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Unfulfilled Role (1)

a/n: fyi, the pic above is probably the closest to cale's current appearance in my head right now. just to help your imagination. © airtrees0507 on twt

anyways, on with the story.

-

"Saga," Cale called out, and the familiar cream dokkaebi appeared out of thin air.

Kim Dokja who was used to Bihyung's constant appearance wasn't too shocked, but his jaw still dropped slightly at the sight. "You made a contract with a dokkaebi too?" He blurted out in surprise.

Cale scrunched up his nose, not caring about the mentions of contract that had accidentally slipped. "No. He just listens to me for some reason."

Saga crossed his arms with an offended look on his fluffy face. He also doesn't seem to care of the obviously illegal contract between a dokkaebi and human. [ I don't do that. ]

"Mm," The man only hummed, not taking Saga's words seriously at all. "Did you successfully redirect the channel's focus elsewhere?"

[ I did. ] He said firmly, and that managed to snap Kim Dokja out of his trance.

"Wait, is that why I didn't receive tons of messages? I thought even the constellations would freak out over that fact," Dokja commented in a laid-back tone, and by 'that fact' is the revelation that this is the world of a novel.

[ What fact? ] Saga tilted his head, before a look of understanding flashed in his eyes. [ Ah, to be honest, I didn't even have to redirect the channel. Your conversation was strangely censored by the star stream. I couldn't hear all of it. ]

Kim Dokja seemed bewildered, but Cale hummed thoughtfully, gaining their attention. "Makes sense. Secrets like that are bound to be kept under the rug by this world's rules."

"...I suppose you're right," Dokja sighed, his shoulders slumped in relief. Then he turned to Cale. "Seriously, what exactly are you going to do?"

The other two looked at the stoic man skeptically. Their uncomfortable feeling grew at the sight of Cale's widening grin.

"A shit show."

Kim Dokja tried not to shiver.

After that conversation, a few days quickly went by. The poisonous fog hasn't been lifted, but Dokja informed him that it'll be gone soon if the flow of Ways of Survival is correct, indicating people either finished the scenario or left. Cale spent most of his time rolling around the bed. He's going to move and work for once. But it's alright, he's convinced that he's doing this to secure his slacker life in the future. He's going to work his ass off so he can live a long peaceful life. Besides, it's not like he will gain nothing from this.

"Kang Gunwoo, take care of everyone for me," He spoke to the teary vice-leader of Gumho Shelter.

"Of course, Cale-nim," Gunwoo said, his voice cracking midway as he held himself back from exploding into tears.

The same couldn't be said for everyone else. Some of them were already crying out.

"Cale-nim, do you really have to go?"

"We won't see each other again?"

Cale observed people's faces closely, and he exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding. "All of you can take care of yourselves now. The future scenarios will become more dangerous, but you've learned a lot of things, and you'll continue to grow as time passes. You can also stick together if you want to. Protect each other. Who knows? If you survive long enough, we might meet again."

Truthfully, he doesn't want to get tangled up with the leader business anymore so despite hoping they'll survive, he prays he won't encounter them again.

Lee Hyunsung, the bear-like man, was staring at him with glossy eyes. "Cale-ssi, will you really be okay?"

Cale blinked, opening his mouth to answer, but before he could utter a single word, three shouts came from afar.

"Hyung!"

"Ahjussi!"

"Cale Ahjussi!"

Kim Namwoon, Na Bori, and Han Donghoon came rushing closer. The red dragon was wrapping itself around the latter's neck this time. Their expressions seemed like a mix of anger and confusion.

"Hyung, what the hell are you thinking?!" Namwoon was ready to punt the man. His red eyes narrowing and forming a vicious look that made Cale want to bury himself underground just so he can't look at it.

Na Bori added on, placing her hands on her hips as if she's scolding him, "You plan on venturing to god knows where on your own?!"

Cale flinched.

"Ahjussi, are you stupid?" Even the timid Donghoon was glaring at him, and Cale felt like an arrow had pricked his conscience.

"K-Kyu!" Igneel chimed in accusingly with a frown, despite having no idea what's going on, and that officially made the man felt as if a giant boulder had crushed him.

'Aigoo...' He held back a sigh.

"It won't be long. I promise."

"At least let us come with you!" Namwoon tried to urgently convince him.

"No."

The objection was swift, leaving the white haired teen with gaping mouth that looked similar to a goldfish.

At first, before knowing his enemies are planning to do something, Cale planned to take them and never appear again until Kim Dokja truly needs his help, but the circumstances have changed. He cannot let them be involved in something he is supposed to solve. Cale knows they're strong, but compared to the hunters, they're incredibly weak. He won't take any chances. At this point, them being in Kim Dokja's care seems safer than with him.

Until he strengthened his ancient powers, he can't get close to anyone. It'll be different if everyone has been through many scenarios and gain many strong skills. Currently, the whole group are only tiger cubs who still had no idea of how the new world works. If his enemies found him with them, who knows what they'll do? They'll simply be a baggage to him, or bait used by the hunters.

