Kim Dokja did his best to shoot discreet yet anxious glances in Lee Seolhwa's direction, hoping that no one else was paying too much attention. Just what was she doing in the future!?
[a few constellations are suspicious about awakening the disaster early.]
He didn't even want to imagine what kinds of things were running through the protagonist's mind right now, knowing that the woman he had loved and married only one lifetime ago had attempted to kill him in this one. Yoo Joonghyuk was probably struggling, and there was nothing Kim Dokja could do about it. He just had to hope that Yoo Mia's presence was enough of a balm for her brother's already damaged psyche.
Sooyoung and Dokja, who is carrying a paralyzed Joonghyuk on his back, sprint down the street. As they're running, Sooyoung asks if it was alright to leave Lycaon behind. Dokja replies that he'll find them once he wakes up since he can sense the talisman that Dokja is carrying. He then asks if one of her avatars could carry Joonghyuk instead since he's heavy, likely due to all those impressive muscles. Sooyoung jumps back in a resounding rejection of that idea as she exclaims that she wouldn't want to carry someone who sliced her head off.
[Midday Tryst
Joonghyuk: You can leave me behind. I don't need anyone's help.
Dokja: Don't get cocky. I might really leave you behind at this rate.]
Dokja rolls his eyes before messaging and asking how long it will take for Joonghyuk to recover. The scene slowly zooms into Joonghyuk's face where only his eyes are visible over Dokja's shoulder, and he seems serene yet slightly downtrodden. Joonghyuk answers that he will probably be ok in 2 days, but doesn't reply when Dokja asks if he'll kill him upon recovery.
"Honestly, ahjussi, I'm surprised that you can carry Master at all," Lee Jihye remarked, and Kim Dokja had to frown. He had a decently impressive strength stat now after spending a bunch of coins, thank you very much.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is laughing at the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Kim Dokja raised a brow. "Would you rather I leave him on the side of the road?"
"Kim Dokja." The protagonist's voice sounded pissed off, and Kim Dokja internally cursed at himself for getting too comfortable.
When he glanced over at Han Sooyoung, she snorted. "Don't look at me, I'm not fixing your problems for you."
Damn it.
"At least you'll recover in a few days, so you won't have to put up with me for too long, right?" Kim Dokja joked nervously, and Yoo Joonghyuk only scowled more.
That fell flat, didn't it? Shit.
At that exact moment, the Kim Dokja on screen asked if Yoo Joonghyuk would kill him. For some reason, Yoo Joonghyuk shot a deadly glare at the screen, and it was so intense that Kim Dokja genuinely wondered if he was trying to set it on fire with his mind alone.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' believes that the companionship will triumph.]
Over what, Yoo Joonghyuk's murderous tendencies?
Dokja makes a face that looks half constipated as he gets increasingly nervous that Joonghyuk isn't responding to his joking taunt, then states that he can't help if he can't trust him. Dokja tries to get Joonghyuk to sign an 'Oath of Existence' that will ensure that the protagonist won't kill him until the end of the regression, which Joonghyuk promptly rejects. Dokja then compromises by asking if Joonghyuk will swear to at least let him live until the end of this scenario, which gets a reluctant promise out of the protagonist.
After he answers this, a blue flame appears from Joonghyuk's body before re-entering and encircles itself around his heart.
An Oath of Existence. A bond placed upon oneself. If the oath is broken, the bonded person's heart will be burnt to ashes by the blue flames surrounding it.
[Midday Tryst
Joonghyuk: I won't kill you. But…
Joonghyuk: I'll get you back for hitting me.]
Dokja makes a strained smile before replying and asking if he could hit gently, hoping that this will make them even.
See? He had a perfectly valid reason for being nervous!
"An 'Oath of Existence'?" Jung Heewon wondered as it was discussed on the screen. "Just wondering, why didn't you ask any of us to sign something like that?"
Why was that even a question?
Kim Dokja looked over at her, confused, as he stated the obvious: "Because you wouldn't try to kill me."
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is amused.]
Yoo Sangah shot a pitying glance in Kim Dokja's direction, though she seemed to be looking more at Yoo Joonghyuk than him. Weird.
Lee Gilyoung blinked up at him innocently. "I can sign one anyway, hyung! I'd rather die than hurt you."
Kim Dokja stared at him in complete and utter shock. How could a kid just make a declaration like that—and for someone he barely knew, no less!?
