Chapter 13

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 13

Chapter Title: Melting Shampoo (2)

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I had no idea what I was supposed to do here.

What I shouldn't do.

How many days I had to survive.

Etc., etc.

There wasn't a single scrap of information on any of that, but one thing was crystal clear.

That being...

'Guess I shouldn't wash my hair here.'

I absolutely could not wash my hair in this place.

'...Yeah, whatever. As long as I don't wash my hair, it should be easy.'

I tried checking the computer for any other info I could pull up, but...

'Why is only this one screen showing...?'

Apart from the email, nothing else was clickable. What the hell was wrong with it?

'...Is this even worthy of being called a computer...?'

I was starting to doubt if this thing could really be called a computer, but from my position where I couldn't even be sure this world was meant for humans, I decided to drop the pointless quest for truth.

'Oh right. I need to post a survival update on the Gallery.'

That's when I remembered I'd left my last words on the community but hadn't reported that I was still alive.

I immediately opened my status window and logged into the community.

The community was burning up with activity.

'Whoa, better post quick.'

Seeing the reactions from people genuinely hoping I was alive filled me with a strange sense of pride.

But I had no intention of stirring up trouble.

I hit the write post button and let everyone know I was still kicking.

With people happy about my return, didn't I have to survive this one too somehow?

'No monsters in sight, at least.'

With my mood a bit lighter, I kept scoping out the room until I confirmed there was no more info to squeeze out of it.

'Maybe open the door...'

My eyes landed on the firmly shut door.

I was about to open it to check if the outside connected to something like the library when suddenly...

'Ah, better check the door a bit more before opening it.'

Remembering how the door beyond Shelf 52 had bled, I thought this one might eat people too, so I stepped back a bit to think carefully.

And then...

'Maybe read the book.'

With nothing else coming to mind, I sat on the bed and opened the book I'd gotten from Bellierd Library.

'No clue.'

As expected, the language here wasn't readable to me like the rulebook or computer text.

'Any pictures at least?'

I flipped through hoping for illustrations, but...

'...Still no clue.'

I couldn't make out a single thing... ...what's this?

'Huh? What was that?'

While rapidly flipping pages in search of something visual...

One readable bit appeared, so I went back to that page.

'IY?'

All other text was still gibberish, but spotting English letters IY here felt oddly intriguing.

'...Does Input work with this?'

On a whim, I tried entering IY into the status window...

A screen I'd never seen before popped up over my status window.

'What the...?'

I had no idea what it was, but it hit me that Bellierd Library had really given me a helpful book for survival.

Flip- flip- flip- flip-

I kept turning pages, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hunting for more useful bits.

'FE?'

Sure enough, on the last page, I found FE in English.

So I entered this new combo into the input field.

A new feature had been added to my status window.

'...Crafting uses?'

What the hell was "crafting uses"...?

'...Craft what?'

The sudden addition of "crafting uses" sent a chill down my spine.

Had a monster infested my status window?

If not, what could I even craft...?

'...This is unnerving.'

Feeling uneasy, I reached into my pocket and gripped the last tooth from Anonymous 10 with both hands.

If a monster really had infested my status window...

I couldn't let it see my chats with the others on the Gallery.

'Please... let it be nothing...! Please...!'

I stabbed the gripped tooth right into the "Crafting Uses" button.

"!!"

Suddenly, the tooth in my hands got sucked into the status window...

"...?"

And just vanished.

'...What?'

What the hell?

Give me my tooth back.

Okay, not my tooth, but... give me my weapon back...!

'...That was my last tooth...'

I'd been kicked out of Bellierd Library with only those two teeth as my sole remaining weapon...

The shock of losing it was short-lived.

Remembering that FE and IY were together in the book, I figured they might be connected, so I entered IY into the input field again...

'Oh... something happened...'

The empty box was suddenly filled.

From checking the reactions on the community, it seemed no one knew anything about this new status screen—

Thud...

"!!!!"

A sudden dropping sound from the corner made me snap the status window back to the main screen.

I slapped my finger right on the button showing 1 return use.

'What? What is it?'

The instant I spotted a monster, I was ready to hit return without hesitation.

'...No, what the hell is that really?'

A shampoo bottle-looking thing... had fallen in the corner of the room.

'Melting Shampoo...?'