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Han Sooyung looked lost as she opened the door. She wanted to move and let her companions come in too but…
She couldn’t believe it, there was the lonely reader who wished to see that one story he loved the most, so desperately. He, who lived in a ruined world before the apocalypse even started. He, who survived with that boring long-ass story once was created by her. He, who was the only reader of hers.
▢ This story is just for that one reader. ▢
Han Sooyung recalled that sentence in her head one time, two times, three times… Until she could finally understand the sight in front of her.
Lee Jihye and Lee Gilyoung, who become impatient pushed Han Sooyung to the side and entered that very familiar hospital room. Its windows were now wide open and curtains were welcoming the fresh wind that entered the room when the door opened. In front of the windows, there was a man who was sitting on the hospital bed while looking at his phone. He turned his gaze towards the door as it opened.
Lee Jihye couldn’t say a word. Her mouth became dry as she swallow. There was the man they had been searching for. Who she once didn’t accept and who became her family over time.
During the 1865th turn, she trained so hard on her sword techniques. She was full of desire to see that man who sacrificed himself, again and again, to make sure his companions were safe. Lee Jihye couldn’t understand it.
▢ Ahjussi if we are really just characters from a novel… why did you die for us over and over again?! ▢
She felt anger when she first heard she was a mere character from a damn novel. All the suffering that took place was just an entertainment source for others. She knew Kim Dokja was not at fault but…
Once she read Han Sooyung’s novel, she began to understand a tiny bit of Kim Dokja. He survived because of that tragic story that she played a role in.
- “Author-nim I think Lee Jihye is so strong, even though she is the same age as me…”
- “Maybe in the next round Lee Jihye can survive with her friend, she deserves that happiness, right Author-nim?”
Lee Jihye heard a lot about Kim Dokja’s thoughts about that novel through Han Sooyung. She understood that all the pain she overcome at the other world lines was a way to survive for a reader. She thought to herself.
- If Ahjussi told us we were characters from a novel he read during earlier scenarios, I would try to cut off his head. But now… at least I know that I didn’t endeavor for nothing.
Lee Gilyoung first looked at the shocked face of Lee Jihye, then he turned his gaze toward the direction where she was looking. His jaw dropped open, he couldn’t believe it. After all these years… could this be true? He recalled a memory from a long long time ago.
▢ A little boy was looking at the dead insect on his hand and then all the dead bodies surrounding him. His limps began to tremble. Suddenly a gentle hand touched his shoulder.
“Kid” He called for Lee Gilyoung. “Do you want to live?”
Lee Gilyoung’s body trembled and his eyes shook anxiously. He wanted to tell that man he wanted to live, but his voice didn’t come out. He slowly nodded his head.
“Then let’s go together.” After hearing those words Lee Gilyoung’s body relaxed a little bit. He slowly moved towards to the man. ▢
This was way before all the tragedies they will encounter. If Kim Dokja didn’t offer to go together he would be long gone by now. Lee Gilyoung loved his hyung so deeply and wished he could have seen how much he had grown up.
While looking at the man on the hospital bed his tears flared carelessly. Lee Gilyoung clenched his fists that no longer belonged to an eleven-year-old boy. There was the man he loved the most.
Yoo Sangah, Jung Heewon, and Lee Hyunsung entered the room when they saw Lee Jihye and Lee Gilyoung stop moving like Han Sooyung. Only then they saw the miracle they had been wishing for a long time.
Yoo Sangah held her breath as she saw star-like eyes looking at her. The man on the hospital bed’s limps was smiling softly as he looked at his companions. Yoo Sangah remembered the last time she saw that smile.
▢ Yoo Sangah asked everyone.
“We are all going to get off at the same place, yes?”
The company was chatting about the things they should do after they get out from the subway. The train started to slow down and eventually, the doors opened. Yoo Sangah held the children’s hand as she hopped off to the station’s platform. She looked back and saw her companions leaving behind her except for Kim Dokja.
