Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint - Chapter 311

WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 311: Episode 58: Nexus of the Constellations (5)

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The dokkaebi who appeared for the Scenario wasn't Bihyeong. Still, he was a very familiar dokkaebi. He'd once been a low-grade dokkaebi and had even learned how to use the Dokkaebi Compendium from me.

―Kim Dokja-nim?

The dokkaebi's eyes widened like lanterns as he contacted me through dokkaebi communication.

―It's me! I'm Yeonggi, the dokkaebi!

Yeonggi was dressed in a suit. Because the Main Scenario was underway, he seemed reluctant to let the other participants notice.

―It's been a while.

―I'd heard rumors that you'd returned...

―Word already got around?

―Oh, there was no way it wouldn't. Bihyeong-nim is running all over the place right now, trying to clean up the Plausibility mess you caused...

Yeonggi grinned.

―Anyway, it's good to see you again. The other Constellations have been asking about you too, Dokja-nim. Once this Scenario is over, you'll finally get to meet your Patrons.

―If things go well.

―Hehe, of course they will. But even you won't get special treatment, Kim Dokja-nim. You know that, right?

―I know.

Murmurs rose in the distance. Quite a few Incarnations had already gathered nearby to participate in the forty-sixth Scenario.

[Hmm... A total of 48 people. There aren't many participants from the Seoul area.]

Yeonggi's tone changed as he calmly surveyed the applicants.

Their appearances varied widely. Some had originally been residents of the industrial complex, while others were Incarnations who had desperately fought their way through Scenarios to reach this point. I also saw a few Returnees who had escaped the Calamities but refused Yu Junghyeok's contract. Their faces were twisted with deep grief and anger. They were probably people who hadn't been able to find their families in their hometowns.

[This Scenario is very different from those you've faced so far. First, it is a choice-based Scenario.]

A Returnee from the martial arts world raised a question.

"A choice-based Scenario? What's that?"

[It means you may choose whether to participate as an individual or as a nebula. Well, whichever you choose, you will still need one Companion to participate with you.]

As Yeonggi spoke, I slowly clenched and unclenched my fist.

The forty-sixth Scenario, "Proof of Stars." The time had finally come.

The Incarnations began whispering.

"What? What's the difference between participating as an individual and participating as a nebula?"

"Idiot. Participating as an individual means going in alone, and participating as a nebula means going in as a group. Well, if you have a nebula, that is."

"What happens to people who already belong to a nebula? Are they forced to participate as a nebula?"

[Oh, that's a very important question. As for that...]

Before Yeonggi could continue, rays of light flashed through the night sky.

[Oh dear, they're already here. How impatient.]

Messages poured from the sky. Like shooting stars, they landed at their destinations and hovered above the Incarnations' heads, shining brightly.

...

[The nebula Asgard invites you.]

[The nebula Tree of Guardianship invites you.]

[The nebula Tamra invites you.]

[The nebula Emperor invites you.]

...

The forty-sixth Scenario began with the nebulae competing to select their members.

"W-What is this?!"

The startled Incarnations cried out. Some examined the list of nebulae with serious expressions. They were the few Returnees who already knew about the Scenario. A few Incarnations counted the stars hovering over other people's heads. Most had one or two, though many had more than five.

"Hey, look over there."

"What is that?"

Of course, our group had received the most messages. Junghyeok and several others were so surrounded by radiance that their faces couldn't even be seen.

I looked up.

[A total of 137 nebula invitations have arrived for you.]

[However, if you accept one of these invitations, the nebula Kim Dokja Company will automatically disband.]

Had they sent these invitations just to see if they might get lucky? Did they really think I'd disband my own nebula and join theirs?

Once the Incarnations had settled down somewhat, Yeonggi continued.

[This Scenario is the first in which you are chosen by a nebula. You may join one of the nebulae that invited you and participate in the Scenario.]

"Do we have to join one? What's so good about joining?"

[You don't have to join one. However, if the nebula you join has already completed the forty-sixth Scenario, "Proof of Stars"... ]

Yeonggi smiled slyly.

