WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 623: Episode 14: Master of the Throne (2)

──────

For some reason, I had a feeling.

If they were bastards who committed crimes in reality, they would surely pull something similar here.

―That can't be true. Do you have any idea how thorough the Administration Bureau's security is...?

Even as Bihyeong said that, he seemed to have his doubts.

―Wait here. I'll look into it right away.

While Bihyeong was gone, the Odokhyeop Constellations continued provoking us.

[The Constellation Rat That Calls the Plague says that no matter how much bug-like bastards struggle, it will be useless.]

[The Constellation Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail says that a star-spooned kid is great fun.]

[The Constellation Rat That Calls the Plague says that free is best.]

Gyeong Se-in frowned at the noisy messages.

"Those bastards..."

"Don't pay attention to them."

Seeing them suddenly grow so loud, I thought we would be safe for a while.

Thinking back, Rat That Calls the Plague had been badly hurt by Asmodeus and had suffered damage to its true body. Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail had likely exhausted too much Plausibility by granting protection to a Tier-6 ground dragon species in the Theater Dungeon.

In other words, they didn't have much leeway left.

"Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail."

[The Constellation Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail glares at you.]

"I heard Killer King sent his regards. Did you receive them well?"

[The Constellation Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail reveals its Status toward you!]

Faint sparks wrapped around my body.

It was still a Constellation. Just hearing its threat through an Indirect Message sent chills down my spine.

I couldn't believe Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail still had this much Plausibility left.

As the pressure gradually bore down on me, it became harder to breathe.

[The Constellation Goryeo's Top Swordsman says that if it doesn't shut up, he will tear its mouth apart.]

The message that flew through the air wiped away the pressure as if it had never been there.

As expected of Cheok Junkyung.

[The Constellation Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail is flustered.]

[The Constellation Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail warns Goryeo's Top Swordsman not to meddle in someone else's business.]

Wait. It was picking a fight with Cheok Junkyung?

Was it insane?

[The Constellation Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail warns Goryeo's Top Swordsman not to act up when he is only Historical-grade.]

[The Constellation Goryeo's Top Swordsman says that if it wants to die, it should keep talking.]

Or had it not finished reading the novel?

[The Constellation Rat That Calls the Plague laughs at Goryeo's Top Swordsman's threat.]

[The Constellation Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail mocks Goryeo's Top Swordsman, asking whether he has become so old that he cannot tell right from wrong.]

[The Constellation Goryeo's Top Swordsman warns that if it says one more word, he will cut it in two.]

[The Constellation Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail says that he should try cutting it if he can.]

[The Constellation Rat That Calls the Plague sneers, asking whether he knows where it lives.]

They had only ever posted malicious comments in reality, so they really were excellent at provoking people.

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband picks his ear, saying that they are noisy.]

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon warns them to stop making noise with their words and fight with their fists like men.]

The Constellations in the channel frowned one by one. Just as Cheok Junkyung finally lost his temper and made up his mind...

[The Constellation Goryeo's Top Swordsman draws his sword.]

A faint rumble of thunder echoed from the sky, and Bihyeong returned.

[All right, Constellations. Calm down. We will be making a brief channel adjustment.]

He was gasping for breath and looked utterly exhausted.

―You... How did you know?

Bihyeong appeared in the air in a translucent form and spoke to me in an incredulous voice.

―These bastards accessed the channel through an illegal route made by the Hunchbacks.

I knew it.

A leopard couldn't change its spots. These bastards were committing crimes here too.

'I thought that might be the case. Are they going to be sanctioned?'

―The Administration Bureau will issue an announcement soon. These bastards have been watching the channel without paying a single commission fee.

A system message rang out in the air shortly afterward.

[The Administration Bureau's sanctions have been updated.]

[The Constellation Snake That Cuts Off Its Tail has had its channel access temporarily restricted.]

[The Constellation Rat That Calls the Plague has had its channel access temporarily restricted.]

......

It seemed there were others besides those bastards who had been illegally subscribing to channels.

I admired the Administration Bureau's excellent and swift response. It would've been nice if sanctions happened that quickly in reality, too.

―This is a serious matter, so the Administration Bureau has decided to make a special tracking request. They will hire a fixer to collect the unpaid fees.

A fixer.

'Who are you sending?'

I didn't need to ask.

The Administration Bureau's message immediately followed.

[The Constellation Goryeo's Top Swordsman has accepted the Administration Bureau's fixer request.]

The Odokhyeop bastards were going to have a rough time for a while.

That was when Junghyeok, who had been looking up at the sky, opened his mouth.

"Lee Jihye. Kim Namwoon."

It seemed our protagonist had finally finished organizing his thoughts. With the Odokhyeop bastards gone, the timing was truly perfect.

"You two will go to Myeongdong Station. When you arrive near Myeongdong Station, you'll see a large cathedral. Retrieve the constellation artifact in that cathedral."

"Got it, Captain. What's the artifact called?"

"Madonna's Smile. You'll know it when you see it."

The moment I heard the name, a memory came to mind.

「Madonna's Smile. A constellation artifact discovered at Myeongdong Cathedral, imbued with the "Blessing of an Archangel." If you choose Jung District as your early-game farming route, you must begin with this constellation artifact.」

It was strange.

