WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Coughing Baby
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 197: 18th-Floor Hidden (2)
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The old researcher glanced around, then broke into a groveling smile.
“H-hehe... There seems to be some misunderstanding. I'm just a lowly civil servant who does what the higher-ups tell me.”
I pointed at the prison.
“Go let those people out.”
“Yes, sir!”
“You know what'll happen if you try anything, right?”
I could have broken the cages myself, but after that talk about explosions, I was worried they might blow up if I touched the wrong thing.
While the old researcher, whose attitude had completely changed, approached the prison and opened the doors, I freed the people tied to the conveyor belts.
Some were children who looked barely five or six years old.
This was all practically a simulation, but it still made me sick...
After all, this world had actually existed before the Tower destroyed it.
I gathered the rescued people in one place.
They were trembling with anxiety as they watched me, so I spoke to them.
“You don't need to worry. I'm here to help you.”
“Th-thank you...”
Simply freeing them did not trigger a successful-clear message.
What now?
There were hundreds of people.
Did I have to lead all of them outside and help them escape?
As long as I knew where the exit was, escaping would not be difficult.
If necessary, I could easily wipe out every enemy in this place.
‘But I can't just finish the clear, either...’
My goal was to find a way to stay in this Hidden Route world.
Should I put off helping the people escape and just deal with all the cyborg soldiers first?
As I considered that, I turned toward the ruined entrance.
I could sense another group approaching.
But they were not cyborg soldiers.
Unlike the cyborg soldiers, who had all looked the same, these people had varied appearances.
They looked bewildered at the sight of the fallen cyborg soldiers and the freed prisoners.
“...Huh? What's going on here?”
They aimed their guns at me and the old researcher.
A light flickered in the retina of the woman who seemed to be their leader.
“Petrimus Frasenki, deputy administrator of the Sixth Central Plant, and...”
Her gaze moved from the old researcher to me.
“Who are you? Identify yourself.”
The old researcher looked between us and muttered in confusion.
“What? Aren't you together?”
I wondered what was going on, too.
Considering what the old researcher had said... Were these people the rebel forces?
“Who are you? You should introduce yourselves first.”
The woman answered my question.
“We're the revolutionary forces. We saw fallen cyborg soldiers on our way here, too. Was that all your doing?”
“Yes.”
“Who are you, and what are you after? I'd appreciate an answer.”
I glanced back at the people.
“You came to rescue these people too, right?”
“...Yes.”
“So did I. Leaving my identity aside, I don't think we have any reason to be enemies.”
One of the rescued people spoke up cautiously.
“Th-this person freed us. He even saved people who were about to die...”
The revolutionaries exchanged glances.
“Patriot, we don't have time. The people come first...”
The woman frowned and spoke to me.
“Will you let us take charge of the people and that old researcher?”
“Sure.”
I readily stepped aside.
The revolutionaries approached the people. They put restraints on the old researcher, apparently intending to take the researcher hostage.
“How are you planning to escape, though?”
“We'll open a portal.”
One of the revolutionaries set a mechanical device shaped like an upside-down plate on the floor.
Then the operative sat down in front of it, opened a laptop, and began typing at an incredible speed.
Booom! Kaboooom!
Meanwhile, the other members began firing light-bullet guns around the room, destroying every piece of factory machinery they could.
The machine holding the red liquid was also smashed to pieces, spilling its contents.
“...You demonic bastards.”
The woman muttered as she glared at the sight, then turned back to me.
“For now, come through the portal and escape with us. If you're not with the Empire, I'd like you to cooperate.”
She was still clearly on her guard.
It felt as though she would turn hostile immediately if I refused.
Since she could not trust me, did she intend to get us out of here first and decide what to do with me afterward?
But my thoughts were elsewhere.
‘If we escape like this, will that complete the clear?’
It certainly felt like it would.
Then should I stop this or not...?
Bzzzt!
Just then, the operating portal device suddenly sparked.
The revolutionaries looked alarmed. The woman asked urgently,
“What happened?!”
“Th-the spatial coordinates suddenly twisted...! They've taken back our system access... Damn it.”
The operative at the laptop spoke with a grim expression.
“It's a trap. We fell right into it.”
Light suddenly flashed all around us.
Portals opened in midair, and large numbers of cyborg soldiers poured out.
But these were different from the ones I had defeated so far.
They looked entirely mechanical and appeared to be heavily armed with far more complex equipment.
Even through Sixth Sense, I could tell they were incomparably stronger than the cyborg soldiers. In terms of levels, they were probably at least in the high 100s.
Despair spread across the revolutionaries' faces. Someone muttered,
“D-damn it... Imperial War Machines...?”
The restrained old researcher took in the situation, then burst out laughing.
“P-puhahaha! The imperial family has taken action themselves! You're all finished now, you traitorous pieces of scrap!”
With yet another complete change in attitude, the old researcher looked at me and spoke triumphantly.
“Do you see that? Not just one War Machine, but dozens! If you don't want to die like an insect, surrender without...”
I called to the Demon King.
‘Demon King.’
- Do it yourself. Why are you bothering me?
‘It'd be a waste to use more divinity. Please, could you handle this?’
If I fought them normally, the people might get caught in the fighting.
So I handed my body over to the Demon King.
Whooooooosh!
A wave of bitter cold erupted.
Every last one of those War Machines, or whatever they were, turned into grains of ice and scattered.
Now that I had reached a higher state of being, even the Demon King's magic no longer strained my body.
“...”
Everyone stared blankly at the War Machines that had vanished in an instant.
