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Chapter Text

"You do not have what is needed to break through the wall."

The echoing voice of the Dokkaebi King made Yoo Joonghyuk stop in his track, trying to destroy The Wall using whatever skills he had gotten for the past 1863 regressions.

It was futile, The Wall hasn't even made a dent at his strongest skills.

Was it all worth it...?

All of his companions died for him to reach this far. Hell, even the Constellations that joined forces with him had sacrificed themselves as well!

Just for The Wall to be their very last obstacle, hindering them from finishing everything once and for all!?

'How could this happen... We were so close...!' His grip on his sword tightened, his depression slowly making itself known. His bloodied body shaking in what, anger? Fear? He didn't know, but it was slowly but surely becoming harder to breathe.

'No...!'

He won't let their deaths become in vain. If he had to become a God to cross The Wall then so beat it. He may have a chance if he did, by going from world to world, he may find clues as to how to get over it.

"I will find a way to cross over The Wall. Mark my words!" His sword was ready to take down the Dokkaebi King before he froze in place. Something was stopping him completely.

It felt more like... A tug? On his sleeve? But wasn't he and the Dokkaebi King the only ones left in the goddamned place?

'One more...'

A voice whispered into his ear. Yet... Why did it sound familiar? His heart somehow ached at the voice, even when it was static like a broken tv.

'One more regression...'

It repeated.

Regression? Was it asking him to regress one more time?

Once again, fear started enveloping him. He came so far already, many friends, family, and even lovers had fallen. Hell, even the stars themselves started dying just for him to reach this conclusion. Why!?

'S-save...!'

The voice started again. The tone, was desperate as if wanting to say something but couldn't as the static noises overtook the pitiful yet familiar voice.

'Who... Was that...?'

It wasn't until Joonghyuk felt tears coming down his eyes that he realized something.

Something was very wrong.

He hadn't shed tears in thousands of years, not even when his wife (or rather, ex-wife? Considering he decided to not marry after the second round in hopes of easing the pain) died, not when his child, his disciple, his friends, his only family, after so many regressions, died as well. So why now of all times...?

Why did they make him cry? When he doesn't even know who they are?

'I want... I want to know... Who they are...'

Yoo Joonghyuk looked at the sword that was clutched tightly in his hands, wondering again.

They had reached the end of the scenarios only to get cockblocked by a literal wall... To find a way to cross over it? Or to end his life right there and then?

Something about the voice seemed all too familiar, and yet he couldn't explain why. It was as if they were the missing pieces Joonghyuk was looking for to complete him. He felt like he could trust them, whoever they may be.

And with that resolve, instead of killing the Dokkaebi King, he placed the sharp end of his sword on his neck and dragged it across his neck, successfully decapitating himself once again to return.

Chapter Text

Yoo Joonghyuk woke up in a jolt, seeing the familiar subway he was seated on once again. The cabin 3707, with the same faces, the same habits, the same time, the same background and scenery once again.

His body was still shaking, even after dying in 1863 times, he never got used to it. The feeling of death and suffering looming over him. It was always an empty, cold feeling, embracing him. No warmth, no light, just pure darkness.

'Another failed round... How much more do I need to suffer just to get to the end...'

He held onto the metal pole as he tried to control his breathing. He closed his eyes.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe in again.

Then out.

Slowly.

'We were so close too... Why did I regress when we were so close to finishing them all?' He leaned against the wall of the cabin as he was at the corner of the cabin itself.

"Mom, can I have one more chocolate?" The voice of a child whined out.

One more...

One more.

Wait.

One more!?

Joonghyuk suddenly sat up straight when he remembered that very last piece of memory he had before he decapitated himself.

'That's right... The only reason why I regress... Was because of that voice...'

As he was too busy thinking about the mysterious voice that appeared in his last moments, he didn't realize that the clock had counted down to 07.00 and the train suddenly shook.

'One more, it said one more... Will this truly be my last?' It didn't take long before a fluffy, white-furred creature with black and red eyes appeared. Horns and a toga of brown were worn by the creature as it started speaking.

"Ahem-ahem! Hello? Hello? Anyone can understand me now?" The creature spoke in a high-pitched voice.

The Dokkaebi had once again appeared before Joonghyuk for the 1864th time. The words it spilt seemed to have gone onto deaf ears to the man clad in black who stood up just as a head rolled because of the annoyance they caused.

[@BI-7623channel is open]

[The constellation has entered]

Then as expected, the first scenario arrives.

[The main scenario has arrived]

~~~

[Main Scenario #1 - Proof of Value]

Category: Main

Difficulty: F

Clear Conditions: Kill one or more living things.

Time Limit: 30 minutes

Compensation: 300 coins

Failure: Death

~~~

'This stupid scenario again.'

Even if he was feeling depressed before, he had to build up his walls again. He had to know something. Or rather, a couple of things but that wasn't the point.

But the most important one of all was one simple question.

What made the 1864th round special?

It was an answer that he was determined to find out first. It may be the clue to getting past that godforsaken wall.

Without a minute to spare, Joonghyuk apprehended the terrorist near him, hiding in a corner before subduing him with ease, taking the knife he knew the man had before slicing off his throat easily. Having regressed 1864th time, he had mastered the knife skill easily.

[You have achieved the "First Kill" achievement.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

Soon after, he sliced the head of a nearby passenger, making the blood gush out from their necks, their body limp and falling to the ground as everyone screamed.

Blood started splattering onto the window as Joonghyuk mercilessly killed them over and over and over again. Whether it would be children, women, men, or the elderly, they wouldn't last long anyway.

'They're already dead in my eyes.'

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

This familiar scene yet again.

He had witnessed it all too much, and even then, he could only feel a numbness that could never go away.

They were going to die anyway.

He was killing them for the sake of their good. They didn't need to suffer for so long, just as he did.

He was mercy-killing them.

It wouldn't take long for them to die anyway.

The self-made bomb that was on the other side of the compartment exploded, Joonghyuk had used the bodies of the other passengers to shield himself from the explosion, causing minimal damage to himself.

Thankfully, it killed off the other passengers which meant he was the only one alive. As usual.

The creature popped up with a poof and a happy face, "Well, wasn't that an interesting bloodbath! Dont you say so my dear constellations?" The Dokkaebi announced.

"Now that the first scenario is over, why dont we go through your sponsorship- wait for a second-,"

'Again with this...'

"How the hell do you already have a sponsor!?" They demanded, but Joonghyuk just glared at the fluffball, not saying anything at all.

"Such an arrogant and insolent incarnation! Hmph! I'll overlook your rude behaviour this time just because you're popular with the constellations. But I'll warn you not to get too cocky, you hear me? Now, wait here while I prepare the next scenario."

The Dokkaebi disappeared as soon as it arrived. He walked towards the compartment that wasn't blown into smithereens as he placed a hand on the glass window. He took a deep breath before sighing it out.

'I'll have to rebuild them again to get through the final scenario... Calm down, Yoo Joonghyuk... Calm down... Remember what Seolhwa says all the time when you're having your episodes..'

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe in again.

Breathe out slowly.

He placed another hand on the door before using his strength to forcibly open it and widened his eyes at the sight.

Something was wrong.

The body count seemed less than what he had remembered from all of his rounds, even if they seemed to be compiled. Having lived through the same lives more than a thousand times, he had memorized every single thing that didn't seem out of place. But the scenery in front of him... It was completely different from his past 1863 rounds.

'Why... Kim Namwoon and Lee Hyunsung were supposed to be the only ones to survive the first scenario and yet...'

Joonghyuk took a step inside the compartment, glancing at the corpses before recognizing one of them the familiar school uniform that gave it away, 'Kim Namwoon?'

He kneeled and checked Namwoons' corpse. The head exploded, meaning he had failed the scenario. And there was evidence of a struggle somehow.

Namwoon may be strong, but to think, this was the first ever time he had seen the boy had failed.

'This was different...' A sense of both hope and dread filled Joonghyuk's heart. The 1864th round was starting with a completely different beginning.

Oh shit.

Yoo Joonghyuk wasn't good at adapting to new situations like these. He knew that himself, it was why he had carefully planned (and failed) all of his strategies before finally reaching The Wall.

Ba-dump.

Ba-dump.

His breathing started to become ragged and his heartbeat started to beat as if it was running a marathon.

'Calm down...! Calm down...!'

He clutched his chest tightly, struggling to not fall into his regression depression this early into the scenarios. He leaned against the wall of the cabin, his free hand holding the metal pole. His vision started to create dark spots and become blurry every second.

Oh no.

His depression was kicking in.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Its...

It's not working-!

No, he shouldn't fall into his episodes this early on!

He shouldn't!

Darkness was slowly engulfing him whole as his vision was clouded.

'...-hyuk...'

A voice?

No, he recognized this voice. It was...

It was the voice from when he was facing the Dokkaebi King!

'I... I am...'

'I am... Yoo Joonghyuk...'

He gasped, holding onto the pole tighter than it gave away and was crushed into the shape of his fist.

His breathing... Was becoming stable?

'The same voice... Who is it...?'

Yet that feeling of familiarity once again washed over him.

Who and why were they helping him?

A warmth that he had never felt before arose within him. He felt like he was missing something.

A fist met his face in a quick flash.

That sure woke up him.

Looking at the hand that he punched himself with, he raised it to his face and wiped the bit of blood away from his mouth. It was not the time to get depressed. Not when he had a mystery to solve.

It seemed that with every regression turn, it rose more questions than answers. He had suffered millions to even trillions of years fighting, looking for a way to end the scenarios. And most importantly, the world beyond The Wall.

'I need to start the next scenario. Time is something I don't have in the early scenarios.'

With that, he broke through the door by kicking them down before walking out, more determined than ever.

~~~

[Second Scenario - Escape]

Category: Sub

Difficulty: D

Clear Conditions: Cross the broken bridge and enter Oksu Station.

Time Limit: 20 minutes

Compensation: 200 coins

Failure: ???

~~~

'Another change...' Joonghyuk couldn't help but notice right away. He could say with almost 99.9% certainty that they would not change if he followed every step of his plan.

And yet he didn't even do anything and the first scenarios were already changing so much.

Someone had known that the bridge couldn't be crossed without exiting early.

But who was the question?

Joonghyuk shook his head, his mind was wandering off to unknown territories once again. He had little to zero clues so far, he couldn't possibly make a connection just yet. All he knew was that there was something special about the 1864th round. These changes were proof of that.

'No... The changes...'

It was then a possible explanation was answered.

'It must be a person. They know about the scenarios as well. But then why appear in this round specifically?'

Yet another question he needed to find an answer to.

He clicked his tongue before walking towards the bridge. He had wasted time just by thinking. He didn't have time in the early scenarios, he repeated to himself over and over again. He had to get as strong as possible just like in the previous round. Joonghyuk was already near the end before he regressed, but seeing the changes even in the early scenarios, and the hint the voices inside of his head (regardless how cringy that sounded even by his standards), he knew.

That this round would be the final round.

Hopefully...

~~~

It wasn't long before Joonghyuk finally arrived at the midsection of the bridge, a horde of the undead was attacking a group of people. The undead that was resurrected from the train earlier. How did they arrive there first when Joonghyuk had left them to rot?

No matter, they were the same as the people he killed anyway. Beating them up with his fist and kicks were all that he needed to get past them.

It wasn't until the fact that he noticed a blob of messy black hair that he noticed someone was there as well, left alone.

'If you go earlier, you'll get more time to cross the bridge.'

A sharp pain shot through his brain as he clutched his head, almost staggering his balance. Receiving physical pain was nothing, but a blow to the head? It was still painful as fuck.

'What was that!?'

Yet another voice, completely different from the one from the Dokkaebi King, but this time, instead of desperation and sorrow, it was full of warmth and hope.

Just as he saw this... This...!?

This... Salaryman is a very average-looking guy with just a simple suit and a mediocre face!?

'You!'

He must be the one who knew of the scenarios because in his past regressions, he had never seen the man before.

Was he the one who killed Kim Namwoon?

He charged towards him, taking the poor skinny man by the neck, noticing just how small he was. And yet.

He seemed like he was expecting him. So he was expecting Joonghyuk to come to him!?

Suspicious.

With his hand tightened around the man's neck, he made the other lean over the bridge.

"Who are you?"

Chapter Text

"Who are you?"

Yoo Joonghyuk had his hand tightly wrapped around the man's throat, realizing just how small he was considering his whole hand managed to engulf the slender neck in a chokehold.

"K-Kim Dokja."

"A strange name."

"I get that a lot, yeah..."

Joonghyuk studied the man, Dokja, in front of him. His skin was soft to the touch, but after thousands of lives, he knew that the body was already reinforced by using the coins distributed by the Dokkaebis.

"Did you already master the use of coins? Impressive."

Dokja smirked at him, "It's the same with you."

"Then you wouldn't mind me asking a few questions then, would you?"

Joonghyuk could always kill anyone that was of no use to him. But for some reason, the man in front of him was somewhat... Special for some reason. Why did he feel this sense of familiarity with him? As if he was with him for a long time?

He couldn't kill him, regardless of whether or not he was a threat or not because one thing was for certain.

Kim Dokja was the anomaly that appeared in the 1864th round. And the possible reason why he heard that voice in his last moments.

"Not at all, as long as you dont kill me like everyone else."

Joonghyuk couldn't help but wonder why he would think of that before pausing.

'Wait a second... He knows me and the scenarios... Dont tell me-!?'

"How do you know I'm a regressor?"

That one sentence already gave him enough to know that this Dokja may know that he was a regressor. Why? Because he said like everyone else. His earlier regressions had some of his most brutal ones, especially the 41st and 3rd regression where he only has the rule of kill, or kill.

"Uhm well... Uh... I can explain... I think? I have a similar ability to your Sage's Eye. I can see your attribute window just as you can see mine," that was when Dokja paled for some reason.

[Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk has used the skill Lie Detection.]

[The words spoken have been confirmed to be half a truth.]

Without saying anything, Joonghyuk had activated Sage's Eye, causing his right to glow a bright golden colour with veins popping out on his cheekbones before a sharp pain attacked his brain once again, making it so that he couldn't see the other man's attribute window.

'A skill that blocks Sage's Eyes? This man is indeed dangerous, an anomaly from the other previous rounds. This man must be the reason then.'

Sure he had an inkling suspicion that Dokja was the anomaly, but to have a skill that blocks out Sage's Eyes, knowing he was a regressor and the scenarios? The chance of him being the reason why the 1864th round was different was higher.

"I see, interesting."

Only prophets could block out Sage's Eyes, so was the man a prophet? He wasn't sure himself, but what he did know was that he needed to keep him near him for more interrogation. Well, he needed one more proof to know if he was the anomaly. If he was strong enough to survive.

"Yoo Joonghyuk, listen buddy. I can help you," Dokja said suddenly. That caught the man's attention.

"I never even told you my name and you knew it already? Hmph, I already expected it as much."

"I have a very good explanation for that- well Uhm, not really but I can help you with the scenarios. It's just as you said, I know of you and all of your regression turns, even your latest one. I can help you get the ending you want."

'The ending I so wished for, eh?'

Joonghyuk couldn't help but repeat the words in his head. He did want to see the end of the scenarios as well as to destroy the Star Stream and find out who he was, and where he came from. And most specifically, his sponsor.

The Most Ancient Dream.

The cause of why the scenarios existed in the first place, is the one who made him suffer through 1864 lives. Or at least he had theorized. Still, having more than enough information would be of help. And it was true that he needed a party to pass through several scenarios.

Time was ticking rapidly as the bridge was quickly collapsing. The monsters below waiting for possible prey to eat.

Now the question was, to test him, or not?

~~~

KDJ POV

15 min ago

There were many things that a certain reader had found odd, incredibly out of place and very much... Forgotten? Or was it a new beginning?

Other than the start of an apocalypse, of course, considering that he has never, ever thought that the novel that he had been reading for the past 10 years, the novel that had saved his life, his reason for living, his breathe of fresh air, his everything, had come to life?

It was easy enough to get past the first scenario with the bugs he had stolen from the child. Even giving him and a co-worker of his, Sangah, one so they could survive. Perhaps it was because of his goodwill, or maybe it was just by chance. He didn't know himself.

Of course, he did not expect that Han Myungoh, a cowardly manager, somehow survived the slaughter himself. What made Kim Dokja even more surprised was that he had met two, again, two characters from the novel.

Lee Hyunsung and Kim Namwoon.

The latter of which failed the scenario and the former survived.

Then came the sponsorships.

He somehow had gotten four Constellations' attention just by doing what he did. Considering the protagonist himself had gotten five, Dokja was getting a goddamned good deal.

Demon-like Judge of Fire. Abyssal Black Flame Dragon. Prisoner of the Golden Headband.

All three Constellations were strong and quite infamous. Dokja himself was pleasantly surprised by the three of them. But then came the fourth.

The Last Director.

Who the hell were they?

Of all 3000+ chapters of reading, he had never seen the modifier before. Or were they mentioned before but instead, it was just bypass?

Well, no matter. It wasn't like he was going to choose any of them anyway because as much as they were strong, there was also a price for using their power. So he chose the riskier option.

Not to mention the fact that they all may die soon. Because he knew of the protagonist who was right in front of the cabin they were in, he suggested that they needed to get out of the compartment as soon as possible. Why?

Well, a certain regressor will kill them easily once he barged into the cabin.

And thus, that was exactly how Dokja find himself hanging over a broken bridge with said regressor holding him in a chokehold. Because Myungoh, that bastard, had immediately used the opportunity to carry Sangah and leave him alone to fend off the horde of zombies. Until a certain regressor came.

But what made Dokja pause and shock was the fact that he could also use Character List on the protagonist himself. And there he learned of something that even he, a reader of 3000+ chapters, from the first regression up to the 1863rd round of the novel, 10 years of non-stop reading, did not know.

~~~

[Attribute Window]

Name: Yoo Joonghyuk

Age: 28 years old

Constellation Sponsor: ???

Exclusive Attribute: Regressor (1864th turn) (Myth), Pro Gamer (Legendary)

Stigma: Regression, Transmission

Overall stats: Sage's Eyes, Hand to hand Combat, Advanced Weapon Training, Lie Detection, Cooking, Mental Barrier... Crowd Control...

~~~

'The 1864th round!?' Kim Dokja couldn't help but be shocked at the revelation.

The novel only ended until the 1863rd round, when Yoo Joonghyuk was going to fight the Dokkaebi King. And yet... Did that mean he died and regressed? And he kickstarted the apocalypse in the real world!? How!? And why!? He had so many questions in his mind already!

'The 1863rd round was beyond help, he was mentally broken... Fuck, why is the 1864th round here in the real world..!? I know all regression rounds and their different personalities, should I treat him like how I know of him from the 1863rd round?'

[Your understanding of Yoo Joonghyuk has increased.]

[You already have a high understanding of this character.]

"Then you wouldn't mind me asking a few questions then, would you?"

[You have unlocked Level 2 of your skill, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint.]

[Activate your skill?]

Dokja almost stopped breathing when he heard voices in his head. It wasn't just any voice. It was Yoo Joonghyuk's voice.

'I can always kill him if he is a threat or no use to me.'

'No... But why... Why does he feel familiar to me?'

'I can't kill him. Not now at least, it may be possible that he is an anomaly in the 1864th round. And that voice...'

Dokja widened his eyes. He was familiar to someone that even Yoo Joonghyuk knew of. Wasn't Joonghyuk a fictional character up to that moment!? And what was this about being an anomaly in the 1864th round? What was so special about that number anyway other than the fact that it was the number after the supposed ending of the novel? And what was this about a voice?

'But he said he can't kill me, I might have a chance to live!'

"Not at all, as long as you dont kill me like everyone else."

He watched as Joonghyuk looked confused at first realizing something. His voice in his head was once again head through his skill.

'Wait a second... He knows me and the scenarios... Dont tell me-!?'

'Oh, shit-,'

"How do you know I'm a regressor?"

What gave him away? The fact that one the most brutal rounds were the lower rounds like the third and 41st? Probably. The man was traumatized by a couple of rounds, but he understood him. He knew what was necessary. It just pains Dokja to see him suffer over and over again. Because the man had lived 1864 lives already, he must already know the ins and outs of something.

Kim Dokja gulped, "Uhm well... Uh... I can explain... I think? I have a similar ability to your Sage's Eye. I can see your attribute window just as you can see mine," that was when Dokja paled, noticing he had just given away an ability in hopes of trying to survive. Him and his big mouth.

[Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk has used the skill Lie Detection.]

[The words spoken have been confirmed to be half a truth.]

'Wait, half a truth!?'

Without saying anything, Joonghyuk had activated Sage's Eye, causing his right to glow a bright golden colour with veins popping out on his cheekbones before a sharp pain attacked his brain once again, making it so that he couldn't see the other man's attribute window.

'FUCK!? I JUST MADE THINGS WORST!?'

That was what Dokja thought, but he heard Joonghyuk's voice once again.

'A skill that blocks Sage's Eyes? This man is indeed dangerous, an anomaly from the other previous rounds. This man must be the reason then.'

What reason was he talking about!? For someone obsessed with clearing the scenarios, he seemed way too hung up on Dokja and the number 1864. What was so special about him!? What did he miss Yoo Joonghyuk knew!? Something must've happened with the Dokkaebi King at the end of the novel that wasn't written. It was sure of it.

"I see, interesting."

Only prophets could block out Sage's Eyes if Dokja remembered the novel well. Well, technically he wasn't a prophet. This Yoo Joonghyuk had already seen (or well, almost) the end of the scenarios, even if he had regressed. But the problem was, how the hell was Dokja going to make him spare him?

"Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi, listen buddy. I can help you," Dokja said suddenly. That caught the man's attention. Ok, calm down Kim Dokja. He could do it. He just needed to be relaxed and choose his wording carefully.

If not well, he could always try and apprehend him? Even if it did mean falling into the river together?

That somehow sounded much better because he was close to dying.

"I never even told you my name and you knew it already? Hmph, I already expected it as much."

He paled again, "I have a very good explanation for that- well uhm, not really but I can help you with the scenarios. It's just as you said, I know of you and all of your regression turns, even your latest one. I can help you get the ending you want."

'The ending I so wished for, eh?'

He once again heard Joonghyuk's voice inside of his head. And couldn't help but felt sympathy for the man who had lived for millions of years, trying to end the apocalypse over and over again.

"Make me your companion, and I can help you through the scenarios."

Dokja had to hide the fact that he could read minds because he knew Joonghyuk did not want to kill him. He was needed for something else, something that even Dokja didn't know. He had to stall as much time as possible, even if there were only 20 seconds of the scenario left.

"Alright then, I'll make you my companion. If you survive."

As expected, Yoo Joonghyuk lets go of Dokja's neck, but not until the shorter male glared at him, "Oh hell no!" The shorter man yelled and used his legs to make the said man trip.

"What the-!?" He grabbed onto his hand and pulled him down with him. Into the itchyosaur's wide, gaping mouth.

[You have failed the scenario.]

Chapter Text

Well, that was a first. Failing the second scenario. Yippie.

The both of them fell into the large monster's mouth, ungracefully even with a large splash. Yoo Joonghyuk was not expecting the outcome at all, nor did he expect that the stranger was brave and foolish enough to drag him into the watery hell alongside him.

Yes, he was caught off guard by Dokja, considering he had lived the same life for millions of years already. Still, he had been swallowed by the ichthyosaur many times before, but most of the time he was alone.

It was a first to have someone by his side. He had to find a way to get out of this predicament they were in.

With Dokja's hand still gripping his own so tightly, he pulled him close to his broad chest, a hand on his small waist, at least they are mauled to death by the debris. Though, he couldn't help but wonder...  How could a man have a waist as small as he did!? If he were to use both hands to grab it, perhaps it could even engulf his slim waist-

Wait, Yoo Joonghyuk, what the fuck were you thinking of that in this sort of situation!?

Joonghyuk mentally slapped himself. It was not the time to be thinking that. Hell, he wasn't even supposed to have those kinds of thoughts, not after his many failures and many deaths from the past. It hurts as hell, and if shutting himself from the world would protect him from the pain of losing a lover ever again, he rather dies alone.

The water poured down fast through the oesophagus, alongside the bodies of the dead as well as large boulders of the bridge. Having underwater breathing skills, he was fine, he just needed to avoid the impact of the debris to avoid injuries.

Not Dokja, however...

The man in his hold was gripping his black coat tightly, his chest unmoving and his eyes closed as if trying to hold on to him as close as possible.

He was legitimately surprised that the man had managed to stay awake in that kind of situation.

A hand suddenly made him snap out of his daydreaming as it went behind his head to the nape of his neck, pulling his head closer to where Dokja's own before he felt a pair of lips and a tongue forcing his own wide open. Or well, trying to.

Wait what-!?

A sharp bite on the upper lip made Joonghyuk gasp in pain, just as Dokja suddenly started to breathe air into his mouth. He tasted his blood. His teeth were sharp and strong enough to cause his lips to bleed.

It was then he finally realized that Kim Dokja was using him as an oxygen tank. Exchanging their breaths to hold on longer. Were his lungs that low on capacity!? And where did he learn how to do this kind of shit!? Theoretically, it worked but to think the man was brave enough to try it with him!?

The pair finally splashed down into the stomach alongside the debris and bodies, separating themselves before swimming upwards, having more air to breathe even though it was acidic as hell, but it was better than nothing.

"Kim Dokja..." Yoo Joonghyuk growled, wiping away the blood that was bleeding from his lips.

Suddenly notifications started pouring into their mailboxes.

[The Constellation The Last Director is asking whether they skipped several chapters already to come to this part.]

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is laughing at the chaos.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is gapping like a fish out of water.]

[500 coins have been sponsored.]

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is wondering about the start of a new companionship.]

[500 coins have been sponsored.]

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband respects the Incarnation's taste in people.]

[Many Constellations are gagging at the dog food.]

[Many other Constellations respect the Incarnation's tastes in people.]

[500 coins have been sponsored.]

Was it possible to get rich just by using nothing but entertainment value? It seemed so because the coins sponsored to them were increasing with every donation they get. More importantly, however, was the fact that the Demon-like Judge of Fire was acting a bit weird in this particular round. Like... She was having symptoms of an obsessive fangirl.

Dokja finally surfaced as he coughed out the water that got inside of his mouth, "Uhuk-uhuk! Fuck, that was not pleasant at all..." He managed to grumble out, noticing that he and Joonghyuk were a bit away from each other.

Except for the fact that the man was glaring at him as if he really wanted to kill Dokja.

"I had no choice, ok? I was running out of air and you seemed to have way more oxygen than I do!" Was his answer. His face was still red from basically forcing himself onto the protagonist, but he was doing it for his survival.

It was hard. Dokja knew just how handsome Joonghyuk was, and seeing him in real life made him a bit more self-aware of his averageness. He did not kiss Yoo Joonghyuk for the fun of it, no! He couldn't breathe at all and the man was a walking oxygen tank with a chest that huge. Squishy but firm too. He just thanked the lord for his exclusive skill that did not make him combust in seconds. Even though it was his first ever kiss, not that he would admit it to the bastard, no siree!

"Bastard, stop glaring at me already! We need to find a way out, remember!?" Dokja yelled at him as the other man massaged the area in between his eyes.

Joonghyuk was already on a floating platform as he watched Dokja swim towards a decently sized debris to get away from the water, with him still glaring at Dokja all the way while the said man was trying to calm him down.

"Hey, calm down. At least we managed to get into the stomach without getting ripped to pieces and digested yet?" The man laughed, trying to ease the tension between the two of them.

If Joonghyuk didn't fall together with him, he could've finished a dungeon or two and got decent items for future scenarios but nope. The son of a bitch managed to pull him down too... Even worst, Lee Jihye was still out there somewhere! He needed to go to her as soon as possible! He still needed her abilities, she was crucial to the scenarios.

"Get us out of here or else."

"Or else what? It wasn't my intention to fall into a river filled with monsters! You're the one who threw me into it!?"

Both men glared at each other, completely forgetting about the impromptu kiss for air before.

It was half true, perhaps Joonghyuk wanted to test him alone. But again, to think he was caught off guard. Everyone was usually so scared of him. They feared him, revered him, worshipped him, and even betrayed him. Yet this man, Kim Dokja, was not.

In fact, he was nothing but a sassy son of a bitch. But he had to admit, that bravery was quite the show. Even if it's all luck, Kim Dokja surviving up to that point was impressive.

His train of thought was interrupted when Dokja used his phone to shine a flashlight to see their surroundings. It was filled with nothing but the bodies of the dead, broken cars and pieces of the bridge.

The world suddenly started moving as they both steadied themselves on the platform, "Shit, the thing is starting to move... They'll start secreting acid around three minutes after ingesting their prey. We don't have a lot of time," Dokja told the regressor who just clicked his tongue.

Of course, he knew of that, but how a normal human knew of that knowledge was beyond him. It finally dawned on him that Kim Dokja was adapting to the world rapidly for some reason. A bit too fast that it made Joonghyuk suspicious.

'This is not common knowledge to normal people. And I'm sure he was never in my 1863 lives before...' Another hint that suggested Kim Dokja was the reason why that voice suddenly appeared in his head during his battle with the Dokkaebi King.

Again, his thoughts were interrupted by a bright flash of light in front of them.

"I'm disappointed, even though it was just getting interesting."

Joonghyuk recognized the sound of that annoying, fluffy creature, and already the pounding headache was back, assaulting his head, “What do you want, Dokkaebi?”

"Oh, come now, aren’t you surprised to see me?" the Dokkaebi created a ball of sparks as it manifested itself floating in front of them, "Despite the situation you're in, you ain't looking all hot and bothered at all?"

"Ah, that's because we’ve been waiting for you," Dokja greeted calmly, smiling as he places his phone back into his pocket.

Beside him, Joonghyuk glanced towards the other man, 'Interesting, he seemed to have a plan?' He couldn't help but wonder to himself.

"Eh? You've been waiting for me?" The creature asked curiously as Dokja simply smirked.

"Of course, you have coins to collect from up, don't you? Since we fail the scenario, you have to take our coins as a penalty," he explained.

That was when Joonghyuk was finally understanding what he was trying to do. It seemed Kim Dokja was much more than meets the eye. Perhaps it would be more beneficial for him to have Dokja by his side, regardless of whether it be companion or subordinate, 'He managed to know this far ahead... Who is he, really?'

"Coins?" Replayed to the little fluffball, "and not your life?" They asked innocently.

"If you were going to take our lives, the penalty would've been death instead of three question marks. Doesn't this mean there's a chance for negotiation?"

Joonghyuk watched from the sidelines, impressed by his smooth tongue. Not only did he know of the scenarios and his regression turns, but he also knew of the ins and outs of the Star Stream itself, 'Then... He would know the answers to my questions, my birth, my parents, my goal...'

It was one of the very few rare moments that Joonghyuk felt hopeful. Hope for the future and himself. Will his hellish life finally end after this turn? Will he get his questions answered? And most importantly, what should he do to achieve all of that?

"Oh, I'm impressed. No wonder the constellations are interested in you. You're right. As you said, if you pay coins, you can survive this sub-scenario even if you fail."

“How much?”

"Each incarnation must pay a small price of 6,200 coins!" The fluffy creature giggled out loud, "That's how much it'll cost you to save your neck!"

6,200 coins, the exact number of coins in his inventory, and perhaps even Yoo Joonghyuk's. It was entirely too much.

“Stop messing around,” Joonghyuk hissed coldly, “We don’t need your help to survive this sub-scenario. We won’t give you a single coin," coins were precious in the earlier scenarios. Joonghyuk could not afford to lose any so that he would be able to decrease his stats more.

"Then you can go ahead and die," they laughed, making no effort to hide the malice in their voice while relaxing as if they were on a hammock, "Arrogant incarnations, I’m doing you a favour. It is up to me to accept the coins or not. If you do something wrong, then I can just end it here."

“So end it,” Kim Dokja challenged them, baring his neck wide open. A smirk was gently placed on his lips.

'That's right, we're too interesting for Constellations... They're already having a kick out of this conversation anyway,' was what Joonghyuk thought, the coins sponsoring them from before were proof that they had caught the attention of the Constellations. Perhaps if they were to word it carefully, they may give some leeway for them.

"Go on then," the taller male dared, joining in the fun, "kill us if you dare."

The Dokkaebi did not say anything, looking rather nervous all of the sudden.

"You can't, can't you?" The mirth in Joonghyuk's voice couldn't be hidden, it was even shown with the smirk he had on his face. It seemed the 1864th round was starting with quite the bang, "Instead, you can't even lay a finger on us because of the Constellations."

What he said was true, and there was a high chance that Kim Dokja also knew of this knowledge as well considering the things he had spoken. Even if it wasn't directed at him, but instead towards the creature themselves.

"Low-Grade Dokkaebi, Bihyung. Tell me," Kim Dokja's voice boomed, "How's your career as a streamer going?"

Ok, what?

That made even Yoo Joonghyuk blink twice and stared at Kim Dokja as if he had grown a second head.

How did he know of the dokkaebi's name too?

"What the!?" The dokkaebi was shaken with rage, fuming a dark and sinister aura. They were dumbfounded, wondering who were the humans they were facing, "H-How can mere humans know about the Star Stream!?"

That was what Joonghyuk wanted to know as well because in his case, he had to regress many times to even learn about what the Star Stream was, and even theorized who was his sponsor, the Constellation who "created" the Star Stream, the one who had given Yoo Joonghyuk his stigma and made him go through hell over and over again.

“Aren’t you curious, Bihyung?” Dokja started to wointerruptingtingg Bihyung's frantic speech, “A streamer like you... How has your career as a streamer been going? Not well, I assume. The Constellations have been rather stingy as of late, haven’t they?”

[A few Constellations have suspicions of your identity.]

[A few Constellations have doubts about your existence.]

[The Constellation The Last Director is smirking at this development.]

[500 coins have been sponsored.]

“Bihyung-ah,” Kim Dokja said again, his eyes glimmering with a dark promise that even made Yoo Joonghyuk shiver, “I told you, didn’t I? We are far from ordinary humans. Why don’t you close the channel, and let’s negotiate.”

[#BI-7623 channel is closed.]

Chapter Text

"Let me hear what you have to say," Bihyung suddenly said as he glared at the both of them, "How do you know about the Star Stream when you're only human?"

'The Star Stream...' Joonghyuk repeated in his head, 'Similar to Twitch, but instead of Earth, it's broadcasted throughout the galaxy. With the Dokkaebis as the streamers, and the Constellations as the audience while we are the so-called actors in this hell hole... Sickening.'

"That's not what's important now," he heard Dokja say. Curious as to what he would do, he simply observed the situation at first. Even if he did survive out of luck so far. And maybe a bit of strength.

"Listen, Bihyung. Don't you wanna become the Dokkaebi King?"

Joonghyuk gripped his hand into a fist. He remembered their last battle in the 1863rd round, and even so, the freaking wall that refused to be broken. Was Kim Dokja going to ally himself with a Dokkaebi? If so... It would be difficult for Joonghyuk to spare him, because he hated the Dokkaebis and the Constellations for the majority of his life due to his regressions.

"Kim Dokja, what are you thinking?" Joonghyuk asked, his sword ready to kill Dokja if he will ally with the fluffy creature.

Kim Dokja simply smiled as if he was saying "trust me" to Joonghyuk. Well, how could he trust him if he were to ally with a Dokkaebi?

"Bihyung, dont you wanna surpass other streamers like Dokgak and Gildal? And be the best streamer, hm?" Bihyung's eyes widened in surprise, as well as Joonghyuk's own.

The bastard knew their names. Not just this one.

"Dokkaebi Bihyung," the voice snapped both of them out of their stupor, "I'm asking you to make a contract with me, and I will make you King."

Joonghyuk was ready to kill Dokja the moment he said that. Allying with the Dokkaebi meant that they were his enemies. No questions asked. That was a simple rule he had followed. He had to die by then before he became even more of a nuisance.

Before he could say anything, however, a hand gripped his sword as well as his eyes, closing them so that he couldn't see anything at all. He stopped immediately, too shocked to even register what was happening, 'What the!?'

"Trust me."

'This voice!?'

It was the same voice from when he was fighting the Dokkaebi King once again. Why was it protecting Dokja from him?

"Trust us."

The grip on his hand softened. It was that warm feeling washing over him again.

Who was it, though? Someone who has seen his past regressions and who had been with him from the beginning...' Sponsor...? Is that you?'

No answer, but Joonghyuk could feel the stare of a Constellation from above. His body stopped and became completely rigid. His Sponsor was... Active?

More questions seem to flood the regressor's mind instead of them being answered. But the fact that he could theorize that his Sponsor, potentially being the Most Ancient Dream was becoming active in the 1864th round... But then why wait all these years!? What actually happened!? What was going on!?

'No, calm down, Yoo Joonghyuk... Breathe slowly...'

He took a deep breath and held it in for a couple of seconds before sighing it all out.

He repeated the action.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

It was becoming clearer that there was a mystery that needed to be solved in the 1864th round. But what was the question? He had a feeling it was connected to Kim Dokja, and judging from the hints, it was all connected to him as well.

'Kim Dokja... Not only you are the anomaly in this round but also the key figure in this whole mess I'm in...'

To kill, or not to kill... Some regressions seemed to have such an easier time with that single-tracked mindset, but to him, who had killed, sacrificed, and fought for 1863 lifetimes, he became wiser, even if he did end up with severe depression as a result.

"What are you on about? We didn't fail."

He snapped out of his thoughts when Dokja was finally talking to him(?) Or perhaps he had zoned out for far too long that he missed the conversation between the two of them?

It was most likely the latter because he had a habit of zoning out even during important battles.

"We must've fulfilled the conditions right about now..." He was talking to himself as he stood up, since when did he sit down?

"Open the channel. It's starting already."

Bihyung opened the channel once again just in time for the both of them to receive a new window.

~~~

[Hidden Scenario - Commander Slayer]

Category: Hidden

Difficulty: A+

<Clear Conditions: Slay the Sea Commander Ichthyosaur and escape!

Time Limit: 10 days

Reward: 9000 coins

Penalty: Death

~~~

Afterwards, many Constellations were messaging Bihyung as he tried to calm them down while Dokja switched his attention to the dumfounded man beside him.

"Did elevator music enter your head or something?" Dokja joked with a laugh.

'No, it was the Wii music theme,' thought the regressor but instead of that coming out of his mouth, he asked, "What did you talk about with that Dokkaebi?"

Dokja shrugged, "Oh, nothing. I just wanted his channel so I can get more coins. That's all."

"... Did you just threaten a Dokkaebi for a Stream Contract...?" Joonghyuk asked, his eyes completely wide like dinner plates as Dokja was looking through the bag.

The man smirked, "Well, I'm the one who doesn't have a Sponsor, not to mention I'm gonna be filthy rich with this. Besides, I can also help you get stronger yourself. Only if you respect me, you little shit. I'm older than you, so you should be calling me hyung," Dokja glared at him before focusing his attention back on the shop.

"Search Item, Ancient Dragon."

Joonghyuk almost tripped when he heard the name coming out of his mouth alongside Bihyung.

"YOU-!?"

"HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE ANCIENT DRAGON!?

Both of them asked simultaneously.

"I just said a cool name?" Dokja said with such an innocent face plastered on it.

'He's lying...'

"Search Arch-Demon's Eyeball, Search White Star Weapon Aura."

'HE'S DEFINITELY LYING!?'

~~~

"So you bought eight bags of mucus and eight bags of thorns? Out of all the things you can buy from the shop?" Yoo Joonghyuk was still in shock as to how Kim Dokja had threatened Bihyung before.

Since the creature was too busy explaining several things to the constellations still, Joonghyuk focused his attention on Dokja.

The man was smart, smarter than he was. Perhaps even everyone in the goddamned apocalypse. Or maybe he was also a fool at heart because he was not afraid of anyone. It was quite attractive to see such foolish bravery.

"Joonghyuk-ssi, cover yourself with this now," Dokja gave half of the supplies he bought to Joonghyuk before the taller man realized what he was doing.

It took a while for his memories to gather because he had too many, but once he heard Dokja say to pour the mucus all over themselves, it was then he realized he had used the same method in one of his past regressions. His 4th regression to be exact.

"Wait a second, are you trying to kill it from the inside!?"

Yes, he may be weak at the moment considering the scenarios just started, but to kill a Grade 7 creature that soon in the scenario was over the top, even for him, a regressor!

"Yeah, why? We have 10 days, and if my calculations are right, we can kill it in four days if we start now," shrugged the shorter man before he stabbed the wall of meat with the thorn after he had poured the first bag of mucus onto him.

'That's how long it took me to kill it... He's crazy... He's fucking crazy,' Joonghyuk thought to himself. Though, he didn't expect a smirk to form on his lips thinking of Kim Dokja.

With no words left in his throat, he simply covered himself with the mucus before using the thorns to catch up with him, eager to know what was behind the mask of mediocrity of Kim Dokja.

