[many constellations are extremely excited to see how the scenario will progress.]
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is frowning intently.]
"It's already dead?" Lee Hyunsung gasped, looking rather pale. "What does that mean for us?"
Kim Dokja exhaled shakily. "I have a few ideas, but we'll have to see what the Star Stream decides to do."
Either way, this wasn't going to be good.
[The '73rd Demon King' is currently dead.]
Both Joonghyuk and Dokja stare at the corpse in shock, their expressions unchanging even as Sooyoung pushes her way between them to ask if that thing is really dead. The others quickly join them as well, all wondering what's going to happen now and if the scenario is already over. Dokja, however, doesn't seem to hear any of them as it dawns on him how killing the Demon King early with incarnations who can't clear the scenario is related to the true goal of the nebulae.
At first glance, it looks like the scenario is cleared, but the main scenarios of the Star Stream aren't that simple. Though it wasn't during the '73rd Demon King' scenario, something similar also happened in TWSA. The scenarios where transcendent existences excessively intervene are forcibly corrected by the Star Stream.
The scene pans over the dead bodies of the incarnations before switching to show the amused faces of a few of the dokkaebi. At the front of the room, the body of the Demon King begins to disappear into digital sparks as the Star Stream corrects the probability, updating the Main Scenario. Seeing the new scenario description, Dokja curses. He knows that the Star Stream likes the natural flow of stories, and so it can't revive the Demon King—reversing time or resurrection would further undermine the scenario's probability.
"Sooyoung-ssi, considering that its chest is ripped open, my professional opinion is that the Demon King is most likely dead," Lee Seolhwa deadpanned in response to Han Sooyoung's question, but it was clear that she wasn't completely certain either. To be fair, the Demon Kings (or, at least, the real ones) were absolutely capable of continuing to fight even in a condition that would leave any normal incarnation incapacitated and near death.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is disappointed in this turn of events.]
Yoo Mia shifted nervously in her brother's arms, but she looked as confused as everyone else did. "Won't the scenario be boring if he's already dead?"
That was the logical train of thought, yes. However, the Star Stream didn't work like that—no, it tried to find the most thrilling story possible, and the only way it could accomplish that now was with a plot twist. Under these circumstances, all signs were pointing to one answer and Kim Doka didn't like it one bit.
"The scenario will have to change," Yoo Joonghyuk told her tensely, already entirely focused on the situation on the screen.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is hoping that the scenario will get more exciting.]
[some constellations are trying to guess how the scenario will proceed.]
"This happened before?" Jung Heewon wondered, glancing over in Kim Dokja's direction. He nodded, trying to recall the exact circumstances.
The details of that specific incident were a bit fuzzy, but it had happened in one of the later scenarios. Still, Kim Dokja did his best to explain the basic concept. "Scenarios can't be impossible, and it's not fun for the constellations if they've already been completed. It's one thing if it happens by accident, but when constellations interfere, the scenario must change in response."
Yoo Sangah looked down, lacing her fingers together in her lap nervously. "I presume that the scenario won't be changed in our favour."
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is feeling extremely concerned.]
Of course not, that would be too easy. Judging by all their smug smiles, the dokkaebi knew it too. Right now, there was only one possible way for the Star Stream to correct this error while using the least amount of probability to change the details of the scenario.
If that was truly the case, then Kim Dokja thought he knew why the nebulae were so willing to risk all that probability to use a Deus Ex Machina.
Lee Gilyoung huffed and scowled. "Why can't they just revive him? You revive a lot too, hyung."
Okay, that was true, but they worked in different ways.
Kim Dokja exhaled to try and steady himself before looking down at the boy. "Gilyoung-ah, my resurrections only work because I pay a price for each one. With [King of No Killing], I need to have saved 100 people to balance out the probability, while with [Eight Lives], I sacrifice one of Yamata no Orochi's 'heads'."
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is nodding grimly.]
