WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 92: Episode 18 - A Reader’s Fight (5)
[The constellation Demonic Judge of Fire evaluates your sincerity.]
[The constellation Secretive Plotter seems somewhat annoyed.]
[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband expresses outright frustration.]
[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband asks if you’re really going to switch channels.]
Dokgak smiled, clearly intrigued.
“And what is this bridge you’re talking about?”
“Link your channel to me.”
“That would result in dual access, wouldn’t it?”
“I don’t mind. That way, the constellations can easily switch without any hassle.”
“Hmm. That does sound convenient. How amusing.”
“Besides, I’m a little curious too.”
“Curious about what?”
“I want to see what kind of constellations are in the channel I’ll be signing with. I’ve only been stuck in this backwater channel, so I’m curious about what a big channel is like. Can’t I take a peek?”
I deliberately cast a disdainful glance toward Bihyeong. His face visibly contorted in real-time, a mix of humiliation and despair. Dokgak’s grin widened in satisfaction.
“Bihyeong, you really landed yourself a stellar incarnation. Not that it matters anymore.”
Dokgak gestured through the air, and the system began reconfiguring itself.
“Very well. Let’s give you a taste of the big city.”
The next moment, I felt something akin to a new thread of code embedding itself into my being. A distinct sense of connection washed over me.
Blinking slowly, I became acutely aware of countless eyes on me.
One. Two. Three… The hairs on my arms stood on end. The difference was palpable. This wasn’t the same as being in Bihyeong’s channel. The sheer weight of the gazes pressing down on me was overwhelming.
So this was what it felt like to stand in a Dokkaebi channel that ruled over something as massive as the Tokyo Dome.
“How does it feel? The league you’ll now be playing in.”
It wasn’t just the constellations from other countries. No, there were beings from entirely different worlds and continents here, fixed subscribers who had pledged allegiance to this massive channel. How much wealth could I amass by performing well here? Frankly, I couldn’t even begin to calculate.
“This is incredible. Truly huge.”
“Then, let’s get back to the contract—”
“Wait a moment. I’d like to introduce myself first. That’s alright, isn’t it?”
“...If you must.”
Dokgak’s expression showed slight disapproval, but he eventually relented.
Closing my eyes, I began to speak.
“To the constellations of the Tokyo Dome. Can you hear me?”
[Several constellations in the Tokyo Dome turn their gaze toward you.]
“I’m sure some of you have heard of me. I am Kim Dokja, the one who destroyed the Absolute Throne and became the King of a Kingless World. Just so you know, I have no patron constellation… Well, that’s about it. I look forward to working with you.”
[The constellations of the Tokyo Dome listen attentively to your words.]
Even with just a simple introduction, several constellations were already making indirect approaches.
Good. The start wasn’t bad.
“And by the way, in honor of joining this channel, I’m thinking of hosting a little event. Something of a Japan-Korea collaboration… If you’re curious, please log into channel #BI-7623 right now. The early birds might even win some coins, so make sure—”
The connection abruptly cut off.
When I opened my eyes, Dokgak was glaring at me.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“What does it look like? I’m hosting an event.”
“What are you thinking…? Are you trying to get yourself killed? Do you think the constellations on my channel will fall for such a cheap trick…?”
Oh, but they will.
Because you cut the connection right at the most intriguing part.
Dokgak’s expression began to change.
“Wait a moment, constellations. Where are you all going?”
The tides were turning. Gradually, the number of constellations in Bihyeong’s channel started to increase.
[A significant number of constellations have joined channel #BI-7623.]
[The channel has leveled up.]
I grinned as I spoke.
“Thank you all for coming. You’re here for the event, aren’t you?”
[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband grumbles about the influx of petty constellations.]
[The constellation Naval Warfare God warily watches the arrival of hostile constellations.]
“Hold on, everyone. Don’t fight. I didn’t call you here to brawl.”
[A constellation who favors Muramasa pesters you to start the coin raffle.]
[A few constellations ask when the coin event will begin.]
“Calm down. It’s coming soon. But seriously, do you think a couple of coins are so important? Without incarnations, you wouldn’t even have anywhere to spend them. Let’s take it slow, alright?”
[Some constellations look at you with dissatisfaction.]
“For those who may not have heard earlier, let me reiterate. I am Kim Dokja, an Incarnation with no patron constellation. I won the War of the Kings and stopped two catastrophes before they even began. Honestly, you won’t find many Incarnations stronger than me anywhere in the world. Among those without a patron, I’m the only one. But… even I’m starting to find this work exhausting.”
Dokgak’s face turned pale as he seemed to catch on to my intentions.
“Wait! You…!”
I smiled slyly at him. He had accused me of “staging catharsis,” hadn’t he?
Fine. Let’s show you what a real performance looks like.
“The Seoul Dome is currently on the verge of the fifth scenario. You all know what that means. That’s right. The event you all love is about to begin.”
Less than a week remained until the next scenario began.
And every catastrophe scenario kicked off with a special event.
The grand banquet for all constellations in the Star Stream.
Soon, the second <Patron Selection> would commence.
