WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: ChaoticRain

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◈ Omniscient Dokja’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 149: Episode 29 — Constellation Banquet (2)

My choice would determine the fate of the nebulae on the Korean Peninsula. At first glance, it seemed like I was in a superior position, but in truth, this wasn't exactly a comfortable seat of power.

[The constellations are engaged in a battle of nerves over the legitimacy of their myths.]

Even though it appeared I held the power of choice for now, the real problem would come after I made my decision. The Fable of Resurrection was a sensitive tale among the nebulae, plagued by issues of plagiarism. The rivalry between Eden and Vedas was particularly fierce, and once I chose one side, I might end up making complete enemies of the other.

I was still nothing more than a newbie who hadn't even become a constellation yet. On the other hand, if I rejected all of them, I might earn the resentment of everyone.

[Multiple constellations desire your swift decision.]

I was already dreading the criticism I'd face from my companions after being resurrected, and if I wasn't careful, I could become public enemy number one among the constellations as well.

[The constellation Queen of the Darkest Spring is mediating the constellations' conflict.]

[The constellation Queen of the Darkest Spring emphasizes that what matters is the incarnation's own choice.]

Unexpectedly, Persephone took my side. But why was this woman helping me?

[Some constellations are displeased with the Queen of the Darkest Spring's intervention.]

[A few constellations are asking the Queen of the Darkest Spring for a solution.]

...

[The constellation Queen of the Darkest Spring suggests inviting the incarnation Kim Dokja to the banquet.]

A banquet?

[The nebula Eden agrees to the Queen of the Darkest Spring's proposal.]

[The nebula Vedas agrees to the Queen of the Darkest Spring's proposal.]

...

[Multiple constellations agree to the Queen of the Darkest Spring's proposal.]

Somehow, it felt like my existence had been sold off cheaply, regardless of my own will. I was savoring this rather hollow feeling when the dokkaebi's spiritual form suddenly rushed in.

[Huff, huff. Dokja-nim.]

Due to how urgently he'd arrived, Yeonggi was dripping sweat in midair.

[Huff, huff, Dokja-nim. There's somewhere you need to go.]

"Where?"

[Ah, going there will probably help you. I'll prepare things right away!]

I had a pretty good idea where he meant. Seeing how tense he was, the constellations must have been putting considerable pressure on him. A moment later, feeling like floating into the void, my body began to take shape.

It wasn't a resurrection exactly, more like my spiritual form gaining substance. Though I was in the state of a floating spirit, a temporary shape had been molded.

[Um. Well, since it's an important occasion...]

A shirt and suit jacket with a warm texture appeared over my spiritual body, wrapping around me smoothly. The fabric felt as if it had been born specifically for me.

[Stories from the distant night sky are twinkling.]

[The Constellation Banquet is currently being held.]

[The constellation Queen of the Darkest Spring has invited you as her partner to the Constellation Banquet.]

The Constellation Banquet. Along with the Patron Selection, this was an event prepared for the constellations of the Star Stream. I'd been invited to a banquet that only constellations could attend, even though I hadn't yet ascended to constellation status. I checked the time remaining until my resurrection.

[Remaining waiting time: 23:54:12]

Twenty-three hours. If I were just going for a quick visit, there was plenty of time. The timing was a bit early, but this was definitely a place I'd have to visit eventually.

"Alright, let's go."

The time to meet the constellations had come.

[The one who invited you will send an envoy shortly.]

"Got it."

[I wish you a successful debut!]

Yeonggi clenched his fists with determined eyes, then disappeared from sight. I glanced around and saw the area was completely covered in pure white clouds.

I realized this path was one of the tributaries connecting the Star Stream, the Cloud Path.

Countless dokkaebis traveled along this road, moving between dimensions.

[You have temporarily departed from the main scenario area.]

[You must return to the scenario within 24 hours in Earth time.]

[If you do not return in time, you will be dealt with according to scenario regulations.]

Dealt with. Just like when I went to the underworld before, the system sometimes chose unsettling ways to phrase things.

[The hidden scenario Constellation Banquet begins!]

+

<Hidden Scenario – Constellation Banquet>

Category: Hidden

Difficulty: ?

Clear conditions: Participate in the banquet and successfully complete your debut.

Time limit: 24 hours

Rewards: 100,000 coins, the favor or disdain of certain constellations

Penalty for failure: —

+

Anyway, the Star Stream had hidden scenarios tucked away in the strangest places. If you were determined enough, there were actually plenty of spots to farm coins.

I saw four horses flying in from the distant sky. The steeds gleamed with brilliant white light as if they'd swallowed stars, their golden wings beating powerfully as they trotted forward. Behind the horses was a chariot that flaunted an equally golden exterior.

