Side Story: Episode 15-2 - Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint

**Episode 15. Doorbell (2)** We exchanged glances, tensed with anticipation. The eerie sound of squeaking hinges echoed. The door opened, but no one emerged to greet us. What lay beyond the threshold could either be a terrified family or a knife-wielding neighbor with harmful intent. Or perhaps something else entirely. “W-Who's there?” A child's nervous voice. We immediately pushed the door open. Beyond the wide-open front door stood a ragged-looking boy, short and plump with chubby cheeks. A large mole on his nose was distinctive, making him appear, at most, twelve or thirteen years old. “A-Aah.” The boy, startled by our presence, took a step back in retreat. Jung Heewon raised both her hands gently toward the boy. “Hey, it's okay. We're not here to hurt you.” She whispered softly to me afterward. “I think he goes to the same school as my younger sibling.” “How do you know?” “A mole… I remember seeing it on my sibling’s SNS.” She seemed to recognize the boy by the mole on his nose. As if he heard her remarks, the boy's eyes widened. Suddenly teary-eyed, the boy glanced behind him and then queried us. “Do you know me? Who are you?” “Where are the adults? Are you alone?” “All the adults are…” The boy with the mole whimpered as he slowly approached. Jung Heewon, feeling sorry for the boy, bent down to meet his gaze. As I watched the scene unfold, I wasn't the least bit unsettled. Was it because I was Lee Hak Hyun, or perhaps Cheon Inho? 「How did this kid survive the first scenario, anyway?」 I interjected when there were about five steps remaining. “Kid.” The boy looked up at me. With a kind smile, I asked, “Could you not do that, please?” Before I even finished my sentence, the boy leapt into Jung Heewon's arms. Instinctively, I pulled Jung Heewon back and stepped forward. The kitchen knife the boy wielded fortunately struck my 'external reinforcement suit.' The boy, shocked as he watched the kitchen knife clatter to the ground, collapsed onto his rear in a panic. “A-Aaaa! I didn’t mean to! Someone told me to do it!” So it really was a trap. Jung Heewon inquired, “Inho, are you okay?” “Yes, I'm fine. How about you, Heewon?” “Why did you stop me?” I responded as I noticed her right hand already touching the knife's hilt. “We should at least hear him out.” Had I not intervened, the boy might have been cut down. Realizing this fact late, the boy sat on the floor, dragging himself backward in fright. I bent down with a grin, like a benign swindler. “So, who put you up to this?” In truth, I didn't really need to ask. No matter how you looked at it, there was no evidence of actual coercion. To be precise, “Fire! Do it now!” The boy’s order was immediately followed by gunshots. Threatening warning shots. Dust rained down from the ceiling as shattered concrete fell. Three boys and girls stood beside the retreating mole-faced boy. Two of them held guns. Military-issued K-2 rifles. Feeling emboldened, the mole-faced boy spoke up. “See? It's a real gun. I'll shoot if you move. Drop everything you have and turn around.” I chuckled at the smooth flow of his threats, prompting the boy to glare and warn once more. “I'm counting to five from now.” His count was five. And I had four questions of my own. “One.” Where did these children come from? “Two.” How did even Jung Heewon miss sensing the presence of these kids? [The area is currently under 'Sound Suppression Technique(遮音遮音)'.] Sound Suppression Technique, of course. The second question was resolved. “Three.” How did these children set up such a trap? “Four.” Until now, how many people have they killed? “Five. Just kill them.” I activated [Incitement] to transform my 'Thoughts' into 'Hercules' Shield'. [Special skill, 'Area Defense,' is activated!] The K-2 barrels, set to automatic, erupted. Tutatatata! The 'Area Defense' I used to withstand Gong Pil-Du's [Miniature Fortress] should easily deflect ordinary bullets. As consecutive shots ricocheted off the shield and riddled other parts of the house, the startled children screamed and stopped firing. I dashed forward and disarmed the children of their firearms. It wasn't difficult to subdue them, given their evidently low composite stats. The mole-faced boy shouted in desperation as the situation turned against them. “Now! Do it now!” Through a brief chill racing down my neck, Fwooosh! Something swiftly zipped through the air. It wasn’t as fast as a bullet, but carried an ominous energy. I instinctively dodged, turning my head, and the projectile grazed my cheek, embedding itself into the wall with intense vibration. It was a chopstick imbued with magic. Looking back, I saw a fifth boy holding a spoon stand. Interestingly, the boy wore a skull mask. A skull mask? The boy was rooted in place, seemingly considering whether I'd avoid his attack, with shaken, confused eyes on me. The mole-faced boy, in an irritated voice, questioned, “You couldn't even hit him?” “Sorry.” “Throw it again!” “…There’s a cooldown.” The mole-faced boy, as though a trigger had been pressed by that remark, glared angrily and swore at the skull-faced boy, beating his abdomen and face in anger. Still not satisfied, the mole-faced boy turned his gaze on me. “Mister, you’ve messed with the wrong people this time. Do you know who we are?” At the single remark of the mole-faced boy, the other intimidated, trembling children began to change their expressions one by one. As if his words offered them a form of 'Area Defense.' “That’s right!” “Even the soldiers couldn’t mess with us! Our siblings are all gone now!” Where in the world did these children come from? --- **Explanation:** 1. **초인종 (초인종):** Translated as "Doorbell." The term itself is commonly used in everyday life, referring specifically to the doorbell in the context of surprise or anticipation. Alternative translations could be "Chime" or "Bell," but "Doorbell" captures the intended imagery. 