Kim Dokja stood on the balcony of their large dream house, gazing up at the peaceful night sky. Sung Jinwoo's recent declaration—his intent to take Dokja's place in the scenarios—played over in his mind, stirring memories of their long and arduous journey. The stars above seemed serene, yet they carried the weight of countless stories, just as he did.
A voice broke through his thoughts, playful yet soft. "This place is quite high, isn't it? You're not planning to jump, are you?" Yoo Sang-Ah stepped onto the balcony with a teasing smile.
Kim Dokja chuckled lightly. "Do I really look that suicidal to you?" he replied with a grin. "If this were the first scenario, no one would dare jump from here. But now that we're strong, I doubt any of us would even flinch."
"You're right!" Yoo Sang-Ah agreed, but an awkward silence lingered between them before she finally spoke again. "Dokja… you mentioned that the 'Kim Dokja' in the next world-line wouldn't exist. Is that really true?"
"Yes" he confirmed. "Everyone is destined to meet their end. It's only by reaching that end that they're allowed to appear in the next world-line—just like Yoo Jung-Hyeok's regressions. "He turned his gaze skyward again. "But in my case, as the 'Most Ancient Dreams' I'm not meant to die. I'm supposed to exist forever, for the sake of new worlds being born."
Yoo Sang-Ah's eyes widened in understanding. "So, you're immortal… That means you can't pass on to the next world because death is the price for that transition, right?"
Kim Dokja nodded. "Exactly. and that's why I fell into eternal slumber. My sleep acted as my 'death' allowing me to appear on the next world-line."
"I get it now," she said softly. "When Sung Jinwoo cured your eternal slumber, it stopped you from moving on to the next world-line, didn't it?"
"Yes" Kim Dokja confirmed, his voice calm. "Why do you ask?"
Yoo Sang-Ah's expression softened as she shifted her gaze to him. "I was just thinking… If the 'Dokja' of the next world-line no longer exists, then maybe the 'me' there wouldn't be the same either. Without him, I think she would still be lonely. I'm… I'm happy that you're here."
Their eyes met in the dim light of the night. The mood between them grew tender, their faces drawing closer, lips almost touching—until a sudden interruption broke the moment.
"I knew it!" Han Su-Yeong's voice rang out, playful and sharp. "Sang-Ah is the girl you were talking about during the banquet!" She stepped onto the balcony with a teasing grin. "Don't tell me, were you two planning to do something romantic out here?"
Yoo Sang-Ah flushed red, quickly denying it. "I was just asking him something important!"
Han Su-Yeong's smirk widened. "Sure, sure. We were just downstairs, and you could have asked me whatever it was, but no, you came all the way up here to ask him. Don't deny it, you two!"
"Fine" Yoo Sang-Ah sighed, rolling her eyes. "If you're so curious, I'll ask you a question as well." She folded her arms, turning toward Han Su-Yeong. "Did you mean to write Sung Jinwoo into the new story? He nearly caused chaos back there."
Han Su-Yeong shrugged, unbothered. "Our original plan was to create a story that could wake Dokja up by having him read it. But I had doubts that a simple story would do the trick. So I added an unnamed character with a power capable of curing any ailment. I never expected him to be so… dangerous."
Kim Dokja, suddenly recalling something, spoke up. "I just remembered a notification. The item Sung Jinwoo used to cure my eternal slumber was called 'The Holy Water of Life'. I've never seen that item here in our world before. I can't believe something like that even exists."
Yoo Sang-Ah nodded thoughtfully. "And when will he start taking on the scenarios?"
"He said tomorrow" Kim Dokja replied. "Apparently, there's something important he needs to take care of first. I'm curious… I think I'll spy on him."
With that, Kim Dokja smiled faintly and closed his eyes, preparing to activate his skill. Yoo Sang-Ah watched him with quiet understanding.
Meanwhile, Han Su-Yeong turned to leave, but not without one final teasing remark. "Good luck, Sang-Ah. Try not to get too distracted while he's gone."
Yoo Sang-Ah blushed even harder, watching Han Su-Yeong's retreating form. "I wasn't—!" she started, but her words trailed off, leaving her flustered.
Kim Dokja, now lost in the depths of his skill, was unaware of her embarrassment, but the bond between them remained, stronger than words could express.
---
Meanwhile...
"That guy." Sung Jinwoo remembered Kim Dokja's words, *"Your world's time flow has resumed."*
[Level 3 of Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint has been activated]
*Finally! Let's see what's happening here.*
Kim Dokja thought, observing Sung Jinwoo with his possession skill.
*I hope this time will be different.*
Sung Jinwoo stood outside his house, hesitant to approach his wife. He recalled Cha Hae-In's words when time froze: *"We're done!"*
*I must prepare my heart for another rejection. But this time it's different. The time resumes; I know there's hope.*
Sung Jinwoo took a deep breath and switched places with his shadow and appeared near his wife.
