WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: ChaoticRain

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 170: Episode 32: Kim Dokja's Love (7)

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Shin Yuseong knew all too well who the constellation without a modifier was.

'Mister.'

It was only a gaze, but most people died at crucial moments because they lacked the gaze of that one person. In that sense, Yuseong was fortunate.

[A constellation without a modifier nods.]

Receiving a gaze meant for only one person in the world, Yuseong took another step. She could do this. Her legs were numb, and her lips wouldn't obey her, yet she was certain of it.

One step, then another.

At last, the child's small hand touched the monster's hide. Tiny wounds were carved into its skin. Startled, the monster opened its eyes wide. Only then could Yuseong look directly at it.

Instead, the monster was the one that averted its gaze.

"Look at me."

There wasn't just one wound. Countless wounds covered its hide, blanketing the beast's entire body.

Grrrrr...

The monster let out a quiet cry.

No one had ever seen those wounds. They had formed over many years. Those wounds were the monster's very existence. They had made it strong and, in the end, lonely.

As though she could vividly feel the monster's pain, Yuseong's face twisted.

"Just because you've been hurt doesn't mean you should become a monster."

Yuseong slowly stroked the monster's wounds. They were wounds that couldn't be healed no matter how much time passed. Still, that didn't mean it was all right to give up.

Miracles existed. Just as Dokja had saved Yuseong of the 41st round.

Even someone who couldn't be healed could still be saved.

Yuseong looked at the roots of the Perpetual Motion binding the monster's entire body. This monster had probably spent its whole life tied up here. She rummaged through her clothes and grasped a golden fruit.

The ancient beast's fruit.

It was an SSS-grade item that had come from a Random Box Dokja had once given her. This consumable item could be used to tame a higher-grade monster that [taming] couldn't affect.

Yuseong spoke to the monster as it slowly lowered its head.

"Let's get out of here together."

* * *

Reinheit looked around aboveground in alarm as though the entire Paradise were writhing.

[Wh-what is this...!]

The Perpetual Motion was suddenly collapsing. The energy it supplied was leaking somewhere else. By the time Reinheit realized something had gone wrong, the withered stems were already breaking apart in the air.

[Kuhuk! Why? Why are you...!]

Thick plant sap poured from Reinheit's mouth.

Crunch!

Something was gnawing through the base of the Perpetual Motion. Hard teeth dug into its roots. Reinheit screamed without pause as though his own body were being torn apart. The being that had been bound to the roots of Paradise for so long was now ruthlessly destroying the roots' core.

Before long, the Perpetual Motion, drained of all strength, began to collapse in the air.

[No. No...!]

A huge body rose from the exploded underground. It was a being without even a grade, because it had never surfaced in the world before. A monster with the body of a dragon, the wings of a demon, and the compound eyes of an insect.

The ultimate aberrant life-form, evolved from the interbreeding of demonic species, Monarch-Level Insect, and beast species, tore through the air and soared upward.

Every being in Paradise witnessed that miracle, and Yu Junghyeok was one of them.

"...A Chimera Dragon."

That being was the true monster created by Paradise.

Its current strength was nearing Grade 2, but its potential surpassed even Grade 1 species. A monster born as the lowest of beast species, one that would soon be able to threaten even dragonkin, the strongest beast species.

Yuseong and Lee Gilyeong were riding on the monster's back. Jeong Huiwon cried out in delight.

"Yuseong! Gilyeong!"

Those two cheeky kids had actually done it.

Kraaaaaaar!

At the Chimera Dragon's roar, every monster in Paradise trembled. Some fled back underground, some died of fright where they stood, and others scrambled over the chest wall to escape.

Amid the chaos, Reinheit, separated from the Perpetual Motion, staggered to his feet. Junghyeok didn't miss that opening.

Slash!

The path of the Sky Splitter Sword Art flashed, and the exhausted Reinheit couldn't avoid the blade. He was pierced straight through.

"Kuhuk..."

Black blood poured from his mouth. No matter how powerful a demon he was, he couldn't survive with his heart pierced. Reinheit slowly crumpled. Junghyeok and the others approached him.

Hearing the footsteps draw nearer, Reinheit muttered, "In the end, is everything nothing more than a small amusement for beings of great status...?"

Junghyeok silently looked down at him. Reinheit let out a short breath as he stared at the sky where the Perpetual Motion had vanished.

"No one will believe me, but I only..."

His words were swallowed by the shouts of the enraged Incarnations. They were all Incarnations who had received Paradise's protection. Some cursed him as a hypocrite, while others shouted that Reinheit had to be killed immediately.

Now that they knew Paradise's secret, no one defended Reinheit. Yet none of them willingly dirtied their hands to harm him. One reason was that they lacked the courage. The other was that someone made it impossible.

Before Junghyeok's murderous bearing, the Incarnations could only freeze and watch Reinheit die. Reinheit laughed bitterly at the Incarnations who had once been his people.

No one would understand. His beliefs and oath would remain in no one's story.

"I, I truly..."

"I know."

At that brief reply, Reinheit slowly blinked. It was Junghyeok.

Junghyeok's sword slowly returned to its sheath. Blood flowed from Reinheit's eyes. He understood? Reinheit smiled emptily.

"Is that so? You understand..."

Reinheit couldn't understand the emotion he felt. Why did it feel as though this man, whom he had met for the first time today, truly understood him?