2. **차음진법(遮音遮音):** Translated as "Sound Suppression Technique." "차음" means "sound blocking," and "진법" refers to an array or formation. It signifies a technique used to suppress sound, effectively explaining how the children's presence went unnoticed. **Contextual Note:** The narrative establishes a suspenseful scene where unexpected threats from seemingly innocent children arise, challenging the protagonists' discernment and reflexes. The introduction of a "Sound Suppression Technique" adds a layer of supernatural or tactical elements, typical for a novel involving complex scenarios. The young characters, initially underestimated, reveal a concealed power structure hinting at a deeper plot. This alludes to a multifaceted storyline where appearances can be deceptive. **Pronoun and Name Table Update and Corrections:** None required; pronouns remain consistent. The character affiliations are clear and unchanged. My first question was about to be resolved. With a sly smile, the mole-faced boy jingled a hidden knot tied to his waist. It was the same kind of knot that Jung Heewon had confiscated from a sniper in a high-rise building hours ago. The difference was, while the sniper's knot had three ties, the mole-faced boy's had five. Sensing Jung Hewon's approaching presence, I spoke up. “These kids are from the Beggar’s Union.” Whether she heard me or not, Jung Heewon brushed past me, continuing her stride. The mole-faced boy, swelling with pride, shouted. “That's right. We're from the Beggar’s Union. Do you know who I am? I'm at the level of a 'Clan Lord' in the Beggar’s Union. You're as good as dead now—” “Move.” Jung Heewon pushed the mole-faced boy aside with annoyance, walking toward the skull-masked boy. “Jung Eunho.” Her voice sent chills through the air. Was that really the Jung Heewon I knew? Could Jung Heewon wear such a fierce expression? “Take off your mask. Are you Eunho?” The boys reacted first. The panic-stricken boys and girls exchanged anxious glances, muttering to each other. “W-Who is that?” “Does she know Eunho?” The boy in the skull mask remained rigidly staring at Jung Heewon. Turning his head slightly in disbelief, his hand clutching the spoon stand trembled violently. The boy's eyes, visible beyond the mask, wavered in intense turmoil. Eventually, his hand slowly moved to remove the mask. And there… “…Sister.” A boy strikingly similar to Jung Heewon stood there. --- **rlaehrwk37:** Oh damn **rlaehrwk99:** Is it true --- The miraculous reunion of two siblings who survived a hellish apocalypse. [Constellation, ‘Maritime War God’ nods approvingly at the tearful sibling reunion.] [Constellation, ‘Demon-Like Judge of Fire’ observes the situation with a complicated expression.] [Constellation, ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ notes that the mole-faced boy probably deserves a beating.] This was typically the awaited melodramatic moment. The tearful siblings would embrace each other, releasing their long-held resentment, and realize their true familial love. It should have been that way, but Jung Heewon's family was rather unusual. “What exactly happened to you?” Despite Jung Heewon's pressing, Jung Eunho remained silent, lowering his head. I intently scrutinized the skull mask in Jung Eunho's hand. 「The butcher who roamed the scenarios like a ghost seeking revenge for a slain comrade always wore a ‘skull mask’.」 Could it be that Jung Heewon's brother was the ‘Butcher of Madness’? Theoretically, it seemed plausible. The ‘Butcher of Madness’ was one of the few Incarnations that possessed the trait of 'The Crouching One', which Kim Dokja mentioned. Since Jung Heon already possessed 'The Crouching One', it wasn’t surprising for her brother to share the same trait. Shall I verify this directly? [The skill 'Cast List' is currently being updated.] [The skill is unavailable at the moment.] Of all times, now? “Who told you to do such things? Hurry up and tell me?” Jung Heewon's chilly gaze fell on the mole-faced boy. The mole-faced boy struggled, bound hand and foot, wriggling on the ground. Perhaps moved by the siblings’ reunion, tears and snot ran down his chubby face. “Sister.” Indifferently glancing at the mole-faced boy, Jung Eunho spoke. “Why are you here? Are you here to confirm I'm dead?” “What?” “Just go back. This isn’t a place for you.” Jung Eunho slowly lifted his head, an expression of faint rebellion and emptiness mingling together. “This