WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 72: Episode 15 - A Kingless World (2)

Thunder rumbled in the sky, and soon, rain began to pour. The light from the Absolute Throne reached up toward the heavens, swirling thick black clouds around it.

This was an omen for the fifth scenario, the Great Hole.

Soaked in the relentless rain, the mid-grade dokkaebi spoke.

[…What did you just say?]

“I said, I’m not sitting on the throne.”

[I don’t understand why you’re being so stubborn. Don’t you think it’s more profitable to earn even one more coin in this dire time? You must have burned through a ton of coins earlier, so just accept the reward. Without the power of the Absolute Throne, the Seoul Dome won’t survive the fifth scenario.]

Perhaps fearing the dokkaebi’s words, people around Gwanghwamun shouted at me.

“What’s wrong with him? What is he thinking?”

“Stop complaining and just sit on the throne already!”

“Damn it, hand it over if you don’t want it! I’ll take it!”

The dokkaebi, seemingly feeling confident, continued.

[This throne can give you more than you can imagine. Just by sitting on it, your fable will be born, and your contracted patron will ascend in rank. Do you even understand what that means?]

Indeed, I could already hear the clamor of constellations echoing around me.

[The constellation Adventurer who makes Eggs Stand Up wishes to become your patron.]

[The constellation One-stroke Scholar wishes to become your Patron.]

…

[You have been gifted 500 coins.]

The mid-grade dokkaebi’s voice turned icy.

[Consider this your last warning. I am not like the low-grade dokkaebis. Do not think some foolish trick will work on me.]

I looked at the Absolute Throne. Just as the dokkaebi had said, failing to claim it would make clearing the fifth scenario nearly impossible. But there was one thing the dokkaebi hadn’t mentioned. Once I used the Absolute Throne, even once, I’d never be able to reach the true ending of the scenario.

Even in the original work, Junghyeok had only figured this out by his 41st regression.

This Absolute Throne was designed that way from the start.

“Why on earth won’t he become king?” someone shouted in frustration from the crowd. A man, puffing angrily as if his life had been insulted, jabbed a finger at me. I asked him back.

“That’s what I’d like to ask. On what grounds are you so eager to make me your ‘king’?”

“What?”

“What if, after I become king, I decide to kill you all?”

The man’s mouth snapped shut. I looked around at the others and continued speaking.

“It’s the same for all of you. Have you already forgotten? We weren’t subjects of any kingdom before. So why are you acting as if you belong to one?”

Why didn’t I want to be king? The answer was simple.

“I have no interest in being a king for such despicable people as you.”

I looked up at the sky and continued.

“Nor do I want to be backed by filthy constellations like you.”

Then I turned my gaze back to the throne.

“That’s why I won’t sit on the Absolute Throne. But—”

And in the next moment, I drew my sword.

“I won’t let anyone else sit on it, either.”

For someone to sit, it means someone else cannot. A cold fire lit in the dokkaebi’s eyes.

[That’s enough. My patience isn’t limitless…]

I stared straight at the dokkaebi, undeterred, and went on.

“How long will you continue letting yourself be led around by the dokkaebis’ scenarios? Do you have any idea what it means for someone to sit on that Absolute Throne?”

I knew all too well how great a price people must pay to free themselves from the ‘obedience’ they’ve grown used to.

“Constellations of the Korean Peninsula. You are no different. I know not all constellations are the same. Some constellations have low ranks, while others have high.”

Even among the constellations, there exists an invisible hierarchy. Some constellations watch incarnations, while others watch the lower-ranking constellations.

“But hasn’t this gone on long enough? How much longer do you intend to turn this land into a brutal battleground for suffering incarnations?”

[The constellation One-Eyed Maitreya sighs.]

“After all the struggle, you become a historic constellation, then build a fable to reach the fabled rank… and then what? What will you do when you reach the next level, when you become a brighter star in a higher sky? How many more generations of this land’s descendants will you exploit for your own selfish gain?”

[The constellation Lady of the Sleeping Brocade remains silent.]

That’s when the previously silent mid-grade dokkaebi moved.

[I cannot allow this any longer.]

And with that, a new system message appeared.

+

<Sub Scenario – Seize the Throne>

Category: Sub

Difficulty: B

Clear conditions: Subdue the incarnation Kim Dokja, who refuses to sit on the throne, and claim the throne in his place.

Time limit: 30 minutes

Rewards: 6,000 coins

Penalty for failure: ―

+

Of course, it had come to this.

The people, who had briefly hesitated at my words, began advancing toward me with greedy eyes. The dokkaebi was right, after all. These people… and even I… we were nothing more than wretches willing to sell our principles for a few coins.

But not everyone was like that.

“Get past me if you can!.”

