Chapter 11

It would be quite a ludicrous sight if anyone else saw it . A large adult man was being grabbed by the neck and hung like a monkey . I could see Lee Hyunsung looking this way from across the bridge . His expression was anxious but he couldn’t actually see what was going on here . It was due to the safety ward . I could see over there but they couldn’t see here .

“Name . ” Yoo Jonghyuk demanded .

“What?”

“What is your name?”

Look at this indifferent way of talking, just like a main character . But it wasn’t good to provoke him here .

“Kim Dokja . ”

“A strange name . ”

“I’ve heard that a lot . ”

At this moment, my stomach sank in and felt turned inside out as Yoo Jonghyuk’s fist hit it .

“…Ugh . ”

Despite having skin that a knife bounced off, the attack was very painful .

“You have a solid body . Have you already mastered the use of coins?”

“It is the same with you…”

Bam . There was a hit to my stomach again . I barely managed to swallow back a groan . This guy, the level of his strength was at least 15 . It was at this scale despite only one main and one sub scenario occurring . Indeed, natural born monsters were different .

“Stop the unnecessary answers . Only answer what I ask from now on . Understood?”

I didn’t answer . I thought maybe this might happen . However, this was the worst situation that I desperately hoped would never happen . In the beginning, Yoo Jonghyuk was more intimidating than any other figure . His personality had worn out after going through regression three times . His principles were cut away in order to maintain his sense of self . The current Yoo Jonghyuk would never hesitate for the sake of his purpose .

“Your answer?”

“…I will . ”

“Use honorifics . ”

“What if I don’t want to?”

This time, I raised both hands to block the fist . The pain felt like my bones had broken but the shock was dissipated . Yoo Jonghyuk’s eyes widened like he was a bit surprised .

[The character ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ is on guard against you . ]

Then it didn’t matter . I wasn’t going to be a punching bag just because he was the main character .

“I’m sorry but you are younger than me, pro gamer Yoo Jonghyuk-ssi . Therefore, you should be the one using honorifics . ”

“…You know me?”

“I know . I am the employee of a game company . ” It was a lie . Even if I worked for a game company, it was impossible to memorize the names of all professional gamers . In addition, until recently, ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ was just a character in a novel . “You are famous . At one time, I was a fan . ”

Being famous was just a setting of the plot . Still, it wasn’t a lie that I was a ‘fan . ‘ I liked, hated, grumbled, and cheered Yoo Jonghyuk on . That’s why I stuck with Yoo Jonghyuk for over 3,000 chapters .

“Fan . I haven’t heard that in a long time . ” Yoo Jonghyuk had a look of nostalgia in his eyes, like he was locked in his memories . However, it was only for a moment . “I’ll forgive your impudence this time, but your situation hasn’t changed . ”

“I can see that . ”

I looked down at my two legs swaying over a blank space .

Yoo Jonghyuk said, “I have only one thing I want to ask . ”

“Ask . ”

“How did you survive on the subway?”

It was the question I expected .

“Will you spare me if I answer?”

“I’ll see . ”

It was a lie . I could tell just by looking at his face . I was the only reader of Ways of Survival . Numerous possible repertoires were simulated in my head . What could I say to convince this damn regressor?

[Your understanding of the character ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ is increasing . ]

[Your understanding of this person is already very high . ]

…Huh?

[The conditions of use for the exclusive skill ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ stage 2 has been reached!]

[Do you want to activate the exclusive skill?]

Then after a moment, I was able to read someone’s thoughts like a waterfall in my head .

「 Only Lee Hyunsung and Kim Namwoon should’ve survived in that carriage . 」

「 Yet Kim Namwoon died and the others survived . 」

「 How did you survive? 」

「 Who the hell is this guy? 」

「 Dig up information . Then if I find any disturbing elements… Kill . 」

A dense flicker of thoughts . It was obviously a crisis situation but I couldn’t prevent the corners of my mouth from going up . The time remaining until the scenario ended was 5 minutes .

I started telling the story . I told the story using as much concise, short, and accurate vocabulary as possible . It was from the first moment the ‘dokkaebi’ appeared in the subway to the end of the first scenario . Of course, I excluded the skills I got and any important issues .

“…You cleared the scenario by killing insects?”

“We were lucky . ”

Yoo Jonghyuk was so surprised he seemed to have forgotten that his mouth was open .

