malewife | Jun. 27th, 2022

Jun. 27th, 2022

— CHAPTER ■■ —

그녀의 이야기 by MZ
You're here... On the same train you last remember. You were once on this train, at the end of the scenarios, after you and your companions tore the sky and vanquished every star that dared point their blades your way. They told you and your companions that a story like yours shouldn't exist. No story can survive without sacrifice—you've seen that.

You abandoned every world. The remnants of their existences curse you. If you save this world, what about the rest? Why is it them, but not us?

...

You cannot save everyone. You know that, yet finally you are reaching your ideal end. None of your companions have fallen. They are all here with you, except for one person. That person is the glue of your makeshift and dysfunctional family... You and everyone else truly believed four years ago, on this very train, that everyone would step off and live their lives as they wanted.

Picnics by the Han River. Going to PC Bangs. Ordering fried chicken. Visiting Jeju island. Living in a large house with everyone. Simple, simple yet dear dreams.

... That fool, he would leave a piece of himself behind, splitting himself to keep you and your companions placated. A piece of him waits in his train.

You, your companions, and many others accepted regression. To relive these moments of regrets, you all will finally protect everything you wish to protect. You will get him back.

In the stagnant air where only the sound of the moving train can be heard, you catch the howl of the hounds. Your comrades are running alongside you down the train cars, looking for the last. You reach for your sword, telling the rest to push onward as you deal with the hounds. These hounds are telling you and your companions that this isn't your story. YOU ARE GOING TOO FAR.

With a brawl, you're able to get them onto the train's rooftop and continue to fight alongside your Constellation allies. Buy your companions time... But an explosion from the front of the subway blows. Turning your head, you see letters rise. They're fables—someone's story—leaking out. More hounds come and they blanket you as you're distracted. Amateur of you. You weren't able to dodge them in time.

You wonder if this is your end. There's only pain in this darkness, but you hear a call. Han Sooyoung is summoning you and with the last of her power you're transported to the front. There... You see the door that has formed into a large pitch-black circle; a closer look shows you that this barrier is created by sentences.

This is Kim Dokja's prison and ward.

You reach out, placing your hand on the black orb, then through. Somehow, despite your companions having bloody hands, the sentences instead break under your own. Past all of the ink black letters, you see him... And you grab onto his collar tightly.

"It's time to go back, Kim Dokja."

— CHAPTER ■■ —

Crescent (RAGNAROK Album ver.) by MZ
"I am a prophet and I can take you to the end of the Scenarios," she tells you.

And you check her status. Your right eye glows a bright gold as her list of attributes and abilities populate your vision in a system message.

Name: Anna Croft
Personal Attributes: Prophet (Legend), Savior (Legend)
Personal Skills: Future Sight, Past Sight, Insight, Clairvoyance, Advanced Magic Training ,Mental Barrier, Lie Detection, Great Demon's Eyes...

More fills the message, but you only care to discern her words are true. She will be your ally.

You're reminiscing your first meeting with Anna Croft. It has been years since then, but now you two face a new scenario in the Context of Constellations, the realm of the gods. In this room waits a relic on a podium, ready for the taking, but first a familiar system message pops up.

< Main Scenario #46 – Proof of the Stars >
Category: Main
Difficulty: ???
Clear Conditions: Acquire and use the ‘star’ in the centre of the room or prevent the other party from obtaining the ‘star’ within the time limit. If one of the two conditions were met, the scenario would be automatically cleared.
Time Limit: 3 hours.
Compensation: Check the additional message.
Failure: Conditional death

The floating fuzzy goblin delivers the compensation message for the room.

[The rewards for the star in the room will be revealed!]

[Star Reward]
(Choice 1.) If you acquire or use the ‘star’ before your opponent, you can acquire all the skills and stories of the opponent.
(Choice 2.) If you acquire or use the ‘star’ before your opponent, you can have indefinite life or death rights over your opponent.

