"Ugh... What the hell...?" Kim Dokja groans out as he looks at the room he was in.

It's.. It is a large theater with red curtains and seats with a hint of brown. A large screen is in front of them as Kim Dokja blinks, "Where the hell am I?" It isn't until he notices someone singing and dancing in front of the screen that he grabs his sword, only to find it missing in action as he widens his eyes.

"Huh!? Where's my-!"

Dokja hides behind one of the chairs as the person comes on stage.

"Let's see... One, two, three, four… huhuhu all according to keikaku," an unknown voice says in a rather large theater, dancing around carelessly in excitement.

"The main characters are set, now all that's left to do is to summon them here and... Poof..."

A snap of a finger, imagining the people on their respective chairs were there, watching the graceful dance of one lonely dancer, "Perhaps with this... They may change the fate of my protagonist."

'Their Protagonist...? What does this even mean...?'

The person goes to a smaller screen nearby and looks at the video playing on it. The fifth scenario is about to begin.

"Hm, that should be good enough of a timeline. As long as he is still alive."

The person looks towards where Dokja was as they smile, "Incarnation Kim Dokja, welcome to the Theatre."

Dokja freezes, so they knew where he was from the beginning. He gulps, not knowing what he is facing because it had never happened in the novel before. But he braces himself as he stands up and asks, "Who are you, and why did you bring me here?"

The person smiles happily, "I am your host, Choi Junghwa. At your service. A.k.a the uh... User? With the modifier Beyond the Fourth Wall."

Kim Dokja looks at the person with a suspicious gaze. Beyond the Fourth Wall? What was that supposed to mean? Could it be related to his skill, the Fourth Wall?

"What do you want with me?" Dokja asked suspiciously as Junghwa chuckled.

"Simple, dear reader. I want you to watch the past, present and future," Junghwa speaks as Dokja widens his eyes.

The red haired person snaps their fingers as a scenario screen pops up.

~~~

[Sub Scenario - A Looping End.]

Category: Sub - [Personal - Beyond the Fourth Wall]

Difficulty: ???

Clear Conditions: Find a Way to Stop the Loop from Happening

Time Limit: ???

Reward: Knowledge of the Past, Present and Future

Failure: The Loop continues forever and No one gets their Happy Ending

~~~

"A loop?" Dokja asks as he looks towards the androgynous figure who simply smiles at him.

"That's correct, you are in a loop right now. Watching the past, present and future may help you figure out how to escape this loop."

Dokja curses, not really believing anything the other person is saying but at the same time learning of the future is… Somewhat tempting. But he already knows about the future since he read the web novel already.

"I already know of the future, thank you very much," He responds to them as Junghwa just continued to smile.

"Are you sure about that?" is what they ask before pressing a button on their computer as the screen lit up.

An image suddenly pops up as it plays just like a video. Kim Dokja widens his eyes at the sight.

The scenery was bloody, with Kim Dokja having a hold in his stomach as Joonghyuk rushed to get him.

"Kim Dokja!"

Kim Dokja coughs as he looks at Yoo Joonghyuk, "K-Kill me…"

"It's not too late!" Joonghyuk yells out as he calls for Seolhwa to come to him quickly.

"Are you interested now, Kim Dokja?"

Was that… The future?

"What's the meaning of this?" Dokja asks, glaring at the suspicious character in front of him.

"This is going to happen in like a few days, so… Are you interested now?"

He has to admit… He is interested. It shows him the future where HE is in as well.

"What's the catch?" Dokja asks suspiciously as Junghwa smiles more.

"There is no catch. It's just as stated from the window screen. But, your companions and several other Constellations will join us. Because they are also crucial to the future as well. And a certain Dokkaebi will come too."

Dokja thinks about it, he really didn't trust the Constellations at all but… The risk is too high, and yet the reward is knowledge of the future… It is a tempting offer.

"Can you… Give me time to think about it?" he asks.

Junghwa nods their head, "I can give you a maximum of 24 hours. But be warned Kim Dokja, this is a one time opportunity. Once declined, I will no longer be able to show you the Past, Present and Future again."

Dokja curses, so there was a catch to such a scenario. It is a one time opportunity huh? But if what he saw before was just a fraction… "Whose point of view will we watch?" he asks, suspecting something amidst.

"Ah, clever question. You already know the answer to that, don't you?" they chuckles as Dokja widens their eyes. There was only two options.

Either Yoo Joonghyuk, or himself.

"But then my companions will know that they're nothing from a novel! Yoo Joonghyuk will kill me-!"

"They will eventually find out themselves in the future, Kim Dokja," they cut him off, "Besides, he can never kill you. He can't lose you for the nth time now can he?"

'Lose me…? Yoo Joonghyuk?' That statement made Kim Dokja confused. Was there another Kim Dokja in his regressions? But he isn't a novel character!

"I got your attention again now didn't I?" Junghwa chuckles as Dokja curses at them. They really did…

"So," they continue, "What will it be, Kim Dokja? Should I leave now and never come back or… Should I stay and help you escape from this loop?"

Dokja grips his hands as he thinks about it. The risk was high, but the reward was tempting. But they would be watching his life-!

Wasn't that a breach of privacy?

Even if it was a breach of privacy, if what they were saying was true then… If they were in a loop…

"What happens to the scenario back on Earth?" He asks.

Junghwa simply answers, "They will freeze until you have finished this scenario. And no one will suspect anything other than those who are here."

Kim Dokja takes a deep breath and sighs.

"Ok then, I accept."

Junghwa smiled as they offered a hand towards Kim Dokja, "Welcome to the Theater."

Kim Dokja takes the hand cautiously as he shakes hands with the mysterious person before leading him to a random seat nearby, "Sit, I will call for your allies. Oh and one more thing, food and drinks are at the very back so help yourselves."

Kim Dokja raises a delicate eyebrow before looking behind to see there is a row specifically for food and drinks.

He waits impatiently. It's gonna be a rough one…

~~~

"Are you seeing this Sooyoung-ssi?" Sangha asks as Sooyoung looks at the window in front of them. Even Shin Yoosung, the child they just recruited, got the message.

[You are invited to the Theater.]

[Please wait until the Host summons you to the Theater.]

"W-what's going on!?" Shin Yoosung asks when her body started to glow a bright blue light as Sangah and Sooyoung also glows a bright light.

"What the-!?"

~~~

It doesn't take too long before several people suddenly finds themselves in a red theater as Dokja sits nervously. He is worried for both him and his life.

He scans the people that had appeared.

Han Sooyoung, Lee Gilyoung, Shin Yoosung, Yoo Sangah and Lee Hyunsung, Lee Seolhwa, Lee Jihye, Jung Heewon and... Yoo Joonghyuk.

Bihyung is here too!?

As well as familiar constellations!?

Hades, Persephone, Sun Wukong, Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, Uriel and... Who's the cloaked guy?

"Who are you!?" Yoo Joonghyuk demands the red haired person on top of the stage.

"Welcome one and all to the Great Theatre!" Junghwa welcomes everyone as they bowed, "I am your host, the user Beyond the Fourth Wall, or you can call me Choi Junghwa, at your service," they said. Joonghyuk is about to grab his weapon only to realize it isn't there anymore.

"Why are we here!?" The great monkey king Sun Wukong asks.

"Please sit down first and I shall explain why all of you have been brought here today in this fine morning."

Everyone looks at each other before Gilyoung notices a familiar figure in the seats, "Hyung!" He calls out as Dokja winces, but he waved a hand at them as everyone glances towards Dokja with wide eyes.

"Kim Dokja…" Joonghyuk growls as Dokja pales.

"No killing in this space, people!" Junghwa warns them, "Sit right down if you wanna watch the Past, Present and Future or be teleported back to where you were before."

Everyone is silenced quickly when they hear that statement.

Persephone looks at the red haired person in front of her, "What did you say?" she asks.

Junghwa smiles, "I got your attention now don't I?" they ask as they chuckle, "I won't explain anything if you don't take a seat here."

Reluctantly, everyone took a seat with the Constellations sitting at the far right of the screen while Dokja's allies sat surrounding him. Dokja is in between the kids who glare at each other.

"Who are you?" Both ask at the same time as Dokja hushes the kids.

The Secretive Plotter glances to where Junghwa is and wonders just what they are planning with them. Bihyung looks around and awkwardly sits on the far left, not really understanding why he is there as well, but he can tell that the person on the stage is someone powerful enough to even summon a dokkaebi for a scenario? Yeah, he ain't messing with that…

"Good, now that everyone is sitting down.. Ahem," Junghwa clears their throat once again before saying, "I welcome you once again, guests of the Star Stream. Let me reintroduce myself. I am Choi Junghwa, at your service."

Junghwa looks at everyone who stares at him. Good, they have their attention on him solely, "I will now explain why all of you are here. You are here to clear a scenario that Kim Dokja has accepted."

"Clear a scenario?" Hades asks, narrowing his eyes as Dokja's allies looks at him.

"Ahjussi! What did you do!?" Jihye asks as Bihyung slaps his forehead.

"Idiot, what kind of shit you pulled me into now!?" the fluffy dokkaebi demands of him as Dokja is bombarded with questions from his companions.

Yoo Joonghyuk is silent as a mouse but the glare he was getting from him is scary…

"I will give you the scenario screen right now."

With a snap of their fingers, the scenario screen appears as everyone widens their eyes at the contents.

Even the constellations are having a hard time understanding the contents.

~~~

[Sub Scenario - A Looping End.]

Category: Sub - [Personal - Beyond the Fourth Wall]

Difficulty: ???

Clear Conditions: Find a Way to Stop the Loop from Happening

Time Limit: ???

Reward: Knowledge of the Past, Present and Future

Failure: The Loop continues forever and No one gets their Happy Ending

~~~

"What do you mean a loop?" Uriel asks as she looked at Junghwa.

"You will be watching the past, present and future of a certain someone," Junghwa explains as they go towards their computer and sits on the chair there, "This person will determine whether we will escape the loop, or not."

"Again, what do you mean a loop?" Bihyung asks as Junghwa chuckles.

"Long story short, you are all stuck in a loop where everyone can't get their happy ending. I'm here providing you with information that may be helpful for you to escape the loop, because even I don't know how to escape it."

Everyone is silent at their words as they think about it. So they were stuck in a loop and they had to watch information to get out of it?

Joonghyuk narrows his eyes, is it about his regressions? Then it might be worth it…

"Very well then, let's start."

Junghwa smiles at Joonghyuk, "Good choice."

The computer turns on as everyone is leaning forward, trying to see how they can escape from the loop before Uriel suddenly screams at the image.

"Huh, why are you all screaming-?" Heewon asks before looking at the screen and blushes.

"AHJUSSI IS THAT YOU!?" Jihye asks.

"KIDS CLOSE YOUR EYES!" Hyunsung shields Gilyoung's eyes while Sangah shields Yoosung's eyes.

Seolhwa coughs as she glances over to Joonghyuk and Dokja.

Dokja's mouth gapes open as a red blush spreads across his face while Joonghyuk looks ready to murder Junghwa as everyone tries to shield the kids' eyes for their innocence.

The Secretive Plotter chokes on his saliva as Sun Wukong coughs, "I REPECT YOUR TASTE DOKJA-SSI!"

"Oh my, young love," Persephone chuckles as Hades sighs.

Junghwa looks at the screen and pales. The image was a picture of Kim Dokja surrounded by many Yoo Joonghyuks, all holding him seductively.

"WAIT WRONG FILE!" Junghwa typed in something on their computer before it showed them a folder of many videos before clicking on the first one.

"WHAT WAS THAT!?" Uriel suddenly asks as Junghwa whines.

"MY EYES ARE CURSED-" Abyssal Black Flame Dragon yelled out, covering his eyes with his two hands.

"IT'S MY WALLPAPER OK HOLD UP I GOT THE RIGHT FILE HERE!" Junghwa says as Joonghyuk glares at them.

"AIGHT I GOT THE FILE NOW WATCH IT SO YOU CAN SAVE HIM!" Junghwa presses the button as the lights dim down and the screen darkens before the screen shows the words.

It has begun.

Prologue

The screen showed words as someone was narrating it.

There are three ways to survive in a ruined world.

[There are three ways to survive in a ruined world. Now, I have forgotten a few, but one thing is certain. The fact that you who are reading this now will survive.

-Three ways to survive in a ruined world]

A web novel platform filled the screen of Dokja's old smartphone. He scrolled down and then up again. How many times has he been doing this?

"Eh?" Jihye asks as she looks at the screen, it seemed like they would be watching Kim Dokja. Dokja pales, so it wasn't Yoo Joonghyuk and instead him. Oh no, everyone would know that they're from a novel…

Hell, even Han Sooyoung seems like she is panicking as she looks at Dokja.

"That's right folks," Junghwa begins as they smile, "We will be watching Kim Dokja's life from start to finish!"

"Is Dokja-ssi's life important for us to escape the loop?" Sangha asks as Junghwa nods.

"That's correct. By the way, I may make comments sometimes. Most of them will be important so listen closely everyone," they chuckle as they press the play button again.

"Really? This is the end?"

Kim Dokja looked again, and the 'complete' was unmistakable. The story was over.

[Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World]

Author: tls123

3,149 chapters.

'Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World' was a feature-length fantasy novel with 3,149 chapters.Its shortened name was 'Ways of Survival.'

He has been steadily reading this novel since the third year of middle school.

"Oi squid, did you really read the entire thing?" Sooyoung asks as he nods.

"I did…"

She is silent as she continues to watch.

Meanwhile with the constellations, everyone is watching closely because they would finally learn more about the man who took the Star Stream by storm.

The Secretive Plotter can't help but stare at the screen as he watches him with a close eye even under his cloak.

"Not gonna lie this seem like something I'd read," Abyssal Black Flame Dragon said as he kept watching.

"I'm Dokja."

The man usually introduced himself to people like this, then the following misunderstanding would occur.

"Oh, are you an only child?"

"I am, but that isn't what I mean."

"Huh? Then?"

"My name is Dokja. Kim Dokja."

Kim Dokja ( Kim Highly Respected Only Son )—his father gave him that name to be a strong man by himself. However, thanks to the name his father gave him, Dokja turned out to be just a normal single and lonely man.

In short, it was like this. He was Kim Dokja, 28 years old, and single. His hobby was reading web novels on the subway.

"Such a lonely life he has…" Persephone comments as Hades nods his head.

Bihyung continues to watch as he sits comfortably on the chair.

In a noisy subway, he raised my head reflexively. A pair of curious eyes were staring straight at me. They belonged to an employee from the human resources team, Yoo Sangah.

"Sangah-ssi, there you are!" Heewon spoke as she pointed to the screen as Sangah looked embarrassed.

"Ah, hello."

"Are you going home from work?"

"Yes. What about Sangah-ssi?"

"I was lucky. The manager went on a business trip today." Yoo Sangah sat down as soon as the seat next to Dokja became vacant. A subtle scent came from her shoulders, making him nervous.

"Ew! Ahjussi is such a perv!" Jihye comments as Dokja just blushes a deep shade of crimson on his face. He doesn't expect his thoughts to be on full display!

"Damn Dokja-ssi you're such a perv!" Heewon laughed out loud as the dragon also joined in their laughing.

"Do you normally take the subway?"

"That…" Yoo Sangah made a dark expression.

Come to think of it, this was the first time he had met Yoo Sangah on a subway train.

Starting with Personnel Manager Kang to Finance Manager Han… There were rumors that Sangah had men from the company driving her home every workday.

Sangah groans at the thought as she shakes her head, "It was because my bike was stolen…" She says as she hides behind her hands.

Yet unexpected words came from Yoo Sangah's mouth, "Someone stole my bicycle."

"You commute by bike?"

"Yes! I have a lot of overtime these days and seem to be lacking exercise. It is a bit annoying, but it is worth doing."

"Aha, I see."

Yoo Sangah smiled. Looking closer at her, He could understand the feelings men held toward her. However, it was none of his business.

Every person had a genre of life, and Yoo Sangah was someone who lived a genre different from myself.

Sangah looks at Dokja with a frown on her face but says nothing. Never would have expected he's depressive. That's not a good outlook in life. Even Heewon and Hyunsung are looking at him with such depressed looks that Dokja can't help but groan.

After the awkward conversation, they looked at their phones. Hpened up the novel app he was reading on before.

