WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: ChaoticRain

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◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 177: Episode 33: Re-reading (6)

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"...What?"

I was startled by the message.

Until now, my understanding of a "Constellation" had never increased. I opened [Bookmark] just in case, but Cheok Junkyung's modifier hadn't been added to the list.

Maybe it was because it said "by the slightest amount." It had probably increased by less than one percent. Still, I couldn't help feeling hopeful. If my understanding kept increasing, wouldn't I eventually be able to imitate a constellation's techniques too?

"...What is this?"

At Suyeong's voice, I looked up. The sky, whitened by the signs of an impending backlash, watched me with an ominous presence.

It was a White Night.

Across the vast plain, the two armies that had clashed lay scattered. Yet neither side had killed the other.

[Everyone... Kneel.]

A constellation's declaration.

How badly had Plausibility fallen apart for something like that to be heard so freely? Many incarnations who couldn't bear the status writhed in pain. Those blessed by their Patrons, as well as those with powerful mental energy, remained standing.

Suyeong was one of them.

"...Why the hell can we hear something like that?"

I frowned as I let out a low groan. I had considered that this might happen, but this was too much.

Suyeong shouted in frustration, "This is a complete mess. Are we all trying to die together?"

More than a few incarnations had recklessly raised their synchronization rates. The Plausibility of the Dark Castle Scenario was being drained to its limit, and sparks from the backlash leaped across the battlefield like fireworks.

"Kim Dokja, listen carefully, but don't let anyone know you can hear me. At this rate, you'll die."

As Bihyeong's voice echoed from somewhere, I looked over the ruined battlefield.

"There's only one way to escape Fate. Find a force that can protect you. Otherwise...!"

With a crackle, Bihyeong's voice was cut off. Someone was blocking even Bihyeong's voice.

At the same time, hundreds of gazes turned toward me.

Historical-grade constellations, and even some fabled-grade constellations, had maximized their synchronization with their incarnations and were glaring at me.

I swallowed as the air prickled around me. For the first time, I heard Cheok Junkyung's declaration.

[You seem afraid.]

"No. If anything, this has gotten interesting."

I meant it.

[Many constellations are looking at you!]

[Some constellations are chanting your name!]

[You have received 2,000 coins as a chanting bonus.]

Cheok Junkyung spoke again.

[The wall of Fate is high.]

"No matter how high it is, it's still a wall. If it comes down to it, I'll break it."

Who I loved. Who would kill me because of that.

I didn't know.

Yet just as I didn't know my own Fate, they didn't know me either.

"Let's go."

I ran across the battlefield. This time, I didn't hide my power.

"Bookmark Number Five, select Kyrios Lordgrime."

The moment Bookmark activated, I used [Electrification] and [Miniaturization].

[A Returnee's technique. Interesting.]

I could probably sweep away the battlefield with Cheok Junkyung's power. But I couldn't use it carelessly. My right arm had nearly been reduced to rags after using only the first of the Three Sword Forms.

I gulped down the highest-grade Constitution recovery potions I had bought from the Dokkaebi Compendium and ran across the battlefield.

"Everyone, move!"

White-blue trails streaked behind me. It was the power of Kyrios, the Returnee. The power of Electrification, which had surpassed Level 10 after reaching a constellation's status, dyed the battlefield of the Abyss Plains in white and blue waves.

"Aaaagh! What the hell is that?"

Like a tidal wave splitting in two, the incarnations fighting in tangled masses screamed and scattered.

"I don't know what you're fighting over, but that's enough."

Raising their rankings to clear the ninth scenario was fine, but nothing good would come from wasting themselves against one another like this.

"I-it's the Ugliest King! I heard he was dead!"

Some of the incarnations remembered me.

"Now that you know who I am, you can roughly figure out what's going on, right?"

A few incarnations put down their weapons and stepped back. Those whose fighting spirit had broken retreated. Others watched me with shining eyes.

[A considerable number of incarnations feel reverence for you.]

"Thank you for the eighth scenario. So the rumor that you resurrected was true."

Some remembered that I had sacrificed myself during "The Strongest Sacrificial Lamb." When I gave them a light nod, they willingly bowed and withdrew.

[The fable of your resurrection spreads far and wide.]

[The achievement Mediating Messiah has been added to your fifth fable.]

This side seemed to be forces from Paradise. Yu Junghyeok and the others were probably among them.

Then the other side was...

"Heh heh. We meet again, young man. How did you escape that formation?"

As expected, these were the Wanderers.

I asked Lee Boksun as she approached.

"Why are you fighting each other?"

"Why else? Because of you."

Lee Boksun, the old woman whose Patron was the constellation the Shaman King.

"You must not go on to the next Scenario."

"...Did my mother tell you that?"

Boksun didn't answer. She charged at me.

Her muscles rapidly swelled through the [Old but Strong] skill, and she rushed toward me, shoving aside nearby incarnations like a tank.

[All your stats have increased by 10 for 30 minutes through the blessing of the constellation Goryeo's Top Swordsman.]

[All your stats have temporarily surpassed human limits.]

I couldn't say I was someone who respected the elderly, but I did have a basic sense of manners.

This time was an exception.

"I'm sorry, but I won't go easy on you this time, Grandma."

"Come forth, spirits!"

[The constellation the Shaman King has bestowed its blessing!]

[The character Lee Boksun has activated the Stigma Invocation Rite Lv.4!]

Invocation Rite.

