WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 34: Episode 8 - Emergency Defence (2)

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The appointed time had come. I gathered with my Allies on the Line 3 platform. They were each checking their weapons. It looked like Lee Hyeongseong had handled things properly.

"I handed everything out just like you asked, Dokja-ssi."

Our old weapons had gotten badly worn down, so I had asked Hyeongseong to make new ones. The material was the tier-8 underground species, grolls, that we'd killed in last night's desperate fight. Swords and spears carved from groll horns. They wouldn't hold up for long, but they were good enough as a temporary fix.

Jeong Huiwon smiled in satisfaction.

"These are a lot lighter and sturdier."

"Ah... Dokja-ssi, Hyeongseong-ssi. Thank you, really."

Yu Sangah bowed her head. Since you couldn't make blunt weapons out of groll horns, Lee Gilyeong was the only one still carrying a Ground Rat weapon. I silently patted Gilyeong on the head as he stared at the floor. The kid was really sulking.

"It won't be easy. It could get even more dangerous than yesterday. Is everyone ready?"

My Allies nodded heavily.

"Then we'll proceed according to the plan."

From here on, it was a race against time, so we had to finish things as quickly as possible. Before the "landlord coalition" caught on to what was happening. Once Jeong Huiwon, Yu Sangah, and Lee Gilyeong disappeared to their assigned floors, I started up the stairs with Lee Hyeongseong. Hyeongseong spoke in an uncertain voice.

"Dokja-ssi, I don't know if this will work."

You shouldn't be saying that when you're the core of this operation. I answered in an even firmer voice on purpose.

"It has to."

But Hyeongseong still looked cowed.

"It feels burdensome. I think the Allies are relying on me more than I expected. I don't know if I'll be able to do well."

"You're someone people can rely on, Hyeongseong-ssi."

"Thank you for saying that. Actually, this is the first time I've had an experience like this. Even in the army, I've never had anyone trust me like this."

That was the first time I'd heard that. Come to think of it, I didn't actually know much about Hyeongseong's military life. Even in TWSA, it only got a brief mention in passing.

"When this is over, I'd like to hear your story, Hyeongseong-ssi."

I had said it casually as we passed by, but Hyeongseong seemed more shaken than I expected.

[The character Lee Hyeongseong is beginning to open up to you.]

[Your understanding of the character Lee Hyeongseong has greatly increased.]

"When I talk with you, Dokja-ssi, I sometimes get a strange feeling."

"Yes? What kind of...?"

"As if you've known me for a long time already... I can't explain it very well..."

Hyeongseong scratched at his cheek and trailed off.

"Ah, I didn't mean it in a strange way. I only mean..."

"Yes, I know what you mean."

"Thank you. Talking with you makes me curious about your story too, Dokja-ssi."

"My story?"

"Yes. I've never met anyone as strange as you, Dokja-ssi. I'm curious about all sorts of things, like what you did before all this happened."

Something about it made me feel a little strange. A "supporting character" from a novel I'd read had started to become curious about me. It felt a little uncomfortable, and a little ticklish too.

"It'll probably be a boring story."

"I still want to hear it."

A sudden question passed through my head. Before TWSA became reality, had "Lee Hyeongseong" been living in the same world as me? Or was he a character who had suddenly "come into being" when the novel became real? There was no way to know the answer. The only certain thing was that either way, Lee Hyeongseong had now become a "living character," and he was standing in front of my eyes. That was all.

That was when a group of middle-aged people approached from up ahead.

"Oh, Yu Junghyeok's friend. You here to negotiate?"

So they've come, the landlord coalition.

"Hm, but only you two came? What happened to everyone else?"

One of them had a woman by the collar. She was one of the Allies who had owned a five-slot Green Zone right up until yesterday. Maybe he noticed where my gaze had gone, because the man smirked.

"Ah, this one wouldn't sell the land, so... You don't need to worry about this side."

"P-please save me. Please save me!"

The woman's eyes looked at me pitifully. In my head, the constellations of the absolute good alignment started clamoring. But I waited. Because here, there was someone who had to step forward instead of me.

"Please let that person go."

It was Lee Hyeongseong.

"What are you supposed to be?"

At the middle-aged person's sneering question, Hyeongseong looked at me. It was a gaze that seemed to ask for permission. I nodded.

[The character Lee Hyeongseong wants to carry out justice of his own will.]

[The attribute evolution of the character Lee Hyeongseong is imminent.]

The coalition members drew their weapons and gave off a vicious air. I checked the time. Then I guess it's about time to start. I raised my stats with my spare coins.

[You have invested 1,200 coins in Constitution.]

[Constitution Lv.15 -> Constitution Lv.18]

[Your Constitution level has increased!]

[You have invested 1,200 coins in Strength.]

[Strength Lv.15 -> Strength Lv.18]

[Your Strength level has increased!]

Here, I had to get maximum efficiency out of minimum investment.

[Coin balance: 20,450C]

Because there was somewhere those remaining coins absolutely had to go.

Boom!

Small explosions sounded from various places in the subway. Then came all sorts of larger and smaller commotions. It was the signal from my Allies.

