Work Text:
Kim Dokja’s bell rang insistently. Shin Yoosung always visits after school and, although she is not usually this loud, she does that sometimes. Something exciting must have happened. Thinking like that, Kim Dokja opened the door, already grinning.
His smile quickly fell when he saw Shin Yoosung’s terrified face.
“Yoo Mia was- Yoo Mia was kidnapped. I think,” she said in a rush. And she broke down crying.
Kim Dokja got to his knees and grabbed her shoulders. “Shin Yoosung, calm down and tell me what happened, please? What do you mean you think she got kidnapped?”
“She- She- We were walking home…” she managed between hiccups.
“Okay, alright. And?”
“We were with her Oppa-” loud sniff. “And- And suddenly, a man blocked our path. I think I’ve seen him in the News. He started saying something to Yoo Mia’s Oppa, and her Oppa got a weird look in his eyes. It was like he didn’t see us or hear us! And he started following the stranger! And the stranger… He took Yoo Mia with him. Is it kidnapping if her brother is with her…?”
Kim Dokja nodded. “Okay.” He took a deep breath to give himself time to think. “Okay. Do you remember where this happened?”
“No, but… I could take you there, ahjussi.”
The idea of following criminal traces isn't exactly appealing, but what else can he do? Yes, hello, police. I want to report a kidnapping. Where? Um, I’m not sure. Somewhere, surely.
“...Fine. Let’s go.”
Shin Yoosung’s face flashed relief before hardening. She grabbed his hand and started walking.
Shin Yoosoung stopped two blocks away from their apartment building. Kim Dokja phoned the police, told them the street, how it happened, etc. The dispatcher asked if either the man, the kid or both had powers.
“I don’t know. Shin Yoosung, does-?” Shin Yoosung was nowhere to be seen. Kim Dokja cursed under his breath, hung up, and called for her.
Where could she be? Think, Kim Dokja, think. Think like a child kidnapper. The suspicious black alley? Yeah, sounds likely.
The Suspicious Black Alley was, to no one’s surprise, a dead end. The typical Suspicious Black Alley. A backdoor, a dumpster, a tall scary man glaring. Wait.
The man punched Kim Dokja, effectively knocking the air out of his lungs and making him fall back.
Kim Dokja tried to keep calm, but how could he? The attacker was towering over him; the air in the alley wasn't enough; he had a splitting headache.
Kim Dokja, powerless as he was, dreamt daily of getting superpowers. He had read articles about how it felt and what situations led to it. And right now….
His vision flashed and exploded in brightness. Kim Dokja blinked violently.
No, what is this?
Choose wisely!
1. “Bring it on, handsome, terrifying man.”
2. “Let’s talk this out! Please!”
3. “Stop this all at once, sunfish bastard.”
What the actual hell is this?
A bright, sparkly, pink screen appeared in front of his eyes. Beside his attacker floated a bar that ended in a big red heart.
Choose wisely!
“...Stop this all at once, sunfish bastard,” said Kim Dokja dumbly because honestly. What are these options? One is absolutely not an option. Two, Kim Dokja is not going to attempt talking with this bastard. Three, also not good, but the best of the worst.
The man actually dropped his fist. Some light returned to his eyes, and he looked at Kim Dokja in confusion.
“...Sunfish...?”
Hey, I have no idea either, Kim Dokja wanted to say. But what came out of his mouth was: “Yeah, sunfish bastard. Snap out of it! You’re scaring your sister to death!”
The man's glare turns murderous.
“How do you know about my sister? Are you the one that did this to me? Who are you and what are you-”
This time, Kim Dokja talked willingly. “What are you talking about? We’ve been neighbors for years. I teach your sister maths, for crying out loud!”
The man—no, the idiot—stared at Kim Dokja, dumbfounded.
“Ahjussi! Oppa!”
The two men turned around to see a very distressed Yoo Mia running towards them and Shin Yoosung following shortly behind. The latter waved at them while Yoo Mia clashed against her brother in a bone-breaking hug and sobbed into his sweater.
