WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 59: Episode 12 - First-Person Protagonist’s Viewpoint (5)

Author.

One of the few professions within the TWSA that grants the ability to acquire Avatar skills. If he’s indeed the Author, that could explain some of the strange miracles he's pulled off.

The first apostle's lips twisted at those words.

“An author, huh… Are you implying I'm the creator of the ‘Revelation Chronicle’? Quite observant of you. Yes, I’m the one who wrote that ‘Revelation Chronicle.’”

That wasn't quite what I meant, but he was rambling nonsense. I couldn’t tell if he was serious.

I glanced at Junghyeok, who was watching from the sidelines.

[The exclusive skill Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint has been activated!]

[The character Yu Junghyeok is currently using the skill Lie Detection Lv.6.]

As I expected. That meticulous bastard. I questioned again.

“You’re saying you wrote the ‘Revelation Chronicle’?”

“Indeed. And I am also its sole owner.”

A mocking smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

Oh, really? Let’s see about that.

[The character Yu Junghyeok has activated the skill Lie Detection Lv.6.]

[The character Yu Junghyeok has confirmed that the statement is true.]

...So he really has the file? A flash of panic crossed my mind, derailing my thoughts. No matter how much I considered it, this didn’t make sense. Struggling to keep my composure, I asked once more.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘Revelation Chronicle’?”

“Why are you asking something you already know? It’s a great epic containing the myths of the future.”

[The character Yu Junghyeok has confirmed that the statement is partially true.]

Something was strange here. Only "partially true"?

“Now it’s my turn to ask. How did you know about my plan and the ‘Apostles’? Are you a prophet too?”

“You said you wrote the Revelation Chronicle yourself, didn’t you? But you don’t know?”

“An omnipotent creator would be boring, wouldn’t it?”

He laughed like a smug villain, which thankfully helped me regain my calm. He was without a doubt not the Author of TWSA. If he really was, he would have recognized me, his only reader.

“Interesting… I thought the woman in Seodaemun Prison would be the ‘Last Apostle’, yet here you are hiding….”

“…Seodaemun Prison?”

“You’re unaware, are you? Let’s make a deal. Reveal your identity, and I’ll share some information with you.”

“Hm. I doubt you’d have any information I’d want.”

“It seems like you’re a bit full of yourself for having overpowered me for a moment. But remember, this isn’t my true form. You just got a little lucky….”

“I know the future.”

I cut him off on purpose. By now, Yu Junghyeok would be assessing the situation carefully, so it was time to season it a bit.

“A lot more of it than you do.”

[The character Yu Junghyeok has confirmed that the statement is true.]

The expression on the first apostle's face hardened.

“You’re bluffing. There’s no way you know more than me….”

In that moment, something flickered in his eyes.

“Wait… Could it be?”

As realization dawned on him, a new understanding came to me as well.

This bastard… could he be that guy? At this moment, I knew five things about him:

One, he had read TWSA.

Two, his profession was “Author.”

Three, he was not the Author of TWSA.

Four, he had a file containing knowledge of the future.

Five, the file he held was only partially accurate.

Memories of reading through 3,149 chapters of TWSA flooded my mind.

To my knowledge, TWSA was so unpopular that illegal copies didn’t exist. But if this guy before me was the one I suspected, then it made sense why he had the ‘file’ and why he knew so much about TWSA.

I spoke sharply.

“Do you enjoy stealing other people’s work?”

“What…?”

His expression wavered. There was no doubt. This guy was indeed him.

“I didn’t think you’d still be at it. ‘Revelation Chronicle,’ huh… How does it feel, living like that? Just thinking about how the real ‘Creator of the Revelation Chronicle’ suffered because of you makes me grind my teeth.”

“What…!”

“Now that I think about it, something seemed off. The information you were using, it was all a bit... flimsy.”

His face grew increasingly pale.

“After all you gained by leeching off others, isn’t it time to give it a rest? Even with the world in this state, you’re still at it?”

“Yu Junghyeok!”

He looked desperately at Junghyeok.

“Yu Junghyeok! Join me!”

You wish.

“As I said earlier, I have knowledge of every prophecy. Only I, in this world, can guide you to the end of this path!”

[You have activated the exclusive skill Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Stage 2!]

[Due to high fatigue, you cannot activate Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Stage 2.]

Damn it, why now?

“Think carefully! You can’t clear the 46th scenario alone. You need my help to deal with Anna Croft and Zarathustra!”

I thought his words sounded familiar—he was parroting my lines verbatim.

