Chapter Text
くコ:彡
"Stupid, stupid sunfish," Kim Dokja spat out as he activated the way of the wind to help boost his flight, large black wings flapping in a hasty panic behind him.
The said sunfish was secured in his arms, passed out. If he wasn't, he wouldn't appreciate being carried away like a damsel in distress. Much less by the squid himself.
Yoo Joonghyuk was adamant about tackling on this certain hidden scenario but as soon as Kim Dokja heard what it entailed, the reader immediately tried to dissuade the protagonist from it. He read about it in Ways Of Survival. And in every regression that the regressor attempted to take on this scenario, he failed. Spectacularly at that. So Kim Dokja was clearly worried when he heard that the sunfish bastard wanted to go through it again.
But the bastard was stubborn as hell and Kim Dokja had no choice but to just follow along so he could help him. Curse this bastard protagonist who thinks he has plot armor. Technically, he had but that didn't shield him from all the scars and hurt he sustained.
It certainly didn't shield him from being blasted with a curse by the hidden scenario villain. Kim Dokja recalled the way he froze, trapped in the corner, as he helplessly watch the curse coming his way. Only for it to be blocked by the protagonist himself. The sunfish bastard had the gall to glare at Kim Dokja like it was his fault before promptly collapsing against him as the curse hit his back.
Consumed with his own rage and panic, which was immediately offset by the fourth wall, Kim Dokja laid the bastard gently on the ground before transforming into his demonic form and attacking the culprit ruthlessly, ending the hidden scenario abruptly. He didn't even check any inventory left behind by the slain villain nor the rewards nor the treasures lurking hidden in the place of the scenario. He hurriedly took the unconscious regressor in his arms and flew away back to safety.
As if sensing his thoughts, the regressor shifted in his arms. But he didn't wake up. The demon king tightened his hold on him, face screwing up in worry, as he hastened his flight towards their complex.
It wasn't even later when the curse began showing its effect.
As soon as Kim Dokja landed on the rooftop of their current living quarters in their shared complex, the regressor suddenly got out of his hold, surprising the constellation. He's awake.
Unconsciously, Kim Dokja reached out a hand, as if to pull Yoo Joonghyuk back into his arms. But froze.
Instead of looking up like Dokja used to because of their height difference, Kim Dokja was looking down. The reader could only gape in surprise. The curse has set in.
Yoo Joonghyuk was smaller. Face definitely the same but younger, scars gone and all. His hair was the same length but a bit more ruffled, like how those high school boys always mess up their hair. Gone was the impressive muscles and instead he was leaner - like the body of a teenager. And worse of all, something out of place was on the protagonist's face. Instead of his usual glower that preceded a threat, Yoo Joonghyuk looked confused, startled, and even... afraid.
"Wha- Where am I? W-who are you?!" The protagonist asked frantically, gawking at Kim Dokja, wide eyes alternating between his wings, his horns, and his face.
Kim Dokja didn't know how to respond. The regressor had regressed but not the way he knew. Yoo Joonghyuk regressed in age.
くコ:彡
"How old are you, Joonghyuk-ssi?" Yoo Sangah asked gently, crouching a little in an attempt to level with the sunfish current height.
She supposedly wanted to act less intimidating but this only prompted the boy to grasp Dokja's arm tighter and hid more behind him. The reader suppressed a sigh.
The curse apparently not only regressed the sunfish's age, it also took away his memories except for the ones he already experienced in his current age.
After successfully (though not without difficulty) placating the young Yoo Joonghyuk amidst his panic, he managed to explain everything (well, not everything but the important bits that the boy needed to know) and coax the boy down to their living quarters. Kim Dokja knew it must be a lot of information to process, the boy certainly looked ashen and dumbfounded, seemingly not knowing what to do with the information that was dumped on him. But he knew him well enough to know that if he hadn't laid out all the facts immediately, Yoo Joonghyuk would have ran away and try to figure things out on his own. Even as a kid, the protagonist was quick to being distrustful especially to strangers.
But maybe it was because of Kim Dokja's intimidating demonic form. The boy was surprisingly pliant and followed him down (not without apprehension on his young face) after the reader transformed back. Yoo Joonghyuk was silent all the way down and the reader was a bit surprised that the boy didn't ask more questions. He must be burning with them.