“Are you okay, ahjussi?”
“Shin Yoosung! Where were you? I was terrified!”
“I made a plan!” She declared. “I knew you would look for me if I hid. So I did that, and while you talked to Mia’s Oppa, I rescued her! I entered there,” she pointed at the backdoor, “and got her out! It was very easy.”
“Shin Yoosung, what were you thinking? What if the kidnapper was there?”
Shin Yoosung’s eyes widened as if she didn’t even consider that. “...He wasn’t, though. It’s okay.”
Kim Dokja sighed heavily. Shin Yoosung fidgeted.
“...Are you okay, ahjussi?” She repeated. “It looked like he punched you really hard….”
“I’m okay, Yoosung.” My powers have just kicked in, and they look like a dating sim. I think they are a dating sim. “Don’t worry.”
“Okay…” she bit her lip. “I’ve never seen Mia’s Oppa like that. He’s usually quiet and calm, kind of like a rock.” Kim Dokja snorted. “I think something happened at his work.”
“His work?”
“He’s a hero, ahjussi! Have you never heard of him? He's The Regressor.”
Ah. The pieces fell into place. Yes, that makes a lot of sense. It would explain his neighbor's reclusive nature. And the incident that just took place. The Cinema Master, a somewhat known criminal with mind-controlling powers, had been targeting The Regressor for some time now.
Yoo Mia dried her face on her sleeve and looked up. “Thank you for helping my Oppa, ahjussi.”
The Regressor also looked at him. No,—not look—he scrutinized him. Kim Dokja stood there awkwardly until the weirdo was finished studying him.
Whatever conclusion he reached, it couldn’t be that bad, given that the man slowly nodded and looked at him almost shyly. “Yes, thank you for…” he cleared his throat and frowned. “Don’t let this incident get to the press.”
Kim Dokja nodded. He was about to say his “goodbye”s and “your sister is a good kid, but you shouldn’t talk to me again if you don’t want me to faint or run away. You scare me too much”s when something sparkly and pink assaulted his vision.
1. “What’s your name?”
Seriously? Not even a choice? This thing isn’t even going to pretend it cares about free will…..
“What’s your name? The real one, I mean.”
The Regressor hesitated for a moment, but then his left eyebrow twitched. “Yoo Joonghyuk,” he said with an air of severity.
Kim Dokja hummed, not really knowing how to answer such a solemn introduction. How convenient for the Thing to force him to say something and not give him any instructions for the follow-up. Damn it.
“...What’s yours?”
Kim Dokja blushed. Right, that’s the logical follow-up. “Kim Dokja.”
Yoo Joonghyuk nodded again and turned around. Yoo Mia shouted another goodbye and followed him.
Yoo Joonghyuk looked back one last time and locked eyes with Kim Dokja. And then he was gone.
Yoo Joonghyuk’s affection points have gone up!
…Definitely a dating sim.
The incident did get to the press, somehow. That's usually the case when The Regressor is involved. Still, "Brave citizen saves The Regressor" is an obvious stretch, and Kim Dokja can't even begin to fathom how someone could have come up with it. Demon-like Judge of Fire, the author of the article, is known to write uniquely but come on. Kim Dokja hardly did anything. The paper hints at a possible companionship with The Regressor and makes it look like Kim Dokja is some raising hero.
Jung Heewon called, demanding an explanation, and a hang-out was arranged.
“So-” A wheeze. “Kim Dokja’s long-awaited powers are- Sorry. Freaking wooing powers?!”
Lee Hyunsung couldn’t hold back anymore and joined Jung Heewon's cackling.
Kim Dokja rubbed his temples. Telling them was a terrible idea.
“How do they work?! Wait, wait, use them on Lee Hyunsung.”
Kim Dokja sighed and looked up. He didn’t exactly have a choice on who to use them; both Jung Heewon’s and Lee Hyusung’s… affection meter… was on display.
His eyebrows raised. “Your affections are high already.”
Jung Heewon cracked up again, but Lee Hyunsung’s gaze softened.
