Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint – Side Story - Chapter 5
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Chapter 5: Rewrite (3)
“What kind of nonsense is this all of a sudden?”
The big guy was the first to react to my declaration.
With my extensive experience in writing Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, I possess unparalleled expertise in handling situations like this.
Mirroring Kim Dokja’s manner, I conveyed my words.
“You’ve put up quite a fight against the unyielding wall. But now, you can stop. You probably realized by now, but you can’t escape from here using that method.”
“What? How do you know that?”
“Don’t turn away from reality.”
Meeting my gaze, the big guy hesitated and shook his head.
“I’m telling you this if you don’t truly want to die.”
A cold ambiance, akin to someone dousing everyone with cold water, permeated the crowd.
[The constellations were surprised by your statement.]
[The exclusive trait effect is strongly activated.]
[Your influence in this scenario area subtly strengthens.]
Is this the character’s trait?
Surprisingly, it’s not that bad, is it?
“It might be wise to listen to this friend. It seems like he knows something about the situation.”
Just as the old man chimed in at the right moment, people looked this way in anticipation.
Seizing the moment when anticipation replaced hesitation in the air, I continued speaking.
“Now that you all probably understand, this is a real situation. It’s not a movie shoot or a dream. The police and the military won’t come running. You could really die at the blink of an eye. However, if you listen to me, everyone here might make it out unharmed.”
Finally, interest was piqued, and people gathered hesitantly.
Around ten people, roughly.
Not a bad start.
A young man in the front row asked,
“Who are you, sir? A soldier? Police Officer?”
“Once upon a time, yes.”
At my words, the restlessness among the people intensified.
Since I had been a sergeant in the army before my honorable discharge, it wasn’t a lie.
The butler, who had been observing from a distance, approached.
“Do you really know something about this situation?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Explaining in detail wouldn’t make much sense. Honestly, whatever explanation I give wouldn’t be easily accepted. If I suddenly say that the gods are angry with human sins and have sent a trial, would you believe me?”
I casually gave an example, and the butler, with widened eyes, mumbled,
“Sins… trial…?”
Seems like I touched the wrong switch.
The big guy who was eavesdropping on the conversation got angry.
“Are you kidding right now?”
Normally, I would have been intimidated by such a gruff attitude.
But today’s Lee Hakyun was a bit special.
“Anyway, those who want to listen to me, listen. And those who don’t, you can go over there and keep staring at the wall. Honestly, I don’t care if only this gentleman and I survive.”
If Kim Dokja witnessed this level of audacity, he might have been impressed.
Whether my persuasion worked or not, some people began discussing with each other.
The most active was the butler.
“Everyone, let’s hear him out.”
“Agreed. If we’re going to live, we should all live together.”
As the atmosphere gradually shifted in my favor, the big guy glared at me, biting his lips.
By the way, when the old man was getting beaten up, it was ‘reasonable,’ but now, we all need to survive together?
I took a deep breath and started the conversation.
“Something unimaginable in our common sense has happened. Suddenly, we’re trapped inside a transparent wall and receive a ‘scenario.’ First, we need to acknowledge this situation as real. Do you agree with that?”
Initially hesitant, people nodded in agreement as they processed the information.
I continued,
“If we don’t clear this scenario, we will die.”
“Really, to the point of death? Even if it’s so—”
“At this moment, you have to believe that. It’s just that surreal of a situation. It’s better to be wrong and live than to misjudge and die. Have you checked the scenario clearing conditions?”
“To kill one or more life forms…”
As people who made eye contact awkwardly distanced themselves, I took a step forward.
“Gathering humans and being told to kill life forms may sound like telling us to kill each other. But there’s a trap in that statement.”
“What trap?”
Looking at the big guy repeating the same question, I chuckled.
“You could have just said ‘kill humans.’ ”
The hesitant individuals widened their eyes.
“Then the solution is…”
“It’s simple. Find other life forms that can be killed.”
Saying this, I forcefully hit the vending machine and pointed at the cockroach that emerged from below.
“Ah!”
People realized something and gasped.
I nodded.
“If everyone collaborates, we can quickly gather insects.”
“Let’s do it right now!”
“Let’s all try to tip over the vending machine!”