"Por favor dinero."

"Huh?"

"It's Spanish."

"…I see. What does it mean?"

"Please give me some money," Yoo Sangah replied proudly.

Studying on the subway while going home… She truly had a genre different from me. However, what was the use of memorizing words?

"You're working hard."

"By the way, what is Dokja-ssi looking at?"

"Ah, I…"

Yoo Sangah's gaze was fixed on the LCD screen of his smartphone. "Is it a novel?"

"Yes, well… I am studying Korean."

"Hyung is a bad liar," Gilyoung says as Dokja just groans while Heewon is laughing at the screen. Even Seolhwa is giggling-!

Lee Seolhwa is giggling at his misery-!?

Oh Jesus Christ he needs a break, he wants to dig a hole and hide there for the rest of eternity!

"Wow, I also like novels. I haven't been able to read lately because I don't have time…"

It was surprising. Yoo Sangah liked reading novels…?

"Murakami Haruki, Raymond Carver, Han Kang… Dokja-ssi, what writers do you like?"

"You won't know even if I say their names."

"I've read a lot of novels. Who are the authors?"

At this time, it was really hard to say that he read web novels as a hobby. He glanced at the title of the novel in the app.

"Don't worry, Dokja-ssi I wouldn't judge you for reading!" Sangha speaks as Dokja just groans in embarrassment. Does everyone not understand that this is basically similar to having your diary being read out loud in front of the whole school?

That day, in particular, a novel was ending. His most precious and favorite novel that he had read most of his lifetime.

During the time when he was bullied by bullies, when he ruined his entrance examinations and had to enter a local university, when the damned random draw went wrong and he was placed in the military unit at the forefront, when he repeatedly switched jobs and was working as a contractor for an affiliate of a large company.

Everyone looks at Dokja when the video shows him being bullied as Gilyoung and Yoosung hold onto Dokja's hands tightly.

"Hyung/Ahjussi…" Dokja looks at his kids as he smiles softly.

The adults however, have a different opinion. Heewon is seething at the images of the bullies while Sangah, Seolhwa and Hyunsung look at Dokja with a sad expression. Joonghyuk keeps a close eye instead, wanting to know more about the man who had ruined his third round.

"Perhaps it is even lonelier than we anticipated," Uriel comments as Persephone hums.

"It is just a fantasy novel. That… Well, like the Lord of the Rings…"

Yoo Sangah's eyes widened. "Aha. Lord of the Rings. I've seen the movie."

"The movie is good."

The silence continued for a moment. Sangah was looking at him like she was waiting for him to say something. Their conversation was becoming strained. So, he decided to change the topic. "It has been a year since I joined the company. This is my last year. Time moves really fast."

"I never expected our smooth talker to be quite a nervous fit in front of a lady," Sun Wukong comments as Dokja just blushes while Sangah coughs, embarrassed that her other self is making Dokja all flustered and all.

"Never would've guessed it, the squid is talking to a girl," Sooyoung says. The man in question just groans as he bangs his head with his hands. The embarrassment was 100x folds!

"Yes. At that time, we both knew nothing, right?"

"That's right. It seems like just yesterday, but the contract period is already over." He realized that he had said something wrong when he saw Sangah's expression.

"Ah, I…" He had forgotten.

Yoo Sangah received credit for a foreign buyer last month and was already promoted to a full-time employee.

"Ah, right. My congratulations are late. I'm sorry. Haha, I should've worked hard to study a foreign language."

"Ah, no Dokja-ssi! There is still the performance review and…"

"Damn, that is… awkward…" Jihye responds, feeling sorry for the pathetic ahjussi.

Dokja hated to admit it, but the sight of Sangah talking was wonderful. It was like the world's spotlight was shining down on only one person. If this world was a novel, the protagonist would be such a person.

"That's not true at all… I'm not5 someone special…!" Sangha speaks, completely embarrassed by his words as Dokja smiles.

"These are just my thoughts, Sangha-ssi, besides, past me has a point."

In fact, it was the inevitable result. He hadn't tried, but Sangah made an effort. Dokja just read novels on the Internet, while Sangah studied hard. It was natural that Sangah would become a full-time employee, and that his contract would be terminated.

"That… Dokja-ssi."

"Yes."

"If you don't mind… Would you like to know the app I use?" Sangah's voice momentarily became distant.

It felt like the world was far away. He braced his mind and stared straight ahead. A boy was sitting in the seat opposite me on the train. He was 10 years old or so. The boy held an insect collecting net as he sat next to his mother.

Gilyoung looks at himself on screen with sorrow in his eyes, "There's me and mom."

"…Dokja-ssi?"

What if he had a different life from now? What if my life genre was different?

"Kim Dok…"

If the genre of his life wasn't 'realism' but 'fantasy'… Could he be the protagonist?

Gilyoung looks at Dokja, he suddenly remembers his question. If Dokja is a protagonist, or if he is a god since he knows so much of the world.It seems like something is telling him that Dokja is in fact, the protagonist. Gilyoung looks at Junghwa who looks back as they smile at him, waving their hand.

Gilyoung hums before glancing over to the Dokkaebi who is paying close attention to the screen.

He didn't know. It would probably be unknown forever. However, there was one thing Dokja knew.

"It is okay, Yoo Sangah-ssi."

"Huh?"

"It won't work even if you tell me the app."

The genre of my life was obviously 'realism.'

"Dokja has a solo life."

"Huh? What…"

"I am just someone like that."

In this genre, Dokjas wasn't a protagonist but a 'solo' person.

"The life of a solo…" Sangah had a serious expression on her face.

However, he waved his hands to show it was really okay. Dokja didn't know why, but this person was really worried about him. Maybe because she was part of the personnel department… He was already aware of his performance though.

"Dokja-ssi is really good."

"Yes?"

"Then I will live an ivory life."

Sangah seemed to have decided something as she turned back to studying Spanish. Hgazr ed at her for a while before returning to the novel.

Both Dokja and Sangah blushes at the scene, realizing how cringy it is while Jihye and Heewon laugh. Why did it have to show this part, goddammit Junghwa!

Everything had returned to normal, but strangely, Dokja's scrolling of the novel didn't go well. Maybe it was because he realized the weight of reality that he couldn't scroll down.

[Author's words: Thank you so much for reading 'Ways of Survival' up to here. I will come back to you with an epilogue!]

'Ah… The epilogue still remains. Then the next chapter is really the last one.'

From the end of childhood to adulthood, it had been done over a huge period of 13 years. There was a mixture of despondency that a world was coming to an end along with a sense of satisfaction.

I opened the comment box of the last message and rewrote the sentence several times.

"He really read it for 13 years…" Sooyoung murmurs.

Hades places his hand on his chin as he hums. The novel seems to be important for some reason. There must be a reason why it is shown in the video. But what is it? He doesn't know.

"Darling?" She asks, noticing her husband is in deep thought.

"It's nothing dear, just a thought."

-Kim Dokja: Writer, thank you for everything in the meantime. I am looking forward to the epilogue.

They were sincere sentences. Ways of Survival was his life's novel. It wasn't the most popular, but it was the best novel for him.

There were many words he wanted to say but he couldn't write them. He was afraid that his careless words would hurt the writer.

-An average of 1.9 hits per chapter.

-An average of 1.08 comments.

This was the average popularity index of 'Ways of Survival.'

The number of views for the first chapter was 1,200, but it fell to 120 for the 10th chapter, and then 12 for the 50th chapter. By the time it was the 100th chapter, it was only 1.

Hits= 1.

He was overwhelmed by the feeling he got when he saw the numerous '1' that appeared next to the list of chapters. In some cases, there was a '2', but it was likely someone pressing the wrong button.

'Thank you.'

The author published a novel with more than 3,000 chapters with just 1 hit per chapter over a period of 13 years. It was truly a story just for him.

"It does feel like it huh?" Bihyung thinks out loud as he watches the video more.

I pressed on the 'Recommendation Board' and immediately started tapping on the keyboard:

-I am recommending a honey jam novel.

The author wrote him a free completed novel, so he should give him a recommendation. He clicked on the completed button, and comments quickly appeared.

–It looks like a new anti. I searched for this person's ID, and they recommended the same novel several times.

–Isn't his recommendation banned? The author shouldn't do this here.

It occurred to him that he had written a recommendation several months ago. In an instant, there were dozens of comments for investigation by 'spectators'. His face flushed with embarrassment.

He was sure that the author would read this. So, he hurriedly tried to delete the message, but it was already reported that the message couldn't be removed.

"This…"

It was upsetting to think that the recommendation written with all his sincerity turned out like this.

If they even looked a little bit, why didn't anyone try reading the interesting novel? Dokja wanted to give a donation to the writer, but he couldn't afford it because he was a salary worker barely able to make a living.

Then Dokja received a notification that a 'message has arrived.'

Everyone leans forward as they watch, suddenly an interesting part is happening.

"A message?" Heewon asks as Hyunsung nods his head.

"It would seem so."

"What kind of message is it?" Yoosung asks as Dokja gulps, already fearing for his life.

"You'll soon see…"

-tls123: Thank you.

A message flew in from out of nowhere. It took Dokja a while to grasp the situation.

-Kim Dokja: The author?

tls123—it was the author of 'Ways of Survival.'

"Why would the author send you a message, Ahjussi?" Yoosung asks as Dokja bites his lips nervously.

Everyone looks at where Dokja is as he feels all their eyes on him.

"Again, you'll… Find out soon enough."

Sun Wukong is disappointed by the answer but he respects the decision as he continues watching.

-tls123: I was able to complete it to the end thanks to you. I also won the competition.

Ways of Survival won a competition?

-Kim Dokja: Congratulations! What is the competition?

-tls123: You won't know it because it is an unknown competition.

Dokja wondered if he lied because he was ashamed, but he wanted it to be true. Perhaps he really didn't know. It might be a bit hit on other platforms. Dokja was a little sad, but it was good to have an excellent story spread.

-tls123: I would like to send a special gift to you as a thank you.

"I have a bad feeling about this…" Uriel suddenly speaks as she looks at the screen.

"A gift?" Joonghyuk questions that Dokja's face pales, not wanting to answer the regressor at all.

-Kim Dokja: Gift?

-tls123: It is thanks to my dear reader that this story has come into the world.

Dokja gave the writer his email address as he asked.

-tls123: Ah, right. I got the monetization schedule.

"Monetization?" Jihye asks suspiciously, "That's weird…"

"What's weird?" Seolhwa asks curiously.

"Why start the monetization now when it's free like… 13 years ago?"

She has a point, but Bihyung, who is paying attention the most, widens his eyes when he sees the time on his phone on the screen.

06.55

'Don't tell me-?'

Junghwa glances over to the Dokkaebi as they smile. It seems one of them has found out already.

-Kim Dokja: Wow, really? When will it start? This masterpiece should've been paid for from the beginning…

It was a lie. The Ways of Survival was a daily series, so he would've had to spend 3,000 won a month. 3,000 won was one convenience-store lunch for him.

-tls123: The monetization starts at 07.00 pm.

-Kim Dokja: Then the epilogue coming will be paid?

-tls123: Yes, I'm afraid you need to pay for it.

-Kim Dokja: Of course, I have to pay! I will buy the last one!

There was no reply from the author afterward. I logged out of the site.

"Will he give a gift certificate? It would be good if it's 50,000 won."

"I'm curious as to what the gift is but why do I have a bad feeling…" Hyunsung asks as Dokja gulps. It was almost time for it to appear.

"I agree," Seolhwa begins, "It's too suspicious. Perhaps this author has a connection to the loop?"

Everyone stares at Seolhwa's form as they think of her words deeply. It made sense. Why else would Junghwa show the author and Dokja interacting?

-Reader-nim, my novel will become paid from 7 p.m. This will be helpful. Good luck.

[1 attachment.]

The author said he would give hima gift. What was the gift? Like his name, Dokja was also a reader by nature. So, he was excited to receive the mail.

Yes, it wasn't bad living as a reader.

He checked the time. It was 6:55 p.m. He had exactly five minutes before the novel became monetized at 7 p.m. Then he opened up his list of preferred novels in the app. Since Dokja was the only reader, he should leave a congratulatory comment and give strength to the author.

However…

-The work doesn't exist.

Yoo Joonghyuk narrows his eyes at the sight. It would seem like Seolhwa's words are correct. Because that time was also the moment the scenario started. But why show Dokja's side of view and not the author themselves?

Dokja tried typing 'ruined' several times in the search box, but the result was the same. The bulletin board for 'Ways of Survival' had disappeared without a trace. It was strange. Has there ever been a case of a novel being deleted without notification when it was going to be monetized?

At that moment, the subway lights turned off, and the inside of the train became dark.

"This is…" Uriel begins as Persephone nods her head.

"The start of the scenario."

With the Goddess' comment, everyone starts leaning in and paying closer attention.

"This is five minutes before the scenario…" Hyunsung begins as Heewon nods.

Abysall Black Flame Dragon finally paid more attention since it was boring for the last few minutes. It was finally getting interesting.

Kiiiiiiiik-! The subway train shook loudly and let out a metallic sound.

It caused Sangah to scream and grab Dokja's arm. Then he heard the sound of other people getting stirred up. Sangah gripped his arm so tightly that Dokja paid more attention to the pain in his left arm than the sudden stop. It took a dozen seconds for the train to stop fully.

"Dokja-ssi, I'm so sorry…" Sangah apologizes as Dokja just waves it off.

"It's ok, Sangah-ssi."

Then he heard confused voices coming from everywhere.

"Uh, what?"

"W-What is this?"

In the dark, one or two smartphone lights turned on. Sangah still held his left arm tightly as she asked, "W-What is going on?"

Dokja pretended to be unconcerned, "Don't worry. It isn't a big deal."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it is probably a disturbance from a suicide. The engineer will soon make an announcement."

As he finished speaking, he heard the engineer's announcement

–Telling all passengers on the train.Telling all passengers on the train.

The loud surroundings became calm. Dokja sighed and opened his mouth, "See, it isn't a big deal. Now an apology will air, and the power will come back on…"

–E-Everyone, run away… Run…!

'What?'

There was a beeping sound, and the broadcast turned off. The inside of the train became a mess.

"D-Dokja-ssi? What is this…?"

A bright light flashed from the front of the subway train. There was a loud drumming sound followed by a pop.

Something was heading this way in the darkness. It was just a coincidence that Dokja saw the clock at this moment—7:00 p.m.

Tick, it felt like the world was stopping.

Then he heard a voice:

[The free service of planetary system 8612 has been terminated.]

[The main scenario has started.]

The video stops as Junghwa looks over to them, "For every episode you can all ask me any questions for 1 minute, think of it as a short break before the shit hits the fan."

"Why are we watching his point of view instead of the author?" Yoo Joonghyuk speaks as Junghwa thinks about it.

"Even if I explain it you will not understand, watching it from his point of view will answer all of your questions, but it will take time."

Gilyoung asks a question, "Is Hyung the protagonist of this story?"

Junghwa nods and smiles at him.

"The author," Secretive Plotter begins, "Are they connected to the loop?" he asks.

Junghwa nods once again, "They are, not just them, but two other people as well. All three of them… are within this very room."

What?

"What do you mean!?" Joonghyuk demands as Junghwa chuckles.

"All will be answered if you watch, Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi," Junghwa answers as they feel their shirt is being grab by him and is hoisted up in the air.

"Why can't you just tell us!?" He demands again.

Junghwa answers him nonchalantly, "Because seeing is believing right? You won't understand the short version of it, you have to understand the full story behind it and the reason why it must be that way."

Joonghyuk glares at them before letting them go as Junghwa fixes their shirt.

"Your 1 minute is up, shall we start the next episode?"

Chapter 2: Let Us Begin

"Your 1 minute is up, shall we start the next episode?"

Everyone is silent before Bihyung speaks, raising his tiny hand as Junghwa looks at him, "Very well then, one last question. What is it, Bihyung-ssi?"

"Is the novel related to his knowledge of the scenario?"

That is an interesting question as everyone looks at Kim Dokja with wide eyes. Joonghyuk feels his hand is gripping into a fist as he finally realises what Bihyung meant by that.

Dokja bites his lips as he awaits his death in Junghwa's space.

"Wait," Jihye speaks as she also realises what bihyung is trying to say, "But doesn't this mean-,"

"We're from a novel?" Hades finishes.

