WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 153: Episode 30: Dark Castle (1)

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The one I was most worried about was Yu Junghyeok.

He was more reliable than anyone here, but at the same time more unpredictable than anyone here. If the lunatic Junghyeok decided to smash my face in right this second, everything I had just done would become worthless.

Fortunately, Junghyeok stayed calm. His murderous intent was overwhelming, but astonishingly, he kept his anger under control and even sent me a private message.

―What do you think you're doing?

[The character Yu Junghyeok is activating Midday Tryst.]

......Only then did I remember the item I had bought back then. I never would have guessed the validity period on the Midday Tryst I had registered would still be active. I answered with deliberate shamelessness.

―This isn't the first time something like this has happened. You should be getting used to it by now.

―What?

―This isn't bad for you either. I know at least that much, that you can't inherit another constellation's fable.

Junghyeok flinched at my words.

―I have no idea what you know, or how far that knowledge reaches.

In truth, declaring the founding of a nebula with me wasn't bad for Junghyeok at all. Even in the original story, Junghyeok didn't inherit any fable here. That was because of the regression constraints he carried.

The regression constraints.

In exchange for being able to turn back time through death, he couldn't inherit another constellation's fable.

[Incarnation Yu Junghyeok. Is what Incarnation Kim Dokja said true? Did the two of you create a nebula together?]

The host dokkaebi, who had been watching the situation, cut in. Everyone looked at Junghyeok, and I waited tensely for his answer.

"That's right."

I let out a sigh of relief. At any rate, we had cleared the first hurdle. But the real hurdle started now.

Then, from among the crowd on the second floor that had been drowned in complete silence, someone burst out laughing. It was gentle and soft, and somehow even sounded delighted. From that laugh, I could tell exactly how Persephone felt.

"Kim Dokja, you finally did it. This is why I like you."

Of course she liked it. Persephone was exactly the type to go crazy over a story like this. At the sound of her laughter, the other constellations began to laugh as well. Most of them were the constellations on the second floor. Unfortunately, their laughter did not carry the same meaning as Persephone's.

[The nebula Veda is disappointed in you.]

[The nebula Guiok holds you in contempt.]

Uriel, who had a handkerchief between her teeth, frowned at the reactions around her and muttered,

[What? Why is everyone acting like that? It looks great!]

The constellations on the first floor only looked up at us in silence. Their gazes held a mixture of admiration and worry. Naval Warfare God and Bald Army General both looked tense, as if they were bracing for trouble. Only Goryeo's Top Swordsman was looking this way with interest.

Before long, the laughter died down, and a more direct warning flew in from the second floor.

[How can someone who hasn't even reached constellation status found a nebula?]

[Dokkaebi, does that make any sense right now?]

[Do you think just anyone can found a nebula?]

The dokkaebi was visibly flustered by the barrage of questions.

[Well...... Incarnation Kim Dokja has certainly had his Status acknowledged by the Star Stream.]

With those words, the screen on the ceiling projected the fables I had accumulated so far.

"King of a Kingless World"

The first thing to appear was the scene of me borrowing the power of the Four-Tiger Evil-Cutting Sword to break the Absolute Throne. Strictly speaking, my fable had begun right there.

Fragments of the shattered throne flew across the screen. A few constellations nodded as if they understood, while some others looked at one another in shock.

[He broke a throne imbued with an Outer God's power!]

[......He really opened a fable with that?]

It seemed there were some among the attendees who didn't know much about me. I had thought I had become pretty famous, but apparently I was still lacking. When I glanced nearby, I saw that little Russian brat from earlier staring at me blankly.

"One Who Opposes the Extraordinary"

I earned the second fable by defeating Returnee Myeong Ilsang, who had descended as a Calamity.

[Some constellations are expressing favor toward you.]

Returnees had always been beings the constellations hated, so naturally it was the perfect sort of fable for winning their favor. Then puzzled looks rose on the constellations' faces.

[......What's that now?]

What appeared next as the third fable was the scene of me beating up the intermediate dokkaebi Paul. Even I was startled by it. It was probably from when I went out to avenge Shin Yuseong...... Don't tell me that got registered as a fable too?

Gqueeek!

As the intermediate dokkaebi screamed repeatedly, the flustered host dokkaebi hurriedly fast-forwarded the footage. Soon enough, the constellations began to protest.

[Hey, what was that just now!]

[Th-that...... Haha, it seems that was incorrect footage.]

