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Gilyoung and Yoosung looked at me with their best puppy-eyes and I am not ashamed to admit it would have worked in any other situation, but I couldn’t say yes this time.
“Ahjussi, please!”
“No.”
Han Sooyoung snorted, “So you can agree to optional scenarios that have death as a penalty, but not one as minor as this?”
“The rewards were worth it for those, they aren’t here.” I answered.
「Ki m D okj a i s a li ar.」
‘That bastard.’ I wasn’t even completely lying, I just wasn’t speaking the full truth.
The screen containing the sub-scenario flashed again, as if to remind us to make a choice.
+
[Sub Scenario - Rat Race to the Top]
Difficulty: A
Clear Conditions: Endure a multitude of obstacles through a maze with a party of your choosing and reach the end first. Obstacles include but are not limited to a relay race including a 3-legged portion, crossing rungs over a pool with purely upper body strength, and an eating contest.
Duration: 1 hour
Compensation: 2 S-grade items of your choosing
Failure: An uncontrollable compulsion to tell the absolute truth for 24 hours
*Rewards and penalties only apply to party leader.
*S-grade items are limited to dokkaebi shop
*Party members may absolve leader of penalty or certain questions asked by party members at any time and can alter certain conditions of penalty
*Party leader is required to have a stable state of mind to allow absolvation to take effect
+
Obviously, I couldn’t risk not being able to lie for an entire day, not only because I had things I didn’t want people to know, but in the case that an enemy or constellation found me incapacitated it could complicate things greatly.
I sighed, “The dokkaebi shop has no useful S-grade items right now, it’s a worthless reward."
“But hyung, there are things we want too! Please let us participate in the scenario!,” Gilyoung insisted.
“You know I have the coins to buy them for you.”
Han Sooyoung who had seen the amount in the vault and been given the funds to take care of numerous times muttered, “It’s true, this bastard is so rich it makes me sick.”
Yoosung looked to the side and mumbled, “It’s not fair if ahjussi has to buy us items all the time, I want to earn something too! Besides, this is free.”
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ feels you are cruel for denying the children.]
I grumbled. Considering the clear conditions would be a piece of cake for our party that had nothing but strong members, we would surely win. The kids seemed oddly insistent, but they must have never been able to have such a mundane real-life experience and challenge like an eating competition in this world that had gone to shit. Lately, the sub-scenarios consisted of grueling and arduous tasks.
“Alright.” Kids should be kids after all.
「Ki m D okj a is a f o ol.」
‘What is it now?’ I prompted the fourth wall to answer, because I was most definitely not an idiot and I was just granting the kids their wish of a normal life experience, that was all they wanted. He didn’t reply.
The kids (including Lee Jihye, she too was a youth after all) and unsurprisingly Lee Hyunsung started cheering, but I ignored them and turned to Yoo Joonghyuk.
“Oi, be the party leader.”
“No.”
My eyebrow twitched, “You always want to take control of things and gain power, so what’s stopping you now you sunfish bastard? Only the party leader gets the rewards, you know.”
“The party leader also receives the penalty.”
He said nothing else and I understood, he didn’t want to talk about his past regressions and all that had happened.
“Our nebula isn’t so cruel as to ask you about that, Yoo Joonghyuk,” I spoke in a soft voice, low enough so that the rest of our company couldn’t hear.
“We also have enemies. You shouldn’t be participating in the scenario either, you know too much.”
[Constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ says that Incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk should speak for himself.]
I narrowed my eyes, that bastard probably just wanted to see me suffer. In any case, it seemed that I would be the party leader because Yoo Joonghyuk would never change his mind and the kids wouldn’t listen well to Han Sooyoung. It would probably be alright even under the condition we lost, even truth serums could be manipulated with the right wording and non-lies.
“Anyways, let’s accept the scenario and get it over with. We’ll win in no time after all,” I smirked.
