Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 618

Chapter 618

618 Episode 13 King (2)
Are you Kim Dokja?

I turned Ye Hyunwoo’s question over in my head.

I suppose it wasn’t so difficult for someone as sharp as him to figure out.

Ye Hyunwoo was likely thinking this:

「 There’s a chance another incarnation is pretending to be Kim Dokja. Just like Representative Kim Dokja did. 」

Ye Hyunwoo had identified me as the one responsible.

«I’m not sure what you’re talking about.»

I gave a shrug. I readied [Incite] just in case, but to my surprise, Ye Hyunwoo didn’t use [Lie Detection].

«Is that so.»

Instead, he simply nodded, his expression calm.

Just as I was puzzling over his uncharacteristic leniency, the bathroom door creaked open.

«See, I told you so.»

A man holding a golden pole stepped out with a familiar voice. Almost simultaneously, the door to the next stall opened and the iron woman peered out.

«That’s odd. I was certain he was my personal attendant.»

I hear that intuition line every time.

«What are you talking about? I was the one who guessed the Sneaky Schemer was a regressed Yoo Jonghyuk.»

«At first you said it was a future Kim Dokja. Did you think I’d forget you quietly changed your story?»

The two arguing were the readers who had cleared the theater dungeon with me.

The old man with the smoking pipe and the iron woman.

From what I recalled, the old man had read all of ORV six times, and Lady Cheolgon had read it eight times.

Ye Hyunwoo offered an apologetic smile.

«Sorry about this. These two insisted on meeting you privately, so I arranged it.» The old man with the pipe extended his hand eagerly.

«Good to meet you. I’m Kim Kyungsik. You remember my message from before?»

«I do, but you used different speech then.»

This was the old man who had sent me a message in the theater dungeon lobby.

Back then, he had used formal language.

Kim Kyungsik scratched the back of his head at my remark.

«Ah, well, I’m an old man here, so I talk like one.»

Something felt off about this.

Lady Cheolgon pushed Kim Kyungsik aside and introduced herself.

«I’m Goo Seonah. Obviously not my real name, but the one I go by here.»

A brief introduction. She somehow reminded me of Jung Heewon.

«Pleasure to meet you. I’m Cheon Inho.»

«Cheon Inho? Wow, that mangy cat got this strong?»

Damn man.

Goo Seonah let out a short sigh.

«Like I thought, we should have recruited you back in the theater. A real shame. You were the only one from our group to make it to the rooftop, correct?»

«I got there, but I didn’t defeat the boss.»

«Then who did? You? The Kim Dokja you claim to have seen? Or perhaps…»

«Well, I blacked out right after, so I didn’t get a good look.»

«Really? You aren’t lying?»

Noticing her pressing tone, Ye Hyunwoo stepped in at just the right moment.

«Seonah-ssi, let’s not press Inho-ssi too hard. He isn’t the type to lie.»

«Please understand, Inho-ssi. She can be a bit much…»

Goo Seonah frowned.

«No, I asked a simple question. We’re part of the same Apostolic Society, aren’t we? Sharing information should be fine.»

The same apostolic society.

So these two, like Ye Hyunwoo, were also members of the ‘Seven Apostles’.

And now, suddenly, so was I. I’d used Dohee’s secret phrase on Ye Hyunwoo first, so I couldn’t exactly refuse.

Ye Hyunwoo let out a soft sigh.

«Sharing information is good, but it’s not the reason we all gathered here early.»

After all, we could have greeted each other plenty after leaving the Chungmuro platform. They must have had another purpose for meeting here now.

«Is the next scenario being delayed?»

«Yeah. That’s right.»

I had a feeling.

Ye Hyunwoo looked at me, then at Kim Kyungsik and Goo Seonah.

«You all know what the fourth scenario entails.»

«Capture the flag, isn’t it?»

Barring any catastrophe in the main scenario, the next scenario’s contents were set.

‘Capture the Flag’.

The prelude to full-scale faction warfare, a battle to seize each other’s stations and flags across the subway lines of Seoul.

Ye Hyunwoo spoke again.

«Everyone here represents the most powerful readers in the Chungmuro area.»

