Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

"I'll kill you Kim Dokja."

Ah, what a sweet way to wake up to. Death threats from your loving companion.

Groggily, Kim Dokja sat up from his bed and tried to locate the regressor's voice with his eyes still closed.

"What did he do this time?" Distantly, he heard Sooyoung snickering as she asked the question.

There was no response as Dokja strained to listen more. He lazily opened his eyes and rubbed off the sleep away.

"Where is Kim Dokja?" The forceful question startled the poor man in question and almost poked his eye.

Dokja blinked a few times as he stared, apprehensive, at the bedroom door.

He heard some doors opening, some quiet grumbles that he couldn't discern and the sound of shuffling feet behind the door.

"It's too early for this," came the muffled grumbling voice of Heewon.

Then some agitated pacing and more footsteps. Then a gasp that was undeniably Yoo Mia's voice.

"Oppa! What happened to you?!" Her sudden outburst intrigued Kim Dokja.

There were rushed footsteps this time and some alarmed voices. Then abrupt silence. And then Han Sooyoung's laughter echoed around the building.

"Get out of my face, woman!"

"You- HA- HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA di-did the squid do that to y-you? HAHAHHAAHA"

"Oh my."

"What's going on- what the- m-master??"

"Joonghyuk-ssi, um- your face..."

More awake now, Kim Dokja got out of the bed and walked towards the door. When he reached for the doorknob, he hesitated for a bit, imagining his ruthless companion's furious face. He wracked his brain for anything that he might've done to warrant such happenings in that morning but came up with none.

Eventually, his curiousity won over his fear of being at the end of the sunfish bastard's sword so he firmly grasped the doorknob and twisted. He decided to peek a bit to gauge the situation.

Can't have me delivering myself to imminent death if I can help it.

His designated room opens directly to the living area so he immediately got an eyeful of the commotion.

Dressed in pajamas and clearly woken up (if the bed hair they're all sporting was any indication), his companions were gawking at the man still clad in his all-black ensemble (with the belts and everything) and with his sword menacingly glinting in his hand. That didn't stop Han Sooyoung from getting into the man's space and seemingly poking his face, to the man's irritation. Kim Dokja still couldn't see what's got Joonghyuk in such a mood though so he decided to hell with it and opened his door wide.

As the door creaked open, his companions turned to look at him, almost in sync.

"What happened?" Dokja's voice cracked a bit, not having adjusted to a more awakened state.

"Oh you're so done for," he heard Sooyoung's gleeful words but they barely registered as forceful footsteps suddenly came to his way.

Startled at the sudden looming figure, Dokja backed up. Alarmed eyes looking up to see a glowering Yoo Joonghyuk coming to a stop in front of him.

"You."

There were snickers all around the room but Dokja was unable to hear them, more preoccupied at gawking, gobsmacked, up at the regressor. Specifically his face.

Abruptly, as he couldn't help it, a snort escaped Kim Dokja.

"What..." His voice trailed off, laughter dying in his throat, as Joonghyuk's icy glare turned even more menacing.

"You did this," came the baritone voice full of fury.

Someone whistled. "Welp, I'm out of here."

Apparently afraid of the protagonist's wrath, everyone dispersed quickly (not wanting to get involved with their leaders' mess so early in the morning) but not without more snickers. Gilyoung and Yoosung both looked at Kim Dokja worriedly but Jihye steered them away as Yoo Mia gave Dokja a headshake before following them.

Joonghyuk resumed his threatening steps towards Kim Dokja and the latter stumbled back into the room in alarm.

"I didn't do anything! I don't-" he glanced at the little decorations around the regressor's face once again and a huff of laugh threatened to escape his mouth again.

For some reason, the scar-ridden face of the protagonist was... how should he put it. Dokja remembered certain apps on phones where you can take selfies. He never really tried one, not really one for selfies and whatnot. He only ever used his phone for reading and sometimes food deliveries. But anyway, even though he didn't use that kind of stuff, he knew how they work. He remembered there were filters you can use, like flower effects, becoming a dog or a cat, or maybe improve the face makeup. He was reminded of that as he looked at the sunfish bastard's scowling face.

But could he take that scowl seriously when it's surrounded by some floating pink cherry blossom petals, complete with a fluffy pink cat ears, whiskers, and an obviously fake blush across the man's cheeks with little hearts dotted around like some sort of freckles. They didn't looked real - more like it was virtually projected with it's slightly pixelated quality - and Dokja thought maybe his hands would pass through if he tried to touch them. There were pink hair clips scattered across his hair randomly as well. Coupled with his darkened expression, the protagonist hadn't look as ridiculous as this in Dokja's entire life. Another laugh almost escaped the reader but he bit his lip hard to hold it in.

