WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 381: Episode 72: Three Ways (4)

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"Those two are engaged."

"What?"

At Huiwon's spectacularly belated revelation, I stood there with my mouth hanging open before slowly turning to Hyeongseong.

When our eyes met, his face reddened and he looked away.

Yu Junghyeok and Han Suyeong.

The first prince of the Kaizenix Archipelago and the count's daughter.

The height difference was a little extreme... but the more I looked at them, the more they seemed to suit each other. They might not get along personality-wise, but they had some surprising similarities.

A sudden urge to tease them rose in me, and I opened my mouth.

"Hey, looking at you two now, you kind of look like a black bear and a baby bir-"

At that moment, terrifying killing intent flew toward me.

"I'll kill you."

"Say one more word and I'll rip your mouth apart."

Cold sweat ran down my back.

Huiwon whispered to me, "You shouldn't provoke them."

"I suppose not. But... wasn't something going on with you too, Huiwon-ssi?"

"Me?"

I grinned at the confused Huiwon, then stepped between Junghyeok and Suyeong.

Maybe my teasing had offended them, because both their faces were stiff.

"Suyeong. Your role is important. You know that, right? You need to explain things first..."

Suyeong didn't answer.

"Suyeong?"

Strange sparks burst from Suyeong's body.

I immediately realized what was happening.

Yuri di Aristel's consciousness was forcing Suyeong out.

「I won't let you go.」

Yuri was crying out.

「If you leave this place, you'll regret it.」

「The fables you possess will one day grow old like abandoned ruins, and no one will remember your fables anymore.」

「In the end, you'll disappear without even being preserved on this Island.」

Yuri di Aristel, the original protagonist of this Scenario.

If this had been the original Scenario, she would have grown into an ordinary young lady by now and become the king's woman.

「If you stay in this world, you'll be safe.」

Safe, huh.

「There are no great comedies or tragedies here. That is the strength of this small world. But if you leave this archipelago, you'll have to face ‘true death.’」

I understood why she had to say that. At the same time, I didn't think I should tell her I understood.

I hadn't lived the same fable as her.

No matter how many stories I read, perhaps all I did was read them. So what I had to do wasn't to persuade her arrogantly, but to engage in a fierce act of imagination.

What would Suyeong have said? What would I have said?

「I'll ask the King of Reincarnators. Just stay here together, and entrust yourselves to the Wall of Reincarnation. Then-」

"You'll live by carrying out the same Scenario every time."

「...」

"Yuri di Aristel. What was the real ‘happy ending’ you wanted?"

Yuri's pupils trembled violently.

The Island of Reincarnators was a museum of old fables that had faded into history.

The foundation of this archipelago was one of the old medieval fantasies.

And Yuri must have repeated her life while only playing the role and carrying out the actions that suited the form of this Great Fable.

Suyeong knew that, so she must have wanted to show Yuri the possibility of a new story. She must have wanted Yuri to learn new things and live a new life.

She must have wanted to tell her that we weren't slaves ruled by fables.

「I only...」

Yuri must have already felt it too.

"You like Suyeong, don't you?"

「...」

"Then trust Suyeong. She'll never abandon you."

Yuri looked at me for a moment, then vanished with a complicated expression.

Sizzle, sizzle.

Sparks crackled faintly as Suyeong's eyes, which had turned white, returned to normal.

Suyeong swayed slightly as if she was dizzy, then looked at me with an impressed expression.

"Not bad."

"I learned from you."

"Yuri might actually want to marry you..."

"Stop talking nonsense and get ready. We're entering now."

We immediately opened the doors to the audience chamber.

The moment they opened, threatening pressure poured in from both sides of the chamber.

At almost the same time, Huiwon came to my side and said, "I'm sorry about back then, Dokja-ssi."

I knew what she meant without asking.

"I'll protect you properly this time."

"I'll trust you."

As Hyeongseong and Huiwon stood on either side of me, the pressure directed at me eased considerably. The greatest sword and shield were gathered in one place. It was hard to feel more secure than this.

I looked over the crowd lined up in the audience chamber.

On one side stood the representative of the Revolutionary Group, while on the other stood the nobles and their standard-bearers.

We passed through them and walked toward the throne. Just as we reached it, someone shouted from within the crowd.

"Who is the king?"

Who was the king? They had gathered here to answer that question.

"Has the black mage become king, as the rumors say?"

"Identify the rightful king!"

"Princes! Tell us the truth!"

The moment I saw their faces, I realized they weren't here of their own will.

The fable of this world had called them here.

Junghyeok and I looked at Suyeong at the same time.

Suyeong nodded and stepped forward.

"I am the king of the Kaizenix Archipelago."

Then figures from the Revolutionary Group stepped forward.

"How dare you!"

"Where is the legitimate heir of Kaizenix?"

"Kill that woman!"

Without panicking, Suyeong drew her sword.

"This sword is proof that I am king."

Unbreakable Faith emitted a brilliant white light. A few members of the crowd who recognized the sword fell to their knees, but most still looked unconvinced.

Then Junghyeok stepped forward.

"She is the king of this archipelago."

When the first prince spoke up, his supporters looked flustered.

