Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut!

Chapter 53. Do You Want to Go Back (3)

That was the extent of my memory.

Although ‘that kid’s’ face was silhouetted and indistinguishable from beginning to end, I could easily discern whose memory it was.

“What? Is that the end?”

‘It must be that regressor’s memory. The reason that bastard decided to regress.’

Yes, typically, there is a clear purpose behind regression. Recalling the regression stories I had read so far, they usually involved:

1. Avenging oneself
2. Avenging someone else
3. Making amends for a wicked life
4. Transforming a life of gullibility

Apparently, the question I asked the system was not multiple-choice but essay-type. A sweet ‘opportunity’ that arrived at the most unfortunate moment. I didn’t need to see what happened to that kid afterward to understand.

[You will fail even if you go back. That is your future.]

[Don’t you want to live in happy memories?]

A life living in happy memories. A life where you can turn back to yesterday without hesitation when faced with unhappy and tough situations. Thinking about it like that, I could understand the merry-go-round of my life, spinning randomly without a pattern.

Although the memory had ended, I hadn’t returned to reality. In a bright, transparent space, the exact opposite of the vast and dark space I had experienced a few hours ago, a familiar blue window appeared.

[System Notification: To facilitate a smooth conversation with the fixed regressor (Kang Hajin), we have ended the memory slightly early and borrowed Kang Hajin’s subconscious. There isn’t much time!]

So, it meant to quickly ask anything I was curious about. I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew this wasn’t the time for idle talk like, ‘Ah, wh-what is this?’

“The memory you showed me just now belongs to that chosen regressor, right?”

[System Notification: That is correct.]

“I’ve been thinking for a while now, can’t you just tell me who that bastard is?”

I meant, couldn’t you just tell me who they are and where they live instead of all this quest nonsense? However, perhaps it wasn’t that simple, as the system displayed a sweat emoji, showing reluctance.

[System Notification: The ‘Chosen Regressor’ has been escaping ‘Fate’ by crossing numerous time lines.]

[System Notification: Due to the excessive entanglement of time lines, the original time line and whereabouts of the ‘Chosen Regressor’ have all been lost!]

“In simpler terms?”

[System Notification: We don’t know either!!˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )‧º·˚]

“You have quite a talent for delivering desperate news cheerfully.”

This damn system. Is it even helpful for my life as a fixed regressor?

“What exactly are you? What are you guys doing? You and that red one too.”

[System Notification: …In simple terms, we are time managers.]

In the transparent space, lines in various colors unfolded beautifully. Some drew arcs and fell like spent meteors, while others sprouted anew, writhing. Countless timelines were repeatedly blooming and withering.

[System Notification: Life flashes, panoramas, déjà vu, and recognition. These are all our tasks.]

[System Notification: We manage all born timelines, helping them to walk through their respective times properly.]

Along with those words, blue lights sparkled in the space. Numerous time lines were connected and sometimes untangled to prevent entanglement or collision. Some lines intersected, while others were severed.

Watching this was a rather strange feeling.

[System Notification: The ‘entity’ you met earlier was once a time manager like us. We are still investigating why he created the ‘Chosen Regressor’!]

“Then what about me? How did I get entangled in this crazy time war?”

In response to that question, the aurora-like space disappeared and two new lines emerged. Those lights, resembling threads, one yellow and one purple, became intricately intertwined and knotted in the middle, looking like a tangled mass.

[System Notification: We are still investigating the exact cause, but for some reason, at some point, the time line of the chosen regressor started to entangle with yours.]

[System Notification: Therefore, whenever the ‘Chosen Regressor’ regresses, your time line also regresses!]

[System Notification: Initially, we planned to erase your memory after stopping the regressor and restoring the time line, but…]

I knew what they were going to say next without needing to hear it.

“But you couldn’t find the chosen regressor and couldn’t fix the time line.”

I recalled the voice I first heard.

[Can you stop that kid?]

-Whether it’s that kid or not, there’s nothing I can’t do except re-enlist.

[Haha, interesting.]

[Alright, then I’ll make a bet too.]

-What are you talking about? Speak so I can understand.

[I’ll give you a chance too. To set everything right.]

-What?

Now I finally understood how the system worked. In the end, it was outsourcing to me because they couldn’t solve it themselves, wasn’t it?

“So, all that ‘restricted access’ and ‘no authority’ at the beginning?”

[System Notification: The information shown under the guise of this ‘system’ are personnel records managed by our Time Management Department. It is naturally restricted from human access….]

“……”

[System Notification: There are many grand and vast things beyond human comprehension! For the sake of protecting you, Hajin, record access has to be restricted…!]

“……”

[System Notification: However, however, within the bounds of the law of causality and dimensional rules, we will make every effort―!]