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is looking sadly at the incarnation 'lee gilyoung'.]
Forget him, Yoo Sangah needed to have a talk with Lee Gilyoung ASAP. A kid should never be able to just say something like that and genuinely mean it.
At least the protagonist had agreed to the Oath for one scenario, but Kim Dokja was not looking forward to that payback punch. He wouldn't die, Yoo Joonghyuk was good enough at controlling his strength to guarantee that, but Kim Dokja was not expecting to escape with intact organs.
As they approach Cheonhodaegyo, mutant plants and vines appear everywhere, long and writhing and covered in eyes and teeth. They've latched themselves onto buildings, encircling them and crawling over them like ivy. A large flower, known as the Yanaspleta, stares at them from the eye in its centre, on guard against any sudden attacks.
Dokja informs Sooyoung not to attack and to be careful not to step on the vines, since the plants won't retaliate unless they're provoked. He also notes that the terraforming has begun as he looks around the area.
Terraforming. The Fifth Scenario is a confrontation between two different worlds.
An image of humans fighting otherworldly winged and insectoid monsters with too many eyes and pupils appears.
A battle between the human race on Earth, and monsters from another world. Just as Seoul's landscape is being eroded for conversion into Chronos, China is being eroded by the '3rd Murim Realm',
A scene of people fighting demons and monsters wearing ancient chinese garments appears before changing into a group of people fleeing from yokai.
While Japan is being eroded by the realm of 'Night Parade of One Hundred Yokai'.
Yoo Mia grimaced upon seeing the deformed plants beginning to cover the city. "Ew, those are so gross."
She was absolutely correct, and Kim Dokja had to admit that it was a bit unnerving to know that the plants were quite literally watching them. While the Star Stream was super interesting as a concept, sometimes the things that happened as a result were really disturbing when they became real.
"Wait, the plants can attack!?" Shin Yoosung exclaimed in shock, glancing nervously over at Kim Dokja for confirmation. He nodded grimly, and she paled slightly. All he could do was hug her a bit closer and hope that she found it reassuring.
[many constellations are intrigued by the scenarios of other countries.]
God that looked so cool. On one hand, Kim Dokja thought that everything with Chronos was fascinating and knew the fifth main scenario of the Seoul dome inside and out, but on the other… why did other countries get to be invaded by worlds related to their own mythology and culture while Korea was stuck with an alien planet?
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is laughing at the pitiful foreign incarnations.]
Sooyoung curses at the terraforming before getting mad about someone waking up the disasters. Dokja points out her hypocrisy before once again stating he was lucky that the dragon was under restrictions. Sooyoung then wonders if there will be restrictions this time, but Dokja states that they might not work in the first place, and that he doubts that the dokkaebi will help them at all.
Dokja looks around and realizes that the large amount of monster corpses must have come from Joonghyuk's attempt to reach him. This prompts Dokja to ask why Joonghyuk came to find him instead of regressing. Dokja has dead-looking eyes as Joonghyuk glares over his shoulder while calling him ridiculous.
If this bastard could see what his future in the 8th regression will look like, he wouldn't be able to say that.
[Midday Tryst
Joonghyuk: If I was going to give up so easily, I would never be able to reach the end of my journey.]
…Right. The Yoo Joonghyuk in TWSA is the bastard who was quick to give up and quick to kill others, but that was a result of his poor mental state after having to live through countless tragedies. Even in the novel, Yoo Joonghyuk was much more human in the beginning, and still clung to hope.
Lee Hyunsung grimaced. "There really won't be any restrictions..?"
Honestly, the only reason they had gotten any last time was because the scenario was way too difficult for their current level. Unfortunately, since they had now reached the fifth scenario, they were supposed to be able to handle this.
"No," Kim Dokja told him, "some of the disasters will have certain limits to their power, but we won't be getting any help this time."
Jung Heewon swore under her breath, and Kim Dokja was pretty sure he heard at least three extremely creative ideas of how to murder a dokkaebi. He was definitely going to avoid pissing her off, if he could, because holy shit.
[several constellations are excited to see the disasters.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is in awe of the skills of the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
Kim Dokja's eyes widened in surprise. Yoo Joonghyuk had really torn through that many monsters on his way to find him? That was…
He really didn't know how to feel about that. His stomach felt fluttery with anxiety, and he did his best to hide the way his palms were beginning to feel a bit clammy. The fact that he had come to Kim Dokja for help instead of just regressing made Kim Dokja's mouth feel a bit dry, and he had to swallow a bit more obviously than he'd like.
