WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 139: Episode 27 — Something That Cannot Be Read (1)

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The mental attack ricocheted off [The Fourth Wall]'s repulsive force, and Nirvana, badly slashed by the [White Pure Star Energy] that followed, looked genuinely shocked.

"...What on earth did you do?"

"I didn't do anything special. It's just the power of a story."

"What?"

I didn't particularly believe in the Salvation Sect's doctrine, but there was one part of it I agreed with.

"You said it yourself. Strength and weakness are determined by story."

Just as a warrior who had steadily trained for decades would still be nothing but prey for a mage if they had never learned magic-defense skills, in the end, strength and weakness were decided by the history of life that person had built up.

"It's your fault for not raising any close-combat skills in this life. This is what happens when you only aim for Yu Junghyeok's weak points."

Even I hadn't expected things to play out like this.

Something had affected Nirvana's growth process, and the Nirvana of this round had become Yu Junghyeok's counter. But because Nirvana had become Yu Junghyeok's counter, they were at a matchup disadvantage against me.

Nirvana's gaze wavered, as if they had picked up on something in my tone.

They stared at me for a moment, then said, "I know your name. Kim Dokja."

"Starting with introductions, are we? Fine. Nirvana Moebius. Looks like you're finally in the mood to talk."

The light went out in the mandala hanging in the air. A Reincarnator was not called that for nothing. It was as if a different self had switched on. The excited Nirvana vanished, and before I knew it, the composed Nirvana was standing in front of me.

"A few nebulae warned me about you. Told me to be careful. I didn't expect you to appear at this timing, though."

A few "nebulae," huh. So I really had been drawing attention.

"How did you get such a powerful mental barrier? Until now, Anna Croft was the only one my ideology failed to infect."

I gave a bitter smile at the familiar name. So that woman had already reached even a Reincarnator. It wasn't strange. If it was Anna Croft, she had probably already begun approaching the world's strong through a communication avatar.

If it meant saving the world, that woman would even sell her soul to a demon.

Maybe Nirvana read something in my expression, because they asked, "You... know the Prophet. What exactly are you? Don't tell me you're a regressor too. Or..."

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire is interested in the story.]

[The constellation Secretive Plotter quietly observes the situation.]

By now, the information filter should have started loosening little by little.

Information about regressors and Reincarnators would start reaching the constellations' ears too. The higher-ups among the great nebulae probably already knew.

"What an interesting mortal. To make someone like me, who has lived for hundreds of years, curious..."

"You talk too much. That's why you won't be getting Yu Junghyeok in the future either."

"Hahahahat! If it's you, I'd gladly accept you into the Salvation Sect."

"I might've gladly accepted a moment ago, but..."

[A constellation reciting sutras amid ascetic practice expresses curiosity about you.]

I read the message floating in the air and went on.

"I'll pass for now. One of the beings sponsoring me absolutely loathes your patron constellation."

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband reveals hostility toward the patron constellation of Nirvana Moebius.]

Nirvana's mouth parted slightly.

"The Monkey King? Why is he following you around?"

"How should I know?"

"You've made me even more curious. Come under me. Yu Junghyeok too, of course."

"I said no."

"Aren't you curious about the secret of this world? I can help you survive even after the end of this world. Entirely unrelated to whether the Scenarios fail."

It was a tempting offer.

If I hadn't been a reader, I might have accepted long ago.

"I'll even permit you to become 'one' with me!"

Behind Nirvana, the mandala began glowing brightly once more.

Hundreds of faces stood out in raised relief across the enormous, slowly rotating mandala. Soon those faces started screaming in resentment. They were all humans who had become "one" with Nirvana.

"Shut up and come at me, you perverted bastard."

"If you won't comply, then I'll have no choice but to take you by force."

Even in an unfavorable situation, Nirvana's expression was still full of ease. They were a Reincarnator, after all. Having lived repeated lives, they had far better combat instincts than I did.

The longer this went on, the more they would start reading my movements, and the fight would turn against me.