Not only did the young Yoo Joonghyuk follow Dokja obediently, he also latched onto him as they met with the rest of their nebula, surprising the constellation. He didn't let go and the reader just let him cling to his side as he explained what happened to their companions. The rest just gawked at the boy as they listened. It was Yoo Sangah, who was known to be good with kids, who tried to reach out first.
But, somewhat unsurprisingly, the boy ignored her.
"Hyung, who are these people?" Joonghyuk asked, slightly peeking up at the reader.
That startled Kim Dokja. He was tempted to clean his ears to see if he heard it right. Did the sunfish bastard just called me hyung?
"Yah, sooty bastard, he's not your hyung!" Lee Gilyoung suddenly lurched forward, immediately latching on Kim Dokja's other arm and glaring at the young protagonist.
This prompted a glaring contest between the two boys. Kim Dokja felt like a headache was coming.
"Pest, ahjussi is not yours either," Yoosung declared as she joined in the glaring contest as well.
"Now, now, kids. This is not the time-"
"Oppa!"
This caught the attention of Yoo Joonghyuk. He did a double take as he saw his younger sister, Yoo Mia, gaping at him. Then his eyebrows scrunched adorably.
"Why does that kid look familiar?" He mumbled to himself which Kim Dokja heard but before the reader could explain it to him, a kick to his leg abruptly made him jump in shock.
"Ugly ahjussi! What did you do to oppa?!"
"How dare you, Yoo Mia?!" Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung exclaimed at the same time as Kim Dokja helplessly gawked at the little kid. Snickers rang all around.
"Did you say Yoo Mia?" Yoo Joonghyuk suddenly asked quietly, catching the attention of everyone.
He unlatched his grip on Kim Dokja's arm and hesitantly came forward, staring at the young girl with wide eyes. But Yoo Mia didn't hesitate to launch herself and tightly hugged the young protagonist.
"Oppa, how come you're so small?" She whined against him.
Yoo Joonghyuk just stood there, stunned. Then he snapped his gaze to Kim Dokja, his eyes was once again fearful and distressed.
"So it's real... I'm- I'm supposed to be older then?" He asked in a small, quivering voice, as if the thought was so daunting. Kim Dokja could only look at him helplessly, not quite used to seeing his protagonist so young and vulnerable.
The boy looked down at his sister and continued speaking. "She was so small last time I saw her... How come you've grown so much?" His voice sounded thick, eyes looking wet. He looked so overwhelmed and out of his depth.
To the astonishment (and horror) of everyone, the always scowling and detached regressor, Supreme King Yoo Joonghyuk suddenly bursted into tears.
くコ:彡
They had to take Yoo Joonghyuk in a separate room to calm him down. The unfamiliar faces looming down on him with concern was apparently too much to bear for the young boy. Seeing his younger sister was not helping either.
So Kim Dokja brusquely told everyone to give the poor kid some space, gently asked Mia to let go of her brother (thankfully, the smart kid seemed to understand), and took the young sunfish with him. He didn't think it would be great to bring the boy to his own room as some things of his might trigger another bout of panic attack so he brought the boy to his room instead.
The reader guided the kid to sit on his bed before he ran out to fetch some water. But a worried Hyunsung was already standing behind his door with a full cup, telling him to take care of the poor teen.
When Kim Dokja went back, Yoo Joonghyuk was already trying to calm himself down, inhaling and exhaling in between sniffles. Red, teary eyes looked up as Kim Dokja approached. He then immediately looked away, as if ashamed, and rubbed his tears off furiously.
"I- I don't usually bawl like that! I was just- I-"
Kim Dokja sighed fondly as the young boy tried to defend himself from being called a crybaby. The reader decided to help him out.
"You woke up not knowing where you are and what happened. A demonic creature tells you you're not supposed to be your age. And you just saw your sister grow up in a matter of hours," Kim Dokja gently told him, gingerly sitting down beside him as if afraid his near presence would scare the boy away. "If I was in your place, I would be bawling my eyes out til I flooded the whole place." Not if there's the fourth wall.
