Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint - Chapter 274

WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 274: Episode 51: Great Fable (1)

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Archangel Uriel appeared in the 73rd Demon Realm.

Even in the original story, there were times in the later parts when Uriel descended directly into an Incarnation body. But this was only the 25th Scenario.

I heard the flustered Demon Kings and Constellations muttering.

[Th-this is absurd...]

Behind Jeong Huiwon, who stood with her eyes peacefully closed, Uriel's transparent figure seemed to appear. Her long golden hair rippled through the air amid a dazzling aura.

Tsssssss!

The scales of Plausibility were tipping once more. The scales, whose balance had completely collapsed, were slowly returning to equilibrium with Uriel's appearance alone. No, if anything, our side seemed heavier now.

What was even more astonishing was that this wasn't Uriel's full strength.

Every battle on the battlefield stopped. Surya watched us with tense eyes, and even the Constellations who had been brawling halted their fierce clashes. The Descent of an Archangel was an enormous event even for Constellations.

The first to speak was the Demon King with an owl's face and a burning sword in hand.

[Archangel! How dare you show yourself here!]

I knew him.

He was Architect of Discord, Andras, the Demon King of the 63rd Demon Realm. He had once cursed Han Suyeong for killing one of his underlings.

Then another Demon King beside him spoke.

[C-c-corpse is what you want to become, Archangel.]

A skeleton wearing green armor and a crown. That was Lord Who Philosophizes Corpses, Murmur, the Demon King of the 54th Demon Realm.

Though they were lower-ranking Demon Kings, both were powerhouses far beyond me. Yet an unfamiliar emotion showed on their faces.

Fear.

Uriel, having completed her Descent, slowly opened her eyes. As her clear emerald eyes swept over the world, it felt as if the world's colors had been overturned. Even without meeting her gaze, I felt my heart freeze.

[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire looks upon the 73rd Demon Realm.]

An Archangel's gaze signified destruction. It was the final gaze cast upon every living thing in the world for the world's purification. The 73rd Demon Realm trembled beneath her eyes.

[You ■■s. It's been a while, hasn't it?]

The two Demon Kings took three or four steps back. One corner of Huiwon's mouth curled up slightly.

[You... I told you before not to carry that sword around, didn't I? Your character overlaps with mine, and it annoys me.]

At those words, Andras slowly lowered his burning sword. His owl eyes blinked rapidly, while Murmur's skeletal jaw shook violently.

Murmur was the first to step forward.

[Foolish Archangel! Do you know what your actions mean? Or perhaps... Could it be that E-Eden has decided to intervene in the Selection...]

[■uck off. I came here on my own.]

I was reminded once more of Uriel's description in the original story. I had completely forgotten because of how warmly she treated me, but she was one of Eden's most terrifying Archangels.

She was the Demonic Judge of Fire, a battle-crazed Archangel more brutal than any other and the Archangel who had massacred the most demons.

When she raised a hand into the air, a sword shimmering with white flames appeared. Before that blade, every nearby flame went out as if paying its respects.

A sword containing the most exalted flames of [hellfire inferno].

It was Flame of Karma, Uriel's constellation artifact.

The Demon Kings looked alarmed when she drew that sword.

[Have you forgotten the agreement?]

[Eat ■. You ■ing ■■s.]

[Wha-what?]

[Ah, ■uck, this ■ing filtering...]

I remembered that Eden's Archangels had their own filters imposed by their nebula to maintain their dignity.

That was when Uriel's eyes turned to me.

[Kim Dokja?]

Was it because I looked too flustered? Uriel turned to me with an awkward smile.

[...Ah, hi?]

It was an awkward greeting, as if she were embarrassed that I had seen her earlier behavior.

[Many Constellations are at a loss for words.]

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon points a finger, telling her not to do anything stupid.]

The Demon Kings, who had faced an overwhelming threat just moments ago, stared at us as if this were ridiculous. I pulled myself together and bowed.

"It's been a while, Uriel."

[Yeah!]

Uriel beamed.

[You are loved by an Archangel!]

[A new fable has been acquired!]

[The fable One Loved by an Archangel has been acquired!]

