WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 246: Episode 46: A Fresh Story (1)

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[I will create a new fable unlike any that has existed before.]

At my words, every Constellation in the hall fell silent. It wasn't because they were shocked. Rather, they seemed unable to understand what I meant. The first to speak was the giant sipping alcohol beside Thor.

[I don't know what you mean by a new fable.]

According to TWSA, the Dokkaebi King had once said this long ago.

「There are no new fables beneath the Star Stream. Every fable is only a fabrication of an old fable.」

That ancient maxim was both the dokkaebis' humility and the line they absolutely had to overcome. As I hesitated over my answer, the impatient Constellations spoke first.

[Does that fable have a Sword Master?]

A Sword Master...

Caught off guard by the question, I nodded.

[It does.]

Some Constellations sighed at my answer, while a few others' eyes sparkled. Then another Constellation asked.

[Does it have an Archmage?]

[One will probably appear.]

[What about a Reincarnator?]

[There is one.]

[And an SSS-grade hunter? Personally, I like people who earn rewards through honest effort.]

[There might be one. I hate effort, though.]

[Of course, there'll be a Returnee too, right?]

Perhaps they were starting to enjoy themselves. Questions of every kind continued for a while. Some smiled, while others shook their heads. Yet whatever expressions they wore, they were all imagining a single story.

A story that hadn't been made yet. But one that might, perhaps, come to exist.

Maybe it had been a long time since everyone in the Gourmet Association had thrown themselves into such an imagined story. For a while, a gentle atmosphere, uncharacteristic of the Gourmet Association, lingered in the hall.

It didn't last.

[I don't understand. Aren't there already plenty of fables like that?]

The one who poured cold water over the mood was the Goddess of the Morning Star, who had listened to the story until then.

[Sword Masters, Archmages, Reincarnators, Returnees... Why make another fable like that? I don't understand how anything so mass-produced could be new.]

After thinking for a moment, I answered.

[New subject matter alone doesn't make a new fable. Weren't the first-generation fables the Gourmet Association likes made from ordinary elements as well?]

[Are you comparing your fable to the first generation's works of art?]

[I have no intention of comparing them. I wasn't trying to make art in the first place.]

Disappointment crossed a few Constellations' faces. The Goddess of the Morning Star laughed as if she found that ridiculous.

[You say such vulgar things so casually. Fine. Then what is new about your story?]

The mood among the Constellations was changing again.

I had to make my move by now.

Meeting each of their eyes, I made a quiet constellation's declaration.

[The fable I create will have the end of all Scenarios.]

For an instant, the air stiffened as if frozen.

[H-how dare you...]

Someone muttered, and several Constellations went pale. A sense of resistance that hadn't arisen even when I mentioned the first generation spread across the entire hall.

I had probably violated one of their taboos.

Feeling their gazes pour down on me, I closed my eyes. This alone wouldn't dramatically change the situation. Still, it would carve my story deeply into their minds. For now, that was enough.

[...You're insane.]

It seemed I had made too deep an impression. A voice heavy with hostility followed.

[I knew all kinds of lunatics gathered at the Gourmet Association, but this one's the real deal. Are you saying that crap in your right mind?]

A green humanoid with a dragon's head.

A Constellation who had acted as an evil spirit in the previous Scenario. I remembered their modifier: Predator of the Hasty Swamp.

[So what do you want us to help with? Are you going to tell us to come with you to the end of that Scenario or something?]

[That's right. I came here to find the stars who will reach the end of all Scenarios with me.]

At my calm declaration, the Constellations' expressions changed once more. Some of them had already joined nebulae. Naturally, what I said would sound like a provocation.

[So you came here begging people to join your nebula. What's your nebula called?]

[It doesn't have a name yet. It hasn't been officially founded.]

[Hm... How many founding members are there?]

[Two.]

At my answer, Predator of the Hasty Swamp and several other Constellations sneered. It didn't feel good, but I didn't show it.

