Chapter 9
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Episode 2 - Supernatural Registration Department [3] ─────────────────────────────────
〖Eat the divine Fragment〗
At the moment I heard the distorted voice from the walkie-talkie, I was about to throw it away.
But after a few seconds, nothing happened, and I managed to contain the fear that had risen from deep within.
'Shit… Fortunately, it's not a voice that, just by hearing it, makes me die.'
Suppressing my fear, a few minutes passed without the walkie-talkie emitting any voice again.
However, it was obvious that I wouldn't be able to forget what the voice had just said.
'Eat the Divine Fragment… So this golden Fragment really is a Path that brings me closer to God.'
In
One of the most plausible theories is that, by ingesting a Supernatural Fragment, the Anomalous One is selected for a Path.
It is believed that this path has the possibility of bringing them closer to God.
And what does it matter to be closer to God?
'The only answer to that question was that the closer you are to God, the greater your chances of survival. As for what "greater chances of survival" refers to… that question was never answered, not even when the novel ended.'
Looking at the golden-colored Supernatural Fragment on the cushion, I swallowed nervously.
'But is this Fragment already purified? Or is it not?'
The risks of consuming an unpurified Supernatural Fragment are that the Anomaly that owns the fragment leaves remnants of consciousness, with the possibility of corrupting the Anomalous One.
In this way, the Anomaly can revive and eventually control the Anomalous One to continue advancing, and thus, once it revives, the Anomaly will be more powerful than before.
Of course, this is just one of several risks.
For example, another risk would be hearing the Anomaly's thoughts, dreaming of a strange life you never had, or fighting the Anomaly every time you sleep.
Among others, with the danger of losing control of the body and being dominated by the Anomaly, or influenced by it, among many more possibilities.
'First, I need to verify whether this Fragment is purified; even if it is, I must check the percentage of purification it has.'
The recommendation before ingesting a Supernatural Fragment is that, at a minimum, it be purified to 60%. Below that, the risks only increase as you advance along the subsequent Paths.
'I'll check it later; there should be a Purification machine in my room.'
Leaving the golden Fragment aside for the moment, I placed the walkie-talkie on the other side of the table.
I didn't know who the owner of that voice was, but I was sure it was related to my transmigration.
'However, I can't find out anything; besides, trying to talk to it could be extremely dangerous.'
Looking at the box once more, the next thing I took out was the notebook.
Then I checked my pockets and found the page from the notebook that had appeared out of nowhere when I woke up in that Passage.
Upon opening the notebook's cover, I noticed that a page had been torn out, and looking at the one in my other hand, I thought:
'Indeed, this page comes from this completely blank notebook…'
I looked at it in silence for a few seconds before looking for a pen and writing a question:
….
Are the objects in the box related to my transmigration?
…
After a few seconds, suddenly the notebook closed. I waited a moment, and the notebook opened again.
This time, I checked below my question and, unexpectedly, there were new words.
An answer.
'It was just a last-minute idea, but it really answered.'
What the response said was a simple "Yes," with nothing else to add.
'So this notebook serves to answer my questions; however, it's most likely that it won't always respond, or not necessarily every time I ask something.'
Then I left the notebook beside the silver box containing the golden Fragment.
I looked at the box, and the next thing I took out was the coin.
The word "Babylon" was still printed there; the golden-colored coin had the same design as the Golden Fragment.
'What does he mean by Babylon? On Earth, this word is related to something from the Bible; the only thing it could possibly mean is that it refers to a city, more precisely to the king who rules that city. However, what do Supernatural powers have to do with a city and its King…?'
I thought about it for a moment, but I reached almost no conclusions.
The only thing I could relate it to was the Bible, a city, and a king, but its true meaning was not clear.
'Maybe asking the notebook will give me an answer… Although I don't think it will offer many details.'
Sighing, I left the coin on top of the notebook and then took out the case.
When I opened the lid, the only thing I found was a cigar.
'Is this a joke? Maybe it has a supernatural effect, like a supernatural object.'
I knew nothing about the cigar, much less whether it possessed any ability or something related to the paranormal.
Since I was not yet an anomalous being and, naturally, could not feel Supernatural Power, I closed the case and left it on the table.
Finally, the only thing left was the protagonist's Diary.
This was, without a doubt, a valuable source of information.
'In the novel, it was only mentioned in passing that the protagonist kept a diary with all kinds of information; there were even a few lines of what he wrote, such as his visit to the Dark Side of the World, one of the most mysterious places.'
