Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 614

Chapter 614

Han Sooyoung spoke.

“What are you doing here?”

It was a chance to finally reclaim what they had lost over so many years. Yet, Yoo Jonghyuk had given up that opportunity and arrived here with Biyoo.

“If he is here.”

Yoo Jonghyuk’s gaze was fixed on the hospital room door as he went on.

“I had a feeling he would try something unusual.”

“You realize there’s no going back, don’t you?”

A regressor who had lived countless lives. Yoo Jonghyuk, who had now even stopped regressing, had made the same choice as her at the conclusion of this tale.

Han Sooyoung could not stop herself from saying more.

“Well, even if you go through the first portal, you’ll just be out of work again. Don’t you say you don’t even play games anymore?”

“I will open it this time.”

Yoo Jonghyuk’s calloused hand settled on the doorknob. As the door began to swing inward, Han Sooyoung grabbed his arm.

“Hold on.”

Yoo Jonghyuk looked at her and stated, “It will be empty, regardless.”

“I know.”

This was ‘the world Kim Dokja did not come back to.’ Therefore, even upon opening the door, Kim Dokja would not be inside.

After steeling herself, Han Sooyoung let out a soft sigh.

“Open it.”

Ultimately, to bring Kim Dokja back, they had to begin from the point of ‘losing Kim Dokja.’

Even so, Han Sooyoung could not completely silence her own hope.

Perhaps the analogy was flawed. What if all of this was one of Kim Dokja’s pranks, like a forgotten sentence added later? What if the scene that unfolded revealed the person she had been searching for all this time…

Wind drifted through the open window, stirring her hair.

Just as anticipated, the bed was vacant.

But that wasn’t all.

Han Sooyoung, moving as if in a trance, approached the bed with heavy steps.

A small note rested on the sunken mattress, as though someone had been sitting there not long ago.

A message written in a familiar, neat hand.

—There’s a story I haven’t finished. I’ll be back soon.

Han Sooyoung read the words again and again.

This sentence was not a deception.

She heard Yoo Jonghyuk release a quiet breath.

Without realizing it, Han Sooyoung sank to the floor, clutching the note to her chest.

Kim Dokja had not returned.

Even so, Han Sooyoung found it in herself to forgive him.

“You foolish bastard…”

He was undoubtedly alive.

Even if they could not see him, somewhere in the distant universe, Kim Dokja was still reading a story that was not yet complete.

Within a faint glimmer, I read Han Sooyoung’s story.

「 “I will search for him with Biyoo. Now that the system is active, I can scan the depths of the world line once more.” 」

Narratives heard in fragmented, scattered pieces.

Among them was the voice of Yoo Jonghyuk, the voice of Han Sooyoung, and also a voice whose owner was unclear.

「 “Then investigate the world line over there…” 」

「 “I believe if he’s the real reader hyung, he’ll definitely be here.” 」

「 “What if the price for his location is this?” 」

Over the flowing narrative, I could see Han Sooyoung’s resolute expression.

I spoke as I heard Lee Seolhwa’s voice gradually fade.

“It would have been alright if you had chosen the first ‘portal’.”

She could have been happy.

She could have been reunited with Kim Dokja and had the ending she had waited for so long.

“An ending like that must exist somewhere.”

Han Sooyoung answered while watching the sentences disappear.

A ‘happy ending’ was already written.

But she had not chosen that path.

“There were two choices. One is an ending for everyone to witness, and the other is somewhat uncertain. In that situation, it’s obvious what the real Kim Dokja would pick. Because that damn fool loves ‘stories’ more than anyone.”

In a way, her choice was correct. She had ultimately found Kim Dokja’s traces and made it this far.

“Kim Dok-ja can turn his imagination into reality. Because his dream is reality. The Kim Dokja in ‘The First Portal’ must have been real, too.”

“Perhaps he was.”

Han Sooyoung nodded.

Since she acknowledged that possibility, she likely did not impose her choice on Jung Heewon or the other members of Kim Dokja’s Company.

However, Han Sooyoung must have considered another possibility.

The possibility that Kim Dokja was alone, bearing the tragedy of a distant universe, while <Kim Dokja’s Company> remained trapped in happy memories.

With her vast imagination, she could not bring herself to ignore that possibility.

“I simply chose the one that felt more like Kim Dokja.”

I felt a pang of envy at the unwavering confidence in her tone.

“Is Kim Dokja in this world?”

“I don’t know either. But… at the very least, you can see this world.”

Finally, her grand story fell silent. The wound I had inflicted on the narrative was now mended.

“I don’t care for this. Because this isn’t a story I wrote.”

