Work Text:
The Theater of Fate– Chapter 1
Chapter 1
If you asked Kim Rok Soo's teammates, there were few things that could elicit any reaction from their stoic team leader—he had seemed like an old man ever since he was born.
If you asked Kim Rok Soo himself, there were few things that could surprise him, because he had been through far too much.
Just like now.
He had been in his office, slaving over piles of paperwork, thinking about what to cook for his niece… and now, he was sitting in a huge room, facing a screen. Glancing around, he noted that the room was divided into three sections, and he was positioned directly in front of the middle one.
“Or rather,” he clicked his tongue, “I am in the fourth section. I guess I am not the only one meeting with the God of Death today.” A faint glimmer of the barrier appeared—visible only after intense concentration.
Turning back to the front, he stared at the screen, trying to figure out why the God of Death (and it definitely was that God, who loved to mess with him) had brought him here, when the White Star had already been killed and the Sealed God was… even more sealed.
While he was lost in thought, a door in the first section opened, and careful footsteps echoed through the hall. Eventually, a black-haired man, weary and covered in signs of conflict, entered—and Kim Rok Soo felt a chill run up and down his spine.
“Ah, I should have known nothing good would happen here if that God is in control.” Rok Soo leaned back in his seat, hoping the comfortable sofa would swallow him whole. The man who had just entered was none other than Choi Han, the protagonist of Rok Soo's former world—the man who had beaten him mercilessly. Choi Han looked filled with rage and confusion, painfully reminding Rok Soo of a core memory.
“Where is that bastard Choi Jung Soo when I need him!” Rok Soo cursed silently, keeping his eyes fixed on the newcomer.
Perhaps his desire to avoid interaction was heard, because Choi Han seemed unable to see him. But Rok Soo couldn’t relax yet, as more footsteps emerged from the opened door.
As people entered one by one, Rok Soo mentally checked them off his list:
Archmage Rosalyn
Wolf King Lock
King of Roan Alberu Crossman
Cage, the Crazy Priestess
Crown Prince Valentino
Commander Toonka
Chief Harol
A large number of other powerful-looking people soon filled the room, glancing around warily, trying to understand what was happening.
“Your Majesty,” Rosalyn murmured softly to Alberu, while Choi Han gripped his sword’s hilt. Alberu nodded, mentally checking that all their allies were present.
“This place reeks of the God of Death,” Cage whispered, preparing her powers just in case.
Everyone was tense and ready to fight when the middle section’s door opened.
Seeing the people enter this time, Rok Soo wondered if the God of Death had finally decided to end himself. Even if Rok Soo didn’t act, someone here would likely wreck the God of Death and ensure he suffered worse than either the White Star or the Sealed God. Because the people who entered were from Kim Rok Soo’s current world.
Members of Team 1, which Rok Soo led, as well as other teams and guild members, streamed in. Rok Soo’s gaze sank when he realized that the number of people was small compared to the first room, and that those in the second room all had close connections with Kim Rok Soo, both former and current.
As Rok Soo tried to make sense of what was happening, a loud sound rang out from the first section.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
A black-haired man had slammed against the barrier separating rooms 1 and 2 with all his strength.
“You! You all are from Korea, aren’t you? H-how did you get here? Who are you??”
“What is happening…”
“Who are—”
Before Kim Min Ah could finish, the door to the final room opened, and a deathly silence fell as another Choi Han entered. Looking around, he froze when he saw the people in room 2.
“Kim Min Ah...? What are you... doing here?” His voice trailed off as he realized that, while he recognized these people, they did not recognize him.
Crash!
A thunderous sound drew everyone’s attention as the two Choi Hans faced each other.
“Who are you? Are you the one who brought me here? Get me the hell out of here!” Choi Han screamed. He then turned toward the door he had entered from. Soon, more people trudged inside, part confused and part completely exasperated.
“Taylor??”
“Paseton!”
“Are those the Sun God twins?? What are they doing here?”
“Pendrick!”
Gasps and murmurs ran through room 1 as more people filled room 3.
The enormity of what former Kim Rok Soo—now Cale Henituse—had achieved weighed heavily on former Cale Henituse, now Kim Rok Soo. As more people entered room 3, the occupants of room 1 sank further into despair. These people had lost loved ones, and some didn’t even know where their family, partners, or friends had perished. Seeing these faces now was like a dagger to the heart.
Yet Rok Soo couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Aside from the fact that people from three different worlds had been summoned by a God, and not just any God—a God who reigned over death.
The answer to his discomfort became obvious: facing his old world and the world he had saved (albeit minimally), he naturally sought his former family before the heroes. And the one thing common in both versions was the missing redhead, the trashy young master of Henituse County.
His thoughts were confirmed by Rosalyn:
> “Young master Cale seems to be missing.”
Those words alone turned the atmosphere of room 3 into a battlefield. Everyone appeared ready to fight.
