Chapter Text
"Ugh... What the hell...?" Kim Dokja groans out as he looks at the room he was in.
It's.. It is a large theater with red curtains and seats with a hint of brown. A large screen is in front of them as Kim Dokja blinks, "Where the hell am I?" It isn't until he notices someone singing and dancing in front of the screen that he grabs his sword, only to find it missing in action as he widens his eyes.
"Huh!? Where's my-!"
Dokja hides behind one of the chairs as the person comes on stage.
"Let's see... One, two, three, four… huhuhu all according to keikaku," an unknown voice says in a rather large theater, dancing around carelessly in excitement.
"The main characters are set, now all that's left to do is to summon them here and... Poof..."
A snap of a finger, imagining the people on their respective chairs were there, watching the graceful dance of one lonely dancer, "Perhaps with this... They may change the fate of my protagonist."
'Their Protagonist...? What does this even mean...?'
The person goes to a smaller screen nearby and looks at the video playing on it. The fifth scenario is about to begin.
"Hm, that should be good enough of a timeline. As long as he is still alive."
The person looks towards where Dokja was as they smile, "Incarnation Kim Dokja, welcome to the Theatre."
Dokja freezes, so they knew where he was from the beginning. He gulps, not knowing what he is facing because it had never happened in the novel before. But he braces himself as he stands up and asks, "Who are you, and why did you bring me here?"
The person smiles happily, "I am your host, Choi Junghwa. At your service. A.k.a the uh... User? With the modifier Beyond the Fourth Wall."
Kim Dokja looks at the person with a suspicious gaze. Beyond the Fourth Wall? What was that supposed to mean? Could it be related to his skill, the Fourth Wall?
"What do you want with me?" Dokja asked suspiciously as Junghwa chuckled.
"Simple, dear reader. I want you to watch the past, present and future," Junghwa speaks as Dokja widens his eyes.
The red haired person snaps their fingers as a scenario screen pops up.
~~~
[Sub Scenario - A Looping End.]
Category: Sub - [Personal - Beyond the Fourth Wall]
Difficulty: ???
Clear Conditions: Find a Way to Stop the Loop from Happening
Time Limit: ???
Reward: Knowledge of the Past, Present and Future
Failure: The Loop continues forever and No one gets their Happy Ending
~~~
“A loop?” Dokja asks as he looks towards the androgynous figure who simply smiles at him.
“That’s correct, you are in a loop right now. Watching the past, present and future may help you figure out how to escape this loop.”
Dokja curses, not really believing anything the other person is saying but at the same time learning of the future is… Somewhat tempting. But he already knows about the future since he read the web novel already.
“I already know of the future, thank you very much,” He responds to them as Junghwa just continued to smile.
“Are you sure about that?” is what they ask before pressing a button on their computer as the screen lit up.
An image suddenly pops up as it plays just like a video. Kim Dokja widens his eyes at the sight.
The scenery was bloody, with Kim Dokja having a hold in his stomach as Joonghyuk rushed to get him.
“Kim Dokja!”
Kim Dokja coughs as he looks at Yoo Joonghyuk, “K-Kill me…”
“It’s not too late!” Joonghyuk yells out as he calls for Seolhwa to come to him quickly.
“Are you interested now, Kim Dokja?”
Was that… The future?
“What’s the meaning of this?” Dokja asks, glaring at the suspicious character in front of him.
“This is going to happen in like a few days, so… Are you interested now?”
He has to admit… He is interested. It shows him the future where HE is in as well.
“What’s the catch?” Dokja asks suspiciously as Junghwa smiles more.
“There is no catch. It’s just as stated from the window screen. But, your companions and several other Constellations will join us. Because they are also crucial to the future as well. And a certain Dokkaebi will come too.”
Dokja thinks about it, he really didn’t trust the Constellations at all but… The risk is too high, and yet the reward is knowledge of the future… It is a tempting offer.
“Can you… Give me time to think about it?” he asks.
Junghwa nods their head, “I can give you a maximum of 24 hours. But be warned Kim Dokja, this is a one time opportunity. Once declined, I will no longer be able to show you the Past, Present and Future again.”