Then a message appeared before my eyes.
[You have successfully cleared the Floor 18 Hidden Route on Nightmare difficulty.]
...Oh, shit.
So defeating all of them was enough to complete the clear?
[You completely absorb the floor's power.]
[Your level increases.]
[Your level increases.]
[Your level increases.]
[Your level increases.]
[Your level increases.]
[You will be moved to the Reward Room.]
Once again, I resisted with divinity.
But...
‘Hmm?’
The backlash was much weaker than when I had failed the clear.
I tilted my head and thought.
Could this be why?
When I failed, I had to be forcibly expelled no matter what. But this time, I was refusing to leave after succeeding.
There was less force behind it than when I failed.
In any case, this was weak enough for me to keep holding out without being thrown out.
‘Yes!’
I'd found a way.
I would have to keep using a portion of my divinity, but still.
Now I could roam the Floor 18 world as I pleased!
I chuckled to myself, then remembered where I was and looked around.
Everyone was staring at me.
“H-how...?”
The old researcher stammered, seemingly in deep shock.
The other revolutionaries wore much the same expressions.
I asked the woman,
“Can you open the portal again?”
Snapping out of her daze, the woman looked at the operative holding the laptop.
The operative answered,
“Ah... If we have about thirty minutes, I can open it again!”
I nodded.
“I'll hold off any more enemies that come, so go ahead.”
The clear was already over, but I intended to see the rescue through to the end.
I watched with my arms folded as they prepared to open the portal again.
The woman asked me far more cautiously than before,
“Who... who exactly are you? Why would someone as powerful as you...?”
I did not answer.
I had nothing in particular to tell her.
Time passed, and the portal opened again.
The revolutionaries began sending the rescued people through first.
After everyone had been evacuated, but before the revolutionaries themselves crossed over, they whispered among themselves while glancing at me. Then the woman stepped forward and asked again,
“...Are you planning to leave on your own? Why don't you come with us, like we discussed?”
She was not trying to force me this time.
Well, they had seen more than enough to understand the gap in our strength.
I considered it for a moment.
‘Should I go with them for now?’
They did not seem like a bad organization, anyway.
Before I went searching for divinity, it would be good to have someone explain this world to me.
“Sure.”
Though she still looked somewhat wary, her expression brightened a little.
And so I followed them through the portal.
Fwoosh.
We emerged in a dark, musty underground space.
Was this the revolutionaries' hideout?
But then I saw them activating the portal again.
The woman explained,
“We're passing through a few intermediate points to avoid being tracked.”
I see.
Only after several more trips through portals did we seem to reach our final destination.
It was like an underground bunker, with walls made entirely of metal.
Other comrades who had been waiting there greeted the revolutionaries.
“Any deaths?”
“Everyone survived. Not a single death. The operation was a success, too.”
“...You all did an incredible job!”
They hugged one another, celebrating everyone's safe return.
The woman pushed away the face of a comrade who was hugging her and pointed her thumb at me.
“We almost got wiped out. That person is the only reason we're all safe.”
Only then did everyone's attention turn to me.
Faced with their questioning, wary gazes, I simply smiled.
“Who is that, Patriot?”
“The person who saved us, so you don't need to be so wary. Where's the deputy commander?”
“He'll be here soon.”
The woman spoke to her comrade.
“Jay, I'll stay with him in Isolation Room 1. When the deputy commander arrives, explain everything that happened.”
“Got it.”
The revolutionaries soon led the rescued people away, and the old researcher was taken away as well.
I followed the woman.
She led me into a room with a lone table amid piles of clutter.
“Would you mind waiting here for a bit? If you're hungry, I could bring you something to eat.”
“I'm fine.”
“All right. Someone else will be here soon, so please wait.”
Rather than leaving, the woman sat down across from me.
“First, let me thank you properly. Thanks to your help, all our members made it back safely.”
She held out a hand as she spoke.
“I'm Patriot, a member of the revolutionary organization Hekarita. What's your name?”
“I'm Kim Seo-hyeon.”
I held out my hand as well, and we shook hands.
“Kim Seo-hyeon, can you answer me now? Who are you really?”
Patriot asked with a more serious look in her eyes.
As I considered how to answer, I turned toward the doorway.
Footsteps approached, and another person soon appeared.
“Hello.”
It was a man. More of his body was mechanical than anyone else's.
He bowed to me in greeting.
“I've heard everything that happened. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for saving our members' lives.”
After we exchanged a few pleasantries, the man sat down as well.
Looking at the man and woman seated side by side across from me, I thought their faces looked somewhat alike. Were they siblings?
The man introduced himself.
“I'm Kagan, the deputy commander leading these revolutionary forces.”
“I'm Kim Seo-hyeon.”
“Mr. Kim, one of our members told me that you also attacked the plant to rescue the people there... Is that true?”
“Yes.”
A light flickered in Kagan's retina as he studied me.
He asked another question.
“I assume you have a reason for coming here so willingly and treating us in such a friendly manner. Someone as powerful as you, who can destroy dozens of the imperial family's War Machines in a single blow... Let me ask you directly. Who are you, Mr. Kim, and what is your goal?”
I considered how to answer.
I had simply come along on a whim, hoping they could tell me a little about this world.
If I could get information related to gods as well, that would be even better.
We would get nowhere if I kept refusing to reveal my identity, and I knew too little to make up a convincing lie.
I did not know whether they would believe me, but I decided to try telling the truth.
“The truth is, I'm from a world in another dimension.”
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