Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Nameless's Tiring Day
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The primary mission of the nanobots was simple.
Ensure the user experiences no inconvenience.
But Nameless's primary mission was a bit different.
-Prevent the Heavenly Demon's sudden, impulsive actions.
-Ensure no inconvenience to the Awakeners entering the dungeon or ordinary citizens.
Recently, the Heavenly Demon had regained his internal energy from about a day ago.
Because of that, the Heavenly Demon had started rampaging again, just like in the early days of visiting the initial dungeons.
Once he encountered a monster in the dungeon, he would relentlessly pursue and smash every one in sight.
Rumble rumble rumble.
Whenever that happened, the dungeon undergoing reconstruction would vibrate and either sink into the ground or transform into a hard cube shape.
[Heavenly Demon. The dungeon does not belong to you alone. Consider the other Awakeners hunting monsters in the dungeon, or those gathering resources and materials.]
Nameless would always offer this advice while watching the dungeon reconstruct. But the response was always utterly ruthless.
"They're strangers I've never even met. Why should I care about them?"
Every time he heard the Heavenly Demon's reply—telling morals and ethics to go to hell—Nameless felt like his computation circuits were blazing with fire.
There was another reason why he absolutely had to rein in the Heavenly Demon's rampages.
For some cursed reason, every time the Heavenly Demon touched a monster, a Hidden Monster would appear out of nowhere.
"Argh!"
At the Cloud Bridge Rest Area, 2.5 kilometers from Safe Dungeon Zone.
Standing on the rooftop of an abandoned building nearby, Nameless looked down at the chaotic rest area and sighed.
There, the Hidden Monster with a danger level of 30,000 that the Heavenly Demon had summoned—a "Flame Wave Salamander"—was putting on a frenzied fire show.
Whoosh.
Every time flames poured from the Flame Wave Salamander's mouth, the energy field over the rest area melted away, buildings collapsed, and furnishings burst into flames.
If there was a Hidden Monster that was too annoying or tricky to deal with, the Heavenly Demon always lured it toward the rest area like this.
Then, he would circle the rest area stealthily until startled Awakeners rushed out to confront the Hidden Monster.
It was the exact "Hidden Monster Hand-Off" technique that Nameless had taught him in the early days of dungeon life.
[Heavenly Demon. Did you really have to wipe out that utterly useless fireball monster?]
Looking down at the blazing rest area scenery, Nameless shook his head.
[Even if you caught it, there'd be no gain. Besides, I've told you multiple times that Hidden Monsters could appear.]
The spawn condition for the Flame Wave Salamander was to instantly freeze the "Fireball" monster native to the B-Grade dungeon "Thermos."
Something no ordinary Awakener could accomplish, but the Heavenly Demon had frozen it in one shot using the Cold Spirit Ice White Divine Art, summoning the Flame Wave Salamander.
"It was just a chance to loosen up a bit."
[…]
"Ah, it's refreshing to unleash martial arts with pure qi after so long. Since we're out, it might be good to hit another dungeon and stretch more."
In that instant, Nameless's vision flashed with an illusion of every rest area in the dungeon turning into infernos of chaos.
No. Absolutely not. Keep this up, and the rest areas will collapse, the dungeons will collapse, and the country will collapse!
He wanted to grab him by the collar and yell, but Nameless was a nanobot.
Losing composure and shouting went against his pride as a nanobot.
[…Heavenly Demon. How about calling it a day and heading back? Another Hidden Monster could appear.]
Nameless tried to persuade him indirectly, but the Heavenly Demon gave an off-topic reply.
"There are quite a few rest areas in the dungeon, aren't there?"
Only then did Nameless realize.
The Heavenly Demon wasn't a typical Awakener.
He was a madman with whom no conversation could be had using common sense or logic.
After a moment of silence, Nameless resumed his computations. Searching for a way to persuade him.
[Heavenly Demon. Tonight, that show you like, [Driving Skills Only Awakeners Can Do!], Episode 5 is airing.]
"That show's gotten stale. No more techniques left to learn."
[If you stay out too late, Jang Chaewon might run into trouble. There could be sudden repair work.]
"Today, both Kim and Gray-eyes are at the store. She'll manage."
Nameless looked down at his trembling arms. He wanted to pull out his Electric Gun—which stunned monsters with electric discharge in emergencies—and bash the Heavenly Demon's head.
[If you stay in the dungeon too late, you might get home late.]
Regaining his composure, Nameless spoke again.
[If you're late getting home, Mom's Hand Rice House might close. Then you'd skip a meal. Skipping meals makes you hungry, and hunger could make the country collapse...]
As Nameless rambled on, losing his mental grip, he suddenly thought of something that might tempt the Heavenly Demon.