“Well, obviously. We’re your friends, Dokja-ssi.”
1. “Marry me.”
2. “O-oh. Thank you, Hyunsung-ssi…” * Blushes *
3. “I don’t believe you. Prove it.”
Is there no God above? Maybe. If there is, they sure enjoy watching Kim Dokja suffer.
“O-oh,” Kim Dokja stammered out. If it wasn’t because he didn’t control what was happening, he would be blushing from the mortification. “Thank you, Hyunsung-ssi.…” and he blushed. Like a nervous teenager confessing their love
The silence was deafening.
Heat crawled to Lee Hyunsung’s face until he looked worse than a tomato, and Jung Heewon was crying from the sheer force of her laugh. Kim Dokja buried his face in his forearms.
“Um, you’re welcome…?” Lee Hyunsung tried. Jung Heewon kept laughing like a mad man.
Kim Dokja groaned in response.
Lee Hyunsung’s affection points are frozen in shock!
“Dokja-ssi. Kim Dokja. You need to use it on me.”
“Heewon-ssi…”
“How does it work? Do I need to initiate a conversation? Let’s see… What do you think of me, Dokja-ssi?” She asked in an overly sweet tone.
1. “Beautiful woman that could kick my ass.”
2. “Hah? Isn’t that too embarrassing to ask…?”
3. “You’re like a sister to me, Heewon-ssi.”
“You’re like a sister to me, Heewon-ssi.”
“Aww, that wasn’t too bad!”
Jung Heewon’s affection points have slightly gone up!
“No, it wasn’t that bad. That’s a first,” muttered Kim Dokja, shocked. And it wasn’t too far from the truth either. That sparked a question in his mind: Where are these answers coming from? Are they an outside force or something buried in Kim Dokja’s subconscious?
“Have you registered yet? Hyunsung and I could help you with the paperwork if you need.”
“It’s not necessary. I’ll-”
An explosion blew up the front part of the bar. Screams broke out, most of the people ran outside. On the other hand, Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung stood up immediately. The famous heroes, The Judge of Evil and The Greatest Shield, would never flee a situation like this.
Kim Dokja took a sip of his drink. Why does he keep stuck in the middle of this kind of thing?
A petite woman stood in front of all the destruction. Her arms were covered in bright black and purple flames that matched the ones eating away the walls, floor, and chairs.
“Ha! Caught you, bastard!” She screamed triumphantly.
“Is that Black Flame Empress?!”
Kim Dokja rolled his eyes at the name.
Black Flame Empress was not someone Kim Dokja wanted to meet. She was arrogant, loud, prone to create more damage than prevent it when stopping crime. A successful shitty-novels writer. And what’s worst of all, a plagiarist.
To Kim Dokja’s misfortune, the woman seemed to be in a chatty mood today. Or she was craving her daily dose of praise. The latter sounds more plausible.
“Jung Heewon, Lee Hyunsung, hey.”
“Han- Oops, Black Flame Empress, what’s going on?”
“Just fighting crime, like usual,” she said proudly. “This guy was using his powers to be a creep.”
Kim Dokja’s mouth acted on its own. Well, not on its own—now he knows how that really feels. It's more accurate to say Kim Dokja’s mouth moved before Kim Dokja could think about it. “And you had to take down half a building to stop him?”
Black Flame Empress snapped her head in his direction, glaring. “Got any problem with my methods?”
1. “Many problems, actually. We should discuss them over dinner.” * Wink *
2. “No. Sorry.”
3. “I’ve got a problem with your whole career, plagiarist.”
“I’ve got a problem with your whole career, plagiarist,” said Kim Dokja with not a small amount of smugness in his voice. Jung Heewon and Hyusung stared alarmed at them.
“Plagiarist?! How dare you!”
“Your novel SSSSS-Grade Infinite Regressor is a blatant copy of Ways of Survival by tls123.”
Black Flame Empress froze. “You know about that novel…?”
Kim Dokja simply scoffed.
They held each other’s gazes. Black Flame Empress looked away first.
“Look, just. Give your phone.”
What?