But contrary to what the dokkaebi said, the screen clearly displayed a perfectly proper fable name.

"One Who Scorned a Storyteller"

Loud laughter rang out from the stair landing. Goryeo's Top Swordsman was roaring with laughter as he looked at me.

[So you were a mad bastard! Hahahahaha!]

Then the name of the fourth fable rose up.

"One Who Hunted the King of Catastrophes"

The fable I earned by hunting the shadow of the Constellation Yamata no Orochi in peace land. As the constellations watched Orochi vanish beneath my lightning after I activated [Electrification], their mouths fell open.

[A fabled-grade constellation's shadow......]

[He has already built up four Legendary-grade or higher fables?]

Confusion spread among the constellations. Before long, the footage shut off, and the dokkaebi spoke.

[In any case, for these reasons, Incarnation Kim Dokja is currently on the verge of ascending to constellation status. If he obtains a fifth fable through this opportunity......]

Those who already knew I was aiming to become a Constellation didn't look especially surprised, but the constellations who hadn't known looked startled.

[He's going to ascend to constellation status before the 10th Main Scenario is even over?]

[That bastard is going to become a new Constellation......]

All at once, burning gazes turned toward me.

Certainly, even in all of TWSA, an event on this scale was astonishing. Before the 10th Scenario ended, the only beings who had earned the Star Stream's recognition and obtained Status were a very small number of Constellations and Returnees.

As the chaotic atmosphere deepened, the one who spoke was Manu, the Progenitor of Humanity, who had attended as Veda's negotiating Representative.

[I acknowledge Incarnation Kim Dokja's Status. But I cannot acknowledge this matter related to a nebula. There are two problems.]

The constellations focused on Manu's declaration.

[Firstly, we have no way of knowing whether Incarnation Kim Dokja possesses sufficient means to pay. You do know that establishing a nebula requires minimum capital, don't you?]

"I have enough coins."

Manu narrowed his eyes suspiciously and went on.

[That can be confirmed easily enough. Secondly, who will support your nebula?]

I swallowed hard. The real obstacle had finally arrived.

[Establishing a nebula requires support from at least five constellations. Which constellations have given you their support?]

"That would be......"

When I couldn't answer at once, Manu let out a small sneer.

[No, before that, does your nebula even have a name?]

I glanced at Junghyeok, then blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Our nebula's name is Kim Dokja Company......"

"It doesn't have a name yet. And we'll find supporters from now on."

Unexpectedly, Junghyeok cut me off and stepped forward.

"Is there no constellation willing to support our nebula?"

But even at Junghyeok's words, the crowd gave no response. Manu smiled coldly.

[I thought so. This has been a waste of time. Dokkaebi. Continue the Succession ceremo......]

That was when someone raised a hand for the first time.

[Olympus's underworld will support your nebula.]

[Queen!]

The enraged Manu snarled at Persephone. Persephone answered by releasing a sharp pressure of her own.

[It is my decision. What objection do you have?]

[Kh......]

Even as a member of Veda, a Constellation on Manu's level could not oppose Persephone, the queen of the underworld, alone. In the end, he turned his aim toward the other constellations.

[Surely there isn't another?]

[I support them.]

At that voice from the highest seat on the second floor, the constellations were shocked once more.

[Th-the Prisoner of the Golden Headband?]

[Really? Is he serious?]

I nodded in that direction in thanks. Great Sage Equaling Heaven only looked down at us while picking his ear with his shrunken Ruyi Staff, as if the whole thing were a nuisance.

[Ah, whatever...... Sorry, Scribe! I'm supporting them too!]

At last, even Uriel of Eden declared her support.

[And I'll name the nebula too! The nebula's name will be Forbidden...... Mmph!]

I could see the 9th-grade angels around her jumping in alarm and trying to stop her.

Whatever the intention, I was grateful.

Now the remaining constellations were only watching one another. The three constellations who had declared support so far were all powerful enough that they had no need to care about anyone else's reaction. But from here on, it was different. There weren't many beings willing to go against Manu, a fabled-grade constellation, just to help found a newborn nebula.

When I looked beside me, even Junghyeok seemed half resigned.

―Looks like this is as far as it goes.

......So this was where we'd get blocked. But I didn't mind.

―It's okay. We've already achieved the objective.

―What?

―I didn't expect anything anyway. The important thing is to buy time.