Now, people stuck to the vending machine instead of the invisible wall.
Maybe because a tangible entity emerged, unlike the accursed wall, a revived energy reflected in their expressions.
“Push!”
With a spirited push, the vending machine tilted, and amidst the sound of its interior shaking, a canned beverage fell.
However, no one reached for the drink.
“Once more!”
The vending machine wobbled and, soon enough, a breaking sound echoed.
Subsequently, bugs tumbled from inside the vending machine.
“They’re out! Catch them!”
I shouted to the people rushing forward,
“When you catch a bug, don’t kill it, show it to me first!”
“Why?!”
Despite the wary gazes from the people, I steadfastly explained,
“We need to check if it’s carrying eggs.”
“Eggs?”
“Eggs might be recognized as life forms. Then, if we find just one, everyone can survive.”
“Ah…”
“Keep in mind that other people’s lives depend on your hands. Only by helping each other can we all survive.”
After exchanging quick glances, people took off their shoes and socks and started catching bugs.
Some used bags or fists to strike the vending machine, while others grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher to hit it.
The big guy who used to be hostile towards me also joined the ranks and pushed the vending machine with us.
Approaching me with discretion, the reader’s uncle, Mr. Kim, the father of the girl who held affection for me, inquired,
“Are you okay?”
“And you, sir?”
“I’m fine.”
We watched the busy individuals around us.
The reader uncle, wiping blood from his lips, remarked,
“They’ve decided to save everyone.”
The sight of people, determined to kill bugs to survive, was something.
This would likely change the history of Geumho Station.
Those who planned to kill others and survive had now decided to kill bugs and live.
Perhaps even the big guy, who wasn’t in the original ORV.
“Is it because of me?”
The reader uncle seemed burdened with guilt, bowing his head.
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With this change, the development of the ORV would alter, and we would face an unknown future.
I lightly placed my hand on the reader uncle’s shoulder and said,
“Don’t think like that. This was the plan from the beginning.”
One by one, people who had captured bugs increased.
Even the housekeeper, who had already secured his share of bugs, was among them.
“Thanks to you, sir. I’m grateful.”
“No need.”
Perhaps this housekeeper was originally destined to die as well.
Thinking about it brought a strange sense of guilt.
How many people had died in the novel I wrote?
[Character ‘Kim Cheolyang ‘ is starting to trust you.]
Suddenly, the inner thoughts of a character reached me.
My heart raced.
Finally, the anticipated moment had come.
Indeed, it was the special skill that came with being the protagonist.
[Exclusive skill, ‘Character List,’ has been unlocked.]
[Character List].
A skill to view information about the characters.
It was a skill that the protagonist Kim Dokja also possessed in ORV.
As a test, I decided to use the skill on the housekeeper.
[Exclusive skill, ‘Character List,’ activated!]
[Character Information]
Name: Kim Cheolyang
Age: 27
Constellation: None (Currently no Constellation showing interest).
Exclusive Traits: Crouched Figure (Normal), Seed of Interest (Normal)
Exclusive Skill: [Irrational Devotion Lv.2], [Cognitive Dissonance Lv.3]
Overall Stats: [Health Lv.1], [Strength Lv.2], [Agility Lv.2], [Magic Power Lv.3]
Overall Evaluation: Kim Cheolyang believes his faith is being tested. He aspires to be a recognized leader but struggles with his inherent nature, remaining deeply crouched.
Character Kim Cheolyang.
The name sounded familiar, and I recalled having noted the character Kim Cheolyang somewhere.
However, among over ten thousand notes, it was one of the discarded settings, and detailed information didn’t come to mind.
Nevertheless, for an extra character, the exclusive traits were quite intriguing.
‘Crouched Figure.’
Originally, in the main story of ORV, the character with the ‘Crouched Figure’ trait was Jung Heewon.
Depending on certain circumstances, this trait had the potential to become one of the ‘Top 100 Strongest in the Annihilation Method.’
Was Kim Cheolyang an undiscovered remarkable individual?
He, unaware of my thoughts, continued to chatter.
“It’s really fortunate to meet you during the outdoor preaching time… Brother, this might be the end of days, just as you say. Surely, even God is watching over us.”
