Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 666

Chapter 666

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

Episode 21 Kim Dokja (2)
[You are the first to hunt a ‘Disaster’ in this scenario.]
[You have accomplished a feat no one else has.]
[The distribution of your scenario-related compensation is being delayed.]
[Core rewards will be issued based on individual contribution.]
[You have acquired 10,000 coins.]

Killer King, Ja Yerin, Lee Dansu, and the rest stared in a daze at the messages flooding the air.

[You have received the reward for defeating the ‘Labyrinth Sentinel’.]
[You have been awarded 10,000 coins.]
[You have attained an achievement that did not previously exist!]
[Many constellations are admiring your accomplishments!]
[Someone has recommended your story to the <Star Stream>.]

They had achieved the incredible feat of defeating both a level 5 and a level 6 species within only the fourth scenario.
While each person’s contribution varied, the reward was greater than anything they had seen so far.
Yet, no one in the group felt any happiness about it.

«What is Cheon Inho’s condition?»
«Not good.»

Yerin, after checking on Cheon Inho, shook her head.
Killer King looked down at Cheon Inho, who remained unconscious, and then at the fallen body of the poisonous dragon species.
He recalled the final moments.

«If it weren’t for him, everyone would be dead.»

He never could have imagined Cheon Inho appearing there. With a body that didn’t even seem fully conscious, Cheon Inho had charged straight at the dragon and torn out its heart.
If not for the woman now tending to Cheon Inho on the floor, he would have died.
Cheon Inho’s face, poisoned by the dragon’s venom, was an ashen, earthen color.

«Do you have any medicine?»

In a desperate attempt to neutralize the poison, the party used every elixir they possessed. While not summoning-grade, they were still high-quality medicines.
They also used the core of the recently slain ‘venomous dragon species’.
The woman gathered the medicinal herbs, poured them into Cheon Inho’s mouth, and began chanting a strange spell.
After a moment, a small golden frame of light appeared above Cheon Inho’s head, and his complexion started to improve.

Killer King asked her.
«Do you know Cheon Inho?»
«Yes.»
«I see.»

The woman who had appeared so suddenly was not only the one who saved Cheon Inho but also claimed to know him.
Though the situation was strange enough to be suspicious, Killer King felt no urge to question it.
They had far more urgent problems.

[The final king’s qualifications will commence shortly.]

The qualifications for the last king.
The main stage of the ‘Battle for the Throne’ was finally beginning.

«We need the Death Sword.»

The ‘Death Sword’ could only be obtained by collecting all seven star jewels.
By chance, all seven jewels were now gathered here.
The problem was that, unlike the original story, the person who collected the seven jewels would be consumed by [madness] and turned into a monster.

Ja Yerin spoke with clear restraint.
«It’s still too dangerous. There’s no telling what will happen if he absorbs all seven star gems.»
«I suppose you’re right.»

Killer King looked down at the unconscious Cheon Inho for a long moment.
Cheon Inho had risked his life to save them. But could they use him as a sacrificial offering to obtain the ‘Death Sword’?

«Yoo Jonghyuk doesn’t resort to such cowardly methods.»

Lee Dansu sighed in clear relief, and the nervous Ja Yerin also relaxed slightly.
But their true crisis was only just beginning.

[The Last King’s Qualifications begin.]

Killer King’s expression hardened at the message resonating in the air.
«It has started.»

The stage for the ‘Last Qualifications’ was now open.

Killer King turned to Lee Dansu and said.
«We proceed without the Death Sword. Our only goal is to stop Yoo Joonghyuk by any means necessary.»

The destruction of the 41st round in the original story was all due to the ‘absolute throne’.
«It would be ideal to destroy the throne with the Death Sword, but even without it, we must not despair.»
Even without the sword, they simply had to prevent anyone from claiming the ‘absolute throne’.
«We just need to hold out until the scenario changes. We stop anyone from sitting on that throne.»

Perhaps the <Star Stream> was seeking entertainment; it had a tendency to favor more ‘compelling’ narratives.
So, as long as they made the scenario interesting enough, they would have a chance.

«Brother, the coins are…”
«I’ve saved a sufficient amount.»
«Take mine as well.»

To defeat Yoo Jonghyuk in ‘The Last Qualification’, they needed to use the method Kim Dokja had devised.
And that method required an enormous quantity of coins.

Lee Dansu, watching this exchange, asked.
«Isn’t Yerin the king?»
«Yes.»
«Then…»

Killer King, meeting Ja Yerin’s gaze, responded.
«I am the king.»
«Is that so.»
«Immortal King. Are you curious about what kind of king I am?»
«Eh?»

Lee Dansu blinked in confusion. He had only muttered the words without thinking, but Killer King answered him directly.
«I am the ‘Lonely King’.»
«Lonely…»

Lee Dansu wondered if he had heard correctly. He did recall seeing an option with that name when selecting ‘King Options’.
But he never imagined someone would actually choose a title like that.

[The constellation ‘Sneaky Schemer’ shakes his head in disbelief.]

Even Ja Yerin subtly turned her face away.

Killer King continued, his expression utterly shameless as if he didn’t understand their reaction.
«With you, me, and Ye Hyunwoo outside, there are three ‘kings’ qualified for the final stage. It would have been better if Cheon Inho were also here.»