From the beginning, I had never planned to inherit any Constellation's fable here.

Besides, if what I had seen in TWSA was right, the end of this banquet was already decided. The anomaly came right then.

[I, Goryeo's Top Swordsman, shall support their nebula.]

The strongest Historical-grade, Goryeo's Top Swordsman, declared support for us. At that, the Historical-grade constellations who had been holding back until then all rose at once.

[Then I, Naval Warfare God, as well......!]

[This Bald Army General won't stay still either!]

As the symbols on the first floor began declaring support one after another, not only the constellations on the second floor but even the dokkaebis looked deeply flustered.

[W-wait a moment! You can't just declare support so recklessly......!]

And then, the next instant.

[The Constellation Secretive Plotter supports your nebula.]

......Huh? Secretive Plotter? Where?

[You have obtained provisional founding rights for a nebula!]

......No way?

Rumbblee!

The entire banquet hall was swallowed by a deafening roar, and space itself began to twist violently. I looked up at the sky. At last, the end of this banquet was approaching.

They had come.

[......This presence?]

[Everyone, fall back!]

Even the constellations looked tense. Soon the screen on the ceiling warped, cracks spread across the fortress, and sparks began to fly. Something was swirling in the cloud-covered sky above.

The Great Hole.

That unknown hole, which appeared only when a Scenario was activated, had suddenly manifested above the banquet hall. Startled, Manu shouted,

[Outer God! How dare you come here!]

All the constellations growled and released their power one after another. Then, from the hole in the sky, a dreadful voice rang out.

【Why... wh y did you not in vite u s?】

Persephone and Uriel rushed forward at once and covered Junghyeok's ears and mine. They were trying to block the Outer God's presence. Perhaps because they stood in front of us, the pressure pouring down from above eased somewhat.

[Sorry, but the party is over. It's time for you to go back.]

[Let's meet again next time!]

The moment Persephone and Uriel shouted, Junghyeok's body and mine were enclosed in transparent spheres. Through the constellations' power, the spatial transfer of our spiritual bodies had begun. It seemed they were trying to save us from the horrible battle that was about to erupt in the banquet hall.

However, the Outer Gods were a little faster.

【Wa it...!】

[The Outer Gods are gazing upon you!]

[The Outer Gods are gazing upon you!]

At the final moment, I heard Uriel scream.

[Kim Dokja!]

Then pitch-black darkness swallowed my vision.

* * *

【Who are you?】

【One not recorded on the wheel.】

【Surely......】

(...)

【■■■■......】

(...)

【At last...... is the "Final Story" about to begin......】

* * *

"Hey, is this the place?"

"You sure this is okay? What if those guys show up? They said Maritime Admiral and Pure-Hearted Steel come around here all the time!"

"Isn't this that hero's grave?"

In the dead of night, a few grave robbers were gathered on top of a gravestone standing in the middle of Gwanghwamun. The grave robber Lee Dongrim frowned.

"What a pathetic bunch. What hero? Does a hero die that easily?"

Dongrim had only learned of the hero's existence recently: the "strongest man," who had sacrificed his life to save Seoul. Of course, Dongrim didn't believe the rumor.

"Hurry up and dig! We don't have time. Before those bastards who went into the Dark Castle come back out!"

Most people were already participating in the ninth scenario, Dark Castle. But Dongrim and the others hadn't taken part in the Scenario. Main Scenarios were just festivals for the big shots anyway.

"If it's a hero's grave, there has to be at least one or two good things buried with him, right?"

"Search the corpse too. Who knows, maybe they buried him with something stuffed in a pocket!"

"Damn it, they buried him deep. Hey, dig faster!"

The grave robbers tore into the earth in an instant. About two hours passed.

"W-we hit it!"

At last, their shovels reached the coffin lid. Hiding the pounding in his chest, Dongrim opened it. Inside the coffin, a man in a white coat was sleeping.

Dongrim let out a small snort.

"A hero? Hah. Looks more like Sleeping Beauty."

"Nice coat. Let's strip that off first......"

Thud.

"Wh-wuaaahhh!"

"Wha-what? Waaaah!"

Dongrim also dropped to the ground in shock, trembling all over. The hero, who had definitely been dead only a moment ago, was gripping a grave robber's shoulder.

At that moment, every being in Seoul heard the following message.

[Someone has obtained five fables.]

[A new Constellation has been born in the night sky over Seoul!]

Footnotes:

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