Yoo Joonghyuk's determination was beyond captivating, and Kim Dokja was reminded once again why he had fallen in love with Yoo Joonghyuk's story. Why it had given him the strength to pick himself back up and keep going, despite all odds. Yoo Joonghyuk's story was so very human, despite the way he seemed to lose that humanity throughout the course of his many regressions. He was a flawed man, but even if he faced immeasurable setbacks, he never gave up on his long-term goal of finally putting an end to the Star Stream.
Right now, still at the beginning of that journey, Yoo Joonghyuk was still determined and optimistic, and Kim Dokja felt the same wonder he had experienced when reading TWSA for the first time again.
Dokja thinks that although he knows Joonghyuk the most out of everyone, he might not know the one of the '3rd turn' very well. Joonghyuk then messages and says that Dokja was the first person who came to mind, since he broke the 'Absolute Throne'. When Dokja jokes that he thought Joonghyuk would be mad about that, the protagonist remarks that he was already suspicious of the throne.
[Midday Tryst
Joonghyuk: You must have done it to keep away the 'Outer God'.]
This surprises Dokja and makes him mentally compliment Joonghyuk's intelligence in addition to being cool. Joonghyuk then goes on to explain the issues of the aftermath due to all the guides and disaster meteorites being scattered, causing the terraforming to go faster and the wanderers to take power from the meteorites. He then informs Dokja that one of the Ten Evils has gotten their hands on a disaster meteorite.
"Joonghyuk-ah, how did you know about the Outer God?" Kim Dokja asked suddenly, his confusion rising.
Yoo Joonghyuk was silent for a moment as he thought. "I… don't know."
He didn't know? What was that supposed to mean? Something definitely wasn't right here, but Kim Dokja felt that he was still missing some pieces of the puzzle. Still, he was pulled away from those thoughts when the protagonist began speaking again, changing the subject to something that could actually be answered.
"I changed a lot over the course of the novel," Yoo Joonghyuk stated as he narrowed his eyes, and Kim Dokja had to nod.
"You acted very distinctly differently in some regressions," Kim Dokja admitted. "I wasn't always sure if you were just trying a new strategy, or if you were so exhausted from trying and failing that you stopped trying at all."
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyebrow twitched and it was clear that he couldn't picture the second option happening at all, even though Kim Dokja had already informed him of the 8th turn and what that entailed.
"Tell us more, ahjussi!" Lee Jihye asked excitedly. "What was Master like in other lives!?"
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is eagerly awaiting the stories about the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is intrigued by what the incarnation 'kim dokja' has to say.]
Really? They were all that curious?
He shot an inquisitive look at Yoo Joonghyuk, as though asking for permission. After a moment of staring at each other, Yoo Joonghyuk sighed and inclined his head slightly. That was probably the closest thing to a 'go ahead' he was going to get.
Ah, where should he even start…?
Kim Dokja took a deep breath, and his eyes went slightly distant as he fell back into his memories of the novel.
"In his 81st life, Joonghyuk-ah barely cleared any scenarios. Instead, he set aside his sword to focus on cooking. I remember that Jihye was really frustrated with him in that one, always begging him to come out of the kitchen to teach her."
Lee Seolhwa looked at Yoo Joonghyuk in surprise. "Perhaps, once we're all out of here, Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi would be willing to cook for everyone?"
Ha, there was no way. He only let the people he cared about most eat his cooking, after all—
"Fine."
What? Was he sick or something?
Kim Dokja felt extremely confused, but sighed and shook his head. Never mind that, there were other regressions to mention.
"In his 111th, he went to another dimension and participated in the scenarios there instead of the scenarios on Earth. In the three and four hundreds, he killed constellations and achieved new levels of Transcendence."
"My oppa is the coolest!" Yoo Mia declared confidently, and she was absolutely right. Every single one of his regressions was incredibly cool—even ones where he was a complete asshole and where Kim Dokja disagreed with his actions, like the 41st.
[many constellations are baffled by the current events.]
Good, they should be. Yoo Joonghyuk would absolutely be able to tear them to shreds in the future, if Kim Dokja had anything to say about it.
"So, do you have a favourite then?" Han Sooyoung asked with a teasing grin on her face, and Kim Dokja completely missed the sharp glare that Yoo Joonghyuk shot in her direction.