Abyssal Black Flame Dragon looks at Hades with his eyes wide open, "Huh!? No… It can't be right?"

The Secretive Plotter looks at Kim Dokja wordlessly. If what Bihyung is saying is correct, then… Was his life just a novel for the entertainment of someone?

Hyunsung widens his eyes at the knowledge before looking over to Dokja who is trying to make himself look smaller.

There it is. The truth of the world.

Sooyoung almost feels sorry for him as everyone suddenly crowds him, as if demanding an answer from him.

"Kim Dokja…" Yoo Joonghyuk growls as he demands an explanation from him, "Explain right now! What the fuck is this novel all about!"

[The Skill The Fourth Wall is shaking.]

Dokja is afraid for once as everyone's attention is on him, But Junghwa seems to have sensed the tension as they suddenly clap their hands once, "Kim Dokja, tell them the truth. Because if we don't, the loop will never end, and Yoo Joonghyuk will forever wander world after world in search of his star."

Dokja looks at Junghwa's words, not really understanding the last part. Hell Joonghyuk is too angry to even notice the last part.

[Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk has activated Lie Detection]

Dokja bites his lips, but it seems like he truly has no choice but to tell the truth to everyone at this point. He is afraid that everyone will look at him differently.

Seolhwa notices how he is acting as she says, "It's ok, Dokja-ssi. We won't see you any differently," she tries to comfort him as Sangah nods.

"Seolhwa-ssi is right, Dokja-ssi. We promise we won't."

Kim Dokja shakes his head, "No, you will. And that's what I'm afraid of… You all will…"

"He's right you know," Junghwa decides it's time for them to interfere as they feel pity for their protagonist being cornered by everyone who are his allies, "Knowing this piece of information is important for all of you, but it is hard on him because… It is what he says, you will look at him differently, as well as it is something personal to him. That novel saved his life."

Dokja snorts as he looks at Junghwa, not expecting them to know that much, "So you even know that much huh?"

Junghwa smiles as they look at Dokja sorrowfully, not saying anything for the sake of reason.

Dokja takes a deep breath before sighing. It is now or never he supposed or else they will be stuck not being able to watch the future at all. Everyone is silent as they all feel like they are intruding in something personal, even the Constellations who are with them feel like they are intruding.

But Dokja finally manages to open his mouth, "Three Ways To Survive The Apocalypse, the novel I had been reading for 13 years, contained information about the future… It tells us about a man, struggling to survive the apocalypse. It tells of the scenarios, the people he meets, those he saves, and those he kills. It is a story about the many lives of that man."

Everyone is silent as they all absorb the information about the novel from Kim Dokja, "So…" Bihyung begins as he flies over to Dokja, "You know of me because I'm from the novel, right?" He asks as Dokja nods his head.

Bihyung pouts, "No wonder you know so much about me…"

"Ahjussi… Am I also a character…?" Jihye asks as Dokja bites his lips. Her face looks like it had seen death in the face as Dokja wordlessly nods his head.

She just sits there, hugging her knees as if cradling herself.

So most of the people in the room are from a novel… Joonghyuk feels like laughing. He never wanted to kill someone so badly before until now.

"Do you now understand Yoo Jooghyuk, on why we must watch his life to understand why it is what it is?"

Joonghyuk hates to admit it but… What Junghwa says is the truth. No, he wonders, who the hell is the author , and what did Dokja receive in that gift? As well as why Kim Dokja of all people?

The Constellations, however, are silent as a mouse. The Secretive Plotter carefully thinks of the words while Uriel and Sun Wukong talk amongst themselves with Abyssal Black Flame Dragon about them being characters from a novel.

"So," Junghwa begins, cutting the silence short, "Are we ready to start the next episode?"

Everyone is silent as they stare at the screen until Hades sighs, "Start the episode."

Junghwa presses on the play button.

「 Dokkaebi. The first time he appeared, someone said so. 」

He didn't know why but that sentence suddenly popped up in his head. The stopped subway train, the dark room… These details gave Dokja a sense of deja vu. The subway had stopped before, but it was rare. Even so, why? He remembered the familiar words from a novel… but it was ridiculous. Wasn't it impossible?

At this moment, the door of car 3807 opened wide, and the electricity returned. Yoo Sangah muttered by his side, "…Dokkaebi?"

Dokja's head was ringing. I trembled uneasily as the novel I knew and the reality before me overlapped.

「With two small horns and wearing a small straw mat, the strange and fluffy creature was floating in the air. 」

「 It was too strange to call it a fairy, too evil to call it an angel, and too tranquil to call it a demon. 」

「Thus, it was called a 'dokkkaebi. 」

And Dokja already knew the first thing the dokkaebi would say.

「아#@!아#@! …」

[아#@!아#@!….]

Fiction and reality overlapped precisely.

"Perfect prediction," Bihyung said as everyone nodded, it is exactly as it is written too. No wonder Kim Dokja knows everything too well. It was because of the novel he read.

Joonghyuk continues to watch closely and narrows his eyes, still wanting to kill Kim Dokja because of the secret he had been hiding away from him. But even so, isn't he just a reader ? If he was the author , then that's a whole different story.

'I'll have to be more patient. This person said that everything will be answered if I watch closely enough. Maybe with this information, I can finally end the scenarios early too…'

"What is this?"

"Augmented reality?"

Amidst the chattering people, Dokja was thrown into another world alone. This was unmistakably a dokkaebi—the very dokkaebi that opened the door to tragedy for thousands of lives in Ways of Survival. It was Sangah's voice that broke him out of his thoughts.

"It sounds vaguely like Spanish. Should I talk to it?"

Dokja was a bit taken aback and asked, "…Do you know what that is? Will you ask it for money?"

"No but…"

It was at this time that Dokja heard the correct pronunciation of Korean.

[Ah. Ah. Does this sound good? Ah, I had a hard time because the Korean patch didn't work. Everyone, can you hear my words?]

As a familiar language was being spoken, Dokja could see people's expressions relax. The first one to step up was a big man in a suit, "Hey, what are you doing right now?"

[…Huh?]

"Are you filming? I have to go because I have to quickly get to an audition," He seemed to be an obscure actor since his face was unfamiliar. If Dokja were a casting director, he would've picked him out for his brimming ambition. Unfortunately, the presence before him right now wasn't a director.

[Ah, auditions. That's right. This is also an audition. Haha, there was a shortage of data. I just entered when it was monetized at 7 p.m.]

"What? What are you talking about?"

"The monetization…" Seolhwa begins, "It's exactly the same as what the author said it would be…"

"Then that means…" Hyunsung begins, "The author knew this was coming!"

Dokja has to reconfirm his suspicions about the author since what they are talking about makes sense. Because why else did the author choose 07.00 pm sharp?

"The author has the power to truly know the future then," Sangah speaks as everyone is silent at the comment.

[Now, now. All of you, relax in your seats and listen to me. From now on, I will tell you something very important!]

Dokja's chest was becoming stuffy.

"What? Quickly get off the train!"

"Somebody call the captain!"

"What are they doing without the cooperation of the citizens?"

"Mother, what is that? A cartoon?"

There was no doubt about it. This was the development he knew. Dokja didn't want to be mixed up in this… but there was no way. The people present wouldn't listen to the small and cute-looking CG creature. The only thing he could do was stop Yoo Sangah who was trying to get up from her seat.

"Sangah-ssi, it is dangerous, so stay here."

"Huh?" Sangah's eyes widened. Dokja spoke during a moment of bewilderment, but there was no way to explain what he understood. To be exact, he didn't have to explain.

Sangah looks at her screenself before glancing over to Dokja and says, "Thank you. If it wasn't for you, I would've died."

Heewon stares at the screen and frowns. She is beginning to understand him if she was in his shoes. Because if she is in the same situation, she might do the same.

[Haha, you are really loud.]

There was a presence with a stronger persuasive power than anyone else right now.

[I told you to be quiet.]

Dokja closed his eyes slowly as the dokkaebi's eyes turned red. Something burst, and the subway became silent.

"Uh, uh. Uh…" There was a big hole in the forehead of the unknown actor who had to go to the audition. The man who had spoken several times collapsed on the spot.

[This isn't a movie shoot.]

There was a cracking sound once again. This time, it was the person talking about the captain.

[It isn't a dream. It isn't a novel either.]

"And to think it actually is a novel before it becomes a reality," Bihyung says to his past self.

Hades and Persephone nod, "Truly such a development is unbelievable, and yet here we are, in a world where fiction and reality merge into one," the goddess says.

One, two… Blood sprayed into the air as the heads of some people started to burst. They were all the people who had protested against the dokkaebi, as well as the ones who screamed or went wild. Those who caused the slightest fuss had a hole in their heads. Suddenly, the subway became a bloodbath.

[This isn't the 'reality' that you know. Do you understand? So everyone shut up and listen to me.]

More than half the people present here died. Blood and body pieces filled the subway. Now, the people didn't scream. Like primitive apes in front of a powerful predator, everyone just watched the dokkaebi with terror. Dokja was surprised and held tightly onto the shoulder of Sangah who was hiccuping.

This was real. The strange message which entered my ears, the dokkaebi had appeared in front of him, and the train car that had become a bloodbath…

"Finally a blood bath!" Abyssal Black Flame Dragon cheers as he is finally paying more attention to the screen compared to the rest of them.

[Everyone, your lives have been nice so far. Isn't that right?]

In the special needs seating area, an elderly grandmother met the eyes of the dokkaebi.

[You have been living too long for free. Isn't life too generous? You were born and paid no price for breathing, eating, pooping and breeding! Ha! You really live in a good world!]

Free? No one in the subway lived for free. The people strived to make money in order to survive, and they rode the subway on the way home from work. Yet at this moment, no one disputed the dokkaebi's words.

[But now the good days are over. How long can you continue living for free? If you want to enjoy happiness, it is common sense to pay a price. Isn't that right?]

The gasping people couldn't answer. Then at that time, someone carefully raised their hand. "D-Do you want money?"

Joonghyuk scoffs at the man that offers a dokkaebi money in return for hs life as he crosses his hands. He seems familiar. Oh right, it was the man in glasses during the second scenario he shortly met before.

Wait, if he was watching it from Dokja's POV then he could easily learn more about the man himself, as well as stop this whole "loop" Junghwa is talking about. He sighs in his head. First he has to save the world and now this happens. Dammit, he really can't take a break huh?

The Secretive Plotter watches Yoo Joonghyuk silently as he glances over to the screen, trying to figure out what he is thinking.

He wondered what type of person could speak in the middle of this situation, but surprisingly, Dokja knew his face.

"Yoo Sangah-ssi. Isn't that Department Head Han of the finance team?"

"…Right."

There was no doubt. He was a typical parachute in the company and the number one person newcomers avoided. It was Han Myungoh, department head of the finance team. Why was this man riding the subway?

"I will give you money. Take it. Please note that I am a person like this."

Department Head Han pulled out his business card as people cheered him on. It was the atmosphere of a saviour fighting against terrorists.

"How much do you want? A big one? Or two?"

He was offering a sum that was overly large for a department head of a subsidiary company. There was a rumour that Han Myungoh was the youngest son of the leader of the affiliate company and now he thought it might be true. Dokja couldn't carry that many cheques in my wallet.

[Hrmm, you are giving me money?]

"T-That's right! The cash I have right now isn't much but… I can give you anything if you let me out of here."

[Money, good. A plant fibre that many humans mutually agree on.]

The department head's expression brightened. It was an 'Indeed, money is everything' expression. How pitiful.

"This human is quite pitiful… I think I remember seeing him in one of the streams little Dokja is in," Persephone begins as Bihyung nods.

"He was in the first few scenarios before he mysteriously vanished. I'm not sure where he is now either."

Dokja has to think as well, where did Han Myungoh go anyway? The man mysteriously disappeared after the second scenario.

"Now, this is all I have―"

[It only applies in your time and space.]

"Huh?"

At the next moment, flames appeared in the air, and the cheques in the department head's hands burned up. Department Head Han let out a scream.

[That paper has no value in the macrocosm world. If you do this one more time, I will blow away your head.]

"U-Uhhh…" Fear once again spread on the faces of the people present. It was easy to read what they were thinking because it was just like the novel.

「 What the hell will happen now? 」

Only Dokja knew what was going to happen in the future.

[Phew, the debt is piling up during the time when you are noisy. Well, yes. Rather than explain it a hundred times, isn't it quicker for you to make money yourself?]

The dokkaebi's horns rose like they were antennas, and its body floated to the ceiling of the train.

A moment later, a message rang out.

[#BI-7623 channel is open.]

[The constellations have entered.]

The constellations pay closer attention to them as they finally appear on the screen, even if they are not shown. They already know what is going to happen and yet the tension is all the same. They can't wait for the episodes to run until it shows the future, but Junghwa says they also need to know of the past first.

Uriel wonders why they need to learn of the past, because there must be a reason. Is it because there are things that must be said like the novel? It seems like it.

A small window emerged in front of everyone's blank eyes.

[The main scenario has arrived!]

[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value]

Category: Main

Difficulty: F

Clear Conditions: Kill one or more creatures.

Time Limit: 30 minutes

Compensation: 300 coins

Failure: Death

The dokkaebi smiled faintly as it became transparent and disappeared into the next space.

[Then, good luck everyone. Please show me an interesting story.]

People reacted differently after the dokkaebi disappeared. Some people tried to get out of the train while others called the police.

Yoo Sangah belonged to the latter group. "Police, the police aren't answering! What, what should I…"

"Calm down, Sangah-ssi," Dokja said, staring straight into Sangah's unfocused eyes. "Sangah-ssi. Have you ever played the game that the development team made? A game where the world is destroyed and only a few people survive."

"That's a smart way to say it," Sooyoung begins as Hyunsung nods, but even so it's hard to believe that he is a character from a novel.

'I wonder how much Dokja-ssi knows about us… Probably everything huh?' He looks at the reader with a sad expression.

"Huh? What are you say…"

"Think about it. We are in a game right now."

Sangah silently licked her lips. "Game…"

"It is simple. Don't hesitate to do as I tell you. Understood?"

"U-Understood. What should I do?"

"Stay still."

Finally, Dokja slowly controlled my breathing. He too needed time to properly accept all of this.

[Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World]

The descriptions that existed only in the novel were now unfolding right before my eyes.

「The dokkaebi stretched out its antenna. 」

「 The bodies scattered like trash in the carriage. 」

「 The bloodied office worker shaking. 」

「An old lady groaning in her seat. 」

"The words match with what's happening with the scenario…" Seolhwa comments as everyone nods. It seems it truly is a novel that everyone is in because novel and reality has merged into one world.

"Kim Dokja…" Yoo Joonghyuk asks as Dokja squeaks in surprise.

"Y-yes?"

"Knowing the future, did you use me just like how others used me before?" He asks as Dokja is silent. He feels like he is getting scolded by him, and honestly Dokja doesn't blame him at all.

"... I-,"

"He could never use you, Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi," Dokja widens his eyes when Junghwa suddenly says something, "What he does is for your own good."

"My own good?" He chuckles emptily as he looks at Junghwa, "What makes you say that?"

Junghwa smiles as they responds, "As someone who knows the reason why you regress, I do know more."

"Regress?" Yoosung asks as it is now finally Joonghyuk's turn to be questioned.

Joonghyuk stays silent as he stares at Junghwa. The reason why he regresses? Junghwa knows!?

"What's regress?" Gillyoung suddenly ask as everyone falls silent.

It's Junghwa who answers him, "The answer will come soon, so watch and learn, Gilyoung-ah."

Gilyoung pouts but he does what he was told to.

Dokja watched every scene intently. It was like Neo in the Matrix, who suspected reality. Observing, questioning, and then eventually being convinced… He had to admit it. I didn't know the reason why, but there were no doubts about it.

'Ways of Survival' has become a reality.

Let him think… How should Dokja survive in this new world?

"Come on, everybody! Everybody calm down. Start breathing calmly."

Someone stepped forward exactly five minutes after the dokkaebi disappeared.

He was a sturdy man with short cut hair, one head taller than the average height.

"Are you calm yet? Please stop your actions and pay attention to me for a moment."

Hyunsung blinks curiously as he blinks up, seeing himself on the screen and biting his lips.

