SWE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: smol_anon

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 6: Episode 1 - Launch of the Paywall (5)

People panicked as they watched insects scurrying into every corner of the train car.

“H-hey! Why the hell would you do something like that―”

While most were frozen in shock, a few quick-witted individuals pushed me aside and rushed past.

“Just you wait, you bastard.”

“…You should start searching. Only three minutes left.”

At my words, the passengers lost what little sanity they had left and began to tear apart the subway

car like frenzied beasts.

“I found one- Aaaaaagh!”

The cabin descended into pandemonium, as the elation of those lucky enough to capture insects

clashed with the malice of those using violence to try stealing them back.

“Hey, why’d you do that? You could’ve just distributed the insects.”

Turning to glance at my side, I saw Kim Namwoon getting to his feet. I stayed on guard, watching

him warily as he stretched his neck.

“There are twelve people left in the cabin.”

“...huh?”

“And there were three insects left in the case.”

Kim Namwoon’s blank expression quickly morphed into laughter.

“Twelve against three? Hahaha! That’s right. So not everyone can survive, eh? Is that why you threw

it?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

“...?”

“A sane person wouldn’t pull a stunt like that for such a dumb reason.”

The smile on Namwoon’s face grew wider.

“Just admit it. You just wanted to see this chaos, didn’t you?”

I recalled the ‘Kim Namwoon’ from Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse. It was at that moment that

a message echoed in my ears.

[The exclusive skill Character Profile has been activated.]

A window appeared before my eyes. Though I wasn’t exactly sure what my attribute was, seeing this

message gave me a pretty good idea.

+

Name: Kim Namwoon

Age: 18

Patron constellation: None (Currently, two constellations are showing interest in this character.)

Exclusive attribute: Chuunibyou (Common)

Exclusive skills: [Abnormal Adaptability Lv.3], [Knife Fighting Lv.1], [Dark side corruption Lv.1]

Overall stats: [Vitality Lv.3], [Strength Lv.4], [Agility Lv.6], [Mana Lv.4]

Overall evaluation: A Chuunibyou who has fallen to the dark side due to special circumstances.

Getting involved with him is unwise.

+

Most of the Chuunibyou[1] that appeared in Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse couldn’t handle

the nightmare of their new reality, and committed suicide. But Kim Namwoon was different.

The ‘Delusional Demon’.

The young man called Kim Namwoon would later be known by that nickname- and he was no

ordinary chuunibyou. He had waited so long for the world to come crashing down, that he managed

to adapt to a new one with abnormal speed.

“Let’s team up. What do you say?”

Now, that same young man was making me an offer.

[The character Kim Namwoon has some favorability towards you.]

[Your understanding of the character Kim Namwoon has increased.]

Teaming up with him now would guarantee my survival. If I hadn’t read TWSA, perhaps my decision

might have been different.

“Sorry, I like working alone.”

“Really? That’s a shame.”

Namwoon clicked his tongue as he stepped closer.

“Well then, mind moving aside? I’ve got some business with that old lady back there.”

I threw a glance behind me upon hearing him mention the old lady. The elderly woman lay on the ground,

barely breathing, her body covered in blood.

“You’re not going to catch an insect?”

“Insect? Why would I bother with something like that?”

Namwoon grinned darkly.

“The bug I caught is right here.”

His killing instinct before me was palpable. A character I’d only ever encountered through words on a page, had come alive to face me with very real mania. Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t help but I couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder.

Namwoon really was exactly the person I imagined him to be.

[Your favorability with the character Kim Namwoon has dropped slightly.]

“What are you looking at? Move out of the way.”

“That’s a tough ask.”

“What?”

“I can’t let you pass.”

“Haha, all of a sudden you feel like playing the hero? Got a split personality or something?”

I didn’t answer. A shadow slowly descended over Namwoon’s face, and the friendliness in his eyes turned cold.

“Wait, hold on a second. Were you planning this from the start when you threw the insect case? For real?”

“...”

“To save that old lady? Hahaha! No way! Are you serious?”

I didn’t respond. Being up close to him made me vividly recall how I felt about this character while reading TWSA.

“This is rich. Turns out you’re exactly the type of person I hate the most. Adults really are all bastards.”

All those times this bastard had driven me crazy while I read TWSA came flooding back.

[The character Kim Namwoon now despises you.]

“I said move!”

I ducked my head, timing it just right. His fist flew toward me before his words even finished.

