Side Story: Episode 19-9 - Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint

Episode 19. People of the Past (9) [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint] was a special skill primarily used by Kim Dokja. This skill was structured in three stages, each with different abilities. The 1st stage allows one to read the 'simple actions and emotions of characters.' The 2nd stage allows one to hear the 'inner thoughts of characters.' Finally, the 3rd stage allows sharing the peripheral vision of a character or directly immersing into the character themselves. I was also very familiar with this skill. The issue was why the skill activated only after being 'repaired by the Recorder.' 「It's impossible for Cheon Inho to possess [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint].」 This meant it was a skill created during the process of 'repairing my record.' On reflection, it wasn't entirely out of the question. Just as Uncle Dansoo and other readers held 'fragments of Kim Dokja,' it was possible I also had such a fragment. In some sense, an 'author' is also a 'reader' of their own work. If, by chance, I happened to possess a fragment of Kim Dokja who had mastered [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint]... Rather than complicate matters, it's crucial to consider how to utilize this skill presently. “Yoosung.” I called to Shin Yoosung, who was beside me. To my memory, the conditions for using [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint] were threefold. First, the target must be a ‘character.’ Second, there must be a certain level of ‘understanding of the target.’ Third, both the target and I must simultaneously be thinking about each other. If I spoke to Shin Yoosung, the chances of meeting these three conditions were high. Shin Yoosung looked up at me. Her small eyes seemed to twirl as they met mine. Yet, why is it? No matter how long I waited, [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint] did not activate. Was my understanding lacking? Or perhaps, Shin Yoosung wasn’t thinking about me currently? The ever-gazing Shin Yoosung asked. “You called me differently earlier.” Differently? A memory surfaced belatedly. 「Get down, Shin Yoosung.」 Just moments ago, while I was [inciting] as if I were Yoo Joonghyuk, I had spoken to Shin Yoosung that way. It hadn't been intentional. Because at that moment, I genuinely thought of myself as Yoo Joonghyuk. [Incitement] is such a skill. “You didn’t use honorifics either.” “Well... I apologize. It’s a side effect of the skill.” “You can just call me casually.” Listening to the expectant child’s voice, I momentarily struggled to find words. “I’ll try.” “Really?” It was simply not using honorifics. Simply calling the child's name as it is. It was a very simple task, yet not easy for me. I knew why. Because seeing Shin Yoosung before me brought back too many memories. The Shin Yoosung from the 41st regression. This Shin Yoosung had wandered in the labyrinth of worldlines for thousands of years, descended as the calamity of overflows, and was reincarnated as a Dokkaebi. I was beholding a grand tragedy that had not yet befallen this child. Perhaps it was why I couldn’t properly face the current Shin Yoosung. “Have you found a solution?” The one who spoke was Munhaksoyeon64. “Not yet, Miss Yerin.” For the first time in ages, I called her by her real name. Munhaksoyeon64 was the only reader here whose real name I knew. Someone who read the books of the author 'Lee Hak Hyun.' Even though she didn’t know I was 'Lee Hak Hyun,' seeing her still evoked a sense of intimacy. Shin Yoosung tugged at my sleeve and asked. “Is she your friend?” “Yes.” “Are you close?” Why does Shin Yoosung keep asking everyone that question? It might be because of her guarded nature. “Yes, close.” Yet the answer came not from me but from Munhaksoyeon64. As Shin Yoosung cast an odd glance at Munhaksoyeon64, Munhaksoyeon64 looked back at Shin Yoosung with unreadable eyes. Munhaksoyeon64 spoke again. “We both like books.” “Books?” Shin Yoosung’s golden eyes blinked rapidly. I noticed the expression on Munhaksoyeon64's face stiffening. And the next moment— 「Strange.」 A tickling sensation brushed past my ears, followed by a soft voice. 「The Shin Yoosung of the 3rd iteration didn’t have golden eyes. The 41st shouldn't either. That means, this Shin Yoosung is―」 “Miss Yerin?” “Yes.” [‘Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint’ deactivates.] When Munhaksoyeon64 glanced at me, the voice abruptly ceased. There was no doubt. What I heard just now was Munhaksoyeon64's inner thoughts. But how could that be? 「‘Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint’ is a skill usable only on ‘characters.’」 Yet, Munhaksoyeon64 wasn't a character but a ‘reader.’ The chilling realization swiftly translated into a crystal-clear deduction. 「What if this [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint] could also be used on ‘readers’?」 