Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Scale of Absurdity
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The first to greet Lee Si-woo upon his entry into Barathrum was the white squirrel, Bbi-bbi.
-Bbi! Bbi-bbi-bbi!
Climbing up his leg and torso, Bbi-bbi settled on his shoulder, wagging its tail and rubbing its head against Si-woo's cheek.
Pleased by the soft touch, Si-woo scratched the top of Bbi-bbi’s head with his index finger and spoke.
“Have you been well? Did anyone bother you?”
-Bbi-bbi!
As if tattling, the squirrel jumped up and down on Si-woo's shoulder, squirming and twisting its body.
Si-woo chuckled at the movement, which seemed to mimic a centipede.
“Ogong bothered you, didn't he?”
As Bbi-bbi wagged its tail, delighted that Si-woo understood, the faceless, masked boy Butler appeared.
“Welcome, my Lord.”
“Yes. It's been a while, unintentionally so. More importantly, I saw your text message. Has something bad happened?”
“Not bad news, but good news. A positive change has occurred in Barathrum.”
“A positive change?”
The Butler nodded and said.
“You've recently created a Circle. This is a very significant achievement, and thanks to it, Barathrum's tier has risen, and a new facility has been constructed.”
The Butler clapped his hands, and a system window appeared before Si-woo's eyes.
「Tier 2」
Facilities: 【Mine】 【Library】 【Hall】 【Scale of Absurdity】 【Castle】【Sky Corridor】
Functions: Invisibility Mode, In-Brain Ringtone Mode, Save & Load.
Cell: 3/8
“Hmm... what are these lines drawn through the Castle and Sky Corridor facilities?”
“That is because their construction is incomplete due to a lack of energy. They will be activated soon once you absorb new energy, my Lord.”
“I see. Seeing so many facilities pop up... it seems creating a Circle was quite an important event for Barathrum.”
“Yes. The Circle was that important a trigger for you, my Lord. Also, since several key facilities have been created this time, please note that no new ones will appear for a while.”
“Alright. Then the first thing I should check is the completed Scale of Absurdity. What is this facility's function, and how am I supposed to use it?”
“Let's go. It will likely be easier to understand if you see it for yourself.”
Si-woo followed the Butler out of the plaza and into the center of the town.
Perhaps it was due to the charming, European-style buildings clustered together.
It felt less like a town and more like a theme park.
Just then, with a sharp cry, a black shadow rushed toward Si-woo.
-Kiyaaaaak!
The Butler swatted the black shadow aiming for Si-woo's neck away with the back of his hand.
Si-woo identified the writhing shadow that had been miserably slammed into the ground and spoke.
“Ogong?”
-Because of you... because of you....
Si-woo could no longer hear Ogong's voice, filled with such resentment and grief.
The Butler had crushed Ogong's head with his foot.
Crunch.
Watching Ogong's body tremble with its head burst open, Si-woo said.
“He couldn't have harmed me as long as you were here anyway. Don't you think you killed him a bit too easily? He's a valuable worker.”
The Butler replied, his voice laced with a faint hint of laughter.
“My Lord, it seems you haven't yet realized your own position within this Barathrum. Even without me, this pathetic insect wouldn't have been able to touch a single hair on your head. Furthermore... it cannot die without your permission.”
As soon as the Butler finished speaking, the remains of Ogong's exploded head began to squirm, then gathered together like iron filings drawn to a magnet, restoring its original shape.
The Butler stomped on the body of the revived Ogong, who was letting out a sharp scream.
-Kiyaaak! It hurts! I said it hurts!
With his index finger, the Butler meticulously plucked Ogong's legs one by one.
Unable to bear the pain of being dissected alive, Ogong screamed incessantly.
The Butler pierced Ogong's eye with his index finger and spoke in a gentle tone.
“Ogong, did I not tell you? Depending on how the Lord regards you, this place can become a heaven or a hell. And yet... you run wild, so ignorant of your place? Do you wish to visit the punishment room again?”
At the mention of the punishment room, Ogong began to flop about like a live fish, shrieking.
