"Kim Dokja, do not underestimate that demon," Yoo Joonghyuk said suddenly, glancing over at him.
Kim Dokja already knew that, and he hadn't been planning on doing anything that foolish. There was no way that he could face off against Reinheit just yet, not even as a constellation. The demon had literal centuries on him, after all, and he had the people's goodwill on his side too.
[several constellations are wondering what the incarnation 'kim dokja' will do.]
Looking at Reinheit's stats after opening his Character Profile, Dokja notices that they've surpassed the standard limit of the scenario as well as noticing how high his proficiencies are, with most being maxed out. Side-eyeing the demon, Dokja asks why Reinheit called for him.
Walking over to the short fence, Reinheit explains that it was out of curiosity due to the rumors surrounding Dokja, and because he needs to assess if he's a threat. Dokja snorts that he's being quite humble for a demon marquis. Looking at the demon who has exposed his back to him, Dokja wonders if he'd be able to ambush and kill Reinheit for a moment. He ultimately decides against it since this Paradise would fall if Reinheit dies, and since Dokja can't guarantee victory either.
As the setting sun illuminates the roofs of the town, Reinheit starts to talk about how 'Dark Castle' was his 34th Scenario and that when he first arrived 800 years ago, there was nothing here but open plains and the rankings. The scene turns dark and bloodied, and weapons are scattered across a field as the demon explains how 'rankings' and bloodshed dominated the incarnations. The people who came here weren't demons to begin with, but they evolved into demons over time.
"Well fuck," Han Sooyoung grumbled as she looked over Reinheit's stats. "You dumped in a shitload of coins, but you're not going to beat him in stats alone."
And that was one of the things that made him so dangerous. He had nothing but time in this place, and he was charismatic on top of all that too. People flocked to him, and they'd inevitably come to his defense if anything went wrong here.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is grumbling that talking is boring.]
"Assessing if you're a threat…" Jung Heewon muttered, glancing over at Kim Dokja. "Well, are you?"
Was he a threat? That was a good question. Kim Dokja shrugged. "I don't think I am for the moment."
Besides, if he planned things right, then he likely wouldn't have to be the one fighting Reinheit in the end anyway.
Lee Hyunsung let out a sigh of relief as Kim Dokja decided against attacking the demon in an attempted ambush. "Thank goodness. It would be really bad if you tried and failed, Dokja-ssi."
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is praising the caution of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
As Reinheit began to speak, Lee Seolhwa gasped. "That sounds horrible… I can't imagine arriving in this place and there being nothing but bloodshed. He had been further into his scenarios, too…"
[many constellations are dismayed that the present is so peaceful.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is mourning the fallen incarnations.]
Shin Yoosung shuddered, pressing herself closer to Kim Dokja's side. "They all became demons…?"
Kim Dokja nodded. "People can turn into demons, but they can never turn back. Don't worry, Yoosung-ah. I'll never let that happen to any of you."
Very few things could drive someone to actually choose turning into a demon, so most of those transformations were unwilling. Regardless, just like how some incarnations had transformed because of their actions during the scenarios, there were always conditions that could be fulfilled to end up as a demon involuntarily.
Smiling, he turns back to Dokja. "Thus, I created Paradise. The dokkaebi may call this plain the 'Graveyard of Scenarios', but not me."
His face is serene and his voice full of light as he explains how this barren wasteland drenched in blood has the chance to bloom anew, full of life.
If I hadn't read the original novel, I would have been awed by his conviction.
As Dokja looks at Reinheit with disdain, the image turns black as it focuses on the demon leaning over the delicate flower.
The Purest Evil
That's what Yoo Joonghyuk called Reinheit in the novel.
"It's hard to believe that he's truly evil," Yoo Sangah said softly, her gaze sad. "It seems like he really wants to create a safe haven here."
