Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 685

Chapter 685

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

685 Episode 22 Name (7)
«Be ready to move out in one hour. When you are prepared, assemble in the throne room at Gwanghwamun.»

Having delivered this unilateral instruction, Yoo Jonghyuk sat back down, crossing his legs and shutting his eyes.

I left Yoo Jonghyuk right away and made my way toward the tent city at Gwanghwamun where everyone had gathered.

As I walked, I spoke briefly with Kim Dokja.

—That’s a fascinating power. So you can see the comments but not the actual story text?

‘Correct.’

Kim Dokja, the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ who was seeing everything I saw, was preoccupied with the platform application connected to his smartphone.

…

Episode 22. Name (3) +[8]

Episode 22. Name (2) +[11]

Episode 22. Name (1) +[14]

…

It seemed the app could also be accessed on the smartphone I had received as a relic.

After a quick glance, Kim Dokja appeared to understand the circumstances.

—Your story is being published here as it happens.

‘That’s my conclusion as well.’

When I considered it, Kim Dokja had gone through a comparable situation himself.

Back then, it wasn’t a side story but a revised edition of Ways of Survival.

—There was a significant hiatus between episodes 21 and 22.

The gap separating episodes 21 and 22 was precisely 45 days.

‘That matches the duration of my unconsciousness.’

This implied that this ‘serialization’ was only being recorded while I was awake.

‘Who is responsible for publishing it?’

The initial writer of ‘Ways of Survival’ and ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ was Han Sooyoung.

So, was she the one composing this narrative?

Naturally, Han Sooyoung had died right in front of me.

But… there was simply no chance she had truly perished. The Han Sooyoung I was familiar with would have undoubtedly found a way to survive that.

—How can you be so certain?

‘You have the ability to observe the entire universe.’

—That is the power of the Oldest Dream.

Thinking about it now, his current identity was the ‘Demon King of Salvation’.

It was a peculiar sensation.

What was his actual rank as a constellation?

‘What is your grade: great, narrative, or mythical?’

In the original story, Kim Dokja’s ultimate grade was ‘mythical’.

However, according to this Kim Dokja, the Demon King of Salvation, the Kim Dokja I knew had been fragmented around different ‘modifiers’. That suggested…

—We should look at the comments first. Use a free ticket.

Judging by his attempt to divert the subject, he probably wasn’t a mythical-grade constellation.

[One free daily pass has been used.]

Still, the idea to read the comments was a good one. I required as much information as I could get immediately.

I selected the comments on the latest episode.

[One random comment from that episode will be displayed.]

—The Demon King of Salvation! The Demon King of Salvation! The Demon King of Salvation!

I noted the commenter as a supporter of the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ and moved to the next one.

—Zeus, Poseidon, Jecheon Daeseong, and… the Demon King of Salvation.

Another fan of the ‘Demon King of Salvation’?

I sensed Kim Dokja grinning in my mind and wondered what he found amusing.

I promptly looked at the third comment.

—That is not the Demon King of Salvation I knew…

«Finally, a reasonable remark.»

I didn’t know the author, but they were clearly a perceptive individual.

I expected this to finally get a reaction from Kim Dokja, but his response was unexpectedly subdued.

—What of it? Everyone will have their own unique impression of ‘me’.

‘You admit that so readily?’

—My own impression of Yoo Jonghyuk was different when I first saw him compared to later on.

‘Are you talking about Yoo Jonghyuk again?’

—Jonghyuk is manageable now, but there are points in the latter part where he genuinely seems like a psychopath. He gets particularly sensitive whenever his coin count drops…

This ‘Demon King of Salvation’ was undoubtedly cynical.

He strongly resembled Kim Dokja.

An office worker who hesitated to even buy a lunchbox from a convenience store. A man who led a modest life, whose greatest daily joy was leaving work early to read Ways of Survival.

—Still, Jonghyuk has a degree of loyalty. Based on what I’ve observed, the 41st round doesn’t seem to have gone wrong…

He had been saved by the story of ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ and had loved ‘Ways of Survival’ more deeply than anyone.

A person who could be selfish and play mischievous tricks, yet still retained a sliver of warmth for people.

