Chapter Text
Kim Dokja had recently turned 5-years-old when he logged onto the public library and found Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World. The library had been his safe haven. He even had a card, though his mother had to accompany him at times to clear up some misunderstandings. The web novel had a few chapters already uploaded so young Kim Dokja sat and read them all.
By the end of the hour, Kim Dokja was hooked on the idea of Ways of Survival. The shortened title was something that made it easier to say. Or, even shortening it to WOS.
It may have been because Kim Dokja was still recovering from a fractured tibia, or the fact that he was only in the library because his mother sent him there, but Kim Dokja adored the novel. The writing was a bit peculiar but it was still amazing. It was an entire world that Kim Dokja could disappear into for hours at a time.
Time passed. The years were quick and slow at the same time. He had to reread the novel multiple times. He would comment on a new chapter, only to see that he had already left a comment. His mother said it was likely part of the effects of too many knocks in the head. It was said with grief and hatred. Kim Dokja wished he didn’t live with a monster like his father, and knew that his mother wished for the same.
Kim Dokja watched his mother go to jail after years of abuse, watched his grades fall as he sucked into a whirlwind of terrifying emotions, and felt horrible as he woke up in a hospital bed only to be met with complaints about the cost of his injuries. He didn’t have a home among the people he lived with, and his mother hated when he visited her in prison because he had to see what she had become. What’s worse, was that he knew it was all because of him.
Kim Dokja was 17-years-old when he got an internship at Mino Soft. He was more of a lackey and someone that would disappear once the internship ended. At least it would be on his resume, though, so there was a shining light. He moved out of his aunt’s apartment(which felt more like a foster home that he was kicked out of) and drifted. He had a roommate for all of 2 months before the roommate moved to live with their partner across town.
Kim Dokja picked up a part-time job on top of his internship pay. Neither job paid well but together he was able to get by. He learned that groceries were often cheaper if he prepared them for himself, though he gave in every few days to buy a meal from a convenience store. It was so much simpler than preparing something for himself.
Yoo Sangah, Kim Dokja’s supervisor, was a kind woman. Kim Dokja could understand why she was made an official long-term employee instead of being on contract. She was an amazingly hard worker who pointed out some great apps to help encourage Kim Dokja to study, learn new languages, and stay organized.
However, there was a man who kept bothering her. Kim Dokja watched as Han Myungoh followed Yoo Sangah into an elevator. Kim Dokja rushed his steps to enter it as well. Thankfully, even though Han Myungoh attempted to make the doors shut, Kim Dokja was thin enough to slip in. He had been told his frame was small for a boy his age but that wasn’t something he could change.
Kim Dokja glanced up at Yoo Sangah as she stood in the corner. He purposely stood in the middle so that Han Myungoh couldn’t step between them without looking severely deranged. Yoo Sangah seemed to have noticed, because she sent the barest nod and smile toward him.
Kim Dokja felt more confident about that. He wasn’t imagining things, then. Their supervisor was very shady— a sexual harasser, to put it bluntly. Using such terms out loud was practically forbidden but most people that worked at Mino Soft already knew of Han Myungoh’s tendencies.
A part of Kim Dokja knew that he didn’t like sexual predators. Maybe it was because of his father. Maybe it was because of his mother and the horrors she had seen inside that she only mentioned when there was nothing else to talk about, not even WOS. Either way, Kim Dokja did not trust Han Myungoh. He hoped the man would take the fucking hint but he didn’t care about something like consent.
“Yoo Sangah-ssi,” said the lecherous man, “I believe I heard that your bike went missing. Do you need a ride home?”
“Ah, no,” replied Yoo Sangah, pointedly not looking at the man, “I’m taking the train.”
When Han Myungoh was about to say something, Kim Dokja opened his mouth. He turned to Yoo Sangah with a hopefully encouraging smile.
Kim Dokja said quickly, voice light or perhaps winded, “I’m taking the train as well. Which direction are you heading—”
“I was talking to her first,” butted in Han Myungoh.
Yoo Sangah and Kim Dokja both looked at the man warily. Han Myungoh had the gall to blush, as if he was embarrassed, before turning away. Yoo Sangah tapped Kim Dokja’s shoulder gently as the elevator continued to go down. When Kim Dokja glanced at her, she mouthed, “Thank you.”
Kim Dokja didn’t deserve that. Anyone would interfere with someone like Han Myungoh.
Thankfully, the elevator opened. Han Myungoh left first, his steps oddly quick and shoulders stiff. Good. He needed to leave Yoo Sangah alone. She had to put up with a lot of her co-workers antics. Even some of the lower-ranked workers bothered her, which didn’t make sense because they weren’t supposed to interact with someone from human resources in the first place.
They walked out of the office together, shoulders bumping into one another occasionally. It was nice; the dull loneliness Kim Dokja felt didn’t ache as bad. Their steps were quick and the station was nearby. They entered together, not talking much due to the crowded streets and awkwardness that Han Myungoh left behind, but it wasn’t tense. Not like the elevator was.
Once they sat down, Kim Dokja turned on his phone. WOS had updated, causing him to smile down at his screen. He clicked on it quickly, completely submerged in the last chapter of his childhood. He had read this book for so long. He was an adult now, at 18-years-old. He would be a part of the workforce, be expected to be a logical adult, and be responsible for himself. He couldn’t rely on anyone— not ever again.
Yoo Sangah studied on her phone as well, muttering things that Kim Dokja couldn’t understand. He glanced at her in surprise. He thought that once they reached the train that she would disappear into the cabins, but she decided to stick near him. They were friendly, sure, but Kim Dokja knew that he was odd. He was sure that people knew of his past, as Yoon Sangho from the beta testing department had mentioned something off-hand one day, but then never brought it up again.
Kim Dokja read the last chapter of his childhood. It was short and sweet… well, not sweet, but short. Kim Dokja blinked at his screen repeatedly. Surely this was a joke. He reloaded it multiple times before it dawned on him that it wasn’t a joke.
“There are three ways to survive in a ruined world. Now, I have forgotten a few, but one thing is for certain: If you are reading this, you will survive.”
- The End -
[Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World — Final Episode]
— tls123
[Author’s Note: Thank you so much for reading the novel up to this point.]
And then he got a notification. Kim Dokja opened his email to see that he was sent a text file. He asked himself, Why would the author of WOS give me the book for free? However, even learning that the novel would have to be paid for by new readers, and therefore taken off the platform, it still didn’t make much sense to Kim Dokja.
