All at once, I remembered the day I boldly tanked my very first web novel.My debut work, The Orc Philosopher.Back then, my editor, Ji Eunyu, left me with this:“Let’s set aside the fact that your protagonist is an orc for the moment.”An orc MC is off-putting. Check.“Let’s also set aside that he’s a philosopher.”A philosopher is a problem too. Check.“The important part starts here. The protagonist you created is far too inflexible.”“Inflexible, how?”“Look at Episode 2. Right from the start, he handles a crisis—one he could’ve easily avoided—like a fool and just gets blindsided.”Rereading the line I’d written, I asked again,“But don’t lots of novels start with the protagonist getting blindsided?”“If you get blindsided, you get back up immediately. You awaken, regress, transmigrate—do something. You can’t just keep wallowing in despair. You have to make a striking move.”“This protagonist is a philosopher. Doesn’t philosophy start from despair?”“And here in Episode 6, same problem. Your MC just works too hard.”“Isn’t working hard a good thing?”“After this much hardship, there should be payoff.”“He’s only suffered for thirty years so far…”“Most protagonists who slog for thirty years get something for it!”“He does get something—he realizes there are things you can’t achieve even after thirty years.”Ignoring me, Ji Eunyu pointed to the next chapter.“And right here—Episode 15 is a problem too.”“That’s where he saves a weak person… don’t tell me that’s an issue too?”“It’s fine to save the weak—but if he helps someone weaker, the protagonist must be rewarded. And subconsciously, he knows that’s why he helps. But look! Your protagonist helps the weak and all he gets is misunderstanding and people pointing fingers!”I thought for a moment, then asked,“Is that important?”“It is important!”“If you help someone expecting payment, that isn’t sincere help.”Giving me a curious look, Ji Eunyu answered,“But this is how a ‘typical protagonist’ works.”“Should a protagonist be typical?”“There was a time when an extraordinary protagonist felt ‘protagonist-like.’ 90s shōnen manga were like that. Noble, exalted heroes. Protecting the weak, standing against the strong, plunging into deep despair, sometimes being taken advantage of and losing everything. But, author-nim—look at other works today. Are there many protagonists like that?”I thought it over.Admittedly, she had a point.“Times have changed. Even if a genre is delusion-based, a story still has one foot in reality.”Staring into the vending-room mix coffee she’d brought, Ji Eunyu continued:“Readers now prefer ordinary people becoming heroes. It’s easier to project onto them. Someone who takes petty revenge for our everyday frustrations. Not frustrating to watch, moderately flexible, and who makes sure to collect payment for their work. A protagonist who knows how to receive proper reward. Most people can’t even manage that much.”Looking back, that conversation may not have been just about novels.Because the look on Ji Eunyu’s face then was oddly tired.“From the sound of it, that’s not a protagonist—it’s just a calculating person.”“Even calculating people doing good is something. In today’s world, that alone is enough to qualify as a protagonist.”Her advice was sweet with the bitter aftertaste of mass-produced mix coffee.“And it’s your job to make that calculating protagonist likable.”The reason this conversation resurfaced now was probably because of the question flung at Ye Hyunwoo before my eyes.“We know you’re capable. But are you really qualified to be the representative?”Despite the aggressive tone, Ye Hyunwoo didn’t back down.“No one has innate ‘qualifications.’ But if you acknowledge me, those qualifications can be made.”Saying this, Ye Hyunwoo looked squarely at the readers.He was speaking to us—to me.Asking us to choose him as the protagonist of this stage.Is Ye Hyunwoo qualified to be a protagonist?I recalled the “protagonist qualifications” Ji Eunyu had listed.Awaken, regress, or transmigrate.—Ye Hyunwoo had transmigrated.Be flexible.—If anything, he had flexibility to spare.Be calculating.—He didn’t seem like the type to make losing trades. He’d demanded the “Shinkijeon” in exchange for keeping my secret, after all.Move for the weak—and receive compensation.