I paused for a moment while eating chicken with Aria to think.
It was a simple request to collect water. Most Hunters would have sent clean water as requested, but that wasn’t in my nature. I felt I needed to go beyond simply completing the request and find a way to secure a stable supply of Holy Water.
“Guardian, what are you thinking about? The chicken is getting cold!”
Aria spoke, waving a piece of chicken in front of my face. I gave her a small smile and shook my head.
“Just a second.”
‘I should try being a bit nosy again.’
Information from a documentary I had seen on TV flashed through my mind. It mentioned that in the Middle Ages, making Holy Water required “salt” in addition to clean water and a priest’s blessing. Adding salt made it difficult for bacteria to grow due to osmotic pressure, allowing the Holy Water to be stored for a longer period.
Since medicine was scarce, Holy Water was often given to the sick to drink or applied to their skin. In those cases, Holy Water containing salt actually helped with mild dehydration, gastrointestinal discomfort, and wound disinfection.
I immediately added common refined salt to the package of clean water I was sending to Marco. But it still felt like something was missing.
‘There are probably more spirit-type monsters over there than we have here, right?’
If that were the case, there was one very effective type of salt: White Light Rock Salt, which was found in certain rifts. There was a supply available on the System Exchange. The description only mentioned that it tasted better than regular salt, but someone had accidentally discovered a hidden function.
‘I’m sure they said scattering White Light Rock Salt materializes spirit monsters like Banshees and Wraiths… It might have a special effect on the production of Holy Water, too.’
If he was a priest like Marco, he might know how to use it better than we did. Hoping that Priest Marco would recognize the hidden value of the White Light Rock Salt, I sent it via Rocket Delivery.
A short while later, a system notification chimed.
**[A new review has been registered in the Rocket Store]**
**Purchaser: Priest Marco**
**Rating: ★★★★★**
**Review: I received the clean water along with a rare salt that is difficult to find! It was a great help in preparing Holy Water. Would it be possible for you to supply this White Light Rock Salt on a regular basis?**
“Ha, my guess was right!”
When I unintentionally exclaimed, Aria’s eyes grew round with curiosity.
“What is it?”
“The trade went well.”
I replied with a satisfied smile and sent a reply.
**[Of course, that is possible. In exchange, could you supply us with Holy Water?]**
A reply came back without a moment’s hesitation.
**[Priest Marco: Of course! As much as you need!]**
Marco readily agreed and sent Holy Water along with a Purifying Censer via Rocket Delivery. I opened the package and checked the censer and the water. The Purifying Censer Marco sent was an elegant, portable version with a separate handle.
‘I just have to light the incense included here.’
Since there was no contaminated mana nearby, I didn’t have anything to test it on yet. Now, the path to purifying the contaminated land and securing a large quantity of Pillar Bamboo fruit was open. I nodded with a satisfied smile.
“Now, let’s eat some chicken.”
“Yes! They said on TV that food should be eaten while it’s hot!”
“Right. You’ve basically become an Earthling now, Aria.”
However, just as I picked up a drumstick to take a bite, a notification sound completely different from any I had heard before filled the Rocket Store.
**[An emergency quest has been updated!]**
“What’s this now?”
**[H-h-help me!!! Someone, please save me! Aaaaah!]**
“…What? This is the first time a screen has appeared during a quest.”
Startled, I looked at the screen. A desperate voice poured out along with the image of a woman trembling on the ground.
**[Emergency Quest: Escape from the ‘Water Ghost’!]**
**Requester: Han Seo-yeon, Horror Content Creator**
**Details: I accidentally entered a ‘Water Ghost’s’ territory while filming a broadcast! Physical attacks don’t work on these things! Aaaaah, please send some Holy Water! Or I might have to quit my broadcast and live here with the ghost! Waaaaah!**
**Required Items: 1 bottle of Holy Water**
**Reward: Loot obtained after defeating the Water Ghost**
“Guardian! What’s that sound? Who’s screaming?”
Aria, who had been eating chicken, flew over to me in surprise. I calmed her down and stared at the screen. While I was surprised that this was the second human request following Paladin Lemon, I was also bewildered that the target Han Seo-yeon was dealing with was a ghost.
