Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 566

Chapter 566

566 Episode 3. Protagonist(?) (3)

Observing the group of men advancing with such intimidating force, it finally struck me that I was inside the world of Omniscient Reader.

This was ‘Geumho Station,’ the site of a string of brutal killings.

The men brandishing pipes were almost certainly part of the ‘Cheoldoo Group,’ the dominant faction at Geumho Station.

By a stroke of luck, the character I now inhabited, Cheon Inho, was the one originally destined to control this station.

In short, Cheon Inho had secured his position as the master of Geumho Station by overcoming every one of those fearsome Cheoldoo Group members.

Just how did you pull that off, Cheon Inho?

Across the platform, I noticed the men scanning our vicinity suddenly halt, their eyes fixed on the blood saturating the ground around us.

I turned quickly to Dansoo ahjussi.

«Ahjussi, did you receive a stigma?»

Within Omniscient Reader, abilities primarily fall into two categories.

One is the ‘skill,’ which an incarnation learns through their own efforts.

The other is the ‘stigma,’ a power granted directly by their patron constellation.

«Uh…… I don’t believe I can activate it just yet…….»

[The constellation ‘Sneaking Schemer’ is employing a tactic that withholds the stigma to prevent the incarnation from growing too powerful…….]

I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.

Glancing upward, I spotted Bihyung, who was desperately trying to appease the constellations.

[Oh my. How did this individual wind up on my channel…….]

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is cleaning his ears with an air of annoyance.]

[Still, if you proceed like this, the other constellations might…….]

This marked the initial encounter between the Great Sage, Heaven’s Equal and Bihyung.

I resolved to secure Bihyung’s cooperation; surviving the impending scenario would require a shrewd alliance with that unhinged creature.

‘Dokkaebi communication.’

[Activating the ‘dokkaebi communication’.]

‘Bihyung. We need to talk.’

Thankfully, Bihyung accepted the connection.

—What is it? How are you able to initiate a dokkaebi communication?

You practically shoved the knowledge into my head when you caught that bug earlier.

Masking my true thoughts, I continued.

‘I wish to propose a deal.’

Bihyung’s eyes narrowed, as if he found my sudden offer utterly ridiculous.

—A deal?

‘Correct. A deal.’

Bihyung fell silent for a long moment. Several seconds ticked by.

—You’ve got some nerve. You’re fortunate I haven’t decided to splatter your brains across the station already.

His tone carried a trace of morbid curiosity. I replied with feigned nonchalance.

‘If you do that, you’ll watch the rest of your channel’s subscribers vanish. I suspect you’ve already lost a few.’

—What? How?

Bihyung couldn’t afford to kill me now. I had successfully captured the interest of a handful of constellations.

I’d taken a gamble by drawing their attention, all to create this opportunity.

‘Just hear me out. What I want to propose is…….’

—Do you also seek a ‘stream contract’?

I hesitated, then questioned him in return.

‘What do you mean?’

—Hmm? It seems you don’t. I’ve had a few other individuals pestering me for exactly that, claiming they would make me the Dokkaebi King and so forth.

A sudden headache pulsed behind my eyes.

Their identities were obvious.

‘What was your response?’

—I refused, of course. There were several peculiar children, appearing out of nowhere having caught ichthyosaurs, demanding I open the Dokkaebi Bag for them…… They seem to believe we’re friends.

Oh, my dear readers.

‘Why did you refuse?’

—Do you take me for a fool?

If this were the original story, with just a single reader from another world, we wouldn’t be facing this issue.

Kim Dokja was the sole reader, and his every move was guaranteed to seize Bihyung’s focus.

But that was no longer the case.

Beyond Dansoo ahjussi, there would be others who cleared the scenario before the ‘bug’ exploit was patched, other readers attempting to utilize the same hidden clues that Kim Dokja once did.

With too many readers replicating the same actions, Bihyung had grown suspicious of them all.

……What could have happened to the real Kim Dokja?

I let out a sigh and spoke.

‘Actually, I was going to ask you for a stream contract.’

—I’m ending this.

