[several constellations are hoping to see something interesting.]
Interesting would be the least of their worries, in Kim Dokja's opinion. Considering what was lurking below Paradise, the constellations would get all the thrill they wanted and more soon enough.
Looking around, Hyunsung mentions he hasn't seen the two kids in a while, alarming Heewon who turns to Joonghyuk with a look of horrific realization. Unaffected, Joonghyuk states that Dokja left them all here for a reason. As he says this, the two kids appear once more, hidden by the pile of corpses surrounding them as monsters walk nearby.
Suddenly, a message appears before Joonghyuk, making him look up. He had always been read by Dokja until this point, but he thinks that maybe this time he is about to read Dokja's thoughts instead. A ghostly figure half appears on-screen before the scene cuts to show Dokja sleeping in the car as Sooyoung lets out a loud yawn. Sighing loudly, Ghostja mentally calls Joonghyuk a psycho.
"Well, at least someone noticed," Lee Jihye said with a sigh. "Master, how did nobody see you push them back down?"
Yoo Joonghyuk only looked at her silently for a moment before turning away. Kim Dokja guessed that maybe he didn't know either.
"Joonghyuk-ssi, just because Dokja-ssi trusted us to handle something like this on our own doesn't mean that you had to push the kids back into a monster-infested hole without telling anyone!" Jung Heewon said sternly, understandably looking rather ticked off by the whole thing. However, considering that Kim Dokja had already gotten mad at him over it, she seemed to decide that it wasn't worth saying much more.
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is looking at the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk' with a frown.]
At the very least, only a moment later, the kids appeared on the screen. Kim Dokja looked over them quickly, and felt relieved to see that they had managed to hide. Still, it was awful that they had to hide behind a bunch of horrific dead monsters to accomplish that.
"That looks so gross," Yoo Mia cringed, grimacing violently as she did. "Oppa, don't do that next time."
Yoo Joonghyuk sighed. "Mia-yah, this is something only they can do."
"So?" Lee Gilyoung said suddenly. "Then send someone else to protect us, you damn sooty bastard!"
He had a very valid point. As useful as everyone was on the surface, Kim Dokja was certain that Lee Hyunsung wouldn't have had any qualms with staying behind to provide the kids some extra backup if needed. Sure enough, as Kim Dokja glanced over, Lee Hyunsung was nodding with a slight frown on his face.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is scoffing at the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
Suddenly, Kim Dokja felt a bit flustered. That protagonist bastard… did he seriously have to use those words? He didn't even know how literally Kim Dokja had been 'reading' him!
Han Sooyoung raised a brow as her lips curled into a grin. "Well, shit. You actually predicted that asshole's thought process?"
Well… it's not like this plan was particularly elaborate or anything.
Yoo Sangah giggled as it was revealed that Kim Dokja was watching in his disembodied form. "Is it just me, or is Joonghyuk-ssi somehow staring straight at him?"
Now that Kim Dokja looked at it… that was kind of freaky, wasn't it?
"How the hell…?" He wondered, turning to stare at the protagonist in shock.
Yoo Joonghyuk stared at him for a moment before he did what almost looked like rolling his eyes—or at least, the closest thing that an edgy protagonist like him would do to that. "Is that supposed to be hard?"
Of course it was! Kim Dokja would understand if Shin Yoosung could tell where he was because of their sponsor-incarnation bond, but maybe Yoo Joonghyuk's insane protagonist instincts were also transcending their human limits. Fuck, did he basically have ESP now? Jung Heewon also seemed to have a strange sixth sense for his location, so maybe there was an actual conspiracy theory in the making there…
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is snickering at the misfortune of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Han Sooyoung groaned. "I can't believe you seriously left me to be your bodyguard while you take a fucking nap."
"I'm not just 'taking a nap' though," Kim Dokja retorted immediately. "I'm literally checking up on everyone."
Unlike Yoo Joonghyuk, she absolutely rolled her eyes. "Whatever. You didn't even pay me for this shit, so don't blame me if I forget to stop any minor attacks aimed at you."