“Human! Human!! Goldie Gramps! We need to find Human quickly! I’ll destroy everything if he’s hurt again!!”
‘Again???’ Rok Soo thought hysterically, recalling the condition of his old body and images of his last encounter with Cale.
As if room 3 weren’t chaotic enough, a black baby dragon and two cat children jumped onto Choi Han’s shoulders, asserting themselves firmly.
‘…God of Death, why pick a fight with someone like Cale? There must be better ways to kill yourself.’
With all three sections now full, the screen came to life:
> [Welcome. If you all will take your place, we can start with why we are gathered here today.]
“…Miss Cage, is this the work of whom I think it is?”
“Unfortunately no, Mr. Ron. This seems to be the domain of the God of Death.”
“I see.” Ron smiled faintly, fingers gliding along his dagger. Rok Soo tried to ignore the scene, realizing he could have died if Ron had chosen to act.
After everyone settled, a small warp in space appeared in front of the screen, and a person emerged.
Kyung Ho immediately turned to Kim Rok Soo—the bastard whose mental health would be most shaken at the sight of Choi Jung Soo.
At the same time…
> “Your Highness.”
Choi Han muttered tightly, ready to draw his sword if necessary. Alberu nodded, mind racing to handle the situation if Cale Henituse’s secret was revealed.
Ayla stepped forward:
> “Welcome to my kingdom. To be clear, none of you will leave until I decide. I will restrict your power; I am not prepared to see this place destroyed.”
A dignified voice interrupted. Alberu Crossman flashed a polite but irritated smile:
> “I am unsure why we have been brought here. Kindly send us back; we have a war to prepare for and no time for this.”
Ignoring Alberu, Ayla continued:
> “You have all been brought here to gain information to save yourselves.”
Waving her arm, the space next to her distorted. Cale Henituse, Kim Rok Soo, and OG Cale Henituse took luxurious, front-row seats.
> “CALE!” “CALE*”
“Young master!”
“Human!”
> “You don’t need to worry; they aren’t hurt.” Ayla cut off the chatter again.
> “Before we proceed, Kim Rok Soo, isn’t it time you stepped up?”
Rok Soo frowned but then the barriers around him disappeared. Every eye in the room fixed on him.
> “Nice to meet all of you. I am Kim Rok Soo. In my last life, I was Cale Henituse until my world was destroyed fighting the White Star. I made a deal with the God of Death when I was forty, who turned back time and placed me in Kim Rok Soo’s body, sending Kim Rok Soo to Cale Henituse’s body. This happened a little over two years ago. Also, I have given up my identity as Cale Henituse, just as that guy”—he pointed at the longer-haired Cale—“has given up his identity as Kim Rok Soo.”
Silence filled the room. People whispered among themselves, trying to process the revelation.
> “Wait…so you aren’t the team leader?” Kim Min Ah murmured.
> “But then…how…you—wait. I understand now why the team leader changed so suddenly…” Jung So Hoon’s eyes darted between Cale, Kim Rok Soo, and Choi Jung Soo.
Room 3’s Henituse family felt as if struck by lightning. Cale had been taken from them two years ago? Now someone else occupied his body, and they hadn’t noticed?
Meanwhile, room 1 had other concerns: news of Cale Henituse’s world facing annihilation at White Star’s hands had reached them. Was this a mockery—or help?
> “As you heard, Kim Rok Soo and Cale Henituse swapped places to prevent the destruction of Cale’s world. Room 3 is the TCF world, and room 1 is TBOAH. No need to worry about details now.”
Ayla brought everyone back on track:
> “Kim Rok Soo, now known as Cale Henituse, ended a twenty-year-long war in just two years with minimal casualties. You are here to gain information to change your fates. Think of this as a vacation to save your world.”
Silence fell. Everyone gauged the situation carefully.
> “And what will we be watching?” a low, dangerous voice drawled.
A golden-haired elf glared at Ayla:
> “Eruhaben nim?”
> “Why don’t you answer me, human? What exactly will we watch? If it’s what I think, you better be ready to be destroyed.”
Dragon Fear began leaking into the air.
> “Eruhaben nim, what’s happening?” Tasha asked.
Ayla met his gaze:
> “…Cale Henituse’s life. That’s what you will be watching.”
A chill ran down everyone’s spine in rooms 1 and 2.
> “No, it’s not what you think. I got Cale’s permission,” Ayla said, pointing at TCF Cale, who nodded.
Everyone relaxed. Room 3’s expressions softened. ‘What a kind heart! He sacrifices his privacy to help others. I must become stronger.’
Meanwhile, TCF Cale shivered, thinking:
> ‘Why does my lazy life feel like it’s saying goodbye?’
Ayla smiled, reading everyone’s thoughts with ease:
> ‘If only you knew how much money Cale took to let me show his life.’