WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 157: Episode 30 — Dark Castle (5)

──────

Countless beings in the Star Stream had endured long years and asked themselves this question at least once.

「Why do Scenarios even exist?」

Everyone had a different answer.

For instance, the returnee Kyrios Lordgrime had said,

「Without even that, this universe would be far too lonely.」

The constellation Queen of the Darkest Spring had responded to the same question with another.

「Are you asking why ‘cooking’ exists right now?」

And the Demon King Asmodeus had answered it like this.

「It is a small destruction meant to prevent a greater destruction.」

They were answers that could be called romantic in one sense, or philosophical if one took a greater leap.

But as always, romance and philosophy were luxuries for those with full bellies.

So, to Demon Count Tentacio, who currently stood on the Abyss Plains of the Dark Castle 2nd Floor, a Scenario was this.

“Fucking hell.”

It was his catchphrase. Strictly speaking, it wasn't his alone.

Any being who entered this place would have those words on their lips after about fifty years.

Of course, that was only if they survived for fifty years.

“I'm sick of this.”

The vast Abyss Plains, where a tributary of Phoenix, the river of the Demon Realm, flowed.

Some might wonder how such an enormous plain could exist on the second floor of the Dark Castle, but Tentacio didn't know that either.

There were only two things he knew.

He had to reach the top of this immense plain.

And he had failed to do so for one hundred and ninety-four years.

‘Damn it. If only I hadn't accepted that dokkaebi bastard's offer...’

Even now, the memory from one hundred and ninety-four years ago felt as vivid as last night.

「Wouldn't you like to become the seventy-third Demon King?」

A Demon King. The summit and lifelong aspiration of every demonic species.

「I can become a Demon King?」

He had lived as a Tier-3 demonic species, with advancement in status seeming impossibly far away. No matter how many low-grade demonic species he devoured, his status barely rose.

Then, during that stagnation, Tentacio was tempted by a being more demonic than a demon.

「What you lack isn't ‘power,’ but ‘stories.’」

「What do you mean?」

「You'll understand once you participate in a Scenario.」

That was how Tentacio had been sent into the Dark Castle Scenario.

He tore apart and killed countless demonic species, then slaughtered the races that climbed up through the Dark Castle entrances scattered throughout the dimensions.

One hundred and ninety-four years later, Demon Count Tentacio had become one of the ten strongest demons on the Dark Castle 2nd Floor.

But that was as far as he had gotten.

‘This isn't enough to reach the third floor.’

The Dark Castle's third floor, where the essence of a Demon King slumbered.

To reach it, he first had to defeat every powerhouse on the second floor.

Simply gaining Coins and increasing his strength wasn't enough.

The powerhouses of the second floor weren't the strongest merely because their abilities were powerful.

Then what was he lacking...?

[The constellation Lady of the Sleeping Brocade wants to hear your monologue.]

[The constellation Lady of the Sleeping Brocade is curious about your backstory.]

“Backstory? Damn bastards. Do they think I'm some game character?”

The constellations' arrogance irritated him, but he was also pleased that a constellation had become curious about him.

A constellation's interest in him meant new bugs had broken through the Dark Castle's first floor.

It was a sign that a delightful game would begin.

Whoooosh!

A group of men and women appeared on the plain amid a light vortex.

Tentacio smiled.

“Welcome, insects. Welcome to the Dark Castle's second floor.”

He forced out the familiar line while smacking his lips. Just as expected, a few bugs stepped forward and asked him,

“Where are we? Who are you? Are you a guide?”

“...Are you a dokkaebi?”

A dokkaebi.

It was the word Tentacio hated most.

Still, he endured it and opened his mouth.

Because sweet feeding time would come after this patience.

“The Dark Castle's second floor is a world of survival of the fittest. Only those whose strength is recognized here may proceed to the next floor. Simple rules, aren't they? Now then, if anyone needs further explanation, raise your hand.”

“What does it mean to have our strength recognized? How do we...?”

“Like this.”

Crunch!

Tentacio's arm instantly extended, and the man's head exploded before he could finish speaking.

The humans' startled expressions.

It was Tentacio's favorite moment.

“Wh-what is this?!”

“Damn it! It was a trap after all!”

Tentacio grinned viciously, his mouth full of the blood that had spurted from the man's neck.

“Protect Her Majesty!”

The Incarnations rushed him all at once, but Tentacio didn't care in the least.

A powerful aura erupted from his entire body.

Demonic nobles had five ranks.

