Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The room was loud with crying children, at least one soldier, and the endless murmur of stories talking over each other. My body was fed by their shared stories until the incarnation body was restored, whole, and no longer the appearance of a child.

It was tempting to think of it as 'too easy', but as Han Suyeong provided the rough details of the final successful act, and the party told random details of their last several years of struggle, I realized the convenience was entirely on my behalf. My companions had all paid more than enough probability to justify my return.

So I pat them on the head, thanked them, turned my eyes away from their tears, and tried to ignore the impulse to expect the worst, build up plan after plan after plan for the moment they would inevitably be needed.

Seven days later the genre of my life changed again.

+

[Personal Scenario #1 - Catch Up 1 ]

Category: Private

Difficulty: F

Clear Conditions: Obtain at least 1 romantic kiss. Further kisses will receive additional compensation.

Time Limit: 1 day

Compensation: 100 koins per kiss.

Failure: 24 Hour Lust Effect

+

It turned out this way. Making plans wouldn't have helped. Who could possibly have anticipated this?

I stared at the scenario screen, rubbed at my eyes, read it again, and finally closed the window.

I would just ignore it. I didn't understand, but the compensation was too low, the difficulty was insulting, and the failure cost was easily avoided. Even in the worst case scenario, ignoring it would be negligible, so why not ignore it?

Most likely it was a prank anyway.

I put on my white coat and shoved the strange scenario window to the back of my mind and opened my door with a determined optimism.

Unfortunately, at that moment there was a furious shriek from down the hall.

"Jihye? Do you see it too?"

"Huiwon-unni! It's a dream, right? It's a dream!"

"Yuseung, what's yours say?"

"Go die, I'll never tell you."

"It's something disgusting, isn't it?"

As expected, I wasn't the only one who has received a [Personal Scenario]. Jeong Huiwon and the children spilled into the hall from their respective rooms and began to panic immediately.

"Oh! I know, it's a joke! Biyu is behind this, isn't she?" Surprisingly, Yi Jihye was quick on the uptake in her search for an explanation. There were few existences still alive who might be able to rig something like this even as a joke, but the Dokkaebi King was certainly at the top of the list.

At her suggestion, the eyes of the party all found me; imploring, angry, confused.

I sighed. "Don't look at me. I don't know anything either."

"Isn't she your child?" Yi Jihye had already decided on the culprit.

"Don't decide on the criminal already. We'll see what she says."

------

"What are you accusing me of? This is prejudice."

Everyone had seen the scenario windows, and each member of the party was dealing with it in their own way. The loudest were the four I had run into on the way out of my room, but Yi Hyeonseong was rigid with obvious discomfort, Uriel was furiously typing away at her phone with a look of pure frustration, and Han Suyeong and Yu Junghyeok glowered with opposing temperatures from separate corners.

"No one's accusing you." Indeed, if it was just me I might believe Biyu was playing a game, but I don't think she'd involve the entire party like this. "But you know something, don't you?"

Biyu let out a pouting huff from where she leaned against a table, she pressed her fingers together and chose her words carefully. "All I can tell you is that... it feels as if an arm of the Star Stream has revived."

The words moved like a wave throughout everyone in the room.

"What does that mean?"

Yu Junghyeok was the first to find his voice. Though I expected him to be angry, the tone at least was calm.

"There's no 'streaming', at least not yet. I still can't open a channel even if I try. So these scenarios aren't for anyone to watch, or if anyone is watching, it's from a mechanism separate from the dokkaebi. But... I can feel the probability shifting to create the scenarios again."

Biyu answered Yu Junghyeok clearly, then asked her own question. "You know what this is, don't you?"

Yu Junghyeok's eyes shook, but he closed his mouth.

A room of shocked stares converged on the protagonist.

"Master?"

"Junghyeok-ssi, what is she--"

Yu Junghyeok seemed to be looking for words, but it was another voice that cut through the muttered confusion.

"It was us." Han Suyeong, spoke from where she sat. Her eyes were dark and defensive. "It was always a risk."

Jeong Huiwon brows narrowed angrily. "What do you mean? What risk?" Han Suyeong and Jeong Huiwon had gotten closer over the years, as far as I could tell, but they still had clashing personalities.

"How did we save Kim Dokja?"

All eyes turned to me. It was a bit uncomfortable. I smiled awkwardly.

"We created a New Dream." Han Suyeong explained it simply.

The light of understanding moved through the eyes of each member of the party one after another. Jeong Huiwon looked horrified, Yi Jihye was surprised, the kids exchanged looks and in a rare moment of unspoken agreement nodded in determination, my mother smiled slightly into her tea.

"Holy shit, it's like that??" Uriel finally jerked her head up from her phone.

"I..I'm sorry," Yi Hyeonseong flustered. "I don't understand, why has that…"

"Think of it like fanfiction." Han Suyeong was an author so maybe it was natural of her to think of it this way. "Kim Dokja dreamed of reaching the end of his favorite book, so this world began. But now there is a new dreamer with the same ability, only their dream is a bit different."

Understanding finally began to dawn in Yi Hyeonseong's eyes, but his response was buried under the sound of a slamming door as Yu Junghyeok stormed away.

------

No one went after Yu Junghyeok, it was obviously dangerous.

Instead we exchanged information to determine what was going on. It seemed everyone's [Personal Scenario] was, as the name implied, unique. Yi Gilyeong had to ask someone out, while Shin Yuseung had to actually go on a date. The set up was so obvious I was embarrassed for them.

Han Suyeong laughed, "Even the reader who loves cliches is offended."

I decided to be contrary.

"It's a little cute."

The children both stared at me in betrayal.

They weren't all like that, though. Yi Jihye's was to read a popular manga, it explained why she hadn't been more upset until now. Yi Hyeonseong must try a new hobby. Jeong Huiwon wouldn't explain hers beyond "Something must be addressed." Han Suyeong would only say "It is something similar" while glaring at me and crunching a lemon candy.

I felt a bit like I'd become the villain?

Could this be called my fault?

I wanted to make a joke about it but actually I could feel my heart shivering as I contemplated the idea. This was the trouble of the [4th Wall] being gone. Since I returned it felt like I was always full to bursting and any new emotion was enough to threaten for something to come pouring out. I regretted all the times I'd taken its help for granted.

"Everyone, this is because of--"

Han Suyeong made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat and raised her voice. "Does anyone here want to hear this?"

"Hear what? Ahjussi apologize for being alive again?"

"Can't he ever apologize for the inconsistent bonuses?"

"Hyeong didn't even do anything."

"Ahjussi, this was our will, we're the ones who have to take responsibility this time."

My incarnation spoke such grownup words, and the party once again forgave me though I felt their logic was off. I had to smile so that I didn't make any other face.

I decided to move the conversation forward. "In that case, does everyone know what to do? It doesn't seem like anyone's received anything dangerous."

Various heads nodded slowly. But one pierced me with a shrewd look. "You still haven't told us yours." It was Han Suyeong, of course she'd be nosy.

"I have to reread my favorite book."

Naturally, I lied.

"Just that?!" Fortunately, she seemed to buy it. Her indignant face said she wanted to throw something at me. "You should at least have to read something new!"

"Maybe that will be next."

At the mention of 'next' several people looked alarmed. Jeong Huiwon sat up from her musings. "...this is just the start, isn't it?"

"This is new territory even for me…" I shot an uncertain glance at Han Suyeong and could tell she was thinking the same thing. "But, it must be. There's no reason to assume there will be only one personal scenario. There might also be an end to it but we can't know yet how strictly the New Dream's interests will follow the themes of the original."

"It might be possible to learn something." Someone spoke up from my side, and a moment later a warm and soft touch pressed on my cheek. I happened to be looking at Shin Yuseung and Yi Gilyeong at the time, and they wore matching expressions of startle outrage.

"Aha! I've cleared my very first scenario!" Sounding delighted, Biyu clapped her hands and smugly reviewed a screen only she could read.

Oh, so it was like that. I stared at her and touched my cheek where the kiss had landed. My heart felt strange. "Even you've been given a scenario?"

"Mmhm. Don't accuse me of being behind this again, but I think it sounds fun? And it seems as the Dokkaebi King I still have certain privileges." Biyu smiled at me in a knowing way that made me nervous. "For now, I think everyone should stay calm and follow your scenarios. I'll dig into things a bit and report back once I know more."

I nodded and thanked her. "Before you go, can you tell me if this is happening only to us?"

"You don't need to ask me to know the answer to that."

As if she had been thinking the same thing, Jeong Huiwon clicked on the television in the corner to the news, which was broadcasting about the phenomena. A bold and dramatic headline called it "The Return of the Scenario".

------

Eventually, I couldn't avoid it and went to go find Yu Junghyeok.

It was no surprise to find him training brutally in a small courtyard on the outskirts of the complex. It was a comfortable area that had been converted over the years to look a bit like a 'Small Murim', with trees and packed dirt surrounding training halls and an occasional food stall.

Yu Junghyeok hadn't spoken more than fifty words to me since my return, but I thought that was natural. In the time since I'd last seen him, his hair started to show a dusting of grey and his muscles had waned from lack of use. Han Suyeong had told me she didn't know how long his mission beyond the story had gone on, but having watched him across thousands of world-lines, I knew this wouldn't happen until his current body had hit at least one hundred years.

My feelings were complicated.

With the way Yu Junghyeok was ripping apart the air itself with the movements of his blade, I guessed his were as well.

After waiting a few moments, I realized he would likely be at this for hours and there was no sense in interrupting him while he was working out his aggression, so I took a seat under a tree nearby and pulled out my phone.

The New Scenarios were afflicting the entire world, but not the entire population. Very rough estimates were quite high, though, suggesting that close to 90% of the population over the age of 16 had received some kind of scenario. All sources seemed to agree that no one under that age had received one, so it appeared to be a hard cut off that wasn't targeting kids.

It was surprising, given how innocuous the scenarios had been so far. I guessed it was a good thing but it somehow just underscored the cruelty of the previous scenarios for forcing the involvement of Gilyeong and Yuseung.

[The 4th Wall is shaking.]

--there was no such message, but lately I heard it in my head when the shaking was actually from within my chest.

Impromptu polls had begun going up all over the web, and most pointed to Personal Scenarios all starting at around the F or D rank, however a few outliers had reported B, A, or even S ranked challenges. Failure conditions that resulted in 'Death' were nearly unheard of, and most of them had either a monetary cost or a 'Status Effect' for punishment. Meanwhile, compensation rewards were all in Koins; the new currency that was virtually identical to the old but unique enough that anyone who had Coins leftover from the previous scenarios would find them useless.

In short, I was poor again.

For the moment, it didn't matter. No one had found a way to spend Koins, but it was reasonable to assume it would come.

With the overall situation highlighted, I check on various things. I didn't want to take any calls so dozens of messages went to voicemail, but since these scenarios seemed harmless I didn't mind putting it off. I responded to emails and some texts, and realized I had somehow become an authority on this kind of situation? Everyone seemed to think I must know what was happening and how to stop it.

I wanted to tell them this wasn't a genre I was familiar with. Really, they would be better off consulting a fan of romance.

-----

"Kim Dokja."

A long shadow was cast by the afternoon light and I realized I'd completely lost track of time while digging up information on the new scenarios. Yu Junghyeok had finally completed his exhaustive regimen however many times and stood with the slight breeze cooling the sweat on his bare chest.

I realized I hadn't actually figured out what I should say to him.

"What's your scenario?"

Yu Junghyeok considered me for a long moment. Over the years as the Most Ancient Dream I had plenty of time to get familiar with his face and realized that he wasn't as angry as often as it seemed, sometimes his face was just like that.

Because I was so familiar, I could now be sure that he was absolutely furious. It was a wonder he'd completed his exercises without blowing anything up.

Well, I had already decided to endure it.

"Tell me yours first." He demanded.

Naturally, I lied.

[Incarnation ‘Yu Junghyeok’ has used the ‘Lie Detection’ skill.]

[Lie Detection has confirmed that your statement is false.]

Shit. This paranoid bastard.

An already dark face became like a thundercloud and I lifted my hands and smiled.

"It doesn't matter what it is. You don't want to talk about yours either, right?" If I was right, there was no way the protagonist didn't get something he'd find humiliating.

"Why did you ask, then?"

"Of course I'm still curious. But the stakes on these are low, it shouldn't be bad even if we don't talk about them."

This seemed to relax Yu Junghyeok, who slowly crossed his arms and nodded.

"What are your plans?"

"What makes you think I have plans?"

Yu Junghyeok didn't think I was funny and stared me down.

"...we really don't know enough, yet. And this isn't like before. I don't know this future."

A slight frown tugged at the corner of Yu Junghyeok's mouth. "Then you intend to do nothing?"

"For now I intend to gather information. Biyu is investigating with her own means, and I have some ideas to test."

The frown deepened. "Do not do something stupid, Kim Dokja."

He really was paranoid, what could I even do that was that stupid in this situation?

"I won't forgive you if you die again."

I was a bit touched, though the murderous tone he said it with made it hard to take seriously. "These early scenarios at least don't have anything remotely threatening. Yours is the same, right? Are you planning to not do it?"

Strangely, Yu Junghyeok looked uncomfortable and his gaze shifted away. After a long moment he replied, "There is no time limit."

Oh?

"That's rare." I had seen some polls that said that maybe 2% were in a similar situation. "That might be good? As long as you never clear that scenario, you won't have to go back worrying about them?"

I read confusion on Yu Junghyeok's face and continued.

"No one has suffered from the scenarios more than you. And I--" Why was it difficult to put these thoughts into words? Again, I missed the [4th Wall]. "After everything, finally you should be able to live freely. It's a loophole, but the effect may be the same?"

Yu Junghyeok didn't respond so I kept talking. It felt like fumbling to light a match in the dark.

"--But like I said. It's too early. Biyu says it feels like 'an arm of the Star Stream was revived'. But we don't know when or if the other arms will revive. There could be a loophole to the loophole. It's too optimistic to think you could just sit out, but while that's an option you should definitely--"

"If I don't participate in the scenarios, what should I do?"

The interruption was abrupt, and strangely sincere. There was a flat light in Yu Junghyeok's eyes I couldn't identify.

"Um. Whatever you want?"

After countless years of brutal scenarios guiding every step of his life, the protagonist finally could do anything at all. Wasn't that obvious?

But that flat light dimmed further.

It was the wrong answer, but I couldn't think of another.

After several long moments of looking inside himself, Yu Junghyeok turned away and walked back into the complex. "Then, I will decide."

I floundered. It hadn't gone badly if he hadn't even pointed a sword at me. But what was this sunfish talking about now?

It was tempting to direct Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint at his fleeting back, but I managed to resist. There was plenty of other work to focus on.

-----

The day blurred into night and into morning again. I harvested whatever data I could, and worked with Han Suyeong to draw up spreadsheets and notes.

As the sun began to rise again and while Han Suyeong was yawning hugely between sips of a syrupy coffee, a screen flashed in front of my face.

[You have failed to clear the scenario.]

[Payment will begin.]

There was a brief, burning sensation at the back of my brain, it felt a bit like eating wasabi.

Chapter Text

"You're surprisingly proficient at this?"

From her place across the table, Han Suyeong swore at me. "What the hell is 'surprising' about it? Does anything about this set up seem that clever to you? It's in hundreds of fanfics."

"Is that so? I guess Ways to Survive didn't have any…"

"Whose fault is that?"

I grinned at her disgruntlement, but naturally, I'm only a reader. I probably would have been overjoyed if someone had written something like that, but the idea never occurred to my younger self.

It was just before dawn and the clock was ticking away on my first [Personal Scenario] but I wasn't bothered. Thanks to the speed of the internet there were already reports rolling in across the world on all sorts of things, including what to expect from the many different possible [Effects]. It sounded bothersome but not as much as completing the scenario would be.

"...you look pleased."

There was a wary note in Han Suyeong's voice and I realized she'd gone on staring at me as I made my notes.

"Do I?"

"Yes. Are you enjoying this?"

I thought about it. "It's a bit nostalgic?"

I thought Han Suyeong might understand. The hand drawn graphs, the notebooks full to the margins, the dozens of pages of unanswered questions. I didn't have a lot of happy memories from my childhood but something like this surely was among them.

-----

[Lust Effect has been applied, it will remain in effect for 24 hours.]

After bickering and brainstorming with Han Suyeong well into the morning, I yawned and made my excuses to leave.

"Hm? You're going to sleep now?" Han Suyeong stretched and her tank top clung to her narrow frame. "Are you still weak?"

The sleep wasn't actually the issue.

"We've got a lot of information for now. I want to think about it a bit. Can you distribute the details to the party?"

"Tch, making me do your errands?"

"It's because you're the most reliable."

"If you're going to bribe me, don't just use words." She placed a lemon candy between her lips while frowning at me.

"But I'm poor? I'll repay you later."

I promised with a smile and left her grumbling cutely behind me.

It was a problem, she really was attractive. I'd noticed a while ago but it was better to not notice.

-----

Some hours later, someone was banging at my door.

"Hyeong, did you get the message? Aren't you coming?"

I rubbed the crust away from my eyes and reviewed the various screens that appeared in front of me.

[A new scenario is being prepared.]

[Due to previous failure, difficulty will be lowered.]

What was lower than F? Not that I agreed with the ranking system.

+

[Personal Scenario #.5 - Baby Steps]

Category: Private

Difficulty: F-

Clear Conditions: Hold hands with a romantic interest for at least 5 minutes.

Time Limit: 12 hours

Compensation: 100 Koins

Failure: [Help Status] will be mandatorily triggered.

*If the participant is unable to clear F- rank difficulty, or fails multiple Personal Scenarios in succession, future Personal Scenarios may be categorized as Public.

+

...so it was going to be like that.

Somehow, though the scenarios were implicitly painless, I was feeling more bullied than before?

There was another message waiting.

[You have received a Party Scenario]

So it was time for this already. I got to my feet and pulled on my white coat while reading it.

+

[Party Scenario - Spontaneous Picnic]

Category: Limited

Difficulty: D

Clear Conditions: Enjoy a picnic with other members of . Picnic must involve food, drink, and fresh air.

Compensation: 150 Koins

Failure: FOMO

+

...so it would be fine to skip it?

"Hyeong! Are you dead again? I'll break down the door to check!"

This cheeky brat…

I opened the door and Yi Gilyeong drew back a little at my smile, but he didn't lose his nerve. No, there was an excited light in his eyes that hadn't dimmed. "You saw it, right? You'll go?"

I touched the top of his head.

His height was past my chin now? When had this happened?

I wondered how I could have felt so many years and yet still fumble every time I remembered the tiny handful I'd missed.

I smiled more kindly. "When are we leaving?"

-----

The preparations had all been handled during my nap, and I followed the party to a park deep within the complex.

"Was this always here?" I asked, feeling a bit mystified.

"Yes?" Aileen laughed. "You never properly looked around, didn't you? How many times did I find you lost in your own town?"

It was a bit embarrassing when she put it like that.

"Who's town?" Thankfully, Han Suyeong had a complaint. "We're renaming it the Han Suyeong Industrial Complex next week. I'm staging a coup."

I was skeptical. "Weren't you looking just as surprised to see this place?"

"Well--" She fumbled. "I knew we had parks. Who has to know about every single one?"

"Let's rename it the Aileen Makerfield Industrial Complex."

"I don't want it? How much more work will you give me if my name's on it?"

It was a good park. I recalled that in this world-line, the complex had been thriving for two… almost three decades? There was a small waterfall flowing into a pond, surrounded by rugged grass and full trees. Blankets were spread out and food was passed around. So many members of the nebula had turned out that everyone naturally broke up into smaller parties to catch up on various things.

I let the children occupy most of my time.

Shin Yuseung claimed my left side and Yi Gilyeong the right, and we shared some surprisingly delicious dumplings while they talked about random things.

I had to promise to go to a PC Bang soon, and Yi Gilyeong was enjoying having the benefits of the Star Stream again. Shin Yuseung looked uncertain but neither of us could argue with the convenience of having skills and stats. They both agreed the scenarios were a bother and changed the subject when I brought it up.

I asked if they had made any other friends their age, and a look passed between the two of them.

"Why bother?"

"It's a little…"

"Everyone our age around here was born after the scenarios."

Shin Yuseung nodded, and I felt an echo of loneliness through our bond.

Come to think of it, I thought of them as 'children', but if I did the math, weren't they both close to twenty by now? Even if their bodies were a bit behind.

"It must be difficult." I pet them both of their heads and even though they should be almost adults now, they seemed to perk up.

They were still enrolled in a local school but the adults had been encouraging them into looking at moving onto university soon. Supposedly they both had all kinds of offers due being survivors of the scenarios and members of Kim Dokja's Company.

"We can go anywhere we want? I bet we could even go for free if we wanted!" Gilyeong said it like a boast.

"You probably can…" I agreed, looking between them. "Will you go together?"

I tried to make my question sound innocent but Yi Gilyeong turned red and Shin Yuseong's face flattened.

"It's not like that, ahjussi."

"Even hyeong is always--"

"But even so, obviously we'll go together."

"--eh?"

There was a decisive tone in Yuseung's voice that caught me off guard, but Gilyeong even more so.

"What..? Saying shit like that… you didn't even accept the date?!"

Yuseung scowled. "This and that are different."

"How are they different?!"

"How are they similar?"

Because one child was a bit simple and the other was my incarnation, I felt like I could read the situation fairly clearly. Still, it was better not to interfere.

I extracted myself from their argument and wandered amid the other groups.

Yi Hyeonseong was telling Yi Jihye and Gong Pildu about a stool he'd finished this morning. Apparently he'd had a hobby in mind that he meant to try out anyway and the scenario had simply provided an excuse.

"Make a good line of them and maybe I'll let you furnish my new apartment building."

"Haha, well I don't know about…"

Naturally, Gong Pildu was already thinking of a scam, but maybe it wasn't a bad idea. Carpentry seemed almost like a cliche for a personality like Yi Hyeonseong, but I still thought it suited him. Like Yu Junghyeok, he'd maintained his shape even after the need for it and was still in his prime.

A bit further down, Jeong Huiwon was being teased by a relentless Yi Seolhwa. I was curious what the usually reserved doctor might be saying to fluster the confident Jeong Huiwon, but after seeing her blushing face I had to pause.

The [Lust Effect] seemed to be more or less as expected. Irritating but nothing that couldn't be controlled. Much like how the previous Star Stream didn't simply force everyone to lose their consciousness and become mindless killing machines, there was no way this kind of effect would be something beyond will power.

Still, I always felt a bit disgusting when my thoughts became like this.

I'd catch up with them later.

-----

After a number of other passing encounters, I found the last member of the party past the noise of the waterfall, watching everyone from the sidelines and periodically typing into her phone. She had a hoodie on despite the warm day and two burning wings were embroidered into the back.

"It's a nice design."

Uriel had been engrossed and startled as I spoke from behind her. She seemed confused and I gestured toward her back.

"The wings? Is it your own merch?"

Uriel's surprise slowly subsided and she lifted a hand in an awkward wave. "It's Huiwon's, actually?"

"Hoodie?"

Uriel looked a little embarrassed. "Merch."

I laughed a little. It was true, she had been the most well known of us for a time. "Is her popularity still good?"

She turned her thumb down. "We were gone barely for a blink and the bastards started forgetting who saved them already? I brought this back from the other world-line."

It seemed alright so I took a seat next to her. Her hands fluttered awkwardly and she looked away but she didn't flee.

"It's natural, humans have short memories."

She clicked her tongue. "Huiwon said she doesn't want the limelight anymore anyway, so I let them get away with it."

"...what were you going to do otherwise?"

"Ummm… well. Probably it would've involved fire?"

As the words collected between us, she gradually relaxed, and I dared to steal a few glances at her face.

Naturally, an archangel from Eden was beautiful. But Uriel in particular had a spark that couldn't be shadowed even if she went around in hoodies and track pants. I had probably never once looked at her directly without losing my breath a bit.

But that was how I always felt. That was the effect of Uriel herself, not some [Status Effect].

I was also able to gradually relax.

"What do you think of the new scenarios?"

"That if this is the cost of having Kim Dokja back, I'll gladly pay it for eternity."

It was such a sudden and calm declaration, I could only stare at her.

"I wasn't really…"

She smiled and lifted her hands, almost like she wanted to grab my face but stopped halfway. "I know, but I think what I said is the important part?"

I didn't understand. Wasn't it frustrating?

"Eh, so maybe I have to do some embarrassing things or it's just annoying to be bossed around by the shitty Star Stream again, but who fucking cares? After everything else, this price is really cheap?"

How was it cheap?

I wanted to argue but I didn't think it was my place. If someone who had risked her life time and time again to reach this place had embraced it, I could only accept my shame.

When I didn't respond immediately Uriel flushed and looked back over the picnic. "A-and, if you want to destroy it again, we can! But! Only if you figure out a way where Kim Dokja survives with us. If you can't promise that, I won't help you."

I was realizing that Uriel was a lot more dangerous in person. In the future I would have to only text her.

"In that case, Uriel…" it took a few minutes to gather my thoughts, but then I held out a hand. "Will you help me with my scenario?"

------

Some time later the party dispersed.

I filled a bag with garbage and got lost looking for a place to throw it out.

I wanted a walk anyway. My thoughts were messy.

「 "It would be better if you asked Yu Junghyeok?"

Her strong right hand clasped my left. I thought she must be warmer than a normal person, but even in the spring sun it was pleasant.

"Are you still misunderstanding about that…?"

"How is it a misunderstanding?"

How wasn't it one?

"Have you tried it?"

"Of course not."

"Why not?"

"Why would I try it?"

Uriel's tongue clicked. "You should try it once. I'm sure you'll like it."

Even imagining Yu Junghyeok in Uriel's place was enough to make me want to laugh.

"Sometimes I wonder if you've actually met that bastard?"

I said it as a joke, but her gaze was complicated.

[The story 'One Who is Loved By an Archangel' is whispering to you.]

And after a long moment she smiled.

"Just try it once." 」

It felt like the warmth hadn't left my hand, and I hid it in my pocket. Even with her strange interests, it was good to talk to Uriel. More than any other constellation she had risked herself and her relationships for our sake, and never asked for a single thing in return.

Probably I would never understand why, but it was impossible to not feel grateful.

Unfortunately, on this occasion she hadn't been able to help.

I sighed and stared at the unfilled [Personal Scenario].

I suspected she wouldn't count as a 'romantic interest' but it was necessary to test the boundaries of what this new Star Stream would allow.

Thanks to the [Lust Effect] I had a good idea of who could qualify for the current scenario, but some of the names on that list were a little suspect?

I wandered a little longer while considering the options.

-----

I felt my plan was alright, but somehow it was evening before I got back to the familiar part of the compound. On my walk I started listening to my stories, and somehow many hours passed?

i

"Shit, time's actually really hard to keep track of?"

I hadn't had to worry about it in so long my consciousness seemed to have forgotten such a thing even existed.

I checked the remaining time as I walked quickly through the various buildings.

[ 15 minutes remaining. ]

There was no shortage of people around, actually the [Industrial Complex] was a popular place. Various areas were rented out to both residential and retail space, and even as the sun set residents milled around. I enjoyed watching it out my window a few times.

But now I realized how many faces and locations there were that I didn't know.

I felt a bit dizzy by the time I finally burst open the doors to the party's HQ. Yi Gilyeong and Shin Yuseung lifted startled heads from a tablet they were both pouring over.

"Hyeong?"

"Ahjussi, is everything--"

My incarnation picked up on my flustered mind. I took a moment to straighten my head out.

"There's nothing. Have either of you seen Han Suyeong?"

The children exchanged glances. "She has a class, doesn't she?"

I felt like cursing.

"Again?"

"Three times a week?"

I checked the clock.

[ 11 minutes remaining. ]

"What about Jeong Huiwon?"

"Dinner with Seolhwa-unni?"

Why did they need to have lunch and dinner together?

I sighed.

"Yi Hyeonseong?"

They shrugged in unison.

At that moment a dark voice spoke from the direction of the adjacent kitchen.

"What have you done this time, Kim Dokja?"

Shit

I turned and smiled automatically at the looming figure in the doorway. He was in a black apron with his jacket removed, leaving his scarred, muscular arms bare. They crossed at his chest and he was clearly in a mood to judge me even though he didn't know anything. The protagonist's face by which all others in this universe were held in comparison to was scowling at me.

Shit damn shit. It was really the worst case scenario.

[ 10 minutes remaining. ]

I smiled.

"Yu Junghyeok, you'll help with my scenario, right?"

Chapter Text

「 "Just try it once." 」

Uriel had left such words of wisdom but I had to wonder if she'd ever try such a thing.

Yu Junghyeok didn't agree to my request, but surprisingly he didn't refuse outright either. He asked what it was and I pushed him into the kitchen and away from the children's curious eyes.

"Kim Dokja."

I could tell I was testing his tolerance, but I still closed the door and dragged him to a couple of bar seats on the other side of a counter before explaining.

"I'll do a palm reading."

Whatever Yu Junghyeok was expecting, it wasn't that. His eyebrow twitched.

"I'm supposed to believe that's your scenario? You don't even have such an ability."

"Obviously it's a game. But did you look at the lists Han Suyeong put out? There's thousands of similarly meaningless scenarios."

He was skeptical, but my words made sense.

"Why were you frantic, then?"

[ 8 minutes remaining. ]

"...I lost track of time."

[Incarnation ‘Yu Junghyeok’ has used the ‘Lie Detection’ skill.]

[Lie Detection has confirmed that your words are true.]

Brat. "Aren't you being overly paranoid?"

"If you lied less it wouldn't be necessary."

"I don't lie that much."

[Incarnation ‘Yu Junghyeok’ has used the ‘Lie Detection’ skill.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' has used the 'Poker Face' skill.]

['Poker Face' has cancelled out the effect of 'Lie Detection'.]

The corner of Yu Junghyeok's mouth ticked up just slightly, and I had to glance away while holding my palm up like he owed me money.

"Just give me your hand, damn sunfish."

He was silent but surprisingly, a moment later, a warm weight settled into my hand.

When I looked it was really there. Yu Junghyeok's scarred and dry hand rested in my own.

It was rather strange? Come to think of it, Ways to Survive had mentioned the protagonist's hands many times. Usually it was something about the weight they carried or the blood that they were stained with. Of course there were also mentions of the callouses he built up, or the perfect dexterity of South Korea's best pro-gamer. And many, many times, it was simply stated that they were both strong and large.

I wondered if Han Suyeong had a fixation on hands?

I turned it over and compared it to the text. There could be no doubt that they were the strongest hands in the world; this was the protagonist, after all. And while I didn't think my hands were especially small, Yu Junghyeok's were certainly bigger. I briefly forgot myself and held my other hand over his, marveling a bit at the difference.

"...Kim Dokja."

Oops.

I smiled and looked at him like I didn't know what was strange.

"Is this a palm reading?"

"Yes, I'm reading it well."

I had the bad suspicion that my cheeks had gotten red and kept my face down as I 'read the palm'.

Now holding Yu Junghyeok's one hand in both of mine, I pressed into the cracking skin with my thumbs.

A nail caught on one of a dozen old scars.

The skin was stiff in many places with callouses.

If I was seriously trying to read his palm lines, they would be hard to tell apart from the debris of a hard lived life.

"You don't use lotion? Your skin is in bad shape."

"Perhaps soon you'll get the 'give someone a manicure' scenario."

That wasn't a bad idea. If I got this scenario again I'd definitely use that excuse next.

I inspected his nails. Surprisingly they were short but very regular and...buffed? "They aren't too bad?"

Yu Junghyeok grunted like he had nothing to say and I grinned. "Yu Miah?"

I felt his status rise like I'd hit a weak point and had to laugh.

"You don't know anything." He warned. There was a low note in his voice when he was irritated but not-quite-angry that seemed to stick between my ears.

"It's cute that you indulge your sister."

I tried to placate him. It was funny but I'd be in trouble if he got too mad and shook me off.

The hand I was holding went stiff and I wondered if I'd made it worse. I had to risk a look at his face.

It wasn't anger.

I saw something I couldn't place in wide eyes, but only briefly before it faded back into the darkness. He scowled.

"Are you done?"

I turned to check the clock but something past it caught my focus.

"...I need to read a bit more."

It was something surfacing from deep within the ocean of memories I carried inside me.

Yu Junghyeok had been cooking, so beyond the screen counting down the time was an orderly line of half made dishes. It looked like he had finished dinner and moved on to packing the next days' breakfast and lunch for himself and his sister. Tomorrow must be a weekday, because on weekends he would show up at the kitchen early and make a hot breakfast.

[The story 'The 0th Turn' is stirring.]

I knew this not because of anything this Yu Junghyeok had told me, but because I'd sat across the kitchen while the Yu Junghyeok of the 0th turn kept the same habit for decades; first for his sister, then his wife, then the kids at the orphanage.

I had missed this scene?

"...Kim Dokja?"

Something pulled on my wrist. It was a surprise, for a moment I'd forgotten I was no longer an incorporeal watcher.

I looked down to see a large, scarred hand was now gripping onto mine.

This wasn't the 0th Turn's Yu Junghyeok.

Yu Junghyeok was looking at me with concern and I knew I'd done something strange.

My thoughts scrambled for an explanation.

"Ah... "

"...are you that hungry?"

--is he an idiot?

I was amazed, but his tone was so serious I had to laugh, and suddenly I felt all that was shaking inside of me settle back into place.

"You know I don't even need food?"

"If looking at food moves you to cry, you should eat anyway."

"I didn't cry." I was sure he was making fun of me but I patted my cheeks down for wetness anyway.

Of course they were dry.

"You cried." He insisted.

I scowled and finally pulled my hand away just as a message appeared.

[You have completed Personal Scenario #.5 - Baby Steps]

[You have been issued 100 Koins.]

Success.

I immediately got to my feet to put some distance between myself and the burden of his presence.

Yu Junghyeok crossed his arms again. "Is it done? You didn't tell my fortune."

"Your future is full of dry, scratchy hands." I forced cheerfulness into my voice and made my escape.

Or so I thought.

Before I took two steps one of those strong, large hands landed on my bicep with the same immovability as a shackle. I froze, then turned back with a questioning smile.

"Yu Junghyeok?"

Yu Junghyeok's mouth half-opened, then closed. His eyes were so dark I could see my own uncertain face reflected in them.

"Don't you want to get back to work?" It was a surprise Yu Junghyeok had even allowed himself to be interrupted this much.

After a moment he nodded, but then stood without releasing me.

I was about to complain as Yu Junghyeok reached across the counter and took one of the finished lunch boxes and placed it in my hand.

"If you're hungry, then eat."

-----

Naturally, I wasn't hungry. But I'd avoided something awkward becoming even more so thanks to Yu Junghyeok's dense head and so I accepted the food with thanks.

A few minutes later I slid the packed lunch to the corner of the table in the workroom I shared with Han Suyeong and forgot about it.

There was more work to be done regarding the scenarios. It had been another day and so more data was arriving, some of it was borderline unbelievable and I was fixed to the screen while reading through wild reports.

It seemed too good to be true?

I wanted it to be true, but at the same time my heart felt complicated.

I set the details aside to get Han Suyeong's take on it later, most likely she'd make fun of me for my naivete, but I needed a writer's opinion.

Next I checked through my mail and notifications. I had texted Biyu several times but she must still be doing her own investigation as there was no response.

Yu Sangah sent a message saying she'd be back in the area in a few days.

Yi Seolhwa gave me a new appointment time and said that if I skipped showing up for my check up again she was going to lock me in the clinic.

Damn, I'd forgotten about that again?

Han Suyeong had apparently kept at work on her own time and had sent me links to various files and documents she wanted me to see.

Anna Croft had left a dozen increasingly annoyed messages and I wondered how long I could ignore her before she showed up at my doorstep.

Yi Hyeonseong had mailed me a picture of a very simple, three legged bar stool.

I sent him an encouraging reply.

-----

After a few hours of staring at screens or out windows, I began to feel a fog rising up behind my eyes.

It wasn't fatigue.

[The story 'The 0th Turn' is demanding attention.]

[The story '8th Record of the 234nd Turn' is waking up.]

[The story '45th Record of the 99th Turn' is muttering.]

[The story '4th Record of the 1276th Turn' feels lost?]

"Aren't you all needy?"

[The story 'Hellscape of Eternity' agrees.]

I laughed as my vision started to fade. Various images took up space in my mind and awareness of my incarnation body drifted away.

[Alright.]

I responded in my true voice.

[Just for a little while.]

-----

There was a hot wind ruffling my hair.

I float behind Yu Junghyeok as he stalks through a decimated industrial complex. In this record of this turn he had tried to take a shortcut to gain the power of a Demon King early. He succeeded, but most of the populace had been collateral damage.

Bodies lay cut down or buried under rubble.

I look at their destroyed homes, scattered belongings, empty faces.

The wind picks up and pulls at my hair.

Long ago I had resented and hated this murderous psychopath, who did inexcusably cruel things everywhere he went.

But I understood, now. None of these sins were his alone.

A kid no older than Yi Gilyeong gasps out painful breaths.

Had I expended some probability at this time to free his trapped leg?

[The story '4th Record of the 1276th Turn' remembers it.]

The memory follows the dream. I free the child, but I can't save his parents.

I follow the silent Yu Junghyeok toward the next battlefield.

The wind grabs me by the hair and slaps me across the face. It's screaming--

"--im Dokja!"

-----

"Kim Dokja! Haven't you slept enough? Wake up!"

Several more slaps followed.

"If you go into another coma I'll really leave you there this time!"

The story was ripped away by the assault on my incarnation body and I flailed at the attacks.

[Would you cut it out?]

In my confusion I mistakenly used my true voice.

[I can do that too, bastard! What was that?]

Of course, it was Han Suyeong.

[The story '4th Record of the 1276th Turn' has been returned to the shelf.]

I put it away properly and opened my eyes to a glasses beauty glaring at me. Were her eyes wet or was that just a reflection from the lens?

Wait, when did she get glasses?

I wanted to ask but she was clearly mad so I lifted my hands to placate her.

"What are you yelling about? It was just a nap?"

Han Suyeong scowled and I thought I might get hit again.

"Don't give me that shit. No one 'naps' through a slap to the face."

I checked my reflection in the window and realized I must've been hit a lot more than I thought…

"Did you have to start with that?"

"Start?? I've been trying to wake you up for ten fucking minutes!"

That long? I guess I didn't realize how tenuous my connection to my incarnation body got while I was reading.

"Sorry." I smiled "I guess I was really tired?" I only had such a lame excuse.

"Bullshit."

Han Suyeong loomed over me and I rolled my office chair back a few steps.

"You've slept more since coming back than you did the entire run of the last scenarios. Gilyeong told me he banged on your door for fifteen minutes before you answered this morning--"

No? Hadn't it only been a couple of minutes?

"--and Yi Seolhwa says you keep skipping your check ups."

She narrowed the gap until I didn't have anywhere to escape to.

"Aren't you taking this too seriously? It's not that strange to sleep more, considering where I was before this."

Han Suyeong's status rose and she planted a sneaker on the edge of the chair between my legs.

The intention was obviously only to intimidate, but unfortunately the [Lust Effect] hadn't worn off and I prayed she would find some other method of making her point.

Fortunately, after being slapped so many times my face was already red.

"Listen to me, Kim Dokja."

I did my best to listen.

"If I find out that you're secretly wasting away from some "Post Most Ancient Dream cancer" garbage fucking cliche bullshit, and you didn't tell me--"

"I'm not--"

"You will wish you had never heard of me or that shitty novel--"

"--Why are you still calling it shit--"

I tried to argue but she grabbed my chin and held it so tight I felt her nails digging into my jaw.

"--Or that shitty ass novel because if you die one more time I will personally clear every new scenario, find whatever asshole reincarnation of you is running the show, rip away every ounce of power and probability they have and use all of it to rewrite this world until I can kick your ass again."

"..."

[Do you understand?]

Her status was oppressive and her eyes were blazing with a fire reminiscent of the Abyssal Black Flame Dragon's. I had to open my own status just to keep from getting crushed.

"...I promise I'm not secretly dying."

[Constellation 'Architect of the False Last Act’ has used the ‘Lie Detection’ skill.]

[Lie Detection has confirmed that your words are true.]

Only after the message appeared did she look at all convinced. She belatedly lowered her status again but didn't stop regarding me with suspicious eyes.

"Then what the hell are you hiding?"

"I'll explain, but… would you mind backing up?"

As if she had only just noticed the situation, red flames fanned over Han Suyeong's cheeks and she spun around. "Tch, fortunately for you, that's not in my scenario."

"I'm grateful."

While she acted cool I pressed the backs of my hands to my cheeks and centered my thoughts.

I hadn't thought she would react like this?

Even if she was temperamental, Han Suyeong was always the most level headed when it came to assessing the situation.

I guess she was worried all of her efforts so far would go to waste.

Once she regained her composure, Han Suyeong scattered some papers and sat on the table facing me.

She popped a lemon candy between her lips.

"Now, tell me. The more you lie the more I won't help you hide whatever-it-is from everyone else."

It was true, I'd prefer to have her as a partner-in-crime than an enemy.

I turned my eyes toward the ceiling and began to explain.

Chapter Text

Actually, it wasn't too difficult. Once I explained Han Suyeong seemed a little embarrassed at her reaction.

"You're really just reading your stories?"

"They get fussy if I ignore them for too long."

"But it's not dangerous?"

I thought about it for a moment.

"There's definitely such a thing as 'being consumed by your stories'. But I'm a talented reader, you know? I'm not in any danger."

[Constellation 'Architect of the False Last Act’ has used the ‘Lie Detection’ skill.]

[Lie Detection has confirmed that your words are true.]

I sighed, how long was I going to have to put up with this distrust?

But my answers apparently assuaged her concerns and Han Suyeong clicked her tongue like I was annoying and went to flounce into an office chair.

"You could've just told us, then."

"Should I tell you when I brush my teeth, too? You were the ones who made it strange by being paranoid."

"Who made us paranoid??"

Of course, it was still my fault.

"Is it cleared up, then? Do I need to send out a memo to the team that I sleep heavily now?"

"Tch. Do what you want, I don't care."

Luckily, I got away without saying too much.

With that resolved, we were able to focus on the actual work.

I showed Han Suyeong the articles I had been reading with disbelief earlier and the computer screen reflected in her glasses as she skimmed quickly through them.

She hummed a bit and when she finished lifted her eyebrows. "It checks out? I'd be more surprised if it wasn't like this."

I couldn't hide my surprise. "Really?"

"You didn't believe it? Haven't you ever read this sort of story before?"

I felt a little like I was being insulted. But it was true, whenever I read something that wasn't Ways to Survive it was usually still some kind of epic fantasy about stopping the end of the world.

"So the new Star Stream simply…"

She shrugged. "There might be a way around it for someone particularly sick and clever. But just like how the past scenarios were designed to encourage violence and discourage pacifism, these new scenarios are aiming for a certain type of outcome and will strongarm the participants into reaching it."

My face must still have shown doubt because she gave me a haughty look.

"What's so hard to believe? If the scenarios can tell you to slaughter a bunch of peaceful small people and punish you if you don't, why can't it tell you to find a lover but punish you if you force yourself on someone?"

Of course, there was no reason.

But somehow I couldn't imagine such a world.

It was really just an entirely different genre.

Still, for some reason I felt bad.

"This Dreamer… can they really be such a person?"

Han Suyeong's smug look faded into something thoughtful

"Are you making comparisons?"

"Aren't you?"

"There's no sense in overthinking it."

I made a sound that didn't answer her.

"The world I wrote, and the world you dreamed of…. There's a reason it was that story and none other. If your life was going to be saved by a trite romance you would have read one of those instead."

A small laugh escaped me at the idea.

"Instead of crying about what could have been, I want to think about it this way: somewhere out there, there's a Kim Dokja who dreams of these kinds of sappy scenarios."

From the often pessimistic Han Suyeong, they were unexpectedly soft words.

She suddenly grinned. "And isn't that pretty damn cute?"

------

Han Suyeong might think it was cute. But if this New Dream was really just my reincarnation dreaming of an idyllic world, shouldn't they be more on my side?

+

[ Personal Scenario #1 - Catch Up 1v2 ]

Category: Private

Difficulty: F

Clear Conditions: Obtain at least 1 romantic kiss. Further kisses will receive additional compensation.

Time Limit: 1 week

Compensation: 100 koins per kiss.

Failure: [Help Status] will be mandatorily triggered.

+

This harassment was back, and now with a more annoying failure result.

"At least the time limit is better?"

I muttered quietly.

[Is this your idea of a compromise?]

I directed the question to the New Dream.

Predictably, there was no response.

I sat outside while the morning sun rose and the residents of the [Industrial Complex] began to move about. I ate what was left of the breakfast Yu Junghyeok had forced on me. The other half had gone to Han Suyeong, who claimed I owed it to her after pissing her off with my 'nap'.

Even hours later, the food was amazing. That guy should consider opening a restaurant? He could make a lot of money.

It was enough to briefly lift my spirits while I considered my options.

The impact of the [Lust Effect] had been useful, even if I had hated it. I'd identified four party members who qualified as 'romantic interests'. It seemed like certain types of scenarios could only be performed with people you had a specific relationship with.

How that relationship was determined was beyond me. Han Suyeong I could understand, and Yu Junghyeok was the protagonist so perhaps there was no one in this world who would not have him as a 'romantic interest', but Yi Hyeonseong?

I thought it must have some overlap with the ideas behind a dating game, and I'd played a couple. If only there was an easy way to identify the different character relationships--

. . .

--God dammit.

I really was a fool? I could hit myself.

[The story 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' is laughing at you.]

"Be quiet."

I grumbled at it and shoved down the last of the food before going to look for the nearest character I could find.

------

Actually, it was a character who found me.

I didn't see it coming.

There was no one who could avoid an attack from this man if he found a gap in your defense.

I was aware only of a massive shadow looming behind me and then was jerked off the ground by a hand gripping the back of my jacket.

I hung in the air like a scuffed kitten.

"Kim Dokja."

"Yu Junghyeok."

It was too late to escape so I decided to act nonchalant.

He spun me so I was facing him and his eyes were flinty with a cold anger.

For once, I really didn't know why. I'd actually been on my best behavior?

"Yi Seolhwa says you're refusing to receive a check up."

Ah. Damn.

"...was that this morning?"

His glare remained cutting.

"I'm not refusing? I just forgot. I'll go now."

At the agreement to go immediately, some of the heat in his gaze relaxed and I breathed out a sigh. "Just put me down, and--"

[ Character 'Yu Junghyeok' is activating 'Red Phoenix Shunpo'. ]

"What are you--"

Without a word, Yu Junghyeok ran at blazing speeds, I was dragged along like a kite.

"Bastard, I said I'd go!"

Seconds later he had crossed the compound and I was thrown into the clinic, past a startled Yi Seolhwa. I bounced off the wall and into one of the unoccupied beds.

"Forget again and I'll kill you."

And with that simple threat, he was gone before I could complain.

He was really intolerable sometimes.

"That was faster than I thought?" Yi Seolhwa sounded surprised as she checked her phone. "At least one of you is reliable."

I winced and sat up.

"I'm sorry…"

Yi Seolhwa's smile was tight. "Will 'sorry' bring back my wasted time?"

I didn't have an excuse.

"My calendar is full every day, you know? The scenarios ending doesn't mean people stopped getting sick and injured."

"I'm really sorry."

"I know to someone who has died a dozen times my efforts must seem useless--"

"I don't think that."

"--But your opinion's been overridden. If you won't appear for your own sake then do it for the peace of mind of the others."

The words hit my weak points, I lifted a hand to ward off any more blows.

"I really wasn't avoiding you, but I promise I'll take it more seriously. It's just a matter of adjusting."

Yi Seolhwa seemed to, if not accept my apology, agree to move on from my punishment. A light was shone in my eyes as she examined my stories there. "Adjusting? To being back?"

"Adjusting to time."

She made a thoughtful noise. "It's different for constellations. Are you having trouble?"

"Just enough to make me unreliable." I joked.

"If it's difficult, I'll give Yu Junghyeok your schedule? He seems to be able to get you here."

I knew she had a reason to be mad, but it still felt like everyone was too paranoid lately?

"Please don't."

-----

After a few more pitiful assurances, Yi Seolhwa agreed to give me one more chance.

The check up was unremarkable. A constellation's incarnation body can't be said to be measured the same as a human, but Seolhwa was one of the few experts in the field so I left it up to her.

While she asked questions and performed tests, I surreptitiously activated [Character List].

[Exclusive Skill 'Character List' cannot connect to the Star Stream.]

I hadn't used the skill since the dissolution of the previous Star Stream, but it made sense. Perhaps it was too much to hope--

[Character List is searching for like values in Star Stream 2.0.]

Oh?

[Like values found.]

[Parsing results.]

+

[Character Information]

Name: Yi Seolhwa

Age: 3? years old

Relationship Status: Weary Admirer Lvl 5

Foundational Relationships: ??

Romantic Interests: ??

Acquired Skills: ??

Active Personal Scenario: [Bubble Bath] Rank: F | Time Remaining: 3 Days

Additional Details: Your intimacy with this character is low. Spend time engaging with them and their interests to unlock additional information.

+

First of all, where was my [Bubble Bath] scenario?

Was I the only one getting such harassing scenarios?

I also didn't know how to feel about the dramatic profile change.

It made sense that the stats that were relevant under the previous Star Stream had disappeared, but it was still startling to see the difference.

Furthermore, the new Star Stream seemed to be telling me I didn't know anything about her.

I would have agreed back when I had only read Ways to Survive, and Yi Seolhwa was often sidelined as simply the 'heroine', but after living as the Most Ancient Dream, hadn't I seen her through thousands of lifetimes?

Then again, it didn't say my "knowledge" was low, but my "intimacy"...

I stared at the screen and felt a bit worried.

It couldn't really be like that.

There were various interpretations.

As I considered the possibilities of a word like "intimacy", Yi Seolhwa was looking inside of my ear with something that seemed to be a large magnifying device made of some dark glass.

"Your story density is quite high?"

In my distraction I only mumbled in response.

"Kim Dokja-ssi?"

She snapped once in front of my face, "Are you unwell, or bored?"

"...sorry. I picked up more stories in the last while."

"I've never seen it like this..."

There was a note of childlike wonder in her voice.

"Do you know how many you have now?"

I had some idea but I shook my head. "There wasn't any point in keeping count."

"More than a thousand?"

"...certainly."

"More than ten thousand?"

Damn, she was persistent.

"It might be similar... " I moved on before she could ask more. "Why does it matter? It isn't hurting me."

"Your incarnation body seems to be in good shape, so for now we won't worry. Still, I'd like to test a few things?"

I agreed to it because otherwise she might ask more nosy questions, and before I was finally allowed to leave, Yi Seolhwa placed a strange crystal in my hand and told me to keep it in my pocket until our next check up.

"A real pocket, not the dimensional one."

I only vaguely understood but I did as I was asked.

------

Finally freed from the clinic, I thought I would go find Yi Hyeonseong or check on the kids, but I was caught instead by the image of Yu Junghyeok sitting on a bench outside of the clinic, reading.

It was so surprising I wanted to rub my eyes. Yu Junghyeok, reading?

Of course I knew he wasn't illiterate, but I felt like I could count on one hand the number of times I'd witnessed such a scene.

It didn't even look like a cookbook or some ancient martial arts text.

No, it was definitely a manhwa?

It seemed impossible to believe, but the shape was distinctive.

I had to know what story had caught the great Yu Junghyeok's eye. Probably something with a lot of sword fights.

I lowered my status and crept over to him.

Ten steps away. My eyesight was fine but the angle was wrong. Those huge hands were in the way.

Eight steps. He turned the page and I thought I could make out a face? There was a lot of white space.

Seven. It must be a scene between battles, two characters appeared to be speaking passionately at one another.

Six. Actually, this style was a bit strange? Were the characters in highschool uniforms?

Fi--

The book was slammed shut and Yu Junghyeok lifted his gaze to pierce me with a cold look that might have eviscerated someone less used to it.

I smiled as if this was an ordinary scene.

"Are you enjoying it?"

"No." He spoke clearly, and the book disappeared inside his jacket without me being able to make out a single word from the cover.

There was no way this wasn't funny, so of course I wanted to tease him.

But at the same time, my heart felt strangely full?

If I made fun of him would he stop reading and then I wouldn't be able to see that scene again?

I decided to be a little gentle. "Why were you reading it, then?"

"Research." Yu Junghyeok crossed his arms and leaned back against the bench. "What did Yi Seolhwa find?"

Did he really think I would talk to him about my health check?

"Research? Wait, you mean…?"

"For the scenarios. Han Suyeong suggested it."

"You take her advice pretty readily lately…"

"She said since you aren't a reader of this genre you'd be useless."

--this bastard?? After I'd been nice about catching him reading a story for highschool girls?

I showed a lot of teeth.

"Should we swap, then? You can be the reader and I'll be the protagonist."

"Hm."

Obviously I was joking, but for some reason this cocky sunfish looked like he was considering it?

"Perhaps that's how it will be."

I could only stare at him, feeling stupid.

