WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 273: Episode 50: The Reader’s Fable (8)
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I looked up at the sounds of Constellations entering from the sky.
[Constellations favorable toward you are looking at you.]
They were all Constellations who had taken my side at least once.
[The Constellation One-stroke Scholar is looking at you.]
[The Constellation Joseon's Greatest Sorcerer is looking at you.]
There were even Constellations from Earth among them.
[The Constellation Goryeo's Top Swordsman is looking at you.]
Cheok Junkyung was there too, after being out of contact for so long.
Still, there was someone else I was happiest to see.
[The Constellation Secretive Plotter is looking at you.]
Secretive Plotter. I didn't know exactly who he was. All I knew was that he had steadfastly watched over my Scenarios with goodwill.
[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire carefully clasps her hands together.]
[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband clenches his fist, telling you to stay strong.]
[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon grumbles as he looks at you.]
With this, all four early Constellations who had been with me had gathered.
[Your fable is being created in the 73rd Demon Realm.]
Amid those brimming gazes, I felt as if I had returned to the beginning of every story. Surya spoke.
[Child. I understand your expectations, but the Constellations will not help you. The stars are clever, so they will never make a foolish choice.]
I looked at my companions, who could barely stay on their feet. They had formed a defensive formation around the fallen Junghyeok.
Surya smiled.
[None of them would wish to incur the hostility of a nebula...]
The moment he finished speaking, an earthquake erupted between Surya and me. The ground quickly grew damp, then turned into a wet, sticky swamp.
Tssssss...
Someone was awakening within the swamp, which looked ready to swallow anyone who took even a single step. I immediately recognized who it was.
[The Constellation Predator of the Hasty Swamp has manifested in the Demon Realm!]
Predator of the Hasty Swamp. This was the Constellation I had fought at the Gourmet Association. The one that had ended up buried in debt because of me and had been dragged away by the Enforcement Bureau.
Krooooooar!
A lizard standing well over thirty meters tall. The ancient lizard awakened from the swamp let out a thunderous roar.
Sky-Splitting Divine Dog moved beside me with a growl after recognizing Predator of the Hasty Swamp. But if I was right, Predator of the Hasty Swamp wasn't our enemy this time. I grinned and asked,
"Did you come to pay back your debt?"
Once, Mass Production Maker had given me some advice.
Don't make too many enemies.
[...Even if you hadn't helped, I could have repaid such a trivial sum.]
The giant lizard sharply turned its head. Its enormous jaws revealed threatening hostility toward the Constellations.
[I don't particularly like those bastards. That's why I came!]
After that brief declaration, the enormous lizard charged at the Constellations. The Constellations screamed and retreated from the monster rushing toward them with a roar.
Predator of the Hasty Swamp was a fabled-grade Constellation, after all.
That Constellation had been terrifying when it was my enemy, but now that it was on our side, it was incredibly reassuring. Surya shouted in fury.
[Minion of the Gourmet Association. Are you not afraid of the nebulae?]
[Nebulae? Hahahahat! Since when has the Gourmet Association cared about such things!]
Many of the Gourmet Association's Constellations were outcasts of the Star Stream.
Whether they belonged to a nebula or not, they were beings who carried out their own will without caring about such things. Predator of the Hasty Swamp, who belonged to no nebula, was especially free-spirited even among the Gourmet Association's Constellations.
Kraaaaaat!
When the giant lizard swung his tail, the ground split apart and huge fragments flew into the air. Thunder-Eating Bird and Monstrous Bird of the Nile charged at the giant lizard. As the giant monsters engaged in a physical battle, the surroundings instantly became a scene of chaos. At the center of it all, Surya rose into the sky and looked down at me.
[The result will not change because a piece of trash has joined.]
Surya's rays of light rushed toward me. Even with [Electrification] and [Way of the Wind], they were difficult to avoid. I had no chance of matching the Status of an exalted Lokapala, but I couldn't simply let myself die.
Tssssss!
My flesh split open, exposing bone. Even as pain washed over me, I struggled to buy time somehow. My attention was focused on the system messages in the air.
[The winner of the second round will soon be announced.]
