[Translator - Jjescus]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Chapter 152
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Strategist IV
4
Let’s talk about Oh Dokseo for a mont.
5
Oh Dokseo was a literary girl.
And like all literary girls, she hoped that sothing "special" existed in this world beyond the mundane humans.
Of course, it was a futile hope.
Many literary girls usually give up on such expectations quietly after getting punched three tis by betrayal, intrigue, and collective selfishness between the ages of 15 and 25.
There were no magic schools in this world, no beautiful debutante balls for noble ladies, and no secret organizations that regularly held etings in shady back alley bars (although there were organizations that sold mysterious white powder or fantasy gum).
Reality was this harsh.
Now, a typical literary girl in Korea would be ready to accept magic school as college, the debutante ball as an MT, and secret organizations as SNS activities.
It wasn’t a difficult task.
Children who read the Harry Potter series when they were young went through a phase between the fifth and sixth grades of elentary school, thinking, "Huh? The Hogwarts acceptance letter is just a bit... late for ...?" They went through a stage of denial, which is sothing most people experience as growing pains.
Oh Dokseo wasn’t typical.
"No. The world is wrong."
Oh Dokseo had thought this since she was a child.
In the school playground designed to mimic a desert, she preferred walking in the shade rather than under the sun.
"Magicians exist. Secret organizations exist. The forces of evil that threaten the world exist, as do the apostles of justice who fight against them. And of course, the god who watches over all of this exists."
Oh Dokseo willingly abandoned reality and chose fantasy.
It was an easy choice for her. After all, why should she give up her fantasy just because it wasn't "realistic"?
What was so great about the "realistic" human affairs anyway?
Weren't they just full of petty jealousy, spite, the tendency to belittle others because of their own inferior talents compared to their desires, hatred for family, hunger, wordplay, and fake friendships?
"No, I hate it."
What made Oh Dokseo feel most nauseous was how easily people forgot their own actions.
"You promised not to lie again last ti. Why are you doing it again?"
"Promise? When?"
"Last ti. A few months ago, we talked next to the water purifier by the restroom at the academy."
Oh Dokseo had an exceptional mory compared to her peers since she was young.
It was in her nature. She could easily recall the lines of characters from books she had read once. In reality, she ticulously stored every word and gesture people made.
Just as there are brains specialized in numbers and calculations, Oh Dokseo had an extraordinary ability regarding "human behavior."
"I never did that."
Other people didn’t.
Promises. Bold declarations. Breaking promises. Forgetting.
The "reality" that unfolded before Oh Dokseo with every breath was nothing more than a collection of humans who forgot their own actions in real-ti.
If Oh Dokseo had had the sa level of expression in her childhood as she does now, she would have said this:
"Forgetfulness is no different from death. What is forgotten doesn’t exist."
"Then what are these real people?"
"A carnival parade that pretends to 'live' while constantly killing themselves little by little without even realizing it?"
When she realized this, Oh Dokseo felt a chill.
It was terrifying.
Yes, the entire world was burying itself alive. All humans were cannibals who ate themselves.
"I hate it."
Oh Dokseo wanted to run away.
"I don't want to die."
So she ran away.
Compared to reality, fantasy—ah, fantasy was always brilliant.
In creations, people could always beco greater.
The characters in novels never "forgot" what they said and did. What they did in chapter 30 was rembered perfectly in chapter 300.
To Oh Dokseo, these fictional characters felt more "human."
Beings who rembered. Beings with whom conversations were possible. Therefore, beings who could take responsibility and forgive.
Yes, Oh Dokseo simply had a slightly higher standard for what it ant to be "human."
"These people are alive."
The literary girl's heart was split in two. Endless hatred for humans based on reality. And endless affection for humans based on fiction.
"The world is dirty."
"The characters are more human."
"As long as I don't give up my belief in the characters, they can exist, even if only in my heart."
Amid the severe discord between the left and right sides of her heart, Oh Dokseo increasingly indulged in the belief in "sothing other than reality."
As everyone knows, ordinary human beliefs rarely co with rewards.
"Huh? What? Did I really have this novel saved in my favorites?"
Oh Dokseo was not ordinary.
"Let’s see. The title is…."
Fifteen days before being forcibly summoned to Busan Station.
『Omniscient Regressor’s Viewpoint』?
A miracle happened to her.
6
Back to the present.
On a night when the starlings were crying, I looked at Oh Dokseo and answered.
"Yes, Dokseo. From the very beginning, you were designated as the shrine maiden by the [The Admin of All-Play]."
"…Ah."
"In most novels, the protagonist gets possessed by a book or ga without any reason or explanation. But in this world, behind every incident that occurs 'without reason' or 'without explanation,' there are always anomalies."
In other words,
"The novel 『Omniscient Regressor’s Viewpoint』 that you thought you just happened to read… is not just a simple novel. It’s definitely not a coincidence. It’s a gift given to you by an alien god nad the The Admin of All-Play――."