[Scenario penalty will apply in 10 minutes]
We lost miserably. It was obvious why; none of the members of our nebula put any effort in at all. It seems the penalty was their goal all along.
I pinched my nose and groaned, this was going to be troublesome, “Why would you guys do this, most of you possess lie detection anyways.”
“Lie detection only indicates whether something is a lie or not, it doesn’t obligate the truth.” Yoo Joonghyuk spoke up. I snapped my head in his direction to stare at him. This guy who had spoken more right now than he had in the past couple hours...
“You! You were in on this?”
Yoo Joonghyuk remained silent.
“I don’t know what you guys want to confirm anyways, aside from the book there’s nothing that I was hiding from you.”
[The exclusive skill ‘Lie Detection Lv.10’ is activated.]
[‘Yoo Joonghyuk’ has confirmed that the statement is false.]
I sweat dropped, it seemed he had leveled lie detection faster than his other skills.
“Nothing major, then.”
[The exclusive skill ‘Lie Detection Lv.10’ is activated.]
[Skill ‘Lie Detection Lv.10’ can not confirm whether the statement is true or false.]
At Yoo Joonghyuk’s piercing stare I spoke up again, “Probably because the statement is relative. Something I consider to be major might not be for you and vice versa.”
“This proves our point, you lie way too much you bastard! You didn’t tell a single complete truth just now,” Han Sooyoung shouted.
[The constellation ‘Most Ancient Liberator’ says that Han Sooyoung has a point.]
[8 minutes remaining.]
“In any case, how are you so sure that the star stream will be able to inflict the penalty?”
[I am a fable-grade constellation, after all.]
I spoke in my true voice to scare them off a bit, I couldn’t submit to the scenario’s penalty.
[The constellation ‘Most Ancient Liberator’ is telling ‘Demon King of Salvation’ to not get too cocky and that he is a baby constellation.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ agrees.]
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ agrees.]
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ agrees.]
[The constellation ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’ agrees.]
[The constellation ‘Father of the Rich Night’ agrees.]
[Numerous constellations and two dokkaebi are donating probability to the star stream.]
I could tell who the first dokkaebi was, obviously Bihyung, but the second… I stared at the seemingly innocent cotton candy-esque puff on my shoulder.
“Even you, Biyoo?”
Jung Heewon snickered, “We’re all tired of your bullshit.”
An exclamation of agreement came from Lee Jihye who spoke while pointing a finger at me, “Yeah! It’s time for your lies to stop!”
[4 minutes remaining.]
My eyes widened at the amount of time that was left. If I couldn’t convince my party to not enact my penalty then I only had one option left. Escape.
[Exclusive skill, ‘Way of the Wind Lv.10’ is activating.]
At that, I sensed Yoo Joonghyuk move somewhere to my right and the last thing I could feel was a sharp pain in the back of my head before the world went dark.
I woke up with my skull still aching slightly and groaned, that bastard didn’t know how to hold back at all did he? That’s not true, if he didn’t hold back my head would have been crushed.
“Finally awake, are you alright?” It was kind, sweet Yoo Sangah who asked me and I relaxed slightly. Then I realized I had been tied by the hands to the armrests of a chair from our industrial complex and had the constrictive golden headband placed on my head in order to prevent me from using any skills or unleashing my Status and I thought, ‘Yoo Sangah is not kind or sweet at all.’
I was going to brush it off, but before I could stop my self words tumbled out of my mouth, “No, my head still hurts.”
The nebula members who knew this to be an atypical reply looked at me with pleased expressions, the penalty of the scenario was in effect, although I had already realized from the panel displayed to me.
[You are unable to lie and are compelled to tell the truth no matter what. Time Remaining: 23 hours and 45 minutes.]
It seemed I hadn’t passed out for too long, I wished I stayed unconscious for at least a couple hours, but he had measured his strength well.
Gilyoung however seemed to disagree, “I knew we shouldn’t have let you be the one! You hurt hyung, you sooty bastard!”