Junghyeok silently looked down at him. As if returning that gaze, Reinheit spoke with difficulty.

"...You're planning to go to the next floor, aren't you?"

The next floor. The place where this Dark Castle's final Scenario awaited.

"You won't find what you're looking for. This castle is only a playground for the constellations. I hope you have good luck. On the next floor..."

Tsssss...!

Reinheit's body exploded.

When Junghyeok glared silently into the air, the dokkaebis were spinning around with grins on their faces.

[Ahem, spoilers are forbidden.]

[That's right, that's right. That's no fun.]

As if they had been waiting, the constellations' messages poured down like starlight.

[Multiple constellations admire the performance of the incarnation Yu Junghyeok!]

[The constellations of the absolute good alignment agree with the judgement of the incarnation Yu Junghyeok.]

[Some constellations express regret over the collapse of Paradise.]

...

[Multiple constellations have sponsored 150,000 coins!]

Yet not the slightest change showed on Junghyeok's face. His eyes showed neither joy nor sorrow.

[You have defeated Demon Marquis Reinheit!]

[You have obtained 150,000 coins.]

[You have obtained the Legendary-grade fable "Paradise of Despair".]

[Your Dark Castle ranking is being adjusted!]

[You have obtained a new Main Scenario.]

[Main Scenario #10 - 73rd Demon King has been temporarily opened.]

It was a perfect clear, so perfect that there couldn't have been a better conclusion. It hadn't gone according to his plan, but he had raised his Dark Castle ranking, gathered coins, and obtained clues for the next Scenario.

Even so, Junghyeok couldn't understand these complicated feelings.

"S-Saviour!"

When he turned at someone's shout, people were rushing toward him. They surrounded him as though worshipping a messiah, kneeling or wiping away tears.

They were thanking the person who had destroyed their Paradise without end.

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"If it hadn't been for you..."

Listening to those words, Junghyeok looked down at his bloodstained hands. Only then did he feel as though he understood what he was feeling.

He had never intended to save these people.

The humans of Paradise didn't matter to him in the slightest. If Reinheit had seen them as sacrifices for Paradise, then Junghyeok saw them only as sacrifices to clear the Scenario.

"Thank you."

As he listened to the words repeating like a refrain, Junghyeok thought.

His goal was to finish every Scenario and save the world.

He had lived swinging his sword for that grand purpose. Over a life that repeated through countless rounds, some things had gradually worn away. What squeezed his heart even tighter was that he had no idea what had been there before they wore away.

To avoid being consumed by such thoughts, he had become accustomed to losing things. He had stood by and watched people die. He had accepted the sacrifice of the few for the many.

Then why, all of a sudden...

Why couldn't he picture the scene that would unfold at the end of this Scenario?

He silently looked down at Reinheit, who had turned to ash. It was hard to believe that Reinheit had existed only moments ago.

"May I ask your name?"

Someone asked him for his name.

In the Star Stream, fame was directly tied to the strength of one's fables. By answering that question with his name, he could gain a new achievement. Junghyeok knew that well.

Even so, why?

With a blank expression, Junghyeok muttered.

* * *

"Kim Dokja."

...What?

"Y-Your name is Kim Dokja?"

The moment I saw that scene while observing the party through 'Third-Person Perspective,' I shuddered.

[A new achievement has been added to your fifth fable.]

[The residents of Paradise remember Kim Dokja, Liberator of Paradise.]

[The fable Lonely Messiah has grown even richer.]

I couldn't understand what was happening. Seeing the people of Paradise chant the name Kim Dokja, I felt like I was about to have a panic attack.

Why was my name suddenly coming up there? What was that bastard plotting? Was he trying to pin everything on me?

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire sheds streams of tears at true camaraderie.]

Uriel, who had been quiet for a while, started getting excited again. In the past, I would've snapped at her, but ever since returning from the banquet, I couldn't bring myself to say anything harsh.

Anyway, that Junghyeok bastard...

That egotist would never share his achievements with someone else. It wasn't like he was trying to be friends with me now.

Come to think of it, everyone except Han Suyeong and me had gathered in one place. Well, Pildu Gong wasn't here either...

Damn it, where had that man gone now?

"Sangah, why were you looking for Mr. Dokja earlier?"

The party had been buzzing over the Chimera Dragon Yuseong and Gilyeong had tamed, but they were now talking about Dokja.

"Well..."

The others' expressions changed by the moment as they listened to Yu Sangah's explanation. I was surprised too. I hadn't expected Sangah to have overheard the Prophecy of the Moirai.

It seemed Sangah had also struggled to save me somewhere I didn't know about. Ms. Sangah had...

I was truly grateful.

"Mr. Dokja is going to die?"

"By someone he loves?!"

「The incarnation Kim Dokja will die at the hands of the being he loves most.」

They all looked deeply shocked. Huiwon looked incredulous, Yuseong was full of concern, and Lee Hyeongseong seemed lost in thought.

Lee Jihye spoke first.

"But Mr. Dokja comes back to life whenever he dies, right? Isn't that okay?"

Sangah answered, "It would be a relief if that were true, but we still don't know how many times he can revive..."

"Since it's a prophecy of Olympus, won't it be difficult to avoid so easily?"

At Hyeongseong's words, the party's faces became serious again. Huiwon asked, "So who is the 'being Dokja loves most'? Shouldn't we figure that out first?"

Footnotes:

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