Side Story: Episode 14-6 - Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint

Episode 14. Hunting (6) “I…” I couldn’t readily answer. I was not that ‘Cheon Inho’. My way of thinking was different, and my likes and dislikes diverged. My soul was different. Yet, could I truly say I had nothing to do with that ‘Cheon Inho’? I had possessed his body, and before that, I had written about him in a narrative. I was the one who crafted ‘Villain Cheon Inho’ with my own hands. Even if Han Sooyoung had written the initial draft, I had countless opportunities to alter that narrative. So perhaps, in some way, I— “You’re a different person, aren’t you? Why are you hesitating like that?” Jung Heewon frowned, as if she couldn’t comprehend. “No matter how I see it, you’re a different person. I’ve seen that world too.” “……” “Your personality is different, and your appearance… This side’s Cheon Inho is more handsome.” I couldn’t grasp what she was trying to convey. “Inho said it himself, didn’t he? ‘A different world.’ So, in this world, that place is like nonexistent, isn't it? Just like a world within a novel.” A world within a novel. “I only asked because I wanted to hear the predetermined answer. That’s all. So, tell me. Inho, are you the same person as that world’s Cheon Inho?” I snapped to my senses. The hand Jung Heewon had extended first. Not taking it would be impolite as well. “I am a different person from him. At least that’s what I believe.” “Isn’t that right?” But is that answer truly sufficient? Is that simple answer enough for her to be convinced? “The Cheon Inho I believe in is the only Cheon Inho standing in front of me now.” Almost as if inciting herself, Jung Heewon said. “So, you too, Inho.” Jung Heewon stepped closer, driving her sword into the ground. “Think of the me standing in front of you as ‘Jung Heewon.’ Not the ‘Jung Heewon’ from the ‘future’ you know.” Then I finally understood why she brought this up. 「The Jung Heewon in front of me is not the Jung Heewon from 『Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint』.」 Jung Heewon, who was Kim Dokja’s sword. Jung Heewon, who killed Cheon Inho. Jung Heewon, the sole incarnation of the ‘Demon-Like Judge of Fire’ and a protector of <Kim Dokja’s Company>. That Jung Heewon does not exist here. Just as I wasn’t ‘Cheon Inho,’ she too wasn’t the ‘Jung Heewon’ from the stories told by the apostles. 「The 41st iteration’s Jung Heewon is unique.」 I nodded sincerely. Jung Heewon smiled softly. “You’d rescue me even if I fall from the bridge again, right?” “As many times as it takes.” With a sigh of relief, Jung Heewon bent down to pick up a canteen from the floor and took a sip. “I started talking about something too complicated, which isn’t like me. Honestly, I don’t want to think about difficult things right now. I prefer simplicity.” The Jung Heewon I knew wasn’t someone who would have such conversations. In that aspect, I might have already met a different Jung Heewon from the main story. “I just want to slash and stab what’s in front of me and somehow survive. That’s all I want to do.” “That’s enough for now. Just do it by my side.” Jung Heewon turned her head to look at me, a subtle angle. “I might accidentally stab you, Inho.” “Then I’ll die.” Jung Heewon laughed as if she thought it was a joke. “That won’t do. Inho, you have to help me so I don’t stab the wrong person.” “Of course. But.” As I slowly looked around the dining area, I asked a question I had been wanting to for a while. “You didn’t already send one away, did you?” There was another person in the dining area besides us. More accurately, beneath Jung Heewon’s feet. * The man was still breathing. Aside from his homeless appearance, there wasn’t much noteworthy about him. Then again, everyone being homeless at this point was hardly a unique trait. “Is he the sniper you caught earlier? Was there really a sniper?” “There was.” The man, his body tightly bound, occasionally let out a whimper as if in a nightmare. “The gun was a toy, though.” I checked the [Character Inventory] for the man. He didn’t possess any remarkable abilities or traits, but one skill stood out. [Bullet Enhancement]. A skill that transforms toy bullets into real bullet strength. It seemed he had targeted us using this skill. A few slaps on the man’s cheek brought him to consciousness, and he began pleading tearfully. “S-spare me! Please!” “Which group do you belong to?” I slammed a pot onto the floor next to the man’s head as I asked. Now was the time to slip into villainous ‘Cheon Inho’ mode. After all, this guy had tried to snipe us. I considered faking torture when the man cried out as if in a fit. “B-Beggar’s Union! It’s the Beggar’s Union!” He folded more easily than