Dokja had anticipated this would happen, and yet he was selfish. Or at least that is what Hyunsuns thinks, but at least he would be able to know his thought process behind his reasoning.

"Dokja-ssi, you knew this would happen," Hyunsung begins as Dokja nods.

"I do," he speaks.

"Then… The lives that were lost that day-,"

Dokja can only nod as Hyunsung is silent, looking back at the screen.

The people sobbing or making calls stopped. Once everyone's eyes were gathered on him, the big man opened his mouth again, "As you know, in the event of a national disaster, small disturbances can cause large human casualties. That's why I will now control the situation."

"What, who are you?"

"A national disaster situation? What are you saying?"

Some people belatedly recovered and strongly resisted the world 'control.' Then the young man pulled a government official card out of his wallet. "I am currently an army lieutenant serving in the 6502 unit."

"Is this how I was introduced in your novel of yours, Dokja-ssi?" Hyunsung asks as Dokja shakes his head.

"No, the novel is from the protagonist's point of view so this is beyond what I know," he responds.

Uriel looks at Dokja, "Protagonist?" she repeaters as Dokja nods his head.

"Indeed. Hyunsung isn't supposed to be introduced in the first scenario. The protagonist meets him after the first scenario ends."

"Who is the protagonist?" They hear the Secretive Plotter asks, Dokja bites his lips.

"You will see soon enough…"

Some people's faces became relieved. "A soldier, he is a soldier."

However, it was too early to be relieved.

"I just received a message from my unit."

People gathered in front of the soldier's smartphone. I was able to read the contents without difficulty because I was near it.

–A level 1 national disaster situation has occurred. All troops gather quickly.

Dokja could hear gulps all around me. It was a national disaster. He wasn't surprised because I had already expected this. In fact, he was surprised because of something else.

Army lieutenant Lee Hyunsung… That 'Lee Hyunsung' was this man.

Dokja knew who he was. It was the first time actually seeing his face, but his name was clear in his head. He was one of the main supporting actors of Ways of Survival.

「 Steel Sword Lee Hyunsung. 」

"Steel Sword?" Hyunsung repeats as Dokja nods.

"Yeah, one of the strongest incarnations in Seoul."

Hyunsung just watches his past self as he wonders. If knowing the future could save everyone, would he also do the same thing as Dokja did?

A character from the novel had appeared. Now I really had to acknowledge the situation.

"Soldier-nim! What is happening?"

"I have been trying to contact my unit, but…"

"The Blue House! What is the Blue House doing? Please contact the president quickly!"

"I'm sorry. I am just an ordinary soldier and don't have a hotline to the Blue House."

"Then why are you taking control?"

"For the sake of the safety of all citizens…"

As Lee Hyunsung calmly responded to the absurd questions, Dokja realised that the descriptions in the novel weren't wrong. However, did Hyunsung originally appear like this? While thinking about these complicated questions, he had a strange hunch.

As the only reader of Ways of Survival, he could assure you that Hyunsung's first appearance wasn't like this. The point at which he appeared in the novel was at the end of the first scenario.

…Then what was this situation? Dokja mind became confused. He would know more clearly if he could read Ways of Survival once again.

"The prime minister is making a speech! It is really a level one disaster!"

Everyone turned on their smartphones at someone's cry. Sangah turned her screen toward me. "…Dokja-ssi, look at this."

There was no need to enter a search term. It was because the first result for all portal sites was 'Prime Minister's Speech.' Of course, he already knew the content of the video.

–To all my fellow citizens, unidentified terrorists are currently active in an unspecified number of areas, including Seoul.

The contents of the speech were simple. The current government would mobilise all means and methods to fight the terrorists, and there would never be any negotiations. Thus, everyone should confidently continue with their lives…

He hadn't thought much of it when he read the novel, but now Dokja was a bit shocked when hearing those words. Terrorism… Yes, that would be more comfortable.

"Do you prefer terrorism to the scenarios?" Sooyoung asks as Dokja groans.

"Both are equally bad in my opinion…" Yoosung comments as she stares at the screen.

"I mean," Heewon speaks and sighs, "I honestly prefer terrorism compared to the scenarios myself…"

Every incarnations can't help but agree to those words as well, but reality wasn't so kind to them.

Bihyung wonders why he's in the room, watching the future with them. The same for several constellations as well as they watch what happens next. He should probably ask that after the episode ends.

"But where is the president? Why is the prime minister making the speech?"

"The president has already been hit."

"What? Really?"

"I'm not sure. A Naver comment―"

"Shit, then it is fake!"

Of course, Dokja knew it wasn't a fake comment.

"Uwaaaaack! What?"

People dropped their phones as gunshots were heard from all over. It originated from their smartphones.

Chiiiik, there was a loud sound, and blood filled the screen. After a moment, people held their breaths as they realised what had happened.

"P-Prime Minister…"

The prime minister had died. His head had exploded in real-time. There were several more sounds like gunfire before the screen became silent. The next thing that appeared on the screen was a dokkaebi.

[Everyone, I've told you already. This isn't a game like 'terrorism.']

People were at a loss for words as their mouths gaped open like dumb goldfish.

[Do you still not understand? This won't do. Do you still feel like this is a game?]

It felt so ominous because his tone was so relaxed. Subconsciously, Dokja made a fist using all his strength.

[Haha, according to the data, the people of this country are very good at games. So, why don't I try raising the difficulty?]

Beeep. A huge timer appeared in the air. At the same time, it started decreasing rapidly.

[The remaining time has been decreased by 10 minutes.]

[There are 10 minutes remaining.]

[If the first killing doesn't occur within the next five minutes, all lives in that carriage will be wiped out.]

"W-What is this? Is it a joke?"

"Didn't you hear the message just now? Hey, didn't you hear it?"

"Soldier-nim! What do we do now? Why isn't the police coming?"

"Everyone, calm down and listen to me―"

The words of the dokkaebi caused the situation in the carriage to become so severe that Hyunsung couldn't fix it. I could feel Sangah gripping my collar tightly.

Still, he couldn't shake off the incongruity of this situation. Hyunsung, a supporting character, had already appeared. So, why hadn't 'he' emerged? According to what he knew, Dokja should've seen him by now.

"At least we now know the protagonist is a guy," Gilyoung speaks as Joonghyuk watches the screen intensely. He had wondered what had happened to Namwoon, so maybe this will answer a few questions he has for Kim Dokja.

The protagonist of the novel huh… A novel where most of the people in the room belonged to. He narrows his eyes as he glances at Dokja who squirms in his seat when he feels a pair of glaring eyes land on him.

"T-There is a murder back there!"

A scene from the 3907 train car could be seen through the aisle window.

The complexion of the killer in that carriage was white.

"We have to keep them out! Don't let anyone in!"

People held tightly to the iron door, but it wasn't necessary. The enemy wasn't there in the first place.

[All types of access to the carriage will be restricted until the scenario is complete.]

Along with this message, people were thrown back from the iron door like they had hit a transparent barrier.

"W-What is this?"

Once again, the voice of the dokkaebi rang out.

[Haha, there are some places that are quite fun while other places haven't started yet. Okay, this is a special service. I will show you what will happen if nothing occurs in the next five minutes.]

A giant screen appeared in the subway. The place that appeared on the screen was a classroom.Girls in their navy blue school uniform were shaking.

A boy bit his fingernails and muttered, "…Is that the school uniform of Daepong?"

An ominous beeping sound was heard. Then the high school girls started to scream.

[The given time has run out.]

[Paid settlement will begin.]

Jihye pales at the screen in front of her as she looks away, not wanting to see her trauma once again. Seolhwa, who is next to her, feels sorry and pity for her as she softly pats her head in order to comfort her.

She may be a doctor physically, but the doctor of the mind was another matter entirely. Maybe with the knowledge, she can learn some psychology as well in order to help her people more. Because who wouldn't be mentally exhausted because of the scenarios.

Jihye cried quietly in her seat as Bihyung flies away from the room, as if hiding from them, "Why…" she cries pitifully, "Why show this part again!?" she looks at Junghwa as the androgynous person simply stares at her, "Because you need to move on."

The only one happy about this is Abyssal Black Flame Dragon who's enjoying the bloodshed while the others stay silent, at least in respect for Jihye who is having ptsd.

"Move on…"she sobs before glaring at Junghwa, "MOVE ON!? HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSE TO MOVE WHEN I KILLED MY BEST FRIEND WITH MY OWN HANDS!?" She demands as Junghwa sighs.

"Ask Joonghyuk-ssi."

Jihye stops as she looks at her master, "What.. What do you mean?"

Junghwa begins to explain, "He is a regressor. A regressor is someone who dies and time travels back to a certain point in their life, with their memories intact. So you can say Joonghyuk has a vast knowledge of the scenarios and the future as well, but it is only limited to what he does."

Heewon speaks up, widening her eyes as she learns the truth, "Then… He lived the same life over and over again!?"

Junghwa looks art Dokja as he nods, as if saying go ahead, tell everyone of the truth.

"Yes," Junghwa speaks, "He has lived through the scenarios for… a couple of times already, so if you want to know how to move on, asking Joonghyuk is the best option because he had loved, killed, betrayed, and befriended allies and enemies alike."

The Secretive Plotter is silent as everyone talks amongst themselves. Already knowing exactly how many times he will regress. Still, the Secretive Plotter is interested in Junghwa as well, perhaps they will be able to answer a few questions of his own.

Once the announcement ended, the heads of the high school girls sitting in the front row exploded.

One by one, one by one again… More and more heads exploded. The high school girls screamed and ran toward the classroom doors or windows.

"Ahh, uh, how―"

Cleaning tools broke and nails were torn out, but the doors didn't open.

No one could get out.

The heads of the high school girls continued to burst. Then a high school girl strangled her friend, who died with a groan. After a while, the only thing that remained on the screen was the last schoolgirl looking around.

[#Bay23515 channel. Daepong Girls' High School, Year 2 Class B survivor: Lee Jihye.]

The figure of the girl on the screen disappeared. Then the dokkaebi asked.

[How is it? Interesting?]

Jihye glares at Bihyung as Junghwa hushes her, "No killing in this space or else you will be back to where you were before you teleported, not knowing of the future."

Jihye curses, she does want to know of the future so she'll not kill the dokkaebi.

Yet.

The dokkaebi spoke with a smile, but people weren't looking at the screen anymore. The people who made eye contact were gradually moving away from each other.

"Shit! What is this?"

Even Sangah released her hold on Dokja. However, she didn't move away from him. Both his hands were freed, and he turned on his smartphone.

Why was 'that guy' still not showing up? There was a mixture of information that he knew from the novel and information that he didn't know.

The only way to break through this situation was to read the novel again. However, where else could he find the novel? The novel wasn't popular enough to be shared illegally… No, wait a minute.

[1 attachment.]

He was stunned for a moment as he saw the notification on his smartphone. Perhaps… No? Dokja was confused the moment he opened the mail attachment.

The name of the attachment sent by the author was:

[Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World.TXT]

"YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR PHONE KIM DOKJA!?" Sooyoung demand as she looks at Dokja. The man is once again surrounded by everyone when they learn that he has the whole future in his phone.

"You… no wonder you know so much of the universe," Hades begins as his wife nods her head.

"I've been wondering how an Incarnation could know so much about the Star Stream and Nebulae. So this is the reason."

Bihyung looks at Dokja as he pouts, "No fair, that's cheating! You know everything about me and yet I still dunno next to nothing about you other than you being a scammer!"

"A scammer!? Ahjuss/hyung isn't a scammer!" Both children yell at the dokkaebi who flies away from them.

"What's even going on with the author and you, Dokja-ssi!?" Heewon demands from him.

"Can we buy the novel from you?" Sun Wukong and Abyssal Black Flame Dragon asks.

There are so many questions that Dokja isn't able to answer any of them in fear of his life and being too overwhelmed.

"I don't know, ok!?" Dokja raises his voice against everyone, making them widen their eyes at the sudden outburst, "Even I don't know everything like why we're in this scenario! I'm just an ordinary salaryman who's barely meeting his payment! I don't know why the author chose me!"

The theatre is silent after his outburst, finally realising it themselves that they are being too greedy. They are going to be given answers from the episodes, but they are too impatient to get them.

"All of your answers will be explained in the videos, but not now. All you need to know right now are the one's going to be shown for the moment."

Bihyung looks over to Junghwa, "Junghwa, tell me. Why am I here as well as the constellations?" he asks, "You can at least answer me that, right?" he asks.

Junghwa shakes their head, "You must watch as to why you're here, dokkaebi Bihyung-ssi."

Bihyung curses but did what he is told and sits back down.,

Abyssal Black Flame Dragon hums at the question Bihyung asked before. He had a point. Why are they here as well? If it was just the incarnations it would be understandable, but even constellations are here. And even then… It's just a select few. He may be a chuuni but he ain't dumb.

Dokja had to clear his eyes and look again to see if it was a lie. The file extension was TXT. Then this person… The gift he sent him me was a copy of his novel?

[You have obtained an exclusive attribute.]

[The exclusive skill slot has been activated.]

Everyone wanted to learn about Kim Dokja's attribute so they all watch the next part closely, "I wonder what Hyung's attribute is?" Gilyoung says excitedly as Dokja hums, knowing the answer. They won't be able to see his attribute as well because even he doesn't know.

He heard a message in his ear after running the file. It wasn't surprising if the world had changed into 'Ways of Survival.' All survivors of Ways of Survival had exclusive attributes and skills.

Dokja quietly said 'Attribute Window' in his mind. He needed to know the attribute that he received.

[You can't activate the Attribute Window.]

What? He once again tried to call out 'Attribute Window' but the result was the same.

"Dokkaebi," Joonghyuk calls out to Bihyung who eeps at the man, "Why can't we see his attributes?"

"Don't look at me, even when I was trying to fix it, I couldn't!" Bihyung speaks truthfully.

[The Skill Lie Detection has confirmed the words to be true.]

"But isn't it weird?" Sun Wukong says as he looks at the screen, "Does it relate to the fact that he's the only reader?"

Dokja is silenced by Wukong's words. That… That may be the reason why it was locked… But it still doesn't answer the question as to why he can't access it since it's just a theory.

It was absurd. There was something like this? If I couldn't use the Attributes Window, Dokja couldn't know what attributes or skills he have. Knowing oneself and one enemy's meant being invincible. But this was a situation where Dokja didn't even know himself, let alone the enemy.

After staring into space for a while, he gave up and decided to read the text that the author gave me.

[Your reading speed has increased due to the effect of the exclusive attribute.]

Dokja didn't know what the attribute was, but it took him less than a minute to read the first act of Ways of Survival thanks to the attribute effect. He found it. The place where his finger stopped was the beginning of the work, where the main character was doing some 'action' in the train scene.

「 He saw people gathered at the back door of the 3707 carriage. The wheel of the tightly held lighter was cold.

In this life, he absolutely couldn't make a mistake. He would use any means for his purpose.

The expression of fear on the people's faces. He didn't feel any guilt.

Everything was fleeting.

He looked at the people with merciless eyes. After a while, his fingertips moved and fire rose. Then it all started. 」

A chill went down his spine and he had to read the passage again and again. The reason for his discomfort was soon revealed.

"…3707."

I reflexively checked the number of the carriage I was riding.

[3807].

"Who was riding in the 3807 cabin?" Yoosung asks curiously, but at the same time was also afraid because of how Dokja was describing him, he was a psychopath.

It doesn't take long before Dokja is suddenly thrown across the theatre by Yoo Joonghyuk as he glares at him, "You've gotta be kidding me, Kim Dokja…" Joonghyuk growls at him as he stomps towards the man who coughs.

Even the Secretive Plotter is feeling such fury in his heart, but decided to not act and instead stayed on his chair, letting Joonghyuk do it.

"W-wait, Yoo Joonghyuk!" Dokja begins before the regressor grabs the collar of his shirt and once again raises him up. His eyes filled with anger.

"You really are nothing without that damn novel of yours, aren't you?" Yoo Joonghyuk said to me, a look of rage still plastered on his face.

"Joonghyuk-ssi!" Seolhwa tries to calm him down as Sangah also joins in, grabbing Joonghyuk's hand to stop him from choking him.

"Let go of Dokja-ssi, Joonghyuk-ssi!" Sangah yells.