‘I’ll offer a 7:3 split. That’s the standard settlement ratio in the industry.’

The communication line remained open; Bihyung was still listening.

I began laying out my terms, one after another.

‘I am aware that a contract between an incarnation and a streamer dokkaebi is permitted by the rules, and I will take every precaution to keep it concealed.’

‘For the duration of our contract, I will not collaborate with other dokkaebi channels without your consent, and I will avoid any personal conduct that could anger the constellations.’

‘Throughout the contract period, and until my death, I will not enter into any sponsor contracts.’

Under normal circumstances, like a publishing contract, I would never agree to such terms.

But now, I had no other option.

I need to survive.

Bihyung, who had been listening intently, finally asked.

—You, what exactly do you know?

‘I know a fair amount.’

—The others demanded a 10:0 split, where I would only receive a commission.

‘They clearly don’t understand how the industry works. Being a babysitter is tough. Managing the Executive Branch dokkaebis, collecting the coins when a probability levy is requested, dealing with the envy among lower-level dokkaebi… it’s a lot.’

—You…… Are you a dokkaebi yourself?

‘I am very familiar with your profession.’

Ji Eunyoo often complained about management in a similar way.

—I-I won’t sign a <Stream Contract> with you. How can I trust someone who only just passed the first scenario…….

I might have been imagining it, but Bihyung’s voice seemed a fraction less hostile. It was time to press my advantage.

‘But I cleared it in a rather unconventional manner.’

—That was merely luck.

‘A sub scenario will commence shortly. You can evaluate my performance then.’

—You….. How could you know that? Are you a reincarnator?

Now that he mentioned it, reincarnators did exist within Omniscient Reader. I wrote the setting, but it was a convenient narrative device.

I sidestepped the question.

‘Something like that. Regardless, please initiate the sub scenario. It appears our guests have arrived right on schedule.’

The pipe-wielding men, after watching us for a while, seemed to have reached a decision and were now moving toward us.

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

[The constellation ‘Monarch of the Small Fries’ is urging the ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ to watch, promising something amusing.]

Bihyung, having overruled the constellation’s protest, began preparing a scenario.

—Very well. I’ll observe your performance first.

‘Don’t expect to wait long. Honestly, you aren’t the only dokkaebi available.’

A vein throbbed in Bihyung’s forehead, but I had more pressing concerns.

«Hey, you there.»

The men were now very close. Judging by their demeanor, they were not to be underestimated.

«What do you want?»

«What? Just look at this.»

In reply, a man who appeared to be the leader stepped forward.

This…… I believe I recognize him.

I promptly used [Character List].

<Character Summary>

Name: Bang Cheolsoo

Age: 34 years old

Sponsor: Monarch of the Small Fries

Exclusive Attributes: Assault Force Captain (General)

Exclusive Skills: [Dogfight Lv.2], [Bluff Lv.2]

Stigma: [Threaten Lv. 1]

Overall Stats: [Physique Lv.5], [Strength Lv.6], [Agility Lv.5], [Magic Power Lv.2]

Overall Evaluation: A typical low-level thug who got lucky securing a sponsor. Having recently completed the first scenario, he is currently riding a wave of confidence.

Incredible, it really is Bang Cheolsoo.

As for who Bang Cheolsoo is…… Well, he’s the guy who ends up killed by Kim Dokja at Geumho Station.

His current stats appear lower than they were when Kim Dokja first encountered him.

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

[The second scenario has arrived!]

«Hyung-nim. Did you receive a message?»

«Ah, it seems similar to the one from before.»

The Cheoldoo Group members, still new to the scenarios, hesitated uncertainly.

I checked the new scenario.

<Sub Scenario – Domination>

Category: Sub

Difficulty: D

Clear Conditions: Seize control of Geumho Station and become the leader of this area. The scenario concludes once more than half of the survivors acknowledge your leadership.

Time Limit: 4 hours

Reward: 500 coins

Failure: —

So, this is what was happening here.

Originally, Kim Dokja was undertaking the sub scenario ‘Escape’ at this same time, so this deviation wasn’t entirely strange.