Kim Dokja rationalized it. He was the only one who read to the end and he left a comment every time too. The author was likely inspired by him. Or something. Honestly, Kim Dokja still couldn't believe it. His childhood officially ended. It was strange. It didn’t feel completely dull or disheartening like he expected.
It felt like a disconnect. Kim Dokja barely paid attention to Yoo Sangah as she murmured things about Spanish. They were in different worlds. She was a highly skilled working-class woman and he was a kid who would be working part-time jobs to make ends meet for the rest of his career.
“What are you reading?” Yoo Sangah asked.
Kim Dokja felt his cheeks blush. He admitted after a few moments, “A fantasy novel.”
Yoo Sangah didn’t criticize him. “Oh? Like Lord of the Rings?” Kim Dokja nodded quickly. “I think I enjoyed those movies.”
“Ah…”
Yoo Sangah then asked, “Do you know how long it generally takes for the next stop?”
Kim Dokja looked down at his phone’s clock. It was 6:59 P.M. In just a few minutes, they would reach the next station. Yoo Sangah could choose to leave or not. Kim Dokja wondered if she lived near the next stop.
“Ah, uh, soon. Unless there’s an accident, it’ll be over quickly.”
Yoo Sangah nodded. She admitted after a second, “I haven’t taken the subway in a long while.”
Kim Dokja bobbed his head up and down. He had assumed so. He had heard rumors about Yoo Sangah but none of them made sense, as he would arrive early enough to see what actually happened.
“You bike to work, yeah? What do you do when it rains?”
Yoo Sangah blushed a little. “I usually hail a taxi.” She was quick to add with flustered cheeks, “It doesn’t happen often. We haven’t had rain in a while. I wonder if it’ll be sunny for the next few weeks. I have a weather app to help me keep track and organized, but it can’t do everything. Sometimes rain just wants to pour down.”
“Well… I hope you find your bike.”
“Oh, thank you. I hope to find it too. It was in good condition when it went missing—”
Kiiiiiiiik!— The train shook loudly as a metallic screech filled their ears. Kim Dokja felt anxiety fill his lungs as Yoo Sangah wrapped her shoulder around his back. He realized belatedly that she was holding onto him for dear life and protection. She was too good of a person. Compared to him and compared to everyone else.
It took nearly half a minute for the train to fully stop.
The compartment was in disarray. Kim Dokja first thought it was a suicide — they were fairly common — or maybe a maintenance error. It wasn’t abnormal. Once a week, probably. Kim Dokja had gotten used to the random stops.
But then the screaming started. “R— Run away!”
And an announcement commented in a garbled rush, “Evacuate. Please, evacuate!”
Kim Dokja heard Yoo Sangah ask in terrified confusion, “What’s going on?”
Something appeared in their cabin. It wasn’t angelic, demonic, or a fae. It was somehow more terrifying than any of those. It was a dokkaebi— a creature that wasn’t supposed to appear in the real world.
Kim Dokja couldn’t stop his leg from shaking, sending his bag up and down due to it resting on his thigh. He felt Yoo Sangah gripping onto his arm dearly, afraid to part with the only person she knew. Kim Dokja wanted to reach out to her too, but all he could look at was the dokkaebi.
Kim Dokja stood up alongside Sangah. He heard people murmur about how ugly the augmented reality creature looked, how fake it was, or how they needed to take a video of it. Yoo Sangah didn’t leave his side as they peered up at the dokkaebi that was talking gibberish.
The dokkaebi quickly got through the language barrier. The dokkaebi started to kill them off for the shock factor— and probably the fun of violence. Kim Dokja clutched onto Yoo Sangah’s wrist as he tried to go to the door of the compartment. However, he noticed that others were already trying to no avail.
They were stuck. They were about to participate in a scenario. And now that he thought about it, Kim Dokja remembered how the protagonist of WOS started. Wasn’t it on a subway train? Wasn’t it just a few compartments from them—
[You’ve all been enjoying privileged lives. But it’s all over now. Nothing is free in life, isn’t that right?]
Surprising everyone, Han Myungoh stepped forward. Dokja widened his eyes as the idiot offered human currency to the dokkaebi. It didn’t work, of course. Coins were the only things that mattered in Ways of Survival. Trying to bribe a dokkaebi with human standards of money was pointless.
{Channel #BI-7623 Has Opened.}
[The constellations have entered.]
A small window appeared in front of Kim Dokja’s eyes. It reminded him of a game but it was worse because this was real.
[The Main Scenario Has Arrived!]
Main Scenario #1
[Prove Your Value]
Clear Conditions:
Kill One or More Living Organisms.
Category: Main
Difficulty: F
Time Limit: 30 Minutes
Reward: 300 Coins
Penalty for Failure: Death
[Well, good luck everyone. I’m expecting to see an interesting story unfold.]
As soon as the dokkaebi disappeared, many people reacted in different ways. Some threw themselves against the doors and glass in an attempt to escape. Some called the police. Others began to cry and get comforted by their surroundings.
Then, a soldier stepped forward to dissipate the chaos that everyone felt in their veins. He introduced himself as Lee Hyunsung and it made Kim Dokja grip onto Yoo Sangah’s hand with some hope. If this really was the novel, then Lee Hyunsung would make it out alive. But so would—
Kim Dokja peered around, looking for a teenager around his age. He couldn’t see anything through the crowded panic. He tried to leave but Yoo Sangah tugged him back into place by her side. Kim Dokja bit his lip nervously. If they were in the same department as Lee Hunsung and Kim Namwoon, it didn’t look good for their futures.
And then Kim Dokja realized that all of these so-called characters had existed in real life. That meant Yoo Joonghyuk was a pro-gamer, Lee Hyunsung was a long-term soldier, and Kim Namwoon went to school near here. But how had Kim Dokja not noticed before? With one Google Search, he could have seen this coming.
While Kim Dokja was lost in thought, the surrounding people had their phones on. The prime minister was speaking live, and then a dokkaebi appeared. The prime minister was assumed dead as the dokkaebi announced that this wasn’t some joke.
The scenario had begun. It would end in tears, bloodshed, and trauma. If that wasn’t enough, the difficulty of the scenario was raised. Their time was shortened from 30 minutes to 10 minutes left. And, if someone didn’t die within 5 minutes, everyone in the carriage would die as a penalty for not speeding things along.
