Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 655

Chapter 655

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

«Ahjussi. We have to run. Now.»

Shin Yoosung tugged desperately at my sleeve. A faint, intermittent golden light flickered in her eyes.

«Hurry!»

The Dansu ahjussi of today was a threat.

«I will spare you. I won’t take your life.»

[The story ‘Relentless Murim Master’ issues a warning.]

The spirit of the Murim world was cautioning me. If I confronted Dansu ahjussi now, it would mean my death.

«Ahjussi! Snap out of it! Please!»

He gave no reaction to my pleas. He merely advanced toward us, one heavy, deliberate step at a time.

«Forgive me. I’m so sorry.»

Dansu ahjussi wasn’t even seeing me. Where his eyes should have been, only a hollow, pitch-black emptiness remained.

[Someone has activated the ‘trap switch’.]

[The dungeon rearrangement schedule has been moved up.]

[Dungeon relocation will commence in 10 minutes.]

To make a bad situation worse, the relocation time had been pushed forward.

It was likely the doing of the 7 kings of Seoul who had fled earlier.

[Soon, the entire dungeon will be consumed by fire.]

[Locate the ‘Safe Zone’.]

The floor of the dungeon trembled lightly, and a wave of heat washed over my ankles. If five more minutes passed, the entire area would be swallowed by searing flames.

The thought made my vision darken.

Suppose Shin Yoosung and I managed to get away. What would become of Dansu ahjussi?

[Participants possessing Star Jewels are immune to the flames caused by ‘Rearrangement’.]

I let out a breath of relief.

Dansu ahjussi had now absorbed five star jewels.

At the very least, this relocation would not determine whether he lived or died.

—Ahjussi.

Shin Yoosung shook me again.

A decision had to be made.

«Dansu ahjussi. I’ll return soon.»

«Searching for someone.»

The circumstances were different now.

While he was immune to the fire, Shin Yoosung and I were not.

Still unable to hear me, Dansu ahjussi moved his lips.

«Jiyoon.»

«That’s right. We agreed we would find Jiyoon.»

Jiyoon. Ahjussi’s steps faltered for a single instant.

I continued speaking, my fists clenched tight.

«I promised we would find her for sure. Do you remember?»

Dansu ahjussi, who had been wavering, turned his head very slowly. It was impossible to tell if he understood my words or if it was merely a coincidence.

I forced down my rising emotions and took Shin Yoosung’s hand.

«I will come back. I swear it.»

Then I simply began to run.

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ grieves for the tragedy of the incarnation Lee Dansu.]

[The constellation ‘Maritime War God’ decries the cruelty of the scenario.]

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ wipes his head.]

I will never allow you to die this way.

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ supports your resolve.]

Dansu ahjussi did not pursue us.

[Rearrangement’ will begin in 8 minutes.]

We immediately began searching for a safe zone. To save Dansu ahjussi, our own survival had to come first.

As we scanned the left and right aisles, Shin Yoosong spoke up.

«Ahjussi.»

«Yes.»

«Was that person important to you?»

My answer came without a moment’s thought.

«Yes.»

The word left my mouth easily.

An important person.

That was how I thought of Dansu ahjussi.

A weak spark flickered across Shin Yoosoung’s body. I looked back at her, surprised.

Shin Yoosoung averted her eyes and lowered her head.

«I understand…»

Her eyes glimmered with a brief flash of gold.

What was the meaning of those golden eyes?

Did the Shin Yoosoung from the original story possess such an ability?

I couldn’t recall it clearly. To my knowledge, golden eyes were a trait of Yoo Jonghyuk, who possessed the [Sage’s Eyes].

Speaking of which, where was Yoo Jonghyuk now? It was time for him to have saved Yoo Mia and returned to Gwanghwamun, yet there had been no word from him.

[‘Rearrangement’ will begin in 7 minutes.]

Damn it, now was not the time to be thinking about Yoo Jonghyuk.

My thoughts raced. If this continued, I would die before ever seeing him again.

But no matter how hard we looked, we couldn’t find a ‘safe area’.

In ‘Ways of Survival’, the advice was to bring an incarnation with the [Guide] attribute or the [Find the maze] skill for precisely this situation.

But neither I nor Shin Yoosoung had those traits or skills.

[‘Rearrangement’ will begin in 6 minutes.]

I quickly checked our accumulated stardust.

