Archive of Our Own

There was, evidently, a dress code. A dress code that was apparently shared over ten times in a supposed company group chat, that supposedly included everyone who worked in Minosoft. Kim Dokja stares blearily at the cleaning lady who works in their building, decked out in the tightest neon yellow shirt and yoga pants, laughing hysterically and pinching the cheeks of someone from the sales department. 

“Kim Dokja-ssi,” A soft voice murmurs. “Do you perhaps have a change of clothes? Or maybe I can ask around for some leftover event shirts? Though I can't really guarantee the quality…”

Kim Dokja forces a smile and shakes his head. He turns to Yoo Sangah with a casual shrug. “I'm sure I'll survive with what I have on.”

Yoo Sangah casts a fallen look at his complete suit, shirt, and tie combo. “I'm so sorry Kim Dokja-ssi, I really thought we blasted the dress code to everyone, I should've gone around and made sure!”

Kim Dokja opens his mouth to reassure her, only for a familiar chortle to interrupt. “Yoo Sangah-ssi, I don't see why you even bother. Clearly, he's the only one who didn't get the memo. Ergo, the fault is with him, not your pretty little self.”

Han Myugoh steps forward, forcing his feet in between the space of him and Yoo Sangah, nudging Kim Dokja’s shoes away with his. Kim Dokja raises an eyebrow at his neon pink-lined jogging shoes, clearly in theme with his team's dress code. Right- their team's dress code. Yoo Sangah warily steps aside, brushing some non-existent dust off her own pink shirt. 

“Well…I suppose if Kim Dokja-ssi takes off his tie and jacket, we can make it work. Thankfully, everything is indoors for today.” Yoo Sangah gestures towards their rented team building area for the day. Judging by how many children are still running around, dragging their exhausted parents all over the place, it's clear Finance didn't exactly fork over the budget to rent it as a whole. Obviously, they've skimped the budget, as if they didn't just have a record-breaking sales achievement this year. 

“Sure.” Kim Dokja says, wishing it all to be over as quickly as possible. Some sadistic fuck (Read: HR) had the brilliant idea to set up a team building event in the middle of the week, right after a big live update of their games. He hadn't even gone home to shower from staying up all night yesterday, and barely had time to wash his face in the bathroom before being dragged up to the venue. 

Han Myugoh scoffs, droning on and on about teamwork and participation and would it kill you to be more active Kim Dokja? Why yes actually, it would kill him. Kim Dokja’s blood is running entirely on coffee and coffee. If someone gutted him right now, he'd bleed americano. 

Within a few minutes, the lagging crowd of people finally decides to arrive at the venue. Two additional people run up to them, wearing equally eye-assaulting bright pink, and by now Kim Dokja finally realizes their grand scheme. Four men, and one Yoo Sangah. These assholes somehow manipulated the divided teams to hoard over Yoo Sangah. And judging by Yoo Sangah’s confusion, someone in her department must've made some last-minute changes behind her back.

“Wow Yoo Sangah-ssi I can't believe it!” Guy Who Kim Dokja Can't Be Bothered Remembering the Name Of laughs, sneaking an arm over Yoo Sangah’s shoulders. “What are the odds! I can't believe we're in the same team!”

“Probably 1 to 15?” Kim Dokja mumbles under his breath. 

Yoo Sangah glances at him with a small quirk on her lips, deftly stepping away from the one-way arm hug. “I can hardly believe it either. I'm pretty sure this wasn't the team we previously arranged.”

Han Myugoh’s eyes twitch behind his half-rimmed glasses. “I didn't take you to be someone who fusses about small details Yoo Sangah-ssi. I mean if you think about it, you have a much bigger chance of winning this whole thing now. Just leave it all to us four…well…” He casts a withering look at Kim Dokja and rolls his eyes. “Three gentlemen here, and you can sit your pretty self down to the side and enjoy the massacre.”

Kim Dokja snorts. Massacre? Yeah right. As if someone who drives a Mercedes-Benz to work everyday could ever have half the lower body strength an average train commuter has. 

“Something funny Kim Dokja?” Han Myugoh sneers. 

“No! Not at all!” A familiar voice cuts in. “You know how he is Han Myugoh. He daydreams and giggles about webnovels all day.”

“Deputy Yoon?” Kim Dokja blinks, finally realizing the other man behind Yep Still Don't Know His Name was QA’s very own Deputy Manager. Kim Dokja’s relief at seeing a familiar face was short lived as Han Myugoh’s sneer deepened.

“That's Manager Han to you. And that's exactly my point with you lab rats. All you do is hunch back on your computers, going tippy tap on those noisy keyboards of yours. Your subordinate Kim Dokja here is a prime example,” Han Myugoh gestures wildly, as if auctioning off one Kim Dokja to the world for all to mock. “It's one thing to do a rat job. Does he have to act like one too? Everytime I look at him he's clutching his phone in a corner, muttering to himself like he's munching on a piece of cheese he found on the floor.”

Deputy Yoon’s eyes twitch. Lab rat was a bit of a sore spot for him. Everyone in QA barely blinks at the nickname by now. And to be honest, Kim Dokja does think it's quite fitting, at least for him. Any chance he gets to steal company time to read another sentence of Ways Of Survival is a win in his book, even if he has to scurry to the rooftop or slip away while everyone takes a smoke break. 

“I mean, isn't it too much to bash on a fellow employee like this?” Deputy Yoon says out of his gritting teeth. “Kim Dokja-ssi might not be the most… social , but he's quite sharp! He catches more bugs out of everyone in the QA department!”

“Bugs?” Han Myugoh mutters.

“I mean just the other day Kim Dokja-ssi found this infinite exp glitch that would've set us back on booster pack sales by-”

Han Myugoh raises a hand in front of Deputy Yoon and clenches it. Deputy Yoon instinctively closes his mouth, only to open it again in protest, a slight tinge of red on his cheeks, embarrassed that he fell for it. 

“Alright stop your blubbering, you're bothering Sangah-ssi!”

Yoo Sangah points to herself in confusion, “No, not at-”

“Fine, if you think your subordinate here is such a hot shot, I say we let Kim Dokja here handle all the games today.”

“What?!” Kim Dokja screams out involuntarily.  Everyone in the group jumps, staring at him in bewilderment. Even Yoo Sangah seems startled at his new volume setting. 

She shakes her head, waving her hands in disagreement. “Manager Han, Kim Dokja-ssi doesn't even have a change of clothes. And the whole point of today's outing is to build team work, not-”

Han Myugoh flaps his hand in front of Yoo Sangah’s face like a dead fish. “Look Yoo Sangah-ssi, let me teach you a new concept here as your senior . People like Kim Dokja here need to be pushed into things. Minosoft doesn’t need just another employee who does his job. We need people we can work with.”

“No but this defeats our team building event entirely!”

“I'm not building a team. I'm building the minds of the rotten younger generation,” Han Myugoh taps his head with a smirk, then turns to Deputy Yoon and taps his head with the same finger. “I'll be kind and show you the ropes. You know, Manager to Deputy and all.”

Deputy Yoon seets. If looks could kill…well Kim Dokja hopes someone would just look at him then. 

“Fine,” Deputy Yoon forces a smile on his face, twitching ever so slightly. “Thank you for your overwhelming support Manager Han.”

With a snort, Han Myugoh turns his back on everyone, making his way to where the executives were hanging back. Nameless Guy seemed to sense the awkwardness in the air and excused himself, scurrying away to where a bunch of red and green shirt employees were gathering. 

“Uh testing testing, can everyone hear me?” The speakers around them blares a sing-songy voice, coupled with impatient taps to the mic. “Hello employees of…uh…”

Kim Dokja reluctantly moves closer to the crowd at Yoo Sangah’s encouragement. 

“How do you read this?” The speaker upfront mumbles under his breath. He seems to be a teenager with heavy eye bags under his eyes. From where he's standing, Kim Dokja could've sworn his eyes were blood red. But when he whips his head up to address the crowd the illusion dissipates and reveals normal black irises. 

Nestled on the speaker's head are a pair of headbands with yellow horns sticking out of it, and white fluffy puffs. 

Someone beside the speaker mumbles under their breath. “It's Minosoft Bihyung! You know, like Micr*s*ft!”

“The hell? What kind of cocky asshole named his company after-“ Bihyung catches himself, hastily covering his mic. “Uh I mean, Welcome! Welcome Minosoft employees to your annual team building event! I'm your host for today Bihyung! And beside me are the loveable dokkaebis of our very own Dokkaebi Super Star Park!”

The employees-that is the so called dokkaebis erupts into cheers and claps, and starts introducing themselves one by one. Kim Dokja tunes them out and opts instead to walk over to Deputy Yoon. 

“Sir.”

“Oh Dokja!” Deputy Yoon smiles, slinging his arm around his shoulders. “There you are. How are you feeling?”

Kim Dokja throws him a withering glare. “Awful. Nauseous. Why would you agree to the crap Han Myugoh was saying? Sir.” Kim Dokja mumbles the last part like an afterthought. 

“Come on, how many chances in life do you think we have to wipe that stupid smirk off his face? Just get in there and win us a few games!”

Deputy Yoon circles behind him and puts both hands on his shoulder, massaging it like Kim Dokja’s getting ready to bash people's head in a boxing ring. 

Kim Dokja sighs and shakes his head, fully resigned to making a fool out of himself today. 

Bihyung starts assigning the dokkaebis to each group of color. He finally gets to the end of the rainbow list and a half, before saying, “Pink? Can everyone in the pink group please raise your hand?”

Five individual hands shoot up, and Bihyung asks them to gather at an empty spot. 

“Okay, I'm sure I don't need to introduce myself, but you sure lucked out in having me as a guide! I know all the hacks on these old machines.” Bihyung says smugly. “Now then, today you'll be versing the lime green team. The team that gets the most points wins, and after the final tally will be crowned the king of dokkaebis!”

Yoo Sangah politely claps. 

“Alright, lime green? Show of hands lime green!” Bihyung shouts. 

Yoo Sangah glances around with a frown. “Lime green…I'm pretty sure that's…”

“Ah! There you are!” Bihyung tuts, waving people over. “Why are you all grouped in the corner like that?”

Kim Dokja turns around following Bihyung’s hand, and nearly pops his eyes out at the sight in front of him. “Wha-”

Yoo Sangah snaps her fingers. “I knew it! Lime green was the e-sports team!”

A group of five people walks towards them, each of them wearing the Murim team jacket over their normal clothes. Splayed on the back of their jackets were numerous company logos, with Minosoft being the largest.

A high school-aged girl with a high ponytail and white hat sprints forward in front of the group with a huge grin. “Master! Me and Kim Namwoon are gonna bet who's going to win more games! Can you think of a reward?”

The girl’s master raises a single thin and dark eyebrow, seemingly drawn by a single, uninterrupted stroke of a famed artist’s brush. His perfectly angled nose twitches and a slight dimple appears on his cheeks. It was as if two flower petals were gifted to a human and twined by a goddess into a pair of lips as it quirk upwards. A pair of deep eyes, like two beautiful jewels shone with mirth and bemusement. If anyone in the immediate 10 meter radius of this man did not immediately get lost tracing the curls of his hair, then there must be something wrong with that person.

