WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: smol_anon

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 36: Episode 8 - Emergency Defence (4)

The battle had been raging for an hour, yet Gong Pildu kept fighting relentlessly. The number of monsters barely decreased, but his efforts were still impressive. There was a reason Gong Pildu was known as the “Strongest Defense” among the Ten Evils.

“Die, you bastards!”

[The character Gong Pildu has leveled up his Armed Zone.]

[The character Gong Pildu has leveled up his Private Property.]

[The character Gong Pildu has acquired the skill Barrier.]

Since he had been using [Armed Zone] all day, its skill level increased rapidly. His patron constellation seemed desperate, showering him with support to match his growth.

If he managed to survive this, Gong Pildu would see tremendous growth. If he managed to survive, that is.

“Urrraaaah!”

According to the scenario, Pildu had to endure for another seven hours. It would have been nice to have some popcorn, but alas.

Jihye was snickering, watching the lower floors. Earlier, she had scolded me for not saving people... A true testament to how quickly she adapted, just like a disciple of Junghyeok.

“Why isn’t Junghyeok here yet?”

“How should I know? Master is always busy.”

Busy, huh... Sure, let’s call it that. After all, the greediest ones who want everything for themselves are usually the busiest. I glanced down at the barely-surviving Gong Pildu and asked casually.

“When did Junghyeok enter the ‘dungeon’?”

“Around 9 AM today.”

Jihye paused and shot me a sharp look.

“Wait, how do you know Master entered a dungeon?”

I ignored her and did the math in my head. It was now 8 PM. Simple arithmetic showed that it had already been eleven hours since Junghyeok went into the dungeon. And yet, he still hadn't come out...

Damn, do I have to move? I connected to the Dokkaebi Communication.

‘Bihyeong.’

Bihyeong, who had been floating around, turned to me with a grin.

—What’s up? All of a sudden?

‘Open up the Dokkaebi Compendium.'

—What? No way! I’m in the middle of getting more subscribers!

I understood. Thanks to my recent actions, Pildu’s stock must have plummeted. It wasn’t enough that he was struggling to eat up those sweet potatoes; he even fell into my trap, making a fool of himself. There was no way the impatient constellations from the Thrill Seekers would still be tuned into Gong Pildu’s channel.

So where did those viewers go?

[New constellations are flooding the channel!]

Of course, they would come to Bihyeong’s channel, where I was.

[Channel #BI-7623 is preparing for expansion.]

—Hehe, look at that. My channel is finally…

No wonder Bihyeong was so delighted. But now wasn’t the time for me to be celebrating.

‘If you don’t want your channel to crash, open it now. You can say you're airing an ad while preparing for the expansion.'

—Man, I really don’t want to...

Bihyeong grumbled, but he obediently broadcasted an advertisement and opened up the Dokkaebi Compendium for me. It was finally time to spend the coins I’d been saving.

‘Here, take 5,000 coins. Promote me to a Gold Member.’

Bihyeong gave me a scrutinizing look before sighing. System messages began appearing one after another.

[You have spent 5,000 coins.]

[Congratulations! You have become a Gold Member of the Dokkaebi Compendium!]

With the change in membership, the background of the Dokkaebi Compendium also changed. Coins sure were convenient. A new list of items appeared, and I quickly added what I needed to my shopping cart.

* Subordinate Contract - 10,000C

* Intermediate Mana Recovery Potion X 10 - 5,000C

One contract and ten intermediate mana potions... That should do. Although the expense was substantial, the channel was about to level up, so I would recover the cost soon enough.

Seeing my selected items, Bihyeong snapped irritably.

—What do you need that contract for? Did you forget? You’re not supposed to make any patron contracts.

‘What are you talking about? Why would I make a patron contract now?’

Even if I did, why would I buy the contract with my own coins? Honestly, Bihyeong was such a coward.

[You have spent 15,000 coins.]

[You have acquired a Subordinate Contract.]

[You have acquired 10 Intermediate Mana Recovery Potions.]

As the items descended into the air, Sangah curiously asked,

“What are those?”

“A contract that makes the ‘superior’ into a ‘subordinate.'”

I carefully filled out the contract, writing my name under ‘superior,’ and quietly waited. It wouldn’t be long before the ‘subordinate’ would have to respond.

[The character Gong Pildu’s patron constellation is seeking help from other constellations.]

Finally, Pildu’s patron, having reached their limit, began sending out messages to other channels. His patron wasn’t exactly wealthy, so this was inevitable. After all, not every constellation was rich.

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband snickers.]

