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regression) wrote2020-01-22 11:47 am
info.
Yoo Joonghyuk (3rd/1864th Regression)
Extended Information
"You fool, you are not reading it alone." —Yoo Joonghyuk
Yoo Joonghyuk, sometimes spelled Yoo Jonghyuk or Yu Jung-Hyeok, is the main character of tls123's novel Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World. At the beginning of Omniscient Reader, he is on his third regression i.e. fourth life, having already tried to reach the end of the scenarios thrice previously.
Appearance
Yoo Joonghyuk is repeatedly described as extremely handsome by various individuals, including Kim Dokja and tls123 (in the Ways of Survival text). He is stated to have wide black eyes with thin double eyelids and thick eyebrows. His right eye glows golden upon activation of the skill Sage's Eye. His hair is black and slightly wavy, cut short. He has tan skin, a sharp nose ridge, and a strong jawline. He is extremely muscular, in particular having well-toned biceps and thighs.
As the Punisher, Yoo Joonghyuk's hair is waist-length. Kim Dokja describes the Punisher as having "deep sultry eyes beneath neat eyebrows", and states that she is thrice as beautiful as her male counterpart. She is smaller and sleeker than when in her male form, and wears a black cape to cover her usual outfit.
Generally, Yoo Joonghyuk wears a black coat and combat boots. He is also described as wearing gloves. Under the jacket, covers for the novel have shown him to wear a black shirt with a silver collar and buckle, along with close-fitting black pants.
When acting as Zhu Bajie during the reenactment of Journey to the West, he dresses instead in a half-open black vest and tight black jeans.
(taken from the wiki until i feel like writing.)Personality
Yoo Joonghyuk is described in the eyes of ORV's protagonist, Dokja, several times in the novel. On top of being very handsome, Dokja went on to say Joonghyuk has "an awful personality" and that he's a "psychopath" who would "kill if words don't work (sometimes just kills)," but his humanity still persisted in the earlier regressions. Technically, Dokja's account of Joonghyuk isn't wrong.
Joonghyuk is quite rude, seldom showing any polite behavior to anyone aside from his teacher, the Breaking the Sky Sword Saint, and that's because the story he acquired to be her disciple binds him to call her "Master." Honorifics are important to show reverence in the Korean language, but he avoids honorifics with everyone, including those stronger than him. His dialogue ranges from neutral, harsh, or complete silence. Most believe he gets away with what he says due to his strength and his handsome face. If only that was the only problem with his personality... In general, Joonghyuk doesn't come off as personable. He is difficult to approach due to his cold exterior, let alone befriend.
It may be due to the setting of Ways of Survival, but Joonghyuk is calculating and distrustful. Most of his conversations stem from necessity rather than connection. The topics generally entail what they can do efficiently and effectively to clear the next scenario to move on, no-nonsense. He tackles scenarios in a similar fashion: whatever way is most efficient. When they found a small Shin Yoosung, Joonghyuk believed they should swiftly end Yoosung's life or else the scenario disaster would fall upon them. He will no doubt consider cutting even a child down if it means survival for him and his companions. Likewise, he looks at people with a discerning eye. When he first met Dokja, despite the usefulness of having a "prophet," he chose to test him and dropped him into the Han river to be eaten by monsters. Again, killing or leaving someone for dead isn't abnormal for him or people in Ways of Survival. He chooses the people he trusts and surrounds himself with carefully, vindictive to those who betray him. Anna Croft, a prophet, was once his ally, but she betrayed him once in a previous regression and ever since he had been out for her blood. Such methodical rationalization and realism can be seen as lacking in empathy, adding onto his stern disposition and Dokja's description of a "psychopath."
There are sides to Joonghyuk that Dokja doesn't stress, such as his unyielding resolve. Yoo Joonghyuk has almost inhuman determination and obstinacy considering he lived through 1864 lifetimes to search for the answers to his questions and a better conclusion. It may even be called insane to repeat so many lives thinking the outcome would be different, but it also shows Joonghyuk is more of an idealist despite his pragmatic mindset when tackling the scenarios. When Joonghyuk lost hope and became the "evil" of the world in the 1863rd regression world-line, he only needed to see the world Dokja created to hope again. Joonghyuk regressed one more time to chase after a similar world of his own (and it ended up being the same world as Dokja's). One reason Joonghyuk regressed is to find the world-line where no one he held dear needed to be sacrificed.
Overall, Joonghyuk changed thanks to Dokja. On the verge of losing his humanity to follow his vision, he was on a path where anyone in his way would fall by his hand, but Dokja taught him he can afford to be more compassionate and trusting. An example is the conclusion of the Disaster of Floods. He saw they could save Yoosung and the 41st Regression Yoosung that came to their earth to destroy it with different though unconventional methods. Having always been the leader with the answers of the future, he never had the chance to rely on others until Dokja appeared. Due to Dokja's influence, he doesn't jump quickly onto the most efficient method at the cost of someone's life even if completely necessary. He went so far as to work together with Anna Croft again (also saving her) with Dokja mediating the two, even though he still planned to take her life himself one day. One can say that Dokja helped him become human again.
Joonghyuk with his humanity is capable of showing hidden kindness. Even among comrades, he has a rough way of speaking, but he never lashes at them. Though Gilyoung and Dokja often called Joonghyuk "bastard" or "jerk," he never acted out unless they deserved it. Usually, he would constantly and emptily threaten Dokja's life. That isn't how you would normally speak to your friends, but Joonghyuk was never good at communicating his feelings. Ever. When the < Kim Dokja Company > went on a retreat, he scoffed at them when they thought he would let them eat his cooking, then told them there are leftovers—the leftovers looked like a delicious banquet. There are more instances like that across the webnovel with varying gravitas. In small nonverbal ways, Joonghyuk shows rather than tells that he truly cares about his companions. He would raise hell for them.
Joonghyuk, despite being a character from a webnovel, is extremely inquisitive and introspective. He was sharp enough to realize that his history doesn't make sense, question the lack of memories from before he turned 28, and also wonder why he existed. This curiosity and hunger for answers are some of his driving motives to regressing. We see it in the telling of the 0 Regression, memories that were wiped later on, where Joonghyuk didn't need to regress at all. Dokja, as the Most Ancient Dream, led Joonghyuk to an ideal ending where he could grow old with his companions and even get married. Despite the happy life, Joonghyuk still wanted to know the answers to his origins and the reason for Dokja's kindness. Not many people are willing to live through 1864 lifetimes to find the purpose of their existence.