Her story, which she had begun long ago, was now progressing in a direction she did not know.

Han Sooyoung and I looked up at the sky simultaneously. Color was slowly returning to the achromatic sky of the snowfield.

The skill’s time limit was almost over.

“For him to return, this story must reach its conclusion.”

Having just witnessed the giant story, I could understand her words to a degree.

But that was not the end, at least not yet.

That was why I continued to compose sentences in my mind.

[You have described an implausible event.]

[The success rate for reproducing this description is 8%.]

[You have described an implausible event.]
[The success rate for reproducing this description is 1%.]

Throughout the battle with Han Sooyoung, I had written and erased sentences repeatedly.

I was searching for the ‘sentence’ that would convince the Han Sooyoung before me.

How many edits and rewrites had I done?

[A plausible event has been described.]

[The description has a 78% success rate of reproduction.]

I gambled to raise the probability. Just like the day I first met Yoo Jonghyuk on the 41st turn, I sacrificed my arms to increase the odds.

[The scene’s title is altered by the sentence you added.]

I staked everything I could write.

[The success rate for reproducing this description is 95%.]

[You can no longer raise the success rate.]

[Reading reader feedback.]

[No reader feedback exists.]

[Every ‘reader’ in the theater is reviewing your story.]

[You have secured additional probability through a sufficient number of recommendations.]

I spoke while looking at the sentence I had written for the snowfield.

“Kim Dokja might want to keep reading the story.”

“Maybe, but this story isn’t worthy of that.”

“What if Kim Dokja’s tastes have changed? What if the story you wrote no longer holds his interest?”

“That.”

Han Sooyoung smiled and asked.

“Are you being serious?”

The snowfield scenery dissolved with a low rumble.

[Exiting the ‘Snowfield’.]

Time began to flow again.

Seizing the moment of Han Sooyoung’s surprise, I called out to Jung Heewon.

“Heewon-ssi!”

Jung Heewon, still fighting off the mental assault, turned to me stiffly.

I wasn’t certain if I could place more mental strain on someone already under [Incite]’s effect.

Jung Heewon’s lips moved.

‘Inho-ssi. Now.’

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

I drew a deep breath and spoke in a rush.

“From this moment, you are immune to ‘mental attacks’!”

[Incarnation ‘Jung Heewon’ is affected by ‘Incite’!]

[Incarnation ‘Jung Heewon’ is already under the effect of ‘incite’!]

[The effect of ‘Incite’ is compounded, increasing the penalty!]

[The duration of ‘Incite’ is drastically shortened!]

Jung Heewon, coughing up blood, swung her sword forward once more.

The mental assaults from the Theater’s Owner could no touch her.

“Impressive. You can achieve this with ‘Incite’?”

Han Sooyoung remarked, blocking Jung Heewon’s blade with her left hand wreathed in [Black Flame].

“But this is how Jung Heewon meets her end, you realize?”

Jung Heewon, her face pale, snarled.

“I won’t die.”

Likely understanding that she couldn’t reach the Theater’s Owner without getting past Han Sooyoung, Jung Heewon’s [Kendo] shifted its aim.

[Judgment Time unleashed explosive combat power for a brief period. Enhanced Kendo was added to it.]

Her swordsmanship, capable of cutting down level 7 monsters in an instant, launched a relentless offensive against Han Sooyoung.

“See this.”

For a moment, Han Sooyoung was forced back by the relentless assault.

I sprinted forward, shouting.

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

“Become ‘Broken Faith’!”

As I spoke, ‘Thoughts of almost everything’ shone brightly and morphed into the shape of a sword. It was the mimicry form acquired after defeating the script writer.

[‘Thoughts of almost everything’ mimics Broken Faith (mass production type)!]

In an instant, the imitation was right before me.

Han Sooyoung, noticing me belatedly, narrowed her eyes.

“I—”

The special trait of ‘Broken Faith’ was the ‘Blade of Faith’.

But I lacked strong qi control, so I shouldn’t have been able to use the ‘Blade of Faith’.

That would have been true before.

I gathered all my mana and focused it into the Broken Faith.

「 “Please save my brother.” 」

It was the skill that Literature Girl 64 had bestowed upon me.

[Activates the exclusive skill ‘White Blue Steel Lv.1’!]

[Activates ‘Blade of Faith’!]

The ether blade moved, scattering a brilliant white light, and the Theater Owner instinctively flinched.

In a flash of light, the Theater Owner’s arms were severed.

I continued my sword swing, reciting the incantation.

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

“…am Yoo Jonghyuk.”

Just as the blade was about to reach the Theater Owner’s neck, someone yanked me backward forcefully.

