WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 306: Episode 57: Glorious Return (5)

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How on earth could Yu Junghyeok be here?

Though confused, I guided the Returnees down and landed safely on the ground. The Returnees nervously stepped back as they watched Junghyeok radiate overwhelming Status before the monument. Flying Fox asked,

"Brother, that man is...?"

"Stand back. I'll talk to him."

I signaled to Flying Fox and slowly approached Junghyeok.

In any case, our goal was to leave a Mark at the target Shelter Zone. As long as we accomplished that, the Scenario would be cleared.

The moment I came within about ten meters of Junghyeok, the aura flowing from him changed. I swallowed and spoke.

"Yu Junghyeok."

Of course, my voice wouldn't reach him properly.

"Move aside. Please."

Junghyeok didn't move.

Just as I had grown stronger after visiting the 1,863rd round, Junghyeok must have grown stronger too. Even from the aura I could faintly sense, I couldn't be sure of winning. There was only one way left.

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

Now that it had come to this, I would knock out my Incarnation body and synchronize with Yu Junghyeok's perspective...

[The activation of the Exclusive Skill Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint has been cancelled.]

[Your complex understanding of this individual is insufficient.]

[Your Reading Comprehension is insufficient to understand this individual's current state.]

...What?

Startled, I took a step back. This was the first time this had ever happened.

This was definitely the third round. It wasn't the 1,863rd round, which I barely knew anything about. What the hell had happened over the past three years?

"Brother! Get out of the way!"

If Flying Fox hadn't shoved me aside just then, Junghyeok's blade would have split me in two. Flying Fox shouted,

"Let's kill him together. He looks dangerous!"

"No."

"Why? Is he someone you know too?"

I looked at Flying Fox.

"He's my Companion."

It was funny hearing those words come out of my mouth. I felt like I could understand how Junghyeok had felt once.

Junghyeok and I don't get along well. Our personalities are different, the ways we progress through Scenarios are different, and even the ways we communicate with others are different. Even so, we have saved each other's lives again and again. That was how we made it this far.

"So I can't kill him."

I reached into my coat. Just as Junghyeok had his own convictions, I had mine.

[Blade of Faith has been activated!]

It wasn't the Unbreakable Faith I used to wield.

The blade had a far darker sheen than my sword. It was the sword Han Suyeong of the 1,863rd round had used. The Aether rising from Blade of Faith carried a deep black glow.

[This item's grade does not match the balance of the Scenario.]

[Some of this item's stats have been adjusted.]

The Unbreakable Faith of the ninety-fifth Scenario, refined in Suyeong's way.

Junghyeok's pupils trembled faintly. I had no idea what I looked like to him right now. Maybe I looked as though I had wrapped Aether around enormous tentacles.

"Stop, Yu Junghyeok. I don't want to fight."

How could I avoid fighting Junghyeok?

What could I do to tell him that I was Kim Dokja?

As I narrowly dodged the blade coming at me, an idea flashed through my mind.

Wait, could it be?

I couldn't be sure. The Scenario penalty might distort its effect again. Still, it was better than not trying.

[You have activated the item Midday Tryst!]

[Your connection with the current target is stable.]

[Due to the Scenario penalty, the item's user has been changed to Ugly Squid.]

I immediately sent Junghyeok a message.

―Yu Junghyeok! It's me, Kim Dokja! Don't cut me!

Midday Tryst. It was an item I had kept for communication when Junghyeok had once been near death. Surprisingly, its function still worked.

[The sent message has been distorted due to the Scenario penalty.]

―Come at me, sunfish.

Goddammit. Even this was distorted?

I watched Junghyeok cautiously. The message's content had come out strangely, but what mattered was that he had received it.

Midday Tryst was an item only designated people could use.

Even if the user's name had changed, sharp-witted Junghyeok would figure out my identity just from receiving the message.

―Junghyeok! I said stop! I'm Kim Dokja!

[The sent message has been distorted due to the Scenario penalty.]

―Let us determine the King of the Sea.