In that case, the answer was to end it before that happened.

Whoooosh!

The mandala wrapped in white aura plunged toward my chest. Without hesitating, I threw myself into that incoming blow.

[Exclusive Skill, Miniaturization Lv.1, has activated!]

[Your body shrinks due to the effect of Miniaturization.]

My body rapidly shrank, and the strike went harmlessly wide. Nirvana smiled.

"...Even tricks like this?"

Was it really just a trick?

[All your equipment transforms to fit your size due to the effect of Miniaturization.]

[Due to the low skill level, the duration is short.]

[Miniaturization's possible duration is 2 minutes.]

The reason I had ignored all those better skills and deliberately chosen [Miniaturization] was simple. Only [Miniaturization] could turn me into the strongest being I knew.

"I'll choose Bookmark Number 5, Kyrios Lordgrime."

[Your physical composition has been confirmed to be similar to the character.]

[The character's level is too high to fully reproduce the skill level.]

[The level of the activated skill is being forcibly adjusted.]

A surging blue-white current settled into my heart. Power that could split the sky and wrench forth thunder. Nirvana's face went pale before that overwhelming lightning.

"Still looks like a trick to you?"

No matter how strong Nirvana was, surpassing Kyrios's power at this point was impossible.

[Exclusive Skill, Electrification Lv.10, has activated.]

Lightning coiled around my entire body, and a cloud of thunder began to gather in my fist. If I couldn't make use of the Reincarnator, then it was better to erase them here.

I drove my fist toward Nirvana with all my strength.

"Pray that you're born human again."

The lightning blast, strong enough to vaporize the whole area, detonated against Nirvana's side.

Nirvana let out a horrific scream, and I heard the Incarnations shouting. [Miniaturization]'s level was too low to bring out the same power it had against Orochi, but even so, the skill was still the skill. Its destructive force was enormous.

When the roar died away and the dust cloud cleared, Nirvana had been flung far off, a huge hole torn through their side.

"Kueeeeegh!"

They coughed up a mouthful of blood. It definitely looked like a serious wound, but I still wasn't satisfied. Alive? After taking that hit? It didn't make sense. No matter what, not even a Reincarnator should have been able to survive that attack.

Lotus petals began growing over Nirvana's body. In that instant, I understood what had happened. ...Wait. That Stigma shouldn't be usable yet because of Plausibility.

"To waste my memories in a place like this..."

Their voice sounded like grinding teeth. When I saw the faint sparks skittering over the lotus petals, I understood how they had survived.

Fable payment.

They had borrowed power from their patron constellation by paying with the fables they had accumulated.

"...Let's meet again later."

Their body was being swallowed by a huge lotus petal. I threw myself at them.

Crackle, crunch!

My fist pierced straight through Nirvana's heart, but they were smiling.

Their face was twisted like one of Buddhism's Four Guardian Kings.

"You will pay the price for defying the present. In the most terrible way possible."

Centered on the heart I had burst, Nirvana's body began to break apart, then turned into lotus petals and scattered. I reached out toward the vanishing figure.

"Wait!"

The next moment, Nirvana disappeared, leaving behind only a severed left arm and a spray of lotus petals.

[The character Nirvana Moebius has used the Stigma Non-Possession Lv.7.]

Non-Possession. A Stigma that let one discard part of their memories and escape danger.

Nirvana had paid with the memories of past lives and slipped away from me.

"L-Leader!"

"Leader! Where did you go?!"

The panicked Salvation Sect members were falling apart. Some had already started fleeing. After watching the being they worshipped get defeated right in front of them, the shock must have been immense.

Watching the believers scatter in all directions, I finally let out a breath. Smoke rose from my body, and [Miniaturization] and [Bookmark] were both undone at the same time. My overworked muscles were hanging in tatters and screaming with pain. I hadn't killed Nirvana, but I had gained a few things.

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband cannot hide his joy at your victory.]

[10,000 coins have been sponsored.]

The new Incarnations who had witnessed my victory were looking back and forth at one another in disbelief.

