WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: smol_anon

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 27: Episode 6 - Hour of Judgement (4)

A few minutes later, I was back at Dongdaemun Station, gnawing on mole cricket meat. It was to heal the skin contaminated by the Poison Fog. Though it took some time, eating underground creatures’ meat would be enough to recover from this level of contamination.

—Hey! Are you out of your mind? What the hell are you doing?

Bihyeong’s angry voice rang in my ears as he scolded me.

‘Shut up.’

—This isn’t something you can just shrug off! You destroyed the idol of a constellation! Do you want to ruin this channel? If that "Bald General" starts bad-mouthing you...!

The idol of a constellation. There are constellations in every world, and of course, there are also constellations in Korea.

Still, calling him the “Bald General”. It seemed a bit harsh, considering he was a national hero of Korea, but I wasn’t in a position to criticize.

[A constellation wearing a tattered robe is furious at your atrocity.]

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband chuckles.]

[A small number of constellations admire your brazenness.]

All idols contain a sealed portion of a constellation’s power to varying degrees. If one were to break that seal correctly, an incarnation could acquire skills or items that the constellation used in life. However, releasing the seal takes a lot of time, and there’s no guarantee you’ll get the skill you want. I stared at the Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse file on my smartphone.

「“But wasn’t there a seal on the statue of Samyeong Daesa? How did you get the skill?”

“If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha, as they say.”

“What? Don’t tell me you...”

“Haha, I was just testing it, but it worked. After all, statues are just idols, right?”」

The skill from Samyeong Daesa would be necessary for entering Chungmuro. And the most certain way to obtain it was to destroy the statue. Sure, I could have bought something similar from the Dokkaebi Compendium, but it was always better to save coins when possible.

“Did your religious activity go well? A temple? Church?”

I quickly turned off my smartphone. The group, including Huiwon, had gathered around me.

“I have something to give you all.”

“What is it? If it’s a cross or something, I’ll pass. I’m not religious.”

Huiwon joked, but I pulled out the items I had brought with me.

Luckily, the statue of Samyeong Daesa had given not only skills but also items.

[Samyeong Daesa’s Prayer Beads]

[Samyeong Daesa’s Robe]

A ragged robe and a set of old prayer beads. The group looked at me with puzzled expressions. I had a good idea of what they were thinking, but in this world, the older an item looked, the more likely it was to be powerful.

“These might not look like much, but they’re great items. They’re relics of a great figure.”

“A great figure?”

“Do you know Samyeong Daesa?”

[A constellation wearing a tattered robe pauses at your words.]

Huiwon gave me a blank look.

“…Who’s that?”

[A constellation wearing a tattered robe sighs at the incarnation Jeong Huiwon.]

“Oh! I know!”

Of course, it was Sangah who spoke up.

“I remember studying about him for my Korean history certification. He was a monk from the Joseon era, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“He fought the Japanese army during the Imjin War to protect Korea. The battles of Nowonpyeong and Ugwandong!”

As expected from Sangah. I had studied Korean history too, but I didn’t know such details.

[A constellation wearing a tattered robe is touched by the incarnation Yu Sangah.]

I nodded.

“In any case, these items contain his power.”

“…Really?”

“No way, are you serious?”

Huiwon and Hyeonseong checked the item details and were astonished.

“How did you know this and manage to get these, Dokja-ssi?”

“I just had a feeling. I prayed in front of the statue, and these items fell from the sky.”

“That can’t be…”

[Multiple constellations are impressed by your shamelessness.]

Even to me, it sounded ridiculous, but there was always a reason behind unbelievable stories. Putting on a serious expression, I looked at the group and continued.

“I think Samyeong Daesa sent these to help protect Korea. Just like he did during the Imjin War.”

“Ah…”

The group's collective "ah" was filled with meaning. I ignored it and carried on. After all, I wasn’t saying this for their benefit.

“Maybe he’s trying to save Korea once again by sending us his relics. After all, the current state of the country is nothing short of a national crisis.”

[A constellation wearing a tattered robe is moved by your eloquence.]

And in times of national crisis, con artists always thrived.

“…I guess in times like these, it wouldn’t be strange for such things to happen. Maybe Samyeong Daesa is also one of the constellations, right?”

Surprisingly, Sangah was the first to accept my story. She probably didn’t want to embarrass me. What was funny was that once Sangah agreed, the simple-minded Hyeonseong quickly followed suit.

“Samyeong Daesa…”

Lee Hyeonseong looked like he was about to recite the Republic of Korea Army Creed. Even Gilyeong seemed impressed.

Only Huiwon gave me a skeptical look.

[A constellation wearing a tattered robe reveals its title.]

[The constellation Bald Army General forgives your sins.]

When I shot a “Satisfied now?” look towards the sky, Bihyeong was standing there, dumbfounded.

The power and wealth of a constellation are tied directly to their fame. That’s why constellations love to spread their stories in this way. Who wouldn’t like being openly praised?

“The prayer beads should go to Yu Sangah, who knew about Samyeong Daesa.”

“Really? Can I accept them?”

