Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 586

Chapter 586

Episode 6. Star Relic (3)
Demon-Like Judge of Fire.

A wave of nostalgia washed over me at the sight of a modifier I hadn’t encountered in so long.

Archangel Uriel.

One of the four great constellations of Bihyung’s channel, alongside the Prisoner of the Golden Headband, the Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, and the Secretive Plotter.

The constellation who adored the protagonist, Kim Dokja, more fiercely than any other.

[The constellation ‘Demon-Like Judge of Fire’ is making a displeased expression.]

Yet, without Kim Dokja here, this version of Uriel who had joined the channel showed no interest in the incarnations.

Perhaps this was her true nature before she ever met him.

Noticing Uriel’s entry message, Kyung Sein waved urgently from a distance. I could make out the shape of her mouth.

‘Do something! She’s here!’

That’s what she seemed to be saying.

But what was I supposed to do?

Kim Dokja was destined to be beloved by all, but I am Ten Evil Cheon Inho.

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is looking at you.]

Even if you stare at me like that, I have nothing to offer.

Should I try inciting myself?

[The exclusive skill ‘Incite Lv.4’ has been activated!]

「 I am Kim Dokja. 」

I attempted to incite myself into becoming Kim Dokja.

No change occurred, aside from a few scattered memories from ‘Ways of Survival’ surfacing in my mind.

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is watching you with a puzzled expression.]

I glanced around and noticed Dansoo ahjussi sitting on the platform, looking weary from his kendo training.

«Ahjussi.»

«Mate.»

For some reason, his expression was somber.

«Are you alright?»

«Yes, I’m fine, it’s just……»

He trailed off, but I understood without him having to explain.

He was surely thinking about Jiyoon again.

Dansoo ahjussi offered a faint, weak smile and murmured, almost to himself.

«I wish she had loved stories that were a little less dangerous.»

A sudden weight settled in my chest.

We sat together silently, gazing into the dark tunnel.

«Did your daughter always enjoy novels?»

«She read them from time to time, but she was particularly fond of this one.»

«What did she like about it?»

«……»

Ahjussi looked as serious as Yoo Joonghyuk contemplating a regression, before answering in a grave tone.

«Probably because there are many handsome characters.»

«Ah……»

«My daughter once told me she liked how all those good-looking companions kept saving one another.»

I was at a loss for words and could only stare into the blackness of the tunnel.

That was a fairly accurate summary.

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is curious about your conversation.]

The sound of laughter echoed from the group gathered further down the platform.

After a moment, ahjussi spoke again.

«I hope Jiyoon has friends like that…… by her side right now.»

«I am certain she does.»

No words of comfort could truly ease his worry at this moment.

Even so, Dansoo ahjussi smiled softly, gratefully accepting my clumsy attempt.

«It’s a good thing I met you, Inho-ssi. If you hadn’t saved me back then, I would have died already.»

«Don’t say that.»

Dansoo ahjussi was the first reader I encountered, and perhaps because of that, I wanted him to reunite with his daughter and return to the real world safely.

I brushed off my clothes and stood, offering him my hand.

«I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe until you find your daughter.»

Ahjussi took my hand and rose to his feet, nodding as he did.

«Yes. I’ll do my best to support you as well.»

His gentle smile warmed my heart.

A message chimed in the next instant.

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ has sponsored you 100 coins.]

I looked up at the ceiling, puzzled.

……Why would she sponsor me?

 

Just before departing the station, we bid farewell to the group.

Bang Cheolsoo was the first to approach.

«Hyung-nim. You’re leaving?»

«Yeah.»

«Isn’t it too risky? Wouldn’t it be safer to observe the situation here a while longer and then move together……»

«I have to go. Do you remember all the instructions I gave you?»

«Yes.»

The ‘food acquisition’ scenario only rewarded 500 coins, which would cover the daily survival fee for just five days.

«To avoid the survival penalty, you’ll need to move eventually. Complete the sub-scenario quickly and lead everyone to Chungmuro. I’ll clear the path of monsters ahead.»

«Hyung-nim……»

The members of the Cheoldoo Group bowed deeply toward me. I truly felt like a mob boss.

