Chapter 85 : Encounter with the Unknown , and Beyond – 2

Yui Seul.

The self-proclaimed strongest Awakened One.

She was an extraordinary figure from the moment I first saw her.

She showed no fear in the face of an anomaly.

She was extremely selfish, to the point where it felt a little excessive.

She was someone completely lacking in social skills.

However, for some reason, she seemed to like me.

Because of that, I’ve been having a lot of conversations with Yui Seul recently.

Despite her appearance, Yui Seul had a surprisingly human side to her.

The way she patted my head earlier, and the fact that her hobby was playing games.

It might just be my mistaken impression, but I think she’s the type of person who, once she opens up to someone, tends to take care of them in subtle ways.

So, even though I’m still inexperienced in human relationships, my perception of Yui Seul naturally became more positive.

And now, that very person was about to pay the price for blasphemy.

Yui Seul was tightly closing her eyes.

It didn’t seem like she was scared, but judging by her pale face, it was clear that she was tense.

Seeing her look so nervous was a sight I had never seen before.

I quickly prayed.

Don’t shoot! 

She’s an ally!

Oh Lord, punish me instead if you must.

If you mete out the price of blasphemy to this person.

I’ll go on strike.

Whether my prayer reached heaven, or whether the punishment for blasphemy wasn’t even considered in the first place,luckily, Yui Seul was fine.

I was honestly so worked up that I snapped at her.

“What are you doing all of a sudden? This is dangerous!”

“Just something I need to check.”

“Even so, Yui Seul, do you really put your life on the line so easily?”

“I didn’t think I was going to die. But you, how did you know I was risking my life?”

“Of course, I should know! A massive eyeball received the punishment for blasphemy and exploded, died! I even think the original body died too!”

“But I didn’t die. People who watch your broadcasts always talk about the ‘Bitch’ and ‘Bitch,’ but they don’t die. Why is that?”

“Uh… well… maybe…?”

Indeed.

‘Anum – Jihad’ disappeared the moment it heard my ‘real name’ and received the punishment for blasphemy.

Whether it died or got hurt, I’m not sure.

Either way, it’s clear that it withdrew from Earth.

But Yui Seul, even though she knows my real name is Lee Jiah (VTuber),and even though she blatantly blasphemed Beachy Mutbyeol, she’s still fine.

Why is that?

When I think about it, I shouldn’t have told Yui Seul my real name so carelessly.

Who knows, she could’ve exploded like that eyeball.

I still don’t know why I told her my real name so easily.

However.

I had a strong feeling that ‘Yui Seul would be safe.’

Then Yui Seul began to voice her speculation.

“That eyeball exploded and died after hearing your real name, but why am I still fine? There are two, maybe three possibilities.”

“Three? Isn’t that a lot…?”

“It’s ridiculously few. Listen carefully. The first possibility is that your god has shown me mercy.”

“Hmm…”

I don’t know.

Putting aside my complaints, Beachy Mutbyeol is definitely a compassionate god.

It seems like he understands my situation to some extent.

He probably has some flexibility.

But.

No matter what, when it comes to blasphemy, there’s no mercy from him.

“That’s vague, right? I think it’s vague too. That’s why it’s just a possibility and a guess. But there’s some reasoning behind it.”

“…I think I understand.”

If I spoke out the reasoning, things would probably get really awkward between me and Yui Seul, so I just nodded vaguely.

Yui Seul is clearly a person who’s very kind to me, so maybe the god showed mercy.

It might be the same reason why he doesn’t mete out the punishment for blasphemy to the viewers of my broadcasts.

But still, why does he only punish me for blasphemy?

The more I think about it, the more unfair it feels.

Can’t he give me a break too?

“Second possibility. I’m immune to all mental attacks. So…”

“…If we look at it broadly, the punishment for blasphemy is also a type of mental attack, so the punishment for blasphemy doesn’t work on me…?”

“Yeah. You really think well.”

“Well, but Beechi is not a human, but a god…?”

This seems a bit…An arrogant thought, I think.

How dare a mortal challenge the power of a god?

Whether I was flustered or not, Yui Seul continued speaking.

“So what? 

Whether it’s a mental attack from a god or from an anomalous phenomenon, it doesn’t work on me. 

‘Everything’ has that meaning, doesn’t it? 

If a god’s mental attack had worked on me, the word ‘everything’ wouldn’t have appeared in your wiki.”

“Well, but…”

“You said it yourself. The wiki never lies.”

“…”

Yui Seul wasn’t wrong. 

But,If I agree with Yui Seul, it would mean I’m questioning the power of a god.

If I deny her words, it would mean I’m doubting the wiki, and I seem to be stuck in a bind.

