WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 229: Episode 43: Sky-Splitting Sword Saint (1)
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After the assessment for upper-mid-grade dokkaebis ended, Bihyeong became a little lazy.
All he did was manage the Korean Peninsula Scenario that Baram, the former Seoul branch manager, had left in his care. Other than that, he occasionally lay around and watched the Scenarios he had created.
“Huiwon! Over here!”
“Damn it, one got away. Just one person head north!”
On the screen, “Whack-a-Mole,” one of the Korean Peninsula Scenarios, was in full swing. They had to catch all the fleeing Bomb Moles within the designated time.
If even one escaped, a terrible explosion would devastate the surrounding area. Yet the Incarnations on the Korean Peninsula hardly seemed rushed.
“Titano found it. Yuseong and I will handle it.”
Their formation and teamwork were flawless. They were certainly different from the countries where a quarter of the land had been blown away in similar Scenarios.
Of course, that didn't mean this Scenario was exceptionally difficult.
“Damn it, how did things end up like this...?”
Bihyeong grumbled quietly as he chewed on his finger.
In truth, he could have raised the difficulty of this Scenario as much as he wanted.
He could have blown away half the Korean Peninsula and led the Incarnations into a horrific catastrophe. Yet he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Should I have saved Kim Dokja back then...? If I raise the difficulty any further, they'll all die for sure.
It was too late for regrets now.
No matter how many contingencies he had prepared, it was nearly impossible for someone who had left the Scenario to return alive.
[The Constellations of the Korean Peninsula support Kim Dokja's Allies.]
[The Constellations of the Korean Peninsula have sponsored 2,000 coins.]
The only reason Bihyeong's channel was still holding on was Kim Dokja's loyal Subscribers. Constellations who continued sponsoring it regardless of whether the Scenario was interesting.
Still, the channel didn't contain only those Constellations.
[Many Constellations are bored by the progress of the Scenario.]
[Some Constellations have left the channel.]
After Kim Dokja disappeared and even Yu Junghyeok left the Korean Peninsula Scenario, more viewers abandoned the channel each day. Put simply, Bihyeong's channel was slowly falling apart.
He needed to make a change. But how?
Of course, he knew how. If he raised the Scenario difficulty to brutal levels as before and made the Incarnations fight for their lives, the Subscribers would return. But Bihyeong no longer wanted to lead Scenarios that way.
Maybe he had changed too.
Something was different from before, when he had pursued only stimulating Scenarios and hadn't cared in the slightest whether Incarnations lived or died. Bihyeong wanted to tell a different kind of story. He wanted to see a Scenario unlike the “catharsis” the Administration Bureau shouted about every day.
Something like the Scenarios created by the first-generation dokkaebis long ago. A story the Constellations would remember for a long time...
“Bihyeong.”
At the dokkaebi communication that rang out from thin air, Bihyeong reflexively got to his feet.
“You look like you've got it easy. Have you been well?”
The face that appeared on the panel belonged to Baram, the former branch manager who had left the Seoul Dome after becoming a candidate for Great Dokkaebi. Startled, Bihyeong hurriedly showed his respect.
After leaving the Seoul branch, Baram had entered the Elder Council of the Administration Bureau, where the wisest dokkaebis in the world resided.
Perhaps he had seen and heard more stories in the meantime, because Baram's bearing through the panel looked even more dignified than before.
“I contacted you because there are a few things I need to convey.”
“What...?”
Bihyeong tensed slightly. He had never received good news when Baram opened a conversation so portentously.
“There are signs of a Great Fable.”
“...There should still be quite some time before Gigantomachia or Ragnarok.”
“It's not one of those. This time, the Great Fable will begin in the Demon Realm.”
Bihyeong's expression changed at the mention of the Demon Realm.
“Could it be the Demon King Selection?”
Bihyeong swallowed as Baram nodded. Unlike the event-based Great Fables that occurred periodically, the Demon King Selection was an exceptionally rare Scenario. Even Bihyeong had never seen it himself.
The last Demon King Selection had been eight hundred years ago.
Just imagining a Great Fable made his heart race. As if he had read Bihyeong's thoughts, Baram smiled.
“Are you looking forward to it?”
“I am, but it's a shame. Dokkaebis won't be in charge over there anyway.”
The Demon Realm had long been the territory of the Hunchbacks. It was a barren land, nearly the only place in all Scenario zones where channels didn't open. That was the Demon Realm. So the ones broadcasting the Demon King Selection this time would be...
“This time is different. The Administration Bureau has decided to dispatch dokkaebis to the Demon Realm.”
“What? But that's...”
Dokkaebis didn't interfere in Hunchback affairs, and Hunchbacks didn't interfere in dokkaebi affairs. That was the Horizon Promise. Yet what Baram was saying directly violated that agreement.
“We had planned to establish a new agreement with the Hunchbacks before opening channels there, but things have become complicated this time. They broke the promise first.”
“They broke the promise?”
“An illegal channel has appeared in the Demon Realm.”
“...What?”
By all common sense, it should've been impossible. There were no dokkaebis in the Demon Realm. So what did it mean for a channel to open there?
“We don't know the details yet. The Administration Bureau is in chaos because of it.”
“If the Hunchbacks stole a channel, couldn't we just close it?”