~~~

Day 3

Joonghyuk panted, his sweat covering his whole body as he once again stabbed another thorn into the flesh of the creature, nearby, Dokja was doing the same thing. The taller man looked down to see the acids were rising, they need to hurry it up a bit, just enough to get some leeway.

Both did not sleep for three days, instead, they just kept on climbing nonstop. For food, they had to suck the ichthyosaur's fluids that leaked out from the thorns. It worked well, plus they had levelled up their stamina ingesting it. Which was a good thing already, considering that they do indeed need to get stronger. But even so, for the regressor, this was no walk in the park regardless of whether he had done it numerous times when he had been stuck inside of the monster.

If he was having trouble, then Kim Dokja would be in agony.

"Kim Dokja!"

The taller male quickly used his reflexes to grab Dokja by his slender and small waist, one hand still grabbing onto the thorns. The mucus made them both very slippery, so Joonghyuk had to use every goddamned strength he had at the moment for him to not slip.

The man had made a miscalculation and slipped a hand away, almost falling into the acid if it wasn't for Yoo Joonghyuk catching him.

Dokja tightly grabbed onto Joonghyuk, strength was fading due to the fatigue and hunger he felt, "Sorry... My body is incredibly weak right now..." He apologised, he may have bitten off more than he could chew.

Joonghyuk sighed, "You're making me work extra hard here, Kim Dokja," he pulled the shorter male closer before letting his limbs wrapped around his muscular body.

The said male chuckled, his arms embracing the protagonist's neck and his legs around his waist, breathing out a sigh of relief, "You were the one who threw me off the bridge, you sunfish bastard..." he fought back.

Joonghyuk had nothing to say. Perhaps because it was true, he did intend to throw the other man down the river and see if he could survive, but Dokja did the unexpected which was dragging him down with him.

While it was more work for him to carry the both of them to safety, it was made even harder with the mucus. Their clothes were soaked in it, making the fabric quite thin and wet, in Dokja's case, it was see-through. Joonghyuk's clothes had survived since they were more resilient and were bought from the Dokkaebi Shop, but Dokja's weren't.

The office jacket he had was long gone and the only thing that was left was a pair of pants and a white shirt that looked ready to tear. With how close the both of them were, Joonghyuk could feel everything. His hot breath and his gentle yet firm touch.

Joonghyuk continued to climb higher, just enough to give some distance between them and the dangerous acid below before stabbing one spot repeatedly, causing the liquid to flow more freely. He drank some of it himself, feeling his stamina has risen as well.

"Suck it quick, it'll give you a bit of energy at least."

Dokja did what he was told. The liquid was flowing gently on the thorn that Joonghyuk was holding as he started drinking.

[The Constellation The Last Director says that sounded so wrong.]

[The Constellation The Last Director is wondering if this is NSFW.]

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of fire is currently having a nose bleed.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is saying please continue this companionship.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

'Well, at least we're getting rich in coins even though we're here...' Joonghyuk thought absentmindedly as Dokja continued to feast.

The liquid dripped onto his tongue, some down Joonghyuk's hand. A kitten lick was felt causing the man almost lost his balance and shudder.

"Hey! Don't lick me-!"

"We can't let it go to waste, at least, and I'm still hungry," Dokja countered back, completely oblivious to the red ears Yoo Joonghyuk was sporting, who was in fact, watching the (not supposedly) lewd display.

His tongue was soft and wet, his clothes were all but tattered because of the acid even though it was protected. Dokja was out of breath as he continued to suck and lick at his hand, completely oblivious to the other man who was slowly having a panic attack even though he looked calm as hell on the outside.

"Something is poking me..."

[The Constellation The Last Director is asking Incarnations Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja to get a room.]

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband is gaping his mouth wide open.]

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is screaming bloody murder.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[Many Constellations in Eden are asking for compensation for hearing loss.]

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is nervous and gagging.]

[Many other Constellations are looking away, embarrassed.]

Joonghyuk paled. It was bad enough that the Dokja knew but the freaking CONSTELLATIONS-!?

He had never felt this humiliation in such a long time and it was all because of Kim Dokja!? It was worst because the position that they were in had Dokja's crotch against Joonghyuk's own.

"It's my pocket knife," he reasoned, trying to get the man to ignore his poking thing that somehow got hard when he saw the way Dokja was slurping the juices from the ichthyosaur's flesh.

Dokja looked at Joonghyuk innocently, "You have a pocket knife?"

"In case something goes weary."

"Hm... I don't remember you having a pocket knife in your past regressions, though..."

"... Just rest, Kim Dokja..."

[The Constellation Demon-Like Judge of Fire is currently screaming all through Eden.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[The Constellation Scribe of Heaven is currently asking for compensation for hearing loss.]

[Many other Constellations are running away.]

[The Constellation The Last Director is surprised to see how fast the Incarnations moved but at the same time is face-palming by how they are idiots.]

"Are you saying we're idiots!? How dare you!?"

[The Constellation The Last Director is gagging at the PDA.]

"WHY YOU LITTLE-!?"

"I said, rest, Kim Dokja... Do you want me to let you go?"

"... Yes, sir..."

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire has passed away happily.]

~~~

Day 3, Nighttime

"Joonghyuk-ssi... You wanna change?" Dokja said, still having himself wrapped around like a koala around Joonghyuk who was climbing non-stop since yesterday. Because of him, Dokja had managed to get some sleep, albeit it was just a few hours because he woke up to almost falling into the pool of acid below but it was rest anyway.

"No, I can handle this," the taller man grumbled out, but the movements of his fatigue were finally getting to him.

"Joonghyuk-ssi, you're shaking like a leaf," Dokja said worriedly, seeing how the other man had a shaky hand holding the thorn tightly.

The taller man took the thorn out before stabbing it higher, "I said I'm fi-,"

His vision blacked out for a bit, falling backwards the shorter man had basically manoeuvred them so that instead of Joonghyuk holding the thorn, it was him. The regressor was much heavier than he was, so he had used several thousand coins to pull him up. Which was a good thing still because the coins kept on piling on them because of a certain Arch Angel above them.

"Yoo Joonghyuk, snap out of it!" The ex-salaryman yelled before slapping the other's faces, leaving a red mark on his cheek.

"O-ow!? What the hell, Kim Dokja!?" Joonghyuk snapped out of his blackout to find himself sitting on Dokja's lap. He somehow managed to change their positions where instead of Dokja being a koala hugging him, it was Joonghyuk.

"You blacked out for a while, I've had enough rest, you bastard. Now if you wanna survive, grab onto me now. I strengthened myself with coins so I should be able to carry you now."

Joonghyuk clicked his tongue, but he knew Dokja was right. His was weak at the moment. He had to rely on Dokja to save him before. The regressor bit the insides of his cheek. Again, the feeling of helplessness engulfed his entire being.

"Joonghyuk-ssi, you're not alone in this," that brought back his attention to reality. Dokja, smiling now that he had Joonghyuk's attention, continued, "You're no longer alone. I can help you, only if you let me help you."

Joonghyuk stared at him with an emotionless expression on the outside, but in truth, he was scared. He was scared that if he had to watch his companions die again, or whether he had to sacrifice himself or his companions multiple times like before. Or worst. To regress once again after a failed turn.

He wanted to die.

He was tired of living.

But Dokja was right.

Kim Dokja was an anomaly in his rounds and a key figure in solving the mysteries. He had the answer key to the questions he had so longed searching for. He just needed to trust him, and risk opening his ice-cold heart once again.

"Ok..."

Joonghyuk wrapped his arms around Dokja's neck and his legs around his waist, noticing the big size difference the both of them had.

'He's so tiny...'

Even strengthened by coins, Kim Dokja's body was still incredibly tiny compared to Joonghyuk's own muscular and wide build and yet, it felt warm. Comforting even. Like his missing pieces were back together, it was ridiculous how warm his body was.

"If you let me fall, I'll haunt your ass."

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is once again passing away happily at the switch.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[The Constellation The Last Director is smiling at the character development.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

Dokja rolled his eyes before looking down at the man who had rested his head on his shoulder. And that was when he found out that Joonghyuk had already fallen asleep comfortably, the man no longer had a resting bitch face and instead relaxed into him, completely letting his guard down.

Dokja felt his face starting to burn as he let the protagonist sleep there. If he could make him find comfort in himself, then yes, Kim Dokja will make sure that Yoo Joonghyuk live as comfortably as he could if he allows him.

Even if he had to ignore the notifications coming from a certain Arch Angel and the gagging of many other Constellations.

Hey, at least he and Joonghyuk were getting rich.

Dokja gulped, looking at the fluffy hair the regressor had. He had always wanted to comb his fingers through them. He was asleep anyway, so he could probably get away with it. A hand went away from the thorn as it softly patted his head.

Soft and fluffy, even with all the mucus covering both of them, protecting them from the acid. Stupid protagonists and their protagonist privileges. But still, Kim Dokja couldn't help but look at him with sympathy.

The man had suffered millions to trillions of years living through the same hell over and over again. And by the time the book was finished, the book itself became a reality to him. His 1864th turn takes place in the real world. Where Dokja existed.

If this was the epilogue that the author was giving to him... Then he will change the ending and give him a perfect round. His final round is where he won't suffer anymore. He has had enough. Dokja had a new resolve made that day.

'My dear protagonist, you have saved me once. Now, let me be the one saving you.'

~~~

Day 4

Dokja never would've imagined managing to kill the creature while having a sleeping beauty on him, clinging like a koala. He had reached the throat of the creature just as the acid was finally gone and managed to rest vertically for once. He had his legs stretched and his lap was used by the protagonist to sleep on, his face facing towards his stomach like he had no care.

The reader knew that the regressor was handsome, but he never knew how handsome he was after he saw him on the bridge. Now that he was sleeping, he had analyzed every single detail on his face.

Long lashes with thick eyebrows. Eyes small yet sharp. A slight curve on his nose and a jaw that was sharp enough to cut through the air. He was handsome.

Dokja continued to comb through his hair, earning a groan from him, but he didn't wake up, instead, he snuggled his face closer to Dokja's stomach, finding comfort in him.

A smile was placed on the shorter man, glad that he could be the one to give comfort to his favourite protagonist.

The sound of sparks was heard as Dokja looked up, and a bright flash of lightning appeared alongside the familiar fuzzy ball.

"Wow, gotta hand it to ya. Never thought you'd use the thorns to do this."

[The Constellation The Last Director is smiling like a proud parent.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

[Many other Constellations are in awe at your survival skills.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

Dokja simply smirked.

[Hidden Scenario has ended.]

[You are the first to successfully hunted a Grade 7 monster.]

[You have received 9000 as a reward.]

[You have received 1000 as an achievement reward.]

"Well, I did say I'm no ordinary human, Bihyung. By the way," Dokja opened his inventory to get the Ichthyosaur's Nucleus out of the bag before giving it to the fuzzy creature, "Put it up for trade in the auction for me, will ya? And I want to trade this with anything else other than Broken Faith."

'How the hell do you know all of this...' Bihyung couldn't help but ask in his mind.

And thus both of them started to discuss the Stream Contract and their ratio, with Dokja winning 100% of it because Bihyung was already making tons of money behind the scenes from Dokja anyway. Once the Dokkaebi was gone, Dokja looked down at the sleeping man still. Surprised that he hadn't woken up from his slumber even when his face was basically on Dokja's stomach. Still, he deserved it after his long years living in a nightmare.

Soon enough, he felt a stir coming from the sleeping man as he continued to pat his head. Looking down, the regressor's eyes fluttered open sleepily before he stared up at Dokja's face in surprise.

"Good morning?"

Joonghyuk abruptly sat up, away from Dokja who just looked at him innocently. The taller man touched the fluff of his hair where Dokja had been stroking his head gently.

'I... Didn't get nightmares?' Was his first thought, waking up.

Nightmares were a daily occurrence for him, and often times he would wake up in a cold sweat. But somehow that did not happen when he slept on Dokja for some reason.

He was warm.

"The monster is dead, by the way, we can now get out of its carcass and onto the shore."

Joonghyuk nodded dumbly, standing up as Dokja did the same. The atmosphere was somehow awkward and the silence was deafening it was almost like torture, "Let's go onto shore then since we've already completely the hidden scenario..."

Doka agreed silently.

They both walked around inside of the body, trying to find the exit while also thinking of their next plan of action. Joonghyuk wasn't paying attention to that as he was more focused on trying to make a new strategy considering he had wasted four precious days inside of the stomach.

'Jihye should still be hiding near her school... The latest I got to her was around a week and she was still there, dying out of starvation due to survivors' guilt... I should have enough time, but I won't be able to make her as strong as she was in the previous rounds' early scenarios... But that also means I may need to get Gong Pildu to our side and because there's a week's worth of time for the scenario...'

Joonghyuk climbed out of the water before helping Dokja up to land as he massaged the area in between his eyes, already feeling a headache coming along the way.

"What are you going to do now?"  Dokja asked as he watched the other man stand up.

"Find Lee Jihye. We'll meet up at Chungmuro station. You can do whatever until then," was what he said, dusting his clothes off slightly.

"Wait, does this mean we're officially companions?"

Joonghyuk glanced over to the carcass of the ichthyosaur once again. They both had killed it in the early scenarios and gained quite a few coins just by being together. Even though he has been contracted to a Dokkaebi of all things, it seemed even that little fuzzball was lowkey afraid of him.

"You are... Worthy, considering the fact what made a dokkaebi your underling. Besides, you have your group to take care of right?" Yoo Joonghyuk asked.

Dokja widened his eyes in surprise when he heard of that, "Wait, you heard of that talk?" He asked as Joonghyuk shrugged. He was half asleep by then, but he could hear the words. He just decided to sleep longer to see what the other man would do. Even though he wasn't aware of where he was sleeping.

"I was curious, but you are a smart man, Kim Dokja. So I'm leaving some of my jobs into your hand."

"You mean the one from the subway? Wait, you want me to take care of them!?"  Dokja asked, almost shocked by the revelation.

Joonghyuk rose an eyebrow curiously, "Who else would I be asking since you're the only one here?"

"N-no, it's just... Because I know of your past regressions it's just... Most of the time, you do it all on your own and now... You're leaving tasks for me?"

Yoo Joonghyuk paused in his steps, finally letting the words sink in deep within. It was true. For the majority of his regressions, he had always done everything alone, regardless of whether it be sacrificing himself for someone, training them, finding them, or even fighting.

So why did he feel comfortable enough around Kim Dokja as if he had been with him for all his regression turns?

No, it felt... It felt much longer than that for some reason...

"***** **** ** **********, are *** still curious about my ******?"

"O-oi, Yoo Joonghyuk!?"

Dokja rushed to his side just in time to catch him falling, clutching his head in pain as if a massive headache appeared, "H-hey, are you alright!?"

The taller man groaned, trying to ease the pain by rubbing the area in between his eyes, "I'm fine..."

No, he was not fine. He felt like his head had been impaled by a fucking spear multiple times in a row.

Other than the immense pain he was feeling, he got yet another clue, even if it was useless at the moment. Another voice.

But it sounded like him, but more mature and older. Wiser even. Was it... Was it his voice that he heard that time?

"No, you're not! Oh no, is it your depression!?" Dokja asked, worried for him.

Joonghyuk stared at him as if he had turned into a squid in front of him as the pain was slowly passing by, "What-? No! Just a headache that's been constantly appearing now and then... I'm fine." 

"But-,"

"Kim Dokja."

Dokja closed his mouth, the tone of his voice made him shut the hell up. It looked like he was ready to, once again, kill him, and Dokja rather survived than get killed by his favourite protagonist, thank you.

"Alright, I'll drop it. You're still gonna go anyway even if I force you to stay," the ex-salaryman groaned, already regretting his decision to let him go despite the headache from before.

Joonghyuk rose a delicate eyebrow, "If you already know that much then why bother?"

Dokja felt a vein pop on his forehead, "Why you little-," but before he could finish, Joonghyuk had interrupted him.

"We'll use Chungmuro as a temporary base to discuss our plans for the next scenario. Before that, use the time you have to level up everyone as much as possible. I'll bring Jihye with me and we can proceed with the next scenario.  You bring in your group, and I bring in mine. Don't be late, Kim Dokja."

With that, Joonghyuk left to find his disciple, leaving Dokja alone to deal with the others. Not knowing that a certain story was slowly starting to form in the stars.

Chapter Text

One little quest had slipped by his mind from before. Perhaps because of his fatigue that he had forgotten? The quest where he had to find food in a dungeon. He needed to get the high-graded items from there as soon as possible.

Dokja would also be there with his team. But first things first, he needed to find Lee Jihye. Even if he had found her, he needed to bring her back to the dungeon as soon as possible near Geomho.

Because he was stuck inside of the stomach with Dokja, his plans for the 1864th round was having a slight delay. No matter, he just needed to triple, or even quadruple her training.

He paused his steps when he realized something. Lee Jihye was still a child, and here he was already thinking of a ruthless training regime for her just so they could solve the mystery behind the Star Stream to end it. He frowned at the thought.

Shin Yoosung was even younger than Jihye and she was thrust into this cruel world. And the one from the 41st round... He had been cruel to everyone. There, in the middle of a broken city, he asked himself. How would he approach them in the 1864th round?

Perhaps he should follow the 999th? But it was only possible because of the Covenant, did he need to form yet a contract with an Outer God again? Or should he just follow the previous 1863rd round? Or just simply trust his instincts? Even then, he did not know who the Outer God he formed a contract with before.

Since when did he start to show sympathy once more? It was all Kim Dokja's fault.

He shook his head, he had focused on the present. If he wastes any more time, he would be left behind and he would possibly fail the scenarios. He had already raided the convenience store nearby to get water and food, just enough for him to be full and saved some for his disciple.

'The past is in the past... And yet the guilt is still here...'

He had done enough crimes that he could be considered a mass murderer, and maybe even a psychopath, a ruthless son of a bitch that others feared.

'Don't dwell on the past, Yoo Joonghyuk. You're already so close to finding out how to open that goddamned wall. You just need to find the way in this round with Kim Dokja, the key figure.'

He stopped his steps to calm himself.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

His heart was slowly becoming even steadier compared to before. With his mind calming down, he should find the young girl as quickly as possible before.

Using Red Phoenix Shunpo, he rushed to the school where his disciple was, hoping that not a lot have changed even if it did for him when he was with Dokja.

It did not take him long to arrive at the school, already seeing the dead bodies and carcass of some other creatures. The smell of death was never an easy thing to overcome, but after living for so long, Joonghyuk had grown numb to it.

There should be a shed somewhere near the school's field with monsters roaming around it. Jihye was always inside in a fetal position, starving herself and having no goal after her best friend died.

Joonghyuk still hasn't gotten his prefered sword yet, but with his Advanced Weapon Training, he should be able to kill the monsters surrounding her regardless of whether he had whatever weapon he had.

Taking a small knife from the hands of a body, he quickly rushed towards the field where ant-like creatures were nesting. He twisted the knife to that the blade was at the back of his hand before he attacked the monster. It hissed in pain before it attacked using its long talons. Joonghyuk avoided it, using the knife to slash away one of its legs before sliding down underneath it just in time to avoid a bite.

He stood up quickly and jumped above it to land on its head and used the knife to stab its head, dragging it across its body to slice it in half.

It died ungracefully. Joonghyuk looked at the several other ant-like creatures.

~~~

[Hidden Scenario - Survivors of  Taepung High]

Category: Hidden

Difficulty: C+

Clear Conditions: Rescue the survivors from the monsters surrounding them.

Time Limit: 1 hour

Reward: 500 coins

Penalty: Death

~~~

Lee Jihye.

The Maritime Admiral.

She was crucial to many sea battles because of her Constellation support, who was friends with her ancestor.

The Maritime War God.

Her Stigma, Sea Battle, Ghost Fleet and Large Army Command were powerful against battles out in the open ocean.

Specifically the Theatre Dungeon.

Joonghyuk sighed as more ants started attacking. Quickly using the skill, he intercepted an attack by using his leg to redirect the jaws to another and before he used a hand to balance himself on it and kicked another ant's head using the other. The knife on the other hand was thrown towards another incoming monster's eye. Joonghyuk rushed towards it and use his foot to make the knife dig deeper into the head.

He had to be quick, there were roughly around 50 ants in the scenario, and he had to kill them all before the timer ends. Taking another weapon, this time a metal bat from another dead body, and used it to wack the leg of another ant, making it fly over somewhere.

Joonghyuk continued his slaughter in record time, finishing the scenario in just 10 minutes. Sweat covered his face as he wiped it off with his hand. He needed a shower real badly because he was stuck in the stomach of a giant monster for several days.

No matter, he'll take a break after he finds her.

Walking towards the shed, he placed an ear on the door. A single survivor, was it? Only she survived, hiding inside the sports shed while waiting for death.

He opened the door.

Lee Jihye was curled into a fetal position on the ground, her cheeks slightly hollowed, and her clothes dirty, both from blood and dust.

"The monsters are gone now."

Jihye didn't say anything, still in shock from what she had done to her best friend days before. Joonghyuk had always expected this, she was already traumatized by survivor's guilt. He kneeled so that he could see her eye to eye.

"What's your name?" He asked gently.

"J-Jihye... Lee Jihye..." She managed to whisper out.

"Lee Jihye is it?" He wondered whether he should use what way to get her by his side. Regardless, the girl had been through a lot at the age of 17 already.

Joonghyuk opened his mouth as he spoke, "If you want to live, come with me."

"Why bother...?" She asked, her voice already empty and filled with despair. The expression she had was dreadful, her complexion pale, "The world's already gone to shit."

"That is true," Joonghyuk admitted, it was useless sugar coating, "But that doesn't mean you can just die if someone sacrificed their lives for you, is it?"

Jihye threw a punch at him, but he blocked it easily with one hand holding her wrist. She didn't give up, however, as she used her other hand to punch his face but she was easily apprehended when Joonghyuk manoeuvred them so that he was sitting on her, her hands at her back and his foot on her head.

"Calm yourself, Lee Jihye."

"Me!? Calm!? I am calm you son of a bitch! What do you know about me, huh!? How can you say that when you don't know anything about me!?" The young girl barked.

It was to be expected, that she would react this way, "Your actions alone are enough to confirm it. It was merely a guess," it was a lie as he had known her for many years before.

Jihye said nothing. She had already fallen into his trap when she reacted to his words.

"What do you want from me?" Joonghyuk heard her ask with seething anger. Perhaps saying that was too harsh for her, but he needed to get her by his side as soon as possible. She had become his disciple numerous turns before, so he knew how to push the right buttons for her to get to open herself up for him.

"Don't you want to save the world from this hellish nightmare?" He began, remembering her personality like the back of his hand. She was righteous, and have a high sense of justice, "The world may be shit now, but if you follow me, we can save it. And make sure no one else will suffer just as much as we do."

That caught her attention, but she was still suspicious of him. Joonghyuk moved away so that she could sit back down. He was still on her eye level, kneeling on one knee.

Jihye looked at the taller man, her eyes still showing distrust, "How can I trust you?"

Joonghyuk took out an energy bar and showed it to her, "You can't. But they can."

The ex-high schooler had an expression of confusion plastered on her face as Joonghyuk continued, "The girl who you killed. She let you kill her, didn't she? I saw it on the train when the scenarios started."

She didn't say anything and chose to stay silent, but Joonghyuk already knew the answer to it, "She wanted you to live, that's why she lets you kill her. But are you going to let her efforts be in vain by dying here and now?"

Joonghyuk watched her eyes falter, crystal tears slowly starting to show. She was silent, but her answer was heard.

Lee Jihye shook her head.

Joonghyuk showed her the energy bar once again, "Now eat, live for her sake, if not for you."

Jihye snuffled, trying to hold back her tears but she took the energy bar from him and ate it.

Joonghyuk stood up as he looked out of the shed and scanned the area in case of any other monsters while Jihye ate and drank the water he had bought with him.

"I'm sorry but..." He heard Jihye speak as he focused his attention on her. She wiped away her tears before speaking once again.

"You smell like rotten meat, ahjussi."

Yoo Joonghyuk choked blood.

Chapter Text

[The Constellation Maritime War God thanks Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

Joonghyuk would've paid attention if it wasn't for the fact that Jihye had called him that.

'Ahjussi...'

Jihye looked up at her saviour who looked rather sulky. By Jihye's request, they had found an empty apartment all while raiding a mall for Jihye's new clothes to rest for an hour or two to clean themselves before finally following the next scenario.

They both had the lung of an Ellain Monkey which purifies contaminated air in their mouths as they travel above ground since they have reached the area where the second scenario was taking place.

'Is he still grumpy that I called him Ahjussi?' That was what she thought as she hummed. She tried calling him.

"Hey, ahjussi."

"Dont call me 'ahjussi'. I'm not that old," he snapped almost immediately causing her to stick her tongue out. Joonghyuk wasn't that old. He was 28 years old... At least, minus the regression years... But he was still 28! He wasn't an ahjussi!

"Then what do I call you?" She asked curiously, placing her hands behind her head as she continued to walk beside him.

"I'll be training you to get stronger, so you should call me Master."

Jihye made a cringing face, "Damn, that's so old fashion though? You are an ahjussi."

Joonghyuk glared at her wordlessly.

"I mean you're technically an ahjussi compared to me so why bother?" Jihye said as she pouted, 'Stupid ahjussi and his ahjussi complex...'

She continued to walk and curse at him before she bumped into his back, "Ow-! Ahjussi? Why did you stop?"

"We're here," Joonghyuk stopped at a station. Majang station.

While it was originally a station, it became a dungeon during the scenario. The major stations such as Chungmuro, Sindang and the like became bases.

Jihye paled as she managed to mutter out something, "Where is this?"

"Majang's Underground Dungeon. We'll be training here for a day before we go to Geumho then Chungmuro," was his explanation as he started walking down the stairs carelessly. Jihye followed him like an obedient puppy since she didn't want to be left alone above ground.

~~~

[Hidden Scenario - Snake Hunter]

Category: Hidden

Difficulty: B

Clear Conditions: Slay the Serpent King, Blackmouth!

Time Limit: 1 day

Reward: 2500 coins

Penalty: Death

~~~

"Are we uh... Going in unarmed...?" She asked as she took the organ out and put it in her inventory. She had learned quite a bit about how to use the system from him like buying something from the Dokkaebi Shop and the like.

Joonghyuk took out a knife and gave it to her.

"A KNIFE!? JUST A KNIFE!?"

Joonghyuk used a hand, placing a finger on his lips to motion her to be quiet, "Hush you, if we clear this dungeon, you can get a weapon much better than a mere knife."

With the promise of a new weapon, Jihye continued to follow Joonghyuk who was leading the hunt. The station looked empty, but it seemed that plant life suddenly grew overnight, almost covering the whole place so it looked more like an urban jungle.

"Isn't it too quiet?" Jihye asked, suddenly very suspicious of the place.

It wasn't until Joonghyuk finally made a move by kicking a bear-sized creature away with his leg that had jumped towards Jihye.

"Ahjussi!?" Jihye squeaked, looking at the dead body of what seemed to be a red wolf with white accents.

"Iron Fanged Wolves. They hunt in packs. Your job now is to kill as much as possible," Joonghyuk told her.

There was a reason why he had chosen Majang Station. In future scenarios, Majang Underground Dungeon was nothing but a normal dungeon with a pretty decently high ranking.

But if entered early in the scenarios, not only will they get at least a Myth Grade item, but also the fact that the enemies give out their coins. And coins were essential for them to survive because it increases their skills and abilities.

The best part of the dungeon was that the more you do a certain action like running, for example, it will also increase your abilities such as stamina.

"Huh!? You mean you want me to kill these things!? All by myself!?" Jihye asked, a vein popping off her forehead as she glared at Joonghyuk.

"Of course not, you're with me," Joonghyuk noticed that the wolves have had them surrounded as he started spitting out instructions, "Jihye, listen. Invest more of your coins in strength, for the time being, leaving some for speed. You'll get stamina the more you dodge and run. These wolves will give you coins the more you kill them, this is the fastest way to level up even if it's a high-ranked dungeon."

Jihye gulped, but she did what she was told to do, "O-ok! Now, what!?" She asked, holding the knife she was given.

"Activate your skills, imagine yourself fighting. It should activate automatically. Be ready."

Just as he said that a wolf started to attack her as she panicked, faltering slightly before she gripped her knife tighter, and a surge of power rushed through her veins.

[The Skill: Sword Training Lvl1 is being activated.]

Jihye did not know what came over her she suddenly swung the knife and plunged it into the neck of the beast, killing it instantly.

She blinked in surprise, seeing the dead carcass on the floor, "A-ahjussi look! I got my first kill!" She exclaimed happily.

Joonghyuk used his leg to kick away the wolf that was beside her, "Focus, Jihye! You're doing good!"

A little compliment always raises their spirits, and it was true in the case of Lee Jihye when he saw how her eyes sparkled a bit, "Ok ahjussi!"

"Dont," a punch to the head.

"Call," kicking to the stomach.

"Me," a backflip that turned into a three kick attack before he landed somewhat away from her.

"Ahjussi!"

~~~

23 hours later

Jihye was laying in a star position on the grassy floor of the dungeon, eye bags completely dark as the night sky as Joonghyuk ate a dumpling, "I can't... Go on..." She whined out. She had been fighting for nearly 24 hours already! And she was already dying!?

That old ahjussi was only looking tired but not dead!? How!?

The taller man rose an eyebrow, "We need to kill Blackmouth now, if not, the dungeon will close and suffocate us," was what he said, remembering several times he had tried this dungeon alone only to get killed off easily. Not pleasant memories.

Jihye looked at him from the ground, "How'd you know that..?" She questioned him, though not caring about the answer because she was too tired.

"I saw it happen to someone else before," he explained, not bothering to tell that certain someone was him multiple times in different regressions, "Stand up. We're going deeper inside."

Jihye groaned, "Can we stay here a bit longer...? I'm tired..." And she was. They fought almost nonstop since yesterday.

"Again, unless you want to suffocate to death, sure."

Jihye stood up immediately, "Fine, you stupid ahjussi! I'm coming, I'm coming!" She followed the older male down the stairs.

It took a while to get down from the upper levels and Jihye couldn't help but pale at the sight of the sleeping creature in front of them once they arrived at the boss room.

The creature was a very thick snake, perhaps three times as long as a mature blue whale. Its body was curled around itself, sleeping. Pure, snow-like white scales engulfed its body with black cur accented around its neck like a lion. It had sharp bumps along the side of its body and the tail seemed like it was made out of metal.

"Is that... The boss?" Jihye asked in a whisper as Joonghyuk nodded.

"Indeed it is. We have to kill it now. Be prepared."

They only had an hour to kill the Serpent King since they had killed quite literally everything in the dungeon. Would it be possible?

Jihye had a bad feeling about this...

~~~

"AHJUSSI WHY DID YOU PUT ME THROUGH THIS HELL!?"

Joonghyuk was sitting comfortably on a pillar as he ate a murim dumpling, watching his disciple run from yet another attack from the snake creature, "It'll make you stronger faster, so get to it, young lady."

Jihye avoided yet another attack from its jaws, barely surviving as she continued to run for her life, her memories flashing before her eyes, "EASY FOR YOU TO SAY- AAHHHHHH AHJUSSI HELP MEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

Joonghyuk took another bite, chewing it slowly, his leg dangling against the pillar while the other one folded near his chest and was used as a ledge for his head, "Are you still going to keep calling me that?"

Ok, perhaps he was still a bit grumpy for being called ahjussi...

Jihye jumped up from a tail attack before running behind the pillar where Joonghyuk was, "OK OK I'M SORRY MASTER I WON'T CALL YOU AHJUSSI AGAIN NOW SAVE MEEEEEEE!!!"

Finishing his dumpling happily, Joonghyuk jumped down from his perch on the pillar before kicking the head of the serpent, easily killing it because he had invested his coins into strength. He has had enough coins due to the time he spent with Dokja in the stomach, making him quite rich in coins as well as he did.

Jihye just stared at her master with eyes as wide as dinner plates from the ground. Sure she had level-up up quite a bit from the wolves but the snake!? The snake was fucking hell!

Before she could say anything, Joonghyuk had already started slicing the body of the snake before pulling out a green coloured and storing it inside of his inventory.

[Hidden Scenario has ended.]

[You have received 2500 coins as a reward.]

She swore to herself to never call him ahjussi again...

Chapter Text

"Whoa, this is a sweet sword, ah- uh, I mean Master!" Jihye said, looking at her sword before swinging it around. She checked for its sharpness as she sliced the tall grass nearby. They were cut instantly just by a gentle swing. The sword was sheathed into the scabbard once again.

Joonghyuk checked his own sword. He rather has multiple backups just in case one breaks in the future. He'll keep it for the time being. It could always get replaced by a stronger one.

The other rewards they had gotten were several healing elixirs, which would help a lot whenever they're injured. But Lee Seolhwa's capabilities were still needed. It was better to have a healer instead of relying on just elixirs and first aid. Joonghyuk had a skill that could heal as well, but it was always lacking because he was more focused on being the damage dealer.

'Lee Seolhwa...'

She was his wife in his second regression, he was also a father to an unborn child as well. But after being... Tortured by Asmodeus, he had sworn to never get a lover in his next turns. The second regression was the worst in all of his 1864 lifetimes. Memories that he had rather forgotten.

His body shivered at the memories of when he was with that perverted demon. How he was used for, what he called, "entertainment" for him.

Memories from the second round felt so far away, too much had already happened and yet... The trauma brings never faded away.

'No, Yoo Joonghyuk. Focus. Don't get into yet another episode this early... Not in front of Jihye... Please...' He begged himself, even though he knew it was futile because the memories broke through like a broken dam.

"Master? Are you ok?" Jihye asked, looking at the shivering man who seemed to be cowering by something.

"I'm fine," he managed to force out, but Jihye had caught that his voice was slightly cracking.

Not that Joonghyuk himself noticed because all he could hear was his own heartbeat beating rapidly at the memories. He rather forgets that round, as well as the 41st round and many others, but he had a good memory. All his traumas were just piling up in his head.

Ba-dump.

Ba-dump.

Ba-dump.

Flashes of red, covered in nothing but bodily fluids, the sensation of both pain and pleasure to the point of being numb before finally dying due to the torture...

"Master!?"

Jihye rushed towards Joonghyuk who had fallen onto his knees, embracing himself. Oh no, it's happening again. Why were his depression episodes so random during this turn!? It happened a bit too frequently too, it would be a problem if his episodes continued.

'Calm yourself, Yoo Joonghyuk... Breathe...!'

It was suffocating, he couldn't breathe at all. It felt like he was drowning in a sea of nothingness.

He was choking for air.

He needed salvation.

But where would he get it?

"I'm here."

It wasn't long before he felt a pair of small arms engulfing him in a hug, washing away the suffocation and clearing his mind. He stopped shivering as well.

'Sponsor...?'

He opened his mouth, wanting to ask the question of the Constellation's silence after all this time or why they created the Star Stream in the first place but nothing came out. There were so many questions he wanted to ask, and yet when the chance was presented, he couldn't.

"I'm waiting."

The voice managed to whisper to him, distorted and he couldn't distinguish which was their real voice. But the gentle embrace they provide was still there. Completely different from his past regressions where they only responded in silence.

"Be brave for me... Yoo Joonghyuk..."

"Master!"

Joonghyuk snapped his attention back to the real world, his breathing slowly becoming steady as cold sweat dripped down his forehead, "Master, are you alright? You blacked out for a bit."

The regressor looked at his disciple with wide eyes, he was almost unable to with how he reacted to his memories, "I'm ok now. Just... Remembering some unpleasant memories."

Jihye frowned at him, but she understood. She wouldn't ask anymore, she may have killed her best friend out of her request, but it seemed that her master had experienced something worst that he had a depression episode in the middle of a dungeon.

"Master, shall we leave? Seems like if we stay any longer, you'll be the one suffocating."

Lee Jihye, as much as she was sassy, still cared for the people around her. Sometimes she was too mature for her age, and that made Joonghyuk frown. Perhaps it was because he had dragged her through hell and back many times before in his past regression, and yet she was always seen with a smile given to him.

The voice also spoke to him and was comforting him through that ordeal. He could confirm that his Sponsor was more active in the 1864th round with how many times they had comforted him. But then, if they cared... Why did they give him this accursed Stigma?

This Stigma made him go through hell over and over again. The existence f the Star Stream was because of The Most Ancient Dream. And yet what was that warmth they gave? If they were just "enjoying" the show, then why comfort him? Joonghyuk couldn't understand at all.

"Yeah, let's go."

It was time for them to go to Geumho.

~~~

"Well, I've always thought he was a bastard but to think he's this much of a bastard..." Dokja mumbled to himself when everyone was suddenly against him damn that skill. He already gotten paid for his services and now he's being framed? Puh-lease.

The reader looked towards the railway as he hummed, trying to think of a way for the next scenario. Joonghyuk should be on his way to Geumho with Jihye. If they come sooner then it may be easier to pass the scenario.

He also had managed to regroup with his team which consist of little Gilyoung, Sangah, Hyungsung and possibly a new member, Heewon at Geumho.

He rescued Jung Heewon closely after he had separated from Joonghyuk when he was searching for Jihye. He should arrive in Geumho sooner than later if he carefully calculated the timing.

Still, looking at the people inside, Inho was, in short, a bastard. Not to mention the men who had killed innocent lives before, and even played with women were supposed to be killed by Joonghyuk. But he did drag the protagonist inside of the stomach as well so it was technically his fault for changing the story so much.

Then again, it was the 1864th turn. But for Kim Dokja, who had read the story for 13 years, still did not know. To be perfectly honest, he wasn't sure how to treat the round and how to treat this Yoo Joonghyuk because he was an unknown variety.

For example, the 3rd round had him as a hoarder and had a lot of anger issues. 81, was an oddball even for a Yoo Joonghyuk. He cared for nothing but cooking. Even got angry when someone was interrupting him in his kitchen. 41 was one of Joonghyuk's more brutal and sadistic rounds. Then comes 999 round, Dokja's personal favourite because their views are the same and ironically... He was the most gentlemanly out of the rest.

So if all of those rounds have different personalities, how would the 1864th be?

"Dokja-ssi," a feminine voice called out, "Everyone who went that way all died, you know?"

Dokja glanced back to where the voice originated. It was Jung Heewon, "You're not thinking of going, are you?" She asked curiously.

"If the scenario asks for it, we have no choice," he said, climbing up just in time to see a limping man getting treatment inside of a tent.

Heewon looked to where his attention was and narrowed her eyes, "Dokja-ssi. That guy who tried to rape me," she said in an almost emotionless voice, "Don't touch him. If the chance arises, he's mine."

Dokja gulped, nodding his head at the woman. He had already taken a looksie at her attribute window. She was the type that Constellations would be interested in. Her attribute was also a Crouching Figure, which was a rare evolutionary attribute in TWSA. It was a Common attribute, but it could evolve into a Rare or even Legendary based on the experience of the incarnation.

The fact that she also had a Demon Slaying skill as well. She may become an indiscriminate murderer if left unchecked.

"Wait, they're taking the elderly and women!" Heewon suddenly gasped. She rushed towards them but was stopped by Dokja who held her arm.

"Even if they die joining the search party, they will also die of starvation! Even if you want to help them, you can't!" He barked out.

Heewon glared at him, "Then what am I supposed to do!? Just watch them!?" She asked.

Dokja carefully took a deep breath, "For now. Stopping them won't change a thing. The same thing will happen again because of the food shortage. So the root of the problem is food right?" He tried to explain it in simpler terms.

Heewon still looked a bit confused, "I guess so?" She asked.

Suddenly, a kick of the door when the gate flew over someone's head as Dokja sighed, massaging his forehead. Only one man could kick a metal gate down with a foot.

"What the hell!?" Heewon suddenly screamed in surprise when she saw two figures walking into the station. A taller, black-cladded man with a young teenager?

"I knew it..." Dokja sighed as Inho's group surrounded the pair. He stood up, "He'll find me by himself once he settled that little problem. Let's go back to everyone, Heewon-ssi," he told the lady.

"Huh? You know the guy?" She asked with a surprised expression.

"Of course, he's my little meow meow."