Shin Yoosung sighed and leaned against Kim Dokja's side. "That's stupid."
Unfortunately, that was just how the Star Stream worked.
What happened then? The 73rd Demon King is dead. However, the 73rd Demon King is still needed because we need to defeat it in order to progress the scenario. Then what must the Star Stream do in order to solve this contradiction?
A demonic looking jade stone appears on the throne in place of the Demon King's body. As Dokja gets an eerie feeling and begins to ask Joonghyuk about it, he notices that time seems to be flowing very slowly. When he turns, Joonghyuk isn't there—the protagonist has already rushed forward towards the throne. As he screams Joonghyuk's name, the protagonist grasps the jade, which releases a pulse of demonic energy.
As Kim Dokja thought about how the scenario might proceed now that they were short one Demon King, Lee Jihye blinked at the screen in confusion. "Is this supposed to be a hard question? Don't they just need a new one?"
Lee Hyunsung perked up. "Oh, maybe they can summon a new demon into the scenario to become the Demon King? There are probably a few strong ones left somewhere…"
[the constellation 'scribe of heaven' is shaking his head at the optimism of the incarnation 'lee hyunsung'.]
Suddenly, Han Sooyoung went still. "No, there's an easier way."
As if on cue, a glowing stone appeared on the throne, and Kim Dokja shuddered at the sight of it. So it really would come down to this after all… he looked down at the floor, realizing what the stakes would be in this scenario. The nebulae truly knew him well, it seemed. He'd never be able to ignore—
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is screaming for the incarnation 'kim dokja' to pay attention.]
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is so shocked that his wine is overflowing from his glass.]
What?
Kim Dokja looked up and immediately found himself frozen in place. Yoo Joonghyuk was…
He was….
"Master, what are you doing?" Lee Jihye asked nervously. "You already looked at the scenario, right?"
No, he was—
Yoo Mia bit her lip and looked up at her brother. "Oppa, are you going to break it…?"
No…
Yoo Joonghyuk said nothing, just staring straight ahead at the screen. His hands were shaking ever-so-slightly and Kim Dokja knew what he was doing.
"Oppa…?"
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is gasping in horror.]
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is sighing deeply.]
Then, Yoo Joonghyuk grasped the jade, and Kim Dokja felt his heart shatter.
"Kim Dokja. Be sure to keep your promise," Joonghyuk states, and as several notifications inform the group that a candidate for the next 73rd Demon King has been found, a quick flashback of the promise plays. When it finishes, Joonghyuk turns to face them all, but he's looking at Dokja with an expression that Dokja has never seen before—whether it's in real life or in the novel.
Joonghyuk looks solemn and sad, and yet, it's almost as though he has reached a state of acceptance. After a moment of shock, Dokja's own expression contorts in fury and he starts running towards the protagonist with a yell. "Yoo Joonghyuk, you son of a bitch!"
[many constellations are astounded by the decision of the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
"Joonghyuk-ssi, what are you doing?" Lee Seolhwa asked worriedly, but Kim Dokja could barely hear her through the sudden fog that was filling his head.
He felt like he was choking as he drowned in a feeling that he couldn't name. It crashed over him like a tsunami, dragging him down with an undertow until he couldn't fight it any longer. This wasn't right. It couldn't be happening. Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't actually—
"No…" Kim Dokja managed to say, not even caring that his hands were visibly shaking. "You can't… Joonghyuk-ah, why…?"
For some reason, Yoo Joonghyuk looked almost relieved for a moment, even as his eyes darkened. "It was the only choice, Kim Dokja."
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is distraught.]
[the constellation 'goryeo's first sword' is angry at the star stream.]
"Joonghyuk-ah, I can't," Kim Dokja gasped. "I can't keep my promise."
He knew that the protagonist was planning on sacrificing himself here. It was the only thing that he could be doing. Had he foreseen that something would go wrong, even back when Kim Dokja had resurrected? Was that the entire reason he had asked for that promise in the first place? Had Yoo Joonghyuk made this decision on his own, expecting that something would go horrifically wrong?