I had been thinking about the time I had been away from the party and how I had changed, but it suddenly occurred to me that this Yu Junghyeok had also been growing and changing while I wasn't watching.

Even if it was just his sense of humor, it was still strange.

As if hoping it might fill the gap, almost without thinking, I activated [Character List].

[Exclusive Skill 'Character List' can no longer receive updates from the Star Stream.]

[Character List is searching for like values in Star Stream 2.0.]

[Like values found.]

[Parsing results.]

+

[Character Information]

Name: Yu Junghyeok

Age: ????? years old

Relationship Status: ■■

Foundational Relationships: Biyu, Namgung Minyeong, Kim Dokja, Yi Jihye, Yu Miah, Most Ancient Dream (former Sponsor), Architect of the False Last Act (Sponsor), Shin Yuseung (deceased), Yi Hyeonseong (deceased), Yi Seolhwa (deceased)...[tap to expand list]

Romantic Interests: ■■

Active Personal Scenario: [■■] Rank: SSS | Time Remaining: No Limit

Acquired Skills: None

Acquired Relationship Attributes: None

Additional Details: Your intimacy with this character is very high!

You may choose one relationship attribute related to this character.

[Tap to see available attribute options]

+

No?

It was a surprising amount of information.

It was difficult to decide what to think of any of it.

My intimacy with this guy was high? What kind of definition was this damn dreamer using?

And what was meant by relationship attributes? I really wanted to check.

But most alarming was…

"SSS…? Why is it…"

In my confusion, I muttered something out loud, and Yu Junghyeok looked at me sharply. He noticed my gaze had focused above his head.

"Kim Dokja, what are you…?"

Possibly I should make an excuse and run away, distantly I thought about this.

But something painful and stuffy was welling up in my chest.

Sounds seemed to slip away.

"Why is it SSS ranked? Right from the start?"

I didn't understand.

The New Dream must have read Han Suyeong's book. If they were such a 'cute' kid then they should understand clearly.

Yu Junghyeok had already done enough for the scenarios.

My head felt hot.

I suddenly really wanted to have a talk with this brat?

Yu Junghyeok had guessed what I'd done.

"So that skill stil functions in this world?" His voice was dark, but not angry as I'd expected.

A moment later a golden glow lit up in his right eye.

[Character 'Yu Junghyeok' has used Eye of Sage.]

I meant to ignore him. After all, he couldn't actually see anything.

But as the gold light seemed to pierce into my own eyes, temporarily blinding me, I remembered.

The [4th Wall] was gone.

When my vision returned a moment later it was to the sight of Yu Junghyeok's stunned face as he read my character profile for the first time.

Chapter Text

From Yu Junghyeok's expression, he was equally surprised that the [Eye of Sage] finally worked.

I was suddenly nervous.

What would it reveal and what would he think of it?

A cold uncertainty washed over me that I'd never experienced before. This kind of invasive maneuver, I'd used it countless times on others without a thought? I had to feel a bit guilty.

Wait a minute, Yu Junghyeok had done the same.

I suppose if there was any situation where it was fair it was this one.

I struggled to read the face of Yu Junghyeok who read my character profile.

Did he frown more deeply over something?

Was that a fraction of a smile there?

Damn this sunfish bastard and his inscrutability.

But if some information was filtered for me, he probably had it worse. So I told myself maybe there was nothing too revealing.

"Are you satisfied?" I finally asked.

Yu Junghyeok glanced at me briefly,

"Fool." He said simply, then made a gesture.

After a moment of reading, the side of his lip curled.

"These are a bit interesting."

I realized what he must be doing and looked back at Yu Junghyeok's profile in horror.

[Tap to see available attribute options]

I tapped it.

+

[Tier 1 Relationship Attributes]

[You may choose one.]

[Selection is permanent.]

Love GPS
*You will always know the location of this character.

Sugar Daddy
*You may spend up to 25% of this character's Koins once per day.

Mood Ring
*Enhanced ability to perceive this character's emotions. Requires skin contact.

Red String of Truth
*Ability to ask one question per day which must be answered truthfully.

Heart to Heart
*Allows a two way telepathic communication with this character.

Switch
*You may issue one command the character must follow, but the next day the character will hold the same ability over you. This exchange continues indefinitely.

+

--this is what he thought was 'a bit interesting'?

I had a flashback to Yu Junghyeok reaching for the 'star' during the [Proof of the Stars] challenge.

What could he want with any of these?

Once again I felt like I was being targeted by these new scenarios.

Though, there was also no guarantee we were seeing the same thing. Perhaps his list was even more troublesome?

I quickly considered my options, then stepped forward so that Yu Junghyeok's attention was pulled away from the window.

"Yu Junghyeok, shall we have an information exchange?"

His brow tensed.

"Three Questions?"

I nodded.

"Regarding the attribute windows?"

"Let's say, anything related to the new Star Stream."

This was a bit of a gamble, Yu Junghyeok had more to lose here than I did. But perhaps he didn't realize that since I hadn't spoken to him about this much.

He didn't seem to notice, and nodded.

A moment later, a new window appeared in the air between us.

[Two Truths and a Lie is beginning]

[Both sides will exchange three questions and answers.]

[Two questions must be answered with truth, while one must be answered with a lie.]

[The conversation won’t end until the questions and answers are fully exchanged.]

[Skills will not be available during the conversation.]

[The conversation will be restricted from outside observation.]

Oho?

The Divine Three Questions and Answers had been updated, but actually, this was quite useful?

Being able to lie was a bit nice but most importantly, being able to hide the conversation was highly convenient. The former Star Stream, where all situations existed for the entertainment of others, never would have allowed this.

It wasn't exactly what I'd expected but it was a little exciting.

"Let's try it?"

He seemed interested as well.

As we accepted the conditions, a transparent purple dome settled down around us. The street outside of the clinic seemed to move behind fogged glass.

With some effort, I could tell that people still walked past us, but they were hard to make out and seemed to not notice anything strange.

Yu Junghyeok also inspected the dome. As he touched it a faint, electric spark jumped across his fingers.

He nodded as if satisfied.

"Let's begin. You ask first."

I made a show of thinking about it, but in fact already had my first question decided.

"What are the win conditions for your personal scenario?"

Yu Junghyeok looked displeased, "So that's what you were after."

"It's natural to be curious?"

Yu Junghyeok didn't respond.

Most likely he was deciding how to lie. It was highly unlikely I'd get the truth out of him. An SSS Rank scenario in this setting must be truly awful. But if he lied now I'd know he couldn't lie with his next two.

Still, it seemed to be taking him a while to answer?

And was it a trick of the light or had his left eyebrow wriggled just now?

"Are you going to try to get out of this with silence?"

It was making me a little uncomfortable so I provoked him.

"Refusing isn't an option, you know. You have to at least come up with a lie."

Yu Junghyeok's glare deepened, but after another few heavy moments he finally responded.

"It says 'Confess and have your feelings be understood by your most important person.'"

I was a bit surprised?

It sounded a bit plausible. It seemed like the type of objective a romance novel might focus on.

Maybe he'd gotten the idea from that manhwa he was reading.

If it was someone other than Yu Junghyeok I might have bought it.

But he had messed up a bit. Yu Junghyeok's most important person was his sister, and while it didn't specify if the confession was 'love' related, they had a simple but unconditional bond. I couldn't imagine anything he would need to 'confess' to her which would suit the difficulty.

So there was no way it was the truth. But as a lie, the delivery was pretty good?

Yu Junghyeok wasn't the type to bother with falsehoods much so I was impressed.

I even had the impulse to praise him a little. But for the sake of the game it was better to act as if I believed him.

"So that's what you're feeling indecisive about?"

For some reason, Yu Junghyeok's expression darkened.

"Is that your second question?"

Oops.

"Of course not. Go ahead and ask yours, then."

[The first answer has been received.]

Yu Junghyeok stool like a pillar, his broad arms crossed over his chest. I wasn't sure why but there seemed to be a dark aura around him.

"...what is the meaning behind "Caretaker of Lost Legends?"

Eh?

I didn't have to fake any confusion. I had no idea what he meant.

"You see that?"

"...you do not." It wasn't a question, but he seemed surprised.

Oh? This could be useful.

"I'll need more details if you want an answer other than 'I don't know'." It was tempting to cheat my way out of this one but I was more interested in finding out what he saw that I didn't.

"It is the value of your 'relationship status'."

So it was like that.

I had been wondering since seeing Yi Seolhwa's. I didn't know what a 'Weary Admirer' was supposed to be either. But with this additional context…

"...no matter how you look at it, it just sounds like a fancy modifier for being 'the reader', right? From what I've seen, the 'relationship status' attribute isn't very clear."

"So your answer is still that you don't know."

"Bastard, I gave you my best guess."

[You have used up your option to lie.]

It was a pity but no good could come from that question.

I couldn't tell if Yu Junghyeok bought it.

He simply regarded me silently for a long moment and then said, "Ask."

I had gotten an unexpected bonus and didn't need to ask about the relationship status now, and Yu Junghyeok wouldn't be able to lie for the rest of the game either.

"What relationship attribute do you want to choose the most?"

I picked my words carefully, perhaps if he could he would say 'all of them'.

Yu Junghyeok glanced over whatever his screen showed again and then a very slight corner of his mouth turned up.

"The one where I take your money."

[The second answer has been received.]

Wait, what?

That couldn't be right.

"...There isn't even anything to spend it on yet?"

For some reason, this was the first thought that I managed to voice, but I had at least ten other protests.

Such as, don't you know I'm broke? And if you weren't planning on participating in the scenarios what good were Koins to you anyway?

Yu Junghyeok simply shrugged as if this was not his concern.

"What are the win conditions of your current personal scenario?"

This brat. There should be a rule about copying questions.

Well, it was expected. So I answered without hesitation.

"I have to kiss someone who qualifies as a 'romantic interest'."

Yu Junghyeok's eyebrows shifted as if that wasn't what he was expecting.

Well, if he'd only read the name of the scenario, it wasn't obvious.

I took some time to consider my options for the last round.

Both of Yu Junghyeok's answers had been a bit surprising in different ways. I had been sure the first was a lie, but the second was so ridiculous it couldn't be the truth.

Unless he was planning for a long game, thinking eventually I would be rich?

Well, I was proficient at gathering coins previously, even without strictly following the scenarios. Perhaps he'd guessed I would figure out how to game the system eventually. And if Yu Junghyeok chose not to participate in the scenarios, he wouldn't be able to get koins.

Even though we didn't know what we could buy with them yet, it was reasonable to assume that there would be options in the future, and that they would be essential to this new world.

Thinking of it like this, maybe a method to get into my wallet was a pretty good idea for him?

Still, I'd been expecting him to say Red String of Truth, or Switch. Unless he didn't have exactly the same list I did…?

It was tempting to ask a similar question to get a definitive answer, but that wouldn't change anything. Whatever he picked I would have to deal with.

For my last question…

There were three parts of Yu Junghyeok's profile that were filtered.

The relationship status- he wouldn't be able to answer that one. It seemed they were unique depending on the direction of each relationship.

Romantic interests- I suspected that under the filter was simply the name of almost every member of the party. Isn't that what would happen when you're a protagonist and the genre changed?

It was strange that it was filtered, but the dense Yu Junghyeok probably wouldn't be able to answer even if it was something else.

The last… I was going to let this go, but the way the game had gone had made me curious.

"What is the title of your personal scenario?"

"You can't see it?"

"It's filtered."

Yu Junghyeok shook his head. "It isn't filtered."

What?

Obviously it was filtered, at least I couldn't--

Ah…

Some thoughts clicked together and it felt for a moment like my heart had stopped.

"It's actually ■■?"

Yu Junghyeok simply nodded.

[The third answer has been received.]

"But… how is that possible? Even I don--"

I stopped my words and tried again.

"You didn't even find it during the last scenarios? And suddenly, the first one--"

It didn't occur to me to think this answer might somehow be the lie.

No, there was simply no way that Yu Junghyeok would lie about this.

My lips bobbed dumbly as I tried to put together a response.

I was lost.

Yu Junghyeok must never do this scenario. "You don't have to do it, the rest of us will--"

Of course, that was the wrong assurance entirely.

"Kim Dokja."

My words stuttered to a halt.

There was a weight in his voice that closed my mouth.

His dark eyes were focused on me and nothing else.

"Do you not wish for me to find my ■■?"

My mouth went dry.

If he had been making any other face, I might have been able to recover.

But within a body that was as immovable as a mountain, his eyes shook.

And in response, the [4th Wall] that didn't exist anymore had started trembling violently inside of me.

[The story '9th record of the 1852rd Turn' is listening for your answer.]

[The story '1st record of the 1548th Turn' is listening for your answer.]

[The story '22nd record of the 987th Turn' is listening for your answer.]

[The story '13th record of the 1242nd Turn' is listening for your answer.]

[The story '4th record of the 1385th Turn' is listening for your answer.]

Honestly, I didn't understand.

"Why would you even ask--"

Why should my opinion even matter?

"Tell me."

I could hear the anger accumulating in his voice, tightly wound but still in check. But it was the sound that appeared the moments before a sword was drawn.

"I…"

[The story '1st record of the 999th Turn' is listening for your answer.]

[The story '7th record of the 1863rd Turn' is listening for your answer.]

[The story 'Hellscape of Eternity' is listening for your answer.]

The countless stories of Yu Junghyeok were waiting to hear me say it.

Something I absolutely had no right to say.

I needed to think of a way around this, to give an answer that was not an answer. To come up with something clever like I often did.

"What I want... it really doesn't matter…"

But Yu Junghyeok wouldn't allow it.

"Answer me, Kim Dokja."

There must be another way, some combination of words that would put him at ease.

But some suffocating sensation was untethering my thoughts and the only words that reached my lips were the uncomplicated truth.

"...I don't."

[The final question has been answered.]

[Two Truths and a Lie has concluded.]

Yu Junghyeok didn't appear shocked.

Making me say it after I'd stupidly revealed my thoughts was just performance.

I felt like glass that had shattered but not yet begun the cascade into a million pieces.

[The story '9th record of the 1852rd Turn' is disappointed by your answer.]

[The story '1st record of the 1548th Turn' is unsurprised.]

[The story '22nd record of the 987th Turn' is enraged.]

[The story '13th record of the 1242nd Turn' wonders why you're like this.]

[The story '4th record of the 1385th Turn' won't forget this.]

[The story '1st record of the 999th Turn' is turning away.]

[The story '7th record of the 1863rd Turn' wants to kill you.]

[The story 'Hellscape of Eternity' is laughing.]

I expected Yu Junghyeok to take out his sword, strike me, or at least release his status.

But for long moments it was just his relentless glare.

Maybe he was waiting for me to say something? To explain.

"Yu Junghyeok, I…"

But there was no justification.

There was no being in this universe who deserved an ■■ more than this person.

And there was no being who should understand that and want to see him achieve it more than the one who had read his story the longest.

Perhaps he had been waiting for me to explain, because only after words failed me did a shadow fall fully across his eyes.

The dome confining us to the game had risen.

Yu Junghyeok simply turned to leave.

Perhaps not trying to kill me should be taken as a good sign.

But I truly wished he had.

Somehow, with nothing but the silence and space between us, I felt my failure as a comrade that much more deeply.

I should go after him and try to explain again?

But I already knew there was no good explanation.

In the end, this person had suffered infinite tragedies because of me, and I was still unable to say 'enough'.

If I couldn't say that, what right did I have to say anything else?

As I watched Yu Junghyeok's broad back disappear further into the [Industrial Complex] I received a single message.

[One of your intimate relationships has chosen a relationship attribute for you!]

Chapter Text

The setting was a vast cavern, dark as night and lit by something like starlight where both the floor and the ceiling should be.

Yu Junghyeok had a skill to see in all but absolute darkness, but I watched him as a faint silhouette as he endlessly swung the sword at nothing.

In Ways to Survive, Junghyeok's time in the Dark Fault had been handled within a page or two.

It roughly described the setting, outlined a bit of the difficulty he faced, and ended with simply--

⸢After one hundred years of rigorous training but feeling he had nothing to show for it, Yu Junghyeok's spirit was too depleted to continue. He began to think it would be better to stay in this darkness forever then return to a world where he could see no hope of succeeding.

He thought to himself, In a hundred years I cannot even reach the third stage. Someone as pitiful as this could never see the end of the scenarios.

Thinking like this, he closed his eyes with no intention to ever open them again.⸥

The chapter ended there.

I had a dim memory of going to bed that night with a tight chest, feeling an echo of Yu Junghyeok's misery and yet knowing he would overcome, so I had to as well.

The next evening, this seemingly overwhelming challenge was resolved with a single line about how he'd reached stage three thanks to his spirit reaching a state of ultimate vulnerability or some nonsense like that, and then the author went straight into an epic battle threatening First Murim.

Naturally, Yu Junghyeok arrived just in time and saved the day thanks to his newfound strength.

At the time of my first reading, there was some disappointment at that sudden trite solution. But by the end of the chapter I had been so gripped by the escalating conflict I forgot to even mention it to the author.

Countless years later, I could imagine Han Suyeong glaring at her screen and muttering to herself about how boring this plot point was and brushing it out of the way for something more interesting.

This was the simple joy of 'reading again'.

On my first reading I had been an easily distracted teenager who had allowed this plot hole to pass without a second thought.

On my second, third, fourth, possibly next few dozen readings I began to admit to myself that it was a bit abrupt. That I wanted more and wished Author-nim had detailed a proper resolution.

Perhaps around the fiftieth reading I was an adult and grown enough to have the thought 'maybe Author-nim had no idea what reaching transcendence looks like, and left it up to my imagination'.

Then it came time to read again, but as the Most Ancient Dream.

At that time, I read it slowly.

Incorporeal and unseen, I sat with Yu Junghyeok as he meditated, watched as he trained. I began to understand the weight of a hundred years of unfettered dedication.

I didn't have to stay. I could have moved on to a different world-line and returned to this one when it became interesting again.

But as the Most Ancient Dream I had made a conscious choice to not turn away when the story got boring. My responsibility was to witness everything that lived in the white space between the words.

And finally, as the current Kim Dokja 'reading' this story again, I could see the connection between each element.

First it was a single moment among thousands from Han Suyeong's memories. She put it in and then abandoned it, not knowing the resolution herself.

This became a story for a pitiful existence to lose himself in, and in doing so, survive to another day.

And in the end, it resulted in one hundred years of darkness and silence for one man.

This was the complicated joy of 'reading again'.

Every time I read these stories, I felt some mixture of sweetness and sorrow that threatened to tear my heart in two.

It was a pain no different from pleasure.

Truly, I was a disgusting person.

[The story '4th Record of the 2nd Turn' says this is the good part.]

I turned my attention back to Yu Junghyeok.

His silhouette sat in the darkness.

[This is pointless.]

Dark thoughts filtered through my memory and the story in unison.

[This cannot lead to transcendence.]

[Someone like me is no hero.]

It had been like this.

Actually, it was more impressive that Yu Junghyeok had put it off for one hundred years.

At this period, his resolve had been strong, but his confidence hadn't blossomed.

It was natural, he was just one man challenging every star in the sky.

[Shin Yuseung is wrong, we can't succeed at this turn.]

All he knew was that if he failed in this route, it was likely he would fail thirty-nine more times.

[I'll only lead them to ruin.]

As the Most Ancient Dream first listening to these thoughts I had been stunned.

Witnessing Yu Junghyeok through so many impossible scenarios, I had forgotten how young he was here.

With no memories of the 0th turn he was really a young man who had pushed himself without rest through a lifetime and a half, only to falter here. Not before a god or demon, but simply the endless darkness.

I wondered how he would escape this. I knew he must reach his third stage soon, but like it was now, it seemed impossible.

Yu Junghyeok set his sword aside, lay down in the dark, and did not move.

Was it hours, or days, or weeks?

The Most Ancient Dream had lost the ability to perceive such measurements.

But he began to worry after a while.

Was this really enough?

Would Yu Junghyeok really begin to glow in a golden light at any moment now?

It did not happen.

But eventually, from the darkness there came a voice.

--Who are you?

The silent and unsure Most Ancient Dream who waited by the side of the sleeping Yu Junghyeok looked about the empty space of the Dark Fault, trying to identify who had spoken.

His first thought was Secretive Plotter, as there was a strong similarity. But when he searched for the familiar status, there was nothing.

--...I've felt for some time there was someone else here.

An uncertain feeling began to well up in the Most Ancient Dream's chest.

--Tell me, are you my sponsor?

The Most Ancient Dream looked sharply at Yu Junghyeok's unconscious form.

When he studied it, he could faintly sense it.

Yu Junghyeok's consciousness had become untethered from his body.

It was speaking to him.

At this time I had at once realized what was happening and felt quite terrified.

I had gotten used to endlessly 'reading'.

Being a dedicated, invisible observer of the protagonist across countless world-lines.

Now and then I would interfere in minor ways, but whenever my incarnation reached out I was forced to ignore him.

After all, that was the way the story went.

Changing it would not help, it would only create additional world-lines, which in time would fail, become abandoned, and develop into Outer Gods.

--You're quite bright…? Why couldn't I see you before?

But this was different.

Yu Junghyeok had to ascend here.

[Ki m Dok ja yo u ca n't.]

The 4th Wall's voice returned to me from a long time in the past. Being able to hear my friend again was another benefit of reading the stories.

Even though he was always saying discouraging things.

The Most Ancient Dream argued briefly with the wall, then did what he wanted like he always did.

For one of a miniscule number of times across all of this universe, the Most Ancient Dream answered Yu Junghyeok.

[I am your sponsor.]

The Dark Fault existed in a moment between scenarios, out of the view of even the Star Stream. Because of this I was able to speak without expending probability.

The consciousness of Yu Junghyeok shook.

--Why? Why appear before me now?

I said nothing, so he continued to berate me.

--Why did you trap me in this life and then never offer even the slightest help? No sponsor is as useless as you. Is my life that entertaining?

There was a juvenile purity in the pain he expressed. In a few more turns Yu Junghyeok wouldn't think to even ask these kinds of questions.

I wanted to answer, even if there was no justified explanation.

[There are… constraints.]

--What constraints?!

[If I help you, you will fail.]

The shape of spirit warped, as if injected by static.

--You can't know that.

[I can.]

--....then tell me how you know.

At this time, the Most Ancient Dream considered what he could reveal and then he realized...

At no point in the future would Yu Junghyeok ever recover these memories. It would forever be a question mark in all the other turns.

A gap in the author's ability to explain, written out of the rest of the continuity.

Which meant the reader could interject anything.

[Ar e you su re abou t thi s?]

I had not been, but it was the only thing I could think of.

And perhaps, I had also been desperately lonely. Wishing for the chance to explain myself even once.

The Most Ancient Dream within the story began, hesitantly, to explain.

[Eventually, we will meet, and everything you have done and will do will become the pathway for our success.]

Yu Junghyeok's consciousness shimmered faintly.

--...you are saying we will reach the end of the scenarios? Together?

[Yes.]

--How can you know that?

[Because we've already done it.]

The shimmering intensitived, but Yu Junghyeok spoke like a petulant child.

--Don't speak nonsense.

[It's the truth.]

I felt a sullen glare.

[Anyway, you've just spent a hundred years swinging around a sword in the darkness? Who are you to decide what counts as nonsense?]

I could tell he was taken aback. Perhaps I should have spoken like a more respectable being at that time?

It was cute, though. I really wanted to ruffle this kid's hair suddenly.

--Then… if I choose to believe you. How do I reach the end?

[I can't tell you.]

--Useless.

I had felt a bit rueful at this time. How could you miss talking to someone who was only capable of this level of conversation?

[First of all, even if I spent a while giving you the full details, it wouldn't matter. You aren't going to remember this conversation.]

--Why? What will you do?

[I don't have to do anything. It's simply what happened 'before'. You reach the third stage of transcendence for the first time here, after one hundred years in this place, but you can never remember exactly how you did it. Still, it becomes easier every regression because of your efforts now.]

A solemn ripple passed through Yu Junghyeok's consciousness.

--...so there will be more regressions.

[...Yes.]

The Most Ancient Dream hesitated here.

He had told the Yu Junghyeok of the 0th turn the truth of the 1864 regressions, hoping to dissuade him.

But it was too late for that now. And if Yu Junghyeok was discouraged here and didn't awaken, this world-line would fail.

[...it won't benefit you to hear the number.]

--Is it more than one hundred?

[...Yes.]

--Is it more than five hundred?

[Yu Junghyeok.]

The spirit was full of small distortions and I could feel the threat of regression depression settling into him, even though he hadn't experienced them yet.

[...don't think about it all together. You don't have to endure 'every future regression'. Today, tomorrow, this life and the next. They are each just one stone you're putting down toward your ■■.]

--My ■■…?

[Don't you want to know what it is?]

--What is it?

[I can't tell you.]

--...after I place enough stones, I'll reach it?

[You definitely will.]

The Most Ancient Dream made this promise believing in it fully. Because even if he had not seen Yu Junghyeok's ■■ yet, he believed that waited for him in the future after the scenarios. Surely with the 49% Kim Dokja and Han Suyeong, Yu Junghyeok would finally find his own conclusion.

Reading it again, I felt despair.

Why had something I once sincerely wanted for him become an idea that caused my whole being to shake?

Had it simply been easier, when I was a distant reader?

Was this the effect of no longer having the 4th Wall?

Was I always weak and selfish even to this degree or had something made me worse?

[The story '4th Record of the 2nd Turn' is slapping your cheeks.]

Startled, I looked at the story.

[The story '4th Record of the 2nd Turn' says stop feeling sorry for yourself.]

[The story '4th Record of the 2nd Turn' says to take responsibility.]

My heart hurt but I had to laugh.

Around us, the story moved on. The Yu Junghyeok's consciousness returned to his body, full of a new resolve that he would never remember the details of. A golden glow swelled within him.

Perhaps this was why this story had been particularly insistent on being read, even though it wasn't one of ones angry at me.

[Thank you for the reminder.]

The story rolled down my arm to puddle into my palm, and I swirled the tip of a finger gently through its words.

[The story '4th Record of the 2nd Turn' demands praise.]

[You did a good job. I'll keep my promise.]

Several of my other stories perked up. Others lashed their tales and watched me silently.

I spoke to all of them.

[I'll help him reach his ■■.]

Chapter Text

As my consciousness returned to my incarnation body, I was struck by the strange sight.

A white porcelain basin of water was before my eyes.

Water dripped rapidly into it, distorting any possible reflection.

Huh?

Also, my face was pretty cold?

What--

"Bastard, see if I don't really drown you--"

Someone was cursing behind me, and then my face was shoved into the sink full of ice cold water.

I wanted to yell but water filled my mouth.

I flailed, my hands grabbed for the edge of the sink, I used all of my confused strength to elbow away my assailant.

"Ow! Shithead!"

There was a shriek and then something hit me in the ass and my face slammed forward into the mirror over the counter.

The pain helped fully snap my consciousness back into place and I realized whose voice that was.

I groaned. "Han Suyeong…"

Why was it always like this?

"Can't you wake someone up normally?"

There was another hard strike to my thigh as Han Suyeong kicked me again.

"Asshole, before you complain try setting a fucking alarm clock! Want to guess how long you were out for this time?!"

I fumbled for a towel and mopped up my damp and freshly bruised face.

I didn't really want to know.

"Two days!"

Oh, that wasn't so bad.

"Two days isn't that long." .

"Are you actually trying to get me to kill you??!"

I walked past her and began unbuttoning my shirt.

"What did you need me for?"

Han Suyeong opened her mouth to answer, but her eyes bugged when she saw me.

"What-- what're you doing??"

"Changing my shirt? This one's all wet now."

I couldn't imagine a more reasonable response but she still looked like she wanted to hit me even more.

Instead she turned sharply and stomped toward the door.

"Then hurry the hell up. I came to get you because Biyu is back. Everyone else is waiting."

-------

A few minutes later, I was mostly dry and entered the Kim Dokja's Company mess hall, which was also generally where we gathered for a 'company meeting'.

Everyone had scattered into small groups to pass the time, but they all looked up at me as one as I entered.

Well, all except for Yu Junghyeok who continued his reading.

Wait, he was still doing that?

The stares of the others created an awkward sensation on the back of my neck.

"Sorry for the wait..." My voice was faint.

Naturally, my party wouldn't let it slide, so complaints and concerns were shouted across the room.

"Ahjussi, are you sick?" (No, not at all,)
"Sorry, hyeong. I thought you were just busy…" (It's a little like that.)
"As if he'd say if he was sick? Hey! Are you dying again?" (Please stop making everyone more paranoid…)
"He didn't say he's not." (I'm absolutely not dying.)

[Several incarnations have used the ‘Lie Detection’ skill.]

[Lie Detection has confirmed that your words are true.]

I thought I should release a policy banning that skill.

"Kim Dokja, are we just not that interesting anymore?" (That's not it.)
"Kids these days have no respect for anyone's time." I didn't answer this one since all I could think of was that I'm actually much older than you now?
"Dokja-ssi, I made another stool, you should come see it." (Okay, I promise.)
"All of you, stop giving Kim Dokja shit. Don't you know he always has his reasons?" Thank you Uriel, you're truly my greatest ally.

"Like hell. Everyone should absolutely give him shit. I'm not babysitting his bad habits anymore so I'll just tell you all plainly: since returning from being the Most Ancient Dream, Kim Dokja's a bit narcoleptic now."

Han Suyeong spoke up to the middle of the room and I couldn't help but shoot her a betrayed look.

She grinned cruelly at me.

"If you can't find him somewhere, it's probably because he passed out. And if he's having a good dream you have to beat him until he wakes up."

I scowled at her, but her announcement was enough to set the room abuzz again, and now many new questions were aimed at me.

Was that why I'd forgotten about this or that?
Is that where I'd been for two days?
Is that why I didn't answer my door that time?
Was I sure it wasn't a sign of something concerning?

I made various assurances until finally the room was calm.

Yi Seolhwa made meaningful eye contact with me and I knew I'd be in trouble for omitting this information during my check up.

Eventually, I was saved by Biyu floating up in the air. She was in dokkaebi form, a giant ball of white fluff who couldn't be overlooked.

[Okay, that's enough fussing over Father. You all know he's like this, so let's just move on already.]

Even my own daughter…

Still, I was grateful. Shin Yuseung and Yi Gilyeong made a space for me between them so I took the offered seat while Biyu began to explain what she's learned about the Star Stream 2.0.

[You've all noticed already if you've looked at the news lately, but the branch of the Star Stream that governed the scenarios is fully back in operation.]

Biyu explained that since the scenarios were, at least to start, largely nothing more than directions and a few applied effects, the probability to run it was comparatively very low.

Because of this the Star Stream 2.0 was able to encapsulate so many people around the world at the same time.

Biyu didn't have access to future scenarios but she'd reviewed all active ones in the world so far, and could say definitively that there was nothing that was malicious.

[The most violent thing I could find was the quest line for people dealing with bullies telling them to fight back for once.]

Surprised murmurs rippled throughout the group at this.

"Aht… so. Is this new Star Stream really… is it 'good' then?" It was Yi Jijye who asked what everyone seemed to be thinking.

"Even if it isn't cruel, it's still invasive." Jeong Huiwon grumbled, but then her eye-line met Yi Seolhwa's. "Though.. I can think of a few people who would never take a break if some omniscient star system didn't make it part of their job."

Yi Seolhwa turned faintly pink and scooted back into her seat.

[I wouldn't think about it in terms Good or Evil if I were you.]

Biyu spoke from a nest of lavender screens floating around her.

[Rather, for this group in particular, isn't it more a matter of will you live with it, or destroy it?]

Biyu asked this with cheerful indifference. She was the Dokkaebi King but she was born for the purpose of destroying one Star Stream and would support us if we chose to do so again.

Once again, all eyes turned toward me.

This time, even Yu Junghyeok's cool gaze found mine.

I thought I should tell them that my qualifications deciding the path forward no longer applied in this Star Stream.

But maybe that much wasn't necessary yet.

I put on a calm face and raised my voice.

"No one wants to make a decision yet, right? The similarities and differences are still revealing themselves. And in either case we have to proceed through the scenarios, so let's just see what happens for now. We can discuss it more later."

No one seemed to disagree. Actually, quite a few people mentioned they were curious to see it unfold further.

Biyu nodded with her whole body.

[I agree, this situation isn't as straightforward as before. I can tell you right now I'm not acting as a 'King of Stories'. Everything is automated. I've been studying algorithms on algorithms and I'm only just getting a sense for how it works. Maybe I can take over eventually but at the moment my control is next to none.]

Next came the many questions. Biyu answered what she could.

No, there was no sign of 'streaming' resuming. Actually, there were a lot of privacy functions within the new system.

Yes, it did look like it was possible for constellations to still sponsor incarnations, but she wasn't sure if there was much benefit to it. Constellations would no longer earn money through popularity.

It wasn't a surprise but it was a bit disappointing. It would have been nice to get a paycheck just for being a household name again.

No, rumors of the Star Stream killing people for getting violent themselves were false. It was true that the new Star Steam was punishing violent actions that went against the presumed spirit of the scenarios, but this usually took the form of temporary incapacity or various other negative effects.

However, it was true that some incarnations had killed others during scenarios despite this, but it was no more than humans died or killed in more ordinary circumstances.

It all sounded too good to be true.

I looked to Han Suyeong several times but nothing we were hearing seemed to be a surprise to her.

I wanted to trust her author's instincts.

But it was a bit difficult.

Even though there were no longer 'stars' nor 'streams', every time I heard of the 'New Star Stream' I felt doubt.

I wasn't the only one. Reactions from within the room ranged from distrustful to excited.

Yu Junghyeok watched Biyu and seemed to take in every word seriously. His stony features didn't show any feelings, but I couldn't stop thinking about the single SSS ranked scenario.

...was it a cruel thing?

Or was this New Dream offering him what the Most Ancient Dream never could?

I tried to push these troubling thoughts away.

Biyu had moved on from answering questions and was instead showing a window in blown up proportions that looked like an online market.

[Now, you're all lucky! This isn't releasing publicly for a bit yet, but I've set all of you up for the beta test of the new Dokkaebi Bag. You've probably all been wondering what the koins would be for, right?]

I had been hoping the answer would be 'nothing'.

But of course, I never believed that.

I wasn't looking forward to it, I wasn't well suited for making money in this kind of economy.

I looked at my wallet containing 100 koins and couldn't help but sigh.

If Yu Junghyeok had really chosen the 'Sugar Daddy' ability he was going to be disappointed.

[That's right, a bunch of you have never used the Dokkaebi Bag yourselves. Well, it's not only for Dokja's and Constellations anymore. Just think about it the same way you'd use any skill and-- there you go.]

All around the room, private windows were opening.

[There's all kinds of things in there from a packed lunch to a capsule mansion. Want flowers that never wither? We've got it. How about a jetpack for those of you who never picked up a flight skill? Well that's in there too.]

The mood of the room got a little excited as she went on.

No one hated every part of the Star Stream. Everyone had felt it when it disappeared and they were left as ordinary people again.

[That's not to say that flight skills aren't back on the market. Just keep in mind that everything matches the new focus. If you were hoping for a new sword, you're out of luck-- don't make that face at me, Captain. I can't help you.]

There was some light laughter around the room.

[There's no attack abilities either. Basically, you'll have to get pretty creative to kill anyone with what's in here, but did you ever want to learn to play the piano? Well now you can for 8,000 koins.]

Biyu gave her run down in a quick and cheerful voice like a first rate streamer pushing merchandise on the constellations.

I couldn't help but feel proud.

...actually, come to think of it, Biyu would have a hand in the entire new Star Stream economy from here on out?

Maybe I was approaching the problem of how to make koins completely wrong.

Even from the beginning, hadn't I had the help of a dokkaebi?

I would have to talk to her alone later.

Biyu continued to introduce new features at lightning fast speeds.

Private and public messaging was back, and now incarnations had access as well, though it would require a subscription.

Gifts and koins could also be sent from anywhere to anyone.

Nebulae still got various advantages but only if they purchased a special subscription.

The starter packs were back, though no one could afford them yet.

Gong Pildu grumbled about how the Star Stream had more apps than his phone now, while Yi Jihye showed him how he could personalize the color of the UI.

[The last thing you need to know about is the 'Dates' app. Pay attention because right now this is the only way other than completing scenarios to generate koins.]

I perked up.

In a large window, Biyu showed what looked exactly like any normal calendar app.

[You can send a 'date invitation' to anyone to anyone who's also a part of the Star Stream, if they accept, your calendar will both be booked out for that time block. If you meet up with that person, the Star Stream will pay you 10 koins per hour, up to 8 hours a day.]

[I don't have to do the math for you. Right? If you get busy that's a maximum of 560 koins a week!]

"Who's going to go on that many dates?"

[Don't get hung up on the branding. It's just an agreement to meet. There's only two limits, one, it won't work for or with people who aren't registered in the new Star Stream, and two, you can only make 20 koins per day with any particular person. Group dates are okay though so I'll just tell you upfront you can work around that limit pretty easily.]

While she explained, Biyu made a show of sending a 'date invitation' and pointed out where to click, how to find someone in the system, how to save people to favorites and where to see members of your nebulae in specific.

It was in every way reminiscent of a teenager making sure her grandparents could send an email.

For her demo, she sent an invite to me for later in the week.

Naturally, I accepted, and a little fanfare went off on her screen.

Once this was done, Biyu cheerfully announced to the room.

[Of course, since going on dates makes you koins, if you stand someone up, you'll lose koins. The losses are more than the gains if you're irresponsible, so don't make promises you can't keep.]

For some reason, she gave me a pointed look as she said this?

"Oh, so if Dokja-ssi misses another appointment, it'll hit him in his wallet?"
"We all know he cares about money more than anything, this is the best way to do it."
"Ah, wait, we can go on dates with Dokja-ssi??"
"Hyeong, let's go on a date!"
"What are you doing? Ahjussi doesn't want to go with you. I'll send mine--"
"Hm, I see. This is what I have to do if I want Dokja-ssi to notice me…"
"I guess this is what a mother has to do to see her child."
"Hey! Don't all of you fill up his calendar, he has an actual job to do sometimes."

Suddenly, the mess hall filled with the sounds of my party bullying me, and dozens of invitations started to come in all at once.

I tried to accept the ones I could, but some had conflicting times, and others were just strange.

"Gilyeong, why is it set for 1 AM?"

"Uh, well… hyeong, don't you think it would be fun?"

What would be fun?

I moved the time to something more appropriate while pretending not to notice Shin Yuseung stomping on his foot.

Gradually, I made sense of the chaos. Han Suyeong got her way by demanding a few hours every other evening for research, but she had to limit the hours due to the overwhelming number of people who also wanted to see me suddenly.

I felt a little overwhelmed.

I knew it was just a bandwagon of making fun of Kim Dokja, but it was the first time in my life to see a calendar full of activities with other people.

[The story 'One Who Is Loved by All' is looking around sleepily.]

-----

This is how the rest of the week went by in a blur.

I got to finally see Yi Hyeonseong's stools. Like him, they were sturdy and simple, but he'd actually come quite far already? You could definitely use them and not get splinters.

He seemed to be enjoying carpentry.

"In a way, there's still a manual, because you can look up instructions on how to do any of this. And you can get creative if you want, but you can also just make a regular stool to start."

I went to a PC Bang with Yi Gilyeong and Shin Yuseung.

"D-don't worry, hyeong! You'll definitely win the next one."

There, I finally understood what it was like to feel old.

And next it was to a zoo with Shin Yuseung and Yi Gilyeong.

"Ahjussi, can I get a lion?"

"Why are you asking me?"

At first, I was a bit nervous.

The meeting invitations usually didn't contain details beyond where to go and when to be there.

It wasn't clear what exactly I was supposed to do once we met up.

But Yi Jihye introduced me to the new manhwa she'd started reading.

"It's about the scenarios and we're all characters. Hey look, ahjussi, don't you think they made me really hot!"

"They're paying us for this, right…"

And Gong Pildu apparently had multiple apartment complexes within the [Industrial Complex].

"This is the best land in the city!"

The rent prices were exorbitant.

"We're taxing you properly, right?"

Fortunately, even though I did nothing special, everyone seemed to have something they wanted to show me and the time went quickly.

One day I even experienced two restaurants local to the [Industrial Complex] I hadn't tried yet. This was thanks to Jeong Huiwon and Yi Seolhwa, who apparently were on a personal quest unrelated to the scenarios to make sure they tried everything in the area.

In particular I enjoyed these 'dates', as it felt like I was seeing a side of two characters I never had before.

"You two have become good friends?"

Jeong Huiwon seemed to laugh at me.

"Yes, Dokja-ssi, we're good friends now."

-----

Later that night I was on my 'date' with Han Suyeong.

Our dates were always the same: we gathered in our work room and discussed current events, made decisions about Kim Dokja's Company, and gossiped.

"Are Jeong Huiwon and Yi Seolhwa…"

I hesitated a little, unsure of if I should label it.

"An item? Did you just notice?"

When she put it like that, I felt a little bad.

"I haven't been back that long, have I?"

"I think anyone who's seen them for five minutes would notice?"

It was true that when I thought about it, there had been various signs.

I mused over this.

"I guess I just assumed their hearts were already…"

Han Suyeong rolled her eyes.

"Is this because you shipped the sword and the shield?"

It took me a minute to realize what she was referencing.

"It's not like that--"

"It's true they were together for a while, but think about the reason it all started."

"That's not--"

"Jeong Huiwon with Yi Hyeonseong is like… well like someone called the Judge of the Apocalypse dating a potato."

I wanted to defend poor Yi Hyeonseong.

"That's not fair."

"It's absolutely fair. Furthermore, if you tell him he's a potato he'll take it as a compliment."

I suddenly understood why it felt like Yi Hyeonseong had always been underdeveloped compared to the other characters of Ways to Survive.

But because it was the author saying these words, I couldn't exactly argue.

"Fine, but didn't she love that potato?"

"She probably still loves him. Everyone loves a potato now and then."

Han Suyeong answered quickly and I found I wanted to know how far she'd thought this through.

"What do you think of her and Yi Seolhwa, then?"

Han Suyeong grinned around a lollipop.

"Yi Seolhwa is still a 'good girl', right? In fact, this version is the one most dedicated to that goodness. She suits Huiwon's sense of righteousness, but you can't call her a potato."

This was our guilty pleasure, and probably the real reason no one else was invited to our work hours.

We were the only two who could talk about the 'characters' like this.

"No one would call Yi Seolhwa a potato. Is that really a good basis for a relationship, though?"

"Obviously it's more than that. Yi Seolhwa shares a lot of Yi Hyeonseong's good qualities. She's steady and reliable, she's the 'protector' type who will work tirelessly to support others. But unlike the soldier, she's quick witted and doesn't need constant direction. She has her own passions and won't get lost quickly even if you leave her alone."

Hearing Han Suyeong brag about the 'heroine' like this, I felt a bit warm.

It was true, I'd thought many times about why Yi Seolhwa was the person Yu Junghyeok of all people continued to seek out, across many turns and world-lines. Yu Junghyeok would have said it was because her healing skills were second to none, but in the turns where they were together Yu Junghyeok had a steadier heart and wasn't so prone to being a sunfish. She was a kind person who had high standards for others, as well of herself, and knew how to push his thinking so he didn't give up so easily.

"In that case, what about from the other direction?"

I found I was truly curious.

Why did Han Suyeong seem so supportive of this pair?

"Well, Jeong Huiwon is basically a more civil and grown up Yu Junghyeok? Yi Seolhwa traded up."

Wait.

No?

Where had this come from?

"Now you're talking nonsense."

"What's nonsense? In what way am I wrong?"

I opened my mouth and tried to form an argument.

"Unlike Jeong Huiwon, Yu Junghyeok is…"

I faltered as I tried to think over his good points.

Strong? Obviously she was strong as well. Dependable? I couldn't say she wasn't. Loyal, relentless, fierce, fearless? She was all of these things.

"Um… that is…"

Han Suyeong put her chin in her palm and listened like she was riveted.

"Unlike Yu Junghyeok, Jeong Huiwon is…"

'Sane' was the first word that came to mind, but that wasn't exactly a strike against Han Suyeong's point.

There was also 'not prone to mass murder'. But hadn't that been one of the concerns in the early scenarios? It was important she didn't achieve her revenge recklessly or she could have gone down a dark path.

I thought of Yu Junghyeok, the monster who killed over and over again one turn late, always taking revenge for crimes not yet committed.

"...friendly"

Finally, this was the only weak answer I could think of.

"Like I said, the more civil and grown up version."

Han Suyeong looked smug.

"Did you really not notice? In a better novel, Jeong Huiwon would have been the protagonist."

Somehow, even though Han Suyeong knew it was her book, she still liked insulting it.

But I couldn't deny her point. Now that I was thinking about it, they had a lot of similarities.

I felt a little mournful.

Jeong Huiwon wasn't even written by this author, but Han Suyeong had noticed more than I had in far less time.

My face must have shown something because Han Suyeong scowled and clicked her tongue. "What's that face for? This is just gossip. It's for fun?"

I fixed my expression.

"I was just thinking, poor Yu Junghyeok?"

"Hah? What's he got to do with it?"

"What do you mean? Yi Seolhwa was his wife, you know? In the 2nd regression they even had a child."

"And? How many thousands of years ago was that?"

I felt a bit irritated.

"What does that matter? They fell in love time and again, even in some of the later turns."

"And in how many turns did nothing happen? If one had wanted to pursue the other in this turn, they could have."

She wasn't wrong, there was really very little romance in Ways to Survive. In most turns, Yu Junghyeok was alone.

"Anyway, this is your ending. If that was what you wanted, why didn't you play matchmaker?"

I wanted to remind her that I went so far as to save Yi Seolhwa's life and gave the credit to Yu Junghyeok, even though he'd been urging me to kill her.

What was that if not match making?

But I felt like she had a point.

After that moment, had I ever really thought about it again?

I had just assumed that the natural outcome would be the hero and the heroine together again.

There was no rush. In the 0th turn, Yu Junghyeok and Yi Seolhwa didn't marry until seven years after the scenarios, but organically it happened, and he found happiness.

But in this ending, someone else had been there instead?

Even now, was my choice to save Jeong Huiwon changing the story?

Had this impacted Yu Junghyeok's ■■?

I felt a bit troubled.

While I was distracted by these thoughts, something sweet was shoved against my lips.

Han Suyeong was prodding me with a lollipop.

"Whatever stupidity it is, get it out of your head. You got to choose your ending already. Now it's time to let everyone else choose theirs."

Chapter Text

"Is this your first time getting out of the Complex since you got back?"

Biyu was wearing sunglasses into the sunset's sinking glare while steering the bright blue sports car through a bustling highway.

Due to various time shenanigans she would probably be mistaken as my sister, but it was undeniable that she looked similar to me.

Perhaps the main difference was that she seemed stylish and confident.

"I've been out a little ways, but it's my first time seeing this view."

As I spoke, I stared out the window at sparkling Seoul.

It had been less than thirty years since the scenarios ended but that was more than enough to handle much of the reconstruction. Life had returned to 'ordinary' for those who survived and those who were born after the last scenarios would have no idea of the hardship they'd escaped.

Still, it wasn't as bright as it had once been.

The constellations of the stars and human lights were both far dimmer than what was in my memories.

"Are you seeing what was lost, or what was saved?"

I felt a little caught.

"I'm not sure… maybe it's similar to both."

"Is it just me? I feel like Father's getting more sentimental in his old age…"

I couldn't exactly deny being old but I wanted to protest anyway.

"Age isn't really relevant anymore. Or should I tell Han Suyeong she should be calling you ajumma?"

"What are you talking about? I'm not even thirty yet?"

"I heard you helped Yu Junghyeok with the book delivery. If you were with him it must have been… what, at least eighty years?"

Biyu scowled with a side-long glance. "He told you?"

"His hair always starts to go grey at around a hundred or so."

"Hm, I shouldn't have doubted Father's unrivaled Yu Junghyeok expertise…"

"Please don't put it like that."

She smiled and I was strangely reminded of my mother.

It was the smile of someone who would contentedly never speak her full mind.

"Okay well, I'm caught. But actually it's older than that. I had to train in the Dark Fault for a while to make full use of my status."

"Oh, how long was that?"

"I'm not telling? How long were you in that subway?"

"Obviously, I'm not telling."

Biyu laughed and I felt my heart shake.

In moments like this I was so glad to be in the world that it hurt.

"Still, I'm sure you're much older than me, and isn't it it a daughter's right?"

"It's not as if I can stop you…"

"It's true, you can't."

She was cheerfully smug.

"But since it makes you feel bad, I'll change the subject. When is Father going to finish that scenario. Do I need to tell you what happens if you fail it again?"

I flinched involuntarily.

Of course the Dokkaebi King would be able to see my scenario.

But since she was also my daughter I'd really prefer if she didn't.

Though, since she'd brought it up...

"About that… I don't suppose you could just cancel it?"

"The personal scenarios have functionally replaced the main scenarios."

"The Dokkaebi King should be able to interfere. You can at least change it, right?"

"I suppose. Unfortunately though, I don't want to."

Biyu cut me down in such a frank and unapologetic manner.

I couldn't help but feel betrayed.

"Are you enjoying this?"

"A bit. But that's not why. Don't you think you're being a bit silly?"

I thought if I opened up the car door and used Way of the Wind it shouldn't be too hard to leave.

Biyu made a little noise of pique and her tone became more serious.

"I'll stop teasing you if you tell me seriously."

Somehow, her sincerity was actually more embarrassing than being teased.

Of course, I knew I was being silly.

But knowing this hadn't made the silly feelings go away.

"Is it because you've never kissed anyone before?"

I reached for the car door handle.

"Aht, don't even think about it!"

She smacked me on the shoulder and sparks of probability went off around the locks.

I couldn't escape if I didn't want to get into a probability battle with her.

"If you ditch me you'll lose koins too. Since I'm the Dokkaebi King I'll charge you double."

I fell bonelessly back into my seat.

Daughters were truly dangerous.

I wasn't sure why, but against Biyu I didn't seem to have any useful defenses?

She wasn't someone I could lie to.

"Speaking of koins, as the father of the Dokkaebi King shouldn't you be taking care of me in my old age? Where's my financial support?"

She snorted.

"Don't change the subject. You want more koins? Here, I'll do this favor one time."

[Dokkaebi King 'Biyu' has altered the Personal Scenario of 'The Demon King of Salvation'.]

[Dokkaebi King 'Biyu' has provided additional compensation.]

+

[ Personal Scenario #1 - Catch Up 1v2 ]

Category: Private

Difficulty: F

Clear Conditions: Obtain at least 1 romantic kiss. Further kisses will receive additional compensation.

Time Limit: 1 week

Compensation: 200 koins per kiss.

Failure: [Help Status] will be mandatorily triggered.

+

Well, I had to admit, an extra 100 koins was better than nothing.

I checked the count down.

[Time Remaining: 00:12:38:34]

A little over twelve hours remaining.

I decided to reassure her.

"I have a plan."

"You thought of a way to wiggle out of it?"

Well, more or less, but I don't know why she put it like that.

Biyu let out a little huff but went quiet for a moment before continuing.

"Father, have you thought about the purpose behind these scenarios?"

Naturally, I'd thought every day since the start of this that I was being targeted.

"It isn't for entertainment anymore."

"Just because there's no streaming doesn't mean the New Dream isn't watching. Of course it's still entertainment."

Maybe some resentment came through in my voice.

Biyu lifted up her sunglasses as it became dark enough that they served no purpose.

Like mine, her eyes shimmered unnaturally.

"Is that really what you think?"

"What else should I think?"

"Even when the scenarios were truly awful, the Most Ancient Dream wasn't malicious. So why would it be that way now?"

These words stung.

Of course, the Most Ancient Dream had been neither malicious nor able to control the scenarios. Yet, there was no one else to hand responsibility to, either.

Comparatively, somewhere out there was a kid who apparently just dreamed of this kind of pushy romantic humiliation.

I knew my feelings were petty.

"So, you agree with the scenarios?"

"Hmm… I've looked at a lot of them, you know?

"Most people have a specific 'quest line'. A kid who gets bullied might get scenarios that guide them to standing up for themselves, or building up their confidence. Someone who's never followed their dream will get scenarios that point them that way. People who work too much get scenarios to take a break, and the ones who don't put in any effort get scenarios to teach them independence."

"So you think the scenarios are aiming to be helpful."

"At this moment, they absolutely are. I can't say what the future will hold, I'm wary too, but I don't think you can deny the present."

Feeling defeated, I let out a sigh.

"You don't like it because the scenarios honed in on Father's weak point. But everyone's weak points are being targeted, since that's how the scenarios help you overcome them."

I considered this.

I couldn't deny her logic, though I still disliked it.

"What's your quest line, then?"

"Hm? Naturally I don't have anything to improve?"

"You're really shameless…"

Biyu laughed softly.

"Can't you guess?"

I paused, and then thought about it.

"...are you getting paid for this? Is that why I'm stuck here?"

The laugh evolved into a fond grin.

"Don't be mad. Someone still needs to tell you this. My quest line also involves personal connection? I guess you could say we're similar."