Junghwa widens their eyes at the chaos that ensues as they sigh, "Yoo Joonghyuk, let go of the man or else you will not know of the future," they speak as Joonghyuk just glares at everyone.

"You really think I give a shit about the future now that I know I'm nothing but just a fucking character of a fictional novel for his entertainment!?" he screams.

Junghwa closes their eyes, wondering if they should reveal a late information just so the situation can calm down. But that would just make the situation even worse, so Junghwa sighs and pauses the video. Looks like they have no choice but to reveal something drastic, even if Junghwa doesn't wanna do it.

"Yoo Joonghyuk, you-"

"Are we nothing but characters to you?" Yoo Joonghyuk demands as Dokja looks at Joonghyuk with such sorrow in his eyes, "Did you use the information you had to manipulate the scenarios into getting what you want?"

"..."

"Answer me, Kim Dokja!"

[Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk has activated Lie Detection.]

"Yes," Dokja answers after being pressured, having no choice but to answer, "There is a certain ending that I want to see. As you all saw, I wasn't able to read the epilogue of the novel TWSA. That is why I want to create a certain ending."

[The Skill Lie Detection has confirmed the words to be true.]

"And what would your perfect ending be Kim Dokja?" Persephone asks, stepping closer to the pair as she stares at the man. The question brings the attention of everyone to him.

"The epilogue I want to create is an ending where all my companions can be happy."

[The Skill Lie Detection has confirmed the words to be true.]

Yoo Joonghyuk stares in surprise at Dokja who is close to crying as Junghwa finally steps up, separating them both so that Dokja is on the ground.

"Do you understand now, Yoo Joonghyuk?" they ask, "There is a reason for everything, not all can be answered by violence," Junghwa looks at Dokja as they ask, "Do you want to sit near me, Dokja-ssi?"

Dokja looks at them before nodding his head. The whole room is silent as they watch the red haired androgynous person lead Kim Dokja to where their computer is and let the man sit next to him before looking at everyone. Dokja is their protagonist after all, and they would do anything to protect him.

"Let us continue the episode."

Everyone quietly goes back to their chairs except for Joonghyuk who is standing still where he was, "Joonghyuk-ssi?" Junghwa calls him as the man finally responds, going back to where his seat was silently.

The carriage he was on right now was behind the carriage that the protagonist was riding. Dokja's hands faintly shook. Wait a minute. How many people originally survived this carriage?

「 He looked through the blurred window at the 3807 carriage. It was already too late. It was inevitable. Anyway, only two people survived in that carriage. 」

Only two survived. It meant that everyone died except for two people. And he already knew who those two people were.

Dokja raised his head and looked blankly at Sangah. Maybe this woman would die. Dokja as well.

"Dokja-ssi, shouldn't we stop this?"

Something was starting in the place where Sangah pointed. It was groaning. A young man was crouching down in front of the elderly woman.

"Shit, I'm in a bad mood and this old lady keeps whining and groaning! Won't you shut up?"

The young man was a male student who had been leaning against the entrance.

He was thin and had dyed white hair. His name was written on the badge attached to his uniform.

Kim Namwoon. It was a name that he knew.

「 Only Lee Hyunsung and Kim Namwoon survived in that carriage. It doesn't matter. They are the only two I need anyway. 」

"Ah, it's the incarnation I was supposed to sponsor," Abyssal Black Flame Dragon speaks as he looks at the screen, "Shame he died."

Jihye looks at the screen as she frowns, "I just realised something," Jihye begins as she looks at the screen, the sentence makes her think.

"What is it?" Heewon asks.

"Isn't Master and Ahjussi the same regarding us? Because they know so much of the future already, they're using us and manipulating the scenario to get what they want."

Everyone is silent as Jihye made a solid point. They know of the future already too, and they must already know of certain people to help them achieve their own goal.

"I guess even Joonghyuk isn't as noble as we first thought he was," Heewon says as she looks at both Dokja and Joonghyuk.

"Didn't I tell you to shut up?"

The agitated Namwoon grabbed the grandmother's collar. The grandmother's powerless legs staggered. Namwoon's palm moved through the air.

Slap. Slap.

In normal times, somebody would run to stop this. But now nobody was moving. It wasn't long before the slaps changed to punches.

"S-Save me. Save me…!"

Dokja could hear the sound of a hard fist hitting flesh. Some of the men around Namwoon hesitated but none of them wanted to go forward. Surprisingly, the first person to act was Han Myungoh.

"Young me, treating an elder like this…!"

However, all he got in reply was a voice mixed with scorn.

"Mister, do you want to die?"

"…What?"

"You still don't understand the situation?"

"What bullshit is this brat saying?"

Namwoon only laughed at the cursing Myungoh. He pointed to the ceiling of the subway carriage with his finger.

"Can't you see that?"

On the ceiling, a holographic screen was playing.

[S-Spare me!]

[Aaaack!]

[Die! Die!]

It is obvious Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is the only one enjoying the bloodlust while the rest are quiet, especially after the dramas from before are still fresh in their minds, causing most can't focus much on the episode.

It wasn't just train carriages or Daepong High School. It was a live video of people dying all over the country. Namwoon continued speaking.

"You still don't understand? The army isn't coming to rescue us. And somebody must die."

"W-What are you saying…?"

"We have to choose a person to die."

Han Myungoh wasn't able to answer. The hairs of his exposed wrist were standing up.

"Of course, I know what you are thinking. You have to kill your fellow countrymen to live. It is something only sons of bitches will do. But you know, it is a force beyond our control. Beyond our control. We will die if we don't kill. Who will blame us? Are you going to die in the end because of your morals?"

"T-That…"

"Think carefully. The world you have known so far has just ended."

Myungoh's shoulders trembled. It wasn't only Myungoh. Cracks were showing in people's eyes. It was a scene where the vague morality was collapsing. Namwoon put a wedge in that crack.

"I can understand why the Abyssal Black Flame Dragon wants to sponsor this child," Persephone begins as her husband nods.

"I agree, he has adapted to the new world in such a short period of time, it's impressive."

"Except for the fact he's a chuuni," Uriel speaks.

"A new world requires new laws."

Kim Namwoon. A young man who adapted to the world of Ways of Survival the fastest. Namwoon turned around and resumed punching the grandmother. This time, nobody stopped him. Han Myungoh, the other men… Even Lee Hyunsung.

The soldier's fists were trembling as he stared into the air with a lost expression. Maybe he had also made a decision.

"Sigh… It is hard to kill. Are you just watching? Do you want to fall behind?"

People trembled at Kim Namwoon's words. Their facial expressions were as easy to read as the sentences in a cheap novel.

「If there is no killing in five minutes, everyone in this carriage will die.」

People's eyes were changing.

「If the grandmother doesn't die, we will die in five minutes… 」

The most primitive eyes that a living creature could have.

"Yes… This bastard is right. If we don't do this, everyone will die."

The first man rushed towards Kim Namwoon. He kicked at the old lady who had collapsed and was curled up.

"Have you forgotten? Someone must die! So we can live!"

"Ah fuck… I don't know."

The second and third.

The people standing aloof from the grandmother. The cowardly men who had been lingering. The university student filming this with their phone. The mother of the child and Han Myungoh.

The Incarnations looks away from the brutal scene of people killing the old grandmother. Heewon is seething in rage but what can she do? She knows it's just a video of the past but watching it made her whole entire body fill with rage.

"Did you seriously let that old grandma die just because of that, Dokja-ssi!?"

Dokja doesn't say anything as Junghwa looks at Heewon, "What can you do in that situation, you have no choice but to kill something if you want to survive."

They all lynched the grandmother, aiming for her death.

"Die! Die quickly!"

They were like guards cooperating for the death penalty. Like the guards pulling the lever at the same time so they couldn't tell who killed the prisoner, these people passively kicked and punched the grandmother.

And Dokja was watching all of this. He was standing by, like someone watching what happened in another world. The grandmother whose name he didn't know was someone who wasn't meant to live. In the original scenario, the grandmother died. So… It wasn't a sin to observe that death.

At that moment, Sangah got up.

"You will be killed." Dokja reflexively grabbed her, "I told you not to move."

The arm he was holding was shaking. Sangah made tight fists in an attempt to hide her trembling.

"I know, I know…!"

"Sangah-ssi will die if you go now."

Yoo Sangah's eyes were shaking with fear. Even so…

Dokja realised it. Despite the genre of the story changing, some people still shone brightly.

"Yoo Sangah-ssi. Sit down."

However, the person who could change this story wasn't Sangah. Sangah wasn't the protagonist of this world.

"Huh? But―"

"Do as I say, just this once. I won't interfere after that."

After forcibly putting Sangah back in her seat, Dokja took a deep breath and turned around. He straightened my back and shook as he breathed out. Dokja slowly loosened his ankles and wrist.

In fact, it was a little early to come forward. This wasn't his plan originally.

"What was your plan originally anyway?" Sooyoung asks as Dokja shrugs.

"It's a secret," he speaks.

"…Dokja-ssi?"

Dokja didn't answer her call as he looked at the people. The people intent on assaulting the grandmother.

Dokja wasn't still because he was afraid of Namwoon and the people, nor did he consent to their inhumanity.

He was just waiting. It was for the moment I had to move. Thus… Kwaang!

Right now.

"Ack! What?"

"What happened!?" Yoosung asks as Gilyoung tries to remember what had happened that moment.

"Ah, a bomb exploded."

"A bomb!?" Yoosung repeats, not believing what Gilkyoung had said until Joonghyuk explains.

"There was a terrorist in my cabin."

His cabin. A terrorist… Honestly having a terrorist would be better than the scenarios.

An explosion filled Dokja's ears and the train shook. People cried out. Smoke rose from the front right corner of this carriage. It had started. 'He' had moved.

"Who's he!" Abyssal Black Flame Dragon asks.

Dokja groans, he really doesnt wanna answer in fear of getting killed, "You'll see soon enough…"

Dokja kicked off from the ground as hard as he could with his right foot. He passed by the people screaming and sitting down towards the grandmother.

"What? Agh!"

Namwoon collided with Dokja and fell to the ground with a scream. At first glance, it seemed like he was saving the grandmother, but that wasn't what I was aiming for.

"You weren't?" Sooyoung asks as she looks at the screen, interested in how he survived the first phase of the scenario.

Gilyoung says, " Hyungs is aiming at the bug box I was carrying."

Where was it? He looked around quickly.

Somebody had fallen towards the grandmother due to the explosion. It was a kid crying in the middle of this hell. The kid who was holding the insect collecting net before.

"Excuse me for a moment."

I took the net from the child.

Once he put his hand into the net, the chitin of a grasshopper reached his fingertips. Dokja took one out and placed it in the kid's hands. Then he turned towards the people.

Gilyoung looks at Dokja, "Hyung, why did you give me the insect? I'm still confused, but grateful for it."

Dokja smiles, but it was a forceful one, "Perhaps it can be answered in the episode."

"Everybody stop. You can't live if you kill her."

His voice was surprisingly clear due to the temporary silence after the explosion. One by one, people started looking at Dokja.

"Let's say you kill the grandmother. What next?"

"The grandmother's death will be recognized for what the dokkaebi calls the 'first murder' and some time will be bought. Then what next?"

"Ah…"

"If what the dokkaebi says is true, you each have to kill one thing. So who will you kill after the grandmother? Will you kill the person next to you?"

The people who thought about something retreated from each other. Horror was in their eyes. In fact, everyone knew. The grandmother was just the beginning.

Kim Namwoon noticed the shaky atmosphere.

"Haha, what are you all worried about? Then kill him next! Cowards. Don't worry about your turn in advance! The odds are equal!"

I figured that Kim Namwoon would say something like this. I cut him off with a slight wave of my hand.

"There is no need to gamble like that. There is a way for you to survive, even if you don't become a killer."

"What?"

"W-What is it?"

"I remember this," Sun Wukong says fondly as he watches the scene alongside Uriel who nods her head.

"Ah memories, I wonder when we'll get to the future though, I'm kinda both excited and scared for it."

"Even the past has its merits," Secretive Plotter says, "We learn quite a few things about ourselves just by watching the past itself, no?"

He does have a point, especially the novel part. That was the biggest reveal in such a short time too. Even Uriel was having second thoughts about this whole entire scenario.

The people became greatly agitated. Kim Namwoon's expression distorted.

"Have you forgotten? The scenario clear condition wasn't to 'kill a person.'"

Most people were still puzzled but a few people noticed something.

[Kill one or more living things.]

That's right. From the beginning, the word 'person' was never specified in the contents of the scenario.

"That's right, I never would've noticed if it wasn't for Dokja-ssi saying anything," Hyunsung begins as Sangah nods her head.

"But the fact remains, he is nothing without the novel," Joonghyuk coldly responds as Dokja looks down, fidgeting his fingers. Junghwa rolls their eyes.

'Just wait until we watch World of Zero you stupid sunfish, you'll understand pain by then hmph!'

Kill one or more living things. In other words, any life was possible. A quick-witted person shouted at the collection net in my hand.

"Insect! Insects!"

The grasshoppers were jumping in the collection net. People's eyes were shining. I nodded.

"That's right, the insects."

Dokja put his hand into the net and took out a grasshopper. It was a chubby one that he saw earlier.

"G-Give that to me! Quickly!"

"One only! I just need one!"

Dokja stepped back slowly as he looked at the approaching people. He was now facing the explosive madness that tried to kill the grandmother. Yet a smile emerged. Why? Even in this breathtaking tension, why was his heart beating with joy?

"I never expected Dokja-ssi to be thinking like this…" Sangah comments as she looks at the screen while Dokja is narrating himself.

The Dokja with them groans as he glares at Junghwa who simply smiles at him.

"This is a breach of privacy!" He whined.

Junghwa giggles, "Sorry Dokja-ssi but this is how I got the episodes. It's because of a certain unreliable narrator I have to deal with this."

"Would you like it?"

I waved the net like a trainer provoking an animal. Several impatient people leapt towards me.

"Then catch them!"

I smashed the grasshopper in my hand.

"Ahjussi you're cruel!" Jihye cries out as she points to him while Dokja just stars at the computer screen, trying to ignore the madness going on in the theatre.

[You have achieved the 'First Kill' achievement!]

[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]

At the same time, Dokja threw the net in his other hand as hard as possible. It was towards the opposite side of the area where the grandmother and the crowd was gathered.

"This is crazy!"

The insects were released and jumped as hard as they could for freedom.

People panicked as they saw the insects running around the carriage.

"H-Hey! Why would you do such a thi―"

While some people were staring blankly, the quick-witted pushed toward him.

"You son of a bitch."

"…You better find them soon. There are only three minutes left."

These words were a signal as people started to look everywhere among the subway seats like beasts who had lost their minds.

"I got it! Aaack!"

The joy of those fortunate enough to obtain an insect, as well as the malicious attacks on them, caused the carriage to become chaotic.

"Hey, why did you do that? Couldn't you have just given them the insects?"

Looking back, Dokja saw Namwoon raising his body. He responded cautiously to Namwoon, who was stretching his neck, "There are 12 people remaining."

"…Huh?"

"There were three insects left in the collecting net."

Namwoon frowned for a moment before smiling broadly. "12 to 3? Hahahahat! Yes. Not all of them can survive anyway? So you threw that thing?"

"Yes."

"Don't make me laugh."

"…?"

"A person with common sense wouldn't do such a thing for that reason." Namwoon's smile widened. "Tell me honestly. You just wanted to see this scene, didn't you?"

"Ahjussi, you can be really evil sometimes…" Jihye says, looking at the screen while Dokja hums.

"Am I really?"

Sangah looks at the screen where she saw the glimpse of her catching the bug. She shakes her head, "Dokja-ssi isn't evil at all. If he didn't throw it, then I would've died back then."

Jihye looks at Sangah as she sulks, she guesses it's ok, but even so she doesnt think she can trust the old ahjussi again after learning she was from a novel…

He recalled the Namwoon that he knew from Ways of Survival.

At this moment, he heard a message in my ears, [Exclusive skill, 'Character List' is activated.]

Next, a window opened in front of my eyes. I still didn't know exactly what my attribute was, but I looked at the window in front of me.

[Character Information]

[Name: Kim Namwoon.

Age: 19.

Constellation Support: None (Two constellations are currently showing interest in this person).

