WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 730: Episode 28: Home (8)
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"I know that too."
Who wouldn't know something was wrong when things had come to this?
My thoughts were a mess.
Was the ending the problem after all?
The stars preferred certain revenge, unexpected developments, and satisfying endings. But the ending I had chosen was the lukewarm option of ‘reconciling with the wolf.’
[Some Constellations belonging to the nebula Twelve Zodiacs criticize your actions!]
[Few Constellations look dissatisfied with the ending you have chosen.]
Of course the Constellations wouldn't like it.
Come to think of it, something similar had happened when Kim Dokja declared that he wouldn't kill the Catastrophe of Floods.
Grrraaaaaah!
Wolf Who Likes Red Riding Hood began to thrash and howl. Seemingly in agony, it repeatedly slammed its head against the ground before opening its eyes wide and looking up at the sky.
Little Yu Junghyeok, the other Allies, and I did the same.
Something was descending beneath the pitch-black hole. At first, I thought it was an Outer God, but fortunately, it wasn't.
The first thing I saw was a pig's head.
The instant I saw its pale tail, a faint chill ran down my spine.
It wasn't as shocking as meeting an Outer God or watching Historical Constellations undergo demigod Descent.
Even so, my senses were warning me.
[The Constellation First Pig to Die glares at you.]
They were the ones who occupied the low skies of the Star Stream.
[The Constellation Pig Who Builds a House of Wood glares at you.]
They were Historical Constellations of the Twelve Zodiacs.
[The Constellation Rabbit Without a Liver looks down at you.]
Indirect Messages announced each Constellation's arrival.
Three Constellations had appeared at once. Under normal circumstances, that alone would have been terrifying.
Yet the pressure I felt from them was lacking.
Looking closer, I saw that each Constellation had descended in a symbolic form.
...Was that why?
First Pig to Die was a pig's head holding a banknote in its mouth.
Pig Who Builds a House of Wood was a log with a pig's tail sprouting from it.
Lastly, Rabbit Without a Liver had taken the form of a bright-red raw liver.
Still, I never imagined Constellations would come here directly in their symbolic forms. Even if they descended as symbolic forms, entering a low-ranking Scenario required a considerable cost in Plausibility.
I recalled the records of the Recycling Center from TWSA.
「The Recycling Center is a sort of floating city that refuels low-ranking Scenarios.」
「To accommodate ‘various kinds of fables,’ the Recycling Center has a relatively thin curtain boundary with other worlds.」
「Constellations recognized as having their own domains within the Recycling Center can use symbolic forms at a comparatively low cost.」
The Recycling Center's unusual environment was probably why the Constellations could descend in symbolic forms.
Still, why had those bastards attempted a Descent in symbolic form at this moment?
They had to know that symbolic forms were dangerous because they couldn't fully use their original powers.
[It's been a while, Wolf.]
My question was quickly answered.
The moment I heard their constellation's declarations, I understood.
[It still stinks here.]
[Isn't there a new turtle bastard?]
The fact that they had risked a Descent in symbolic form meant they were that confident.
[All beastfolk of District 13 kneel before the nebula Twelve Zodiacs.]
It was proof that no one in District 13 dared oppose them.
The crane innkeeper and the beastfolk hiding in their homes ran outside one after another and paid their respects.
The same went for my Allies. Ye Hyunwoo, whose beastfolk transformation was still underway, Gyeong Se-in, Cha Yerin, and Uncle Dansu were all prostrating themselves on the ground.
It couldn't have been their own will.
This was simply the authority of the Twelve Zodiacs, the nebula of animals.
[The Constellation Wolf Who Likes Red Riding Hood pays respect to the owners of the fable.]
Wolf Who Likes Red Riding Hood was also bowing its head to the ground.
The only ones who hadn't knelt were Killer King, still tied to his chair, little Junghyeok, and me.
First Pig to Die silently glared at me before speaking to the Wolf Constellation.
[Have you forgotten your ‘contract’ with us, Wolf?]
The wolf's shoulders trembled.
[No. Absolutely not.]
I couldn't understand it.
They were pigs, and it was a wolf.
By the laws of ecology and the logic of Survival of the Fittest, carnivores were clearly stronger than herbivores.
Yet the wolf trembled like prey that had encountered a higher predator.
[You should be grateful that we even allow a parasite like you to continue its line.]
Rabbit Without a Liver sneered.
[Gentlemen, didn't I tell you? We should kill every last one of those wolves. Do you know how many of my kind they have eaten?]
[Too many to count.]