[Star dust obtained so far: 314]

If we obtained a ‘star jewel’, we could survive the hellfire of ‘rearrangement’.

If I gathered more stardust to craft a jewel, I could at least ensure Shin Yoosoung’s safety.

The problem was the one sure method to quickly get more dust.

[Other incarnations must be killed.]

[Relocation’ will start in 5 minutes.]

It was then that Shin Yoosoung spoke.

«Ahjussi. There.»

About ten paces ahead, a faint stream of light was spilling from the entrance of an aisle on the right.

We sprinted straight toward the corner where the light originated.

[A safe area has been discovered.]

Fortunately, a safe zone remained.

However, others had already claimed it before we arrived.

«Oh, we meet again.»

An unwelcoming voice.

It was Gu Taesung, one of the 7 kings of Seoul, whom I had encountered earlier.

«Sorry, but there’s no room left here. Find another spot.»

Gu Taesung was inside the safe area with two of his underlings.

A green circle about the size of a small room, reminiscent of Chungmuro’s ‘Green Zone’.

Above the circle, the current capacity was displayed.

[Available capacity: 3/4]

One spot remained.

There were five of us in total.

Gu Taesung’s expression then shifted.

«Hmm? Wait a moment.»

His gaze was fixed on Shin Yoosoung. I instinctively moved to shield her behind me. He pursed his lips slightly, likely communicating via a ‘group chat’. Then he asked with a smirk.

«What’s that kid’s name?»

Did he recognize Shin Yoosoung?

«I’m not obligated to tell you.»

Gu Taesung’s smile widened.

«You’re not really in a position to be so bold, are you?

[Relocating’ will begin in 4 minutes.]

Only four minutes left.

Gu Taesung spoke first, as if he’d reached a decision.

«I’ll take the child.»

For a moment, my mind went blank.

Where had I heard that line before?

Gu Taesung chuckled and glanced back at his subordinates.

«Didn’t I just sound exactly like Yoo Jonghyuk?»

«Yoo Jonghyuk? You mean the king?»

«No. What would you guys know?»

Gu Taesung, frowning slightly, turned his attention back to me. His demeanor was completely different from before.

«Kill him. And bring me the kid.»

On cue, his two subordinates brandished a sword and a spear.

I watched the men approach menacingly and asked,
«Were you the ones who did that to Dansu ahjussi?»

At my question, the subordinates exchanged glances.

«Dansu ahjussi? Who’s he talking about?»

«Isn’t he referring to that old man going on about his daughter?»

«Ah, the sacrifice.»

Sacrifice.

«Well, we did feed him star jewels. Honestly, it’s not our fault. We only gave them to him because he begged for them, right?»

«Exactly. Anyway, if a person is too greedy—»

The moment I heard their mocking tones, something inside me snapped.

The [Blade of Faith] activates!

«What is that?»

The radiance of conviction piercing the darkness.

Gu Taesung seemed to recognize the item.

«It can’t be…»

I swung my sword without a second thought. The startled subordinates lunged at me with their weapons.

[The story, ‘The Tenacious Murim Master’ hesitates.]

However, to me, who possessed the legend of the ark of the dragon, their movements were as easy to dodge as a child’s play-fighting.

The blue-white sword sliced through the air. With the clean sound of a precise cut, the two men collapsed to the floor without uttering a final word.

But his subordinates had bought him a crucial moment; Gu Taesung appeared to have finished his preparations.

[Incarnation ‘Gu Taesung’ activates ‘Weapon Improvement Lv.4’.]

[Incarnation ‘Gu Taesung’ activates ‘Advanced Swordsmanship Lv.3’!]

[Incarnation ‘Gu Taesung activates his characteristic effect!]

[‘King’s Spirit’ effect activates!]

Gu Taesung’s sponsor was ‘the founding of Hannam-gun’.

Meaning, he was an incarnation of Gyeonhun, the king of later Baekje.

Yet, despite the flood of skill activation messages, I remained calm.

「 I felt no possibility of defeat. 」

«How did you get Broken Faith?»

«I found it.»

«What?»

I immediately began pressing the attack. The combat style of the Dragon Head Ark, channeled through ‘Broken Faith’, combined with the inner energy flow of ‘Circulation Delay’ [Baekjeong Ganggi], became a relentless wave of assaults.

Gu Taesung, forced into a continuous retreat, spat out his astonishment.

