WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 423: Episode 80: Our Strongest Ally (1)

──────

【Ki ll】

【Kim DokjaKim DokjaKim DokjaKim DokjaKim Dokja】

I walked toward the Outer Gods. Secretive Plotter didn't stop me, as if daring me to try.

I took another step. The vines thrashed even more violently. In an instant, tendrils shot out and seized both my arms.

【You know usYou know usYou know usYou know us】

"That's right. I know you."

I nodded at them.

【HowHowHowHowHowHow】

How.

I couldn't answer that question. When I didn't respond, the vines' hostility toward me deepened. At last, one hesitant tentacle flew at me and pierced my shoulder.

It hurt badly, but the true pain wasn't in my shoulder.

Someone's voice came from the tip of the tentacle.

「"I don't want to die."」

Was it an illusion? For a moment, the tentacle piercing my shoulder looked like a sword.

Twin Dragon Swords.

I knew who those swords belonged to.

「"This wasn't how I wanted things to end."」

Jihye was crying. I reached for her too late, but her face had already faded away. A voice left only in fragments, broken and scattered.

The Nameless Ones.

"I know."

Suppressing the pain, I spoke.

Then another tentacle flew toward me. Little Junghyeok [999] shouted from behind.

With the sound of flesh being pierced, I heard another voice.

「"Yu Junghyeok-ssi, which Lee Hyeongseong am I to you?"」

An Incarnation of steel, tougher than anyone else in the world. The moment I reached for him again, Hyeongseong's form scattered like bubbles. My hand wandered through empty air, while Hyeongseong's voice came from beyond it.

「"Does this Scenario really have an end?"」

"It does."

I bit down hard on my lip and took another step.

One step. Then another.

Each time, fragments from forgotten worldlines spoke to me.

「"I thought I could do more."」

Seolhwa, dying with her heart pierced.

「"I don't resent you. Still, there's just one thing I regret..."」

Yuseong, scattering with a faint smile.

「"What an idiot. Captain, it's me, Kim Namwoon. Do you think I'd die here? I won't die. I won't. I'll survive and survive again until I see the next Scenario. No matter what, the next Scenario-"」

Namwoon had died with his eyes open.

Memories from rounds I couldn't even identify. They were nothing but byproducts of failed worldviews, a collection of memories that had lost all meaning.

Something precious Junghyeok had protected, even at the cost of becoming Secretive Plotter.

「"I won't be on your side in the next round either. Don't look for me."」

Pildu Gong.

「"You'll be left alone again, Yu Junghyeok."」

Anna Croft.

「"It was an honor to fight alongside you, Supreme King."」

Selena Kim.

Memories of beings who had once been Constellations also passed by.

Goryeo's Top Swordsman Cheok Junkyung, Dionysus, the God of Wine and Ecstasy...

I stopped walking because of the hot flames to my right.

The tentacle holding my arm burned as it spoke to me.

「"I can still burn more."」

Uriel.

I nodded. "I know."

[The Outer Gods are looking at you.]

I knew. But I didn't understand. I wasn't one of you.

That was why there was only one thing I could say to them.

"This story isn't over yet."

[The Outer Gods are listening to your words.]

"There are still things left to tell."

I looked up at the Outer Gods.

Beings described only as cephalopods and tentacled monsters. Because they weren't needed in this worldline, they had been given the most repulsive forms in it.

I spoke to them.

"I'll tell your story."

A violent gale swept through the area.

【ReallyReallyReallyReallyReally】

【What does that meanWhat does that meanWhat does that mean】

From the other side, fierce hostility poured toward me.

【Li es】

【Do you think we'll be foo led tw ice?】

The higher divinities bore down on me with their power.

I swallowed the blood rising in my throat and looked at them. I knew why they reacted so violently. They had been exploited within the Scenarios for so long.

【Dokka ebis did the sa me.】

The Administration Bureau had recognized their existence early and exploited them ever since. Streamers who had exploited their power and Plausibility under the pretense of incorporating them into the Scenario then made them into the evil of this world.

I issued a constellation's declaration.

[I am not a dokkaebi.]

【You are a Con stellation.】

[I don't belong to the Administration Bureau, and I don't collaborate with the dokkaebis.]

【All Con stellations are the sa me.】

Those words pierced my chest like a dagger.

They were right. I was also just a Constellation who coveted fables and voyeuristically watched stories.

But there were things I could know because I was a Constellation like that.

[When the Final War breaks out, you will certainly be destroyed. No matter how you fight, you will lose in the end.]

【Arro gant bas tard. If we don't tr y...!】

[I know even without you trying. I've seen every worldline where you fought. And I don't want you to die that way again.]

The branches of the Outer Gods swayed at my words.

【What does th at me an?】

[You said you wanted to be understood. I'll turn you into a fable.]

At that moment, the spacetime around us twisted.

A faint trembling ran through the tentacles.

Feeling that tremor, I continued.

[I will let you stand equal to the stars in that sky. I'll make a fable in which no one can misunderstand or despise you.]

The agitation slowly spread. A huge current swept through N'Gai Forest like the first sign of an approaching storm.

I didn't miss that opening and continued speaking.

[The Final War doesn't need to happen. You no longer need to be the evil of the Star Stream-]

【Sh ut up.】

【How da re you?】

I finally coughed up blood. Higher Outer Gods who would shatter my body and erode my mind were descending.