I lifted the cover of the diary.
It was as thick as an encyclopedia on world history.
When I looked at the first page, the first thing I noticed was a date.
…
Monday, December 5, 890.
…
This indicated that I would probably find dates on every page of the protagonist's Diary.
'Mhm…'
At that moment, I noticed something unexpected.
When I tried to move past page ten, somehow I couldn't advance to page eleven.
It was as if the other pages were stuck together with glue.
'Don't tell me I'll have to unlock the pages, like in a video game…'
I frowned as I realized it; I knew that this diary contained very hidden information and possible answers to many of the questions raised throughout the novel's plot.
'Damn it, this has to be a joke. Something or someone is deliberately telling me that I must unlock the remaining pages.'
Pressing my lips together, I let out a soft sigh.
I leaned back on the sofa, looked at the ceiling for a few seconds, sighed, and ran my hands over my face.
"Well, it doesn't matter. I have my memories intact, which gives me information that, if it is mentioned in the novel, gives me an advantage in understanding this world."
Even if the novel carries the Mystery label, it doesn't mean that the author completely hides crucial information behind mere mentions.
Once again, I sighed, relieved by my ability to remember my entire life down to the smallest detail.
This was something positive, but it would inevitably bring me trouble in the future.
"The next thing I must do is verify the Divine Fragment and then decide whether to consume it, as well as determine what I will do with the other Fragment they gave me."
Since I had no memories of Sherlock Holmes, I didn't know for what specific purpose he wanted the Eternal Path.
However, I am James Holmes, and something or someone also gave me a Path that brings me closer to God.
'Besides, perhaps this Path is much more powerful than the fusionable Paths; the problem would be the subsequent Path.'
As a Path that leads me closer to God, it is technically the same as a fusionable Path.
Perhaps I should fuse certain fragments, then turn them into Divine Fragments, and from there investigate which Divine Fragments correspond to Path 8 of the Babylonian Path.
'Ugh… I definitely have to think about it, but first things first: verification.'
Rising from the sofa, I took the Divine Fragment and headed to what I thought was my room.
Once inside, the first thing I saw was a bed, a desk with a lamp, a wardrobe, and on the other side, a table with devices that were anything but common to find.
The objects on that table reminded me of laboratories.
I immediately knew which one was the Purification device.
At the bottom there was a slot that, when pressed, released a tube with a groove where a Supernatural Fragment fit perfectly.
I placed the Fragment, and automatically the tube slid into the device.
Then I looked at the top, where a number would appear: the Fragment's Purification percentage.
After pressing a button, the machine emitted some noises and, after five minutes, some numbers began to appear, and the tube came out, revealing the Fragment.
The number that appeared was…
"100%. Is this a malfunction? It is common knowledge that a Fragment with 100% Purification is almost impossible or, at best, an error."
I pressed the button again for the machine to verify once more, and the result was the same.
Seeing that nothing had changed, I returned to the living room, took the other fragment, and went back to my room.
After about five minutes, the results appeared.
"82%. That means there is no error in the verification; so it really is a fragment purified to 100%, completely clean."
However, I didn't rejoice immediately.
The day I advance to Path 8, it is most likely that this Fragment won't manage to maintain 100% Purification, and eventually the percentage of the first fragment will drop.
For the percentage not to decrease, all fragments must have the same percentage as the first one.
Otherwise, it will decline and slowly fall below 60%, showing the first symptoms of the Anomaly.
"It's fine for now, since I don't even know which fragment corresponds to Path 8. Path 9 is obviously Babylonian, as is the name of the Way."
Taking a breath, I returned to the living room and sat on the sofa.
Then I looked at my things and, after organizing and storing everything such as hiding the diary, the walkie-talkie, and the coin in case I discover something in the future, I set aside the iron box that contained the Fragment of the Eternal Path and placed the silver box in front of me.
"I've made up my mind: I'll consume the Divine Fragment. Perhaps the notebook that answers my questions will tell me which fragments I need to fuse to obtain the golden ones, and which of those I need to fuse to reach Path 8."
However, before asking those questions, I must achieve 100% Synchronization of the Fragment in order to advance.
For now, I would only consume the Fragment and see what kind of abilities it would give me.
Breathing in slowly and exhaling, I took the golden Fragment.
'Here I go.'
Then I brought the Fragment to my mouth and swallowed it immediately.