Kim Dokja was honestly wondering the same thing. If he had to listen to that annoying voice too much, he'd definitely get a headache.
The moment that the wall talked back again, though, Kim Dokja frowned. It was being annoying for a specific purpose…?
No matter how much he thought about it, the answer wasn't coming to him. What could the wall know that he didn't? It was suspicious, and Kim Dokja didn't like that at all.
At the realization that [The Fourth Wall] can do more than just describe things, Dokja asks what the 'skill' really is, and if it's a skill at all.
「The stupid Kim Dokja started talking to thin air.」
Ignoring his question, [The Fourth Wall] mocks him, which earns an annoyed response from Dokja. Before the insults can continue, Dokja threatens to turn off the skill entirely.
「The 'Fourth Wall' spoke, 'Should I quit it?'」
Getting an actual response surprises Dokja for a moment, and he mentally insults it back. Then, he tells it to stop because he wants to be left alone right now. The moment his skill falls silent, however, Dokja immediately regrets his choice. He hunches over, wheezing and grasping his throat as he strains to take gasps of air that feels like it has frozen around him. Within seconds, Dokja desperately thinks that it feels like his lungs are being squeezed until there's no air left within them.
"It was on your attributes window, so it has to be a skill, right?" Yoo Mia wondered in confusion, shooting a glance over at Kim Dokja.
Honestly, if he hadn't seen it for himself, then he probably would have been asking himself the same thing. His skill didn't act like any normal skill would, and skills weren't supposed to be sentient. Was it possible that it was something else entirely that was classified as a skill because there wasn't a better way of categorizing it in his attributes window?
[many constellations are feeling suspicious of the skill 'the fourth wall'.]
Lee Hyunsung shifted somewhat uncomfortably. "I don't know what it is, but I don't like that it's insulting Dokja-ssi…"
Well, if it got too bad, then Kim Dokja could just turn it off again. Sure, the skill didn't particularly like it, but at least he was someplace without constellations, so they wouldn't end up seeing his attributes window in the future. Actually, that was an idea…
Then, right as Kim Dokja proposed that very idea, Lee Jihye flinched in shock. "It actually responded!?"
Jung Heewon let out a sigh as she grimaced. "You know, every time we learn something new about this skill of yours, the freakier it seems."
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is nodding in agreement.]
[the constellation 'scribe of heaven' is thinking deeply.]
When the wall asked whether it should stop talking, Han Sooyoung scoffed. "Yeah, finally."
Of course, that backfired. Within seconds, Kim Dokja was struggling to breathe, suffering immensely as cracks began spreading across his fragile body made of stories. Kim Dokja's arms felt like they were getting squeezed as much as his future self's lungs were as the kids began to freak out.
"Ahjussi, what's happening!?" Shin Yoosung gasped, staring at him with eyes wide in horror. "You didn't trip, so…"
"Hyung, did the stupid skill do something? If it hurt you then I'm gonna… I don't know. Maybe I'll find a computer bug and see if that can infest the system," Lee Gilyoung snarled, and Kim Dokja didn't know how to feel about that one. If the system was a computer system of some kind that was able to be hacked, someone with an internet or computer-based skillset would have figured that one out long ago.
Kim Dokja didn't know what to tell them—or anyone else, for that matter—but his mind raced as he tried to think of reasons why this could be happening.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is watching the current events grimly.]
Suddenly, he belatedly realizes something that the nebulae had realized long ago—the reason why he was sent outside the scenarios.
The Star Stream is a world of 'Stories'. There are no exceptions, whether it be incarnations or constellations.
With the deterioration rate of his body increasing, Dokja falls to his knees as he continues to struggle. The 10th scenario had been a plot to kill 'incarnation Kim Dokja', while this was intended to deal with 'constellation Kim Dokja'. He tries to scream, but there's no sound. His breath is blocked and his head turns blank as his thoughts begin to be erased one by one by the lack of oxygen.
All beings breathe through a 'story' and exist through a 'story'. So in a place where the 'story' is nonexistent, nothing can exist there. Including me.
Seeing that he's starting to disappear, Dokja desperately begs for help in his mind, finally realizing that [The Fourth Wall] was talking in order to keep him alive.
In order to allow me to survive in a place where no stories exist, it was telling me a 'story' this entire time.
Yoo Joonghyuk pursed his lips in displeasure as he watched Kim Dokja's suffering. "The exile penalty is taking effect."
Yoo Sangah's face went pale. "How is he supposed to survive something like that…?"
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is tearing out his hair from stress.]
Fuck, this wasn't good. As soon as Yoo Joonghyuk had mentioned the exile penalty (How had he known about it anyways? Had someone been exiled in his first two regressions?), Kim Dokja's heart had dropped in his chest. Had he screwed up his planning somehow?
