WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈
Chapter 664: Episode 20: Reader (6)
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The King of No Killing.
In the original work, it was a King Attribute possessed only by Kim Dokja and Selena Kim.
「Uncle Dansu had become The King of No Killing.」
An Attribute Dokja had possessed in the original work now belonged to Uncle Dansu.
I was glad he had survived, but a part of me also felt lonely.
What had Dokja become now?
Was he standing in that Snowfield?
Or was he still reading this story somewhere I didn't know?
What would he say if he were looking at this story now?
"Get a hold of yourself! It isn't over yet!"
At Killer King's shout, Uncle Dansu, who had come back to life, opened his eyes wide.
Killer King rushed over, grabbed Uncle Dansu around the waist, and rolled away with him.
With a thunderous crash, the poison dragon species's foot crushed the spot Uncle Dansu had occupied only moments ago.
"M-Mr. Inho! Where are you, Mr. Inho...?!"
Uncle Dansu searched for me, but I couldn't answer.
[You cannot activate First-Person Supporting Character's Viewpoint on this character.]
Perhaps because of the shock from earlier, I could no longer enter Uncle Dansu's body. From now on, he had to endure on his own.
"Inho Cheon hasn't woken up yet. We have to handle this ourselves."
No, he wasn't alone.
Three people here had read Dokja's story to the end.
As if voicing my thoughts, Killer King looked over his Allies.
"We aren't Dokja, but we each have at least one of Dokja's Attributes."
Killer King glanced at his younger sister and Uncle Dansu before adding, "Yerin has White Pure Star Energy. You have The King of No Killing. And I have Dokja's cool-headedness and information-gathering ability."
The last part was a little strange, but Killer King was definitely the only one we could rely on now.
"We can still do this."
The Allies were in terrible condition.
Yerin, who had vomited blood again and again, could barely stand, while Uncle Dansu, who had just come back to life, still hadn't fully regained his senses.
Even so, they didn't give up.
"That monster has already recovered a lot of Constitution."
Yerin spoke after catching her breath.
Perhaps devouring the petals of the red spider lilies earlier had taken effect. The poison dragon species that had seemed close to death was looking considerably better.
[The locations of the platforms will regenerate in 1 minute.]
Yerin bit her lip in frustration.
"We can't do it by ourselves."
Uncle Dansu wasn't a burst-damage dealer, and Yerin could no longer use Fighting Action Mode.
Killer King was the only one left to rely on.
Yet Killer King had also lost a great deal of Constitution, and he didn't have enough strength left to finish it properly.
"No. There's still a chance."
I agreed with Killer King. The Allies still had one more chance.
Thud.
The intermittent tremors beneath our feet since earlier were proof of that.
The poison dragon species, which had been glaring at the Allies, also seemed to notice something and cautiously looked around.
Another tremor rang out.
Then, with the sound of the labyrinth's edge collapsing, a monster resembling a black bull appeared.
[A Grade 6 guardian monster, Labyrinth Keeper, has appeared!]
It had the face of a minotaur and held an enormous execution axe in one hand.
It was the very monster Bang Cheolsu had warned us about before we entered the labyrinth.
Judging by the force it gave off, it was a high-ranking Grade 6 monster. Ordinary Incarnations would be split in two if that axe so much as grazed them.
Why it had been called here was obvious.
'Horn of Provocation.'
An item that provoked every type of beast species.
The horn I had used earlier had even drawn in the Labyrinth Keeper from the edge of the labyrinth.
Rooooar!
The Labyrinth Keeper let out a savage roar and forced its way through the barrier of the closed Area.
[A Grade 6 guardian monster, Labyrinth Keeper, has recognized the Calamity!]
[A Grade 5 poison dragon species, Lesser Dragon Poisoner, has recognized the Labyrinth Keeper.]
The two monsters' gazes collided in midair.
One was a vigorous Grade 6 species, while the other was a badly wounded Grade 5 species.
