Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 558

Chapter 558

«What are you talking about?»

The large man was the first to respond to my statement.

Having written many characters like him throughout my career, I knew exactly how to handle this.

I attempted to rephrase what Kim Dokja might say.

«You’ve been fighting a wall you can’t break, and now you’re finished. You must have realized by now that won’t get you out of here.»

«What? How could you know that?»

«Stop denying the reality in front of you.»

Meeting my eyes, the large man flinched.

«Unless you truly wish to die.»

A cold silence fell over the station, as if icy water had been poured over it.

[The incarnations at the station are alarmed by your words.]

[The effect of your exclusive attribute is strongly activated.]

[Your influence within the scenario area increases slightly.]

So, this is my character’s attribute.

He’s not a bad character, surprisingly.

«You should listen to him. He seems to understand what’s happening.»

As the ahjussi added his comment at the right moment, people turned to look at me and shuddered.

I seized the moment the atmosphere began to shift.

«By now, you all know this is real. It’s not a movie set, not a dream. No police or army is coming to save us. If you make a mistake, you will die. But if you listen to me, everyone can make it.»

Finally, a few people hesitantly started to gather around.

About ten of them.

It was a decent beginning.

A young man in the front asked, «Mister, are you a soldier or a policeman?»

«I was, once.»

My words caused another stir.

It wasn’t a lie; I had been discharged as an army sergeant.

Then the deacon, who had been listening from a distance, approached. «Do you truly know something about this situation?»

«Yes, I do.»

«How?»

«Going into details is pointless. Frankly, no matter how I explain, it’s hard to accept. If I told you God was angry at your sins and sent this trial, would you believe me?»

I offered a casual example, but the deacon’s eyes narrowed as he muttered, «Sins… trials…?»

I must have hit a nerve.

The large man listening nearby grew angry. «Are you making fun of us?»

Normally, his rough demeanor would have intimidated me. But the Lee Hakhyun of today was different.

«Look, if you want to listen, stay. If not, go back over there and keep pushing on that wall. Honestly, I don’t care if only this ahjussi and I make it.»

This kind of bluntness would have earned Kim Dokja’s approval.

Perhaps the persuasion worked; a few people exchanged glances and shared their thoughts. The deacon was the most active. «Brothers and sisters, let us hear what he has to say.»

«Let’s do it. We’re all in this together, right?»

As the mood shifted slightly in my favor, the large man bit his lip and glared at me.

Earlier, when we were being hit, we ‘deserved it,’ but now we’re all going to live together?

I took a breath and began to speak. «Something has happened that defies our common sense. We’re trapped inside by an invisible wall and given this thing called a ‘scenario.’ First, we must accept this as reality. Do we agree?»

People nodded hesitantly.

I continued, «If we don’t clear this scenario, we will die.»

«But do we really have to kill? No matter what—»

«For now, you must believe it, as surreal as it seems. It’s better than making a wrong choice and dying. Have you seen the clearance conditions?»

«Kill one or more creatures…»

Watching the people cautiously closing the distance, I took a defiant step forward.

«Gathering a group of humans and telling them to kill a creature—of course, it sounds like we’re being told to kill each other. But there’s a trick in that statement.»

«What trick?»

I smirked at the large man, who repeated the same doubt. «It could have just said to kill ‘humans.'»

Their eyes widened in realization.

«Then the answer is…»

«It’s simple. We just need to find another creature we can kill.»

With that, I slammed the vending machine with all my strength and pointed at a cockroach scurrying out from underneath.

«Ah!»

People gasped in understanding.

I nodded. «If we all work together, we can gather bugs quickly.»

«Let’s do it, now!»

«Everyone, help tip the vending machine!»

Now, instead of the invisible wall, people clung to the vending machine. Their faces grew more animated, perhaps because this time their goal felt attainable.

«Push!»

As the vending machine was shoved, a soda can clattered out from the shaking.

No one went for the drink.

«Again!»

The machine tilted, and soon something cracked. Bugs began to spill out from the back.

«They’re out! Catch them!»

I shouted to the rushing crowd, «If you catch one, don’t kill it. Bring it to me first!»

«What? Why?»

I spoke firmly despite their wary looks. «I need to check if it’s carrying eggs.»

«Eggs?»

«An egg might count as a life form. If we find one, everyone can live.»

«Ah…!»

«Remember, you hold other lives in your hands. Only we can save each other.»

People glanced at one another, then took off their shoes and socks to start catching bugs. Some hit the vending machines with bags or fists, while others grabbed nearby fire extinguishers to strike them. Even the large man who had given me trouble joined in, kicking a vending machine.

The reader ahjussi—the one whose daughter likes Kim Dokja—slowly came to my side and asked, «Are you all right?»

«What about you?»

«I’m fine.»

We watched the bustling crowd together.

Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, the reader ahjussi said, «You chose to save them all.»

People were scrambling to kill bugs. This would alter the story of Geumho Station. Those who were meant to kill each other to survive would now kill bugs and live. Maybe even that large man, who wasn’t in the original story.

«Is it because of me?»

The reader ahjussi lowered his head as if feeling guilty. This would change the entire novel’s course, leading us into an unknown future.

I placed a hand lightly on his shoulder. «Don’t worry about it. I intended to do this from the start.»

The number of people who had caught one, two, or more bugs began to grow. Among them was the deacon, who had already secured his share. «It’s all thanks to you, brother. Thank you.»

«No, it isn’t.»

Perhaps this deacon was meant to die. The thought gave me a strange pang of guilt. How many had died like this in my novel?

