WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 382: Episode 73: The Hottest Place in Hell (1)

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Shin Yuseong opened her eyes to dazzling headlights.

Pure white lights streaked through the air. A floating drone spun around near Yuseong's face before drifting away into the black sky.

"Ugh, my head..."

Dizzy and unsteady, Yuseong staggered to her feet. All she could see around her were piles of scrap metal. The companions who had been with her were nowhere in sight.

Had she been separated from everyone?

"Shin Yuseong?"

A boy poked his head out of the scrap pile like a squid.

"Lee Gilyeong?"

The instant Yuseong turned toward him in relief, a woman rose from the pile, pressing down on Gilyeong's head.

"Move! You stink!"

"Jihye-noona!"

Yuseong could roughly guess who she had ended up with.

The group stood up, brushing scrap from their bodies.

"What, is it just us?"

"I think so."

"The Busan Alliance is back together."

Jihye sounded a little excited, but Yuseong didn't feel the same way.

Of all people, she had ended up with Jihye and Gilyeong.

Looking back and forth between them, Yuseong made up her mind.

‘I'm the only adult here. I need to handle this properly.’

As if they had no idea what she was thinking, Jihye and Gilyeong glared at one another before suddenly starting to establish their pecking order.

"Ahem, kids. Like always, we need to choose a leader, right?"

"You were the leader of the Busan Alliance. That means it's my turn this time."

"Hey, when I started kindergarten, you hadn't even been born yet."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Shh. Both of you, be quiet!"

The moment Yuseong spoke, the three of them pressed themselves against the wall as if on cue. A drone flying through the air like an insect lit up the alley where they had been standing moments earlier.

Whirrrrr...

The drone hovered there for a while, then tilted its sensor and disappeared beyond the alley.

Jihye asked tensely, "Isn't that a drone?"

At that moment, a system message echoed through the air.

[Someone has intervened in the Scenario system!]

[You have been forcibly summoned to Next City on the Main Island by an unprecedented power!]

[Next City is currently severed from the conflict zone of the Great war of Angels and Demons in time and space.]

[If you resolve the area's Sub Scenario, you may advance to the Great war of Angels and Demons.]

"Next City?"

Gilyeong's eyes sparkled.

"Let's go check it out!"

"Don't act like a kid, Lee Gilyeong. This isn't a game."

Despite Yuseong's attempt to stop him, Gilyeong ran off.

Thankfully, there were no drones nearby, and the wall they had been hiding behind was on higher ground than it had seemed.

"Wow, this..."

A spectacular view of the entire city spread out before them. Photon lights brilliantly illuminated the night streets. Androids with blue light shining from their heads wandered through the streets like a procession of protesters. It was obvious at a glance what kind of world this was.

Gilyeong said confidently, "I'll get super strong here and surprise Dokja-hyung."

"You'll be the most surprised if you die here."

"Why do you hate me so much, noona?"

Leaving Jihye and Gilyeong to bicker, Yuseong observed the city below.

Other than the small disturbances caused by the protests, the city seemed to run systematically according to an orderly structure. It was a science-fiction world with a level of order she had never seen before.

They said the Island of Reincarnators was a graveyard of fallen fables.

Then why had a world like this been destroyed?

Of course, whether Yuseong worried about that or not, Jihye and Gilyeong were too busy chattering excitedly.

"Do you think they have laser swords here?"

"You're such a sword geek..."

"Shut up."

"Hey, don't those guys over there really have laser swords?"

"What? Where?"

Guards patrolling the city were wandering around the nearby area. Perhaps because of this world's setting, an information window appeared before her eyes when she examined them closely.

[Lv. 12 Patrol Android]

[This unit is approximately four times stronger than you are.]

Jihye muttered in shock, "What? Why are they so strong?"

"I think we've gotten weaker."

In fact, after entering this world, the concentration of Mana in their surroundings had noticeably decreased.

[Your primary stats have been reset in this world.]

[This world is affected by a Level System.]

"Damn it, they're coming this way!"

How had they noticed them? The guards suddenly charged toward them.

When Yuseong looked up, several drones were hovering overhead.

[Fable energy response detected!]

[Fable energy response detected!]

With warning sounds ringing out, the guards accelerated, boosters erupting from their backs as they flew toward them all at once.

Jihye, Yuseong, and Gilyeong each drew their weapons.