「 The future has completely changed . 」

He was shocked . Originally, the people in carriage 3807 would kill each other in a battle royale, with only Lee Hyunsung and Kim Namwoon surviving .

“You have keen eyes . How did you know there were insects in the carriage?”

Killing Intent filled Yoo Jonghyuk’s eyes as his thoughts brushed through my head .

「 Is this guy also a regressor? 」

「If so, I have to kill him right now . 」

A person who commits a fault thinks that everyone speaks of it . I wasn’t surprised that he misunderstood me . I quickly opened my mouth, “An explosion . ”

“Explosion?”

“I was able to find the insects due to an explosion from the carriage in front . ”

Yoo Jonghyuk’s body stopped at these words . “Explain it in a simpler manner . ”

“When the explosion occurred, a kid fell and dropped his insect collecting net . I picked it up by chance . ”

“…It is a suspicious coincidence . ”

“Coincidences are always suspicious . If you don’t believe me, ask the people beyond the ward . The boy standing there dropped the net . ”

Beyond the safety barrier on the way to Oksu Station, people were looking over at this side . The scenario wasn’t over yet so they couldn’t approach or talk to us . Yoo Jonghyuk looked over but showed no signs of moving . His eyes changed and memories that seemed to belong to Yoo Jonghyuk crossed my mind .

「 I see . 」

「 Explosion . 」

「This guy isn’t a regressor . 」

「He isn’t the one who changed the future . Rather, the future changed…」

「 Because of me . 」

I saw people dying painfully in a powerful explosion and Yoo Jonghyuk blankly watching it .

「 It is because I started killing them, unlike the other turns . 」

Due to the impact of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, I could feel Yoo Jonghyuk’s mental pain and suffering .

“Are your questions over?” I asked .

“…Yes . ”

“Then can you let me go? In addition, let’s move to Oksu together . There isn’t much time remaining to clear the scenario . ”

“It is difficult . ” However, a protagonist was a protagonist for a reason . “Everything you said makes perfect sense . ”

I have never seen a protagonist as careful as Yoo Jonghyuk .

「 A beginner can’t be so calm . 」

「He is abnormally well-adjusted to this changed world . 」

「He probably killed Kim Namwoon . 」

「 He has gone beyond being useful to being dangerous . 」

Yoo Jonghyuk’s right eye started shining with a gold colour . I quickly realized what he was doing . In fact, it would be weird if this guy didn’t use ‘that . ‘ Sage’s Eyes . Yoo Jonghyuk’s strongest detection skill . Sage’s Eyes was the SS-grade skill that showed the target’s attributes window as well as hidden information .

As long as he used it, I couldn’t avoid revealing my identity . On the other hand, I thought it was a good thing . I still didn’t know my ‘attribute’ and ‘skills’ . If Yoo Jonghyuk discovered my information, I would also be able to know about myself . Then hopefully, I would be able to use the information I learned to escape this situation .

[The exclusive skill, ‘Fourth Wall’ is activated!]

[Fourth Wall has detected the use of the detection skill Sage’s Eyes!]

Sparks flew in the air and Yoo Jonghyuk’s body staggered .

「…Kuk, what? 」

Yoo Jonghyuk covered his right eye and watched me with confusion . “You…what is your identity?”

I’m sorry but I was wondering the same thing .

[The exclusive skill Fourth Wall has blocked Sage’s Eyes!]

I didn’t know that I had a skill that would defend against Sage’s Eyes . After Bookmark, it was Fourth Wall . This complicated things . Yoo Jonghyuk wouldn’t believe me now .

「 I must kill him here . 」

He was a person who didn’t trust what he didn’t know .

“Yoo Jonghyuk . ” Then I also need to change plans . “You need a reliable companion . ”

“…What do you mean?”

“You can’t break through the 46th scenario alone . Shouldn’t you be well aware of it?”

Yoo Jonghyuk’s eyes narrowed . “How do you know this? Perhaps you―”

“It doesn’t matter how I know or who I am . ” I stared straight into Yoo Jonghyuk’s eyes and said, “The important thing is that I can help you . ”

「 He isn’t a regressor . If he was a regressor, I wouldn’t be unaware of him . 」

「 Then who is this person? 」

「 …Perhaps? 」

If I couldn’t hide my hand and if I didn’t possess the best hand, then there was only one way out . It was to show a hand that would make the other person misunderstand .

“Yoo Jonghyuk, I know the future that you don’t know . ”

[The character ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ has used the ‘Lie Detection’ skill .

