WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: smol_anon

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 14: Episode 3 - Contract (3)

Judging by the situation, I had a rough idea of what was happening again.

“What’s wrong? Is something not working?”

[This can’t be. There shouldn’t be a barrier capable of blocking system interference...]

It seemed the Fourth Wall didn’t just block interference from other incarnations, but even from the dokkaebis. If that were true, it meant that no one within TWSA, including me, could view my Attributes Window.

Interesting.

It was the perfect condition to become a con artist.

“If you can’t do it, just stop.”

[W-wait! I can do this. If I just... do this, and then...]

“I told you, it’s fine if you can’t.”

[Kuaaaaaaagh!]

Bihyeong screamed as if he’d been electrocuted. His fluffy white fur was now charred black.

[Th-This! This is!]

“Forget it. If you can’t do it, drop it and help me with something else.”

[No way! I’m the dokkaebi Bihyeong! If I don’t resolve this, my honor as a dokkaebi is at stake―]

I glanced at the time. It had already been an hour since I was swallowed by the Sea Commander. There was no time to waste like this.

“Open the Dokkaebi Compendium.”

Bihyeong, who had been flailing around in the air, froze.

[What did you say?]

“Open the Dokkaebi Compendium.”

[...How do you know about that?]

“Are you going to open it or not?”

[An incarnation without a patron can’t use the Dokkaebi Compendium...]

“Incarnations who use the Dokkaebi Compendium all have a patron, yes. But there’s no rule that says an incarnation without one can’t use it.”

[Hold on a second.]

Bihyeong took out a manual and checked it for a long time. After a while, he sighed.

[...At this point, I don’t know if you’re the dokkaebi or I am.]

Looking defeated, Bihyeong shook his head.

[Fine, you can use it. But according to stream regulations, the bundle can only be opened when the channel is active. Is that okay?]

“That’s fine.”

[Channel #BI-7623 has been opened.]

[The constellations are entering.]

A dazzling burst of electricity filled the air, and soon a transparent screen appeared before me.

[Welcome to the coin shop, Dokkaebi Compendium.]

Dokkaebi Compendium.

The moment the cash shop of this damned world opened.

In the world of TWSA, there were two main uses for coins.

The first was to level up comprehensive stats like constitution or strength. The second was to use them as a common currency in various shops, including the Dokkaebi Compendium.

[Buy now! Starter pack for your rookie incarnation, only 2,500 coins!]

[Special deal today! Grow 300% faster than others with the growth pack!]

[Did you accidentally choose a terrible attribute for your incarnation? Don’t worry! The Random Attribute Box is here to fix it!]

A flood of packages and coin items—all aimed at constellations trying to nurture their incarnations. It made sense since the usual customers of the Dokkaebi Compendium were the constellations.

I dismissed the popup ads one by one and thought.

Though it was nothing compared to the real disasters that appeared after the fifth main scenario, the Sea Commander-class sea serpent was still a calamity for early-stage incarnations.

To defeat the Sea Dragon, I would need a few of the items sold in the bundle. Let’s see...

After flipping through the catalog for a while, I glanced over at Bihyeong.

“Hey, are these the only items available right now? There should be a search function.”

[Oh, that’s... damn it. Just a sec. constellations, please calm down!]

Since the channel reopened, Bihyeong had been sweating profusely, repeatedly pleading.

[It was just a server error! The broadcast cut off temporarily, but I didn’t shut it down on purpose!]

Currently, there were about twenty stars twinkling above Bihyeong’s head. Judging by the fact that few had left, it seemed there were quite a few constellations who wanted to keep watching me. Of course, not all of them were friendly.

[A few constellations doubt the fairness of the stream!]

[A few constellations suspect special privileges are being granted!]

It wasn’t unexpected. After all, a Hidden Scenario had triggered during the brief broadcast interruption, and the Dokkaebi Compendium had opened, so it made sense that some constellations would be suspicious.

[What? Special privileges? Seriously, constellations, I’m a dokkaebi! You know I’d be instantly erased if I did something like that! The Storyteller’s Pledge isn’t something to be taken lightly, you know!]

