Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When Jaehwan opened his eyes, he found himself in a huge forest.

It looked nothing like what he had seen on the previous floors of the tower. There were many scents there, many of which reminded him vaguely of the world he left behind.

However, what caught his attention the most were the sounds. There were sounds of various other living things there.

On all the floors he passed through, Jaehwan realized that the Nightmare Tower was never concerned with creating a huge ecosystem. Its only focus was always to create strong and unique monsters for each floor.

There was never more than one kind of monster on a single floor. So those sounds meant only one thing – he had gotten out of the tower.

A small smile appeared on Jaehwan’s lips.

“I did it.”

He was free.

Jaehwan felt his legs trembling before he fell to his knees. Without the constant adrenaline in his body, the pain from the wounds he acquired in his battle against the Beastreign became harder to ignore.

Jaehwan pursed his lips. It had been a long time since he had felt such pain.

Blood dripped from his open wounds, but as alarming as they might seem, Jaehwan knew that it would not take long for them to heal. He could feel that his body had already begun to slowly heal. A simple Potion would help restore his health and close his wounds.

He held out his hand, internally calling for his Inventory.

But nothing happened.

Jaehwan was a little stunned. This had never happened before.

He tried again, with more concentration than the previous attempt. However, the result was the same. It seemed that the Interface System didn’t work here.

‘That damn demon lied to me.’

Beastreign provided information about the <Great Realm> and guaranteed that the Interface System would work anywhere in the <Great Realm>.

‘I just hope the information about the humans is true.’

Jaehwan didn’t know what he would do if what Beastreign said about the <Peripheral Worlds> and humans were also a lie.

He wished to see a living human.

“I must be somewhere among the <Great Realm>.” Jaehwan squinted his eyes slightly and turned around, trying to get a good look at where he was. “I need to-”

Jaehwan stopped. His eyes widened with what he saw.

There was a body on the ground, right next to where he was. A man's body.

Jaehwan’s eyes shook. This could only be a sick joke of the world he was in. The first human he found couldn’t be dead.

Couldn’t be.

An explosion of intense and uncontrollable emotions filled his heart. For the first time in a long time, he acted without thinking.

Jaehwan didn’t know when he had gotten close to the man. He didn’t know how he could feel the pulse in the man’s neck through his trembling fingers, but he could.

There was a pulse, a little slow, but regular and steady.

The man was alive.

Jaehwan breathed out, realizing he had been holding his breath while checking the man’s neck. A slow smile appeared on his lips.

‘He is alive…’

After a moment, he frowned slightly.

He had just acted unusually. Jaehwan didn't think he had been so eager to find a living human that he wouldn't act rationally.

His emotions had gotten out of control. And this wasn't good. Emotions made humans weak. That was a weakness, and he couldn't afford to have a weakness.

Not when he had a world to destroy.

Deciding to deal with his emotions later, Jaehwan began to search for a possible cause that might have rendered the strange man unconscious.

There was some blood on the neck area of the man he had touched, as well as some blood stains on the white coat the man was wearing. Jaehwan ignored them, knowing that they were caused by his blood.

He looked closely, searching for any injuries or wounds. However, there was nothing there. There were no bruises on that pale skin.

Jaehwan’s eyes lit up.

If there was no external damage, then the man could be unconscious for having refused the system and got out of the tower. Perhaps he refused to be a product, just like Jaehwan.

Jaehwan could still feel the sensation of his body disassembling and reassembling into a new thing before he got out of the tower.

He knew that he was only conscious now because of the sheer stubbornness he possessed. Being vulnerable in an unknown place was not an option for him.

‘…Should I use [Suspicion] on him?’

The skill that had the power to reveal the truth of the world. This skill was of vital importance in the battle against Beastreign.

Realizing that he could have used the skill all along to know about that man’s condition, Jaehwan muttered, “…Stupid emotions,” and focused [Suspicion] on the man.

Unexpectedly, his head began to hurt, as if he had hit a wall. However, it was not the pain that made him frown.

That’s what he saw.

He saw the particles avoiding the man. It was as if the essence of this world could not understand the man.

Jaehwan’s eyes widened with fascination. He had found a very interesting human. A human that the essence of this world could not touch.

Jaehwan leaned back slightly to finally look at the man properly.

‘He’s Korean.’

The man’s thin face and his black hair falling over his face were quite nice to see.

‘…Handsome.’

That was the only word that came to Jaehwan's mind as he tried to define the unconscious man.

His body was slender, dressed in modern black clothes and a white coat that seemed tailor-made. But what was most striking about this man was his calm expression.

During the 30 years he spent in the Nightmare Tower, Jaehwan never saw someone who could have such a calm expression. Since they were taken from their world, people had to be always alert, and ready to fight for their lives.

After a moment of staring at the man, Jaehwan leaned forward again.

“…Who are you?”

The question, of course, wasn't answered.

Jaehwan stood up calmly. His wounds had already begun to heal, so it wouldn’t be long before he was in good condition again.

‘I need to find a safe place.’

He didn’t know if the monsters here were stronger than in the Nightmare Tower.

As much as he didn’t like to admit it, the years he spent alone in the tower made him forget how to protect someone.

Jaehwan didn’t want to risk losing the first human he found because of his carelessness.

* * *

‘Found it.’

Jaehwan looked into the cave.

There were two huge monsters there. Their appearances reminded him of wolves but with horns.

Inside the cave was a huge five-horned white wolf lying down. At the entrance, outside the cave, there was a black five-horned wolf.

Jaehwan narrowed his eyes.

Those wolves weren’t what he expected to find. Jaehwan knew he was in the territory of a powerful monster because the other living things in the area avoided the place.

However, even though these wolves looked like powerful monsters, Jaehwan was sure that if he used a few [Normal Stab] it would be enough to finish them off.

Jaehwan jumped into a tree near the cave. He left the unconscious man he was carrying leaning against the tree trunk. Once he was sure that the man wouldn’t fall, Jaehwan used [Suspicion] on the black wolf.

Jaehwan looked at the particles that touched the black wolf. They moved a formation that seemed a single word.

Hunger.

The black wolf was hungry.

The wolf was trying to persuade the other to get up, but the white wolf only snarled. Unable to ignore the hunger any longer, the black wolf moved away.

Jaehwan watched the monster walk away. When he could no longer see the wolf or hear its footsteps, Jaehwan pulled out his Sword of Frostwyrm Velchisus and jumped out of the tree.

The white wolf had no time to react when Jaehwan’s sword advanced toward it.

It was just an attack. Just a [Normal Stab].

But with just that one attack, the white wolf’s body was torn apart.

‘It was weaker than I thought.’

Jaehwan didn’t think that the monster would die with just one stab.

His initial plan was to lure the wolf out of the cave, kill it, and use the cave as a temporary shelter. But now, with a pool of blood on the cave ground growing and impregnating the air with its horrible smell, the cave was far from being an acceptable shelter.

Jaehwan narrowed his eyes. He put away his sword and approached the wolf’s body.

“Now I’m going to have to clean all this up.”

He just hoped he could get rid of the body and the blood before nightfall.

Chapter Text

Kim Dokja felt the gentle rocking of the subway train as he woke up.

He didn’t remember when he closed his eyes, nor why he ended up sleeping on the train. He was disoriented as if his brain could not hold his memories or thoughts for more than a few seconds.

Had his day been so exhausting that he had given up reading ‘Ways of Survival’ to take a nap?

Kim Dokja frowned at that thought.

No. That is not possible.

There is no way he is on the subway train on his way home because there is no longer a house for him to return to. Not when 'Ways of Survival' has become a reality.

Kim Dokja remembers that he has already cleared the first two main scenarios. He remembers that he is currently on the 3rd Scenario and… Wait. Why does this seem to sound so wrong in his mind?

Kim Dokja tried to open his eyes, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t move any part of his body.

Why? Why couldn’t he move? Why did his memories seem so wrong? Why did he-

[You have been deported from the <Star Stream>.]

[The ‘Fourth Wall’ is shaking violently.]

Kim Dokja lost consciousness.

* * *

When Kim Dokja opened his eyes, he felt a piercing pain.

He had the impression that his bones were being crushed, while something was cruelly twisting his organs. Kim Dokja tried to breathe but realized that he could not.

His mind went blank.

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ is activated!]

When Kim Dokja came to his senses, he realized that he was crouched on the ground and vomiting. He could breathe again.

However, there was no relief whatsoever. There was a strong, nauseating smell of iron. Kim Dokja's stomach churned.

[A method to preserve your body has been found!]

[A new sub scenario has arrived!]

Kim Dokja waved his trembling hand in the air, closing the scenario window the moment it appeared in front of him. He felt too dizzy to try to read anything now.

‘I need to get out of here.’

With his mind a little clearer thanks to [Fourth Wall], Kim Dokja finally realized that he was in a huge cave. The walls formed a round chamber, and right in the center of that chamber, a huge white thing lay in a pool of blood.

Kim Dokja stared at that thing, the source of the stench, for a few seconds before shifting his gaze to where the light was coming from. Outside the cave, a forest was bathed in the colors of the sunset.

With long and faltering steps, Kim Dokja made his way out.

Outside, he could finally take a deep breath. The smell of iron was still present since he hadn't walked far from the cave, but it was now much more tolerable than before.

After the feeling of nausea and dizziness subsided, Kim Dokja opened the sub-scenario window.

+

[Sub Scenario - Survive]

Category: Sub

Difficulty: ???

Clear Conditions: You must consume at least one cooked monster meat per day. Remember to sleep for at least six hours each day. Your existence will suffer if you violate any of these rules.

Time Limit: ???

Compensation: ???

Failure: Death

+

Kim Dokja frowned.

There was something oddly familiar about those words, as if he had encountered a similar scenario before. He glanced at the word 'sub' for a moment before checking the current active main scenario.

However, what he saw only deepened his confusion.

+

[Hidden Scenario - ■■■■]

Category: Hidden

Difficulty: ???

Clear Conditions: ■■■■, ■■ ■■■■. ■■■■ ■■ ■ ■■.

Time Limit: -

Compensation: ???

Failure: Death

+

[■■■■ - ■■■■]

????????: ■■■■■.

+

‘Three scenarios?’

That was peculiar. Kim Dokja couldn't recall encountering anything like that in 'Ways of Survival' before.

He couldn’t remember much of anything before he woke up here.

His memories were fragmented as if his entire life had been formed by short, incoherent moments. Kim Dokja even felt that he could write his entire life in a single paragraph.

He is Kim Dokja, a reader, a normal single and lonely man now living in a world where his favorite novel had turned into reality. Within this new fantasy reality, he had become a constellation and a demon king.

'Should people normally remain calm in situations like this?'

Kim Dokja laughed at that thought.

It was far more likely that people would be desperate, trying to find answers to fill in the gaps in their memories.

If it weren’t for the vague feeling that it was his own decision to stay like this, Kim Dokja feels that he would have already freaked out by now.

“Maybe I did it to clear this scenario.” He considered the idea. “But what kind of hidden scenario is that anyway…?”

Kim Dokja took his phone out of his interdimensional coat. He needed to know if Yoo Jonghyuk had dealt with this scenario in one of his regressions.

However, when the smartphone screen turned on, there was no text file of 'Ways of Survival' on the phone desktop.

It wasn't the name of the novel that he remembered reading for years, but the name of a novel that he had started reading a little bit before 'Ways of Survival' became a reality.

[The World After the Fall.TXT]

‘…What?’

Kim Dokja felt chills throughout his body.

It wasn't possible that another novel had become a reality… or had it?

Kim Dokja closed his eyes, trying to remember why this sense of familiarity he was feeling in such a strange situation.

It was then that he remembered the strange dream he had before opening his eyes in the cave. He remembers the message he heard from the dream.

[You have been deported from the <Star Stream>.]

‘Maybe that wasn’t a dream.’

Kim Dokja had a feeling that he had been in a similar situation before, where he went to a place where the ‘Ways of Survival’ file couldn’t help him.

He opened the file and familiar words appeared on the phone screen.

「A sky hidden by the sky-soaring towers.

Various ruined structures. Faint sounds of moans and screams. Explosive smoke everywhere.

And continued silence.

Needless to say, this was the world after the apocalypse.」

A small smile appeared on Kim Dokja’s lips. This is exactly what he had read before the subway train stopped and a dokkaebi appeared.

Kim Dokja carefully read the entire text file. Thanks to his fast-reading speed, he was able to finish reading the entire file in less than a minute. However, the end of the file was not what he expected.

There were only the prologue and 24 chapters in the file. Only a part of the novel.

Before Kim Dokja could think more about it, a new message sounded in his ear.

[The hidden scenario has been updated!]

+

[Hidden Scenario - ■■■■]

Clear Conditions: In a distant worldline, the new awakener seeks to ■■■■. Help the awakener to ■■■.

+

Kim Dokja looked intently at the window in front of him.

There was still censored information, but now that he read the file, he knew who the ‘awakener’ was and that he needed help to clear the scenario.

He needed to help Jaehwan, the protagonist of this world.

‘…But help him with what?’

Kim Dokja reread the last few chapters available in the file.

‘It can’t be that I just need to take him to Gorgon Fortress…’

Gorgon Fortress was the place where Jaehwan was in the last chapter. If that was indeed the clear condition of the scenario, then it meant that the main character was still wandering through the forest.

It might even seem like an easy clear condition: find Jaehwan and take him to Gorgon Fortress.

However, the author had not described the days the protagonist spent alone in the forest after leaving the tower. At least, not in the chapters that Kim Dokja had read.

‘But it shouldn’t be that hard.’

Kim Dokja looked up and considered activating his demon king transformation to look for the protagonist through the air.

‘Maybe it’ll be easier if I-’

Growl-

Kim Dokja quickly turned toward the sudden sound, gripping Unbreakable Faith tightly in his hand. He spotted a massive five-horned monster, resembling a black wolf, standing among the trees.

Kim Dokja's eyes widened.

This monster had been described in the novel. It was the strongest monster Jaehwan had faced in the forest because it didn't die with a few hits of [Shallow Stab]. It only died with one [Normal Stab].

The wolf lunged forward, its mouth wide open, ready to devour the human before it.

Kim Dokja reacted by instinct. His body moved forward and he aimed at the monster’s eyes. The Unbreakable Faith was covered in blood when the monster’s eyes were cut off with a single motion.

It seemed that that cut was deeper than it should have been since the monster simply stopped moving after it fell to the ground.

“…Damn.”

Kim Dokja hadn't intended to kill the monster.

He didn’t know if that monster was the same one that the main character had faced in the novel, where he took the five horns after defeating it and even used one of them to make a scabbard for his sword.

If it was indeed the monster Jaehwan had found, then a terrible butterfly effect had already been set in motion in this world.

“…That wasn’t supposed to happen.”

The monster shouldn't have been so weak.

The description of this monster from another character's point of view indicated that it was challenging to face alone.

‘…It’s not possible for me to have a Strength similar to Jaehwan’s.’

Kim Dokja gazed at his blood-stained sword, his brow furrowed.

‘But I didn’t use any skills or activate Unbreakable Faith… If only I could see my Attribute Window to-’

“You’re good.”

Kim Dokja turned toward the voice that spoke in a familiar language. A ragged man was slowly approaching.

A sudden sentence popped into his head.

「It was a ragged man who looked like he just came out from hiding within the room for tens of years.」

It was an accurate description of the protagonist's appearance.

Jaehwan stopped a few steps away from Kim Dokja, watching him with a cold and sharp gaze.

Kim Dokja smiled. He hadn't imagined he would find the protagonist so soon. Now he just needed to take him to Gorgon Fortress and… wait a minute… did the protagonist just say ‘you’re good’?

Jaehwan glanced at the motionless five-horned monster lying on the ground.

“You killed that monster with one clean hit.”

“Were you watching?”

“I was.”

Jaehwan turned his gaze back to Kim Dokja. His eyes lit up strangely as he spoke, “I wouldn't leave the first human I found unprotected.”

Kim Dokja frowned.

The main character had done the same thing when he first found the group of humans in the novel. A test, in a way. But there was something that wasn’t making sense to Kim Dokja.

‘I can’t sense his presence.’

Even though the protagonist was standing right in front of him, it felt as if he were nothing more than an illusion.

Kim Dokja glanced at the monster he had accidentally killed.

'I didn't sense its approach either.'

He knew that this world was based on a novel, but he had not anticipated that things would feel so unreal. Even when ‘Ways of Survival’ became a reality in his world, Kim Dokja had some difficulty distinguishing between what was real and what was novel.

'Well, the less real it feels, the better.'

Kim Dokja observed the protagonist, who continued to stare at him, for a moment before extending his hand.

“I’m Dokja. Kim Dokja.”

A hollow feeling arose in his stomach, but Kim Dokja ignored it. He needed to be on good terms with Jaehwan so he could clear the scenario without too many complications.

And nothing better than saying your name to get on good terms with someone.

Jaehwan glanced at the outstretched hand, then looked back at the man standing before him.

“Jaehwan.”

Kim Dokja lowered his hand, unconcerned by the fact that it was simply ignored.

Suddenly, the hollow feeling in Kim Dokja's stomach intensified, making it difficult for him to ignore.

This was strange. The <Chaos> was, quite literally, the world of the dead. People were not supposed to feel hungry or tired. They were already dead.

That's when Kim Dokja recalled the ongoing sub scenario and realized, 'I am in my incarnation body.'

Kim Dokja took the Magic Power Stove from his coat and approached the monster’s body.

“…What are you doing?”

Kim Dokja glanced at Jaehwan, who wore a frown. His head tilted slightly to the side as if he was curious about Kim Dokja’s actions.

[Your understanding of the character ‘Jaehwan’ has increased.]

“Cooking.” Kim Dokja looked at the Magic Power Stove, which emitted a small flame. “This item turns any monster meat into edible food.”

Kim Dokja focused his attention on the meat being cooked. Soon, a sweet smell filled the air as the meat slowly roasted.

“Fresh meat!”

Kim Dokja smiled upon hearing Gilyoung's enthusiastic shout. He needed to remind the child that the meat wasn't ready yet and…

Wait. Who is Gilyoung?

Kim Dokja turned toward the direction where he had heard the kid's voice, but there was nothing there.

‘Was this a memory?’

But if it was a memory, why was there a child with him? Was the boy part of his party?

Now that Kim Dokja thought about it, he realized he couldn’t remember who his companions were. In the memories in which he knows his companions were, there were only shadows.

‘…Did I decide to forget about them?’

It seemed wrong at the same time as it seemed right as if the answer ‘yes’ and ‘no’ were both correct.

Kim Dokja picked up a large piece of meat, trying to ward off the strange, empty feeling he felt.

There was no point in thinking about it too much. He only needed to clear this stupid scenario to recover his memories and return to his world.

Kim Dokja tried to eat quietly, but after a few bites, he realized he couldn't. The feeling of being watched only intensified.

“Do you want some?”

Jaehwan just continued to stare at him.

After a moment of silence, Jaehwan approached. Contrary to all of Kim Dokja's expectations, he took a large piece of meat and sat down very close to him.

'…Should Jaehwan be acting like this?'

Kim Dokja observed Jaehwan closely.

Jaehwan appeared expressionless. However, there was also a sense of relaxation and lowered guard in his demeanor.

Kim Dokja didn't anticipate his presence to have such an immediate impact on this world.

‘Perhaps that’s the privilege of the first human.’

In the novel, Jaehwan interacted differently with the first humans he encountered compared to the later chapters with other characters. He showed tolerance towards them.

‘Wait. Does that mean he won’t tolerate Mino?’

Mino, the character who possibly held the role of the Female Lead.

The relationship between her and the protagonist seemed quite fragile in the chapters he had read. However, Kim Dokja had a hunch that their relationship would develop similarly to that of Yoo Jonghyuk and Lee Seolhwa in the first and second regressions.

'I'll need to do something about that.'

“Kim Dokja.”

Kim Dokja was brought out of his thoughts by Jaehwan's voice.

Jaehwan, who had been staring at the Magic Power Stove, continued, “If you could go back to the past, would you go?”

Kim Dokja was taken aback by the fact that he was actually considering his answer to that question. After a moment, he looked up at the sky, where dusk was transitioning into nightfall.

Even though he didn't have all his memories at the moment, he knew that there had been times when he wondered what it would be like if he could go back in time and change the choices he had made on certain days. He had contemplated the 'what ifs' and imagined the different paths his life could have taken.

What if he had managed to get into a first-rate college?

What if he had never found ‘Ways of Survival’?

Kim Dokja regrets many things, but what he regrets most are the things he didn’t do. However, was that reason enough for him to willingly face a fate similar to Yoo Jonghyuk's?

“I don’t think so.” Kim Dokja looked up at the stars that were beginning to appear in the sky. “I don’t have a reason to want to go back to the past at the moment.”

Even without all his memories, the current Kim Dokja somehow knows that he would not want to change anything he has done. He feels that going back in time would be the last thing he would want.

Jaehwan's gaze grew even colder.

“…Don’t you have a reason at the moment?”

“That’s right. I don’t.”

Kim Dokja kept his eyes fixed on the sky.

Amidst the darkening sky, he found himself searching for something among the countless stars. After a moment, he decided to further elaborate on his point, "I can't say that I have ever felt or will ever feel the urge to go back in time."

"…Can't you?"

"No, I can't. We are always changing our way of thinking for various reasons, after all."

Yoo Jonghyuk was a clear example of that.

His way of thinking always changed with each regression. The Yoo Jonghyuk of the 3rd regression was different from the Yoo Jonghyuk of the 1863rd regression.

