WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 74: Episode 15 - A Kingless World (4)

Inside the iron cage, Han Suyeong lay sprawled, utterly spent.

After losing her flag to me, she must have collapsed from a complete depletion of mana.

Judging by her being transported to this area, she probably had some personal ties to it. Maybe her publishing agency or management office was nearby since she was a writer.

“She’s a looker, isn’t she? Hey, you didn’t touch her already, did you?”

“As if. With all the constellations watching.”

“We’re in for a killer show here.”

[A few constellations’ eyes gleam with curiosity.]

Some of the wanderers had already started playing rock-paper-scissors. I didn’t need to ask to know what kind of stage they were planning. I kept my gaze on Suyeong in the cage. Her jeans and shirt were torn from fierce fighting, and it looked like she had no strength left to get up. If left like this, she’d likely die.

Hm…

She was an enemy who’d become a liability if kept alive.

Other than me, she was the only one in this world who knew so much about the scenario’s history.

Though the scenario was already unfolding differently from the third or fourth rounds, making much of her knowledge irrelevant… still…

The moment I thought this, I felt a surge of disgust for myself.

…Why was I thinking like this?

Who gets to decide that someone should die because they’re a threat or that another should live because they’re useful?

I wasn’t Yu Junghyeok.

“Oh, this looks like a decent item.”

Assistant Manager Yun seemed to have misread my expression and was smiling.

“If you make me one promise, I’ll let you have her. How about it?”

“…What do you mean?”

“You’re already part of a group, right? Introduce us. We’re thinking it’s about time to expand our influence, you see. Looks like you’ve got a fair number of items, too…”

I looked steadily at Assistant Manager Yun and replied.

“If you wish, I’ll make an introduction. But please, stop this business.”

“Hm? Haha, Dokja-ssi, what are you saying?”

I pointed to the people in the cages.

“Release them all.”

“What?”

I didn’t repeat myself. Realizing I wasn’t joking, Assistant Manager Yun’s brow furrowed.

“Dokja-ssi, we’re both grown-ups here. I thought we understood each other. You’re not usually the type to be like this.”

A sly sneer tugged at the corners of his mouth as he smirked.

“You, Dokja-ssi. You were always by yourself, reading web novels alone. Wore the same clothes to work every day, barely spoke with anyone. It was just me and a few other colleagues, right? Sure, there were people like Yu Sangah, but she was all fake.”

“…What does that have to do with this?”

“You’re secretly enjoying all of this, aren’t you? Admit it.”

Those words pierced me from a completely unexpected angle. As Assistant Manager Yun patted my shoulder, he continued.

“You and I are alike. We’re from the same QA team. Remember how the other departments saw us? Just a bunch of cheap labor doing game testing, with no specs.”

“…”

“Dokja-ssi, don’t tell me you don’t know who those people in the cage are. Take a good look—they’re the ones who looked down on us.”

The Mino Soft employees stared at us from within the cage. These were people I barely knew, and the feeling was mutual—they barely knew me or didn’t care to.

“It’s all over now. Whether they’re from Finance, Planning, or whatever, our QA team has the upper hand in this world. Hahaha. You know the ins and outs of bug testing, right? This world is a game, and a buggy one at that. Exploits all over the place, ready for anyone who dares.”

Countless messages from constellations echoed in my mind.

Messages craving even more sensational, lurid, or brutal scenes, blending quietly over Assistant Manager Yun’s face.

Sometimes, inferiority drives people into becoming monsters.

“Do you know how many coins our group pulls in per day with this? 5,000. Five thousand coins. Imagine that—5,000 coins without clearing a single scenario. It’s like the Planning team cranking out cash items. Don’t you get what that means?”

I slowly opened my eyes after a brief blink. I’d listened to his spiel as a courtesy to the coworker who’d once shared rooftop sighs with me. But just as I was about to respond, someone spoke up first.

“I-I can’t do it.”

It was the new employee inside the cage.

“I can’t do it. I-I just can’t!”

The employee’s desperate voice cooled the atmosphere like a splash of cold water. I looked at the trembling figure who’d fallen to the ground. Just because you hand someone the sword of revenge doesn’t mean they’ll use it.

