Otaku Translation: I! Anomaly Cleansing Agent! C30

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[Upgrade Path: Continue performing the agreed-upon evil sacrifices until the demon’s avatar fully awakens. This badge will then automatically upgrade to the Gold Badge: "I Am the Demon." Additionally, each time you offer a sin-laden human soul, the speed of the demon's awakening will increase proportionally. Current Awakening Progress: 5%.]

[Hidden Attribute (No Need to Equip): Prolonged association has stained your soul with the essence of a demon, making it easier for certain malevolent entities to take notice.]

[Your Contamination Value has increased.]

[Current Contamination Value: 0.4]

Contamination value...

Staring at this peculiar number that had appeared once again, Leon—crouched in an alley near the Police Department, lighting a cigarette for the black goat—narrowed his eyes instinctively.

He had privately asked the black goat about it before, but there seemed to be no mention of "contamination value" within the Cleansing Bureau. Therefore, the meaning of this data could only be deduced by himself.

If he remembered correctly, this thing called "contamination value" had appeared four times so far.

The first time was when he touched the black goat; through the effect of [Materialist Soul], he learned its contamination value was 0.1.

The second time was when he gained the black goat’s recognition and obtained the right to use it, raising his own contamination value to 0.1.

The third time was when he discovered information about the red-haired chief’s [Love Without Memory], which had a contamination value of 7.

The fourth time occurred after touching the doorknob of the Happiness Residence, whereupon a message revealed that [Spirit Dwelling] also had a contamination value of 0.1.

From these instances, Leon could now reasonably conclude that having a contamination value was likely a unique characteristic of anomalies.

Furthermore, considering how his contamination value rose alongside the black goat’s recovery, it seemed probable that obtaining the right to use an anomaly would raise the user’s contamination value by the same amount.

With this thought in mind, Leon reached out and stroked the black goat’s head twice.

[Name: Demon Horns (Corruption, Knowledge, Whispering) (Recovering)]

[Appearance: ...]

[...]

[Contamination Value: 0.4]

Sure enough, the number matched his own.

Seeing that the black goat’s contamination value had risen to 0.4 as well, Leon’s eyes flickered with understanding. He now roughly figured out why the middle-aged nurse hadn’t had her memory erased by the evil god’s brain.

Based on the “usage cost” of [Spirit Dwelling], residents who greeted the old manager daily were effectively using the anomaly every day, so their contamination values should all be 0.1.

It seemed the method used by the Brain of the Evil God in the Cleansing Bureau to distinguish ordinary people from bureau employees was based on whether they possessed any contamination value. Those with such values were considered “relevant personnel” and spared from memory erasure.

If his reasoning was correct, this must be the truth behind why anyone who used an anomaly wouldn’t have their memories wiped by the evil god’s brain.

However, another question remained: what exactly did the level of contamination signify? The most plausible hypothesis was that it represented the strength of the anomaly.

Since [Demon Horns] and [Spirit Dwelling] shared the same intensity (both being 0.1), the black goat had been able to withstand one strike from the old man’s giant shears, sustaining only a scratch on its horn.

Meanwhile, the chief’s [Love Without Memory], capable of erasing the memories of over seventy thousand people in one go, was far more powerful than either of those two anomalies. Hence, its contamination value was 7?

Hmm...

He hadn’t encountered enough anomalies yet; his data was insufficient. But perhaps he could devise a way to test further.

At this thought, Leon glanced again at the panel floating above the black goat’s head. Watching its contamination value rise to 0.4, he thoughtfully stroked the goat’s head once more.

If contamination value truly indicated item strength, then 0.4 > 0.1 meant the black goat’s current power surpassed that of [Spirit Dwelling].

So, when he grew stronger in the future, he could revisit the Happiness Residence and try using the black goat to block the old man’s shears again. If it didn’t get chipped again…

...

"What are you rubbing my head for? Am I some dog you’re petting?"

Unaware that Leon was planning to use him as an experiment, the black goat irritably shook off Leon’s hand. With a cigarette dangling from its mouth, it blew out a murky smoke ring and lazily said:

"Kid! Since you’re being so generous, we’ll call it even for that time you used me as a shield. As long as you keep supplying offerings, we’ll remain good partners!"

"Mm-hmm."

After giving a perfunctory response, Leon—who, after a series of events, now craved power more than ever—lit up seven or eight cigarettes. While stuffing them into the black goat’s mouth, he cautiously probed:

"I’ve observed carefully. Everyone in our bureau seems to have extraordinary physical capabilities. Emma can leave handprints on alloy cabinets, and Chief barely blushes even after drinking dozens of bottles of strong liquor.

"And then there’s Harry, who just returned and got sent out again. That box I couldn’t drag no matter how hard I tried—he lifted it as easily as if it were a cup of water..."

After recounting his observations, Leon fixed his gaze intently on the black goat, unblinking as he asked:

"If it were just one or two people, it might be due to the effects of anomalies. But since everyone in the bureau is like this, there must be a reason! So tell me—what do I need to do to achieve their level of physical prowess?"

"Tsk… You’re quite observant, but this isn’t something you can rush!"

Taking a deep drag from the cigarette in its mouth, smoke puffing out of its ears, the black goat lazily replied:

"Hmm… Let me put it this way. When you use my abilities excessively, don’t you feel utterly drained afterward? Like both your spirit and body have been emptied?"

"Do I?"

"..."

Damn… Forgot this kid has unusually high compatibility with demons...

Rolling its thick lips, the black goat moved the cigarettes from its mouth to the side and glared at Leon.

"Our ability isn’t about observing souls—it’s about stirring the darkness hidden in others’ hearts! You’ve been using me like a telescope and half a mind-reader without actually tapping into my true power. Of course, you won’t feel any exhaustion!"

"Oh..." Leon's eyes widened as realization struck him.

"In short, every time you use an anomaly, aside from meeting its specific rules, you must also expend a certain amount of physical and mental energy. The stronger the effect produced, the greater the toll on your stamina and willpower.

"For example, take Harry from your bureau. His strongest anomaly is a roll of tape that never runs out. Not only can it bind physical objects, but it can even stick together conceptual things."

"Conceptual things… What does that mean?"

"Soul, bonds, shattered beliefs—all sorts of intangible stuff. Anyway, just be careful around him. If one day you suddenly find yourself feeling fond of him, chances are you’ve been ‘stuck’ by him. At that time, you need to give yourself a slap to snap out of it!"

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