WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Damned Transmigration ◈
Chapter 133: Communication 3
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“...Anyway.”
The unexpected call still left Yuri flustered.
“Why did you go out of your way to use the alias Yuben?”
- Because I thought you might ignore a communication request from someone named Chuk-sin-doo.
It was a sharp point. Just as he said, if a request had come under the name Chuk-sin-doo, Yuri would never have accepted it.
He had heard Chuk-sin-doo say there was no hostility, but before that, Yuri's impression of him had been of a Transmigrator no one could call sane, even as empty politeness.
- And it was consideration for you too. I won't tell you not to trust the Adventurer Guild, but it wouldn't be good if people found out that someone trying so hard to hide that he's a Transmigrator was exchanging calls with your big brother here.
“I had no idea you were that self-aware...”
Yuri muttered in disbelief.
If anyone were asked to name the most famous Transmigrator in this world, they would name Moonlit Reveller, Chuk-sin-doo.
There was also Cruel Mayhem, a confirmed Transmigrator in the Death Realm of the same Martial Apex Venerable, but she did not engage in antics on Chuk-sin-doo's level.
- I've always been self-aware. Your big brother has suffered plenty since coming to this world too. So I'll let it slide that you pretended not to know me in Rutlan, UrMumSpammer.
“Don't call me that.”
- Are you embarrassed by the name UrMumSpammer?
“Wouldn't I be?”
- If you're embarrassed, why did you make your handle something like that?
“Well... I didn't think anyone would ever call me that in real life.”
Chuk-sin-doo gave a derisive snort at Yuri's reluctant answer.
- Did you forget what I said? I told you I'd buy you drinks after you took first place.
“I don't remember agreeing to that.”
- If I hadn't been dragged into this shitty world, your big brother would have found a way to meet you and Cat Panties at least once in real life.
“Why do you keep calling yourself my big brother?”
When Yuri asked what had been bothering him all along, Chuk-sin-doo burst out laughing again.
- Because I'm probably older than you. How old are you?
“...In Earth years?”
- Are we counting this world's years? How old am I now? I'm nearly fifty.
Chuk-sin-doo had reached first place in the Hall of Fame in July 2019. Even by a rough estimate, he had been in this world for nearly thirty years.
“In Earth years... I was twenty-four when you crossed over.”
- I was twenty-six then. So what do you think? I'm your big brother, right?
Chuk-sin-doo sounded incredibly pleased. Had he missed someone from home that much?
‘Well, after living in this world for nearly thirty years, anyone could get homesick.’
Yuri himself had hardly ever missed Earth or his hometown.
He had only felt that way a few times, when he first woke in the Waiting Room and when he had been overwhelmed by the question of how to live from then on in Yuri's house in Oldor.
After meeting Elena, the thought of wanting to return to Earth had never come to him.
Living as Yuri was far better than living as Lee Su-hyeok.
“...So you want me to call you big brother?”
- Your big brother isn't some old fart who pressures people over that.
“You call yourself big brother.”
Still, speaking with Chuk-sin-doo put Yuri at ease faster than he expected. At least, there was no hostility in Chuk-sin-doo's attitude or voice.
“What would you have done if I'd acknowledged you in Rutlan?”
- What an obvious question. I would have taken you with me, of course.
The reply came instantly.
‘It's a good thing I didn't acknowledge him.’
Whether he believed that or not, if Yuri had gone with Chuk-sin-doo, his relationship with Elena would have fallen apart long ago.
He would have found it difficult to reunite with Haryeong as he had, and he would never have met Estor.
Thinking about it, perhaps things were better this way.
- I crossed over decades before you, and I've been waiting for you lot to come someday. Do you know how much I prepared for you?
“What did you prepare?”
- Spiritual elixirs and martial arts. Especially for you, I prepared the original manual of the Blood Wheel Soul-Locking Palm, not a copy.
Yuri unconsciously swallowed at that. Blood Wheel Soul-Locking Palm had been a skill he always included in UrMumSpammer's late-game build.
- And for Cat Panties, I collected rare Poison Cores. So come and collect them together.
“Together?”
- You're together, aren't you?
Yuri asked because he did not understand what Chuk-sin-doo meant, but the response confused him even more.
- The Salhomun assassin who travels with you. Isn't she Cat Panties?
“What?”
- Man, that really surprised me too. I've known Cat Panties longer than you, but I never once thought that perverted netkama bastard was actually a woman.
“Hey, wait.”
- And she's lucky too. That bastard only learned Dang Family skills in the game, so how did she happen to transmigrate into the Dang Family's direct line? Ah, calling her lucky feels a little wrong. Getting dragged into this world just because she played a game means she was unlucky, fuck. And Cat Panties didn't seem to get treated very well by the Dang Family either. Sounds like she got exposed as a Transmigrator and kicked out?
