Work Text:
[Main Scenario #1 - Prove Your Value has ended.]
Kim Namwoon's pleads echo through Kim Dokja’s mind, faraway as if from a distance yet close enough as if whispering in his ears.
Kim Dokja wipes the blood off his face, an eerie calmness settling in his chest.
Game-like notifications pop up. Chimes accompany them, but Kim Dokja does not spare the time to read them as the train rushes into the open air, casting golden light of the sun and nearby explosions into the car.
Kim Dokja glances at the Dokkaebi busy gushing at the number of stars watching their channel.
Thirty-one, Kim Dokja counts absently. That's quite high.
When the Dokkaebi announces they are qualified to be sponsored by constellations, he snaps his fingers.
A blue screen appears in front of Kim Dokja.
Immediately, Kim Dokja’s eyes widen as he skims over the content, his heart palpating in his chest.
Five names stare back at him.
Kim Dokja’s thoughts pull together what they can manage to remember about Ways to Survive, countless names, words, and regressions flying through his mind.
The protagonist initially received five options… Kim Dokja swallows thickly. Was I just lucky? Or was the channel?
[Sponsor Selection]
- Please select your sponsor.
- Your chosen sponsor will be your reliable sponsor.
- Abyssal Black Flame Dragon
- Demon-like Judge of Fire
- Secretive Plotter
- Prisoner of the Golden Headband
Kim Dokja shows confusion at the first name, surprise at the second, unfamiliarity at the third, and awe at the fourth. But his eyes do not stop there. Instead, Kim Dokja’s gaze slides down one last line.
5. The Fool
The first card of a tarot deck? Kim Dokja notes.
Along with Secretive Plotter, The Fool is not a name Kim Dokja recognizes despite having read the entirety of Three Ways to Survive. He hums, a hand on his chin. As an avid fan, he rationalizes the name was either only mentioned or not at all.
[Sponsor selection has ended.]
Kim Dokja takes a deep breath as the responses flood in.
[Some constellations are greatly affected by your choice.]
[The constellation, Abyssal Black Flame Dragon, is displeased at your choice.]
[The constellation, Demon-like Judge of Fire, is disappointed in you.]
[The constellation, Secretive Plotter, is interested in your choice.]
[The constellation, Prisoner of the Golden Headband, is interested in your choice.]
Regret fills Kim Dokja’s chest, giving rise to the uneven beat of his heart, because he knows if he decided to choose a sponsor, it would be easier at least for the early game, but ever since realizing the book he has spent years reading has come to life, the plans and preparations, already crafting together in his mind, have long since put his path in stone.
Kim Dokja goes to dismiss the notifications, but his hand stops at the appearances of two more.
His dark eyes reflect the bright text.
[The constellations belonging to the nebula, Tarot Club, look at you in curiosity.]
[The constellation, The Fool, smiles.]
The Fool does not become a regular on the channel. They do not even return, for that matter. Their nebula, however, becomes quite the buzzing bee in Kim Dokja’s ears.
[The constellation, Justice, has sponsored 5,000 coins.]
…Not that he minds in particular.
Alongside the other four constellations, the Tarot Club quickly becomes part of the norm that Kim Dokja learns to accept.
When Yoo Joonghyuk grabs his collar to dangle him over the bridge—
[The constellation, The Magician, covers her face, takes out a notepad, and begins writing furiously.]
When Kim Dokja spends and survives four days in the stomach of an Ichyosaurs—
[The constellation, The Sun, cheers you on!]
When Kim Dokja manages to sign a sponsor contract, gaining authority over Pildu Gong—
[The constellation, The Hanged Man, expresses intrigue at your cunning.]
Originally, Kim Dokja thought the Tarot Club was not mentioned in Three Ways to Survive simply because they were not active nor relevant.
Issue one: they are active. Sometimes, annoying so.
(Kim Dokja cannot help but sigh, brushing away the notifications the moment his eyes skim over [The constellation, The Moon, chides your crudeness for not bringing a change of clothes.]
[The constellation, The Star, laughs at you, wondering if that is how his friend revived in the past.]
[The constellation, The World, smacks The Star over the head.])
Issue two: they… seem to have pretty good connections.
(Drawling an answer to the subtle arrogance of Jiwon Min, a blue screen pops up to read [The constellation, Secretive Plotter, scoffs at the high constellation’s offer.]
[You have been gifted 3,000 coins.]
[The constellation, Justice, asks Secretive Plotter if she may join in.]
[The constellation, Secretive Plotter, gestures their hand.]
[The constellation, Justice, smiles in thanks.]
[You have been gifted 10,000 coins.]
[The constellation, Demon-like Judge of Fire, cheers on the flair of her wealthy friend enthusiastically.]
Kim Dokja ends up using the money to beat the fuck out of Yoo Joonghyuk later.)
When he is not actively fighting for his life or worrying about an upcoming scenario, Kim Dokja combs through his memories and phone, searching for any previous sign of the enigmatic Tarot Club, however neutral or well-intentioned they seem to be. He even asks the apostles, reliable or not.