The surface of the chariot was carved with the symbol of the sun. Wait a minute. Could this be the Chariot of the Sun[1]? If so, then the being inside this chariot would be...

[Yo, get in.]

I jumped at the blunt divine words that rang out without any preamble. The being inside the chariot added casually.

[Hey, hey, it's fine. From here on, we're in the Symbolic Realm, so the restrictions on divine speech are weaker. Don't be scared, just get in quickly. I won't eat you!]

I tensed up and opened the chariot's curtain. If this really was the Chariot of the Sun, then its owner was probably Helios, the god of the sun. Huh?

"You are..."

I looked at the chariot's occupant with puzzled eyes. To be precise, what was inside wasn't an occupant at all. Only a wine glass filled with delicious-looking red wine was floating inside the chariot.

I was wondering what kind of situation this was when the wine glass spoke.

[What, you don't recognize me?]

[The constellation God of Wine and Ecstasy is disappointed in you.]

I asked in surprise.

"Dionysus?"

Tssssst! Dazzling sparks flew, and the wine glass let out a cry of pleasure.

[Hey, you're not supposed to call out someone's true name like that. Though it feels tingly and good.]

"Why do you look like that?"

[Plausibility, what else. If I want to save on costs, this symbolic form works best. As you know, the great Star Stream is pretty strict about these things.]

Frankly, from my perspective, it was better that he wasn't in his true form. Even with the Fourth Wall, I still wasn't confident I could stay sane after seeing a constellation's true body.

As soon as I took my seat, the chariot departed.

I had no idea why Dionysus was driving the Chariot of the Sun that belonged to the titan Helios, but it seemed there were circumstances involved.

[This is your first time actually seeing me, right? Nice to meet you, I'm the God of Wine and Ecstasy. In your country, I'm famous as the name of an energy drink.[2]]

"Pleased to meet you too."

We exchanged awkward greetings and sat on opposite corners of the chariot. Unlike his usual playful demeanor, Dionysus was surprisingly quiet.

Was he shy? That was unexpected. Then again, myths weren't always accurate. More than that, I was extremely bothered by that wine sloshing around in the glass every time the chariot jolted. It wasn't going to spill on me, was it? That liquid had to be some kind of symbol too, but what part of Dionysus did it represent?

As I was having these useless thoughts, Dionysus spoke.

[Ah, sorry. I was just chatting with a goddess I know for a bit.]

"Are you very busy?"

[Not really, but things are going well lately, so I have to manage it.]

I couldn't tell if he was joking or serious.

[But you're calmer than I expected. I'm still a constellation, after all.]

"This isn't my first time seeing a constellation."

[Ah, right. I sent you to the underworld last time, didn't I?]

"I was grateful for that."

[Grateful for what. What did you do in the underworld anyway?]

"Pardon?"

[It was my first time seeing that haughty queen be so kind. She even tried to protect an incarnation against the nebulae. Huh? So it's that, isn't it? You and that woman...]

His voice sounded envious. Dionysus didn't seem to know that I'd completed Persephone's labor.

"It's not like that."

[Playing innocent, are we? That woman's incredibly sexy, isn't she? If it weren't for her husband outside, I would've already somehow...]

"Is it okay to talk like that? The Queen of the Underworld is your mother, isn't she?"[3]

[Hm? Haha. There is that theory, sure.]

"Was that theory fake then?"

[I didn't say that.]

"..."

[Why are you looking at me like that? Don't you know about Olympus? This level of taboo is nothing.]

Olympus was definitely that kind of place. A paradise for gods who thought with their lower halves. Still, this was a bit much.

[Ah, right. Since we're on the subject, perfect timing. You got my message earlier, right? Join my side. I'll specially bestow you with the Fable of the Priest of Bacchus... Why do you look so unimpressed?]

"I don't."

I hurriedly shook my head. As one of the twelve Olympians, Dionysus was a high-ranking constellation. But just the Priest of Bacchus...

[Aha, I get it. Look at this guy. You're comparing it to the fables from Eden or Vedas right now, aren't you?]

"Not particularly..."

[Man, you don't know anything! Do you know what'll happen if you get a fable like the Resurrected Messiah? You'll have to live as a virgin for life! And after you die, you'll have to serve as an attendant of the creator god!]

Dionysus shouted excitedly.

[Huh? In contrast, do you know how amazing the Priest of Bacchus is? You know my maenads, right?]

"The maenads[4] who tore apart a gay man?"

[Uh... Ahem. R-right! You can spend wild nights with them every single day. My wine comes with unlimited refills, too! And that's not all. Ever heard of the Olympian Orgy Party? You know Aphrodite, right? If you want, I can even invite her...]

[The constellation Goddess of Love and Beauty glares at the God of Wine and Ecstasy.]

[...Forget I mentioned her. Anyway, how about it?]

"I'm not interested."