“……”

[System Notification: …Though it was an effort! From now on, we promise to do our best for Hajin’s smooth quest progress and mission accomplishment!!!!]

“Oh, thank you. But I’d appreciate it if your best could be a bit more specific.”

[System Notification: ……ㅗ. (I will sacrifice myself!（〜^∇^)〜)]

Changing the speech bubble won’t do, you punk.

[System Notification: Anyway, once you leave this unconscious space, the rules of the human realm will apply, and communication restrictions will be imposed again.]

[System Notification: If there’s anything else to guide you, we’ll borrow this unconscious space to deliver it as we did now!]

[System Notification: We are about to close the space. Is there anything you’d like to ask?]

Like waking from a dream, I could feel my consciousness slowly returning to reality. One last thing to ask… Various thoughts popped into my head, and I asked one thing.

“How can I find a chosen regressor that even you guys don’t know? And how would I recognize him if I did?”

♪♩―♬♩♪―

A familiar phone ringtone was heard. It was probably Seo Taehyun. The soundproof walls of my personal practice room came into view. After a brief pause, the system responded.

[System Notification: You will be able to recognize him.]

[System Notification: It’s not easy for human timelines to intertwine.]

[System Notification: …So he said.]

“Who?”

And I woke up.

* * *

I raised myself from the floor of the narrow personal practice room where I seemed to have fallen. My whole body felt stiff as if I had actually slept.

♪♩―♬♩♪―

Without time to adjust to reality, I picked up the phone that had been ringing continuously. The caller was Seo Taehyun. There were three missed calls. As I answered, Taehyun’s calm voice came through the phone.

-Hyung. Sorry, but I don’t have the heart to search the whole country for you.

“What are you talking about?”

-Did you run away because you were embarrassed about losing to Han Sungwoo?

What, you brat?

“Do I look like you?”

-You disappeared saying you needed some alone time and didn’t answer the phone, so what else am I supposed to think?

“…I must have set it to silent during recording. I didn’t hear it. Sorry.”

-As long as you didn’t run away. Hurry back, it’s your turn as soon as it ends.

“Alright, I’ll be there soon. Thanks.”

After finishing the call with Seo Taehyun, I quickly headed to the interview room.

On the way back to the waiting room, I called out to the system, but only a notice saying it was temporarily unavailable for updates and checks appeared. They promised to do their best but put up a ‘closed for maintenance’ sign. Really, there’s no system to trust.

“Sungwoo, you did a great job!”

“Yes, you’ve worked hard too, Writer. I’ll be heading in now.”

“No, you did the hard work… Oh? Hajin, you’re already down? The writer in charge just went up to get you.”

As I was heading up to the waiting room, I saw Han Sungwoo and the writer coming out of the interview room, having just finished. Right, there was this issue too.

“Oh, I just went to take a call. Hyung, is your interview over?”

“Yes. I talked a lot about you, Hajin. You’re in big trouble.”

“Haha, it’s okay. I’m going to talk a lot about you too today, hyung.”

Deliberately, I approached and put my arm around Han Sungwoo’s shoulder, who was about a head shorter than me. Laughing and joking, I felt him awkwardly push me away while following suit.

“……!”

Regardless, I gripped his shoulder tightly. Han Sungwoo looked up at

me with an expression that seemed to ask if I had gone mad. Stay still, you punk. I have something to tell you.

“Oh my, are you two close?”

“He used to be the leader of Class B. He took great care of me when I first arrived.”

“Ah, really?”

“But I bet hyung felt comfortable with me around too? I’m not that much younger than him compared to the other kids…. He always struggled to take care of the babies, lining them up and making them clean.”

I meant, was it fun playing the drill sergeant among high school kids at 22? I hoped my point got across.

“I’m probably the only one who talks informally to hyung among the Class B kids.”

“Really? Only you, Hajin?”

“Yes, we decided to speak informally.”

Of course, this was never agreed upon with Han Sungwoo.

“Ha, Hajin?”

“Hyung, I heard you talked a lot about me to the B Team kids this time.”

“……”

This was my way of saying I knew he was badmouthing me to the B Team kids to screw me over.

“Oh, Writer. Hyung has a nickname. Do you know it?”

“A nickname? No, what is it? Is it something the trainees call him?”

“This is really a nickname known only to a few… Ah, but it might be inappropriate since it’s a derogatory nickname.”

“Oh my, a derogatory nickname makes me even more curious!”

“Ah, should I say it? Can I say it, hyung?”

“H-Hajin. What nickname do I have?”

Giving Han Sungwoo, who looked at me as if wondering what madness I was speaking of, my brightest smile, I leaned in as if to whisper.

“Parachute.”

“……!”

“You, the real parachute.”

“…….”

“Can I say this?”

And this meant, you damn bomb, now I’ll properly blow you up.