Duke, marquis, count, viscount, and baron.

Viscounts and barons were fairly common, but counts were on a different level.

That was because count-rank demons possessed fables.

[The fable Insect Genocide has begun.]

“Aaaaargh!”

Each time his hand moved, humans died as though insects were being crushed.

The fable he had gained by slaughtering lower challengers for one hundred and ninety-four years exerted overwhelming power against beings of lower status than himself.

[The constellation Lady of the Sleeping Brocade is startled.]

“Khahahahahaha!”

Red waves of Mana shot from his palms, tearing nearby Incarnations into chunks of flesh in an instant.

It was a dull fight.

A few Incarnations seemed useful, but most were trash. They would be lucky to mutate into Tier-5 demonic species.

Then Tentacio's gaze stopped.

“Oh? You might be around Tier 4.”

Tentacio grabbed an Incarnation by the throat and lifted her.

A woman's hair cascaded down. A shattered crown rolled across the ground.

It was King of Beauty Min Jiwon.

“You must be the leader of these lot.”

He liked her fierce, unyielding gaze.

She seemed to have a Patron too. This Incarnation's story might be quite delicious.

“I'll ask you two questions. Where did you bastards come from?”

“Y-You think I'll tell you...?”

“I've seen plenty of insects like you.”

Tentacio smiled cruelly and stepped on the heads of the Hwarang at his feet one by one.

Jiwon's face went pale as she watched skulls crack and brains spill out.

“W-Wait!”

Thud!

Thud!

“Stop! E-Earth! We came from Earth!”

Tentacio asked with a smile.

“Earth?”

He remembered hearing about that planet, seething with abundant stories.

The dokkaebis said Earth was a planet like a cradle of stories.

Where there were many stories, fables emerged. Where there were many fables, prey was abundant.

Tentacio licked his lips.

“Insect. Who among you has accumulated the most fables?”

“Ugh... Fables? What are you...?”

As expected, they didn't understand when he put it like that.

“Who is the strongest Incarnation among you?”

Jiwon's shoulders trembled as she stared into Tentacio's yellow eyes, which gazed at her greedily.

* * *

“Ah, so what exactly is a ‘Scenario’?”

“...I just told you.”

“How am I supposed to understand if you put it that symbolically?”

“Aren't you a first-rate writer?”

I bickered with Han Suyeong as we searched for the altar leading to the second floor.

We killed a few more demons along the way. Needless to say, our progress was smooth.

Whenever a demon appeared, I let my status as a Constellation flare.

Screeeech!

The Dark Trackers that met my gaze screamed, retreated, or trembled.

I wasn't yet on the level of other constellations, but becoming a Constellation had changed my very presence.

In other words, I could exert considerable influence over beings of lower status than myself through a glance or a declaration alone.

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband is disappointed by how easy your progress is.]

[The constellation Scribe of heaven says you need greater adversity.]

They complained about it being frustrating when things were difficult, then complained that it was boring when things were easy. What rhythm was I supposed to follow?

Don't I get to have days like this sometimes?

This was the first time since the Scenarios began that things had gone smoothly...

Just as I was helping my Allies collect Demon's Proof one at a time, a familiar voice echoed from the air.

「...Lord Kim Dokja. You look awfully carefree. Opening bundles all by yourself too?」

Judging by the way it spoke, I knew exactly who it was.

I sent a grumbling message.

‘Who suddenly disappeared? Just because you became a mid-grade dokkaebi, you're getting full of yourself.’

「Who's getting full of themselves? I was just too busy to come! Anyway, congratulations, even if it's late. To think a new Constellation came from my channel. It's really moving.」

‘Is the channel doing well?’

「I thought the Incarnation-finding group would desert in droves because you became a Constellation, but it's doing even better. Everyone's flocking over to see a Constellation participating in the early Scenarios, so it's complete chaos right now. I might have to expand the channel again soon.」

Was it really that much?

Then again, it was rare for an Incarnation to rise to the rank of Constellation during the early Scenarios.

「But it looks like plenty of people dislike you too, so you'd better be careful. Honestly, you've only become a ‘Constellation.’ You haven't completely acquired the proper ‘status,’ have you?」

Bihyeong was right.

I had become a Constellation, but my unique Stigma hadn't even awakened yet.

Put simply, I was closer to a half-fledged Constellation.

「Earlier, I heard someone saying you might be stronger than Yu Junghyeok, but honestly...」

‘I'm stronger right now.’