[You will be exempt from that Scenario and proceed directly to the forty-seventh Scenario.]

* * *

Amid the chaos of the Incarnations, my Companions gathered around me one by one.

"I'll choose Emperor!"

"I'll choose Flag of Glory!"

Even then, Incarnations who had made their choices shouted all around us.

[Those who select a nebula with an exemption ticket will automatically be transported to the forty-seventh area. Please keep this in mind before making your selection.]

Most Incarnations chose to ride on the coattails of a nebula rather than challenge the forty-sixth Scenario. To some extent, it was a reasonable decision. The Korean Peninsula was slow to progress through the Scenarios, and the forty-sixth Scenario's notorious reputation had become fairly well known through countries where it had already taken place.

―If two people challenge the forty-sixth Scenario, one will die.

None of them wanted to be the one who died.

Some Incarnations delayed participating in the Scenario, while others accepted the nebulae's invitations and advanced to the next Scenario. The number of Incarnations dwindled, and at last, Yeonggi looked at us.

[Now only you remain. What will you do?]

The Companions gathered around me waited for my choice.

Yeonggi asked again.

[Will you apply as a nebula or as individuals? Well, you can't apply alone no matter which you choose.]

"If we clear this Scenario as a nebula, then people who join that nebula later will automatically be exempt from the Scenario, right?"

[That's correct, Demon King of Salvation. Are you planning to challenge it as a nebula?]

"Yes."

The forty-sixth Scenario, "Proof of Stars," was practically a debut stage for a newly formed nebula like ours. Depending on how many sacrifices we suffered and what results we achieved here, the fable recorded in the "Nexus of the Constellations" would differ.

I looked over my Companions.

Other than Junghyeok and me, none of them had joined a nebula yet. After meeting each of their eyes, I drew in a slow breath.

"I won't force you to choose. But remember this. If you choose another nebula here and proceed through the Scenario, there will definitely be unfair restrictions..."

"Why don't you just ask us to join?"

Jihye cut me off with a pout. While the others clicked their tongues at me, Huiwon was the first to speak.

"Hmm, what should I do?"

An enormous number of nebula invitations glittered above Huiwon's head as she smiled playfully.

"Considering Uriel, I should go to Eden..."

In many cases, Incarnations joined the nebula their Patron belonged to. But there were certainly Patrons who were very open-minded or respected an Incarnation's personal choice. Eden, in particular, tended to respect an Incarnation's free will in such matters.

Huiwon asked, "Does Kim Dokja Company provide the four major insurances?"

"Uh, well. It's my first time running something like this..."

"What about lunch breaks and nap time?"

"How much personal maintenance time do we get?"

"What about supplies for medicinal and material items?"

Jihye, Hyeongseong, and Seolhwa all fired questions of their own.

"Well, as you know, Kim Dokja Company is a newly established nebula."

I stammered beneath the barrage of questions, then sighed and continued.

"You'll all have to decide your own breaks and personal maintenance time. I'll do my best to provide consumable material items, but there might not be enough. There may be frequent overtime, and I might not be able to pay you sufficient allowances."

Even as I spoke, I felt shameless.

Before the apocalypse, nobody would have joined a company like this. Even so, Hyeongseong listened carefully to what I said, while Jihye yawned.

"Not only that..."

"Dokja-ssi."

"Yes?"

In a quiet voice, Huiwon said, "There are mountains of things I want to ask you. Where you've been all this time, what you were doing that made you return so late."

"I was actually about to tell you..."

"But I don't think hearing it will make me any less angry."

"..."

"Just thinking about that day makes me angry. Why did you decide whether we lived or died? Are we supposed to die if you tell us to die, and live if you tell us to live?"

"I'm sorry."

"We decide our own lives. Even if that decision doesn't help you, Dokja-ssi."

I couldn't even imagine how deeply Huiwon had been hurt.

Maybe it wasn't just Huiwon. Those past three years must have been like that for all of my Companions.

"This is my decision."

