WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 834: Episode 43: Transcendence Alliance (3)
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“I’ll choose the Recorder of Fear…”
Needless to say, the Recorder of Fear I would choose was the Architect of the False Finale.
There was no reason to hesitate.
That Recorder's True name was surely Han Suyeong.
“The Architect of the False…”
But the moment I said that much, fierce sparks burst before my eyes.
[The relevant Recorder of Fear is not on the list.]
“Huh?”
It was strange.
No, I definitely saw it.
Right after I killed the Founder of the Absolute Throne, I had clearly received a message saying the Architect of the False Finale was interested in my interpretation.
I called out the same modifier again.
[The relevant Recorder of Fear is not on the list.]
“I said, let me meet Suyeong.”
This time, there was no response at all.
Perhaps the Transcendents watching nearby found my behavior strange, because they began murmuring.
“Was there a Recorder by that name?”
“It’s my first time hearing it.”
What the hell was going on?
―What’s wrong?
Kim Dokja, who only appeared when he had something to say, showed up again right on cue.
“Didn’t you see it just now?”
―See what?
“Suyeong was there.”
―What nonsense are you talking about? Why would Suyeong be here?
“No, the Architect of the False Finale…”
The connection cut off again after those final words.
Was I able to speak with him briefly because of the sparks? Either way, this guy was useless when it actually mattered.
Still, if Kim Dokja had not seen that message either, had it only been visible to me?
I called out her modifier one last time.
[The relevant Recorder of Fear is not on the list.]
[Rechecking the list of Recorders of Fear you can currently contact.]
+
―Fox Who Commands the Heavens
―Prince of Wolves
―Demon King of the Cinema
―Devilish Sophist
+
She was not there.
Instead, some bastard called the Devilish Sophist had shamelessly taken the Architect of the False Finale’s place.
This was not some Lemon Candy being given and snatched back. How could it just disappear like that?
I wanted to complain immediately, but I did not even know where I should complain. System messages themselves were treated as Fears here, so there was nothing I could say if they contained false information.
It could not be helped. For now, I had to choose a Recorder of Fear other than Suyeong.
I examined the list again and again.
As I did, I strangely felt as if I had returned to the days of patron selection.
First, Fox Who Commands the Heavens.
If I was right, this being was a Recorder of Fear I had already met.
The Recorder who had approached me at the Recycling Center, Flying Fox.
Since the epithet itself contained fox, and this person had been called Yu Junghyeok’s Bag of Tricks in TWSA, the first option was undoubtedly Flying Fox Wang Weirong.
Flying Fox had become a Recorder of Fear…
What, exactly, was the standard for becoming a Recorder of Fear?
Second, Prince of Wolves.
The first person who came to mind when I saw it was Yu Junghyeok.
After all, I had seen the 41st-round Junghyeok transform into the Black Beast.
Was that all? In the main story, the 1,863rd-round Junghyeok had also been compared to a wolf.
The 41st-round Junghyeok could not have suddenly become a Recorder of Fear, so…
Could the Prince of Wolves perhaps be the Secretive Plotter?
My heart raced for a moment, but after thinking it over, that could not be right.
Considering that the being most revered by the Recorders of Fear was the Secretive Plotter, the strongest Outer God, there was no way the Secretive Plotter himself would be a Recorder.
Then…
It was highly likely that this was Lycaon.
Lycaon had once appeared under the epithet Lost Guide, but perhaps his Status had risen after interacting with me and he had gained a new modifier.
Third, Demon King of the Cinema.
Honestly, the third option was the hardest to guess. Cinema and Demon King. It felt like two unrelated keywords had been forcibly tied together.
Still, there was someone who came to mind when I considered the keywords themselves. As it happened, there was only one person in this worldline who fulfilled both conditions.
Asmodeus, the Demonic God of Wrath and Lust.
If the guy who had a Theater full of readers was a Recorder of Fear, then his incomprehensible feats until now made a little more sense.
Lastly, the Devilish Sophist.
This one…
It was obviously that guy.
My deliberation was brief.
If I could not meet Suyeong, I had only one choice anyway.
「Meeting the 40th-round Inho Cheon.」
There would be value in meeting Flying Fox and hearing his story, or seeing Lycaon again. But the one with the most valuable information right now was the Devilish Sophist.
Devilish Sophist.
That was the epithet of the 40th-round Inho Cheon.
I was curious.
What kind of person had the 40th-round Inho Cheon been, when neither Junghyeok nor Anna could properly remember him?
Why had I possessed Inho Cheon in the 41st round of all places?
The Devilish Sophist surely knew the answers.
Just as I thought that and opened the door…
[Your interpretation has been recognized as having special value by the Recorders of Fear.]
[You have gained an opportunity to have a private meeting with each of the four Recorders.]
With those unexpected messages, a vast plain spread out before me.
A pleasant wind brushed the tip of my nose.
Somehow, I thought I knew where this was.
【Hoju.】
A massive wolf stood where I turned.
“Lycaon!”
The prince of the planet Chronos.
