Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint (Web Novel KR)

[Constellation, ‘Sneaking Schemer,’ warns you.]
[Constellation, ‘Sneaking Schemer,’ glares coldly at ‘Yoo Joonghyuk.’]

An alarm rang in my head.
Meeting Yoo Joonghyuk right here, right now?
Where were Lee Hyunsung? Yoo Sangah? Lee Gilyoung and Han Myungoh?

Or… did they even exist at all?
The moment I met Yoo Joonghyuk’s piercing eyes, a chilling sense crept over me.
「Originally, Cheon Inho was not the one meant to encounter Yoo Joonghyuk here.」

I barely kept my composure.
A sidelong glance told me Jung Heewon, Gyeong Sein, and Uncle Dansoo were still unconscious.
The only way out was through words.
Thankfully, if the opponent was Yoo Joonghyuk, I had plenty of material to work with.

Early Yoo Joonghyuk was surprisingly naïve at times; if worst came to worst, I could bluff like Kim Dokja—claim to be a prophet and talk my way out.
“Answer me. Why are you loitering here?”
But the moment I heard those words from Yoo Joonghyuk, something felt off.

First, my eyes fell to the weapon in his hand.
A spear, looking as if it had been carved from a beast’s bone.
A shiver ran down my spine.

「The Yoo Joonghyuk of the 3rd regression does not use a spear.」
Without hesitation, I triggered Character List.
[Activating ‘Character List’!]

[Exclusive skill, ‘Character List,’ is active!]
[There is too much information regarding this character. ‘Character List’ is converting to ‘Summary List.’]
With a wave of dizziness, Yoo Joonghyuk’s information unfolded before me.

Name: Yoo Joonghyuk
… (omitted) …
Exclusive Skills: [Eye of the Sage Lv.9], [Close-Combat Lv.10], [Weapon Polishing Lv.10], [Mental Barrier Lv.6], [Crowd Control Lv.7], [Deduction Lv.7], [Lie Detection Lv.7] …

The endless skill list itself wasn’t what shook me.
It was when I saw Yoo Joonghyuk’s Attributes and his Regression Count.
My mind went blank.

「How is this even possible?」
Only one thought remained.
「Staying here means death.」
And then—

“So you met Anna Croft in the Chungmuro Tunnel. You must have recalled memories from the previous round…”
I dumbly stared at him.
What the hell was he saying?

“Cheon Inho, why did you come here? If your memories returned, then you must also remember our promise.”
My head spun.
What the hell was this guy talking about?

When I didn’t answer, Yoo Joonghyuk’s face hardened.
“Why are you seeking me out? Do you regret our promise now?”
This was a crisis.

There was no mention of anything like this in Ways of Survival. Not even in the side-story, Methods of Annihilation.
[You wish to take an unexpected action.]
[Exclusive skill, ‘□□,’ has met activation conditions.]

Then I had to try every option available. Especially if the opponent was Yoo Joonghyuk.
[Your creativity is depleted. Entry to the ‘Snowfield’ is impossible.]
[You may accept a penalty to enter the ‘Snowfield’ once more.]

[If you accept, you will be unable to re-enter for the rest of the day.]
[Enter the ‘Snowfield’?]
I hesitated.
This would be the last chance today?

‘Do not enter.’
In the end, I canceled the skill.
There might be a bigger crisis later; I couldn’t waste it here.

For now, I had to trust my tongue.
I inhaled deeply, then began.
“Do you really think I came here because of some petty promise?”

For a moment, I sensed Yoo Joonghyuk falter. I pressed forward brazenly.
“I was just checking if there were any items nearby worth picking up. You thought I’d actually come looking for you first? How naïve.”
I rummaged through the Poison Rhinoceros’s corpse as I spoke.

A grade 7 beast species.
If I could harvest parts of this corpse, it would be immensely useful in the early stages.
“You…”

A sidelong glance showed Yoo Joonghyuk glaring at me with contempt.
But strangely—it wasn’t pure «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» contempt.
“Even across regressions, you never change. Still the same piece of trash.”

The bastard was smirking faintly.
Hope flickered in my chest.
“You flatter me.”

When I began cutting off the smaller horn of the rhinoceros, Yoo Joonghyuk snapped.
“That’s mine.”
“Surely you don’t mind me taking the smaller horn.”

“Were you always greedy for even scraps like this?”
I winced—too late now.
“Unlike some people, I wasn’t strong from the start.”

A peculiar look crossed his face.
“This round truly is strange. Even back in the first scenario…”
“What happened?”

“None of your concern.”
“What about Lee Hyunsung and Kim Namwoon? Why aren’t they with you?”
At that, his gaze turned icy.

