Small Talk
"This journey won't be easy. If we fail to take Changsin Station within the next forty hours or so, our group will be wiped out."
Dokja was explaining the situation to the others.
And what was I doing, you ask?
"Ugh..."
Resting.
Honestly, I felt like I could fight again after just a little rest.
"Absolutely not. If that happens again, I really won't be able to handle it."
"I agree. I'm against it this time too."
With two women opposing me, I was left out of this operation.
So now what?
"Hayeon."
"What is it, Sangah? Don't tell me you're here to lecture me again."
"Th-that's not it...! I just..."
Yoo Sangah fumbled, trailing off without finishing her sentence. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of her.
"I won't push myself next time, so don't worry."
"...Really?"
"Well, as much as possible?"
"Pfft... What kind of answer is that."
Yoo Sangah laughed lightly at my joke.
"You're leaving, aren't you?"
"...Yes. Once Dokja wakes up, I think we'll go."
For the fourth scenario proper, Dokja would head up to the surface. Then he'd start the King's Qualifications scenario.
Unfortunately, I couldn't take part in any of it. It wasn't just a matter of mental fortitude — my body was in far worse shape than I'd realized. The strain of forcibly drawing out the last knight's Identity, combined with the R Corp version of me using my body in that condition, had left me a living corpse in the truest sense of the word.
"You absolutely must not overexert yourself. Understood?"
"Yes, I know."
Right now, even if I wanted to move, I couldn't.
"Sangah."
"Yes?"
"Don't get hurt. Come back safe."
At my words, color flooded Yoo Sangah's face.
"I-I'll be going now!"
She fled the scene in a hurry.
Just as the returning silence was about to tip into boredom—
A voice rang through my head. It was the voice of my Blade Lineage self — the one I'd heard at the gathering.
"What. You guys can talk too?"
"There's a Sangah over there as well?"
At that, the other "me"s went quiet for a moment. Then a voice burst out in a panic.
"What? What's going on?"
No answer came. Instead, a racket of crashing and banging filled my head for a while. Eventually, as the commotion settled—
"No, seriously — what is this."
With the situation seemingly calmed, I tried again.
"Went berserk? Why?"
...Excuse me?
"Stop. I get it. I get it, so leave it there."
Honestly, I didn't want to hear another word. The Ring. That single name was enough to paint a full picture of whatever insanity he'd committed.
"Haa... My head's spinning..."
"Can't move. Do you have any idea how much my body aches right now."
The Middle "me"'s voice gradually faded from my head. Yeah — why act like an old fogey in the first place.
"A reason? What is it?"
The sudden question made my head spin for a moment. Lover? Don't tell me he means Dokja.
"Let me correct that first. Dokja and I are not lovers."
"That... is true."
Honestly, I'd been half out of my mind at the time. The shocking revelation stacked on top of the godawful situation right in front of me, and my reason had gone berserk without so much as a question asked.
"I don't know. For now, no."
"What about you guys, then? From what I've heard, there's a Dokja over there too."
A short sigh. What. What is it. Why the silence.
"Handle wha—"
Before I could finish, countless voices erupted inside my head.
The "me"s chattering at full volume made my head feel like it was about to split open. Even Sangah's and Heewon's names came up here and there.
"Hey, wait! Stop!"
At my words, the voices cut off instantly.
"Argh, my head... You guys really never shut up..."
"Huu... Fine. One at a time."
And so the First Annual Lover Bragging Contest was convened.
"Hmm~ So there's a Dokja like that too?"
"Okay. Fair."
"Drag him away."
There was one weirdo mixed in, but overall they were all good things. Still — why did it feel like I was stanning Dokja?
As I was chatting with the other mes—
"Hayeon."
"Hmm? Ah, you're awake, Dokja?"
"You... who were you talking to?"
...Haha. I'm screwed.
Apparently Dokja had seen me talking with the other mes. How was I supposed to explain this...
"Th-that is, Dokja..."
"You... just what kind of secret are you hiding?"
Something was different. This wasn't the reaction of someone who'd merely witnessed me talking to empty air. Dokja knew something.
"Is it because of Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint?"
"You...! How do you...!"
"Answer me. Is that why?"
He hesitated for a moment at my question, then opened his mouth.
"...Yes. When I thought about you, my vision shifted dozens of times."
"I see..."
What Dokja had seen was probably the perspectives of the other mes. They were "me" as well, after all.
"Don't worry. Those things are 'me,' after all."
"What does that mean..."
"I can't tell you now, but I promise. Someday, I'll tell you everything."
At my words, Dokja sighed and spoke again.
"Alright. But when that time comes, you have to tell me no matter what."
"Of course."
With that, Dokja moved away again.
"...Why wouldn't I be."
"This conversation ends here."
"Talking more won't change anything."
As I'd said, talking further was pointless. My not being alright wouldn't stop the end of the world — if anything, the world would simply leave me behind.
In that case—
"I just have to chase after it with everything I've got."