WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 586: Episode 6: Sacred Relic (3)
──────
Demonic Judge of Fire.
Seeing that modifier again after so long, I was briefly overcome with longing.
Archangel Uriel.
One of the four veteran regulars on Bihyeong's channel, along with Prisoner of the Golden Headband, Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, and Secretive Plotter.
The Constellation who loved the protagonist Kim Dokja more than anyone.
[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire wears an indifferent expression.]
Was it because Dokja wasn't here? Uriel had entered the channel, but she didn't seem interested in the Incarnations at all.
Perhaps this was what Uriel had been like before meeting Dokja.
From a distance, I saw Gyeong Se-in wave at me after noticing Uriel's entry message. Judging by the shape of her lips, she seemed to be saying,
"Do something already! She's here!"
But what was I supposed to do?
Dokja had been born beloved by all things, but I was Inho Cheon of the Ten Evils.
[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire looks at you.]
Even if you suddenly look at me like that, I don't have anything worth showing you.
Want to get incited or something?
[The Exclusive Skill Incitement Lv. 4 has been activated!]
「I am Kim Dokja.」
As a test, I used Incitement on myself and convinced myself that I was Kim Dokja.
Other than recalling a few details from TWSA, I didn't feel any particular change.
[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire regards you curiously.]
When I looked around, I spotted Mr. Dansu sitting on the platform, apparently tired from practicing Swordsmanship.
For some reason, his expression looked strangely dark.
"Mr. Dansu. Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine, but..."
He trailed off, but by now, I understood without him having to say it.
He must've been thinking about Jiyoon again.
Mr. Dansu looked at me with a weak smile and murmured as if to himself.
"I wish she had liked a story that was a little less dangerous..."
My heart grew heavy.
We sat side by side and stared into the darkness of the platform.
"Did your daughter usually like novels?"
"She read sometimes, but she especially loved this story."
"What did she like so much about a story like this?"
"That is..."
Mr. Dansu wore the serious expression Yu Junghyeok had when considering Regression, then answered in an earnest voice.
"Probably because there are so many handsome fellows in it."
"Ah..."
"My daughter once told me she liked how all the handsome fellows saved each other so often."
I had nothing to say, so I blankly stared into the darkness of the tunnel.
That was an impressive summary.
[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire is curious about what you are talking about.]
I heard the people gathered on the platform laughing noisily.
After a short pause, Mr. Dansu continued.
"I hope there are friends like that beside Jiyoon right now, too..."
"I'm sure there are."
No matter what comfort I offered, it probably wouldn't reach Mr. Dansu in his current state.
Still, he gladly accepted my paltry consolation and smiled faintly.
"I'm truly fortunate to have met you, Inho-ssi. If you hadn't saved me then, I would've already been dead."
"No, that's not true."
Mr. Dansu was the first Reader I had met. Maybe that was why I wanted him, at least, to meet his daughter and return safely to reality.
I got to my feet and held out my hand.
"I'll keep doing everything I can to save you. Until you meet your daughter, I promise."
Mr. Dansu clasped my hand, stood up, and nodded.
"Yes. I'll do everything I can to help, too."
His warm smile made my own heart feel a little warmer.
Then, a message rang out.
[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire has sponsored you with 100 Coins.]
I looked up at the empty air.
...Why did I get sponsored?
* * *
Right before leaving the station, we said our final farewells to the others.
Bang Cheolsu, who had come to see us off, spoke first.
"Hyung-nim. Are you really leaving?"
"Yeah."
"Won't it be dangerous? Wouldn't it be better to watch the situation here and move together..."
"I have somewhere to be. You remember everything I told you, right?"
"Yes."
The Food Acquisition Scenario only gave 500 Coins. If they paid the daily Survival Fee, that amount would barely last five days.
"If you want to escape the Survival Fee penalty, you'll have to move eventually. Finish the Sub Scenario as quickly as you can and bring everyone to Chungmuro. I'll clear out as many monsters as possible on the way there."
"Hyung-nim..."
The Ironhead Gang bowed deeply toward me. My face burned, as though I were the boss of a real organization.
Cheolsu continued.
"To be honest, I was suspicious of you at first."
"What are you talking about?"
"You know how you can tell a lot from someone's face. You looked kind of cowardly, and that constant smirk of yours got on my nerves."
