Sponsor Secretive Plotter AU
From the darkest corner of the room, a woman reveals herself from behind the large curtain, her expression complicated as she gazes wordlessly at the door Kim Dokja had just left through. Accompanying her was a small character who sat restlessly on her shoulder, covered by a mysterious veil with the roman numeral for “ten” on it. The latter acknowledges the older woman occupying the meeting room first.
Lee Sookyung spares the pair a glance, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “To what do I owe this visit to?”
“Don’t sound so surprised, it’s exactly what you think it’s for.” Han Sooyoung drags out one of the chairs and throws her weight into it, the kkoma leaping from her shoulder and onto the table as she did so. “So, what do you think? We’re moving on with the plan?”
Her eyes grow quiet and cold. “Yes. Everything I told you is all I can leave you with.”
Han Sooyoung sighs, rolling the lemon candy in her mouth with a sneer. “Shit, I was really hoping this wasn’t the case. Why does he always leave us with problems and cause trouble wherever he goes? Feels like we’re always left picking up the pieces.”
Lee Sookyung extends her hands out towards the kkoma standing between them, only to be met with a wordless step back. As if apologizing, Ten inclines his head, and the corner of her lip curls upwards imperceptibly. As expected, this was the limit.
“All the more reason it has to be you. My time to guide him has long since passed.” She withdraws her hands and folds them close. “Little one, have you made your decision?”
“I made my decision long ago,” is all he says.
Upon hearing her words, Han Sooyoung looks more apprehensive than upset. “I can’t help but feel like we’re doing something super shady. It’ll be hard to get it out of him, especially with how he is. Do you see the way he acts when he feels like he’s cornered? Believe it or not, terrorizing him isn’t among my most favorite things to do.”
“Who said you’ll be terrorizing him?” Ten interrupts with obvious displeasure.
“Oh right, you guys exist. You know you don’t have to be at his beck and call all the time. Stay with me, I’ll treat you guys a million times better than that squid.”
“You have too much faith in yourself.”
The two glare at each other.
“Ajumma, if you had to pick, which one of us would you trust most with dealing with that slippery guy?”
“How curious.” She hums. “What if I said neither one?”
Han Sooyoung raises a brow, and Ten moves ever so slightly; the pair ready to refute until she speaks up again.
“That child, I understand him too well. He thinks he can solve all his problems by relying on one thing.” She sighs, eyes downcast. “But if you were asking me as a mother what I thought; I would say that he needs both of you — that he needs all of you. And if it’s not now, it will be never.”
Kim Dokja scrunches his nose when he feels it itch, looking around irritably as if something was causing it.
“Kim Dokja, pay attention,” Yoo Joonghyuk warns and said person lets out a tired sigh. As if Yoo Joonghyuk’s judgmental stare wasn’t enough, Yoo Mia was giving him a scrutinizing look of her own right beside him.
“Then it’s just you guys.” He addresses the kkomas crowding around him like a teacher rounding up their students. While he was a little relieved to be back to his normal size, he couldn’t help but think they looked more like a hive mind grouped together like this. It also didn’t help that their combined strength was probably on par with his own now, not that he was very powerful.
To summarize, Eight, Seven, and One were going to remain on Earth and monitor the Industrial Complex like they have been while Ten, Three, and Two were going to accompany Kim Dokja in the 46th Scenario onwards. It was clear that Eight really embraced his role as the temporary owner of the Industrial Complex as he was aware of everything and everyone, organizing the roles for all the kkomas and discussing entirely new things Kim Dokja wasn’t aware of.
To Kim Dokja, it wasn’t that long ago when he first received Seven and Eight almost back-to-back. They were entirely indifferent towards him at the time, turning their nose at everything he said and picking fights for no good reason. Well, it still happened now, but it was different, more comfortable. It was a little bittersweet to see that they too went through a lot of changes these past few years.
Eight continues, “Seven specializes in the medical field so he will continue to watch over the incarnation from Olympus.”
Kim Dokja blinks at that. “He specializes in what?” He waves his hand. “Never mind, I have a more important question. At the time, Seven didn’t count as an extra person in the transfer to Peace Land, but you guys have been able to act on your own these past few years. Are you guys an extension of me or your own ‘person?’”
Eight seems to think carefully. “To make it simple for you, the Star Stream recognizes us as tools or weapons when we are in close proximity to the incarnation. However, when we are separated and act on our own, it costs plausibility. Tools shouldn’t have their own free will after all.”
Kim Dokja felt greatly disturbed by that last statement, but it did make sense since they acted as replacements for a stigma. “Then wouldn’t it be no good if I left you guys here?”
