Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 571

Chapter 571

571 Episode 3. Protagonist(?) (8)

After securing the ground rat knife, our pace quickened significantly.

We ran into a few more minor nuisances from the ground rats along the path, but Jung Hee-won’s prowess dispatched them with little effort.

It didn’t take long for the rest of the group to each acquire a knife of their own.

I’m not sure how much time had passed when we finally arrived.

Finally, the surroundings of Oksu Station came into view.

“Incredible. Really, incredible.”

After a mere twenty minutes of walking, the faces of Kyung Sein and the older man, Dansoo, were beaded with sweat.

Oksu Station is an above-ground station.

Gazing at the weak sunlight filtering in, a sudden thought crossed my mind.

「 I don’t want to die. 」

I wasn’t sure why I felt that way.

All I know is that one day, I will write that very sentence.

“I’ll scout the area first. Everyone, wait here for a moment.”

Jung Heewon leaped forward, landing on the platform with a light step.

From behind me, Kyung Sein asked a question.

“But is it safe for us to remain here? Since the station is above ground.”

According to the lore of Omniscient Reader, a ‘poisonous fog’ blankets the surface starting from the second main scenario.

“It should be fine. I don’t believe there are any poisonous rhinoceroses in this vicinity.”

The toxic fog was actually the flatulence of a seventh-grade monster species, the great poisonous rhinoceros.

Therefore, the absence of these creatures meant there was no risk of the fog appearing.

Kyung Sein shook her head in admiration.

“I’m amazed you remembered a detail like that. How many times did you say you’ve read it?”

“Enough times.”

I had little choice. Between rewrites and revisions, I had read each chapter at least a dozen times. Some sections I had gone over more than a hundred times.

“You’re not some famous figure, are you? You aren’t one of the Seven Apostles?”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a group formed by some of the most well-known individuals in the world of Omniscient Reader—”

For a moment, I was disoriented, unsure if this was fiction or reality, because a group with a similar name exists in Omniscient Reader.

“They say the world is vast and full of secluded masters… I suppose my luck isn’t terrible, having met someone like you, Inho-ssi.”

“Could you tell me more about that story you just mentioned?”

“Which one, the Seven Apostles?”

“Yes.”

“Well, it’s not a serious organization, more of a joking name for a fan club that—”

Kyung Sein began to chatter excitedly about the ‘Seven Apostles.’

I was stunned that such a club existed for a failed novel, and even more surprised to learn it was four years old.

Since this is the world of Omniscient Reader, it’s probable that readers with a high number of completions have survived.

If we could recruit them to our side, it would be a significant advantage.

“I was actually present when it happened.”

As Kyung Sein was narrating the epic three-day and three-night setup battle between the ‘Seven Apostles’ and the ‘Misreading Association’, Jung Heewon returned from her reconnaissance of Oksu Station.

“There are no survivors. It seems everyone has already moved to the surface.”

“Thank you for checking.”

“What’s our next move? Your family—”

Seeing Jung Heewon concerned for others even now made me certain she didn’t need to become the Judge of Destruction.

Was it necessary for her to endure that suffering again just to awaken?

There are numerous paths to gaining strength. I refuse to believe the main story’s development is the only answer.

“They must be close by, probably approaching from that direction.”

I said, looking toward the tracks that led to Dongho Bridge.

I was finally going to meet the main characters of Omniscient Reader.

I would meet Kim Dokja, Yoo Joonghyuk, Lee Hyunsung, Yoo Sangah, and Lee Gilyoung.

Exchanging looks with Kyung Sein and Dansoo, I led the way along the railroad tracks.

In the distance, I could see the tracks extending onto Dongho Bridge. The bridge was already shattered in the middle, as if the ichthyosaur had wreaked havoc before vanishing.

We halted, watching and waiting.

The fishy scent of the Han River drifted on the air.

This was the time for the people to come running.

This was the moment for Lee Hyunsung, Yoo Sangah, Lee Gilyoung, and Han Myungoh, who had crossed the Even Bridge formed by 「Deus Ex Machina」 over the Dongho Bridge, to appear.

“That’s strange, I don’t see anyone—”

The instant Kyung Sein spoke those words.

「 Time stopped. 」

I felt a surge of panic as the world around me instantly drained of color.

If time had stopped now, there could only be one explanation.

The skill [⬜⬜] had been activated.

But why?

I didn’t see anyone nearby who would suddenly do something so unforeseen?

[Someone wants to do something unexpected.]

What?

Letters swirled around me, and a snowy landscape materialized.

[The activation conditions for the exclusive skill ‘⬜⬜’ have been partially met.]

[The exclusive skill ‘⬜⬜’ has been activated.]

What did it mean by ‘someone’?

[You have an absurdly low understanding of that character.]

[You cannot intervene in the character’s actions.]

A character I can’t intervene with? Where are they?

[Do you want to check the reader’s feedback?]

I hadn’t written anything; the message was entirely one-sided.

I decided to check the feedback first.

rlaehrwk37: Is everyone just going to die here all of a sudden?

A cold dread settled in my stomach.

Everyone dies?

Here? Suddenly?

[Leaving the ‘Snowfield’…….]

A primal sense of danger flared within me. It was a writer’s intuition.

I didn’t know what was happening, but if the ‘Snowfield’ ended here, my party and I would be annihilated. I was certain of it.