So this was the Gourmet Association's courtesy. It didn't matter. I had no intention of accepting bastards like them anyway.

The Goddess of the Morning Star asked.

[One of them must be you. Who is the other? Are they a Constellation as well?]

[They're not a Constellation, but...]

I hesitated over whether I should reveal Yu Junghyeok now. Predator of the Hasty Swamp spoke.

[Could it be that guy?]

A video was playing on the stage's panel.

It showed the final match of the Martial Arts Tournament currently underway in the First Martial World.

"At last, the match you've all been waiting for is about to begin!"

As the host spoke, the camera focused on one man.

"The Sky-Splitting Sword Saint's Disciple, Supreme King Yu Junghyeok!"

It seemed Junghyeok had safely advanced to the finals. His opponent was a woman wearing a loose T-shirt and jeans.

"One of Murim's Top Ten Masters, the Ice Flower Divine Maiden Zhuge Lingling!"

Zhuge Lingling entered beneath dazzling spotlights, waving at the audience. I frowned.

Of all people, the Ice Flower Divine Maiden Zhuge Lingling.

If I remembered correctly, she was one of the Transcendents who would represent the next generation of Murim.

An absolute master whom even the current Junghyeok couldn't be certain of defeating. The key was how far his [Sky Splitter Sword Art] had progressed...

...No, more importantly, why had that video appeared on the panel at this exact moment?

I reflexively glared at Anna Croft on the stage.

Judging from her startled expression, it didn't seem to be her doing. Then the one who had put that video on the screen was...

[Hehe... Mortals' little performance...]

Predator of the Hasty Swamp laughed.

[What a letdown. Did a brat who only just became a Constellation and one insignificant mortal dare to talk about the end of all Scenarios?]

A few Constellations burst into laughter, as if they had been waiting for it. Their laughter denied every word I had said so far. I had expected things might turn out this way. Maybe it had been a mistake to expect anything from Constellations in the first place.

[Hahaha, what was that Constellation's modifier again? Was it Demon King of Bluster?]

[Queen of the underworld! You've brought us quite an amusing fellow!]

On the screen, Junghyeok faced the Ice Flower Divine Maiden. Predator of the Hasty Swamp giggled as if Junghyeok's appearance were adorable.

[From where I stand, he doesn't look like he can reach the end of all Scenarios. He can barely handle that Scenario in front of him.]

Instead of answering the provocation, I watched Junghyeok on the screen. Junghyeok countered the Ice Flower Divine Maiden's fierce assault while releasing [sky splitter]. I knew every path he would walk and every achievement he would build from here on.

I also knew very well that after striving and striving again, he would someday kill every last Constellation in this damned Gourmet Association.

But to the Constellations here, the current Yu Junghyeok was just another insignificant mortal.

[This works out well. The Scenario's over, and I was getting bored. Why don't we all make a bet? Which of those two bugs will win?]

[Oh, sounds good!]

Many Constellations agreed with Predator of the Hasty Swamp's proposal. Then a system message sounded.

[A new Sub Scenario has arrived.]

[The Sub Scenario, Gourmet Association's Wager, has begun.]

Countless choice windows appeared before the Constellations.

[I'll put 50,000 coins on that female.]

As Predator of the Hasty Swamp shouted confidently, the other Constellations laughed and placed their coins one by one. Predator of the Hasty Swamp looked at me.

[Newcomer. You bet too.]

[I already have.]

[On whom, and how much?]

[100,000 coins. On Yu Junghyeok.]

The Predator of the Hasty Swamp glared at me, eyes bulging, when they learned I had bet twice as much as they had.

[Insolent bastard. You'll regret this.]

Well, we'd see who regretted it.

In the distance, Anna Croft watched me with unreadable eyes. Maybe she had placed a bet too.

While the Constellations kept talking among themselves, Junghyeok's fierce battle on the screen had already reached its middle stage.

