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[the point at which Jae does start crying is in the next segment, when the children are finally forced to join the fray.]

[The girl who was his own incarnation, who had until now only moved about defensively, wept and refused to join in, who begged for any other alternative. But between the two of them, there was no need for words. Through the bond of constellation and incarnation, Kim Dokja conveyed his earnest need for her help and she had no choice but to answer.

"Gilyeong, think of this as a game."

Taking the hands of the other younger child they put forth all of their magic strength into controlling a massive dragon upon which they sit. Commanding it to suck up all of the wildly running evil energy in the chamber and fire it back at Kim Dokja, dealing a blow so powerful that his consciousness seems to fade, even as his body continues to routely, against his will, move through the motions of the fight.]

[Jae honestly doesn't seem to pay much attention to himself in the story, instead focusing only on the children.]

[jesus christ.

that feeling when you regret asking but at the same time you're glad you did.
and that sounds mean, but Curtain knows Jae might have never told him about this otherwise.

which is fair, really, he has no obligation to share any of this with him. but in a way, that only makes this all the more meaningful.

he doesn't make a sound, doesn't even turn to look at Jae, just keeps watching, respectfully.]

[So much has been done but it is not enough.

Kim Dokja, a narrative grade constellation, was made into a proportionally powerful demon king. After over twenty minutes of the party depleting their energy and stamina trying to break down and tear apart his demonic form piece by piece, Kim Dokja was covered with blackened skin and countless wounds but his attacks only grew more powerful, and the pace of the combat did not slow.

Naturally, the final piece must be the protagonist who is not the protagonist. Yu Junghyeok finally recovers from the blow he was dealt earlier and faces Kim Dokja with solemn sorrow.

"It should’ve been me who died here."

But he understands the ways of the scenarios better than anyone, and better than anyone he is able to do what must be done whatever the cost. He joins into the fight without any quibbling and the power of his earth shaking strikes clearly are what was needed to inch Kim Dokja toward the last legs of his life.

There is one final hurdle. Kim Dokja had several remaining revivals, an ability obtained from hunting down the Yamata no Orochi. But this can easily be solved with a weapon in Yu Junghyeok's possession.

Kim Dokja had considered all of this and directs Yu Junghyeok to kill him properly and fully. And, with shaking eyes, Yu Junghyeok concedes to do so, switching to the one weapon that could truly slay Kim Dokja, the same weapon that had slain Yamata no Orochi.

[The stigma ‘Sacrifice’s Will Lv. 1’ has been activated!]

[The master of the stigma risks his life for others.]

The nameless constellation's first and only stigma triggers, rejuvenating those that he risks his life to save. And all around the party gathers up their strength for one final attack with only minutes left to end the fight.

"Thank you for everything.'

「 Incarnation Kim Dokja will be killed by the person he loves most. 」

This was the prophecy that brought Kim Dokja here. It had been a vexing prophecy for someone who could not sincerely claim to love anyone.

But now, on the absolute brink of death, with his party running at him, with the gazes of all of the stars in sky pointed at him, with the total weight of all of the characters in his own story coming together to bring about his end, it finally make sense.

This wasn’t the Ways of Survival he knew but — It was a story more wonderful than Ways of Survival.

He was laughing when Yu Junghyeok's sword pieced his heart.

"Kim Dokja."

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

Countless stars blinked.

Some, a small few, sent messages.

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ doesn’t wish for your death.]

[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ doesn’t wish for your death.]

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ doesn’t wish for your death.]

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ doesn’t wish for your death.]

“Let’s meet again, Yu Junghyeok.”

And as the battle is won, the demon king power fades from Kim Dokja's body which limply falls into Yu Junghyeok's arms.

[The main scenario has ended.]

[Seoul Dome has been freed.]

However, having become a mechanism of the star stream, even this is not enough.

A small hole opens in the air behind the fading Kim Dokja and begins to pull his body through. Yu Junghyeok fights and clings, but at the end of the scenario there is no need for the remains of the losers.

Kim Dokja's lifeless body is sucked into the empty space in the air, and completely broken down in absolute darkness.

[Your incarnation body has completely been destroyed.]

[You have failed the scenario.]

[You have been expelled from the scenario.]

[The Star Stream will announce your modifier.]

[Your modifier is the ‘Demon King of Salvation’.]

Edited 2022-05-21 06:34 (UTC)

[During the long final segment, Jae has the time to clean up his tears and get ahold of himself. He watches the very end with something like loneliness, fascination, fondness all at once.