1. Give her your phone.
No! What the heck? He is not giving-
He reached into his pocket, unlocked his phone, and handed it to her. Black Flame Empress punched in a phone number and returned it to him, all while scowling.
There was a new contact saved as Han Sooyoung.
Han Sooyoung’s affection points have reluctantly gone up!
“We should, uh. We should talk later. Bye.” And she ran away. Then she came back because, in her rush, she had forgotten to take the beaten-up criminal with her. And then she was really gone.
Jung Heewon punched Kim Dokja’s shoulder weakly. “Congrats…?”
Kim Dokja didn’t respond.
The process of getting your power registered was intricate, arduous, and a bit pointless. A waste of time. But Kim Dokja has little better to do, and he isn’t particularly excited about breaking this specific law. So, he goes to the Registration Center.
After fifteen mortifying minutes of trying to explain his power, Kim Dokja is left to wait in some uncomfortable chairs, likely until they figure out how to label it.
He wished he could read something, but the screaming woman would make it difficult to concentrate. She was shouting about… bug deaths. The child beside her was clearly not having it, crying angry tears and clenching his fits tightly.
A member of the staff tried to calm her down and guided her towards one of the offices. The kid stayed.
For some reason, Kim Dokja got up and sat closer to him. A grasshopper jumped on him almost immediately after. Kim Dokja raised his hand to swap it away.
“No! Don’t kill it, please!”
Kim Dokja slowly raised down his hand and looked at the kid. The kid stared back.
1. “Why shouldn’t I?”
2. “Why shouldn’t I? It’s gross.”
3. Stay quiet.
Even with a kid?! At least none of the answers are flirty ones; what a relief. And there’s actually an option to stay quiet. Kim Dokja might have to change his power description, though…
“Why shouldn’t I?”
The kid perked up. “Well, for starters, you shouldn’t kill bugs at all. Bugs are interesting, cool, and misunderstood. And…” he looked down, “it hurts. When people kill a bug I’m connected to, it… hurts.” He gulped. “A lot.”
Oh, it must be the kid's powers. That explains what the woman was shouting about.
“Does your mother know that?”
He shook his head. “No, she’s dead.” Oh. “My aunt does. But she doesn’t believe me! She says that I have to disconnect myself from them, but it’s not that easy! And I don’t want to do that either. I want her to just stop killing them!”
The grasshopper jumped out of Kim Dokja’s knee to… oh no. To the path of an edgy teenager that just had to happen to be walking right towards the goddamned bug. The kid gasped and let out a sound similar to a sob.
Kim Dokja panicked and grabbed the teenager by the arm to stop him.
“Oi, what the hell is your problem, psycho?”
1. “Watch where you walk, chuuni.”
2. “Is your bleached hair a fashion statement or…?”
3. “Hey, respect your elders.”
“What where you walk, chuuni.”
The teenager’s cheek went red. Good to know there are wrong options too!
“Fuck off! I’ve had enough of idiots like you! Every! Damn! Time! I literally don't know you. You don't know me. It looks badass, alright? But everyone’s like ‘Oh, you look like an edgelord….’ ‘Kim Namwoon, what the hell did you do to your hair….’ ‘Grow up; you're too old to be going through a phase….’ Well, you know what? Fuck you! Fuck you, Lee Jihye. You literally know nothing about fashion. You wear sweatpants every day.”
Kim Dokja and the bug-kid shared a glance.
“And, like, I hate Biology!” Oh God, the edgy-kid was far too gone on his rambling. “It’s such a stupid subject! Why would I even need to learn about cells or whatever? I want to be a mechanic, not a scientist!”
Kim Dokja and the bug-child scurried away.
Kim Namwoon’s affection points are too focused on other things to care about you!
“Did you use your powers on him? Like you did to me?” The boy asked when they were far enough.
Kim Dokja tensed. “How did you know?”
“When you talked to me, I kind of felt like I really wanted to give you an answer. Nothing specific, just let you know that I heard you and wanted to chat. And that boy didn’t look like he wanted to talk until you spoke to him.”