“Is there a chance of you losing?”

“Oh come on!” A white hair boy whines from behind. “I’m a guy! She’s a girl! I ain't losing on anything strength based.”

“Oh so that wasn’t you this morning struggling to open a bottle of soda?” A tall woman with a white collar shirt hums nonchalantly. 

The white hair boy sputters and slumps over himself. “I have weak hands in the morning! Everybody knows that!”

A small pop echoes from behind him, and a short-haired woman with a purple hoodie smacks the white hair boy on the back. “We don't need a play by play of you jacking off dumbass.”

“NO?? IT'S WEAK FROM HOLDING THE MOUSE ALL DAY CRAPPY MANAGER!”

“Shush.” The woman clamps a hand over his mouth as the group comes to a stop in front of them.

Yoo Sangah immediately steps up with a smile. “Team Murim, it's an honor to have you here today. I'm Yoo Sangah, HR officer.”

The short haired woman slowly hangs a lollipop in her mouth, freeing her hand for a handshake. She looks at Yoo Sangah up and down, then up and down once more. “Hm. I remember your passive-aggressive email. The one who insisted we came. Nice job name-dropping our CEO.”

Yoo Sangah laughs, returning the firm handshake. “Thank you Han Sooyoung-ssi.”

The rest of the group somehow naturally fell into one line, shaking each other's hands like they were opposing baseball teams. 

Han Myugoh gives the white haired boy offering out his right hand a withered look. “Han Myugoh, Finance Department Head. I…don't believe in handshakes, so let's skip that.”

“Jung Heewon-ssi!” Deputy Yoon smiles, shaking the woman's hand vigorously. “I can't believe I finally get to meet you in person! Thank you so much for your help in the beta testing of the archangel class.”

“Nah don't mention it. It was either that or being spammed broken class for the whole season.” Jung Heewon grins. 

Kim Dokja gives a weak handshake and an even weaker smile to each Murim member. Han Sooyoung’s hand were kind of sticky, and he couldn't hide his wrinkled nose at the sensation in time. He could've sworn the woman smirked from underneath her hoodie. 

Jung Heewon was a firm handshaker. The white haired boy-Kim Namwoon barely placed his hand on Kim Dokja’s. Lee Jihye-the high school girl gives flitting looks between him and her master, before nodding once. Kim Dokja can’t help but feel he's been judged and thoroughly beaten in a mental beauty contest. 

And then finally, he steps up in front of him.

“Yoo Joonghyuk.” His voice is deep, soothing but carries with it a hint of sharpness. His hands are rough, calloused, the kind that's been through the wringer of house work. 

And Kim Dokja, stupidly says, “I know.”

An awkward silence ensues between them. Yoo Joonghyuk narrows his dark eyes in suspicion. 

“I-I mean, uh…I've seen you. Before. That's…that's how I know…” Kim Dokja trails off, wishing the ground would collapse underneath him.

“Where?” He asks. And here Kim Dokja thought people who ask one worded question only exist in web novels.

“Uh…you know…here and there…”

Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes narrow even further, and the hand gripping his becomes tighter and tighter. 

“Where?” He demands. 

“Oh would you knock it off?” Han Sooyoung snipes. “Newsflash grandpa, you're actually famous. Now let him go before you're sued for sexual harassment.”

Yoo Joonghyuk lets out a small tsk before finally releasing his hands from a death grip. Kim Dokja rubs it with his other hand, like a stray dog whose tail just got stepped on. 

Yoo Joonghyuk throws him one last look and says, “Kim Dokja.”

Kim Dokja’s mouth falls open in bewilderment. “How did you-”

Yoo Joonghyuk grabs the plastic name tag apparently still around his neck roughly, nearly making Kim Dokja trip into the man. 

Yoo Joonghyuk stares at his name tag, then back to his face, and scoffs. “Lay off the filters next time.”

Kim Dokja lets out a, “???” as the man turns around and falls back with his team without so much as another glance. 

“Filter?” Yoo Sangah mutters under her breath. “But there was no filter for picture day…”

“Alright alright now that everyone has met everyone, let me explain today's games!” Bihyung clears his throat, before gesturing to the venue in front of them. “Welcome once again to Dokkaebi Super Star Park! As I mentioned, today you pinkies will be versing the greenies in a six round game. We've got everything from physical to mental games.”

Bihyung holds up a sheet of colorful stickers. “Everytime you lose, you get punished by the Dokkaebi King’s talismans! The winner can stick it anywhere they want, and you can't remove it until the end of the game.”

Kim Dokja, still reeling from his interaction with Yoo Joonghyuk, barely even registers anything as they get arranged into one long line, a wristband strapped to their wrist, and the staff handing out socks for them to wear inside the area. 

He stares at the socks. It had a puff of furry white at the toes, and a small printed yellow horn. He feels Yoo Sangah herding him to the shoe locker, and he stiffly changes into the sock. 

“You seem very…affected with what Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi said earlier,” Yoo Sangah murmurs as Han Myugoh loudly proclaims to a random park staff to keep his custom Italian leather shoe safe or else there will be consequences . “Or well…I guess he didn't exactly say much.”

“If looks could kill…” Kim Dokja sighs. 

“Do you mind me asking if there's…a backstory?” Yoo Sangah whispers, barely containing the curiosity in her eyes. They were both crouched down in front of the lockers, most of the upper cabinets already taken over by everyone else.

“It's really not that interesting,” Kim Dokja whispers back. “Just…do you know how Team Murim streams every so often?”

“Oh yes, I hear it rakes up quite the ad revenue.”

“Well…I uh. Watch Yoo Joonghyuk’s streams…a lot.” Kim Dokja rubs his face tiredly. “That's why I blurted out his name earlier.”

“Oh! Then you're a fan! How wonderful.” Yoo Sangah smiles, though it quickly turns into a small frown once more. “No but why did he react so badly just from that? Is he the type to hate eager fans?”

“Fan is…stretching it, but I think he just has a bad personality,” Kim Dokja clears his throat. “Though coming from me that might be a little funny to you.”

“Well if you're not watching him as a fan then why are you watching his streams?”

“Obviously, for his good looks.” A feminine voice, something Kim Dokja can’t possibly produce, whispers back. Both him and Yoo Sangah gasp and whirls around as Han Sooyoung reveals herself to be squatting behind them, licking her lollipop with a shit eating grin.

Kim Dokja puts a hand over his beating heart and barely manages to whisper-shout, “It's really not like that!”

“It's not? So that wasn't you eye fucking him all the way from the entrance of the park?” Han Sooyoung hums. “Do they let twins work in the same company these days?”

“Depends on company policy…” Yoo Sangah says absent mindedly, still reeling from the jump scare.

“There was no eye fucking happening!” Kim Dokja lies, like the liar he is. 

“No you're right, fucking actually requires at least two people,” Han Sooyoung snickers. “That guy seems determined to have a personal vengeance with you.”

“That's what I've been trying to figure out, Sooyoung-ssi.” Yoo Sangah leans in, putting her hand on Han Sooyoung’s knee. “Do you have any idea why he reacted so badly?”

Han Sooyoung stares at her, then down to the encroaching hand, and scoffs. “Hate to disappoint you missy, but I know all your tactics by now. Batting your pretty eyelashes at me ain't gonna work.”

But you're not pulling away? 

“But you know what, I'll be kind and tell you anyway,” Han Sooyoung slings her arms around both their necks and forcibly pulls them closer. “Truth is…he's been having a really bad stalker problem these past few months.”

“Oh my…is it a deranged fan?”

“Deranged doesn't even cover it. He camps out of our apartment complex. He's made at least a hundred accounts to comment on streams. One of our mods even quit out of frustration. And worse of all, he once came to his little sister's school.”

“That's crazy!” Yoo Sangah gasps.

“That's surprising,” Kim Dokja mumbles. “Yoo Joonghyuk never talks about his personal life, much else his family.”

Both women give him an odd but knowing look. 

“And how do you know that?” Han Sooyoung snipes, grabbing the back of his head with a fistful of hair, giving it a little shake. 

“I-I told you I watch his streams!” Kim Dokja struggles in vain.

“All of them? Twice a week, each stream at least eight hours, for the last three years?”

“I-”

“Han Sooyoung-ssi, please let him go,” Yoo Sangah insists, swatting her hand away. “I'm sure he's already quite ashamed. No need to give him a bald patch too.”

Han Sooyoung sighs, finally releasing her grip, one finger at a time. “Fine fine, can't have him going on socials later and saying I assaulted him.”

“I'm sure he won't do that,” Yoo Sangah assures, turning to him with a smile. “Right Kim Dokja-ssi? Now please, continue with the story!”

Kim Dokja sighs, brushing down his hair and holding back a single tear as he finds a few strands cupped in his palm. 

“Anyway…the loser’s right. Yoo Joonghyuk, that bastard, is really careful about his private life. He never mentions friends, families, even where he had his lunch. He even hides his take out boxes when he eats on stream. So the fact that this stalker even knew he had a sister was crazy. The guy barely even uses his real name.”

“Ah I see, that's why he reacted very badly to Kim Dokja-ssi knowing his name.” Yoo Sangah claps once, as if they were in an episode of Detective C*nan and a complicated case was solved. “Is his name really that obscure though? He is a public figure after all.”

“As far as I know, his name was let slip once by some trashy magazine years ago. Fuckers went as far as to interview his teachers and leaked his personal info.” Han Sooyoung sneers. “They went under not long after. A rising pro player got a scathing article written about him, and he sued the hell out of them.”

“The court issued all prints to be retracted, but some were sold from a pre-order. I'd say less than a thousand copies were left from that whole debacle.”

“Don't tell me…” Yoo Sangah stares at him in awe. 

Kim Dokja coughs, suddenly finding the dokkaebi socks very interesting.

“Damn really? You actually bought that shady magazine?” Han Sooyoung balked. “You…you really are his fan aren't you?”

“I'm not a fan,” Kim Dokja dismisses, standing up and brushing off non existent dirt off his pants suit. “I'm a professional hater.”

“Hah?” Han Sooyoung gapes.

“What do you mean Kim Dokja-ssi?” Yoo Sangah calls out. 

But Kim Dokja turns a deaf ear, and rushes into the play area. Of course, his weak corporate slave legs fail him in the most impromptu moment, and he trips over the sleek floor. He clenches his eyes shut, bracing his hand, waiting for that familiar pain, when instead he feels something much softer and warmer than the cool floor hit him.

Kim Dokja gives an involuntary squeeze, before he's yanked by both wrists. His head snaps up, and meets two pools of furious obsidian. 

“Kim Dokja.” Yoo Joonghyuk hisses with all the vitriol possibly produced by a human. “Are you trying to get reported for sexual harassment?”

Oh now he's a little pissed. So maybe Kim Dokja shouldn't have squeezed his perfectly sculpted pecs. So what? It was an accident dammit. Kim Dokja wasn't some kind of subway pervert who intentionally pressed his body to other passengers, making excuses about the crowded space just to cop a feel! 

“Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi.” Kim Dokja repeats in the same tone. “Are you purposely being obtuse?”

Yoo Joonghyuk’s hand tightens around his wrists, and Kim Dokja does not whimper in pain. 

“Hah!” The pro gamer scoffs, before suddenly letting go, leaving Kim Dokja disoriented and falling on his ass with a pathetic “oof”. Yoo Joonghyuk looks down at him in disgust, crossing his arms as if shielding his chest from Kim Dokja’s view. “You're all the same. Coincidence? Fate? You label it anything other than malicious intent.”

Whispers break all around them as his co-workers watch on, looking at him with a mix of pity and suspicion. What's new, eh? 

Kim Dokja sighs, standing back up with as much dignity one can muster with fluffy socks on. Yoo Joonghyuk gives him a wide berth as he passes by, but Kim Dokja stops in front of him all the same, tilting his head to whisper low enough that only the pro gamer would hear. 

“Normally I'd say don't judge a book by its cover…or in this case, by its synopsis…but that would be a little useless on someone who skips every dialogue of every game he's played.”

Kim Dokja doesn't look back. As soon as he throws the last word, he walks calmly and coolly (read: sprints) to where Han Myugoh and Deputy Yoon are already standing by. He vaguely hears Yoo Joonghyuk make a confused grunt behind him, but Kim Dokja’s head is already on full overdrive.

-

Yoo Joonghyuk skipping dialogue and stories was a notorious trait all his fans knew. His defense was that it's called a game, not a story book . He was also known for his controversial takes in rating story rich games low, claiming the gameplay was fluff compared to the supposed rich story. It wasn't rare for his chat to argue extensively with him throughout the stream, defending their favorite game like no tomorrow. 

Most had given up after ten minutes of arguing with that damn sunfish. Yoo Joonghyuk’s deadpan expression, flat voice, and factual comeback was enough to deter people from arguing further. Most people, of course, were normal well adjusted members of society who had better things to do than argue with a literal pro gamer, leaps beyond their tax bracket.

Most people however, were not Kim Dokja, who for at least half of his miserable twenty eight years alive, has spent it arguing on the internet, defending trashy web novel after trashy web novel. Once, Kim Dokja stayed up until three a.m typing away on his phone, making a thirty level thread of comments, defending the story’s sudden appearance of an op deus ex machina weapon. The comments were up in arms about the author being lazy and wanting to wrap up the arc sloppily. Kim Dokja would have them know, said weapon has been mentioned twice already in passing. Once in chapter 35 as the protagonist goes through a supposed filler arc in a hot spring, and once more in chapter 267 as an anagram, if anyone bothered to decipher.

And so, as Yoo Joonghyuk’s long time professional hater, nothing brings Kim Dokja more pleasure than picking a fight with a man on the internet, simply trying to do his job. Kim Dokja is somewhat of a legend amongst Yoo Joonghyuk’s fan base. People revere his name. Well, his username at least. DemonKingSalvation73. Yes, 72 other people already had the same username, Kim Dokja checked every digit possible. 

Some say it's not really a Supreme King stream without DKS73. Even Yoo Joonghyuk’s mods know better than to time him out when he's going on a rant. Why? Well it makes for fantastic content. Only DKS73 can make the Supreme King pull all sorts of faces.

Once, they had a one hour long argument on how Yoo Joonghyuk’s gear, the Heavenly Demon Sword, was a fake. If the idiot bothered to read through the dialogue, he would've realized he was being scammed by the NPC. And of course, if you looked closely at the item, it had abysmal stats compared to the real Heavenly Demon Sword. 

Kim Dokja pestered him just enough that Yoo Joonghyuk finally snapped and said, “Fine. We'll do the damn quest line.” Prompting a six hour long martial arts competition with endless fighting, no healing in between. Yoo Joonghyuk even made a point to only use his Heavenly Demon Sword for every single fight, perfectly parrying and dodging attacks, showing a bare hint of a smirk, as if rubbing it in Kim Dokja’s face. 

abyssaldragon: no but why is this punk flexing rn

fuckdemguns: he got hit once and hasn't healed at all

archangeluriel: @DemonKingSalvation73 he hasn't stop smirking since getting hit :peepoCute:

DemonKingSalvation73: @archangeluriel i know it's disgusting

archangeluriel: u haven't stopped watching tho…

darknessthylord: he said he was getting lunch and was gonna be away, but immediately jumped to chat when Supreme missed a perfect parry

monkeeng: this is like the tenth time he actually turned on face cam on stream, flexing fr

abyssaldragon: ogs know Supreme from faceless + shit blue yeti mic era + 5 commentary max

archangeluriel: @monkeeng wonder who he's flexing for hehe

DemonKingSalvation73: god i hope you get KO’d by the dog please it would be so funny

“Not gonna happen.” Yoo Joonghyuk replies without even glancing at his second monitor. The last boss of the martial arts competition was, of course, Breaking the Sky Sword Master. It was funny seeing Yoo Joonghyuk try to lock in on this small dog prancing all over the map. Eventually after learning the dog's pattern, Yoo Joonghyuk lands enough blows to stun it, and finishes it off with his signature flashy sword aura. 

Breaking the Sky Sword Master’s Master congratulates Yoo Joonghyuk for the victory, but pauses mid dialogue. In a flash, the dog who was sitting on its hind legs immediately jumps Yoo Joonghyuk and snatches his sword from him. The dog places the sword in front of its master, before it breaks in half and dispersed. 

“I don't know whether to be impressed or offended that you used a fake sword to win this genuine sword…” the NPC trails off, before finally relenting to give Yoo Joonghyuk the real Heavenly Demon Sword. 

Yoo Joonghyuk, of course, was still not ready to admit Kim Dokja was right. He took the sword for a spin on the hardest dungeon in the game. Mobs that usually took six hits now only took three, and the genuine sword came with a signature AoE move that trivialized lower levels. 

fuckdemguns: holy shit that's op as fuck

abyssaldragon: ugh boring, i hate play throughs with broken swordsz

archangeluriel: i checked the forums and no one is taking about this sword yet

monkeeng: to be fair no one is insane enough to skip all dialogue and rush towards this area on a sponsored pre launch live stream

Yoo Joonghyuk lets out a small and pleased “hm” after finishing the last mob before the final dungeon floor, equipping the sword on the lower weapon slot. The sheer length of the sword made it scrape the floor every time Yoo Joonghyuk’s character ran around, and by know every Supreme King watcher knew what it meant. 

archangeluriel: awww he loves the sword!!

abyssaldragon: whatever, beat the final boss alreadyyyy

DemonKingSalvation73: you can't beat the final boss until you get CnD

Yoo Joonghyuk pauses mid looting. He swivels his chair and leans into his desk with his eyebrows furrowed. “Why do you know so much about this game?”

archangeluriel: ohmygod he's engaging!!

abyssaldragon: ***** stop teasing us from the final boss!! 

monkeeng: am i tripping or is his camera looking better and better these days? 

darknessthylord: filter? 

DemonKingSalvation73: I read the lore

“What lore? The game isn't even out yet.”

DemonKingSalvation73: the source lore, the web novel

“The web novel? The one that's 600 chapters ongoing?” Yoo Joonghyuk says, struggling not to look impressed. 

fuckdemguns: does the author write like they're being paid per word tf??

DemonKingSalvation73: it's been ongoing for 5 years now, but the world building is nice for a Murim webnovel, that's why it translates well into a game

DemonKingSalvation73: that's why I'm telling you, you need CnD for the final boss

“Thanks, but I don't need to be back seated.” Yoo Joonghyuk dismisses. 

DemonKingSalvation73: should I click the mouse for you? might as well since I'm basically spoon feeding the lore to you for every game you play

Yoo Joonghyuk’s face twist. “Fine. Where is this CnD?”

DemonKingSalvation73: idk if I like your attitude

Yoo Joonghyuk growls. “Mods, ban him.”

DemonKingSalvation73: has used their channel points to annul the ban

“The hell?”

fuckdemguns: there it is

archangeluriel: Demon King’s monopoly of channel points strikes again! 

DemonKingSalvation73: well? 

Yoo Joonghyuk struggles with the stream settings, furiously clicking on DemonKingSalvation73’s username. 

DemonKingSalvation73: it's useless you damn sunfish

DemonKingSalvation73: I alone have the immunity

Despite the slow mode, the chat still erupts into chaos, some egging Yoo Joonghyuk on, and some berating DemonKingSalvation73 for using his priveleges. The pro gamer runs a hand over his face, silently screaming into it. Then he pulls away with his face back in it's default resting bitch face. 

“Tell me what CnD is.” The please is implied, along with the fuck you . 

DemonKingSalvation73: well if you read the lore it's

DemonKingSalvation73: CnDeeznuts on your face

The ensuing chaos was one for the ages. Kim Dokja was pretty sure the clip still holds the record for most viewed and liked. 

Chat went crazy, drowning with lmaos and gottem-s and holy shit Supreme King just got deez nutted. 

Yoo Joonghyuk’s face devolving from confusion, to realization, to a second of horror, before finally settling on pure rage. He ripped his headphone off, kicking back his chair and stood up, before looking down on his desk as if he was questioning every life decision he's ever made. 

The pro gamer left his room, pulling back the green screen, and leaving chat to an empty chair. After about 20 minutes, the pro gamer came back with a bottle of soju, and he'd taken off his hoodie to reveal a tight black t-shirt. 

Without saying a word, he silently placed his headphone back on, and started shaking the soju furiously to create a tornado, tapping it with his elbow, and twisting it open. Then in one straight motion, downed half of the bottle. Some of the soju spilled, trickling the liquid down the side of his lips, down to his perfect jawline, before making wet patches on his shirt. 

monkeeng: is he

monkeeng: is he trying to distract us

monkeeng: with his body????

archangeluriel: AJSJSKSWLWONCNKD????

darknessthylord: alcoholism kills

abyssaldragon: mods???? mods where tf are you ban these hornee mfs????

archangeluriel: ohmygod the viewership just jumped to 10k

DemonKingSalvation73: uhm

DemonKingSalvation73: you're welcome? 

DemonKingSalvation73: thank you…?

“Today we're playing First of the Murim Star, as sponsored by the game itself,” Yoo Joonghyuk says flatly, his embarrassment showed only by the pink tinge on his cheeks. “I'm doing a no hit run on the final boss. Current gear, level, and stats are on screen as always.”

In the chaos of new viewers coming in droves from the sudden appearance of a handsome streamer, the ogs having a meltdown over the Supreme King acting absolutely OOC, and archangeluriel dropping screenshot after screenshot into the Supreme King discord server, Kim Dokja stares at his phone, crouched down behind the boxes of old documents, and realizes one thing. 

His deez nut joke has created a content monster. 

-

To say the Supreme King’s viral moment exponentially grew his career as a streamer might be a bit much, but all things considered, is it really? 

Besides having an influx of new viewers, the sponsored stream became the game's most successful advertisement. First of the Murim Star hit an additional 5.000 download after Supreme King’s streams, and another round of 10.000 download after the viral clip was shared around the internet. 

