WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: ChaoticRain

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 199: Episode 37: The demon realm's landscape (4)

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Yu Junghyeok's declaration that he would become the "73rd Demon King" had appeared in TWSA as well. Feeling a little excited, I watched the industrial citizens' council members for their reactions.

"Um, so..."

It was strange. In TWSA, everyone should've gone, "Ooh!" and bought into it. Yet their reaction wasn't nearly as dramatic as I'd expected.

That was when I heard a voice.

「The demon king of the 73rd Demon Realm! Aileen and the other industrial citizens' council members were deeply shocked that someone would dare speak such words aloud.」

When had this bastard woken up? Whenever I needed him, he claimed he was sleepy and disappeared...

「Meanwhile, Kim Dokja somehow seemed stronger.」

...What?

「It was a habit he had had since his school days. Whenever his self-esteem dropped or he faced an important moment in life, Kim Dokja would say, "I am Yu Junghyeok."」

I grimaced as I endured [The Fourth Wall]'s torment of digging up my embarrassing past. Damn it, there really was nothing I could do about this bastard.

"Could the council members please leave for a moment? I need to speak with this person alone."

After thinking for a moment, Aileen made her decision. Once Jang Hayoung and the council members left the room, Aileen pulled over a chair and sat close beside my operating table.

"How about you untie me before we talk? I'm not exactly in a condition to have a conversation."

Aileen didn't undo my restraints. It meant she still didn't trust me.

"You said you were going to become a demon king."

"That's right."

I nodded for now.

"Do you understand what that means?"

"It means exactly what it sounds like. I'll become the king of the 73rd Demon Realm."

"And?"

"It also means I'll draw the attention of the other seventy-two demon kings."

That part did bother me a little. I hadn't exactly built friendly relationships with the demon kings.

Aileen sighed as she studied my expression.

"I caught a glimpse of your fable composition while treating you, but... I can't even begin to understand what you're thinking."

"What's the problem?"

"The Duke of Seisvitz is strong. Probably stronger than you think."

Aileen spoke calmly. Naturally, anyone who had survived in the Demon Realm for so long had a reason for it.

"Of course he's strong. He's a duke."

Dukes. Those at the peak of the Demon Realm's five noble ranks. As their title suggested, they were the strongest beings in the Demon Realm after the demon kings. Some even possessed power close to that of Historical-grade constellations, so they certainly weren't opponents to take lightly. Still, Aileen's assessment was fair.

"I understand your confidence. I've already seen that you possess remarkable fables."

As she repaired my fables, she seemed to have roughly gauged my strength. She hadn't had enough time to inspect the fables I had hidden away, but she had probably looked through one or two Legendary-grade fables. This meeting had likely been arranged because she had seen some possibility in my fables.

Aileen continued calmly.

"Prove that you're someone I can trust."

"I'll make an Existence Oath."

"Nothing discussed here can be leaked outside."

With our hands pressed together, we made an [Existence Oath], an oath sworn upon our souls.

If either of us broke it, the oathbreaker would burn their own soul and destroy themselves. I had once made this oath with Junghyeok as well.

"I'd also prefer it if you didn't reveal my identity."

"I know. All the council members who participated in repairing your fables share this oath, so don't worry."

Aileen let out a quiet sigh, then spoke in a whisper, as if afraid someone might overhear.

"Our industrial citizens' council has been waiting for a chance to bring down the Factory for a long time."

The Factory was the industrial complex's core and the center of its power. Wanting to destroy it made their goal obvious from the start. I knew the general details through TWSA, but I decided to ask anyway. Since I had no way to reread TWSA now, gathering information directly was important too.

"You're planning to drive out the nobles?"

"Yes."

"You're Returnees anyway. Why interfere with the Demon Realm's way of life?"

"Because we aren't Returnees yet."

In a sense, there was no more accurate way to put it.

"I see."

Not every Returnee completed the Dimensional Movement Scenario and returned to their hometown. Some failed their Scenarios, while others remained in foreign lands because they hated their homes. Those who gave up on returning for any reason had to make that foreign land their new home. No matter how terrible the place was, they had to plant their feet there and live.

"We've tried to kill the duke several times already."

"Judging by the fact that he's still alive, every attempt must have failed."

"...They weren't bad plans. At least, not until they all failed. Among them were masters from the First Martial World and people who had reached the highest realm on their home planets."

"How did you find people like that?"

"They were cases similar to yours. They had all failed or been expelled from their home Scenarios."

That was why Aileen treated Exiles.

She wanted to gather as many strong industrial citizens as possible and resist the ruler of Seisvitz Industrial Complex. She had decided to use her talent for the revolution.