I took another look at Kim Kyungsik and Goo Seonah.

Both were concealing their strength, but at a glance, their overall abilities seemed higher than Dansu-ahjussi or Kyung Sein’s.

Goo Seonah asked.

«But there must be incarnations stronger than us, right?»

«As you know, in this world, intelligence is a part of combat power.»

«Thinking long-term?»

«Correct.»

Readers, not just characters. Even if they were weak now, their proven talent meant they would inevitably grow stronger. Furthermore, they had survived until the third scenario, their resilience verified.

Among them, the four most capable were here.

«Shall we choose a representative from among us?»

At Goo Seonah’s words, Ye Hyunwoo nodded.

«Yes. Precisely.»

The reason for this discussion in a place without other characters was now clear.

«I propose we elect a king.»

Ye Hyunwoo intended to choose a leader for the readers now.

An amicable agreement was never likely. Goo Seonah’s response summed up the prevailing sentiment.

«You’re aware that as the representative, you can compel the other members, correct?»

«I am.»

«Even within the same Apostolic Society, it’s uncomfortable to hand that power to someone else. We hardly know each other. We’re not enemies, but we don’t trust each other enough to bet our lives on it.»

Most other readers would likely feel the same as Goo Seonah.

In short, it felt like this: *I* want to be the representative.

«So we compete fairly, yes? If we can become the representative through any legitimate means, we should acknowledge that person…»

Surprisingly, Ye Hyunwoo accepted this readily, and we descended to the platform in a heavy silence.

The battle of wills had already begun. The fourth scenario would not be easy.

As we neared the platform, Ye Hyunwoo, walking beside me, spoke in a low voice.

«Inho-ssi.»

«Yes.»

«Earlier, you said you weren’t Kim Dokja.»

He brought it up suddenly. Ye Hyunwoo wore an inscrutable smile.

«I hope you aren’t Kim Dokja.»

A cold feeling settled in my chest.

As I suspected, Ye Hyunwoo was almost certain I was the one who appeared on the rooftop.

I replied with a brazen smile.

«Of course. I’m definitely not Kim Dokja.»

Ye Hyunwoo looked at me and said.

«You sound just like the real Kim Dokja would.»

«Ah, I’m Cheon Inho. I’m far too much of a villain to be the main character.»

«Right. You’ll need to keep that up. Otherwise… things might become difficult for me as well.»

Become difficult?

I was about to ask what he meant when I made eye contact with Literature Girl 64, who was carrying meat a few steps away.

«Ah.»

She looked at me with her usual cool gaze and asked.

«Are you unhurt?»

Literature Girl 64.

The reader of my novel, Lee Hakhyun’s short story.

Seeing the sword marks smeared on her cheek, evidence of a hard-fought battle, I understood why Han Sooyoung was so desperate to find Kim Dokja.

If Literature Girl 64 was in danger, I would save her no matter the cost.

She was living proof that I had once survived as ‘Lee Hakhyun’.

«Thanks. How is Killer King?»

«Talking in his sleep, so he should wake soon. More importantly… the atmosphere feels different.»

«Pardon?»

Literature Girl 64 studied my face for a long moment before shaking her head and walking past.

«Must be my imagination.»

What had changed?

Maybe my face got a little handsomer?

I checked my reflection in the dark subway screen door.

Suddenly, my head throbbed, and a strange memory surfaced.

「 When I take selfies in the bathroom sometimes, I don’t think I have an ugly face… 」

What?

That wasn’t what I was thinking.

I stood blankly before the screen door, touching my face. It was unmistakably the usual narrow-eyed Cheon Inho.

And yet… did he actually look somewhat handsome? Was it the lighting?

«I heard the scenario is starting soon?»

I overheard incarnations talking as they passed.

«Which scenario?»

«They’re going to choose a station representative.»

Word about the scenario had gotten around.

[20 minutes remain until the start of the main scenario.]

Back at Chungmuro Station, Ye Hyunwoo summoned everyone to the platform’s center.

Around 100 survivors remained.

I used the [reader’s comment list] to check each one, identifying the ‘readers’ who had made it.

Twelve readers were left.