It was an understandable mistake. Yuri let out a dry laugh after Chuk-sin-doo finished rambling.
“Haryeong isn't Cat Panties.”
- What?
“Why would I lie when I've already been exposed? Haryeong isn't Cat Panties.”
This time, Chuk-sin-doo was left speechless. After a brief silence, he spoke in a hollow voice.
- Not Cat Panties...? Are you sure? Did you ask her directly?
“Yeah. From the sound of it, you don't know anything about Cat Panties either. Do you know anything about FS or USAUSAMI?”
- FS... I know. We meet sometimes. But... hmm, this isn't something to discuss here. I'll introduce you in person later.
“What is it that you can't discuss here?”
- I haven't told FS about you yet either. You and FS are both hiding the fact that you're Transmigrators, so it would be better to discuss this in person.
That answer was a little unexpected.
Chuk-sin-doo's mind was far more normal than Yuri had thought...
Until now, Yuri had imagined Chuk-sin-doo as a madman who called himself Chuk-sin-doo, wore a spotless white football uniform, used a bizarre martial art that involved kicking metal balls named Madorido, and shouted, “Siuuu!” at every opportunity.
But now that they had revealed their identities and spoken openly, what was this?
He had sweetly approached under an alias in case Yuri got dragged into trouble through their connection. He had prepared martial arts manuals, Poison Cores, and more for friends who would transmigrate later.
On top of that, he was thoughtful enough not to casually reveal a friend's identity...
‘...I never really thought of this bastard as a friend...’
They had only talked online. Could that really be called friendship?
‘It is friendship.’
Now that he thought about it again, the people Yuri had known and spoken to the longest in Lee Su-hyeok's twenty-seven years of life were Chuk-sin-doo and his group.
“I'm asking because I'm curious. What exactly did you trust about me and... the others to prepare all that? What if we were trash and sons of bitches when you met us? And how were we supposed to find you...?”
Yuri's words abruptly stopped. The scattered puzzle pieces in his mind snapped together.
“You... didn't you go around loudly calling yourself Chuk-sin-doo so those of us who would transmigrate later could find you...?”
- Don't get too touched, bastard.
Chuk-sin-doo laughed through the receiver.
- That's not the only reason I chose this name. It's also a sign of respect for our big brother.
“...”
- And you asked what I trusted about you? When I first came to this world, enemies were everywhere. The world was full of bastards I couldn't trust. Even your big brother didn't use that name from the start. I only started going around with it once life became somewhat bearable.
Chuk-sin-doo had been one of the earliest Transmigrators.
Now, after decades had passed, people did not automatically treat Transmigrators as enemies. There were even many who wanted to use them.
It had not been that way when Chuk-sin-doo first came over. The world treated Transmigrators as enemies from another world, while Transmigrators did everything they could to survive and grow stronger.
Using knowledge from the game caused friction with this world's residents more often than not.
- I don't even know how many times I nearly died. Living like that, I gradually stopped knowing who I was. Looking back, that was a sign of an Inner Demon. Who am I? What kind of person was I on Earth? Was the me on Earth real, or was this me, living after taking someone else's body, real? What did I like?
Bitterness tinged his voice.
- I thought I might forget what I used to be like and everything I loved. So I made our big brother my name, and waited for the people I knew to come over from Earth.
Most Transmigrators struggled with life. Chuk-sin-doo was no exception.
- After I started using this name, plenty of Transmigrators came looking for me. Some bastards impersonated you lot, but every last one of them got their heads smashed open by my Madorido. Then I met FS, and now I've met you.
“...”
- Fortunately, unlike online, FS wasn't trash or a son of a bitch. I believe you aren't either. If you are trash or a son of a bitch...
Chuk-sin-doo paused, then gave a quiet chuckle.
- I'll beat you into becoming less of a trashy son of a bitch.
“I think I had a lot of misunderstandings about you.”
Yuri replied with a small laugh as well.
- Misunderstandings? What misunderstandings?
“I just thought you were exactly what you looked like.”
- My appearance follows that of the greatest player in the world. What misunderstanding could there be?
Yuri could not tell whether that was a joke or not.
- So, when are you planning to come find me?
“I can't go yet. I have things to do too.”
- Your big brother has heard that you, Dark Blossom, and Sword Dragon were taken by Calamity Star. Is what you need to do related to Calamity Star?
“No. It's about USAUSAMI.”
At that answer, Chuk-sin-doo made a startled sound.
- USAUSAMI... is dead?
After Yuri explained the situation, Chuk-sin-doo muttered in disbelief.
“It's not certain. That's why I'm going to confirm it myself.”
- I've never heard the epithet Myou-hee either.
“Even if I go there and search below the cliff, her body won't still be there. But I still need to go at least once.”
