It's My Collection

The Secretive Plotter.

As the name suggests, he is a constellation who moves in secret, whose motives are unknown with his true intentions obscured behind the veil of stars he commands. With unexpected irony, his infamy only revealed how little the constellations knew about him; the knowledge others had of him rivaling the number of his infrequent appearances throughout the scenarios.

There was only one thing that could be paired with such an elusive constellation, and that was an even more elusive incarnation.

When it came to their every move, the constellations of the Star Stream couldn’t help but gawk and gaze for they had never seen a relationship quite like theirs. One where the incarnation deliberately put him and his sponsor at risk. One where the constellation allowed for such blatant disrespect towards his authority and rule.

It was aggravating, fascinating, awe-inspiring.

Enemies and allies alike; no one could keep their eyes off this improvised spectacle.

So, was it because of Kim Dokja’s tenacity and determination that gave the Secretive Plotter power and notoriety or was it because of the Secretive Plotter’s power and notoriety that gave Kim Dokja the tenacity and determination?

Depending on who you ask, the answer might vary; some will say both, and some might say neither. But deep down, they all know that any answer they come to would be diluted with uncertainty for as long as those two existences muddled the spotlights. Even those who had watched Kim Dokja from the dawn of the scenarios remained oblivious, unable to decipher the blur between the lines.

But today will be different — today all the constellations will witness just where that line is drawn, and if that line will create the final sentence to their story or carve itself into the great walls of history.

[Many constellations cannot believe the audacity of this incarnation!]

[Many constellations are waiting for what he has to say.]

“Unbelievable,” Three murmurs and it definitely wasn’t said in awe.

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is unsure if she should be excited or worried.]

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ does not give his blessing to the constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’.]

For the most part, Kim Dokja considers himself adept when it comes to masking his true emotions. However, even if he was able to maintain his air of confidence on the outside, he could only do so much to keep his hands from shaking. Was it the humidity of the cave or was it the nervousness that made him sweat?

With every second he wasted, the status regarding his mother would remain unknown, and Yoo Sangah’s stories would deteriorate until there was nothing left. Not only that, the ‘probability plausibility screen’ wouldn’t last forever.

Hurry. Before time runs out for them. Before time runs out for—

“Dokja?” Ten asks skeptically.

He inhales shakily before he exhales, nodding.

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is wondering about his offer.]

“The shares of the story of Gigantomachia would be significant if you were given the opportunity to incarnate. It would also support our existing stories immensely.”

While all that was true, Kim Dokja didn’t receive much help from the Secretive Plotter during the Demon King Selection. Even when he felt like he was going to die — even when he did die — that constellation stayed true to his word and did not interfere. It was always a gamble to see if the Secretive Plotter felt like being his sponsor most days.

His stomach knots at the notification that appears.

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is stating that he has enough stories.]

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is telling his incarnation that his current power is enough to support him.]

Kim Dokja’s expression becomes complicated. Doesn’t this constellation understand the lengths he’s going through just to have him coming down be plausible? “Hey, just what is your problem? Is now really the time to do this?”

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is in deep thought.]

Something is wrong.

But Kim Dokja didn’t have the time to sit down and have a nice little chat to clear up the air. Besides, all the constellations were right where he wanted them.

“Sponsor-nim…or should I even call you that? I won’t pretend that you weren’t of help in the beginning of the scenarios, but I can’t afford to have you standing on the sidelines when it matters most just because you want to see how far you can keep pushing my limits. So, it’s my turn to ask; do you know who your incarnation is? Because if you’re so discontent with my actions,” Kim Dokja glares up at the top of the cave, “then I think we should terminate our contract.”

[Many constellations are appalled by the suggestion!]

[Many constellations are thrilled by the suggestion!]

[A constellation who has not revealed their modifier is looking at the incarnation ‘Kim Dokja’ with bright eyes.]

[Many constellations want the incarnation ‘Kim Dokja.’]

Kim Dokja spares one look at the notifications before hiding a grin.

Those were the messages he was hoping for.

“Are you an idiot?”

“You must have a death wish.”

