WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 440: Episode 83: The Reader’s Incarnation (2)
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A deafening roar rang out from the center of the battlefield. The air nearby was changing.
Ranks of monsters of fable converged as the Constellations of Emperor descended.
Peihu followed the ranks with his eyes before turning to the opponent blocking his path.
“You’re truly strong. Are there many Incarnations like you in Korea?”
Jeong Huiwon was covered in wounds. Yet her Status remained intact, and her fighting spirit still burned fiercely.
Peihu looked down at the cuts across his chest and side, carved by Huiwon’s steel sword.
Peihu wasn’t fighting alone. He had Erlang Shen, Prince Nezha, and even the nebula’s support. Yet even with all that, Peihu hadn’t been able to defeat a single Incarnation who had descended as the Bull Demon King from another fable room.
“Stop talking and come at me.”
Peihu shook his head as he looked into Huiwon’s blazing eyes.
“The fact that I struggled this much against one person already means we’ve lost.”
As if he had no intention of continuing the fight, Peihu put away his weapon and looked toward the distant sky.
“And it seems the real battlefield isn’t here, anyway.”
With those words, Peihu flew alongside Erlang Shen and Prince Nezha, heading for the scriptures.
As Huiwon was about to react urgently, a summoned ship picked them up and sped away.
[The activation of Hour of Judgement has ended.]
It had been close. If the fight had gone on just a little longer, she would have been the one defeated.
As expected of Peihu. Peihu hadn’t become Emperor’s dedicated Incarnation for nothing.
[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire anxiously surveys the center of the battlefield.]
Archangel wings grew from both of Huiwon’s shoulders.
She ran across the water as though she were half-flying.
‘What the hell is going on?’
Local battles were breaking out everywhere, and Huiwon didn’t know where she should run first.
Jihye was facing Emperor’s ships. Junghyeok was fighting the Twenty-Eight Mansions. Gilyeong was confronting the Nine Luminaries Star Lords...
Dozens of Great Holes were opening in the sky, and the Outer Gods that had crossed through them had transformed into monsters of fable and were waging war against the Constellations.
And at the center of it all...
“Yuseong!”
A girl was reaching out toward a star.
* * *
Shin Yuseong stared at the Constellations of Emperor charging toward her.
[The nebula Emperor’s Twelve Earthly Branch Deities have descended!]
[The nebula Emperor’s Four Dragon Kings have descended!]
(One by one, Sun Wukong’s old enemies were gathering.)
[It isn’t over yet!]
[As long as Sanzang doesn’t touch the scriptures!]
[Split the troops. One side, take the scriptures from him. The other, subdue Sanzang!]
Yuseong grabbed the mane of the Chimera Dragon, which had transformed into an Azure Dragon.
Emperor’s main forces rushed toward her.
Kim Dokja was too far away.
[The nebula Emperor’s Twelve Earthly Branch Deities are revealing their Status!]
Light exploded before her eyes.
The Chimera Dragon wrapped around her body to protect her.
Scorching heat seared her from head to toe. The second and third explosions struck one after another, and the Chimera Dragon screamed.
Yuseong gritted her teeth, stepped on the Chimera Dragon’s back, and leaped.
[Your Patron’s blessing affects you.]
[Your remarkable talent has blossomed!]
[You have awakened to the Way of the Wind on your own!]
She didn’t know how that had been possible.
Even so, Yuseong was running across the river.
The blessing of Way of the Wind burst out from beneath her feet. Golden ripples spread wherever her toes touched.
「Shin Yuseong ran like Kim Dokja.」
That was how her Patron ran.
Blades of swords and spears flew toward her through the air.
Three to her left, one to her right. Two from below.
Yuseong narrowly dodged those blades. But the more she dodged, the fiercer the attacks became.
Hundreds of blades swept toward her like a threatening storm. It was as though a monster with hundreds of teeth had opened its mouth.
Before that monster, Yuseong pulled a dagger from her clothes.
「Shin Yuseong judged like Yu Junghyeok.」
It was something she had learned from Junghyeok long ago.
[The fable Disciple of the Supreme King begins its story!]
「“One day, you’ll become the Beast Lord. Countless beast species will submit at your feet.”」
「“But that doesn’t mean you can become friends with every beast.”」
During the three years when Dokja had been absent, Junghyeok had taught Yuseong how to hunt.
How to face large beast species. How to hunt beast species with tough hides, and how to kill beast species that were difficult to approach in close combat.