Other than that, he's also very weak. The favor with the Sun God is still incomplete. It'll take a while until the god contacts him again, so in the meantime, he's going to get stronger.

No, not the strength that's only enough for him to live through a few days under constant attacks. He can't do that this time.

Cale plans to have overwhelming power so he can smack the hunters at the back properly for sending him to another world without his consent.

"Instead of worrying about me, worry about yourselves," He said to the three teenagers who were looking at him with complicated gazes. "I'll come back as soon as possible."

'Besides, aren't I the adult here? Why are they the ones fussing over me?' Cale thought as he frowned slightly. 'Well, I guess it's because they know how weak I am.'

"...Ahjussi, give me your phone for a bit," Donghoon said, holding out his hand.

Cale tilted his head, but wordlessly gave him his phone, something that he barely used ever since he arrived in this world.

Donghoon was fiddling with the device for a while, furrowing his brows in concentration, before a satisfied expression took over his face. "I used my skill to install a long distance communication. I'll do the same to the others, so please respond to us when you can."

"...Haah, okay." Cale nodded, putting the item back in his pocket. "All of you stay safe."

His gaze landed on Jung Heewon, but the woman seemed to have read his mind already and sent him a reassuring smile.

He patted Gilyoung's head. The boy was holding Yoo Sangah's hand, looking up at him with the same expression as the other children.

Lastly, Kim Dokja was standing with folded arms, staring at him with a look that screams 'I told you they'll react like that'. Cale huffed and rolled his eyes, but it made a devilish smile appear on Dokja's face instead, eyes twinkling with a sense of mischief that was often described in the novel. "You owe me one, got it?"

"I got it. I'll return the favor soon," Cale muttered apprehensively.

Everyone watched as Cale departed, waving to each other before the man quickly disappeared using his wind ability.

Soon after that, Kim Dokja's group, with more members than the beginning, began their journey towards Chungmuro Station.

• • •

They had crossed half the railroad lines when the system message popped up.

[The second main scenario is enabled.]

+

[Main Scenario #2 - Meeting]

Category: Main

Difficulty: E

Clear Conditions: Cross the tunnel and meet the survivors in the first main base, 'Chungmuro'.

Time Limit: None

Compensation: 500 coins

Failure: ???

+

Kim Dokja eyed the blue window as they arrived at Donghae Station after a long walk, which means they should walk again for a while before finally arriving in Chungmuro.

Namwoon panted heavily as he slumped to the floor, unfazed at the bloody sight that they encountered at the previous station.

No doubt it was the work of Yoo Joonghyuk. Kim Dokja easily figured it out with a brief glance at the injuries on the dead bodies.

The whole party wiped out the underground rats they encountered with ease, obviously have gotten stronger since last time, but it was still exhausting to walk around while staying alert all the time. Their stamina also drained faster to fight the monsters, so Kim Dokja announced that they should rest here.

"Heewon Unnie, Sangah Unnie, let's get some basic necessities?" Na Bori said, and the women nodded in agreement.

"What basic necessities? Don't we have food already?" Kim Namwoon frowned in confusion.

Donghoon nudged him harshly on the ribs.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

Han Donghoon sighed and whispered, "Women necessities don't stop even in an apocalypse, Namwoon."

"...Oh."

Kim Namwoon seemed to have understood, blinking dumbly at the realization.

"What an idiot," Na Bori mumbled in amusement.

Lee Hyunsung and Lee Gilyoung decided to go to the toilet, and Sangah turned to Kim Dokja.

"Will Dokja-ssi stay with Namwoon-ssi?"

"I will go aboveground for a bit."

"Huh? There will be poisonous fog if you go out... will it be okay?"

"I'm only going for a bit."

Jung Heewon narrowed her eyes at his words. "...Something is suspicious. Dokja-ssi, are you going to eat something good alone?"

He looked at Jung Heewon for a moment, and his lips quirked up into a smirk. "It's a man's secret."

Oddly enough, Kim Dokja returned with Samyeongdang's beads and straw mat. He easily gave them to Yoo Sangah and Jung Heewon. There was a slight conflict with the constellation for destroying a certain statue, but everything got solved in the end and he even received coins so he personally counted that as a win.

They continued their journey, and Kim Dokja's expression turned sour.

It was time for 'that' to appear.

[A new sub scenario has arrived!]

Indeed, as soon as he thought about it.

"Everybody step back."

+

[Sub Scenario - Welcome Prison]

Category: Sub

Difficulty: D~F

Clear Conditions: Escape from Welcome Prison within the time limit.

Time Limit: 1 hour

Compensation: 300 coins

Failure: ???

+

[Sub scenario - Welcome Prison has begun!]

Perhaps Yoo Joonghyuk had suffered quite a bit in this scenario. This scenario was one of the most painful traps for a regressor.

Yoo Sangah asks, "Welcome Prison? What is this?"

She would know without asking.

"It's coming. Everyone, please keep your mind straight."

Before Kim Dokja's words were over, a haze overcame him. The fog that instantly occupied the tunnel blocked their field of view. The party members in the immediate vicinity couldn't be seen. When he looked around, he could only see a distorted scenery.