In that instant of tension, the Labyrinth Keeper charged first.
Its massive execution axe sank into the poison dragon species's wing scales, while the poison dragon species's long neck bit into the Keeper's forearm.
Rumble!
Amid the thick dust, the two monsters grappled and rolled across the ground.
[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is curious about the clash of the insignificant creatures.]
[Some Constellations are surprised by your ingenuity in arranging this battle.]
[Some Constellations that like monsters have sponsored you with 500 Coins.]
Killer King spoke in a grave voice.
"We've bought some time. But in the end, the Calamity will win."
In fact, the tide of the monsters' brawl was turning quickly.
The Labyrinth Keeper, which had seemed to hold the advantage, was soon covered in claw marks from the poison dragon species. Before long, green fluid began to seep from its wounds. The poison dragon species's venom was eating away at the Keeper from within.
"The wipeout attack will activate soon."
Even if the Labyrinth Keeper held on, the wipeout attack would activate in one minute.
That meant the Allies had to kill the Calamity somehow during this opening.
Wooooom.
Mana began gathering in Killer King's crossbow.
The abilities of Valkyrie's Blessing and the Red Fire Pill fused together, and the tip of the bolt began to glow red.
"I just need to land this one shot."
The three began approaching while the two beast species fought.
Their goal was to finish off both monsters, whose Constitution had fallen.
And I could only watch from behind them, unable to help.
I wanted to keep watching a little longer.
Even if I couldn't help them fight, I wanted to at least keep watching from afar.
「Perhaps Dokja was watching the world with this same feeling even now.」
But I had almost no time left.
[The time limit for third person observer's viewpoint is approaching.]
My physical body lying on the floor convulsed.
It was a body barely suppressing its mutation after consuming six Star Gems.
Once Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ended, I would be consumed by berserk again.
Even if the Calamity and the Keeper died, the fight wouldn't be over.
This battle would only end when someone gathered seven Star Gems.
"Mister."
I turned toward the voice.
As if she could see my soul, Yuseong was speaking to me.
"Should I help?"
A golden gleam shone in Yuseong's eyes.
[The character Shin Yuseong is activating Inter-Species Communication.]
"Tell me, Mister."
Yuseong's small hand rested over my chest. Through a faint light, her will was conveyed to me.
"If you say the word, Mister, I'll kill them all."
Now I understood.
Yuseong could really do it.
Because,
「The Shin Yuseong here didn't belong to this worldline.」
There was no doubt about it.
The Shin Yuseong who had entered Possession in the forty-first round was the Shin Yuseong from Kim Dokja Company that I knew.
But why was that Shin Yuseong trying to help me?
'No. Please don't.'
Yuseong flinched.
"Why not? Aren't they important people to you, Mister?"
'I don't want to see you die here.'
I remembered every sentence in this story.
I knew better than anyone what kind of place the Star Stream was and what the Plausibility Backlash was.
In the novel, Dokja defied Plausibility countless times and endured the backlash.
But Dokja could survive after doing such absurd things because he was the protagonist.
「If Shin Yuseong used her power now, Shin Yuseong would certainly disappear.」
'Please take out the pill in my pocket.'
Yuseong took the golden pill from my pocket.
The Lesser Restoration Pill.
It was medicine we had received as a reward after defeating the Dragon-Head Ark Master at Seoul Station.
'Will you feed it to me?'
Yuseong crushed the pill with her small hand and put it into my mouth.
As the pill's medicinal effect took hold, a little color returned to my pale face.
Yuseong asked in a trembling voice, "Mister, you aren't going to fight, are you? You can't in this condition. Your body is already..."
Thud.
The Labyrinth Keeper collapsed in the center of the open Area.
The monsters' fight had ended, and a victor had been decided.
The poison dragon species, which had torn out the Labyrinth Keeper's throat, roared into the air.
[A Grade 5 poison dragon species, Lesser Dragon Poisoner, is preparing Death's Red Spider Lily!]