She couldn't be serious, right? While he'd love to call her petty, it was kind of ruined by the fact that she also implied that she would still try to save him from anything more major. Either that or she knew that she'd also get killed in a major attack and he'd be out of luck anyway. With Han Sooyoung, both were completely possible.
However, as soon as Kim Dokja called Yoo Joonghyuk a psycho, Shin Yoosung let out a laugh as the protagonist's eyebrow twitched in irritation again. At least the future Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't hear that…
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is snickering.]
Underground, the children whisper to each other as Gilyoung informs Yoosung that he's reached his limit on distracting the monsters with his insects. Even though they're the most powerful tamers of Seoul, they know that they can't tame all the monsters here because their brains can't handle it. Just as Yoosung looks down, wondering if they're going to die, Gilyoung looks up in terror as vines rush towards them. Holding Yoosung protectively, the boy braces for the worst as he closes his eyes.
The vines stall, however, when a pair of glowing yellow eyes peer out from the depths. Confused, the two children watch as all the vines and monsters retreat from the unknown giant in the dark, wondering how long it had been there. Making eye contact with it, a shiver erupts at Yoosung's very core as she realizes that it was never distracted by the insects like the others.
… that's not a 'monster'.
"Good job on distracting them like that, Gilyoung-ah," Kim Dokja said, patting Lee Gilyoung's hair. Maybe if he got ahead in congratulating him for a job well-done, then he wouldn't do anything freaky?
Lee Gilyoung's entire face lit up gleefully like he had never been given a compliment in his life. "You really think so, hyung!?"
He looked so desperate to be given any sliver of praise that Kim Dokja wasn't sure what to do. It was like looking into the eyes of a younger version of himself who actually knew what hope was, and it made Kim Dokja's stomach churn. Swallowing down his nausea, Kim Dokja nodded after a moment and didn't know how to feel when the kid didn't even question his hesitation.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is cheering on the incarnation 'lee gilyoung'.]
"I'm gonna do a good job too, just you wait," Shin Yoosung grumbled, and Kim Dokja smiled down at her fondly.
Ruffling her hair, he said, "I'm sure you will, Yoosung-ah."
It's true that they wouldn't be able to tame everything there—they simply wouldn't be able to handle it at this level—but Kim Dokja was hoping that his incarnation would remember a certain item she had been lucky enough to get. It would be useful here, and it would give everyone a major advantage by destroying the roots.
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is gasping.]
Kim Dokja stiffened up, pulling both children in closer as the vines rushed towards them. Fuck, would he have to wake up, get Han Sooyoung to stab him again, and then hope that Shin Yoosung was thinking of him?
"It's gonna be fine," Lee Gilyoung muttered, gritting his teeth as he watched himself put Shin Yoosung behind him. Yet again, despite their disagreements, he had stepped forward to protect her. Kim Dokja pretended not to notice the way the two kids reached out to each other and were holding hands like it was the only thing telling them they'd be okay.
"Wait, what's that!?" Lee Jihye gasped, pointing at the strange eyes in the dark.
As everyone else seemed to relax slightly now that the vines had stopped, Kim Dokja didn't. He knew what that was, and while he had faith in Shin Yoosung, that didn't mean that this wasn't still a gamble.
Yoo Sangah shuddered. "So this… monster… always knew the children were there?"
It wasn't the kind of creature that would be distracted by a few insects. In fact, it had probably been curious enough to just sit and observe them until now.
Yoo Mia curled in on herself a little more. "This is so freaky…"
It stares at them curiously, as if to ask who the children are with its ridiculously powerful presence that makes all the other monsters cower in fear. When Yoosung shakily stands, wondering how long it had been there, Gilyoung grabs her hand while telling her that she won't be able to tame that thing. Turning back to him, she declares that they're going to die anyway if they don't do anything, and this must be why Dokja left her here. Sighing, Gilyoung curses before standing to follow her. As they approach the monster, the golden hand of Yoosung's [Advanced Diverse Communication lvl. 5] reaches out, illuminating the creature's massive face.