[Multiple constellations are sorely disappointed by the sudden turn of events!]

Messages from constellations who’d lost interest began to pour in. Clicking his tongue, Assistant Manager Yun stepped forward. And at that moment, Manager Lee, who’d been gauging the situation, picked up the dagger from the floor.

“Aaaaaargh!”

[A constellation relishes the voyeurism of human depravity and chuckles.]

[A constellation with a taste for tragedy prepares to pay coins!]

Assistant Manager Yun’s eyes lit up with interest. Though the new employee had refused his revenge, he’d still managed to serve up entertainment for the constellations. The dagger, raised high, was poised to strike down on the new employee’s head—if I hadn’t intervened.

With a light snap, my blade blocked Manager Lee’s attempted strike from within the cage.

“W-what are you—”

“Are you crazy?! What are you doing?”

At my sudden action, the surrounding wanderers reached for their weapons. The frightened new employee looked up at me, while Manager Lee, stunned, collapsed to the floor, trembling. When I glanced over, Assistant Manager Yun was staring at me, disappointed. I gave him a slight smile.

“This simple spectacle is too boring. It’s disappointing, Assistant Manager Yun.”

“…What?”

“If it’s coins you want, I know a better way.”

Assistant Manager Yun’s initial confusion shifted into a look of intrigue.

“Oh? What’s this more entertaining method?”

I nodded.

“Use the constellations who crave excitement.”

“Oh-ho, there’s something even more thrilling than this? You’re something else, Dokja-ssi.”

Meeting his eager gaze, I nodded in agreement.

“I’ll tell you. It’s a method our group often uses.”

“By all means.”

“What constellations really love…”

[Blade of Faith has been activated!]

“…is this kind of thing.”

With a splintering crash, the cage bars shattered like brittle sticks. Without hesitation, I unleashed my sword in all directions, severing the legs and slicing through the Achilles tendons of the charging wanderers. Their knees buckled instantly.

“Arghhh! Who the hell is this bastard?!”

“My leg! My leg!”

Blood spurted up in a messy spray as I swung toward the cage where Suyeong was held.

“They also like this.”

I sliced off the hand of the wanderer guarding the cage and slashed through the ankle of the man approaching Suyeong inside.

“And this, too.”

A spurt of blood splattered my cheek. I wiped it away and continued cutting—arms, legs, severing with precision. The new employee and his superiors in the cage screamed as they fled. Assistant Manager Yun shouted at me from nearby.

“What the hell are you doing? What the hell is this?!”

“It’s a thank-you, for creating a ‘real spectacle’ for the constellations to enjoy.”

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire is pleased with your judgment.]

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband breathes through his nose in approval at the ruthless retribution.]

[A large number of constellations discontented with the depravity are highly satisfied with your decision.]

[You have received 8,000 coins.]

Assistant Manager Yun paled and collapsed to the ground. I gave him a wry smile.

“Why bother with a ‘farm’? Earning coins is this easy.”

“Y-you, you bastard! Get him!”

There were still many wanderers left. Twenty of them quickly armed themselves and closed in around me. Their numbers were too high to avoid killing anyone if I had to take them all on, but I wasn’t worried—I could always retreat.

I stepped back slightly and scooped up Suyeong’s light body.

Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and she muttered,

“…What the hell are you doing?”

“You’re awake?”

Suyeong scowled and groaned weakly.

“I was pretending to be knocked out so I could take them all down at once…”

“Oh? Then I’ll get out of your way.”

A flicker of urgency crossed her face, and her small hand grabbed my collar.

“…If you save me, all the constellations in your channel will lose interest, you know? You do know they hate a predictable turn of events?”

“Some of them like it. So, do you want me to save you or not?”

[A constellation hoping for a harem clasps their hands expectantly.]

[A constellation favoring the phrase the enemy of my enemy is my friend is delighted.]

Suyeong grimaced.

“This is a cliché, you know? You’re saving the damsel in distress—classic cliché. You always say you hate clichés, yet your words and actions don’t match.”

“There are two things wrong with what you just said.”

I calmly sliced through the leg of an approaching wanderer.