The wine in Dionysus's glass sloshed uneasily.

[Come to think of it, some angel from Eden was saying you might be gay...]

"I have a pretty good idea who spread that rumor, but I like women. More importantly, I'd like to hear the real reason you came to meet me."

[Hm? What are you talking about? Obviously, to bring you to our nebula...]

"Is that really all?"

Dionysus fell silent for a moment. After swirling for a long time, the wine glass spun around once in midair.

[You're pretty sharp.]

"I get that a lot."

[Want a drink? Have some of my wine.]

"I don't really like alcohol."

[Well... Fine. You're right. My real purpose isn't to take you to Olympus.]

I knew it.

He'd been talking about goddesses and such, but nothing he said was sincere. No matter how many nebulae were paying attention to me, it was strange from the start that one of Olympus's Twelve Olympians[5] would come just to recruit a single incarnation.

However, Dionysus's next words completely shattered my expectations.

[I'll be blunt. I don't want you to join Olympus.]

"Pardon?"

[More precisely...]

That was when a terrible explosion erupted. The Chariot of the Sun lurched as if it had been bombarded, and the lead horses screamed. I turned to see wine spilling from Dionysus's glass.

[Whoa, I pissed myself from shock!]

I was too afraid to ask what exactly he'd pissed. I scrambled to avoid the spilled wine in a panic.

[Damn, looks like the other nebulae are targeting you.]

I looked outside the curtain and saw entities radiating tremendous presence flying toward us from all directions. They were still too far away to tell which nebulae they belonged to, but it was clear they didn't have good intentions.

[Damn it. I borrowed this from that bastard Helios, so I can't let it get damaged... Hey, no choice. I'll let you off here, so run the rest of the way. Just follow the Cloud Path straight ahead and you'll get there quickly.]

Here? We were in midair.

[I'll hold them off, so go quickly! Once you reach the banquet hall, no nebula can touch you!]

With those words, the curtain flew wide open. Looking down at the dizzying cloud floor below, I swallowed hard. I was a spirit. So even if I fell, I wouldn't die.

I heard Dionysus's voice from behind.

[Remember this. Don't trust anyone.]

Anyone, did that mean including himself? The moment I leaped from the chariot, Dionysus grinned and spoke again.

[See you later, incarnation Kim Dokja.]

Kwaaaaang!

A tremendous explosion rang out behind me, and a chilling killing intent pressed down on my entire body. An immense force I'd never felt before. At minimum, part of a constellation's true form had descended.

Kurururung!

Sparks crashed down like thunder. Even without looking back, I knew.

A battle between constellations had definitely begun. I ran down the Cloud Path with all my might. Fragments flew past overhead, and the sounds of the ground cracking and tearing rang out continuously. I didn't look back.

After running for what felt like forever, a massive citadel came into view, and the noise behind me subsided. I reached the entrance to the citadel.

"I'm here to attend the banquet."

The gatekeeper looked me up and down. He seemed to be a low-grade dokkaebi dispatched by the Bureau.

"What? I didn't hear anything about an incarnation coming alone."

Damn it, getting off the Chariot of the Sun seemed to have been a mistake. That was probably my free pass. Just then, a door inside the citadel opened, and an unexpected savior appeared.

[Let him in. He's with me.]

It wasn't Persephone. The constellation I'd wanted to see for so long was waiting there for me.

Footnotes:

[1] The Chariot of the Sun was driven daily by Helios, whose name literally means Sun in ancient Greek. He rode it across the sky from the east to the west to bring light to the world, but Phaethon, his mortal son who wanted proof of who his father was, begged him to let him drive the chariot for a day as a favor. Despite the warnings, Phaethon ended up losing control, scorching the Earth, and was soon struck down by Zeus to prevent any further damage.

[2] Bacchus (also Dionysus’s Roman name) is an iconic, non-carbonated South Korean energy drink (100ml) manufactured by Dong-A Pharmaceutical since 1963, featuring a sweet, tangy, and citrusy taste.

[3] The mention of Persephone as Dionysus's mother refers to one of several conflicting Greek myths about his parentage. While the most common version makes Semele his mother, some Orphic traditions name Persephone as his mother by Zeus.

[4] The maenads were female followers of Dionysus in Greek mythology, known for their ecstatic worship and frenzied rituals. The reference to them "tearing apart a gay man" likely refers to the myth of Orpheus, who was torn apart by maenads after he rejected their advances following the death of his wife Eurydice. Some versions suggest he rejected women entirely after losing Eurydice, hence Dionysus's interpretation.

[5] The Twelve Olympians were the principal deities of Ancient Greece, their title derived from Mount Olympus, where each of them resided. The twelve were Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Hephaestus, Hera, Hermes, Poseidon, Zeus, and of course, Dionysus.

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