“I’m sure Samyeong Daesa would be pleased if you used them.”

In truth, Samyeong Daesa’s Prayer Beads weren’t all that impressive for a constellation’s relic. Just because it was used by a constellation didn’t automatically make it a holy artifact, and Samyeong Daesa wasn’t exactly famous globally.

Still, it was a B-grade item, with auxiliary options that boosted magic recovery and increased resistance to evil.

Huiwon, who had been watching Sangah enviously, spoke up.

“You’re lucky to know all this stuff. I didn’t go to school much, so I don’t know these things.”

“Ah… that’s…”

“I’m just joking. Don’t make that face.”

I turned to Huiwon, who looked pouty.

“I’ve got something for you too.”

“It’s not that rag, is it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“No thanks. No matter how desperate I am, I’m not wearing that.”

“Give it a try. It’s better than nothing.”

After hesitating briefly, Huiwon reluctantly put on the robe. Despite trying her best to make it look fashionable, it still looked like a ragged mess.

[A constellation who favors monopolies criticizes your actions.]

[A constellation who praises camaraderie likes your actions.]

If Samyeong Daesa’s Staff had appeared, I would have kept it, but these two items weren’t something I needed right now. Huiwon examined herself in the reflection of the subway’s screen doors, her face a mix of emotions.

“It’s hard to explain, but… I suddenly feel a surge of energy.”

Samyeong Daesa’s Robe was an item that heightened an Incarnation’s sense of justice and willpower. I didn’t need it, but for someone as passionate as Jeong Huiwon, it would be a useful item.

“I’ll remember Samyeong Daesa’s name.”

[A constellation Bald Army General watches the situation fondly.]

[You have received 100 coins.]

I joked,

“Why don’t you go and pray in front of the statue? Who knows, Samyeong Daesa might give you something else.”

It was just a joke, but Huiwon actually went to pray. After getting exposed to the poisonous fog and becoming poisoned, she was busy eating mole cricket meat while speaking to me.

“By the way, someone broke that statue. You didn’t do that, did you?”

“…”

“…Dokja-ssi?”

“More importantly, let’s get ready. Chungmuro is close.”

I looked into the dark tunnel as I spoke. We had been using Gilyeong’s Inter-Species Communication to move safely for about twenty minutes now.

Considering that the straight distance between Dongdaemun and Chungmuro was less than 1km, it was about time for that to appear.

[A new sub-scenario has arrived!]

As expected.

“Everyone, fall back.”

+

<Sub Scenario – Illusory Prison>

Category: Sub

Difficulty: D~F

Clear conditions: Escape from the Illusory Prison within the time limit.

Time limit: 1 hour

Rewards: 300 coins

Penalty for failure: ???

+

[Sub Scenario - Illusory Prison has begun!]

Even Yu Joonghyuk struggled with this scenario.

It was one of the most dangerous traps for a regressor.

Sangah asked,

“What’s an Illusory Prison? What does it do?”

She would find out soon enough.

“It’s coming. Stay focused.”

Before I could finish speaking, a thick fog enveloped us, blocking our vision. I couldn’t even see the companions standing right next to me. The scenery twisted as if we were in a drug-induced hallucination.

“Ugh… I feel like I’m going to puke.”

Huiwon screamed. She was probably seeing something different from what I was seeing.

「Dokja.」

A voice I didn’t want to hear. The voice of someone I had long forgotten echoed through the distorted landscape. If I was affected this much, it had to be even worse for the others.

“…Something feels strange. Dokja-ssi! Are you there?”

“Dokja-ssi! Dokja-ssi!”

Their voices grew fainter as they drifted further away in the warped space.

Illusory Prison.

A place that preys on one’s trauma, driving them to madness.

「Dokja, you didn’t see anything. Got it?」

As the vision distorted, a familiar face surfaced in my mind. I stared at the air for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh, as if rejecting the reality of what I was seeing.

[The exclusive skill Fourth Wall has been activated!]

[You have developed immunity to the Illusory Prison due to the skill.]

The discomfort quickly faded, replaced by a sense of calm.

[The constellation Secretive Plotter is impressed by your mental resilience.]

[You have received 100 coins.]

[A curious constellation is disappointed they couldn’t peek into your memories.]

As the power of the Illusory Prison weakened, I began to sense movement around me.

“Calm down and take deep breaths, everyone.”

Those trapped in the Illusory Prison lose their sense of reason and unleash their madness on those around them. This was why the prison was most dangerous to those close by. Even Yu Joonghyuk feared this trap, which was why he always acted alone.

“P-private Lee Hyeonseong. D-did not copy, sir!”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Mom!”

“You… you sons of bitches!”

…Was it already too late? I could hear the agonized cries of my companions, lost to their madness. But not all of them had succumbed.

“…Dokja-ssi?”

Through the haze of the Illusory Prison, Sangah’s figure appeared. The Samyeong Daesa’s Prayer Beads on her wrist were glowing brightly. Thankfully, they were working.

I approached her.

“Cover me. I’m going to destroy this space.”

Sangah nodded, her face tense.

