Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 684

Chapter 684

Of course, my initial reaction was that it had to be a joke.

—Strike Yoo Jonghyuk on the back of his head.

“Excuse me?”

It seemed like an insane thing for anyone to suggest.

—Then I will assist you.

Seriously?

Why would you ask that?

—Because I miss it.

“Why would you want to see something like that?”

It was a difficult question to even process. I supposed if he said it was because it was fun, that might track. After all, the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ is a constellation.

But even before he was a constellation, that person genuinely enjoyed hitting Yoo Jonghyuk on the back of the head.

Not just in the 3rd turn, but even in the 1,863rd, he was an outrageous figure who would smack Yoo Jonghyuk’s head and force him to eat dirt.

Thinking about it now, it was strange.

Why did Kim Dokja do those things?

Did he have a naturally cruel streak?

—Why? Can you not do it? Did you request my help without that much resolve?

“No, there’s a difference between being brave and being insane.”

—If you will not do it, then stop. You do not require my assistance, correct?

“No! I need it! I do!”

I settled down and reconsidered the offer.

When I thought about it, Kim Dokja’s actions throughout the scenarios were always meticulously calculated.

From an item picked up during a scenario to a single paving stone set down in advance, Kim Dokja was someone who prepared for the distant future.

That guy told me to hit Yoo Jonghyuk on the back of the head.

Therefore, there must be a reason for it.

Tak!

I believed that. Until I heard the sharp sound against my palm.

The moment my eyes met Yoo Jonghyuk’s, as he slowly turned his head, I understood what I had just done.

A terrifying gaze that seemed to freeze my very heart. Pupils burning with intense heat were fixed on me.

First, let me be clear: I did not actually strike Yoo Jonghyuk on the back of the head.

To be precise, my palm only made contact with the magical barrier between the back of his head and my hand.

[Incarnation ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’’s skill ‘Self-Defense Lv.10’ has been activated.]

To have Self-Defense at level 10 already in the seventh scenario.

This was an opponent for whom an attack to the back of the head would never land.

‘What do I do now?’

Anyway, I had kept my promise to Kim Dokja.

What happened next was his responsibility.

—You actually went through with it.

‘Pardon?’

—I did not think you would really do it.

Are you out of your mind?

Recently, another piece of information about Kim Dokja came back to me.

It was true that Kim Dokja planned everything with thoroughness.

But did that man have a plan when he himself hit Yoo Jonghyuk?

“What are you doing?”

My spine stiffened and a chill ran down my back. It became perfectly clear to me that if this continued, I would die.

What in the world had I done?

Why did I hit Yoo Jonghyuk on the back of the head?

To someone who already held a grudge against me—

[Exclusive characteristic is activating!]

Perhaps because I was in danger, my head suddenly cleared and my thoughts became sharp.

It all became obvious.

I have to live. I must survive this somehow.

To Yoo Jonghyuk, I am currently Cheon Inho.

If I were Cheon Inho, what would I say to Yoo Jonghyuk right now?

[The exclusive skill ‘Incite Lv.10’ is activated!]

Equipped with my special Cheon Inho persona, my narrowed eyes curved into a gentle arc.

“Your skill proficiency is remarkable. I would not have been able to interrupt you in my previous life.”

Yoo Jonghyuk’s expression shifted completely at my audacious tone.

“Have you regained your memories from the last turn?”

I merely shrugged without giving a direct answer. However, Yoo Jonghyuk’s response was not what I anticipated.

“Stop the act. I am already aware that you are not ‘Cheon Inho’.”

I swallowed my surprise.

I knew Yoo Jonghyuk was suspicious of me.

But I never imagined he would state it so openly.

“What makes you think that?”

“If you were truly Cheon Inho, you would have aimed for a more obvious vital point.”

“Then let’s say I am a fake Cheon Inho. Ultimately, who I am does not matter, does it?”

“It did not matter. Originally.”

With those words, Yoo Jonghyuk put his coat back on.

After that, he sat in a chair and began to drink deeply from the glass on the table. Even as he drank, his gaze remained fixed on the clear sky outside the window.

I could see what Yoo Jonghyuk was looking at.

At the center of the cloudless sky, a mark remained as if someone had seized space itself and torn it away.

This was a remnant from the award ceremony 45 days ago, when the ‘Great Hall’ vanished.

Beyond that sky, I and Yoo Jonghyuk had fought Asmodeus, and then I had confronted the ‘Founder of the Absolute Throne’.

Did Yoo Jonghyuk remember the events of that day?

—Also.

Kim Dokja, who was observing Yoo Jonghyuk alongside me, spoke.

—He is not killing you.

I was speechless. Did he make me hit Yoo Jonghyuk just to test that?

—You have learned that he will not kill you, no matter what. This is significant. I have a feeling I will need to hit that guy on the back of the head many more times from now on.

‘I am not doing it again.’

Yoo Jonghyuk, who must have sensed my gaze, set down his glass and spoke.

“Fake Cheon Inho.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you prevent me from taking the Absolute Throne?”

“You claimed it in the end.”

“I am aware of what you did.”

Yoo Jonghyuk’s entire body slowly turned to face me, radiating the authority of a king.

But that was merely a show of presence; it held no actual power over me.

In this turn, it was proof that the ‘Absolute Throne’ was not functioning correctly.

“How did you kill the ‘God of Another World’?”

“I was fortunate.”

“Why did you do it?”

“You will never see a proper ending if you assume the throne.”

“How do you know that?”

