WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: ChaoticRain

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◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 189: Episode 35: 73rd Demon King (6)

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My allies were still staring at me with stunned expressions. Their eyes were full of confusion, wondering what the hell had happened. Yu Junghyeok, embedded in the wall, was still coughing up blood without regaining consciousness. I looked at them for a moment before turning toward the walls of the hall.

My reflection showed in the black, glossy stone wall. Black wings sprouted from my shoulder blades. Small horns rose from my head. Traces of demonic energy were branded across my skin. My body had grown three or four times larger than usual, and the muscles across my body were hugely swollen even without me flexing them.

"Th-this is impossible! Why is Dokja a Demon King...!"

"What the hell is this without any explanation? What are we supposed to do?!"

Sangah and Jihye cried out. Huiwon, Hyeongseong, Gilyeong, and Yuseong... Even Pildu Gong and Yeongran. Everyone was looking at me in shock. I opened my mouth.

"From this moment on, you have to hunt me."

[The first phase of 73rd Demon King has begun.]

[The time limit for clearing this is 30 minutes.]

"We don't have much time. Start now."

A terrifying aura flowed from my entire body. Even if I stood still and took their attacks, I doubted my allies could reduce my Constitution to zero within the time limit.

Huiwon and Hyeongseong shouted desperately.

"I don't want to fight you, Dokja!"

"I can't obey that order!"

I understood how they felt. If I were in their position, I would hesitate too. I deliberately smiled at them.

"I don't know why you're all being so serious. Have you forgotten who I am? I'm Kim Dokja. I don't stay dead even when I die."

At my words, Hyeongseong's innocent expression wavered.

"...Will you come back to life this time too?"

"Yes."

"But from what I heard earlier..."

"I only said that to provoke Yu Junghyeok."

Even though I hadn't used [Incitement], conflict appeared on my allies' faces. Their trust in me was likely clashing with the burden of having to attack me.

"Trust me. This is the most ideal way."

In the end, my allies had no choice but to attack me. There was no other way. If they didn't kill me, everyone here would die.

Suyeong glared at me with terrifying eyes.

Before she could speak, I sent her a signal.

‘Han Suyeong.’

Suyeong's face turned pale after reading my lips.

‘You're the only one. You have to take this role.’

Both Suyeong and I knew it. My allies were tougher than any other Incarnations, but they lacked decisiveness in a situation like this. Suyeong, on the other hand, was quicker and more realistic in judging a situation than anyone I knew.

"...You're always like this, Kim Dokja."

Suyeong spoke through gritted teeth.

"Do you really think I'm some monster with no feelings?"

Suyeong looked at me for a moment, then turned toward the others. Everyone's eyes focused on her, as if everything would be decided by a single word from her. Suyeong took a light breath, then spoke heavily.

"Get a grip, everyone. Do you all want to die here?"

I smiled. Yes, good job.

"We have to kill Kim Dokja."

That was Han Suyeong.

"No! No! Bro!"

Suyeong grabbed Gilyeong by the back of the neck as he ran toward me.

"You stupid brat. Listen carefully."

Gilyeong struggled as he gasped for breath. Suyeong grabbed his collar and growled.

"Quit whining. Are you going to die in Kim Dokja's place?"

"Ah, ahh..."

"It's the same for all of you. Don't act righteous when none of you are willing to sacrifice yourselves. If someone's offering to die in your place, say, ‘Oh, thank you very much,’ and swing your damn swords!"

Dozens of Han Suyeong's clones opened their mouths at once.

"Whether Kim Dokja comes back to life or not isn't my problem. If we don't kill that bastard in the next 30 minutes, we'll die. That's all you need to know!"

Suyeong's clones charged at me with reddened eyes. I spoke to her.

‘Thank you.’

Suyeong bit her lip until it bled and swung her dagger at me. Her raining attacks barely left a mark on my body, but this was only the beginning.

Then Sangah, who had met my gaze, slowly rose from her seat.

"Dokja."

Her eyes held an emotion I couldn't identify, as if she had made up her mind. I nodded while taking Suyeong's attacks.

"I don't think you're someone who would hurt others without thinking, Dokja. You have a plan, don't you? That's why you're deliberately creating this situation?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Really?"

Sangah was crying.

"...I should believe you again this time, right? Like I always have..."

As if she had known it. As if she was relieved.

Sangah roughly wiped away her tears, drew her dagger, and joined the battle. Suyeong's lips twitched.

"I thought you'd sit there and bawl your eyes out, but you're not bad."

"Be quiet."

The daggers swung by Suyeong and Sangah left small cuts across my shoulders and back. But the two of them still didn't have enough attack power. There were already 25 minutes remaining. We were running out of time to carry out the plan.

I looked at Hyeongseong.

"Hyeongseong. Are you going to let your allies die?"

"..."

"You said you would never lose another shell casing again."

"D-Dokja..."

"There isn't only one shell casing."

Hyeongseong's eyes shook like a sea caught in a storm.

[The constellation Master of Steel is deeply troubled.]

