"He's a bit scary," Shin Yoosung muttered, curling in closer to Kim Dokja. He glanced down at her and absentmindedly patted her head, frowning internally. Though she wasn't yet the Beast Lord, one of the top 100 strongest incarnations, it was odd for her to be frightened by the guide.
Did she just want comfort and wasn't sure how to ask for it otherwise? She was a kid, after all, so that could be a possibility…
"He's not scary," Lee Gilyoung huffed. "Don't lie just so hyung will hug you more."
Shin Yoosung scowled at him. "I'm not lying, bug boy!"
Honestly, Kim Dokja didn't particularly care if anyone was lying or not. He just wanted to see himself learn [Way of the Wind] and get his own protagonist moment! Of course, the kids didn't know that, and only continued their bickering. Still, that was better than seeing the kids upset or genuinely afraid.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is watching the children in amusement.]
Sooyoung asks if what Dokja did is really that bad, and it's clear that she's confused since Dokja's earlier words contradict Lycaon's. Lycaon pays no mind to her as he continues his angry breakdown and tantrum over the fact that there is no 'Master of the Throne'. He goes so far as to say that no one cares for Chronos, that the world is over, and that humans are less intelligent than kobolds.
Right, this guide… has the mentality of every otherworldly being. They may have been sent here to help us, but they all have a different motive.
Dokja calmly calls out Lycaon's full name and title, causing him to flinch. Unfortunately, Dokja telling him that it's too early to give up only causes the wolf to angrily lash out once more and demand his respect. Dokja replies by pointing out how the Imyuntars are not the dominant species on Earth, and that they lost their world to the five disasters, which is really only adding salt to the wound.
"Kobolds? Like those dumb enemies in MMOs?" Lee Jihye wondered, crossing her arms over her chest with a huff. "That annoying dokkaebi from before might be that stupid, but not us."
Well, Lycaon was pretty emotional, but he also probably did mean that as an insult. After all, he was hoping to have Chronos overtake Earth once the disasters were dealt with, and then his people could live in peace once more. It would be a noble and admirable goal, Kim Dokja supposed, if it wasn't his planet being invaded.
[some constellations are curious about the motive of the guide 'lycaon'.]
Jung Heewon raised an unimpressed brow. "Their world was destroyed because of these disasters? How lame."
Yoo Joonghyuk nodded once, but shot her a stern glance. "Don't underestimate them. These disasters could easily kill everyone in Seoul."
"They're really that powerful?" Lee Hyunsung wondered with a small amount of fear, and honestly, it was justified.
"The dragon was weaker than it should have been—it was only a minor disaster," Kim Dokja said quietly, but he knew that both Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon heard him clearly because they tensed up at the reminder.
Yoo Sangah frowned anxiously. "Please be safe. Both of you."
As Dokja talks about the Fire Dragon Igneel destroying the southern continent—the home of the Imyuntars—an image of the massive and fearsome dragon appears. Burning and crumbling buildings quake beneath the shadow of his wings as the Imyuntars run away in fear. Some are screaming, some are crying, and others are pleading. Some fall without those around them able to aid them, while others clutch their children close.
Lycaon grits his teeth and growls, telling Dokja that Earth will also feel that hellfire. Completely unconcerned, Dokja says that won't happen, causing the wolf to pause in confusion. With a serious look on his face, Dokja states that he's already killed it. Sooyoung's eyes widen as she realizes that he's talking about the night in Anguk station.
"In this world, the 'Disaster of Hellfire' will never come." As Dokja says this, the view pans up to the stormy sky. When it pans back down, the city of Seoul is no longer there, replaced by a city on Chronos' southern continent.
Flaming buildings and charred corpses appear on the screen, but one figure is still moving. A bloodied figure walks through the destruction, carrying the body of a child. Tears stream down Lycaon's face as he collapses to his knees in anguish, screaming at the heavens. All around him, the fallen bodies of his kin lie motionless on the ash-dusted ground.
"That's horrible," Lee Seolhwa gasped, covering her mouth with her hands as she watched the dragon wreak havoc on Chronos.
It was a horrific sight, and it was one that had happened to Seoul numerous times throughout the regressions too. No matter how powerful Yoo Joonghyuk was, he was only one man, and he couldn't always get to all the disasters before something went wrong—especially once he made it a habit to break the throne.