Dokja curses, so there was a catch to such a scenario. It is a one time opportunity huh? But if what he saw before was just a fraction… “Whose point of view will we watch?” he asks, suspecting something amidst.
“Ah, clever question. You already know the answer to that, don’t you?” they chuckles as Dokja widens their eyes. There was only two options.
Either Yoo Joonghyuk, or himself.
“But then my companions will know that they’re nothing from a novel! Yoo Joonghyuk will kill me-!”
“They will eventually find out themselves in the future, Kim Dokja,” they cut him off, “Besides, he can never kill you. He can’t lose you for the nth time now can he?”
‘Lose me…? Yoo Joonghyuk?’ That statement made Kim Dokja confused. Was there another Kim Dokja in his regressions? But he isn’t a novel character!
“I got your attention again now didn’t I?” Junghwa chuckles as Dokja curses at them. They really did…
“So,” they continue, “What will it be, Kim Dokja? Should I leave now and never come back or… Should I stay and help you escape from this loop?”
Dokja grips his hands as he thinks about it. The risk was high, but the reward was tempting. But they would be watching his life-!
Wasn’t that a breach of privacy?
Even if it was a breach of privacy, if what they were saying was true then… If they were in a loop…
“What happens to the scenario back on Earth?” He asks.
Junghwa simply answers, “They will freeze until you have finished this scenario. And no one will suspect anything other than those who are here.”
Kim Dokja takes a deep breath and sighs.
“Ok then, I accept.”
Junghwa smiled as they offered a hand towards Kim Dokja, “Welcome to the Theater.”
Kim Dokja takes the hand cautiously as he shakes hands with the mysterious person before leading him to a random seat nearby, “Sit, I will call for your allies. Oh and one more thing, food and drinks are at the very back so help yourselves.”
Kim Dokja raises a delicate eyebrow before looking behind to see there is a row specifically for food and drinks.
He waits impatiently. It’s gonna be a rough one…
~~~
“Are you seeing this Sooyoung-ssi?” Sangha asks as Sooyoung looks at the window in front of them. Even Shin Yoosung, the child they just recruited, got the message.
[You are invited to the Theater.]
[Please wait until the Host summons you to the Theater.]
“W-what’s going on!?” Shin Yoosung asks when her body started to glow a bright blue light as Sangah and Sooyoung also glows a bright light.
“What the-!?”
~~~
It doesn’t take too long before several people suddenly finds themselves in a red theater as Dokja sits nervously. He is worried for both him and his life.
He scans the people that had appeared.
Han Sooyoung, Lee Gilyoung, Shin Yoosung, Yoo Sangah and Lee Hyunsung, Lee Seolhwa, Lee Jihye, Jung Heewon and... Yoo Joonghyuk.
Bihyung is here too!?
As well as familiar constellations!?
Hades, Persephone, Sun Wukong, Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, Uriel and... Who's the cloaked guy?
"Who are you!?” Yoo Joonghyuk demands the red haired person on top of the stage.
"Welcome one and all to the Great Theatre!" Junghwa welcomes everyone as they bowed, “I am your host, the user Beyond the Fourth Wall, or you can call me Choi Junghwa, at your service,” they said. Joonghyuk is about to grab his weapon only to realize it isn’t there anymore.
“Why are we here!?” The great monkey king Sun Wukong asks.
“Please sit down first and I shall explain why all of you have been brought here today in this fine morning.”
Everyone looks at each other before Gilyoung notices a familiar figure in the seats, “Hyung!” He calls out as Dokja winces, but he waved a hand at them as everyone glances towards Dokja with wide eyes.
“Kim Dokja…” Joonghyuk growls as Dokja pales.
“No killing in this space, people!” Junghwa warns them, “Sit right down if you wanna watch the Past, Present and Future or be teleported back to where you were before.”
Everyone is silenced quickly when they hear that statement.
Persephone looks at the red haired person in front of her, “What did you say?” she asks.
Junghwa smiles, “I got your attention now don’t I?” they ask as they chuckle, “I won’t explain anything if you don’t take a seat here.”
Reluctantly, everyone took a seat with the Constellations sitting at the far right of the screen while Dokja’s allies sat surrounding him. Dokja is in between the kids who glare at each other.
