Post — Aaron Ngo

Major Spoilers are included in this Webnovel Review. Please read with caution.

On November 3, 2020, I started reading Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Chapter 5: “Warden of the Dark” and finished the last part of Chapter 5 on November 17, 2020. I’m adjusting to reading this Webnovel weekly—without using Free Pass to stay consistent with readers who don’t use Free Pass either for the sake of these reviews—and it’s a bigger struggle than reading unOrdinary Webtoon weekly without Free Pass.

Chapter 5 followed Kim Dokja and his main team— Yoo Sangah, Lee Hyunsung, Han Myungoh, and Lee Gilyoung—in addition to Huiwong Jeong going monster hunting to complete the next scenario. Inho Cheon accepted Dokja’s group of going on this monster hunt only if Han Myungoh was allowed to join as a representative of his group. This caused some things about the “old world—our world” needing readjustments to fit the new world.

For example, how everyone thinks women and child are physically weak. This issue came up when Lee Hyunsung suggested that Gilyoung, Sangah, and Jeong get sent back if things become too dangerous. Dokja Kim, however, states that shouldn’t be a problem—adding that “saying women and children are weak is prejudice”—because anyone can become strong if they just increase their stats high enough.

Gilyoung revealed his ability to communicate with insects as proof of Dokja’s claim about raising one’s stats to become strong. I liked how brave Gilyoung was being in this crisis, but at the same time, it was sad to see how his childhood innocence was taken away so he can better handle this situation. Dokja rubbing the top of his head felt appropriate.

Dokja also revealed realistically he doesn’t expect everyone to survive, but he hopes everyone does their best to stay alive. Dokja didn’t want to sound cruel—he did—but he was also being honest with them, as the added “Please” indicated that he wished for them to survive.

The action sequence that followed with everyone hunting monsters with crafted weapons was awesome. Dokja’s “gamer player” envy of Lee Hyunsung’s premium starter pack after the action sequence was also a realistic reaction to learning why someone is pretty strong without trying.

I have also felt this level of envy when playing gacha games, and seeing everyone with awesome stuff using little or no money while I spend a fortunate—like Dokja—on getting those stats powered up. Moments like these where Dokja is allowed to be lighthearted are good reminders that he hadn’t sacrificed his humanity yet.

The self-aware moment at the end of Chapter 5 Part 1 though, when everyone questioned Dokja if he knew anything about the situation they’re currently in and how Dokja knew—from a Reader’s Viewpoint—that he needed to be put in a situation where he didn’t have answer any questions was a such brilliant scene. I do love how Dokja keeps using reading skills to predict what’s going to happen next.

Chapter 5 Part 2 deals with Han Myungoh and Yoo Sangah getting taken by a monster. Dokja and Gilyoung decide to follow after them, but they left Lee Hyunsung and Huiwong Jeong behind because Jeong was “tired”, which might be connected to her murderous tendencies manifesting. Either that, or Dokja was being a jerk. Sometimes, that dude is a jerk. Gilyoung also called Dokja out for intentionally letting the monster take Myungoh and Sangah instead of helping them when he had a clear chance to do something about it.

Gilyoung also showed maturity when he learned from Dokja that he allowed the capture to happen because he needed the ground rats to dig a hole for him to follow; he also believed the ground rat would take only Myungoh and not Sangah too. Gilyoung accepted this reasoning because he believed in Dokja, and my heart went thumping of awe! Dokja, on the other hand, is worried that evil adults will take advantage of the boy’s maturity in the future.

Gilyoung’s kiddish optimism was still intact though, when he asked whether Dokja was a God or a Protagonist. He wanted to believe there would be a wish or reward at the end of this mess, choosing to believe this will all eventually end once they claim the prize. Holding onto that last shred of hope was likely Gilyoung’s last connection to his childhood innocence. Dokja’s response—without showing his “bad liar” face—was that he felt lucky Gilyoung couldn’t see the expression on his face right now when he said, “You’re right.”

Han Myungoh and Yoo Sangah’s gross situation was next, with their issues from the old world coming up when Myungoh revealed himself to be a creepy “nice guy” stalker.

The Warden of the Dark—the villain of the scenario and a Tier 7 Demonic Species—was also drawn quite menacing. Gilyoung’s reaction—taking mental damage—to the villain’s appearance and his bugs exploding in its presence was portrayed realistically. I added dark Attack On Titan OST music to the epic cliffhanger showdown between Dokja and The Warden of the Dark. Listening to Attack On Titan is making me want to rewatch that anime soon.

Sangah’s ability to understand the Warden of the Dark was revealed in this fight scene. Dokja was amazed at how Sangah’s natural abilities—being able to speak Spanish and Demonic Language—shined even during Apocalyptic times. The graphic animation of the Warden sticking a tentacle deep in Han Myungoh’s mouth was also amazingly drawn, and also super disturbing when you realize the Warden of the Dark forcibly impregnating Myungoh is lowkey anal rape.

Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’s art style imitating Persona 5 / Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth animation—and now resembling NEO: The World Ends With You video game coming out in summer 2021—worked especially brilliantly in these fight scenes. Adding OST music makes it super easy with this Webnovel due to Sleepy-C’s style; being able to set the dark tone to my liking is something I’d only recommend if one can handle the immersion.

I also enjoyed the investments Dokja made in Chapter 3 coming into play for this scary action sequence, with Dokja crafting his new sword weapon to fight the Warden of the Dark not as a swordsman, but as a reader.

“A reader should fight like a reader”—finally someone’s talking my language.

The animation art style of Lee Hyunsung’s shadow overlaying Dokja was gorgeous, and something I’m excited to keep seeing in future fight scenes. I really do enjoy this aspect of Bookmark, and how Dokja borrows from others to achieve proficiently like a true reader.

“How did you know where I’d attack…?” The Warden of the Dark asked in his dying moments.

“You just… have to read a lot,” Dokja answered, sounding like a Protagonist.

That’s the most outstanding line to end the chapter on. I’m stealing that line in the future. What an epic way to conclude Chapter 5. This was a beautiful and tight chapter with great character development for Gilyoung, Dokja, Myungoh, and Sangah. The other characters—Lee Hyunsung and Huiwong Jeong—were utilized creatively in this chapter as well to explore realistic themes and situations that will thought-provoke IRL Webnovel readers.

Thanks for reading this Webnovel chapter review, everyone! Let’s keep it reading carefully into Chapter 6.

Take care,

NGO DM (Dokja Master) AA

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