Orv: Laughter is chaos

3rd Person POV

"So we all agree to let fate decide who gets the last two grasshoppers?" Tom asked, his tone light, but his eyes were deadly serious. He was still speaking in English, just in case there were any unwanted ears. Gilyoung, to everyone's mild surprise, nodded confidently—clearly the kid understood more than he let on.

"Yes," Kim Dokja replied.

"Yes, Tom-ssi," added Lee Hyunsung with a respectful nod.

Tom gave Gilyoung a soft pat on the head, ruffling the boy's hair, then turned to the group with a more solemn expression. The little team had come together faster than expected—an unlikely mix of a soldier, a child, a reader, and someone who didn't belong in this world at all.

"Alright then..." Tom said quietly. "Hyunsung, are you sure you want to be the one to release it? Either of us could do it instead."

He glanced over at Lee Hyunsung again, as if giving him one last out. This was different from the original novel. In the canon timeline, Kim Dokja had tossed the insect case, allowing fate to decide. But things had shifted. Already, the ripples of change were spreading wider than expected.

There had been six grasshoppers in the case.

Two were already dead—crushed by Gilyoung in fear.

One more had been killed by Lee Hyunsung.

Another, by Kim Dokja—though he hadn't needed to. No one had asked him to. But he had done it anyway, to carry his weight in the team.

Now only two remained.

And none of them wanted to stain their hands again.

But someone had to release them. Someone had to let fate choose.

"I want to do it," Lee Hyunsung said quietly, resolutely. "If I don't at least try... I'll regret it. Even if it haunts me, I have to do something."

His smile was small but sincere.

Tom sighed softly and gave a faint nod. "Alright. Just know—we tried."

Kim Dokja stepped forward and clapped Hyunsung on the shoulder.

"...Yeah. We did what we could."

The four of them stood there in a quiet, tense silence. Just a team of strangers, trying to hold onto something like decency at the end of the world.

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" stifles a giggle.]

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" says, 'How boring. You should've eaten the bugs, darling~']

Tom didn't react. Not outwardly. But his jaw tightened slightly as he ignored the constellation's voice echoing through his head like a dripping faucet of nonsense.

Kim Dokja noticed.

But said nothing.

And then, slowly... Lee Hyunsung stepped forward, the insect case trembling slightly in his large hands.

"Okay..." Hyunsung murmured. "Let's see what fate has to say."

And he opened the lid.

Two grasshoppers leapt skyward—green sparks in the stale air of the train car.

Everyone held their breath.

Would they live?

Would they die?

Or had fate already decided?

Tom Révain POV

I watched the grasshoppers fly.

Two streaks of green vanished into the musty air, beating their delicate wings like they had no idea the weight they carried.

It was done.

I looked at Kim Dokja, then at Lee Hyunsung. We didn't need words. Just a nod. A quiet understanding.

Kim Dokja stepped forward.

And I moved behind him, placing a steady hand on Gilyoung's shoulder. The boy tensed for a moment, then leaned into my side without looking up.

"Everyone, listen!" Kim Dokja called out, voice firm and loud enough to cut through the panic. "There's only one minute left—before the countdown hits zero."

The train car rippled with tension.

Desperate faces turned toward him, eyes wide with realization. Some were still processing. Some had already started screaming.

I frowned, tightening my grip on Gilyoung's shoulder. People were going to snap.

"Kid," I murmured, crouching a bit to meet his eyes. "Come here."

Kim Dokja was still talking. A speech. Probably the same one from the novel. Something about survival. About doing what needed to be done.

I didn't need to hear it.

I already knew what he was going to say.

Instead, I led Gilyoung to the far end of the train car—behind the last row of seats, near a corner darkened by flickering lights.

"Just stay here, okay? Don't come out, buddy. No matter what."

I ruffled his hair.

The kid blinked up at me, then slowly nodded, pressing himself into the shadows like he was born to hide there. He leaned into my hand. Warm, small. Too small for a world like this.

I smiled.

God. He was so cute. I had no right to be here, but I'd burn this whole world down before I let anything happen to that kid.

Then—

BOOM.

A muffled explosion rang out, rattling the floor beneath our feet.

Shit.

The timer had started.

[System Message: Countdown Activated—60 seconds remaining.]

Screams followed immediately. A rush of panicked movement. People surged like a broken tide.

"Insect! I need an insect!!"

"G-Give it to me! Give it—!!"

"There was one over there—only one, please!!"

The car devolved into chaos.

Bodies shoved past each other. Fists flew. Someone tackled a woman over a seat, trying to rip something out of her hands. Another guy smashed a bottle against the floor, screaming at nothing.

A man tore open the grasshopper case Lee Hyunsung had released and nearly got bitten in the face for it.

It was carnage.

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" is thrilled.]

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" is bouncing excitedly in its seat, delighted.]

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" says: 'Ahhh~ finally! This is what I paid for!']

