WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: smol_anon

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 8: Episode 2 - Protagonist (2)

[The Patron Selection has ended.]

I took a deep breath as I stared at the messages floating in the air.

[Multiple constellations are astounded by your choice.]

Well, it was starting now.

[The constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is enraged by your decision.]

[The constellations of Black Cloud are unsettled by the Abyssal Black Flame Dragon's wrath. You will not receive any support from the Black Cloud constellations for the time being.]

I wasn’t surprised by these messages, as I had expected them.

To think it would turn its whole group against me just because I rejected it… This same constellation had been the patron of Kim Namwoon in the original story. Like patron, like incarnation, I suppose.

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire is disappointed in you.]

[She will closely monitor your sense of justice from now on.]

As for Archangel Uriel, she only expressed disappointment. constellations of the absolute good rarely held grudges unless someone committed a truly heinous act.

[The constellation Secretive Plotter is intrigued by your decision.]

[You have been gifted 200 coins.]

The reaction of the Secretive Plotter was unexpected. Given the nature of this constellation’s epithet, it likely appreciated my cautious approach.

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband finds your choice amusing.]

And then there was The Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal…

I felt conflicted. Had I made the right decision? I couldn’t be sure. Perhaps I had let an incredible opportunity slip through my fingers.

[You have not chosen a patron.]

But selecting a patron would also have limited my possibilities. A contract with a patron constellation was never a fair “deal.”

I was determined to survive. But I wouldn’t do so by becoming their plaything.

And if my calculations were correct, there was a way to grow stronger without choosing a patron right now. A way to become even stronger than those who had the most powerful patrons.

[Haha, well… it looks like someone made an interesting choice! But don’t worry, there will be more opportunities.]

The dokkaebi’s crescent-shaped eyes lingered on me for a moment.

[Alright, now that everyone’s finished, you can take a short break. I’ve got to go prepare the next scenario, so see you in 10 minutes!]

After the <Patron Selection> ended, the dokkaebi left with those words. He said to rest, but this 10-minute break was crucial. I needed to sort out everything and prepare for the next scenario within that time.

I quickly reviewed the abilities I had.

[Character Profile] and [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint].

I didn’t know their exact applications yet, but I had a good sense of what these skills could do. I could make it work.

“Everyone, gather around.”

The survivors, who had been nervously glancing at each other, shuffled toward me hesitantly. The first to extend a hand was Lee Hyeonseong.

“Hello, I’m Lee Hyeonseong.”

“I’m Kim Dokja.”

“I’m not sure if this is the right moment to say it, but… it’s nice to meet you. As I mentioned earlier, I’m a soldier, though now I guess I should say I was a soldier.”

“You can’t get in touch with your unit, I assume?”

“...That’s right.”

His grip was strong, as expected from the early-game tank in TWSA. I needed to take him with me. Lee Hyeonseong might not seem like much now, but he would become a key figure as the story progressed.

“Oh, and Dokja-ssi.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for earlier. If it weren’t for you, we’d all be dead.”

“No, that’s not—”

“Or even if we had survived, we wouldn’t have remained human. Truly, thank you. And… I’m ashamed.”

Hyeonseong bowed deeply, and I felt a pang of guilt. He would have survived even without my intervention. Just then, someone grabbed my shoulder.

“Haha, our contract worker did something big, huh? Dokja-ssi, you know my name, right?”

I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. I shook off the hand from my shoulder and spoke.

“I do, Han Myeongoh-ssi.”

“What? Han Myeongoh-ssi? You should call me ‘Manager Han.’”

Even in this situation, he was still clinging to his title. Typical Han Myeongoh.

“This isn’t the office.”

“Hah, look at this guy. Are you planning to quit? Where did you learn such disrespect?”

As Myeongoh growled at me, it struck me again: the world I once knew had truly ended. The man in front of me used to be one of the apex predators in that world, and I was nothing but prey in his eyes. That’s how things had been.

“And you know, it wasn’t right, you know? If there was a bug like that, you should’ve warned me! You could’ve given me a heads-up instead of throwing it like that.”

