WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 604: Episode 10: Writer (5)

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That was when a sharp concealed weapon flew out from the grass.

Huiwon's expression changed as she drew her sword, and I instinctively ducked. A dagger narrowly missed us and buried itself in a tree.

"I didn't expect you to get here so soon."

Three figures emerged from the thick tropical rainforest.

White coats and Broken Faith.

The sight brought a bitter smile to my face.

"Just as expected of a Reader who's read it a hundred times."

The text copy author's Misreading Association team.

How had they arrived before us? I thought we were the fastest.

A faint aura flickered around the text copy author.

[The Incarnation Yeom Ilwoo is activating the Stigma King of Dice.]

The Stigma King of Dice.

It seemed he had made the Constellation King of Gambling his Patron.

That explained how he had climbed the stage so quickly. The two figures beside the text copy author appeared to be Characters.

I used [Character Profile] to check the identities of the rest of the group.

[You are viewing multiple characters, so this has temporarily changed to Character Summary Profile.]

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Name: Ha Min

Patron Constellation: Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail

Exclusive Attribute: Lizardman (Rare)

Overall Attributes: [Constitution Lv. 14], [Strength Lv. 13], [Agility Lv. 16], [Mana Lv. 7]

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Name: Kim Jeonhwa

Patron Constellation: Plague-Bringing Rat

Exclusive Attribute: Ratman (Rare)

Overall Attributes: [Constitution Lv. 18], [Strength Lv. 16], [Agility Lv. 11], [Mana Lv. 6]

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They were both nonhuman species.

One was a Ratman, a servant of the Plague-Bringing Rat that I had fought before. The other was a Lizardman, a servant of the Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail.

Judging by the situation, the Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail was likely a Constellation on the Misreading Association's side as well.

I lightly raised both hands.

"Wait a moment. Do we need to fight each other?"

I meant it, at least halfway.

The Misreading Association member I met last time had been a Reader possessing a Constellation, and the Character I killed had been that person's Incarnation body.

But the Misreading Association member I had to face this time was a Reader possessing an Incarnation.

No matter how much of a criminal he was for producing and distributing illegal text copies, he was still someone from the same reality as me. I couldn't possibly feel at ease hurting him with my own hands.

More than anything, I thought he should pay for his crimes in reality, not in a novel.

Whatever he thought of my words, he gave a weak smile.

"You're right. There's no need for me to make an enemy of a Reader who read my novel."

Still shameless.

Thinking about it, perhaps it would be fine to make him pay for his crimes here after all.

"But from my perspective, a Reader who's read it a hundred times is kind of scary."

With that chilling tone, the text copy author gave a hand signal.

The two figures at his sides pulled five or six daggers from their clothes and threw them.

So that was how they had ambushed us earlier.

As I watched the blades fly toward us with clear killing intent, Killer King's warning came back to me.

「"The Misreading Association deserves to die."」

I could understand, at least a little, why he had trembled with rage at the mention of them.

When Huiwon knocked away the incoming daggers with a shout, the daggers embedded in the ground gave off black smoke as they corroded.

The ground they had touched darkened. It was poison.

"Be careful! You can't even let them graze you!"

Last time, it had been Virulent Poison Bombs. This time, poisoned concealed weapons.

At this point, I couldn't tell whether they were the Misreading Association or the Dirty Poison Association.

Sizzle.

Huiwon's Ground Rat Sword, which had come into contact with the poison, was melting.

"Huiwon-ssi!"

I threw Huiwon the spare Ground Rat Sword I had been carrying. Catching it, she swung both swords forward.

[Swordsmanship] that had reached a higher realm.

A sword wind swept before my eyes, bending the paths of every additional dagger flying toward us.

Perhaps realizing the situation wasn't favorable, the text copy author joined the battle as well.

[The Incarnation Yeom Ilwoo has activated Moonlight Footwork Lv. 2!]

Moonlight Footwork.

He charged at me using a footwork technique with a fairly convincing name, but judging by his movements, his average Attributes were lower than mine.

Leaving flashes of light with every step, he rushed in and forcefully brought down Broken Faith, held in a reverse grip.

‘Turn into a low-grade iron shield.’

At my command, Thought of Almost Everything took the form of a shield.

Clang!

The blade bounced upward.

The text copy author muttered in surprise.

"That's an interesting item."

The moment it came into contact with his sword, a message came through Thought.

