Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 620

Chapter 620

**620 Episode 13 King (4)**

“Inho-ssi, I need you to tell me. Are you the ‘first apostle’?”

So far, I had encountered two of the so-called ‘seven apostles.’

The 2nd Apostle, Killer King, who had read ORV one hundred times.

And the 7th, Ye Hyunwoo, who had finished it fifty times.

Killer King had achieved incredible growth alongside his sister, Literature Girl 64, and had formed a contract with the great warrior ‘Jophiel.’ Ye Hyunwoo had swiftly taken control of Chungmuro Station by utilizing Gong Pildu.

If these two were already at such a level, what kind of individual was the first apostle?

Judging by the expressions on the faces of Ye Hyunwoo and the others, they seemed to have no clue to the first apostle’s identity either.

A person who had read the novel at least a hundred times and established a massive community called the ‘7 Apostles.’

Someone who had been following this story alongside readers from places I couldn’t even imagine.

For a brief moment, a particular face flashed in my mind, but I dismissed the thought.

It couldn’t be. There was no way it was that person.

Perhaps interpreting my silence as an answer, the apostles exchanged looks and began to voice their own opinions.

Ye Hyeonwoo was the first to speak.

“Even if… even if you claim to be the ‘First Apostle,’ I cannot concede this time. The Apostolic Society was never a hierarchy based on rank.”

Goo Seonah frowned at his words.
“Hey, didn’t you just say we should pick a representative based on the number of readings?”
“I said no such thing.”
“Huh? Cut it out. The moment you grab that flag, we’re attacking.”

Goo Seonah, gripping her iron club, and Kim Gyeongsik, holding his smoking pipe, moved toward the flag.
It was a distance any of them could cover in a single step if they committed.

In the intensely heated atmosphere, Ye Hyunwoo let out a sigh.
“It seems we’ll have to settle this by force.”

The situation was on the brink of immediate battle.
But why?
Even in this suffocating standoff, where their lives were on the line, Yeh Hyunwoo, Goo Seonah, and Kim Kyungsik all seemed strangely exhilarated.

It wasn’t just them.
Kyung Sein and the other readers wore similar expressions.
The reason wasn’t hard to discern.

[Many constellations are anticipating a bloody conflict at Chungmuro Station!]
[Some constellations are beginning to wager coins!]
[A very small number of constellations declare they will sponsor 1,000 coins to incarnations who abstain from becoming Chungmuro’s representative.]

The constellations had finally begun to pay proper attention to this place.

Until now, they had struggled to grasp the narrative unfolding at Chungmuro Station.
The broadcast of the major theater dungeon battle had been canceled due to a ‘probability aftermath,’ and the readers had been discussing details about ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ freely, forcing the constellations to listen to a conversation riddled with filters.
They must have been just as uninterested as any reader would be in a story they couldn’t fully comprehend.

“It was different just a little while ago.”

Now, the readers were fighting, yet also collaborating.
Using the word ‘Revelation’ as a foundation, they were making the conflict in this world vividly clear for their audience.

[The constellation ‘Lord of Mischief’ says it finally understands what they are discussing.]
[The constellation ‘Great King Heungmu’ questions the origin of ‘The Book of Revelation’.]
[The constellation ‘Rice cake-eating Tiger’ claims to have a clue.]
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ demands an explanation.]

They were crafting a narrative for the constellations, using as many unfiltered terms as possible.
By proclaiming themselves apostles, they were making their existence known to the entire world, sparking the interest of the <Star Stream>.

[A very small number of constellations announce the outbreak of the ‘Apostle War’.]
Standing at the center of this edition, created purely by the readers’ power, even I felt a thrill.

「 This was a story they hadn’t read yet. 」

A new stage of the original work, crafted by its readers. Everyone here knew it was a performance, but everything on stage inevitably becomes reality.

“Inho-ssi.”
I nodded at the voice of Dansu ahjussi.
“I know.”

If this continued, people would die.

Goo Seonah’s club gleamed, and white smoke began to curl from Kim Kyungsik’s pipe.
Ye Hyunwoo, his expression stern, slowly raised his right hand.
It wasn’t just them.
Other incarnations were also discreetly reaching for their weapons.

[Some constellations acknowledge the danger posed by the ‘apostles’.]
[A handful of constellations observe the impending bloodshed at Chungmuro Station.]
[A very small number of constellations wish for them to destroy each other through internal conflict.]

