WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 115: Episode 22 — Three Promises (7)

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Hearing those words come out of a constellation's mouth made goosebumps prickle across my arms. Beings who fed on stories and were mad for stories. That was the true nature of constellations.

[Death is like the ending of a story. Just as a slaughtered cow cannot come back to life, a dead person cannot come back to life either. Their story ends there.]

“There are exceptions, as far as I know.”

[That is a false transmission. There are no exceptions.]

False, huh. There was an idiom from Greek mythology for times like this.

“Can you swear by the River Styx?”

For the first time, anger rose on Persephone's face.

[......The “soul” you believe in is nothing more than a crude lump of stories.]

“What I want is exactly that crude lump of stories.”

[The “one who looks back” in the underworld is bound to regret it. You need to learn how to accept time that has already flowed past.]

If she was going to be this unyielding, I had no choice but to use the card I'd been saving.

“Your Majesty, time doesn't always flow only “forward.” I thought you knew that.”

In that instant, the world turned gray. A savage aura seized the entire hall. It was only for a moment, but I felt as though I'd caught a glimpse of Persephone's true body.

I couldn't even open my mouth properly, but I wanted to scream in protest. And you still say there's no soul? Look, my soul is getting goosebumps right now.

Only after cold sweat had soaked my back did the aura disappear.

Persephone smiled as if nothing had happened.

[Hehe....... Interesting. As expected of the “singularity” the children of Olympus spoke of.]

But that smile was subtly different from before. I could feel it without being told. One wrong move from here, and I'd be finished.

“What I know isn't limited to that. I've seen the Colossus units being developed in Tartarus. If you make a deal with me, I know a way to shorten the time until the Colossus units are completed even more......”

[That's enough of that story. “Gigantomachia” is an important matter, yes, but the Colossus units can be completed on schedule even without your help.]

I was at a loss for words for a moment. This time, it was Persephone's turn.

[Still, if it's this kind of deal, I might consider it. If you tell me how you know all that information......]

“That would be difficult. To be honest, I don't think I could explain it properly even if I tried.”

I was sorry to Shin Yuseong, but this was the one thing I couldn't do. If I revealed this, every plan I had going forward would be ruined.

As if measuring the sincerity in my answer, Persephone looked into my eyes for a moment. Then she murmured in a strange voice.

[As expected, ■■■'s ■■■ is......]

...What? The next moment, the constellations' messages erupted in my ears.

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband doubts his own hearing.]

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire widens her eyes.]

[The constellation Scribe of heaven points out the queen's rashness.]

[The constellation Secretive Plotter lets out a low groan.]

Persephone frowned.

[Uninvited guests, please be quiet.]

I asked in surprise.

“......What did you just say?”

[Ah, it was nothing.]

I was genuinely flustered. ...■, she said? I couldn't pronounce it properly, but I had definitely heard her words as filtered information. Information that had not yet been disclosed by the Scenario. But filters didn't activate for beings who already knew that information. It made no sense. Was there information even I, who had read all of TWSA, didn't know?

No, maybe that was......

[I'm sorry, but let's end the amusement here. The underworld has no reason to trade with you. I could use other methods to find out your information.]

The light reflected in the knife looked chilling. For some reason, I felt that I didn't want to know what those methods were.

[I've been patient, but you...... do look quite delicious.]

Persephone was suddenly right in front of me, grabbing my chin. I restrained the urge to kick away my chair that very instant and smiled instead.

“If you harm an Incarnation in the middle of a Scenario, you won't be able to handle the aftermath.”

[Hmm. So you've really underestimated me. Do you think I can't handle Plausibility of that level?]

“And the constellations watching over me won't allow it either.”

At that, Persephone snorted.

[Do you think the King of the underworld would fear such trivial constellations?]

Of course, Hades had every right to be arrogant. But “trivial” wasn't a word you used so carelessly.

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband grips his Ruyi Staff as if in provocation.]

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire draws the Supreme Sword with cold eyes.]

[The constellation Secretive Plotter excitedly stokes the situation.]

Persephone didn't back down either, releasing her own pressure.

[I see. So everyone wants to try it now?]

Dark clouds instantly began gathering beneath the ceiling of the hall. Red and blue sparks crashed down like thunder, and white flames flared up throughout the banquet hall. This was the clash of wills between constellations. An enormous aura surged out of Persephone's symbolic form, as if she wouldn't even hesitate to allow a Descent of her true body. If this kept up, I'd die like a shrimp caught in the middle of it all.

I opened my mouth calmly.

“You said you liked stories.”

At the word stories, the constellations' pressure eased for a moment.

“In that case, how about this kind of deal?”

[The constellation Secretive Plotter listens to your words.]

Persephone looked at me.

“If you help me, I'll show you the most interesting story in the world. A story that can't even be compared to the steak you just ate.”

[Does that mean you'll let me eat you?]

Persephone's fingertip pointed at me.

“With Your Majesty's long history as a gourmet, I doubt you need another meal. Besides, you must already be full.”

Persephone smiled with her eyes, having already seen through what I was trying to say.

[......You won't even let me taste it, and you still want to collect your reward?]

“I'll let you smell it. But if you eat me now, Your Majesty will spend the rest of your life regretting it.”

[Why?]

“Because you'll keep thinking that if you hadn't eaten me then, I definitely would have become even more delicious.”

Interest flickered in Persephone's eyes.

[......How can you be so sure?]

“I can stand against beings that turn back time even without a Patron constellation.”

Persephone's pupils trembled faintly.

“I defeated a Returnee without an Outer God's help, and I stopped the Calamities that descended. And I've come this far after only five Scenarios.”