A woman stood in my path. Her growling voice made the crowd hesitate. It was Jeong Huiwon.

“No matter how the world changes, there are values we should never forget. I believe in that.”

Before I knew it, Yu Sangah had approached as well, with Lee Gilyeong standing ready behind me, hammer in hand. Jeong Minseob and Lee Seongguk also joined.

“Sometimes, it feels like you’re more of a protagonist than Yu Junghyeok,” someone muttered.

“Junghyeok wouldn’t pull a stunt like this…”

But even with them, the number of enemies was overwhelming. Just then, unexpected allies appeared.

“Let us help you just this once.”

“In my opinion, you made a compelling argument.”

The King of Beauty, Min Jiwon, and the Maitreya King, Cha Sanggyeon, had joined as well. I didn’t know what part of my words had moved them, but something had undoubtedly changed. Even if it was just a sliver of a possibility in this world.

[Squirm all you like, you worms… What are you waiting for? Pull him down immediately!]

The crowd surged toward the throne. Shoving against the throng, Huiwon asked, “Dokja-ssi, you have a plan, right?”

“That’s right.”

“What should we do?”

“Buy me some time. Until I can destroy this ‘throne.’”

The new path forward lay within this throne. I pulled a certain sword from my possession. Someone in the crowd gasped.

“It’s the Four Yin Demon Decapitator!”

The Four Yin Demon Decapitator was an S+ grade item. However, under the right conditions, it could briefly transform into a constellation artifact because it was forged with the spirits of historic constellations.

[Activating the unique property of the Ganpyeongui, Echo of the Stars.]

[Using Echo of the Stars you may request the aid of a historic constellation.]

“I summon the constellations.”

[Within the flow of stars, the historic constellations hear your voice.]

Chanting like a spell, I called upon the constellations’ names.[1]

“I summon the ‘First Star Lord of the Big Dipper.’”

Tamlang.

“I summon the ‘Second Star Lord of the Big Dipper.’”

Geomun.

“I summon the ‘Third Star Lord of the Big Dipper.’”

Nokjon.

“I summon the ‘Fourth Star Lord of the Big Dipper.’”

Mungok.

“I summon the ‘Fifth Star Lord of the Big Dipper.’”

Yeomjeong.

“I summon the ‘Sixth Star Lord of the Big Dipper.’”

Mugok.

[The stars begin to move.]

[Six constellations turn their attention to you.]

As all constellations vanished from the celestial plane, my mind felt crowded, like a packed subway. Dizzy, I staggered, blood streaming from my nose and ears. Even holding my thoughts together was difficult. The burden of connecting with six constellations at once had overloaded my brain. The stars of the Big Dipper spoke.

[What is it that you seek?]

[Calling us all together like this…]

[Will only result in the destruction of your mind.]

[Why did you summon us?]

[Why do you avoid the easy path…]

[And instead, choose one filled with thorns?]

But I didn’t stop. To wield the Four Yin Demon Decapitator, I needed one more constellation. But there were no stars left in the heavens.

[The uses of the Ganpyeongui have been exhausted.]

I pulled out the jar I had obtained from the Tyrant King, the Dragon Jar.

This was the reward from the 7-person dungeon, the Chamber of the Dragon Jar.

Inside the jar, I placed two items.

“I offer the S-grade item Three-Wheeled Ring as a sacrifice to restore the uses of the S-grade item Ganpyeongui.”

[The Dragon Jar exerts its mystical power of regeneration.]

[The S-grade item Three-Wheeled Ring has disappeared as a sacrifice.]

[The usage count of the S-grade item Ganpyeongui has been restored.]

I activated the Ganpyeongui once more and called upon the final remaining constellation.

“I summon the ‘Seventh Star Lord of the Big Dipper.’”

Pagun.

Seven stars were woven together in the void, forming the complete Big Dipper constellation. The seven stars spoke to me simultaneously.

[What is it that you desire from us?]

“Stars of the Big Dipper, I wish to sever the constellation link. I ask for the power of your sword.”

[…Do you understand what this means?]

“I understand.”

I knew well enough, and that’s why I was risking everything to do this.

The Absolute Throne, the ultimate reward of the fourth scenario.

This throne is a tool that draws upon the power of one of the Outer Gods who roam the dark dimensions. The throne would bring immediate benefits. I could impose restrictions on Yu Joonghyuk, eliminate internal threats.

But Seoul… no, this world, would inevitably fall to ruin.

Complete annihilation, with no salvation or miracles.

That was the cost of recklessly borrowing the power of the Absolute.

If I wanted to reach the ending I envisioned, no one could be allowed to claim that throne.

[Even the constellations in this sky avoid challenging the creator of the throne.]

[And yet, you—a mere human—dare to challenge its master?]

