Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 587

Chapter 587

A short time later, we went down into the subway and consumed some ground rat meat. This was to benefit from the meat’s ‘contamination resistance effect.’

We had prepared beef jerky in advance at Geumho Station, and it proved useful in situations like this.

“Hey, are you eating by yourself?”

Jung Heewon, who had just come back from washing her face, took a large bite from the piece of jerky I was holding and mumbled.

“Did something good happen?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because all of you seem like you’re in a good mood.”

“Heeheehee.”

Kyung Sein let out a weird giggle, and even Dansoo ahjussi wore a faint smile.

I answered.

“We were just doing a bit of volunteer service.”

“Volunteer service?”

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ commends the virtuous actions of the incarnations.]

Well, to be accurate, it wasn’t exactly volunteer work since we received a reward.

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ declares that the spirit of the Korean Peninsula is still alive.]

At the constellation’s unexpected message, Jung Heewon stared into the air and tilted her head.

“Bald?”

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ cautions her against finishing that sentence.]

As it happened, Jung Heewon was still not well-acquainted with ideas like constellations and incarnations.

I gave a short explanation.

“I have a general idea of what a constellation is. It’s like a god, right?”

“Correct.”

“So that’s why Inho-ssi and the others fixed the bald… god’s statue?”

A troubling glint was flickering above Jung Heewon’s head, so I quickly added.

“He’s not a bald god, he’s a bald general. His actual name is Samyeongdang, and he was a significant figure in Korean history. A remarkable man.”

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ settles down.]

“Samyeongdang is a Buddhist monk, isn’t he?”

Now that I thought about it, Jung Heewon wasn’t very knowledgeable about Korean history.

I was trying to come up with an explanation when Kyung Sein answered instead.

“Samyeongdang was a monk during the mid-Joseon Dynasty. He protected the Korean Peninsula by leading soldiers against the Japanese forces in the Imjin War.”

Jung Heewon’s eyes widened.

“Sein, you’re so smart.”

“Hehe.”

Kyung Sein shot me a wink.

Actually, her explanation was something she had picked up from Yoo Sangah. It was a skillful reply, indeed.

Jung Heewon asked.

“So, are all these items gifts from Samyeongdang?”

I nodded.

“That’s right.”

Samyeongdang’s ‘sponsorship’. The glittering bag contained three objects.

[Samyeongdang’s Beads]

[Samyeongdang’s Straw Mat]

[Damaged Samyeongdang’s Bamboo Stick]

‘Samyeongdang’s Beads’ and ‘Samyeongdang’s Straw Mat’ were items that also appeared in the 3rd turn.

The important one was the last item, the ‘Damaged Samyeongdang’s Bamboo Stick’.

[Item Information]
Name: Damaged Samyeongdang’s Bamboo Stick

Rating: Star Relic

Description: A star relic of the ‘Bald General of Justice’, a historical-grade constellation of the Korean Peninsula. Regrettably, it has suffered damage from improper storage.

As an accessory, it raises Physique by 1 and Magic Power by 1, and offers a considerable boost to magic resistance.

It can inflict extra damage to spectral entities and other heteromorphic monsters.

This time, I was truly taken aback.

I never imagined I would obtain another star relic.

An item that even Kim Dokja had considered but never actually acquired.

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ acts dismissive.]

I supposed our actions had satisfied Samyeongdang.

I didn’t know who damaged the statue, but I was very thankful.

“Let’s hand out the items.”

The first one I picked up was the Samyeongdang’s Straw Mat. Honestly, the owner of this item was already predetermined.

“Me? Why?”

Jung Heewon, who received the straw mat, asked while tilting her head.

“I thought it would suit you.”

Kyung Sein, standing beside her, nodded vigorously.

Jung Heewon looked down at the item uncertainly, but then resolved herself and put on the straw mat.

This completed her initial gear setup from the 3rd turn, which included both ‘Samyeongdang’s Straw Mat’ and the ‘ground rat knife’.

Kyung Sein was moved and whispered to me.

“I never thought I’d get to witness Heewon-nim’s ‘early build’ in person…”

As if she sensed something, Jung Heewon glanced over suspiciously. We promptly started clapping and cheering.

“It looks really good on you.”

“Unni! It’s perfect!”

Dansoo ahjussi, who had been quiet, added his comment.

“You look just like an outlaw from the wild lands.”

“Really?”

Jung Heewon looked at her reflection in the screen door, visibly doubtful.

For reference, when Kim Dokja saw that scene in the original story, he remarked.

「 Honestly, no matter how you see it, it looks like a beggar’s covering. 」

He might have said that, but he was probably smiling. We watched Jung Heewon’s excitement for a moment before deciding who would take the remaining items.

We agreed that Kyung Sein would get the ‘Samyeongdang’s Beads’, which provided magic resistance, and Dansoo ahjussi would receive the ‘Samyeongdang’s Bamboo Stick’, which boosted magic stats.

Kyung Sein asked, sounding apologetic.

“If you give them all to us, what about you, Inho-ssi?”

“I’m fine. I already possess a star relic.”

Dansoo ahjussi was thrilled to have his first star relic and swung the bamboo stick through the air. He even gave it a name.

“Wilson.”

That was strange. I thought the bracelet was named Wilson.

After finishing our preparations, we moved into the tunnel leading directly to Chungmuro.

While Dansoo ahjussi used his [Diverse Communication] to detect dangers ahead, Jung Heewon and Kyung Sein were talking quietly.

“This place is creepy. A ghost might appear. I think I hear weird sounds, too…”

“Don’t say that. You can’t fight ghosts with a knife.”

Now that she mentioned it, it was about time for that ‘monster’ to emerge.

I was considering whether I should warn my companions when I heard a welcome message in my ear.

—This guy shuts his eyes every time he sees me.

