Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 562

Chapter 562

562 Episode 2. Rewrite (7)

During the process of writing *Omniscient Reader*, the narrative had collapsed on several occasions.

A character might inexplicably start speaking in archaic language, or they would forget an ability (or more truthfully, I was the one who had forgotten it).

I would apologize to my readers and make revisions to salvage the story.

But the situation I had created now was beyond repair.

«Let us offer praise to the germs who made a tremendous sacrifice for our sake.»

Not only had I deeply warped the cult’s entire belief system, but I was also now implicated in the return of the Ten Evils.

«Oh— germs, germs, bacterias.»

What in the world have you done, Lee Hakhyun?

The reader ahjussi beside me was clapping entirely off-beat, completely oblivious to the chaos he was participating in.

[Your influence within this scenario area is substantial.]

[The ‘view of life’ you have propagated now dominates the region’s religious beliefs.]

I briefly considered that it might be better to have been a straightforward villain.

It was not a smart thought.

«Oh— the great sacrifice of the germs.»

If Yoo Joonghyuk caught me participating in something like this, he would remove my head with one strike.

[The character ‘Lee Hyunjoo’ believes in you.]

[The character ‘Im Baekhoon’ believes in you.]

[The character ‘Yeom Youngcheol’ believes in you.]

Still, it didn’t feel entirely unpleasant to have so many people place their faith in me.

I had never had this many believers in my entire life.

[Most of the incarnations in the area are moved by your words.]

After a final hymn, the atmosphere relaxed, and people settled in a circle around the campfire.

A few individuals sipped canned drinks from the vending machine, making conversation and offering prayers.

«Isn’t this supposed to kill germs? Lactobacillus is a bacterium too. I heard it doesn’t even survive to reach the intestines.»

«Where were you headed, ahjumma?»

«I was just on my way to buy my son’s yogurt. What about you?»

«I had a dinner date with my girlfriend.»

«Well, that’s strange, I was just going to check on the chicken restaurant I opened with my wife when this disaster happened…»

Someone handed me a canned drink and remarked.

«Germs are living creatures too, this is the first time I’ve ever thought about it. Wow, the youth are so clever.»

«You must have studied hard. Which university did you attend?»

I didn’t answer, only offering a meaningless smile.

After a speech by Life Leader Kim Cheolyang, everyone, whether religious or not, wore a strange, dazed expression.

They say religion is an opiate for overcoming death, and perhaps that was true.

However, not everyone was under its influence.

«Have you all lost your minds? There’s a guaranteed way to survive, and you’re just going to ignore it?»

Unsurprisingly, it was the large man. He was holding something like a metal pipe; I had no idea where he had found it.

I hadn’t seen him for a moment and realized he must have been scavenging through the station.

«If you want to get yourselves killed, do it on your own time.»

The crowd grew tense as the armed man advanced.

«Wait, what’s the matter with you? You burned your socks earlier too.»

«Naive fools. Do you actually believe it counts as killing if you destroy something you can’t even see and have no way of knowing is dead or not?»

«Well, what of it?»

«Have you already forgotten what that monster showed us? The most certain method to get out of here alive.»

His large pipe was now pointed at the group.

«Kill someone here, and you are guaranteed to live.»

[The constellation ‘Monarch of the Small Fries’ is chuckling.]

I understood what was happening.

Clearly, one of the constellations had been encouraging him.

I stared at the large man and activated [Character List].

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

<Character Summary>

Name: Lee Cheoldoo

Age: 39 years old

Sponsor: None (one constellation is currently showing interest in this person).

Exclusive Attributes: Gangster (general), Ex-convict (general)

Exclusive Skills: [Dogfight Lv.3], [Bluff Lv.3], [Intimidation Lv.3], [Headbutting Lv.2]

Overall Stats: [Physique Lv.7], [Strength Lv.7], [Agility Lv.6], [Magic Power Lv.1]

Overall Rating: This is the boss of the ‘Cheoldoo Group’. Characterized by a hard head, he has a powerful headbutting technique.

The boss of the ‘Cheoldoo Group’, Lee Cheoldoo.

It wasn’t until I read the description that I recognized who he was.

Now that I thought about it, there was a faction called ‘Cheoldoo’ at Geumho Station.

The Cheoldoo Group’s boss wasn’t part of the original ‘Omniscient Reader’ narrative, but I had written background notes for him.

I took a step forward and spoke.

«Don’t be alarmed. We are a group, and he is alone.»

No matter how armed Lee Cheoldoo was, or that he led the Cheoldoo Group, he couldn’t take on twenty-one people by himself.

But Lee Cheoldoo didn’t back down.

«Whoa, hold on. Kill all of you? I only need to kill one. Out of these 27…»

As his eyes scanned the crowd, picking out the weakest among them like insects, his gaze eventually fell on me.

«Let’s be honest with each other, you’re all terrified too, and you don’t really believe that guy either, do you?»

Lee Cheoldoo gave a light laugh and smacked the pipe against his palm as if he understood them completely.

«The first ten people. Stand by my side, and I will take responsibility for your survival.»

He took another step forward, adding.

«The rest of you should prepare to die.»

Everyone retreated as Lee Cheoldoo advanced.

Kim Cheolyang panicked and shouted.

«Don’t listen to him, everyone! We’ve already earned the right to live! There’s no need for a fight!»

Then, the angered crowd shouted in unison.

«He’s right, you killed the germs as well! You can live if you just stay put, why are you doing this?»

«Maybe you still don’t get it, but it’s fine now? You can live because you killed the germs.»

The shared act of killing bugs and germs had forged a sense of camaraderie, and the group’s unity was surprisingly strong.

