WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: ChaoticRain

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◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 144: Episode 28 — The Strongest Sacrificial Lamb (2)

The monsters were surging in from the outskirts of Seoul. There was likely a gate forming in that direction, and every four hours, the monsters' grades would sharply increase.

In other words, I had at most eight hours.

Within that time, I had to lure Nirvana and make him confront Junghyeok.

"I think I have a plan."

Leaving the group behind, I called Bihyeong through dokkaebi communication. However, the voice that responded was Yeonggi's.

—I apologize, Bihyeong-nim is currently quite busy at the moment...

That bastard Bihyeong. It was around promotion season, and this was how he acted?

The ungrateful fool didn't even know who was responsible for his advancement in the first place.

I was trying to help boost his performance for once, but he was kicking away his own blessings.

'The new scenario special random boxes are out, right?'

—Yes. They are.

'I'll buy ten of them.'

I thought he'd naturally say it was a great idea and sell them, but unexpectedly, Yeonggi hesitated.

—But the drop rates on the random boxes are terrible... Are you sure that's all right?

'It's fine, so just sell them.'

What was a dokkaebi worried about anyway? With such naive thinking, he wouldn't survive this cutthroat channel competition. I felt like advising him on that.

[You have purchased 10 Main Scenario #8 Special Random Boxes!]

[You have spent 30,000 coins.]

'I'll be going now.'

—Okay. May the blessing of the story be with you.

Yeonggi's voice faded, and ten sparkling boxes descended from the air. Colorful boxes emblazoned with large question marks.

Gilyeong, who was nearby, asked.

"Hyung, these are from games, right? When you open them, you randomly get good stuff..."

Kids had the sharpest eyes for this sort of thing.

"Yeah, that's right."

Random boxes. Gambling items with abysmal odds that could yield SSS-grade weapons and SSS-grade skills. This was the scam item the dokkaebis devised to fleece blind constellations. So why did I buy them?

[The constellation Naval Warfare God is slightly disappointed in you.]

[The constellation Naval Warfare God reminds you that the foundation of a general lies in integrity.]

[The constellation Bald Army General advises caution against extravagance.]

[The constellation Lady of the Sleeping Brocade tells you that if you have coins to waste on such things, you should donate them to her incarnation instead.]

At the Lady of the Sleeping Brocade's message, Jiwon's face turned bright red.

"I'm sorry. My patron is a bit..."

"It's fine. Honestly, it's not the most cost-effective purchase anyway. More importantly, gather around everyone. To lighten the mood a bit, I'll give you each one."

"You're giving them to us? For free?"

"Yes. However, please keep only the main items that come out when you open the boxes, and if there are any consumable support items, I'd appreciate it if you gave those to me."

Originally, I'd thought about selling them for coins, but the people gathered here had built a fair amount of rapport with me. If they became stronger, it would be helpful to me as well. So it wasn't a deal where I'd only lose out.

At the word 'free', Jihye's face lit up as she snatched up a box first.

"Wow, what's the occasion for the penny-pincher old man? I'll use it well, old man!"

Following her, Pildu and Gilyeong each took a box.

"Hyung, what if I get an SSS-grade?"

"The odds are less than 0.00001 percent, so it'll be tough."

"...Really?"

"It's all marketing tactics. Just think of it as getting fooled for today and open it."

Junghyeok stared at me intently before speaking.

"Kim Dokja, you're not thinking of using items from there to face Nirvana or anything like that, are you?"

"Well, something like that. Why?"

"What a pathetic plan."

And here he was taking a box for himself. This bastard, really...

The last one to receive a box was Yuseong.

"I'll give you two."

Yuseong's eyes widened in surprise.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

The hesitant Yuseong took the boxes. Something seemed off about the child's expression, so I looked closer and saw tears welling up.

"Do I really deserve to receive two..."

Only then did I recall young Yuseong's past. This was probably the first 'gift' Yuseong had ever received in her life. This damned TWSA had quite a few characters with such convenient settings for the sake of plot development.

And the story's convenience became someone's real misfortune.

I placed the boxes in Yuseong's hands as she wiped her eyes.

"You're my incarnation. You deserve it enough."

Watching Yuseong's face flush red with genuine delight, I regretted not taking better care of the child sooner.

Because I, as her patron, hadn't yet gained the qualifications of a 'constellation', Yuseong didn't even have a stigma.

Was taking her in the right choice?

Would this child become unhappier because of me? For now, I couldn't know. However, I would do my utmost to protect her.

"Well then, everyone, try opening them. Think of it as a mood lifter."

At my words, everyone nodded and began opening their boxes.

[You have used Main Scenario #8 Special Random Box!]

[You have obtained 2 Ellain Forest Essence!]

[You have obtained 1 Decent Enough Boots (E)!]

[You have obtained miscellaneous consumables.]

Of course. All that came out were consumables and E-grade items.

The situation was the same for the other party members.

Naturally, I’d expected it. Random boxes were always like that...