The second it makes contact, Yoosung is paralyzed by the flood of the creature's memories as they flow into her head. A flash of a dragon ripping beasts apart flashes through her mind as she feels the creature's despair after falling into this miserable Paradise, living only by consuming other monsters. Overwhelmed, she falls to her knees and coughs up blood, much to Gilyoung's worry. As blood begins to drip from her eyes and nose as well, she desperately calls out that she doesn't want to kill or eat 'them' as well as begging to be let out.
"I should have been there…" Lee Hyunsung lamented, his lip trembling. "I don't know how long I would last against something like that, but long enough for the kids to run."
[the constellation 'master of steel' is looking at his incarnation sorrowfully.]
Though Jung Heewon looked troubled, she sucked in a breath. "I trust that the kids can handle this. Not that I want them to be doing this alone in the first place, but we can't change anything yet."
She was right, and all Kim Dokja could do was force himself to watch as Shin Yoosung insisted that they had to try taming it. It would fail, he already knew that. Still, he admired her for even being willing to give it an attempt.
"Please be careful," Yoo Sangah reminded them as Shin Yoosung went to use her skill. Unfortunately, Kim Dokja already knew how this would end. The monster entangled in the roots of Perpetual Motion was so far beyond her skill level that this could only go badly.
Sure enough, the second she made contact, her mind was already getting overwhelmed by the monster's ego and memories. Its horror and despair seeped into her soul and Kim Dokja could feel the girl trembling by his side.
[several constellations are gasping in horror.]
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is frowning deeply.]
Lee Seolhwa gasped as the poor girl began coughing up blood. "That's not good. Some kind of rupture…?"
Shin Yoosung whimpered and Kim Dokja immediately wrapped both his arms around her, hoping that Lee Gilyoung would be alright for the moment. For once, he didn't even protest as Kim Dokja tried to whisper reassurances to the girl as she was beginning to hyperventilate through her sobs. It was hard to tell which ones were coming from her in the present versus the future, and Kim Dokja did what he could to try and get her to avoid focusing on her future self's breakdown.
She sobbed into the robe, grabbing onto him tightly as she frantically whispered that she didn't want to die in half-choked out words. It was hard to tell her that she'd be alright when she was so frantic. Kim Dokja knew that she wouldn't believe him, especially not with Lee Seolhwa looking so intently at her future self.
[many constellations are watching the incarnation 'shin yoosung' sadly.]
Listening to her wails, Gilyoung grits his teeth while guessing that the memories of the thing before them are flowing into her head. Immediately, he also activates his skill, receiving a jolting image of the raging dragon approaching and devouring them. With a cry, blood begins to drip from his orifices as well while he keeps a hand on Yoosung's back.
Just as Yoosung reaches the end of her rope, thinking that it would be better to end it all to make this pain stop, a translucent hand rests itself on her shoulder. Her eyes widen as she feels her sponsor's support, causing her to whip her head around. Although she doesn't see him, she receives a notification that he's looking at her and nodding.
"Fuck, now they're both going to deal with that?" Han Sooyoung muttered, glancing over at the kids with a flash of concern in her eyes.
On one hand, that was good—they'd be dividing the load between the two of them, after all—but on the other, they could both end up incapacitated if this went badly. As Lee Gilyoung activated his skill too, Kim Dokja sucked in a breath.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is growling at the screen.]
Lee Gilyoung let out a shaky breath, but he didn't cry. "It's okay. Even if a dragon eats me, I'll just get my bugs to eat it from the inside."
Kim Dokja was pretty sure that wasn't how it worked, but he wasn't going to say anything. He could tell that Lee Gilyoung was doing what he could to hold himself together on his own, and deep down, he was relieved. He had his hands full with Shin Yoosung right now, and he didn't think that he was capable of comforting two distraught children over something like this.
