Yoo Joonghyuk looked incredibly tense, both in the set of his shoulders and in his expression. Clearly, he wasn't thrilled to have been knocked out in a single punch (that was a fucking understatement), and Kim Dokja got the distinct impression that his days were numbered.
Especially because they'd be reaching the present sooner rather than later, and Kim Dokja was not looking forward to the consequences of his actions.
In particular, that overdue conversation with Yoo Sangah did not look good. She really read him like a book and wasn't dense enough to ignore the implications of his words, and Kim Dokja was not exactly comfortable with that. Maybe dealing with Yoo Joonghyuk's fury would be preferable to a deep, emotional conversation where he would inevitably end up showing his own vulnerability.
[many constellations excitedly remember what happened next.]
Inside the barrier, waves of air pressure whip around Dokja as he rushes towards Joonghyuk with strength that far surpasses that of a human's. Joonghyuk quickly tries to step back as he invests 10,000 coins into Agility in order to strike with his blade before Dokja can reach him. Unfortunately for him, Dokja seems to have expected this as he ducks under the attack.
Joonghyuk experiences a brief moment of surprise as Dokja's fist rapidly approaches his chin in a powerful uppercut. As Dokja's attack makes contact, there's so much force involved that it feels almost like the air around his fist distorts. The deafening crack of fist hitting bone echoes throughout the barrier as Joonghyuk's body is sent ragdolling and ricocheting around the battlefield.
The dokkaebi watches in interest as he adjusts his glasses, absently noting that this was an unexpected development. As the dust clears, Dokja lowers his fist, and he has an incredibly stunned and worried expression on his face. The protagonist lays prone on the ground, unmoving. Dokja approaches him with caution, nervously calling out the man's name as he frets about having hit him too hard and the worrying possibility that he could have killed Joonghyuk.
"Ten thousand…" Lee Hyunsung muttered, sounding faint. Clearly the amount of coins being casually tossed around in this scenario were a bit much for him to conceptualize.
Lee Jihye's eyes widened as she watched the two men fight on the screen before she turned to look at Kim Dokja with something almost like awe in her expression. "Ahjussi, I'm impressed you managed to dodge that."
Hey, what was that supposed to mean? He wasn't that bad at fighting, was he? Sure, his posture apparently sucked, and he needed to practice more, but he could swing a sword around! Wasn't that all that was necessary most of the time anyway?
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' laughs at the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
As soon as he watched himself punch Yoo Joonghyuk, however, Kim Dokja winced. He… hadn't expected it to be that bad. God, it looked like bad video game physics. The irony.
Yoo Mia shot Kim Dokja the most betrayed expression he had ever seen her make, and he felt just a teeny bit bad about it. But only a little bit, because he really had needed to make sure that the protagonist couldn't sit on that throne no matter what.
"Joonghyuk-ah, I really am sorry about that…" Kim Dokja said weakly, shooting nervous glances at the protagonist. "I didn't think that would happen."
He had honestly expected Yoo Joonghyuk to have invested some coins into Stamina, at the very least. Apparently, he hadn't.
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes narrowed. "You'd better have a good reason for that, Kim Dokja."
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' believes that the incarnation 'kim dokja' had a plan.]
Thankfully, he did.
Lifting Joonghyuk up by the collar of his jacket reveals that the man has his eyes open and he's scowling furiously at Dokja. When he doesn't respond, Dokja realizes that he must be unconscious with his eyes open. Dokja thinks for a moment before gently scolding Joonghyuk for constantly threatening to kill him, and even going so far as to claim that Joonghyuk should have been nicer to him as he lightly slaps the protagonist's face. No matter which way you look at it, Joonghyuk can no longer fight.
Dokja gently rolls Joonghyuk over onto his back, turning his head to the side and resting one of the man's arms on his chest before standing and stretching as it's announced that Dokja won. His temporary stats are reset, and Dokja now has access to his skills and stigmas again. The barrier disperses as comments from constellations come in, both congratulatory and scorning.
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is satisfied with the ending.]
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' praises your lurker strategy.]
"Oh my god, you hit him so hard he passed out with his eyes open," Jung Heewon exclaimed in shock as she stared at the screen.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is chuckling in amusement.]