"What's going on, hyung?" Lee Gilyoung asked urgently, but Kim Dokja couldn't answer him—not with all the thoughts swirling in his mind.
Thankfully, Han Sooyoung spoke up instead, hissing through gritted teeth. "The easiest way to get a new Demon King is for someone here to become the new Demon King that we have to kill."
The second it processed in everyone's minds what Yoo Joonghyuk was doing by claiming the jade like this, Yoo Mia burst into tears. She begged and pleaded, her words lost between her frantic sobs, and Lee Jihye looked as though she was refusing to believe it.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is looking at the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
Kim Dokja knew that he sounded panicked and scared, but he let the words flow from him anyway. "You can't do this, Joonghyuk-ah, there has to be another way. Every scenario has a loophole, so—"
"Kim Dokja," Yoo Joonghyuk said suddenly, and his voice felt a bit more vulnerable than before. "This is the only way."
The only…?
No, he refused to believe that. It wasn't possible.
"One of Han Sooyoung's avatars can take it," Kim Dokja suggested frantically, "then we just have to kill it and—"
Han Sooyoung scoffed, glaring at him. "Do you seriously think the Star Stream hasn't planned for something like that? The effects would probably get transferred to me, and I'm sure as hell not putting my life on the line when I didn't even want to be involved in this shit to begin with."
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is declaring that being selfless is lame.]
"Then what about a monster? Maybe a monster could…"
Yoo Sangah had tears in her eyes as she shook her head. "Dokja-ssi, the only monster that could be here that the children might be able to control is the dragon, and whether it becomes the Demon King or the effects potentially get reflected onto them, it won't be a good situation for any of us."
No no no no no—
This couldn't be happening. There had to be something that could be done to keep Yoo Joonghyuk from doing this. Kim Dokja had to think, it was the only thing he could do, but his thoughts were so jumbled and messy that nothing was coming to him.
That expression on Yoo Joonghyuk's face that looked like he had accepted his fate made Kim Dokja want to scream and yell and punch a wall and throw up and cry because it was easier than accepting it himself.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is concerned about the mental state of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Yoo Joonghyuk… he really was a son of a bitch.
Back on the second floor of the Dark Castle, Sookyoung and the other recovering incarnations watch as lightning dances across the sky. With a laugh, Boksoon points out that she looks concerned, something that Sookyung attributes to being unused to being a mother. Smiling, Boksoon informs her that it's not something anyone could ever be used to. In return, Sookyung asks whether the older woman is about to bring up the story of when she raised her six siblings again. Boksoon laughs and pats Sookyung's shoulder before reassuring her that Dokja will surely come back alive.
Looking at her hand, which is still leaking some words due to her slow recovery after being eaten by the wall, Sookyung sighs and says that 'Fate' says differently. Her eyes narrow as she muses over something she encountered. She remembers the moment she was eaten, and recalls that it had been a terrible experience of being broken down to mere morphemes, even wondering if she had died at the time. Naturally, she's shocked that it was inside her son, but also shudders at the memory that someone had been living inside the wall.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is shocked by the sudden scene change.]
"Why is it showing the outside!?" Shin Yoosung asked frantically as her gaze darted between Kim Dokja, his mother, and the screen.
Unable to say anything, Yoo Mia burst into another round of sobs, clearly even more panicked now that the focus wasn't on her brother. Kim Dokja didn't know what to do or say either, and he watched the screen with a numb sort of detachment.
"I'm glad you're accepting that, Sookyung-ssi," Lee Seolhwa said quietly as his mother admitted that she didn't know how to be one. It was true, and Kim Dokja wished that it was something she had accepted long ago rather than trying to force herself into that role.
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is agreeing with the words of the incarnation 'lee boksoon'.]
[constellations who are mothers are wondering about the story of the incarnation 'lee boksoon'.]