Private Attribute: Chuunibyou (General)

Exclusive Skills: Unusual Adaptability Lv. 3, Knife Fighting Lv. 1, Blackening Lv. 1

Overall Stats: Stamina Lv. 3, Strength Lv. 4, Agility Lv. 6, Magic Power Lv. 4

Overall Rating: A chuunibyou who was blackened by a special occasion. It is recommended that you don't get involved with him.]

"Character Profile?" Yoo Joonghyuk softly speaks as he glares at Dokja who hides behind Junghwa more. Junghwa glares back at the regressor.

"You have a skill that lets you look at people's stats?!" Sooyoung exclaimed in disbelief, "Have you been using that skill on us, squid!?"

Before Dokja can even say anything, Heewon's voice roared, "Did you recruit us based on our usefulness because you could see our stats!?"

Gilyung frowns before looking at everyone, "But he still saved me before he could use that skill! Don't get mad at hyung, he's already scared!"

"That is true…" Jihye cut in, "But that doesn't change the fact that he-,"

"Then why am I here then?" Yoosung begins as she interrupts the teenager, "If ahjussi read the novel and had this skill, tell me why am I here instead of the grave!? Ahjussi knew I will become a catastrophe and yet he still saved me from getting killed!"

Seolhwa also has to say something as well, "Dokja-ssi saved me from the parasite too. He could've killed me and yet he didn't. I was awakening the catastrophe too, and yet he chose to save me instead of killing me. I don't think Dokja-ssi is evil at all, even if he hides such a secret from us."

The theatre is silent once Yoosung and Seolhwa speaks as Junghwa looks at Dokja who is surprised by the people he had saved. Junghwa smiles at him, "Your kids are protective of you just as I am," they giggle as Dokja just blushes.

"They're not my kids…"

' Lies,' goes unsaid in Junghwa's mind.

Joonghyuk watches the screen with high interest. Having learned the skills of Kim Dokja may be useful for him when they get out.

"Team up with me. How about it?" That young man was now making an offer to me.

[The character 'Kim Namwoon' has a favourable impression of you.]

[Your understanding of the character 'Kim Namwoon' has increased.]

Dokja's immediate survival was guaranteed if he held hands with Kim Namwoon. If he hadn't read Ways of Survival, his choice might've been a little different.

"I'm sorry but I like to be alone."

"Really? Hmm, it is regrettable." Namwoon licked his lips lightly and stood close to me. "Then can you step aside? I have something to do with that old lady behind you."

Hearing his words, I looked back to see that the bleeding and collapsed grandmother was barely breathing.

"What do you want?"

"Do you have to ask?"

"You aren't catching the insects?"

"Insects? Why would I catch that?" Kim Namwoon laughed. "I already have a caught insect in front of me."

He could feel Namwoon's murderous spirit. The character that had only existed in the novel was facing him with vivid madness. Therefore, he felt a little bit in awe.

Kim Namwoon was really the person he had imagined.

Joonghyuk frowns. So that's what he thought of Namwoon. Then again, he is going to watch the boy getting killed by Dokja anyway, he had wondered how he could kill him when Namwoon was quite powerful in his own might. It would be an… Interesting match to see.

[The character 'Kim Namwoon' has a slight decrease in favorability.]

"What are you looking at? Aren't you going to move aside quickly?"

"It is tough."

"What?"

"I won't move aside."

"Haha, are you now going to imitate the apostle of justice? Do you have multiple personalities?"

I didn't answer.

A dark shadow slowly crept onto Namwoon's face, and his shining eyes were becoming cold."No, wait a minute. Did you throw the net over there to do this from the beginning? Really?"

"…"

"You want to save the grandmother? Hahaha! Amazing! Really amazing! No? Yes?"

Dokja still didn't answer. As he looked closely at the guy, he realised how much he hated that character in the novel.

"Is he that bad, ahjussi?" Yoosung asks as he just nods.

"He's uh… a bit of a weirdo, he's exactly a chuuni so yeah."

"Ah, it turns out that you are the type of person I hate the most. All old bastards are the same."

They were memories of all the times he had been frustrated by this brat during Ways of Survival.

[The character 'Kim Namwoon' despises you.]

"What did you say?"

Dokja considered the timing and lowered his head, avoiding the fist that flew before the words were even over.

"Oh, not bad?"

Despite knowing it was coming, I felt a sense of heat from above my head. It wasn't an ordinary punch.

[Blackening Lv.1]

Joonghyuk widens his eyes when he sees that Dokja had managed to dodge his attack. How? If he's correct, Dokja would be like a level 1 character in a game and yet he seems to be doing quite well fighting against him?

A dark aura rose from Namwoon's whole body. This was the exclusive skill of the 'chuunibyou' attribute.

It was rare to release a skill before the end of the first scenario, but Namwoon was already showing a skill. There was a reason why the main character had recruited him, despite his psychopath nature.

'His adaptability and his strength is worth it even if he was a chuuni. And yet Dokja managed to kill him… ' Perhaps in this episode, Joonghyuk can see how he got killed.

"I still don't forgive you for killing my supposed incarnation!" The dragon responds.

Dokja rolls his eyes, if he was alive then he would've gotten killed by Namwoon.

After he hit it, his right shoulder spasmed. There was no way to win if he kept fighting this way.

[Your understanding of the character 'Kim Namwoon' has increased.]

[You are close to the conditions of use for the exclusive skill 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Lv. 1.]

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint? What was this?

Everyone leans forward as they pay extra attention to this particular scene because they have no idea what Dokja's skills are, and how powerful they are.

The Constellations here pay more attention because they have been interested in Dokja since the start of the scenarios.

[The conditions of use for the exclusive skill 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' Lv. 1 have been reached!]

Namwoon's fist missed him and struck the ground.

"Haha, what? Haven't I become stronger?

A faint fist mark was left on the ground. Namwoon was realizing his current strength little by little.

The fist that could break a bone with a single blow kept hitting the ground. Namwoon was frustrated and couldn't control his temper. "Ah, why can't I hit you?"

Of course, he couldn't hit me. It was all thanks to my second skill.

[Exclusive skill, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint Lv. 1 has been activated!]

As soon as this skill was activated, I was able to observe Kim Namwoon's attack direction like I was reading his inner thoughts. For example, like this…

「 Right side. 」

I quickly moved away from the direction of the attack.

「Right eye. 」

Then I quickly bent down and avoided the flying fist.

"You really are good at not being hit!"

"Hyung is fighting like he can see the future," Gilyoung says as everyone is gasping at the skill Dokja has.

"I mean he technically is," Jihye comments, but still a bit pissed about learning that she's a character.

"And that's just level 1?" Heewon asks as Dokja nods.

"There are 3 levels to it. But then I'm still learning myself on what they are."

Joonghyuk frowns. That means if he were to fight Kim Dokja, the man could have predicted where he would strike if he used this skill. Interesting.

It was unreasonable to counterattack because he was poor at sports, but Dokja could at least avoid most of the attacks.

「 Left thigh. 」

This was enough to endure it. The important thing was to buy time. Dokja avoided Kim Namwoon's first and pointed at the clock in the air. "There are two minutes left, Kid."

The distressed Kim Namwoon alternated looking between me and the grandmother. "Dammit!"

At the moment of choice, Kim Namwoon's gaze was fixed on the grandmother's side.

"This kid is lowkey pissing me off," Heewon comments as Dokja nods. Yeah, Namwoon had the tendency to piss almost everyone off, including Jihye.

"At least you killed him off because I would not get along with this brat."

He was forced to grab the grandmother and roll away. If the grandmother died, Namwoon would clear the scenario. No matter what, he absolutely couldn't send this guy onto the next scenario.

"And why is that, Kim Dokja?" Joonghyuk asks, looking at Dokja who frowns.

"You already know the answer to that, Yoo Joonghyuk."

"Haha, I knew you would move like that." As Kim Namwoon took something out of his bag, he had an ominous feeling.

A blade shone in the fluorescent light. It was a portable MacGyver Knife. He had forgotten. This person was a diehard military otaku.

There was a link between the technical skill 'Knife Fighting' and the strengthening skill 'Blackening'. The direction that the blade was pointing was obvious.

「Heart. 」

Yoosung gasps as she closes her eyes, not bearing to watch the ahjussi that saved her die even though it's the past.

"How on earth did you survive that…" Heewon asks as Dokja shrugs, not knowing himself.

It was an attack that couldn't be avoided even if he knew the direction. So, Dokja made a quick judgement. If he couldn't avoid the attack, it was better to be hit somewhere with minimal damage, if possible. The blade narrowly missed his heart and made a deep cut on my shoulder. It hurt. It really hurt. There was a searing pain in his skin. His vision shook, and it felt like death was approaching.

"Haha, now die!"

The time remaining to the end of the scenario was 1 minute and 30 seconds. I glanced toward the grandmother. I was sorry for the grandmother, but now I really had to use 'that.'

"What is that , Dokja-ssi?" Seolhwa asks the reader who looks at the computer.

"Ah, coins."

Everyone forms an oh sound, understanding what he was talking about.

"Chungil High School, 2nd year, Kim Namwoon. I have one question for you."

"…What?"

"Do you think an insect egg is a living thing?"

Dokja took out the body of the grasshopper he had killed earlier from his pocket. The plump egg-sac was clearly abundant. There was the sound of something popping, and something fluid spilled out. The disgusting feeling spread over his hand as I heard a message.

…….

[You have killed a living thing.]

[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]

[You have killed a living thing.]

[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]

…….

Namwoon frowned. "Insect egg? What are you suddenly saying? Are you trying to waste time?"

"I guess so."

"How would I know something like that? I was always sleeping in Biology class." Namwoon looked at his bloody shoulder and laughed happily. "But there is one thing I know for sure. Do you know what it is?"

"What is it?"

"You will die right now!" Namwoon moved his Swiss knife before Dokja could answer. It was an attack that was hard to avoid.

[A large number of coins has been acquired! Do you want to check the coin usage tips?]

He omitted the explanation that entered his ears. There was no need to listen when Dokja already knew the contents.

"Even the details on how to use coins…" Hades whistles as he looks at the screen, "Just how omniscient is this novel of yours?"

Dokja responds, "Very, it has 3149 chapters after all. Even downright how to debone a ground rat and use their bones as weapons."

It made Hades want to take a look at this novel.

"No, it is you who will die," Dokja spat out while inwardly muttering something else.

[2,700 coins have been invested into 'stamina'.]

[Stamina Lv. 1 - Stamina Lv. 10]

[Your stamina level has increased dramatically!]

[The durability of your body has greatly increased!]

"Smart move," Joonghyuk replies as he watches the episode, 'I see, so it isn't Dokja that kills him, but the timer… He could've chosen another target and yet he insisted on fighting with that fool. The stubborn idiot…'

Dokja widens his eyes when Joonghyuk compliments him, "T-thank you."

Kim Namwoon's knife penetrated Dokja's heart. To be exact, it looked like it was penetrating. His skin was like solid rock, and the only thing that remained on it was a scratch. Namwoon's eyes showed that he was astonished. "How?"

"I'll tell you the correct answer to my question. The answer is: an egg is a living thing."

"W-What?"

"And in spawning season, grasshoppers lay more than 100 eggs at a time."

"What are you saying?"

"It doesn't matter if you don't understand. There is one minute left."

Now fear appeared on Namwoon's face. "Aaaah! Die! Die!" The knife moved toward his neck. He didn't even bother defending against the attack

"Kim Namwoon."

Behind Namwoon, there were people who were still crawling and looking for insects, as well as those who were willing to hurt each other for their own survival.

"You are right. I am the same type of human as you."

Maybe I could've saved some of those people.

"Shit! Why won't you die! Why won't you just die!"

55 seconds… 50 seconds… 45 seconds…

The knife kept leaving only scratches. Blood flowed but the blade couldn't reach under the skin. There were 30 seconds left when Kim Namwoon opened his mouth. He dropped the knife and knelt before him.

"S-Save me."

25 seconds.

"Save me! Please! Help me!"

"Why should I?"

20 seconds.

"P-People's lives are important! That's obvious!"

"Damn, what a hypocrite," Jihye comments as she stares at the screen as Heewon nods her head.

"Agree, wasn't he the one that said a new world requires new laws and shit?"

Both kids nod their heads, since Gilyoung was there, he knows what's going to happen next.

"That is the rule of the old world. It is just as you said. A new world requires new laws."

10 seconds.

"I don't want to, I don't want to! I don't want to die! Aaaaaaack!"

5 seconds.

Kim Namwoon ran at him with a loud scream and aimed for his eye. The moment that the knife tried to dig at his retina…

[The given time has run out.]

There was a loud sound, and Kim Namwoon's head exploded.

Joonghyuk sighs, 'That fool…'

[Paid settlement will begin.]

Beginning with Kim Namwoon, people's heads started exploding everywhere. One, two, three, four… The bursting heads were like fireworks announcing a new era. Dokja watched the scene with a bit of joy, a bit of guilt, and a mysterious feeling. Why? Why was he so calm at the sight in front of him? It was like he was looking at a novel.

"You're treating this reality as a novel aren't you Kim Dokja!?" Joonghyuk asks once more. Hell, even Heewon is joining him.

"Dokja-ssi, how could you!? We trusted you!" is what she is saying.

Dokja bites his lips, not knowing how to answer the questions presented to him. He knows it's because of the Fourth Wall Skill he has, it separated his reality and fiction in his mind, but even so, it's going to be hard explaining it to them.

"It's because of his other skill that keeps him level headed," is what Junghwa begins, "You'll soon see what I mean in a bit. It's almost time for the sponsor selection."

Both fighters sit back at their chairs, grumbling about something that shouldn't be said as they continue watching.

[You have killed 124 living things.]

[Kill History: One grasshopper, 123 grasshopper eggs.]

[You have killed non-resistance living things, so the number of coins you have acquired is reduced by half.]

[6,200 coins have been acquired!]

[The number of coins used for the stats level up is automatically subtracted.]

[You have a total of 3,500 coins.]

[The 'Mass Murderer' achievement has been gained through excessive killing.]

Soon, light flooded in, and darkness was lifted from the windows. They had arrived at the surface ground section of Line 3 between Apgujeong and Oksu. Outside the window, the Han River and Seoul were revealed. The landscape outside the window was no longer the Seoul that they knew. Smoke and dust rose from the ruined city.

The Han River bridges had collapsed. The Han River itself was red with the bodies of soldiers, while among the fallen buildings, a monster was trampling on a K1 tank like it was a toy.

[Main Scenario #1 – Proof of Value has ended.]

[300 coins have been acquired as a basic clearance reward.]

[100 coins have been reduced for the channel usage fee.]

[Additional compensation settlement will begin.]

One world was destroyed, and a new world was born.

…And Dokja was the only reader who knew the ending of this world.

Everyone is silent as they stare at Dokja, their second episode has ended, meaning they have 1 minute to ask Junghwa any questions that they have.

"Do we have any questions from the audience as to what they may want to know?" Junghwa asks curiously as Sangah raised her hand.

"I have a question, why are we watching the past and not the future yet?" She asks curiously.

Oh that was a good question from Sangah, "It's because there are things that must be seen first before anything else, like Dokja's thoughts. And the novel reveal."

That was understandable, but were they going to keep watching the past until they reach the part where they were at?

"Yes, there are important scenes that must be watched first, even if they seem mundane."

Oh, did Sangah ask that outloud, oops.

"Any others?"

"The 3 people that are involved in the loop," Persephone begins, "Who are they? Or are you not able to answer?"

Junghwa hums, thinking how should they answer that hard question without spoiling it, "It would be a spoiler to say who they are directly so I will instead give you a hint. As I said before they are all here in the theatre, but are not aware of it themselves. Two men and one woman."

Persephone hums, it seems like they don't want to tell them at all, but they are instead given a hint as to who they might be. It may be her thinking, but she has a feeling they are all incarnations instead of the constellations.

"Any other questions?" Junghwa asks as everyone is silent, It seems they don't have any others, or rather, they are too busy trying to figure out who these three people are.

Han Sooyoung looks suspiciously at Dokja and Joonghyuk, her author instincts are telling her these two are involved, and yet who can the other woman be?

"Then let us start the next episode."

The subway stopped around halfway past Dongho Bridge.

"Oh my god…"

Several survivors stood up and looked at the scene taking place outside. The ruined Seoul and collapsed buildings. Monsters reminiscent of a giant snake were eating the wreckage of a fighter jet that had crashed into the Han River.

