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Kim Dokja begins to suspects he has a Fever Dream.
That was the only reasonable answer to his current… predicament.
He means, yes. Yoo Joonghyuk is weird. He acts out of character around him. To others, he was cold-faced Bastard with a mean streak a mile wide. Spartan Instructor who held grudges like nobody’s business.
But to Kim Dokja? He suddenly goes Puppy. A very adorable, but also very clingy puppy. If there’s no scenario going on, he would follow Kim Dokja around. The ex-Salaryman had to be careful in what he was saying, otherwise Yoo Joonghyuk might take it literally, or decide it was a task to be fulfilled.
Like last time Kim Dokja said in the passing that he craves Murim Dumpling. Next thing he know, dinner was Murim Dumplings and he had the largest, juiciest portion. When Lee Jihye tried to sneak one, she almost lose a finger or two when Yoo Joonghyuk stabbed the table.
Or that one time the Company cannot contact him, as if he goes radio silence, and yet when Kim Dokja calls him, it was not only answered. The Regressor had quickly arrived in his room not even ten minutes later, still dripping in monster blood from the Scenario he had just finished in a rush. Reason, when he asked why?
“Kim Dokja ask where was I.”
Quoting Han Sooyoung, and as much as Kim Dokja loathe to admit it but she was right, he had the Protagonist completely whipped and putty for him.
Jung Heewon once joked that if Kim Dokja were to die, again, Yoo Joonghyuk would destroy the world alongside the starstream and nobody can stop him. Considering what happened after the Incident in Demon King Realm… yeahh… Kim Dokja had to be really careful in making plans and preparation…
But that doesn’t answer what is happening!
Like why there are SO MANY YOO JOONGHYUKS?!
Kim Dokja is basically being used as the little spoon to the Yoo Joonghyuk in casual gamer jacket, using his chest and upper body as pillow (and damn those tits). The one with eyepatch was holding him by his right arm and nuzzling against his neck. Another Yoo Joonghyuk as resting his head on Kim Dokja’s stomach, way too close to crotch for his liking.
And that was not counting the mini Yoo Joonghyuks who was scattered atop Kim Dokja. One even sprawled above his left eye, ffs!
“Okay everyone, wake up!” The door swung open and another Yoo Joonghyuk, one with chef hat and apron with the number 81 written on it, stood on the door. “Breakfast is ready!”
He casually throws away the other Yoo Joonghyuks, but gently hold and lead Kim Dokja to the dining room.
“Err…”
“Oh pay them no worry.” The Chef Yoo Joonghyuk seated Dokja in the Seat of Honor, with many mouthwatering delicious dishes spread in front of him. “They’ve went through worse.”
Just because they can handle it doesn’t mean they should?!?!?! He means, it was uncomfortable wake up call.
Kim Dokja realized he was speaking out loud when the chef laughed.
“You’re just too lovely,” a peek in the cheek. “Another reason for fell in love with you.”
“F-fell in L-l-l-lo-love?!” His voice hiked up into a squeak, yeah, so what? A guy with his Protagonist’s face just confessed his love for him! HIM! Kim Dokja reserve the right to freak out.
A Shoe hit the chef at the back of the head.
“Hey, 81! Don’t stress him!” Another Yoo Joonghyuk, one with Demon King horns and wings, scowled. A number was inscribed on his choker: 111.
Soon, the dining room is filled in.
With Yoo Joonghyuks.
Ah, this must have been hell (heaven)
.
“Yoo Joonghyuk?”
“Yes?”
Both Yoo Joonghyuk, who has no number inscribed on his person, and the one with white coat and starry veil (and WHY IS KIM DOKJA THINKING OF YOO JOONGHYUK BEING A BRIDE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH) turn to look at him.
“A bride?” A pair of arm wrapped around his neck. He turned to see a Yoo Joonghyuk with half-lidded eyes and a flushed face staring lovingly at him. If Kim Dokja could look down, he would see a pink tattoo in the shape of a heart surrounding the number 2 inscribed on this Yoo Joonghyuk’s exposed navel. “I will gladly be one.”
“I think that’s my role.” His arm was pulled into soft squishy sensation, as a woman version of Yoo Joonghyuk trapped his arm between her tits. Her earring has number 63 engraved on it. “I bet I can pull the dress better than any of you.”
“Bitch, you wanna fight me or what?”
Panicked, he look back at the pair, who were staring at him intently and with flushed face.
“Do you think Uriel is willing to officiate the wedding?” The one in white coat questioned.
.
SLAM!
Kim Dokja slammed the door behind him.
What the fuck did he just see inside?!
No, he knows it, he just refuses to accept it.
He means, IT WAS A WHOLE ASS ROOM FILLED WITH PAINTINGS AND SCLUPTURES OF HIM! AND THE DAIMAKURA! DON’T GET HIM STARTED WITH HOW IT WAS NOT JUST HIM IN HIS USUAL STATE OR DEMON KING FORM OR SERAPH FORM, BUT ALSO THE ONES FROM HIS CHILDHOOD EVEN DATED BACK TO WHEN HE WAS TEENY WEENIE BABY!
It was Stalker Shrine oh my gods.
“Sorry.”
It was Yoo Joonghyuk with paint coating his nails. A bracelet with number 48 worn in the right hand.
“I don’t think you’ll stumble onto our Shrine.”
Kim Dokja feels like passing out.
“Shrine? What? How? WHY?!”
Yoo Joonghyuk tilted his head.
“Is not that obvious?” He kneels and touched their forehead together.