The operating rights for channels had always belonged solely to dokkaebis.
Even if the Hunchbacks had used some strange trick to steal a channel, the Administration Bureau could easily shut down one or two channels.
“The problem is that it isn't a Hunchback.”
“It isn't a Hunchback? Then who opened the channel?”
“It seems there's a dokkaebi in the Demon Realm that we don't know about.”
“...A dokkaebi?”
Wait a minute... Could it be?
Baram continued.
“Anyway, that's why the Administration Bureau is dispatching dokkaebis to the Demon Realm.”
“I see. But why are you telling me this...?”
“You're on the dispatch list as well.”
“I'm in charge of the Korean Peninsula.”
“Other dokkaebis will take care of the Korean Peninsula. You'll take some low- and mid-grade dokkaebis and go to the Demon Realm for a while.”
Bihyeong was dumbfounded. Leave the hottest Earth Scenario and go to the Demon Realm? It was practically a demotion.
“There aren't any incidents on the Korean Peninsula anyway, are there? Don't take it too hard. If you do a good job this time, becoming a high-grade dokkaebi won't be just a dream.”
“...I think you said something similar last time. Why me?”
“I don't know the exact reason either, but the Elder Council selected you personally.”
If the Elder Council had decided it, there would be no changing it.
Bihyeong's face darkened. He had to go to that dangerous area now, of all times?
“I know what you're thinking, but don't be so discouraged. It isn't a demotion. More importantly, there's one piece of unusual information. You might like hearing it.”
Bihyeong raised his head without much expectation, and Baram spoke in a peculiar voice.
“There's a report that the Demon King of Salvation has appeared in the Demon Realm.”
* * *
I finally opened my mouth thirty whole minutes after Junghyeok said those words. I only realized that thirty minutes had passed when Aileen entered the room once and left again.
“...Junghyeok, did you bring Uriel's doll?”
Without a word, Junghyeok took the doll from his clothes. I carefully accepted it and examined it.
Every seam on the arms and legs of Uriel's doll had torn apart.
Even if it was only a symbolic form, damage this severe must have affected her true body as well.
For that prideful archangel to end up like this in the Demon Realm.
“...I can't go back right now after all.”
“I see.”
It was an answer as though he had expected it. Junghyeok was looking at Uriel's doll too. No one in the room spoke, but we knew exactly what the others were thinking.
“You're planning to participate in the Demon King Selection, aren't you?”
I nodded. The Demon King Selection. A Scenario I had to go through to prepare for the coming battle against the Constellations.
“I feel sorry for my Allies, but I have to obtain a Great Fable here.”
I carefully reattached Uriel's torn arm as I continued.
“That way, I can prepare for the Great Apocalypse Scenarios to come.”
My options would be limited if I returned to Earth. I could obtain opportunities there and build up forces in my own way, but going back now wouldn't be efficient.
The Scenario difficulty had already become harsher than at any point in the original work. If I returned to Earth now, I would only waste time on unnecessary things.
Junghyeok watched me for a moment before speaking.
“It's not a bad idea.”
His tone suggested he understood many things. Junghyeok probably understood these feelings better than anyone. He was likely the person who had lost the most precious things because he was weak.
“What are you going to do?”
“I'll remain in the Demon Realm for the time being. I have a personal Scenario here, so I can't leave yet.”
Oh, so that was it.
“Really? If you're okay with it, why don't you help me out?”
“You'll be the one helping me.”
For a moment, I didn't understand what he meant and looked up at Junghyeok. He had the same blank expression as before, but something felt different.
“...Don't tell me you're planning to participate in the Demon King Selection too?”
“You're stating the obvious.”
My thoughts suddenly became complicated. This bastard had been planning to join the Demon King Selection anyway, so why had he told me...?
“Wait! Did you tell me to return to Earth earlier because...?”
Junghyeok got up before hearing me out and walked over to the window. The faint sunset cast deep shadows across his profile. According to TWSA, Yu Junghyeok deliberately put on a cool expression whenever someone saw through his intentions.
This bastard had planned to send me to Earth and become a Demon King himself.
All the emotion I had felt until then seemed to drain away at the sight of his shameless back.
Then Junghyeok spoke.
“They've arrived.”
Along with the cold air pouring in through the window, Aileen and Mark burst into the treatment room. I didn't need to hear what had happened to know.
Biyoo had woken up at some point and was looking up at me with a tense expression.
[The Constellation Progenitor of Humanity glares at the Yu Junghyeok Industrial Complex.]
[The Constellation Last Pharaoh glares at the Yu Junghyeok Industrial Complex.]
[Constellations from a certain nebula glare at the Yu Junghyeok Industrial Complex.]
More than ten stars began glittering in the sky. One of them shone with particular intensity, sparks bursting from it.
A moment later, a gigantic figure began appearing at the entrance to the industrial complex. It was a mummy wearing a golden crown. It towered far above the walls, and I could hear the Incarnations of the industrial complex screaming all at once.
If I remembered correctly, that Constellation belonged to Papyrus. And Papyrus had joined forces with Berkan Industrial Complex.
Junghyeok spoke as if chewing the words.
“...It looks like they came to stage a demonstration.”
I didn't need to ask what kind of demonstration it was.
The opening battle of the Demon King Selection had already begun.
Footnotes:
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