Far fewer than had been in the theater dungeon lobby.

The fate of those not present needed no explanation.

«Inho-ssi.»

Kyung Sein and Dansu-ssi looked grim, likely realizing the same thing.

«Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.»

What would be fine?

That if I die here and become a kkoma Kim Dokja, it’s okay to be taken by Representative Kim Dokja?

That you’ll both support me no matter what?

I wasn’t even sure what I was saying as I thought this, placing a hand on each of their shoulders.

I will protect these people. No matter what.

«We will now begin an emergency meeting.»

Ye Hyunwoo got straight to the point.

«Everyone has struggled greatly to complete the scenarios thus far. We are now moving into a phase of full-scale collective survival. For that, we must first determine a representative for this station.»

After speaking with dazzling eloquence, Ye Hyunwoo paused, looked around, and his tone shifted.

«But before we discuss that, I have a confession to make.»

I saw where his gaze landed. On the ‘readers’.

[Incarnation ‘Ye Hyunwoo’ activates ‘Lie Detection’.]

«I am an apostle.»

Some readers gasped at the unexpected declaration. Most incarnations, unaware of what ‘apostle’ meant, just looked confused.

«What?»

«It means I know the future of this world.»

[‘Lie Detection’ confirms that the statement is true.]

His sudden claim silenced the crowd.

«Uh, what does that mean?»

«You know the future?»

Ye Hyunwoo answered.

«Those who have been with me since the scenarios began will know what I’ve accomplished.»

Some incarnations nodded. They were members of the building owners association who had experienced the Chungmuro Station scenario with Ye Hyunwoo.

«Hyunwoo was definitely special. He caught bugs right when the scenario started.»

«True. In the second scenario, we’d all be dead without Hyunwoo. Right, Elder?»

Then Gong Pildu, petting Max in the center of the platform, spoke up.

«Hyunwoo did well. He certainly possesses knowledge of the future.»

People whispered among themselves, confused. How does he know the future? What is an apostle?

It was exactly the confusion Ye Hyunwoo intended.

Ye Hyunwoo addressed the bewildered crowd calmly.

«The reason I know the future is simple. I have read the ‘Revelation’.»

«The Revelation?»

«The Revelation is a book that contains the story of this world.»

[Lie Detection confirms that statement is true.]

Dismissing their confusion, Ye Hyunwoo walked to the very heart of the platform.

«I’ve long debated whether to share this information. But I believe it is time to be clear.»

I understood Ye Hyunwoo’s design.

This world was the 41st turn of ‘Ways of Survival’.

A world completely different from the ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ we knew.

Twisted by readers, some scenarios had been warped at the cost of that distortion.

It was harder than the 3rd turn.

That’s why Ye Hyunwoo thought:
「 I can no longer stand by and watch innocent people die. 」

He decided to recreate the method used by villains and prophets.

«I will share all the information I know from ‘The Book of Revelation’ to save you all. I will protect you, no matter what.»

[Lie Detection confirms that the statement is true.]

Revealing the existence of the ‘Apostles’ and the Book of Revelation to the world.

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ is shocked by the existence of the Book of Revelation.]

[The constellation ‘the two-legged expert’ doubts that such a record truly exists.]

[The constellation ‘Nail-Eating Rat’ feels a sense of gravity.]

[The constellation ‘King Heulmu’ looks on with interest.]

[The constellation ‘The Last Hero of Hwangsanbeol’ remarks that things have gotten interesting.]

[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ informs the <Star Stream> of this fact.]

[The Bureau begins discussing the Probability Fit Decision.]

Now, the constellations who had lost interest would focus again on this peninsula’s story.

This world would now move a step closer to the 『Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint』 we knew.

«Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Ye Hyunwoo. I have read the ‘Revelation’ fifty times and remember nearly everything within it.»

And in this new world of 『Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint』, the role Ye Hyunwoo desired was clear.

[The ‘representative election’ will begin in one minute.]

Ye Hyunwoo was looking at me from across the platform.
*I hope you are still not Kim Dokja.*

Now I understood why he had said that.

«I wish to become the representative of Chungmuro Station.»

He was now trying to become the Kim Dokja of this world.