“Can you help me first?”

[...The search button is in the bottom-right corner.]

“Thanks.”

Ignoring the flustered Bihyeong, I clicked the magnifying glass icon hidden at the bottom of the package window.

[Search function activated.]

[You can search for items up to 5 times a day. Each additional search will cost 100 coins.]

It seemed humans and dokkaebis alike were just as crafty when it came to business.

With five searches available, I only needed two to buy the necessary materials. That left me with three extra searches.

[The constellation Secretive Plotter is curious about your plan.]

Of course, you’d be curious. If you are, then keep watching closely.

[The constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon glares at your every move.]

If you hate it, stop watching. I spoke toward the search window.

“Search for the item ‘Ancient Dragon.’”

[Three results found.]

A small popup appeared shortly after.

+

* Heart of the Ancient Dragon – Stock: ?

* Bone of the Ancient Dragon – Stock: 1

* Horn of the Ancient Dragon – Stock: 1

+

I selected the Heart of the Ancient Dragon.

+

<Item Information>

Name: Heart of the Ancient Dragon

Rank: SSS

Description: The heart of the ancient dragon Ignitus, containing near-infinite magical power. If successfully transplanted, grants the Hellfire attribute.

Price: 1,500,000C

Stock: Just sold out.

+

As expected, it was sold out. Bihyeong, who had been bickering with the constellations, gawked at me.

[Are you insane? How do you know about the Ancient Dragon?]

“I just threw out a cool-sounding name.”

[...You’re lying.]

I shrugged. In the original TWSA, the Heart of the Ancient Dragon already had an owner. If I remembered correctly, the owner of that heart was currently in Italy. Lucky bastard. He managed to get a patron as precious as that.

I searched for a few more items.

[Related search completed.]

+

* Arch-Demon's Eyeball – Stock: 0

* White Flash Qi – Stock: 1

+

Even the Arch-Demon's Eyeball was sold out... As expected, the constellations were fast. Not that it mattered since it cost 1 million coins anyway, far more than I could afford. Sponsorship definitely had its perks. The incarnation who got the Arch-Demon's Eyeball would plow through the early scenarios, no problem.

[Who the hell are you? Are you using cheats or something? How do you know about items only accessible through the search?]

“I told you, I’m just guessing random names.”

In the end, the only item in stock from my first three searches was the White Flash Qi and at 10,000 coins, I couldn’t buy it yet. I added it to my cart for now.

[What, you’re not going to buy anything?]

“I can’t afford it right now. I was just browsing.”

[Ugh, then why’d I even open it for you?]

“I’ll buy something else instead. Pull up the items I list now.”

I called out a few more item names. Moments later, the item list appeared before me.

+

* Mucus of the Hammer Seahorse – Stock: 124

* Spiked Thorn of the Stone Hog – Stock: 17

+

I carefully cross-checked the list with what I remembered. The Hammer Seahorse, which was part of the aquatic species the dragon fed on, and its natural predator, the Stone Hog... this was the perfect combination to take down the aquatic dragon.

“Four mucuss, four thorns. That’ll be 800 coins, right?”

[That’s right... but these are just trash items. What are you going to do with them?]

“You don’t need to know.”

[...Just saying, wouldn’t it be better to buy something else? How about the Moon Shadow Sword Technique? It’s originally 8,000 coins, but I can give it to you for 4,000. It’d help you clear the scenario faster.]

“Thanks, but I’ll stick with this.”

Bihyeong didn’t look happy but processed the purchase anyway.

[You have spent 800 coins.]

Glittering powder swirled in the darkness, coalescing into four long thorns and four black pouches of mucus.

[Just so you know, no refunds. Got it?]

“I know.”

I nodded briefly and got to work. I wedged the thorns into the knots of my shirt, tying them securely, and hung the pouches at my waist.

The Stone Hog thorns were blunt at the base but sharpened at the tips, each about one meter long—just the right length for piercing something.

[Hmm... Well, I’m off. I can’t just stick around with you, you know. There are some interesting things happening elsewhere too.]