—He had moved for the weak. Without him, the “Emergency Defense Battle” would have cost far more lives.And more than that—he’d declared before everyone, with [Lie Detection] active, that he’d “protect everyone.”He didn’t have [Agitation] like I did, so that vow was surely genuine.As a result, he’d become a leading candidate to represent Chungmuro Station.Even at a glance, he met every condition of the “modern protagonist” Eunyu had described.Besides, there was surely a shard of Kim Dokja lodged within him as well.There was no reason he couldn’t become this story’s Kim Dokja.So why, then—Why did something still feel off?[‘Representative Election’ begins in 30 seconds.]That was when Dansoo ahjussi grabbed my lapel.“Inho-ssi, not Hyunwoo. He can’t. He’s Jiyoon’s friend.”Ahjussi’s daughter Jiyoon wasn’t an adult yet. Probably middle or high school.If she was his friend, then Hyunwoo was a teenager too.Thinking that made Ye Hyunwoo seem all the more impressive.A mere teenage boy had survived to this point on his own and was vying to become the representative of “Chungmuro Station.”But just because a boy had talent—could we entrust him with such a heavy burden?[The Administration Bureau rescinds its ‘Probability Compliance’ review.]Right on cue, the Bureau made its stance known.[The Administration Bureau judges there is no significant issue with the entity’s probability.]Kim Dokja’s words surfaced in my mind.That in this world, age and gender don’t matter.But is that really acceptable?Is it truly all right for this world to be Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint?“Don’t worry, ahjussi.”I spoke to reassure him.“I won’t leave it as-is.”It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Ye Hyunwoo.The boy would keep his promises and protect people.The problem was what came after.From here on out, every enemy would aim for his life—just like the main story’s Kim Dokja, who paid so many prices.[The Constellation, ‘Crimson Mountain Lord’ glares at the incarnation ‘Ye Hyunwoo.’][The Constellation, ‘Snake That Sheds Its Tail’ snorts at ‘Ye Hyunwoo’s’ statement.][A very small number of constellations find the incarnation ‘Ye Hyunwoo’ arrogant.]Perhaps it had already begun.Those hostile to Ye Hyunwoo.The constellations of the Odukhyeop. Nearby great-figure constellations baring their fangs at him.Amidst threats rising from all sides, Ye Hyunwoo’s face went a shade paler, but he still didn’t retreat.[The incarnation ‘Ye Hyunwoo’ activates ‘Lie Detection’!]He actually took a step closer to the center of Chungmuro and made an offer.“To those who support me becoming representative first—I will grant benefits commensurate with that support. And to those ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) who don’t agree—”[‘Lie Detection’ confirms this statement is true.]“There will be absolutely no disadvantage. One way or another, I will protect everyone here.”He must have known.One misstep here and he could die.He could incur the constellations’ hatred, be betrayed by people.But Ye Hyunwoo didn’t flinch and chose courage.Likely because he had read Kim Dokja’s story that intently.[Sub Scenario — ‘Representative Election’ begins.]But he still hadn’t fully grasped it.This world was no longer the ORV he knew.+Type: SubDifficulty: CClear Condition: Seize the “white flag” installed at the center of the platform.Time Limit: 30 minutesReward: 1,000 coins; Representative of Chungmuro.Failure: —The station’s representative may exercise powerful control over their members.+With the message, a white flag appeared at the center of Chungmuro Station.Up to that point, events matched the original.“Th-they really put one out!”Cries of surprise rose from the crowd.The problem was the messages that followed.[If the ownership of the white flag does not change for five minutes after acquisition, Chungmuro Station will fall under the control of the flag’s owner.][If the flag is stolen, its owner changes, and the five-minute timer resets.][‘Flag theft’ is recognized by killing the current flag owner.]Even my chest went cold for a moment.A message that hadn’t existed in the original had been added.“Flag theft is recognized by killing the flag owner.”And the flag’s position—was right beside Ye Hyunwoo.With a trembling hand, he reached out. “If there are no objections, I’ll take it.”Looking at that message, anyone might have shrunk back—but as expected, he was decisive. Probably because there was no backing down.“If you touch that now, we’re enemies.”As expected, the Iron-Club Woman—Gu Seona—stepped in. Kim Gyeongsik, the pipe-smoking elder, stood at her side.“We haven’t agreed to you becoming the representative.”They’d reached an instant judgment. At this rate, Ye Hyunwoo would inevitably become Chungmuro’s representative.They wanted to stop that.“Elder Gyeongsik, say a word!”Their “family” backed them up. Taking a drag from his pipe, Kim Gyeongsik spoke.“I heard your speech. But you left out something crucial. Namely, that you are not the only ‘Apostle.’”At his words, the hall fell into confusion again.“Some of you may not know yet, but there isn’t just one Apostle in this world. There are dozens, at minimum, who know the future like that boy. And I am one of them.”[The Constellation, ‘Bald Militia Leader’ drops his jaw.][The Constellation, ‘King Heungmu’ asks if that’s really probability-compliant.]Seizing the timing as incarnations buzzed, Kim Gyeongsik continued,“I know Hyunwoo’s talented. But you’re especially young, even among us. With so little life experience, how will you lead a group?”For the first time, Ye Hyunwoo bristled at the mention of age.“Sir, your real age can’t be that high either.”“Hmph. What’s that supposed to mean? My mental age may be young, but I’m older than you.”“Being older doesn’t guarantee wisdom. And in this world, the crucial ability is how well you remember and use the Revelation.”“I’ve read the Revelation six ti—”“Only six.”Color rose in Kim Gyeongsik’s face.“I’ve read it fifty times.”At that number again, a few readers let out impressed sounds.Fifty was indeed insane.Reading even a single-volume novel fifty times would be mad—Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint spans 551 episodes.“Hold on. If it’s by number of reads…”That was when the readers’ reactions turned strange. Some eyes slid, one by one, toward us.Something clicked late.Among them were those who had seen me confront the Odukhyeop uploader in the Theater Dungeon.Sensing the chance, Gyeong Sein raised his hand.“Um, if read count is the criterion for ‘representative,’ I’ve got something to say.”“Gyeong Sein-ssi, you’re not at this table’s level,” Ye Hyunwoo said, his voice unusually cold.“Right. But I’m not talking about me.”“Then who?”Shuffling, he continued, “As far as I know, there’s someone here who’s read the Revelation over a hundred times.”“What nonsense.”There was an odd edge of anger in Hyunwoo’s tone.Given what we knew, for “Apostles,” completion count was their pride.They even ranked the Seven Apostles by how many times they’d finished the story.“I’ve read the Revelation fifty times. People who’ve read more than me—”“There are a few. You know that.”Officially, the 7th Apostle, Ye Hyunwoo, was “seventh” among the association.Meaning six people had read ORV more than he had.“There are, but none of them are here.”Of those, the only one currently at Chungmuro was the 2nd Apostle, Killer King.But Killer King was out cold from taking the “Essence of the Ellain Forest.”“There is someone here.”[‘Lie Detection’ confirms this statement is true.]“And who would that be?”With a flashy pose, Gyeong Sein pointed both hands at me.Suddenly the center of attention, I gave an awkward smile and a slight bow.Hyunwoo stared as if he couldn’t believe it.“Inho-ssi.”“Yes.”“Is that true?”No need to lie here.I nodded.“Answer frankly. How many times have you read the Revelation, Inho-ssi?”[The incarnation ‘Ye Hyunwoo’ is activating ‘Lie Detection.’]“Well, over a hundred—”He snorted. “You’re joking. No matter how many, there’s no way it’s that—”[‘Lie Detection’ confirms the statement is false.]He looked at me as if to say, See?I finished the sentence he’d cut off.“More than a hundred. One hundred ten? One hundred twenty? Honestly, I never kept count.”[‘Lie Detection’ confirms this statement is true.]Hyunwoo’s expression froze.A heavy silence swept Chungmuro.Some were silent because they couldn’t parse what my words meant; others because they could.Voices rose first from the latter group.“So the rumor… was real?”“There really is a lunatic who read it over a hundred times?”A few readers who already knew my completion count trembled at the lips; Gu Seona and Kim Gyeongsik shook their heads.“He’s not Kim Dokja, but he’s definitely as unhinged as Kim Dokja.”“Hearing it again, it’s still bizarre. Did Kim Dokja read Extermination Law that many times too?”Even Hyunwoo, calm till now, couldn’t hide his agitation this time.With a trembling voice, he said,“Officially, there is only one person in this world who has read the Revelation over a hundred times. Inho-ssi… are you, perhaps…”For the first time, a faint ripple showed in his eyes.“The head of the Apostles’ Association… the ‘1st Apostle’?”Looks like an unwanted mistaken-identity arc is about to kick off.

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