'I myself am different.'

[The character ‘Jaehwan’ has a favorable impression of you.]

[Your understanding of the character ‘Jaehwan’ has increased.]

Kim Dokja kept his eyes on the stars.

He still didn't know what he was looking for or why he was bothered by the silence of those stars. There were no constellations in this world.

So why did he seem to be expecting to hear the indirect messages of some constellations?

Kim Dokja, who was slowly getting lost in his thoughts, did not notice the subtle change in Jaehwan’s gaze.

* * *

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ has blocked ‘???’!]

Kim Dokja pursed his lips.

Jaehwan was at it again. He was using that damn [Suspicion] skill on him once more.

At some point after their initial meeting, Jaehwan had begun using the [Suspicion] skill multiple times. Kim Dokja wasn't sure what had prompted the protagonist to do so, but he could feel his patience wearing thin.

I just need to endure for five more days.’

According to the novel, after a month of wandering through the forest, Jaehwan finally found intelligent beings capable of providing information. It was not verbal information, of course. The main character was far from someone who liked to settle things in dialogue.

Jaehwan found a map that led him to Gorgon Fortress after he had killed those intelligent beings, not knowing that those beings were from a renowned family.

Kim Dokja only hoped that the obligations imposed by the sub scenario of eating and sleeping every day would not cause a change in the plot of the novel.

He didn’t know what he would do if he didn’t find that crucial clue that could help him lead the protagonist to Gorgon Fortress.

“Kim Dokja?”

Kim Dokja looked away, raising an eyebrow as he noticed the protagonist watching him intently.

Jaehwan was acting strange. There was something about him that seemed off, but Kim Dokja couldn't tell exactly what it was.

Apart from the fact that the protagonist no longer had that cold gaze in his eyes and that he liked to be close to him, Jaehwan was behaving exactly as he did in the novel - reserved and unconcerned.

Jaehwan frowned. “Are you hungry?”

"I'm not."

"…Then why are you making that face?"

"Hm? What face?"

"This one." Jaehwan held out his hand, hovering it very close to the other's face. "You always make this face when you're hungry."

Kim Dokja blinked.

“But I’m not hungry.”

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ has blocked ‘???’!]

What a bastard.

Kim Dokja took the lead and walked away from the protagonist with wide strides. “We need to find someone or something that can tell us where we are. I want to get out of this forest.”

‘And clean up this damn scenario.’

Chapter Text

After a month of wandering through the seemingly endless forest, Jaehwan finally came across something other than weak-horned monsters.

He encountered a group of intelligent and mysterious beings—green non-human creatures with antennae on their heads, dressed like ancient monks.

They spoke in a strange language, of which Jaehwan could understand very little, even when using his [Suspicion] skill to its fullest.

“…HOW DARE YOU…”

“…INSOLENT HUMAN…”

“…STAND IN OUR WAY…”

That situation served as a reminder of the privileges he had lost from the Interface System, which would have helped him understand and communicate easily with that strange species.

Jaehwan made a great effort to ask them where he was. However, the more he spoke, the more agitated and insulting those beings became.

Suddenly, they attacked him with unsheathed swords.

Jaehwan didn't know if he had somehow offended or provoked them into attacking him. All he knew was that trying to talk to them would yield no results.

Therefore, Jaehwan swiftly killed them.

"You could have left one of them alive to gather some information."

Jaehwan felt the corners of his lips lift into a smile as he heard Kim Dokja’s voice. Being able to hear and speak in Korean felt pleasant to him. It was cozy and nostalgic.

Jaehwan looked at Kim Dokja and felt his expression soften as the latter calmly approached.

'It looks like he's back to normal.'

There was no longer that strange expression on Kim Dokja's face.

He didn't understand why Kim Dokja seemed so bothered these days, acting agitated and thoughtful. It was quite different from his usual demeanor.

Kim Dokja always had a calm and knowing gaze. There were moments when Jaehwan felt that Kim Dokja understood him on a deep and unusual level, as if they had known each other for a long time.

It wasn't just the look that gave him this strange feeling. There were moments during their conversations when Jaehwan felt the same way.

Kim Dokja had never shown interest in Jaehwan's past or asked about him. He simply accepted Jaehwan as he was.

It was amusing how good that made Jaehwan feel. It made him realize that he didn't need to prove anything in this unreal world to assert his humanity.

Jaehwan wiped the blue blood off his cheek and finally answered to Kim Dokja's unspoken question, "It would be a waste of time."

Kim Dokja frowned.

He cast a confused gaze at Jaehwan before staring into space. His expression was profound, as if he had encountered something curious.

Before Jaehwan could ask what was wrong, Kim Dokja looked at the bodies of the green beings.

“Yeah, maybe it would be a waste of time.”

Kim Dokja crouched down near one of the bodies, furrowing his brow and placing his hand on his chin. He muttered, "…But shouldn't they have turned to dust?"

Jaehwan cast a curious glance at the other.

‘Where had he drawn that conclusion?’

Kim Dokja would occasionally murmur nonsensical things to himself.

Jaehwan felt like using [Suspicion] on Kim Dokja again. He wanted to understand what was going on in the other's mind. Who knows, maybe now he could break through that wall that surrounded him.

Or maybe he would need to use [Suspicion] a million times to break through that wall.

'Maybe later.'

Jaehwan pushed his thoughts away and looked at the body in front of him. He searched around for useful items or equipment.

Luckily for him, those green beings had some valuable and useful things.

Jaehwan found a small bag that served as an inventory and some well-cut crystal-like jewels.

Those jewels seemed to be quite valuable.

Jaehwan remembered the gaze Kim Dokja gave whenever he found something he considered valuable and decided to put the jewelry in the bag.

He still didn't know what Kim Dokja saw in those five-horned monsters they had faced on the first day, but he was grateful that the man insisted on taking those horns.

Those were the only decent monsters they had encountered.

The other monsters they had come across were weak, but they all shared one thing in common with the wolf-like monsters - the horns.

Each monster had several horns, ranging from one to four.

Jaehwan noticed that the number of horns a monster had indicated its strength. The more horns a monster possessed, the stronger it was.

And the more valuable its horns would be.

Jaehwan glanced at Kim Dokja, who seemed to have found some kind of map. The man was completely focused on what he was seeing, oblivious to his surroundings.

As Jaehwan wondered whether he should call Kim Dokja to decide what to do with the other items and equipment he had gathered, the Sword of Frostwyrm at his waist began vibrating. That meant only one thing: the sword was hungry.

“…Again?”

Jaehwan took out his sword and thrust it into a pile of equipment and items. He watched with admiration as the blade opened up like a mouth and began devouring everything. Then, he turned his attention back to Kim Dokja.

The sounds of his sword devouring the equipment, along with watching the first human he had encountered calmly studying a map, were strangely comforting to Jaehwan.

It seemed that he had regained something he thought he had lost a long time ago.

A cool breeze gently brushed Jaehwan's hair, and he found himself gazing up at the sky. It was interesting how these small moments made him realize that he was no longer alone.

He, Jaehwan, had managed to get out of the tower and on the same day found a human.

And these two facts, simple as they might seem, warmed him up inside.

* * *

Jaehwan had found more humans. Five, to be exact.

He had come across them on his way to the place marked on the map after a long and quiet walk. However, those humans were nothing like what he had expected to find. They were…

“UGH!”

…too weak.

'How did they managed to clear the Nightmares Tower?'

That had been disappointing.

Jaehwan had thought that humans in the <Great Realm> would be really powerful and almost untouchable. And they should have been, since they had all cleared the tower to get there.

But the humans he had found had been far from skilled, struggling with a single one-horned monster.

The same monster that had been easily killed with one [Shallow Stab].

‘…They will all die that way.’

Jaehwan pondered the situation.

Those humans were disappointing to look at, but they could be useful somehow. Maybe they would provide important information about their location.

Jaehwan felt the desire to help those humans, but he couldn't make a decision.

He turned to Kim Dokja, ready to ask the man's opinion on what he should do when he saw an unexpected expression on the other man's face.

Kim Dokja's eyes lit up.

Jaehwan watched, unable to understand why the man's lips curved into a smile, or why he seemed so relieved.

At that sight, Jaehwan felt a strange sensation. A premonition of something bad about to happen.

Ignoring the growing agitation of his emotions, he quickly followed Kim Dokja’s gaze and felt a chill run through his body as he realized that the other was looking at the only girl in the group.

The girl had bright red hair and pale white skin, and she was dressed in a dark silk robe.

Jaehwan observed the girl closely, but he couldn't find anything interesting about her. It didn't matter that she seemed to be the strongest in the group or that she was behaving strangely.

The more he watched her, the more he became aware of his dislike for her.

He had no way of knowing whether she was trying to hunt or ruin the hunt. He just knew that that girl meant only one thing - trouble.

In that moment, Jaehwan made a decision: he didn't want to get involved with that girl.

“Kim Dokja.”

Kim Dokja looked at Jaehwan.

Jaehwan pressed his lips together. The other's expression had not changed.

“Let’s go.” Jaehwan turned his back on the group of humans and walked away. "We have to keep moving."

He took a few steps forward, ignoring the sounds of weapons clashing and shouting. He tried to hear the familiar footsteps of Kim Dokja, announcing that the other one was again following him as he had always done for the past 30 days.

However, no sound of footsteps was heard.

“Jaehwan.”

For the first time in years, Jaehwan hesitated.

He didn’t want to look back.

He didn’t want to see what kind of expression Kim Dokja was making at that very moment.

Once again, an explosion of intense emotions overshadowed his thinking. However, this time, one specific emotion took control of his actions and thoughts.

This emotion screamed Jaehwan's wishes.

It urged Jaehwan to grab Kim Dokja and get out of there as fast as possible.

Unaware of the other's current state, Kim Dokja asked, “Aren't you going to save them?” After a brief moment of silence, he continued, “They will die if we do nothing.”

‘Let them die.’

Jaehwan clenched his jaw, preventing that thought from escaping his mouth.

“They will die because they are weak.”

“They are human.”

Kim Dokja's voice had a peculiar tone, perhaps accompanied by narrowed eyes. He persisted, "Isn't that what you wanted so desperately? To find other humans who have left the tower?"

Jaehwan clenched his fists.

Yeah, he wanted to find more humans. He wanted to know what it was like to live after leaving the tower.

However, that ‘wanted’ ceased to exist the moment he saw those humans.

What Jaehwan wanted was to continue his journey with only Kim Dokja and pretend he never saw that group of weak humans.

Jaehwan's voice dropped to a low, grave pitch. “Kim Dokja.”

This was a warning. A warning to the other to drop the subject and keep walking. A warning that Kim Dokja simply ignored.

Why? Why wasn’t Kim Dokja following Jaehwan as he always did? What was interesting about that group of humans or that girl, anyway?

Jaehwan was better than they were. And he was going to prove it.

With this thought in mind, Jaehwan suddenly drew one of his swords and ran toward the monster that was attacking the group of humans.

And stabbed it over and over again.

The monster eventually died from one of his stabs, but Jaehwan didn’t stop. He realized that he couldn’t stop.

He kept stabbing the monster, feeling an increasingly strange and uncontrollable urge to scream.

He kept stabbing, even when the thing in front of him had already become unrecognizable, a mass of severed flesh and bones.

Jaehwan kept stabbing.

-

Extra

Chapter Text

Mino still found it hard to believe what she had seen.

Within seconds, the two-horned beast that had been on the verge of killing the Red Fox members was struck and fell with a resounding thud. Blue blood gushed from the monster, splattering everyone nearby.

It took Mino a while to comprehend what had just occurred. She realized that a man had struck the monster.

A man who relentlessly and uncontrollably stabbed the monster, even though it was abundantly clear that it was already dead.

She watched in stunned shock as the man repeatedly raised his sword and stabbed the beast, over and over again.

‘…How long would he keep doing this?’

Mino couldn’t comprehend why the air grew heavier each time the man stabbed the already unrecognizable corpse of the monster.

She couldn’t comprehend why it had become so difficult to breathe.

Mino attempted to move, but to her surprise, she discovered her body was paralyzed. She could only watch the man in terror. Something similar had happened to her before.

There was a time when she had witnessed the leader of her clan, one of the strongest men in the <Chaos>, become enraged.

However, what she had felt that day was not as intense and suffocating as what she was experiencing now. That could only mean one thing: the man in front of her was dangerous. Incredibly dangerous.

That man was as strong as her leader, if not stronger, having managed to kill a two-horned monster without any apparent skill.

After all, that man had simply killed the monster by stabbing it.

Desperately, Mino tried to move her body. Something told her that if she didn’t run away while she still had time, she would end up as a grotesque mass of severed flesh and bones.

Just like the two-horned monster had become after being repeatedly stabbed.

Mino no longer cared about the mission that had brought her here. Her life was more important. However, before she could take any action, the man came to a halt.

Everyone was silent. The man raised his head and Mino could finally see what he looked like. He was a ragged guy covered in blue blood.

He locked eyes with each member of the Red Fox before turning his gaze toward her.

Chills ran down Mino’s spine. She felt as though a razor-sharp blade hung over her exposed neck. There was an abyss within those eyes, staring at her with intense coldness.

Mino felt that she was facing Death. She could sense that familiar feeling she had desperately wanted to forget.

That feeling of drowning in fear and despair…

That cold that seemed to freeze her very being…

No, Mino didn’t want to die. She didn’t want to experience death again.

“Hey, Jaehwan!”

A new voice shattered the tense silence, pulling Mino out of her thoughts.

She glanced at the man emerging from the trees. Before she or anyone else could react to the new stranger’s presence, a man in a white coat approached the ragged guy and struck him on the back of his head.

Everyone held their breath. The ragged guy locked eyes with his assailant, but nothing further ensued.

‘…Wait.’

In reality, something had indeed occurred.

Mino realized that the air no longer felt heavy, and the oppressive feeling that had gripped them seconds ago had dissipated.

If it weren’t for the slight trembling of her hands and the lingering coldness, she might have believed she had imagined the entire ordeal.

The man in the white coat furrowed his brow.

“You overreacted.”

He looked at the group. His expression softened as he continued, “Apologies. My companion got carried away. We happened to be passing by when we noticed you were in trouble.”

‘…Does that mean that guy was just trying to help?’

Mino almost laughed in disbelief. She turned back to the man who seemed like Death in disguise, but what she saw made her eyes widen.

Before she stood an ordinary, ragged man, his calm expression fixed on the other. There was no longer any sense of danger or coldness emanating from him. The fact that he was still covered in blue blood no longer caused any discomfort.

He appeared to be a regular human, like anyone else.

‘What the-’

For the second time that day, Mino found herself struggling to believe what she was seeing. However, before she could delve deeper into the question of what was real and what might have been her imagination, a member of the Red Fox stepped forward.

It was Kanghun, the leader of their group.

“R-right.” Kanghun rubbed his hands together to conceal their trembling. “But who are you…?”

A smile appeared on the man in the white coat’s lips.

“I’m Kim Dokja, and this is Jaehwan.”

Mino sensed something strange about that smile but remained silent.

She cautiously watched as Kanghun and the other three members of his clan approached Dokja. They asked him questions, and he answered calmly.

Gradually, the men seemed to return to their normal state, even forgetting the fear they had experienced moments ago, as they persuaded Kim Dokja to accompany them.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, Mino kept her eyes on Jaehwan.

It came as no surprise that he chose to accompany the group alone, slightly apart from the others. No one wanted to be near him.

Mino recalled a rumor she had heard during her early days in the <Chaos>, but she never thought it could be true.

However, observing the intensity and coldness in Jaehwan’s gaze as he looked at Kim Dokja, the same intensity that was once directed at her, Mino realized that she might be witnessing something she had only considered a rumor.

But what was a possible member of a renowned family and an Abyss Warrior doing there?

Mino needed answers to this question as soon as possible. If her suspicions were correct, there was a chance she could still fulfill the mission that brought her here.

And who knows, she might even gain an ally in the process.

* * *

There have always been strange rumors surrounding the renowned families and monarchs of <Chaos>.

When Mino arrived at the trunk of the <Mirage Tree>, she encountered many of them. Some rumors seemed too absurd to believe, while others resembled bizarre horror stories.

However, one particular rumor caught her attention.

“I heard that one of the renowned families has returned in search of the Abyss Warriors…”

“…they like to throw them into an arena…”

“…and watch them kill each other like beasts…”

It was a very simple rumor. Nobles use people and make them kill themselves just for entertainment.

It reminded her of her home world, Arkal.

Some years ago, something similar to this rumor had happened in her world. The nobles there hunted people and treated them like fighting animals.

However, Mino knew that such events couldn’t take place in this world. After all, there was the Nightmare Tower.

Why would these nobles bother searching for Abyss Warriors in the <Chaos> when they could see everything that went on inside the Nightmare Towers?

But now, as Mino watched Kim Dokja and Jaehwan, she became almost certain – that rumor was indeed true.

Kim Dokja emitted a mysterious and aloof aura, and his clothing was highly unique and peculiar. While he didn’t come across as arrogant or snobbish like the other nobles who had visited the <Chaos>, there was still an indifferent look in his eyes.

It was as if he didn’t recognize the people around him as fellow humans. This apathy was typical of the renowned families that ventured into the <Chaos>.

On the other hand, Jaehwan… Everything about him screamed that he had returned from the <Abyss>. His ragged appearance, overpowering strength, his untamed madness…

There was a strong possibility that he was an Abyss Warrior.

Perhaps he was even one of the rare cases where individuals returning from the <Abyss> had lost everything. Memories, knowledge, identity—all gone.

These people became blank canvases. Anyone could paint on this with a simple action or word. People like that were easily influenced and manipulated by anyone who provided them with purpose.

Mino kept her eyes fixed on Jaehwan, silently activating her [Detection] skill. She needed to gather more information about these two individuals before drawing any conclusions.

However…

[Failed to use the skill.]

…her skill didn’t work.

‘What?’

She attempted once more, but the result was the same.

[Failed to use the skill.]

‘Damn. Now is not the time to do this!’

That was the worst time her skill could choose not to work.

Mino stared at Kim Dokja, who was walking well ahead of the group next to Kanghun. She attempted to use her skill on him, but strangely, she felt a strong headache as soon as she activated it.

[Failed to use the skill.]

Mino placed her hand on her head and looked at Dokja, confused. This was the first time something like this had happened to her.

‘…That’s weird.’

While it was not uncommon for her skill to fail at times, it was the first time she experienced pain when using it on someone.

‘I should have learned better skills before coming here…’

With that thought in mind, Mino attempted to use the items she had brought specifically for cases like this on Dokja.

However, just like her skill, none of the items seemed to work.

[Target not detected.]

This was the first time this had happened.

‘It can’t be that all of them are broken…’

If only one item had failed, she could understand it being a simple malfunction, but the fact that all of them were ineffective was puzzling.

Additionally, the message “target not detected” instead of “failed to use item” added to the peculiarity of the situation.

Mino decides to leave this aside for now. She didn’t know when the group would stop to rest. That could be her last chance to discreetly use the items without raising suspicion.

She utilized the items on Jaehwan. They functioned flawlessly, as if they had never malfunctioned before.

Mino would have been content with this outcome if it weren’t for what she uncovered while using these items.

Jaehwan’s Spirit Power was exceptionally low.

That was the lowest rating she had ever seen appear on that item.

That discovery shattered Mino’s theory. None of the Abyss Warriors were Non-Adapted. Furthermore, that man possessed no skills whatsoever, and yet, he managed to kill a two-horned monster with a single stab.

Mino gazed at Jaehwan, struggling to comprehend what she was seeing.

Was that man a Non-Adapted? Was he truly human?

‘…What are you?’

All the certainty Mino once had vanished without a trace. She no longer knew who or what Jaehwan could be.

It looked like she wasn’t going to be able to complete that stupid mission after all.

Chapter Text

Jaehwan stared at Kanghun’s back with a sideways glance for a long time.

That man, whose presence brought him a strange and uncomfortable feeling, was still standing next to Kim Dokja.

It wasn’t merely an initial bad impression.

Jaehwan’s distrust of those individuals, who seemed to be bad people, caused him to activate his [Suspicion] and [Understanding] skills from the moment Kim Dokja approached them.

He knew it wasn’t right of him to judge people based solely on their appearances, but there was something about them that made him uneasy. And he found out what it was.

In the face of his [Suspicion] and [Understanding] skills, everything these people thought, felt, and talked about with [Whisper] was shown to Jaehwan.

His suspicions were justified. These individuals were indeed criminals.

Jaehwan’s dislike for them only increased after that.

How could these humans, who were not only weak but also the type of people Jaehwan despised the most?

‘Should I simply eliminate them?’

Jaehwan narrowed his eyes at the thought.

Although there were now enough reasons for him to get rid of those weak and despicable humans or simply turn his back and continue his journey without their company, Jaehwan knew he could do nothing for the moment.

Not when Kim Dokja wanted information from them.

Even if Jaehwan explained his reasons for wanting to get rid of those humans or just continue without them, there was a good chance that the man would simply ignore his warnings again.

The only consolation Jaehwan had about Kim Dokja’s evident stubbornness was that he seemed to be aware that those people were criminals.

After all, what other reason would he have for treating those people with such bias and distance?

It wasn’t due to their appearance, as Jaehwan was well aware of his own appearance. And even with a ragged appearance, Kim Dokja didn’t treat Jaehwan that way when they first met.

‘But that’s not enough.’

If Kim Dokja was putting up with those people just to get the information he wanted, it was a wasted effort.

However, no matter how much truthful information they provided, those men did not disclose everything they claimed to know.