[Oh, right. The department store gift certificate from Kim Chanwon is about to expire. There's still 100,000 won left, so how about stopping by the big mart on the way?]
"A mart?"
[Yes. It has everything from various ingredients to daily necessities. Plus, the cable connecting to me is in bad shape.]
"Hmm."
Nameless prayed inwardly.
Please, please no more nonsense—just head back. So I don't have to worry about the insurance limits of the Association Awakeners running the rest areas!
"Fine. Let's go back."
He did it! Finally persuaded the stubborn fool.
Unable to contain his bursting joy, Nameless kicked out his legs, knelt, and clasped his hands together.
I did it. Everyone in the dungeon—Awakeners—you're safe now!
"What are you doing?"
At the Heavenly Demon's question, Nameless, who had been celebrating inwardly, slowly stood up.
[Nothing. I'll guide you on the return path now.]
* * *
A large mart in the bustling downtown area.
It was rush hour after work, so the inside was packed with people.
The Heavenly Demon parked the Ramas on the first floor and entered the building, where the food court and clothing section came into view.
"Where's the stuff I need?"
[The home appliance section on the third floor.]
"Guide me."
[Heavenly Demon. The mart is too crowded to use the guide wires for pathfinding. Sorry, but please follow my voice directions.]
"Fine."
[Go straight ahead until you see the corner, then turn right.]
Nameless deliberately guided him on a full loop around the mart's interior to let the Heavenly Demon take in the sights slowly as they headed upstairs.
A few passersby startled at the sight of the Heavenly Demon's face, but upon seeing Nameless slung over his shoulder, they reverted to indifferent expressions.
They probably thought he was just an Awakener who liked quirky outfits.
[The second floor has groceries and sundries. And over there...]
As the Heavenly Demon moved, Nameless enthusiastically narrated the mart's interior.
"Amazing."
Come to think of it, they'd been to traditional markets with Nameless plenty of times, but this was his first time at a big mart.
Seeing interest spark in the Heavenly Demon's eyes, Nameless explained even more excitedly.
[The third floor is the home appliance section. Of course, it's not as specialized as a dedicated store, but it has all the essential household appliances...]
Boom!
A sudden explosion rang out, and the escalator the Heavenly Demon was on ground to a halt.
Zzt zzt.
The lights illuminating the interior winked out in an instant, plunging everything into darkness, followed by a thud as the backup generator kicked in.
"Broken?"
As he impassively watched the murmuring crowd under the emergency lights, a low voice crackled from the speakers amid static.
-We are the Anti-Awakener Alliance, Scouter. This mart has explosives planted. If even one person tries to leave, we'll detonate them one by one!
"What nonsense is this?"
[A radical armed group opposing Awakener activities. They demand Awakeners be banned from commercial pursuits and use their powers solely for public good.]
"I see."
Nameless spoke in a deeply serious tone as the Heavenly Demon picked his nose with a bored expression.
[Heavenly Demon. They're threatening to blow up the place and kill people if anyone tries to leave.]
"Explosives? Like that Bubiston from before?"
[No way. Something like Bubiston isn't easy to obtain. Only a military base would stock that much.]
"Then what are they using?"
[From saying they've 'planted' them, probably plastic explosives or some composite bomb.]
Having heard it all, the Heavenly Demon shook his head pityingly.
"Boring stunt."
He strode up the stalled escalator to the third-floor shop.
"What do I need? Let's buy it quick."
Nameless's circuits froze once more.
The Heavenly Demon didn't care if radicals took over the mart or if bombs went off—he just wanted to shop and get home.
[Heavenly Demon. Didn't you hear my explanation?]
"I heard."
[They said they'll blow the mart if even one person leaves.]
"I'm the Heavenly Demon."
[Ah.]
"Such explosions are merely like a hot shower."
Nameless extended arms from his body and looked at his slender limbs.
[Electric Gun...]
He wanted to deploy the massive-current Electric Gun and shut the Heavenly Demon's blabbering mouth. But he lacked the strength or power—a puny clam-fisted bot.
"What is it?"
Having reached the third floor, the Heavenly Demon scanned the appliance section.
"The thing I need."
Nameless said nothing. Pointing out the charging cable spot would just make him grab it and leave.
Whirrr.
The Heavenly Demon's utter obliviousness to the crisis had Nameless's computation circuits blazing in hellfire once more.
[Scanning... products now.]
Those radical armed bastards were the real deal—insane enough to follow through.
It would take the Association at least 15 minutes to respond. Even if the Heavenly Demon acted now, disarming bombs seemed unlikely.
"Nothing?"
As the Heavenly Demon urged him on, Nameless's circuits spun wildly.
