WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: smol_anon

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 31: Episode 7 - Landlord (4)

On the Chungmuro Line 3 platform, casualties began to appear about ten minutes after Bihyeong had disappeared.

Currently, there was only one 'room' left on the Line 3 platform. Since no one who was particularly strong was in the station, all the small fry were freely baring their fangs of killing intent towards one another.

"Die! Just die already!"

[There are 30 minutes left until the start of the third main scenario.]

Even as my surroundings descended into pandemonium, I quietly continued reading TWSA. Today’s scenario would probably unfold just as I anticipated. To survive, I had to commit every single word to memory, without skimming over a single one.

―What the hell are you doing right now, idiot!

Alongside Bihyeong's messages through dokkaebi communication, messages from constellations were also ringing in my head.

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband wants to know what you're doing.]

Reflexively, I turned off my smartphone. Come to think of it, there was something I hadn’t even considered until now. Why didn’t the constellations have any reaction to seeing me read Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse?

In fact, in the original Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse, there's a scene where the constellations raise questions about fairness after discovering that Yu Junghyeok was a regressor.

Then, it would be natural for them to have already commented on me having the novel’s text file.

―What are you up to with that blank memo pad? All the constellations are about to lose it because of you!

…Blank memo pad?

I turned my smartphone back on, to make the screen open to the Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse text file.

"You mean this?"

―Yeah! What, are you cooking up some kind of scheme? If you stay put like that, the others will rip you to shreds! Ugh, why’d I trust this guy and sign a contract…

A momentary chill went down my spine. The dokkaebi couldn’t read this 'text.' If even the dokkaebi who were granted the highest administrative clearance by the system couldn’t read it, the constellations probably couldn’t either. So then, what tier of existence could the writer who gave me this text file possibly be on?

"Aaaaagh!"

A final scream echoed. At last, the 'room' on the Line 3 platform had found its owner.

[Green Zone 1/1]

“…Don’t come any closer.”

A boy was pointing a knife shakily in my direction. To my surprise, he turned out to be the very boy who had been our guide earlier. I still didn’t know his name.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to take your spot.”

I deliberately stepped away from him in a show of reassurance. Instantly, I sensed someone approaching from behind.

“Oh, really? You seem pretty easygoing, old man. You got a death wish?”

Judging by that rude tone, I knew who it was without turning around.

“You seem to be taking it easy yourself.”

“No one touches my room. Everyone knows they'd be shredded to ribbons if they tried.”

Jihye twirled her blue twin swords casually. Considering her current stats, there weren’t many incarnations who could match her, apart from Junghyeok or the 'Landlord Coalition.' Observing me carefully, she spoke again.

“I hope you don’t die, old man. You stood up to Master earlier, and that was pretty impressive.”

“I’m not planning to die. Besides, failing to find a room doesn’t necessarily mean you die.”

I was telling the truth. Not finding a room didn’t mean certain death.

There was someone in this station who had proven that by surviving. And that was only three days ago. Jihye’s eyes narrowed.

“Do you even know what you’re saying, old man?”

“Yes.”

“Are you strong? As strong as our master?”

Almost immediately after she said that, Yu Junghyeok appeared behind her.

“Go back to your room.”

“Ah, got it, Master!”

Jihye quickly became docile and disappeared. Junghyeok, who was also about to turn away, glanced at me.

“Are you planning to fight the monsters?”

I shrugged.

“You’re going to die. And so will your companions.”

“We’ll see about that.”

For a moment, I saw an unreadable emotion flash in Yu Junghyeok's eyes as he looked back at me. I didn’t activate [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint]. Not every feeling needed to be put into words to be understood.

[There are 20 minutes left until the start of the third main scenario.]

I heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs leading to the transfer path. Lee Hyeonseong, Lee Gilyeong, and Yu Sangah… Seeing their grim faces, I could guess the outcome. Sangah spoke with a dejected expression.

“We couldn’t find a room…”

“It’s okay. What about Huiwon?”

“She said she would try negotiating upstairs…”

Not soon after, Huiwon came barreling down the stairs, yelling at the top of her lungs.

“2,000 coins for one night? Are you kidding me? I feel like slicing them into sashimi right now, seriously.”

She huffed, her breath heavy with frustration, and continued.

“Dokja-ssi, do you know what they said upstairs? Guess what—”

“They suddenly raised the rent, right?”

“Oh, you already knew?”

It was entirely predictable. If they didn’t secure a room within the next 20 minutes, the tenants would die. The landlords held the power, so of course they’d hike up the rent.

“Dokja-ssi, did you find anything?”

“No, I didn’t either.”

“Oh…”

I scanned the faces of my companions, one by one. The time for decisions had come.

“There are two ways.”

Hearing the words "two ways," my companions perked up. But the methods I was about to suggest were likely to betray their hopes.

“The first is an easy way, where we can all survive.”

Huiwon squinted her eyes and asked.