She was right, and that's what made him so difficult to overcome. Unlike other members of the 10 evils or enemies that Yoo Joonghyuk had faced in TWSA, Reinheit's motivations were genuinely good. He didn't want to be evil, even though he would take drastic measures if needed.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' dislikes stagnancy.]
[a few constellations are wondering if the demon 'reinheit von djerba' has any other hobbies.]
"Does he always talk about everything like he's gardening?" Lee Gilyoung wondered with a scowl. "And he's stupid if he thinks that he's gonna convince you of anything, hyung."
To be fair, Reinheit had no way of knowing that Kim Dokja had knowledge of what his motivations were. He also had no idea that none of his honeyed words would work on someone who already knew the truth of Paradise's dark secrets.
Jung Heewon looked away awkwardly. "This is hard to watch…"
Ah, she must be realizing that she had fallen for those very same words—or at least, similar ones. It wasn't something to be ashamed of, in Kim Dokja's opinion.
"Heewon-ssi, it's fine, really," Kim Dokja reassured her with a small smile. "I even said it myself—I might have fallen for it too if I didn't already know the truth."
She still seemed conflicted, but at least Lee Hyunsung reaching out to her seemed to help. Kim Dokja was glad that they could rely on each other like that, and it was good that Lee Hyunsung was so earnest too. Jung Heewon wouldn't ever think that he wasn't being genuine.
Unexpectedly, Yoo Joonghyuk nodded before glancing down for a second. "In my past life, even I worked with him."
Yoo Mia's eyes went wide as she looked up at her brother in shock. "Really? How did that happen, oppa?"
He tensed up slightly as he looked ahead, his lips pursing somewhat. "I thought our goals were aligned. I was wrong."
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is feeling pity for the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is scoffing at the nickname of the demon 'reinheit von djerba'.]
Kim Dokja sighed as he remembered exactly when Yoo Joonghyuk had given Reinheit that name, and he remembered being awed when he had read it for the first time. Of course, the protagonist's naming sense was a bit abnormal, but somehow it always managed to sound cool.
Absently, he wondered if he really should just let Yoo Joonghyuk name the nebula that would apparently exist in the future after all. He'd probably come up with a really good name.
Speaking solemnly, Reinheit implores Dokja to give up on the idea of moving to the next scenario since no one has been able to find the clear conditions thus far, regardless of their strength. Sounding empathetic, the demon explains that he doesn't want to see Dokja become desperate and frustrated like those before who had been unable to clear Dark Castle. Entirely unconvinced by his words, Dokja asks what he actually wants.
"Please protect Paradise with me," Reinheit states, holding out a hand to Dokja. Dokja's eyes narrow as he stays silent. In between them, the flower begins to shrivel as its fruit prepares to fall and roll down the hill. Dokja already knows that it will inevitably roll in front of a guard who won't bother to pick it up, just like how they don't bother removing the rotten parts of Paradise. After all, as Dokja glances over, he sees that the guards are too busy dragging the thief from earlier to a gated door, ignoring his groans and cries.
Just like how perpetual motion cannot exist, 'Paradise' doesn't exist without sacrifices. I knew this far too well.
Lee Jihye scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "He seriously wants ahjussi to abandon the next scenario? That's not gonna happen."
Of course it wouldn't. Kim Dokja was more than well aware of what that scenario entailed, as well as how to clear it. Yoo Joonghyuk had managed to do it over and over in TWSA, so while it was a hard scenario for this level, it was child's play compared to what would come later. There was no way that he'd become 'desperate and frustrated' the way that Reinheit thought that he would.
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is confused by the motivations of the demon 'reinheit von djerba'.]
"Joonghyuk-ssi, is that how he drew you in last time?" Lee Seolhwa wondered, watching as Reinheit tried to convince Kim Dokja to protect this peaceful city with him.
Tersely, Yoo Joonghyuk nodded. "It was."