A brief moment passed. Hyeongseong made up his mind and shouted toward the sky. His body, strengthened by [Steel Transformation], charged at me.

Boom!

His sturdy body struck my entire body with a powerful impact. My vision shook faintly. Hyeongseong clung close and poured [Great Mountain Crush] onto me, looking less as if he were attacking me and more as if he were hanging onto me.

When would I ever see this bear-like man howling again?

The next thing I heard was the firing of Mana turrets.

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!

I smiled quietly toward the sound.

This is why I can't hate you.

Pildu Gong, his face twisted with all his strength, poured shells from [Armament Fortress]. Of course, I wasn't simply standing there and taking it.

[The Scenario's Plausibility controls your body.]

Regardless of my will, my body faithfully carried out the Demon King's phase. The attacks followed perfectly established patterns, so my allies could respond to them well enough.

"Everyone, stay focused. The second phase starts now."

73rd Demon King began using area attacks from the second phase onward. To block those attacks, we needed special support.

"Yeongran."

Yeongran met my gaze and borrowed Jeon Woochi's power to activate [Gimun Formation].

Whoooosh.

Like air being drawn out through a ventilation fan, the demonic energy I released vanished into the opening she created. Yeongran's face rapidly turned pale as she diverted the Demon King's demonic energy.

Wiping blood from her lips, Yeongran said, "Ms. Sukyeong will be sad."

"It can't be helped. We've always lived this way. Please take care of my mother."

Once the demonic energy subsided, my allies attacked me again. Their attack power was still lacking. I looked toward those who hadn't joined the battle yet. Jihye, biting her lip tightly, finally drew her sword.

"...Mister, don't get revenge on me later."

"I won't."

Jihye gave a weak smile at my words.

"...My attacks are weak anyway, so they probably won't hurt much. My constellation is only Historical-grade."

"Admiral Yi Sun-sin's potential isn't limited to that. You'll find out soon enough, Jihye."

Jihye activated [Song of the Sword], her blade moving to target my weak points. As the attacks gradually stacked up, I began to feel a faint prickling on my skin. The pressure was enough now.

From here on, I needed people who could land the decisive blow.

"Huiwon."

Huiwon raised her head and slowly gripped her sword.

"Do you remember... what you asked me before?"

"What was it?"

"You asked me to become your Companion."

I remembered. In the Theater Dungeon, I had asked Huiwon to become a Companion I could trust.

"Is this what you ask that ‘Companion’ to do now, Dokja?"

For a moment, I couldn't speak.

"...What kind of Companion is this?"

Huiwon raised her sword straight and charged at me.

"What kind of Companion has to kill another Companion just to survive?!"

Huiwon activated [Demon Slaying] and began wildly cutting at my body. Yet all she left behind was a harsh scraping sound. I spoke to her.

"Because you're a Companion I can trust, I've entrusted my life to you."

"..."

"Huiwon, you have to do it properly. Assume I'll come back to life and stab me with everything you have."

"Dokja, you really..."

Jeong Huiwon, the sword I'd raised.

Flames of [hellfire inferno] rose from Huiwon's body. Her eyes reddened as she began gathering her strength. Her true power reached its peak when the power of the Judge of Evil was added to the flames of [hellfire inferno].

Kim Dokja, who had become a Demon King, was the perfect target for that power.

[The character Jeong Huiwon has activated Hour of Judgement!]

[The majority of constellations of absolute good alignment agree to the skill's activation.]

[One constellation strongly opposes the skill's activation.]

[The skill's activation has been cancelled.]

Huiwon looked at me in alarm, and I looked up into the air. It was obvious who had opposed the activation of [Hour of Judgement].

"Demonic Judge of Fire."

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire covers her ears with a pained expression.]

"...Uriel."

Tzzzt!

As if answering the True name I called, sparks flew through the air.

"Please. Agree to the activation of [Hour of Judgement]."

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire shakes her head fiercely.]

"If you don't, your Incarnation will die."

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire says that if you do this, you will die.]

How nice it would have been if every Constellation were like Uriel. The fact that I had to hurt her was simply painful.

"Uriel, you know this. This is only that kind of ‘story.’"

I spoke like a dokkaebi.

"You've seen people die plenty of times by now."

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire despairs.]

I could picture it clearly from the message alone. The small, pretty Uriel I had seen at the banquet.

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire cries as she repeatedly shakes her head.]

What an angel she was, so unsuited to the modifier ‘demonic.’

"Do what you have to do. Only then can this story be completed."

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire looks down at you blankly.]

Then, shortly after, the message I had been waiting for appeared.

[All constellations of absolute good alignment have agreed to the activation of Hour of Judgement.]

At last, a bloody aura began rising from Huiwon's body.

"...Damn it, I really hate this skill's name."

The aura of [Hour of Judgement] burning across Huiwon's body combined with the power of [hellfire inferno] dwelling in her blade, creating an enormous wave of Mana.

The power to destroy all evil in the world.

The lofty flames of judgement left her blade and cut across the Demon King's chest.

Footnotes:

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