He didn't even have to think—even though he probably should have. "The 999th, without a doubt."
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is curious to know the reasons why.]
Yoo Joonghyuk looked oddly bothered for some reason, and Kim Dokja knew that he should shut up. He really should. But Kim Dokja, the idiot he was, kept talking.
"That was the regression where Yoo Joonghyuk was considered so good that even Uriel herself incarnated into the scenarios to team up with him! He did anything and everything he could to ensure all his companions could make it to the end of the scenarios, and he got so close, but… he died right before the end."
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is extremely emotional over the words of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Kim Dokja felt something wet slide down his cheek and he blinked himself out of his stupor before wiping away a tear. Fuck, was he crying? At least he'd managed to keep it short—he could have gone on for way too long about the 999th regression, especially considering how he was heavily inspired by that Yoo Joonghyuk's strategies, but now he just felt awkward.
Also because Kim Dokja could tell that she was glaring again, but it was mostly because he had just ranted about Yoo Joonghyuk's other life to his face. How embarrassing…
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is overwhelmed by the strength of the companionship.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is stunned into silence.]
[several constellations are astounded by the actions of the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
Kim Dokja lowered his head, trying to hide from everyone. "Um, yeah. That's it. Let's just… let's just get back to watching now."
"No, no, I want to hear what the protagonist thinks about this. Do you have any enlightening comments for us?" Han Sooyoung teased with a wide grin. Did she really have to do this when Kim Dokja wanted to sink into the floor and vanish for a while? The last thing he wanted right now was to hear Yoo Joonghyuk's opinion.
Yoo Joonghyuk glared fiercely in Han Sooyoung's direction as he snarled, "No. Shut up."
At the very least, no one was about to argue with Yoo Joonghyuk, to Kim Dokja's relief.
An image of a white haired woman, her eyes glowing red, appears as Dokja asks if it was the 'Poison Beauty' Lee Seolhwa. He then asks why Joonghyuk is poisoned, since he wouldn't have faced her head on if he knew she was the opponent. To Dokja's surprise, Joonghyuk explains that he tried to talk her out of it.
[Midday Tryst
Joonghyuk: I thought I could make her a companion.]
An image of a white-haired woman talking casually with Joonghyuk while Namwoon and Jihye argue is shown on screen, and it's clear that this is what the team was like in Joonghyuk's memories from a previous life. Dokja lowers his eyes as he understands what that meant, and he looks saddened by this revelation.
The 'Poison Beauty', Lee Seolhwa, was not only one of Yoo Joonghyuk's companions in his 2nd regression, but also his lover.
The screen changes to show an image of the two of them standing side-by-side, looking ahead.
Lee Seolhwa looked down uncomfortably. "So it really was me… I'm sorry, Joonghyuk-ssi. I don't know why I wouldn't have listened to you."
"It's nothing," Yoo Joonghyuk muttered, but considering how tense his posture and jaw both were, Kim Dokja doubted the truthfulness of that statement.
Clearly, he was incredibly bothered by this situation, and Kim Dokja could tell that he hadn't anticipated it. After all, Lee Seolhwa hadn't become the 'Poison Beauty' in either the 1st or the 2nd regressions, if he was remembering their vague descriptions correctly. Still, he couldn't help but glance between the two of them curiously, almost fidgeting in anticipation.
Come on… strike up a conversation already! He had never gotten to see what their relationship was like in the 2nd regression other than the few times it came up in flashbacks, and Kim Dokja was ready to watch his OTP happen right in front of him. This was a side of TWSA that he had never seen, and the fanboy in his heart was pulling an Uriel and doing backflips at the thought of learning everything he could.
Plus, deep down, Kim Dokja just wanted Yoo Joonghyuk to be happy. He deserved happiness, after what he had already gone through and what he will experience in this turn—even though Kim Dokja was going to do anything in his power to prevent the future tragedies of his next 1860 regressions from happening. Yoo Joonghyuk deserved to see the end of the scenarios, to marry the person he loved, and to live a long and fulfilling life alongside his surviving companions.
Seeing the protagonist's struggle… it only reaffirmed Kim Dokja's determination to ensure it would happen. No matter the cost, he would pay it.
Yoo Sangah smiled at Lee Seolhwa when the topic of companions was brought up. "I'm sure we would be happy to have you join us, if you would like."
