Kim Dokja had made his decision.
And he hated it.
The night after the Constellation backlash was quiet.
Too quiet.
No sponsor interference.
No scenario updates.
Even the Star Stream felt… distant.
Like it was watching from far away.
Afraid.
Kim Dokja stood alone.
Thinking.
'The Star Stream can't control Ethan.'
'Constellations can't define him.'
'Even probability doesn't apply to him.'
That meant one thing.
"…He's the strongest variable in this world."
A pause.
"…Or the most dangerous one."
Kim Dokja didn't tell anyone at first.
Not Yoo Joonghyuk.
Not Han Sooyoung.
Because he already knew what they would say.
«Yoo Joonghyuk: "Kill him before he becomes a threat."
Han Sooyoung: "This is going to backfire. Don't be stupid."»
They wouldn't understand.
Or maybe—
They would understand too well.
"…If I don't guide him…"
Kim Dokja looked at his trembling hand.
"…someone else will."
Or worse—
The Star Stream would find a way.
Ethan was exactly where Dokja expected.
Sitting on the rooftop again.
Watching the sunrise.
"Dokja!"
Bright smile.
No suspicion.
No fear.
"…You came back."
Kim Dokja nodded.
"I need your help."
Ethan tilted his head.
"Okay!"
No hesitation.
Again.
That made it harder.
Kim Dokja spoke carefully.
"…You said magic should be free, right?"
"Yeah!"
"…Then what if something tries to control it?"
Ethan frowned slightly.
"That's bad."
"…Then we stop it."
Ethan's expression lit up.
"Oh! Like fixing it!"
"…Yes."
Kim Dokja didn't correct him.
A system window appeared.
«[Main Scenario #?? — Survival]
[Sub-Objective: Eliminate the Tyrant of District 3]»
Kim Dokja stared at the description.
A powerful incarnation.
Sponsored.
Protected by multiple constellations.
Untouchable by normal means.
Perfect.
"…We're going to test something."
Ethan leaned forward.
"Test?"
"…Your magic."
Han Sooyoung grabbed Dokja's collar.
"…Are you insane?"
Yoo Joonghyuk's voice was colder.
"You're using him."
Kim Dokja didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Han Sooyoung's eyes narrowed.
"…He doesn't even understand what he is."
"I know."
"…And you're still doing this?"
Kim Dokja met her gaze.
"…That's why it has to be me."
The Tyrant stood in the center of the ruined plaza.
Aura blazing.
Constellation-backed power radiating like a storm.
"You dare challenge me?"
Kim Dokja stepped forward.
"…No."
He stepped aside.
"…He does."
Ethan waved.
"Hi!"
The Tyrant laughed.
"…That child?"
"Ethan," Dokja said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"…That man controls people."
Ethan blinked.
"…Like chains?"
"…Yes."
Ethan's expression changed.
Not angry.
Not violent.
Just… disappointed.
"Oh."
"That's not good."
Ethan raised his hand.
"…Then magic shouldn't let him do that."
The air shifted.
Subtly.
But violently beneath the surface.
The Tyrant's aura flickered.
"…What—"
His power twisted.
Collapsed inward.
Like something had redefined its purpose.
«[Constellation sponsorship is destabilizing!]
[Probability conflict detected!]»
"No—WAIT—!"
Too late.
Ethan smiled.
"Fixed!"
The Tyrant fell.
Not dead.
Not destroyed.
Just…
Powerless.
His authority gone.
His story… broken.
No one spoke.
Not Han Sooyoung.
Not Yoo Joonghyuk.
Not even the system.
Kim Dokja stared.
Heart racing.
'It worked.'
'He can target concepts.'
'Authority. Power. Control.'
All of it—
Can be rewritten.
"…Dokja."
Han Sooyoung's voice was quiet.
"…What did you just create?"
Kim Dokja didn't answer immediately.
Because he already knew.
'I didn't create anything.'
'I pointed it.'
And that—
Was worse.
Ethan walked back.
Smiling.
"That was fun!"
Then he paused.
"…Dokja?"
"…Yes?"
"…Was that the right thing?"
Kim Dokja froze.
For the first time—
He hesitated.
"…Yes."
A lie.
A necessary one.
"…We helped people."
Ethan smiled again.
"Okay!"
«[Warning: Narrative distortion increasing.]
[Constellations are observing in silence.]
[The Star Stream is recalculating.]»
Far above—
The sky didn't react.
Didn't intervene.
Didn't judge.
And that—
Was the worst sign of all.
That night—
Kim Dokja stood alone again.
Looking at his reflection.
"…I'm doing the right thing."
No answer came.
Because deep down—
He knew.
He wasn't guiding Ethan.
He was aiming him.
Turning something innocent—
Into something the world could fear.
"…Just until the end."
He whispered it like a promise.
Or an excuse.
«[A constellation is watching silently.]
[No sponsor dares to intervene.]»