The sweet potatoes Pildu had been choking on would’ve likely driven other constellations on the channel to cease their support, and his lone incarnation was withering away... Everything was going according to plan.

Bihyeong muttered as if he had realized something.

—Wait a minute, don’t tell me you’re...

I addressed the half-dead Gong Pildu below.

“Hey, down there.”

Ratatatatata! Gong Pildu, firing his turrets like a madman, looked up at me with difficulty.

“Do you want to die like this, or make a contract with me?”

“Wha-what...?”

“I’m not a constellation, so I can’t be your patron, but if you want, I can be your superior. How about it?”

“What nonsense are you spouting, you lunatic?”

“Shut up, Gong Pildu. I wasn’t talking to you.”

“Wha...?”

Holding up the holographic contract in one hand and the mana potions in the other, I asked again.

“Answer quickly. If you make a contract with me, I’ll give you all of this.”

Finally, a system message appeared before me.

[The character Gong Pildu’s patron constellation reveals their title.]

[The constellation Defence Master looks at you in disbelief.]

I see. So the ‘subordinate’ wasn’t ready to agree yet. That was fine. After all, the more time passed, the more desperate they would become.

Bihyeong asked,

—Are you... insane?

‘What now?’

—In all my life, I’ve never seen a human trying to sponsor a constellation.

‘Why not?’

—It’s a constellation! Why would a mere human contract with one?

‘That’s just your perspective.’

Defence Master. His powers were decent, but he was a low-tier constellation. His world had been destroyed long ago, leaving his myth forgotten. Without their myth, there was no way for a constellation to earn coins, and eventually, they would cease to exist.

That’s why some constellations, like Defence Master, were obsessed with finding incarnations—to keep their stories alive through their chosen ones.

‘He’s out of coins.’

—What?

Gong Pildu’s power had been rapidly waning for a while now. Unlike the Monarch of the Small Fries, Defence Master cherished his incarnation. The fact that Gong Pildu was dying could only mean one thing—Defence Master was out of coins.

Without coins, a new patron contract was impossible. So, what happens when a constellation can’t form a new contract?

‘If Gong Pildu dies, that constellation’s myth fades away.’

For a constellation, to be forgotten was to die. I could see a faint trace of fear in Bihyeong’s eyes.

—What... are you?

If I could make Gong Pildu my pawn, it would be a tremendous asset. Even Junghyeok had tried countless times across his regressions to recruit Pildu, though he had never succeeded.

Sangah spoke up.

“...Dokja-ssi, that man is going to die.”

Pildu was biting his lips, hard enough to bleed. There were only two mini-turrets left in the [Armed Zone]. The chicken run was about to end.

[The constellation Defence Master expresses interest in the contract’s terms.]

He had taken the bait. Bihyeong, watching from the sidelines, blinked in disbelief.

—Is this... real? You’re serious?

I immediately displayed the contract.

[The constellation Defence Master begins reading the contract.]

From below, Pildu, drenched in blood, suddenly yelled. His patron must have communicated the situation to him.

“What the hell is this message?!”

What else could it be? It’s the message saying you’re about to be sold off.

“What’s going on, Pildu-ssi?”

[The constellation Defence Master requests time to reconsider the contract terms.]

Soon after, I received good news.

[The constellation Defence Master proposes modifications to the contract.]

[If you agree to the modifications, the constellation Defence Master will accept the contract.]

I reviewed the contract quickly.

1. The superior ‘Kim Dokja’ acknowledges the property rights of the subordinate ‘Defence Master’ and will guarantee the survival of ‘Gong Pildu,’ their property.

2. The superior shall provide regular assistance and support necessary for Gong Pildu’s continued growth.

Guaranteeing survival and growth. They didn’t even need to state that—if Gong Pildu became my subordinate, I would naturally keep him alive and make him stronger. The third clause was what truly mattered to me.

3. The superior shall have command authority over Gong Pildu (up to 10 commands per day).

After confirming the contract details, I nodded.

“I accept the contract.”

A faint thread connected me and Gong Pildu, and system messages flooded in.

[The contract has been established.]

[You are now a co-superior of the incarnation Gong Pildu.]

[You have obtained command authority over the incarnation Gong Pildu.]

[The contract term is five years, and it will automatically renew unless terminated.]

I had managed to secure Gong Pildu, the Armament Lord, this easily. If Junghyeok knew, he’d probably faint. Had I not read the original all the way through, I wouldn’t have known how to use a Subordinate Contract like this.

I handed the mana potions to Sangah.

“Give these to Gong Pildu. One every forty minutes should do.”

That way, he would be able to clear the main scenario.