-Damn it! Kill me! Please, just kill me! I'd rather die than work like a slave forever in this damn place! You bastards!
“Foolish creature. Do you still believe that death is your choice to make? No matter how much you beg for death, whether to grant it or not is up to the Lord's will...”
The Butler trailed off, turning his head toward Si-woo.
At the gesture that seemed to ask for his opinion, Si-woo opened his mouth.
“I checked today, and the silver mining is almost complete... Ogong's contribution seems significant.”
“He was more useful than I expected.”
“Then let's keep him alive. However, it would be a bit troublesome if he attacks me like this every time I visit...”
Si-woo gazed intently at Ogong.
Then, an intense light erupted from Si-woo's entire body, as if he were facing a sunrise at point-blank range.
The overwhelming presence emanating from the radiance mercilessly crushed Ogong, who couldn't even scream as he slammed his head to the ground.
Si-woo could feel it.
In that moment, Ogong's senses, mind, and life—all of it had fallen into his grasp.
Si-woo swallowed dryly at the thrilling sense of possession.
He felt that if he let his guard down for even a moment, he would become addicted to this feeling of ownership and treat Ogong as something less than a toy.
-Ahhh....
Tears streamed down Ogong's face as he slammed his head on the ground again and again.
Hate and pain vanished without a trace, and the empty space was filled with respect and adoration.
Language was forgotten, reason eroded.
All that remained was praise and worship.
Like a primitive man seeing fire for the first time, Ogong looked up at Si-woo and wept.
And filled with deep gratitude, he bowed, and bowed again.
Watching Ogong continue to bow even as his forehead split open and his teeth shattered, Si-woo felt both ecstasy and terror.
Barathrum.
He was happy that this artifact was his, yet at the same time, he was afraid of the reality that this unknown treasure was in his hands.
* * *
The Butler bowed his head apologetically and said.
“I am ashamed. My inadequate handling of the matter has inconvenienced you, my Lord.”
Si-woo gave a wry smile.
The Butler's extremely deferential attitude was becoming a burden.
“It's alright. If anything, I should be the one apologizing. If I had come in and sorted this out sooner, your work would have been easier.”
“My Lord, you are too courteous to a lowly one such as myself. Please, as my master, simply reprimand me, and this servant will do his duty.”
Finding the Butler's conduct to be the excessive one, Si-woo waved his hands dismissively.
“It's making me uncomfortable, so please stop. More importantly... is this the Scale of Absurdity?”
Si-woo examined the three-meter-tall golden scale that stood like an ancient tree.
After inspecting the balance with golden plates dangling on both sides, Si-woo asked.
“As I understand it, a balance scale is an ancient tool used to gauge which of two objects is heavier... What use does this have for me?”
“This scale is an artifact that can replicate anything in this world, provided a suitable price is paid.”
For a moment, Si-woo doubted his own ears.
The function of the Scale of Absurdity was that unbelievable.
“Did you just say replicate?”
The Butler gently stroked the pillar of the golden scale and replied.
“Yes. This scale can replicate all things you desire, my Lord. Of course, only if a suitable price is paid... Now, my Lord. Please check the right side of the scale.”
Following the Butler's words, Si-woo looked at the right-side plate and was startled. Resting on it was the Circle Potion he had consumed.
“Isn't that a Circle Potion?”
“Among Barathrum's Tier 2 functions, Save & Load, 'Save' records any item you have possessed for more than a day or anything you have consumed into Barathrum, and 'Load' allows you to summon these recorded items within Barathrum.”
“So, to replicate an item, I have to either possess it for a day or consume it... Depending on the situation, that's not too difficult a condition.”
“Of course, Save & Load only works within Barathrum, so it's impossible to take a loaded item outside. However, an item successfully replicated by the Scale of Absurdity can be taken out.”
“Ah, so Save & Load is a function prepared for the Scale of Absurdity.”
“That is correct.”
Si-woo's eyes sparkled as he checked the state of the scale, which was tilted completely to the right.