Hearing that caused some complicated feelings.

Naturally, 'like father, like daughter' had a sweet sound.

But I didn't actually want her to inherit my bad habits.

Still, I felt a bit more at ease.

"Does that mean at the 'end of the scenarios' I'll have a son-in-law?"

"What if it's a daughter-in-law?"

I thought about it.

"A daughter would be better."

I got to hear her laugh again.

------

Even though it was an excruciating experience, when Biyu finally drove us back to the [Industrial Complex] my heart felt a bit lighter.

I had been indulging in the feeling of "I don't want to do it", even though I knew the task was far from impossible.

But if I thought about it, everyone was being told to do something they'd prefer to put off.

I was jealous of Yi Seolhwa for her Bubble Bath scenario, but I knew better than most why it was a challenge for her.

She was the sort of person who didn't know how to live a single moment for herself. Any time relaxing could be spent researching a new cure, reading up on medicine, or helping a patient.

If unable to do anything, or worse, forced to do nothing when she could be doing something, her anxiety would build up.

Thinking about this, I realized that maybe the reason she and Jeong Huiwon ate together often was because if they didn't, Yi Seolhwa would eat alone while working?

Jeong Huiwon was the type of person to push for this sort of common sense solution.

Of course, "Yi Seolhwa becomes a person who can relax" and "Kim Dokja becomes a person who kisses people" were really different outcomes.

I really didn't see any need for the latter.

But if I could at least overcome my uncertainty around it, maybe the scenarios and my daughter would leave me alone.

I decided to address the issue on my 'date' with Han Suyeong tonight.

Maybe I would even tell her the truth?

There was no way I wouldn't get laughed at, but once I endured that I felt she'd probably help me out in exchange for an IOU.

She was actually a pretty reliable person.

Trying to cheer myself up in this way, I proceeded to the meeting place for my 'date' with Uriel.

It was the park where I'd last held her hand.

I thought that was a little sweet and was looking forward to seeing her.

Unfortunately, upon my arrival to the dimly lit park I instead found some sunfish staring at me in confusion.

For some reason he was carrying a bag of food?

"What are you doing here?"

He was already growling.

He must still be mad.

Well, there was another area I'd been indulging the "I don't want to" feeling.

My full calendar had been a good distraction from gathering up the will to go talk to Yu Junghyeok again.

Anyway, this was awkward.

"I'm meeting Uriel. What about you?"

Yu Junghyeok's scowl deepened.

"That angel…"

Ah, don't tell me.

"You, also…?"

Yu Junghyeok didn't answer me, but he did whirl around looking for someone to yell at.

"Uriel!"

Of course, no one answered.

I looked around as well and noticed a set up picnic area not far away. There was a blanket, some lit candles, and a clean, white box.

Honestly, what was she thinking… I thought she'd gotten over this?

"Yu Junghyeok."

I caught his attention and went to go inspect it.

The box had a label reading 'For the eternal comrades.'

Looking at this, I felt a little embarrassed?

Mystified, I turned to Yu Junghyeok.

At least for the moment he appeared more annoyed at Uriel than me.

After a long silence he finally grunted.

"Open it."

I carefully lifted the lid on the box.

A brilliant, white light poured out.

It was so much that I wondered briefly if Uriel wasn't somehow inside the box?

There was a blinding flash, a sense of air whooshing past us.

I reflexively dropped the box and felt Yu Junghyeok reach for his sword.

My ears popped.

When I was able to see again, the park was gone.

We were inside a simple, well lit room.

"What the hell is this? What did you do?"

"You're blaming me? I was set up too, you know."

I ignored Yu Junghyeok's moodiness and looked around.

There was a bed, a table, some chairs. It was a simple room with soft colors, no windows, and no door.

I was getting a very bad feeling.

"Hey, can you break out?"

Yu Junghyeok was already on it.

His fist slammed into the wall but didn't make a dent.

If it was an ordinary wall that was impossible.

[The Intervention Chamber has a no violence policy.]

This warning popped up for both of us.

Yu Junghyeok ignored it and tried again, this time with a fist glowing gold with transcendent energy.

Of course, this also did nothing.

[Continued attempts at violence within the Intervention Chamber will result in penalties.]

[This is the final warning.]

"It's probably pointless."

He was getting ready to swing again anyway so I tried to calm him down.

"Let's see if we can reach Uriel."

I was taking out my phone to send a text when something nostalgic happened.

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is sorry!]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is really sorry!]

Yu Junghyeok and I both looked at the message, then each other.

In unison we opened our windows.

[Constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ asks what the ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is thinking.]

[Incarnation 'Conquering King' says what the hell did you do.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is overwhelmed!]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ says it is great to see you both in chat!]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ welcomes you and 'Conquering King'.]

[Incarnation 'Conquering King' says what the hell did you do.]

I should be angry right now but no matter what it was, Uriel was too cute?

Yu Junghyeok snarled at me. "Don't indulge her."

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ remembers she is sorry.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ says it is for your own good.]

[Constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ wants to know why he's been locked up with an angry 'Conquering King'.]

[Incarnation 'Conquering King' says undo this or die.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ thinks that the 'Demon King of Salvation' and the 'Conquering King' need to address their comradeship.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ thinks there is a good opportunity right now.]

[Incarnation 'Conquering King' says what are you talking about.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ has confidence the 'Demon King of Salvation' and the 'Conquering King' will figure it out.]

This was giving me a bad feeling?

[Constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ wants to know what the conditions are.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ says there are no conditions.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ says the room will open after twelve hours.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ hopes you make good use of it.]

Twelve hours?

Wait, she couldn't…

There was no way for her to even know, was there?

[Incarnation 'Conquering King' says what are you talking about.]

[Constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation' says that's too long.]

[Incarnation 'Conquering King' says Uriel open this damn box.]

[Constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ has other responsibilities.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is truly sorry.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ reminds you she can't see what's going on.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is closing the Star Stream now.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ has left the chat.]

[Incarnation 'Conquering King' says Uriel!!.]

A fuming Yu Junghyeok continued to send clumsy indirect messages.

But there was no point, she wouldn't see them.

Feeling suddenly very tired I fell into one of the chairs.

I knew the answer but I checked the timer for my scenario anyway.

[Time Remaining: 00:10:47:09]

Chapter Text

We spent the first hour researching escape routes.

+

[Intervention Chamber (12 hr)]

4,000 koins

This item will lock anyone within it's near vicinity in an inescapable but hospitable room for the stated duration. It comes in models for 12 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, and 1 week.

Incarnations within the chamber will have their metabolism slowed and their natural healing heightened.

Violence is not permissible within the chamber and attempts will result in an applied [Weakness Effect].

It is an excellent tool for taking an ally out of a situation where they might be a danger to themselves or others.

*The owner can only activate this item against incarnations they are highly intimate with.

+

"How did she get the koins?"

"Unlike some, she's been doing her scenarios diligently."

"Are you really one to talk?"

It hadn't taken long to find the details on the item she'd used against us. From there, I began digging through the dokkaebi bag to see if there might be some kind of affordable countermeasure.

Unfortunately, I didn't yet have even 1,000 koins, so my hopes weren't high.

"How many koins do you get for an SSS rank anyway? It's got to be at least a million?"

"There's no reason for me to tell you."

I sighed as I flipped rapidly through the dokkaebi bag.

"I guess you wouldn't be able to clear it from inside here anyway."

There was a pause, and then Yu Junghyeok replied. "It's certainly impossible."

We sat in silence for a while.

Thanks to my reading ability, it didn't take long to go through all of the items currently available.

"Did you find anything?"

"There's a couple of options but they're both over a million."

"Then even if it were possible, it wouldn't be worth it."

I agreed.

No matter the consequences, I would absolutely kiss Yu Junghyeok before wasting a million koins.

Yu Junghyeok was sizing up the walls speculatively.

"Nothing that only costs only 4,000 could defeat Breaking the Sky Swordmanship."

It was tempting to encourage him just to see him try it, but I shook my head.

"In this Star Stream it can. Violence isn't considered a 'strength' under this system."

Yu Junghyeok's answering silence was heavy.

I cursed at myself quietly.

I didn't have to activate Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, I could easily imagine his thoughts.

This sunfish had spent countless years becoming the greatest wielder of violence in the Star Stream.

Now all that strength could not even get him out of a low level trap item.

I was trying to think of what to say to cheer him up when he reached inside his coat and pulled out his phone and began scrolling.

I blinked and leaned over to try to see what he was up to.

"Mind your own business, Kim Dokja."

This was the worst possible thing to tell me?

"Are you reading again?"

Yu Junghyoek made an irritated noise but, surprisingly, answered.

"For now, this is how I can gain 'strength' in this world."

To say I was shocked was an understatement.

I had thought he would be depressed, but he'd taken such a responsible position?

I felt like a proud father, I really wanted to praise him.

For a while I forgot how bad the situation was and took in this strange new scene.

Reading on a phone didn't have the same appeal as reading a hardcopy, but I understood the convenience.

Actually there was something a bit comical about mighty Yu Junghyeok staring into the tiny screen that was made all the smaller by his large hands.

He didn't look like someone who should be around technology at all, even though his original form was 'pro-gamer'.

But even though it was probably some sappy romantic manhwa full of flustered highschoolers he looked really engrossed? It was charming, I'd seen countless Yu Junghyeok's but this was an SSS+ Rank rarity.

As he continued to read, Yu Junghyeok's brows twitched and narrowed. His thumb scrolled faster. The thing that happened to his face that was like a frown but more dangerous appeared.

I wondered what was happening in the story?

He was so into it, maybe I should read it too?

His tension was clearly rising and I only got more curious, until finally he sat up straight and slammed his phone down against the table, glaring at me

"What is it?!"

Ah…

"If you want to fight just come at me."

I'd made a mistake.

"Why would I want that? You're the one who likes to solve everything with a fight?"

"Bastard, why are you staring?"

I had forgotten for a minute where I was and started 'reading'.

"How was that staring? I was just thinking and you were in the way of my eyes."

Sometimes I even impress myself with my ability to smile and say nonsense at the same time.

But now and then I could say some nonsense that would confuse Yu Junghyeok into letting go of his anger.

"...fool."

He appeared irritated but relaxed.

"Point your eyes somewhere else."

I laughed but didn't provoke him further.

"I'll go over there then?"

Yu Junghyeok grunted and went back to his reading while I fell back onto the bed and contemplated the ceiling.

-----

Some time later I had more or less accepted that there was no option other than to rely on Yu Junghyeok in place of Han Suyeong.

It was unfortunate but since I'd already told him what my scenario was, I wouldn't be able to pull a stunt like the fortune telling before.

The problem was that Yu Junghyeok was rightly angry at me and if I asked him for a favor now it would probably just be the worst end.

So I had to do two unpleasant things.

I was going to seriously chide Uriel later.

When I sat up, I found that Yu Junghyeok was still reading.

I checked the clock. Around seven hours to go.

I had thought he would have given it up for meditation or sword practice by now.

I crept up behind him and looked over his shoulder to see what it was.

This time there were no highschool girls, but what looked like a young man playing video games with his friends.

They argued about something through voice comms while their characters fought on screen.

I was a little fascinated?

"Kim Dokja."

Obviously he'd noticed me.

"What are you reading?"

I asked as if I didn't hear his disgruntlement.

I thought he might ignore me.

"...It's called [Final Boss: Me]."

I blinked.

"That's a romance?"

"Don't be stupid."

I was a bit confused, so I kept pestering him.

"What's it about then, then?"

"And idiot trying to become a pro-gamer."

I wanted to laugh.

That was too charming?

As I continued to ask questions, he began to speak a little more freely.

The story had been recommended by Han Suyeong, who heard about it from her class. It wasn't a romance but a 'slice of life', exploring the choices of the hero as he became hyper fixated on his goal and forgot what he truly loved about games.

He had real problems in his life that he'd turned to games to distract himself from, but in time he became addicted, and then proud, and opportunities that should have been a blessing became a curse.

It seemed he was going down a dark path, but Yu Junghyeok was still only halfway through.

It was an interesting story, though I wans't quite sure why Han Suyeong thought it would help with the scenarios. Other than the 'pro-gamer' similarity, it didn't sound like that protagonist and this one had much in common.

But I was enjoying talking about it, so I asked Yu Junghyeok how he expected it to end.

"Of course, he becomes the villain."

"You don't think he can be redeemed?"

"Why should he be?"

Was he dense on purpose?

"I'll ask it this way, as the reader, is that the end you'd be happy with?"

For a moment, Yu Junghyeok seemed to think about it.

Then his eyes narrowed.

"What do you really want to say, Kim Dokja?"

Ah…

It really hadn't been deliberate, but I guess he had a point.

Somehow we'd gotten to talking about endings.

The nice feeling I'd accumulated over the last few minutes was whisked away.

I could feel the stories within me listening.

Even though I already knew what I had to say, my mouth had gone dry.

"...I'll help you."

[The story '4th Record of the 2nd Turn' nods.]

Yu Junghyeok's eyes shook.

I smiled even though his surprise hurt a bit.

"Did you really think I wouldn't?"

"You said you didn't want it."

"I also said what I wanted didn't matter. You wouldn't give up just because of something like that, are you?"

Yu Junghyeok's emotions seemed to settle and he crossed his arms while considering me.

"So your opinion is the same."

Damn, this guy, what did he want?

[The story '7th record of the 1863rd Turn' snorts derisively.]

"What is your problem with me finding my ■■?"

"There's no problem."

Now that we weren't in that game I could say whatever I wanted.

[Incarnation ‘Yu Junghyeok’ has used the ‘Lie Detection’ skill.]

[Lie Detection has confirmed that your words are false.]

"Bastard, would you give it a rest?"

[The story 'Hellscape of Eternity' thinks you should be one to give it a rest.]

Yu Junghyeok was unmoved.

"Answer me. What is your problem with me finding my ■■?"

[The story '0th Turn' is watching you.]

"Why are you obsessed with that? I know it's selfishness so just ignore it. I'll help you anyway."

"So it's selfishness."

I shot him an aggravated look. My heart was beating in an erratic confusion and stories were arguing inside of me.

"Kim Dokja, ■■ ■■■ ■■■■ ■ ■ ■■■?"

What?

"What?"

The riot that had begun in my chest was stunned into a quiet confusion.

"You heard me. Answer."

Yu Junghyeok looked like he was losing patience.

"I… didn't, actually?"

"Kim Dokja…"

"I'm seriously. Whatever you said was filtered."

He stared at me, clearly also startled by this.

"Say it again."

"■■ ■■■ ■■■■ ■ ■ ■■■?"

I could tell he was speaking carefully, I almost saw his mouth move? But even that seemed to blur strangely, as if to prevent me from so much as lip reading.

It made no sense but was undeniable.

I could only stare at him and shake my head.

I tried to think of an explanation. Obviously it was something to do with the new Star Stream, but why now? It's true we had been talking about Yu Junghyeok's ■■, but we were well past the point where it made sense to filter that.

Yu Junghyeok was staring at me with intensity and I felt like I needed to apologize.

"I really can't hear it."

[Incarnation ‘Yu Junghyeok’ has used the ‘Lie Detection’ skill.]

[Lie Detection has confirmed that your words are true.]

"You think I'd lie about that?"

There was something strange in his face.

Was it concern?

I couldn't think of why he'd be concerned.

"If you didn't hear it, then why are you shaking?"

I wondered what nonsense he was talking about, but when I actually looked down I realized my hands were trembling.

And when I noticed that, it became apparent I felt it in my shoulders and chest as well.

"...maybe something's messing with my incarnation body?"

For the moment, it was the only guess I had.

I immediately regretted it.

Yu Junghyeok's eyes harded.

"You should be in the clinic."

"I'm fine."

"You don't know that."

"I know it, I'm fine."

"You're going deaf and shaking all over."

"When did you become so dramatic?"

I held my hands up and wiggled them at him.

"Look, it's dying down already?"

Yu Junghyeok scowled.

"Has your hearing returned too? ■■ ■■■ ■■■■ ■ ■ ■■■?"

This time I saw the visible flinch go through my arms.

It was really strange and irritating.

This wasn't going according to plan at all.

I laced my fingers together to try and still the shaking, and smiled.

"Maybe the new Star Stream is just more aggressive about spoilers?"

Yu Junghyeok scowled at me but the worry in his face was obvious now.

"...as soon as we are free, you'll go see Yi Seolhwa and tell her everything."

"Fine, I promise."

"And go lie down."

I grumbled loudly about not needing another mother, but I did as I was told so he'd calm down.

Once the shaking had fully subsided I was left with a tired and hollow feeling in my chest.

I draped a hand over my eyes and tried not to think about unexpected filters or the slowly ticking clock of my scenario for a bit.

[The story '7th Record of the 999th Turn' wonders what's wrong.]

[The story '1st Record of the 1323rd Turn' thinks you are pitiful.]

[The story 'Comrades of Life and Death' is muttering to itself.]

[The story 'Hellscape of Eternity' thinks you're a fool.]

I couldn't 'go read' or I would sleep right through the timer, but I spent a while quietly soothing my stories.

I was never quite sure if my emotions effected theirs more, or if it was the other way around.

It was hard to believe I had such a shaky heart after everything I'd seen? I wanted to blame it all on being separated from the 4th Wall, but it had probably started from before then.

Yes, now that I really thought about it, it was rather nostalgic.

Somewhere deep inside me, nestled along side thousands of grander stories, were the stories of a little boy who also got overwhelmed easily by emotion.

Who always felt fragile and cried often.

Whose mouth dried up and chest began to hurt when thoughts became too unpleasant.

It wasn't a good time for nostalgia, so I spent a while piling better stories on top.

Chapter Text

There was an hour left.

I forgot about time for a bit and what disturbed me from my thoughts was Yu Junghyeok rising from either more reading or a light nap and beginning to stretch.

The stories inside of me had settled down and even when I checked my fingertips all the shaking seemed to have subsided.

There was no sense in putting it off then.

I would probably need the last hour to talk to him into it.

I sighed and then put on a smiling face.

"Yu Junghyeok, I need a favor."

Yu Junghyeok didn't pause in the middle of his graceful movements. Even his routine for stretching had a sword in his hand, and it moved like an extension of him.

I had seen this scene countless times.

"What is it?"

"I need to kiss you."

The knuckles on his sword went white and his posture stiffened as he turned to glare at me. I somewhat regretted not bringing this up before he'd taken out his sword.

"You…"

[Incarnation 'Yu Junghyeok' has used 'Eye of the Sage'.]

A golden light pierced me and I tolerated it, this was easier than explaining, after all.

"How have you not completed that scenario? Haven't you been going on dates all week??"

"You know they aren't actual dates?"

Yu Junghyeok scowled.

"You have had many opportunities."

He wasn't wrong, but naturally someone like the protagonist wouldn't understand.

If he had gotten this kind of scenario it would truly be 'F rank' difficulty.

"I forgot about it? What does it matter?"

"Because it is unlike you. What is the game?"

I couldn't exactly blame everyone for thinking I had something up my sleeve every time there was a scenario, but I was starting to wish their confidence in me was a little lower.

"There's not a game, I just thought it was bothersome. Since the time is almost up I was going to get Han Suyeong's help, but Uriel interfered."

Some surprise flew across Yu Junghyeok's face.

"That is why…"

"I didn't tell her about my scenario, so I don't know how she got the timing right."

Yu Junghyeok's face started to look a bit constipated.

Wait a minute.

Actually, other than Biyu, Yu Junghyeok should be the only one who knew what my scenario was?

"...did you tell her?"

He growled stiffly. "She was being nosy, it was days ago."

"I see"

I smiled

"So actually. This is completely your fault?"

"I assumed you had already completed it!"

It was actually funny in an unfortunate kind of way. Naturally, Yu Junghyeok thought this was a simple task, but Uriel who had been watching me from the beginning had probably noticed it was impossible.

"She played you."

"I'll kill her."

I wondered if I should feel bad that Yu Junghyeok clearly hated the idea, but actually I felt more at ease?

Bullying him into doing things he didn't want to wasn't so strange.

"Take responsibility, Yu Junghyeok."

He regarded me with flinty eyes, but this was only a level 1 Yu Junghyeok glare so I was unscathed.

"It is only one?"

I began to answer, but an idea occurred to me.

I took stock of my own situation.

Was it possible?

I hadn't considered it at all because he was Yu Junghyeok, but perhaps he was the better candidate.

Han Suyeong would have mocked me relentlessly, but Yu Junghyeok usually didn't have that habit. And now he was the one who owed me?

Moreover, as much as it was tempting to do the bare minimum, the structure of this Star Stream was different.

As long as this task remained a 'weakness', it would continue to be targeted. The next scenario would be to get two kisses.

In that case, maybe this situation was actually ideal?

I decided to try it.

"It's only one, unless you'd also like to make some koins. It's difficult for you right now, right?"

Yu Junghyeok looked suspicious, but curious.

"Explain."

"It's 100 koins per kiss." Of course, I didn't tell him that Biyu had doubled the compensation for me. "There's no upward limit. So it's one to clear the scenario but if we do more, I'll pay 25 koins for each at the end."

Yu Junghyeok's eyebrows shot up at this ludicrously bad deal.

"Is the reason you haven't completed the scenario yet because no one would agree to your shameless terms?"

Well, it was better if he thought that.

"You're refusing? Just the one is fine."

"50 koins. I will keep count."

"40?"

"50." He growled, and I made a show of placating his irritation.

"Fine, even though this situation is your fault, you got saddled with a bad scenario, so I'll be a little generous."

Yu Junghyeok snorted, then lifted his sword and went right back into his morning routine.

I frowned.

He was being like this.

"There's a time limit, you know?"

"You interrupted me. Wait ten minutes."

I wanted to roll my eyes a bit but there was no sense in arguing with him.

While I waited, I opened up my Star Stream dashboard and took care of some tasks.

[You ditched your date with Han Suyeong! You have been docked 40 koins.]

I winced, this was my first time missing an agreed upon meeting. Losing twice as much as you would have made sounded too steep? I would complain to Biyu later.

There were several messages from the 'Director of the False Last Act'.

[Constellation 'Architect of the False Last Act' wants to know where the hell you are.]

[Constellation 'Architect of the False Last Act' says you better not have fallen asleep in the tub and drowned.]

[Constellation 'Architect of the False Last Act' has changed her mind and thinks you had better be dead.]

[Constellation 'Architect of the False Last Act' says Kim Dokja if you don't answer me when I find your body I'm going to get three hundred years worth of blackmail material.]

I wondered what she meant by that, but I was glad she wasn't able to find my catatonic incarnation body last night.

[Constellation 'Architect of the False Last Act' says Kim Dokja you bastard!]

I felt a little bad, I should have warned her I was going to miss our date after we fell for Uriel's trap.

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' apologizes.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' promises to explain later.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says everything is fine.]

I didn't want to get into it now so I closed the communication tab before she could respond.

Next, I checked my calendar, which was still fairly busy but not as much as before.

I sent a 'date' invitation to Yi Seolhwa for later this morning. Thankfully the time was open for me, but it bumped up against one of Yi Seolhwa's other engagements.

In the meeting notes I added: 'if the timing is bad, please complain to Yu Junghyeok'.

Then I sent one to Uriel. In these notes I simply typed 'Punishment'.

I picked a time a few days out so I would have time to decide the best way to mess with her.

After that I simply puttered around in the dokkaebi bag, fantasizing about having money instead of what I had to do to get money, until an ominous presence loomed over me.

I had been avoiding it since the start of the new scenarios but it finally came to this.

I looked up.

"Are you finally ready?"

I had done my best to put little thought into what would happen.

It wasn't something I could imagine anyway. I hadn't read books with that kind of content and because my life was spent thinking about Ways to Survive or doing what I needed to survive myself, I sometimes felt like I had more or less skipped over this aspect of being a human.

If I had to describe my plans it would be something like 'do something awkward and unpleasant for koins and then tell some jokes before never talking about it again'.

I hadn't really considered what plans Yu Junghyeok might have at all. But from the way he grabbed my collar, pulled me up from the bed, and pressed his lips to mine, I got the idea that they must be rather different?

It wasn't an unpleasant sensation.

There was a little scratchiness to his lips that told me didn't didn't use lip balm any more than he used lotion, but I thought of it as a charm point.

However, there was a weight to it I hadn't expected?

Not just his mouth but his whole body. He wasn't actually holding me close, but it was almost like a gentle press of his 'status'.

The kiss lingered unexpectedly and I moved my mouth, perhaps thinking to ask 'why', but Yu Junghyeok seemed to take that as permission to go further.

His tongue grazed my lip and I realized I had made a mistake.

This wasn't just kissing just anyone.

This was the protagonist.

Naturally he would have a stat bonus in this area?

I considered that maybe I should end this at one kiss after all.

I thought he was going to push it even further, but after a couple of curious swipes along my lips he pulled back enough to regard me silently.

[You have earned 200 koins!]

I also stared at him in slight bewilderment.

The heart that I expected would be erratic actually felt quite steady?

"One."

Then, for some reason, this was the word that broke the spell.

Warmth rose to my cheeks.

As if in response, the corner of his mouth ticked slightly upward.

This was a big miscalculation.

I started to look for an escape.

"Actually, making koins off this kind of thing…"

Yu Junghyeok's fingers touched my throat and a thumb directed my face back his way.

I wouldn't have described the first kiss as hesitant, but even I couldn't miss that the second was unmistakably more confident.

It was hard to identify how. The energy from him was simply warmer.

The distance between our bodies shortened and I closed my eyes.

Yu Junghyeok's tongue made me aware that the inside of my mouth was oddly sensitive? Almost to the point of being ticklish.

I'd never thought about this before.

[You have earned 200 koins!]

"Two."

I frowned.

"--Are you seriously going to--"

Apparently Yu Junghyeok wasn't interested in my complaint. There was barely a breath between two and three.

I realized the movement wasn't only between our mouths.

He had one hand at the back of my head and the other at my hip.

I felt like his 'status' was overwhelming but the touches were surprisingly soft.

At some point I had clutched the edges of his jacket and I didn't have any better idea of what to do with my hands so I left them there. If Yu Junghyeok had complaints he'd have to stop kissing me long enough to say them.

[You have earned 200 koins!]

"Three."

This time I didn't try to say anything and Yu Junghyeok paused.

"You're done complaining?"

Why did he sound smug?

"Oh? Did you want to--"

He cut me off again.

This bastard? Did he think this was a game?

On four I was feeling cranky enough that I forgot to be stunned, and finally made an effort to match Yu Junghyeok's pressure against me.

This, it turned out, was also a mistake.

I hadn't realized it but there had been some sort of transparent film over my perception.

As long as I only 'experienced' and didn't truly 'respond', these feelings were manageable and surprisingly pleasant. It was like a full glass of water that wouldn't quite spill over.

My face might be red but my heart was steady.

I could think about things like how human bodies had a density that you couldn't feel until you were a breath away, and that I wasn't sure I had ever noticed before.

I could think about how this particular sensation against my lips and tongue had never been felt once in countless years, and that it seemed unbelievable that something could still be so new.

I could think about how even if I had read about this in a book, it would not really have helped me understand.

These were all safe and curious thoughts.

It wasn't bad. If I'd stopped there I might not have any regrets.

But by four I was caught up in Yu Junghyeok's baiting, I yanked on the jacket I'd been clinging to and leaned up just enough that there was a sudden pressure between us.

I moved my mouth back against his and didn't worry about if I was bad at it.

He was the protagonist, after all.

I'd accepted a long time ago all I could do was fiercely struggle to keep up.

This decision resulted in two problems.

The first was the piercing of the film.

As soon I began to move it felt like my blood suddenly knew what it was for. The glass overflowed and sensation heightened. I felt it in my fingers and chest and down my thighs. My breath suddenly didn't go as far and my lungs burned more quickly. The pace of my heartbeat was no longer comfortably restrained.

The second was that I forgot Yu Junghyeok was a competitive asshole who would never lose in a contest of physicality.

The 'surprisingly soft' hold at the back of my head became firm. The light touch on my hip roamed upward with confidence and I realized this was another wholly new type of contact.

I was pulled flat to his body and felt like I'd gained a new understanding of the word 'solid'.

Some sound happened in the back of my throat and abruptly the kiss broke.

[You have earned 200 koins!]

For the first time I felt like I had to catch my breath.

Of course, Yu Junghyeok was still composed, except for the faint shaking in eyes that were darker than I'd ever seen them.

I should have looked for another escape but my cheeky brain got ahead of me.

"Hm? Is three as high as you can count?"

This comment earned a growl I felt in the base of my skull and a quick trip onto the bed.

I had a single, brief moment to try and grapple with this rapidly escalating pace.

I did not succeed.

I thought instead that Yu Junghyeok seemed so large, as he loomed in the instant before he joined me, then surprisingly heavy as I felt the mattress sink near my thighs and behind my back.

[The story 'Comrades of Life and Death' is humming.]

For a moment I wondered what I had been afraid of.

Then I grinned as I draped my arms over Yu Junghyeok's broad shoulders and initiated the fifth.

Over the next ten or so -- sometimes I counted, sometimes Yu Junghyeok did, somehow we managed to not lose track -- I noticed various things.

Such as, whatever 'status' Yu Junghyeok emitted when I was standing close to him, it was dwarfed by the experience of being under him.

Such as, jackets were a real hindrance for this configuration and I shrugged out of mine in frustration one kiss before Yu Junghyeok did the same.

Such as, Yu Junghyeok still didn't use lotion despite my teasing, but the calloused drag of a thumb across the skin just above my hip could distract my focus so cleanly that I might as well have gone blind.

Such as, it was possible to be aware that my mind had switched lines, and know that later I would look around and realize I'd gotten utterly lost, but still continue on the wrong train without a worry.

This must be the thing called 'lust'.

At number sixteen I felt like I had run a long way and needed to catch my breath. Yu Junghyeok didn't have this problem, so seventeen, eighteen, nineteen and twenty ran down my neck.

The depth of the note in Yu Junghyeok's voice against my skin made it sound like he was saying more than numbers.

Twenty-three was halfway to becoming a bruise before I realized what was happening and shoved at Yu Junghyeok's cheek.

"Are you leaving marks?"

"Don't complain about pointless things."

"Do you have any idea what Uriel will say if she sees it??"

This clearly hadn't occurred to him and he paused for a moment before opening up a few more buttons on my shirt so he could expose the length of my shoulder and start again there.

So that's what happened with twenty-four.

At around thirty I got tired of the incessant pop up telling me about koins and opened the UI long enough to fumble for the mute function.

Soon I lost track of time, and counting continued but without much thought.

I began to get a sense of what sensation I could more-or-less handle, and what would make my breath and mind stop simultaneously until Yu Junghyeok moved on.

In the former category there were the hickeys and the hair pulling and the occasional teeth on skin. In the latter there was his mouth on mine, the numerous times his palm made skin contact under my shirt, and the moment when I arbitrarily demanded we switch just to try and slow his pace, and he sat up and pulled me into his lap without breaking stride.

I also noticed that Yu Junghyeok seemed to be getting an idea of what kind of touch would elicit what kind of sound out of me. It was like he'd found the button for gasps, groans, hums, whines. Once, a startled laugh when he stumbled into something ticklish. He tapped these keys repeatedly until I had to peel his hands off me so that I could catch my breath.

I was reminded again and again that this was the protagonist and even if I wasn't regretting it yet, I had absolutely made a mistake.

At sixty I was the one counting kisses down his neck and sixty-five was actually a bite because of the hand on my ass. Yu Junghyeok made a noise that made me finally understand why he'd been teasing me, and I insisted he repeat it several more times.

Seventy-two came after I yanked his hands away from my pants and put them firmly further north.

I couldn't say I wasn't interested, but I wasn't prepared to get swept that far away right now.

Yu Junghyeok didn't argue, just squeezed either side of my waist with a strength that made my breath shake.

At eighty-three I remembered to look at the clock and warned Yu Junghyeok of the time.

Eighty-four saw me on my back again.

He leaned heavily on my wrists and I made various sounds without him needing to hit any buttons at all.

At ninety a weight began to form inside me.

When I turned away to breathe, ninety-one through ninety-eight climbed with slow dedication toward my ear.

At ninety-nine….

"Yu-- Yu Junghyeok."

It was the first time in a while either of us had said anything other than numbers.

For the first time in what seemed like hours he simply paused.

Slowly, he pulled back and looked at me.

I knew my face was red and my chest was heaving.

"Time's up."

Actually, it had been up since ninety.

I felt a little uncertain about it.

When I glanced back at Yu Junghyeok, I could see his eyes were slowly coming into focus.

I didn't know what to make of his expression.

Perhaps he was also a little uncertain.

"I see."

His breath was heavy but even.

He was still pressing down on my pinned wrists.

I flexed my fingers while trying to think of the words to escape.

As I did that, Yu Junghyeok kissed me again.

I could have turned away or complained but instead something in my chest latched onto my heart like a bear trap.

[The story 'Comrades of Life and Death' is telling its story.]

I heard the story alongside an embarrassing whine from my own throat.

I thought I'd begun to acclimate after ninety-nine kisses, but with just his lips and tongue Yu Junghyeok reminded me that he was the undefeatable protagonist.

Just as I began regretting my decision to keep him out of my pants, he let me breathe again.

"One hundred."

I felt the same startled embarrassment I'd experienced at 'one'.

For a moment he looked so smug I really wanted to hit him.

"I'm not paying you for that."

He snorted as he sat back, freeing my wrists.

"You owe me for ten more. You lost count halfway through."

"Liar?"

"You repeated the fifties."

I sat up and checked my wallet.

I was really 22,000 koins richer?

I changed my mind, this had been an excellent idea?

"You see?"

"Hm?" I smiled and feigned ignorance. "How can I believe you?"

Yu Junghyeok growled.

"Use Lie Detection."

"I heard you say one hundred after the time, so I'll pay you for ninety-nine."

I held up my finger.

He scowled at me.

Since he was being petulant I poked him in the forehead.

[You have transferred 4,950 koins to incarnation 'Yu Junghyeok'.]

I could tell he wasn't happy to be swindled, but his gaze seemed to get distracted roaming over me, and I felt suddenly warm and stood up.

I felt like a mess and I was certain I looked like one, too. I could only hope no one would see when we exited.

While re-buttoning my shirt I noticed just how many bruises had been left on my shoulders.

"Do you have a fetish?"

"You weren't complaining at the time."

Normally, no one saw me shirtless. However...

"I can't appear in front of Yi Seolhwa with these."

Yu Junghyeok gave me a warning glare from where he was shrugging on his jacket.

"When is your appointment?"

Without thinking, I told him.

"I will be there. If you try and skip it, I will find you."

"What do you mean you'll be there? Respect my medical privacy."

"I need to tell her the words."

He said it simply, and it took me a moment to figure out what he meant.

When it came back to me, it was a douse of cool water on my mood.

To hide it, I made some vague disagreeable noises and focused on straightening my hair.

Unlike me, Yu Junghyeok was barely messed up. With his jacket back he looked like his usual unrealistically handsome self.

He picked up his sword again and returned to his exercises.

Within moments his breathing evened and any flush left his face.

Even I found it hard to believe he'd been doing anything else moments ago.

There was a faint trembling in my heart that I pushed away.

Once I was satisfied that not much else could be done about my appearance, I pulled my jacket on and sat at the table to listen to my stories.

They were bustling with many opinions and I hoped listening to thoughts for a bit would distract me from mine.

[The story 'Comrades of Life and Death' is buzzing.]

[The story 'One Who is Loved by an Archangel' is bragging.]

[The story 'Hellscape of Eternity' isn't impressed.]

[The story '4th Record of the 2nd Turn' feels uncertain.]

[The story '7th Record of the 999th Turn' thinks '4th Record of the 2nd Turn' shouldn't worry.]

[The story '7th record of the 1863rd Turn' says it means nothing.]

[The story '0th Turn' wonders about your heart.]

Chapter Text

"Uriel, come out."

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is still very sorry.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is also busy at the moment.]

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ would be happy to talk to you in a few days!]

"Uriel…"

Yu Junghyeok's voice growled at the locked door.

[Constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire' wonders how things went between you two…?]

Yu Junghyeok regarded the door silently for a few moments.

It was probably not necessary to break it down.

"Kim Dokja is unwell."

This much should be enough.

A moment later there was the sound of locks turning and Uriel stuck her head out.

Her green eyes were wide with concern.

"What happened?"

"Let me in, I'll explain." Yu Junghyeok pressed on the door to try to force it open, but it was held in place with an immovable strength.

Uriel looked uncertainly back over her shoulder, then smiled in an apologetic way.

"Umm… now is…--

From somewhere inside the dark room beyond, someone with poor voice acting skills shrieked, "It's Kim Dokja, the Ugliest King!"

Faster than lightning, Uriel slipped out past the door and slammed it shut behind her.

"Let's go for a walk instead!"

Before Yu Junghyeok could say anything, she began ushering him down the hallway.

------

Yu Junghyeok provided her with what seemed like the important details.

While discussing their scenarios, Kim Dokja became agitated and a certain question was filtered for him.

After they were free, Kim Dokja was examined by Yi Seolhwa. While nothing concerning was found with him physically, the question remained filtered no matter how they attempted to ask. Furthermore, repeated attempts had quickly led to uncontrollable shaking, and eventually, tears.

「"Sorry." Kim Dokja had repeated these words several times as if taking responsibility.

He smiled even while tears streamed down his cheeks and he held himself at the elbows in a futile attempt to hide his trembling figure.

"I actually feel fine? I really can't hear it so I don't know why this happens. I think we should stop testing it for now though, I might pass out?"

It was nonsense.

Filtering had always been a component of the Star Stream but it had never come with such effects. And it was even more ridiculous considering the question itself was so ordinary.

Yu Junghyeok was sure Kim Dokja has heard similar words in the past without a problem.

While enduring Yi Seolhwa prodding at him for her tests, Kim Dokja wiped his face clean, then noticed Yu Junghyeok's stare.

"What's that face for? It's just a spoiler filter so it'll lift naturally as we progress. Don't be a sunfish about it."

Yu Junghyeok ignored the foolish comment but didn't look away.

Since his return, Kim Dokja's eyes were as dark as night, and as full of stars as the sky used to be.

Yu Junghyeok didn't like it.

Every time he saw them he was reminded of a cold and endless distance.

It was like a person watching from across an immeasurable gap.

No matter how close, Yu Junghyeok was still far away.

He did not know how to put the pieces together, but he was certain that whatever was wrong with Kim Dokja was related to that 'gap'. 」

Uriel listened to his explanation with concern shimmering in her eyes.

When he finished, she tapped the tips of her fingers together as she thought.

"I had really been praying for things to go easily…"

"It will be like this until there is no one to stop him."

This was Yu Junghyeok's sense of humor, but it only made Uriel look more worried.

"Don't say that? And are you going to tell me what question's getting filtered?"

Yu Junghyeok hesitated.

Though she was ridiculous, Yu Junghyeok knew she was reliable. He did not think there would be consequences to telling her, still… she might say something strange instead.

"It is related to my personal scenario."

Uriel looked away and laced her fingers together as they walked.

"The one you won't tell me about."

There was uncertainty in her voice. She had not actually pushed him on this matter.

"...it is related to my ■■."

Uriel startled and peered up at him past the fringe of her bangs.

"Shit, already??"

"I told you its rank."

Her fingers began to wiggle.

"Are you thinking your ■■ is a spoiler for Kim Dokja?"

"My scenario also involves Kim Dokja, so there must be some connection."

"Well, naturally your ■■ would involve that person."

He had expected her to wander off onto one of her strange delusions, but instead she dismissed this information as a matter of course. Yu Junghyeok was a little startled.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Hm?"

"Why is it natural that my ■■ would involve him?"

Uriel laughed loudly, then hiccuped when she saw Yu Junghyeok's expression. "You're asking seriously?"

Yu Junghyeok didn't answer.

"You kids are really like this…" Uriel muttered under her breath and pulled at a lock of her hair. "Um, I'll put it this way. What would an ■■ without Kim Dokja even look like?"

"With or without him, I do not know what it will look like." Yu Junghyeok replied stiffly, but it was the truth. To someone who had lived countless lives without once seeing his ■■, it was a thing beyond imagination.

"Don't worry about the specifics. Just ask yourself, would you be satisfied?"

Yu Junghyeok tried to look into himself to find an answer, but nothing in his mind surfaced. Would he be satisfied if Kim Dokja was a part of his ■■? He couldn't say.

However, if the question was simply did an ■■ without that person sound satisfying…

He dimly recalled drifting alone in space, standing as the bulwark between a tidal wave of hounds and the shoreline of weak Outer Gods.

Had he been satisfied, then?

Yu Junghyeok opened the contents of his scenario. Reviewing it had become a habit.

+

[ Personal Scenario #?̸̶̛̻͓̮̬͚̊̑͑͊̚͝ - ■■ ]

Category: Private

Difficulty: SSS

Clear Conditions: Confess and have your feelings be understood by your most important person.

Time Limit: None.

Compensation: One ■■

Failure: A different ■■

+

It was simple and reading it again never revealed new insight, but even so he reviewed the contents in detail.

He did not know what either ■■ suggested. There was no indication of 'satisfaction', or anything else about them.

It was less a scenario and more a signpost at a fork in the road.

Put another way, if Kim Dokja understood Yu Junghyeok's 'feelings', his ■■ would change in some way.

Yu Junghyeok's initial response had been resentment. But when he thought about it there was nothing surprising.

Kim Dokja had influenced every part of his life, from the 0th Turn to the 1865th and beyond. Naturally his existence would influence the ■■ as well.

Perhaps this was what Uriel meant.

"That aside…" In the end, he didn't have an answer for her question. "I need you to ask him a question."

"Why don't you ask yourself?"

"I have, he won't answer."

Uriel made an uncertain humming sound. "You guys have to communicate, it's no good if I'm your go-between…"

"Do this and I will forget about that stunt."

Uriel cursed quietly. "I'll hear you out."

Rather than explain, Yu Junghyeok reviewed her profile.

[Incarnation 'Yu Junghyeok' has used 'Eye of the Sage'.]

"H-hey, fucking rude?!"

Uriel made a face and leaned away from the golden light, but it was too late.

[The 'Eye of the Sage' is revealing information on constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire'.]

+

Name: Uriel

Age: ????? years old

Relationship Status: Faithful Supporter Lvl 10

Keystone Relationships: Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, Gabriel, Jeong Huiwon (Incarnation), Kim Dokja, Wukong, Yu Junghyeok ...[tap to expand list]

Romantic Interests: Gabriel

Acquired Skills: None

Active Personal Scenario: [Get Out There] Rank: C | Time Remaining: 17 Days

Additional Details: Your intimacy with this constellation is high!

You may choose 1 relationship attribute related to this constellation.

[Tap to see available attribute options]

+

Yu Junghyeok briefly skimmed the profile and then expanded the relationship attributes options.

+

[Tier 1 Relationship Attributes]

[You may choose one.]

[Selection is permanent.]

Synchronicity
*When working together, the results of your efforts will have increased quality and efficiency.

Heartfelt Request
*Once every three days you may make a request of the target, if they fulfill it the target will receive a random positive status effect. If they fail it, they will receive a random negative status effect.

What's Yours is Mine
*Ability to borrow any of the target's Skills once a day.

Diary Exchange
*You will have full insight to the target's personal scenarios, but they will also have insight into yours.

A Mutually Beneficial Arrangement
*'Dates' with this person scheduled through the dating app will be 10x as profitable for both of you.

Bullshit Detector
*You will be able to sense when this person is being dishonest with you.

+

Yu Junghyeok's eyebrows knitted.

As he expected, the list was different. He had considered already that the available skills might change depending on the type of relationship. Still, it was unfortunate he wouldn't be able to tell Uriel to get 'Red String of Truth'.

He reviewed the list one more time before closing it.

In the past he would have instantly reached for 'What Yours is Mine' for access to Uriel's powerful Stigma, but in the current Star Stream it would be a waste.

Uriel had pulled her hoodie further over her head as if hiding.

"Sometimes you're a brat? You should at least ask."

Yu Junghyeok paused. He tried to remember if he'd ever asked for permission to use Eye of the Sage on someone.

"There is a similar ability in the new dokkaebi bag, you should get it. It's called 'Relationship Assessment'.

Uriel tilted her head curiously.

"Why would I want that?"

"Because, if you use it on Kim Dokja you'll have access to a 'Relationship Attribute'."

Her expression said she hadn't heard of them yet.

"They are special skills that only work between people who are--" if he said 'intimate' she would misunderstand "--who have a relationship of a certain level."

Immediately, her expression shifted and a well of excitement began to bubble inside her.

"You know that because you have one for Kim Dokja??"

He ignored this.

"If you find he refuses to answer you, one of the attributes might prove useful."

Uriel's expression became torn and she bit the tip of her thumb.

"What do you want to know?"

Yu Junghyeok told her.

"...I can't promise anything, you know? But I'll ask him and then decide." Uriel muttered to herself and browsed through black windows. "And this skill is 5,000 koins? I used everything I had on that tra-- ah, Intervention Chamber!"

Despite the years he had known her, Yu Junghyeok could not understand how she was one of the most powerful constellations in Eden.

"Make more, or borrow it."

Uriel looked indecisive.

"You'll be able to choose abilities for various other important people, as well."

"Did you pick one for me?"

"I'm saving it."

"And for Kim Dokja?"

"Don't ask again."

Uriel made an adorable sound of frustration but let it go.

"Will you at least tell me how things went in there? Did Kim Dokja ah... " Uriel bit her lip on an awkward smile. "Did he complete his scenario?"

"We're done. Don't talk to me until you've gotten the information." With these terse words, Yu Junghyeok took a sharp turn down a different path.

Behind him, Uriel brought both hands to her mouth with a gasp.

A slow light dawned in her emerald eyes as she watched Yu Junghyeok's rapidly fleeing figure.

And then abruptly she threw both fists into the air and bounced in place.

"Hell yes!"

--------

"You bastard, answer your messages once a while!"

Yu Junghyeok had parted ways with Uriel and was preparing lunches when this person stormed into the kitchen and tried to hit him with a wooden spoon.

Of course, he dodged it.

"Don't think because you're my sponsor I owe you anything."

"Why were you and Kim Dokja both unreachable last night? Are you the reason he had to see Yi Seolhwa this morning?"

"Actually, I'm reminded. Dissolve the contract between us immediately."

Han Suyeong cursed and took another swing at him.

"Answer me and I'll consider it."

"Ask Kim Dokja yourself."

"I was on the way when I remembered I needed to hit you."

"You will never succ--"

Han Suyeong took a predictable third swipe at him, and he easily ducked it, but wasn't expecting the Avatar that had appeared behind him and grabbed a frying pan.

Yu Junghyeok felt the solid hit to his ass and let out a startled growl before reaching for a knife on the cutting board, but Han Suyeong's hand landed on the back of his and held him there.

"Listen, you stubborn meat head, neither of us want to go through the bother of bringing that scheming bastard back again. Just tell me what you know."

Yu Junghyeok scowled at her.

In truth having Han Suyeong's support was always useful.

However, she had a keen mind and was difficult to keep secrets from. Uriel, despite her habits, understood when to let something go. Han Suyeong would dig and pry until her curiosity was satisfied.

Yu Junghyeok had not yet made up his own mind on the events of the early morning. He did not want to know what this irritating person would have to say if she found out.

Still.

If there was anyone who would be able to discern the meaning behind Kim Dokja and the 'spoilers', it would almost certainly be the 'author' of this world.

Yu Junghyeok jerked the hand and knife out from under her grip, but only turned back to the chopping he'd been in the middle of when she arrived.

"Try asking him about my death, and see for yourself."

Chapter Text

[The story '23rd Record of the 1863rd Turn' is telling its story.]

[Your incarnation 'Yu Junghyeok' has reached his ■■.]

The Yu Junghyeok in the black coat fell, his chest pierced with Heaven Shaking Sword's brilliant light. It was a brutal strike, and his eyes began to dim even as he fell.

[Your incarnation 'Yu Junghyeok' 's end is 'self-destruction'.]

Kim Dokja, the constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' had been too far away to see this.

But as the Most Ancient Dream, I had watched the simultaneous pain, sorrow, and soft relief shift across his face as the Yu Junghyeok who now truly had nothing but tragedy and regret was finally allowed to rest.

[The sponsor 'Most Ancient Dream' is looking at his incarnation.]

His eyes seemed to focus briefly on me before they went dull and empty.

[Your incarnation ‘Yu Junghyeok’ has died.]

A moment later his body began to scatter, stories and memories disintegrating into the air.

If I hadn't known where they would eventually end up, I would have collected them myself. But these belonged to the Secretive Plotter.

In this story, the Yu Junghyeok in the white coat went on to become the 3rd turn I knew.

The Kim Dokja of back then thought of the Yu Junghyeok in the black coat as more of an Avatar than a 'true Yu Junghyeok'.

Since I was him, I understood why.

It was easier to think that way.

It was preferable if this was simply the outcome of a skill cleverly used to discard the blackened part of one's own heart.

But this man was no less Yu Junghyeok than the one who lived.

And in the tens of thousands of word-lines I had witnessed, he was only the second Yu Junghyeok to ever find his ■■.

[The story '23rd Record of the 1863rd Turn' nuzzles your hand.]

------

The room I woke up in was dark, but lights from the [Industrial Complex] outside glowed in through numerous windows and it wasn't hard to see.

I collected my thoughts as my stories settled inside of me.

My cheeks were wet.

It wasn't an uncommon occurrence, but I recognized the place I was located as the clinic and couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

The proceedings of the afternoon had been humiliating enough without adding 'Kim Dokja cries in his sleep' to the list of things my party might fuss over.

I scrubbed my face with my sleeves and sat up. My body and the bed both groaned.

As if responding to the sounds, a light in the far corner of the room lit up.

"Oh? The sleeping prince finally wakes."

Of course, it was Han Suyeong. I wondered if I should be more or less grateful that it was her instead of Yi Seolhwa.

I ignored her jibe.

"Is the doctor in?"

"I told her to get some rest and I'd call her if anything happened." Han Suyeong rolled a candy against her teeth and looked away. "It's my fault you passed out anyway."

The details came clearly to my mind.

Han Suyeong had tried to ask me the same thing a dozen or more different ways. Written, typed, in different languages, in code, in metaphor, sometimes she would change the topic to something mundane the abruptly half a dozen sentences became a mess of indecipherable white noise.

The entire time I had heard none of it, but my body reacted as if it was dying.

The first stage was trembling without cold, then crying without pain, palpitations, hyperventilation, then vomiting with both pain and nausea, tinnitus, blurry vision, and apparently it was all capped off with unconsciousness.

"I agreed to it."

I had initially been irritated at Yu Junghyeok for involving her, but it was true that if anyone was going to get to the bottom of it, it was Han Suyeong. I had great faith in Yi Seolhwa but I didn't believe it was a medical issue.

"How are you feeling?"

I mentally took stock of my body.

"Tired, stiff. Fine otherwise."

"Those should be the side effects of Yi Seolhwa's treatment, so that much went well at least."

I nodded. The testing had been unpleasant but it was nothing that couldn't be treated.

"So, did you learn anything? Your face is quite serious."

Han Suyeong poked her own cheek as if she was surprised to hear this.

"Don't take it too seriously. I have some ideas but it's nothing to be worried about."

"Some ideas?"

"A few."

I frowned and wondered what her game was.

"Are you going to tell me?"

"I don't think so?"

What was this?

I forgave her for torturing me for an hour to get information but I definitely had assumed that meant I'd to actually hear the information.

"Excuse me? Then what was the point of this?"

"It wasn't worthless." I was expecting some kind of tease or taunt, but her tone was serious. "I really do think I've got some good ideas, but you're just not the right guy to hear them."

"Why wouldn't I be the right guy?"

She snorted.

"Why would you be? When is a single time Kim Dokja did what was best for Kim Dokja?"

I was a bit confused. Wasn't I always living selfishly?

"Have you hit your head? You remind me all the time of how selfish I've been."

She looked at me like I was stupid.

"Selfishly sacrificing isn't the same as selfishly living. Surely you at least have enough brain cells to understand this much."

I sort of understood her perspective.

It was true I'd caused a lot of problems seeking the 'correct conclusion'.

"Isn't the fact that I'm alive at all proof that you have a similar problem…"

My voice came out more sullen than I intended.

Han Suyeong's answering smile was bright and sharp as a knife.

"That's right! You've infected all of us. So if this situation was dangerous to anyone else, I might listen to your opinion. But right now it seems there is simply 'an affliction on Kim Dokja' and the rest of us are fine. Therefore, you are not the best person to deal with this problem."

I really felt like this sounded backwards, but it didn't seem like she was going to budge.

I decided to give it up for now. I didn't actually think the spoilers were particularly dangerous anyway.

I let out a long sigh.

"Am I allowed to at least know what your plans are?"

"First, I'm putting a company-wide ban on anyone asking you that question. I don't think it has long term negative effects but there's no point in risking it further."

"Please tell me it won't really be company-wide…"

Han Suyeong made a dismissive gesture. "Obviously I really just mean me, Yu Junghyeok, and Yi Seolhwa. No one else knows, right?"

"As long as no one gossiped."

"Good, and if anyone else stumbles on it somehow, send them to me."

"What is 'second' then?"

"Second is obviously figure out what is wrong with you and what to do about it?"

"Why are you even so sure 'something is wrong'? Is there any reason to believe this isn't just the new Star Stream's filtering mechanics? If it's a spoiler it should clear up in time."

She nodded. "There are reasons I'm doubtful, but you're right, it's not impossible. That's why your only goal is to progress through your scenarios. If your idea is correct then eventually this will solve itself."

I couldn't get excited at the idea of progressing through my scenarios, but it had to happen anyway.

"What will you be doing?"

"'Figuring out what is wrong and solving it'." She repeated with an air of superiority. "Don't you listen?"

"That's not a plan--"

"It's all the plan you need to know. Supposedly you have confidence in your party, right? So leave this matter to us."

When she put it like that, I was a little trapped.

Of course I had confidence.

But being told to stay uninvolved was…

"I think you're making too big of a deal about this."

"In that case, we're just wasting our own time? Don't worry about it."

I wanted to argue more, but it was hard when I had already admitted I didn't think it was anything.

Maybe if I let it go, in a week or two they'd forget about it.

"I'll leave it to you, then?"

Thinking that was the end of it, I began to check the messages that had piled up while I was unconscious.

Han Suyeong continued. "There's one more thing?"

There was a rescheduled 'date' notification from the kids, along with expressions of concern. They'd thought to make sure I didn't lose any koins. I really loved them.

"Hm? What is it?"

There was also a new 'date' invitation from Yu Sangah, which meant she must be back in the area.

"Once a day, I'm going to ask you a question you won't want to answer, but you're going to tell me the truth anyway."

And then there was a system notification.

[One of your intimate relationships has chosen a relationship attribute for you!]

I saw this message and heard Han Suyeong's words at the same time, and felt a cold weight settle in my stomach.

[Constellation 'Architect of the False Last Act' is activating 'Red String of Truth'.]

I felt something faintly settle around my throat, and a red, glowing 'string' of light extended from the bottom of my vision, across the room, to where it wound around Han Suyeong's fingers.

Han Suyeong grinned.

"Kim Dokja, what was it like as the 'Most Ancient Dream'?"

------

Four people gathered in one of the Kim Dokja Company's meeting rooms.

Technically it was a 'date', but they were all here to discuss important matters.

Yu Junghyeok sat stiffly, Han Suyeong left her glasses on like she did when she wanted to be taken seriously, Yi Seolhwa was in her white coat with her back straight, and Uriel was a cute doll in a black dress sitting on Yu Junghyeok's shoulder.

Han Suyeong paused to take in the changed incarnation body.

"Did something happen to your real body?"

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' assures everyone she is fine.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' felt like using this appearance today.]

"I guess it's possible again now that the Star Stream is back. But why are you sitting on that guy?"

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' likes it here.]

Yu Junghyeok's face remained completely neutral despite having a literal shoulder angel and Han Suyeong had to grin.

"Fine, if I start I won't be able to stop. Let's go ahead and commence the first 'Rehabilitate the Squid' meeting."

"Rehabilitate? So you've discovered what's wrong?"

"We'll get to that in a minute. First, just so we're clear, no one has told anyone else about Kim Dokja's spoiler problem, right?"

Glances were exchanged, and they all agreed no one else had been informed.

"Good, we're going to keep it that way. The only other one is Biyu. She is leaving it up to us for now, but I had to get some information from her." Han Suyeong made this decision but no one complained.

"To start, Yi Seolhwa, will you tell them?"

Yi Seolhwa nodded, and both Uriel and Yu Junghyeok seemed to focus intently on her words.

"I will, but before we go any further I'm going to ask you to sign a confidentiality agreement."

There were a couple of surprised faces, and each of them received a contract agreement through the Star Stream.

"Normally I wouldn't do this. However, because of Kim Dokja's…" Yi Seolhwa paused to look at the ceiling. "...history, I agree with Han Suyeong. So for now I'll keep you updated on his health and limit the information I give him. In exchange, you may not share this information with anyone outside this room, and I reserve the right to stop or inform Kim Dokja of whatever I consider necessary. I will take responsibility for all of this."

The Yi Seolhwa who often tried to keep a light tone spoke with firmness and everyone heard her.

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is impressed by incarnation 'Yi Seolhwa' 's righteousness!]

Yi Seolhwa looked startled by the message and flushed faintly.

Once all the signatures were received, she began to explain.

"As far as his incarnation body goes, he appears to be fine. His story density is higher than any I've ever seen, but the configuration is actually very orderly? If it was chaotic I would be more concerned, but the stories seem to flow well together."

Yu Junghyeok seemed surprised by this.

"What about when he was having the reaction?"

She shook her head. "The incarnation body itself reacted badly, but as far as the stories were concerned it was 'proper'. To put it simply... his body was not reacting to a problem with his stories, his body was reacting to something else and his stories supported that action. No different from allowing him to eat or breathe."

"So it is the Star Stream?"

Now Han Suyeong spoke. "We can't dismiss it one hundred percent, but Biyu hasn't found any examples of 'spoilers' in the current Star Stream, and I agree. The idea is antithetical to the Star Stream's methods so far."

Yu Junghyeok's brows lowered. "How?"

"The scenarios are about self understanding and self improvement. The Star Stream controlling what information people could exchange is inherently insidious."

"You're quick to trust this new Star Stream."

She clicked her tongue as Yu Junghyeok's scowl darkened. "Don't glare at me like that, asshole. We all have a reason to hate 'the Star Stream', but if you're so stuck in the past you can't recognize the current patterns, you're only a fool hindering himself."

Sparks began to fly and Yi Seolhwa sighed with a little theater.

"One of the things that will make me lose confidence in this plan is if we can't even get through a meeting without fights."

Actually, Yi Seolhwa knew these two could work together quite well. United in the 1865th turn they had led the nebula through a nearly flawless run. They just occasionally needed the reminder.

On cue, both of their gazes settled and turned back to Yi Seolhwa.

"Tell us, then."

"I believe his condition is psychosomatic."

Yu Junghyeok was skeptical.

"You think it's all in his head?"

"I think putting it that way undermines the severity? Even if it's 'all in his head' he can be made to pass out for hours simply by being asked a question. But I don't think it's being caused by an outside factor or a problem with his incarnation body."

It was a bit difficult to talk about the 'health' of a being who was really just a collection of stories giving form to a once-human consciousness, but Yi Seolhwa tried to stick to easy to understand ideas.

Han Suyeong had heard this information already and come to a decision.

"It isn't very surprising, is it? Kim Dokja has a history of denying his own memories, being unaware of his own feelings, and his very nature is escapism. This entire universe was essentially created out of that habit of his. Comparatively, 'subconsciously imposed filters' is a small task."

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' agrees that it seems like something that person would be capable of.]

Yu Junghyeok, however, remained unconvinced.

"I might believe you if it was a different question, however…"

"You really don't think that's enough? Your ego is surprisingly small?"

Han Suyeong couldn't hold back her little jabs, and Yu Junghyeok began to growl again.

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' wonders what 'the question' is?]

Yu Junghyeok abruptly went silent.

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' thinks it must be about their comradeship or the 'Conquering King' wouldn't be so shy.]

Yu Junghyeok turned a sour eye on the doll on his shoulder, and it reached out a soft hand and pat him on the cheek.

Well, it wasn't a surprise he'd hide it from Uriel.

But Han Suyeong wasn't worried about his comfort and said it plainly.

"The original question was apparently 'Are you afraid of Yu Junghyeok's death?'. However, any type of conversation related to Yu Junghyeok dying is completely rejected."

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is startled?!]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is greatly moved!]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is clenching her fists!]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' 's eyes are welling up!]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' has many conflicted feelings.]

"One more and I will throw you out."

The doll pat Yu Junghyeok's cheek with both hands.

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' apologizes.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' will try her best.]

"You two are a real comedy duo?"

Han Suyeong murmured as she watched them and waited.

Yu Junghyeok ignored her.

"As I was saying. I'm sure this isn't the first time the subject ever came up."

"But is it the first time since he was the Most Ancient Dream?"

A frown slanted across Yu Junghyeok's handsome face.

"You believe it's related to that?"

"I believe no one spends an unspecified number of years watching this endless cycle and comes out of it with less issues."

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' agrees.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' says that none of you are true constellations so you may not understand.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' says when you watch for a long time you get very attached.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' does not think it is strange.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' also finds the idea devastating.]

Han Suyeong was a bit surprised by the archangel's supportive insight. But it seemed to work on Yu Junghyeok, whose expression gradually turned more thoughtful.

Yi Seolhwa raised her hand slightly as if hesitating to interrupt.

"Sorry, but I just want to make sure I haven't missed anything… is there any reason for Kim Dokja to be worried about this to begin with? It's Yu Junghyeok, and we aren't even facing any dangerous situations."

"I've been wondering about this too? Why did this even come up?"

Yu Junghyeok sat with his arms crossed and took a long moment to reply.

"We were discussing the possibility of finding my ■■. He was agitated but wouldn't explain why, so I asked him if he was worried about me dying."

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' encourages the 'Conquering King' to explain it fully.]

Yu Junghyeok's eyebrows narrowed, but surprisingly, he took the shoulder angel's advice.

"...my personal scenario concerns my ■■."

Han Suyeong and Yi Seolhwa exchanged startled glances. Neither had heard about this.

"Kim Dokja knew this and agreed to help me clear the scenario. But his behavior was unexpected."

Han Suyeong tapped the table as she considered this. Her Predictive Plagiarism was ticking away inside her slowly.

"So you pushed him to find out why, and stumbled upon this mental block."

Yu Junghyeok nodded once.

"Anything else?"

"He is… not as he was before."

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' also has noticed a change.]

Han Suyeong felt a rueful smile slip across her face.

"Not the ending you would've written?"

Yu Junghyeok said nothing, but his eyes were troubled.

"If you think about it, it wasn't a fair wish to begin with. We may not have liked it, but Kim Dokja chose his ending. Our 'perfect ending' might have meant erasing his."

Yu Junghyeok, Yi Seolhwa, and the doll were all looking at her.

Han Suyeong felt a tightness in her chest bordering on pain, but actually she thought it might be from an unusual sense of optimism?

"But listen, this isn't like the avatar. It's definitely different, right? All the pieces are there. They've just grown and changed while we weren't around. If he was somehow 'exactly as we'd imagined', I'd think he was just a character. Some… clone of our imperfect memories."

She locked eyes with Yu Junghyeok.

"But instead he's messed up in ways we never even thought about. Isn't that the most 'truly Kim Dokja' thing he could do?"

It wasn't much of a pep talk, but the words contained her earnest belief.

And after a long moment, Yu Junghyeok gave the slightest nod.

"He is such a fool."

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' also believes it is truly Kim Dokja.]

Yi Seolhwa smiled faintly. "I don't know him as well as the rest of you, but I agree that people can't know each other's hearts so easily. And in any case, we'll do what we can, right?"

Han Suyeong let out an energized breath and slammed one hand on the table. Now that she'd said it, she was getting excited. They had already done the impossible, how hard could it be to deal with one squid's trauma?

"Okay then, listen up and I'll explain the plan."

Chapter Text

Han Suyeong was holding a red string of light that wound around my neck. The hold wasn't tight but I understood 'running away' wasn't an option once it got to this point.

"Kim Dokja, what was it like as the 'Most Ancient Dream'?"

She found it earlier than he thought?

Naturally, he'd noticed the 'Relationship Assessment' skill and understood that this might eventually happen.

It would be strange if only he and Yu Junghyeok had access to relationship attributes.

But it was a lot of koins to spend in the early game, and the skill info didn't mention the attributes.

Yu Junghyeok must have told her.

I should have scammed that guy harder?

The question seemed to reverberate between my ears.

The 'thread' had warmth that was uncomfortable, but not painful, and my mouth went dry with the urge to answer her.

Han Suyeong watched me with a bright grin and rolled the string around her fingers. When the string became taunt I felt a little tug that made me swallow.

"Hm? Doesn't it work? I feel like with this kind of ability, you can't get away with not answering, right?"

"You're… enjoying this, a lot."

It was hard to speak, I could feel an honest answer bubbling up inside of me and had to resist.

"That's because it's fun?"

"I've told you before…"

"You've dolled out little dollops of bullshit before. Do you know how annoying it gets to watch you dodge around these questions all the time? How do you expect anyone to understand if you won't explain?"

I wanted to ask why she thought I wanted anyone to understand, but I'd resisted as far as I could.

"It was like…" since I couldn't lie, I struggled to manage the result. "...finally understanding what.. it means to 'belong' somewhere."

I winced as these ugly words came out.

As expected, the smug smirk disappeared from Han Suyeong's face.

This wasn't the story she was hoping to hear.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You wanted an answer, don't complain about it now."

The light of red string faded and I rubbed at my neck where the warmth still lingered.

At least I could get away with a single sentence.

"Where did I complain? Don't put words in my mouth. Is that what you were afraid to say?"

My lips bobbed a bit.

I scrutinized her and it was true that her face wasn't full of the disgust I felt.

Instead her gaze narrowed in intense thought and she crunched down on a candy.

"Fine. Even if you don't want to say more, that wasn't a useless answer. Let me think, then."

[Constellation 'Architect of the False Last Act' is utilizing 'Avatar'.]

[The story 'Predictive Plagiarism' is continuing its telling.]

I wasn't sure how I felt about her using that story for that purpose, but as someone who had watched another's life thousands of times I didn't have the right to complain about thousands of Han Suyeong's trying to 'read' me.

While she did that I straightened up my clothes and pulled on my shoes.

I couldn't be happy about this development but it was inevitable, and I was able to learn some things as well.

If Han Suyeong had 'Red String of Truth', and had heard about relationship attributes from Yu Junghyeok, then he most likely didn't have it. He also didn't have 'Sugar Daddy', or he would have gotten me back for the scam I pulled the other day, and 'Love GPS' was useless.

That left 'Mood Ring', 'Heart to Heart', and 'Switch'.

I couldn't imagine Yu Junghyeok using 'Mood Ring'. He would act the same regardless of my feelings.

'Heart to Heart' was possible, since he seemed to value 'Midday Tryst' and that option was no longer available. But I think I would have noticed it by now? Unless the person who chose the ability could control when the channel was open.

'Switch' made the most sense. He wouldn't like the trade off but he might think it was worth it if he could control me at a critical moment.

In that case, maybe I should pick up 'Switch' for him as well.

Then there was Han Suyeong.

I hadn't chosen an attribute for her yet, in part because I hadn't wanted to tip her off to their existence. But I had checked before and I had the same options for her as Yu Junghyeok.

Now I opened the window and made a selection.

The notification window popping up seemed to startle her, her eyes flew open and she regarded me with curiosity.

"Oh? What did you pick?'

I ignored her.

"Did you figure out what you wanted?"

"Hmm~" She unwound the wrapper on a lollipop thoughtfully. "A bit? It makes sense, right? A job only Kim Dokja can do, something undeniably important."

As she spoke my chest began to hurt.

"Your very existence supports your friends but you get to continue on in the role of 'reader'? I bet you couldn't imagine a more perfect 'fit' for yourself."

Really, I shouldn't be surprised.

This was the person who I had always trusted to figure out my schemes at key moments.

She had even defeated me by figuring out a way to bring me back even when I did everything I could to force them to go on without me.

"In fact, it's because you imagined such a perfect 'fit' for yourself, that it ended that way."

She got to her feet while I was stuck staring at her.

Of course, I had thought about these things as well.

But it took a long, long time for those thoughts to build up.

The head of the lollipop was pressed against my lips and not sure what else to do, I accepted it.

Even though I'd admitted such an ungrateful thing, her smile seemed strangely bright?

"But you're not the 'reader' of this world anymore, dumbass. It's time to learn how to just be a 'person' in it."

-------

At the first 'Rehabilitate the Squid' meeting, Han Suyeong quickly outlined everyone's tasks.

Uriel still had an available attribute for Kim Dokja. Apparently Yu Junghyeok had directed her to do something underhanded, forgetting about the archangel's nature.

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' apologizes.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' says that she and that person don't have that kind of comradeship.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' says that if she used an ability to dig into his secrets, it would be disloyal.]

Yu Junghyeok wasn't happy but Han Suyeong was glad to hear the ability hadn't been wasted.

"Don't worry about it. The role of the underhanded schemer obviously belongs to me? I have a better part for you to play."

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is listening.]

"Can you get the 'Diary Exchange' ability and keep on top of Kim Dokja's scenarios?"

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' admits she likes this idea.]

Han Suyeong grinned.

"I'm pretty sure he's lied to me about every fucking one of his scenarios so far, so there's no way he isn't trying to weasel out of them as much as possible. Try and keep him on track and remind him they're good for him."

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' thinks it sounds nostalgic.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' will do it!]

There was a strange expression on Yu Junghyeok's face throughout this conversation, but Han Suyeong assumed he was cranky she had dismissed his plan.

Yi Seolhwa's role was to keep an eye on his medical situation.

As for Yu Junghyeok...

"Just don't die."

Yu Junghyeok scowled.

"What nonsense is this?"

"Fine, don't die and maybe work on your own scenario? Drag him along. If that guy can help you and see that your ■■ isn't going to be tragic, it might address some of his trauma."

He didn't look happy at this suggestion either, but changed the subject.

"What about you?"

"Obviously, I'm the brains?"

Yu Junghyeok simply stared at her.

Han Suyeong sighed like he was tiresome.

"I'll use Red String of Truth and Predictive Plagiarism to figure out the things he won't explain. I'm not a psychologist but it should be more useful than expecting him to go spill his guts to someone and get his head on straight."

"Is that all?"

She made a rude gesture.

"Do you have any suggestions?"

Finally, Yu Junghyeok looked away, seeming thoughtful.

"...he is often 'away'. We have to find a way to anchor him 'here'."

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' also wants this!]

Han Suyeong let out a huff. He had such a fucking cliche way of thinking about things, but this simplicity suited him best.

"What do you think all of this is? There isn't a step by step guide and a clean timeline. We might be picking at this bastard's walls for the next one hundred years, are you fine with that?"

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' doesn't think that sounds so long.]

Yu Junghyeok didn't say anything, but he met her eyes.

There wasn't a reason to ask. As long as he had a goal, neither time nor effort were a problem for a guy like this.

It was Yi Seolhwa who broke the tension with a light laugh.

"Well, I don't know if I have a century to work on this. So I'll pick up some books on psychology. Suyeong-ssi, let me know if there's anything you want me to start with."

Han Suyeong smiled. Yi Seolhwa was a reliable person with no flaws, as long as she didn't become evil. She had done a good job in creating the heroine.

"I'll send you some notes."

Yi Seolhwa got to her feet and stretched.

"We're done for now, right? I have a…"

"'Date'?"

Han Suyeong grinned.

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' says to not keep her incarnation waiting!]

Yi Seolhwa flushed and made a quick escape.

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' likes this comradeship.]

Han Suyeong was also preparing to leave, but Yu Junghyeok gave her a stern look and then held his hand up to the doll on his shoulder.

"Uriel. Return to your other body."

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' doesn't want to.]

"Do it, this conversation doesn't concern you. I'll bring the doll by later."

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' will do it if 'Conquering King' accepts her invitation.]

Yu Junghyeok picked up the doll and glared into its green button eyes.

"If you pull another stunt…"

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' promises it isn't like that!]

Yu Junghyeok held his glare, but then relented surprisingly quickly.

Even as the author Han Suyeong found this relationship hard to understand.

"Fine. It is done. Go away."

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is looking forward to it!]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' has left the doll incarnation body.]

The doll went limp and Yu Junghyeok placed it inside his jacket.

Han Suyeong waited for their conversation to end while fishing around in a bowl in the middle of the meeting room table for candy. She had some idea of what Yu Junghyeok wanted to talk to her about.

"You didn't ask the right thing."

She put on a guileless face while popping some chocolate into her mouth.

"What? That thing about why he doesn't want you to reach your ■■?"

Yu Junghyeok's eyes narrowed.

"That's why I gave you that information."

"Yes? But it's still a stupid question."

Yu Junghyeok growled. "Damn you--"

"Here, I'll just tell you? Then you can stop fussing about it and focus on more important things."

Yu Junghyeok's anger held, but he waited for her answer.

"He's an obsessed reader who's been reading the same story for who-knows-how-long now, and he's afraid for it to end. There, was that too complicated? Should I use smaller words?"

The protagonist seemed to find this answer offensive.

"He is not like that."

Han Suyeong laughed more roughly than was needed. "Are you kidding me? How the hell are you almost as blind as him?"

"We could not have reached the end of scenarios without Kim Dokja. More than anyone, he was unrelenting in his focus on seeing the end of 'that story'. I'll believe he…"

He struggled briefly, his firm words failing as he stumbled over what to acknowledge.

"Spit it out." Han Suyeong taunted him.

"...I'll believe that he is troubled by the idea of my death. But I don't believe he'd wish for me to go on without ever finding my ■■."

"No shit? You said he offered to help, right?"

His dark eyebrows quivered.

"But what, he wasn't excited about it?"

Yu Junghyeok still didn't open his mouth, and Han Suyeong sighed.

"Sometimes talking to you reminds me of talking to my students?"

"I'm not interested in your lectures."

He said that, but she had noticed he listened anyway.

She had actually been surprised to learn he'd read her novel. That he'd had strong enough opinions to try and flesh out certain areas on his own.

Yu Junghyeok wasn't a very strong reader.

He overlooked most metaphor, had a hard time tracking the emotional landscape of a character if it wasn't spelled out directly, and had a bias for secondary characters over protagonists that Han Suyeong genuinely found funny.

But… he was more dedicated than plenty of the kids she'd taught. Even if she gave him something she thought he would hate, he would read it entirely.

This had only been going on a few weeks, but it was enough that she felt a bit bad watching him struggle with his feelings now.

She relented.

"Kim Dokja is a reader, understand? That's the first thing he was and the last thing he'll ever be. You always ignore this part because it doesn't make sense to someone who sacrificed his brain for muscle."

Yu Junghyeok's glare was even, but he was paying attention.

"You've never read a story you loved with your whole heart."

Maybe that was her fault.

Maybe that was why she kept shoving different stories on him now.

"It's more than possible to simultaneously want for the hero to have a happy ■■, and to also never want to reach the final page."

Faintly, she could see Yu Junghyeok's eyes begin to shake.

This stupid protagonist, she hated him but he was a little cute sometimes?

"That reminds me. I've heard of a book you might like? Do you think you're ready to graduate to something that doesn't have pictures?"

Yu Junghyeok opened his mouth to snap at her and she took the opportunity to expertly flick a piece of candy directly into his mouth.

--or, that's how it should have gone. Of course, he caught it instead.

"Tch, you're no fun."

Chapter Text

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' has activated 'Diary Exchange'!]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is viewing your personal scenario.]

+

[ Personal Scenario #2 - Catch Up 2 ]

Category: Private

Difficulty: D

Clear Conditions: Obtain as many hugs from different people as possible before the time limit.

Time Limit: 2 weeks

Compensation: Will vary by quantity and quality of hugs.

Failure: [Help Status] will be mandatorily triggered.

+

[You may view Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' 's personal scenario.]

+

[ Personal Scenario #6 - Get Out There ]

Category: Private

Difficulty: C

Clear Conditions: Dress up and go somewhere outside your 'comfort zone'.

Time Limit: 15 days remaining

Compensation: Will vary by quantity and quality of outings.

Failure: 1,000 Koin tax

+

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' thinks yours is a good one!]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' says to do your best!]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' wonders if this means he'll get a hug from the 'Demon-like Judge of Fire'.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' turns very red.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' believes it should be possible.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' will look forward to it.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' wonders if this means that the 'punishment' is canceled.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' laughs.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' is sure the honorable archangel understands the importance of atoning for sins.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' bows her head.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' promises not to run away.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' will look forward to it.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' wonders how the 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is doing with her scenarios?]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' thinks rank C must mean she's done well?]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is doing her best so she can support her precious people!]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' admits that it is a little difficult, though.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' thinks the Star Stream does not appreciate her lifestyle choices.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' asks if it's difficult even after becoming a pop star?]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is making uncertain hand gestures.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' likes being an idol!]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' thinks it is like getting to live as her avatar.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' wonders what the trouble is?]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' isn't sure how to explain.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' feels like she is less sure of what to do with her 'real self'.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' says that in the past, that part had an important duty as well.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' says that now she wonders if it wouldn't be better to be an idol all the time.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' thinks he understands.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says that since the 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is going to insistently support him in his scenarios, that he wants to help her.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' thinks that after the 'punishment' they should go somewhere outside of the 'Industrial Complex'.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is very embarrassed!]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' thinks that would be nice…]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' will try to think of something.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' will see 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' later.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' says not to be nervous!]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' says many people want to hug you!!]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' has left the channel.]

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' has left the channel.]

-------

I wasn't actually too nervous about it.

I had loitered around my room getting ready and talking to Uriel, so I couldn't say I was eager, either.

But getting 'some amount of hugs' for 'some amount of compensation' was considerably easier than the previous scenario. These rankings really were a scam.

After the events of the last day or so, Uriel using 'Diary Exchange' had almost been welcome. She was less dangerous than Han Suyeong, and I was faintly hopeful that since things with Yu Junghyeok had gone so far, I wouldn't have any other scenarios of that kind for a while.

Well, until the inevitable 'next level'.

But I didn't want to think about that.

And being able to see Uriel's scenarios was surprisingly good?

I knew she was a shy person when taken out of certain roles, but I hadn't thought about how her rise to stardom would have affected it. Actually, it was easy to forget she was a different kind of 'star' now.

Helping her with her scenarios would be more appealing than doing my own.

Thinking about this, I went to look for various people.

I would start with the easiest targets.

------

It was a rare occasion where I saw Yi Gilyeong heading away from the HQ without Shin Yuseung.

Curious, I moved a little stealthily and followed him.

Eventually, he disappeared into a small store with windows that were papered with posters of various manhwa, light novels, and dramas.

I was going to follow him in but some images caught my eye.

⸢”HEROES OF THE SCENARIOS”⸥

and

⸢”NEW 'DEMON KING OF SALVATION' FIGURINE, NOW WITH REAL GLOWING 'CONSTELLATION EYES'.”⸥

I really had to double take.

I knew these merchandise stores existed and our story was still quite famous.

Actually, there was quite a lot of this around here.

But, hadn't I only been back a few weeks?

People who wanted to make money off me really moved fast?

I made a mental note to send Han Suyeong a message about it. She was probably on top of it but it'd be bad if we weren't getting our cut.

Anyway, why was Gilyeong here?

I was getting a slightly worrisome idea when the door opened and Yi Gilyeong emerged and nearly ran into me.

Of course, there was a bag containing a large figurine box in his hands.

"H-hyeong?!"

The bag disappeared behind his back.

I was really worried… should I spend more time with this kid or less…?

At this point, asking him for a hug was a lot less awkward than the other options.

The young boy… no, was he a young man now?

He looked stunned.

"I...is it okay?"

I was a little surprised? He'd never hesitated before.

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"Well, Yuseung…"

I waited for him to finish his thought but he just looked abruptly embarrassed and instead flung himself at my chest.

The top of his head bumped into my chin and I laughed a bit and pat him on the back.

Definitely not a 'young man' yet.

I was strangely glad.

------

Gilyeong clung tightly to me so I ended up asking him to show me around his favorite spots in the [Industrial Complex].

He still held my hand and blushed like he was a kid but having my attention seemed to make him happy.

I thought I would go find Shin Yuseung or Yi Hyeonseong next. These were definitely the 'easy mode' options for this scenario, but the Star Stream reminded me I had five minutes to get to a date elsewhere.

It was at a coffee shop I hadn't heard of and it took some fumbling to find the location.

[You have been docked 10 koins for being late to your date!]

Despite my efforts, it was still like this.

"Dokja-ssi!"

I spotted her waving to me from a nearby corner.

It wasn't my first time seeing Yu Sangah since returning, but it was the first time in such a casual situation.

She was in a summer dress and hat and maybe it was because she was a reincarnator but she seemed to glow in the sunlight. I thought that no one would ever mistake her for a simple office woman again.

I felt suddenly shy as I returned the wave and approached her.

"Sorry I'm late."

"It's alright. Do you still get lost easily?"

I always felt caught by this person.

"One day I'll buy a skill for it. "

"Mmm, I don't know if you should? Dokja-ssi is good at many things, having to rely on others to get around is a charm point."

After the past few days of Han Suyeong picking at my insecurities, losing my footing with Yu Junghyeok entirely, and the new Star Stream bullying me every day, hearing a person like Yu Sangah casually proclaim that I was 'good at many things' was enough to heal half my heart.

I realized I'd been missing her.

"When are you going to stop getting monopolized by the government and move back in?"

I said this half as a joke but Yu Sangah looked a bit startled and brushed back some of her hair.

"...would you like that, Dokja-ssi?"

"Whether or not I like it…"

"It matters a lot, actually."

She answered without needing me to finish.

"Let's get a drink and talk about it? I'm interested to hear how things have been going for Dokja-ssi, and I think I have some things to tell you, too."

------

We got a table in the shade where we could watch people go by.

This was good for me because looking at Yu Sangah's face could get distracting.

The peaceful countenance she had always possessed had only grown in the past years, and I felt spoiled by her presence.

Yu Sangah told me a bit about her work with the government. She helped deal with scenario fallout and organized relief efforts that were still needed today, but also acted as a liaison between the government and Kim Dokja's Company.

Apparently there had been various pressures on them since their return from the 1865th turn, and if it was left up to Han Suyeong she was worried everyone might have gotten kicked off the Peninsula.

This mental image made me smile.

"I was a bit surprised the [Industrial Complex] was allowed to operate the way it is."

Among the cities in South Korea, the [Industrial Complex] was a strange outlier.

A city within a city, operating more or less under its own rules.

It was half a tourist trap for those curious about the legacy of the scenarios, and half the comfortable home ground of those who had survived them.

And if it was just that, it might be strange but fine.

But it was also a place run by those who couldn't easily be contained, heroes of the scenarios who didn't swear loyalty to the government or anywhere else.

Much like Pungbaek had once tried to use our stories to nourish his great tree, I was sure it must have been a regular struggle to keep the [Industrial Complex] a haven for Kim Dokja's Company that refused to be folded under the new government's wing.

"It's been difficult at times. Suyeong-ssi has a way of… trying people's patience. But in this case it has its uses. She never let anyone believe Kim Dokja's Company had grown weak."

"If they thought that she'd just set them on fire?"

Yu Sangah smiled. "Exactly! So I accepted an offer to work with them so they wouldn't have to get set on fire."

I enjoyed this mental image for a moment.

"Is it still necessary?"

"Hmm… do you think I should leave?"

I couldn't say that. It wasn't my choice to make.

She continued.

"If anything, I think it's becoming more important than ever."

"Because of the scenarios returning?"

Yu Sangah's brows tensed and she nodded while pondering her coffee.

"There's all kinds of talk. Some think that your return is a sign that you're here to destroy the Star Stream again…"

I snorted at this.

"Am I a battle summon now?"

"Some think you brought it with you on purpose…"

"It would be nice if there was someone to blame."

"...and the information that your daughter is the Dokkaebi King isn't well known just yet, but it isn't unknown either, so naturally--"

"--there's the people who think I'm instating my own Star Stream to control the world?"

Yu Sangah gave a tight nod and I had to grin.

Well, it wasn't entirely new information.

Just because I hadn't been responding to the various emails and calls from people all over the Peninsula didn't mean I had ignored them completely.

"It'll settle down. I have no intention of telling them what to do or solving this for them."

"I've told them as much."

"And once the Dokkaebi Bag becomes public, they'll have a lot more to worry about."

Yu Sangah hummed as if she was thinking the same thing.

"I think it will be a good thing."

"You do?"

I wasn't surprised, but I thought it would be good to hear her reasoning.

She nodded firmly.

"Yes. I'm not an economist so I don't know what the effect on the country or the world will be."

Her thoughts were strung together in an easy but deliberate way.

"In fact, I'm sure a new type of 'koin farm' will come into existence. Maybe some of them will be terrible even though it isn't necessary…

"However, anyone can perform these scenarios. Even those without jobs, without homes, even those who are sick. At the very least, those who currently can't eat will be able to eat. Those without a home can obtain one."

She concluded with a firm assurance.

"Even if that is the only benefit it is not a small one."

I smiled.

Of course Yu Sangah thought like this.

And she wasn't incorrect.

The Dokkaebi Bag was full of various food items that were positioned as being treats or gifts, but there was nothing to stop someone from spending a few koins to buy themselves a meal.

Similarly, there was an entire line of 'capsule homes', called that because they could magically pop in and out of a capsule small enough to fit into a pocket.

Gong Pildu had complained about how this was a scam that was going to ruin the market thoroughly from the moment he saw it.

I didn't particularly regard it as my problem, but it was another reason I wasn't sure what to make of this new 'Star Stream'.

"So you'll be working hard?"

"For a bit longer, yes. But…"

Yu Sangah hesitated while running a finger over the rim of her cup and I waited.

"I hope that when I'm able to return for good, everyone is finally living together with Dokja-ssi in that big house."

My heart stopped a little at that wistful smile.

My own words from some ancient time came back to me.

To be honest, I'd forgotten I'd ever said such a thing.

"Please save a room for me there, Dokja-ssi."

Chapter Text

"After the 1865th turn, it was quite difficult… It was painful to be together so we all went our own ways for a while."

I didn't ask, but slowly, Yu Sangah began to tell me how things were while I was gone.

I understood this was my punishment for my absence, so I listened carefully.

"Suyeong-ssi focused on her classes and her work for the [Industrial Complex], the children accepted places at a special bordering school within the city, while Yi Jihye worked on graduating. Hyeonseong-ssi took a position overseas and Huiwon-ssi joined him for a while but eventually returned to try and settle down not too far away. Gong Pildu-ssi drank for a long time. Your mother stayed focused on building up the infrastructure here, but she didn't try to stop the rest of us from scattering."

I both understood and didn't understand.

It at once sounded appropriate and yet unexpected.

I wondered what I was supposed to say.

I had said "I'm sorry" many times over by now, but in front of Yu Sangah's careful words I would be embarrassed to offer such a weak recompense.

"Junghyeok-ssi… we all failed him the most I think? But because of the way he is, it was difficult to reach him. The rest of us all adapted in our own ways, but there was no foothold for him in this world so he went off on his own."

[The story 'Hellscape of Eternity' is nodding.]

[The story '0th Turn' lets out a long sigh.]

The 4th Wall that no longer lived inside of me shook as I tried to distance myself from the thoughts that piled up at this information.

It felt obvious, yet I hadn't thought about it once.

No, I hadn't wanted to think about it.

What did Yu Junghyeok, the man who had existed always inside the scenarios, do once they were over?

In the 0th Turn there had been a clear answer, but that was 1865 turns less.

A few years of trauma was not the same as a thousand lifetimes.

I tried to find the words to respond to her, but nothing emerged.

She regarded me with her warm, sad eyes.

"Do you understand, Dokja-ssi?"

"It's my fault…"

"No."

I stared at her.

"It's not about 'fault'. It's just that… Dokja-ssi always thinks about what he can do for others, but you don't understand the simple weight of your presence."

I wondered if Han Suyeong had told her to say something to me?

It felt like everyone was trying to send me a message lately.

My smile was probably awkward.

"I understand it was hard…"

"Yes, I think you do. But I don't think you really know that you know."

"Um?"

"Dokja-ssi, forgive me, but I'm going to bring up something painful."

She looked at me with an earnest expression and I could only nod slowly.

"It's like this. Say that there is a woman who loves her son very much, and thinking she knows what must be done for the sake of his future, she tells a certain lie and goes far away."

Oh.

So it was this story.

[The story 'One who is Always Alone' is trying to hear.]

"I don't--"

I wasn't allowed to interrupt.

"So out of love, she makes a difficult decision. She gives up her freedom. She accepts the scorn of the world. She never tells anyone her true feelings. She lies when it is useful and stays silent when it is difficult."

If it was anyone else, I might have really run away. But it was Yu Sangah.

I couldn't meet her eyes but I could sense her watching me.

Various stories rustled inside of me.

"This was unquestionably a sacrifice made for all the right reasons, believing it would bring about the 'best possible conclusion'. However… for the son, who never asked for that sacrifice, who had to live every day with that 'absence'. What does it feel like?"

[The story 'One who is Always Alone' wants to tell its story.]

I closed my eyes and gently pressed the story back into its place on the shelf.

"...we aren't children, Dokja-ssi. So everyone understands. Even if it feels like it, we know we were not 'abandoned', and that it is selfish to think that way. However… there is a 'space' that only Dokja-ssi can occupy."

As I continued to not interrupt, Yu Sangah's voice seemed to grow a bit faint.

I wondered if it was difficult for her to mention this.

Just as I had never mentioned it.

Would my life have been different if I had spoken to my mother like Yu Sangah was speaking now?

"That's why, it's very important that Dokja-ssi continue to occupy that space. And even if the laws of the universe say it's impossible, next time… please let us fight that universe beside you."

I didn't know what to make of these ridiculous words.

I felt grateful but there was a hollow pain inside that seemed to eat their meaning.

[The story 'One who is Always Alone' is struggling to breathe.]

"Thank you for listening."

Yu Sangah finally murmured as she stared at her coffee.

I knew I had to acknowledge her words.

I could tell even the robust Yu Sangah felt uncertain about going this far.

But what could I say that would have any meaning?

In the end, I could only weakly echo her sentiments.

"Thank you for telling me."

------

Of course, after such a conversation I didn't have the face to ask Yu Sangah for a hug.

Well, it was in a public space anyway so it would have been awkward.

We did what we could to lighten the mood but even though I was glad to see her, by the end of our 'date' I felt myself limping away like lame dog with my tail between my legs.

I was grateful.

No one had spoken much about the years of my absence.

Here and there I sensed lingering resentment and sometimes Han Suyeong would swear me out about this or that.

But Yu Sangah was the first person to properly admonish me.

"Though, saying I'm just like my mother is…"

I muttered to myself and couldn't help but find it bitterly funny.

I felt heavier and lighter at the same time.

There was the somewhat pleasant feeling of knowing a pain was well deserved.

But then there was still the pain.

[The story 'One who is Always Alone' needs to ta--]

And she had excited some bothersome stories.

Sometimes I wondered if I should get rid of these?

Yu Sangah who earnestly wanted me to understand the pain I'd caused my companions.

My companions, who earnestly wanted me to stay with them in safety and happiness.

I had such priceless things but I couldn't help but feel as if they must belong to someone else.

To some 'Kim Dokja' who lived in the world as a 'person' instead of watching it as a 'reader'.

Perhaps, if I was someone without such stories…

[The story 'One who is Always Alone' is holding its breath.]

"Dokja-ssi?"

While wandering in my dark thoughts, my feet had carried me back to the base and I nearly bumped into Yi Hyeonseong.

Yi Hyeonseong's expressive eyes moved rapidly from surprise to concern.

"Dokja-ssi, is everything alright?"

I blinked and wondered if my face had started doing something weird.

As the Most Ancient Dream, only the 4th Wall ever saw if I made a miserable face or not.

I'd developed a lot of bad habits over that time?

I rapidly slapped both of my cheeks and changed the subject.

"Hyeonseong-ssi, I was just looking for you."

Worry was replaced by a bashful surprise immediately.

"Y-You were? Did you need something?"

Yi Hyeonseong was a good person because he was easy to direct.

"Did you say you'd begun working on chairs? How is it going?"

"--I finished one today, do you want to see?"

I assured him I did, and got to enjoy Yi Hyeonseong's uncomplicated excitement washing over me for a bit.

Like the stools before it, his new chair was good and solid and functional.

No one would be let down by such a chair.

I sat in it, and Yi Hyeonseong seemed to glow.

"Would Dokja-ssi like a chair?"

Eh?

I blinked at him as if I'd misheard.

"Hm?"

"Well… to be honest, I'm not sure what to do next. I want to keep improving, but a stool isn't a stool unless it's sat on…"

Of course, he spoke in this kind of manner.

"But I've been thinking about it, and that not everyone is the type of person to sit on a stool? And that chair… it doesn't actually suit Dokja-ssi."

Should I have not sat in it?

Slightly confused, I stood up.

"So I was wondering, what kind of chair could I make that would suit Dokja-ssi?"

"Um…"

I had no idea how to answer a question like this.

"I'm sure anything that Hyeonseong-ssi decides…"

But he sternly gripped my shoulders and I was reminded for the first time in a while of just how large Yi Hyeonseong was.

I wondered in a daze if because of his size he had strong opinions on furniture?

"Please think about it seriously. If Dokja-ssi has a favorite kind of chair I will absolutely learn to make the best version possible."

Somewhere along the line, my strength had been depleted.

In the face of his sincerity, I could only laugh helplessly.

Yi Hyeonseong's expression deteriorated into confusion, then embarrassment.

"Ah, I mean..., it will take some time, but I'm sure if--"

Of course, I felt bad.

I pat him on the arms several times.

"It's an interesting idea. While I think about that, can Hyeonseong-ssi help me with something else?"

Once again, the former soldier was easily redirected.

"What is it?"

"I need a hug." It was embarrassing but I could say it because it was Yi Hyeonseong. "For my scenario. Would it be al--"

Before I finished the sentence, mammoth arms enveloped me.

I was not even able to hug back, my arms were trapped to my sides and a warm pressure encircled me.

I was reminded a bit of what I had learned while kissing Yu Junghyeok. About the 'density' that another human possessed but you could go a lifetime without experiencing.

The heart that had been beating erratically since my conversation with Yu Sangah stilled and felt strangely lulled by this embrace.

[The story 'One who is Always Alone' is quieting down.]

I thought Han Suyeong had done this person a great disservice in calling him a potato.

I'd have to redeem myself and fight her about it later.

I wasn't sure how much time passed while I sorted out my thoughts.

The strength of the hold never lessened, but eventually Yi Hyeonseong spoke up in a hesitant manner.

"Is this good, Dokja-ssi?"

I opened my mouth to tell him he'd done a good job.

"My mother had a certain chair."

For some reason, entirely different words emerged.

Like clouds of dust blown into the air after an old book fell off a shelf, distant memories floated up to me.

"It had a western design, with arms as big as pillows."

When I was small, she would sit in the chair and I would sit in her lap, and her arms would hold me while I held a book.

Even when I was older and had to sit there alone, the size and plush nature of it made me feel like I had disappeared into a warm and safe space.

"I would read there often…"

Yi Hyeonseong finally pulled away, though his hands stayed locked to my shoulders.

"Ah! That's perfect! That's definitely what would fit Dokja-ssi."

He was so enthusiastic I wanted to correct him.

"I… I didn't mean…"

"Don't worry, Dokja-ssi. I'll definitely make you one. A big reading chair so comfortable that you won't ever want to leave again."

Ah.

There it was again.

It was like a scar that would sometimes suddenly catch the light.

Everyone was doing their best to find a reason for me to stay.

"...thank you. Hyeonseong-ssi. I'll look forward to it."

Chapter Text

Over the next couple of days I really did my best.

It was difficult, but with Uriel's enthusiastic support and Yu Sangah's haunting story both behind me, I collected all of the hugs I could.

A few times I thought it might be better to just disappear.

And on occasion, I broke down and ran.

But I was really enduring to the best of my ability.

"Haha, Dokja-ssi? There you are! Have I hugged you yet again today? Let's do it just in case."

"Dokja-ssi, actually, I think if we do that again, it'll help me with inspiration for your chair…"

"Hey Dokja ahjussi, are you rich from hugs yet? I'm going to do it again so pay me later, okay?"

"Ahjussi… I know I've already done it several times but, if it's alright…"

"Hyeong, let's do it again. There's a good place where a lot of guys go and…"

It was like this everywhere I went…

I wasn't entirely sure if the word had gotten out from Yi Hyeonseong saying something thoughtless, or Uriel telling Jeong Huiwon who would have shared it to the rest.

But everyone had an idea of my scenario now and fulfilling it as often as possible became a local sport.

"Huiwon-unni, how many are you at?! I caught him 9 times!"

"Aht? You got ahead of me again??"

"This is why you need a good skill like 'Ghost Walk'."

"Isn't that just a stalker skill now?"

"It's called being adaptable?"

"Damn it, Dokja-ssi, hey-- he's running away!"

I really did my best.

However, once the 'hug count' hit fifty and various members of the nebulae started taking bets, I had to take a night off.

It wouldn't have been a problem if I could simply lock myself in my room, however, there was a second issue.

[Constellation 'Architect of the False Last Act' says stop running you cowardly piece of shit.]

[Constellation 'Architect of the False Last Act' promises it won't be that bad.]

[Constellation 'Architect of the False Last Act' says to take your medicine.]

I had been getting messages like this for the last while.

Somehow she hadn't managed to run into me even once.

The base was a decent size but it was still normal to see almost everyone at least once a day.

But since Han Suyeong had acquired a certain attribute, I had no choice but to acquire the best countermeasure.

'Love GPS' was a completely useless skill, unless you wanted to make sure that your so-called 'romantic interest' never got the drop on you.

In that case, it had no rival.

For a while Han Suyeong most likely simply suspected I was avoiding her by normal means.

A few times I was told by someone else that she'd been looking for me, or complaining about me.

But after nearly three days without seeing my face, the situation would be clear.

I knew I couldn't keep this up indefinitely.

And I also knew that letting my guard down on base was no longer an option.

[The story '6th Record of the 34th Turn' is bored.]

[The story '15th Record of the 98th Turn' thinks you've forgotten.]

[The story '2nd Record of the 41st Turn' is restless.]

[The story '7th Record of the 1012th Turn' has a story to tell.]

My stories were getting cranky from neglect but if I stopped anywhere long enough to 'read' I'd definitely wake up to Han Suyeong kicking my ass.

So when late night fell and I found a space where no members of my party were pursuing me, I activated Way of the Wind and made my escape.

-------

I 'dreamed' about the 1012th turn.

A unique world-line where Selena Kim joined the main party for various reasons, and became Yu Junghyeok's lover.

It had been a while since I thought about this world line, but both in my youth reading about it, and as the Most Ancient Dream, it had been nice to see one of the rare occasions where Yu Junghyeok seemed to connect with another person.

Of course, I always thought of Yi Seolhwa as the 'true heroine'.

But Selena Kim shared a number of personality traits with her, so I thought their relationship made sense.

The most important point of difference between the two was that Selena Kim was also a combatant with a narrative grade sponsor, so there were many exciting battles of the hero and heroine fighting side by side.

And though it would be incorrect on every level to call Selena Kim a shameless person, her western sensibilities sometimes came out in unexpected ways.

Such as the time when, glowing with effusive triumph after a desperate struggle, she pulled Yu Junghyeok into an exhausted kiss before pressing their foreheads together.

Yu Junghyeok, who was often restrained but not actually out of any sense of public decency, had stared for a long moment before kissing her with such a burning enthusiasm that Selena Kim herself had turned a brilliant red on the spot.

The rest of the party had turned away with embarrassment or, in the case of Yi Jihye and Kim Namwun, egged them on.

I had forgotten about this moment until I saw it with my own eyes, and had almost exited the world-line in surprise.

[Wh y do n't yo u ev er watch?]

[What are you talking about?]

[Th is is al so part of the sto ry.]

[Are you a voyeur? Don't say strange things.]

The 4th Wall cackled in my ears.

Of course, in this area alone I always gave Yu Junghyeok privacy.

I was aware that maybe this actually made me the strange one.

Perhaps it was because even in the universe where Yu Junghyeok lived over a thousand lives and died over a thousand deaths,

In story after story where he mourned his companions countless times,

Where he took untold lives and committed endless atrocities,

These moments were some of the only ones that were truly rare and special.

⸢Kim Dokja tried to comfort himself with these pretentious thoughts.⸥

[Hey…]

[Yo u are so ful l of i t.]

[It's ju s t be cause yo u've ne ver did 'i t'.]

[An d now yo u ne ver will.]

[First of all, I've definitely done 'it'.]

[Li a r.]

[Second, you're such a prick?]

The 4th Wall laughed at my aggravation.

[It i s ok ay to b e jea lous, Kim Dok ja.]

-------

The words of the 4th Wall were still rattling around in my head as my consciousness was jerked away from my 'reading'.

I was getting used to the sensation of being aggressively brought back to my incarnation body?

But I still really wanted to smack the person doing it.

Unwillingly, I opened my eyes.

The world was out of focus and dark.

It was also wet?

I wondered if Han Suyeong had thrown me into a shower this time.

I grabbed at the arms of the person shaking me and realized immediately this was not Han Suyeong.

By the time my eyes adjusted to the dim light I was only half surprised to recognize Yu Junghyeok's accusing glare.

Making that sort of face… what had I done this time?

"'M… I'm up?"

I fumbled for my footing.

"Quit shaking me, bastard."

As if being contrary, there was another firm shake, but that was the end.

Yu Junghyeok continued to hold on until I no longer felt the urge to tilt to the side.

"Explain what the hell you're doing."

As I gathered my bearings, I saw I was still on the empty and deserted roof of one of the [Industrial Complex]'s public buildings.

I hadn't actually bothered to find out which one. It was enough that the building was tall and in such a state that it was obvious no one ever came up here.

It wasn't like comfort was a factor when I abandoned my incarnation body for a while, so it had been as good a place as any to hide out for a bit.

Though, the night sky had been warm and clear when I began? Now a cool summer rain drizzled around us.

I smiled unapologetically at Yu Junghyeok.

"I was taking a nap? What brings you here?"

There was a growl that suggested he wasn't in the mood for my humor.

"You went missing for a day. I was asked to find you."

Well, that explained the weather.

"A grown man can't be counted as 'missing' after just one day…"

I complained, though I had no rights.

"If that person is you, one day is more than enough time."

"That's taking it too far?"

I peered up at Yu Junghyeok and it was dawning on me that this was the first time since the clinic that I had seen him.

Actually, it was a little strange he hadn't been around the HQ at all?

Not that I had wanted to see him, but with all the effort I put into avoiding Han Suyeong, I hadn't needed to do anything to avoid Yu Junghyeok.

He simply had never appeared.

Hm?

"How did you even find me?"

"You were lying out in the open on a roof, like a fool."

"But there's hundreds of roofs? And why would you even think to look there?"

Yu Junghyeok glared at me and kept his mouth shut.

"I could have gotten a hotel room or jumped into a portal somewhere, or just finally taken someone up on one of the dozens of interview requests I have?"

I listed these things off and watched Yu Junghyeok's eyes never waver.

He wasn't much of a liar, so usually if you caught him he just closed his mouth.

There was no doubt, he must also have 'Love GPS', yet I was still really shocked?

"Of all the options, you really wanted that ability?"

I thought he would growl at me some more but Yu Junghyeok's eyes went distant for a moment, then returned when he spoke.

"If I had this ability then, you wouldn't have been able to pull that stunt on the subway."

Ah.

There it was again.

That scar, catching the light just right.

Even Yu Junghyeok couldn't escape these kinds of thoughts.

My mouth opened.

"I didn't… want…"

Yu Junghyeok waited for my response.

However, my breath was stuck in my chest.

Once again, there weren't any words sufficient.

I didn't want to do it?

What did that matter if the outcome was the same either way.

And, was I sure I hadn't wanted it?

Did I even have the right to explain?

I blinked rain water off of my lashes.

The misty rain was thickening, and Yu Junghyeok pulled me under the awning that hung above the door to the stairwell.

I looked out at the dark sky.

I spoke words that sounded a bit cold.

"...everyone keeps bringing up the same thing? Unfortunately.. I really don't really know what I'm supposed to say."

As I confessed, Yu Junghyeok finally released the front of my jacket.

But that same hand settled on my throat a moment later instead.

Maybe this guy wanted to strangle me?

Well, it could be true. But this particular sensation was reminiscent of a similar gesture from a few days ago.

I shot him a startled look but his face didn't reveal anything.

After a moment of feeling my pulse beat against his thumb, he spoke.

"Whatever your reasoning was at the time, it is in the past. What I… what everyone is looking to hear is what you intend for the future."

I blinked, feeling a little dazed.

Oh.

When Yu Junghyeok said it, it seemed like it must be so simple?

"...I hadn't thought about it."

Perhaps because his hand reminded me of Han Suyeong's Red String of Truth, I let something honest slip out.

There were more words that I might have said.

A better explanation I might have offered.

If I said it, then this person, more than anyone else, might be able to understand.

However, there were too many things to be said and they piled up in my throat until not one more word could escape.

When I could only smile, Yu Junghyeok's features set and his hand tightened around my throat.

I wondered if he might really throttle me for such a pitiful response?

I probably couldn't actually die from it.

"Your responsibility, then, is to begin thinking about it."

While I was still parsing the command in these words, Yu Junghyeok pulled me back against his chest.

Um?

"Y-Yu… Yu Junghyeok?"

I was suddenly concerned something worse than strangling would occur.

His other arm wrapped around my middle like a chain.

Unlike all the other physical assaults from my party over the last couple of days, this one actually contained an air of threat.

"Isn't this your current scenario?"

I grabbed onto his wrists.

"You bastard, how do you think hugs work??"

I heard a slight hum behind me and realized he thought he was funny.

I yanked on the hand around my neck and was surprised when it actually let go.

Unfortunately, it was only so that Yu Junghyeok could start opening up the buttons on my shirt.

A heat ran up my neck and was reminded of why it had absolutely been a mistake to make out with the protagonist.

I grabbed his fingers.

"Hey?! That's definitely not part of my scenario??"

"But it is part of mine."

I made a vexed sound at this joke, but Yu Junghyeok's hand broke away from mine and insistently continued.

"You got rid of them."

His complaint sounded rather petulant and it took me a moment to figure out what he meant.

"The marks?"

There was no verbal reply, but my jacket and half open shirt were pulled to the side to expose a pale and unsullied shoulder.

"Are you a dog? I told you I wouldn't go to Yi Seolhwa looking like that."

There was a relatively cheap item in the Dokkaebi Bag that would fix such cosmetic 'injuries' easily. It was single use but I hadn't had any choice.

Yu Junghyeok had been glaring at me when my shirt came off for Yi Seolhwa's tests. I finally realized why.

"Yi Seolhwa is a professional. She will not care."

"Whether she would care or not isn't--"

My words were derailed as his mouth found my shoulder.

"A-are you serious right now??"

I felt like this must be some extended prank, however Yu Junghyeok merely ignored me and did what he wanted.

I tried to understand, but it felt like wheels spinning in mud.

A lot of various muck was kicked up but my thoughts couldn't seem to get any traction.

However, as the pressure of the kiss grew I became aware of the warmth of Yu Junghyeok surrounding me.

It wasn't a chilly night but the rain had whisked away my body's heat.

Now Yu Junghyeok's mouth and arms and back all stood out clearly as points of warm sensation.

So did the burning in my cheeks.

I thought about Yu Junghyeok's passionate kiss with Selena Kim and the way she turned red to the tips of her ears.

Protagonists were really dangerous. I suddenly empathized with poor 1012th turn Selena Kim's predicament.

I endured until the mark was completed.

However, once it was done this bastard just went on to another without saying a thing?

At this I finally grew frustrated and grabbed him by his wet hair.

"We're on a roof? Don't you have any shame?"

"I didn't pass out on a strange roof for over a day."

"How are these on the same level at all?"

"Should we go to my room, then?"

These stunning words set off multiple sirens inside my head.

I must absolutely never enter this person's room.

I swallowed.

"What the hell's going on with you?"

My mind scrabbled around for a feasible explanation.

"Did you lose a bet with Uriel?"

It was halfway a joke but Yu Junghyeok still looked at me in irritation, then deliberately put his hand around my neck again.

For some reason when he did this, some flighty corner of my mind seemed to fall into a daze.

"I have begun to think about the future, a bit."

He somehow seemed to respond to words I had never spoken.

I swallowed again, and felt my throat bob against his hand.

Whatever he meant still wasn't for me to understand.

But I understood there was some significance.

I didn't let go of his hair but I relaxed my grip enough to let him do as he wished.

I looked away in embarrassment but thought I could endure it.

Yu Junghyeok seemed to take my minute relaxing as an invitation, and the hand that had been shackled around my waist began to move.

My shirt was yanked out of my pants and soon a calloused hand was free to drag heavy lines across my stomach and chest.

I did not think I could endure this, and my heart rate leapt up rapidly.

I grit my teeth.

"Y-you really are shameless…"

Yu Junghyeok ignored me, he was busy forming another bruise.

But the hand under my shirt dragged over a nipple and my whole frame jerked against him by reflex.

I felt that bastard smile and meant to glare at him, but it was too late.

The next many uncounted minutes were a disorienting blur of Yu Junghyeok's hand sweeping across my stomach, teasing patches of skin, and rubbing circles around my nipples with increasing velocity until I whined and swore at him.

The hand on my neck never moved or tightened, but I could feel every gasped breath flexing against it.

At one point I became desperate enough to try to rip him away from his work.

Having my shoulder sucked on wasn't nearly as satisfying as his mouth on mine.

But Yu Junghyeok resisted my demands and the hand on my neck finally did clamp down.

My breathing wasn't restricted at all but the added pressure on my already intolerable arousal made me temporarily dizzy.

"Wait."

There was a dark command in his voice that left me torn between wanting to follow it, and wanting to bury him.

That would show him?

[The story '3rd Record of the 1st turn' is preparing to tell its story.]

[The story '4th Record of the 2nd turn' is preparing to tell its story.]

[The story '8th Record of the 3rd turn' is preparing…]

After a long, indecisive moment, I shushed them.

It would be truly stupid to do that sort of thing now of all times.

This is why no one should ever be horny, I could feel my mental faculties depleting by the moment.

[The story 'Hellscape of Eternity' is laughing.]

In the end, I allowed one more mark then jerked on his hair again.

"You're being unreasonable."

Yu Junghyeok had the gall to smirk openly at me.

"It's your own fault. Next time, don't erase them."

"You know they go away on their own anyway, right?"

"Then I'll make more."

His casual stubbornness was stunning.

First of all, how long was this going to go on?

⸢"I have begun to think about the future, a bit."⸥

Wait, he couldn't have meant that?

"You're just planning to keep me marked up forever?"

My tone was incredulous.

He paused, and I thought he might answer in a reasonable manner such as calling me an idiot and threatening me.

Instead, he switched the positions of his hands so he could expose my other shoulder.

"It is similar."

He finally said this before returning to his meticulous efforts.

I felt teeth this time and couldn't reply because my breath got caught.

I considered relenting.

It really did feel good, even if it was only making me want something else more.

And I didn't understand much of what Yu Junghyeok was implying but some part of it resonated with me.

That in this new world, it wouldn't be the worst if 'this sort of thing' continued to happen.

That it wasn't an uncommon thing between two people, and in reality I'd always been the strange one for being resistant to it.

That it felt less uncomfortable than expected with this person.

Maybe I wouldn't hate it if he left as many marks as he wanted.

These thoughts and Yu Junghyeok's persistent mouth lulled me into a state of weakness.

But then the memory of his smug face came back to me and I recalled how badly I wanted to hit him.

Once more, I yanked on his hair and then stubbornly slapped my hand over my own shoulder, blocking his path.

Yu Junghyeok made an irritated noise.

"I'm cutting you off? Kiss me properly or let go."

The hand that had teased my chest curled around my waist and held on with a strength I doubted I could match.

"Properly…"

He seemed to consider it.

I didn't know why he was being stubborn, I could tell he wanted to.

Well, I did know.

It was because he's a shithead.

Proven by the fact that once again, instead of conceding to my demands, he dipped his head.

I didn't know what his plan was, though. He'd have to at least let me turn around if he wanted to contin---

As I was thinking this, I felt his mouth find my fingers.

Oh.

I could tell I was out of my depth because it was an obvious option but it hadn't crossed my mind at all.

Using teeth and tongue he pulled one finger, which had gotten chilly from the wet night air, into his mouth.

My mind went blank and a flooding heat rushed directly down my spine.

I didn't know what would happen if I saw his face just now, so I didn't look.

But I couldn't ignore it, and pressed the finger flat against his tongue and felt it pushed back on in turn.

I held my breath and my heart was racing and that damned hand was still around my neck and--

I felt his lips and teeth on my knuckle and pushed deeper.

He accepted it with a wet roll of his tongue and I felt the groan that came from him vibrate from his flesh to mine.

When he began to suck on it, like he had various other parts of my skin already, my mind went completely still.

I pressed back against the solid wall of his chest and a demand for oxygen made my breathing come in gasps.

My touch roamed the inside of his mouth, over the rough surface of teeth and the slick hollow under the tongue, and when he made a certain noise I pressed it deeply inside until I thought I scraped the back of his throat.

HIs teeth clamped down then and I couldn't escape. I could feel his tongue and a wet suction holding that finger in place like a vice. The hand on my neck was squeezing in a rhythm with the slow and even expansion of his chest, and I couldn't handle it anymore.

I yanked my finger away.

Yu Junghyeok's breathing was immediately hot and loud in my ear.

"Kim Dokja."

I had never heard my name sound like that before.

"Let me--"

My hand covered his mouth before he could finish.

I wasn't sure what I would say if I let him ask that.

Instead, I pulled on the grip keeping me pinned to his chest.

He was too slow to release me and I snapped at him.

"Just kiss me already, bastard."

The unrelenting hold finally loosened.

He spun me toward him and we briefly locked eyes.

It was similar to before, but there was a depth of hunger there that I couldn't quite comprehend.

Then our lips met.

His arms went around me while I held onto his jacket.

I felt him begin to turn us so that he could shove me against the wall and rejected it.

Way of the Wind activated briefly and I slammed the startled Yu Junghyeok back against the wall instead.

I wanted my kiss but if I let him have the upper hand again I'd definitely be consumed by what I saw in his eyes.

Yu Junghyeok growled into my mouth, and when he couldn't swap our positions both of his hands ended up on my ass instead.

I had to laugh at the absurdity, and because I did, my teeth scraped his lips.

He made another interesting sound.

This guy was really into being bit?

I guess maybe I'd do something about that in the future.

There was an electric energy between us and I could tell this impulsive bastard actually wanted to go all the way right now.

Had he completely forgotten where we were?

I dragged the kiss on because I'd really suffered for this and wanted to get my effort's worth.

But I could feel one of Yu Junghyeok's thumbs hook past the waistband of my pants.

If I let him get any further my will might really crumble.

I broke the kiss suddenly and shoved him against the wall again.

"Yu Junghyeok."

He stared at me.

For once his own breath was at least a bit uneven.

I let out one exhausted huff, and then gave him my best cheerful smile.

"Don't follow me."

I saw shock and confusion lighting up in his dark eyes.

The hands on me began to tighten.

But by then it was too late.

I had activated Miniaturization and Way of the Wind and made my escape.

Chapter Text

As soon as I was outside Yu Junghyeok's grip, I abandoned miniaturization and blazed across the sky at the fastest speeds I could eke out from Way of the Wind.

I didn't try to hide or be clever. With Yu Junghyeok's ability he could find me anywhere. This was purely a contest of speed.

As I flew I opened the Star Stream and sent a message.

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' is requesting entry to [Underworld].]

This was a long shot, but it was my preferred option. Any escape method that left me on the same plane as Yu Junghyeok meant he'd be able to catch me eventually.

I risked a look behind me and saw the burning light of Red Phoenix Shunpo cutting across the dark sky.

He was far enough away that I couldn't make out his face, but he was using Air Steps with giant strides and I wasn't sure how long I could maintain my lead.

I had told this bastard not to follow me, but of course he hadn't listened.

Still, for some reason, there was a grin on my face?

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' is requesting entry to [Underworld].]

That grin would definitely get wiped clean if Persephone didn't respond soon, though.

For the first time in a very long time I activated the [Demon King Transformation] for the boost of speed it could offer me.

Horns rose up from my forehead and dark wings erupted from my back.

I thought this might be enough to let me pull ahead, but when I checked behind me again, Yu Junghyeok's golden glow of transcendence was added to the crimson streak left by Red Phoenix Shunpo.

Shit, this guy was really determined.

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' is requesting entry to [Underworld].]

Yu Junghyeok's was now close enough that I could read the furious determination on his face.

If he caught me I was really going to get it.

It was unfortunate, but I might need to use that method.

[Exclusive Skill Character List is retrieving results for 'Yu Junghyeok' from Star Stream 2.0.]

+

Name: Yu Junghyeok

Age: ???? years old

Relationship Status: ■■

Keystone Relationships: Biyu, Namgung Minyeong, Kim Dokja, Yi Jihye, Yu Miah, Most Ancient Dream (former Sponsor), Director of the False Last Act (Sponsor), Shin Yuseung (deceased), Yi Hyeonseong (deceased), Yi Seolhwa (deceased)...[tap to expand list]

Romantic Interests: Biyu, Han Suyeong, Kim Dokja, Selena Kim (deceased), Shin Yuseung (deceased), Yi Seolhwa (deceased)

Active Personal Scenario: [■■] Rank: SSS | Time Remaining: No Limit

Acquired Skills: None

Acquired Relationship Attributes: None

Additional Details: Your intimacy with this character is very high!

You may choose one relationship attribute related to this character.

[Tap to see available attribute options]

+

I had intended to skip past the profile to go straight to the attribute selection, but some new lines of text caught my eye.

Most specifically, the Romantic Interests.

At this point, I couldn't be surprised to find my own name there, but that wasn't the problem.

A hazy red fog filled my brain.

It was like a circuit breaker had tripped and in the resulting darkness all I could think of was how much I suddenly wanted to hit him.

Without a second thought I reversed the direction of Way of the Wind and both of my feet landed on Yu Junghyeok's chest.

After being in such relentless pursuit, he hadn't been expecting this and my hit was solid.

I felt bones crunch under my shoes and air was forced out of him.

Shock was written clearly on his face, and I felt a little glad.

But he was still the protagonist, as he began to tumble from the air he snatched one of my ankles and I was pulled down with him.

"Kim Dokja--! Why are you--??"

I could tell he was full of frustrated confusion.

He didn't draw his sword but a punch glanced past my cheek and I briefly saw stars.

This only made my anger burn more and I balled my first to return the favor.

This grappling and punching continued until we both hit the earth like meteorites.

We cracked the road of a sleepy town located toward the edge of the Peninsula. A bit further and we would have landed in the ocean.

I landed on top, my knees in his stomach, and red tinged stories exploded from his mouth.

[The story 'Comrades of Life and Death' is agitated.]

[The story 'Comrades of Life and Death' wants to tell its story.]

[The story 'Father of a Dokkaebi' is telling 'Comrades of Life and Death' to shut the hell up.]

I tried to strike him again but Yu Junghyeok, despite the damage he had taken, had gained his bearings.

He caught my fist and released his status.

I had to release mine to counter, and the street underneath us cracked further.

"Kim Dokja, if you had wanted to stop--"

I realized with a sharp laugh that he was completely misreading the situation.

Well, there was no reason for him to understand.

I hit him with my other first.

It hurt, I realized throwing a punch really stung and felt it all through my hand.

"Tell me, bastard, why is my daughter listed as a 'romantic interest'?"

Yu Junghyeok's eyes went wide with slow realization.

The confusion diminished, he understood exactly why she would be on that list.

This further ignited the emotions running wild inside me and I swung at him with my other first.

My hit landed cleanly and broke his jaw.

My breathing was heavy and I could hear my pulse throughout my entire skull.

I knew I wasn't thinking clearly.

This was also the price of no longer having the 4th Wall. I was permitted to simply feel fury, and the ugly elation that came with it.

I wondered if this was how Yu Junghyeok had felt every time we'd fought in the past.

I pulled my fist back to hit him again, but he'd recovered from his shock. Yu Junghyeok grabbed me by my still half open shirt and pulled me into a headbutt that broke my nose.

The pain was excruciating.

It started in my face and exploded behind my eyeballs and ran down my neck.

I could feel my anger buffering some of it aside, but it was nothing compared to the 4th Wall who could allow me to break every bone in my body and barely be bothered.

I realized how truly absurd it was that I had already broken half a dozen of Yu Junghyeok's bones and probably ruptured some of his insides and he doggedly continued our fight without even so much as groaning in pain.

Everyone who had made it through Ways to Survive had learned to endure this kind of pain except for me.

A spike of shame cut through the burning fog around my brain.

[The story 'One Who has Never Seen Himself without Bruises' thinks it can help.]

I had no patience and shoved that story back into its place.

"Kim Dokja."

My eyes were watery from pain and it took a moment to focus and see the anger that was blossoming in Yu Junghyeok's features.

"I don't know what you think happened, but don't misunderstand--"

His tone was irritating.

Who was he to be angry at this time?

I tried to hit him again.

However, something as simple as 'pain' was really a hindrance, my aim was wide and he blocked my fist easily.

It was obvious that from this point forward I would lose.

[Constellation, ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’, has permitted your entry.]

[Constellation, ‘Father of the Rich Night’, has permitted your entry.]

Fortunately, I had some good luck.

[Nebula, [Underworld], has opened a portal that will summon you.]

"Listen to me, you fool!"

I ignored him and summoned up the character profile again.

I opened the abilities selection and made my choice.

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' is utilizing the relationship attribute 'Switch'.]

Yu Junghyeok's eyes widened.

"Don't--!"

Even as I did this, I sensed it was an error.

This sort of passion driven action wasn't like me.

But much like how consequences seemed meaningless when Yu Junghyeok's mouth was on mine, now too, I really couldn't give a damn.

"Yu Junghyeok, don't move from this spot."

And just like that, glowing chains formed around his wrists and ankles, shackling him in place.

"Kim Dokja!"

His voice was rough with emotion, most of it was anger, but some of it sounded like betrayal.

I was still angry so I smiled coldly at him while I got up.

"This time listen when I say not to follow me."

Yu Junghyeok tried to grab my jacket but the chains bound him, and I stepped back into the portal to the [Underworld].

------

Darkness warped around me as I was hurdled through the portal, and when I was finally spat out the other side I found myself at the foot of Hades' palace.

Before me was a stunned soul.

No, not a soul. I blinked at him a few times and part of my brain itched.

Then I took in his clothing and realized this was a 'Judge of the Underworld'.

It was hard to tell because his hood was down and his cloak had been decorated in glittering trinkets.

I was reminded of kids who rebelled against the school uniform by altering their clothes in small ways and accessorizing however was technically permissible.

[M-My prince?]

The Judge's hollow eyes took me in, then ran over me again.

Actually, was he blushing?

[W-were you… perhaps having a lover's spat?]

And why did he sound hopeful?

My head still felt too hot and so the shame I thought I should feel somehow didn't gain any traction, but it was true I was in no position to judge someone else's state of dress.

I hurriedly pulled my shirt on straight to hide the marks all over my shoulders and rubbed away at the stories leaking from my nose.

"Forget you saw this."

I told him in a tone that allowed no argument.

I must have made a scary face because the Judge fell over himself making assurances and I was a little relieved.

"Great!"

I pat him on the shoulder to reassure him.

"Now, is there somewhere I can clean up before seeing my parents?"

-------

A few minutes later I was left alone in what was, apparently, my room.

I had never been there but I suppose as the Prince of the Underworld it made sense I'd have a place to stay here.

The room was strangely modern, given that it existed within a castle made of dark stone and decorated with items from Ancient Greece. Not that I knew what a bedroom from Ancient Greece might look like, but this felt more like the room of a wealthy businessman who was fond of comfortable but airy spaces.

There was even a corner dedicated to several shelves of books and a couple of reading chairs.

Curiously, I peered at the shelves and found a variety of options, from tales associated with myths of the Underworld, to popular fantasy and sci-fi novels.

I realized there was no way that was simply the room belonging to the Prince of the Underworld.

Someone had specifically furnished it with me in mind, even though I had never been here for more than a few hours.

Some great painful emotion welled up within me and the last fires of my anger toward Yu Junghyeok were finally quenched.

I had fled here for entirely selfish and thoughtless reasons.

'Escape to the Underworld' was a plan I'd put in my back pocket for the instance when the pressure of being around the others became overwhelming.

Of course, I wanted to see Persephone, but I never did anything for such simple reasons.

I suddenly felt like my chest had been hollowed out.

Lust, betrayal, rage, guilt, sorrow. All of these emotions were too intense and kept piling on top of each other until I didn't know what I was feeling.

[Kim Dok ja is so sen si tive.]

[Th is is why yo u ne ed me.]

I could easily imagine it saying something like this if it was here.

I smiled sadly, and went to draw a bath.

The cool water was a nice contrast to the Underworld's stuffy heat, and I held my head under the water for a while to set my mind straight.

If I didn't get my emotions under control next I would start crying at Persephone's dinner table.

Slowly, I began to go over the latest events in my mind.

I parceled them out and began to sort them into organized boxes.

The truth was that I didn't know what had happened between Biyu and Yu Junghyeok.

Possibly the answer was even 'nothing'.

But she carried the soul of a person who had been his lover in more than one turn, and they had gone on a long journey together, so I shouldn't have been so startled.

However, even thinking about it now I felt my mind start to boil again.

Regardless of all else she was still my daughter, right?

It was natural to be angry about that, wasn't it?

I decided I didn't feel bad about kicking his ass.

That was one box.

Then there was everything else with Yu Junghyeok.

I was forced to acknowledge that he was attractive and, for whatever reason, had some kind of interest in me.

I could distinctly recall him saying on a few occasions that he didn't like men, so I didn't understand why this was happening. He had definitely never been with a man before?

But it wasn't in his nature to be manipulative with these things so, to some extent, there was a 'truth' hidden there.

That was as far as I could make sense of it. If I didn't end up having to kill him over something involving Biyu then I would figure the rest out later.

That was another box.

Next there was Han Suyeong's quest to dig open all of my secrets, which had left me feeling stifled and nervous even within the [Industrial Complex].

I knew she meant well and deserved the truth from me.

I knew I was frustrating to deal with and she had already sacrificed so much of her life being a support for my weak psyche that the idea of her even bothering this much made me sick to my stomach.

But at the same time there was no way I could know what power she had and what she was after and not want to turn the other way.

I didn't have a solution to this problem.

Neither of our natures were going to change just like that. I would simply have to endure one way or another.

Disheartened, I piled this unfortunate mess into another box.

Finally, there was the series of scars running through each member of my party.

I could envision them connected together like a twisted constellation.

As Yu Sangah had justly pointed out, they were each damaged by the 'absence' I had left them with.

It wasn't lost on me that I had once again disappeared from their sight, even if it would only be a few days.

My thoughts swam around unhelpful waters for a while.

I could think of one possible solution, but it might be going too far.

Certainly, if I asked anyone they would tell me not to do it.

So for now the best I could settle on was to simply be better and stop doing selfish things.

With that useless thought I shoved these concerns into the last box.

It helped a bit.

I let my head rest on the rim of the bath while staring at the ceiling for a while.

Eventually, the pain in my nose became too irritating and I decided to at least solve that.

Under the old Star Stream, healing items and skills were rare and expensive.

It was natural since it was a universe where death was easy and living was hard.

Under this new, kinder Star Stream there were a variety of options for healing everything from minor cuts and scrapes to fatal injuries. The more impressive the result the more koins it would cost, but it made sense as the koins would be needed to offset the probability.

I checked my wallet.

18,210 koins.

Of course I was being frugal.

Technically, I could afford a low level healing skill, but it would wipe out half of my savings so I thought it wasn't worth it.

Supposedly I shouldn't actually get injured that much anymore, and even if I did, I could rely on Yi Seolhwa.

I just needed to fix one thing today, so I spent 1,000 koins on an Injury Eraser.

This was the next size up in the inventory line from the Bruise Eraser I'd used to get rid of the marks before.

The item that appeared in my hand looked like a simple bottle of correction fluid. It was probably good for a couple of small injuries or one larger one.

I dabbed some around on my face until the pain went away.

The rest I saved as it might be useful later.

As I was skimming through the dokkaebi bag I saw various messages coming in, mostly from Han Suyeong and Yu Junghyeok.

I decided to ignore them since it seemed likely they would only knock the boxes over again.

After staring at the ceiling some more, I admitted I had run out of reasons to dawdle alone here.

A part of me really just wanted to lie down and read, and I guessed that if anyone would indulge that kind of shitty behavior it might be Persephone, but for that exact reason I couldn't allow it.

I slapped some cold water on my cheeks and got dressed.

-------

It turned out Persephone had even stocked a wardrobe for me, so I changed into some well tailored dark linen clothes that I felt a little awkward in. However, the fabric breathed well and was a big improvement in the Underworld's sticky and warm climate.

I almost thought about leaving my jacket behind, but I was too paranoid for that.

I wandered out of my room and was glad to see a servant stationed outside. I had no confidence I wouldn't get lost for a few days in the massive castle.

While doing my best to follow directions I tried to plan for the upcoming meeting.

Persephone didn't make me nervous anymore, but Hades would also be here, and my heart felt complicated about it.

Hades, the father who adopted me, had died supporting my cause even after having only ever spoken to me a few words.

He was someone who watched and was moved by my story, but someone who, in the end, I knew about even less than the man who'd named me.

The Hades that was here now was from a different world-line and had returned with Persephone after the 1865th turn. I had heard these details when she visited me in the hospital shortly after I awoke, and hadn't figured out how to feel.

I had never known Hades but at least there was some comfort in telling myself he knew of me.

But the Hades of the 1865th turn would have only seen a sicky avatar who was constantly a burden on his party.

I had some of the memories from that time and they were mostly humiliating.

It seemed likely this Hades would prefer to adopt Han Suyeong or Yu Junghyeok instead and I couldn't blame him.

Actually, it wasn't fair to assume he had any desire to be my parent, and only the fact that I was still regarded as the 'Prince of the Underworld' implied my status wasn't revoked.

I hadn't meant to start on such gloomy thoughts but by the time I reached the room where Persephone and Hades sat on their respective thrones, I had more or less resigned myself to being disowned.

However, as I approached the two mighty constellations, my unhappy thoughts were cut through by a cheery laugh and Persephone peering over a fan with curved eyes.

[There you are. Son, I'm so looking forward to hearing all about this lover's quarrel?]

I felt my face go pale and immediately looked for the traitor.

Hidden in the shadow of Persephone's throne, the Judge simply gave me a helpless shrug.

Chapter Text

[Oh? I heard your nose was broken?]

Persephone turned in her throne to pierce the traitorous Judge with a smile.

[Did you perhaps make a mistake?]

[Your majesty, I assure you…]

The Judge fumbled awkwardly and I offered no help. He deserved at least this much.

[Fufu, how mysterious, then. Come, my son, let me see your face.]

Well, she wouldn't be able to find anything so I approached like I was unbothered.

"Mother, is this really the most important topic…"

[Hm? We have time for more than one topic, I think.]

As soon as I was close enough Persephone leaned forward and grabbed me by the chin and held me firmly.

[Oh, there it is. It's healed well but I can see a little crack between the lines of your story.]

Damn.

Was she that good or was she bluffing?

Persephone's fan snapped shut and she turned to speak to Hades without releasing me.

[It can't be Sangah then, darling, this isn't her style.]

Hades regarded me with eyes that were dark and empty as a starless night.

After a moment he spoke to me.

[You should tell her, you won't be able to escape otherwise.]

Persephone gave me a long, catlike smile and finally released my chin.

[Listen to your father, dear. Or shall I start guessing?]

She referred to him as my father without missing a beat, and as far as I could tell, Hades wasn't adverse to it.

My confused heart swelled a little and I hesitated.

On one hand, I had learned my lesson about lying in this place.

On the other, I really didn't want to talk about it.

"Isn't that too easy, though?"

Persephone hummed and watched me with interested eyes.

[Must you always take the difficult route?]

"Isn't that why you like me?"

Her painted lips curved in a small, soft smile.

[It is one of the things I love about you.]

There was a faint note of correction on the word 'love'.

I didn't know how to respond to this so my lips bobbed uselessly.

[Very well, we can play it your way for now. You always do make things interesting. What terms are you suggesting?]

I swallowed and tried to focus my mind on the problem at hand.

"How about this? For the duration of my visit, I won't answer any questions on the topic directly, but I also won't lie. When you think you have an answer, you can make one guess between the two of you. If you're correct I won't deny it."

[You won't speak directly on it?]

There was a pout in her voice.

[How is that any fun?]

"It's necessary to keep things fair? You must know most of the… 'candidates' decently by now. You already discarded Sangah-ssi based on such a small thing. If we play 20 questions it'll be a short game."

[Ufufu… quite clever, my son. Very well, I'll agree to your terms. However, when I suss it out you must answer three of your parents questions truthfully.]

I felt like this was a dangerous game.

"One should be enough?"

[It is not. Three.]

I sighed, but I couldn't actually fight her on this. In reality if she had pushed hard enough I probably would have folded. I was simply lucky that she enjoyed games.

"Yes, mother."

Persephone's smile was brilliant and she extended her hand as she rose from her throne.

[Excellent. Then let's have a family meal, shall we? Your mother has something to show you.]

-------

I had expected to end up in the familiar dining room, but instead Persephone took my hand and led me into a massive kitchen.

It was clearly the kitchen that was used to feed the needs of the castle, with carefully tended fires supporting ovens made of dark stone. Servants bustled all around, and the walls were stocked high with a variety of ingredients. Food for all kinds of beings organized on shelves that went to the ceiling.

I blinked slowly as I took it all in.

When I looked back to her, she was wearing a mysterious smile.

I wasn't sure what sort of reaction I was supposed to have.

"I hope you aren't thinking I know how to cook."

Persephone's laugh was musical, and she pulled me over to a long table where bowls of ingredients had been prepared.

[Since you are such a picky eater, I thought you might enjoy seeing how the food is prepared.]

To be honest, I was at once curious and yet unsure I wanted to know.

The idea didn't make me queasy the way it once did, but at the same time I had so many stories, consuming more really wasn't a necessity.

But there was an excited glimmer in Persephone's eye, so of course I would hear her out.

[Go ahead, take a look.]

She pointed her fan at the ingredients and I inspected each in turn.

[Heart of a ??s? Lost in ????]

I gave her a startled look but though she smiled, she said nothing.

[Farmer who ????? until ??? the grain ?????]

[Th??? who Fought in the ???? War]

[Dragon ????? in the Endless ??ol??]

[One Loved by ????er and Who ????? Until Death]

[An Actor who play??? ?? Part of Loyal ????]

It went on and on like this through a dozen or so ingredients.

"They're all story fragments?"

I didn't understand.

There was not a single complete story among them. None of these could be sufficient to sustain a constellation, it would be like living off crumbs you found between the couch cushions.

[Exactly. Now, let's make a meal, shall we?]

I was startled again as she began gathering up bowls and turning toward the stove.

"You're going to cook?"

Somehow, this was difficult to imagine.

Well, she was a queen, it wouldn't be surprising if she had never made a meal.

[I have started recently. I don't make everything, of course, but I have found it to be quite fun to discover new 'recipes'.]

I stood to the side and watched as [Farmer who ????? until ??? the grain ?????] and [Dragon ????? in the Endless ?????] were added to a large pot with the heat turned up.

[During the 1865th Turn, I had a long and very interesting conversation with your friend, Suyeong.]

"What did you talk about?"

[Many things? She's quite an interesting person. Mm, though I suppose it's natural for the author of the universe to be.]

So Persephone knew about that.

Well, it made sense that the information had gotten around. I couldn't imagine her being particularly shaken about it anyway.

"She's certainly interesting."

I caught Persephone giving me a sly look from the corner of her eye and smiled serenely back at her.

It would help me if she thought the answer was Han Suyeong but I couldn't be obvious about it.

[One of the interesting things we talked about were your picky eating habits.]

I probably made a bit of a face.

It seemed Persephone was always trying to feed me.

I wondered if this was the 'mothering' side of her.

"Han Suyeong can't cook either. The only thing she feeds anyone is candy."

At this Persephone laughed.

[She doesn't seem to have many good housewife qualities. However, she has some very clever ideas on what you can do with a story.]

As we spoke, Persephone had armed herself with a pair of large cooking chopsticks and begun wielding them against the story fragments within the pot.

Persephone's hands moved in quick and precise strokes to break the fragments apart.

I thought it looked more like calligraphy than cooking.

[The story '10th Record of the 81st Turn' is watching with interest.]

Words and sentences were peeled apart until they floated freely, while letters and symbols were ground down until they disappeared into the broth.

Then another 'ingredient' was added, then another, and this process repeated itself until she had a stew of miscellaneous words and ideas all rubbing up against each other.

Knowing that Han Suyeong was behind this, I had some idea of what was going on, but I still couldn't make sense of it.

Certainly there was something mesmerizing about it, but it couldn't be called a story, and there was nothing appetizing about a jumble of words.

You might as well try to eat a dictionary.

"I don't understand?"

[Keep watching.]

Persephone murmured, and began nudging about the broken down fragments around.

Slowly, the largest bits began to connect.

One idea coalesced onto another, forming a more complex idea.

Small sentences found an 'and' or a 'but' and were attracted to each other like magnets.

Then words fell into gaps left in the sentences, or collected together until a new tiny idea was born, and the cycle began once again.

It didn't seem possible and yet, as I watched, a story was made from next to nothing.

Something richer and more beautiful was made out of the sum of many scraggly parts.

"...Han Suyeong suggested this…?"

I couldn't keep the awe out of my voice.

[She told me, 'stories naturally want to exist'. That they are simply patterns between words and ideas which gain meaning when we perceive them. She even suggested that you can simply take some random phrases and ideas and throw them into a jar and shake it around, and when you pour it out you'll have a story.]

The story in the pot was all but done. I wasn't a cook but I was a reader, and it became obvious there were only a few unconnected pieces.

[She started with the 'jar technique'. I was surprised she persisted after that.]

Hades, who had kept his distance but watched, finally commented.

Persephone laughed.

[Don't disparage it, darling. Those first stories may have been rough around the edges, but it proved her theory.]

[You've improved on it significantly, my love.]

This unfamiliar atmosphere of casual love and praise floated around me as I watched the last bits of the story come together.

[There, that looks right to me. How about you, dear?]

I belatedly realized I was the 'dear' in this case and nodded to her slowly.

[So. Do you think you're ready to finally eat a meal with your mother?]

Persephone was always full of confidence, but in this moment I could sense the heart on her sleeve.

It seemed like it might really hurt her heart if I still held back.

Fortunately, it wasn't necessary to lie.

"I'm looking forward to it, mother"

-------

The three of us sat around a table to eat.

It was much more humble than the previous dining experiences I'd had with Persephone. There was only one pot of stew, and a loaf of some kind of bread that she said was an experiment from earlier in the week.

[I have some wines in the works, but those might take a while. I hope you'll drop by to try them with us in a few decades.]

I blinked a little at this and realized there probably wasn't any reason I couldn't.

⸢"Your responsibility, then, is to begin thinking about it."⸥

Yu Junghyeok's words floated back to me.

I felt uncertain but I smiled at her.

"It sounds like a good time?"

Every time I said something like this, Persephone's eyes lit up and she snuck a sly look at her husband as if she was winning some kind of game.

The queen made a gesture for us all to dig in and I finally turned my attention to the meal.

[A Farmer who Loved a Dragon and Lost the Endless War against his Heart.]

I was glad that I had given Persephone an uncomplicated answer before I saw the title of the 'dish'.

I wondered if such a strange romance had formed because of the nature of the new Star Stream, Persephone's tastes, or if it was simply an unfortunate happenstance.

But I was committed, so I had to try it.

I brought a spoonful of the story to my lips.

⸢It began as a quest for revenge.⸥

As I 'tasted' it, scenes of this new story played out within my mind.

The farmer who lost everything to a young and arrogant dragon. Fields burned, livestock consumed, the legacy of his family lost.

⸢"If I have nothing to live for, or offer the world, then removing that beast will be my one and only contribution from this life."⸥

The farmer made such a humble yet profound dedication, and meant it with the whole of his steadfast heart. Unfortunately for him, there were no fragments of swordmasters within the recipe so a different solution was found.

Taking a position in an actor's troupe, the farmer gradually learned the craft while surviving day by day.

⸢As the fledgling actor watched the hearts of the audience open and bend at the sight of different stories, he began to wonder what would move the dragon's heart.⸥

Even though I would not have said I had any interest in the potential romance between farmers and dragons, this story was strangely interesting?

There was nothing quite like this in Ways to Survive, and so nothing quite like it in all of the stories I'd collected over the years.

Perhaps the closest comparison I could think of was that a 'young and arrogant dragon' certainly could describe Abyssal Black Flame Dragon.

And the quiet way the farmer reshaped himself to follow an impossible dream shared some similarities with a pro-gamer becoming an unstoppable sword master.

But I felt these comparisons were too weak.

This protagonist had a dedicated personality, but was also witty and got along with others easily. He was able to understand his audiences because he regarded them without judgement. Some loved the heroes, some the villains, some the side characters whose personality had to be grasped within a few pivotal moments.

He did his best to respect all of these wishes and brought each character to life.

⸢After some time, the farmer realized he was perhaps a better actor than a farmer.

He recalled a time when he had dreams of things other than tilling fields, but the legacy of his family meant he had put those thoughts aside long ago.⸥

Before I knew it, I was engrossed in the story of this farmer turned actor, learning to find himself again only after everything he thought he had was destroyed.

I guess it's also a kind of post apocalypse story, for a single man.

How the dragon would fit into this still hadn't been revealed though, and I had to keep eating.

Before long I had consumed the entire story and was left with many puzzling thoughts.

The end didn't go as I expected.

Eventually, the actor executed a plan to befriend the dragon and lower its guard so it could be poisoned.

The actor hadn't accounted for his own changed heart, however.

Over time, his idea for revenge crumbled.

He saw the same potential for growth in the dragon as he saw in himself, and the same love for the character he played as he saw in his audience.

So by wearing an increasingly more complicated mask, the actor became a friend, lover, confidant, and the dragon grew older, wiser, and kinder.

However, there was no proper resolution?

In my heart I expected the actor to finally reveal his lies, to be appreciated for who he was under the mask.

Instead the story seemed to suggest the mask was as much the truth as anything else.

The lie was never exposed, the fiction within the fiction became reality to the only two people for whom it mattered.

Was this a romance or a tragedy?

I couldn't tell.

Was I satisfied?

I wasn't sure of that either.

I would have to think on it a while longer.

[You have obtained the story 'A Farmer who Loved a Dragon and Lost the Endless War against his Heart'.]

While I was mulling over the story's conclusion, I reached down for another spoonful and realized the bowl was empty.

Hades and Persephone, both of whom had barely begun their own meal, were watching me with fascination.

I could feel a red warmth creeping into my cheeks.

Once again, I had been 'reading' at an inappropriate time.

"Sor--"

[Ufufu, don't you dare apologize. Finally, I can know the pleasure of a mother who cooks for her son only to have the meal wordlessly gobbled up.]

My embarrassment only grew.

"Is that really a good thing?"

[How can that kind of intense focus on one's work be taken as a bad thing? I see why Suyeong is fond of you.]

Even though I felt there was a reasonable chance I was actually older than her at this point, somehow everything Persephone said left me feeling like a teenager who wanted to disappear into his seat.

Perhaps sensing my discomfort, or just wanting to get on with his own meal, Hades spoke.

[Since you're done, why don't you tell your own story?]

"My story?"

I was confused.

[My queen has told me various details, but I would prefer to see for myself.]

So that was it.

"It must be confusing… my avatar didn't do much in the 1865th turn."

I thought Persephone might interject here, but she merely peeled apart some bread with her fingers and watched us with calm interest.

[He did not. But the leaders of your nebula made it clear their success was based on strategies you founded in the previous world-line.]

I was a little touched?

There was no reason for Han Suyeong and Yu Junghyeok to not take all the credit for the 1865th turn when I really had only been a burden.

Still, I appreciated it if it meant that Hades was at least willing to hear my story.

I felt strangely nervous, even though these stories were quite famous at this point, and Han Suyeong would soon have a published novel all about it.

"I'll begin then?"

[The story 'King of a Kingless World' is beginning its telling…]

Persephone shushed it.

[Not there, you have to start with the subway.]

"Isn't that a bit boring?"

It was a low stakes scenario, in the end. All of the publications around Kim Dokja's Company focused on the bigger stories.

[Not at all. Start properly.]

I could only concede.

Well, it shouldn't be a problem.

I closed my eyes and began gathering my stories.

[The story 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' is telling its story.]

This was the easiest way. Han Suyeong had worked tirelessly to chronicle my story, and though it was humiliating at times and she had outright lied at others, I was still grateful to have it.

I sat quietly but the light from my stories began to flow down my arms and snake across the table and floor.

Symbols and sentences took to the air.

Everywhere touched by their glow seemed to glimmer and transform.

Around us, the scenery changed to a familiar subway.

An unimpressive young man staring at his phone shuffled onto the train along with many others in similarly drab business dress.

[Exclusive skill 'Reading Again' is highly active!]

This skill that allowed me to review my own stories in the highest possible fidelity could also be turned outward, with a bit of effort.

[Oh my…]

Persephone murmured softly.

Hades said nothing but when I checked on him I could tell he was also startled.

I smiled just a bit.

I hadn't done anything like this before, but since it was Hades and Persephone, I thought maybe I could show off a little.

Chapter Text

[Oh! Darling, there's Sangah!]

Persephone was immediately engrossed and held onto her husband's arm as she pointed out the young office worker.

I watched as well.

I realized I hadn't 'read this story again' in this way.

I had read Han Suyeong's novel properly, on my phone, and collected it alongside my other stories. But seen from this perspective it was really startling.

I wouldn't have said that Yu Sangah had aged much in the years since, and her incarnation body so closely resembled her old one there was functionally little difference.

But there was undoubtedly a naïve youth about this kind woman who talked to the young man in the suit about learning Spanish while he was secretly preoccupied with the end of his favorite novel.

[You were much thinner back then?]

Persephone sounded a bit worried.

"The benefits of the Star Stream's stats are really high."

Going on like this, I took them through my first scenario.

It wasn't a happy memory but it was no longer a traumatic one either.

After standing on countless battlefields with Yu Junghyeok, it was now simply another story, and I could read it again with new eyes.

Seeing Bihyung again always stung a bit.

He was commonly seen early on in all of Yu Junghyeok's turns, and on a few occasions even rose to become a popular streamer.

But this particular Bihyung would always be the person who never made it to my desired ending.

Then there was my handling of the scenario itself.

I thought I was quite cold.

I felt shame at watching Kim Namwun beg for his life.

He wasn't a bad kid.

It wasn't his fault he had been ready to adapt quickly.

He was also someone who had been surviving in a ruined world for a long time.

Hades had a perplexed look on his face.

[Is that the warden?]

I was a little startled.

I thought he must have been destroyed in the battle on the ark?

[Oh, yes. The boy piloting Pluto! He's quite a bit different at this time, isn't he? I didn't realize you sent him down to us.]

Referring to my killing Kim Namwun as 'sending him down' was quite the euphemism. But I was glad to hear he had made it somehow. Maybe I would see how he was doing later.

[The story 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' is continuing its telling.]

Now and then I would fast forward past what seemed like boring parts, but Persephone would chide me and I had to go back.

"You know at this rate it will take years to tell you the whole thing?"

She laughed.

[Is that a concern for anyone here?]

So we continued until Yu Junghyeok's entrance.

I watched this with complicated eyes.

[Ufufu, I see you two didn't start off on the right foot.]

This was how Persephone described Yu Junghyeok immediately threatening to kill me.

Meanwhile, though I had thought Hades would be happy to see the main character arrive, he listened to our exchange with a keen interest.

[Just from reading a book, you ended up here?]

I gave him an uncertain look.

[Quite arrogant, in front of someone who could destroy you.]

Oh.

I smiled.

"Since I read the book many times, I knew what happens to people who can't stand up to him. Someone who was cowed in the second scenario would never become his comrade."

[You were thinking about reaching the end of the scenarios even then?]

"...more or less. I had been thinking about it for a long time."

The story continued until that bastard threw me off the bridge.

I was watching Yu Junghyeok's arrogant smirk, but Persephone looked over the edge of the bridge.

[Ufufu, what a cute face for someone about to be eaten by a giant serpent?]

I shot her a startled look, but she was busy wrapping her arm around Hades' and leaning against him.

[What do you think, darling? As a son-in-law, he would fit right in?]

[Exclusive Skill 'Reading Again' is stuttering.]

[The story 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' is lowering its voice.]

Persephone looked around at the story coming to a halt and pierced me with a knowing grin.

[Oh? Did I say something interesting, Dokja?]

I wet my lips.

"Actually, it's just that this method is a little tiring. Since you aren't in a hurry to see it all at once, why don't we stop here for now?"

[Hmm~]

I thought Persephone might push me, but Hades nodded.

[It's better to give a good story time to breathe.]

Persephone tapped a fan to her lips.

[I agree. The timing is good anyway. Darling, what do you say we let our noisy guests in?]

At their approval, I had deactivated [Reading Again] and was looping 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' 's long lines of text back into me. The still young story yawned happily at having such attentive listeners and slithered back up my arm.

"Guests?"

[Ufufu yes, they've been beating on our door for a while now. I kept them out because I wanted a nice quiet dinner with you and your father, but why don't we see what they're yelling about?]

I had a bad feeling about this.

"That's not really necessary. We can just keep enjoying ourselves."

[Oh? But I think this will be fun too.]

[Constellation, ‘Father of the Rich Night’, has permitted entry to 'Architect of the False Last Act' and 'Yu Junghyeok'.]

[Constellation, ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’, has permitted entry to 'Architect of the False Last Act' and 'Yu Junghyeok'.]

[Nebula, [Underworld], is opening a portal.]

Perhaps I saw these messages because I was considered a prince of the underworld.

Unfortunately, there was no veto option.

The mental sense I had for Han Suyeong's location began drawing dramatically closer.

If it had just been her, it might be fine. But I didn't really want to see Yu Junghyeok right now? My anger didn't boil as long as I didn't think about it.

This must be Persephone's plan.

"In that case, why don't I go ahead and meet the--"

As I spoke, I began to get to my feet, but Persephone's pale hand slid over mine.

[It's fun to fight with the ones you love sometimes, but you have to make up properly as well.]

Making up? I hadn't thought about it at all yet. I thought if I saw him now I might just make a mess of Persephone's dining room.

"I don't think…"

[Let's just see how it goes, shall we?]

The itch to run away began between my shoulder blades again.

But while I could be shameless in front of Yu Junghyeok, before these people, I could only slowly yield before their status as 'parents'.

------

I tracked Han Suyeong's approach and thought I could guess the exact moment the doors would open.

But they actually slammed open while I felt her still a couple halls away.

Of course, it was Yu Junghyeok.

Though this was Hades' palace, he kicked open the doors like he lived here and I was a little offended?

I glanced at Persephone and Hades expecting a threat, but neither of them seemed to care.

Or rather, Persephone was smiling and something about Hades demoner seemed imperceptibly lighter.

Wait, how familiar were they with this bastard?

Yu Junghyeok stormed toward me.

He was perfectly fine, of course. He had the benefits of the Recovery skill.

I scowled at him and pushed back from the table.

[Now children.]

Persephone murmured placidly into the brewing storm.

[Junghyeok, is this how you greet your hosts?]

A few feet away from me Yu Junghyeok paused and seemed to seriously consider his actions.

Then he pivoted away from me and bowed slightly to the queen instead.

"Queen of the Darkest Spring, Father of the Rich Night, thank you for having us."

Han Suyeong caught up at this point, there was an aggravated look on her face and I couldn't tell if it was more for me, Yu Junghyeok, or my parents.

"Your majesties." Han Suyeong greeted them with much less formality than Yu Junghyeok. "Did you seriously have to ignore us for a day?"

[Ufufu, you've all been hoarding him since he returned? Forgive a mother for wanting some quality time with her son.]

Han Suyeong wrinkled her nose but looked like she couldn't argue.

"Then since you've let us in, you won't complain if we take him back?"

[I most certainly will.]

There was a silk and steel quality to Persephone's tone. She smiled but no one would challenge her in this arena.

I was slightly grateful.

[I have a bet to settle with that boy. However, the king and I will let you have the room, on a couple of conditions.]

I changed my mind and silently cursed.

"Mother, I--"

[Now now.] She shushed me and continued, turning her attention to the two 'guests'. [My first question, which of you is his lover?]

Han Suyeong's eyes flew open and she nearly lost the candy in her mouth.

Yu Junghyeok remained frozen and glared without answering.

I was frantic.

"Persephone!"

Persephone's laugh rang out clearly and she ignored my protests.

[Hm? No takers? How about this then, which of you broke his nose?]

I cursed myself, I should have thought to put in provisions that she couldn't involve outsiders.

"I did."

Yu Junghyeok volunteered this without question, but thankfully added no more.

[Is that so?]

Persephone opened her fan with flourish and hid her smile.

[Very well. We'll leave it to you. You may not take him out of the castle and you may not get blood in my rugs, understood?]

Yu Junghyeok simply nodded as if this was a typical request.

[Excellent. Then have a good evening, children.]

Persephone took her husband's arm and they turned to leave together.

Just before closing the door behind them, Hades turned and took all of us in with eyes cool as night.

[If anyone damages my palace, they'll be thrown in Tartarus.]

As he said anyone he was looking directly at me, and I understood that son or not, I wasn't exempt.

And with that the door shut with a heavy finality and I was left alone with the two people I most wanted to avoid.

------

"Kim Dokja."

Yu Junghyeok glared at me with his fists slowly opening and closing, and I could tell he was weighing Hades threat against his desire to continue our fight.

Frankly, my thoughts were similar.

As we stared each other down, Han Suyeong leaned against the abandoned dinner table with a sour look.

"Now that we're all here, will one of you shitheads tell me why I found this dumbass passed out in a crater in the sticks? You scared the shit out of those villagers. I've been having to deal with a PR nightmare because of you bastards??"

Yu Junghyeok opened his mouth first.

"This fool saw something in my profile and jumped to conclusions."

Bright warning lights flashed behind my eyes.

Of course he wanted to dismiss it.

"Did I? Are you going to say it doesn't mean anything, then?"

I smiled but it didn't hide my simmering anger at all.

"What are you talking about?" Han Suyeong muttered while scowling at a screen.

"Hold the fuck on, is this about Biyu?"

By her tone, she didn't understand me either?

This got my hackles up as well.

"You don't see the problem?"

I saw the corner of her mouth twitch with irritation but she seemed to be trying to restrain herself.

"My concern is that the problem is too obvious. But fine, let's pretend this isn't some cliche about an overprotective father trying to control his adult daughter?"

I opened my mouth.

Obviously that wasn't what it was at all?

I was really offended that she'd even suggest it.

"...it doesn't concern you."

The twitch escalated to Han Suyeong's eyebrow.

"Now listen you--"

Yu Junghyeok interrupted in a dark tone.

"It also does not concern you."

Han Suyeong didn't have a child so I could ignore her misunderstanding. But the culprit himself saying these words sent the blood to my head again.

I really didn't like it, this feeling.

I jumped to my feet even as I tried to restrain it.

"She's my daughter, you bastard?"

Yu Junghyeok opened his mouth and closed it.

I expected him to lash out at me, or deny anything had happened, but his eyes went distant instead.

As if he was remembering something that very much had happened.

I realized it was fine if I got locked up in Tartarus and hit him.

The first blow landed.

I was angry and my thoughts were muddied and I couldn't tell if I had earned this blow or if he let me have it.

My stomach felt sick.

There was only one reason Yu Junghyeok would simply let me hit him.

But when I swung my first again he caught it.

He squeezed with enough strength that I could feel the bones in my hand threatening to break.

"Your understanding is wrong."

"Then say it!"

I grabbed his jacket and prepared to throw him if he gave the wrong answer.

"Say 'Nothing happened', and I'll see if you're lying."

Yu Junghyeok's eyes shook.

He opened his mouth.

And before he could make a sound, a portal opened and a giant ball of fluff headbutt us both so hard we flew into the adjacent wall.

I saw stars as my head slammed into stone.

The experience was nauseating.

I really had no affinity for pain.

[Aht! You bastards? What the hell do you think you're doing?!]

I wasn't used to that voice sounding furious before, so it took me a moment to realize what had happened.

As I slid down the wall and my senses cleared, I looked up to see a round dokkaebi large enough to block out most of the ceiling waving her little arms while yelling.

She was obviously mad but this was also such a cute scene I had a distant urge to take a photo.

[Father! What's gotten into you??]

Wait a minute.

[And Captain, why did I have to hear about this from Han Suyeong? I thought you were more respectable than this??]

This was actually very bad?

I blinked a few times.

"Biyu? Why are you…?"

[Why do you think? Was I supposed to ignore this kind of humiliating scenario going on behind my back?]

Actually, even though she was cute, the quaking in her voice really was unsettling.

I tried to remember if I'd ever really seen her angry.

"Ah… it's not like that..."

I felt like she must be misunderstanding.

"What did Han Suyeong tell you?"

I looked to where the woman in question was pouring herself a bowl of my mother's left over soup.

She gave me a vicious grin.

"Are you trying to scapegoat me? I just took your wise words about this not being my business deeply to heart, and thought I'd redeem myself by asking the one who's at the center of this what she thought?"

[Don't blame Han Suyeong, she was saving you both from being ejected from this world-line if I found out about this any later.]

With a slight popping sound Biyu took on her human form and glared up at me with hurt eyes.

Ah.

My heart wasn't prepared for this.

I swallowed.

"It isn't… about you, exactly…"

I wanted to reassure her, but even as I spoke these words I realized there was a problem.

She gave me an incredulous look.

"Oh? So the Captain and I qualifying as 'romantic interests' for each other is actually about you, then?"

I opened my mouth but said nothing.

I was realizing this actually looked very bad?

"Please explain it to me, Father. I'd really like to understand."

Under Biyu's clear disdain, my anger was quickly suffocated.

When I tried to find the rationale that had fueled it, all I could cobble together was one struggling sentence.

"It's just… you're my daughter."

Biyu pursed her lips and looked at me with complex, almost pitying eyes.

"Yes? And that means you get to decide who I care for?"