I smiled at him, “It’s fine Gilyoung, I don’t mind.”
Instead of the reaction I expected, Han Sooyoung spoke, “I knew it! You’re always sacrificing yourself because you have a pain kink!”
‘What.’
“No, I don’t?!” I spluttered with a red face.
Han Sooyoung stared at me appraisingly and then crossed out something on a clipboard I didn’t realize she was carrying.
“Did you seriously think I was a masochist?”
“I had to consider all possibilities,” she replied sagely.
Yoo Joonghyuk glared at her upon her response, “Han Sooyoung, you were supposed to follow the order we established.” As to emphasize his point, he moved an easel with a list written on it towards her.
[Order:
1) Yoo Sangah
2) Lee Gilyoung
3) Lee Hyunsung
4) Yoo Joonghyuk
5) Jung Heewon
6) Lee Jihye
7) Han Sooyoung
8) Shin Yoosung]
Understandably, the order seemed to follow the order I had met them in. Although realistically by that standard Yoo Joonghyuk should be at the top of that list considering ‘Ways of Survival’
Han Sooyoung raised her arms as if to placate him, “Alright, alright.”
I closed my eyes and tilted my head back, this would be a long process and I didn’t particularly feel like looking them in the eyes while I answered their questions. “Go ahead, ask away.”
I directed the question to my party members, but the constellations took it as an invitation to ask their own questions.
[The constellation ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’ is asking if you think of her and the constellation ‘Father of the Rich Night’ as parents.]
I felt an urge to answer her and my heart dropped. If Persephone could ask a question that I was obligated to answer, then all of our plans would go down the drain considering the number of constellations that harbored animosity towards our nebula.
As if he could sense the reason I was trying to hold back my tongue and not let it slip that the constellations could also force information out of me, Yoo Joonghyuk spoke up, “I asked Biyoo to close the channel. She restricted the viewers to 6 that she deemed trustworthy. The other constellations will be asking after our rotation.”
I could sense some resentment at not being able to completely cut the constellations off in his tone, but I was too overwhelmed with relief to address it. It was very easy to figure out who the six were.
With the knowledge that it wouldn’t be used against me, I stopped resisting and let the answer out, “You care for me the way I think a mother would and Hades is the closest thing to a father I’ve ever had. It feels nice.”
I could feel my cheeks warming, I didn’t expect to go into detail. I could sense the curiosity towards my phrasing, but before anyone could ask anything, Persephone responded.
[The constellation ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’ is pleased at your response and says that along with your birth mother she and ‘Father of the Rich Night’ are the only parents you need.]
[The constellation ‘Father of the Rich Night’ has sponsored 100,000 coins.]
I grumbled, “You can’t buy my affection, you know."
[The constellation ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’ is warning the constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ to behave or she will reveal embarrassing secrets.]
This woman- she definitely acts like a mother.
Seemingly reminded by Persephone’s message, Yoo Sangah who I have come to realize is in actuality a devil asked, “Why did the affection points raise when me and Jihye-ssi wore the Chinese dress and garter belt?”
‘It’s only the first question and I already feel like dying.’
“Because,” I bit my lip harshly in order to try to stop myself from speaking, but it didn’t work, “I find that outfit attractive.”
Silence blanketed the room.
“Look, look! Ahjussi is blushing!”
Jung Heewon said, “Ah, I didn’t know Dokja-ssi was such a pervert.”
“Next. Question.” I hissed.
“Hyung, do you love us?” I almost opened my eyes from shock, I didn’t anticipate this.
“Idiot! Obviously ahjussi loves us,” Shin Yoosung came to my defense.
“I want to hear it from him!”
Thankfully, it seemed I could answer the question without having to express my feelings, “Yes.”
[Scenario penalty is affected by party members. Compulsion will only cease when party members feel satisfied with the truth spoken by Kim Dokja.]
