Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 693

Chapter 693

Selena Kim was utterly bewildered by the scene unfolding before her.

Was this truly the same proud Christina Page she knew?

«Once more. How much?»

«Five hundred thousand coins!»

«Just hand it over.»

«Yes!»

The former FBI forensic hypnosis specialist and the strategic mastermind of ‘Zarathustra’.

Was this really her?

«I’m offering you a discount. You realize that, don’t you?»

«Of course I do!»

«I heard it’s priced above the market value?»

«Upon a second review, the price wasn’t that excessive! When demand outstrips supply, a price increase is perfectly logical!»

«That clarifies things. In that case, let’s make it six hundred and fifty thousand coins.»

«Excuse me?»

«We’ll raise the price. As per the law of supply and demand.»

«B-but six hundred and fifty thousand is excessive—»

«Not interested? Then we can simply cancel the deal.»

«This isn’t something I can decide unilaterally… May I consult with my superiors for a moment?»

Was this also an FBI investigation technique?

A stunned Selena Kim asked what on earth was happening through their group chat, but Christina only rolled her eyes and remained silent.

Her expression seemed to say, ‘Stop imagining things and just be quiet. Please.’

That was the look in her eyes.

Christina was making such a scene because it was the first time since the symbol of the Demon King had appeared on the American continent.

But in truth, something even more strange was occurring.

«Selena Kim.»

«Yes? Oh, yes.»

The man who was being so ruthless with Christina was treating her with kindness.

«You must be thirsty.»

Smiling, he had one of his companions bring her a drink.

«You look weary, please have something to recharge your energy.»

It was a sweet-smelling beverage with grains of rice floating in it.

«Ah… I’ve heard about this drink.»

It might not have been anything extraordinary.

But when was the last time someone showed her such consideration in this world?

«Thank you…»

Deeply moved, Selena Kim drank the sikhye. The drink was sweet, the view of Gwanghwamun was nostalgically familiar, and the stars above shone with brilliant clarity.

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ remarks that a glass of sikhye is best during difficult times.]

[The constellation ‘Maritime War God’ nods in agreement.]

Korea is good.

Watching Selena Kim serenely enjoying her sikhye from a distance, I wondered if I was still under hypnosis.

For reference, a message popped into my head every time Selena Kim took a sip.

[Ancient constellations of the Korean peninsula observe the polite Selena Kim.]

[The constellations of the Korean Peninsula are proud of you for promoting their culture.]

[The constellations of the Korean Peninsula have sponsored you 1,000 coins.]

And the coins were being unceremoniously deposited to the person currently sharing my body.

‘See. Kim Dokja-ssi.’

Kim Dokja did not answer.

[‘Midday Tryst’ has been extended.]

‘Here.’

—Oh, you extended it. You should have done that earlier.

‘…’

—It’s Zarathustra. I warned you this might happen, but is this truly what you wanted?

Was that the reason for all those indirect messages?

I knew he was just trying to save coins.

‘Please switch with me now.’

—I’d like to, but… are you sure? You’ll be incapacitated for an entire day.

Christina Page’s unique hypnosis skill, [Daily Invoice].

Anyone affected by this skill falls into a deep sleep and appears practically lifeless for twenty-four hours.

So, if Kim Dokja were to leave my body now, it would simply collapse.

‘But will you be alright? Even if you depart like this—’

—Who said anything about descending? Are you going to suffer from the aftereffects?

Now that he mentioned it, that was true.

We were in the seventh scenario.

No matter how powerful a constellation was, a direct descent was impossible within the scenario’s rules, even if they shed all their stories like the ark at Seoul Station.

Unless he had borrowed the power of an Outer God to possess me.

I didn’t think Kim Dokja would do something like that.

‘Then, this is…’

A sudden hypothesis came to mind.

‘Did you use [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint]?’

Kim Dokja’s unique skill, [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint].

—Yes.

‘But how?’

As I understood it, three conditions were necessary for Kim Dokja’s [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint] to activate.

First, the target must be a ‘character’.
Second, the caster and the target must be thinking of each other simultaneously.
Third, he must possess a sufficient level of understanding of the target.

A question arose.

Even if we satisfied the second condition of mutual thought and the third condition of understanding, how did we meet the first prerequisite of the target being a ‘character’?

‘Unless…’

A sense of foreboding washed over me.

Was it that the other ‘apostles’ had become characters?

Had I become a character as well?

Was that why [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint] had activated…?

—Have you forgotten whose body you’re possessing?

‘Ah.’

The body Kim Dokja was currently possessing via [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint] wasn’t originally mine.

‘You’re possessing Cheon Inho?’

—Correct.

I let out a belated sigh.

Certainly, if the target was ‘Cheon Inho’, the ‘character’ prerequisite could be satisfied.

‘But what about the condition of thinking of each other? How was that met?’

—I’m not sure about that. Weren’t you thinking about me right before you lost consciousness?

‘That’s true. But I’m not Cheon Inho, am I?’

—It was a thought you had while inhabiting Cheon Inho’s body.

I suppose.

It still felt somewhat suspicious, but regardless, Kim Dokja’s plan had worked. I couldn’t deny that much.

‘Anyway, thank you. I survived because of you.’

—By the way, you’ve possessed quite a unique body yourself. Of course, Cheon Inho…

‘What about it… It’s weak, I know.’

—No, that’s not the issue. Doesn’t this body feel a bit odd? When you think about it, neither of us is the original owner.

‘That’s right.’

—So where is this child’s soul right now?

‘Uh…’

It was a question I had never deeply considered.

I suddenly remembered Shin Yoosoung from the 41st regression.

When the possessing spirit left Shin Yoosoung’s body, the original Shin Yoosoung of that round regained control.

If that was the standard, then Cheon Inho’s soul should have returned immediately after mine departed.

But it hadn’t.

«Here, 650,000 coins.»

Having finished her call, Christina returned and handed over the coins.

«The parts from the Earth Dragon species are over there.»

Kim Dokja coolly accepted the coins and gestured with his chin toward the corpse of the fourth-grade Earth Dragon.

Christina inspected the body without a word and nodded.

«Confirmed.»

A ‘subspace warehouse’ then materialized in her arms.

A portable storage space used for transporting large items.

A signature tool of ‘Zarathustra’.

Sponsored by <Asgard>, all their equipment was top-tier.

«Then we’ll take our leave.»

«Alright, let’s go.»

«Pardon?»

«We should go meet your leader. I said I would see Anna.»

Christina and Selena Kim exchanged puzzled glances.

They clearly hadn’t expected him to follow through on that idea.

«Didn’t you hear from Joonghyuk? I’ve decided to go to America as well.»

«Joonghyuk… you mean the Supreme King?»

Apparently impressed that he referred to Yoo Joonghyuk so casually, Selena Kim paused thoughtfully before speaking.

«Alright, let’s go together.»

«Selena?»

«Christina, we are desperately short on hands. There’s no reason to refuse if he’s offering help.»

«Wait, but—»

«Then it’s settled.»

Kim Dokja scribbled a quick note and handed it to Bang Cheolsoo, who was waiting behind him.

«Bang Cheolsoo, please give this to Heewon when she wakes up. Guard Gwanghwamun well until then.»

«You got it!»

Of course, Bang Cheolsoo, who had no idea whether it was me or Kim Dokja, just saluted repeatedly with a blank look.

«Alright then, let’s depart.»

A moment later, as I stepped into the flickering portal, I asked Kim Dokja.

‘Constellation-nim.’

I think I slipped up here; he was also using -nim when addressing Kim Dokja previously.

—What?

‘Have you been to the United States before?’

The United States of America. The land of the free.

‘I’m nervous. It’s my first time.’

I’d lived my entire life in Korea, speaking only Korean.

I never imagined my first trip abroad would happen like this.

In a world where everything lay in ruins.

—Once you arrive, it won’t seem like such a big deal.

Well, once you became a constellation, international travel probably meant nothing.

What was so special about overseas travel to beings capable of interstellar travel? Then a thought struck me.

In this regression, had Kim Dokja ever been to the United States?

«We’re here.»

Perhaps because it wasn’t an interstellar portal, the spatial transfer ended instantly.

Kim Dokja and I slowly looked around. A desolate sandstorm blew from every direction.

Noticing Kim Dokja’s strangely disappointed expression, Selena Kim quickly added,

«This is outside Las Vegas.»

Anyone familiar with the area knew Las Vegas was a city built in the desert.

So, encountering barren desert terrain just outside the city was to be expected.

«Our headquarters is downtown. Anna and the King will be there. I’ll take us to the city center.»

Selena Kim pointed to a transport vehicle parked beside the portal.

It wasn’t a vehicle from Earth; likely an item bought with coins.

—Hmm. A small Asgardian mobile?

Kim Dokja quickly scanned the vehicle’s interior and exterior and nodded.

—For a mass-produced supply item, it’s fairly well made. Did the manufacturer tweak the design?

‘Have you ridden one before?’

—Rumor has it they’re developing an entry-level model for Ferragini.

I see. The interior tubing did look similar.

Kim Dokja got into the mobile’s back seat.

«How long will it take?»

«About thirty more minutes.»

«May I take a nap?»

«Yes? Of course.»

Christina, in the driver’s seat, nodded nervously.

I asked on their behalf.

‘You’re going to sleep?’

—Yeah. Wake me later.

‘Seriously, you’re sleeping?’

—Do you think [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint] is free? It has a time limit and consumes probability. I can’t maintain it twenty-four seven, so I need to manage it. No coins to waste here.

That made sense.

‘But, Kim Dokja-ssi.’

His words should have been correct.

‘What did you do with the coins you took from me?’

—Huh?

‘From the Earth Dragon species, you said I’d make about 300,000 coins. But 500,000… No. You sold it for 650,000. Not only that—’

[The exclusive skill ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ has ended.]

‘Kim Dokja-ssi?’

There was no reply.

Hadn’t I, in fact, made a contract with the ‘9 Won Demon King’?

Somewhere, I thought I could hear Kim Dokja snoring.

A quick glance confirmed my body was indeed snoring.

Selena Kim, in the passenger seat, turned around.

«Cheon Inho-ssi?»

Selena Kim waved her hand in front of my face several times, then sighed with an expression of disbelief.

If I was dumbfounded, Selena Kim must have been furious.

«My god, Christina. He actually fell asleep. Looks like your hypnosis is finally working.»

«Congratulations. That was the most annoying nagging I’ve ever heard from you.»

«Why did you act like that earlier? It wasn’t like you.»

As if broaching a sensitive subject, Selena Kim cautiously brought it up.

It was something I was curious about, too.

From my perspective, Christina seemed excessively afraid of Kim Dokja.

If this was possession via [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint] and not [Descent], the full status of the ‘Demon King of Salvation’ wouldn’t have been conveyed.

Moreover, Christina Page, like Anna Croft, was an incarnation of <Asgard>.

«I haven’t been able to contact <Asgard> at all for a while now.»

«Doesn’t that happen sometimes?»

«Even the great-level constellations respond when contacted. They’re on call twenty-four hours a day.»

This was interesting.

Lost contact with the entire <Asgard> nebula?

If everyone from the nebula down to the great constellations had been summoned, something major must be happening internally…

Selena Kim checked something, and tension appeared on her face.

«I can’t reach them either. What’s going on…»

«Actually, I managed to get through to a high-ranking member just before we left, and they asked me a strange question.»

«A strange question?»

The moment I heard the next words, I felt a chill.

«They asked if an incarnation smelled like a ‘Demon King’.»

The Nebula <Asgard> knew about the ‘Demon King of Salvation’.