my deadweight,
Yoo Euisul zipped around like lightning.
Three hits in thirty seconds.
I knew I could tank hits,
but
"Waaaah!"
blades were still scary as hell.
"Solid build, huh? You're more useful than I thought."
"Y-You psycho bitch!"
"Hey, Lee Jia, was it? Tank harder. Experiences like this build character. Bonus points if you get close and punch it."
"No way I could..."
...Huh.
Actually.
I think I could.