WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 431: Episode 81: A Dumpling’s Reminiscence (4)

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The Scenario proceeded smoothly after that.

Zhu Bajie had played a large part in it.

[Current Journey to the West progress: 24%]

Originally, "Journey to the West" was a fourteen-year journey through a total of eighty-one trials. However, since the original work was built on details added through oral tradition, this much adaptation seemed acceptable.

Still, we hadn't even met Sha Wujing yet. Wasn't the story moving too quickly? Come to think of it, who would Sha Wujing be?

"Aaah!"

Before my eyes, bandits who had appeared as an intermission event were having their heads lopped off by Junghyeok's Black Heaven Demon Blade.

[Some judges are dissatisfied with Zhu Bajie's brutality!]

[The viewers are developing a taste for the catharsis of Journey to the West!]

[10 bonus points have been added.]

In the original "Journey to the West," Zhu Bajie and Sun Wukong often killed humanoid villains. Xuanzang scolded them for it, and in severe cases, they were even expelled from the order.

Many readers found Xuanzang's fussiness frustrating.

"Junghyeok ajusshi. Shouldn't we spare those people...?"

[Some judges are satisfied with the faithfulness to the original work.]

[Many viewers are charmed by Sanzang's cuteness.]

[20 bonus points have been added.]

Apparently, the same role felt different depending on who played it.

The bandit leader, beaten to within an inch of his life by Junghyeok, shouted in indignation.

"Urgh! I never thought a mere Zhu Bajie would be this strong!"

Surprisingly, I knew him.

The children whispered beside me.

"Poor Myeongoh ajusshi."

Department Head Han Myeongoh activated [one-legged swift foot] and fled for dear life, looking this way and winking as he ran.

To think Han Myeongoh was one of the players participating here.

He had probably joined as a multi-role extra, playing various mob leaders.

Watching Myeongoh retreat, Yuseong muttered quietly, "Huiwon unni said it was okay."

Junghyeok returned, casually wiping down the Black Heaven Demon Blade.

He paid particular attention to the middle of the blade. Looking closely, I saw a hairline crack there.

Junghyeok's Black Heaven Demon Blade had broken on the battlefield of the Great war of Angels and Demons.

That made two swords already, following the Splitting the Sky Sword.

He didn't show it, but it must have been eating at him.

It would be nice if he could get a new weapon in "Journey to the West"...

No suitable weapon came to mind. Sun Wukong's Ruyi Jingu Bang wasn't a weapon Junghyeok was familiar with, and Zhu Bajie's Nine-Toothed Iron Rake wasn't to his taste either. There was no need to even mention Sha Wujing's Demon-Subduing Staff.

Perhaps seeing me lost in thought made him suspicious, because Junghyeok casually said, "At least you aren't making a nuisance of yourself."

(Translation: Senior Brother! Are you hurt anywhere?)

I glared at the narration hanging in the air.

What was that supposed to be?

"Just stay like that from now on. Then I won't kill you."

(Translation: Heh heh, Senior Brother. Don't worry. Even if I have to give my life, I will protect you.)

I glared up at the sky in disbelief.

No, there was no way that was what he meant.

And Junghyeok didn't laugh like "heh heh."

That bastard Suyeong...

[Many viewers are deeply moved by Zhu Bajie's inner feelings!]

[Many viewers are falling for Zhu Bajie's charm!]

[A viewer wants to sponsor coins.]

[The judge Pure Altar Messenger is greatly satisfied!]

[You have obtained 50 bonus points!]

What a fine writer.

(The journey was quite peaceful. Sun Wukong wondered whether this was what a retired life was like.)

Aside from the tension with Junghyeok, the journey went smoothly.

The occasional monsters of fable or bandits were dealt with by the children or Junghyeok before they even caught my eye.

"Hey, Demon King of Salvation. Easy, isn't it?"

"Yes, thanks to my masters."

It was entirely Suyeong's fault that I kept being called the Demon King of Salvation even though I hadn't revealed my identity.

"Became an SSSSS-Grade Sun Wukong" included the bizarre premise that Sun Wukong was once called the Demon King of Salvation.

I had no idea why he had been given that nickname.

[Some viewers enjoy stories that disrespect the Demon King of Salvation.]

[You have obtained 10 bonus points.]

No, I could sort of see why.

"Don't pick a fight with someone you barely know, idiot."