Kim Dokja was going to have to kill someone in order to survive. He looked around manically. Once Kim Namwoon realized that, he was likely to start killing just for fun. Kim Namwoon was a special kind of breed that managed to survive the scenarios by adjusting to the world. It was a great thing for real life and survival, but horrifying to see from the outside perspective.
Kim Dokja tried to open his ‘Attribute Window,’ but it wouldn’t open. It was confusing. Everyone had an ‘Attribute Window.’ He shook his head mentally, letting the screen in front of his face disappear.
Then, the dokkaebi went on to show the group what would happen if they didn’t comply. It was a scene that Kim Dokja was able to recall from the web novel. It was Lee Jihye’s origins. She strangled her best friend and became the only survivor in her classroom. It was terrifying to think that in a few minutes, he’d have to do the same.
[What do you think? Fun, right? Interesting?]
It was not fun. It may be interesting to some constellations, but it was not fun. Not one bit.
Kim Dokja felt his breath shutter as he exhaled. He was going to kill someone in order to survive. That’s what the novel was all about. There were only a limited few ways to survive in a ruined world, after all.
Then, he noticed a small plastic cage. A boy was sitting on the seat of the train with his cage of grasshoppers. Kim Dokja went through the crowd, dismissing the tug on his shoulder from Yoo Sangah. She followed him through it. As soon as she saw the cage, she must have realized what was going on.
Kim Dokja asked the boy, “May I have one of the insects?”
The boy looked up to him with strange narrow eyes. After a moment, he opened the cage for the taking. Dokja smashed one of the bug guts without a second thought. He then picked one up and handed it to the boy. The boy cringed but Kim Dokja didn’t relent.
“You have to,” he urged the younger boy.
The boy shook his head numbly.
Kim Dokja pleaded, “It worked for me.” And it did. He cleared the scenario, technically, by killing the eggs of a grasshopper. “Come on.”
The boy looked down at the grasshopper in his hand, struggling, before he clamped down on it. His eyes widened when the screen appeared in front of his eyes. He had cleared the scenario as well.
Yoo Sangah reached down into the cage. She smashed a grasshopper against the wall while carnage went down around them. Kim Dokja let out a sigh of relief. He didn’t wish for Yoo Sangah’s death, but this was the apocalypse in a sense. He couldn’t carry someone along the way but a child… he was very thankful that the boy killed one of the insects he carried.
No one wanted to make the first move, least of all a parent.
Kim Dokja turned to the rest of the compartment with relief. He would make it out of this alive, hopefully. He asked the boy, “What’s your name?” The boy was the only reason he didn’t become a murderer today.
“Lee Gilyoung,” uttered the boy, his eyes staring up at Kim Dokja’s gangly form.
Kim Dokja patted the kid’s head. “Thank you for carrying insects with you, Gilyoung-ah. My name’s Kim Dokja.”
Yoo Sangah quickly added, “Yoo Sangah… Are you safe? Are your parents around?” She started to peer at the carriage for adults that resembled the boy.
Lee Gilyoung shrugged. “They're not here.”
“Oh…”
Kim Dokja turned to the rest of the cabin. People were starting to look askance, some even threatening one another. He gulped as he watched a teenager and Han Myungoh argue over something. He wanted to be able to derail things but… he was just a kid. A kid at the end of the world.
Someone started to kick a fallen old woman. Blood began to pour from wounds as others joined in. They were desperate, Kim Dokja knew, to kill someone and survive, but it was terrifying to watch. It felt like an out-of-body experience. He didn’t— he never realized how brutal the novel’s first chapters truly were. Why on Earth did his mother allow him to read it?
Kim Dokja gripped his bag tightly. It was full of work papers that didn’t matter anymore. His internship didn’t mean a fucking thing when it was the end of the world. He noticed that Yoo Sangah wasn’t holding him back in a defensive manner, so he could escape. He could defuse the situation.
Kim Dokja grabbed the cage of grasshoppers. He stood on top of the seats. There was so much chaos that no one paid him any heed. It was understandable, plus there were only so many grasshoppers left. How many people around them would die?
Kim Dokja sucked in a breath. He caught Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung’s eyes before he raised the cage above his head.
“Listen up!” he called out to the cabin. Not many people halted but some were paying attention. In particular, Lee Hyunsung eyed the cage with a realizing thought of relief. “The scenario said we just have to kill something living. These grasshoppers are living organisms, meaning that it counts.”
A person below and next to Kim Dokja pounced. Kim Dokja threw the grasshoppers into the crowd as he fell off of his platform. The cage busted open, allowing the grasshoppers to be free. Kim Dokja was still pushed down, though. He banged his head against one of the polls that were there to hold onto for safety. He clutched his temple, feeling the slick of blood.
It reminded him of his past. He groaned as he tried to stand up. He clutched the seat of the train in an attempt to stand on his own. It wasn’t working. Kim Dokja’s head was dizzy and his thoughts were muddled with his father hovering over him with a battered fist.
Kim Dokja then felt hands on him. He recoiled, ready to fight the person off, only to hear a gasp. Kim Dokja turned to see Yoo Sangah. She was trying to help him stand. He apologized profusely, unable to stop slurring. She shushed him, rubbing circles on his back comfortingly. She helped him sit up.
Yoo Sangah whispered, “Thank you for saving me.”
Kim Dokja groaned, “No problem.” It likely didn’t sound like much more than jumbled garbage.
He soon found that there was something against his temple. He realized that he was holding a piece of ripped fabric to his head. When Kim Dokja looked down to his side, Lee Gilyoung sat there as he ransacked a fallen bag. In it were other handkerchiefs and a few other things that didn’t matter anymore.
Kim Dokja tried to stand up, only to shakily fall back down. Yoo Sangah ushered, “Kim Dokja, you probably have a concussion. You need to rest.”
Didn’t she know, though, that no one could rest? The scenarios wouldn’t stop coming until it was over. How many people would die, huh? How many people would he witness being murdered in front of him just for amusement? For to appease the constellations among the Star Stream?
Kim Dokja was drawn from his thoughts when he noticed a teenager hovering over him. He had white hair, red eyes, and wore a clear name tag. It was Kim Namwoon, the other person who would survive this. Lee Hyunsung hopefully found a grasshopper. Kim Dokja didn’t want to see what would happen if he saw one of his heroes murder someone today.
Kim Namwoon said in a drawl, “You made it so that I didn’t have to kill someone. So, thanks.”
… What?