isn’t like the time you ran away beating Dad with a wooden sword. You still think you’re the boss of our house?” “Hey, what are you saying right now?” Jung Heewon was taken aback by her brother’s bombshell revelation and shot me a flustered look. “Inho, this is… It’s not what it sounds like.” I shook my head with a reassuring smile, indicating it was fine. Judging from the situation, I could somewhat gather what had transpired. Of course, children shouldn’t hit their parents. But if someone like Jung Heewon did such a thing, I imagined there must have been a reason. Jung Heewon sighed lightly and asked. “So. Where is Dad now?” “Dad is…” Jung Eunho hesitated momentarily before sighing again. “He’s with the Beggar’s Union.” “The Beggar’s Union?” “That’s the name of the organization I'm part of.” “That’s strange. That man isn’t the type to easily join any group. What about the military? The people in the apartment? Dad was a soldier. Surely, he had subordinates.” The mention of the military cast a shadow over Jung Eunho’s gaze. “They were all taken by the Beggar’s Union.” “Dad isn’t one to get caught so easily.” “The old Dad wouldn’t have, yes.” The nuance embedded in ‘old Dad’ was peculiar. But Jung Eunho’s next words were even more bizarre. “Dad might as well be dead. He’s not our Dad anymore.” Not their Dad? “When the world ended, Dad suddenly changed into someone else.” “What on earth are you saying? Did that man hit you again?” “No. It’s not like that.” The way Jung Eunho sighed lightly was uncannily similar to Jung Heowon, truly siblings. “Dad suddenly went insane.” “Insane?” At that moment, I felt I understood what had happened to Jung Heewon’s family. Reflected in Jung Eunho’s eyes, slowly turning their gaze toward the window, was the desolated panorama of the apartment. The remnants of a scenario that had turned this world into ruins. But perhaps it wasn’t the scenario that destroyed Jung Heewon’s family. “Going on about novels becoming reality, how things like this couldn’t possibly happen… he began saying weird stuff. At first, I thought Dad had just temporarily lost his mind.” Though the scenarios were cruel, they were at least considerate in their own way. Like a visitor ringing the doorbell and introducing themselves, they informed us of what would happen next and instructed us on what we should do. However, there were guests who weren’t so kind. Those who arrived in this world without a doorbell or a knock. --- **Explanation:** 1. **개방 (개방):** This term, translated as "Beggar’s Union," represents an organization akin to a guild or group. '개방' literally translates to "opening" or "liberating," but here, it's a reference to a specific in-world group that the children belong to. An alternative translation could be "Open Society," but "Beggar’s Union" retains a more narrative-fitting tone with a hint of mystery and hierarchical structure, given the context. 2. **정은호 (Jung Eunho):** Revealed to share familial ties with Jung Heewon, establishing an emotional and dramatic subplot. They are depicted as siblings with a complicated past, adding depth to Jung Heewon's character and personal stakes in the narrative. 3. **광기의 도살자 (‘Butcher of Madness’):** This term describes an infamous character known for revenge-inspired scenarios within the narrative. '광기' signifies madness or frenzy, while '도살자' means butcher, painting a grim figure likely performing violent acts within the story. **Editorial Note:** The interplay between scenarios and personal histories introduces a layered plot, combining apocalyptic survival with interpersonal drama. Introducing the Beggar's Union unveils further conflicts and allegiances, enriching the story's landscape with potential clashes and alliances. The narrative subtly infuses fantastical elements like 'skull masks' and supernatural constraints, maintaining suspense and intrigue. "When the scenario began and I met Dad again, he abandoned me and fled alone. I chased after him in tears, and I can't forget what he said then." My reflection appeared on the cracked glass of the balcony window. I slowly turned my gaze to meet the face of a boy reflected on the window's edge. The boy wearing the skull mask. "He asked me who I was." In an instant, the boy, who had lost his entire family—his entire history—was speaking. "He said he needed to find 'Kim Dokja' from now on." It seemed that 'Dokja' had possessed Jung Heewon's father. --- **Explanation:** 1. **빙의 (Possession/빙의):** Translated as "possessed," indicating an external influence or force taking over someone. In this context, it conveys an otherworldly transformation affecting a character's behavior and priorities, explaining the drastic change in Jung Heewon's father. **Narrative Context:** The passage reveals emotional depth and personal suffering, heightening the drama with a supernatural element where Jung Heewon’s father is possessed by the entity ‘Kim Dokja.' This incident deepens the complexity, linking personal trauma with larger narrative forces at play. The boy's experience reflects a loss of identity and adds to the storyline's tension by suggesting the unpredictable and pervasive power of otherworldly influences in the scenario.