[Beginning target analysis.]

[Item analysis has been completed!]

[This item is Broken Faith (Mass-Produced).]

[This item's grade is D.]

[This item's grade is low.]

[You have acquired this item's mimic form.]

Well, well. Even Broken Faith wasn't the real thing, but a mass-produced version?

From the look of it, even that mass-produced sword had become unusable.

He had used Blade of Faith in front of the Readers earlier, exhausting Broken Faith's durability.

He probably couldn't activate Blade of Faith anymore.

The text copy author smiled faintly.

"You'll die if you keep doing that."

Since when had it been there?

The text copy author was holding a small jar at his side.

[Dragon Vessel displays its miraculous power of regeneration.]

The jar of regeneration, Dragon Vessel.

This time, even I had no choice but to be surprised.

[A D-grade item, low-grade leather greaves, has disappeared as a Sacrifice.]

[The durability of the D-grade item Broken Faith (Mass-Produced) has been restored.]

[Broken Faith (Mass-Produced) responds to Sword Aura Art!]

[Blade of Faith has activated!]

Whiiing!

A blue Aether Blade grew from the tip of his sword pressed against my shield.

I almost reflexively let go of the shield and stepped back.

[The mimic form of low-grade iron shield has been destroyed!]

I had nearly been split in two.

As if he was already certain of victory, he wore a relaxed smile.

"You didn't know you could use it like this?"

Dragon Vessel was a reward item obtainable from the National Palace Museum. It was an item that could never be obtained at this point in time.

Except through one method.

"It looks like your Patron spent quite a few Coins."

"My Patron has a lot of money."

The text copy author smiled confidently. I answered with a grin of my own.

"How interesting. That information couldn't have been in an illegal text copy."

The text copy author's expression hardened.

A powerful Aether Blade began sweeping out from the tip of the mass-produced Broken Faith.

I hurriedly dodged the blade as I carefully examined his skill.

[The Incarnation Yeom Ilwoo is activating Moonshadow Sword Aura Lv. 1.]

"So it wasn't even [White Pure Star Energy]."

I had expected as much.

Killer King's younger sister had already bought the last stock of White Pure Star Energy.

The enraged text copy author let out a strange cry and swung his sword.

[The Incarnation Yeom Ilwoo has activated Moonshadow Swordsmanship Lv. 2!]

[The Incarnation Yeom Ilwoo has activated Weapon Refinement Lv. 2!]

[Weapon Refinement], [Moonshadow Swordsmanship], and even [Moonshadow Sword Aura].

He had learned every skill available in the early stages.

「But with that level of proficiency, I can fight him.」

With a dazzling flash, Thought of Almost Everything turned into Damaged Samyeong's Bamboo Staff.

When Blade of Faith collided with the bamboo staff and bounced away with a metallic ring, the text copy author's eyes widened.

Naturally, he must have expected my weapon to be cut apart. Aether Blade was that powerful in the early stages.

But that was only true of low-grade items.

This was a constellation artifact.

[The Constellation Bald Army General nods with satisfaction.]

Biting his lip hard, he immediately swung his sword again.

Clang!

The blade and bamboo staff collided, sending out a sharp grating sound.

For someone who had talked so much, his combat sense wasn't particularly good.

Even with [Moonshadow Sword Aura], [Moonshadow Swordsmanship], and [Weapon Refinement], he couldn't gain even the slightest advantage over me.

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband marvels at the pathetic sword fight.]

Of course.

He had probably killed every enemy so far with a single hit from Blade of Faith.

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon advises that this is why you shouldn't shower someone with support from the beginning.]

[The Constellation Rice Cake-Eating Tiger clicks their tongue and nods.]

Broken Faith's durability must have finally run out, because Blade of Faith vanished.

I didn't miss the opening and swung the bamboo staff at his side. He barely dodged, but the hem of his coat tore, stripping the skin from his side.

[The Constellation King of Gambling is disappointed in their Incarnation.]

[A Constellation who has not yet revealed their modifier advises that he should choose his hand better next time.]

The flustered man suppressed a scream and hurriedly backed away.

"What are you doing?! Don't just stand there, help me!"

At his shout, the Ratman and Lizardman fighting Huiwon began reacting strangely.

[The Constellation Plague-Bringing Rat has increased their synchronization rate with their Incarnation body.]

