Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint (Web Novel KR)

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Side Story Begins
 

Thank you for your patience, everyone. I am finally ready to start writing the side story for "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint."
Although I've begun, I'm at a loss about what exactly to focus on. The original story wasn't planned with a prequel in mind. During my hiatus, your insightful comments on the last chapter amazed me—you all are truly geniuses.
On the other hand, I find myself utterly clueless, so much so that I haven't even decided on a main character yet. While the main story flowed seamlessly, now my thoughts are as jumbled as if someone had smacked me on the back of the head.

Nevertheless, I am writing this notice because it's customary to start with an announcement.
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.

.
I paused, hit backspace, and sighed. What am I doing? No matter the situation, this isn't what a professional writer should produce.
After biting my nails in frustration, I started typing a new sentence. Maybe I should start by introducing myself.
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.
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Now that I think about it, I've never formally introduced myself before. My identity was revealed in Chapter 549 of "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint," but I'm sure most of you have forgotten by now.

To use Kim Dokja's words, here's a little about me:
My name is Lee Hakhyun (李鶴翾). Inspired by the noble crane, my father named me with the hope that I would soar high and paid 300,000 won at a philosophy museum to secure this name for me. The museum, which later went out of business, named me Crane (鶴), light fly (翾). Only later did my father discover the hidden parenthesis in front of the word "fly," revealing the true meaning of hyun (翾) as 'to fly lightly.'
In summary I am:

Lee Hakhyun, 33 years old.
A moderately successful web novel writer.
For reference, here are the names of my notable works:

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint - 551 chapters by Lee Hakhyun
A comprehensive fantasy novel, spanning 551 chapters, colloquially known as "Omniscient Reader".
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.
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Realizing I had veered into a bio, I hit backspace again. It's terrible—I'm not even the main character; why introduce myself?

The ringing of my phone interrupted my thoughts.
—Dear Author.
Hearing that dreaded phrase from my dedicated editor, Ji Eunyoo, a seasoned PD, made my heart sink.

"Yes."
—You're working on ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the side story, right?
"No."
Ji Eunyoo, who has been in the industry for a long time, was the reason I ventured into writing pure literature—truly a lifesaver.

—What do you want to write?
"I don't know."
—You're not playing that new game, are you?

"I just installed it."
—Why are you on Steam then?
"It started automatically."

—No, I just got a notification you're playing a game.
I hastily closed the game that was loading.
"Do you really think I play just to play? I'm trying to get ideas."

—I used to believe that.
Ji Eunyoo shared a theory she developed over six years: writers who play games for inspiration tend to continue playing, even after gaining their ideas. I think she might be right.
—What about that idea you mentioned earlier?

"I tried to write it but couldn't."
—Didn't you consider doing a crossover with your previous works? We discussed it briefly.
I recalled the titles one by one:

『Orc Philosopher』
『Infinite Prisoner』
『System Breaker』
『Wizard of the Undying World』

『Method Master』
『How to Become a Famous Writer』...
However, linking those with my novel seemed impossible, especially "How to Become a Famous Writer," an outlandish story about becoming famous through possession by none other than me—Lee Hakhyun.

—They were fun though.
"That doesn't make me feel any better."
—Remember how you got drunk, went to the rooftop, and then came up with an idea? Maybe try that again?

"I already did."
—Any tingling sensation in the back of your head? Or perhaps a dream with Han Sooyoung?
I sighed, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry. In the novel, Yoo Joonghyuk hit me in the back of my head, and Han Sooyoung sent me a well-written novel. Nowadays, I almost wish it were real.

—Eh, I'm sorry.
Ji Eunyoo must be frustrated too. Every day we hear about the market crashing. Her management is struggling, people are leaving, and writers are jumping ship.
—There are still many readers waiting for your story.

"Where?"
It's a bit embarrassing, but "Omniscient Reader" was once a bestseller and well-received. I've seen the affectionate responses on various forums.
—Don't say that. It's true.

Where are they, though?
I swallowed that bubbling question.
"I'll do my best."

After hanging up, I realized I needed a drink. I closed my laptop and headed to the local convenience store, initially grabbing some potato chips but then opting for a protein biscuit instead—age demands such choices.
After checking out, I sipped my beer, recalling Ji Eunyoo's words:
 

「"There are a lot of readers waiting for your story."」
 
The above symbol (「」) signifies a special thought.

Am I still relevant to my readers?
I finished my beer and returned to the web novel platform, bombarded with notifications—a system message urging me to continue the series and announcements from fellow writers about their new serializations.
—I enjoyed it, author.

Notes from readers varied. A middle school student shared that it was their first web novel, while a military person said it was the best part of their life.
Three years have passed since then. Middle schoolers are now high school students, high schoolers are in college, military personnel are discharged, and job hunters are hopefully employed.
Despite their lives moving on, here I am, still the same, choosing protein biscuits over potato chips.

—That was fun, author.
An alarm startled me, and beer spilled. The platform had received a new message.
—Sender: RepresentativeKimDokja.

A familiar ID. During my series, this reader was highly active.
—It's been three years since I finished the novel. Each year I revisit it and enjoy it anew, discovering different aspects each time.
I used to say that.

This reader consistently sent appreciation notes.
—Do you remember?
Of course, those messages still pop up occasionally.

I remember frantically writing to meet deadlines, then staying up late to read feedback.
Without that support, the loneliness would have been unbearable.
Hesitant, I reached for the keyboard, wanting to respond personally for once.

—There's a small fan meeting tomorrow at 7pm. If you're free, please come. I'll have a special gift for you as a thank you.
A gift?
—I'm sorry, but there's a charge for entry. I need to make a living.

Suddenly, I remembered the prologue of "Omniscient Reader." Kim Dokja received a note from the author, tls123, stating the epilogue would be for a fee—a playful jest from a long-time reader.
I started drafting a response:
—Thank you, dear reader. However, I will accept only your heart as a gift. If there's a charge for entry, that's a purchase, not a gift, right? (Uhaha)

Should I omit the (uhaha)? Do people still use that?
Naively, I sipped my beer, unaware of what the next day would bring.
 

Author's Note:
This is a story from "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint," but it is not part of the main narrative. This tale still centers on Kim Dokja, though not exclusively for one.
Thank you for your patience. We now begin another chapter of "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint."

February 2023. Sing Shong.
[1] PD: Producer-Director. [2] I'm: Could also mean "author."