He receives no answer.
[The constellations belonging to the nebula, Tarot Club, smile at you.]
With no choice but to accept their existence, Kim Dokja pushes the concern to the back of his mind and continues fighting his way through the apocalypse, gaining more and more allies, more and more enemies, more and more friends—not all of which are human.
[The constellation, The Hermit, applauds your quick-thinking.]
[The constellation, The Magician, holds back her excited gasp as you clash with incarnation Yoo Joonghyuk.]
[The constellation, Demon-like Judge of Fire, expresses the shared sentiment with the constellation The Magician.]
[The constellation, Secretive Plotter, chuckles at your plan.]
[The constellation, Judgement, approves of the punishment you have chosen to enact.]
Ever since the beginning of the end of the world, Kim Dokja has counted the appearances of ten different constellations from the twenty-two possible Major Arcana. Nine of which have practically become regulars. The tenth, however, shows no sign of their presence.
After asking the Dokkaebi to cut the cameras from the constellations to avoid their prying eyes, there will times when Kim Dokja will feel a gaze upon him.
“You stopped streaming, right?” Kim Dokja would ask.
The Dokkaebi, Bihyung—or whoever would be filling in for him at the time, would only look at him in confusion.
[Sub-Scenario - Usurp the Throne.]
“I will call upon a constellation,” the words fall from Kim Dokja’s lips as he holds the item in front of him.
[Echo of the Stars allows you to seek the help of a high constellation.]
The wrath of the Dokkaebi and its seething crimson glare do not deter Kim Dokja from listing out the constellations The Seven Stars of the Big Dipper as if reading from a script.
Seven lights blink bright from the sky. Their luminescence seems to swallow the darkness they reside in.
They ask if he knows what he is doing.
They ask if he knows the price he will pay.
They ask if he knows the death that awaits him.
With blood tainting his tongue, Kim Dokja answers, heaving, “That’s my decision to make.”
Fire and flames set ablaze Four Yin Demon Decapitator, the heat billowing like a breath of a dragon, and Kim Dokja wields the sword in his hands, knowing all too well.
A clang ricochets through the air.
With a single swing of the blade, a crack splits down the center of the King’s Throne. It shatters before exploding in a firework of golden light and shards, accompanied by rising whiffs of smoke and debris.
[The Sub-Scenario has ended.]
The Dokkaebi’s curses and screams rip through the air but Kim Dokja has no time to process them because soon enough, blinding hot agony splinters through his body like lightning bolts, sending him to his knees. It tears at him from the inside out. The recoil of plausibility pierces and pulls at his body, mind, and soul.
His throat goes tight. His vision goes blind. Blood spews from his orifices, splattering onto the floor.
Distantly, he hears his companions call his name as he struggles to retain consciousness.
A star lights up in the sky.
[The constellation, Naval Warfare God, is looking at you.]
Another one follows.
[The constellation, Bald Army General, is looking at you.]
Then, another.
[The constellation, The Last Hero of Hwangsanbeol, is looking at you.]
Bits and pieces of the agony chip away, but it continues to sear hot and choking and unbearable through him, yanking him apart by the atoms as if to erase his very existence.
Then—
Kim Dokja lurches toward the floor, catching himself by the arms, as he wheezes for the sweet, cold relief of oxygen. His body trembles as it recovers. His mind blinks awake, thoughts running loud and clear and lucid, because the pain—as if simply waking from a nightmare—has vanished.
A drop of sweat falls from his face as Kim Dokja raises his head to read the screen that appears before him.
[The constellation, The Fool, is looking at you.]
Remaining a silent and mysterious entity in Kim Dokja's book, The Fool does not appear for a long time after—like a ghost he cannot see.
With no choice but to accept their existence, Kim Dokja pushes the concern to the back of his mind and carries on through the scenarios, focusing on his own growth and the growth of his companions. He finds and makes a promise to a friend. He gains a mentor. He loses his life once again, clothed this time, but he carries on—as he has always done.
But every so often, Kim Dokja will brush over the notifications of the Tarot Club—their reactions to him going about the world, their disbelief at his actions, and their support in his tribulations.
Wordlessly, Kim Dokja files away The Fool as a potential ally.
Kim Dokja asks Bihyung one regular day (if one could ever call living in an apocalypse regular) if he can see which constellations are tuning into the channel.
After Bihyung answers yes, Kim Dokja makes him count.
Reluctantly, Bihyung does.
He counts four hundred and eighty-two names.
There are four hundred and eighty-three viewers.
“Is a constellation called ‘Secretive Plotter’ also here?”
Under the noise of the banquet, behind the glow of the flickering candle, Persephone puts a finger to her head and closes her eyes. “I’m not sure.”
Already slightly anticipating the answer, it is not disappointment Kim Dokja responds with.
“Then…” Kim Dokja begins, “What about ‘The Fool’?”
A complicated look rises on Persephone’s face, something sharp flashing across her gaze. “Ah, that gentleman?"
The hairs on the back of Kim Dokja's neck stand and prickle, accompanied by a foreign pressure that weighs down upon him like the burden of gravity—like gaining the attention of a gaze of someone he cannot see.