“Who are you?” Both ask at the same time as Dokja hushes the kids.
The Secretive Plotter glances to where Junghwa is and wonders just what they are planning with them. Bihyung looks around and awkwardly sits on the far left, not really understanding why he is there as well, but he can tell that the person on the stage is someone powerful enough to even summon a dokkaebi for a scenario? Yeah, he ain’t messing with that…
“Good, now that everyone is sitting down.. Ahem,” Junghwa clears their throat once again before saying, “I welcome you once again, guests of the Star Stream. Let me reintroduce myself. I am Choi Junghwa, at your service.”
Junghwa looks at everyone who stares at him. Good, they have their attention on him solely, “I will now explain why all of you are here. You are here to clear a scenario that Kim Dokja has accepted.”
“Clear a scenario?” Hades asks, narrowing his eyes as Dokja’s allies looks at him.
“Ahjussi! What did you do!?” Jihye asks as Bihyung slaps his forehead.
“Idiot, what kind of shit you pulled me into now!?” the fluffy dokkaebi demands of him as Dokja is bombarded with questions from his companions.
Yoo Joonghyuk is silent as a mouse but the glare he was getting from him is scary…
“I will give you the scenario screen right now.”
With a snap of their fingers, the scenario screen appears as everyone widens their eyes at the contents.
Even the constellations are having a hard time understanding the contents.
~~~
[Sub Scenario - A Looping End.]
Category: Sub - [Personal - Beyond the Fourth Wall]
Difficulty: ???
Clear Conditions: Find a Way to Stop the Loop from Happening
Time Limit: ???
Reward: Knowledge of the Past, Present and Future
Failure: The Loop continues forever and No one gets their Happy Ending
~~~
“What do you mean a loop?” Uriel asks as she looked at Junghwa.
“You will be watching the past, present and future of a certain someone,” Junghwa explains as they go towards their computer and sits on the chair there, “This person will determine whether we will escape the loop, or not.”
“Again, what do you mean a loop?” Bihyung asks as Junghwa chuckles.
“Long story short, you are all stuck in a loop where everyone can’t get their happy ending. I’m here providing you with information that may be helpful for you to escape the loop, because even I don’t know how to escape it.”
Everyone is silent at their words as they think about it. So they were stuck in a loop and they had to watch information to get out of it?
Joonghyuk narrows his eyes, is it about his regressions? Then it might be worth it…
“Very well then, let’s start.”
Junghwa smiles at Joonghyuk, “Good choice.”
The computer turns on as everyone is leaning forward, trying to see how they can escape from the loop before Uriel suddenly screams at the image.
“Huh, why are you all screaming-?” Heewon asks before looking at the screen and blushes.
“AHJUSSI IS THAT YOU!?” Jihye asks.
“KIDS CLOSE YOUR EYES!” Hyunsung shields Gilyoung’s eyes while Sangah shields Yoosung’s eyes.
Seolhwa coughs as she glances over to Joonghyuk and Dokja.
Dokja’s mouth gapes open as a red blush spreads across his face while Joonghyuk looks ready to murder Junghwa as everyone tries to shield the kids' eyes for their innocence.
The Secretive Plotter chokes on his saliva as Sun Wukong coughs, “I REPECT YOUR TASTE DOKJA-SSI!”
“Oh my, young love,” Persephone chuckles as Hades sighs.
Junghwa looks at the screen and pales. The image was a picture of Kim Dokja surrounded by many Yoo Joonghyuks, all holding him seductively.
“WAIT WRONG FILE!” Junghwa typed in something on their computer before it showed them a folder of many videos before clicking on the first one.
“WHAT WAS THAT!?” Uriel suddenly asks as Junghwa whines.
"MY EYES ARE CURSED-" Abyssal Black Flame Dragon yelled out, covering his eyes with his two hands.
“IT’S MY WALLPAPER OK HOLD UP I GOT THE RIGHT FILE HERE!” Junghwa says as Joonghyuk glares at them.
“AIGHT I GOT THE FILE NOW WATCH IT SO YOU CAN SAVE HIM!” Junghwa presses the button as the lights dim down and the screen darkens before the screen shows the words.
It has begun.
