"At least that's over now," Shin Yoosung sighed, slumping against Kim Dokja's side. She had been extremely tense for the entire fight (and the subsequent standoff between Kim Dokja and her that he was desperately trying to avoid thinking about), so it made sense.
Lee Gilyoung glanced over with a small frown before dramatically slumping against Kim Dokja's other side as well. "Hyung, do you think you're gonna come find me now? I'm probably all by myself and we don't know if I'm safe yet…"
… The kid really had a way of guilt-tripping without intending to do it, didn't he? Just before Kim Dokja could respond and reassure Lee Gilyoung that he'd find him as soon as he could, Shin Yoosung sat up to glare at the boy.
"Ahjussi is going to come and find me first," she declared emphatically, balling up her hands into fists.
"No, he's gonna find me first!" Lee Gilyoung retorted.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is amused by the children's bickering.]
Did they forget that his future self had no idea where either of them were right now?
Shaking his head fondly, Kim Dokja patted them both on the head, and thankfully his hands had stopped shaking partway through their argument. "I'll find you both as soon as I can, okay?"
Both children pouted, but they nodded in understanding as the next segment began to play on the screen.
Dokja looks down at his injured hands, remembering how he controlled the wind while the constellations give their opinions on the proceedings. Dokja looks up, seeing the people carrying the dead away and nursing their own injuries. Joonghyuk watches them too with a slight frown, appearing somewhat forlorn yet detached.
These are scenes that the novel's text never described, and this protagonist must have seen scenes like this countless times. I thought I had read the entirety of TWSA, but reading something is very different from having understood all of it completely. Maybe even the tiniest fraction of this world is still beyond my understanding.
Joonghyuk, noticing Dokja's gaze on him, whirls around and levels him with the nastiest glare that asks Dokja what his deal is. Suddenly, a message appears in front of Dokja which surprises him—Dokgak has invited Dokja to his channel. His gaze shoots to the dokkaebi above, where Dokgak looks overly smug as Bihyung nervously sweats behind him, looking like a kicked puppy.
Dokja blatantly stares at the dokkaebi and bluntly asks Dokgak why he hasn't handed over the rewards. This startles the dokkaebi in question, who had been focusing too much on his preening to do his job.
Dokgak. This one storyteller has the Tokyo Dome and some other major channels under him as well. He's not like the inept Bihyung, or that arrogant intermediate dokkaebi, but rather a dokkaebi too threatening to underestimate.
Dokgak snaps his fingers, apologizing for his oversight. Dokja looks at the reward money, and realizes that the coins must have come from Dokgak's own pockets since he was the one to create the sub-scenario.
It was odd, seeing scenes like that. Logically, Kim Dokja had known that they existed—they had to, passing quietly in the background, beyond the reader's notice or care—simply because everything kept moving forward even without the protagonist there to drive it. Though he had read all 3,149 chapters of TWSA, there were still very real moments that he had never experienced.
[constellations who like philosophy agree with the words of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Kim Dokja had to flinch when the protagonist on the screen glared at him. God, he could be downright terrifying when he wanted to be. Clearly, he had been right when he thought that Yoo Joonghyuk was just working with him because of his knowledge.
Still, he couldn't ponder that too much when the dokkaebis started doing some strange things.
"He invited you to his channel?" Lee Hyunsung wondered curiously. "You can't, right? Because of your contract with Bihyung."
"That's right," Kim Dokja confirmed. "Some incarnations can and do switch channels, though—especially if they're moving to a larger channel with more powerful constellations."
[many constellations are wondering if the incarnation 'kim dokja' will transfer channels.]
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is praying that the incarnation 'kim dokja' will stay on the original channel.]
Of course he would stay; the contract he had with Bihyung was too good to pass up. Dokgak was clearly just too audacious and assumed that Kim Dokja was greedy enough to just go along with anything he wanted.
