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Yoo Joonghyuk blinks his eyes open.
He prepares for the consequences of the regression, to wake up with the distorted memories, to start anew with blind eyes.
Instead he’s greeted by the sight of the room full of people. No, not full, three people who're now staring at him with wide eyes and guarded expressions. With a body of his, when there were still scenarios to clear. Still memories intact.
Memories of his life, of people in it, Lee Seolhwa, Lee Jihye, Kim Namwoon, his sponsor—Demon King Of Salvation.
The conversation he had with him’s still clear in his mind. Yoo Joonghyuk remembers all of it, the doubt of his existence he confided in him, the hellish path he will have to take to accomplish his goal, and the real voice of his sponsor talking to him for the first time.
“Who are you!?”
Yoo Joonghyuk also vaguely remembers talking to someone after the stigma was about to be activated. The divine being offered a deal, Yoo Joonghyuk doesn’t remember what it was, but he must have said yes because now he’s here with all his memories intact, not a single thing being forgotten, and not in a subway train where the story begins.
“You are not Master, Who are you? What are you doing here!?” The high-pitched voice is talking to him, Yoo Joonghyuk looks up and sees the familiar looking girl pointing the sword at him, ready to strike at any moment.
At the left side of her is also someone Yoo Joonghyuk is familiar with, Lee Hyunsung stands there, shielding himself into the steel. The woman with brown hair at the right also positions herself into a fighting stance. Yoo Joonghyuk neither remembers nor knows her.
“Answer me!”
The blade now points at his throat as the girl glares at him. Yoo Joonghyuk wonders why she becomes so hostile toward him.
“Jihye-yah.” He slowly pushes her sword to the right, lowering it with his hand and later meets Lee Hyunsung's eyes. “Lee Hyunsong.”
Yoo Joonghyuk allows himself a small smile to appear as well. Lee Jihye falters and takes a step back.
“Wait, huh? Master? Who?”
“Joonghyuk-ssi?” The woman speaks up confusingly but still doesn’t lower her guard. Good instinct.
Yoo Joonghyuk opens his mouth to reply but is interrupted by the door banging open, and the group of people filling in.
There are young teens arguing with each other, Shin Yoosung and the boy he doesn’t know. Also the woman with short hair he doesn’t know either. Then there are Jung Heewon, Yoo Joonghyuk himself, and a man with dark hair, his eyes gleaming brightly.
Yoo Joonghyuk’s breath hitches.
This must be it, the deal he made with that God, he doesn’t remember but he knows that it is. The reason why he’s here right now and not in the beginning of the story.
He’s here, why, why is he here?
Is it because of that wish…?
Is he going to…?
The sound of a sword slicing through the air, then suddenly the blade is at his throat once again. This time, with the intent to seriously hurt or kill. Yoo Joonghyuk jumps back to dodge. His strength, too, had returned— just like when he was still in the scenarios.
He swiftly dodges the sword to the left, the wall behind him gets destroyed as the other version of him keeps attacking him.
“Wait, Master! I don’t think he’s Plotter!”
Lee Jihye's voice rings in the air while the incoming sword stops at his throat. Fixing his gaze at him, The Other Yoo Joonghyuk pierces the sword threateningly. “Who are you? Answer truthfully or else I will slash your throat right now.”
The sword’s pierced further to the point that it draws blood and Yoo Joonghyuk inwardly sighs.
This Yoo Joonghyuk is definitely him.
Still, it was a little bit uncanny to have himself glaring and readying to kill him—Yoo Joonghyuk at any moment.
Yoo Joonghyuk decides it was time for him to finally introduce himself “I don’t know who Plotter you’re referring to, I’m not him. I’m Yoo Joonghyuk.”
[The character Yoo Joonghyuk has activated the skill ‘Lie Detection.]
['Lie Detection' has confirmed the statement is true.]
The Other Yoo Joonghyuk’s brows furrow.
“Huh? What do you mean? Master is right here. Is this some kind of skill?”
“Oi, since when did you get Avatar skill?” The short hair woman pipes up as well.
Still not lowering his sword, The Other Yoo Joonghyuk answers. “I don’t have an avatar skill.”
“…Why is it always the sooty-bastard?” The boy mumbles to himself.
Finally, The man with white coat takes steps forward after having observed the scene unfold for some time. He moves to stand slightly behind The Other Yoo Joonghyuk as he speaks. “You are Yoo Joonghyuk?”
