Side Story: Episode 20-4 - Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint

Episode 20. The Reader (4) Cha Seong-woo had an excellent memory from a young age. So remarkable, in fact, that he could vividly recall the moment his parents abandoned him and his younger sibling in front of an orphanage when he was about four years old—the snowy street, his mother's expression, his brother's cries, and the biting cold of that early dawn, remembered down to each freezing minute and second. They were memories he'd rather forget. Since he couldn’t erase them, he decided to accumulate more memories to make those painful ones insignificant. "Seong-woo, you really like books, don’t you? Are you going to become a writer when you grow up?" Those were the words of an orphanage teacher who used to pat him on the head. "I just want to become someone who reads lots of books." He still remembered the look on the teacher's face after hearing this. Read, read, and read some more. And sometimes, he would read aloud to someone else. "There’s no book." His younger sibling did not remember the moment they were abandoned. Perhaps it was because they were too young or because they had been blind from a young age. In any case, Cha Seong-woo somewhat envied his sibling, who did not remember. It might have been why he intentionally chose dull-looking books to read to them. "A literary magazine." "Read it to me." Looking back, he ended up reading "that novel" because of his sibling. As he read a book from a writer his sibling liked, as usual, his sibling suddenly said they wanted to read the writer's new work. So, he searched for the new work on the orphanage teacher’s computer. 『Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint』. It was an unusual title. It was the first web novel he read. With plenty of content, he thought it was good timing. The more he read, the further his childhood memories would recede. That was the mindset with which he read the novel. "Brother." However, when he came to his senses, he found himself reading that novel dozens of times over. "Why do you like that novel?" When asked by his sibling, Cha Seong-woo answered, "Because no matter how much I read it, I can’t understand the ending." All novels are fiction. In essence, they are the author's lies. Cha Seong-woo knew this. He was not Kim Dokja. He was not a "fragment of Kim Dokja" either. Logically and chronologically, it made no sense. Yet, sometimes Cha Seong-woo couldn't help but wonder. What if there was a "past" he really didn’t remember? What if, somewhere in this universe, there was a Star Stream, Yoo Joonghyuk, and Han Sooyoung? What if there was an origin, some source of his that wasn’t his abandoning parents but something else, existing somewhere he didn’t know? "I am Yoo Joonghyuk." Cha Seong-woo—now Killer King—slowly opened his eyes and calmly surveyed the situation. A world that had only existed in print. A fiction created by the author's lies now vividly unfolded before him. 「The Lesser Dragon roared toward the sky.」 The world he had dreamed of was now becoming reality. 「The 'Annihilation Phase' was beginning.」 He prided himself on understanding that world better than the author who wrote it. "Find the stepping stones." The 'Calamity Episode'. He had read it hundreds of times at least. "The species of the monster has changed, but the scenario content hasn't. There's bound to be a hidden piece to activate a shield when the Annihilation Phase starts." A Lesser Dragon that uses poison. It was a 'calamity' well within predictable bounds. "Over there." MoonLitGirl64—Cha Yerin spotted the stepping stones. As the party members stepped onto the stones, a series of messages appeared before them. [The hidden piece is activated.] [The numeric stepping stones are activated.] [If the correct number of people enter the stepping stones, 'Absolute Shield' will activate for 10 seconds.] [If there are fewer or more people on the stepping stones than the number, 'Absolute Shield' will not activate.] The stepping stone the party found had the number '5'. Killer King scanned his party. "Myself, Yerin, Lee Dan-soo, Shin Yoosung, and even that guy." Including the unconscious Cheon Inho, there were five in total. The stepping stones turned green quickly. [‘Absolute Shield’ can be activated.] From afar, incarnations who hadn’t found the stepping stones scrambled aimlessly. Some inadvertently stepped on the burgeoning buds on the ground. "What is this—" Before the incarnation could finish speaking, the ground buds fully bloomed. Without hesitation, Killer King activated the shield. [Activating Absolute Shield!] [A Grade 5 Poison Dragon species, Lesser Dragon Poiser, uses the ‘Death Byanfa’.] The fields of fully bloomed Byanfa flowers. Green spores spread rapidly, engulfing the labyrinth. Flower buds sprouted on the skin of incarnations touched by the spores, rapidly withering their bodies. "Ugh." One by