My eyes flew open at the star stream message. This- I knew Gilyoung had wanted to hear the actual words, but I didn’t realize that the penalty acted this way; this would make things much more complicated. An ominous and dark feeling settled over me.
“I love you all,” I gritted out, “unconditionally and more than I have loved anyone before.”
Everyone seemed shocked for a couple minutes before Lee Jihye cheerfully broke the silence, “Wow, that was really honest.”
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is crying due to the camaraderie shown by the members of the nebula ‘Kim Dokja’s Company.’]
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ demands the Star Stream get rid of the ninjas cutting onions.]
[The constellation ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’ is pleased by this development.]
Yoo Joonghyuk who was next after Lee Hyunsung grew impatient, “Move it on.” I noticed a small smile on his face though.
[Fourth wall is shaking.]
Lee Hyunsung who realized it was his turn, asked me with sparkling eyes, “I heard Dokja-ssi was in the military too, did you experience anything like losing your cartridge or grenade clip too?”
It was an innocent question, Lee Hyungung who had told me all about his experiences while I listened patiently had expressed curiosity towards my story in the past and I should have seen this coming. It didn’t stop me from hating him a little for asking that question.
“I hated it. It was almost the most terrifying thing I had ever experienced.”
Jung Heewon grew curious at that point, “What could possibly be scarier than serving in the military?”
Yoo Sangah, who had an idea of what the answer could be, stiffened. I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, Yoo Joonghyuk spoke strictly.
“It’s my turn, take your question back.”
Jung Heewon made an annoyed expression but said, “Okay, Dokja-ssi you don’t have to answer.”
[Party member has rescinded question. Kim Dokja is not required to answer the absolute truth to the question.]
Now, what could that sunfish bastard possibly want to know from me?
He spoke with an unreadable expression and furrowed eyebrows, “Do you plan on doing something stupid like sacrificing yourself again?”
I prayed for things to go right just this once in my 28 years of life and answered with a short, “No,” stopping the word vomit that was itching to come out.
[Party member is not satisfied by answer. Kim Dokja is obligated to tell the entire and absolute truth.]
This time I couldn’t stop the words coming out, “I don’t plan on sacrificing myself, but I will always place the survival of my nebula over my own wellbeing and livelihood.”
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is calling Kim Dokja an idiot.]
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ agrees.]
Jung Heewon spoke up with a clipped tone as if holding back serious rage, “Have you considered that that’s not what we want at all? That we would rather die with you than have you die for us.”
It seemed the Star Stream didn’t realize that it was a rhetorical question because I reflexively answered, “No, because I’ve never felt love in my entire life. My childhood was a pathetic excuse for one that harbored no positive feelings and I have always been alone until the start of the scenarios.”
My eyes were prickling with tears due to frustration, but the children had all started crying for different reasons. The party members started clamoring after my declaration.
“Ah I didn’t mean to-”
“Hyung! You-”
“Ahjussi I’m so sorry-”
Lee Jihye and Lee Hyunsung also had watery eyes, the situation was growing out of hand before Yoo Sangah spoke up.
“I’m glad we met Dokja-ssi. You inspired me to lead an ivory life.”
I smiled at that, “As expected of Sangah-ssi, you always know what to say,” I said, raising my head back to the sky and closing my eyes again.
“Unni since you asked that awful question, it’s my turn!”
Lee Jihye ignored Heewon’s protests that she didn’t mean for me to actually answer it and proceeded into her real question, “Do you have romantic feelings for anyone in Kimcom?~”
Several members who didn’t expect the rapid change in atmosphere murmured in shock and the group grew into louder clamors when I replied with a, “Yes.”
I knew that accursed message was bound to show up and force me into speaking, but it couldn’t do so if I was incapable of speaking. I forced myself to stop breathing, if my body didn’t have the oxygen to breathe it certainly wouldn’t have the oxygen to form words.
[Party member is not satisfied by answer. Kim Dokja is obligated to tell the entire and absolute truth.]
