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When Viper first received his wish potion, his mind went blank.
It wasn’t unexpected for him to receive it. He had been watching his points grow closer and closer to the item’s cost for years. He clicked the button to purchase with his own finger, took public transport to the waiting room and watched the executive step towards him with the vial in hand and a smarmy smile on their face in person. But knowing that he was due to receive it and feeling the weight of the object in his palm were two different things.
Externally, he recovered quick enough. He plastered a sweet smile on his face and thanked his superior with false sincerity that would melt hearts coming from anyone else, but his mind was still buzzing with static. The potion now in his pocket was powerful, powerful enough to create worlds and destroy them in an instant, and now it was rippling within its glass prison as he bumped against people in the street.
When he got home, he placed the bottle on a coffee table and simply stared at it.
Having this shouldn’t have been a bad thing. The opposite, really. It should have been the best thing, since it meant his sacrifices were finally paying off, and he was getting the thing he had been working toward for years. He could quit this stupid job and live the rest of his life in luxury, content with his innermost desire fulfilled.
There should not have been any issues, but there were. One in particular that ruined the entire achievement.
Viper did not have a wish.
Funny, considering how long he had been working at this shitty company. Baek Saheon had one when he first started out, to avenge his sister, but now he was so far displaced from that person it was hard to imagine wanting anything that desperately. Jisan no longer existed, he practically tore the village down with his own hands, and killing the monster they worshipped afterwards was child’s play.
By all means he should have left after that. Risking his life daily wasn’t enjoyable, and he had more than enough savings to live comfortably by now, so there was no reason left for him to stay.
Viper did anyway, and if he were younger he might’ve been able to convince himself it was still for the Wish Ticket, but now with a near decade of experience and hundreds of borderline murders under his belt he knew that wasn’t the case. All it was for him was something to do, something he was good at, a goal to reach.
Now he’s made it to that goal, and he doesn’t know where to go from it.
The first thing he should do is use his Wish Potion, obviously. He knows better than to leave that thing out for anyone to use against him, but the issue with not having a real wish is that he doesn’t know what to use it for.
He could always wish for physical things, but he already has more money than he needs and anything else he could want became useless to him when he traded his humanity for progress. He could wish to eradicate the religion Jisan was based on, but despite how cruel everyone believed he was, he found his rage didn’t extend past his childhood home. He could always wish for his sister back, but she had only known Baek Saheon, a boy who clung to her dress with nearly every loud noise. She wouldn’t recognize Viper.
The man groaned into his palm. If he had a roommate, he would never allow himself to show discontent so openly, but the one he got when he was hired was a nobody who died early on and was never replaced. Once he got promoted, his apartment became exclusive so newbies wouldn’t piss him off and die before even collecting dream essence.
He really shouldn’t be thinking too much about this. Everything he has ever done was for his own safety, his wish should be to ensure that. No matter how powerful, how experienced, how smart he got, there was always the chance of being caught off guard by something he wasn’t ready for. His wish should be to eliminate that possibility.
But when he rose the vial, wish on the tip of his tongue, he stopped short. What comes after? He takes the potion, ensures his safety, then what? He leaves Daydream and buys a yacht somewhere? Invests to make his funds grow bigger? Moves higher up the chain until he reaches executive status?
What would be the point of any of that? No matter what he did, he still wouldn’t be satisfied. He would still be Viper, even if the title was officially left behind in his resignation. He would still be aimless, working himself to the bone for nothing of use. He would still be just as empty and inhuman as he is now.
He didn’t want any of that, he wanted a purpose. Something that would make him feel- even for a second- like his soul hadn’t shattered long ago. Something that would restart the heart that died along with his sister.
He wanted to be Baek Saheon again.
That thought quieted down the static and replaced it with the burn in his chest called desire. “I wish to find my purpose.” He spoke before he could stop himself, bringing the incandescent nectar to his lips and downing it like a shot. He hadn’t even finished swallowing before the room around him shifted into something new entirely.
He blinked to find himself in a subway car, wearing an old suit, surrounded by a group of confused people. His eyes shifted around slowly, previous emotion all being wiped off his face with professional ease as he tried to figure out where he was taken. The scene looked familiar, though when Viper realized why he wished it didn’t.
He was back at orientation. He wished for a purpose and found himself back at Daydream’s orientation. He huffed out a breath through his nose at the cosmic humor of the universe. Was this its way of telling him that his fate was to die with this company? To be worked like a dog until he couldn’t anymore?
