WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 188: Episode 35 — 73rd Demon King (5)

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"Stop! I said stop, you bastard!"

At that moment, the Main Scenario was also playing on a holographic screen at the Seoul branch of the Administration Bureau. Watching the Mana storm raging fiercely across the screen, a few dokkaebis let out groans.

The dokkaebis instinctively knew that what was about to unfold would become one of the greatest Scenarios since the Seoul Dome had opened. Bihyeong, watching the situation through his symbolic form, was one of them.

"Yu Junghyeok! You goddamn ■■■ bastard... Please!"

"Everyone, stop him! Stop Mr. Yu!"

A few dokkaebis complained about the filtered dialogue, but Bihyeong didn't.

Even with the filtering, Bihyeong could now understand some of their words.

Some words could be read even when they weren't fully written.

The Constellations who had been watching the channel all along were probably the same. Otherwise, messages like these wouldn't have appeared.

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire despairs at the tragic situation.]

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband tears out clumps of his hair.]

[The constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon wears a troubled expression.]

[The constellation Secretive Plotter watches the situation in silence.]

...

[Some constellations are greatly enraged by the nebulae's atrocities!]

[A considerable number of constellations are completely immersed in the unpredictable developments.]

Bihyeong didn't take his eyes off the screen. Junghyeok was becoming a Demon King, while Dokja and his companions tried to stop him. As he watched, Bihyeong remembered his days as a novice dokkaebi.

Those were the days when every event in the Star Stream could make him laugh or cry, when every story was precious and he couldn't bear not knowing what came next.

It was the endlessly pure feeling of childhood, when he had been completely absorbed in the Incarnations fighting on his channel.

As if trying to ignore the emotions stirring inside him, Bihyeong thought,

'It's only a story.'

No matter how tragic or sorrowful it was, a story was still only a story. He had seen most stories before, and he had forgotten what it meant to be moved long ago. All that remained were exaggerated, stale spectacles designed to provoke cheap catharsis.

Then why?

Clutching the egg in his arms, Bihyeong desperately wished,

'Damn it, Dokja. Do something. Pull another unexpected twist and make fools of every last one of them!'

Just like always, he hoped Dokja had another hidden card up his sleeve. Foolishly, a dokkaebi was placing that kind of hope in him.

"This is turning into a truly tragic development. Don't you think?"

Baram, the Seoul branch chief beside him, spoke. Bihyeong gave him a sidelong glare before replying.

"...It's a tragedy far too cruel for a half-formed Constellation."

The nebulae would suffer great losses because of this intervention.

Using Deus Ex Machina on this scale wouldn't end with simply sacrificing lower-ranked constellations. The constellations within the same nebula shared Plausibility, and they had suffered severe losses of Plausibility from this incident.

If a war broke out between nebulae under these circumstances, the losses caused by Dokja could become the decisive factor in their defeat on the battlefield. After a brief pause, Baram said,

"They must have judged Dokja's death to be worth it. As I said, they're extremely sensitive about matters related to the 'end of all things.' And they hold Dokja's potential in very high regard."

"...Then this is unfortunate."

"Hmm? Why is that?"

"Because Dokja won't die."

Bihyeong continued, not even understanding why he was making such a bold claim.

"Even if that Transcendent becomes a Demon King, he won't kill Dokja."

Bihyeong turned back to the screen. The nebulae's plan was likely to turn Junghyeok into a Demon King and have him kill Dokja. But that was the arrogance of constellations who didn't truly understand Junghyeok.

"Don't interfere!"

Watching Junghyeok shout on the screen, Bihyeong swallowed his boiling grief.

In the end, Junghyeok would die here. Dokja would survive. Then the constellations' Fate would pass over Dokja once again. If he survived, and survived again, then someday...

Baram smiled.

"You still don't understand Fate very well."

"...What?"

"Do you think the nebulae truly didn't know? Even if they don't know Dokja's future, do you believe they failed to analyze Dokja's personality as well? If so, you're underestimating the weight of Fate."

