WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 272: Episode 50: The Reader’s Fable (7)

──────

Yu Junghyeok's whole body trembled.

「...I can't die.」

「I will never die here.」

Junghyeok's desperate will was being conveyed to me through [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint].

"Hey, you...."

Junghyeok had rejected regression.

[The Patron constellation of the Incarnation Yu Junghyeok looks at its Incarnation.]

Faced with something that had never happened before, Junghyeok's Patron constellation remained silent.

It was an inscrutable silence.

It seemed angry, and it also seemed sad. Or perhaps it seemed to show no reaction at all. Not long after, the gaze that had been fixed on Junghyeok vanished without a trace.

[The activation of the Stigma Regression Lv. 3 has been cancelled.]

As if it were saying, try it if you can.

When the light of the Stigma disappeared, Junghyeok slumped again. His eyes, which had barely opened, closed, but his lips still moved slowly. I could feel the resolve of a lifetime in him. Junghyeok's characteristic tenacity to survive no matter what.

His thoughts rang in my head.

「Crush it finer so I can eat it.」

I forced down the swell in my chest, took out another Greater Restoration Pill, ground it into powder, and poured it into his mouth. The fable that had been collapsing around him was gradually stopping its disintegration.

"...You're hanging in there."

Junghyeok had staked everything on this round.

That regressor, who could've been fine even if he failed again and again, had thrown away every one of those chances and chosen to remain in this world.

Junghyeok had gone silent, as if he'd lost consciousness.

Instead, the fable wrapped around his body shone brightly.

[The fable Companions in Life and Death continues the story.]

Companions in Life and Death. It was a fable the Junghyeok of the original story never had.

「"What is your relationship with Yu Junghyeok?"

"We're companions who have shared life and death."」

Was that back in Chungmuro?

I was sure I'd had that conversation with Pildu Gong once.

A hollow laugh escaped me.

Damn it. At this point, we really would live together or die together.

I gripped Junghyeok tightly as he swayed and ran.

Before long, I could see my allies in the distance, shouting something.

Rumbblee!

I felt scorching heat from behind me. Fireballs barely grazed over my head alongside violent blasts tearing through the wind. The Constellations had already caught up and were right behind us.

[You called another Demon King! Do you understand what you've done?]

The Constellations roared, releasing terrifying force.

[You fool. Now the 73rd Demon Realm will be destroyed!]

Instead of snapping back at them, I shouted toward Lee Hyeongseong in front of me.

"Lee Hyeongseong-ssi!"

Junghyeok's body flew through the air, and the running Hyeongseong caught him. At almost the same time, I twisted my waist and threw a punch on reflex.

Booom!

One of the charging Constellations collided with me and screamed.

The lightning of [Electrification] slammed into the tail of the Goddess of Scorpions, and the [Unbreakable Faith] I swung afterward blocked the lightning of Thunder-Eating Bird. Having absorbed that power, the [Blade of Faith] shone so brilliantly it looked ready to explode.

I held back the blood surging up my throat and shoved the absorbed lightning away with the power of [Electrification].

Craaaash!

There were seven Constellations chasing us. Too many for me to handle alone.

The bigger problem was that the dark clouds in the sky were thickening.

Beneath those ominous black clouds gathering like an evil portent, the stars that had illuminated the 73rd Demon Realm were disappearing one by one. In truth, this was why I hadn't called Asmodeus until now.

Jets of pitch-black lightning struck from the sky in succession, and the Constellations recoiled in shock.

Along with sparks scattering through the air, Demon Kings who had gained Plausibility were descending.

Now that Asmodeus had manifested here, the other Demon Kings had no reason to hold back anymore.

And unfortunately, those Demon Kings weren't on my side.

[The Demon King Architect of Discord has manifested in the Demon Realm!]

[The Demon King Lord Who Philosophizes Corpses has manifested in the Demon Realm!]

Even just the summoning of their Incarnation bodies gave off a presence that surpassed the other Constellations.

There was no one left who would help me.

[The 73rd Demon Realm responds to your fable.]

There was nothing to rely on except the stories I had built up.

"Everyone, fall back! While I buy time, preserve as much Constitution as you can!"

That was when one of my allies pulled something bizarre.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

A figure shot past my side with a thunderous roar.

"Manager Han? What are you...."

Han Myeongoh, having activated [one-legged swift foot], was running somewhere at tremendous speed.

In the exact direction I'd fled from.

Toward where Demon King Asmodeus was.

* * *

[Ahahahahahahahaha!]

Demon King Asmodeus looked delighted.

Arrows of light were embedded all over his Incarnation body, and blood streamed from his torn arm, but the only emotions on the girl's face were pleasure and elation.