I wondered what would happen first, would the system find a way to force me, or would I lose consciousness from a lack of oxygen first.
“Is it Sangah-unni?” Not expecting the question, I choked and breathed in on instinct, allowing myself to answer.
“No.”
“Heewon-unni?”
“No.”
A pause.
“Hyunsung-ssi?!”
“No.”
Everyone turned to the two remaining adults, of course it would be one of them, the three of us were often seen planning together after all, particularly during the Kaixenix Archipelago situation. This wasn’t good, they couldn’t know who I liked. The constrictive headband was preventing me from using any skills and I couldn’t run, but I could do this. Before anyone could move on to Han Sooyoung or Yoo Joonghyuk, I slammed my head back against the chair and knocked myself out.
Upon waking up I realized the nebula had placed a pillow behind my head in order to prevent me from using concussive force to avoid future questions.
「Ki m D okj a is a n i di o t.」
‘What else could possibly be the reason then?' I inquired, a bit confused. I didn’t think it was the full reason either, my hands had been freed so they weren’t worried about me escaping exactly, but I couldn’t figure it out. The fourth wall didn’t reply, probably frustrated with me. He was childish like that.
The real problem was I couldn’t do something if they actually asked me who I had feelings towards.
“After consideration, the nebula has decided to respect your privacy,” privacy my ass, “and not ask you exactly who your feelings are towards.”
Gilyoung looked at me with a worried expression, “Hyung! I will respect your choices, but you can’t expect me to be your best man if you ever get married to that sooty bastard.”
I raised a brow, he was already jumping to marriage.
Heewon took offense to his comment, “Obviously I will be the best man, besides, he could be in love with Han Sooyoung, I don’t know why you jumped to Yoo Joonghyuk.”
Jihye piped up, “Because Master is the best,” she paused, “right ahjussi?”
“In some things.” It wasn’t hard to say because everyone knew it was the truth, he was the protagonist for a reason after all.
“It’s my turn now!,” Yoosung grinned evilly before saying, “best for last after all.” It seemed to be a jab directed at Gilyoung and the other party members paid it no mind.
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ says that technically the constellations are last.]
Of course that chuuni 15 year old would respond.
I sighed, “What is your question, Yoosung-ah?”
“What happened in your childhood, ahjussi?”
[Fourth wall is shaking.]
Sweet Yoosung, who was always the quickest in understanding anything that was related to me and speedy on the uptake, was still a child and seeked a way to connect with me. Perhaps she thought my harsh words earlier were related to a heartbreak caused by a childhood sweetheart, or an accident that orphaned me and I came out stronger.
It was nothing so brave and courageous, I was a weak, weak bastard who had always ran away from my problems. I wouldn’t run now, from my kind-hearted and pure incarnation, but I wouldn’t answer her in full. She was a child.
“My dad was a bad man, so I had no parental figures and by high school I was living alone, because none of my relatives cared about me. I was isolated and bullied at school. Your story saved my life.”
[Party member is not satisfied with the answer. Kim Dokja is obligated to tell the entire and absolute truth.]
My vision shook, I couldn’t go into full detail, I couldn’t, I couldn’t, I couldn’t.
[Fourth wall is shaking harder.]
My mouth was dry, my breath was coming in audible gasps and my heart was pounding so hard that I instinctively reached up to assure myself it still remained safe in my chest.
I couldn’t breathe, it was too much.
Faintly, as if from a far distance, I could hear Yoosung’s panicked exclamations, “I didn’t mean to, I swear, I don't want to force ahjussi to speak!!”
Han Sooyoung came to the rational discussion that, “It seems the system picks up only on subconscious curiosity and not whether you actually want him to answer the question,” she was referring to the earlier mishap with Heewon as well.
Yoo Joonghyuk’s voice rang out, still far away, “Rescind the question. Quickly.” He seemed oddly urgent for a bastard that didn’t like me.
[Fourth wall is weak, effects are temporarily down.]
