WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: ChaoticRain

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◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 202: Episode 38: Fake Revolutionary (2)

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Outside the Duke of Seisvitz's office.

Demon Count Sirok had been pacing outside for several dozen minutes, anxiety gnawing at them. It was because of Count Han, who guarded the office like a gatekeeper.

Han.

No one knew that bastard's real name. Everyone simply called them Han, so that was what they were called.

Han held the same rank of count as Sirok, but their origins were entirely different. They had connections to the Demonic God of Wrath and Lust, the Demon King of the 32nd Demon Realm. The Duke of Seisvitz likely kept Han close because the duke knew that fact well. Feeling inwardly intimidated, Sirok opened their mouth.

"I have something urgent to tell the duke."

"Tell me. I'll pass it along."

"That would be difficult."

"The duke is currently in an emergency meeting with the Gilobat delegation."

"When will it end?"

"How would I know?"

Sirok clicked their tongue inwardly. If they told Han, Han would surely try to steal the credit. That was why Sirok answered like this.

"Forget it. It isn't that urgent, so I'll wait."

Han's eyebrow twitched at those words. Sirok enjoyed seeing that expression.

'Bastard, keep wondering.'

In truth, Sirok's report was simple.

A demonic noble presumed to be a marquis of Gilobat had appeared in the industrial citizen quarters.

It didn't sound like much when put that way, but the more Sirok thought about it, the stranger the report became. After considering it for a moment, Sirok glanced toward the duke's office and asked.

"Is Gilobat's marquis inside as well?"

"Yes."

"It seems they came here directly without stopping elsewhere."

"Given the matter at hand."

At that businesslike answer, Sirok inwardly cheered.

'As expected, I was right.'

No matter how they looked at it, there wouldn't be two marquises in Gilobat's delegation. A marquis would at minimum serve as the leader of a delegation.

In other words, there was a high chance that the one pretending to be a demonic noble in the industrial citizen quarters wasn't a marquis of Gilobat.

That alone made the report worthwhile. It might not be a huge accomplishment, but it would help Sirok's record a little.

Perhaps wondering what Sirok was hesitating over, Han asked.

"Seeing you linger around like this, I suppose you're curious about who the next Demon King will be too."

"Ah, well. Of course."

It was a misunderstanding, but since Han had misunderstood anyway, Sirok thought it wouldn't hurt to ask about it.

"Is the delegation's visit because of the rumors about a Demon King appearing?"

"I can't tell you the details, but it's something like that."

"A Demon King appearing now is a ridiculous story... Don't you think so?"

No one even knew where the rumor had come from. Yet the whole 73rd Demon Realm was in an uproar over one rumor. Sirok found the situation absurd.

Seisvitz.

Gilobat.

Meledon.

Berkan.

For the past several centuries, the 73rd Demon Realm had maintained a proper balance between its four dukes. Yet the peace that had lasted for centuries was shaking because of a mere rumor. It didn't feel real.

But Han didn't seem to agree with Sirok.

"Signs of a Demon King have already appeared."

"What? How do you know that?"

"I heard Veda has joined hands with the Meledon industrial complex."

"Veda?"

It was a name Sirok knew well. Rather, it would have been strange not to know it. It was one of the names anyone had to know to survive safely in the Star Stream.

That was why Sirok couldn't help being shocked.

"...Don't tell me a nebula has moved directly?"

"More precisely, one of Veda's fabled-grade constellations has made contact with the Meledon industrial complex."

Constellations and Demon Kings were among the greatest enemies in the entire Star Stream. Yet the constellations had interfered in the affairs of the 73rd Demon Realm despite the backlash from Demon Kings. The scale still didn't seem large, but if a nebula had truly stepped in, this wasn't a situation to take lightly.

"A nebula is taking an interest. Does that really mean a Demon King will appear...?"

Sirok muttered with slightly dazed eyes. Even after spending so long in the Demon Realm, it still didn't feel real.

Still, there was at least one thing Sirok understood.

"...So that's why the duke is so busy."

"Because the duke is currently the closest to becoming a Demon King."

It was clear that one of the demonic nobles would take the position of Demon King. Looking at the other seventy-two Demon Kings, there were very few cases where a being other than a demon had become a Demon King...

Then, along with a light warning tone that echoed through the entire factory, a message appeared.

[A new Main Scenario has opened!]

[The 24th round of the Revolutionary Game has begun.]

Sirok was startled by the sudden message, but seeing Han's surprised expression, Sirok tried to act calm. Han asked first.

"What message was that?"

"Ah, you haven't been here long, so you don't know. It happens sometimes here. It's this place's Main Scenario. The Revolutionary Game."

"The Revolutionary Game?"

"It looks like the one who was hiding got caught by the Executioners... What an incredibly unlucky bastard."

The beginning of the Revolutionary Game meant that the hidden Revolutionary had appeared.

But there was no way a Revolutionary had really appeared in this industrial complex.

Everyone in the industrial complex clearly remembered what had happened to the last Revolutionary who appeared thirty years ago. Sirok added with a laugh.

"It's nothing, so don't worry. Just wait a little, and the Executioners will bring back that bastard's head on their own. It's been a while since we've had such an entertaining spectacle."

But no matter how long they waited, there was no message announcing the end of the game. Just as Sirok began to think something was strange, a low-grade noble appeared. Sirok recognized him at once.

The newcomer was one of the hidden Executioners.

As the noble ran breathlessly toward the office, Sirok asked first.