「Oh... Kim Dokja. That's different from your usual reaction. Do you feel competitive with him?」

‘I'm a Constellation and that guy's an Incarnation. Of course I should win.’

「Well. Is that really true?」

‘What do you want? Did you come here to pick a fight?’

「Ah, I think that kid will be born soon. It needs fables to feed on. You're basically this kid's father, so you should still act like a parent...」

‘Fine. I'll get them.’

「You brat, I like how quickly you understand. Then I'm counting on you.」

It seemed Shin Yuseong of the forty-first round would soon awaken.

When I looked back, my Allies were collecting proofs from the demons' corpses.

“Does everyone have enough proofs?”

Yuseong cautiously raised her hand.

“I haven't collected enough yet... And Gilyeong's too...”

“Ah, I'll help.”

Unexpectedly, Suyeong took care of Yuseong.

Lee Hyeongseong, who was carrying Lee Gilyeong on his back behind us, spoke up too.

“Dokja.”

“Yes?”

“Could I give your upper arm a quick punch?”

“...Go ahead. Please make it light, though.”

Hyeongseong had barely escaped Suyeong's nightmare. He still seemed unable to believe I had come back to life, because he had been doing strange things like suddenly pushing my back or pulling my hair.

After lightly punching my arm, Hyeongseong opened his mouth.

“I once lost a cartridge casing in the military.”

“That must have been serious. Did you find it again?”

“No.”

“You must have gotten in a lot of trouble.”

“About a month later, that cartridge casing was found in a completely unrelated place.”

Even at my baffled expression, Hyeongseong's gaze remained utterly serious.

“From then on, I kept that cartridge casing in my pocket.”

“...Isn't that against military regulations?”

“It is.”

He nodded so casually that I was startled.

I nodded awkwardly.

“I see. But why bring that up all of a sudden...?”

“It just came to mind.”

I had no idea why he suddenly told me that story while looking at my head.

He couldn't mean he wanted to cut off my head and carry it in his pocket...

Anyway, he probably meant he was glad I came back alive.

Before long, we reached the altar leading to the second floor.

We had gathered enough proofs. All that remained was to offer them at the altar and wait.

Then Suyeong asked,

“That guy is coming with us too, right?”

I looked back.

Kim Youngpal of the Pinkies was standing there hesitantly.

I nodded.

“Youngpal. Lead the way.”

“What?”

Suyeong narrowed her eyes at the horrified Kim Youngpal.

“Why him? Is he a meat shield?”

“Did you forget? The final gateway to the second floor is...”

Those who gathered every proof on the Dark Castle 1st Floor had to offer them at the altar, then hunt the demon summoned on the second floor before they could advance.

The demon's level was based on the weakest person in the party.

Suyeong nodded as if she understood.

“Ah, so you're putting that guy in front because he's the weakest?”

“That's right.”

“Kim Dokja, you're really the Star Stream's best when it comes to pettiness.”

“Call it strategic, not petty.”

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband is startled by your pettiness.]

[The constellation Bald Army General wants you to show the dignity of a Constellation!]

...What dignity of a Constellation?

It wasn't like I had gone through difficult Scenarios because I enjoyed them. I had become a Constellation now, so I should get to breeze through things sometimes.

Suyeong spoke as if she found it dull.

“Then we'll clear this gateway easily.”

“Unless something unusual happens.”

“Something unusual?”

“Sometimes a demon unrelated to our level gets summoned.”

As I said that, I tossed the proofs into the altar.

[You have offered the Demon's Proof.]

[A demon gatekeeper suitable for testing you is being summoned!]

Whoooosh!

Blinding light spread from the altar as a summoning circle began to form.

A spotlight shone over a magnificent hexagram.

If my prediction was right, the demon that would emerge from there would be perfectly suited to weakling Youngpal's level.

It was probably Demon Baron Biller, the weakest among the second floor's demonic nobles.

And at that level, I could subdue it without even using my Constellation's power...

[A demon that wants you is on the second floor!]

...Huh?

[A demon unrelated to your party's level is being summoned onto the hexagram!]

Suyeong's face stiffened at the message that followed.

“What? Isn't that the ‘something unusual’ you mentioned?”

[Demon Count Tentacio has descended!]

...A count?

The demon that appeared on the hexagram with a grand impact was far stronger than someone like Biller.

The imposing horns rising over his shoulders radiated a threatening aura.

The demon quietly opened his eyes, then spoke with a cruel smile.

“Are you the one called Yu Junghyeok?”

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried