WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 242: Episode 45: The Gourmet Association (4)

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When I turned around, I saw a familiar woman.

"Selena Kim?"

"Please, please save Iris!"

The hand on my shoulder was trembling. Selena Kim, who was always so kind and composed, was making that expression?

"If this continues, Iris will...!"

A scene from TWSA flashed through my mind.

「“Anna, why would you go this far...? You didn't have to do this!”

“It was necessary.”

“This isn't right. This is... Those Incarnations don't know anything! How could you do something like this?”

“This is also for the sake of saving humanity. Don't forget, Selena. We have been thrown into a cage with wild beasts that can devour humans at any time.”」

It hadn't happened in this round. But the original work had already undergone its First Revision. In other words, it wouldn't be strange if something from another round happened in this one.

Besides, the story of the third round had been removed from the First Revision...

"Selena Kim. Please tell me exactly what happened."

Before she could answer, the Constellations around us began shouting.

[How dare an Incarnation like you...!]

Terrifying stares poured down on Selena and me. Her face turned white as she froze like a statue. As if to protect me, Mass Production Maker raised his status, and dazzling sparks of Plausibility flew around her.

This Central Hall was a place meant only for Constellations.

Wait. I'd forgotten this was the Gourmet Association.

Selena's mouth opened and closed like a frightened goldfish before attendants appeared and dragged her away. As she was taken farther away, her resentful gaze remained fixed on the stage.

I still didn't know exactly what Selena had wanted to tell me, or whether it was the same thing I had seen in TWSA.

One thing was certain, though. The reason Selena had come to me was connected to what Anna Croft was doing on stage.

When I looked back at the stage with complicated feelings, Anna continued speaking as she looked down at us with expressionless eyes.

“The fable I will offer you is "Bracelet Expedition".”

The Constellations murmured.

[...Bracelet Expedition?]

"That's right."

[Is it perhaps a parody of the first-generation fable "Bracelet Demon King"?]

"Bracelet Demon King".

That fable, mentioned even in the original TWSA, was classified as older than "Dragon That Ate Hammers" or "Children of the Morning Star". It was a traditional adventure fable older even than the first generation, closer to the zeroth generation.

It was a typical expedition story about fifteen members of Bracelet Expedition setting out to destroy the Bracelet, the source of calamity. Mass Production Maker, who had been listening, muttered as if he couldn't believe it.

[Hah... You're going to tell that boring fable?]

Anna continued without concern.

"Allow me to introduce the Bracelet Expedition that will lead this fable."

When Anna clapped her hands, the panel behind her lit up.

It was a vast panel that covered one entire wall of the hall. A wide forest filled the screen, where fifteen Incarnations huddled together and talked.

"Where the hell is this?"

"Anna-nim must be right, shouldn't she?"

"Keep your heads straight. If we do well here, we can get good Patrons too."

I could roughly guess how she had lured them in. Looking closer, I saw Iris among them, her face terrified.

I see. That was why Selena...

It seemed Anna had even received authorization from the dokkaebis already, because a system message soon appeared.

[The Sub Scenario, Bracelet Expedition, has begun.]

[You may acquire a new fable upon succeeding or failing this Scenario.]

+

* A total of fifteen Incarnations will participate in this Scenario.

- All Incarnations must cooperate to reach the Volcano at the center of the hunting ground.

- The expedition possesses the Absolute Bracelet. The Scenario will be completed when the bracelet is thrown into the lava of the Volcano and destroyed.

- Incarnations who complete the Scenario may make one wish to the Gourmet Association.

+

Judging from the details, it sounded exactly like a certain novel I knew. The fable "Bracelet Demon King" itself seemed to be an homage to that novel in the first place...

The Scenario messages continued.

+

* Numerous evil spirits of the Bracelet Demon King exist in the hunting ground. The Scenario will fail if the expedition is wiped out by the evil spirits.

- The Scenario will fail if the Absolute Bracelet is not destroyed within the time limit.

+

[Oh... So this is the Scenario you prepared. Interesting.]

A few Constellations responded favorably. It looked like a poorly constructed Scenario to me, but it clearly held a certain appeal for the Constellations.

A revisit to an old fable.

What Anna had aimed for was nostalgia for the Constellations of the Gourmet Association. Yet the fussy Constellations of the Gourmet Association couldn't possibly be satisfied with just this.

[...But something is lacking. What exactly do you expect us to do? Surely you don't intend to make us simply watch that boring game.]

"As you can see from the panel, there are Incarnations waiting for your choice."

[Are you asking us to become their Patrons?]

"You may make that choice, of course. Though I doubt you would find it very entertaining."

[What do you mean by that...?]

"Constellations may participate in this Scenario directly and savor those fresh Incarnations yourselves."

Additional Scenario messages appeared with Anna's words.

+

* A total of fifteen evil spirits will appear in this Scenario.

- All Constellations of the Gourmet Association may apply for the role of an evil spirit on a first-come, first-served basis.