[Congratulations! Someone has broken through the 0.00001% probability!]

A grand congratulatory sound rang out alongside fireworks bursting in the air. Turning my head, I saw Yuseong with a bewildered expression. ...No way? Really?

"Ah, ahjussi?"

A small fruit floated above Yuseong's hands, scattering brilliant light. Moving closer to confirm, the item's identity became clear.

My goodness, to obtain this.

Just how lucky was my incarnation?

Even Junghyeok, who had been observing the situation, seemed slightly surprised.

"You got something good."

An SSS-grade item, [Ancient Beast's Fruit].

Even among SSS-grades that appeared with a 0.00001 percent probability, this 'Ancient Beast's Fruit' had the most abysmal drop rate. Though it was a consumable item, depending on how it was used, its value could exceed SSS-grade.

"If you feed this fruit to a monster you can't tame, you'll be able to tame it easily. Congratulations. Save it and use it wisely, okay?"

There was no better item than this for Yuseong, who could use [Taming]. If she used this on a monster that could evolve to Tier-1 or higher, this round's Yuseong might grow beyond the 41st round. Yuseong, who had been alternating glances between the fruit and me with sparkling eyes, asked.

"Ahjussi, but can this... only be used on monsters?"

"Probably. Why do you ask?"

"It's nothing."

Yuseong looked at me, grinned bashfully, and avoided my eyes. Gilyeong, who had been eyeing it from the side, rushed over.

"Hey, can't you give that to me? I'll give you my Titano."

"I don't like bugs."

"Ahjussi, but why did you do this? Was it really just to lighten the mood?"

"Of course not. Hand over the consumables that came out of the boxes."

What I'd wanted to obtain from the start wasn’t the boxes' main items, but the consumable support items.

[You have obtained 4 Megaphone (Dome Channel)!]

[You have obtained 4 Megaphone (General Channel)!]

[You have obtained 2 Megaphone (Regional Exclusive)!]

Only then did Junghyeok's eyes narrow.

"I see what you're trying to do."

Megaphones. Useful consumables that could send messages to specific channels or entire areas, depending on the option.

"But there's no way that guy will come out just because of a few words..."

"What matters is what you say."

I used a 'Megaphone'. Should I start like this?

I began the story with an opening that would catch Nirvana's attention.

At that moment, Nirvana was at the Salvation Sect's temporary quarters. Nirvana sat quietly with closed eyes, while a statue of the Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva[1] gazed down with an expressionless stare.

"Do not cling to the past, nor resent the future."

"The past has already vanished, and the future has not yet come."

What Nirvana recited were certainly verses containing such meanings, but the teachings didn't spread through sound. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Sharp sparks flew across his entire body, his pupils rolled back white, and a message was heard.

[You have inherited a new skill!]

Nirvana opened his eyes.

"...I pushed myself too hard."

His stigma [Pratityasamutpada] consumed considerable plausibility when used. Because of that, unless he contributed the 'fables' accumulated through reincarnation to the constellations and received plausibility in return, [Pratityasamutpada] couldn't be used.

'Too many fables were taken.'

The vanished past was regrettable, but Nirvana quickly regained composure. To live in the present, there were things that had to be emptied.

Having gathered his energy, Nirvana moved deeper into the sect's quarters. After descending underground for some time and passing through a corridor, he opened a door to reveal a dimly lit room.

A room furnished with an antique-style table and a double-sized bed. Despite being in a dank underground space, it was decorated with a calm atmosphere, clearly showing care had been taken.

"I kept you waiting. Shall we begin again today?"

At the room's table sat two women with quite an age gap between them.

They were Sukyeong, the vanished 'King of Wanderers', and Sangah. Sukyeong glanced at Sangah, who sat beside her with vacant eyes staring into space, and asked.

"When will you release the skill you've placed on this child?"

[Thought Infection]. Even though several weeks had passed, Sangah was still resisting. Nirvana smiled faintly.

"I'm not the one who releases it. She has to release it herself."

From Nirvana's perspective, it was interesting.

"How foolish. All she needs to do is declare 'I will live in the present', yet she resists to this extent."

"When you live a short life, the value of the past is different."

"Because you live a short life, you should place greater value on the present. A foolish being who hasn’t received the blessing of death yet doesn't know its value."

"Don't arbitrarily judge others' 'present'. This child is living plenty in the 'present'. Rather, the one who doesn't know the 'present' is you, who repeatedly lives through the time of reincarnation."

"Don't forget. I'm keeping you alive only as long as your 'story' has value."

Even with that threat, Sukyeong's expression remained relaxed. Nirvana slowly approached and pulled out a chair at the table to sit down.

"There's information I must find out today."

"What do you want to know?"

Sukyeong smiled like Scheherazade from 'One Thousand and One Nights'. Displeased with her smile, Nirvana spoke coldly.

"The incarnation called 'Kim Dokja'."

"I don't know that incarnation."

