"Wait, wasn't that theory just about how this timeline-slash-dimension hopping shit works without causing everything to collapse, and what happens to the timeline hopper if the version of that person from this world dies?" Han Sooyoung muttered, looking completely confused.
"You're right," Kim Dokja admitted, finally reigning in his awe to respond to her curiosity. "Normally, that's all it would be. Still, that's the only explanation I have for why this is happening."
That wasn't something that had ever happened with the Disconnected Film Theory in TWSA, so why was this happening now? What had changed?
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is watching curiously.]
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is picking his nose.]
The two movie reels entangle with each other, twisting and turning as scenes that mirror each other begin to play. In one, Yoosung tells Dokja that she's ready to die, in the other, 41st Yoosung begs to live. Yoosung questions if she deserves to live while 41st Yoosung questions if life is worth living.
In the end, they all come to meet in the middle, where Dokja is holding both of their hands and acting as a bridge for the memories. The reels tangle around his incorporeal body, flowing to and from the two girls through his hands. Instantly, Dokja realizes what is going on as Yoosung looks shocked and 41st Yoosung looks distraught from the things they're being shown.
Outside of the swirling film reels in their minds, 41st Yoosung is enveloped in a powerful probability storm. "No, this is… this memory!"
Are their memories being exchanged due to me linking them? According to the 'Disconnected Film Theory', the two of them should be able to co-exist, but not share their history. However that theory only applies to characters.
A pre-scenario Dokja holding his phone appears before the winding film reels, and behind him, the two Yoosungs stand with their backs to the screen.
What if someone like me who isn't from the novel became a connecting link between their memories and temporarily connected two rolls of film that would normally have never intersected?
"Yoosung-ah…" Yoo Sangah whispered, looking upset by what she was hearing. She glanced over at the younger girl sadly, easily realizing just how bad both of her future versions' mentalities were.
The girl shook her head. "I'm okay, unnie. I can't die until we kick the sooty bastard off the top of the list."
Lee Gilyoung snickered and stuck his tongue out at Yoo Joonghyuk while Kim Dokja just sighed. Why were they taking something like that so seriously? Well, he supposed it didn't matter that much if it worked. Yoo Joonghyuk could take care of himself, and it's not like the protagonist cared that much either.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is hoping to see a battle.]
Yeah, no battles here right now, thanks.
As soon as Kim Dokja saw the imagery of the two girls holding onto him, his eyes widened. That couldn't be…
"Wait, so is ahjussi the reason why this weird thing is happening?" Yoo Mia asked, raising a brow. "I won't even be surprised; ahjussi makes everything weird."
Okay, he was going to elect to ignore the second half of that statement, but she had a very valid point. The memories shouldn't get passed like that, even if the two of them touched, so there had to be an external factor at play. The only one in this situation was Kim Dokja himself, so therefore, that had to be the answer.
Lee Seolhwa brought her hand up to her chin as she thought, furrowing her brow. "So, in that case, is it only possible for Dokja-ssi to pass along the memories because he already knew both of their histories?"
"Hmm, maybe," Kim Dokja replied, already falling deep into his thoughts.
That was possible, but there was no way to say for sure why it worked the way it did. They couldn't exactly test it here, and it wasn't like the Disaster of Floods that they would meet in the future would just sit there and let them test if this works without Kim Dokja being dead. Also, if the only requirements were not being a 'character' and knowing their histories, then Han Sooyoung should also qualify—even if she didn't know everything.
Actually, by the time they got out of here, would everyone from the 'real world' qualify, technically?
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is intrigued by the current discussion.]
In a fit of desperation, 41st Yoosung uses all her strength to grab onto her wrist and force her hands away from Yoosung's. Blood splatters everywhere as she tears off her own forearm while screaming for them to get out of her head. Dokja tries to call out to the mentally collapsing woman, but with a gasp, he covers his mouth to avoid getting sick. He's sharing all of her senses, and between the increasing distress and pain from ripping her arm off, he realizes that he can't hold out much longer. If only he could manage to stay possessing her for long enough, then she might just collapse on her own at this rate.
But…
The labyrinth appears on the screen, wobbling as a woman listlessly spends what feels like eternity there.