[The character ‘Kim Cheolyang’ begins to trust you.]

Then, I suddenly heard the character’s inner thoughts. My heart began to race. I felt that something was finally beginning.

As expected, I possessed an exclusive skill.

[The exclusive skill ‘Character List’ has been activated.]

[Character List.]

A skill that allows you to view information about the characters in ‘Omniscient Reader.’ It was a skill that Kim Dokja, the protagonist, also had.

I tried using it on the deacon.

[The exclusive skill ‘Character List’ is activated.]

<Character Summary>

Name: Kim Cheolyang

Age: 27 years old

Sponsor: None (No constellations are currently showing interest in this person).

Exclusive Attributes: Crouching Figure (General), Attention Seeker (General)

Exclusive Skills: [Irrational Blind Faith Lv.2], [Cognitive Dissonance Lv.3]

Overall Stats: [Physique Lv.1], [Strength Lv.2], [Agility Lv.2], [Magic Power Lv.3]

Overall Evaluation: Kim Cheolyang feels his faith is being tested; he wants to be a leader recognized by others but has been unable to overcome his innate nature and remains crouched down.

Character Kim Cheolyang. The name felt familiar, and I recalled jotting down a character by that name once. However, it was among over ten thousand notes, and I couldn’t remember the details as the character was part of an abandoned setting.

For an extra, his exclusive attribute was quite interesting. ‘Crouching Figure.’ In the original story, it was Jung Heewon who had that attribute. Depending on circumstances, this trait could potentially place him among the world’s top 100 strongest. Was he a hidden gem?

Kim Cheolyang, unaware of my thoughts, kept talking. «It’s fortunate this happened during our outdoor evangelism… and I’m grateful we met you.»

«Oh, yes.»

«Perhaps the end times have finally come, and as you said, God is watching us.»

He’s probably watching very intently, munching popcorn for every head that explodes.

«I think we’re managing well with your guidance.»

«Shhh.»

«Huh?»

Suddenly, I understood why I had abandoned this character. How dare he say ‘managing well’? That line is a trigger in ‘Omniscient Reader.’

—Hoo.

Crap. As expected.

—Here’s another one trying to be clever.

The message was unusual, using a one-on-one dokkaebi communication instead of the official channel. It was an ominous sign. There was no such development in the main story of ‘Omniscient Reader.’

—Don’t react, just listen. I’m telling you this because it’s amusing.

I quickly lowered my gaze and pretended nothing happened. Bihyung continued, sounding pleased.

—I see what you’re thinking, but use your judgment. The constellations don’t like incarnations who are too clever.

Apparently, Bihyung was speaking out of self-interest. Perhaps they disliked my actions.

I laughed bitterly, looking toward where Bihyung might be. What would a low-level dokkaebi know? I undoubtedly understand what the constellations like far better than you.

—Sometimes, it’s wise not to think too much.

That was all Bihyung said.

«Found one! I found another!»

«We’re not done yet, there are still people left—»

«The trash can! Let’s check the trash can too!»

The number of people trapped here was exactly twenty-two. We needed at least twenty-two bugs for everyone to survive.

«Got one!»

«Here, take this one!»

Some were already holding bugs for others. It was a moving scene. Hard to believe these were the same people who fought over food in the original ‘Omniscient Reader.’

The large man picked up a big cockroach from afar and waved at me with a broad smile. «Hey, is this one okay? It’s alive, right?»

I nodded.

[There are 21 minutes remaining.]

The bustling crowd gradually slowed down.

I turned to them and asked, «Is there anyone who hasn’t caught a bug yet?»

No one raised a hand. Twenty-two bugs, exactly matching the number of people trapped here. It was a clean sweep, the best outcome possible, without needing to search for bug eggs.

«Hey, can we kill them now?»

«If we kill them, can we get out?»

Relief washed over their faces—the joy of having survived together without harming anyone.

After carefully checking that everyone held a bug, I nodded.

«Brothers and sisters, let us thank our insect brethren for their sacrifice!»

With the deacon’s declaration, several people clapped and squashed the bugs they held. As tension eased, some asked silly questions.

«Can I step on it?»

«You don’t have to kill it with your hands, right? You just have to kill it.»

When I said they could kill them any way they wanted, they began stomping on the bugs like excited children.

*Squish!*

Similar sounds echoed around. Even the large man, who had torn off the bugs’ legs afraid they might escape, crushed his with his foot.

«Die! Die!»

I opened my palm holding the bug. The dead insect was there, along with some thick fluid. I must have squeezed it too hard earlier when trying to save the ahjussi.

I could hear the crowd cheering.

«Is it over now?»

I was slightly worried about the changed events at Geumho Station, but seeing the reader ahjussi’s faint smile, I felt it would be okay. Perhaps now, the people here could live a completely different life from the one I had written.

«Nothing’s happening. Are you sure it’s over?»

Someone asked anxiously. «Has anything changed?»

People looked at each other and questioned.

«This thing is dead, right? Is it tough because it’s a bug?»

The large man, who had been stomping on a bug in the corner, wondered. I didn’t know how many times he had stepped on it; the giant bug was crushed under his sneaker sole, leaving no trace.

Recalling the first scenario of ‘Omniscient Reader,’ I suddenly realized something eerie. I turned to the reader ahjussi.

«Ahjussi.»

«What?»

«Did you get a system message after killing the bug earlier?»

«Yeah. The scenario is cleared…»

I pulled the dead bug from my pocket. One I couldn’t tell when it had died. A chill ran down my spine.

「 I didn’t receive any system messages. 」