Huiwon lowered her head after she finished speaking. Her shoulders trembled. As I was about to approach her, she lifted her head and looked at me. That strong swordswoman was looking at me with faintly reddened eyes.

[The Incarnation Jeong Huiwon has joined the nebula Kim Dokja Company.]

[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire respects the Incarnation's opinion.]

I bit my lip and met her gaze. Then I barely, truly barely, managed to smile.

"Thank you, Huiwon-ssi."

Huiwon smiled faintly.

Hyeongseong stepped forward next.

"I also have many things I want to say... but Huiwon-ssi said them all already."

"Then you should've said them first."

"I'm not very good with words... To be honest, I wanted to stop being a career soldier too."

[The Incarnation Lee Hyeongseong has joined the nebula Kim Dokja Company.]

[The Constellation Master of Steel respects the Incarnation's opinion.]

Jihye came next.

"Ugh, I hate this kind of atmosphere. Hurry up and move on to the next person!"

[The Incarnation Lee Jihye has joined the nebula Kim Dokja Company.]

[The Constellation Naval Warfare God respects the Incarnation's opinion.]

Seolhwa smiled as well.

"Actually, I joined through Junghyeok-ssi yesterday."

[The Constellation Divine Doctor Guam nods.]

Yuseong and Gilyeong clung to me.

"Us too, ahjussi!"

When I checked the list, it was true. The three of them had already joined my nebula.

While everyone checked the nebula messages floating above their heads, only one person looked at me with an expressionless face. One by one, the others looked in her direction too.

Only one person among my Companions hadn't joined the nebula.

Suyeong clicked her tongue, turned her head away, and said, "I'm changing the name later. To Han Suyeong Corporation."

[The Incarnation Han Suyeong has joined the nebula Kim Dokja Company.]

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon grumbles as he respects the Incarnation's opinion.]

After bowing to my Companions, I turned to Yeonggi, who had been waiting.

[Hmm, it seems you've more or less sorted things out. Then let me ask you. Nebula Kim Dokja Company, will you challenge the Scenario as a nebula?]

I nodded. Yeonggi grinned broadly and continued.

[It wouldn't be fun if too many people entered at once, so I'll split up your group a little.]

Something felt off. He was splitting us up because there were too many people? There was nothing like that in the original forty-sixth Scenario.

Yeonggi looked uncomfortable. A strange cold sweat had formed on his forehead.

―I'm sorry, Kim Dokja-nim.

...What?

[The nebula Papyrus disapproves of your challenge!]

[Multiple nebulae frown upon your challenge!]

In that moment, I understood what was happening.

Those bastards were going to interfere until the very end.

I looked at my Companions reflexively.

"I won't make this long."

I hadn't told them the Scenario's specific details in case something like this happened. If the great nebulae interfered, there was a chance that a different Scenario would appear instead of the one that was supposed to take place. This Scenario didn't have a clear strategy so much as it required trust between the participants.

"I trust you."

With a brilliant flash of light, the scene before me began to change.

[Your nebula has fulfilled the participation requirements.]

[You are moving to the forty-sixth Scenario area.]

[Rooms are being assigned to the participants.]

At the same time, the Scenario details appeared in the air.

Category: Main

Difficulty: ???

Clear Conditions: Obtain and use the star placed in the center of the room, or prevent the other party from obtaining the star until the time limit expires. Once either condition is fulfilled, the Scenario will automatically be cleared.

Time Limit: 3 hours

Reward: Explained in an additional message.

Failure: Conditional death

Yeonggi's voice followed.

[I'll place those with especially close bonds of companionship together.]

When I opened my eyes, I was standing alone in a stark white room.

At the center of the room, a star floated halfway above a small marble pedestal.

[Oh dear, one room was assigned incorrectly. Haha, it can't be helped! Anyway, may the blessing of stories be with you all!]

As his voice faded, someone else was summoned to the opposite side of the room.

I rubbed my eyes once, then faced the opponent glaring at me with terrifying eyes.

"It seems this is the incorrectly assigned room."

[The reward for the star placed in this room has been revealed!]