one, the incarnations transformed into mummy-like states and drew their last breath. The spores from the Byanfas thrived on them, spreading dominantly. The only safe spot was the area where ‘Absolute Shield’ was active. ['Absolute Shield' is being deactivated.] ['Death Byanfa' disappears.] In the clearing where the spores vanished, dead plant stalks and the corpses of incarnations lay sprawled. In a single Annihilation Phase, all incarnations except them had perished. It was a terrifying attack, but one that could be avoided as long as the pattern was recognized. The problem was that the 'number stepping stones' couldn’t always align so fortunately. The subtle smile on the face of the mid-level Dokkaebi hovering in the air was evidence of this. If the stepping stone '5' didn’t appear next time, they knew someone in their group would surely become a casualty. [Stepping stones will regenerate in one minute.] In other words, they had to finish before the next 'Annihilation Phase' began. "Patron constellation." [The Constellation, 'Commander of Red Cosmos', gazes at their incarnation.] "Is artifact support still impossible?" [The Constellation, 'Commander of Red Cosmos', responds that your rank is insufficient.] "Then I'd like to receive the grace." [The Constellation, 'Commander of Red Cosmos', demands a price.] "I will transfer half the stakes of the first 'King Narrative' I obtain to <Eden>." [The Constellation, 'Commander of Red Cosmos' accepts their incarnation's request.] [The Constellation, 'Commander of Red Cosmos' grants 'Valkyrie's Grace'.] Valkyrie's Grace. [Temporarily activating 'Valkyrie's Grace'.] --- **Terms Translated:** 1. 차성우 (Cha Seong-woo) - Literal translation is used for a Korean name. 2. '전지적 독자 시점' (Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint) - Direct translation of the novel title. 3. '킬러킹' (Killer King) - Used as a nickname or title in the text. 4. '레서 드래곤 포이즈너' (Lesser Dragon Poiser) - Maintained the original term with a descriptive translation of its characteristics. 5. '전멸기' (Annihilation Phase) - Literal translation of the phased event during the scenario. 6. '앱솔루트 실드' (Absolute Shield) - Direct translation for the protection term. 7. '죽음의 피안화' (Death Byanfa) - A descriptive translation of the attack. 8. 문학소녀64 (MoonLitGirl64) - An alias or username, translated to represent the notion found in common usernames. 9. <에덴> (Eden) - Utilizes a direct translation for the reference to the paradisiacal land, suggesting a context of divine or celestial nature. The translations aim to preserve the essence of the literary style and narrative while providing enough contextual detail for understanding. [The Constellation, 'Commander of Red Cosmos,' notes that this grace is limited to this scenario.] Killer King felt a faint warmth envelop his entire body. Undoubtedly, it was a 'fire attribute' buff. He promptly retrieved a jewel emanating a radiant blue light from his bosom. "I will exchange this 'Blue Ice Orb' for 'Red Fire Orb.' You may use the exchange system or the 'Dokkaebi Bundle'—whichever is faster. I will cover the fee." The venomous dragon species, taking a breath at the center of the clearing, turned its gaze toward them. [The Constellation, 'Commander of Red Cosmos,' accepts the request of their incarnation.] [You have acquired 5 'Red Fire Orbs(赤火丸)'!] The fiercely spinning tail of the venomous dragon species swept toward them. Killer King, running with his party, tossed a Red Fire Orb to his sister. "Yerin!" The core of this operation revolved around his sister, Cha Yerin. Cha Yerin immediately swallowed the Red Fire Orb. Simultaneously, faint flames started to flicker across her entire body. Her face winced slightly. Having consumed five Red Fire Orbs, her stomach must feel like it’s boiling with hellfire. Cha Yerin voiced, "40 seconds." Which meant she could withstand the heat with [Fire Resistance] for 40 seconds. Killer King glanced at Lee Dan-soo. "Now." Lee Dan-soo, running on the right, nodded and touched the wall of the labyrinth. Simultaneously, black dots started swarming around the wall. Cockroaches. The swarm of cockroaches, rising like dust, clung to the venomous dragon’s head. Roar! Irritated, the venomous dragon scattered a radial breath into the air. The insects clouding the view melted down helplessly. As the triumphant venomous dragon exhaled again, a burst of white light flashed before its eyes. A sharp claw ripped through one of the dragon’s eyes. It was Yerin’s [White Azure Gang Qi], infused with the flame of the Red Fire Orb. It was a valid strike, yet insufficient to bring down such a colossal creature. In the original, Kim Dokja activated both the attribute effect of 'Unbreakable Conviction' and the stigma [Song of the Sword] to defeat a 'Calamity.' However, Cha Yerin had neither 'Unbreakable Conviction' nor [Song of the Sword]. ‘That’s why we received [Valkyrie's Grace].’ As Killer King reached out towards his sister, the grace effect transferred from his body to Cha Yerin. It was the effect of a specialized skill, [Sympathy of Hearts], allowing the sharing of buffs between them. [White Azure Gang Qi] combined with [Valkyrie's Grace]. Along with the capability of the 'Red Fire Orb.' Yet, they still lacked the necessary attack power. Even if Kim Dokja were present, this combination alone wouldn’t be sufficient to hunt the calamity. But the incarnation present wasn’t Kim Dokja. "Go, Yerin." His sister, Cha Yerin, was different from Kim Dokja. Unlike the skill-less Kim Dokja, Cha Yerin was overflowing with talent. Her proficiency in skills rose rapidly, and her overall stats exceeded those of Kim Dokja. [Incarnation, ‘Lee Seyeon,’ activates the skill ‘Grand Action Mode’!] A controller appeared before Killer King’s eyes. Memories of the orphanage surfaced. Memories of fighting with children over a controller just to play one game. In those fights, Killer King had won and held this 'controller' longer than anyone else. "Dark Spinning Breaker." [Advanced Command successfully executed!] Cha Yerin’s claws, burning crimson, swiftly slashed through the body of the venomous dragon species. Craaaack! The venomous dragon’s thick armor couldn’t withstand Cha Yerin’s attacks, enhanced by [Grand Action Mode]. [The Constellation, 'Demon-Like Judge of Fire,' marvels at the strategy of the incarnations!] [The Constellation, 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband,' admires the prowess of the incarnation 'Lee Seyeon.'] [A few constellations bestow 500 coins upon the incarnation 'Lee Seyeon' as a sponsor!] Cries of admiration erupted from constellations scattered around. Holding the heated controller tightly, Killer King watched his sister’s actions. Just a little more. Just a little more― And then. [Grand Action Mode is deactivated.] [Final Evaluation: Combo Score 91! Are you perhaps an aspiring pro-gamer?] Finally, as Grand Action Mode deactivated, Cha Yerin’s movements slowed. Subsequently, the massive body of the venomous dragon collapsed onto the ground. A thrill of joy ran down his spine. They had succeeded. His strategy had worked. However, Grumble. The venomous dragon suddenly rose again, beginning to consume the surrounding dead plants. A sense that something was amiss crept in. ‘Why?’ The previous attack should have killed the Poison Dragon Species. Everything was under his calculations. Roar! The venomous dragon, having devoured the Byanfa, was regaining a slight amount of vitality at the brink of death. Instinctively, Killer King started sprinting toward his sister. "Yerin!" Squandering the remaining magical energy in her body, Cha Yerin moved once more. Though it wasn’t as intense as when [Grand Action Mode] was activated, her claws consistently inflicted damage on the venomous dragon. Yet, the dragon, oblivious to mere scratches, roared towards the sky. [Grade 5 Poison Dragon Species, ‘Lesser Dragon Poiser,’ prepares ‘Death Byanfa.’] Red flower buds began to sprout all around the ground. "Yerin! Fall back!" Cha Yerin didn’t cease her attack. With determination to land a decisive blow and take down the venomous dragon, she continued to throw herself into the attack even while tottering. Killer King grabbed his sister by the waist and stumbled backward. Cha Yerin struggled and uttered. "Let go." Blood spurted from Cha Yerin’s mouth. The flames of the Red Fire Orb had incinerated her insides. Cha Yerin could no longer fight. Despite knowing this fact, Killer King told her, "In the next phase, we can finish it off. Hold on just a little longer. There’s still a chance." Cha Yerin, spitting up something, went limp in his arms. Four undigested Red Fire Orbs fell to the ground, blazing as they landed. Killer King picked up the Red Fire Orbs and pondered. His sister couldn't fight anymore, but the venomous dragon was also at its limit. He only needed to land one final strike. He could do it alone. He still had [Valkyrie's Grace] and Red Fire Orbs. He just had to withstand this one time. --- **Terms Translated:** 1. 차예린 (Cha Yerin) - Literal translation used for the character's name. 2. 청빙환 (Blue Ice Orb) - Descriptive translation highlighting its elemental attribute. 3. 적화환 (Red Fire Orb) - Literal and poetic translation for a consumable item with fire attribute, here representing the fiery effect used in battle. 4. 도깨비 보따리 (Dokkaebi Bundle) - Maintains cultural significance with a descriptive translation about its function, which is an item exchange mechanism. 5. ‘백청강기’ (White Azure Gang Qi) - A martial energy or aura skill, keeping the original name while providing a precise translation of its elemental components. 6. The usage of "[화기 저항] (Fire Resistance)" indicates a specific skill or attribute to withstand fire-related effects. 7. 이심전심 (Sympathy of Hearts) - Literal translation for a skill allowing the sharing of buffs between users. 8. 