They were withholding vital information.

The moment Jaehwan realized this, he started to ignore the meaningless chatter those people produced in the form of words. The only truly valuable words were those not spoken verbally.

That was why Jaehwan continued to absorb every word he saw and heard through [Suspicion] and [Understanding].

However, prolonged use of those two skills brought about a side effect: a headache that seemed to intensify with each passing second.

Jaehwan could have deactivated those skills long ago. After all, he had already obtained the information he wanted.

However, there was something about the conversation those men were having with [Whisper] that compelled Jaehwan to endure the pain and discover the outcome of that conversation.

[…That doesn’t make sense! How can a guy who smells like dreams have such low Spirit Power?! I thought he was an Abyss Warrior!]

[How did he manage to kill that two-horned beast with a single stab?!]

[I believe he was only able to do that because of the sword.] Kanghun’s voice sounded. [I remember seeing his sword covered in a black aura and radiating strange energy]

[And is there such a powerful sword?]

[Yes, there is. It is a valuable weapon used only by the monarchs of the <Great Realm>. It’s called a Spirit Weapon.]

[…So…is this Dokja really from a renowned family? What if… he’s some kind of monarch?]

The group fell silent.

Suddenly, Kanghun placed a hand on Kim Dokja’s shoulder and leaned closer to him. He whispered something to the man before turning away.

Jaehwan’s eyes trembled.

An unfamiliar, dark emotion surged within him, making him feel peculiar. Suddenly and inexplicably, he felt the urge to grasp his sword and stab something.

[The scent is faint, but he doesn’t smell like a monarch or someone from a renowned family. However, his scent… it’s very peculiar. It’s the first time I’ve encountered it.]

[What should we do, leader? None of our items seem to have any effect on Dokja.]

[I’ll call for reinforcements. Even if he’s powerful, he shouldn’t be able to face the entire clan alone.]

[And what about the girl and the ragged guy?]

[Let’s-]

‘Haa…’

Jaehwan deactivated his skills.

The pain became unbearable. He couldn’t remember when he had last experienced such an intense, throbbing headache.

To make matters worse, the light and the noises seemed to intensify the pain, tempting him to find solace under a nearby tree and close his eyes. However, he couldn’t grant himself this small wish.

Jaehwan decided to distract himself from the pain by reviewing the information he had gathered so far.

Contrary to his expectations, he found himself not in the <Great Realm> as he had imagined. Somehow, he had ended up on the trunk of the <Mirage Tree> in a place known as <Chaos>.

Beastreign hadn’t provided him with any information about the <Mirage Tree>, but he had mentioned it once.

It’s a huge tree located in the center of the <Great Realm>.

‘That was also mentioned in the writings left behind by the tower’s creator.’

Based on the clues he had gathered and the conversation he had overheard from the group through [Whisper], Jaehwan gained a better understanding of the <Mirage Tree>.

The tree was divided into three regions:

Nightmare Tower, the roots.

Chaos, the trunk.

Abyss, the branches.

It appeared that Jaehwan’s theory was indeed correct—the world was connected.

However, it seemed strange to think that the Nightmare Tower served as the root of the <Mirage Tree>, while the same tree was the root of the First Nightmare.

Jaehwan wondered if the First Nightmare was truly the top of that world. Perhaps it was even the root of something else as well.

‘Even if that isn’t the end, I’ll continue climbing this damn world.’

Jaehwan had a purpose, and he would fulfill it.

But before that, he needed to address two important matters. Firstly, Jaehwan needed to become stronger and acquire more knowledge.

Even after spending a month in this new environment, Jaehwan remained weak and lacked knowledge. He was still a newbie in this unfamiliar world, and so far, he had been fortunate enough to encounter only weak enemies.

And…

‘…I need to gain better control over myself.’

It was peculiar to think that this would be the second issue he needed to address — the need for greater self-control over his emotions.

Nevertheless, it had happened twice. Twice, Jaehwan had lost control of his emotions, resulting in clouded judgment driven by their intensity. Twice, he had acted impulsively and uncharacteristically.

But why? Why did his previously firm and precise control over his emotions dissipate after leaving the Nightmare Tower?

It made no sense. There should be no other factor that could cause him to feel this way.

Even when he learned the raw and morbid truth that everything he had gone through in the Nightmare Tower, all the hell he had lived for 30 long years, was just a simple tutorial, Jaehwan did not lose control of his emotions.

He did not go crazy, despite a part of him wanting to.

So why? Why was it only now that his emotions were becoming intense and uncontrollable? And why did everything seem to indicate that Kim Dokja was the cause of this?

Jaehwan looked at the man in question, but he wasn’t just looking at Kim Dokja. He was looking at the memories of the past 30 days.

In all of those memories, Kim Dokja was present. In all of those memories, there was always a hint of illusion.

These memories were so simple and peaceful that it seemed impossible for them to have occurred. Yet, they had.

Somehow, Jaehwan had managed to experience peaceful days in this new world. And it was this little fact that gave everything that touch of illusion.

An illusion that was always associated with Kim Dokja.

Everything about that man evoked a strange sense of familiarity and comfort. Whether it was his words, small gestures, or the way his eyes seemed to understand Jaehwan… it all contributed to this sweet and simple illusion.

But Jaehwan was well aware of the fragility of this illusion. He knew that it would eventually come to an end.

After all, everything that had a beginning would have an end.

He had witnessed the birth and demise of many things, and this illusion would be no exception. And Kim Dokja would be no different.

He, too, would eventually leave him, whether by choice or circumstance, just as his friends had done in the tower.

When that moment arrived, the peaceful and comforting illusion would shatter, and Jaehwan would once again confront the grim reality of this world alone.

He understood this, yet he couldn’t comprehend why his heart seemed to constrict at the thought.

* * *

Kim Dokja was ignoring him.

This was the conclusion Jaehwan reached after staring at the other for a while, just after the group had stopped to rest.

Having lived together for several days, Jaehwan knew that Kim Dokja could sense his gaze.

No matter the moment, Kim Dokja always stared back at him, with a slightly raised eyebrow and an expression that conveyed a mix of curiosity and annoyance.

Only a few times did the man take the time to notice that he was being stared at by Jaehwan. It was still somewhat intriguing that whenever Kim Dokja looked at the apparent white screen of his phone, he seemed oblivious to the world around him.

However, at that moment, Kim Dokja was not his usual oblivious self.

He appeared tense, with tightly pursed lips and slightly narrowed eyes, a stark contrast to his usual relaxed posture.

And he never once met Jaehwan’s gaze.

‘…Is he still mad?’

Jaehwan had witnessed Kim Dokja getting angry before, but that anger had never been directed at him.

First, there was the blow to the back of his head. Now, deliberate avoidance.

‘…Why does this bother me?’

Jaehwan couldn’t understand. Why did it bother him so much that Kim Dokja was ignoring him? Why was there a part of him that yearned for the other to look back at him?

It didn’t make sense. And this senselessness meant that, once again, his emotions were clouding his judgment.

At least now, Jaehwan was certain: his emotions were indeed triggered by Kim Dokja. However, the reason behind this remained a mystery to him.

Jaehwan pondered on what he should do.

He needed to find a way to appease Kim Dokja’s anger towards him.

Jaehwan had a vague idea of why the man was mad, but the actions he had taken to try and soothe the other’s anger didn’t seem to be enough.

Sparing the lives of those weak individuals wasn’t sufficient.

But before Jaehwan could contemplate his next move, he watched as Kim Dokja tucked his phone into his coat and stood up.

To his surprise, Kim Dokja appeared calm and relaxed once again. He continued to ignore Jaehwan’s intense gaze and walked towards a cut-down tree just ahead. And there, sitting on the tree, was the redheaded girl.

Jaehwan furrowed his brows. He thought she had gone with Kanghun and the others.

Jaehwan let out a sigh and activated [Suspicion] and [Understanding] once more. Words spilled out from the girl, revealing her anxiety, fear, and concern. Meanwhile, Kim Dokja remained unaffected by his skills.

Initially, Jaehwan didn’t pay much attention to it. However, as the one-sided conversation unfolded before him, he felt an increasing urge to break through that infuriating wall surrounding Kim Dokja.

He wanted to understand what the other was thinking.

He wanted to comprehend why Kim Dokja was being so kind to the girl.

And whatever they were discussing, the girl started to feel more confident and at ease. Jaehwan could no longer see the fear and caution in her eyes. It was as if she had become comfortable in Kim Dokja’s presence.

Perhaps too comfortable.

Jaehwan stared as he watched her place her hand on Kim Dokja’s shoulder, offering an awkward smile.

And Kim Dokja… Wait. Why was Kim Dokja smi-

“…Jaehwan?”

Jaehwan blinked.

There were a pair of black eyes, shining like stars, fixed upon him with intensity.

Jaehwan didn’t know when he had moved, or when he had gotten so close to Kim Dokja. But in that moment, he couldn’t care less about that.

He felt an odd sense of satisfaction. He had finally managed to capture the other’s attention.

And to remove that hand from his shoulder.

Jaehwan deactivated his skills.

The sudden fear and discomfort of the girl upon his arrival didn’t matter to him. It was good that she feared him. That way, she could leave at any time without him having to do anything about it.

Kim Dokja frowned. “Jaehwan.”

“Kim Dokja.”

“What are you doing?”

Jaehwan remained silent. He didn’t know what he was doing either.

He sighed and moved a little closer to Kim Dokja. The words he had desperately wanted to say finally escaped his lips, “Let’s go.”

Kim Dokja blinked.

“What?”

“Let’s go,” Jaehwan repeated. “You’ve already obtained the information you wanted, haven’t you?”

Kim Dokja stared at him for a moment, then looked away. He continued to gaze into space for a long time, wearing a strangely profound expression.

“We still need them.”

Kim Dokja fixed his gaze on the girl. “So, Mino, do we have a deal?”

Mino tensed up, stealing a cautious glance at Jaehwan before turning to face Kim Dokja.

“I only need to eliminate three of them?”

A smile formed on Kim Dokja’s lips.

“Yes.”

“And you will wipe out half of the Red Fox clan?”

“That’s right.”

Mino’s eyes narrowed.

“How can you be certain Kanghun went to call for reinforcements?”

“Seems like the logical move when you have a guy who took down a two-horned beast with a single stab.”

Mino pondered for a moment, then nodded subtly.

“Alright. I accept your conditions.”

At that moment, the sound of footsteps was heard. Jaehwan looked in the direction of the sound and wrinkled his nose as he saw Kanghun and the other men returning.

As much as he wanted to get it over with, Jaehwan couldn’t do anything for now. So, he waited for nightfall.

The group stopped to camp out when only moonlight and starlight illuminated the forest. Mino commented that the village wasn’t far away, but Jaehwan wasn’t so eager to find other humans.

Not when the people in this group had disappointed him once again.

It was right after Kanghun’s return. Both Kanghun and Mino looked quite surprised when Jaehwan’s sword let out a loud cry.

However, as soon as the sword opened its blades like a mouth and devoured all the items Jaehwan gave it, there was a subtle change in those people.

Mino whispered to him, [You should be more careful with your Spirit Weapon.]

A Spirit Weapon. That’s what everyone believed the sword was—a weapon that comes from the <Abyss>.

Such thinking changed the way those people saw him. They believed that his strength came from a mere sword.

Mino let go of most of the wariness she had towards Jaehwan. As for the men, they grew increasingly greedy and audacious.

To them, he was just a novice, an easy target due to his naivety.

But that wasn’t what disappointed Jaehwan. How those people perceived him didn’t matter.

Jaehwan was disappointed because those individuals, who supposedly ascended the Nightmare Tower just like him, seemed oblivious to a simple item dropped from the tower.

An item that, according to Beastreign’s information, was considered trash compared to the items from the <Great Realm>.

Could it be that everyone in the <Chaos> was like that? Weak individuals who were amazed by items dropped from the tower?

“What are you thinking?”

Jaehwan glanced to the side, feeling his facial expression relax as he saw Kim Dokja. Unconsciously, he had been standing there, just gazing at the other for a while.

Kim Dokja not only met, but even exceeded Jaehwan’s expectations. Although he didn’t come from the Nightmare Tower, he had endured hellish situations that made him stronger.

Kim Dokja was a survivor, just like Jaehwan.

The sound of swords being drawn caught Jaehwan’s attention, and he turned to face the group of men in front of him. Finally, they were on the move.

Jaehwan observed as the men approached.

“Do we have to wait?”

…How pathetic.

“Yes, we do.” Kim Dokja leaned against a tree. “Let’s see how strong Mino is.”

Jaehwan narrowed his eyes and turned his gaze back to Kim Dokja.

“Why?”

“Hm?”

“Why are you testing her?”

“Aren’t you curious about her?”

“I’m not.”

Kim Dokja raised an eyebrow, shifting his gaze to the impending fight.

Jaehwan did the same, watching with disinterest as the girl now stood in front of him. Her hands moved at the same moment three men pounced on her.

The movements were swift. The three men trembled violently and fell. Each of them had a dagger lodged in their chests. Kanghun’s face turned grim.

Mino smiled.

“Oops~ I think I threw them too hard.” A cruel aura of energy began to radiate from within her. She continued, “But you know… I don’t like it when they try to kill me.”

Mino removed her black cloak, revealing her dark and stealthy clothing. Seven floating daggers emerged from her attire.

Kanghun took a step back. His discomfort was quite apparent, but that bastard still managed to smile. “Do you think you are capable of fighting us, witch?”

Suddenly, something changed in the surroundings. Jaehwan felt that the lurking individuals were finally drawing near.

“Do you think I didn’t call for reinforcements when I have the Witch of Destruction and a guy with a Spirit Weapon?”

Numerous shadowy figures began emerging through the forest. Jaehwan observed them, sensing the strength emanating from each individual. They surpassed the previous group in power, particularly the man donning a black cape and hood.

However, they were still weak.

“Do you believe you can eliminate the entire Red Fox clan?”

…And Jaehwan grew weary of waiting.

“I can handle it.”

Jaehwan stepped forward. He pulled out a sword from his dimensional backpack and advanced.

-

Extra

Chapter Text

The forest was burning.

The burning blade slashed everything in its path with precise, rhythmic movements. Some members of the Red Fox turned to dust, while others screamed in pain and agony

‘…That scene is much more brutal than in the novel.’

[The character ‘Jaehwan’ has activated ‘???’.]

Jaehwan's sword moved forward once again.

Both the forest and humans were consumed by the storm of fire. Screams were drowned out by explosions and the crashing of trees, dispersing in the air.

More bodies turned to dust, slowly diminishing the horrific stench of burning flesh in the area.

[The character ‘Han Mino’ is terrified!]

Kim Dokja glanced back.

Mino was staring wide-eyed at the scene before her. She didn't appear surprised by Jaehwan's display of strength, nor was she pleased that her mission was being fulfilled.

She was scared. Scared of being next. It was easy to imagine what she was thinking:

[I’ll die if I stay here!]

[You have accurately read the thoughts of the character ‘Han Mino’.]

[Your understanding of the character ‘Han Mino’ has increased.]

‘…This wasn’t supposed to be happening.’

Kim Dokja sighed and turned around to face the person responsible for everything being out of control.

Jaehwan was not supposed to be like this. That bastard was acting overly violent.

Kim Dokja had noticed that the main character had been acting strangely over the past few days, but nothing he observed indicated that he was becoming violent. Jaehwan had been acting almost faithfully to what was described in the novel.

But that changed that morning when they found the Greens. Contrary to Kim Dokja's expectations, Jaehwan killed everyone without bothering to extract any information from them.

And after that, everything started to go wrong. Jaehwan disregarded Mino and the Red Fox members. He ignored people who needed help.

And if that wasn't enough, the bastard was still mad about having his actions questioned. He went overboard in dealing with the two-horned monster that Mino had just lured in, stabbing it unnecessarily until it became a strange mass of flesh and bones.

The entire plan that Kim Dokja had devised based on the events of the original story was ruined.

Mino did not have a good first impression of Jaehwan. And now, witnessing the massacre that the protagonist effortlessly carried out, she feared him.

It was difficult to imagine that Mino would willingly approach Jaehwan. It would come as no surprise if she ran away from him as soon as possible.

And if she ran away, much of what was supposed to happen because of her presence in the story would likely not occur.

Jaehwan's chances of receiving any help, items, skills, or new allies due to Mino's presence have now become almost nonexistent.

[The ‘Lone Walker’ frowns at the cruelty of the character ‘Jaehwan’.]

[He suspects that you have some fault in this.]

Kim Dokja looked up at the countless stars shining in the sky.

The ‘Lone Walker’. He was a mysterious being who appeared right after Jaehwan killed the members of the renowned family. A being that was never mentioned in the chapters available in the TXT file.

[The ‘Lone Walker’ has doubts about your identity.]

Kim Dokja did not know if this mysterious being was similar to a constellation of ‘Ways of Survival’. For now, he had done nothing but observe and comment.

‘I wonder if I am the only one capable of hearing these messages.’

Jaehwan had not shown any reaction when the first message from the ‘Lone Walker’ sounded. If that kind of being was common in the <Chaos>, it would probably be introduced in the following chapters by the author.

But if this were true, why did neither Mino nor the Red Fox members react to the messages addressed to them?

[The ‘Lone Walker’ has doubts about your existence.]

Kim Dokja narrowed his eyes.

Once again, that message. The Lone Walker seemed to enjoy questioning Kim Dokja's identity or existence.

Kim Dokja had some theories about what that being might be. His instincts as a reader said that he was a cliché who would be of great help to the protagonist in the future.

However, there was something inside him that whispered that he was an anomaly in this world, just like Kim Dokja himself. Something that shouldn't be there.

‘…’

Kim Dokja pushed his thoughts away and looked again at Jaehwan. His eyes widened slightly.

The forest had been destroyed. Where flames once engulfed the area, now there were only burning ashes.

Amidst this scene of destruction stood Jaehwan, staring expressionlessly at his empty hand. Before Kim Dokja could delve deeper into what was wrong with the protagonist, Jaehwan looked up and met his gaze.

A small smile appeared on Jaehwan's lips as he approached calmly, with a proud posture.

“It was a light battle.” Jaehwan glared at Mino. His gaze turned cold and sharp as he continued, “Not even enough for a warm-up.”

Kim Dokja frowned but nodded nonetheless.

The author intended to demonstrate the protagonist's strength at that moment, so any obstacle or formidable enemy would take a few chapters to appear.

A strange silence fell. Jaehwan stared at Kim Dokja for a prolonged period, as if anticipating something. There was a peculiar glint in his eyes, the same one that had been appearing in the past few days.

‘…Why is this bastard staring at me?’

Was Kim Dokja making some peculiar expression again?

[The character ‘Jaehwan’ is a little disappointed in you.]

‘Hm?’

[The ‘Lone Walker’ is confused with the character ‘Jaehwan’.]

Jaehwan looked away, directing his attention to the destroyed trees.

Kim Dokja frowned. Having lived long enough, he could understand some of the protagonist's expressions, and what he saw confirmed the initial message.

Jaehwan was disappointed. But why?

‘Did he want a compliment or something?’

Kim Dokja almost laughed at that thought. How absurd. There was no way the main character would seek praise for massacring an entire clan…

…Right?

* * *

During the night, the soft light of the Magic Power Stove spread out.

Kim Dokja gazed at the small flames of the Magic Power Stove, feeling oddly sentimental at that moment. A sense of emptiness was growing. It wasn't hunger.

This strange feeling of emptiness had been present since Kim Dokja woke up in this world. It was a feeling he couldn't grow accustomed to.

He felt strangely… incomplete.

[The fables try to tell you a story.]

As if something were missing.

[The fables whisper incomprehensible words to you.]

[Due to the scenario penalty, you can’t understand your fables.]

Kim Dokja pressed his lips together. To his misfortune, he couldn't see his fables.

It was as if the scenario didn't allow him to have more information about himself and his past. However, this discovery didn't dispel the mixed feeling that he himself was to blame for his memory loss.

That he had chosen to remain this way. And that thought always seemed so right, yet so wrong.

[The Fable ‘L!fe #nd %e#th C0lle#&ue&’ wants to be told.]

Kim Dokja took a deep breath.

He retrieved a piece of meat that he had saved for the morning and watched it slowly roast on the Magic Power Stove. He hoped that by eating something, he could dispel that strange feeling.

As the meat cooked, a familiar, sweet, and appetizing aroma filled the air.

“…Can we eat this?”

Kim Dokja smiled. This time, it was Jung Heewon's voice. He took a bite of the meat and began to savor it slowly.

It was delicious.

[The ‘Lone Walker’ frowns.]

[He is wondering about why you are eating meat.]

Kim Dokja attempted to savor the meat further, but the sensation of being watched put him on high alert. Was Jaehwan observing him again?

Kim Dokja raised an eyebrow as he glanced at the protagonist.

To his surprise, it wasn't Jaehwan who had been watching him. The protagonist seemed engrossed in feeding his sword with the items he had collected from the burning ashes.

‘Then who…?’

Kim Dokja shifted his gaze to Mino. She appeared startled and swiftly averted her gaze towards the stars.

‘…So it was her.’

Kim Dokja smiled and redirected his attention to the Magic Power Stove.

As he finished his meal, pages from The World After the Fall began flipping through his mind. With scenes from the novel flashing before him, his focus settled on Mino.

'How can I get these two to get along?'

Kim Dokja glanced at Jaehwan.

'…Especially when this bastard is behaving like this?'

Kim Dokja couldn't understand what Jaehwan's problem was.