“…”

“Kim Dokja-ssi, you should be treating me better! You don’t have much time left on your contract, do you? This is the most critical moment for you—”

Suddenly, I found it all laughable. The world I had lived in was so fragile.

“Myeongoh-ssi.”

“Huh?”

“Shut the hell up.”

“W-what?”

“Do you still not understand the situation? Did that kid need to hit you for you to get it? Mino Soft? Do you think a company like that even exists anymore after what’s happened?”

Myeongoh’s face turned pale, and his mouth opened and closed like a fish. I turned to the others. Since I had started speaking, I might as well make everything clear.

“This isn’t just about Han Myeongoh. Everyone needs to get a grip. This isn’t a game, just like the dokkaebi said.”

“…”

“I trust you all have some idea of what’s going on. A system window, exclusive skills… a game-like interface. Does anyone here still not get it?”

As expected, no one raised their hand. In a country like Korea, with such high internet and electronics penetration, there weren’t many people who hadn’t played an RPG before. Even if someone hadn’t, they must have at least read a fantasy novel or webtoon.

Hyeonseong sighed.

“It feels like something straight out of the novels I used to read secretly on night watch. But it still doesn’t feel real. This isn’t a dream, is it?”

“It’s reality.”

Lee Hyeonseong’s eyes shifted slightly at my firm response.

[The character Lee Hyeonseong feels a faint trust towards you.]

[Your understanding of the character Lee Hyeonseong has increased.]

He nodded.

“I like certainty. So, what should we do now? Do you have a plan, Dokja-ssi?”

“We need to get out of here.”

I spoke without hesitation.

“G-get out? Are you serious?”

“Dokja-ssi, I think that’s a bit…”

Even Sangah chimed in. None of them had fully grasped the situation yet.

“So, how long do you plan on staying here?”

Logically speaking, my argument didn’t make much sense. The outside world was crawling with monsters.

But I knew the truth. We had to get out now.

“Doesn’t anyone here care about their parents? Don’t you wonder if they’re safe after all this?”

“I’ve been trying to call them, but my phone’s dead. KakaoTalk isn’t working either…”

It seemed like the word ‘parents’ had a special magic. Even Yu Sangah, Lee Hyeonseong, and Han Myeongoh’s expressions darkened. Lee Gilyeong remained silent, his head bowed. I gently patted the boy on the shoulder. The first to stand up was Sangah.

“Let’s go. We need to leave.”

“No! Did you not hear what that bastard said? He told us to stay put! If you move carelessly, you’ll get your head smashed in!”

“Let’s settle this by vote.”

Sangah raised her hand first, followed by Lee Gilyeong and me. But that was as far as it went.

“I need to check on my unit, but moving carelessly in this situation is dangerous. We were warned earlier, too.”

“You can go out if you want! I’m not leaving! I’m staying right here!”

Han Myeongoh didn’t matter much, but Lee Hyeonseong was the problem. I needed to take him with me…

A loud thud shook the car, accompanied by the sound of thick metal being crushed. Looking closely, I realized the iron door leading to car 3707 was slowly being bent inward.

“W-what the hell?”

Ignoring Han Myeongoh’s scream, the door groaned again with a deafening noise.

Thud!

Someone was trying to break down the door from the other side. This unexpected situation sent my thoughts into overdrive. Could this be the next scenario? No, the dokkaebi hadn’t returned yet. Then…

My mind raced. A cold shiver ran down my spine as goosebumps prickled my skin.

It was him.

“W-what are you doing? Stop them!”

As Myeongoh shouted in panic and moved away from the door, I stopped Hyeonseong from approaching the iron door.

“You can’t stop it.”

“What?”

“We need to get out of here right now.”

I stared at the door, my voice heavy.

“What? But—”

“If we don’t leave now—”

The lone survivor of car 3707. It was obvious who was on the other side of that door.

“We’ll all be dead before the next scenario even arrives.”

Yes. The story’s real protagonist was finally coming.

Footnotes:

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