Junghyeok shook his head.

“I’ve never heard of anything called a prophecy.”

“It’s similar to a prediction! Don’t you see? I’m even called the ‘Last’!”

[The character Yu Junghyeok has activated the skill Sage’s Eye Lv.8!]

Not one to back down, I activated my own skill.

[Information on this character cannot be viewed in Character Profile.]

[This character is not registered in the Character Profile.]

Damn it, I guess that doesn’t work either. Junghyeok, after confirming something with Sage’s Eye, looked over at me. The severed head continued speaking.

“Kill him! You know he’s dangerous. Not only did he impersonate you, but he also messed with parts of the future. If you leave him alone, he’ll cause a severe butterfly effect and ruin all your plans!”

This bastard was trying to bring us all down with him?

“Aren’t you doing the same thing?”

“I’m different! Yu Junghyeok, join me! I’ll swear any oath you want! I would never betray you!”

He was getting desperate. Junghyeok, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.

“So, you want to join forces.”

A killing intent began to creep into his gaze as he looked at me. I was going insane not knowing what he was thinking. Junghyeok drew his sword and slowly approached me. The first apostle, brimming with confidence, shouted.

“Yes! Kill him quickly!”

“One is a Prophet, the other is a Revelator….”

“I said kill him!”

Thud! Junghyeok stomped on the first apostle’s head, shutting him up.

“Kuh… What are you doing?”

“If you truly know the future, I have a question for you.”

“What?”

The sword moved toward my throat without a sound. It was the very same sword I had once wielded as Junghyeok. I felt a sting as something warm trickled down my neck.

“What are you doing!”

Huiwon screamed as she ran toward us. I raised my hand to stop my comrades. My hands were trembling too, but provoking Junghyeok here would do no good.

Junghyeok addressed the first apostle.

“Here’s my question. Will I kill him now, or not?”

“What?”

“If you’ve received a prophecy about the future, then you should know my choice.”

He’s as sadistic as ever. Why did he always play like this?

The first apostle’s face showed conflict. No doubt he was feeling the same dilemma I had back at the ‘Even Bridge.’ Surprisingly, he answered quickly.

“Of course, you’ll kill him! It’s in your nature!”

His face brimming with confidence, a smug smile that spoke of his certainty in knowing the real Junghyeok.

“Kill him! And then…!”

Swoosh.

The sword moved.

However, the sound that followed wasn’t of flesh being cut.

Crunch!

Junghyeok stomped down, smashing the first apostle’s head. Though it wouldn’t kill him since he was just an avatar, the impact alone would deal severe mental damage.

Junghyeok had already sheathed his sword.

“As expected, he was all talk.”

I was slightly stunned. Did Junghyeok actually choose to spare me? I felt a little bewildered. I wasn’t even sure myself…

After glaring at me for a moment, Junghyeok turned and walked away.

“Hey! Where are you going?”

He must have thought he looked incredibly cool right now.

…Well, honestly, he did look a bit cool.

“Wait! Are you leaving Jihye behind?”

“The future has changed, so the plan changes as well.”

“It’d be better if we worked together, wouldn’t it? I could help.”

At those words, Junghyeok looked back at me.

His gaze sent a chill down my spine.

“I’ve repaid my debt. Not seizing your flag is my final act of goodwill.”

This bastard… But I couldn’t let him walk away so easily.

“You know you can’t leave the station without me removing you from the ‘Group.’ Or do you want to be [punished]?”

Junghyeok’s hand slowly moved toward his sword hilt. I quickly added,

“I know what your plan is. You’re heading to Jung-gu to join the Capture the Flag battle, right? Your goal is to walk the King’s Path and complete the Black Flag. I can help you.”

“Taking your flag myself would be faster.”

“Then let’s see who’s quicker, your sword or my mouth.”

This was a gamble. Junghyeok might actually stab me before the [Punishment] effect even kicked in.

“There’s no need to go to Jung-gu. Head north. I’ll help you take down the Tyrant King and claim his territory and flag. It’s a win-win, isn’t it?”

“I can do that alone.”

“You have 48 hours left to finish the fourth scenario. Do you really think you can capture 20 stations and complete the Black Flag in that time?”

Junghyeok’s hand hesitated at the hilt.

Got him.

“Besides… you have another reason to go north, don’t you? Or are you planning to abandon your family this time around?”

“…You bastard.”

“Calm down, I’m speaking in good faith, so don’t get worked up. I’m really offering to help.”