- I can't go.
A sighing voice came back.
- The conflict in Vernoc is being wrapped up because of that old man Zenith's ridiculous ass-clown stunt, but that doesn't mean I'll be free. Even after the Peace Oath is made, I'll have to stay in Vernoc for a while and keep moving around.
“Because of the Ascard Family?”
- How do you know that... Hmm, did you hear it from Heavenly Thunder? Or Thor?
“So Lacey Yuzha really is Thor?”
- She says no every time I ask, but anyone can see she's Thor.
“I heard you're cooperating with the Ascard Family to contact the Sect of Order.”
- That's right.
“Why? You know that even if you visit the Sacred Domain of the Sect of Order, you won't be able to hear anything about other Transmigrators.”
- You have to grasp at straws, don't you? I've met FS and you, and now I've heard a lead on USAUSAMI. But I truly know nothing about Cat Panties.
A bitter laugh entered Chuk-sin-doo's voice.
- That crazy, perverted netkama bastard is still the person I've known the longest. Your big brother knows that Priests and Priestesses of Order cannot speak about Transmigrators because of the Binding Restriction. But knowing that doesn't mean I plan to give up.
Why was it?
Why did Yuri feel like calling that... crazy bastard his big brother?
“Lord Bakerd said you lead some unknown group.”
- Lead it? No. I'm one of its members too.
“What kind of group is it?”
- A hometown association.
Chuk-sin-doo answered in an indifferent voice.
- A Transmigrator Hometown Association. By now, it isn't purely a Transmigrator Hometown Association anymore, since people whose lives were drastically changed by Transmigrators have joined too. Our final goal is to cooperate and kill the Evil God.
Transmigrators joining forces to kill the Evil God. It was a noble purpose, but not something they could openly pursue.
There was still unconditional hatred for Transmigrators in this world.
Even if a Transmigrator pleaded their unfair circumstances, not everyone would understand. There were surely people in this world who wanted Transmigrators exterminated more than the Evil God that had existed here from the beginning.
- UrMumSpammer, Yuri. There's something your big brother wants to ask. I'd like you to answer honestly.
“What is it?”
- You... aren't really an apostle of the Evil God, are you?
“Don't be insane.”
Yuri immediately hardened his expression, and Chuk-sin-doo burst out laughing.
- Well, of course not. Those crazy idiots run around calling you an apostle of the Evil God, but there's no way you are. So, Yuri. Will you join us too?
“Do I have to answer now?”
Yuri trusted Chuk-sin-doo, but he could not immediately trust all the other Transmigrators in that unknown hometown association. When he asked that, Chuk-sin-doo answered calmly.
- No, you don't have to answer now. It doesn't matter if you refuse. You're already at odds with the Evil God Cult anyway.
“Then later, if I feel like it.”
- Contact me if you desperately need my help later.
“You said you can't move freely.”
- Even so, if my little brother desperately asks for help, I have to move. What should I do about the Blood Wheel Soul-Locking Palm? Should I send someone to deliver it? If you only need the oral formula, I can tell you now.
“It would be better to see the actual manual.”
- Then I'll send it by airship delivery under the name Yuben. There's an airship port city called Seongju near Gangyu, so you'll probably be able to receive it by the time you arrive.
“Big brother...!”
Yuri spoke, a little moved.
- Yes, little brother. I'd like to talk all night, but I secretly came out after catching the signal. I need to send your package too, so I should go now.
“Big brother, get back safely.”
The title he had used only a handful of times in his life came out smoothly.
- If you learn anything about USAUSAMI, contact me under the name Yuben... Little brother. There are two things I really want to ask.
“What are they?”
- I want to ask... but I don't want to ask, and I don't want to hear the answer. What an irony.
“?”
- Our big brother back then... the Korean friendly match... No, never mind. Let's talk face-to-face later.
After hesitating for a long while, Chuk-sin-doo cut off his own question.
- I'm going now. Take care of yourself, little brother.
“Uh... yeah. Get back safely.”
The communication ended.
Yuri did not leave right away. He sat there for a while, lost in thought.
About Chuk-sin-doo's hesitation at the end.
About the two things he wanted to ask, but did not want to ask or hear.
About the question he had cut off without asking.
‘This bastard...’
The Korean friendly match.
Yuri did not know much about football, but he knew about the issue that had enraged Korean football fans a few years ago.
‘Sounds like he knows about the no-show.’
Our big brother does not break promises.
Three years ago, in Rutlan.
The image of Chuk-sin-doo's face as he spoke without a smile lingered in Yuri's mind.
Footnotes:
“Netkama” is Korean online slang for someone, usually a man, pretending to be a woman online. The Korean friendly match and “no-show” refer to the 2019 Juventus-K League exhibition, where Cristiano Ronaldo did not play.
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