Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint (Web Novel KR)

My understanding of Yoo Joonghyuk had risen.
It wasn’t hard to figure out why.

It was probably the comments left by the little Kim Dokjas that somehow influenced me.
「Was Yoo Joonghyuk of the 41st regression really such a bad guy?」
The moment I read that one line, it felt like hundreds of circuits dormant in my head all lit up at once.

「“You’ve lost a valuable shield.”」
「“From now on, naval warfare will be harder.”」
The lines I had once written for Yoo Joonghyuk resurfaced. And indeed, in those sentences, he seemed closer to a villain than a hero.

Above all, Shin Yooseung from the 41st regression had shown deep disappointment in Yoo Joonghyuk.
But what about the Yoo Joonghyuk I glimpsed in the dream theater?
「“Marginalized groups, come out without fear. I’ll teach you how to get food from now on.”」

And what about the Yoo Joonghyuk I saw through Anna Croft in the 40th regression?
「“If the world were to repeat again, would you consider living a different life then?”」
Could such a Yoo Joonghyuk truly be branded as a villain?
Within the slowly flowing time of the Snowfield, I admitted that the words I had read and written were only fragments of Yoo Joonghyuk’s life. Even more so when it came to the 41st regression’s Yoo Joonghyuk.

Right now, there was only one sentence I could write about him:
「I do not know Yoo Joonghyuk.」
[Your understanding of character ‘Yoo Joonghyuk’ has risen slightly.]

[You are now able to write about character ‘Yoo Joonghyuk’.]
Like checking the first footprint left in the snow, I confirmed the window before me.
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# The Protagonist’s Choice
「In that moment, Yoo Joonghyuk □□….」
Based on current proficiency, you may add up to 20 characters of narration.

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A mere 20 characters.
That was all I was allowed to write about ‘Yoo Joonghyuk’ right now.

[Your understanding of this character is low.]
[This scene has a limited number of narrations.]
[You may only narrate this scene once.]
Only one chance.
I closed my eyes calmly and thought about the Yoo Joonghyuk I had personally witnessed.

The closest to the current Yoo Joonghyuk would be the one I had seen in the Prison of Illusions, the 40th regression’s Yoo Joonghyuk, and the one who had left behind two Essences of the Elaine Forest at Geumho Station.
[Your understanding of character ‘Yoo Joonghyuk’ has risen slightly.]
I thought.
[Your understanding of character ‘Yoo Joonghyuk’ has risen slightly.]

And thought again.
Twenty characters. Barely enough for a single line of action.
What could I possibly express about Yoo Joonghyuk in those 20 characters?

Even when writing Ways of Survival, there were times like this—when it was difficult to craft a fitting line of dialogue or action for a character.
「“Just write it anyway.”」
At such times, Ji Eunyu would say:

「“Trust the characters who’ve lived in the world you’ve created, and just write.”」
This time, too, all I could do was helplessly believe those words.
「To trust the Yoo Joonghyuk who lived in this world.」

So I wrote a line for him.
It was nothing special.
But that single sentence contained all of my understanding of Yoo Joonghyuk, and all I could give him now.

[You have written something plausible.]
[Success rate of recreating the scene: 93%.]
[You have sufficient plausibility permitted.]

[Checking reader feedback.]
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rlaehrwk37: Yoo Joonghyuk is Yoo Joonghyuk
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I read the feedback silently. From that alone, I couldn’t tell if the ‘recreation’ had succeeded or failed.
But what I could say was that I, too, thought the same as Kim Dokja37.
[Scene recreation succeeded.]

[Exiting Snowfield.]
The monochrome time dispersed. The barrels of the mini-turrets glowed red, seconds from firing.
「At that moment, Yoo Joonghyuk sheathed his spear.」

A faint spark ran through his right hand. The line I wrote had taken effect.
But Yoo Joonghyuk himself wore a confused expression, as if he didn’t understand why he had suddenly acted that way.
From here on, it was up to him.

The Yoo Joonghyuk I had seen—
the tragic protagonist who had wanted to save this world, even if it meant grasping the hand of a villain.
「The truth was, Yoo Joonghyuk knew. That he must not kill Gong Pildu right now.」
「Because this regression would be his last.」

“Die.”
The mini-turrets, having finished charging, spat furious fire. Shells strong enough to trouble even Steel Sword Lee Hyunsung. Even a monster like Yoo Joonghyuk, capable of slaughtering 7th-grade species, wouldn’t survive a direct volley of those shells.
「Seven shells in total. Even Yoo Joonghyuk would be in danger if he took them all at once.」

But Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t move. He didn’t even grip his spear.
His face was clouded with confusion. Perhaps my line had shaken his judgment.
But that alone was enough.