expected. But… Beggar’s Union? Reading my expression, Jung Heewon asked. “Do you know the group?” I nodded subtly. No writer of web novels would be unfamiliar with the Beggar’s Union(丐幇). It’s a name often seen in martial arts novels, representing the nine great martial sects(九派一幇). The Beggar’s Union was the faction representing the ‘one sect’ among those nine great factions. At least, that’s how it usually was in typical martial arts settings. The problem was, in the ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ I knew, the ‘Beggar’s Union’ never appeared. “Where is this group based?” “Well, uh…” Beside the man, Jung Heewon unsheathed her sword with a zing. “Their territory! It’s too widespread to pinpoint exactly! But their main base is near Seoul Station!” “Who’s the group’s leader?” “Great Beggar(天丐), he’s the leader!” Beggar’s Union, Great Beggar, Seoul Station. While the first two weren’t elaborated in Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, Seoul Station was different. According to my memory, Kim Dokja had once made a solitary monologue about it. 「Still, they’re quite cute compared to those at Chungmuro or Seoul Station.」 That was the only mention of ‘Seoul Station’ across Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint as a whole. --- **Terms Translated:** - 천화 → "Heavenly Flower" - 전신이 꽁꽁 묶인 사내 → "The man, his body tightly bound" (A description) **Explanation and Context:** - **Beggar's Union (개방/丐幇):** A well-known faction in martial arts (wuxia) stories, often depicted as a large group of beggars with significant influence. Literal translation is beggar (丐) union (幇). This term is understood in context as a group often featured in traditional wu xia fiction. - **Great Beggar (天丐):** A title often used for the leader of the Beggar's Union. Here 天丐 could also be interpreted as 'Heavenly Beggar'. The scene revolves around identity, existence in different realities, and maintaining one's perspective amid shifting circumstances, underscored by Jung Heewon's dialogue. The narrative addresses complex themes of self-awareness and belief, while also interweaving elements of fantasy and martial arts lore. The interchange adds depth to character dynamics, highlighting the fluidity of identity and narrative in fantastical settings. The content above suggests a necessary tweak to explanations involving martial arts realm factions in the existing guide for clarity and context. I tried to recall other notes, but no specific details came to mind. The area near Seoul Station hadn’t been fully outlined; it had only been mentioned without concrete details. This meant it was content Han Sooyoung hadn’t conveyed to me. I pondered for a moment and decided to probe for more information. “Why were you observing us?” “M-Master Great Beggar ordered us to monitor the road for expanding our faction’s influence. That’s truly all there is to it. We had no intention to harm!” Judging by his expression, he seemed to be telling the truth. After some contemplation, I glanced down at the man’s waist. Three knots hanging from his belt. Well, how about that. I pondered the knots for a moment and then asked the man. “Can you swear?” * The man could only be released from us after swearing an [Oath of Existence]. The oath was simple. 「Under no circumstance should you report anything about us to your leader.」 As he departed, the man kept bowing toward us, repeatedly expressing his gratitude. [You are currently under contract with multiple subjects through an ‘Oath of Existence.’] [The more subjects tied to the ‘Oath of Existence,’ the weaker the ‘Oath’s’ power becomes.] This was a penalty I hadn’t known about. Perhaps that’s why the original story didn’t frequently use the ‘Oath of Existence.’ While watching the man’s figure fade into the distance, Jung Heewon asked. “Is it okay to let him go?” [The Constellation, ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon,’ is startled by your naïveté.] That obnoxious guy. “Do you think my judgment was wrong?” “It’s just so like you, Inho.” “There was a reason for letting him go.” By now, that group likely already had access to [Group Chat] privileges. In other words, the moment the man was caught by Jung Heewon, he probably relayed information to his group members nearby. Put simply, information about us had already reached their group in some form. “This is no ordinary group. They've already formed a hierarchical structure within the organization.” “A hierarchy?” I explained about the knots tied to the man’s belt. The Beggar’s Union from martial arts novels is a union of ‘beggars.’ They peculiarly reveal their ranks with knots on their belts; an average member has one knot, a branch leader has three, and a section leader has five. “He had three knots. That means he was of branch leader rank.” “What’s a branch leader?” “Well, in a company context, it’s roughly equivalent to a deputy or a manager.” “So not too high?” “Right. But the important thing is that there’s a rank system.” As far as I know, there are nine total knots in the Beggar’s Union. The guy with three knots means there are six more ranks above him. It was genuinely astonishing that such a sizable group was established so early in the scenario. “Was the group made by someone who likes martial arts novels?” “It could be, or maybe—” It could also be a Constellation related to martial arts. Whichever the case, it wasn’t a good idea to antagonize them at this point. Moreover, considering that ‘Kim Dokja’ compared them to the Chungmuro group, it was safe to assume they had combat power equivalent to at least the Ten Evils. Of course, we have Jung Heewon, but her real strength is more effective against monsters than humans. “What if they come at us with reinforcements? Even if he swore an oath, nothing’s certain.” “If they come, that’d be convenient.” “What?” I had shown goodwill. But if they come looking to attack, it’s a clear declaration of war. “Then I can kill without hesitation.” I thought my words might have been too grim, but Jung Heewon instead smiled. “I like the sound of that.” It felt like we had formed an unexpectedly fierce duo. I replied with a wry smile. “Let’s head out then. Yoo Joonghyuk went north, right?” “Well, there’s one thing I didn’t mention earlier.” Jung Heewon added, scratching her cheek. “That Yoo Joonghyuk guy, he said something else before leaving.” I suspected he might. Yoo Joonghyuk puts on a cool front, but he has quite the regrets. “He said he can’t acknowledge the current Cheon Inho. But—” “But?” “If you recruit a specific person as a comrade, he might consider recognizing you as ‘Cheon Inho.’” Not recognizing, but considering to recognize, what’s with that? “He said you’d recognize ‘The Mad Butcher’ if you heard about it.” “The Mad Butcher?” A phrase suddenly came to mind. There was indeed an incarnation with that nickname mentioned in ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’. 「Among the ‘Three Ways To Survive’ strongest 100, ‘The Mad Butcher’ eventually evolved from ‘The Crouching One’.」 Yet surprisingly, this character was mentioned only once, with no subsequent detail on whether they survived or not. Of the top 100 of the ‘Three Ways of Survival’... It really wasn’t included on its own, probably because Han Sooyoung didn’t relay it. Regardless, Yoo Joonghyuk seeking ‘The Mad Butcher’... The plot is getting intriguing. “Is it someone you know?” “Well, I've heard of them.” Just as I was about to say they're not someone I know, a sharp pain darted through my head again. [A new skill is activating.] A new skill? 「‘The Mad Butcher’ was born at ‘Seoul Station’ that day.」 A thought ascending clear as day. When did it start? Goosebumps slowly crawled upon my arms. It wasn’t a sentence I ‘specifically’ remembered or that originally appeared in ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint.’ Moreover, it wasn't a 'setting' I created or a narrative I planned to write. [Exclusive skill, ‘Three Ways To Survive in a Ruined World,’ is activating.] It was the story Kim Dokja loved more than anyone. The narrative of the ‘Three Ways of Survival.’ --- **Terms Translated:** - [존재 맹세] → "[Oath of Existence]" - 분타주(分打主) → "Branch Leader" - 삼결(三結) → "Three Knots" **Explanation and Context:** - **Oath of Existence (존재 맹세):** A binding oath used to ensure someone refrains from disclosing specific information. Literal translation of existence (존재) oath (맹세). - **Branch Leader (분타주):** The leader of a division or branch within a larger group, translating directly as division kick's owner (주). This fits the martial arts theme where members have certain hierarchal structures. - **Three Knots (삼결/三結):** Used in the Beggar’s Union to denote rank within the organization. Three knots suggest being mid-level, in this case, equivalent to a branch leader. The narrative delves into the mechanics of factional operation and hierarchy within the world, detailing how groups with martial arts influences establish ranks and maintain order. The use of [Oath of Existence] also reveals the intricate power dynamics and control methods employed by characters in ensuring loyalty and secrecy. The introduction of ‘The Mad Butcher’ subplot adds another layer of intrigue as it touches upon alternate scenarios and unwritten narratives, expanding on the universe’s breadth and potential. The content suggests a possible inclusion of faction hierarchy influences in the main guide for broader understanding.