Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Who’s the Real Mad One?
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Awakener Yoo Euisul.
She was a veteran among veterans, with over ten years of experience since starting her Awakener activities.
Ever since her high school days, she had tackled countless Anomalous Phenomena, facing all sorts of bizarre situations along the way.
She had nearly died more times than she could count.
She had come close to losing limbs just as often.
And yet, she had survived every time.
Those countless experiences had become the source of her strength.
In her ten years of resolving Anomalous Phenomena, Yoo Euisul had come to one realization.
Teaming up with other Awakeners actually made resolving them harder.
Unlike Yoo Euisul, who was completely immune to mental attacks, other Awakeners relied on items to counter them.
Of course, defending against mental attacks with items had its limits.
While Yoo Euisul was handling the Anomalous Phenomenon, the others were sweating bullets just trying to fend off the mental assaults with their gear.
It got to the point where handling it solo seemed like the better option.
The same went for physical attacks.
Yoo Euisul could, in theory, slice through every physical attack from an Anomalous Phenomenon with Excalibur... no, Iron Sword No. 3. So while the others were testing the waters, she ended up striking at it alone.
The point was.
Teaming up with other Awakeners threw off the tempo and just got in the way.
Having concluded that solo runs were more efficient, Yoo Euisul stopped collaborating with others and started clearing Anomalous Phenomena on her own.
Humans are social creatures, after all.
With no one to interact with, it was only natural that Yoo Euisul turned into the abrasive person she was today.
It was all because her abilities were just too exceptional.
But.
"Kyaaah! I got stabbed in the butt!"
That pink-haired girl getting skewered left and right was a different story.
Unlike Yoo Euisul, who was completely immune to "mental attacks,"
this girl was practically immune to "physical attacks."
Well, super strong hits might still draw blood, but still.
She got slashed by a blade and didn't have a single scratch.
No matter how tough an Awakener's body was, they'd still get cut by something that sharp.
And her ability to grasp Anomalous Phenomenon intel went without saying.
If Yoo Euisul had tackled that golden piggy bank alone, it would've taken her at least an hour to feel confident enough to attack.
But thanks to Lee Jia's intel-gathering skills, Yoo Euisul knew it was safe to strike the moment they encountered it.
That intel had exponentially lowered the difficulty of clearing the Anomalous Phenomenon.
'I have no idea how much resistance she has to mental attacks, but...'
Maybe.
Just maybe.
This girl might actually make a good teammate.
That was the first time the thought crossed Yoo Euisul's mind.
'Her personality's a bit of a bitch, though.'
Pot calling the kettle black, Yoo Euisul criticized Lee Jia's attitude.
And for good reason.
"You pig bastard, eat this!"
Anyone could see.
"Reflecting Myriad Stars Punch!"
That she didn't look the least bit sane.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Reflecting Myriad Stars Punch!"
"Reflecting Myriad Stars Kick!"
"Reflecting Myriad Stars Headbutt!"
If I said I landed more effective hits than Yoo Euisul, the veteran of veterans, who would believe me?
But it's true.
Whether I got stabbed or not, I covered my vitals and closed in on the golden piggy bank, unleashing a barrage of attacks.
They were unrefined, reckless haymakers, but.
They worked.
The blades started dwindling, and from there, things wrapped up smoothly.
Between my "Reflecting Myriad Stars Punches" and Yoo Euisul's slashes, the golden piggy bank soon dropped every last one of its gold coins.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
It's over.
The blades are gone.
Having dropped all its gold coins, the golden piggy bank lost all its power and crumbled into dust, vanishing away.
This is my first time seeing an Anomalous Phenomenon reach its end.
It's a weird feeling.
I didn't kill a living creature, but I still feel kinda guilty for some reason.
Maybe because that piggy bank was just too damn cute.
If it had been some grotesque monster, I wouldn't feel this way.
Step, step, step.
Yoo Euisul sheathed her sword and walked over to me.
Then, with her rough hand, she ruffled my hair and spoke.
"You're pretty useful."
"...What am I, a tool? 'Useful'?"
It wasn't the kindest phrasing.
But it still made me happy.
Anyway.
"How'd you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Your swordsmanship. You sliced through almost every single blade."
Anyone watching would think she had a skill for masterful swordplay.
Awakeners with two or more abilities are rarer than one in a thousand.
And among those, the only one I know of is.
The Awakener Association Chairman.
That old guy.