"What does that..."

Bihyeong's words were drowned out by the flash that burst from the screen the next moment.

[The Star Stream has announced the status of a constellation that has yet to receive a modifier.]

The entrancing light that flooded the entire holographic panel brought a genuinely moved expression even to Baram's face.

"Look. Fate will now be fulfilled."

* * *

"Dokja! What are you doing? Get a hold of yourself!"

Watching Junghyeok be consumed by demonic energy, I stood frozen in a daze.

"Are you perhaps worried about the world after I regress?"

"You're afraid this world will disappear the moment I vanish. Isn't that right?"

It was as if thousands of insects had crawled into my ears, their buzzing throwing my senses into chaos.

"Aaargh!"

My companions' cries were buried beneath the explosions around us.

"Even if I regress, this world won't disappear. My death won't reset this world."

The words Junghyeok had left behind were consuming my thoughts.

「Even if Yu Junghyeok regresses, this world won't disappear.」

I couldn't understand it. Junghyeok's Patron. That being had never responded to anything in TWSA...

It had actually given him an answer?

Why? Why now, of all times?

"Dokja!"

I didn't know.

[Exclusive Skill, Bookmark, has activated!]

[Bookmark No. 5, Kyrios Lordgrime, has been activated!]

[Exclusive Skill, Miniaturization Lv.3, has activated!]

[Exclusive Skill, Electrification Lv.11(+1), has been activated.]

My body shrank in an instant, drawing a white-blue trail toward Junghyeok.

"Kim Dokja!"

Junghyeok's growling shout rang out. White-blue Qi struck his blade, and a deafening crash shook the hall. The combination of [Gigantification] and [sky splitter] collided with the power of [Electrification] and [White Pure Star Energy].

Kuaaaang!

Watching the storm of exploding Aether, I thought that if Junghyeok was right, I no longer needed to worry about his regression.

If this world was guaranteed to remain even if he regressed, then I only had to keep living in this world.

"Think carefully, Dokja. You won't get many chances."

The violent collision of power made the muscles throughout my body creak. Both Junghyeok and I were pouring out strength that had reached its limit.

Kkaaaaang!

Feeling the blade coil around my fingertips, I realized something.

The pain reduced by [The Fourth Wall]. And Junghyeok, accepting all of it without any wall to shield him.

"No, that won't do."

It was fine because this world would remain even if he regressed?

He would sacrifice himself and end this Scenario?

"There's no development like this in the ending I want."

"You still don't understand? I have to become the Demon King...!"

"I'm the one becoming the Demon King."

"Don't talk nonsense! If you do that, you'll definitely die. Once you're expelled from the Scenario, resurrection or anything else will be useless!"

Junghyeok probably couldn't understand what I meant. There was an enormous wall between us, a gap neither of us could ever cross.

But because that wall existed, I had been able to watch him for so long.

I grew up reading his regrets, his despair, his dreams, and the indomitable will that never gave up.

"Think about it. Who would watch a story without its protagonist?"

Countless sentences surged through my head. I overcame every tragedy of my life through one story. The story of a person who never gave up, no matter what happened. That story made me, and at last, I was here.

"I'm repaying a debt."

"A debt? What are you talking about?"

"You saved me once, so I'm saving you too."

"What nonsense are you...!"

As I listened to Junghyeok's voice, I used the technique I had saved until now. A technique that could be used for only an instant by consuming all of my body's durability. It was my first time trying it, but in theory, it should be possible.

"I'll release [Miniaturization]."

At my words, the size of my body, covered in the brilliance of [Electrification], began returning to normal.

[Your current physical composition differs from the physical composition of the character.]

[You cannot use Electrification with your current physical composition.]

[A powerful Skill penalty is consuming your body!]

Tzzzt!