Even Dionysus can’t help but provide a warning of his own, [I wouldn’t say stuff like that to a constellation if I were you, even if your relationship is special. In the end, it’s him who has the final say.]

On cue, sparks of probability surround him, and he has no choice but to ignore them when his lungs damn near cave in on themselves.

“Secretive Plotter, accept my proposal,” Kim Dokja says through gritted teeth. “The truth is that you can’t afford to let me go. Whether it’s as your incarnation or as something else, the one you need is me. Isn’t that why you haven't contracted with another incarnation yet and why allowed me to keep Shin Yoosung? You have no interest in others.”

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is glaring at his incarnation.]

[A constellation who has not revealed their modifier is impatiently waiting for the constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ to make a decision.]

Ten must have absorbed some of the storm because talking becomes a little easier.

“This way I’ll be yours. But right now, I need you to be mine,” he pleads. “To save my companions, I’ll do anything. I can’t lose what I have left. I know you understand.”

Lee Sookyung and Yoo Sangah were waiting for him to help them. If he doesn’t return fast enough, then…

There’s a beat of silence, and he could almost hear his relinquishing sigh.

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is making his request.]

Kim Dokja holds his breath.

He knows his statement was reckless, but Kim Dokja thoroughly believes that he will be able to handle whatever trial the Secretive Plotter gave him. Between storms and public humiliation, his experience as this constellation’s incarnation had taught him how to endure many things, even if they were primarily odd. Memories of the taste of leather resurface against his will.

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ wants to keep his incarnation for a week whenever he chooses.]

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire is letting out a confused scream!]

[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is asking what is happening.]

[Many constellations are condemning the leniency of the constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’!]

Kim Dokja blinks once. Twice. A third and fourth time for good measure.

“Plotter-nim.” Then his face became warm. With his free hand, he covers his lower face. “Bastard, why does it feel like I was the one who was set up? Hah, whatever. Just make sure I don’t go missing for a few centuries next time, alright?”

What could that week possibly be used for? Although this probably wasn’t the Secretive Plotter’s true intention, the Star Stream would have to grant the probability for them to meet due to their engagement. And what comes after marriage? The honeymoon, of course.

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ has accepted the proposal of the incarnation ‘Kim Dokja’.]

[An incredible achievement has been earned!]

[The incarnation has become engaged to a constellation!]

[The incarnation ‘Kim Dokja’ has acquired a new story!]

[The story ‘Courting of the Veil’ has been acquired!]

“Always a defier of expectations,” Ten says as the light of the necklace finally envelops his form.

His heart stops for second, and he nearly doubles over at the feeling of something else intruding in on his body. It felt different from Three — more intense — painful. Kim Dokja gasps weakly, clinging to the wet wall of the cave as his mind accommodates and melds with the foreign entity.

[A fragment of the constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ has descended into his incarnation!]

[The shares of a story that no longer belongs to the incarnation ‘Kim Dokja’ has been slightly restored.]

Someone forces him to breathe because Kim Dokja realizes that he forgot how to.

— Does it hurt?

— What do you think?

Despite his words, he could see the cracks in his incarnation mending. He felt slightly refreshed, too.

— Dokja…

— Hey now, I was the one who asked for this, remember? Moping isn't like you.

There’s a contemplative pause from the other.

— If I took over completely, your incarnation might not be able to handle the aftermath at all. I will leave it to you.

In the distance he could see Yoo Joonghyuk charging at the great existence that was Poseidon with the branch clenched tightly in his hand. Little did he know that his efforts would be futile.

[The ‘probability plausibility screening’ has ended!]

[There is no problem with the probability of the scenario.]

Dionysus finally speaks up after a while, [Is this what you want?]

Kim Dokja looks at him with wide eyes. Everyone was familiar with how the constellations gazed at the ones caged by the scenarios; like disposable playthings — like ants scurrying towards their demise. So it felt strange to have a constellation worry about him like this. In fact, it was a foreign feeling altogether to be cared for at all. It was far from unpleasant, yet Kim Dokja still felt like it wasn’t deserved.

“I do things because I'm the only one can.”