The stars watching this story now desired their ruin.
Just as readers had once watched these stories, the constellations now watched theirs.

Still, I wasn’t worried.
Because I had faith in one thing.

“Everyone, prepare for battle!”

With Goo Seonah’s declaration, the nearby incarnations seized their weapons at once.
The tension peaked, a battle seeming inevitable.

Then, a roar erupted from one corner of the station, accompanied by the sound of an explosion.

「 He’s here. 」

I had expected him to arrive around now.
There was no way he, of all people, would ignore such a crucial scenario.

“Everyone, fall back!”

The moment a startled Gong Pildu leapt to his feet, a man in a black coat materialized.
I smiled, looking at the owner of that coat. However.
“How dare you choose a ‘representative’?”

His way of speaking felt… off.

“It’s because you didn’t invite Killer King to a gathering like this.”

His sloppy black coat flapped in the wind.
Judging by his vigorous demeanor, the wounds he’d sustained in the Theater Dungeon seemed fully healed.

Kyung Sein, excited by the new arrival, whispered.
“Inho-ssi, were you waiting for the 2nd apostle?”
I shook my head.

Killer King ambled through the crowd, pausing briefly as he passed me.
“Thanks to you, I survived. I’ll repay that debt.”
He placed his hand lightly on my shoulder. At a glance, one might mistake him for the real Yoo Jonghyuk.
Behind Killer King, I saw Literature Girl 64 sighing, her hand on her forehead.
Literature Girl 64, spotting me, asked.
“Are you alright?”
“That’s my question for you.”
“My brother will be fine.”

Killer King was strong.
But however strong he was, could he handle Ye Hyunwoo, who now had Gong Pildu on his side?

“Be quiet, Killer King.”
Ye Hyunwoo issued a warning to Killer King, who was approaching without hesitation.
“What if I refuse?”
“I’ll open fire.”
“Then fire away.”

Killer King smirked and added.
“You were talking about the number of readings earlier. Try saying that again.”

Ye Hyunwoo bit his lip at the provocation.
Thinking back, Ye Hyunwoo had always seemed to be holding Killer King in check since their first meeting.

“You have no right to be here. You’ve always operated alone from the start. How can someone who has never saved a single person shamelessly claim to represent us?”
“I’ve saved someone. Do you think clearing the scenario would have been possible if I hadn’t entered the ‘theater dungeon’?”
“You didn’t clear it.”
“Thanks to me, one person made it to the roof, so it’s effectively the same.”
“What kind of logic is that—”
“If I’m not qualified, then neither are you or the other apostles. And Chungmuro Station already has a designated owner, so why are you all being so greedy?”

The original owner of Chungmuro Station.
He was, without a doubt, referring to ‘Kim Dokja’.
Ye Hyunwoo shook his head.
“Kim Dokja isn’t here. I heard he was found on the roof, I searched, but couldn’t locate him no matter how hard I tried. Now, one of us must become the ‘representative’.”
“There is no Kim Dokja…”

Killer King glanced at me for a moment before turning away.
“Then I suppose I’ll have to be the representative.”
“Ahjussi, Armed Zone.”

[Incarnation ‘Gong Pildu»s ‘Holy Spirit Armed Zone Lv.6’ is activated!]

Gong Pildu’s stigma [Armed Zone] cannot activate without [Private Land].
This meant Ye Hyunwoo had prepared for this fight by converting the area into [private land] in advance.

Killer King let out a cold laugh.
“Hyunwoo-yah, can you handle this?”

An unusual magical energy began to flow from Killer King’s body. Just sensing the volume of his magic power revealed how much Killer King had changed.
He’d found an opportunity.

On the 4th floor of the ‘Theatre Dungeon’, Killer King had fought the 6th grade Earth Dragon on behalf of me and Literature Girl 64.
When we found him again, stunned, the wyrm attacking him had vanished.
It was unclear if Killer King had slain the Earth Dragon or not. What was certain was that he had grown even stronger from that encounter.

A red aura emanated from Killer King’s body, blessed by Jophiel.
“They don’t truly see you. You do know this is different from arguing in the comments section, right?”

Unfazed, Ye Hyunwoo stood his ground beside Gong Pildu. [Mini turrets] emerged all at once, their barrels aimed at Killer King.
“This is exactly what I mean.”