Yoo Joonghyuk had wanted to do something good, and Kim Dokja had remembered that from a flashback in the novel. It had been in Yoo Joonghyuk's first regression, so he was far more trusting and optimistic. Even though it was before he had the knowledge from 41st Shin Yoosung carrying him forward, he had assumed that everything would go smoothly now that he had a powerful ally.
It hadn't—nothing could ever be that easy for Yoo Joonghyuk, after all—but the experience of trying to help Reinheit and ultimately realizing that a place like Paradise was nothing more than a nightmare in disguise had helped to shape him into the person he was now. There was a reason he was seemingly avoiding the city entirely this time around.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is feeling conflicted.]
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is narrowing her eyes at the demon 'reinheit von djerba'.]
Kim Dokja let out a slow exhale as the fruit began to rot, and he closed his eyes for a moment. He knew what that meant, and he hated it. This place was disgusting, right down to the roots.
Yoo Sangah shuddered involuntarily. "I don't like this…"
She was always good at picking up on symbolism, and as far as that went, this was quite blatant. Paradise was as rotten as the fruit, even if it still continued running.
As the thief got dragged towards the dungeons, Han Sooyoung narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, something about this fucking reeks."
Jung Heewon looked even more conflicted, likely believing that she should have noticed something, but Kim Dokja knew that she was just being hard on herself for no reason.
"You're only noticing because I already know what to look for," Kim Dokja admitted after a moment. "To someone who doesn't even think that there's a reason for suspicion in the first place, none of the clues will seem to add up. All of these things wouldn't even be on their radar to begin with."
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is agreeing with the words of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
"Ahjussi, is something bad going to happen to that man?" Shin Yoosung whispered nervously, glancing up at him as she did. "The screen showed him getting dragged away and then you said something about sacrifices…"
Lee Jihye gasped dramatically. "Oh my god, is there some kind of secret evil cult that's doing blood sacrifices under the city!?"
… What?
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is very interested in this turn of events.]
[several constellations are wondering if the incarnation 'lee jihye' is right.]
Lee Gilyoung tugged on Kim Dokja's sleeve, and when he looked down, the kid looked somewhat smug as he held back a giggle. "So is that where ahjumma is?"
Kim Dokja hoped not because that wouldn't bode well for her. But still… "Gilyoung-ah, why do you think she'd be there?"
Lee Gilyoung's smile dropped off his face as he tilted his head in confusion. "Well, if noona is right, then why wouldn't ahjumma go to where the cult is?"
Han Sooyoung gasped in affront, "Why the fuck does everyone decide to connect every cult thing to me!?"
"Well, you did start two of them…" Lee Hyunsung muttered, and Kim Dokja couldn't hold back his snickers anymore. This was amazing, even though they were so wrong about all of it.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is wondering if cults are really that cool.]
They were definitely lame, no matter what the chuuni dragon thought.
As the men drag the thief in, the clang of the door closing reverberates with Dokja's narration. When the man finally falls silent, the ground trembles for a bit—almost sounding like the cry of a terrible monster—before stopping, only increasing Dokja's disgust. Looking up at the demon, Dokja spits out his answer in impatience. "Reinheit, there is no 'Paradise', just like how 'perpetual motion' cannot exist. Give me the next scenario."
Reinheit's eyes widen as Dokja explains that he knows the demon found it 700 years ago, as well as the fact that he and a few others challenged—and failed—that scenario. The field of weapons returns, but this time, Reinheit's blood-spattered figure stands alone.
His gaze darkening, Dokja tells the demon not to believe that his 'deal' with the dokkaebi will last since Paradise is too peaceful for the Star Stream. Though Reinheit claims to have created this place to help people find life in the scenarios, Dokja knows the truth—this Paradise is just a refuge for an impossible scenario. Letting go of his kind facade, Reinheit's eyes glow an eerie yellow as he demands to know what else Dokja knows. Not afraid, Dokja states that he may know even more than the demon himself.
"Reinheit. You will die, and Paradise will fall."
