WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: smol_anon

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 15: Episode 3 - Contract (4)

It was hard to tell how much time had passed. My breathing frequently stopped, and my muscles were so stiff that they hardly responded.

[A few constellations are impressed by your survival skill!]

[You have been gifted 100 coins by the constellations.]

But I endured. I endured because I believed I could. The light emitted by the thorns in the darkness confirmed that I was still alive, and the temperature of the dissolving stomach wall reassured me that the creature was dying.

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire admires your tenacity.]

[You have been gifted 100 coins.]

When I was hungry, I stuck my tongue to the concentrated liquid at the tip of the thorn. The liquid contained the life force sucked from the entire body of the Sea Commander. I had consumed the Hammer Seahorse's mucus in advance to absorb this concentrate without any issues.

[You have absorbed the Sea Dragon’s power, and your vitality has slightly increased.]

It wasn’t enough to raise my stats immediately, but by the time I escaped, my vitality level would have increased by about 2. This was one of the few tricks to secure more vitality in the early stages without using coins.

...It really wasn’t a dream, right?

Scattered thoughts flashed through my mind like sentences from a novel.

「Was this really something I could do?」

「I’m just an ordinary reader.」

「I’m not the protagonist.」

It felt like I could wake up from my blanket, screaming at any moment, but no matter how much I blinked, such a miracle didn’t happen.

「…I wonder if Mother is okay.」

「She’ll be fine. It’s not like it’s anyone else. It’s her.」

Every time the dissolved liquid on the floor drained away, I fell into a brief sleep, only to wake again when the cold river water entered my mouth.

Finally, the Sea Commander’s digestion process stopped. The warmth of the creature's internal organs, which had been heating my back, cooled rapidly, and the stomach, once flexible, began to harden. I was certain now.

It was dead.

[...Truly impressive.]

A bright current surged through the darkness. Bihyeong’s faint form hovered in mid-air.

[To think you would use the Stone Hog's thorn like that. I never would have thought of it. Right, constellations?]

Bihyeong looked at the glowing Stone Hog's thorn with admiration.

[The Stone Hog primarily lives along the coast and preys on small sea creatures. It buries its thorns into the prey’s skin to drain them, but to think you’d shove it into a digestive fluid outlet like that…]

Bihyeong’s glowing eyes weren’t even looking at me, so it was clear the explanation wasn’t meant for me.

[A small number of constellations are smiling, as if they already knew.]

[You have been gifted 100 coins by the constellations.]

[A few constellations belatedly understand your decision.]

[The constellations are complaining that you should notify them of such things in advance.]

Ignoring the constellations’ messages, I drank the last of the concentrated liquid.

[You have absorbed the Sea Dragon’s power, and your Constitution has slightly increased.]

[Your Constitution level has increased!]

[Constitution Lv.11 → Constitution Lv.12]

With this, I had achieved my goal. Bihyeong, who had descended next to me, touched my scorched arm and continued speaking.

[And this mucus… I didn’t know that Hammer Seahorse mucus had such effects.]

Had it not been for the mucus, my skin would have dissolved along with the Sea Commander’s digestive fluid. I spoke up in place of Bihyeong.

“The Hammer Seahorse's mucus provides immunity to digestive fluids. It likely evolved this way because it often gets eaten by Sea Dragons.”

[A few constellations are impressed by your knowledge.]

Bihyeong looked at me as if he'd been hit in the back of the head.

[Hey, explanations are my job…]

“You didn’t know, so I helped. We’re done with the explanations now, right?”

[...Yeah.]

“Then give me the reward.”

[Damn brat.]

At the same time as Bihyeong grumbled, a reward message appeared before my eyes.

[The Hidden Scenario has ended.]

[You have obtained 9,000 coins as a reward.]

[You are the first to successfully hunt a Tier-7 Sea Monster.]

[You have obtained 1,000 coins as an achievement reward.]

9,000 coins plus an additional 1,000. Quite a decent haul.

