Chapter 20 : If you Fail, You’ll Be Discarded; If You Succeed, You’ll Survive, Right?

Time remaining until the anomaly and item Wiki deadline:

12 days.

I started streaming.

After about an hour, someone called me.

[Ms. Jia, it’s here!]

“…Hold on a moment. I’ll call you back.”

What’s this?

A random call in the middle of a stream?

Who is it?

Answering calls while streaming?

Boyfriend?

OMG, caught with her boyfriend?

No way, she said Ms. Jia.

Is it her boss?

Feels like someone from Omnia Archive management. Is it actually a corporation?

Finish the café tour already!

“Everyone, I’m sorry, but I’ll have to end the stream here for today.”

What? Why the sudden end?

What happened?

Huh?

Hmm.

“I’ll explain later. As an apology, I’ll do a 24-hour gaming marathon tomorrow.”

Oh?

That’s actually a decent trade-off.

Perfect! Tomorrow’s the weekend. We’re in for a treat.

A sudden end is disappointing, but a 24-hour marathon is amazing.

Jia, good luck!

Farewell, our beloved streamer. Sigh…

“See you tomorrow.”

I ended the stream.

My hands and feet were trembling uncontrollably.

This isn’t the time to be shaking.

I picked up my phone again and called the person from earlier:

Kim Joonghwan from the Awakener Association.

The moment the ringing stopped, he answered.

[Ms. Jia, now is not the time to be streaming…]

“Where should I go?”

[The anomaly zone in southern Gyeonggi. You must arrive within an hour, at the latest.]

“It’s close to my house. I’ll be there in 30 minutes.”

Click.

I ended the call.

Without washing my face or brushing my hair, I threw on a coat over my clothes, left the house, and flagged a taxi.

And not just any taxi—a luxury taxi, the kind only corporate heirs or CEOs’ children ride.

Thankfully, I got one immediately after opening the app.

“Where to?”

“The anomaly zone in southern Gyeonggi. I’ll pay double—no, triple the fare. Just get me there as fast as possible!”

“Understood. Buckle up tight. Let’s go.”

Good thing I went with a luxury taxi.

The driver didn’t even ask why I was heading to such a dangerous place.

In the backseat, I nervously tapped my foot and got lost in thought.

Can I really do this?

No, it’s not about whether I can or can’t.

There are only 12 days left until the Wiki deadline.

This is my last chance.

There won’t be another.

If I succeed, I survive.

If I fail, I’m done for.

Could I get seriously hurt by the anomaly?

That’s not the worst-case scenario.

The scariest thing about anomalies is the lack of reliable information.

But I have the ability to record accurate information about them in Wiki form.

As long as I gather enough details in advance, I won’t end up losing a limb or worse.

Besides, the mysterious Awakener sent by the Association is supposed to protect me.

Sure, I’ve heard they’re a total jerk…

but surely they wouldn’t let me die, right?

I spent the ride spiraling in useless thoughts, and before I knew it, we arrived at the anomaly zone in southern Gyeonggi.

The driver, who didn’t ask a single question out of curiosity, deserved all my gratitude.

I’ll make it worth his while with triple payment.

When I reached the anomaly zone entrance:

“Ha…”

I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

Seriously, why are there so many people here?

There were over 100 people waiting near the entrance.

About half were clearly journalists or clout-chasing YouTubers.

To reach the Awakener Association members, I’d have to push through the horde of reporters.

Damn it.

Looks like my identity’s going public today.

But survival takes priority.

I swallowed hard and carefully approached the group of reporters.

As I neared, I overheard:

“This must be huge.”

“Exactly. Why else would Yejun Hwan himself show up?”

“Oh, Mr. Hwan! Where are you heading?”

“Can you comment on the situation?”

Amazingly, no one paid me any attention.

Uh…

alright then.

The Awakener Association members clearly gathered because of me, but no need to mention that to the reporters.

I’ll take this chance to slip by.

But weaving through this sea of journalists seemed impossible.

In the end, I had no choice but to speak up.

“Excuse me, reporters. Could you clear a path, please?”

The reporters turned their gazes toward me.

“Who are you?”

“Someone from the Awakener Association?”

“Then hurry up and get moving.”

Well, okay.

I quietly slipped past and entered the Association’s building, arriving at the conference room.

Around a dozen people were present, some familiar faces and others new.

Yejun Hwan, the Association chairman, began to speak:

“The anomaly and item this time are visible to the naked eye. However, determining which is which without direct interaction is impossible.”

He then turned to me.

“Ms. Jia, can you handle this?”

“Whether I can or not doesn’t matter—I have to.”

Because failing means disposal.

“…Understood. You don’t have to worry too much. With her here, you’ll be safe.”

“Her,” referring to the Association’s best Awakener.

Two images were displayed on the screen:

A golden piggy bank and a transparent diffuser-like object with black sticks.

One is a dangerous anomaly, and the other is a beneficial item.

But which is which?

“That’s all.”

“…What? That’s the end of the briefing?”

“Yes. Any questions?”

So many I can’t even count!

But there was no time to dwell.

I prepared myself as she finally arrived.