Side Story: Episode 21-2 - Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint

Episode 21. Kim Dokja (2) [You are the first to hunt a 'Calamity' in the Scenario.] [You have achieved an accomplishment that no one else has.] [The distribution of Scenario-related rewards is currently delayed.] [The distribution of core rewards will be determined by your contribution.] [You have obtained 10,000 Coins!] Killer King, Cha Yerin, Dan-soo, and the rest of the party stared blankly at the messages cascading down from the air. [You have obtained the reward for defeating the 'Labyrinth Guardian.'] [You have acquired 8,000 Coins!] [You have achieved an achievement that did not exist!] [A considerable number of Constellations are in awe of your accomplishments!] [Someone has nominated your legend for <Star Stream>.] To defeat both the fifth-grade species and the sixth-grade species on just the fourth Scenario was an extraordinary feat. Though each individual's contribution varied, the reward looming before them was greater than any Scenario they'd encountered thus far. Yet, not a single person in their group was rejoicing over it. “How's Cheon Inho's condition?” “Not good.” Cha Yerin, who had checked Cheon Inho's pulse, shook her head. Killer King looked down at the still-unconscious Cheon Inho, recalling the final moments when the poisonous dragon species had fallen. “If it wasn't for this guy, we would all be dead.” No one could have imagined that Cheon Inho, with a body barely maintaining consciousness, would charge towards the calamity and rip out its heart. If it hadn’t been for the woman tending to Cheon Inho now, he might have died. Cheon Inho's face, poisoned by the dragon species' venom, was ashen. “Do you have any medical herbs?” To neutralize the poison within Cheon Inho, the group used up all the elixirs they had. Though not as potent as those from the summoning guilds, these were still high-quality medicinal materials. They even used the core from the now-defeated poisonous dragon species. The woman gathered the herbs and administered them to Cheon Inho, chanting some strange incantation involving Kim Dokja. Moments later, a small golden ring appeared above Cheon Inho’s head, and his complexion began to improve. Killer King asked, “Do you know Cheon Inho?” “Yes.” “Alright.” The woman who appeared suddenly not only saved Cheon Inho but also claimed to know him. Even though it was enough to warrant suspicion, Killer King chose not to question it further. They had more pressing issues. “The final 'Qualification of the King' is about to start.” The final kingship qualification. Finally, the main stage of the 'Throne War' was nearing. “We need the ‘Four Yin Calamity Sword.’” The 'Four Yin Calamity Sword,' a weapon that can only be acquired by collecting seven star gems. Conveniently, all seven gems were present here. The problem was that, unlike the original story, the person who gathered all seven gems would be consumed by [Madness] and transform into a monster. Cha Yerin cautioned, “It's already dangerous. We don't know what'll happen if all seven star gems are absorbed.” “True.” Killer King glanced at the fallen Cheon Inho. Cheon Inho risked his life to save them. Could they really sacrifice him to obtain the ‘Four Yin Calamity Sword’? “Yoo Joonghyuk wouldn’t do something so cowardly.” Dan-soo sighed in relief, and the tense Cha Yerin also stepped back. But the true crisis was just beginning. [‘The Last Qualification of the King’ is starting.] With the message echoing from the void, Killer King's expression stiffened. “It’s started.” The stage for the final qualification had already opened. Looking at Dan-soo, Killer King said, “We go without the Four Yin Calamity Sword. We just have to stop Yoo Joonghyuk somehow.” In the original’s 41st regression, behind its downfall lay the ‘Absolute Throne.’ It would be best to break the throne with the Four Yin Calamity Sword, but even without it, there was no need to despair, provided they prevented anyone from claiming the ‘Absolute Throne.’ “There’s hope as long as we stop anyone from sitting on the throne until the Scenario changes.” <Star Stream> tends to favor more ‘interesting’ and ‘plausible’ stories. Thus, if they only made the Scenario intriguing enough, a window of opportunity would present itself. “Brother. The Coins.” “I have enough.” “Take mine too.” To defeat Yoo Joonghyuk in the final ‘Qualification,’ they had to use ‘the method Kim Dokja once used.’ And that required an enormous number of Coins. Observing this scene, Dan-soo asked, “Yerin, aren’t you a king?” “No.” “Then…” Receiving Cha Yerin’s gaze, Killer King answered. “I am the king.” “Are you really?” “‘The King of Immortality,’ curious about what kind of king I am?” “What?” Dan-soo replied blankly. He didn’t know what to say and only muttered as Killer King answered confidently. “I am ‘The King of Lonely Taste.’” “Lonely…” Dan-soo thought he must have misheard. Come to think of it, he remembered seeing such a choice on the 'king options' list. But he didn’t expect anyone to actually choose to be that kind of ‘king.’ [The Constellation, ‘Intriguing Schemer,’ shakes his head.] Even Cha Yerin subtly turned her head. Killer King, seemingly unaware of their reactions, continued shamelessly. “You, me, and even Ye Hyunwoo outside, combined we have three ‘kings’ for the final stage. It would have been better with Cheon Inho involved, too…” There was still no sign of consciousness from the collapsed Cheon Inho. The fact he was alive was already a miracle. “It looks like we’ll have to do it ourselves for now.” [The qualified kings are transported to the final exam location.] A crackling sound preceded the summons. Sparks crackled over Killer King and Dan-soo’s bodies. “Yerin. Take care of Cheon Inho.” “Don’t worry.” For a final time, Killer King glanced at the woman. She was still chanting, her hand on Cheon Inho’s forehead, likely suppressing his [Madness]. Speaking to her, Killer King said: “7942.” The woman, slowly opening her eyes, responded. --- Here are the translated terms and explanations regarding choices made: 1. 독룡종 - Translated to "poisonous dragon species." '독' refers to poison, and '룡' is dragon; '종' indicates type/species. 2. 사인참사검 - Translated to "Four Yin Calamity Sword." This name incorporates 四음 (Four Yin), a classical element that often suggests ominousness or imbalance, while "참사(慘事)" implies calamity or disaster. 3. 별보석 - Translated to "star gems." '별' means star, and '보석' means gem. It's a straightforward translation, preserving the simplistic but significant imagery in the context of the narrative. 4. 광기 - Translated to "[Madness]." The term indicates a mental disturbance, insanity, or irrationality, which adds a dangerous aspect to the scenario regarding the accumulation of star gems. These translations aim to retain the richness of Korean culture embedded in the names while conveying the narrative in a way that honors the original’s nuances. "9158." "You remember well." "Of course, it’s a code I created." Killer King nodded. "1st Apostle, will you join the war?" At that, the 1st Apostle shook his head. Killer King looked at the 1st Apostle as if surprised and then turned his back, saying, "When Cheon Inho wakes up, tell him. I will protect this world." * In a hazy consciousness, I dreamed. "‘Author, but…’" The moment I heard the voice, I realized. I see. This is Ji Eun Yoo's dream. "Yes." In the dream, I responded, both dreading and eagerly anticipating what Ji Eun Yoo might say next. "In the last scene, Kim Dokja came back, right?" The last scene. I immediately understood what Ji Eun Yoo was referring to. The moment Han Sooyoung and Yoo Joonghyuk returned as the hospital door opened. When the readers became 'The Oldest Dreamer,' all hoping for Kim Dokja’s resurrection. Ji Eun Yoo was talking about the final scene of 'Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint.' I cautiously looked around, wary of who might be listening, and responded carefully. "He came back, you say. We don’t know that. It’s an open ending." Then Ji Eun Yoo frowned. "Do you really think so?" "It’s an open ending for the sake of narrative completeness—" "Enough about completeness. Don’t you have your own thoughts, Author?" I paused for a moment, then mumbled ambiguously. "To leave a deep impression on the readers, like a spinning top that seems to stop but doesn't…" "Do you want to get hit in the head with a spinning top?" I ducked my neck as Ji Eun Yoo’s fist twirled like a spinning top. "I don’t know. Han Sooyoung wrote it. Ask Han Sooyoung." Ji Eun Yoo sighed lightly, looking at me, and said, "Fine. Let’s put it this way. If you were a reader, how would you feel after seeing the last scene? Do you think Kim Dokja returned?" If I were a reader. There’s actually no need to ask such a question. Every sentence in the last chapter points to the one ‘missing sentence.’ A puzzle with only one piece absent. The sole unmentioned sentence stands out more than any existing one. "It seems like he did return, doesn’t it?" "You should have just said so from the start." "Don’t say that I said so anywhere else." "Why would I do that? More importantly, in what form did Kim Dokja return?" "In what form?" "That’s how the conclusion is, isn’t it? With numerous Kim Dokjas scattered across the universe, their combined wishes brought him back to life, right?" Hearing it from someone else’s mouth made it feel somewhat like a children’s storybook ending. "Seems so, right?" "Then, there must have been many versions of Kim Dokja in everyone’s minds. What happens if all those readers simultaneously think, ‘Kim Dokja has returned’?" "Um…" Such a thought hadn’t crossed my mind. I became momentarily frightened and asked, "Should I rewrite it?" Expecting anything but that, I blinked, and suddenly, the scenery changed. The familiar stone ceiling of an enclosed space. A faintly glowing light. The touch of the cold floor, and slowly, all the memories returned. The memory of venturing into the labyrinth to find the 'Four Yin Calamity Sword.' Meeting Killer King and Uncle Dan-soo there, absorbing the star gems, the calamity being summoned, the defeat of the Labyrinth Guardian… And nearly dying myself. As my thoughts reached that point, a person immediately came to mind. Ji Eun Yoo. [Currently, you have collected a total of 6 'star gems.'] [The power of the 'star gems' is eroding your body.] ['Madness Level 6' is consuming you.] [An unknown force is suppressing your 'Madness.'] [An unknown force is obstructing the erosion of the 'star gems.'] I slowly raised myself. A sharp, aching pain as if something squeezed my head. No discernible presence surrounded me. What happened? The calamity and the guardian were surely defeated. Where did the rest of the group go? What happened to the Scenario? I— [‘The Absolute Throne’ has been claimed.] The system message echoed, and I blinked blankly. I thought I misheard it. The Absolute Throne has been claimed? Information in my mind swiftly aligned. The decision of the Absolute Throne meant the ‘Throne War’ had started and concluded. "The fourth Scenario has ended." I stared at the small star gem rolling on the floor. I possessed six star gems. And there lay one more. "No ‘Four Yin Calamity Sword’ exists in this regression." My fingertips trembled. What shouldn’t have occurred, had. The dungeon vibrated. A dreadful nausea set in. Instinctively, I knew something ominous was about to be born in this world. [The final owner of the 'Absolute Throne' is...] A distant light brightened, and the sound of someone running towards me reached my ears. [Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk.] The demise of the 41st regression was sealed. --- Explanation and context: 1. 칭호: 1사도 - Translated to "1st Apostle." In religious or hierarchical group contexts, '1st Apostle' refers to a leading figure or original follower, emphasizing prestige or status. 2. 절대 왕좌 - Translated to "Absolute Throne." '절대' implies absolute or ultimate, while '왕좌' directly means throne, indicating a position of unrivaled authority or power. 3. 회전하는 팽이 and 팽이로 머리 찍히고 - The spinning top analogy refers to an unresolved or continuously moving narrative. The "hit with a spinning top" is a metaphorical threat that adds humor, playing on the idea of a spinning unresolved story knocking sense into someone. These translations adhere to preserving narrative tone and cultural nuances, recognizing the symbolism in names, titles, and interactive dialogue within the narrative structure. If clarity is essential or context assumed, the poetic flow and abstract cultural references aim to fully articulate original meaning and reader expectation in both domestic and international contexts.