"That's not it. He needs to pull his weight too. Dokja hyung said that even when your body is resting, you should keep your brain working hard."

I'd never said that.

When your body rests, your brain should rest too.

Gilyeong narrowed his eyes at me and added, "So spit out some useful information. You're a second-life Sun Wukong in this setting, aren't you? Don't you know about any hidden elixirs or something?"

"Well, I do know a few."

There were several useful elixirs in "Journey to the West." The Peaches of Immortality Sun Wukong ate and the Ginseng Fruit gained during the journey were among them.

"The best elixir is close by."

"What? Where?"

I silently stared at Gilyeong.

"Where? Tell us already!"

Before I could explain, the narration began.

(In the original "Journey to the West," Xuanzang was kidnapped by monsters of fable dozens of times. This was because there was a legend that anyone who ate Xuanzang could ascend to heaven. After all, Xuanzang was the reincarnation of Golden Cicada, the Buddha's Disciple who had undergone ten reincarnations.)

As the children's mouths slowly fell open, I added, “My master is probably the best elixir in all of ‘Journey to the West’.”

Gilyeong and Yuseong flinched, each taking a step away from the other. They glared at each other and muttered.

"Hey, Shin Yuseong. You'd be fine without a finger..."

"You'd probably be fine without anything above your neck."

Watching the children growl at each other made me smile.

Perhaps displeased by that, the dumpling on my shoulder spoke.

―This isn't the time to be smiling like an idiot. They aren't the ones who need an elixir. You are.

A window appeared before me.

[Outer God transformation progress: 48%]

The rate of assimilation was horrifyingly fast.

To think it was progressing faster than "Journey to the West."

―Your Incarnation body has a low recovery rate, so the assimilation is faster.

‘This was never explained.’

―Your secret collaboration with Kim Dokja Company was not part of the plan either.

I bit my lip.

The Hunchback King truly was terrifying. After all, they had fought the Dokkaebi King for a lifetime. Perhaps they had expected even this much.

[999], who had been observing my Incarnation body, spoke.

―You have about three days left. You must fulfill the promise within that time.

‘That's impossible. I need to finish this Scenario to keep the promise, but there isn't enough time.’

My promise to the Hunchback King was to create a Great Fable that included an Outer God.

I planned to accomplish that through this Great Fable, but three days was far too short. I needed at least two weeks.

―Then there is only one way left. You must strengthen your frail Incarnation body.

Nodding, I checked the state of my Incarnation body.

[Current Incarnation body recovery rate: 45%]

[The damage to your foundational fable is severe.]

[Recovery can be accelerated by consuming a new elixir.]

The reason my transformation into an Outer God was speeding up was because my Incarnation body hadn't yet recovered from the damage it suffered during the Great war of Angels and Demons.

[The Fable Fragment Broken Heart of a Young Gold Dragon is currently unable to fulfill its role.]

Come to think of it, I had been so focused on gathering fables that I had neglected improving the durability of my Incarnation body. I had half given up because I died so often, too... Even "Broken Heart of a Young Gold Dragon" was a Fable Fragment I had acquired quite some time ago.

Still, as One-Punch Invincible Yoo Hoseong had said, training my Incarnation body was necessary to draw out the full power of fables.

If fables were "writing," then an Incarnation body was the "paper" that allowed that writing to unfold.

―The medicines available here are probably replica versions. Still, that's better than not taking them.

[Votes: 2,963]

[Five judges are currently watching this fable room.]

[Many viewers are currently interested in this fable room's growth.]

[This fable room is currently ranked 31st.]

In a short time, the Scenario Suyeong had created had gained the support of many.

A story in which many people share the burden of Plausibility generates proportionately greater power.

[As this fable room's ranking rises, the grades of constellation artifacts and items available within it will rise.]

The higher this room's ranking rose, the closer every item it produced would come to the original. If it won, they would become the originals themselves.

In other words, everything gained from this fable room would become real.

If the room's ranking kept rising smoothly, and if I succeeded in safely gathering the elixirs...

[The Great Fable Season of Light and Darkness is dormant.]

[You are not yet qualified to use this fable.]

I might be able to use the power of this Great Fable, which I had been unable to unlock despite going to the trouble of obtaining it.

[The Great Fable Holy Flame That Devoured Myth fears Season of Light and Darkness.]

It was a fable powerful enough to frighten even "Holy Flame That Devoured Myth." In my current state, I couldn't even imagine how powerful it was.