And of course, as the game's new golden laying goose, Yoo Joonghyuk was now in each and every advertisement. Kim Dokja will never admit it, but when the photoshoot of Yoo Joonghyuk wearing Murim style clothes and a long haired wig was first revealed, he immediately jumped to the station it was advertised on, and stared at it for a long, long time. 

A nice elderly woman noticed him staring wistfully at the billboard, and happily asked if he wanted a picture with it. Pressured by her friendly demeanor, Kim Dokja awkwardly posed in front of it, throwing a peace sign for good measure. 

“Here you go! I think it came out quite nice!”

“I'm sure it did. Thank you ma'am.”

“If you don't mind me asking, do you know that person?”

“Hm?”

“Well I work around here, so I see people gathering in front of this billboard a lot. Most of them high school girls of course.” The elderly woman pauses. “But that look on your face…it's a bit more like…”

She struggles with the word before shaking her head. “Ah, it'll come to me. Anyway, I hope I wasn't being too nosy. I admit I get too sentimental in my old age.”

“Not at all. And you're right, I do know him. Though I can't say the same for him.”

“Aha! I knew it.”

“Mm…” Kim Dokja hums. Something about the elderly woman made him comfortable enough to the thought of sharing a piece of his mind. “To be honest, I've been by his side for nearly ten years now. And recently I've done something to make more people discover him. It's nice to see people finally recognize him but…”

“Oh I see,” the woman laughs. “I think that word is finally coming to me sonny.”

“You look like someone who just got his star stolen and thrown into the night sky.”

-

When Kim Dokja first heard Han Sooyoung’s story of the stalker terrorizing Yoo Joonghyuk, he only had one thought in mind. 

It's my fault. 

I always goaded him for his reactions. 

I wanted his attention. 

I wanted those eyes to look at me. 

I wanted those lips to form my name, if ever it was that stupid moniker. 

But as he sows, does he also reap. 

He's sure of it. 

This wave of new attention on Yoo Joonghyuk wasn't just good. 

Kim Dokja single handedly created this nightmare for Yoo Joonghyuk.

So if Yoo Joonghyuk wants to hate him, hurt him, and look at him like that, well so be it. 

It's the least he deserves. 

-

“Alright, gather around, gather around,” Bihyung says, “Welcome everyone to the first game, Human Claw! Here are the rules.”

< Human Claw >

Clear condition: gather as much colorful balls as you can within the time limit as you're strapped on a giant crane. Work together with your team to achieve the best result! 

Time limit: 5 minutes

Reward: 100 points

Penalty: aegyo to your opponent

“Hold on a minute.” Han Myugoh says, adjusting his glasses with his middle finger. “Penalty? I thought the punishment was only stickers?”

“Wow you actually remembered that? I mean-you're right it is. But I thought it would be more fun to add more penalties every now and then,” Bihyung grins. “If you do the penalty, I'll kindly split the reward 80 20 points.”

“Now then, who's going on top of this bad boy from the pink team?”

Han Myugoh puts both his hands on Kim Dokja’s shoulders, ready to throw him into the gauntlet before pausing. “Wait, are they going to be horizontal for this?”

“Yes, the crane is going around their back and waist.”

Han Myugoh smirks. “Actually Yoo Sangah-ssi how about you play this game?”

“Huh?”

“Well you felt bad for Kim Dokja earlier don't you? So why don't you play this time? You agree, right Kang Ilhun?”

Nameless Guy gives him a bewildered look. “I thought we were going to-”

“ Ehem .”

“Oh…Oh!” Kang Ilhun smiles. “You're absolutely right Manager Han. Yoo Sangah-ssi would be perfect for this game.”

Deputy Yoon frowns. “The hell are you trying to pull?”

Kim Dokja glances at the cage across from them, and sees another team doing the same game. The one in the crane was perfectly horizontal, and by the shrill laughs of the girls in the team as their manager’s shirt rides up and reveals his striped underwear, Kim Dokja immediately clicks it in place. 

Fucking perverts. 

“No, we made a deal, didn't we Manager Han?” Kim Dokja cuts in, raising his hand. “I'll do it.”

Yoo Sangah steps forward with a concerned look. “Kim Dokja-ssi…”

“It's alright Yoo Sangah-ssi. Let me do this for you.”

Yoo Sangah bites her lip and gives a terse nod. “I promise you, I won't stay quiet about this.”

Kim Dokja lets a staff strap him in, playing with the purple helmet they gave him, listening half heartedly to the safety instructions. 

“Now then for team lime, can I get one volunteer?”

“Not me.” Han Sooyoung immediately dips. 

“Not me.” Jung Heewon mimes. 

“Not me.” Kim Namwoon mimes. 

“Really?” Lee Jihye grins. “Guess that's one point to me!”

“Are you crazy?!” Kim Namwoon screams. “You're wearing a skirt!”

“So? I have safety pants on!”

“YOU ARE NOT GETTING ON THAT THING LEE JIHYE.”

“WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO KIM Namwoon?”

“Jihye, I forbid you from playing this game.”

“Oh ok Master, you know best.”

Kim Namwoon makes a dying noise. 

Bihyung gestures for them to hurry. “Anyone? Just one person to volunteer?”

Han Sooyoung gives a calculating look, before immediately pushing Yoo Joonghyuk forward. Well, as far as she could with her strength vs that wall of towering darkness. “Put him in chief.”

“Han Sooyoung-”

“Ok great!” Bihyung immediately agrees, pulling Yoo Joonghyuk to be strapped in at the other side. 

“Everybody good?” Bihyung shouts outside the cage after a few minutes.

Kim Dokja gives a weak thumbs up, and Yoo Joonghyuk opts to use his face. 

“Okay we're handing off the controls to your teammates in one minute. Be sure to hand off the balls to your team member who's waiting in the pits with a bucket. Timer starts…now!”

Kim Dokja stares at the person in front of him. He knows Yoo Joonghyuk is uncomfortable with him. And he should probably be the bigger man here and try to avoid any contact. But he can't help it. He's a man wandering through a dry desert, finally reaching the oasis he longed for. 

Being a fan-better yet, a professional hater of Yoo Joonghyuk is infuriating. Until recently, Yoo Joonghyuk barely shows himself. Public or otherwise. Kim Dokja has been with him since his first debut as a pro gamer at the tender age of 17. From no face at all as he plays tournaments with a mask on, to no face cams in streams, no commentaries, no interviews, no social media presence. 

Kim Dokja has been handed a proverbial feast, and he is starving. He takes in Yoo Joonghyuk’s curled hair, his straight eyebrows, his eyes, narrowing more and more in suspicion. Oops. 

“You-” damn even his lips are pretty when they form a curse word. 

Kim Dokja moves on to his jaw, that is, he'd like to move on to his jaw, if only he didn't feel a sharp yank to his whole body, and feel the air punched right out of him. 

Han Myugoh had taken control of the crane, and was wildly pulling the stick left and right. Kim Dokja felt his whole world spin, wanting to hurl whatever was left in his stomach out. 

“Kim Dokja-ssi!” Yoo Sangah screams, jumping in an effort to steady him. “Manager Han stop this right now! This is dangerous!”

“Han Myugoh you crazy-” Deputy Yoon cuts himself off. “You-you!”

“Hahaha! Look at him! His face is turning green!” Han Myugoh cackles, swinging the crane to the right just as Yoo Sangah is about to reach him, and back to the left as she spins around. And then, finding the vertical button, he lifts and lowers Kim Dokja like a yoyo. “Aw Yoo Sangah-ssi, come on you can do it. Put some effort into it.”

“Manager Han!” She shouts, struggling to walk through the ball pit and slamming her hand onto the cage, inches from his face. “You stop this right now! Bihyung, do something!”

“What are you guys talking about?” Han Myugoh shrugs. “It's all the machine malfunctioning, I'm not doing anything.”

“Sir-”

“This is our chance Master!” Lee Jihye shouts. “Get the balls while they're fighting!”

“Captain, should I lower you?” Kim Namwoon asks. 

“No.” Yoo Joonghyuk says. “Swing me forward.”

Kim Dokja stares at the blur of colors below him. He vaguely hears Bihyung arguing with Han Myugoh, but in the midst, someone is still pressing random buttons, jerking Kim Dokja every each way. 

Ah, he's sick of this. He can't even enjoy Yoo Joonghyuk being here in the flesh. Yoo Sangah is going to be really troubled after this. Han Myugoh’s connections run deep. If she keeps trying to help him-

“Hah!” Kim Namwoon grunts. “Momentum!”

“You. Can't. Just. Scream. Momentum.” Lee Jihye groans. She has her arms around Yoo Joonghyuk’s legs, pulling back as far as she can before letting go, his body swinging with the help of the crane. 

Kim Dokja’s colorful world suddenly turns black. He looks up in surprise. Yoo Joonghyuk had successfully clinged to him. With one swift motion, he unhooks Kim Dokja’s rope. Kim Dokja gasps, immediately clinging to the man like a koala. 

Yoo Joonghyuk lets his own crane swing back, and Kim Namwoon spams the button to lower it. They land roughly on the ball pit. Well, he says they, but really Yoo Joonghyuk cushioned all the fall for the both of them. Kim Dokja groans, his head still spinning. He unconsciously tightens his hold. As if in response, he receives a squeeze back around his waist. 

“Damn ahjussi, you're going to choke my Master out!”

“Kim Dokja-ssi!” Yoo Sangah says, practically swimming over the ball pit to them. She pauses mid sentence as she assesses the situation. “Oh my.”

Kim Dokja slowly comes to a realization. In his panic, he had basically put his arms around Yoo Joonghyuk’s neck, and his legs clamped shut around his waist. His everything was…pressed against Hoo Joonghyuk’s everything. And he means everything. 

Maybe if he pretends to pass out…

“Kim Dokja.” Yoo Joonghyuk growls next to his ear. Not. Helping. “Get the fuck off me.”

-

A few minutes later the staff opened the cage and let everyone out of the ball pit. Bihyung was scolding Han Myugoh to the side, and for a brief moment Kim Dokja locked eyes with him. 

Han Myugoh silently snickered at him, before turning that smile into a placating one, assuring Bihyung that really he would never try to harm one of his employees, and anyway shouldn't it be the park’s responsibility to ensure safety measures are in place for the machine in case of wild movements? Surely it's more likely the machine went rogue than him purposely trying to make Kim Dokja a human blender. That shut Bihyung up quickly. 

The staff set both him and Yoo Joonghyuk down on a bench, giving them a curt once over before deciding no one was hurt (and liable for suing), before leaving them to their own devices. 

Kim Dokja stares at his feet for a long, long time, willing himself to calm down. Yoo Joonghyuk sighs beside him, before getting up and walking over to the vending machine close by. Something cold pressed up to his cheek, and he looks up to see Yoo Joonghyuk holding a can of juice. 

“For me?”

“Do you see anyone else? Or are you intentionally being obtuse?”

Woof. “Thanks.”

“Hn.”

Yoo Joonghyuk doesn't move to sit back down next to him, and Kim Dokja doesn't try to look up, playing with the tab of the can instead. “Thanks for your…help back there too.”