"W-What the hell…!"

Dokja recognized their identity at once. An ichthyosaur. A monster that was commonly called a sea serpent. It would later be classified as a Grade 7 monster in the world of Ways of Survival. One of the ichthyosaurs looked in this direction.

"U-Uwaaah! It is coming!"

People screamed with fright. But I just looked apathetically at the approaching ichthyosaur. These guys couldn't be a threat. The ichthyosaur circled around the bottom of Dongho Bridge and vanished into an air bubble. In the world of Ways of Survival, 'scenarios' took precedence over anything else. As long as they were protected by the scenario, they wouldn't have to deal with such monsters straight away.

At least for now.

[Compensation settlement is delayed due to an unexpected scenario check. Please wait.]

The compensation settlement should've started right now but only an error message floated in the air. It was probably due to Dokja. He looked down at Namwoon's body, which only had the torso remaining.

According to the original Ways of Survival, Kim Namwoon killed most of the people in this carriage and moved onto the next scenario. But he stopped it.

"And good thing too, because I have a feeling he would kill off almost everyone he meets," Heewon comments as Jihye nods.

"I dunno why but I have a feeling that guy is annoying as hell to me, not just because I watch him but if he does survive… Ugh, I don't even wanna talk about it…"

If his thoughts were right, those who would be angry at Namwoon's death would appear.

[Due to the death of character 'Kim Namwoon', two constellations show a faint hostility to you.]

Constellations. They were mysterious beings in Ways of Survival. They sat watching from the distant nebulas and were the masterminds of this tragedy. Once the constellation's preferences sign appeared, he realised that it was now starting in earnest.

It was funny. A day ago, our positions were opposite. Now they were the ones watching me.

[A handful of constellations admire your scenario.]

[The constellations have sponsored you 500 coins.]

"How much coins do you have, Dokja-ssi?" Hyunsung asks curiously.

Dokja responds earnestly, "I lot, maybe the scammer does fit with uh… with my personality because I scam a lot of Constellations to give me coins."

If there were some constellations who disliked him, there would also be some who liked him. Either way, it was an uncomfortable situation. However, Dokja couldn't do anything about them right now. It was his turn to be a clown.

Dokja picked up Kim Namwoon's Swiss knife on the ground and thought, 'Feel free to watch. You will end up paying the admission fee with your lives.'

The constellations snorts, "Is that what you thought of us, Dokja?" Hades speaks. Indeed, Dokja was an interesting Incarnation to watch. He is even more amusing when they are watching his life and what he thinks of the world.

Dokja just smiles at Hades, "I mean, you guys are here. There must be a reason why you are here instead of out of the threatre, am I right?" There he goes again with that wit of his, but Hades knows Dokja is right.

There must be a reason why they are here, and if that reason is in the future, well… They'll watch it anyway.

"…Dokja-ssi? Are you okay?"

Dokja looked up and saw Yoo Sangah's face. Her shoulders were sagging. Blood covered her white blouse and there was a run in her stockings. There was no more of the Sangah he knew. Dokja held Sangah's hand and said. "I'm sorry. I couldn't save the grandmother."

Sangah nodded silently. She didn't know the truth but she was smart. She knew what Dokja meant. Someone lived because of his choice and someone else died. No matter who survived, he didn't deserve a thank you.

[Wow, amazing.]

The dokkaebi appeared in the air.

[What on earth happened here? I was just watching the other carriages…]

There was a mixture of delight and surprise on the dokkaebi's face. Twinkling stars floated over the dokkaebi's head.

Dokja counted the number of stars. One, two, three… Twenty, twenty one. Twenty one in total. He would be happy.

[For 21 people to be connected to my channel… Haha, isn't this quite good? Gosh, thank you for your sponsorship. Constellations. Haha, everyone! Did you properly show off your value?]

The number of stars meant the number of constellations connected to the channel. 21 wasn't a lot, but it was a strange number for a beginner dokkaebi.

[The number of survivors is quite high? The fellow in the next carriage was a nutter as well… It seems that things are quite interesting today.]

The dokkaebi manipulated something in the air. A moment later, a list of survivors came up.

[Survivors from the 3434 Train to Bulgwang, Carriage 3807: Kim Dokja, Lee Hyunsung, Yoo Sangah, Han Myungoh and Lee Gilyoung. A total of five survivors.]

Five people. More people than I thought survived. He looked at the faces of the survivors one by one.

Lee Hyunsung had a good physique and excellent motor skills, so it was expected that he would survive. I even expected Yoo Sangah to a certain extent.

Hyunsung and Sangah look at the screen with morbid curiosity, so Dokja had expected them to survive to a certain point huh?

As expected from their omniscient reader.

In addition, Lee Gilyoung. If my guess was right, 'Lee Gilyoung' was the name of the boy standing next to him. The fluids from the crushed grasshopper was still on the boy's hands. It was the grasshopper I had squeezed.

Gilyoung watches it with innocence, wanting to know what Dokja think of him while Dokja just smiles at the scene, Perhaps it is in fact sympathy because he had grown quite attached to the boy to some degree.

The boy was looking at his mother, who lost her head. The boy's mother had abandoned him to join in on killing the grandmother. The boy had just watched the whole thing from beginning to end. He hesitated for a moment before touching the boy's shoulder. It wasn't foolish sympathy. To put it simple, this was… That's right. Hypocrisy.

"Kid."

The boy slowly turned his head and in his eyes, I could see the fear of death that he encountered for the first time in his life. Unavoidable instincts. This boy wasn't grieving his mother's death. He was just afraid of his own death. It was natural. He was human.

"Do you want to live?"

The boy's eyes shook anxiously. His body trembled with a force that couldn't be resisted. Then little by little, the boy's head moved.

"Then let's go together."

Gilyoung moved slowly and came close to my legs. Sangah was watching me with an impressed expression. I unintentionally caused another misunderstanding. In fact, it was meant to be seen. But the target wasn't Sangah.

"Hyung, were you using me to get free coins from the constellations?" Gilyoung asks curiously. It was surprisingly he doesn't hate Dokja at all, hell the other incarnations seem like they harbour some sort of hatred for Dokja because of the secret he has been harbouring while Dokja sighs.

"At first, but I quite like you, Gilyoung. You can say I've grown attached to you after we spent time with together," Gilyoung's eyes sparkles as he sticks his tongue over to Yoosung who glares at him.

"Even so, he was still using you though-" Jihye begins until Sangah interrupts her.

"What Dokja-ssi had done is just read his favourite novel, even he doesn't know that the apocalypse will happen. Don't blame him for what he can't control. Isn't it the author that we have to blame for kick starting the apocvalypse?" Every Incarnation is silent after hearing Sangah's words before Heewon sighs.

"You do have a point… But if I were in his shoes, I would still tell my teammates about it!"

"Do you think we would believe you if you said that though?" Hyunsung asks, thinking realistically, "To be fair, Dokja-ssi may have hidden this from us because there are people watching as well. Who knows what kind of bad things people can do if the wrong people get a hold of this information."

Hyunsung has a point, so Jihye lets it slide because now that she thinks about it, it would be dangerous. Heel even her master who knows of the future is also shutting his mouth, "Fine, I'll trust you again ahjussi but if you lie to us again I swear to god I'll kill you."

Dokja smiles at them as he stands up, "Thank you for the seat Junghwa," He thanks the redhead as Junghwa smiles at him as well.

"You're welcome."

The reader returns to where he was supposedly sitting as the episode continues.

[A few constellations are impressed with your good deed.]

[The constellations have sponsored you 200 coins.]

Dokja couldn't help thinking that it was a low move. But I also wanted to live. Given the upcoming major events, it was essential to draw the attention of the constellations right now.

"W-Will you release us now? Didn't you get what you wanted?"

Han Myungoh in a torn shirt shouted from half a dozen steps away. Department Head Han Myungoh. He was a lucky human. But Dokja couldn't help wondering. Why was Han Myungoh riding the subway when he had so much money? This was the man who had shown off a new S class Mercedes-Benz not long ago.

[Hrmm, released? Haven't you seen outside? Do you really want to go out there?]

The dokkaebi chuckled.

[It is somehow admirable. In fact, I didn't expect much from this carriage but you managed to pass the first scenario. This proves that bugs deserve to survive.]

[Now now, shouldn't there be a reward for overcoming the hardships? As a reward for the first scenario, you are entitled to the sponsorship of the 'constellations.' Waahhh! How about it? Aren't you looking forward to it? Hmm, you are all unenthusiastic. This is really a big deal.]

The reaction was natural. Dokja was the only one here who knew what 'constellation' or 'sponsorship' was.

The sponsorship of the constellations. The meaning was obvious. One of the key events of Ways of Survival, 'Sponsor Selection' was about to begin.

The constellation leans forward, wanting to know about what Dokja thought of them when he saw that he was gonna be sponsored by the four of them.

"Oh, we're gonna appear soon!" Uriel says excitedly, "Why is my heart pounding? I know what's gonna happen but this is more exciting than watching the scenarios!"

Sun wukong nods his head sagely, "It's probably because we get to see the thoughts of a certain incarnation as well."

[Hmm, everybody has confused expressions. I can easily tell you. Right now, you are incredibly weak. If you are thrown into the scenarios that will take place, you will be killed when you meet a weak ground rat, let alone a 'kruk.' But kindly, there are some great people in the universe who pity you and would like to sponsor you. Do you understand what I am saying?]

Hyunsung finally couldn't stand it anymore and opened his mouth, "What are you saying? Who is sponsoring whom…"

[Hmm, my words are just entering dirty ears. Isn't there an old saying in South Korea? It is better to see it once than listen a hundred times. So experience it directly. Well, the less fortunate ones might not get the chance. Hahahat!]

Dokja was tense. From now on. A good choice here would make my survival in the future easier.

The Secretive Plotter chuckles as he watches the screen. If he were to make a good choice for survival then why oh why didn't he accept anyone during two sponsorship events? He is quite curious behind his reasoning.

"Dokja-ssi? Two strange choices suddenly appeared in front of me…"

"I don't know even if you ask me."

This was naturally a lie to avoid suspicions. By the way, there were two choices. Sangah was quite lucky.

"Do it comfortably. Think of it as an aptitude test."

"Aptitude test…"

"Nobody knows what the situation is anyway. Why not do it comfortably?"

"Ah… I understand."

Sangah closed her mouth and started staring into space. It was a profound expression, as if she had encountered something curious. The others suddenly became silent. Everyone was reading the options in front of them. He also had my own choices to look at.

[Sponsor Selection]

-Please select your sponsor

-Your chosen sponsor will be your strong supporter.

There were four choices like a riddle. It meant there were four constellations that wanted to turn me into their incarnation. Four choices wasn't small considering that the protagonist of Ways of Survival received five options the first time.

"The Secretive Plotter has such long nails," Uriel comments as the Secretive Plotter looks at his hands curiously. Are they really?

"Damn, I kinda want nails like that but taking care of them must be a bitch," Jihye comments as every female nods.

"Of course, you need to moisturise them and file them every now and then, especially if they are as long as them," Seolhwa comments.

The constellations never revealed their true name. Therefore, all contractors must infer the identity of the constellations by words such as 'abyssal', 'demonic' and 'garden'.

Of course, this puzzle was nothing to me, the sole reader of Ways of Survival.

Let's see.

First, the 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon.'

The dragon perks his ears up when he hears his name is being narrated by the Dokja of the screen. He looks at Dokja who is surrounded by his children and hums.

According to Dokja's memory, this constellation was a powerful entity that led the group of constellations called the Black Cloud. He forgot his real name but Dokja remembered it was a very long name.

The advantage of this constellation was that the contractor could receive a very strong attack power. In the early days when stamina and strength were in urgent need, there was no constellation as strong as the Abyssal Dark Flame Dragon.

"Hah! If I'm so powerful then why didn't you chose me as your constellation support!?" Abyssal Black Flame Dragon demands, feeling his ego inflated when he was being described as powerful.

Dokja just smiles at him, pointing towards the screen where the answer is obvious.

Of course, that was limited to the beginning. As the power of this constellation was more frequently used, the mind became corrupted and the contractor would become a mad murderer.

"Is that why you look at me when I said I'm after him!?" Sooyoung asks as Dokja nods, smiling at her while the woman wanted to kill him for lying to her face.

Again.

"I almost feel sorry for her," Heewon comments, "Almost."

This constellation usually sponsored the people with the 'chuuni' attribute… Dokja didn't know why the constellation picked him. He felt uncomfortable and excluded this guy.

The second one, the Demon-like Judge of Fire.

Uriel looks at Dokja and say, "Oh you better say something good about me or else, Dokja-ya," She says with a scary smile as Dokja shivers and nods his head.

It is finally her turn to be introduced, so Uriel watches the screen with close attention.

He can't believe he was actually seeing this option. Somehow, the strong emotions Dokja felt were enormous.

At first glance, the name was overflowing with evil. But this was actually a trap for the wicked. The 'Demon-like' actually meant 'not a demon.' Then the words 'fire' and 'judge' were added. A being who wasn't a demon and who made judgments through fire. Paradoxically, the master of this constellation was an angel.

If I recall correctly, it was Archangel Uriel… In fact, I remembered this because someone in the novel picked this constellation as a sponsor.

It was a pretty decent choice. This was pending. The constellations of 'absolute good' imposed ridiculous constraints if you wanted to use their enormous power.

"Ah, that is true," Uriel says in passing, but she is feeling good. Her introduction isn't half bad at all and she quite liked it. Still, it made her wonder. If her option is still pending then why didn't Dokja chose her?

Heewon looks a Dokja, "What are the constraints?" she asks curiously.

He responds to her, "The enemy must be deemed as evil by the good alignment for you to use Judgement Hour."

The third, Secretive Plotter.

The Secretive Plotter perks his ears when he hears his name being called .

It was the first time that he, the sole reader of Ways of Survival, had seen this choice. This name might've been mentioned in passing but… I didn't know it right now. If he could read Ways of Survival more thoroughly then he might get a feel of the constellation. But I was certain that the owner of this constellation wasn't a very strong entity. Apart from the obvious modifier, there wasn't one 'proper noun.'

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"Abyssal Black Flame Dragon laughs while the Secretive Plotter twitches an eye below his cloak. Actually scratch that, most of the Incarnations are trying not to laugh at him while Junghwa just outright laughs straight in front of his face.

Actually now that he sees it, Heewon, Jihye and Sooyoung are on the floor alongside Junghwa who paused the episode to laugh.

"Oh I feel so sorry for you, ahjuicy!" Junghwa laughs as Secretive Plotter twitches more.

"Did you just call me an ahjussi?" he asks, looking at the one near the computer.

"No, not ahjussi but AH-JUICY BECAUSE DAMN I WANNA HOLD YOUR BOOBS SO BAD!"

More laughter comes from Jihye and Heewon as Joonghyuk snorts while Junghwa just laughs more. Joonghyuk did not just snort at himself, no siree…!

Meanwhile Dokja is chuckling at the thought before apologising to the constellation, "I'm so sorry but I didn't know who you are…"

"But doesnt this mean he has big boobs?" Jihye asks while laughing.

Junghwa finally calms down from their laughing fit as they smirk, "You know, Dokja-ssi, if you were to choose Secretive Plotter as your support… Oh the irony."

The laughter stops just as they all stare at Junghwa, "You know of his identity, dont you?" Yoo Joonghyuk asks as Junghwa nods.

"Of course, I wouldn't have brought him here if I didn't. Besides, he is… The most powerful in this theatre right now."

The Secretive Plotter feels like he is being watched by everyone else as he sighs, "So you know my identity?" He asks as Junghwa nods.

"Obviously mister tsundere ahjuicy who sits on his throne all day swirling a glass of wine he doesn't drink," He feels a tick forming on his forehead when he is called that.

"Please don't call me that," Secretive Plotter begs while Junghwa smiles.

"I'm sorry you're so bullyable, second male lead…"

The Secretive Plotter makes no comment since he is tired dealing with their shit.

Secretive Plotter, it was too simple for a constellation. This one was also pending.

Finally, there was Prisoner of the Golden Headband.