"Maybe it was a good thing I got that meteorite early," Han Sooyoung muttered, swearing under her breath right after. "Shit, that looks awful to deal with."
A few people shot her an unimpressed glance, and the author put her hands up in surrender.
"Ok, too soon, I get it. Sorry."
At least no one was lunging for her anymore? That was progress, right?
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' scoffs at the weak dragon.]
Of course he'd think that. The Abyssal Black Flame Dragon could be extremely powerful, but that wasn't something that incarnations from the early scenarios could comprehend.
[several constellations are enjoying the massacre.]
Disgusting.
[some constellations are looking at the guide 'Lycaon' with pity.]
As the scene returns to Seoul, Sooyoung seems to have been caught up on the situation surrounding the dragon at Anguk station, and how they only have to worry about four disasters now. Dokja casually tosses the
As he looks down at the talisman in his hand, a flashback starts. In order to prove that the dragon was dead, Dokja had shown the talisman he received as a reward to Lycaon, forcing him to reluctantly bow before them in respect to the talisman. When the Imyuntar hadn't bowed down enough for his liking, Dokja had firmly reminded him to bow properly.
"At least there's only four to worry about now," Yoo Mia said with confidence. "I'm sure my oppa will get at least one by himself."
Kim Dokja didn't doubt that for a second, even though he mourned the fact that he probably wouldn't get to see it. The likelihood that Yoo Joonghyuk had ended up even remotely close by was slim, and since he didn't have the talisman or the 'Absolute Throne', there was no point in even coming to look for Lycaon.
Lee Jihye nodded along with the younger girl. "Yeah! Master can kick a disaster's ass any day!"
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is eager to see a fight between the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk' and a disaster.]
As soon as Han Sooyoung joked about him being the author, he shot her a disbelieving glance.
"Hey, I just can't believe that someone read the whole damn thing and actually decided to defend it," Han Sooyoung replied with a roll of her eyes. "Didn't expect a massive fanboy."
Okay, he couldn't actually disprove that one. Damn.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is amused by the incarnation 'kim dokja' making the guide 'lycaon' bow properly.]
Back in the present, Sooyoung now assumes that the disasters will be a breeze since even Dokja was able to beat one. Dokja bursts her bubble by explaining that beating the dragon was just luck, and that the others will be just like the ones in the novel. This makes Sooyoung much more apprehensive as she asks what they should do now.
Dokja looks over at Lycaon, who is casually tossing aside a car, stating that they need to use him. Lycaon calls Dokja 'Master'—a title that Dokja is not a fan of, since he thinks it sounds weird—and that only gives Sooyoung some material to tease him with. Unfortunately for Dokja, it's improper for him to call Dokja by his name, according to Imyuntar tradition. Before he can protest further, wind gathers in Lycaon's hands and his eyes begin to glow with otherworldly power.
"I will teach you the skill that has been passed down in my people, [Way of the Wind]."
"If the dragon was just luck, and we barely defeated it, then how awful are the full-powered ones?" Jung Heewon wondered with a grimace.
Kim Dokja wanted to grimace along with her. "I don't know if everyone will make it out alive, to be honest."
Even though he'd try his best, Kim Dokja knew that there were no guarantees. The disasters were genuinely horrific to face, and a stone settled in his gut when he thought of the most powerful among their number. The Disaster of Floods… that was a mess waiting to happen. Not only was she an extremely dangerous enemy with an army at her command, but this was the third regression.
Anxiously, Kim Dokja recalled that Yoo Joonghyuk had nearly died in the fight against the Disaster of Floods, and he knew that he had to plan for some way to prevent it. There was no way Kim Dokja was letting Yoo Joonghyuk regress that easily, but he also wasn't going to let them take the easier way out and use the disconnected film theory to beat her.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is raising a brow at the title being used by the guide 'lycaon'.]
Kim Dokja actually did grimace that time. Being called 'master' made a shiver of disgust go down his spine. No thank you! Seriously, how did the protagonist put up with Lee Jihye calling him that all the time?
He shot a quick glare at Han Sooyoung and Jung Heewon before they could even open their mouths to tease. "Don't even try it."
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' says that is a cool title.]