Dokja grits his teeth and curses as he begins to disappear from 41st Yoosung's body in a flurry of pixels.
This might be an unwise choice, but if I don't make this choice, I know I would regret it.
"Oh fuck," Jung Heewon gasped as the disaster tore off her own arm. The kids flinched violently at the blood splatter, but at least Lee Gilyoung had grabbed onto Shin Yoosung's hand to help keep her grounded.
"That's not me," Shin Yoosung whispered to herself almost desperately. "That's not me, that's not me, I'm okay, everything will be okay."
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is worried about the incarnation 'shin yoosung'.]
Yoo Joonghyuk's posture stiffened as soon as Kim Dokja started looking sick. "Kim Dokja?"
"Dokja-ssi, are you alright!?" Lee Hyunsung asked, looking extremely concerned.
Honestly, Kim Dokja wasn't sure what was going on either, and his frown deepened as he watched. He wouldn't be that affected just by a bit of blood, so something else had to be going on.
Ah. Right. Sharing her senses would definitely do that.
"Wait, so that means that ahjussi just felt like his arm got ripped off, right?" Lee Jihye asked anxiously, her face pale. Kim Dokja grimaced, but he had to nod. That's what it seemed like, at least.
Han Sooyoung sighed. "Well, if she self-destructs mentally, wouldn't that be better for all of you?"
"I agree," Yoo Sangah muttered, looking nervously over at Kim Dokja.
It would be, because she wouldn't have any willpower to resist anymore. However, in that condition… Kim Dokja knew he wouldn't be able to last. Still, his future self appeared to have come to some kind of conclusion, and he wasn't entirely certain of what that conclusion was. He had ideas, of course, but could he really be sympathizing with her to that degree…?
[some constellations are wondering what is happening to the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
With a deluge of windows explaining that he's coming back to life, Dokja's body materializes once more, just as it did in Anguk station. As his torso comes into view and, despite all the coins he's poured into upgrading his stats since the start of the scenarios, every rib on his body is clear enough to be counted.
With the briefest of looks around, Dokja feels relieved that there aren't people nearby to see him naked this time. With a grin, he notices that his clothes and items have somehow survived and he hops over to grab and put them on.
"Oh, hyung is just coming back to life!" Lee Gilyoung exclaimed excitedly. "You're okay!"
And thank goodness for that. Kim Dokja had to breathe out a sigh of relief, even though this meant that if he got seriously injured again, he wouldn't have that safety net. With any luck, he'd be much more help this time—after all, he didn't have the penalties that he maybe shouldn't have accepted taking during that bounty scenario anymore.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is looking at the physique of the incarnation 'kim dokja' with disapproval.]
But seriously, why did he always have to come back naked? That was the worst part, and he was beyond glad that anything uncomfortable was once again cleverly hidden by camera angles and his own bare legs. Still, Kim Dokja wasn't pleased—why didn't he get pants badly edited onto his body too, dammit?
Still, he had to wonder, was the unfortunate nakedness related to how much of his body had to be regenerated? If he died of bleeding out or even poison, would it just fix his old body, or would it give him a whole new one?
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' believes that the incarnation 'kim dokja' needs to eat better.]
As much as he wanted to retort that statement, it probably said way too much that he was eating better in the middle of the literal apocalypse than he ever had beforehand. At least now he could eat more than one nearly (or actually) expired kimbap for a meal.
Still, his cheeks coloured and he buried his face in his hands. He really didn't want to deal with people criticizing or commenting on his body right now, and the last thing he wanted was to accidentally lock eyes with Han Sooyoung or Yoo Joonghyuk. He didn't want to be judged or laughed at, after all.
"It's good that you're alone, ahjussi," Shin Yoosung said while tugging on his sleeve. "It would be embarrassing if anyone was around."
Yeah. He knew that all too well.
Jung Heewon laughed awkwardly and pointedly didn't look at him. "Yeah, sorry about last time…"
Kim Dokja groaned. "Please don't remind me."
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is amused by the actions of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
"At least your clothes are closer this time?" Lee Hyunsung said weakly. It was an attempt to be positive, but Kim Dokja was already dying inside too much to care.