“Kim Dokja”
Han Sooyung and Yoo Joonghyuk called almost at the same time.
“We are getting off together, right?”
[ Someone has activated the skill ‘Lie Detection Lv…’ ]
“Of course, we should.”
Kim Dokja smirked softly. Yoo Sangah thought.
- “We should,” he said.
[ ‘Lie Detection’ has confirmed ‘Kim Dokja’s’ words as truth. ]
As they were walking away from the station Han Sooyung and Yoo Joonghyuk looked back like they left something. After some time they turned back and start arguing again. Yoo Sangah watched the subway leaving and she looked at the sky, trying not to cry. ▢
She knew, she knew from back then Kim Dokja didn’t leave the subway fully. From the time she spend in ‘Forth Wall’, she knew the skills Kim Dokja had; Bookmark. Yoo Sangah also knew the skill Han Sooyung posses which were no other than ‘Avatar’.
During her time in ‘Fourth Wall,’ she read many books about Kim Dokja’s life. From the abusive household to all the bullying. She couldn’t stop herself from crying when she read about Kim Dokja’s failed suicide attempt. How he relayed his life to a certain web novel called ‘Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World’. How he called himself ‘Yoo Jonghyuk’ to stand strong against all the bullying.
Yoo Sangah wanted Kim Dokja to be free from his past. This half of Kim Dokja had the memories they shared and didn’t remember his tragic past. Yoo Sangah wanted Kim Dokja to be happy… But she soon realized how she ignored the other part of Kim Dokja who deserved that ending, too. That’s why she agreed on joining the group regress. But they failed… they failed and lost the other half of Kim Dokja, too.
For the past years, she tried to visit Kim Dokja in every free time she got. She read stories to him. Because Yoo Sangah knew for sure, Kim Dokja loved reading more than anyone in this world. So she read, and read, and read more. The hope that Kim Dokja could be listening to her made her come and visit him more.
Now, the man she longed to see was smiling towards her. Yoo Sangah couldn’t hold her tears longer and began sobbing. But this time… it was because of happiness.
Lee Hyunsung just stood there. He was shocked and couldn’t move. His eyes opened wide as he looked at his long-gone friend.
Back from the first scenario he always followed Kim Dokja and fully trust his judgment. Even though he was suspicious of him, Lee Hyunsung never questioned him. Kim Dokja was always putting his companions before himself and Lee Hyunsung was flustered by his non-stop self-sacrificing. He wanted Kim Dokja to understand he was not alone.
▢ Kim Dokja shouted from afar.
“You have to throw the grenade after pulling out the safety pin. Even if I die here I won’t really die!”
Lee Hyunsung’s eyes shook violently. He heard those words before… but he didn’t like the outcome. Although Kim Dokja didn’t really die, he put his life at great risk. Lee Hyunsung made a determined face.
“I won’t fall for your lies again!”
He saw the face Kim Dokja made but Lee Hyunsung wanted him to understand he was not alone. He had a sword that swore to protect him with her life. He had kids who would do anything for him. He had friends who did and will do everything he wanted. He had a companion who went to another dimension for him. And he had a shield who would do anything to keep him safe… and that’s what Lee Hyunsung’s gonna do.
“If you die, we will die together!”
Lee Hyunsung shouted those words like his life depended on them. Like how he wants Kim Dokja to understand them. ▢
Lee Hyunsung maybe knew Kim Dokja wouldn’t die at that time, but he still didn’t want to risk it. Nevertheless, Kim Dokja kept sacrificing himself for his companions, and in the end, he crossed a line he could not go back from…
Lee Hyunsung and his companions did everything to save him, but they failed and lost all of their hopes. The company fell apart day by day afterward and nothing remained the same. They were considered heroes to the world but to them, they were a failure who couldn’t protect their family.
- An omniscient gaze
Lee Hyunsung always thought like this when he felt Kim Dokja’s gaze. He longed for that gaze even without noticing it. Lee Hyunsung felt tears falling from his pink cheeks. His eyes got blurred as his hand grabbed the hand of the person next to him.
