Chapter 10

5 A grown man held up by the neck and dangling in the air like a monkey. It must’ve been quite a comical scene. I could see my companions looking in my direction from the other side of the bridge. They seemed concerned, but they wouldn’t actually know what was happening to me. The barrier was like a one-way mirror—I could see them, but they couldn’t see me. “Name.” “Huh?” “What’s your name?” How rude. Typical main character. But I shouldn’t provoke him now. “I’m Dokja Kim.” “What a weird name.” “I get that a lot—” Suddenly, my stomach caved in, and I nearly vomited. Junghyeok Yu’s fist was buried underneath my solar plexus. “…Urgh.” My skin was hard enough to repel a knife blade, but his punch hurt quite a lot. “A tough body. You already know how to use coins, don’t you?” “So do y—” Wham. My insides buckled from another blow. I barely stopped myself from groaning in pain. This guy’s strength must have been at least level 15. After just one main and one sub scenario, he was already this strong. He’s just built different. “You talk too much. You will speak only when I ask you a question, understood?” I didn’t answer. I’d figured I might find myself in this situation. But this was the worst possible outcome I’d been trying to avoid. Early on, Junghyeok Yu was more dangerous than anyone else. Going through three regressions had eroded his humanity. In order to manage his enlarged ego, he’d come up with certain principles he followed closely. Junghyeok Yu would not hesitate to do whatever it took to achieve his goals. “Your answer?” “…Fine.” “I don’t like your tone.” “Deal with it.” This time, I raised my arms to block his fist. It hurt like every bone in my hands had broken, but it lessened the impact of his punch. Junghyeok’s eyes widened with surprise. [Character Junghyeok Yu is wary of you.] That’s right. You might be the main character, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stand here and let you beat me up. “Sorry, but I’m older than you, pro gamer Junghyeok Yu. So you watch your tone.” “…You know who I am?” “Yeah. I worked at a game company.” Of course, that was a lie. Well, it was true that I’d worked at Mino Soft, but that didn’t mean I’d memorized the name of every pro gamer. Not only that, but until a few hours ago, Junghyeok Yu was nothing but a novel character to me. “You’re famous in that scene, you know? I used to be a fan.” His being famous was just a part of his backstory. But I wasn’t lying when I said I was a fan. I’d liked, hated, resented, and rooted for Junghyeok Yu. He and I had gone through three thousand chapters of the story together. “A fan? Haven’t heard that in a while.” Junghyeok seemed to reminisce about the past. But only for a brief moment. “I’ll forgive you for being rude. But that doesn’t change anything.” “Yeah, I can see that.” I looked down and saw my legs dangling in the air. “There’s only one thing I want to ask you.” “Go ahead.” “How did you survive in the subway?” I knew he’d ask me that. “Will you let me live if I tell you?” “Depends.” Bullshit. I could tell just by looking at his face. I wasn’t the only reader of TWSA for nothing. I ran countless simulations in my head of how I’d answer and how he’d react. What could I say to persuade this regressor jerk? [Your understanding of character Junghyeok Yu has increased.] [Your understanding of this character is very high.] …Huh? [You have met the conditions for using level 2 of the exclusive skill “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint.”] [Would you like to activate the exclusive skill?] And just like that, I could read his thoughts as they flooded into my head. [The only ones who were supposed to survive in that car were Hyeonseong Lee and Namwoon Kim.] [But Namwoon Kim is dead, and other people made it out instead.] [How did they survive?] [Who is this guy?] [I need more information. And if he turns out to be an obstacle……I’ll kill him.] Junghyeok’s thoughts raced by at a dizzying pace. There was nothing funny about my current situation, but I couldn’t stop my mouth from curling into a smile. There were five minutes remaining until the end of the scenario. I began to tell my story, keeping things simple, short, and accurate. From the moment the goblin appeared in my subway car to the end of the first scenario. Of course, I left out any sensitive details, like what skills I’d obtained. “…You cleared the scenario by killing bugs?” “I got lucky.” Junghyeok