Perhaps worried that I might be frightened, a barrage of considerate Indirect Messages poured down on me. Honestly, I was a little moved.

Quite a few Constellations had shown me goodwill until now. But no Constellation had worked as hard to help me as Uriel.

I had done nothing for her so far. Even so, Uriel had come here for me today.

Uriel rolled up Huiwon's sleeves and shouted triumphantly.

[Don't worry, Kim Dokja! I'll kill them all!]

I knew that was a performance.

This was the Demon Realm. If an Archangel truly exerted her power here, it was obvious what would happen.

Still, hearing Uriel say that was enough to...

"...Uriel?"

Kuwaaaaaah!

"Wait! Uriel!"

Hellfire surged endlessly from Uriel's blade, stretching all the way to the sky. That was true [hellfire inferno]. Uriel's real power, capable of turning an entire world into a sea of fire with a single strike.

[Th-the Archangel has gone mad! Run!]

[She's a crazy bitch!]

Terrified Constellations began to flee. I hadn't expected Uriel to use her real power either. Even Dokgak, who had been hiding somewhere, finally appeared.

[W-wait a moment, Archangel-nim. Please calm down...]

His sly appearance made my blood boil. He had delayed the winner announcement and abandoned the Scenario, and now...

As if she had read my mind, Uriel spoke.

[■uck off.]

[Y-yes?]

[■uck the Scenario! ■uck the dokkaebis! ■uck, you ■ing bastards!]

Uriel looked genuinely furious.

The skies of the Demon Realm howled at her rage.

Kugugugugugu!

Just as the Archangel's sword was about to strike the ground.

[The Demon King Unfathomable Strictness vents anger.]

Black Mana surged violently through the sky.

[The Demon King Ruler of Hell's East stares at the Archangel.]

[The Demon King Demon God of Necromancy raises his Status.]

[The Demon King Lion of the Black Mane lets out a shout toward Eden.]

Highest-ranking Demon Kings, terrifying even from their modifiers alone, were entering this channel one after another.

Damn it. At this rate, the Great war of Angels and Demons was about to break out here.

But Demon Kings weren't the only ones appearing.

[The Constellation Protector of Youth and Travel has entered the channel.]

[The Constellation Lily Blooming in Aquarius has entered the channel.]

[The Constellation Commander of the Red Cosmos has entered the channel.]

Top-ranking Constellations whose appearance alone could make everyone tense. As Eden's key Constellations entered the channel, its volume rapidly expanded. Biyoo trembled in my arms as if she were in pain.

[The Constellation Scribe of heaven looks upon the Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire with solemn eyes.]

Uriel's sword twitched. It felt as if time had frozen.

Every Demon King and Archangel focused on Uriel's sword. The future of the Demon Realm and Eden depended on where that sword went.

[The Demon Kings of the Demon Realm and the Archangels of Eden have convened an emergency meeting.]

[As of this moment, all Demon Kings and Archangels involved in the Scenario are being summoned for an emergency assembly.]

With the sound of immense Plausibility shifting, Uriel's sword scattered into the air. Huiwon's body swayed as the Archangel's presence left the Demon Realm.

Uriel looked at me with a faint smile.

[I wanted to help you until the end.]

Only then did I understand Uriel's intention.

[N-no! This can't be happening!]

Uriel wasn't the only one disappearing. The Demon Kings who had descended earlier were also slowly vanishing amid sparks of Plausibility.

Uriel had sacrificed herself to keep every Demon King here from acting.

[...How remarkable.]

Cheok Junkyung muttered as though impressed.

[For that solemn Archangel to make such a great sacrifice for you...]

Even I couldn't predict the punishment Uriel would have to endure. An Archangel who had violated the agreement governing the Great war of Angels and Demons of her own will. Eden would probably impose brutal sanctions on her.

[You have to win, Kim Dokja.]

I reached for the fading Uriel, but her figure had already scattered into the gray haze. I quickly caught Huiwon as she collapsed. Huiwon, who had borne the Archangel's full Status, slept with an exhausted expression.

Thanks to Uriel, I no longer had to worry about the Demon Kings joining the battle. But things had also become worse because of that.