The imyuntar wolf who had sacrificed himself for me once again.
[You have entered the room of Recorder of Fear, Prince of Wolves.]
【Hoju. There is no time, so I will be brief.】
Before we could exchange even a greeting, Lycaon’s body was beginning to vanish into the blowing wind.
“Lycaon?”
【Hoju, thank you. Thanks to Hoju’s Record, I received a new modifier. However, I have not yet recovered enough strength to contact Hoju. The reason I came here is…】
Lycaon’s hurried voice scattered into the wind in real time.
【Do not believe any Record until you have confirmed it with your own eyes! All the Recorders in the Fear Realm will eventually…!】
The moment Lycaon said that much, I heard someone lightly snap their fingers.
【Tsk. A low-grade Recorder should not cut in line.】
Then, as if by magic, Lycaon’s room disappeared.
[The turn of Recorder of Fear, Prince of Wolves, has ended.]
What appeared next was a martial arts-style setting.
[You have entered the room of Recorder of Fear, Fox Who Commands the Heavens.]
The voices of martial artists outside. People having a light meal of chicken broth with thin noodles.
Fox Who Commands the Heavens, Flying Fox, sat at the center of that peaceful scene like a still-life painting.
【Have a seat.】
Honestly, I was a little overwhelmed.
The detached air I felt from him was subtly different from what I felt when meeting Constellations.
If I had to compare it to something, it was similar to the feeling of facing an Outer God or a Fear.
When I carefully sat across from him, Flying Fox quietly raised his hand and ordered from the menu.
【Two bowls of chicken broth with thin noodles.】
The cook who took the order soon brought us steaming chicken broth and noodles.
A Murim-style meal, out of nowhere.
Honestly, I had no idea what was going on, but since it was served to me, I decided to try it. The moment I slurped up a mouthful, I realized.
「This is the real thing.」
A flavor that seemed to deny every bowl of thin noodles I had eaten until now.
It was the kind of taste even Yu Junghyeok would have no choice but to acknowledge.
Perhaps my expression amused him, because Flying Fox asked.
【Is it good?】
“Yes, it is.”
【That is a relief. This was a place I liked. Though it is gone now.】
It seemed this zone was a kind of Time Stratum owned by Flying Fox.
For a while, we watched the people passing by the inn.
Soft voices. The smell of ingredients being stir-fried and steamed.
Even in the world of Scenarios, peace still existed between the lines.
I did not know which round this stratum depicted. Still, I thought I understood what this place meant to Flying Fox.
“Is this your round?”
Flying Fox paused briefly before answering my question.
【It is. In this round, I saw the end of the world.】
The end of the world.
The weight of those abruptly spoken words unsettled me.
“Does that mean you cleared the Final Scenario? Did you see the [Final Wall]?”
Flying Fox only smiled mysteriously at my words.
Perhaps that meant he could not answer. Or perhaps the trade had already begun.
【That is a question I can answer only through a trade. Shall we begin?】
As expected.
【I am interested in the Natural Disaster-grade Fear you interpreted.】
Perhaps he was impatient by nature, because Flying Fox quickly continued.
【With your Status, you could never have hunted the Founder of the Absolute Throne. Even if the Twelve Seats of Olympus came, hunting that creature would be difficult.】
“…”
【Yet you did it. I want the story behind that achievement.】
I defeated that thing through the power of Stage Transformation. Flying Fox was probably curious about the identity of that fable.
But I had no intention of revealing my only card so easily.
“I do not intend to hand over my interpretation yet. I have not met the other Recorders either.”
【Hmm. I can give you whatever the other Recorders can give you. It seems you are in a position where you must achieve Transcendence quickly. Am I wrong?】
Flying Fox continued with a smile still on his face.
【As you already know, your Incarnation body does not suit your Status. In your current state, it will be difficult even to properly use thirty percent of the Status you possess. But if I help you, that may change.】
I truly had no intention of immediately handing my interpretation to Flying Fox.
I had only one opportunity to trade with a Recorder of Fear.
However, Flying Fox’s following offer was difficult even for me to resist.
【I will grant you access to the Time Stratum of the Zero Martial World.】
The Zero Martial World.
A place overflowing with all kinds of elixirs that could rival a nebula’s Star Relic Nectar.
Considering that it also contained ancient Murim treasures and martial arts techniques difficult to obtain, it ranked among the very best Time Stratums I could choose at this point.
If I could use that place, I would not only become a Transcendent, but also be able to fully unlock the power of a fabled-grade Constellation.
【Is there any need to think further? I can give you everything you want. The path to becoming a Transcendent, or items.】
I fell silent for a moment.
Becoming a Transcendent?
Of course, it was important.
The Zero Martial World?
It was an incredibly tempting choice.
But there was one prerequisite more important to me than anything else.
The most important reason I had come to this Fear Realm.
【I see. Come to think of it, you are Kim Dokja too. Then how about this?】
However, this clever fox seemed to have already noticed even that reason.
【If you give me that interpretation, I will help you reach the Big House.】
Footnotes:
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