“When people say things like that, it’s usually the second option that gets chosen… So what’s the other one?”

“The second is very difficult. And there’s a high possibility that one of us might die.”

“Then let’s go with the first option.”

“What do the others think?”

Hyeonseong responded first.

“If everyone can survive, then the first option sounds best.”

Gilyeong nodded in agreement. The only one who hesitated was Sangah.

“Can I ask what the first option is?”

I nodded and then climbed up to the landing of the stairs leading to Line 4.

“The first option is that.”

My companions followed my gaze. There were five men and women, trembling and on high alert.

[Green Zone 5/5]

“The ‘room’ they occupy has exactly five slots. But their individual stats aren’t that high. Honestly, even if all five of us don’t attack…”

“Wait a minute, Dokja-ssi, are you saying—”

“Yes, the first option is to kill them and take the room.”

At my calm voice, my companions' bodies trembled. Huiwon's face was stricken with pain.

“You think we haven’t done that because we don’t know how?”

“If hyung says so, I can do it.”

Gilyeong was the first to step forward.

“I’m not afraid. I’ll do it.”

“No, Gilyeong!”

It was Sangah who grabbed Lee Gilyeong's shoulder. I spoke to her in a deliberately indifferent tone.

“They must have killed someone else to get that spot. To be honest, if we survive like this, we won’t make it through the future scenarios.”

“Dokja-ssi.”

Huiwon interrupted.

“I killed someone at Geumho Station. I killed them because I wanted to, and I don’t regret it. But...”

Huiwon’s face was twisted with anguish.

“Just because I’ve become a murderer doesn’t mean I like killing. I don’t want to be a monster.”

“……”

“…Dokja-ssi, tell me about the second option.”

After Hyeonseong spoke last, I closed my eyes briefly.

“I understand your thoughts.”

Good, this was enough.

“We’ll go with the second option.”

Expressions of relief washed over my companions' faces. Truthfully, I had always planned to take the second option. While killing to survive was an option, if we relied on the easy path too early on, we would never attract the attention of the constellations.

However, the second option would require significant determination. Not just from me, but from all of us. So, I needed to confirm that determination. I needed to see what they were truly thinking.

Huiwon chuckled dryly.

“I knew it. If we were going to do this all along, why did you have to test us?”

“I wasn’t trying to test you. Whatever you chose, I would have respected your decision.”

I patted Gilyeong’s head, who was looking at me with a slightly anxious expression. Sangah sighed and spoke up.

“Dokja-ssi, you’re really mischievous.”

“I apologize for not being a nice person.”

“What’s the second option?”

“This method doesn’t require us to kill anyone. But it is extremely difficult.”

Hearing the gravity in my voice, my companions' expressions grew tense.

“If you choose the second option, you must follow my instructions without question. Even if it sounds absurd, you must trust and follow me. If even one of you cannot trust me—”

“……”

“Then we will all die.”

Someone swallowed nervously. Almost in unison, my companions nodded. Hyeonseong spoke on behalf of the group.

“We trust you, Dokja-ssi. Honestly, the fact that we’ve survived this long is all thanks to you.”

[There are 5 minutes left until the start of the third main scenario.]

“Then follow me.”

I led my companions towards the Line 3 tracks. Passing through the broken screen doors, we arrived at the entrance of the tunnel leading to Euljiro 3-ga. Inside the pitch-dark tunnel, a red glow marked the 'Red Zone.'

“Monsters will likely start spawning from over there. They will sweep through the underground and then move up, level by level, to the surface.”

Hyeonseong asked nervously.

“…So, we’re going to fight them here?”

“No, we can’t. If we fight here, we’ll all die.”

It was impossible to hold out against those dreadful monsters until dawn without a Green Zone. Perhaps only Yu Junghyeok could manage such a feat. Huiwon then asked:

“Then should we run towards Dongdaemun History & Culture Park?”

“That won’t work either. If we leave Chungmuro once the scenario activates, we’ll die.”

“Then what on earth…?”

“This plan requires us to split up. Hyeonseong-ssi, Sangah-ssi, and Huiwon-ssi. When the monsters appear, run straight towards them.”

“What…?”

“Got it? Run directly toward them. And just before you collide with them, make sure to look at the left wall. Then you’ll understand what I mean.”

My companions looked like they didn’t comprehend my words, but there was no time for further explanation.

“Just trust me. Otherwise, we’re all going to die. And don’t forget to look at the left wall.”

“Understood, Dokja-ssi.”

The first to respond was Sangah, as if she understood what I meant.

“And just to be clear, only start running after the monsters appear.”

I picked up a piece of debris and threw it towards the tunnel. Sparks flew as the debris was repelled, bouncing back into the air. Hyeonseong and Huiwon nodded, showing they understood.

“What about you, Dokja-ssi?”

“I’ll be looking for a different way out with Gilyeong.”