All you and Anna need to do to clear this scenario is to leave the star untouched, then it will end without any bloodshed. It is what you two agreed on, with your memories of previous lives and her power to see the future—this is a simple scenario that tested bonds because how tantalizing would it be to acquire your opponents' power? Or turn them into your lackey?

As you're about to vocalize the conclusion of this room for the goblin to clear both of you, you watch Anna dart to the star. Your own legs start moving instinctively despite how it takes a moment for you to register... It takes you a moment because you didn't want to believe.

She's betraying you.

You didn't anticipate it—foolish mistake. You should have known. You should have seen it coming. In this world, people are rewarded for stabbing comrades in the back.

With a head start, Anna conjures magic and casts distracting fireballs to keep you away. It ends so quickly all because of your negligence. With the star in her hands, she claims her reward. You steel yourself to have your stories and abilities stripped from you, except she picks the second choice.

She claims control of your life.

From here on out, you are her slave... A hunting dog she sends off to neutralize threats to her dream. You can't even choose to die and start over, seeing that she has the right to your death as well. You will live your life like this until death naturally embraces you, whenever that will be.

A white hot hatred mixed with disbelief swells so large in your chest. You promise yourself in the next regression, you will have her head on a pike. You only spew venom as she looks at you... You trusted her. You trusted her deeply. And in this deep pool of disdain, you realize how hurt you truly are. She tells you to kneel and reminds you that she is doing this to save the world.

You are a threat to her vision. Despair coils around you as you remember your first meeting again.

"We can save the world together, Yoo Joonghyuk."

Will you ever trust again?

— CHAPTER ■■ —

1863 by Ruvem
This is the 1863rd regression... Your 1864th life and you've accepted the proposal from your leader to become the villain of this story, the enemy of the world. You betrayed everyone that loved you to kindle the flames of hatred. You kill off your emotions so you can attack anyone and everyone in your path. You do this because she promised you that she will find you a grave.

She said if she could gather everyone under one banner, then she will be able to find a way to end your regressions. She's reliable. She's resourceful. Cunning... You trust her. Even when her plans included the death of your teacher and beloved sister, you listened. You and your remaining companions got this far because of her.

You play your role.

You stand at one of the tallest peaks of Seoul where the apocalypse dragon is sealed. All you need to do is use the sword in your hand to "unseal" it, though you know better. Your leader's plan is to use a different sword than what was prophesized. Instead of releasing the dragon, it would instead expand the seal to engulf the whole world. It would freeze time.

... The scenarios would stop. Everything would stop. You would stop. Finally, this world can be untouched by the scenarios, lulled into a deep sleep.

You're stuck in your misery, following orders like the minion you are, but as you approach the seal, a clear thought comes to mind. It's a name in the haze. One of the people who fights in the backdrop against your leader and your former companions. That's right, there's a battle here. It's hard for you to tell when your senses are so muddled. All you know how to do is destroy and kill. You have no target here, only a mission.

While your leader and former companions only have animosity for you, this man doesn't. He looks at you like you're a person, like you're human.

「 Kim Dokja. 」

You turn to look at Kim Dokja, this anomaly of a man that showed up out of nowhere and showed you a world you've never seen... You grip your Heaven Shaking Sword as you recollect what you saw that night when you threatened this entity that lived inside the other man. The Fourth Wall told you of a beautiful story when you interrogated it. It was a world where no one you loved needed to be sacrificed... A world where you didn't need to be a villain. For this moment, you forget about the scenario and the apocalypse dragon that dares to wake.

You break out of your sea of despair and your senses sharpen. The world doesn't seem so much like a blur and you can see the other man's face properly. The monotone colors are washed away as color starts to fill everything in. You don't say anything. Instead, you only piece together words in your mind—for some reason, you're sure Kim Dokja can hear you.

「 The world that you showed, does it really exist? 」

Kim Dokja doesn't answer you, but his mouth is agape as he tries to find the words. Your leader shouts why are you hesitating. Use the sword to expand the seal. Didn't you ask her to put an end to this all? Didn't you want to die?

