Chapter 24

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 24

Chapter Title: Blockade, Exchange (3)

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Reading the monster's comments was giving me a headache.

All of this happening right now... it was because of the people trying to help me.

In other words, wasn't I the main culprit here?

'Everyone's gonna die...? Everyone's gonna die...?'

The Gallery where photo shoots and taken photos gathered.

I had no idea what the monster could do with just those two things, but...

My mind was already flooding with terrifying imaginations.

'What... what can I even do...?'

I racked my brains as hard as I could, wondering how I could do my best in this situation.

Suddenly...

Three comments flashed through my mind.

And maybe... I could screw over that photo-shooting monster.

I switched the Status Window to photo mode right away, stuck out my middle finger as hard as I could, snapped a picture...

I immediately sent the infamous middle-finger salute photo straight to Anonymous 7, the photo-shooting monster.

How many seconds passed after sending the note to the photo-shooting monster?

The sporadic click sounds from outside paused for a moment...

Click-click-click-click-click-click-click-

Suddenly, it went berserk with photos, and the monster approached right up to my front door...

Bam!

"..!!"

Thud...

"..?"

It slammed violently into my door and made a sound like it collapsed right there.

'Did you kill yourself too..?'

While pondering how to resolve this incident, those comments that popped into my head clearly said as much.

This place—where all the people gathered—no other monsters could enter.

If a monster from another world came here, it would die.

'Yeah, they said other monsters die if they come here...'

And... Anonymous 7 had said it with its own mouth: it was going to 'sacrifice' itself.

In other words, that photo-shooting monster outside was trying to do 'something' to us humans, even at the cost of its own life, right?

So my conclusion was... the 'pesticide meme'.

'It worked, right...?'

Why the middle finger? Simple.

Last time, I'd made a 'Compressed Flesh Ring' from three Six-Legged Monster corpses, and it was on my right middle finger.

I'd tried using its Apathy Mental Attack ability on the monster outside via photo.

'Please let nothing happen... please...'

Thankfully, the mental attack worked through photos.

My strategy to buy even a single second had worked to some extent.

As proof:

The monster, which had been methodically snapping photos to prepare something, got my note, went limp for a bit and stopped shooting...

Then snapped out of it and furiously clicked its way to my house in rage, right?

I didn't see it, so I couldn't say for sure, but...

'At least I bought some time...'

I'd delayed the monsters' plan a little, so now I just needed to use strategies they wouldn't expect.

I opened the Status Window to check my remaining Sanity, just in case.

I'd sold 1000 Sanity for stones right after waking up, so no more recovery today, but...

I still had enough left for one more mental ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠attack.

'Gotta move unpredictably.'

About 10 minutes left until Exchange time... I immediately opened the delivery system and ordered Set A.

'When the door opens... that's my chance.'

Less than a minute after ordering Set A.

This time, when Bellierd opened my door to place the tray inside...

'There it is..!'

I seized the moment the outer-only door opened for delivery.

Waiting right there, I saw the massive something slumped against the door get pushed inside.

I slapped my hand on its corpse and hit...

'Craft..!'

No hesitation—I pressed the button.

'Got it..!'

Now the photo-shooting monster was just an item.

I'd thwarted their plan to some extent—

"..Ah."

After crafting the photo-shooting monster into an item.

Normally, I'd report it to the community right away, but...

I was frozen, unable to move.

Because right in front of me... was the monster delivering Set A.

Might end up in a bad spot if I pissed it off, right...?

But.

"Uh, ahaha... Nice to meet you in person, I guess."

Whether misfortune or fortune.

The monster before me didn't have a terrifying appearance.

And...

"When I was at the Bellierd Library... I was always so grateful..!"

Anyone could tell it was a Bellierd Library monster.

'So it wasn't an emoticon... it drew a self-portrait.'

Inside its black soul-smoke-like floating form hovered a :> face, like an inserted emoticon.

Freely changing facial expressions like that.

It had to be the real face of a Bellierd Library monster, not a drawing.

'..How's it even holding the tray...?'

I had no clue how a floating thing knocked and opened doors, but.

It couldn't speak, apparently, trying to communicate through expressions.

"Ah, um... That monster just now was trying to kill us, so I used info from a book I got at the library and turned it into an item real quick."

I gave a rough explanation of what I'd done.

'..Is it upset?'

Not the answer it wanted?

Or maybe it didn't like hearing that other monster was trying to kill me...

Either way, the Bellierd Library monster's face looked dissatisfied.

"I really appreciate it all the time. Thanks to the books from the library... I've been feeling a bit more at ease lately."

To soothe it, I flirted a bit—like, the books from the library are great, 5 stars, though full marks are 4 hehe.

"Ah! Not sure if it'd help someone like you, but... I could gift you an item I made—"

"?"

Suddenly, my house vanished entirely.

Like a photo in an album getting 'deleted'—gone in an instant.

'There was one more...!'

Thinking back, yeah.

The monster's ability the community figured out wasn't just photo-shooting.

They'd also learned about the photo gallery storing the shots.

And for powerless humans unable to counter that...

'Can't... breathe... can't breathe...'

Nothing.

'Ah... fuck... fuuuck...'

Chest clenched, couldn't breathe.

Was that why you can't go out during Blockade—can't breathe air?

Whole body went limp, couldn't move...

Nothing left but death. Despair hit hard.

'If I'd known... if I'd known I'd go out this pathetically... I should've at least tried Set F once...'

How's my last thought before dying regretting not trying the priciest Set F...

...
...
...
...
...
But seriously, I should've tried it...
Stupidly saved stones...

......

"Ugh?!"

The fluffy sensation enveloping me jolted me upright like a shiver.

Escape the monster's stomach that ate me after I collapsed..!

"..Huh?"

Or so I thought.

I was lying on a very familiar bed.

"..Bellierd Library?"

On the Bellierd Library librarian's bed, no less.

"Ah... ahh... Thank you... truly, thank you..."

Overwhelmed by Bellierd Library's infinite grace, I clasped my hands in prayer.

"..Wait, isn't it work hours now?"

Glancing at the clock—it was prime time for the Bellierd librarian to be on duty.

Instinct told me.

'No door handle since I'm not the librarian...'

I wasn't the librarian anymore, so beyond the invisible door...

Someone—or something—was working as librarian.

'..Human?'

No idea if the current librarian was a monster or not.

'..How much time passed?'

First, let people know I'm alive.

I snapped a photo and went to post...

Then I saw it.

A new rule: no posting photos to the community...

Big Whale, left stranded outside during Blockade when his house suddenly got deleted...

Can't post pics which sucks, but I woke up at the Bellierd Library!!

Pretty sure the Bellierd Library monster saved my ass!

Bellierd Library forever!!!!

Bellierd Library foreeeever!!!!!

Just came to and posted right away, so no nasty comments about why I'm not playing hard to get like some dating sim no no no no