The door slammed shut and everything seemed normal for a moment before the ground shook. At that, Kim Dokja couldn't ignore the many panicked glances being exchanged across the room. Of course, the only ones who truly knew everything that was going on were him and Yoo Joonghyuk, and he just looked almost sorrowful.
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is thinking that he wants another drink.]
Unsurprising, but anyway. Kim Dokja wasn't just going to put up with this bullshit, and he was glad that his future self was also getting fed up with everything. He wanted to get the next scenario and leave this damned place as soon as possible. There was no reason to waste too much time in this doomed city.
"He had the next scenario the whole time, and he just chose not to let anyone challenge it?" Yoo Sangah wondered in surprise. Clearly, she couldn't imagine doing something like that for any reason, and that just proved that she was a good person.
"Is the 10th scenario really that difficult? Joonghyuk-ssi has already cleared it before, and yet a demon who had been there for a hundred years wasn't able to," Lee Seolhwa wondered with a frown. "Was he simply not as strong back then, or was there some other kind of problem?"
Well, the first issue was that Reinheit wasn't the protagonist. He'd never be able to overcome those insurmountable odds on his own.
[many constellations are shocked by the actions of the demon 'reinheit von djerba'.]
Han Sooyoung grimaced. "And that fucker has a deal with the dokkaebi too? What the fuck?"
It was a very unpleasant one, so that was a pretty accurate response, actually.
"This place is for people who want to give up," Yoo Joonghyuk said stiffly, seemingly agreeing with Kim Dokja's future self. "The truly strong will not stay for more than a week."
Kim Dokja had no doubts that Jung Heewon would come to understand this place's dark secrets, and that she would stand against injustice. That was just the kind of person she was. In the end, Reinheit's downfall was inevitable, and Kim Dokja hoped that she'd help lead that charge.
[constellations who like to conquer are very curious about the fall of 'paradise'.]
Heewon notices Dokja when he walks back down the hill towards her, and from her expression, Dokja can tell she's undecided.
She's probably contemplating between her loyalty to me and the comfort given by Paradise.
Leaving the house on the hill behind, he invites her to go shopping with a smile on his face. In the yard, Reinheit watches them go with a frown, thinking that Dokja is a brat and that he's not even a constellation yet. Just as he's thinking of how the Demon Kings could devour a fledgling constellation like him, an indirect from 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' tells Reinheit to heed Dokja's words. Seeing that the 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon'—the most famous constellation among the Absolute Evil system who even the Demon Kings avoid—is backing Dokja, Reinheit's expression twists as he grits his teeth.
Internally, Reinheit thinks that Paradise will never fall and that he hasn't lost in 700 years, as well as the fact that Dokja doesn't understand just how terrible the stories of Dark Castle truly are. Behind him, the flower's petals close as all the saturation is sucked out of the scene, turning everything grey. The petals curl up into an ominous rotting fruit which drops to the ground, making an unsettling sound that reverberates throughout the room.
"Huh? It's over just like that?" Lee Hyunsung wondered in confusion, tilting his head to the side like a baffled puppy.
Kim Dokja desperately hoped that he had gotten the last word in all of that, but at least he was reuniting with Jung Heewon. She'd probably feel conflicted for a while, but he had the feeling that she'd find her conviction even stronger than before.
[the constellation 'scribe of heaven' is narrowing his eyes at the demon 'reinheit von djerba'.]
Thinking that he'd get devoured by the Demon Kings so easily… well, it wasn't wrong. At this point in time, Kim Dokja would never be able to stand against beings of their status, even as a constellation. In the future, though, he planned to far surpass them if he could.
"No stupid Demon Kings are gonna be eating hyung on my watch," Lee Gilyoung hissed before Kim Dokja could reassure him that Reinheit didn't mean that he'd literally get eaten.
[a constellation who likes grasshoppers is amused by the thoughts of the demon 'reinheit von djerba'.]