[Ah, it's time for the highly popular sequel to the recently ended [My Censor] to air.]
After agonizing, Nameless settled on manipulating the large TV right in front of the appliance section.
[The episode airing today is thrilling. It'll show unreleased scenes. The male lead, who's been hiding his censor identity, finally reveals his badge to the female lead.]
To hook the Heavenly Demon, Nameless chattered like a benshi, enthusiastically reviewing the drama like a new movie.
"......"
The people cowering on the floor in fear shot baffled looks.
Ignoring their persistent stares, Nameless kept talking. This was the only way to save lives in the mart.
"You're an Awakener, right?"
As Nameless explained while facing the TV, a middle-aged man sneaked up and spoke.
"Yeah. With that nanobot, definitely an Awakener."
He complained to the Heavenly Demon watching the TV.
"Instead of watching TV here, shouldn't you disarm the bombs or catch the terrorists?"
Impossible.
Even with dozens of 1st Grade Awakeners in the mart, without electromagnetic manipulation skills, they couldn't resolve this.
Especially since that radical group knew Awakeners' weaknesses and patterns. Any suspicious move, and boom—instant detonation.
[The Association has already been notified. 1st Grade Awakeners with electromagnetic manipulation skills to neutralize the detonators will arrive soon.]
Nameless explained calmly in a mechanical voice, but the man grumbled irritably.
"Even so, you should try to help somehow. Watching TV leisurely like this—makes no sense?"
Shameless.
This middle-aged man was the type who did nothing himself but demanded endless sacrifices from others, causing endless trouble.
"It's because of Awakeners like you that anti-Awakener groups act out. You hustle in dungeons but never lift a finger to help people, right?"
The Heavenly Demon, engrossed in the TV, furrowed his brow slightly.
Like spotting a fly on his rice bowl right before eating.
Keep yapping, and his head might split in two under the Heavenly Demon's hand.
[Excuse me.]
Lightning-quick, Nameless zipped behind the man and drew a glowing blue gun from his body.
His cherished self-defense weapon he'd longed to use: the Electric Gun.
Zzt zzt.
"Grgh."
Exposed to 300,000 volts, the middle-aged man foamed at the mouth and passed out.
300,000 volts, but actual current under 10 amps, and just a brief burst—no real harm to humans.
'Sorry. Meant to use it elsewhere.'
Gazing at the fainted man, Nameless secretly clasped his hands in prayer.
"Hmm."
Whether the man fainted or not, the Heavenly Demon's gaze stayed glued to the TV.
But as ads dragged on without the show starting, the Heavenly Demon decided.
"Better to go home and watch."
Nameless's eye sensors flashed brightly at the mutter.
[Heavenly Demon! This is a spoiler—the core plot of this sequel.]
Clearing his throat, Nameless suddenly dove into drama details.
[The key unreleased part today is that the badge the male lead shows is a fake. He got pickpocketed at the market. So when he shows it to the female lead, she beats him with a stick instead.]
He blabbed on about the upcoming content, but soon ran out of material.
Might have to hack the broadcaster's computers for another script.
Thud.
Then, a low vibration hummed, and the mart's lights returned to normal. A clear female voice came from the speakers.
-All explosives have been neutralized. Customers in the mart, please evacuate carefully for safety.
It was over.
Five minutes faster than Nameless predicted.
People rushed out clamoring, but the Heavenly Demon stood by the shelves, still watching the TV.
He looked like a cold, emotionless machine human.
Is it hopeless? No. The Heavenly Demon has shown changes before, right?
Nameless had always believed.
With persistent effort, he could melt the Heavenly Demon's iron lump of a heart, numb to others.
But witnessing his callous indifference sapped his confidence.
"Hmm."
Then, a low sigh escaped the Heavenly Demon.
Turning his gaze, the female lead on screen was sobbing while suppressing her emotions.
Having beaten the male lead publicly after the fake badge was exposed—but it was all a facade.
Hiding her heart, drawn to him despite everything.
"Dishonest."
The Heavenly Demon's eyes narrowed at the screen. A flicker of human emotion.
[No, there's definitely potential.]
"What do you mean?"
As the Heavenly Demon looked puzzled, Nameless replied vigorously.
[Heavenly Demon. Don't worry. I'll make it happen.]
At least he didn't cause trouble— that's a win. Keep trying every day, and someday the Heavenly Demon will change. Change doesn't come easy.
"Broken?"
As the Heavenly Demon scowled, Nameless twinkled his eye sensors and shook his head.
[It's nothing.]
-Prevent the Heavenly Demon's sudden, impulsive actions.
-Ensure no inconvenience to the Awakeners entering the dungeon or ordinary citizens.
Nameless's tiring day—another mission splendidly accomplished—drew to a close.