‘What kind of worldview is this? Do ghosts actually exist? Or is she talking about spirits or wraiths?’
While I was pondering, a timer in the corner of the screen was counting down: **[Remaining Time: 10:00]**.
“What should we do? She’s going to get caught at this rate!”
The situation looked urgent, and there was no more time to hesitate.
“Guardian! That person looks like they’re in big trouble. Send the Holy Water quickly!”
At Aria’s urging, I nodded. I immediately sent the bottle of Holy Water I had received from Priest Marco to Han Seo-yeon. As soon as I sent it, the screen cut off as if it had been waiting.
“What? It only shows me that much and then ends? What happened afterward?”
“Can’t we see more? I’m curious.”
“I don’t know.”
Regardless, I decided to use the detailed quest function to find out exactly what kind of world Han Seo-yeon lived in.
**[The Flip Side]**
**Description: A world where Anomalies suddenly began to appear in a society with advanced modern civilization. Anomalies grow by feeding on people’s rumors and fears, eventually causing direct harm to humans. They are entities that cannot be dealt with using ordinary guns or knives.**
**[Horror Creator Han Seo-yeon]**
**A horror creator who was pulled into the Flip Side without realizing it. Although she is a coward, she has a knack for capturing bizarre incidents. She is under a curse where she will die if she does not gather subscribers.**
“…They’re not monsters, but actual ghosts? And what’s this about a curse?”
Was it a worldview like the ghost stories that were popular when I was a kid? There really were all sorts of worlds. More importantly, she would die if she didn’t gather subscribers? No wonder she hadn’t abandoned her camera while being chased by a Water Ghost.
It was then.
**[Would you like to subscribe to Horror Creator ‘Han Seo-yeon’?]**
Having seen the curse that she would die if she didn’t gather subscribers, it was a question that didn’t even require thought.
“Yes.”
Suddenly, a hologram appeared before my eyes, showing Han Seo-yeon’s perspective exactly. But the viewpoint was a bit different. This time, it was a shaky camera angle, the sound of heavy breathing, and a wavy black shadow chasing her from behind.
**[A new subscriber has joined!]**
When the notification appeared on the screen, Han Seo-yeon, who was running from the Water Ghost, briefly shouted toward the camera.
“Wow! I can’t believe I got a subscriber in the middle of this! Thank you so much!”
“Just focus on escaping. Is now the time to worry about subscribers?”
“Exactly.”
Aria had also put down her chicken and flown over to my side to watch Han Seo-yeon. Fortunately, a small rocket popped out of the hologram screen.
“The Holy Water I sent!”
It was the Holy Water that had arrived via Rocket Delivery. Han Seo-yeon quickly grabbed the bottle, turned around, and splashed it at the Water Ghost.
**[Kieeeeeee!]**
As soon as the Holy Water touched it, the Water Ghost let out a scream of agony, its body twisting in pain.
“I defeated the Water Ghost thanks to the Holy Water! Thank you! And viewers, please remember to subscribe and like!”
Having found some breathing room, Han Seo-yeon started reacting for the camera. Watching through the camera, I shouted in frustration.
“What are you doing? Look behind you! The Water Ghost hasn’t been properly dealt with yet!”
But my voice couldn’t reach her.
“Guardian, that person is really clumsy. She’s already distracted when the purification isn’t even complete.”
“Yeah. It’s driving me crazy too!”
While looking for a way to help, I saw a function called Super Chat in the corner of the screen. It stated that I had to pay a minimum of 100 coins to send a message directly to Han Seo-yeon.
“It’s expensive.”
But there was no time to hesitate. I used 100 coins to send a message. My message immediately appeared on her screen in real-time.
**[Please look behind you! The Water Ghost isn’t dead yet! The Holy Water can only hold it for a moment!]**
Han Seo-yeon saw my message and jumped in fright, spinning around.
“I-I’m sorry! We met before my investigation and preparations were finished. I didn’t have enough information about the Water Ghost! Ugh. Oh! Come to think of it, they said at the shrine that I had to create a barrier around it and seal it with this talisman!”
Han Seo-yeon pulled a talisman from her pocket. She had something like that and forgot about it? Is this person really a professional?
