WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 106: Episode 21 — Something That Cannot Be Changed (4)

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[I'm sorry, but that will be a little difficult.]

I had figured it was about time that bastard showed up.

That damned mid-grade dokkaebi.

There was no way the one managing all the Scenarios in the Seoul Dome wouldn't move in a situation like this.

Still, I was a little confident.

"Why is it difficult? We didn't break any Scenario regulations."

[You're keeping the Catastrophe alive? Are you out of your mind? You must have a death wish.]

"A death wish? It's the opposite. I'm doing this so all of us can live."

At my words, the mid-grade dokkaebi's voice gradually turned stiff.

[Do you understand that this is a violation of the rules? The Scenario's objective is to kill the Catastrophe. If you people refuse to remain faithful to the Scenario...]

"Don't worry. We'll kill the Catastrophe."

At my words, my companions all turned to look at me at once.

"Ajussi, what are you...?"

Lee Jihye in particular was looking at me like she was staring at a psychopath.

That wasn't strange. A moment ago, I said I wouldn't kill her, and now I was saying I would. Of course it would look that way.

Still, most of my companions were waiting for what I would say next.

As if to meet that expectation, I answered.

"But not now."

[......?]

"The Scenario clearly says, 'No time limit.' That means when we kill the Catastrophe is up to us."

The mid-grade dokkaebi looked like it had been hit cleanly.

"So stop trying to rush us."

Catastrophe of the Flood Shin Yuseong stared up at me blankly. She looked as if the thought had never even occurred to her.

[The constellation Scribe of heaven looks at you with intrigued eyes.]

I could feel the constellations' agitation all over my body.

Even if you searched all of TWSA, there weren't many episodes where someone pushed back against the Scenario like this, so for the constellations, it would be quite a spectacle.

Especially in a situation like this, where the line between good and evil looked blurred. The subscription rates of constellations from the absolute good alignment or absolute evil camps would soar. Sorting characters into good and evil according to their own whims was their everyday pastime.

[We cannot allow this.]

"You're trying to interfere with the Scenario again? Did you already forget what happened last time?"

[......]

My confidence came from the fact that this Scenario wasn't a Sub Scenario but a Main Scenario.

When a Main Scenario was carried out on a dome-wide scale like the Fifth Scenario, even a mid-grade dokkaebi had a hard time changing its conditions. On top of that, this bastard had already received a few disciplinary actions from the Administration Bureau.

Considering that it feared penalties involving the Scenarios under its jurisdiction, this wasn't a fight I had no chance of winning.

I looked at Bihyeong nearby, chewing at his nails.

'Get ready. If something happens, you're the only one I can rely on.'

―Damn it, why should I?

'If I die, you're dying with me, so don't forget that.'

Just as Bihyeong's face started to crumple, the mid-grade dokkaebi spoke.

[As expected, this is entertaining. But it won't go the way you think.]

Right. I hadn't expected it to back down so easily.

[Not every Incarnation in the Seoul Dome is thinking the same thing as you.]

At those words, the mid-grade dokkaebi snapped its fingers.

[A new Sub Scenario has arrived.]

I could tell what it was thinking.

If it couldn't touch the Main Scenario, then it meant to force the issue with a Sub Scenario it could create itself.

[From this moment on, I will double the bounty placed on the Catastrophe.]

The original reward had been 100,000 coins, so doubling it meant 200,000 coins. Enough to make someone a top ranker in the Seoul Dome in an instant. It was enough to make people risk their lives and rush in, yet...

For some reason, not a single Incarnation charged forward.

"Nobody move carelessly."

"Value your lives. Unless you want to die like moths rushing into a flame!"

The kings with factions were controlling the Incarnations. King of Beauty Min Jiwon, Maitreya King Cha Sanggyeon, and even Jeon Ildo, the Neutral King.

[The constellation Naval Warfare God is proud of the incarnations of the Korean Peninsula.]

Of course, there were also forces the kings couldn't control. But they valued their lives just the same. They had already seen the Catastrophe's power. Whether it was 100,000 coins or 200,000, it was obvious that a small group couldn't take her on. On top of that, our side was openly protecting Catastrophe of the Flood Shin Yuseong...

[......How disappointing. To think the Incarnations of the Seoul Dome would be such cowards.]

