Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint - Chapter 243

WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 243: Episode 45: The Gourmet Association (5)

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Iris was flustered.

Originally, she had been due to form a contract with a certain Constellation of Asgard. It was a lower-grade Constellation without much renown, and an extreme lecher besides, so Iris hadn't liked the arrangement.

That was why she had joined the "Bracelet Expedition" hosted by Anna Croft. Anna had told her that if she distinguished herself here, she could change her planned Patron. Yet an opportunity had arrived from an unexpected place.

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

Come to think of it, a Constellation wasn't limited to a single Incarnation contract. Some Constellations had two, three, or even more Incarnations, depending on their capabilities. Of course, since the Constellation's power was divided between them, those Incarnations could only use correspondingly weakened Stigmas.

Still, Iris wasn't in any position to turn that down.

"I'll make the contract!"

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation states that this contract is strictly temporary.]

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation states that this contract will remain valid until the end of the Bracelet Expedition.]

A temporary contract...

Maybe this wasn't the time to be greedy.

Iris bit her lip and nodded. But that wasn't all.

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation says there is a condition.]

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation wants the transfer of the wish ticket you will receive upon completing this Scenario.]

...A temporary contract wasn't enough, and now he wanted the wish ticket too?

A strange disappointment passed through her, but she wasn't in a position to be picky. Demon King of Salvation had set the condition of "upon completing this Scenario." In other words, he meant to keep her alive no matter what.

"Of course I'll give it to you."

The moment she answered, a holographic contract descended from the air. Even as she ran, Iris hurriedly signed it.

[The Behind-the-Scenes Contract has been completed.]

Power filled her entire body, and she felt as if someone were supporting her. Confidence rose within her, enough to make even the impossible seem achievable. But the eerie cries from behind quickly swept that confidence away.

[Incarnation Hunting has begun.]

Screams of Incarnations being torn apart by evil spirits echoed from all directions.

* * *

[Current remaining expedition members: 6]

In the original story, this game had been an event called a hunt drive.

It hadn't originally been an event of the Gourmet Association. It was a trap event Anna Croft had organized herself. Yet in this round, Anna Croft had decided to hold this horrific event at the Gourmet Association.

As I continued muttering into the air, Mass Production Maker beside me asked,

[Oh? Did you join as well?]

"...Did you join too, sir?"

[Hehe, I'm too old to run around in a Scenario like that. Besides... It isn't quite to my taste.]

Not every Constellation of the Gourmet Association was eager for the Scenario. Some disapproved of Anna Croft, while others looked down on events like this altogether.

[Hmm. I don't see your modifier on the list of evil spirits...]

There were fifteen Constellations participating in the Scenario.

But only fourteen Constellations appeared in the role of evil spirits.

At my nod, Mass Production Maker's eyes slowly widened.

[So that old hag Persephone had a reason for bringing you. But will you be all right? This is your first...]

"A debut is better when it's spectacular."

As if it had been waiting, a message arrived.

[You have acquired the fable Heterodox of the Gourmet Association.]

Anna Croft was probably hearing messages similar to mine.

「Where many Constellations gather, a fable is always born.」

That was the first principle of fable creation.

The risks borne by those involved in the fable and the structure of the story then determined its grade. Anna Croft was even walking a tightrope in an Incarnation body right now.

If the Scenario ended successfully, she might acquire Legendary-grade fables like "Follower of the First Generation" or "Fable Manipulator."

When I closed my eyes, the scene Iris was seeing appeared before me.

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation looks at his Incarnation.]

Her trembling shoulders made me feel sorry for her, but I wasn't kind enough to show goodwill so easily. This was only a gesture for the sake of a deal.

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation tells you to remain calm.]

Iris swallowed sharply before answering.

"I don't know if I can do this."

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation says that no Scenario is impossible to clear.]

Every Scenario had a way out. The opening was so narrow and small that clearing it on the first round was impossibly difficult, but it still existed.

