jacoder23

In literature and philosophy, the concept of these ideal: flawless, shimmering, and perfect worlds is given the name "Utopia," which is can be translated as Paradise.

This term was coined by Thomas More's work, "Utopia", in 1516, which envisioned a world free of poverty, injustice, war, or disease. A world where harmony, equality, prosperity, and happiness are normal and universal.

However, the word "Utopia" itself originated from a Greek word, “οὐτόπος” (ou-topos). This word means “No Place”/”Nowhere”. This is why the other name for the Utopia genre is "Non-Existent Ideal" (or Fantasy).

The very genre of Utopia already suggests that Paradise is an impossible ideal.

In contrast, Dystopia—or the Anti-Paradise genre—contains scenarios that are much easier to become reality.

Dystopia, whose name comes from the Greek “δυστόπος” (dis-topos)—meaning “Bad Place”/”Wretched Place”, is a literary genre that has outlined countless scenarios of decline, fear, and horror. Worlds where people are absolutely controlled, completely stripped of democratic rights and freedom, forever immersed in the Nightmare of a dark world and an inescapable captivity...

Many things once predicted in typical Dystopian works like George Orwell's "1984", Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World", or Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451"... have, in fact, become reality in human history...

In ORV and ORV Side Story, these two concepts of Utopia and Dystopia have also been subtly explored.

“If you save a few people right before your eyes, a different world that only exists as a possibility will be born. A world where death and tragedy are determined to be greater.

"The law that the world must be unhappy is—"

"That is the law of the world I came from.”

Everyone fell silent.

No one here could oppose Yoo Jonghyuk.”

— ORV Side Story, Chapter 650 – Episode 19: Old People (2)

Inherently, the worlds within TWSA and ORV are heavily tinged with Dystopia. Those who try to change that reality and turn <Star Stream> into a flawless world, or bring about a complete and perfect ending, must pay a very high price.

The seemingly perfect 1863rd Regression Turn that Han So Young and her companions built in the Main Story was actually purchased with Yoo Joonghyuk’s entire life. To create a regression turn where everyone was happier than ever, the Yoo Joonghyuk of the 1863rd turn had to endure more horrifying misfortune and loneliness than ever before.

Kim Dokja in the Main Story also seemed to have created a perfect and complete ending, but the price he had to pay was the fragmentation of his self to become the Oldest Dream. The price Kim Dokja had to pay to protect the ending he desired was sacrificing the simple happiness of being with KimCom—being with the companions he loved the most.

Even up to the Side Story, after the Yoo Joonghyuk of the 1863rd regression turn had passed away, the perfect ending that Han So Young achieved actually cost another equally expensive price. That was the replacement of all physical entities with avatars, creating a city of puppets, the infinite erosion of consciousness to manipulate the entire world, and finally, the sacrifice of important memories about the transient guest, Lee Hakhyun.

(In fact, the spirit of the Dystopia genre would have been expressed more completely if all of Han So Young's companions in the 1863rd turn had not been easily resurrected. That is also why I do not highly rate the ending that SingSong-nim decreed for the 1863rd turn, because it went against the core Nightmare spirit of the Dystopia genre, bringing a forced, bland, and somewhat cliché "happy" ending.)

When entering the Side Story, it seems the premise the whole world has set for Lee Hakhyun is to create an impossible Paradise (Utopia) within <Star Stream>.

This is inherently an impossible mission. As a writer who has been trained through formal schooling and classic literary works, Lee Hakhyun must be well aware of this.

Perhaps that is why he has never once responded to the request to write a happy ending for the story from Snowfield Kim Dokja, from other readers, or from his Kim Dokja brethren.

The best our Melancholy Writer, Lee Hakhyun, can do is want to accompany someone until “happiness” is found, because, truly—Lee Hakhyun also cannot yet clearly understand what the “happy” ending for this story actually is.

In fact, Han So Young also understands very well what the reality of “happiness”—the thing every story seems to have to aim for—actually is.

“You must know this too, since you’re also a writer. Telling the story one wants to tell… is not always a happy thing.”

— ORV Side Story, Chapter 677 - Episode 2: Kim Dokja (13)

「Does a sad story necessarily have to be a bad thing, and a happy story a good thing? What about a story that is both sad and happy? If a story with a predetermined destruction exists, shouldn't that story exist in the first place?」

— ORV Side Story, Chapter 641 - Episode 17: A Storm in a Teacup (2)

Perhaps, fundamentally, Lee Hakhyun’s mission is not to turn the story in his hands into a piece of happy story.

What would Han So Young say?

「"All misfortunes are normal. It’s just that some misfortunes look special because they have been recorded in a story."」

From the very beginning, Kim Dokja's goal was not to turn a story full of suffering into one of joy and happiness. In reality, Kim Dokja existed as a reader to find meaning in that misfortune and suffering.

“「Every single word has been written, so all a reader can do... is reflect on its meaning.」

Just as Yoo Joonghyuk never achieved the ending he desired, Kim Dokja also had to face a similar tragedy.

When faced with a predetermined tragedy, all a person can do is search for its meaning. To somehow prove that this entire world is not meaningless.

If fighting the world was Yoo Joonghyuk's mission, then fighting meaninglessness was Kim Dokja's mission.”

— ORV Side Story, Chapter 942: The Giant Tree 巨木 (8)

And, as a Kim Dokja, Lee Hakhyun is also fighting against that meaninglessness.

“I only wish for one thing.

[Scene recreation successful]

[Exiting 'Snowfield'.]

To ensure that this story, the story I wrote and all of you read, will not become meaningless.

「At that moment, Kim Dokja ran.」”

— ORV Side Story, Chapter 874: The Great King of Fear (18)

The most terrifying thing in this world, in fact, does not lie in happiness or suffering.

The most terrifying thing is oblivion, and meaninglessness.

The reason writers exist in this world full of disasters and sufferings, perhaps, is precisely to fight against that meaninglessness.

And Lee Hakhyun was no exception.

Perhaps that is why destiny brought him to the 41st turn in this distant place.

To record this forgotten story. To create meaning for an existence that seems meaningless.

Sincerely,

~ A.T. ❤️

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