WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 98: Episode 20 — The Catastrophe of Floods (1)
The moment I checked Suyeong's pulse, my heart sank. What shocked me more than the fact that Suyeong was dead was my own reaction to it. I was surprised at how much it affected me. My rationality only began to return moments later.
“...Dokja-ssi?”
Sensing something was off, Sangah got up from where she had been resting. With her help, I examined Suyeong’s lifeless body.
“There are no wounds.”
The situation was becoming increasingly puzzling.
No wounds. Then was it poison?
The only poison that could kill without leaving a trace would be formless poison.
But it was far too early for such poison to have spread. There were more questions as well. If poison had been used, why was everyone else unharmed? Even if someone had access to such a poison, there was no reason to target only Suyeong.
And then there was the strange fact that I had fallen asleep so suddenly.
…Wait, fallen asleep?
“Uh… Sorry. I think I overslept.”
I noticed Yuseong rubbing her eyes as she groggily woke up.
I glanced back at Sangah.
“Sangah-ssi, were you asleep the whole time as well?”
“…Yes.”
Sangah’s face turned red with embarrassment. If she hadn’t woken up either, that meant no one in our group had been standing watch last night. In other words, after I, the last watch, fell asleep, everyone else did too.
I had been foolish.
The question shouldn’t have been “Who killed Suyeong?” but rather “Why did I fall asleep?”
Was it a sleep spell? No, that was more commonly used by regressors.
Acupuncture? Even if it was, they would have to bypass my senses.
In the end, there was only one answer.
When I moved closer to the campfire, I saw the bones of the Groll we had eaten last night scattered about. If the entire group had fallen asleep, the most likely explanation lay there. As I cleaned up the neatly picked bones, I spotted green powder scattered on the ground beneath them.
The stem of Yanaspleta.
Just as I thought. Someone had mixed the powdered stem with the Groll meat. Unless consumed with its sap, the stem of Yanaspleta had potent sleep-inducing effects. It was an otherworldly ingredient that even the Donguibogam couldn’t counteract. That’s why we always boiled it with its sap…
“Who cooked the Groll last night?”
“It was probably Suyeong-ssi…”
I let out a quiet sigh. What we had eaten last night was the meat of the young Groll that Yuseong failed to tame. And the one who had killed that Groll was none other than Suyeong.
“We’ve been played.”
I approached Suyeong’s pale, lifeless body.
In my shock, I had momentarily forgotten, an avatar wouldn’t disappear unless its head was destroyed. But why had she pulled such a stunt? She couldn’t escape anyway, bound by the 'Temporary Covenant.'
Just then, a blue light emerged from where Suyeong’s heart was.
…What was that?
“Wait.”
Ignoring the others’ reactions, I reached for Suyeong’s head. At that moment, the blue light burst, and the Avatar disintegrated.
[The character Han Suyeong’s avatar has absorbed the penalties of the violated contract.]
[The character Han Suyeong has used her avatar as a sacrifice to nullify most of the penalties from the Temporary Pledge.]
“Ah…”
Sangah let out a soft gasp, as if she finally understood something.
Even I hadn’t known that Avatars could be used this way. I had seen avatars take damage in place of their main bodies before, but I hadn’t realized they could pay the price of a contract violation.
The word “most” suggested the penalties weren’t completely nullified, but it was enough to ensure her survival.
Yuseong asked, “Is that unni… gone now?”
“Looks like it.”
The question why was meaningless.
In hindsight, there wasn’t much for Suyeong to gain by staying with me.
—I’ve already lost sponsorships tagging along with you.
Soon, I would meet the group at Chungmuro, who would antagonize Suyeong just like Sangah did.
—Tsk. It’s hard living without trust.
Suyeong was alone again.
For a moment, I had deluded myself into thinking she could truly be part of the group. Her avatar had disintegrated into white powder, leaving behind a few coins and a note.
—For the meal.
It was such a Suyeong-like farewell.
Her avatar scattered into the wind blowing across the Han River as if to erase every trace of the time we had spent together.
But one thing puzzled me—if she could escape by using her avatar, why had she stayed with me until now?
I didn’t know.
Just as I couldn’t understand Sangah’s heart, I couldn’t read Suyeong’s either. Even TWSA couldn’t explain everything.
“Let’s get moving.”
Just then, a sharp sensation struck me, a peculiar awareness.
The Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint?
I instinctively looked toward the source of the feeling, but there was nothing there.
…Was it just my imagination?
Suyeong stood atop a distant high-rise building, looking down at the abandoned structure we had been in. The Han River’s cold wind blew through the rips in her jeans. She bit her lip and muttered to herself.