And he speaks.
Yoo Joonghyuk goes still, his breath catching in his throat as the man’s voice registers in his ears. The softness in his tone as he asks the question is familiar. Yoo Joonghyuk quickly recalls. It’s the voice his sponsor once used when speaking to him—the real voice. The same voice. The voice of his sponsor, his constellation.
Suddenly, Yoo Joonghyuk is struck with the realization.
This must be the 1864th timeline.
“You— Are you Demon King Of Salvation?”
Yoo Joonghyuk is not someone who feels desperate. He never does. But right now, he might as well be.
Because he needs to know, he needs to know so badly if the man standing in front of him was indeed the constellation who was always with him through thick and thin.
“Uh, yes, you know me?”
The one who he’s always wanted to meet for a long time.
His heart is beating wildly, Yoo Joonghyuk doesn’t know he could feel like this, He has never felt this strongly before. Even when he was still with Lee Soelhwa, there was always a sense of calm settling within him. Not this strongly wild, untamed emotions running through him, so overwhelming he couldn’t even name what they are when he meets his sponsor’s eyes.
His eyes, Demon King Of Salvation’s eyes, are striking. They are pools of darkness that seems endless, drawing in anyone who dared to stare at them into a blackhole with no way out. The effect is only strengthened by the twinkling light reflected in them, so bright it seems as if the stars themselves have taken residence in his gaze.
Yoo Joonghyuk is someone who dared to look him in the eyes and now he is the one who bears the consequence of losing himself in it.
He absently moves the sword at his throat. There is some restraint, but he eventually pushes it away, with someone from the sideline also helping to keep The Other Yoo Joonghyuk back. He takes a step, and takes some more until he’s standing face to face with his sponsor— his constellation.
He’s bending down, unconsciously wanting to be close to the person in front of him as much as possible. Yoo Joonghyuk breathes out. “What is your name?”
He doesn’t know. He never has because the constellation refused to tell him.
He didn't know then and he wants to know now.
The constellation seems to want to take a step back but resolutely decides to stand still. “Kim Dokja.”
“…Kim Dokja.” Yoo Joonghyuk whispers. The name feels soft on his tongue and he wants nothing more than to say the name again, again, and again, so that it will ingrain in his memories, at the deepest part where he will never ever forget it.
Kim Dokja startles, his eyes widening as he takes a step back. Yoo Joonghyuk follows suit.
“Kim Dokja.” Yoo Joonghyuk breathes as he finally, finally gets the chance to do what he wanted. Has always wanted for a long time but he didn’t know until this moment.
Yoo Joonghyuk takes a final step as he takes his constellation into his arms. Embracing him tightly yet gently, as if holding something precious—something worth more than a thousand stars. “I’ve always wanted to meet you.”
There is a chorus of gasps throughout the room.
“Wha—“ his constellation, too, gasps, and makes a stangled noise, hands coming up as if to push him away but Yoo Joonghyuk doesn’t budge. He holds on tight, engulfing him in his embrace, and feels the feeling of Kim Dokja’s heart beating against his.
He will let go, but not now, not right now. He just needs a moment of this, a moment where he can feel that this is real, Kim dokja is real, and Yoo Joonghyuk gets to meet him, embrace him, and feel the warmth of his skin on his body.
“Yoo Joonghyuk!?” Kim Dokja struggles a bit more before seemingly giving up, slumping into him. He moves his hand, as if communicating with someone on the side. The sound of a sword sliding back into its sheath followed, along with a grunt. Yoo Joonghyuk isn’t interested in any of it. Adjusting his grip, he lets out a content sigh.
Kim Dokja is smaller than him, his shoulders slender, his waist caving in. Still, he is a man, and his body has a lean build. Yoo Joonghyuk runs his hand up and down his back, wanting to remember all the details. The constellation in his arm consequently shudders.
“Wow, I…am speechless.” The moment is broken by the voice speaking up. Yoo Joonghyuk looks at the source of the voice, still holding Kim Dokja, and sees a petite woman with sly eyes looking back at him, disbelief written across her face.
Yoo Joonghyuk now seemingly snaps out of his trance. Looking around the rooms, he sees different faces, each with a different sort of expression.
Lee Jihye is red in the face and also sputtering something nonsense, Shin Yoosung is staring at him with wide eyes, the boy beside her looks angry for some reason. Lee Hyunsung is gaping, his face as red as Lee Jihye while the remaining women just have some sort of amusement in their eyes, still with a hint of incredulity.