Bang Cheolsoo spoke again.

«To be honest, I was suspicious of you at first.»

«What do you mean?»

«You know how you can sometimes judge a person at a glance. You seemed a bit timid and had this annoying smile.»

«……»

«I still don’t fully trust you. I’ve been in this world long enough to know better than to trust people easily.»

Unlike his usual self, Bang Cheolsoo continued to ramble.

«Still, watching you made me reflect a little. On what it means to be a person. You shouldn’t judge someone based on appearances……»

I nearly punched him in the head but held back. Don’t judge a book by its cover……

I wondered if I was really the right person to hear that.

After all, I had judged Bang Cheolsoo based on a few lines from ‘Omniscient Reader’. A strange thought suddenly occurred to me.

How much truth does the Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint actually hold?

«Alright. I’ll see you all again, so save the long speeches.»

[The constellation ‘Monarch of the Small Fries’ is impressed by your noir style!]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

«Take this.»

«This is……?»

«It’s the Magic Power Stove we used earlier. You hold onto it and use it for cooking.»

The ‘Magic Power Stove’ was the only available cooking tool here.

Bang Cheolsoo quickly understood why I was entrusting it to him.

«H-Hyung-nim……»

I turned my back on them.

Kyung Sein and Dansoo ahjussi finished their goodbyes and quickly caught up.

«Take care, hyung-nim!»

We stepped into the Yaksu Station tunnel amidst the Cheoldoo Group’s farewells.

«Feels bittersweet,» Dansoo ahjussi remarked, glancing back repeatedly. He must have grown attached to everyone.

Kyung Sein, watching him, called out to me.

«Hey, Inho-ssi. By the way……»

I knew what she was about to ask, so I answered plainly.

«She’ll be here soon.»

Right then, the sound of footsteps rushing toward us echoed from behind. I didn’t need to look to know who it was.

«I knew you’d come.»

I turned to see Jung Heewon standing there, lips pursed in a pout.

«Why didn’t you ask if I wanted to join you?»

Instead of answering, I assessed our group. Two thin men, one girl who was only muscular in spirit.

Jung Heewon let out a heavy sigh.

«Whatever. Seriously.»

«Thank you.»

«It’s not for free.»

Jung Heewon hesitated before adding.

«You seem clever, Inho-ssi. I’m just sticking around for a while to see what I can gain.»

«……»

«Why are you staring?»

«Nothing. I’m just a little touched.»

«Touched……»

Jung Heewon pressed her lips together and looked ahead unnecessarily, while Kyung Sein watched me with a hint of envy.

Dansoo ahjussi walked a few steps away, observing us with a warm smile.

Jung Heewon, uncomfortable with the mood, glanced over and asked.

«So, where are we headed?»

Hearing that question, another one popped into my mind.

「 How far will we actually be able to go? 」

The darkness beyond the tunnel resembled an endless field of black snow.

Only Kim Dokja, who read the entire story, knows what lies beyond.

«For now, we head to Chungmuro.»

It was time to meet the second member of <Kim Dokja’s Company>.

 

[Main Scenario #2 – Meeting]
Category: Main

Difficulty: E

Clear Conditions: Cross the tunnel and meet the survivors at the first main base.

Time Limit: None

Reward: 500 coins

Failure: ???

[The next ‘main base’ is ‘Chungmuro’.]

A new scenario window appeared as we reached the tunnel’s midpoint.

The second scenario had now truly begun.

We advanced, handling the occasional ground rats with ease, and soon reached our first stop, Yaksu Station.

«Doesn’t look like there’s anyone left here.»

As it was on the 3rd turn, Yaksu Station was deserted in this turn as well.

In the center of the platform, remains of collected and burned bodies were visible.

«Ugh, here too……»

Amid the scattered ashes and fragments of clothing, words written in charcoal stood out on the ground.

—I miss my mom and dad.

Kyung Sein whispered.

«This wasn’t in Omniscient Reader, was it?»

I shook my head.

Perhaps another reader had left it behind.

Dansoo ahjussi stared at the message for a long time.

After a brief inspection, Jung Heewon reported.

«It’s completely empty.»

«Let’s move on to Dongdae Station and rest there.»