Yoosung sounded like she was sobbing, “I take it back, I take it back!”
[Party leader is not in a stable state of mind. Absolvation is not recognized. Absolute truth is still mandatory.]
Near the verge of throwing up, I continued speaking. “My dad was an abusive piece of shit. He physically beat my mom and was constantly drunk. He would also end up beating me and threaten to hurt me further with the broken glass of alcohol bottles. That’s all I can remember of him. My mom ended up murdering my dad because she couldn’t take the abuse. While in jail she would end up publishing a novel detailing our lives. Reporters constantly harassed me and whichever relative’s house I stayed at. None of them wanted me. Because I was a murderer’s son, I was also heavily bullied at school. I wasn’t living. My relatives despised me and I ended up leaving as soon as I could, getting my own apartment at 16. I worked dead-end job after dead-end job trying to pay for it and eventually ended up at a company that no one except Sangah-ssi thought of me as a person.” I took in shuddering breaths during the story and after, tears of frustration ended up streaming out.
It seems the system wasn’t done because I kept speaking, “I later found out that my mother wasn’t the one who murdered my father and she lived that lie to protect me. I had been the one to murder my father because I couldn’t stand him hurting us. I let myself believe that lie because I’m a coward who can’t stop running away.”
My voice was raspy as the words came out and I keeled over from the nausea in the stomach. I could sense the horrified looks from my group members, but it still wasn’t over. I knew what I was going to say next and kept my gaze on the floor as snot and tears pooled on the floor.
“The day I discovered Ways of Survival was the day I had attempted to kill,” I took another shuddering gasp as the words tumbled out of my dry mouth, “kill myself. I jumped out the window of my school building, but I couldn’t even do that right.”
The system was forcing me to spill my guts and was probably going to go further and detail my suffering mental state and insecurities, but in an act of mercy I could sense Joonghyuk move towards me quickly.
He seemed to be the first to break out of the shock my words caused, and the last thing I heard before getting knocked out was a stunned silence. Not quite, at least a few members were sobbing, quite loudly even.
I could tell the next time I woke up that quite a few hours had passed.
[You are unable to lie and are compelled to tell the truth no matter what. Time Remaining: 9 hours and 58 minutes.]
That was a bit ironic, I smiled slightly. It seems my nebula members had placed me on a bed, and were sitting around the bed.
Gilyoung noticed my movements and exclaimed, “Hyung, you’re awake!”
Now how to avoid talking about what happened earlier? I got it, “Constellations, it’s your turn to ask right, go ahead.”
「Ki m D okj a is a n i di o t.」
My eyebrow twitched, this guy. I said it in a light-hearted tone, but my party members weren’t convinced.
“Kim Dokja.” Yoo Joonghyuk spoke sternly.
I sighed, “what is it?”
Shin Yoosung looked at me with still teary eyes, “Why didn’t you tell us anything?”
I looked away, “Everyone has trauma, my story isn’t anything special and countless others have experienced the same.”
“Your story is special to me! I want to know everything about ahjussi, I want to take care of ahjussi, I want to spend time with ahjussi! So why?! Why do you separate yourself from us?”
“I’ve been alone my whole life, and,” I paused, I didn’t want to say the next part, but the system was forcing me to tell the entire and complete truth of both my feelings and knowledge, “no one ever wanted to know.”
A cold silence fell over the room. I didn’t want to read their thoughts because I had resolved not to, but I wanted to know. Did they disagree? Were they blaming me?
Lee Hyunsung was the first to speak up, “That’s true, Dokja-ssi asked me about all my past experiences and listened carefully while I spoke about the military, but I never properly sought you out.”
“I’m,” Jung Heewon seemed to be struggling with the words, “sorry, I guess the whole group depends on you so much we forget to remind you that you can do the same.”
Yoo Joonghyuk muttered, “You’re an idiot.”
Gilyoung shot him a dirty look, but I knew what he meant to say. He wanted me to depend on him.