"Hyeongseong-ssi!"

Hyeongseong nodded. We charged toward the men in the front row. The startled coalition members shouted.

"What the hell are these bastards doing?!"

[The Exclusive Skill White Pure Star Energy has activated!]

"Gaaah!"

The arm of the person who had been holding the woman's collar flew through the air just like that. The blood spurting out like a fountain made the middle-aged people freeze for a moment. Hyeongseong and I ignored them and kept running. The middle-aged people came after us only after belatedly coming to their senses.

"Those crazy bastards! Stop them!"

The B2 corridor. Up ahead was Pildu Gong's "private property."

[You have trespassed on private property!]

"Surround them!"

The landlord coalition members waiting in front spotted us. Maybe some of their people had already been pulled away, because there were fewer of them than I'd expected. Twenty behind us, twelve in front. Still too many for two people to handle. Well, it wasn't as if we were planning to handle them anyway.

Just as we were about to collide with the front line, Lee Hyeongseong stepped in front of me with his iron shield raised.

[The character Lee Hyeongseong is using the Stigma Great Mountain Push Lv.1.]

"Uwaaaah!"

With tremendous Strength behind him, Hyeongseong charged ahead, mowing the men down like dominoes as he ran.

[The character Pildu Gong's Stigma Armed Zone Lv.4 has activated!]

Turrets immediately began rising up from all over the private property. The turrets charging scarlet Mana shells were preparing to fire. Five mini turrets in total. It looked like Armed Zone had leveled up again in the meantime.

"Dokja-ssi!"

I moved ahead of Hyeongseong and took his iron shield at the same time. The moment the solid weight of the shield settled into my grip, a heavy impact shoved me backward.

Bang! Bang! Boom!

The weight was like being hit by cannon fire. Pain ran through the arm holding the shield. As expected, a level 19 Armed Zone was powerful. But now, it was something I could endure.

[The adjustment effect of the item Unbreakable Faith has pushed your Constitution level past 20.]

[A higher level of toughness protects your body.]

"So an insolent tenant has come calling."

Pildu Gong's blunt voice came from beyond the shield.

Once the Mana shell suppression pinned our feet in place, the coalition members' faces started to relax again. The durability of the iron shield was being gouged away chunk by chunk. At this rate, it would only block around a dozen more shots.

Pildu Gong spoke with interest.

"Seeing as you came armed, I doubt you're here to pay a fine. So what is it?"

"I'm done being a tenant."

"Interesting. You covet my land, then?"

"Well. Not exactly."

[Due to the effects of the character Pildu Gong's private property, the stats of the illegal intruders are partially reduced.]

...It's started. This was exactly what made Pildu Gong's ability so frightening. The [private property] debuff followed by the special defensive effect of [Armed Zone]. Red Mana began condensing on the barrels of the turrets, now glowing like heated metal.

[The character Pildu Gong's Mini Turrets are preparing Enhanced Mana Shells.]

At least in the early stages, as long as the combo of [private property] and [Armed Zone] wasn't broken, there were almost no Incarnations who could deal with Pildu Gong.

"Die."

Just as the Enhanced Mana Shells were about to fire, people's screams rang out from far away. Members of the landlord coalition, wounded here and there, came running toward us in a panic.

"P-Pildu-ssi! The land...!"

The traces of wounds cut by a sharp long blade. Lee Jihye had moved.

Now it was time. I looked at Lee Hyeongseong.

"Hyeongseong-ssi, now."

Hyeongseong's eyes were trembling.

"Break it all."

As if he'd been waiting for those words, Hyeongseong raised his fist high. His eyes were full of anxiety and impatience, but his expression was also firm with the resolve not to retreat.

[The attribute of the character Lee Hyeongseong is evolving!]

Together with a dazzling burst of light, a silver aura began to swirl around Hyeongseong's body.

I watched the sight with a slightly moved feeling. Lee Hyeongseong's "attribute evolution" was one of my favorite scenes in TWSA. The reason Steel Sword Emperor "Lee Hyeongseong" could become one of TWSA's strongest supporting characters was this.

[Due to attribute evolution, a new Stigma is being unlocked.]

At least when it came to this "one blow," Lee Hyeongseong was among the very strongest in TWSA.

[The character Lee Hyeongseong is using the Stigma Great Mountain Crush Lv.1.]

The Mana gathered in Hyeongseong's fist condensed into a pure white mass, and then his arm began to swell to a size that defied common sense.

"Haaaaaah!"

Hyeongseong's fist slammed straight into the floor. A blast that felt like it would tear apart my ears swept through the surroundings, and chunks of the shattered floor flew into the air. The horrified coalition members screamed.

"W-what is this?!"

Dangerous cracks claimed the floor in an instant, twisting the turrets out of position. Mana shells fired wrong and exploded in useless places. The explosions spread, thick dust swallowed everything around us, and a moment later, with a huge tremor, the ground of B2 started to collapse.

[Green Zone has been destroyed.]

[The character Pildu Gong's private property has been destroyed.]

Looking at the collapsing floor, I grinned at Pildu Gong's ashen face.

"Let's try going back to the days before we had any land of our own."

Footnotes:

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