Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 577

Chapter 577

577 Episode 5. Villain (2)
The men backed away warily, anticipating he would draw a weapon.

Yet what Yoo Joonghyuk produced was entirely unforeseen.

「 «The probability is low.» 」

He set down two tiny beads onto a crushed snack container.

「 «However, if a man called Cheon Inho appears, hand these to him.» 」

In the next moment, the darkness consumed Yoo Joonghyuk’s black coat, and his shadow vanished.

A cold shudder traveled down my spine.

Abruptly, I felt a need to ask the small Kim Dokja beside me if he felt it too.

When I turned, he was already staring. His eyes were wide with shock, and his mouth twitched in my direction.

You should not be here.

Just then, I was seized by the scruff of my neck and yanked backward. The screen vanished from my sight, and my awareness faded into blackness.

Even as I slipped away, the final image I witnessed remained perfectly clear.

The name tag fastened to the small figure’s chest. It stated plainly.

Kim Dokja 37.

«He’s awake!»

My sight slowly returned, accompanied by the bright flash of a phone.

The hard platform floor. People were gathered around, looking down at me.

I let out a soft groan and blinked my eyes open.

«Inho-ssi!»

Kyung Sein grabbed my shoulder, her eyes wet with tears. Nearby, Dansoo ahjussi was nodding in relief, and Bang Cheolsoo stood with darkened eyes.

Groaning, I pushed myself up onto my elbows.

«Heewon-ssi, she’s—»

I turned and saw Jung Heewon lying with her eyes shut tight.

Kyung Sein said between sobs.
«Heewon-nim carried you on her back. We were preparing a rescue party, but……»

The unwritten story was etched across her body. Numerous wounds marked her forearms, her knees were burned, and grime coated her from head to toe.

Jung Heewon had carried me all this way.

«Don’t be anxious. I administered first aid. The major injuries are nearly healed.»

Then I recognized that I felt fine. It was puzzling. I had been certain I was at death’s door.

Noticing my confusion, Kyung Sein explained.
«I used ‘Elaine Forest’s Essence’ on both of you.»

«Ah.»

«Yoo Joonghyuk…… gave it to us.»

I recalled the scene from my recent dream. The moment Yoo Joonghyuk left something on the ground.

It seemed it hadn’t been a dream after all.

The irony wasn’t lost on me. He was the one who injured Jung Heewon and me, yet he also provided the cure.

「 «Remember your purpose. Do not make me regret employing a worthless fool like you.» 」

It was likely only because he considered me useful.

[A constellation who hasn’t revealed their modifier is shaking their head.]

It seemed my rehabilitation project wasn’t a complete disaster after all.

Bang Cheolsoo appeared quite pleased.

Dansoo ahjussi gave a brief account of events after my disappearance. Most of it matched what I had witnessed on the theater screen.

«What exactly happened on your end? Did you truly confront Yoo Joonghyuk?»

I released a light sigh and started to narrate the events to Kyung Sein and Dansoo ahjussi.

From shoving them to safety when I sensed danger, to the poison rhinoceros breaking into the tunnel, to Yoo Joonghyuk dismantling it alone.

«Isn’t Yoo Joonghyuk somewhat…?»

When Yoo Joonghyuk and Jung Heewon clashed.

«Honestly, that was underhanded of Yoo Joonghyuk. Fighting then was a severe disadvantage for Heewon-nim.»

To when I was swallowed by an ichthyosaur trying to save Jung Heewon.

«That story sounds familiar.»

When I formed a contract with Bihyung inside the ichthyosaur.

«Buddy, you’re not Kim Dokja, are you?»

My and Jung Heewon’s plan to break out of the creature.

«I wish I could have been there!»

How Jung Heewon awakened during our escape.

«How is that even possible…….»

«What did Heewon-nim awaken to?»

After explaining that far, I understood how Yoo Joonghyuk felt, repeating the same story endlessly.

«Anyway, that’s the summary.»

«You really went through a lot. Well done.»

«Inho-ssi, you must have received many rewards…….»

It was only when Kyung Sein asked with gleaming eyes that I recalled the pending rewards.

[There are currently 3 unclaimed rewards.]

[You can claim the hidden scenario ‘Serpent Slayer’ reward.]

[You can claim hidden scenario ‘Commander Slayer’ reward.]

[You can claim the constellations’ sponsorship reward.]

There truly were many unclaimed rewards. But more pressing issues demanded my attention.

«By the way, have either of you been in contact with Yoo Joonghyuk?»

«Eh? No. We only observed him from a distance.»

It appeared the quick-thinking Kyung Sein had used her [Sixth Sense] to evade Yoo Joonghyuk. Dansoo ahjussi, beside her, seemed to have benefited as well.

I added, feeling somewhat relieved.
«Good. You must never make contact with Yoo Joonghyuk from now on.»

Kyung Sein tilted her head at my words, but then nodded as comprehension dawned.
«I understand. I thought I might reason with him, but seeing him in person made it clear he’s truly unhinged. And Kim Dokja is even more insane for confronting him like that.»

Well stated.

I doubted these two would do anything rash. However, Dansoo ahjussi’s expression was odd.

«Is he truly such a terrible person?»

«What?»

«The thought just occurred to me. While he did injure you, Inho-ssi… from Yoo Joonghyuk’s perspective, Cheon Inho has always been a villain.»

