Chapter 82 : Encounter with the Unknown – 3

Of course, I am a creature familiar with human communication methods.

By “human communication methods,” I mean the kind where you speak, and immediately, within one second, you hear a response… something like that.

Even if the answer isn’t entirely clear, there is at least a “reaction” that follows.

You ask a question, and you’ll at least get a minimal response like, “Hmm, let me think for a moment.”

But the way communication works with this transmitter is on a completely different level from human communication.

The conversation cannot be interrupted.

If you ask a question, the answer comes 15 minutes later.

How could I possibly adapt to such an outlandish way of communicating from the very start?

Anyway, I now clearly understand how to communicate with this transmitter.

There are eight opportunities for questions.

It may seem few, but if you think about it, it’s more than enough.

If I think carefully about my questions, I can solve my curiosity and still manage to accomplish a lot.

It doesn’t seem like there’s a time limit for asking questions, so before I ask anything, I took plenty of time to think.

Ah.

No, no.

Before I think about my questions, there’s something else I need to do first.

The Wiki.

I have to check it again.

*

[Transmitter Created by the Enthusiastic Follower of the Distorted Constellation (Anomalous Phenomenon)]

1. Overview.

2. Features.

3. Containment Level (Danger).

4. Solution.

1. Overview:

This is an Incertus-class anomalous phenomenon, created by the enthusiastic follower of the Distorted Constellation, ‘Anum – Jihad.’

2. Features:

The enthusiastic follower of the Distorted Constellation, ‘Anum – Jihad,’ created this transmitter with two purposes.

One was to carry out the will of the great one.

The other was to communicate with other enthusiastic followers.

1. If a non-enthusiastic follower of another species approaches the transmitter, a gravitational distortion occurs within a 300-meter radius.

2. This gravitational distortion sucks in everything that exists.

3. If an enthusiastic follower approaches, the gravitational distortion does not occur, and ten opportunities for a Q&A are given.

4. Containment Level (Danger):

The Incertus-class anomalous phenomenon’s exact danger level cannot be measured.

Depending on the situation, it could be dangerous enough to destroy a planet, but if its features are understood well, it is not very dangerous.

4. Solution:

Basically, if no one approaches within a 300-meter radius, the transmitter does not activate.

If left for a long time, it will automatically be retrieved by the creator.

For enthusiastic followers, it is safe to approach, and when they do, ten opportunities for a Q&A are given.

Once the Q&A is completed, the transmitter is retrieved by the creator.

*

See?

The Wiki never lies.

The Wiki’s contents change in real-time based on the state of the target.

Even so, the content of the Wiki just now was certainly full of doubts.

From the title to the table of contents, everything about it was utterly bizarre.

It seems clear by now what I should ask first.

“Distorted Constellation’s enthusiastic follower, Anum – Jihad. The first thing I want to ask is this: Does the purpose of the transmitter itself change in real-time based on existence?”

I didn’t go into much detail about the Wiki.

After all, I am the official archivist of the Omnia Archive and a fervent follower of Beachy Mutbyeol.

I couldn’t casually share important information like the Wiki with some unknown entity.

Even if I were to share it, it would be a matter of whether I should reveal it after a question is asked, and I would have to consider that carefully.

Unlike this thing, I don’t have many cards in my hand.

Information.

The more I hide, the better.

Questions about anomalous phenomena and items would be postponed as much as possible.

I need to think carefully and ask those questions with caution after enough time.

Fifteen minutes later.

The answer to my question arrived.

[So… you’ve already figured out my true name. 

I must admit, I’m impressed. 

I doubted you for a moment with the last two trivial questions, but it seems you are indeed a fervent follower of the great one who governs knowledge. 

As for your question, the answer is correct. 

When you approached the transmitter, I could detect through the transmitter that you were another fervent follower, and immediately, the very essence of the transmitter’s existence changed. 

In that moment, the transmitter became a semi-living entity, endlessly pursuing only the conversation with you.]

Hmm.

If that’s the case, then it’s neither vandalism nor blasphemy, and the Wiki didn’t lie to me.

The content of the Wiki changes in real-time.

Full cola, half-empty cola, and empty cola.

Just like that, the title of the Wiki document also changes based on the state of the target.

So it makes sense.

Well, I didn’t expect the title and the table of contents of the Wiki to speak to me in one sentence.

But anyway, I get it now.

The transmitter spoke again, without pausing for even a second.

[I have interacted with many fervent followers through the transmitter, but you are the first to meet me as a fervent follower of Beachy Mutbyeol. 