Junghyeok stared at me for a moment, then slowly lowered his sword. I drew in a breath. Had he finally realized it was me?

Kwooooooo.

A tremendous current flowed from Junghyeok's entire body as he lowered his sword. His body, once covered in blue light, was once again wrapped in golden waves.

Junghyeok was releasing his Transcendent Status.

"...Yu Junghyeok?" I asked in confusion.

My head rang. Junghyeok should have realized my identity just from receiving the message.

Then why?

The moment our swords met, my body was flung backward. Amid the shock that made my wrist feel as if it had vanished, a question surfaced.

「Why had Midday Tryst activated?」

Midday Tryst was a time-limited item. Once a certain period passed, additional coins had to be paid to extend its duration. Yet Midday Tryst had activated without any delay.

That meant someone had kept extending its duration.

[The character Yu Junghyeok is telling the Great Fable Spring of the Demon Realm.]

At last, the Great Fable was released from Junghyeok's entire body. At that moment, I realized it. Junghyeok was serious.

"Goddammit...!"

I didn't retreat. I faced him.

[The Great Fable Spring of the Demon Realm is telling its story.]

If we had the same Great Fable, I wouldn't lose either. I was the Greatest Storyteller of this fable in the first place.

I unleashed the Status of a demon king toward the charging Junghyeok.

[The Demon King Demon King of Salvation has unleashed the Status of a demon king!]

I saw the enormous fortress at the heart of Seoul. My industrial complex, which had once been in the 73rd Demon Realm. It was my fortress, sent to Seoul with Secretive Plotter's help. As long as the industrial complex was here, I would never lose.

[The demonic energy of the Seoul area praises your Status!]

Craaaack.

Black wings tore through my back. Unbreakable Faith, with its darkness attribute released, spat out an Aether Blade. The Transcendent's Sword Aura and Blade of Faith collided with a roar.

Kakakakak!

The first clash was fierce. Junghyeok and I were each pushed back a step, then almost simultaneously swung our swords at each other again. Explosions too great to seem caused by clashing swords erupted one after another. We struck our swords together again and again. As if that was the only conversation we could share, we fought desperately.

I couldn't believe it.

I knew Junghyeok was strong. I had expected him to become even stronger. But I hadn't known he would become this strong.

Even after activating [Way of the Wind] and using [Electrification], I couldn't gain the upper hand. Junghyeok stood there like an unyielding wall, without the slightest change in expression. I let out a short laugh.

I thought it was all a misunderstanding. I thought Junghyeok was attacking me because he didn't recognize me.

But that wasn't it.

Junghyeok didn't say a single word throughout the fight. He was a swordsman by nature, one who had written his story with a sword through countless years. That was why I could tell.

[Your understanding of the character Yu Junghyeok has increased!]

Junghyeok recognized me, and he knew I would come here. I didn't know how that was possible. But it was certain. He had been waiting for me here.

The battle was briefly halted because a child rushed between us.

"Stop! Junghyeok ahjussi! Please stop!"

It was Shin Yuseong. The little girl standing in front of me shouted through tears.

"This squid is Dokja ahjussi!"

At those words, silence fell over the area. When I looked around, my Allies had gathered without me realizing it. Jeong Huiwon wore a stiff expression, Jihye looked worried, and Gilyeong looked excited. I could also feel someone watching from atop the Demon Realm fortress.

A person I had resented for a long time.

When I turned my head, I saw the residents of the Demon Realm too. They were the people I had met in the 73rd Demon Realm. Aileen was there, and so was Mark. Suyeong, apparently having run here from far away, stood on a nearby high-rise building, looking down at us as she caught her breath.

The histories I had lived through were gathering here, one by one.

Yet none of them interfered with the fight.

Junghyeok, who had stopped, approached again with his blade raised. His aura hadn't softened in the slightest, as if he hadn't heard Yuseong's words.

Yuseong shouted again.