A fierce protest immediately erupted from the Revolutionary Group.

"H-how can this... This has never happened before!"

"There's a first time for everything."

"Our family cannot accept this result!"

Someone even spoke outside their assigned role.

"Your choice does not fit this world's setting!"

"Our world's setting is only-"

I spoke to them.

"What is your world's setting?"

The people fell silent again.

I silently looked up at the message in the air.

[The genre of this world has not yet been decided.]

The Royal Guard, the nobles, and the Revolutionary Group members were all looking at that message as well.

Even now, just before the conclusion, this world's genre had not been decided.

The crowd looked as if they had no idea what to do.

"How long are you planning to live as characters of the Kaizenix Archipelago?"

At my question, one member of the crowd said in a trembling voice, "Wh-why are you doing this?"

The power of the Great Fable rippled above his head. The will of the Great Fable was probably making him speak now.

"We've been in this archipelago for a very long time. If we leave this world's setting, we are nothing. Decide the genre already. Finish this story!"

"Sir Martel."

Suyeong called his name in my place.

The noble's lips trembled when his name was called.

"This archipelago isn't all the history you've lived through."

"Wha-what do you know-"

"Your genre isn't ‘Romance.’"

[The influence of the Great Fable Kaizenix Archipelago is returning!]

[The Great Fable Kaizenix Archipelago reveals its hostility.]

The sparks around us gradually intensified. The power of the Great Fable, whose connection had been severed, was trying to bind us again.

Suyeong didn't back down.

"It isn't ‘Fantasy’ or ‘Fusion Fantasy’ either."

Every being has a fable, though some are too small to be recognized as such.

"Your genre is ‘Martel di Rutvier.’"

The noble's eyes slowly widened.

Suyeong looked at the nobles beside him.

"Cain von Balrod. Erimein van Ecrid. Strian Excellot..."

As if restoring the names of stories that had vanished long ago, Suyeong called each of their names one by one. It was probably only possible because Suyeong had such a good memory.

The nobles, the Revolutionary Group members, and the Royal Guard knights. At that moment, they all quietly waited for their own names to be called.

After calling every name, Suyeong said, "Those names are your genre."

At those words, some lowered their eyes, while others sank into thought.

Someone stepped forward in protest.

"Do you know what will happen if we go outside now?"

It was a noblewoman whose name had just been called.

"I'm very grateful for what you said, but there is no one left who remembers us. The fables we tell have been forgotten in the Star Stream. Are you telling us to leave the stage and suffer the same humiliation as before?"

[The Great Fable Kaizenix Archipelago smiles.]

Suyeong asked in return, "Why would you suffer humiliation?"

"Our fables aren't popular anymore."

"Why do your fables have to be popular?"

For a moment, the woman's expression stiffened.

"The ones up there are the ones who should worry about that. You aren't writers. You're protagonists. You can do whatever you want. They're your lives. No matter what the dokkaebis or Constellations say, you should be happy."

Every word Suyeong spoke was filled with sincerity. I could see the characters' expressions changing in real time. With every word Suyeong said, expressions formed on their faces.

It was something I couldn't do.

"If you help us, all of us can leave together. If you want, you can create fables with us too. No, I hope you do."

We could have made a different choice. We could have trampled their small stories and moved forward. We could have obsessed over clearing the Scenario as we always had.

But we didn't do that this time.

At least here, I wanted to do things this way.

It was the will of everyone in Kim Dokja Company gathered here.

Then someone asked, "What kind of story... do you want to tell? What is your ‘genre’?"

"We don't know either. But what we do know is this."

Suyeong glanced at me, Junghyeok, Huiwon, and Hyeongseong.

When she looked at me, I said:

"We are Kim Dokja Company."

Suyeong raised Unbreakable Faith and drove it into the floor.

[The constellation artifact Unbreakable Faith's special effect has activated!]

The three attributes of Unbreakable Faith, the Aether of fire, darkness, and light, blazed together. The people of the archipelago, who had never seen such a miracle, looked at us as if they had been bewitched.

Junghyeok said, "We didn't come here just to take control of the Kaizenix Archipelago."

"We came here to free all of you."

At my added words, a few in the crowd murmured. Some frightened people groaned and staggered backward.

「You all knew it.」

It wasn't me, Suyeong, or Junghyeok who said that.

「We can't keep repeating the same Scenario forever.」

Yuri di Aristel was speaking. She had understood exactly what ending we truly wanted for this Scenario.

「I... will try going with them.」

The crowd looked shocked at Yuri di Aristel's words.

Yuri wasn't the only one who had made a decision.

My heart suddenly began pounding, and someone spoke through my mouth.

「If she is going with them, I will too.」

It was Ricardo von Kaizenix, the fourth prince whose body I possessed.

A voice then flowed from Junghyeok.

「I cannot send my frail younger sibling off alone.」

The first prince, Schweizen.

Then voices came from Hyeongseong and Huiwon as well.

「My sword will be wherever His Highness goes.」

「I will protect Your Majesty.」

Billston Framer and Erich Stryker as well.

Yuri di Aristel wasn't the only one who had been watching our story.

The original protagonists who had lent us their bodies had been watching our story too.