A pair of horns spiral from his head and a pair of pitch-like wings burst from his back; the Demon King Transformation adhering to his body like second nature. With one powerful flap, he shoots across the air towards Yoo Joonghyuk and Poseiden and catches the former just as something crash lands into the scene with bursts of probability.

He glances back at the messy wings behind him curiously.

— Kim Dokja, pay attention.

Clashing against Poseidon was another who donned a veil; his sword held firmly against his trident.

Kim Dokja hates to admit that he’s a little disappointed when he peers over. It seems that even this descent was too much for the constellation because Kim Dokja could tell at a glance that this wasn’t the Secretive Plotter he had encountered those other times. While they all had the same blurry disposition, all the kkomas held themselves differently, just like Three said.

The thing is…

“Dokja,” he acknowledges briefly. If it weren’t for the fact the voice sounded so far away, he would have thought it was Ten who called out to him so casually. Not only was this kkoma not actually a kkoma but a full-sized man, but his way of speaking was also uncharacteristically soft.

Ah, why was there suddenly a feeling of jealously welling up inside of his shared body?

“Could it be that I already have a runaway bride?” Kim Dokja calls out after clearing his throat.

“The Great Plotter is preoccupied with other matters at the moment,” he says.

“More important than our engagement?”

“Are you disappointed?”

He smirks. “Not one bit.”

As he readjusts his hold on the Yoo Joonghyuk who fell unconscious from the blast, two characters who look alike approach him from both sides, both the same height and both donning the two-tier veils.

Wait, this felt too familiar. Even his headache was the same.

Surrounding him, the kkomas that were no larger than his hand had also almost become tall enough to match his transformation height.

“It’s been a while Poseidon,” a full-sized Two says towards the distant figures. “At the time, I killed your son.”

— ✦ —

Ever since Ten descended into Kim Dokja’s incarnation, something strange has been tugging at him deep within the complicated web of Kim Dokja’s stories. He tried to ignore it for a while, however, it became increasingly more difficult the longer Kim Dokja had control. He could feel himself slipping into the background.

[The story ‘■■■’ is gazing hungrily at the existence of ‘Ten’.]

— Dokja.

— What is it?

Kim Dokja produces a bow made from light at his suggestion. It was the weapon most suited for this form and what he was the most proficient in.

— There is something wrong with your stories. That Story Expert told me before that there were gaps.

What replaces the silence is something foreboding. After a long pause, he answers teasingly,

— What are you snooping around in my head for? You shouldn’t be distracted either, you know.

— I believe it is best that I look further. If I can—

“Don't you dare,” he interrupts sharply and notably out loud. “Ten, I’m warning you right now, if you look any deeper, I can’t guarantee what I’ll do to you when you get out.”

It was a genuine threat in a tone he had never heard from him before.

— Kim Dokja.

“Ten-ssi,” he says slowly.

Right now, Kim Dokja needed his power and wouldn’t risk forcing them apart. This is the only chance he would get to be able to pick apart Kim Dokja’s mind and get the answers he so desperately sought.

— I will apologize later.

“Ten!”

Kim Dokja’s voice becomes distant as Ten relinquishes to whatever was dragging him in. Whatever it is, it felt like getting hit by the full force of a tidal wave and his consciousness wavers ever so slightly from the impact.

T en i s a fo o l.

The landing was far from soft — he has no idea what he landed on — writhing against the surface with a wheeze. He blinks a couple times only to be met with complete darkness. For a moment, he tries touching his face to see if there was anything on it but freezes when he hears a voice.

「 (My, we already have another guest so soon?) 」

Ten reaches for his sword only to realize he was completely unarmed. Even his wings and horns were inaccessible in this place. He quickly rises to his feet.

“Who are you? Where am I?”

Light finally flickers from the person’s hand, and a familiar face reveals themself from the darkness. They give him a look that could only be described as perplexed.

「 (Am I not someone you recognize?) 」

Ten looks on in confusion. “Nirvana? I heard you disappeared.”

Nirvana’s expression doesn’t change as they answer, 「 (Hm. That’s not entirely wrong. I can’t say that I’m completely myself here.) 」

Upon closer inspection, Nirvana did look somewhat transparent. Sentences also clung to them, swaying with every movement they made. In their arms was a handful of tattered books.