It was a troublesome Stigma that borrowed the power of a Historical-grade constellation. I tensed up, wondering which constellation's blessing she would receive, when a majestic presence suddenly stirred inside me.

[The constellation Goryeo's Top Swordsman frowns.]

[The constellation the Shaman King feigns indifference, saying this suddenly feels like too much trouble.]

[The character Lee Boksun's Stigma Invocation Rite Lv.4 has been cancelled!]

"Huh?"

Boksun blinked in confusion.

Fortunately, the Shaman King's laziness helped me this time. I couldn't tell whether it was genuine laziness or a reluctance to clash with Cheok Junkyung, but either way, it worked in my favor.

"No, this-"

Without the Shaman King's help, the attack was only backed by the power of fables Boksun had accumulated herself. There was no way I would lose.

When all my stats exceeded 100 through Electrification, tremendous strength surged from my entire body.

Boksun collided head-on with my fist, spat blood, and flew through the air.

"Stop Kim Dokja!"

The Wanderers' forces exceeded my expectations. It was hard to believe that a force this large had been defeated by Nirvana's Salvation Sect.

Then I noticed that strange things were mixed among the Wanderers.

Grrrrr!

Humans polluted by murky energy, transformed into demonic beings.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I knew that fable.

Suyeong muttered through gritted teeth, "Damn it, someone must have obtained the fable ranked third."

Third place in the Dark Castle rankings.

Davits, the "King of the Dead."

It seemed someone among the Wanderers' forces had killed Davits. On the battlefield of Dark Castle, "King of the Dead" was a fable as powerful as "Paradise of Despair." It turned dead humans into undead and made them fight.

"Run, Dokja! I'll break through here!"

Around fifteen of Suyeong's Avatars multiplied and simultaneously unwound the bandages around their right hands.

The black Mana gathered in her hands soon transformed into black flames that swept across the battlefield. I ran along the path Suyeong had opened. I passed through the demonic beings and shook off the Wanderers who rushed at me.

Soon, I saw Jo Yeongran using "King of the Dead."

So she was the one wielding the fable.

Joseon's Greatest Sorcerer, a Gimun Formation, and even "King of the Dead." Mother really had a versatile subordinate. Yeongran, who was gulping down Mana recovery potions as she fought, looked shocked when she saw me.

"How did you escape the Gimun Formation...? And the seal of the Eight-Jewel Bell should have been placed on you too."

"It wasn't easy."

Yeongran clenched her teeth and gathered Mana to prepare Daoist arts. She was probably now ranked third in Dark Castle.

"Please stand down. I don't want to hurt you."

"I can't...!"

She showed signs of using the Gimun Formation again, so I finally released the power I had been hiding.

The status bound to Cheok Junkyung burst free all at once.

[The constellation Joseon's Greatest Sorcerer is greatly flustered.]

The Daoist arts of the Gimun Formation shattered at once, and frothy blood poured from Yeongran's mouth.

Sparks flew behind her, followed by a voice.

[Th-this presence...! Why are you there!]

At last, even Jeon Woochi let out a declaration.

Cheok Junkyung answered.

[Get lost.]

[B-but you aren't even his Patron...!]

[I won't say it twice.]

[Urgh...]

Crushed beneath the overwhelming difference in status, Jeon Woochi vanished in an instant.

When her synchronization with her Patron was released, Yeongran could no longer bear the effects on Plausibility and staggered. Once she could no longer maintain "King of the Dead," the balance of the battlefield began to collapse as well.

"N-no. This can't happen, Kim Dokja!"

I ignored Yeongran and kept running.

With Cheok Junkyung's blessing, I wasn't afraid of the attacks pouring down on me. The difference between combined stats in three digits and two digits was this great.

After running for around five minutes, I finally saw the center of the battlefield.

It was the place where the strongest sparks on the battlefield were erupting.

On the plain where a White Night had come despite the late hour due to the signs of Plausibility, people I knew were pointing their blades at each other.

Suyeong, who had left her Avatars behind and followed me, opened her mouth.

"...Your mother's a monster."

I was surprised too.

I never thought mother would be that strong. I was sure I had more information than she did...

Mother was fighting Yu Junghyeok and the other Companions on equal terms despite their attacks. As far as I knew, no Incarnation could fight a Transcendent like that.

A huge bear's shadow rippled behind mother's back.

[Pitiable descendants... I do not wish to fight...]

I had once seen Yamata no Orochi descend in the same form in peace land. Mother of the Founder had descended her shadow upon my mother.

Suyeong shook her head, perhaps reminded of the nightmare of peace land.

"How can she do that...? She shouldn't have enough Plausibility."

"It's because of the Eight-Jewel Bell."

The Eight-Jewel Bell, one of the Three Heavenly Seals, shone brightly in mother's hand. That powerful constellation artifact was making up for the insufficient Plausibility.

"You say you don't want to fight, so why do you keep hitting us? Aaaagh!"

The huge bear's shadow swept across the plain, flinging Jihye and Hyeongseong away.

It had enough destructive power to crush them if it struck directly. Rushing in carelessly would only end badly.

"Dokja-ssi!"

Sangah was the first to recognize me. The others also looked happy to see me and retreated in my direction.

Huiwon shouted first.

"Dokja-ssi, try talking to your mother!"

"Hyung, is she really your mother? Shin Yuseong was just..."

"Dokja-ssi, it's dangerous. At this rate-"

They were all talking at once when it would have been hard enough to answer one person at a time.

Junghyeok, who approached last, said, "What a family. Parent and child are exactly alike."

Footnotes:

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