Jung Heewon felt Lee Hyunsung held her hand. She stopped breathing as she looked at the smiling man on the hospital bed. So many emotions passed through her mind; anger, happiness, worry, and hope. It had been a really long time since she felt all of them at the same time.
▢ “Are you going to join me?”
It was a familiar tone that Jung Heewon haven’t heard for a long time. She felt emotions running inside her head; happiness, worry, hope, and anger. She saw the back of the man who was wearing an accustomed yet a little different white coat. She didn’t even need to look at his face to see that smirk.
He slowly opened his arms and party members one by one rushed towards to him. Jung Heewon also wanted to express her emotions like the other party members, so she did.
“This man, lock him up.” Jung Heewon showed the first emotion that came to her mind, anger. ▢
Jung Heewon felt tears filling her eyes. Her limps bent forward like she was ready to cry. She squeezed Lee Hyunsung’s hand and looked at the man on the hospital bed. Her legs trembled and gave up as she sat down on the floor in a ‘w’ position, but still held Lee Hyunsung’s hand. Jung Heewon thought to herself.
- It feels like a deja vu, isn’t it? I’m on the floor, crying, and you are looking at me while smiling… But it is not an evil one, no, it is the smile that gave me hope and purpose to see the way ahead of me. It is a smile from a dear friend of mine.
Jung Heewon looked at the floor. She closed her eyes so tightly and let her tears fall. Her trembling limbs relaxed and she chuckled quietly. Her lips formed a smile and her head tilt up and looked at the smile that held her together. She missed that smile so much.
Shin Yoosung couldn’t break through from so many people, however, suddenly Jung Heewon fell to the floor. Shin Yoosung was crouching down to help her but she stopped moving when she heard a message from the system.
[ Your sponsor constellation has joined the system ]
Shin Yoosung quickly turned her head toward the hospital room. She swallowed when she saw the sight she had been dreaming of for years. Her hand made its way to her mouth and she let out a breath that she didn’t even realize she was holding. Her body relaxed as she saw the man on the hospital bed smile. She felt tears fling through her cheeks. She recur a memory from the times when scenarios existed.
▢ Shin Yoosung’s ears were ringing and her body was trembling not because of the cold but because of the sight in front of her. There was the so-called ‘the-future-self-of-her’ who came to kill all the humanity. And she was now choking Lee Giyoung, a boy who was annoying but still a friend to her. Though all of a sudden she let go of Lee Gilyoung and her right arm started shaking.
“…Ahjussi?” Shin Yoosung asked. She was walking with nervous but confident steps. She heard her future self screaming.
“Get out of me!”
Soon the right arm of Shin Yoosung’s future self turned black. Shin Yoosung grabbed that arm and looked at the face of her future self.
“Ahjussi, you’re in there right? Ahjussi!” Strong sparks appeared where Shin Yoosung was touching and she saw her life flashing before her eyes like a filmstrip. From the moment the scenarios started, she saw herself killing her little puppy to survive. She saw herself stealing to survive. She saw herself lying to survive.
「 “You... can kill me. It’s okay.” 」
Shin Yoosung also saw memories that did not belong to her.
「 “I wanted to survive.” 」
Her memories and her future selves were different yet similar.
「 “Is it worth it for me to live?” 」
The memories that didn’t belong to her become her’s and she saw them as she lived them. The memories of both her and her future self soon turned into a single filmstrip. ▢
Shin Yoosung later learned her future self who became a disaster didn’t really die but was reborn as a dokkabi. She even met her but she seemed like she didn’t remember the memories of her past life.
Shin Yoosung knew if there was another person instead of Kim Dokja she would be dead. Because even when her future self killed him, he still didn’t gave up on her. Shin Yoosung saw the memories of killing Kim Dokja during the memory transfer with her future self. She never told anyone about this and acted like that, but deep inside her, she felt guilty when she remembered dying Kim Dokja in front of her. She thought it would be the first and the last time.
