Kim Dokja considered using Miniaturization to get out through the window and greet the Outer Gods, but something made him hesitate.

They wanted to be talked to, to be known, to be beings other than Nameless Ones. And Kim Dokja would make that wish of theirs true. But to be the first one to talk to them like that… Wouldn't that just put himself at risk?

Then he sighed. I always put myself at risk. Why hesitate now? He prepared to activate the Miniaturization skill, but before he could, a hand grabbed his wrist.

Looking to his side, Kim Dokja saw Secretive Plotter.

"You finally appear," Kim Dokja said. "Right when I'm about to leave. Though," he added on quickly, "it was only going to be for a few moments."

[It would've been forever if you weren't careful,] Secretive Plotter responded.

Kim Dokja hated to admit that he could be right. Ways of Survival didn't have enough information on Outer Gods, so Kim Dokja wasn't too aware of what would have happened. Secretive Plotter, though, did know about the Outer Gods. He himself was one. He'd know better than Kim Dokja how dangerous talking with one of them could be.

After a quick deliberation, Kim Dokja accepted that it was pointless to argue against him right now. Though…

"I don't know yet why you brought me here," he said. "Give me more time."

[You have as much time as you need,] Secretive Plotter said. A lie. But Kim Dokja had to believe that part of it was true. He had time.

The three questions weren't over yet, after all.

"Alright," Kim Dokja replied with a sigh. He glanced out the window at the waving tentacles of the Outer Gods. "And I still can't see my companions?"

A flicker of some emotion appeared in Secretive Plotter's eyes. Anger, Kim Dokja guessed. Anger at the other Yoo Joonghyuk, the one that was Kim Dokja's life and death companion. [No,] Secretive Plotter said. [You cannot.]

"Some guest I am," Kim Dokja muttered.

Secretive Plotter narrowed his eyes. Finally, he let go of Kim Dokja's wrist. [Yes, you are a guest here,] he said. [But for now, you cannot leave.] He turned and left the room.

For a moment, Kim Dokja felt alone.

⸢Kim Dok ja.⸥

"Ah, right," Kim Dokja breathed out. "You're still here. Thank you, Fourth Wall."

⸢You shou ld tha nk me mor e.⸥

"Alright," Kim Dokja said with a small laugh. He went over to the bed and stared at it. Really, laying on it was the only thing he could do now, right?

⸢You cou ld tal k to me.⸥

"I could," Kim Dokja said. "What do you want to talk about, other than my current situation?"

⸢...⸥

"That's what I thought."

Laying down on the bed and closing his eyes, he heard the Fourth Wall speak once again.

⸢Sle ep well Kim Dok ja.⸥

Kim Dokja made a small hum, and then the exhaustion from the past few days finally claimed him.

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Level 3 activated while he was asleep, but he didn't see much.

He saw his companions, preparing for something. He supposed that his absence meant they didn't have the amount of stories necessary to enter the final scenario. He yearned to be with them, to get this story with them, but…

Some things were just impossible. He was still a prisoner of the Secretive Plotter. He could not join them.

When he woke up, he heard the Fourth Wall say, ⸢Goo d mor ning, Kim Dok ja.⸥

"Good morning to you too," Kim Dokja muttered, then asked, "Is it even morning?"

⸢Do es it matt er?⸥

"I suppose not," Kim Dokja sighed, getting up from the bed. His body still ached from the injuries he had sustained before his capture, and the IV drip was once again connected to him. He disconnected it (sure, he probably needed it, but not all the time, especially since his stay here seemed to be long enough already, so he could just have it on only when he was sleeping, right?) and started toward the door.

It was unlocked. Kim Dokja was almost surprised by that.

⸢He calls you a gue st. Of co ur se the doo r is un lock ed.⸥

"I'm not really a guest, though," Kim Dokja pointed out.

The Fourth Wall didn't respond.

Wandering the halls, he tried to find the throne room he had seen Secretive Plotter in before, but unfortunately, he was not able to. I haven't been in these halls a lot, he had to admit to himself. Of course I'm not going to memorize the interior after seeing it one and a half times.

One of the kkomas found him. Kim Dokja was not able to find out which number it was before suddenly, it was gone. Kim Dokja supposed it was going to inform Secretive Plotter about his location.

He was soon proven correct. The Outer God king appeared on the other end of the hall and made his way toward Kim Dokja. [Why are you out of your room?] he asked coolly.

"I'd be bored to death staying in there all day," Kim Dokja pointed out, a bit annoyed.

⸢You wou ld ha ve sur vi ved.⸥

He could have sworn the Fourth Wall didn't use to be this talkative.

Secretive Plotter stared at him a while longer, then said, [You should go back.]

"Why?"

[You still haven't recovered from the Great War of Saints and Demons,] Secretive Plotter pointed out. [You did really risky things in there.]

"I wasn't the only one who risked things," Kim Dokja said. Yoo Joonghyuk had tried to save him, before Secretive Plotter came and took him instead. So had Han Sooyoung and Jung Heewon, he thought, but he wasn't too sure about that. His mental state at the time hadn't exactly been the best.

[But you're the most injured.] Secretive Plotter lay a hand on Kim Dokja's back and started guiding him back toward his room. Kim Dokja was surprised at how familiar the hand felt.

Just like a certain protagonist… because he is that protagonist.

Secretive Plotter was Yoo Joonghyuk from the original 1863rd regression.

Kim Dokja fought back the panicked breaths that wanted to come out of him. He wouldn't break down again, like he did the last time. Especially since this time, the Great Plotter himself was right next to him.

⸢If you bre ak, I will be her e.⸥

Kim Dokja silently thanked the Fourth Wall.

They had reached his room. Kim Dokja opened the door and entered, and Secretive Plotter followed him. [I'll bring you back here again if you're outside before you recover,] the Outer God said.

Kim Dokja swallowed. "Yeah, that's what I guessed."

Secretive Plotter seemed to hesitate before he left. Kim Dokja's throat felt dry.

⸢Dri nk wa ter.⸥

Kim Dokja took a sip from the glass next to the bed.

⸢You li ke hi m.⸥

Kim Dokja almost choked on the water. "What?"

The Fourth Wall did not say anything in response.

Kim Dokja decided to ignore the wall because he did not like Secretive Plotter.

He had followed his story for thirteen years, had probably crushed on him back when he was just a fictional character, but…

He did not like him.

Sighing, he began to pick at the food resting on the table next to the bed. The Fourth Wall was good at getting into his head, because he couldn't stop thinking about its words.

If you enjoyed reading, please leave a comment!

My upcoming works are on my profile!