Jung Heewon shuddered and smiled weakly. "Six siblings, huh…? It was hard enough to help with raising just my brother…"
Kim Dokja couldn't relate to either of them, but he had read what the Yoo Joonghyuk of the novel had said about raising Yoo Mia the few times it was mentioned. In a way, he had experienced it by proxy, even if it was a completely different situation compared to the broken relationships in his own life. Still, as he glanced down at the two kids by his side, Kim Dokja began to wonder if he could understand his mother, just a little. Just like how she didn't know how to be a mother, he had no idea how to be a guardian or father either.
Maybe, with enough time, they could both learn.
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is confident in the abilities of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
[some constellations are wondering if the incarnation 'kim dokja' will find a way to stay alive.]
However, as soon as his mother brought up his Fate again, the barely recovering atmosphere was instantly plunged back into an awkward silence. It was extremely hard to avoid something fated, especially with the probability of not one, but three nebulae backing it up.
"Something terrible?" Yoo Sangah asked hesitantly, shooting a worried glance in his mother's direction. As the version of his mother on the screen continued talking, Kim Dokja realized immediately what she was talking about. She… remembered being eaten by the wall?
Lee Hyunsung's face went as white as a sheet. "Sookyung-ssi remembered being eaten by the wall? That's horrifying."
It was, in the most existential of ways. The way she described it—the sensation of being broken down as a 'story' to the mere building blocks of syllables and sounds—made Kim Dokja's skin crawl at the very thought. It was different than the way Yoo Joonghyuk had described the feeling of being eaten by the Devourer of Dreams in the novel, and somehow it was worse.
[many constellations are feeling wary of the skill 'the fourth wall'.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is leaning forward curiously.]
"Someone in the wall? Did she run into Nirvana or something?" Han Sooyoung wondered, looking more than slightly disturbed at the thought of it. Now that he considered it, his mother meeting Nirvana again definitely wouldn't be a good experience.
It was some kind of 'Wall'. And the moment I was devoured by the 'Wall', I definitely confronted that 'being inside the wall'.
The wall appears once more, as a slow zoom pans into the pages before coming out to two figures. On the left, the partially formed image of Sookyung, and on the right, a strange humanoid figure made up of words and scribbles. She remembers being crushed and recreated so her memories aren't accurate. Although she doesn't remember the exact structure of the interior of the wall, she remembers asking a question.
Screaming out at the figure, Sookyung desperately asks for a way for her son to escape 'Fate'. A mouth smiling like this whole situation is a joke forms on the figure as it 'speaks', the words resonating in her head rather than being spoken aloud. "There is only one way to escape from 'Fate', and Kim Dokja already knows how."
"I would have recognized Nirvana," his mother stated flatly, and Kim Dokja had to agree. Both she and Yoo Sangah had gotten unfortunately well acquainted with the reincarnator, so if it was actually Nirvana that she had met, she would have recognized them.
Or, well, that was assuming that Nirvana looked the same. Since they were absorbed while looking like a chimera, there was the possibility that they could still appear that way. However, the Nirvana that Kim Dokja had seen in this very scenario looked normal.
Was there someone else that she had met instead?
"Who else could even be in there?" Lee Jihye wondered nervously, biting her lip as the screen began zooming into the pages.
[some constellations are wondering if the mysterious figure is the 'theatre master'.]
Right, hadn't that guy gotten eaten too?
However, as a strange scribbly figure appeared instead, Kim Dokja found himself completely stumped. The wall hadn't absorbed anyone else to his knowledge, so who could that be?
"I don't like whoever that is," Lee Gilyoung muttered darkly. "It feels weird."
It was weird—that was a sentiment with which Kim Dokja could easily agree. The fact that whoever—whatever—it was could speak was unnerving at best.
[the constellation 'scribe of heaven' is narrowing his eyes.]