[My judgment was wrong. I didn't expect you to be a Constellation capable of calling an Archangel.]

Surya remained in the sky where the Archangel and Demon Kings had vanished, having watched all of this unfold. Surya, who had subtly looked down on me until now, was looking at me with utter seriousness. Oedipus King and Manu, guarding either side of him, were the same.

[From now on, I will get serious.]

Surya's form shot through the sky like an arrow. The surrounding air changed, and a tremendous blast of wind began sweeping through the area.

A short while passed.

Kwagagagagaga!

"W-what's that sound?"

The Allies who had been scattered around approached me one by one. The first to speak was Jang Hayoung, utterly exhausted.

"That's insane..."

Beyond the dazzling sun, something was flying toward us through distant space. It tore through the atmosphere with a sound like the sky splitting apart.

It was a sound that could only be heard when a meteorite fell.

Looking closer, the thing flying toward us was a gigantic chariot. Every time the enormous golden mare accelerated, the entire Demon Realm shook as if it would burst apart.

"...A chariot?"

Could something like that even be called a chariot, or should I call it a locomotive? Neither word fit.

What was certain was that an object too large for human common sense was falling toward the ground, and it would become this world's Calamity.

Sangah spoke.

"Surya's chariot. I've seen it in a mythology book. It said it was over 130,000 kilometers long..."

"One hundred and thirty thousand? Is that even possible?"

When Hayoung asked, Sangah shook her head.

"That's why it's mythology."

The divinities of Indian mythology believed in a universe supported by a giant turtle and elephants. So there was nothing particularly strange about a locomotive on that absurd scale appearing here.

Kugugugugugu!

The problem was that we had to face that Calamity.

[You have witnessed a part of the Great Fable Vedas.]

[Your understanding of fables has increased.]

...So this was what Surya meant by being serious.

I was awed by the Status that made every hair on my body stand on end.

The mere fact that it was approaching us filled me with overwhelming despair. I had only witnessed a part of it, but it was an experience on a completely different level from ordinary fables.

That was precisely why I had to obtain a Great Fable.

[Damn it, run!]

At the majesty of the chariot charging through the sky, Constellations were already fleeing with their tails between their legs. Constellation or not, no being could collide with that and emerge unharmed.

Junkyung murmured.

[This has become quite troublesome. It looks like that bastard intends to destroy this world.]

"...Are you afraid?"

[No. This should be fun.]

Junkyung laughed as though genuinely enjoying himself.

Just as I was about to say something to my Allies, someone stood beside me.

He wasn't Cheok Junkyung, nor was he a Constellation.

"...You're awake?"

When I turned, Junghyeok was there, standing with the Black Heaven Demon Blade supporting him.

[The character Yu Junghyeok has activated Recovery Lv.10!]

Junghyeok had finally recovered enough to use Recovery. The last of his vitality burned brightly over the black blade.

His mouth and vocal cords seemed slow to recover, so Junghyeok didn't speak.

Instead, I heard his thoughts through [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint].

「Kim Dokja.」

"Yeah."

This would probably be the final battle in the Demon Realm.

[The 73rd Demon Realm is watching your choice.]

Even I couldn't guarantee anything this time. Someone here could die. Perhaps Junghyeok or I could die.

Even so, I spoke.

"Let's go."

Sangah and Hyeongseong nodded. Shin Yuseong, riding the Chimera Dragon, stood beside me. Jihye, who had been looking at the sky from near Haeja, nodded as well.

There were no Constellations here to help us. Only we humans were here.

But we weren't without a chance of victory. We had already bought enough time.

It was all thanks to Uriel.

[The will of the 73rd Demon Realm responds to your choice.]

Perhaps Surya had made a mistake by getting serious.

We weren't the only ones who would meet our end before the approaching Calamity.

Just as the First Martial World had before its Destruction Scenario, the 73rd Demon Realm had reached its time of choice.

[The Great Fable of the 73rd Demon Realm is sprouting.]

No world would choose as its master someone who intended to destroy it.

[The 73rd Demon Realm has chosen its master.]

Flustered dokkaebis and Constellations sent out messages. But I didn't hear any of their voices.

Right now, I wasn't the one listening to the story.