You turn to her.

“I want to die.”

They're such familiar words... They haunt your mind almost every single day for the past tens of thousands of years. But this time, there's something else. Something familiar, though it shines so much brighter than you've ever experienced.

「 I want to live. 」

“I want to finish it here.”

「 If there is a chance, like the world I saw… 」

A part of you can't help but hope... And that part of you is the one who wins. You no longer want to be a character in a story. You want to write your own ending. A happy one. Just like the world Kim Dokja came from—the 3rd regression round where Kim Dokja exists.

— CHAPTER ■■ —

獨 by NingQ
Your name is Yoo Joonghyuk. You are twenty-eight, a professional Esports player, and you're on your way to pick up your younger sister, Yoo Mia. It is busy on the subway, as it always is in Seoul. You're used to it and keep your eyes on your smartphone... Looking up the report the private investigator you hired has finally sent you. Your heart stills, shudders, and there's unease and anticipation as you stare at the file.

You have always wondered why you can't remember anything before eighteen. No memories of parents. No memories of childhood. Nothing. It's as if your life began at that age, as if your life started as an adult.

You have always wondered why someone randomly gave you an Esports job despite not having that much experience before. You have always wondered why you're good at it. You have always wondered how an infant, your little sister Yoo Mia, appeared at your doorsteps with a note claiming she's your sister. Everything about your life fell into place like written script. Some things aren't needed in a backstory and that is the only way you can possibly digest how strange it all is.

But you want clear answers.

Finally, you open the report and the investigator's results validated the disquiet. Your parents—if you had any—cannot be found. They might not even exist.

What is this? What is happening? How is this possible?

What are you? Who are you?

— CHAPTER ■■ —

Her Story by MZ
Her name is Lee Seolhwa... And once upon a time you loved her in this hellish world. Under the dark red sky, you two once exchanged vows. Within the chaos, somehow you two would have a child. You remember her beautiful face—skin white like porcelain, only a shade darker than her hair, and her cherry red lips. She would smile at you. She read you. She easily understood you despite how you chose silence.

... During that round, she was your happiness. The family you two would have, too, would bring you hope in this ruined world.

Of course, a story is not without pain, suffering, and sacrifice. No matter how strong you were, you would find Lee Seolhwa's body under debris, breathless and without heartbeat. Your unborn child went with her. There's not much you can do about the child, as all beings born during a regression have no guarantee of being in the next, but you could still save Lee Seolhwa. That was what you thought.

So you restart. With your death, you woke up in the train where you started, and you desperately climb the blasted scenarios the gods gave you until you can meet her again.

"Lee Seolhwa."

You could tell from her gaze she doesn't remember her. This wasn't the same one you knew, the same woman you loved, and she looked at you with the coldest gaze. As she nurtured the egg that would bring an apocalyptic disaster into the world, she ensnared you with poison despite your efforts to convince her to join your side again.

You feel your body going limp... What went wrong?

She was possessed, that was what happened. Again, you restart, and you meet her who gave you the same cold gaze and murderous intent. It was you or her—and you squashed your heart to take her life. It weighed on you so heavy—she was the light of your universe and it grew dimmer with every restart. There were times Lee Seolhwa would survive, but you kept your distance.

You knew she would never be happy with you, so you watched as she fell in love with another. You watch her raise a child who isn't yours. You made sure that she had a comfortable life until you are forced to restart.

This time is no different... Aside from new companions. With Kim Dokja's help, you were able to save Lee Seolhwa. Now you two walk down the marketplace in the Context of Constellations, realm of the gods. With a smile on her face, she pats her face after having purchased an ability that kept the air around her moist, making her skin have a dewy glow.

You grumble, though not chiding or biting, that it's a useless skill. In the end, you soften up whenever she's around. Still. Why would she buy that?

She divulges that she saw Kim Dokja buy the same skill and was curious.