But it wasn’t… Shin Yoosung saw her father figure sacrificing his life over and over again. She grew up while waiting for her hero to come. She looked at her sponsor window every night to see a miracle happening…
Now, she started high school with Lee Gilyoung. Her family, the company created by Kim Dokja fell to the pieces. The world was keeping track and moving forward. But… it felt wrong to Shin Yoosung. The world should still be grieving the loss of Kim Dokja. The sun should not shine without him. The world should not be more colorful than the times when Kim Dokja was smiling with his companions… In the end, everyone and everything moved on, so she did.
…Or she thought. Shin Yoosung began sobbing as she saw the smiling man in front of her. Her wish had come true. Her cheeks become red as she cried out loud. Her role model, her ahjussi, her father… woke up.
Han Sooyung looked at her companions, they were all feeling the same emotions now. After all these years… they finally achieved their goal. It was like living an impossible dream. Everyone standing at the door was people who lived through hell once with him and once more for him.
Han Sooyung saw Yoo Joonghyuk walking to the man on the hospital bed. Before anyone could do anything he quickly took out his sword and pointed it to the man on the hospital bed. Everyone was about to protest at Yoo Joonghyuk’s sudden behavior, but Yoo Joonghyuk’s harsh tone silenced them.
“Prove me that you are the real Kim Dokja.”
Yoo Joonghyuk looked at the man in front of him. The man tilt his head down and chuckled quietly. He turned his gaze to Yoo Joonghyuk with a playful smirk.
“I am Kim Dokja.”
“This is not enough to prove anything.”
“I’ve heard that a lot.”
“Stop playing around.”
“It is the same with you.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s hand which was not grabbing the sword formed a fist.
“Stop with this nonsense and answer the question.”
“I will.”
“I will ask for one more time, prove me you are the real Kim Dokja.”
Han Sooyung saw the irritation on Yoo Joonghyuk’s face. She quickly eyed her companions and saw them ready to fight if something happens.
“What if I don’t want to?”
“If you value your life then I suggest you to answer the question.”
Yoo Joonghyuk moved his sword to the man’s neck, it stopped when it was a little away from the man’s neck.
“I’m sorry but you are younger than me, pro gamer Yoo Jonghyuk-ssi. Therefore, you should be using honorifics.”
A sense of deja vu hit Yoo Joonghyuk, he looked at the playful smirk of the man in front of him.
“I am the employee of a game company. You are famous. At one time, I was a fan.”
Yoo Sangah flinched for a second. Kim Dokja wasn’t an employee at the company. But then she remembered the fact that this man may not be the Kim Dokja they knew. However, she also remembered that playful smirk, too. Yoo Sangah knew the smirk Kim Dokja made when he was planning something. Yoo Joonghyuk’s words stopped her thoughts.
“I have only one thing I want to ask.”
“Ask.”
“How did you survive on the subway?”
The man on the hospital bed looked into Yoo Jooghyuk’s eyes like he understood something.”
“Will you spare me if I answer?”
“I’ll see.”
“I read.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s lips formed a smile.
“Everything you said makes perfect sense. So I will ask you one last thing.”
“What?”
“If you are really Kim Dokja, you should know what I am going to do. Isn’t that right?”
Yoo Joonghyuk pointed his sword at the man in front of him, the sword was now touching his neck.
“Will I cut off your head, or not?”
The man in front of Yoo Joonghyuk smirked brightly.
“Let go of that sword and greet me you jerk.”
Yoo Joonghyuk let go of his sword and looked at the man on the hospi- no, he looked at his companion. Yoo Joonghyuk never cried for once even after losing all of his companions. But now he was finally crying after seeing everything. He leaned forward and hugged his companion. He thought to himself.
- It is… over.
The company rushed to hug the man on the hospital bed. Everybody was crying after all this time. They finally achieved their dream. They saw the end of the scenarios together.
Kim Dokja smiled softly as he hugged all his companions and whispered.
“I am home.”