~~~

In the meantime, Yoo Joonghyuk glared at the people in front of him. Should he just kill them? He vaguely remembered Cheon Inho, mostly because he had him killed after the first regression because of how much of a bitch he was.

"Bastard, I told you we have no more room for anyone else!" One guy said, an iron pipe ready to attack them.

"Are we killing them, Master...?" Jihye asked, her voice cracking slightly. She was still traumatized by the death of her best friend, she didn't think she would be spilling more blood that soon.

Joonghyuk glanced towards her, seeing the hand shaking as he sighed, "Only to defend yourself," was his simple answer. He may be a killer, but he still had morals.

"Gentlemen! Please, there's no need for us to fight is there?" A familiar voice sang causing Joonghyuk to frown.

Cheon Inho... The bastard still lives huh? He was only there for one goal only, and that was for the scenario. Not shelter.

"Forgive the rudeness, sir but as you can see here, we are currently a bit overpopulated. I'm afraid you must leave," the brown-haired man said with a "sad" smile. It looked too sinister.

Joonghyuk opened his mouth to speak but before he could, sparks of probability had appeared above them with a blinding light.

'Seems like I'm just in time.'

"Master!?"

"Calm yourself, Jihye. The scenario is about to begin."

Instead of a white-furred Dokkaebi, it was a black-furred one, and the little guy seemed but shy compared to the other, "H-hello, everyone. How are y-you all doing tonight?" They asked.

"T-the Dokkaebi in c-charge of this channel is currently being d-disciplined... So I w-will be in charge of the current scenario..." They explained before noticing the previous chaos was interrupted, "Oh, oops. Was I interrupting something? Why is it p-peaceful all of the sudden... Danggit, Bihyung, what did you do..."

With a snap of a finger, the food that was previous salvaged started floating.

"W-what!?"

"The food!"

"What's happening!?"

[An additional penalty has been added to the scenario.]

[Foods may no longer be stockpiled.]

[All foods will be removed.]

The black-furred Dokkaebi flew carelessly in the air, "Y-you should've worked harder to complete the s-scenarios... Y-you worthless scum!"

The good evaporated into thin air, leaving gasps of despair and shock from the people.

"Now let's get this show on the road!"

The windows started appearing right in front of everyone. For those like Joonghyuk and Dokja, they had already expected it.

[An addition penalty has been added to the scenario.]

[The category, Survival Fee, has been added.]

[100 coins will be withdrawn daily at midnight as a Survival Fee.]

[You will die if you have insufficient funds for the Survival Fee.]

[The Survival Fee will be collected until the Second Main Scenario is completed.]

'Oh...? A Survival Fee? Interesting, that has never happened before,' was what Joonghyuk was thinking as he looked at the window.

Meanwhile, Jihye was thanking the heavens to have met with her master, seeing that he knew of everything already. Even though that was suspicious in itself, the fact remained that he did save her before.

"Master? What are we doing here?" The teenager asked curiously as she saw the taller man scanning the area before finally seeing familiar faces at the very corner of the station.

"We're regrouping with the rest," was his answer as he strode away from the crowd.

"Wait, don't leave me!" Jihye followed suit.

In the meantime, Kim Dokja was wondering if his contract with Bihyung was affecting the original story because, throughout all of his 1863 regressions, this never happened before. Which made him a bit nervous but it should be easy enough if everyone has coins... Which not a lot do because they paid him coins.

"Dokja-ssi! What do we do now, should we join the search party?" A muscular and broad man asked. Lee Hyunsung had always been a gigantic teddy bear in Dokja's mind.

He shook his head, "No, the surface is a death trap. It's filled with nothing but polluted air and monsters," he explained.

"Then... How are we going to survive without food?" His ex-coworker, Yoo Sangah asked curiously.

"By hunting."

Dokja smiled, "I thought it would take you longer to come here, Joonghyuk-ah," he looked at the man who walked towards him with his disciple.

"Master, you know this ahjussi?" Dokja twitched an eye. Seemed like Jihye had already called him Master. But that wasnt the problem, the problem was that he was 28 years old, just a few months older than Joonghyuk and yet she called him an ahjussi!? The nerve of the girl!? He wondered why he had a crush on her when he was in high school when he finally met her.

Oh, she went down on his list...

Far down...

"Of course, I know him, we're life and death companions!" Dokja swung a hand around Joonghyuk's shoulders with a smile, not caring at all. The said man had a vein popped on his forehead.

"He dragged me into the stomach of a monster," he stated.

Dokja glared at him, "Let me remind you, who is it that choked me over a broken bridge and got us out alive?"

The two started arguing as the rest of the group could only watch in amusement. It was like they were a married couple arguing about what would dinner be.

Sangah took the first steps to introduce herself, "Hello there, my name is Yoo Sangah. What's yours?" The woman recognized the young teenager from the tv back in the compartment, but she did not of her name.

"Lee Jihye. And you guys?" She asked. Seeing that her master was... Friends(?) With the ugly ahjussi, she assumes that all of them would be working together as a team. Well, she did not know her master too well but she grasped his personality well enough to make that sort of assumption.

"Jung Heewon, I guess... Ex-bartender?" The woman with black hair introduced herself.

"Lee Hyunsung. From the military. This is is Lee Gilyoung," the boy looked at the older teenager, "And the man arguing with your uh... Master? Is Kim Dokja."

'Kim Dokja, huh?' Jihye glanced over to both men who were still arguing about whatever fuck they did, 'Wait a minute...' She took a closer look at them.

The both of them were too buddy-buddy with each other. Her rotten senses were tingling, 'Does Master... Swing that way...?'

It was the only explanation, was it!? Why he was so intent on coming to Geumho!?

"Ah, I really can't with you. You were the one who fell asleep on me while I was climbing, dumbass! You didn't even wake up when it was finally dead!"

'SLEEP ON AHJUSSI!?' She heard Dokja fight back.

Her Master stayed quiet, signifying by what he said was true, 'D-D-D-DID THAT AHJUSSI JUST MADE MASTER QUIET!?' Too many thoughts were being thunk by then...

"Enough of this, we're wasting time," Joonghyuk tried to change the subject, already embarrassed to be reminded of the time he fell asleep on him, "We're here for the scenario, not a banter."

"For once, I agree with you. As much as I have coins, I rather not spend it for the Survival Fee," Dokja simply said before looking at the group, "Well, now's later than ever. This guy here is Yoo Joonghyuk. He's a pretty strong individual and knows a thing or two about the hell we're going through."

Lee Hyungsung and Lee Jihye were the only ones he recognized. Considering the two of them were stuck in the stomach for days, he had expected that everyone's growth would be delayed. He had seen Jihye's after they finished, all of them were all lvl10+ from the dungeon they had conquered in a hurry.

He only went to that dungeon whenever he ran out of time or he desperately needed to level up, but because of the difficulty and he was alone, it was... Mostly a failure.

But he had learned the tricks of that dungeon because of it. He had only succeeded in conquering it once in his lifetime before during the earlier scenarios.

"It's nice to meet you, Joonghyuk-ssi. Please take care of us," Sangah bowed slightly. He nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"So this is the team you've come up with, Dokja?" Joonghyuk asked as Dokja nodded.

"Because we were stuck, I haven't had the time to help them grow. But they all should be able to pass the next scenario with ease," he explained.

Joonghyuk closed his eyes before opening them. His right eye changed colour from black to yellow as veins started popping out of the area near his glowing eye.

Lee Hyungsung's abilities were... Below average, he was not surprised because he had not trained him to be the shield he needed. Soon, he'll have to train himself to level up.

Jung Heewon... She hasn't chosen a sponsor yet and yet the attribute she had was very dangerous. A Crouching Figure. If pointed to the correct path, she may be extremely strong.

Lee Gilyoung. Affinity with insects? Interesting. So it was similar to Shin Yoosung, just with insects. He could be very powerful, his Sponsor though... He has potential, very large potential.

Last but not least, Yoo Sangah. Wait a second...

Yoo Joonghyuk blinked in confusion. Why did... Were his eyes lying to him, or did the entirety of the nebula, Olympus, sponsoring her...?

'I thought I've seen it all. Guess I haven't.'

He deactivated Sage's Eye as he looked at Dokja, "Are we hunting now? Because time is ticking."

Dokja looked at everyone else, "So what do you guys think?"

A rumbling stomach from a child was heard as it answered the question, "I'm sorry..." Gilyoung apologized as Dokja patted his head gently.

"Then we'll set off now."

Chapter Text

"Heewon-ssi are you sure you're ok with us? You haven't fully recovered yet?" Dokja asked the woman who shook her head.

"It's fine, I'm stronger than I look. Besides, I practised kendo before so I do have some basic knowledge in martial arts," she explained, not wanting to be a burden.

"Did you say kendo, unnie!?" Jihye asked, her eyes suddenly shining brightly at the thought, "Do you have a sword already? I got mine from Master!"

It was quite the sight for Joonghyuk who was walking at the very back of the group, seeing a crazed, glasses-eyed man panicking over nothing while also desperately clinging onto Sangah while his supposed disciple already moved on to Jung Heewon who was already taking a liking to Jihye.

Then again, what's his name was placed on the team as a watcher from Inho's group. The bastard was too suspicious of Dokja that he needed the scaredy cat to keep an eye out for him. Not surprising how sly that fox was.

He needed to think of a way to encounter his latest round, 'Considering the time I've spent with Dokja in the stomach, it's understandable they don't have weapons yet... But it will be tough without them... Perhaps the bones of the Ground Rats may be of use for the time being?'

He was thinking to himself, but the weapons from bones should be good enough for the time being. At least until they find better ones, preferably at the Theatre Dungeon, 'So many things to do in so little time, will this be my last regression to find out all of these mysteries?'

Joonghyuk sighed, shaking his head. It was no time for relaxing. They had just entered the railway system with Dokja and Gilyoung in the lead and the furthest back was himself, Sangah and what's his name. The rest were in the middle.

He wasn't one to socialize, that was true, yet he found himself already finding a decent group with Dokja's interference. Perhaps he shouldn't approach the round with the mind to clear the scenarios as soon as possible and use the time to make everyone stronger instead.

Besides, the most important goal he had in the 1864th round was to discover his growing list of questions. At least one of them was answered because at least he now knows the voice he heard was his Sponsor, even if all he could hear was just simple static and distorted voices.

But of course, more questions arose at the same time.

He needed therapy badly. He vaguely remembered talking to someone about his regression depression in the 48th round, but soon realize that what the incarnation said was utter bullshit. 1000 regressions later. Yes, he was a fool still. Not that he would admit it out loud.

"Gilyoungie, how is the situation hanging up," he heard Dokja ask the child.

He watched as the young child kneeled on the floor and started communicating with a cockroach, "There's a pack of monsters close by."

Windows started appearing right in front of them in a flash of blue light.

~~~

[Sub Scenario - Food Aquisition]

Category: Sub

Difficulty: F

Clear condition: hunt and cook a monster that you can consume as food.

Time limit: none

Rewards: 500 coins

Penalty: ???

~~~

"Jihye, be prepared," was what Joonghyuk said as Jihye looked at her master before taking the hilt of her sword, ready to fight.

"Master, we're technically the only ones armed, are we fighting them alone?" She asked curiously as Joonghyuk nodded.

"Think of this as your training. The more you kill, the higher your skill level is," he explained before looking at Dokja, "You know how to make weapons from bones?" He asked.

The man made a face, "Kinda?" But he didn't want to say he learned it from the novel where Joonghyuk was from, and the way he made it was exactly how the man did it because of a certain chapter about butchering the monsters into weapons and how to eat them.

"Good enough. Invest your coins in stamina, strength and agility. Leaving only a bit for the survival fee," he ordered everyone.

"They're coming. Hurdle up together!"

Hyunsung took the order as he pulled the weaponless people together, making sure they were all in one big group as Joonghyuk and Jihye moved in front of them.

Dokja used his phone to shine through the tunnel to see a swarm of Ground Rats slowly walking towards them, "Oh dear, that's a lot..." he started counting them out of curiosity, "Joonghyuk-ssi, there's a total of 25 Ground Rats. At least visibly."

25 wasn't bad. He had faced almost hundreds of wolves before the rats so it should be easy enough.

"Master, they're coming!"

Joonhyuk sprung into action, "Jihye, I leave the defence to you," was what he said before he charged through the enemy.

He swung his sword towards a nearby rat and jumped towards him, slicing it in half easily as blood splattered onto the walls. Jihye also started to move when she noticed some rats that managed to slip through Joonghyuk's barrage of attacks and started to attack them herself.

She was quick on her feet as she avoided an attack from her right side before slicing away the neck of the creature and stabbing it in the heart.

Both fighters worked hard and quickly took care of the monsters with ease, especially Joonghyuk who had already known of their weakness and took advantage of it.

The sword he wielded broke the instant he finished killing the rat, 'Of course, it breaks, it's only a Rare rank sword... I gave Jihye the better one...' He cursed at his luck, but he did rather have the trusty weapon that he got from this particular scenario. It was the reason why he needed to clear this scenario in the first place.

But Jihye made a mistake on one of them that was pretending to be dead before jumping its fangs and claws to attack the nearest person.

Kim Dokja.

"Shit, Master!"

Joonghyuk looked back to see the creature was about to maul Dokja up. Screams and gasps were heard as the man quickly used his skill to ran as fast as he could. He didn't think it through and instead grabbed the rat and swung his body around, throwing the rat in which Jihye panicked before her skill activated and performed a cross slash against the boar.

"Joonghyuk-ssi!"

Dokja reacted as quick as lightning as he grabbed the protagonist by the waist, stopping him from falling. But that caused an awkward pose for both of them.

"STUPID MASTER DONT JUST THROW ENEMIES CARELESSLY AT ME-!?" She paused when she saw the scene in front of her.

Her master was dipped by the ugly ahjussi who held his waist to prevent him from falling and their faces were quite close because of that, their expressions in shock and red. Either by embarrassment or anger or even shock, they did not know.

'HOLY SHIT-!?' Jihye yelled in her head.

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is once again screaming through all of Eden.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is gagging at the dog food but enjoyed the slaughter.]

[The Constellation The Last Director is slapping her head at the amount of dog food she's getting.]

Dokja couldn't help to stare in awe at the graceful form of the protagonist. He felt his childhood crush rose once again, a flushed face in red.

The world around them was silent as if time had stopped, even Joonghyuk, who was with Dokja in the stomach of the ichthyosaur, with very questionable actions, found himself red in the neck and ear.

"Are you done flirting?" Heewon suddenly asked.

Dokja lets go of Joonghyuk as the man fell flat on his ass just as someone's voice was heard, "Ahjussi, are you ok?" The child asked the taller male of the two.

A vein once again popped on his forehead, "Don't call me that, I'm younger than this fool," was what he snapped as he stood up, dusting his clothes off with his hands. Well, technically he was much older mentally considering the fact he regressed but...

Will he take the age 28 years old instead of his mental age of probably millions of years old?

Yes.

Yes, he will.

He refused to be called ahjussi.

Nope, no siree, he wasn't an ahjussi.

He was young at heart.

"Well, at least you killed them?" Sangah tried to break the awkwardness that embraced the group altogether but felt bad that she couldn't do anything to help out. Not with a scaredy cat attached to her at least.

"Dokja-ssi, do you need help?" Hyunsung went over to the shorter man who was already skinning the creature, ignoring what was happening behind him because he was too embarrassed that his fanboy moment got exposed just like that.

"Then please sharpen the bone with a rock, maybe? Jihye, can I borrow your sword?"

Jihye ran up to him and looked at what he was doing, "You're gonna make weapons out of this?" She couldn't help but ask curiously as Dokja nodded.

"Pretty much, though it's gonna be my first time making it. Your Master should know how to do it."

Everyone looked at Joonghyuk who crossed his arms across his chest, why did that guy have to pan their attention to him?

"I had survival skills before it happens," he explained using a white lie, at least Myungoh seemed convinced. Heewon looked a bit suspicious but decided not to push it further.

Dokja started to work on the creature, taking out the bones while Hyunsung sharpened the bones as per Dokja instructed. And that was when Joonghyuk noticed it. It was exactly the way how he himself made the swords during the second round. Each step-by-step instruction was all too familiar.

Kim Dokja did say that he had known of his past regressions but... To think it was that extensive?

Suspicious.

"And... Done!"

He gave Gilyoung a blunt weapon made out of the skull of the creature with bandages wrapped around a long bone. He gave sword-like weapons to the rest of them, including Joonghyuk who inspected the craftsmanship.

"Are you sure this is the first time you made these?" Joonghyuk asked curiously, it was worth a shot asking him.

Dokja paled slightly but he nodded his head, "Yeah, I uh... Read about it before."

[Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk has used the skill Lie Detection.]

[The words spoken have been confirmed to be the truth.]

Joonghyuk frowned but did not ask anymore. He was 99.9% he did not write a book about how to deskin a monster and make weapons out of their bones... Yet another mystery piled up in his never-ending list of questions.

"Hyung, the cockroaches said there's more incoming," the child said as everyone had taken a stance.

Dokja frowned but he wasn't surprised at all, "Alright guys, remember what Joonghyuk-ssi said? Invest in stamina, strength and agility, leaving just enough for the survival fee. I'm not expecting everyone to come out of this alive, but if we can... I pray we make it out."

So Dokja was more of a realist. Easier to deal with than the others. Jihye and Joonghyuk also took their stances up just as more Ground Rats started crawling over towards them.

"Be careful everyone!"

A monster attacked Hyunsung as he attacked it with the sword, stabbing it in the heart deeply and instantly killing it. Heewon and Jihye teamed up as they started slashing their enemies. With Heewon using her kendo experience, she had managed to kill quite a few.

"Unnie! You're really good!" Jihye complimented her as she stabbed a rat down, causing the older woman to blush slightly.

"Oh it's nothing, really!" but because of her lack of experience in a battle and her attention away, one of them escaped her grasp, "Damn it! I lost one!"

Gilyoung moved as he hit the escaped rat on the head before Sangah stabbed it in the heart. Myungoh just cowered behind them.

Joonghyuk was slightly further away from them, but he had seen their battle prowess. While it was lacking due to experience, it was pretty good. They were doing better with weapons than expected. Perhaps this was why Dokja had gathered them together?

"So... Are we supposed to eat these? I don't think we can eat them raw..." Sangah asked, looking at the carcass of the monster.

Dokja shook his head, "Not yet, but we're sure to find a way," he said before pausing, 'Shit, was that too nonchalant...?'

Hyunsung, Heewon and Sangah looked at each other as the male opened his mouth to speak, "Dokja-ssi... Do you perhaps know something about the situation we're in?" He asked.

Ah.

That question popped earlier than Joonghyuk had expected.

"Master too. You taught me some stuff that feels like it's an RPG game," Jihye suddenly joined in.

Both men suddenly felt a bit of pressure when both were cornered. One was a regressor and the other was a reader of the said regressor.

[The Constellation The Last Director is looking forward to what's next.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

[Several other Constellations are curious about your answer.]

'Should we make up a reason, or should we tell the truth... Or...'

"AAAAHHHH!!!"

Joonghyuk could only stare dumbfoundedly at the scene where Hyunsung stopped midway when he realized he was too late to save Myungoh and Sangah together.

'Well then,' Joonghyuk thought, 'that helps.'

"I knew that guy was gonna get us in trouble sooner or later..." The woman in a bun sighed out.

Dokja went to the hole as he looked down, "This goes deep, and it's incredibly dark. We might need a tracking skill. We have to hurry and save them," he said. He thanked the lord inside his heart that a situation perfectly aligned itself when the both of them were asked about that question.

Gilyoung raised his hand, "The cockroaches said they can help me lead us to them."

The ex-salary man nodded his head, "Perfect. Joonghyuk-ssi, you coming?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer.

"Of course. Hyunsung, Jihye. Stay here and protect Heewon," the taller man said as the woman snapped back.

"I can help still-!"

But Joonghyuk cuts her off, "I see the dark marks you have. You were exposed to the contaminated air above, weren't you?"

Heewon didn't say anything because it was true. She did. Anyone could see that she was tired with how hard she was breathing.

"Master, I'm coming too!" Jihye said as Joonghyuk shook his head.

"No, stay with Hyunsung and Heewon in case anything else come. We may never know the rats will return here," was his reply as Jihye pouted but she stayed near the older woman as the three of them were chosen to save the kidnapped people.

'Hold on a second,' Jihye thought as she looked over to the three of them, 'Is Gilyoung their child...?'

Because Joonghyuk was insistent on staying beside Dokja, it was possible right, 'Adoption?'

~~~

Meanwhile, on the other team, Joonghyuk entered first, landing safely and gracefully on his feet. Everything was pitch black as he had expected.

The Ground Rats residents were called the Dark Folds. All lights were absorbed so it was difficult to tell where up and down were.

"I really can't see shit- OOF!"

With a loud thud, his face was suddenly on the ground when a heavyweight landing on his back. He laid there sprawled on the cold hard ground.

"Ow- ow ow ow! My ass hurt... Gilyoungie, are you alright?" Dokja asked, holding onto the child who was in his arms.

He felt him nod, "Yeah, I'm ok Dokja-hyung. But I don't think Joonghyuk-hyung is ok..."

Dokja blinked in confusion before he started feeling what was below him. Clothes, that was one, and it felt a lot like firm back muscles- oh shit...

"Kim Dokja..."

Dokja jumped away with Gilyoung in his arms, "JOONGHYUK-AH I'M SORRY I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU'RE THERE!?"

He couldn't see his face because it was dark, but he had a feeling he was glaring and wanting to kill him already... Oh dear god, Dokja why did you have to land on Yoo Joonghyuk of all people?

"Are you uh... Ok? Do you need help?" The shorter male asked, though for some reason he could see Joonghyuk rolling his eyes at him.

"What can you even do in this darkness?" Joonghyuk stood up as he stretched his back by leaning backwards. A crack was heard as he groaned in pain slightly, but at least his back was better after the weight of Dokja and Gilyoung was not pinning him down on the ground.

Dokja placed the child down, making sure to hold his hand, "Well technically only Gilyoungie can do something in this darkness. Where's your hand? We can't afford to get lost here."

Dokja extended his hand where the other man as supposedly was before feeling a firm yet a very big and squishy thing. He blinked as he made an experimental squeeze.

"Do you even know where you're touching...?" He heard the man growled out as Dokja paled.

"Your chest!?"

Joonghyuk sighed as he took the hand that was, in fact, on his chest. He noticed the hand was smaller than his own, soft to the touch as well compared to his own rough and callous hands.

Dokja just thanked the heavens he had the Fourth Wall to stop him from combusting. And the darkness made it possible to hide his red face.

"Are you ready hyung?" Gilyoung asked the both of them.

"Lead the way." Was the taller man's simple answer.

Chapter Text

"Is it ok for them to go on their own?" The woman with the bun-styled hair asked, waiting for the team members that went inside of the hole.

Jihye chuckled in response, "Don't underestimate Master, he took down a giant serpent with just one kick!"

Heewon chuckled as she nodded her head in acknowledgement. It was true that Joonghyuk was strong since he did protect them from the first wave of enemies that appeared before them so perhaps it was a good idea to team up with him and Dokja.

Speaking of Dokja...

"Jihye-ya," Heewon called out the teenager, "Is Dokja-ssi and Joonghyuk-ssi together...?"

If Hyunsung was drinking water at that moment, he would've to spit it out and choked, "W-what are you saying, H-Heewon-ssi!?" He asked with a stutter, too embarrassed but still brave enough to ask.

Jihye was staring at the hole suspiciously, "I think so? I mean, Master did say he wanted to go to Geumho as soon as possible," she scratched her non-existent beard.

"Even if Master is married to ahjussi, I'll still support him. He did save my life after all. It's the least I can do," she clenched her fist and placed it on her chest, not minding it at all as long as her Master is happy.

Heewon hummed, "True, Dokja-ssi did save me before. You were also saved by Dokja-ssi, weren't you?" She asked Hyunsung who nodded.

"At the train, yes. We were all in the same compartment, and Dokja-ssi saved us from what he told us, a psychopath, from the compartment in front of us," he recited what he remembered from memory, not knowing said psychopath was actually Yoo Joonghyuk himself.

Jihye hummed as she closed her eyes. Well, considering the amount of PDA those two displayed even in front of them, it's safe to say they have a relationship with one another. At least, that's what she thinks.

Hyunsung glanced over to Heewon's neck where he could see spots of dark skin just as Joonghyuk had noticed himself. It seemed she was still poisoned by the contaminated air.

"Still, it's pretty odd that they seem to know what kind of situation we're in. And all of these RPG-styled super powers we got," Jihye commented as Hyunsung thought about it.

It was true, they adapted to the situation quicker than anyone else as if they had expected it. Truly a dangerous pair, but at the same time, if they wanted to survive, both of them were the best and safest option to choose from the rest.

"He did say that he'll signal us when something happens. Regardless of whether they know what's happening or not, they did save us. They'll probably tell us when they want to, so we just have to trust them. It's like what Jihye said, it's the least we can do," he told the soon-to-be female warriors.

Jihye hummed, crossing her arms across her chest, "I suppose you're right."

~~~

"This way."

The three of them had their hands full with holding each other's hands, with Gilyoung leading the way up front and Dokja in the middle, holding both the boy's and Joonghyuk's hands. The bone sword he had will be found attached to his hip, using the pants belt holder as a temporary sword holder. He just thanked the lord that it was light.

If it wasn't for Gilyoung's ability, either Joonghyuk or Dokja would've spent coins for a new skill there.

"Hyung," the boy called out suddenly that both men were surprised at it, "You let them go on purpose, didn't you?"

'This kid...' He was a rare gem, was Gilyoung watching them when both Sangah and Myungoh were kidnapped?

He felt Dokja's hand unconsciously squeeze him as if trying to find comfort in him, but the man himself did not realize what he was doing. Almost as if scared of the words he may utter.

"What makes you say that Gilyoungie?" Dokja asked, confusion in his voice but Joonghyuk heard the crack.

They continued walking in the darkness, making a left turn with the adults following the boy like a duckling with their mother.

"When that mister and Sangah-noona were taken away by the monster, you intentionally let them go," it seemed Yoo Joonghyuk was right, the boy did watch them.

"I was watching you both before. Why did you do that?"

[The Constellations of the Absolute Good alignment frowns at your evil deeds.]

[The Constellation The Last Director is chuckling.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

'Hiding things from him will do us no good,' Joonghyuk thought, and it seemed Dokja was thinking the same thing.

"It's because of their habits," he explained, "They store treasure and many other unique items in their laid, but going to the lair itself is hard. The only way to get there is to use the tunnels they dig out," he continued, "I knew it would take Myungoh-ssi but I didn't expect Sangah-ssi to get dragged as well."

Gilyoung hummed, "So you hyungs are after the items?" He asked curiously.

"Technically speaking, what he said is true," Joonghyuk responded.

But the boy did not look convinced, "Liar."

Both men blinked their eyes in confusion. What made the child think they were lying?

"If it were items you were after, then Dokja-hyung wouldn't save me in the subway. And you also protected us when we were attacked by the monsters, Joonghyuk-hyung."

Gilyoung's grip on Dokja's hand was tighter, "I believe you," he said.

Now that he mentioned it, Joonghyuk had noticed there were a lot of survivors from the compartment they were in "How did you save him anyway?" He asked curiously.

"Gilyoungie was carrying a box with insects in them. We manage to pass the scenario by killing them instead," he explained.

Joonghyuk blinked. Wait a second, insects count!? He tried remembering what the clear conditions were before finally realizing that it said living beings. And his whole world suddenly started to fall apart.

'Of course, they count, you imbecile, it said living beings, not humans! Oh god, 1864 lifetimes later do I learn that I don't need to kill humans... Fucking hell...'

'Note to self, be smarter, Yoo Joonghyuk. Don't think with your muscles.'

"Hyung," Gilyoung suddenly called out, "Are you, god? Or maybe a protagonist?"

That was a question that Joonghyuk wanted to know as well, but for some reason, both answers seemed correct in his eyes.

Another squeeze was felt from Dokja's hand. Was he even aware of what he was doing to him? It did not seem like it at all. Like he was doing it unconsciously. Was Joonghyuk someone that he trusted so much that he lets his guard down, even if he wasn't aware of it himself?

"I'm neither of them, but I'm always envious of the protagonist. If anything, this guy right beside me should be the protagonist."

'Me?' the word protagonist seemed to resonate something within him, but he couldn't figure out why. Yet another mystery. At this point, he needed a diary to write down all the questions he wanted to answer.

"Hm, that's true. Joonghyuk-hyung is strong. But Dokja-hyung is also smart. Don't you guys know something about this world?" He asked curiously.

For a child, Gilyoung was very... Perceptive. He had already unravelled some mysteries between the two who had read and lived through this hellish earth.

"Yes, we do," Joonghyuk couldn't lie to the child who had already thought thay far, but he could see the fear in his voice. It seemed the boy was shaking.

"T-then... After all of this ends... We'll be granted a wish... Right?"

Both Joonghyuk and Dokja widened their eyes at the innocence of the boy, "Usually in stories like this... There's usually a reward at the end right?"

'Ah,' Joonghyuk thought calmly.

'That's right. To those who adapted all suffered in their own way.'

Memories of the first time he met Kim Namwoon appeared in his mind, 'Madness.'

Memories of Inho and Pildu, 'Opportunists.'

Looking at the child, Joonghyuk's lips curved down slightly, 'And some, irrationally optimistic.'

As someone who had lived through the scenarios and had almost reached an ending, Joonghyuk's frown deepened. It was no use sugar coating, but at the same time, he did not want to pointlessly lie.

"You're right."

Joonghyuk raised his head when he heard Dokja's voice as if the man was trying to comfort the child with his words, 'Fool... Why lie when you know of the conclusion of the last round?'

[The Sub Scenario has been updated.]

A gush of wind pass them by as a door suddenly appeared, its violet glows eerie and awaiting them patiently.

[You have entered the Ground Rats Treasure Trove.]

"Hyung! This is-!"

Dokja placed a hand on Gilyoung's mouth, closing it, "Be quiet, not only the treasure is here..." Truth to behold, a herd of Ground Rats sleeping near the treasure chest.

Joonghyuk glanced over to the left side of the chest where both Myungoh and Sangah were basically tied with (the man shuddered at the sight) tentacles.

'Calm down, Yoo Joonghyuk. As long as you sneak past them, you're good... Just... Dont... Alert... Them... Please don't appear...'

Once was enough, he rather avoid fighting the Warden if he could help it. Too busy with his thoughts, he almost missed the fact that Dokja was aiming his sword at the area behind Myungoh. And Joonghyuk immediately paled.

"Kim Dokja... What do you think you're doing...?" Joonghyuk suddenly asked, remembering what exactly was hiding behind that wall of roots.

"I'm not exactly ready myself but it can't be helped," was his simple answer as he aimed the sword at the place.

"Kim Dokja, don't you dare!"

But before Joonghyuk could stop him, Dokja had already thrown the sword at Myungoh's right side, creating a crack as it grew bigger behind them.

Both Joonghyuk and Gilyoung paled as well as Myungoh and Sangah who were the closest beside the slumbering creature. Even the Ground Rats who fled the scene when they had the chance.

A corpse with long arms, covered by a hood of black with tentacles behind it and a skull for a head.

Memories from the accursed second round suddenly came rushing into his head. Voices he rather forgets, the pain and pleasure of being sexually tortured for years before his death.

'No...'

'No...! I don't...!'

...-the...

Become...

...-the mother...

'I don't want to...!'

Become the... Mother...

'No more...!'

Become... The mother...!

Become the Mother!

BECOME THE MOTHER!

'NO!'

[The Warden of the Dark has appeared!]

[The Sub Scenario has been updated!]

[The Sub Scenario, Defeat the Warden Has Begun.]

"D-Dokja-hyung-!" Gilyoung managed to say, but Dokja cuts him off soon.

"It's ok, go ahead."

The boy ran a bit away from them as he barfed out his dinner, the man frowned, 'All the insects connected to Gilyoung have simultaneously died. He must've taken considerable mental damage from that,' he thought before realizing a certain someone was quiet.

Strange. He was never that silent. Maybe he was planning something in his head? Or perhaps he was ready to kill him?

"Joonghyuk?" Dokja glanced over to the man who was staring at the demon with wide eyes, his whole body was shaking and fear was basically engulfing his entire being.

"Joonghyuk-ah? Are you there!?" He gave the man a gentle pat on the shoulder, but his hand was slapped away. And the amount of terror the man had painted on his face caused Dokja to widen his eyes.

"Stay away from me!" He crawled backwards, his voice cracking.

It didn't seem like he was looking at Dokja, but rather something, or someone, else.

His breathing was ragged, cold sweat forming on his forehead and down to his cheek. He was terrified beyond comprehension.

Terrified of what though?

"Joonghyuk-ah, it's me! Dokja! Don't you recognize me!?" Dokja tried to console the man, but Joonghyuk just yelled at him.

"Dont come any closer!"

The man curled himself into a ball at the very far corner, hugging his knees close to his chest while hiding his face in between them. And that was when Dokja realized that tears were running down his sculpted face when he heard his cracked and hiccuped voice.

"No... No more... Please..." He sobbed, finally breaking down in tears and showing weakness, he didn't care who sees him. For all, he knew that he needed to get away and hide from the Warden as quickly as possible.

The ex-salaryman's heart ached when he saw the pitiful state of his protagonist that he had never seen before. Dokja wanted to do nothing but comfort him, for Joonghyuk was the one who made Dokja's life worth it. He wanted to repay his debt to him.

"Hyung, is he ok?" Gilyoung asked, looking a bit dishevelled himself but still worried about the other man as Dokja tried to find an answer as to why Joonghyuk reacted so violently to the appearance of the creature.

'That's right,' Dokja thought, finally remembering the second regression. In that round, Asmodeus had laid a curse upon Joonghyuk, didn't he? When he killed the very same Warden, that was when the curse was placed on him. It was not described in detail how he died, but he died at the hands of the Demon King of Wrath and Lust.

Sure he was surprised as to why the third round was "kinda" okay-ish and even sneaked his way through this particular scenario to get the items. Hell, even used the sneaking method in future regressions instead of fighting the Warden again. But once he met with Asmodeus again, that's when his trauma started to take place, with him trembling just at the sight of him.

After the second regression, Joonghyuk would always shake at the sight of Asmodeus. And Yoo Joonghyuk was and still is, a strong individual that doesn't show his emotions a lot, but with Asmodeus?

Dokja suspected something other than death took place. Knowing the title Demon King of Wrath and Lust... The man placed a hand over his nose and mouth, finally realizing it himself.

Yoo Joonghyuk was raped in his second regression.

It was the only plausible explanation, the way he was hiding from the tentacles, the way his body was shaking, and how he reacted to the Warden who was an underling of Asmodeus. Then add the trauma of 1863 lifetimes, with the previous round where he was almost mentally broken without repair, it took a toll on the stability of his mental health.

"Gilyoungie, how many times can you use Interspecies Communication?" He asked the child.

Gilyoung coughed slightly but he regained his composure, even if he looked rather pale still, "Maybe once... Or twice."

Dokja nodded, "Alright, stay here with Joonghyuk and rest up. Hide if you must, ok?" The man said before rushing toward Sangah and Myungoh.

"Help me quickly!" Myungoh exclaimed in panic.

"Dokja-ssi!" The woman cheered when she noticed him. Using a pocket knife he found from a corpse, Dokja sliced off the vines that embraced them before they melted away, 'So this is the power of a demonic species...'

A Tier 7 demonic species.

Warden of the Dark.

To think Dokja would have to fight the Warden himself without Joonghyuk. Then again, it was his fault for awakening the Warden, completely forgetting that the man who had suffered at the hands of Asmodeus was right beside him.

An SA victim.

'Joonghyuk-ah... I'm so sorry... I didn't realize it sooner...' Dokja bit the insides of his cheeks in regret.

[The Warden of the Dark has received the Demon King's blessing.]

The Warden began speaking in an ancient language as Dokja cursed.

"Etur... Etur...!" He couldn't even understand what it was saying.

But one thing was for certain:

Dokja needed to beat it.

'Damn it, this isn't looking good at all... What the hell am I suppose to do...' Dokja glanced over to Gilyoung who was still sick in the stomach, and their strongest fighter, Joonghyuk, was currently cowering in fear. Myungoh was technically useless and he didn't know what Sangah's abilities are.

"M-mother...?" Sangah suddenly said, or rather asked in confusion as Dokja looked at her.

"Huh, what? I told you to get away from here, Sangah-ssi!" Dokja exclaimed but Sangah looked nervous all of the sudden.

"But it just said, mother! S-so... Kardu... Emiren...?" She asked, "No wait, should it be pronounced akedu?"

"Kalidu!" The Warden roared, "Kalidu!"

Dokja just stared at Sangah who was somewhat conversing with the Warden, 'What even is happening... First, she's fluent in Spanish and now she's speaking the language of the demonic species?'

"Sangah-ssi, what's it saying?" Dokja asked, might as well learn what the demon wanted.

Sangah looked at him with a confused face, "Well, it's uh... It's asking us to become a mother?"

"Wait! I'm not even married yet and i don't have a lover!?"

"W-why should I be a mother!? Shouldn't I be a father instead!?"

That was when Dokja realized something, 'Oh shit!'

But before he could react, the Warden had pointed towards Myungoh, "Kalidu!" It screamed as a tentacle suddenly attacked him, thrusting itself into his mouth as Sangah gasped in shock and Dokja rushed towards them with the bone sword.

'Is this what Joonghyuk has to go through in the second regression... Shit-!'

"You don't plan on giving birth soon right!?" Dokja yelled as Sangah shook her head vigorously.

"Of course not!"

"Then get Myungoh-ssi out once I cut it down!" Dokja sliced at the tentacle as the Warden screamed in pain before using another to attack the man.

The reader used the bone sword to block the attack while Sangah helped Myungoh out of the battlefield, hiding behind a root as she checked his state. He wasn't hurt, that's a relief.

"Gilyoungie! You're here too!?" Sangah noticed the child nearby who looked much better compared to before.

"Noona, you're safe. What about Dokja hyung?" Sangah looked at where Dokja was as Gilyoung sneaked a peak. He was fighting the Warden still, avoiding its attacks since his sword was broken. It was then she finally noticed yet another man not too far away from them.

She recognized him as Joonghyuk, "Is Joonghyuk-ssi alright?" Sangah asked, worried about the man who was sobbing to himself as Gilyoung shook his head.

"He's been like that ever since that monster came out. I'm not sure why though..." He explained.

The woman frowned as she glanced at the lonely man. She wondered why he had reacted that way ever since the monster appeared.