The protagonist, in addition to exhibiting such violent behavior, openly showed his dislike for Mino. There were several times when Kim Dokja saw Jaehwan cast cold glances at Mino. And that was strange.

Mino had done nothing that could have aroused such dislike from the protagonist toward her.

Kim Dokja tried to resolve this possible misunderstanding. It was a bit challenging at first, but he managed to convince Mino to demonstrate her strength through a simple contract. He hoped that would be enough for Jaehwan to feel some kind of interest or curiosity about her.

However, Jaehwan only partially observed her. The disgust was still evident in his gaze.

‘…Am I worrying too much?’

The scenario that had brought him here would soon be cleared away. Would it make sense to continue trying to mend the damage that his presence had caused in this world?

Kim Dokja didn't know what would happen to that novel once he returned to his world. What if, after he left, the novel reverted back to the way it was before? What if nothing he had experienced truly influenced the novel?

But… what if it took an entirely unknown direction?

Kim Dokja sighed. He knew he shouldn't worry so much about the consequences that wouldn't affect his own scenario, especially in a novel where he didn't even know the ending. However…

‘…I don’t want him to have a bad ending.’

Kim Dokja gazed at the Magic Power Stove.

His mind wandered back to the memories of his early days in this world. Soon, a particular memory caught his attention. It was the night when Jaehwan had a distant look in his eyes.

Perhaps that was exactly the vision that Mino had in the novel.

「…She had never seen a man that looked this lonely. 」

Jaehwan looked lonely.

“I am the only living thing in this world.”

Just like that lonely voice.

From this moment on, Kim Dokja began to notice certain similarities between the protagonist of 'Way of Survival' and 'The World After the Fall'. Both were lonely characters in a ruined world.

Of course, there was no comparing the loneliness that Yoo Jonghyuk felt during his regressions with what Jaehwan felt during his years in the Nightmare Tower. But at some point, they both no longer knew what they were supposed to be.

Their companions had lost their memories. They were alone in a world that seemed dead to them.

Perhaps because of this, Kim Dokja found himself wanting to help Jaehwan. The main character needed to be on good terms with his first companion so that his journey to the end of that story would be less lonely.

‘I need to make sure Mino doesn’t run away.’

Kim Dokja looked at her.

“Mino.”

Mino tensed up and looked at him cautiously.

[The character ‘Han Mino’ is slightly on guard against you.]

“…Yes?”

Kim Dokja smiled.

“The deal we made was only about eliminating half of the Red Fox clan, not the entire one.”

Mino glared at Jaehwan, before quickly turning her attention back to Kim Dokja. She continued, hesitantly, “I will make it up to you for that.”

"It's simple. If you guide us in Gorgon Fortress, the deal will be settled."

[The character ‘Jaehwan’ is disappointed in you.]

[The ‘Lone Walker’ looks at you suspiciously.]

Kim Dokja almost frowned at these unexpected messages.

Mino narrowed her eyes.

“…Is that all?”

Kim Dokja nodded.

Mino didn't seem to fully believe it, but she refrained from commenting on her suspicions. She wouldn't say anything that could put her life at risk.

‘…Should I try to ease the situation a little?’

Kim Dokja pondered this idea but quickly dismissed it.

He doubted that anything he said would make Mino feel more comfortable. Besides, he felt strangely exhausted at that moment. It had been a long day.

Kim Dokja looked up at the bright stars once again. The first step had been taken.

Mino wouldn't consider running away, at least not now. Her safest escape route would be at the entrance of Gorgon Fortress, where she could use the guards to her advantage.

Kim Dokja needed to convince the protagonist to be kind to the girl tomorrow. He planned to use the time during the trip to Gorgon Fortress to facilitate a dialogue between Jaehwan and Mino, making him realize that his dislike for her was meaningless.

Kim Dokja kept his gaze fixed on the stars. It took him a few seconds to realize that he was once again searching for something among those countless bright stars.

[̸T̴h̴e̷ ̷‘̷#̵e̵&̴o̷n̵ ̴*̴!̶n̷g̵ ̵0̶f̶ ̷S̶#̴l̶v̸%̸t̴!̸o̸n̸’̵ ̶i̷s̴ ̵l̴o̵o̵k̴i̶n̶g̶ ̴a̴t̸ ̸y̶o̵u̷.̷]̵

They remained silent, as always.

A bitter smile appeared on Kim Dokja's lips. He wanted to deny it, but he missed the messages from the constellations that appeared in his memories. He missed his companions.

‘I wonder what they look like…’

Kim Dokja could not remember the appearances or personalities of his companions. He could only recall their voices.

It was like short, disconnected flashes of memories that appeared at random moments. Kim Dokja would hear the voices of his companions commenting on something, and their names would automatically come to his mind.

There were times when those voices felt so natural, as if they were there, calling to him and engaging in conversation.

On several occasions, Kim Dokja would look in the direction from which he had heard his companion's voice calling him, only to realize that there was nothing there.

The only solace he found in this peculiar situation was that he now remembered the names of his companions. However, that was far from sufficient.

Kim Dokja yearned to remember all the moments he had shared with those individuals who always called out to him.

He longed to recall the stories they had created together.

[The Fable ‘░ ▒’ wants to be told.]

Kim Dokja closed his eyes.

He wondered how much time had elapsed in his world since he had left. Had mere days gone by? Weeks? Months? Or even years? Did his companions miss him, as he missed them? Did they even know that he was gone?

The more Kim Dokja questioned himself, the more his mind became lost in confused and vague thoughts and memories.

The crackling sound of the fire grew distant.

“…Dokja-ssi…”

It felt strange. Kim Dokja had a sense that he was no longer in the world of 'The World After the Fall.'

“…Hyung…”

He was back in his own world.

“…Ahjussi…”

With his companions.

“…Baaat…”

Calling out to him.

Kim Dokja felt an unfamiliar tightness in his chest.

He longed to open his eyes, to catch a glimpse of those people who always addressed him with kindness and warmth.

“…Kim Dokja…”

But he couldn't. If he opened his eyes, he would see that he hadn't returned to his world. He would see that his companions were not there.

Kim Dokja kept his eyes closed.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Jaehwan frowned upon hearing Kim Dokja's request.

"...Do you really want me to be kind to her?"

"Yes, I do."

Jaehwan clenched his fists.

That was not what he had expected to hear. He felt foolish for imagining that Kim Dokja had called him to say that he no longer wanted Mino's company and had changed his mind.

'I should’ve killed her when I had the chance.'

Jaehwan stared at Mino. His gaze turned cold as he activated [Suspicion] and [Understanding].

He realized that his skills had become stronger over the past few days due to their prolonged use.  The particles of this world were becoming much easier to distinguish.

However, Jaehwan did not pay attention to what those particles were chattering.

His focus was solely on Mino's face.

Any human features or traits she possessed were blurred by his skills. It was as if they could no longer classify Mino as a human.

Initially, Jaehwan believed that she was just a weak human who had somehow managed to clear the Nightmares Tower. However, such thinking changed when he noticed something unusual.

As he killed the Red Fox members, he realized that they didn't bleed or die in agony, as they should have. Their blood became a white powder, and their bodies disappeared to dust the moment they died.

'They were not human.'

Jaehwan narrowed his eyes at that thought.

What were those things he had killed the day before, that looked and acted like humans? What is Mino?

Jaehwan looked at Kim Dokja.  He squeezed his eyes shut, focusing on using his skills to the fullest on his companion, but nothing changed.

His skills still could not get through that wall that surrounded Kim Dokja, leaving him untouched by the particles of this world.

'Damn.'

Jaehwan deactivated his skills and sighed. "Why do you want her to come with us so badly?"

"Because she can actually be quite useful to us."

"Useful?"

"Well, she may have important information, and on top of that, she knows this region. She can guide us to the fortress by the fastest and safest route."

'...But that doesn't make her useful.'

Jaehwan pressed his lips together.

The information Mino had was irrelevant. And, based on the map and the information they had acquired the day before, the village was not far away. If they kept going, they could reach the fortress without too much trouble.

And the monsters in that region were too weak to pose any danger.

They don't need Mino.

Jaehwan pointed out these facts and stressed his conclusion, "We don't need her."

Kim Dokja sighed.

"We may not need her, but we need information. The more we know about this place, the better."

"But why does it have to be her?"

"Why not her?" Kim Dokja ran his hand over his face. He looked tired. "Look, Mino is not like those Red Fox members. You just need to talk to her a little bit to realize that."

'I don't want to do that.'

Jaehwan clenched his jaw and averted his eyes.

Thinking clearly was becoming difficult. Kim Dokja's insistence was making his emotions very agitated, causing stupid and illogical ideas to pop into his mind.

Jaehwan knew that picking up Kim Dokja and getting out of there as fast as possible, leaving Mino behind, was not a good idea. Drawing his sword and killing Mino with a simple stab was also out of the question.

As strange as it may sound, these foolish ideas seemed incredibly tempting to him. However, Jaehwan could already imagine the anger it would provoke in his companion. Kim Dokja would probably hit him much harder if he did this. Kim Dokja would probably ignore him again and...

Jaehwan bit his lips hard.

Why did such a thought bother him so much?

That was not normal. Jaehwan did not need these confused and out-of-control emotions. And since they only stayed that way because of Kim Dokja, then Jaehwan felt compelled to continue without the other's presence.

But... it didn't feel right to leave behind the first human he had ever met behind like that. Even more so when there was the company of something that was possibly a creature disguised as a human, like Mino.

'I'll deal with that when we reach the fortress.'

Jaehwan sighed and turned back to face Kim Dokja. Carrying out a simple but unpleasant request from his companion one last time didn't seem like a bad idea.

"Fine. I'll try to talk to her."

Kim Dokja smiled.

However, that was not the smile Jaehwan expected to see. There was no warmth like the others. It was... cold and distant.

Jaehwan had a bad feeling.

* * *

'There's something off with this place.'

Jaehwan looked around with suspicion.

He noticed that the trees were less dense than before, indicating that he was in a different forest now.  However, it was not the environment that brought on this feeling that there was something wrong with that place.

This was because he was not feeling hungry.

Jaehwan had not eaten anything the day before, yet he still didn't feel hungry. Even the fact that he didn't take his usual nap during the night seemed to be irrelevant to his body.

The unsettling feeling that something was wrong grew stronger as Jaehwan realized that the last time he had truly felt hunger or tiredness was 30 days ago when he first woke up in the <Chaos>.

After that day, he noticed that resting never really invigorated him, nor did his fatigue increase. And even though he ate every night, he never really felt full or satisfied because there was no hunger to satisfy.

'It's as if my body is static.'

Jaehwan looked at Mino.

Having talked with her, as much as he didn't like to admit it, was helpful. The information he gained from "Mino's story" gave him a basis for what was the common story of Adapters who cleared the Nightmares Tower.

There was also...

"Most people come to Chaos for similar reasons."

...a conflicting piece of information. Jaehwan came to the <Chaos> right after he got out of the Nightmares Tower, while Mino went to the <Great Lands>. There was no similar reason for both to be in the <Chaos>.

"Hey."

Jaehwan watched Mino tense up for a moment before facing him. She was still cautious of him but seemed to have gained more courage and boldness after talking a bit with Kim Dokja at the beginning of the trip.

"What?"

"What is Chaos?"

Mino's expression froze. She looked at him strangely.

"...You're kidding, right?"

"No."

"How can you not know about Chaos then?"

"Just answer me."

Mino narrowed her eyes.

"Don't you remember how you walked into Chaos?"

Jaehwan did not answer.

Mino waited for a moment, before looking at Kim Dokja in disbelief.

"Is he serious?"

Jaehwan looked at his companion.

Kim Dokja remained silent, seemingly oblivious to the world. His attention was solely focused on the smartphone in his hand. However, his gaze on the white screen was distant. And...

'He's making that strange expression again.'

Jaehwan became worried.

There was something off about Kim Dokja, but before he could catch his companion's attention, Mino put her hand on Kim Dokja's shoulder.

"Hey, Dokja"

Kim Dokja blinked. He slowly looked at the hand on his shoulder, before looking at Mino.

"Yeah?"

"Are you... I mean, is Jaehwan serious? Does he really not know what Chaos is?"

"Ah, no" Kim Dokja put his smartphone away. "He doesn't know."

"And you? You don't know either?"

Kim Dokja cracked an enigmatic smile.

Mino waited, but the other did not answer. She took the other's silence as the answer to her question and became thoughtful. "...How is that possible?"

Silence took over.

Jaehwan stared at Kim Dokja. The other, just like the day before, did not stare back as usual. However, it did not seem that Kim Dokja was deliberately ignoring him this time.

He just seemed to be lost in thought.

"That's Castle Gorgon."

Jaehwan looked at the castle walls. So there were still basic human civilizations in this world.

He felt strange watching the towers and walls grow as they approached their destination.

Then the forest ended. Now there was a huge medieval castle in front of them.

It was a wide fortress, easily surpassing the Atopos that the humans had built on the 50th floor. The walls showed several traces of reinforcements and repairs, indicating that the fortress had been here for quite some time.

However, what caught Jaehwan's attention the most was the place at the entrance. It had a large magic rune that brought a sense of familiarity to him.

'It looks like the Summoning Arena.'

Jaehwan looked at the rune with suspicion, noticing that naked people were cowering within it. He activated [Suspicion] and [Understanding].

However, he soon realized that he had made an imprudent choice. As much as his skills had grown stronger, his mind was not yet prepared to be bombarded by various information.

This was his first time being in a place crowded with people.

Jaehwan bit his lips, preventing a groan of pain from escaping. He felt a terrible pain in his head, much worse than the day before. He quickly tried to deactivate his skills.

But it failed.

"I-I don't want to die!"

"Save me!"

The screams and groans of the naked people who were in the rune sounded distant. Jaehwan could not see their faces, but he could see the words coming out of those people. He could imagine the expressions those people had at that moment.

Jaehwan finally understood.

He understood why those Red Fox members turned to dust when they died. He understood what all those people were feeling.

At that moment, the rune glowed and another group of people appeared on top of it. Naked people, trembling with fear. Screaming, groaning with despair.

He felt a chill run down his spine.

'They are dead.'

The [Suspicion] and [Understanding] showed him a new world.

Those naked people began to decompose and became corpses. The sky, once so clear and blue, turned as red as blood. There was a mysterious eye in the sky, like a moon with a flock of ravens pecking at the "eye of the moon," spilling blood.

Jaehwan squeezed his eyes shut due to pain and looked at the ground. He noticed that there were several blades stuck there, with blood splattered everywhere.

That was the real face of this world. A world that destroyed all other worlds. Such a morbid and cruel nightmare.

Jaehwan clenched his fists. The pain in his head was only getting worse, but he couldn't deactivate his skills. It was as if they didn't want to be deactivated.

"There's the answer to your question."

Mino's voice sounded. She sounded sad.

"This is Chaos. The world of the dead."

Jaehwan tried to move but realized he couldn't.

He found himself facing an explosion of emotions, just like in the tower. However, he was not managing to deal with them and come back to his senses.

"Jaehwan?"

Jaehwan felt a warm hand on his face.

He closed his eyes. When he opened them, he realized that Kim Dokja was standing in front of him. Like a living human.

And that was not all. The wall that surrounded the man finally became visible. Words surrounded him. Several written words formed a huge wall.

Jaehwan watched new words form on that wall.

「A 'F0#rth &all' is looking at you. 」

「A 'F0#rth &all' is showing its teeth to you. 」

Jaehwan felt his heart begin to ache.

It was much worse than the headache. It was so painful that he couldn't scream.  The words coming from all sides stopped, and his world went silent.  Something warm, deep, and powerful was rising from inside him and…

Jaehwan fell.

--

Extra

Chapter Text

Mino felt uneasy.

Jaehwan had made several rude mistakes on the way to the fortress, such as inquiring about her past and asking taboo questions.

Nobody wished to be reminded that they were dead.

If anyone else had dared to commit these mistakes, Mino would have demonstrated why she was known as the “Witch of Destruction” for more than one reason.

However, Jaehwan was not someone she could trifle with.

Though she now possessed the power to confront three-horned beasts on her own, she understood that facing someone capable of annihilating an entire clan effortlessly was an insurmountable challenge.

The devastation from yesterday was still fresh in her mind. The terrifying stab that burned the entire forest. Time being distorted before her eyes.

None of the swords rushing at Jaehwan could land on his seemingly frail body. They slowed down in the face of the distorted time, and Jaehwan moved through them effortlessly.

The most surprising thing was to see Jaehwan attack them with the Red Fox clan’s own attacks. His attacks, however, were more powerful and brutal than the original ones.

‘…I believed I’d be next.’

That night, a powerful and cruel energy radiated from Jaehwan—an energy that seemed to be aimed at the world itself.

It was then that Mino realized. Jaehwan wasn’t a fool neglecting his Spirit Weapon. He was just plainly too strong.

Mino directed her gaze at the man in question.

Jaehwan appeared to be tormented by the revelation about the <Chaos>. It was as if he hadn’t truly recognized he was in the world of the dead until that very moment, as if he couldn’t recall his own death.

‘If that’s the case… I envy him.’

No matter how much time passed, Mino could still vividly recall her death, just as clearly as her arrival in <Chaos>.

“You died because you didn’t try hard enough.”

Mino bit her lip at the memory.

From the moment she entered the tower, she gave it her all. She and her friends beat both the tutorial and the real game, reaching the 100th Floor. Nevertheless..

“Bah, this is a failure. You’re all Non-Adapters.”

Her efforts proved insufficient for the Demon.

Mino tried not to be upset by this. After all, she had earned the right to start a new life. She would be heading to the much-discussed <Great Lands>, and with the items and skills she possessed, she thought she could finally enjoy life there.

However, that new world was far from the utopia the demons claimed it to be. In this realm, the only things that mattered were skills and Spirit Power.

And Mino was nothing more than a Non-Adapter.

She was at the far bottom of the food chain.

There was only one thing she could do: run. She always had to run constantly, faster, and farther. She fought relentlessly to improve, sharpen her skills, and break free from the label of a Non-Adapter. And she succeeded.

But it wasn’t sufficient.

Mino clenched her fists tightly. She wished she could forget everything she had experienced in the accursed <Great Lands>. She wished she could forget that she was dead.

She longed to forget that everything she did was never enough.

A bitter emotion welled up within her, and any trace of empathy was drowned out by sudden anger.

“You can only come here when you die.”

Mino tightly sealed her lips in bitterness. There were more things she wanted to say, just as she wished she had the means to harm the wretch who forced her to relive what she so desperately wanted to forget.

It was at that moment when she noticed that Jaehwan’s energy had changed.

His energy silenced everyone with its intense and uncontrollable presence, as if it were on the brink of collapse.

Mino shuddered and witnessed the world undergo a change.

Instead of people, there were dead bodies. Their skin had rotted, and their eyes were full of maggots, and…

‘Is this… the world Jaehwan is seeing?’

Mino felt as if she were teetering on the edge of madness. She found herself in a world beyond skills, status, or levels. Nothing remained hidden; everything was vulgar.

A World after the Fall.

But how could this world exist? And how did that man not go mad?

Mino then gazed into Jaehwan’s eyes. In this morbid world, he resembled an ordinary man—someone who had embraced its dark reality as his own truth.

It was at this point that Kim Dokja intervened.

Despite appearing impervious to the effects of this world, his discomfort was evident. His expression soured when Jaehwan locked eyes with him.

Several strange sparks flew through the air as they engaged in their intense staredown. For a brief moment, the world was bathed in stars and unfamiliar symbols.

And then they fell.

* * *

‘What… had just happened?’

Mino stared in a daze at the two fallen men.

She was still trying to understand what had just happened. The strange silence made her look around, noticing the fear on people’s faces. Everyone had been affected by that morbid world.

‘Should I take this chance and run away?’

Mino thought about what he should do. It was only a matter of time before the soldiers acted. She could-

“Ugh…”

Jaehwan slowly rose with a frown on his lips.

‘Oh, come on!’

Mino bit her lip and readied herself to flee. However, her body froze the moment Jaehwan’s gaze landed on her.

The abyss in his eyes deepened.

Mino felt every hair stand on end at that gaze. There was no longer any hostility or coldness directed toward her. There was only an empty, indifferent look.

It was as if Jaehwan had begun to see her as something irrelevant and uninteresting. Just like the demon in the tower.

Mino quickly averted her gaze. She noticed that Kim Dokja was also rising with some difficulty. He absentmindedly ran the back of his hand over the corner of his lip and a small red spot appeared on it.

‘…Blood?’

Mino blinked.

It was impossible for anyone to bleed in <Chaos>. People came in the form of spirits. If someone got hurt, only white particles of their spirit would come out of their wounds and disappear into thin air.

Of course, dying wasn’t the only way to enter <Chaos>. There was a way to enter without dying, but only the five renowned families and the Nightmares possessed the artifact that enabled them to do so.

However, a fake body provided by such an artifact had blue blood, just like that of the ‘living’ creatures in the <Chaos>. The only explanation would be that Kim Dokja was… Wait. Could that be it?

Mino looked closely at Kim Dokja.

There was no longer any sign that he had actually bled. He just looked terribly exhausted, as if he had used up all his energy.

If what she was thinking really was right, then it would make sense that Kim Dokja had eaten a piece of meat and then slept the night before. He wasn’t pretending to be alive.

He was really alive.

‘Is he the flaw?’

Mino’s eyes widened at the thought. If that was true, then it meant that she had found the chance to change her and Claire’s lives.