"Back to your dokkaebi scamming ways, I see," Han Sooyoung cackled as soon as Dokgak was forced to pay out-of-pocket. He clearly hadn't expected anyone to actually succeed in this scenario, and Kim Dokja couldn't even retort it. While scamming him hadn't been the intention, well… it was always a good day when a dokkaebi got screwed over.
Dokja looks up once more, demanding the rest of the rewards, since he clearly remembers there being one other thing listed in the scenario. Dokgak immediately apologizes once more, expertly taking responsibility as the one who tried to spice up the scenario. He then immediately loses this credibility when he proceeds to bully Bihyung into preparing the rewards.
Dokja looks at him with displeasure when he cuts off Bihyung's attempt to remind him that Dokgak himself is in charge of this sub-scenario. Using his authority and power, he states that Bihyung must prepare them, threatening him by bringing up his growing channel and that the sixth scenario will involve Japan as well.
Misuse of authority is present even among the hierarchy of dokkaebis. Still, seeing him abuse his power because he hates Bihyung is…
Dokja continues to glare as the
"He's seriously trying to pass all his work onto Bihyung? What a scumbag," Jung Heewon scoffed. "Don't get me wrong, I don't have any love for that annoying fluff ball either, but this one is even more annoying."
Kim Dokja had to do everything he could to hold back a guffaw. Bihyung would lose his shit if he ever found out that someone called him an 'annoying fluff ball', and Kim Dokja honestly didn't know if he should bring it up sometime just to see that happen. It would be funny as hell.
Yoo Mia scowled at the screen. "That red dokkaebi is such a bully."
He truly was, wasn't he?
[several constellations believe that the dokkaebi 'dokgak' should take more responsibility.]
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is laughing at the dokkaebis.]
Yoo Sangah giggled for a second, and Kim Dokja turned to her in confusion. She held her hands in front of her mouth to muffle her amusement, but when she caught his gaze, she couldn't help but giggle more.
"Sorry, I just…" Yoo Sangah did her best to compose herself, but Kim Dokja could tell that she was on the verge of laughing again. "I just had the thought that whoever made those items has the same naming sense as Sooyoung-ssi."
Kim Dokja blinked for a moment as he tried to put the pieces together. It just wasn't clicking, and Yoo Sangah's smile widened at his confusion for some reason.
"Ah!" Lee Jihye exclaimed as though she had an epiphany. "They both use way too many S's at the start!"
It didn't even take a second for Han Sooyoung's jaw to drop as she connected the dots. "What? No I don't—"
"Don't lie, ahjumma," Yoo Mia scolded. "If anything, you're worse. They only use three, but you put five."
Shit, they were right. That was hilarious, and Han Sooyoung's gasping and futile protests only made it funnier.
[the constellation 'mass production maker' is amused by the observation of the incarnation 'yoo sangah'.]
Ah, there he was—the constellation who had tastes as questionable as Han Sooyoung's.
Bihyung glumly floats down as he tells Dokja to choose a reward.
{Personally, I'd go for the 'Infinite Dimension Space Coat'. It has a secret feature, and its grade will also transcend over time.}
Dokja's eyes widen in surprise that the dokkaebi fed him this information before Dokgak rudely tells Bihyung to explain the items. Once Bihyung finishes his explanation and glumly floats off once more, Dokja casually asks Joonghyuk what he's going to pick. However, looking up, Dokja realizes that Joonghyk is still glaring at him with a fearsome expression as he uses [Restorative Hibernation lvl. 3]. Dokja walks over, waving his hand in front of the protagonist's face while asking if he passed out while standing. Dokja muses that it was incredible for him to even fight in the state his body was in, and thinks that Joonghyuk pushed himself a bit too much.
Sooyoung cheekily asks if she should choose a reward for Joonghyuk, but Dokja reminds her that the protagonist would attack her for it later. She pouts as Dokja tells Dokgak that he chooses the coat. The dokkaebi commends his choice and states that they'll move to the reward area right away.
Reward area?
Yoo Joonghyuk raised a brow at Bihyung's suggestion before relaxing slightly. "The coat is a good choice."
