Chapter 53: Substitute Calamity

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Substitute Calamity

But this thing nearly got me killed just now! How could I let my guard down so quickly?!

’I haven’t even said anything, and *it’s* acting all aggrieved?’

’Damn thing!’

Seraphina cursed inwardly, staring at the [Floating Secret Gold] and using Insight.

’I need to figure out what this is first.’

[Floating Secret Gold (B+)]

[Description: A grand miracle born alongside the sun. Each one has a different effect. They can appear at any time, in any place, using their inherent contamination to beguile anyone who grows greedy for them. If you can remain calm in the face of temptation, they will hold you in much higher esteem!]

[Note: Current Auric Young trait: Substitute Calamity (The Auric Young establishes a symbiotic link with its holder. When the holder suffers a fatal injury, the Auric Young will voluntarily take on this death, annihilating itself. The holder’s physical injuries will then be fully restored. If the injuries are too severe for the Auric Young to completely reverse, the holder will enter a near-death but treatable state. The Substitute Calamity effect is permanent!)]

[Owner: Seraphina Sinclair.]

’Substitute Calamity?’

’A symbiotic relationship? It takes on death for me?’

Seraphina’s body stiffened. She cautiously glanced at the piteously aggrieved Auric Young.

The little thing seemed completely unaware of its fate or its purpose. Upon catching Seraphina’s gaze, it cheered up on its own, circling up into the air and flying back and forth around her.

Like a puppy wagging its tail for its master.

’I shouldn’t feel disgusted anymore... but...’

’It really does look like a fly, a very eye-catching golden fly at that!’

Before Seraphina could say anything, she suddenly heard Sunflower’s voice.

"Annoying fellow..."

’Who’s it talking about?’

’The Auric Young?’

The Auric Young seemed to have just sensed its presence. It did one loop around Seraphina and then flew straight toward Sunflower.

Like a reckless child, it shot forward and bounced off Sunflower’s face. The impact made Sunflower recoil. It looked painful just to watch.

"Wuu... Annoying fellow!"

This time, the feeling was much deeper.

Seraphina now understood why Sunflower found it annoying. The plant, which had been hoping to rest, was being disturbed.

But Seraphina had no intention of stopping it. Sunflower had kept her up last night with its racket. What was this?

’This is payback.’

Seraphina watched the two strange creatures squabble for a bit, then suddenly remembered the small fish that had been attracted by the light.

It was night now, and the light’s attraction was much stronger than during the day.

’Can’t let this opportunity go to waste!’

Seraphina immediately stood up. Her movement attracted the attention of the two non-human creatures.

Sunflower stopped cursing the Auric Young in its mind, its big eyes staring unblinkingly, as if to see what Seraphina was planning to do.

The Auric Young, even more eager, flew over and spun around and around Seraphina until she felt dizzy. Finally, she swatted it away.

’Really... if it’s this enthusiastic, I can’t take it.’

The Auric Young once again approached, looking aggrieved. While Seraphina wasn’t paying attention, it suddenly drilled into her wrist.

Startled, Seraphina raised her wrist to check the situation.

A small golden tail had appeared behind the other icons. It looked quite nice.

Seraphina breathed a sigh of relief. ’As long as it doesn’t fly around me all the time. It’s cute, but it’s also really annoying.’

Besides, it was scaring all the fish away.

This was a rare opportunity, and Seraphina didn’t want to miss it.

She stood by the black water, waiting quietly for a moment. When the fish gathered again, she struck suddenly!

SPLASH!

Several small fish were scooped out of the water at once!

’Perfect!’

Seraphina flung the fish from her net onto the floorboards. After her struggle with the Auric Young, her fishing skills had skyrocketed. She could now catch several at a time.

Kill them, pack them up, stuff them in the earring!

’Next haul!’

Seraphina held her breath and repeated the process, working overtime until nearly midnight.

The harvest was huge, too: a full thirty-two Blackmist Silverfish, nine Black Mist Catfish, and two of a new species!

This newly appeared fish looked a lot like the grass carp that were common in her past life, but it had a red line running along its body from tail to gill.

Seraphina used Insight.

[Blackmist Trout (E+ Level)]

[Description: A colorful hunter that swims in the Blackmist Waters. Its scales shimmer with a faint iridescence, and the red line on its back is exceptionally striking in the dark. The flesh is firm and complex, with a light, fruity aroma when eaten raw. When grilled, the skin becomes crispy and oozes amber-colored oil. It is extremely sensitive to light sources and will madly chase after any brightness. When excited, the red line secretes a paralytic mucus!]

[Special Effect: None.]

Seraphina flipped the trout over. The red line, described as exceptionally vivid, was actually very faint.

She couldn’t help but frown. She picked it up and examined it closely. Recalling that she hadn’t seen any light from it in the black water, she came to a firm conclusion. ’Is there something wrong with this description?’

’Or do we just have different definitions of "bright"?’

Just as Seraphina was about to dismantle the fish to see what it would yield, she received a new system notification.

[Congratulations, Survivor Black Tiger! You are the first in the entire server to collect all E-level fish ingredients. Do you wish to make a server-wide announcement?]

Seraphina froze and read the notification carefully.

’Why are the server-wide announcements in this godforsaken place always so strange?’

’An announcement for being the first to eat something, and now an announcement for being the first to complete a food collection? It’s all about the word "eating," isn’t it?’

The corner of Seraphina’s eyebrow twitched up. ’Could the founder of this godforsaken place be a gourmand? Why else would all the server-wide announcements be for such strange things?’

’Thoughts are thoughts, but there was no way I’m not making the announcement.’

Seraphina pressed "Yes," and a line of sparkling text instantly appeared before all survivors.

[Congratulations to survivor "Blacktiger Ford" for being the first survivor on the entire server to "Collect All E-level Fish Ingredients"! This server-wide announcement is made as an encouragement!]

The regional channel was flooded with question marks.

"???"

"What am I seeing? In the middle of the night? You pulled off another server-wide announcement?"

"Are server-wide announcements that worthless now? Why announce something like this?"

"Worthless? Have you seen anyone else get an announcement, then?"

"What is this even about? I can understand getting one for a dungeon, but what’s with announcing a completed collection? In the middle of the night! You’re disturbing the peace!"

"That’s why he’s a top player, I guess. I was about to go to sleep, and he’s still out there grinding."

"This is too much... What good does it do us to know this? @Blacktiger Ford, everyone who sees this gets a piece! Share some! (holds out hand)"

"Me too! (holds out hand)"

Seraphina silently dismantled the Blackmist Trout in her hand.

[Obtained: Iridescent Fish Fillet (E+ Level) x3]

[Description: A springy and tender texture with a faint sweet-and-sour flavor. Suitable for sashimi.]

’So this one’s for sashimi, huh?’

’Three types of fish, three ways to eat them. How meticulous!’

Seraphina shook her head and kept reading.