A gift bestowed upon the most favored shrine maiden of the anomaly.
"――It is proof that you are the alien god’s representative. You are a human chosen by the alien god."
"……."
"In the eyes of the The Admin of All-Play, you are probably the most suitable to be a shrine maiden on this earth. Strictly speaking, anomalies don’t have human-like judgnt abilities, though."
The starling fell silent.
Oh Dokseo’s expression was truly peculiar. It was the face of soone who didn’t know whether to be happy or sad.
After moving her lips several tis, Oh Dokseo spoke.
"…So, does that an the alien god is listening in on our conversations too?"
"Yes. But you don’t have to worry too much about it."
"Why?"
"As I’ve said before, anomalies don’t have human-like judgnt. Their value standards and sensory organs are different. The term 'listening in' doesn’t even apply."
I pointed to Oh Dokseo’s backpack.
Inside was the laptop given to her by the The Admin of All-Play.
"When we started this turn, we established that this world is a 'ga broadcast.' The ti we’re spending chatting now corresponds to the rest period after the broadcast ends. As long as we maintain the format of the ga broadcast, the alien god won’t classify our personal chatter as aningful."
"Ah…."
"Oh, I see," Oh Dokseo murmured.
But it was clear that this wasn’t the topic she wanted to discuss.
From earlier, Oh Dokseo’s lips had been twitching, as if she was hesitating to say sothing.
"…By the way, mister."
"Yes?"
"In 『Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint』, it ntions that you’re a regressor and details what you experienced in each turn. If that was written by the alien god and shown to , then the The Admin of All-Play knows that you’re a regressor…."
"Yes, they would."
"……!"
Oh Dokseo’s breath caught.
"Isn’t that a big deal? The greatest advantage of being a regressor is that your enemies don’t know you’re a regressor. But if the alien god knows…!"
"From the start, the The Admin of All-Play has so resistance to my regression. You can see that just by the 'laptop' given to you."
135th turn.
After the turn that ended in destruction due to the logout ga, for so reason, the laptop item started appearing by my side every ti I regressed.
It ant that the [The Admin of All-Play] continuously approached across turns.
"But the alien god’s power isn’t perfect. I’m also resisting the The Admin of All-Play."
"Resisting…? What do you an?"
"Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint. The serialization of the novel you read is progressing too slowly. There’s a ti gap of about 500 to 600 turns between my 'reality' and that 'novel.'"
This is the 593rd turn.
anwhile, the part of my story that Oh Dokseo read in 『Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint』 was only at the 33rd turn.
Therefore,
"Let’s compare the [The Admin of All-Play] to a hacker. Then, that entity is diligently trying to hack into my existence."
"Oh!"
[Translator - Jjescus]
[Proofreader - Gun]
"But so far, the hacking progress is only about 5 percent. The entity may be trying hard to decipher as a regressor, but even if it collects data from the 33rd turn, it won’t be able to understand the of the 593rd turn."
"Whew, that’s a relief. Then there’s still plenty of ti…."
Oh Dokseo sighed in relief.
"But we mustn’t let our guard down either. The The Admin of All-Play is slowly and steadily extending its grasp towards ."
"Ah, yes. That’s obvious, but…."
"Dokseo, the fact that you only began to awaken in earnest from the 555th turn onward is also an indication that the [The Admin of All-Play] has gotten that close to ."
"Uh, really?"
I nodded.
Why did the ‘book possessor’ Oh Dokseo, not in the 1st turn, but from the 555th turn onward, start to recognize her power?
Why were both the ‘regressor’ and the ‘book possessor’ Oh Dokseo summoned to the Busan Station tutorial dungeon at the sa ti?
A coincidence defying extre odds?
No, it was intentional.
Everything was the result of design.
"Just as I’m trying to sohow defeat the alien god, the [The Admin of All-Play] is trying to subdue by any ans necessary. That’s exactly why, Dokseo, one of the reasons you were chosen as the alien god’s representative is that your starting point is the sa as mine."
"……!"
“Then, the ‘Administrator of All-Play’ wanted to interfere with as quickly and effectively as possible.”
Oh Dokseo was shocked.
“So, does that an… that as a ‘Book Possessor,’ I was supposed to interfere with you, a ‘Regressor,’ hinder you, or steal your opportunities? Was that the plan the [Administrator of All-Play] had?”
“Exactly.”
“So, you and I were actually ant to be enemies, not allies?”
Let's recall.
In the 555th turn, when Oh Dokseo first encountered as a Book Possessor, this kid didn’t have a good impression of at all.
[Oh Dokseo: There he is. The protagonist of this world. Codena: Doctor Jang.]
[Oh Dokseo: Doctor Jang is a protagonist who has already experienced several regressions. He’s ruthless and heartless.]
In fact, she was wary of .