"So… this was the nebulae's true goal? To kill his body, and then kill his very existence?" Lee Seolhwa murmured worriedly. "How cruel."
"That's fucked up," Han Sooyoung muttered, sounding just a bit sympathetic. Oddly nice, coming from her.
It was cruel, and Kim Dokja knew that he'd have to act fast. Shit, if [The Fourth Wall] had been keeping him stable all this time by telling his story, then had he fucked up by telling it to shut up?
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is squirming anxiously.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is pleading for the skill 'the fourth wall' to help again.]
As much as Kim Dokja hated the uncertainty of what his skill actually was and what it could do, he'd need its support if he wanted to make it to his inevitable goal. Looking at how much he was struggling until [The Fourth Wall] finally kicked back in—only after being begged to help, the bastard—Kim Dokja was left wondering just how Yoo Joonghyuk had managed the penalty in his 111th round.
A moment later, Kim Dokja mentally shook his head. It was Yoo Joonghyuk; he probably powered through the pain and his collapsing body using sheer force of will. Damn protagonist, somehow managing to be effortlessly cool like that…
Reactivating itself, [The Fourth Wall] calls Dokja an idiot and significantly slows down the deterioration rate of his body. Finally able to catch his breath, Dokja looks at his cracking body which leaks the light of the stories within, noting that he'd been underestimating his situation—he had known that it would be terrible, but he hadn't expected it to be this bad. After all, even Jungyeong hadn't been able to survive without a nebula's help. Without [The Fourth Wall], he wouldn't be able to survive, something which the skill immediately gloats about. After a moment of dry silence, Dokja asks how long the wall can protect him.
「The 'Fourth Wall' replied, 'Not for long'. 」
In a timely fashion, a probability storm hits Dokja. He's not surprised about this because it would be strange if the wall could manage to cope with something that requires the probability of an entire nebula. Spotting something out of the corner of his eye, Dokja looks over and sees an ominous shadowy being with searchlights for eyes moving around the city and absorbing things like blood. It makes a sound like a vacuum cleaner, and Dokja knows that if he doesn't finish his task soon, he will die here.
「Kim Dokja knew exactly what that thing was. A Scenario Cleaner.」
As Dokja stands shakily, [The Fourth Wall] narrates how this means that a large-scale 'cleaning' has begun in Seoul, and that the 'Demons of the Horizon' will soon reveal themselves because they can't afford to miss out on these delicious ruins. Agreeing with the wall, Dokja thinks that he needs to find something before he meets them.
[many constellations are breathing a sigh of relief.]
[a few constellations are disappointed by this turn of events.]
Kim Dokja couldn't help but breathe out shakily as the wall kicked back in and slowed the rate at which his body was falling apart. With any luck, he would reach whatever he was looking for soon so he could finish up his plan and get the heck out of there. There wasn't any time to waste because he needed to get back to a scenario, and Kim Dokja was almost certain that he was going to follow Cheok Jungyeong's advice from before.
Even though he wasn't thrilled about having to go somewhere else on his own like this, especially with everyone else thinking that he was dead, Kim Dokja knew that he had only one option that was likely to work in this situation. He'd need to make a deal with a 'Demon of the Horizon'.
"Right," Yoo Sangah breathed as she glanced up at the ceiling. "That constellation-nim was also expelled. Was it this bad for you too?"
[the constellation 'goryeo's first sword' is grimacing at the memory.]
And Cheok Jungyeong hadn't had a sentient skill to assist him either. God, that must have been awful…
"Ahjussi, you look bad. Really bad," Lee Jihye remarked with a grimace as she looked over the cracks that covered Kim Dokja's form. Apparently his future self had underestimated just how bad it was, and Kim Dokja took a mental note to never do this if he could help it. He'd rather not put himself through this, thanks.
Jung Heewon sighed. "The wall's gloating is annoying, but it's way better than having to get a nebula's help to escape. You won't be doing that, right?"
"I completely agree," Kim Dokja replied with a small nod. "There's no way in hell I'll be asking for their help, though. Don't worry."
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is surprised by the probability storm.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is urging the incarnation 'kim dokja' to hurry.]
"Not another probability storm," Lee Hyunsung whispered in horror. "That looks bad… how is your body able to withstand it?"
Well, that was a difficult question. Though his 'body' looked like him because that's how he saw himself, it was more accurate to say that the probability storm was directly damaging the stories that were acting as his body in this place. Honestly, it looked bad if you thought about it like a real body, but the truth was actually much worse.
"I'll be okay, Hyunsung-ssi," Kim Dokja lied through his teeth. "I just need to pick up the pace a little…"
[The Fourth Wall] was clearly doing everything it could, but even that skill couldn't hold this off forever. To make matters worse, a Scenario Cleaner began appearing, and Kim Dokja swore under his breath.
Lee Gilyoung, on the other hand, looked far too interested in it for his own good. "What is that!? Some kind of shadow bug?"