Cheon Inho, on the floor, showed no signs of waking.
The fact he was still alive was itself a miracle.

«For now, we have no choice but to try with who we have.»

[Qualified kings will now be transported to the final battlefield.]

A crackling sound filled the air as the summoning began.
Sparks danced over the bodies of Killer King and Lee Dansu.

«Yerin, please look after Cheon Inho.»
«Don’t worry.»

Killer King looked back at the woman one last time. She was still reciting her spell, her hand pressed to Cheon Inho’s forehead. The spell seemed to be holding his [Madness] at bay.
Killer King spoke to her.
«7942.»

The woman slowly opened her eyes and answered.
«9158.»
«You remember it well.»
«Of course. I was the one who created that password.»

Killer King nodded.
«First Apostle, will you be joining the war?»

The First Apostle shook her head.

Killer King looked momentarily surprised, then turned his back and said.
«When Cheon Inho wakes up, tell him something for me. Tell him I will protect this world.»

***

Within my hazy consciousness, I was dreaming.

「 «Author, but…» 」

I understood the moment I heard that voice.
So this is Ji Eunyu’s dream.

「 «Yes.» 」

The version of me in the dream replied.
I was both afraid of and anticipating what Ji Eunyu would say next.

「 «In the final scene, Kim Dokja came back.» 」

The final scene.
I knew immediately what Ji Eunyu meant.
The moment the hospital room door opens and Han Sooyoung and Yoo Jonghyuk return. She was talking about that last scene, the moment when the readers who had become ‘the oldest dream’ were wishing for Kim Dokja’s resurrection.

I spoke cautiously, glancing around to ensure we were alone.
「 «He came back. You might not know this, but it’s an open ending.» 」

Ji Eunyu frowned.
「 «Do you honestly believe that?» 」
「 «An open ending is necessary to heighten the story’s completion—» 」
「 «I don’t think the author gets to talk about completion.» 」

I hesitated, thinking.
「 «To leave a lasting impression on the readers, like a top that spins on forever…» 」
「 «Would you like me to hit you in the head with a spinning top?» 」

I frowned at the sight of Ji Eunyu’s fist rotating like a top.
「 «I don’t know. Han Sooyoung wrote it. Ask Han Sooyoung.» 」

Ji Eunyu let out a light sigh and said.
「 «Fine. Let me ask you this instead. What if the author is also a reader? What do you feel when you see that last scene? Did Kim Dokja return?» 」

If I were a reader.
That question required no thought.
Because every sentence in that final chapter pointed toward a single, unspoken line.
A puzzle with one missing piece.
A sentence that doesn’t exist often stands out more than any that does.

「 «Maybe he didn’t come back?» 」
「 «You would say that.» 」
「 «Just don’t go telling people I said that.» 」
「 «Why would I? Let me ask a different way. In what form did Kim Dokja return?» 」

In what form?
「 «That is the ending. Countless Kim Dokjas are scattered across the universe, and he came back to life because their collective wish was granted, right?» 」

Hearing it said aloud, it sounded like the ending of a children’s fairy tale.
「 «I guess so?» 」
「 «Then each of those Kim Dokjas must have had their own thoughts. What would happen if all those readers thought simultaneously, ‘Kim Dokja is back’?» 」
「 «Uh…» 」

I hadn’t considered that.
A sudden fear gripped me.
「 «Should I… write it again?» 」

The moment I blinked, thinking, «Please, I can’t do that,» the scenery around me shifted.

A ceiling of familiar stone walls.
A dim, flickering light.
The feel of the floor beneath me. Memories slowly trickled back.
Memories of entering the labyrinth to find the ‘Death Sword’.
Meeting Killer King and the others, meeting Dansu ahjussi, absorbing the Star Jewels, a disaster being summoned, the Labyrinth Watcher dying…
I had almost died, too.

As that thought surfaced, someone else came to mind.
Ji Eunyu.

[You have currently acquired a total of 6 Star Jewels.]
[The power of the ‘Star Jewel’ is eroding your body.]
[The 6th level of madness is encroaching upon you.]
[An unknown force is suppressing your ‘madness’.]
[An unknown force is interfering with the erosion of the ‘Star Jewels’.]

I slowly sat up. A throbbing pain squeezed my skull.
I was alone.
What happened?
The disaster and the watchman were clearly defeated.
Where had everyone else gone?
What was the status of the scenario?

[The owner of the ‘Absolute Throne’ has been chosen.]

I blinked, certain I had misheard the system message.
_’The owner of the throne has been chosen?’_

Information rapidly sorted itself in my mind.
The throne’s owner was decided. That meant the ‘fight for the throne’ had already begun and concluded.
「 The fourth scenario has ended. 」

My eyes fell on a single star gem lying on the floor.
I had six. And one was rolling over there.
「 There is no Death Sword in this round. 」

My fingertips began to tremble. Something that should never have happened, had happened.
I felt the dungeon vibrate.
A profound sickness washed over me. I knew it instinctively. Something calamitous was about to be born into this world.

[The owner of the ‘absolute throne’ is…]

A light ignited in the distance, and I heard the sound of someone running toward me.

[It is ‘Incarnation Yoo Jonghyuk’.]

The destruction of the 41st round was now inevitable.