She needed more proof. Just the fact that her items hadn’t worked on the man wasn’t enough. She needed to be sure that what she saw was really blood and-

Oh.

‘…I think I’m dreaming big now.’

Mino laughed bitterly. Reality struck her like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing any sparks of hope that had ignited thanks to those thoughts.

Even if Kim Dokja really was the ‘flaw’, it would be impossible for her to get the reward. After all, Jaehwan was with him.

‘I’d better get this foolish deal over with.’

Mino sighed.

She observed the soldiers rapidly approaching, led by James, and whispered,

[I’m going to get us into the fortress, so keep quiet and do everything I say.]

Jaehwan furrowed his brow, while Kim Dokja merely nodded vaguely in confirmation.

Just then, James arrived. He squinted at the three strangers and asked, “What’s happening here?”

Mino suppressed the urge to sigh once more and changed her appearance—long black hair, bright eyes, and pale, almost white skin. James recognized her.

“…Mino of the Black Forest Clan?”

Mino frowned and quickly changed her appearance again.

“Yes, yes. Don’t say that out loud.”

Jaehwan glanced at James and Mino. It seemed the two of them knew each other.

“So, you’re now a Lieutenant Captain? I’m sure the girls will be lining up for you.”

“Don’t even try to change the subject, Mino.”

“I wouldn’t even consider it.”

“Mino.”

“What?”

James squeezed his eyes shut.

“Whose terrifying energy was that?”

Mino blinked.

‘Haven’t they… seen that world?’

She furrowed her brow slightly and glanced at the other soldiers. They looked uncomfortable, but didn’t ask any more questions.

She paused for a moment to consider her next move when something came up in her mind.

[Hey, Dokja. Consider it a way of paying off the deal.]

Mino smiled.

“Oh, that? That was me. Sorry about that.”

“…Was it you?”

“Yeah, I got excited about a new skill and… Hey! What’s with the face?!”

James looked at her as if he couldn’t believe it. Mino acted as if she was offended and quickly tried to change the subject,

“Can you spare a thought and let us through? I forgot my certificate and-”

“Stop it, Mino. You know very well that everyone has to show their certificate to enter the fortress. That’s the law.”

How annoying. Mino snorted.

“Oh, c’mon, James. That law was only created to find the flaw. Do you really think it will appear now?” Mino looked at Kim Dokja and continued, “Right?”

Kim Dokja was confused.

Mino felt a strange urge to laugh. It was funny to think that the flaw was right there, watching everyone with an exhausted expression.

James, however, didn’t give in.

“Orders are orders, Mino.”

Mino frowned.

[Hey. Do you have the certificate?]

No one answered.

[No? Really?]

Mino sighed. Of course, those bastards wouldn’t have the certificate. Fortunately, she was always prepared to enter the fortress in other ways.

Mino smiled.

“James~”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t that enough?”

Mino handed James something.

It was an envelope containing white powder. James looked at the envelope’s contents with suspicion, then smiled when he realized what it was.

“Good medicine. How many horns was this?”

“Two.”

James nodded as he put the envelope in his pocket, satisfied. He then turned to Jaehwan and Kim Dokja. “Now it’s your turn to pay.”

Mino’s expression froze in horror.

“H-hey! That should be enough!”

“You’ve paid for your entry and the trouble you caused, Mino.”

[Damn! Does one of you have the horns of the two-horned beast? That’ll be enough for-]

Mino choked as she saw Jaehwan’s eyes narrow.

She opened her mouth, ready to try to negotiate with James, when Kim Dokja simply nodded and said, “All right, I’ll pay.”

And with those simple words, Jaehwan’s energy changed.

[HEY!]

Mino watched in horror as Jaehwan stepped his left foot back and lowered his shoulders. If he were to lay his hands on the swords…

[Wait! Don’t do that!]

Mino was desperate.

[I know you’re strong, but you’ll become a criminal if you kill them!]

Mino shivered at the intense and powerful presence that was rapidly gathering within Jaehwan. She could clearly envision Jaehwan killing everyone here and strolling in.

It was then that she realized.

Jaehwan was not only incredibly strong, but he was also not bound by any laws.

At that moment, she knew he would draw his sword and, just as he had done the night before, kill everyone and, if necessary, fight the entire fortress.

And to fight against the fortress was to fight against a world.

Mino became pale. She had to do something, but there was no way she could stop that man. The only one who could stop him before it was too late was…

[D-Dokja! Dokja! Stop him! Don’t let him do it!]

Kim Dokja glanced at Jaehwan.

Mino held her breath as they locked eyes. No sparks flew this time. They exchanged only intense glances during a brief, uncomfortable silence.

Kim Dokja narrowed his eyes.

“Jaehwan.”

“… …”

“Is there a problem?”

Jaehwan pressed his lips together slightly before straightening up. “…No.”

“Good.”

Mino breathed a sigh of relief.

Jaehwan’s energy slowly began to disperse, though it didn’t disperse entirely. He remained like a silent, looming threat.

Mino felt an urgent need to leave, and judging by the expressions on the soldiers’ faces, they shared the same sentiment.

It was then that Jaehwan focused his attention on someone approaching.

Mino’s expression turned grim. She recognized the individual with such powerful Spirit energy.

The person she had desperately hoped not to encounter was approaching. It was a tall, fair-skinned, handsome man. Other than a silvery wing on his back, he looked just like a human.

[Who is he?]

Mino was startled when she heard Jaehwan’s voice in her mind. She looked at the man with wide eyes.

[Did you know how to use “Whisper” all this time?!]

No. That couldn’t be right. The item had shown her the day before that Jaehwan had no skills. So how was he using [Whisper]?

Wait a minute. Now that she thought about it, Jaehwan had managed to utilize the skills of the Fox clan as well. How did he-

[Just answer me. Who. Is. He?]

Mino shivered under Jaehwan’s cold gaze.

[He’s Captain Carlton, the least corrupt officer in Chaos.]

Jaehwan narrowed his eyes.

“What’s going on here?”

James and the soldiers quickly snapped out of their daze and looked at their captain with relief and excitement.

“That man wants to enter the fortress without showing his certificate, Captain!”

James pointed hastily at Kim Dokja, and the other soldiers concurred with this claim.

However, that wasn’t the only half-truth being told. After hearing everything his men had to report, Carlton absentmindedly scratched his clean-shaven chin—a habit when he was deep in thought.

He was famous not only for being stubborn but also for his handsomeness.

It was captivating to watch how he delicately stroked his chin, his blond hair neatly tied back. The women in the fortress even purchased sculptures of Carlton with his hand on his chin.

Carlton fixed his gaze on Kim Dokja. “So you wish to gain entry to our fortress?”

“Yes.”

“But you refuse to display your certificate.”

“I don’t need it.”

That statement caught everyone off guard. The soldiers were bewildered to see Kim Dokja sporting an unusual smile. He retrieved something from his coat pocket and tossed it toward Carlton.

Carlton effortlessly caught it.

“It should be enough, right?”

Mino winced. Was Kim Dokja no longer attempting to bribe his way in… or was he? The thought left her pale.

This uncertainty seemed to have gripped the soldiers as well. James and the other soldiers who were aware of the bribe turned ashen. They knew that if Carlton discovered their misdeeds, it would lead to dire consequences.

“Isn’t it enough? Then-”

James picked up the sword.

“How dare you try to bribe the Captain! You bastard!”

“Captain, we should kill him right now!”

Jaehwan’s cold, terrifying energy erupted. He was preparing to attack. Mino could sense it.

However, even in the face of an imminent confrontation, Carlton remained motionless.

“…Did you say you’re Kim Dokja?”

Carlton stared at the emerald gem in his hand for an extended moment. Then something unexpected occurred—he suddenly became polite.

“I’ve been waiting for you, The Messenger of the Nokmyeong.”

Chapter Text

“Let them through.”

That was the order Carlton received from the inner castle.

He could understand the urgency of that order, but he couldn’t help feeling frustrated about having to let two outsiders into the fortress.

‘And to think they have that...’

Carlton glanced at the objects in his hand.

It was hard to believe that the object Kim Dokja had thrown at him, and the item the ragged man, Jaehwan, had reluctantly handed him at Dokja’s request, were Stones of Fallen Souls.

However, the burning sensation Carlton felt in his hand was a clear sign that his spirit was being corrupted by those finely-cut jewels.

The Stone of Fallen Soul.

The stone that empowers an Adapter’s Spirit Power. The stone that corrupts anyone other than the Nokmyeong.

‘But I don’t think they’re from the Nokmyeong.’

Green skin and two antennae. Everyone knew what people from the Nokmyeong looked like.

Carlton was well aware that one shouldn’t jump to conclusions based solely on appearances. After all, he, a half-human, had only inherited the silver wing from the people of Heaven.

Without it, there was no telling that he wasn’t human.

‘If Mino could provide more details...’

Carlton pondered while gazing at the girl in question.

Mino seemed she had been shaken as she definitely had a hard time going through the [Legal Code].

It was evident that she struggled to endure that skill, but even though she was in that state, she still refused to provide any further information about those individuals.

And her responses were as vague and evasive as her current condition.

“He... killed... the Red Fox Clan... single-handedly.”

Carlton narrowed his eyes and scratched his chin in thought.

Reports indicated unusual activity in the clan yesterday. Apparently, all the clan members left the fortress yesterday and didn’t return.

If what Mino said was true, then he had someone powerful in his custody. Someone he already suspected knew who he was. And yet, he was supposed to allow them entry into the fortress.

Carlton looked at the girl. “I hope you start carrying your certificate at all times, Mino.”

“...”

“Let’s go.”

Carlton left the auditorium, with Mino following closely behind.

The murmurs of the soldiers ceased the moment they saw them. Carlton frowned at such inappropriate behavior but chose only to stare at the two strangers.

Jaehwan’s terrifying energy intensified upon his arrival. Carlton still didn’t know why, but the man seemed to want to fight him.

Kim Dokja, on the other hand, greeted him with a small smile. He didn’t appear as genuinely relieved by Carlton’s presence as before but rather grateful.

And that intrigued him. Usually, the Adapted who attempt to enter the fortress fear him upon seeing him.

Carlton turned to James.

“They have proved their identities.”

The soldiers were taken aback by the confirmation.

“These stones have been examined, so I’ll return them to you.”

Carlton handed the stones back to Kim Dokja. His gaze fell on the man’s hand, which bore no stain of corruption. He continued, “Please, follow me.”

Carlton paid no mind to the soldiers’ expressions of shock and disbelief as he led the three of them inside. He took out something that looked like a temperature measurement device.

“This checks the Corruption level of the Spirit. Everyone must be tested with this, just in case.”

Jaehwan glanced at Mino, seemingly waiting for something, but she remained silent, lifeless.

“She will be like that for a while since she was punished with the [Legal Code].”

Jaehwan fixed his gaze on Carlton.

A vacant, indifferent look. It marked the first time in his 55 years of work that Carlton had received such a look, as if he were insignificant.

Carlton squeezed his eyes shut and turned to Kim Dokja.

“I’ll start with Mino.”

The machine beeped for a while and then a floating small screen displayed in the air.

[Result: Caution – corruption has exceeded 15%. Recommend taking medication.]

Carlton became grim.

“Mino, according to Chapter 8...”

Mino vaguely took out some medicine and swallowed the pills with a deadpan face.

Carlton approached Jaehwan. He felt something surge through him as the device beeped. It was the first time he had experienced this while using the device.

‘Is he a corrupted spirit?’

Carlton narrowed his eyes at the thought, but soon found them widening at the result.

[Result: Cannot measure corruption level.]

‘...What?’

That couldn’t be right.

“I’m sorry. Let me try again.”

[Result: Cannot measure corruption level.]

Carlton fell into silence.

This device has never made a mistake. He hasn’t heard of it making a single mistake since its creation.

The only time the device couldn’t measure was when the level of spirit corruption was at 0%. However, achieving 0% was no easy feat, even with the best medicines.

No one within that fortress possessed such a pure spirit.

‘How is that possible?’

Carlton turned his gaze toward Jaehwan. Was that man, who exuded a terrifying energy that compelled Carlton to leave quickly, truly a pure spirit?

Carlton narrowed his eyes. He had never questioned the device’s results before, but he found it hard to believe now.

He would have liked to use his [Silver Bonds] and [Legal Code] skills on Jaehwan to confirm it. However, he couldn’t act without justification.

Carlton shifted his attention to Kim Dokja.

“It’s your turn.”

Carlton pondered whether this man also harbored a pure spirit. Yet, he felt nothing, and the device remained silent. It seemed there was nothing to measure.

“...How strange.”

Carlton glanced at the device in his hand and then back at Kim Dokja. The latter appeared equally perplexed.

“Let’s try one more time.”

Carlton pointed the device at Kim Dokja once more.

However, nothing occurred. After a prolonged silence, a small floating screen displayed in the air

[Warning: Could not find a target to measure.]

Carlton’s eyes widened.

‘Impossible.’

Was the man in front of him the ‘flaw’ everyone had been looking for?

Carlton examined Kim Dokja closely. Aside from his unique and peculiar clothing, he appeared to be just an ordinary man. However, the warning he had received was quite clear:

No item or artifact will work in the ‘flaw’.

If this man truly was the one everyone had been searching for since Big Brother’s announcement, then there was still hope. Carlton would be able to save the Master if he handed this man over.

Suddenly, the air grew cold. Jaehwan’s terrifying energy expanded and seemed poised to attack him. Carlton felt the intense gaze, but he couldn’t tear his attention away from Kim Dokja.

It was fascinating to observe the man’s expression, which had been slightly confused until then, become closed. Although his posture remained relaxed, the caution in his gaze was evident.

Carlton smiled.

“Everything is done. You can go now.”

Kim Dokja kept his gaze on Carlton for a moment before simply turning and leaving.

* * *

“Captain, can we really let them go?”

James asked as he watched the three of them disappear. He knew that, even though Carlton’s expression was as composed as ever, his captain was clearly angry at the moment.

“James.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Gather the men. We’ll act as soon as we get the signal.”

“Signal?”

Carlton gazed at James.

“I believe that man, Kim Dokja, is the flaw.”

James widened his eyes.

“Really? Then why did you let him pass?”

“By order of the inner castle,” Carlton replied with a bitter smile. “They’re going to look for those three. I’ve already sent a message.”

“Do you think we’ll be able to cure the Master’s sickness?”

"Big Brother promised to grant a wish to whoever delivered the 'flaw,' and we know what they're capable of. A cure should be a mere trifle to them."

Carlton walked away.

‘I need to prepare.’

He was certain that something was going to happen in Gorgon.

If Kim Dokja was indeed the ‘flaw’ that Big Brother sought, it wouldn’t be long before more people realized it.

A race against time had begun.

Chapter Text

Kim Dokja found himself walking aimlessly down a street full of merchants.

He knew he should be paying attention to his surroundings, gathering as much information as he could. However, no matter how hard he tried, the words just went in one ear and out the other.

His head seemed to weigh down with every step he took, while his mind remained empty.

[Your current body is in a very dangerous condition.]

[It is recommended that you fulfill the conditions of the ‘Survive’ sub-scenario immediately.]

His hands were shaking.

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ is shaking.]

‘What should I do?’

The clear condition of the scenario was never ‘help the awakening reach the fortress’. He knew it couldn’t be just that, but… he wanted to believe it.

He wanted to believe that he could return to his world as soon as he reached the fortress.

However, instead of hearing the message of conclusion that he had been looking forward to throughout the month, Kim Dokja was bombarded with unexpected messages.

His understanding of the protagonist had suddenly increased. An overwhelming pain arose and…

[A new fable is being prepared!]

A very brief, oscillating message flashed in front of his eyes before disappearing.

A fable? Here? Was that the reason he gave up his memories and his world?

Kim Dokja narrowed his eyes at the thought.

No. There was no way that could be his reason for being in this damn hidden scenario. He wouldn’t give up such important things for a mere fable.

“Kim Dokja.”

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ has blocked ‘#usp!ci0n’!]

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ has blocked ‘%nders#*nd!ng’!]

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ has blocked ‘???’!]

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ is strongly activated!]

The moment Jaehwan’s eyes focused on Kim Dokja, the wall moved.

Kim Dokja pressed his lips together as he felt a tightness in his lungs, making him almost lose his breath.

‘That bastard…’

Kim Dokja looked back, meeting Jaehwan’s intense gaze. His eyes shone with a golden color.

[The character ‘Jaehwan’ shows great concern for your safety.]

[The ‘Lone Walker’ frowns at the behavior of the character ‘Jaehwan’.]

Sparks flew in the air. Jaehwan, however, didn’t seem to notice them.

“Why is she following us?”

“…Huh?”

Kim Dokja tried to ignore the growing pain and looked at Mino. She still looked dazed, but was strangely walking towards them.

‘What?’

Kim Dokja frowned. Mino had followed Jaehwan in the novel, but there was no point in her following them in this reality.

He tried to think of some plausible reason why the girl who seemed so annoyed by their presence, should still be following them. However, any thoughts he had on the subject were quickly erased from his mind.

He was tired.

“I don’t know.”

Kim Dokja sighed.

He doesn’t know. He doesn’t know where this novel would go from now on. He doesn’t know what consequences awaited him because of his presence in this world.

He doesn’t know what he really has to do to get home.

Both the sparks and Jaehwan’s gaze intensified.

‘Why doesn’t that bastard deactivate those skills?’

Even with the formidable work of the Fourth Wall, which stood firm in the face of the protagonist’s persistent gaze, it was becoming difficult for Kim Dokja to cope. It was too painful to stand between those two.

[The character ‘Jaehwan’ is being overwhelmed by his own skills.]

Jaehwan was also in pain. It was clear from his expression. He had been bombarded with a lot of information from his surroundings since the moment he activated his skills.

Jaehwan narrowed his eyes.

“Can I get rid of her?”

‘Still at it?’

Kim Dokja clenched his fists. He almost said ‘yes’ just to get this bastard to stop using those skills right away, but he held back.

Mino was an important character.

The author wouldn’t put an unimportant character to be the protagonist’s first companion after the events of the tower. She had some important role to play in the original plot.

Kim Dokja couldn’t just discard her without knowing what the role was.

“No. She can still be useful.”

“She’s not useful.”

Jaehwan pressed his lips together and moved closer. “She’s just a burden. A dead weight.”

The sparks grew stronger.

[The ‘Fourth Wall’ is-]

Then something unexpected happened.

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ began to crack.]

[The ‘Fourth Wall’ is shaking violently.]

The Fourth Wall retreated.

“Cough…?”

At that moment, the air around Kim Dokja seemed to drop dramatically. The cold penetrated deep into his bones. The air in his lungs had disappeared.

[Your current body is collapsing!]

[Your existence began to disappear.]

Kim Dokja staggered. He tried to shout, but no sound came out.

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ is shaking.]

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ is shaking.]

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ is shaking.]

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ is-]

Something inside Kim Dokja snapped.

The unknown fables grew and squirmed under his skin. He didn’t know how, but he grabbed Jaehwan by the collar.

“Stop it.”

Kim Dokja didn’t blink, even when Jaehwan started to turn into words.

In fact, he tightened his grip on the collar even more, bringing that heap of words closer. The pain persisted.

“Stop it.”

[The character ‘Jaehwan’ regained consciousness.]

[The ‘Lone Walker’ widened his eyes.]

[He can’t believe what he’s seeing.]

Kim Dokja was able to breathe again.

However, it wasn’t an easy task. Something was dripping from his nose, making it difficult to breathe. Kim Dokja wiped it away and realized it was blood.

“Kim Dok-”

“Shut up.” He let go of Jaehwan, who had returned to normal, and took a few faltering steps back. “Just… shut up.”

Kim Dokja ran his hand over his face. He noticed that they were still shaking.

‘…Damn it.’

He was shaking.

* * *

[The character ‘Jaehwan’ is worried about you.]

[The ‘Lone Walker’ is wondering about your condition.]

Kim Dokja kept his hands in his coat pockets, walking slowly among the merchants selling various herbs, equipment, and various foods.

The smells of the food were tempting, further increasing the feeling of emptiness in his stomach.

[The influence of the exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ is slowly returning.]

His head still felt heavy, but this time Kim Dokja managed to pay a little attention to his surroundings.

The merchants were commenting on the absence of the castellan and his possible illness, just like in the novel. However, that wasn’t the only subject to be discussed.

Their gloomy expressions light up whenever someone talks about what they would do with the reward they would receive for finding the ‘flaw’.

‘Am I that flaw?’

Kim Dokja frowned.

Flaw. Another thing that had never been mentioned in the chapters he had read. But the mere chance of this being something planned in the original novel was quickly dismissed.

From the characters’ reactions, the entrance law had been changed much earlier than had been described. And all because of this flaw.

‘So this is the typhoon caused by a butterfly flapping its wings?’

A small, insignificant action that can lead to major unexpected events.

Kim Dokja’s presence hadn’t just changed the protagonist. Something unknown in that world had changed just by the fact that he existed.

‘I need more information…’

Kim Dokja sighed.

He could no longer rely on the txt file he had. He had to understand that world and its altered characters, so that he could find ways to conclude this damned scenario and return home.

“Oh, it’s just over there.”

Kim Dokja looked at Mino, who was pointing somewhere ahead.

She continued walking, at a slightly slower pace than before, guiding them through the crowd.

Mino had become something Kim Dokja couldn’t understand. She insisted that she had to help them as a guide when she regained consciousness, even when he reminded her that the agreement had already been fulfilled.

What was she planning? What would she get out of helping them?

‘I thought she’d give up when she saw Jaehwan killing those ruffians.’