“…Shouldn’t he at least pretend to look for me?”
Even as she spoke, she knew the truth.
It was to be expected.
After all, he was as much a reader as she was.
Suyeong opened her notepad app and began jotting something down. It was a habit she couldn’t resist whenever inspiration struck, something innate to being a writer.
—Just because someone reads a lot doesn’t mean they understand people any better.
“…Well, we’ll meet again.”
She didn’t know what kind of ending Kim Dokja wanted. But as long as they kept moving toward their respective conclusions, their paths would inevitably cross again.
—There was no telling whether they’ll be friends or enemies the next time they meet..
Suyeong closed her phone and began walking along the road.
Morning passed in the blink of an eye.
That afternoon, Yuseong’s mana and agility both reached the scenario’s limit of 60. Feeling that the time was right, I approached Bihyeong to purchase a Patron Contract.
Bihyeong, grumbling as usual, handed me the document.
[…You know this won’t change the catastrophe, right?]
‘...’
[That child’s present has no direct connection to her future catastrophe. The catastrophe comes from a universe branched off from another worldline. Even if the existence is linked, history—]
‘Just give me the contract.’
Once I filled out the contract, I handed it to Yuseong.
“I don’t have a stigma or the power to lend you strength like the other patrons do. But I do have plenty of coins.”
“…”
“You don’t have to sign it if you don’t want to. But if you do, I promise you won’t regret it.”
“If I sign this, I can’t make contracts with other constellations, right?”
“That’s correct. But don’t worry, I won’t interfere with you like the others would.”
After hesitating for a moment, Yuseong made up her mind and nodded.
“Alright. I’ve decided to trust you anyway.”
[A Patron Contract has been established.]
[You have become the patron of the Incarnation Shin Yuseong.]
A dazzling light surrounded us, enveloping both Yuseong and me. But despite the brilliance of the display, the system message was underwhelming.
[You are not a constellation. Most of the patron’s authorities cannot be used.]
+
<Available Authorities>
Incarnation Sponsorship
Incarnation Encouragement
+
Well, it was about what I expected.
For now, this would suffice.
[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband smirks.]
[The constellation Secretive Plotter congratulates you on your first contract.]
[You have received 5,000 coins.]
[Many constellations are eager to become your patron.]
The constellations’ reactions were enthusiastic. Unlike during the incident with Gong Pildu, Shin Yuseong was now my direct incarnation.
Naturally, the constellations from the ‘Incarnation Seekers’ group were ecstatic.
Though I wasn’t a constellation, I was an incarnation with my own incarnations.
The constellations who contracted with me would, by extension, consider Yuseong one of their own. The more incarnations I accumulated, the more constellations would vie for my favor.
[…The channel’s going to explode!]
Ignoring Bihyeong’s ecstatic squeals, I turned to my group.
“It’s time for us to move. Let’s cross the Han River.”
“But we haven’t found a bridge yet. Is it safe?”
“We’ll swim across.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Can you swim?”
“I can, but…”
Sangah glanced nervously between me and the river. I could guess what was worrying her.
The water level of the Han River had risen even further. More Sea Dragons were prowling beneath the surface than yesterday. Each one was at least tier-7.
“I… can’t swim,” Yuseong said hesitantly.
“Hold onto this and float across.”
I handed her a styrofoam box I had prepared in advance. I asked Sangah to use [Arachne’s Web] to tether the box to me.
“Let’s go.”
Without hesitation, I dove into the Han River. Sangah followed immediately. Though Yuseong looked scared, she clutched the styrofoam box and stepped into the water.
The cold water enveloped us. The stench of the unfamiliar creatures filled the air. The Sea Dragons began to stir.
Sangah asked telepathically.
—Are you sure this is safe?
Of course not.
But with the limited time we had, this was our best option.
—If things get truly dangerous, we’ll retreat immediately.
—…Understood.
—Before things get truly dangerous, act as though they already have. Understood?
—What?
—We need to create a crisis. That’s the only way for Yuseong to awaken her potential. Trust me.
I began swimming toward the center of the river, dragging the Styrofoam box along.
I had told Yuseong to focus on raising her skill levels for a reason. While it wasn’t displayed in her attribute window, she had a natural talent for situational adaptation and improvisation.
A normal girl wouldn’t have survived to the fifth scenario.
Despite her innocent appearance, Yuseong wasn’t as simple as she seemed. She had killed her dog to survive, deceived adults, and disguised herself to gain favor with the strong. From the moment she met us, her mind had likely been calculating her next move.
I called out to her, “Yuseong.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Don’t run away.”
