Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: In the Name of Cake, the Bear Doll, and Macaron!
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Cake and the bear doll and macaron's name!
The missionary work that began in the name of cake, the bear doll, and macaron proceeded very smoothly.
"Praise be!"
"Ooh! Great One!"
Look at them. Now they kneel and bow without me even saying a word!
"Uwaaaah!"
Hm. Maybe they're getting a bit too hyped?
I toned down the output a little.
Then the ones who seemed on the verge of rampaging calmed down somewhat.
Currently, there were 20 people kneeling before me.
As for why there were so many, it was because the ones I first brought led others here, and those brought even more.
After repeating that a few times, we reached 20.
"Good!"
Perfect!
Of course, I hadn't dragged just anyone here.
They were all carefully selected bad kids!
The kind who could disappear without issue—in fact, their absence would benefit society.
The funny part was how easy it had been to pick them out and bring them.
Birds of a feather, I suppose?
Just look at the first guy.
Not even that dangerous, yet he cut off his friend without hesitation and eyed my body with filthy intentions.
And this body is clearly an underage girl to anyone who looks!
What kind of people do you think his close friends are?
And one more thing.
From what I'd heard, 9 out of 10 explorers were trash.
I pointed at one and asked.
"Why are explorers trash?"
"Would any normal guy risk his life coming in and out of places like this? They'd just work an honest job and make a living."
"Couldn't it be because they're really desperate?"
"Then they'd quit after a few tries. Not keep doing this crap."
The man who said that pointed at the others in turn.
"That guy's gambling. That one's crime. That guy, too—gambling. Gambling. Just, 9 out of 10 are trash."
"And you?"
"Me too, gambling. Heh heh. Got into toto a bit……."
"I was into house betting!"
"Casino for me!"
"Hahaha!"
Idiots get excited just looking at each other, and sure enough, they were all chummy and cheerful.
The reason I'd gathered these proper trash heaps was simple.
"You all keep finding more of the same trash and convert them! And in your spare time, explore this place!"
These explorers called themselves that, but in reality, they just wandered near the entrance and went back—that was their routine.
There had been some who looked experienced on that old message board, but they turned out to be rare exceptions.
Rare as in, really damn rare.
So, I figured I'd make do with these guys.
My goal?
For now, just to scout the area.
When I first arrived nearby, I was in such bad shape that I barely remember anything.
And walking around myself sounded like a hassle.
"Alright! In the name of cake, the bear doll, and macaron! Depart!"
"Depart!"
I shouted from a chair someone had scavenged from somewhere.
No sooner had the order dropped than they all bowed their heads and scattered in every direction.
Heading toward the four corners, their faces were brimming with happiness.
Really, quite the amusing sight.
"Hee hee."
And just like that, I was alone.
A heavy silence descended.
"It's so quiet……."
Woooom.
When it got quiet like this, sure enough…….
It didn't feel good.
The power I wielded inside here was stronger than out there.
Anomalies were everywhere, making it easy to recover strength.
But I had no motivation.
The longer I stayed here, the clearer my usually numb mind became, and the worse my mood plunged.
"Aah……."
I want to go home.
But endlessly wandering without end terrified me.
Becoming someone who wasn't me anymore terrified me.
I was already quite far from my original 'me,' but I knew that.
I could drift even further here.
Thinking about it made my current state feel like a miracle.
If I hadn't found that door?
I wouldn't have even thought to cut away part of myself.
I'd have wandered forever, eventually forgetting I was ever human.
It would've been better if the door I'd struggled to find led truly back home…….
"……."
I slowly closed my eyes.
Dwelling on depressing thoughts would only make me more depressed.
The me here could just sleep for a bit.
Until my mood improved again.
When I opened my eyes again.
Ding-dong-.
Still feeling a bit dazed, I blinked at the sound of the bell.
I headed to the reception room, where two people waited.
"Ta-da! Today's dessert is Mont Blanc cake!"
"Ta, ta-da!"
Seyeon smiled brightly as she pulled out a box, while Yuna awkwardly chimed in beside her.
"Mont Blanc?"
I tilted my head at the unfamiliar name, and Seyeon laughed as she opened the box.
