WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 239: Episode 45: The Gourmet Association (1)

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Anna Croft remained silent the entire way to Oro Castle.

Whenever our eyes met, she wore a strange smile, but she never spoke to me first.

It would've been nice if I could read her thoughts, but my understanding of Anna was too low to activate the second stage of [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint].

Then again, I hadn't particularly liked Anna in the original story either. I couldn't count the times Junghyeok had been killed or betrayed because of her on both hands.

Since neither Anna nor I said anything, the atmosphere inside the carriage quickly became awkward, and Selena Kim was the only one breaking out in a nervous sweat for no fault of her own.

"...That's why we came together. The Incarnations of Asgard received invitations too."

Unable to bear this atmosphere because of her kind nature, Selena kept talking about things nobody had asked her about. Still, it was good for me since I learned quite a bit of information.

"I see. Are all three of you affiliated with Asgard?"

"Yes. Thanks to Anna's arrangements."

"You chose a good nebula."

"Ahaha, we got lucky somehow. Thanks to that, we get to enjoy something like this. Other Incarnations weren't even invited..."

Selena looked a little excited. An invitation from the Gourmet Association held a different meaning from the Constellation Banquet. If the Constellation Banquet was a gathering for all nobles, then the Gourmet Association was more like a salon for the upper nobility.

A luxury like this, huh.

It was doubtful Selena would still think that way after arriving there.

"Iris, why aren't you saying anything? You said you wanted to see Dokja-ssi again."

"Damn! When did I ever say that?"

"This girl... You kept going on about Dokja-nim, Dokja-nim after the last banquet, didn't you? You've finally met him again, so why don't you talk to him?"

At Selena's teasing words, Iris's face turned bright red. After repeatedly glancing at me, Iris cautiously spoke.

"Um, you're the Demon King of Salvation... right?"

For a moment, I wondered whether this was really the same cheeky little brat from before, but I decided to be polite too.

"That's right."

"Um, aren't you uncomfortable being with us?"

"Why would I be uncomfortable?"

"Because we're only Incarnations. And you're the Demon King of Salvation..."

Selena's expression changed as well. She seemed to have briefly forgotten in her happiness that I was a different kind of being from them, a Constellation.

There was a gap as vast as heaven and earth between a fabled-grade Constellation and an ordinary Incarnation. If I'd been another Constellation, I might've said something like, "So these insignificant insects have finally realized their place." Of course, I wasn't.

"It's fine. I used to be an Incarnation too."

Selena visibly let out a sigh of relief. Encouraged, Iris spoke again.

"Then... can I ask you one question?"

"Go ahead."

"Do you have an Incarnation you've made a Behind-the-Scenes Contract with?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Uh, well..."

Selena gave the hesitating Iris a look.

"Iris. Don't you already have a Patron decided for you?"

"I-I'm just asking! I'm curious!"

Watching Iris twist a strand of hair around her little finger and sharply turn her head away, I thought of Yuseong and Gilyeong back on the Korean Peninsula. I suppressed my longing and replied.

"I have an Incarnation on the Korean Peninsula."

Iris's expression changed.

"Ah, that little girl..."

I nodded. It seemed rumors about Yuseong had spread elsewhere too. Constellations loved to gossip, so they must've already told their Incarnations. That was when Anna spoke.

"Have you ever considered changing your Incarnation?"

Startled, Selena and Iris turned to Anna.

"There are many good Incarnations under Asgard. Many of them are talented. Iris here is one of them."

Why was Anna suddenly saying this? Perhaps they were talking about me in Asgard too. I still hadn't formally established a nebula, after all.

"Are you asking me to join Asgard?"

"Not necessarily. I'm only suggesting that since there are good Incarnations under Asgard, choosing one of them wouldn't be a bad idea. Besides, a Patron can withdraw from a Behind-the-Scenes Contract whenever they want, can't they?"

Iris, who had looked disappointed for a moment, stared at me with shining eyes. I answered expressionlessly.

"I have no intention of cancelling my Behind-the-Scenes Contract."

"You must like that girl very much. Yuseong, was it?"

When I didn't answer, Iris's face sank into deep disappointment. Even with my understanding of her so low, I could pick up on the change in her emotions. Then Anna said something strange.

"If your Incarnation dies."

A smile whose meaning I couldn't read appeared on Anna's lips.

"Don't look so surprised. I'm only giving an example. It could happen, couldn't it? An unexpected accident, or your Incarnation dying in a sudden disaster... Those things happen often enough. Even if that happened, would you still have no intention of changing your Incarnation?"

"An unexpected accident?"

"Yes, an unexpected accident. An unexpected accident that simply happened by chance."

I silently stared at Anna.

I had never even considered the possibility of Yuseong dying.

"As long as I'm alive, that won't happen."

"You never know. You can't know when or how Fate will act."

...Fate?

The air trembled. The atmosphere around us took on an ominous hue, and the entire carriage began to shake. Iris and Selena's faces stiffened. Goosebumps rose along the arms of the two Incarnations as they stared at me in fear.

