The night slipped away, leaving only the cool light of morning. The celebration in Kim Dokja's honor was filled with joy and relief, but beneath the laughter, there was a sense of fulfillment that everyone had been longing for during his long slumber. Even though the final scenario had been cleared, it felt incomplete without him. Now, with Kim Dokja awake, that void was finally filled. The room buzzed with conversation, and even the constellations who had participated in the final scenario gathered to join in the festivities.
Among them was the Queen of the Underworld, who approached Kim Dokja with a gentle, motherly smile. Her eyes gleamed with curiosity as she asked,
[Kim Dokja, now that peace has returned and the world is in order, have you thought about settling down? Perhaps there's someone special you'd like by your side?]
Her question hung in the air, and the room fell silent as everyone turned to hear his response. Kim Dokja smiled softly, caught off guard by the directness of the question.
"Yes" he admitted after a moment, his voice calm but sincere. "Maybe it's time for me to settle down."
A ripple of excitement spread through the room. Most Ancient Liberator, the Monkey King, let out a surprised chuckle, his tail twitching with amusement. [Settle down? You? I never thought I'd hear those words coming from you, Maknae!]
Demon-like Judge of Fire, Uriel, felt her heart race, her mind wandering at the thought that she might be the one Kim Dokja was referring to. She glanced at him, wondering if his words had a deeper meaning for her.
But Kim Dokja raised a hand before anyone could jump to conclusions.
"However," he added with a knowing smile, "I won't reveal who it is just yet. Not until that girl chooses me as well."
The air in the room grew even more charged, the mystery deepening. Jung Hui-Won, always quick to voice her thoughts, grinned teasingly. "I think we all have the same idea about who that person is." talking about herself.
Lee Hyeon-Seong crossed his arms and shook his head. "I'm not so sure. I think it's Yoo Sang-Ah" he said thoughtfully, his voice carrying a sense of certainty.
Yoo Sang-Ah blushed deeply, waving her hands in embarrassment. "Me? No way! That's just—" she began to protest, but her voice faltered.
Just then, Jang Hayoung burst into the scene, grinning. "I think it's me" he said confidently. "He confessed to me one time."
Everyone froze, staring at him with a mix of shock and amusement. The expressions in the room became even more bewildered, including those of Breaking the Sky Sword Saint and the much smaller Kyrgios standing behind him.
"What? Did I say something wrong? Am I late?" Jang Hayoung asked, looking genuinely puzzled by the reaction.
Lee Ji-Hye, standing nearby, couldn't hold back her laugh. "He said it's a girl," she pointed out, shaking her head at him. She never misses an opportunity to stir the pot, smirking. "Maybe it's me he's talking about!" she declared with a wink at Kim Dokja, leaning closer to him. "Don't you think?"
Everyone shook their heads in unison, even Yoo Jung-Hyeok, who gave an exasperated sigh. "Ridiculous" he muttered under his breath. His sharp gaze flicked toward Kim Dokja before he added, "He wouldn't choose someone like you, Ji-Hye."
Han Soo-Young, noticing the rare smirk on Yoo Jung-Hyeok's face, couldn't help but tease him. "Oh? You're participating in conversations like these now?" she said, her eyes sparkling. "Is the great Yoo Jung-Hyeok finally showing some emotion? Or is there something you want to admit?"
Yoo Jung-Hyeok shot her a warning glare but didn't deny her claim. "Don't start with me" he replied coolly. "If anyone here is hoping to be chosen by him, it's clearly you."
"Hey!" Han Soo-Young shot back, crossing her arms defensively. "For the record, I vote for Yoo Sang-Ah. She's the most reasonable choice."
Lee Gil-Yeong, sitting nearby with Shin Yoo-Sung, nodded eagerly. "I agree! Sang-Ah-Ssi is the kindest to Ahjussi. Definitely her!"
Shin Yoo-Sung grinned and added, "Yep! She's the most thoughtful."
As the playful debate went on, Uriel found herself feeling slightly left out, a small pout forming on her lips. No one had even mentioned her name.
Sun Wukong, sensing her disappointment, gave her a sympathetic look and said . . .
[Don't worry, I vote for you.]
The Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, never one to be left behind, grunted in agreement. [Me too] he added, causing Uriel's face to light up with a blush.
The room erupted in laughter once again, with Kim Dokja watching quietly, a small, content smile on his lips. Though the mystery remained unsolved, the warmth of the gathering was undeniable, and the sense of unity filled the space.
---
In the corner of the palace's banquet hall, amidst the laughter and chatter, a quiet tension lingered. Sung Jinwoo, standing alone, was lost in thought when he felt a heavy presence approaching. A voice echoed through the room.
[Are you the Monarch of Shadows?]
Sung Jinwoo's eyes narrowed as he raised his head. Before him stood a tall figure radiating an overwhelming aura of power. The man who spoke was none other than Hades, the King of the Underworld.