Kim Dokja could hear his mother let out a shaky breath as she described what she had gone through, and it wasn't an experience that anyone could fathom. Even just taking a glance over told him that Lee Seolhwa also looked rather horrified by the thought of being reformed in that way, let alone remembering it.
In the next moment, she recalled asking a question, and he didn't know how to feel about it. It was true that his mother was trying to help him escape his Fate, but what could this strange being even do? What answers could it even have? Why would she waste her time on something like this, under these circumstances?
"Oh damn, it can actually talk?" Jung Heewon exclaimed as it responded, but Kim Dokja was too busy paying attention to its answer to care. That was the answer that he was looking for.
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is curious about this way to escape 'fate'.]
[the constellation 'founder's mother' is hoping that this being is speaking the truth.]
"You know how to escape it," Yoo Joonghyuk stated, and Kim Dokja forced a slight smile onto his face.
"Seems like it." If that was true and he really did know the way to escape his Fate, then maybe he could prevent Yoo Joonghyuk from sacrificing himself.
However, in the back of his mind, Kim Dokja hoped desperately that Yoo Joonghyuk's sacrifice wouldn't be required for him to survive. Even if he survived the Fate in that situation, Kim Dokja didn't know if he'd survive Yoo Joonghyuk's death. None of this would matter if the protagonist died, after all.
Back in the throne room, an oppressive and dark aura surrounds Joonghyuk, and a message tells them that the candidate is evolving into a Demon King. Dokja can't help but replay Joonghyuk's question from a few days ago in his mind, and as he realizes what the protagonist is doing, he almost has a fit as he screams.
Naturally, there's a spectacular replay of Dokja calling Joonghyuk a son of a bitch, this time using different angles. Threads of light then shoot through the air, winding around the jade as Sangah pulls it out of Joonghyuk's hand and cancels the succession. Dokja immediately tells her not to use it, and to hold onto it tightly.
After he realizes what just happened with a bewildered expression, Joonghyuk lets out a huge burst of killing intent and yells for them not to interrupt him. With a lot of difficulty, Dokja blocks the power with [Way of the Wind] to keep it from reaching Sangah, even though it's fuelled by the power of a transcendent.
The second that the scene switched back to the throne room, Kim Dokja felt horror overcome his soul all over again, and he wasn't the only one. The kids clung to his side and he heard a faint whimper come from Shin Yoosung, while Yoo Mia buried her face into her brother's coat to muffle her sobs.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is feeling extremely stressed by the current events.]
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is tearing his hair out in anxiety.]
If he was reacting this badly, then Yoo Joonghyuk's death must not be required to escape his Fate, and that was the only thing that could bring Kim Dokja any bit of comfort right now. Still, this was hard to watch.
Yoo Joonghyuk was notoriously stubborn, and if screaming at him would succeed in changing his mind, then he wouldn't have regressed so much in the novel. Kim Dokja knew that he'd have to do something, anything—
Then, threads rushed towards Yoo Joonghyuk, plucking the jade from his grasp, and Kim Dokja couldn't breathe as his head went fuzzy from the overwhelming relief that crashed over him in the span of a second.
Han Sooyoung's eyes went wide and she turned to look at Yoo Sangah with a bewildered yet slightly impressed expression. "Holy shit, how the hell did you react so fast?"
"I was always good at working under pressure," Yoo Sangah admitted quietly, but it was obvious that she wasn't confident that this would be enough. Knowing Yoo Joonghyuk, it wouldn't be.
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is praising the swift action of the incarnation 'yoo sangah'.]
[the constellation 'lover of the abandoned labyrinth' is looking at the incarnation 'yoo sangah'.]
"Keep it away from oppa," Yoo Mia begged between sobs, "please keep it away…"
It clearly wasn't possible to break it, or else Kim Dokja would have ordered them to do so. Someone still had to become the Demon King, but Yoo Joonghyuk was the worst possible option. He was one of their strongest fighters, and trying to face off against him would be tantamount to suicide.
