Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 662

Chapter 662

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

Ja Sungwoo had always possessed an exceptional memory.

From a very young age, he could recall everything with perfect clarity, including the moment his parents left him and his younger sister at the orphanage when he was four—the snow-covered street, the look on his mother’s face, his sister’s tears, and the biting cold of the early morning that seeped into his bones.

These were memories he wished he could lose. Since that was impossible, he chose to render them meaningless by burying them under a mountain of new ones.

—You really love books. Will you be a writer when you grow up?

He remembered the daycare teacher who asked that while gently patting his head.

—No. I will just be someone who reads.

He also remembered the peculiar expression that formed on the teacher’s face after his reply.

He read, and read, and read some more.

And sometimes, he would read aloud to another person.

—I have read every book.

His sister had no memory of being abandoned.

Perhaps she was too young, or maybe it was because she had been blind since infancy. For whatever reason, Ja Sungwoo felt a twinge of envy toward his sister for not remembering.

Maybe that was why he often picked out seemingly dull books to read to her.

—A literary magazine.

—Read it to me.

In hindsight, it was his sister who had led him to that particular novel.

He was reading works by her favorite author when she suddenly asked to hear the writer’s newest story.

So, he searched for it on the daycare teacher’s computer.

「 Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint. 」

It was a peculiar title.

It was the first web novel he ever read. He liked that it was long. He believed the more text he consumed, the further away his childhood memories would fade.

He began reading with that simple goal.

—Brother.

But before he knew it, he had read the story dozens of times over.

—Why do you like that novel so much?

When his sister asked him that, Ja Sungwoo answered.

—No matter how many times I finish it, I cannot understand the ending.

All novels are fiction.

They are, in essence, lies told by the author.

Ja Sungwoo knew this.

He is not Kim Dokja. He isn’t even a ‘fragment of Kim Dokja’. It made no sense, probabilistically or chronologically.

Even so, Ja Sungwoo often indulged in a fantasy.

What if there was a ‘past’ he truly could not remember?

If a <Star Stream>, a Yoo Jonghyuk, and a Han Sooyoung existed somewhere in the universe, then the story he had forgotten, the characters he had loved, would be his true origin—not the parents who abandoned him.

What if he had begun there?

«I am Yoo Jonghyuk.»

Killer King Ja Sungwoo, his eyes snapping open, coldly assessed the situation. A world that had only existed in print, a fiction built from an author’s lies, was now unfolding vividly before him.

「 The Lesser Dragon roared into the air. 」

The world of his dreams had become his reality.

[The phase ‘heat’ is beginning.]

He was confident he understood this world better than the author who created it.

«Look for the foothold.»

The Disaster episode.

He had read it a hundred times.

«The monster species is different, but the scenario remains the same. There will be a hidden piece that activates the shield when the heat phase starts.»

Poisonous lesser dragon.

This disaster was well within his expectations.

«Over there.»

Literature Girl 64 Ja Yerin located the foothold.

As the group stepped onto the platform together, a series of messages appeared.

[Hidden piece is activated.]

[Numerical steps are activated.]

[If the correct number of people stands on the platform, an ‘Absolute Shield’ can be activated for 10 people.]

[The ‘Absolute Shield’ will not activate if the number of people on the scaffolding is above or below the requirement.]

The number for their foothold was ‘5’.

Killer King counted his companions.

‘Me, Yerin, Lee Dansu, Shin Yoosung. That makes five, including the unconscious Cheon Inho.’

The platform soon glowed green.

[‘Absolute Shield’ can be activated.]

In the distance, he could see other Avatars desperately searching for their own footholds. Some had flower buds sprouting at their feet.

«What is this—»

Before the incarnation could finish, the flower buds burst into full bloom.

Killer King instantly activated the shield.

[Activate Absolute Shield!]

[Level 5 poisonous dragon species, Lesser Dragon Poisoner, uses ‘Death’s Hianflower’.]

Wildflowers erupted into bloom all at once. Green spores spread instantly, scouring the labyrinth clean.

Flower buds sprouted from the skin of the incarnations covered in spores, and the dragon swiftly shriveled.

«Gahk!»

The mummified incarnations perished one by one.

The spores, using the fallen as fertilizer, swarmed the area.

The only safe place was under the protection of the Absolute Shield.

[The ‘Absolute Shield’ is released.]

[‘The Hianhwa of Death’ disappears.]

In the empty space left behind, the stems of dead plants and the corpses of the incarnations lay scattered.

A single attack had killed everyone but them.

It was a terrifying assault, but easily avoidable if you knew the pattern.

It was a scripted event.

The problem was that they couldn’t rely on luck to match the ‘number stepping stone’ every time.

The subtle smile of the intermediate dokkaebi floating in the air was proof of that.

If the number step ‘5’ didn’t appear next time, one of his party would die.