«Alright.»

Jung Heewon took the lead, and we resumed our journey.

Kyung Sein murmured quietly.

«Inho-ssi, Dongdae Station…… You remember what happens there?»

«Yes. I know.»

After walking for thirty or forty minutes, we finally arrived at the Dongdaemun platform.

There was no sign of life here, either.

Having moved through two stations much faster than in the original story, Jung Heewon was showing signs of fatigue.

«This is more exhausting than I expected.»

It was understandable.

She had single-handedly eliminated over a hundred and fifty ground rats between the two stations.

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is interested in the incarnation ‘Jung Heewon’.]

Her combat prowess, even without [Judgement Time], was extraordinary. At this level, aside from Yoo Joonghyuk, no incarnation should be able to defeat her.

«I’m going to rest. Let’s regroup here in 20 minutes.»

«Is the water in the restroom still—working? I’m just going to wash my face. Want to come, Sein?»

Kyung Sein shook her head quickly. Jung Heewon gave a slight nod and headed toward the bathroom.

«See you soon.»

Once she was gone, Kyung Sein and I exchanged a look.

«Ten minutes should be sufficient, right?»

«Five will be enough.»

[A constellation who hasn’t revealed their modifier is fascinated by your scheme.]

Only Dansoo ahjussi, who had forgotten most of Omniscient Reader, looked confused by our exchange.

 

Moments later, we stood before Exit 6 of Dongdae Station.

[You have been exposed to a poisonous fog.]

We ingested the remaining ‘poisonous rhinoceros horn powder’ from treating Killer King and sprinted up the escalator leading to Dongdaemun.

«There it is!»

Kyung Sein spotted our target first.

A bronze statue in the distance.

惟政四溟大師像

Yujeong Samyeongdang.

It was unmistakably the statue of Samyeongdang, known in the original story as the ‘Bald General of Justice’.

In the story, Kim Dokja shattered this statue to obtain a hidden skill and an item.

«But it looks like someone already broke it.»

The statue we found was already destroyed.

[A constellation wearing a straw mat glares at you.]

[The constellation ‘Sneaking Schemer’ laughs at your bad luck.]

I smiled wryly at the statue, which had been cleanly sliced in two.

I didn’t know who did it, but the cut was remarkably precise. It could have been Yoo Joonghyuk, Killer King, or another reader.

Kyung Sein called out to me, her face pale.

«Inho-ssi.»

«I anticipated this.»

«What?»

We weren’t the only readers in this world.

There were those who endured a more brutal ‘ichthyosaur scenario’ than mine, those who missed out on ‘Broken Faith’ due to the line, and even those who had [Purest Sword Force] taken from them.

So it was only natural that someone would have claimed Samyeongdang’s items first.

I slowly lifted the top half of the statue.

[A constellation wearing a straw mat is confused by your actions.]

Thanks to my level 20 strength, I could lift a weight that would normally be impossible.

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ has noticed your actions and is astonished.]

I pointed to the other side of the statue.

«Sein-ssi, could you hold that part?»

Kyung Sein approached hesitantly.

«L-Like this?»

«Yes. Lift it up over your head like this.»

«I’ll try. Hup!»

Together, we raised the upper half of Samyeongdang above our heads.

During my time in these scenarios, I had realized something.

Surviving in this world required more than just following ‘Omniscient Reader’ step-by-step.

«Dansoo ahjussi, climb onto the base and help balance it!»

After several minutes of effort, we managed to position the upper half of the statue onto the lower half.

I used spare clothing from Geumho Station to tightly bind the cracked section.

«There.»

The statue now had what looked like a bandage around its waist, but it was still standing.

Kyung Sein’s eyes widened as she understood my plan.

«Inho-ssi, you can’t be……»

«Yes, exactly.»

This world is the <Star Stream>.

A world where everything is part of a story.

A good story doesn’t always require destruction.

I smirked, saluted the statue briefly, and turned to the others.

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ is deeply moved by your compassion!]

As I looked up, something gleaming fell from above.

For the sake of future transmigrated readers, I’ll share this kindly.

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ is sponsoring you.]

This is how you survive in this damned <Star Stream>.