WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: ChaoticRain

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 135: Episode 26 — Scenario Destroyer (3)

As soon as my negotiation with Bihyeong ended, the Judge urged me on.

[Now that you're done, you should head back soon.]

I wondered why he was rushing me, but the Judge kept smacking his lips as he stared at my liquor bottle. Seemed like the alcohol I gave him earlier wasn't enough. Wait a minute, come to think of it, didn't he say Hades and Persephone weren't in the underworld right now?

"Excuse me, Judge-nim. I have one more favor to ask."

[I don't know what it is, but this time it's going to be difficult...]

"I'll give you an entire bottle of liquor."

The Judge's eyes went wide at my words.

"Please take me down to Tartarus one more time."

Since I didn't have much time, I quickly went down to Tartarus and came right back up. I thought it had only been a moment, but the Judge had already gotten completely drunk in that short time.

[Is your business finished?]

"Yes."

The fact that Hades and Persephone had left their posts was like a stroke of heavenly luck for me. I'd really only given him a small hint, but if it was the quick-witted Namwoon, even that much would be enough to create a major change. The Gigantomachia that would come someday was something to look forward to.

[The Queen left a message for you.]

"The Queen?"

[That's right. I'll recite it for you.]

The Judge delivered Persephone's words in a solemn voice.

[Incarnation Kim Dokja, you're accomplishing your tasks through quite interesting methods.]

"..."

[Many nebulae of the Star Stream are now watching you. And among them are quite a few who view you as ominous.]

In truth, this scenario had drawn a bit too much attention from the constellations.

[It would be wise to prepare yourself.]

Hearing this made me feel a little uneasy. Could it be that Hades and Persephone's absence was because of me? The reactions from other Great Constellations had noticeably decreased lately, too. Especially Uriel, and also... Uriel. By the way, Uriel was also part of the Eden nebula.

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband is disappointed in you.]

[The constellation Secretive Plotter is comforting Prisoner of the Golden Headband.]

Those guys were still around.

[Well then, take care.]

I nodded. Well, worrying about it now wouldn't do any good anyway. What mattered was not messing up the story I'd carefully built up until now. Even if the nebulae looked at me unfavorably, it wasn't like everyone felt that way, just as Persephone said.

After a tremendous whirlwind swept through, my vision gradually cleared. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the living world.

"Dokja-ssi."

A voice tinged with strange tension. I forced myself to slap my cheeks to regain my senses. Soon, Hyeonseong's worried face came into view.

"...What's wrong?"

People around us were buzzing with conversation. Jihye and a few other companions were mixed in among the crowd, and they were all gathered in a circle around one spot. A small whirlpool was twisting and disappearing in the air.

A portal.

The passage that my other companions and I had entered through. Why was that thing open? Don't tell me the scenario had ended?

"An additional person came through the Korean portal."

An additional person? At this point?

"I'm not too sure either, but..."

The additional deployment was coming quite late. Normally, the second and third waves would begin less than a week after the first deployment, but this time, reinforcements had been delayed until the scenario ended. It was vastly different from Japan, where the third and even fourth waves had been deployed in rapid succession.

Hyeonseong and I pushed through the crowd and approached where the portal had appeared.

"Old man, over here!"

Following Jihye's voice, I saw a man who had apparently just emerged from the portal. His entire body was covered in burns, charred like a lump of coal.

"Urgh..."

The man was someone I knew. I asked in surprise.

"Minseop-ssi? What on earth is...?"

Jeong Minseop. He was one of the very few Renouncers who had taken my side when I fought against the Prophets. After the War of Kings ended, I hadn't seen his face for a while and thought he must have died, so why was he in a place like this...?

Lee Seolhwa, who appeared belatedly, began treating him after checking his pulse. But it was already too late. At his last moment, when our eyes met, Minseop muttered toward me.

"You shouldn't... come back..."

Those were Minseop's last words.

[You have protected the peace of Peace Land.]

Enormous letters were glowing like cubes in the air. The sky was still in a festive mood, but my companions' expressions weren't. Jihye spoke in a confused voice.

"...What the hell is going on?"

It wasn't strange for additional personnel to be dispatched since the scenario hadn't completely ended yet. But for that additional person to appear already critically injured from the start...

"Did something like this happen in Japan, too?"

At Hyeonseong's question, Asuka Ren shook her head.

"Could it be that they were attacked by something while crossing through the portal...?"

"Wouldn't that possibility be slim?"

Of course, sometimes dimensional species did live inside portals. But not in the early scenarios. Jihye then offered her opinion.

"Then aren't the remaining people fighting each other?"

It seemed unlikely, but that was still the most realistic guess. Asuka Ren also nodded and added.

"You said there was no 'Absolute Throne' in Korea, right?"

"That’s right."

"Then it's not an impossible scenario."

Although Japan had now ended up in the same situation, in countries where absolute authority like the 'Absolute Throne' wasn't guaranteed, the dominant group would change fairly often. There had been several instances of this in the TWSA I knew as well.

However, it was a bit unexpected this time. We were still in the early stages of the scenario, and even if the marginalized banded together, they were ultimately still marginalized forces. Plus, I'd left countermeasures in place in Seoul. Yu Sangah and Jeong Huiwon, and on top of that, my mother, the King of Wanderers.

Unless forces capable of overwhelming them had been assembled, a new dominant group emerging was impossible. My companions' eyes grew anxious.

"Surely... it can't be, right?"

None of the scheduled reinforcements had arrived; only Minseop had come here on the verge of death. And that message telling me not to come back. There were a few things I could guess based on the timing, but...

"We won't know for sure unless we go see."

Before I knew it, Junghyeok had appeared right beside me. I nodded as well.

"You're right. Let's go back and check it out."