What a sharp kid. “I didn’t know it forced people to answer,” Kim Dokja said truthfully.
“It was very subtle. And I did want to answer.”
Did he? Or did Kim Dokja’s powers make the poor child think he wanted?
“Kim Dokja-ssi?” A young woman spoke. “I’m the one in charge of your registration. I was looking for you.”
“Ah, sorry.”
“It’s okay; I just need you to answer a few last questions. One: Have you felt unwell in any way since you’ve received your powers?”
“Not at all.”
“Two: Do you think your powers might put yourself or others in danger?”
“Uh…. Aside from some embarrassing small talks, not really. Probably not.”
The woman blushed lightly. “Um, three: Would you like to get a hero permit? Sorry, this one isn't mandatory. I recognized you from the news and thought-”
“He would like a permit,” the kid interrupted.
Kim Dokja stared at him. “What? Absolutely not. Why?”
“You would make a great hero, hyung! You saved my grasshopper just now!”
No, that’s not how it works. Definitely not how it works.
“I’m not really-”
“Pleeeease, hyung! It would be so cool!”
“Kim Dokja-ssi, you could take the permit and not use it. It’s basically a piece of paper that says you can arrest people. Wait, now that I say it out loud, is that a good decision? Like, how did the government approve this? It makes no sense! What does this actually mean for the police-” Yeah, Kim Dokja stopped listening.
The kid tugged at Kim Dokja’s sleeve and stared at him with hopeful eyes. Kim Dokja sighed.
“Right, yes. I want the permit.”
The woman nodded absently and mumbled, “What would your hero name be?”
It doesn’t really matter, does it? Not like he is going to use it. It’s only to make the kid happy.
“Kim Dokja.” Still, it would be better if he had a better name.
“Is that your real name?” Kim Dokja nodded. “Mine’s Lee Gilyoung.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Lee Gilyoung.”
Lee Gilyoung grinned brightly.
Lee Gilyoung’s affection points have skyrocketed!
Kim Dokja couldn’t help but feel sympathetic towards Yoo Joonghyuk. The man deprived himself of having a normal life. His real identity was known by anyone with access to the internet. It was a miracle he had managed to keep his sister out of the press’ eyes for so long.
Kim Dokja liked doing little things with Yoo Joonghyuk. Things like staying at his apartment after tutoring Shin Yoosoung and Yoo Mia or going out with him to get groceries. He suspected Yoo Joonghyuk liked doing those small things too. They gave him a sense of normality that he so desperately missed
That was until Nirvana Moebius had to ruin it by attacking Yoo Joonghyuk while the two of them were walking in the park.
Yoo Joonghyuk had once confessed to Kim Dokja that he was as good as useless against mind-controlling powers. His own powers showed every possible result of any choice he made. That way, he could prevent saying the wrong thing or making a foolish immediate mistake. Against mind-controlling powers, if Yoo Joonghyuk tried to see ahead, he would only accelerate the process. His best option was to flee, but The Regressor couldn’t do that.
Now, Yoo Joonghyuk was shaking on the floor, overwhelmed with the negative emotions Nirvana had decided to give him. Nirvana’s laugh was deafening.
A familiar screen appeared in front of Kim Dokja’s eyes, but it was different than usual.
You need to buy enough time for Yoo Joonghyuk to break out of Nirvana’s control, and you need to distract Nirvana. Choose wisely.
1. Offer yourself.
2. Scream for help.
3. “Why are you so obsessed with Yoo Joonghyuk?”
Kim Dokja bit his lip. Right, right. Think.
His first instinct is to choose option one, but he needs to be more sensible. Why would Nirvana take up his offer? Nirvana’s crimes are exclusively related to Yoo Joonghyuk. Kim Dokja’s selfless act won’t be anything but stupid. And screaming for help will only get them both killed.
When you talked to me, I kind of felt like I really wanted to give you an answer.
Maybe it could work…?
“Why are you so obsessed with Yoo Joonghyuk?” Kim Dokja asked. His voice didn’t reveal his feelings; it couldn't.