[This is fun! It's delightful!]

The madly swinging Bloodied Hand stripped numerous Constellations of their Incarnation bodies. Even so, there were still many Constellations left.

A Demon King was, by default, a being on equal footing with fabled-grade Constellations. Against ordinary Constellations, maybe he would've had a chance, but with Surya, one of the Lokapala, here, Asmodeus had no hope of victory.

Surya opened his mouth in a curious voice.

[I wonder what your reason is, Demonic God of Wrath and Lust.]

From far away came a sound like a huge drum bursting. The Constellations that had gone after the Demon King of Salvation were probably fighting their final decisive battle by now.

Surya couldn't understand it. Why were those humans still resisting? And why was this Demon King taking the side of such humans?

Asmodeus, breathing hard as if slightly tired, laughed. When Surya raised his left hand, the Constellations' attacks stopped.

[Asmodeus, why are you taking the side of such insignificant humans?]

[Their side.... I'm not taking anybody's side.]

Grinning, Asmodeus licked the blood staining Bloodied Hand and said,

[I'm just causing trouble because it looks like it'll be fun.]

[...Fun?]

[You have no idea what kind of fables the Demon King of Salvation possesses.]

[I've seen them too. They were common fables.]

At those words, Asmodeus burst into loud laughter.

[Hahahahat! Surya! After shining that much light, it seems you've finally gone blind. I told you before, didn't I? If you want to enjoy fables for a long time, you should take care of your eyesight.]

[...I admit that child is one of the more promising new stars. But measured against the whole Star Stream, he's only average. He doesn't even possess a single Mythical-grade fable yet.]

A presence started pouring from Surya's entire body as he frowned. Asmodeus was still smiling.

[Mythical-grade fables.... You've lived for that many years, and you still evaluate fables by a pathetic rank like that?]

[They are nothing more than human history. They don't even merit evaluation.]

[All fables begin from that "history" in the end.]

[...Asmodeus, after fooling around with those bastards from the Gourmet Association, you've become all talk. So are you going to keep stopping me? In the end, you'll lose your Incarnation body and destroy yourself.]

[Well, that's probably how it'll go. That said....]

Watching the Constellations tighten the encirclement step by step, Asmodeus spoke.

[Surya, why are you so obsessed with the Demon King of Salvation?]

[...Obsessed? What nonsense are you spouting?]

[More precisely, it doesn't seem to be just you. It looks like your whole nebula is like that. Isn't it?]

[It seems you're the one who's gone blind.]

[You talk all high and mighty about mere human history, yet your Veda tried to recruit the Demon King of Salvation. And because that failed, you're now trying to kill him out of petty spite. That's not the sort of thing a giant nebula should be doing.]

[...]

[At this point, I have to ask. Why exactly are you doing this?]

Surya was silent for a moment. A subtle emotion spread across his face. As if trying to conceal it, Surya hurriedly lifted his right hand. He meant to signal the Constellations to attack. At that moment, Asmodeus spoke.

[Wait, ahaha.... Hahahahat. I see. Surya....]

[...]

[You.... You heard about what happened at the Gourmet Association.]

Surya's raised hand twitched.

[The Demon King of Salvation is a being who pursues the Final Scenario. That's why you hate him. Isn't that right?]

The trembling of Surya's fingers spoke for his agitation. Mocking that agitation, Asmodeus said,

[Because you, Surya, never obtained the qualification for the end.]

A spear of light like a flash pierced Asmodeus's body. A dark sneer tugged at Asmodeus's lips, and spears of light rained down nonstop across his entire body.

Drops of blood pattered down. The hastily formed Incarnation body was far weaker than usual. Asmodeus clutched at the intestines trying to spill out from his ripped-open abdomen.

[...Human bodies really are inconvenient.]

Asmodeus glanced over the approaching Constellations and looked up at the sky.

The stars stood out between the pitch-black clouds. Light and darkness were competing for dominance in the heavens. Around the 73rd Demon Realm, the powerhouses that had been holding their breath until now were beginning to move.

Even for Asmodeus, who had lived for countless years, it had been a long time since he'd seen such a sight.

Today, amazing feats would unfold in this Demon Realm.

Surya's spear of light moved, and the Constellations poured Mana toward Asmodeus. Just as Asmodeus's Incarnation body was about to vanish, a hazy cloud of dust came rolling in from somewhere and blocked the Constellations' vision.

While the startled Constellations floundered for a moment, someone snatched up Asmodeus's small body. Even Asmodeus was surprised this time. Though he had lived for so many years, he'd never once been saved by someone.

[You are....?]

Han Myeongoh was running while holding him. After taking the Constellations' attacks, Myeongoh had lost one ear and part of his left arm.

