WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 690: Episode 23: Fragment of a God (5)

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[Will to Sacrifice].

Since Dokja had so few Stigmas to begin with, I knew exactly which Stigma that was.

‘Don't tell me this is your plan?’

―Yeah. Just trust me now.

The Breath was rushing toward me from right in front of my nose. What exactly was I supposed to trust?

‘This is just a Stigma for sacrificing yourself.’

―That's right.

I couldn't trust this mad Patron anymore.

[The Grade-4 earth dragon Earth Python reveals hostility toward you.]

If I was going to die, I would at least kill that bastard first.

Once again, Junghyeok's fable propped up my staggering body.

[The Fable Fragment Mad Soldier Yu Junghyeok glares at you.]

Holding "Unbreakable Faith" in a reverse grip, I planted it in the ground and slowly rose to my feet.

[Your understanding of the character Yu Junghyeok has increased!]

[The Fable Fragment Mad Soldier Yu Junghyeok resonates with the skill Incitement!]

[The effect of Incitement has grown stronger!]

"Kim Dokja, I'll kill you."

―Huh?

"Didn't you tell me to trust only you? Why did things end up like this?"

My mouth chattered on by itself, and I was seized by a sense of injustice.

―Hey, release [Incitement] and get a grip! You're not Yu Junghyeok anymore!

Dokja shouted urgently when he noticed my condition.

"I'll kill you! I will definitely kill you!"

As if I really were Junghyeok, I gripped "Unbreakable Faith" with all my strength. With my other hand, I activated "Thought."

Normally, there was nothing good about [Incitement] running wild like this. However, this time was different.

The moment the earth dragon species's Breath rushed toward me, "Thought" shone brightly and transformed into "Heracles' Shield."

[The special skill Area Defense has activated!]

Area Defense.

However, there was no way a replica item's special skill could block a Grade-4 earth dragon's Breath.

Fine fragments struck the barrier's surface amid the fierce wind pressure. [Landslide], a characteristic of sustained Breath. On top of that, there was [Sandstorm].

Cracks spread through the barrier in an instant, and it shattered without lasting even a second.

However, by the time the Breath surged in, I was already gone.

―Oh...

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

Unlike my mouth, which only stupidly repeated the same words, my body moved nimbly, as if I really were Junghyeok using [Recovery].

[The Fable Fragment Mad Soldier Yu Junghyeok nods.]

My legs trembled as I pushed my muscles to their limit. When the earth dragon species that had lost sight of my form howled and redirected its Breath, I was already behind it.

"I'll kill you!"

"Unbreakable Faith," filled with all my Mana, flew through the air.

Graaaargh!

"Blade of Faith" spun like a top and struck its foot. At the same time, strength drained from my entire body once more.

[Incitement has been deactivated.]

The backlash was immense. I really couldn't move a single finger now.

With both feet bound, the creature spewed its final Breath at me.

―You did well. Now it's perfect.

A faint light flowed from my entire body toward somewhere else. It was the light of [Will to Sacrifice].

[Will to Sacrifice].

A Stigma that greatly amplifies the attack power of the entire party in proportion to the caster's desperation when they risk their life for their companions.

The problem was that I had no companions here.

―This is the Stigma that can bring even a dead Junghyeok back to life for a little while.

How could that be?

No, even if it could, Junghyeok wasn't here right now...

―Yu Junghyeok isn't here, but...

A thunderous explosion rang out in the distance.

The faint Thread of light extending from me connected to the source of the blast.

―Because that person is here.

Huiwon was running toward me with tears of blood streaming from both eyes.

[The Stigma Will to Sacrifice Lv.1 has activated to its limit!]

* * *

Jeong Huiwon remembered the moment she first met that man.

―I like you, Jeong Huiwon.

At blood-scented Geumho Station, he had suddenly given her a strange smile.

―Huiwon-nim... I love you... I really do...

He was someone who said strange things.

―There's a character named Jeong Huiwon in a novel I wrote.

He loved to chatter with that glib face of his.

―She looks incredibly strong on the outside, but she's actually fragile. She's so unyielding that she doesn't avoid fights, and so she often breaks.

He was someone who had risked his life to save her again and again.

―I ran away from home when I was in high school. Didn't I tell you?

He was the one who made her speak of her family for the first time.

「Family.」

Her head throbbed painfully.

―Jeong Huiwon. Aren't you curious what the "original story" was like?

The voice of a woman in a white coat. At the same time, memories surfaced.

It was a story like the novel he had described. The Huiwon in that novel was similar to her, yet a little different.

―It's not like I always want to step forward.

Someone who was strong on the outside but fragile within.

―But that bastard keeps rushing ahead, so what else can I do? I have to step forward because I'm stronger.

Someone who had to squeeze out courage again and again to become stronger.

Huiwon wondered.

Why had she in that world needed to become so strong? Why had she wanted to become strong?

―Don't talk shit! I can't let you go! Don't go alone again! Please!

That world's Huiwon called one name often.

―Dokja-ssi!

A name she had never called before.

―Kim Dokja!

Was he family? Or someone she loved?

She didn't know. Still, whenever Huiwon thought of that name, it felt as though her heart would be torn apart, even though she knew it was only a story from a novel.

"Again."

Whenever she thought of that name.

"I can't let you die."

She became angry, sad, grief-stricken, and heartsick. For some reason.

[Madness runs wild!]

At that moment, Huiwon felt those exact same emotions toward the man in front of her.