Put another way, anyone who could repeat their attempts as many times as needed would eventually have a chance to clear it.

And I knew more rounds than anyone else in this world.

Rumbleee!

The sound of evil spirits moving came from far away.

Iris's Constitution had already reached its limit, and the only Stigma I could grant her was Will to Sacrifice. Damn it, my Stigma was no help at all in this situation.

But a Constellation could offer more than just Stigmas.

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation has bestowed the Assassin King's Cloak upon his Incarnation.]

Iris's eyes widened at the item that descended from the air.

I had bought it from the Dokkaebi Compendium for a full 150,000 coins.

It could only be used for thirty minutes a day, and it wasn't powerful enough to hide her from the eyes of Constellations, but that was a different matter now.

[...Is it over there?]

As if they had been waiting, the Constellations emerged from the undergrowth.

The Constellations who had become evil spirits all looked different. One took the form of a demon with enormous horns, while another had a bull's head and carried a small sickle. What they had in common was that none of them had feet, and all wore black capes.

[Hmm, strange. It was definitely around here.]

[Did you see it properly?]

The Constellations acting as evil spirits never noticed that Iris's presence had vanished without a trace.

* Constellations assigned the role of evil spirits are subject to Plausibility restrictions.

* Constellations assigned the role of evil spirits may use only one-tenth of the status of their true bodies.

Games weren't fun for Constellations if they were too easy. Just as no human enjoyed crushing fifteen bugs to death.

Beings who didn't hesitate to impose restrictions on themselves for amusement.

Those were the Constellations of the Gourmet Association.

[It seems they used some trick. Let them run a little longer. The flavor improves as the Scenario progresses.]

[...This is getting interesting.]

After searching the undergrowth for quite some time, the Constellations finally gave up and turned away. Then a system message arrived for Iris.

[Expedition member Iris Vladimirovna Lebedeva has survived an evil spirit once.]

[The fable Bracelet Expedition is accumulating.]

This Scenario had been made in homage to an old fable. The longer Iris endured in the Scenario, the more the aura of that fable would seep into her.

"I-I survived..."

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation says you were only lucky this time.]

If the ones she had encountered had been the highest-ranked Constellations, hiding from their eyes with the Assassin King's Cloak would have been impossible.

But just as with Persephone and Mass Production Maker, the truly exalted Constellations of the Gourmet Association didn't rush into a Scenario like this like wild dogs.

To them, watching other Constellations indulge their desires in events like this was entertainment in itself.

In other words, they were the real audience I needed to target.

"Thank you for the support."

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation says he is lending it to you.]

"...Yes."

[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire pities your Incarnation.]

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband rebukes your stinginess.]

This Scenario was only beginning.

* * *

Even as the number of expedition members kept falling, Iris gradually made her way toward the volcano while avoiding the Constellations' eyes. Along the way, she was fortunate enough to collect bracelets from fallen expedition members.

[Current remaining expedition members: 2]

I was participating in the Scenario while reading TWSA in real time, so it was only natural.

TWSA also contained an extremely detailed account of "Bracelet Demon King," the fable this Scenario had been based on. I analyzed the terrain of the Scenario map and guided Iris along the most efficient route. Before long, the volcano was right in front of her.

[Haha, this story is becoming interesting. It must be turning into a very delicious dish. Even I'm salivating just watching...]

It seemed the other Constellations had begun to notice someone was interfering with the expedition members. Yet none of them looked flustered.

[Expedition member Mervess Lutier has died!]

Not long after, Iris was left alone.

[...There is a very delicious scent in the air.]

The scattered evil spirits were gathering near the volcano one by one. They knew the expedition members would eventually have no choice but to come there.

The Assassin King's Cloak was nearly out of time as well.

I signaled Iris.

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation tells you to run.]

Iris began running toward the volcano.

I watched the girl's retreating back.

Every Constellation of the Gourmet Association watched that small history run with all her strength. And they all knew it.

She could only die here.