That was a fair point.

We are meeting Yoo Joonghyuk for the first time, but he has already encountered Cheon Inho in a previous turn. So from his viewpoint, hostility toward me might be expected.

«Jiyoon always said Yoo Joonghyuk is actually a good man, and that she would definitely marry him.»

Ahjussi spoke as if approving of a potential son-in-law.

«After all, he gave us that Elaine substance. Since he’s the protagonist, I don’t see why he should be judged so harshly…….»

Common sense warned me not to heed Dansoo ahjussi.

That would only hold true if this world was the ‘Omniscient Reader’ we recognized.

«Do you recall why we went to Oksu Station?»

He nodded.
«We didn’t find Yoo Sangah, Lee Gilyoung, Lee Hyunsung, or Han Myungoh.»

«Oh, now that you mention it…….»

«Do you understand what that implies?»

Dansoo ahjussi still seemed uncertain. But Kyung Sein’s expression was growing more serious.

I decided to simplify it for him.
«This is not the 「Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint」 we are familiar with.»

«What does that mean?»

«To be more accurate, this isn’t just any ‘Omniscient Reader’. The <Kim Dokja’s Company> we know will not be formed here.»

Dansoo ahjussi’s mouth fell open as he finally grasped the situation. Kyung Sein’s eyes widened in shock.

«This is…….»

«We are inside ‘Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World’.»

The novel-within-a-novel of Omniscient Reader, the 3,149-chapter story read by the protagonist Kim Dokja. We are now inside that ruined novel.

Kyung Sein stammered.
«H-How can you know that, Inho-ssi?»

«Because I saw Yoo Joonghyuk’s Attribute Window.»

«Do you possess [Character List] or something similar?»

«Yes. I acquired it by chance.»

Kyung Sein looked at me blankly, then at ahjussi, then at Bang Cheolsoo chatting with Dayoung’s mother in the distance, before she suddenly became pensive and said.
«Wait, then…… This Yoo Joonghyuk isn’t on his third regression?»

«Precisely.»

In other words, this world’s Yoo Joonghyuk is not the one we know from ‘Omniscient Reader’.

As if connecting ideas, Kyung Sein’s expression changed abruptly.
«Wait. Now that I consider it, isn’t that beneficial? If he has regressed more, he would develop faster, correct? In fact, the 1,863rd round Yoo Joonghyuk grew so powerful he became an outer god.»

Dansoo ahjussi added as if he’d remembered something.
«The man who reached the world’s end…… The one who became a god himself…… I recall that. Jiyoon had a picture of it taped to her desk. The Sneaking Schemer…….»

«Secretive Plotter. Anyway, Inho-ssi. Isn’t it premature to assume the worst?»

Certainly, the Yoo Joonghyuk of ‘Ways of Survival’ could potentially become stronger than the original version.

After 1,863 regressions, Yoo Joonghyuk becomes powerful enough to reach the ‘Final Wall’ alone.

Even without reaching exactly 1,863 rounds, Yoo Joonghyuk’s combat ability grows exponentially in the later stages.

The issue is.
«That applies to the later stages of his regressions.»

It would be preferable if this was the later, or even the final, part.

In the main novel, there is a scene where Kim Dokja even subjugates Yoo Joonghyuk from the 1,863rd round.

While I couldn’t have made him eat dirt like Kim Dokja, I might have attempted something similar.

But in this particular round, that chance was nonexistent.

I could say this because I had faced him directly.
«This round does not favor us, because this round’s Yoo Joonghyuk is the most terrible version possible.»

«The most terrible Yoo Joonghyuk? How many regressions has he undergone?»

Throughout all of 「Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint」, there is one Yoo Joonghyuk that makes everyone tremble.

If you find yourself in ‘Ways of Survival’, you should avoid him at all costs.

I remembered the words of the Shin Yooseung who arrived as a disaster in the third round.

「 «You, who longed for Yoo Joonghyuk’s approval, died in the ocean you cherished. You were brutally slaughtered by the Japanese who despised your sponsor……. Do you know what Yoo Joonghyuk said after losing you?» 」

«In the future, naval battles will be somewhat challenging.»

Kyung Sein’s eyes widened at my statement.

I continued.
「 «You saved countless lives and shielded Yoo Joonghyuk until the very end. Then you were struck by the iron blood dragon’s breath and scattered into ashes. Do you know what Yoo Joonghyuk said then?» 」

«I lost an inferior shield.»

Those lines were part of Yoo Joonghyuk’s dark history, among the most infamous in ‘Ways of Survival’.

Finally understanding my meaning, Kyung Sein’s lips quivered.
«It can’t be true, can it, Inho-ssi? Please, tell me it’s not.»

Perhaps, in this specific world line, Yoo Joonghyuk could never be considered a better man than Cheon Inho.

A man who sacrificed every one of his companions, even transforming them into disasters, solely to end this <Star Stream>.

「 Yoo Joonghyuk’s actions were worse than murder. Thousands of years. That span of time is enough to erode a person’s sanity and identity. Shin Yooseung endured for all that time and ultimately became a ‘disaster’. 」

I blinked slowly, recalling the round number I had seen on Yoo Joonghyuk’s status.
«This world’s Yoo Joonghyuk is from the ’41st round’.»

The Yoo Joonghyuk of this world is the most vile villain in the universe, the one who annihilated all of his comrades.