"What's going on?"

"Someone has made a Revolutionary Declaration!"

Though Sirok knew it was a stupid question, they couldn't help asking.

"...Who?"

"A new Revolutionary!"

"I'm asking for that bastard's name."

The low-grade noble stammered out the name. It was one Sirok didn't know. But Han, who had worn a bored expression all day, asked with delight.

"Wait, what did you just say?"

"Y-yes, it was definitely Yu Junghyeok..."

"That bastard said his name was Yu Junghyeok?"

Sirok asked urgently.

"You know him?"

"Of course I do."

Han's expression lit up. But it wasn't quite a smile. There was something twisted about it. Even Sirok, a demon, felt a chill run through the depths of their heart. Han asked.

"Where did that bastard appear?"

* * *

After Night retreated, I was summoned by Aileen again. More precisely, I was practically dragged there. My declaration had completely thrown the industrial citizen quarters into chaos.

"A new Revolutionary has appeared!"

Rumors buzzed throughout the streets. If Aileen hadn't rushed out and shut me inside her office, I would probably still have been buried among the industrial citizens. While Aileen pressed a hand to her furrowed brow and fumed, I calmly checked the Hidden Scenario's information.

+

Category: Hidden

Difficulty: SS

Clear Conditions: You impersonated the Revolutionary and became a Self-Proclaimed Revolutionary. Kill the real Revolutionary within the allotted time and inherit their position. Otherwise, you will meet a terrible end.

Time Limit: 30 days

Reward: 150,000 coins, entry into a new Main Scenario.

Failure: Death

+

I roughly understood what I had to do to enter the Main Scenario. No matter what, I had to find the real Revolutionary...

"All right, start asking questions."

"...Are you insane?"

Aileen looked dumbfounded.

"Do you know what you've done?"

"A revolution."

"What revolution? You're a fake!"

"What if I'm real?"

"There's no way you could be... Could you be...?"

The expression on Aileen's face, asking just in case, was cute. When I gave a casual shrug, despair colored Aileen's face.

"Of course there's no way! What were you thinking? We're all finished now!"

"Isn't this the development you wanted too? A revolution, killing the duke."

"Not like this! This is a fraud!"

"What's real or fake about a revolution? If it succeeds, it's real."

"A revolution isn't some word game!"

"I didn't make a Revolutionary Declaration lightly either."

"The fact that you can say it so easily proves how lightly you take it."

Deep anger filled Aileen's voice.

"Do you think a revolution will happen just because you step forward alone?"

"..."

"I've watched this industrial complex's revolutions for a long time. So many revolutions have failed, and so much blood has been spilled. And..."

"Don't treat past failures like scripture. Nothing changes if you do nothing."

"It's a Scenario where we can't do anything in the first place!"

I understood how Aileen felt. In fact, the Revolutionary Scenario had already become a Scenario in name only within this industrial complex.

It was the only protocol for rebellion that the Scenario allowed. Even so, the industrial citizens had abandoned this game long ago. They had no chance of winning.

That was why the Scenario had lost its value as a Scenario.

"That's why I had pinned my hopes on the Exiles. We can never kill the duke through the existing Scenario! We can't even kill those damned Executioners!"

"Scenarios are made to be broken. Look closely enough and there's a way to clear them."

"People will die. Because of you."

"I won't let that happen."

"Then you'll be the first to die."

"I won't die. I didn't die earlier either."

"That was...!"

Aileen spoke through tightly pressed lips.

"That was only because you got lucky. Do you think that Guard will protect you again?"

"Mm, I think they will."

"You might not know this, but a Guard's protection consumes life force. Their points decrease every time they use it, and eventually they die. Once is one thing, but no one will protect you two or three times!"

"The first time is what matters most."

"..."

"Aileen, you know this place better than I do, but I don't think you know people very well."

Aileen, who had been about to say something, firmly closed her mouth for the first time. Even if she spoke that way, Aileen must have felt something too.

The hidden Guard had appeared and protected me, the one calling myself a Revolutionary.

It had probably been a very long time since Aileen had seen something like that. A very, very long time.

After moving her lips for a long while, Aileen asked.

"Do you really think it's possible?"

"It is. You've seen my abilities well enough, haven't you?"

It would be possible. Even if it wasn't, I would make it possible.

Aileen answered like a sigh.

"But you're not a Revolutionary."

"That's why I need your help."

Aileen's expression wavered at my words.

"Let's make a revolution without a Revolutionary."

As if coming to a decision, Aileen spoke.

"...We need to gather the positions. It's a game we can't win alone."

"I thought so."

"A Guard is only the minimum requirement for survival. We need a Fighter to face the Executioners, and a Spy to find the hidden Executioners."

"We'll gather them one by one. Those positions won't be as far away as you think."

I wasn't anxious. The Revolutionary Declaration had already echoed out, so the beings who held each position would have begun to realize their circumstances one by one.

They were probably weighing for themselves whose side to take in this damned game.

"And I think we've already gathered one."

The moment I finished speaking, the office door creaked open. Jang Hayoung peeked inside.

"Um, Aileen..."

"What?"

"Someone insisted that I let them in..."

"I told you I was busy! Send them away."

"Well, that's..."

"Why?"

"...A human claiming to be a Guard has come."

Aileen sprang to her feet in surprise. Then a slender middle-aged man appeared from behind Hayoung.

"You... are you really a Revolutionary?"

It was a face I already knew.

Footnotes:

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