+

The moment I read the messages, chills ran down my spine. This had been Anna Croft's goal from the beginning.

A Scenario that offered the flavor of the first generation while also satisfying the Constellations' desires.

A strange stir spread among the Constellations. It was completely different from their earlier murmuring, an excitement mixed with anticipation. Even Mass Production Maker looked interested. One Constellation asked.

[What do you gain through this Scenario?]

"Nothing. I only hope that the Constellations can enjoy themselves without restraint."

That shameless smile made my teeth grind. There was no way she wanted nothing.

[The Constellations of the Gourmet Association have taken a liking to the Incarnation Anna Croft.]

Anna Croft's schemes surpassed even the Constellations' cruelty. She was someone who wouldn't hesitate to make any sacrifice for her goal. There was a reason Yu Junghyeok had been stabbed in the back by her more than ten times.

"Then the Scenario will begin in one minute. Constellations who wish to apply, please sign the selection window."

A selection window appeared before me along with Anna's words.

[Would you like to participate in this Scenario?]

[Current applicants: 2/15]

It was a chance to devour the subjects of a fable at the very place that fable was being made. The number of applicants rose quickly.

[Current applicants: 5/15]

I recalled why I had come here.

I had to make allies for the Demon King Selection. To do that, it would be best to participate in this Scenario. By sharing a fable with other Constellations, I could grow closer to them.

[Hahaha, I'll be eating a work of art for the first time in a while. Aren't you looking forward to it?]

[Hmph, it's only an imitation fable. Don't get your hopes up too much.]

Damn it, maybe it was time to admit it.

That I had become the same kind of being as the Constellations I hated so much.

[Current applicants: 9/15]

Then I heard a soft buzz near my ear.

A small panel appeared next. It was a screen only I could see, displayed directly by Biyoo.

[The 857th Martial Arts Tournament is beginning!]

Yu Junghyeok, who had entered the Martial Arts Tournament Scenario, was there. He seemed to have grown considerably stronger. With minimal movements, he defeated his opponents one after another. As I watched his calm movements, I thought as I always did.

What would Junghyeok have done?

For a moment, my gaze met Junghyeok's as he looked forward. Of course, he wouldn't know I was watching him. Even so, it felt as if he were speaking to me.

「“No matter how many times I regress, my choice remains the same.”」

No, maybe he had already told me.

I'd seen him make that same choice time and again.

「“I will kill every last one of you.”」

Until now, I had always chosen differently from Junghyeok.

Because I wasn't Junghyeok.

For some reason, I had always walked a different path out of stubborn defiance.

Persephone was watching me from afar. Her eyes waited for something interesting to happen. Constellations who had lived for a very long time knew where a truly entertaining story began.

That was why she would understand what I was about to do.

[Current applicants: 14/15]

I reached toward the selection window.

* * *

Iris Vladimirovna Lebedeva had grown up hearing stories about revolution.

Her favorite revolutionaries were Che Guevara and the early Karl Marx. But the world she had been born into was not an age of revolution. It was a world ruled by capital that ruled desire, a world decided by the owners of that capital. At a young age, Iris had realized that there was no such thing as revolution in this era.

That was true until the dokkaebis appeared.

"Haha, what an interesting place. A world where scraps of plant fiber are king."

As she watched national systems collapse, Iris realized that the revolution she had been waiting for had begun. The world, where the balance between those who had and those who did not had become fixed and turned into kingdoms, was melting back into the currents of upheaval.

A revolution could happen. The world could change.

Iris had believed that.

Until today.

"Aaaagh!"

"Save me! Please!"

Cr-r-runch!

The Incarnations' upper bodies were ripped clean off.

[Such fresh flesh.]

The Incarnations were torn apart between huge molars. The evil spirits licked the fables dripping from between their lips and snickered.

[Ptui. What a disappointment. Is this the kind of fable you brought out for us to eat?]

[You're an impatient one. Wait a little. The Scenario has only just begun.]

[How am I supposed to wait through this? This is why parody fables feel so cheap...]

"Ah... Aah... Aaah..."

Her companions, soaked in fear, soiled themselves. Never before had the word revolution felt so hollow.

They couldn't fight back.

No one could fight something like that.

"Iris! Run! Run!"

Iris ran amid her companions' cries. Her proud twin tails were a tangled mess of blood and sweat, but she had no time to care. At the same time, screams rose from the companions who had scattered through the forest.

The footsteps of an evil spirit drew closer.

What would happen to her now was obvious.

Run?

Where was she supposed to run?

Where could anyone run inside this small stage?

A vast barrier surrounded the entire hunting ground. No matter where she ran, she couldn't leave this stage. For the first time, Iris cursed something other than capital. She cursed the Constellations, cursed the Star Stream, and cursed this story.

Even so, part of her prayed.

She prayed that someone would change the ending of this story.

Please...

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation is looking at you.]

And astonishingly,

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation wants to form a Behind-the-Scenes Contract with you.]

Salvation met her gaze.

Footnotes:

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