Kim Dokja narrowed his eyes.

He glanced sideways at the protagonist of that world, who was silently following him from behind. The Sword of Frostwyrm was at Jaehwan’s waist. However, without a scabbard, it attracted unwanted attention.

If Kim Dokja hadn’t been so tired, perhaps he would have found it amusing to see that some ruffians thought they could steal it away from the protagonist.

Jaehwan acted quickly, stabbing only once with his sword. The ruffians had no chance to react before disappearing into white dust.

‘I should have asked if he killed the person on the roof or not…’

Jaehwan destroyed a roof while dealing with the ruffians. Kim Dokja deduced that there was someone there. Probably an envoy from Castle Gorgon.

But when he was about to ask Jaehwan, he hesitated.

Kim Dokja knew there was no reason for the protagonist to use those damned skills on him at that moment, but the mere ‘what if’ that crossed his mind made him give up on talking to Jaehwan. He didn't want to feel that pain again.

[The character ‘Jaehwan’ is looking at you.]

[The ‘Lone Walker’ thinks you’re not well.]

A faint sound of metal being hammered rang out in the distance.

“We’re here. That’s the biggest blacksmith in Gorgon.”

Kim Dokja looked at the sign Mino was pointing to.

<Twilight Smithy>

Was a blacksmith shop made by the top-ranking [High Artisan], and also the place where the protagonist had made a scabbard in the novel.

The inside was large and all the tools were top quality. Tens of artisans were working on various projects, and the furnace at the center radiated an intense heat.

One of the young apprentices, who was in charge of serving the customers, came and greeted them.

“Welcome to Twilight Smithy. What can I do for you, sir?”

“I’d like to make a request to the Head Blacksmith.”

The apprentice seemed troubled by Kim Dokja’s request.

“… He’s not in his seat right now.”

“Then take me to the Deputy Blacksmith.”

The apprentice squinted slightly and analyzed the man in front of him from head to toe.

“If you don’t mind, could you tell me what you’re trying to request him-”

“Take me to him.”

“But, sir, the price of Michael is very expensive and-”

“Take me to him.”

The young man’s face turned red with anger at being interrupted again, but Kim Dokja didn’t care.

Perhaps it was the strange combination of hunger and tiredness, but he didn’t feel like listening to and having to speak the dialogues of the original plot. He didn’t want to have to dance to the music at that moment.

He just wanted to get it over with.

The young apprentice seemed to want to complain about the treatment he was receiving, but held back. He clenched his fists and reluctantly led them through the smithy.

After a while, they finally arrived at the central furnace.

“There he is…”

Before the apprentice could finish, Kim Dokja had already started walking. He was followed by a strangely quiet Mino and Jaehwan.

‘…It’s the same thing described in the novel.’

There were dozens of artisans gathered there. In the center of the small crowd, a blacksmith was smiling.

[The exclusive skill ‘Character List’ is activated.]

[There is little information about this character. The ’Character List’ will be converted.]

A small window appeared above the smiling old blacksmith’s head.

[Michael Garnad]

Kim Dokja narrowed his eyes.

Once again, ’Character List’ was reduced to just the character’s name.

“Good.” Michael laughed. “If any of you can make a hole in this horn, whoever it is, I’ll make you Deputy Blacksmith for the day.”

“Wow! Are you serious?”

“Master, let me try!”

‘It seems that not everything has been changed yet.’

Kim Dokja put his hand on his chin.

He watched as the young artisans lined up to attack the horns with enthusiasm, but no one managed to make so much as a scratch. Time passed. The queue was getting smaller and…

‘Isn’t he going to try?’

…Jaehwan hasn’t said a word yet.

Kim Dokja looked at Jaehwan, who was staring at him intensely.

[The character ‘Jaehwan’ is worried about you.]

“Don’t you want to try?”

Jaehwan blinked, as if he wasn’t expecting that question.

His eyes lit up slightly, but before he could answer, the young apprentice intervened. “No! He can’t do that!”

Michael and the other artisans looked at the young apprentice. Michael frowned when he saw the unfamiliar faces.

“Naven, who are they?”

“Oh, they’re-”

“I want to try.”

Everyone looked at Jaehwan.

When no one said anything, he stepped forward and continued, “You need a socket in this hilt, right?”

Michael narrowed his eyes.

He watched the protagonist from head to toe before laughing and waving his hands, causing the other artisans to move away.

“Let him be.”

Jaehwan approached the horn. After a brief analysis, he began to poke at it, as if he were trying to create a hole with his finger.

Michael laughed.

“If it could be done like that, I wouldn’t have done all the-”

Suddenly, dust exploded everywhere with a huge bang. None of the artisans could believe their eyes when the dust subsided.

There was a small hole in the cable.

“Wha-WHAT?”

“This should do, right?”

A small smile formed on Jaehwan’s lips as he confidently twirled the handle with his finger. However, that smile quickly faded when he saw Kim Dokja’s blank expression.

An awkward silence took over.

Kim Dokja stared at the cable for a long time, wondering if it would break into pieces. When nothing happened, he nodded slowly.

“Good job.”

Jaehwan had been careful. This was something he hadn’t expected to witness.

[The ‘Lone Walker’ is impressed by the character ‘Jaehwan’.]

Kim Dokja looked away the moment Michael started questioning Jaehwan. His mind drifted a little from that reality, leaving him only vaguely aware of the lines being spoken.

He didn’t know how long he would be able to stand.

Kim Dokja needed to find a place to rest and eat right away. Then he needed to look for reliable sources to plan his next steps and help the protagonist with whatever was needed to clear this scenario.

He would do anything to get home. Even if it meant destroying this damn world.

“Kim Dokja?”

Kim Dokja felt a hand on his shoulder.

He looked away, raising an eyebrow when he saw the protagonist’s sparkling eyes.

‘…Did he like this equipment that much?’

Jaehwan seemed happy after changing into a smith’s protective gear.

There were passages in the novel that described how the protagonist felt at peace when he was in a blacksmith’s workshop. It made sense that Jaehwan would be feeling that way at that moment.

The only thing that didn’t make sense was the other smith’s protective gear he was holding.

“Here. Take this.”

“… Why are you giving me this?”

Jaehwan became confused.

“For you to use.”

“And why would I wear that?”

Kim Dokja frowned.

It took him a few seconds to finally understand what the protagonist was doing. “Oh, I don’t need that. I’m not staying here.”

Jaehwan’s eyes trembled.

“…Why?”

“You need a scabbard.”

“…”

“And I think you can handle this one without my help, right, Deputy Blacksmith?”

Jaehwan opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He then clenched his fists and turned away.

“…Fine.”

Jaehwan walked towards the furnace, followed by Michael.

Kim Dokja watched the protagonist walk away before sighing and turning towards the exit. To his surprise, Mino was still there.

“Mino? I didn’t think you’d still be here.”

Mino hesitated.

“I… I’m sorry.”

Mino looked at Kim Dokja. She waited for an answer but received only a blank expression from him.

“I’m really sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for?”

“If I hadn’t said those words to Jaehwan-”

Kim Dokja snorted, making Mino shut up. Was she feeling guilty about the protagonist’s lack of control earlier? That didn’t make sense.

‘Is this just an act?’

Kim Dokja narrowed his eyes.

Mino was acting strangely. He didn’t know what she was planning, but decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. He felt while he was reading ‘The World After the Fall’ that Mino was a character who, in the end, had good intentions.

“…Where are you going now, Dokja?”

He just hoped he wouldn’t regret trusting his intuition as a reader.

“I’m looking for saloons.”

Chapter Text

A day passed after he left <Twilight Smithy>.

In some saloon, Kim Dokja walked up to the counter and sat down. He tried to ignore the voices of people that seemed to be coming from all around him, but he couldn’t. The loud, shrill voices made his head hurt once more.

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ has been completely restored.]

Kim Dokja let out a sigh.

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ relieved some of the pain.]

Both the pain and the weight on his head became easier to manage.

Kim Dokja looked around, finally noticing a detail that had gone unnoticed when he first arrived at the saloon. The feeling of being watched was gone.

The people there didn’t mind his presence. Not even the barman paid attention to him after he placed his order.

‘Mino was right.’

Kim Dokja bit his lips slightly.

He had hoped that Mino’s comment about his clothes attracting unwanted attention was just an exaggeration. But now, without the strange looks, he had to agree. His old clothes were a problem.

‘...Damn.’

Kim Dokja fiddled with the collar of his new shirt.

Even though the fabric of the new clothes was good, he couldn’t shake the discomfort they brought. It wasn’t the medieval style that bothered him.

Kim Dokja felt that the sense of emptiness had grown. It was as if a part of him had been lost the moment he changed his clothes.

And that didn’t make any sense. They were just clothes.

Of course, the coat was an exception. However, even though it was a great item, Kim Dokja thought it prudent to avoid wearing it until he had a handle on his situation in this strange world.

Kim Dokja looked at his inventory bag, attached to his belt.

‘At least they were cheap.’

In fact, it all cost him less than he had expected. If he hadn’t exchanged some horns he had for local money, his purchase would probably have cost him a horn from the two-horned beast.

‘Now that I think about it...’

Kim Dokja covered his face with his hands.

‘Why the hell did I buy those things?’

He still couldn’t understand it. Why had he bought that extra set of black clothes? Why had he bought yet another inventory bag? Why had he acted like that just because he thought they would look good on the protagonist?

Kim Dokja frowned, lowering his hands.

Jaehwan wasn’t bothered by the looks people gave him because of his ragged clothes. In fact, he didn’t seem like a character who cared about other people’s opinions of his appearance or way of dressing.

But then, why did these trivial things start to matter to Kim Dokja?

“Here it is.”

The barman’s voice brought Kim Dokja out of his thoughts. He placed a plate of food on the counter and walked away to serve other customers.

The sound of cutlery clinking blended with the voices of the people.

Kim Dokja glanced around. Some people had started eating, while others seemed to be getting drunk on horn beer. These people were pretending to live a ‘life’ they no longer had.

A life where they had to eat to stave off hunger and rest to avoid fatigue.

That’s why no one was surprised when Kim Dokja came into the saloon the day before, asking for a room for the night. To them, he was just another man pretending to be alive.

“And that’s the top ten videos, together with Siren! The last video is one you all might know! There isn’t anything more famous than this video in <Little Brother> recently! It is the [Solo-clearing of the 99th floor] video!”

Kim Dokja looked towards the center of the hall.

There was an old hologram machine showing a broadcast. The person on the screen, a pink-haired [Nightmare] with a small horn, laughed before her image was replaced by a new video.

A boy with his face censored appeared on the broadcast, fighting a giant Frostwyrm on his own.

Kim Dokja recognized him immediately.

He squeezed his eyes shut. His head had begun to buzz as descriptions of the novel flashed through his mind.

「Ten years passed by. It had been a long time. Jaehwan had spent all that time alone on the 99th floor.

He had gone through thousands of dangers that almost killed him. He faced many dangerous situations as he climbed from the 1st floor to the 99th floor, but the number of dangers he faced just on the 99th floor easily took the cake.

The boss of 99th floor, Velchisus.」

On the broadcast, Velchisus roared and Jaehwan attacked.

「... If it hadn’t been for the pieces of equipment left behind by other Walkers, he would have had to give up a long time ago.」

Jaehwan kept stabbing repeatedly without stopping. The people in the hall were amazed as they watched.

“Is that boy really human? Look at the way he fights.”

“Does anyone know what happened to him?”

“Oh, didn’t you two hear? That video there is a fake.”

“...Really?”

“Of course. Where has one ever seen someone beat a 1st generation tower alone?”

The men laughed and argued for a while.

Kim Dokja returned his attention to his meal. He no longer paid any mind to the men’s pointless discussion or to the new issues that arose as time went by.

“Before we end the broadcast, we’ll pass on Big Brother’s statement. The search for the flaw is not over! Big Brother will grant any wish to whoever manages to deliver the flaw alive! Isn’t that incredible?”

Kim Dokja froze.

“Are they still broadcasting that communiqué in Chaos? It’s clear that this flaw will be found in the Great Lands, since it’s alive.”

“But wouldn’t that be incredible? To have a wish fulfilled by none other than Big Brother itself?”

“Yes. My wish would be to be revived.”

“What for? To be killed again? Haha.”

“Yes, that would be quite a waste of a wish. My wish would be to become as strong as the Dark Monarch.”

“The flaw can appear as a human. The only difference is that its presence cannot be recognized by any item or artifact!”

Kim Dokja’s eyes slowly widened.

It now made sense why Carlton’s item hadn’t worked on him, or why no message from the Fourth Wall had sounded at that moment. After all, it wasn’t his ability that had blocked that item.

However, if no message sounded when someone used an item or artifact against him, how would Kim Dokja know if he had been discovered as the flaw?

「I t’s no t sa fe to s tay he re an y long er.」

With that thought, the atmosphere in the saloon seemed to turn hostile. Kim Dokja quickly finished his meal and left.

* * *

Kim Dokja stared at the screen of his smartphone. No matter how many times he scrolled down and then up, the end was always the same.

「Two days later, the scabbard was complete.」

The text file still had only the prologue and 24 chapters—just a part of the novel that was no longer useful.

‘I need information.’

Kim Dokja sighed.

He put his smartphone away and left the alley, finding himself on a wide street with a few merchants.

‘...Damn.’

Kim Dokja was lost.

He had been wandering for dozens of minutes, entering streets and alleys, but he hadn’t reached the place Mino had indicated as a good source of information about <Chaos> and the <Great Lands>. A place similar to a library.

‘If only I had a useful skill at this time...’

Kim Dokja laughed humorlessly.

It seemed that his sense of direction had never been good. In the few memories he had, it was common for him to get lost in new places. Even in his last job, he found himself lost. If it hadn’t been for the kind person who helped him at the time...

“By the way, what is Dokja-ssi looking at?”

Kim Dokja blinked when he heard Yoo Sangah’s gentle voice.

For a brief moment, he thought that the kind person who had helped him was Yoo Sangah herself. But that wasn’t possible.

Yoo Sangah was only a character in ‘Ways of Survival’. He had only interacted with her much later, when the novel had become a reality.

Kim Dokja continued on his way.

He walked past the merchants, vaguely noticing that the items being sold seemed used or devalued. After all, it was the first time he had seen so many signs advertising promotions or such low prices.

He had no intention of paying attention to those items. He already had what he needed.

However, when his gaze landed on the merchandise in the last stall, his attention was quickly drawn to a familiar item. An item that shouldn’t have been there.

An item that shouldn’t exist in this world.

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ is shaking.]

Kim Dokja froze.

“New clothes? Damn, I’m envious.”

He found himself approaching the old, battered shack with quick steps. A shiver ran through his body.

There was a tattered coat among the items on sale.

+

[Item info]

Name: Infinite Dimension Space Coat ???

Rating: ???

Description: ???

+

Kim Dokja felt his heart racing.

‘That’s impossible.’

How did an item from <Star Stream> end up in the world of ‘The World After the Fall’? That doesn’t make sense. It shouldn’t be here.

[The exclusive skill ‘Fourth Wall’ is shaking.]

Kim Dokja clenched his fists.

Why did nothing in this damn world seem to make sense anymore? Why was that coat here?

Why was he still here?

Why?

Kim Dokja took a deep breath and looked at the sign. His eyes widened when he saw the price of 500 Horus. That was basically chump change in this world.

He then looked at the merchant, who was waiting patiently with a smile on his face, and said, “I’ll take this.”

Two days later, when Kim Dokja turned on his smartphone, a new file appeared on the phone desktop:

[The World After the Fall PART 2.TXT]

Chapter Text

“Are you waiting for someone?”

Jaehwan blinked.

He noticed that his gaze had once again wandered to the entrance of <Twilight Smithy>, as if searching for something among the many corpses coming and going.

As if searching for a glimpse of a familiar white coat.

‘He didn’t come...’

Jaehwan’s shoulders slumped subtly.

After a moment, Jaehwan frowned, realizing his body’s reaction. Why was he like this? It was a good thing that Kim Dokja hadn’t come back. His emotions wouldn’t get out of control anymore.

“So?”

Jaehwan pressed his lips and looked at Michael.

The other was waiting for an answer with a questioning expression. Of course, the blacksmith was still, like everyone else there, a corpse. However, Jaehwan had learned to get a mental picture of the person’s human form just from the words he read.

“I’m not waiting for anyone,” Jaehwan replied.

Michael raised an eyebrow.

“Really? It doesn’t look that way.”

Jaehwan narrowed his eyes.

He couldn’t understand why Michael seemed so interested in this. He looked away from the various words coming out of the man and focused on the scabbard on the bench, ignoring the other’s sigh.

It wasn’t a lie. Jaehwan didn’t really know why his gaze kept drifting towards the entrance, but he knew there was no way Kim Dokja would show up.

Not after what he’d done.

‘...I shouldn’t have done that.’

Jaehwan clenched his fists.

After countless attempts to break through the wall surrounding Kim Dokja with his skills, Jaehwan finally saw a strange line in front of him. Just like in the fights against the Frostwyrm Velchisus and Beastrain, he followed the line without a second thought.

Jaehwan imagined himself making his best stab along the line.

And the wall cracked.

However, before Jaehwan could feel any joy or satisfaction from his achievement, the words on that wall changed. A sentence appeared.

A sentence that repeated all over the cracked wall:

「 Y ou’re kil ling h i m. 」

Then Kim Dokja got hurt. Because of him.

‘...Damn.’

Jaehwan clenched his jaw.

There was no point in dwelling on the past. Thinking about it too much wouldn’t change anything.

Jaehwan quickly pushed those memories away, focusing on all the information he had gathered during his three days in <Twilight Smithy> to distract his mind.

[Understanding] Michael’s [Craft] skill had led Jaehwan to discover something interesting. The horn he had from the five-horned monster known as Garnak had already been [Crafted] before they had even worked on it. And that meant only one thing.

Monsters were not naturally occurring. They were someone’s creations. Creations carefully crafted, like masterpieces.

‘But why would someone craft monsters?’

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Jaehwan tapped the bench with his index finger for a moment before picking up the scabbard and attaching it to his belt.

A smile appeared on his lips as he felt a satisfied sigh from his sword. It seemed to have taken a liking to the scabbard.

‘It’s become much more expressive.’

His sword had undergone an evolution after devouring a Garnak horn—a fortunate oversight by Michael that, in a way, only brought advantages. The blade had become much sharper, and its durability had greatly increased, making it as tough as the horn itself.

Its aura had also changed, becoming much denser than before. However, thanks to the new scabbard, this energy was no longer felt. And that wasn’t its only use.

The scabbard possessed a power called [Garnak’s Power], capable of scaring off beasts with three horns or fewer, which would be very useful. After all, most of the creatures here were much weaker than a simple one-horned monster.

“Are you planning to go on your way?”

Jaehwan looked at Michael.

“Yeah, I got what I needed.”

Michael snorted and waved his hand towards Jaehwan’s head.

“But like this? Don’t you want me to at least fix your hair? No offense, but it looks like an amateur tried to cut it with a blunt blade.”

Kim Dokja’s face appeared in Jaehwan’s mind.

“What are you doing?”

With a raised eyebrow and slightly wide eyes, it was clear that Kim Dokja was incredulous at witnessing Jaehwan’s attempt to cut his hair with the Sword of Frostwyrm.

Jaehwan couldn’t help but smile at the memory.

He hadn’t seen the problem with it. He thought his long hair was a nuisance, so he’d cut it off. There was no need to be careful with such a simple task.

However, Kim Dokja thought differently.

He cut Jaehwan’s hair with his own sword. Each cut was made with unnecessary care, but Jaehwan appreciated the gesture.

Now, Jaehwan wasn’t even bothered that, even after the cut, his hair was still long.

“I like the way my hair looks.”

“If you say so...” Michael pinched his nose and then looked at Jaehwan’s scabbard. “Oh, right. Did you choose your sword’s name?”

“Do I really have to name it?”

“Yes. And if it’s all right, can I-”

“Stupid Lion.”

Michael choked. “What?”

“The name has to be something like Stupid Lion... Samu, maybe?”

“...You’re joking, right?”

Jaehwan laughed.

It wasn’t Michael’s expression that amused him, but rather the abrupt cessation of the purr-like buzz that his sword had been making ever since it was placed in its scabbard.

‘Gotcha.’

Jaehwan knew that his sword had become strange since got out the Nightmares Tower.

Its behavior, as if it had a mind of its own, made him wonder what his sword had become. But it was Michael’s thought that made him more certain about his hunch.

‘It seems like the spirit of a higher race is absorbed within…’

Of course, this didn’t prove that his theory was correct. His sword was still, after all, just a sword.

However, until proven otherwise, nothing would take Jaehwan’s mind off the fact that the spirit in his sword was that of the demon he fought before he got out of the Nightmares Tower.

The demon with the face of a lion who wore a black suit—Beastreign.

Michael ran a hand through his hair.

“Let me tell you the name I thought would suit your sword before you decide, okay?”

“Go ahead.”

Michael took a deep breath.

“Look, that name has been on my mind ever since I watched you break everything I believed in. I may not know why you showed me that ‘world’... But I do know that no one in this world will like you.”

“I don’t care.”

“You don’t understand. This world will reject you. Some may even want to kill you. So why try to save a world that no one will understand?”

“There’s already someone who understands it.”

Michael’s eyes widened. He almost couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Jaehwan’s expression and posture softened as he said this, as if that simple fact could lift any weight from this world.

“...I guess that just made you want to save that ‘world’ even more, huh?”

