Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 605

Chapter 605

Feeling his heart rapidly cooling, Jung Jaewoo shivered in terror.

「 I’m frightened. I’m frightened. I’m frightened. I’m frightened. I’m frightened. I’m frightened. 」

He was dying. This was the end.

[Ah, what a shame. It’s alright. There’s no need to fear.]

Someone spoke to him, a hand supporting the nape of his neck.

[You will not die.]

A voice, dark and desolate.

Jung Jaewoo recognized who it belonged to.

It was ‘RepresentativeKimDokja’.

[There is a story you must see.]

A story. At those words, Jung Jaewoo’s heart suddenly pulsed.

His failing body was coming back to life.

Was this the sensation Kim Dokja experienced when revived by the “King of No Killing”’s power?

The regret of having read the novel vanished.

In the end, he was glad he had read this story.

Then, he felt his head, hands, legs, and entire body renewing themselves.

Jung Jaewoo forced his eyes open as wide as he could.

He was seated before a massive movie screen.

His thoughts were strangely foggy.

Memories from earlier flashed through his mind one after another.

The day he entered the theater dungeon, meeting the other readers, encountering Cheon Inho and Jung Heewon.

The confrontation with a man who called himself the writer.

And.

「 «Jaewoo-ssi.» 」

A man’s face filled the screen. And with his own eyes shut, he could see his own lifeless body.

I’m dead.

Strangely, he felt no sorrow or anguish. Because the narrative continued to unfold before his eyes.

「 «Jaewoo-ssi.» 」

Watching Cheon Inho clutch his hand and shake his shoulders, Jung Jaewoo thought.

This story is truly magnificent, just as I thought.

I want to see a little more of this story.

[Of course. You may do so for eternity.]

RepresentativeKimDokja gave his shoulder a pat and vanished.

Jung Jaewoo gazed blankly at the screen.

It showed a grief-stricken Cheon Inho. Merely looking at Cheon Inho, Jung Jaewoo sensed the flow of distant stories.

He slowly lost himself, adrift in that cosmos of narratives.

Who was I, again?

Even so, seeing Cheon Inho sitting there with a face full of despair, he wanted to reassure him.

I’m alright. I’m still here. Though I’m trapped in this odd, small space, I am still reading this story.

A small keypad materialized before his eyes.

He stared at it, then typed a single word.

rlaehrwk41: What is this?

A kkoma Kim Dokja nearby turned to look at him.

rlaehrwk37: Are you new?

On the kkoma Kim Dokja’s chest was a tag labeled ‘rlaehrwk37’.

rlaehrwk37: I went to a lot of trouble to save you, and you just died.

He glanced down casually at his own chest.

“rlaehrwk41.”

rlaehrwk41 examined his name tag for a moment before speaking.

rlaehrwk41: Who are you?

rlaehrwk37: Who do you think? Everyone here is in the same boat. Do you newcomers know the ‘Three-Day Rule’?

rlaehrwk41: What’s the ‘Three-Day Rule’?

rlaehrwk37 replied with a grave expression.

rlaehrwk37: Just be quiet and watch for three days. You’ll understand what’s happening by then.

 

Rain fell.

Beneath the shelter of a dense broad-leaved forest, I buried Jung Jaewoo’s body.

[The constellation, ‘Commander of the Red Cosmos’, observes you.]

In his final moment, Jung Jaewoo had worn a mysterious smile.

Why? He claimed to regret reading this novel, so why did he die with such an expression?

Could it be a final effect of his [Little Luck]?

[The constellation, ‘Demon-Like Judge of Fire’, offers you solace.]

[The constellation, ‘Lily Blooming In Aquarius’, donates 100 coins.]

[The constellation, ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’, questions why you bother to bury what will vanish anyway.]

The Abyssal Black Flame Dragon was correct.

Once this movie concluded, this world would disappear. Jung Jaewoo’s body would vanish with it.

I knew that.

But it was no different anywhere else. The Earth, the solar system, the galaxy—all would eventually cease to be.

Yet we bury the dead. I cannot say why.

All I understand are stories about a novel. Some sentences only gain meaning when they are buried within the text, never to be revealed.

Perhaps death is the same.

Jung Heewon had not yet regained consciousness.

I followed the script writer’s tracks with Jung Heewon on my back. The footprints stopped abruptly.

A jar named “Yongjun” lay discarded where the trail broke.

I fastened Yongjun to my waist.

If his injuries were severe enough to lose his main item, he was likely dead or dying somewhere.

I ceased my pursuit of the script writer.

[Reach the end of the movie.]

Dealing with him was important, but escaping this movie was the priority. To return to the original world, one must see the conclusion.

After losing Jung Jaewoo, Jung Heewon had also fallen unconscious.

If I encountered the lone “starter” now, my party would be finished.