[They should be grateful that we employ them as villains at all, yet they dare try to change the original text of a sacred fable?]
The Wolf Constellation couldn't answer and only sweated profusely. I could see its fable screaming as it was crushed in real time.
[Some Constellations of the nebula Twelve Zodiacs enjoy the wolf's suffering.]
I thought the revenge of the weak was right. I also thought those who had suffered had the right to return what they had suffered.
[The Fable Fragment Hunted Wolf lets out a cry.]
[The Fable Fragment Red Riding Hood cowers in fear.]
I had no intention of judging whether their methods were right.
Still...
No matter how I looked at it, this stage was twisted somehow.
[Didn't you promise? That you would repay the sins your older brother committed.]
A sentence from TWSA suddenly crossed my mind.
「Animal-type Constellations sometimes bear even the Original Sin of a fable in exchange for sharing it among their species.」
Some fables continued beyond individuals, passed down through a species and even through generations.
The Wolf Constellation hurriedly lowered its head.
[Th-that's why I promised that we would offer a wolf as tribute again this month. The wolf will be prepared.]
[It must be a plump wolf.]
[Of course. One that has eaten plenty of other animals' meat and put on weight...]
I remembered the wolf harvesters who had gone around collecting the Fable Fragments called ‘meat’ from other beastfolk.
The hippopotamus that thrashed after losing an arm. The beastfolk who offered up meat but didn't resent the wolves.
Was that it?
The reason the wolves wanted ‘meat’ was...
[Strange. The wolves brought as tribute lately haven't been very plump.]
[That is because District 13 lacks a supply of fables... There haven't been enough Fable Fragments in the Area lately. If we exploit the beastfolk any further...]
[Do I need to consider your circumstances as well?]
[No! I was wrong. I'll somehow offer up plump wolves, wolves fed plenty of Fable Fragments!]
Only then did I feel like I understood several things.
Why all the beastfolk's Fable Fragments here were in such terrible condition.
Why their arms and legs had been replaced with machines.
Just as the Constellations of Olympus had used the giants as their Sacrifices, the pigs of the Twelve Zodiacs exploited the other beastfolk in the Recycling Center and received ‘wolves’ as tribute each month.
All to keep their own line alive.
[The fable The Three Little Pigs whines from hunger.]
The pig-headed symbolic form slowly descended to the ground and looked over the wolf Incarnations.
The instant one wolf Incarnation screamed and tried to run away in terror, its head exploded.
Crunch!
The pig's head chewed on the wolf-masked head and smiled.
[This one doesn't even have enough flesh to eat. It wouldn't make enough soup.]
[I-I'm sorry!]
[Can't you hear the voice of the fable? The story wants a Sacrifice. Do you want your existence erased from the Star Stream?]
[Please, give me one more chance! I'll do better!]
[Then.]
The Pig Constellation spoke.
[Prove it.]
The hair on my arms rose.
The song of a fable echoed in my ears.
The stage was beginning again.
[Offer a tribute.]
The wolf looked up at the pig's head with trembling eyes.
The Pig Constellation continued.
[Reveal your ugly nature and die.]
At the pig's command, the Wolf Constellation slowly rose.
Ye Hyunwoo grabbed my sleeve.
"We have to go inside."
Gyeong Se-in said the same.
"Inho, this isn't our concern. Run, quickly. If we don't run now..."
The beastfolk who had been prostrating themselves trembled with their heads pressed to the ground.
"N-no! Please forgive the wolf! Forgive it!"
"Please, great Twelve Zodiacs..."
Wolf Who Likes Red Riding Hood turned to look at them.
It saw the beastfolk who had lost their limbs and their Fable Fragments that had lost their voices.
Then it spoke.
[Understood. I will become the ‘tribute.’]
This had always been a fable with a decided ending.
A story everyone could watch without concern. A stage with a predetermined protagonist, where a predetermined villain had to die for it to end.
[「Stage Transformation」 has resumed.]
An ominous aura began flowing from the Wolf Constellation's entire body.
That wasn't all.
Our Brick House was growing.
[The influence of the Fable Fragment Brick House has increased!]
The Brick House had hardened as though it could withstand the attack of any wolf, reminding me of Pildu Gong's [Armament Fortress].
"Ah, ah... It's all over..."
"Everyone, run!"
Terrified beastfolk began fleeing into the Brick House one after another.
First Pig to Die watched them with satisfaction, then turned back to me one last time.
[One Favored by the Monkey, you have found the correct answer. Our fable will become even greater through the ‘bricks’ you found.]