[Coin balance: 14,800C]

Including the 500 coins I got for making this impromptu survival video, the total income was 10,500 coins. I had far surpassed my target.

[Haha, constellations! Did you enjoy the show? Now, watch a short ad, and we’ll jump straight into the next scenario!]

As Bihyeong said that, I heard the faint sound of an advertisement from somewhere. A special scenario opening package for 8,800 coins... While the constellations' attention was elsewhere, Bihyeong approached me and spoke more familiarly.

[Whew… That was an amazing survival feat. The constellations' reactions were huge.]

“How long has it been?”

[Four days. I was on edge the entire time. Did you not realize how much time had passed?]

“My smartphone’s battery died.”

More time had passed than I thought. The original goal was two days... Well, even the 4th round Yu Junghyeok took four days to kill it, so this wasn’t too slow.

Anyway, I had succeeded. A satisfying sense of accomplishment filled my body, giving me confidence. I was an ordinary person with ordinary abilities. But that didn’t mean I could only do ordinary things.

“…Ridiculous.”

It was strange. Fiction, which had been of no help for 28 years, was now making an ordinary person like me extraordinary.

[Oh, you’re talking to yourself already?]

“…”

[You’re doing quite well! Talking to yourself is a must for any proper incarnation. Some constellations may find it pretentious, but most…]

“Shut up and open the Dokkaebi Compendium.”

[Why? Got something to buy?]

“I’ve got something to buy and something to sell.”

[Shit, then I’ll have to cut the ads short. Constellations, bear with me for a moment while I adjust the volume.]

While Bihyeong opened the Dokkaebi Compendium, I inspected the thorns embedded in the stomach wall. The wall had hardened around the thorns, forming deep cracks. The now softened wall could be broken through with my strength alone.

Breaking through the wall with the last remaining thorn, I slowly made my way forward. Not long after, I came face to face with the Sea Dragon’s core.

[Sea Dragon’s Core]

It was an Aether Core, found in monsters above tier-7. If processed and consumed, it could increase your mana level without the need for coins. Since it was from a Sea Commander grade Sea Dragon, the quality was excellent. Carefully cutting away the flesh surrounding the core, I emerged from the creature’s body, and Bihyeong stared at me in disbelief.

“I’m selling this.”

[You’re serious…]

“I don’t mean selling it to you. List it in the Dokkaebi Auction.”

Too tired to argue, Bihyeong resigned himself.

[Fine… Do what you want. How much are you listing it for?]

“I’m not selling it for coins. I want to trade it.”

[Damn it, you really know everything.]

Though grumbling, Bihyeong obediently uploaded the item to the Dokkaebi Auction. Simple desires make him more obedient than expected.

“Someone will buy it soon. Make sure the trade item is Broken Faith.”

[Broken Faith? Do you think someone will have that? Anyway, it’s listed.]

“Good. Now for the things I want to buy…”

I checked the ‘White Flash Qi’ listed in the shopping cart. As expected, no one had bought it yet. Most constellations didn’t know the value of coin items. They assumed that expensive items from the Dokkaebi Compendium were automatically the best.

[Wait, before that, can we talk for a moment?]

The volume of the ads, which had been lowered, rose again along with Bihyeong’s words.

[The constellations are complaining about the long ads.]

Watching the same ad play again, I could guess what Bihyeong was about to say.

“You’re going to talk about a contract, right?”

He had left the stream on because there was no way to block the constellations’ eyes and ears, except with ads. The topic wasn’t something the constellations should hear.

[Yeah. I wasn’t sure, but after watching this scenario, I’m a little more confident. Well… let’s give it a try. If need be, I can help you out a bit.]

“That would violate the Storyteller’s Oath.”

[Oh, of course, I can’t really help, but you know, it’s just a way of speaking. Anyway, are you going to sign the contract?]

“What are the terms?”

[Read it for yourself.]

He must be proud of the fancy contract he brought, like a proper dokkaebi.

I began reading the transparent contract window floating in the air.