Ah, and the constellations' messages he has ignored before now flood the scene.
[The constellation Demon-like Judges of Fire is screeching.]
[The constellation Demon-like Judges of Fire says she is about to faint.]
[The constellation Demon-like Judges of Fire has sponsored 10,000 coins.]
[The constellation Lily Bloom in Aquarius and the constellation in Eden are alarmed.]
[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband is looking at the scene with interest.]
[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband has sponsored 2,000 coins.]
[The constellation Abyssal Black Flame Dragon is confused why there are two of them.]
[The constellation Secretive Plotter is staring at the scene blankly.]
“Get your hands off him, you sootiest-bastard!” The boy runs to him but is held back by the woman with brown hair.
“Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi, ahem, can you release Kim Dokja-ssi? I think he would want to be released now…”
Yoo Joonghyuk doesn’t want to release Kim Dokja just yet, but when he looks down at him, it is to the sight of his constellation’s face so red he might as well explode. Yoo Joonghyuk takes pity on him and finally lets him go from his arms, taking his hand hostage instead.
Kim Dokja takes a step back, but due to the linked hand, the distance doesn’t go far. Yoo Joonghyuk holds on the slim hand tight, not letting it go.
Kim Dokja is now looking at the ground, avoiding all sorts of eyes contact while breathing deeply, overall trying to compose himself despite the linked hand. He tried tugging it free twice, but to no avail the hand didn’t loosen its grip.
Yoo Joonghyuk lets him take his time, looking at his sponsor— He couldn’t stop the soft smile that tugs at his lips.
Lee Jihye makes a choking noise in the background, on the verge of fainting if not for Jung Heewon steadying her.
The Other Yoo Joonghyuk is glaring at him, his sword out of its sheath, Yoo Joonghyuk suddenly has the childish urge to glare back but decides not to.
It would be weird to feel jealous of himself, of all people, despite the fact that it is a version of himself that got to meet Kim Dokja.
Does he remember?
Probably not, the words from his sponsor’s mouth—messages always rang true after all. Always.
The bombarding messages from the constellations distracts him from his musing. He catches the name Demon-like Judges of Fire coming up several times, and she seems closer to dying a bit more each time. Yoo Joonghyuk feels slightly confused by it. Back in his timeline, she didn’t act this—eccentric.
The short woman makes a gagging sound and cuts in once more. “Okay, now, what the fuck? Why do you act like Kim Dokja is your long-lost lover or something? If you’re not an avatar, then what are you?”
Kim Dokja perks up, still a bit flustered but seems to want to know the answer as well.
And who is Yoo Joonghyuk to deny that?
“I’m not an avatar, I’m from the 0th timeline.” Yoo Joonghyuk answers truthfully.
“Ah! Damn it! It gets censored!!” The cat-eyed woman shouts.
“Censored?”
“The last sentence, it gets censored… we don’t understand what you just said.” Kim Dokja replies, his brows knitting together. Yoo Joonghyuk wants to reach out and smooth the crease between them.
[The constellation Demon-like Judge of fire awakened from her faint to say she got censored too.]
[The constellation Queen of the Darkest Spring says she also got censored.]
But why did it get censored? Do Kim Dokja and his group as well as the constellations aren’t supposed to know of this information? What could Yoo Joonghyuk do about it then?
“Too bad then, Can you tell us anything else? And, um, can you…release my hand?”
“Yes, and no.” He still wants to keep a part of Kim Dokja to himself.
His constellation bristles, but the moment he meets his gaze, he lets out a breath, and gives up in defeat for the second time. “Fine, keep holding my hand as long as you like, Yoo Joonghyuk, it’s not like it is my hand or anything, why would I want it back?”
At Kim Dokja’s taunting voice, Yoo Joonghyuk squeezes his hand tighter. He should’ve felt guilty for making his sponsor embarrassed if it weren’t so cute. And If not for the way his sponsor allowed himself to slightly melt and relax into him, Yoo Joonghyuk might have let go.
This is his sponsor after all.
Kim Dokja’s personality shines so clearly now that it’s not just a message. Yoo Joonghyuk has half a mind to shake him, but the desire to hold him outweighs more.
“Let go of him.” The Other Yoo Joonghyuk, still glowering at him, interrupts their conversation.
Yoo Joonghyuk locks eyes with him, seeing the turmoil in his eyes and decides to play nicely. “Hm. I will, don’t worry, just a bit more.”