Despite that, they still had to try.
"Master, please," Lee Jihye said in a trembling voice, "why are you doing this?"
Yoo Joonghyuk's hands clenched into fists as he watched his future self try to go after Yoo Sangah, only for his strike to be blocked by Kim Dokja. What was going through his mind? How did the protagonist feel as he watched Kim Dokja step in to stop him? Kim Dokja didn't know, but he dreaded finding out.
However, Yoo Joonghyuk's answer was rather cryptic. "Because it's what has to be done."
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is wondering why the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk' is so adamant about this.]
[several constellations are flabbergasted by the strange behaviour of the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is frowning deeply.]
Interpreting the situation in her own way, Sooyoung summons several Avatars while stating that she knew something like this would happen. She also reminds Dokja that she's told him over and over that Joonghyuk is super selfish and only concerned about himself.
You're wrong.
As she tells Dokja that they have to stop him—that he's planning to kill them all after becoming the Demon King and clear the scenario by himself—the protagonist himself grabs her face and throws her into another one of her avatars.
That's not what he's doing.
When both Jihye and Heewon ask why he's doing this, the protagonist easily knocks them aside with terrifying ease. Immediately, looking at Joonghyuk's intense expression and aura, Dokja realizes that he's serious and that he's committed to defeating anyone who interferes with his goal.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is cheering on the incarnation 'han sooyoung'.]
Han Sooyoung looked away somewhat awkwardly, and Kim Dokja had to wonder whether or not she actually agreed with her future self. In fact, Kim Dokja might have assumed the same thing if this was the first day of the apocalypse or if he hadn't finished the novel. However, as he looked over at this Yoo Joonghyuk, he had to admit that it would be out of character for him at this point.
Naturally, Yoo Joonghyuk looked extremely unimpressed, his handsome features twisted into a scowl, as he glared at Han Sooyoung. "I'm not the same as that character you read."
"Sure, whatever, but how do you expect me to believe that you're not a selfish bastard when you run ahead to grab an item that'll make you super powerful, huh?" Han Sooyoung retorted, and just like his future self, Kim Dokja found himself feeling rooted in place, unable to do anything.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is biting her nails anxiously.]
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is sighing and shaking her head.]
"I'm not you," Yoo Joonghyuk retorted with a scoff. "In this round, I am not living only for myself."
Though Lee Jihye still looked nervous, she frowned as Han Sooyoung made the bold claim that the protagonist was planning on killing them all to survive on his own. "Master definitely isn't that kind of person."
Yoo Sangah nodded, biting her lip worriedly. "I… have to agree. If Joonghyuk-ssi intended on killing everyone, I don't think that he would have asked Dokja-ssi that question before."
Though Yoo Joonghyuk was silent and only tightened his grip on his terrified and trembling sister, it was obvious to Kim Dokja that he had planned ahead for this possibility. He wouldn't have reacted so quickly otherwise.
From the beginning, Yoo Joonghyuk was never considering his own safety.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is tearing out his hair in excitement.]
The moment that Han Sooyoung was easily tossed aside into another one of her avatars, the woman swore under her breath. Only a second later, Lee Jihye flinched as she was also swatted away.
"Damn, you're really going for it," Jung Heewon muttered, gritting her teeth. Despite her expression, her tone of voice was more sad than angry, and it seemed like she had also realized the true purpose of his determination.
Kim Dokja just felt cold and numb, almost too exhausted to do anything, resigned to watching the protagonist of the story he loved so much destroy himself while feeling utterly helpless the entire time.
Stepping past the rest of the group and blocking Joonghyuk's way with his body, Dokja yells for the other group members not to fight back. Standing before them and glaring at him, Joonghyuk tells Dokja to get out of the way and declares that he will be the one who becomes the Demon King. Dokja calls it bullshit and asks why he's doing this all of a sudden. Joonghyuk just tells him that he, of all people, should know why—there's only one way to clear this scenario.