"Yes! It's a famous French dessert! I'll put one right in!"
Seyeon fed one box straight into the slot.
I took the arriving box and opened it right away.
There was a cake topped with chestnut cream rolled tight, dusted with white sugar powder like snow.
"Let's eat together!"
"Huh?"
"I brought some for us too!"
Seyeon said that and placed another box in front of her side.
"There's glass between us, sure, but tea time is about sharing the moment, right?"
"Tea?"
"Ta-da!"
At my question, Seyeon whipped out a canned drink like she'd been waiting.
Seeing the pale pink can, I nodded in satisfaction. That was authentic milk tea!
Seyeon smiled and sent the canned drink over too.
Yuna, seeing my positive reaction, started looking a bit more relaxed midway through.
"Then let's start!"
And so tea time began, separated by glass.
I speared some Mont Blanc with a fork and brought it to my mouth.
"Wow!"
I couldn't hold back the exclamation.
The moment it hit my tongue, sweet cream and chestnut aroma enveloped my mouth.
The taste was exactly…….
"Like fancy Babamba!"
"Ah……."
Yuna looked hurt for a second at my words.
Meanwhile, Seyeon next to her grinned and played along.
"Hee hee, exactly. Makes it even tastier, right?"
"Yeah! Sweeter!"
I'd always liked Babamba.
Or... I think I did? Probably……. My memory's fuzzy.
Anyway, Mont Blanc was delicious.
I ate seven right there, downed five cans, then patted my full belly in satisfaction.
"Haa. The best!"
"Glad it suited your taste!"
Seyeon smiled, then declared confidently.
"I'll prepare another special dessert next time!"
"Yeah."
"Oh, anything besides dessert? Like pizza or chicken?"
Pizza? Chicken? Of course!
Especially bacon potato!
"Cake!"
But this mouth of mine still wouldn't obey.
"Ah, not a fan?"
"Macaron!"
"Got it!"
I give up.
This body still had too many unknowns.
Honestly, it felt like the self tied to this body was growing stronger…….
"Right! I brought some fun news today too!"
"What?"
"One's from desk jockeys who know zilch about fieldwork, the other's hand-picked by me!"
"Haha, I'll hear both!"
"Yes! First, a new Echo—er, anomaly—got transferred in."
"And?"
"They figured you'd be interested and asked if you wanted to see it!"
"What’s it look like?"
"Ugly and terrifying!"
"Pass."
"Wise choice!"
Seyeon crumpled one file without hesitation.
Then, like this was the main event, she held up the other.
"The other one's a painting."
"Painting?"
"Yes! A living painting. Like something a little kid drew—bright colors, super cute."
"But it's alive?"
"Yep! Watch it, and it starts moving on its own."
"And?"
"Keep staring, and it sucks you in. About 15 seconds? Most don't come back out, and the lucky ones who do... their minds are messed up."
"Sounds fun."
"Right?"
Seyeon beamed.
She looked like she'd expected me to be hooked.
And I had no intention of hiding it anyway.
She was spot on.
"Wanna check it out!"
"Haha, knew it! Give me 10 minutes, I'll get it in there."
"You can just bring stuff like that out?"
"Containment's surprisingly easy."
Makes sense.
An anomaly's inherent danger and containment difficulty are separate.
Some are insanely dangerous but easy to contain, others harmless but nearly impossible to lock down.
A living painting didn't seem hard to contain.
"Then I'll wait!"
"Leave it to me!"
Tea time wrapped up. Ten minutes later.
The painting arrived in my room.
I opened it like unwrapping a gift and lifted it up.
"So cute!"
It was a crayon drawing in vivid colors.
A green field. Cute animals frolicking on it. A bright blue sky.
Truly adorable and charming.
"Pic...ture."
Then Dasom approached beside me. She wanted to see too, apparently.
We peered into the painting together.
Plop-.
Suddenly, I felt part of my mind getting pulled somewhere.
When I came to.
I was in a blue field.
-Hi! New friends?
And in front of me was a white, fluffy rabbit.
-Welcome to Eden! Let's play together!
The rabbit smiled and raised an axe.
I grinned back brightly.
"Sure!"
This place already felt great.