Prologue
The screen showed words as someone was narrating it.
There are three ways to survive in a ruined world.
[There are three ways to survive in a ruined world. Now, I have forgotten a few, but one thing is certain. The fact that you who are reading this now will survive.
-Three ways to survive in a ruined world]
A web novel platform filled the screen of Dokja’s old smartphone. He scrolled down and then up again. How many times has he been doing this?
“Eh?” Jihye asks as she looks at the screen, it seemed like they would be watching Kim Dokja. Dokja pales, so it wasn’t Yoo Joonghyuk and instead him. Oh no, everyone would know that they’re from a novel…
Hell, even Han Sooyoung seems like she is panicking as she looks at Dokja.
“That’s right folks,” Junghwa begins as they smile, “We will be watching Kim Dokja’s life from start to finish!”
“Is Dokja-ssi’s life important for us to escape the loop?” Sangha asks as Junghwa nods.
“That’s correct. By the way, I may make comments sometimes. Most of them will be important so listen closely everyone,” they chuckle as they press the play button again.
“Really? This is the end?”
Kim Dokja looked again, and the ‘complete’ was unmistakable. The story was over.
+
[Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World]
Author: tls123
3,149 chapters.
+
‘Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World’ was a feature-length fantasy novel with 3,149 chapters.Its shortened name was ‘Ways of Survival.’
He has been steadily reading this novel since the third year of middle school.
“Oi squid, did you really read the entire thing?” Sooyoung asks as he nods.
“I did…”
She is silent as she continues to watch.
Meanwhile with the constellations, everyone is watching closely because they would finally learn more about the man who took the Star Stream by storm.
The Secretive Plotter can't help but stare at the screen as he watches him with a close eye even under his cloak.
"Not gonna lie this seem like something I'd read," Abyssal Black Flame Dragon said as he kept watching.
“I’m Dokja.”
The man usually introduced himself to people like this, then the following misunderstanding would occur.
“Oh, are you an only child?”
“I am, but that isn’t what I mean.”
“Huh? Then?”
“My name is Dokja. Kim Dokja.”
Kim Dokja ( Kim Highly Respected Only Son )—his father gave him that name to be a strong man by himself. However, thanks to the name his father gave him, Dokja turned out to be just a normal single and lonely man.
In short, it was like this. He was Kim Dokja, 28 years old, and single. His hobby was reading web novels on the subway.
“Such a lonely life he has…” Persephone comments as Hades nods his head.
Bihyung continues to watch as he sits comfortably on the chair.
In a noisy subway, he raised my head reflexively. A pair of curious eyes were staring straight at me. They belonged to an employee from the human resources team, Yoo Sangah.
“Sangah-ssi, there you are!” Heewon spoke as she pointed to the screen as Sangah looked embarrassed.
“Ah, hello.”
“Are you going home from work?”
“Yes. What about Sangah-ssi?”
“I was lucky. The manager went on a business trip today.” Yoo Sangah sat down as soon as the seat next to Dokja became vacant. A subtle scent came from her shoulders, making him nervous.
“Ew! Ahjussi is such a perv!” Jihye comments as Dokja just blushes a deep shade of crimson on his face. He doesn't expect his thoughts to be on full display!
"Damn Dokja-ssi you're such a perv!" Heewon laughed out loud as the dragon also joined in their laughing.
“Do you normally take the subway?”
“That…” Yoo Sangah made a dark expression.
Come to think of it, this was the first time he had met Yoo Sangah on a subway train.
Starting with Personnel Manager Kang to Finance Manager Han… There were rumors that Sangah had men from the company driving her home every workday.
Sangah groans at the thought as she shakes her head, “It was because my bike was stolen…” She says as she hides behind her hands.
Yet unexpected words came from Yoo Sangah’s mouth, “Someone stole my bicycle.”
“You commute by bike?”
“Yes! I have a lot of overtime these days and seem to be lacking exercise. It is a bit annoying, but it is worth doing.”
“Aha, I see.”
Yoo Sangah smiled. Looking closer at her, He could understand the feelings men held toward her. However, it was none of his business.
Every person had a genre of life, and Yoo Sangah was someone who lived a genre different from myself.