No way. It was cringey as hell, and Kim Dokja didn't even want to think of himself in that way.
Lee Jihye's eyes widened in surprise as Lycaon activated his skill. "Ahjussi, will you really be able to do something like that!?"
God that looked cooler than he imagined. Kim Dokja grinned. "I will."
Instead of a training montage, though, the scene suddenly changes to a map of Seoul.
Five Disasters have descended to the north, south, east, west, and center of Seoul.
Five large spots begin to glow on the map, indicating where the disasters will be located.
Out of them, the fire dragon—the 'Disaster in the South'—vanished prematurely, so the first disaster to arrive in the Fifth Scenario will definitely be the 'Disaster in the East'. My reason for hatching Lycaon was to obtain something necessary to avert the 'Disaster in the East'.
Dokja stands with his eyes closed as Lycaon watches him a short distance away. His jacket has been taken off, the angle showing that his waist is so tiny that the suspenders don't even rest on his body. Though his stance looks almost as though he's preparing to throw a punch and actually do some physical training instead of just spending coins, he merely breathes deeply instead.
"So that's where they are," Yoo Sangah muttered, examining the map. "Maybe those are just approximate areas, but it will be good to know in advance."
Smart. It was unfortunate that they couldn't all get connected thanks to Han Donghoon, or else they could have divided and conquered to have some degree of coordination between the groups going after each disaster.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' praises the incarnation 'yoo sangah' for planning ahead.]
When the image on the screen swapped back to Kim Dokja, Lee Jihye did her best to hold in a laugh. What was it this time?
"Ahjussi," she said in a teasing tone, "are you finally gonna get some exercise?"
Kim Dokja scowled at her. "And what do you call running all over Seoul then?"
He had been exercising this entire time, dammit! He needed a break, if anything!
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' says that the incarnation 'kim dokja' still looks flimsy.]
[a constellation who likes harems is curiously examining the waist of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Stop it with the waist already!
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is glaring at a constellation who likes harems.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is glaring at a constellation who likes harems.]
At least these two were defending him.
Yoo Joonghyuk just frowned. "You fool. Did you ever cook for yourself before the scenarios?"
… Would Yoo Joonghyuk consider heating up water for ramyun 'cooking for himself'? In Kim Dokja's defense, he was broke, he never had any energy, and it's not like he ever ate enough to make cooking or grocery shopping worthwhile. He had lived that way for over a decade, so it's not like it would kill him or anything.
When he didn't reply, Yoo Joonghyuk's frown turned into a scowl. "We will be fixing that."
Wait, what did he mean by 'we', because that made it sound like Kim Dokja had a say in this at all. And what would he even be fixing?
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is contemplating a healthy meal plan for the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
"And what are you going to do about it, sponsor me a three-course dinner?" Kim Dokja muttered sarcastically, glancing at the indirect message.
Han Sooyoung coughed into her fist, and it sounded an awful lot like she said 'sugar daddy' mid-cough again. Kim Dokja shot her a quick glare because that was not true, dammit.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' desires to know if the incarnation 'kim dokja' would like that.]
Yoo Joonghyuk just glared, and Han Sooyoung's snickering only got louder as Kim Dokja was left to flounder in shock. The Secretive Plotter couldn't actually mean that, right?
"No," he managed to say in a weaker voice than he wanted, "I don't need that right now."
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is threatening the constellation 'secretive plotter' to stop disrupting the companionship.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is ignoring the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire'.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' tells the incarnation 'kim dokja' to inform him if he ever changes his mind.]
What the hell was even going on in that constellation's head? And why was Jung Heewon joining Han Sooyoung in laughing so hard!? This was humiliating, not funny!
Kim Dokja grimaced. The less said about Yoo Joonghyuk's reaction, the better, but he seemed to be completely and utterly pissed off by all this nonsense that was delaying them from learning more about the future.
As Dokja opens his eyes, a pair of hands—rough and calloused from countless hours spent training, yet still somehow picturesque—appear on screen. Though the rest of their owner remains cloaked in shadows, there's really only one person who those hands could belong to.
"Tempest in the left hand, and storm in the right," Joonghyuk's deep voice says, as though he were personally instructing Dokja instead of Lycaon. As he says this, wind begins to whip by his right hand while they circle around the left. "The way of the wind will open up where the straight and the curved meet."