「 We cannot afford to lose anyone else. 」

Covering Jung Heewon with my coat, I trudged on through the rain. The mix of rain and sweat, the muddy ground, made each step a burden.

Groooh!

Whenever the roar of a giant monster echoed, I paused for breath beneath a tree trunk.

The film would end once we escaped this island.

That likely meant heading for the central research facility again.

[The theater owner despises a predictable ending.]

Sparks occasionally fell from the overcast sky.

[The theater owner accepts the proposal of the constellation ‘Snake That Cut Off Its Tail’.]

[The constellation, ‘Snake That Cut Off Its Tail’, unleashes its story.]

[The stage’s composition is partially altered.]

[A black moon rises over the stage.]

[Certain monstrosities evolve under the blessing of the constellation ‘Snake That Cut Off Its Tail’!]

[The constellation, ‘Rice Cake-Eating Tiger’, urges you to make haste.]

A chill ran down my spine, and I quickened my pace. But the research wing was distant, and they were closing in.

The grass swayed in every direction, as if prey were being hunted.

Finally, I set Jung Heewon down and gripped the damaged bamboo pole.

Grrr.

A pack of raptors with crimson eyes emerged from the grass.

[The 8th-grade earth dragon, ‘Raptor’, displays its intent to kill you.]

One, two, three, four… eight total. Each an 8th-grade monster, but together capable of hunting even 7th-grade foes.

[Activate the exclusive skill, ‘Incite Lv.6’!]

«I am a raptor. I am not your enemy.»

A futile attempt.

[The constellation, ‘Snake That Cut Off Its Tail’, smirks.]

A power greater than my incitement commanded them.

「 I am Yoo Joonghyuk. 」

[Exclusive skill, ‘Incite Lv.6’, is activated!]

I shattered a raptor’s skull with the bamboo pole.

「 Since ‘□□’ hasn’t activated, I am not in mortal danger. 」

But what of Jung Heewon?

I brandished my weapon, shielding Jung Heewon where she leaned against a tree.

Should I spend coins on stats?

Or purchase a new skill?

[Possessed coins: 25,400 C]

No viable solution came to mind.

Even defeating all the raptors posed a problem.

The raptors here were among the stage’s weakest.

Quadduk!

Seizing a moment of distraction, a raptor sank its teeth into my arm.

I crushed its head with the bamboo pole’s end. Shaking off the blood, I triggered [Incite] once more.

«I am Tyrannosaurus Rex.»

[Exclusive skill, ‘Incite Lv.6’, is activated!]

«Hmm,» I inhaled, then released the loudest roar I could muster.

Whoaaaaaaa!

The raptors targeting me froze.

I advanced a step and roared again.

Aaaaaaaa!

As the first raptor fled, the second followed suit. Three, four, five… Soon, all but the two I had struck down were gone.

[The constellation, ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’, has donated 100 coins.]

I breathed an internal sigh of relief.

My throat ached from the strain.

Go go go…

Then, the ground nearby began to tremble.

A sense of dread washed over me.

「 Did the raptors truly flee because of me? 」

Trees to the left collapsed, revealing the foreclaws of a massive terrestrial dragon.

Oh oh oh oh!

[A 7th grade earth dragon, ‘Tyrannosaurus Rex’, has appeared!]

In the original story, Lee Jihye, Jung Heewon, and Kim Dokja had joined forces to defeat it.

But now, Kim Dokja and Lee Jihye were absent, and Jung Heewon was unconscious.

Codedeuk!

A gigantic tail swept through, shattering nearby trees.

I wrapped myself around Jung Heewon and tumbled across the ground.

Blood streamed from the wound on my arm.

This was not an enemy to face alone.

My primary skill was [Incite]. What could I [Incite] to frighten it?

「 How much of this world can I [Incite]? 」

Summoning all my imagination, I recalled the most powerful dragon I knew.

A monster beyond any 7th-grade dragon.

As if sensing my intent, a probability storm gathered around me.

[The constellation, ‘Snake That Cut Off Its Tail’, blinks.]

«I am.»

[Exclusive skill, ‘Incite Lv. 6’, is activated!]

I slowly opened my mouth.

[The constellation, ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’, understands your aim and is astonished.]

To save Jung Heewon.

And to see Yoo Joonghyuk again at this theater’s end.

«Apocalypse.»

[Exclusive skill, ‘Incite Lv. 6’, is being driven to its extreme!]

Agony seized me, as if every cell were being crushed.

One final word remained.

The last syllable.

The Tyrannosaurus Rex’s claw descended toward me.

Tsucheucheucheucheucheucheut!

My tongue locked, as if stifled. The final word would not come.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

「 If I die, will I become a kkoma Kim Dokja? 」

A brilliant flash cut through the darkness behind my eyelids. A heavy thud followed, then the sound of something rolling.