“Answer, where is this?”

Nirvana approaches leisurely and extends one of the books out towards him. It’s only then did Ten belatedly realize he was at his full size here.

「 (How about you find out for yourself?) 」

After confirming that they had no malicious intent, he takes the book, albeit cautiously. “It’s dark in here.”

「 (Oh right, here.) 」 The light in Nirvana’s hand floats over to Ten which earns them an apprehensive look. 「 (Now be careful opening that thing, they’re fragile.) 」

The book opens with a puff of dust, the spine creaking. “These pages are falling apart.”

「 (What did I say about being careful? Now read closely.) 」

“There’s nothing in here.”

「 (You’re not looking hard enough.) 」

Ten furrows his brow and shoves his face and the light closer.

Finally, the words begin to appear.

「 “We watch over you because you are weak and pathetic. If it weren’t for the will of the Great Plotter, we would have let your incompetence catch up with you until you inevitably died,” Eight said outright. 」

「 “Hey, aren’t sponsors supposed to support their incarnations? You guys aren’t doing a very good job from what I can tell.” 」

「 “You have no say in this. What we do with you is up to the Great Plotter. Your opinion has no use,” Seven added. 」

「 K im D ok ja was torn. Just when he thought that he was finally getting along well with Seven, Eight just had to come in and reset his progress. How could he not feel exhausted after that? It didn’t help that he hadn't had the time to decipher his feelings lately. 」

「 It kind of hurts. 」

Despite how gentle he tried to be, he can feel pieces of the page crumbling between his fingers. Ten’s hand trembles.

“Then this place is…Dokja’s mind.”

His light sweeps the area, and he finally sees the long aisle of shelves stretching endlessly before him. The only thing that had any light were the dimly lit symbols and annotations left on the wood of each shelf. No doubt, they were marked by Nirvana,

Ten coughs, covering his mouth. Dust was practically stagnant in the air. This whole place felt like an abandoned building.

Nirvana takes the book from his hand and motions for him to follow. 「 (Please do watch your step. If you find any fallen books, I would appreciate it if you picked them up. The longer they stay out of their shelves, the faster they decay and story repair is incredibly tedious.) 」

“Repair?”

「 (Curious one, aren’t you?) 」

When they round the corner, they’re greeted by a fortress of toppled shelves with mountains of books surrounding the large desk in the center. At its station, the Devourer of Dreams works meticulously; its tentacles moving with practiced movements under another light created by Nirvana.

Ten stares a little longer than intended. It was a lot smaller than what he remembered.

The Devourer of Dreams turns when it notices their approach, adjusting the spectacle over its presumed eye.

「 (Fragment of the Secretive Plotter, you seek knowledge. The one who I am indebted to is the one who hosts this space, however by extension you can accept it in his place.) 」

“I don't need it.” The Devourer of Dreams’ tentacles deflate as if flustered, and Ten walks right past it, turning to one of the smaller piles and plucking one from the very top. "These ones emit light.”

Nirvana says, 「 (Go ahead and take a look, those are fully repaired. Just leave the ones that are no good.) 」

Ten skims through the pages to find they were pristine with the sentences rich with dark text. However, the longer he read, the more skeptical he became. Not only was there a ton of exposition as if trying to make up for missing information, the personality of the Kim Dokja written here was the one he detested the most. Unable to tolerate it, he closes the book outright.

Ten reconsiders tossing it to the side until he recalls that it was all technically Kim Dokja and that he should still be gentle. He puts it back and reaches for one of the more tattered options.

「 (Didn’t I tell you to leave those ones? Pick up a better one.) 」

“I only care about these ones. The real Dokja is in these books.” Then he adds, “I will be careful.”

Nirvana folds their arms; their lips turned up in a pout. 「 (I suppose.) 」

He flips through to whatever pages had words. This was right after Dark Castle.

