WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 245: Episode 45: The Gourmet Association (7)

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There wasn't a trace of guilt on Asmodeus's face as he casually said that and gave a crooked smile.

[Some Constellations of the Gourmet Association strongly condemn Asmodeus.]

[A few Constellations of the Gourmet Association delight in Asmodeus's atrocities.]

The Constellations of the Gourmet Association, worn down by time and steeped in stories, had all kinds of dispositions and tastes. At a glance, they seemed to prize only first-generation fables above all else, but some Constellations, like Mass Production Maker, liked SSS-Grade So-and-So or Sword Master. Others preferred unexpected developments like this one.

[Hehe, as expected, the flesh of Constellations' Incarnation bodies really is different. This still falls short of a true body, but...]

That was why a Demon King like Asmodeus was tolerated in the Gourmet Association. Whether they were Constellations, Transcendents, or Demon Kings, the Gourmet Association was a place where stubborn egos had accumulated more than anywhere else, but it also respected every kind of delicacy.

Squish, squish.

Watching Asmodeus slowly approach through the pool of blood, I bit my lip hard.

[The special effect of Eoren's Sword has ended.]

Even if I still had the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint's martial arts, that only applied while Eoren's Sword was functioning properly.

Without the sword, I had no way to deal with someone who had become an evil spirit.

Asmodeus came within five or six steps of me and smacked his lips.

[...You didn't come here to eat me, right?]

[Hmm, how can you be so sure?]

[If you kill me, you won't be able to obtain the Great Fable.]

Asmodeus had made a promise with me regarding the Demon King Selection. There was no way he would kill me here.

[You promised me thirty percent of the share. Why are you acting so petty in a place like this?]

[There was no promise that those thirty percent would definitely come to me.]

[Looks like you don't have the confidence to compete with the other Constellations.]

[Are you provoking me right now?]

Asmodeus radiated a threatening aura, but I spoke without shrinking back in the slightest.

[If you're truly a Demon King, don't be petty. Compete properly and take your proper share.]

To begin with, Asmodeus appearing here clearly showed that he intended to help me. Even for him, attacking fellow members of the Gourmet Association couldn't be easy.

And yet, he had deliberately acted like a mad demon and caused all this.

Asmodeus's expression changed.

[Demon King of Salvation... It seems you've misunderstood something. I can eat you right now-]

[Don't make me repeat myself. Get lost.]

Asmodeus's eyes widened. I kept speaking.

[If you want to eat me that badly, then try killing me.]

If the me from the past had seen me now, he would've thought I had gone insane. I was treating Asmodeus of all people like this.

Still, I had a reason for acting so recklessly.

Rumble!

Asmodeus's Mana flared up. Goosebumps rose along my spine, but I trusted the story I had read more than my senses.

「At that time, we should have treated Asmodeus differently.」

The revised version of TWSA.

I had found that sentence in the records of Yu Junghyeok's forty-ninth round.

「Asmodeus likes beings who do not compromise.」

「The more someone is like that, the more he wants to break them.」

I didn't know how Yu Junghyeok had come to such an insight, but if he was right, then everything Asmodeus had done so far made sense.

[Your understanding of the character Asmodeus has increased!]

Then something unexpected happened.

[Your understanding of the character Asmodeus has increased!]

[Your understanding of the character Asmodeus has increased!]

With an explosive Indirect Message, I began hearing the inner thoughts of a Demon King-class being for the first time.

[Exclusive Skill, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Stage 2 has forcibly activated!]

「I want to eat.」

「No.」

「I want to eat.」

「No.」

「Aaaaaah...」

An enormous amount of thoughts flooded into my head. It was almost admirable that such a volume of greed could exist within a single being.

[You're truly amazing...]

Asmodeus approached like the wind, grabbed a fistful of Iris's hair, and drew in an ecstatic breath.

[Haaah... Good. Fine, I'll restrain myself this much today.]

[...]

[But remember this, Demon King of Salvation. There won't be anything like today next time...]

I didn't even wait to hear the rest of Asmodeus's words before running toward the volcano. I couldn't let this hard-won chance slip away.

The lava cliff was right in front of me.

[Way of the Wind] guided the bracelet in my hand over the edge of the cliff.

With a plop, the bracelet melted away.

[The Sub Scenario has been completed.]

[You have acquired 150,000 coins as a reward!]

[Your reputation within the Gourmet Association has greatly increased!]

[You have acquired a new fable!]

I put Ellain Forest Essence into the mouth of the utterly exhausted Iris. Her condition was a mess, but I had borne most of the necessary Plausibility, so she would recover quickly.

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

As my surroundings seemed to blur apart, I returned to the Gourmet Association's hall. Once my senses returned, the first thing I heard was the voice of an elderly man.

[Young man, that was a fine show.]

Mass Production Maker was smiling contentedly, as if he had noticed my return. I watched him for a moment, then gave a slight bow.

"...It's all thanks to you, sir."

[Hmm, what do you mean?]

"This."

In my hand was the two-hundred-thousand-coin piece of trash Iris had just used. Eoren's Sword. The following message was engraved on its grip.

Made by Mass Production Maker

Mass Production Maker chuckled.