I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to frighten innocent Incarnations either. But Anna had just crossed a line she shouldn't have crossed.

[If something like that happens.]

Sparks of Plausibility began to fly from my use of a constellation's declaration.

[The Constellations of the nebula Asgard express concern for you.]

[The Constellations of the nebula Asgard issue you a warning!]

Indirect Messages from Asgard's Constellations rang in my ears. Still, I didn't stop my constellation's declaration.

[If something like that happens, I will destroy every world that brought about that Fate.]

The force of my exploding status shattered every window of the carriage at once. The startled coachman turned to look our way. Even the usually composed Anna looked faintly shocked. It seemed she hadn't known exactly how much status I possessed.

Not long afterward, the carriage came to a stop, and an attendant's voice rang out.

[You have arrived at Oro Castle.]

I grinned at the three of them, who were still frozen stiff.

"Let's get out."

* * *

After leaving the carriage, we were led straight into Oro Castle.

Oro Castle.

This castle was one of the major strongholds of the Gourmet Association scattered across dimensions, a fortress personally owned by one of the Gourmet Association's executives. The one who owned it was probably... one of the seventy-two Demon Kings of the Demon Realm. Unfathomable Strictness, was it?

[These are the people permitted to enter.]

[Confirmed. Please go in.]

The inside of the castle was decorated in a modern style rather than a medieval one. It resembled the lobby of a luxury hotel. Constellations scattered about in symbolic forms could be seen here and there.

[A few Constellations are paying attention to your presence.]

An attendant led us to a waiting room in one corner of the lobby. Since nobody else had arrived yet, the only people in the room were me and the Asgard trio.

[Then please wait in the waiting room for a while. There are still more Incarnations to arrive... Ah, since the Demon King of Salvation is a Constellation, we will prepare a separate waiting room for you.]

"No, that's fine. I'll stay here."

The attendant looked at me as if I were strange, then soon disappeared as though they understood.

Honestly, I was more comfortable here for now. I needed time to prepare myself mentally too.

Panels for entertainment hung on the walls of the waiting room as well. They showed scenes from lower Scenarios unfolding throughout the dimensions even at this moment...

"Um, about earlier..."

Selena was the one who spoke to me. After what had happened in the carriage, she had every reason to avoid me, but there truly wasn't a single mistake in the settings of TWSA. I smiled faintly.

"It's fine. I went a little too far."

Only then did Selena's expression soften a little.

"No, we were too rude. I'm sorry, Demon King of Salvation."

Her greeting was far more formal than before.

I hadn't wanted to hear an apology like that, but it didn't sit well with me.

Selena had done nothing wrong. She was one of the few people in all of TWSA whom I thought highly of. The one I disliked was that shameless person standing in the corner, watching the situation unfold.

That was when the waiting room door opened and another attendant appeared.

[The Incarnations of Asgard, please follow me.]

It seemed Asgard's Constellations were looking for them. Selena and Iris gave slight bows and left first. Anna, however, didn't leave right away and continued looking at me.

"You have made too many Constellations your enemies."

"That's not something you need to worry about."

Anna's brow creased slightly at my firm response.

Even after what had just happened, Anna didn't look intimidated. She was only an Incarnation, but she had made contracts with an entire nebula. The highest-ranking Constellations of Asgard were probably shielding her from my status.

"I'm seriously advising you as a comrade pursuing the same goal. Whether you like it or not, this is the time to cooperate with other Constellations."

The same goal...

"Protecting this world. Isn't that what you're fighting for too?"

Instead of answering, I quietly looked at the panel hanging on the waiting room wall. Images of Incarnations being horribly torn apart by Catastrophes and descending Constellations. When I didn't answer, Anna shook her head and turned away.

That was when I spoke.

"Whether this world is worth protecting or not, we'll have to wait and see."

Anna's expression stiffened at the remark I let slip. She looked anxiously between me and the attendant walking ahead, then let out a short sigh.

"...I hope we'll have a chance to talk again later."

After she strode away, I was left alone in the waiting room.

Left by myself, I quietly organized my thoughts.

I recalled the Constellations of the Gourmet Association mentioned in TWSA and committed to memory those I might be able to persuade.

I didn't forget to consider their traits, likes, and dislikes either.

I had been lucky at the Constellation Banquet, but there was no guarantee that would happen again. In terms of high society, this Gourmet Association gathering would be my real debut.

The impression I made here, and the things I said, would determine the direction of the Scenarios I would lead in the future.

Then the waiting room door flew open. I thought it was another attendant, but an unexpected person was waiting for me this time. Just as I was about to say something in shock, the other person spoke first.

[It has been a long time, Kim Dokja. I have been waiting for you.]

The moment I heard that radiant constellation's declaration, I realized who it was. The queen of the underworld was far too playful. I sighed and asked,

"...Why are you dressed like that?"

Footnotes:

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