Sangah looks at Dokja with a frown on her face but says nothing. Never would have expected he’s depressive. That’s not a good outlook in life. Even Heewon and Hyunsung are looking at him with such depressed looks that Dokja can't help but groan.
After the awkward conversation, they looked at their phones. Hpened up the novel app he was reading on before.
“Por favor dinero.”
“Huh?”
“It’s Spanish.”
“…I see. What does it mean?”
“Please give me some money,” Yoo Sangah replied proudly.
Studying on the subway while going home… She truly had a genre different from me. However, what was the use of memorizing words?
“You’re working hard.”
“By the way, what is Dokja-ssi looking at?”
“Ah, I…”
Yoo Sangah’s gaze was fixed on the LCD screen of his smartphone. “Is it a novel?”
“Yes, well… I am studying Korean.”
“Hyung is a bad liar,” Gilyoung says as Dokja just groans while Heewon is laughing at the screen. Even Seolhwa is giggling-!
Lee Seolhwa is giggling at his misery-!?
Oh Jesus Christ he needs a break, he wants to dig a hole and hide there for the rest of eternity!
“Wow, I also like novels. I haven’t been able to read lately because I don’t have time…”
It was surprising. Yoo Sangah liked reading novels…?
“Murakami Haruki, Raymond Carver, Han Kang… Dokja-ssi, what writers do you like?”
“You won’t know even if I say their names.”
“I’ve read a lot of novels. Who are the authors?”
At this time, it was really hard to say that he read web novels as a hobby. He glanced at the title of the novel in the app.
“Don’t worry, Dokja-ssi I wouldn’t judge you for reading!” Sangha speaks as Dokja just groans in embarrassment. Does everyone not understand that this is basically similar to having your diary being read out loud in front of the whole school?
That day, in particular, a novel was ending. His most precious and favorite novel that he had read most of his lifetime.
During the time when he was bullied by bullies, when he ruined his entrance examinations and had to enter a local university, when the damned random draw went wrong and he was placed in the military unit at the forefront, when he repeatedly switched jobs and was working as a contractor for an affiliate of a large company.
Everyone looks at Dokja when the video shows him being bullied as Gilyoung and Yoosung hold onto Dokja’s hands tightly.
“Hyung/Ahjussi…” Dokja looks at his kids as he smiles softly.
The adults however, have a different opinion. Heewon is seething at the images of the bullies while Sangah, Seolhwa and Hyunsung look at Dokja with a sad expression. Joonghyuk keeps a close eye instead, wanting to know more about the man who had ruined his third round.
“Perhaps it is even lonelier than we anticipated,” Uriel comments as Persephone hums.
“It is just a fantasy novel. That… Well, like the Lord of the Rings…”
Yoo Sangah’s eyes widened. “Aha. Lord of the Rings. I’ve seen the movie.”
“The movie is good.”
The silence continued for a moment. Sangah was looking at him like she was waiting for him to say something. Their conversation was becoming strained. So, he decided to change the topic. “It has been a year since I joined the company. This is my last year. Time moves really fast.”
“I never expected our smooth talker to be quite a nervous fit in front of a lady,” Sun Wukong comments as Dokja just blushes while Sangah coughs, embarrassed that her other self is making Dokja all flustered and all.
“Never would’ve guessed it, the squid is talking to a girl,” Sooyoung says. The man in question just groans as he bangs his head with his hands. The embarrassment was 100x folds!
“Yes. At that time, we both knew nothing, right?”
“That’s right. It seems like just yesterday, but the contract period is already over.” He realized that he had said something wrong when he saw Sangah’s expression.
“Ah, I…” He had forgotten.
Yoo Sangah received credit for a foreign buyer last month and was already promoted to a full-time employee.
“Ah, right. My congratulations are late. I’m sorry. Haha, I should’ve worked hard to study a foreign language.”
“Ah, no Dokja-ssi! There is still the performance review and…”
“Damn, that is… awkward…” Jihye responds, feeling sorry for the pathetic ahjussi.
Dokja hated to admit it, but the sight of Sangah talking was wonderful. It was like the world’s spotlight was shining down on only one person. If this world was a novel, the protagonist would be such a person.