He’s probably watching very attentively. Every time a head explodes, he’s likely grabbing popcorn and enjoying it.
“Despite that, thanks to your help, things seem to be going quite smoothly—”
“Shh.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, I felt like I knew why this character had been discarded.
How dare he say things were going ‘smoothly?’
In ‘ORV,’ that line is a trigger.
-Hooo
Darn, as expected.
-Looks like there’s someone here with a clever mind too
The message came from Bihyung.
Instead of the official channel, he chose one-on-one dokkaebi communication for his statement.
It was an ominous sign.
There wasn’t such a development even in the main story of ‘ORV.’
―Don’t make it obvious, just listen. I’m telling you because it’s fun to do it.
Swiftly lowering my gaze and pretending to be indifferent, I chuckled.
Bihyung seemed satisfied with my reaction.
―I understand what you’re thinking, but it’s better to make good judgments. The constellations don’t like those who scheme too much.
It seemed Bihyung’s goal was personal curiosity.
Perhaps he didn’t like what I was up to.
I laughed, looking at the empty space where Bihyung might be.
Just a low-ranking dokkaebi, what could you possibly know?
I know much better than you do what the constellations like.
―Sometimes it’s wise not to think too hard.
That was the end of Bihyung’s words.
“I found it! I found one more here!”
“We still need a lot more. The remaining people—”
“Trash can! Let’s check near the trash can too!”
The trapped group consisted of exactly twenty-two people.
To survive, they needed to secure at least twenty-two bugs.
“I found one!”
“Take one from here!”
Even those who had already caught bugs were helping others catch bugs.
It was a rather touching scene.
It was hard to believe these were the same people who once fought over food in the main story of ‘ORV’.
From a distance, a bulky individual who had caught a large cockroach smiled broadly and waved towards me.
“Hey, is this okay too? It’s a living being, right?”
I nodded approvingly.
[Current remaining time: 21 minutes.]
The bustling movements of the people noticeably slowed down.
Addressing the crowd, I asked,
“Is there anyone who hasn’t caught a bug yet?”
No one raised their hand.
The number of bugs caught matched the count of people trapped here—twenty-two in total.
It was a neat and optimal result without the need to search for bug eggs.
“Now, do we just kill these to get out of here?”
A sense of relief crossed the faces of the people.
A feeling of camaraderie emerged—surviving together without harming anyone.
After carefully confirming that each person had a bug in their hands, I nodded.
“Brothers and sisters! Let’s express our gratitude to our insect brethren for their sacrifice!”
With the proclamation from the caretaker, several people clapped their hands and then swiftly killed the bugs they had caught.
The tension seemed to ease a bit, and there were some frivolous questions.
“Can we step on them?”
“We don’t have to kill them with our hands, right? Just killing them is enough.”
When I said they could kill them however they wanted, people started squashing the bugs under their feet.
Squish!
Similar sounds echoed throughout the area.
Anxious that the bugs might escape, a bulky individual even used their foot to stomp on the bugs.
“Die! Die!”
I, too, retrieved the bug from my pocket.
A lifeless insect lay there, likely squished tightly while attempting to aid the old man.
Cheers erupted from the people.
Despite reservations about altering the course of Geumho Station’s development, witnessing the old man smiling faintly nearby made it feel acceptable.
Perhaps now the residents of ‘Geumho Station’ could embark on a wholly different journey from the narratives I had penned.
“Has anything changed, really? Is it over now?”
Someone expressed an uneasy concern.
“Did something happen?”
People inquired among themselves.
“Is it deceased? Does it exhibit robust vitality just because it’s an insect?”
A hefty figure questioned while crushing bugs in the corner.
It was impossible to find any traces on the sole of the athletic shoes, indicating how thoroughly the bugs were crushed.
Recalling the initial scenario in ‘ORV,’ I suddenly realized something eerie.
I asked the old man,
“Sir.”
“Yes?”
“Earlier, you exterminated a bug and received a system message.”
“Yes. It said the scenario was cleared.”
I pulled out the bug I had caught earlier from my pocket.
A bug whose time of death couldn’t be determined.
The body felt cold.
“I didn’t receive a system message.”
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