Is this how Cheon Inho managed it?

Bang Cheolsoo let out a derisive snort.

«This should be simple. Take care of the two in front of us.»

The area’s shielding finally dissipated, and in the distance, I could see other survivors beginning to peek cautiously in our direction.

«Everyone, move. Watch your step.»

The aprons of the approaching men were stained with blood. These were likely individuals who had slaughtered their way through the first scenario to survive.

Dansoo ahjussi tensed up beside me. He was a dependable ahjussi, holding his ground even in a situation like this.

But this time, I could handle it alone.

No, I needed to handle it alone.

«Mate?»

«Let me take this.»

The scenario was still in its early stages.

Even without a powerful constellation backing me, I wasn’t completely helpless.

Especially if, like me, you had accumulated a significant amount of support in the first scenario.

[2,700 coins have been invested into ‘strength’.]

[Strength Lv.1 → Strength Lv.10]

[Your strength has increased dramatically!]

I had expected it, but the confirmation was still startling.

My stats truly had been at level 1.

[900 coins have been invested into ‘physique’.]

[Physique Lv.1 → Physique Lv.4]

This, too, was level 1.

Cheon Inho, how on earth did you become the leader of Geumho Station?

[900 coins have been invested into ‘agility’.]

[Agility Lv.1 → Agility Lv.4]

Nevertheless, this should be sufficient for now.

I set aside a portion of coins as a precaution.

[Coins Possessed: 2,900 C]

At that moment, one of the lackeys lunged forward, swinging his pipe at me.

«Watch yourself, you bastard!»

My eyes, already narrow, narrowed further.

I caught the incoming pipe with my bare hand. A jolt of pain shot through my grip, but I wrested the pipe from the man’s grasp without significant trouble.

«Huh?»

As the stunned man blinked in confusion, I gripped the pipe firmly with both hands. The solid feel of the metal was stark against my palms.

Under normal circumstances, this would have been impossible, but for Lee Hakhyun now…… No, for Cheon Inho, it was manageable.

*Kutututuk!*

The man’s eyes bulged as he witnessed the pipe warp and snap as if by magic.

«T-this kind of strength?»

In ‘Omniscient Reader’, stat levels increase dramatically with every 10 levels.

This was the power of Strength Lv.10.

I casually tossed the twisted pipe to the ground and stepped forward.

The startled Cheoldoo group members scrambled backward.

«Exercise some restraint, Bang Cheolsoo.»

Bang Cheolsoo’s eyes widened in shock.

«How did you—»

«It’s irrelevant how I learned your name.»

I gestured lightly toward the blood-soaked station platform.

«The only survivors in this section are myself and that man over there. We aren’t a large group armed with pipes. You understand what that implies, yet you still choose to attack us?»

«T-that’s—»

«Are you truly foolish, or are you merely acting the part?»

My strength was at level 10, but my physique and agility were still barely off the baseline. A genuine group fight would force me to expend additional coins.

Bang Cheolsoo bit his lip and glowered at me.

«I can see you have some measure of trust in me. I’ll ensure you understand that you met the right person today.»

It wasn’t going to be resolved so easily. He still had to maintain his authority in front of his subordinates.

[The character ‘Bang Cheolsoo’ has activated ‘Bluff Lv.2’!]

[Your confidence wanes under the effect of ‘Bluff’.]

Confronted by his ferocious expression, my heart began to pound. I realized [Bluff] was a potent skill. It would have been negated if I possessed a [Fourth Wall] like Kim Dokja, but I did not.

Of course, that didn’t mean I was without a counter.

I met Bang Cheolsoo’s glare, concealing the tremor in my heart.

[The exclusive skill ‘Incite Lv.2’ has been activated!]

There were numerous applications for [Incite], Cheon Inho’s exclusive skill. Its fundamental purpose was to sway others through words.

However,

[Select a target to incite.]

What if the target wasn’t ‘others’?

「 I am Yoo Joonghyuk. 」

From this moment, I will incite myself.