My eye twitched.

I rolled my eyes and hissed under my breath. 'Damn bastard. You're enjoying this way too much.'

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" replies: 'Of course I am, dear. You're adorable when you're stressed.']

I ignored him.

Gilyoung was still tucked in the corner. Safe—for now.

I had maybe 40 seconds to decide what to do next.

No one had come for us yet.

But that wouldn't last.

Kim Dokja POV / Dual Perspective with Tom

The moment stretched.

People were still frozen.

The timer wasn't.

[Main Scenario #1: Proof of Value]

Kill one living being.

Time Remaining: 00:59.

I stepped forward. "Everyone, listen!"

Some heads turned. Most were too far gone—muttering, hyperventilating, clawing at the air like they could rip a solution out of it.

"There's only one minute left before the countdown hits zero," I said. "You don't have to kill people. Just one living thing. That includes insects."

Tom glanced at me, nodding. Lee Hyunsung stepped up beside us. "We released two grasshoppers earlier," he said. "They're still on this train."

A beat.

Then—

"You're lying!"

"There's no way we'd miss them!"

"I'LL JUST KILL SOMEONE TO BE SURE!"

Chaos.

Screaming.

I gritted my teeth. "If you kill someone now, the system will still register it. But it's not necessary. If you can find the grasshopper—"

Too late.

The wave had broken.

"Where's the damn bug!?"

"I saw it under the seat—!!"

"Insect!! Insect!!"

The crowd erupted. Shoving. Grabbing. I saw a man tear open a briefcase and toss the papers into the air. Another started ripping up the lining under the seats.

And—

A flash of movement.

A man lunged at me, eyes wide and burning with something that had nothing to do with survival.

"You!" he spat. "You've known since the start! You and him—you're both in on it!"

He had a jagged shard of glass. His hands were shaking. His mouth foamed.

"I won't die! I won't—!"

[Activating Bookmark.]

[Using Character "Yoo Joonghyuk."]

[Skill "Mid-Range Evasion Lv. 2" activated.]

I stepped back and twisted.

The glass whistled past my ear.

He was fast—faster than expected. He came again, teeth bared.

Too close.

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" is shrieking with joy!]

[The constellation "The One Who Judges Silently" watches with interest.]

[The constellation "Prisoner of the Golden Headband" clicks his tongue.]

[The constellation "Secretive Plotter" observes in silence.]

Then—

"DOKJA!!"

A voice split the air like lightning.

Something collided with the attacker. A boot ignited midair, slammed into the man's ribs, and sent him flying.

BOOM.

He hit the far wall, crumpling.

The carriage shook slightly from the impact.

Tom stood in front of me, smoke curling off the sole of his foot. His chest heaved. The ends of his coat fluttered behind him like he'd just landed from orbit.

He didn't look at the man.

He looked at me.

"You okay?" he asked, voice low.

I blinked.

"You used a skill," I said, more shocked by that than anything else.

He tilted his head. "Fire Kick. Handy, huh?"

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" is wheezing: 'That looked like it hurt~!']

[The constellation "Lady of the Scorched Lotus" raises an eyebrow.]

[The constellation "Abyssal Black Flame Dragon" is impressed by the fire usage.]

I could still feel the heat in the air. Tom's hand was on my shoulder now, steady and warm. A protective barrier in human form.

It shouldn't have mattered.

I didn't need protecting. I had the Bookmark. I'd dodged just fine. It wasn't even that dangerous of an opponent.

And yet...

My pulse was still racing. Not from the attacker.

From him.

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" whispers: 'Is it getting warm in here or is it just him~?']

[The constellation "Prisoner of the Golden Headband" grumbles: 'Focus. There's a scenario at hand.']

"Thank you," I said, voice quieter than I intended.

Tom blinked.

Then smiled—soft, almost embarrassed.

"You get stabbed, and I'm carrying you through every scenario, got it?"

That wasn't the kind of thing you said in front of hundreds of panicking people.

Or maybe it was.

No one was paying attention anymore.

Except the stars.

[The constellation "Laughter is Chaos" whispers: 'I think he meant it.']

[The constellation "The Bald General of Justice" is moved by the loyalty shown.]

[The constellation "Noble Child of the Sun" mutters: 'Is this... a romance subplot?']

[The constellation "Secretive Plotter" watches the foreigner carefully.]

I finally exhaled. "I thought you were hiding Gilyoung?"

"I was," Tom said. "He's tucked in the corner with my jacket. Didn't want him to see the end of the world twice in one day."

There was a flicker of something else in his eyes then. Not fear. Something older.

I could've asked about it. I didn't.

[00:21]

The system reminder glowed red in the corner of my vision.

"Let' focus on the matter" I muttered.

Tom nodded.

Behind us, the passengers tore the train apart.

But for one sharp, fleeting second—

Everything in the world had narrowed to a single point.

His hand.

My shoulder.

And the fire between them.

To be continue