Yoo Euisul only has the one ability: immunity to mental attacks.
I checked the wiki, so it's solid info.
The wiki doesn't lie.
But.
That swordplay just now, cutting down dozens of blades—it was clearly a skill.
Yoo Euisul answered my question with a bored shrug.
"Result of hard work."
"Didn't look like something hard work alone could pull off..."
"Think about it. I've been an Awakener since high school. This year makes ten years. You really think I can't handle this much after swinging a sword nonstop for a decade?"
Awakener bodies are different from normal humans.
Even setting abilities aside, their base physical specs are on another level.
She had a point, sort of.
"Anyway, let's recover the item and head back."
"Yeah. Items aren't as dangerous as Anomalous Phenomena, right...?"
"Sometimes they are, but you can just use your intel skill on it anyway."
"...True."
"Idiot?"
According to Yoo Euisul.
The odds of an item being a jackpot were low.
Not all items were useful to Awakeners, apparently.
Nine out of ten were trash, and pulling even one decent one was good luck.
"If you get it, cover up those holes with your cardigan. It's gross."
"Holes? What holes..."
I glanced down at myself at her words.
"Ah."
A short sigh escaped me.
My clothes were riddled with holes.
Right.
After taking that many stabs, it'd be weirder if they were intact.
They'd been a perfectly normal T-shirt and jeans, exposing zero skin.
How'd they degrade into this mess?
I hurriedly took off my cardigan and draped it to cover the holes.
The chest area had the most, by far.
Well, you know.
Large surface area, prime target.
"Still not covered."
"I, I think I got it all...?"
"From behind, it's a sight."
Behind?
Why the back...?
Oh, shit.
I reached back and felt my butt—yep, full of holes.
Golden piggy bank, you bastard.
Scratch the 'poor thing' comment.
It went after all the big areas with precision.
Panicking, I readjusted the cardigan to cleverly hide the holes.
Not perfect, but best I could do.
Watching me, Yoo Euisul sighed like I was pathetic.
"Even with a tough body, how many hits did you take? You're an Awakener too. Next time, try dodging a bit. Embarrassing to be seen with you."
"...Got it."
I didn't dodge because they weren't worth dodging.
Didn't expect this side effect.
Wait.
Hang on.
"Embarrassing to be seen with," meaning.
"S-So you'll team up with me next time too?"
"Let's go check the item."
"Answer me!"
"Let's go."
"...Okay."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As Yoo Euisul said, the item was nothing special.
📦 ITEM: DIFFUSER 📦 1. Overview A tool that can diffuse [CENSORED] scent within a 100-meter radius. 2. Features (Effects) 1. Can diffuse [CENSORED] scent within a 100-meter radius. Intensity adjustable via stick. 2. Diffusing the scent completely eliminates all other odors within a 100-meter radius. 3. Cannot be used once liquid is depleted. This is an item?
It's just a regular diffuser, isn't it?
Can't even tell what scent it is because of the censorship.
Sniff, sniff.
No stick inserted, so the liquid inside was odorless.
"Total trash."
Yoo Euisul pondered after hearing the description, then replied.
"Not necessarily. Might actually help with Anomalous Phenomena."
"Why?"
"It completely removes all other smells. That's perfect variable control."
"So? What's that matter?"
"...Study up on Anomalous Phenomena properly before we meet next time. I really wanna flick your forehead."
Come on.
Just explain why—why get mad?
Honestly, whether this item's good or bad doesn't matter to me.
With this.
The "Archivist's Duty" is complete.
"Ehehehe... heuk..."
Suddenly, tears like chicken shit streamed from my eyes.
I'm done.
I survived.
I lived!
No disposal for me!
Sure, in a month I'll have to enter another Anomalous Phenomenon zone, but.
For now, I'm safe...!
It felt like a long-held belch finally bursting out.
I was so relieved my legs gave out.
As I plopped down and started bawling.
Yoo Euisul sounded genuinely flustered for the first time.
"...You crying?"
"Eheheuk... Yeah, I'm crying."
"Wh-Why?! Did I talk too rudely...? No, you were yapping nonstop beside me—it's true I wanna flick you."
"Not crying about that, heuk... Reflecting Myriad Stars, thank you! Reflecting Myriad Stars is a god, invincible!"
As I launched into impromptu worship.
Yoo Euisul started staring at me like I was insane.
No.
Listen.
You're the crazier one between us.
So don't give me that look.
It's interrupting my prayer.