"Damn, there aren't even any bugs here... Shin Yuseong, can you summon the Chimera Dragon?"

"The cooldown isn't over yet."

[Your current level is 1.]

[Hunt low-level enemies to gain experience.]

Jihye grimaced as she drew her long saber. Of the group, she was the only one specialized in close combat. She swiftly activated [Demon Slaying] and [ghost walk], then confronted the guards to protect the children. Just as a guard's laser sword was about to collide with her blade,

Whirrrrr!

It slid past Jihye's blade and slashed her forearm.

"Argh!"

[The android Lee Jihye has been seriously injured!]

[Inject fable energy to survive.]

Jihye stumbled back, but it was already too late.

"Move!"

Yuseong shoved Jihye aside and stepped in.

Jihye's face turned pale as she shouted at her, and Gilyeong reached out his hand.

But the laser sword was already plunging toward Yuseong's head.

‘Mister.’

At that moment, Yuseong reflected on her short life. It felt unfair for her life to end in a place like this. Even so, she was satisfied that her choice hadn't been wrong.

Yuseong thought that perhaps this was an ending worthy of an Incarnation of the Demon King of Salvation.

And the next moment.

[That attack cannot affect you.]

Crackle, crackle!

With sparks flying, the guard's laser sword stopped right before her eyes, as if it had struck an invisible wall.

"Huh?"

Messages appeared one after another in the air.

[An error has occurred in the Scenario system.]

[The Great Fable Next City questions the existence of the Incarnation Shin Yuseong.]

The same thing was happening with Gilyeong. Every laser sword that had tried to attack the children had shut down at once.

Gilyeong stared blankly into the air and muttered, "What is this?"

A pale gray font shone in the upper-right corner of his vision.

[This Scenario is rated for ages 18 and up.]

[Under this world's rating restrictions, killing child and adolescent units is restricted.]

Yuseong and Gilyeong's eyes met as they looked at the air.

‘...This is a huge win.’

She didn't know how they had been summoned here.

But if this was the kind of world it was...

Gilyeong grinned at Jihye, who was standing behind them with her mouth hanging open.

"Noona, get ready for a free ride."

Watching Gilyeong drive his dagger into a guard's thigh, Yuseong thought.

‘Maybe staying a child a little longer...’

Yuseong still didn't know what awaited them at the end of this Scenario.

But there was one thing she did know.

When this Scenario ended, they would probably be strong enough to surprise Kim Dokja.

* * *

I was surprised to see the Constellations waiting for us beyond the portal. Even at a quick glance, there were far more than one or two.

Had they known we were coming?

"Dokja-ssi."

I nodded at Hyeongseong's tense voice.

Junghyeok, Suyeong, Hyeongseong, Huiwon, and I stood clustered together like a single constellation.

A Scenario message soon appeared.

[The Main Scenario has been updated!]

[You and your nebula have entered the neutral zone of the Great war of Angels and Demons!]

[You may choose a faction in the Great war of Angels and Demons!]

This was followed by a notification that painted the sky in five colors.

[The nebula Kim Dokja Company has joined the Great war of Angels and Demons!]

It had to be the dokkaebis' doing.

We had only just arrived, and they were already advertising us to everyone.

[Many Constellations have noticed your presence!]

[Some nebulae are paying attention to your movements!]

It wasn't a great situation, but there was nothing I could do now that it had happened.

I faced the Constellations watching us from the other side. They were all giving off formidable Status.

There was a Constellation I already knew among them.

[Descendant, you are quite late.]

A man smiled at me with a dignified expression. I called out happily.

"Goryeo's Top Swordsman!"

He was Cheok Junkyung, who had parted ways with us in the Middle Island Scenario. As befitted a fabled-grade Constellation, he seemed to have entered the Main Island without much trouble.

[It seems you have carried out quite a grand Scenario. You have gained many companions.]

Junkyung's gaze followed the Reincarnators emerging from the portal behind us.

They were the people of the Kaizenix Archipelago who had crossed to the Main Island with me.

"They'll be fighting alongside us in the Great war of Angels and Demons."

Junkyung nodded.

[The more forces we have, the better. More importantly... you seem to have changed somehow, Descendant.]

As if he were examining me, Junkyung looked me over from head to toe.

[I sense a peculiar depth in your fables.]

"Is that so?"