"..."
"I still don't completely trust you. I've been through a lot in this world, so I don't trust people easily."
Cheolsu chattered on for an unusually long time.
"Still, watching you made me reflect a little. You shouldn't judge people just by how they look..."
I was about to smack him on the head, but stopped myself.
You shouldn't judge people just by how they look...
Did I even have the right to hear those words?
After all, I had judged Cheolsu based on just a few lines written in Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint.
A strange thought suddenly came to me.
How much truth did Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint really contain?
"Enough. We'll see each other again, so don't drag this out."
[The Constellation Monarch of the Small Fries admires your noir mood!]
[You have received 100 Coins as sponsorship.]
"And this."
"This is...?"
"It's the Mana Brazier I used earlier. You take care of it and use it whenever food is handed out."
The Mana Brazier was the only cooking tool here.
Cheolsu immediately seemed to understand what it meant for me to give it to him.
"H-Hyung-nim..."
I turned my back on him.
Gyeong Se-in and Mr. Dansu had apparently finished saying goodbye to everyone as well, because they joined me soon after.
"Take care, Hyung-nim!"
Leaving the Ironhead Gang chanting in unison behind us, we headed into the Yaksu Station tunnel.
"It feels bittersweet."
Perhaps Mr. Dansu had grown attached to the people already, because he kept looking back.
Gyeong Se-in, who was looking back with him, called out to me.
"Um, Inho-ssi. But..."
Knowing what she wanted to say, I gave a simple answer.
"She'll come soon."
Right after that, someone came running after us.
I knew who it was without turning around.
"I knew you'd come."
When I turned around, Jeong Huiwon stood there with a sulky look on her face.
"Shouldn't you ask whether I'm coming with you first?"
Instead of answering, I looked over our group.
Two scrawny men and a girl whose soul was all muscle.
Huiwon let out a deep sigh.
"Honestly."
"Thank you."
"This isn't free."
Huiwon hesitated before adding,
"You seem smart, Inho-ssi, so I'm only sticking with you for a while to get something out of it myself."
"..."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's nothing. I guess I'm a little touched."
"Why would you be touched..."
Huiwon pursed her lips and looked ahead for no reason. For some reason, Se-in looked at me enviously.
Mr. Dansu walked a few steps away, watching us with a pleased smile.
Perhaps uncomfortable with the atmosphere, Huiwon suddenly turned around and asked,
"By the way, how far are we going?"
The moment I heard that question, a thought came to me.
「How far could we really go?」
The endless darkness beyond the tunnel looked like a pitch-black snowfield.
Only Dokja, who would read this entire story, would know what lay beyond it.
"For now, let's head to Chungmuro."
It was about time to meet the second Kim Dokja Company.
* * *
+
<Main Scenario #2 - Encounter>
Category: Main
Difficulty: E
Clear Conditions: Cross the tunnel and meet the survivors in the first Shelter Zone.
Time Limit: None
Compensation: 500 Coins
Failure: ???
+
[The next Main Shelter Zone is Chungmuro.]
Around the time we had passed halfway through the tunnel, a new Scenario window appeared.
At last, the second Scenario had properly begun.
We moved forward, easily dealing with the Ground Rats that appeared from time to time. Before long, we reached Yaksu Station, our first stop.
"It doesn't seem like there are any survivors here."
Just as in the third round, Yaksu Station was empty in this round as well.
At the center of the platform were traces of people having gathered corpses and burned them.
"Wait, here..."
Among scattered ashes and scraps of clothing, I saw words someone had written on the floor with charcoal.
Mom, Dad, I miss you.
Se-in whispered to me.
"There wasn't anything like this in Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, right?"
I nodded.
Maybe a Reader who had entered this place through Possession had left it behind.
Mr. Dansu stared at the writing for an especially long time.
Huiwon, who had quickly checked the Area and returned, said,
"It's all empty."
"Let's head straight to Dongguk University Station. We'll regroup once we get there."
"All right."
Huiwon took the lead, and we started moving again.
Se-in whispered softly.
"Inho-ssi, Dongguk University Station... You remember it, right?"
"Yes. I do."
After traveling for around thirty or forty minutes, the platform of Dongguk University Station finally came into view.