Which meant—it was my turn now.
[Activating Exclusive Skill, Agitation Lv.4!]
It was time for me to take responsibility for the sentence I had written.

「Transform into an ‘Old Iron Shield’.」
As Agitation flared, the Thoughts About Almost Everything shone brightly.
When Yoo Joonghyuk lifted his head again, the shells °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° were already in front of him.

BOOOOOM!
At the last possible moment, I blocked them from his front. The impact rattled the shield as if it would shatter apart.
But I endured.

I could endure.
Because my Strength stat was higher than Lee Hyunsung’s.
“Yoo Joonghyuk. That was a wise decision. To achieve what you desire, you absolutely must not kill Gong Pildu.”

Glancing back, I caught Yoo Joonghyuk’s stunned eyes staring at me.
“What are you looking at me like that for? You’re the one who said we should be on the same side, weren’t you?”
I didn’t know what tragedies the 41st regression’s Yoo Joonghyuk had yet to endure, what despair had led him to that ending.

But looking at his expression now, I realized—
「Perhaps this world doesn’t have to end in tragedy.」
I smiled at him and concluded:

“Let me show you how I was able to make even the Ten Evils my allies.”
***
BOOOM!

A distant explosion rang. Watching Cheon Inho intercepting the shells, a woman in a white coat frowned in the shadows.
Biting down on the lemon candy at her lips, she muttered,
“The more I see him, the more insane he looks.”

[Constellation, Sneaking Schemer, chuckles.]
“What the hell gave him the guts to charge straight in? Did he forget he’s supposed to be Cheon Inho?”
[Constellation, Sneaking Schemer, says he feels a strange sense of nostalgia.]

At those words, the woman twitched her lips for a long time before murmuring faintly,
“…I don’t miss him at all.”
[Constellation, Sneaking Schemer, says he never said he missed anyone.]

“Shut up.”
***
Thanks to my sudden intrusion, the atmosphere on the platform briefly calmed.

Fortunately, Yoo Joonghyuk seemed willing to wait and watch, stepping back.
From afar, Lee Jihye and the others stared wide-eyed at me.
This is just what I do, everyone.

Of course, it wasn’t just them who were surprised.
“You bastard… what are you?”
Gong Pildu asked. I answered:

“I’m Cheon Inho.”
“Who the hell asked for your name?”
He growled and showed signs of charging the mini-turrets again, so I quickly added:

“If it’s all right, I’d like to speak with the one behind you.”
“What?”
At my words, the boy hiding behind Gong Pildu timidly peeked out.

I waved at him.
“Hello?”
He quickly ducked back.

A face I’d never seen before.
In the original, no such boy ever stood at Gong Pildu’s side.
[Using ‘Reader Comment List’ on this individual.]

[Checking profile information of this reader.]
Just one look was enough to know the type of person he was.
Yeah, one of those.

While I was quickly skimming his info, Gong Pildu turned to the boy.
“You know him?”
The boy shook his head.

“Now, come on. Think again carefully.”
Don’t be difficult.
Fortunately, one of my dear readers had once taught me how to handle this.

“Aren’t we ‘friends’?”
“Friends…?”
“Friends.”

At once, the boy’s expression shifted.
By then, my companions had gathered by my side.
The boy’s eyes darted between me and them, until he noticed Jung Heewon among us—and his eyes widened.

Slowly, his lips parted.
“9158…?”
***

A little later, I was being dragged by the scruff of my neck toward the tracks—by none other than Yoo Joonghyuk.
At this point, I’d gotten used to it.
I glanced back to see my companions chatting with the boy, while Gong Pildu glared sourly from a short distance away.

Yoo Joonghyuk looked from Gong Pildu to me and asked, without even meeting my eyes:
“How did you persuade him?”
“Villains know villains best.”

“You’re Cheon Inho….”
“I’m the Deceiver of Stars, the Sophist of Malice.”
Yoo Joonghyuk turned to face me.

“What you need isn’t the human Cheon Inho, but the ‘Ten Evil’ who tormented you, isn’t it?”
Yoo Joonghyuk suspected I wasn’t truly Cheon Inho. The best I could do now was to highlight my usefulness.
“How do I trust you?”