“I,” it was hard to find the words, but the thought almost always at the forefront of my brain was finally coming out, “don’t deserve this.”
Yoo Sangah responded to me this time, “You’re right. You deserve better. We haven’t been taking care of you.”
“A reader isn’t supposed to receive love back.”
“Oi,” Han Soo Yung growled, “We aren’t characters, we’re your companions.”
[The great fable ‘Demon World’s Spring’ is crying out in agreement.]
[The fable ‘Life and Death Companions’ is humming softly.]
I wasn’t crying.
「Kim Dokja was crying ugly tears. He had wanted people to care about him his entire life.」
Gilyoung was the first to move, jumping into my arms.
“I love you! You’re my favourite person.”
One by one, my other companions joined in, forming it into a group hug and uttering their affections.
“You’re a bastard that doesn’t care about our feelings and sacrifices himself anyways,” even Han Sooyoung had wrapped her arms around me.
There was one person who hadn’t joined in yet. I snorted, of course. That sunfish bastard was allergic to affection unless it was from Lee Seolhwa. Lost in the warmth of my dearest loved ones, I jolted when I felt a hand on my head sink into my hair.
“Don’t leave us, you idiot.”
Lee Jihye, whose face was squished into my shoulder, screeched, “Master just confessed!!”
“He literally called him an idiot.” Jung Heewon, logical as always, stated.
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ insists that this is as close to a confession a ‘tsundere’ like Yoo Joonghyuk could make.]
[The constellation ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’ is letting you know she loves you regardless of your sexual orientation.]
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ says that his incarnation is much better than Yoo Joonghyuk.]
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ agrees that Yoo Joonghyuk is subpar, but does not vouch for Han Sooyoung.]
The sheer absurdity of the situation startled a laugh out of me. And another, and another. I couldn’t stop laughing. I spent at least a couple minutes laughing and let out all the stress of the past couple hours. The silence was a bit odd though, what was wrong.
Gilyoung looked at me with sparkling eyes, “Hyung, your laugh is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”
My face turned red.
“I think. I think that’s the first time you’ve laughed innocently and genuinely.” Han Sooyoung seemed to be at a loss.
Yoo Sangah agreed, “Gilyoung-ie is right, Dokja-ssi should laugh more, it is very nice.”
“I think you broke Master.”
At Jihye’s words, I turned to Yoo Joonghyuk who was silent with an unreadable expression. He looked normal to me.
“That sunfish bastard is the same as always.” My words broke Yoo Joonghyuk out of his trance and he glared at me.
“No, no, look, his ears are red!”
Before anyone could check, he covered his ears, but the damage was done. He would only cover his ears if he thought Jihye’s words were the truth or a possibility. Why would he be blushing though? Is he embarrassed of my laugh? That doesn’t make sense, why would it affect him. What a weird guy.
「Ki m D okj a is a f o ol.」
‘Sure, insult me more, why don’t you.’
“Seriously though, it’s only fair if you constellations get to ask questions too. Go ahead.”
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is asking about your romantic experience.]
Of course. “I’ve never dated or loved anyone until now.”
Han Sooyoung cackled, “So you’re a virgin!”
“Shut up.”
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is asking if you wish to meet him again.]
Yoo Joonghyuk, for some reason, growled at this. I wasn’t aware of any serious animosity between them.
“I miss the kkomas, and I think you were very cute as a child. You are very special to me.”
I was referring to how ‘Ways of Survival’ saved my life, but no one other than him would probably pick up on that.
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is asking who you think is the most powerful from the constellations on your channel right now.]
Of course he would try to assert dominance, I rolled my eyes. “Sun Wu-Kong or Hades.” They were both myth-grade constellations so it was the only logical answer. I had also witnessed their might first-hand.
[The constellation ‘Most Ancient Liberator’ is greatly pleased.]
[The constellation ‘Most Ancient Liberator’ is asking you what you think of his hair.]
