Wish

“This is..?” 

“This, my good friend, is called Tteokbokki. Korea’s greatest invention!” 

“Uh huh…” 

It was just two guys chilling in a small restaurant eating Korean street food. Taesoo’s palm rests under his chin as he watches the handsome man before him play with the cheesy soup of the tteokbokki. 

“Don’t play with your food. I paid good money for it so you have to savor it!”

“I’m not familiar with it. There’s a possibility that it’s poisonous. Try it for me first.”

Taesoo was starting to feel irritated. This annoyingly handsome guy is supposed to be the world’s biggest threat and yet he doesn’t want the tteokbokki just because he’s scared he’ll get poison? He thinks it's nonsense.

“Fine. I’ll take the first bite.”

In an irritated mood, the boy slides the bowl of flaming red tteokbokki to his side and lifts a pair of steel chopsticks. He doesn't glance at the man across from him; he focuses fully on the chewy rice cake he has picked up. The string of mozzarella follows, and he takes a vigorous bite. The fiery spice takes over his tongue but the cheese serves as a shield to make sure it’s not just the spiciness that took over. It’s a savory dish but the chewy texture and hint of sweetness from the rice cake was the perfect icing on top to bring balance to his mouth. 

Taesoo was overjoyed every time he got the chance to bite into this delicious snack. 

“Is it that good?”

Staring at him the entire time, the man finally grew curious. No longer suspected of being poisonous, he took the bowl back to his side. It was his turn to have the god of food bless his tongue. He even wonders if he’s able to make the same aloof expression as Taesoo did. Probably not, but curiosity can never kill this cat.

“Of course! Korean food never misses. I hope with this you at least won’t destroy Korea.”

His way of hoping was quite literal. Never be fooled by a handsome man. He would never have thought that he’d be the unlucky individual who’d be protecting this world by convincing a villain. 

Oh how unlucky he is. For he is the only one that can stop this world from destruction.

Threaten to be parished by the one that sat in front of him, Dion Kholodov.

...****************...

It happened a few days prior.

Sunday, 7:00 am. 

Kim Taesoo had not gotten a single wink of rest.

He had spent the entire night just to finish reading the last few chapters of a 575 chapters worth of a fantasy novel. Closing the final page, he places it with the other previous book of the same story, neatly on his shelf. 

“Finally reached the end huh.. It was a good run. I’ll be thinking about it a lot now.”

He sighs to himself. A part of him was proud, but another side of him felt empty due to how there would be nothing that he’d be looking forward to in his free time. But still, he doesn’t regret picking the novel. Not one bit. He just wished that more people were talking about it. 

Just as soon as Taesoo was about to take his time for a shuteye, a vigorous earthquake struck his lids open. 

The lights above him flickered on and off uncontrollably, his furniture was screaming sounds that would be from a horror movie, his heart was racing, and his body was alerting all sense of danger. This was the first time he had experienced this large of an earthquake firsthand. 

But he couldn’t allow himself to stand there dumbfoundedly, he too wished to live. His feet swiftly brought him out of his bedroom, but the earthquake stopped just as soon as he opened the door. That's the only good news within the next few minutes.

In exchange for the surprise, there stood an unknown man in the middle of the living room. 

As far as Taesoo is concerned, he lives alone. The man emits a mysterious aura, an appearance that is sure to stand out even amongst the busiest crowd. 

… he shakes his head. Appearance aside, he is one without manners too. He was standing on top of his coffee table. 

A stern and furious expression was drawn on the man’s lips. At the same time, he swung the sword just before Taesoo’s nose.  

“You.. Where have I been taken to? Speak or else you'll suffer the consequences” 

He appears very demanding too when It feels like everything said was supposed to be Taesoo’s line. After all this weird cosplayer was standing on top of his table! 

“Get out of my house now or I’ll call the cops” 

Taesoo too was not afraid. He has a good feeling that the sword is a toy made for children. He was sure to have seen a similar-looking one a few weeks ago in the toy section of Costco. However, with that confidence in mind, he grabs the tip of the blade, and immediately he regrets it. 

“Ouch! What the heck, why is this thing dangerously sharp?!”