was so surprised that he didn’t notice his own mouth was agape. [The future has completely changed.] It must’ve been shocking indeed. Car 3807 was supposed to have devolved into a battle royal, with only Namwoon Kim and Hyeonseong Lee surviving. “That’s awfully sharp of you. How did you know there were bugs in that car?” A murderous glint flashed in his eyes, and my head was flooded with his thoughts. [Is he also a Regressor?] [If he is, I have to kill him now.] Of course that’s what he suspects of me. Textbook projection. I quickly replied. “There was an explosion.” “An explosion?” “I’m saying I was able to spot the bugs because there was an explosion in the car in front of ours.” Junghyeok perked up at the mention of the other train car. “Elaborate so I can understand.” “A kid in my car fell down because of the explosion and dropped his bug cage. And I happened to pick it up.” “…What a suspicious coincidence.” “Coincidences are always suspicious. If you don’t believe me, ask the people on the other side of that barrier. The boy with the bug cage is there, too.” We could see the people looking at us from beyond the barrier, on the road toward Oksu Station. They couldn’t call out or come to us because the scenario was still ongoing. Junghyeok glanced at them but did not move. All of a sudden, my vision grew blurry and what seemed like Junghyeok’s memories flashed before my eyes. [I see.] [The explosion.] [This guy’s not a Regressor.] [The future didn’t change because of him. Rather, the reason it changed…] […is because of me?] People screaming in agony as they died from the explosion, and Junghyeok Yu looking at them, devoid of emotion. [It was because I did something different this time and killed everyone with an explosion right at the beginning.] It might have been the effect of “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint,” but I could feel every bit of mental anguish that seized Junghyeok. “Are you done with the questions?” “…Yes.” “Then can you let go? We should head to Oksu Station together. There isn’t much time left.” “I can’t do that.” But there’s a reason why he’s the main character. “Everything fits too perfectly.” I’d never seen any other main characters more cautious than Junghyeok Yu. [He’s too calm for a beginner.] [It’s uncanny how well he’s adapting to the new world.] [I’m sure he’s one who killed Namwoon Kim.] [He may prove useful, but more importantly, he’s dangerous.] Junghyeok’s right eye glowed with a golden light. I realized what he was about to do. Actually, it was odd that he hadn’t used it on me already. “The Eye of the Sage.” Junghyeok Yu’s peerless detection skill—an SS-grade skill that allows him to see not only your attribute window, but all your hidden information as well. Once he used it, he’d learn about my identity. But a part of me thought this might be a good thing. I still didn’t know what my own attribute and skills were. Even if it meant having my info laid bare to Junghyeok, it could be a chance for me to find out more about myself as well. I might even be able to use that information to better navigate my current predicament. [Exclusive skill “The Fourth Wall” has been activated.] [“The Fourth Wall” has identified a detection skill, “The Eye of the Sage”!] Sparks flew into the air and Junghyeok’s body contorted. […Kgh! What?] Junghyeok glared at me with shock and alarm, one hand clamped over his right eye. “Who…What the hell are you?” I’m sorry but I’m curious about that, too. [Exclusive skill “The Fourth Wall” has blocked “The Eye of the Sage.”] ……No way. I had a skill that could block “The Eye of the Sage”? “Bookmark,” and now “The Fourth Wall”…This complicates things. He probably doesn’t believe me anymore. [I have to kill him now.] He wasn’t the type to trust something he didn’t understand. “Junghyeok Yu.” In that case, I had to change my approach. “You need an ally you can trust.” “…What’re you talking about?” “You know you can’t clear the forty-sixth scenario by yourself, right?” His eyes narrowed. “How do you know about that? Don’t tell me you’re—” “It doesn’t matter who I am.” I looked straight into Junghyeok’s eyes. “What’s important is that I can help you.” [He’s not a Regressor. I’d definitely recognize him if he were.] [Then what is he?] […Could he be?] A game of cards where I couldn’t hide my hand or play my best card. Then there was only one thing I could do. Play a hand that would mislead my opponent. “Junghyeok, I