But Jonghyuk still caught the act and, if it was possible, became even more furious. The sword in his hand raised towards Dokja more.

Dokja yelped as he backed away hastily. "Wait, Yoo Joonghyuk. I have no idea what happened to your face and I swear to the star stream-"

He yelped again when the back of his thighs suddenly hit the bed and then he was flailing backwards. He hit the bed with an oomp. Thankfully, Yoo Jonghyuk didn't advance further but his figure at the foot of the bed, towering over Dokja wasn't making the matters any better.

"The personal scenario you did yesterday. You failed," Joonghyuk growled out as he glared down at the reader

The abrupt change of topic confused the reader. "Yeah? I did. I told you about it yesterday."

At his companion's unimpressed scowl, Dokja carried on as he sat up in bed to face the regressor more comfortably. "It was hardly a fail! The system is cheating me or something. Whoever constellation is behind that scenario is a scammer. Tch," Dokja scrunched his nose in annoyance, remembering the events the day before.

The scenario instructions were fairly easy and had a decent award that could benefit Kim Dokja (could definitely use it in main scenarios later). It was suspicious that it came from an anonymous constellation though but the reader didn't think about it deeply. He was absolutely certain he did everything and succeeded but for some reason, there was a small loophole that made him fail. He was worried about the consequences at first but the blue screen only gave a riddle as a clue.

Kim Dokja sighed, trying to ignore Yoo Joonghyuk's intense staring. "So far, I still don't know exactly what the consequences are going to be. For some reason, it said it's gonna be delayed but it's fine though," he smiled cheerily at the regressor, "the scenario clued in that it's nothing major like death so at least we're not in trouble."

That didn't seem to appease the man. Instead, his expression darkened, even more so - a great contrast to the bright red fake blush glitching on his cheeks. Eyeing the sword warily, Dokja debated whether to ask again about... whatever it was that happened to the regressor's face. But since the sunfish bastard just stood there glowering and did not make any attempt to decapitate him, Dokja went on.

"I don't know why that's relevant to..." he trailed off and then started gesturing vaguely at the younger man's face.

The protagonist gritted his teeth. "The damn consequences. It's this."

Dokja's eyebrows shot up. "How did you come up with that conclusion?" He asked, trying his best not to stare at the display lest he laugh again and get murdered in the process.

"What other clues did the scenario gave you about the consequences?"

Dokja frowned as he looked away, trying to remember. "It was stated like a riddle. Something about, vandalism of sorts? On something I cherish the most. It was vaguely worded so I'm not sure I got it right."

He didn't remember that kind of scenario when he read and reread the web novel so he wasn't familiar with it.

Dokja flinched when he saw movement from Yoo Joonghyuk. But he was only lowering his sword. Dokja glanced up but got even more confused at the sunfish idiot's reaction.

His eyes were widened, as if Dokja's words stunned him. He gaped at Dokja with an indecipherable look in his eyes.

Kim Dokja felt self-conscious all of a sudden. What did I say...?

He cleared his throat. "But again, what does that have anything to do with this?" The reader sounded annoyed with repeating himself.

The sunfish bastard didn't give him a reply and instead just stood there, dumbly staring down at the reader. The latter did his best not to squirm under the scrutiny.

[Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk has activated Lie Detection.]

[Constellation Demon King of Salvation is telling the truth.]

"Yah!" The reader exclaimed, indignant that his words weren't trusted. Yoo Joonghyuk ignored this and suddenly looked up the ceiling, heaving a great sigh. Dokja blinked at the uncharacteristic display.

"You fool," the protagonist's words were just barely a murmur but Dokja still heard it.

Before the reader could react, Yoo Joonghyuk suddenly whirled around, cloak billowing, and stomped to the door. Bewildered by the turn of events, Kim Dokja rose up from the bed and called for him.

"Yah! Eodilga?"

But the protagonist didn't heed him and just continued. When he was about to exit the door, Kim Dokja hurriedly tried to appease him for the last time.

"Don't worry Joonghyuk-ah, you look adorable!"

The taller man paused, hand visibly gripping the door tightly. Dokja watched interestedly as the tips of the protagonist's ears bloomed red.

"I will kill you Kim Dokja."

His words were half-heartedly said and before the reader could comment on it, the regressor was suddenly gone, accompanied with the slam of the bedroom door.