‘Wait! Hold on!’

At my desperate shout, the fading snowy landscape stabilized.

[You want to do something unexpected.]

This skill triggers when someone intends to do the ‘unexpected’.

[Describe your own behavior.]

[You have spent 5 probability points.]

And that, I could do.

[The activation conditions for the exclusive skill ‘⬜⬜’ have been met again.]

[The exclusive skill ‘⬜⬜’ has been reactivated.]

[You have entered the ‘Snowfield’.]

[Describe the next action of ‘Cheon Inho’.]

A writing window materialized before my eyes.

# Cheon Inho’s Station

⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜…….」

* At your current skill level, you can write a total of 160 additional characters.

[You can stay in the ‘Snowfield’ for a total of 3 minutes.]

I hastily wrote something along the lines of: ‘Cheon Inho reacted swiftly to the danger and saved his party members.’

[This story’s content is vague.]

[This story’s reproduction success rate is 10%.]

[Do you want to check the reader’s feedback?]

rlaehrwk37 : What’s with Cheon Inho
rlaehrwk81 : You don’t even know what’s happening

No, what in the world was going on?

I forced myself to stay calm and observe my surroundings. I needed to assess the location, the setting, the people…

Then, I noticed something.

「 Cracks were spiderwebbing their way up the tunnel walls. 」

[You found a background clue.]

[You can reserve additional probability in your description.]

Now I understood what was about to occur.

I typed furiously.

「 At that moment, Cheon Inho spotted the ceiling beginning to give way. On reflex, he yanked Jung Heewon, who was walking ahead, and yelled to the other two. «Everyone, press against the wall!» A moment later, the tunnel ceiling crashed down. Through the billowing dust, Chen Inho checked on his companions. Thankfully, no one was hurt. 」

[This story is lacking probability.]

[This story’s reproduction success rate is 43%.]

The probability had increased considerably.

[Do you want to try to recreate it?]

[If you fail, your group will be wiped out.]

A 43% chance was far too risky.

I thought hard.

This description lacks probability…

After careful consideration, I altered some sentences while keeping the basic sequence.

「 Risking a torn ligament in his right arm, Chen Inho shoved his companions back with all his might. 」

[This story is lacking probability.]

[This story’s reproduction success rate is 67%.]

The success rate was higher.

This was the right direction.

I made one final adjustment.

「 Risking torn ligaments in both arms, Chen Inho shoved his companions back with all his strength. 」

[This story is very plausible.]

[This story’s reproduction success rate is 98%.]

[Do you want to check the reader’s feedback?]

rlaehrwk37: Strong
rlaehrwk81: They’re alive, but still screwed

Was this truly the only way?

It pained me to think like Kim Dokja 81, but there was no alternative now.

[Successfully recreating the scene.]

[Leaving the ‘Snowfield’.]

Simultaneously with the message, both of my arms swelled enormously. I felt my level 10 strength straining far beyond its limits.

I immediately grabbed Kyung Sein and Dansoo by their waists, hurling them backward with all my power, and dove to the ground, pulling Jung Heewon down with me.

Kwaaaaaang!

A deafening explosion erupted, and excruciating pain lanced through both my arms.

The ceiling plummeted down in a thick cloud of white dust. Heavy debris grazed my cheeks and arms.

When I managed to regain my senses, coughing, I heard a faint groan in my arms.

Jung Heewon was safe.

Dansoo and Kyung Sein had been thrown a fair distance, but they didn’t appear seriously injured.

「 I’m alive. 」

My entire body trembled. My left arm was immobile, its ligaments surely torn, and my right arm could barely move, nearly paralyzed.

But it wasn’t over.

An intermittent tremor through the ground signaled that whatever had caused the collapse was now approaching.

Kukukukuku.

Moments later, a massive, dark shadow loomed over the shattered tunnel.

I recognized the monster.

A seventh-grade monster species, the great poisonous rhinoceros.

A horrible realization dawned. This is what the feedback had meant.

Even surviving the collapse meant being doomed by that creature.

As the one-horned rhinoceros fixed its violet eyes on me, it raised its enormous forefoot into the air.

I was about to be crushed.

I tried to move, but my body refused to respond.

«Heewon-ssi! Wake up! Now!»

A black shadow consumed my vision.

This was it.

And then.

「 A pale arc sliced through the air. 」

Jung Heewon’s swordplay was impressive, but this beautiful, ecstatic trajectory was on another level entirely.

The severed forefoot of the poisonous rhinoceros landed beside me, bleeding an unreal shade of purple.

I watched it all, drenched in the beast’s blood.

Then a second arc bloomed.

「 It can’t be. 」

The image of the poisonous rhinoceros having its horn, ears, and legs severed one after another.

The terrifying seventh-grade monster shrieked in agony before collapsing.

「 At this point, no incarnation should be capable of handling that beast. 」

A slow chill crept down my spine as I stared at the back of the figure in pitch-black, holding a long spear.

「 There is. One person. 」

A man in a black coat stood triumphantly over the corpse of the poisonous rhinoceros.

Merely meeting his gaze made me shudder.

I didn’t need an introduction.

The man who carried the weight of all the world’s tragedies on his shoulders.

The protagonist of ‘Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World’, the story Kim Dokja read for ten years.

«Why are you here?»

Yoo Joonghyuk.