Explosive Mana flowed from her entire body. Mikazuki Munechika, held in her right hand, shook violently. Her heart rate was rising abnormally high.

"Don'tdiedon'tdiedon'tdie."

Her muscles repeatedly contracted and expanded. With every step, dozens of meters of the landscape ahead sped past her.

[Madness is affected by Will to Sacrifice!]

[The owner of the Stigma has risked their life for another.]

[The party's attack power has greatly increased in proportion to the desperation of that life.]

Even as the incoming Breath completely covered her surroundings, Huiwon did not miss the man's startled face.

Strangely, the moment she saw him, Huiwon felt as though she had found something she had spent her whole life searching for.

* * *

The sight of the sword strikes unfolding before me left me reeling.

I wasn't sure even Junghyeok could perform such a feat.

Boom boom boom boom boom!

Huiwon's Sword Aura spun so quickly it couldn't be seen, sweeping away every Breath that flew at her.

Groooar!

The startled earth dragon species released an even fiercer Breath, but Huiwon didn't give an inch.

Whenever Mikazuki Munechika's blade drew a blue afterimage, the earth dragon species was pushed back instead.

As if possessed and unafraid of death, Huiwon advanced one step at a time. The Grade-4 earth dragon faltered and backed away.

"Huiwon-ssi?"

As if she couldn't hear me, Huiwon only repeated the same actions and muttered the same words.

"Don'tdiedon'tdiedon'tdie."

It gave me goosebumps.

‘Why is she suddenly acting like that?’

―Well...

Dokja hesitated for a moment, as if something had come to mind. Then he continued in a shameless tone.

―I don't know either.

The Grade-4 earth dragon's Breath abruptly stopped. Its face turned pale as it gulped for air, and Huiwon's form vanished from sight.

She was even faster than I was with [Leap].

The Grade-4 earth dragon had both feet bound by my strike. It had nowhere left to run.

Its sluggish claws raked the air, and a blood-red line appeared across its neck.

Huiwon circled its neck in a single sweep and landed beside me before I could blink.

Then she collapsed forward like a doll with its strings cut.

[You have defeated the Grade-4 earth dragon Earth Python!]

[You have achieved a remarkable achievement!]

[Contributors: Jeong Huiwon, Inho Cheon]

I hurriedly lifted Huiwon up.

"Huiwon-ssi!"

At the same time, all sorts of messages began pouring down from above.

[You have acquired a low-grade Dragon Heart as a reward!]

[You have acquired 150,000 Coins!]

-

[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire sponsors your battle with 2,000 Coins.]

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband...]

I couldn't smile, because Huiwon was staring up at me with her eyes wide open.

"Don't die."

As if she had lost consciousness, Huiwon's hand went limp.

I quickly pushed "Ellain Forest Essence" into her mouth and looked up at the air.

Only then did I realize what Dokja had done, and what kind of Stigma [Will to Sacrifice] truly was.

"You, you really..."

I couldn't bring myself to finish the sentence.

―A bad person.

Dokja was better than anyone at reading words left unsaid.

He must have known from the beginning what would happen if [Will to Sacrifice] was used, and what wounds my companions would suffer.

"I..."

―Didn't you want to become Kim Dokja?

For a moment, I was speechless.

What did it mean to become Kim Dokja? I was becoming less and less certain of what becoming Kim Dokja meant.

[Your synchronization rate with your Patron has increased.]

My ragged breathing gradually calmed.

Dokja was silent for a moment before speaking in a composed voice.

―Alright, let's check the rewards.

"The Dragon Heart?"

―That's good too, but look at that first.

A faintly glowing fragment lay where the massive earth dragon species's body had fallen. However, its shape was a little strange.

‘Patron, that...’

―That's right.

Something resembling a small doll lay there.

A doll missing its left arm and right leg.

It was far smaller and more patched up than the one I remembered, but there was no mistaking it.

It clearly resembled "Little Kim Dokja."

I reached out with trembling hands and picked up the doll.

Then the doll slowly opened its eyes and looked at me.

No, perhaps it wasn't looking at me...

[The Constellation Demon King of Salvation looks at his fragment.]

The Little Kim Dokja doll trembled slightly.

It looked as though it might be crying.

It wasn't crying because it was afraid.

―Yeah, can you see me?

It was a cry filled with longing.

As if soothing the doll, Dokja spoke in a gentle voice.

―It's okay now. Don't worry.

Hearing Dokja's voice, the doll slowly closed its eyes, as if it were waiting for an important choice.

―Hakhyeon.

I took a deep breath.

I knew what I had to do, but I still felt conflicted.

―Grab your sword. Hurry.

‘What?’

―Hurry!

That was when a crack formed in the air.

A black hand emerged through the pitch-black tear in space.

It was the same hand that had appeared when Master Sergeant Jeong Munho died at Seoul Station.

The earlier fragment had been taken from us without resistance when Master Sergeant Jeong Munho died, but this time was different.

―Now!

At the signal, I cut down the hand rushing toward the fragment.

The hand that touched my blade crumbled into dust.

A painful cry echoed beyond the crack, and the crack swiftly closed.

Dokja groaned and spoke.

―It looks like there are others gathering "fragments" besides us.

I remembered Asmodeus's theater, where the Little Kim Dokjas had gathered.

―It isn't that bastard this time. That is...

I knew the moment I heard his voice.

If Dokja had been in front of me right now, he would surely have been frowning.

―They're probably the ones who killed "me."

Footnotes:

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