WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 200: Episode 37: The demon realm's landscape (5)
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When I looked back, the tavern owner was watching me with curious eyes. I answered as naturally as I could.
“I just arrived yesterday.”
“Welcome. Life in our industrial complex is tough, but people are generous enough. It isn't a bad place to settle down. I don't know where you're from, but would you like a drink?”
“No, I don't really like alcohol.”
“Heh heh, the Demon Realm isn't the kind of place you can endure without knowing the taste of alcohol. What a shame.”
Hearing that reminded me of when I first joined Mino Soft. When I said I couldn't drink at my first company dinner, Manager Han Myeongoh had said something similar.
Come to think of it, what had happened to Myeongoh by now? After he received Demon King Asmodeus's curse, there had been no way to tell whether he was dead or alive...
Maybe recalling those exhausting days made me hungry.
“I don't drink, but I like food. Can I order something without getting alcohol?”
“Of course. Fried Death Demon Claws, stir-fried demon intestines from Ruin Lodge, and...”
I smiled bitterly.
“You should stop making fun of a first-timer.”
“Haha, you caught me.”
“Give me your best dish. How much?”
“Just five coins.”
It was remarkably cheap. Even a small Constellation from peace land could afford a meal at that price. After thinking for a moment, I asked, “If I pay double, can you make it twice as delicious?”
“Haha, I could make it three times as delicious.”
When I silently handed over fifty coins, the owner's eyes widened.
“...Ten times might be a little difficult, but I'll try.”
Despite his words, a convincing aroma soon drifted from the kitchen. The owner seemed to be a fairly skilled cook. I found myself looking forward to finally satisfying my hunger. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd eaten a proper meal.
I let out a small sigh as I tried to soothe my empty stomach. I'd been running hard all this time, so taking a short break wouldn't be so bad.
“Incredible. Is that place called Earth?”
A group of Incarnations had gathered beneath the panel hanging above the tavern.
It was recorded footage from the dokkaebis' channels. The scene seemed strangely familiar, and before long, a familiar voice began to play.
“Uncle!”
The footage showed a scene from the Seoul Dome Scenario. Of all things, it was a record of the tenth Scenario, the 73rd Demon King. Hearing Shin Yuseong's voice from the screen made a corner of my heart ache. I pulled up my coat collar to hide half my face as I watched.
“That Scenario has one hell of an impact. Just like the rumors said.”
“Isn't that the most popular Scenario area these days?”
“Those Incarnations over there must be having the time of their lives!”
All mass media in the Demon Realm was controlled by the Hunchbacks. Since the Hunchbacks couldn't open channels like the dokkaebis, they couldn't earn income through sponsorships. Instead, they made money by stealing recorded footage and spreading it throughout the Demon Realm.
“Looking at the difficulty, it doesn't seem like much. I could handle that.”
“Don't talk nonsense. If you'd gone there, you would've died before clearing even the fifth Scenario.”
“Hey, that's not true!”
The people grumbling as they watched the screen gradually changed expressions as the 73rd Demon King Scenario approached its end.
“Uriel, you know. This is only that kind of ‘story.’”
It felt truly strange to hear my own words through the screen.
“You've seen people die many times before, haven't you?”
Uriel had been very sad back then.
When I turned around, a few Incarnations had tears in their eyes. Some were angry, some despaired, and some sighed.
“Fuck, this is too sad...”
...It was an unfamiliar feeling. These Incarnations sympathized with the story I had experienced despite it not being their Scenario. Some even looked as though they had received comfort from it. Perhaps Constellations weren't the only ones who needed stories.
Everyone needed stories.
“Do you think we could do that much if we returned to our home Scenarios?”
“Lampert, do you want to go back?”
“If I could, it isn't like I wouldn't.”
“Kekeke, then ask a Hunchback. They'll send you whenever you want.”
“...You call that a joke? I don't want to become a Catastrophe in my hometown.”
At the word Catastrophe, the atmosphere inside the tavern stiffened for an instant. Only for an instant, though. Topics everyone avoided tended to change quickly.