[The exclusive skill Dispel Evil Lv.1 has been activated.]

Dispel Evil. A skill one tier above Repel Evil, which could be bought with coins. I had destroyed the statue of Samyeong Daesa just to acquire this skill.

[The exclusive skill Dispel Evil Lv.1 has dispelled the Illusory Prison.]

As expected, since it was a skill used by Samyeong Daesa, the effect was immediate. If I had bought Repel Evil, it would have taken at least a minute to break the prison. The fog receded, and as the Illusory Prison vanished, the group began to reappear one by one.

“We… we pledge to serve our country and people as loyal soldiers of the Republic of Korea Army!”

“M-mom…”

It wasn’t hard to guess what kind of trauma they were dealing with. Hyeonseong was kneeling on the ground, banging his head on the floor, while Gilyeong sat trembling, his head buried in his knees. Sangah quickly moved to help them.

“Hyeonseong-ssi? Gilyeong! Snap out of it!”

Suddenly, a wild blade flew toward me. Luckily, it wasn’t fast, so I dodged it easily.

“…I’ll kill you all.”

Huiwon was glaring at the empty space, her sword raised high. My heart sank as I watched her eyes slowly turn red.

It was dangerous. It was a sign of Demon Slaying.

Whack!

I struck Huiwon’s neck sharply with a knife-hand chop, knocking her unconscious. Fortunately, she collapsed immediately. I had given her Samyeong Daesa’s Robe in case something like this happened, but it seemed her mental state was even more fragile than I had thought.

“Sangah-ssi, please take care of Huiwon.”

“…Okay.”

“It’s not over yet.”

[You have met the clear conditions of the sub-scenario!]

[You have received 300 coins!]

Just as the completion message appeared, monsters emerged from the darkness. Ectoplasmic beings with formless, squirming bodies.

Tier-8 Ghost Species, Specters.

These Specters were responsible for creating the Illusory Prison. I activated Baek Cheongang Qi and summoned the Blade of Faith.

Screeeech!

Thankfully, the battle itself wasn’t difficult. Once the Illusory Prison was broken, Specters were easy to handle. With an ear-piercing scream, the Specters dissipated one by one.

[Specter’s Spirit Stones].

These would come in handy later. I pocketed the stones as the group slowly regained their composure, thanks to Yu Sangah’s efforts.

“Is everyone okay?”

As expected, Hyeonseong was the first to recover. After I explained what had happened, he let out a sigh and bowed his head.

“…Thank you. I nearly caused a disaster. Once again, I owe you, Dokja-ssi.”

“No need to thank me.”

“My head hurts…”

Gilyeong kept tapping his head. I gently patted him. He was trying to act tough, but I was sure his trauma was the worst of all.

A faint light flickered in the distance. Sangah spoke.

“Dokja-ssi, I think we’ve arrived.”

I hesitated for a moment. Huiwon was unconscious, and the others were in no condition to fight.

Could we move forward like this?

But my worries were quickly resolved.

A blade appeared suddenly from the darkness. There was no intent to kill, only a warning.

“Who are you? Don’t you know this is our hunting ground?”

At the dimly lit entrance stood a girl gripping a long sword. She looked around seventeen, wearing a high school uniform I recognized.

Although she tried to hide her nametag with a hooded jacket, it didn’t obscure her striking appearance.

“Ah! That girl…”

Sangah, with her keen eye, recognized her first.

I knew who she was, too.

After all, she was one of the key supporting characters in the novel.

The sole survivor of Typhoon High School, Lee Jihye.

She was one of the reasons Yu Joonghyuk had rushed straight to Chungmuro.

“…Did you defeat the Specters?”

Jihye’s eyes widened when she spotted the Spirit Stones in my hand.

“How… that’s something only our master can do!”

I immediately activated my skill.

[The exclusive skill Character Profile has been activated.]

+

<Character Details>

Name: Lee Jihye

Age: 17

Patron constellation: Naval Warfare God

Exclusive attribute: Scarred Sword Demon (Rare)

Exclusive skills: [Swordsmanship Lv.3], [Demon Slaying Lv.1], [Perfect Senses Lv.2], [Ghost Steps Lv.1]

Stigma: [Naval Warfare Lv.1], [Army Command Lv.1]

Overall stats: [Vitality Lv.13], [Strength Lv.12], [Agility Lv.13], [Mana Lv.9]

Overall evaluation: She evolved into the Scarred Sword Demon after killing her closest friend. Her Patron Constellation favors you and your companions.

*Currently using the Starter Pack.

+

As expected, there were no surprises.

Naval Warfare God.

Just as planned, Jihye had gained that patron constellation. She would become indispensable in the future naval battles.

[The constellation Bald Army General is moved by the reunion with an old comrade.]

[Lee Jihye’s patron constellation warmly greets the Bald Army General.]

A faint breeze stirred in the empty subway. As Jihye’s hair fluttered in the wind, I realized something.

[Main Scenario #2 - Encounter has ended.]

[The rewards are being calculated.]

Yes, we had finally arrived.

Here, at Chungmuro.

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried