Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Novel MTL - Chapter 694

Chapter 694

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

694 Episode 24 Expert (4)
What could be the connection between the <Asgard> of the 41st regression and the ‘Demon King of Salvation’?

Do they know who he is?

Could they have discovered this information from his readers?

That possibility seemed low, since the vast majority of details shared by readers from ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ were likely censored.

Perhaps it was the massive nebula that had killed Kim Dokja some time ago.

Maybe <Asgard> was behind it.

But even if Odin, the ‘One-Eyed Father’, is the most powerful figure in <Asgard>, would he truly be capable of killing Kim Dokja?

Damn. You must have witnessed a mythical-grade constellation.

To be honest, I couldn’t fully accept either theory at the moment.

My main certainty was that the ‘demon king’ they referred to was indeed Kim Dokja.

I held my breath and concentrated on the exchange between the two women.

«Christina, so that explains your politeness toward Cheon Inho-ssi—»

«Correct.»

In the rear-view mirror, I saw Christina’s lips twist into a disapproving frown.

«He carries the scent of a demon king. I didn’t detect it initially, but after he lost consciousness and woke up, the sensation was unmistakable.»

«Does that mean incarnation Cheon Inho is part of the Demon King’s lineage?»

«Most likely. Not long ago, when the Demon King’s symbol manifested over Las Vegas, I encountered one. The feeling was identical.»

Hypnotists and other psychics naturally possessed a far sharper sensitivity to energy than other incarnations.

As someone who considered herself the finest among them, it was plausible that Christina Page could detect the unique aura of a demon king.

After all, Kim Dokja was also partly a demon king himself.

«If he is a demon king, which of the 72 is he?»

«I can’t tell.»

«Have you received any further communication from <Asgard>?»

«None. The messages ceased after that single question.»

The two glanced in my direction and from that point continued their discussion without making a sound.

[Group chat.]

It seemed there were things they did not want overheard.

A quiet fell over the car, the only view outside a desolate desert landscape. I passed the time by contemplating future scenarios and observing my own sleeping face as it snored.

The more I looked at that face, the more it felt like my true visage.

But did it really resemble a con artist?

Although Yoosoung had told me I was handsome…

Perhaps I should acquire a skill like [Humidity Preservation] as Kim Dokja did, or alter my aura by collecting story fragments such as [Casanova’s Face]?

Now that I thought of it, Kim Dokja seemed quite meticulous about his self-care.

His concern over his turtle neck was evident just from the fact he used a pillow for support even during a brief nap.

…A neck pillow?

A sudden suspicion made me check the item’s information.

<Item information>

Name: SSS grade neck pillow

Grade: SSS

Description: A ‘neck pillow’ from a mass-production manufacturer, featuring a cute doodle of a dokkaebi’s face.

Users of this pillow do not dream and receive a restorative effect equivalent to consuming the essence of Elain Forest while asleep.

If a dangerous situation arises, the [Alarm] function activates to wake the user immediately.

*This item belongs to incarnation Cheon Inho.

It was obvious whose coins had been used to purchase this pillow.

Even for a mere pillow, when I looked up its price, my eyes nearly bulged out of my head.

[The price of this item is 10,000 coins.]

After meticulously reviewing the refund policy and return procedures for the dokkaebi bag, I resolved to bill Kim Dokja for the full amount.

[Exclusive skill ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ is activated.]

—Ah, I slept wonderfully.

What impeccable timing.

I rapid-fired my questions at him.

‘When did you buy this?’

—Right before I dozed off.

‘You’d better explain yourself. Before my anger becomes a real problem.’

Kim Dokja, who had already assessed the situation, averted his gaze.

He began to explain.

—A third of a human’s life is spent sleeping.

‘We don’t require that much sleep anymore.’

—Yoo Jonghyuk and Yoo Sangah use this same item.

Yoo Jonghyuk used this? This item with a cute dokkaebi face on it?

—He’s popular enough that it was probably a gift. Regardless, it’s practical for us. We lose consciousness frequently.

‘And?’

—Always support your neck before you collapse. A concussion is a serious matter.

‘…’

—Read the description carefully. It says the restorative effect is similar to consuming the essence of Elain Forest during sleep.

I did the math in my head.

A single ‘Elain Forest’s Spirit’ costs 500 coins.

Which meant.

—You break even after just twenty uses.

‘How many uses does it have?’

—Well, if used conservatively, it should last a considerable time. It also mentions a warranty.

‘I concede. You are forgiven for your transgression.’

It was, admittedly, a highly efficient item.

I felt a sense of satisfaction at another prudent purchase.

After his good rest, Kim Dokja stretched lightly and gazed out the window.

I turned to look as well.

Slowly, the city of Las Vegas came into view.

[The seventh ‘main scenario’ is currently in progress.]

[The eighth ‘main scenario’ is currently in progress.]

A sequence of system messages materialized.

I was confused.

The seventh scenario wasn’t even finished, yet the eighth was already underway?

—This also occurred in the 3rd round.

I remembered. While the fourth scenario was active, a segment of the fifth scenario, the ‘Disaster’, had been resolved.

However, that was a temporary circumstance, and two main scenarios had never unfolded concurrently like this before.

Something felt off.

Kim Dokja nodded in agreement.

‘The seventh is a monster invasion scenario, but what is the eighth?’

For reference, Korea’s eighth scenario in the third round was ‘The Strongest Sacrifice’.

—That was the third round in Korea. It could be different here.

‘Right.’

The ‘Strongest Sacrifice’ scenario is an extreme event that only concludes when half the incarnations in the region are dead, or when the most powerful incarnation perishes.

I hoped the 41st round would feature a smoother scenario.

«We’re here. You’re awake already.»

«Thanks to you, I rested well.»

Selena Kim smiled at Kim Dokja’s clever reply.

In the distance, the entrance to the casino hotel, the symbol of Las Vegas, became visible.

Perhaps because it was still daytime, the hotel strip, with its lights off, exuded an eerie atmosphere unbefitting a gambling capital.

[The constellation ‘Bald General of Justice’ wipes his head with a curious expression.]

[The constellation ‘Maritime War God’ shakes his head, declaring these buildings impure.]

[The constellation ‘King Heungmu’ boasts that they could never replicate the architectural style of the Korean Peninsula.]

[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ scoffs at the constellations from the Korean Peninsula.]

Then again, the entire world had become a gambling den for constellations, so what significance did a human one hold?

Christina parked the car in front of the largest hotel on the casino strip.

This was the headquarters of Zarathustra.

As the doorman came to greet us and opened the car door, I noticed a crowd gathered at the casino hotel’s entrance. A mixed assembly of people from various races, all armed.

Kim Dokja asked with a slight grin.

«Am I an unwelcome guest?»

«They’re not with our group.»

Selena Kim and Christina moved to stand in front of Kim Dokja, shielding him.

I was somewhat puzzled, as the local American situation was never detailed in the original story.

But Kim Dokja already seemed to know who they were.

—It seems the civil war in Las Vegas is still ongoing.

‘You know them?’

—A Las Vegas gang.

Like the Korean Iron Blood group?

—A far more elite organization than those thugs.

‘But America has an Absolute Throne too, right? The factions should have unified under it.’

—Have you forgotten what we did?

It then struck me that Kim Dokja had killed the founder of the Absolute Throne.

What if America’s ‘Absolute Throne’ had also lost its authority, just as Korea’s had?

With the throne’s absolute power gone, it was naturally useless.

—Anna must be suffering from headaches as well.

Naturally, powerful forces would rush to fill the power vacuum.

Forces strong enough to proclaim themselves king.

The group’s leader now approached us.

A long fur coat over a T-shirt with a skull design. A gleaming silver cross necklace. A Hispanic man in a cowboy hat straight out of a western. He radiated an intense aura.

«Who is that?»

When Kim Dokja asked, Selena Kim answered.

«Jacob Martinez. The King of North Las Vegas.»

As the man drew near, Selena Kim stepped forward.

«Mr. Martinez.»

The man gave a curt nod in Selena Kim’s direction.

«It’s been a while. Guardian of the King.»

«What is the meaning of this?»

«I’ve come to see the prophet.»

