WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Editor: smol_anon
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 16: Episode 4 - Even Hypocrisy is Virtue (1)
A meteor shower was pouring down against the black night sky. It was a breathtaking sight that anyone would marvel at, but not for Yu Junghyeok.
「So, it’s finally starting.」
This meteor shower was an omen of the start of the third main scenario. Now, according to the planned sequence, Seoul would begin its gradual destruction.
Looking up at the sky, Yu Junghyeok then lowered his gaze to the mouth of the Han River. The scenery around Dongho Bridge was quite deserted, as the herd of Sea Dragons had recently moved downstream in large numbers.
「I guess it was too much.」
It had already been three days since that guy, Kim Dokja, entered the Han River. Trying to catch a Sea Dragon with only the skills to clear the first main scenario… maybe that was asking too much.
「Even I would have trouble catching a Sea Dragon in three days.」
If he couldn’t accomplish that much, taking him along would only be a burden. After all, if he couldn’t manage this, he’d only get in the way from now on.
「So much for being called a ‘Prophet’. He’s not much after all.」
With a disappointed expression, Junghyeok closed his eyes. He would move forward alone again, just as he always had. It wasn’t anything special or grand. After all, he had been alone from the beginning.
「This time, I will definitely change the future.」
With that, Yu Junghyeok turned and walked away.
Perhaps, he had turned too soon.
“Wait...!”
[Wh-what the hell?]
I blinked several times, but all I could see was the gray ceiling above. I was still inside the Sea Dragon’s body. Turning my head, I saw Bihyeong staring at me with wide, surprised eyes.
“I... I had a dream.”
[Oh-ho, so you’re trying to build suspense with foreshadowing? Not bad, not bad at all.]
That wasn’t it, but I didn’t mind letting him misunderstand.
[A few constellations are impatiently waiting for you to move to a new location.]
I had just used the Ellain Forest Essence that I bought for 500 coins from Bihyeong before falling asleep. I had judged that it would be too dangerous to move while exhausted.
The Ellain Forest Essence was an expensive item that forced you into a two-hour deep sleep while rapidly healing your body’s fatigue and injuries. In short, it was worth the price.
“…Well, I guess it’s time to head out for real.”
Stretching my stiff body, I muttered aloud. The dream I’d just had still felt vivid. Perhaps it wasn’t just a dream.
Crackle.
There was a sound of electricity, and without a word, Bihyeong disappeared. He must have gone off to do his own business.
I let out a small sigh of relief.
The stream contract with the dokkaebi... If I hadn’t gained information about Bihyeong through TWSA, I would never have been able to attempt such a gamble. And I had pulled off that gamble with a calmness that even surprised me. In reality, I had never been able to land even a simple contract before.
[The exclusive skill Fourth Wall is currently active.]
...Reality, huh. I gripped the thorn in my right hand tightly. Did I really consider this world to be reality?
[A few constellations are eager for you to take action.]
I didn’t have time to dwell on that. Swinging the thorn with all my strength, I shattered the now weakened stomach wall. As it crumbled, water came pouring in, and I jumped into the Han River.
“Puhah!”
Luckily, there were no other Sea Dragons around. Some smaller sea creatures swam toward me out of curiosity, but I didn’t sense any hostility. Not all monsters attacked humans.
...Dongho Bridge is that way.
Using a piece of the Sea Dragon’s floating carcass as a makeshift raft, I awkwardly paddled toward the shore. The cold water stung my skin, but I couldn’t afford to care about that. After swimming for about 30 minutes, I finally reached land.
[A few constellations are watching you anxiously.]
Usually, when a message like that appears, danger is imminent.
[The constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is smirking ominously.]
Too bad for the constellations watching me with ill intentions, things wouldn’t go as they expected. I already knew what danger was coming.
[You have entered the area of the second main scenario.]
[The land in this scenario area is deeply contaminated.]
[Hold your breath and move underground as quickly as possible.]
Even though the message was giving a calm explanation, once the scenario began, staying above ground was a death sentence. How did I know? Just by looking at my skin.
[You have been exposed to a poisonous fog.]
The skin that had come into contact with the purple fog was turning black.
Gyaaah!
Following the source of the fog with my eyes, I saw a monstrous creature emitting a terrible cry.
A massive beast, easily over thirty meters tall.
The fog was the gas released by the Poison Rhino, a tier-7 monster. It was blowing out steam through its nostrils, battling against another monster beyond the mist, which, based on its silhouette, looked like a Monarch-Level Insect.
Graaah...
Humans weren’t the only ones fighting for survival in this new world. Monsters fought for their territory as well.
Holding my breath as much as I could, I moved quickly. Despite the Poison Rhino also being a tier-7 monster, it wasn’t something I could face right now. The only reason I had been able to kill the Sea Commander was because I had prepared thoroughly.
[You have used Ellain Monkey’s Lungs.]
The monkey’s lungs were an item I had preemptively obtained from Bihyeong. They could function as a substitute for a purification system for about 20 minutes.
[A few constellations are impressed by your preparations!]
Oksu Station above ground had already been destroyed. The nearest underground station from here was Geumho Station. I assumed the others had already headed there.
Avoiding the smaller creatures feeding on corpses, I quickly moved to the roadside. With only 20 minutes to spare, I needed to gather essentials and move fast.