As his arms cross over each other, Joonghyuk opens his captivating dark eyes, his hair shifting ever so slightly in the breeze, yet still somehow staying immaculate. As he brings his hands out to the sides in a quick motion, a mass of wind bursts out in front of him, causing his jacket to flutter cinematically.
"Oppa, you look so cool there!" Yoo Mia exclaimed, grinning up at him excitedly. "Is that what the skill looks like?"
Yoo Joonghyuk nodded. "It's easy to use, and very convenient."
It truly was, and it made perfect sense why Yoo Joonghyuk went after it in every regression he could. There were very few skills that would allow him greater movement than [Way of the Wind], and he would often combine it with some of his other skills. In some regressions, the protagonist had become a master of aerial combat using [Way of the Wind] and [Air Steps] at the same time.
Lee Jihye glanced over curiously. "Master, if you know that skill, can you teach it to everyone?"
At that, the protagonist frowned. "I can't."
"He's right, that's a skill that doesn't carry over between regressions," Kim Dokja added, then winced when he realized that him being the one to learn it meant that Yoo Joonghyuk would be out of luck this time around. "I'd say sorry about taking it from you, but it's not like we planned for the dragon."
"It's fine," Yoo Joonghyuk muttered. "You need to get some useful skills that don't rely on merely copying others anyway."
Wow, that was surprisingly less hostile than expected. Was that progress?
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is appreciating this lovely show of companionship.]
Back in the present, Dokja matches this movement, but to his dismay, absolutely nothing happens.
Lycaon looks at him, eyes wide. "Master, I am sorry to inform you, but I don't think you've got what it takes to learn [Way of the Wind]."
Dokja just looks dumbstruck by this revelation as Lycaon mutters that this is hopeless, shaking his head.
"To tell you the truth, I don't think you have the talent to learn any skill." Despite the Imyuntar's attempt to be polite, every word is driving a metaphorical stake into Dokja's heart and soul.
This is a skill that's crucial for averting the 'Five Disasters'. If I don't think of something, the world might end because of me.
From where she's lounging on a bench and casually browsing her phone, Sooyoung lets out an undignified snort which quickly devolves into rambunctious cackling as Dokja sadly asks why it won't work. Sooyoung taunts him for being talentless and reveals that he's been trying to understand the skill for two entire days. Dokja just looks confused as he remembers that Joonghyuk not only learned the skill in five minutes, but somehow completely mastered it, even claiming that it was 'simple'.
Everyone stared for a moment.
"Ahjussi, that was just a practice run of the movements, right?" Shin Yoosung asked innocently, her eyes wide with hope as she stared up at him.
Kim Dokja clenched his jaw, realizing that it very much was not. Fuck.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is cackling maniacally.]
Yoo Sangah grimaced at Lycaon's insult to his abilities. "I think there were better ways to put that…"
That wasn't denying his words! Kim Dokja couldn't actually be talentless, right? Right?
"Oh my god," Han Sooyoung wheezed, "it took you two days to get that far!?"
This was just getting worse and worse, wasn't it?
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is flabbergasted.]
Yoo Joonghyuk took a deep breath, and Kim Dokja just knew that he was trying his best not to lose his mind. The fact that Kim Dokja hadn't originally planned on stealing the skill was probably the only thing saving him right now.
"It took him five minutes," Jung Heewon said in a deadpan tone. "Five. Minutes."
Kim Dokja wanted to curl into a ball and die. Was this really the massive divide of talent between him—someone not even worthy of being a mob character—and the protagonist?
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is wishing to offer her condolences to the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
"What do you mean? You're not even the main character," Sooyoung taunts. "Have you been fooling yourself into thinking you're Joonghyuk since you've done well lately?"
Her words cause Dokja to flinch, though he tries to hide it. Protesting, Dokja says that he understands the principle of the skill and quotes Joonghyuk's words, which impresses Lycaon. Dokja then asks what comes next, trying to understand how to put this confusing saying into practice.
Lycaon just looks down at him in confusion. "I'm sorry? You explained it just now. I couldn't have put it better myself."
Dokja puts his hand up, claiming that's merely a metaphor. Lycaon retorts that it's not a metaphor, and that those are the exact instructions.