“Go ahead.”

[Hehe, well then, do your best. May the story favor you.]

Once Bihyeong, glowing brightly, disappeared, the surroundings darkened again. I could have used my phone’s light, but I wanted to conserve the battery as much as possible. Instead, the Stone Hog thorns emitted a faint blue glow. It wasn’t much, but I would have to rely on that light for now.

I pulled out one of the thorns from my waist and swung it experimentally. Perhaps it was because I didn’t have any skills like [Weapon Proficiency] or [Incarnation of All Soldiers], but the thorn didn’t feel quite right in my hand.

[A few constellations are getting bored.]

The impatient constellations were about to start leaving the channel. I couldn’t see him, but Bihyeong was probably getting nervous too.

An hour passed.

Left, right, up, down.

Though I still wasn’t completely satisfied, I had gotten used to handling the thorn. Its rough surface meant it wouldn’t slip out of my hand easily.

Time to begin.

I drove the thorn into the stomach wall of the Sea Commander.

Ping!

The thorn bounced off, as if I had struck a thick rubber wall. As expected, the stomach lining wasn’t something my strength level could tear through. Even with a skill, the result would have been the same.

That was when several small holes at the top of the stomach opened at once. A disgusting liquid gushed out with a squelching sound.

“Ugh!”

One of the corpses floating in the stomach began to scream as the acid started burning its skin. The dragon’s digestive process had begun. The acid, dissolved in the river water, started corroding the concrete and debris I was standing on.

Sizzle, sizzle!

...There was no more time. It was time to move according to plan.

I leapt from the debris and grabbed onto a protrusion from the stomach wall. Just like rock climbing, I began making my way up the wall, one handhold at a time. The acid discharge vents were right above me. I clenched the thorn in my mouth and untied one of the mucus pouches from my waist.

Mucus of the Hammer Seahorse.

I scooped up some of the bluish-black liquid and carefully applied it to the tip of the thorn. Just like applying shaving cream before using a razor. If shaving cream protects your skin from the blade, then this mucus would protect the thorn from the acid.

Here we go.

I swung the thorn toward the acid discharge vent. The angle was perfect, and I put all my strength into it.

Splat!

Acid splashed up, burning the skin on my arm. The pain was excruciating, but I couldn’t stop. A single mistake here would mean the end.

[The exclusive skill Fourth Wall partially mitigates the pain.]

Gurgle, gurgle, sizzle...

Finally, the thorn securely blocked the acid vent.

“One down.”

After catching my breath, I pulled out another thorn and, just like before, covered it in mucus before plugging another vent.

[A few constellations are impressed by your composure.]

[You have been gifted 200 coins by the constellations.]

I continued, methodically blocking three more vents. There were still a few smaller ones left, but they were too small to release much acid. After a moment to catch my breath, I untied my shirt and wrapped it tightly around the ends of the thorns lodged in the vents.

Now I had one thorn and two pouches of mucus left. I smeared the remaining mucus on my skin and clothes, then swallowed what was left.

“Ugh.”

The salty, fishy taste lingered on my tongue, but it was better than dying. Compared to the catastrophe that was about to happen, this bitterness was nothing.

About five minutes later, the entire stomach began to shake violently.

Kreeeee!

The Sea Commander’s agonized scream echoed. Blood vessels bulged between the stomach walls. Just as I predicted. The thorns were beginning to grow, forcing their way through the gaps in the blood vessels. I recalled what I knew from TWSA.

「The thorns of the Stone Hog react to aquatic species’ bodily fluids and grow.」

Crunch, crack!

Having been coated with mucus, the thorns were now immune to the acid. They began absorbing the surrounding fluids and burrowing deeper into the aquatic dragon’s body. They wouldn’t stop growing until the dragon was completely dead.

Kreeeeee!

I looked down at the swirling acid beneath me and gripped the thorn tightly. I had done all I could. From here on out, it was a battle of endurance.

Either I would die, or this thing would.

Only one of us would survive.

Footnotes:

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