WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 48: Episode 10 - Future War (6)

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It wasn't my imagination.

The moment he heard my name, his eyes widened.

"No way...?"

He studied my face closely. Come to think of it, TWSA had quite a few descriptions of Yu Junghyeok. In particular, it called him handsome an awful lot. And my face...

"What's wrong?"

"Ah, no."

His manner had become markedly more polite. I didn't know the details, but his mind was probably a mess right now. At least one thing was certain. The guy in front of me had definitely read TWSA. The fact that he wasn't registered in [Character Profile], along with the way he reacted to the name "Yu Junghyeok," made that even clearer.

His urgent gaze shifted to Lee Hyeongseong beside me.

[ATTRIBUTE DETECTION]... I see. Trying to dig up information?

I deliberately gave him enough time to observe Hyeongseong before I spoke.

"You'd better be careful where you're pointing those eyes."

"......"

With that, he would have confirmed Hyeongseong's name and learned that he couldn't peek into my Attributes Window with [ATTRIBUTE DETECTION]. I didn't know how much of TWSA he had read, but if he didn't know Junghyeok's face, there were only a few things he could use as circumstantial proof.

The most likely of them was [Sage's Eye], the SS-grade skill capable of both universal detection and anti-detection. And now, he was probably starting to convince himself that I had [Sage's Eye].

"You thought I wouldn't notice you snooping with a mere B-grade skill?"

The twitch that began in his eyes soon spread across his whole face. The last place his wavering gaze landed was Chungmuro's Red Flag on my back. Of course. That was as far as his search for proof that I was Yu Junghyeok could go.

"......But this bastard!"

Apparently one of the men at the front still hadn't grasped the situation, because he leveled his spear at me threateningly. Just as Huiwon and Hyeongseong were about to step forward.

Thwack!

The spearman's head burst apart, and bright red blood sprayed like a fountain. Cries rang out from the recoiling crowd. Beyond the pattering shower of blood, I saw him with a grimly hardened expression.

...Would you look at this bastard?

He pushed through the crowd and slowly walked up in front of me.

"My apologies. I showed such an ugly spectacle before an honored guest."

"Who are you?"

I could see him forcing his expression under control in the face of my cold tone. He was trying pretty hard. Then again, if I were him, my heart would probably feel as though it were about to burst right about now.

"Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Lee Seongguk. I am the Vice-Representative of Dongmyo Station."

By then he had come right up to me and bowed deeply.

Then shall I begin the real Yu Junghyeok impersonation?

After shooting him a glare, I spoke in a ruthless voice.

"Dongmyo? I see. Then get out."

"...Pardon?"

"This station is mine from now on. Hand it over and get lost."

He stared blankly at me with his mouth open.

"What do you mean...?"

"Does what I say sound like a joke?"

I looked down at the flag stand where Dongmyo's flag had been planted. Only then did Seongguk understand what I meant.

"Th-that's impossible. A station that's already been claimed can't be transferred..."

"Do I look like an idiot? You're the Vice-Representative, aren't you?"

"Pardon?"

"If you have the authority of a Vice-Representative or higher, a station can be transferred at will. Didn't you know that?"

"...!"

"If you don't hand it over before I count to three, I'll cut your throats. One."

Seongguk's face slowly hardened. The men gradually surrounded me, exuding a menacing air. Huiwon and Hyeongseong looked uneasy, unable to understand why I had suddenly started pulling a stunt this insane. I kept speaking.

"Sounds like a joke to you? Two."

Did you read it ten years ago, so your memory's gone fuzzy? Looks like you've forgotten what kind of bastard Junghyeok is. Then I'll kindly refresh your memory.

[The Exclusive Skill White Pure Star Energy Lv.2 has activated!]

[Blade of Faith has activated!]

As white brilliance blazed up from the blade, Seongguk's complexion turned pale.

This was a game of chicken. Remembering Junghyeok's name meant he knew at least a little about what kind of person he was. If he knew how ruthless Junghyeok was in the early part of the story, he would never be able to keep this up. And if he didn't really know Junghyeok? That was fine too. Then we'd just fight, and if it looked like I'd lose, I'd run. As I was now, I had more than enough room for that.

"Thre-"

Just as my mouth opened and the tension reached its peak.

"W-wait! I-I'll give it to you!"

The bastard really had read TWSA. Just not properly.

"No need."

"...Pardon?"

"You answered too late."

"What?"

"One isn't enough. Hand over Dongdaemun too."

Huiwon looked appalled. Her eyes seemed to ask if I could really get away with going that far.

I could. No, I had to. Because right now, I was Junghyeok. If I wanted to make them believe I was Junghyeok, I had to cause even more outrageous havoc.

Pointing my sword at Seongguk, I said, "If you don't hand it over, then there is no deal."

"B-but...!"

"I'm counting to three again. One."

Seongguk's expression changed by the second.

Since he had started believing I was Junghyeok, his insides were probably burning. If he became the protagonist's enemy here, it was obvious how that story would end.

How would he respond? Depending on how good his improvisation was here, my future relationship with him and his group would be decided.

"I-I can give you Dongdaemun History and Culture Park as well! But..."

"But?"

"I can't decide on handing over Dongdaemun by myself. ...If it would please you, would you meet our Representative?"

An excellent response. Exactly the kind of prey I wanted.

Seongguk kept flapping his gums.

"I've long heard of Yu Junghyeok-nim's fame. Our Representative must be eagerly looking forward to meeting you. Please, give our group a chance to speak with you."

"You know me?"