"... Kim Dokja?" A disbelieving voice questions as Dokja slips his shirt on. Dokja turns around and notices the protagonist, looking both completely shocked and absolutely furious, who must have somehow been in the one direction he didn't check—directly behind him.
As Dokja buttons up his shirt and puts on his coat, Joonghyuk trembles due to barely restrained anger as he struggles to try and ask how Dokja came back to life. Being the way he is, Dokja just tells him not to threaten to kill him since he'll actually die this time.
The mummified monsters struggle to keep Joonghyuk contained as he thrashes while angrily yelling Dokja's name. Dokja just saunters over and draws his blade to cut down the monsters while saying that he'll explain later since they need to go.
The moment the protagonist's voice broke the silence, Kim Dokja froze. No. No, this couldn't be happening. This had to be the universe's sick idea of a joke, right?
He wanted to die. He wanted to dig a grave and crawl inside it to bury himself alive and suffocate because that would be less mortifying than what was happening on the screen right now.
[many constellations are speechless.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is rubbing her eyes in disbelief.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is greatly displeased by the current events.]
Then, Han Sooyoung burst out laughing. "Oh my god, this is amazing!"
No it wasn't!
"The protagonist just got an eyeful of your scrawny, naked ass—"
There was literally no worse way she could have worded that, what the fuck?
"—and you didn't even realize he was right fucking there!"
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is shrieking in excitement.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is trying to stop her nose from bleeding.]
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is disgusted.]
No! There was nothing exciting about this! It was humiliating! Mortifying!
"Han Sooyoung!" Kim Dokja shrieked, face as red as a tomato, and absolutely hating that his voice was an octave higher than he wanted it to be.
"What?" she asked teasingly. "You're the idiot who didn't check right behind you."
Fuck, he couldn't even deny that. It was even worse because Yoo Sangah was looking at him with thinly-veiled pity, like she knew exactly how pathetic he was feeling right now.
"It's okay, ahjussi," Lee Jihye told him in a sympathetic tone of voice, and he was honestly a bit afraid of what bullshit would come out of her mouth this time. "I'm sure that Master liked it."
Yeah, Kim Dokja was going to pretend that he never heard that.
The only thing that could make it worse would be Yoo Joonghyuk deciding to pipe up right now.
"Kim Dokja."
Shit.
"Joonghyuk-ah," Kim Dokja said quickly, turning towards the protagonist while looking awkwardly off to the side, "I—"
"Don't say foolish things," Yoo Joonghyuk growled, and Kim Dokja flinched.
What was he even talking about? Was this about the oath and that joke about getting killed by Yoo Joonghyuk again?
Also, why the fuck was he saying that to Kim Dokja and not Lee Jihye!? Did he not hear the complete and utter nonsense she was spouting? Was he selectively ignoring it so he wouldn't lose his temper? Actually that sounded kind of plausible—
Wait, fuck, he was waiting for an answer. Kim Dokja struggled to come up with something to say, and realized very quickly that his mind was blank. Well, there was only one way to solve this.
"I'm… sorry?" Kim Dokja said awkwardly, gaze darting everywhere except for the protagonist's rapidly darkening face. "I really had no idea you were there!"
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' believes that the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk' is just flustered.]
But why!? He wasn't the one who was in this humiliating position!
"I am not," Yoo Joonghyuk gritted out.
See? He said he wasn't, case closed.
Han Sooyoung just rolled her eyes with a grumble and Jung Heewon looked far too amused by the entire situation. That was never a good sign, and something told Kim Dokja that he would never live this down.
Back at the battle site, Yoosung turns to notice Dokja arriving while helping Joonghyuk walk. Carefully, Dokja lets go of Joonghyuk's arm that had previously been slung across his shoulders, and helps the man down to the ground. Still, Joonghyuk's hand remains on Dokja's shoulder as Sangah and Hyunsung join Yoosung in running over to him. Dokja doesn't look at them, though, instead placing his gaze firmly on 41st Yoosung.