His heart dropped. She was lying unconscious on the floor.
"Hae-In . ." His voice was barely whispered, filled with disbelief.
Her wrist—cut. A deep clean wound. But . . .. why isn't it bleeding?
Sung Jinwoo, trembling, knelt beside her.
*She tried to take her own life?* The thought clawed at his mind, almost bringing tears to his eyes.
*I was expecting another break-up, just like always, every time I approached her... but this?*
He choked on his words, the situation far worse than anything he'd imagined.
Then he realized; *I was a day late.*
The day he spent in Kim Dokja's world was supposed to be the day he would approach her and get dumped. Now that time has resumed, an unexpected nightmare unfolded.
*This… this is the first time I'm seeing the day beyond the endless loop* Jinwoo thought
His heart is sinking deeper.
*For so long, I've waited for this day—the day after the loop of time. I imagined so many things, hoped for something different, something better.*
But now, standing here, seeing his wife in this condition, it was far worse than anything he had ever anticipated.
"I never thought… I never thought the day I longed for would be this horrifying."
He knelt beside her, tears threatening to spill. "I'm sorry, Hae-In. I never imagined it would come to this… I didn't think you'd ever…"
Kim Dokja, still observing him, was shocked by the situation too. But what caught his attention more was... *Why isn't her wrist bleeding? Don't tell me she's an—*
Jinwoo quickly brought Cha Hae-In to the bed and healed her. He knew he could easily heal her, but the thought of her ending her own life shattered his heart.
*How lonely must my wife feel?* he pondered, a wave of sorrow washing over him as he realized the weight of her despair.
His plan to fix everything and say goodbye never happened. He didn't even want to be there when she woke up, afraid his presence might only cause her more problems. So, he decided to leave quietly.
Kim Dokja's skill deactivated, and he woke up to see Yoo Sang-Ah lying beside him, staring at his face. Startled, she quickly asked a random question, "Ah, so what did you see?"
"I saw his wife in bad condition... and I'm doubting something. She's an avatar." He muttered.
---
The day arrived. Everything was prepared. Sung Jinwoo and Kim Dokja stood face to face.
"Are you ready? Do you really want to do this?" Kim Dokja asked.
"Yes! I'm sure now" Jinwoo replied.
Nearby, Beru, Jinwoo's loyal shadow, sniffled dramatically, "My king! Will you really do it? I want to come with you."
"No, I want you all to look after my family while I'm gone." Sung Jinwoo commanded.
Kim Dokja smiled slightly, "I never expected someone as strong as you to clear the scenario for me."
"You're too humble. I could tell you held back during our fight. I felt that enormous energy you didn't show yet."
"Do your best."
"I will. I'll do it better than you did." Jinwoo smirked.
Kim Dokja opened a screen showing a contract allowing Sung Jinwoo to take his place in the scenario. "Anything you'd like to add?"
Jinwoo added: 'Kim Dokja will protect my world while I'm gone.'
They smiled at each other, and both clicked 'accept.'
"Give me your email, I'll send you the text file." Kim Dokja said, sending him the file for TSWA. But to Jinwoo's confusion, when he opened the file through the system screen, it showed a blank page.
"Wait! Why is it..." Jinwoo's words trailed off as he suddenly vanished, transported to the first scenario.
"He's gone. You know what guys, he might be a villain in our eyes but I feel like he's really not that bad." Han Su-Yeong.
"You're right, he's a hero. A protector of his world. He has good nature, I can feel it. It's just that the situation he's in right now makes him do unpleasant actions." Jung-Hyeok replied as he previously did heartless things before because of his terrible situation
---
"... the file you sent is a blank page—What?" Jinwoo's voice faltered as the world around him shifted. He blinked, and in a flash, he found himself standing in a subway station.
I'm already transported to the 1st scenario?! But I haven't even gotten the important information from Kim Dokja yet! Oh no!—Wait, why do I feel like this?
Looking around, the cold, empty station seemed eerily familiar, sending a shiver down his spine. This place… it's just like the first time I solo cleared a dungeon. And it's another subway… Am I starting a scenario like this again?
The sound of the train approaching sent his heart racing. The station lights flickered, casting long shadows along the platform. Why am I feeling scared? He clenched his fists, trying to shake the dread off, but his memories of that first terrifying solo raid in a subway made the fear harder to ignore. This… this is too much like before.
As the train screeched to a halt, Jinwoo hesitated for a moment before stepping through the doors, the sensation of something terribly wrong nagging at him. No, this can't be right. Why am I suddenly feeling so weak?
It wasn't until he caught his reflection in the train's windows that the realization hit him like a ton of bricks. He gasped. What?! Why do I look younger? His hands trembled slightly. What happened to my power? Did it disappear? Damn it! Now I know why I feel scared… I'm back to being an E-Rank again!