Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Scale (1)
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To make money, I had to craft items.
And to craft items, I had to use the scalpel to carefully slice up the bones from what I assumed was a god.
That past week had kept me busier than ever, every single day.
Schick—schick—schick—schick—
Even today, the moment I woke up, I grabbed the scalpel and started sawing away at the stubborn bone like it was wood, kicking off another day.
'Feels kinda nice, actually. Like I'm really working for once.'
It had started as a way to farm stones.
But now, most Japanese survivors could duplicate stones themselves.
With resources flooding the safe zones where survivors gathered, the praise—not quite praise, but close enough—for me had skyrocketed too.
--
[Me too?! Stone duplication tomorrow?!]
Made items for us.
Enabled stone duplication.
Increased total Sanity.
Fuck, he did everything.
Hunted monsters for us.
Lured monsters for us.
Even bagged a few for us.
Fuck, he did everything.
Aaah, the power of Normalization...
You're Japanese, right?
Yeah.
Don't bullshit me. You're not Japanese.
It's all thanks to Big Whale-nim's Normalization.
???? What's that?
Anon 1's been kidnapped by a horror story for too long and missed the latest memes.
What is it? Why's everyone having fun without me?
He just did~ everything~ for us~
lololololololololol finally the Big Whale surname drops. God Whale
Not the Shin surname. (Edited) (Deleted)
He's just a god...
Big Whale's ability was actually 'Normalization' all along...
For real, he didn't come to help hopeless people like us, did he?
This is straight-up dark fantasy Normalization!
To be honest, I'm human too. Seeing people appreciate my hard work felt great.
What was it... a sense of moral superiority?
Selling cheap items with my unique skills, farming stones, winning hearts... that thrilling deviance just made me feel good.
'Next time, I should share some food too.'
Fueled by that petty thrill, I was hard at work sawing bones when...
'Hm?'
A message popped up. Thinking someone wanted to reserve an item, I tapped the notification.
--
Opponent: Are you... okay?
Me: You?
Opponent: Yeah... it's me.
For the first time in about a week with no contact, my Wife Monster finally messaged me.
Curious why she'd gone silent, I asked...
--
Me: I was worried sick with no word for days. What happened?
Opponent: Nothing... happened. Just... had some... guests... that's all.
Me: Oh, guests?
Opponent: Yes.
Me: Important ones?
Opponent: Killed them... all.
Me: Ah? So that's why you were busy?
Opponent: Yes.
"Whoa... even her busy is on another level..."
I didn't know which monster had visited, but surviving a week in the Role-Play Horror Story was impressive.
Admiring her week's exploits...
--
Opponent: (Photo)
Opponent: I'll leave... them all... for you.
Opponent: A gift...
Me: For me?
Opponent: Yes. For my... honey.
Me: Wow... you're making me too happy.
Opponent: Glad...
Me: Can't have that. Next time I pick up bodies, I'll make you a new gift too.
Opponent: I just... need... my honey.
Me: No. I'll make time to grab those monster corpses next. Thanks, honey.
Opponent: Okay.
Thrilled she'd give me the bodies, I agreed... wait a sec?
"...Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"...Hold on?"
Realization hit. I powered on my phone on the table.
Battery was down to 10%, so it'd been off.
Only way to confirm what I saw.
'No way... no way...?'
Checking the gallery for Capitalism Horror Story monster pics...
Sure enough.
"Knew they looked familiar..."
The monsters my Wife Monster killed matched those from Capitalism Horror Story floors 3 and up.
'She was busy protecting me...'
Her ability influences others' Status Windows.
I didn't know the details, but she couldn't go to them—could pull them to her.
She'd summoned Capitalism monsters to Role-Play to guard me.
Whether by force or bribing with stones, unknown.
Odd how all monsters vanished suddenly from that no-escape horror story...
"My Wife Monster in Role-Play protected me."
"What do you mean?"
"When I was there... monsters smashed traps then vanished?"
She'd been behind it, protecting me.
…
--
Me: Wait just a bit. I'll finish up and come.
Opponent: Okay... Thanks... honey.
Me: Thanks? I owe you... You hurt?
Opponent: Fine...
Asking to confirm my hunch...
It was spot on.
"It's real..."
"Without your Wife Monster...?"
First time I accessed Status Window via phone, I shared monster info on the community.
She contacted Bellierd Library for their account numbers.
Then influenced Capitalism monsters' Status Windows, proposing a deal: smash traps, come to her story, get tons of stones.
"Worst case... fighting in pitch black with phone flashlight after lights out."
"...And?"
"Battery dies, total darkness monster fight... absurd."
"..."
"Eh, I'd have reactivated Status Window for VIP escape anyway. No real change... but I'd never know how the escape route appeared."
Ultimately, her actions didn't change the outcome much.
I reactivated Status Window regardless; monsters or not, irrelevant.
But still.
"I... couldn't do anything..."
"Why feel responsible, Mina? That story had unknown codes. No one could've helped anyway."
"..."
I'd still received her help.
"I'm off."