"Most of them couldn't even get close to the duke, much less break through his guards."

"Does he have that many guards?"

"There are nearly a hundred lower nobles in the Factory, barons and viscounts alone. There are ten counts and two marquises as well."

A large number of guards was a problem. Even lower nobles of the Demon species were stronger than most Incarnations.

Furthermore, everyone above count rank could wield the power of fables. Of course, the greatest problem was that the duke's power was likely stronger than all those subordinates combined. I answered as if it were nothing.

"That's manageable."

"The other Exiles said the same thing."

"I'm stronger than they were."

Junghyeok had probably said something similar. And right now, I was Yu Junghyeok.

But Aileen didn't know who Junghyeok was.

"If they had truly been strong, they wouldn't have failed their home Scenarios."

It was true, so I had no way to argue. It would've been awkward to explain that there had been complicated circumstances. Fortunately, Aileen still seemed to hold some hope for me.

"Then I'd like you to prove your abilities first."

"Like this?"

As if I had been waiting for it, I freed myself from the restraints binding my body. The restraints snapped apart with a crackle. Aileen looked a little surprised, but she didn't panic.

"The other Exiles could do that much too. I need to know whether you can deal with nobles."

"What do you want?"

"As it happens, a suitable opponent has come to Seisvitz."

"You mean the envoy from Gilobat Industrial Complex."

"Yes."

I gave a quiet laugh.

"I think I understand what you're planning."

"I'm sorry to involve you in it."

The 73rd Demon Realm was currently in turmoil because of rumors about a demon king. The meeting between Seisvitz Industrial Complex and Gilobat Industrial Complex had been planned to ease that sense of impending conflict.

"The most dangerous enemy is always the closest ally."

If they could make good use of this opportunity and incite the nobles to turn on one another, they could divide the industrial complex's noble class. Aileen had acquired a new piece for her board, so she wouldn't want to let this chance pass. Even if she failed, she had little to lose.

But I had no intention of simply letting myself be used.

"Let's make this our first deal."

"All right. What are your conditions?"

"Whenever I ask, repair my Incarnation body. For free, of course."

Until my Incarnation body became sturdier, I needed to keep consuming fable fragments. I didn't know when another conflict between fables would arise. For the time being, I needed Aileen's help.

"If you succeed, I can do that much. Is that all?"

"One more thing."

This was the real point.

"Transfer the Scenario to me."

"...The Scenario?"

After all, that was why I had come to Seisvitz Industrial Complex.

"I need the Revolutionary Scenario you have."

* * *

The Demon Realm had never been popular among Constellations. That was partly because Constellations and demon kings had poor relations, and partly because most Incarnations who entered the Demon Realm were failures to begin with.

As soon as I left the operating room, the tavern came into view.

"Fuck, this booze tastes goooood."

Industrial citizens' groans came from all around me. It was late evening.

Workers and Incarnations who had returned from a full day at the Factory gathered in small groups, drinking. Their faces were twisted as if the aftertaste were bitter. I remembered reading in TWSA that alcohol in the Demon Realm was more bitter than alcohol aboveground.

「Kim Dokja wondered who among them was the Revolutionary.」

Scenarios continued even in the Demon Realm. The Star Stream didn't neglect the stories of any region. In particular, the Revolutionary Scenario, one of this place's Main Scenarios, was one even the dukes of the Demon Realm watched closely.

"I don't know how you learned about the Scenario, but it's difficult for us to help you right away. We don't know who the Revolutionary is either. We can't recommend transferring the Scenario when we don't even know the Revolutionary's identity, can we?"

"You have no information at all?"

"Even if we obtain information, the Revolutionary changes every month, so there's no way to know. Honestly, what Incarnation would confess that they had become the Revolutionary? We don't know where a Spy might be..."

That was what Aileen had said. But if my prediction was right, the Revolutionary was definitely among them.

「The Revolutionary Scenario was a Main Scenario unique to the Demon Realm. Its Scenario number changed each time, but the beings who encountered this Scenario event were always the same. They were the Demon Realm's oppressed class.」

At times like this, I was glad to have [The Fourth Wall]. Even without TWSA, it immediately refreshed my memories.

"The industrial citizens here clearly remember what happened to the last person who declared that they were the Revolutionary. So don't stir people up for no reason. They'll all become anxious."

I understood how Aileen felt, but I couldn't simply wait around. My Incarnation body had been repaired, so I could endure the Exile Penalty for the time being, but that would only last a few days.

「Kim Dokja thought, I have to obtain the Revolutionary Scenario here to return to my original Scenario.」

Then I heard an unfamiliar voice.

"You there. You're a face I haven't seen before."

Footnotes:

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