[There is a time for every sale. Who would have thought that sword would sell today?]

"Even so, it was stocked as a newly recommended product in the Dokkaebi Compendium."

[Hehe, how could a Constellation know what the dokkaebis do?]

"After using it, it seems like the value for money is a little questionable. I suppose returns aren't allowed?"

[Hm. It appears to have performed well enough for its price.]

Mass Production Maker grinned, and I smiled back.

I didn't know whether he had done it as a favor. What was certain was that Iris and I had survived because of this sword.

[Still, things have become rather troublesome.]

I quickly understood what he meant.

[Who on earth is the Demon King of Salvation!]

The atmosphere in the hall had become viciously heated. Some Constellations openly displayed their rage and unleashed their pressure without restraint. Among them were the Constellations who had just lost their Incarnation bodies to me and been eliminated from the Scenario.

[The Constellation Predator of the Hasty Swamp reveals hostility toward you.]

[The Constellation Gourmet of the Quiet Island glares at you.]

I could see Euphrosyne, stunned on the stage, and Anna Croft, whose face had gone pale.

I felt several Constellations watching me as if asking what I would do now. The Sub Scenario was over, but to them, even this situation was part of the entertainment.

Of course, I wouldn't disappoint them.

[You have received a Wish Ticket according to your contract with the Incarnation Iris.]

[With this Wish Ticket, you may make one wish within the scope permitted by the Plausibility of the Gourmet Association.]

Within the scope permitted by the Gourmet Association's Plausibility.

The meaning of that was obvious.

I naturally couldn't wish for all the Constellations to be killed.

[This Wish Ticket has exceeded feasible Plausibility.]

I also couldn't wish for everyone to take my side or become my subordinates.

[This Wish Ticket has exceeded feasible Plausibility.]

In other words, this Wish Ticket was a kind of diplomatic card. I had to distinguish exactly between what was possible and impossible, then find the wish most suitable for me.

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

[A considerable number of Constellations anticipate your choice.]

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband anticipates your choice.]

[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire nervously fidgets her fingers.]

Under all their gazes, I slowly opened my mouth.

[I wish for the Gourmet Association to treat me with courtesy.]

* * *

An immense silence fell over the hall.

Without panicking, I quietly faced that silence.

[The Plausibility of the Gourmet Association has activated!]

[Your wish has been approved.]

Sparks flew throughout the Gourmet Association's hall. No, on closer inspection, they looked more like lightning.

Then a booming voice rang out.

[...Kahahaha! A truly interesting fellow has arrived!]

Thunder of Thursday, holding a beer mug, laughed heartily as he spoke.

[A fable that was nearly boring has become somewhat worth watching. What exactly are you dissatisfied with that you would oppress that little Constellation?]

At his words, some Constellations rose up in strong protest.

[But he violated the rules-]

[A Scenario is only a Scenario. And that Scenario has just ended. That is all I and my hammer know.]

Thor's hammer gave a thunderous roar, as if it would accept no arguments.

Thor of the nebula Asgard was one of the highest-ranking Constellations here, possessing one of the most powerful fables. No one here wanted to stand against his hammer.

[I find it extremely unpleasant to agree with that thunderhead, but I feel the same way this time.]

The Goddess of the Morning Star had said that. Stardust drifted from her smoothly combed hair.

[Scenarios should end within Scenarios. If you wish to fight, fight within a Scenario. I don't want to see the Gourmet Association grow any uglier.]

With two top-ranking Constellations issuing a warning, the other Constellations had no choice but to yield.

Besides, the Wish Ticket had already been activated.

A few Constellations who still hadn't calmed their anger huffed and glared at me, but none showed any sign of trying to harm me. As the disturbance around me settled, the Goddess of the Morning Star turned her clear eyes toward me.

[Still, there is one thing I would like to ask.]

Caught off guard, I reflexively met her gaze.

[Demon King of Salvation. Why did you show us such a Scenario?]

The goddess's deep eyes, as though they held the Milky Way, shone like she had discovered a new star.

[It seemed as though you had something you wished to say through the Scenario. But my eyes are too dim to grasp it from the Scenario you showed us alone. So, if you don't mind, I would like to hear it from your own lips.]

She probably didn't say that the Scenario I showed them was crude because of her natural modesty.

Near the Goddess of the Morning Star, I saw Persephone smiling at me.

...She had told me to somehow handle this on my own, but I had ended up receiving nothing but help.

Every Constellation of the Gourmet Association remained silent, as if waiting for my answer.

This was the situation I had wanted ever since I came here.

What should I say to earn their favor?

Thinking they would help me just because I suddenly brought up the Demon King Selection would have been truly stupid.

「At that moment, Kim Dokja thought of what he truly wanted to say for the first time.」

When I quietly closed my eyes, I thought I could see a small path in the darkness.

It was so far away that I still couldn't see its end.

But I knew at least one person who had walked that path first.

Someone who had failed, been frustrated, and despaired hundreds, thousands of times, yet kept walking the solitary path with no one by his side.

Thinking of him, I smiled bitterly.

Then, the words I needed to say came to me naturally.

[I.]

No, perhaps that was all I needed to say.

Footnotes:

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