I quickly turned my eyes to KillerKing. At that moment, KillerKing was also looking at me. [A special skill, ‘Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint’ Stage 2 is activated!] 「What are you glaring at?」 The familiar voice echoed as if it had been waiting. 「Right now, Cheon Inho is closer to ‘Kim Dokja’ than anyone else among the apostles.」 Huh? 「If I just get rid of that guy, does it mean I can become Yoo Joonghyuk’s closest companion?」 The absurd fantasy verified that it was indeed KillerKing's inner thoughts. Next, I tried thinking of Uncle Dansoo. However, I couldn’t hear Uncle Dansoo’s inner thoughts. It could be that the distance was too far or that Uncle Dansoo wasn’t thinking about me. 「If only I could somehow make Uncle Dansoo think of me.」 If that were possible, it might help in pinpointing his location within the labyrinth. A calculated risk worth taking. Reaching into my pocket, I retrieved an item. ‘Horn of Provocation.’ A trophy obtained after slaying an ancient nautilus. Using this item would allow me to spread my voice throughout the labyrinth. If Uncle could hear my voice, wouldn’t he think of me, even for a moment? It was a gamble worth attempting. The problem was that, considering Uncle’s position, [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint] Stage 2 might not activate if the distance was greater than expected. --- **New Terms:** - **Horn of Provocation(도발의 뿔피리):** An item used to broadcast one's voice across an area. Originally 도발의 뿔피리. **Context and Explanation:** - **Horn of Provocation:** The term "도발의 뿔피리" literally translates to "Horn of Provocation," which signifies its function of creating an audible disturbance across distances. The translation retained its literal meaning due to its specific use in the narrative. An alternative could be "Provocative Horn," yet "Horn of Provocation" is more aligned with traditional naming conventions, capturing the sense of intentional broadcast. - **Switch between Characters and Readers:** The narrative explores the interesting dynamics between characters and readers. The protagonist discovers [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint] can extend its influence over readers, broadening the original limitation to 'characters.' This realization holds significant importance, challenging previous assumptions about the narrative mechanics and interaction possibilities. - **Shin Yoosung’s Character Progression:** The flashbacks and foresight concerning Shin Yoosung offer depth, hinting at her chaotic past lives and the potential tragedies she encounters. - The document contains no hints or on list changes, and all character and term translations were consistent with established guidelines. "Miss Yerin." "Yes." "The Iron Fist you used before." "Iron Fist." A statement without the question mark. Beside us, KillerKing was mimicking Yoo Joonghyuk as he polished his sword and spoke up. "They must be referring to the secret technique, Dark Spinning Breaker." That’s what it was called, I suppose. Anyway. "Use it on me now, please." If stage 2 doesn’t work, then stage 3 will have to do. * In the darkness, the man pondered. "Who was I?" The man was deep in thought about himself. Who am I? He considered it a rather philosophical question. No one truly knows what they are. From birth, they're merely called something. He thought hard about what he had been called. "Lee Dansoo." Yes, that was how he was addressed. That was not his actual name. "No." No, it wasn't. In truth, that wasn't even his name. The name belonged to someone else who once possessed this body. He was just borrowing it. Then what was his name? His name was... "No Jiyun. No Jiyun." As the voice flowed out from his lips, memories surged forth one by one. Yes. He was Jiyun's father. "No Kyunghwan (盧警患)." That was his name. "My father named me so to live wary of even the slightest worries. Thanks to the name my father gave me, I have lived surprisingly without major troubles." Reflecting on it, No Kyunghwan’s life had been smooth and peaceful. That had always been the case. No Kyunghwan was born with a face anyone would call handsome. He never caught the flu that afflicted everyone else, performed well academically, and maintained good friendships. He fortunately received a lottery number for a prestigious university and was placed comfortably during his military service. With the savings from his youth, he bought a small yet cozy home and, as if destined, met a beautiful and wise wife. Their daughter born between them was extremely lovable. His life was so full of good fortune that No Kyunghwan often wondered if he was borrowing someone else's luck. Perhaps someone far away in the universe was unhappy, making his world happy. No Kyunghwan sometimes imagined someone who might have become unhappy because of him and often sang short songs for them on his way home from work. His wife liked his songs. "One day, misfortune visited him