“That’s not true at all… I’m not5 someone special…!” Sangha speaks, completely embarrassed by his words as Dokja smiles.
“These are just my thoughts, Sangha-ssi, besides, past me has a point.”
In fact, it was the inevitable result. He hadn’t tried, but Sangah made an effort. Dokja just read novels on the Internet, while Sangah studied hard. It was natural that Sangah would become a full-time employee, and that his contract would be terminated.
“That… Dokja-ssi.”
“Yes.”
“If you don’t mind… Would you like to know the app I use?” Sangah’s voice momentarily became distant.
It felt like the world was far away. He braced his mind and stared straight ahead. A boy was sitting in the seat opposite me on the train. He was 10 years old or so. The boy held an insect collecting net as he sat next to his mother.
Gilyoung looks at himself on screen with sorrow in his eyes, “There’s me and mom.”
“…Dokja-ssi?”
What if he had a different life from now? What if my life genre was different?
“Kim Dok…”
If the genre of his life wasn’t ‘realism’ but ‘fantasy’… Could he be the protagonist?
Gilyoung looks at Dokja, he suddenly remembers his question. If Dokja is a protagonist, or if he is a god since he knows so much of the world.It seems like something is telling him that Dokja is in fact, the protagonist. Gilyoung looks at Junghwa who looks back as they smile at him, waving their hand.
Gilyoung hums before glancing over to the Dokkaebi who is paying close attention to the screen.
He didn’t know. It would probably be unknown forever. However, there was one thing Dokja knew.
“It is okay, Yoo Sangah-ssi.”
“Huh?”
“It won’t work even if you tell me the app.”
The genre of my life was obviously ‘realism.’
“Dokja has a solo life.”
“Huh? What…”
“I am just someone like that.”
In this genre, Dokjas wasn’t a protagonist but a ‘solo’ person.
“The life of a solo…” Sangah had a serious expression on her face.
However, he waved his hands to show it was really okay. Dokja didn’t know why, but this person was really worried about him. Maybe because she was part of the personnel department… He was already aware of his performance though.
“Dokja-ssi is really good.”
“Yes?”
“Then I will live an ivory life.”
Sangah seemed to have decided something as she turned back to studying Spanish. Hgazr ed at her for a while before returning to the novel.
Both Dokja and Sangah blushes at the scene, realizing how cringy it is while Jihye and Heewon laugh. Why did it have to show this part, goddammit Junghwa!
Everything had returned to normal, but strangely, Dokja’s scrolling of the novel didn’t go well. Maybe it was because he realized the weight of reality that he couldn’t scroll down.
[Author’s words: Thank you so much for reading ‘Ways of Survival’ up to here. I will come back to you with an epilogue!]
‘Ah… The epilogue still remains. Then the next chapter is really the last one.’
From the end of childhood to adulthood, it had been done over a huge period of 13 years. There was a mixture of despondency that a world was coming to an end along with a sense of satisfaction.
I opened the comment box of the last message and rewrote the sentence several times.
“He really read it for 13 years…” Sooyoung murmurs.
Hades places his hand on his chin as he hums. The novel seems to be important for some reason. There must be a reason why it is shown in the video. But what is it? He doesn't know.
“Darling?” She asks, noticing her husband is in deep thought.
“It’s nothing dear, just a thought.”
-Kim Dokja: Writer, thank you for everything in the meantime. I am looking forward to the epilogue.
They were sincere sentences. Ways of Survival was his life’s novel. It wasn’t the most popular, but it was the best novel for him.
There were many words he wanted to say but he couldn’t write them. He was afraid that his careless words would hurt the writer.
-An average of 1.9 hits per chapter.
-An average of 1.08 comments.
This was the average popularity index of ‘Ways of Survival.’
The number of views for the first chapter was 1,200, but it fell to 120 for the 10th chapter, and then 12 for the 50th chapter. By the time it was the 100th chapter, it was only 1.
Hits= 1.
He was overwhelmed by the feeling he got when he saw the numerous ‘1’ that appeared next to the list of chapters. In some cases, there was a ‘2’, but it was likely someone pressing the wrong button.
‘Thank you.’
The author published a novel with more than 3,000 chapters with just 1 hit per chapter over a period of 13 years. It was truly a story just for him.