[The position of the footrest will be regenerated in 1 minute.]

They had to find a solution before the next ‘Annihilation’ began.

«Jophiel.»

[The constellation ‘Commander of the Red Cosmos’ looks at his incarnation.]

«Can I still receive a relic sponsorship?»

[The constellation ‘Commander of the Red Cosmos’ replies that your rank is still insufficient.]

«Then I request divine protection and support.»

[The constellation ‘Commander of the Red Cosmos’ demands payment.]

«I will give <Eden> half the shares of the ‘King’s Tale’ I acquire for the first time.»

[Constellation ‘The Commander of the Red Cosmos’ accepts.]

[The constellation ‘Commander of the Red Cosmos’ grants ‘Valkyrie’s Protection’.]

Valkyrie’s protection.

[Valkyrie’s protection has been temporarily activated.]

[The constellation ‘Commander of the Red Cosmos’ adds that this protection can only be used in the beginning scenarios.]

Killer King felt a faint warmth spread through his body.

An unmistakable ‘fire attribute’ buff.

He immediately pulled a bright blue bead from his chest.

«I will trade this for ‘Red Wreaths’. Use the exchange or the ‘Dokkaebi Bag’. Do it now. I will cover the fee.»

As he caught his breath in the center of the clearing, the poisonous dragon species turned its gaze toward them.

[The constellation ‘Commander of the Red Cosmos’ accepts the incarnation’s request.]

[5 items, Red Wreaths, have been acquired!]

The poisonous dragon’s tail, glowing brightly, swung toward them.

Killer King ran with his companions and threw the wreaths to his sister.

«Yerin!»

The key to this plan was his younger sister, Ja Yerin.

Ja Yerin immediately swallowed the wreaths. Simultaneously, a faint flame began to glow across her body.

She winced slightly.

Eating five red wreaths at once must have made her stomach feel like it was boiling from the inside.

«Forty seconds,» Yerin said.

That was the time limit her [fire resistance] could dissipate the heat.

Killer King looked back at Lee Dansu.

«Now.»

Lee Dansu, running on the right, nodded and pointed at the maze wall.

At the same time, black specks began to gather from around his bag.

They were common cockroaches.

A swarm of insects flew up like dust and swarmed the poisonous dragon’s head.

Annoyed, the dragon sprayed a radial breath into the air, and the bugs blocking its vision melted away helplessly. The moment the dragon snorted in triumph and prepared to roar again.

A white light flashed.

A sharp claw tore out one of the poisonous dragon’s eyes. It was Yerin’s white and blue flag, now infused with the flames of the red wreath.

It was a solid hit, but not enough to finish the dragon.

In the original story, Kim Dokja had needed the master of Unbreakable Faith to defeat the disaster.

The castle effect and Holy Soul [Song of the Sword] were activated.

But Ja Yerin had neither ‘Unbreakable Faith’ nor [Song of the Sword].

‘This [Valkyrie’s remorse] is the substitute I secured.’

As Killer King reached out toward his sister, the effect of the blessings flowing through him transferred to Ja Yerin.

It was the effect of [Heartless], a unique skill that allowed them to share buffs.

[Baekjeonggi, Valkyrie’s Protection, and even the supernormal ability of ‘Red Wreath’.]

Yet, the attack power was still not enough.

Even if Kim Dokja were here, this combination alone would not be sufficient to overcome the disaster.

However, the person here was not Kim Dokja.

«Go, Yerin.»

His younger sister, Ja Yerin, was different from Kim Dokja. Unlike Kim Dokja, who lacked innate talent, Ja Yerin was overflowing with it.

Her mastery of skills increased rapidly, and her overall ability level was far higher than Kim Dokja’s had been.

[Incarnation ‘Lee Seyeon’ activates Skill ‘Battle Action Mode’!]

A controller materialized in front of Killer King.

Memories of the daycare surfaced—fighting with other children over a controller to play games.

Killer King had always won those fights and held the controller longer than anyone else.

«Dark Spinning Breaker.»

[The advanced command was successfully activated!]

Ja Yerin’s claws, burning a dark red, shredded the body of the poisonous dragon.

*Quad deud deuk!*

The poisonous dragon’s thick carapace could not withstand Ja Yerin’s attack, amplified by [Battle Action Mode].

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is amazed by the wit of the incarnations!]

[The constellation ‘The Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ admires the power of the incarnation ‘Lee Seyeon’.]

[A few constellations are donating 500 coins to incarnation Lee Seyeon!]

Exclamations from constellations erupted from all around. Killer King watched his sister’s movements, his hands gripping the heated controller.

Just a little more, just a little more—

And then.

[The fighting action mode is canceled.]

[Overall review: Linkage score 91 points! Are you an aspiring professional gamer?]

The fighting action mode ended, and Ja Yerin’s movements became sluggish.