Well, of course he'd think so; he'd been wearing one for a while, after all. They truly were convenient, considering just how much storage space their subspace pockets had. In the apocalypse, not having to worry about carrying around much-needed supplies was a literal godsend.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' believes that the incarnation 'kim dokja' will choose a good reward.]
"And if he made a shitty choice, would you just buy him the better one, or something?" Jung Heewon asked the constellation with way too much amusement in her tone. Kim Dokja whipped around to look at her with a scandalized expression.
"No way! You realize that buying anything through the Dokkaebi Bag means that its price has been inflated a lot, right?"
It was ridiculous to assume that any constellation—no matter how wealthy—would buy items for an incarnation that wasn't theirs. After all, on top of the already inflated price of the item, they would have to pay an exorbitant amount to the dokkaebi in charge of the channel to send anything more than a coin donation or an indirect message to an incarnation they weren't sponsoring. The incarnation's sponsor would get a cut of those proceeds—albeit a smaller one than the dokkaebi—and usually the gifting constellation would have to ask for their permission as well.
All in all, it was a ridiculous process with far too many hoops that required jumping through, so most constellations didn't bother with anything past coin donations, and focused their attention and coins on their own incarnations instead.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is looking at the constellation 'secretive plotter' with a challenging gaze.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' reassures the incarnation 'kim dokja' that coins are not an issue.]
That didn't make it better! All it meant was that Bihyung could probably drain the Secretive Plotter of all his funds just by dangling Kim Dokja in front of him and claiming that he needed items for bullshit reasons in order to goad the constellation into buying things. While Kim Dokja wasn't above scamming constellations—he relished in it, actually—that felt a bit too exploitative for his tastes.
Han Sooyoung looked utterly exhausted with him as she stared in his general direction, but she did seem to be somewhat amused by something behind him. That made no sense—the only person she could be looking at was either Yoo Mia or Yoo Joonghyuk, and they had no reason to care about this ridiculous situation.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is pleased that the incarnation 'kim dokja' is seeking his companion's opinion.]
Well, it only made sense to ask Yoo Joonghyuk what he was planning on picking. After all, there was only one of each item available, and although Kim Dokja was fairly certain they wouldn't want the same thing, it was always better to check.
Unfortunately, it seemed that he had passed out with his eyes open.
"Oppa…" Yoo Mia muttered flatly, "you need to stop glaring all the time. No wonder people think you're scary."
Yoo Joonghyuk frowned at his sister's minor critique, but Lee Seolhwa chuckled. "Dokja-ssi is right—it is amazing that you managed to fight at all in that condition. Still, your sister has a point."
At the very least, the protagonist turned his attention to Han Sooyoung. "You will not be choosing for me."
"Okay, fine," she retorted, holding her hands up. "He took the coat though, so I hope you weren't thinking of getting that one."
Of course he wasn't—Yoo Joonghyuk already had one of his own, after all. Still, Kim Dokja was more concerned about this 'reward area' nonsense. Just what was that dokkaebi planning?
Dokgak grins in a conniving manner as he states that these rewards can't be issued at the current location. Dokja just levels him with a stare as he asks where the dokkaebi wants to go.
[I invite you to my Dokkaebi Gamtu,] Dokgak states, shocking Dokja.
Dokkaebi Gamtu. In traditional fairy tales, a Gamtu is a hat worn by government officials.
An image of a gruff and hairy man lifting his cap while carrying scrolls and precious jewels is shown in an ink painted style. This switches to show a snazzy lounge where the figure of a dokkaebi sits.
But in TWSA, a Gamtu is a room where the dokkaebi hide their true selves.
Dokja replies that he'd prefer if he was just given the rewards here, explaining through his thoughts that he would have no way of knowing what would happen after entering the Gamtu, and that the 'standard procedure' that Dokgak is speaking of is all crap. Dokgak's smile grows as he states that he could cancel the reward handout if Dokja keeps whining, so Dokja just tells him to go right ahead.