Dokja nervously glances over at the scenario window to look at the clear conditions, which are finally shown on the screen, and he realizes that it's another scenario where someone has to be sacrificed. It can only be cleared by becoming the 73rd Demon King, or by killing the new 73rd Demon King, and the scenario window specifically says that there are no other ways to clear it. They only have 30 minutes to accomplish this, and failure means death and expulsion from the scenarios.
"Dokja-ssi!" Lee Hyunsung called worriedly, clearly concerned that Yoo Joonghyuk would try to bulldoze his way through Kim Dokja as well; however, that didn't happen. Instead, Yoo Joonghyuk stopped and glared, and for a moment, Kim Dokja wondered why he wasn't attacking instantly like he had with everyone else.
Was something making him feel hesitant? Did he not want to risk an all-out fight with a constellation right now? Was he hoping that Kim Dokja would see his side and agree to stand down?
Was it because he was afraid of the Fate?
[several constellations are still confused about the motives of the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
"There's only one way to clear the scenario…?" Shin Yoosung asked nervously. "But there are always loopholes, right?"
Kim Dokja couldn't answer that question without seeing the scenario window, and he was almost afraid to. He had known that the Star Stream would start trying to cut off his 'third options' once it clued into what he was doing, but this early…? Suddenly, Kim Dokja couldn't help but remember his mother's accusation that he had changed too much too quickly, and he felt sick.
Had she been right? Was this truly his fault?
Kim Dokja knew that if Yoo Joonghyuk died here, then whether he landed a killing blow or not, it would be his hands dripping with the protagonist's blood.
He was brought out of his thoughts a moment later as Lee Gilyoung tugged on his sleeve. "Hyung, look!"
There they were—the scenario clear conditions.
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is extremely displeased by this turn of events.]
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is thinking that he will need something stronger than wine.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is refusing to believe her eyes.]
"So that's how it is," Lee Seolhwa said with a disappointed sigh. "Joonghyuk-ssi must be doing the only thing he can think of to keep Dokja-ssi safe."
Kim Dokja blinked in surprise for a moment, and when he spoke, his voice cracked. "... What?"
He hated the way that it made him sound far more vulnerable than he wanted to admit, but he refused to believe his ears. This couldn't be because of him.
Yoo Sangah looked at him sadly. "Dokja-ssi… you should know by now that Joonghyuk-ssi isn't oblivious to the kind of person you are."
What was that supposed to mean? What did he have to do with this?
At his bewildered expression, Jung Heewon shook her head before staring at him with a serious look on her face. "He's choosing to be the sacrifice before you can do it again."
Kim Dokja flinched like he had been stabbed. "I…"
But he couldn't say anything else. They were right—he would try to take Yoo Joonghyuk's place here. In fact, he was almost certain that's what his future self would do.
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is looking at the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk' with sorrow.]
Still, Kim Dokja couldn't understand why Yoo Joonghyuk would go so far to make sure that he, of all people, would live. Couldn't he trust that Kim Dokja would inevitably have a plan?
Why was he doing this?
Knowing that it's a situation where either only one person has to die so everyone else will live or everyone dies so one person can live, Dokja asks Joonghyuk if he's planning to sacrifice himself. In response, Joonghyuk tells Dokja to kill him and move on to the next scenario. When Dokja requests to know why he's doing something like this, Joonghyuk matter-of-factly states that it's because this is the right thing to do.
As Dokja realizes that Joonghyuk genuinely thinks this is the right answer, the protagonist continues to speak. "I'm used to the pain. I'm also used to dying. Don't you already know this by now?"
Dokja's mind races as the protagonist begins to prepare himself once more.
What's going on? He's certain that I know all about him, but he's wrong. This isn't the Yoo Joonghyuk I know. The Yoo Joonghyuk that I know would never do something like this.
Suddenly, Lee Jihye stilled and her expression began to look horrified, as though she had some kind of realization that was disturbing enough to shake her usual confidence.