Ah.

What am I supposed to do about this?

“There’s a way to confirm whether or not the price of blasphemy doesn’t affect me because of my ability.”

“What, what is it?”

“Reveal your real name on your stream.”

“…”

Right.

As Yui Seul said, that would be a precise way to confirm.

If Yui Seul’s ability has nothing to do with the price of blasphemy, everyone watching my stream would be perfectly fine.

On the other hand,If it’s Yui Seul’s ability that’s preventing the price of blasphemy from affecting me,All the viewers watching my stream.

“YIYA-AAAAAH! This psychopath, less than human! How could you say such a thing!”

“Of course, I was just joking. Honestly, even your exaggerated reaction right now feels unrealistic. Anyone else would have already been trembling with anxiety from the pressure.”

“What pressure are you talking about? You just never have to reveal your real name to the viewers for the rest of your life.”

“Enough, I’ll continue. The third possibility.”

After a brief pause, Yui Seul spoke again.

“The god you believe in, Beechi the Star, is very friendly towards humans.”

I nodded instinctively.

This seems like the most likely possibility.

It’s not just an unfounded guess either.

Beechi the Star is indeed very interested in humans.

The fact that she put the restriction of being a ‘VTuber’ on me is a strong proof that she understands human culture well.

“Conclusion. From now on, you should just keep your mouth shut. Since we can’t know which of the three possibilities is true, don’t you dare reveal your real name anywhere except to me.”

“…I know that already.”

After all, I am a VTuber.

I have no intention whatsoever of spreading the red pill of the VTuber myself.

It occurred to me once again how fortunate it is that my real name comes with parentheses.

Who could have predicted this?

How could anyone expect that someone’s name would have parentheses around it?

“…”

It’s because I’m not human that my name has parentheses around it. 

Yeah.

Anyway, thanks to Yui Seul’s explanation, I now fully understand why I shouldn’t tell others about what happened today.

Regardless of how world-shaking the information is.

Simply put.

It would endanger the lives of those who hear it.

“I don’t know why hearing your true name is considered blasphemy, and neither do you. But whatever the reason, from now on, you’re a dangerous and important existence, whether you like it or not.”

“Right. I completely understand.”

“…”

“Why?”

Yui Seul raised an eyebrow as if concerned about me.

“Sigh. I’m pathetic for not being able to say this in a roundabout way. Hey, are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you not feeling burdened or scared? You’ve learned an uncomfortable truth.”

“Not at all.”

I can say it with certainty.

No matter what happens in the future.

Nothing will be more burdensome or scary than the time I encountered the black smoke, when my body and race changed.

A fervent follower.

Anomalies.

Items.

Of course, I’m curious about the truth.

I must have asked that eye because I’m curious.

But it’s simply curiosity, not fear.

Though, I do feel like I’m taking one step closer to the truth with each passing day.

No matter what truth I uncover.

It could never be more burdensome or scary than Beachy Mutbyeol.

It could never be scarier than Beachy Mutbyeol.

A human… no, a mortal, fearing a god is natural.

That could have a negative or positive meaning.

By the way, I feel both.

I’m scared because it forcibly changed my body and imposed duties on me without warning.

Yet, despite that, like a tsundere, it helps me in many ways, which gives me awe and makes me scared too.

Therefore, it seems like I can now treat anomalies as something trivial.

Anomalies, truths, whatever.

To me, my duties are more important.

If I don’t broadcast today, I’ll be dragged to the Omnia Archive to have a one-on-one meeting with Beachy Mutbyeol.

Conclusion:I’ll go home, take a bath, and sleep like a log.

I feel like I’m going to die from how uncomfortable I feel with all this dirt on my body.

Oh, right.

“Thank you, Yui Seul.”

I should say what I need to say.

I sincerely bowed my head to Yui Seul and thanked her.

I even made sure to call her ‘unnie’ properly.

Yui Seul looked a bit flustered.

“Why are you thanking me? Did I solve anything? You solved it yourself. And in the first place, I called you out here, so why…”

“I’m always grateful for how you look out for me.”

Let’s speak the facts.

Yui Seul became even more flustered.

“I-I never looked out for you! Don’t misunderstand, that’s not the case at all!”

“Heh.”

I couldn’t help but hum a little from feeling good.

This person is incredibly weak to compliments, huh.

Her reactions are so entertaining.

I kept on grinning to myself after that.

Eventually, Yui Seul got irritated and gave me a playful smack on the forehead.

Whack!

It seemed like she hit me pretty hard.

Hmm.

“Does it hurt?”

“…Shut up.”

A bizarre situation unfolded where the one who got hit was worrying about the one who did the hitting.