It must be fate that I met you, someone whose very existence was uncertain. 

Therefore, I have become interested in you. 

Please tell me, how do others refer to you?]

The question from the other side was rather anticlimactic and simple.

What do people call me?

So, you’re asking for my name.

Out of the eight remaining opportunities for questions… no, now there are only seven left, and you’re wasting such a precious opportunity to ask about something as trivial as my name.

This thing might not be as intelligent as I thought.

I didn’t have to think much about the answer to this question.

I began thinking about what I should ask next.

The hesitation didn’t last long.

Without any hesitation, I spoke.

“Call me Lee Jiah. Now, here’s my question. You seem to want to communicate with other fervent followers through the transmitter… why is that?”

Why does this thing want to use the anomalous phenomenon called the “transmitter” to communicate with fervent followers?

I was sure that asking this question would allow me to gather a lot of information.

There aren’t many chances to ask questions, so I must gather as much information as possible with each question.

I couldn’t think of a more appropriate question than this.

Fifteen minutes later.

The answer came back.

The entity seemed puzzled as it looked at me, having already answered its question.

[Lee Jiah. Understood. If it’s alright, I will ask my question first. Why do others call you Lee Jiah?]

What kind of nonsense is this?

I gave you my name when you asked for it, and now you’re asking this again?

The transmitter then responded to my question.

[The reason I want to communicate with fervent followers is simple: to gain information. 

Unlike you, who follows Beachy Mutbyeol, the great one who governs knowledge… most of the fervent followers, including myself, find it almost impossible to satisfy our intellectual desires and quest for knowledge. 

You may not be able to relate to this. 

Therefore, I had no choice but to sacrifice much to create the transmitter. 

As you know, it’s only natural for fervent followers to be curious about other fervent followers. 

Like myself, I am merely struggling with all my might against the unreasonable providence of this universe, driven by the will of the distorted constellation and my own.]

Woof woof.

Bark bark bark.

The dog is barking.

Why is it that other fervent followers find it nearly impossible to seek knowledge?

Why is it natural for fervent followers to be curious about one another?

What is this “providence of the universe”?

I don’t understand any of this.

Not a single thing, not even one.

You know that saying, right?

Astronomers are prone to depression.

They realize the vastness of the universe and understand how small they really are.

That’s exactly how I feel right now.

There’s so little information, even when I get some, I don’t understand what it means.

I feel insignificant.

The title of archivist of the Omnia Archive feels like it’s about to cry.

Anyway, let’s try to extract as much information as possible.

I carefully opened my mouth.

First, I answered the question.

“Since I’ve always been Lee Jiah, others call me that.”

That was the end of my answer.

It might have been a bit blunt, but it was a perfect answer to the question.

After all, this entity’s question quality was too poor.

Yeah.

Suspiciously so.

A bad premonition hit me.

I was certain that I should answer the questions this thing asked, but hide as much information as possible.

I have no obligation to share more information than necessary with it.

Now, it’s my turn to ask a question.

“Ah, the weather is nice. It’s dusty, my throat feels sore, and my eyes sting…”

I muttered something random to buy some time before asking my real question.

Before diving into the real question, I hesitated again.

I wondered if I was wasting an opportunity to ask something important.

No.

There are still plenty of chances to ask questions.

I have enough time to ask a few more things I’m curious about.

What exactly is the “fervent follower” species?

Fervent followers exist to act as agents of the will of a god.

In short, they are like divine representatives or fanatics.

But why do the great ones, the gods, use fervent followers to carry out their actions?

Beachy Mutbyeol, oh great one.

Is it alright for me to be curious about this?

“Ah, I want to eat! Ah, I want to stream! Ah, I want to get donations!”

Hmm.

No divine punishment for blasphemy came down.

It seems I’m fine to do as I wish.

Alright.

Let’s ask.

“Fervent followers are… uh, eh… eh…”

Maybe I said too many unnecessary things.

Or maybe it’s the dust in the air.

My nose started to itch.

Then, from my mouth,”Ah-choo!”

A sneeze came out.

Right.

I’m speaking right in the middle of a giant hole several hundred meters deep from the ground.

The dust is so thick, it’s no surprise a sneeze would come out.

It’s a miracle I’ve held it in this long.

But it’s okay.

If I speak right after the sneeze…”Ah-choo! Hgh, cough… cough, cough!”

I didn’t expect to sneeze twice and start coughing.

“Ah, damn!”

And just like that,My chance to ask the question was lost in vain.