Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 564

Chapter 564

**564 Episode 3. Protagonist(?) (1)**

「 Does the command to ‘kill’ mean I must be the one to directly end their lives? 」

While this method isn’t documented in Omniscient Reader, a character in ‘Ways of Survival’ once resolved the first scenario through ‘suicide’.

‘Fingersnapper’ Christina Page.

Once a specialist in forensic hypnosis for the FBI, she cleared the initial scenario by mentally compelling a criminal under her supervision to take his own life.

‘Demagogy Killing.’

The way I was credited followed a similar pattern.

The people who had believed the misinformation chose to ‘end their own lives’ because of me, and I was given credit for an ‘indirect murder’ for instigating the mass suicide.

I had doubted such a method was even possible, yet it had occurred.

[The character you are currently possessing is ‘Demagogue Cheon Inho’.]

This was likely because he is the one I am inhabiting.

[Your attunement to the character you are currently possessing is too high.]

[Disable some of the possessed character’s attributes.]

Staring down at my blood-stained hands, the full weight of my actions began to settle on me.

If I had not taken over Cheon Inho, what fate would the people of Geumho Station have met?

「 Wouldn’t they have been killed by Cheon Inho in this exact manner regardless? 」

If that was true, then was the one who killed them the author Lee Hakhyun, or the character Cheon Inho?

In this world, am I a murderer who ended lives, or a writer who narrated a character’s death?

As I took a deep breath, these tangled thoughts rapidly quieted.

[The exclusive attribute is activated.]

This was not the moment for a moral crisis.

I would meet individuals like Life Leader Kim Cheolyang many more times from now on.

To continue surviving in this world, I would have to take lives.

[Compensation settlement is delayed due to an unexpected scenario check. Please wait.]

At least until I uncovered all the secrets of this reality.

[The constellation ‘Monarch of the Small Fries’ is interested in you.]

[The constellations of the ‘absolute evil’ system are interested in you.]

[A few constellations are curious about your name.]

I was pulled from my thoughts as the constellations’ messages began in earnest.

[The constellations of the ‘absolute evil’ system are backing you.]

[Constellations have sponsored you 300 coins.]

I had attracted the attention of the ‘absolute evil’ system.

They had interpreted my ‘demagogy killing’ in the most malicious light possible.

This was not a good development.

It would make securing sponsorship from constellations of the ‘absolute good’ system considerably more difficult.

[The constellations of the ‘absolute good’ system are shocked by the local tragedy.]

[The constellations of the ‘absolute good’ system are moved by your heroism.]

Huh?

[The constellations of the ‘absolute good’ system are impressed by your good intentions in trying to save everyone.]

[Constellations have sponsored you 300 coins.]

[The constellations of the ‘absolute evil’ system are questioning what the hell are they talking about.]

It seemed everyone had their own interpretation of events.

«Hey…… are you all right?»

I turned to see the reader ahjussi, his face etched with concern.

«Uh, yeah. And you?»

«I’m fine. I think so, anyway.»

The reader ahjussi was still very pale. It would have been stranger if he had remained completely composed under these circumstances.

I gave him a stiff, formal bow.

«Thank you for what you did earlier. You saved my life.»

Truthfully, he deserved the credit, not me.

He had fought the Cheoldoo Group’s boss to protect me with a physique that was at least on par with Kim Dokja’s.

[The constellations of the ‘absolute good’ system’s eyes are shining.]

He, however, seemed flustered by my gratitude.

«No, if anything, I owe you. If you hadn’t saved me, I’d be lying over there too, but…… did the germs just work for you?»

The ahjussi still didn’t realize that I had performed a ‘demagogy killing’ on the people of Geumho Station.

I considered telling him the truth but decided it was probably better to remain silent.

«I’m not sure either, they seemed to kill each other as well…….»

«Maybe only the germs affecting you died? I don’t know if that’s even possible, though…….»

He seemed to accept that as the only logical explanation. Instead of confirming it, I let my gaze drift back toward the bodies.

Interpreting my silence, he quickly added.

«It’s not your fault, you did everything you could.»

The reader ahjussi released a small sigh, looked at me with a pitying expression, and then muttered as he stared at the dead.

«To be honest….. they didn’t seem like good people.»

I felt a pang of guilt for deceiving this naive middle-aged man, but I believed it was kinder than revealing the horrific truth.

[The constellation ‘Monarch of the Small Fries’ admires your wickedness.]

[The constellation ‘Woman Who Pours Water into a Bottomless Pit’ is touched by your heart.]

Just which character was this ahjussi possessing?

Given his completely unfamiliar appearance, he was certainly an extra.

Then I remembered I had a skill that could find out.

[The information of this person can’t be read in ‘Character List’.]

[This person is a ‘character’ but not a ‘character’.]

I understood the situation now.

This man’s body belonged to a character, but the spirit possessing it did not.

[The exclusive skill has been activated.]

At that moment, an unusual message appeared.

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

Readers’ Comments List?

[Do you want to use ‘Readers’ Comments List’ on this person?]

I gave a tentative nod.

[Checking the reader’s profile information.]