“You are a regressor, and you still do not know that?”

Had I unconsciously adopted the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ Kim Dokja’s manner of speaking? Without realizing it, I had retorted sharply.

Yoo Jonghyuk’s reaction was unmistakable.

“You.”

Yoo Jonghyuk moved as if he would kill me this time.

I began to swallow nervously without thinking.

—Do not be afraid. He will not kill you.

I also agreed with what Kim Dokja said.

Yoo Jonghyuk could not kill me now.

Indeed, Yoo Jonghyuk’s murderous intent, as he glared at me, gradually faded. Yoo Jonghyuk had made his decision.

Rather than killing me here, it was more beneficial to use me.

—It is not a terrible situation. You have gained Jonghyuk’s acknowledgment, have you not?

Acknowledgment from Yoo Jonghyuk.

Hearing that, it seemed I hadn’t lived a completely worthless life.

I felt a faint sense of satisfaction inside.

Yoo Jonghyuk continued speaking.

“That day, there was another person besides you who stopped me.”

I knew immediately who Yoo Jonghyuk was referring to.

He was talking about Han Sooyoung.

“She implanted a memory in my mind.”

“What memory?”

“A memory from a different world line.”

Even though I had expected it, I felt another wave of chills.

This was not another Yoo Jonghyuk, but the Yoo Jonghyuk of the 41st turn, learning about the world of 『Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint』.

I was curious about Kim Dokja’s reaction, but he remained silent.

“Do you also know of that world line?”

“I do.”

I felt a moment of curiosity.

How did the Yoo Jonghyuk of the 41st turn view the world of 『Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint』?

What did he feel when he saw that story?

“Can you perform a similar feat to that woman?”

“Pardon?”

“I am asking if you can implant the memories of that world line into my mind.”

Like Han Sooyoung, I did not possess the complete story of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint.

But if it was just about imparting the events of that world line, I could likely mimic it to some degree.

Because I possessed [Incite].

“If you lower your [Mental Barrier], I can manage it, albeit crudely. Are you curious about that world line’s story?”

I felt a moment of unease.

If Yoo Jonghyuk wished to know that world line, should I tell him the story?

If I did, what would become of this 41st turn?

“I am not curious about the story.”

Yoo Jonghyuk said that and frowned again, as if lost in thought. Then he spoke, exhaling lightly.

“I received a communication from Anna Croft a short while ago.”

It was a name I had not heard in a long time.

Anna Croft.

The representative incarnation of Asgard. She is the leader of the American faction.

“That woman’s group will be participating in the final battle of the seventh scenario.”

“You mean Zarathustra?”

“It seems you are informed.”

I nodded.

In truth, I had used the Specter’s Stone to meet Anna Croft.

We had a brief conversation.

“Do you plan to ally with her?”

To be honest, I was taken aback.

I did not know what occurred in the 40th turn, but the Yoo Jonghyuk I knew was never the type to join forces with ‘Anna Croft’.

Of course, circumstances change in the later episodes of ‘Ways of Survival’, but this was only the 41st turn.

Could Yoo Jonghyuk, who had not forgotten any of the tragedies from the previous turn… truly cooperate with that ‘Anna Croft’?

“If I ever encounter Anna Croft, I will most likely kill her.”

With those words, a strange sensation emanated from Yoo Jonghyuk’s entire being.

It was the feeling of a disturbing story.

Simultaneously, Kim Dokja’s voice reached me.

—Damn, he already got that tattoo in the seventh scenario?

Kim Dokja seemed to recognize the nature of Yoo Jonghyuk’s story.

“Anna Croft remains useful for now. She has a role to fulfill, at least until the world meets its end. Therefore, if I am to kill her…”

Yoo Jonghyuk took a slow breath, as though steadying himself.

“You must prevent it.”

“Pardon?”

“Infuse me with memories from another world line.”

“What… if I do that?”

“Then I can be stopped.”

Goosebumps slowly traveled down my spine.

Only then did I begin to comprehend why Yoo Jonghyuk had kept me alive.

“I do not fully understand why, but when I receive these memories, I cease my actions.”

「 Happy memories. 」

I did not know what transpired within Yoo Jonghyuk after he received those memories.

However, Yoo Jonghyuk was speaking.

“I do not care if you are Cheon Inho or not. But you will remain by my side and stop me when I command it.”

Stop him when he ordered me to.

“That is your purpose.”

I understood what Yoo Jonghyuk meant. That was why I found it hard to believe.

—Congratulations, youngest. It appears things will work out well.

Just like that, I had received official recognition from Yoo Jonghyuk of the 41st turn.

“This is an order. Participate in this scenario.”

Become his companion to prevent this world’s destruction.

‘Constellation.’

—Hm.

At that moment, when the first ray of light shone upon the 41st world, which was filled with so many bleak prospects.

Perhaps it was not too late for the 41st turn. This story could still be changed.

As expected, Kim Dokja spoke again, his voice tinged with excitement.

—Next time you hit him on the back of the head, let’s inject a memory of me making him eat dirt.

I ignored Kim Dokja’s foolishness and checked my smartphone. A vibration had just gone off.

[A new episode of ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ has been updated on the platform.]

And then I remembered I had this ability.

The ability to check ‘comments’ on episodes posted on the platform. Using this, I might not only learn what happened during the last 45 days while I was unconscious, but also find hints about future events.

With that thought, I opened the platform app… What was this?

The episodes from the last 45 days, during which I had been unconscious, did not exist.