To Kim Dokja's surprise, the Abyssal Black Flame Dragon decided to send the demon a message to warn him. Curious that he decided to do that, but maybe he was genuinely trying to do something nice for once.
"Wait a goddamn second," Han Sooyoung hissed, shooting a glare up at the ceiling. "If the Demon Kings are so afraid of you, why the fuck do I still have to be worried about that shitty curse, huh!?"
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is telling the incarnation 'han sooyoung' that he can't change what already happened.]
"Just don't get cursed in our future, ahjumma. It's simple," Yoo Mia told her bluntly, and Han Sooyoung threw her hands up into the air in exasperation.
Kim Dokja couldn't care about that, though. Reinheit didn't have any clue about how many stories Kim Dokja knew, as well as how many of them were exponentially worse than anything that could be created in this scenario. Yoo Joonghyuk's life and story was a series of unavoidable tragedies, after all. Though the Dark Castle had ended in a tragedy in its own right in one or two of Yoo Joonghyuk's regressions, Kim Dokja had faith that this round wouldn't be one of them.
As the fruit fell, though, Kim Dokja let out a breath. And so the cycle began once again, it seemed. Paradise's horrifying reality would remain hidden for another day, but it would soon come to light.
The screen goes dark before it brightens back up to show Dokja and Heewon in the night market. As they start to chat using cheesy small talk about their lives before the scenarios, including joking about how those kinds of questions aren't even the kinds one would ask on blind dates. When Heewon asks if he has even been on a blind date before, he ignores the question, but she remarks that he probably hasn't because he seems like the type of person who would want a fateful meeting. Just as she suspected, Dokja has never been on a blind date.
As they continue walking, Heewon remarks that they've never had the chance to talk casually about 'before'. She then frowns, thinking how the old Seoul won't exist anymore, asking why they should bother continuing to complete scenarios if there is nothing they know to return to.
After a moment of silence, Dokja suddenly starts commenting on Heewon's proficiency with the blade, how she can keep calm, how perceptive she is, and how she truly cares for them as companions. "Does this show that I know a bit about Jung Heewon-ssi?"
"Even if this place won't last for much longer, at least you can enjoy the peace for now," Lee Seolhwa reasoned. "Hopefully you can find something good at the market."
True, it was a good opportunity to get materials and supplies that might be hard to come by at a reasonable price otherwise. As convenient as the dokkaebi bag was, it always came with prices so exorbitant that it was basically a ripoff.
As the two of them began talking about things they never knew about each other from before the scenarios, Lee Hyunsung sighed in disappointment. "Ah… we never did discuss those things…"
Yoo Sangah giggled slightly and shook her head. "We were preoccupied with other things, but I don't think it's bad to have times like this where we can learn more about each other."
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is pleased to see the incarnations relaxing.]
As soon as Jung Heewon wondered if Kim Dokja had ever been on a blind date, he smiled awkwardly. Of course he had never been on a blind date. He never had any reason to go on one in the first place. He was a broke salaryman whose only hobby was reading webnovels; nobody would want that.
"There's no way that ahjussi has gone on a blind date before," Yoo Mia said with a glance in his direction. "He's too awkward."
Just because something is true doesn't mean that you have to say it…
[the constellation 'bald leader of the peasant's army' is curious about the idea of the incarnation 'jung heewon'.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is eagerly declaring that the incarnation 'kim dokja' was waiting for a fateful meeting with his companion.]
A fateful meeting, huh? Though Uriel was probably thinking about their first meeting on the bridge, Kim Dokja's mind went to a time long ago. Had it been fate that had moved his hand that day and had urged him to type those specific words into the Naver search bar? Maybe it was just a coincidence, but that single decision had led him to TWSA. That web novel and its protagonist had saved his life over and over as he grew up alone.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if that was true. Since he was the only reader after a certain point, maybe it wasn't wrong to imagine that the story was written for him specifically.