This was an item that hadn't appeared even in Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint.

Had I ever written a note like this?

Junghyeok continued.

"Lee Hyeongseong. Follow the southeastern road to Seoul Tower. There is an open area once you reach the top. Your mission is to retrieve the meteorite that fell there."

"Yes, understood."

The meteorite that fell at Seoul Tower.

「Ghost Iron. A material for the Dark Heavenly Moon Halberd. It is sometimes found in rainbow meteorites.」

Once again, the sentence came to mind naturally, but I had no time to dwell on it because Junghyeok immediately turned toward us.

"Lee Dansu."

I was a little surprised that he remembered Uncle Dansu's name.

"You will accompany Lee Jihye and Kim Namwoon."

"Hurry up, Uncle. We'll leave you behind if you're late."

Uncle Dansu looked back as if asking whether I would be all right, and I silently nodded.

Dividing the group here was the right choice if we wanted to maximize our growth in the early stages of the Scenario. It was especially so with Lee Jihye and Kim Namwoon accompanying him.

"Please take care of Uncle."

Jihye winked as though telling me not to worry.

Junghyeok then looked at Gyeong Se-in.

"You."

"Yes, sir!"

Gyeong Se-in stood at attention as if he were a private.

"You will move with Lee Hyeongseong."

"Understood!"

"I look forward to working with you, Se-in-ssi."

"M-me too! I really want to become like you, Hyeongseong-ssi!"

"Pardon? Like me? Why?"

Gyeong Se-in grinned as he stuck close to Hyeongseong.

His favorite character had definitely been Jeong Huiwon. What happened?

Either way, Junghyeok's judgment in dividing the group was excellent.

Uncle Dansu was adaptable but lacked real combat experience against people. Pairing him with Jihye and Namwoon, who were strong in fights against humans, probably meant Junghyeok wanted him to learn from them.

The same was true for Se-in. He had an innate physique and good instincts as a tanker, but he couldn't switch between offense and defense as quickly as Hyeongseong.

The fact that Junghyeok deliberately paired the two of them was proof that he thought highly of Se-in's potential for growth.

Finally, Junghyeok turned to Huiwon and me.

"You two, follow me."

* * *

After Uncle Dansu and Gyeong Se-in left with their groups, Huiwon and I followed Junghyeok.

Huiwon had been in a foul mood since earlier, apparently displeased by the way Junghyeok had divided everyone up and given orders as he pleased.

"I don't like this. Do we have to go with him?"

"Bear with it. He isn't doing this with bad intentions. If anything, it's a positive sign."

The fact that Junghyeok had naturally included us in his group was moving enough for me.

Who was Junghyeok? Not just any Junghyeok, but the Junghyeok of the forty-first round.

When I met Kim Dokja later, I would definitely tell him about today.

"Are you perhaps going north?"

Junghyeok sent me a wary look, and I shamelessly smiled.

"Your younger sister is in the north, isn't she? You're worried about her."

"You."

"If you don't save her soon, it'll become difficult."

After saying it, I wondered what on earth I had just said.

I was Inho Cheon.

And Inho Cheon of the fortieth round had killed every person Junghyeok knew.

Even if Junghyeok drew his spear and stabbed me to death right then, I would have nothing to say.

Junghyeok stopped walking and glared at me for a moment before speaking to Huiwon.

"Was it Jeong Huiwon?"

"Yes, what about it?"

"There is a sniper hiding on the ninth floor of the building ahead. Deal with them and come back."

Huiwon carefully examined the building Junghyeok pointed at.

"It doesn't look like there's anyone there."

"Go."

A faint killing intent seeped from Huiwon's body at Junghyeok's words.

I quickly intervened.

"Huiwon-ssi."

"Will you be all right?"

Both Huiwon and I knew there was no sniper in that building.

"I'll be fine."

Huiwon let out a light sigh, then finally shook out her hands and stepped forward.

"Don't die before I get back."

"I don't die that easily."

"Why do I keep feeling like you might..."

"Hurry back."

With the sound of a cool breeze, Huiwon's figure disappeared into the building.

Even after she was gone, Junghyeok did not speak for a while.

When I glanced at him, he was staring at the distant sky with blazing eyes. The deep sunset had settled in his pupils, burning red within them.

"Inho Cheon."

"Yes."

"Are you truly Inho Cheon?"

As expected, Junghyeok had noticed.

"That is a philosophical question. What do you think?"

Junghyeok quietly studied me before speaking.

"If you play the role of Inho Cheon, then you are still Inho Cheon."

"Then I am Inho Cheon."

I couldn't tell whether he liked my answer. Junghyeok only looked at me with his usual deep, quiet eyes.

Something crashed loudly from the direction of the building. Huiwon was probably smashing everything in sight.

How much time passed like that?

Junghyeok spoke in a voice like ripples spreading across still water.

"Then I will ask that Inho Cheon."

Junghyeok was looking at me.

No, to be precise, his gaze seemed directed at the empty air between us.

As if he could sense the invisible wall there.

"Who exactly is Kim Dokja?"

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried