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Kim Dokja once had a dream. A warm and happy dream, where him and his favorite characters would all be together to star gaze after the apocalypse had ended. A dream where everyone was smiling. And he was there, watching his favorite characters covered in happiness.
Indeed, it was a warm and happy dream.
And that was why he called it a dream. It wasn't a possibility. It wasn't real.
In the end, a dream would be solely a dream. And reality would come crushing his naive heart.
It was, without a doubt, a surprise for Kim Dokja when he saw before his eyes something belonging to fiction turn into reality.
He was happy, if not excited, for the unexpected turn of events of that certain day. After all, he found himself lost once the conclusion of the story he followed for ten years was coming.
And although the deaths, sadness and pain amidst the chaos, Kim Dokja could feel some kind of comfort from all that was happening.
A comfort that his story wasn't finished yet.
He made, with his own determination, a path. A path that him, alongside the companions he made, walked on without looking back.
For Kim Dokja there was no second chance. For him, the path he made was the right answer.
He believed, dearly, that he knew everything that there was to be known about the story. So he made the judgement needed for the best outcome.
From the start, everything he did was for the bigger picture.
His endless self sacrifice, although he wasn't sure if he would truly survive, was for so that his comrades didn't lose their lives.
After all, in his bigger picture, the person called 'Kim Dokja' wasn't needed. A Dokja would always be only a Dokja.
When he threw himself in the flames of a dragon, he knew what he was doing. When he protected Yoo Jonghyuk with his body, he knew what he was doing. When he became Demon King of Salvation and had to be killed by his companions he knew what he was doing.
His endless circle of death, all of them, had a purpose.
A purpose he believed to be the greater good.
But then, when was it? That he started to feel that his path wasn't as correct as he thought.
Was it when he had to choose between saving his mother or Yo Sangah? Was it when he almost couldn't keep his promise with Yoo Jonghyuk and had his master die yet again? Was it when he noticed that the characters weren't truly only characters but living people with feelings? Was it when he noticed how he manipulated everyone for his own selfish dreams? Was it when he noticed that not all constellations were bad?
He didn't know. He didn't want to know. So he let the [4th Wall] block all his feelings so he could proceed.
The [4th Wall]. If it wasn't for that wall, not only his body but Kim Dokja's mentality would also have crumbled long ago.
[How foolish of me to reminisce about the past.]
He thought to himself as he looked through the train's window.
The never ending universe with its shining stars would continue on with or without him. Yet he had to stay inside the train for his world to continue on.
The Most Ancient Dream, the Oldest Dream. That was what he was now.
From the start to the end, he should've known better.
As he stared at his reflection in the window, he smiled. After all, this was the end he so wanted.
His companions were now enjoying their free lives with his 49%.
It was just as he predicted.
He wasn't in the picture.
...
He thought that the happiness of the others would help alleviate the pain inside his chest.
He thought that once his favorite characters, no it was his bad, his favorite people were happy, he too would be filled with joy.
That was, before everything happened.
Now that he had a taste of what it felt like to be with his companions, he couldn't help but want more.
He knew how selfish his wishes were and was reminded of that all the time by the [4th Wall].
Kim Dokja had to keep reminding himself that everything he did was for that perfect ending. Everything made was for his companions' happiness. And him, as a reader, should support them until the end.
Although his feeling of dissatisfaction pained his heart, he kept on dreaming and reading the stories that his world had to tell him.
But against his beliefs, something surprising happened.
Through the little screen of his phone, a new story began telling its tale.
His companions, whom he believed had their happy ending, were trying to change the ending they received.
What they wanted wasn't such an ending. Not without their leader.
They didn't need a 49% nor a 51% Kim Dokja. What they wanted, and truly wanted, was their 100% Kim Dokja by their side.
They didn't care about the apocalypse nor the collapsing world as long as Kim Dokja was there to lead them.
They were going against the Oldest Dream's wishes.
And of course, such sin could not be forgiven.
[F oo l s .]
The [4th Wall] condemned. And Kim Dokja nodded in agreement.
But for some reason, he couldn't stop grinning, an explosion of indescribable feelings filling his heart.
He knew that the world wouldn't work without a reader. And him, being the only reader, wouldn't be able to avoid his fate.
Yet, he felt happy.
Yes, he was satisfied.
"Let them be."
Kim Dokja said to his oldest friend and companion, as he already prepared for the future that was quickly arriving.
It was fine.
This was fine.
As Kim Dokja fell asleep, he had another dream.
His companions soon arrived into the train and tried to open the last door.
The [4th Wall] made sure to protect the Oldest Dream with its all.
All of them, even those he wasn't expecting, were claiming for his name as their wishes to go home together with him screamed their truest desire.
Their dream.
A big house in the city. Close enough of school and trains, so the older ones could easily go to their work.
In the house, all of them would share their dinner while telling each other about their days.
The kids would tell Kim Dokja about their school, and enter a discussion about who got the better grades.
As the adults would complain about their bosses, and even say how easier another one got their lives through.
The food they shared would fill their stomach as the tales they shared would fill their hearts.
They would live happily, together, as family.
And every day would be enjoyable for them no matter how hard life would become.
But as the last door opened and the little boy appeared asleep, all the dreams fluttered through the sky, flying away into the universe.
And although his wish was to be together with his new found family, Kim Dokja knew better.
Although his dreams were warm, it was too good to become true.
A world without a reader would only crumble and although without him, Kim Dokja believed his companions would be able to live enjoyable happy lifes.
With them there in his last moments of consciousness, he was happy enough to let everything go.
[It was for the best.]
And through the screams of his companions who couldn't let him go, Kim Dokja's soul pieces traveled to far away worlds just so his little tiny world didn't crumble.
He would create more readers, just so his companions could live a free life without worries.
...
Kim Dokja once had a dream. A warm and happy dream, where he and his favorite people were all together to star gaze after the apocalypse had ended. A dream where everyone was smiling. And he was there, watching his favorite people covered in happiness.
Indeed, it was a warm and happy dream.
And that was why he called it a dream. As he thought, it wasn't possible after all.