“Here you are. Food ten times as delicious.”
I accepted the food with a faint smile. The plate held fried food in a pale batter and a simple noodle dish. The savory aroma alone told me it was an excellent meal.
As I picked up the plate and looked around, I spotted a small head focused on the panel like everyone else.
They hadn't even noticed me approach, and their eyes were wet with tears. I clicked my tongue softly and dropped into the seat beside them.
“What, do you miss it after watching?”
“Eek!”
The way they flinched was adorable. They looked exactly as I'd imagined. I gently pressed down on Jang Hayoung's shoulder as they tried to slip away.
“Don't be so wary. I just want to eat together.”
Hayoung gave me a suspicious look, then obediently sat back down. There were plenty of other Incarnations nearby, so they probably decided I wouldn't hurt them. After hesitating, Hayoung spoke first.
“Are you done talking to Aileen?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you talk about?”
“You don't need to know.”
“...But that's a special dish.”
“Eat if you want.”
Hayoung grabbed a fork as if they'd been waiting for permission. The pile of noodles vanished into their mouth before I could even see where it had gone. Come to think of it, one of their skills was [Shamelessness].
“It's not bad.”
After instantly devouring more than half my food, Hayoung asked, “...You're from Earth too, right?”
“Yeah.”
My face had never appeared clearly on screen. Someone had deliberately edited it so it looked as though I'd been punched in the face.
That bastard Bihyeong, why did he edit only my face like that? In any case, Hayoung probably wouldn't recognize my real appearance because of it.
“...What was it like?”
“Terrible.”
That single word seemed enough for Hayoung to understand everything. People who had experienced Scenarios didn't need grand descriptions of tragedy.
“Are you on the screen too?”
“I am.”
“Where?”
“I'm on now.”
At that moment, a close-up of Junghyeok's handsome face filled the screen. Fortunately, the coat I was wearing was dirty enough to resemble his black coat. If I insisted hard enough, Hayoung might actually believe me... But Hayoung's expression was far from convinced.
“You don't look anything alike...”
“It is me.”
“No. You look like a lump of pottery clay someone tried to shape but crushed, while he looks like he spent a thousand days beneath the touch of a god...”
“I'm an Exile. The fable around my face collapsed.”
“Even if a fable collapsed, that's a little... At least make your lies believable.”
...Damn it. My feelings were one thing, but I still had to achieve my goal.
“Fine, it's not me. Still, he's cool, right?”
“Somewhat.”
“He's really good at fighting too.”
“Is he?”
“I'll introduce you when we get to Earth. I'm pretty close to him.”
Hayoung's eyes wavered at those words. They had no choice but to take the bait. In TWSA, Jang Hayoung was established as someone who admired Junghyeok. If I persuaded them now and strengthened their desire to return...
“Why would I want to meet him?”
“Huh? No, I just...”
“I'm more interested in that person over there.”
“Who?”
“Over there.”
On screen was a figure surrounded by pitch-black demonic energy. A man stared at his Allies with sorrowful eyes. His face wasn't clear, but I knew exactly who it was.
It was me.
Looking at Hayoung's sparkling eyes, I wondered what the hell was going on.
“You can't even see his face properly.”
“What does that matter?”
I was scrambling for words when cheers suddenly erupted throughout the tavern.
“Waaaaah!”
“No! Open your eyes, Demon King of Salvation!”
“Damn it! My tears won't stop!”
[Your fame in the 73rd Demon Realm has increased.]
[You have acquired 1,500 coins.]
Wait, was I really this popular? I was suddenly beginning to regret pretending to be Junghyeok. But it was too late to say that person was actually me.
“Survive, Yu Junghyeok.”
As the Scenario finally reached its end, people began to cry out. Some were completely swept up in the emotion and couldn't pull themselves out of it. Hayoung murmured with an entranced expression.
“Ah, I wonder if he already has a girlfriend.”
My heart dropped.
“What? Who?”