This plan wouldn’t work unless my companions trusted me. After all, it was a suicide mission to charge headfirst at the monsters. Who would willingly follow that order?

Now, everything depended on their willpower.

[The third main scenario is now active!]

With a sound like a soft hum, the barrier blocking the tunnel entrance towards Euljiro 3-ga vanished.

“Run!”

At my shout, the three who had been prepared to sprint immediately launched themselves forward.

Rumble…!

The monsters began to spawn from the Red Zone. The ranks were primarily filled with tier-9 underground species, the ground rats. Occasionally, I could spot tier-8 underground species, the grolls, mixed in. These bear-shaped monsters had black manes and a menacing horn protruding from their foreheads.

Individually, they were manageable, but the real issue was their numbers. The densely packed formations were beyond what you could call a 'horde.' If we clashed head-on with that wave, we would undoubtedly die.

Just as Hyeonseong was about to collide with the leading groll, I shouted:

“Now!”

Sangah was the first to notice. On the left wall, faint green tiles gleamed.

“Ah—!”

The realization came to her in an instant.

[Someone has activated Chungmuro Station's hidden function.]

[The hidden area Refuge of the Brave has been triggered!]

The moment Sangah touched the wall, it lit up brightly, activating.

[Green Zone 1/3]

The nimble Huiwon was quick to follow her and pressed against the wall.

[Green Zone 2/3]

But Hyeonseong missed the timing. The ground rats clung to his shield, holding him back.

“Hyeonseong-ssi! Grab on!”

Sangah used her special skill, [Thread Binding], to pull Lee Hyeonseong. With the combined strength of both women, Hyeonseong was lifted momentarily into the air and managed to latch onto the wall.

[Green Zone 3/3]

It was done.

Rumble…!

The monsters glared at them furiously, but now that they were inside a Green Zone, the creatures couldn’t touch them.

“Dokja-ssi!”

Sangah called out to me, but I couldn’t afford to respond. I was already running, carrying Gilyeong on my back.

「…The third main scenario contains several hidden ‘Green Zones.’ These are activated on specific ‘walls’ and only reveal themselves once the scenario has started. The idea of a ‘Green Zone’ being on a wall… Now that I think about it, the concept of ‘rooms’ was something that only humans assumed in the first place.」

In Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse, Yu Junghyeok managed to discover several of Chungmuro’s secret Green Zones across many regressions. The ‘Refuge of the Brave’ was one of them. Currently, there were only two such ‘hidden areas’ on the Line 3 platform.

Crunch. A few ground rats had already caught up to me, biting into my thigh. Thanks to my high constitution level, it wasn’t too painful, but if these minor injuries piled up, it would be trouble later.

Lee Gilyeong, still on my back, swung his club, trying to fend off the approaching ground rats. But there were simply too many of them. Plus, the grolls, which were faster, had also joined the chase. About ten meters ahead, the boy from earlier was watching me with terrified eyes.

[Green Zone 1/1]

For a brief moment, I felt the temptation to take the easy way out.

[Hahaha! Things are getting interesting! Then, just like yesterday, there should be a penalty, right?]

The dokkaebi’s voice echoed loudly through the air, followed by a system message.

[A scenario penalty has been applied!]

[Some existing Green Zones have been deactivated.]

“No, no! Ahh, aaahhh!”

Screams resounded throughout Chungmuro Station. The nearest scream came from the boy close by.

“Aaaaagh!”

The moment the ‘Green Zone’ disappeared, the boy’s small body was torn apart and devoured by the ground rats. As the boy’s corpse bought me a few seconds, I sprinted forward, Gilyeong still on my back. But the path ahead was already blocked by the monsters that had crawled through the broken screen doors. Shielding Gilyeong behind me, I drew my Unbreakable Faith.

Swoosh!

The blade of White Flash Qi sliced through the approaching monsters. Yet, their numbers didn’t decrease. To have survived this for an entire night… Junghyeok truly was a monster. Even if I converted all my coins into overall stats right now, I wasn’t sure I could pull off the same feat.

Just then, Gilyeong spoke.

“Hyung.”

“Don’t talk to me right now. I’m busy.”

“You can leave me here.”

“What?”

“I just don’t get it. Why do you help me and the others? You’d survive much better on your own.”

For someone facing death, he was remarkably calm. Maybe his spirit had already given up.

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Another ground rat’s neck was severed, its body slumping to the ground.

“It would be easier to do everything alone, survive alone, and live comfortably on my own. But…”

Why do I do this? If someone asked, I wasn’t confident I could explain it properly. But there was one thing I could say for sure.

“I know a story that went wrong because the protagonist chose to act like that.”

“What?”

I’ve thought about it many times, but I wasn’t really suited to be a protagonist. I wouldn’t become a hero, nor a savior. But…

Gilyeong’s eyes trembled as he looked at me. I hoisted him up again onto my back.

“Hold on tight.”

Lee Gilyeong wasn’t going to die. At least, not today.

Footnotes:

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