“To commemorate this, I’m thinking of hosting a surprise event myself. If the number of subscribers to this channel exceeds ten thousand by the time the Patron Selection begins…”
[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband swallows nervously.*]
“I will choose one constellation from this channel to become my partner.”
[The constellation Secretive Plotter looks at you with intrigue.*]
“I don’t care about gender, species, or the world of origin. Whether strong or weak, famous or unknown—it doesn’t matter. What I value is passion. The passion to see this damned story through to its end with me.”
[The constellation Bald Army General polishes his head.*]
“Anyone is welcome. I’ll be waiting here. Remember: ten thousand. Spread the word.”
“W-wait! Hold on! Stop!”
Dokgak stammered, but it was too late.
His voice, filled with rage, echoed around me as channel messages popped up relentlessly. The indirect messages pouring in made my head spin.
How much time passed like this?
Dokgak, who had been staring blankly, finally showed an expression of cold fury.
As if making a decision, he raised his hand toward me.
“Incarnation Kim Dokja. You will die here.”
I had expected this.
Forcing a calm smile, I retorted, “You do realize many constellations are watching this. Aren’t you afraid of the backlash?”
“Don’t underestimate the master of the Tokyo Dome.”
Dokgak’s face showed no sign of patience.
“You think I can’t handle the plausibility backlash from killing one insect?”
With a casual flick of his fingers, he launched his attack.
Crackle!
Powerful sparks erupted around me. This was Dokgak’s signature skill, Balloon Burst. The electric currents would expand my body like a balloon until it exploded. My entrails would scatter as fragments, and the remains of “me” would dissipate into cosmic dust.
That was how it was supposed to go.
“…Why isn’t this working?”
Dokgak snapped his fingers twice more. Yet, nothing happened to me. After a few seconds, even the sparks fizzled out.
“What… what is this?”
Dokgak stared at his own fingers in disbelief.
What he didn’t realize was that the issue wasn’t with his fingers.
I felt a chill as a massive shadow loomed over me, darkening the surroundings.
“Hey.”
The voice rang out.
I instinctively understood who it belonged to. This voice was the reason I was still alive. Of course. Only a being that shared the same system as a dokkaebi could counter one.
“Have you had your fun?”
It was my first time hearing Bihyeong’s natural voice. Dokgak stuttered in shock.
“H-how did you… break free from the Chains of Restriction?”
“Oh, that? They snapped like dry twigs.”
Dokgak’s face turned red.
“A mere low-grade dokkaebi dares…! Bihyeong! What insolence is this?”
“Low-grade? You’re just as low-grade as I am. You just have more subscribers.”
“I’ve chosen not to advance in rank, and you dare—”
“Sure, sure. By the way, your channel’s constellations? They’re all over on my channel now.”
Bihyeong emerged from behind me and strode confidently toward Dokgak.
Though his appearance remained unchanged, he now seemed immeasurably larger than Dokgak.
The towering shadow he cast made this unmistakable.
As I’ve said before, a Dokkaebi’s power grows with their number of subscribers.
Dokgak staggered backward, fear etched into his face.
“H-how…?”
“Oh, you had a lot to say earlier, didn’t you? Accusing me of illegally manipulating scenarios?”
A black arm extended from Bihyeong’s shadow, grabbing Dokgak by the collar and hoisting him into the air.
“Stealing another Dokkaebi’s Incarnation, huh? Did you learn ethics from some shady constellation?”
“U-ugh! If you do this, you won’t escape unscathed either!”
“Do I look like I care?”
The shadow’s right arm swelled grotesquely.
Boom!
The punch sent Dokgak flying through the dome’s protective barrier, hurtling into the depths of space.
Being a dokkaebi, he wouldn’t die from this, but he’d be incapacitated for a while. Breathing heavily, Bihyeong wiped the sweat from his brow, his anger slightly abated.
“I got too worked up. That bastard’s probably on his way to the Andromeda scenario.”
“There’s a scenario like that?”
“Yeah. It’s about finding lost concepts. But anyway…”
Bihyeong turned to me with a sigh. His appearance seemed subtly altered, as if the channel’s growth had made him stronger. A newfound, chilling aura surrounded him, and I found myself swallowing nervously.
What I had just done was completely impulsive. For all I knew, he might be harboring a grudge—
“You know what I’m seeing right now?”
His expression was hard to read—half-smile, half-grimace. But when I looked into his eyes, I felt I understood.
“I don’t know, but I can guess.”
Apparently, a Dokkaebi smiled like that when they were genuinely happy.
I raised my head and stared at the air above.
“It’s probably not much different from what I’m seeing.”
[The channel has levelled up.]
[The channel has levelled up.]
[The channel has levelled up.]
…
Endless messages continued to flood in.
[A constellation who loves K-pop wishes to become your Patron.]
[A constellation skilled with Japanese swords expresses interest in becoming your Patron.]
[A constellation who enjoys changing genders is curious about your intentions.]
[A constellation who indulges in subcultures takes an interest in you.]
The barrage of messages filled the air around me and Bihyeong.
The stage was no longer confined to one channel. The world itself was now our stage.
Footnotes:
[1]
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