The outcome was unpredictable. The synergy between Ye Hyunwoo and Gong Pildu’s turrets was nearly invincible in the early scenarios.
And then there was Killer King. The incarnation of the legendary warrior ‘Jophiel’.

I called out to Literature Girl 64.
“Yerin.”
“Yes.”
“What do you think?”

Even though the question was vague, Literature Girl 64 answered immediately.
“My brother is strong.”
The same answer as always.
But it wasn’t the complete answer.
“But you are a strong person on your own.”

I was thinking the same thing.
No matter how you looked at it, Killer King hadn’t jumped into this because he genuinely wanted to be the representative.
He simply wanted to prevent the ‘Apostles’ from going to war.
And he was, foolishly, a man who knew no way to achieve that other than through force.

“Can you help me?”
“How?”
“I just need a little bit of time.”

I had no intention of letting anyone die here.
I quickly outlined the strategy to Literature Girl 64.

“I’ll give you 5 trillion. Get lost.”
With Ye Hyunwoo’s warning, Gong Pildu’s [mini turrets] began to load.
“Everyone, move! Attack before the loading finishes!”

Goo Seonah and Kim Gyeongsik rushed toward the flag.
The moment Killer King—who had been ready to strike—moved to the front, Literature Girl 64 knocked him down from behind, and they both fell to the floor.
“Go.”

I nodded and sprinted straight for the flag.
With Killer King out of the picture, no one here had higher agility than me now. Goo Seonah, spotting me, widened her eyes.
“What—?”

I activated [Incite], manifesting the ‘Idea of almost anything’.
Goo Seonah screamed and stumbled back from the swift mental strike.
“Sein-ssi.”

At almost the same time, I threw the shield on my back toward Kyung Sein.
“This, this?”
It was the ‘Shield of Hercules’, albeit a replica.
A bright-eyed Kyung Sein immediately equipped the shield and followed me.

[The special skill ‘wide area defense’ is activated!]

A translucent barrier instantly expanded around the shield.
Incarnations rushing in were blocked by the barrier and cried out in frustration.
“What, what?!”

Dansu ahjussi wasn’t idle either. The cockroaches roaming Chungmuro Station began to scatter, obscuring the vision of the other incarnations.
“Waaaagh! What is this?!”
In an instant, the area descended into chaos, greatly unsettling Ye Hyunwoo and the other apostles.

“Inho-ssi, I believe I warned you.”
Ye Hyunwoo’s cold eyes were fixed on me.
“Fire on him. Don’t let him near the flag.”

As if resolved, Gong Pildu’s [mini turrets] opened fire on us.
With each impact, the translucent barrier began to fracture.
Kyung Sein, growing anxious, shouted.
“Inho-ssi! It’s breaking!”

I would have died here if I hadn’t previously analyzed the shield.
I used [Incite] to transform the ‘Thoughts of Almost Everything’ into a replica of ‘Hercules’ Shield’.

[The special skill ‘wide area defense’ is activated!]

Even with two layers of wide-area defenses, the firepower from the [Mini Turrets] was formidable.
As the first barrier collapsed, Kyung Sein looked back at me.
“Inho-ssi! Hurry!”

The second barrier也开始 to crack.
I glanced at the white flag fluttering in the wind.
It was within arm’s reach.
If I grabbed that flag and held on for five minutes, Chungmuro Station would be mine.
Perhaps, this is what Kim Dokja would have done.

「 I must not hold this flag. 」

But why? I couldn’t shake the thought.
「 That is not the ‘correct development’ of this story. 」

Just then, whitish tobacco smoke seeped through the cracks in the defenses. The smoke swiftly coalesced into a human form, reaching out for the flag.
The old man with the smoking pipe, Kim Kyungsik.
“My apologies, but I’ll be taking this.”

I hadn’t anticipated he possessed the [Smoke Human] skill.
The moment Kim Kyung-sik’s hand was about to touch the flag, a section of the defense wall shattered as someone burst through.
“Hey!”

Kim Kyungsik, kicked in the stomach, crumpled and rolled across the floor. Her long hair, not yet tied up, flowed behind her as she ran through the cannon fire.
“Heewon-ssi.”
“I’m late. Sorry.”