「“When you have no choice but to kill, don’t hesitate. Finish them off.”」
「“Otherwise, you’ll be the one who dies.”」
The moment she held her breath, she saw an opening among the blades.
The eye of a storm, where the wind had fallen silent.
Yuseong unleashed all her Status and threw her dagger toward that gap.
Rumbblee!
The currents of wind scattered, and the blades flying toward her dispersed in every direction. Still, she couldn’t avoid them all. Sword points and spearheads grazed the child’s small body. Blood sprayed from the girl’s shoulder.
「Shin Yuseong lay flat like Lee Hyeongseong.」
As Yuseong lay prone behind some floating debris, Hyeongseong’s face flashed through her mind.
「“This is how you hide. Never forget to identify the cover around you first.”」
The ahjussi who always seemed troubled as he moved his bear-like body into a crawling position came to mind, along with Huiwon’s voice adding to Hyeongseong’s advice.
「“There might not be anywhere to hide when there are too many enemies.”」
「“Um, that’s true.”」
The Four Dragon Kings of the Seas were controlling the river.
Sharp spears made of water ambushed Yuseong from every direction. The floating debris was destroyed one piece after another, and there was nowhere left for her to hide on the river.
「“Then use the enemies. Like this.”」
Han Suyeong had said that as she lifted prone Hyeongseong’s head. Huiwon glared at Suyeong, while Gilyeong giggled.
Remembering all those scenes, Yuseong grabbed one of the Incarnations attacking her and used them as a shield.
“W-what... Aaaah!”
「Shin Yuseong became ruthless like Han Suyeong.」
She discarded the Incarnation body that had been horribly impaled and continued running.
[You sly little brat.]
[Don’t let her get away!]
She was considerably closer to Dokja now.
“Ahjussi!”
As if he had heard her, Dokja’s figure jerked slightly.
Looking into his empty eyes, Yuseong remembered what Sangah had said.
「“We’re sorry the world is like this.”」
She could see her companions gathering one by one.
「“I’m sorry we’ve hurt you. I’m sorry we’re helpless adults who have to depend on you. Still, I’ll promise you one thing. We’ll always be by your side. We’ll do our best so you don’t have to use skills like these.”」
Yuseong remembered those words.
「“So you won’t forget what kind of person you are.”」
Splat!
A long spear blade grazed Yuseong’s cheek. Blood ran down the cheek she touched without thinking.
There was no one around to help her.
Junghyeok’s back, which had protected his companions, wasn’t there. Neither was Huiwon’s sword, which she could always rely on.
A long forearm shot through an opening in her guard and grabbed Yuseong by the collar.
Emperor’s Twelve Earthly Branch Deities were approaching her.
[So she really is just a child.]
[Did they give a role like this to a mere child?]
Emperor’s irresistible Status crushed her entire body.
Under normal circumstances, they would have been enemies she could never face. Running away would have been natural, and asking her companions for help would have been the best choice.
Even so, Yuseong didn’t run.
[Your accumulated fables are causing an abnormal phenomenon!]
Yuseong slowly blinked, then opened her eyes. Her wildly racing heart calmed. A fierce blue light flowed from her eyes.
[The Attribute evolution of Incarnation Shin Yuseong is imminent.]
[You have encountered the catalyst for Attribute evolution!]
“I’m not just a child.”
[What?]
Yuseong grabbed the left hand of one of the Earthly Branch Deities. The arm trembled at the powerful grip coming from a child’s hand.
“My name is Shin Yuseong.”
[You have acquired a Legendary-grade Attribute.]
[You have become the Beast Lord.]
“I’m Shin Yuseong of Kim Dokja Company.”
A snow-white Status swept across the river.
When the screaming Earthly Branch Deities stepped back, a girl in a white coat stood before them.
[Beast Lord’s Sensitivity]
The strongest defensive skill of the Beast Lord, used by Shin Yuseong of the forty-first round.
The surrounding river overflowed, and every monster of fable and beast species living within it leaped out at once.
Grrroooar!
As if they were worshipping their ruler.
[What the hell are these things...!]
[Attack them! Kill those beasts first!]
The Constellations of Emperor began bombarding them.
The rising beasts protected her.
“Chimera Dragon!”
Grrraaaah!
The Chimera Dragon’s body grew even larger under the influence of her Attribute. Winding through the river like a giant serpent, the Chimera Dragon swallowed the Earthly Branch Deities and roared.
The Earthly Branch Deities torn apart by its sharp fangs shouted.
[You damn lizard...!]