“Oh, you’re fast.”

Even though I dodged it, I could still feel the heat from his fist above my head. It wasn’t an ordinary punch.

[Grimdark Awakening Lv.1]

A dark aura radiated from Kim Namwoon’s entire body. It was a skill unique to his Chuunibyou attribute.

Normally, it was rare for someone to unlock a skill before the end of the first scenario, but Namwoon had already manifested his ability. There was a reason the protagonist had recruited him despite his psychopath-like tendencies.

Thwack!

Pain shot through my shoulder, which had been struck by his blow. If I fought him now, there was no chance I’d win.

…Should I use that now?

While I was calculating my options, another message sounded.

[Your understanding of the character Kim Namwoon has increased.]

[You have met the conditions to activate the exclusive skill Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Stage 1.]

Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint?

What the hell was this?

[The conditions to activate the exclusive skill Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Stage 1 have been fulfilled!]

With a loud crash, Kim Namwoon’s fist slammed into the floor.

“Haha, damn! I’m pretty strong, aren’t I?”

A faint fist mark was left on the floor of the subway car. Namwoon was beginning to realize his strength. Each punch was powerful enough to shatter bones, and they kept coming. Growing frustrated, Namwoon shouted out.

“Why won’t you just get hit?!”

Of course, I wouldn’t get hit. All thanks to my second skill.

[The exclusive skill Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Stage 1 has been activated!]

The moment the skill activated, I could clearly see the direction of Namwoon’s attacks, as if I could read his mind. For instance:

「Right side, ribs.」

I swiftly ducked and sidestepped into his blind spot.

「Right eye.」

I bent at the waist, narrowly dodging his fist as it sailed past my face.

“Damn it, stop dodging everything!”

My weak physical abilities meant I couldn’t counterattack, but at least I could avoid his blows.

「Left thigh.」

As I dodged yet another attack, I realized I could keep this up. My primary goal was to buy time. I glanced at the clock hovering in the air.

“Two minutes left, kid.”

Namwoon’s eyes darted between me and the elderly woman.

“Shit...!”

Finally, in his moment of desperation, his gaze locked onto the old lady. I had no choice but to roll over and shield her with my body.

If she died, Namwoon would clear the scenario. There was no way I could let someone like him advance to the next stage.

“Haha, I knew it! I knew you’d move like that!”

I felt a sinking feeling. Namwoon was pulling something out of his bag. Under the harsh fluorescent lights, I saw the gleam of a blade. It was a portable multi-tool knife.

I had forgotten about this. Of course, Namwoon was a hardcore military otaku.

Shiiiik!

He had combined his skill [Knife Fighting] with [Grimdark Awakening], making his attacks even more deadly. I knew exactly where the blade was aimed.

「Heart.」

It was an attack I couldn’t avoid. I had to think fast. If dodging wasn’t an option, then I had to minimize the damage. The blade narrowly missed my heart but sliced deeply into my shoulder.

The pain was intense. Unbearably intense.

I hadn’t known that such a burning sensation could exist. My vision blurred as I teetered on the edge of consciousness.

“Haha, die already!”

With only a minute and thirty seconds left in the scenario, I glanced at the old lady. I felt a pang of guilt. It looked like I had no other choice but to use that after all.

“Kim Namwoon, second year at Cheongil High School, let me ask you something.”

“...What?”

“Are insect eggs considered ‘life’ or not?”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the dead locust I had killed earlier. Its fat, swollen egg sac had been left intact.

With a sickening squelch, I squeezed the sac, breaking it open. My hand was now slick with fluid.

[You have killed a living being.]

[You have obtained 100 coins as a bonus.]

[You have killed a living being.]

[You have obtained 100 coins as a bonus.]

[You have killed a living being.]

[You have obtained 100 coins as a bonus….]

A flood of notifications echoed in my ears.

Namwoon frowned.

“Eggs? What the hell are you talking about? Are you stalling for time?”

“Something like that.”

“How the hell would I know? I always slept through biology class.”

He looked amused, glancing at my blood-soaked shoulder.

“But there’s one thing I know for sure. Do you want to hear it?”

“What?”

“I’m about to put you to sleep, for good!”

Before I could answer, Kim Namwoon lunged at me again with the multi-tool knife. It was another strike I couldn’t avoid.

[You have acquired a large number of coins! Would you like to view the coin usage guide?]

I ignored the messages blaring in my ears. I already knew what they were about.