It was Bihyung’s ‘dokkaebi communication’.

I looked up and smiled slightly.

‘I haven’t seen you much lately, so I closed my eyes.’

—Are you being sarcastic? I only just found some time. The number of guys causing trouble has gone down a lot.

The number had decreased significantly. Normally, that would be good news, but this time, it felt ominous. I had a guess about which ones were causing the trouble.

—And the constellations are acting strange, too… What did you do to get cursed by them? Lately, some have it out for you.

Constellations targeting me?

—Dammit, there they go again. I’m out.

With those words, Bihyung ended the communication again.

We had a streaming contract, so he must have checked in briefly.

Speaking of which, constellations were cursing me.

I had a feeling about who they might be.

Probably the ‘Plague-Carrying Rat’ we fought earlier. Maybe more members of the Misreading Association who had taken over constellations.

“Stop it. I really don’t like ghosts.”
“Do I still sound like Sein?”

The two were still discussing ghosts.

By now, we were more than halfway through the tunnel. It was time to prepare.

I unwound the ‘Thoughts of Almost Everything’ from my wrist.

It was currently shaped like a bracelet, but it could imitate any item it touched.

I opened the list of items it could mimic.

[Possible Mimicry List]
1. Magic Restoration Bracelet

2. Damaged Samyeongdang’s Bamboo Stick

………

I had预先 placed a few items on the mimicry list for this moment.

The ‘Damaged Samyeongdang’s Bamboo Stick’ was a high-grade item, so it had special conditions, but fortunately, the requirement was ‘to be in contact with the concept for at least 10 minutes,’ which I managed without issue.

[You have selected ‘Damaged Samyeongdang’s Bamboo Stick’.]

[The item is high-grade.]

[The item can be mimicked for 1 hour.]

One hour. That was plenty.

The problem was.

[‘Thoughts of Almost Everything’ rejects the mimicry.]

This thing could refuse to mimic.

Two long, narrow eyes and a mouth appeared on the bracelet’s ring, and a faint babbling sound emerged.

“Si-jyo.”

That was the only drawback of the item’s ego, ‘Thoughts of Almost Everything’.

I couldn’t change it into the form I needed when I needed it.

Naturally, I had a way around it.

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

“From this moment, you are the ‘Damaged Samyeongdang’s Bamboo Stick’.”

[Incite is effective!]

“Jyo—jyo!”

With a mystical light, the bracelet began to change form.

[‘Thoughts of Almost Everything’ has become ‘Damaged Samyeongdang’s Bamboo Stick’.]

[The mimicry duration is 1 hour.]

It looked identical to the ‘Damaged Samyeongdang’s Bamboo Stick’. The performance was the same.

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ is astonished!]

[The constellation ‘Sneaking Schemer’ inquires if this is a scam.]

Surprised, Jung Heewon leaned over my shoulder to look.

“Huh. That looks just like Dansoo ahjussi’s item?”

“I made it for you.”

“What? For me?”

“I’m not giving it to you, just lending it for a while.”

Jung Heewon took the bamboo stick, swung it, and tilted her head.

“It seems strong. But I already have a knife?”

“Keep hold of that. You’ll need it. You said earlier you can’t kill ghosts with a knife, but this can.”

“What’s with you, Inho-ssi, seriously?”

“I’m not joking; something really is about to appear now. Hit anything you see with it.”

In the original, Jung Heewon goes on a rampage in the ‘Phantom Prison’ right before reaching Chungmuro Station.

Back then, they had Kim Dokja and Lee Hyunsung, but if Jung Heewon went wild here, none of us could stop her.

That’s why the ‘Damaged Samyeongdang’s Bamboo Stick’, with its magic resistance, was essential for Jung Heewon at this stage.

Kyung Sein and Dansoo ahjussi already had an idea of what was coming.

“Is everyone ready?”

Kyung Sein whispered, shaking the ‘Samyeongdang’s Beads’ on her wrist.

“It’s ‘Phantom Prison’ time now, right? But what about you, Inho-ssi? You don’t have any magic resistance items.”

“I don’t need them.”

“What?”

As she said that, a fog-like substance began gathering around us.

“Everyone, be careful. It’s starting.”

The final gateway to Chungmuro had finally begun.

[A new sub scenario has arrived!]

[Sub Scenario — Phantom Prison]
Category: Sub

Difficulty: D~F

Clear Conditions: Escape from Phantom Prison within the time limit.

Time Limit: 1 hour

Reward: 300 coins

Failure: ???

[Sub scenario — ‘Phantom Prison’ has begun!]

The rising fog swiftly enveloped the tunnel.

My sense of space became distorted, and the figures of Kyung Sein and Dansoo ahjussi, who were right beside me, vanished.

I heard their voices faintly in the distance, like hallucinations.

“Jiyoon?”

“U-uaaa!”

Phantom Prison is a space that preys on the traumas of incarnations and drives them to madness.

Caught in this fog, the incarnations are compelled to confront their most horrifying memories.

“Sein-ssi! Dansoo ahjussi! Heewon-ssi! Everyone, snap out of it, it’s all an illusion!”

I shouted, but my voice just echoed in the hollow fog.

The only comfort was that everyone in the group was equipped with ‘magic resistance’ items.

They might panic, but they shouldn’t have much trouble escaping the ‘Phantom Prison’.

The issue was me.

I didn’t have the ‘Samyeongdang’s Beads’, nor the ‘Samyeongdang’s Bamboo Stick’.

I also lacked the [Fourth Wall] or [Destroy Evil] skills that Kim Dokja had in the original.

But I wasn’t worried.

To be honest, I was somewhat curious to discover what I would see.

[‘Phantom Prison’ is experiencing a temporary error!]

Because I didn’t possess any memories that could be called ‘traumatic’.