Yuseong ignored them and ran.
【Ooooooh!】
【Yuseong Yuseong Yuseong Yuseong Yuseong Yuseong】
The monsters of fable opened a path for her.
The star was right before her now.
“Ahjussi!”
She called out to Dokja.
But Dokja didn’t move, as though he couldn’t hear her voice.
The Hunchback King, who had been fighting the Great Dokkaebis, laughed.
[It’s already too late. He belongs to the Great Plot now.]
At those words, the sky shook violently.
Tzzzzt!
A Great Hole far larger than any of the previous ones was opening.
The great monsters of fable on the river all crouched down. The fur coat created by Beast Lord’s Sensitivity bristled as though the hairs on her arms were standing on end.
She could feel it without anyone telling her. What was descending now was an existence that couldn’t even be compared to the Constellations of Emperor.
And Dokja belonged to that existence now.
“I won’t let that happen.”
[Master Sanzang has recited the Tightening Headband Spell!]
The moment Yuseong activated the skill, the golden band above Dokja’s head began to shine.
[The item Golden Headband is reacting!]
The Golden Headband was a treasure that restrained Sun Wukong. Whether it was transformation into a monster of fable or anything else, all of Sun Wukong’s transformations temporarily stopped while the Tightening Headband Spell was being recited.
[This is foolish!]
The Hunchback King’s Status pressed down on Yuseong’s entire body. She tasted blood deep in her mouth. The coat made by Beast Lord’s Sensitivity fluttered wildly.
Yuseong staggered toward Dokja. She kept moving closer, step after step.
Dokja’s ruined face. His gaunt cheeks. Her Patron, his eyes quietly closed.
“Ahjussi!”
[A new fable is budding within you!]
There were still so many things she wanted to say.
She would tell him about the things that had disappointed her.
She would tell him that he was a mess right now.
For the first time, she would honestly pour everything out.
“Please, please listen to me!”
She would say she wanted them all to go to a gaming cafe together.
She would pester him to buy lots of pizza and cola and go to the Han River with them.
In a world where so many things had become impossible, she would talk about impossible wishes and become happy.
Her vision shook, and tears scattered endlessly.
At last, Yuseong’s hand touched Dokja’s fingertips.
Her hand, covered in wounds, wrapped around a hand that was also covered in wounds. Where wound met wound, it hurt.
Still, Yuseong didn’t let go.
[You have acquired the quasi-Mythical-grade fable Savior of the Stars!]
[The fable Savior of the Stars begins its story.]
“There’s still so much I haven’t told you!”
The time she had spent studying history with Sangah-unni.
The time she had spent cooking prey with Junghyeok-ahjussi.
Learning swordsmanship from Huiwon-unni.
Practicing skateboarding with Jihye-unni.
Riding Hyeongseong-ahjussi like an airplane.
Eating ice cream with Gilyeong while reading a comic that would never have another volume.
“How much I...”
She had wished he could have been part of those scenes.
“So many things.”
She couldn’t say that she wasn’t asking for much.
Because the Plausibility of this world, because the damned Star Stream, would never allow it.
“Just... normally...”
The stars in the sky were moving rapidly.
Every star looked at her as it sang its own fable.
[Many audience members are watching you.]
She knew.
She knew that ordinary happiness for ordinary people drew no attention in this world.
That was why ordinary happiness was the greatest luxury in a ruined world.
Even so.
[Audience members have paid a price and are revealing their modifiers.]
[The Constellation Queen of the Darkest Spring...]
[The Constellation Bald Army General...]
Even so, if someone would listen to this story.
[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire...]
[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon...]
[The Constellation Goryeo’s Top Swordsman...]
Yuseong gripped Dokja’s hand tighter as she listened to the Indirect Messages pouring in.
That was when one clear Indirect Message pierced her ears.
[The judge Prisoner of the Golden Headband listens to your story.]
Warmth began to return to Dokja’s hand in hers.
A brilliant golden torrent erupted from Sun Wukong’s golden band, followed by sparks of overwhelming Plausibility.
The Constellations of Emperor cried out in shock.
[N-no way. That can’t be...!]
From all across the sky, torrents of lightning gathered toward Dokja’s entire body.
[The judge Bimawen listens to your story.]
(And at that moment.)
(Something that had never happened in the history of Journey to the West occurred.)
[The judge Handsome Monkey King listens to your story.]
(The retired Sun Wukong finally changed his mind.)
[The judge Victorious Fighting Buddha wants to hear your next story.]
Footnotes:
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