Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 582

Chapter 582

582 Episode 5. Villain (7)

Plague-Carrying Rat.

This was a constellation that never appeared in *Omniscient Reader* or within the settings of *Ways of Survival*.

Now, it had contracted three incarnations and sent them to attack the ‘Edge of Darkness’.

That rat was undoubtedly a reader.

I would have liked to use [Readers’ Comments List] on them, but the skill doesn’t function on targets I cannot see.

Unless they are possessing an incarnation, there’s no way to know…

«Hey, everyone, we don’t need to fight.»

I waved a hand at the Ratmen glowering in my direction and slowly stepped back.

Even Literary Girl 64, whom I had trusted, had been poisoned, making the situation three against one.

The odds were not in my favor.

But then again, who was I?

The one Yoo Joonghyuk once called ‘The One Who Deceived the Stars’ in the 40th round.

«Misreading Association, everyone. I am not your enemy.»

The great villain, the infamous ‘Evil Sophist’ known among the constellations.

[The exclusive skill ‘Incite Lv.3’ is activated!]

«Gentlemen, it appears you are all villains. I, too, am a villain.»

I said, edging closer to the fallen Killer King.

«So let’s make a deal. Is he the one you’re after?»

I seized Killer King by the scruff of the neck and lifted him. Literary Girl 64, crouched nearby, watched me with eyes full of despair.

I gave her a slight smile before turning back to the Ratmen.

One of them spoke.
«We do not negotiate.»

«Quiet, rats. I am speaking to your constellation, not to you.»

At my icy tone, the Ratmen scowled.

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ is observing you with interest.]

I smirked and continued.

«As you witnessed from my earlier fight, I am quite capable. If I were to engage at full strength, even your incarnations would not escape unharmed. If three of your incarnations perish this early, wouldn’t that be a significant loss for a constellation like yourself?»

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ is glowering at you.]

«Even so, must we fight? You get what you want, and I avoid getting my hands dirty. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement. Give what you must give, take what you must take.»

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ states that the Seven Apostles cannot be trusted.]

«I am not from the Seven Apostles.»

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ has used ‘Lie Detection’.]

[Your statement has been verified as true.]

Now even a rat is using that skill.

Then again, it is a constellation.

«I will hand over Killer King to you, in exchange for your random item box.»

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ says it cannot surrender the box.]

«Then I will take all the remaining items here, excluding the box.»

At my proposal, ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ seemed to deliberate.

I could hear the Ratmen conferring with squeaks.

—What should we do?

I began speaking again as I subtly moved closer to the wall.

«You need not ponder for long. Consider this: it seems your journey has been difficult. To survive in a world like this, we must learn to cooperate. I have no desire for a plot where villains turn on each other and meet their end.»

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ demands to know who you are.]

*Tsuchuchut.*

Sparks of light flickered across its form; it was preparing to unleash its status to intimidate me.

However, ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ did not seem to be a particularly powerful constellation.

It would also not be free from the constraints of probability at this early stage.

«How disappointing. You truly do not recognize me? It seems you haven’t read the novel carefully enough.»

I took another step.

The rat issued a warning, sensing something amiss.

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ commands you to halt.]

I don’t think so.

«This is the vessel of the most wicked villain in *Omniscient Reader*.»

With those words, I yanked out the ‘dark flower’ embedded in the nearby wall.

For an instant, my shadow wavered ominously as the ash-colored torch, which absorbed black ether—the ‘dark flower’—illuminated the surroundings.

«The one who was burned to death by Hellfire.»

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ orders its incarnations to kill you immediately.]

The Ratmen whistled in unison and launched their poisonous darts.

I used Killer King as a shield.

*Thud. Thud. Thud.*

Killer King’s eyes widened as he shuddered violently. I had no other option given the circumstances.

Just hold on, reader-nim, I’ll save you.

With Killer King held before me, I charged toward the Ratmen. They panicked and leaped backward.

I hurled the dark flower at them with all my strength. It spun through the air, flew past them, and landed in the darkness behind.

A tendril of black smoke rose from the extinguished flame.

Black ether was seeping out.

—Watch out!

Something began to stir within the dense cloud of black ether.

「 There was a ‘boss monster’ here that had not yet died. 」

In the novel, Kim Dokja had not delivered the final blow to the monster. To do so would invoke the curse of the ‘Demon King’.

[The ruler of the ‘Edge of Darkness’ is absorbing the black ether!]

Killer King, who had read *Omniscient Reader* nearly a hundred times, had not forgotten that part either.

[The 7th grade demonic species, ‘Dark Keeper’, has been revived!]

The black ether from the dark flower had revived the dying ‘Dark Keeper’.

*Squeak squeak!* The Ratmen shrieked as three or four tentacles shot out from the Dark Keeper’s body simultaneously.

The Ratmen barely evaded the tentacles.

However,

*Squish!*

They had no time to avoid the tentacles that erupted from the ground beneath them. In an instant, the three Ratmen were impaled through their stomachs, screaming and thrashing.

«Kallitu.»

With the Dark Keeper’s utterance, something slithered into the bodies of the three Ratmen.

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ is enraged!]

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ is increasing its synchronization with the incarnations!]

Realizing the situation too late, Plague-Carrying Rat attempted to intervene directly.

But this was a mistake.