Jung Heewon’s complexion was pale; it seemed her wounds from the Theater Dungeon hadn’t fully healed. Yet, I needed the help of the wounded now.
“Please.”
“Leave this to me.”

Jung Heewon blocked the gap, and Dansu ahjussi, who had approached silently, also moved to assist her.
Myself, Jung Heewon, Kyung Sein, and Dansu ahjussi.
The four of us took positions, guarding the north, south, east, and west sides of the white flag.

Kyung Sein asked, her voice tense.
“Inho-ssi, didn’t you want to take the flag?”
“No. If we take it, this will become a real war.”

Ye Hyunwoo was firing shells, and the apostles were brandishing their weapons, but they weren’t fighting seriously yet.
Because no one had laid claim to the ‘white flag’.
But the moment someone held the flag, a five-minute timer would start.
Goo Seonah and Kim Kyungsik, who had been watching, would then attack with their full strength.
Ye Hyunwoo and Gong Pildu would unleash even more powerful barrages.
‘No matter how strong we are, the four of us can’t hold off the entire population of Chungmuro Station.’

“Inho-ssi, I can’t—”
Finally, Kyung Sein, holding the main defense, reached her limit. A shell slipped through a gap in the barrier and struck her shield directly. With a loud crash, Kyung Sein’s knee buckled.
I supported her and bit my lip.

It was about time.
With this level of commotion, no matter where he was in Chungmuro Station, he must have heard it by now.

*Boom-boom-boom-boom!*

Finally, the wide-area defenses gave way, and shells began pouring in.
The moment Kyung Sein screamed and raised her shield, a thick, dark shadow intercepted the incoming fire.

*Thwump!*

A man, two or three times her size, stood before her, blocking the shells.
“Are you alright?”
A strong, honest voice.
Among the readers here, there was no one who didn’t know his name. He was a member of Kim Dokja’s Company, the shield Kim Dokja trusted above all others.
“Do not worry. You’re safe now.”

Steel Armor Lee Hyunsung looked back at us with a smile.
And that wasn’t all.
“Mister. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Admiral Lee Jihye.
Next, standing beside Jung Heewon, was a man with white hair.
“Hey there, woman. You look strong. Want to fight later?”
Delusional Demon Kim Namwoon.

Ye Hyeonwoo, shocked by the trio’s sudden appearance, halted his firing.
“What…?”

And then, from somewhere, came the sound of footsteps.
The one and only person in this world.
For a moment, I felt I could understand Kim Dokja’s feelings. The reason Kim Dokja had to constantly repeat his name at every turning point in his life.

「 There is an incarnation capable of fighting the entirety of ‘Chungmuro Station’. 」

In the distance, the crowd of incarnations could be seen parting.
They weren’t physically forced aside, but people scrambled away or collapsed where they stood, like gazelles before a predator.
It had to be that way.
The aura radiating from the approaching man was simply on another level.

「 «The protagonist created by the author is too inflexible.» 」

Perhaps Ji Eunyoo was right.
Clearly, such characters aren’t popular.
So unpopular that only one person in the world had read his entire story.

[A constellation that has not yet revealed their modifier is watching your story.]

Perhaps, he was still reading it.

「 A man who foolishly confronts avoidable crises. 」
「 A man constantly plunged into despair. 」
「 A man who struggled for decades only to arrive at the answer that it is ‘impossible’. 」

The character I had wanted to write so much was already in this world. After enduring hundreds of betrayals, despairs, and realizations; the reason Ye Hyunwoo, who met all the criteria of a protagonist, could not become one was simple.

「 Because a ‘protagonist’ already exists in this story. 」

He walked silently through a Chungmuro Station that had fallen silent.
Ye Hyunwoo, Goo Seonah, Kim Kyungsik, and even Killer King held their breath, frozen.
Jung Heewon was the only one who glared at him, her head held high.
I didn’t move, just gripped her collar tightly, just in case.

While no one dared speak, Yoo Jonghyuk passed leisurely through the divided path.
Standing quietly before the flag as if it were his throne, Yoo Joonghyuk looked down at it for a long time, his hands in his pockets.
In that moment, everyone in the station realized: had anyone taken that flag, they would have been decapitated by Yoo Joonghyuk’s great spear right here.

Looking at the ‘white flag’ that remained untouched, Yoo Joonghyuk’s sharp eyes slowly turned to me.
“This is mine.”
They were the words of the main character.