“I am not worried.”
“Sure, you’re not.”
Now The Other Yoo Joonghyuk looks like he wants to murder him wholeheartedly.
“Joonghyuk-ah.” Kim Dokja raises his other hand, trying to placate him.
Yoo Joonghyuk fights down a shudder that threatens to run down his spine as he hears his name being called so intimately by his constellation.
Despite the fact that the call isn’t meant for him, it is still his name nonetheless.
“Did—did he just tease Master?”
“Wow, I didn’t know that guy even knows what humor is.” Jung Heewon barks out a laugh as she stares astonishingly at him.
Yoo Joonghyuk looks back at her, his features softening.
Let’s say working with children all around him had softened him a bit.
He doesn’t need to act so harshly anymore, not when the apocalypse had long since ended.
The Other Yoo Joonghyuk is the opposite of soft right now—his body’s tight with tension, his stance rigid, his presence unyielding. He wondered what he had been through.
“This is the 1864th turn, right?”
“Yeah, wait—you know!?”
“Yes, I do know.” Yoo Joonghyuk traces his constellation hands absentmindedly, his hand is rather warm to the touch. Yoo Joonghyuk likes the feeling of it.
“Interesting, it doesn’t get censored. What else do you know, Yoo Joonghyuk?” Kim Dokja still looks a bit flushed as he tries to fidget with his other hand. Yoo Joonghyuk wants to cradle that reddened cheek of his.
He acts upon it without second thoughts, pinching him gently. Finding it softer than he thought, and pinching it some more.
“Wha— do not pinch my cheek, Yoo Joonghyuk! Why are you acting like this anyway!? Oh my god…this is too strange.” His voice is muffled due to his cheek still being held captive. It’s rather cute.
“Did I not be gentle with you here, Kim Dokja?” Yoo Joonghyuk speaks his constellation’s name softly, curiosity flickering in his voice.
“Well, no? You, uh, he strangles me as a habit?”
Yoo Joonghyuk now does shoot a glare at The Other Yoo Joonghyuk. He should’ve not treated him like that. Caressing Kim Dokja’s cheeks soothingly, he utters. “You should not treat him like that.”
“It’s none of your business.”
“You should treat him nicely, he’s someone who deserves to be treated well. Do not hurt him by any means, Yoo Joonghyuk.”
It feels a little weird to say his name out loud, but he needs to make the message clear. His teacher instinct also kicks in, just like the way he talked to one of his students.
He can't say he doesn’t contend with the result—now that Kim Dokja is stunned into silence, staring at him with wide, unblinking eyes.
“This man gets on our nerves pretty often when he runs off to die, you see, Doppelgänger-Yoo Joonghyuk, it’s not an easy task.” Jung Heewon shrugs and fixes her gaze on said man. Yoo Joonghyuk feels like he’s not that surprised after all.
Kim Dokja winces and Yoo Joonghyuk rubs his hand tenderly. “Be kind to yourself too, Kim Dokja.”
The constellation looks away. He seems ready to bolt at any minute, so Yoo Joonghyuk grips his hand in place.
“He’s right, Dokja-ssi, please be kind to yourself more.” Lee Hyunsung also chimes in.
“Yeah, true, but stop with this sappy shit. Now, can we just come back to the topic? Doppelgänger-Yoo Joonghyuk stop being distracted with Kim Dokja and answer the question, will you?” Yoo Joonghyuk doesn’t like people bossing him around but she does have a point.
“I don’t know what information I could tell you that wouldn’t get censored.”
“Easy, we’re just going to ask around and you can keep answering. First, what round are you?”
“I just answered that and it got censored.”
“Of course it is, easier question then. Why do you act like a lovefool towards him? You obviously know him by the way you act.” She points at Kim Dokja and his constellation bristles.
Hm. How could he answer that? The whole truth would be a mess to handle.
“He was…the constellation there in my timeline, He always helped me through the scenarios, always supporting me and ensuring I had a happy life. Even though he never once said why he did it, he just stated that my story was what he wanted to see” Yoo Joonghyuk grazes his cheek a little more. There is a faint red spot, Yoo Joonghyuk has an impulse to kiss it away.
Kim Dokja's eyes flashes with surprise, as did the others in the room. “I was in your timeline?”
“The story he wanted to see, huh? What a Kim Dokja answer.”
If it’s not too specific then it would not get censored then.