「 Kim Dokja wasn’t sure what to do. He was so anxious that he couldn't even speak. But he was the Secretive Plotter’s incarnation, and there was a representative watching over him in the form of a kkoma. 」

「 I'm tired. 」

「 Without the constellations watching him, surely it would be alright to relax a little, right? Could he be allowed to be someone else right now and not the Kim Dokja that should know everything? 」

「 In reality, he couldn’t stomach the thought of waking up alone after parting with everyone. If it weren’t for Ten, Kim Dokja wasn’t sure how he would have survived the collapse of his incarnation. Even though they weren’t on good terms, his presence was enough for him. 」

「 He would rather be hated than feel alone. 」

The pads of his fingers brush over the letters with quiet longing. He didn’t know Kim Dokja thought so much. All he talked about was his companions. the constellations, or the scenarios. It was only when he was reading him did it feel like he was having a proper conversation.

Ten picks up another book and flips through some blank pages until he settles on an interaction he hadn’t seen before. This was set during his time in the 73rd Demon Realm.

「 “Hayoung-ah, you don’t see yourself as a boy, right?” he asked out of the blue. 」

「 “Hm, you’ve got a problem with that?” She raised her fist as if preparing to fight. “Just so you know, I didn't ask to look this way. If I had a choice I would be—” 」

「 “Someone else?” Kim Dokja gently pushed her hands down. “I don't have a problem with you; you can calm down. I already have enough people and constellations antagonizing me as is. Gender is my last concern.” 」

「 Jang Hayoung scrunched her brows together, a hand to her chin as she eyed him. “Could it be that you’re the same?” 」

「 Kim Dokja recoiled like he had been shot. “I’m fairly certain that I’m a man.” 」

「 “Oh yeah, you’re a man through and through. W hat I mean i s…” 」

The library shakes, and he can hear books tumbling from their shelves in the distance. Nirvana looks troubled. Even the Devourer of Dreams stops working. Suddenly the light in the space goes out and he’s yanked down

「 (Dream Eaters. Keep your voice low.) 」 As if sensing the oncoming question, Nirvana adds, 「 (You could call them the original librarians — beings who were here long before us.) 」

One of the dark creatures descends from the top of the shelves, clinging against the empty openings and shoving its tendrils through the limited selection of books. He flinches whenever a few would fall to the ground with a deafening crack, sentences spilling out. It eventually picks out two of the brightest ones before shoving them into its abyssal maw.

At the sight, Ten moves to stop it, but Nirvana snatches him by the tail of his coat first. 「 (Unless you want to be the one eaten instead, I suggest that you stay put. Just watch what happens before you rush in.) 」

Sentences begin floating in the air.

「 A hand combs over his ear and the sensation of his nails scraping against his neck gives him chills as the weight settles around it. It just barely fits between the gap of his horns. 」

「 “Rings aren’t to our taste, but this should suffice,” Three says, stepping back. 」

「 K im Dok ja reaches up to touch the sizeable piece of jewelry, his cheeks tinted pink. “I didn’t take him for an earring kind of person either.” 」

「 “You act as if you know the Great Plotter intimately.” 」

「 “Well, in case you forgot, we're happily married now. I think I officially have the right to say that I do.” Ki m D okj a fidgets with the chain dangling from it, grinning. “By the way, how long have you had this? The timing is a little too convenient, don’t you think? 」

「 Three scoffs, pointedly averting his gaze. He ignores the question in favor of clarifying, “Engaged. Not married yet.” 」

「 Even if Three was taller than him now, Ki m D okj a recognized in his heart that he met him as a kkoma first, so he still found himself treating him like he was small. He was going to reach for his head but aborts the action to instead pat his bicep. 」

「 “Be good and stay put, I’ll talk to Anna Croft.” 」

“They create stories by eating them. But only the adequately repaired ones.”

「 (For lack of better words, yes. This is why the maintenance of this library and its contents is important. Though, I haven’t seen all three of them come out at the same time in a while. It’s a little disconcerting.) 」

When the creatures could no longer be heard, the three of them emerge from their hiding place. The first thing Ten does is reach for one of the books it abandoned, caressing it with both hands and brushing a thumb over the cover. After a moment, Ten reluctantly passes the book over to the Devourer of Dreams, the former Outer God stretching its tentacles to put the fallen books back in their place.

“What can I do?”