“You are Our muse, god, and star. Naturally, We should create Idol to worship you, right?”
Kim Dokja can only stare with mouth wide open.
Yoo Joonghyuk continues.
“Only the best for Our Beloved Reader.”
.
Kim Dokja wished for alcohol. Or anything stronger.
He promptly get one. He give whichever Yoo Joonghyuk it was a thanks, before downing it straight from the bottle.
“So, let me get this straight,” he looks at the collections of Yoo Joonghyuk. “You guys are… Yoo Joonghyuks. From all the regression rounds.”
“All of them, starting from the First. Even if the Novel never truly portray him.” Secretive Plotter, or rather Yoo Joonghyuk the 1863rd, replied.
“And you guys know You were a character in the Novel. You gain awareness sometimes during the story.” Kim Dokja take another swing. “You… You don’t, I don’t know, mad?”
“We’ve passed the five stages of Grief.” Number 222, whose number was inscribed to his belt, answered. “And we decided we likes you. Or rather, loves you.”
More like obsessed, Kim Dokja thought, remembering the Shrine Room, but that would be hypocrite of him.
“Why?”
He thought they would hate him. He means, isn’t he the reason they suffers for who knows how long?
“My Dear Reader,” His Round Yoo Joonghyuk, the only one without Number, took his hand and kissed his knuckles. “You are Our God. We owe our existence to you, therefore our suffering and love is yours to take and enjoy.”
“I don’t—”
“What he was saying,” 41 interjects, fixing his gloves with the number sewn into, “Is that we know you did not just take amusement, but also sharing our pain. You empathize with us and that was more than enough.”
The one with black coat with number 3 sewn to breast pocket nodded his head. “You grow up alongside us, and our story, with you. You are the only one who did not give up on us, even if many other does.”
“Our Friend, our Brother, our Father and our Son.” Whispered number 666, playing with his armband. “Our Lover.”
Kim Dokja turned scarlet.
“I, that was, I mean I was,”
“Sssshhh…” He was shushed by 999. “We know. You were suffering by yourself, and turn to us for Salvation. For courage. That means a lot, you know.”
“Why?”
“Because our suffering is not for naught.” 8 fixed his glasses. “We failed to keep our sister and our companions safe, but we manage to save one soul: You. And that means we are not complete failure. That we have a success that cannot be taken away, even by regressions.”
Kim Dokja can only sat in silence.
He want to deny it, but the kiss on his knuckles, and the another peppered kisses to his collarbones, to his cheeks, his legs, carrying searing heat that cannot be mistaken for anything else. The utter love and devotion and obsession in those eyes hitting straight to his core. Proving it was real.
“Lovely,” 2 whispered, “you lived for us. Love us more than anything, even your own life. Surely you will let us return it in earnest, won’t you?”
And his answer had been decided for him.
Kim Dokja can bring himself to feel anger.
Perhaps the answer had been made the second he find the Ways of Survival. They just voiced it out for him.
.
“So, I have a question.” 333 stated as he put on his boots with the number embroidered to the sides, “which one of us is your favorite?”
“Why are you even ask?” 999 smiled smugly and flashing the ring with his number engraved. “It was me, obviously.”
Silence descends the room.
“999 you fucking bitch—”
"The audACITY--!"
“What? Cannot swallow the truth? Poor you.”
“ALRIGHT! You and me, Training Ground!”
“Oh no! I’m gonna be the one who kick his ass!”
“Bah! You may be the favorite, but I’ll be his First Wife!”
“Say that again you—”
And Kim Dokja, the center of their affection, can only laughs awkwardly.
He really does not looking forward to the Kim Dokja Company’s reaction to the fact he has a harem of 1864 Yoo Joonghyuk.
Han Sooyoung is either gonna be oh so smug or trying to kill him for choking her with untold amount of Dog Food.
The less said about a certain Archangel's reaction, the better.
Extra 1
The day The Most Ancient Dream visited the N'Gai Forest, become a surprising, unforgettable day.
Kim Dokja still doesn't remember how he manages to collect his lower jaw from the floor when he saw his Past (Alternate?) Self clung to 1863rd, to Secretive Plotter.
"Can I join?" The Most Ancient Dream ask in shy voice, but Kim Dokja who know him the best (it was himself after all) know it was not a request. It was a Statement. The Most Ancient Dream will become permanent member and nothing can remove him.
"Of course you can, sweetie." 1863rd smiled, patting the messy hair. "Feel free to stay as long as you like."
Kim Dokja the Demon King of Salvation is unsure whether this is a good idea or not.
1864th (His Round) kiss him on the cheek.
"Don't worry. We love both of you equally, just like you love all of us." He reassured. "Also, consider it. There's 1864 of us, 1865 once we find where did Zero disappears to. Splitting the attention between the two of you would only benefit you."
True. Juggling attention between all Yoo Joonghyuks is hard, even if Kim Dokja tried his best.
Guess he can live with it, sharing with his other self. If Yoo Joonghyuk can, why he can't?
Extra 2
To Archangel Uriel
First, We would like to apologize for suddenly disappear in middle of a Scenario. Please rest assured that no harm befall on us. Quite the opposite, we have a good news.
We like to Announce to the world that the Demon King of Salvation is going to marry his most beloved Incarnation, and thus we ask if Archangel Uriel is willing to facilitate the wedding and be the witness to our oath.
Sign,
Yoo Joonghyuk
That day, Eden was almost destroyed by Hurricane Uriel, who also proceeds to rendered numerous Angels deaf with her shrieks.