A… shadow bug?
"It's a Scenario Cleaner that's cleaning up this area," Kim Dokja informed him as it began sucking up debris and blood. "I don't know if it could be called a bug, though…"
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is entertained by this conversation.]
Lee Gilyoung looked pensive for a moment before grinning widely. "I want one, hyung!"
Kim Dokja just stared at him for a moment. "... What?"
"I want one," Lee Gilyoung reiterated firmly. "It can be Titano III."
Okay, yeah, Kim Dokja had no idea what was going on anymore.
"No, it's creepy!" Shin Yoosung protested, looking genuinely anxious.
In response, Lee Gilyoung scowled at her. "If the girls are getting a unicorn, then I can get a shadow worm!"
It was a worm now?
Kim Dokja let out a heaving sigh. "Gilyoung-ah, I don't know if they can even survive within the scenario, but you know what—if you manage to tame one somehow, sure, it's all yours."
As the boy cheered excitedly, Kim Dokja felt himself die a bit inside. Was it terrible of him to promise something impossible? He wouldn't ever be able to meet one in the first place…
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is confused by the desires of children.]
At the very least, Kim Dokja felt himself get overcome with relief as his future self finally started heading off in the direction of his destination. With any luck, what he was looking for would be right where he expected it to be.
His journey of retracing his steps is then documented by subway signs until he arrives at Oksu Station and steps out onto the broken Dongho Bridge. As Dokja looks at the bridge, memories pass through his head. This is the place where Joonghyuk had dropped him into the ichthyosaur's mouth, and Dokja doesn't know if he's doing well right now. A moment later, he thinks that Joonghyuk has Sooyoung to help him… or at least, he hopes that she's helping.
Dokja easily leaps over the broken part of the bridge, no longer needing a Deus ex Machina to cross it, and arrives at a familiar subway car. After a while of rummaging through the wreckage, Dokja lifts a sheet of metal and finds a box hidden below with a message on its lid. The message is clearly from Bihyung, who thanks him for being part of his channel and hopes for him to be alive.
Opening the box, he retrieves 300,000 coins, a new attribute that he had previously purchased,
As Kim Dokja backtracked through many familiar locations, he couldn't help but reminisce alongside his future self. It was strange, in his opinion, to feel nostalgic about things that hadn't even happened yet. Jung Heewon, on the other hand, shuddered in discomfort as he passed by Geumho Station, but thankfully she had Lee Hyunsung by her side to offer her a hand.
It was hard to believe that they had come so far in only ten scenarios, and he could hear quiet murmurs of conversation from the others as he kept walking back to where it had all started. Stepping back onto that bridge must have felt strange, after so long.
"Ah… it's a shame that my bridge isn't still there," Yoo Sangah murmured as the bridge appeared on the screen, now without a convenient repair in the middle. Well, it didn't matter anyway—it's not like [The Fourth Wall] counted as a second person, so Kim Dokja wouldn't have been able to use it even if it had still been there somehow.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is pleased to see that the incarnation 'kim dokja' is thinking of his companion.]
Yoo Joonghyuk's hand seemed to flex as Kim Dokja remembered their first meeting, almost as though he was remembering what it had felt like to grab Kim Dokja by the neck and hold him out over the rushing water below.
"I will be fine, Kim Dokja," Yoo Joonghyuk told him in a sombre tone. "Do not worry about me."
That sunfish… didn't he realize that Kim Dokja was always going to be a bit worried about him and his issues with overconfidence and stubbornness?
Kim Dokja sighed and shook his head, though he couldn't hide the semi-amused smile that was on his face. "And here I thought you'd be touched to hear that you're on my mind, Joonghyuk-ah. How cold…"
Yoo Joonghyuk turned to glare at him immediately, as though he was offended by the mere thought. "I would prefer that you don't waste your limited time if it could cost you your life."
Okay, fair.
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is wondering if the incarnation 'kim dokja' needs to rethink his priority list.]
No he didn't. Anyway, Kim Dokja couldn't help but be amused—the moment that he mentioned Han Sooyoung helping Yoo Joonghyuk, both of them immediately looked as though they had swallowed a whole lemon.
"I will not work with that woman," Yoo Joonghyuk scoffed, shooting a glare in her direction.
"Right back at you," Han Sooyoung said with a roll of her eyes before turning to look at Kim Dokja in offense. "Hey, do you actually want me to die? Because that's how you'd accomplish it!"
Well… Kim Dokja could be extremely annoying when he wanted to be, and Yoo Joonghyuk hadn't killed him yet—in their current timeline, at least—so Han Sooyoung would probably be fine if she didn't press her luck. To be fair, Kim Dokja did figure that he had a bit of an advantage over her, but that wasn't his problem.
They'd be okay. Probably.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is entertained.]