He handed him the water and the kid took it silently, save for his sniffles. He drank the whole thing. He didn't respond to the reader's words after and just quietly sobbed to himself.
Kim Dokja knew the boy was having a breakdown but he didn't know what to do. If it was Lee Gilyoung, he wouldn't hesitate to bring the boy to his lap and hug him comfortingly. Or if it was Shin Yoosung, he wouldn't hesitate to wipe her tears and carry her in his arms. But this was Yoo Joonghyuk. The supreme king! His protagonist! The guy who could murder the entire complex in his sleep! It was technically not the Yoo Joonghyuk he met and knew, but the kid was Yoo Joonghyuk enough that Kim Dokja had a hard time thinking on how to interact with him.
So Kim Dokja just awkwardly brought his hand around the teen's shoulder, tapping minutely and trying to be comforting. The boy thankfully didn't shrug him away. Even surprisingly, he went limp and slumped against his side, warmth seeping through the point of contact. Kim Dokja waited patiently as the boy cried. Even until he heard again the teen's inhale exhale way of calming down.
"Thank you, hyung." The young sunfish said quietly after a while. He looked calm again, aside from his telltale red eyes and runny nose. He was also sat a decent distance away from Kim Dokja, seemingly embarrassed for crying all over the man's shirt.
Kim Dokja looked at him in wonder. He never really knew how was his favorite protagonist before the apocalypse started. He had no clue what he was like before the 0th regression as the story immediately jumped to the 3rd one. There was little to no mention about his childhood either. So he absolutely had no idea how the age-regressed regressor would act. He certainly didn't expect him to be this polite. To be this openly emotional and expressive. And he's calling me hyung again.
Yoo Joonghyuk would kill me if he ever remember this when he regress back to his real age.
"Hyung," the teen suddenly called out.
"Yes?" Dokja responded attentively.
"How many mythic points do you have as a demonic creature? Do you guard a dungeon of some sorts? Or are you some kind of a special boss?"
Kim Dokja didn't know how to respond to all that.
くコ:彡
I take it back.
"Hyung," the loud whine pierced through Kim Dokja's ears. The reader's eyebrow twitched.
Whatever gave him the idea that the teen was a polite boy? He was an absolute menace.
"Hyung, can I see your wings again? I swear it's for research."
The reader tried his best to smile placatingly as he turned his attention to the spoiled brat.
Yes, a spoiled brat. He didn't expect a day would come that he would call Yoo Joonghyuk that. But the teen was wholly unexpected. He's much more talkative, much more annoying, and much more nerdier than Kim Dokja ever was as a teen. Yes, he knew that Yoo Joonghyuk was once a pro gamer before the apocalypse started. But he didn't expect that he was that kind of a gamer nerd. He would blabber all day about some gaming console he once owned, or about his criticism about a rpg character's skill set, or about winning strategies in battle royale. Whatever the hell that means. If the young Kim Dokja was passionate about reading, the young sunfish was as passionate about gaming.
It was both charming and annoying. More annoying when the boy quickly adjusted to the idea of them being in the middle of an apocalypse and treating the whole thing like a game (nevermind that the whole star stream system was literally built like a game). Fortunately for them, the star stream seemed to be giving their peninsula some rest. It felt suspicious but Kim Dokja knew they were given this small respite because the star stream was preparing for the next big main scenario. The reader recalled the way the young sunfish's face fell when the reader strictly told him he's not going to take on any minor scenarios until he's back to his usual self.
But that didn't stop the kid from barging in on their trainings when he was supposed to be staying in his own room, staying safe for his sake and everyone's sanity. He would gawk at Lee Hyunsung when he's practicing his steel transformation, asking absurd questions about alloy and stuff. The poor soldier could only throw a pitiful glance in Kim Dokja's way, eyes begging him to take the teen away. He would also argue with Lee Jihye about the benefits of using aircraft versus water vessels. Although Jihye was known to adore her master, Kim Dokja could see how her patience was running thin each time Yoo Joonghyuk opened his mouth.