“…”
“If you run now, you’ll never be able to go back.”
Her slightly parted lips closed. Shin Yuseong wasn’t cunning, but she was clever.
“Do what you’re capable of.”
There was no room for tricks. No one would protect her just because she was a child.
“…Understood.”
Fear turned into dread, and dread transformed into determination.
[The character Shin Yuseong has activated the skill Advanced Interspecies Communication Lv. 3.]
Predatory auras began to surround us. The Sea Dragons’ presence intensified. Just above the surface of the water, I counted at least ten of them. It was too many to deal with at once. But if we had to flee, we could—once we crossed the Han River, they wouldn’t follow.
“Dokja-ssi!”
Sangah’s voice was a warning. The Sea Dragons began their assault. Their sharp fangs rushed at me from all directions.
[The Blade of Faith has been activated.]
I swung my blade, piercing through the jaw of a Sea Dragon. The others splashed down as their bodies slapped the water’s surface. The river churned violently, tossing me through the air.
In the chaos, Yuseong lost her grip on the Styrofoam box and was flung upward. Sangah reacted quickly, extending her web to catch her mid-air.
The synergy of [Hermes’ Stroll] and [Arachne’s Web] allowed Sangah to secure Yuseong. Meanwhile, I used a dead Sea Dragon as a stepping stone and swung my blade at the advancing creatures.
“This way, you bastards!”
About ten Sea Dragons charged at me, slicing through the water like arrows. The river roared as the waves surged, and the corpse I stood on bobbed precariously. I steadied myself and focused.
Using [Way of the Wind] would resolve this quickly, but that wouldn’t create the desperation I needed.
“Ahjussi!”
In Sangah’s arms, Yuseong looked on in panic. The Sea Dragons’ fangs grazed my flesh, leaving gashes. I slashed at one, delivering a mortal wound, but their numbers didn’t dwindle. Blood dripped, cooled rapidly by the icy water, as my breaths grew heavier.
But I smiled.
Become more desperate.
Burn with resolve.
Let this crisis ignite your potential.
The Sea Dragons closed in, their serrated teeth glinting. One bit deeply into my side, leaving flesh dangling.
“No—!”
A scream pierced through the noise, shattering my eardrums.
[The character Shin Yuseong is on the verge of attribute evolution.]
[The incarnation Shin Yuseong is entering a trance state.]
Her eyes turned white, just like Gilyeong’s when he fought at full strength. This was exactly what I had been waiting for.
[The character Shin Yuseong has activated the skill Taming Lv. 9.]
Her aura surged, spreading through the river like a flood. The Sea Dragons hesitated, trembling under the weight of her presence.
More of them surfaced, more than twenty now. Including those underwater, there had to be dozens.
The creatures glanced back at me. Confused and frightened, they grew more violent.
Damn it. Did it fail?
“Sangah-ssi!”
If it had failed, we had to retreat immediately. Sangah nodded and wove through the creatures toward me.
“Yuseong! Stop now! Shin Yuseong!”
But she didn’t respond.
The waves around her intensified, and her body became shrouded in a brilliant blue aura.
At the center of the Han River, a massive whirlpool formed, pulling me into its current. The Sea Dragons crashed against one another, shrieking. I clung to a scale for dear life, fighting the centrifugal force.
Then it appeared.
A Sea Dragon far larger than the others emerged. It was so enormous that I didn’t immediately realize it was a Sea Dragon. It dwarfed even the Sea Commander I had killed.
Its majestic whiskers swayed, its regal eyes surveying its domain. The other Sea Dragons lowered their heads to the surface of the water.
[The Tier-5 Aquatic species Queen Mirvad has appeared!]
…Damn it, of all things, why did it have to be her?
I knew Shin Yuseong had talent, but I never imagined she could summon a Queen.
This creature was a catastrophic force, comparable to a Lesser Monarch.
I opened [Bookmarks] to activate [Way of the Wind], but Sangah called out, “Dokja-ssi?”
Turning, I saw Yuseong floating in mid-air.
Following the aura that bridged her and Queen Mirvad, Yuseong slowly approached the massive creature. The Queen gazed at her, and she gazed back. Yuseong’s tiny hand gently stroked the Queen’s snout.
The water stilled. The Sea Dragons sank out of sight.
When I turned back, Yuseong was sitting atop the Queen’s head.
For the first time, I truly grasped what Shin Yuseong was.
The Beast Lord.
The ruler of all monsters.
Her eyes returned to normal as she wiped a trickle of blood from her nose.
“Let’s go, ahjussi.”
I nodded.
Footnotes:
[1]
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