Kim Dokja winced again. This was so awkward to watch, and both Yoo siblings were staring at him so intently that he could barely handle it. At least Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung were amusing themselves, even if Lee Jihye looked gobsmacked that Kim Dokja had managed to do that.
When the Kim Dokja on the screen slapped Yoo Joonghyuk's face, Han Sooyoung let out a snort. Of course she would find that funny—she wasn't the one in danger here. Kim Dokja really didn't want to know what the protagonist would do to him in return for that on top of his revenge for the punch.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is tearing out his hair in shock.]
Yoo Sangah shot Kim Dokja an awkward glance. "Dokja-ssi… you skipped the first aid training, didn't you?"
Huh? What was she talking about… oh. Right. Back at Minosoft, one of the higher-ups had decided that it would look impressive to senior management if everyone did a first aid course at work for some reason. Seriously, the worst injuries anyone could have gotten at that job was a papercut or a repetitive strain injury from typing too much. Kim Dokja had managed to weasel his way out of doing it thanks to being basically invisible at work and maybe faking being sick.
In his defense, he had spent that entire day curled up in bed with his phone, enjoying the newest chapter of TWSA and a few other recently-updated webnovels. Also, he had far too much practice with bandaging injuries already; how much more could there really be to learn?
Kim Dokja laughed awkwardly. "... Possibly."
"Dokja-ssi, you should never put an unconscious person on their back!" Yoo Sangah scolded. "Joonghyuk-ssi could have choked!"
What!? Was it that serious?
Oh god, had he almost accidentally killed Yoo Joonghyuk in more ways than one?
When he whipped his head around to look at the protagonist anxiously, Kim Dokja was surprised to see Yoo Joonghyuk staring at the screen intently instead of staring at him.
"... Joonghyuk-ah?" Kim Dokja asked hesitantly. "What's wrong?"
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes narrowed further. "Lurker strategy… why would a constellation make a reference like that?"
A reference like what? Kim Dokja had no idea what he was talking about.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is looking at the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
Glancing over at him, the protagonist gave him a quick once-over before snorting. "That constellation isn't wrong, though."
Seriously, what did it mean??
The dokkaebi calls out to all the incarnations in Seoul as he declares that there's a new master of the 'Absolute Throne'. Around Dokja, people mutter about the outcome from a distance—a few not even realizing that it was Dokja who won, writing him off entirely.
Dokja interrupts the dokkaebi's celebration, stating that he hasn't sat down yet, so it's too early to make that declaration. The dokkaebi brushes him off, stating that it doesn't matter since he's about to anyway.
Dokja walks towards the glittering and ornate golden throne as the dokkaebi tells him that he can do anything he wants as long as he sits on the throne, thereby gaining the power to rule over all others. Unlike the greedy constellations and incarnations nearby, Dokja seems much more unimpressed by this idea, calling it too good to be true. The dokkaebi tries to sell it once more as Dokja questions the 'Probability Constraints' of it all.
Dokja smirks and continues as the dokkaebi falls silent. "You're a natural liar. Is it because you're a dokkaebi? Will the Bureau really not say anything if you continue to commit fraud like this?"
The dokkaebi glares at Dokja, obviously extremely ticked off, before changing the topic back to ordering Dokja to sit on the throne, going so far as to threaten that he'll destroy it if Dokja doesn't. His face contorts further in fury as Dokja dismissively tells him to go right ahead and do so because he doesn't care.
Dokja turns away from the throne and determinedly addresses all those standing around. "I refuse to sit on the 'Absolute Throne'."
"There has to be a catch, right?" Jung Heewon asked, shooting Kim Dokja a curious glance. "You would have taken it if there wasn't."
Kim Dokja grinned. "Of course there was. Rule of thumb: never trust the Star Stream."
Yoo Joonghyuk raised a brow at him for a moment before huffing out something that could have maybe been a laugh. "Wise words."
Well, of course he would think so. It was practically his motto, after all.
[many constellations are astounded by the audacity of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
[several constellations think that the incarnation 'kim dokja' is greedy for not giving up the throne if he didn't want it.]
And let someone else take it? No chance in hell.
Han Sooyoung stared at him blankly for a moment, trying to parse something from his expression. She frowned before looking back up at the screen, and he had no idea if she had found what she was looking for or not.