Yoo Joonghyuk doesn't reply, presumably taking a sip of his bottle of water, the liquid sloshing ever so slightly. 

Kim Dokja’s mind comes crawling back in the awkward silence. Should he just…lay it all out now? Come clean? Hi, I'm DemonKingSalvation73, that one chatter who's been on every stream, I swear I'm not that stalker trying to kidnap your sister? I'm unfortunately employed and my alibi is perfect? No, what would that even achieve? Yoo Joonghyuk would just assume the stalker also studied all his chat’s habits and picked a random identity to run with it. 

Kim Dokja takes a deep breath, about to suggest they walk back to the group after finishing their drinks, when he hears two thumps to his side. Kim Dokja blinks, finally raising his head. 

“Uh?”

Yoo Joonghyuk had set his water bottle on the bench, and now has both of his muscled arms and large hand pressing the wall, caging Kim Dokja in.

“Kim Dokja.” He says, commands really. “Look at me.”

Kim Dokja obeys. He's used to being stared at. His whole life is basically one big spectacle. Anything ranging from pity, to fear, to ridicule and sometimes even sympathy. But this look Yoo Joonghyuk is giving him right now…Kim Dokja can’t quite place it. What is it? What are you trying to tell me you damn sunfish? 

“Are you who I think you are?”

“No.” He replies with a start. “I'm something worse.”

Yoo Joonghyuk pauses. His eyes shake with confusion and anger. One of his hands moves, and Kim Dokja instinctively shuts his eyes and clenches his hands around his juice can. A slap? A punch? 

But instead it's only Yoo Joonghyuk’s fingers brushing his cheek ever so slightly, before he pulls away, gesturing for him to get up. 

“W-what did you just do to me?”

Yoo Joonghyuk pauses, but doesn't bother facing him as he says, “Punishment.”

Punishment? Kim Dokja frowns, walking quickly to catch up with him, passing by the vending machine Yoo Joonghyuk used earlier. In the vague reflection of the sleek glass, he sees Yoo Joonghyuk sporting the barest of a smile, but the shock of that image is immediately replaced with indignation. 

There, on his right cheek, was a small sparkling pink heart sticker. 

“But I didn't lose?!” he protested weakly after. 

“You didn't win either.” Bihyung points out. 

“And they did?” Deputy Yoon protests along. 

“Yup. They managed to get one singular ball in. Of course, like I promised, if you do the penalty I can split the points for you.”

Deputy Yoon frowns, placing a hand on Kim Dokja’s shoulder comfortingly. “Kim Dokja…you okay? Sorry I couldn't stop that bas-ehem. I couldn't stop the machine earlier.”

“I'm fine, just a bit dizzy.”

“That's good, that's good,” Deputy Yoon nods over and over. “...so about that aegyo-”

“Sir!”

“Kim Dokja come on!” He whines. “We gotta prove that prick wrong! Especially now that he's openly messing with you! It's just acting a bit cutesy, any points counts here!”

“I-”

“He did the penalty already.” Yoo Joonghyuk cuts in. “In front of me. So split the points.”

“Really?” Bihyung pouts. “Man I was gonna record it for the park’s SNS content…but fine. I'll split the points. Now that that's out of the way, let's move on to game 2 everyone, follow me!”

Kim Dokja exchanges a confused look at Yoo Joonghyuk, but the pro gamer doesn't even bother to explain, walking ahead with the rest of his team. Lee Jihye glances between the two of them with suspicion, before shaking her head dismissively. Han Sooyoung trails behind the group, giving him an enigmatic look before smirking. 

Yoo Sangah fuses after him for a good minute as they walk to the second game, offering to let him off the games and the team building all together to rest and even go to the hospital. 

“I'm fine,” he assures her for the fifth time. “Really. I can keep playing.”

“But-”

“I can leave, but you can't. Who knows what Han Myugoh will pull without me here as his punching bag.”

Yoo Sangah shakes her head. “This is wrong. This-this infringes our human rights! I know this company has always had its reputation but the people in it-I swear they're a whole other level.”

Kim Dokja sighs. “Deputy Yoon isn't any better. I can't believe he still has the energy to be baited by Han Myugoh like this.”

Yoo Sangah gives him an encouraging pat on the back, leaving that hand there even as they arrive at the second game’s ground in support. Kim Dokja scans the area, before locking eyes with Yoo Joonghyuk once again. Only this time, Yoo Joonghyuk’s eyes aren't on him, but on…Yoo Sangah? 

Sensing the same thing as Kim Dokja, Yoo Sangah looks across the area and finds herself under the man's scrutiny. Yoo Sangah pauses, before connecting the invisible dots. “Oh my.”

“Yoo Sangah-ssi?”

“Hehe,” Yoo Sangah laughs to herself, giving Kim Dokja’s shoulder one last squeeze. “Kim Dokja-ssi, you really do have a way of attracting all sorts of people.”

Bihyung stops them in front of a small indoor field. “Alright for this second game, here are the details!”

< Dodgeball >

Clear condition: with two other teammates, form a 3 party team and play a classic game of dodgeball. 

Time limit: until the last person standing

Reward: 100 points

Penalty: give a compliment the opposing team

Han Myugoh immediately steps up with Nameless Guy. “Me, Kang Ilhun, and Kim Dokja will play.”

“Oh Master, I'm definitely doing this one!”

“Me too!” Kim Namwoon declares.

“I can play too.” Jung Heewon offers. 

“Ok great, now step on into the cage and we'll start the game.”

“Kang Ilhun-ssi, let me play instead,” Yoo Sangah tries. “You can take the next one.”

“Absolutely not!” Han Myugoh interjects. “We can't let a woman play dodgeball. What if you get hurt, Yoo Sangah-ssi!”

“The hell is that old man yapping about?” Lee Jihye grumbles. 

“Hah.” Jung Heewon echoes. “This is exactly what I hate about working in an office.”

“Then let me play.” Deputy Yoon says. “That's fine right?”

“And have you help Kim Dokja? That's hardly fair,” Han Myugoh scoffs. “The team is perfect as it is. Let's go.”

“You-we're a team you prick!”

Han Myugoh dismisses him, dragging Kang Ilhun and him into the field. Kim Dokja loosens his tie with a sigh. Let's just get this over with. 

Lee Jihye comes in, followed by Jung Heewon, but as Kim Namwoon is about to follow, Yoo Joonghyuk side steps him and comes in himself, closing the gate behind him. 

“Huh?”

“Master?” Lee Jihye says in awe.

“The hell has gotten into you?” Jung Heewon grins. 

“Ref! Start the game already!” Han Sooyoung shouts. 

“Alright balls are at your feet, game starts in three, two, one…go!”

Kim Dokja immediately ducks, grabbing the ball nearest to him like a lifeline. And now he has a choice. 

1. Hit the high school girl
2. Hit an adult woman
3. Hit an adult man
4. Perish

Kim Dokja readies his hand, deciding with option E, throwing in a random direction and letting the bounce hit whoever fates decide. That is, before he feels a sharp pain in the back of his head, nearly making him fall. Kim Dokja grabs the back of his head and turns around in disbelief. 

Han Myugoh raises both his hands in mock innocence. “Oops, did that hit you? Sorry Kim Dokja, you know how clumsy I am.”

Clumsy my ass! 

Lee Jihye throws a ball in the midst of the chaos, and without even trying to move, Nameless Guy takes it with his whole body. “Woops, guess I'm out.”

Seriously? Han Myugoh is smiling ear to ear, grabbing another ball. He snaps his arm back, and he doesn't even try to hide that he's aiming for Kim Dokja’s head again. 

Kim Dokja panics, ready to make a run for it when an orange ball wisp by, inches from Kim Dokja’s head, and hits Han Myugoh smack dab on his face. The crunchy sound it makes is enough to make Kang Ilhun lose all the color in his face as he stands by in the corner. 

Kim Dokja follows the line of fire to Yoo Joonghyuk, dusting his hands off with a blank face. 

Was…was he aiming for him? No, with that much power and speed…it's gotta be intentional. Kim Dokja gulps. Why is he getting so excited over everything Yoo Joonghyuk does?!

“Uh…” Jung Heewon offers. “You wanna surrender?”

“Yes please…”

He stands in place as Jung Heewon lightly bounces the ball to his chest, and Bihyung blows into a whistle, declaring the game over. 

They shuffle outside the cage, Kang Ilhun dragging Han Myugoh by his arms, when he feels fingers brush the back of his head. Kim Dokja instinctively smacks it away, stunned when he sees Yoo Joonghyuk at the other end of that hand. 

“Why are you touching me?”

“Checking for bumps.” Yoo Joonghyuk’s finger flexes over nothing, before he tucks his hand in his pockets like a stricken cat. “I don't think you can afford losing any more brain cells.”

Kim Dokja blinks. No, if we're talking brain cells, shouldn't it be the guy who immediately assumes anyone who knows his real name is a stalker?! 

Bihyung gathers them around, and offers another chance to play for the penalty. Han Myugoh was pretty much out of commission, cursing the poor staff member who had to patch up his bloody nose. Kang Ilhun simply smiled and said, “Kim Dokja-ssi should do it, I don't deserve to get the point since I got out first.”

And so here Kim Dokja stood, facing each of the Murim team members. 

Easy enough. Kim Dokja just needs to generate as many generic compliments as he can. 

To Jung Heewon: “You're very kind.”

She smiles in reply.

To Lee Jihye: “You have a lot of energy.”

“That's how it is when you're young ahjussi.”

To Han Sooyoung: “You have a good eye.”

“Mhm, I see everything .”

To Kim Namwoon: “You…are very honest.”

“Why did you say that with a face? Huh? Ahjussi? Why are you saying that with a face?!”

And finally…Kim Dokja ponders. Complimenting Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't be easier. Kim Dokja could list a hundred on the top of his head. He could compliment his body. Or his face. Maybe his eyes specifically. Certainly not his intelligence or his winning personality. But maybe…something he always dreamed of saying if he ever met this man in real life. Yes, that wouldn't be so bad.

To Yoo Joonghyuk: “You're strong.”

Yoo Joonghyuk stares at him with an unreadable expression. 

-

How did the saying go again? Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action. Predictably, all the games after follow the same setup, premise, and action. 

Kim Dokja stares at the basketball hoops in front of him with a despairing look, his forehead now sporting a yellow star sticker from the last game. 

“Most points win as always gentlemen!” Bihyung exclaims. “Game starts in three, two, one…go!”

Kim Dokja tries and fail to throw the first ball into the 50 point hoop, his suit jacket hindering his movement. 

“Get it together Kim Dokja!” Han Myugoh mocks with renewed vigor, his nose plugged with a red tip tissue, his voice distorted ever so slightly. “You did your military service already didn't you? You call that jumping?”

“Kim Dokja!” Deputy Yoon shouts. “Put all your feelings into each ball!”

“No this really isn't some coming of age sports anime Deputy Yoon…” Kim Dokja laughs humorelessly. “I'm not going to suddenly show my hidden basketball talent…”

Ding Ding Ding 1000 points get! 