“Does the replication function activate if I place items equivalent to the Circle Potion on the other side to balance the scale?”
“Yes, that is correct. Once the two golden plates are level, the offerings you placed on the left plate as payment will disappear, and the replicated item will remain.”
“I'm starting to get a feel for what kind of artifact this scale is. But how is the standard for the 'suitable price' you mentioned determined?”
“The standard is based on the 'Market Price of All Things'.”
“Market Price of All Things?”
“It is a system established by Auction, one of the major corporations in the Main Dimension. Using this, you can check the real-time market data fluctuations for every object that exists in this world. Well, you can think of it as a type of stock market, though the principle is a bit different. The only difference is that the subjects are not corporations, but all existing objects.”
“A system that can check the market price of all objects in real-time... Is such a thing even possible?”
“Rather than trying to understand the concept, it's easier to think of it as a mystical phenomenon involving an incomprehensible being. In fact, Auction was only able to establish this system with the help of a god. Hmm, for your reference, there's also an app for it. It's quite fun to watch. You can see the market prices for everything from precious metals to elixirs like the Circle Potion at a glance.”
The Butler pointed to the Circle Potion on the scale and continued.
“And the current market price for the Circle Potion, according to the Market Price of All Things, is 500 stones. It's a fortune an ordinary person couldn't dream of earning in a lifetime... and looking at the market trend, it seems it will continue to rise for a while.”
There are two types of currency used in the Main Dimension: 'Points', an electronic currency commonly used by ordinary people, and a higher-tier currency, 'Mana Stones'.
The value of a Point wasn't much different from Earth's currencies.
Furthermore, although it varied greatly by country and region, considering the average annual salary for a citizen of Granada was around 50 million Points, the common economy was more stable than one might think.
However, the wealth gap was so severe it was on a different dimension compared to Earth's.
And Mana Stones, the higher-tier currency, contributed greatly to this wealth gap.
Mana Stones were consumables used in all sorts of artifacts, and mages could use them to recover mana or enhance the power of their magic. Their utility and value were incomparable to Points, which is why the wealthy hoarded them and refused to release them into circulation.
It was so bad that exchanging Points for a single Mana Stone required 100 million Points.
“500 Mana Stones? Hah, that's 50 billion in Points. I knew it was expensive, but this is beyond imagination.”
“The actual transaction price in Points is at least double that, you can assume. The upper class, such as corporate owners, nobles, and mages who possess Circle Potions, tend to treat Points as trivial. Besides, the Market Price of All Things only posts the average price... in severe cases, you might have to pay up to three times as much.”
150 billion Points.
Even if the Circle Potion was a dream elixir that could turn an ordinary person into a mage, the amount was still jaw-dropping.
Tilting his head and organizing his thoughts, Si-woo narrowed his eyes and asked.
“So, I have to place a payment equivalent to 150 billion Points on the scale to replicate the Circle Potion?”
“No, my Lord, you only need to pay 50 billion Points. The scale operates solely based on the data from the Market Price of All Things, so the actual transaction price doesn't apply at all.”
“So I can always get things at a fixed market price. Hmm, it's quite an attractive feature, but...”
As Si-woo seemed disappointed by the scale's function, which didn't quite live up to the name 'Absurdity', the Butler let out a faint laugh.
“My Lord, in the Main Dimension, ordinary people use Points, and the upper class use Mana Stones. Then... what currency do you suppose the gods use?”
At the Butler's sudden mention of the gods' currency, Si-woo's eyebrow twitched. He realized the scale still had a hidden function.
“This seems like knowledge one can't obtain with a Common Sense Pill. Would you enlighten me?”
“They use souls as currency. But strangely, they do not deal in the souls of beastmen, demons, angels, dragons, mystical beasts, or spirits. They deal exclusively in the souls of humans. And...”
The Butler suddenly burst into cheerful, childlike laughter.
With a laugh that starkly revealed a boy's glee, the Butler continued.
“You, my Lord, can also use the souls of humans. Right here, through this scale.”