I opened my eyes to a brilliant blue-white ether blade and the Tyrannosaurus collapsing, minus a forelimb.

«What?»

Beyond the radiant [Purest Sword Force] stood the familiar faces of a brother and sister.

The Killer King, who had read ORV 99.8 times, was there.

«Why are you here?»

rlaehrwk41: Those are the people who saved me.

 

The script writer, Yeom Ilwoo, fled while cursing.

‘Damn it! Damn it all!’

The recent battle replayed in his mind. A lunatic who claimed to have read ORV 100 times, a deranged woman who slaughtered a 7th-grade alien species.

«Ugh!»

A throw from the madwoman had torn his arm, sending him crashing down. A novice had then driven a sword into his thigh, crippling his movement.

He had pierced the novice’s heart, but the cost had brought him to death’s door.

[The constellation, ‘King of Gambling’, grants you a measure of luck.]

His sponsor had saved him.

With incredible fortune, Yeom Ilwoo navigated the broad-leaved forest, evaded dinosaur packs, and was the first to reach the “Central Research Building.”

He even found a “hidden tunnel” leading straight from the research building to the upper levels.

[You are the first to enter the research building!]

[Do you wish to enter the “Hidden Tunnel”?]

[Upon entry, floors will be skipped at random.]

[50% chance to reach the 3rd floor, 40% chance for the 4th floor, 10% chance for the 5th floor.]

Yeom Ilwoo entered without hesitation.

[“King of Dice” is activated!]

[You have reached the 5th floor!]

The fifth floor.

Where the rewards were kept.

Yeom Ilwoo stepped onto the fifth floor, excitement surging.

Though he had lost both teammates and dropped Yongjun in his flight, luck still favored him.

He spotted a woman who had arrived on the 5th floor before him.

«Hey, you. Are you alone?»

A petite woman in a white coat.

Recognizing her face, Yeom Ilwoo’s expression brightened.

[The constellation, ‘King of Gambling’, warns you not to approach.]

Yeom Ilwoo ignored it.

Whoever she was, she was just an ‘incarnation’ here, likely a ‘reader’. He was confident he could deceive any reader.

There couldn’t possibly be two madmen who had read ORV 100 times.

Moreover, the woman was beautiful.

«Let’s join forces. I am this novel’s author! You heard earlier, right? ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’—»

As Yeom Ilwoo reached for the faintly smiling woman, a sinister sound sliced the air.

Yeom Ilwoo did not comprehend what had occurred until his head tumbled to the floor.

[The constellation, ‘King of Gambling’, stares in disbelief!]

[The constellation, ‘Sneaky Schemer’, glares at the ‘King of Gambling’.]

[The constellation, ‘King of Gambling’, hastily departs the channel.]

The woman observed Yeom Ilwoo’s head on the ground and smiled.

«It’s a minor thing, but you can’t use an avatar?»

She lightly flicked the blood from her sword, cleaning the blade before looking back.

«Hey, you.»

«…»

“Kim Namwoon, Lee Hyunsung, are you still asleep?»

Kim Namwoon, lying behind her, stirred and rose unsteadily. With a grotesque grin, he spoke.

«You’re strong. Kekeke. But compared to our leader– Keuhaha!»

A blow to the back of his head sent Kim Namwoon crumpling into unconsciousness.

«As I thought, you were awake. Don’t get up.»

The woman dragged the now-silent Kim Namwoon and Lee Hyunsung, who had abruptly begun to snore, toward the upper floors.

«Hey, which floor is Yoo Joonghyuk on?»

At her question, Lee Hyunsung’s snoring ceased.

The woman clarified.

«Not you, Lee Hyunsung.»

Lee Hyunsung’s snoring resumed, and the answer came from the air.

[The constellation, ‘Sneaky Schemer’, states he is now on the final floor.]

The woman sighed softly. Another message followed.

[The constellation, ‘Sneaky Schemer’, says everyone is concerned.]

«Tell them not to be.»

[The constellation, ‘Sneaky Schemer’, is…]

«It’s noisy.»

Having replied, Han Sooyoung studied the torn movie posters for a moment. These were likely torn by Yoo Joonghyuk.

「 Originally, she had never come to this theater. 」

During the third turn, when Kim Dokja cleared the Theater Dungeon, she was elsewhere.

Yet she knew what Kim Dokja had said here.

「 «I wished to see the epilogue of a certain novel.» 」

Could Kim Dokja, saying that then, have known this story would stretch so long?

「 Do you still wonder about this world’s ending? 」

Han Sooyoung turned from the poster and looked upward.

Perhaps Kim Dokja was still reading this story somewhere.

As if speaking to him, Han Sooyoung murmured.

«You just keep reading from over there. I’ll handle my part.»

To end the story, and to bring the reader back to reality.

That was the author’s duty.