An ominous air drifted through the sky. The mid-grade dokkaebi was probably thinking about how to make this situation even worse.

I quickly added another line. I had to settle this here.

"Why don't you give in? Honestly, everyone should be satisfied by now."

[......Everyone is satisfied?]

I didn't say anything more. I didn't need to. The mid-grade dokkaebi had already understood.

[Haha, I see. So you had thought that far ahead? As expected of a master of staging, just as Dokgak said.]

A dokkaebi's reason for existence lay in the Scenario. To create a Scenario that many constellations responded to and many constellations enjoyed. And in the world of the Star Stream, the miracle of a Scenario changing course happened in only one case.

That was when the majority of the constellations watching that Scenario wanted its direction to change.

[Certainly, violence isn't the only kind of stimulation.]

By saving Catastrophe of the Flood Shin Yuseong, I had tried to win the constellations' favor. I picked words that looked likely to slip past the filters, and I kept speaking while prepared to expose a certain amount of information to the constellations.

I made them sympathize with Catastrophe of the Flood Shin Yuseong. I made them cheer for my defiance. In the end, I made them lament this whole situation.

In fact, I could hear the messages of the constellations who had fallen for the plan in real time.

[The constellation Bald Army General respects your will.]

[The constellation The Last Hero of Hwangsanbeol admires your determination.]

"Now that you understand, why don't you decide already? Either give us the reward, or let the Fifth Scenario continue."

Even if the Fifth Scenario continued, there was no real problem with continuing into the Sixth Scenario. Main Scenarios could overlap.

If that bastard had any sense, it would stop here, now that the constellations were satisfied.

[Incarnation Kim Dokja. Of all the Incarnations I know, you are the smartest and most frightening.]

As I watched the mid-grade dokkaebi's expression gradually loosen, I felt a strange sense of unease.

[But this time, that cleverness will only hold you back.]

"What do you mean?"

The words that followed weren't directed at me.

[......Understood, constellations. Then I suppose it's time to show you the story you've been waiting for.]

Bzzt!

Sparks burst in the air. The mid-grade dokkaebi was moving the Scenario.

[The mid-grade dokkaebi is intervening in the Scenario.]

[In accordance with the Scenario contract, control of Catastrophe of the Flood Shin Yuseong is transferred to the mid-grade dokkaebi.]

At the system message, Catastrophe of the Flood Shin Yuseong's face began to change.

"N-no. Wait. I... Aaaaah!"

A black aura rose from Catastrophe of the Flood Shin Yuseong's body.

I shouted urgently.

"Wait! What are you doing right now...?!"

[Fulfill the contract. O cog of the Scenario.]

Only then did I realize what that bastard was trying to do.

Forced Execution Right.

The power that controlled the fate of every subsidiary part contained within the Scenario.

[A character's personality is being forcibly altered.]

[The character Shin Yuseong's disposition is fixed as evil.]

Catastrophe of the Flood Shin Yuseong, robbed of control over her body, was turning into a monster.

I bit my lip. Forced Execution Right was normally never used, because the amount of Plausibility a dokkaebi had to spend on it was enormous.

But if it had been used now, that meant...

[Many constellations cheer the Scenario's development.]

[A substantial number of constellations dislike your melodrama.]

It meant many constellations had agreed with the Plausibility of this turn of events.

Damn it, why?

"Dokja-ssi?"

"Hyung!"

My tense companions moved closer to me. They had realized something had gone wrong too. But I still couldn't understand it.

Why had the constellations suddenly turned their backs on me?

When I looked up, Bihyeong's expression was dark.

―Sorry. I tried to persuade them, but it didn't work.

'What on earth...?'

―Your reputation is worse than expected.

The mid-grade dokkaebi said,

[Arrogant Incarnation. Did you think the constellations would be fooled that easily?]

...But all of the indirect messages had been favorable.

[Humans do have a habit of believing whatever they want to believe.]

As I watched the next indirect messages rise one after another, I fully realized my miscalculation.

[Many constellations ridicule your decision.]

[A few constellations withdraw their support for you.]

That's right. Not every constellation sent indirect messages.

The constellations who sent messages were only a tiny fraction.

[A substantial number of constellations are wary of your intentions.]

Maybe it was only natural for the majority to think badly of me. I had deceived them with a shabby trick and canceled their event. Any constellation with a sharp eye would have known from the start that Bihyeong's channel capacity had been 9,999.