「 (As long as you are an outsider, there isn’t much you can do. If you stay here for too long, you won’t be able to go back out there. Your very existence might even be consumed by ‘Kim Dokja.’ I’m amazed that you're even here and intact.) 」

“I was bound to his soul unlike the other dependents who were bound to his physical incarnation. That could be a factor.”

Something didn’t sit right with Ten. From what he saw, the Dream Eaters didn’t create new books after consuming the existing ones. They also seem to have an affinity towards the ones that were fully repaired, which meant they were consuming a mostly false Kim Dokja. Even if he was resentful, it was clear that Nirvana and the Devourer of Dreams were partially doing this to survive, so he couldn’t fault them.

Why did the Dream Eaters exist in the first place?

Ten pauses, raising his head abruptly. Without warning, he rushes towards the first cross aisle he comes across and begins pacing through them quickly, his eyes and light scanning over them rapidly until he breaks until a full sprint through the library.

He stops at the wall at the end of the library, looking in horror as he’s presented by an endless display of barricaded doors sealed shut with dozens of different locks each. There was a golden light seeping out from the cracks of every one — too small to peak through, but just enough for his imagination to run rampant.

Just then, Nirvana descends next to him, their footsteps light in contrast to the sound of his heart hammering in his ears.

The dependent looks at them from over his shoulder. “The library doesn’t end here.”

「 (Astute observation.) 」 Nirvana folds their hands behind their back, tilting their head as if waiting patiently for him to continue.

“These shelves are almost empty,” he states. “How much longer?”

「 (I’m afraid that that’s entirely dependent on him. You thought it yourself, have you not? ‘Kim Dokja is weak.’ Not only physically, even his ego is as durable as blown sugar. One will give way to the other eventually.) 」

“Then what do you gain from doing this? Don't you want to escape?”

「 (I get a glimpse into another life.) 」 They chuckle. 「 (A place this desolate just doesn’t leave much room for the imagination unfortunately. I’ve accepted that this place is where I shall be. Yes, there is simply too much work to think about such frivolous things.) 」

「 “Ahjussi!” Shin Yoosung cried. 」

The two of them startle simultaneously when a spotlight suddenly beams down on them, stunning their senses. At the sight of a Dream Eater looming over them, the pair immediately freeze like deer in headlights. They hadn't even heard it approach.

The second and a third emerge alongside it; sentences leaking from their oozing orifices.

「 T en-ssi… 」

「 Te n-ssi, whe re a re yo u? 」

「 Yo u wil l die if you st ay. 」

His hair stood on their ends at the gurgle of Kim Dokja’s distorted voice. Then there were other voices that dripped out of them.

「 “His wounds a re n’t he al in g properly.” 」

「 “We have to h urr y back! Th-There’s still tim e. We can still h elp h im.” 」

「 “K im D okj a, what are you doing?!”」

Ten’s heel hits the door when he tries to create space between him and the Dream Eaters.

「 (I’ve never seen them look this anxious.) 」 Then Nirvana gives him a look he can’t quite decipher. He could almost sense traces of pity from them. 「 (It sounds like he needs you. But don’t worry I have a feeling that we’ll be seeing each other very soon, little fragment.) 」

[The connection between the constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ and his incarnation has been temporarily disconnected!]

BANG!!!

The first thing Ten experiences is the wind being knocked out of him as he’s slammed into the wooden floorboards, the clink of the star shaped necklace falling right beside his head and startling him from his stupor.

He tries to quickly assess the situation, noting sparks and sentences spilling from the man’s gut.

“Dokja, what did you—? The aftermath will kill you—”

“Ten-ssi, I really like you, but I warned you not to do it, didn’t I?”

“Dokja-ssi!”

“Hyung, calm down! You’re hurting him!”

Kim Dokja’s gaze pins him in place, heavier than any hand, sharper than any blade.

“Tell me right now, just how much did you see?”

Sayuri Tachibana

Her husband and children who live in a different country inspire her to endure working a high-stress job. She prioritizes helping the regular people in a world with kaiju attacks, and for a little while she got to be Ultra God's human host making her a Mary, Mother of Jesus equivalent.

Kim Dokja

He's just a normal guy. :)