“The plausibility storms lessen when there aren’t as many of us present. The less of us there are to interfere with the flow of the scenarios, the more likely the Star Stream is to avert its gaze at our actions.”
“But the rest of you will still be bearing the storms by yourselves, even if it is less than before.”
Seven sighs in admiration. “He really does talk a lot, doesn't he?”
Kim Dokja frowns and nudges him with his foot lightly. “You know what, I don’t know why I wasted my time worrying about you.” Why was Seven getting on him for talking when Eight was using up more of the word count than him?
Eight is there to stabilize Seven when he stumbles. “There is a simple reason why we were able to endure these past three years. We aren’t foolish as to directly involve ourselves in the scenarios without our incarnation, but when we do need to interfere, we partner with other incarnations who bear the storms for us.”
“So then… I didn’t realize I troubled you guys so much.”
With his abnormal constitution, Kim Dokja had built somewhat of a tolerance to the storms over the scenarios. While he knew the kkomas would never challenge plausibility the way they do with him, it still made him feel guilty to know that he left everyone in such a state.
As if reading his thoughts, Seven cuts in, “Do not underestimate your nebula. They knew well what they were getting into.”
He smiles halfheartedly. “Right. So anyways, if One is staying, then what about my three meals?”
“You’ve clearly gotten too comfortable,” One remarks after his extended silence. He was suddenly in Yoo Mia’s hands, a container the size of himself in his arms. “You will be taking supplements for the time being. Ten will ensure that you are taking them on time until you return.”
Kim Dokja grabs it quickly when he notices Yoo Joonghyuk’s stare. Not wanting to deal with whatever he was thinking, he keeps his attention on the kkomas. “Sometimes I can’t believe how serious you guys are. It’s almost cute.”
One huffs, clearly unamused. “If that is all, then we will be taking our leave.”
“Don’t become too ugly, ahjussi,” Yoo Mia says, holding One close.
Before they head off, One pauses before turning to him. “I expect for you not to return as a corpse, incarnation.”
Although the words were harsh, Kim Dokja understood what it meant. He nods firmly.
“We will go as well,” Eight finalizes.
“Then what about Ten?” Despite the whole discussion, that kkoma was nowhere in sight among the ones present. “You said he was coming with me.”
“Ten is…” Seven starts but is interrupted by a hand on his back.
“Seven,” Eight jerks his head. “Come now.”
There wasn't even a peep of resistance from him, and it constantly surprises Kim Dokja just how quick to answer Seven was when it came to Eight. He returns Seven’s nod with furrowed brows, confusion written on his features.
Kim Dokja shakes his head and presses his fingers to his temple. Now that he was thinking about it, those two have been tied to the hip ever since the early scenarios. Even when Eight came down during Peace Land, Kim Dokja was almost certain that it was for Seven rather than himself. In the end, it was hard imagining one without the other.
He watches as their small figures became yet smaller; the pair exchanging a few words he could no longer hear while making unknown gestures it seemed that only they could understand. But even from this distance, Kim Dokja could see the way their hands drew closer to one another.
The sound of distant voices could be heard, the children bickering among themselves as they made their approach with the rest of the nebula. On Han Sooyoung’s shoulder, he immediately spotted the kkoma he had been looking for.
Was Ten paired with her? Kim Dokja felt worried for some reason.
It doesn’t take long before Ten catches sight of Kim Dokja through the crowd, leaning forward like a cat ready to pounce. And Kim Dokja was not prepared for just how quickly Ten leaps despite being meters away, the incarnation hastily throwing himself forward and cupping his hands to catch him with the care one would have towards a raw egg.
“Ten,” he breathes, lifting his hand slightly. The kkoma has the audacity to tilt his head up at him cluelessly as if he didn’t almost give him a heart attack. “You missed quite a bit.”
“I already know the situation well.”
“As expected, Ten-ssi is always well informed.”
He pulls open his coat and Ten climbs into his inner pocket complacently.
Kim Dokja then gestures for Three and Two to join him, and they station themselves on his shoulders right away. At least he knows they were paying attention. Maybe it was because they were newer, but they didn’t seem to interact with the others all too much.
He puts a hand on his chin, trying not to make it obvious how he was glancing at the kkoma on his left shoulder.
[Main Scenario #46 – Proof of the Stars has arrived!]
"Does the Secretive Plotter really not belong to any nebula?” Kim Dokja asks as the space around him changes. Four white walls cage them in; a marble pedestal erected from the center where the floating star hovered unsuspectingly.
“That fact was neither confirmed nor denied,” Three replies bluntly. “You know better than to ask about the Great Plotter under the voyeurism of the stars.”