【Kim DokjaDangerKim DokjaDanger】

【Don't attackDon't attackDon't attack】

Vines wrapped around me. The Nameless Ones protected me from the aura of a powerful higher divinity.

【Insig nificant be ings with out even e gos.】

Rumble.

With a single constellation's declaration, dozens of stalks were torn apart. Though they let out agonized cries, the smaller Outer Gods continued to protect me.

The little Junghyeoks were blocking the way in front of me as well.

Secretive Plotter neither stopped nor restrained them. He only watched quietly, as if he couldn't make this decision.

At last, when the Status of the higher divinities reached its critical point, someone's voice rang out.

[That's an interesting thing to say.]

Beyond an ominously swirling portal, someone walked toward us as they spoke.

[Pitiable illegitimate children of a worldline. He is right.]

【Wh o, are y ou?】

[You can become fables again and be spoken of within the flow of the stars. That is, if that unfortunate Constellation can give himself up for your sake.]

The old man was very small, but he cast a huge shadow. Two humps swayed on that shadow's cheeks.

【De mon of the Hori zon...】

I knew that species too.

When I first went to the Demon Realm, I made a deal with one of them.

But the being before me now was on a completely different level from the Hunchback I had met then.

There were countless Hunchbacks in the world, but only one old man possessed two humps.

[Owner of the Ancient Library.]

When I looked up, the Hunchback King peered down at me with wicked curiosity in his eyes.

[Will you really become the Star Stream's enemy for this refuse?]

* * *

In the distance, I saw the forest's round exit open.

Countless Outer Gods gathered behind me to see me off. Their tentacles swayed like a vast field of reeds.

【Kim DokjaKim DokjaKim DokjaKim Dokja】

【GoodbyeGoodbyeGoodbyeGoodbyeGoodbye】

Most of them looked the same, but I could vaguely tell them apart now.

The one on the left was a kind one with a fingernail-sized piece of twelfth-round Shin Yuseong's memories. The one on the right had a considerable amount of forty-fourth-round Kim Namwoon's memories in them... I think that bastard stabbed my thigh earlier.

"You didn't need to go this far."

Little Junghyeok [999], sitting on my shoulder, spoke.

"The contract with the Hunchback King is absolute. If you do this, you will certainly-"

"Don't worry, I won't die. But are you coming with me too?"

At my words, little Junghyeok [999] frowned.

"As promised, I'm here to monitor you. It would be troublesome if you contacted the others in Kim Dokja Company and plotted something."

"I even swore an Existence Oath not to contact them. Yu Junghyeoks are all the same."

In exchange for leaving N'Gai Forest, I made several promises to the Hunchback King and the Outer Gods.

The first promise was that, until I fulfilled the contract, I could not contact Kim Dokja Company and reveal my existence to them.

The second promise was...

[Due to your actions, a new Scenario branch has been triggered in the Star Stream!]

[A Hidden Scenario has occurred!]

As I read the Scenario, I let out a hollow laugh.

Even this had become a Scenario... That was just like the Star Stream.

Of course, this was a world that could turn even its own destruction into a story.

+

Category: Hidden

Difficulty: ???

Clear Conditions: Make the Outer Gods appear in a major Great Fable of the Star Stream. However, they must not appear in the role of Outer Gods as they have before.

Time Limit: 100 days

Reward: The Outer Gods' trust, ???

Failure: Lose all memories and transform into an Outer God.

+

Give the Outer Gods roles other than Outer Gods.

It was a Scenario that hadn't existed in any round of TWSA.

A Scenario I had obtained by persuading the Outer Gods and making a contract with the Hunchback King.

If I failed this Scenario, I would become an Outer God like them.

That was the condition of my contract with the Hunchback King.

「But if I succeeded in this Scenario, the Outer Gods wouldn't be destroyed.」

Looking at the exit of N'Gai Forest, I stretched lightly.

As if he didn't trust me, [999] asked, "Where are you planning to go? There are barely any Great Fable Scenarios left now."

It was true. Most of the Star Stream's Great Fables had reached their finales.

But according to my memories, one outstanding Great Fable remained.

I casually asked [999], "Do you know the story of the 1,863rd round?"

"I heard it from Great Plot."

"If you enter the Final War like this, you will definitely lose. Even if you win by some miracle, almost no one will survive."

"Are you cursing us now?"

"No. I'm telling you the truth."

No matter how strong Secretive Plotter and the Outer Gods' forces were, they couldn't fight the entire Star Stream. After all, the rulers of this universe were the Star Stream's nebulae and that damned Administration Bureau.

"The best way to avoid a war is to let the other side know that starting one will only cost them."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Do you know which Constellation slaughtered the most Outer Gods in the Final War?"

At my question, [999] thought for a moment before answering. His expression looked slightly wounded, as if his pride had been hurt.

"I don't."

"He possesses such overwhelming Status that his existence is usually split into several parts. If you want to get technical, he's similar to Secretive Plotter."

"Similar to Great Plot?"

"Yeah. If that being hadn't stood with the Star Stream, and therefore hadn't taken tens of thousands of Outer Gods down with him... the course of the 1,863rd round would have been very different."

For the first time, Junghyeok [999]'s eyes wavered. He seemed to have realized who I was talking about.

"Could it be...?"

A Constellation that had taken countless Outer Gods down with him in the Final War of TWSA.

There was only one Constellation like that.

I grinned.

"That's right. I'm going to make him our ally."

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried