Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Encounter with the Unknown - Complete
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[In your world, do you consider it good weather when there's a lot of dust? We are the opposite. We judge it good weather when there's no dust. Have you eaten? I don't know what broadcast means. Donations as well...]
⚙ ALIEN TRANSMISSION ⚙ In your world, do you consider it good weather when there's a lot of dust? We are the opposite. We judge it good weather when there's no dust. Have you eaten? I don't know what broadcast means. Donations as well... Ah.
Boring and pretentious.
Not a question.
Just stalling for time with sneezes and coughs.
In a way, it was this bastard's fault that I wasted my chance to ask a question.
You were the one who triggered gravitational distortion and kicked up all this dust, you damn thing.
⚙ ALIEN TRANSMISSION ⚙ What is the meaning of the word "Lee Jia"? Since our values and environments differ, I'll explain using my own case. The people of my planet call me thus: Savior of the World, the One Who Reached the Highest Place, the One Who Knows All and Can Do All... A complacent and blasphemous title from the ignorant masses who have not grasped the truth. I ask again. What is the meaning of the word "Lee Jia"? Even if you are a Fervent Devotee, my goodwill and patience have limits... This time, you must answer properly. Oh no.
Looks like it caught on that I've been giving half-assed answers.
...I'm a bit tense now.
It might be my imagination, but I took that last warning as a threat.
Guess I need to answer properly this time.
I have five question opportunities left.
I debated whether to pick up on the question I was about to ask earlier.
...Better not.
Sneeze. Cough.
Of course, it was my own will, a purely physiological reaction.
But couldn't it be interpreted that way?
As in, Reflecting Myriad Stars blocked my question in advance.
If I try asking once more and sneeze again, it'd be pretty clear.
Alright.
I've decided how to handle this.
First, I answered the question.
"Let me explain the meaning of 'Lee Jia.' The word 'Lee Jia' is made up of Hanja characters. 'Lee' is the family name, from the Lee clan of Gyeongju. The given name is a combination of meaningful Hanja. 'Ji' from wisdom, and 'A' from beautiful. In short, it means 'grow up smart and pretty.'"
Hmm.
Talking about the meaning of my name suddenly makes me feel down for no reason.
Someone comes to mind painfully.
Can't just space out.
I immediately followed up with my question.
"A Fervent Devotee is... uh... achOO!"
Again.
The sneeze popped out automatically.
It's confirmed.
Reflecting Myriad Stars doesn't want me asking this thing about that.
It wasn't blasphemy, so no punishment came down, but there's definitely some restraint in place.
But I didn't panic.
I won't waste another question opportunity coughing like before.
I immediately pressed on with the question.
"AchOO! AchOO! AchOO! So, uh, it's like an exclamation. Anyway, back to the question. What do you look like? Describe your appearance to me. How many hands, how many fingers, how many feet... even small details are fine."
This question seemed within bounds.
I was curious if all Fervent Devotees looked exactly like humans.
15 minutes later.
The transmitter opened its mouth.
⚙ ALIEN TRANSMISSION ⚙ "Grow up smart and pretty," is it... Seeing that you're not worshipped by your planet's people, they don't seem as foolish as mine. A good answer. I don't know why, but the people on the planet where this guy lives.
They treat him like a god.
Ironic, somehow.
When he's just a minion of a god, like me.
...Huh.
Wait a sec.
Worship, worship, worship...
My viewers who watch my streams.
In a broad sense.
Couldn't that count as worshipping me...?
Might be a stretch, but for now, I focused on its response.
⚙ ALIEN TRANSMISSION ⚙ Fervent Devotee, I cannot understand why you keep wasting precious question opportunities on such useless inquiries. Still, to answer your question: I have six "hands." Four "feet." One "eye." These are common traits of the "Anum," my race before becoming a Fervent Devotee. Perfect...!
The question was spot on. Got the info I needed.
Then it threw a question back at me.
⚙ ALIEN TRANSMISSION ⚙ Do you have any other epithets besides Lee Jia? ...Another question about my name.
It's not an epithet; it's just my name. It's been completely misunderstanding this whole time.
Not my fault; you got it wrong.
I can just correct it properly in my answer.
I mulled over its response for a moment.
Fervent Devotees don't all look "human."
Well, duh.
Now that alien life is confirmed, it doesn't make sense they'd all look human.
Planetary environments differ, so evolution and biology would too.
Plus, it described its appearance as matching its pre-Devotee race, the "Anum."
Like me, it seems forcibly turned into a Fervent Devotee by a Great Being.
The Anum are probably the natives of its planet.
