Chapter 58

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 58

Chapter Title: New Problem

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'Good thing it ended well.'

After lending the Blast Pulverizer to the 3 Channel Charge Captain, I immediately tuned into the broadcast to watch the war.

Sure enough, the 4 Channel military-grade gear was something else entirely. It unleashed tremendous firepower, mowing down the zombies with ease.

"Is that a 4 Channel weapon? It's way more insane than I imagined!"

The moment I started watching the broadcast, the Hero Party gathered around, wanting to watch together.

I shared the gallery window, and soon Sirien and the other beastkin started crowding in one by one to spectate.

"Elly. With weapons like that, couldn't we reclaim the surface right now?"

Rubyel asked Elisicia excitedly after witnessing the Blast Pulverizer's power.

Purely in terms of firepower, it could probably sweep away the monsters on the surface too. But there was a problem.

"Not if someone else is firing it."

"Huh? Why not?"

"It's out of ammo... I mean, arrows."

I explained it in simple terms, comparing the bullets to arrows, and Rubyel frowned.

"What about the people using it there?"

"They have an ability like the ones from the Awakening Stones—infinite ammo. That's why they could fire it without limits."

"Infinite ammo? So if we got that ability, we could fire it like that too?"

"If we got it, yeah, we could."

The issue was how astronomically unlikely that was.

I'd gotten Telekinesis, and Elisicia had gotten Instant Acceleration. No more chances for us.

'Left are Rubyel, Aila, and Liness.'

Plus Sirien, the beastkin chief, and Tipina, the fox beastkin—five in total.

'Meaning only five shots at it.'

Of course, there was the option of feeding Awakening Stones to others.

'But I doubt we could gather that many Awakening Stones.'

Besides, was it right to waste them on people outside the Hero Party?

And even though there were tons of Awakened in the broadcast right now, the Charge Captain seemed to be the only one with infinite ammo.

'In short, the odds might be ridiculously low.'

I couldn't just burn through Awakening Stones banking on those odds.

"This is pretty amazing, though?"

Sirien, who had been watching the gallery broadcast beside me, spoke up.

"I can hear everything they're saying. Your gallery window really is special, isn't it, Castaway?"

"Others can communicate through my gallery window too, so yeah, probably."

"Why is yours the only special one?"

"No idea."

All I could think of was that I'd come from another world.

But what did crossing worlds have to do with my gallery window?

.........

......

Anyway, the chat was buzzing with positivity thanks to the huge win.

The broadcaster was passing the time by reading the chat and responding occasionally.

.........

......

'They won't find it even if they scour the exchange.'

Anyway, the broadcaster kept dodging questions about it until they moved on to interviews.

Charge Captain?

I paid closer attention at the mention.

Soon, a woman with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lush bobbed hair appeared.

'The Charge Captain's a woman?'

I was surprised not just that she was female, but that she was pretty too.

For reference, she was clutching the loaned Blast Pulverizer like she'd never let go.

'The rental time's almost up, though.'

Separately, it was surprising how the Blast Pulverizer broke down into separate parts.

The Charge Captain squinted at "broadcast," then suddenly remembered something and shouted desperately.

"......"

I was speechless watching the Charge Captain suddenly yell at me.

It seemed to be about the Blast Pulverizer, which was rare even in 4 Channel.

'Plus, it's too powerful for personal use.'

Unless it was a Zombie Queen crisis like this, it might not even be necessary.

While the chat puzzled over the Charge Captain's words—

Poof—

The rental time ended, and the Blast Pulverizer vanished from her tight embrace.

.........

......

Rubyel, watching beside me, poked my shoulder.

"That woman calling out to the merchant—you?"

"Probably."

"How'd you reclaim the weapon?"

"It's an ability I have: Item Rental. Lets me lend stuff out for a limited time."

I checked my inventory while explaining. There it was, the Blast Pulverizer in four separate pieces.

Confirmed safe and sound, I ignored the Charge Captain's desperate cries and left the broadcast.

"Aw. It was getting fun."

Sirien sounded disappointed.

Come to think of it, watching another world's broadcast might be entertaining.

"Wanna keep watching?"

I was willing to share, but surprisingly, Sirien shook her head.

"Nah, you'd have to keep hosting it. Besides, time to enjoy the festival."

With that, she dispersed the gathered beastkin.

"Alright, you lot, quit crowding. Go enjoy the festival."

The beastkin scattered at her command, resuming their festivities.

I hopped back into the gallery to thank 7 Channel Yoo Hyun-min and 4 Channel Quick Fix Doctor☆.

That was weak?

7 Channel Yoo Hyun-min brushed it off like no big deal.

And honestly, considering he'd fetched a demon core in under a day, it probably wasn't.

'But what about 7 Channel.'

Unlike 3 Channel, saving the world there was already too late.

7 Channel wasn't about saving the world—it was about rescuing one person.

'If only I could send Hyun-min bro to another world.'

But the 5 Channel witches were researching that, so maybe a solution would come.

With that thought, I wrapped up the 1:1 with Yoo Hyun-min and thanked 4 Channel Quick Fix Doctor☆ next.

Quick Fix Doctor responded much like Hyun-min bro.

I agreed.

The Blast Pulverizer's power was that insane.

Quick Fix Doctor hesitated, like he had something to say.

Expected problem?

I pondered Quick Fix Doctor's reply.

If 4 Channel saw the Charge Captain using the Blast Pulverizer, there was one obvious talking point.

Interest or not, 4 Channel couldn't touch 3 Channel.

But Quick Fix Doctor, who'd given me the Blast Pulverizer directly? That was different.

He handled 4 Channel's food supply, so they couldn't mess with him lightly.

Probably starting with polite probing for now.

'Golden King?'

Golden King was Dioren Arkannis, GK's vice president.

I was genuinely surprised GK was the world's top company.

That said, it felt like he was redirecting the heat onto Golden King.

'Guess Golden King's fine with it.'

I replied got it to Quick Fix Doctor, then decided to check 4 Channel posts first.