Jaehwan’s silence made Michael laugh as he led him towards the entrance of <Twilight Smithy>. A few artisans approached, and Michael ordered someone to bring a hammer and chisel.

He used the [Craft] skill to engrave the letters on Jaehwan’s scabbard.

-Gangmu

Jaehwan tilted his head slightly.

“Powerful and invincible?”

Michael smiled.

“I interpret it more as ‘Unstoppable Hero’. That seems to be the best name for this sword.”

“It really is a good name.”

“Oh, and remember, as soon as you get to the Registrar of the Inner Keep, tell them my name and show the scabbard. You’ll be able to look at the entrance record and find a Nightmare.”

Jaehwan nodded and then left.

Michael lit a cigarette as he watched him walk away.

He would have liked to ask that young man one last question, but he couldn’t muster the courage. In fact, he couldn’t bear to hear the answer he already knew. After all, he had seen his own reflection in the monster’s giant eyes when he was in Jaehwan’s world.

And it didn’t matter his attempts, nor his courage to face that world without any skills or even his daring to walk a path he had never walked. His hands remained without flesh or blood.

He remained a corpse in that world.

* * *

As Jaehwan walked through the wide streets, he felt his senses sharpening.

However, no matter how hard he tried, he still couldn’t sense the presence that had been hovering over him while he was in the workshop. In fact, he hadn’t felt it since yesterday.

‘...Did they go after Kim Dokja?’

Jaehwan stopped.

Perhaps he should have eliminated whoever was watching him the moment he noticed it, just as he had done with the presence that was with the bandits who tried to rob him on his first day in Gorgon Fortress. Perhaps-

Jaehwan pressed his lips together tightly.

‘That’s none of my business anymore.’

His gaze, however, wandered again among the corpses there, searching for the only living human being in that world.

‘...Damn.’

Jaehwan clenched his fists. Why was his body acting like this? Why were his emotions getting agitated? Kim Dokja wasn’t even here.

This wasn’t supposed to be happening.

Jaehwan took a deep breath and tried to reason with this strange part of himself.

Even if whoever was watching him had gone after Kim Dokja, he knew that the other could easily defend himself. After all, Kim Dokja was the strongest person Jaehwan had met since leaving the Nightmares Tower.

But... Kim Dokja had been injured after the wall cracked. What if the injury made him too weak to protect himself? What if that’s why he didn’t show up anymore?

As if his mind wanted to prove that line of thought, the image of Kim Dokja with blood dripping from his nose and mouth appeared, along with that damning phrase.

「 Y ou’re kil ling h i m. 」

He had been injured because of Jaehwan.

Then the memory of Seoyul’s lifeless body in his arms came. And then, Yoonhwan’s smileless face with a small hole in his chest.

He hadn’t been strong enough to protect his companions in the past. And perhaps he still wasn’t.

Jaehwan closed his eyes.

‘They’re fine.’

Jaehwan couldn’t let his mind continue down that nonsensical line of thought. He had to remember the truth.

Kim Dokja was fine. As alarming as it was to see him bleeding, he had started to recover the moment Jaehwan stopped trying to destroy the wall of words. It wasn’t a quick recovery.

But he had left <Twilight Smithy> alive.

And the friends who he worked to climb up the tower might be alive and well somewhere on Earth, with no memory of what had happened in the Nightmares Tower. They were fine. They weren’t dead. They just-

Left him.

“Jaehwan!”

Jaehwan looked back and couldn’t help but roll his eyes slightly when he saw Mino running towards him. She was wearing a short dark top with black tights, and her robe was still over her, though.

She stopped a few steps away, trying to catch her breath.

“Jaehwan, where’s Dokja? Isn’t he with you?”

Mino bit her lips and looked around, before quickly turning her attention back to the man in front of her.

“Jaehwan-”

“I don’t know where he is.”

Jaehwan turned around, but before he could continue on his way, a hand grabbed his arm firmly.

“We have to find him.”

“And why should I?”

“He’s your companion! He might need our help-”

Jaehwan looked at Mino.

“And why should I help you?”

Her expression changed, but that wasn’t what he was paying attention to. It was the words that flew at her.

[Be quick, witch.]

[If you don’t want that old hag to die, you’d better stick to the deal and soon.]

They were the whispers of someone threatening her, and it seemed they also had a hostage. But that wasn’t important.

[Just find the other one.]

What mattered was that whoever it was, they wanted Kim Dokja.

‘Should I kill them?’

Jaehwan’s gaze turned colder as he looked in the direction the words were coming from. He slowly stepped his foot back but stopped as soon as a new whisper came.

[And hope that he really is the flaw.]

Flaw. That was the word Jaehwan had seen most since arriving at Gorgon Fortress. The corpses that roamed this world longed for this flaw, as if it could fulfill their desires. As if it could make them human again.

It was then that he remembered. Carlton also wanted this flaw. His behavior and thoughts had even changed when he believed that Kim Dokja might be that flaw.

And whoever was after Kim Dokja believed it too.

Kim Dokja wasn’t safe here. And Jaehwan wouldn’t leave the only human he’d ever known in a place like this.

‘I have to get him out of Chaos.’

Jaehwan pulled his arm away from the hand that was holding him.

“I’m not going to help you.”

Jaehwan didn’t know what kind of expression he was making, but it made Mino step back. Fear was visible in her eyes, but then, sudden anger took over her gaze.

“Stop looking at me like that!”

Mino pointed her finger at Jaehwan’s face.

“I’m human! We’re all human here!”

She took a step forward and continued, “Do you think we chose to die?! Do you think we don’t try our best?! Just because we die, we don’t stop being human!”

“...”

“Kim Dokja was wrong. You’re not a good person. You’re just an arrogant and rude person who only knows how to destroy and kill. You-”

‘Haa...’

Jaehwan deactivated his skills.

The truth of that world was once again shrouded in ignorance. The words coming at him from all sides stopped. Jaehwan almost found himself closing his eyes to enjoy the silence.

Mino returned to her human form, as did everyone around her. She continued speaking fervently in an unknown language, but he didn’t care.

Jaehwan could hear what [Suspicion] was saying at that very moment. That was always its warning when he was around this girl.

「 Don’t trust her. 」

And that skill was never wrong.

“I don’t care.”

Jaehwan interrupted Mino. He didn’t care what she thought of him, let alone the world he was in.

Mino’s eyes widened.

However, before she could say anything else, Jaehwan simply turned and started walking away. And this time, Mino didn’t try to stop him.

* * *

Jaehwan continued walking down the crowded street, slowly activating [Suspicion] and [Understanding]. After a few tests, he had discovered that if he increased the power of his skills gradually, he wouldn’t suffer from a headache caused by too much information.

He watched the world reveal its true face once more.

After [Understanding] this world through countless [Suspicions], Jaehwan realized that this world was full of stats and data. It was filled with people selling even their spirits for higher stats.

It was filled with foolish and pitiful corpses.

“Jaehwan.”

Jaehwan stopped. His eyes widened as he recognized that voice.

He quickly looked away, feeling an unfamiliar emotion rise up as he saw Kim Dokja walking towards him—very much alive and well.

A feeling of lightness washed over Jaehwan. His expression relaxed as he watched Kim Dokja approach.

His companion was wearing different clothes: black pants and a medieval-style white shirt with long sleeves, which highlighted his slender figure.

However, what caught Jaehwan’s attention the most wasn’t Kim Dokja’s clothes or the item he was holding. It was his face.

There was no trace of discomfort or tiredness on that handsome, thin face.

“Kim Dokja.”

“I see you’ve finished your scabbard.”

Jaehwan cracked a genuine smile as he patted the scabbard.

“Yes. I like it.”

Jaehwan felt his sword vibrate briefly, as if affirming its approval of the scabbard once again.

Kim Dokja frowned slightly before nodding and handing Jaehwan the item he was holding - a leg bag.

“Take this.”

“...What is it?”

“An inventory bag with some clothes. Wear them until you find something you like.”

Jaehwan blinked.

He had forgotten that his clothing was still ragged. He gladly accepted the bag and took the clothes out. They were medieval in style and all black.

Jaehwan couldn’t help but smile. He looked at his companion and said, “Thank you.”

Kim Dokja’s expression shifted for a brief moment, but Jaehwan noticed it. The slight smile on his face faded as he watched Kim Dokja’s expression turn neutral.

“Jaehwan, I’d like to make a deal with you.”

“A deal?”

Kim Dokja nodded, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket.

“A Spirit Contract. If you sign it, I’ll help you keep climbing until you see the end of this world.”

He then looked directly into Jaehwan’s eyes and said,

“You’ll need a guide, and I can help you with that. I know something that no one else does. Something that will give you an advantage in this world. The future.”

Jaehwan frowned.

He couldn’t understand at first. What he had just heard seemed impossible to comprehend. The future? How-

How could Kim Dokja know the future?

But then memories of Kim Dokja’s comments and actions came back to him. Jaehwan had found them meaningless in the past, but with this new perspective, it all made sense.

Jaehwan’s eyes slowly widened.

‘Is he a returnee?’

His stomach churned at the thought, while his chest filled with anger.

Jaehwan couldn’t say anything. He found himself fighting with an explosion of emotions more intense than any before. His feelings became chaotic, clashing fiercely with one another.

Jaehwan felt betrayed.

Kim Dokja was one of them. Someone who had abandoned the present to return to the past. Someone who didn’t mind turning his back on people and the world just to become a damn ‘protagonist’-

“It’s a skill I have.”

Kim Dokja’s voice pulled Jaehwan out of his thoughts. He was staring off into the distance as he continued, “...I can know about one possible future of this world.”

Jaehwan squeezed his eyes shut. His heart began to ache.

Kim Dokja was making that strange expression again. The same expression that always appeared when he was looking at the stars or the embers of his item.

Jaehwan’s eyes shook.

One part of him told him to press Kim Dokja for answers and explanations, while the other part called for him to do something to wipe that expression off his companion’s face.

Jaehwan found himself torn, a hostage to the two warring sides within him.

An insignificant thought surfaced amidst the chaos, and he latched onto it, bringing it into focus to drown out the pain of that internal struggle.

“Mino.”

“Hm?”

“Was your insistence on having her around due to something in the future?”

“Yes.”

“And is she still important to you?”

Kim Dokja narrowed his eyes before staring into space. His expression shifted to one of mild annoyance as he looked back at Jaehwan.

“Why do you seem to hate Mino so much? What has she done to you?”

“She can’t be trusted.”

“And that’s reason enough for you to act like this?”

Jaehwan clenched his fists.

He hadn’t expected the inner conflict to quiet so quickly, allowing his emotions to take over. In fact, one emotion in particular seemed to dominate. A dark, unfamiliar feeling that left him unsettled.

“Mino is treacherous. She’s such a problem that it never made sense to have her around.”

“Don’t you think-”

“And now she wants to use you.”

Kim Dokja looked confused.

“Use me?”

“She wants to use you as a bargaining chip. I knew I should have killed her earlier.”

“Wait a minute. What exactly did she say to you?”

“I didn’t pay attention to what she was saying. It wasn’t important.”

Kim Dokja wiped his hand across his face.

Then, suddenly, he turned around. Jaehwan reacted reflexively, grabbing the other man’s arm before he could start walking away.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m off to rescue Mino.”

Jaehwan tightened his grip.

“Why? She betrayed you.”

“You don’t know if that’s true or not.”

“How can I not? I saw how desperate she was to see you. I saw the pressure she was under to come to you.”

“And yet she waited three days to find you.”

Jaehwan narrowed his eyes.

“...What?”

“She knew where I would be after we split up. And if things happened the way I suspect they did, she was coerced shortly after.”

Kim Dokja squinted slightly and continued, “I’m not saying I trust her just because I know her from a future, but if she wanted to ‘use’ me, she would have done it by now.”

“But-”

“Don’t trust Suspicion so much.”

Jaehwan’s eyes widened.

“How did you...”

Jaehwan’s voice trailed off. Kim Dokja knew about [Suspicion], and yet he was suggesting it couldn’t be trusted? Did it fail in the future?

Jaehwan’s eyes shook.

As if reading his thoughts, Kim Dokja said, “Just because your skill has never failed doesn’t mean it’s infallible.”

The [Suspicion] began to shaking.

Kim Dokja stepped closer to Jaehwan.

“You’re becoming too attached to the ‘second truth’ you see in this world. Your knowledge and beliefs only shape your perspective, not the absolute truth.”

And then he looked firmly into Jaehwan’s eyes.

“Don’t just see what you want to see.”

Kim Dokja easily removed Jaehwan’s hand from his arm and turned away.

Jaehwan watched, stunned, as the other man walked away.

His [Suspicion] was shaking, and his [Understanding] was doing the same. His heart ached even more. It was as if, instead of his skills being suspicious of the world, they were suspicious of themselves.

Why? Why were his skills like this? Why couldn’t he control his damn emotions?

Things were out of control. It couldn’t go on like this.

‘I have to kill him.’

Jaehwan knew he had to. He had to eliminate any weakness he might have. He had to kill Kim Dokja.

His hand moved toward the sword, but it stopped midway. Jaehwan began to tremble. His body refused to obey him.

The pain in his heart worsened. His vision blurred as he watched Kim Dokja continue to walk away, unchanged by a world that seemed out of focus.

Jaehwan bit his lips hard.

‘Damn...’

Then Kim Dokja disappeared into the crowd.

As if it had a will of its own, Jaehwan’s body moved. He ran through a world that seemed unstable, its form shifting between what he knew and a blurred, indistinguishable shape.

Jaehwan caught up with Kim Dokja.

“What are we going to do?”

Kim Dokja didn’t react at all to Jaehwan’s sudden presence. He didn’t even glance at the other as he said,

“You kill the bad guys as quickly as you can. I’ll protect the hostages.”

“That doesn’t sound like a plan.”

“Maybe that’s because it really isn’t.” Kim Dokja finally looked at Jaehwan. “But I know you can do it.”

Jaehwan nodded and looked ahead.

Soon, a saloon became visible among the buildings.

Suddenly, an indescribable energy filled the air. The energy expanded, and its overwhelming pressure made Jaehwan tense up.

He had felt this power before.

Jaehwan quickly looked at Kim Dokja.

His eyes widened at what he saw. There were huge black wings emerging from the other man’s back. However, before he could comprehend what he was seeing, Kim Dokja shot forward at an astonishing speed.

And smashed through the saloon door.

Chapter Text

When Mino asked Kim Dokja how he had managed to stay close to Jaehwan, she hadn’t expected to see him become so pensive. And the answer he gave that day was far from what she had expected.

“He’s a good person.”

Mino laughed.

‘A good person?’

No. She knew very well what kind of person Jaehwan was, and he was far from being a ‘good person’.

She had never seen someone so arrogant, so rude, and... unstoppable. A beast who could destroy and kill whatever he wanted from behind the bars of his cage without hesitation, as if he were untouchable by consequences.

And that gaze...

Mino couldn’t quite explain why, but whenever she met Jaehwan’s gaze, she felt like she was nothing. Her life, her efforts, her motivation... they were nothing but a bad joke.

A petty part of her began to crave seeing that damned, empty, indifferent face of Jaehwan writhing in pain and despair. She wanted to see him suffer.

Maybe that’s why, after all, she hadn’t run away when she had the chance. Maybe that’s why she kept following Kim Dokja, doing her part of the stupid deal and leading them into Gorgon Fortress.

As long as she stayed with Dokja, she would have the chance to see someone powerful enough to stop Jaehwan, destroy him, and reduce him to nothing. And when that happened, Mino would be there to laugh in his face.

But until then, staying close to Kim Dokja would ensure her safety. After all, the man seemed to be the only thing that could contain the beast.

So, no. Jaehwan was not a good person.

But for some reason...

“He’s a good person.”

...Kim Dokja’s answer stuck in Mino’s mind.

It must have been because of the firm expression on the man’s face when he gave that answer. Or perhaps it was that look of his, always seeming to contain a vast and unusual understanding.

Mino didn’t know exactly why she had come to Jaehwan. She just hoped that Kim Dokja was right—that this ‘good’ man could hear her whispers and help her.

“I don’t care.”

All the irritation she had been feeling during the one-sided discussion vanished with that one sentence. She watched as that man turned around, completely ignoring her whispers, and left just like that.

Kim Dokja was wrong. Jaehwan was not a good person.

Mino had known this from the start. So why was she so frustrated?

‘...Maybe my life really is a joke.’

Mino had tried hard to become strong and survive... had fought tooth and nail, doing everything in her power to turn the cursed skill [Lure] into her strength.

Why then? Why was the result she saw so far from what she wanted?

[Mino, look at me.]

Claire bit her lips hard to stop them from trembling.

She was tied to a chair, her face a mess of blood and bruises. Yet, her gaze seemed more serious than ever.

[Stop making that face. Don’t hesitate if you’ve come this far. Being weak doesn’t mean we don’t have the right to choose death.]

‘...Auntie.’

Mino felt like crying.

Claire, a survivor from Arkal, was only in <Chaos> because of Mino’s carelessness. The guilt of that incident, along with the deaths that followed, still weighed heavily on her conscience.

And now Claire was going to die again. Everyone there was going to die at the hands of the Golden Sky Clan. Because of Mino.

‘...Why didn’t I go after Kim Dokja?’

If she had stuck to the plan, none of this would have happened. But... for some reason, she couldn’t.

The most logical part of her, the part that kept throwing hate at herself, said it was time to give up. She knew there was nothing she could do about the situation.

But Mino wouldn’t go down without a fight.

The blizzard filling the tavern was gradually subsiding as her Spiritual Power ran out. In one last attempt, Mino activated her Final Skill once more.

[Icy Sword Stike]. A Seven Sword Techniques of Akaram, Arcane mystery.

The blades struck both some 3rd stage Adapters—who died from the blow—and the roof. Another large hole opened with the explosion.

But despite the loud, thunderous noise, no one came.

“Give up, witch. The magic won’t be broken.”

Mino staggered.

The deep cuts had become impossible to ignore, and her Spiritual Power was completely drained. She looked up at the ceiling, and the last thread of hope she had vanished.

She couldn’t break that damned silencing magic, not even with her best skills.

Mino barely managed to keep herself upright. She saw Janya approaching with a sadistic smile, while the other members of the Golden Sky Clan closed in on the saloon staff.

‘...Is there no salvation in this world?’

Kim Dokja’s image appeared in her mind.

Mino blinked. She didn’t know why, but she suddenly remembered how the man always seemed to place himself in front of her. How his back felt broad enough to shield her from the dangers ahead.

She was surprised to realize that she wanted to see Kim Dokja again. Perhaps, if she had continued following him, she would have witnessed that world filled with criminals crumble beneath the unstoppable beast.

It would have been kind of fun. Watching a monster wipe out other monsters. Maybe no one would believe her when she told them how the world had fallen apart.

But now, it was too late.

Mino watched as Janya’s blade came toward her and accepted her end. However, before she could close her eyes, something black flashed before her vision.

It took her a moment to process what she was seeing. A massive pair of wings had appeared in front of her, and seconds later, they were gone. Mino could barely follow the black-and-white blur moving through the saloon.

And then, the enormous wings were in front of her again. Strangely, the back almost concealed by them felt oddly familiar. Was it possible that it was...

“...Kim Dokja?”

The wings lowered slightly, and the man glanced over his shoulder.

Mino’s eyes widened.

Kim Dokja looked different. Dark markings, like black veins, spread across his pale skin. His eyes were blood-red, as were the long horns atop his head. And that dense, overwhelming aura radiating from him...

Mino recognized that power all too well.

The power of a demon.

Her legs finally gave out, but before she could collapse, someone caught her. Those rough yet soft hands were warm. And familiar. Mino looked up and saw Claire.

“...Auntie?”

How?

Mino blinked, finally becoming aware of her surroundings. All the hostages were there.

“He killed Janya!”

“A-a demon! He’s a demon!”

Screams filled the saloon, accompanied by the sharp sound of metal breaking.

Mino couldn’t see beyond those enormous wings, but she could almost picture the chaos unfolding. The presence of several high stage Adapters was rapidly vanishing.

And there was only one person capable of making such an impossible feat look effortless.

“AHHH!”

“W-what is the other?”

“H-How can someone be this powerful?!”

For the first time, Mino wanted to see Jaehwan in action. She wanted to watch him obliterate that cursed clan, cutting its members down one by one. She-

“...Cough.”

A wet, ragged cough snapped Mino out of her thoughts.

The enormous wings in front of her trembled, sending a few feathers drifting to the ground. In fact, now that she looked closer, she noticed several missing feathers, leaving the once-imposing wings flawed and brittle.

[...Kim Dokja?]

Another cough echoed through the saloon.

“Damn... body...”

Kim Dokja staggered.

He barely managed to steady himself at the last moment. The dense, overwhelming demonic energy, along with those enormous wings, vanished in an instant. A hush fell over the saloon.

“Is that...?”

“It’s blood!”

“He really is-”

A scream, laced with an ominous power, tore through the air. It was as if a massive Garnak had been summoned to the saloon. In the blink of an eye, every remaining presence vanished.

Mino froze.

Jaehwan had activated a new skill.

‘...How many skills does he have?’

A heavy silence followed. The cruel criminals were gone, yet Mino felt her body tense even more. And from Claire’s tightened grip, she knew she wasn’t the only one.

Something lingered in the air—an unspoken warning, a silent command for no one to move. Then another cough broke the stillness.

Kim Dokja staggered again.

Without thinking, Mino shot to her feet, instinctively reaching out as he began to fall. But before her hand could reach him, Jaehwan was already there, steadying him.