"F*ck. No! You can't!"

"Uwah...! Y-You dog bastard!"

Kim Namwoon and Jung Heewon screamed. Maybe they were seeing something different from what Kim Dokja saw now.

「Dokja.」

The voice he didn't want to hear. That forgotten voice was heard in a drug-like landscape. If he was this way, the other party members would be worse.

"...Something feels strange. Dokja-ssi! Are you there?"

"Dokja-ssi! Dokja-ssi!"

In this distorted vision, the voices of the party members were gradually fading.

[Welcome Prison].

A space that led to madness by touching a person's trauma.

「 Dokja, you didn't see anything. Understood? 」

The landscape disappeared and the face of a person popped up. His pupils shake as he stared into the air. He wanted to deny reality.

[The exclusive skill, 'Fourth Wall' is activated!]

[Due to the skill effect, immunity to Welcome Prison has occurred.]

The moment his mind relaxed, the uncomfortable feeling diminished.

[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' admires your spirit.]

[100 coins have been sponsored.]

[The curious constellations are disappointed that they can't peek at your memories.]

[The constellation, 'Everlasting Shelter of Bloodshed' worries for his incarnation.]

As the power of Welcome Prison weakened, he felt a sense of alarm.

"Everyone, calm down and take deep breaths."

Those trapped in Welcome Prison would lose their minds and unleash their madness around them. Thus, the most dangerous thing in Welcome Prison was the companions around you. Yoo Joonghyuk's solo behaviour might be because he was worried about this prison.

"K-Kyu!" Igneel jumped onto his shoulder as the dragon frantically looked around. It seems like he wasn't affected by the fog at all, which is good news. Kim Dokja wasn't sure what to do if it suddenly goes berserk because of fear and madness.

He did promise Cale he's going to take care of them, and he's not the type to break it.

Igneel seemed to be gravely concerned as he tried calling out to them, and Kim Dokja patted the creature. "Calm down. They'll be fine," He said, and that was enough to reassure it.

"S-Soldier Lee Hyunsung. I did not hear wrong, Sir!"

"I was wrong. I was wrong, Mother!"

"No! Stop! D-Don't go, please!"

"Let go of me! Help!"

...He was too late. He heard the screams of people filled with madness. But it wasn't everyone.

"...Dokja-ssi?"

At this moment, Yoo Sangah's appearance was revealed in Welcome Prison. Samyeongdang's Beads around her wrist was glowing brightly. Fortunately, it worked.

He approached Yoo Sangah and spoke, "Cover the surroundings. From now on, I will destroy this space."

• • •

After escaping the Welcome Prison, the creepy and weird specters were easily destroyed by Kim Dokja. They weren't difficult opponents so it's an expected outcome.

[You have gained Specter's Stone.]

He put the fallen stones in his pocket and looked around. Thanks to Yoo Sangah, the others were recovering quickly.

The one who recovered the fastest was Lee Hyunsung.

"I-Is everyone okay?" Na Bori asked, clutching onto her pounding head.

"Kyung!" Igneel immediately approached her, pushing her body with his head to help her sit up.

Kim Namwoon cursed under his breath, "Ow... Sh*t, I feel awful..."

Yoo Sangah helped steady Han Donghoon who was still shivering with wide eyes. His trauma was very recent, so it's understandable that he was the last one to snap out of it.

Kim Dokja saw a pale light in the distance.

"Dokja-ssi, I think it's over," Yoo Sangah said warily.

He stroked Lee Gilyoung's head gently. He worried about it for a short moment. Jung Heewon was knocked out, and the others are still a bit shaken. Would all of them be okay to enter Chungmuro at this rate?

A blade loomed in the darkness. But it was a pure threat, without the intent to harm.

"Who are you? Don't you know that this area is our hunting ground?"

In the faint light of the entrance, a girl holding a long sword stood. She looked to be 17 and was wearing a school uniform.

She was wearing a hood like she was trying to hide her name tag, but her appearance was noticeable.

"Ah, this girl...!"

Yoo Sangah had keen eyes and recognized her first. Kim Dokja also knew her. It was because she was one of the main characters of Ways of Survival. The only survivor of Daepong Girls High School and one of the reasons why Yoo Joonghyuk went straight to Chungmuro in the shortest time.

"...Jihye...?"

All of them simultaneously turned towards the teen who had called out the name with a shaky voice.

The girl's hand that was holding the sword slowly dropped.

They were staring at each other with wide glossy eyes, not trusting themselves to speak just yet.

"Bori-ya...?"

Silence loomed over them, and they felt a faint breeze in the subway tunnel where no trains were running. Looking at Lee Jihye's and Na Bori's hair fluttering in the wind, Kim Dokja realized.

[Main Scenario #2 - Meeting has ended.]

[The compensation will be settled.]

The story had changed from the start.

---

a/n: a fast update lmao.

what does cale plan on doing? no one might ever know. 🤔

also i love the idea of cale being the dad of 4 kids and kim dokja being their babysitter while also having kids of his own. alberu's not here to take care of the aftermath? no problem, cale has kim dokja to dump all of his mess on!

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