"Name." He demanded.
"What?"
Yoo Joonghyuk just scoffed at such a weak response.
That's right. No one remembers me. Not my deeds, not my sacrifices, nor my existence...
He's eyes grew colder and his indifferent demeanor showed up again, hiding all the struggles deep inside. Where no one will ever breach in again.
"What's your name?"
"Kim Dokja."
"A strange name."
"I've heard a lot."
***
A sudden cold breeze shook him out from his dazed state. Thinking about yesterday events, Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't but shake his head for believing that man's words. Was he desperate, or was he crazy to end this regression. Well, who knows?
The most important thing was that 'he' didn't come back yet.
「A prophet he said.」
「But was he really?」
「Perhaps he was just all talk after all.」
That's what he thought... But maybe he was wrong again.
To say that seeing that man alive and kicking in front of so many people surprised him wasn't a lie, and seeing him calling himself Yoo Joonhyuk's companion really confused the latter.
「As long as he doesn't get in my way. He can do whatever he wants.」
That was he thinking when he entered the dungeon. He believed in his strength, but in the end... He just overestimated himself.
But suddenly between his pain and suffering, he heard a voice, and it wasn't a voice from the past returning to haunt him back.
"Alone?"
「I...」
"Why did I came here if you're alone, you bastard?!"
「I...」
Word after word struck him hard. How did he know all of this? How does he know so well? A past that was destined to be forgotten by all... How could he know this...
I wanted answers.
I demanded them.
Yoo Joonghyuk forced himself out of Theater Master's control, even for just a brief moment. He wanted to see that man.
「You... Who are you?」
How do you all of this?
"What?"
「What are you?」
Why do you know the past that everyone had forgotten?
[The 'Theater Master's Simulacrum' has strengthened his control on the character 'Yoo Joonghyuk'.]
"Kuaaak...!"
Yoo Joonghyuk felt his eyes losing focus again, dragging him down again in that hellish world of regrets. Is this the end? Or so he thought...
Yoo Joonghyuk considered himself a man of pride, a man of many sins. But he had to admit that without Kim Dokja's help, he wouldn't have been here right now.
That man Kim Dokja was full of surprises. How does he know all? Was he a prophet like he said?
During the fight for the throne, he has done the impossible. He destroyed the Absolute Throne.
He even knew about her... Lee Seolhwa. She whom in past helped me... My companion. But why does it seem like I tend to overestimate myself everytime? And again... Even if I don't want to admit it... He was the one who helped me.
***
Shin Yoosung was another useful person I met in the past. She knew about my regressions, and that made me think that she would definitely be my help. But I was wrong yet again, and he came to help as always...
"Get out of the way, Yoo Joonghyuk!"
What?
"Dokja...?"
Did he just jumped in to save me?
"Dokja!"
"Hey, can you just finish me off? You... always wanted to kill me."
What the hell is he saying in this situation?!
"What are you–"
"I'll give you one minute... to do it... So kill me..."
This guy... He is dying. He is dying because of me. If it was in the past Yoo Joonghyuk wouldn't even blink an eye in front of his dying teammate. And now there he was, desperately trying save the dying man named Kim Dokja.
"Shin Yoosung! I will kill you!"
Why?
"Captain, something's off."
Why...?
"This isn't like you."
I know that, damn it. Why am I like this?
Yoo Joonghyuk got even more raged as they continued to clash with each other.
"That man... Who was he?"
He was...
"He is..."
「Make me your companion, Yoo Joonghyuk. I'll fill in the things you lack.」
"He is..."
「Let go of your hand and get lost, you goddamn son of a bitch.」
"He is my companion."
Even though Shin Yoosung tied him up and beat up his teammates, Yoo Joonghyuk didn't blink an eye to them.
That guy... Kim Dokja is dead now.
Can I actually succeed in this round now? No... From the very beginning of this regression, it was because of Kim Dokja that so many people survived until now. In my previous regressions, these many people didn't survive until now. Maybe... The one who can save the world might be him, not me.
But if I regress now, can I meet him in my next round? Wait... No... He never appeared in my previous rounds. This round was different because of his existence. What if he.. never appears in next round?
Even so...
If I continue to regress, will I ever get to meet him again?
When he saw Kim Dokja's dead body came to life once again, Yoo Jonghyuk felt a wave of shock and relief washing through his body. He was glad that his companion was alive, but at the same time, he felt angry because he tricked him.
However, it was a relief that Kim Dokja was back.
'This round... will definitely be different. As long as there is Kim Dokja, there's still hope in this world.'
In the end, the 'fairytale' Kim Dokja strives for, or perhaps...
The ending Yoo Joonghyuk no longer remembers he's searching for.
Yoo Joonghyuk's guilt of failed world-lines, or Kim Dokja's lie in their first meeting.
Become each other's salvation.
ೋ❀❀ೋ═══ ❀ ═══ೋ❀❀ೋ
Even though it's late, Happy Birthday Our Beloved Protagonist! Stop being a sunfish, will you?