Kim Dokja turns to his left, and sees Yoo Joonghyuk easily lobbing ball after ball to the highest score possible without breaking a sweat. He glances at Kim Dokja, and without breaking eye contact, Ding Ding Ding 1000 points get!

Kim Dokja pops a vein. 

He roughly reaches for his tie, pulling it off and pocketing it in his pants. He shrugs off his jacket, dropping it on the floor. Unbuttoning his cuffs, he rolls his sleeves up to his elbows, popping two of his top shirt buttons with one hand. “Do you really have to take every competition seriously you asshole? You can't just play like a normal person?!” He shouts, throwing ball after ball wildly. 

“Go for it Captain!” Kim Namwoon shouts. “That ahjussi is just gonna pull a muscle! He's as weak as a limp squid!”

“He's right Master! Cut him up, fry him, and let's eat him for dinner!”

“K-Kim Dokja-ssi you can do it!” Yoo Sangah shouts. “Just throw it all! Eventually one has to make it!”

Et tu, Yoo Sangah? 

By the final 30 seconds, Kim Dokja only managed a score of 1500, compared to Yoo Joonghyuk’s 5500. Cocky bastard even stopped at one point to stare at Kim Dokja trying to shoot with his signature condescending look. The one that once made a rival e-sport team get up from their computer and run over to punch him mid tournament. Of course, Yoo Joonghyuk easily dodged his fist, making the man fall flat on his face on live stream for all to see. 

Kim Dokja drops to his knees, picking up his jacket and resisting the urge to bury his face in it in shame. Yoo Sangah gives him a worried look, but with a wave of his hand, she trails behind the group to the next game. 

A light kick to his shoes nudged him to look up, and seriously even from his angle this bastard still looks handsome?

“Were you losing on purpose?”

“Oh I'm sorry mister 184 cm in height, athletic build despite sitting in front of the computer all day, hands big enough to hold a ball with one hand, not everyone has the same genetic advantages you have! Better yet, not everyone has had the chance to play basketball in their lives!” Kim Dokja snaps.

“Oh shit.”

Kim Dokja whirls around to see Han Sooyoung mid bending over. “Sorry boys, didn't mean to eavesdrop. Left my phone behind.”

Great. As if throwing a tantrum in front of someone he's admired for ten years isn't embarrassing enough. 

Han Sooyoung grins. “You know what? I sincerely do hope you're not that fucking stalker. You're too hilarious as a human being to be wasted as a creep character Kim Dokja.” She throws the comment to the wind, sauntering off with a skip to her steps. 

“I'm not!” Kim Dokja protested weakly. 

Yoo Joonghyuk stares at his pathetic form, before forcibly tugging him up by his elbow. Kim Dokja reluctantly lets himself be manhandled. 

“How do you know my exact height?”

Kim Dokja freezes. 

The hand on his elbows tighten. “How?”

Kim Dokja stares at the pro gamer. How do you even begin to explain that from one gaming keyboard advertisement in which in one shot Yoo Joonghyuk was standing, holding said keyboard, he could estimate his height through math, photoshop, and enough patience?

“Uh.” He says instead. 

Yoo Joonghyuk raises an eyebrow, taking one step closer to him. Kim Dokja unconsciously takes a step back. Over and over, until Kim Dokja’s back hit the machine behind him. 

He's sure of it now, he thinks as Yoo Joonghyuk raises his hand, a punch, at least a slap. Maybe he'll drag Kim Dokja to the police station all together, who the fuck knows at this point?!

But instead, those hands land on each of his shoulders, turning him around to face the machine. Yoo Joonghyuk reaches over him, grabbing one ball and putting it in between Kim Dokja’s hand. Yoo Joonghyuk pressed his body close, his thighs coming in between, suddenly nudging Kim Dokja’s legs apart. 

Kim Dokja blushes at the sensation, and is embarrassed even more by how easily he's going along with whatever this is. 

“Bend your knees.” 

“I really don't need-”

“Kim Dokja.”

His knees melt. 

Yoo Joonghyuk’s hands raise his lower arm in front of him. “Focus. Look at the hoop you're aiming for. Don't close your eyes. Now jump.”

Ding Ding Ding 1000 points get!

Kim Dokja gasps, turning to Yoo Joonghyuk with a wide grin. “I did it!”

Yoo Joonghyuk snorts. “Barely. You hit the ring.”

“Well maybe my coach should've aimed my hand better.”

Yoo Joonghyuk places both his hands on the machine, one by one, once again caging Kim Dokja in. He leans in, his face inches from Kim Dokja’s. 

“For what it's worth,” he says. “I also hope Han Sooyoung is right.”

< Basketball Mania >

Clear condition: throw the ball inside the hoops to gain as many points as possible

Time limit: 5 minutes

Reward: 100 points

Penalty: follow the Dokkaebi Super Star Park official account and post a photo of yourself with your opponent, and tag us!

-

Kim Dokja, now with a new sticker (Yoo Sangah says it's called Chiikawa?) on his other cheek, cocks his gun. Well, his fake gun really. 

< Tag >

Clear condition: form a team of 3. You will be equipped with a vest and a fake gun. A sensor is built within the vest, and will go off when the ‘bullet’ from the provided gun manages to shoot it. There are a total of 5 sensors, each with its own point and specific body part. The more vital the higher the score. Each person will carry 1000 points with them. 

Time limit: first to reach 2000 points

Reward: 200 points

Penalty: ◾◾◾

“The hell are those black boxes?” Kim Nawoon grunts. 

“Oh this time I think the penalty should be censored!” Bihyung wiggles his finger. “Makes it much more intense right? It could be anything!”

Yoo Sangah doesn't waste any time. She's learned her lesson by now. 

“There is no negotiating with terrorists, Kim Dokja-ssi.”

Yoo Sangah immediately grabs two of the vests and the gun, throwing one to Deputy Yoon and putting the other one on herself. Han Myugoh doesn't even get the chance to argue. Yoo Sangah smiles at him coldly. “You don't mind me and Deputy Yoon playing, don't you Han Myugoh-ssi? It's just that I've been getting this strong urge to shoot something today.”

“Excuse me?” Han Myugoh croaks out. 

Lee Jihye wrinkles her nose. “I'm skipping this one out Master. I hate guns.”

“If Jihye’s out then I'm out.” Kim Namwoon declares. 

Han Sooyoung raises her hand. “I want a shot at playing against the princess.”

Jung Heewon hums. “I guess that means it's me, Sooyoung-ssi, and Joonghyuk-ssi?”

He nods. 

A few minutes of preparation later, everyone had put on their military green vest. 

“Alright before we start let's test out the guns on each other to make sure it works.” Bihyung announces. 

Han Sooyoung steps forward, pressing the muzzle of her gun on Yoo Sangah’s vest, right where her heart is. “Let's have a good game, princess.”

Yoo Sangah smiles, pressing her own gun at Han Sooyoung’s stomach. “Is that my new nickname then?”

“Seeing how much your prince charming has saved you today from the clutches of an evil man, I think it's quite fitting.”

“Did you notice Han Sooyoung-ssi? If we win, we'll be close to tying the score.”

Beep. Beep. 

At the pull of both their triggers, the vest emits a sound. 

“Guess it works.” Han Sooyoung murmurs.

“Yes, it seems it does.” Yoo Sangah says, putting her gun away on her hip holster. “I'll be looking forward to facing you.”

“Whatever you say, princess.”

“Ah, Jung Heewon-ssi, sorry about this,” Deputy Yoon says sheepishly, angling his gun at her shoulder. “Then, let me test this for a moment.”

Beep.

“Ah then it's my turn.” Jung Heewon says politely, also aiming at his shoulder. 

Beep.

“Ah it works. Then I look forward to dueling with the famed Judge of Evil.”

“Aw you remember that old silly gamer tag?”

“Of course I do! In fact…”

“Kim Dokja.” Yoo Joonghyuk says, pulling him out of the conversation. 

“Oh, right.” He pulls up his gun, aiming at Yoo Joonghyuk’s stomach. Beep . “Sounds good.”

Yoo Joonghyuk takes his own gun out. He stares at Kim Dokja’s vest for a moment. Seemingly in an internal debate with himself, he finally chooses Kim Dokja’s heart, and pulls the trigger. Beep. 

“Cool. See you out there.”

Yoo Joonghyuk nods. 

Kim Dokja pauses right before he steps into his side of the field. “Hey Yoo Joonghyuk? Any chance I can tempt you into going easy on us?”

Yoo Joonghyuk smirks. Handsome bastard. 

“Fine.” Kim Dokja mumbles. “Be that way.”

“Kim Dokja.” He calls out. 

“What dammit?”

“Let's have our own penalty.”

Yoo Joonghyuk points to him. “If I shoot you within ten minutes of the game, you reveal your identity to me.”

His heart skips a beat. Not out of fear but…excitement? You're crazy Kim Dokja. There's no telling how this guy is going to react. Nevermind the stalker situation, the Supreme King would hate his guts. Right? I mean we're talking about a guy who not only deez nutted him, bothered him in every stream, back seated him, ranting paragraphs after paragraphs of lore in the chat, roasted his game play, and even measured his dick from a goddamn keyboard brand deal! 

No, Kim Dokja might not be a stalker (in the purest of sense) but he's a freak! Verified by his high school bullies! 

“What? You're scared?” Yoo Joonghyuk huffs. “So you really are that stalker.”

“I told you I'm not.” He says weakly. 

“Guilty until proven innocent.” Yoo Joonghyuk declares.

“You're seriously using your game character quote on me?” Kim Dokja says exasperated. 

Yoo Joonghyuk eyes him. “So you even recognize the Punisher. Kim Dokja, just how far do you know me?”

Kim Dokja blushes. “I-”

The Punisher. A.K.A high school Kim Dokja’s sexual fantasy. A female game avatar Yoo Joonghyuk created on a whim after Kim Dokja ranted on the benefits of being a female in this MMORPG, where a stupid op weapon exists that gives increased 25% damage for female wielders. Of course, some of Supreme King’s toxic alpha male fans were triggered at his decision. The thought of the Supreme King, the epitome of male dominance in their mind playing as a woman, was enough to send them into a seizure. That began the first ever infamous fan war. 

Guilty until proven innocent was Yoo Joonghyuk’s preferred emote whenever the Punisher ulted. Back then there were only about 1000 active members in the server, but it got bad enough that some eventually left altogether. Archangeluriel basically did a deep clean of the server, removing anyone still up in arms about a virtual fictional woman. 

ultimatemperor: no but why would you choose to be a woman? not only are you entertaining this ridiculous gender based buff, you have to flirt and marry male NPCs?!

Yoo Joonghyuk, at the time still a budding pro gamer and amateur streamer, had this to say on the situation, through the filter of his shitty mic: “I'm not interested in men.”

ultimatemperor: ... 

archangeluriel: ... 

abyssaldragon: …

darknessthylord: …

DemonKingSalvation73: …

DemonKingSalvation73: if you equip the chinese dress and garter belt that's an additional 10% defense compared to your current armor

The mic crackles ever so slightly. “Is that your kink?”