The Star Stream is thorough even with scenario rewards. Even if it was a sub scenario, there's no way to revoke reward items.
"His Gamtu!?" Kim Dokja exclaimed in shock. "Why the hell would he invite me there?"
[several constellations are shocked by the actions of the dokkaebi 'dokgak'.]
Lee Gilyoung perked up. "Hyung, could you punch a dokkaebi in that place?"
Kim Dokja paused for a moment. "You know what, I actually don't know. Probably?"
Yoo Joonghyuk had never managed to punch a dokkaebi in TWSA, after all. Now that the thought had occurred to him, Kim Dokja was genuinely a bit upset that he hadn't—that would have been really damn cool to read.
Yoo Joonghyuk frowned as the dokkaebi kept pushing. "Why is he trying so hard to convince you? That's not 'standard procedure'."
Kim Dokja was fully aware of that, and it only made him more concerned about what was going on. Dokgak was even threatening to revoke the items, which went against the rules of the Star Stream. Just what did he want?
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is suspicious of the intentions of the dokkaebi 'dokgak'.]
{I wouldn't do that if I were you,} Dokgak messages, surprising Dokja.
[Your Story is being heard far and wide. You are so famous that even constellations beyond the Korean peninsula know all about you,] Dokgak says while messaging Dokja to transfer to his channel, saying that he plans to expand his own channel to cover the entire peninsula and is ready to meet any of Dokja's conditions.
Dokja finds the fact that Dokgak is scouting him interesting, comparing it to asian soccer players getting scouted for a larger team elsewhere in the world. Dokja impatiently states that he wishes the dokkaebi would just give him the item already. Dokgak retorts that he's heard how Dokja stands up to dokkaebis and sees that the rumour is true. He then states that he has something to announce, calling Dokja arrogant in his messages while looking truly villainous.
Dokgak then addresses the constellations and states that a certain channel has been illegally manipulating scenarios, revealing that the channel in question is Bihyung's with malicious flair. Bihyung has a look of innocent confusion on his face which makes him look like a precious child that needs to be protected as Dokgak states that the lesser dokkaebi of Seoul Dome have concluded that there has been a plausibility breach due to the excessive manipulation by this channel. He then asks the Bureau to consider the channel for a 'probability review'. As soon as he says this, the grin on his face widens to an unpleasant degree and looks very disturbing.
"Is he trying to blackmail you?" Lee Hyunsung wondered with furrowed brows. "That's rude."
Unfortunately, dokkaebis didn't exactly care much about politeness, but Lee Hyunsung was also just too nice to realize that sometimes.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is getting impatient.]
"Something to announce? That can't be good," Han Sooyoung muttered under her breath.
Sure enough, Kim Dokja froze as soon as Dokgak announced that Bihyung's channel was cheating. Fuck, they weren't technically breaking any rules—he knew that—but that didn't mean that everyone else would see it that way, especially with how well he had been doing in the scenarios so far.
Still, he couldn't help but relax a bit as soon as the probability review was brought up. After all, if the Dokkaebi King was actually the one who threw out his review earlier, then Kim Dokja had the faintest hope that it would happen again. If that guy got involved, then it didn't matter how many other dokkaebis complained.
"That bitch," Jung Heewon snarled. "I swear, if I ever get my hands on him…"
Suddenly, Kim Dokja had to wonder—were dokkaebis considered 'evil'?
Sooyoung immediately calls this bullshit, thinking it's weird that he would suddenly find fault with the probability. Dokja responds by saying that Dokgak is just looking for a fight, wondering if it's because he refused to transfer.
{W-What should I do? What can I do?} Bihyung nervously messages, secretly glancing at Dokja as he sweats heavily. Dokja asks if anyone learned of their contract, and Bihyung denies that. Dokja then asks if anyone caught Bihyung opening the Dokkaebi Bag for him, and once again, Bihyung denies it. Dokja says that there's no need to worry then, as none of this warrants an assessment—even if they get caught—since it all falls within the rules.