She was about to comfort him going to his side and asking what happen but Gilyoung tugged at her sleeve, shaking his head, signifying that he needed to be left alone. Sangah frowned, once again feeling worthless for not being able to help at all.

~~~

Meanwhile, Dokja was running and glaring at the Dokkaebi that was beside him, "Aren't you here to do Bihyung's job... Can't you see the Constellations are on edge because of what's happening?"

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Goden Headband is browbeating the Dokkaebi, Biryu!]

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is threatening the Dokkaebi, Biryu!]

[The Constellation The Last Director is glaring at the Dokkaebi, Biryu!]

"O-ok! Ok! I-I'm just doing it once because it might make things i-interesting!" Biryu panicked when he saw the number of notifications directed at him.

[An item has arrived from the auction house!]

[Obtained the item, Broken Faith.]

[You are exempt from paying commissions due to your contract.]

Dokja summoned the item from his inventory to reveal a broken sword in his hands. He ignored the snickering Dokkaebi by his side as he glanced behind him where Yoo Joonghyuk was hiding.

He was still sobbing quietly alone, hugging himself as if trying to hide from the world. Yet again, Dokja's heart clenched at the sight. He did resolve to protect him this round. And that was what he will do for Joonghyuk.

'Yoo Joonghyuk. I will be your pillar in your times of need...!'

[Personal Skill: White Star Weapon Aura is being activated.]

A bright light in the shape of a blade appeared magnificently on the used-to-be broken sword.

[The Constellation The Last Director is smiling fondly upon you.]

[Blade of Faith has been activated!]

"I'm not letting you make Joonghyuk suffer any longer...!" Dokja growled at the Warden.

[Activating Bookmark No.2.]

[The Activation time has been shortened due to the low level of the Bookmark Skill.]

[Activation Time: 1 minute.]

[Your understanding of this character is low.]

[Only a partial amount of the character's skill is activated.]

[Activating Weapons Proficiency Lvl1.]

He had a chance. Blade of Faith was effective against demonic creatures, and even if Bookmark lasts for one minute, it was more than enough.

He will defeat the Warden within that time limit.

He had to.

Dokja dashed toward it, remembering the attack pattern of the monster as he avoided to the left. His skills as a reader were vital in that battle because they could make him see into the future shortly, just enough to avoid fatal attacks.

'The tentacle on the other side!' He slashed away the appendage. Good, it had attacked twice.

Dokja charged, 'A brief opportunity to finish it!' The man gripped onto his sword tighter and performed a multi-slash attack that was enough to neutralize it, but not enough to kill it.

It roared in pain before falling onto the cold hard ground, "K-kardu... Mien...dero...?"

"H-how did you know where I'd attack, it said..." Sangah interpreted to Dokja who panted, tired from using the mana as the sword once again returned to its normal form.

"You just have to read a lot," was his simple answer.

"M-my gosh... Dear Constellations... Did you just see that...? Or am I hallucinating...?" Biryu asked as he flew over to the demon.

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon widens his eyes in surprise.]

[Several other Constellations doubt their own eyes.]

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband pulls his hair out in excitement.]

[500 coins have been sponsored.]

[The Constellation The Last Director is smirking.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

"But an Ether Blade this early in the scenario..." Biryu flew over to the broken sword that Dokja had in his hands.

"This isn't the real thing so it isn't as strong as the real one. Since I've completed the scenario, give me my rewards quick," Dokja said, anxious about a certain regressor.

"A-ah right, hold on!"

Biryu quickly gives Dokja his rewards.

[The conditions of the Sub Scenario have been fulfilled.]

[500 coins have been given as a reward.]

[Several Constellations are impressed by your master plan.]

"By the way..." Biryu said as Dokja rose an eyebrow, "Aren't you finishing him off?"

Finishing the Warden, the very same thing that cursed Yoo Joonghyuk due to it being an underling of the Demon King Asmodeus, who once again because of the curse, had his poor protagonist suffer through rape and die by his hands?

Yeah...

No.

"No thanks, I don't enjoy taking lives carelessly. Now if you excuse me," Dokja completely ignored Biryu afterwards as he searched for the regressor hiding nearby.

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is worried for Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk.]

'Me too, Uriel... Me too...' He gripped his hands into a tight fist as he went to the group, "Gilyoung-ah, where's Joonghyuk?" He asked. The boy pointed to the back as Dokja nodded his thanks before quickly going to him.

He was still in a fetal position, sitting against the wall with his knees close to his chest. His heart clenched once again.

"Joonghyuk-ah, the monster is gone now," Dokja said in a soft and soothing voice.

The man didn't say anything, and instead embraced himself tighter, but his sobs were slowly calming down. Dokja carefully walked closer to him and sat down in front of him, 'Dear god... What did Asmodeus do to him to make him like this...'

He already knew the answer.

It pains him to know he had experienced that as well, and yet for him to see his protagonist in such a pathetic state... Dokja shook his head, 'I swear if I ever meet him I'm giving him a piece of my mind...'

He continued to watch over Joonghyuk who was slowly calming down from his hysteria, only hiccuped breathing as he tried to stop himself from crying.

"Joonghyuk-ah, it's Dokja. Are you alright now?" The man asked, carefully raising his hand to see whether the man would flinch away.

He did and started to whine pitifully, "Sshh... It's ok, I'm not here to hurt you... I'm not him, Joonghyuk-ah... I'm not him..." He whispered just enough for him to hear. Dokja bit his lips, was he in his regression depression after his panic attack?

No, he had to drag his consciousness back, but he didn't want to use force, "Joonghyuk-ah, you're not alone anymore. I'm here with you. I'll protect you from him, ok?"

Once again, Dokja raised his hand. The taller man flinched away suddenly but instead, Dokja continued to gently place his hand on his hair and softly caressed it. He heard the man gasp as if he was waiting for something, but the warmth and gentle touch soon made him start to lighten.

The reader smiled. He continued to pat his head softly until he was more  compared to before. He scooted closer to him, "I'll protect you from him. You don't have to be scared of him anymore, because I'm here."

Dokja gently placed a hand under Joonghyuk's chin making him look at him. He cupped his face with both hands and wiped away the tears with his thumb. The man had his eyes closed as if refusing to look at him, but in truth, he was refusing to look at Asmodeus.

"Open your eyes, Joonghyuk-ah."

He didn't want to.

He was scared.

"I promise, Joonghyuk-ah. You're no longer in that hell hole. Now open your eyes and look at me."

Dokja smiled when he saw his eyes fluttered open even if there were still tears in his eyes, "That's my good boy," he used his thumb again to wipe away the tears.

"This..." He began to speak but his voice cracked. Not that Dokja was paying attention to it, he was more worried about Joonghyuk's mentality, "is not... An illusion....?"

Dokja shook his head, "No, it's not. It's real, Joonghyuk-ah. You're safe from him."

His eyes and nose were all red and puffy, and crystal-like tears were still in the protagonist's eyes. But even when crying, Yoo Joonghyuk was still as beautiful as he was.

"Come here," Dokja pulled the man closer so that he was sitting on his lap. The size difference made it a bit awkward for them, but Joonghyuk relaxed into Dokja's shoulder just as the time he had fallen asleep before. The other man continued to pat his head softly.

Joonghyuk didn't know how, but he was slowly returning to the realm of consciousness. His hysteria disappeared at the gentle touch of Kim Dokja, 'Warm...' Was his single thought in his arm.

His eyes once again felt droopy since he had been awake since the day before yesterday finding and training his disciple. Why was Dokja so warm and comfortable? Like a missing piece of a puzzle...?

Perhaps he could sleep just a bit more-

*STAB*

Dokja looked back to see Myungoh had killed the Warden, 'I'm sorry Myungoh...' Dokja apologized, thanking the lord it wasn't Joonghyuk anymore because of the trauma he had experienced, 'But a sacrifice is a sacrifice...'

[The Demon King, God of Wrath and Lust, has been notified of your existence because you have killed the Tier 7 Demonic Species, Warden of the Dark.]

[The Demon King, God of Wrath and Lust, will hunt the incarnation that delivered the final blow until they die.]

[The Demon King, God of Wrath and Lust, will lay upon a terrible curse on the incarnation that delivered the final blow!]

"What?"

Chapter Text

All he could see was darkness.

An empty space filled with nothing but the void, floating aimlessly. Just like space, he felt nothing there.

His limbs couldn't move, as well as his breath. It was like he didn't need to. What is this space?

Now that he thought about it, where was he? And how the hell did it happen?

That's right.

The Warden of the Dark.

Joonghyuk's consciousness had vanished when he saw the Warden and was reduced to nothing but a sobbing mess.

Was this the darkest part of his subconscious then?

Empty.

That wasn't what he had expected, but at the same time, he wasn't surprised at all.

He found himself thinking.

How could he get out of there?

Joonghyuk wanted to open his mouth, to speak, to scream, hell, even to cry but nothing came out because he couldn't.

Is this what true death feels like?

Was it his final destination after all the scenarios ended? Was it his end that he sought long after?

...

...

...

How long has it been?

The perception of time was nonexistent in this abyss of black.

Surely it wasn't that long, right?

And yet nothing was happening.

...

...

...

What was he hoping for?

There was nothing for him.

Perhaps that was the end. The end of everything.

Of his long life, of his regressions, or the scenarios.

And yet he still had so many unanswered questions. If he could laugh, it would be a bitter one.

He wasn't going to lie that he had left with not many regrets. He had a whole list of them.

And yet the darkness welcomed him. So he too will welcome it.

...

...

...

"... -onghyuk..."

A voice. Familiar, yet so distant.

Who was it?

...

"... Joonghyuk..."

...

It was louder in his ears, but he couldn't shake off that he should know this voice.

'Who are you?' Was what he thought, but he couldn't speak for his mouth wouldn't open.

A ghost-like hand touched his forehead, immediately calming him down as if his anxiety was never there to begin with.

And suddenly, Joonghyuk found himself in a grand library.

He was in the middle of it, standing on a circular and patterned flooring, with rainbow-coloured stained glass on the walls, decorating the place with a gentle glow. Books of all sizes were stacked on the shelves surrounding the patterned floor. Above him, a beautiful rose window accented with maroon, violet and a deep ocean blue.

'Where... Is this place...?'He thought to himself.

Looking down, he noticed that the floor was a picture in a similar style. It was... A man with horns as well as black angel wings embracing a smaller child. Their faces were not visible, only the colour of their skin and their size were the only clues Joonghyuk had.

It felt like he had to know of the people on the flooring, and yet he could not recall anything at all.

The floor started glowing a soft bright light as Joonghyuk gasped in surprise, readying his stance for battle before he noticed something odd.

Joonghyuk suddenly felt warm, like someone was embracing him completely. His numb senses slowly returned to him. The light didn't seem to be life-threatening...

He felt comforted by it.

"You did well..."

Joonghyuk widened his eyes as the light below him became brighter.

"No, wait!"

He tried to reach out, but all his vision could see next was nothing but darkness.

~~~

Joonghyuk lets out a gasp as he abruptly sat up, not noticing he had fallen asleep. Once again, he may add, for the last several days. And here he was, his head used to be on Dokja's lap.

Again.

"Ah, Joonghyuk-ah, you're awake," he heard Dokja greet him.

"Kim Dokja?" He asked, looking at him before realizing that they were still at the Ground Rats Treasure Trove.

Dokja stretched his legs out, feeling slightly numb from having his lap as a pillow, "Are you ok now?" He asked as Joonghyuk stayed quiet.

He was still deep in thought about that... Dream(?) He had.

And yet why couldn't he remember it at all?

He felt like that dream was actually important to him.

"Where are the others?" Joonghyuk asked, once again adding the dream to the growing list of questions he had.

Dokja pointed to the left where the rest of them were resting, "They gave us space, seeing as you uh...  Cried."

Joonghyuk's frown deepened. That's right, the sight of the Warden had made him have a panic attack because it was an underling of Asmodeus.

Demon King Asmodeus, huh?

Even after 1864 lifetimes, that demon left a mental scar that could never be healed.

"I see... The scenario, is it over?" He asked.

Dokja nodded, "Yeah, it is. It was over around half an hour ago. You fell asleep crying on me," he said, scratching his cheek as he looked away a bit.

Did he fall asleep on Dokja again?

Well, that was embarrassing. That happened twice now. But why though? Joonghyuk was a light sleeper because of his regressions and he even had bouts of insomnia sometimes and yet when he was with Dokja, he could sleep like a baby!?

Was he just that comfortable? Or was something seriously wrong with him?

"What happened while I was asleep?" Joonghyuk asked, trying to change the subject as Dokja started to explain what happened.

"We decided to split the loot. I got the most though, seeing I know what was inside but funnily enough, there was a random item box. I now have a sword as well. Oh, and Gilyoung almost crushed us to death by summoning a giant mantis," He chuckled as Joonghyuk just blinked at him like he was crazy.

"But I think this is what you were after right?" Dokja pulled out a black sheathed sword from his inventory as he gave it to Joonghyuk, "Your sword."

The regressor took the sword and inspected it.

Indeed it was the copy of the Black Demon Sword he was looking for.

It was odd, seeing that Kim Dokja knew so much about him and yet Joonghyuk did not know much about the mysterious man who appeared in the 1864th round. Still, it was... Comforting to have someone who knew how his mind works, especially remembering his regressions.

It was different but welcoming.

Not that he'll admit it out loud.

"We should head back now before the Ground Rats returned. I'm surprised they're not here while I was asleep."

"Ah," Dokja began, showing Joonghyuk a small bottle of liquid, "I uh... Bought something from the Dokkaebi bag. A repellant. I applied it on all of us so the rats won't come to us. It lasts 4 hours," he explained to him.

It seemed that man really knew everything in the Dokkaebi Bag that it was lowkey suspicious, but at the same time, he had made Bihyung a subordinate with that Stream Contract so he really shouldn't be surprised by him anymore.

"Right, let's gather everyone back then."

Both men stood up as they walked to where the rest of the group was talking. Gilyoung noticed them first as he also stood up.

"Are you alright now, hyung?" He asked as Joonghyuk nodded.

"I'm fine, maybe a bit mentally tired."

Sangah and Myungoh both looked up to see the man was finally awake.

"Are we finally getting out of here?" The bi-speckled man asked as Sangah stood up.

"Joonghyuk-ssi! Are you alright? You had us worried when you uh... Broke down like that," Sangah exclaimed, looking at the other man with a worried expression.

"I'm fine now," he tried to console her, but having been alone for 1864 lifetimes was making it harder for him to communicate with people.

"I never expected someone could react so badly to octopuses before..." Gilyoung frowned at the thought.

Wait, what?

Joonghyuk looked at Dokja as he simply smiled at him.

"Yeah, you're afraid of things with long tentacles like octopuses and squids right?" Sangah continued, "We'll make sure to not eat seafood, then!"

Joonghyuk could only blink in confusion as to how they thought that he was afraid of tentacles. He was, but for a whole fucking different reason.

Meanwhile, Dokja was quietly mourning his death when he saw the expression on Joonghyuk's face.

'I'm sorry, Joonghyuk-ah... But I had to give them a reason, and you being sexually assaulted was... Too extreme for them to know...'

[The Constellation The Last Director is laughing her ass off.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

~~~

'To think she has an ability like this as well... I suppose I'm not that surprised because the whole of Olympus is sponsoring her,' Joonghyuk thought as he helped the child climb out of the hole they came in by.

Yoo Sangah.

She was another different variable he didn't know of. She also appeared in the 1864th round just as Kim Dokja did. And because she had the potential, he may be able to use her abilities as well for upcoming scenarios.

"Dokja-ssi! You're back with them!" Heewon gasped when she saw people climbing out of the hole.

"Master!" Jihye exclaimed, finally meeting with him yet again before realizing something odd about him, "Master, why are your eyes red?" She asked curiously.

Joonghyuk cursed to himself. Why was she meticulous even now? She noticed everything about him easily.

"It's too bright," he replied, hopefully, the teenager lets it go as he prefered to say nothing about his panic attack.

Jihye looked at him suspiciously before shrugging it off, going to where Dokja was who was cooking up some meat with the mana brazier they got from the chest.

"Here, you guys haven't eaten yet, right? Joonghyuk-ah, come here. You still haven't eaten too!" Dokja called the other man who just glared at him.

"I don't eat other people's cooking," was what he said. He was poisoned by betrayers well enough to know he was suspicious of others' cooking. Or at least that was what he tells people.

Dokja rolled his eyes at the man, "Then prepare it yourself," was what he said. The reader had already given Joonghyuk the key items that he needed the most. The mana brazier and the sword, while Dokja hoarded the rest, considering he was the one who did the most fighting.

So he did, taking out the brazier and the ridiculously large leg of the Ground Rat before putting it on fire.

"Oh wow, this tastes good!" He heard Heewon exclaim happily as she ate the food given to her.

"Master, there's already cooked food, why are you making another one?" Jihye asked, taking a bite out of the one she got from Dokja.

He sighed, having to answer it multiple times already, "I don't eat food made by others. Simple as that," he turned off the brazier before he started eating the roasted leg.

Jihye hummed, looking over to the new sword he had gotten, "See you got yourself a new one. Is it stronger than the one before?" She asked curiously."

"It is," he answered, looking at his disciple oddly. She was never this talkative this early on, though he decided to stay away from small talk. He didn't really do those kinds of bonding. Not anymore at least, not after the 999th regression.

It was safe to say that Joonghyuk was a lone wolf by choice due to his stigma, his mental state was not the best due to the trauma, but he had to learn to live with it.

He glanced over to Dokja who was suspiciously quiet. Hyunsung has received somewhat of a shield, good enough to pass through the next scenario at least.

Strange, the man was always so talkative. Unless he was thinking of something...

Joonghyuk finished his meal as he stood up, "Seems like we're ready to depart," he said, seeing that everyone else has also finished their larger-than-expected chicken leg.

"We have around 20 minutes left before the Survival Fee," Dokja announced, grabbing several cooked legs as well to carry, "Let's head back quickly."

The group had basically carried all the cooked legs while Myungoh was still, quite useless. To think he ever met an even more useless yet lucky man in all of his 1864 lifetimes. He sure did leave him an impression.

As soon as they arrived, however, they saw that the atmosphere was rather tense. Gloomy even.

'So it's close,' was what Joonghyuk thought as everyone started to panic. Some people were already close to fighting amongst themselves while others tried to bargain and argue.

[10 minutes remaining until the checkout.]

[Please have your Survival Fee ready.]

[100 coins will be withdrawn daily at midnight as a Survival Fee.]

[The Survival Fee will be collected until the end of the scenario.]

Joonghyuk could see the panic in their eyes as well as a murderous aura coming from someone in their party. Glancing over to Heewon, he noticed she was glaring and preparing her bone sword to kill the sons of bitches that were threatening two girls over at the corner.

"Ah, Dokja-ssi! You're here! I'm so glad to see you," A familiar and disgusting voice appeared as Joonghyuk glared at the man. Inho still had that smile on him, huh? It wasn't long before what's his name jumped guns and went to the other man with a smirk. Perfect, enemy identified.

"If I remember correctly, you have a lot of coins on you, right?" Inho suddenly asked as everyone snapped their attention away from each other and looked at Dokja.

"Master, this son of a bitch-," Jihye started as Joonghyuk stopped her by holding down her hand, "But Master-!"

He cuts her off, "Wait and see. You remember what I told you, right?" He asked. Jihye was about to answer but she closed her mouth, knowing that he was right.

Joonghyuk looked at Dokja who was being swarmed by the people, and already he remembered his first ever regression. He was naive, so so very naive that it almost cost him his own life.

[The Constellation The Last Director is awaiting your next move.]

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband is waiting for you to make a decision.]

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is waiting for you to make a decision.]

'What will you do now, Kim Dokja...'

Dokja seemed to be in deep contemplation as he closed his eyes, thinking about what he should do before finalizing his answer, "And why should I give you any?" That was what he asked.

An uproar was to be expected as Inho laughed, "I knew you were going to say that! You've been like this the moment you arrived! Even selling the food you brought with coins! Do you know how many people could survive if they hadn't bought food from you?" That sinister smile was back and Joonghyuk was ready to kill him off because he was annoying already.

But he was also curious... As to how Kim Dokja would respond.

Funny how he was slowly becoming like how those Constellations were. Enjoying a show that an Incarnation was playing out.

He was supposed to hate Constellations.

Oh, the fucking irony.

"Return the coins to these people right now," the bastard once again spoke.

Dokja looked at him with an unreadable expression, "And if I refuse?" He asked curiously.

"Then, things will get ugly very quickly."

His men started to move, their weapons already brandished out.

"Give me back my coins!"

"Kill him! Let's kill him and get our coins back!"

Joonghyuk, Jihye and Heewon already had their hands on their swords and were about to move but Dokja used a hand to make them stand down as if saying he got this.

Before long, Dokja unsheathed his own and Joonghyuk widened his eyes at the sight.

'Impossible! A Constellation Grade Sword this early in the scenario!?' That was what he thought. He recognized the sword for he had only ever seen it on others at a later part of the scenarios.

Unbreakable Faith.

That was the name of the sword.

And it seemed he had invested his coins onto his stats to easily overwhelm and sliced off the arms of his attacker.

Impressive.

Even if he couldn't see his attribute window, those skills were easily above level 10, just like Jihye's skills.

"How pathetic," the man said, looking at his enemies with a nonchalant expression painted beautifully on his face, "Do you really blame me for this situation?"

Joonghyuk smirked to himself.

Kim Dokja was proving more and more useful and bringing surprises every time they were together. He was a weak man, but he made up for it with his wits.

Dokja looked at everyone else who had fear in their eyes, "You know very well what's happening right now has nothing to do with me," he began.

"You're doing this because you're scared of them," he pointed his sword at Inho and his gang, "You know what's exactly wrong, and that lives are at stake. But they're stronger than you are."

His voice was calm and had a sense of authority that even Joonghyuk couldn't help but listen to his reasoning. It really did seem the man knew so much about this world that went through hell and back again.

"You're afraid of them because they have more coins and higher stats than you do. Now tell me this. Why do they have more coins and higher stats?" Did he ask curiously?

Everyone started to whisper amongst themselves as Joonghyuk hummed, 'With just a few words, he had already gotten this many people questioning themselves.'

"B-because they're gangsters?" One of them asked.

Another man looked at Inho, "Come to think about it, how did you get so many coins?"

Inho started to look flustered, 'From the looks of it, it seems a fight amongst us is inevitable,' the regressor thought as he whispered to Jihye, "Prepare your sword."

The teenager looked at her master before nodding, her hand on her sword, preparing to attack those who raise their weapons against her.

"Oh, you know me. I just sold many things and-,"

"There were 87 people when I first arrived in Geumho," Dokja cuts him off, "And now there are 50, at least..."

The same man who asked Inho responded, "But that was because of the monsters that got them while on patrol-,"

"Monsters?"

'Ah... So that's what happened.'

Joonghyuk couldn't help but think because he always killed everyone by the time he reached Geumho. It saved time instead of talking, and because he was already numb to the people who he had killed multiple times in the past.

Dokja chuckled as he thought about it, "You really think it was the monsters?" He asked the audience, "Think for your goddamn selves for once, will you?" He glanced over to Inho's group again.

"I have another question for you. If it truly was monsters, then both sides should suffer casualties right? So why did only your group have them, while all of the people in the Cheoldu Gang are still alive and kicking... May I also add, that they don't have many injuries?" He asked, "Oh, before I also forget, why do they also come back stronger too? Is it truly because of the monsters?"

Joonghyuk nodded his head in agreement with his reasoning. The scenarios were made and based on the Seven Deadly Sins. To weed out those who are weak and strong, the greed and the humility.

Dokja wasn't done speaking yet, "They said it earlier. That you will receive coins when you kill me," he began, "So how did they know that you can receive coins? Unless of course... You kill someone."

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband is pulling his hair out with excitement.]

[The Constellation The Last Director is smiling at your actions.]

"Inho... Did you really-!?"

"Shut it! It's a lie!"

A television buzzed to life, revealing a familiar, fluffy Dokkaebi with a smile on his face, "There are just five minutes left, dear incarnations~!"

"Inho... How could you...?"

The rebellion has started, Joonghyuk had his sword in his hand closely as he watched the scene unfold in front of him. Everyone was starting to surround the Cheoldu Gang instead of them, "Master... Do we need to kill them...?" He heard Jihye ask.

He could see her body was shaking. It seemed killing humans was still fresh in her mind. He patted her head, "Only if they attack you. It's just how it is now."

One man gripped an iron pipe tighter, "Y-yeah... He's damn right!"

The two groups started attacking each other. It was becoming a blood bath fast with the number of people desperate to get coins or even revenge on Inho's group.

"Master, two incoming!" Jihye yelled as Joonghyuk unsheathed his sword, blocking the two attacking forces from Inho's group before parrying them and slicing off their stomachs. A perfect clean cut.

The floor was painted with their blood as he checked on everyone else.

Jihye was doing ok, albeit she was still reluctant for taking a human life. Hyunsung was in the same boat as she was. Gilyoung and Sangah stayed together while also attacking whoever attacked them first. Dokja was doing fairly well against the thugs. As for Heewon...

[The requirement for the evolution of the attribute, Crouching Figure, has been met.]

'An evolution already?'Joonghyuk couldn't help but wonder, but it did seem highly likely for her considering the rarity of her attribute, though he was more curious as to why it was not Hyunsung as he was supposed to be the one who awakened his in this particular scenario, remembering the times Hyunsung had told him about this story.

[Incarnation Jung Heewon's Attribute is blossoming.]

An eerie red aura suddenly engulfed her whole being as a large shadow of a golden sword grew behind her back, and Joonghyuk couldn't widen his eyes any further as he activated Sage's Eye.

[Incarnation Jung Heewon's attribute has blossomed into Judge of Evil (Heroic).]

'Judge of Evil? That's the strongest out of the three judges...' Looking over to Dokja, he was also in shock at the sight, 'It was supposed to be Hyunsung who awakened his, but she stole the spotlight... Seems like I need to create a scene for his attribute to blossom in the future as well..'

It did not take long for Heewon to activate her skill. A large scale hovered behind her back as she wreaked havoc across the battlefield, especially against the Cheoldu Group. Her battle prowess even made everyone stop fighting and stare at her in awe.

She sliced and stabbed many of the thugs, leaving no mercy while her skill was activated as her black hair was becoming undone by the intensity of the battle.

She finally appeared before the boss as she raised her sword at Inho, who was on the floor. The man glanced around to see his men were all killed brutally before finally looking at Dokja, "You..." He began as he smiled eerily at him, "How did you-,"

Heewon raised her sword as she slashes him on the head, instantly killing him.

[The Constellations of the channel are experiencing intense ecstasy.]

[The Survival Fee will now be collected.]

Heewon dropped onto her knees as if realizing what she did was horrendous.

Joonghyuk could feel Jihye was holding onto his sleeve, her hands still trembling at the sight. No matter how many times the regressor had seen such a similar scene, everyone else was seeing it for the first time. It was no time for mourning.

Dokja walked over to her as he patted her shoulder, "Get up. The scenario has just begun."

And how true his words were.

Looking up at the clock on the wall of the station, it was just a bit past midnight. The 100 coins were all confiscated as the Survival Fee. Joonghyuk looked at the survivors.

The seven of them were in a group, and then there were five more survivors from the others. An elderly man, a mother and son, a man and another woman. Myungoh was nowhere to be seen, nor was his corpse visible. Missing in action perhaps.

They needed to get to Chungmuro, but knowing Gong Pildu, the safe spaces left were all probably occupied.

"Joonghyuk-ah, what should we do for now?" Dokja asked, looking at the regressor who was thinking.

"Rest. We'll be going to Chungmuro first thing in the morning. You already know if we go there now, we'll be attacked by a horde of monsters considering we dont have rooms there," he responded to him.

Dokja hummed, "Good point, but the stench of blood here is too strong. I don't think anyone can rest here..." That was a good point, but what other choices do they have when the place above ground was basically a poisonous hell?

"Then tell me what you have in plan then?" Joonghyuk snapped at him.

Dokja opened his mouth before closing it, realizing that he was right. They needed rest, "Fine, I'll announce it to them."

Joonghyuk watched in silence as Dokja told the group of survivors that they will be resting in Geumho, "Alright everyone, we have a big day tomorrow so we have to rest for today. Inho has a lot of tents so we can use them as bases," he told everyone.

"Any questions?" He asked, looking at his own group who had zero before looking at the other five.

"Dokja-ssi..." A woman began, she was the one with a child, "I'm sorry for before. You were right."

"I'm sorry too!" The man bowed at a perfect angle, "I was too hasty and believed in everything Inho said... Please forgive me!"

Dokja felt rather flustered as he shook his hands, "No, no, please don't worry about it. Let's all just rest for now, shall we?" Everyone was in agreement, thankfully.

"Let's see, they have six tents that aren't broken and the rest of us are..." Dokja started doing a headcount, "12. So we have to share with someone it seems," he reasoned, seeing that it shouldn't be that bad. Hopefully?

"What about the kids sharing one tent, they're of similar ages, I think?" The mother suggested as Gilyoung hummed.

"I don't mind," he said as the other child nodded his head.

"As long as he's nice to me."

Dokja nodded as he started assigning the tents to the others.

The old man was staying with the other male from the survivor's group, the mother with the other woman. Jihye was insistent to stay with Heewon so he lets her, and Hyunsung was a gentleman so Sangah did not mind staying with him. Which leaves him and Joonghyuk sharing a tent.

So there they were inside of the small tent with a single blanket as a bed. They did not have much, that was sure, but it was better than nothing still. Dokja was laying on his back while Joonghyuk was sitting in a lotus position, meditating. Even after all of that, he was still training huh?

"Hyunsung-ssi and Sangah-ssi have the first watch, the next should be Heewon-ssi and Jihye so you can rest up," Dokja said or rather reported to him.

Of course, what soon followed was a rather awkward silence between them considering the number of times they were together.

It seemed the universe was out to get them seeing they somehow always end up with one another, "So," Dokja began, "Rough day huh?"

"Kim Dokja, be quiet."

The reader pouted as he faced away from his with his back towards Joonghyuk, still, he had to get this aching feeling out of his chest.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that..."

Joonghyuk broke his concentration as he bit the insides of his cheeks, "... What happened was in the past... Don't dwell on it," he rather not think about it. Preferably never, he did not need sympathy from others nor did he want it.

"But it still hurt right?" He snapped

Joonghyuk said nothing.

"Physical wounds heal, Yoo Joonghyuk. But the mind and heart don't," Dokja sat up as he looked at him, still worried about his mental health, "Rest, you need it more than I do."

The regressor looked away. Maybe he was delaying rest because of his insomnia, or perhaps he did not want to have any more nightmares. It was either reason, but he still felt compelled to become stronger than his previous round.

"No, I need to become stronger."

"I said sleep!" Dokja wrestled Joonghyuk down that the smaller man was pining the other, much bigger man on the ground. Dokja had sat on top of him, not realizing his ass was right on top of the man's crotch area, "What, you want me to pat your head again? You slept pretty well whenever I do that," he suggested as Joonghyuk's ears got red.

"No! I don't need my head to be patted!" He answered a bit too quickly.

He was NOT going to admit he enjoys head pats. Nu-uh, no way in fucking hell!

"Then sleep you stupid sunfish! If you don't rest you'll end up breaking your body and you won't be able to finish this goddamn scenario!" Dokja argued back before realizing something else, "Something is poking me again..."

[The Constellation The Last Director is dying of laughter on her throne.]

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is wreaking havoc across Eden.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[Many other Constellations are now curious as to why they're getting this much dog food.]

"Wait, Yoo Joonghyuk-! Stop, I- OW!"

Yoo Joonghyuk forcibly made Dokja sleep first.

Chapter Text

Jihye yawned as she woke up from the long night. Yesterday's events were still fresh in her mind, but thankfully she was able to sleep by counting sheep. Even if that was childish of her, it helped.

Still a bit groggy, she slowly sat up before stretching her limbs and going out of the tent. Heewon was still asleep and looking at the clock on the wall, it was still half 04.58 am. Was her body conditioned to wake up before seven because of high school? Probably.

She went glanced around to see Gilyoung and the other kid was awake, "Oh, Gilyoung-ah, you're awake already?" She asked as he nodded.

"It was our shift for the night watch so we've been awake for an hour," he said.

Oh that's right, the first shift was Hyunsung and Sangah since they volunteered, it was the two of them before it was the two other females from the other group and that old man and other ahjussi. Seemed like the kids were the last ones, "Really, shouldn't you be the last to wake up? Isn't there Master and Ahjussi?"

The other child responded, "Well, they were the ones who got the food so they're probably tired. We decided to let them rest and have the last shift."

It seemed the apocalypse had made the children a lot more mature. No surprises there, it was life or death after all. Still, it would be wise for them to wake up anyway because it was already morning.

"Besides," Gilyoung continued, "I think Joonghyuk-hyung deserves it more after yesterday..."

Jihye narrowed her eyes at the thought. Does her master deserve more? She wondered what the actual hell happened in the hole they went in, "You two go back to sleep. It may be morning but it's still too early for you. I'll wake Master and Ahjussi up."

Both children looked at each other before nodding their heads and going back to the tent to sleep a bit more.

Jihye checked the surroundings. No enemies in sight, no monsters as well. Just dead bodies and the stench of blood. She frowned.

Jihye knew she had to adapt to this lifestyle, of killing or being killed. Yes, it was hard, but she had to accept it. It was the only way for her to survive, and not let Bori's sacrifice be in vain. Like what her master said, she had to live on for her sake, if not herself.

She went over to where her master's tent was and took a sneak peek inside, "Master, it's time for you-," she froze as she slapped her mouth with her hand.

Joonghyuk had his head snuggled onto Dokja's chest with his hand dangerously close to his small waist and was sleeping soundly. Dokja had both his arms and leg around Joonghyuk's own larger build.

'MASTER AND AHJUSSI ARE SLEEPING AND CUDDLING WITH EACH OTHER-!?'

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is dying happily again.]

[The Constellation Prisoner or the Golden Headband is asking Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire why she likes this sort of stuff.]

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire says shut up and mind your own business.]

The mind of a rotten girl was taking place. Sneakily, she took out her phone, which surprisingly still had batteries in it, even though it was in the red, but with its dying breath, Jihye took a picture of the two sleeping men, 'Yes, this will be a good collection...'

Perhaps it was better to leave the two lovebirds alone. Maybe she should take an extra shift just for the sake of it.

Still, thankfully no enemies were coming from the railways, which was a good thing. So instead she decided to look into her skills more and invest her coins into her talents. It was better than doing nothing.

Soon enough everyone started waking up, the first to wake up after she was Hyunsung and the two other males from the survivor group.

"Ahjussi, you're awake. There's leftover food from yesterday over that table. You can eat them. There's enough for everyone," she told the elder man as he smiled.

"Thank you, young lady. Forgive us for causing you so much trouble," was what he said as the younger man helped him over to the table.

Hyunsung looked over to Jihye, "Why are you awake? I thought the next shift should be Dokja-ssi and Joonghyuk-ssi?" He asked curiously.

"Well," she began, "As the children said it, they did most of the work yesterday so we can let them rest more."

The older man hummed, "That is true, though from what Sangah-ssi said before, Joonghyuk-ssi does deserve more rest."

"Huh?" Jihye asked, not following at all, "What do you mean he needs more rest? Gilyoung also told me that but what actually happened?" Two people had said that her master needed rest. And from what she knew of him already, that man was a stamina monster.

"Well, when they went into the hole to find Sangah-ssi and that other man, a monster appeared," he began his explanation.

Ok so... A monster? Shouldn't it be easy for them to handle because her master was strong? Then why? Was the monster too strong for even her master to handle?

"What happened?" She asked, somehow feeling a little worried.

"He had a panic attack," was what he said.

Jihye blinked.

Her master?

Yoo Joonghyuk?

That stamina monster who forced her to fight against a giant snake?

That Yoo Joonghyuk?

"A panic attack?" She repeated, almost not believing her ears at all as Hyunsung nodded.

"Yeah, it was severe enough to bring him to tears. That was what she said. She did say that the monster had tentacles, and Dokja-ssi said he had a fear of octopuses and squid."

Yeah uh...

Jihye somehow had a feeling that Dokja was lying for some reason. Still, she couldn't help but wonder what exactly happened.

Perhaps because of that, he was shut off from the world. The teenager knew the man was keeping her at an arm's length, as well as other people considering his type of personality from what manhwa and shows she watched.

Still, he did save her, and he seemed trustworthy enough. She just wishes he opened up to everyone else more so they all could bear through this hellish earth.

~~~

Everyone already had their first fill of breakfast, minus Dokja and Joonghyuk who were still asleep. The survivor's group decided to separate from them and leave for another station, leaving the seven of them back.

"Are Dokja-ssi and Joonghyuk-ssi still not awake?" Sangah asked curiously as Jihye shook her head.

"Nope, not at all. They probably need a bit more time together after being separated for so long."

Heewon choked on her Kentucky fried rat leg as Hyunsung gave her some water he got from the convenience store nearby.

Jihye went to check up on them seeing that it was already seven in the morning. She was still greeted with the same sight.

"Ahjussi, wake up," Jihye called out, kicking his leg a bit.

"Five more minutes..." Dokja groaned out, hugging his "pillow" closer to his chest.

Wait.

He never had a pillow to hug with...

Dokja suddenly opened his eyes as he looked down to what, or rather who, he was hugging.

"JOONGHYUK-AH!?" Dokja scampered backwards, away from Joonghyuk as the man groaned. The sudden screaming woke up him as he rubbed his eyes awake.

He just woke up. The man's fluffy hair was even more of a mess and his usual scowl was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he looked like a puppy (a kitten in a puppy's body?) that just woke up, 'Stupid protagonist cheat looking all good and cute even waking up-!?'

"Good morning...?" Dokja greeted him back as the man sat up. He was still groggy and was nodding his head, almost falling back to sleep.

"Master?" Jihye called out.

That was when he finally, and rather abruptly, straightened his posture and had his eyes wide open, looking around as if he did not just believe he had fallen asleep.

"Finally you're awake! Everyone's already awake and ready to set off, waiting for you two," the teenager exclaimed.

Joonghyuk glanced over to Dokja who was slightly away from him and then at Jihye, "I see... And the other survivors from that group?"

"They decided to split up with us," Reported the disciple.

Dokja dusted his clothes before standing up, "Alright then, seems like we'll be going to Chungmuro now. Joonghyuk-ah?" The said man also stood up, grabbing his sword as he wordlessly left the tent. The reader glared at him, "Sheesh, I was just asking..."

Joonghyuk was soon followed by Jihye and Dokja, looking over to the group by the table, "Dokja-ssi, Joonghyuk-ssi, good morning," greeted the woman with light brown hair, "We were just preparing your food."

The man looked at the half-roasted leg before saying, "I'll take over. I've rested enough."

Hyunsung looked a bit reluctant before looking at Dokja who shrugged. He left cooking duties to the other male, seeing he was more of the silent and stubborn type. It didn't take long before it was roasted completely. The two of them started eating while the rest were discussing their next plan of action.

Dokja took a bite out before he widened his eyes, "Joonghyuk, what the actual fuck-," Dokja began with a mouthful of meat.

"What?" The man asked before eating.

"Why does it taste so different from yesterday... It's... Juicier? Sweeter even? What did you do?" He asked, still with his eyes wide open


Joonghyuk blinked in confusion, "Excuse me?" He asked, completely caught off guard.

"Is it really? Can I have a try?" Jihye asked as Dokja pulled his Kentucky fried rat away from her.

"No, mine!"

Joonghyuk rolled his eyes at the two bickering as he finished his meal quickly before Hyunsung gave him a water bottle, "Here, for you."

The man nodded his thanks as he opened the cap and drank the water. He glanced over to everyone, it seem they were pretty prepared to start the next scenario from the looks of it.

"Ah, that really hit the spot..." Dokja finished his meal as he stood up, "Alright, everyone ready to move?" He asked as everyone nodded, "Then let's go."

The group started their way towards Chungmuro via the tunnels with Dokja at the front followed by Hyungsung and Heewon then the children and Sangah. Joonghyuk decided to stay at the back in case of enemy sneak attacks since he could sense them miles away.

The tunnel to Chungmuro is a short one. They had to get through Yaksu, Dongguk University then finally their destination.

Still, they had to prepare themselves for the worst. Ground Rats still infested the place, after all.

"Everyone, prepare yourselves," Joonghyuk suddenly said, already sensing the Ground Rats started moving towards them.

"Already!?" Dokja whined, but it didn't take long before the Ground Rats appeared from the ground, jumping onto their legs before kicking them away.

"This place is infested with them!" Hyunsung gasped, looking at the amount that attacked them.

It really was, there were more than at least 50 of them surrounding the group, "Joonghyuk-ah, can you take care of them, please? We just woke up for christ's sake!"

Joonghyuk's vein popped on his forehead, "Says the bastard who forced me to sleep, why don't you do it instead, Kim Dokja-!" A ground rat attacked him as he just stabbed it to the side while glaring at the other man.

Dokja sliced a rat away before pouting, "Oh come on, I was kidding! You know I'm not stronger than you, I'm a growing boy! You know I can't beat them all!"

"Is it me or are they actually fighting really well even though they're arguing...?" Sangah asked curiously as she and the others were nearby, looking at the pair who was still arguing while also fighting against the rats as if they had battled with each other for years.

"Leave them, it's their love language," Jihye said as she continued to fight against the monsters.