[Oh Dokseo: He’s a regressor living only for revenge against monsters. He’s just a madman, a typical case of soone who’s only living because they haven’t died yet…]
[Oh Dokseo: He’s just insane, totally. If he notices anything suspicious, he might just kill . Better handle him carefully.]
Oh Dokseo genuinely believed that she might get killed by my hand. She was even ready to betray and stab in the back if needed.
Why was that?
The reason was simple.
“Oh Dokseo, the 『Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint』 written by the Alien God led you to have that impression of .”
“Ah…”
“More precisely, the Alien God had probably only hacked up to my fourth regression at that ti. So, he judged my character, the regressor known as The Doctor Jang, in that way and applied that judgnt to you as well.”
Well, it’s unlikely even the Alien God anticipated that the maniacal regressor who ruthlessly killed monsters in his earlier turns would evolve into ‘this kind of person’ after 500 turns.
The [Administrator of All-Play] analyzed from a past perspective and responded accordingly.
When they chose Oh Dokseo as their champion, they expected competition, distrust, and eventual destruction to occur between the Book Possessor and the Regressor.
However, from the beginning, I distorted the Alien God’s ambitious project.
“…So, you and I becoming allies was completely unexpected from the Alien God’s perspective?”
“Right. They wouldn’t have anticipated that I’d so easily lower my guard around you.”
“Wow.”
“I bet they’re utterly dumbfounded.”
I chuckled.
The [Administrator of All-Play] was indeed smart.
Imagine being in the sa position as that Alien God.
You need to declare victory by consuming the world in void, but so regressor keeps saying, ‘One more turn!’ every ti the ga ends.
At first, you might think, ‘He’ll probably get tired of the ga eventually.’
But this crazy regressor keeps resetting the ga at the 200th, 300th, 400th, and 500th turns.
Q) How can you get rid of this damned troublemaking regressor?
A) You turn the regressor's life itself into a novel. Then, you create soone who reads the novel—a Book Possessor. This way, the regressor loses the ‘protagonist’ trait, and the newly crowned protagonist, the Book Possessor, ultimately wins.
This was the ingenious strategy devised by the [Administrator of All-Play].
It was clever beyond belief.
Using a cliché to strip the regressor of his advantage. If it weren’t , I would’ve fallen right into the Alien God’s trap.
The one ant to be the trap, the Book Possessor, the literary girl Oh Dokseo, looked at with sowhat anxious eyes.
“Did you know from the start that I was chosen as the Alien God's priestess?”
“Well, I had a pretty good idea.”
I shrugged.
“I beca sure when I realized that the chapters of 『Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint』 were increasing as the turns progressed. It's extrely rare for sothing to exert influence across different turns.”
“…And yet, you didn’t kill ?”
“Hmm?”
“Why not? It’s simple.”
Oh Dokseo lowered her head and mumbled.
“If I’m unconsciously connected to the Alien God like a terminal, then you could just kill every ti you regress. That would eliminate any potential danger to you.”
“…”
“Why didn’t you choose the simplest thod? Especially now, when we've even taken that ‘Hate Pill,’ making us naturally distrust each other… Didn’t you think I might side with the Alien God and betray you at a crucial mont?”
Hmm.
I scratched my chin. After thinking about how to respond, I just answered honestly.
“What’s the big deal about being betrayed for a regressor that you’d make such a fuss?”
“…What?”
“It’s fine. I have a strong ntality. I haven’t told you this, but all my comrades have betrayed at least once. Ah, would you like to hear about the ti the saintess tried to kill ? That was epic.”
“…? …?”
I faintly heard the sound of the saintess coughing in the distance.
I smiled and patted Oh Dokseo on the shoulder.
“Oh Dokseo, just do what you want.”
“…”
“Unlike others, I’m given nearly endless chances. It’s a blessing. Even if you betray ten or twenty tis, I still have the mories of the turns where you trusted a hundred or two hundred tis. How could I ever forget that?”
“…”
“If it doesn’t work this ti, we’ll do better next ti. I know you too well to be disappointed in you.”
For a mont, Oh Dokseo remained silent.
“Yeah.”
As the sparrows began chirping again in the forest, Oh Dokseo raised her hand and grasped the hand I’d placed on her shoulder.
“I wish I could have read those words in 『Omniscient Regressor's Viewpoint』 too.”
“Don’t you think you will soday?”
“Yeah… Maybe. I might.”
Oh Dokseo smiled brightly.
“No matter what the Alien God thinks of , it doesn’t matter. Rember, this is a promise.”
She tightened her grip on my hand.
“I’m the one who will save you, no matter what. I’ll definitely get you out of this damned world.”
I chuckled.
Kid, you're the 26th person to say sothing like that to .
And I gave her my 26th reply.
“Alright. I’m counting on you.”
“Yeah!”
The next day, we officially began the operation to bring down the [Administrator of All-Play] to the mortal world.
[Translator - Jjescus]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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