WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 80: Episode 16 - The Fifth Scenario (4)

I gasped for breath as I asked.

“What is it? Is the transmission over?”

“No, it’s not that…”

“…Then, am I doing something wrong?”

“To be precise…”

“Stop dragging it out and just say it already.”

“Everything is wrong.”

The sincerity in those words hit me like a sudden punch. I plopped down as though my legs had given out. The sight of the Great Hole hovering in the sky felt unusually oppressive, as if mocking me.

Looking at me like that, Lycaon delivered the final blow.

“Master… has no aptitude for the [Way of the Wind]. To be honest, it seems you lack aptitude for nearly every skill.”

If I wasn't careful, the world might be doomed because of me.

Hours passed like that, and before I knew it, an entire day had slipped by. Now there were eight days left until the fifth scenario began. I continued trying to master the [Way of the Wind] without giving up. Of course, there was no progress.

“Grrrr. Master, perhaps it would be better to… give up.”

“…Why can’t I do it?”

Suyeong, who had been snickering and spectating from the side, chimed in.

“Why? Because you have no talent, that’s why.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Why not? You think you’re the protagonist just because you’ve been doing well recently? Do you think you’re Yu Junghyeok or something?”

For some reason, her words struck a nerve, and my chest ached. I frowned as I replied.

“Still, I understand it all in my head.”

“Oh, sure. Everyone can get into Seoul National University in their head.”

“I mean it.”

I really did understand most of the insights related to the [Way of the Wind]. In frustration, I had even borrowed a spare battery from the survivors an hour ago to reread the files.

“Hold the gale in your left hand, the storm in your right. At the intersection of straight lines and curves, the way of the wind will open.”

“Whoa, how… You really do understand!”

Lycaon, who had been listening nearby, was astonished.

What I had just muttered was one of the insights Junghyeok had reached in TWSA. In the novel, Junghyeok mastered the [Way of the Wind] in just five minutes after gaining such dramatic, borderline melodramatic, insights.

Yet here I was, unable to manage it after two full days.

“What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Pardon? What you just said was perfectly accurate. There’s no better way to express it.”

“No, that’s a metaphor.”

“It’s not a metaphor, you just need to follow the instructions literally.”

I was at my wits’ end. Not even the explanatory boost from TWSA could help this time. That’s because everything written about it was vague nonsense. Even the [Fourth Wall] was useless at this moment. While the [Fourth Wall] could enhance my judgment and composure, it couldn’t grant me talent I didn’t have.

Feeling slightly irritated, I spoke to Lycaon.

“Then why don’t you try it? ‘When one wind meets another, they form a Taiji. And when another wind meets yet another, Yin and Yang are established.’”

Despite this clearly being an Earth-based concept, Lycaon somehow understood it perfectly.

“How did you interpret such profound words?”

“Stop talking and demonstrate it.”

“Well, it’s something like this.”

Lycaon moved his hands, and winds from various directions began forming currents. Two winds collided to create a vortex, and the hot and cold energies within them harmonized.

…To be honest, I could only think, What the hell?

How could someone take those words and use them to produce something like that? Why couldn’t I do the same?

I suddenly felt a burst of competitive spirit.

“Then how about this? ‘Four winds meet to form the cardinal directions, and when another four winds join, they create the essence of the Eight Trigrams. Thus, the wind exists everywhere and nowhere.’ Can you do that?”

That sentence was an insight Junghyeok had gained during his ninth regression. But this time, even Lycaon appeared flustered. In a triumphant voice, I said,

“Can’t do it, can you? That’s exactly how I feel.”

“Pushov… No, Master. Thank you so much.”

[The Prince of the Imyuntar, Lycaon has gained a significant insight.]

Lycaon suddenly sat cross-legged and began meditating.

[You have greatly influenced the evolution of the Prince of the Imyuntar, Lycaon.]

[The Prince of the Imyuntar, Lycaon feels immense gratitude toward you.]

[Several constellations from the destroyed world Chronos express their thanks to you.]

[You have been gifted 2,000 coins.]

Only then did I realize what had happened. That damned wolf had gained an insight from what I said.

Suyeong, laughing so hard she was holding her sides, was now rolling on the ground. A wave of despair washed over me. Maybe I knew everything about TWSA but didn’t know a thing about myself.

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband marvels at your foolishness.]

[The constellation Secretive Plotter is disappointed by your clumsiness.]

As I stared at the floating system messages, I even began considering whether it was time to find a better patron constellation and make a contract. But that was impossible due to my existing contract with Bihyeong.

―Why did you destroy the throne in the first place, you fool?

Startled, I looked up. There, Bihyeong’s translucent form floated above me.

I activated Dokkaebi Communication to speak with him.

“Is it safe to talk now? What about that mid-grade dokkaebi?”

―He’s gone for a while. Got disciplined pretty harshly. He won’t return until the fifth main scenario opens. Oh, by the way, the channel leveled up again. If this keeps up, I might become a mid-grade dokkaebi next month. Thanks to you.

“Good for you.”

―What’s with the lukewarm reaction? If I do well, it’s good for you too, you know.

“When you become mid-grade, won’t you just be busier?”

Bihyeong snickered at my response.