[Electrification] was a technique that could only be used while I was a small person. But if I released [Miniaturization] while using [Electrification], I could briefly use its power in my original body as well. Though my body would be driven to the brink of death, [Electrification]'s power would be amplified for that instant because [Miniaturization] had been released.

"Kim Dok...!"

The instant Junghyeok widened his eyes in shock, the full power of [White Pure Star Energy] engulfed the hall. Dazzling white-blue Aether swept through the chamber, and Junghyeok flew all the way to the wall before coughing up a large mouthful of blood.

A few steps away, I saw Lee Gilyeong pick up the jewel Junghyeok had dropped.

"Gilyeong, give me that."

Gilyeong hesitantly backed away from me.

"No. I heard everything. If I give this to you, you'll..."

The instant Gilyeong hesitated, Han Suyeong shouted.

"Idiot! Get away from Dokja!"

It was already too late. I closed the distance in an instant and snatched the jewel from Gilyeong's hand.

"I'm sorry, Gilyeong."

At the same time, a wave of [Electrification] erupted, flinging my companions away from me.

[Exclusive Skill, Bookmark, has been forcibly deactivated.]

My body had overloaded. Blood burst from all seven orifices at once. Holding onto my fading consciousness, I gripped the jewel tightly. Then the demonic energy flowing from it began wrapping around my body.

[The constellations of the nebula Veda smile with satisfaction.]

Right. This was what you wanted.

[You have fulfilled the qualifications to become the 73rd Demon King.]

[The jewel is astonished by your potential.]

[You have acquired a new Main Scenario!]

"Dokja!"

My companions' faint voices were cut off by a new system message.

[If you choose the path of the Demon King, you must annihilate every existence on the third floor of Dark Castle.]

[If you fail the Scenario, you will be permanently expelled from this Scenario.]

Scenario expulsion.

It didn't simply mean death. It meant being cast out forever from the flow governed by the ancient Star Stream. Dying in a terrible void untouched by the eyes of dokkaebis or constellations, where no stories existed...

No being in the Star Stream could endure that void. No Constellation could exist without Scenarios.

Now I knew for certain. I understood what those nebula bastards wanted. I understood perfectly well what this goddamn Fate was pointing toward.

"I will become the Demon King."

[The jewel has selected a new Demon King candidate.]

[A new 73rd Demon King has been chosen.]

Immense demonic energy seized every sense in my body.

[You have acquired a new fable!]

[You have inherited the power of the Demon King.]

My ragged body absorbed the immense demonic energy, recovering its strength in an instant. No, it was more than recovery. It was an enormous energy I had never felt before.

I was becoming something completely different from what I had been until now.

[The Star Stream announces your status.]

[Your status is fabled-grade.]

...

[Your Stigma has been unlocked!]

[Powerful demonic energy contaminates your constellation.]

[You have become a fallen Constellation!]

A fallen Constellation. That was what the Star Stream called a Demon King.

[Many constellations are greatly shocked by your choice.]

[Constellations of the absolute good alignment fiercely express hostility toward you.]

As the pitch-black demonic energy slowly cleared away, I saw my companions staring at me with blank expressions. Already on their knees, they trembled as if they couldn't believe it.

Far away, I could see Junghyeok's face, filled with dismay.

[The Main Scenario has been updated.]

[Main Scenario, 73rd Demon King, has begun!]

Looking at them, I spoke as if it were nothing.

"Everyone, get up."

Because the past three days had been for this moment.

"You all remember how to deal with a Demon King, don't you?"

The nebulae probably believed everything had gone according to their plan.

At last, as Fate decreed, Kim Dokja would die here.

But they didn't know.

Just as they had ordained this place as the stage for Fate's Scenario, I had spent the past three days preparing only for this moment, to escape that goddamn Fate.

Faint sunlight streamed through the cracks in the broken ceiling.

I looked up at that dazzling light and smiled.

"Now, let's begin the final Scenario."

Today is the day Incarnation Kim Dokja dies.

Footnotes:

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