Mino’s eyes widened slightly.

It was ironic. Jaehwan was making exactly the expression she had wanted to see. Yet, looking at it now, she felt no satisfaction.

She didn’t laugh. She didn’t say the words she had once wanted to say.

Her chest ached as she watched Kim Dokja, frail and exhausted, barely holding on in Jaehwan’s arms.

He shouldn’t be like this. He shouldn’t even be here. There was no reason for him to have come back for her, no reason for him to stand in front of strangers he didn’t even know.

He...

“He’s a good person.”

Mino’s eyes widened. She finally understood.

Jaehwan was not a good person.

But Kim Dokja was.

He was exactly the kind of person Mino admired—someone willing to put himself in danger for others if necessary, even if he wasn’t strong or didn’t have talent.

Mino had only survived the Tower of Nightmares because of people like him. Good people who refused to abandon her, even when others avoided her because of her passive skill.

And now, she was only alive because of Kim Dokja.

A strange feeling stirred inside her. And when Jaehwan’s eyes locked onto hers, for the first time, she felt nothing. Even when his gaze made it clear—no one here was getting out alive.

Jaehwan raised his sword. A dense black aura radiated from the blade, as its enormous ‘mouth’ opening, eager to devour her.

“Don’t even... think about it.”

Kim Dokja’s voice cut through the tension.

He struggled to pull away from Jaehwan, but his feeble attempts only made the other man grip him tighter, more unwilling to let him go.

“But she knows. Everyone here knows.”

“And the others outside must know by now too.”

“I’ll deal with them later.”

“Why, you bastard-”

Kim Dokja coughed. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Mino moved before she even realized it. Only when Claire’s desperate grip tightened around her arm did she notice she had taken a step forward.

[Don’t go near them, Mino.]

[It’s okay, Auntie.]

Mino smiled softly, prying Claire’s fingers from her arm before stepping closer to Kim Dokja.

“I’ll call a doctor.”

Jaehwan’s grip on his sword tightened.

“Stay where you are.”

“And let him die for real?”

Jaehwan’s eyes flickered.

Mino still didn’t fully understand this strange immunity to Jaehwan’s gaze. But she no longer felt afraid of him.

She repeated, firmer this time, “I’ll call a doctor.”

Jaehwan squeezed his eyes shut.

“...I don’t trust you.”

“I don’t need your trust.” Mino turned to Kim Dokja. “Just your permission, Dokja.”

Kim Dokja thought for a moment before nodding.

And that was all she needed.

Chapter Text

Jaehwan heightened his senses to the fullest.

However, he could no longer detect the figures lurking outside the saloon. They were gone.

‘...Damn.’

Jaehwan had missed his chance to find out who had informed them about Kim Dokja.

‘Although I already have a hunch who did it.’

His gaze fell on Mino.

Jaehwan clenched his fists. He watched the girl run out of the saloon after exchanging a few brief words with a middle-aged woman. That girl had brought him nothing but trouble. Everything would be so different if he had gotten rid of her earlier.

Kim Dokja wouldn’t have been hurt. In fact, he wouldn’t even have had any reason to come to this saloon in the first place. He...

‘No.’

Jaehwan quickly pushed that thought away before he ended up dwelling on it.

He needed to focus on the present.

The words from both Mino and the other corpses were a valuable source of information. The enemies he had faced were members of the Golden Sky Clan. It was a powerful and influential clan, made up of fugitives and wanted criminals.

Everyone suspected that, given the way these bandits had acted, it was very likely they had bribed the guards to stay away from the saloon.

And with this suspicion, Jaehwan had a hunch.

‘It was some guard who told them about Kim Dokja.’

Jaehwan narrowed his eyes.

He wouldn’t even be surprised if that was exactly what had happened. Jaehwan didn’t trust anyone who dared to speak about laws, least of all those charged with enforcing them by force.

It had been during the tower, when people created laws to bring equality and protection to the weak and needy, that Jaehwan almost lost faith in humanity. Those laws were nothing but a beautiful lie.

The weak had to pay high taxes, hunt in controlled areas under the guise of ‘protection’. And for what? Just to acquire useless skills and weak weapons?

The creators of those laws had become corrupted by skills, attributes, items, and levels. This led to the downfall of those ‘laws’.

The laws became cruel to the weak and useless to the strong. When society in the tower was on the verge of collapse, the cursed creators of the laws fled into the past. And it would be no different here.

From the start, Jaehwan had noticed how greedy those corpses were. How their actions and reactions changed when they were faced with a "valuable" object.

The guards had been easily bribed by Mino’s offer. It was clear the ‘laws’ they upheld could be quickly ignored or forgotten for personal gain.

In such a world, strong and influential individuals were the law itself. If the Golden Sky Clan was really everything Jaehwan had read about, getting information from the guards would be like taking candy from a baby for them.

‘Is he the one who informed them about Kim Dokja?’

Jaehwan thought of Carlton and the way he had looked at his companion.

He had been the first guard to believe that Kim Dokja could be the ‘flaw’ they were looking for. If only Jaehwan had killed him the moment he sensed that greed...

‘No. That wouldn’t have done any good.’

Carlton had only suspected Kim Dokja when the item he used failed to work on the man after two attempts. Anyone would have had that suspicion if they saw their item fail against him.

‘...Wait, didn’t those fools say something about their items not working on Dokja?’

That was curious. Jaehwan vaguely remembered the conversation the members of the Red Fox Clan had about [Whisper]. There had been this question, but no deduction that Kim Dokja was the ‘flaw’. Had they simply forgotten?

Or had Jaehwan failed to notice this suspicion?

Jaehwan went over the events of that day in his mind, analyzing everything he could remember. He had deactivated his abilities before the conversation ended. Perhaps they had developed this suspicion afterwards, but hadn’t made it explicit.

‘Whatever. That damn suspicion was going to show up one way or another.’

It wasn’t just the fact that the items failed that would create this suspicion. There was also the blood. Kim Dokja had bled before, when the wall around him had cracked. Anyone who had seen him in that state would have had the same conviction that the man was the ‘flaw’.

Just like now.

Jaehwan looked around the saloon.

His gaze hardened as he read the words of those fools. They were sure that their savior was the ‘flaw’ they were searching for, not caring about his current state. And that... was infuriating.

Their growing fury only calmed down the moment Jaehwan noticed that, whenever his gaze fell on them, the words of hope they had for the discovery of the ‘flaw’ were destroyed by fear. An unknown emotion was filled with pleasure at this.

They feared him.

No one would dare touch Kim Dokja.

‘...It’s useless to finish them off.’

Even if he drew his sword and slaughtered them all, it would be like cutting off the evil’s limbs instead of rooting it out. The information would continue to spread, making the act meaningless.

‘Should I destroy this fortress?’

Jaehwan stroked his chin slowly.

It wouldn’t be difficult. All the ‘strong’ people he had faced there—those the corpses feared—were nothing but weaklings. Nothing there had forced him to use any skill stronger than [Normal Stab].

‘What would his reaction be?’

If Jaehwan left that place in ruins, would Kim Dokja be happy? Relieved to know he was no longer in danger?

Would his lips lift into a smile that reached his eyes?

No... It was more likely that his expression would close up, since all the effort he had made to save those corpses would have been in vain and...

‘Damn it.’

Jaehwan clenched his jaw.

His damned emotions were once again interfering with his judgment.

That would only draw unwanted attention to them, even after they left the <Chaos>. Destroying the fortress was a stupid idea. Yet, Jaehwan didn’t immediately dismiss it.

‘What should I do?’

Kim Dokja was to blame for all this.

These damned out-of-control emotions. These stupid ideas popping into his mind with alarming frequency. Both his presence and absence were causing all of it.

‘I don’t even know if I can kill him now.’

Jaehwan clenched his fists, but couldn’t stop his hands from shaking.

When he had seen Kim Dokja coughing up blood, his mind ignored his principles and focused only on finishing everyone off as quickly as possible. The pain in his heart worsened with every beat. And then, the moment the man started to fall…

His body acted on its own. It was only when he held his companion that Jaehwan understood.

He had become attached to Kim Dokja.

That alone explained the shiver he felt. That alone explained how morbidly familiar and desperate it was for Jaehwan to hold that man in his arms. It was the same feeling he had when holding Seoyul’s lifeless body.

‘What should I do?’

At no point did he think this was the opportunity to kill the nuisance Kim Dokja had become. Quite the opposite. He wanted to save and protect the man at all costs.

‘...I thought it didn’t exist anymore.’

All these actions... these sensations... were not unfamiliar. There was a part of him that acted in exactly this way in the past.

It was a silly, emotional part that had been there since the moment he arrived at the tower. Perhaps it was something he had always had, when he was on Earth. A foolish part that attached easily to the companions he made in the tower and showed loyalty to his friends and his beloved.

Jaehwan thought this part had been destroyed after being left behind. But now he knew the truth.

It was always there. Quiet. Growing stronger with every interaction with Kim Dokja, and probably responsible for creating that attachment, as well as the thoughts that had surfaced in the shadows of his mind over the last few days.

‘I can’t lose another companion.’

‘I can’t fail again.’

Jaehwan cracked a strange smile.

He never thought that part of him would come back. That’s why he didn’t recognize it when it returned and mistakenly called it ‘strange’. In fact, the signs of its return had been clear ever since he met Kim Dokja.

He was the one who decided to ignore those signs.

To ignore the clear weakness that his companion was becoming for him.

“What are you thinking?”

Jaehwan turned around when he heard Kim Dokja’s voice.

However, what he saw was a huge wall of words. There were many cracks in it, where the letters poured out in abundance and disappeared into thin air.

‘That’s not it...’

Jaehwan’s eyes widened.

The letters weren’t simply disappearing. The particles of that world were consuming the letters whenever they touched them, as if devouring them.

It was then that the words on the wall changed, forming a brittle sentence.

「A ’F0#rth &all’ is showing its teeth to you. 」

Jaehwan quickly deactivated his skills.

A haggard Kim Dokja stared back at him. His gaze was questioning.

Unlike other times, there was no sparkle in those eyes. They were dull, opaque. And that caused a tightness in Jaehwan’s chest, which worsened when his eyes dropped a little and focused on the bloodstain at the corners of Kim Dokja’s lips—a morbid contrast against that pale skin.

‘...He could fall again.’

It was clear how exhausted Kim Dokja felt.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

And how unconcerned he was with himself.

“I’m fine.”

Bullshit.

Kim Dokja rolled his eyes slightly.

“I’m serious. Do you think I’m going to die just for that?”

“Yes.”

“Look, I’ve got everything under control. Okay? I knew it would be like this. Just don’t use your damn skills on me and I’ll recover.”

Jaehwan’s eyes widened slightly.

Kim Dokja knew and still risked it? Even more so for mere corpses? How could he treat himself so lightly and carelessly?

Jaehwan’s fists clenched.

“You shouldn’t have done that.”

“I had to know how far I could push my skills.”

“But did it have to be at that moment?”

“Of course. You couldn’t handle it alone.”

Jaehwan narrowed his eyes.

“You didn’t think I could do it?”

Kim Dokja thought he wouldn’t be able to take out all those weak enemies? Why?

‘Did I lose to those weaklings in the future that Kim Dokja saw?

When this thought crossed his mind, Jaehwan’s chest filled with rage.

Him? Losing to enemies like that? What on earth was his future self thinking, to lose to those lousy corpses?

Kim Dokja frowned.

“I know you could handle them very well on your own.” He raised an eyebrow. “But I know you. I know you don’t care about the humans here.”

“That...”

“And you also have your stubbornness. Even against tougher enemies, you refused to draw your sword.”

“...”

Kim Dokja sighed, slowly massaging his temples.

“Everything would have ended quickly and simply if you had used your sword from the start. If I’d left everything to you, the bandits would have used the hostages as shields. Would you hesitate to attack then?”

Jaehwan bit his lips.

No. He wouldn’t hesitate. Those bandits, like the hostages, were nothing more than meaningless corpses. So why care who would be caught by his stab?

One more or one less wouldn’t make a difference.

And that was exactly what the other man was implying.

That Jaehwan wouldn’t save the hostages. That he would kill them if it also meant killing his enemies. Kim Dokja already knew the answer to his question but seemed to want to hear it directly from him.

With some reluctance, Jaehwan replied,

“No... I would keep attacking, without hesitation.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Kim Dokja sighed.

He slowly wiped a hand across his face as he stared off into nothingness. His expression grew distant.

* * *

A growing restlessness gripped Jaehwan.

His fists opened and closed, trying in vain to dispel the strange cold sensation in his hands. It took him a moment to realize—against his will—what was really happening.

He was getting anxious.

‘I’m screwed.’

Faced with Kim Dokja’s prolonged silence, his mind began to conjure possible scenarios of what would happen when his companion looked at him again. From a deep expression of disappointment to anger. Or, worse, a completely neutral and unreadable face.

These scenarios shouldn’t matter.

What Kim Dokja would do next shouldn’t matter.

But thanks to that damn foolish part of him—that damn attachment—it became inevitable. All of Jaehwan’s rational attempts to push it aside failed.

He had become a hostage to his own emotions.

Worst of all were the vague memories he had of the old days, both before and after the Nightmare Tower appeared. Back then, he hadn’t considered his emotions a weakness. After all, they were what drove him forward.

The problem wasn’t those memories themselves. It was how easily his arguments against them were refuted, leaving him with none.

He knew exactly where that side of him was leading, but he wouldn’t accept it.

“Jaehwan.”

Jaehwan blinked.

Kim Dokja had looked at him again. His expression was indecipherable.

"As much as I understand why you don’t want to rely on the power of an item, it will only hinder you."

“How do you...”

Jaehwan’s voice faded.

Kim Dokja knowing the actions he would take because of the future was one thing, but knowing his inner thoughts? Did the Jaehwan of the future trust him so much that he told him everything?

‘Did I even tell you about my past?’

Jaehwan pressed his lips together.

It made sense. Kim Dokja never showed any interest or curiosity about his past because he already knew.

“...That’s a bit unfair, isn’t it?”

Kim Dokja knew everything about him.

While Jaehwan knew almost nothing about him.

A bitter expression crossed his face. But it was only when Kim Dokja gave him a confused look that Jaehwan belatedly realized what he had done. He had spoken his mind.

An awkward silence settled over them.

Kim Dokja continued to stare at him with a raised eyebrow, waiting for a better explanation for the loose statement. When the other remained silent, he sighed and handed him a piece of paper.

“Here, read this.”

It was a contract.

+

[Contract agreement]

1. Kim Dokja (Gap) will sign a contract with Jaehwan (Eul) until the final goal of reaching the “End of the World” is completed.

2. Kim Dokja (Gap) and Jaehwan (Eul) will commit to full cooperation so that the ultimate goal of achieving the “End of the World” is completed.

3. During the contract period, Jaehwan (Eul) will protect Kim Dokja (Gap) until he is able to recover his body.

4. During the contract period, Jaehwan (Eul) will follow Kim Dokja’s (Gap) orders as long as his life is not in danger.

5. During the contract period, Kim Dokja (Gap) may not abandon or betray Jaehwan (Eul). Such an action will be considered a breach of this contract. He will have his body destroyed if he betrays or abandons Jaehwan, before his spirit disappears.

6. During the contract period, Jaehwan (Eul) will not do anything that could jeopardize the plans set by Kim Dokja (Gap) so that the ultimate goal of reaching the “End of the World” is completed.

7. During the contract period, Kim Dokja (Gap) may not tell Jaehwan (Eul) anything about the future that he knows.

8. During the contract period, Kim Dokja (Gap) will grant Jaehwan (Eul) three wishes. These wishes may not conflict with any clause of this contract.

9. During the contract period, Kim Dokja (Gap) and Jaehwan (Eul) will divide the assets they find, and the proportion will be determined by mutual agreement of both parties.

10. This contract will expire when the final goal of reaching the “End of the World” is completed or until one of the parties dies.

+

Jaehwan read the contract carefully to the last item.

He looked at item 5 again with narrowed eyes. There was a strange feeling as he held that piece of paper. This wasn’t just any paper.

“What is this paper?”

“A Spiritual Agreement. Once signed, we must follow what’s written.”

“And if it’s not followed?”

“Whoever breaks it will lose their spirit.”

“Then why did you write that clause?”

Kim Dokja stood next to Jaehwan and looked at the paper.

“Oh, that? It’s a way of showing you how serious I am about this agreement.”

“At the risk of losing your life?”

Kim Dokja gave a strange smile.

“You think I’m going to break that clause?”

Jaehwan pressed his lips together.

As much as he wanted to say ‘no’, he wasn’t entirely sure of that answer. And that’s when he realized. That was exactly why that clause was there.

Kim Dokja knew that Jaehwan didn’t trust him.

“I’m not like your old tower mates, Jaehwan. I won’t betray you, let alone leave you.”

“...”

“And I want this to serve as a guarantee that, no matter what I do, it will always be so that we can get to the end of this world.”

Jaehwan felt strange.

Seeing how serious Kim Dokja was left a bitter taste in his mouth, while his heart seemed to tighten uncomfortably in his chest.

Was that really necessary?

Was having his trust really so important to Kim Dokja?

“I can’t tell you anything about the future I’ve seen, and since there’s no room for you to add any more conditions to this agreement, I’ll fulfill three of your wishes.”

“...Why?”

“It’s a way of rewarding you for-”

“Not that. Why do you want to help me so much?”

Kim Dokja frowned.

“We have the same goals in common.”

“Just for that?”

“Isn’t that enough?”

Jaehwan remained silent.

As much as Kim Dokja tried to hide it behind a neutral expression, the wariness in his eyes was clear, his posture subtly tense. It was disconcerting to see him like this.

“So, because we have the same goals, you want to be my guide.”

“That’s right.”

“And you’ll never betray me or leave me.”

“Exactly.”

“You know that if you die, it’s the same as leaving me. Don’t you?”

Kim Dokja’s gaze sharpened.

“I’m not going to die.”

Jaehwan found himself trapped in the depth of those eyes.

The man’s conviction was almost enough to make him believe it—that just as the particles of this world couldn’t touch him, neither could death. But his gaze drifted downward...

“Humans are weak.”

...until it fixed on the bloodstain again.

Distractedly, Jaehwan raised his hand and wiped the stain from his lips. He only became aware of his action when he felt the other freeze at his touch, but he didn’t withdraw his hand.

Kim Dokja was a human. And humans were weak beings. Helpless. All the fools wandering through <Chaos> were proof of that.

How could his companion dare say those words? He knew Jaehwan’s past. He knew how hollow that statement was.

Kim Dokja brushed his hand away from his face.

“Are you weak?”

“No.”

“Then you’re not a human?”

Jaehwan frowned.

“That’s different.”

“Why would it be? You’re not even ‘alive’.”

Jaehwan bit his lips.

Ever since he discovered that <Chaos> was the world of the dead, he had suspected he was here only as a spirit. It would explain why he wasn’t able to move to the <Great Lands> when he broke out of the tower after clearing the tutorial.

The <Mirage Tree> had categorized him as a ‘dead man’ and sent him here.

It would explain why he no longer felt hunger or fatigue, and why only white particles appeared when he made a small cut on his own hand. But that suspicion was contradicted whenever he remembered the first day he arrived in <Chaos>.

He had bled. He had felt hungry and exhausted.

It was as if he had once been here in the flesh, but now existed only as a spirit.

“I’m not dead.”

Even so, even if he was now just a spirit, he was still different from the fools that roamed this place. He didn’t die to come here.

Kim Dokja, however, ignored this.

“If what I classified as a human was something as simple as being weak, would someone like you even look like a ‘human’ to me? Do you realize your contradiction? You told me that humans are weak, but you’re strong.”

Kim Dokja gave a cold smile.

“Do you think that only you can be the ‘exception’ to this contradiction?”

Jaehwan’s eyes widened.

A weak but extremely cruel and powerful energy began to radiate from Kim Dokja. His whole body tensed as the overwhelming feeling of danger returned.

‘... The power of a demon.’

Jaehwan felt his sword vibrate slightly.

He ignored it, focusing on that intriguing energy. There was something more to it. It wasn’t just the power of a demon. It was something different, something ancient.

Then, a brittle system window appeared before Jaehwan’s eyes.

[The ‘#e&on *!ng 0f S#lv%t!on’ is smiling at you.]

It caught him off guard.

That was the first system window he had seen since arriving at <Chaos>. However, it looked different from those he remembered from his time in the tower.

Kim Dokja absentmindedly wiped the blood from his nose with a trembling hand.

“I’ll be an exception too.”

Jaehwan’s eyes trembled.

“What are you?”

As he activated his skills again, the wall of words reappeared. But Jaehwan paid no attention to it. Even as everything changed, Kim Dokja remained the same.

“I am a human.”

There was no way Jaehwan could deny that statement.

But there was something else about him. Something capable of invoking a system window. And surprisingly, this did not displease Jaehwan. If Kim Dokja was more than just a human, perhaps he wouldn’t share the same fate as his former companions.

Perhaps he really could fulfill those words.

‘... A guide, huh.’

Jaehwan smiled, deactivating his abilities.

It wasn’t like he could stay away from Kim Dokja after what he had seen today, so it wouldn’t be so bad. He would give it the chance his foolish side had been asking for—a chance to convince himself that his weakness could be the strength he needed.

“That’s enough.”

Kim Dokja’s smile became genuine.

“So, do we have a deal?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now, about the division of gains...”

“They’ll all be yours.”

Before Kim Dokja could react, Jaehwan signed the contract.

-

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