“I just thought,” he watches with tired eyes as a dark figure materializes across from him, far too familiar with the sharp gaze that meets his, “it sounded pretty lonely being an outcast.”
Three and Two give him strange looks and Ten stirs in his inner pocket, peaking his head, “You must focus, Kim Dokja.”
It was unlike Yoo Joonghyuk to waver when it came to the other person in the room, but for some reason, the protagonist didn’t seem confident about the situation.
“Yoo Joonghyuk,” Kim Dokja starts, slipping his hands into his pockets.
It was as if his breath was enough to trigger a response. “It wasn’t the Secretive Plotter you met.”
Kim Dokja opens his mouth to reply but bites his tongue when sparks of probability hum in warning. “No,” he grits out, clenching his fists. The kkomas on his shoulders click their tongues irritably at his decision, hunched slightly at the aftermath.
His eyes narrow, pupils tracing his form carefully. “You’re weaker.”
Kim Dokja scoffs. “No, you’re just freakishly strong, Bastard Sunfish.”
“‘Demon King of Salvation,’” he interrupts, and Kim Dokja startles. “You didn’t tell the story.”
“Because I knew I could survive without it.”
Yoo Joonghyuk grips the hilt of his sword, unsheathing it in one swift motion. Clearly, he wasn’t buying any of his words.
The kkomas on his shoulders stand at attention at the regressor’s intent, and Kim Dokja was too distracted to notice how Ten’s gaze lingered on him.
“What happened to you?” he prompts.
“These past few years? Nothing really.” The look Yoo Joonghyuk gives him screams of how tired he was at being lied to. “Don’t look at me like that, I’m being serious. No time passed for me at all where I went.”
Yoo Joonghyuk shuffles an inch towards the star and Kim Dokja mirrors his movements.
“Do you ever listen to what I say?”
“I don’t waste my time on liars.”
“So, will you fight me again, Yoo Joonghyuk? Since you’ve got three years on me, it should be easier for you, right?”
The regressor’s eyes flick towards the kkomas on his shoulders cautiously. He already had a taste of their abilities in the last scenario, even if they were disguised as tentacles at the time, he knew better than to act rashly.
His nose scrunches. “Did you even care for those you left behind? That prophecy, has it affected you to such an extent?”
“Don’t change the subject,” he warns darkly.
“If you know you won’t do it, then why do you care?”
“You never intended to come back.”
Kim Dokja’s features soften a little. He lowers his head hesitantly only to immediately straighten his posture and produce Unbreakable Faith. “Yoo Joonghyuk, I can’t let you have that star. I know what you want, and I can’t let you go through with it. Are you really okay with someone we know getting hurt?”
“Nonsense, you can defy fate. Why is this the thing holding you back? Do you even know who it’s referring to?”
“It’ll be too late by the time I figure that out! Why are you making this so difficult, damn it? Look, taking that star is excessive.”
“I can decide your death.”
“Damn Sunfish, you don’t need the star to decide when I die with how you are!”
“I can decide your life,” he adds, and Kim Dokja glares at him. “I can decide your fate if you won’t take it into your own hands.” Unexpectedly, Yoo Joonghyuk calls out to someone else, “Now!”
Kim Dokja was stunned into confusion until the kkoma in his coat suddenly makes a dive for the star. Before he can reach out to stop him, his sword is suddenly colliding with Yoo Joonghyuk’s and he’s gritting his teeth at the immense pressure behind it, sparks of plausibility racing through them.
Then, a loud clash could be heard where Ten had flown, and Kim Dokja’s eyes widened in surprise to see that one of the kkomas had their wooden spear locked against Ten’s sword.
He was right about that strange feeling of his.
“Three? What is the meaning of this?”
Taking advantage of Ten’s bewilderment, Three pushes back against him. “The incarnation will decide his own path. I was sent by the Great Plotter to aid his will.”
“Is that what he said or is that your own interpretation?” Ten’s tiny sword shakes with rage. “You haven’t been around long enough to understand.”
“I know what my role is.”
Ten retreats just as Yoo Joonghyuk does, landing on the regressor’s shoulder.
Three continues, “We have been granted the plausibility to fight for the Great Plotter’s incarnation because he lacks in his current abilities. Ten, you cannot defeat us both as you are.”
“Save your arrogance” Yoo Joonghyuk declares, unleashing his status as a Transcendent. “He won’t be the only one facing you.”
[A huge fate is hoping for ■■■■■■.]
[A huge fate is hoping for ■■■■■■.]
[A huge fate is hoping for ■■■■■■.]
[Most of the censorship is being lifted!]
[■ Kim Dokja will kill the one he loves most.]
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