know the future that you don’t know about.” [Character Junghyeok Yu has activated the skill “Lie Detection.”] [“Lie Detection” has confirmed your words to be true.] Junghyeok’s eyes slowly widened. “…How?” “What do you think?” [It can’t be. There’s a Prophet other than Anna Croft? In Korea, no less?] Prophet. The only attribute in TWSA with the ability to see the future. It is also the only attribute that grants the passive effect “Nullify Detection Skill.” In TWSA, there is one character who possesses this attribute. [Only a Prophet can block my skill “The Eye of the Sage.”] I didn’t answer. Junghyeok bit his lip. “Are you saying you can use ‘Future Sight’?” “Something like that.” “Then you must’ve known I’d come this way.” “That’s right.” [I see. If this guy is a Prophet, then all his actions make sense.] Things were getting turned around. I could feel Junghyeok was agitated. This was my only chance. “Junghyeok Yu, I know you possess a special power. You also know what will happen in the future, don’t you?” “……” “But you’re also aware that your knowledge is incomplete.” It’s the Regressor’s only weakness. The very act of using their foreknowledge to change the present alters the future. In other words, they must eventually face an “unknown future.” “Let me be your ally. I can complement what you lack.” To Junghyeok Yu, there’s no better teammate than a Prophet. And I could fulfill a similar role, because I was the only reader of this story. [One minute remaining until the end of the scenario.] Junghyeok looked down, lost in thought. [A Prophet would be helpful indeed.] [Fifty seconds remaining until the end of the scenario.] [Not only for the forty-sixth scenario, but also for fighting the Zarathustra bastards later on. But…can I trust him?] [Forty seconds remaining until the end of the scenario.] [An ally.] I was anxiously watching the clock when Junghyeok looked up. “I’ve decided. I’ll make you my ally.” [You are mentally drained due to excessive concentration.] [Exclusive skill “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint” has been deactivated.] I didn’t know if it was my fatigue or relief that caused it, but my skill deactivated at the worst possible time. Suddenly, Junghyeok’s face seemed utterly inscrutable to me, like a complex philosophical thesis without any footnotes. He began crossing the Bridge of Even Numbers with me, still holding me up by the neck……But all things considered, I thought it had worked out pretty well. I’d actually persuaded this damn regressor. I felt quite proud of myself. Junghyeok suddenly stopped just outside the safe zone, after having crossed most of the bridge. “One last question.” “What is it?” “If you’re really a Prophet, then you can see your own future, right?” The dead calm in his eyes gave me a shudder. Junghyeok hadn’t finished testing me yet. His grip around my neck was suffocating. “Urk.” He slowly stretched out his arm that was holding me up, then a gust of wind hit my feet. I was hanging over the edge of the bridge. Directly below me was the bloodied Han River. Angler dragons were jumping out of the water, crazed by the sight of a prey dangling above them. “Tell me, will I let go or not?” Cold sweat dripped down my back. Think. I know him better than anyone. I closed my eyes and thought about the Junghyeok Yu that I knew. [Twenty seconds remaining until the end of the scenario.] I came to a conclusion. “Junghyeok Yu.” This bastard would do it. No matter how I thought about it, the result was the same. I went on, eyeing the sea commander that was swimming toward me. “Let me make two things clear.” “…What?” “First, I’m not your lackey. Treat me as an equal.” “……” “Second, promise that you’ll cooperate with me as I will cooperate with you.” A look of amusement flashed in Junghyeok’s eyes. He nodded. “Very well. And your answer is?” I responded with a smile. “Let go already, you piece of shit.” And just like that, there was nothing keeping me up anymore. Ah, so this is what gravity feels like. Even as I fell, I could see Junghyeok’s face. I didn’t know what he was so happy about, but he was smiling radiantly. Son of a bitch. “I believe you now. You really are a Prophet.” Waiting at the end of my fall was the sea commander’s maw. A bone-rattling impact, then the cold water of the Han River engulfed me. I barely managed to gasp a mouthful of air before warm, vast darkness swallowed me. [You have failed to clear the scenario.]