―Don’t worry, pal. I’ll look out for you no matter what. Though, lately, the Bureau’s been riding the mid-grade dokkaebis hard. Someone’s been twisting plausibility like crazy, so things have been chaotic.

I didn’t need him to say it, I already knew who was responsible.

―Oh, of course, I’m not talking about you.

It was obviously Junghyeok. No doubt about it. Junghyeok’s rate of growth was implausibly fast, completely defying probability. To anyone observing, it was practically a cheat.

―There’s this one guy growing at an abnormal pace, and the Bureau can’t even touch him. Seems like he’s got some pretty significant backers.

Junghyeok’s “plausibility” would likely never be an issue. After all, as long as a patron constellation could shoulder the burden, plausibility wouldn’t matter. And Junghyeok’s patron constellation was powerful enough to do exactly that.

―Anyway, how about a ‘Growth Pack’? I’ll give you a special discount if you buy it now. I know you’re struggling with that skill—this pack could…

“I’m not buying it. Growth Packs only apply to skills you’ve already learned. Are you trying to swindle me after showing up out of nowhere?”

There was a reason even someone as strong as Junghyeok didn’t use the Growth Pack. It came with penalties if misused.

―Tch, so you knew…

Bihyeong clicked his tongue regretfully.

“Well, it’s about time I bought something, though.”

[Coin balance: 62,372C]

Thanks to selling parts of the Fire Dragon, I had managed to increase my overall stats significantly while still retaining a decent amount of coins. If I had just 40,000 more coins, I could have bought [Heavenly Dragon Step]. Unfortunately, now wasn’t the time.

Bihyeong perked up.

―Oh, really? What do you have in mind?

“Your people will be rolling out new coin items soon, won’t they?”

―…How do you know about that? Did you plant a spy?

“It’s obvious. With the new scenario about to open, of course you’d sell new items. Let me know when they’re available. I’ll buy then.”

―Wow, who are you, and what have you done with the real Kim Dokja…?

I cut off the Dokkaebi Communication before he could say anything more. Talking to him was only going to raise my blood pressure.

When I turned around, I saw Lycaon still deep in his meditation. Suyeong, now closer, rested her chin in her hand and stared at me.

“So, what’s the plan now?”

“…I don’t know. I’m still thinking.”

“Then let me learn it instead.”

“What?”

“Or teach it to one of the other survivors.”

Her suggestion made me glance over at the people around us. The survivors had been regrouping and caring for the injured since the coin farm collapsed two days ago. Their camaraderie was noticeably different from the atmosphere among Yun Seongho’s victims.

Maybe Suyeong’s hypocritical acts of charity had changed them.

It made me think—perhaps hypocrisy could still be a virtue.

Suyeong spoke up again.

“All you need is for someone to learn the [Way of the Wind], right? Does it really have to be you?”

“…Right, it could be anyone.”

“Then why are you so adamant about doing it yourself? You just want the constellations’ attention all to yourself, don’t you?”

Her words weren’t entirely wrong, but they weren’t completely accurate, either.

“Only someone with the talisman can learn the [Way of the Wind].”

“Then give the talisman to me.”

“It’s not transferrable.”

[The character Han Suyeong has verified that the statement is true.]

I clicked my tongue.

“You’re even more suspicious than Yu Junghyeok.”

“Speaking of him, wasn’t this skill supposed to be his originally?”

“It was.”

“Then why are you putting yourself through all this? Just leave it to him. It’s not too late—let’s find Yu Junghyeok and let him handle it. If you train him properly, you’ll benefit from his success, right? That guy doesn’t even need an talisman, he’ll find a way to make it work.”

“Yu Junghyeok doesn’t listen to others.”

“Then I’ll seduce him.”

I stared at Suyeong’s face for a moment before looking away.

“That’s not happening.”

“…Are you looking down on me?”

“Besides, even if we find him, there’s a problem.”

No matter how skilled Junghyeok was, without the talisman, he couldn’t learn the [Way of the Wind]. Which meant he’d try to take it from me. And since the talisman was a bound item, the only way to transfer ownership was for me to die.

In other words, Junghyeok would definitely try to kill me.

Even without the talisman, though…

“You know as well as I do that we didn’t part on good terms. If we meet, he’ll definitely try to kill me.”

The image of Junghyeok’s bloodied face after my 100-strength punch and the way his eyes glared at me as if he wanted to tear me apart were still fresh in my memory.

“…Yeah, that bastard didn’t hesitate to chop my neck off either.”

Suyeong instinctively rubbed her neck, likely recalling the events at Chungmuro Station.

“Besides, even if we wanted to find him, we have no idea where he is…”

That’s when we heard the commotion nearby.

“Someone’s injured! Help, quickly! The wound’s serious!”

Apparently, someone had found a severely injured person close by.

[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire is anticipating your camaraderie.]

[Several constellations are hoping you’ll help the injured survivor.]

Even Uriel and the other constellations were sending messages. That was rare.

What’s going on?

Suyeong and I moved toward the commotion. When I saw the injured person, I froze in place, then looked up at the floating form of Bihyeong.

Bihyeong cackled nervously, trying to look innocent.

―Hey, don’t look at me like that. I had nothing to do with this.

Covered in blood, Yu Junghyeok was lying there, waiting for me.

Footnotes:

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