It seemed Anna Croft had business with them, just as we did. Judging by the hostile atmosphere, it wasn’t a friendly visit.

Christina, monitoring the situation, interjected.

«I’m sorry, but Anna has prior engagements today. Perhaps you could return another time.»

«Step aside.»

«If it’s urgent, you can tell me your business. I will relay it.»

Martinez fixed Christina with an icy stare.

«We are here to demand compensation.»

«Compensation? For what?»

«Our group sustained excessive damage during the subjugation of the grade 4 monster species. We demand recompense.»

Grade 4. It appeared a monster species of a similar tier had emerged in the United States as well.

«Everyone suffered damages.»

«We lost our entire home. It’s because your master’s guides directed the ‘disaster’ toward northern Las Vegas.»

«That wasn’t Anna’s fault. She can’t control a natural disaster.»

«Are you claiming the prophet couldn’t foresee this?»

«Hey.»

«She must have seen northern Las Vegas being destroyed in her visions. Yet the prophet gave us no warning.»

«…»

«If our response had been any slower, all the women and children would have been killed.»

By now, Kim Dokja and I were listening intently to the argument.

Anna must have had her reasons for withholding the full future.

But if others died as a result, where did the responsibility lie?

How accountable was a prophet who chose not to share the future she saw?

Christina responded with a frown.

«I will discuss compensation and coin support. So, please leave now. Unless you want to escalate this.»

«It seems I must speak with the Prophet myself.»

With a sharp click, Martinez drew his pistol from its holster. Simultaneously, his group aimed their weapons at us.

If this continued, a major armed conflict was inevitable.

But Christina showed no sign of nerves. A pocket watch was already in her right hand.

Martinez spoke.

«I’m aware of your hypnotism skills.»

«…»

«Which will be faster? The tick of your watch, or my bullet putting a hole in your head?»

«You can try it right now—»

Everything happened in an instant.

Was it the sound of a fur coat flapping, or the doorman from a moment ago transforming into Martinez?

Front and left. Two versions of Martinez spoke in unison.

«You seem to have forgotten who I am, hypnotist.»

Before anyone could react, Martinez’s pistol was pressed against Christina’s left temple. Biting her lip, she slowly lowered her watch, raising both hands above her head.

Impressed by Martinez’s technique, I asked.

‘How did he do that? An avatar?’

[The Avatar skill is unique to the author.]

So, was Martinez also an ‘author’?

—That man is a ‘magician’.

A magician?

«Hypnotist, I will kill you now.»

«Martinez, wait.»

«Move, and I shoot immediately.»

Martinez, glaring at Selena Kim, added a warning.

«I’ll count to three. If your leader is truly a ‘prophet’, she will emerge on her own. She will have foreseen her subordinate’s death.»

Martinez began counting down without hesitation. A cold, merciless count.

Yet, even as he reached one, Anna Croft did not appear.

«It appears the prophet’s name is a fraud. Or perhaps—»

His finger tightened on the trigger.

«—she places no value on you at all.»

But someone moved slightly faster than the trigger could be pulled.

«Anna won’t be coming out.»

As expected, it all occurred in a split second.

No, it was likely a long, drawn-out moment experienced in a state of heightened perception.

Kim Dokja slowly raised his arm and gently enveloped the pistol’s barrel as if cradling a teacup.

«She cannot see the future at this moment.»

Yet, no one else present could perceive his actions.

Christina, Selena Kim, and Martinez all wore expressions of utter shock.

Their faces were masks of disbelief, unable to comprehend how this was possible.

[The constellation ‘Humanity’s First Magician’ is astonished.]

Only I knew the method Kim Dokja had employed.

It was neither a skill nor magic.

[The story ‘The Stone and I’ has ended.]

Martinez, belatedly regaining his senses, frantically pulled the trigger.

Click. Click.

But the pistol refused to fire.

[The story of ‘The Pistol and I’ continues.]

Kim Dokja wrenched the pistol away in one smooth motion and fired a shot into the air as if in jest.

«Because I have arrived.»

With a thunderous bang, a celebratory shot echoed through the street, announcing our debut in Las Vegas.