Lightning crackles overhead as it begins to rain, the droplets falling over those silently watching as well as the bodies lying on the street, while Dokja stares ahead with a dark and determined look.
The lighting reflects the dokkaebi's fury, enveloping him in shadow with every strike and accentuating his glowing red eyes. Dokja blandly repeats his words as though teaching a child, angering the dokkaebi further as he spits out that Dokja should just sit on the throne because they'll never pass the Fifth Scenario without it.
This incites people in the crowd to start yelling at him to sit on the throne or telling him to hand it over if he won't.
[The Throne can give you all you want and more. Not only will your 'Fable' be born once you are seated, but the rank of your constellation sponsor will also increase.] The veins on the dokkaebi's face bulge as his glasses glint from the sizzling lightning. [Just as a reminder, I'm not a low-grade dokkaebi. Don't assume any of your crude tricks will work on me.]
Just like what the dokkaebi said, if the 'Absolute Throne' is not obtained, clearing the 'Fifth Scenario' becomes difficult. But I also know what the dokkaebi left unsaid.
'If I use the 'Absolute Throne' even once…' Dokja thinks intently as he observes the throne, 'I will never reach the end of the scenarios.'
"Is it really impossible to pass the fifth scenario without the throne?" Lee Gilyoung asked curiously. "I believe in you though, hyung."
Kim Dokja ruffled the boy's hair. "The dokkaebi is lying. It's a bit harder to pass the fifth scenario without the throne, but it's not impossible—after all, impossible scenarios aren't any fun for the constellations."
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' agrees with the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Han Sooyoung's gaze snapped to him. "What the fuck was that last line supposed to mean?"
She hadn't read far enough to know the truth about the throne, after all. No wonder she had tried going for it.
Kim Dokja hummed for a moment. "Think of it like a deal with the devil. You get what you want temporarily, but your soul is forfeit in the end."
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is gasping in surprise.]
No one—and Kim Dokja meant that—could make it out of a contract with an Outer God unscathed. Not even Yoo Joonghyuk had, after all.
Dokja looks down at Joonghyuk's unconscious form as he mentally remarks that the man only learned of this in his 41st regression. People yell at Dokja, interrupting him and asking why he doesn't want to be a King. Dokja turns the question back at them, asking why they would want him as their King when he could easily just kill them all as soon as he sits on it. He reminds everyone that they aren't living in kingdoms, asking why everyone is already acting like subjects.
"I don't want to become the king who has to represent unsightly human beings like you. That's why I'll never claim the 'Absolute Throne'." He shifts his gaze from the shocked observers to the sky. The screen turns a blue tint, and the label 'BI-762' appears in the corner as Dokja speaks through the stream to the constellations, stating that he doesn't want any of them as his sponsor either.
Dokja then settles into a fighting stance as he stands in front of the steps to the throne, firmly declaring that he won't allow anyone else to claim it either. As the dokkaebi starts running out of patience and angrily advises Dokja to stop, Dokja yells at the gathered incarnations, asking how long people will let themselves be strung along by the dokkaebis in the scenarios, and if they even understand the implications of sitting on the throne.
"My 41st…" Yoo Joonghyuk mumbled, a frown on his face. He seemed disappointed that it had taken him that long to realize that the throne itself was a trap, but he wouldn't have had any reason to think so in the earlier scenarios. It only became more apparent in the later ones, and most of his early regressions hadn't even made it that far.
Shin Yoosung shuddered. "Ahjussi, you wouldn't really just kill everyone, would you?"
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is waiting for the answer of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
"I wouldn't," Kim Dokja reassured her. Of course, it was the truth, but it wasn't because he cared about any of them. It would be just to make sure he kept [King of No Killing].
Still, the girl seemed satisfied with that half-answer, and smiled as she shuffled in closer to him.
[many constellations are frustrated by the lack of desire to select a sponsor.]
He couldn't select anyone if he wanted to succeed in his plans. Of course, if he absolutely had to pick someone, Prisoner of the Golden Headband was his top choice. In second… Honestly, Kim Dokja was getting curious enough about Secretive Plotter to consider it just to see what kind of stigma the constellation could provide. Clearly, he wasn't weak, and a unique stigma might provide some kind of clue to his identity.