The woman kneels in a puddle of blood, still surrounded by the crackling probability storm from both the memories and expelling Dokja from her body. She doesn't lift her gaze from the ground at the commotion, looking defeated. Leaving Joonghyuk to Hyunsung, Dokja starts to walk towards her. Naturally, this worries the other members of the group, but he reassures them that he'll be fine.
"Shin Yoosung," Dokja states as he reaches her. She lifts her gaze, eyes unfocused as she tries to glare at him. From this angle, it's more obvious that the majority of the blood came from her missing right arm rather than any injuries that they've been able to inflict on her. Dokja grits his teeth with a sad look on his face as he muses that it would be easy to defeat her now if everyone attacked together.
Shin Yoosung hugged Kim Dokja tightly again. "You're back, ahjussi!"
Thank goodness, some normalcy. Kim Dokja patted her head affectionately, using this moment to try and purge his mind of all the nonsense that happened only a few minutes ago. "I'm back, Yoosung-ah."
Despite being pleased that the rest of his group had discovered that he wasn't actually dead anymore, his expression deepened into a frown only a moment later, though.
The Shin Yoosung of the 41st round looked truly pitiful like that—broken and bleeding and looking utterly lost. She had already suffered so much, and she would continue to suffer in every regression that might follow. Even if Kim Dokja succeeded in saving her like he suspected he would try to do, then he would only be saving the disaster Shin Yoosung of the 3rd round. This wouldn't prevent her from becoming a disaster for the other rounds, but maybe… maybe if he could alleviate her suffering in just one regression, then it would be enough.
"The poor girl," Lee Seolhwa muttered sadly, looking genuinely upset by the sight.
[some constellations feel sorry for the 'disaster of floods'.]
"Would it really be so easy to beat her now?" Lee Hyunsung asked sadly, looking conflicted as he did. In his eyes, she must have looked truly pitiful, but even he couldn't just ignore all the harm she had caused either.
Yoo Joonghyuk nodded. "It would."
With her in that state, she would probably just accept death. Still, Kim Dokja was stubborn, and he knew that he wouldn't kill her. Despite being a disaster, she was still a human, just like Myung Ilsang had been. Kim Dokja literally could not kill her—he couldn't afford to lose [King of No Killing], after all.
"You… who the hell… are you…?" She looks back to the ground, her remaining hand curling into a fist as she shakes slightly. "Everything is messed up… because of you… None of the regressions I knew about… were like… this…"
For a moment, Dokja stays silent, but then he kneels before her and speaks. "I'm glad you came. I've waited for the day we could meet for a long time."
She looks at him with disbelief, her hair messily falling over her face now that it's no longer contained by her ponytail. She asks who he is, confused by his statement, so Dokja tells her that he longs for the same world she does. As she struggles to speak, Sangah walks over to him and gently places her hand on his shoulder to get his attention. With a nod, he stands and addresses the group.
Han Sooyoung frowned and sighed. "Well, it doesn't seem like there's even a single plan that can encounter that asshole and make it out unscathed."
Was that a compliment or an insult?
Well, regardless of her intentions, Kim Dokja would take that as a compliment. He was messing up his enemies' plans intentionally—or at least, he was most of the time.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is surprised by the words of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Shin Yoosung's eyes filled with tears again. "Ahjussi…"
Kim Dokja patted her head once again. "Everything will be okay, Yoosung-ah."
"It will?"
He nodded. Everything was going according to his guess, so they should be able to use that one loophole in the scenario to their advantage. After all, there was no time limit on the fifth scenario, and he was certain that his future self had taken that into account.
"You'll see," Kim Dokja said, smiling gently down at her. Any moment now…
"I… refuse to kill this Disaster."
"What?" Lee Gilyoung asked, glancing up at him in surprise. "You can do that?"
"That's right," Kim Dokja replied with a grin. "I think I figured out a way to save her."
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is confused by the plan of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is raising a brow at the bold claim.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is pleasantly surprised by the hope of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
He'd be able to do it. There was no reason that this couldn't happen, after all. Besides, this would be a story that none of the constellations had ever seen before. Their curiosity would practically guarantee that it would come to pass.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is warning the incarnation 'kim dokja' to not get overconfident.]
It would be fine. After all, Kim Dokja was sure that they'd all see that fact shortly.