Perhaps she was right.

~~~

Dongguk University Station

"We'll take a rest here, everyone seems pretty tired anyway," Dokja suddenly said as they reached the next station as looked at everyone. Jihye and Joonghyuk were ok, but the rest of them had been fighting monsters non-stop ever since they started.

The last station had nothing but dead bodies and the rats feasting upon them, and from the looks of it, they had a fight against each other as well. Since Joonghyuk was with Dokja, he would've killed them all. It seemed nothing much changed ever since the bridge.

Still, he was worried about Chungmuro. Perhaps he needed to talk with Dokja seeing the man knew so much.

"Are we going to rest here instead of the next station? Why not go there anyway?" Hyunsung asked curiously as Dokja shook his head.

"Humans are now our enemies as well. Once we get there, we won't know whether we'll be able to rest," he explained.

And he was right. Though, Joonghyuk rather not remembers some regression where he suddenly went crazy and just destroyed shit before dying out of stupidity. It was embarrassing as it was.

"Kim Dokja, I need to talk to y-,"

The man was gone as the wind. Joonghyuk blinked at the spot where he was in confusion.

"Oh, are you looking for Dokja-ssi? He said he needed to take a... Pilgrimage?" Joonghyuk placed a hand on his chin. If he was taking a so-called pilgrimage at Dongguk Station...

Samyeongdang's items.

He was going to forcibly get those items, wasn't he?

"Master, I'm gonna go use the bathroom with the unnies," Jihye snapped his attention back to reality. He simply nodded, leaning against a wall as he waited for everyone else. He then noticed a small convenient stall. Perhaps he could use something from it.

Walking towards it, he looked for a small notebook and pen. The notebook was a brand new one, probably from a new sorry employee since it was still empty. He might as well use it.

He started scribbling down all the clues and questions that had appeared on the 1864th round.

Yes, his memory may be extensive, but even he too forgets stuff easily. Especially when he could zone out unexpectedly in the middle of a battle. The number of times he was killed because of that was... Embarrassingly high.

Kim Dokja = anomaly?

Knows about regression, also the Star Stream. Too much about myself too... Coincidence?

Voice that appeared when fighting against the king was Sponsor.

Dream that can't be remembered, but felt important.

Silence of Sponsor for many regressions. Why 1864 specifically? Why active now?

Sponsor somehow more protective...

He glanced up to the ceiling as he wrote down some more notes.

The Last Director never appeared in past regressions.

Now that he thought about it, the Constellation The Last Director was a new one, exactly like Kim Dokja. Were they related somehow?

The Last Director = future Kim Dokja? Or someone else?

Joonghyuk checked his notifications as he frowned, crossing the newest question instead.

The Last Director is female, use she/her pronouns. Kim Dokja is unlikely.

Snarky personality based on notifications.

"Joonghyuk-ah!" The man jolted as he almost dropped his notebook and pen before glaring at the source of the voice.

"Ah, were you busy? What were you writing about?" Dokja asked curiously, having his hands full of items.

"It's nothing," He placed the two writing tools into his inventory. Yoo Joonghyuk was a meticulous man, so he was still quite weary of Kim Dokja, even if they did have some awkward moments with one another. Besides, it was still early in the scenarios to truly know if he was the anomaly of the 1864th round after all, "You got them from the statue didn't you?" He said it quite bluntly.

Dokja just snickered, "To get them the normal way is too long, besides, wasn't it you who destroyed it when you went crazy?"

Joonghyuk twitched an eye, "Please don't remind me of my more embarrassing rounds..."

Dokja laughed before it turned bitter, "I'm surprised you can still feel embarrassment after 1864 rounds, seeing as uh... How broken you were in the 1863rd round."

The man looked at Joonghyuk, "Joonghyuk-ah, can you tell what exactly happened during the battle with the Dokkaebi King?" He asked cautiously.

Joonghyuk narrowed his eyes. If he knew everything about him then why did he not know of that particular event? "You don't know?"

Dokja shook his head a no as Joonghyuk contemplated whether to tell him or not. Yes, he was still a bit cautious. You all can sue him, he's been betrayed many times in the past. It... It wouldn't hurt to tell him... Right?

No.

Not yet at least.

Now that he thought about it, why was he so scared? He had already become a sobbing mess in front of the guy, and if he wanted to, he could easily kill him during that moment of vulnerability when he couldn't do anything.

Joonghyuk opened his mouth to tell him, but someone had spoken already.

"Oh, you're back already!"

He snapped his mouth closed as he looked away. Maybe another time would be better.

"Perfect timing, I got you, girls, some gifts."

Dokja proceeded to explain how he got them as he gave the robe to Heewon and of bracelets to Sangah.

"Where is my gift, ajuhssi?" Jihye asked, pouting she did not receive anything as he patted her head.

"You might not need them since you're a strong girl already."

"What are these?" Sangah asks curiously, wearing the beads she was given.

"Ah, these are magical items that I got from a great statue," he explained.

"A great... Statue?" Heewon repeated, not really understanding as she looked at the robe.

"Well, have you heard of Samyeongdang?" Dokja asks as Heewon looks at him as he grew a second head.

[The Constellation wearing a robe wants to appear in front of ignorant Incarnation Jung Heewon.]

"That old monk from history?" Jihye asked, suddenly remembering her history lesson as Dokja nodded.

"Oh! I know who he is!" Sangah exclaimed cheerfully, using her knowledge to her advantage, "I read of his name when I was studying Korean Literature! He was a monk in the Joseon Dynasty and at the time, the Korean army was struggling against the Japanese invasion. He played a major role in the Battle of Nowongpyeong and Wukwandong!"

[The Constellation wearing a robe is touched by Incarnation Yoo Sangah.]

'Of course, even in these troubled times, Sangah-ssi will always shine...' Dokja thinks to himself, "Anyway, these items contain his powers. With this, they should somewhat protect us."

"But how did you get these, ahjussi?" Jihye asked curiously as Dokja chucked.

"I got these by putting my hands together in a prayer before they suddenly fall out of the sky," he explained.

[A handful of Constellations admire the nonsense you come up on the spot.]

"Besides," the man continued, "I believe he had sent us these items for the future of our country. Just like how he protected it from the Japanese invasion. He may have sent these to us for the same sake."

Joonghyuk massaged the area in between his forehead as he saw Hyunsung, Sangah and Gilyoung fell for it while the rest looked disgusted at Dokja's wording.

'That man is shameless... So truly shameless...'

[A Constellation wearing a robe has been moved by what you said.]

[The Constellation wearing a robe has revealed his modifier.]

[The Constellation Bald Leader of the Peasant's Army has forgiven your transgression.]

'He fell for it...' Joonghyuk massaged his forehead harder.

"Protect us from what, though?" Gilyoung asked curiously.

The man hummed, "Well..."

"To get to Chungmuro station, you have to somewhat pass a test," Joonghyuk explained as everyone looked at him.

"Huh, is your Sponsor the One-Eyed Fortune Teller or something? You two seem to know quite a lot of stuff..." Heewon asked suspiciously, still in a joking manner.

Joonghyuk shrugged, "He has the skill to see the future briefly, he just told me about it."

Dokja looked at Joonghyuk with a slight panic in his eyes but he quickly recovered, "That's right, so whenever I use my skill, I can see a bit of the future."

'Damn you, Yoo Joonghyuk for pining this down onto me-!?'

"I see, so what exactly do we need to be careful of?" Hyunsung asked curiously.

"A monster called Spectres. They attack our minds, showing our worst fears," he explained before looking at Joonghyuk.

"Joonghyuk-ah, you just recovered from a panic attack, do we need to rest a bit more?"

The man shook his head, "I have a skill to nullify them. As long as I notice them first, I can stop them easily," he explained.

Dokja nodded his head, "Alright then. Shall we go?"

Chapter Text

"I need to speak with you."

Dokja looked up to the regressor. The group decided to scavenge the area before leaving for Chungmuro that they could use for the future, just in case something else happen so the two impromptu leaders were left alone nearby

"About Chungmuro, is it not?" The reader spoke, sitting down on a bench nearby while the other man stood up still and opted to lean against a wall of a pillar.

"By this time, there will be no green zones free that can occupy all of us. I can just kill those who have occupied them but the last time I did it with someone, Jihye left me," he explained as Dokja hummed, remembering that particular regression. It was quite in the early stages if he remembered correctly.

"Which is why you're often alone in the early scenarios because it requires group members, is it not? Just as you say, our party members WILL leave us if you kill everyone. And Gong Pildu is there as well. Considering we don't know the situation there, we need to follow their rules for the first day at least."

And that was what Joonghyuk was trying to avoid if he didn't want to lose his disciple. Which was why he was lowering his pride and asking for Dokja's opinion seeing the man had known of his regressions and strategies he had used before.

"Then tell me, oh so powerful prophet, what do we do?"

Dokja glared at him, "Why thank you for making me the prophet, now everyone looks at me differently because of you!" He sighed before thinking about it. It should be the start of the third day considering they were a bit late to the party.

So if his memories served him correctly without him taking out his phone and exposing himself to Joonghyuk, there should be two green zones on the railway. One for three people, and the other for two. Meaning two people has to fend for themselves for the rest of the night.

"Joonghyuk, are you tired?" He asked curiously as the man rose an eyebrow.

"No, not at all. I've... Slept more than enough," he was still confused as to why he managed to completely let his guard down whenever he was with Dokja. It was the best sleep he had ever had in all of his lifetimes. And he was a light sleeper too! Most nights would be plagued with either insomnia or nightmares, so he was (both suspicious and pleasantly) surprised by this fact.

"If you remember, there are two green zones that will appear once the monster appears. But it only has enough for five people. Two of us have to fight until dawn."

So that was his plan.

"I'll do it," Joonghyuk said, already knowing what he was thinking for once, "I've fought them multiple times before, I can do it again," he also got more coins because of Dokja, or well... To be precise, it was Uriel who was acting like a fangirl sponsoring coins left and right whenever they were together. Good enough, he could raise his stats much higher with the coins which makes it easier to fight against the herd of monsters that would soon invade Chungmuro.

"I'll fight too, I've got plenty of coins from Bihyung so I can raise my stats a bit more. But convincing them will be a slight challenge..."

That was true, they all had a very high sense of justice and loyalty to one another, which may be fatal in some scenarios.

"You're still in contact with that Dokkaebi?" Joonghyuk asked curiously as the man nodded.

"Pretty much, you were there when he made it anyway. Besides, I'm a weak man. And as someone who knows a lot more than he shouldn't, my goal right now is to help you reach the final scenario again," he told the other man, 'And beat the shit out of that rapist, but he doesn't need to know that yet.'

Joonghyuk once again looked at him. The final scenario again was it...? The last round was so close, and yet the Dokkaebi King said he was missing one key item. What was it? Then his Sponsor needed him to regress one more time... Was it to find the key that could unlock the Final Wall?

Joonghyuk widened his eyes. Was the final key somehow only found in the 1864th round? That explains it. It was the only plausible explanation, was it?

And to do that, he needed Kim Dokja's wits. A strategist.

But at the same time, why was Dokja so adamant about helping him? He could easily use his smarts to survive without him. And yet he chooses to help Joonghyuk instead.

More questions he needed to add to the notebook.

Remembering the time they were interrupted when he was about to explain his story, maybe... Maybe that time was the right moment for him to tell Dokja.

Joonghyuk needed an ally that he could trust with his life, for he had been betrayed multiple times in the past, and was scared. He was afraid for the first time in a long time.

It was a gamble, to tell Dokja whether he could trust him or not, and yet... Something deep within him was saying that Dokja was the exact person he needed.

They've been through a lot for the last couple of days, which was funny enough because it was just the start of the scenarios.

Was he going to follow his guts or his mind...?

'It's a gamble... But...' Joonghyuk looked at Dokja. The warm feeling in his heart was telling him yet again, was saying to trust this man.

The risk was high, but Joonghyuk had made his choice.

"You asked me what happened in the fight between the Dokkaebi King and me, right? I didn't answer because they returned so soon," Joonghyuk began as Dokja was listening intently to him.

"During that battle, I faced against a wall," Dokja narrowed his eyes.

A wall? What kind of wall was it?

"Behind that wall, is supposedly my Sponsor. The very Constellation I swore to end with my own two hands."

The ex-salaryman stayed quiet as Joonghyuk continued his story, unknowingly the words they spoke to each other were completely censored by the Star Stream.

"Because they're the reason the Star Stream existed, right?" Dokja asked. He saw the man nod his head.

"Not only that, but they also gave me this accursed stigma," Joonghyuk looked at his hand before griping it tightly into a fist, "But I couldn't destroy it. No matter what skill I had, no matter how powerful I was, it was unbreakable. The Dokkaebi King said I was missing a key."

Dokja looked up at the man with a confused expression. So that was what happened? He was missing a key? A key that could unlock that wall perhaps?

But Joonghyuk wasn't done at all. He continued his tale, "I was determined to find it but a voice suddenly called out to me."

"A voice?" Dokja repeated, trying to connect everything that he had learned from what the regressor was telling him.

"I didn't know who it was, but they told me to regress one more time," Joonghyuk sighed, remembering the memory. It was still fresh in his mind after all.

Dokja places a hand on his chin, "They told you to regress again?"

Joonghyuk nodded, "They did. I didn't want to at first. I was already thinking of ways to get the wall to open up, hell, maybe even becoming an Outer God may help," his face formed a scowl, "But in the end, I did what they told me to and cut my throat off with my sword. And the rest? Well, you already know the story."

Dokja leaned back against the bench he was sitting on. That was... Quite the info dump from Joonghyuk. So he regressed to the 1864th round because the voice told him to?

"Do you know who the voice belongs to?" Dokja asked as Joonghyuk frowned.

"I have theories but... The most plausible answer is none other than my Sponsor."

"Wait, what!?" Dokja gasped, not believing that reasoning at all, "But isn't the Star Stream their creation!? Why would they want you to regress again!?"

He shook his head, "I don't know, but I've concluded that the key I'm missing is in the 1864th round. Why else would they want me to regress again?" Joonghyuk leaned his head against the wall, "Tell me, if you know so much about me, then do you know them?"

Dokja frowned as it was never mentioned in the novel at all, so he was in the dark as Joonghyuk, "I honestly don't know..."

[Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk has used the skill Lie Detection.]

[The words spoken have been confirmed to be the truth.]

'Meticulous bitch...'

Joonghyuk frowned, slightly disappointed, "I see, so even the oh-so omniscient Kim Dokja doesn't know who they are," he shook his head.

Dokja glared at him, "Of course not, I'm just a normal human you know!"

"Dokja-ssi! We got some medical supplies and some other necessities!" Heewon called out.

Oh, they were finally back. Jihye was waving her hand to her master as everyone else returned from scavenging. Good timing indeed.

"Alright guys, let's start going to Chungmuro. Remember, the Spectres we're gonna face are monsters that attack the mind," Dokja started explaining.

"Joonghyuk-ah, you're in charge of dispelling their attacks on us. Everyone else, be prepared to attack them as soon as possible. They're physically weak so it should be easy for us to kill them."

Everyone nodded their heads, their weapons ready in their heads.

This time, Joonghyuk was leading them towards Chungmuro as they continued on the railways. All of them looked nervous because they were heavily reliant on Joonghyuk to dispel the attack first.

Though they also didn't encounter any Ground Rats because of Gilyoung's skill. He was very useful in that field so they could save their energy for later.

Joonghyuk stopped as he raised his hand, "Get ready," was what he said and immediately everyone took a stand, their weapons in their hands, prepared to kill.

It didn't take long before the notification window suddenly popped out, signalling a new scenario.

~~~

[Sub Scenario: Welcome Prison]

Category: Sub

Difficulty: D-F

Clear Conditions: Escape from the "Welcome Prison" within the time limit.

Time Limit: 1 hour

Compensation: 300 coins

Failure: ???

~~~

A gush of wind suddenly engulfed the group from the front as the red fog started to pour into the railway, covering them in its eerie mist.

Joonghyuk cursed to himself as he activated one of his skills to block somewhat of their attack.

[The exclusive skill, Mental Barrier Lvl 10 is activated.]

Joonghyuk found himself in an empty white space. It was the complete opposite of when he had his panic attack, he was fully conscious and was in control of his movements.

'What the hell? This hasn't happened before...?'

It usually showed him his worst traumas such as being a slave to that prophet, Anna Croft, or when his companions died in front of him, or his wife and unborn child, his sacrifices for them... And of course, Asmodeus and his twisted game of pain and pleasure.

And yet there was nothing?

What was this space?

"...-ou dare give up now!"

Voices?

He heard voices again.

What was with the 1864th round and mysterious voices anyway?

Wait, hold on a minute... It sounded familiar.

"..-ow on, you'll work for me, Yoo Joonghyuk..."

Suddenly the white spaces were filled with movie images, showing him his horrors across 1864 lifetimes.

Oh.

So that was it instead.

He recognized that bitch's voice, who forced him into a slave with that freaking scenario reward.

Was it telling him his traumas in chronological order?

"Go! Don't look back, you fool!"

An image of a large woman bleeding, all while trying to fight against enemies while she begged him to retreat.

Joonghyuk gripped his hands together, 'Teacher...' He raised them up to his ears as he tried to block out the voices.

Namgung Minyoung.

She was the closest thing to a mother for Joonghyuk. Her death was devastating to him, something that he could never get over.

Damn it, it seemed Mental Barrier's level was still too low. He should've invested more instead of strength and speed...

More voices started to appear.

"You did well to survive up to this point..."

He whimpered, falling to his knees when he recognized the voice, closing his eyes as he tried to calm himself just as a familiar image came into being. An image that he rather forgets.

'It's just an illusion, it's just an illusion, it's just... An illusion-...!' 

More and more voices started convoluting into his ears, and more images started to surround him. Mental barrier was barely keeping his sanity intact. It was up to him to break free of his own.

He did not have any happy memories to counter all the bad ones.

Fuck, perhaps he did need a bit more time before tackling this particular scenario after his panic attack...

"... Are you not happy?"

Joonghyuk stopped trembling and opened his eyes.

A static voice appeared.

"I am happy."

Wait, was that... Was that his voice? He sounded a lot more mature than he was.

Was he happy? He couldn't remember at all and yet it was in his memories. Why was that?

"Wait, who are you!?" He screamed into the space of images. Of course, no one answered him.

"Yoo Joonghyuk..."

The static voice said once again, and yet it sounded... Much more solemn than anything he ever heard of. Were they scared for him?

"***** **** ** *********."

Static.

But he could hear his voice clearly.

"I pray that you may continue to exist somewhere too."

A tap on his shoulder was felt before suddenly his eyes started glowing soft, blue light.

[The Skill: Destroyer of Evil activated by someone else.]

Yoo Joonghyuk gasped back into reality as he stabbed his sword onto the cold hard concrete, the blue aura engulfing the tunnel quickly as it dispelled the area of attack as also revealed the location of the cloaked monster.

"Joonghyuk-ssi!? Are you ok!?" Sangah was quick to go towards the regressor who was panting from his mental battle.

He nodded his head, leaving everything to Dokja who had already started breaking out of the mind fuckery and started attacking and killing the monsters.

"The beads... They protected you?" He asked the woman who nodded.

"I think so, it was glowing when the fog covered the area," she explained.

"But it seemed some are still affected..."

Joonghyuk looked at everyone else. It seemed he was too late to stop it from affecting the rest of the party members. For Hyunsung and Gilyoung, he wasn't worried that they may attack them while their minds were out, nor Jihye was a problem. It was Heewon he was worried about.

He glanced over to where she was as he noticed a red aura in her eyes. Joonghyuk widened his eyes as he pulled Sangah and sidestepped just in time to avoid her sword before using his fingers to subdue her neck, effectively knocking her out as he caught her with his free hand.

"Joonghyuk-ah, are you ok?" Dokja asked, taking the drops the Spectres had given them before stuffing them in his inventory.

He lets go of Sangah who was placing her hand over her heart, seemingly scared for that moment, "I'm fine," he responded, "How did you break free?

Dokja scratched the back of his head, "I have a skill that completely blocks it, so that helps."

Joonghyuk said nothing, instead looking at the woman who was asleep in his arms.

[The Sub Scenario has ended.]

[You have received 300 coins as a reward.]

"We'll rest up for a bit," Dokja said, going over to Gilyoung to carry him in his arms as Sangah nodded.

"I'll use the bags to support their heads.." Sangah worked quickly as she places the almost unconcious Jihye and Hyunsung nearby, letting them rest from the mental attack. Joonghyuk carried the woman and placed her near the buff man as he sat close to a wall, placing his hand on his forehead.

Damn, it's the beginning of the scenarios and already he's tired from all the mental attacks he got in such a short amount of time.

Also that illusion. Or could he even call it an illusion?

Someone had forcibly activated the skill he was about to use. Was it his Sponsor again? They do seem to be more active in the 1864th round, he already concluded that long ago. He just needed to find the question of why.

It was getting too difficult. There were more questions than answers and he was tired. And yet for the sake of the world, and maybe even himself, he had to endure. The answer will eventually come to him. He just needed to be patient.

The group decided to take a small breather while waiting for their other members to wake up. As much as Joonghyuk wanted to proceed to get started with the next scenario, he couldn't with them around. Perhaps being alone for the time being was a better plan?

He shook his head. The last time he went alone, he died. Multiple times in fact. He had no choice but to simply let it all flow and see what new trouble awaits him.

"Bora, I'm sorry!"

His mind snapped back to reality as Jihye screamed, sitting up abruptly as tears were falling down her face, "H-huh...? Where am I?" She wiped her face using her sleeves.

"You fell trapped under the mental attack," Joonghyuk explained as Jihye looked at him.

"So... The ghost I saw..."

"Was an illusion, yes," Dokja continued, softly patting Gilyoung's head who was asleep near Heewon, "We should be safe here for the time being. Still, it's best if we move in case any other monsters appear."

Dokja had a point, but they were down three members. Perhaps carrying them would be an option?

"Will monsters still attack us even if we finished the scenario?" Sangah asked, slightly worried.

"Yes, they can. As long as we're within their territory, they will attack us for trespassing," explained the regressor as the woman gulped down her saliva while breaking a nervous sweat.

A groan was heard from their youngest, "My head hurts..." He whined, slowly standing up while holding his head in pain.

"Gilyoungie!" Exclaimed Sangah who was worried sick about him, "Are you ok? Do you need more rest?"

Dokja looked over at the child as he looked up at the man. He raised his hand up to pat his head before the boy leaned into his touch and wrapped his arms around his waist.

"I'll carry Heewon-ssi. Joonghyuk-ah, can you carry Hyunsung-ssi instead?" Dokja asked as the man sighed. He wordlessly carried the large man on his back, Dokja doing the same with Sangah's help.

"We've almost at the station. Hang in there, everyone," Dokja said as everyone nodded.

They continued on into the tunnel before finally seeing a glimpse of civilization. Bright lights were slowly appearing as everyone exhaled a breath of relief.

They've finally reached Chungmuro.

"PRIVATE LEE HYUNSUNG REPORTING FOR DUTY SIR!"

With Joonghyuk's face on the cold hard ground because of the accidental punch that Hyunsung had sent to his head.

"BWAAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHA OH MY GOD MASTER HAHAHHAHAHAH HOLY SHIT!" Jihye ended up on the floor together with her master, but for a whole different reason.

[Many Constellations are snickering at the sight.]

[A few Constellations are laughing until their stomachs hurt.]

[1000 coins have been sponsored.]

Hyunsung blinked as he looked around, "H-huh, where am I? What about the monsters-!?" A groan was heard from below as the man looked down to see he was sitting on top of a certain black-cladded regressor.

"OH MY GOD JOONGHYUK-SSI I'M SO SORRY!!!"

"Please get off of me..." 

Chapter Text

"Is your nose ok now?" Dokja asked, giving Joonghyuk more tissues that they got from a kind young man that greeted them when they arrived.

As soon as they stepped foot in Chungmuro, everyone already knew that the place had a hierarchy when the man that guided them (he was on patrol from the looked like it) was explaining that there were these things called green zones, also called rooms by other incarnations. Their goal was to survive the night.

Because of the unexpected injury to Joonghyuk's nose, the group did not meet with the so-called "Landlord" a.k.a Gong Pildu, but the gentleman did explain the rules and such to them before leaving them to fend for themselves.

At the moment, the group was resting on a bench near the tunnels with Dokja supplying tissues to the regressor while Hyunsung was practically on his knees begging for forgiveness.

"Joonghyuk-ssi I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" Even his forehead was touching the ground. The perfect bow.

Wiping the blood off his nose, he just thank whoever that his nose was not broken. But it still hurt regardless.

"I get it, now shut. I need to think," he said, grabbing more of the tissues from Dokja's hand.

"Think about what, Master?" Jihye asked, looking at the older man. She had Heewon's head on her lap, using her as a pillow.

"How we're gonna survive this scenario," Dokja responded for him, "These rooms probably provide a safe haven from enemies other than humans. Monsters to be precise."

Everyone looked solemn as Dokja continued to explain it, "As we all know from what the guy told us before, they basically monopolized public places and ask us for rent. We have roughly three hours before the start of the third scenario since it starts at midnight." Dokja checked the notifications in his window to see it was indeed three hours.

It was just three stations from Geumho to Chungmuro, but then again, those goddamned Ground Rats and Spectres took the majority of the time they had.

"Ugh, my head..." Heewon groaned out as she carefully sat up.

"Unnie, you're awake!" Jihye exclaimed as Sangah also helped her up, seeing she was a bit wobbly.

"What did I miss?" She asked curiously

Dokja started explaining what they had gone through as well as the "rules and regulations" of the place, and that they were still trying to figure out what to do next to survive the next scenario.

After the end of the explanation, Heewon was ready to barge towards Gong Pildu's place but Joonghyuk stopped her, "That won't work. Your skill can only be activated if the target is an evildoer in the Constellations eyes. Not ours," he explained.

"T-then what are we supposed to do!? Stay here and do nothing!?" She asked as Hyunsung tried to calm her down.

"Please, calm yourself! You just woke up, Heewon-ssi. Take it easier."

Of course, both Joonghyuk and Dokja were still thinking of ways to pass the first night other than Plan B. The other had more murderous intentions while the other had a more peaceful approach to it.

The brown-haired woman opened her mouth to suggest something, "You may never know, right? Why don't we try looking for some? Maybe we'll get lucky?"

Dokja thought about it. Both Joonghyuk and he knew that there were no empty spaces anymore. The only place that still has room was occupied by Pildu himself.

"Rooms vary in sizes, some can hold up to one person, and others can be in groups. If we find them, it could probably?" Dokja said as Joonghyuk scoffed, finally throwing away the tissues to a nearby trash bin seeing his nose was no longer bleeding.

"That is if we find one," he said.

Sangah frowned, "But we never know right, let's start searching now. We have three hours, we can find something."

She was insistent, and Dokja knew Joonghyuk was right, but to appease the both of them, he decided to butt in, "One hour. If we can't find a room, come back to this spot in one hour."

Everyone looked at each other as they all nodded at Dokja's suggestion, "We'll split up to make the search go faster. I'm gonna go head to the first floor," Jihye said as Gilyoung followed her.

"Me too, the floor is pretty big so Jihye-noona might need help."

"I'll go with the kids," Sangah said, volunteering herself.

Hyunsung thought about it, "Then I'll search the second with Heewon-ssi if you don't mind?" The man looked at the woman who shook her head.

"No problem here. Dokja-ssi, you're staying on the platform with Joonghyuk-ssi?"

The reader nodded his head, "Yeah, there's something I need to discuss with him anyway."

Joonghyuk just looked at him as he sighed, finally relenting to everyone's wishes, "Fine."

With that, everyone left to their respective search areas as Dokja could finally breathe.

"Ah, that was stressful... How the hell do you do it, lying to your friend's faces straight on?" The man asked the regressor who shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

"Are you going to the Theatre Dungeon still?" Dokja asked, leaning his back towards the bench's backrest more.

Joonghyuk nodded, "I have to. I need to trigger Hyunsung's and Jihye's awakening, not to mention the weapons there are much better with a higher base attack and quality for them."

He wasn't wrong. The third scenario lasts for a whole week and they entered on day three. Joonghyuk would often use that time to get to the Theatre Dungeon and get many things as a result. But a more pressing matter was on the horizon.

"I see, then we're still going with the plan of them being in the green zone and we fight until dawn?"

What other choice do they have? As much as Joonghyuk wanted to kill everyone just to save time, he knew that if he does exactly that, he wouldn't have a group. He just needed to think of a way before the next night. Simple right?

Wrong.

It was much more difficult than anticipated, "For the fourth night, it shouldn't be hard to fight to dawn. It's the fifth night that we need to be cautious. We need to take down Pildu and get him to do his goddamn job for this scenario."

Dokja thought about it, trying to think of a way for the fourth night, "Can I search around first?" He suddenly began as Joonghyuk rose an eyebrow.

"Go right on ahead."

With Dokja finally leaving the place, Joonghyuk was once again alone. Left to think for himself as he thought of what happened when he was attacked by the Spectres.

He took out his notebook and started scribbling.

Unknown memories. Forgotten? Erased?

"I am happy."

"I pray that you may continue to exist somewhere too."

I said this but to who did I say this?

The who in his notebook was emphasized by a circle that was connected by an arrow to the previous sentence. His book was a mess of writings, and the clues he got so far were important, but he couldn't piece them together yet like a puzzle.

He just had the big pieces, the smaller ones that connect these pieces together were still missing. It was a pain.

What should he do to make Pildu follow his orders? Killing everyone was easy, but again, his actions will have consequences. So mass homicide was not an option. Of course, paying him rent will also be off the topic because coins were power.

[The Constellation The Last Director is looking at you.]

Joonghyuk looked up when he received the notification. He was still wondering who this particular Constellation was, but it was obvious she had taken a liking to Kim Dokja considering the fact she sponsored him many coins before and had been watching them.

'Who are you, really?'

~~~

Dokja was exploring the station, making note of where all the green zones were located while looking at his phone.

'As we expected...' He thought as he continued to read the .txt file he has gotten from the author.

There were no more rooms as they were all filled except for Pildu's gang who monopolized the largest room in Chungmuro.

Still, he needed to assess the situation first before he could start making his move.

His skill, the Fourth Wall, was a tremendous help for the past scenarios. It helped him block out unwanted memories, just as hiding away his secrets and knowing who many people were. Even though it didn't completely block out the trauma from his past, it was enough to let him function like a normal human being. So it was easy identifying who Gong Pildu was even when many people were trying to go to the bathroom.

There he was, the man was casually reading the newspaper while sitting comfortably on a bench nearby, 'So that's one of the 10 Evils of TWSA huh?'

Should he take him down then, or wait for an opportunity? He knew he had to force him out of his safe zone-

Wait... Force out?

He remembered in one regression that Joonghyuk had basically gone bat shit insane and had destroyed all the green zones, leading to Pildu forcing himself to fight.

Dokja smirked, perhaps he did in fact have a plan. He glanced over to the man once again, making sure to see his Sponsor was the same.

It was.

'Oh, I have a perfect idea now...' He chuckled before checking the time. It seemed like it was almost showtime. Sad that they couldn't do it the first night because that would be so much easier to let Pildu take care of the monsters for a whole ass week but they got there pretty late.

'I should return and tell everyone of the plan for today and tomorrow. We might even get Hyunsung to awaken soon too...'

With a smile, he returned back to the assigned meeting spot.

~~~

Everyone gathered back to the place in low spirits.

"We didn't find any free places..." Sangah said, her feet tired as she sat down on the bench.

Hyunsung also shook his head, "Nothing, we found absolutely nothing, unfortunately..."

"You know how much we gotta spend for a night!?" Heewon cuts him off, "2000 coins! Just for a night!? That's ridiculous!" She growled. And it was.

Joonghyuk was not surprised at all. He had developed an inner clock and a sixth sense because of his regressions, so he had an estimate of when and hows of every scenario. Considering he was late, he had expected they won't be getting any rooms. Unless they kill, of course.

"As I suspected, but not surprised at all," Dokja sighed as Gilyoung looked at the older man.

"So, how are we gonna survive this...?" He asked curiously.

Dokja looked at Joonghyuk who took a deep breath and sighed, "We have two options," he began.

The reader nodded, "The first is easier than the second, but it guarantees our survival," was what he said.

Jihye hummed, "Usually people choose the second option whenever this question comes up..."

"What's the other option?" Heewon asked, looking at Dokja.

Of course, Dokja had expected it considering they were still quite new to it. He was surprised he himself was alright, but then again, it was because of the Fourth Wall.

"The second option is much more dangerous, and perhaps we can even die because of it."

Everyone looked at each other, "What's the first option...?" Jihye asked the man.

Joonghyuk straightened his posture up and made a motion to tell them to follow him with his head. Dokja came behind him as everyone else joined the two of them. They went upstairs as they continued to follow the man, leading them to a green room where it contained seven people filled with mostly women and children.

"You asked what was the first option. This is the first option."

Everyone immediately paled when they realize what they were supposed to do, "As much as I hate to say it, Joonghyuk is right. This room can contain seven people. Their stats are also not that high. Just a few of us will do the trick-,"

"Dokja-ssi, Joonghyuk-ssi! What the fuck are you saying!?" Heewon demanded an answer from them.

It was Joonghyuk who answered, "We kill them and take their room. That is option A."

Gilyoung looked at his club as if trying to steal himself, "I'll do it if you need me."

"Hey kid, what are you saying!?" Jihye asked, looking at the younger boy who was stopped by Sangah.

Tension was starting to rise in the group, just as Joonghyuk expected. It was ultimately their choice whether to kill or not to kill, because he can survive with either. As long as he survived and find the answers to his questions, it didn't matter anymore.

"I killed someone back in Geumho, and I don't regret it one bit. But just because I killed, doesn't mean I enjoy doing it. I don't want to become a monster," Heewon hissed at the both of them.

It was understandable. Joonghyuk was the same, but the regression turned him numb to the feeling of killing. He had done enough deeds that the Constellations from Absolute Good targeted him themselves in one round.

But her words were like a stab to the heart for Joonghyuk, for he was exactly like her. But instead, he became a monster in the end, while she still had Dokja to guide her to a righteous path.

Kim Dokja...

Once again, his thoughts wandered. What would happen if Kim Dokja existed the first time he regressed? Would he still be the same person? No, of course not. But he wouldn't have this much trauma. Now that he thought about it, he didn't remember the time before he regressed for the first time... He wondered why.

A forgotten memory?

Wait a second...

Joonghyuk widened his eyes, looking away from everyone else as he placed a hand on his chin.

No, it couldn't be... Right?

But the reasoning fits! It made sense! He did not remember the time before his first regression, and that voice of him saying that sentence...

'I pray that you may continue to exist somewhere else too... Is it... Is it a memory from the very beginning!?'

It was a huge revelation for Joonghyuk. It seemed his questions would all be answered in the 1864th round. And if he did have his memories erased from that time, he was slowly regaining them!

For the first time in a million years, Yoo Joonghyuk felt hope and excitement. He has forgotten what this feeling was, how it felt. It was... It was unbelievable. He had butterflies in his stomach, his heart was racing but not because he was scared, no. It was because he was hopeful for the future.

He just had to survive.

That was all.

He just had to survive. And he was going to survive with Kim Dokja by his side. The answers he had wanted were right beside him. He just needed to be patient.

"I understand," he heard Dokja say as he snapped his attention back to everyone else, "We'll go with the second option."

Everyone seemed relieved that they were going with the second option. With Joonghyuk fighting against those Ground Rats, it should be easy. But he was, in fact, a bit worried for Dokja who has less stamina because of that. Then again, he was rich in coins because of the contract.

"Ahjussi, you scared me what the hell!?" Jihye roared at him as Heewon slapped his arm.

"Sheesh! You son of a bitch, you were testing us, huh!?" She asked with a huge smile on her face as the said man groaned when his arm was hit.

"No but I would've respected your choice no matter which path you choose," he glanced back to Joonghyuk who nodded in acknowledgement.

He wasn't surprised that it ended up this way, but he knew he had to pay close attention to Dokja. Iron Fanged Wolves were easy to hunt, and so were Ground Rats. But there was one thing that the wolves didn't have. Ambush. The rats could burrow underneath their feet and ambush them that way. They also didn't give you coins and improve your stats, just your experience with fighting which was, not only a waste in Joonghyuk's opinion but also why most would rather stay in the rooms.

"Everyone, listen to my instructions. Regardless of whether it sounds ridiculous or not, you have to trust me," Dokja suddenly said with all seriousness.

Everyone closed their mouths as they listened to what he had to say, "Let's go back to the platform so I can show you."

"Considering ahjussi has psychic abilities that even Master trusts, I'm leaving it all to you, ahjussi," Jihye said as Gilyoung nodded.

Sangah also joined in, "We're in this together, Dokja-ssi. Tell us what we have to do."

Dokja nodded as he lead the group to the tunnels yet again. There was something different about it. There was only one hour left for the scenario to begin and it seems it had already made its preparations as well.

Hyunsung looked at the tunnels, "What is that...?" he pointed at a red glowing rectangular space over yonder.

Dokja looked as well, "Monsters will probably spawn from there," he explained, "They'll rampage through the station and make their way upstairs."

Heewon looked at the spawning point as well, "So we're gonna fight them off here?" She asked curiously.

Jihye paled, "Oh come on... I already had to fight for almost a day because of Master..."

Dokja patted her head softly, 'So that's what you did to the poor girl...'

"No you won't," that time, it was Joonghyuk who spoke, "but I have to. You're still inexperienced, so I volunteer to be the bait."

Hyunsung looked at Joonghyuk with a worried expression, "Huh!? But then you'll be fighting until dawn!"

Yes, he would. But he had already passed several regressions using that method. It was risky but manageable, "It shouldn't be me you're worried about, Hyunsung. It's him."

He nodded his head towards Dokja who scratched his nape in nervousness, "Hyung, are you gonna fight with Joonghyuk-hyung too?" Their youngest member asked him.

Dokja smiled at him, "Don't worry, I invested my coins into my stats more. And even if I'm close to dying, I have a secret weapon that can help me," he explained.

"But Dokja-ssi-,"

"There will be two rooms available once the monster spawns. But it can only occupy two people and three people. So two of our members will have to fight until dawn," Joonghyuk explained.

"But then the fighters will have a higher chance of dying then!" Heewon told the man.

Sacrificing himself again. How long has it been since he chooses that path? He almost couldn't remember.

"That's why we're sending the strongest fighters out," Dokja interrupted, trying to appease the woman.

Jihye rose her hand, "If it's a fight then I trust Master will be unscathed," she began, "Before we went to Geumho, he and I went to Majang. It was an underground dungeon. He had trained me there to fight for a whole day. I can say it with 100% confidence that Master will be ok."

Thank you Jihye for opening her mouth so things could get it over with.

"Then what about Dokja-?"

"He's rich in coins already, he can invest into his stats more," Joonghyuk cuts her off.

Everyone looked at each other, "Is there really no other rooms?" Gilyoung asked, looking at Dokja who shook his head.

"No, Gilyoung-ah. But don't worry. I can take care of myself. I just need to survive this one night, and then we can plan our next move, ok?" He looked back at everyone else.

With a reluctant look, Heewon finally gave up, "Oi, Joonghyuk-ssi," the woman spoke to him with a glare, "You better protect him if you're so strong."

Joonghyuk met with her eyes. He needed Dokja just as much as everyone did, "Of course."

With the fighters decided, Dokja continued to explain his plan, "We'll split the group into three. Joonghyuk-ah and I will be one team, Jihye and Gilyoung in one and the rest in three," everyone listened to what he had to say carefully, "For Hyunsung-ssi, Sangah-ssi and Heewon-ssi, once the monsters spawn, I want you to run towards them."

Sangah gasped, "Run towards them!? Not Dongguk Station!?" She asked.

Dokja shook his head, "No, that would be for Jihye and Gilyoung. But there is a catch, you have to start running after they spawned, then look to your left before you run into them."

Hyunsung was taking notes in his book as he raised his hand, "Then that means the room is on the wall?" He asked curiously as Dokja nodded.

"Correct. The same for Jihye and Gilyoung, since you'll be running towards Dongguk Station, the green zone will be to your right," he continued as the children nodded their heads.

"Ok then... Ahjussi, are you sure you're gonna be ok? I can replace you if it gets too hard," she said, "I mean, I did fight for almost a day before and survived," he patted her head as he smiled. Jihye may leave quite an impression on him the first time they met, but she was just as noble and loyal as she was in TWSA.

"Don't worry about it, I got our strongest fighter with us. We're surviving this."

And everyone really hoped so.

And just in time too, the sparks of probability started to appear as Bihyung popped out of existence with a smile on his face.

"Hello hello, my dear Incarnations! The third scenario is about to begin!" He announced loudly.

Notification windows started appearing in front of everyone again.

~~~

[Main Scenario 3 - Green Zone Day 3]

Category: main

Difficulty: C

Clear conditions: Occupy a green zone and survive the monsters that emerge each night at midnight. This scenario will last for 7 days.