Dokja then calls out to Dokgak again, cupping his hands and deadpanning as he asks for his rewards and tells him not to stall since it's boring the constellations. Dokgak says it's a matter that concerns Dokja as he snaps his fingers and brings up a screen. On it is the scene of the battle with Seolhwa. With each snap, it changes to different points in the battle.
[Can you tell what everything on this screen shares in common?] Dokgak asks everyone standing around the area. Dokja looks, analyzing the scenes before his eyes widen as he realises Dokgak's scheme. Without wasting any opportunity, Dokgak accuses Dokja of deliberately drawing out the fight by not killing Seolhwa, Antinus, or the still-sealed 'Disaster of Questions'.
Everyone relaxed slightly as soon as they realized that the dokkaebi was just spouting bullshit. Still, it was weird seeing Bihyung so panicked like this.
[several constellations believe that opening the Dokkaebi Bag for an incarnation without a sponsor should be allowed.]
Yeah, Kim Dokja thought so too. After all, not having a sponsor already put an incarnation at a major disadvantage compared to the others. He was spending his own money even, so it wasn't like the dokkaebis weren't earning anything from it.
As soon as the footage of their fight appeared, Lee Seolhwa looked startled. "What do I have to do with this…?"
A lot, apparently. Kim Dokja cringed as soon as Dokgak accused him of drawing out the fight. Technically, he wasn't wrong—but he wasn't doing it to manipulate the scenario.
"That dokkaebi is stupid," Lee Jihye scoffed. "Did he not know about your [King of No Killing] attribute?"
Antinus was the only one he might have been able to kill without repercussions, but at the same time, there was no fucking way he was capable of that. Everyone had just seen him get punted around only a few minutes ago, so they all knew it was true.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' thinks that the dokkaebi 'dokgak' doesn't know what fun is.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is protesting the unjust actions of the dokkaebi 'dokgak'.]
Dokja gets angry as Dokgak claims that Dokja is conspiring with Bihyung and holding back his abilities in order to manipulate how each scenario goes. The dokkaebi calls it a fabricated narrative for selfish goals, and that it was to orchestrate feelings of catharsis and rob the constellations of their coins through donations.
What Dokgak had really planned all along was to bring an end to Bihyung's channel.
The lights of constellations around Bihyung light up before many leave as they suspect foul play or demand refunds. Bihyung visibly decreases in size as his channel shrinks, causing the other dokkaebi to point and laugh at the tearful dokkaebi, mirroring schoolyard bullies.
Dokja sighs, "This channel is ruined."
He looks at Dokgak and states that he wants his reward and that he'll accept the offer. Bihyung looks at Dokja with betrayal and shakes as tears look ready to fall from his wide eyes. Dokja just tells him not to look at him like that, asking what he's supposed to do.
Dokgak grins victoriously as he teleports Dokja away, stating that it's time for him to get his rewards.
"Bullshit," Han Sooyoung scoffed. "Does no one think that he can just end up in a situation where he's struggling, or what?"
Clearly they didn't, but Kim Dokja clicked his tongue in irritation when he figured out the motivation behind it.
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is intensely displeased with the dokkaebi 'dokgak'.]
"I feel kind of sad for him," Shin Yoosung whispered as Bihyung shrunk dramatically. "Compared to the other dokkaebis, he really isn't that bad."
Yoo Sangah's eyes widened as she looked over at Kim Dokja. "You're accepting his offer?"
Kim Dokja shrugged. "Apparently?"
"No, let's be real," Han Sooyoung said slyly, "he's probably preparing to scam that dokkaebi."
Well, he couldn't say with certainty that that's what his future self was planning, but he also couldn't say that that's not what he was planning either.
"You'd better scam him good, ahjussi," Yoo Mia grumbled, glaring at the screen.
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is eagerly waiting for a good show, and is offering a drink to his fellow constellations.]