Lee Seolhwa smiled in return. "I would be honoured to accept, Sangah-ssi."
And then, as soon as Kim Dokja revealed the past relationship between Yoo Joonghyuk and Lee Seolhwa in the 2nd regression, everyone was silent for a moment before chaos erupted.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is gasping in shock.]
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' declares that romance is gross.]
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is choking on his wine.]
"Master!?" Lee Jihye shrieked, looking completely baffled. "What!? But what about ahjussi!?"
Again, what part of different realities before the start of the scenarios in this regression didn't she understand? Lee Seolhwa was his one true love, even if Yoo Joonghyuk had avoided getting into a relationship in most regressions. Kim Dokja knew that it was because the protagonist didn't want to re-experience the same crushing despair that he had in the 2nd regression when she had died.
Jung Heewon's jaw dropped open. "Huh? There's no way, right?"
Lee Hyunsung just looked flustered and confused by the sudden revelation, and Kim Dokja just grimaced and hoped this would end soon.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' emphatically declares that she does not approve of this companionship.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is looking sadly at the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
Come on, Yoo Joonghyuk, she was your wife! Say something to make everyone shut up!
"Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi?"
Or Lee Seolhwa could speak up, that also worked.
The protagonist glanced over at her briefly—and though he didn't say anything, he had a complicated expression on his face that might have been something like grief—before Lee Seolhwa took a deep breath and continued.
"I know that I would prefer to have some privacy for this discussion, but it's impossible under these circumstances, so I apologize in advance."
Oh? Was it happening already? Kim Dokja knew that she wouldn't be able to resist his godly looks—nobody in their right minds could, after all! Kim Dokja's heart sped up as he glanced back and forth between them eagerly, excited to see the confession scene in person. TWSA had never explained how they had gotten together, after all, and the childish glee was welling up inside him as Lee Seolhwa opened her mouth and confessed—
"Please don't pursue me in this regression."
What? Kim Dokja felt like the floor just fell out from underneath him. He couldn't have heard that right—did Lee Seolhwa just crash the ship before it even had the chance to sail? No, that couldn't be—
"I understand that we may have been close in a previous life, but I am not that woman. I don't share her memories of the time you spent together," Lee Seolhwa said quietly, nervously wringing her hands in her lap. "If you came to me searching for the woman you remember, then we would both just end up hurt in the end. Joonghyuk-ssi, you should not desecrate those memories by trying to relive them or replace them. I deserve better than to be seen as someone I am not, and you deserve better than to be constantly reminded of your loss."
No no no, what was even happening? Why would she… when she had the opportunity to be Yoo Joonghyuk's lover? None of this made any sense, and Kim Dokja felt his entire body go cold as her words washed over him.
Lee Seolhwa looked up, meeting the protagonist's gaze with a softer expression on her face. "Still, I think that it would be nice to be allies in this life, if you would want that."
Yoo Joonghyuk had to say something, right? Kim Dokja turned frantically to look at the protagonist, and for a moment, he thought he noticed the man's gaze briefly land on him before he focused his attention back on the woman speaking to him.
"That's fine," Yoo Joonghyuk said firmly, looking directly at her. "You were always a reliable ally, and I let my emotions get the best of me in the process of trying to recruit you. It won't happen again."
[many constellations are speechless.]
Lee Seolhwa smiled slightly and nodded once to show that she understood. Kim Dokja, on the other hand, felt like everything around him was falling apart.
[Midday Tryst
Dokja: It's not like you to do something like that.
Joonghyuk: I know. It was pathetic.
Dokja: …
Joonghyuk: She wasn't the Lee Seolhwa I remember.
Joonghyuk: But even if just for a moment, I wanted to believe it. I wanted to believe that the woman in my memories was still alive.]
Seolhwa turns around, smiling towards the audience even though her eyes still aren't visible.
Joonghyuk's eyes widen when Dokja says that he understands, and when Joonghyuk mentions that Dokja isn't a regressor, Dokja just states that he doesn't need to have regressed to understand.
He's a person who has never been understood, and he will continue to never have anyone else who understands. That's why I thought it wouldn't hurt, if I could tell him this one thing.
[The character 'Yoo Joonghyuk' feels a faint sense of comfort.]
The atmosphere was still tense, and thankfully Han Sooyoung realized that this was not the time to tease anyone. Kim Dokja was still lost in the haze of devastation, almost missing everything else happening around him in the process.