[Don't even think of interfering. If you complete the fable safely, you will be rewarded as well.]
With those final words, the Constellations ascended back into the sky.
[Some Constellations of the nebula Twelve Zodiacs desire the wolf's downfall.]
The Wolf Constellation's muscles began to twitch.
It was a sign that the power of 「Stage Transformation」 was trying to take control of its entire body.
"Stop!"
I shouted at it.
But my words didn't reach it. Fierce winds were already raging around the Wolf Constellation's body.
Little Junghyeok, who stood beside me, stepped forward.
"Are you going to change the fable?"
I nodded.
"Why? The Twelve Zodiacs are right. If you stay still, you can obtain a new fable."
"I know. But the Incarnations left in this Area will..."
"You sensed it from the beginning. The ‘beastfolk’ here wanted us to become the wolf's Sacrifice."
I knew.
That was why the crane innkeeper had led us to that old guest house.
"The wolves exploit those beastfolk to obtain Fable Fragments. Then they feed them to one wolf and offer it to the pigs as ‘tribute.’"
"..."
"Whether the beastfolk die or the wolf dies isn't your concern."
"I know that too. But..."
"This world calls that hypocrisy."
Hypocrisy.
I smiled bitterly.
"This world is very similar to somewhere I knew."
Similar, but clearly different.
The Demon Realm I knew wasn't like this. Good and evil had been clearer there.
Could this also be the result of ‘recycling’?
"I don't have some grand cause or justification. I just..."
What would Kim Dokja have done?
"I don't like this story."
I never thought I could persuade him.
Yet he said, "If you become enemies with the Twelve Zodiacs, you will die."
I hesitated for a moment before asking, "Are you worried about me?"
"I can break through for a moment."
Ominous Mana rippled around little Junghyeok's small fist.
[hundred-step godly fists].
It should have been impossible.
Skills couldn't be used in this world.
Was Junghyeok still Junghyeok, even as a child?
With his own pure talent alone, he had turned the skill [hundred-step godly fists] into a fable.
"Please."
Junghyeok threw a punch into the air.
An explosive vortex surged forth, and a wound opened in the wind surrounding the wolf for an instant.
I slipped through the gap and grabbed the Wolf Constellation by the shoulder.
"I told you to stop!"
My voice scattered in the violent wind.
We could barely communicate.
At this level, the Constellations outside wouldn't be able to hear our voices.
[Go... inside. You... can't... change this story.]
It wasn't only because of 「Stage Transformation」.
Its long shadow was rampaging.
"Did they make your shadow Rampage?"
[You'll be... safe inside. Stay there... and remember the wolf's final story.]
I knew of a few Constellations whose shadows had gone into Rampage.
It would soon die.
Even if it didn't, it would be no different from dead.
Perhaps it read my expression, because the Wolf Constellation smiled.
[Are you... pitying me?]
"Pity? Do I look like I have that much free time?"
The Star Stream was a broken world from the beginning.
This world was only a ‘story.’
Every fable shone for a moment with emotion, then was consumed.
Over its long history, causes and results had become tangled, and perpetrators and victims could no longer be distinguished.
All that remained were the stars' mockery and cheers.
Even knowing that,
"Don't you want to make a new ‘fable’ for the wolf?"
I couldn't give up on the story.
This was the final story in which it could shine as a star.
It would crash into that Brick House again and again, fall through the chimney, and die horribly.
Then future wolves would remember it as the wolf from a new 「The Three Little Pigs」.
"Are you really going to end it like this?"
The Wolf Constellation's eyebrow twitched hard.
[You... are...]
"I know what you're going to say. There's nothing you can do. You're going to die anyway. The Twelve Zodiacs are a nebula you can't handle."
Though it was a Constellation, it was a fallen star that had lost every fable.
No matter what it did, it couldn't defeat the Twelve Zodiacs.
It couldn't destroy the ‘stage’ made solid by the stars' gaze over hundreds and thousands of years.
But even a Constellation like that could still do something.
"Sacrifice your shadow and summon an Outer God."
It could ruin this stage.
[What... nonsense are you talking about? If I do that...]
"The existing ‘stage’ will break. Then a new story will begin."
The wolf's eyes widened as though it couldn't understand what I was saying.
[Then District 13 will...]
"Don't worry. I'll stop the Outer God."
The wolf's voice shook harshly, as if it finally understood what I meant.
[You... don't mean...]
"That's right."
I nodded.
"I'm going to steal the fable of 「The Three Little Pigs」."
Footnotes:
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