DemonKingSalvation73: ASDFGHJKL NO????

DemonKingSalvation73: THIS IS LORE BASED ADVICE

archangeluriel: so that's your taste

abyssaldragon: so that's your taste

darknessthylord: so that's your taste

ultimatemperor: ah fuck it, you're all freaks

monkeeng: nah that would be DemonKingSalvation73

ultimatemperor: **********

Mod has banned ultimatemperor for 6 months for inappropriate speech

“Kim Dokja,” Yoo Joonghyuk says, bringing his mind back to his current life crisis. “Ten minutes.”

“What…what do I get if you fail?” Kim Dokja mumbles. 

“I won't. But just to be fair, I'll do anything you want.”

“Fine. Deal.” Yoo Joonghyuk outstretched his hand to shake on it. Kim Dokja subtly wipes sweaty palms. Ten minutes. Just ten minutes. Hell, he could just hide somewhere in this maze of foam blocks. Ten minutes? Easy. 

“Okay everybody in position?” Bihyung shouts. “Three, two, one, start!”

Kim Dokja immediately sprints away, leaving Yoo Joonghyuk hanging. First, let's find his teammates. 

-

“The specimen known as summi regis, also known as Korea’s number one overrated gaming dork, is now preparing for the hunt. He has been walking around in circles for the past three minutes, debating his hunting strategy. His prey, of course, is the pinguis asinus, a rare species of an office worker with just enough personality to attract the stoic emotionless summi regis.”

“Han Sooyoung,” Yoo Joonghyuk says, with feeling. “Shut up for two minutes.”

“There is no Han Sooyoung here. Only wildlife observer David Atten***.”

Yoo Joonghyuk sighs, and counts to ten, imagining a world where Han Sooyoung was not his manager, and where life was actually peaceful, free of sarcasm.

“I'm going to rush in there alone from the right side. You and Jung Heewon should take the left and flank them. Use Han Sooyoung as a meat shield, and you should be fine.”

“Alright, “ Jung Heewon agrees easily. “And I should give Han Sooyoung my gun too, so she's double wielding?”

“Yes. There's no cool down on the guns, so wildly shooting two guns should be enough to scare them.”

Jung Heewon grins. “Alright Han Sooyoung-ssi, sounds like a plan!” She grabs Han Sooyoung by her waist, and pulls her close. They walk into the enemy line like a pair of penguins, shuffling ever so slightly. 

“Come out fuckers!” Han Sooyoung yells out, double wielding the gun, snapping left and right. 

Yoo Joonghyuk takes this opportunity to silently infiltrate the right side. The maze of foam was simple enough. It only came to about waist high, so anyone hiding would definitely be crouched down. Yoo Joonghyuk pressed his body on a corner piece, taking deep breaths. He glances at the timer the park has set up, along with the ongoing scores. Five minutes had gone by. He can't waste any more time. 

Beep. Beep.

500 points added

250 points added

Beep. 

500 points added

Yoo Joonghyuk takes that as a sign that his strategy is working. The scoreboard was 750 to 500, in favor of Kim Dokja’s team. They must've panicked and sent at least two people to face off Han Sooyoung and Jung Heewon, judging from how fast the scores were. 

Now if Yoo Joonghyuk’s assumption was correct, Kim Dokja would be the one to stay back. The pro gamer swiftly moved from one corner to another. Then a flash of white caught his attention. A wrinkled white fabric that could only be Kim Dokja’s shirt, peeking through the corner. 

Yoo Joonghyuk takes his gun and jumps on top of the foam. “Kim Dokja!” He shouts, already pulling the trigger on where he estimates Kim Dokja’s heart is.

Beep

500 points added

Yoo Joonghyuk smirks. “That's under ten minutes.”

“You're right Joonghyuk-ah.” Kim Dokja’s voice says from behind him. He whirls around in surprise. There Kim Dokja was in a pink oversized shirt, with a smug smile on his face, and two guns at the ready. “Bang.” For a moment it felt like he was really shot. He couldn't breathe. Oh, he thought. So that's what he looks like when he smiles freely. 

Beep. Beep. 

500 points added

250 points added

Yoo Joonghyuk curses, jumping down to where he shot the fake Kim Dokja, taking cover. He meets face to face with Kim Dokja’s superior, wearing his white shirt, haphazardly buttoned. “Damn Kim Dokja was right!” He cackles. “You did fall for it!”

Yoo Joonghyuk glares at him, aiming his gun at the annoying man. The man squeaks and immediately hugs himself, covering the vest from view. 

“Yoo Sangah-ssi!” Kim Dokja shouts. “Now!”

“Okay!” She shouts back from wherever she is. She runs towards the right side, coming face to face with Yoo Joonghyuk. He hears footsteps behind him, and finds Kim Dokja, guns at the ready. 

“Well, sorry about this.” Kim Dokja’s superior grins, before immediately tackling him. Yoo Joonghyuk struggles to break free, but he knows by this point it's useless. Kim Dokja has completely trapped him. 

Beep. Beep. Beep.

100 points added

50 points added

100 points added

A loud buzzer goes off, signaling the end of the game. 

Yoo Sangah cheers, high fiving Kim Dokja. “We did it Kim Dokja-ssi!”

“Wohoo!” Kim Dokja’s superior shouts. “We beat their asses!”

“Get. Off. Me.” Yoo Joonghyuk growls. 

“Whoops.”

He gets up with a huff, walking towards the exit without meeting Kim Dokja’s eyes. He is not sulking.

“Are you sulking?”

“I'm not!” he growls back, annoyed that Kim Dokja read his mind. 

“Really? I was going to go easy on you for your penalty but I guess I don't need to.”

Yoo Joonghyuk finally looks at him in trepidation. “What are you scheming Kim Dokja?”

“I-”

“Congratulations team pink!” Bihyung interrupts. “What a group effort! With this win, the total scores are now 300 to 260 in favor of the lime green team! Comeback is imminent, I can just feel it!”

Kim Dokja clears his throat. “Never mind, I'll tell you later.”

“Kim Dokja-”

“And now, for the reveal of the penalty!” Bihyung soldiers on. “Drum roll please!”

Silence. 

“God you guys suck.” Bihyung mutters under his breath, peeling back the sticker that covered the penalty. 

Penalty: spend a minimum of 10.000 won in the gift shop

“Oh, that's not too bad.” Yoo Sangah comments. 

“So I get humiliated, and they get capitalistic punishments?” Kim Dokja says, a little ticked. 

“Now then, for the first time ever, please put the stickers on our group of lime losers! As always stickers can be bought in our gift shop right outside-”

Yoo Joonghyuk takes a step back. “Kim Dokja.” He says in warning.

“What?” He pouts, holding up the sheet of stickers. “Bihyung said any stickers from here are valid!”

“Kim Dokja!”

“Oh.” Lee Jihye says, struggling to keep her poker face. “M-Master, welcome back. Good try out there.”

Kim Namwoon presses his hand over his mouth, his face turning blue from holding back his laughter.

“Guys come on don't laugh at him,” Jung Heewon starts, before bursting into a small giggle. “He-he's just-”

“God damn!” Han Sooyoung whistles.

Yoo Joonghyuk rips the sparkly pink sticker with the word Babygirl on it off his forehead with a roar. “Shut. Up.”

-

“Twister?” Han Sooyoung asks. “Seriously? Where did the budget go?”

Bihyung laughs nervously. “Han Sooyoung-nim, the park worked super hard on this giant Twister mat! I assure you it's a hit for everyone of all ages! And like I said, participation is mandatory! This is the last game you know!”

“Seems a lot of teams refused to play.” Yoo Sangah whispers. 

“Are you kidding? Who would want to be pressed up with their manager and co-workers like this?” Kim Dokja whispers back. 

“Twister eh?” Han Myugoh says with a lecherous smile. “Yoo Sangah-ssi, how about you play this with me and Kang Ilhun? You've been whining about Kim Dokja playing all the games haven't you?”

“Alright Manager Han,” Yoo Sangah agrees easily. “Let's play.”

“Wait, what are you saying Yoo Sangah?” Kim Dokja panics. 

“It's alright Kim Dokja-ssi. I can't let you take the fall for me forever,” Yoo Sangah assures him. “Of course, I'd prefer to play with Kim Dokja-ssi instead. That's okay with you, right?”

Kang Ilhun frowns. “Hey, Manager Han said if I cooperate I can-”

“Of course!” Han Myugoh slaps a hand over his mouth. “I don't mind. As long as we get to play together.”

“Great.” Yoo Sangah smiles back. The sheer malice behind it is enough to make Kim Dokja shiver. 

< Twister >

Clear condition: form a team of 3. Play twister with limited play area, sharing the mat with the opposing team. No space can be occupied by two people. 

Time limit: last person standing

Reward: 100 points

Penalty: none

“Really?” Kim Dokja asks. “You pick a spot right in front of me?”

“Why? Would you rather be with Kim Namwoon?”

“Lee Jihye!” Kim Namwoon shouts from across the mat. “Look at what I can do!” He attempts a backflip (or Kim Dokja assumes that's what he attempted), falling completely flat on his ass instead. And then in an attempt to hide his embarrassment he shouts, “I call it the half flip!”

“Noona you have really great skin.” Lee Jihye marvels. “What product do you use?”

“Oh, mostly Olympus.” Yoo Sangah smiles. “Would you like to try? I have an unopened moisturizer in my bag.”

“Really? Isn't that stuff expensive? My friend has been saving up for one of those. We go by the shop to try the samples like every week.”

“To be honest, I've actually done a sponsored deal with them. I have a bunch of leftover products from them, you're welcome to try them!”

“Really?! Noona you're awesome!”

“Jihye…” Kim Namwoon whines, standing up to do another trick. “Look at me!” 

“Kim Namwoon stop your nonsense!” Han Sooyoung shouts from the side. “We don't have health insurance!”

“Yeah nevermind.” Kim Dokja shakes his head. 

“Ok everyone in position?” Bihyung announces. “We're starting in three, two, one…spin that wheel!”

Kim Dokja follows the motion as he spins the wheel. At first, it was simple and easy, albeit a bit physically challenging. His body wasn't used to being…well used this much. His back made a series of cracks and pops everytime he bent over. 

Over to the side, Yoo Sangah seems to have executed her grand plan. Kim Dokja didn't know how, but somehow every time Han Myugoh spinned the wheel, his face would end up squished in between Kim Namwoon’s butt cheek, or right up his stinky feet. 

Even when the manager scooted over to Yoo Sangah’s side of the mat, she gracefully dodged herself out of the way, and even managed to ‘accidentally’ kick him in the face trying to reach right foot on red. 

Han Myugoh’s disgust finally peaked, and he unceremoniously gave up, flopping down the mat and disqualifying himself. Kang Ilhun welcomed him with a strange smile. 

The problem was that after Han Myugoh disappeared, the wheel somehow turned against him as its next victim. 

Left hand on blue. 

Right hand on green. 

Left leg on blue. 

Right leg on yellow. 

Kim Dokja has managed to contort himself into laying on his back.