Your blood boils hearing this and you start complaining about how Kim Dokja must want to be an idol.

Quietly and patiently, she watches you with curiosity, like she sees something in you that you don't see.

In this small instance of normalcy, despite their location, you ponder a bit about your relationship with Lee Seolhwa. She is dear to you, but... You understand it can never be the same as before. Your wife will never return and the last thing you want is to damn this Lee Seolhwa to share her predecessors' miserable fate.

... You decide, again, you will watch from afar and wish for her happiness.

— CHAPTER ■■ —

讀(회고) by MZ
You and your companions are on the last floor of Dark Castle, the very last scenario that has taken your home city. Once you complete this, the demons and monsters will stop flooding out of this spire, and you all can finally leave the dome that has trapped you inside.

All you need to do... Is kill the Demon King that sits on the throne. It's that simple. Yet as you and your comrades pass through the narrow hallway, there are signs of foul play. There are people who have already breached the last floor before it was accessible. Sparks lace the corpses—a probability storm. They were given the means by the gods that sponsored them. Why? Why would the Constellations force such a thing?

The furry white goblin running this show is also surprised, berating the Constellations for trying to control the flow of the story. Impatience will never sate the soul, but everyone wants instant gratification. In this case, you know. You know why the stars are moving and your eyes lock onto the man who has his gaze pinned ahead. He is nondescript, just a man wearing a white coat... Despite that, the stars fear him.

His name is Kim Dokja.

He is a strange man, one who seems to know the future of your world. In your previous regressions, he never appeared. He never existed. He has taken you and your companions this far with very little sacrifice. Or should you say, with his sacrifice alone, but he has returned each time. You've seen it yourself, but the days between his death and resurrection starts stretching. You and your companions are... Becoming restless. You, especially, become crestfallen.

Kim Dokja only has one chance, one life.

If he died... Then... What if he dies forever? What if he's not there in the next regression—his words buzz into your mind as you all approach the throne.

Don't give up on this life. Don't regress. You don't know if the next time will be better.

It hits you. The throne is empty, no king to be found, but a jewel sits there waiting. A system message pops up, displaying the Scenario of this floor. The will of the universe has adjusted it.

< MAIN SCENARIO #10 ― 73RD DEMON KING >
CATEGORY: Main
DIFFICULTY: SS+
CLEAR CONDITIONS: You can choose one of two ways. Take possession of the throne and become the 73rd demon king, or kill the newly born 73rd demon king. The scenario can only be cleared by choosing one of these two methods and there is no other way to proceed.
TIME LIMIT: 30 minutes
COMPENSATION: 200,000 coins, escape from this illusion.
FAILURE: Death and expulsion from the scenarios.

You already know what you have to do before he does. Before any of your companions do. They only have one life. One chance. But you... You are different. You can die, regress, then wake up to do this all over again. You would go through hell again if it means keeping your comrades here safe, even if it means they must move on without you. Kim Dokja in this case is a solace... You trust that he will lead them well when you're gone.

Quickly, you dart toward the throne and lunge toward the jewel. Whoever holds the jewel will become the Demon King that needs to be slain. A battle breaks out. There is no enemy, merely a fight amongst comrades to stall the inevitable sacrifice.

Eventually and unfortunately, despite your best efforts, Kim Dokja holds the jewel and the Demon King transformation takes him. The man grows in size, spreads wings and horns, but it is still him. He tells you all with a smile that this was the only way. The children who love him start crying as your other companions look at him with disbelief. You, too, look at him in disbelief.

You know what all of them are thinking. They share the same thoughts of you—why did it have to be this way?

They protest loudly. Even the Constellations that favor Kim Dokja protest. Everyone has always been better with their words than you, but then one of them speaks up. In the end, they still have to abide by the scenario or they will all die. That has Kim Dokja smiling wider. He nods, ushering you all to harm him. He wants you all to live.

Survive.

Believe that he will come back.