"Ugh... A-actually, that was a lie! That isn't Dokja ahjussi! It's just, it's just a Calamity I tamed! It's a monster I trained! I'll talk some sense into it, so please forgive it!"

"Yuseong."

I reached for Yuseong's shoulder. Huiwon then embraced her and stepped back. Huiwon's unwavering gaze was trembling.

At that moment, I realized something. Right. So that was it.

When I lowered my head, Huiwon avoided my eyes.

[Your understanding of the character Jeong Huiwon has greatly increased!]

When I looked back, Junghyeok was approaching.

Junghyeok's true Ultimate Technique, [Sky Splitter Sword Art]. A sword strike heralding the final exchange swirled at the tip of his blade.

I nodded. Junghyeok probably had something he wanted to prove to me.

"Come at me, Yu Junghyeok."

The moment I tightened my grip on my sword, Junghyeok's Status and mine collided head-on. A blinding flash exploded right before my eyes.

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon has entered the channel!]

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband has entered the channel!]

[Many Constellations have entered the channel!]

Constellations that felt our clash entered the channel in droves.

[The Constellation King Heungmu is shocked by your Status!]

[The Constellation One-Eyed Maitreya admires the Status of the Incarnation Yu Junghyeok.]

Some Constellations were astonished as they watched Junghyeok and me.

[The Constellation Queen of the Darkest Spring realizes something and sighs.]

Others were shocked for an entirely different reason.

When another blast erupted, I rolled across the ground in agonizing pain. Slowly blinking, I saw the clear sky looking down at me through the thick dust. A hollow laugh escaped me.

"...You're damn strong."

I hadn't used every possible means, but I hadn't gone easy on him either. It had been a contest of pure strength, and Junghyeok had overwhelmed me. He approached with slow footsteps.

His Black Heaven Demon Blade sank into the ground right next to my face. Junghyeok looked down at me with his usual burning gaze. I looked back at him and said,

"Go easy on me, you bastard."

Junghyeok didn't say anything. Still, I knew. This was probably what he had wanted to prove.

This was his past three years, and what he had truly wanted to say.

I smiled.

"Though I won't go easy on you."

Behind Junghyeok, the towering monument of the target Shelter Zone gleamed.

A man stood atop the monument and spoke.

"Hey, brother! I just write it here, right?"

Junghyeok spun around in surprise, and Flying Fox sprang into action. With swift kicks, a magnificent Mark was carved onto the monument. It was the phrase I had asked him to write in advance.

[163rd Returnee Group has cleared the Scenario!]

My body was engulfed in pitch-black smoke. The surrounding Returnees were in the same state. Within the smoke, the Returnees' appearances changed.

[You are no longer a Calamity.]

My sprawled figure on the ground was reflected in my Allies' eyes. Shin Yuseong burst into tears and ran over. I held the child in my arms and patted her back.

"Ahjussi."

"...Yeah."

"It was three years. Three years."

Gilyeong, who arrived late, hugged my waist and cried too.

"I knew it was you! I knew from the start that you were Dokja hyung!"

[The Clear Conditions for Main Scenario #45, Glorious Return, have been fulfilled!]

[The Scenario rewards are being prepared.]

[The progression conditions for Main Scenario #46 have been fulfilled!]

Holding the children close, I slowly rose to my feet. As the dust cleared, the top of the monument became visible against the sky.

I pointed at the monument.

"It's a gift to celebrate my return."

[The name of the nebula you belong to has been officially announced.]

[A site has been prepared for the nebula you belong to.]

The Mark engraved at the top of the monument read:

―Kim Dokja Company

The name of the nebula I had made up on my own, no longer temporary.

My approaching Allies stared at me in disbelief. Jihye's eyes were swollen, while Suyeong shook her head and sighed. I looked at them and asked,

"You'll all join, right?"

The faces of my approaching Allies came into view. One by one, they were all people I had missed. The moment I spread my arms toward them, a dizzying pain exploded at the back of my head.

As my surroundings slowly faded, Huiwon's cold face filled my vision.

"Lock this man up."

Footnotes:

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