Kim Namwoon rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “I, uh, started to beat up an old lady before you threw the cage. I got really into… the plot. The idea of the world ending. I was going to kill someone.”
Kim Dokja managed to activate his skill ‘Character Profile.’ It made sense now, why the boy was sought after by the ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon.’ Kim Namwoon was a chuuni. He likely decided that the world was going to shit, there was a new set of rules, and therefore he integrated with his imagination.
Kim Namwoon continued oblivious to Kim Dokja’s inner turmoil, “You’re a good problem solver.”
Kim Dokja did not know how to respond. He grunted, which sounded like a whine, so Yoo Sangah explained to Kim Namwoon, “He hit his head.”
Kim Namwoon gave a single nod. He kind of looked… kind. It was bizarre. It didn’t match with what Kim Dokja read. Kim Namwoon was known for being psychopathic at times. Perhaps since he wasn’t forced to kill people, then it didn’t matter much. His psychopathic tendencies hadn’t been turned on.
“Do you mind?” Kim Namwoon pointed to the seat next to Yoo Sangah.
Yoo Sangah shook her head, though she seemed tense. Kim Dokja turned to watch Namwoon sit at the end of their little group. He clutched Lee Gilyoung’s frail hand. And to think that a year ago he was being bullied by people that would also pick on Kim Namwoon for being a chuuni. Life was so fucking strange.
They tried to pretend that people weren’t standing around them desperately, kicking, and shouting for hope. The military wasn’t going to save them. Once the clock started to get closer to the time, everyone looked at one another with fear. A man moved first, taking another’s man’s throat into his hands. They struggled as the last minute dwindled.
Lee Hyunsung tried to control the populace but it was useless. Many people would die today. Kim Dokja was determined to not be one of them but with his raging headache and foggy vision, he wasn’t sure if that was possible. He opened up his stats and put some of his coins into it. He hoped it would help heal him but it didn’t do much.
Aside from a strange skill popping up.
[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ is dulling Kim Dokja’s pain.]
Huh. Weird. At least that was handy. He was bound to be injured in the upcoming scenarios.
As the last 10 seconds ticked by, Kim Dokja noticed that his hand felt weird. He looked down to see that Lee Gilyoung was clutching his hand tightly. Kim Dokja squeezed his small hand back, eliciting a small smile from the boy. Good. Kim Dokja patted himself on the back for being good at this whole emotional bonding thing.
And then the train became covered with blood. Kim Dokja closed his eyes so he didn’t have to see it. The cabin was painted red with sticky blood. The sound it created made Kim Dokja feel nauseous. It also didn’t help that his concussion felt horrible.
Kim Dokja opened his eyes when he heard the voice of the dokkaebi.
[Now this is fascinating. What in the world happened here? I was only gone for a minute and look at this!]
Kim Dokja realized that he, Yoo Sangah, Lee Gilyoung, Kim Namwoon, Lee Hyunsung, and Han Myungoh were the only people left standing. The cabin was soaked in blood and Kim Dokja faintly wondered if this was how every regression started.
[Main Scenario #1 Has Ended.]
The train began to move slowly. It was purposeful as the dokkaebi hovered, clearly anxious about how many people survived. Most times, there was one survivor. Sometimes, there was a maximum of three.
This time, there were six survivors in one train compartment. It had to be a record for the First Main Scenario. He assumed that constellations were watching in glee and awe, or perhaps thinking that the main scenario wasn’t hard enough.
[Wow!] awed the dokkaebi as constellations raved for their group of survivors. [You all proved your worth, huh? I see that there are many, many survivors! I can’t believe I have so much support. Thank you all for your support—]
As the dokkaebi chatted away about sponsors for their channel, Kim Dokja wiped the dried blood from his forehead.
This was real. He wasn’t reading a novel or having a fever dream. This was his reality now.
Kim Dokja felt the urge to vomit. He was only able to hold it down because the ‘Fourth Wall’ skill came into effect again. He wondered how much that skill would help him in the future. Dwindling down emotions could be helpful, but he still wanted to feel things. He tried to not think about it.
Han Myungoh asked if they could leave a minute or so later. Oh, that bastard didn’t deserve to live but Kim Dokja wasn’t willing to kill him with his own hands. The dokkaebi pointed out the ichthyosaurs outside when faced with Han Myungoh. It was a good ploy but monsters didn’t tend to interfere unless it was an active scenario. They argued back and forth until the dokkaebi announced sponsorships.
[The reward for passing the first main scenario is that you are all now eligible to be sponsored by constellations. Exciting, yeah?] The dokkaebi frowned. [What is this? None of you seem excited. You know, this is a pretty big deal.]
The dokkaebi hovered ever so slightly closer.
[Let me break it down for you; you’re all so terribly weak so you need some upgrades if you want to stand a chance in making it to the future. Some otherworldly beings feel pity for you weaklings, and will sponsor you so that you can grow stronger.]
Lee Hyunsung asked, “What does that mean?”
[You are all pretty useless, huh? There’s no point in explaining it to useless worms. See it for yourself!]
With a snap, the dokkaebi revealed what constellations were interested in whom.
{Sponsor Selection}
— Select a constellation.
— The selected constellation will be Kim Dokja’s reliable sponsor.
1. Demon-like Judge of Fire
2. Secretive Plotter
3. Prisoner of the Golden Headband
Kim Dokja knew who the first and third options were. Both of them would be great sponsors. However, he had never heard of ‘Secretive Plotter.’ He thought about taking out his phone but it would be useless, even with the find search enabled. He was positive that the ‘Secretive Plotter’ didn’t appear, and therefore it wasn’t likely a great sponsor.
Kim Dokja then heard, “Two options appeared in front of me. What should I do?” Yoo Sangah was looking to him for guidance.
Kim Dokja closed out of his screen. He wasn’t going to choose. Yoo Sangah knew that he read web novels. She wasn’t mean about it. She didn’t care for the genre but she was amazed by the dedication of authors who updated so frequently. She had likely assumed that he knew something helpful, which he did, but that couldn’t be revealed quite yet.
He said, “You should go with what feels right.”
Yoo Sangah nodded, more confidence brimming in her shoulders. “Okay. An aptitude test, maybe?”
Kim Dokja nodded along to her words. He didn’t want to look at the screens around him. They were too bright. He rubbed at his wound again. It throbbed with pain. He hated it.