Persephone's upper lip brushed against her lower lip with longing.

“On top of that, I entered the underworld with a living soul and met you here like this. Aren't you really curious what I'll do next?”

[You do speak well. But......]

Persephone narrowed her eyes and continued.

[That doesn't sound like a “deal” anymore.]

“Then you can call it “courtship.””

[......What?]

I grinned.

“Because I mean it. I'll show you a story you've never seen before, a story whose continuation you'll be dying to know.”

Maybe the very idea of trying to make a deal with constellations had been wrong from the start. These were beings bound to Eternity, after all. There was no way they'd seriously entertain a deal with a trivial Incarnation. If that was the case, then it was better to push an outrageous argument instead. At least an outrageous argument could carry sincerity.

And as with all myths, sometimes the gods are moved more by a handful of sincerity than by a hundred lies. In fact, she didn't look displeased.

[Hmm, this is troublesome. This is why males......]

“Oh, of course, I'm not courting you. I'm courting the “Father of the Rich Night.””

At my words, Persephone's eyes widened, then she burst into loud laughter.

She sprang back from me, then perched on the table and slowly crossed her legs. A suggestive gaze swept over my whole body.

[Interesting.]

Seeing Yu Sangah's body in a pose like that was terrifying, because I felt like I'd remember it even after I went back. Persephone stared into the darkness in midair and slowly closed her eyes. It was only a fleeting moment, but the silence felt as heavy as hours. She finally spoke just as I was starting to choke on that silence.

[I'm going to assign you a task.]

And there it was.

[You said you'd show me an interesting story, didn't you? If you succeed, I'll find the soul you want.]

Then a system message appeared.

[A new Hidden Scenario has activated.]

The word task brought a few myths to mind. Come to think of it, Heracles had once completed something called the Twelve Labors. Persephone's eyes shone as she continued.

[I always wanted to assign one at least once. It's the sort of thing the children of Olympus do all the time, but I ended up with such a well-behaved husband that I never got the chance.]

“What kind of task is it?”

[Your task is to cut off a snake's head and bring it back.]

“......A snake? You don't mean that snake with several heads, do you?”

I asked in a slightly timid voice. That was because that snake was a Tier-2 beast species, no less. Persephone shook her head.

[I'm not talking about Hydra. Even if you killed something like that, all you'd hear is that you were copying that Heracles brat. The snake you need to kill is somewhere else.]

“But I'm in the middle of a Scenario, so I can't go far.”

[Don't worry about that. The snake will be where you're going too.]

Persephone lightly snapped her fingers, and a screen appeared in empty air. Along with a message that a channel had connected, I realized what that screen was.

...So this was how constellations watched us?

A giant forest covering a green jungle filled the entire screen. It didn't take me long to realize where that place was.

Because that was the stage of the sixth Scenario, which would begin soon.

But wait a second. What was that?

「Hey, ajussi, pull out some trees around here and make us a place to rest. You're good at that kind of thing, aren't you?」

「What I'm good at is fighting, not clearing land. Damn brat.」

I stared hard at the screen. The missing Pildu Gong and Han Suyeong were there. How could that be possible? The sixth Scenario hadn't even started yet. I could feel Persephone's gaze fixed on me.

[Well? Will you do it? It might be quite difficult, but it needs to be at least this much to deserve to be called a “task.”]

I came to my senses a beat too late. Only then did I understand what kind of snake Persephone wanted. I slowly nodded.

* * *

After the trace of human presence disappeared, darkness flooded the hall.

Left alone, Persephone quietly looked at the remaining feast before speaking.

[Take it away. It tastes awful.]

A hand that emerged from the darkness swiftly carried off the plates. Persephone watched the food on them head straight into the trash. Swordmaster, SSS-grade Hunter, ten-circle Archmage....... Flavors she had already eaten to the point of disgust. The darkness in midair rippled, and then a voice rang out.

[Persephone. Why did you do that?]

It was a voice that sounded as if space itself were speaking.

[Oh, my shy husband finally decides to speak.]

[I asked why you did that.]

[Hades, this is what you wanted.]

[I never wanted that.]

Persephone stared straight into the darkness as she spoke.

[You rarely make Incarnations. So when it seemed like you especially liked that child, was I mistaken?]

[Why did you think that?]

[Because you didn't kill that child the moment that child came to the underworld.]

The darkness fell silent for a moment.

[You've always envied Zeus for having Heracles. So this time, I took it upon myself to read a little of your heart.]

Persephone looked down at her hand for a moment, clenching and unclenching her fist as she continued.

[Honestly, it surprised me. There were constellations even I couldn't handle. And beings like that are chasing after a mere Incarnation......]

Crackle.

A screen appeared in the darkness. But perhaps because the channel signal was unstable, the image did not appear immediately. The darkness looked at that screen with a lonely gaze and spoke.

[Soon, the signs of the Later Days will appear.]

Later Days. Hearing those words, Persephone spoke in a voice evenly mixed with disbelief, suspicion, and anxiety.

[......Will the Later Days really come?]

[Probably.]

[But you'll stay by my side then too, won't you?]

Hades didn't answer. Gentle darkness, carrying warm energy, carefully wrapped around her symbolic form. Feeling that darkness, Persephone said,

[I'm very much looking forward to seeing what kind of story that child will show.]

Where her gaze rested, Kim Dokja could be seen pushing through the darkness in order to escape the underworld.

Kim Dokja moved forward, doing his best not to look back just in case.

As if she found him adorable, Persephone smiled faintly.

Footnotes:

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