Blood trickles down his fingers. It was shallow due to the light grip but still gave a throbbing pain. It was the first time he had bled this much by his fault. Were toys even allowed to be this sharp?

Kim Taesoo switches his gaze from his bleeding hand toward the man. There wasn’t a hint of a smile anywhere on his lips at all. 

“The cops? I don’t know why calling them was the first thing on your mind. To touch a blade barehanded… You’re dumber than you look.”

Frustration, irritation, anger. Taesoo was in disbelief at how a stranger just called him dumb when it wasn’t his fault in the first place. 

“I don’t know who you are but do you realize that you’re trespassing my place??” 

Taesoo, who rummaged through his pockets for his phone, quickly dialed 112 for the quickest emergency contact. 

The mysterious man lets it happen right before his eyes. He kept his sword back in its sleeve, hidden away from plain sight. It was also his way of letting his guard down. To him, Taesoo didn’t serve as a threat big enough to draw his blade. For some reason, Taesoo felt he was being underestimated but what matters is that the small phone rang out a few times. 

Beep.. 

Beep… 

“This is Korea’s emergency line, How may we assist you?”

“There’s a weirdo in my place. Can you please come and pick him up? I’m at—“ 

The man took Taesoo’s phone away, but instead of shutting it down, he placed it right behind his ear. His lips open perhaps.. to help Taesoo?

“Hey! I thought you weren't afraid of cops—”

“Bring here the number one awakener, Evan Alxander. I’m sure he’s itching for a rematch as well.” 

Finally, a smirk appeared on his lips. Taesoo felt chills down his spine as he watched it alone. 

“…who are we currently speaking with?” 

“Dion Kholodov. Humanity’s biggest nightmare.” 

Evan Alxander. Dion Kholodov. Names that were not foreign to Taesoo’s ears. He knows the bearer of the name very well. How could he not? Not when he had just finished reading the novel containing their names as important characters.

It was no wonder ‘Dion’ looks familiar. His appearance was on the front cover of the novel and his notable charming features were repeatedly mentioned in the novel. Perhaps the story didn’t want the readers to forget that their characters were ethereal. 

The way ‘Dion’ was proud as he announced his name was full of confidence. Tension surrounds him and Taesoo could feel how this man was…

Really into character!

It was a performance worth to be praised for. He even got the setting and the chills correct down to the spine. But what does it all mean in front of a cop who doesn’t read the same story as he did?

“Can you give this call back to the original dialer?” 

Dion knew that he had won, or at least thought so. Giving back the cell phone to Taesoo, he finally received the chance to speak again. 

“Hello, I'm the first guy that called.” 

“What is your name?”

“Kim Taesoo.”

“Kim Taesoo, we can see why you contacted us. We will send the mental health ambulance on your way. Please tell us your location.”

However, once more, nothing could be relied on after that. When Dion took his cell phone away once more, the call disconnected properly. 

“Hey, stop that!”

“I see how it is.. Korea. A place I'm not familiar with.” 

Taesoo is looking at the man claimed by Dion to be someone crazy. Crazy enough to declare himself as such to the police…. Is this a dream? 

“Your name is Kim Taesoo, right? Now that I’ve ventured into this world, I’m hoping that you’ll take care of me well.” 

“I'm not taking care of you. You fucking weeb. Get out of my house!” 

Taesoo didn't care for much. Grabbing with both of his hands, he grabs Dion’s wrist to physically drag him away. But why is it more difficult than it seems? Dion stood in his place without needing much resistance. 

“You may be unfamiliar with my name. However, I can destroy this world in a snap of a finger.”

Is he still talking nonsense? 

He knows the character Dion Kholodov more than anyone else. It is still fresh in his memory. His appearance however was not far from the character's main points. He has always been described as a very handsome individual. His snow-colored hair and golden orbs were never to be missed. Numerous times it is mentioned how hard the villain is to keep himself hidden for this fact, and it became a running joke in the story. 

“Why do you keep cosplaying that fictional guy? You can drop the act now. This is another level of weeb.”

“Cosplay..? You’ve misunderstood. I am the real Dion Kholodov, and I intend to present proof” 

Even so, handsome features do not equal a warm heart. If there was a reason to kill then he would not hesitate. Not for the weak or the strong. 