“Don’t overstep, Cheon Inho. Do you think you’re a true comrade? Don’t forget what happened in the last round.”
Confusion deepened.
First he spoke of promises, then denied comradeship.

So what exactly was I to him?
“Don’t forget the task you were given. Don’t make me regret recruiting trash like you.”
His murderous glare made my eyes instinctively drop.

So even my slanted gaze was forced down.
“Thank you for your harsh words.”
“Your tongue is sharper than last round. Enough stalling—go back. You have a job to do.”

Leaving those words, Yoo Joonghyuk harvested several key parts from the rhinoceros, then turned toward the tunnel.
“Don’t come to me until your task is done. Linger near me again, and I’ll kill you.”
Watching him walk away step by step, I couldn’t believe it.

「I survived.」
Relief surged belatedly.
I’d lived. Somehow, I’d fooled Yoo Joonghyuk.

Then came a rustle at my side. Jung Heewon had stirred awake, slowly pushing herself up a few steps away.
“Ugh… hurts… Inho-ssi, are you okay? You’re not badly hurt, are you?”
Just as I started toward her, Yoo Joonghyuk’s footsteps suddenly halted in the dusty air.

“Strange.”
My heart dropped.
“Having a woman like that at your side… That wasn’t part of the plan.”

Chills ran from head to toe. On the ruined bridge, Yoo Joonghyuk’s frigid eyes locked onto me.
I forced composure.
“What does it matter who I travel with?”

Without reply, Yoo Joonghyuk turned back and walked toward me.
A creeping sense of dread surged.
Now.

[You wish to take an unexpected action.]
[Describe your own action.]
[Consume 5 Probability Points.]

[Exclusive skill, ‘□□,’ has met activation conditions.]
My writer’s instincts screamed. If I didn’t use it now, I’d die.
[You consume your last entry into the ‘Snowfield.’]

[You incur a Probability Penalty.]
[You have entered the ‘Snowfield.’]
[Please describe Cheon Inho’s next action.]

Cheon Inho’s Death
「Then, Cheon Inho □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□…….」
Current proficiency allows up to 150 characters of narration.

[You are under penalty.]
[You may remain in the ‘Snowfield’ for 2 minutes.]
The scene title was horrific.

Cheon Inho’s Death.
I quickly wrote a line about Cheon Inho persuading Yoo Joonghyuk with brilliant rhetoric, overcoming the crisis and even becoming a comrade.
[You have written an implausible narration.]

[Probability of realization is below 1%.]
[You lack the necessary Probability.]
[Reader feedback incoming.]

+
rlaehrwk37: As if Yoo Joonghyuk would ever take Cheon Inho as a real comrade.
+

So it really was impossible.
I played my hidden card.
「Then Cheon Inho said, ‘Yoo Joonghyuk. You need reliable comrades. You know you can’t clear the 46th scenario alone…’」 (147 chars)

Even as I wrote it, I felt this would work—because these were Kim Dokja’s words in the original.
A guaranteed cheat code.
[Content unfit for this character.]

[Probability of realization: 3%.]
[You lack the necessary Probability.]
[Reader feedback incoming.]

+
rlaehrwk81: Did he forget who he is?
rlaehrwk37: Cheon Inho has his own life.

+
Right. Lee Hakheon has his own life. Then I’d try to write as myself.
「Then Cheon Inho said, ‘Actually, my name isn’t Cheon Inho—it’s Kim Dokja. I read every novel you appeared in…’」 (149 chars)

[Nonsensical narration.]
[Probability of realization: 0.01%.]
「Then Cheon Inho said, ‘Respected Yoo Joonghyuk-nim, please take me as your subordinate!’」 (148 chars)

[Mediocre narration.]
[Probability of realization: 3%.]
「Then Cheon Inho said, ‘Actually, I’m a prophet…’」 (147 chars)

[Impossible narration.]
[The ‘Snowfield’ begins doubting your talent.]
[Probability of realization: 1%.]

Maybe this was the end of Lee Hakheon’s road.
[10 seconds remain.]
I recalled Ji Eunyu’s advice.

「Right now, what is Yoo Joonghyuk’s desire?」
I closed my eyes, thought hard—and realized.
[Scene realization failed.]

There was no way I could know. I couldn’t even understand his words, let alone his desire.
[Exiting the ‘Snowfield.’]
[Your creativity is exhausted. You cannot re-enter the ‘Snowfield’ today.]

Color returned to the world. Yoo Joonghyuk resumed walking.
I swallowed hard, observing him. Failure didn’t mean the end—not yet.
“This round, there have been strange ones from the start.”