[Lie Detection has confirmed that your words are the truth . ]

Yoo Jonghyuk’s eyes slowly widened . “…How?”

“How else?”

「 No way . There was a prophet other than Anna Croft? It is also in South Korea? 」

Prophet . In Ways of Survival, it was the only attribute that could see the future and had the passive of ‘nullifying all detection skills . ‘ In fact, only one person had the attribute of ‘prophet’ in the world of Ways of Survival .

「 Only a prophet can defend against my Sage’s Eyes . 」

I didn’t answer and Yoo Jonghyuk bit his lips .

“Can you perhaps use ‘Future Sight’?”

“It is something similar . ”

“You knew I would come here . ”

“Yes . ”

「 I see . If this man is a prophet, all his actions are convincing . 」

The flow was changing . Yoo Jonghyuk’s fluctuation was conveyed straight away . This was the only chance .

“I know that Yoo Jonghyuk has special powers . You also know things about the future . Isn’t that right?”

“…”

“But that knowledge is never perfect . ” The only weakness of a regressor was that the future changed when they used their information of the future . In other words, all those who regressed would eventually live in a ‘world they don’t know . ‘ “Make me your companion . I can fill in the parts you are missing . ”

There was no companion as good as a ‘prophet’ to the present Yoo Jonghyuk . In fact, my present self could play a role similar to a prophet . It was because I was the only reader of this story .

[There is one minute to the end of the scenario . ]

Yoo Jonghyuk lowered his head and started to think .

「 A prophet will certainly be helpful . 」

[There are 50 seconds left to complete the scenario . ]

「Not just the 46th scenario, but later when fighting the ‘Chalatustra . ‘ But… can I really believe him? 」

[There are 40 seconds left to the end of the scenario . ]

「 Companion . 」

Finally, Yoo Jonghyuk raised his head as I stared at the clock with an irritated heart . “I have decided . I will make you my companion . ”

[Excessive immersion has severely worn out your mental strength . ]

[Exclusive skill, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint has been turned off . ]

I wasn’t sure if it was due to fatigue or relief but the exclusive skill was released . Now Yoo Jonghyuk’s face was as difficult as a philosophy book with no commentary written . Yoo Jonghyuk started to take me across the ‘Even Bridge . ‘ Of course, I was still held by the collar but…I thought things would be all right now . I persuaded this damn regressor and was in a good position . We had almost crossed the Even Bridge and were right in front of the safe area when Yoo Jonghyuk suddenly stopped .

“I will ask you one last thing . ”

“What?”

“If you are really a prophet, you should know your future . Isn’t that right?”

The moment I saw Yoo Jonghyuk’s serene eyes, goosebumps broke out . His test wasn’t over yet . The grip holding my collar tightened .

“Keok . ”

His hand raised me up a little bit and a gentle wind passed by my feet . Underneath me was completely empty . The smell of blood mixed in with the smell of Han River as the ichthyosaurs jumped towards their prey with open mouths .

“Will I let go of this hand or won’t I?”

For the first time, I started sweating . Let me think . Even without his thoughts, I knew this guy more than anyone else . I closed my eyes and thought about Yoo Jonghyuk .

[There are 20 seconds left to the end of the scenario . ]

Then I came to a conclusion .

“Yoo Jonghyuk . ”

I was certain about what he would do . No matter how I thought about it, there was no other ending when it came to Yoo Jonghyuk . I talked as I watched a sea commander approaching in the water . “I will tell you two things first . ”

“…What?”

“One, I’m not your subordinate . So I hope you will treat me fairly from now on . ”

“…”

“Two, I will cooperate with you but you also have to promise to cooperate with me . ”

Yoo Jonghyuk looked at me with interest and nodded . “Well, what is your answer?”

I replied with a smile, “Release your hand and get lost, you damn son of a bitch . ”

Then the power holding me disappeared . I was grabbed by the force of gravity . I saw Yoo Jonghyuk’s face as I was falling . Yoo Jonghyuk was smiling brightly like something made him happy .

Son of a bitch .

“I believe you . You are definitely a prophet . ”

Waiting for me at my crash point was the mouth of the giant sea commander . I closed my eyes from the shock of the impact along with the cold water of Han River . As I sucked in a breath, a warm and enormous darkness swallowed me up .

[You have failed to clear the scenario . ]

…Damn, I have to use that method after all .