“It does feel like it huh?” Bihyung thinks out loud as he watches the video more.
I pressed on the ‘Recommendation Board’ and immediately started tapping on the keyboard:
-I am recommending a honey jam novel.
The author wrote him a free completed novel, so he should give him a recommendation. He clicked on the completed button, and comments quickly appeared.
–It looks like a new anti. I searched for this person’s ID, and they recommended the same novel several times.
–Isn’t his recommendation banned? The author shouldn’t do this here.
It occurred to him that he had written a recommendation several months ago. In an instant, there were dozens of comments for investigation by ‘spectators’. His face flushed with embarrassment.
He was sure that the author would read this. So, he hurriedly tried to delete the message, but it was already reported that the message couldn’t be removed.
“This…”
It was upsetting to think that the recommendation written with all his sincerity turned out like this.
If they even looked a little bit, why didn’t anyone try reading the interesting novel? Dokja wanted to give a donation to the writer, but he couldn’t afford it because he was a salary worker barely able to make a living.
Then Dokja received a notification that a ‘message has arrived.’
Everyone leans forward as they watch, suddenly an interesting part is happening.
“A message?” Heewon asks as Hyunsung nods his head.
“It would seem so.”
“What kind of message is it?” Yoosung asks as Dokja gulps, already fearing for his life.
“You’ll soon see…”
-tls123: Thank you.
A message flew in from out of nowhere. It took Dokja a while to grasp the situation.
-Kim Dokja: The author?
tls123—it was the author of ‘Ways of Survival.’
“Why would the author send you a message, Ahjussi?” Yoosung asks as Dokja bites his lips nervously.
Everyone looks at where Dokja is as he feels all their eyes on him.
“Again, you’ll… Find out soon enough.”
Sun Wukong is disappointed by the answer but he respects the decision as he continues watching.
-tls123: I was able to complete it to the end thanks to you. I also won the competition.
Ways of Survival won a competition?
-Kim Dokja: Congratulations! What is the competition?
-tls123: You won’t know it because it is an unknown competition.
Dokja wondered if he lied because he was ashamed, but he wanted it to be true. Perhaps he really didn’t know. It might be a bit hit on other platforms. Dokja was a little sad, but it was good to have an excellent story spread.
-tls123: I would like to send a special gift to you as a thank you.
“I have a bad feeling about this…” Uriel suddenly speaks as she looks at the screen.
“A gift?” Joonghyuk questions that Dokja's face pales, not wanting to answer the regressor at all.
-Kim Dokja: Gift?
-tls123: It is thanks to my dear reader that this story has come into the world.
Dokja gave the writer his email address as he asked.
-tls123: Ah, right. I got the monetization schedule.
“Monetization?” Jihye asks suspiciously, “That’s weird…”
“What’s weird?” Seolhwa asks curiously.
“Why start the monetization now when it's free like… 13 years ago?”
She has a point, but Bihyung, who is paying attention the most, widens his eyes when he sees the time on his phone on the screen.
06.55
‘Don’t tell me-?’
Junghwa glances over to the Dokkaebi as they smile. It seems one of them has found out already.
-Kim Dokja: Wow, really? When will it start? This masterpiece should’ve been paid for from the beginning…
It was a lie. The Ways of Survival was a daily series, so he would’ve had to spend 3,000 won a month. 3,000 won was one convenience-store lunch for him.
-tls123: The monetization starts at 07.00 pm.
-Kim Dokja: Then the epilogue coming will be paid?
-tls123: Yes, I’m afraid you need to pay for it.
-Kim Dokja: Of course, I have to pay! I will buy the last one!
There was no reply from the author afterward. I logged out of the site.
“Will he give a gift certificate? It would be good if it's 50,000 won.”
“I'm curious as to what the gift is but why do I have a bad feeling…” Hyunsung asks as Dokja gulps. It was almost time for it to appear.
“I agree,” Seolhwa begins, “It’s too suspicious. Perhaps this author has a connection to the loop?”
Everyone stares at Seolhwa’s form as they think of her words deeply. It made sense. Why else would Junghwa show the author and Dokja interacting?