{The Sponsor Selection Has Ended.}
[Okay, everyone, are you done? Haha… well, someone made an interesting choice. That’s for sure.] The dokkaebi was judging Kim Dokja. [Well, there are more opportunities in the future. Now, take a short break. The next scenario will begin shortly.]
The dokkaebi left not a second later.
Yoo Sangah turned to Kim Dokja instantly. “What next?” she asked.
Kim Dokja didn’t deserve her trust. She must have picked up on the fantasy elements of their new life. Kim Dokja, being a dorky reader, knew the most about this. Even if he was concussed.
He stated firmly, “We need to leave. Right now.”
Kim Dokja was met with an uproar of protests. Surprisingly, it was Kim Namwoon who interfered. He argued, “Look, Kim Dokja is right. This is how we survive. We need to find other survivors.”
Kim Dokja waved his hand in the air. “Some of the survivors may want to kill us. We need to get to a safety zone. Or at least away from here. If the next scenario is starting soon, then we’re in danger while we’re here.”
Han Myungoh scoffed. “I’m not taking orders from you, intern. You’re not even an official worker at Mino Soft.”
Yoo Sangah argued on Kim Dokja’s behalf, “He’s been on an internship for 5 months now. He’s good at his job.”
“He’s a kid, Sangah-ssi. An injured kid, at that.”
“Yeah?” Kim Namwoon said, voice defensive. “Well you’re the only one here that’s a murderer.”
Kim Dokja widened his eyes against his better judgment. Han Myungoh flinched at the slander. Yoo Sangah gasped slightly but she knew how twisted the man could be. However, Dokja knew that if he had to, he would have killed someone to survive. He was a selfish person in that way.
Kim Namwoon continued, “You’re the only one here who didn’t kill a grasshopper, therefore you killed someone. Don’t act like you’re on a high horse.”
Lee Hyunsung spoke up to say, “It looks dangerous outside of the train.” Nice. Change the subject, please.
Yoo Sangah murmured her agreement. “There are… beasts out there. What if they attack us while we flee?”
Kim Dokja explained, “We have to try to escape. We’re not safe here. If we don’t move, we’re sealing our fate.”
“But I—”
There was a loud noise from the next door. A boot was stomping on the door in order to escape.
Kim Dokja spat out quickly, “It’s either running across the bridge or meeting the sole survivor of the other train compartment. What do you want to do?”
They exited the carriage thanks to Lee Hyunsung’s ability and ran down the bridge.
Kim Dokja was supported by Lee Hyunsung, who happily chatted about how scary the sea serpents looked. Kim Dokja focused on keeping his vomit down. He felt like fainting, a little. It would be bad if he passed out right before a scenario started.
They were only a minute into running when the voice appeared.
[Wow. I just knew that this would happen. I told you earlier… to stay put.]
The dokkaebi hovered ominously.
Kim Dokja shouted, “Keep going! We need to reach the end of the bridge!”
Their steps picked up as they ran. The dokkaebi didn’t like that.
[Damn it! I’m not done preparing the next scenario, fools.] The dokkaebi sighed. [I guess I have no choice. Humans will be humans and whatnot.]
[The Second Scenario Has Arrived!]
Sub Scenario - Escape
Category: Sub
Difficulty: E
Clear Conditions:
Get Across the Collapsed Bridge and Enter Oksu Station.
Time Limit: 20 Minutes
Reward: 200 Coins
Penalty for Failure: ???
Kim Dokja read what it said and immediately one question popped up in his mind: When was the bridge supposed to collapse?
Han Myungoh was frozen in shock at it while the rest of them ran. Kim Dokja wearily noted that Kim Namwoon was half-carrying Lee Gilyoung as he picked up his pace. That was good. Kim Dokja really wanted Lee Gilyoung to live. It was thanks to him that Kim Dokja didn’t become a direct killer. Yet. Time would be harsh in this world.
Dully, Kim Dokja realized that he was slowing down Lee Hyunsung. He panted to the soldier, “Leave me behind. You’ll have a better chance if you run now.”
Lee Hyunsung chuckled slightly. “Not happening. You saved my hide back there, Kim Dokja. Because of that, you got injured. Let me help you through this.”
Kim Dokja was about to refute again when one of the sea beasts crashed into the front of them. The bridge was broken. They were oh so close and yet so, so far. It did not help at all when the dokkaebi decided to add zombies into the mix. Kim Dokja clutched onto the back of Lee Hyunsung’s shirt.
They were divided. Kim Namwoon, Lee Gilyoung, and Han Myungoh were on the side of Ohsaku station.
Lee Hyunsung called out, “Sangah-ssi, how do we get across?”
Yoo Sangah scanned the area. Kim Dokja wished he didn’t feel so helpless. He saw a zombie come toward them so Kim Dokja kicked at it. Lee Hyunsung made a peculiar sound before punching the next one. Yoo Sangah drifted to their group, taking out a zombie with a super cool kick. She was secretly a badass, even before the world was ruined.
[Someone has received the blessing of a constellation.]
Kim Dokja was awed to see the gap in the bridge be mended with light.
The bridge of light was created by a constellation. The only requirement was crossing the bridge with an even number. That meant 2, 4, 6, and so on. There were 3 of them, an odd number.
Kim Dokja immediately pushed Yoo Sangah and Lee Hyunsung together. They seemed surprised at his actions.
Kim Dokja ordered, “You two need to cross the bridge right now.”
Yoo Sangah immediately yelped, “I’m not leaving you here, Kim Dokja!”
“I am injured and therefore deadweight,” argued Kim Dokja. “I will only slow you down in the future. You need to survive and I’ll be a hindrance to that. So, please, just go.”
Lee Hyunsung picked him up by his jacket. Kim Dokja felt like a cat as he swayed just an inch over the ground. It reminded him of being picked up as a child when some of his memories were actually good instead of fogged over with a putrid haze.
Lee Hyunsung said, “I’m not leaving you behind either.”
Kim Dokja wrestled with the man until he was out of his jacket. And to think that he bought that with his first check in order to look more professional. What a load of bullshit. It wasn’t even something important when his life was on the line.
Kim Dokja pushed Lee Hyunsung and Yoo Sangah onto the bridge. They were accepted onto ‘Deux Ex Machina.’ They stood their ground, though, even while Kim Dokja clutched at his head. The light from the bridge was dizzying.
“Go!” he shouted at them. “There’s another survivor. I can go with them.”
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is touched by Kim Dokja’s selflessness.]