Worst of all, he would always follow Kim Dokja around like an overeager wolf pup trailing after the pack leader. Somehow, the young teen seemed to like Kim Dokja more than anyone else in the nebula. Which was a shock to the reader. But maybe it was just because of the boy's fascination with his demonic form. He often exclaimed it looked so cool, that it reminded him a lot of his favorite villain in his favorite rpg.
Kim Dokja once asked why would he have an antagonist as a favorite character. The young sunfish looked so offended before launching into a passionate tirade about misunderstood characters and rightful redemption. Kim Dokja didn't know what to make of that. It strangely reminded him of himself...the way he was also so obsessed with his favorite character, the sunfish bastard himself.
"Can you leave hyung alone? You're so annoying, you sooty bastard." Lee Gilyoung's words dragged Kim Dokja away from his thoughts and back to the present.
Young Yoo Joonghyuk stepped closer to Kim Dokja, glaring daggers at Lee Gilyoung, looking alarmingly more like his older self.
"What's it to you, skinny shrimp? I'm older than you so you should watch your tone," the young sunfish retorted. That reminded Dokja that the sunfish was currently 14 years old.
"Shrimps are amazing! Don't say it like an insult!" Lee Gilyoung cried out, heavily offended. He then proceeded to latch onto Kim Dokja's other arm and tugged.
The young sunfish hissed at his antics and tugged Kim Dokja in the opposite direction. The reader could only sigh in resignation, headache fully forming, as the two boys continued their tug of war.
I didn't sign up for this.
くコ:彡
He definitely did not sign up for babysitting duties. But with the unanimous decision of the nebula, here was the reader, stuck in entertaining the regressed regressor until the curse got lifted. Han Sooyoung, Lee Seolhwa, and Yoo Sangah were all currently trying look for a way for this to happen. In the meanwhile, Kim Dokja needed to look after the sunfish. Said reader was currently attempting to coax the young sunfish back into his own room.
"You won't even let me touch my own sword. What's the use of staying in my own room?" Yoo Joonghyuk said petulantly, stubbornly remaining under Kim Dokja's blankets, looking as if he owned the place.
Kim Dokja cringed at his words, remembering the incident where the boy discovered his older self's weapon and almost wreaked havoc around their shared complex. The reader suppressed the urge to scream. He didn't know it was this taxing to look after the bastard's younger version.
Why am I surprised? He's equally taxing in his real age. This sunfish bastard is really out to make my life more miserable than it already is.
He dispelled the thoughts away and tried again. "Yoo Joonghyuk. Aren't you a grown boy now? Grown boys usually like to have their own rooms. Don't you like the sound of that, hmm?"
"Can't I just sleep here, hyung?" The young sunfish pleaded, lips forming into an adorable pout. It's unfair.
The reader didn't know why the kid's being like this. He had been fine on his own during the past nights. But upon closer inspection, Kim Dokja could see the slight quiver in the boy's lips. Moreover, his eyes betrayed his fear.
Kim Dokja's gaze softened. He slowly walked towards the bed and sat on the kid's side. "What is it, Joonghyuk-ah?" He asked gently.
This prompted the kid to look down as he fiddled with his hands. After a moment of hesitation, in which Dokja waited patiently, Joonghyuk opened his mouth.
"I have nightmares." Then he pursed his lips, clearly not wanting to elaborate.
The reader knew about nightmares. He was too familiar with them. And hearing that the young kid also had his own and visibly struggling with it...Kim Dokja immediately folded.
Whatever it was that plagued his protagonist, he wanted to banish it all away.
"Alright. You can stay," Kim Dokja said softly, not asking more as he didn't want to relive what it was that was bothering the young Yoo Joonghyuk.
Later, Kim Dokja pretended he was asleep when skinny arms wrapped around his torso, seeking comfort. He tried to ignore the way his heart melted.
くコ:彡
"You know, ahjussi," Yoo Mia suddenly spoke beside Kim Dokja.
This startled the reader, distracting him and almost cutting his finger in the process. They were at the kitchen. With Kim Dokja attempting to make murim dumplings from scratch. It was the regressor's favorite and he wanted the younger version to try it at least once before he turned back.