-Reader-nim, my novel will become paid from 7 p.m. This will be helpful. Good luck.
[1 attachment.]
The author said he would give hima gift. What was the gift? Like his name, Dokja was also a reader by nature. So, he was excited to receive the mail.
Yes, it wasn’t bad living as a reader.
He checked the time. It was 6:55 p.m. He had exactly five minutes before the novel became monetized at 7 p.m. Then he opened up his list of preferred novels in the app. Since Dokja was the only reader, he should leave a congratulatory comment and give strength to the author.
However…
-The work doesn’t exist.
Yoo Joonghyuk narrows his eyes at the sight. It would seem like Seolhwa’s words are correct. Because that time was also the moment the scenario started. But why show Dokja’s side of view and not the author themselves?
Dokja tried typing ‘ruined’ several times in the search box, but the result was the same. The bulletin board for ‘Ways of Survival’ had disappeared without a trace. It was strange. Has there ever been a case of a novel being deleted without notification when it was going to be monetized?
At that moment, the subway lights turned off, and the inside of the train became dark.
“This is…” Uriel begins as Persephone nods her head.
“The start of the scenario.”
With the Goddess’ comment, everyone starts leaning in and paying closer attention.
“This is five minutes before the scenario…” Hyunsung begins as Heewon nods.
Abysall Black Flame Dragon finally paid more attention since it was boring for the last few minutes. It was finally getting interesting.
Kiiiiiiiik-! The subway train shook loudly and let out a metallic sound.
It caused Sangah to scream and grab Dokja’s arm. Then he heard the sound of other people getting stirred up. Sangah gripped his arm so tightly that Dokja paid more attention to the pain in his left arm than the sudden stop. It took a dozen seconds for the train to stop fully.
“Dokja-ssi, I’m so sorry…” Sangah apologizes as Dokja just waves it off.
“It’s ok, Sangah-ssi.”
Then he heard confused voices coming from everywhere.
“Uh, what?”
“W-What is this?”
In the dark, one or two smartphone lights turned on. Sangah still held his left arm tightly as she asked, “W-What is going on?”
Dokja pretended to be unconcerned, “Don’t worry. It isn’t a big deal.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it is probably a disturbance from a suicide. The engineer will soon make an announcement.”
As he finished speaking, he heard the engineer’s announcement
–Telling all passengers on the train.Telling all passengers on the train.
The loud surroundings became calm. Dokja sighed and opened his mouth, “See, it isn’t a big deal. Now an apology will air, and the power will come back on…”
–E-Everyone, run away… Run…!
‘What?’
There was a beeping sound, and the broadcast turned off. The inside of the train became a mess.
“D-Dokja-ssi? What is this…?”
A bright light flashed from the front of the subway train. There was a loud drumming sound followed by a pop.
Something was heading this way in the darkness. It was just a coincidence that Dokja saw the clock at this moment—7:00 p.m.
Tick, it felt like the world was stopping.
Then he heard a voice:
[The free service of planetary system 8612 has been terminated.]
[The main scenario has started.]
The video stops as Junghwa looks over to them, “For every episode you can all ask me any questions for 1 minute, think of it as a short break before the shit hits the fan.”
“Why are we watching his point of view instead of the author?” Yoo Joonghyuk speaks as Junghwa thinks about it.
“Even if I explain it you will not understand, watching it from his point of view will answer all of your questions, but it will take time.”
Gilyoung asks a question, “Is Hyung the protagonist of this story?”
Junghwa nods and smiles at him.
“The author,” Secretive Plotter begins, “Are they connected to the loop?” he asks.
Junghwa nods once again, “They are, not just them, but two other people as well. All three of them… are within this very room.”
What?
“What do you mean!?” Joonghyuk demands as Junghwa chuckles.
“All will be answered if you watch, Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi,” Junghwa answers as they feel their shirt is being grab by him and is hoisted up in the air.
“Why can’t you just tell us!?” He demands again.
Junghwa answers him nonchalantly, “Because seeing is believing right? You won’t understand the short version of it, you have to understand the full story behind it and the reason why it must be that way.”
Joonghyuk glares at them before letting them go as Junghwa fixes their shirt.
“Your 1 minute is up, shall we start the next episode?”