When his body disappears despite Yu Junghyeok's desperate cries and Uriel's constantly blinking messages, Jae's own smile just seems bittersweetly satisfied.]

[as the battle draws to its climax, Curtain just finds himself lost more and more within the story. his attention fully gone from Jae, now consumed by Kim Dokja in the memory and all of his companions.

which is why it's a little hard to tell when he, himself, starts tearing up. and how much of it has to do with seeing Jae in pain before or if it's purely because of what he's witnessing. everyone's sorrow.

not that it males a difference, at any rate.

he stays very still and quiet, even after the story has ended and they find themselves alone again. a moment of silence for the dead, perhaps. even if the dead is sitting by his side, right now.]

[eventually, he gets to his feet and moves to stand in front of Jae. gently pulling his head towards him with his one functional arm for something as close to a hug as he can manage right now.

and then, softly, he says:]

You are very loved, Kim Dokja.

[Jae is a bit of a wistful, sorrowful daze. Mulling over his own memories as the story faded, but he blinks in surprise when Curtain appears before him and pulls him into a hug.

Really there seems to be some misunderstanding, as he is fine but--]

[Curtain's soft words seem to go off like a thunderclap inside his brain. He blinks as more tears are startled out by a sudden confused rush of emotions.]

Um...

[he doesn't say anything else. just leans forward to kiss the top of his head, messing his hair a little in the process, and keeps him there]

[A part of him really wants to ask for clarification. Was this an observation of the love of his party, or was Curtain including himself in that statement?

But at the soft touch of lips to his forehead and the ruffling of his hair he feels like maybe, maybe he knows the answer without asking, and that asking might somehow ruin it.

Tentatively, like he's not really sure if he is doing it right, he wraps his arms around Curtain's waist and leans his forehead against Curtain's shoulder. Some more tears might come out, it's difficult to say. He doesn't really have a name for what he's feeling but without the Fourth Wall to to dampen it, it feels like he might really be swept away. So the hold on Curtain's waist and the way his hands dig into the clothes becomes almost desperate.]

[maybe if they hadn't had that other conversation about the bet and the bingo square earlier, maybe if he hadn't seen Jae's story just now, maybe if he hadn't spent all this time with him watching Jae assume nobody could or should care about him...

but those are all what ifs and this felt necessary to say right now. even if ends up bouncing off of him like so many other things, it was a selfish, important thing to voice.

he doesn't say anything more, just holds Jae close and lets him stay there for as long as he wants]

[After a few moments, or maybe a few minutes, the tidal wave of undefinable emotional passes over and recedes, leaving a dull but almost satisfying ache in his chest, and he gradually relaxes his grip on Curtain.

He should stand up and pull away but instead he relaxes a little bit more against him, forehead heavy on Curtain's shoulder]

....well, that's one way to get that square filled.

[there's a dry chuckle in his voice]

What—?

Oh.

Thanking you for that feels wrong, though.

Hahaha, it's fine. I'm glad I can help. It's always like this.

[reaches up to wipe away at his eyes before he begins to disentangle himself a bit from Curtain, though he doesn't fully pull away. ]

[shifts to give him room to do whatever he wants. the "upside" of having a limp arm is there really isn't as much of a tangle as it could be.]

"Always like this"?

[please don't talk about upsides of your broken fucked up arm]

The scenarios... always pushing along and pulling at every part of the story.

[seems also to be a bit unsure what to do, but after a moment he takes Curtain's hand and pulls him over to a spot near a tree big enough for them to both lean against. he sits down himself and gestures for Curtain to join him]

Well, that makes sense, in the context of a book.

[oh... lets himself be led there, leaning back against the tree to sit more easily]

[sits close, on his side with the unbroken arm]

The real world is also full of scenarios. I used to think like this a lot. "Right now my main scenario is graduate school", or "the sub-scenario in this situation to finish this work and the consequence for failure is I lose my job" or something like that.

[chuckles, fondly]

That's one way to look at things.

Did it help motivate you to get things done?

... Somewhat. It's an ugly truth but I'm much better at the kinds of scenarios in this place.

I don't know what to say about that.

[shrug]

Perhaps it's because Ways to Survive wasn't really about how to get good grades or get along with your peers. I didn't learn much in that area.

But I wouldn't have read it in that case anyway.

All in all, it sounds like things worked out for you.

... Yes. It's incredibly selfish but...

My story, it's very good.

[cute...]

I'm happy to hear that. What else did you go through all that for, if not.

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