Even so, they had played along with the lie in order to watch my Scenario.

But they wouldn't play along anymore.

[The constellations of the Korean Peninsula look at you with pity.]

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband looks at you pitifully.]

Maybe I had underestimated the beings known as constellations.

[It seems your luck runs out here, Incarnation Kim Dokja.]

"Aaaaaah...!"

From Shin Yuseong, who was being forcibly turned into an evildoer, a baleful aura poured out. A murderous energy so vile it felt like flesh would melt from the slightest touch. The Incarnations screamed and fled. In the distance, Yu Junghyeok was drawing the Sky Shaking Supreme Sword.

[Then I hope you show us a good Scenario to the very end.]

I slowly backed away from the Catastrophe. Shin Yuseong's face was twisted in sorrow.

...So it was going to end like this after all.

I quickly checked Yu Junghyeok's movements. If it had come to this, it was obvious what choice he would make.

"Wait, Yu Junghyeok."

"You failed."

"Don't touch the child."

Hiding the younger Shin Yuseong behind my back, I continued.

"If you touch this child, I'll never forgive you."

Yu Junghyeok narrowed his eyes and glared at me.

"......There is no other way."

A way...

I bit my lip until it bled.

"There is a way. We just have to show the constellations the Scenario they like so much."

"......What are you saying?"

"We defeat the Catastrophe."

Yu Junghyeok's expression hardened.

"That's suicidal. Are you planning to throw your life away on bravado?"

I looked at Catastrophe of the Flood Shin Yuseong, who was sweeping away everything around her as she changed into a demon.

I hadn't wanted this to happen.

I had never wanted an ending like this.

And yet in this damned world, even resisting the Scenario became part of a Scenario.

[A substantial number of constellations are excited by your words.]

[A substantial number of constellations want a satisfying all-out brawl.]

Fine. If this was what you wanted to see.

"Cover me, Yu Junghyeok. I'll stop the Catastrophe."

Then I'd act for you as much as you wanted.

"Kim Dokja, you..."

"I can do it."

As I slowly blinked, the delayed options rose before my eyes.

[You have experienced the first-person supporting character viewpoint.]

[You may inherit one of the skills of the supporting character whose viewpoint you immersed yourself in.]

[The list of acquirable skills is being displayed.]

[Please select the skill you will acquire.]

After checking the list, I chose without hesitation.

"Number 3. I'll choose [Beast Lord's Sensitivity]."

[You have acquired the Exclusive Skill Beast Lord's Sensitivity!]

As if it had been waiting, a storm of ether roared from Catastrophe of the Flood Shin Yuseong's hand. The very same storm of ether that had punched through my abdomen and even rendered Yu Junghyeok unable to fight.

Rooooar!

I shielded my companions and took the storm head-on from the front.

[The Exclusive Skill Beast Lord's Sensitivity Lv.3 is activating.]

A pure white fur cloak. The Exclusive Skill of Beast Lord Shin Yuseong, endlessly soft and yet strong. More than half of my Mana was drained away, and I felt dizzy for an instant, but I still succeeded in taking Shin Yuseong's attack in full. Even within that overwhelming storm, [Beast Lord's Sensitivity] didn't lose a shred of its dignity.

Yu Junghyeok frowned.

"...You stole the skill. But that alone won't be enough."

"I know."

I looked at Catastrophe of the Flood Shin Yuseong. Even though the evildoer transformation had progressed and she had lost control of her body, emotion still remained in her eyes. She was telling me,

"......It's okay. Kill me."

Who could look into those eyes and swing a sword?

A being who had wandered for a thousand years and suffered again and again.

And now I had to cut her down.

This was the price of failing to change the story...

For the first time, I resented the fact that TWSA had become reality.

"Keep your eyes wide open and watch."

I looked up at the sky and said,

"This is the Scenario you wanted."

[The Exclusive Skill Bookmark has been activated!]

Now that Shin Yuseong's final phase had opened, this was a fight I couldn't lose.

Which was exactly why it was a fight no one could truly win.

[Character Bookmark has been activated.]

[Available Bookmark slots: 4]

[Loading list of activatable bookmarks.]

"Remove Delusional Demon Kim Namwoon from Slot 1 and put Judge of Evil Jeong Huiwon in."

Footnotes:

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