His chilling voice echoed through the cold night air.
“In past rounds they were nobodies. But now, suddenly, they approach me spouting strange things.”
I understood now what he meant.

Wait—could it be?
“They speak of needing comrades for the 46th scenario, claim to be prophets…”
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.

Yoo Joonghyuk smirked oddly.
“One even claimed he’d take me to the end of this world.”
“Inho-ssi, get back.”

Sensing danger, Jung Heewon stepped in front of me with her Earth Mole Knife.
The next moment, Yoo Joonghyuk vanished.
The hairs on my nape rose. A rush of wind, a whisper from death itself. Words I could not answer, the uncompromising language of slaughter.

[Character ‘Jung Heewon’ activates ‘Swordsmanship Lv.1’!]
But Jung Heewon answered.
A sharp clang rang out as blinding sparks erupted.

Her sword trembled under the force of Yoo Joonghyuk’s spear.
“A swordsmanship of demon-slaying… You’re similar to Lee Jihye.”
“Inho-ssi! Who the hell is this guy?”

Watching blood drip from Yoo Joonghyuk’s spear, dread washed over me.
I wanted to ask—what happened to those so-called prophets who approached you?
“Cheon Inho.”

He fixed his gaze on me.
“Are you truly Cheon Inho?”
[Character ‘Yoo Joonghyuk’ activates ‘Lie Detection Lv.7’!]

Level 7—Lie Detection.
This might be my last chance.
[Exclusive skill, ‘Incitement Lv.3,’ activates strongly!]

「I am Cheon Inho.」
Lie Detection primarily read body language.
Meaning, if my acting was flawless, there was still a chance.

“If I’m not Cheon Inho, then who is? What are you doing right now?”
My heart pounded.
Moments later—

[Character ‘Yoo Joonghyuk’ has confirmed your words as truth.]
Yes. He had to believe.
But Yoo Joonghyuk’s expression twisted.

“Lie Detection isn’t always perfect. In the last round, even you fooled it without [Poker Face].”
“……”
“Cheon Inho. What was the first task you were meant to accomplish?”

My throat went dry.
“That…”
If I answered wrong, I’d be caught by Lie Detection.

Should I invoke Incitement again? Or—
Yoo Joonghyuk studied me with unreadable eyes, then said:
“I’ll give you a chance.”

His spear sang, knocking Jung Heewon’s sword high into the air.
As she reached for it, the spear moved again.
It was over in an instant.

Blood burst from Jung Heewon’s knees as she collapsed forward.
Yoo Joonghyuk’s left hand shot out.
“—!”

Clutching her throat, he was suddenly at the edge of the bridge.
He looked back at me.
“What I need is the great villain Cheon Inho—the ‘Deceiver of Stars,’ the ‘Sophist of Malice.’”

Why Cheon Inho had such grand titles, I had no idea. But Yoo Joonghyuk’s intent was clear.
“If you’re truly the Cheon Inho I know, then prove it.”
Slowly, his grip tightened.

Jung Heewon’s face drained of color as she struggled. Below her, the nightmare of the Han River unfolded, the River Dragon roaming its depths.
Yoo Joonghyuk asked:
“Is this woman your comrade?”

He was testing me.
Testing whether I was the Cheon Inho he remembered.
Jung Heewon’s eyes trembled as they met mine.

Perhaps… there was only one way to save her.
「To willingly become the villain the protagonist desired.」
I closed and reopened my eyes. The frigid night air filled my lungs, and I felt like someone else entirely.

[Exclusive skill, ‘Incitement Lv.3,’ activates strongly!]
[Resonance with Possessed Character increases rapidly!]
“One thing I’ll say with certainty.”

I curved my lips into a vile smile and whispered as though confessing a secret.
“I have no comrades.”
Disappointment flashed in Jung Heewon’s eyes.

Yoo Joonghyuk nodded.
“You are indeed Cheon Inho.”
A breath of relief escaped me.

This was the right answer.
I was sure of it.
“Then this woman’s death won’t matter.”

What?
His hand opened, and Jung Heewon’s body plunged.
Summoning every ounce of strength left in my legs, I hurled myself after her.

“So you weren’t Cheon Inho after all.”
The world spun, and both Jung Heewon and I tumbled into the void beneath the bridge.
A frigid wind scraped my cheek; the stench of the river filled my nose.

As the dizzying sight spun around me, I saw Yoo Joonghyuk’s figure staring down from above.
So in the end, you let go. You bastard.
Then the icy waters of the Han River swallowed me whole, and darkness consumed my vision.

And a message rang out.
[Dokkaebi ‘Bihyung’ has agreed to form a ‘Stream Contract’ with you.]