Nirvana’s laugh abruptly stopped. Yoo Joonghyuk let out something keen to a gasp.
“I….” Nirvana stared at Kim Dokja, aghast. “He’s the only one who can understand me. My power allows me to control other’s people emotions, but it also makes me feel them. It’s so… overwhelming. So when I saw Yoo Joonghyuk in an interview explaining his power, I thought: ‘He must get it. He must feel the same way.' How could he not? Overloaded with all those visions…. And I was overjoyed! I knew I had to talk to him, show him how compatible we are!” Nirvana’s expression switched from delighted bliss to murderous. “And he rejected me. He doesn’t see it, doesn’t understand how alike we are. So I’m showing him. Right now, he is feeling it. Feeling how overwhelming it all is. So he’ll see that it’s just like what he feels!”
Nirvana stopped talking and stared at Kim Dokja once more. His face was blank when he snapped his fingers and broke Yoo Joonghyuk free.
“Or,” he started, still staring at Kim Dokja, “that’s what I used to think. I thought we were destined for each other, but you…” he stepped closer. “What did you just do? Is that your power? My mind went silent. I couldn’t feel everything. I felt only me and the want to answer you. How did you do that?”
Yoo Joonghyuk put a hand on Kim Dokja’s shoulder to steady himself. Nirvana shot him an irritated look before returning to stare at Kim Dokja.
“What is your name?”
“I’m… not going to tell you.” Nirvana’s face started to morph, so Kim Dokja quickly amended, “But-! But I can… um, I can-”
1. Grab Yoo Joonghyuk and run away.
2. Give him your phone number.
“...Give you my phone number.”
“What.” “Really?! You would do that?!”
Kim Dokja nodded. “If it gets too much, I could… talk to you. To clear your mind. Just stop stalking Yoo Joonghyuk. And me. Please.”
Nirvana let out a joyful squeak and fumbled to get his phone out. Yoo Joonghyuk stared at him like Kim Dokja had grown another head.
“This is a chance to get him to stop doing actual crime,” Kim Dokja whispered. “Or stop him from going madder at least.”
Yoo Joonghyuk’s confused stare didn’t go away.
Nirvana Moebius’ affection points have gone crazy up! (Like, crazy up. Seriously).
With Nirvana gone, the people that had been watching the scene got closer. Soon enough, Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja were surrounded by a mass of fans.
What came as a surprise was that some of the fans were Kim Dokja’s. A young boy attached himself to Kim Dokja's side and smiled into his phone. He raised it so the both of them could be seen on screen.
“Hey, everyone!” Oh, he was live-streaming. Great. “I'm here with The Regressor and his enigmatic companion!” He looked at Kim Dokja. “You stopped Nirvana, right? It looked like he was gone for good! He turned into a schoolgirl with a crush after you talked to him. What’s your hero name?”
Kim Dokja tried to step away subtly. “I don’t have one. I’m not a hero.”
“So you’re saying you were doing vigilant-like activities without a permit?! You were clearly using your power on him—that’s illegal. You could get arrested, you know.”
The boy smirked. Kim Dokja frowned.
“I do have a permit.”
“So you have a hero name!”
He sighed. “...Kim Dokja.”
The boy's smirk turned into a triumphant grin and turned back to the camera. “There you have it! Our mysterious brave citizen is not a citizen. The hero name of the man who managed to steal more than two hearts already,” he suggestively wriggled his eyebrows, “is Kim Dokja!”
Yoo Joonghyuk stared at Kim Dokja, a small smile forming on his face. “Your hero name is… Kim Dokja?”
“Shut up.”
Snippets of interviews with famous heroes about the new rising hero, Kim Dokja.
Jung Heewon
“So, before we finish. Judge of Evil, what do you think of Kim Dokja? He’s been quite popular since Demon-like Judge of Fire published that article. And even more so since that incident with Nirvana and The Regressor.”
“Oh, great guy.”
The interviewer’s eyes widened. “Oh? You know him personally?”