After a moment of contemplation, Persephone turns to him.
“Yes," Persephone answers with a knowing smile. “‘He’ is here.”
[For an hour, you are the owner of the Secret Room.]
Constellation, Father of Humanity, offers The Day of Resurrection.
Constellation, The One Who Stabbed His Own Eye, offers Zeus’ fable.
Constellation, Demon-like Judge of Fire, offers Messiah’s Path.
Kim Dokja sends out every constellation back through the door, expelling the haughty, hearing out the decent, and sparing time for the few who are only there to provide him with words of support.
With the clock almost up, Kim Dokja sighs.
A knock sounds from outside.
Kim Dokja blinks, eyebrows knitting at the polite gesture. “You may come in.”
Not long after, the door opens.
A young woman walks in, accompanied by the echoing of her heels. Gorgeous, golden locks spill down her shoulders in gentle curls, catching onto the spotlight of the room. Emerald eyes shimmer in greeting. A more somber green paints her noble gown.
The woman stops in front of the desk and curtsies. “Good evening, Mister Kim.”
Kim Dokja replies with a prompting smile, “Good evening, Miss…?
“Justice.”
Kim Dokja’s eyes widen.
The woman raises her head and smiles warmly and humane in return. “Miss Justice of the Tarot Club.”
Thoughts run rampant through Kim Dokja’s head. Although he has considered the possibility of the Tarot Club offering him a chance to take on their fables… Kim Dokja is not even aware of said fables—
“I’m not here to convince you to take on one of our fables.”
At the blatant confusion on Kim Dokja’s face, Miss Justice walks forward to place an envelope on the desk. She slides it across.
“I’m here to hand you this,” Miss Justice says.
Kim Dokja takes it but does not make any move to open it. “What is this?” he asks.
While the smile remains on her face, a certain solemnness falls atop her expression. “If there ever comes a time where you need assistance, recite the three sentences written down in this letter. No matter where you are and no matter how far, you will receive an answer.”
A sense of foreboding brews in Kim Dokja’s chest. “Is there a catch?”
Miss Justice shakes her head, amusement flashing in her bright eyes. “No, but whether you decide to believe me or not is up to you.”
Kim Dokja opens his mouth to inquire further on the message, the Tarot Club's existence, and, perhaps, The Fool, but he catches sight of the time left on the clock.
Miss Justice curtsies once more. “That is all I came to say, Mister Kim. It was a pleasure to finally meet you!”
When she makes her way to the door, Kim Dokja calls, “Wait!”
Miss Justice turns. “Yes?”
“You’re in human form,” Kim Dokja begins, “but I didn’t see the Tarot Club on the second floor.”
The question is unsaid.
The smile that spreads across Miss Justice’s face is not exactly warm, but teasing. Prideful, even more so. “Let's say we have seats in the opera box,” she answers with a wink.
When Yoo Joonghyuk shoves Kim Dokja to the side, the former answers, “There is no name yet. And we’ll find supports from now on.” He turns his gaze to the room and asks, “Does anyone want to support our nebula?”
Silence sweeps through the room.
Constellations within their inanimate forms exchange apprehensive glances while those within their human forms chuckle on from the second floor, casting down their haughty judgement.
But Kim Dokja’s heart swells with relief when Persephone’s hand goes up.
Not long after, Prisoner of the Golden Headband raises his voice in his support.
Springing with a hand, Demon-like Judge of Fire exclaims in agreement—her fellow Angels shaking their heads and covering their faces.
The fourth voice comes from someone Kim Dokja does not expect: Goryeo, the Top Swordsman.
Anticipation hangs over the room, palpating like a heartbeat as Kim Doja tries to quell his.
One more.
Just one more—
“The Tarot Club will support this nebula.”
Originating from nowhere and yet everywhere, the voice echoes about the air, low and gentle, yet commanding all attention, and simply hearing it shakes Kim Dokja to the core as if hearing a True Voice, but it does not carry the same vertigo and pain said experience usually comes with.
When Kim Dokja sweeps his eyes over the quiet room, he realizes each and every one of the constellations have looked to the ceiling as if to stare somewhere beyond it.
[You have earned the temporary rights to create a nebula.]
Kim Dokja does not end up losing the envelope when he returns to the living world. It sits in his pocket patiently. Waiting to be read.
With a quick tear, he opens it and unfolds the letter to find three lines penned elegantly with fine black ink beginning with,
The Fool that does not belong to this era.
Although he has never been into mysticism, he knows tarot cards are used for divination and has long since presumed the fables of the Tarot Club involve the concepts of fate… telling it and, perhaps, escaping it.
Miss Justice’s words… no, her warning rings clear.
A warning for what, he does not know.
With no choice but to accept it, Kim Dokja does what he has always done.
He tucks away the letter.
He straightens his coat.
And he carries on.
It is only when Kim Dokja finds himself lost outside the boundaries of the story he has loved with all his heart, in a desolate space with only the Fourth Wall to keep him company, does he recall that message.