[The Constellation Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail has increased their synchronization rate with their Incarnation body.]

Huiwon, who had gradually been gaining the advantage through a combination of [Demon Slaying] and [Swordsmanship], narrowed her eyes.

Crackle!

Blue sparks covered the nonhuman species' figures.

The demonic energy of the nonhuman species, which had been around Tier 8 until then, had risen to a level approaching a Tier-7 Monster.

[The Character Ha Min has activated the Stigma Cursed Daggers!]

[The Character Kim Jeonhwa has activated the Stigma Accelerated Attack!]

Dozens of daggers poured from the two nonhuman species' clothes like a waterfall.

Huiwon lightly avoided the concealed weapons.

But something was different this time.

[The special effect of the Stigma Cursed Daggers has activated!]

I suddenly remembered the effect of the Stigma [Cursed Daggers].

"Huiwon-ssi! Block this one!"

[Cursed Daggers] was a Stigma that guaranteed the next strike would hit after twenty daggers missed.

A black dagger that followed Huiwon's movements finally reached right before her eyes.

Huiwon swung her sword and knocked away the concealed weapon. With a metallic sound, the Ground Rat Sword blade that had touched the dagger began to melt.

"Aaaah!"

Jaewoo, who had been hiding nearby, screamed when he saw the melting sword.

Huiwon grabbed Jaewoo by the nape and quickly retreated toward me.

"Inho-ssi."

I nodded in agreement.

We had no chance like this.

Weapons were one thing, but two Constellations were supporting their side and sharing their Status with them.

"Jaewoo-ssi. Do you happen to have some hidden secret technique or something?"

Pale as a sheet, Jaewoo shook his head.

It would be difficult to rely on [Minor Luck] again. It was Minor Luck in the literal sense.

"Huiwon-ssi."

Huiwon nodded.

I handed her Venerable Samyeong's Bamboo Staff, which I had been holding.

"Lend me your ear for a moment."

I didn't want to use this skill on Huiwon.

But there was no other way now.

Perhaps sensing something strange, the text copy author shouted.

"Kill them! Hurry!"

The nonhuman species' bodies had swelled to more than twice their size as they roared and charged at us.

Nonhuman species weren't humans.

Could they be called monsters, then?

I didn't know.

One thing was certain, though.

"From now on, every enemy you see before you..."

They would be that from this moment onward.

"...is a monster."

[Exclusive Skill Incitement Lv. 6 has activated!]

The Ratman swung his elongated claws, while the Lizardman moved behind Huiwon and swung their tail.

Then.

[The Character Jeong Huiwon has activated Hour of Judgement.]

Flames bloomed in Huiwon's eyes.

[The Constellation Naval Warfare God doubts their eyes.]

[The Constellation Bald Army General marvels at his descendant's swordsmanship.]

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon asks if this is okay under Plausibility.]

I couldn't even follow what was happening with my naked eyes.

Horrific sounds of flesh tearing rang out in succession through the thick cloud of dust.

A flash rose with an explosion, and the severed tail of the Lizardman and arm of the Ratman rolled out from the dust.

Less than a minute later, heavy thuds sounded repeatedly from within the dust.

As the dust slowly settled, only one shadow stood within it.

The horribly torn corpses of the Ratman and Lizardman lay at her feet.

I expected it, but the result exceeded even my expectations.

[The Constellation Plague-Bringing Rat has left the channel while vomiting blood.]

[The Constellation Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail has cut off their tail to avoid a Plausibility Backlash.]

[The Constellation Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail stares at the Incarnation Jeong Huiwon as if they cannot believe it.]

Realizing the battle had turned against him, the text copy author was already pushing through the rainforest as he fled into the distance.

Huiwon picked up one of the dead Ratman's concealed weapons and threw it at him.

Whoosh!

The blade flew like an arrow and grazed his shoulder.

"Aaaagh!"

Screaming, he frantically fled between the trees.

I couldn't let him get away like this.

He was someone who stabbed people without hesitation. I had to finish him here.

Then Huiwon suddenly collapsed forward.

The aura of judgment surrounding her entire body rapidly faded.

"Huiwon-ssi!"

[The effect of Incitement has disappeared.]

[Hour of Judgement has been deactivated.]

I hurriedly supported Huiwon.

Her breathing and pulse were normal when I checked them.

But seeing the blood pouring from her nose, it seemed the backlash from [Incitement] had hit hard. It was the price of resisting the restrictions of a skill like [Hour of Judgement].