The winner of the game was on this side anyway. No matter how powerful a being was, there was a limit to how long they could delay the Scenario. In other words, if I bought enough time, we had no choice but to win.
[Child, it will not go as you wish.]
I felt far more Plausibility moving than before. It wasn't Plausibility originally allowed in this Scenario. Plausibility provided by Veda was moving.
As if the scales in the sky had been overturned, the balance of Plausibility was tilting.
[The will of Veda shall descend upon this place.]
A brilliant sun was descending behind Surya. Sweat poured down my body as if I were about to melt. One, two, three, four...
Each was a light source powerful enough to burn the ground. Unable to look directly at Surya's overwhelming Status without going blind, I focused on his blazing shadow.
[The fable King of Twelve Suns shines.]
He was Surya of Veda. The King of the Sun who had united the twelve sun gods.
[Do you understand the difference in Status now?]
My exhausted companions lay scattered across the ground, groaning.
"Ahh, ughhh..."
Kraaaaaah!
Predator of the Hasty Swamp writhed in pain, while the other Constellations who had been fighting stared up at Surya with reverence.
Surya was powerful even now, but he was a Constellation who would become even stronger after Veda's Destruction Scenario ended. In the future, after absorbing all the power of the sun gods Savitri and Vivasvat, Surya would become the monster that turned Earth in the 265th round of TWSA into a fiery hell.
Still, no matter how strong the enemy was, I had to struggle.
[The Stigma Song of the Sword Lv.3 has activated!]
[A verse left behind by Admiral Yi Sun-sin is randomly imbued in your sword.]
「One night, a divine being appeared in a dream and said, "If you do this, you will win greatly. If you do that, you will be defeated."」
It was a passage I had heard once when fighting a Lesser Dragon.
[A Stigma from a Historical Constellation. You use such a pathetic trick.]
Perhaps thanks to the Skill's effect, I could now look directly at the light sources as if I were wearing sunglasses. As I recalled, this passage showed an enemy's weak points by color. Green indicated strong points, while red indicated weak points.
I narrowed my eyes and glared at Surya. I glared and glared again. Cold sweat ran down my back.
[Yes, what have you seen?]
Surya slowly approached me, smiling quietly.
[It is useless for you to run wild with a stolen Stigma. Even if you have ascended to the rank of a Constellation, you were born human.]
Surya's entire body was green. There wasn't a weakness anywhere.
[Human history cannot surpass a god. Nowhere in this Star Stream has such a being ever existed.]
I couldn't face Surya alone.
Even with Predator of the Hasty Swamp's help, it would be impossible.
I threw off my torn coat and said,
"...The balance of Plausibility has tilted. That means we can put more weight on our side too."
[No matter who comes, the scales will not reach equilibrium.]
My story wasn't a myth. I was neither a god nor a hero.
If one searched through the entire Star Stream, a story like mine might be common.
[The Constellations of the night sky make their decision.]
Even so, someone in this world had listened intently to my story.
"You won't know until you weigh it. Come, Goryeo's Top Swordsman!"
Pajijijit!
With explosive sparks, a streaking meteor pierced the dark clouds and fell.
[The Constellation Goryeo's Top Swordsman has responded to your call.]
A splendid sword form tore through the sky. It was the Three Sword Forms I had seen before.
[Who has called me, Cheok Junkyung!]
The sword that struck down like lightning dealt a deep wound to one of Surya's suns. An explosion bright enough to blind me erupted, followed by Surya's shout.
[How dare a mere Historical Constellation...!]
The moment blazing flashes poured down toward the ground, something struck the earth with a heavy boom and sent me and my companions flying backward. When I came to my senses, I was in a man's arms. A giant almost as large as the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint.
[It has been a long time, descendant.]
The true form of Goryeo's Top Swordsman, radiating majestic Status, stood before me.
"It's been a long time, sir. Your Status has changed."
Junkyung, who had certainly been a Historical Constellation, was now radiating the unmistakable Status of a fabled-grade Constellation.
[It is thanks to you. Much has happened in the meantime.]