"That's so true, Uriel-unnie!" Lee Jihye cheered with sparkles in her eyes, drawing him out of his thoughts. For a second, he thought he noticed Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze on him, but when he looked over, the protagonist was staring at the screen. He must have been imagining it.
Han Sooyoung rolled her eyes. "Only that asshole would find love at first strangle, or some bullshit like that."
… what kind of person did she think he was?
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is adamant that the incarnation 'kim dokja' could do better.]
"Even if there is nothing to return to, all you can do is face towards the future," Yoo Joonghyuk stated, completely ignoring the Secretive Plotter's message and all the other bullshit. Kim Dokja should have known that he wouldn't even pay attention to any of it in the first place. Why would Yoo Joonghyuk consider that a fated meeting anyway?
"I guess so," Jung Heewon admitted with a shrug. "But what is Dokja-ssi even talking about?"
Kim Dokja just laughed awkwardly. "I might not be great at compliments, Heewon-ssi, but I didn't think I was that bad."
Her eyes widen briefly before she unconsciously rubs her arm while stating in a self-deprecating way that she's not like that. Dokja tells her that this is the Heewon he's seen, prompting her to jokingly respond that he'd do fine on those dates. Not letting her change the tone of the conversation back to something comedic, Dokja continues to state that this is what he's seen of her because they continued participating in the scenarios, and that this is why he believes they should keep moving forwards.
There's nowhere for us to return to anymore, but the story is still continuing.
Scratching the back of her head, Heewon states that she doesn't understand, prompting Dokja to tell her that he means that Heewon should act as she wants. As he stares this, he pulls an item from his inventory—a commission that only just arrived. It cost 100,000 coins, but it's an item that could only be used by the three original Judges of TWSA.
Crafted from the bones of the fire dragon, the heart of a demon, and the cores of some monsters, it was an item that only Jung Heewon could use in the world.
As she draws the beautifully engraved
"Oh," Jung Heewon said in shock, sounding somewhat sheepish, "well, I just wasn't expecting it, I guess."
Fair enough, it was kind of out of nowhere.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is reassuring her incarnation that she's awesome.]
"Yeah, unnie," Shin Yoosung said suddenly, "ahjussi is right! You're great, and we're lucky to know you."
Jung Heewon flushed and glanced away. "Okay, okay, I get it! Flatterer…"
Huh, would he actually do half-decently on a blind date after all? Well, maybe now, but the Kim Dokja before the apocalypse would never have even dreamed of doing something like that. He was too busy trudging through life and keeping up with the latest TWSA updates to really care either.
"We only met through the scenarios, so everything I've seen was related to how you've handled them," Kim Dokja reminded her. "I'm sure my future self wants to keep trusting you to have his back in the future too."
Jung Heewon stayed silent for a moment, her eyes wide in shock, before she inhaled sharply. "Thanks. Knowing me, I'll appreciate that."
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is pleased by the current events.]
"I agree with Dokja-ssi," Lee Hyunsung said eagerly. "Heewon-ssi should do what she wants."
Jung Heewon wasn't someone who he should be ordering around constantly. She wasn't like Lee Hyunsung who thrived with having direction most of the time—no, she needed to face problems in her own way, even if she would follow his commands despite it.
However, Kim Dokja's eyes widened as his future self pulled out a specific weapon that he had commissioned. Oh wow, he must have paid a small fortune for it, considering just how unique its abilities were.
Jung Heewon wiped at her eyes with her hand. "Dokja-ssi, you can't just say all of that and then give me such a thoughtful gift, you know?"
Ah… was she crying?
[the constellation 'goryeo's first sword' is very impressed by the new sword of the incarnation 'jung heewon'.]
"That's an excellent weapon, Heewon-ssi," Yoo Sangah exclaimed with a smile. "I'm sure you'll use it well."
Despite her tears, Jung Heewon grinned widely. "Yeah, I'm sure I will."