The words the protagonist was sending through Midday Tryst were just more stabs in his gut, more nails in the coffin that was his relationship with his former wife. Fuck.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' praises the incarnation 'kim dokja' for offering comfort to someone in need.]
Of course he would. Why wouldn't he? Kim Dokja was the only one in this world who truly knew everything Yoo Joonghyuk had and would go through, so he was the only one who could understand how the protagonist was feeling.
Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze settled on him for a while, but Kim Dokja couldn't bring himself to look back at him right now.
Joonghyuk then wonders if this is a skill of a prophet before turning murderous once more and stating that this doesn't mean he sees Dokja, the unrepentant bastard who kidnapped his sister, in a better light. Dokja once again retorts that he was protecting Mia, and that Joonghyuk can even verify it with [Lie Detection].
Sooyoung interrupts their bickering over messages by calling Dokja's name and looking towards the sky. Monsters and mutant plants emerge from the clouds, reaching down towards the earth. Sooyoung nervously asks if the disaster has been awakened, but Dokja replies that it hasn't since the Fifth Scenario would have started if it did. Glancing around, he notices the markings of a crescent with a rose on the road, and realizes that it's a marking to denote the 'Poison Beauty's territory. He grits his teeth as he internally remarks that the 'Poison Beauty' moved faster than he thought, and that the fight won't be easy.
He turns to Sooyoung and tells her that the plan is for her to steal the meteorite as he distracts everyone else. When Joonghyuk messages that the 'Disaster of Questions' can be neutralised early, Dokja rolls his eyes before dunking on the paralyzed man by reminding him that he's too injured to suppress the disaster. Joonghyuk then shamelessly says that Dokja will have to do it, glaring while messaging that he should have already learned [Way of the Wind].
Despite Joonghyuk offering to explain the theories, Dokja reveals that he can't learn it because he lacks talent. This makes Joonghyuk furious as he glares holes into the back of his head, irritated that the skill he can actually use has been stolen by someone unable to learn it. Sooyoung and her summoned avatars pause as she declares that there are people ahead.
A large crowd runs in fear towards them, trying to run for the bridge. Unfortunately, many are shot down by poisoned arrows before they can reach safety. Dokja quickly passes Joonghyuk over to one of the avatars before drawing his blade in an attempt to defend himself.
Just as two arrows are aimed for him and he doesn't have much time to block them, a large golden spiderweb appears in front of them and blocks everything.
Thankfully, Yoo Mia had already cleared up the misunderstanding from before, so Kim Dokja wasn't worried about that. What was worrying, however, was whatever was going on with Lee Seolhwa.
"You're getting closer," Lee Hyunsung remarked nervously. "Please be careful."
Lee Gilyoung frowned and tugged on Kim Dokja's sleeve in concern. "Hyung, will you be ok all by yourself as the distraction?"
"Yeah," Shin Yoosung chimed in, "wouldn't ahjumma be better for distracting?"
Kim Dokja shook his head. "I can't move the meteorite all by myself, but Han Sooyoung could do it using multiple avatars."
Han Sooyoung sighed dramatically. "Making me do all the heavy lifting again. I see how it is."
Rolling his eyes, Kim Dokja just waved her off. The bigger issue was the fact that he couldn't learn the skill required for beating the disaster, and he could feel the protagonist's disappointment with him burning through his gaze.
"Master even offered to explain it?" Lee Jihye wondered in shock. "He's a really good teacher, so you'll learn in no time."
If only that were the case…
"So if you can't learn it, and that guy can't use it now either, what the hell are you going to do?" Jung Heewon asked curiously.
Kim Dokja winced. "I… haven't thought that far yet."
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is hoping that the incarnations come up with a plan soon.]
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the arrival of a large crowd of people distracted them from his utter lack of a game plan. The kids stiffened up as soon as they noticed the poisoned arrows, and Kim Dokja did what he could to comfort them even as his anxiety spiked a bit as well.
"Don't get poisoned too, ahjussi," Yoo Mia told him stiffly, and he could tell that she was worried too.
Thankfully, he did have a plan to deal with the poison if it came to that, but he would prefer not having to use it until later. At least they had gotten saved by a giant spider web, so that was nice.
Kim Dokja paused, staring intently at it because something felt a little bit off. Wait a second, was that—?
[the constellation 'abandoned lover of the labyrinth' is looking intently at the incarnation 'yoo sangah'.]