발키리의 가호 (Valkyrie’s Grace) – A translated term for an assistance or blessing, referencing the Norse mythology. 9. 대전 액션 모드 (Grand Action Mode) - A skillname that encapsulates its significance through descriptive translation. 10. Dark Spinning Breaker - A skill name retaining its significance—often found in games or combat narratives as a move or technique. 11. Controller - Retained as a metaphorical representation of a game controller which helps execute skills or moves—often conveys the concept of controlling or maneuvering a situation well. These translations aim to reflect the narrative’s original rhythm and tone while maintaining clarity. [Number stepping-stones are being generated.] Fortuitously, the stepping-stone appeared nearby. Killer King quickly checked the number on the stone. He stood frozen in place, dumbfounded. Four. No other, additional stepping-stones appeared in sight. Killer King scanned the faces of those remaining—Cheon Inho who had collapsed, Shin Yoosung attending to him, and... "Brother." His wavering sister shook her head as if she knew exactly what he was contemplating. After gently laying Cha Yerin upon the stepping-stone, Killer King slowly arose from his position. "Brother, please." "It’s okay." Killer King cast a glance at the venomous dragon. The flower buds on the ground were proliferating swiftly. The Annihilation Phase would commence soon. The ground's trap had not yet been activated. Where had he gone wrong? Was his strategy flawed? Or was there a line he hadn’t read? The number on the stepping-stone was four. Yet, the count of those remaining was five. ‘I am...’ If it were Kim Dokja, he would have advanced without hesitation. But for Killer King, the step forward didn’t come easily. Why was that? He knew without needing to ask. 「Because he is not Kim Dokja.」 A field filled with flowers of the Byanfa blinded his view. "Brother." He wished to be Yoo Joonghyuk. He wanted to be a Kim Dokja who thought about being Yoo Joonghyuk. In that moment when he started moving, thinking so— [The number stepping-stone is activated.] The stepping-stone transformed to green. ['Absolute Shield' can now be activated.] He couldn’t fathom what had transpired. He was still inside the stepping-stone. Even so, it activated. This meant... 「Someone else has become 'Kim Dokja.'」 When he lifted his gaze, he saw a man without sight. He was likely the farthest from ‘Kim Dokja’ among them. A man who wandered ceaselessly searching for a daughter, who had only read 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' once. "Don't feel guilty," the man said. Killer King understood the man's thoughts. Lee Dan-soo had already lost his sight, and his incarnation body was almost destroyed. Even with ‘The Vitality of Elain Forest,’ his body wouldn’t recover. "I have nothing left to lose now." Killer King couldn’t reach out to stop Lee Dan-soo, who was staggering toward his fate. Lee Dan-soo's choice was right. Everyone else was indispensable to witness the conclusion of this miserable world. It was right for the one with nothing left to lose to go. 「Yet, Kim Dokja might have said this instead.」 Suddenly, a thought flashed through Killer King's mind. His eyes began to glimmer with a vivid light. [Eyes of Sin and Punishment]. A stigma of Yophiel, measuring all incarnations’ ‘sin and punishment.’ Killer King, after observing Lee Dan-soo’s soul, stood momentarily dazed. A soul of pure white purity, as if donned in a white coat. Never before had Killer King seen such a soul. 「Perhaps there is a way for him to survive after all.」 However, what that method might be—Killer King didn’t immediately realize. Naturally, because it was an unwritten line. Creating the sentence was the role of the author, not the reader. [‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ Stage 3 is activating.] Therefore, it’s my role. 「The scenario hasn’t ended yet.」 I pondered, gazing at Mr. Dan-soo, who walked towards the venomous dragon. There exists a method where no one has to die. But employing this method... [The Grade 5 Poison Dragon Species, Lesser Dragon Poiser, uses ‘Death Byanfa.’] Mr. Dan-soo would have to 'die once' without exception. --- **Terms Translated:** 1. 천인호 (Cheon Inho) - Literal translation used for the character's name. 2. 신유승 (Shin Yoosung) - Literal translation used for the character's name. 3. 눈먼 사내 (Blind Man) - Descriptive phrase used for characterization. 4. 엘라인 숲의 정기 (The Vitality of Elain Forest) - Descriptive translation describing a restorative or regenerative object or ability. 5. 죄업의 눈동자 (Eyes of Sin and Punishment) - A descriptive translation for a soulful gaze or stigma. 6. 요피엘 (Yophiel) - Retaining original name from the context, indicating a celestial presence or entity in the narrative. These translations capture the original prose's ambiance while ensuring readability and understanding, aligning with the intricate dynamics of the scenario.