«Who are you? How is this possible…»

His surprise was understandable.

I didn’t resemble any character he knew.

[Incarnation ‘Gu Taesung’ activates ‘Relentless Guts Lv.3’!]

But the 7 kings were indeed the 7 kings.

As the fight dragged on, he gradually began to adapt to my movements.

It was due to his skill, [Relentless Guts].

A prolonged battle would only disadvantage me. I, too, had to play my trump card.

«You said you were imitating Yoo Jonghyuk earlier.»

«What?»

[The sub-skill, ‘Enhance Sentence’ is activated!]

[You may input an action.]

[The input action will be ‘reinforced’.]

[The current enhancement level is level 1.]

I input the sentence without hesitation.

「 Cheon Inho used ‘Incite’. 」

[Exclusive skill, ‘Incite’ is enhanced!]

[Incite is temporarily awakened.]

[You may incite yourself to emulate any character you choose!]

I recalled the ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ of the 3rd round that Kim Dokja had known.

The powerful and merciless king of the third turn.

I knew.

I wouldn’t be able to fully absorb his skills, but ‘Omniscient Reader’ was an immensely long story, and within it existed a version of Yoo Jonghyuk I could mimic.

「 At last, the slumbering prince awakens from his deep sleep. 」

Gu Taesung, likely sensing the shift, barked an order.

«He’s here! Everyone, to me! Kill this man!»

As he spoke, over a dozen more incarnations emerged from the depths of the aisle.

All of them were Gu Taesung’s subordinates.

They must have been the ones he summoned via the group chat earlier.

​A smile seemed to return to Gu Taesung’s lips.

Seeing him, I spoke.

«I am.»

A sword descended toward his head with the weight of ages.

«I am the Yoo Jonghyuk of the 3rd round, the one who slew the apostles.»

The moment Gu Taesung’s eyes widened in shock, a faint current of sparks flowed through my body.

Goosebumps rose on my skin, and my perception of time and space decelerated.

「 An uncomfortable sensation, like wearing clothes that don’t fit. A subtly different line of sight, and altered senses. 」

This was Yoo Jonghyuk’s perspective.

I felt my muscles contract with immense power. A strength far beyond my normal limits surged within me.

[Incite activates!]

Only the 3rd round.

Even though this Yoo Jonghyuk’s overall ability was lower than my own current level, emulating him was incredibly difficult.

「 «Do not rest. Keep moving.» 」

The voice of the Breaking the Sky Sword Saint echoed in my mind.

「 «Can one who seeks the Fiery Sword of the Underworld be broken by so little?» 」

This must be Yoo Jonghyuk’s memory.

「 «Fifty years, or even ten. If you cannot do it in 50 years, persevere with the resolve to succeed in 100. Accumulate experience over the years. Engrave upon your body and soul the memory that no star can ever break you.» 」

Perhaps it was natural.

Even in just his third round, Yoo Jonghyuk had lived a life of overwhelming scale compared to mine.

He was the incarnation of the highest peak, having already reached the Transcendental level in his second round.

A being who had trained for a century within a ‘Time Fault’.

Blood trickled from my nose with a pressurized sound. It felt as if an entire book’s text had been compressed onto a single page, and my brain threatened to burst under the strain.

But I endured.

I knew it was impossible to truly become that ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’. But.

「 In that moment, ‘I’ understood my own identity. 」

For just an instant.

「 My hand found the hilt as if performing an action repeated a million times. The feel of my fingers wrapping around the grip was unfamiliar. 」

If I could be the ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ of that single moment in Chungmuro when he slew the apostles.

「 «I am Yoo Jonghyuk.» 」

Murderous intent and fury surged in my mind. Resentment toward those who watched from behind and hatred for the constellations.

The memories of dead comrades.

The world that Yoo Jonghyuk had abandoned and failed to save coiled around my entire being like chains.

This was the regressor’s curse.

This was what Yoo Jonghyuk had always carried.

I could feel Shin Yoosoung’s gaze on my back.

I spoke without turning around.

—Get down, Shin Yoosoung.

Shin Yoosoung instinctively dropped into a crouch, and my sword moved simultaneously.

[The constellation ‘Hannam County Founder’ screams to evade!]

There was no evading this strike.

「 A single step, executed with natural, even beautiful, grace. 」

Because he was the most flawless swordsman Kim Dokja had ever known.