[Kim Dokja has been gifted 100 coins.]
It was a waste to give money to a dying man.
Kim Dokja watched as their resolve broke down. Lee Hyunsung was the first to move. He tugged at Yoo Sangah’s shoulder until she eventually moved herself. Kim Dokja felt relief leave his body as they made it across. If a constellation liked Yoo Sangah so much, she would surely be helpful to the protagonist. Maybe this regression would be the last.
Kim Dokja kicked at the hoard of zombies. It was terrifying to witness how many people died on the train. How many of those people did he indirectly kill? He clutched his forehead as screens next to him kept popping up. It was useless. The protagonist was late and Kim Dokja was going to die.
And then the groans from the zombies started to dissipate. Kim Dokja watched with awe as they were cut down quickly. He drifted away from the edge in order to witness Yoo Joonghyuk’s skill in-person.
“There he is,” murmured Kim Dokja, not able to hide his awe.
The thud of footsteps neared Kim Dokja. He felt defenseless. He didn’t even have a knife. He was relying on pushing and kicking the zombies. There was no way to fight against someone with protagonist genes.
“Who the hell are you?” demanded the blood-stained man.
Kim Dokja looked down at his attire. His white shirt was tattered with rips and blood, his pants were dark with red liquid, and he had scrapes littering his body. He felt like a big bruise. He looked awful, like a murderer. Like he survived the First Main Scenario by killing humans instead of insects.
Kim Dokja activated ‘Character Profile.’ He wasn’t surprised to be met with Yoo Joonghyuk. No, the surprising thing was that he was on his third regression—
Oh, and that was a new feeling.
Kim Dokja squirmed as he was held into the air by his neck. He kicked at Yoo Joonghyuk only to be met with a relentless stare. It was chilling to the bone. Kim Dokja tried to pry the man’s fingers off of him but it was to no avail.
“How are you still alive?” demanded Yoo Joonghyuk. After a moment, he then asked, “Name?”
Kim Dokja continued to squirm, only for the hand around his neck to tighten. Kim Dokja let his body drop limply as a sign of giving up. Yoo Joonghyuk hummed, then he lessened his grip around the teenager’s throat.
“Dokja. Kim Dokja,” he said.
“That’s a strange name.”
“Yeah, well, I get that a lot. Be more creative.”
“Mn.” Yoo Joonghyuk punched Kim Dokja, causing him to nod in satisfaction. “You’ve learned how to use coins.”
“It’s not that hard,” bit back Kim Dokja. “Have you ever read a novel? This sort of thing is standard.”
Yoo Joonghyuk was unamused. Kim Dokja just grinned.
He punched the teenager again, his grip along Kim Dokja’s neck still firm. Kim Dokja started to squirm in his hold again, kicking at the man holding him hostage over the ledge. Yoo Joonghyuk looked just slightly amused while Kim Dokja tried to fight him. Oh, hatred brewed inside of Kim Dokja. This was the man that he cheered for the past 13 years of his life. Seriously?
“I have one question for you: how did you survive the subway?”
Kim Dokja sucked in a breath through his nose. He stared Yoo Joonghyuk down. He wasn’t going to be pushed around by this guy. He seemed like an asshole in person. Like, understandably, but still. It fractured the image of what Kim Dokja expected from the protagonist.
Yoo Joonghyuk got impatient. “I said—”
“I’m waiting for the magic word.”
Yoo Joonghyuk froze. He looked like he had bitten into an expired yogurt. “What?”
“What’s the magic word, Yoo Joonghyuk?”
[Yoo Joonghyuk has become wary of Kim Dokja.]
Kim Dokja stared at the screen. Seriously? Come on, now. What else was going to happen?
“How do you know—”
Kim Doka interrupted, “The word I’m looking for is ‘please,’ Yoo Joonghyuk. I’d like a little respect, is all. Some common, polite manners. It’s the end of the world; there’s no need to be extra harsh about it.” Yoo Joonghyuk looked like he was going to talk, so Kim Dokja added, “Why do you want to know anyway, weirdo?”
“If you tell me how, I’ll let you live.”
Liar.
[Kim Dokja’s understanding of Yoo Joonghyuk has improved.]
What? Kim Dokja groaned inwardly. He didn’t want to understand this stupid protagonist. He was obviously an asshole. The novel was wrong. Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t care about shit. He was a moody bitch. One, that Kim Dokja didn’t want to associate with.
[Kim Dokja has unlocked level 2 of their personal skill: ‘Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint.’]
[The skill ‘Omniscenit Reader’s Viewpoint level 2’ is activated.]
Only Lee Hyunsung and Kim Namwoon were supposed to survive. Now, there were 4 extra survivors. How did that happen? Who is this person? I need information. They could be dangerous. I may have to kill him.
Kim Dokja realized belatedly that he was able to read Yoo Joonghyuk’s mind. It wasn’t exactly a happy place.
Kim Dokja sighed, relenting. “Fine,” he said, voice strangled and head in disarray. “I’ll tell you. But—”
“No buts,” argued Yoo Joonghyuk.
“We killed insects. Most of us. I was lucky. A kid was carrying grasshoppers in the train so we killed it to fulfill the requirements. Only one survivor killed a person. It’s the dude in a suit with black hair. He’s not the best guy so if you want to talk to him…”
The future has changed. How? Was it me? I cut down everyone in the train carriage this time. Did it cause the next train compartment next to mine to elicit more survivors?
“Uhm,” said Kim Dokja, “if you’re done being weird can you set me down? I’m not a fan of heights.”
Kim Dokja could recall the wind in his hair and clothes as he jumped off of the school roof. He survived that fall. It wasn’t likely that he would survive the next one. He didn’t have to force himself to look panicked. He truly didn’t like heights.
“Not so fast,” said Yoo Joonghyuk. “You’re too mysterious.”
[Yoo Joonghyuk has activated ‘Eye of the Sage.’]
[The ‘Fourth Wall’ has blocked ‘Eye of the Sage.’]
What?
Yoo Joonghyuk recoiled from the skills interacting with one another. Kim Dokja would have felt safer on the ground while the protagonist faltered but he wouldn’t get that lucky. Kim Dokja hung limply in the air after Yoo Joonghyuk calmed down.
Yoo Joonghyuk demanded, “You— What are you?”
I have to kill him now.
“No!!” Kim Dokja exclaimed. Yoo Joonghyuk froze, eyes narrowed and darkened. “I can help you! You need my help, Yoo Joonghyuk. I can be useful. I have boundless knowledge.”
Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t believe him.
How would some random teenager know more about the scenarios than I do?
Kim Dokja continued, “I’m not a regressor but I know the future that you don’t. If you don’t let me help you, you’ll regret it.”
[Yoo Joonghyuk has activated the ‘Lie Detection’ skill.]
[The ‘Lie Detection’ skill has verified that Kim Dokja is telling the truth.]
Yoo Joonghyuk’s grip shook. Kim Dokja clawed at the hand around his neck. It was more about safety now than wanting the hand to let go.
Is this teenager a prophet? Is there another one that’s been unable to survive all of this time?
“I’m not a prophet,” claimed Kim Dokja. “I know more than a prophet— I know more than anyone here on Earth. And I can help you reach the last scenario. I can make this all end.”
[The ‘Lie Detection skill has verified that Kim Dokja is telling the truth.]
Yoo Joonghyuk’s gaze was treacherous. It made Kim Dokja want to fall into the abyss to get away from it. He never realized how terrifying the protagonist was in the novel. He should have known, really, because of how bizarre the novel became through the years. Especially the early version when Joonghyuk hadn’t learned how to compartmentalize fully.
Kim Dokja added, “I’m also concussed so waving me around is not a good idea. I’ve felt the need to vomit for the last 20 minutes. You might be in the splash zone.”
“... You are a strange person, Kim Dokja.”
Kim Dokja felt uneasy in his current situation. Yoo Joonghyuk was strange. Too strange, that is, to be calling someone else strange. He wiggled around the hand clenched onto his throat.
“I’ve decided,” proclaimed Yoo Joonghyuk. “You can help me—”
“Companion,” corrected Kim Dokja. “I’ll only help if we’re equals. I may be 18-years-old but I know more about our situation than you do.”
[The ‘Lie Detection’ skill has verified that Kim Dokja is telling the truth.]
“Aren’t you getting tired of that?” quipped Kim Dokja.
Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t respond. He walked across the light bridge. Dokja was secretly relieved. He wasn’t sure if Yoo Joonghyuk would find a different way to cross or not. Kim Dokja was unneeded, really, in order for the regressor to survive.
Once they were past the collapsed bridge, Yoo Joonghyuk paused. He walked towards the edge again. Kim Dokja felt his gut rumble. This wasn’t going to be good. With his skill now deactivated from overusing it, it was likely that he would need it the most now.
Yoo Joonghyuk dangled Kim Dokja over the edge of the bridge, right above an ichthyosaur's mouth. The sea beast snapped their teeth, a common occurrence for their species.
“Tell me,” said the protagonist, “will I let you go… or not?”
Teeth snapped below Kim Dokja. He gave up trying to get free. The man before him was much too large and skilled. Kim Dokja had no choice but to respond to the crazed regressor. It sucked but it would have to do.
“May I say something first?” Kim Dokja asked.
Yoo Joonghyuk simply grunted, slight amusement filling his irises.
Kim Dokja grinned, all teeth, as he used all of his weight to jerk back into the mouth of the sea beast. Yoo Joonghyuk lost his footing, clearly surprised by Kim Dokja’s turn of events. They fell into the mouth of the ichthyosaur while Kim Dokja giggled and Yoo Joonghyuk thought about premeditated murder.
The stomach of an ichthyosaur was not pretty. Dead, limp, cold bodies and limbs along with numerous other things that shouldn’t be digestible littered the stomach. Dokja climbed onto a floating styrofoam panel.
While he sat to think, he noted that Yoo Joonghyuk was swimming around. The protagonist was looking for a perch as well. He landed on a pile of concrete that likely came from the bridge. The man looked deeply upset. It was nice to get payback.
Kim Dokja called out, “If you weren’t such a psychopath, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“You,” seethed Yoo Joonghyuk, “are an insane sociopath. Why did you bring me down with you?”
Kim Dokja shrugged nonchalantly as his ears rang. “You need to learn your place.”
Yoo Joonghyuk replied, “You’re the one that blocked my skill.”
“I didn’t do anything. My skill automatically protects me from other skills learning about me. It’s a privacy thing, I think.”
Yoo Joonghyuk glowered as water splashed around them. The sea beast was moving. That wasn’t a good sign. Within minutes, acid would secrete from the walls in the stomach in order to digest food. They didn’t have a lot of time left.
[Hah… I’m a bit disappointed, to be honest. It was just starting to get interesting.]
The dokkaebi from the train compartment arrived.
“You!” accused Kim Dokja, finger waving in the air. “You halved my coins for killing grasshoppers instead of humans. Why? Were living organisms not enough?”
The dokkaebi looked innocently flustered. [Yes… it was me. I’m not sorry. My viewers expected bloodshed and tears. Instead, they were met with you hitting your head into a pole. Since then, you haven’t been entertaining.]
“That’s a lie,” stated Kim Dokja. He stood up on the styrofoam panel, gesturing at the dokkaebi. He had the notifications to back it up. “I’m highly entertaining, especially when I make other survivors upset.” He jerked his thumb at Yoo Joonghyuk. “Look at my victim. Tell me the constellations aren’t loving it.”
The dokkaebi waved their tiny hands around. [No matter! Why aren’t you more shocked, surprised, or frightened?]
Kim Dokja shrugged as nonchalantly as he could. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
[... Huh? What do you mean that you’ve been waiting for me?]
“We’ve failed the scenario, therefore there’s a coin penalty. Come on, tell me how much you’re gonna take.”
[Not your life, huh?]
“We both know I’m smarter than to fall for your tricks, dokkaebi.” Kim Dokja folded his arms as he shakily stood on the platform. “I want to make a deal with you if you’re not planning to kill me.”
[Who says I won’t kill you?]
Kim Dokja raised an unimpressed eyebrow that only teenagers could do. “If you could kill me, you would have already… If not, hurry up already. I’m sure it’ll be entertaining.” The dokkaebi didn’t move. “You can’t, can you?”
The dokkaebi laughed nervously. [I can do as I please—]
“Low-grade Dokkaebi Bihyung, how’s your Star Stream career going?”
[How do you know—!]
“Why don’t you shut off your channel for a moment while we chat, huh?”
After fumbling around for a minute, Bihyung had cleared the channel. Kim Dokja noted that Yoo Joonghyuk was analyzing him from far away. He could likely slay the sea beast if given enough time in the stomach. However, the early days of the scenarios meant that even the protagonist wasn’t incredibly strong.