"Ah..."

With around a hundred steps left to the volcano, the effect of the Assassin King's Cloak finally ended. The moment her presence was exposed, ten evil spirits prowling nearby rushed at her all at once.

[I'll eat her first!]

Iris stumbled back in fear as she watched the approaching evil spirits. The last place her despairing gaze settled was the sky.

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation asks his Incarnation to lend him her body.]

Gasping for breath, Iris moved her lips.

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation says this is not a Descent.]

If I manifested through a Descent, I too would be restricted by status within the Scenario. And I had a skill that was far more efficient than Descent while being much less affected by Plausibility.

Crackle!

I deliberately drew out some of the fables that made me up and used them to strike Iris's Incarnation body.

[Exclusive Skill, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Level 3 has activated.]

[First-Person Supporting Character's Viewpoint has activated.]

[Your understanding of the character Iris Vladimirovna Lebedeva has increased!]

I opened my eyes through Iris's viewpoint. My body at the Gourmet Association was probably sleeping defenselessly right now. I had to settle this as quickly as possible.

[Some Constellations have noticed your existence!]

At the same time, the Constellations' declarations poured in.

[So there was someone helping her. Who are you?]

[Oh? Did you use a Descent?]

[It looks like we have struck it rich...!]

Iris's body glowed gold in the light of accumulated fables. Looking down at that body, I gave a bitter smile.

Starting as a newcomer to the Gourmet Association and growing steadily was certainly one option. But if I dragged things out like that, I wouldn't reach the end of this story even after three thousand chapters.

[That Anna or whatever should get a beating. The one we just killed had a Sword Master fable.]

The Constellations approaching from afar said this as they tossed aside the Incarnations in their hands. It was probably the last expedition member.

[You look like a newcomer. You should stop there and leave. Otherwise, your true body will suffer a serious blow as well.]

The dead expedition member's head rolled toward me.

The head of an Incarnation who had run until the very end but failed to survive.

When I carefully picked up the head, one Constellation said mockingly,

[Do you pity Incarnations? Hehe... You know nothing about art.]

"Why should their lives be your art?"

As I gently stroked the head, the desperate memories remaining in the dead Incarnation's mind flowed into me. The memories soon became a fable, then settled at my fingertips.

[You have acquired the Fable Fragment Resentment of a Sword Master Murdered Miserably.]

The Constellations frowned and stepped back.

[...So you're the kind who likes filthy fables.]

"Filthy? You're the ones who gave it to me."

Why had this person so easily become a Sword Master?

Simple. They had received fortuitous opportunities from Constellations.

"The story is frustrating. The Scenario is too slow. You're the ones who gave them power."

Those gifts had made some into Sword Masters and others into Archmages. And for the crime of becoming Sword Masters and Archmages, they all became food for the Constellations.

[What are you all hesitating for? Let's eat them already!]

The impatient Constellations blossomed with the power of evil spirits and charged. Normally, Iris could never have defeated them. Expedition members could never defeat evil spirits.

But.

[Keuaaaagh!]

An evil spirit struck by a blazing sword strike screamed and retreated.

And in my hand was the sword I had bought alongside the Assassin King's Cloak.

Name: Eoren's Sword - Replica

Grade: SS+ (Limited to a specific Scenario)

Description: A sword imbued with the aura of a first-generation fable. Only female Incarnations may use it. When used, it can manifest the power to oppose evil spirits for ten minutes.

It had cost a full 200,000 coins.

A sword that was nearly useless outside this Scenario.

Normally, I never would have bought an item like this.

[...A sword of the first generation?]

[Hey, don't be scared! It's only a replica!]

I had thought about it for a long time.

[Many Constellations are shocked by your actions!]

I considered whether I needed to take this much risk in the Scenario, and what I stood to gain from it.

[Some Constellations of the Gourmet Association express strong hostility toward you!]

Some things could be calculated, and some couldn't.

Then I made my choice.

"You expected me to come to the volcano."