Duration: 8 hours

Reward: 1000 coins

Penalty: -

~~~

'So it's finally starting.'

Bihyung started explaining, "The rules are simple! Occupy a green zone before anyone else, of course, you can also steal from others. As long as you survive the night, you pass!" He made a small peace sign pose, "Good luck~!"

With that, he was gone just as he appeared.

There were 30 minutes left before the scenario starts. Dokja looked at the group, "Are you guys ready?"

They nodded wordlessly.

"Then let's go and survive the night."

~~~

There were only five minutes left before the scenario started. Everyone was in position with Hyunsung, Sangah and Heewon together at the front, Joonghyuk and Dokja together in the middle and Jihye carrying Gilyoung on her back at the very back.

The clock was ticking, and everyone was nervous.

"Remember the strategy, guys..." Dokja warned, watching the gate with wary eyes. Joonghyuk and Dokja would provide support for the others to get into the green zones, leaving the two of them alone to fight.

For Joonghyuk, it would be an easy battle. He just has to keep an eye on Dokja's just as he did with Jihye.

The clock finally snapped at midnight.

The gate glowed red as the Ground Rats suddenly started to pour into the station, "Now!" Dokja yelled as the three of them started running towards the rats.

"Should I go now?" Joonghyuk asked as Dokja shook his head, "Not yet, I think they should be strong enough to get past them. It's Jihye and Gilyoung I'm worried about."

True to his words, the women had gotten to the green zone first before helping Hyunsung into it, killing the rats that almost snapped its jaw at the man.

"Joonghyuk-ah!"

"I'm on it!"

Using Red Phoenix Shunpo, Joonghyuk started killing the bigger rats as Jihye started running, "Don't look back Jihye! Run until you find the green zone!" She heard Dokja yell as the man started killing the smaller rats, leaving the bigger ones for Joonghyuk to slaughter.

"I'm on it ahjussi!" She yelled, looking to her right side, trying to find it.

"Noona, over there!" Gilyoung pointed to the front right as she saw a green glow.

"Nice going, kid!" She ran faster towards her goal.

Dokja cursed to himself when he let one rat get away from him by burrowing down and instead appearing behind the children, rushing toward Jihye, "Fuck! Jihye watch out!"

Gilyoung looked back as he prepared his club to hit it, but was quickly saved by Joonghyuk who was using his skill to kill the creature.

"Master!"

"Go! Hurry!" Joonghyuk commanded her as she nodded and made it to the green zone.

With everyone safe, he just needed to focus on-

Joonghyuk widened his eyes.

"Kim Dokja, behind!"

"Ahjussi!"

"Hyung!"

Shit, the rats took advantage of Joonghyuk's absence in the front lines and started charging toward Dokja. The man widened his eyes at the sight.

More rats started surrounding Joonghyuk by suddenly jumping up from the ground, stopping him from saving Dokja.

No.

This can't be happening.

[The Constellation Bald Leader of Peasant's Army is closing his eyes.]

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is biting her nails in anxiety.]

[The Constellation The Last Director is looking at you.]

"Kim Dokja! Don't you dare die on me this soon!" Joonghyuk yelled at him, slicing away the enemies as he slowly but surely was going towards him.

He couldn't lose Dokja that soon. Not yet. The man had all the answers he wanted to ask. He had to live!

Dokja looked back at Joonghyuk with a solemn expression, "I'm not going to die," before he had to use his sword to block the claws of the monsters, burring him underneath all that fur.

Jihye and Gilyoung could only watch in horror at the sight, the teenager holding onto the child tightly, "Hyung!"

Joonghyuk widened his eyes when he saw that slim moment before Dokja was attacked, 'No way... Was this the secret weapon he was talking about...!?'

The man had swallowed the Spectre Stones.

From the pile where he was supposed to have died, a soft blue glow suddenly appeared.

'He managed to use it within that nick of the time!?' He asked himself, completely shocked at the sight before narrowing his eyes.

His goal changed.

He had to find him before the effects ran out.

"Hyung!"

"He's alright!" Joonghyuk yelled back, kicking away a creature near his leg, "Leave him to me!"

Joonghyuk knew the effects of the stones. It would forcibly intensify the illusion prison in exchange of becoming a ghost species for a limited amount of time. But even so, with skills that can block out mental trauma, no trauma can fully be blocked. And it made Joonghyuk crazy.

He had to find Dokja and help him escape from the prison fast. Joonghyuk's right eye started to glow a bright golden hue as he tried to find traces of him, slicing away the enemies getting in his way.

'Over there!'

He saw a blue silhouette hiding in a corner. With that, he started fighting his way towards it.

[The skill Destroyer of Evil Lvl 10 is activated.]

The ghost returned to its former self as a body started to form. It was Kim Dokja.

The man was floating until the effects of the Spectre Stone was finally gone as he fell to the ground. Joonghyuk used Red Phoenix Shunpo to catch him before he could smash his body on the concrete floor.

With Dokja unconscious in his arm, the larger man carried him with one hand easily. The reader sleeps shakily, whimpering into him as he embraced the larger body, seeking its warmth from Joonghyuk's shoulder.

The regressor had never felt as panic as he was before, seeing the other man surrounded by the rats, almost being swallowed alive. He was feeling emotions that he thought he would never feel ever again since Dokja came into his life.

Frustration.

Excitement.

Sorrow.

Hope.

Despair.

Relief.

Joonghyuk raised his sword against the monsters.

"I'll fucking kill you!"

Chapter Text

"I'll fucking kill you!"

All Yoo Joonghyuk could see was bloody red.

He did not know for how long he was fighting, for all he cared about was the sleeping figure in his arms. Every time Dokja whimpered, Joonghyuk would always tighten his hold on him unconsciously, all while he continued to fight against the monsters.

An attack from the right. Instead of dodging, he simply stabbed the monster right in the heart while dragging its sword to slash away the other smaller monsters.

For how many years has he fought aimlessly? He did not know. And yet the moment he saw Dokja was in such a pitiful state as he was, something awakened in him again.

Anger.

The man was practically everything to Yoo Joonghyuk at that moment because he had all the answers to all of these questions he had in his mind, and why he continued on regressing to yet another round and another lifetime.

He was sick of it.

But the regressor has a lead.

Which was why he would be protecting Kim Dokja as his life depended on him.

"Master, behind you!" He heard his disciple scream in terror as Joonghyuk kicked the Ground Rat away.

Jihye and Gilyoung couldn't stay and watch as they gripped their weapons tightly, "Hyung, I'm coming too!"

"No, stay there!" Joonghyuk yelled at him, "You'll just be a burden!"

As much as Jihye wanted to help, she knew her master was right. From their group, the strongest fighter would be him. He even killed numerous wolves in one day without breaking a sweat, and that was while he was also protecting her while she slowly grew stronger with each kill, so she had no choice but to believe in him.

"Stay here," she said as Gilyoung looked at her with worried eyes.

"But still-!"

"Gilyoung-ah, if we're attacked and defenceless, then how can Master protect us too? We'll just be a burden to him. Look," Jihye pointed towards the two, "he already has his hands full with ahjussi. If we fight and are losing, we'll be an annoyance to him."

Gilyoung gripped his weapon harder, vowing to himself that he would get stronger in the future so he could protect Dokja as well.

A spark of probability appeared once again, revealing the fluffy little ball of evil, "Wow! You're trying to survive without a room! Good for you, good for you!" Bihyun sang as he looked around.

Joonghyuk glared at the Dokkaebi, wanting to retort but he was too busy surviving while dodging attacks from the rats.

"Oops, I almost forgot that I'm here for the penalties!" The Dokkaebi said as he snapped his fingers. The available green zones on the platform started disappearing as the ones inside the place panicked.

"N-no... No! Don't come any closer- AAAAAHHHH!"

The voices of people dying as they were being eaten alive filled the station as Bihyung hummed, "There we go! That brings a livelier party here dont you think? Bye-bye now! Oh and good luck surviving!" And with that Bihyung disappeared into thin air.

Meanwhile, in the other group, Hyunsung widened his eyes when he finally caught a glimpse of the both of them, "I see them!" He reported to the ladies.

Both women started looking to the area where Hyunsung pointed to see Joonghyuk carrying Dokja with one hand, all while fighting. And he didn't even look all that tired, instead... He looked enraged.

"Joonghyuk-ssi, below!" Heewon yelled out to him, causing the man to jump away from the attacking monsters and land near them, his sword in a bloodied mess.

"Joonghyuk-ssi! Are you alright!? Do you need help!?" The brown-haired woman asked.

"I told you, I don't need help!" He yelled at the woman as he felt the other clung onto him tighter, whispering something over and over again as if it was a mantra.

He didn't have time to listen to it as he avoided yet another attack from the rat before stabbing it in the head.

He jumped back to distance himself from his enemies.

"... Joonghyuk..."

"Kim Dokja?"

Joonghyuk glanced over to his shoulder to see the man was still unconscious, but his expression was that of intense pain.

"Please... Joonghyuk..." His hands were trembling as they grip his coat tighter as if he was scared that Joonghyuk will disappear from his touch.

"Save me..."

The Ground Rat rushed toward him, and Joonghyuk continued fighting. Dokja's words also echoed in his mind repeatedly. And he did it all with a glare.

Soon enough, Joonghyuk found himself surrounded by the dead bodies of the monsters as he cradled Dokja like a child.

"D-don't hurt me... Please..."

The man was still clinging onto his coat, so Joonghyuk simply let him. He did not know of his trauma, but it was enough for him to be crying like that, so he wouldn't question it. Besides, he too had broken down in front of Dokja and he didn't question it.

What he was curious about, however, was the way the man called out to him as if he was his salvation. Joonghyuk frowned. He could be no one's salvation. Not when he had failed to end the scenarios 1863 lifetimes, and yet the way Dokja held onto him... It was as if he trying to survive himself.

'Save me, huh....?'

He looked up to the notification screen.

~~~

[Main Scenario 3 - Green Zone Day 3]

Category: Main

Difficulty: C

Clear conditions: Occupy a green zone and survive the monsters that emerge each night at midnight. This scenario will last for 7 days.

Duration: 8 hours

Reward: 1000 coins

Penalty: -

~~~

The fourth night was finally complete.

"Joonghyuk-ssi!"

Everyone ran towards the man who was holding Dokja up with one hand protectively.

"Joonghyuk-hyung, is Dokja-hyung ok?" Gilyoung asked, worried for the older man who kept on whimpering in his sleep.

"Yeah, he is," he used his hand that was holding up Dokja to gently shake him as if trying to ease the pain, "He just needs rest now."

Jihye had never heard such anger from her Master before, even when he was being petty and sulking from being called ahjussi by her. But the raw emotion he had in his voice made her shiver.

As if some monster awakened inside of him, the man went berserk. He was carrying Dokja as if he was holding something precious to him while also being merciless to his enemies. Quickly slicing away the Ground Rats into many pieces as if worried they might revive.

"Noona... Is hyung gonna be ok...?" Gilyoung asked, looking up to the teenager who gripped his shoulder tighter.

"Master said ahjussi is gonna be alright. I trust him," was what she said. Her words comforted Gilyoung, even if slightly.

What they didn't know was the fact that a certain regressor was using the situation to unleash his frustration on killing the rats.

Joonghyuk looked at the sleeping man in his arms. Cold sweat was flowing down his shoulders, his eyebrows furrowed down and his lips trembling. A whimper was heard and Joonghyuk once again held him tighter.

He had comforted the man when he was at his lowest. So now it was only reasonable that Joonghyuk repays his debt.

"Joonghyuk-ssi, here," Heewon said as she took off her coat as laid it down and Sangah used her jacket, folding it into a pillow. The two of them were back on the platform seeing there was nothing but dead bodies of rats on the tracks.

The man jumped over as he walked to the makeshift bed. He kneeled down carefully to not wake the unconscious man up before he tried to place Dokja down.

Keyword tried.

He was gripping quite hard on Joonghyuk's larger build, whimpering and inching himself tighter towards him, "Kim Dokja, you'll be more comfortable laying down," Joonghyuk scolded him, trying to get him to let go.

Instead, a small whine was heard, as if refusing to let him go as the regressor sighed, "No? I mean, he does look comfy there," Heewon chuckled out as Joonghyuk sat on the floor. His back was against the wall as he fixed Dokja's position so that he was sitting on his lap. His head rested comfortably on his shoulder as the woman used the coat she had to cover both of them.

"You worked hard, Joonghyuk-ssi," Sangah spoke, "So this time, rest up with Dokja-ssi. We'll be the one on guard this time."

Hyunsung and Jihye nodded at Sangah's words, "What Sangah-noona said. I promise I'll be stronger to that I can protect you and Dokja-hyung in the future."

Joonghyuk looked up at the people he and Dokja had gathered. How long had he missed this feeling? In the 1863rd round, he was distant from his companions. But he didn't see them as subordinates nor as equals. He just saw them as a "stepping" stone. That was what he told himself.

In truth, he longed for it. But he knew if he gets too attached, he would never forgive himself for their deaths. It was why he was fierce and mean in his 1863rd round. Almost emotionless most of the time and easily angered when bothered. He had longed for this that he almost didn't realise he was tearing up. Almost.

Dokja was still having a nightmare, but he seemed to have gotten past the worst of it as he leaned more into Joonghyuk's shoulder. He was no longer whimpering and cold sweat was not forming too. He raised a hand to place the longer strands of his hair behind his ear.

"Alright then, I'll leave it all to you guys."

It has been years since he could fully trust people to let him rest. Perhaps... Because of how differently the 1864th round was, he could finally get the ending he wanted alongside his most trusted companions. And get a long, well-needed rest.

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is screaming through Eden again.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[The Constellation The Last Director is sighing but a fond smile is on her face.]

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is banging his head over the dog food he had to witness.]

[Many Other Constellations say it's too much dog food.]

[A few Constellations are saying it's cute.]

[1000 coins have been sponsored.]

If his fUCKING NOTIFICATIONS SHUT THE HELL OFF!?

~~~

As soon as the two of them were asleep, all five members started looking out for any trouble that may appear. From what they know, they couldn't trust anyone. Just in case there was yet another Geumho incident. It was best to be safe than sorry.

Once they saw that no immediate threat was spotted, they huddled up near the two sleeping men, "Damn, that was intense... And I thought Majang was fucking crazy..." Jihye complained as Sangah hushed her.

"Quiet, Jihye. And watch your tone of language, there's a child here!" She was referring to Gilyoung who was looking at the two with curious eyes.

"Still, to think he can survive that horde of monsters all while carrying Dokja-ssi..." Hyunsung was in awe at his power, perhaps if he were to be as strong as they were, maybe he could feel useful instead of being a burden to them.

Everyone looked over to the other two, "We have to get stronger," Heewon suddenly announced to everyone, her hand gripping her bone sword tightly, "We can't be a burden to them, they've done so much for us already. And we've been nothing but just extra baggage."

Each one of them knew Heewon was right because they all felt that way. Dokja and Joonghyuk were the ones who saved them many times before, while they simply stay as an audience. It was a resolve they vowed together. They will be stronger for them both, so they could be seen as equals instead of weaklings.

"You're right, unnie. We have coins, we can invest in our stats and buy new skills from the Dokkaebi Shop. We can help them instead of them protecting us," Jihye said as Heewon nodded.

"It's time for us to stop being passive and start our offence."

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is loving this companionship.]

[The Constellation The Last Director is smiling fondly at the group.]

[1000 coins have been sponsored.]

"By the way," Sangah began as she raised her hand, "They," she trailed off. Everyone looked at the two sleeping men.

Dokja seemed to be very comfortable sleeping on Joonghyuk's lap. His face no longer had a pained expression and instead, he was sleeping with a contented face while Joonghyuk rested his cheek against the top of Dokja's head.

"Are together huh..."

Everyone nodded their heads. Perhaps they didn't say it because they wanted their privacy in their relationship. It was quite scandalous seeing they were both males, so it was probably because of Korea's views that they kept it hidden. Thus, that was what they were going to do. To keep it hidden from everyone else outside of their circle.

"Well, it's a controversial relationship here in Korea so I understand why they need to hide it," Hyunsung said as Heewon hummed.

"That is true, but hey, at least no one bats an eye nowadays right? It's the 21st century. Let them be, as long as they're happy," she spoke with glee.

Sangah nodded, "I agree, though, I think we should keep it a secret, at least, those from outside of our group. And us knowing their secret, a secret for all of us. They'll tell us when they're ready."

Everyone agreed to Sangah's suggestion. It was the least they could do for their saviour.

"Jihye-noona, what are you doing?" Gilyoung asked as Jihye snapped a picture.

"You won't understand, Gilyoung-ah," the teenager chuckled as Hyungsung paled.

"But taking pictures is illegal-," he tried to say to her but she ignored him.

"Ahjussi, the world is shit right now, you think the government is still standing?"

Everyone could practically see the man turned into stone when he was called ahjussi by Jihye. He was shut up in less than a second because of that.

~~~

Joonghyuk was the first one to wake up from his nap. Once again, he had no nightmares whenever he was with Dokja. He actually got decent rest with him. He was thinner than most and seeing that he was right on top of his lap. But what he didn't feel right was the fact his body was somehow heavy...

A head was suddenly felt on his shoulder as the man blinked his eyes open, seeing the state he was in.

Gilyoung was basically lying on him alongside Dokja while Jihye was using his legs as a pillow with Heewon. Sangah was on his left side and was leaning her head on his shoulder while Hyungsung was doing the same with his right.

[The Constellation The Last Director is smiling fondly at you.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

Joonghyuk frowned, not because of the way everyone was using him as a pillow but... His legs...

'Oh no... My legs are numb now...'

He couldn't feel his legs. He glanced around, seeing that there was no one else on the platform, and he thanked whoever was watching him, that no one would be seeing him in such a state with everyone. Yes, he may be a loner but after being alone, watching your loved ones die multiple times in many lifetimes, it was bound to happen.

Loneliness was terrifying.

But he has to endure for not only his sake but for the world's sake as well. He had shouldered the burden for far too long and now that he was embraced with everyone by his side... He was feeling warm and fuzzy inside, as he has missed this feeling.

'Calm down, Yoo Joonghyuk... This round will be the final round, I just know it... Maybe... Just maybe, I can let everyone in again...?'

Perhaps he could, seeing that they came with Dokja, who he needed the most in that round.

Well, that he could think later because there was something even more important than that.

Instead, of blood circulating in his legs, they decided to go somewhere else and it made Joonghyuk tick off, 'IT'S THE THIRD TIME!?'

He placed a hand in between his eyes and massaged the bridge of his nose.

Dokja's bottom was right on top of his crotch, making said area and a certain pillar rise from its slumber. Once again, it was the third fucking time he had a hard-on with Dokja.

He was sure he became was too busy with sexual activities and was abstaining for so many years. Especially after the second round. He had not touch a woman's body after Seolhwa. And yet this man came along and suddenly his dick started to act?

'Perhaps I can get Seolhwa to check what's wrong with me...'

Again, that was another problem he needed to adress later because there was something even more urgent that he needed to get it over with.

His legs.

He literally could not feel his blood circulating to his legs.

'I NEED TO MOVE-!'

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is laughing at your misery.]

Chapter Text

[You have endured a night in Chungmuro without a green zone.]

[You have become the first and second incarnation to have earned the Endless Dawn achievement.]

[1000 coins have been given as your reward.]

Yeah, Joonghyuk did not care about the notifications because hE COULD NOT FEEL HIS LEGS AT ALL!

How long was he used as a human pillow? To be perfectly honest, he didn't know. He glanced over to the clock on the wall of the station that was still functioning even in the midst of an apocalypse. It was 17.00 pm.

Oh.

No wonder he felt kind of refreshing.

He actually got more than eight hours of sleep for once. Minus the fact that his legs felt numb. He felt like a cat owner, once a cat was asleep on your body, it was a rule to not move at all. Joonghyuk was in that situation at the moment.

He felt a stir on his chest that was soon followed by a groan, the man seemed to be waking up from his slumber.

"Mmh... What happened...?" Dokja whined out, using a hand to wipe his eyes awake before finally seeing a chest right in front of his face. A very familiar chest too.

"Yoo Joonghyuk-!" Dokja was silenced by the man's larger hand on his mouth before using it to place a forefinger in front of his lips. The reader looked at the human bed he was engulfed in. The others were still asleep, quite literally using Joonghyuk as a pillow so only the two of them were wide awake.

"A-are you ok? How long have you been in this position?" The man asked as he couldn't really move from the sleeping child that was snuggled comfortably on his stomach.

"Long enough that I probably won't be able to stand for the next hour or two," the man answered, "I can't feel my legs."

Dokja paled, feeling sorry for the man as he looked at the woman and teenager who was fast asleep on his legs.

"How long have we been sleeping?" He decided to change the topic.

"Nine. The scenario ended at 08.00 am."

That long huh? Dokja was surprised he was able to sleep that long.

Wait a second...

Did that mean...

He slept on top of Joonghyuk for nine hours...?

[The Fourth Wall is shaking.]

He slept on Joonghyuk of all people-!?

No wait, the man slept on him too for the past few days. Maybe it's just what companions do.

Yeah, sleeping side by side with your homies was just a bro thing to do.

Nothing to be scared of, right?

It's not like your favourite protagonist was sleeping on you!?

It was.

Right?

"Kim Dokja."

Dokja shook his head as his thoughts started to wander before snapping his attention back to Joonghyuk once he heard his name was called by that deep voice of his.

"Y-yes?"

"Are you alright?"

Dokja widened his eyes at the question. Perhaps because he knew what he was like in the previous round that he was caught off guard. This round's Yoo Joonghyuk seemed to be... Caring, and it made his heart flutter slightly.

"You swallowed the Spectre Stones, didn't you?" He asked again before the reader nodded his head.

"Yeah, I did. It worked marvellously, I mean... We're all still alive," he said as Joonghyuk tightened his hand into a fist.

"That was still risky," he snapped, "You said it back on the bridge. If you want to be my companion, don't go risking your life."

'And leave me with unanswered questions again,' was left in his heart, but did not say.

Dokja's eyes softened, "You actually think of me as your companion," he couldn't help but smile at the thought.

Joonghyuk rose an eyebrow curiously, "Then what do you expect?" He asked.

"Considering your 1863rd round, I half expected you to treat me like shit," he chuckled before smiling at him, almost too brightly that Joonghyuk's heart started beating again, "I'm actually glad."

The taller man opened his mouth to retort but soon closed it because he had no words to speak. If he treated this round as a normal round, would he have treated everyone the same? There was a chance he would.

He would treat everyone like shit again just so he could protect his feeble heart from breaking down. Just like every other round.

"Mngh..." Someone yawned as she sat up and straightened her posture. It was Heewon. Oh finally, his legs were slowly getting blood back.

"Oh, Dokja-ssi, Joonghyuk-ssi. You're awake already?" She asked, cracking her neck slightly because she slept the wrong way. But surprisingly his leg was comfortable to sleep on because it was thick... He was legit a human pillow.

"Not that long though, we just woke up too," he responded to the woman.

"So, any plans for tonight? We gotta survive for three more nights right?" She questioned them both as Joonghyuk nodded.

"That's correct, but I rather finish it today. If we can deal with Gong Pildu and use him to our advantage, we can start the next plan."

Heewon rose an eyebrow curiously, "Next plan?" She repeated.

Dokja chuckled, "I may have a way to deal with Gong Pildu, actually. But I need everyone awake so I can tell everyone," he told the both of them.

"Today's roll call... Will be conducted by the orderly officer..." The man by Joonghyuk's side was mumbling in his sleep.

"You do? We need to wake everyone up then," Heewon exclaimed excitedly. Finally, they were going to get rid of the bastard!

"Be quick," Joonghyuk said, looking at the woman, "Because I can't move. Quite literally."

Dokja and Heewon started waking everyone up. Sangah was the fourth member to wake up while Hyunsung and Gilyoung woke up together before Jihye woke up last.

And finally.

FINALLY.

Joonghyuks legs could breathe!

Just one problem.

He still could not stand up because of that tingling feeling in his legs so he had to sit down still.

"Dokja-ssi, Joonghyuk-ssi, did you sleep well?" The giant teddy bear asked. Dokja was finally off his lap and was standing without the care in the world. They had completely forgotten their human pillow.

"Yeah, I did. Or well... We did, it seemed, except for Joonghyukkie right here..." Dokja said as he looked at the immobilized regressor who twitched an eye.

"Ahjussi, you said you have a plan for tonight?" Jihye asked as Dokja nodded.

"Yeah, we're gonna end the third scenario and get some better weapons. Hopefully," he spoke as everyone closed their mouths to listen to his words, "We're gonna hunt down a landlord."

"You mean that Gong Pildu guy?" Gilyoung asked curiously as Dokja nodded.

"Yep, we can take them all out without ever lifting a finger," he started to chuckle at the plan he had in mind, "We need to force him out of his zone and make him fight for us."

Sangah placed a hand on her chin, "How are we supposed to do that?"

"We'll use the green zones, of course," Dokja began with a smile, "You can make the green zones disappear just by destroying the floor with our weapons."

Joonghyuk widened his eyes when he heard of that strategy. He had once gone mad because of his regression depression, maybe it was closer to a panic attack and he ended up destroying all the green zones. Was he going to destroy them now? But then he would face a bounty scenario and they'll have to protect him... Unless...

"Kim Dokja," Joonghyuk spoke as everyone looked down, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" He asked as Dokja simply made a peace sign.

"Timing is important, of course. Not to mention, our main character here will take the spotlight," he looked over to Hyunsung who pointed at himself.

"M-me-!?" He asked, suddenly feeling very flustered.

"Of course! You're the only one who can do it, Hyunsung-ssi!" Dokja said excitedly.

So Dokja wanted to destroy the green zones and let Pildu deal with the monsters while they leave for the Theatre Dungeon? That was... A solid plan. He could get better materials from it as well as make them stronger.

"But won't that make them angry?" Sangah asked, worried about the outcome as Dokja nodded.

"Of course, but they will be too busy dealing with the monsters nonstop."

Jihye shivered as she stepped away from Dokja. The man looked innocent but turns out he could be a demon as well. No wonder her Master likes him. They're a perfect match made in heaven.

"Ok, so are we gonna destroy the rooms now?" Gilyoung asked curiously as Dokja checked the time on the wall. He shook his head.

"Not yet. We will need to know how many green zones are left so we can maximise our manpower. Joonghyuk-ah right now is uh, immobilized so we have to rely on ourselves."

Joonghyuk's eyebrow twitched, "And whose fault is it that my legs are numb?" He asked, looking at his disciple who just pulled out her tongue at him.

Dokja rolled his eyes, "Anyway, guys, we'll start our plan at around seven when the sun sets. The monsters will then start spawning since not only is it nighttime, but also because the green zones are destroyed. Gilyoung, Sangah-ssi and Heewon-ssi, I need you to destroy the small rooms that contain 1-3 people inside. Jihye and Joonghyuk-ah, once your legs return, of course, destroy the ones that hold 5-8 people. Hyunsung-ssi and I will deal with Pildu ourselves," he explained.

The said man once again pointed to him with a flabbergasted expression, "M-m-me-!? I think Joonghyuk-ssi should be able to handle his whole gang instead!" Hyunsung stuttered out, flushed and nervous.

Dokja shook his head, "No, I believe in Hyunsung-ssi. I know he can do it. I'm glad he's on our team."

[Lee Hyunsung's attribute is slowly awakening.]

'You...' Joonghyuk widened his eyes before a small smile was placed on his lips, 'So you thought of that ahead too huh?'

Hyunsung was embarrassed, but you could tell it rose his self-esteem more. And it made him stronger by having such bravery, "I still think Joonghyuk-ssi is better than me..."

Joonghyuk opened his mouth, "No," he said rather bluntly, "My legs are still numb, I don't think I can move as well as before. I believe Hyunsung is the most well-fitted role."

Hyunsung widened his eyes as he looked at the regressor. It seemed Dokja's plan was working, just a bit more and his attribute would soon blossom.

"If Master said it then I'm sure ahjussi will be able to handle it!" Jihye said as she started to encourage him as well.

It was going better than expected.

"That's right! Because of your survival skills, we were able to get water before the sub-scenario started! You were the one who helped us, Hyunsung-ssi!" Sangah exclaimed, remembering the time when they were in Geumho before Dokja came.

Heewon nodded, "She's right you know, don't think so low of yourself. If Dokja-ssi believes in you, hell even Joonghyuk-ssi, we can trust you 110% all the way!"

Gilyoung nodded, "Hyung strong muscles."

The man looked at everyone with an almost teary expression as if it was the words that he needed to hear because he had never heard of them before.

[Lee Hyunsung attribute is waiting for the time to blossom.]

'With this... He should awaken soon...' He tried moving his legs seeing the numbness was slowly disappearing as he carefully stood up.

"Then we have no time to lose. We have to act before Gong Pildu's group discovers our plan," Joonghyuk began as he took a step forward before almost falling because of that tingling sensation he had still.

Hyunsung caught him just in time before he fell to the ground, "Seems like your legs are still asleep," Sangah commented as he groaned.

"Who was it that used my legs as a fucking pillow?" He asked again, glaring at the both of them while the perpetrators look away, whistling as if they were innocent.

"Dont blame us, blame your muscles!" Heewon fought back, "They're surprisingly squishy but firm enough that they make good pillows!"

And Dokja was the lucky bastard that slept on his chest.

"Gilyoungie, can you use Interspecies Communication to tell us how many green zones are left?" Dokja asked as he looked at the child who nodded.

His eyes glowed a bright green hue just as a cockroach suddenly approached him and climbed on his leg. Gilyoung took it and spoke to it.

"There are 11 rooms. Three on Platform Four, three on the first floor and five more on the ground floor. Gong Pildu's room is on the first," he reported, putting the cockroach down as it scampered away with its tiny legs.

Dokja nodded his head, "Perfect," he glanced over to the wall to see that it was 18.00 pm, "Alright guys. Time to move out."

Everyone was placed into new groups according to Dokja's plan. Heewon, Sangah and Gilyoung had already made their way towards their destination as Dokja looked over to Joonghyuk, "Don't force yourself, it's technically our fault that you ended up becoming immobilized," he told the man.

Joonghyuk barked back, "I can handle it!" It was just destroying green zones, what was the hard part?

Dokja sighed, "Alright, Joonghyuk-ah. I did warn you," he looked over to Hyunsung, "Let's get this started."

The man nodded his head as he followed Dokja to where they were needed, leaving Joonghyuk and Jihye alone.

"Master, let's go before we're late," she said as the man nodded. He and Jihye would be dealing with the rooms that contain quite several people but are not as large as Pildu's own. It should be easy to destroy them as they were quite weak compared to their group.

"But uh... Master, are you sure you can walk?" Jihye asked as cold sweat comically dropped down her forehead watching her Master stubbornly walk while holding on to the handrails.

"Say something one more time, I'm tripling your training..."

Jihye pouted but said nothing else. She knew if she laughed, he'll triple her training.

Still, Hyunsung and Dokja were alone dealing with Pildu's group. That honestly left a bad taste in his mouth even though he did compliment the larger man so his attribute could awaken soon. He didn't know why, but the thought of leaving Dokja was... Worrisome.

He was not strong, but he was smart enough to not get into trouble that would cost him his life... Right?

Somehow thinking about that made him shiver. If he had developed something over the past 1864 lifetimes, it would be his death flag senses. And somehow, Kim Dokja had the biggest death flag out of everyone which made him worried to the core.

'He won't die... Won't he? I still need him...'

Regardless of how he was feeling, he needed to do his job of destroying the green room with Jihye. Even if he was walking like a real old man now.

"Master, hurry it up!" Jihye hit his leg with the tip of her sword as he almost toppled down to the floor. The teenager snorted before laughing loudly at her master.

Yep.

Jihye was sassier this round...

"I'm tripling your training after this."

"OH COME ON!"

~~~

Thankfully Joonghyuk's legs soon recovered, just in time for them to start wreaking havoc in the station. They reached the area where there were people inside of the rooms already, protecting them with their lives as they started to gather their weapons.

"S-stay away!" One of them began as Jihye and Joonghyuk walked casually toward them.

"Sorry about this!"

Using the sword she was given by her master, she slammed it towards the ground, causing it to break as Joonghyuk simply used his foot to slam another green zone. Yes, he was still stiff but he had to forcibly move his legs. Using it as a hammer was the best way.

"No stop! What are you doing!?" Another yelled before he attacked Joonghyuk who dodged easily and sent him flying with a kick before wincing in pain.

Yep, his legs were still asleep.

Jihye started destroying yet another room

"Master! I'm done over here!" She yelled before she felt herself being hoisted up by the shoulder. She was being carried potato sack style by him, "MASTER!?"

"It's time to go," and with that, he used Red Phoenix Shunpo to run away from the angry mob that was running after them.

He slowed down when they finally reached the supposedly private property of Gong Pildu only to see a gigantic hole where it used to be, "What the hell happened here?" Jihye asked, still on her Master's shoulder before being let down.

It was then Dokja realized that they had arrived, "Joonghyuk-ah! Jihye-ya! Did you destroy every one of the rooms?" He asked as the girl smirked.

"Of course we did!" She said just as she heard running footsteps from behind as well.

"Dokja-ssi!" Sangah called out. The three of them have also arrived, "We've done what you asked us to!" She reported.

"Yeah, never thought we can destroy them just by hitting the floor," Heewon connected, remembering the broken tiles.

More running footsteps were heard as Jihye looked back, "Here comes the angry mob, ahjussi!"

"It's him!"

"Kill him!"

"Get them!"

Joonghyuk stepped forward as he pushed Dokja behind him, ready to protect him. The man was important for the future. If anything happens to him, Yoo Joonghyuk might as well just die because all his unanswered questions lie on that one man.

[A Bounty Hunter Scenario has started.]

~~~

[Bounty Hunter - Assassination]

Category: Sub

Difficulty: B

Clear Condition: the Constellations of channel #Bir-3642 have put a hit on Incarnation Kim Dokja of Chungmuro Station.

Time Limit: 10 minutes

Reward: 2000 coins

Penalty: None

~~~

"Ho? Can we get 2000 coins if we kill you now?" Heewon asked jokingly as Dokja chuckled.

"Why? You want to?" He asked, knowing she won't.

She shrugged her shoulders, "Maybe if it's 20000 coins, I might consider it."

Hyunsung also joined Joonghyuk in protecting Dokja. Judging from his posture and confidence, it seemed the man had awakened when he was away. Good, it was proceeding as planned.

Gilyoung flinched as he tried to step forward, but Dokja placed a hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry Gilyoungie. We won't be the ones fighting them."

And just like that, everyone's notification started to appear in front of them.

[All the green zones in the station have been destroyed. The Main Scenario system has been overloaded.]

[The difficulty of the current scenario will be adjusted according to the remaining scenario duration.]

[The current scenario has been renewed!]

~~~

[Main Scenario 3: Emergency Defense]

Category: Main

Difficulty: B-

Clear Condition: All green zones in the station have been destroyed. Spawning the remaining monsters all at once. Survive the onslaught of monsters for the remaining duration.