The said sunfish was out there somewhere but the reader wouldn't worry. He was with Yoo Sangah and the kids. Sangah suggested it to give Kim Dokja a break (they all knew how the boy ran the reader ragged these days will all his antics). At first, the boy seemed reluctant to leave without Kim Dokja. But Lee Jihye offhandedly mentioned an old arcade that was recently discovered nearby. The sunfish bastard didn't even look back as he trailed after the admiral. Kim Dokja shook his head fondly.
For some reason, Yoo Mia volunteered to stay and help instead of enjoying the day outside.
"You should be careful with that, ahjussi," the young girl reprimanded, her tone condescending. Kim Dokja refrained from rolling his eyes childishly.
"What were you saying, Mia-yah?" He asked instead.
"When he was that age, oppa wasn't like that at all."
That made Kim Dokja pause. "What do you mean?" Curiosity was burning in his veins. He found himself wanting to know more about his favorite protagonist's childhood.
"We were mostly left to our own devices. Eomma and appa are always away. That's why oppa doesn't have time to have friends and play games. He has to take care of me all the time," Mia paused as she folded her dumpling. "I'm too young to remember but I knew he was always there for me. I grew up with him by my side always and that was when I noticed he never really had friends."
Kim Dokja wanted to assure the young girl that it was because her brother loves her so much so she didn't have to sound so guilty about it.
But before he could, the girl continued, "He never trusted any adults. Not after eomma and appa abandoned us. I only ever relied on him but my brother relied on no one."
She then looked up, her piercing gaze, that seemed too mature for a girl her age and that reminded Dokja a lot of her brother, trained straight at the reader.
"Oppa likes you a lot, ahjussi." That made Kin Dokja blink in incomprehension.
"He wouldn't have followed you around like that. He wouldn't have cried to you like that. I haven't seen oppa act so freely like that. Even as his older self, he always looks happy when he's talking about you, ahjussi," she said.
Ignoring Kim Dokja's stunned expression, Yoo Mia jumped out of her stool, leaving her misshapen dumplings on the counter, and bowed deeply in the reader's direction.
"Thank you for taking care of my oppa, ahjussi," Yoo Mia said formally.
Before Kim Dokja could get out of his shock and respond, the young girl already straightened, cool gaze appraising the reader before walking out of the kitchen.
Kim Dokja was left there with his sad-looking dumplings, heart aching from the young girl's words.
Oppa likes you a lot, ahjussi.
Even as his older self, he always looks happy when he's talking about you, ahjussi.
Ignoring the heat on the tip of his ears, Kim Dokja attempted to calm his racing heart as he mechanically continued his cooking.
[K imD o k ja i s ple a s ed to hea r th e girl's w o rds.] The fourth wall suddenly started narrating.
[Ki
mDo
k j a 's he a rt a
ch
e d at the
th
o u
gh
t
ofa
s a d young Yo o Jo ong h y u
ck
.]
[K i m Dok ja o n ly w ant s hi s p rota g o nis t to be ha ppy .]
"Shut up."
くコ:彡
It was Lee Seolhwa who found a way to lift the curse. And the day came when the potion was ready to be consumed.
"If I drink this, will hyung be happy?" The young sunfish asked, round shining eyes looking directly at Kim Dokja.
Kim Dokja's eyes shook from his words. He ignored the pang in his heart as he smiled at the young boy.
"Mmmh." It wasn't an actual reply, but the reader had no idea how to answer the question.
"If I drink this, you'll get your companion back. And I'll be able to go on scenarios with you and we'll kill monsters together," Yoo Joonghyuk insisted.
That made the reader laugh. "Of course, Joonghyuk-ah. We'd kick asses together and you'll look all cool like the protagonist that you are," he said fondly.
Yoo Joonghyuk grinned brightly at his words but then the expression faltered. "Will I remember?"
The words made Kim Dokja froze. Will he? Do I want him to remember?
The bastard might try to kill me if he remembered every vulnerable moment he had with me.
"I hope I will," Yoo Joonghyuk said softly.
Kim Dokja wanted to hug the young boy for what might be the last time.
Then without any warning, without giving Kim Dokja the chance to say goodbye (because this Yoo Joonghyuk won't appear again), the sunfish bastard chugged down the potion.
くコ:彡