“Yeah, for some years now,” Jung Heewon answered lightly. “He made me a favor and, well, I owed him. We kept talking over the years. My fiancé, him, and I go for drinks from time to time. It was super fun when he got his power.”
“Ah, could you tell us a bit more about that? It’s not clear to the general public how his powers work.”
“He….” Jung Heeown thought for a few seconds before bursting into laughter.
They finished the interview because Jung Heewon couldn’t calm down.
Lee Hyunsung
“Greatest Shield, your fiancé mentioned that you two are friends with Kim Dokja?”
Lee Hyunsung smiled pleasantly. “Dokja-ssi is a very nice person. He is always trying to help Heewon and me in any way he can. I’m glad to call him my friend.”
“Can you tell us something more about him? Nothing too private, of course. How did he become a hero?”
“Ah…. It was an accident, I think?”
“Sorry?”
“Yeah, he… isn’t fully sure either.”
Han Sooyoung
“Black Flame Empress, if you don’t me asking, what’s your relationship with Kim Dokja? You’re always bantering on social media, and it’s brought some questions between fans.”
“He is a total moron.”
“Oh! Um. Why-?”
“An enormous idiot. The biggest and unfunniest clown in the whole circus.”
“Uh…”
Han Sooyoung stared directly into the camera.
“Kim Dokja, I know you’re watching this.” She smirked. “Watch me call you an idiot on TV.”
“Black Flame Empress-”
The sound of a notification rang. Han Sooyoung took out her phone and laughed loudly.
“...Is that him?” Asked the interviewer helplessly.
“Yeah. He says: ‘You witch. I won't be merciful the next time you send me one of your horrendous drafts’."
“Is he your editor then?”
“He is editing and beta-reading my next novel. It'll be about….”
Yoo Sangah
“Moonlight Empress, what do you think about the rising hero, Kim Dokja? His pacifist methods are very similar to yours.”
“Oh! I'm not sure if he'd remember, but we used to work together in Minosoft, before I became a hero. He helped me out more than once, and we chatted every now and then.”
“We’ve been trying to get an interview with him for months. Did you two remain in contact after leaving your workplace?”
“No, but I would love to get in touch again. He was the only coworker I liked.”
“Were you two…?”
Yoo Sangah blushed and waved her hands. “No, no, nothing like that! Not then, and not now. And isn’t he in a relationship with The Regressor?”
“That's what people say!”
Lee Jihye
“-And my lastest training session, Dokja-ahjussi joined! He helped me with-”
“Wait, wait, wait. Kim Dokja, the hero, was on your training sessions with The Regressor?!”
“Uh, yeah! I think he was picking up Master for a date.”
The interviewer leaned in like she was hearing the juiciest gossip. “Are you confirming the relationship between Kim Dokja and The Regressor?!”
Lee Jihye covered her mouth when she realised what she had said. “Um, no? They don’t- I’m not sure if they are in a relationship. They, ah, they are certainly companions.”
“Companions?”
“Yep. Companions.”
They stared at each other.
“Master is so going to kill me.”
Yoo Joonghyuk
“What do you think about Kim Dokja?
Yoo Joonghyuk’s jaw tensed. “He’s… efficient.”
“Efficient?”
Yoo Joonghyuk nodded. “He stops villains quickly and without causing destruction.”
“He has saved you two times, that we know of. How did he do it? Did it affect your relationship anyhow?”
“The first time, he used his powers to snap me out of The Cinema Master’s control. The second time, he… convinced Nirvana to free me. I can’t tell you much about the second time. I wasn’t fully conscious.” He pointedly ignored the question about their relationship.
“Do you know how his powers work exactly?”
“No.”
“...Alright. So, the rumors about your relationship-”
“No.”
“But-”
“I’m not answering those kinds of questions. Kim Dokja is my companion. That’s all there’s to say.”
The interviewer stared. “...Right. I guess that wraps it up then! See you, everyone! Hopefully, we’ll be interviewing Kim Dokja himself next time!”
“You won’t. He does not like interviews.”
“...Or guess we won’t.”