Stopping work to enter her story...
"Big Whale-nim."
"Yes?"
"Take it off."
"...Pardon?"
"Hurry."
Mina telling me to undress caught me off guard.
Staring confused...
"Women hate armor like that."
"...Pardon?"
"Sigh... Come here."
Following her to...
"Gotta dress sharp. Your wife seeing you like that?"
"Takes... mental fortitude..."
"Good rice looks better, tastes better."
"...I see."
Men's clothes galore.
…
Dressed as Mina coordinated, Sanity ring on finger, ready for Role-Play Horror Story.
"Tell her thanks properly this time."
"I will."
"Good. That's right."
"Thanks, Mina. I'm bad at this stuff..."
"No biggie. You've given me plenty."
Thanking her, activating Status Window for RY input...
"Hoo..."
"?"
Mina inhaled deeply, like steeling herself, then...
Squeeze...
Slipped something into my hand.
"What's th—"
A condom.
"Do it."
"?"
"For your Wife Monster. Close your eyes and do it."
"??"
"Why'd I tell you to ditch the armor? Can't do it in that."
"No... I mean...?"
"Monster or not, she's like human. Close eyes, do it. What's the issue?"
"Why do you have this?"
"...Amulet?"
"I see."
Wallet condom for luck... I'd heard.
Uh...
Whatever.
Not important now.
"...Be back."
"Take care."
I'd steeled myself somewhat.
Sensed it'd come eventually.
If trapped again, her help crucial.
For that, and thanks, I entered Role-Play with resolve.
"Honey, I'm home."
"You're... here?"
"Too late?"
"No... Ate... yet?"
"Not yet. Together?"
"Sure..."
…
After dinner, approached her washing dishes.
She continued naturally as I hugged from behind.
"Honey."
"Why...?"
Set condom by sink quietly.
Hugged tighter.
"Sorry... and thanks—"
"No...!"
"?"
She shoved me away suddenly.
Confused, looked at her...
"...Huh?"
"I-it's... not... that I hate... you..."
"Something wrong?"
"Can't... touch... me."
I realized why she resisted.
"Oh, that? Worried I'll get pulled to another story?"
"..."
"I can control it."
"No... I'll... put you... in danger."
She fretted over Return pulling me elsewhere.
Direct monster contact drains human Sanity fast...
Feared I'd near-death like before.
"Not dangerous."
To her, I was fragile glass.
Of course...
"Still... no."
Personally, ideal: intimacy without contact risk.
No life gamble, help on tap.
But.
"Sorry... but you're... too weak..."
I can't be harsh to kind souls.
"No... way..."
Forcing hug despite pushes.
"Hate it? Kill me."
"...Pardon?"
Turned her, kissed stunned lips.
'One kiss and Sanity plummets at insane speed...'
"...Why back so soon?"
"Got kicked out."
"Didn't peg you for it, Big Whale-nim... Fast... like a rabbit?"
"??? No, kicked out."
"Your Wife Monster chased you? Lies..."
"No really. Hey, where you going??? Wait?!"
Hello.
This is a notice from the 0 Financial Institution.
You have purchased our UVIP service.
You now have access to 6 free and paid services.
1. Emergency Escape for 19,999 stones. Our UVIP staff will retrieve you anywhere.
2. Free deposits between 0 Financial users; all your transaction fees waived.
3. We guarantee contracts between users; UVIP contract fees discounted (5%).
4. Send parcels to other users (50 stones/kg, fractions ignored).
5. Share feedback anytime. Contact consultant (5 stones/min).
6. Dispatch staff for minor help (200 stones/min).
7. (Preparing new service. Please wait.)
"Finally!"
Bought UVIP to call the cat staff cheaper.
Seemed highest tier; no more upgrades.
Now, relaxed fun with cat staff.
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes!"
Planning with Mina...
'Who?'
Message arrived; checked.
--
Opponent: Hey, human.
Opponent: Elf here.
Me: Long time.
Opponent: Been busy. Finally messaging.
Me: Very busy?
Opponent: Yeah, entered new Doppelganger horror story.
Elf messaged after ages.
--
Me: Still busy with Doppelganger?
Opponent: Kinda.
Glad to hear...
Briefly.
--
Opponent: Ahem... ahem...
Me: ?
Opponent: Sorry to ask after so long...
Opponent: Can I borrow some stones...?
Classic: old friend hits up for cash.
'Block.'
Reached for block—
--
Opponent: Gotta get out... but can't...!
Me: ...?
Opponent: Doppelganger dead, but can't leave...
Me: What?
Opponent: Need to buy with scale... never thought I'd lack stones lol;
Me: Scale?
Opponent: Yeah...!
Me: I see.
Opponent: Hey hey... don't block me...!
Swipe—swipe—
"How'd she know?"
--
Opponent: For real...! I'll repay with interest... okay?
Me: With interest?
Opponent: Yeah...! 20%?
Hmm... hmmm...
Hmmmm...
--
Me: First, tell me about the story.
Opponent: Scale-based horror story...!
…