Junghyeok’s furious gaze burned into me for a long moment. The tense silence stretched on, but then, at last, the killing intent dissipated.

“There’s no such thing as goodwill. What’s your condition?”

As expected of a regressor, he got straight to the point.

I grinned and replied,

“It’s simple. Just tell me one thing. That’s all I ask.”

“Go ahead.”

“That guy you stomped on, what’s his attribute? One of them was probably ‘The Last Renouncer,’ but what’s the other one?”

After a brief pause, Junghyeok spoke.

Thirty minutes later, I called Minseop and Seongguk. There was something specific I needed them to do. But before I could even explain, Minseop asked,

“So, what exactly was that guy’s identity?”

I hesitated, then replied,

“Have you heard of a novel called SSSSS-grade Infinite Regressor?”

“Oh, I read that one!” Lee Seongguk raised his hand.

“It was top-ranked on Textpia[1], wasn’t it? I really enjoyed it….”

“Ah, right! I’d forgotten about it, but it just came back to me. How did it end again?”

Seemingly swept up in nostalgia, they started chatting loudly. Considering they’d even read Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse, they must have been somewhat into web novels.

“It was kind of a mishmash of elements… but yeah, it was fun.”

I had actually read that novel too. Back when I was deep into TWSA, I had stumbled upon it in the Today’s Best section and decided to give it a go. To my surprise, I was stunned by its plot and setting.

—An infinitely regressing psychopath.

—The support of transcendental beings known as Constellations.

—A live-streaming system.

—A brutal survival game involving absurd missions.

Individually, these were common tropes. But the problem was how these ‘common’ tropes were put together in a way that was way too familiar. After reading it, I’d immediately left a comment.

—Isn’t this just plagiarizing Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse?

I remember the backlash. Far from causing any plagiarism controversy, people mocked me for comparing it to a ‘boring novel.’ I was even bombarded with hostile messages from SSSSS-grade Infinite Regressor fans.

—Isn’t everything in this genre the same? Why are you so bothered by it? How do you even live like that?

Out of frustration, I’d sent a message to the TWSA author. What did they say? Something about how it was a bit amusing that his viewership went up a little thanks to the drama? Thinking about it now made me want to cry for them. Lee Seongguk asked,

“But why are you bringing up that novel now?”

“The first apostle is the author of that novel, SSSSS-grade Infinite Regressor.”

“What? No way.”

If the author of TWSA knew, he’d be rolling in his grave. His world had become reality, only for a plagiarist to appear and claim ownership over it, even adding some ludicrous ‘Revelation Chronicle’ to the story. After some further explanation, Jeong Minseop finally understood and spoke up in disbelief.

“So, that novel was a rip-off?”

“That’s right.”

“Oh, now that I think about it, it does seem a bit similar… though it’s been so long that I barely remember. But how did it not come to mind first? That novel was way more popular.”

“Probably because of the ‘Renouncer’s Privilege.’ We only recall parts of the original story we’ve read. And SSSSS-grade Infinite Regressor is full of clichéd ideas, so it’s easy to get mixed up.”

“Is that so? Anyway, you’re saying that guy is a plagiarist? Then that file he mentioned….”

I nodded.

“He probably has the original file for his plagiarized work. Since he copied TWSA’s plot, he could predict parts of this world’s future using his own novel.”

It was bad enough that he’d succeeded by copying someone else’s work, but now he was thriving in a world shaped by that plagiarism. Justice was overdue.

“Then… isn’t he practically unbeatable? If he copied the whole original….”

“No, it’s only the beginning that he copied. Just enough to back out if a plagiarism controversy arose. Soon, the information he has will start running dry.”

“How do you know that?”

“I just know.”

Of course, TWSA only had me as a reader past Chapter 100.

“Pardon me, but how far did you actually read in the original…?”

“That aside, there’s something you both need to help with. Or rather, something we’ll need to do together.”

At my mention of a task, both men stiffened.

“You told me before that the Tyrant King took down some prophets, right?”

“Ah… He’s probably still exploiting a few of them for information.”

“Good. That’s perfect, then.”

“What?”

They still seemed confused, so I explained further.

“We’re going to leak some of the ‘revelation’.”

“Pardon? How….”

Still not quite understanding, I spelled it out clearly.

“Starting now, we’re going to create and spread a text file of SSSSS-grade Infinite Regressor.”

When you’re faced with a bunch of irritating bastards, sometimes the best solution is to make them fight each other.

Footnotes:

[1] Parodical reference to the famous Korean webnovel platform Munpia.

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