Junkyung's gaze passed over me and turned to Suyeong. Suyeong met his eyes with an irreverent look that asked what he was staring at. A strange glimmer passed through Junkyung's eyes.

[As expected.]

I suddenly remembered what Mandala's Protector had said.

―Bodhisattva, try enduring time.

After we cleared the Kaizenix Archipelago, the fables of our nebula underwent some kind of change.

Hyeongseong, Huiwon, and especially Suyeong. The time they had endured in Kaizenix hadn't been wasted.

Everything was recorded as a fable, and fables strengthened our Status in turn.

Perhaps because of Junkyung's words, I could feel the Constellations who had been spying on us from behind looking at us even more openly.

[The Constellation Two-Faced Expert is interested in you.]

[The Constellation Divine Archer King watches you with interest.]

[The Constellation Three-Mouthed, One-Headed mocks the Reincarnators of the Kaizenix Archipelago.]

The Reincarnators from the Kaizenix Archipelago stepped back at the Constellations' ridicule.

Now that they had left the Kaizenix Archipelago, they were no longer protected by that world.

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon growls!]

Suyeong stepped forward as if to protect the Reincarnators. The air twisted, and the presence of the Black Flame Dragon rose behind her. The Reincarnators of the Kaizenix Archipelago bowed to her in respect.

So that was what the bearing of a king looked like.

The Constellations, however, didn't seem pleased with Suyeong.

Their hostility rose in an instant.

[How dare an Incarnation of a small nebula...!]

Feeling annoyed for some reason, I decided it was time to stop this.

[The Great Fable Holy Flame That Devoured Myth glares at the Constellations!]

The Constellations flinched at the Great Fable's movement and took several steps back.

I didn't miss the opportunity and asked Junkyung, "That's enough. Why were you waiting for us?"

Junkyung looked somewhat troubled. His eyes showed that he was weighing whether he should say it.

A few assumptions came to mind, and I decided to test one of them.

"I understand this is a neutral zone. Have you decided on a faction in the Great war of Angels and Demons, Goryeo's Top Swordsman?"

[Not yet.]

I see. He still hadn't chosen a side?

Junkyung continued.

[As you know, good and evil among Constellations are not the same as good and evil among mortals. To be honest, I do not wish to belong to either side.]

Junkyung had begun as a mortal like me and risen to the rank of Constellation through his own power. He probably didn't like the concepts of good and evil advocated by Archangels and Demon Kings. I could understand his concerns.

But that only applied to Junkyung.

I looked over the Constellations behind him and asked, "Those people haven't chosen a side either, then."

Junkyung nodded.

Groups of Constellations had scattered across the vast plains, pitching tents here and there.

[How is the battle going at the moment?]

[From what I have learned so far...]

Constellations' declarations could be heard faintly from all around.

I laughed inwardly. The reason they still hadn't chosen a faction was obvious.

The Constellations in this neutral zone were waiting for the right moment, watching each other before choosing the favorable side and joining the Great war of Angels and Demons.

Yu Junghyeok and Han Suyeong activated Midday Tryst at the same time.

―I think I understand the situation.

―That's what these bastards are doing, isn't it?

I nodded. The more powerful the unaligned force of the neutral Constellations became, the more benefits they would gain once they chose a faction.

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband despises the Constellations of the neutral zone.]

[The Constellation Scribe of Hell says that the hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in an age of moral crisis...]

Whether good or evil, they planned to sell their forces under the best possible terms when the time came.

Suyeong snorted.

―Their goal is obvious.

It was then that Junkyung, after considering it for a long time, spoke with a sigh.

[There is someone who wishes to meet you.]

[Who is it?]

[A high-ranking Constellation of the nebula Hongik.]

As expected.

It seemed Junkyung had come here to recruit us.

Hiding my faint disappointment, I asked, "Wasn't it said that the high-ranking Constellations of Hongik had disappeared?"

I had definitely heard that before, once at the Constellation Banquet and once more when I faced the Mother of the Founder in Dark Castle.

[They have not disappeared. They stand before you now.]

A constellation's declaration imbued with lofty Status rang out. The ranks of Constellations parted, and a divine immortal holding a pure white folding fan walked toward us. Every step carried the power of a magnificent wind.

I think I know who this is.

[Kneel and offer your respects, descendant of the peninsula.]

Footnotes:

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