Duration: 8 hours

Reward: 1000 coins

Penalty: death

~~~

[Emergency Defense has begun!]

"Hyunsung-ssi, you know what to do! Everyone run to the stairs!" Dokja yelled at the group as they all went sprinting up the stairs.

"Ahjussi, what are we supposed to do now!?" Jihye yelled as the monsters started spawning from the gate and attacking nearby incarnations.

Dokja made sure everyone was on the stairs before turning around, "Nothing!," he responded, "Now, Hyunsung-ssi!"

Both of them started charging up their skills. Dokja used Unbreakable Faith as Hyunsung used his fist before the both of them destroyed the stairs, making the other Incarnations stay in the subway with no escape.

"What the!?"

"You little shit!?"

Joonghyuk watched the scene silently, completely in awe at what had just happened. He thought he had seen everything in lifetimes, but Dokja once again surprised him more and more.

He started thinking, what would the man do now that everyone has hated him because of this particular scene? He must have had a plan to make Gong Pildu work together with them but using this method... Even he did not know what Dokja was thinking.

"There are no more rooms in Chungmuro," Dokja said, looking down at the scampering people below, "So let me tell you how you can survive. You fight of course."

Was he going to make Pildu fight the monsters by himself for eight hours? Smart, but that won't make him a loyal dog. Perhaps he needed Joonghyuk to instil fear in the man's core so he would follow?

"Shut your trap and get the fuck out of the way!" One yelled at Dokja.

"You're the one who destroyed all the rooms!" Another screamed.

Dokja simply smiled, activating his skill as he began speaking to the people below them, "Hey, Gong Pildu!"

He started screaming to the old man, "You just gonna stand like an idiot!? Don't you wanna live!? With your power, you can save everyone!"

So that was what he was after, 'He's gonna have Pildu protect everyone, but then what comes after then?' Even if Joonghyuk could do nothing, he was more than impressed by his strategy.

The people below started to change their attention toward the man in question.

Dokja continued to speak, "The third scenario isn't that hard at all, you know? If you all give up your green zones, the scenario will spawn a number of monsters that we can handle. Pildu, if you fight along with everyone else, you can survive."

Joonghyuk watched in amusement as the man started barking orders. They were finally working together. The group watched as everyone fought the monsters while Pildu was preparing his skill.

"So that's his stigma?" Hyunsung asked as he returned from the other side of the stairs, "It's really impressive," he said as Dokja sat on the floor.

"Are we not going yet?" Joonghyuk asked as the reader shook his head.

"Not yet, Joonghyuk-ah. There's one more thing I need to do, all we have to do now is to wait."

Joonghyuk narrowed his eyes but followed his lead as he sat down as well. He did not know what the man was planning.

"Ahjussi, then can I sleep for a while longer?" Jihye asked, raising her hand slightly.

"Of course, this will take a while until the moment I need it to happen, happens. Besides, as much as Pildu is a bastard for stealing coins, we can make use of him," he smirked as he spoke in that familiar voice that Joonghyuk heard when he was with him back on the stomach of the ichthyosaur.

A voice filled with a dark promise.

"We just need to wait for the right moment to strike."

Chapter Text

It has been an hour and a half, and Gong Pildu was still quite literally running his mouth while his turrets kill off any monsters getting close to them. It was going exactly as planned.

For Joonghyuk who was impatient, however, it was confusing as he couldn't read his mind. What was Dokja thinking, what was he going to do and what was he waiting for?

'Kim Dokja, what are you thinking?' He asked in his mind.

He glanced over to everyone else. Jihye and Heewon were back to sleeping while Hyunsung and Gilyoung decided to scavenge for food up above. Sangah was simply watching the scene below with Dokja.

And Joonghyuk? He was watching everything.

Still, he might as well think of a strategy to conquer the Theatre Dungeon. He challenged it eight times in the past before. He succeeded six times and failed twice. But that was because of the different Dungeon Master. He frowned.

If the Dungeon Master was the same as the one who made him lose his mind and committed suicide... Perhaps it would be best to go to the dungeon together.

He didn't want to die and regress. Not when he had so many questions just waiting for an answer. Besides, what would happen if he regressed and then Dokja disappeared?

It's a possibility that he rather not do.

"Kim Dokja," Joonghyuk called out as Dokja looked at him.

"Yeah, what's up?" He asked curiously.

"Do you have any information on this Theatre Dungeon?"

He needed to know whether he could solo it, or not. Time was ticking, and he rather gets all the things he needed as fast as possible. So if there was a possibility that the Dungeon Master was anything but that thing, he could go alone and return with many items for them.

Dokja thought about it, looking at his phone slightly.

Joonghyuk frowned.

Was he ignoring him? Why was he looking at his phone?

"Ah, about that... Why are you asking?" Dokja tilted his head to the side.

Joonghyuk sighed, "I don't know how long you're gonna keep waiting here but I need to get to the Theatre Dungeon and get as many items as I can. It can maybe even help these guys, considering there are props there that they can use."

Dokja hummed, knowing it was true, but after looking at his phone he knew that Joonghyuk would fail miserably. And he rather not let the man die.

He did vow to himself that he would give Joonghyuk a well-deserved ending, "Simulacra is the current boss. You have no chance of winning."

Joonghyuk groaned as he massaged the area in between his eyes. Of course, it was that son of a bitch. Just when he thought he could solo it in hopes to prepare for the next scenario.

'Wait a second...'

Joonghyuk straightened his posture when he realized something.

Dokja answered after he looked at his phone, but all Joonghyuk could see was a black screen. Why was that? Was there something special on that phone?

More mysteries about Kim Dokja. Why was he not surprised?

"We started at 19.00 pm and now it's 20.30, and he has six and a half more hours to go but he looks like he's struggling now..." Dokja calculated the time as he smirked, looking down at the man who was beginning to struggle against the rats.

[Gong Pildu's Supporting Constellation is asking the other Constellation for help.]

"It's time."

'Time for what?' Joonghyuk glanced at the notification. Just what was he doing?

Dokja seemed to be concentrating really hard on a wall here he was staring for some reason. Or was it not a wall he was staring at?

No... Was he talking to Bihyung? Another glance at Dokja seemed to have confirmed his suspicions since he could not see the Dokkaebi. Perhaps only Dokja could see him via their contract stream? He was there as a witness and just a witness.

It wasn't long before Dokja pulled out something from the Dokkaebi Bag to reveal high-quality mana potions and-

'A support contract!?'

Joonghyuk widened his eyes. What was he going to do with that? If he remembered the talk between him and Bihyung, Dokja was going solo, right? He wouldn't sign a contract with a Constellation as long as he was contracted with Bihyung if he remembered correctly. Or at least, what his memory served seeing he was asleep when the man had signed the contract with him, so Joonghyuk could only make guesses based on the talk beforehand.

He started writing his name on the contract before showing it off to someone, "Oi, I know you can hear me!"

"Are you just gonna die here and now? Or will you sign a contract with me?"

Both Joonghyuk and Bihyung gapped at Dokja, one was flying towards a wall, hitting himself in the process while the other was thanking whoever up there he was sitting or else his legs would become jelly again.

'IS HE REALLY GONNA DO WHAT I'M THINKING!?'

"I can't be a Supporting Constellation because I'm not a Constellation myself but I can still sponsor you, you know!" Dokja continued on, causing the invisible Dokkaebi to almost faint from shock while Joonghyuk was staring at the man as if he grew a second head.

'HE REALLY IS-!?'

But Dokja was not done at all, "If you sign the contract, I'll give him these to him too, you know?"

[Gong Pildu's Supporting Constellation reveals his nickname.]

[The Constellation Defense Master is dumbfounded by your suggestion.]

'There's no way... Constellations are only here for the thrill, they don't care about their incarnations!' Joonghyuk thought as he was also dumbfounded by the scenario.

But then he suddenly remembered the moments when his own Sponsor was starting to become active and helping him as well. Not from enemy attacks, nor shielding him but... Comforting him, as if saying it was going to be ok.

Mixed feelings were starting to form. He was supposed to hate his sponsor. He still does, or rather than hates. It turned into dislike. He won't deny the fact that his sponsor seem to care for him in the 1864th round, but that was probably because they find it thrilling for his suffering.

Right?

Gong Pildu fell to the ground, tired and exhausted as Sangah gasped, "Dokja-ssi, he's going to die!"

Joonghyuk frowned. As much as he didn't like the man, he was vital to the future as well.

[The Constellation Defense Master wants to know the terms of the contract.]

'I don't know what to believe anymore-!?'

Joonghyuk once again watched the scene with a gaping mouth, mirroring a certain Dokkaebi flying nearby.

Dokja read the new clauses before looking up to the ceiling, "You have a deal."

[The Contract has been agreed upon.]

"Sangah-ssi, give him one of the potions using your threads," he told the woman who nodded.

She did what she was told.

"I think it's time we go to the Theatre Dungeon now," Dokja chuckled.

Pildu glared at him as he snatched the potion before drinking it all in one go, "Once I get out of here, I-,"

"Shut up."

The man immediately closed his mouth, unable to speak at all.

[The Constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband drops his staff in shock.]

[The Constellation Abyssla Black Flame Dragon is offended by your impudence.]

Joonghyuk was somehow glad he was allied with Dokja, as seeing this whole... Plan of his on how to make Pildu their underling...

Kim Dokja was indeed a scary man to make enemies with.

"Sangah-ssi, Hyunsung-ssi. You don't mind watching over them while the rest of us go to the next dungeon, won't you?" He asked curiously, seeing the both of them look down like sad puppies.

"These potions are valuable so your skill with the threads is very useful Sangah-ssi, and Hyunsung-ssi has already used his skill two times so his mana would be in a bit of a wack right because of fatigue," he explained, trying to cheer them up.

Sangah thought about it, "I guess I don't mind," she responded as Hyunsung was checking his hand, it was trembling slightly.

It seemed like he was not used to his newfound powers yet, "You're right, Dokja-ssi. But I promise I'll get stronger soon!"

Dokja nodded his head, "Great, now that that's over and done with," he looked at the fighting people below.

"Dont mess with any of my friends while I'm away."

The way he said that threat with a smile made Joonghyuk shiver. And he thought he was the psychopath out of everyone else.

"Give him the potion every 40 minutes. Joonghyuk-ah, wake up Jihye and Heewon if you don't mind. Gilyoungie, you're coming with us."

The boy nodded his head as he stood up while Joonghyuk shook his disciple and Heewon awake.

"Mnh... Margarita pizza... H-huh-!? Joonghyuk-ssi?" Heewon blinked her eyes awake as Jihye yawned.

"Master?" She called out.

"Wake up, we're going to a dungeon for items now," he spoke to them.

The both of them shook themselves awake as they stood up. Heewon stretched her stiff limbs before noticing Hyunsung and Sangah weren't coming, "Are they not coming along?" She asked as Joonghyuk shook his head.

"They've been tasked to watch over Pildu over there. The five of us will go to a dungeon and get better items along the way," he explained.

Jihye hummed, "So where is this dungeon, Master?" She asked curiously.

'It's supposedly a hidden one, but with the time we spent here... Someone is bound to find it first,' Was what he thought. Dokja and Joonghyuk were the only ones who knew of the hidden scenario that was the Theatre Dungeon, but with how the 1864th round was different from previous rounds, he had to think of the worst possible scenario.

"Exit 11, Daehan Cinema," he said to them.

Dokja looked at everyone ready to leave, "Are we all ready?"

They all nodded their heads as Dokja lead the way, "Alright gang, let's move. Joonghyuk-ah, you said Exit 11 right?" He asked as the man nodded.

They silently went toward the exit which was not far from there. Compared to the other entrances, the whole area seemed to be eerily dark with a nauseating aura surrounding it.

[This dungeon has already been discovered. The discovery achievement cannot be obtained.]

Joonghyuk narrowed his eyes as Dokja looked shocked at the notification, 'Just as I thought. The 1864th round differs greatly from its previous predecessors. I have to be prepared for these kinds of scenarios...'

[A new hidden scenario has arrived.]

~~~

[Hidden Scenario - Theatre Dungeon.]

Difficulty: A-

Clear Conditions: defeat the master of the Cinema Dungeon.

Time Limit: none

Reward: 4000 coins

Penalty: -

~~~

[You have entered the Theatre Dungeon.]

The group stepped inside the dungeon. It was completely empty and filled with nothing but posters of movies on the wall. The counter abandoned, and food scattered on the floor, rotting.

"This place is kinda scary..." Gilyoung said as he stayed near Dokja. The man took his hand to give him some comfort as they looked around, "Wait, hyung! Someone's nearby!" He told the man.

Dokja looked at everyone else, "Everyone hide!" He half yelled, half-whispered to them. They all went behind a pillar and stayed quiet, hearing footsteps that the boy probably heard.

"No, this one's too hard! We'll die if we choose this one!" A voice groaned out.

"But we gotta choose one at least? We've been walking around since an hour ago! There are dozens of movies here that can kill us but you always chicken out!" The other whined, "We haven't even gotten a single thing because of your indecisive dumb ass!"

So they were the ones who discovered the Dungeon first, but it seemed they haven't even tried getting into the movies until then.

"Is my 1000 coins gonna be wasted to The Prophets anyway...?" The other sighed.

Joonghyuk frowned. The Prophets? That was a group he had never heard of in his past lives. It seemed Dokja was thinking the same thing considering the fact he looked confused like he was.

"I mean, these are just dinosaurs. What's so bad about them, right? We can take them on?" One voice began, his voice quivering.


"Let's head in. This is the least we can do with our skill right? They're just overgrown birds," the one with the stubble said. The group looked reluctant, but they all gathered in front of the poster before a spotlight shone down and made them disappear.

"They're gone!?" Jihye asked, surprised to see they were nowhere in sight anymore.

Joonghyuk looked around the place, seeing that the posters were still intact, meaning that they haven't been conquered yet. He did not know if that was a good thing, or not considering the fact that people have discovered the dungeon's secret and that the rewards were still available.

"Joonghyuk-ah, what's your plan?" Dokja asked curiously as the man was still thinking.

"Follow them, we might get some information if we interrogate them," he said as Heewon looked at the poster.

"But how exactly are we gonna go get them?"

Joonghyuk beckoned everyone closer with a motion of a hand as he stepped forward towards the poster.

The same spotlight suddenly engulfed them as soon as everyone was near him, "What the hell!?" Jihye cursed out, closing her eyes at the brightness.

[You have been hit by the projector beam.]

[The screening will now begin on your floor.]

"Of all things they entered, it's this one huh...?" Dokja sighed as Heewon looked at the man in confusion.

"Why? Is there something wrong? It's Jurassic Park right?" She said as Dokja sighed.

"It's exactly why, Heewon-ssi... That's exactly why..."

And with that, everyone disappeared as the spotlight dimmed down.

~~~

As soon as everyone blinked, they were no longer in a cinema. Instead, they seem to be in the middle of the jungle with nothing but vegetation all around them. They were standing in an empty field. Jihye looked around.

"WHERE THE HELL ARE WE!?" She yelled out.

Dokja winced as he hushed her, "We're in a movie! Now hush, or you'll attract the dinosaurs!" He told the teenager who closed her mouth immediately with her hands.

"Hyung, look what I found!" Gilyoung said cheerfully as he showed them a large mantis he was carrying like a puppy.

"I- ahjussi...?"

"He's the new Jean Henri-Fabre," Dokja responded seeing Jihye shocked with that large bug in his hands. And he was playing with it like a puppy too.

"Hm?" Gilyoung seemed curious as he listened to what the insect was saying before paling, "Dokja-hyung, we have a problem!" He yelled.

And right on cue, the ground started shaking as everyone tried to find the source of the shaking, "What's going on!?" Heewon asked, balancing herself just as a cloud of dust was charging toward them.

"H-HELP!"

Jihye looked towards the source of the scream to see the familiar men from before, "There they are!"

Joonghyuk cursed, "Regroup!" He yelled at everyone as Dokja carries Gilyoung in his arms.

"HOLY FUCKING SHIT ITS A DINOSAUR!" Jihye screamed at the sight of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.

"RUN!" The reader warned them as they all started to sprint in the opposite direction.

Heewon began to jump away from the attack the dinosaur made on her, "JESUS CHRIST WHAT THE FUCK!?"

Dokja twitched an eye, "LANGUAGE WE HAVE A CHILD HERE!?" He yelled at everyone as he glared at them.

Jihye was sent further away when the T-rex used its head to attack them, "OH MY FUCKING GOD!? YOU FUCKING DINOSAUR!?" She landed on her butt after somersaulting her way to avoid eating dirt.

Joonghyuk didn't know why, but somehow a familiar tune was playing inside of his head, but he had forgotten what it was.

Odd.

'Jesus Christ, what the fuck.. Have I gotten myself into...?'

Chapter Text

"MASTER SAVE US!" Jihye yelled out as she avoided one of its attacks. The two men that barely survived almost got swung away by the head of the creature.

Actually no, scratch that, they did and were probably dying somewhere to the side.

"I can't when it's all focused on us!" Joonghyuk reasoned. If he wasn't mistaken, that creature had a few weaknesses that should be simple to deal with.

"Hyung! T-Rex have a narrow vision and are vulnerable to attacks from the side!" Gilyoung reported. It was until then that Joonghyuk realized that the boy was activating a skill. Which was technically an encyclopedia of dinosaurs.

Once again, their companions proved to be very useful in many situations.

"Jihye, Heewon, to the side!" He barked out to the women of the group. Both of them nodded as they dashed to the side before Joonghyuk turned back. He has to keep the dinosaur's aggro on him.

He saw a branch nearby as he took it before he aimed the branch at its eye and threw it.

The creature roared in pain before it finally looked at Joonghyuk alone. The man cursed. The dinosaur managed to move just an inch and it avoided most of the damage.

[Tier 7 Land Dragon species Tyrannosaurus Rex has become aware of your presence.]

"Dokja, get behind that thing with Gilyoung!," he ordered, "Attack it at my signal!"

Dokja looked at Joonghyuk before nodding his head, running away and following the woman to his right.

[Tier 7 Land Dragon species Tyrannosaurus Rex has chosen you as its target.]

The regressor used his sword to shield himself from a head attack before parrying. He had to aim for both eyes as the twig from before was still a shallow hit.

"Hyung, I can help you!" He heard Gilyoung yell out.

If Gilyoung could control insects, then he should be able to use that to their advantage, "Whatever you do, aim for its eyes!" He barked out an order, avoiding yet another attack from the creature.

It wasn't long before Gilyoung summoned the mantis from before with a soft green aura engulfing his whole body. The large insect flew at high speed, using its talons to scratch out its eyes.

"Jihye! Heewon!"

"We're on it, Master!" Jihye used her sword to slash at the T-Rex's leg, and Heewon quickly followed suit with the other leg.

"Kim Dokja!"

The said man had placed the boy on the ground as he had already taken out his weapon, "You don't need to say it twice, Joonghyuk-ah!"

[Unbreakable Faith's special property has been activated.]

[The ether affix has been changed to Fire.]

Both men started jumping on the dinosaur, with Joonghyuk using the injured legs as a stepping stone while Dokja used its tail to go towards the neck.

The regressor started a series of slashes and stabs to immobilize the monster as Dokja would be the one dealing the final blow to it.

He swung his sword and thrust it deep into the neck of the creature. It roared in pain as Dokja realized his attack was shallow, but with a grit of his teeth, he started dragging the sword across the neck.

A bright red aura started circling Dokja's figure, embracing the sword as Joonghyuk quickly jumped towards the reader, grabbing him by the waist as he landed safely with Dokja in his arms while the T-Rex roared in pain before it became its evolution roasted chicken.

[You are the first to hunt a Tier 7 Land Dragon Species Tyrannosaurus Rex.]

[You have received 1000 coins for your achievement.]

Dokja looked at Joonghyuk, "Thanks," he said to the regressor who nodded his head in acknowledgement and lets him go. His waist was still very thin around his arms...

Wait, why was he thinking about his waist-!? Brain, it was not the time to be zoning off again!

"Damn, that was some great teamwork y'all," Heewon patted the shoulders of both of them, causing the two men who winced in pain. Damn, she was stronger than they both thought.

"Master! They're here!"

Everyone looked back to where Jihye was to see she was kneeling with one of the men that was hit before. Dokja rushed to where she was as he grabbed a water bottle from his inventory and gave the man some water, but he coughed it out. It seemed he was on limited time considering his pale complexion.

"How did you know this place?" Dokja asked the man.

He started to open his mouth, "T-T-The Prophets..."

Again with The Prophets, "And who exactly are they?" Joonghyuk joined in.

"T-they are guardians-," a cough of blood, "of the r-revelation..."

Joonghyuk frowned as the man took his final breath away. Guardians of revelations? What did that mean? He couldn't understand at all. Judging by the name itself, could this group be related to Anna Croft? As she was the one who had been a true prophet?

Was she trying to screw him over again? He sighed. They didn't get much information but at least the Theatre Dungeon was theirs. With it, they could get items to make themselves stronger.

"I'm surprised you can kill that thing with your sword, ahjussi. Master, why didn't you just Dynamic Entry kick that T-rex like you did with Majang's monster?" Jihye asked curiously while Heewon took a leaf and covered the man's body out of respect.

Joonghyuk opened his mouth and spoke, "I merely provided support, you all need to become stronger so the Theatre Dungeon is actually a really good training ground for you."

Besides, as much as he could solo all the movies, he knew he wouldn't even use half the skills he would gain. So instead of hoarding them all like when he did during the third regression, he might as well give the ones he didn't and wouldn't use to the rest of the team members.

Not to mention, he couldn't win against the current boss. Which was why he decided to use the opportunity to make everyone grow even more powerful.

Especially Dokja.

He couldn't lose him, not when the man had every answer to his long list of questions.

He had a bad feeling he was going to get mind fucked again... Just when he was finally out of the fuckery that was the Warden and the Illusion Prison.

He gets it, he had a weak mentality! He was working on it, ok!?

He wasn't.

"So how are we gonna get out of here?" Heewon asked everyone as Dokja was the one who answered her.

"We're in a movie. We finish the movie, giving it an amazing finale," he explained as he looked around the place, "Over there, the research lab should have the items we can get in each movie. I'm guessing every movie has different rewards based on it."

Heewon glanced to where Dokja was pointing, "That building over there? Alright then, pack your things everyone-,"  she paused as she looked at what the kids were doing, "what are you doing?"

Jihye cuts the meat of the dinosaur and de-skinned it before giving it to Gilyoung, "Don't you know a T-Rex is the closest thing related tk a chicken?" Their youngest said as he ate the meat before widening his eyes in awe, "It tastes exactly like chicken!"

"Holy shit, kid, you're right!" Jihye said, eating her piece while Dokja and Joonghyuk watched the scene.

"... We'll take a short break then..." The regressor reluctantly said at the carefree atmosphere he was in.

"DINNER TIME!"

They all hurdled up together with the kids as Joonghyuk cut the meat with his own sword, giving it to Heewon and Dokja before taking a small piece himself.

"By the way, while we're here, got any new premonitions for us, Dokja-ssi?" Heewon asked curiously as she began to eat the meat as well.

Dokja twitched an eye, remembering that he was considered a "prophet" due to having a skill similar to Anna Croft thanks to a certain regressor telling it to the group. Well, at least he wasn't questioning Dokja about why he knew of them.

"Well, the boss is on the top floor. We can technically kill the boss right now unless we get hit by the spotlight. But the more we do finish the movies, the more rewards we get, and also the stronger we get too," he glanced over to Joonghyuk who was eating his own fill silently.

"So how are we gonna conquer this dungeon then?" Jihye asked, looking at both of them.

It was Joonghyuk who answered, "The key here is to not recreate the movie's actual ending," he explained as Dokja nodded.

"He's right, we have to make our own ending that pleases the Dungeon Master. It also likes action the most. Consider it... As a Constellation that we gotta kill?" He tried to explain it in a similar term.

[The Constellation The Last Director is nodding her head at the reasoning.]

"I see... Then Master, if so, can we try to clear a movie all on our own?" Jihye asked him.

Joonghyuk thought about it. It would not only make things quicker but also make them stronger as well. Even though the rewards differ but if they get something that could help another team member then it was still a win-win situation.

The risk, of course, was them dying in the movie. It's a dangerous gamble, but if done right, would be overpowering.

"Invest more of your coins into your stats first, it will be troublesome if one of you were to die here."

That was such a Joonghyuk way of saying he was worried but Dokja took it anyway because he was already considered a companion by him.

"Alright everyone, are we all ready?" Dokja asked as he dusted his clothes off. Everyone nodded since they had finished their meal.

The group quickly made their way to the lab, using Gilyoung's new friend, Titano, to avoid any more dinosaurs while making their journey safe, which still creeps out Jihye as she dispises bugs, but the boy's power was quite literally connected to bugs so she had to endure.

Joonghyuk knocked the door down by kicking it as they entered the lab. He was looking for something particular that resembled items, "Scatter around and find something that may look like items we can use," he ordered the group as they started searching.

"What could be an item we use as a reward be, though?" Jihye asked, looking through the papers as Gilyoung was searching the desks.

Heewon looked through the cupboard with Dokja as the reader widened his eyes when he found something, "Joonghyuk-ah! I found them!" He said.

"Damn ahjussi, you're fast!" Jihye said as everyone gathered to Dokja.

They were ampules in glass bottles. 20 of them, and they have five bottles of each star which was stamina, mana, agility, and strength.

"We have five people here, so I think we can divide these into four potions for each?" Dokja suggested.

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire nods at the fairness.]

"Then can you give me the strength ampules? A helpless little girl like me needs them~"

Joonghyuk rolled his eyes at his disciple's antics, "Give her two of the mana ampules, one agility and one stamina," he said, already knowing that her strength was already in their twenties.

Jihye gasped as she glared at her master Dokja chuckled giving her exactly what Joonghyuk told him, "I think Heewon-ssi would benefit a lot with strength and stamina, so two of them each for her?" Dokja asked as Joonghyuk activated Sage's Eye and looked at her.

"Her mana and agility are sufficient. Give her what you planned," the man nodded and took the two bottles before giving them to her.

"What about Gilyoungie? What do you think he needs?" The reader asked as Joonghyuk hummed, placing a hand on his chin.

The boy had grown considerably with his mana being the highest, so he wouldn't need that seeing he needs to raise the rest just so he could keep up with everyone.

"Give him the rest of the stamina ampules and... One agility and one strength" was what he said.

Gilyoung took the bottles that were given to him by Dokja.

"We have three mana, three agility and two strengths left," Dokja said. Joonghyuk turned off his skill as his eye reverted back to normal.

"What do you need more?" He asked curiously as Dokja thought about it.

"But then what about you, you'll just be left with the rest?" He told the regressor.

He didn't exactly mind considering there were many other movies that have them, "There are more ampules in other movies, hidden away in labs anyway. I don't mind."

Dokja looked at him, "Are you sure?" He, but Joonghyuk wasn't responding as he sighed.

"Just take whatever you want, Dokja. Oh, but we'll have to get some for Hyunsung-ssi and Sangah-ssi too. Joonghyuk-ssi did say there's more in this dungeon, so we can as well do a full sweep before going to the boss room," Heewon said as Dokja scratched his head.

He groaned, "True, true. I guess we'll be here for a couple of hours searching for items then," he said as he took the two of the mana ampules, one agility and one strength, leaving Joonghyuk with the rest.

It wasn't until they heard a helicopter nearby that they suddenly all took a stance, "What's that? A helicopter?"

"I think that's our ride out of this movie?" Dokja asked particularly no one, trying to think why a helicopter would be there.

"Let's check it out?" Gilypung suggested. Everyone cautiously went out of the lab just in time to see a notification appear right in front of them.

[The Dungeon Master is happy with the movie's ending.]

[You can exit the movie by helicopter.]

"Oh, you're right!" Jihye said as she glanced to where the helicopter landed, "So basically if we kill then we can get out of the movies?" She asked, still trying to wrap her head around the idea.

"Not necessarily. You just gotta make it interesting enough for the Cinema Master to enjoy," he said as he climbed onto the helicopter.

Gilyoung patted Titano's head, "Goodbye, Titano, I'll miss you," he wanted to take the little creature with him, but the mantis said it couldn't leave which made Gilyoung sad.

Everyone else entered the helicopter and sat comfortably on the seats, looking down at the jungle.

[You have reached the first ending credit.]

[Cast: Kim Dokja, Yoo Joonghyuk, Lee Jihye, Lee Gilyoung, Jung Heewon.]

[You have each earned 500 coins for your performance.]

~~~

The spotlight shone in front of the poster once again as it made the group reappear in front of the poster ust as the it ripped itself out.

"Whoa, we're back!" Jihye said, looking at the familiar place before seeing the poster ripped unlike before, "Oh, it's torn apart. Does this mean it's completed?" She asked.

"Seems like it. And from what Dokja-ssi said, we have a bunch of movies to clear," Heewon sighed out, "But at least we're getting stronger?"

Joonghyuk glanced around, counting the movies just to make sure they were at least a similar amount.

Each floor has 10 posters, all of them have different genres combined and the movies remained the same. Of course, seeing how different the 1864th round was, he would expect several new movies would be added.

"Are we each going to go into the movie alone?" Gilyoung asked as Joonghyuk frowned.

It wasn't like he trust them to get killed- ok maybe he was lying to himself.

He didn't trust them enough to be left alone and die a pitiful death.

"I have an idea," Dokja started, "Why don't we split into two groups and the members are based on the movie?" He suggested.

It wasn't a bad plan. He quite liked it. With it, they would also be able to finish the floor quicker and gain more rewards. Plus everyone was also getting stronger.

"We'll go with your plan then," was what he said.

"Great, let's all find a movie two movies first that we wanna conquer."

The group looked at the remaining posters as one caught Heewon's attention, "Oh, you mind if I do Deadpool? Anyone wanna come with me?"

"AHJUSSI I WANNA DO 47 RONIN!" Jihye yelled at the reader.

"Gilyoungie, any movies you wanna do first?" Dokja asked as Gilyoung shook his head.

"No, I'll follow Dokja-hyung wherever," he said.

Dokja hummed, so that meant they have two options since he didn't mind either, "Joonghyuk-ah, which one are you choosing?" He was expecting him to go with Jihye seeing she was his disciple.

"I don't particularly mind. Either way, the enemies will die by my hand."

Dokja's cold sweat dropped comically. It was in tune with how he was in the novel. Then again, he was supposed to be a novel protagonist until he wasn't anymore.

"I've watched Deadpool before so I'll probably go with Jihye on this one. I wanna see what makes her excited to see it," he told him.

"Then I'll go with Heewon," Joonghyuk said as Dokja nodded.

"Alrighty then, we all have our group, right? Let's get the show going then."

The two groups stepped in front of their respective posters as the very same spotlight shone upon them.

[You have been hit by a projector beam.]

[The screening will now begin on your floor.]

~~~

Jung Heewon coughed, gasping for air when she soon realized she was somewhere that she did bit want to be.

A burning laboratory.

She was soon reminded of what exactly happened to the main character as she stood up, but somehow her body hurt.

Wait a second...

THE PROTAGONIST WAS HER!?

Heewon quickly realized that her body was also somewhat healing itself as he paled, 'WAIT WHAT ABOUT MY FACE!?'

If she was the protagonist of Deadpool, was she going to have burned skin forever in her life!?

Wait no, she had better things to do first.

Like surviving the fire.

Yes, she needed to do that first.

She glanced around, trying to find the door to escape before noticing one nearby.

"THERE IS NO FUCKING WAY I'M DYING WHEN I JUST ENTERED!" She kicked the door down as she made a run for it.

She covered her head, sprinting as fast as possible all while avoiding the debris that was falling on top of her because the fire had weakened the lab's structure and quickly made it outside of the main lab. It wasn't until she saw a similar-looking bottle nearby in another room that she paused.

'Is that an ampule? Should I go risk it and grab it?' That was what she thought. Looking left and right, she cursed to himself. Joonghyuk was not with her at all.

"Fuck it, I'm getting it!" She began running towards the ampule as she kicked the door down to the room and grabbed it. Thankfully there was only one so she could safely put it in her inventory.

Of course, that was until she caught sight of yet another item. Except it was in the form of a book.

'This book...'

~~~

[Item]

Name Wade Wilson's Information.

Description: information about Wilson's fighting compatibility history.

Usage: Able to use the weapons Wade Wilson uses with ease.

~~~

"Yep, totally taking this for myself."

She grabbed the book, making sure to use it later once she escaped the lab before running towards the exit once again. The building was getting hotter with every passing moment.

Should she just destroy the wall and find the exit that way?

Yes.

Yes, she should.

She used a table as she threw it and kicked the wall of the lab and ran through it, repeating the action until finally, she was outside of the lab.

She panted, placing her hands on her knees as she tried to recover stamina. Dokja was right, she needed to improve her stamina.

'Now that's done... I need to find Joonghyuk-ssi..'

It seemed they were separated the moment they entered the movie.

She looked around to see she was once again in the middle of the jungle she sighed.

"Sheesh, villains and their fucking secret labs are always so predictable," she sighed before looking at the items she got and widened her eyes at the ampule's description.

~~~

[Item]

Name: Superhuman Mutant Genes

Description: This bottle contains Wildon's DNA that shows superhuman capabilities such as regeneration, superhuman strength, durability, stamina, reflexes and agility.

Usage: upon consumption, the user will be able to access the properties of the ampule.

~~~

Her eyes were as wide as dinner plates as she rubbed them both to see if she was not mistaken, "Uhm... Is this allowed!? Isn't this a cheat code!?" She asked no one, "Wait, aren't items supposed to spawn after we complete a movie or... Is this a hidden item..."

It made sense. The item was overpowered, and perhaps she could've ignored these altogether. Maybe it was in fact a secret item. It sure looked like it.

'No wait, I gotta find Joonghyuk-ssi first... Where to find him... If I were the protagonist then... Weasel's bar!' She clapped her hands as she finally got an idea.

For the moment, she'll keep the two items she got for the time being and search for Joonghyuk.

After getting new clothes. It wasn't until she reached a nearby lake that she gasped at her appearance.

Thankfully she looked the same but it was her clothes that made it horrendous!

"I'M IN NOTHING BUT HOSPITAL CLOTHES!?"

~~~

Heewon had stolen some laundry from a nearby farmhouse, settling on just a hoodie and some jeans before taking the bus to get to the city.

Still, walking around in such a big place felt familiar. Perhaps the apocalypse made her a bit sentimental. Her legs quickly made their way toward's bar as she entered it.

It's been a while since she's been in a bar as she was a bartender before like Weasel. A blond, glasses-wearing man with a beard saw who it was that entered the place.

"Aye! If it isn't Wade Wilson!" He greeted as Heewon blinked.

Yep, that just confirmed she was the protagonist.

Now... How to get information on where Joonghyuk was?

"Weasel, my bro, my homie, my pal! I need you to do me a favour..." Heewon said, taking the role of Wade as she sat down on the chair in front of the counter.

"I thought you kicked the bucket seeing you have cancer?" The man said, wiping a glass of a shot.

Heewon grimaced in her heart. That was right, Wade was diagnosed with cancer.

"I'm still here, you son of a bitch. Anyway, I have a favour-,"

"Uh, shush shush shush!" Weasel placed a finger in front of Heewon's lips as he leaned in closer, "Bastard, we have a fucking problem. And when I say we, i mean you. You left Vanessa without a fucking word and now- oh shit!"

Heewon rose an eyebrow curiously as the man suddenly became scared as she look behind her, finally seeing a familiar face wearing a tank top and jeans.

"Joonghyuk-ssi- AGH!" Without a word, Joonghyuk pulled Heewon into the bathroom as Weasel's sweat dropped.

"If he didn't die of cancer, then he'll probably die of that..."

Once in the bathroom, the both of them were finally alone as Heewon looked at him, "Ow, you're pulling on me too hard!" She whined, nursing her hand once Joonghyuk let's go.

"By the way, we weren't together when we entered, why is that?" She asked as Joonghyuk answered her.

"Depending on the movie, we might get assigned roles. You're assigned as Wade Wilson, right? The protagonist of Deadpool?"

Heewon nodded, "Yep, I even got items from the burning lab, though I haven't used them yet just in case it suits someone else better."

The man nodded his head in acknowledgement. Better collect everything first before they split it with everyone

"So who are you assigned as, Joonghyuk-ssi? Heewon asked curiously as the man twitched an eye.

Yoo Joonghyuk took a deep breath and sigh.

"Vanessa, a fucking ex-prostitute."

He placed a hand in between his eyes, massaging the bridge of his nose.

"Wilson's love interest."

Chapter Text

[The Constellation The Last Director is wheezing uncontrollably on her throne.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

Joonghyuk did not know how long Heewon has been laughing, clutching her stomach as she tried to support herself by using the sink nearby because of their situation at the moment.

Yes, he was Deadpool once in his past life, he thought he would have the same role but nope! He became the fucking love interest.

"OH MY GOD I- HAHAHHAHAHHAHA I CAN'T BREATHE!?" The woman laughed out while Joonghyuk twitched an eyebrow.

"I get it, now shut up! We have to kill the antagonist," he told the woman who wiped tears out of her eyes because of how topsy-turfy the situation was.

"Ok-! Ok, I gotcha!" She tried to hold her laughter but a snort escaped her mouth, "I-I'm sorry-!" She slapped her cheeks lightly before finally getting serious.

"Alright, I'm good... I think," she snorted again as Joonghyuk glared at her, "Ok, ok I won't laugh at you. Much."

He swore he would personally kill the Dungeon Master for this humiliation. No matter, even if his role was a woman's role, he could still kick some nasty asses.

"Alright, so what's the plan?" Heewon asked curiously.

Joonghyuk answered her, "We find Francis and kill him. Simple as that."

Even if it was simple, Heewon had a feeling it won't be because of how slippery that bastard was in the movie, "And exactly how are we gonna find him?"

Joonghyuk opened his mouth before closing it. He had to admit, he took the easy way by killing quite literally everyone when he was Deadpool before.

The woman sighed, "Joonghyuk-ssi, no offence but you're really dumb sometimes..." A twitch of an eyebrow was seen but Heewon continued, "Have you seen the movie before?" She asked.

He shook his head. Of course he didn't, he was too busy trying to stay alive in an apocalypse, why would he be watching movies when there was no one behind the stand to get his popcorn ready?

She sighed, "You better be glad I'm here then cuz I've watched it once and it's one of my favourites before. First things first, we gotta set up a base for the time being and try to track down Francis' goons and interrogate them. That way, we can find him faster. Capeesh?" She told him.

Of course, as much as he just wanted to get it over with, she did have a point. Going on a killing spree was not the right answer even though it's an easy one, but it took him almost a month in the movie's time frame the last time he did it. 

"You know what, let me talk to Weasel. He has a lot of contacts that can help us," she said. The man frowned, but he decided to follow her. They both went outside of the bathroom as the man behind the bar looked shocked to see them both alright.

"I was half expecting you to finally get killed, Wade, but you didn't! Congrats on living another day!" He congratulated. Of course, Heewon being in the role of Wade Wilson so they wouldn't act too out of character, simply shrugged.

"Listen, Weasel buddy. I need you to do something for me, alright? Ever heard of Ajax? Or his real name, Francis?" Heewon asked, sitting back in the chair as Joonghyuk sat beside her.

The blond man hummed, "Can't say I haven't, but what's up?" He asked curiously.

"Where is he?" Joonghyuk suddenly asked as Heewon sighed.

"Vanessa, baby, let me do the talking," not going to lie, she quite like taking the role of Deadpool and watching the man holding his anger inside. It was like watching a cat being grumpy.

"I need you to find Francis for me, or even his underlings. And leave them to me," Heewon said with a smile as Weasel rose an eyebrow.

"Got some beef with the guy?"

The woman nodded, "Let's just say I wanna give him a taste of his own medicine after what he did to me and Vanessa."

Weasel hummed as he looked around the bar, "And no, just send me their locations and I'll deal with them. All I need from you is information."

"Ah, is he why you two kinda broke it off?" Weasel asked.

"He... Has a part," Heewon began. But that was all she needed to answer.

"I got ya fam, just don't make me do clean-up duties, I already have a bar to manage," he laughed out before leaning over, "oh by the way..."

The man glanced over to the glaring Joonghyuk, "She still mad?" Weasel asked, whispering to Heewon as the woman tried not to laugh.

"Oh yeah, she is furious..."

~~~

"What the fuck do you mean you got back together?"

The two decided to go to Blind Al's supposed apartment for a rest. Heewon was surprised that even the woman recognised her as Wade and even though she was ironically supposed to be a prisoner, she was treating her like a daughter. Or well... Son in her eyes.

Her blind eyes, mind you.

"Let's just say things happen and we gotta find a bastard that needs some ass-kicking, granny," Heewon spoke in her very carefree tone.

"Sheesh, kids these days have no self-preservation, go ahead and do whatever! This old lady is sick and tired of yer yapping," she said before going to her room with her cane.

Heewon breathed a sigh of relief, at least she didn't need to explain Joonghyuk's appearance, "You can sleep in the guest room. This place is..." Looking at the messy place, she cringed, "... Isn't the best but it should do for our hideout for the time being while we hunt down Francis."

Joonghyuk didn't mind at all, as long as they could get the items they needed and exit the movie, "What are you doing?" The man asked as Heewon started cutting some fabric.

"What does it look like I'm doing, making a costume! I've always wanted to cosplay Deadpool before!" She said happily, "Oh! You should do one too! We're gonna go kill some bad guys anyway so why not do it in style!?"

"I refuse," was his instant answer.

Heewon pouted, "Oh come on, don't be such a loser! Besides, Deadpool needs a companion too right?" She thought of a name before her eyes shone evilly.

"I VOTE THE NAME MARIPOSA!"

[The Constellation The Last Director is choking on her tea and is wheezing on the floor.]

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is on the floor laughing.]

[1000 coins have been sponsored.]

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

Jung Heewon was, in fact, not kidding him. Yeah sure they were in an apocalypse but they also need time to mess around and do crazy shit! And so, she decided, that she will drag Joonghyuk with her.

"I mean, it's a world of superheroes and villains!" She argued, but of course, Joonghyuk was also very stubborn.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes!"

Both of them glared at each other before a notification appeared in front of them.

[The Constellation The Last Director is starting to manifest something.]

It wasn't long before the both of them were suddenly engulfed in soft blue light.

"What the-!? What's happening!?" Heewon asked before realizing that her whole body was slowly being covered by a familiar-looking fabric was covering her whole body.

The red bodysuit of Deadpool.

"Holly shit, Constellations can do this?" Heewon asked Joonghyuk as she looked over at him before she snorted.

She bit her trembling lips to stop herself but ultimately...

She failed.

Badly.

"FUCK ME SIDEWAYS HOLY SHIT AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL WHAT THE FUCCCKKK AAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA!"

Joonghyuk looked for a mirror around the apartment as he barged into the bathroom and saw his reflection.

He paled.

He was wearing a black body suit that defined his muscles perfectly alongside a red, thigh-length bodycon. He had belts around his waist, legs and chest and even had pocket knives on his thighs. He had a butterfly-shaped mask on his face as well. Did he also say he was wearing high-heeled boots?

*Click*

Joonghyuk looked back to Heewon who had used her phone to take a picture of him.

"Oh, I'm saving this for Dokja..."

"DON'T!"

Heewon avoided him by jumping to the side, "Oh hell no, I need to make sure this scene is forever imprinted in my head!"

Joonghyuk glared at her before trying to tackle her once again but she made a run for it to her room and locked it fast.

He was in fast pursuit but was too late as he jabbed at the door, "Jung Heewon, get out of here and delete that picture right now- OW!?"