[He's quite skilled. At that level, I'd like to make him my Incarnation too.]

Junghyeok had seemed to be losing at first, but as time passed, he was gaining the upper hand. The martial arts he had built atop his innate combat sense were shining. As the resolute aura of [Sky Splitter Sword Art] advanced, defying everything in its path, the Ice Flower Divine Maiden's icy Mana shattered like snow.

Magnificent yet supple, splendid yet disciplined Swordsmanship. Some Constellations couldn't hold back their admiration. I watched the scene too, clenching my fist tightly.

As expected of Yu Junghyeok.

Thanks to meeting the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint earlier than planned, his [Sky Splitter Sword Art] had far surpassed its original third round's level.

Kwakakakak!

The aura of the sky splitter exploded across the arena, and the ragged Ice Flower Divine Maiden rolled through the dust, coughing up blood. The outcome had completely tipped. As the story unfolded unexpectedly, Predator of the Hasty Swamp's expression changed as well.

[...Hm, this isn't very entertaining.]

Along with that ominous feeling, sparks flew from Predator of the Hasty Swamp and several Constellations of the Gourmet Association. I realized what they were trying to do. Their sparks soon spread into the Martial Arts Tournament arena on the screen.

More precisely, toward the Ice Flower Divine Maiden.

"Aaaaargh!"

The host spoke as the Ice Flower Divine Maiden suddenly began screaming.

"W-what is happening? The Ice Flower Divine Maiden's body is suddenly...!"

The Ice Flower Divine Maiden's body was mutating like a monster. Junghyeok's expression on the screen hardened. I glared coldly at Predator of the Hasty Swamp.

[Wasn't this supposed to be a bet?]

Predator of the Hasty Swamp smiled strangely.

[I never said we wouldn't interfere.]

With the Plausibility supplied by many Constellations, green scales covered the Ice Flower Divine Maiden's body. Junghyeok on the screen and I both knew what that meant.

A Constellation's Descent.

I had experienced it in peace land, and I had experienced it in Dark Castle. But Junghyeok and I had fought together then. We weren't together now.

[You have activated the Exclusive Skill Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint.]

[You are currently unable to connect to the target.]

...That damn bastard, what was he doing at a time like this? [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint] couldn't activate at all because Junghyeok wasn't thinking about me in the slightest. Beyond the screen, the green monstrous dragon half-descended into the Ice Flower Divine Maiden roared.

Predator of the Hasty Swamp.

The ancient god of the planet Selegedon was a Constellation at the threshold of fabled-grade, just like me. But the number of fables they had accumulated was on an entirely different level from mine, so their abilities far surpassed mine.

Kwoooaaar!

A single breath from the Predator partially wrecked a third of the Martial Arts Tournament arena.

They seemed to have completed a Behind-the-Scenes Contract with the Ice Flower Divine Maiden in that brief time.

Their synchronization rate with the Incarnation body was low, so they wouldn't be able to show their full power. Still, having descended with that much Plausibility behind them, destroying the Martial Arts Tournament would be nothing.

Even the current Junghyeok would struggle to face a fabled-grade Constellation who had accumulated so many fables.

[You look anxious. Do you not trust your Companion?]

When I turned, Persephone was smiling as usual.

Did I not trust him?

What a pointless question. There was no way I could trust that sunfish bastard who died at the drop of a hat...

[I trust him.]

Even so, why did that answer come out so naturally?

A strange light passed through Persephone's eyes at my answer.

[I was able to come this far because I trusted him from the beginning.]

I looked back at Junghyeok on the screen.

He lost, was broken, and despaired again and again.

Yet he never gave up until the very end.

If I didn't trust that bastard, who could I trust in the first place?

Even if this round failed...

He would someday see the ending of this world.

I slowly closed, then opened my eyes and said,

[Let's raise the stakes. I'll bet 1,000,000 coins.]

Footnotes:

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