I hurriedly asked.
**[So what exactly do you make the barrier with?]**
“Salt! Salt! But I don’t have any salt right now! What do I do?”
‘Are you asking me that right now?’
I was driven to the brink of madness by the frustration of Han Seo-yeon’s actions.
“It’s a miracle that person is still alive.”
“Tell me about it.”
Is this why people give donations? Is this that famous ‘baiting for donations’? But if this was acting, Han Seo-yeon deserved a Best Actress award.
**[You can send items to Han Seo-yeon through a donation. Would you like to donate?]**
“Yes!”
I donated the White Light Rock Salt without hesitation.
“Wow! Thank you! Salt, following the Holy Water!”
Following my message, Han Seo-yeon succeeded in encircling the Water Ghost, which was struggling from the Holy Water, with a circle of salt and sealing it with the prepared talisman. With a final scream, the Water Ghost vanished, leaving only a trace behind.
Han Seo-yeon jumped for joy toward the camera. She looked so relieved. I mean, I guess she would be. Watching Han Seo-yeon bounce around made my heart sink.
“Is she going to trip?”
“No way.”
But as the saying goes, ‘surely’ often leads to trouble. Han Seo-yeon was jumping around in excitement when her foot slipped.
**[Gyah!]**
With a short scream, her body swayed, and she lost her grip on the talisman she was holding. What if the talisman fell and got damaged by the puddles of water left by the ghost?
“T-that klutz!”
Aria also let out a shrill cry. My heart dropped to the floor. Was the Holy Water and the White Light Rock Salt all going to be for nothing? I thought everything was going down the drain, but fortunately, even as she fell, Han Seo-yeon reached out and snatched the falling talisman.
“Got it! I got it! Thank goodness!”
“Whew. This person really is a horror creator. That was more spine-chilling than when she was catching the Water Ghost.”
“I know. I can’t tell if she has good reflexes or not.”
Afterward, when Han Seo-yeon burned the talisman, it emitted a powerful light, completely obliterating the Water Ghost along with the talisman.
“Waaaah… Subscriber, thank you so much! I safely defeated the Water Ghost thanks to the Holy Water and the salt! *Sniff*… I feel like I can finally breathe!”
Wiping away tears and water, Han Seo-yeon repeatedly expressed her gratitude. Then, she sent over a piece of loot, saying she had obtained it after dealing with the Water Ghost.
“It’s useless to me. I’ll give this to you, subscriber!”
What Han Seo-yeon sent was an item called a Trace of Malice, which was the lingering residue of thoughts left after sealing the Water Ghost.
**[Affinity with Horror Creator Han Seo-yeon has slightly increased]**
**[You have obtained a Trace of Malice as a reward]**
**[Trace of Malice]**
**Description: A crystal of condensed negative emotions left after dealing with an Anomaly. If used as a material, it can be used to create an item that grants immunity to the ‘Curse’ status ailment.**
“Immunity to the Curse status ailment?”
Recognizing the significance of this item, I immediately tried to register it as a product in the Rocket Store.
**[This item is a special item that can only be registered once]**
**[It is recommended to sell special items as products or via auction]**
‘I understand the auction part. But what’s the product part?’
When I tapped it, the system said it was a function that couldn’t be used yet. Instead:
**[You can set missions for Rocket Store members with the product as a prize]**
“Does that mean I can set a sort of competitive quest?”
And I could register a special item like the Trace of Malice as a reward for it. Even just by the description, I could tell it was an item of immense value.
‘For now, I can’t really think of any missions to give the members.’
I carefully placed the Trace of Malice into my inventory. I was sure there would be a use for it eventually.
“Phew. I’ve caught my breath. It would be a shame to end it here. Should I film a teaser for the next Anomaly?”
“What? It’s not over yet?”
“Yeah! I guess her mental strength is stronger than I thought. Now that she’s come to her senses, she’s pulling food out of her backpack to eat because she’s hungry.”
“Right there?”
“Yes. Right where she sealed the Water Ghost!”
I couldn’t tell if she was a coward or brave. More importantly, regardless of the quest being over, it seemed I could communicate with her more through the Super function, perhaps due to the subscription effect.
In that case, should I try talking to her a bit more?