"AN OLD LADY IS ABOUT TO FUCKING TAKE HER BEAUTY SLEEP YOU SONS OF BITCHES!?"

~~~

It was the next day and Heewon had gotten a pretty good rest. Well, she was sleeping on a bed, of course she got a good rest. For the past few days, she had been sleeping on the goddamned floor because of the apocalypse.

It wasn't until she looked at her phone that she had gotten a message from Weasel.

From: Weasel
Pay me next time, asshat
[Attached File]

Heewon smirked as she stood up. It was time to go hunting.

After breakfast.

She was hungry, ok?

She unlocked the door as she went to the kitchen seeing a familiar half-naked man cooking up eggs and bacon. Heewon wore the hoodie she got stolen yesterday to bed while her costume was placed neatly next to the bed.

"Joonghyuk-ssi, you're up early?" Heewon said as she sat on the chair while he placed the cooked food on a plate before giving it to her. He placed another set for himself and sat in front of her.

"Seeing you know the movie more, I might as well just follow your lead," he reasoned out, eating his share of food.

Heewon remembered that Dokja had eaten his food before and was lowkey curious as to how it tasted even though what he ate was the same as everyone else. She took a fork and ate the eggs before widening her eyes in shock.

"What the fuck...?" Heewon gasped out, looking at the food.

Joonghyuk frowned. He was pretty sure he just added a bit of salt and pepper. Was it too salty?

"Joonghyuk-ssi, are you Gordon Ramsay?" She suddenly asked as the man looked confused as hell.

"I beg your pardon?"

"THIS SHIT IS DELICIOUS WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!? HOW ARE EGGS THIS FLUFFY!?" She pointed to the quite literal cloud of eggs on her plate before pointing towards the bacon, "AND THE BACON ISN'T OILY BUT IT'S CRISPY AND TENDER AT THE SAME TIME!?"

No wonder Dokja was in awe of his cooking. The man was cooking like a chef, he's a five-star Michelin!

"By the way, what items did you get?" Joonghyuk asked as he ate a piece of bacon.

"Hm? Oh, I got a book and an ampule. This ampule contains the mutated genes of Wade Wilson and if drank, can have his powers. While the book is basically his combat abilities," Heewon showed him the two items as she grabbed them from her inventory.

He had never seen the two after he had cleared the movie before... Were they hidden items? If so, she had a very good eye. Seeing the description, it did seem the two of them were quite high-graded.

"Let's keep the ampule for now. I have a feeling the book suits you more than it does me," he said to her, 'I already have Advanced Weapon Training skill, which is a similar skill but it uses formal weapons. This, however, can take advantage of every single thing around her which can help greatly.'

"Wait, you're giving this to me?" She asked with her eyes wide open.

"Who else would fit this skill?" Was his answer as Heewon's eyes glowed at the book. Sure Jihye was a candidate but he was training under him already. Hyunsung was more of a tank, and Sangah did not fit at all considering her skills were not suited for it. Gilyoung and Dokja also. So who else other than her?

"Oh that's right, Weasel came through and got us quite a few targets. Ready to hunt for Francis?"

Joonghyuk groaned, remembering the outfit he got from a certain Constellation. But they had to, now that the Theatre Dungeon was interested in them wearing the costumes as well.

"Do I have to wear that thing...?"

"Of course! Didn't you and Dokja-ssi say to make the ending as interesting as possible? The costumes spice it up!" She said, taking the book for herself before finally opening it.

It glowed a bright golden light.

[User: Jung Heewon has been identified.]

The book slowly disappeared into dust as it was absorbed into her body. She opened her attribute window and saw that the skill was in her skill lists, "Nice! I can use it immediately too!"

Joonghyuk finished his food as he stood up, "Come on then, we're hunting for Francis and give him a worthy death," was what he said as he went into the guest room once again, looking at the outfit he was forced to wear.

[Many Constellations are expecting you to wear it.]

[The Dungeon Master is expecting you to wear it.]

He sighed, but he wore it anyway, 'I can't believe I have to wear a dress of all things...' At least he was wearing a bodysuit underneath as well.

"Joonghyuk-ssi! I got us weapons!" Heewon had yelled from the basement as Joonghyuk looked at himself.

No matter how ridiculous the role was, he had to endure it. For the sake of getting out of the goddamned movie.

Heewon was already wearing her costume as well as giving Joonghyuk a sword from the basement, "Deadpool's a mercenary that can practically use everything. This will be good practice for me to use my new skill," she said, twirling a dagger before putting it back in its pocket.

The man looked at her and frowned, "We're gonna kill every target we have," he told her, remembering that she almost broke down back in Geumho, "Can you kill?"

Heewon looked at her weapons as she frowned, "I mean... They're not exactly real people, right? Since it's just a movie. Also, they're the bad guys that's been experimenting on other people, so... I'm here to avenge them."

She took a deep breath before sighing it out, "It's hard adapting but... Now it's a kill-or-be-killed world. I think... If it goes to the worst, I have no choice, won't I?" She smiled emptily at him.

That was true. Joonghyuk was once like that before as well, but he had already become a monster. Heewon had not, she was still conscious of her morals, "Wise decision."

Heewon hummed, nodding her head, "It's quite the opposite of Deadpool," she began, fixing her gloves, "But I'll try my best as Deadpool. I don't want to burden everyone if I'm weak."

Thay was a good mentality. The stronger you are, the more useful you will be. It was just that kind of world ever since the apocalypse started.

"Just think of them as punching bags. Unleash your anger to them," Joonghyuk simply said as Heewon snorted out.

"I could, can I?" She giggled but smiled at him, "Thanks."

Joonghyuk rose an eyebrow, "For what?" He asked.

"You were worried about me, right?" She started, "That's why you asked that question."

Joonghyuk kept quiet. He admitted, yes he was worried. But his pride didn't allow him to say it out loud.

Heewon continued to chuckle at him, it seemed their relationship was starting to lighten. Her impression of him changed from how she viewed him at first.

"We're wasting time," Joonghyuk suddenly told her, trying to change the subject, "Who's the first target?"

~~~

Heewon and Joonghyuk fought their way behind a casino's back room as the woman used her elbow to hit a man on the neck while Joonghyuk kicked another and grabbed him by the head, pinning him down on a table.

"Where-,"

*Slam*

"The fuck-,"

*SLAM*

"Is Francis!?"

"JOONGHYUK-SSI HE'S ALREADY DEAD!?"

Joonghyuk looked at the man he slammed his face on the table and cursed.

"Fuck."

~~~

Heewon twirled her guns as she aimed toward the enemies that were pursuing Joonghyuk. The man easily avoided their attacks and stabbed everyone to death before taking one and slamming him on the wall.

"Where's Francis? Don't make me say it twice," he demanded all while Heewon was protecting him from the horde of enemies.

She dodged a bullet before taking out her daggers and rushed towards them, deflecting the bullets using the daggers and slamming the gunner on the floor, "Hey, asshat. I need you to tell me where your boss is?"

~~~

"He made me ask twice!" Joonghyuk sighed, taking off his mask and throwing it over the couch as they just got home while Heewon groaned.

"But that doesn't mean you can just kill them!? We need information, you little homicidal bastard!?" Heewon sighed as the first day was a total failure. Time to try the next day.

~~~

"Are you sure we're in the right area?" Joonghyuk asked as he followed Heewon into a fight club. She kicked the door down before finally seeing her target.

"That guy's our man," was what she said as she charged toward him. Everyone started fighting against her as she used every single weapon at her disposal to kill them while Joonghyuk ran towards the man who was running away. He jumped and kicked his neck hard enough that he fell to the ground.

"Tell me where Francis is!?" He demanded before realising he was dead.

Oh shit, did his heels kill him? Heewon was not gonna be happy with this...

"JOONGHYUK-SSI IS HE DEAD ALREADY!? GODDAMMIT, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO ASK HIM!?"

Fuck.

~~~

"HEY, ASSHOLE TELL US WHERE YOUR BOSS IS OR YOU'LL DIE!"

The man kept quiet as he tried to crawl away from him as Heewon shrugged. She turned on the bulldozer.

"I THOUGHT YOU SAID WE HAVE TO ASK HIM!?" Joonghyuk screamed from the side where he was killing off the underlings of the guy she was supposed to interrogate.

"I already did though!?" The woman yelled back before looking at the controls, "Now how the hell do you get this thing to work..."

She pressed a button before the bulldozer. It activated before it suddenly went back, the woman squeaked in surprise, holding onto the walls of the control room as the machine crashed back into a wall, destroying it and leaving a hole.

"Oops?"

~~~

Heewon jumped down from the stairs as she used her sword to kill the bodyguards of the target they were after. Joonghyuk was somewhere nearby, beating the shit out of the man as the papers scattered. The man slammed him on the table.

"Mind telling me where's Francis before I kill you?" Joonghyuk asked just as a woman was about to kill him from behind but he was quicker, grabbing a knife from his thighs and shooting the lady in the forehead.

"That's sexism!" One guy yelled before he too was shot by Joonghyuk.

~~~

Both of them were in a secret hideout as they were fighting a horde of enemies, all of them were no match for a regressor and a demon slayer.

She was currently holding onto her sword while Joonghyuk was at her back. They were completely surrounded by his men.

"Do you wanna do the honours, Joonghyuk-ssi?" She asked as the man took the knives from his thighs, holding them up like a fan.

"With pleasure."

The man threw his knives as Heewon herself charged toward their enemies. She kicked one in the head before using him as a pole, locking one leg over his neck and using her guns to perform a spinning attack, the myriad of bullets hitting everybody. She slammed his head down once she noticed everyone had been killed.

Joonghyuk had shot his daggers onto the heads of his enemies as they started shooting at him. Sadly for them, his body was reinforced with coins that the bullets ricochetted off his body. He pulled out his sword and he started slashing and slicing them away.

A bloodbath was what the battlefield was. And the supposed leader, who had been hiding at the very back of his men trembled in fear as he pissed his pants and fell to the ground.

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is smiling upon the bloodshed.]

[1000 coins have been sponsored.]

Oh right, that particular Constellation has been sponsoring them coins non-stop ever since they started their hunt.

Weirdo.

Did he have a blood kink or what... Or was he into BDSM?

"Now then..." Both Heewon and Joonghyuk walked towards the only survivor of the slaughter as the woman smiled.

"Where's Francis?"

~~~

It has been a week in movie days since they started hunting down the man, getting little to no information.

But the name Deadpool and Mariposa was becoming quite infamous due to their activities. Never knew the name she chose at a whim actually started to stick. Though, both were good and bad.

Good because they were getting famous.

But bad because well... Security started to tighten up.

Jung Heewon had grown spectacularly in the movie, mastering her skills and levelling up just by killing Francis' underling so that she could easily predict where her enemy's movements were going to be and had learned every single weapon that Wade used with ease as if they're a part of her body.

Joonghyuk himself had grown much stronger as they were hunting Francis, they also discovered several laboratories that contained ampules that could level themselves up, saving a couple of ampules suitable for Hyunsung and Sangah.

They were resting in the apartment as they had managed to get a pretty high-ranked doctor that had information about Francis but decided to get Weasel to help with the interrogation since he was more of a smooth talker compared to the both of them. Maybe Dokja could've helped with this movie.

Over the past week, both of them had adapted to each other's fighting styles and could easily help each other without breaking the flow and rhythm of their "dance" on the battlefield.

So you could say their relationship was slowly becoming warmer.

"Is he done yet?" Joonghyuk asked from the counter as Heewon checked her phone.

"Not yet, I haven't heard from him since yesterday night. But knowing him, it should be soon," she told him. Heewon took a sword and started cleaning.

"To be perfectly honest," she started, her eyes focused on the blade, "the first time I met you, I thought you were a cold-faced bitch," Joonghyuk glanced her way, sipping a cup of black coffee he made for himself, "But now that we're alone, I get to know you better! You're actually a pretty cool guy underneath all that angst," she laughed before looking at her weapons on the table.

[Jung Heewon is starting to open up to you.]

Joonghyuk frowned. Angst? Well, he did have a resting bitch face. And having your companions, lover and family die over and over again hardened it even further, "I'm not a bastard as many people think. It's just how I am."

Heewon frowned, "I'm guessing you have had a tough life before?" She asked, almost in a whisper but the man heard her.

Joonghyuk froze.

She had hit bingo.

"You don't need to talk about it, but I can see it in your eyes, Joonghyuk-ssi," she spoke softly, closing her eyes slightly.

The man was quiet, he didn't need pity. But if so, why would his heart ache for it?

He knew deep down he just wanted to be loved, to not feel alone anymore. Maybe after for so long, his walls were finally breaking down.

"Joonghyuk-ssi, I don't know what you had to go through to be like this but just know that if you ever need help, you can count on me."

She looked towards him as she smiled, "Glad you're in the team with us, Joonghyukkie," she called him a cute nickname for the first time.

A vision of a similar woman, yet so different, as if from a diverging timeline came into being. He widened his eyes at the sight.

"You can count on this noona of yours, Joonghyukkie!"

Joonghyuk opened his mouth before closing it, somehow feeling a little sentimental. He nodded his head instead, not trusting his voice that may crack if he speaks.

Perhaps she was right.

He needed people to rely on, he knew that, but knowing how long he had suffered and was forced to watch them die over and over again...

'No, this round... Is definitely my last. I can feel it. I just need to survive,' he glanced over to the woman who was still busy cleaning her weapons, 'With everyone. Not just me. But with everyone.'

[Your relationship with Jung Heewon has increased drastically.]

[You are now "Friends" with Jung Heewon.]

Heewon's phone started ringing as she took it before showing it to Joonghyuk.

"I think it's time to get to the ending."

Both Joonghyuk and Heewon grabbed their weapons quickly before going outside of the house. Joonghyuk took the keys to the motorcycle and turned the vehicle on as Heewon climbed behind.

The vehicle roared as it turned on before Joonghyuk started driving at insane speed towards the location where Weasel had sent them.

It was time to end it.

Making a series of turns, Joonghyuk drove the motorcycle with ease as Heewon barked out directions. For him to follow. They went on the main street as they zoomed past the slow cars.

"Oh shit, we got cops on our asses!" Heewon warned him as he cursed.

"We're going to the expressway anyway, so might as well fuck it!" He yelled out as he turned the engines up to try and lose them.

He ended up driving into a small ally way as he made narrow turns that made Heewon squeak in surprise.

"CAREFUL!? I ALMOST GOT MY HEAD BLOWN- OOF-!?" Heewon took off the cloth that got on her dave to reveal it was a pair of boxers before throwing it away.

"Then hold on!" Joonghyuk yelled. The woman embraced the man's waist as they made a turn left to go out of the alleyway and made it to the bridge, except for the fact that the cops somehow managed to get on their asses still.

Did she also say that the bridge was rising and Joonghyuk was not stopping at all?

Yeah uh...

They were fucked.

"WE'RE NEVER GONNA MAKE IT!?" Heewon yelled out, but Joonghyuk just sped towards the raising bridge.

As it raised higher and higher, so did Joonghyuk's speed started to heat up the motorcycle even more. The cops were no longer in pursuit as they simply watched from below.

"We're gonna fucking make it!" Joonghyuk yelled out just as the motorcycle jumped across the bridge.

Time felt like it was going in slow motion for them as Heewon started praying to whoever was watching them above so they could land safely.

The motorcycle's wheel barely managed to touch the other side of the bridge before Joonghyuk leaned forward, causing the centre of gravity to switch as they safely landed on the other raised bridge and started driving away from the cops.

Heewon felt like 20 years of her life were reduced, "Never do that again you son of a bitch..."

"No promises."

~~~

"The security is tight," Joonghyuk told the other woman as they looked at the expressway. They finally reached the place where Francis was supposed to be but he was surrounded by cars. They needed to get closer, "Got any smart ideas?" He asked as Heewon pointed toward Francis' goons below them.

"They're going to their boss, let's say hello to them?" She said as she glanced over to Joonghyuk who clicked his tongue.

"Ladies first," was what he said as Heewon dropped from the highway followed by Joonghyuk and crashed into one of the cars.

"Hasta la vista babes! Take us to your boss!" The woman yelled as the goons in the backseat were technically killed when the both of them landed inside.

"Shit-!" One of the underlings cursed before Joonghyuk kicked him over the radio as it turned on and started playing California Gurls by Katy Perry. The motorcyclist saw what was going on as they prepared their gun, shooting them into the car.

"Oh no, you don't!" Heewon said she shot the wheels of the motorcycle, causing the biker to fall.

Meanwhile, at the expressway, two guards were in the car, "What the hell is that-?" One asked as the other looked at his friend.

"What's what?" He asked before noticing one of their cars was getting hijacked.

The both of them were dead before they could even start doing anything though, seeing Joonghyuk had thrown his knives in their direction.

"Nice one!"

Heewon climbed out of the car as just as they entered enemy territory.

"You hurry and get to Francis before he escapes! I'll deal with the goons here!" Joonghyuk told the woman who nodded, looking for a certain motorcyclist.

"FRANCIS! I'VE COME FOR YOUR FUCKING HEAD!" She yelled as she started jumping from car to car, chasing after the running motorcyclist.

"Oh no, you don't!" She took her sword and threw it to the ground, just in time for the motorcycle's wheel to hit it as the man flew and rolled to the ground.

"Let's see..." Heewon walked toward the man and forcibly took off his helmet. A familiar bald man.

"Oh hi, Francis!" She greeted him before using the helmet to hit his head until the thing broke. The man took his gun and aimed it at her but she kicked the gun away before stepping on his head.

"You ain't-,"

*Slam*

"Getting away this time!"

*Slam!*

She dragged his body and slammed it to the side of the highway before using her knee to hit his face and used her sword to stab him onto the concrete, making him immobilized.

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is in ecstasy because of the bloodshed.]

[1000 coins have been sponsored.]

"Remember me, little Francis?" She asked as she took off her mask.

The man finally lets out a sound. A chuckle, "Wade Fucking Wilson," a snort, "Well, hello gorgeous."

Heewon clicked her tongue, "Like a woman going to a beauty salon, isn't that right?"

"You should thank me, I made you immortal," he began, "I'm actually quite jealous."

Heewon smiled, "Well, I think it's about time we end this, dont we?" The woman raised her hand before a shadow suddenly loomed over her.

'Oh right,' she thought, 'Colossus...' She was half expecting herself to be thrown to the side but a certain regressor managed to make it in time as he kicked the iron man away from Heewon.

"Go!" Joonghyuk yelled at her as she nodded, grabbing the man with her as she jumped down the highway.

Seeing she was gone, Joonghyuk focused on the two superheroes that just arrived.

"I can't let you interfere," Joonghyuk began as he took out his sword. He was basically fighting two people at the same time. Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead.

Damn, that was a mouthful to say.

He raised his sword against the superheroes, "Bring it."

~~~

Meanwhile, Heewon and Francis fell as a huge dust cloud appeared just as they hit the ground.

She coughed, seeing that she had thrown him off the highway as well as herself, "Now that that's over and done with..." She glared at him as he spat blood to the side.

"If you kill me, you won't get the cure for your ugly ass face," Francis tried to persuade Heewon but unluckily for him, she had already watched the movie once.

"Huh? Who cares about that, we both know there's no cure for it, dumbass," Heewon said, twirling her knife in her hand before the both of them were in a deadlock, trying to one-up the other with pure strength.

The two started to fight, with Heewon pulling the offence while Francis was defending, his reflexes were no joke, that was what she remembered from the movie.

She managed a kick to his head, sending him flying to the side of the road as he coughed. But no, Heewon was not done.

Heewon knew he felt no pain, and the only way to kill him was first to beat him up!

She kicked his head to the ground again, but her foot was caught by his hand as he twirled her to the ground, punching her face.

Huh?

That didn't hurt?

'Thank you coins...' For once, she thanked the Dokkaebi for having invested her coins into her stats, causing her to not feel any pain at all. And thus she bend her legs upwards and used her knees to choke his neck. Using her lower body, she slammed his head back to the ground. She quickly stood and grabbed his leg before using her strength to lift his whole body and slammed it down.

Francis grabbed a knife and he threw it to her face as she dodged, but that was enough for Francis to start on his own offence.

He started with a knee to her stomach, causing her to bend forward before grabbing her head and slamming it down on the ground. She cursed and took her guns. She shot him in the chest twice before kicking him.

'As expected, he's pretty tough,' but she had dealt a large number of blows to him, so he should be losing blood a lot. Unlike Deadpool, Francis was not immortal.

Both of them got caught up in yet another deadlock, trying to one-up the other as the ground beneath them cracked under pressure.

"LOOK OUT BELOW!"

Heewon blinked when she heard a voice from the skies before looking up and seeing a shiny large man falling to where they were.

"OH SHIT-"

*CRASH*

Heewon blinked in confusion as the man had hit Francis instead of her. She literally didn't move an inch from where she was, "I didn't expect that to happen but... It works?" Heewon started as she went towards the men that crashed against each other. She checked both of them to see Colossus was unconscious and Francis was...

Francis was very dead.

Actually he was more than dead.

He was pancake dead.

Colossus accidentally killed the man by falling on him. Courtesy of Joonghyuk of course.

Who else would be strong enough to lift a metal man up and throw him away like it was nothing?

"Yep, he died alright," she said as Joonghyuk also jumped down and landed gracefully beside her.

"With this, it should end right?" Heewon asked curious before noticing something on Colossus.

She started rummaging underneath his shirt and took out... An armor?

~~~

[Item]

Name: Armor of Colossus

Description: A piece of organic steel that has fallen from Colossus.

Usage: User will be able to use Collossus' abilities for a limited amount of time. Can be used multiple times.

Duration: 5 minutes

Cooldown: 1 hour

~~~

"Hey, isn't this good for Hyunsung-ssi?" Heewon asked as Joonghyuk appraised the armor and widened his eyes.

"Indeed it is. We'll keep it for him."

The woman smiled as she kept it in her inventory as their notifications started to act up.

[The Dungeon Master is extremely happy with the outcome.]

[You have reached the second ending credit.]

[Cast: Yoo Joonghyuk, Jung Heewon.]

[You have each earned 1000 coins for your performance.]

Chapter Text

I HAVE AN ANNOUNCMENT:

Peeps have said dokjoong first then I shall deliver 😔✊ but now I have a problem:

I have two movies for Dokjoong (the next chapter after lgy and yjh movie) but I can't decide which, so...

I need y'alls help to vote!

https:// /deadbydemon/status/1569299386265645063?t=8suPmPRzg0LerSuZ6A1DUA&s=19

For the same of not spoiling it I used emojis, so choose carefully 😏

VOTING STOPS 24 HOURS FROM THE TIME I POST THIS

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

"You saved me once, I'm just repaying back that favour."

Joonghyuk had those words stuck in his head ever since Dokja had spoken them. When did he save him? The only moment he remembered was the one when they were in Chungmuro from the Spectre Stones. He was also 99.9% sure he had never seen Dokja before in his past regressions.

Odd.

Yet another mystery he needed to figure out.

The group had just finished Titanic, they all ended up killing the antagonist and got out, but they got one item from there. And it was ironically called "Frostwalker" which reminded Joonghyuk of Minecraft a bit too much.

The irony was that they got a skill that lets you walk on water by freezing the water underneath your feet when the movie was all about drowning due to an iceberg.

They had one last movie on the fourth floor.

And honestly. Joonghyuk had never seen it in his past regressions before. Plus... It was a child's movie.

Mia loved it, though. He knew of the movie of course, hell he even watched it with his sister before. But the fact that it was in the Dungeon made him feel a bit... Conflicted.

He was never going to see that movie the same way ever again.

"So..." Jihye began, looking at the poster, "Shall we take a rest after doing this one movie?"

Dokja was also staring at the poster, "We probably should, we've been at it non-stop ever since the first floor. It's a chill movie so there shouldn't be any action... We just need to make a different ending, right?"

Everyone hummed, feeling rather reluctant to enter the movie but at the same time, they needed a small break and the movie was perfect because there was no violence unless they started it.

"You know what, fuck it. Let's all head in," Heewon suddenly said.

"Are you sure?" Dokja asked, looking at the woman who shrugged.

"We did decide to do a full sweep of the place right? I mean, it could have some pretty unique items that we can use?"

It was true, even though some items they got were useless, many others were useful. Like the hidden items they got from Deadpool, or the skills they got from other action movies.

"Are we seriously going in..." Joonghyuk asked.

"It could be fun?" Gilyoung said to him.

The regressor sighed. Everyone seemed to have voted for yes while he was the only one who said no. Oh well, he couldn't win against their vote anyway.

With a reluctant step, all of them stood in front of the movie poster just as the spotlight shone down on them again.

[You have been hit by a projector beam.]

[The screening will now begin on your floor.]

~~~

Joonghyuk had no idea when he got into bed, but somehow he was not comfortable at all. It was too hard and the blanket was too thin. But the chirping was annoying.

It was really annoying.

Actually, it seemed they were next to his ear.

Joonghyuk used his pillow to cover his ears as if trying to block the sound before realizing something.

He was supposed to be in a movie.

"Wake up! Wake up! It's already morning!" A voice said as Joonghyuk uncovered his ears and sat up. Was someone with him? He didn't remember a scene where the protagonist was sleeping with someone...?

Of course, that was when he realized he was not with someone. Rather, he was with animals.

"Huh?"

Joonghyuk blinked when there was a flock of birds and rats in his... Room? It was barren of life, barely anything to show personality. Old and dusty, like it was abandoned.

Now that he thought about it, did they get in through the single goddamned window?

"Hyung! Can you understand me?" One mice with a brown shirt and grey hat asked.

'I can understand animals...?' Joonghyuk stared at the animals in front of him. That was, of course, until he realize something.

Did the mice just call him hyung?

There was only one boy he knew that called him hyung.

"Wait a second, Gilyoung!? Is that you!?" He took the small very cartoonish mice as he climbed up his hand.

"Yeah hyung, you're huge! At least you're human though. Jihye-noona and I are animals!"

He blinked. Jihye?

Was Jihye there as well?

"Where is she?" He asked as Gilyoung pointed toward the window where there was a yellow bird wearing a grey vest laughing and rolling on the floor.

"OH MY GOD MASTER YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!!!"

The last time he was called beautiful was when he was wearing a dress-

Oh no...

He abruptly stood up as he looked at himself.

"WHY HELL AM I IN A FUCKING DRESS AGAIN!?"

This just made Jihye laugh even harder, "MASTER AGAIN!? H-HOLY SHIT I WISHED I SAW THE- HAHAHAHHAH THE F-FIRST TIME OH MY GOD MY SIDES HAHAHHAHAHAHAH I NEED O-OXYGEN!"

That was when he finally ran towards the mirror as he looked at himself and paled.

"I'm Cinderella... I'm fucking Cinderella..."

[The Constellation The Last Director is dying and wheezing on her throne.]

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is saying you're doing great, sweetie.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[Many other Constellations are snickering at the sight.]

[Some Constellations are saying you look beautiful.]

He was gonna kill someone that day.

"Lee Jihye shut up!" He ordered his disciple who just ended up laughing even harder.

Gilyoung looked at himself with tiny paws. If they were together with Joonghyuk, would Heewon be together with Dokja? It seemed likely.

"So hyung, how are we going to get past this movie?" Gilyoung asked. But the man seemed to be deaf at the moment as if he was ready to explode and go on a rampage.

'Why the hell am I in a fucking dress again...!?'

The problem was, that the movie was an oldie and a classic. So they didn't get to carry their weapons with them.

Jihye finally stopped laughing before she flew cartoonish style and landed on his shoulder, "Gilyoung-ah! I need you to help Master get ready for the bright day ahead!" She snorted as he just glared at her before the animals started moving.

"Hey, what are you-!" The birds pushed him toward the side, behind the screen as they started stripping him, "I can do it myself!" His ears started to turn red from embarrassment as he pulled the dress up. The tiny birds were following Jihye's orders to get the large sponge and get it wet while Gilyoung was helping with the dress, looking at it in confusion.

"Noona, can he really fit this dress I mean... Hyung has big muscles."

Jihye wanted to laugh again, but instead, she snorted, "We'll make it fit."

Gilyoung added, "That's what she said."

The teenager gasped as she looked at the mice, 'Oh shit... Ahjussi is going to kill me-!?'

Soon enough Joonghyuk had worn the fucking dress that Cinderella wore. A black top with sky blue sleeves and a brown, bottom as well as an apron courtesy of not having anything to wear anymore.

Again, it was fucking tailored-made for him as the Constellations were practically enjoying the show from above.

He sat on the bed, manspreading as he tried to recall the contents of the movie, "Master, that's not how a princess should sit!" Jihye called him out as Gilyoung was silent, looking away. But it was obvious he was trying not to laugh since he was shaking.

"Do I fucking give a damn-!?" He snapped at her.

"Hey, it's a kid's movie! Don't blame me for getting Cinderella's role!" Jihye whined out.

But it was true, everyone had basically wanted to do this movie so he had been dragged into it as well. Only to become the protagonist of said movie.

Wearing a fucking dress.

Pain.

"So," Gilyoung began, looking at the regressor after he had calmed down from his fit, "how are we going to uh... Pass this movie?"

Jihye hummed as she placed a wing under her beak before flying on top of Joonghyuk's hair, perching on it, "I mean the ending is technically Cinderella getting together with the prince right?"

"So we're match-making hyung with the prince?"

"I rather die."

Both children looked at the regressor, "Master/hyung, no," both scolded him.

Joonghyuk groaned, massaging his forehead as a headache was already forming in.

"I have a rough idea," Gilyoung suddenly said as Jihye flew down to where he was when he made a hand gesture. He whispered something into her ear.

"Oh- oh ok. Alright then," she started flapping her arms as she started hovering, "I'll leave master to you Gilyoung. And make sure he doesn't do violence. As much as it is a quick fix to get out, we're here for items."

She flew in front of his face, "Master don't do violence, I need to check on something."

With that, she began to fly away from the window, in search of something.

Once she was gone, Joonghyuk asked, "Should I just kill them...?"

The boy looked at the older man, "Hyung, no."

"But it would make it so much easier."

Gilyoung wanted to slap his forehead, "Hyung, let me remind you again why we're here. We're here for hidden items."

He had a point.

Curses.

He stood up as he took the boy turned mice into his hand and placed him inside of his pocket, surprised there was even a pocket there in the apron as he walked out of the door just to see a flight of stairs below.

He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths.

'Do it for the items, Yoo Joonghyuk. Do it for the items.'

"What should I do then?" He asked Gilyoung, though instead of walking down the stairs, he simply jumped down, landing gracefully on the ground as Gilyoung peeked out from his pocket.

"Uh... Breakfast? I remember that in the movie she was gonna serve breakfast."

So cooking was it? That was something he could do.

"But breakfast for everyone as in... The animals too, and that stupid and arrogant cat had to get breakfast first."

Yoo Joonghyuk wanted to kill.

~~~

Meanwhile, Jihye was flying around the village to see at least one familiar face, using a bird's eye view as she frowned, "Damn it, where the hell are unnie and ahjussi!?" She cursed to herself.

Thankfully it was a small town and a small kingdom, so it only took an hour for her to search through the town. Of course, the people she was searching for were not there at all.

Jihye was perched on a roof as she thought of something, trying to find a better solution, "Should I try the castle?" It was possible that they may have the role of the prince?

The teenager sighed as she scratched her head. More flying she guessed. She started flapping her wings once again and flew toward the castle that was overseeing the kingdom.

It was much larger compared to the city below them, and Jihye was having trouble searching for the Prince's room.

"Goddammit, where the hell is it- OW!" a crown-shaped item hit her right on the face as she lost her balance and fell.

'Oh no-! I forgot this scene!' Jihye closed her eyes as she braced for impact but a hand suddenly caught her in a gentle embrace.

"Hey there little guy, are you ok?"

Jihye widened her eyes at the familiar voice as she stood up in his palm, "Ahjussi- ugh...-!" She winced when she realized one of her wings was broken.

Dokja twitched an eye when he heard the nickname, "Jihye, you're a bird?" He decided to ignore that nickname when she noticed she was hurting, "Did you break your wing? How did you do that?"

"The king threw his crown at me..." Jihye cried out, feeling pitiful at her small self as Dokja sighed.

"At least he cares about his son though, come on. I have enough healing items with me," he walked into the garden to find somewhere to sit down as he placed her on the table.

Using the inventory system, he took out healing potions he got from other movies and splashed them onto her wing, healing it instantly.

"Thanks, ahjussi. By the way, I just noticed it now but..." Jihye looked at Dokja from top to bottom. He was wearing an all-white suit worthy of a prince. Even his hair was stylized to the side, "Are you the prince!?"

Dokja scratched his not-so-itchy head, "Yeah, I am... Why? Wait, if you're a bird then does that mean you're with Cinderella?" He asked curiously as Jihye nodded.

"Why am I not surprised ahjussi is Prince Charming..." She muttered u underneath her voice as Dokja rose an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing, ahjussi!" The teenager spoke hurriedly.

Wait, did that mean... The one who took it was her Master-!?

'A BIG MAN LIKE MASTER IS THE BOTTOM-!?' She thought in her head, looking away from the older man. Oh yeah, she was NOT going to underestimate this ugly squid ever again if he topped someone like Yoo Joonghyuk...

"By the way, ahjussi, did you just return from your expedition? I remember the prince is supposed to return today from whatever the fuck he was doing," Jihye asked as Dokja nodded.

"Indeed. Have you met the others yet? I've only met you and I'm worried about Joonghyuk, you see."

Jihye paled, remembering how short-tempered he was, "Ah, about that ahjussi... He's Cinderella..."

Dokja blinked once. Then he blinked twice.

"Excuse me, come again?"

He asked with a smile, but his eyes showed shock.

"He's Cinderella," she repeated.

Dokja didn't respond at all as Jihye looked at him in confusion, "Ahjussi... Are you... Are you ok? Ahjussi? Where are you going!? Ahjussi, wait for me!?"

~~~

"I'm going to commit arson..."

"Hyung, please no."

The man was scrubbing away the floors with his hands as he twitched an eye. He closed his eyes as he tried to concentrate on not listening to the step-sister's false singing!

Ugh, he knew he was not the best singer but that dreaded voice was even worst!? Or well, perhaps that was because he hadn't sung at all so he was tone deaf himself.

After making breakfast, he had to do the fucking laundry, scrub the house, clean the fucking windows and do other house chores-!?

Why was he the only one cleaning them!? Don't they have other maids to do these sorts of things!?

He was finally done as he wiped his sweat off his forehead, soon realizing that their food supply was running out.

Gilyoung was there to keep himself in check, which kinda worked unless you don't count the broken tree in the backyard where he had punched it out of pure frustration.

Well, Jihye was still away so he might as well go search for her. The step sisters and stepmother were busy singing anyway so might as well.

He brought a small coin pouch and a basket before going on his way to the market with Gilyoung.

"Are we leaving without saying anything?" Gilyoung asked as Joonghyuk rolled his eyes.

"You really think they're gonna be happy if I say something in the middle of their lesson?"

Joonghyuk had a point. The last time Cinderella did, she got an earful of it.

"Alright then, let's search for Jihye-noona while we're at it. She's been gone for a while now."

That was what Joonghyuk was thinking as he left the mansion. He looked back to see the old rickety thing, seemingly out of care ever since the father of Cinderella died.

He walked away from the house, going into the streets as he also tried to find anyone that they could recognise at all, "Do you see anyone, Gilyoung?" The regressor asked the boy who shook his head.

"No, I don't see Dokja-hyung, Heewon-noona or Jihye-noona..." Gilyoung asked from his pocket. He then decided to climb up his chest, on his shoulders before finally jumping onto the fluff of his hair and sitting on top of it, 'Huh, no wonder Jihye-noona perched here...'

It was comfortable and fluffy.

Gilyoung used his vantage point as Joonghyuk was still very much a tall male in a dress, to search for a familiar face.

Joonghyuk was walking around town, he noticed everyone had greeted him kindly. Perhaps it was because he was Cinderella. No one would want to greet a tall, intimidating, black-cladded man in their world. There were exceptions, of course, like Dokja for example.

The man seemed to have no fear unless it was his trauma from his past. He frowned.

Just exactly what was his trauma that made him act up like that? It seemed he had known of the man long before he even met him too. Not only was it suspicious, but it made Joonghyuk wonder just how extensive his knowledge of him was.

He sighed. Thinking about it then would be a waste of time, they had to clear the dungeon and find more hidden items anyway. Time was ticking, and with the other stations possible already finishing their scenarios, Joonghyuk and his gang had to be fast.

He continued to walk around the market, trying to find any familiar faces with the boy resting on his head. He had also bought some food and a few snacks for the little mice before he felt a pat on his head.

"Hyung, there are guards nearby," he told the older male, pointing towards up north. It was an unfamiliar scene for both of them. The royal palace's guards had appeared in the marketplace. They seem to be searching for someone.

'Did one of our people cause trouble?' Was what he thought suspiciously before he felt a hand had grabbed his arm from behind.

"Who are you-!?" He was about to demand the attacker but another hand closed his mouth. The attacker felt like a man but had a smaller build than he did. Actually, it kind of felt familiar.

"Hush, it's me," a familiar voice whispered to him and dragged him into a nearby alleyway.

"Kim Dokja-?"

Dokja shushed him, looking out at the guards who were searching for him. The man had Joonghyuk by the alleyway, his larger body locked in between his arms. Dokja's head was so close to his chest, was he able to hear his heartbeat beating at their position?

Wait, why was it beating faster in the first place? They were not doing anything!?

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is smacking her hand on the table.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[The Constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon finds it boring.]

"Be quiet," Dokja whispered, pressing his body closer to Joonghyuk's own as if trying to hide from the world. His eyes were locked out to the main street before his face was suddenly at the crook of the regressor's neck, causing him to flinch.

"Bear with it," Dokja ordered him. Joonghyuk stayed quiet, not speaking at all. His face and ears were getting a bit red from the close touch. He wondered what the hell did he do to attract the guard's attention like that, but even more so was why was he breathing on his neck!?

'It tickles...' Joonghyuk bit his lips, not trusting his voice before he suddenly felt a hand slithering its way around his waist, "What are you-!?"

"Hush."

The regressor felt his spine shiver as he swallowed his saliva, looking away slightly.

'Fuck,' he thought as he felt yet another boner incoming courtesy of Kim Dokja.

Why would it keep happening when he was with Dokja-!?

For once, he thanked whoever was watching him that he was wearing a dress instead of his tight-fitted pants because that would not only be visible but also embarrassing.

The guard's footsteps were coming closer and Dokja's face was dangerously near the sensitive spot of his neck. His hands were holding onto his dress in a death grip as he closed his eyes, trying to calm his fast-beating heartbeat.

The footsteps soon went past them and were getting further away as Dokja breathed a sigh of relief once he noticed no one was there anymore, thanking whoever was watching him that because it was a kid's movie, the people inside had a one-track mind and were too easy to read.

"Sorry about that, I just got back from an expedition, you see. I needed to hide," Dokja explained, finally separating the both of them from the position they were in.

Joonghyuk finally snapped his attention back to reality as he glared at Dokja.

[The Constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire is once again screaming through all of Eden.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[696 coins have been sponsored.]

[The Constellation Scribe of Heaven is requesting compensation for hearing loss.]

[The Constellation The Last Director shook her head in disappointment.]

[Many Constellations are looking away for the sake of privacy.]

[A few Constellations are respecting the Incarnation's taste in people.]

[A handful of Constellations are gagging at the dog food.]

[A few other Constellations are giggling.]

[1000 coins have been sponsored.]

"Kim Dokja..." He growled out as the said man paled.

"H-huh? Joonghyuk-ah, why are you mad- wait, Joonghyuk-ah no hitting we're in a child's movie!"

*BONK*

Dokja nursed his arching head as the regressor was looking away, his ears were still as red as tomatoes. Not that these two idiots would realize it themselves.

"So uh..." Dokja started as he glanced over to Joonghyuk. The man seriously had a well-built body with a perfect triangular shape.

Broad shoulder, large biceps, thick thighs and arms... A face sculpted by the gods. Damn protagonist cheat.

"You're Cinderella?" He asked.

"What do you think? I'm in a fucking dress," the man snapped at him.

Dokja wished he could take a photo of him but he was sure he was going to get killed by doing so.

But was it worth the death?

Yes.

Yes, it would.

"Let's go somewhere a bit more peaceful, shall we?" Dokja asked, raising his hand in a gesture to take Joonghyuk's hand.

The man looked back at Dokja who was smiling brightly at him. He opened his mouth to say something but no words come out, so he closed it back and wordlessly nodded before taking the offered hand, letting Dokja lead them to wherever they needed to be.

Meanwhile, Jihye and Gilyoung were in their pocket and on top of Joonghyuk's heads respectively and had actually witnessed the sexual tension between both men right in front of their eyes. They seem to have forgotten that they were not alone.

Jihye flew out of Dokja's pocket and perched on Joonghyuk's head, letting Gilyoung climb wordlessly on top of her before flying away from the two lovebirds.

"Gilyoung-ah, are you ok?" Jihye asked as the boy looked like he had seen his parents make out.

"No, noona... No..."

~~~

The couple ended up in a field of wild flowers quite a bit away from the city. To the side, a small stream could be seen as clear as crystals, fish swam freely in it while the birds chirped on the branches of the trees. The animals peeked their heads when they noticed there were two people on the flower field.

Jihye perched next to the basket Joonghyuk has placed near a tree as the kids started munching on the snacks, not caring about the two lovebirds that completely ignored the two.

"Do you like it? It's a pretty scenery, don't you think? I actually spawned here before finding my way to the castle," He asked.

Joonghyuk indeed find the scenery beautiful, but he didn't like it once bit.

"I don't like backgrounds. They'll simply be destroyed or rot away eventually."

Such a Joonghyuk thing to say, but Dokja wasn't surprised at all. In fact, he had expected it, "Doesn't mean you can't enjoy it while you still can, Joonghyuk-ah. You may never know when it's going to decay, so it's best if you enjoy every single one of them to their fullest."

Dokja, for once looked so serene. He was always thinking ahead of himself, trying to make sure Joonghyuk and the rest survive the apocalypse back in their world that Joonghyuk had never noticed until then. Was it because he wanted to live?

He saw the spark he had when the scenarios began as if it was his calling. If so, then how was he before the scenarios even begin?

More questions jumbled up his already full head that he had missed the question Dokja had asked.

"Joonghyuk-ah," Dokja called out to him as the man blinked in surprise.

Ah, his habit of zoning out. Gotcha.

"Did you say anything?" Joonghyuk asked.

"Can you dance?" Dokja repeated curiously as Joonghyuk looked at him with a straight expression.

"Yes, I've been dancing while surviving the apocalypse- of course not, you fool!"

Dokja winced as he closed his ears, "Sheesh, you don't need to yell!" The man pouted before looking up to the sky. It was still pretty early noon, around 11 am ish.