"What if I am?" Sung Jinwoo's voice was calm but cold, his eyes sharp. "Do you need something? I don't have time for small talk."
Hades smiled faintly, an expression that was more unsettling than warm. [I see you've got quite an attitude.] He lifted his hand, revealing a shadow soldier that he held by the neck. [You even planted one of your weak shadows in me. But don't worry, I'll overlook it. After all, you healed our son. For that, the Underworld owes you a great debt.]
Sung Jinwoo didn't flinch. "So you're strong enough to notice one of my beginner shadows. Impressive." His voice remained level, but the weight behind his words was unmistakable. "And don't thank me. I didn't heal him out of kindness. I originally intended to finish him off. His survival served a different purpose."
Tension filled the air. The clash of two strong figures was palpable, their powers crackling just beneath the surface. Others in the banquet hall began to feel it, their conversations fading into hushed whispers as they watched the confrontation.
Before the atmosphere could grow any more dangerous, Kim Dokja's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "I think it's time to wrap things up," he said, stepping forward to address the room. "I want to thank all of you for coming and celebrating today. I appreciate your support and your company."
He turned toward Sung Jinwoo. "Now, I'd like to introduce someone who helped me escape the eternal slumber. Sung Jinwoo. Please, everyone, listen to what he has to say."
All eyes shifted to Sung Jinwoo, and for the first time, the weight of the room's attention bore down on him. He stepped forward and faced the crowd, his voice steady.
"I understand this is a celebration for your victory, for your happy ending," Sung Jinwoo began, his tone calm but carrying an undercurrent of bitterness. "But what you might not know is that your victory has caused destruction in my world."
A ripple of shock moved through the room. The festive mood vanished, replaced by a tense curiosity. Jung Hui-Won, her brow furrowed, was the first to speak. "What do you mean? Did time stop in your world?"
Sung Jinwoo looked at her, surprised at her insight. "Yes," he admitted. "Time didn't completely freeze, but every day repeats itself. The same events happen wherever I go, like a recorded scene playing on loop. I was lucky enough to avoid being affected because I was in another dimension when the time in my world stopped. But I wouldn't call it luck. The people who matter to me… they're trapped. Every single day."
The room grew still. His words hung heavy in the air, the weight of his pain seeping into the hearts of those listening.
"So, you planned to awaken the 'Most Ancient Dream' to resume the flow of time?" Han Su-Yeong asked, her voice sharp and focused.
"Yes," Sung Jinwoo replied. "That's the only way, according to the Secretive Plotter I met."
Ji-Hye stepped forward, her expression tense. "Then why did you try to kill Dokja-Ssi? Don't you realize that doing that might freeze time again?"
Sung Jinwoo's gaze hardened. "The Secretive Plotter assured me that killing him wouldn't cause the same problem. Besides," he said, his voice darkening, "after seeing all of you who caused this mess living in peace while my innocent world suffers… it makes me want to destroy you."
The tension in the air became unbearable, but before it could explode, Kim Dokja calmly spoke up again. "I'm glad I'm still alive, then," he said, his voice cutting through the hostility. "I can help you. There are things you need to know, Sung Jinwoo."
Sung Jinwoo turned to face Kim Dokja, his sharp gaze softening just slightly. "What is it?"
"Your world's time flow has resumed," Kim Dokja revealed.
"I know," Jinwoo said after a pause. "I assumed as much when I started receiving indirect messages from the constellations. But… for how long?"
Kim Dokja's expression grew somber. "Not for long. Once this new story comes to an end, your world will freeze again, just as it did before."
Sung Jinwoo felt a chill run through him. His fists clenched at his sides. "Immortality…" he muttered to himself, "it's nothing but a curse."
His voice was low, as if speaking more to himself than to anyone else. "Watching everything fall apart, powerless to stop it, again and again…"
"Is there any way to stop it from happening again?" he asked, his voice louder this time, his desperation breaking through.
Kim Dokja hesitated for a moment before replying.
"There might be a way," he said slowly.
"But it would mean replaying the scenarios again from the start. This time, however, the final wall must remain intact."
Sung Jinwoo's breath caught. "Replay the scenarios…?"
"But," Kim Dokja continued, his voice heavy, "I doubt that will be possible. I won't exist in the new story anymore. My slumber made me part of a new world line. Now that I'm awake, I doubt I will exist in the new story."
Sung Jinwoo's eyes flared with determination. "Then I will play in the scenarios in your place!"
His voice rang out, shocking everyone in the room. "Let me take on that burden, Kim Dokja! I'll fight in your place, no matter what it takes."
His declaration echoed through the hall, the sheer force of his will causing everyone to fall silent. Kim Dokja stared at him, stunned by the weight of the offer.
The others could only watch, speechless, as the weight of Sung Jinwoo's promise settled into the air.