Ugh, this is driving me crazy. Everything written in TWSA was described in such a way.
"Don't worry, hyung, you're better than the sooty bastard anyway," Lee Gilyoung protested, shooting a quick glare at Han Sooyoung for her comment. Ah… had he caught Kim Dokja's flinch and assumed he was bothered?
Well, he was, but not for the reasons anyone probably assumed.
"It's okay, Dokja-ssi," Lee Hyunsung said in an attempt to cheer Kim Dokja up, "I can't understand it either!"
Thanks, Hyunsung-ssi. At least he was trying.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' believes that the incarnation 'kim dokja' can do it.]
Yoo Joonghyuk frowned. "It's not a metaphor, Kim Dokja. Those are the instructions."
"But they make no sense!" Kim Dokja protested. "What kind of weird protagonist brain do you have that lets you understand this nonsense?"
Yoo Joonghyuk's eye twitched in irritation as he glared at Kim Dokja.
"Hey, at least he's finally admitting it's nonsense!" Han Sooyoung said with a shrug before grinning and doing jazz hands. "Progress!".
All Kim Dokja could do was bury his face in his hands and groan.
"Well, how about you try this? 'One wind meets the other to form Taeguk, and again, the wind meets the other to form yin and yang,'" Dokja states, astounding Lycaon with the profoundness of his words. Dokja prompts Lycaon to act with this knowledge, so Lycaon does.
The wind in Lycaon's hand starts forming the yin and yang and grows larger right in front of them, finally forming a whirling tempest. Dokja, once again, looks dumbfounded by how easily he did it. Sooyoung continues chuckling from the sidelines as Dokja stutters out another metaphor.
"W-wait, how about this!? 'The four winds meet to form a fortification, and the four winds meet again in the shape of a trigram. Therefore, the wind is everywhere and nowhere.'"
Lycaon's eyes widen in shock as Dokja continues talking. "How about it? You can't, can you? That's exactly how I feel."
Yoo Joonghyuk nodded along with Kim Dokja's words as though they weren't absolute gibberish, and it didn't matter how handsome he was because Kim Dokja genuinely couldn't understand anything that was happening.
Yoo Sangah tried to hold back a slight giggle as Lycaon treated Kim Dokja's abstract metaphor as something profound and meaningful, and he shot her a slightly betrayed glance. Why was she making fun of him too?
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is laughing at the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
He didn't get to talk, half of his entire story was weird allegories and metaphors.
When Lycaon actually put what he said into practice, Kim Dokja couldn't help but gape in surprise. "You have got to be kidding."
"I bet you'll stump him this time, ahjussi," Lee Jihye snickered, and he wasn't sure if she was being genuine or just making fun of him. It was probably better for his sanity to just not ask, though.
Suddenly, Lycaon bows and thanks Dokja sincerely before sitting down, placing his hands together in a praying motion and closing his eyes. As he does this, Dokja watches from the side, mouth agape, as a few pop-ups appear.
[The tier 5 Humanoid Demon 'Lycaon, Prince of the Imyuntar' has had an epiphany.]
[You have guided 'Lycaon, Prince of the Imyuntar' to a new plane of enlightenment.]
As Dokja looks completely and utterly defeated, Sooyoung points at him and laughs until she begins tearing up. Several constellations add in their two cents as well, including Sun Wukong (who is amazed by how pathetic Dokja is), and Secretive Plotter (who is disappointed in his carelessness).
{So why'd you break the throne? You halfwit.}
As the message comes in, the sky crackles and sparks as Bihyung appears behind Dokja, sporting a wide grin.
It happened again, and Kim Dokja just wanted to dig himself a grave and die. It couldn't actually be that easy!
"An epiphany," Han Sooyoung howled with laughter. "How are you so bad at this!?"
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is roaring with laughter.]
Seriously, what the hell was even going on!? None of it made any sense, and there was no way that Yoo Joonghyuk actually understood any of that bullshit, right? A quick glance over told Kim Dokja that his 'bullshit' had apparently clicked for the protagonist too. Who was he even kidding? Of course it did, he was the fucking protagonist.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is sighing and shaking his head.]
That was it, someone should just kill him now before his shame got any worse.