Then the Allies moved.
Yerin, squeezing out the last of her Mana, cut Poisoner's ankle with White Pure Star Energy.
Uncle Dansu activated taming, summoned a swarm of cockroaches, and disrupted the poison dragon species's vision again.
As the Lesser Dragon staggered, lost its balance, and began to topple, Killer King aimed his crossbow.
"I'll finish this."
The bolt was wrapped in the abilities of the Red Fire Pill and Valkyrie's Blessing. On its tip rode the 503 Unit that Jophiel took such pride in.
The bolt shot out, leaving a red Thread behind it.
As if it had been waiting for that attack, the poison dragon species's head twisted at a bizarre angle.
Killer King had anticipated even that.
"Scatter."
The bolt exploded directly in front of the dragon's head, and the 503 Unit dispersed.
Shot out like grenade fragments, the 503 Unit burrowed into the Lesser Dragon's wounds with the energy of fire.
Pshhhhh!
Green droplets of blood burst from the dragon's entire body like fountains.
The poison dragon species let out a cry of pain.
Yet even after taking that attack, it didn't fall.
"...Was it not enough?"
Once again, I realized just how incredible Dokja had been when he hunted a fire dragon race.
Dokja had hunted alone a Minor Calamity that all of us together couldn't defeat.
"Everyone, fall back!"
As Breath poured from the poison dragon species's mouth, Killer King vomited blood as well.
The undigested Red Fire Pill rolled across the floor.
[A Grade 5 poison dragon species, Lesser Dragon Poisoner, has activated Death's Red Spider Lily!]
"Find the platforms! Hurry!"
Red spider lilies began blooming from the floor.
Despair flickered in Killer King's eyes.
Even if the Allies survived this turn, they no longer had any chance of winning.
Neither Uncle Dansu's Attribute, Yerin's Fighting Action Mode, nor Killer King's Stigma could kill that Calamity.
But,
「"Hak-hyeon."」
Maybe I could.
「"No matter what, this time, write a story that makes you happy."」
Dokja had said that.
A story that made me happy.
What kind of story did I want to write?
「Save me save me save me save me」
「"This Bang Cheolsu will now devote his one life to the Inho Faction."」
「"You did well, Huiwon."」
Was it a story for the extras who had been ignored in the main story?
「"Someone died. Someone died because of this story."」
Or was it a story where as many people as possible survived?
「"I'll stop this world's destruction."」
Or a story where the forty-first round wasn't destroyed?
「"Are you really Inho Cheon?"」
I didn't know.
Why, and for whom, was I continuing this story?
「"Why did I start writing novels?"」
Someone's voice suddenly came to mind.
It wasn't my memory.
It was a memory that seemed to flow from an origin older than me.
In that memory, Han Suyeong was speaking.
「"I don't know. I'll find out once I've written it all."」
I slowly clenched my fist.
Yuseong, noticing what I intended to do, grabbed my wrist.
"Mister, stop. Right now..."
Tststst...
The golden light faded from Yuseong's eyes.
In the end, the Star Stream had intervened.
It was expected.
It had been absurd enough that someone as powerful as Yuseong had intervened through Possession in an early Scenario.
I spoke inwardly to the collapsed Yuseong.
'Thank you.'
Yuseong had already done enough.
From now on, it was my part to play.
[The Exclusive Skill Incitement Lv. 9 has activated!]
'Get up, Inho Cheon.'
Right now, I was using Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint.
Although I was in soul form, I should still be able to use some Skills.
Tststst...
My limp physical body, Inho Cheon's body, twitched its fingers.
'Get up. Now.'
Incitement was a Skill that moved its target's unconscious mind.
Then perhaps even without my consciousness, my body could move.
[The power of the Star Gem is eroding your physical body.]
[Monsterization has occurred.]
[Rampage Stage 6 is consuming you.]
Because my soul was outside my body, I could move it without being affected by berserk.
Inho Cheon's body staggered to its feet.