[The incarnations in the area are united.]

[The influence of the religious view is growing stronger.]

Lee Cheoldoo scratched his ear in disbelief, his irritation growing.

«You’re truly insane. Then I’ll just have one of you die for me.»

«D-don’t panic, if we all work together—»

«I don’t care how many of you there are.»

Lee Cheoldoo’s pipe hissed as it scraped across the floor.

«You’ll die in the order you step forward.»

The people backed away in horror.

If everyone worked together, they could probably overwhelm him.

However, no one was willing to be the first to step up.

As he searched for a target, Lee Cheoldoo’s eyes locked onto the man closest to him.

Realizing he had been chosen, the man cried out to those around him.

«H-help me, please! Someone help me!»

But no one moved to assist him. The crowd swiftly pulled back like a swarm of insects exposed to light.

Lee Cheoldoo raised his pipe as if he had expected that very reaction.

[The character ‘Kim Haemoon’ is panicking!]

«S-save me! I’ll join your side!»

Character Kim Haemoon. He had been passive ever since he killed the bug.

Lee Cheoldoo said fiercely.

«No, I don’t need you anymore.»

«Please, I beg you! I’ll give you 100 million won if we get out of here, I can transfer it right now!»

Lee Cheoldoo frowned, thinking for a moment.

«100 million. Then you choose who dies instead.»

Kim Haemoon looked at the others with trembling eyes.

The first person he looked at was the ahjumma who said she was going to get yogurt for her son.

She had been the first to flee when Lee Cheoldoo turned toward Kim Haemoon.

[The character ‘Lee Hyekyung’ is terrified.]

«W-why are you looking at me! I have to live, my child is waiting for me!»

Kim Haemoon’s head turned toward the man next to her. It was the young man who had dinner plans with his girlfriend.

[The character ‘Jeong Hancheol’ is looking around.]

Jeong Hancheol quickly glanced between Kim Haemoon and Lee Cheoldoo and offered a small, ingratiating smile.

«Can I be on your side?»

Kim Haemoon’s head snapped toward the middle-aged man beside him.

[The character ‘Ji Hyungdong’ is freaking out.]

This time, it was the man who said he opened a chicken restaurant with his wife.

I started moving toward him, thinking I had to delay this. The time limit was almost up.
But when he saw me, Ji Hyungdong pointed directly at me.

«I-If you need to kill someone, kill him! He’s the one who caused all of this!»

At first, I thought I had misheard, but then people around me began to murmur in agreement.

«He’s right. He created this situation, he should be responsible.»

These were the same people who had been friendly just moments before.

«W-why are you looking at us like that? He’s not wrong.»

«What’s your problem, young man? Go fight him. Go fight and win.»

«At a time like this, you need to step up and be a man!»

My breath caught in my throat, as if I were the bug trapped inside my own pocket.

Lee Cheoldoo smiled at me.

«Alright, you’ll do.»

In an instant, the area fell silent.

When I turned around, people began deliberately avoiding my gaze as if they had all agreed on it.

Even without [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint], their thoughts were transparent.

「 As long as it isn’t me. 」

I wasn’t surprised.

I already knew this was their true nature.

I watched the approaching Lee Cheoldoo and assessed my chances.

Average physique, strength and agility at level 7.

I wondered if I could defeat him.

[There are 5 minutes remaining.]

I just needed to hold on for five minutes.

I looked at Kim Cheolyang one last time. He looked into my eyes and made a complicated expression.

[The character ‘Kim Cheolyang’ is very troubled.]

[The character ‘Kim Cheolyang’ is a person whose ‘sentence’ you wrote yourself.]

[You have a very good understanding of the character.]

I didn’t possess [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint], but Kim Cheolyang’s internal monologue echoed clearly in my mind.

「 There are three people who hold influence in this station right now. 」

「 Me, the narrow-eyed man, and the big guy. 」

Kim Cheolyang’s eyes darted quickly between me and the large man.

「 If I don’t stop him, he will die. 」

「 I don’t believe I can stop him. 」

「 If I fail, I will also… 」

Swiftly changing his stance, Kim Cheolyang stepped back with the others and proclaimed loudly.

«Don’t act rashly, everyone, move back. God’s emissary is about to achieve redemption(代贖) for us all.»

Kim Cheolyang was a man who feared any threat to his power. If he couldn’t stop the beast, he would rather exploit the situation.

A way to cement his own position and rationalize my death.

«No matter how small, a life is still a life. At this moment, God’s emissary will sacrifice himself to atone for the death of our bacterial brethren. Let us all give thanks.»

It was absurd, but the people’s eyes were already clouded with madness.

They, too, had consented to my sacrifice for the sake of their own survival.

Jeong Hancheol and Ji Hyungdong whispered to each other as they retreated.

«Anyone could have looked up online that germs are living things. It’s not exactly a secret. You would have found out eventually, right?»

«Let’s not get involved, let’s stay neutral. He must have a reason for being so upset.»

I remained calm.

「 No writer is ever surprised by the words they themselves have written. 」

Lee Cheoldoo’s shadow fell over me as the others retreated. The feet that had relentlessly crushed the bug were now turned in my direction.

«If it’s decided, the rest of you get lost. I’m only killing this bastard, like I promised. Hey, clear out.»

People still within his reach were struck on the arms and legs with the pipe.

«Aaaak! My arm!»

«Don’t be idiots, get over here now! Only one person needs to die!»

The terrified people scrambled toward the scenario barrier.

Just like that, everyone had put distance between themselves and me.

[There are 3 minutes remaining.]

For this ending, only one person, the single individual who hadn’t fled, remained by my side.