"The leader of the Salvation Sect lost!"

"Who the hell is that Incarnation?"

"Wait a second, that face, that's...!"

Someone pointed at me and shouted.

"No way... the ugliest king?"

I ignored them and looked for Yu Junghyeok. In the distance, I saw Yu Junghyeok staggering to his feet after recovering from the paralysis. That sunfish bastard. Never any help when it actually mattered.

"Hey. You okay?"

Junghyeok looked at me while pressing a hand to his forehead, as if he were dizzy.

"What about the Reincarnator?"

"Got away."

"Pathetic. You let them escape?"

"Try helping first before you say that."

Junghyeok's expression turned grave.

"We need to chase them immediately. Their goal isn't clearing the Scenario."

"I know that, damn it."

"If you know, then why did you let them go? If we don't catch the Reincarnator before the tenth Scenario ends, Seoul will..."

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire has belatedly come to her senses.]

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire wants to explain why she came here.]

At Uriel's words, Junghyeok and I both looked up at the air.

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire needs your help!]

Because of the limits of indirect messages, it was impossible to grasp the exact situation, but it wasn't hard to guess what had happened. Uriel was Jeong Huiwon's patron constellation. But Uriel, who should have been with Jeong Huiwon, had come here, and contact with Huiwon had been cut off. Which meant...

"Min Jiwon-ssi. Do you happen to know where Jeong Huiwon-ssi is?"

But Min Jiwon still hadn't come to her senses.

No good.

"Junghyeok, cover me."

"What?"

I immediately closed my eyes and focused my mind. After repeating the practice of falling asleep so many times, I had gotten fairly used to it. As my body slowly seemed to sink down and darkness gathered from all sides, I slipped into a shallow sleep and immediately used [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint].

I had to find the voice. The voice looking for me.

But I heard nothing. My unease kept growing. I'd told her that if things went wrong, I should be the first person she thought of... Had something really happened after all?

"Dokja-ssi."

For the first time, someone called me. My vision twisted, and [third person observer's viewpoint] activated. In the next moment, I groaned at the sight on the screen before me.

Fwoooosh!

Pure white flames billowed across the entire screen. The Stigma of judgment, capable of melting everything, was burning through the forest of buildings.

I didn't need to ask.

This was definitely Jeong Huiwon's [hellfire inferno]. Thank god. Jeong Huiwon was still alive. But... something was strange. This wasn't Huiwon's field of view.

A moment later, I saw a lotus pattern glowing on Jeong Huiwon's forehead as she emerged within the flames.

...Damn it, Nirvana had already gotten to her.

Then again, if even Yu Junghyeok had fallen for it, it would've been stranger if Huiwon were fine. But one question remained. Then who exactly had called for me?

"Jeong Huiwon-ssi?"

It was the voice of a simple-hearted soldier. Lee Hyeongseong.

Rumbleee!

With a deafening blast, the screen shook like it was about to shatter. The surrounding Incarnations burst apart piece by piece, and everything touched by the flames burned into ash.

Judging by the location, it was somewhere I couldn't get to in time. If this kept up, the outcome was obvious. Jeong Huiwon, driven mad by [thought infection], wouldn't hesitate, and the guileless Hyeongseong would be helpless before her blade.

Damn it, what do I do?

"Kuhk!"

The darkness suddenly broke, and the entire screen shattered apart. A violent wave of nausea hit me as I opened my eyes to find Junghyeok glaring down at me.

"What exactly are you trying to do, suddenly falling asleep like that?"

Drool was running out of my mouth, and my solar plexus hurt like hell.

Did this bastard just hit me awake?

...Wait. Hit me?

A realization flashed through my mind.

Right. That's it. I hated it, but if I wanted to save those two, there was only one way. I urged Junghyeok on.

"Hey, hit me again. As hard as you can."

"...What?"

Maybe that could be misunderstood. Then I had to make it crystal clear.

"No. Kill me right now."

Footnotes:

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