“One, I’m not the protagonist. And two…”

[You have saved the life of an ally.]

[Your Karma Points have increased by 1.]

[Current Karma Points: 14/100]

The system only awarded Karma Points when it deemed someone “saved.” In other words, if I had left her there, Suyeong probably would have died.

“You’re no damsel.”

“Put me down!”

Without hesitation, I dropped her to the ground, and she burst out in anger.

“You really put me down?!”

“Fight with me. You like clichés, don’t you? The stage is already set.”

“I might like clichés, but former enemies fighting side by side is just way too overdone.”

Despite her grumbling, we worked well together. I’d take out the legs of approaching wanderers, and Suyeong would move in to finish them off. As we methodically took down each one, fewer and fewer remained.

Realizing they were outmatched, the remaining wanderers abandoned the “coin farm” and fled.

Suyeong, laughing with exhaustion, watched the coins spill from the wanderers we’d killed.

[You have obtained a total of 18,400 coins.]

She must have earned quite a bit herself. Although I was reluctant to share, I figured she’d earned it—it was thanks to her that I’d managed to collect so many.

Ahead of us, Assistant Manager Yun still sat trembling on the ground.

“Haha… Psychopath. Knew you were like this. Should’ve known when the rumors started…”

“What’s this idiot going on about?”

Suyeong scoffed and swiftly plunged a dagger into Assistant Manager Yun’s throat. Blood bubbled at his neck, and the light faded from his eyes.

Another person who had remembered the “Kim Dokja” from reality was now gone.

Suyeong looked at me and muttered.

“What’s with that face? Don’t tell me you’re sad he’s dead?”

“No.”

“Then why do you look so heartbroken?”

Hearing those words from Suyeong surprised me a little.

“You actually stood there listening to all that crap he was spouting? Why even bother? The constellations hate that kind of dragged-out nonsense.”

I’d zoned out, but her comment made me laugh. Was that her point?

“You don’t get it. Listening to a guy like that ramble and then killing him earns more coins. You can’t have catharsis without the slow build-up.”

“No way. Readers—uh, I mean, constellations—love it when you just cut to the chase. Who are you to talk big anyway, you’re no writer?”

“I know it better than you do. I’m a reader.”

Leaving her grumbling behind, I started searching through the items scattered on the ground. Most of it was junk, but I found a wearable suit.

[Old Gentleman’s Suit]

It was a B-grade item. It barely offered any defense, but it was still better than nothing. I couldn’t rely on the Samyeong Daesa’s rob forever… Besides, it was about time I upgraded my equipment.

From the looks of the fleeing wanderers, it seemed their hideout was in that direction.

I’d have to face the wanderers sooner or later, so this was perfect timing.

If my memory was correct, Seocho-gu was where I could find a few “meteorites” useful in the fifth scenario. Since I’d ended up here, I might as well grab one of those.

But first, I’d have to find a power bank...

[You have saved the life of an ally.]

[Your Karma Points have increased by 11.]

[Current Karma Points: 25/100]

Gradually, the people who had been trapped in the cage began to approach, one by one.

Some of them recognized me, a light of hope appearing on their faces.

Before they could say anything, I waved them off.

“I won’t be able to help you from here on. You’ll need to survive on your own.”

Their eyes darkened with despair, but there was nothing more I could do. As harsh as it seemed, they would have to protect their own lives from now on.

“I didn’t collect all the items, so feel free to take what you need. If you get the chance, head toward Chungmuro. You might find people there who can help.”

Before I even finished speaking, they scrambled to grab the scattered items. Driven by their will to survive, their eyes flared with renewed determination.

As I watched them, I finally understood why the dokkaebi had sent me here.

“That’s mine! Let go!”

“I-I picked it up first!”

The people who’d once been victims were now pointing their weapons at each other. They didn’t hesitate to turn on one another.

This was the kingless world.

A world where no one held authority over them.

The dokkaebi had brought me here to show me this scene.

To show me how savage a world without a king could become, how fragile and naïve our notions of law, ethics, and humanity truly were.

Then, a voice suddenly stopped those about to wield their weapons.

“You lot… wanna die?”

Footnotes:

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