too." Perhaps it wasn't anything extraordinary. It was simply a common tragedy that visited him too. "My wife passed away." The issue was the cause of her death. Had it been a traffic accident or a heart attack, it might have been tough but acceptable. He might have, through tears of frustration and sadness, let his beloved wife go. But what killed his wife was: "A stone." A stone small enough for a child to hold. "It fell from the sky, they said. There was a meteor warning the day before, but it was quite strange. Our country wasn’t even in the warning area..." It was a meteorite that flew from the far side of space. A tiny meteor that pierced through the darkness of hundreds of thousands of light-years, withstood the heat of the atmosphere. His wife was struck by that stone, pierced through, and died instantly. "It was a disaster. Truly, it was only due to bad luck -" Could one really explain it as merely 'bad luck'? No Kyunghwan could not understand. He suddenly thought of that unfortunate 'someone' beyond the cosmos. Was this truly a disaster? Had someone envious of his happiness flung a rock at him from the distant universe? "From then on, No Kyunghwan often looked up at the sky." Thinking about the unprecedented malice that flew from beyond the sky. His father's advice was correct. One must be wary of even minor worries. Living true to his name was essential now more than ever. Since then, No Kyunghwan lived solely for his daughter's survival. He personally took his young daughter to school. Fearing he might pass away suddenly himself, he even wrote a will for her sake. He kept his daughter close, blocking any potential danger from approaching. The young daughter loved him and understood him. And after understanding him too well, she began to resent him. "Can you stop this?" At some point, the daughter stopped eating well. She didn’t attend school anymore. Yet, it was okay. Education could happen later. At least home was safe. Inside the house, there should be no sudden meteorite strikes. But No Kyunghwan didn’t realize that even at home, stones could strike. "Yoo Joonghyuk." A name like an unknown meteor that flew from nowhere. "I’m going to marry Yoo Joonghyuk." * [‘Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint’ deactivates!] "Ugh!" I sprang up with a nausea-induced jolt. Upon checking the timer in the air, it seemed I was only unconscious for about ten minutes. KillerKing supported me and asked. "Did you find him?" "I did." "How?" It’s possible. [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint] truly activated. Moments ago, I indeed became Uncle Dansoo and glimpsed his memories. After explaining the rough location of Uncle Dansoo to KillerKing and Munhaksoyeon64, I said, "There’s no time for detailed explanations. I’ve used the ‘Horn of Provocation,’ so the enemies probably are aware of our presence." The sound of rushed footsteps echoed throughout the dungeon. Surely, the others from The Misread Alliance were also searching for Uncle Dansoo. "We must find him first." There’s only one way to do that. I coughed up a mouthful of blood and once again looked at Munhaksoyeon64. "Hit me one more time. This time, hard enough to nearly kill me." --- **New Terms:** - **Iron Fist(철권):** Refers to Yerin's powerful physical attack method. The term 철권 literally means "Iron Fist," which is typical in martial arts to denote strength or indestructibility associated with a punch. - **Dark Spinning Breaker(비전오의 다크 스피닝 브레이커):** Refers to a secret skill or technique, likely related to martial arts. The term 비전오의 literally translates to "Secret Technique" and paired with a descriptive name like "Dark Spinning Breaker," it conveys a potent, possibly destructive move. **Explanation and Context:** - **Iron Fist & Dark Spinning Breaker:** These terms relate to traditional martial arts styles incorporating powerful or signature moves. "Iron Fist" implies immense strength or durability, while "Dark Spinning Breaker" suggests a dynamic, forceful action—likely a spinning strike with significant impact or technique involved. Retaining their original essence conveys continuity in the martial arts narrative element. - **Impacts of Tragedy and Reflection:** The narrative detail around No Kyunghwan examines existential concerns about fate, luck, and personal identity. Through this, the protagonist reflects on adapting and overcoming tragedy by channeling unforeseen calamities into motivation for personal resilience and protection of loved ones. - **Kyunghwan's Story and Yoo Joonghyuk:** Key plot elements introduce layers to Kyunghwan's character. His life, tragedy, and daughter's connection to Yoo Joonghyuk underscore important themes about destiny's unpredictability and emotional drives in relationships forging impactful decisions within myth-like storylines. The document maintained character translations consistency, and no adjustments to the existing list were necessary due to new revelations.