...Did it meet the black smoke too?
Maybe, maybe not.
Curious, but question opportunities are running really low now.
Have to ask the must-asks.
I have exactly four burning questions.
1. What is the true nature of "Anomalous Phenomena"?
2. What is the true nature of "items"?
3. Why do they appear on Earth?
And finally.
4. What the hell are these "Great Beings"?
That's what I want to know.
Perfect, exactly four questions left.
Good thing I planned ahead.
Wanted to ask about Awakeners too... but alas, limited chances.
Damn.
If I hadn't blanked out early on.
No, if Reflecting Myriad Stars hadn't interfered.
No, before that! If Yoo Euisul had just given me a mask, I wouldn't have sneezed or coughed.
...Regrets, what can you do.
Greed brings disaster.
Be satisfied with what I have.
First, I answered its question.
"Lee Jia isn't an epithet or alias; it's my real name. In simple terms, my true name. More precisely, Lee Jia (VTuber)."
I didn't explain what VTuber means.
If it's curious, it'll waste a question slot asking.
A bit uneasy giving my real name, but whatever. I already know its true name without spending a slot.
Advantage me. Privilege of being a Fervent Devotee of Reflecting Myriad Stars.
I continued.
"Ten years ago, strange phenomena started occurring on this planet where I live. We call them 'Anomalous Phenomena,' and they completely defy human... er, our planet's people's understanding and common sense. Like the transmitter you sent to Earth, for example. So, here's my real question. What the hell are Anomalous Phenomena?"
Anomalous Phenomena typically have no apparent purpose; they're enigmatic mysteries.
However.
This transmitter is one too.
And it has a clear purpose: to converse with Fervent Devotees.
...There's no way Anomalous Phenomena just pop up on Earth randomly with no purpose.
Everything in existence has some specific intent.
I know they're linked to Fervent Devotees somehow.
So, what are they, exactly?
This question could shake the foundations of the world.
If I get an answer.
I can define Anomalous Phenomena and items.
...And define my own existence too.
Not sure if it'll answer, but.
Nothing to lose.
With that.
I waited 15 minutes, but.
For some reason, the transmitter stayed silent.
30 minutes.
45 minutes.
1 hour.
It was excruciatingly boring.
Even organizing the info in my head had its limits.
Just sitting still in this dusty haze wasn't something a human could endure.
Hmm, so that's why it could wait.
I'm not human.
Anyway, after an hour, the transmitter finally reacted.
⚙ ALIEN TRANSMISSION ⚙ Ah. But.
⚙ ALIEN TRANSMISSION ⚙ Aaah. Something was.
⚙ ALIEN TRANSMISSION ⚙ Aaaaaah. Off about the reaction.
⚙ ALIEN TRANSMISSION ⚙ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Weird.
It was a repulsive sight.
A pupil began forming in the massive eye attached to the transmitter.
Then the pupil turned bloodshot red.
From the red pupil, black tears with a muddy viscosity started flowing out.
When the black tears hit the ground, eerie smoke rose up. The smoke warped gravity, spiraling upward.
If I were a normal person without mental resistance.
I'd have gone mad long ago from how repulsive it was.
💥 DISTORTED TRANSMISSION 💥 Le... e... Ji... a... True... name... It was a true name...! The transmitter's voice changed.
Was it happy?
Sad?
Wrathful?
Impossible to tell.
It was like joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure all mashed together in chaos.
A cacophony of every emotion in the world overlapping indiscriminately.
💥 DISTORTED TRANSMISSION 💥 You... you are an incomplete fragment... debris leaking from a rift... What has Reflecting Myriad Stars created...! 💥 DISTORTED TRANSMISSION 💥 Must report this to the gods... the Great Beings... the Distorted Constellation...! 💥 DISTORTED TRANSMISSION 💥 Shattering. Collapsing. Distorting. Flooding. 💥 DISTORTED TRANSMISSION 💥 Knowledge is a curse, and seeking knowledge is blasphemy. This, this is... 💥 DISTORTED TRANSMISSION 💥 Blasphemy's. Price...? Boom!
With that, the red eye burst with an ear-shattering screech.
And the black pillar vanished completely from the world.
...I couldn't understand what the hell just happened.
But it's clear Reflecting Myriad Stars flexed its power.
This thing definitely said at the end.
"Blasphemy's price."
Why?
I don't know exactly, but Reflecting Myriad Stars.
Hey, I still haven't gotten my answer.
"You gotta tell me what Anomalous Phenomena are before you go, you son of a bitch!"
With that.
The Anomalous Phenomenon was resolved.