Of course. The last time I saw Junkyung, he had joined the battle against an Outer God. He must have gained a fable as powerful as mine, allowing him to rise to a higher Status.
[At last, I can repay my debt to you.]
As Junkyung glanced meaningfully at the sky, Indirect Messages from the Constellations began to appear.
[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband groans as if frustrated.]
[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire looks despondent.]
It seemed other Constellations had wanted to come here too.
But they had been unable to move because of the restrictions of Plausibility and the nebulae watching them.
Uriel, especially, belonged to Eden, so her situation would be even more complicated. A wrong move could lead to the Great War of Angels and Demons. Uriel had already helped me more than enough, so I didn't feel disappointed.
"They're coming."
Kwooooooh!
The rays Surya fired formed a wave and crashed down on us.
[...I knew the divine beings from India were no joke, but he truly is a monster.]
Junkyung protected me as he cut through the oncoming rays. But even his blade was gradually melting and corroding.
[I have split Mount Tai and the sea, but I have never cut a sun. Had I known a monster like that existed, I would have brought Yi.]
Yi likely referred to the sun hunter from Chinese mythology. It seemed Junkyung was acquainted with him too. But Yi was a Constellation of the Emperor anyway, so he wouldn't try to fight Surya.
[I will face you!]
Progenitor of Humanity charged toward Junkyung. As legendary warriors clashed, the surroundings rapidly became ruins covered in the aftermath of Mana storms.
[The crest of the 73rd Demon Realm peers into your fable.]
That was when something I carried close to my chest floated up into the sky. They were the crests I had obtained from the previous game. Surya shouted in a voice like thunder.
[What are you doing? There is no time! Kill them quickly!]
These crests were the materials that formed a Great Fable. At last, the Great Fable of this world had begun to stir.
[The Demon King Architect of Discord reveals hostility toward you.]
The Demon Kings, who had only watched and moved passively, finally acted.
A light gust of heat sent by Architect of Discord threw me through the air, and I felt as if my entire body were being torn apart. Even with two allies having arrived, the battle situation was absurdly unfavorable.
As the Demon Kings released their power, the scales of Plausibility creaked once more.
We needed more help. But who could face those powerful Demon Kings? No matter how hard I thought, I couldn't think of a Constellation I could ask for immediate help.
That was when the approaching Demon Kings suddenly hesitated.
"All forces, fire!"
Along with the sound of cannons firing from somewhere, I heard the voice of a familiar girl.
"Mister! It's me!"
[The Constellation Naval Warfare God is looking at you.]
"Sorry I'm late!"
From the Haeja district of the distant industrial complex, Jihye's ghost fleet was firing toward us. Furious Indirect Messages from the Demon Kings filled the air.
I saw two Demon Kings turn toward Jihye.
"Jihye!"
It was good that she had come to help, but Jihye alone couldn't handle this.
There were two Demon Kings.
If she did something that reckless, she would only be killed in an instant.
"Run!"
I dragged my feet and hurried forward, but the wounds I had suffered earlier made it difficult to move. The Demon Kings endured the barrage and had already approached Jihye. This wouldn't work. Not unless I used [Way of the Wind].
That was when someone grabbed my shoulder.
"Dokja-ssi, you're trying to do everything alone again. I told you not to."
Had I been exposed to Surya's light for too long? I couldn't clearly see the woman's face. Still, I knew who she was from her voice alone.
"I was late because I lost a coin toss, so don't be too upset."
She walked toward the Demon Kings.
"Wait! Huiwon-ssi!"
Huiwon was strong. She had probably become even stronger while carrying out her personal Scenario.
But facing Demon Kings was impossible.
Even if she activated Hour of Judgement, against Demon Kings...
"I know what you're thinking, but don't worry."
Was it an illusion? Behind her back, something like an angel's wings seemed to overlap.
"Because I'm not the one fighting."
An immense Status unlike anything I had ever felt before was manifesting before me. The Demon Kings charging toward Jihye turned toward us with shocked expressions.
The power of the Constellation descending upon Jeong Huiwon covered the entire Demon Realm, and in an instant, the world was dyed silver.
[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire has manifested in the 73rd Demon Realm.]
Footnotes:
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