—If you leverage that and manage things well in the 41st round, no matter how dire the situation becomes…

Kim Dokja didn’t possess a strong sense of justice, but he would protect those close to him at any cost.

—Are you listening?

‘Yes. I’ll check the final comment now.’

I used my last free pass.

—He’s in danger of dying again. I’m starting to feel sorry for him at this point. Well, his constellation is the Demon King of Salvation too…

We both fell silent simultaneously. It was perfectly obvious who was in danger of dying.

‘What is this about?’

—Hmm.

Could it be connected to the seventh scenario?

Yoo Jonghyuk had stated: ‘The conclusion of the ‘seventh scenario’ will involve Anna Croft.’

That indicated the final stage of this scenario was ‘Peace Land’.

It was destined to be a form of cooperative war between nations…

What occurred there?

Kim Dokja, who was pondering something deeply, asked a question.

—What is the time difference between the events in this viewpoint and our present moment?

‘It should be nearly identical. I believe the most recent update depicts events slightly ahead of our current time.’

—It produces a similar effect to Anna Croft’s short-term future vision. Since we must infer from comments, the accuracy of any analysis is somewhat reduced.

‘Agreed. That’s accurate.’

—What is the pacing of the story per episode?

‘In my judgment, it isn’t particularly fast.’

—Then the crisis might not be directly related to the scenario.

That was a valid point.

So what was this crisis?

At the very least, I believed I had avoided being killed by Yoo Jonghyuk.

—Have you noticed anything unusual since regaining consciousness?

It seemed my sponsor might be involved.

‘Like what?’

—It occurred to me that ‘that’ might be beginning.

‘…Could you please refrain from such ominous phrasing? Just explain it clearly.’

—I felt the same way when I was an incarnation, but speaking this way minimizes the probability cost.

‘Does communicating via Midday Tryst also incur a cost?’

—Do you believe it is simple for a constellation to transmit information? I suppose by now you…

‘Yes?’

A static-like noise suddenly crackled in Kim Dokja’s voice, and then a small spark flickered from the smartphone.

[‘Midday Tryst’ has been disconnected due to a temporary error.]

I immediately checked my phone. I feared the relic was malfunctioning, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
«Hello?»

Kim Dokja was silent. No indirect messages came through.

Had he been suddenly struck by a probability constraint?

That was possible.

Even if the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ wasn’t a mythical-grade constellation, he was still a constellation.

To make matters worse, we had been carelessly using names and modifiers without the proper titles, which undoubtedly consumed probability.

Nevertheless, I had been engaged in a real-time conversation with a constellation.

Even with the relic sharing the probability burden, it must have been incredibly difficult for Kim Dokja.

The situation had become awkward.

It seemed like he had been about to say something crucial at the end…

Turning these thoughts over in my mind, I entered the tent village.

«Ahjussi?»

A girl was waiting for me at the entrance.

«Ah.»

It was Shin Yoosoung.

I recalled the last time I had seen Shin Yoosoung.

We had met in the solo dungeon ‘Nagak’s Field’ and had explored the Star Jewel Dungeon together.

「 «If you say one word, I will kill them all.» 」

The Shin Yoosoung from that time was definitely not the Shin Yoosoung of the 41st round.

«It’s been a while. How have you been?»

«Good!»

I looked at Shin Yoosoung, who answered brightly, and studied her discreetly. Her uniquely pale and luminous complexion. I could tell with just a glance.

She didn’t feel the same as before.

Simply looking at her gave me a chill.

The golden radiance was no longer detectable.

So, had the possession of Shin Yoosoung ended?

If it had concluded, why?

A sense of foreboding washed over me.

Perhaps something terrible had happened to <Kim Dokja’s Company>.

«Do you recall what took place in the Star Jewel Dungeon?»

I didn’t ask with much hope.

However, I was curious about this girl’s condition.

If she had been possessed by the Shin Yoosoung from the 1,864th round, what state was this girl in during that time?

«Of course. I remember everything.»

She remembers?

«Do you also remember taming the ancient Nagak?»

«Certainly! But…»

Shin Yoosoung paused briefly before continuing.

«That wasn’t me.»

«Excuse me?»

“Well, it was me… I suppose you could say it was a different version of me…»

My heart began to beat a little faster.