First, I needed clothes. My outer garments had dissolved in the Sea Dragon’s stomach acid, so I needed something to wear. Luckily, there were plenty of discarded clothes around, though they were somewhat unpleasant to pick through.
...Well, beggars can’t be choosers. I rummaged through some corpses and found a few pieces that roughly fit me before heading to a nearby convenience store. I grabbed several plastic bags and stuffed them with as many small, dense food items as I could. These would be useful for trade once I reached the underground.
I had filled about three or four bags when I noticed the color of the monkey’s lungs I was holding in my mouth darkening. Time was almost up. It was then that I heard someone’s voice.
“Help... Help me...”
...There’s still someone alive? Turning my head, I saw a young woman curled up in a corner. Judging by the bruises on her arms and shoulders, it looked like she had been in a struggle. Blood was seeping through the seams of her torn shirt. Fortunately, the wounds weren’t deep, but the problem was the contamination spreading across her skin.
She was wearing a mask, so the poisoning wasn’t too severe, but if left alone, she would surely die.
“Are you okay? Can you stand?”
“Uhh...”
Was there such an extra in TWSA? I didn’t have time to think it over. I picked her up and immediately ran toward Geumho Station.
After turning a corner, I reached the main road. Geumho Station was just 100 meters away in a straight line. Taking a deep breath, I sprinted toward Exit 3. I could see the sign for Exit 3 in the distance.
...It’s closed. How about the other side?
Due to the emergency situation, the shutters on all the exits had been lowered. I could break through the shutter with the thorn, but that might hurt the people inside.
“Exit 4... Exit 4...”
To my surprise, the woman on my back was helping. I ran toward Exit 4 and saw a shutter descending. I jammed the thorn into the gap just as it was about to close. Someone screamed.
“What the hell!”
“Open the door.”
“No way! You can’t come in! Get lost!”
“I have an injured person.”
“We’re full! No more people!”
Full? Since when did they start refusing people?
“That’s not my concern.”
Using the thorn as leverage, I pried the shutter open with all my strength. With my Strength at Lv.10 thanks to the coins I’d spent, I could easily exert the power of several adult men.
“Gaaah!”
With a loud crash, the people trying to pull the shutter down on the other side went sprawling.
“Run for it!”
The men panicked and disappeared into the shadows of the
underground passage. After safely entering the station, I lowered the shutter and gently set the woman on the ground.
[You have entered a safe zone.]
The poison fog didn’t descend into the underground. There was no scientific explanation for it. It was simply because the "scenario" said so.
“Here, bite down on this.”
I removed the woman’s mask and placed the monkey’s lungs in her mouth. It wouldn’t completely cure her, but it would help neutralize the poison.
“Mmm...”
A faint groan escaped her lips.
The abandoned woman. Suddenly, I became curious about this person’s identity. If things had gone according to the original plot, she probably would have died by now. I was just about to activate the [Character Profile] when a voice called out.
“There he is!”
The beam of a flashlight pierced through the darkness. Squinting, I could make out several men approaching, each carrying a metal pipe.
[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband frowns at the appearance of these unwelcome guests.]
The one who spoke was a large man in the center. Judging by his well-balanced physique, he was clearly someone who knew how to use his strength.
“Who the hell are you?”
For some reason, I was at a loss for words. What was I supposed to say in a situation like this? After a brief moment of thought, I decided to speak like Yu Junghyeok.
“Kim Dokja.”
“…Kim Dokja? Is that your name?”
“Yes.”
“Who the hell asked for your name? I’m asking what you do, you son of a bitch!”
Great, another difficult question.
“W-wait! That woman...”
One of the men spotted the woman lying next to me and shone his flashlight on her.
“What the... Isn’t that a minor group woman? Weren’t you guys with her?”
“Well, that’s...”
The man’s flashlight hovered over the skin around the woman’s waist, then he chuckled knowingly.
“Hah, so that’s what this is, huh? You cute little bastards. Thought you could have some fun without permission from the boss?”
“Heheh, sorry about that.”
“O-of course, we were gonna check with Cheolsu hyung[1] first... hehe, that’s what we were gonna do.”
Cheolsu? Was there a character named Cheolsu? I couldn’t remember. Well, that meant he wasn’t important.
“Hand over the woman... and what’s that?”
The flashlight beam landed on the convenience store bags I had brought. Things weren’t looking good.
“Leave those too, and get the hell out of here. Then maybe I’ll let you live.”
More precisely, things weren’t looking good for them.
[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband is annoyed by the appearance of these grunts.]
[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire is furious at the sight of this injustice.]
[At the constellations’ request, a bounty scenario has been triggered!]
+
<Bounty Scenario - Eliminate the Interference>
Category: Sub
Difficulty: F
Clear conditions: The constellations are outraged by the interference of those who are hindering the fast-paced progression. Neutralize them within the time limit.
Time limit: 5 minutes
Reward: ???
Penalty for failure: ???
+
I knew this was coming. Poor bastards.
I picked up the thorn and stood up.
There aren’t any minors among the constellations, right? I’m going to trust that.
Because from now on, it’s adult-only stream time.
Footnotes:
[1] The Korean word hyung (형) is a term of respect used by males to address older brothers or male friends. It's the male equivalent of the term unnie.
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