WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 58: Episode 12 - First-Person Protagonist’s Viewpoint (4)

―What do you mean, “what happened”? It was a total upheaval! What kind of skill do you even have? Why can't the Administration Bureau retrieve any information on you even with a formal request?

I wondered the same thing. I wanted to see my own attribute window just as badly.

‘So, what happened? Are they trying to penalize me?’

―Where’d you even hear something like that? …Hey, do you even know how hard I worked to defend you? Administrators, please listen to me. That guy, Kim Dokja, he’s not some weirdo! He’s just a guy working way too hard at life!

Very persuasive indeed.

―Thankfully, my desperate plea seemed to have worked, so they took a lot into account. They analyzed all the scenarios you’ve completed so far and concluded that you don’t have many skills, and your proficiency isn’t very high either. Even from the data screen, it’s clear you’re not at a level to break the scenario ecology.

As expected. I hadn’t bothered to learn proficiency-based passive skills for no reason. The more impressive skills you have, the more attention you attract from the Bureau.

―Plus, you’re not the only troublemaker around. There are some loud ones in other regions, too… the Bureau’s just swamped right now.

‘So, it’s settled then?’

―There were some people who wanted to make trouble for you, but an order came down from above. The high-grade dokkaebi himself said to let it go.

That took me by surprise.

A high-grade dokkaebi actually had to intervene?

―Phew… Ask the mid-grade dokkaebi for the details. I’m not supposed to be here right now anyway. A lot more eyes are on me all of a sudden. You should be careful, the mid-grade dokkaebi in charge of this region holds a serious grudge against you.

A grudge?

―You don’t know? To them, a plausibility review is basically like a tax audit. In any case… you’re going to have it rough for a while.

After Bihyeong disappeared, sparks flickered in the air, and an mid-grade Dokkaebi appeared in a neat suit. The creature looked around at our group and then spoke in a stiff voice.

[My apologies, everyone. There was a minor conflict, so the reward calculation was delayed. Though belated, I will now issue your rewards.]

[You have received 3,000 coins as a reward for clearing the hidden scenario.]

[You have received 15,000 coins as a reward for the first kill of a Tier-5 Fire Dragon species.]

[You have obtained the Imyuntar’s Talisman for defeating a minor catastrophe]

[You will gave the goodwill of the Imyuntar in the future.]

Fortunately, the rewards were issued properly.

The Imyuntar’s Talisman.

Having obtained this now, the upcoming fifth main scenario didn’t seem like it would start off too badly. While perhaps not as excited as I was, my companions also looked thrilled to have received their scenario-clear rewards.

That said… what a miser. I defeated a whole catastrophe, and this is all I get?

Just then, the mid-grade dokkaebi continued speaking.

[However, thanks to your outstanding performance, there has been a slight issue with the scenario.]

The mocking tone didn’t sound promising.

[Following discussions with the Bureau, it has been determined that the average capability of incarnations in this region is not in line with the scenario’s difficulty. Therefore, I am notifying you that I will be adjusting the difficulty of this region by my own authority.]

…What? Arbitrary adjustment?

[The time limit for the fourth main scenario will be drastically reduced.]

The mid-grade dokkaebi’s lips curled up as he looked at me.

…Was that… a smirk?

[There are now 48 hours remaining until the fourth scenario ends.]

[All groups and group members who have not occupied the Target Station within 48 hours will die.]

So, that’s how you’re going to play it, huh?

Minseop, who had been happily gathering items, stared at me blankly. It seemed that everyone had received the same message.

“Who’s occupying Changsin Station right now?”

“It’s… the Tyrant King.”

Of all people, one of the Seven Kings of Seoul—the Tyrant King…

With a sigh, I spoke.

“Let’s head back to Chungmuro.”

Now, I could only hope that Junghyeok was handling things well.

It was about time we wrapped up the fourth scenario.

The walk from Anguk Station to Chungmuro was longer than expected, so we spent most of the time chatting. Huiwon and Hyeonseong led the way while Seongguk, Minseop, and I walked behind them.

Since we couldn’t carry all of the Fire Dragon’s corpse, we put half of it up for sale in the Exchange. We also listed the other half for an absurd price—not intending to sell it, but to use the Exchange as a makeshift warehouse. Though Bihyeong grumbled, I didn’t really care. Then, Jeong Minseop spoke up.

“By the way, Boss.”

Hearing him call me “Boss” repeatedly made me feel like I was some kind of conglomerate chairman, which was an odd sensation.

“Is your name really ‘Kim Dokja’?”

“Yes.”

“That’s… an unusual name…”

“Unique, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Honestly, you seem even more like a prophet than we do.”

His voice sounded oddly timid.

“Sigh… If only I hadn’t left all those hateful comments and dropped out back then…”

Oh, regrets now? That reminded me, I’d been meaning to ask about this for a while but had forgotten.

“Minseop-ssi, now that you bring up quitting…”

“Yes?”

“How did you prophets manage to gather so quickly?”

It had been bothering me for a while. It hadn’t even been a month since the initial scenarios started. Yet they had already formed a group chat and were moving in a coordinated manner.