[So… what do you have to say?]
“You want to be the Dokkaebi King, don’t you, Bihyung? I can make that happen. Together, we can get the constellations to make you the most-viewed channel in all of the Star Stream. But only if you enter a contract with me.”
The negotiations were fairly simple. The dokkaebi wanted to go places. They weren’t afraid to bend some rules and regulations. Plus, since Kim Dokja didn’t sign with a constellation, it would draw other constellations in and try to make him pick them. Bribes went a long way but in the end Kim Dokja hoped he wouldn’t have to choose.
Constellations were normally grouped into two different sections: thrill seekers and incarnation seekers. Thrill seekers were constellations that watched the Star Stream channels for entertainment. Incarnation seekers were watching certain incarnations closely to find who they wanted to sponsor with their power/coins/etcetera.
Bihyung entered the contract after some haggling. Kim Dokja got access to the Dokkaebi Bag. He searched through it while Yoo Joonghyuk glared at him. Kim Dokja waved, all teeth in his smile. Yoo Joonghyuk turned away.
Kim Dokja called out to the protagonist, “Do you want me to help you survive the scenario?”
“What scenario—”
[Hidden Scenario - Commander Slayer.]
Kim Dokja asked again, “If you want to survive, I’ll get you some of the supplies I’m buying.”
Yoo Joonghyuk climbed off of his post. He asked, clearly untrusting, “Why would you do that?”
Kim Dokja bought the needed horns and mucus from the Dokkaebi Bag. He passed four of each item toward Yoo Joonghyuk, who caught them all without a sweat. Damn. Kim Dokja was jealous. He failed gym class all of the time in school.
“Any moment, acid is going to pour into the stomach. Cover yourself with the seahorse mucus, stab the horns into the side of the stomach for balance, and use the bodily fluid from the horns to keep yourself from starving.”
Kim Dokja started to swim towards the side. Yoo Joonghyuk caught on quickly. They both stabbed into the sides of the stomach. Kim Dokja hoped that he could hold on. Hopefully, he could survive this. He wasn’t sure if he could but he needed to hold on.
The acid came in like a flash flood. Yoo Joonghyuk barely opened his eyes at the chaos. He looked at it with vague interest. Kim Dokja tapped him on the shoulder. They were an arm’s reach away. Kim Dokja didn’t want to seem vulnerable, but he needed to admit some things.
“I didn’t actually think that you’d fall in with me,” he said.
Yoo Joonghyuk gave him a look.
Kim Dokja explained, “I knew you were going to let me go so I thought that I could, like… prove to you that we were equals. I’m apologizing in case you die because of my stunt.”
Yoo Joonghyuk scoffed. “I’m not dying in this stomach.”
The days passed slowly. Kim Dokja fell asleep by accident a few times. Yoo Joonghyuk always woke him up in time to hold onto the horns. The teenager fumbled out a thank you each time, but the protagonist scoffed and mentioned something along the lines of, “You provided me the horns and mucus. This is my paying back the favor.” It was a bullshit excuse but Kim Dokja didn’t mind.
Finally, after nearly 3 entire days, the ichthyosaur keeled over and died. Kim Dokja fell back onto the stomach while Yoo Joonghyuk climbed down like the goddamn protagonist he was. Bihyung appeared then, confirmed the contract with Kim Dokja after some ratio fixes, then let Kim Dokja trade the core of the ichthyosaur for ‘Broken Faith.’
Kim Dokja asked, “Do you need anything from here?”
He pointed to the Dokkaebi Bag. This was the least he could do for being able to take the sea beast core without an argument. It was strange. Kim Dokja wondered if the protagonist didn’t mind his company completely. It was probably a facade, though.
Yoo Joonghyuk was hesitant before he said, “Ellain Monkey’s Lungs.”
“Oh.” Kim Dokja snapped his fingers helpfully. “For the next scenario. Good thinking.” Kim Dokja bought a few while Bihyung kept the constellations busy.
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed as they climbed out of the water. Kim Dokja smiled wistfully as he breathed in fresh air for the first time. They kept to the side of the river for a few moments, soaking it in. They sat at the ledge, feet dipped in the river.
Yoo Joonghyuk said, “If you’re not a prophet, how do you know so much?”
Kim Dokja frowned. It was a good question— one that he wanted the answers to as well. “I’m not sure what I am,” he admitted after a long silence, “but I know that I can help you if you let me.”
[The ‘Lie Detection skill has verified that Kim Dokja is telling the truth.]
“Are you kidding me? Yoo Joonghyuk, do I look like a liar!?”
“Yes,” stated the man, completely calm.
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ loves the bonding between Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja.]
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is very confused by what is happening.]
[A few constellations want to know why Yoo Joonghyuk is still wasting his time with Kim Dokja.]
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed. He admitted to the constellations, “It appears I have a new protege—”
“A companion,” corrected a smug Kim Dokja. “I’m your companion, remember? We’re equals. You can’t talk down to me.”
“You are a teenager—”
“I am only 10 years younger than you, Yoo Joonghyuk. Plus, I’m afraid I may be more emotionally stable which is just plain sad.”
Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t waste a moment to hit the teenager’s shoulder. Kim Dokja yelped dramatically even though it was clear that Yoo Joonghyuk held back his strength..
“You should sleep. I’ll do the first-watch.”
“Nu-uh,” argued Kim Dokja. “You’ll just leave after I fall asleep. You’re a bastard in that way.”
Yoo Joonghyuk looked up to the starry sky for some strength to continue on. Kim Dokja preened at it. He always knew he could be annoying. This just proves that. He didn’t have many friends. In fact, Mino Soft was the place where he talked the most in ever, and that was because he ran errands for people in the office.
“I won’t run.”
“... That sounds like a lie.”
Yoo Joonghyuk pressed Kim Dokja back onto the ground. Kim Dokja felt his head lay gently on the ground. Weird. The protagonist was being kind. Maybe the man had a soft spot for people that annoyed him to death. Or kids. He did have a younger sister.
“I promise to not leave you unguarded. We’ll enter the next scenario together.”
Kim Dokja couldn’t even fight it anymore. He was exhausted. 3 days straight on top of a concussion and worrying about the people that survived the train. He was asleep nearly instantly. He dreamed of his mother’s face as she told him, “It’s not your fault, Dokja-ya. It was self-defense.”