I snorted. “It’s very pretty, though if you keep pulling at it you’ll end up bald in no time. In fact your incarnated form itself is very pretty.”
Ah. That was the first time I complimented anyone’s appearance.
“Noted.” Han Sooyoung was scribbling on a clipboard again.
[The constellation ‘Most Ancient Liberator’ is at a loss for words.]
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ congratulates constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ for being the first one to shut up that incessant chatterbox.]
[The constellation ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’ is asking ‘Most Ancient Liberator’ what his intentions are with her son.]
Jung Heewon commented with a deadpan expression, “Wow, he just entered the race and he already has a lead.”
Race? “Race?”
“Nothing, forget about it,” she directed the next part of her sentence to the nebula members, “My bets are on him, that’s the first time Dokja-ssi’s noted someone to be attractive.”
“Bet?” My confusion only grew.
“Anyways, what does the last constellation want to know?” Heewon ignored me.
[The constellation ‘Father of the Rich Night’ is asking you what you want the most right now.]
“Why? My birthday’s nowhere near now.” I teased, but unfortunately I continued speaking, “I’m hungry. Right now I want to have dinner with my family.”
“I’ll make dinner,” Yoo Joonghyuk spoke before immediately exiting.
At his statement, cheer had returned to the room and everyone was discussing perhaps what they would get to eat. I looked at my nebula members and a warm feeling settled in my chest, ‘Ah, so this is happiness.’
↞↠
“Oh wow, you really outdid yourself, Yoo Joonghyuk,” he had cooked a large feast, capable of feeding probably a hundred people.
“So, are you happy, ahjussi?” Shin Yoosung, who had helped set it up, asked me with a pleased expression.
I closed my eyes and let my feelings shine through, “Yes, I am happier than I have been in a long time.”
The mood lightened, but I wasn’t done speaking. “Something’s missing though.”
At Gilyoung’s noise of confusion I looked up at the ceiling, “I believe I said I want to have dinner with my family?”
[Several constellations are shocked.]
Han Sooyoung raised an eyebrow, “What about the probability?”
“They can handle it, now incarnate here.”
[Several constellations have incarnated into the scenario.]
Someone was missing though; I looked up inquisitively, silently questioning them.
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ apologizes that he won’t be able to make it.]
That was okay, it would probably be more awkward with him here anyways, considering we would have two Yoo Joonghyuks, who apparently were on bad terms.
“I understand.”
With that, people got ready to eat and the dinner truly began, incarnations and constellations settling into their seats. I had received a lot less friction than I expected after inviting them here, maybe because it was a true wish? Whatever the case, it was a pleasant atmosphere, Uriel and the Flame Dragon immediately beginning to chat with their incarnations.
[Son.] Hades had spoken up.
I looked up from the food I was eating, “Yeah? What is it?”
[When is your birthday?]
Shit. I forgot I mentioned my birthday earlier. I had hoped no one would realize I hadn’t told them, even though the nebula had developed a custom of celebrating birthdays through a small party. We even celebrated Yoo Joonghyuk’s because even though that bastard wouldn’t say it, I knew thanks to ‘Ways of Survival.’
“February 15th.” I slapped a hand over my mouth, but it was too late.
I groaned and the table erupted into slight laughter. They would definitely plan something now, but I found somehow I didn’t mind. The conversation moved on, and I looked at my people.
The kids were chattering away, some argument about whether bugs or beasts were better and Jihye telling them to settle it with a coin toss.
Heewon and Hyunsung were talking quietly with smiles on their faces, they really were the perfect couple.
Sangah and Sooyoung were also talking, although a bit more animated. Those two, they acted like they didn’t like each other, but they got along quite well.
Uriel and Flame Dragon were squabbling about some inconsequential matter and Persephone and Sun-Wukong were exchanging hair care tips.
Hades was silently interrogating Joonghyuk with as few words as possible, but I wasn’t sure exactly why.
We looked like a real family.
‘I could get used to this.’