"Jihye-yah?" Lee Seolhwa asked, "what's wrong?"
"Um…" Lee Jihye said, glancing around nervously, "I don't know. I just… well, I thought of something and I really don't like it."
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is encouraging his incarnation to share her worries.]
[many constellations are wondering what could be bothering the incarnation 'lee jihye'.]
She pursed her lips for a moment before her shoulders slumped, defeated. Then, Lee Jihye looked over at Yoo Joonghyuk with a pale face. "I was just thinking that Master might have realized what we did about the Fate."
It took everything Kim Dokja had to keep his breathing steady. No. It couldn't be.
"And maybe Master is thinking that if he dies here, then ahjussi will live because the Fate will be impossible…"
Lee Jihye's voice trailed off into silence, and Kim Dokja was left absolutely speechless and barely holding on. He felt his heart beat in his chest, and every one felt like a moment torn from him.
Why was it so quiet? Yoo Joonghyuk should be denying it and telling his disciple not to speak nonsense, he should…
(But deep down, Kim Dokja knew that his Fate would never come to pass if Yoo Joonghyuk no longer existed.)
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is shaking her head vehemently.]
[the constellation 'scribe of heaven' is sighing deeply.]
Yoo Joonghyuk still didn't say anything, and Kim Dokja felt more time slip away through his fingers. He had to say something, right? He would. He had to.
"Oppa…" Yoo Mia said weakly between her sobs, "I don't care if it's the… the right thing."
The young girl tightly grasped the fabric of his coat, burying her face in his chest. "Please don't leave me alone."
Yoo Joonghyuk let out a shuddering exhale, his eyes widening as they shook, before he leaned down to rest his cheek on the top of her head. "Mia-yah, I don't want to leave you."
"So don't do it! Please!"
He closed his eyes, his lips trembling as they twisted into a pained frown. There was no way he could comfort his sister, and they all knew it. Yoo Sangah looked as though she wanted to reach out, but she caught herself, looking down in sorrow.
"I'm the only one who can," Yoo Joonghyuk said in a softer tone than expected. "Remember, Mia-yah, no matter what happens on the screen, I will still be here."
She choked out another sob, and Yoo Joonghyuk rubbed her back until she spoke in a hesitant voice. "But… what should I do if something happens to you in this life, oppa? What's going to happen to me?"
[constellations who like children are clenching their chests.]
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is expressing sympathy for the incarnation 'yoo mia'.]
Kim Dokja knew that the protagonist must be feeling conflicted. According to TWSA, his sister hadn't outlived him in his previous lives, and she rarely did even in the future ones. This wasn't a question he had been forced to answer before. Even though what his future self was saying was correct—he was used to pain, and he was used to dying—that didn't mean that the people who would be left behind would be ready to accept that.
Feeling eyes on him, Kim Dokja glanced over only to see Yoo Joonghyuk staring in his direction. His gaze was intense yet pleading, and it wasn't hard to understand what he was asking. Though it was difficult to bring himself to do so, Kim Dokja nodded once, and Yoo Joonghyuk closed his eyes with a sigh.
"If anything happens to me, then go to Kim Dokja," Yoo Joonghyuk told her quietly. "He will keep you safe."
Yoo Mia stayed silent for a moment, but after another sniffle, she nodded. "... Okay."
[some constellations are tearing up.]
Kim Dokja looked down at the floor as he listened to his future self's realization. It was true that the Yoo Joonghyuk he had read about would never do something like this, but he had been forced to realize that this man wasn't confined by the words that described him. The Yoo Joonghyuk that Kim Dokja knew would never have fought his mother to get him back or called him a companion. The Yoo Joonghyuk that Kim Dokja knew would have seen his death in the fifth scenario and brushed it off.
No, he had to face reality—this was a Yoo Joonghyuk who Kim Dokja didn't fully know, and that scared him more than anything else in this apocalypse had until now.