“Yes, you were. You were helping me a lot. I wouldn’t be alive right now if it weren’t for you.” Yoo Joonghyuk smiles as he reminisces about a time that seems to have passed not too long ago.
Kim Dokja silently stares at him with wide eyes. The stars within his eyes pull, pull, and pull. Yoo Joonghyuk fears that if he keeps getting lost in them, he’ll never find his way back— but maybe he doesn’t want to.
“Wow, and I still never get used to seeing him smile.” Jung Heewon remarks.
“And whipped, you say?” Someone chimes in airily.
“But he looked good, no? Joonghyuk-ssi should smile more, don’t you think so?”
“Yeah! Sangah-Unnie’s right. Master definitely should! Ahjussi sure would fall harder for you.”
“Now now, you’re talking nonsense Jihye-yah.”
“Say the man who’s still holding hand with Doppelgänger-Yoo Joonghyuk.”
“He won’t let my hand go.” Kim Dokja splutters.
“Uh-huh, and you could try harder.”
Yoo Joonghyuk watches the scene in front of him, how Kim Dokja interacts with his group of people, how people converse with him so easily, and warmth fills his heart.
Kim Dokja has companions of his own. He isn’t alone, gazing at Yoo Joonghyuk with that occasional forlorn look Yoo Joonghyuk had once felt.
Suddenly, a slight pang creeps up on him. Yoo Joonghyuk watches his constellation, his lip curls into a faint smile.
Yoo Joonghyuk’s glad he’s not alone, he really is. And yet, he wants this, too. He wants to freely interact with Kim Dokja, not just through the message channel. Yoo Joonghyuk wants to touch him, cradle his palm, his cheek, his skin. He wants to reach out and be able to feel him. Not just his gaze.
[Time remaining before Stigma ‘Regression Lv.1’ activates: 5 minutes.]
But he couldn’t have that, could he?
Yoo Joonghyuk's memories clear up a little. The conversation with that God flew by. The offer they gave him for a chance to meet his constellation. The time limit they stated before he would eventually have to follow the inevitable fate of regression.
Yoo Joonghyuk has the promise to fulfill. He has to regress, he wouldn’t be able to remember this, the feeling of Kim Dokja’s hand in his, the rhythm of his heartbeat, the sound of his voice, Kim Dokja.
He wouldn’t remember Kim Dokja and it would take him several rounds of regression before he would be able to meet him again.
“Kim Dokja.” Yoo Joonghyuk says his sponsor name, feels it on his tongue, and says it out loud once again for the last time. “Kim Dokja.”
[Time remaining before Stigma ‘Regression Lv.1’ activates: 2 minutes.]
The conversation stops. Kim Dokja looks up to meet his eyes. “Yes?”
You Joonghyuk lets go of Kim Dokja’s hand. Instead using both of them to cradle his constellation face. Tracing his soft cheek, under his star-filled eyes, along his rosy-tipped nose, and finally to his plump lips. Yoo Joonghyuk touches it all, desperately trying to commit it to his memories. “Yoo…Yoo Joonghyuk!?”
“You are so beautiful, Demon King of Salvation.”
“Huh??”
[Time remaining before Stigma ‘Regression Lv.1’ activates: 30 seconds.]
“I wish you have a happy life, my star.”
Yoo Joonghyuk lifts his constellation’s hand to his lips, closing his eyes as he places a soft kiss on his skin.
He opens them again to the sight of Kim Dokja face flushing a deep crimson, stupefied expression.
“M-my star?? Holy shit, since when did Master become a romantic!?” Lee Jihye's voice is heard in the background, along with other exclamations from the group behind him.
The pinging of the constellation’s message coming up so quickly it appeared like a bug.
Yoo Joonghyuk focuses on none of that. He drinks in every feature of Kim Dokja, tracing each details with his eyes for the final time.
[Time remaining before Stigma ‘Regression Lv.1’ activates: 10 seconds.]
[10]
[9]
[8]
..
As his body begins to fade, Yoo Joonghyuk offers Kim Dokja a rare, bright smile, trying to convey everything—every unspoken emotion, every feeling he has for him.
[5]
[4]
…
The constellation calls out his name, his hand trying to grip onto Yoo Joonghyuk’s already flickering ones.
[3]
[2]
“Yoo Joonghyuk!”
[1]
Let’s meet again, Kim Dokja.
[You have agreed to the activation of Stigma.]
[Stigma ‘Regression Lv. 1’ has been activated!]