Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Volumes 6 and 7 Review
Noemi10 •
In the previous volume, we left Dokja Kim and his people in the middle of facing the fourth main scenario—capture the flag—where they need to conquer tube stations, and the more they have under their control, the more likely Dokja is to become one of the kings of Seoul. But a group of people who call themselves the oracles – and then the renouncers – throw a wrench in his plans. So what’s the solution he comes up with? Pretend to be Junghyeok Yu!
With the help of Myeongoh and Hyeinseong, Dokja (pretending to be Jungyeok) makes his way to meet the renouncers, whom he finds out are people who read a few chapters of Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse so they are not considered characters…yet. The oracles are the people who have read most of the novel (according to them) and they know how it will end. However, there is animosity between the oracles and the renouncers, and this ends up involving Dokja in their plans. When they cause a disaster from the next main scenario to appear earlier than supposed to, Dokja knows there are only a few options left to make sure he and his comrades survive: he’ll need to undertake the path of the king!
Meanwhile, the real Junghyeok Yu is following his own path, which is bound to clash with Dokja’s. In fact, as Dokja is the only true reader of the novel from start to finish, he knows what’s important for Junghyeok and how he’ll react even before the novel’s protagonist does. So, when family gets involved, Dokja knows he needs to act sooner rather than later to allow Junghyeok to keep a resemblance of humanity.
The climax of the fourth scenario might bring more troubles than it’s worth. Dokja knows though that it’s the only way forward, even if the rest of Seoul will not see it the same way!
Both volumes cover the arc of the fourth main scenario—capture the flag—and they see its conclusion, opening a new door for following volumes to showcase the consequences of Dokja’s actions, for the sake of the world and for Junghyeok’s sake. In the story so far, Dokja has been able to find people who are loyal to him and are willing to follow him in every bizarre action he undertakes, even if it doesn’t make sense to them. Dokja has never tried to become a leader—the only thing he wanted was to survive and see it through to the end of the novel. However, it’s his way of doing things that attracts both people and constellations to him.
Junghyeok’s presence is not as prominent in the story right now although he makes quite a few appearances, as technically he’s still the protagonist of the novel the world turned into. He’s getting stronger and he has some sort of loose alliance with Dokja, although he’s not ready to admit he finds Dokja interesting. He’s still a ‘kill first and ask questions later’ type of protagonist. Dokja’s personality doesn’t help as he’s not above conning people and make them do his bidding, even if that person is Junghyeok.
Another character is introduced who makes the novel’s story derail: the first oracle. Dokja is suspicious of who this person is because he knows no one else has read the full novel other than himself. So how can someone else know facts that shouldn’t be known yet? Dokja is on the hunt, and it doesn’t take him too long to figure out who is concealed behind the mask of the first oracle. If they will become an asset or an enemy in the future is still to be seen, but having got to know Dokja’s personality, I don’t doubt that he’ll turn the situation to his advantage.
The series continues to be action-packed from start to finish. The characters are thrown into scenario after scenario—whether it’s a main or sub scenario—and they need to fight their way through it to survive. Dokja’s people are growing stronger, and he starts to realise he can count on them to obtain the best possible clear of a scenario. As the series is based on survival, the illustrations don’t shy away from violence and blood, but I wouldn’t call it too gory. The only flaw I need to point out for these volumes that cover the fourth main scenario is that some of the battles are based on historical facts, so readers who are not familiar with Korean history might be confused. There are translation notes at the end of each volume, but there is no indication throughout the story that this information is available until the readers reach the end.
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint is written by singNsong. It started as a web novel before being adapted into a web comic with illustrations by Sleepy-C and adaptation by UMI (REDICE STUDIO). The web manhwa is ongoing on Webtoon and Ize Press releases the series in print format. Volumes 8 and 9 are already out, with #10 due in May.
Our review copies were supplied by Ize Press.