Sun Wukong watches in silence as he hopes his introduction is a good one, "Ohh, here I come, wait, that sounded so wrong on so many levels…"

His heart jumped the moment he saw the fourth option. Dokja didn't expect this constellation so early. He doubted my eyes several times. But it was unmistakably 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband.' At first glance, this name gave off a negative image due to the word 'prisoner'. But you had to pay attention to the 'Golden Headband.' Golden Headband. The smallest prison in the world.

It was a hint that anyone would recognize if they enjoyed reading Journey to the West as a child. There was only one prisoner who was held captive by the golden headband in the journey from east to west. The master of the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, who lived in suffering due to the shackle on his head. The Handsome Monkey King with the 'golden-gaze, fiery-eyes.'

The Great Sage the Equal of Heaven, Sun Wukong.

Sun Wukong chuckles as he is finally revealed, looking all cool and snazzy too. Nice, Dokja has a wild imagination, "You really know your stuff Dokja-ssi." Sun Wukong said as he stared at the picture of himself on the screen, "Damn, I look pretty good there. Sorry that Dokja doesn't seem to know you that well." He looks at the Plotter who just groans.

Among the characters that appeared in the novel, there was one supported by Sun Wukong.

A wondrous power that could sweep through hundreds of incarnations and to kill thoughts with one lightning strike. The author had described this part with a lot of energy so his memory of it was clear.

Hed didn't know why such a powerful constellation was showing me interest but if he became the incarnation of the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven, I would be able to survive in this new world more easily than anyone else.

But…

Dokja quickly looked at the door connected to the carriage in front. Beyond that door, 'he' was looking at the selection screen like him. If he chose The Great Sage the Equal of Heaven… Could I win against him?

"Master, if you fight against him would you win?" Jihye asks curious as Joonghyuk snorts.

"Of course I'd win"

Sun Wukong whistled, "Oh interesting, seems like I was the closest to becoming your Constellation Support huh?" he asks as Dokja nods.

"Yeah, you were my top option to be honest."

Wukong looks at Dokja as he asks his question to him, one that made many constellations confused for a long time, "Then why didn't you?"

Everyone looks at Dokja for their answer as Dokja groans, Bihyung also looks anxious as he looks at the screen, "You'll soon see in the episode…"

[There is one minute left to complete the Sponsor Selection.]

Time was running out. I breathed lightly and looked through his options. Dokja's worries didn't last long

[Sponsor Selection has ended.]

[Some constellations are greatly affected by your choice.]

Yes, it was starting now.

[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is greatly displeased at your choice.]

[The constellations belonging to Black Cloud are shaken by the anger of the Abyssal Black Flame Dragon. You won't be sponsored by any of the Black Cloud constellations for a while.]

[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is disappointed in you.]

[She will persistently monitor your justice in the future.]

In the case of Archangel Uriel, it was just disappointment. In the first place, the constellations of absolute good would rarely hate someone unless they committed a great injustice.

[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is interested in your choice.]

[200 coins have been sponsored.]

"Junghwa, if you were in Dokja's situation, who would you choose?" Joonghyuk suddenly asks as Junghwa blinks in confusion. Everyone awaits the redhead's response as they scratch their head.

"Me? Well… With me knowing the future and all, I would chose Secretive Plotter. But not because he is powerful, but more so because I know of his identity."

Joonghyuk and the Secretive Plotter frown, "Just that? Why is it that you would choose me if you were in his situation?"

Even Dokja is interested in Junghwa's answer as they pay attention to the one in red. Junghwa hums, "Because of the irony of it."

Before anyone can ask, Junghwa has played the episode.

The Secretive Plotter's case was unexpected. Given the characteristics of the name, maybe he valued his caution.

[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is interested in your choice.]

And the Great Sage the Equal of Heaven…

[You haven't selected a sponsor.]

But choosing a certain constellation meant being limited by that possibility. The sponsor contract was never a fair deal. Dokja would survive. But he wouldn't survive by being their toy. And if his expectations were right, there was a way to become strong without a constellation. Maybe it was a way to become stronger than the incarnation of the strongest sponsor.

[Haha, is this true…isn't there one interesting choice? Well, yes. There will be another chance.]

The dokkaebi's crescent moon eyes stayed on me for a moment.

[Now now, everyone has finished the selection. Rest here for a while. I have to go prepare the next scenario. I'll see you in 10 minutes!]

After the Sponsor Selection finished, the dokkaebi disappeared. He told them to rest, but these 10 minutes were really crucial .

[Character List] and [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint].

Dokja didn't know the precise use yet but I had a general sense of these skills. This will work somehow.

"It's coming soon…" Bihyung speaks as he looks at the screen, he is comfortable in his chair as he eats some popcorn from the back seat, 'So this is what happened when I was away huh?'

"What's happening soon?" Sangah asks as Bihyung looks away, whistling. As if saying "I'm not spoiling it."

"Let's all gather together."

The survivors gathered at Dokja's words. The first one to reach out a hand was Hyunsung.

"Hello, I am Lee Hyunsung."

"Kim Dokja."

"Nice to meet you…although I don't know if these words suit the situation. As I said earlier, I am a soldier…well, I should say that I was a soldier."

"You can't contact your unit?"

"…Yes."

The grip around Dokja's hand was considerable. As expected from the tanker that appeared in the early stages of Ways of Survival.

"I'm not that strong, Dokja-ssi…" Hyunsung says as he felt somewhat embarrassed by his words, but Dokja shook his head.

"Don't say nonsense, Hyunsung-ssi. You're one of the strongest people I know."

"Ah, Dokja-ssi."

"Yes?"

"I wanted to thank you. If it wasn't for Dokja-ssi, we would all be dead."

"No, that isn't the case."

"Even if I had lived, I would've been able to live as a person. Thank you very much. And…I am ashamed."

Hyunsung bowed deeply. His mind was a bit complicated. In fact, Hyunsung would've survived even if I didn't do anything. Then somebody grabbed my shoulder.

"Haha, our contractor did one big thing. Dokja-ssi, do you know my name?"

I could tell who it was without looking back. I took the hand off my shoulder and said.

"I know, Han Myungoh-ssi."

"Huh, Han Myungoh-ssi? Shouldn't you call me Department Head?"

Han Myungoh was still trying to use his position in this situation. He really was the king of authoritarianism in Minosoft.

"This isn't the company."

"Hah, look at this. Are you planning to not go work now? Where did you learn your basic etiquette?"

Once I saw Han Myungoh's angry face, Dokja once again realised that the world he knew was over.

The man in front of me was a 'predator' of the world before the scenario began. And he was merely a prey to the predator. It was certainly like that.

"No matter how I think about it, your actions were too much. Yes? If you had the insects then you should've tipped me off. Why would you throw them like that?"

"…"

"I don't like that man..." Uriel comments as everyone else agrees.

Junghwa snorts, 'Oh you'll like him soon enough once he gives birth to his daughter… Talk about major character development.'

"Dokja-ssi, you have to be good to me. How much time do you have left on your contract?"

"Han Myungoh-ssi."

"Eh?"

"Shut up."

"W-What?"

"YOU TELL HIM DOKJA-SSI!" Uriel yells at the Dokja on the screen, cheering for him.

"You still don't understand the situation? Weren't you hit by that bastard earlier? Minosoft? Do you think the company still exists when the end has come?"

Han Myungoh's face was white and stricken.

Dokja turned my eyes towards the other people. Since he was already saying it, he should make it stick.

"Han Myungoh-ssi isn't the only problem. Everyone, you need to wake up. As the dokkaebi said, this isn't a joke."

"…"

"I think you should've all roughly noticed the situation. Exclusive skills in the attributes window. A game-like interface. Is there anyone who still hasn't caught onto facts?"

Indeed, no one raised their hand. South Korea was easy. Due to the high penetration rate of smartphones, there wasn't one person who hadn't played a RPG game. Even if they didn't play a game, they would've read a fantasy novel at least once.

"That's right, Yoo Joonghyuk was a pro-gamer before too," Dokja comments as Joonghyuk just glares at him.

"Maybe I should've killed you when I had the chance huh?" He speaks as Dokja just smiles at him.

Junghwa rolls their eyes, but silent watches the banter. It's obvious that will happen during the dark castle arc and it will happen quite a bit away.

Lee Hyunsung sighed.

"This is like a novel I was reading while standing on duty, but I still can't feel it. This really isn't a dream?"

"This is reality."

Dokja's stern answer caused Lee Hyunsung's eyes to slightly change.

[The character 'Lee Hyunsung' feels a faint trust in you.]

[Your understanding of the character 'Lee Hyunsung' has increased.]

"Understanding?" Hyunsung asks as he looks at Dokja while Dokja tries to explain it as easily as possible.

"It's uh… an ability I have that lets me understand you all better. It will rise whether i manage to predict what you think, you gaining trust on me and such."

Jihye curses, "I still don't like it. It calls us characters, I hate that word now."

Dokja can't help but agree.

"What else can that skill be used for?" Joonghyuk asks, or more like demands as Dokja just pales. Scared for his life.

"You'll soon see in the episode."

Lee Hyunsung nodded. "It is good that you are certain. Then what do we do now? Dokja-ssi, do you have an opinion?"

"We have to go."

Dokja answered without hesitation.

"G-Go? Are you insane?"

"Dokja-ssi, I don't think…"

This time, Sangah joined it. It seemed everyone still hadn't woken up.

"Then how long we will stay here?"

In fact, my argument didn't make much sense. Outside was a heaven of monsters. But I knew. Right now, we have to get out of here.

"Have you thought about your parents? Do you think your parents are safe in this mess?"

"T-The line has been dead for some time. No Kakaotalk…"

Everyone's eyes darken as they thought of their parents. Either they are MIA or dead by this point. As for Joonghyuk, he doesn't care. Why? Because he lives alone and he doesn't remember who his parents are. His only family is his sister, Mia.

Indeed, Confucianism was still strong in South Korea. Even Lee Hyunsung and Han Myungoh's expressions darkened at the word 'parents.'

Dokja grasped Gilyoung's shoulder, whose head was bowed. The first person to get up was Sangah.

"Go. I will go out."

"N-No! Didn't you hear what that thing said? Take a break here! If we move then our heads might explode!"

"Let's take a majority vote."

Sangah raised her hand first, followed by me and Gilyoung. "…I have to go to my base but it seems dangerous to move in this situation. There was also the warning."

"Shit, you all go by yourselves! I'm not going! I'm not going outside!"

Hna Myungoh was no problem, but Lee hyunsung was. Dokja had to recruit him.

"Now that I'm rewatching this, Myungoh-ssi was acting like a child huh?" Sangha asks as Dokja laughs. Indeed he was acting like a child there. Who would've thought?

Hyunsung looks at Dokja, still feeling somewhat betrayed but remembers his words from before. He wanted to see the end of the scenarios where all his companions are happy, was it? It's truly hard making it seem like he can trust him again, but he must have his reasoning… right?

The thick iron plate made a loud sound. The iron door to carriage 3707 was slightly distorted.

"W-What?"

Myungoh's cry was ignored as the iron door made a deafening sound again.

Someone was trying to break the door from beyond it. This was an unexpected situation so Dokja had to think. Was it the next scenario? No. The dokkaebi hadn't come back yet. Then…

"Is it who I think it is?" Jihyew asks as Joonghyuk rolls his eyes. It seems his introduction will soon appear as well.

"In the 3807 cabin was Joonghyuk-ssi, was it?" Hyunsung asks as Dokja nods, "Why did you ask us to run away from him?" he asks curiously.

Dokja groans, "Because he's a psychopath."

A fist suddenly smashes its way beside Dokja's head as his cold sweat drops from his forehead down to his cheek. He gulps, looking at Joonghyuk who glares at him.

Dokja's brain moved quickly. Small hairs stood up and a short shiver struck my body. That guy.

"Yes, it's this guy who's about to kill me right now, Junghwa help!?" Dokja whines out as Junghwa sighs before kicking Joonghyuk's ass.

Everyone is silent afterwards, looking at the two men who'se face are inches away from each other. But that wasn't the highlight of the day. It was the fact that their lips are touching.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Uriel suddenly screams as Wukong coughs. Abyssal Black Flame Dragon gags while the Secretive Plotter gaps his mouth open. Hades closes Persephone's eyes who just pouts at her husband.

Jihye and Heewon are in the same situation as Uriel while Seolhwa blushes, closing her eyes. Hyunsung and Sangah are closing the children's eyes as they whine about what they can't see while Sooyoung laughs her ass off on the floor.

"... Choi Junghwa…" Joonghyuk glares at Junghwa who just smiles at him. Dokja in the meantime blushes and uses his hands to cover his mouth. Did Joonghyuk just kissed him!? The answer is yes, yes he did.

Even if the kiss was the output of him kicking his ass towards Dokja.

"I'LL FUCKING KILL!"

Junghwa barely avoids a strike from Joonghyuk before they start drawing something in the air. It's a hammer, and before anyone knows it, Junghwa has hit Joonghyuk's head with the hammer as hard as they can that he falls on the ground

"Down, boy. We still haven't reached the end of this episode yet."

Junghwa says as they return to their computer while Joonghyuk just glares at them at the dull ache of his head. Seolhwa goes to him and checked on the wound while the episode runs.

"W-What? Everybody stop it!"

Han Myungoh shouted and moved towards the door. Hyunsung moved towards it as well but Dokja stopped him.

"You can't stop it."

"Huh?"

"We have to go."

Dokja looked at the iron door with heavy eyes.

"Huh? But…"

"If we don't go now―"

The only survivor of carriage 3707. I was well aware of who was beyond the iron door.

"We will all die before the next scenario arrives."

Yes, that guy was finally coming. The 'real' protagonist of this story.

"Master is finally making an appearance!" Jihye sounds excited for once while everyone relaxes in their seat after an intense episode.

"You don't need to hit him that hard," Seolhwa begins as she heals Joonghyuk's bump on his head.

Junghwa chuckles and scratches their head, "Sorry about that, but yeah. That's it for the episode. Anyone want to ask something? You have 1 minute."

"The protagonist of that damned novel Kim Dokja is reading… It's me, isn't it?" Joonghyuk begins as Junghwa nods.

"That's correct."

Joonghyuk looks at Junghwa, his eyes still holding onto that glare of his, "Then tell me… How many times… have I regressed in the novel?"

Junghwa looks at Dokja as if asking him to give him permission or not. Dokja bites his lips before nodding his head and taking over for Junghwa, "You regressed exactly 1863 times…"

Joonghyuk widens his eyes at the high number. Impossible… he hasn't regressed that many times has he!? "That's impossible! 1860 more times!? I'm just at my third!? How is that possible!?"

Junghwa shruggs, pointing over to Dokja who has the answer, "As you can see, Yoo Joonghyuk, Dokja quite literally knows the end of the scenarios, because in the 1863rd round, it was the closest round that was near the end of the scenario. Which is why having him as your companion really is helpful."

Joonghyuk sits back down on the chair as he is comforted by Sangah who places a hand on his shoulder.

Everyone thought of what had just been revealed to them. So Kim Dokja truly knew the end of the scenarios just by reading, even if he didn't manage to read the epilogue.

"You weren't lying when you said you know everything," Sooyoung asks as Dokja simply nods.

"I'm sorry for keeping this all to myself everyone…" he apologies.

Seolhwa shakes her head, as if not mad at him at all, "It's alright Dokja-ssi. I would've used the information for my own survival myself if I were in your shoes. But I haven't been able to say thank you for saving me from the parasite. So thank you."

Dokja shakes his head, nervous when Lee Seolhwa suddenly bows to him, "No need to say anything, I'm just… I just wanted everyone to have a happy ending, that's all."

"Ahjussi, don't be modest. You saved me and Seolhwa-unnie as well," Yoosung says as Dokja pats her head softly.

"Still, I'm sorry you have to find out this way."

"But even so," Heewon looks over to Joonghyuk, "He has been living in this hell hole for how many times? And he does this all alone?"

Jihye stops talking as she also looks at her master, feeling pity for him, "Then… If we use ahjussi's knowledge and this scenarios too… He wouldn't need to regress again right? He won't be alone anymore."

Junghwa watches as the group is finally beginning to trust one another slowly but surely again. Junghwa smiles, yes, this is what KimCo is all about. Oh they can't wait until a certain arc happens. Hopefully with this scenario they can stop the loop from happening and there will be a happy ending.

"Your 1 minute is up. Shall we start the next episode?"