It was then that the scenario message arrived.

[Additional rewards for the main contributors have arrived.]

[Main contributors: Kim Dokja, Yu Junghyeok]

The additional rewards for the Main Scenario had finally arrived.

[Would you like to check the reward details?]

I nodded.

+

<Reward List>

1. Moon Wave Folded Fan (SSS-grade)

2. Blue Dragon Sword (SSS-grade)

3. Magic King's Bracelet (SS-grade)

4. Choice of one A-grade skill

+

A total of four items on the list. As expected, since the scenario difficulty was high, the reward list was substantial.

First, treasured items like the 'Moon Wave Folded Fan' or 'Blue Dragon Sword' were items that would show power comparable to constellation artifacts if you steadily worked on strengthening them. There'd be no loss in having them. And the 'Magic King's Bracelet'. This was a good item that could defend against beginner to intermediate magic from magic returnees. But for me, having obtained the 'Grass-Cutting Sword' in this scenario, the first two items didn't hold much merit, and while the Magic King's Bracelet was tempting, unless I was going to encounter magic returnees for a while, its utility value was low.

So the answer had been decided from the start.

"I'll choose number 4."

A list of skills appeared before my eyes. Perhaps because the grade had gone up from the previous reward skill list, what mainly appeared were Murim-line skills.

+

All Returns to One Technique

Small Yang Sword

Taichi Blurred Palm

...

+

I could see Shaolin's ultimate techniques and Kongtong martial arts, and there were even famous Mount Hwa Sect techniques like the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique. Each one was a tempting skill, but since I could only choose one, I had to be careful.

As I mentioned before, regardless of skill grade, some have abnormally high acquisition difficulty. Martial Art skills could be obtained someday, but there were skills I'd never get again if I missed this selection. For instance, a limited edition 'A-grade skill' that could only be obtained here in 'Peace Land'.

"I'll select the A-grade skill Miniaturization."

At my choice, Jihye, who had been watching with sparkling eyes, shrieked.

"Old man, are you crazy?"

"Why."

"No, why would you choose something like that! I'm already stressed to death from being small... You should've just chosen the Blue Dragon Sword and given it to me!"

Hyeonseong also looked surprised. The kids were too busy bickering among themselves to care. The small people looked strangely moved. They probably believed I'd chosen this skill to remember them.

[Alright, now that you've received your rewards, it's time to head back. You must have grown quite attached during this time, so say your farewells.]

With the dokkaebi's announcement, an enormous portal appeared in the air. The small people, led by Gillemium, gathered around us in a cluster.

"Travel safely!"

"Thank you. We'll be sure to remember you."

"See you next time, Dokja-ssi!"

The small people sang a farewell song to us as we departed. Asuka Ren's eyes reddened. Starting with Michio Shoji, who waved his hand broadly, the Japanese group disappeared into the portal one by one. Our group was the last. The small people's song continued.

The more I listened, the more I felt like I could understand the lyrics.

The hero who saved Peace Land

His name

Not Tokuza nor Togeza

But Dokja

Oh, Dokja

...Damn it, what kind of lyrics were those?

[The beings of Peace Land are singing your legend.]

[This achievement can be viewed after ascending to constellation status.]

On top of the inner castle's bell tower was the figure of Kyrios, who had taught me martial arts. I'd thought he'd rush over and shower me with all sorts of threats as soon as the scenario ended, but he only quietly watched.

"I think he's grateful to you."

"What?"

"Just, that's the feeling I get. I'm not really sure though."

Asuka Ren said with a smile. Even if she'd lost her creator's qualification, perhaps an author was still a reader after all.

"Stay alive and let's meet again, everyone from Korea."

Asuka Ren bowed deeply and disappeared beyond the portal. We then entered the portal as well. My vision swayed once more, and when I came to my senses, my feet were touching the ground. Maybe because I'd experienced this once before, the dizziness wasn't severe.

[The Main Scenario has ended.]

A view of Seoul after such a long time. Looking around, the only person who'd come with me was Junghyeok. Even though we'd entered the same portal, the exits seemed to be different. That aside, why did I have to end up with this guy of all people...

"Get out of the way."

At Junghyeok's words, the floor I was standing on exploded. Magic bullets flew in from all directions and tore apart the spot where we'd been standing.

"It's the Supreme King!"

"Don't panic! Fire!"

"Those guys aren't on the same side anyway! Leave the Supreme King alone and aim for the King of No Killing!"

Crash! Craaaaash!

In a way, it was an ambush I'd been expecting. Through the hazy cloud of dust, dozens of people were swarming in. At a glance, they had quite substantial equipment and Patron backing. Could these be incarnations belonging to other 'nebulae' Persephone mentioned?

"He can't kill people! The King of No Killing has a penalty! So don't hesitate and take him down!"

"There's a possibility he'll collect points and revive. So don't miss the moment he regenerates and kill him!"

...When did information like that leak out? To think they even knew about the 'King of No Killing'. A moment later, what seemed to be the leader shouted from within the dust.

"Kim Dokja! Slowly put down your weapon and come over here!"

I obediently did as I was told. Looking closer, I could clearly see how these guys were armed. Their equipment was all around A-grade, and each individual's overall stats were exceptionally outstanding. Forces that wouldn't lose to the Wanderers group my mother had led.

Where the hell did these bastards come from?

The guy who seemed to be their leader was grinning at me like it was all over.

I smiled back and asked.

"Where did you get information about me?"

"What good will knowing that do?"

"There's one thing that's wrong, so I wanted to let you know."

"What?"

[Blade of Faith has been activated!]

Shiiiing!

The 'Blade of Faith' I drew in an instant sliced through the man and the forces around him in one stroke.

Footnotes:

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