There was no sign of anyone alive here, either.
Maybe because we had crossed two stations much faster than in the main story, even Huiwon looked a little tired.
"This is harder than I thought."
That was only natural.
Huiwon had killed one hundred and fifty Ground Rats by herself while crossing two stations.
[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire shows interest in the Incarnation Jeong Huiwon.]
She was this strong even without [Hour of Judgement]. Her combat ability was truly astonishing. At this level, aside from Yu Junghyeok, no Incarnation could stand against Huiwon right now.
"We'll rest for a moment. Let's meet here in twenty minutes."
"Is there still water in the bathroom? I'll just go wash my face. Se-in, want to come with me?"
Se-in recoiled and waved her hands.
Huiwon gave a light nod and headed straight for the bathroom.
"See you later."
After Huiwon disappeared, Se-in and I exchanged glances.
"Ten minutes should be enough, right?"
"Five minutes is enough."
[A Constellation that has yet to reveal its modifier finds your plan interesting.]
Only Mr. Dansu, who had forgotten most of the novel's contents, wore a confused expression, unable to understand our conversation.
* * *
A little later, we stood before Exit 6 of Dongguk University Station.
[You have been exposed to highly poisonous fog.]
After swallowing the remaining Poison Rhino Horn Powder from treating Killer King, we sprinted straight up the escalator leading to Dongguk University.
"There it is!"
Se-in was the first to spot our destination.
A bluish-gray statue stood in the distance.
Mr. Dansu seemed to realize something and let out a cry of surprise.
Statue of Venerable Samyeong.
There was no doubt about it. It was the statue of Venerable Samyeong, who had possessed the modifier Bald Army General in the main story.
Dokja had destroyed this statue and gained a Hidden Skill and item here.
"Just as I thought, someone already smashed it."
The statue of Venerable Samyeong we found had already been broken.
[A constellation wearing a robe glares at you.]
[The Constellation Sinister Strategist giggles at your misfortune.]
Looking at the statue cleanly split in half, I gave a bitter smile.
I didn't know who had done it, but they had cut it perfectly in two. Judging by the skill involved, it might have been Yu Junghyeok. Or perhaps Killer King or another veteran Reader.
Se-in, whose face had gone pale, called out to me.
"Inho-ssi."
"I expected this."
"What?"
There were countless Readers in this world besides us.
Someone had completed the more difficult Fish Dragon Scenario. Broken Faith had a waiting list, making it impossible to buy, and [White Pure Star Energy] had even been stolen.
So naturally, I had expected that someone would claim Venerable Samyeong's legacy first.
I slowly lifted the statue's upper half from the ground.
[A constellation wearing a robe is puzzled by your actions.]
Thanks to reaching Strength Level 20, I could easily lift a weight I normally wouldn't have dreamed of lifting.
[A constellation wearing a robe has revealed its modifier.]
[The Constellation Bald Army General realizes your intention and is surprised.]
I pointed at the other side of the statue.
"Se-in, could you hold that side for me?"
Se-in approached hesitantly.
"L-Like this?"
"Yes. Lift it over your head like that."
"I'll try."
Hup.
Together, we raised Venerable Samyeong's upper body over our heads.
Over the past few days of completing Scenarios, I had realized something.
We could never survive in this world by completing Scenarios exactly as they happened in Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint.
"Mr. Dansu, climb onto the statue and keep it balanced!"
After several minutes of struggle, we barely managed to place Venerable Samyeong's upper body back onto the lower half.
I cut up clothes I had brought from Geumho Station in advance and tightly wrapped them around the statue's cracked middle.
"Done."
The statue now looked as though it were wearing bandages around its waist, but it didn't look too bad.
Only then did Se-in understand my intentions and open her mouth wide.
"Inho-ssi, don't tell me..."
"Yes, that's right."
This world was the Star Stream.
A world where everything became a story.
You didn't have to beat something up and destroy it to create an interesting story.
I grinned at the two of them, then put my palms together toward the restored statue.
[The Constellation Bald Army General is deeply moved by your heart!]
When I looked up, something sparkling fell from the sky.
Let me kindly tell any Readers who might later enter this world through Possession.
[The Constellation Bald Army General has granted you a sponsored item.]
This was how you survived in this goddamn Star Stream.
Footnotes:
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