"Playing dumb won't work. I already know he's your son. The 'neutral' one told me."

"That child and I separated when he was young. I have no idea what kind of life he's lived."

"I'll know once I look inside."

Behind Nirvana, a radiant dharma wheel began spinning round and round. From within the wheel, the hands of the Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara extended outward. The enormous hand covered Sukyeong's head precisely. Sukyeong glared at the hand as if it disgusted her.

"Open your memories. If you don't, the woman beside you will die."

"Childish threats."

"You've succumbed to these childish threats all this time. That's what humans are."

Sukyeong quietly gazed at Sangah's vacant-eyed face before speaking, her words like a sigh.

"...Do as you please."

[The exclusive skill Pratityasamutpada Lv.6 has been activated!]

The fingers of the Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara dug into Sukyeong's head. Sukyeong's story flowed out and began entangling with Nirvana's story. The sensation of becoming 'one'. Nirvana trembled at that sensation. Taking a full bite of the story's fragments, slowly and carefully chewing and swallowing them, he was truly savoring the story and approaching the providence of the Star Stream.

"Remarkable. How does a mere human possess filtered information about the future?"

Sukyeong desperately tried to protect her memories, but the fragmentary knowledge of the future she had heard from Dokja couldn't resist the flow of Pratityasamutpada and was being sucked into Nirvana.

"Fascinating. So this is 'Kim Dokja's' essence."

"..."

"What a pitiful mother. You lied to your child. Sacrificing your child's life through your own arbitrary decision."

Cold anger surfaced on Sukyeong's face.

"You won't be able to defeat that child."

"I acknowledge he's an interesting incarnation."

An incarnation who forced him to use [Pratityasamutpada] excessively. But just a human. That was all. It was then that a message echoed loudly through the air.

—I challenge the Salvation Leader 'Nirvana Moebius' to a duel.

Surprised, Nirvana looked up into the air.

Dokja's megaphone. As if she'd been waiting, Sukyeong spoke.

"That child is strong and wise. He knows what he needs and knows what he does best."

—The duel location is Gwanghwamun at 2 PM today. The duelist is Supreme King Yu Junghyeok. The two people closest to being the strongest will fight, and by determining the strongest, we will protect Seoul Dome. If you're truly living in the 'present', don't avoid this duel.

Using 'present' as an excuse, no less. If he was truly the 'Salvation Leader', it was a duel he couldn't avoid. Moreover, the cleverness of using the general megaphone was impressive. If he avoided this duel, he would receive condemnation not only from all of Seoul Dome's incarnations but also from fellow Salvation Sect members.

But going when he clearly knew it was a trap would be foolish. Nirvana smiled.

"The provocation is decent. But what to do about this? My purpose isn't 'clearing the scenario' in the first place. My great..."

—Of course, accepting this duel wouldn't be part of your 'great plan'. However.

At Dokja's following words, Nirvana froze like stone.

—If you come now, I'll give you the opportunity to become one with 'Yu Junghyeok'.

Crack! So shocked was he that Nirvana let go of the [Pratityasamutpada] thread he'd been using. Amidst anger, wonder, and an inexplicable sense of humiliation, Nirvana trembled all over and bit his lip.

Through the connected thread, Sukyeong felt Nirvana's intense impulse.

The desire to unite with a great one, the craving toward a greater story.

As if mocking that desire, Sukyeong smiled.

"I told you you'd lose."

—Very well.

Nirvana's response came back quickly.

As if they never expected it to actually work, the party members all looked dumbfounded.

I shook my head to straighten my dizzy vision and stood up.

"Dokja-ssi, how did you... No, more importantly, are you all right?"

Jiwon seemed to be glancing at the dark blue bruise forming around my left eye with concern. It was the mark from when Junghyeok hit me earlier for using his name.

I rubbed my eye socket and asked.

"Did that bastard leave already?"

I'd even briefly passed out. Damn, that ridiculously strong brute.

"He left as soon as he heard the response."

"Then let's go too."

Perhaps because everyone had gathered together for once, Gilyeong looked somewhat excited.

"Hyung, at least this time we can all fight together."

"Yeah."

But I couldn't smile. Nirvana had surely inherited a new skill and wouldn't be taken down as easily as before. Of course, Junghyeok had also prepared countermeasures again, so now the outcome of their fight couldn't be easily predicted. Honestly, I wasn't very interested in their fight.

The real problem was the message that had been ringing noisily in my head since earlier.

[You are currently Seoul Dome's strongest incarnation.]

...Now what should I do?

Footnotes:

[1] Known as Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva in Buddhism, or also referred to as the Bodhisattva of infinite compassion and mercy in Mahayana Buddhism. He is known by many names but is considered the earthly manifestation of the eternal Buddha Amitabha. Avalokiteshvara delayed his own buddhahood to help all beings achieve liberation from suffering. One story tells of how his head split and arms shattered upon having to aid so many beings, so he notably has a thousand arms and eleven heads in some depictions.

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