She retained memories from the state of possession.

«Can you explain what you mean?»

Shin Yoosoung hesitated for a moment, seeming to search for the right words.

«Well, are you familiar with a skill named [Taming]?»

«No.»

«If I had to describe it… it feels similar to that. It’s strange to think that another me from a different world must have tamed me and taken control, isn’t it?»

Shin Yoosoung, twisting a lock of hair around her finger, glanced at me and then looked down.

I placed a hand on the girl’s small shoulder.

«No. It isn’t strange at all.»

«Really?»

«Yes. I believe you, Miss Yoosoung.»

Shin Yoosoung’s eyes lit up. They weren’t golden like when the 41st round Shin Yoosung had possessed her, but in some ways, they were clearer than before.

Shin Yoosoung, looking slightly embarrassed, spoke again.

«Ah, I had a feeling you would believe me. My other self said so too.»

«What did she say?»

«That I can trust you, ahjussi.»

«…»

«And she mentioned she won’t be able to come back for a while. So she asked me to look after you properly…»

I didn’t know why the possession had ended. However, she had been concerned about me right up until the moment it was lifted.

Shin Yoosoung glanced up at me and asked cautiously.

«Ahjussi? Are you alright?»

«I’m fine.»

She quickly raised her head and shut her eyes.

Shin Yoosoung inquired in an innocent voice.
«Ahjussi, can I ask you one question?»

«Sure. Go ahead.»

«Who is Kim Dokja?»

Where had this girl heard that name?

«Kim Dokja…»

As the name echoed in my ears, a wave of dizziness hit me.

«Ahjussi?»

Shin Yoosung hastily reached out to steady me as I staggered.

What was happening? My limbs felt strangely weak.

«Ah, ahjussi! Blood…!»

Shin Yoosoung, calling out to me in alarm, pointed at my neck. I instinctively brought my hand to my neck.

When had this happened?

Blood was trickling from a small cut on my neck.

Looking closer, I saw it wasn’t exactly blood. The substance on my fingers was fracturing into tiny pieces.

A story?

«Get back!»

I shoved Shin Yoosoung away on reflex just as sparks erupted all over my body.

[The <Star Stream> is determining the grade of the story you will be awarded.]

Kim Dokja’s words returned to me.

His advice that ‘my crisis might not be a scenario’.

「 I was in a ‘scenario departure area’, when I was weak, I killed the ‘God of the Other World’ with the ‘Demon King of Salvation’. 」

The feats I had accomplished 45 days ago were truly incredible.

And now, that achievement was returning to me as a story.

However, not all ‘stories’ bring only beneficial effects to their owners.

[A new story concerning you has been created!]

[The story ‘Heir of the Eternal Name’ has been created!]

Heir of the Eternal Name.

That was the name of my new story.

[The provisional grade of this story is ‘semi-mythical’.]

[The grade of this story may be reassessed in the future.]

[Your current level is insufficient to handle this story.]

I recalled something Yoo Hoseong, the invincible fighter, had once said on the ‘Island of Reincarnation’.

Those who cannot master their story will ultimately be consumed by it.

For a moment, I thought of what became of the 49% Kim Dokja.

He was an [Avatar] Kim Dokja possessing only 49% of the memories.

The remaining 51% had become paving stones for the happiness of his companions.

Wait a minute, it couldn’t be.

In the 1,864th round, the 49% Kim Dokja suffers from an ailment that causes his stories to gradually break down.

[Your physical state is highly unstable.]

[Your body’s durability is decreasing rapidly!]

This was the price I paid for declaring I would become ‘Kim Dokja’.

[You are currently an incomplete Kim Dokja.]

[You must obtain additional Kim Dokja Fragments to survive.]

I saw my companions running toward me from a distance after noticing my condition. Dansu ahjussi, Kyung Sein, and even the Killer King.

But I couldn’t welcome them.

[The story ‘Heir of the Eternal name’ is craving a fragment.]

The story within me was issuing a command.

[You will die if you do not acquire a new ‘Kim Dokja Fragment’ within 50 minutes.]

To become the sole Kim Dokja. To eliminate all other Kim Dokjas.

[Time remaining until death: 49:51]