"How could I not know Yu Junghyeok-nim?"

As he said it, Seongguk flinched. He must have realized he'd said something strange. It was still too early for Junghyeok to be famous.

"A-anyway, if you would accompany us, I would count it the honor of a lifetime."

I stared at him for a moment before answering.

Yeah, this was good enough.

"Fine. Lead the way."

Seongguk's expression brightened at once, and then he added something pointless.

"Please don't concern yourself over trivial matters. I swear on my king's honor that we won't cause you the slightest harm, Yu Junghyeok-nim."

[Dongmyo Station Vice-Representative Lee Seongguk has staked the King's Honor.]

[If this oath is broken, Lee Seongguk will subject himself to a punishment.]

Rash bastard. But if he truly thought I was Junghyeok, then what he did was only natural.

He understood early Junghyeok even better than I expected?

Then I should reward him accordingly.

"Harm me? You lot?"

"Of course, even if all of us attacked together, we couldn't so much as lay a finger on Yu Junghyeok-nim. H-haha. Well then... this way."

"Wait."

"Yes?"

I pointed at Dongdaemun History and Culture Park's flag stand.

"You have to hand this over before you go."

"......"

[Dongdaemun History and Culture Park has been transferred to you.]

[Current occupied stations: Chungmuro (home base), Myeongdong, Dongdaemun History and Culture Park]

[The achievement score of the Red Flag has increased.]

The station flag changed before my eyes.

This is a great start. No, can it really be this easy?

"Then let's go."

Looking at Seongguk's trembling shoulders, I felt strange.

Would it really be so bad to keep living as Junghyeok like this?

* * *

A little later, we entered Dongmyo Station under Seongguk's guidance.

The Dongmyo group members who didn't know my identity seemed to be whispering among themselves, but Seongguk's attitude was so firm that they couldn't object.

I was walking near the rear of the group with my Allies. Hyeongseong, who had been hesitating for a while, finally opened his mouth.

"Uh, Dokj..."

Quick-witted Huiwon jabbed him in the waist. Air hissed out of his lungs, and Hyeongseong let out a groan.

As expected of Huiwon. Even if she didn't fully understand the situation, she knew how to match the mood first.

I mouthed the words.

"You roughly get what you're supposed to do without me saying it, right?"

"Yes, roughly."

I looked once at Huiwon, then at Kang Ilhun slung over Hyeongseong's shoulder. The one who needed the closest watching right now was that guy.

"Make sure to keep his mouth shut. Got it?"

Huiwon gave a faint nod, then made a suspicious gesture.

She dropped to one knee in front of me and boomed in an exaggerated voice, "Yes, Junghyeok-nim! I'll do as you command!"

If anyone had seen her, they would have thought she was some medieval knight. The funny part was that the startled Hyeongseong ended up doing exactly the same thing.

"I-I will obey...!"

Hearing their voices, Seongguk, who was at the front of the group, turned around in surprise. It was an embarrassing situation, but the result was good. I couldn't read his inner thoughts, but if I could, his thoughts would probably have gone something like this.

As expected, it really is Yu Junghyeok.

When our eyes met, Seongguk quickly turned his head forward again.

...So this was what being the protagonist felt like.

Before long, we arrived at the Dongmyo Station platform. Maybe because it was a group with some real power, quite a lot of people had gathered there. Some were armed like Seongguk's unit, but most of them had no weapons.

They were probably Wanderers from other stations who had lost their groups.

"Move it, move it!"

"Y-yes, understood."

Under the Dongmyo group's watch, they were butchering Ground Rat meat and dismantling monster carcasses to make equipment.

A so-called slave class. After the age of kings arrived, it was a common enough sight. Huiwon frowned.

"This isn't some kind of kingdom..."

I said to Huiwon, "Don't do anything rash. Stay here for now and watch the situation."

"Yeees..."

Ignoring Huiwon, I started observing the area. I needed to account for any additional variables I might not know about. Dongmyo became a fairly important station in the original story. If I remembered right, the Representative here was that recluse guy.

But if the prophets had interfered, there was a good chance the direction of the story had changed considerably.

Looking at the back of Seongguk's head farther ahead, I thought:

At this point, there were two things I wanted to know.

First, whether Seongguk also had the same "file" I did.

Second, how many people like him there were among the <Prophets>.

And if I had to pick a third, whether he also had skills like mine...

But I didn't think so. If he did, he would have used [Character Profile] rather than [ATTRIBUTE DETECTION] from the start. Besides, since no separate defense message appeared when I used [Character Profile], it didn't look like he had [The Fourth Wall], either.

In other words, he was the same kind of case as Yu Sangah or Lee Gilyeong.

Well, I was the only one who had read more than three thousand chapters of the novel. If the same perks went even to bastards who had only read a few dozen chapters, that would be a little unfair.

Seen that way, it was a reasonable guess that they didn't have "files," but you never know...

But what was that bastard looking at so intently?

Seongguk at the front had been staring at his smartphone for a while now.

[You have invested 5,000 coins in Agility.]

[Agility Lv.20 → Agility Lv.30]

[Remarkable swiftness has settled over your entire body.]

I approached Seongguk as quietly as the wind.

"What are you looking at so hard?"

"Hk! It's nothing!"

He hurriedly turned off the smartphone and hid it behind his back. It had only been a split second, but I caught a glimpse of the screen. A familiar speech bubble against a yellow background. For a moment, something felt off.

If my eyes hadn't deceived me, what I had just seen was definitely a group chat screen.

The internet worked? Here, now?

Footnotes:

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