Right now, Dion is about to show how heartless he truly is. 

In a blink of an eye, he was already holding Taesoo’s wrist. Specifically his left. 

Taesoo couldn't even react fast enough to free himself. The grip of the other was tight, painful, and unfortunately secure. 

“Hey, hands off of me!” 

Even when Taesoo pulls his hands back, it does nothing. If anything, the grip around his wrist visibly tightens. 

It was on his specific left wrist that Dion held. A worn-out leather watch was strapped on. That was his motive all along. Before long, when Dion’s fingers touched them, an unfamiliar sound echoed loudly in a loud boom. 

Red. 

Taesoo witnessed more reds spilling out from his skin. This time, it hurts more than accidentally holding the tip of a blade. The pain was a thousandfold more painful than anything he thought he'd experienced. 

“AGKHHH.”

A loud explosion filled the room; it echoed louder than the screams and cries of the one who got caught up in it.

What was once a worn-out watch now had disappeared. It burns and only leaves ashes as remains. What was once soft skin now paints wounds from that explosion. The red that spilled had uncovered what was underneath. A few seconds ago its appearance was far from now. It was now merely an almost blackened color of the hand. 

Taesoo rolled on the floor, his screams and cries echoed out nonstop.

“My hand!!!!!” 

His tears flowed. His hand. Does he still have his hand? His vision blurred. Almost throwing up, drool flowed from his lips. 

The pain would just not go away. He bit his lips hard enough to bleed. Hoping it'd be better than processing the explosion. But it was still incomprehensible to the pain he had just received. Luckily his wrist is still intact but was he truly lucky to have his hand explode?!

“Do you believe me now?”

Based on the novel, Dion Kholodov’s powers were something not to be underestimated. One of his abilities had a very destructive element. He can manipulate the molecules and compounds of everything he touches. Most of the time he adds nitroglycerin to add an explosive touch. Literally. 

This includes both dead objects and humans. 

“Humans are very weak creatures. I’ll make you a deal. I’ll heal you like none of this has ever happened. But in exchange, you have to do me a few favors.”

Tears still pooled in his eyes but it was able to reflect his hatred towards the other. The one who blew out his hand is now pulling out demands. In what world would Taesoo agree to that? He would rather die.

No answers were being given. Taesoo’s cries had decreased over time but in exchange, he was dripping cold sweat from the rest of his body. 

Taesoo valued his life. But if he were to compromise with an evil character it would drag his life into a living hell, perhaps worse than death itself.

“You and this world will both perish by my hands.”

It was as if Dion already knew that Taesoo would give up his life. But what about the world? This man is threatening the world. If this isn’t a bluff, then he’d be responsible even until his next life. 

“In five seconds, give me your answer.”

He was hesitating. His mind proceeds to think about everything in his life that he’ll experience from when he was born until where he is now. 

Is he about to give up life itself?

Taesoo finally stood up. The answer is obvious. 

A bottle of potion was pulled out from thin air just by a simple snap of the villain’s finger. It was small but it held a mysterious purple colored liquid. Memory would not serve him wrong that Taesoo knows that’s a super potion. The thing that Dion mentions when he says he’ll heal him.

He snatches it, drinking the bitter liquid until its very last drop. Just as Dion had mentioned, the wound miraculously healed as if it was never there, gradually his skin reverted to its original color and the throbbing pain decreased until he couldn’t feel it anymore. This included the cut he got from earlier.

“I see we have come to an agreement.”

Dion’s smirk was just evil. Cocky. Unbelievable.The moment his limbs healed he had already made a contract with the devil.

“Three. I will grant you three wishes.” 

Taesoo held out three of his fingers. 

“Oh, so you're a genie now huh? Alright then, I don't mind.” 

This is not a dream.

This is reality.

And the antagonist from the novel he had just finished reading was standing before him. 

The antagonist, Dion Kholodov was real. 

“Now then, as promised. You need to make my first wish.”

This man is dangerous. Taesoo has to survive. If anyone can stop this antagonist from destroying the world then it is up to him. He has to convince him.

“Kim Taesoo. Become my dog.”

…

…

.. what?

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