"Stop."

That was when Junghyeok, who had been walking ahead, stopped.

The clear sky from moments before had turned yellow. Looking closely, I saw a bright yellow fog covering all the land and sky ahead.

[You have arrived at Yellow Wind Cave in Yellow Wind Ridge.]

Yellow Wind Ridge.

This was likely the dwelling of the Yellow Wind Demon King, one of the villains of "Journey to the West."

If my prediction was right, one of the elixirs I sought was nearby.

That was when a message arrived.

[Many players have joined the fable room!]

Originally, this fable room had eight players. Yet additional players had suddenly entered.

Gilyeong muttered in disbelief, "Now?"

It made no sense.

Players who joined after a fable room's registration had closed could only take extra roles. Even if the fable room was successfully completed, extras would struggle to receive proper rewards. If that was true even for a top-ten fable room, why would anyone join a fable room ranked thirty-first...?

[Some viewers are wary of fable room 6,731's rise in rank.]

[Some viewers look forward to your destruction.]

[Many viewers are watching the upheaval in this fable room!]

There was a reason.

Our fable room had leapt from the bottom ranks to the upper ranks in an instant.

Junghyeok's expression hardened. "They're here to ruin the Scenario."

I didn't know who had sent them, but I could guess.

The likely culprits were the great nebulae participating in this "Journey to the West Remake," along with spies from the top-ranked fable rooms.

They must have feared what would happen in the Star Stream if Kim Dokja Company claimed another Great Fable.

Rumble.

The fog rushed in and swallowed my allies in an instant.

Junghyeok's figure disappeared into the fog first as he turned and shouted a warning, followed by Yuseong and Gilyeong's startled voices.

"Disciple-nim! Hide behind me!"

"Step back and don't come any closer! Got it-"

Before I could answer, the children vanished as well.

The fog stopped right before my nose.

The sharp clatter of weapons came from every direction.

The dumpling perched on my shoulder asked.

―Aren't you going in?

"I want to, but..."

Feeling a presence approaching from behind, I said, "It seems their target is me."

When I turned around, I saw extras coming over the slope of Yellow Wind Ridge. Constellations dressed as the Yellow Wind Demon King's subordinates approached me with murderous intent.

"Is that guy Sun Wukong?"

"Just looking at his Status, he's a weakling."

"They must've thought we'd be scared if they cast a weakling and gave him the Demon King of Salvation's nickname."

Only then did I think I understood their true goal.

After all, the protagonist of "Journey to the West" was Sun Wukong.

If Sun Wukong died, "Journey to the West" would end.

[Some judges are concerned for your safety.]

[Some viewers are concerned for your safety.]

As I watched the approaching Constellations, complicated feelings filled me.

(The retired Sun Wukong didn't want to fight because it was a hassle.)

[Your fighting spirit has greatly decreased due to the Retirement Penalty.]

It was all because of that damned "retirement" setting.

[The judge Prisoner of the Golden Headband irritably picks at his ear.]

[The judge Bimawen has opened a book with a refined expression.]

[The judge Handsome Monkey King has started yawning as though bored.]

Those Sun Wukongs, exhausted from carrying the original "Journey to the West," couldn't possibly welcome this development.

Regardless, the extra Constellations had already closed in, gripping weapons with murderous intent.

"Die!"

(Translation: Hahaha, die, balding monkey!)

"Die!"

(Translation: Fuc■! You bast■ who only cleans up shit in Heaven!)

"Die!"

(Translation: Block■head monkey!)

Just as I was about to ask how those lines could possibly be translated that way, channel messages exploded.

[The judge Prisoner of the Golden Headband grabs his hair and rages!]

[The judge Bimawen recoils from the filthy story.]

[The judge Handsome Monkey King wants to cut off all those bastards' heads.]

[Some judges have provided powerful Plausibility to this fable room's development!]

[If the direction of this story changes, a large amount of bonus points will be provided.]

Huh?

[A private message has arrived from the Scenario Master.]

[You said you were a pretty good fighter, right?]

Before I could answer, the narration began.

(There was one thing the monsters of fable rushing toward him did not know. He was certainly a retired Sun Wukong. But.)

(He was a Sun Wukong who did not hide his power.)

Along with the flood of messages, the title of a new episode appeared before my eyes.

~ Episode 3: The Demon King of Salvation Doesn't Hide His Power ~

Footnotes:

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