"I-I'll go finish him!"

Perhaps encouraged by Huiwon's performance, Jaewoo sprang up and ran after him.

I carried Huiwon on my back and shouted.

"Wait! Jaewoo-ssi!"

Jaewoo had already disappeared into the rainforest after the text copy author.

A feeling of dread swept over me.

Carrying Huiwon, I followed Jaewoo's footprints.

Several grating sounds rang out in the distance, followed by screams. I kept running toward their source.

Then... goddammit.

"Jaewoo-ssi!"

Jaewoo lay between the trees.

[A Constellation who has not yet revealed their modifier makes a sorrowful expression.]

I took a small breath and approached Jaewoo.

「Jeong Jaewoo has [Minor Luck].」

At the very least, he wouldn't die after being struck by a concealed weapon in a place like this.

The wound must have avoided a vital spot.

Jaewoo groaned in pain.

"Ugh, ah..."

I laid Huiwon on the ground, then examined Jaewoo's wound.

"I-Inho-ssi."

Jaewoo was smiling.

"I, I, too, landed, one on, him. He couldn't have, gone far..."

"Don't talk."

A dagger was embedded near Jaewoo's heart.

When I checked the wound, the poison had already spread from his chest, melting his skin and internal organs.

Blood dripping onto the ground soaked the earth.

"Stay still."

Why was he so badly injured?

Jaewoo definitely had [Minor Luck].

Then I remembered that the text copy author was the Incarnation of the King of Gambling.

If the luck of the two people had collided and their Attribute effects canceled each other out...

"Ugh, ah..."

Medicines that might treat this wound came to mind.

Ellain Forest Essence?

It was too late to use it.

Greater Restoration Pill?

I checked the Dokkaebi Compendium, but it was already sold out.

Star Relic Nectar or Star Relic Fruit.

There was no way to get those right now.

「I couldn't think of a solution.」

If Lee Seolhwa were here, she could save him. If only the Life-and-Death Pill she made were here.

「She isn't here now.」

The pages of Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint rapidly turned in my head.

I had written so many of those sentences with my own hands. Somewhere among the sentences I had written, there had to be one that could save this person.

"It's okay. I can fix this. Don't worry."

Someone was dying before my eyes.

My hands trembled. I couldn't think properly.

I squeezed out the Ellain Forest Essence I had and applied it to the wound with the cream-like ointment.

To stop the poison from spreading, I chopped jerky made from Ground Rat meat into small pieces, coated it in Poison Rhino Horn Powder, and fed it to him.

Jaewoo's Adam's apple moved, and he began vomiting blood again and again.

Crying, Jaewoo muttered.

"I don't want to... die."

"You won't die."

It was a lie.

This person would die.

His breathing grew ragged, and my voice trembled too.

"I'll save you."

Because of me, a Reader who had read this story was dying.

"I'll save you, no matter what."

Before his death, lies were the only thing I could say.

You won't die.

Even if you die, I can definitely bring you back.

Jaewoo's lips moved. He seemed to be trying to say something, but I couldn't properly hear his voice.

It seemed like he was saying he shouldn't have read it. It also seemed like he was blaming the person who wrote it.

A little later, his breathing stopped and his pulse ceased.

[Team member Jeong Jaewoo has died.]

I stared at Jaewoo's face for a long time.

I had seen people die many times before.

「Jeong Jaewoo died.」

Even so, it didn't feel real.

I couldn't believe someone who had been alive just moments ago had stopped breathing.

"Jaewoo-ssi."

The moment I grabbed his limp hand, I felt something transparent float out of his body.

I realized it was Jaewoo's soul.

It exists.

He definitely has a soul.

Then perhaps I could save him.

If I could somehow find where his soul was, then...

Crackle.

Sparks struck through the air, and in an instant, the outline of the soul grew more distinct.

Space tore open as black darkness flowed from it, and a white hand shot out through the gap.

A horrible scream.

In an instant, the hand snatched his soul and disappeared through the torn space.

I blankly watched the scene. My thoughts wouldn't move properly, as if my mind had broken. I couldn't understand what was happening.

From my ruined thoughts, I barely managed to pull out one sentence.

If I hadn't seen incorrectly, Jaewoo's vanished soul had definitely...

「taken the form of a little Kim Dokja.」

Footnotes:

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