[The Great Fable Holy Flame That Devoured Myth roars!]

[The Great Fable Spring of the Demon Realm looks upon the world.]

"We will participate in the Great war of Angels and Demons."

Everyone in the crowd was looking at Kim Dokja Company.

As the Representative of the company, I continued.

"And we will free every being on this Island from ‘Reincarnation.’"

The crowd, who had been bound by the Great Fable's Scenario for a long time, looked at us.

"Let's all go together."

As I spoke, cracks formed across the floor. The sky shook, and the world cried out.

[The Great Fable Kaizenix Archipelago howls!]

It was the sound of a world collapsing.

[The Great Fable Kaizenix Archipelago has activated control over all citizens of the archipelago!]

A great story consumes beings to prolong its own life. It was an old law of the Star Stream, and something I knew well from my past.

But did the Great Fable know? In the end, the ones who create Great Fables like itself are...

[All Reincarnators of the Kaizenix Archipelago reject the Great Fable's control.]

Beings themselves.

[The Great Fable Kaizenix Archipelago looks at its people in astonishment!]

The people of the archipelago looked at one another.

"...Yeah, if Yuri is saying this much, let's give it a try."

"What if we die?"

"Wouldn't dying be better than a life where even if you die, you're not dead?"

They too had chosen their own lives.

[The Great Fable Kaizenix Archipelago wears a sorrowful expression.]

The old fable's context was breaking apart piece by piece. The old actors were finally leaving the archipelago and returning to their own lives.

"Don't be sad. Wherever they go is where you exist."

I spoke to the Great Fable, which looked down at me resentfully.

"You should come with us too."

[The world's setting accepts your answer.]

[You have met the Scenario Clear Conditions!]

[Sub Scenario, Genre Selection, has ended.]

[The genre of this world is Metafiction.]

[Calculating Scenario Clear Rewards.]

[This Scenario area is being synchronized with the spacetime of the Great war of Angels and Demons.]

[The portal to the Great war of Angels and Demons has been opened!]

A vast portal scattering dazzling light was created in the air.

It was the door leading to the Great war of Angels and Demons.

"I'll go first."

Junghyeok was the first to walk into it. Following him, the Reincarnators who had made up their minds cautiously peered into the portal.

Someone even asked me, "Do you really think we can do this?"

"I don't know. But I hope we can."

"You're honest."

The Reincarnator gave an awkward smile and stepped into the portal.

The crowd flowed out. Suyeong and I watched them from the end of the line.

Suyeong said, "You go in first."

Suyeong probably still had a lot of affection for this world.

I thought it wouldn't be bad to give her time to enjoy the lingering feelings, so I stepped into the portal.

But the moment I did, Suyeong grabbed me.

"Hey, Kim Dokja."

Her eyes looked like she had something she wanted to ask. As I looked at her for a moment, Suyeong soon sighed and waved her hand.

"Forget it. It's nothing."

"What is it?"

"I said it's nothing."

Suyeong grumbled and avoided my gaze.

I suddenly felt uneasy, so I sighed and stepped back out of the portal.

"Just say it. You acted cryptically like this the last time we parted, so I have a bad feeling."

"It's nothing serious."

"Then you can tell me."

"You're really persistent."

Suyeong sighed once more before opening her mouth.

"Someday."

Looking at the floor, she slowly raised her head and continued.

"Someday, when all these Scenarios are over, I might want to write a novel again."

It was the first time Suyeong had looked at me with such serious eyes, so I was a little surprised.

Suyeong continued, "When that happens, read my novel."

"Your novel?"

Suyeong nodded.

"I'm giving you the chance to read it first."

"I'm not that good of a reader."

"Don't argue. If I tell you to read it, read it."

"Okay. I'll read it."

I answered readily.

Well, there was nothing bad about reading it. I liked novels too.

But perhaps my response was unexpected, because Suyeong asked again.

"...Really?"

"Really."

Suyeong looked at me as if she couldn't believe it, then said, "It might be more than three thousand installments."

"Sounds exactly like my kind of thing."

"It might not be fun."

"How could something you write not be fun?"

Suyeong's eyes widened at my words.

Feeling a little awkward, I added, "What genre will you write?"

"I'll see when the time comes..."

"How about Romance?"

"...How do you write three thousand installments of Romance?"

We turned toward the portal as we exchanged such silly conversation. Hyeongseong and Huiwon were walking toward the portal together. The subtly awkward air between them was nice to see.

"Those two might take around three thousand installments."

At that moment, welcome messages came from the sky.

[The Indirect Message restriction has been lifted.]

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband lets out a joyful cheer!]

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon likes the heartwarming atmosphere!]

[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire is astonished!]

It seemed the channel had become active again as the Scenario ended.

[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire protects her Incarnation.]

[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire is wary of the Constellation Master of Steel.]

[The Constellation Master of Steel feels wronged.]

Suyeong snickered and muttered, "Romance, huh..."

I stepped into the portal with Suyeong.

I could see the Constellations waiting for us in the distance.

[You have finally arrived, Kim Dokja Company.]

At last, the Great war of Angels and Demons had begun.

Footnotes:

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