No. No, he refused. If not to avoid the fate itself, then for what little pride he had left. He would make it out of orientation just as before, and then he would go on a trip. He still held no desire for it, but it would be better than giving up now and accepting the emptiness.
His plan had been to remain seated. From the little he remembered of his orientation, practically everyone in his car got off in the first two stations, and whoever didn’t were too scared and surprised to do anything before he took his chance. He’d prefer to get out without losing an eye this time, but he would settle for whatever he could get.
Things didn’t always go as planned though, because after arriving at the first station a man took charge and prevented most people from getting off.
Viper did not remember this man.
That in itself shouldn’t have been odd. Over the years, there had been plenty of jobs where civilians had boldened themselves to become leaders only to end up dead anyway, and this man shouldn’t have been any different. However, this had been Viper’s first experience with a darkness, and if anyone had been around to lead him through it then he would’ve remembered them, even if only as an idiot.
Viper toyed with the idea that this man had been pushed out on one of the first two stations, but it appeared he was smart enough to stay away from the doors at their first stop. It wasn’t much, but any discrepancies between now and before were worth looking into. Maybe this could be an opportunity to keep his eye.
So he plastered on a smile and started talking. He learned that the man’s name was Kim Soleum, and proceeded to appeal to an ego by referring to him as teacher. He introduced himself with the name Baek Saheon because at this point in time there was no reason to be anyone else and he took note of the tiny twitch that got in response.
At the next stop, Soleum once more prevented people from getting off. He made note of the announcements, explaining that the group should listen to them. This was all stuff Viper already knew, however it was intriguing to see someone who was supposed to be a newbie catch on that quickly. Perhaps their situations are similar, or maybe it’s just good instincts, but he’ll definitely need to look into this man once they’re out of this darkness.
It shouldn’t be too hard to gain access to employee records.
But then, a lost item was called for. The same out that ‘Baek Saheon’ had taken in the first timeline.
The passengers grouped up to talk it over, and one man stupidly raised his hand and claimed to be a perfect match for the lost item. Instead of acknowledging the opportunity instantly as his past self would have, Viper’s eyes slid towards Soleum to see how he would react.
A second passed and no action was taken. The next stop came closer, and Viper could only sigh in disappointment as he realized something. This man was far too empathetic to be of any use, that’s why he hadn’t been remembered. Anyone smart would have taken advantage of the opportunity given and at least attempted to make use of the volunteer, even if they themselves hadn’t fit the criteria.
Soleum is too smart to have never thought of the idea, and the fact that he didn’t act upon it doesn’t mean anything good. He could survive this, he could lead everyone in this car to an exit, but all that would do for Viper is turn him into a stain on the floor due to the freeloader penalty waiting for them afterwards. There is no more use to be found with the man here.
Viper took his opportunity and used his phone to gouge out the other candidate’s eye. While everyone else was in shock, he examined the injury to see if he could use that eye to get out instead of his own. He held back, but unfortunately it appeared that the organ had still popped under the pressure he had applied.
Unfortunate, but expected. It appears he’ll have to lose his own again to get out.
Viper sighed under his breath before turning towards the sliding doors and waiting for them to open. Once they did, he spared Soleum a glance and smiled sweetly. “Sympathy is pointless in a job like this.” He stated, too quiet for the rest of the car to hear him, but loud enough for his words to carry towards their intended recipient. That smile remained as he stepped out and waved from the platform.
Despite his actions, he did hope Soleum survived. It would be nice to have a competent coworker outside of the elites, even if he was a bit too softhearted. Viper’s eyes opened as he heard the sound of the doors closing, intent on bracing for the pain that was bound to come, only to be met with a sight almost as shocking as the metro itself had been.
Behind the doors with a blank expression on his face was Soleum. He was holding a glass vial, and in that vial was an eye. Viper felt his own widen at the sight, and his hand fell from where it had been waving in disbelief. Then, the train pulled out of its stop, taking both Soleum and the lost item with it.
Huh.
The man chuckled in disbelief, before he slowly began to laugh. Laughter soon turned to screams as the mechanical arms came to claim their due, but even so he couldn’t completely care at the moment. He felt angry, he felt scared, he felt pain, he felt joy.
He felt like Baek Saheon again.
And in that moment, Saheon knew his purpose lied in a man with red pupils and tired eyes. A purpose he had been looking for his entire life. So that man better run, because if he’s ever caught then whatever remains of Viper will never let him go.