“No, you’re the one who’s going to die.”

I muttered under my breath as I made a decision.

[You have invested 2,700 coins in Constitution.]

[Constitution Lv.1 → Constitution Lv.10]

[Your Constitution level has greatly increased!]

[Your body’s endurance has significantly improved!]

Namwoon’s blade thrust toward my heart. Or rather, it seemed like it did.

The knife skidded off my chest, as if it had hit a slab of stone, leaving only a shallow scratch. Namwoon’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“How the hell?!”

“I’ll give you the answer to that question I asked earlier. The answer is, ‘Yes, eggs are life.’”

“What… what are you talking about?”

“Locusts can lay over a hundred eggs at a time.”

Eggs. Living beings. Hundreds of them.

Unfortunately, Namwoon didn’t have enough time left to understand the significance of those words.

“What the hell are you saying?”

“I didn’t expect you to get it. Now, there’s only one minute left.”

Finally, fear crept onto Namwoon’s face.

“Ugh! I’ll kill you! I’m going to kill you!”

The multi-tool knife came slashing toward my neck. This time, I didn’t bother blocking it.

Crack!

The blade bit into my skin, leaving a deeper mark than before. But still, it didn’t hurt that much.

“Kim Namwoon.”

I saw the other passengers still frantically fighting over the remaining insects in the background. They were willing to tear each other apart just to survive.

“You were right earlier. I’m just like you.”

These were people I might have been able to save.

“Damn it! Why won’t you die? Why can’t I kill you?!”

55 seconds. 50 seconds. 45 seconds.

The knife slashed again and again, but only shallow cuts were left behind. I bled, but the blade never pierced deeper than my skin. At 30 seconds, Namwoon finally stopped. He dropped the knife and fell to his knees in front of me.

“Please, please spare me.”

25 seconds.

“Please, I’m begging you! Spare me!”

“Why should I?”

20 seconds.

“Human life is important! That’s just common sense, right?!”

“That’s the law of the old world. Didn’t you say this new world would have new laws?”

10 seconds.

“No! I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die! Aaaargh!”

With only 5 seconds left, Kim Namwoon screamed and made one last desperate attempt to stab me in the eyes.

The knife was just about to pierce my retinas when—

[The time limit has expired.]

With a series of dull pops, Kim Namwoon’s head exploded.

[Fee collection has begun.]

One by one, the heads of the passengers around me began to burst, starting with Kim Namwoon’s. Like fireworks announcing the start of a new era, their heads popped in quick succession.

One, two, three, four…

I watched it all unfold with a mixture of relief, guilt, and a strange sense of detachment.

Why?

Why was I able to remain so calm, even as I watched this scene?

[You have massacred a total of 124 living beings.]

[Massacre report: 1 grasshopper, 123 grasshopper eggs]

[Due to the killing of living beings incapable of resistance, the resultant earnings have been halved.]

[Coin balance: 6,200C]

[Coins used to level up stats will be automatically deducted.]

[Coin balance: 3,500C]

[Due to your large-scale massacre, you have attained the Mass Murderer achievement.]

I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the subway’s dark window.

It was a face I had never seen before, not in all the mirrors I had looked into throughout my life.

I rubbed at the bloodstains near my cheek, but the red didn’t come off. I realized then that the blood was on the glass, not on my face.

The train swayed, and then, with a loud clattering, it began to move again. Light streamed in through the windows, and the darkness outside gave way to the scenery of Seoul as we crossed the above-ground section of Line 3 between Apgujeong and Oksu Station.

The sight that greeted us outside was no longer the Seoul we knew.

Ruins stretched out before us, covered in smoke and dust.

The bridges over the Han River had collapsed.

The blood-red river was littered with the bodies of soldiers, while monstrous creatures crushed K1 tanks like they were children’s toys between the fallen skyscrapers.

[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value has ended.]

[You have obtained 300 coins as the base clear reward.]

[100 coins have been deducted for the channel usage fee.]

[Additional rewards are now being calculated.]

One world had ended, and a new one had been born.

And I…

I was the only reader who knew how this world’s story would end.

Footnotes:

[1] Chuunibyou / Chūnibyō (中二病) is a Japanese colloquial term typically used to describe early teens who have grandiose delusions, who desperately want to stand out, and who have convinced themselves that they have hidden knowledge or secret powers. It translates to "middle-school syndrome" (i.e., middle-school second-year).

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