When had they been summoned?

Two of Han Sooyoung’s [avatars] were gripping my shoulders. A powerful impact struck my side and shin. The sword was knocked from my grasp, and I collapsed to my knees.

Dizzy, I saw Jung Heewon also lose consciousness, blood trickling from her mouth.

[The effect of ‘Incite’ ends.]

An immense recoil overwhelmed Jung Heewon’s entire body.

“It didn’t work.” She said.

Despite pushing against her limits, it hadn’t been enough to overcome Han Sooyoung.

Han Sooyoung let out a soft sigh.

“That was slightly close.”

I understood fully the gap in power between her and me.

Sensing her victory, Han Sooyoung looked down at me and said.

“You see the difference now, don’t you?”

I had known from the start.

I probably couldn’t defeat Han Sooyoung no matter what I did.

So I had thought.

“I don’t need to be the one to win.”

A powerful tremor came from behind. Han Sooyoung, her eyes wide, looked past me.

A man in a black coat was rising from a deep stupor.

“The one who ends this story is its protagonist.”

[The effect of ‘Incite’ activates!]

「 “You are Yoo Jonghyuk.” 」

The effect of [Incite], used when I severed the Theater Owner’s arms, had now taken hold.

Yoo Jonghyuk began to run. He didn’t seem fully free of ‘regressive depression’ yet, but he knew what he had to do.

The spear in his hand traced a line of destructive magic.

Han Sooyoung, hurriedly, drew her sword for the first time.

I marveled at the pure white blade in her grasp.

Han Sooyoung had created that, too.

‘Unbreakable Faith.’

I didn’t know how it was made.

But unlike mine, her sword was neither mass-produced nor a fake. It was the real thing.

Witnessing its dazzling brilliance, I felt a shudder.

「 The author of this story is also Han Sooyoung. 」

I might never become a writer like her in my entire life.

I burst forth with all my mana, breaking free from the [Avatar] restraining me. Grabbing the ‘Broken Faith’ from the floor, I charged at Han Sooyoung.

Han Sooyoung, who was parrying Yoo Jonghyuk’s strike, looked back at me in shock.

“Did I ask to be convinced?”

The two Blades of Faith clashed violently.

“Are you prepared to persuade me?”

Han Sooyoung’s eyes wavered.

Yoo Jonghyuk’s new incarnation, seizing the opening, moved past us to finish the Theater Owner.

*Tsutsutsutsutsutsutsu!*

Flustered, Han Sooyoung shouted at me.

Normally, Han Sooyoung could have shaken me off and held her ground.

She should have been able to.

But not this time.

「 Because this is that kind of story. 」

Han Sooyoung finally understood what was happening.

“You, you really.”

Perhaps my role in this story was, at most, that of a bridge.

“If you’re the writer, you should know.”

But even that was sufficient.

If it meant one more reader could survive. If they could witness the story’s end after experiencing the ‘main story’ and the ‘side stories’.

“You aren’t trying to finish the story; you’re giving up on it.”

I was willing to break to complete this narrative.

Han Sooyoung’s ‘Unbreakable Faith’ emitted black flames, and I desperately blocked her path.

The blade of ‘Broken Faith’ shattered uselessly, and soon I felt the Blade of Faith vanish.

「 There is no single magical sentence that can convince someone. 」

Like a writer refining the ending of a predetermined tale, I smiled at Han Sooyoung.

「 Because all miracles demand the price of probability. 」

The sound of Yoo Jonghyuk’s spear piercing the Theater’s Owner’s head echoed.

Suddenly, Kim Dokja’s face came to mind.

Was he still reading this story?

Now that I thought about it, I had always envied him.

「 Have I gotten a little closer to him now? 」

[Succeeded in reproducing the scene.]

The moment a sharp pain pierced my chest, I remembered something I had forgotten.

「 Tell that guy. 」

I tried to reach into my pocket, but my arm had no strength.

In the distance, the Theater’s Owner vanished, and Yoo Jonghyuk was seen collapsing.

The dome enclosing the rooftop garden dissipated.

[Someone has cleared the theater dungeon.]

My vision blurred.

My heart grew cold, and all strength left my body. I simply fell to the ground.

Han Sooyoung’s shouts reached me like a distant echo.

「 The readers died and became ‘kkomas Kim Dokja’. 」

In my slowly fading consciousness, I saw the night sky.

「 Then what will I become after I die? 」

What came to mind at the final moment was, unexpectedly, the last line of my debut work.

「 And so, he walked back toward his origin. 」

I closed my eyes, clutching the item in my pocket that I had failed to deliver.

A scent of lemons seemed to linger somewhere.