ID: wldbsdldkQk80

Platform: Textia

Total Comments : 32

Reader level : 16

You can use coins to view the comments written by this reader.

Number of comments currently available for free: 3.

I could see this?

I looked at the sorrowful ahjussi’s profile.

Should I see just one?

*Jiyoon-ah, are you reading a novel in your room again?*
—(Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, Chapter 1)

The ahjussi’s first comment immediately came to mind. The story about having a daughter must have been true.

Just one more.

*Jiyoon-ah, open the door. I know you’re reading the novel.*
—(Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, Chapter 7)

I thought I understood how this ahjussi had found Omniscient Reader.

I’d already seen two, so I might as well see the last free one.

*How do I pay for the next episode?*
—(Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, Chapter 25)

[Pay coins to see additional comments.]

For some reason, I felt I could trust this man.

Feeling an unnecessary sense of apology, I extended my hand to him.

«Let me introduce myself properly.»

«Okay.»

«My name is Cheon Inho.»

I could see him become flustered by my words.

I pointed a finger at my own face and offered a weak smile.

«That’s his name.»

«Oh, I see, that’s a name I feel I’ve heard before…….»

He didn’t seem to recognize the name Cheon Inho.

«He’s the early story villain, at Geumho Station.»

«Oh……!»

«Yeah. That’s the one.»

He had other nicknames, like ‘the one to be torn apart’ or ‘the one to be burned with Hellfire’, but I kept those to myself. The ahjussi’s face had already lost all its color.

«W-what do we do now?»

«It’s still early, so there’s room for a fresh start, right? What about you? Who are you?»

«I’m Lee Dansoo…… it says here.»

That appeared to be the name of the person the ahjussi was possessing.

Lee Dansoo, Lee Dansoo.

Nothing came to mind immediately.

By the way, if he knew the name of the person he was possessing, could he see his attribute window?

«I’ll tell you my attributes and skills…….»

«Wait, you shouldn’t say things like that.»

«What? Oh, right.»

The ahjussi came to his senses as if he had just remembered something important.

«You sound just like Kim Dokja, hehe.»

«Yeah. It’s best to act like him for now.»

«Did you finish reading ‘that novel’?»

«Yes.»

Well, technically, I didn’t read it; I wrote it.

«Then is everyone who read that novel in the same situation as us…….»

I suddenly realized what he was worrying about.

«Don’t think about that too much. I’m sure they all survived, just like we did.»

Especially his daughter.

If she skipped studying to read Omniscient Reader, she definitely survived. The ahjussi offered a weak smile.

«Thank you.»

«Shall we go by the names we just shared from now on?»

«All right.»

He nodded, his eyes relaxing slightly.

It wasn’t as if we’d discussed our favorite characters, but I felt we had suddenly formed a plausible bond.

But our moment of fraternity ended there.

[Survivors from the areas 3-4 of Geumho Station: Cheon Inho, Lee Dansoo. A total of 2 survivors.]

The system message that had been interrupted earlier resumed.

[Additional compensation settlement will begin.]

[200 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]

Following this, Bihyung materialized out of thin air. It was a sign that I had finally navigated through the first scenario’s numerous complications.

[This is truly strange. There were some unusual zones, but none resolved the scenario in this manner…… I never imagined someone could use the <Star Stream>’s ‘directing system’ like this…….]

Bihyung looked down at me, grumbling for a bit, before finally smiling wryly and speaking.

[Anyway, congratulations are in order. You passed the first scenario with flying colors.]

I already knew what Bihyung was going to say next. The man beside me probably did too.

[Now, shouldn’t there be a reward for overcoming such hardship? As a prize for clearing the first scenario, you are entitled to receive sponsorship from the ‘constellations’. Waahhh! How about it? Aren’t you excited?]

We were about to experience the first major event of ‘Omniscient Reader’, the Sponsor Selection.

However, Bihyung scratched his head in confusion.

[Hmm, that’s odd. You don’t seem surprised or confused…….]

Of course not, we were already aware.

You’d be the same if you’d said the same line a hundred times.

[If you haven’t realized it yet, you are incredibly weak, and if you are thrown into the scenarios to come…….]

You won’t even be able to catch a single ground rat.

I know.

Bihyung delivered his speech with a bewildered expression, pausing only when he heard the constellations’ impatient comments.

[A few constellations are tired of Bihyung’s explanations.]

[The constellation ‘Monarch of the Small Fries’ urges him to get on with it!]

The constellations shimmered above Bihyung’s head, their light seeming to brighten the area.

I wondered just how many had gathered for this <Sponsor Selection>.

[Anyway, the constellations are growing impatient. Let’s get started!]

It was still very early in the story, so I didn’t expect any great constellations to appear.

There was a possibility a major constellation like the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal or Uriel would appear for Kim Dokja, but that was only because he was the protagonist.

At best, I’d get someone like the ‘Monarch of the Small Fries’.

I didn’t expect much.

I truly didn’t have high hopes.

But…….

It wouldn’t be the Great Sage, but…… perhaps a decent constellation might appear?

I had a really difficult time…….

And then a screen materialized in front of me.

[There are a total of 10 constellations waiting for your choice.]