I couldn't tell if she was misunderstanding on purpose or if I was.

"That person isn't just anyone."

I looked over to Yu Junghyeok blindly, as if somehow he could explain this to her.

I found him sitting against the wall exactly where Biyu had tossed him. His arms were crossed and his eyes were closed as if he would contentedly wait out this storm.

"You're right, of course." Biyu agreed with a smile of false serenity. "The Captain is my traveling companion who I saw every day for almost a century? He's someone very important to me."

Ah.

Abruptly it clicked into place.

Why Han Suyeong hadn't seen any problem, even though she must have known Biyu was on Yu Junghyeok's relationship list.

How Yu Junghyeok could say I misunderstood, without actually denying her place there.

I had known Biyu and Yu Junghyeok went on a long journey together, but I hadn't understood it.

In my mind, the sum of 100 years could come down to simply calling it 'a long journey'.

It wasn't written of in 'Ways to Survive' so I didn't think to look into the white space between those words.

I just imagined the two people I thought I knew, going separately along the same path. Perfectly parallel lines never making contact.

But, of course that was absurd.

I had no idea of what joys or sorrows they'd shared.

And staring into the starscape of Biyu's eyes now, I had the sense I never would.

In the end, I could only bow my head and say words I had gotten quite familiar with lately.

"I'm sorry."

There was a long pause and then her hand softly landed on my head.

"I'm going to be forgiving this one time. But don't do this again. If you want to be 'fatherly' there's better options than trying to beat up anyone who's interested in me."

My shoulders flinched a bit and even though I'd lost my place to argue, I couldn't help but feel the urge.

I might have been wrong but there was still acid in my gut.

There was a silence as I struggled with how to respond, and after a moment Biyu tapped my chin with one finger until I lifted my head.

She scrutinized me for a long moment, then slowly opened her mouth.

"I really don't like to talk about myself, you know? I don't know if I get it from you or if it's just because the nature of a dokkaebi is to be behind the scenes? I guess between you and Dad I got the worst of both worlds."

There was a wistful smile as she spoke though, and I felt the disappointment directed at me edge away a bit.

"But since I can tell Father's delicate sensibilities are going to struggle with both of our names being on the Captain's list for a while. I'll tell you this much about me."

She took a short breath as if actually needed to brace herself.

I could sympathize a bit.

She really was my daughter.

"Whatever may or may not have happened between me and the Captain was… well, honestly I didn't count? But quite a few years ago at least."

I blinked at her several times.

Had I wanted that information?

Actually, for some reason the shame of my immediate failures was being nudged aside by a different flavor of embarrassment.

"That's not…"

She continued on as if I hadn't spoken.

"And also I'm not the jealous type. So whatever does or does not happen between you and the Captain, you don't have to worry about being beaten up by your daughter over it."

My jaw dropped a bit and I wondered why everyone seemed to be coming to this kind of conclusion lately.

"There isn't--"

I wasn't allowed to finish,

Biyu gently pat me on the cheek again.

"I'll see you on our next date, Father. Don't make a mess again before that, alright? I'm actually very busy right now?"

And before I could try to say anything else, she stepped back into a portal and was gone.

I stared at that spot for a long time.

Eventually, Han Suyeong spoke up from where she was eating soup.

"Biyu grew up really well? Maybe I should ask her out?"

Chapter Text

In the wake of Biyu's exit, my brain felt like it was full of flies, and my guts wanted to escape my body entirely.

There were some things I understood but more that I didn't.

It was like all the boxes I had so recently organized had been casually scattered across the floor again and I could only stare at the contents littered around me.

I hadn't liked feeling angry but I liked this feeling even less.

Unfortunately, the anger was also lost amid the debris, and I couldn't seem to grasp it again.

I was struck with the ungrateful thought that I missed simply 'dreaming'.

I had been trying to follow Han Suyeong's advice, but being the Most Ancient Dream seemed much easier than simply living as a 'person'.

Perhaps my face began to do something strange again because when I didn't gather a response for Han Suyeong's bait, an uncertain look crossed her face and she set down her soup.

"H-hey? It's nothing to cry about? Fathers and daughters have these kinds of fights all the time?"

I covered my eyes and had to laugh a little.

"Do you listen to yourself?"

"Shit, well. Maybe it's not exactly similar? But it'll be fine anyway. Biyu adores you?"

Strangely, her comforting words were helpful.

Mostly because I realized that wasn't the comfort I needed. But in a way it was nice to be reminded that Biyu staying angry at least wasn't the problem.

"Kim Dokja."

This was the problem.

I wasn't sure how to face him, so I didn't.

I took a few breaths and gathered my wits as best I could.

"I don't really want to see your face right now?"

It seemed I still had a little anger after all.

Since I wasn't watching Yu Junghyeok I instead saw Han Suyeong's thoughtful squint.

Yu Junghyeok was silent for many moments, then finally spoke.

"Then don't look. Tell me, why did you only get mad today?"

I replied testily.

"What are you talking about?"

"At the least, you saw my profile before. Did you really not read it properly?"

I opened my mouth and realized where I had miscalculated something.

So, was that why…?

"You thought I knew?"

"You always know everything else."

Even though I still felt sickly this was also hard to not smile at.

Maybe I should wear a sign reminding everyone that Ways to Survive was over, so obviously I knew even less than the average person?

Well, there was no point in hiding it.

"Those details were filtered."

Han Suyeong had been listening to our conversation with a scrutinizing look, but here she interrupted.

"Hang on, you're seeing filters too?"

I blinked at her and shrugged.

"You didn't think to mention that??"

I didn't understand why I would mention it and felt too tired to argue with her about it.

"Does that mean you can hear ■■■■ ■ ■ ■■ ■■?"

My breathing reflexively hitched and I rubbed at my temple as white noise spilled out of Yu Junghyeok's mouth.

"That one isn't lifted. Don't start on that right now."

I sensed Yu Junghyeok and Han Suyeong exchanging indecipherable looks.

"Anyway, you both got your answers, right? I'll be going now."

I started for the door.

Han Suyeong began to rise.

"Hey, I still haven't--"

Yu Junghyeok caught my arm.

I jerked away and finally turned to glare at him.

I didn't know what I was expecting, but it seemed like Yu Junghyeok's anger was also gone. His mouth was in a cold line, but I felt like he was peering deeply into me.

Han Suyeong muttered loudly about bastards ignoring her behind me.

"Are you going to try to tell me that it's my own fault for hiding that your profile was filtered?"

I knew I wasn't being entirely fair but I couldn't find the fairness in me.

"No."

Yu Junghyeok held my eyes.

"Maybe you would be happier if you'd yelled about it then, but for me nothing changes."

Behind me, Han Suyeong sighed loudly.

I didn't really hear her.

My chest was tight and my eyes were hot.

I really didn't understand what Yu Junghyeok was telling me.

[The exclusive skill, ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ has been activated!]

Almost on reflex, I did something I promised I wouldn't do anymore.

[The exclusive skill, ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint’ is canceled.]

[Your complex understanding of this person is insufficient!]

Of course, it was like this.

I couldn't understand his actions, so I couldn't understand his thoughts.

While I struggled, surprisingly, Yu Junghyeok began to slowly speak, as if squeezing water from a stone.

"A long time ago, it might have changed something. But I don't want to think about 'what I could have changed' anymore."

I looked away.

I really didn't want to hear these words in this context.

"Regret is simply a mental regression. I thought about it a lot during that trip."

I knew, of course, what a big deal these words were for him.

No matter how much I resented him, I had followed this person's story for too long to not be moved.

But that just made the resentment more acidic.

"Why are you telling me this?"

I raised my gaze and found Yu Junghyeok watching me with distant eyes.

"I won't regress anymore. If the consequence of the past is your hatred, then that's the present I'll live with."

I felt like I had misheard. There was too much of a disparity of ideas on display here.

Of course, however begrudgingly, I was happy to hear he'd made this kind of progress. At a different time I would've pat his head.

But 'hatred' was obviously over the top? Couldn't I just be upset about something like this?

I wanted to hit him a few more times so he'd understand.

I opened my mouth with no idea of what I was going to say when something smacked me on the back of the head.

Of course, it was Han Suyeong's hand.

"He obviously doesn't hate you, dumbass? Now go away, I'm at my 'needless drama over dumb bullshit' limit for the day."

I didn't think she had to add the 'dumb bullshit' part.

"Why are you listening, then? This isn't your concern."

Yu Junghyeok made no move to budge.

"I've been trying to get a hold of this brat for days before you chased him onto another plane??"

I heard what sounded like a previous argument resuming.

"That isn't my problem."

Between Han Suyeong who didn't take it seriously, and Yu Junghyeok who was the cause, I wasn't sure which I actually wanted to deal with.

"Are you trying to make me use 'that'? I won't waste it nicely? Just fuck off for now."

I decided on 'neither' and made for the door again.

Since they were distracted I had my hand on the door handle before Yu Junghyeok spoke behind me.

"You better not lose sight, then. Next time I have to find him, there'll be a fee."

There was a furious curse behind me. "You slippery bastard?!"

------

In the end, she didn't lose sight of me.

I really just wanted to get to my room and re-organize the boxes and read, but I'd have to go all out to lose her tail now.

"Are you bad at telling when people want to be alone?"

I finally snapped at her while walking down the palace halls.

"You've never done a single intelligent thing while you were alone?"

If it had been someone else these words might have stung more but since it was Han Suyeong just smiled at her with all my teeth.

"You're just looking to use that ability, right? Let's just get it over with? I have some other things to get to."

Han Suyeong pulled up short and frowned at me.

"Let me guess. Your evening plans are to bury your head in that guy's past so that you don't have to think about the present?"

My spine went a little straight at hearing it put like this.

Technically she was correct but when she said it, it sounded stranger than it was?

She clicked her tongue.

"So predictable. Look, if you don't want to think about that bastard, let's actually not think about him?"

I was suspicious but listened.

"What are you planning?"

A wicked grin broke across her face.

"It's time to raid your parent's liquor supply."

------

Sometime later, Han Suyeong dumped an armful of wine bottles onto my bed before bouncing casually on the mattress to pry one open.

I watched her in bemusement.

I had agreed with her plan because 'do something other than think about that bastard' was seductive, but now that the plan was unfolding I was struck by how truly ridiculous it was.

"Did you regress into a teenager?"

Han Suyeong popped a cork with her bare hands and gave me an arch look.

"And why not? You never did anything like this as a kid anyway, right?"

Well, she wasn't wrong.

I didn't have friends to make the idea appealing, and I didn't really like alcohol anyway.

Han Suyeong took the first swig of the bottle and passed it over to me.

I held it thoughtfully in my hands.

"How did you even know where these were…"

"I came here a bunch of times in the 1865th turn? Persephone's better company than half the party and it was a good way to pass the time between the later scenarios."

This explained the casual familiarity Persephone used when speaking about her.

It seems I kept being reminded of how much had gone on in the lives of my friends that even I couldn't know about.

"Are you going to drink that or cuddle it?"

I made a face at her and decided I might as well.

I made a worse face as the bitter liquid went down.

Han Suyeong stared openly at me.

"That's the face you make? Do you have any idea how high quality this shit is?"

I wouldn't know what taste made wine high quality. I'd really only drank cheap soju before, and it wasn't as if that was for the taste either.

"Do you want all of it?"

I handed her the bottle back.

She clicked her tongue and took it.

"She wasn't kidding about your eating habits. Here, there should be a dessert one somewhere…"

I didn't really care about the flavor anyway, but we ended up opening all of the bottles and arguing about which ones tasted the best.

In the end, we actually settled on the same cherry dessert wine.

"After all your talk, you're actually the one with the ultimate sweet tooth." I teased her.

Han Suyeong stuck her tongue out at me.

"It's not just sweet though? It's sour too, and fruity. What do you like about it?"

"That it doesn't taste bad."

She snickered.

"Aht, what a brat? I'm going to tell your mother about your unrefined palate."

"It's only unrefined for food. Since she cooks stories now it should be fine."

"Hmm~"

Han Suyeong squinted at me while drinking more.

"I don't know about that. What's my best work?"

"Obviously, it's…"

"If you say 'Ways to Survive' you'll die in real life, you know?"

I stopped my words with an awkward smile.

"Shit! You're really that shameless?"

The bottle was empty now and she prodded me with it.

I endured this.

"What's shameless about it? Why do you always criticize it even though you wrote it?"

"If you even have to ask that, you really don't understand the heart of an author."

I thought about this and Han Suyeong placed another bottle in my hands.

My head and eyes felt warm and my body sluggish. But after the events of the past few days I thought it was quite peaceful.

I slid to the floor near my bed and leaned my head back against the mattress.

"....'Three Ways to Survive a Totally Ruined Scenario'."

Han Suyeong, who was picking through the available wine again, turned her head up with a startled noise.

"Hahh?"

"The book you wrote during the Kaixenix scenario? It's really great."

She squinted incredulously at me.

"That thing? I barely remember it."

"You didn't like it?"

"It was a hobby for when I was bored. It took so long I became sick of it."

Han Suyeong mumbled these words under her breath but I noticed her face was a little flushed.

I thought that was a pity, but it made sense. Even if she'd been deleting her memories, that scenario must have been difficult.

I must have taken too long to reply because like a miser searching couch cushions for coins, she rolled near me and shoved my shoulder with her partially drunk bottle.

"That's really your favorite?"

"No, my favorite is still--"

The bottle clocked me in the back of the head.

"The best! That's really what you think is the best?"

I rubbed the back of my head and scowled at her.

"Why are you so surprised?"

Han Suyeong stared down at me with complicated eyes.

"Tell me why."

"Are you just fishing for compliments?"

"What's the matter with that?" Her tone turned belligerent and I was prodded in the cheek multiple times. "Cough them up, reader-nim."

I leaned away from her pestering, but I was smiling.

"Fine, fine, let me think?"

I let my eyes slip closed and tried to find a summary of my thoughts.

"It introduces the world really well? Since it's a typical fantasy world it should be boring, but because it all comes from the perspective of the witty and bitter protagonist, it's actually a lot of fun to read."

"...well, of course it is."

I heard these unconvincing words in a petulant tone.

"And I guess I don't need to tell you there aren't a lot of books with a female lead who ride the line between so many different genres. It never gets boring because just when you get tired of politics there'll be a fight, and then if the fight is running too long there'll be more character development."

"You think it is remarkable because you usually read something with shit pacing?"

"Were you always bad at taking compliments?"

"Nevermind, keep going."

I tried to think of details that might explain why I enjoyed it.

"The protagonist is arrogant but still likable?"

"Unlike a certain someone, you mean?"

"I don't know who you're talking about."

I could hear Han Suyeong grinning and maybe I was too.

"Do you really even remember it?"

"Of course I do."

"What's your favorite moment, then?"

I pushed my lips and pondered and as I did, I reached into my coat's interdimensional pocket.

"Off the top of my head, there's that moment in chapter thirteen where the protagonist feeds one of her suitors to a dragon and says--"

"--Ufufu, so dragons do like virgins afterall."

Han Suyeong interrupted with a wicked cackle.

"I'm so glad I didn't delete that one? It was too good."

I chuckled.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised it really happened…"

I found the worn cover of a thick diary and pulled it out and began to page through a tired book that should have worn through eons ago but had preserved thanks to a little probability cost now and then.

"Yuri was on a bit of a power trip around the--"

I began skimming through the pages to look for something I could use to explain.

"Wh--ha..hang the fuck on. I-Is that seriously--??"

She sounded like she was freaking out a bit and I blinked up at her.

Han Suyeong's face was locked somewhere between horror and incredulity and after a moment of staring right at me, shoved her wine bottle into my hands and snatched the book away.

"You still fucking have it?!"

I tried to protest but it was too late. She'd stolen the book and scurried to the other side of the bed like some kind of packrat.

She'd gotten really drunk.

I sighed.

"What did you think I did with it?"

"I don't know? Tossed it out? Left it back there?"

She grumbled like she was cranky, but actually the book was held carefully in her hands like a precious relic as she turned the pages she had written on a long time ago.

"You think I toss out books?"

I was offended?

"It served its purpose."

"That's not how books work."

"It…"

Han Suyeong scowled at me with a flushed face like she was losing a battle.

"It doesn't even have an ending?!"

"Well, that's true but... "

I thought about this.

"Your books never do?"

I don't know why, but this struck her speechless.

Her mouth moved but no sound came out.

After several seconds of this she finally grabbed a pillow and threw it at my face while yelling.

"One day, I'm really going to kick your ass, you dogshit bastard?!"

She yelled some drunken words for reasons I didn't understand, but somehow didn't actually seem that mad.

When I pulled the pillow away from my face she was clutching the old diary to her chest and drinking like a fish.

Chapter Text

"Kii~m Dok jaah…"

Han Suyeong had somehow spread out her entire tiny body across my bed and so if I wanted to sit on it, I was confined to the edge.

I hadn't actually drank all that much but she'd drank enough for three of me and seemed liable to start snoring any minute now.

"So... how'd you end up fucking that bastard?"

But instead she started asking nonsense.

I felt my eyebrow twitch against my will.

"Why are you assuming that much?"

"Is it less than that?"

Han Suyeong rolled onto her side, propped her head up on one hand, and frowned at me with sleepy eyes.

"I thought we weren't talking about him?"

"We did a lot of not talking about him."

Feeling restless, I got up and began to sort through the bottles of empty, half empty, and barely touched wine.

"But obviously when you get drunk after being heartbroken you get to complain? Mm… well, I wasn't going to allow it but you were unexpectedly good so it's fine. I'll listen."

I didn't really understand what she was saying.

"First of all, I'm not drunk."

"Tch, you held back too much."

"Second, I'm not heart broken."

At this I heard a snort.

"Third, even if I wanted to, you don't get it, so it'd be pointless?"

"Aht, are you sulking because I called Biyu?"

"It's not sulking either."

I could tell she was needling at me.

She must be curious, and I supposed she wanted a free 'truth'.

But it was a little annoying? We'd been having a good time so why was she bringing this up now?

"I'm not apologizing for that. Do you know how much watching two men fight over whether or not it was right for a woman to have been with one of them makes me want to vomit?"

My anger kicked up again.

"Do you know how much thinking about--"

I almost did want to say it. But the words backed up in my throat so that I couldn't anyway.

I quickly gave up and instead made an exasperated noise.

"Why are you even baiting me on this, if you really want an answer you can just--"

As I turned back toward her, two hands grabbed the front of my jacket and I was thrown onto the bed.

I landed on my back while Han Suyeong shook me.

"What dogshit? You're so frustrating! You were so close, just say it!"

The annoyance that was simmering in me got ignited by her biting words.

"What does it matter? You think it's stupid!"

"Who cares what I think? Do you need my permission to be angry?"

These words struck me a bit.

It was strange, but I thought I roughly understood.

"I…"

Han Suyeong stared fiercely at me.

One of the items that had rolled out of the boxes touched my hands and I weakly grasped it.

"It makes me want to vomit? Just thinking about that sort of thing between them…"

Very slightly, the quivering anger in her quieted and instead a smile appeared.

"It's gross?"

"Of course, it's disgusting??"

I didn't understand why this needed to be explained.

"That's what you're mad about, something gross?"

"I…"

When she said the words I realized that wasn't quite it.

I didn't like it, but if it was just that I thought I would have felt differently. Maybe there would have still been anger, but perhaps the kind of anger that would have been whisked away by Biyu's lecture.

I felt I could accept that even if I was her father, it wasn't my business, however…

"I was… kind of having… fun…?"

Unexpected words fell from my lips.

I wondered if somehow Han Suyeong had used the Red String of Truth on me while I hadn't noticed.

But when I went to touch my throat there was nothing there.

Instead a memory of Yu Junghyeok's hand came to my mind.

The part of my stomach that seemed full of acid lately churned within me again.

Gritting my teeth, I reached into the acid.

"Even though... I didn't know what to expect or what would happen, I started thinking something stupid. I thought… if it was like this in the future, I wouldn't mind?"

Once my toilet had overflowed badly.

Because my life was disorganized, the bathroom floor had been covered with unwashed clothes, towels, books, other odds and ends.

I couldn't afford to throw it all away so I had to carefully gather the refuge and sort out what could be salvaged and what could not, all while my skin crawled in disgust.

This was the feeling of saying these words.

But Han Suyeong, who had mocked my problem up until now, listened attentively.

And now that it had been seen, I couldn't simply leave the mess on the floor.

"But now it feels nauseating? Even the part that was good suddenly went bad. And I'm just a fool?"

I swallowed. The faster I spat up more words, others followed. It was almost dizzying.

"I know he wasn't trying to hide it. He's an idiot so I bet he didn't think about it twice. It's always complicated for him so maybe this isn't even strange? I know better than anyone how thoughtless he can be."

They kept coming and coming and my words were getting hot again.

"But it didn't have to go this far?! It was fine without this. None of that had to be a part of 'the future'."

I grimaced and found the last few words at the bottom of the pile of sick.

I yanked them out.

"And now it's not going to be."

My eyes burned.

My skin felt too tight.

I glared at the woman who had pushed me to admit all of this.

I wasn't sure what kind of response she would have but I could not have expected the hand that landed softly on my cheek, then ran up into my hair to ruffle it.

Obviously it was demeaning but also unusually familiar and I was left in confusion.

"Good job. Isn't it better if you complain?"

For some reason she was smiling like this was all good news.

"The problem is still the same?"

"Did I say it would go away? This is about the person with the problem, not the problem itself."

Han Suyeong seemed satisfied and rolled away from me to go browse the half drunk bottles I had been collecting.

I glared at her back a bit and then gave up and fell back against the bed.

She might be a little right. Some parts of me hurt more but I also felt a little hollowed out in a way that wasn't terrible.

It wasn't the same as being clean, but there was less disgust roiling around inside of me now that I had put words to it.

While I was wondering this, the mattress sank next to me again, and a bottle was placed into my hands.

"You really want me to get drunk."

"Don't drink it if you don't want to. But I'm telling you that it's good medicine for when an asshole breaks your heart."

"That's not what happened? Stop making it dramatic?"

"Says the guy who was trying to beat the shit out of him not long ago?"

"That's not weird. He always beats me up when he's mad?"

"Yes? Every time his heart was broken."

My mouth worked at these words but as memories skittered past I found it a struggle form an argument.

"...that's because he's a sunfish."

"You're both sunfish."

I sat up and decided to drink the bottle after all.

Next to me, Han Suyeong laughed.

-------

A bit later my vision was swimming as I watched the ceiling.

Somehow Han Suyeong had ended up sitting behind me, our backs leaning into each other.

The alcohol had actually helped fill the hollow part created by my ugly honesty from earlier.

"What about your heart?"

I asked these words without thinking much.

"Hm, what nonsense is this?"

"Don't I get to hear you complain?"

"My heart is fine. Actually.. I've been in a good mood lately."

I realized this actually seemed a bit true. Han Suyeong was always fiery and easily irritated but lately her quicksilver nature had been strangely tempered and focused.

"Aren't we doing this because of your experience, though?"

There was a thoughtful hum.

"Oh, that? You want to hear about the first time I really wanted to kill someone?"

Since it was her I thought those words were probably literal.

"Is this from your past?"

"It's the story of a gullible sixteen year old."

A relic from the days before the end. The life of the author when she wasn't being the author.

I was suddenly very curious.

"I want to hear it."

I heard her drink more of her wine.

"Let's see... back around that age, you aren't going to believe this but we got a handsome European transfer student."

I didn't even read those kinds of stories and I had heard of this cliché.

"And all the girls were into him?"

"You see? Clichés form for a reason."

"Including the fiery young Han Suyeong?"

"My role was to be too cool for that kind of thing. I rolled my eyes a lot and didn't have patience. As you can imagine, I was a popular kid."

Actually, I had never thought about this. She had such casual confidence I would have guessed she must have had at least a few good friends, but from the tone in her voice it seemed that wasn't the case.

"You didn't have friends?"

I felt her shoulders shrug against my back.

"Don't go feeling sorry for her. She spat on every opportunity she had to make a friend back then."

[The story 'One who is Always Alone' is listening.]

I thought about shoving it away but just this once I decided to let it slide.

"So what happened with the handsome kid?"

"He got a lot of attention from girls in the class, including a handful who I knew didn't like me. The kind of bitches who would talk shit about me when they thought they could get away with it."

"You got bullied?"

"Hm~ I guess you can call it that? But I didn't think of it that way. I knew I made them nervous, so I really just thought of them as pests."

I smiled at this image of a young Han Suyeong stomping before a tide of girls who glowered and whispered but couldn't actually stand in her way.

"Anyway, one day this guy starts showing an interest in me? He asks about what I'm writing, actually listens when I tell him, he talks a bit about books he likes and asks me for recommendations and all that. He was a clever brat."

Those all sounded like good things, but obviously this story wouldn't have a happy ending.

"After a couple of weeks I guess you could say I had a crush after all."

"It happened that quickly?"

To be honest, I had never had a 'crush' during those years. Watching kids my own age pair up and split apart every day had been like watching some kind of documentary of a far off society.

"I was still a teenager, alright? It was really stupid and even at the time I knew I was being stupid."

She laughed and it sounded like she had some fondness for her younger self.

"But what can I say? He had a nice face and no one had ever talked to me about anything I cared about before."

I could understand this feeling. Perhaps if someone had suddenly asked me about what novel I was reading every day and cared about the answer, maybe I would have developed those sorts of feelings as well.

"So that goes on for a bit and when I finally start to think maybe he's serious about sticking around me, he asks me to meet up with him on the weekend."

"Your first date?"

"Sixteen is late, right?"

I wouldn't know.

"But since I was such a little shithead, it's not surprising. Anyway, obviously I didn't want to take it too seriously, but then I did just that. I worried for hours over how to dress, and what it meant. Shit, maybe teenagers are just too stupid to not be cliches."

"Do you always judge your life like a book?"

"Don't you? Don't interrupt."

I drank a little more and listened.

"I got to the place and he wasn't there, so I waited and waited. I blew up his phone with questions and then curses. I felt stupid and wondered if I'd misunderstood something. I wouldn't have liked him if he was a thoughtless person so I couldn't make much sense of it."

Han Suyeong relayed all these facts as if speaking about another person. There was no heat to her words.

"Finally, I accepted I'd been stood up. I called him seventeen kinds of bastard in my head but if it had just been that I think I wouldn't have cared too much? I've never expected much from anyone, you know?"

I felt like I did know.

"But..?"

"But as I'm walking away, the bastard and a cluster of those bitches I mentioned earlier all appear."

"They were waiting?"

I felt her nod.

"In a cafe across the street. I guess watching a pissed off girl typing away on her phone for a while was their idea of entertainment."

"They wanted to put you in your place."

Another nod from her.

"That's what it always is, right? The hot guy was with them and had even agreed to pull this prank on me all to put me in my place."

I heard her click her tongue and sigh.

"I can't even be mad anymore because whenever I remember it, all I can think about is how stupid it all is? Why did such a meaningless thing hurt so bad? Why did I cry instead of telling them off and decking the lot of them like I should have?"

I had already begun picturing the Han Suyeong I knew taking them all to task, so hearing that wasn't the case made the images in my head stutter.

Han Suyeong went silent for a moment but I felt like this couldn't be right.

"...what happened after that?"

"Well," I heard a wry grin in her voice. "I found my parent's alcohol and drank the afternoon away? Then went to yell on the internet about dogshit bastards who I wanted to kill."

Ah.

I blinked down at the bottle in my hands.

"You didn't get drunk with a friend?"

"No, I wouldn't have a cider-like moment like that until university."

"Then…?"

"Then?"

"Did you just leave it at that? What about school the next day?"

Behind me Han Suyeong pulled away and without her support I flopped bonelessly back onto the bed. She stayed sitting and looked down on me with a grin.

I had begun to get a sweet potato feeling listening to her old heart ache.

The 'normal' ending to such a story was probably that she put it behind her and went on with her life. I couldn't imagine Han Suyeong caving before bullies the way I always had, but it wasn't as if there was much a normal school girl could do.

But seeing her face I relaxed immediately and smiled back.

"Were you hoping to hear that there's an exciting end?"

I nodded.

"Something like… the next day I found him behind the school, kicked him in the nuts, and then force fed him a bag of dog shit?"

My mouth opened.

"And then took a photo of him covered in dog shit and spread it around the entire school?"

"You really--"

"--then wrote a graphic story about each of those bitches making out with him while he was covered in dogshit and posted it where everyone could find it?"

"Did you...?"

"You doubt me? You think I'm an angry person now, you should've seen me when I was sixteen."

I laughed.

"...I wish I had."

These words spilled out thoughtlessly.

[The story 'One who is Always Alone' is listening intensely.]

Han Suyeong also heard the truth in them and paused.

"...it wouldn't have been too bad, right?"

Her answering smile was wistful

"Would you have made my bullies eat dog shit?"

"Dog shit would be too little? I would've just broken their legs."

It was a happy thought but it made my heart ache.

"I probably would have told you about my favorite book…"

Her tongue clicked.

"I might've tolerated it for a bit, but you definitely would have to read better stories."

"I read a lot so I probably would have read your suggestions… then told you why they aren't as good as my favorite book."

"Aht, you're such a bastard?"

I grinned while she flicked my forehead.

[The story 'One who is Always Alone' says thank you for the cider.]

I put the story away and felt a little more light hearted.

"So, how do I make Yu Junghyeok eat dog shit?"

Chapter Text

As soon as Han Suyeong exited the portal from the Underworld back to the Industrial Complex, her phone began to blow up with various notifications.

She irritably checked it while making her way to the room she used as an office.

According to the calendar, she'd only been gone a couple of days but in that time oven a dozen different people had left messages.

"These bastards, when are they going to appreciate what I do for them?"

She flopped back into her office chair and was about to begin going through the voice messages when her phone began to buzz.

She looked at the caller and answered.

"What is it now?"

"Where have you been?"

"The Underworld."

"Ah, is that where Dokja-ssi's gone too?"

"Mm. He's gonna be over there for a bit, I think."

"Oh? That's a relief. I think it will be good for him. And these next few weeks…"

For once, these two were in agreement.

"Is this about those dumb bastards making a crater in a public street?"

"No. Actually, we might have gotten a bit lucky there. I think the public will quickly forget about that now."

"Shit, something worse?"

"It's hard to say… Well, you should take a look at the news."

Han Suyeong set the phone to loudspeaker and fumbled around getting her laptop logged in.

Immediately headlines regarding the Dokkaebi Bag and all of the good and bad the public had already gotten up to with it scrolled past.

"God dammit, wasn't Biyu going to warn us before it went live?"

"She's been very busy, so…"

Han Suyeong sighed.

"I don't have time to read all of these. Is it better or worse than we thought?"

"It's too early to tell. Of course, the coin farms are starting up immediately… But this isn't a lawless society now, of course it won't be as bad as before."

Han Suyeong shuddered.

The coin farms held a point of particular disgust for her, both as someone who had to destroy several and saw the pain they caused first hand, yet also had written them into the world in the first place.

"If you hear about anything like the old ones starting up, we'll just go kill them?"

"We'll go capture them."

Yu Sangah corrected in a firm but fond voice.

"Tch, a few years without an apocalypse and you go soft?"

"I don't mind that I haven't had to kill anyone in a while, Suyeong-ssi. Anyway, it isn't all bad things, either."

"Fine, what's the good news?"

"It's mostly small stories. A group of homeless youths combined their koins and bought a capsule mansion. It's set out on public land, of course, but the locals are defending their right to stay so I think the authorities won't do much."

"Cute. What else?"

"There's a lot more stories of 'happy koin farms' than the worse kind. Organized group dates, hug parties, focus support groups… The news itself is trying to spin a cautionary tale, but if you look on social media it's mostly people getting serious about working together to accomplish their scenarios and game the system."

Han Suyeong nodded along with this information while making some coffee. It was all anticipated.

"I told you, right?"

There was a soft laugh from the phone.

"I believed you. Though, it's unfamiliar to hear Suyeong-ssi being so optimistic?"

"Don't insult me? It's not optimism, it's simply being able to read the story we're in."

"But you also warned it could go bad at any time?"

"It can. In the end, we can't be 100% certain of the nature of the New Dream. Perhaps they don't actually want what is best for this world, but are the type who goes for shitty 'twist' writing where the rug gets pulled out from under the characters in the second act."

Yu Sangah made some thoughtful noises.

"I don't think that is the case."

"How would you know?"

"I may not be a writer or a reader of any note, but I think the sincerity of the scenarios would be hard to replicate by someone who isn't equally sincere? If the idea was simply to surprise us down the line, it would be better to have scenarios that people didn't find so personally frustrating."

Han Suyeong sipped her coffee and thought about a boy she'd onced forced to eat shit.

"You're still too naive about the darkness in people."

"I think I see the darkness just fine."

Han Suyeong made a derisive noise but Yu Sangah continued on before a fight could break out.

"What are the other possibilities?"

"There's also the matter of what happens if there is more than one New Dream."

"You think there is only one now?"

"It's impossible to say for sure. I don't know how multiple dreamers even would work? But right now it feels a little too directed to be the work of more than one mind."

"Mm. Then if there was a second, or third…?"

Han Suyeong shrugged, even though no one could see it.

"Say one of them is a bastard who thinks these scenarios are boring. Who misses the element of entertaining the constellations. Who thinks that misery and struggle is necessary to a satisfactory end?"

"Any New Dream would still be a reincarnation of Dokja-ssi…"

"Your precious Dokja-ssi could have obsessed over a happy story if he wanted? But he wanted to read about one man surviving an endless apocalypse, and the miserable deaths of countless secondary and tertiary characters."

There was silence from Yu Sangah, and after a moment Han Suyeong continued, her eyes distantly watching the news feed scroll by.

"Reader's aren't bad for enjoying a sad story. But we're the characters now. We can't hopefully just twiddle our thumbs and say it will all be okay."

Yu Sangah was silent for another moment, and then said.

"...is that why you are releasing that book?"

"Hm? Are you complaining now?"

"No. I agree with your choice. But I don't think my reasons are the same as yours."

"I have a lot of reasons? But it's true, some of them are related to that. In the most simple sense, releasing that book to the world will make Kim Dokja and myself incredibly powerful."

"Powerful enough to end the scenarios again?"

"It won't be a bad start."

There was a brief silence before Yu Sangah continued.

"You know... someone here got a hold of a pre-release copy. One of the directors."

Han Suyeong laughed.

"Did he like it?"

"He thinks you're going to turn the world upside down."

"Oh~ So he's not an idiot."

"He isn't. He's asked me to try to change your mind."

"Mm? Let's hear it then?"

"I said I agree with your choice already. However… I hope you understand how much you'll make an enemy of the people here. You know they'll do everything in their power to try to undercut you."

Han Suyeong grinned and put her feet up on her desk.

After the last few years of desperately struggling to overcome the everyday sorrow of having lost something precious, a small thing like the new South Korean government harassing her for writing the world's newest and most correct creation myth sounded like an interesting challenge.

"Have you warned them that if they want to stay in power so badly, perhaps they should think of allying themselves with the god of this world?"

There was a tired huff from the other end of the phone.

"Please don't talk like that in front of anyone who might take you seriously."

"You doubt me?"

"I'll do what I can to assure the people here to wait and see how things go. Are you planning to keep Dokja-ssi in the Underworld until things settle down?"

"Why are you making it sound like I locked him up? The bastard ran there himself. But the timing is convenient so I won't try to pull him out."

"It's for the best. And Junghyeok-ssi?"

"Stalking his ex-boyfriend."

"...should I be worried?"

"No. And don't ask, either. It's just the same old thing. They should both be out of the way for a bit."

"Alright. I'll text you if anything else comes up."

"Sure. Later."

------

The world felt warm and poorly defined, and it took what felt like hours to drag my thoughts into focus.

Eventually I realized I had been asleep. Not 'reading', simply a quiet unconsciousness within the shell of my incarnation body.

Disoriented and headachy, I dragged myself out of bed to wash up.

I decided I hadn't missed sleep.

The previous night came back to me in pieces, helped along by the sight of various opened wine bottles.

For the first time since we stole them I hoped this wouldn't be some unexpected sore spot for Persephone, but I supposed that even if she wasn't happy, she would be excited to get to be a scolding mother so perhaps it was fine no matter what.

After bathing I caught sight of myself in the mirror and grimaced at the bruises left along my shoulders.

They were healing, faster even than what a human would experience, but the sight and the memories they represented caused a pain in my chest.

⸢"I was… kind of having… fun…?"⸥

My own pathetic words floated up as if to haunt me.

⸢"But it didn't have to go this far?! It was fine without this. None of that had to be a part of 'the future'."⸥

I thought maybe Han Suyeong was right to drag the truth out of me.

Even if I hated these thoughts, they felt a little more powerless under the light.

In the end, I was simply mourning the loss of something I hadn't even committed to wanting.

Looking at it this way, I felt a bit petty for being so upset.

I really didn't want to know the details at this point, but whatever they were, I couldn't blame Biyu for falling for the protagonist, and I couldn't blame the protagonist for falling for an amazing young woman. Those two on a journey across the stars for a hundred years made a lot more sense as 'romantic interests' than whatever had been going on between me and the sunfish.

"I should still think of how to make him eat shit, though."

Feeling a little cheered at that thought, I got dressed and let my feet wander.

-----

[Holy ■! Subway grasshopper?! For ■■in' real?!]

[Warden ‘Kim Namwoon’ has received one penalty point.]

[■! When is that ahjussi gonna turn this ■ off?]

[Warden ‘Kim Namwoon’ has received two penalty points.]

Despite the complaints, the metal robot housing Kim Namwun's soul had a big grin on its face and waved me over.

I hadn't specifically meant to run into this person, but since I came to see how Tartarus was doing, it wasn't a surprise. He always seemed to be waiting for new arrivals.

[I heard you were gone for real last time, are you actually dead now?]

"I'm still not actually dead. Are you disappointed?"

[Kuhahaht! It's really interesting. How do you keep bouncin' back and forth between life and death? I wanna know the trick.]

"I must just be lucky?"

[No way, subway grasshopper, you gotta teach me the skill for real. I'll be your apprentice, okay?]

This guy said such ridiculous words I couldn't keep the surprise off my face.

[■! I can do it! Believe me!]

[Warden ‘Kim Namwoon’ has received one penalty point.]

I wasn't sure where to start with this. I began walking so I wouldn't have to look into his surprisingly earnest robot eyes.

"One, there really isn't a skill."

[■■!]

I muted the scenario alerts letting me know every time Kim Namwun incurred a penalty.

"Two, I thought you were enjoying being dead?"

[Eh, being dead or not isn't really the problem... Just you know, started to realize I'm stuck here for all eternity and not so sure about that, you get me?]

I wasn't sure if it was more surprising that he hadn't realized that before, or that he'd begun to realize it now.

"You're not even a prisoner anymore, are you?"

[Oh! ■ yeah! You heard? I got a promotion! First time in my life.]

I didn't think 'prisoner' to 'warden' was exactly a viable promotion path?

"What happened?"

[The ahjumma who runs this place said it was for services rendered blah blah basically because I kept some guys from wreckin' the place while she and the king were out? I was a total ■■in' bad■?]

"You defended… Tartarus…?"

[Yeah! You know, the boss' were gone for a few years and everything went to hell? Kuhahat, even more than it already was! Hahat!]

This was an unexpected storyline? I would have assumed that if there was a power vacuum, Kim Namwun would have been one of the first ones to try and fill it.

"So what did you do?"

[Obviously I kicked their ■? Well, they had some good ideas like leaving the doors open all the time so I left it like that. But after a lot of ■ talk about making this place ■■ better for the prisoners, they really just wanted to ■ around and make everyone their slaves.]

It wasn't a hard story to understand except for the role of the person telling it.

"So you… restored order…?"

[Kuhahat, 'restored order'! I like the sound of that, subway grasshopper, makes me sound like ■■in Robocop! Yeah I restored the ■ out of the order! This place already wasn't bad, you know? Seeing some assholes wreck it just cuz they got big heads pissed me the ■ off!]

Huh.

I didn't really understand but I didn't think he was smart enough to lie about it.

"Um. Congratulations on the promotion, then?"

[Yeah, it's great! And now if anyone steps out of line I get to break their faces kuhahat! Not that I wasn't doing that already, hahat!]

I was still reeling a bit from the idea of Kim Namwum preventing a dystopian scenario from taking root in Tartarus when we reached the inside of the prison proper and was stunned again by the changes that had happened in just a few short years.

The most obvious was that prison doors were now wide open. Prisoners in casual dress instead of prison uniforms wandered freely, and it seemed that certain cells had become more like homes, storefronts, or places for communal gathering.

The second most obvious was that color and artwork was slowly spreading out of these cells and stretching across the walls, staircases, and ceilings of the once immeasurably drab space.

I actually stopped listening to Kim Namwun for a bit just to take it in.

The colors were almost blindingly vibrant, as if to fight back against eons of darkness. Some walls were covered with crudely drawn forests and fields, while others had surprisingly realistic portraits and still others had poetry scribbled out in neon paints or literally gouged into the wall with hammer and chisel.

We passed a staircase and I saw an optical illusion of a black dragon with bandages around its tail flying up the steps and into the sun.

For some reason I was caught by this image and stared for a long moment.

[Hahat, do you like it, subway grasshopper? That one took me a while but it looks cool as ■, right?!]

These words struck me and I stared at Kim Namwun.

"You did this? You're lying?"

[What the ■? You don't think it's possible? It was me, see?!]

The robot gestured aggressively toward a signature on one of the stairs.

⸢Coolest Fucking Robot Overlord, Kim Namwun⸥

I felt dazed.

It wasn't actually impossible.

Actually, hadn't I noticed once or twice? Just a handful of tiny moments in the thousands and thousands of years, but hadn't Kim Namwun found cans of spray paint that one time and done a surprisingly elegant job marking up the side of a building? Yi Jihye had praised him on a rare occasion.

And in another line, during the long days between scenarios, hadn't he gotten bored and scribbled out a manhwa of himself transforming into a dragon mech? At the time I had been more surprised by the dramatic irony…

"It's good?"

I said it mostly so he would stop staring at me in expectation, but like a light switch flipping cheer returned to his mechanical face.

[Kuhahat, I knew it! Subway grasshopper, you've got good taste!]

However, even if I accepted that this person had some previously untapped artistic potential, there was something else strange about this.

"What was the inspiration?"

[Huh? Oh well, you know…]

Suddenly awkward, Kim Namwun fumbled his words.

[Remember that time we were fighting the me from the other world-line?]

Ah, of course. Disconnected Film Theory. To be honest, even though he was a necessary component, I had somewhat forgotten that this Kim Namwun had been there.

"You got his memories?"

So it really was Abyssal Black Flame Dragon.

[I don't know if you can really even ■■in' call them that? But yeah, some ■ got uploaded straight into my brain! A bunch've people I don't know and stuff I never cared about…]

I felt a bit bad.

I had never really considered what it would be like for this person.

Because I killed him he lived through one of the only world-lines where he wasn't a part of the main party, and to suddenly receive the feelings and memories of the Kim Namwun who had been closer to the party than in almost any other turn…

Well, he seemed to be doing fine for himself. But maybe it wasn't a surprise he'd started to wonder about his own future.

"Is that why you've been thinking about wanting to be alive again?"

The robot gave me a shocked look.

[■, subway grasshopper, you're really sharp, you know?]

"...is it Yi Jihye?"

[Wha-- h-hang on how did you. ■ can you read minds?! Wait! You know her, right, you're comrades?]

I sighed.

Of course. The love that didn't die after being unrequited for forty thousand years had infected him in this world-line too.

Unexpectedly, I wasn't entirely against helping this person if he wanted to escape the Underworld. But it wouldn't feel right just suddenly unleashing him on Yi Jihye either.

"I'll think about your problem a bit."

[My problem? Wait, you mean--]

"I was serious, there's no skill you can learn, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. However, there's a few things you have to do for me first."

Metal hands fell heavily on my shoulders and shining electronic eyes stared intently down into mine.

[Whatever it is, subway grasshopper, I'm your guy! What's it gonna take?]

I really didn't enjoy it but somehow this person had started to seem a little endearing?

"First of all, it's Kim Dokja-ssi, if you want to rejoin the land of the living, learn to respect your elders properly."

[Dokja… wait, that's seriously your name? It's not just a nerd title?]

"As I thought, it's impossible for you."

Brushing his hands off me, I turned to leave.

[■! Wait! Okay okay, Dokja-ssi! Dokja-nim! I'll seriously remember it! What else?]

I sighed but stopped at the sound of his pleading.

"The second thing is that I need you to find a certain someone."

[Down here?]

"He's probably outside of Tartarus, but yes. Do you remember the guy I was with last time I came?"

[Wait-- the Captain??]

Ah, so he had remembered that much as well.

"Yu Junghyeok, yes. I don't know exactly where, but he's wandering around somewhere. I want you to find him and keep him busy."

[Kuhahat, how come, you up to something? That guy, he's seriously ■■in nuts? I got all kind've memories of him doing crazy ■ ■? Though I guess you're pretty crazy too, subway- er, Dokja-nim.]

"You can say I'm up to something."

I had gotten a message this morning letting me know that Han Suyeong had taken a portal back to the Industrial Complex, but nothing similar for Yu Junghyeok. Since it was that guy, it wouldn't be surprising if he was lurking around somewhere waiting for an opportunity.

An opportunity for what I wasn't sure, he was a hard bastard to understand, but I'd prefer he keep his eyes off me for a while so Kim Namwun might be useful.

"It doesn't matter. All you have to do is bother him. You're bored anyway, right? Make him teach you how to fight properly or control your spirit so you can better synchronize with your mech or something like that."

I said a bunch of chuuni nonsense and Kim Namwun clenched his fists as if he was fired up.

[Kuhahat! That sounds like a good time anyway?! Hey, is this a job for real?]

"It's fine if you enjoy the work. There's one more thing."

[Kuhahahat, sure, what's next?!]

"I need you to introduce me to the biggest Cerberus in the Underworld."

[Alpha Yellowy? Sure, easy. What do you want him for, though?]

I smiled.

"Just help with a little revenge."

Chapter Text

Over the next few days, my comrades trickled in and out of the Underworld to visit for half a day or so, almost as if on a schedule.

It kept me busy enough to delay my revenge on Yu Junghyeok, but I was able to go on several 'dates' and continue to make coins, so I didn't have any complaints.

Actually, I found I quite liked the silence of the Underworld?

It would be a lie to say that I missed that train, but now that I was away from it, it felt obvious that the [Industrial Complex] had often felt too loud and too busy.

I didn't feel good about the idea that I preferred the silence and distance in the Underworld to being surrounded by my teasing but attentive party members, but I had more or less accepted that twenty odd millenia as the Most Ancient Dream might have had some kind of impact on how I felt about being the watched instead of the watcher.

Nothing made the change in me more clear than using 'Reading Again' on Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint with Persephone and Hades each night.

It was both a fascinating and nauseating experience.

In some ways I hated the person I had been more than expected, and in other ways I thought he was surprisingly admirable.

Certainly I'd done a lot of things that seemed quite impossible?

Really, the advantages of being in a situation I'd planned out for over a decade and the motivation of every decision being life or death were unprecedented.

However, not all of the credit could go to my years of thinking of how best to clear each scenario.

When Yu Junghyeok left me to fight the monsters in Chungmuro station alone, when the sunfish nearly lost himself to the Theatre Master’s Simulacrum, when Han Suyeong's plot resulted in me fighting a fledgling disaster at the start of the third scenario, when saving Yi Seolhwa and then fighting the Disaster of Questions without having mastered Way of the Wind. These were all moments where I had genuinely had to scramble, but even I had to admit I handled them quite well?

Seeing this me of the past, I began to think this must be what an athlete who broke a few records felt like when he looked down at his pot belly a decade later.

Perhaps I'd spent so long immersing myself in Yu Junghyeok's stories I had forgotten that my own weren't too shabby either.

"My timing was surprisingly good? It was good to see parts of the story I wasn't there for."

Jeong Huiwon was the guest of the night, and after finishing the reading and helping clean up from dinner, we wandered the halls of the palace talking.

"Was it that interesting?"

That night we had gotten through the Disaster of Questions and to the doorstep of the fight against the Disaster of the Floods.

"I was glad to get to see the moment when Yi Seolhwa joined the party. Say, why did you tell her you saved her at Yu Junghyeok's request?"

"Ah, that…"

I had wondered if Jeong Huiwon would pick up on that.

"Well, you know…"

Jeong Huiwon stared at me with deeply intrigued eyes, then abruptly grinned and elbowed me in the side.

"You thought they'd hook up, didn't you?"

"There was some evidence."

I smiled awkwardly and grabbed the spot I'd been hit.

"They were together in a different world-line, right?"

I made a vaguely affirmative sound.

I supported Jeong Huiwon and Yi Seolhwa's relationship now, so it was difficult to not feel awkward about all the assumptions I'd made in the past.

She seemed to sense my discomfort.

"Haha, what's that face for? Are you thinking she'd leave me for him?"

There was a joking note to her voice but I wondered if there wasn't a hidden insecurity there. He was the protagonist, after all.

"There's no chance. He's intolerable and Yi Seolhwa isn't an idiot. I'm sure if you'd been around in those world-lines, it would have gone in your favor."

Perhaps she hadn't been expecting this firm re-assurance, because Jeong Huiwon flushed pink and then punched me in the shoulder.

"I didn't realize you were such a fan?"

"Please don't put it that way."

Jeong Huiwon laughed softly.

"Well, it's nice to hear your opinion anyway. It's a little rough knowing that your girlfriend could be dating the hero of the novel that you didn't even get a bit part in."

There was a wry, wistful tone to her voice.

I wondered what it was like, to be the only 'character' without a meaningful presence in the original novel.

"...you know, the author herself has said that if Ways to Survive was better written, you would have been the hero instead of Yu Junghyeok."

She shot me an incredulous look.

"--Han Suyeong said that? You're full of it."

"It's the truth."

"There's no way, you're just being nice?"

I decided to simply prove it.

[Constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation' has used the ‘Lie Detection’ skill.]

[Lie Detection has confirmed that your statement is true.]

No longer able to delude herself, Jeong Huiwon's eyes went wide and she seemed too startled to be embarrassed.

"Seriously?"

I laughed a little.

"You should have more confidence. No one carried you across the finish line. You reached the end of the scenarios along with the rest of us."

She looked pensive and clasped her hands behind her back as we continued on.

"I know it's technically the truth.. I'm still not sure if it's harder to believe that it all really happened, or that it eventually stopped happening."

I tried to remember the details I'd heard over the last few weeks.

"It's been four years since the 1865th turn?"

"That's right. And in that time I've started a company, lived on two different continents, bought and moved out of my first house… not to mention all of the 'heroes of the scenarios' stuff."

"I've seen some of your interviews. You've gotten really comfortable with it?"

"Does it look that way? I still feel nervous every time."

I glanced at her from the corner of my eye.

Jeong Huiwon, who could be one of the fiercest people I knew, also easily fell into this quiet and bashful side.

I remembered it but it had been a long time since I'd seen it.

Once again, I regretted any thoughts I'd harbored of wanting to remain as the Most Ancient Dream.

There were some things I simply couldn't see as that being.

"If you don't like doing them, why keep it up? It seems like you do almost as many as Sangah-ssi."

Jeong Huiwon gave me a slightly crooked smile.

"...because I'm not a writer like Han Suyeong, but even so, I have stories I don't want to be forgotten."

I blinked at her.

She was giving me a meaningful look I couldn't decipher.

"It's natural to not want your stories to be forgotten…"

I ventured a guess.

She stared at me for a moment as if I was amazing and then slowly closed her eyes and let out an even sigh.

"You're really something. Hey, Dokja-ssi, is your scenario still for hugs?"

I had to admit it was and for the next little while Jeong Huiwon hugged me so tightly I was sure I was being punished for something.

-------

Another side effect of showing my stories to my parents each evening was that I felt my heart getting a little soft toward the sunfish again.

There were certain incidents I really hadn't thought about in a long time which looked very different with the advantage of hindsight and high fidelity recollection.

Such as, the time I died at the hands of the Disaster of Floods and he lost his mind a bit.

At the time I had thought he must be aware I would come back to life, it wasn't my first time using the ability after all.

But I hadn't ever told him and it seemed Yi Hyeonseong didn't think to mention it, and with only three turns of memories, Yu Junghyeok must not have known about the ability.

To the unconcerned me, I had thought Yu Junghyeok must be milking the drama for coins.

Now that I was more familiar with his face, I had to admit with a bit of embarrassment that he'd actually been really upset.

"Oh darling, you really didn't know?"

Persephone had laughed at my confusion until a tear rolled from the corner of her eyes.

I tried to explain that he wasn't someone to get attached that easily and I didn't have the advantages of being endearing myself in the previous turns. So I still didn't think it made sense, but I also couldn't sincerely convince myself he was acting.

[The story 'Comrades of Life and Death' thinks you're an idiot.]

[The story '0th Turn' wonders when you will stop handicapping yourself.]

This wasn't the only moment, either.

Actually, while the Yu Junghyeok of this early story was still a frustrating and standoffish sunfish, it was hard not to notice how much things had changed.

There was a time I was really uncomfortable around this guy, and it felt like I couldn't be sure what he would do at any given moment.

Sometimes it still felt that way, but I no longer really worried about it.

I couldn't put my finger on exactly when, but hadn't I truly become comrades with the hero of the novel?

This thought filled me with a complicated fondness, and I felt the pettiness in my resentment more clearly.

My anger hadn't died, but I began to wonder if I shouldn't simply put it away on a shelf somewhere.

But then I would remember the moment my fist connected with his face during the fight for the Absolute Throne, and his body bounced around the space like a pinball, and a warm glow would grow inside my chest.

Perhaps it was because we had become true comrades that I couldn't simply let him get away with it?

Thinking about it this way, I could smile cheerfully when it finally came time to put my plan into action.

------

'Alpha Yellowy' was the size of a significantly large house, and riding on top of her center-most head felt quite grand indeed.

It had turned out to be very easy to secure her support.

A little shuffling around of my bookmarks until I could borrow Shin Yuseung's beast communication skill and she had been more than happy to help the prince of the Underworld with a little petty revenge.

She prowled slowly through the Asphodel Meadows.

This was the place where the dead of no particular note languished.

The name made it sound grander than it was, but it was not bad either.

A valley locked in perpetual night, where it was always just a little chilly, and the land was too overgrown with flowers and weeds to be considered beautiful. Fireflies flitted through the scratchy brush and it created a feeling of nostalgia even though a place like this hadn't ever been part of my childhood.

When we came across the camp of a simple fire pit and some blankets, Yu Junghyeok was already on his feet and glaring at me with the golden light of [Eye of the Sage].

Of course, it was impossible to sneak up on this person, so it was better to make an entrance.

[Holy ■?! You brought her?]

Kim Namwun was there as well, he looked as if he'd actually been in the middle of something like meditation when I interrupted.

"She's here for support."

I explained simply while smiling at Yu Junghyeok.

Whatever he saw with [Eye of the Sage] seemed to have put his guard up, as I watched his shoulders go back and a hand reflexively move near his sword.

"You can't think this dog could beat me. "

[Don't hurt Yellowy!]

Alpha Yellowy took offense to the dismissive tone in Yu Junghyeok's voice and snarled at him. Her hot breath made his hair billow, but of course he did not flinch.

I pet her briefly on the head before sliding off to land softly on the grass.

"Can't I fight my own battles?"

Yu Junghyeok regarded me at length, and then the corner of his mouth quirked up faintly.

"So that's how you wish to resolve this?"

"It's the language you understand most clearly."

Yu Junghyeok didn't deny it and simply drew his sword.

In the night, the Dark Heavenly Demon Sword was only visible when it reflected the fire's light.

"Isn't your sword broken? I hope you aren't expecting a handicap."

"If that's your stance, you won't mind if I don't hold back either, right?"

A warm red light began to flow down my right arm.

[The story 'Hellscape of Eternity' is beginning its telling.]

Yu Junghyeok's eyes widened as the stream of sentences pulsing with a crimson light dripped down my wrist and fingers, building upon itself until it took on the shape of a sword.

A story this ancient had millions and millions of characters to it, they packed themselves together with such density that the strength of the blade it created could not be doubted.

[The story 'Hellscape of Eternity' thinks you are being childish.]

I smiled fondly and ghosted my fingertips over the length of the blade.

"Thank you for indulging me anyway."

I murmured the words quietly and the sword made of a story glowed brighter in acknowledgement.

Yu Junghyeok seemed to understand.

He narrowed his eyes and raised his sword.

[Are you guys gonna go at it right now?! ■, I wanna see! Hey Yellowy, c'mere.]

Behind me, Kim Namwun ran up to usher the great canine a safe distance from the impending battlefield.

As I squared off against Yu Junghyeok, he made no move to attack me, and I realized this might be the first time out of our many confrontations where I had to come at him.

Despite myself, I felt a little excited?

I was here because of my hurt and anger, but kept feeling myself smile?

In a flash I was in front of Yu Junghyeok.

The Hellscape of Eternity sword didn't even quite feel like it was in my hands. As part of a story that had lived inside of me for countless years, it felt no different than moving my own limbs.

Yu Junghyeok's eyes shook as our swords clashed and sparks of story went off in the air around us.

"So this is the meaning behind 'Caretaker of Lost Legends'."

Yu Junghyeok hadn't activated his transcendent power yet, and was pushed back by the thousands of years of weight behind each of my strikes.

"Hm? Are you still worrying about that?"

I felt Yu Junghyeok's side of 'Comrades of Life and Death' begin to tell its story as he rallied and his next strike sent a tremor through my incarnation body.

"Am I just another one of your stories, then?"

This question was a surprise, and I thought it was quite ridiculous.

Golden light began to flow up Yu Junghyeok's limbs as I mercilessly tried to slice past his guard.

"That's a good joke? My stories wouldn't do what you did."

Yu Junghyeok didn't respond with words, but his frustration was conveyed loud and clear through each strike that slashed viciously through the air.

By activating Way of the Wind and increasing my mobility, I was able to dodge his strikes and lash out around the edges of his defense. But like a machine gaining momentum, each of his movements became faster and I avoided them by a narrower margin.

Soon came a blow I could not dodge, and there was no choice but to catch the full force of it with my sword.

This single strike was so heavy it sent an aching shock through my bones.

I wasn't injured but my nerves still screamed at me that this was dangerous.

For some reason this pain fueled my exhilaration, and I shoved him back with great force and let Hellscape of Eternity guide me.

I was not a swordmaster and I could not become Yu Junghyeok, but there was no better story for fighting this person.

I read his movements like a book and the blade and I met Yu Junghyeok strike for strike.

The energy around us cut swathes out of the Asphodel Meadows.

In the distance I heard Kim Namwun cheering.

For a time I pushed him back, but then Yu Junghyeok would seem to ascend to a new level of mindless focus.

If I grew more powerful through reading his stories, then Yu Junghyeok simply abandoned every part of himself that wasn't a story of eternal combat.

I blocked and returned so many blows that my arms went from burning in pain to simply numb.

But when I realized I could no longer feel my fingers, I redoubled my efforts.

My heart throbbed more violently in my chest even while Yu Junghyeok glared at me, and I realized I was grinning.

It was hard to say why, since I was absolutely losing.

Even with the help of Hellscape of Eternity, the critical weaknesses that were left exposed without the 4th Wall remained.

We each scored hits on each other, but the cuts I left him with might as well not have been there at all, whereas my flesh cried out every time blood was drawn, then again every time I aggravated the wound by continuing to swing.

I pushed through it, riding on some kind of thrill I couldn't properly name, but every fraction of a second I was slowed down became an advantage Yu Junghyeok exploited mercilessly.

Of course he couldn't simply be one of my stories.

Not once in any of those stories could Yu Junghyeok properly face me like this.

Not once in all those years had I struggled against him until I was overwhelmed.

It was really amazing to recall I'd ever managed to fight this person to a standstill before.

A stab to my shoulder sent pain lancing through my entire skeleton and though Yu Junghyeok couldn't disarm me, he could render my sword arm useless while pressing the blade of Dark Heavenly Demon Sword to my neck.

The pain that rioted inside my skull made my vision a bit blurry, but Yu Junghyeok seemed to be scowling at me in uncertainty.

"You put up a poor fight."

This bastard?

I laughed.

"Sorry to disappoint you?"

I saw the world sway slightly and the sword at my throat was replaced with a hand on my shoulder.

Unfortunately it was the injured shoulder and my incarnation body flinched and gasped without my permission.

When my vision refocused, Yu Junghyeok's confusion had edged more toward concern and I really wondered what kind of an idiot he was.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing?"

I brushed his support away and pressed a hand to the wound in my shoulder.

[The story '7th Record of the 999th Turn' thinks it can do something about this.]

[The story '7th Record of the 999th Turn' begins closing your wound.]

I blinked and looked at my shoulder where threads of story seemed to stitch the wound closed and somehow dull the pain.

"Aren't you handy?"

[The story '7th Record of the 999th Turn' says to finish what you came here for.]

Yu Junghyeok also watched this with shaking eyes and I felt a bit bad.

In deciding to get my revenge I'd also agreed to let go of certain illusions I'd been keeping up.

"Don't worry about that. It's just that it's a little more painful than it used to be. As you can see, I fix up easily."

There was an unimpressed grunt.

"You've also grown weaker."

Yu Junghyeok said this as if he was reprimanding me for not maintaining daily sword practice while in a subway for thousands of years.

"Excuse me? You seem to be talking like a person who thinks he's won?"

He frowned at me.

"You want to continue when you can't take a hit without crying?"

Why did everyone like to suggest I had cried when I hadn't?

Whatever reservations I'd had over going through with my plan evaporated in an instant.

"Don't misunderstand?"

I took a step forward, closing the gap between us again. Yu Junghyeok gave no ground.

"It's true I can't beat you with a sword. I'm just a reader, after all.

I smiled.

"But you know… swords aren't the most powerful thing in this universe."

[The story '3rd Record of the 1st turn' is beginning its telling.]

As I spoke, a cascade of golden light burst from the hem of my coat.

[The story '4th Record of the 2nd turn' is beginning its telling.]

Like a waterfall of words, stories splashed around our feet.

[The story '8th Record of the 3rd turn' is beginning its telling.]

Yu Junghyeok's jerked away in surprise.

[The story '1st Record of the 4th turn' is beginning its telling.]

"What are you--!?"

[The story '11th Record of the 5th turn' is beginning its telling.]

He tried to put some distance between us, but it was too late.

[The story '3rd Record of the 6th turn' is beginning its telling.]

The stories twisted around his ankles and legs.

Dozens of tendrils swimming with sentences held him tight.

He slashed at them but it was like trying to cut the tide.

The 7th turn, the 8th, the 9th, the 10th…

It was a tidal wave of stories that only the two of us truly knew, but because I was the only one who had cared for them, it was no effort at all to turn them on their protagonist.

"Kim Dokja, you bastard!"

The stories swarmed over Yu Junghyeok's thighs and torso, then out across his arms until he could no longer swing his sword.

I reached out and caught the Dark Heavenly Demon Sword as it was forced from his hand.

With a black blade in one hand, and a red one in the other, I spread my arms grandly while Yu Junghyeok practically snarled at me.

"See? This way it's over too fast? So I thought I should enjoy a proper fight with you first."

In the face of Yu Junghyeok's struggles, my stories simply tightened until he could only tremble in their grip.

"Of course, you're right, my sword skills have gone a bit to shit. But I think I picked up something a lot more valuable during those years."

Seeming to accept his current circumstances, Yu Junghyeok closed his eyes, and with some effort was able to calm his temper.

"You should let go of those stories."

This was an unexpected response and I stared at him.

"So you can beat me up?"

"You are regressing."

My mouth worked and I was at a loss for what to say.

Of course, I understood.

A long time ago I realized that I had become the regressor in exchange for seeing the end to his regressions.

But unlike him, I never grew tired of 'reading again'.

In the end I had to laugh crookedly at the sight of Yu Junghyeok trying to offer me some profound advice while wound up in a cocoon of his own glittering stories.

"That's the job, you know?"

"It isn't any longer."

"Was that my choice?"

I snapped something thoughtless and saw a pain enter Yu Junghyeok's eyes.

He opened his mouth but no words came out.

I felt a little bad.

"Ah, but we aren't here to talk about that."

I brushed the dark topic away.

"This is about returning one disgusting feeling for another."

Yu Junghyeok's mouth set in a hard line.

"About that time…"

"If you're going to tell me what you did or didn't do with Biyu, I don't want to hear it."

Yu Junghyeok wisely closed his mouth.

"Biyu was correct, I don't have the right to condemn you. But I can't just forgive you either. So this is the cost."

He struggled and looked around with a scowl at the stories binding him.

"This? It is disgusting, however…"

[Whoa!, holy mega ■?! Yellowy girl you really sure this is the ■■in time?!]

A short ways away, Kim Namwun began yelling about something, and at the same time a warm and awful smell filled the air.

I savored Yu Junghyeok's face as bewilderment slowly gave way to dawning disgust.

"Kim Dokja, you-- you wouldn't--!"

It was too late though.

As one, the mountain of stories grasping Yu Junghyeok squeezed as if getting a good grip, and the air was forced from his lungs.

While he was still wheezing, the stories spat him from their center like cannonball.

His flight through the air was too brief for any hope of saving himself.

One instant he was in the air, and the next he made a crater into a mountainous pile of fresh dog shit.

Debris splashed for half a dozen meters.

Surprisingly, I wasn't hit?

[Oh ■! ■ oh ■ ■, Captain? Kuhuahahat holy ■!!! That's ■■in' disgusting! I love it! Kuahahat!!]

My thoughts were similar.

I laughed with him and pulled out my camera.

Chapter Text

I slightly regretted the permanent night of the Asphodel Meadows.

Yu Junghyeok in his black coat against the dark pile of shit against the shadows of grass and under the nearly starless sky just didn't photograph well.

Even with the flash on, it was difficult to get good shots of the aftermath.

It was really a pity?

There was a camera on the Dokkaebi Bag that boasted it could take great shots in any lighting and I regretted not splurging for it.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much time to figure out an alternative as a golden glow burst forth from Yu Junghyeok's body as he pulled himself out of the mess with a roar.

"Huh, that helps?"

I took a few more shots, now helpfully illuminated by Yu Junghyeok's own aura.

Through the screen of my phone I saw Yu Junghyeok turning to face me.

Staring at me with furious eyes.

A black mess smeared across his face and clumping his hair.

The flash of white teeth as he snarled at me.

"Kim Dokja!"

I set the phone to video mode and finally looked up at him.

It was strange to say because it was absolutely disgusting but because he was the protagonist he somehow still looked good?

Well, this was someone who could look good drenched in the blood of his enemies so it made sense.

He smelled awful, though.

I grinned.

"Now you know how it feels? You should accept your punishment gracefully."

Unsurprisingly though, Yu Junghyeok stormed out of the mess toward me.

"I'm going to kill you."

He said the words I hadn't heard in a long time.

I used Way of the Winds to keep a safe distance and kept filming.

Since I still had his sword he wasn't yet too dangerous.

"You should be glad I stopped at just this? I really thought about making you eat it, you know?"

Yu Junghyeok glowered at me and didn't seem to agree that this was justice served.

"Kim Dokja."

[Incarnation 'Yu Junghyeok' is activating the privileges of 'Switch'.]

I thought it would come to this.

"Do not try to flee."

[The ability 'Switch' has restricted your actions for the next 24 hours!]

Abruptly, Way of the Winds deactivated and I landed on my feet.

"I really regret picking that ability?"

I spoke casually and put my phone away into my coat's dimensional pockets.

"But you've seen how easily I can beat you now? Do you really want a round two?"

I had let Hellscape of Eternity disappear back into me, so I pointed Dark Heavenly Demon Sword at him casually instead.

"You should have said something like "Don't defend yourself?", are you going to get thrown back in the shit pile again because you have too much pride?"

As I was running my mouth, Yu Junghyeok was running at me.

He was gross now so I didn't really want to fight him properly anymore.

Once again, I called upon my stories.

[The story '3rd Record of the 1st turn' thinks this is stupid.]

However, there was a problem?

[The story '4th Record of the 2nd turn' isn't looking at you.]

Yu Junghyeok was upon me in an instant and I had to point the Dark Heavenly Demon Sword at his chest to make him keep his distance.

[The story '8th Record of the 3rd turn' thinks you deserve this.]

Unfortunately, I couldn't back up a single step.

[The story '1st Record of the 4th turn' isn't getting involved further.]

"You bastards? Is this a strike??"

[The story '11th Record of the 5th turn' says it's disgusting.]

Yu Junghyeok wasn't deterred by the blade pointed at him.

Surrounded in a transcendent's golden light, his skin wasn't easily penetrated anyway.

I thought I saw him smirk at me as he simply grabbed the blade with one hand and definitely saw the smirk as he grabbed the front of my coat and lifted me off the ground.

[The story 'Hellscape of Eternity' is laughing.]

"Shit."

------

Flying face first into a pile of still warm dog feces was a terrible experience on a level that my mind struggled to comprehend.

Never had I more missed the 4th Wall than in the moment it was not there to protect my mind from this new tortuous reality.

[I'm never reading any of you again.]

This was directed toward my stories, all of whom were in various states of smugness at their timely betrayal.

I would have to suss out who the ring leader was later, they weren't usually this unified.

I got to my feet and with shaking hands wiped as much from my face and hair as I could.

[Kuahahat! ■! I can't get over how gross this is! Kuahat! You guys really are some crazy ■ ■■!!]

[Kim Namwun, shut up.]

To avoid opening my mouth and all the nauseating risks that came with that, I spoke in my true voice.

I casually released some of my status too since I was in a bad mood.

[Go with the cerberus and find the nearest pond.]

[■, u-uh I mean, you got it Dokja-nim sir. C'mon Yellowy, let's go girl.]

Kim Namwun beat a hasty escape.

When I finally turned to look at Yu Junghyeok he was removing his shit stained coat and using some cloth from one of the pockets to try and wipe his face clean.

"You're going to replace this."

His tone was menacing but considerably less than it had been when he first emerged from the shit.

Actually, he seemed a little pleased with himself?

[Like hell I am! You understand this was to get us even, and now I just owe you again?]

"I said I would live with your anger, not endure your petty revenge. If you try again you'll face the same fate again."

Of course, he didn't feel guilty at all.

I was already covered in shit so I started to wonder if I didn't want to try to dunk him again.

As if reading my mind, Yu Junghyeok looked me straight in the eye with a glare of warning.

I cursed quietly.

Without the support of my stories and not being able to 'flee' for even a single step, antagonizing him further would just lead to my increased humiliation.

[For now I want a shower more than revenge.]

Yu Junghyeok looked at the soiled cloth in his hands and visibly shuddered, then threw it to the side.

"We'll use your room."

With this he turned to walk in the direction of the palace.

Excuse me?

I stumbled after him while trying to ignore that I had flesh.

[You're not going into my room covered in dog shit? I'm not going into my room covered in dog shit!]

"The ponds here are poisonous. Don't you know that?"

I clenched my teeth.

He was right.

The various rivers that ran through the Underworld all had disastrous effects if you bathed in them, but even the scattered bodies of still water would collect with the cries of the dead everywhere except Elysium. And I wasn't shameless enough to make my first visit to the Elysian Fields one covered in shit.

I followed Yu Junghyeok while my mind raced over various options.

Naturally, there were fountains full of clean water throughout the palace, but I wasn't confident enough in my relationship with Hades to pull that kind of stunt.

Tartarus would have showers but we'd be seen by countless prisoners, and somehow that information would get back to Persephone.

We could break into one of the palace's other rooms but ultimately the effect would be the same and it would be in a space I couldn't control.

The absolute best option was to purchase a capsule house, and I could afford the smallest option, but it was still far more koins than I wanted to part with at this stage.

I couldn't think of a better option so I snapped at Yu Junghyeok instead.

[I'll use my room. What makes you think you're invited?]

Yu Junghyeok looked over his shoulder with the face of someone prepared to fight.

"You're welcome to try and stop me. I'll leave you tied up out here until it crusts."

Involuntarily, I shuddered.

This was a worse threat than simply killing me.

[...we'll use the balcony. Don't bring anything gross inside if you can help it.]

Yu Junghyeok didn't acknowledge me, but he did shift his direction slightly to approach the palace from the side.

In silence we ascended to the balcony and left a pile of soiled clothes and shoes behind us.

I made a bee-line for the bathroom and beat Yu Junghyeok who paused to glance around the unfamiliar space.

The bathroom of a prince was quite grandiose, but like my bedroom, it had more of a modern western look with some inspiration from Ancient Greece. The bathtub was carved marble and large enough to house multiple people, but there was still only one shower.

"I'll use it first."

[You're getting really full of yourself?]

I turned on the hot water but didn't wait for it to warm up.

Cool water poured in an unbroken stream from a tilted urn that was mounted into the wall, and I ducked into it immediately.

I closed my eyes as tight as I could and immediately began to scrub as much filth from my face and hair as possible.

[If you're in such a hurry, go ask the queen to set you up with a room of your own.]

Of course, Yu Junghyeok was always more stubborn than any mule.

A heavy hand fell on my shoulder and I was jerked out of the cleansing stream.

"I've been enduring this longer."

With these simple words Yu Junghyeok yanked me away and took the space I'd been standing in.

This bastard?

I was regretting not making him eat it properly after all.

[You're really making me want to plan a round two. I've seen you walk around covered in other people's blood for days, you can endure this.]

Saying this, I pushed him back out of the way again.

"This is a hundred times more disgusting than that."

I was under the water again for less than a second before Yu Junghyeok shoved me with enough force to make me take several stumbling steps.

[I could be done now if you weren't such a bother?]

I snapped at him but I wasn't going to beat this person in a fist fight right now, so instead I stole the bottles of shampoo and soaps and took them with me to the other side of the bathroom.

"Bastard--!"

Yu Junghyeok cursed at me but didn't leave the sanctity of the shower.

[Keep fighting me and I'll throw them out the window. You can come use them when you're ready to give up the shower.]

Yu Junghyeok glared at me but seemed to accept this compromise, as he returned to cleaning up as well as he could with just water.

Honestly, it wasn't ideal on my end either. I wanted to wash off fully before introducing soap. I didn't like that brown puddles were gathering across more tiles the further I moved around.

I was going to have to clean all of this up and if I wanted to make it easier on myself at all, I'd have waited quietly and let Yu Junghyeok finish first.

But my irritation was still high and I was starting to wonder if I didn't have poor control of my temper without the 4th Wall.

I covered myself with soap and shampoo and it made a disgusting mess and the next time I went to chase Yu Junghyeok off he gave way willingly because now I was the grosser one.

The experience of getting to wash the soap and shit off my body under the waterfall of hot water was truly heavenly.

It was such a transcendent feeling I felt half of my ire evaporate.

I more or less forgot about everything until a few minutes later Yu Junghyeok shoved me away again.

When I turned to glare at him he was so covered in fluffy white suds he looked like he'd stepped out of a soap commercial and I was shocked into grinning instead.

"This is a good look for you?"

He growled and I walked past him to reapply my own layer of soap.

"Why did you even choose something so disgusting?"

"Han Suyeong had a good idea."

I sensed a wave of irritation from his direction.

"This is the result of her 'good idea'."

I washed the bottles I'd touched with dirty hands in the sink and splashed sudsy water across the counter and floor.

Watching each bit of refuse get diluted and washed away, I felt a bit better.

Soon, I was left with one resolute thought.

"It was worth it."

[You have acquired the story 'One who Ensures their Enemies Eat Dog Shit']

Yu Junghyeok didn't respond for several moments, and I didn't hear anything more from him until I was ready for my turn to rinse and shooing him away from the water again.

"I still don't understand you."

I tilted my head back under the water and let it blissfully wash away the lingering sensation of filth.

My being covered in shit was temporary, but the memory of Yu Junghyeok being covered in shit was forever.

[The story 'One who Ensures their Enemies Eat Dog Shit' snickers viciously.]

[The story 'One who Ensures their Enemies Eat Dog Shit' thinks you should do it again.]

At least one story was still on my side.

Yu Junghyeok and I actually managed to be civil about the rest of the cleaning process.

We each still needed to soap up and rinse several more times before we could truly feel clean, but the swapping between who was at each station went by without more than a couple more toothless jabs.

When Yu Junghyeok had apparently decided he was clean enough, he began to fill the bath.

"You're making yourself at home?"

Really, I wanted him to go but I knew he wouldn't.

"That queen is spoiling you."

Some salts and oils were added into the pouring water and a nice smell began to combat the lingering scent of shit.

"She's wanted to have someone to spoil for a long time. Send me 200 koins."

"200 koins for a bath?"

"Oh? Will you pay for that? Then send me 250."

"Obviously, I'm not paying."

Obviously, he wasn't going to pay.

I finished my final rinse and began to towel myself dry. I didn't look at Yu Junghyeok's direction.

It was one thing to ignore his nudity when he was covered in shit. It was another thing entirely once that barrier was gone.

"The 200 is for laundry. It will take a few hours but I'll start it. If you don't want to pay then I'll just leave your clothes to get crusty."

I could sense Yu Junghyeoks scowl, but he began to approach me with his hand raised.

"Just mail it."

He ignored me and with a sigh I held up my hand to receive the koin transfer.

Over the next half hour I went into work mode.

I hadn't owned a space I felt an obligation to maintain in countless years.

And my previous apartments couldn't be called spaces I felt any care for.

Comparatively, the room Persephone had set up specifically for me was a precious thing.

The castle had servants who could handle the cleaning if I told them, but for a variety of reasons I thought it was better to handle it myself.

So while Yu Junghyeok spoiled himself with a fancy bath, I tied a towel around my waist, made a number of small purchases from the Dokkaebi Bag, and got to work.

The first order of business was dealing with our clothes.

There was a single use item called simply a 'Laundry Bag' which you could fill with clothes and four hours later pour them out and they would be completely clean.

It wasn't speedy, but the magic of the Star Stream guaranteeing a perfect job done was worth splurging on in this case.

I filled the bag up as best I could while making as little contact with the clothes as possible, sealed it up, and promptly washed my hands again.

Next I filled up a bucket with water and a cleaning solution and swirled it around with a mop.

There was nothing special about these items, but even I could mop a floor.

From the bathtub, Yu Junghyeok seemed to be amused by something.

"It seems you've punished yourself more than me."

It took a lot of restraint but I simply mopped the floors instead of throwing anything at him.

"You got lucky because my stories staged a revolt? And don't forget, tomorrow Switch will be in my favor. I could go order you to go dunk yourself in dog shit."

"Try it. You will still only be creating more problems for yourself."

I knew he was correct and ignored him while I finished my cleaning.

Before long the floors were mopped, air freshening candles were lit, and I had taken one final shower.

It was almost as if there hadn't been any dog shit at all.

Actually, even though one could say I had created the mess myself, there was still something satisfying about seeing it cleaned?

I thought it would be nice to finally relax with a bath myself, but Yu Junghyeok hadn't moved.

"How long are you going to steal my bath?"

"It isn't stolen."

I had been avoiding looking at him since it was a little too much, but now I saw that he had assumed some distinctly un-Yu Junghyeok-like position, with his head resting back on one edge of the tub and his ankles lifted and crossed at the other.

When had he become a person who could appear so relaxed?

"I won't kick you out."

Yu Junghyeok spoke again when I said nothing, and I felt my thoughts spiral off into an abyss.

The bathtub was a large, shallow rectangle with more than enough space for both of us.

It wouldn't even be cozy.

And it wasn't as if I hadn't been to a jimjilbang before.

However the ahjussi that lounged around the hot tubs at a bathhouse were not Yu Junghyeok.

I decided to ignore him and go get dressed.

Or, that was my intention.

However, I found my feet wouldn't move?

I could face toward the door to leave but not take a step further.

I flailed my arms a bit and struggled against some unnamed force, but my legs simply would not obey.

It was good that Yu Junghyeok had his eyes closed since I'm sure it looked ridiculous.

There was only one explanation.

I was not permitted to 'flee'.

The power of Switch was worse than I thought.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to center my mind.

I reminded myself that I simply wanted to get dressed and go lie down.

It was late, after all. And I still needed to interrogate my stories about their betrayal.

I wasn't fleeing, I simply had other things to focus on right now.

I sent such fervent explanations both within myself and out to the New Dream like a prayer.

Unfortunately, one or both of us was not convinced and I was simply unable to put any further distance between myself and that person.

Yu Junghyeok finally seemed to notice something was strange and sat up to look at me.

"What are you up to now?"

I clenched a fist behind my back and smiled.

"Fine, I earned some relaxation. Did you let the water get cold?"

Yu Junghyeok couldn't know the extent of this ability or I'd be bullied mercilessly.

I climbed into the opposite end of the bath and slowly sunk down into the water.

It was still a bit warm but Yu Junghyeok managed the faucet until it was steaming hot again, and added more oils and salts as well.

For a few minutes I luxuriated in warmth and pleasant smells.

It could certainly be said that there was nothing like being covered in shit to make you appreciate a hot bath.

My brain began to feel a bit soft from contentment and I actually found it not too bothersome to share a tub with this person.

However, one thought kept itching within my mind.

"...when did you develop this kind of taste?"

It wasn't even just enjoying a bath, he took care to indulge in the other small luxuries as well.

Yu Junghyeok was quiet for a long time, and I thought he might ignore me or call me a fool. But he eventually replied in a quiet and even voice.

"I tried many different things during the last hundred years."

"And you decided you enjoy baths?"

It was still surprising.

"It is good to relax sometimes."

"What else?"

I was curious.

"Does it bother you that you don't know?"

"Nevermind."

The question made me sour for some reason.

Of course it would have to be then, because that was the completely blank spot on his timeline for me.

It seemed like it shouldn't matter, what was a mere 100 years at this point?

But I could tell much had changed.

It wasn't just because of the issue with Biyu that Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint no longer worked on him.

I contemplated this feeling while staring at the ceiling for a bit, and soon Yu Junghyeok spoke.

"Did you truly wish to continue on as the Most Ancient Dream?"

Shit.

I had to resist the urge to sink shamefully into the water.

However sore I was over various things, this person didn't deserve to hear that.

"It isn't that simple. Of course I wanted to see everyone again. But it was a life I was well suited to."

Reluctantly, I gave him more or less the same answer I'd given Han Suyeong.

"...wanting to continue at what you're good at. It makes sense."

I couldn't help it, I shot him a startled look.

Yu Junghyeok remained in his relaxed pose, but glanced at me and seemed to understand my question.

"You are not the only person ill suited for this world."

Feeling strangely chastised, like a student who had gotten a very basic math problem wrong, I sank back into the water with my thoughts.

I had heard this idea before, and of course, I knew it as well.

You didn't need to look any further than Secretive Plotter to see that Yu Junghyeok, once freed from the scenarios, didn't have an easy time adapting without them.

And hadn't Yu Sangah also told me this much?

Yet, it was still hard to imagine. The eminently capable, talented, loved, good looking protagonist struggling with something as simple as living an ordinary life.

It wasn't something I wanted to have in common with this person.

⸢"If I don't participate in the scenarios, what should I do?"⸥

A question Yu Junghyeok had asked me a few weeks ago floated back to me.

The scenarios had just begun again, and I encouraged him to take advantage of the fact that he had an unlimited time constraint and refuse to participate.

Yet when asked what he should do instead, I hadn't put any thought into it at all.

I tried to remember now, his face and his voice. Had he asked in earnest?

[The story '0th Turn' thinks you're a little slow sometimes.]

I cursed inwardly.

No one should know the answer better than me, but I still overlooked so many things.

"...you should open a food stall in the [Industrial Complex]."

Ripples ran across the surface of the water as Yu Junghyeok shifted, but I kept staring at the ceiling as I spoke.

"I don't think you'd like having a full restaurant…? A business of that size is a lot of work that has nothing to do with cooking."

My words came a little slowly as I put thoughts together.

"But something with three or four seats where you get to make whatever you feel like would keep you busy."

I had to grin a bit.

"I even know a guy who'd be happy to make you some stools."

To my side, I heard a light huff that I thought might have been amusement.

I couldn't help but begin to work out the logistics.

"You wouldn't even have to keep specific hours. You could buy whatever food you wanted to cook in bulk one day and cook it until you ran out the next. Since you're famous and actually good at cooking, you're guaranteed success."

I scratched at my cheek.

"Though people hovering around all the time waiting for you to open would get irritating. Mm, we'll just set up an app that just says when you're open or not."

I gestured a bit as this idea started to form legs in my head.

"And don't bother with won, just charge koins. Then you don't have to deal with a bunch of taxes either."

"You sound like a con-man."

I looked over at him with a grin.

"The government deserves to be conned? Anyway, koins are more valuable. And it solves the problem of you not being able to make any by completing your own scenarios."

Yu Junghyeok was staring at me with a complicated gaze but ideas kept coming to me so I kept talking.

"Biyu could probably do a city wide sub-scenario, something like 'Try a new local eatery' and the kids could pass out samples and--"

"Stop."

I blinked at him.

"You always make things grander and more complicated than they need to be."

I tsked.

"It's a good idea?"

"I'll consider the food stall."

Yu Junghyeok stretched back in the tub again and it was difficult to tell from this angle but I thought I saw a tiny telltale curve of his mouth.

"If people want to eat they will come. If they like it, they will tell others and come back. It doesn't need more than that."

Well, he was probably right.

To be honest I couldn't imagine Yu Junghyeok failing on any merit that had to do with his cooking.

Kim Dokja's Company alone would keep him in business.

"...and be sure to offer a discount to members of your nebula."

"Members in good standing."

"What are you suggesting? I gave you such a wonderful idea free of charge, obviously I'm in good standing."

We spent the rest of the bath alternating between such casual bickering and making plans for the food stall.

Chapter Text

Part of the problem with [Reading Again] was that I had honestly forgotten a lot of my own story.

I had read Han Suyeong's book a couple of times, but I was a fast reader and tended to focus on specific things. It was easy to skip past various parts.

[Oh! Is that Dionysus?]

Persephone eagerly latched onto Hades' arm.

[That must mean it's about time for my entrance.]

Such as this scene where Yu Sangah and I got drunk in order to earn the attention of Dionysus.

[Ufufu, you know, we should invite him to one of these readings sometime?]

[He's too obnoxious.]

[Oh, you must give him another chance? He's an earnest boy under all of the revelry.]

[If he ruins another fountain…]

Hades and Persephone chatted idly through the reading while I sweat and tried to pretend nothing was strange about this.

The problem wasn't actually Persephone, who I was already used to.

The problem was the night's guests.

"Hyeong, can't we skip it?"

First, there was Yi Gilyeong, who looked surprisingly offended at watching two drunk adults exchange blushing glances.

"He isn't allowed to skip."

And then there was Yu Junghyeok, who in a moment of foolish goodwill I had told to get a room in the palace instead of sleeping out in the fields.

Naturally this led to him being invited to dinners and thus to [Reading Again].

I was a real idiot.

[Oho, don't you think they are cute though, child?]

"Hyeong and Sangah-noona? Obviously it's all that drunk ahjussi's fault? There's nothing between them!"

Yi Gilyeong made a fervent declaration.

Persephone shot me a sly look and slid closer to the boy.

[You sound quite confident in that?]

"Of course! I've been watching hyeong for a long time. I know him better than anyone."

This kid…? When did he make that kind of decision?

[Then, who do you think that child is most interested in?]

Yi Gilyeong peered at Persphone who had several centimeters on him and stood his ground like he thought he was being challenged.

"Well, first off, hyeong's not even--"

At this time I put my hand over Yi Gilyeong's mouth and pulled him away.

"Mother."

Persephone tsked at me.

[Let the boy speak his mind? He clearly has something to say.]

I looked at Yi Gilyeong with a smile.

"You do?"

The boy flushed deeply and shook his head. I released his mouth.

"Nothing, hyeong."

Yi Gilyeong was a little too eager at times, but his loyalties were always in order.

[Hm, denying me my fun? Why don't I ask this one, then?]

Hardly missing a beat, Persephone glided up to Yu Junghyeok.

[Tell me--]

"Don't drag me into your schemes."

[Your manners are bad as ever. Have my husband and I not been most hospitable?]

"So you don't deny it's a scheme."

[I'm indulging in a mother's right~]

"In that case--"

As these words left Yu Junghyeok's mouth, the scene abruptly jerked forward as I skipped ahead to my entry to the Underworld.

Persephone's eyes widened at this forbidden action and spun toward me.

[What's the meaning of this?]

I smiled at her.

"I thought I should get to the best part before it gets too late."

[Hm~ How sly? I didn't realize you enjoyed our first meeting so much. I recall you being rather stressed?]

"I know you better now, Mother."

Persephone seemed to weigh her options, then finally snapped her fan closed and pointed it at Yu Junghyeok.

[We'll return to this subject later. My son knows how to flatter me too well.]

With that, Persephone strutted into place between me and Hades, pulling each of us closer to her.

[Ufufu, go on then, I have fond memories of this conversation.]

-----

Not long into recounting the meeting with Persphone, I realized I had forgotten a few parts about how this went as well.

Specifically, the part about Persephone as Yu Sangah in a black chinese dress and garter belt.

And I am not sure that even at the time I had realized quite how red my face became.

[So this is the origin of that form?]

Hades didn't seem perturbed at all, but he had been married to her for thousands of years.

Persephone laughed gaily.

[It was the first time! Look at his cute face? This trick never gets old. Why, I bet even now--]

"Mother, please."

[Ufufu, I never did show you Junghyeok in that garb, did I?]

Some ancient humiliation piqued at the back of my mind.

A long repressed image of Yu Junghyeok's 'Punisher' in a black chinese dress.

I willed it back into the depths of my subconscious.

"Ahjumma, is hyeong really that weak to it?"

There was some strangely thoughtful light in Yi Gilyeong's eyes I didn't understand, but for the moment I was grateful that he'd distracted the queen.

[Hm? Are you interested in his weak points?]

Without waiting for an answer, Persephone bent down to whisper something in Yi Gilyeong's ear.

I couldn't hear it, but the boy responded with a determined gaze and a flush.

"It won't be that long."

[Is that so? Ufu, how interesting.]

I wondered if I wanted to know what those two were up to.

I decided to ignore it for now and glanced at Yu Junghyeok instead.

Surprisingly, he had taken everything really well?

I had some vague memories of him getting the wrong idea about me and Yu Sangah around this time, and also he didn't usually abide by this kind of foolishness, but tonight he took it all in stride with barely a strained eyebrow.

"You haven't said much?"

Yu Junghyeok had been watching the conversation proceed between my past self and Persephone in the skin of Yu Sangah, but he half turned to look at me in question.

"You want my opinion."

"I don't know about that--"

"You make a fool of yourself often in these chapters."

Naturally, that would be all he had to say.

I opened my mouth to quip back at him, but something about what he'd said itched the back of my brain.

I frowned.

"Chapters?"

Yu Junghyeok turned back to watching the reading and said nothing.

"--Have you read this already?"

He looked at me again, this time as if I was strange.

"I carried it for so long, you think I didn't read it?"

Of course that's what I thought.

Why would he read it?

[Stop talking over the show.]

Before I was able to voice my surprise, Hades interrupted in a calm and commanding voice.

[My wife is on stage.]

Persephone laughed from where she was gossiping with Yi Gilyeong and returned to Hades' side.

[I apologize, darling. You are right, we've all gotten distracted. Dokja, take it from the top of the scene, will you?]

I wanted to argue but one look at Hades' intensely focused gaze and I didn't dare.

With a quiet sigh I backed up a few pages to start again.

------

"Hyeong, how long are you going to stay in this place?"

Yi Gilyeong and I were wandering the halls of Tartarus. I had offered to take him to see the Elysian Fields but he was more interested in this place for some reason.

Though, now that art covered many of the walls, it wasn't a bad place for a stroll really.

"Um. I haven't decided. Is everything alright back in the Industrial Complex?"

"Everything went a little nuts when the Dokkaebi Bag went live, but it's not a big deal. It's just not the same when you're not there."

The boy shrugged like it wasn't important, but I got the sense he was holding onto some thoughts.

In truth, I was surprised this hadn't come up earlier. Much of my party had visited by now, but none of them had said anything about my obligation to return.

I had been grateful since I didn't feel eager to go back to the noise of the living world yet.

"I won't be gone for years or anything, but I've really only been down here a week or so?"

"--shit, that's right! I forgot this place messes with time."

Had Yi Gilyeong always swore?

"It's been like a month back home. Everyone misses you, hyeong."

I ruffled his hair.

"You know you can text me too, right?"

Stars seemed to pass before the kid's eyes.

"It's alright?"

"Sure, I'd like to hear about what you guys are up to."

"Okay, I'll do that too but, hyeong… can't I just move in with you?"

What was this? I wondered if someone had told him about the expensive bathroom I had now.

"Where is that coming from? Weren't you looking into starting university?"

Yi Gilyeong made a disgruntled noise and looked away.

"I don't think that's gonna happen."

This was surprising.

Last I had heard, he and Shin Yuseung seemed quite enamored by the idea. I asked him if something had happened.

The boy shrugged.

"What's the point?"

I opened my mouth but ended up looking a bit like a fish.

Yi Gilyeong looked up at me with a bit of suspicion when no words came out.

"Um… it could be fun?"

"...hyeong, you think it's stupid too, right?"

Well, he wasn't wrong.

"I didn't go to a good university."

"And you're the coolest most powerful guy on the planet! So who the hell needs it?"

It was hard to argue with this kid's logic.

I laughed a little.

"You don't have to if you don't want to? The [Industrial Complex] will always be able to offer you a home, so even if you never get a job, it's fine."

I don't know where these words came from, to be honest I'd never thought about the future of the kids in this way. Maybe they were just the words I wished someone had told me.

My hand was abruptly grabbed and Yi Gilyeong clutched it to his chest as if some passion had gripped him.

"I do want a job though! I just want it to be helping hyeong!"

Somehow, this wasn't the reaction I was expecting?

"Dokja-hyeong, you remember at the start when you couldn't kill anyone yourself so you had to rely on me to do it?"

Of course I did, the memory left a bitter taste behind.

"That's what I miss! You depending on me for something I was good at!"

Um.

Really, did this kid listen to himself?

"You miss killing people?"

"That's not what I said?"

He pouted like he was offended.

But only for a second before leaning in as if involving me in a conspiracy.

"But if you do ever need someone to die, hyeong…"

I placed a firm hand on his head and pushed him back.

"I could take care of it myself."

The sulking returned.

"I know that, but…"

I took away the hand he was clutching at and resumed our walk.

He seemed to let go reluctantly.

"What's this really about? Are these nerves about your future?"

The boy was silent for a bit, and I let him gather his thoughts.

"...it's these shitty scenarios. They're making me think about a lot've stuff."

I could sympathize with that.

"What I'm supposed to do with myself, what I should come clean about…"

Well, a questline for a teenager to consider his future made sense, but the second part.

"Come clean about?"

"You know… confessing…"

"Are you a sinner?"

Well, obviously he was. Despite my best efforts he'd clearly ended up a bit of a psychopath.

"Some people might call it that..."

He was grumbling though and to me this sounded quite amusing. I wondered what he could have gotten up to? Even if he wasn't the most upright kid I had faith in him.

"Is that your scenario right now? Will you tell me?"

There was more silence and when I looked to the side to check on him, I found Yi Gilyeong staring at me with a dark but determined expression.

I had no idea what that look could mean.

There was no way he'd really gotten into something bad, right?

"Okay."

He seemed to be building up his courage.

"I'll tell you."

Somehow the atmosphere had gotten really serious, so I stopped and gave him my full attention.

No matter what it was, it couldn't be a bigger challenge than we'd dealt with already.

And I had left this kid behind too many times already, so I'd definitely help him through it.

"Hyeong, I…"

He seemed to be struggling with his words and I felt a pang of sympathy.

It had been a long time since I'd seen him look so uncertain.

"Whatever it is, it'll be fine."

I tried to say something reassuring, and it seemed to work because Yi Gilyeong's eyes widened, and then narrowed with conviction.

However, instead of words coming out of his mouth his hands grabbed the front of my jacket.

I was thinking he must want a hug again when instead his lips began homing in on mine.

My mind couldn't make sense of what was happening.

My body, however, went into defensive mode and my hand landed over the boy's puckered lips a split second before something terrible happened.

This still left me staring at dark, determined eyes, though.

I tried to put together a few words but it was difficult.

After a few gaping moments I settled on, "What the hell?"

A red glow finally erupted across Yi Gilyeong's cheeks and he released my jacket and jerked back.

At this point I thought, no matter what was going on, it would only make sense for the boy to say it was nothing and honestly, I didn't want to talk about whatever it was so I would let him.

"Hyeong, I love you!"

Unfortunately, this kind of thing came out of his mouth.

"Is this a prank…?"

"It- it's the truth!"

"That can't be right."

"It's always been the truth!"

"What do you mean 'always'? You're a child?"

"A child..? I know I went back that time, but I'm twenty-one this year?"

Well, that might technically be true but I didn't have to like it.

"Twenty-one is still a kid."

"What if I wore a chinese dress?"

"Did Persephone put you up to this?!"

I would disown her?!

"I-I'm telling you, this is how I've always felt! Ever since the start of the scenarios!"

I really wanted to keep denying this reality but some heartfelt urgency came through in the boy's words.

I felt a little bad.

This situation was absolutely absurd but in his own way, Yi Gilyeong was an extremely serious kid.

"If twenty-one is still too young, how about in five years?"

How about what in five years? My face twitched and I couldn't seem to say anything.

"Or even ten! If it's for hyeong, ten years is nothing."

There was something strangely admirable about how he just kept paving a new path for himself out of nothing. If I were in his position I would have died in shame the moment the kiss was rejected.

"You can't say a thirty year old is a kid, right?"

"Two thousand."

Finally, a couple of words got out.

Yi Gilyeong paused in his desperate campaign and blinked at me.

"In two thousand years, if you still feel the same way, we can talk about it then."

I expected to see understanding, disappointment, maybe even a little heartbreak slowly pass before the boy's eyes.

Instead however, they went distant, full of a deep consideration, and then a firm resolution appeared.

"Okay hyeong. But in two thousand years, we go on a real date. Deal?"

This brat was absolutely nuts?

He didn't even try to bargain? I should have said ten thousand.

But I had to laugh a little.

"Sure. Why not?"

If two-millennia-in-the-future me didn't want to make good on that promise, he could deal with it. I had enough problems right now.

For some reason, the boy's eyes glowed as if he'd achieved something magnificent.

He clenched his fist like preparing for battle.

"Until then I'll work to become the best guy for you."

What the hell did that mean?

I really didn't want to know.

Now that the can had been kicked down the road a ways I preferred to pretend this hadn't happened.

I resumed walking through the halls of Tartarus, feeling slightly untethered from my body, and heard Yi Gilyeong walking quickly to catch up.

"Hyeong, one more thing?"

"Hm?"

"How do I live that long? I'm only a human, remember?"

I made a vague gesture.

"We'll figure it out when you're older. You don't want to stop aging where you are right now anyway."

"That's true… tell me when you think I'm hottest and I'll stop aging there."

I didn't understand how such shameless words kept coming out of his mouth. It was embarrassing just to listen to him.

I spent the rest of our walk trying to redirect the boy's attention, though to little effect.

Finally, I sighed.

"What happened with Shin Yuseung. Weren't you asking her out?"

Yi Gilyeong scowled.

"She said 'Not in ten thousand years'."

Shit, my incarnation was good? I should have been more heartless.

In the end, I had to usher him into a portal out of the Underworld, and spent too much of my evening wondering how I could get Yi Gilyeong someone his own age to date.

It was truly regrettable, but there was only one person we might even hear me out.

I would have to ask Persephone.

Chapter Text

Yu Junghyeok's hands touched the paper smooth surface of the wall that was inscribed with thousands of lines of text.

⸢Yu Junghyeok wondered what was past the wall that seemed to stand like a bulwark at the end of the world.⸥

On that massive wall, words appeared that mirrored his thoughts and he stared in wonder.

⸢The Star Stream was defeated, but the protagonist found himself wanting to go further.

Unfortunately for him, the hero's unofficial sponsor knew it was impossible.⸥

On cue, a message appeared.

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says congratulations.]

Yu Junghyeok crossed his arms and glared at the wall.

"What is this wall doing here?"

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' smiles.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' asks if you can't enjoy your victory for even a moment.]

"I am enjoying it."

Yu Junghyeok said this with his usual lack of humor.

"But are the scenarios really over? That bastard kept blathering on about a lot of things."

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says that the Dokkaebi King has that nature.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says that you did the right thing, and there's nothing special past the wall.]

Yu Junghyeok looked unconvinced.

The Demon King of Salvation was unquestionably an ally, but he had a secretive nature as well.

His words couldn't be taken at face value.

"Then why is it here?"

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says it is called the Final Wall, and it records the world's stories.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says it isn't a bad thing.]

"Then why is it a wall? There must be something beyond it."

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' wonders why you're so curious suddenly.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' reminds you that you've been focused on nothing but success this whole time.]

This question seemed to make Yu Junghyeok thoughtful.

"I expected to find my ■■ here."

There was a lengthy pause before the next reply came.

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says that the scenarios must not contain your ■■.]

"Then this wall…"

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' shakes his head.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says to look behind you.]

Yu Junghyeok did, and even though he knew they would be there, it was still stunning to see all of the worn but pleased faces of the members of Pacheonmang.

The lifelong comrades he had made over these last few years of this hellish journey, each of them still alive and well thanks to the strength of their joined hands.

Yi Seolhwa smiled at him.

"Junghyeok-ssi, everyone wants to take some photos. Are you ready?"

Yu Junghyeok gestured to wait a moment and looked back toward the wall.

It extended in every direction for eternity. Yet it was called a 'wall', something must lie beyond it.

But he thought he could understand the Demon King of Salvation's meaning.

Perhaps it wasn't something he needed to see.

Still, he lingered for a moment.

"What about you?"

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' wonders what you mean.]

"Fool. I no longer need your help. Will you keep spying, then?"

Another hesitation before a reply.

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' admits he is tired anyway.]

Yu Junghyeok's brows drew together.

"You didn't even show up for the fight."

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' is amazed that you're such an ungrateful brat.]

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says you're too expensive for someone who isn't even an incarnation.]

Yu Junghyeok seemed to sense that something was off.

"Are you unwell?"

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says he'll be fine with some rest.]

"...will I see you again?"

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' thought you didn't need him anymore?]

"Because I don't need you, I don't know if you'll disappear."

The silence this time was quite long and the team began to pester Yu Junghyeok to join them again, but he delayed them.

"Demon King of Salvation, answer me."

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' says he will watch your story until the end.]

Yu Junghyeok seemed to find his answer agreeable and nodded.

"Then, when you wake up, I will catch you up on what you've missed."

In all this time, the constellation had never once mentioned needing rest. He understood that this 'nap' would not last a few hours.

There was no answer from the constellation, but the hair on top of Yu Junghyeok's head was ruffled as if from a gust of wind, and he thought he felt the brief weight of a small hand.

Smiling as if finally satisfied, Yu Junghyeok gave into the calls of his party and turned his back on the Final Wall.

As he left, he did not see the young boy floating with his legs crossed, yawning into one hand.

⸢Are yo u fi ne with thi s?⸥

"Why are you asking me that when if I tried anything else, you'd scold me? You were never going to let him past anyway."

⸢Do esn 't mean I want to se e yo u cry.⸥

"Stop saying nonsense. It's a good end? This is what I wanted."

⸢You want ed com pan y.⸥

"I have you?"

Impossibly, the 4th Wall seemed to wiggle happily at this, like a puppy scratched in just the right place.

The child sized Kim Dokja yawned and began fading slowly away.

"Now stop being a brat, I'm really damn tired. Wake me up in one year."

⸢Your prob ab il it y will still be low. Ten ye ars.⸥

"Ten?! I'll miss a third of his remaining life? One is plenty."

Bickering and bargaining, the god of the universe and his guardian disappeared temporarily from the world-line.

Yu Junghyeok knew it would be about five years before they reappeared.

-------

It took Yu Junghyeok a few moments to separate his own distant memories of the 0th Turn from the story that had just played before him.

He blinked several times while bathed in the story's golden glow.

Scattered in the air around him, 0th Turn was like a starry sky that lit up Kim Dokja's room and his peacefully sleeping figure.

Constellations of paragraphs glittered with vague memories of his past, and Yu Junghyeok found he was tempted to look closely at another.

But before he could, the story spoke.

[The story '0th Turn' hopes you remember now.]

Yu Junghyeok felt as if the story was chiding him.

"I already remembered."

[The story '0th Turn' says your memories are old.]

[The story '0th Turn' says this is why stories are written.]

Yu Junghyeok frowned, then slowly tilted his head in acknowledgement.

"It's fresher now. Is that why you've been calling me?"

For the last few days, whenever he was near Kim Dokja he'd felt an unexplained whisper.

At night it grew worse and he could hear it even through the castle's thick walls.

Finally, Yu Junghyeok had gotten tired of not understanding and simply broke into Kim Dokja's room by the balcony once he knew the man was asleep.

[The story '0th Turn' says there is one other reason.]

Yu Junghyeok frowned.

"What?"

In response, the stars coalesced and descended in a serpentine cluster around Kim Dokja's body.

For a moment Yu Junghyeok thought the story was disappearing into the other man's body again.

But then he realized that instead, it was pulling something out.

A fist sized golden ball of story was yanked out from around Kim Dokja's stomach.

Then, like a stopper removed from a barrel, dark words began gushing out.

No, Yu Junghyeok realized with a sense of sickliness that it looked like blood and intestines spilling from an open wound.

The symbols that emerged were black and irregular, like thoughts scribbled into the margins and half scratched out.

Unlike all of Kim Dokja's other stories, this one had no ethereal glow to it.

While 0th Turn flowed from form to form, this story stumbled and twitched.

Yu Junghyeok thought of a crippled creature struggling desperately for every inch.

Unconsciously he reached out and caught it in his hands.

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' stares at you.]

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' stutters out a greeting.]

In truth, Yu Junghyeok did not quite understand why the stories Kim Dokja held kept manifesting like this.

Stories had always had a life of their own, but Kim Dokja's took on a form that made them seem, if not human, at least alive in a way Yu Junghyeok had never considered them.

Even if it only looked like a disjointed mass of words and broken sentences, Yu Junghyeok could not shake the sensation he was supporting an injured child.

"...did you have something to tell me?"

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' wonders if it's really ok.]

"It is. I'll listen."

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' weakly begins with its telling.]

⸢A man and a woman argue about money.

The boy hears them through thin walls.

This burden they cannot afford.

Assets are divided.

Books into boxes.

Furniture into trucks.

Fuzzy faces argue over the value in stealing or selling.

The chair she sat in while reading.

The toys given out of guilt.

The vinyl records belonging to an unknown era and an even less known man.

Three lives liquidated. ⸥

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' says it has lost many pages.]

"It's enough. Keep going."

⸢Newscasters seemed relieved.

The poor child's life would be better.

A fresh start.

The woman never hits him, she only grabs him where she knew the bruises were.

The man never hits him, he only speaks in complaints and warnings.

The daughter never hits him, she only spreads the gossip that invites those who would.⸥

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' says it's a bit boring.]

"It is interesting. Continue."

⸢There is a crack.

There are cries of pain and whimpering.

The ambient air is full of shouting but no words can be distinguished.

The body under him shakes and curls and trembles but he will not be unseated.

The boy shrugs off everyone who tries to grab him and balls his small hands into fists.

He swings over and over without a single thought.

He sincerely feels it would be fine if this person died.

It is the only time he fights back.

It is the day after he's finished reading his mother's book.⸥

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' apologizes for the poor story.]

"There's nothing wrong with it. Is there more?"

⸢How can you cause so much trouble?

This is what the woman said.

The family is threatening legal action because of you.

That was what the man said.

Like mother, like son.

These words appeared in headlines.⸥

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' warns there won't be a satisfying conclusion.]

"That doesn't matter. Finish your story."

⸢The book hits the best seller charts.

The reporters return in droves.

The phone rings at all hours.

The man says, you can finally pull your own weight.

The woman says, do you know how much it costs to raise someone else's child?

So the boy sits in front of a camera.

Bruises covered by makeup.

He is warned to smile.

With halting words, he tells the story they want to hear.⸥

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' says that's all that's left.]

"You did well. Thank you."

By this point, Yu Junghyeok had gathered up the entirety of the story. It spread across his forearm like an unattractive tattoo.

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' says it's been a long time since anyone listened.]

Yu Junghyeok frowned.

He was not sure what it meant.

These were clearly painful memories, and if they were just that, he would not have expected Kim Dokja to revisit them.

He knew better than anyone the dangers of dwelling on the past.

Yet, as he tentatively stroked the quivering story, he felt there was no way this could be called anything other than 'sickly'.

[The story '0th Turn' wonders if you understand.]

Reluctantly, Yu Junghyeok shook his head.

The golden story perched on the sleeping Kim Dokja's chest rose like a serpent and appeared to peer at him.

[The story '0th Turn' believes these stories are key to reaching your ■■.]

It was a bit startling to hear it so bluntly, but Yu Junghyeok felt there was truth to this.

Rather, if he had any hope of clearing his scenario, perhaps a story like this must be read.

"Stories? How many more are there?"

The 0th Turn collapsed flat to Kim Dokja's form and revealed the hole that Understanding One's Worth had escaped from.

In that darkness, Yu Junghyeok could sense many stares.

These were not so eager to escape, but tentatively, another scraggly dark word emerged.

Yu Junghyeok reached for it.

He was not sure if this was right or wrong.

However, if there were stories of Kim Dokja desperate to be read, he would surely read them.

He was so consumed in these thoughts he didn't notice Kim Dokja's eyes opening.

One hand slapped across the hole and the other grabbed Yu Junghyeok's wrist.

"Junghyeok? What are you…"

Kim Dokja's voice was groggy but he still commanded his stories on reflex.

In an instant the hole was sealed up.

The 0th Turn seemed to try to melt back into him but Kim Dokja grabbed it by the scruff and blinked slowly at it.

"What are you up to now, traitor?"

It was the same tone Kim Dokja used when complaining to Yu Junghyeok about Yu Junghyeok.

[The story '0th Turn' says you've been neglectful.]

[The story '0th Turn' had to take care of some things.]

Kim Dokja frowned at this scolding while turning his attention to Yu Junghyeok.

And then to the story in Yu Junghyeok's arms.

His face became like someone who'd drank rancid milk.

Kim Dokja tried to snatch the Understanding One's Worth but Yu Junghyeok's reflexes were faster.

He slapped Kim Dokja's hand away and stood up out of arm's reach.

"Wha-- You're stealing my stories now??"

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' clings tightly to you.]

Yu Junghyeok regarded this pitiful sight and made a decision.

"...your stories are running away."

Kim Dokja was climbing out of bed and looking irritated.

"If you wanted one of the others I'd say you had the right, but that belongs exclusively to me. Give it back."

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' shakes its head.]

"It doesn't want to. How is it your skill in 'Story Control' is so high but you let your own stories end up in this state?"

"Having seen it, you really have to ask?"

Kim Dokja was wearing the smile he used when he was most aggravated.

Yu Junghyeok would normally refuse to give ground but in this case he backed up toward the balcony.

"Even if the memories are unpleasant..."

"So you reread 'The Weight of My Child's Corpse' often, then?"

Kim Dokja was no longer smiling and Yu Junghyeok's body went stiff.

A story that sometimes threatened his mind if he listened to it rustled inside of him.

Yu Junghyeok evened his breath and carefully ignored it until it rested again.

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' hangs its head.]

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' understands.]

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' says it will return.]

Kim Dokja sighed like it was exhausting but some of the anger seeped away and he stretched his hand out to the story.

"Come on, then. I'm sorry it's unpleasant, but I'm only a reader. I can't change your nature."

It was true, there was nothing Yu Junghyeok could do to change this story.

And much like he could not give up 'The Weight of My Child's Corpse', Kim Dokja had to contain his own tragedies.

And yet.

As Understanding One's Worth began to stretch out to Kim Dokja's hand, Yu Junghyeok yanked it back.

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' stumbles.]

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' stares at you in confusion.]

Kim Dokja's irritated smile was back.

"Bastard? Why are you interfering now?"

"...I don't like this conclusion."

Kim Dokja stared at him like he was an idiot, but Yu Junghyeok ignored it and spoke to the story instead.

"Hide for now. You can return another time."

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' doesn't understand why you'd do this.]

"I simply want to. Go."

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' hides among your stories.]

The black words and jagged sentences disappeared into Yu Junghyeok like a creature burying itself in sand.

Kim Dokja ran forward but it was too late.

He grabbed at Yu Junghyeok's arm but there wasn't a single character left to catch onto.

"Damn it?? Why are you such a busybody lately? Do I really have to kick your ass to get it back?"

"You are welcome to try it. Though it seems like another issue where your stories will not support you."

Kim Dokja scowled at 0th Turn, which he was still hanging onto.

"This is really what you want?"

[The story '0th Turn' says this is part of it.]

"In other words, you're going to keep being a nuisance?"

[The story '0th Turn' thinks you're the troublesome one.]

Kim Dokja's eyebrow twitched but he seemed to accept he wouldn't win this argument.

"Fine. This isn't over. But I'll let him keep it for now. Go back."

The 0th Turn seemed to accept this compromise and wrapped itself back up around Kim Dokja's arm and then faded into his skin.

Kim Dokja put a hand on his hip and glared.

The stars in his eyes were always more visible in the dark, but since coming to the Underworld, they hadn't seemed so far away.

Even now, though he was mad, he was also clearly 'present'.

Yu Junghyeok crossed his arms and waited for whatever complaint was coming.

However, instead of saying anything, Kim Dokja released his status.

Yu Junghyeok hadn't been prepared and felt his stomach roil and for the first time in a long time he had to resist the urge to vomit.

Blood leaked from his nose and he felt dizzy.

He was very familiar with Kim Dokja's status.

Of course, it had gotten quite impressive by the end of their journey, but it wasn't significantly greater than Yu Junghyeok's own.

However, even as he released his own status and it bolstered him, he could feel it wasn't enough.

His status was compressed and trembled under the weight of Kim Dokja's.

If this stand off went on for a long time, it could truly be dangerous.

And slowly, a cold smile spread across Kim Dokja's face.

The stars in his eyes sparkled.

"This isn't bad? Han Suyeong's book must be selling well."

Chapter Text

The busybody who had stolen one of my stories was staring in surprise as his status quivered under mine.

The power running through me was really heady.

It was a nice feeling but a dangerous one too, once again I missed having the 4th Wall to keep my head on straight.

"Kim Dokja, you--"

I didn't really want to listen to him right now.

"I have some things to do, so get out of here."

Then I flew at him with a punch backed by Way of the Wind and my new status.

The effect was completely over the top, even though he easily blocked me, the power was such that Yu Junghyeok flew impressively far.

His status wasn't enough to support him against mine so he arced over the balcony railing, over the walls of the palace, and disappeared.

It was a satisfying sight, but I didn't want to waste more time on him so I simply closed the balcony doors and turned the lock.

"Breaking into my bedroom and stealing stories… that guy's really turning into a stalker?"

[The story '0th Turn' says that no other method would have worked.]

"It not working is the point. When are you going to properly tell me what you're up to?"

Of course, it had turned out that 0th Turn was the ringleader in my stories' previous betrayal.

I had been suspecting Hellscape of Eternity, since that guy enjoyed seeing me fall on my face, but 0th Turn was the one most likely to be listened to by the majority of my stories.

The betrayal had stung a bit but I thought perhaps it wasn't surprising that a story where Yu Junghyeok was the protagonist would assist Yu Junghyeok in 'getting even'.

I was still miffed but in the end my relationship with Yu Junghyeok had felt better for the last few days so I'd decided to let it go.

However, this latest stunt revealed the 0th Turn was up to far more than just permitting some pettiness.

[The story '0th Turn' thinks you can trust it, or be an idiot. It is your choice.]

"Cheeky. I let him keep it, didn't I?"

[The story '0th Turn' doesn't think throwing him that far was necessary.]

"Who else am I going to test out this new power on? Most people would die."

[The story '0th Turn' sees you're still mad about the Biyu issue.]

"No, I got even for that. Now I'm mad about being thrown in shit. That's your fault so you should at least keep up."

[The story '0th Turn' wonders how you can be so childish.]

"Should I say something like I'm making up for lost time? You seem to have a lot of sympathy for that angle."

[The story '0th Turn' agrees that's a valid point.]

I had to roll my eyes.

"That was a joke. Stop obsessing over things that happened twenty thousand years ago."

[The story '0th Turn'...]

"No, be quiet. We're not going to agree on this. That book has obviously been released so I need to get back to work. Did you choose that story on purpose?"

[The story '0th Turn' wonders what you mean.]

I finished getting dressed and flashed a camera-ready smile in the mirror.

"Because, it's all about to begin again."

------

Yu Junghyeok stepped out of the portal from the Underworld, it set him down on Kim Dokja Company's roof.

After his encounter with Kim Dokja, he had messaged Persephone for a way back.

He didn't like not having a detailed sense of where Kim Dokja was through 'Love GPS', but what he needed to do next would be easier without the story's owner being around.

Especially considering the new difference in power.

Yu Junghyeok's arm was still throbbing where he absorbed the power of Kim Dokja's punch.

The problem was not the power of the strike, which hadn't even broken his arm, but the difference in status and the way probability bent in Kim Dokja's favor.

It was an interesting development, but they'd have to fight properly later.

Yu Junghyeok headed downstairs.

It wasn't difficult to find Han Suyeong, she always ended up in the same place when there was plotting being done.

"--telling them all 'no interviews' and that we'll release a state--- you bastard? Show some respect?"

He opened the door to her office without knocking and caught in the middle of a phone conversation.

"Um, Representative-nim…?"

The voice on the other end of the line inquired tentatively.

"Shit! Sorry. I will call you back. A nuisance just barged in. No interviews for now!"

"Understood Representa--"

She hung up the line before the speaker could finish and scowled at Yu Junghyeok.

"I'm sorry? Am I not busy enough already that you have to show up and bother me? Is that bastard back already?"

Yu Junghyeok shook his head.

"No, but he knows the book is out."

"Even he's not stupid enough to miss that."

"I don't believe he'll stay there."

"Why wouldn't he? He hates this stuff."

Yu Junghyeok shrugged.

This was his instinct.

Kim Dokja was avoidant of the relationships he didn't know how to handle, not the things in the world he hated but could manipulate to his advantage.

"He will return. If he does not, I will go back. But there was something regarding Operation Squid Rehab you need to see without his interference."

Han Suyeong looked at her monitor where dozens of tabs were open to various news outlets, then to Yu Junghyeok, and sighed.

"Fine. You better not be wasting my time."

"Do not forget our priorities."

"I don't want to hear that from someone trying to snog the patient."

Yu Junghyeok's face went stiff and he revealed nothing.

"That is not what happened."

"Though if you hadn't also snogged the daughter it might not even have been a bad idea?"

"Shut up, you don't know anything."

"All I want to know is if you two stupid bastards sorted it out."

Yu Junghyeok didn't honestly know the answer to that.

Kim Dokja had been less outright angry with him but still generally prickly since the dog shit incident.

If Yu Junghyeok had to put words to it, he would guess that Kim Dokja had accepted the matter with Biyu with his head but not his heart.

"It's none of your business."

Is what he said while rolling down the sleeve of the arm where Understanding One's Worth disappeared.

"It's my business when you--"

Yu Junghyeok ignored her and spoke to the story.

"Come out. There's someone else here who will want to hear your story."

Han Suyeong stopped with her mouth half open as the disjointed and dark words emerged from Yu Junghyeok's arm.

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' gives a tentative greeting.]

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' says thank you for the help.]

"It isn't worth thanking."

"What the shit--"

Han Suyeong was on her feet and peering over the small story.

"You kidnapped one of Kim Dokja's traumas?!"

She sounded somewhere between impressed and offended.

"It wished to leave."

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' says Yu Junghyeok was really brave.]

"Oh, it likes you?"

Yu Junghyeok scowled at her teasing, then gently prodded the story.

"Show her what you showed me."

Han Suyeong was endlessly irritating, but she was the author and would know best what to do with a story like Kim Dokja's.

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' slowly and carefully begins its telling.]

------

After the story finished its telling, Han Suyeong demanded Yu Junghyeok tell her what else had gone on, and only sat back to think after she had all of the details.

The sight of the sad and malnourished story tugged at her heart, but she couldn't say she was surprised that the reader treated his own stories like this.

As a metaphor for his issues, it was so on the nose she wanted to slap him around a little.

"I can't believe that bastard suggested we publish while hiding a story like this."

It would probably be fine. Afterall, the press had hounded them all through the scenarios and he had simply kept his head down without freaking out. Still, she had underestimated how disruptive his mother's book had been to his past.

"The world still has the right to know."

She waved Yu Junghyeok off.

"Don't tell me what I already know? It's done anyway. We'll just keep that lying asshole away from the cameras."

Yu Junghyeok nodded.

"That is not the most pressing matter. I can't keep this story forever."

Han Suyeong realized she's gotten so caught up in the story that she forgot that Yu Junghyeok had stolen it for some reason. As topical as it was, it wouldn't make sense just to warn her that Kim Dokja might be retraumatizing himself.

"So give it back? Why did you bring it, anyway?"

Yu Junghyeok had taken a chair and cradled the story like a baby.

It was actually quite sweet? She wondered when he'd gotten so soft.

He scowled at her question.

"Why else? It obviously isn't well."

He mouth bobbed a few times and Han Suyeong couldn't decide if she wanted to laugh or curse.

"You… you want me to nurse a story back to health? How much of a fucking idiot are you?"

He growled at her.

"This is the very thing we're supposed to be addressing with Operation Squid Rehab."

"We're rehabilitating the squid. We can't actually fix him by fixing his stories! Hell, if we could, it would be like rewriting his character? Is that what you want?"

Yu Junghyeok's brows quivered and pulled together and she could tell he didn't like her answer, but knew she was right.

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' understands.]

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' says it is okay.]

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' knows its nature can't be changed.]

Han Suyeong had wanted to mock Yu Junghyeok some more but these messages twisted her own heart as well, and she understood what the stupid protagonist was struggling with.

This was like the moment where the hero must contend with the fact that sometimes suffering simply existed in the world.

That not everything could be saved.

However, Yu Junghyeok had learned that lesson a hundred million times over.

And Han Suyeong was the one who wrote those hundred million lessons for him.

It was Kim Dokja who was unsatisfied and forced them to believe in a world where you could save everything you wanted to save.

Feeling suddenly cranky, she drummed her fingers on the table.

Yu Junghyeok began to stand.

"If you're going to give up--"

"Shut up, dog shit bastard. Sit down."

Yu Junghyeok appraised her.

"You have an idea?"

[The story 'Pragmatic Plagiarism' is beginning its telling.]

"Just be quiet and let me think."

-------

"Mother?"

I poked my head into one of Persephone's favorite sitting rooms but found she wasn't here either.

[She is visiting the outside world.]

A shadow that hung near the ceiling coalesced into a man with sparkling, pitch black eyes.

He was handsome enough to slap Yu Junghyeok's cheeks at least once.

"F-father."

I hadn't really thought about it, but this was the first time since visiting that I'd been alone with Hades.

The lack of Persephone's presence creating a comfortable buffer between us was immediately apparent.

I had been feeling better seeing him more often but it seemed this person still made me nervous.

"She, ah, didn't mention anything about that? Did something happen?"

One of Hades' eyebrows lifted a tiny fraction. If I hadn't adapted to reading Yu Junghyeok's face, I might not have noticed.

[You cannot be unaware. You've clearly noticed your status rising.]

A concerning thought occurred to me.

"It's something to do with that book…?"

Hades nodded and began to glide across the room toward me.

[You're surprised? It's an important moment in your myth.]

I hadn't mentioned the book to my parents at all but it wasn't a surprise Persephone had found out. She had consulted for the writing of it, after all.

Still, I couldn't imagine why she'd go to the outside world for it.

"What is she doing? Going to a bookstore?"

Of course I was joking.

[It seems copies are scarce, so she's in line.]

My mouth hung open.

"You're joking?"

[I believe she has made it a date with Sugyeong.]

The image of Persephone standing outside in the early dawn waiting on a bookstore to open was exchanged by the somehow even worse mental image of her and my mother doing this together.

I felt the sudden need to sit and all but fell into one of Persephone's couches.

"If you guys wanted copies I could have gotten them…"

[It's meaningful for her to do it herself. I would have joined them but it isn't wise for both of us to be gone at the same time.]

Briefly the idea of Hades standing shrouded in shadow outside the bookstore appeared in my mind as well, and I had to forcefully banish the image.

I laughed weakly.

Hades sat on the couch nearby.

[I will not unduly spoil myself. I will not read it until after you've finished telling your story.]

I sat up a bit straighter.

"Is it that much better to see it?"

[The Architect of the False Last Act is a capable writer, but if I am to understand what the Hades in this world-line knew, it is better it be told by you.]

"You know there is not any obligation…"

Hades gave me a piercing look and whatever assurances I was trying to say dried to the surface of my tongue.

[There is an obligation. You are my son.]

I suddenly felt bad.

This Hades didn't even know my story yet still was forced to play the role of father.

"But it isn't fair to you."

Hades continued to stare at me and I struggled to explain,

"It must be difficult? To have the expectations of another world-line put on you. I know you and Persephone wanted a child for a long time, but to have someone you don't even know suddenly appear…"

[It is strange.]

Hades acknowledged, the dark gaze that had been trapping me seemed to turn inward.

[But I have seen countless strange things.]

I opened my mouth to spill more reassurances, but Hades lifted a single finger and I was silenced.

Noticing the tiniest quiver in his eyebrows, I wondered if he was thinking hard on his words?

It was difficult to imagine, but that was the meaning when Yu Junghyeok's brow did the same.

[You seem to believe I have had no choice, but I made my choice long ago. My wife loves you, this alone is sufficient.]

Truly, I didn't know what to say to this.

My lips bobbed a few times but I felt struck.

We had been having fun these past couple of weeks but it was hard to believe anyone would be truly content at being saddled with an unexpected son.

"...isn't it a burden?"

[We have spent countless years wishing for such a burden.]

I felt weak and wished I had simply walked out of the room when I hadn't seen Persephone.

Somehow all the new power I had acquired did nothing to prop me up in this situation.

I tried to smile.

"I'm sorry, it's difficult to understand."

Hades rose to his feet and I felt a moment of hope that this conversation was over.

However, instead he slowly placed a hand on my head.

[We have no shortage of time.]

The hand was heavy but strangely comforting.

Somewhere deep inside, where a hole had been opened up in me earlier, several stories began to murmur and shake.

Chapter Text

Shin Yuseung crept up to the door that Yi Seolhwa had disappeared into a few minutes prior.

Before that, Han Suyeong had also gone in there.

She had asked a bird to take a look through the window for her and confirmed that Yu Junghyeok and a small doll were also inside.

Uriel wasn't even in the country right now, so that she was taking the time to attend a meeting most of Kim Dokja's company wasn't invited to was extremely suspicious.

No, even if they were all part of the same nebula, those four people were simply not ones who kept close company.

There could only be one reason.

She was determined to get to the bottom of it.

She pressed her ear carefully to the door.

Muffled sounds came through but she couldn't make out anything like words.

Next she tried the door handle, carefully, and found it was unlocked.

To be honest, it was nerve wracking.

She knew everyone still thought of her as a child, and in particular since the end of the scenarios they had all been very encouraging of her resuming a normal life.

For this reason, of course they would keep her out of important matters.

But being shut out from the decisions of the 'adults' wasn't what she wanted.

Taking a deep breath she forcefully opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind her in one smooth motion.

Four sets of eyes turned toward her.

"Hey! Dammit, Seolhwa did you not lock it?"

"Yuseung, why are you here…?"

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is surprised!]

Yu Junghyeok said nothing, merely watched her with crossed arms.

But what caught her eye was none of these people, it was the crooked story glowing with a timid blue light that skittered off of the table to hide behind Yu Junghyeok.

From it she felt an echo of her sponsor.

"--Is that one of ahjussi's stories?!"

Han Suyeong drew an exasperated hand across her face.

"God, you're never going to leave now are you?"

"I- I wasn't going to anyway. You guys were obviously up to something involving ahjussi in here."

Han Suyeong tsked.

"It's nothing that dramatic. Don't you have enough to worry about?"

Yi Seolhwa had been working on her laptop and didn't seem very disturbed by Shin Yuseung's arrival.

"If you try to keep her out now, you'll only worry her more. Junghyeok-ssi, why don't you handle the introductions?"

Shin Yuseung bit her lip and locked the door behind her before moving around the meeting room to try to get a better look.

There was no denying that this story belonged to her sponsor, but why were its words so frail?

Kim Dokja's stories were always written in precise text and glowed with powerful light.

Yu Junghyeok briefly glanced at the doll sitting on the table.

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' thinks his incarnation could be helpful.]

With a nod, he gestured for the story to emerge from hiding.

"It's from Kim Dokja's past."

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' greets the protagonist's incarnation.]

The story that appeared on Yu Junghyeok's shoulder was lead grey and seemed to stand on a thousand pencil thin legs made of malformed characters. Still, it pulsed with a dim blue light and, if Shin Yuseung had learned anything from reading the body language of thousands of beasts, she felt it wasn't as timid as it appeared.

Carefully, she reached a hand up to stroke the spine-like words.

"Hello, will you please tell me your story?"

---------

Due to the time distortion I couldn't tell how long Persephone had been gone, but she returned from the Peninsula with an arm full of shopping bags and bustling with energy.

She was in a good mood so I was hoping for an easy ride out of here.

"Mother, as you and father have noticed, it's an important time in my myth, and--"

[Ufufu, is it time?]

I wasn't allowed to finish and she whipped out a newly purchased silk fan and spread it before her grin.

[If you're on your way back to play games with the mortals you must be ready to settle your game with your mother first.]

I blinked at her.

"Game?"

[A good try, my love. It shall not work.]

Of course, it was too much to hope she would have forgotten.

I sighed.

"Have you prepared your guess, then?"

With a mysterious smile Persephone signaled for me to take a seat and went to fold against her husband's side on her favorite sitting couch. She held out the fan to hide their faces as they whispered to each other.

I couldn't imagine she was just now making a decision, so this had to all be theater, but if it was on any other topic I might have found it charming.

After a few minutes, the fan was lowered.

[Ufu, we are prepared. However, first let us consider the details.]

"You're really having fun with this."

Persephone tsked at me for not playing along and then continued.

[There is Yu Junghyeok, who you ran away from in a tizzy and arrived with a broken nose and covered in love bites.]

I really needed to find a way to get that Judge fired.

[And Han Suyeong, who you spent a night with along with some of my favorite wines.]

As expected, I had gotten lectured for that but by a Persephone who seemed unduly delighted to have an excuse to lecture.

The corner of the fan tapped against her cheek.

[And then, there is the dark horse contender. A young man who's been anmored since childhood….]

"Mother, please… don't encourage him."

[He hardly seems to need it? If we were playing this game a few decades later he might even be in the running.]

"Absolutely not. Now, are you stalling?"

Instead of answering me, she rose to her feet.

I blinked up at her but before I could stand as well, she settled down next to me on the couch.

Her hips and shoulders brushed mine and for some reason I felt the game had gotten unexpectedly serious.

[My child, the answer was obvious from the second you arrived. I lover's quarrel if I have ever seen one. I had hoped that with some time you and Junghyeok might reconcile, but…]

One of Persphone's ivory fingers tugged my collar to the side to expose an unmarred shoulder.

"Mother."

I scolded her and shifted away.

[It seems it will take a while yet?]

"I'm sorry you'll be waiting a while yet for an in-laws."

I was not actually sorry.

"Probably forever."

I meant it as a joke.

Well, it was true but it was also a joke.

However, for some reason she looked at me with sad eyes.

[Oh darling… that leads me to the first question.]

I had already planned for this.

Of course I wanted to hope she would guess either Yu Junghyeok or Han Suyeong but I hadn't put much effort into deceiving her.

I thought it wouldn't be the worst to answer her questions now that nothing was going on and that was all in the past.

[Is that what you want?]

But things never went according to plan with this person.

"Sorry?"

[To never fall in love, is that your wish?]

I suppose my mouth must have hung open.

Even if I hadn't already decided not to lie in this place again, my mind could come up with neither a truth or a lie.

I could sense Persephone and Hades eyes on me, but neither of them broke the silence to save me.

I finally lifted my hands in defeat.

"I've never thought about it?"

Persephone's eyes, always bright with some joke or game, were for once clouded and reserved.

[Is that your answer?]

"If you're going to demand a straightforward answer, then it's going to be 'No, I don't want it'. Sorry, I really can't imagine something like that."

Slowly her gaze sharpened and she seemed to share a look with her husband.

Hades remarked in a calm voice.

[If that is your answer, then it is your answer. There is no use forcing it.]

Persephone tsked.

[There is a difference between 'forcing' and 'creating opportunities'. But I will accept your honesty for now.]

"You don't need to 'create opportunities' either. I'm busy enough as it is."

[That is for your mother to decide.]

She dismissed me with a wave of her fan.

[Next question, what did you and that boy fight about?]

"There's someone on his list of romance options who shouldn't be."

Persephone perked up curiously.

[Ufu, it's jealousy, then?]

"It's not jealousy."

[Hm? Then?]

I smiled at her.

"Is that your third question?"

A closed fan swatted me on the shoulder.

[Playing coy now? I left you alone the entire visit.]

"That was your idea of being left alone?"

Persephone's bright eyes glittered dangerously at me.

Of course I didn't want to talk about it.

To someone from Olympus nothing would be strange about the father and daughter being with the same person.

Even if a lot of my anger had cooled down, I really didn't want to hear the opinion of yet another person who wouldn't understand.

[Very well, then, final question--]

"Hang on, are you going to monopolize them? Shouldn't father get a chance?"

A pout settled on Persephone's lips, and I could see her weighing her options.

But after a moment she seemed to let it go with a sigh.

[Very well, child. You escape this time.]

She turned back to Hades.

[Love, what will you ask our son?]

The God of the Underworld regarded me from where he made a small sofa look like a throne.

His eyes were dark but piercing, and after several months of silence, he spoke.

[When will you return to tell the rest of your story?]

Though I should have felt relief instead I was surprised.

Was this guy that curious?

I thought I caught Persephone briefly look skyward, but then she huffed.

[I do want to know that too. If we schedule a date will you show up?]

"Well, if you both are so eager to hear it. There's something you can do…"

--------

"So? What do you think?"

Shin Yuseung sat with tears quivering on the edge of falling.

Her lips cut downward in an angry frown.

When she spoke, her voice was warm with fury.

"I think I hate those people. Are they still alive?"

Han Suyeong shot a curious look at the story who was crouching on the table between them.

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' doesn't know.]

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' doubts the protagonist would care.]

"Are you going to hunt them down?"

Shin Yuseung's face went tight with greater anger, but her indecision was obvious.

While struggling with her words, the Uriel doll wobbled across the table and grabbed one of Shin Yuseung's hands.

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' understands, but also knows the 'Demon King of Salvation' would not want that.]

"She's right. We've all thought about it but even if they're not dead they'd be like sixty now anyway? You gonna go beat up some old bastards?"

The words had the desired effect and Shin Yuseung's anger seemed to rush out of her all at once.

With it, so did a few tears.

She brushed them angrily away.

"I know! I'm sorry, it's just…"

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' apologizes.]

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' knows this is why it isn't supposed to tell its story.]

"No!"

At these heart wrenching words, Shin Yuseung reached across the table to grab onto the retreating story.

"Even sad stories have to be heard. Ahjussi… he read all of our stories even when they were awful, why shouldn't we get to do the same?"

At her words, the steely light that had been slowly growing within the story over the last two days pulsed a tiny bit brighter.

Han Suyeong shifted a hand to hide her grin.

Actually, this girl pushing her way in was a good thing?

Maybe they could take this further.

"It's not just a sad story anyway, right?"

Shin Yuseung blinked at her leading question.

"Well… not exactly..."

She spoke like one of Han Suyeong's students after being called to answer before the class.

"What else did you notice about it?"

"Ah. I thought that… ahjussi… has always been really kind."

All of the eyes in the room focused on Shin Yuseung and some pink appeared on her ears.

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' doesn't understand.]

"This story… the way it's told, it doesn't have a hero or a villain. Already in my head I think of those two as that bitch and that bastard--"

Han Suyeong coughed on a laugh and Shin Yuseung gave her a fierce look.

"--They deserve it! What kind of monster uses a kid's tragedy to make money? It's not even in this story but we all know they got the money from Sugyeong-ahjumma's book, too!"

"Sorry, sorry."

Han Suyeong waved a lollipop in her direction.

"Obviously I hate them and if I ever see them will set them on fire, et cetera et cetera. Please, continue."

Shin Yuseung licked her lips but seemed emboldened by the teacher's agreement and turned back to the story.

"See? It's obvious they are awful. But you never say that when you tell the story. Because… ahjussi. He didn't think about it that way, did he?"

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' is hesitating.]

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' has no love for those people…]

"Then why not call them what they are??"

Some distress was leaking into Shin Yuseung's fervent words.

"Why not… why not tell us how ahjussi felt then? Living with those shitheads?"

[The story 'Understanding's One Worth' says it is only a story about One's Worth…]

The girl shook her head vigorously.

"That's not true! You know it isn't. It's all there between the lines. You… you're like ahjussi. If you don't say it clearly you'll pretend it's not there. But why not just say it? What's going to happen if you do?"

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' is hesitating…]

"Just try it once? Please? I want to hear it."

Han Suyeong was enraptured.

Well, it made sense that Kim Dokja's incarnation would actually be a pretty good reader herself?

But the casual drop of the rare curse to show her disgust.

The way she didn't hesitate to turn those wet, earnest eyes on the story and ask for a single favor.

She was really a master? Han Suyeong had to give this kid kudos.

The story was still caught and the collective characters seemed to scrape against each other as it trembled.

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' says it can try.]

The girl's eyes lit up.

"Thank you! Please, tell me again."

[The story 'Understanding One's Worth' is beginning its telling.]

------

After that it became like a dog training session.

Understanding One's Worth would tell its story, and Shin Yuseung would interrupt, critique, praise, and pet.

Like handling one of her beasts, the story was at once at the mercy of her attention yet hyper alert for cues on how to improve its behavior.

Han Suyeong watched for a while then gradually scooted her office chair up next to Yu Junghyeok so she could whisper with him.

"See? I told you this would work?"

"You never mentioned any part of this. Don't try to steal her success."

Han Suyeong clicked her tongue and jabbed him in the side.

"Don't fuck with me? What did I tell you exactly?"

"You said stories are changed by the people who read them."

"And is this not that?"

"If you had known Beastlord would tame it, you would've brought her in yesterday."

"Aht, so what? It's true I underestimated how far she'd take this. But my fundamentals are flawless. The perspective of the reader influences the story. We should be able to give it back in a lot better shape than when you stole it."

"I did not steal--"

"Of course, it doesn't really change anything? But maybe Kim Dokja will read it again and see his own past in a new light."

Han Suyeong waited for a prickly response from her incarnation, but none came.

She looked up at his face.

His brows were drawn together and his gaze was far away.

She was already familiar with this face.

It was the 'stalking Kim Dokja' face.

"Is he on the move again?"

"He has returned from the Underworld."

"Hm, if we can keep him out of this room for the next few hours, Yuseung might be able to give him a whole new--"

"He is not within the compound."

Han Suyeong was about to ask where the hell else he would go, but abruptly several messages began to flood her phone.

She had a bad feeling.

"That dogshit bastard…"

She began cursing him before even seeing what he had done, but in her heart she knew the answer.

Taking only a moment to skim the messages she reached for a remote and turned on the TV in the meeting room.

The live feed showed a crowd that was a mix of reporters, protestors, and fans.

The setting was easily recognizable as being right outside the walls of the [Industrial Complex].

The crowd had formed a half circle around two people.

One, a man in a white coat with a beautiful and fake smile.

The other, an unfamiliar woman pointing some sci-fi-like gun at him.

[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' gasps!]

"Ahjussi!"

"This fool."

"God dammit, what the fuck is that bastard up to already??"

Chapter Text

"Oh? I didn't expect this to start already. You must be a really fast reader?"

I was being 'held up' by a woman holding a laser gun.

"I read enough."

The woman obviously hated me and was here for vengeance or something like that.

I decided to see what I could dig up on her.

[The skill 'Character List' is populating relationship information.]

+

[Character Information]

Name: Park Yunyeong

Age: 3? years old

Relationship Status: Vengeful Harbinger Lvl 4

Keystone Relationships: ??

Romantic Interests: ??

Acquired Skills: ??

Active Personal Scenario: [Reflection] Rank: D | Time Remaining: 7 Days

Additional Details: Your intimacy with this character is low. Spend time engaging with them and their interests to unlock additional information.

+

Vengeful Harbinger sounded dramatic, but the level was surprisingly low? Did that mean she wasn't as committed as she appeared?

"So you didn't read it properly, then? I thought if that book was going to teach people anything, it's the importance of reading until the end."

"The end is exactly what I read! You, everything that happened was because of you and you have the fucking audicity to sell that story now??"

"If you had read it properly that wouldn't surprise you?"

Park Yunyeong turned a furious shade of red.

I lifted my hand to stall her and looked around at the rest of the crowd.

The reporters were easy to pick out. They all had cameras and microphones on hand, but everyone had made space and silence for the woman with a gun.

Then there were picketers, with signs decrying me and my nebula for various things. This was much like back during the scenarios, only the crowd was still small for now.

Then, strangely, the fans.

It was easy to identify them since they were wearing merch for Kim Dokja's Company and when I looked over them they lit up and tried to wave me over.

I looked away.

Of the lot, the woman who wanted to kill me was definitely the least troublesome.

I sighed and turned back to Park Yunyeong.

I hadn't thought I'd be dealing with this immediately but since she was here it might as well be caught on camera.

"So, are you here to try and kill me?"

Naturally, this wasn't a concern.

The knuckles of her hands were white and she seemed to be wrestling with her thoughts.

"Can you bring them back? People are saying you're a god so… can you?"

I smiled at her without any sympathy.

"I'm glad you asked."

Probably because she hadn't read the book, for a moment hope seemed to fill her eyes.

"Obviously it's impossible."

"You--"

Her face went pale.

Her mouth hung open.

She stormed toward me and the nose of her weapon pressed up against my chest.

"You've died, haven't you?! A dozen times!"

It wasn't that much, was it?

"If you can come back, then--"

"Even if I could, I wouldn't."

I really saw hatred settle in her eyes at that moment.

"People can call me a god if they want, but praying won't do you any good. My power isn't for you."

As I said this I looked toward the cameras.

"You… you…"

Park Yunyeong was stuttering, not from surprise, but her own rage churning up her words.

"Fuck you! Who is praying?! You owe me-- you owe the world this much. I was ten! I lost everything and everyone. And you-- You brought the world to an end and you aren't even going to try and fix it?!"

"Hey! You bitch! Kim Dokja-ssi isn't like--"

A voice from the gaggle of fans spoke up.

I made a gesture for silence.

The fans and reporters were all quiet.

Park Yunyeong also was waiting for my response.

To be honest, I knew perfectly well her words were more or less true.

I had no defense.

But I didn't need one.

It wasn't as if I was in the world of my own will.

"What were you doing before the book came out?"

She gave me a guarded look.

"What do you care?"

"Well, it's true that I don't. Let me just guess what you weren't doing instead, okay?"

"What the hell does it matter?"

I smiled.

"For example, you were not turning over every stone in this world looking for a way to revive your loved ones."

She looked at me like I'd slapped her.

"You bastard…"

"Does it hurt to hear it? You ran over here ready to tell me your sob story, but has your grief ever moved you enough to do anything about it?"

"There's no way…"

"How do you know? What have you tried?"

"I…"

"Did you gather my stories and try to steal my secrets? Did you search for the only remaining dokkaebi? Did you talk to the remaining constellations? Did you petition the Queen of the Underworld even once?"

"That… that isn't possible for--"

"Why didn't you travel to the other world-line with my nebula? Wasn't there an open invitation to anyone who took it seriously?"

"And go through the scenarios again? There's no way--"

"Then why not look for another way to reach other world-lines? Ask a transcendent to train you so you could surpass human limitations and travel the universe? Summon a powerful Demon King to sell your soul to? Did you sacrifice even--"

"Shut up! Who the hell are you to be so smug? This is your fault!"

I could see tears blurring her vision but at this range she didn't need to see to be able to shoot me.

The gun was a star relic named Twin Dawn.

It was the favored weapon of a famed brigand turned constellation from a distant planet that was never given a name in Ways to Survive, but in my time as the Most Ancient Dream I learned it was called Tryneus.

Of course, what she held was not the original, but merely a replica sold by the Mass Production Maker.

Meaning it was a copy where neither constellation involved in its story still lived, held by a person with a weak status at best.

Needless to say, the beam fizzled out without even damaging my clothes.

Park Yunyeong looked startled.

Honestly, what had she thought would happen?

I continued as if nothing had happened.

"If the only thing you'll do to bring back what you've lost is guilt trip the person you hate, then you accepted their deaths a long time ago."

Finally, with these words, hopelessness settled like a fog over her resentment.

"You really are a bastard…"

"If you'd read it properly, that wouldn't be a surprise either."

I kept my cold smile up as I turned away from her and back to the cameras.

"Did you all get that? I'd appreciate it if your viewers listened carefully as well."

Now that I had finally addressed them, the reporters seemed to be knocked out of a daze and rushed toward me.

Park Yunyeong was walled away by cameras and microphones.

"Demon King of Salvation, does this mean you won't use your power to help humanity?"

"Are you claiming to truly be a god now?"

"Do you stand behind everything that was written in Han Suyeong-ssi's book?"

"Are you controlling the new scenarios?"

Of course this was their response. Park Yunyeong was a normal and prideful human, just trying to grasp onto the hope of a miracle. She would still be ashamed when her weaknesses were laid bare.

Reporters had no such qualms.

My smile must have changed a bit because a few of them looked me in the eye and then pulled back.

That felt rather good?

I decided to activate the [Demon King Transformation].

Horns grew out of my forehead and black wings arced out of my shoulder blades.

It was unnecessarily dramatic, but they couldn't complain since capturing drama was their job.

Even so, now several of the reporters were starting to look nervous.

A circle of space was cleared before me.

"As for the rest of you, you are each already aware of Kim Dokja's Company's policy on this kind of harassment, right? There are proper channels if you want an interview, camping outside the gate--"

"There's no law, this is public land."

A young woman in a business suit interrupted me while shoving a microphone in my face.

I took the microphone from her hand and spoke into it like this was staged.

"As I was saying, it's really annoying? Do you think I'll answer the questions of someone who can't respect our policy?"

"Kim Dokja's Company has been refusing all interviews for months. You can't drop a bomb like "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint" and expect the people to not want answers."

The cameraman with her was looking uncertain but the woman didn't bend.

"What a good point that I might respond to if you'd patiently respected our policy. However, since you're all incapable of even that much--"

There was grumbling from reporters at my insulting tone but I kept going.

"--I'll give everyone here a choice."

I snapped my fingers and behind me, a dark portal appeared in the air.

[Constellation 'Demon King of Salvation' has opened a portal to the Underworld.]

Even if they were old enough to remember the previous scenarios, most survivors hadn't personally witnessed this kind of power.

Eyes went wide as saucers and cameras tried to capture both me and the portal in frame.

Some of the more prudent ones started backing further away.

"My parents recently gave me the keys to the [Underworld], and I'm a bit interested to try it out. I'll consider anyone who is still here in ten seconds to be a volunteer."

There was an immediate panicked murmur among the reporters that quickly raised into shouts.

"Are you threatening us??"
"He wouldn't!"
"This is illegal--"

[One.]

I used my true voice to cut through the noise.

Silence settled immediately and dozens of eyes stared at me as if trapped.

[Two.]

The reporter whose microphone I stole was staring at me calculating eyes, but all around her the others began to shuffle their feet in disarray.

[Three.]

It only took one of them breaking for the whole crowd to fold as one. Like a wave that had crashed and was pulling away from the shore, they began to flee.

[Four.]

I made a point to make eye contact with the protesters next. They had pulled away from the reporters as if hoping to not be involved, but when I smiled and pointed they began to scatter as well.

I briefly saw Park Yunyeong one last time, her gaze was still hateful, but now very uncertain. One of the other protestors pulled her along in the escape.

[Five.]

That left only the fans.

Some of them also immediately began to back away under my gaze, and finally run.

[Six.]

However, two teens remained, they held hands and began to chatter excitedly the moment I made eye contact.

"Dokja-ssi, would you really let us go?"

"Could I meet Persephone-nim and Hades-nim?!"

[Seven.]

"Is Kim Namwun-ssi doing alright?"

"Oh! Could we meet Kim Namwun?!"

"Do you kids think this a joke??"

The last one to speak up was the female reporter who had badgered me earlier. Her cameraman must have run off because she now had a camera on one shoulder and was glaring at me.

Well, I had hoped to chase them all off, but getting rid of all but three wasn't too bad.

"The Demon King of Salvation isn't going to hurt us? You reporters are all cowards because you don't know anything."

It seems someone had read it after all.

The reporter looked offended but I interrupted before these two mini Uriels could interfere further.

"If you read it properly, then you also should know it wasn't a bluff?"

Activating Way of the Wind, I gathered the three up.

"Yes! Yes!"

"Are we going? Can we really go!?"

"You-- Kim Dokja! You can't--!"

While the reporter screamed at me I stole her camera as well. It probably wouldn't work in the Underworld but best to be sure.

"You bastard! Give it ba--"

One furious reporter and two kids glowing like I had just promised them ten million won were quickly whisked into the portal to the Underworld.

I closed the portal after them.

There was a sudden deafening silence where the crowd had once been.

I felt pretty pleased with myself?

At least a hundred meters away I spotted a cameraman who was recording while hiding behind the edge of the building and waved at him cheerfully.

With a look of terror he disappeared.

------

On my way back into the [Industrial Complex] I sent a few messages to the Underworld.

A Judge would give the three a scare then drop them off in the middle of Seoul.

Persephone chided me a bit but I could tell she was having fun.

Hades warned me the Underworld was not a dumping ground for my inconveniences, but it seemed I'd gotten away with it just this once.

I used Electrification to destroy the camera and microphone and dropped them into the garbage.

I was in a good mood and thought about wandering the compound for a bit, but a short woman with sharp eyes appeared in front of me.

Of course that wouldn't be the end of it, but I had hoped to avoid the fall out a little while longer.

I was expecting to be hit or threatened for making an unnecessary ruckus.

However, as I opened my mouth to defend myself I noticed Han Suyeong was glaring at me with complex eyes but not saying a word.

I blinked at her and waited in silence for several seconds.

She seemed to be thinking really seriously?

Finally, I couldn't take it.

"...did something happen?"

As if my voice started time again, Han Suyeong let out a loud and dramatic sigh and began to dig candy out of her pocket.

"You don't have any fucking idea what kind of a mess you just caused, do you? You better be planning to stick around and help deal with it."

Somehow though, her tone was wrong.

I thought she sounded a little pleased?

"What's there to deal with? All they can do is complain, and the more they talk the more powerful we get."

"Tch, don't make it sound like you were being clever? You just wanted to piss them off, didn't you?"

I grinned at her.

"Why do I have to pick just one?"

Han Suyeong bridged the gap between us and a lemon candy was pressed up between my lips.

I wasn't sure when she'd developed this habit.

"It was fun to watch so I'll forgive your stupidity this once."

I sucked idly on the candy and we began walking into the compound.

"You're in a surprisingly good mood?"

"Shouldn't I be?"

Han Suyeong grinned up at me.

"I'm on my way to being this world's most famous author. Instead of harassing reporters you should be throwing me a party."

I hadn't thought about it at all, but actually, she had a point?

I had complicated feelings about her most recent book.

I hadn't suggested publishing it because it was a story I wanted to share with the world.

Rather, I knew that however I felt about it, above all I was obligated to share that story.

But it wasn't as if that story hadn't arrived out of nowhere.

It was still crafted carefully from the thoughts and hands of my favorite author.

The author who had kept writing my favorite story for so many years.

Even though the view count never went above 'one'.

Now that person's work was going to be known across the world.

It wouldn't just be a bestseller.

It would probably be taught in classrooms for decades or centuries to come.

Afterall, it was the story of the end and beginning of this world from the one partially responsible.

Some people would hate or judge her for it.

But no one wouldn't know her work or her name.

My chest felt a little tight suddenly.

Han Suyeong's grin wavered and she gaped at me.

"W-what is that face for?"

I fixed my face and smiled brightly while putting my hands on her shoulders and steering her into the HQ.

"Hey! What the hell?"

"You're right? This is a special day. I'll make you a cake."

"Cake? Seriously? There's no way you know how."

"I've watched Yu Junghyeok do it a few times. It can't be that hard."

"You absolutely have no idea."

"I'm willing to try, isn't that what matters?"

"Call the bastard in to supervise and I might agree to eat it."

Chapter Text

A week after my return to the [Industrial Complex] I spent the morning as I had the previous seven other mornings.

It was staring at a certain message.

+

[ Personal Scenario #3 - Catch Up 3 ]

Category: Private

Difficulty: B+

Clear Conditions: Have sex

Time Limit: 3 Weeks Remaining

Compensation: 2,000 koins, Ability to choose 1 additional relationship attribute

Failure: 48 Hours of [Truth Effect]

+

Of course, I had known this sort of scenario was inevitable.

But since the last one had been hugs I thought I might be able to at least make it another few months before this happened.

Once again, it was hard to not feel as if the New Dream was making fun of me.

[The story '0th Turn' thinks you are worrying too much.]

"I'm not worrying?"

[The story 'Hellscape of Eternity' thinks you're just pathetic.]

"No one asked your opinion?"

I forcefully put both of the stories away.

There were, of course, many possible options.

Interestingly, unlike the kissing scenario, there were no restrictions on this one. This meant I could feasibly simply pay for help to get this task out of the way.

There were now countless people sending me emails expressing a lot of interest in doing this kind of thing with me.

So really, even getting it for free was an option.

Not that I had any interest in that route.

And if I paid someone for sex, that same person would also certainly be willing to be paid by a tabloid to talk about it.

"This is why being famous is so troublesome…"

I sighed loudly.

At least not doing it at all was an option this time.

I wouldn't enjoy it but there were ways to deal with the failure effect.

However, while the koins were negligible, choosing an additional relationship attribute was a rare reward.

Actually, I hadn't heard of it being offered before?

So there was no guarantee it would come around again later.

For this reason only I hadn't decided to completely ignore this scenario until I failed it.

Well, even if I failed it, it would surely return in some way or another.

The New Dream was quite pushy about this aspect of my life.

It wasn't as if I was completely against the idea.

Yu Junghyeok was powerful enough that for the first time in a long time I thought I could see the appeal.

But that didn't mean I was in a hurry.

I just felt like the scenarios should leave me alone for another decade and try this harassment again then if I still hadn't gotten around to it.

"There's one long shot…"

I stared at my hand.

That was the option of 'having sex without anyone else'.

Or rather, the 'just use your hand' solution.

There was no guarantee it would work.

Actually, I was almost certain it would not work.

But on the chance it did, it was clearly the best option.

I had been meaning to check it off the list for several days now but I kept putting it off.

It wasn't something I considered pleasant.

How unpleasant I found it is actually what gave me a bit of hope

Wasn't the whole point to do something normal people did but which I usually didn't bother with?

Surely this hurdle came first.

I told myself this and tried to convince myself it was a possibility.

And then finally I stuck my hand down my underwear.

I looked at the ceiling.

I moved my hand around.

I thought about the many tasks I had to get to that day.

I moved my hand around some more.

Unfortunately, the necessary parts didn't want to comply.

It wasn't exactly a new issue, I'd always felt a bit defective in this area.

I actually couldn't remember how long it had been since I'd done something like this.

I guess it must have been back before the scenarios began.

I hadn't particularly enjoyed it then either, but apparently ignoring the problem for several millennia hadn't made it go away.

I wondered if I should look up nudes?

But honestly that wasn't very interesting and I felt embarrassed just considering it.

"I'm too old for this."

Grumbling out loud didn't make it less true.

I had another idea that I thought might really work but for various reasons I didn't want to.

However, it wasn't as bad as all the other options.

So with a sigh and feeling warmth rising to my cheeks I tried to recall the feeling of Yu Junghyeok's touch from a few weeks ago.

It wasn't difficult to do.

My memory is quite good really.

And the experiences stood out in such sharp contrast to the rest of my life, of course I couldn't forget it.

I had even found the memories creeping up in completely unnecessary moments.

[The story 'Companions of Life and Death' is whispering to you.]

I felt my whole face go hot.

"Don't do that, that's weird?"

[The story 'Companions of Life and Death' says to focus on the scenario.]

"Who do you think is distracting me?"

[The story 'Companions of Life and Death' says you are distracting yourself.]

[The story 'Companions of Life and Death' thinks you should just listen.]

I cursed a bit but while we'd been bickering I felt the twinge of interest from between my legs.

"...fine."

[The story 'Companions of Life and Death' smirks.]

[The story 'Companions of Life and Death' continues its telling.]

It actually did help a bit.

My memory was good because my stories recorded everything.

Little details that escaped my thoughts returned with great faithfulness with the help of the story.

Such as, the unfamiliar heat of another's body.

Or how wide and solid Yu Junghyeok's thighs had felt under mine.

The sharp, tempting pressure of Yu Junghyeok trying to leave a mark on my neck moments before I stopped him.

Discovering that my waist was more sensitive than expected when I keyed into even the faint scratchiness of Yu Junghyeok's calluses moving across it.

And the dark look in his eyes that I had rarely seen and never would have imagined being directed at me.

The necessary component finally began doing its job properly and I felt like I could recapture a tiny bit of the feeling from that time.

I regretted not letting Yu Junghyeok go the rest of the way at that time, even if only because it would have let me avoid the current scenario facing me.

For a few brief moments I imagined letting Yu Junghyeok do what he wanted, even though I didn't really know what that was.

That and the sound of Comrades of Life and Death in the back of my mind was enough to complete the task.

I felt a sensitive tightness and a sudden release.

Apparently, most people found this very enjoyable.

However, to me it just felt like a warm mess in my hand and a sudden crash from no longer being able to ignore the various congested thoughts in my head.

[The story 'Companions of Life and Death' is continuing its…]

"That's enough? It clearly didn't work."

There was no notification from my scenario , and when I checked of course it was unchanged.

[The story 'Companions of Life and Death' is silent.]

"Ah well, I didn't expect it to anyway? Thanks for the help."

It wasn't the story's fault.

I would just have to find another solution.

Feeling gross all over I got up to get ready for the day.