“When did you ever trust me when asking to be on the same side?”
“Did your memories of the previous regression return? I see you’ve met Anna Croft.”
Thankfully, he seemed willing to talk.

As expected—the readers were right. There really was no such thing as a bad Yoo Joonghyuk.
“But things are different from the last round. Joining hands with the Ten Evils was a ridiculous idea after all.”
There might be a Yoo Joonghyuk who lied—

But before he could stab me with his spear, I quickly added:
“You’ve got time for idle thoughts? This isn’t the moment to be picky about allies. Planning to press the reset button again?”
“You…”

Sadly, I didn’t know everything that had happened in the 40th regression. All I knew was the scraps of dialogue exchanged between Yoo Joonghyuk and Cheon Inho.
But those scraps were enough.
“You yourself said the reset could only be pressed once more. You spouted all that about this being the last regression, about the universe ending in annihilation—was that all a lie?”

His eyes shook violently.
“Honestly, you don’t look desperate at all right now.”
Yoo Joonghyuk fell silent, staring into the tunnel’s darkness. As if his mortal enemy lay waiting just beyond it.

“…I need time to think.”
He said that, and began pacing, tapping his spear against the tracks.
I left him to his thoughts and returned to the others.

The Chungmuro boy was chatting away with my companions, especially close with Gyeong Sein now.
“So this regression is the 41st?”
“Yes, I told you.”

“Oh my god. So that’s why Yoo Joonghyuk… no wonder he felt so much worse than usual…”
I could guess the gist of their talk.
The boy hadn’t known which regression it was.

But when he spotted me, he jumped to his feet.
Gyeong Sein introduced him:
“Inho-ssi! This here is the Seventh Apostle of the Seven Apostles’ Council!”

The Seventh Apostle.
As I thought—this boy was also part of the Council, like KillerKing. Among them, the seventh meant he was the youngest of the executive members.
When I offered my hand, he nervously extended his own.

“Ah, hello.”
“Yes, nice to meet you.”
“So this is what Cheon Inho looks like… you’re way more handsome than I imagined.”

I gave a wry smile as I shook his small hand.
The first time since possessing Cheon Inho that I’d heard such a compliment.
“Thank you. Shall we exchange names? I’m Cheon Inho, as you know.”

“I’m Ye Hyunwoo.”
“That’s your real name?”
“Yes.”

Ye Hyunwoo.
Now that I heard it, I vaguely recalled there being a character by that name in Chungmuro.
His eyes sparkled as he studied my face, before suddenly asking:

“But how did you know I was an Apostle?”
Well, that was because—
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ID: Princemaker77
Platform: Series
Total Comments: 681
Reader Level: 97
Completion Count: 50.4 times
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Currently, 3 comments are available to check for free.

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It was obvious.
He wasn’t an illegal reader, judging by the platform. And more importantly, his completion count was over 50.

Not quite KillerKing’s 99.8 reads, but at least a “half-KillerKing.”
Which meant one thing—
Anyone who read the novel that many times was definitely part of “that organization.”

“I met someone with a similar vibe not long ago.”
“Who?”
“KillerKing.”

“The Second Apostle? You think I’m like that bastard?”
Ye Hyunwoo’s face flushed as if I’d insulted him.
He was starting to seem a lot more likable than that fake Yoo Joonghyuk.

“I did hear about you. That some reader possessed into a supporting villain. So it was you, Cheon Inho. Damn KillerKing, always speaking in riddles. Why not just say it straight…”
“KillerKing came here?”
Ye Hyunwoo nodded.

“Yeah, a while back. He asked me to team up, but I’m not the adventurous type.”
True enough—choosing Gong Pildu as his partner revealed his cautious nature.
Safety first.

The wise choice in an apocalypse.
“Anyway, thanks for stopping that earlier. If I’d known Yoo Joonghyuk was in his 41st regression, I’d never have fought. Damn KillerKing, didn’t even tell me that.”
KillerKing doesn’t know that either, dear reader.

But this boy wasn’t ordinary.
Even without knowing it was the 41st regression, the fact that someone who had read ORV 50 times would even consider fighting Yoo Joonghyuk…
“There’s a complicated reason behind it.”

Ye Hyunwoo muttered in a half-whisper.
“With the Invincible Lord of the House Development Plan, Stage 3, calculations said I could handle him…”
What… plan?

Then he sighed deeply, before letting slip an unexpected name.
“Damn it. If Jiyoon had been here, I wouldn’t have made such a mistake.”