---------------------------------------------

<Stream Contract Agreement>

1. Incarnation Kim Dokja (hereafter referred to as "A") will enter into an exclusive contract with Dokkaebi Bihyeong (hereafter referred to as "B") until all scenarios are completed, or until "A" dies.

---------------------------------------------

“…I’m the ‘A’?”

[Haha, humans like that kind of thing, don’t they? Even though it doesn’t really mean anything. Anyway, keep reading.]

---------------------------------------------

2. "A" shall never select a Patron Constellation until all scenarios are completed, or "A" dies.

---------------------------------------------

This part was just as I expected.

---------------------------------------------

3. "A" shall only be active on "B"'s channel.

4. "A" and "B" shall divide the profits earned from the stream contract, and the ratio shall be mutually agreed upon.

...

10. If either "A" or "B" violates this contract, both will face annihilation according to the laws of the Star Stream.

---------------------------------------------

I carefully read the contract all the way to the last clause. I thought Bihyeong might try to trick me, but surprisingly, there were no significant issues. Except for one crucial detail.

“But there’s something missing.”

[You mean the signature? That’s just a formality. All you have to do is verbally agree. The stream contract is a soul pact—]

“I’m talking about the profit-sharing ratio.”

[Ah, right. Haha, of course.]

The bastard was trying to play dumb. That was the most important part. After a brief hesitation, Bihyeong spoke as if offering a generous deal.

[How about 50-50? And I’ll even waive the channel fees for you. Oh, and you know how it works, right? For example, if you receive 100 coins, you’ll take 50, and I’ll take the other 50.]

All stream contracts worked like that. The constellations would sponsor incarnations on a dokkaebi’s channel, and the proceeds would be split based on the agreed ratio. Normally, that is.

“Do you take me for a fool? No deal.”

[What? But this is the standard rate in this industry…]

“I’m an incarnation without a patron. And when the constellations sponsor an incarnation without a patron, they pay a huge amount in fees to the dokkaebi. You’ve already made quite a fortune thanks to me, haven’t you?”

Bihyeong’s jaw slowly dropped. But there was no point in looking shocked.

“10 to 0. You only take the channel fees. I don’t give you a single coin.”

[What? That’s outrageous! How could I possibly—]

“If you don’t like it, forget it. I’ll just go to another channel. I hear ‘Gildal’ is doing pretty well these days, maybe I’ll ask him for a favor.”

[…Fine. How about 7 to 3? I really can’t go any lower than that.]

The ratio suddenly jumped, but I wasn’t going to give in.

“10 to 0.”

[You… what kind of bullshit is this? That kind of ratio is—]

“If you don’t like it, we can drop the contract. Besides, the constellations will complain about how long this ad is running. ‘Gildal’ won’t hesitate to snatch me up.”

[……8 to 2. I really can’t go lower than this.]

“10 to 0.”

[…Fine.]

Bihyeong’s face twisted into an angry scowl, like he was about to explode my head with his mind. But I knew he couldn’t walk away from this. I was his last chance.

“Look, the ad’s about to end. Don’t you see the constellations starting to complain?”

Finally, Bihyeong raised his hands in defeat.

[Fine, fine. I’ll do it. Happy now? So, you’ll sign the contract, right?]

This was surprisingly easy. I had been willing to settle for 9 to 1, but now I was curious if Bihyeong had been pocketing extra money on the side. A bit suspicious.

“Yeah. Oh, and one more thing.”

[What? There’s more?]

“You need to pay me a contract fee. Give me 5,000 coins.”

Bihyeong’s face went blank for a moment.

[…You really are something.]

I smirked. Let me show you why people cling to the title of ‘superior’ and why it’s called ‘A,’ you damn dokkaebi.

[The <Stream Contract> has been finalized.]

[You have obtained 5,000 coins as a contract fee.]

At last, the ad ended, and the constellations returned. I patted Bihyeong on the shoulder with a grin.

“All right, time to get out of here.”

The real battle was about to begin.

Footnotes:

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