The massive body of the poisonous dragon species crashed to the floor.

Joy shot up his spine. He had done it. His plan had worked.

However.

*Purr.*

The next moment, the venomous dragon species stirred and began devouring the plant corpses around it.

A sense of dread washed over him.

‘Why?’

The Poisoner, a poisonous dragon species, should have died from that last attack. Everything had gone according to his calculations.

But the dragon, having consumed the flowers, was regenerating some of its vitality at the brink of death.

Killer King instinctively broke into a sprint toward his sister.

«Yerin!»

Ja Yerin, mustering all the magic power left in her body, moved again. Though not as potent as during [combat action mode], her claws continued to strike the poisonous dragon species.

But the dragon roared into the air, ignoring the minor wounds.

[Level 5 poisonous dragon species ‘Lesser Dragon Poisoner’ prepares ‘Bamboo Dragon’s Hianhwa’.]

Red flower buds began to appear across the tropical floor.

«Yerin! Get back!»

Ja Yerin did not stop her assault. Determined to finish the dragon, she pressed her attack, her movements becoming unsteady.

Killer King grabbed his sister around the waist and pulled her back.

«Let me go,» Yerin struggled, her words slurred.

Now, blood trickled from Yerin’s mouth. The flame of the red wreath had scorched her internal organs.

Ja Yerin could fight no longer.

Killer King spoke, even though he knew it was true.

«You can kill it in the next phase. Just wait. We still have a chance.»

Yerin, coughing something up, went limp in his arms. Four undigested red wreaths, their flames still sparking, fell to the floor.

Killer King picked up the red wreaths, thinking.

His sister was out of the fight, but the poisonous dragon was also at its limit.

All that was needed was a final blow.

He could probably manage it alone.

He still had Valkyrie’s relics and the red wreaths.

They just had to survive this one attack.

[Numerical scaffolding is created.]

Fortunately, a platform materialized nearby.

Killer King immediately checked the number on the foothold.

And he froze.

4.

There were no other footholds in sight.

Killer King looked at the faces of those who remained. Cheon Inho was unconscious, Shin Yoosoung was tending to him, and…

«Brother.»

His staggering sister shook her head. It was as if she knew what he was thinking.

Killer King laid Ja Yerin down and slowly stood up.

«Oppa, don’t.»

«It’s okay.»

Killer King turned to face the poisonous dragon species.

The flower buds on the floor were multiplying. The attack would begin at any moment.

The protective shield had not yet activated.

What was the problem? Was his strategy flawed? Had he missed a sentence? The step number was 4. And the number of people left was 5.

‘I am.’

Kim Dokja would have stepped forward without a second thought.

But Killer King did not give up easily. He knew why, without even having to ask.

‘Because he is not Kim Dokja.’

A field of wildflowers now covered the floor.

«Brother.»

He had wanted to be Yoo Jonghyuk. He had imagined himself as the reader. But in that moment he took a step forward, he thought.

[Numerical footpad is activated.]

The scaffolding turned green.

[You can activate ‘Absolute Shield’.]

He didn’t understand what was happening. He was still on the platform.

Yet, the scaffolding had activated. That could only mean one thing.

[Someone else had become Kim Dokja.]

When he looked up, he saw the face of the blind man.

He was probably the person here least like Kim Dokja.

A man who always wandered, searching for his daughter, and who had only read ‘Omniscient Reader’ a single time.

«Don’t feel guilty.»

Killer King understood what he was thinking.

Lee Dansu had already lost his eyesight, and his body was nearly broken. Even using the ‘Spirit of Elaine Forest’ would not restore him.

«I have nothing left to lose now.»

Killer King was powerless to stop Lee Dansu as he stumbled forward.

Lee Dansu’s choice was the correct one.

Everyone else was talented, absolutely necessary to see the end of this damned world.

With nothing left to lose, it was right for him to go.

‘But, if Kim Dokja were here, he might have said this.’

In that moment, a thought ignited in Killer King’s mind.

His eyes began to emit a dazzling light.

[Eyes of sin.]

Jophiel’s Stigmata. Killer King, who could measure the ‘sin karma’ of every incarnation, was momentarily stunned after seeing Lee Dansu’s soul.

A soul of purest white, as if clothed in a white coat. Killer King had never seen a soul like it before.

‘There might be a way! A way for him to live!’

But Killer King could not immediately recall the method.

It was natural. Because it was a sentence that had not yet been written.

Writing the next sentence was the author’s job, not the reader’s.

[Stage 3 of ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ is being activated.]

So, I.

«The scenario isn’t over yet!»

I thought as I watched the man named Dansu walk toward the poisonous dragon.

There is a way for no one to die.

But if I use this method.

[Level 5 poisonous dragon species, Lesser Dragon Poisoner, uses ‘Death’s Blood’.]

Lee Dansu must die ‘once’.