Still, Kim Dokja smiled slyly up at the starry ceiling. They wouldn't have a damn clue what he was aiming for until it was too late to stop it.
He then addresses the constellations, asking how long they'll reduce this place to a battlefield of the past and acknowledges the effort needed to become a Historical-Grade constellation as well as the further effort required to become a Fable-Grade. He then demands to know how long they will selfishly play with their country's descendants before they feel satisfied.
Chastised, many constellations fall silent.
The dokkaebi grits his teeth as he snaps his fingers, angrily stating that he's at the end of his tolerance for Dokja. A sub scenario appears, dictating that anyone who beats Dokja can seize the throne for themselves. Dokja remarks that he knew it would turn out this way as people savagely look at him with greed after reading the window's contents.
A figure darts through the crowd, dashing to a stop in front of Dokja as Heewon yells that they'll have to go through her first. She growls angrily as Dokja looks surprised behind her. The former prophets approach as well and half-compliment Dokja as Sungkook (who has still neglected to find pants) remarks that Dokja is crazier than Joonghyuk. Sangah then comes up on his other side and states her belief that there are still values people shouldn't forget, regardless of the state of the world. Jiwon and Sangkyung approach through the crowd as well. They surprise Heewon when, instead of attacking, they stand beside her and their forces draw their weapons towards the crowd.
Jiwon states that she will aid Dokja this time while Sangkyung states that he's acting based on what he viewed when he previously read Dokja. Dokja looks shocked as the dokkaebi angrily goads the other incarnations into action with an uncharacteristic scream, sounding more and more like a petty dictator who hasn't gotten his way.
[many constellations fall silent.]
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is smiling at the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
"Ahjussi, they started a scenario to try and kill you!?" Lee Jihye exclaimed in worry. "How did you manage that!?"
Kim Dokja shot Jung Heewon a grateful glance. "I had an excellent ally."
Jung Heewon grinned widely. "It wasn't just me, you know. The others helped too"
Well, even though the other Kings had assisted, she was still the only one to step forward when he had no one.
"Still, I'm grateful to everyone," Kim Dokja replied diplomatically. Jung Heewon just laughed slightly as she exchanged a glance with Yoo Sangah. Lee Gilyoung just pouted, upset that he had been unconscious and therefore unable to help out too.
"Unnie, you're so cool!" Shin Yoosung exclaimed with stars in her eyes as she stared at the older woman in awe.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is praising the incarnation 'jung heewon' for her good deed.]
Lee Hyunsung, who may or may not be tearing up, looked over at Jung Heewon with admiration. He was so far gone, wasn't he?
The area around the throne quickly becomes a battlefield as Heewon asks Dokja what they should do next. Dokja asks her to buy him time as he goes to destroy the 'Throne'. One of the men in the crowd realises that he has the
Light surrounds the
"I will summon a constellation," Dokja says firmly, and as he does, the world seems to come to a halt. The rain stalls, the droplets suspended in midair.
"I call…" Dokja side-eyes the dokkaebi before turning his head fully towards him, "the 'Seven Stars of the Big Dipper'."
A close up of the dokkaebi's face is shown on the screen, contorted and scrunched as his eyes are blown wide in anger and his teeth are gritted hard, like a petulant and spoiled child who hasn't gotten their way for the first time.
Above them, the stars of the Big Dipper brighten and outline the constellation as [Star Navigation] begins.
"I can't believe you did this," Han Sooyoung griped. "No wonder you stole my sword."
Yoo Joonghyuk looked slightly confused, and that made sense. After all, he had only figured out the special use of the
"That dokkaebi is so stupid," Yoo Mia huffed. "He's worse than dumb kids."
Kim Dokja couldn't help but try to suppress a laugh as he pretended to cough into his sleeve. He couldn't give her too much of an ego boost—Yoo Mia's sass was too powerful as it was.
[many constellations are eagerly awaiting the outcome of this action.]
It had absolutely been worth it, even if it had hurt like hell. Still, they were one step closer to their present, and Kim Dokja shuddered just thinking about it. After all, for all of them, this had happened maybe a day or two ago now, if they included the time they had been stuck in this room. There was nothing he could do to stop it, though, so he took a deep breath and braced himself for the moment he would shatter the throne.