“With your help, I can succeed. And I am not fighting the master. I am merely cutting the constellation link between the master and the throne.”

[This is a plausibility you cannot endure.]

[You will surely die.]

“That’s for me to decide. Let’s begin.”

The seven stars fell silent. After some time, the Big Dipper shone brilliantly in the sky, igniting the stars engraved on my sword in a dazzling blaze.

[We respect your resolve.]

[Even if you die here.]

[We will remember you.]

A radiant flame enveloped the blade of the Four Yin Demon Decapitator, turning its white steel into a searing fire.

[The S+ grade item Four Yin Demon Decapitator has evolved into a constellation artifact.]

The Four Yin Demon Decapitator, as a relic, was originally forged as a ceremonial sword. A blade crafted to sever malevolent energy and ward off disaster.

With a powerful swing, I struck the Absolute Throne. Sparks flew with a harsh clang. The Four Yin Demon Decapitator was one of the few items capable of severing the constellation link of a relic.

Crack.

I heard something tearing in the invisible void. As if realizing the impending danger, an ominous black light began emanating from the Absolute Throne. I struck the throne repeatedly, even as the blade of the Four Yin Demon Decapitator began to crack. From here on, I had no choice but to trust the stars. Yu Sangah shouted.

“Dokja-ssi! Hurry!”

I swung the sword wildly, ignoring the fracturing blade, relentlessly slashing at the throne. The fire roared, the blade splintered, and finally…

[The blessing linked to the Absolute Throne has been severed.]

[An Outer God has detected an anomaly in this world.]

The Absolute Throne lost its light, reduced to an ordinary chair. The mid-grade dokkaebi’s shrieking voice echoed in frustration.

[You ignorant wretch…!]

[The sub scenario has been forcibly terminated.]

The movement of the people around me stopped. With the scenario over, they no longer had any reason to act. The Star Lords of the Big Dipper spoke to me.

[Incarnation, prepare yourself for the deluge of plausibility to come.]

The moment their voices reached me, my stomach churned, and blood spilled from my mouth. I felt as though something was repeatedly stretching and compressing my existence. A colossal force circled me, threatening to rip my body apart. I struggled to keep my mind focused.

Rumble.

It would be fine. Plausibility was nothing more than ‘believability.’ I had done everything I could to make these events seem believable. I could withstand it.

Repeating this thought to myself, I fought to hold on to my fading consciousness.

Then, far away in the night sky, a lone star quietly twinkled.

[The constellation Naval Warfare God is watching over you.]

A gaze, calm and lonely but filled with warmth.

[The constellation Bald Army General is watching over you.]

And then another.

[The constellation Last Hero of Hwangsanbeol is watching over you.]

And another.

[The constellation Lady of the Sleeping Brocade is watching over you.]

…

As messages from countless constellations flooded in, the mid-grade dokkaebi cried out in disbelief.

[Why…?]

With each new constellation, my pain gradually subsided. I realized that these constellations were sharing the burden of plausibility I had to endure. The story, once implausible, was slowly becoming plausible with the approval of countless constellations. Numerous constellations surrounded me, wrapping me in their light. Among them were the Big Dipper Star Lords who had lent me their power.

[Is this the story you wanted to show us?]

I wanted to respond, but I lacked the strength.

[We will watch over you, King of a Kingless World.]

The chaotic night sky above Seoul. I looked up at the stars, shining their light upon me.

[The constellation Great King Heungmu is watching over you.]

[The constellation One-Eyed Maitreya is watching over you.]

…

All the historic constellations of Seoul were shining their light upon me. But even with so many stars, the night sky remained shrouded in darkness.

I looked up at the Great Hole, swirling amid stormy clouds.

[The fourth scenario has been forcibly terminated.]

[Due to an unexpected incident, scenario calculations will take some time.]

Wiping the blood trickling from my nose, I noticed the mid-grade dokkaebi approaching with a bitter expression.

[You have chosen the worst possible path. I swear upon my honor that you’ll regret this choice for the rest of your life.]

Even with my blurred vision, I couldn’t help but smile. The dokkaebi’s words only confirmed that I had won.

[You have achieved a non-existing achievement.]

[A new fable has been created.]

[The fable King of a Kingless World has been born.]

[You have obtained the potential for a stigma.]

For me, there would be no next regression.

In this world, I would reach the story’s end.

Footnotes:

[1] The Big Dipper Star Lords (북두칠성 성군, 北斗七星星君) are figures in East Asian cosmology, each corresponding to one of the seven stars of the Big Dipper constellation, which is part of Ursa Major. In Daoist and folk traditions, these stars represent deities with distinct characteristics, and they play significant roles in celestial and astrological beliefs. Each star is associated with specific virtues, qualities, or influences.

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