Chapter 208: The Effect of the Clean Bubble

Chapter 208: Chapter 208: The Effect of the Clean Bubble

She entered the Space.

Inside the Space, it was as peaceful and serene as ever, a stark contrast to the outside world.

The air here was fresh, carrying the fragrance of soil and plants.

However... ℴ

"Good lord, it stinks!!"

Seraphina had just gotten her footing.

Moe, who had been leisurely directing its subjects not far away, let out a sharp shriek as if its tail had been stepped on.

Its fur stood on end as it turned into a blur, instantly putting several meters between itself and Seraphina.

It clutched its nose, staring back at her in a state of shock.

The look of disgust in its little eyes was practically overflowing.

Seraphina: ???

Moe’s soul-crushing question came directly through their Spirit Link: "Master, what happened to you?! Why do you smell like that? The stench is absolutely unreal!"

Seraphina sighed and took off her Anti-Poison Mask, about to take a deep breath of the fresh air in her Space.

Just then, she heard clucking from the direction of the chicken coop.

Tubbs tilted its head, its beady little Eye filled with confusion.

Tubbs: "Bawk bawk? Honey, what kind of earth-shattering catastrophe do you think the master went through? It’s like she’s been pickled in pure stink?!"

Chubbs, looking all worldly-wise, flapped its wings. "Bok bok! Who knows? The master is always going to weird places. But, wifey,"

Its tone shifted as it tried to show its deep affection. "Even if you got pickled in stink, I, Chubbs, would love you forever! I’d never find you disgusting!"

Tubbs’s feathers instantly ruffled. It leaped up and started smacking Chubbs’s head with its wings.

"BOK BOK!! Are you looking for a death wish?! Cursing me to get pickled in stink? Do you have a craving for roast chicken or something?! If you do, I’ll turn you into soup tonight!!"

As it spoke, the Flame on Tubbs’s body flared up.

Seraphina: "..."

A few dark lines appeared on her forehead.

’I’ll definitely have to make Chubbs experience the power of the Junkheap Ruins for itself later.’

Okay, she had to admit it. Even though she had worn the Anti-Poison Mask, after spending so much time outside—being held hostage, the interrogation—it was inevitable that the stench of the outside world had clung to her.

And the smell was extremely stubborn and overwhelming. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say she had been "pickled in it."

Even after taking off the mask, she herself could smell an indescribable, complex stench clinging to her clothes and hair.

’Perfect. I was interrupted earlier. Now I can finally try out the Abilities of the Cleaner Profession in peace.’

Seraphina focused her mind, calmed her breath, and activated the professional Skill belonging to the Cleaner.

"Clean Bubble!"

As she used the Skill, something wondrous happened.

The palms of her hands seemed to turn into two small bubble machines, and countless white, dense bubbles with a soft sheen frothed out with a series of POOFs.

The foam rapidly multiplied and expanded.

As if alive, it gently enveloped her entire body.

In just a moment, Seraphina was completely cocooned in the white bubbles.

The other creatures in the Space all looked over, curious about what was happening.

Wrapped in these warm bubbles, which carried the faint, clean scent of soap, Seraphina felt as if every pore on her skin was breathing.

The clinging stench and sticky, unknown grime seemed to be gently broken down and stripped away by the bubbles.

The sensation was incredibly refreshing, a stark contrast to the filth of the outside world.

The Effect of [Clean Bubble] was nothing short of instantaneous.

In just ten-odd seconds, the bubbles slowly dissipated, leaving behind a completely refreshed Seraphina.

Her clothes had returned to their original color and cleanliness.

Her skin felt fresh, and even her hair had become clean and smooth.

It was as if she had just undergone a deep-cleansing spa treatment, from the inside out.

’This Ability really does live up to the description ’washes away all filth.’’

Seraphina savored the clean feeling, and her evaluation of the [Cleaner] Profession’s practicality rose once again.

Of course, this Ability was not without its drawbacks.

After using it, her whole body was soaked with the moisture left by the bubbles. Her clothes and hair were dripping wet, which would impede her movement and risk hypothermia in a dangerous environment.

But for Seraphina, who had numerous Skills and a flexible mind, this was no problem at all.

With a flicker of thought, she muttered, "[Scorching Hand]!"

Her palms instantly turned bright red, emitting an even, gentle heat like two small personal heaters.

She slowly moved her hands around her body, using the radiant heat to dry her wet clothes and hair.

SZZZ... Steam rose into the air, and soon, the dampness was replaced by a dry, comfortable feeling.

’Sigh, I’m afraid I’m turning my [Scorching Hand] Skill into a full-blown utility skill.’

Seraphina looked at her hands, which had returned to normal, and gave a wry smile.

From its originally intended purpose of inflicting burns in combat, to later starting fires in the wild and heating food...

...and now to quick-drying, the Skill had gone completely down the "accessible and practical" route in her hands.

Now that Seraphina was clean and fresh, the suffocating odor was completely gone.

Moe, which had been hiding far away, immediately scampered back, affectionately rubbing against her pant leg and sending a fawning message through their Spirit Link: "Master, you smell nice again! Before... before was an accident!"

Seraphina deliberately snorted and flicked Moe on the forehead. "You! When you were disgusted with me just now, you ran faster than anyone!" Though she said that, her eyes were smiling.

Moe shrank back shyly, letting out a coquettish whimper.

After the playful moment, Seraphina’s thoughts returned to the matter at hand.

Her brow furrowed slightly as she thought about the extremely harsh dungeon, the Junkheap Ruins, outside.

’How should I deal with the filthy situation outside?’

She knew very well that this was not the time to be squeamish or overly disgusted.

In this apocalyptic world, filth was tolerable. Survival was the top priority.

In some situations, staying "dirty" to blend in with the environment could even be an effective form of Disguise.

Being too clean would make her stand out like a lighthouse in the dark, attracting unnecessary danger.

But even if she didn’t want to be conspicuous, basic protection was an absolute must.

She hadn’t forgotten that when she used [Eye of Resume] to inspect Graham Gallo and his brother, the data had clearly indicated [Junkheap Sickness].

This disease was clearly a systemic infection caused by long-term inhalation of air filled with toxins, germs, and unknown pollutants. In the early stages, it affected the lungs; in severe cases, it was fatal.

Furthermore, according to the information, it wasn’t just transmitted through inhalation. Prolonged direct skin contact with external pollutants could also lead to corrosion and other effects.

’The Skill Effect of [Disinfection Bubble] might solve part of the problem. It could be used as an emergency Purification method.’

Seraphina mused.

’But I also need to prepare some long-lasting, basic protective gear. The key is that it can’t be too conspicuous. It has to blend into this dungeon to avoid arousing suspicion.’

With this in mind, she began to rummage through her Storage Space.