*Tsuchuchuchuchut!*

[The 7th grade demon, ‘Dark Keeper’, has detected the presence of the constellation.]

[The 7th grade demon, ‘Dark Keeper’, prays to its master.]

*Grrrrr.*

The entire ‘Edge of Darkness’ quaked as if in an earthquake.

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ is panicking.]

Someone was peering into this space.

An entity far superior to ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’.

A cold sweat trickled down my spine.

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ is increasing its synchronization with the incarnations!]

He is the master of the 32nd Demon Realm.

[The constellation ‘Commander of the Red Cosmos’ expression stiffens.]

[The constellation ‘Primordial Cow’s eyes gleam.]

Devil of Lust and Wrath.

The demon king Asmodeus.

[The demon king ‘Devil of Lust and Wrath’ stares at ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’.]

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ suffers a fatal blow.]

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ cries out in terror.]

[The constellation ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ has left the channel.]

A historical-grade constellation was obliterated by a single glance.

[The demon king ‘Devil of Lust and Wrath’ is looking at you with peculiar interest.]

From across the abyss, the demon king’s gaze was fixed on me.

[The exclusive skill ‘Incite Lv.3’ is intensely activated!]

「 I am Kim Dokja, who possesses the ‘Fourth Wall’. 」

I met the demon king’s gaze without flinching.

[The demon king ‘Devil of Lust and Wrath’ is intrigued by you.]

[The demon king ‘Devil of Lust and Wrath’ will remember your name.]

After the message, the gaze vanished. Only the Dark Keeper and I remained.

I took a deep breath and stared at it.

«Will you fight?»

The Dark Keeper returned my gaze and muttered something.

[You understand the language settings.]

[You are interpreting the language of the demon species.]

…from ⬛⬛ to ⬛. The king is watching you.

…….What?

With those words, it vanished into the darkness with the ratmen.

[The 7th grade demon, ‘Dark Keeper’, has disappeared from the Ground Rat’s Treasure Trove.]

[The 7th grade demon, ‘Dark Keeper’, has been defeated!]

[The sub scenario ‘Kill the Keeper’ has ended.]

[You have successfully looted another’s sub scenario!]

[8,000 coins have been acquired.]

[The constellation ‘Commander of the Red Cosmos’ admires your courage in confronting a demon king.]

[An additional 1,000 coins have been sponsored.]

I had been ready to fight the Dark Keeper if necessary. This was a relief.

So this kind of outcome was also possible.

Behind me, I could see Dansoo ahjussi and Kyung Sein staggering to their feet.

«Inho-ssi? Ouch! What the…?»

Judging by their exaggerated tones, they must have woken up, seen the situation, and pretended to still be unconscious.

I gave a wry smile and pointed to Killer King and Literary Girl 64 on the ground.

«Let’s help them first.»

According to the setting notes in *Ways of Survival*, there are two methods to neutralize the ‘poisonous fog’.

Using the ‘Elaine Monkey’s Lungs’, or administering the ‘Elaine Forest Essence’.

However, I couldn’t guarantee that either method would cure Killer King or Literary Girl 64.

Especially Killer King, who had been poisoned multiple times because of me; his condition was extremely critical.

*Cough, Hack.*

Killer King’s face was ashen, foam bubbled at his mouth, and he gasped for air.

Still, I couldn’t let a reader who had completed the story 99 times die like this.

I retrieved the fragment of ‘poisonous rhinoceros horn’ I had concealed in my chest and ground it into a fine powder.

Dansoo ahjussi asked.
«What is that?»

«I collected it the other day when I met Yoo Joonghyuk.»

If my ligaments had been intact, I could have obtained a larger piece, but my arm was shattered, so I only managed to get fragments.

Fortunately, it was sufficient for now.

I mixed the horn powder with water and poured it into the mouths of Killer King and Literary Girl 64.

After a few moments, their complexions noticeably improved.

「 The poisonous rhinoceros horn is highly effective against the ‘poisonous fog’. 」

I had only created it as a *Ways of Survival* setting without using it in the main story, never anticipating it would be used this way.

«Everyone else should have some too. It’s effective against the poisonous fog.»

«How did you know about this?»

«I tested it as soon as I obtained the horn.»

«As expected of Inho-ssi…!»

I recounted the recent events to Dansoo ahjussi and Kyung Sein as they drank the remaining bottled water.

I intentionally omitted Killer King’s attempt to kill us. I saw no reason to foster hostility at this juncture.

«There was another reader who had contracted a constellation? And they were a member of the Misreading Association?»

Kyung Sein seemed almost breathless upon hearing the name Misreading Association.

«Oh, you clashed with the Misreading Association?»

«Yes. But they were somewhat odd, weren’t they?»

Killer King was one thing, but the individual possessed by that Plague-Carrying Rat seemed truly strange. Even if they had entered a novel, how could someone who had been living in the real world until days ago suddenly become a killer?

Kyung Sein, her face pale, spoke up.
«If it’s the Misreading Association, it’s plausible. Damn it, to encounter them so soon…»

I grew slightly confused.
«Isn’t it just a club?»

«The Misreading Association is not merely a club.»

Huh? Then what is it?

It was Killer King, who had finally regained consciousness, who answered my question.
«The Misreading Association is the name of an illegal file-sharing site.»