“The Demon King of Salvation. Do you know that person too?”
“I do know him, but...”
I frowned as I looked into Hayoung's beautiful eyes. Their clear eyes and soft, pale cheeks were stunning. But...
“You're a guy, aren't you?”
If my memory was right, Jang Hayoung was male. Because that damned TWSA author had accepted every one of my comments, then changed just one thing however he pleased.
Hayoung's gender.
Hayoung frowned. “Earthlings really do judge everything by appearances.”
Just as I was about to ask what that was supposed to mean, the tavern owner suddenly turned off the lights. Then, in a very low voice, he addressed the entire tavern.
“Night is coming.”
Deep silence spread through the tavern at those few words. It was a far sharper silence than when the word Catastrophe had come up earlier.
Hayoung met my eyes and raised an index finger to their lips.
“Shh.”
On closer inspection, it wasn't only this tavern. Other taverns and stores on the street were closing their doors and turning off their lights. Sounds disappeared in an instant.
It was as though the entire industrial complex had sunk into the deep sea.
From the now-empty street came an eerie sound like a flute. A few industrial citizens covered their ears to avoid hearing it. Only then did I remember something.
「A special ‘night’ comes to the Demon Realm.」
As I heard The Fourth Wall's voice, I recalled the setting from TWSA.
「All industrial citizens of the industrial complex fear the nobles. It wasn't simply because the nobles were strong. It was because of this ‘night,’ which came once every three days.」
“Please, just pass by. Please...”
Someone muttered that. After some time passed, I sensed something moving down the street as the windows froze with a crackling sound.
Sssssss.
The industrial citizens held their breath and looked away as though they couldn't see it. Some had buried their heads on the tables and bowed low. The shadow of a massive scythe flickered beyond the frozen windows.
「When night comes, an ‘Executioner’ appears in the industrial complex.」
「If the industrial citizens have a ‘Revolutionary,’ the nobles have an ‘Executioner.’」
The reason industrial citizens trembled in fear yet couldn't resist the nobles, and the reason the duke maintained absolute authority over the industrial complex.
It was because of that Executioner.
The moment the tavern door opened, everyone squeezed their eyes shut. A voice like glass scraping against glass came from the deep darkness.
[Wh o is the Revo lution ary.]
It was about twice the size of an adult man and had an appearance that called the Grim Reaper to mind. Its face was hidden beneath a black cape, but the ominous aura it gave off was enough to reveal its power.
[The target is currently under the protection of the Scenario.]
[The target is currently invincible.]
No being could confront the Executioner within the industrial complex at night.
The owner who had served me food and the people who had noisily chatted while watching the Scenario all stared at the floor with pale faces.
Today, the Executioner had chosen this tavern as its execution ground. Someone here would definitely die tonight.
[Wh o is the Revo lution ary.]
Whenever the Executioner's scythe passed beside someone, they curled up. It looked almost like a game. When I stared at it closely, Hayoung was startled and tugged on my collar.
“Don't make eye contact.”
At that small sound, the Executioner turned this way.
“Fuck...”
More precisely, toward Hayoung, who had cursed.
Hayoung began to tremble as the Executioner slowly approached. Their face showed that they had sensed their own death.
I rested my hand on Hayoung's completely terrified head and slowly stood. Hayoung looked up at me, their mouth opening and closing in surprise. The Executioner watched me with ominous eyes.
「Kim Dokja thought, What would Junghyeok have done?」
That bastard would never have revealed himself here.
Junghyeok would have hidden himself until the end and looked for the situation where he could gain the most.
He would have finished every kind of investigation to participate in the industrial complex's Scenario, then agonized alone over discovering the Revolutionary's identity.
「Kim Dokja thought, That was why he had regressed hundreds of times.」
The Executioner slowly gripped its scythe and spoke to me in a chilling voice.
[Wh o are y ou.]
At the moment everyone in the tavern focused on me, I spoke loudly enough for all of them to hear.
“I am the Revolutionary.”
Footnotes:
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