Meanwhile Yoo Joonghyuk…

Yoo Joonghyuk has managed to finesse himself into towering over Kim Dokja. 

Left hand on yellow. 

Right hand on blue. 

Despite the large mat, Yoo Joonghyuk has decided in his infinite wisdom to only choose the colors right beside Kim Dokja. 

He can feel the pro gamer’s breath, inches from his face, as they wait for Lee Jihye to put her head on green while her left leg is on red. 

“Do you mind?” Kim Dokja whispers.

“Not at all.”

“Well I do,” Kim Dokja mumbles. “Get your face out of mine, Yoo Joonghyuk.”

“Why?” Yoo Joonghyuk narrows his eyes. “Don't you like it?”

“Wha-”

“You haven't stopped staring at me since we first met.”

“You're delusional!”

“Or are you afraid your girlfriend is going to be mad at you?”

“Girlfriend? I don't have a girlfriend!”

“Hm.” Yoo Joonghyuk smiles, satisfied. “I didn't think you would.”

“E-excuse me?!”

“Or maybe it's your boyfriend?” Yoo Joonghyuk challenges. “Is it the guy you opened your shirt in front of earlier? Did you show him your body?”

“What are you on about you freak!” Kim Dokja hisses. “That's my manager! And-and I didn't change in front of him I threw my shirt to him!”

“Good,” Yoo Joonghyuk praises. “So what's stopping you, you coward?”

Kim Dokja gulps. What's stopping him? How about common sense? Guilt? Embarrassment? Why would he ever think someone like Yoo Joonghyuk, the Supreme King, would be interested in him? Just the concept alone is laughable to Kim Dokja. 

And yet. As the receiver of Yoo Joonghyuk’s sole attention right at this moment, Kim Dokja thought, what if. 

What if, just like back then. When the Supreme King had less than a hundred viewers. And Kim Dokja has had a horrible day from school. And with a split lip and with a limp in his steps, he went to the local internet cafe just to watch Yoo Joonghyuk’s stream. 

And living in a world where no one wanted him, Yoo Joonghyuk saw his name, and said, “You're finally here.”

He was seen. He was heard. The him who was DemonKingSalvation73. As DemonKingSalvation73, he was witty. He was knowledgeable. Interacting with Yoo Joonghyuk felt so easy. He was a part of a community, all with the same underlying fact. Their fondness for this stupid sunfish. 

Take that out, and what is he? 

What could he even see in this version of Kim Dokja? 

He doesn't even register his arms shaking in exhaustion, before it completely gives away. He clenched his eyes shut at the feeling of falling, but that by now familiar hand cupped the back of his head, pulling him close. 

He was practically straddling Yoo Joonghyuk as the pro gamer fell back, still keeping his arms around Kim Dokja. Something about Yoo Joonghyuk’s strong arm propping him up, and the steady hand at the back of his head made Kim Dokja want to cry.

“That's ten seconds without repositioning, both players are disqualified!” Bihyung announces. 

Kim Dokja quietly closes his eyes. Greedily, he enjoys what possibly could possibly be his last chance being so close to Yoo Joonghyuk. 

-

The company takes everyone out to a barbeque spot near the office after the outing ends. He barely gets two bites of the beef and a sip of beer before he excuses himself to the back. 

Kang Ilhun was at the same table as him, and it seems whatever deal went down between him and Han Myugoh fell through, and he's now gossiping about how much of a freak Han Myugoh was at the outing. Even sprinkling in the story of how Han Myugoh made him steal Yoo Sangah’s bike for him so he could offer her a ride. 

Speaking of Yoo Sangah, she and Han Sooyoung were off to the nearby convenience store. Lee Jihye and Kim Namwoon were obviously not old enough to drink, so they were getting ice cream for the two of them. 

Kim Dokja raises his hand, catching a stray flower petal. The air was chilly, but his palpitating heart is all he can feel. He hears a few people smoking in the alleyway, the light of their cigarettes a stark contrast to the dark sky. 

“Kim Dokja.”

He looks back, hands in the pockets of his coat. “Walk with me?”

There's a small park near the restaurant where Kim Dokja takes them both. It's far enough from everyone, but not so isolated that if Yoo Joonghyuk decides to strangle him, he can easily get away with it. Kim Dokja’s gotta make it at least a bit hard for him. 

He spots a swing and plops himself down on it, holding the chains as an anchor. Yoo Joonghyuk stands in front of him, not saying a word.

They stay like that for a good few minutes, before Kim Dokja finally steels his nerves. 

“My name-my identity is DemonKingSalvation73,” he declares. “I know your name because I've watched you ever since you first streamed and debuted under your first e-sports team. I've seen you struggle to put up with your idiot teammates. I've seen you lose the championship three times in a row. I've seen you trapped in a maze for an hour because your pattern recognition sucks. I've bought every magazine that has your interview in it, including the one that doxxed your name. I've been watching every stream you've had for the past ten years without fail.”

Kim Dokja kicks back the swing, growing more and more heated. “I've seen you fight back against your agency for fair pay. I've seen you be mocked and flamed online for your performance. I've seen you scouting and mentoring Lee Jihye, and fought for her to be placed in the roster despite everyone doubting her for her age and gender. I've seen you take a chance with Kim Namwoon, even with his horrible reputation. I've seen you help Jung Heewon transition from a caster to an actual pro player.”

He was nearly shouting by now. “I've seen you win the world series against all odds. I've seen you carve a place for yourself and your teammates in the industry. I've seen you struggle, and fight, and survive. I've seen how you live up to your name.”

Every word. Every bit of news. A glimpse of your face. Your words. Your stories. Your life. I, too, kept moving forward because of you.

“And now-because of my stupidity, I'm not the only one who's seen that.” He croaks. “Now your stupid face is everywhere on the internet, on the goddamn billboard, everyone is going to see how amazing you are you damn sunfish, now you're enough of a big shot to have stalkers and it's all my fault-”

Kim Dokja struggles as Yoo Joonghyuk’s arms suddenly wrap around him. “W-what is this? I'm not finished dammit!”

“Kim Dokja,” Yoo Joonghyuk says. “You arrogant self centered idiot. Not everything in my life is because of you.”

“But-”

“And where you are now,” he continues. “It's because of your efforts. I am not the hero of your story, and you are not the villain in mine.”

“Kim Dokja, we are companions,” he says. “You've saved me just as much as I've saved you.”

Kim Dokja shakes his head. “Liar. I'm no one to you. I'm nothing.”

“Kim Dokja,” Yoo Joonghyuk whispers. “You mean more to me than you could ever imagine.”

He pulls back, wiping the tears in Kim Dokja’s eyes. “Kim Dokja. Let me know you. Let me understand you.” Let me be a part of your life, as you did mine.

“Yoo Joonghyuk,” he whispers. “I…”

He tucks back Kim Dokja’s hair, brushing his finger on the sticker still on Kim Dokja’s cheek. He presses a shy kiss to it, staring at Kim Dokja for confirmation. With a small, eager nod, Yoo Joonghyuk takes it as permission to kiss the corner of his lips. 

“You missed.” Kim Dokja complains. 

“Come and get it yourself, idiot.”

Kim Dokja frowns, cupping Yoo Joonghyuk’s jaw with his hand, stealing the moment to trace that sharp jawline with his fingers.

Their first kiss was awkward. Kim Dokja didn't know where to put his hand, or how to angle his head. But Yoo Joonghyuk patiently parts his lips, and oh. That was nice. That was very nice. 

“Kim Dokja,” he says roughly. “You finally match your team's color.”

Kim Dokja covers his hot cheeks with a glare. “Asshole.”

-

“Hey remember that penalty we agreed on? I wanna cash it in now.”

“On what?”

“Well I was gonna ask you to promise to not be mad at me when I reveal my identity, and to not kill me. Or hit me. But since that's over and done with…how about you play TWSA on stream, without skipping any dialogue, plus you actually read some out loud?”

“TWSA? That 100 hour turn based RPG? Are you trying to sabotage my streaming career already?”

“Oh come on, it can't be that bad! It's good I promise. I've read the web novel front to back, and there's this one character who's just like you-”

“I thought you would've used that penalty on me cosplaying the Punisher.”

“...”

“In the chinese dress and garter-”

“ACTUALLY I-”

“Nope, too late. You've said your piece.”

“NO, WAIT, YOO JOONGHYUK GODDAMMIT!”

-

“You're still doing that?” Jung Heewon gestures to his stream set up. “I thought you told Han Sooyoung you hated it after trying it once.”

“I do hate it,” Yoo Joonghyuk replies. “It's annoying.”

“So you're doing this for…? Surely we're not that strapped for money already?” Jung Heewon frowns. “Should I take up some part time work?”

“Because,” Yoo Joonghyuk says. “This stream is for that one person.”

“That one person?”

Yoo Joonghyuk smiles, seeing a familiar name pop up immediately as he starts the stream. “My Salvation.”

-

Chat archive

< User: DemonKingSalvation73 >

Please be advised that some chats will not be recoverable due to limited storage time

DemonKingSalvation73: Supreme King-nim

DemonKingSalvation73: please never stop streaming

DemonKingSalvation73: I will always be here to watch it

DemonKingSalvation73: Supreme King, have you ever been bullied before? 

DemonKingSalvation73: I doubt you have with that arrogant attitude

DemonKingSalvation73: you would probably easily knock them down right? 

DemonKingSalvation73: do you think if we were in the same school

DemonKingSalvation73: no nevermind

DemonKingSalvation73: you missed a chest

DemonKingSalvation73: Supreme King I saw the news

DemonKingSalvation73: you haven't been paid for six months? 

DemonKingSalvation73: **** that agency 

DemonKingSalvation73: I will always support you

DemonKingSalvation73: Supreme King

DemonKingSalvation73: this is not your ending

DemonKingSalvation73: Supreme King

DemonKingSalvation73: thank you for continuing

DemonKingSalvation73: stop skipping the dialogue!!!

DemonKingSalvation73: Supreme King

DemonKingSalvation73: I survived another day

DemonKingSalvation73: Supreme King

DemonKingSalvation73: I don't know if we'll ever meet

DemonKingSalvation73: just the thought feels foreign to me

DemonKingSalvation73: but on the off chance we do

DemonKingSalvation73: I definitely want to say

DemonKingSalvation73: you're strong

DemonKingSalvation73: strong enough to give me strength

-

monkeeng: no face cam? 

abyssaldragon: good, focus on the game

archangeluriel: aww no face cam :( DemonKingSalvation73 is going to be disappointed

“No need.” Yoo Joonghyuk says. “It served its purpose.”

monkeeng: ??? 

archangeluriel: ???

abyssaldragon: dc didn't ask

“Today we're playing TWSA,” Yoo Joonghyuk starts. “I'm making my character.”

A muffled voice. 

archangeluriel: ??? is there someone else there

“No it won't be the Punisher,” he continues. “It'll be based on someone I know.”

He chooses the most unfortunate looking class, the outer gods, their faces reminisce of a washed off the beach squid. 

Muffled screeching and protest. 

“For no apparent reason, I'll name it Dokja.”