But it didn't immediately take a step, as if resisting my will.
The pure power of Incitement wasn't enough.
So I decided to do what I always did.
[The subskill Sentence Enhancement has activated!]
[You can input your actions.]
[The actions you input will be enhanced.]
[The current enhancement stage is Stage 1.]
[You can raise the enhancement stage by investing additional Plausibility.]
[Current Plausibility: 480]
Writing sentences.
「Inho Cheon stood up.」
[10 Plausibility has been consumed.]
「The power of six Star Gems surged from Inho Cheon's entire body.」
[10 Plausibility has been consumed.]
「Inho Cheon began moving unsteadily.」
Every added sentence made my head feel as though it would split apart.
I didn't know how long I could maintain Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint.
Before my physical body awoke, before my consciousness fully returned, I had to finish this.
「With the sole goal of killing the poison dragon species.」
Inho Cheon's running body was gradually falling apart.
Signs of Monsterization appeared, and muscles burst open all over his body.
I heard the Allies shouting after noticing me.
I ignored them and kept moving my body.
「Inho Cheon risked his life.」
What happened to a soul that lost the body it had to return to?
Perhaps I would go to that Theater like the other readers.
Or perhaps I would disappear in the literal sense.
I was afraid, but not as afraid as before.
Was it because I had glimpsed death together with Uncle Dansu?
In the distance, I saw the Allies find the platforms.
Uncle Dansu, wearing a white coat, was shouting toward me.
Uncle Dansu wasn't Dokja.
Neither Killer King nor Yerin was Dokja, either.
But if they all joined forces, they could accomplish what Dokja could.
They could accomplish what I couldn't.
「They would see this world's conclusion.」
My body charged straight through the poison dragon species's incoming Breath and threw a punch.
The monstrous strength of six Star Gems burrowed directly into the poison dragon species's chest.
「Inho Cheon thought.」
I knew instinctively.
There was only one sentence I could write now.
Any more sentences would be more than Plausibility could bear.
And the words I would write had already been decided.
「It's over.」
Plausibility earned by risking my life.
Surely even the Star Stream would be satisfied with this much of a story.
[The Constellation Demonic Judge of Fire lets out a sigh.]
[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband opens his eyes wide!]
[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon cannot take his eyes off you.]
[The Constellation Naval Warfare God looks away.]
[A considerable number of Constellations are sincerely shocked by your choice.]
If I returned to the Snowfield, could I tell Dokja?
「It's over」
That this was the end of my story.
「It's」
For a moment, I felt as though time had stopped.
The scenery around me was becoming colorless.
Then,
「It's n」
The sentence before my eyes changed.
I blinked.
「It's not」
Something strange was happening.
Someone was changing my sentence right before my eyes.
「It's not over」
I stared at the sentence, then blankly repeated those words.
It wasn't over.
[Someone has edited your sentence.]
[Someone shares the burden of your Plausibility.]
Only then did I realize what was happening.
「"But, Writer. I know this is a meta novel, but..."」
A memory rose through the piercing headache.
「"Do readers really want to become Kim Dokja? Isn't that just your desire as a Writer?"」
In that memory, she was looking over the manuscript I had written.
「"So, as a reader, this is my opinion."」
Someone who perhaps understood this story better than I did.
「"Kim Dokja has to come back to life after all."」
My editor.
「"As the Kim Dokja we know."」
[Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint has been deactivated.]
With terrible pain, my soul was sucked back into Inho Cheon's body.
My heart raced, and my mind, swept up in the effects of berserk, shook precariously like a sailboat on rough waves.
[The Constellation Lotus Blooming under the Moon looks at you.]
With a deep breath, the terrible pain gradually subsided.
Someone was easing my pain.
Who was it?
I couldn't see their face.
"Writer."
Someone was holding me in their arms and speaking.
As my consciousness slowly drifted away, I heard that voice.
"Write it again."
"Yes," I answered.
Footnotes:
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