The apostles were even more extreme.

If I’d seen it all in first-person view, they had taken over a considerable number of stations in Gangseo district, not to mention obtaining advanced weaponry only accessible through hidden scenarios. By my logic, their growth was incomprehensible.

“There was someone who gathered us together.”

“Gathered you together?”

“Yes. Right after the first scenario ended, that person came to my station.”

Interesting. How had they managed that? By that time, a barrier should have been erected between stations.

“They introduced themselves as an apostle, someone who had read the revelation. Then they said they were recruiting ‘Prophets’ to follow them. The strange thing was that this happened simultaneously at other stations as well. There’s no way it could have been done by one person alone…”

“So you were all gathered by this apostle, and they pulled you into the group chat.”

“Yes, we call them the First Apostle.”

“That’s the King of Prophets, isn’t it? The one who hates being called a renouncer?”

“Oh, you already know that much. Yes, that’s them.”

“Why does he dislike being called that?”

“We’re not sure. He claims to have read the entire Revelation Chronicle, so maybe it has something to do with that… Rumor has it he might even possess a ‘record’ of the revelation.”

…What?

“Considering how long the revelation is, it’s actually possible. I don’t think anyone could read all of it otherwise…”

A record? No way… Could there really be someone besides me who’s finished it?

The more I heard, the more suspicious I became. Lost in thought, I soon noticed we were nearing Chungmuro Station. Even though it hadn’t been long since we left, the familiar scent in the air made me feel almost as if I’d come back home.

I stopped my companions as they moved toward the station entrance.

“Wait.”

Come to think of it, I was still practically naked. Why hadn’t anyone said anything? I turned to Seongguk.

“Seongguk-ssi, take off your pants.”

Leaving him to walk in just his underwear, I took the lead into Chungmuro Station.

I could see Sangah from afar, welcoming me with a face full of joy. Her teary-eyed gaze tugged at my heart, she must have been through so much.

Suddenly, there was a thud as something collided with me, and I looked down to see Gilyeong clutching my right leg.

“You’ve been alright?”

Covered in dust, Gilyeong gave a vigorous nod.

Jihye, whose injuries were still severe, seemed to be unconscious, while Pildu scoffed and turned his head when he saw me.

[The constellation Defense Master criticizes you for your late return.]

I couldn’t blame them. Their Incarnation had almost died.

“Sangah-ssi!”

Unaware of what had happened at Chungmuro Station, Hyeonseong and Huiwon rushed toward the people. They were shocked to see others scattered across the platform, bleeding. Even Sangah had wrapped a cloth around one shoulder.

Blood from the corpses had seeped into the tracks, which was an evidence of a brutal fight. Minseop stammered.

“T-that… are those apostles?”

Men and women with numbers 2, 3, 4, and 7 marked on them had their heads arranged like trophies on the platform tracks. Their expressions frozen as if they hadn’t realized their own deaths. I knew whose work it was.

I asked Gilyeong.

“Where’s Junghyeok?”

Just as I spoke, a foreboding presence emerged from the tunnel leading to Hoehyeon.

I knew who it was even from a distance. His arrogant and confident stride exuded an air of absolute superiority, the protagonist in all his glory.

“Junghyeok?”

He showed no change in expression upon seeing me.

After what happened in the Cinema Dungeon, I’d expected at least a word or two… But what was that he was holding?

A severed head dangled from his grip. Someone yelped in terror as Junghyeok tossed it in our direction.

The head rolled over like a toy. It bore a cape marked with the number “1.”

It was the First Apostle.

Junghyeok really was incredible. He’d chased down this guy to the end and killed him. I felt a mixture of relief and dread. I still had questions, but now…

Then, the impossible happened.

“It was you! You ruined everything!”

The severed head suddenly began to speak.

“Ahh! What the hell?!”

Minseop, who was right next to it, shrieked and fell backward.

The head grinned hideously, eyes lifting to stare at me.

It was impossible. Skills that allowed someone to survive decapitation were rare, even in TWSA. A skill like Undying Body might work, but even then, surviving in this state, without any bleeding…

Wait. Could it be?

Thoughts began to connect, bits of information I’d heard from Seongguk and Minseop piecing together in my mind.

A guy who claimed to have read the entire revelation.

A guy who appeared across Seoul right at the start of the scenario, gathering renouncers to his side.

A guy who could cross barriers as he pleased, didn’t bleed when his head was cut off…

[Avatar.]

It was clear. This thing in front of me was a fake.

The severed head continued to speak.

“Wow, I’m seriously impressed. You impersonated Junghyeok, annihilated the apostles, and even stole a dragon… Just what the hell are you?”

Ah, so he didn’t know my identity either?

“And who are you?”

As far as I knew, there were very few people in TWSA who could use the [Avatar] ability.

And people who acquired that type of skill tended to fall into specific professions.

Professions centered around creativity, who faced excessive stress and often dealt with dissociative identity disorder or fragmented personalities.

I lowered my gaze slowly to meet his and asked,

“Are you… an author?”

Footnotes:

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