In a dazed voice, Asmodeus muttered,

[Why....?]

He knew who this man was. But Asmodeus couldn't understand why he had come here. Even if he was a subordinate, there was no reason for him to show this kind of loyalty....

Squeeze.

Without a word, Myeongoh hugged Asmodeus tightly.

The huge, blind emotion flowing from that subordinate wasn't directed at Asmodeus.

Held in Myeongoh's arms, Asmodeus smiled vaguely.

[Really, this Scenario is fun....]

* * *

"...I'm sorry, everyone. It looks like I'll have to ask you to fight alongside me."

When Dokja said that, the first to stand was Lee Hyeongseong, who had finished checking his gear.

"I'm ready."

Yu Sangah and Sky-Splitting Divine Dog followed behind him, and the terrified Shin Yuseong clenched her fists hard. O-su, now resembling a guinea pig, gave a small bark.

It was a shabby force, but everyone was resolute. Faced with the Constellations' presence, the humans didn't retreat.

[You fools really are foolish to the bitter end.]

The battle began with an explosive roar.

One hit broke bones, two hits inflicted fatal wounds, and after three hits, you couldn't count on surviving.

As Demon Kings appeared, the battle became even more chaotic. Allies struck by Demon Kings went flying through the air like kites with their threads cut.

"Kuheok!"

Hyeongseong was the first to drop to one knee.

Kyaaaaah!

The Chimera Dragon screamed as its wings buckled. And Jang Hayoung sank down and watched all of it.

"Ah, ahh. Ah...."

In the face of that overwhelming helplessness, Hayoung couldn't even steady herself. The [Sky Splitter Sword Art] she had learned was far too weak to split the heavens. The Ultimate Techniques she had learned through the Wall weren't enough to stand against those exalted stars.

Clutching the stomach that had taken a blow from a Demon King, Hayoung looked at Dokja fighting on the front lines.

Craaaash!

The Demon King of Salvation she'd wanted so badly to meet was fighting. Even while his side burst open and his right arm was broken.

She wanted to fight alongside him.

Only the stars in the sky shone indifferently. There were that many stars, so why wasn't there even one that would help them?

[The Exclusive Skill Unidentified Wall has activated!]

The truth was, she'd already done this several times.

She had sent messages again and again to the modifiers Dokja had told her about, but no replies came. Even so, Hayoung searched for Constellations as if offering up a prayer that would never be answered.

Please, please, even if it's only one.

[The Unidentified Wall asks, "Do you truly want to help?"]

With a faint vibration, the Wall asked.

[The Unidentified Wall asks again, "Do you really want to help?"]

She nodded. She wanted to help. No matter what price she had to pay, please.

Then the next moment, countless messages rose before Hayoung's eyes.

-Hello, do you happen to know Kim Dokja? He's looking for you....

-Hello, Constellation. I actually have a favor to ask.... Do you happen to know Kim Dokja....

-Constellation, please help me. Kim Dokja is in danger.

-Please, help me. Please....

...

With a blank face, Hayoung read the hundreds of messages floating in front of her.

Every last one of them was a message she had sent.

[There are currently 124 messages waiting to be sent.]

More precisely, they were messages she'd believed she had sent.

"Why, why....?"

Goosebumps slowly rose on her skin.

The reason no replies had come from all those Constellations.

[The Unidentified Wall says, "Because I was told not to send them."]

"By who?"

[The Unidentified Wall says, "A being with a greater status than mine."]

She didn't know who that was. But Hayoung did know what she needed to do now.

"Send them. Right now! Send all of them!"

The Unidentified Wall was silent for a moment.

[The Unidentified Wall sighs and says, "Do not regret this."]

Then the next moment, pain like her head was going to explode flooded her mind.

[124 messages have been sent.]

Like a massive volume of water being discharged from a dam, countless messages were released from Hayoung and flew into the sky. And time passed. One minute, two minutes.... Hayoung stared at the heavens without letting go of her thread of hope.

[The Constellation One-Eyed Maitreya has entered the channel.]

And then, someone answered.

Like a meteor shower bombarding the sky, the sounds of channel entry rang out one after another without pause.

[The Constellation Predator of the Hasty Swamp has entered the channel.]

[The Constellation One-stroke Scholar has entered the channel.]

[The Constellation Joseon's Greatest Sorcerer has entered the channel.]

[The Constellation Goryeo's Top Swordsman has entered the channel.]

[The small constellation of a small planet has entered the channel.]

Watching the balance of the distorted sky change, Jang Hayoung heard all those messages amid joy and despair.

[The Constellation Secretive Plotter has entered the channel.]

Footnotes:

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