Pildu, after receiving the potions through Sangah, looked over at me.

“What’s this?”

“Drink it and keep fighting.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Pildu unscrewed a potion. Blue vapor rose around him, and the broken-down turrets returned to their original form.

[The character Gong Pildu’s mana has been restored.]

Wiping the potion from his lips, Pildu glared at me.

“You fool. Do you think this will make me forgive you? Once I get out of here, that will be your funeral—”

“Shut your mouth, Gong Pildu.”

[The command authority is activated in accordance with the contract!]

“Mmph! Mmmph?!”

Poor guy, he had no idea what kind of situation he was in.

“Fight hard. And don’t touch my allies.”

“Mm! Mmpph...!”

Ratatatatat!

Watching Pildu obediently follow my command, Sangah’s eyes widened.

“Dokja-ssi? Why is he suddenly...?”

“I simply turned a ‘superior’ into a ‘subordinate.’ You don’t need to worry about him anymore.”

The barrage of constellation messages came in at that moment.

[The constellation Secretive Plotter finds your actions amusing.]

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband drops their cudgel at your tactics.]

[The constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon thinks you’re getting too cocky.]

...

I had tried to keep the contract quiet, but some of them had already noticed. Defence Master wasn’t a top-tier constellation, but he was still a constellation. For a mere human to become a ‘co-superior’ with a constellation... The shock would be immense. Some, like Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, would probably oppose it. But...

[A significant number of constellations are now focused on you.]

[A significant number of constellations wish to become your patron.]

The majority had realized my value. They understood that with me as their co-superior, they could also wield the power of the Defence Master. That was why it was so tempting. The dokkaebi Biryu appeared in the air, looking distressed.

[Constellations! Why are you all leaving? Don’t go! Just wait a bit longer...!]

Biryu, the damned dokkaebi who set those Survival Fees and Food Penalties back at Geumho Station, was now in a panic.

[Hiii! No, this can’t be happening!]

Biryu’s figure slowly faded away.

[The channel #BIR-3642 has been forcibly closed due to a drop in subscribers.]

Watching another channel crumble to ruin, Bihyeong’s voice trembled.

—Dokja-ssi?

‘What.’

—Did you plan to target Gong Pildu from the start? How... How could a human...

I merely shrugged. With this wrapped up, it was time to head to the next location. I turned to my still-confused companions.

“Everyone, I’m afraid I need to leave for a while.”

“Huh? Now?”

“There’s somewhere I have to be. Hyeonseong-ssi and Sangah-ssi, please stay here. Just keep giving Pildu those potions until the scenario ends.”

Jeong Huiwon asked,

“What about Gilyeong and me?”

“You’re coming with me.”

“To where?”

“Hmm... It’s hard to explain, but there’s a bad guy we need to deal with.”

“A bad guy?”

“Yes. Someone who doesn’t care if people die, and has disappeared to hog all the items for himself. We’re going to go give him a good beating.”

A really good beating. Huiwon, after a brief moment of thought, asked,

“Worse than Gong Pildu?”

I thought for a moment before answering.

“Much worse.”

“Then let’s go.”

“I’ll explain everything on the way.”

I set off with the eager Huiwon and Gilyeong, but someone grabbed my shoulder. It was Jihye.

“Wait, where are you going, old man?”

She was sharp as ever.

“Perfect timing. You’re coming with us.”

“To where?”

“Yu Junghyeok is in danger.”

Jihye chuckled, as if I was joking.

“What nonsense? How could Master be in danger?”

When she saw my serious expression, the smile slowly disappeared from her face.

“You’re serious? But how do you know?”

How do I know? When it comes to your master, I’m probably the world’s greatest authority... no, the second greatest.

I glanced at the time.

“That guy... he’s in the hidden dungeon at Exit 1, right?”

“Uh, yeah?”

“And he’s been in there for eleven hours now, right?”

“Uh... huh...”

Jihye’s voice grew more and more disoriented.

Based on my memory, Yu Junghyeok had tackled the Chungmuro Hidden Dungeon eight times in the original. He succeeded six times and failed twice. Those two failures were early on, in his 8th and 11th regressions. And the Yu Junghyeok of the 8th round died at Chungmuro’s Hidden Dungeon.

But now, Yu Junghyeok was in his third round.

“If things keep going this way, Yu Junghyeok is going to die today.”

If my prediction was right, our stubborn regressor was about to dive headfirst into what I’d call the Omniscient Sunfish Route[1].

Footnotes:

[1] A reference to the game 'Survive! Mola Mola!' where a player has to help a sunfish survive troubles in the sea. However almost anything makes the sunfish die.

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