"I hope that I'll be around soon to help," Lee Seolhwa muttered with a pained sigh as Lee Gilyoung also began to bleed. "Both of them will definitely need a check-up after this."
[the constellation 'guam divine doctor' is nodding in agreement with his incarnation.]
Kim Dokja's mind crashed to a halt as Shin Yoosung had a thought that he had hoped she would never have to experience, and though she was in his arms, Kim Dokja felt like he was miles away. Everything was muffled and warped, like cotton was in his ears, as his incarnation cried and trembled.
He remembered what it was like to feel like that. To see no other way to escape the horrors that were the real world. He remembered trembling hands and the ringing of the school bell like the ringing in his ears. He remembered the scrape of a chair on the wooden floor, and the sneeze from the pollen in the air.
He had hoped that the kids would never learn what it meant to feel this way.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is sobbing.]
"Kim Dokja," Yoo Joonghyuk said firmly, instantly snapping Kim Dokja back into reality. He blinked for a moment, trying to regain his bearings, and relaxed as soon as he saw himself place a hand on his incarnation's shoulder.
"I'm there, Yoosung-ah," Kim Dokja whispered, hoping she could hear him through her frantic sobs. "It'll be okay now."
Though he didn't know if his own words were the truth or not, her sobs quietened as she glanced up only to see herself finally finding her will to continue.
Yoo Sangah sighed deeply in relief, even though she was clearly still anxious, and that wasn't even to mention the sheer death grip that Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon had on each other.
Struggling to her feet, Yoosung staggers her way forward under the immense pressure of the beast. With shaking hands, she reaches out to touch its maw, right next to a small wound before she notices that this creature is covered in scars. Raising her voice and staring into the creature's eyes, she commands its attention before comforting it, telling it that it doesn't need to become a monster because it's hurt. Those injuries are too old to be healed now, but that doesn't mean she's going to give up. She knows that even those who can't be healed can be saved—just like how Dokja saved the her of the 41st regression.
Her hands more steady, Yoosung reaches into her coat to pull out the golden fruit as she says, "Let's escape together."
"You can do it!" Lee Jihye cheered tearfully. "Your unnie is cheering for you, so you can't lose!"
[many constellations are cheering for the incarnation 'shin yoosung'.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is encouraging the incarnation 'shin yoosung'.]
Even as she sniffled, Shin Yoosung nodded. "I'll try."
She reached out and touched the beast, finally digging through its sorrow and rage to find the pain hidden beneath. It wasn't something she could heal—nobody could—but she was the only one who could get through to this dragon right now. As she thought about the 41st Shin Yoosung, Kim Dokja sucked in a breath.
"I'm gonna be like you, ahjussi," Shin Yoosung said softly. "I want to save people too."
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is smiling softly at the incarnation 'shin yoosung'.]
As she reached into her coat and pulled out the SSS-grade item, Han Sooyoung gasped. "Honestly, I kinda forgot she had that."
"It will let her tame monsters that cannot normally be tamed," Yoo Joonghyuk replied, and Kim Dokja noticed just how tightly he was holding onto Yoo Mia. "I would not have sent the children there if I didn't know she had it."
Right. He had been there when she got it, and he knew exactly what it was used for. Hah… so he really had figured out what Kim Dokja had been thinking after all.
Jung Heewon smiled, even though it was still clearly forced. "If you pull this off, you'll be the only kids in the world who have a pet dragon."
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is declaring that dragons are not pets.]
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is thinking that a pet dragon would be lovely.]
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is tearing his hair out in excitement.]
As the tension began to lift due to Dionysus and the chuuni dragon descending into a petty argument with Sun Wukong cheering them on, Kim Dokja looked down as arms tightened around his waist.
"Thank you, ahjussi. For not giving up on me," Shin Yoosung whispered as she buried her face back in his robe. Smiling fondly, Kim Dokja patted her head.
"I'll always believe in you."
Though he couldn't say the same for everything he said under normal circumstances, Kim Dokja knew that statement was completely truthful.