He looks to you because he knows you can properly kill him. You hold the sword that can destroy the story that gave him extra lives. His eyes are serene, peaceful, as he tells all of you to do as planned. Didn't he help you all prepare for this moment? And so your comrades lunge at him with tears welling in their eyes, hearts heavy.

You, too, join the fray and end the battle with the sword driven through him. Blood splatters and you see a message.

[The effect of the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds has destroyed all remaining extra lives.]

... Kim Dokja.

“It was a really great story. Isn’t that right?”

He falls limp into your arms yet he finds the strength to speak. What a stubborn man, you think. Annoying. Obnoxious. Doesn't know his place. You hold onto him tightly as he laughs. Systems messages start popping up, but you don't read them.

“Let’s meet again, Yoo Joonghyuk.”

Your lips press into a thin line as you steel and repress whatever emotion boiling over. You silently curse the stars that led your companions here, the Constellations that seek Kim Dokja's death for trying to challenge them. Most of all, you feel... Grief. For so long, you have wished for a companion that understands you even a bit.

But a void opens and Kim Dokja dissipates into dust, funneling into it. You desperately try to grab onto him, any piece of him. To no avail. Kim Dokja is dead. He is gone.

No. No. No.

— CHAPTER ■■ —

犧牲意志(희생의지) by MZ
You raise your upper body with a groan and see a small pocket watch wrapped around your arm by the watch strap. The moving hands of the clock match your heartbeat as you look down at it. Who gave this to you...? What happened? You only remember winning the Demon King Selection with your friends, then believing you all can return to Earth with Kim Dokja.

That's when you notice a faint glimmer of sunshine outside the window. The sunshine is too bright for the Demon World.

You bring yourself to the window and see beyond are the walls of the collapsed industrial complex. It's a strange scene... You can see the broken statue of Admiral Yi Sunsin and the ruined Gyeongbok Palace. Then also the smoke coming from the collapsed buildings of Gwanghwamun.

This is Seoul.

You can see your companions sitting down outside the window, hanging their heads with their shoulders shaking. Slowly, the haze lifts and you ask why? Why are we in Seoul? With the whole industrial complex? You search and count your companions from your window and realize there is one missing.

“…Kim Dokja?”

A message prompts something that is dawning on you. The story you two created together, it has stopped singing.

[The fable ‘Life and Death Companions’ is silent.]

Your body stills, but you feel fear filling every fiber of your being. Quickly, you scan the starry sky. The sky is bright enough and you count each constellation and beyond. You keep counting and counting, but you do not find him. In the sparkling sea, there is a star missing.

You stay quiet before bringing up an item that Kim Dokja bought for you two. It serves as a mental chatroom, a visual version of telepathy that can only seen by those invited.

[The item Midday Tryst has been used.]

The message window that hadn’t been used for a while opens and a message is sent.

[The message has been returned.]

It must be an error, you thought. You keep sending the message repeatedly, several times over and over. As the messages keep returning, you lower your gaze from the system message windows.

[You have exhausted the quota for today’s messages.]

The ticking of the pocket watch can be heard in the foreground while messages fill your vision.

[The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ doesn’t exist in the Star Stream.]

[The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ doesn’t exist in the Star Stream.]

[The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ doesn’t exist in the Star Stream.]

[The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ doesn’t exist in the Star Stream.]

...

[The constellation ‘Demon King of Salvation’ doesn’t exist in the Star Stream.]

If you weren't unconscious, could you have fought beside him? Could you have fended off whatever it was that threatened him and your companions?

Could you have saved him?

In the round where factions of angels wage war and you must play with this ridiculous trial system, you and Kim Dokja have survived to the seventh week. If only it could stay that way... You wake up to find Kim Dokja is gone and fear strikes you like it did before.

If you weren't unconscious, could you have fought beside him? Could you have fended off whoever it was that threatened him?

Could you have saved him?

You tightly grip onto the pocket watch, trying to muster all the anger you can to stifle the despair.