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The silence comforted Yoo Joonghyuk.
The sunlight of the Industrial Complex was rather dull compared to Earth's. But it was still warm enough, and inviting, in a way. Yoo Joonghyuk wondered if he would have felt the same if Kim Dokja hadn't overthrown the previous tyrannical Duke.
Ha.
Right, that was Kim Dokja. Bringing out warmth and hope wherever he went. Yoo Joonghyuk didn't know how a single man he had known for less than a year in his long, long life could completely turn it upside down.
Of course, this man was not a regular prophet, like Anna Croft had been. His knowledge of just about everything, and his way of navigating scenarios never failed to throw Yoo Joonghyuk for a loop. Sometimes he felt like just another piece in whatever cosmic game Kim Dokja was playing. The man never failed to perfectly manipulate him into doing whatever he wanted.
The anamoly of this round, someone who had never appeared before… just what was his significance? Yoo Joonghyuk found it hard to believe that this guy of all people had failed the very first scenario in the previous rounds. What was so special about this third round?
All Yoo Joonghyuk knew was that now, he had to fight tooth and nail to stay in this round. He must not regress to the next one. Of course, it wasn't a certainity, but he had a feeling that the fool wouldn't ever appear again.
He let out a long sigh. If Kim Dokja had been awake, he would have had some stupid snarky thing to say. But Kim Dokja was not awake. He was still unconscious from when he had spontaneously decided to stab himself in the heart, just to come and help Yoo Joonghyuk against Asmodeus.
Just the thought of it brought enormous rage into his heart. This fool — after barely escaping death who knows how during the 10th scenario had pulled off another self-sacrifical stunt.
A really uncomfortable image was being painted in Yoo Joonghyuk's mind. Earlier, he had been searching for just one piece of the puzzle that was Kim Dokja, but he had been hesitating to put this particular piece into its proper place.
A man so arrogant and self-confident… just how could his own self-worth be so screwed? Just what was wrong with him? Perhaps his peculiar relationship with his mother had a role to play in this, but no doubt there was a lot more to this enigma.
A bizzare desire to laugh tried to force itself out of Yoo Joonghyuk's throat. No doubt this guy would just go back to acting like nothing had ever happened. It was almost admirable actualy, how Kim Dokja just shook everything off, including, but not limited to, his numerous deaths. He'd use his own life as a stepping stone to progress further, and somehow succeed.
Sometimes, it seemed this world was made just for him. A stage for him to maneuver and manipulate, all the people his puppets. Even Yoo Joonghyuk felt like that, and he detested the feeling. But…
It was a really great story, isn't that right? Let's meet again, Yoo Joonghyuk.
Who would say that to a 'puppet'? Why would Kim Dokja sacrifice himself, stop Yoo Joonghyuk from doing the same, if he thought everyone to be just a player in his game? No, this man cared, for all he liked to pretend he didn't. He cared a lot, too much for his own good.
[Incarnation Kim Dokja will be killed by the person he loves the most.]
And if that prophecy was right…
No, Yoo Joonghyuk didn't want to think about that. The idea was absurd. This man couldn't (or perhaps wouldn't) even understand his own heart, so how could the notion of love exist for him?
Let's meet again, Yoo Joonghyuk.
Damnit.
Damn this man. How dare he say such things to Yoo Joonghyuk? He was just going to act like none of it had ever happened. Did he not realise that his throwaway words had consequences?
Yoo Joonghyuk had never seen such a desperate expression on Kim Dokja's face before.
This isn't part of the ending I want!
Nothing he said made any sense. But one thing was clear: Kim Dokja wanted Yoo Joonghyuk to stay in this round, and he was willing to give his life for that.
Just why…?
You saved me once before, so I'm saving you now.
That didn't make any sense, damnit!
It was always Kim Dokja saving Yoo Joonghyuk, never the other way around. Even now, in this Demon Realm, it had been Kim Dokja hurting himself to come and save Yoo Joonghyuk from that cursed Asmodeus.
His debt to this man just grew and grew. This man, who kept offering him his own life, and never asked for anything in return. Why? Yoo Joonghyuk had long given up on the idea that everything had been a simple ploy to lead to an eventual betrayal.
Just… who was Kim Dokja—?
[An unknown force is putting a stop to your imagination.]
A splitting headache immediately assaulted him. This wasn't the first time he'd seen this message. It always popped up whenever he got too close to wondering about Kim Dokja's origins and the source of his strange knowledge.
Yoo Joonghyuk finally shook himself out of his thoughts. This philosophical monologue wasn't his thing, but trust Kim Dokja to change even that. But regardless, he didn't have time to muse more.
[A constellation who likes to change genders is looking at you.]