The Tenant II
As everyone knows, navigating the Inunaki Tunnel is exceedingly difficult.
Even as a regressor, I had to sacrifice hundreds of lives across five runs to finally conquer it.
At that moment, I thought,
'...Isn't this the best security facility?'
It was a complete reversal of thought.
From the perspective of an intruder, the Inunaki Tunnel boasted an incredible level of difficulty, but from a defender's viewpoint, it was an impregnable fortress.
Moreover, this ironclad security applied only to intruders. For those who had already mastered the 'strategy,' the Inunaki Tunnel was just a slightly tricky path.
Thus, starting from the 197th run, I did not fully disclose the tunnel strategy on SG Net.
Instead, I posted warnings such as "Entering without caution leads to certain death," "No entry," and "Even the most skilled Void explorers can't avoid instant death." A guilty conscience? None at all. It's not a lie.
After conquering Inunaki alone, I set up a guild hideout in the underwater tunnel. I then sent 'invitations' only to a select few trustworthy acquaintances.
The invitations, of course, kindly detailed the walking method for the Inunaki Tunnel.
Now, without an invitation, no one could visit my café hideout.
"A shop that only accepts customers by invitation? Is this a VIP golf course or something...?"
Noh Do-hwa turned the invitation over and over, making a sour face.
"The insane idea of privatizing an anomaly and using it is just what I'd expect from your filthy brain... But this means you're not planning to do business with the general public, right?"
Noh Do-hwa fluttered the invitation.
"Now, I see that our Undertaker is becoming quite the noble. Soon, you'll want to be king? Shall I hand over the position of National Road Management Corps Chief to you? Hoo, great. I've been wanting to quit this shitty job anyway. Congratulations in advance, Your Majesty..."
"Oh. Don't worry too much about that part. Corps Chief, do you see the number written at the top of the invitation?"
"Hmm...?"
Noh Do-hwa re-examined the invitation.
[Invitation - Café Hideout]
[Depth 1200m]
Noh Do-hwa tilted her head.
"Depth? 1200 meters? What does this mean...?"
"It's the grade of the invitation."
"Graaade...?"
"Yes. I have prepared invitations in segments of 100 meters, 200 meters, 300 meters, and so on. For instance, a 100-meter invitation contains only enough strategy to safely cover the first 100 meters of the Inunaki Tunnel."
"Hmm...?"
"The 1200-meter invitation is the highest grade, containing the complete strategy for the Inunaki Tunnel. The 100-meter invitation is the lowest grade. And I will make all 100-meter invitations public on SG Net."
I took Noh Do-hwa into the Inunaki Tunnel to show her an example.
"This is the 100-meter point."
"Oh...?"
Noh Do-hwa looked around.
"This is... a café."
Noh Do-hwa's observation was spot on.
From now on, I hope you'll listen to all my descriptions in the voice of a friendly home shopping host.
Instead of always damp mold where water trickled from the cracks in the wall, a tiny artificial waterfall had been installed, showcasing its aesthetic point.
Where moss once flourished, there were now colorful aquatic plants. These plants weren't ordinary vegetation but had mutated in the void, thriving without sunlight.
Amidst these artificial waterfalls and planters were antique-style sofas and chairs.
Above all, the chairs sought comfort. Tables of perfect height for sitting were arranged, with small lamps adding to the ambiance.
Victorian-style tables from the 19th century were minimal in number, while the other tables revealed the natural beauty of the wood.
Of course, the lighting was indirect. The overall space was enveloped in a cozy darkness, but the faint outlines of tables and chairs added an edge even to the shadows.
A true space starts with vision and ends with hearing.
From one end to the other, the sound of water trickling from the artificial waterfall filled the air. If sunlight is the mirror of the eyes, darkness is the mirror of the ears. The sound of water flowing beyond the darkness completed this space as the pinnacle of Baroque aesthetics.
If you went up to the tunnel wall, you'd find unexpected graffiti on the concrete surface, adding a unique charm without traditional framed pictures.
The touch of the soft wood of the table and the comfort of the chair. The auditory experience of a Baroque space. And the hidden visual art of graffiti.
If the old-fashioned aroma of coffee were added, it would appeal to the senses of smell and taste――a café that satisfied all five senses, complete.
Even more, the fact that this unique scenery was in the middle of an underwater tunnel stimulated the imagination of the guests.
As the Undertaker, I was confident that even if it weren't for the apocalypse, this place could aim to be the best café in Korea.
Home shopping broadcast, over.
"...There's no natural light, yet the space doesn't feel cramped."
Noh Do-hwa touched the table.
She seemed quite shocked.
"Was this really an anomaly that devoured hundreds of people...?"
"Hehe."
"Even that ridiculous regressor's laugh sounds different now. I'm surprised. Undertaker, I didn't expect you to have this talent..."
Considering Noh Do-hwa's personality, this was the highest praise. But there was more to surprise her.
"Noh Do-hwa, Corps Chief."
"Yes...?"
"Do you see those thin strings next to the bookshelf? They are puppet strings leading to the tunnel's deepest part. I had Hayul set them up. Just a slight tug on them..."
Ting- The string vibrated pleasantly like a cello's string.
"Even just by infusing aura, the vibration reaches my private room at the deepest part of the tunnel."
"Oh..."
"Then I can immediately respond knowing there's a guest. No matter how far the distance, I can reach here in an instant."
"Indeed. This is... quite something."
"The treatment for the 100-meter and 200-meter levels is different. The deeper the depth, the different the interior, and the more diverse the menu will be. In other words..."
"Yes. It might be a small motivation for the awakeners. There aren't many enjoyments these days... Hmm. Being isolated from the outside world might actually be a good thing. If one can momentarily forget the ruined outside world and enjoy a cup of coffee..."
"Exactly. So, Noh Do-hwa, Corps Chief, I have a proposal."
"Hmm? What is it...?"
"As you can see, operating the café seriously requires a lot of coffee beans. My reserves will soon run out. So, I plan to ask the Sword Marquess, that old man, to create a coffee farm..."
"..."
"Can't you make it happen?"
Noh Do-hwa's face filled with worry.
The Sword Marquess was essential for current agricultural endeavors. He was busy cultivating food.
Proposing to use some of that precious land for coffee, a luxury item, was bound to trouble the practical-minded Noh Do-hwa.
Of course, I could persuade the Sword Marquess to cultivate coffee without Noh Do-hwa's consent, but that would result in Noh Do-hwa resigning.
"But we barely have enough farmland as it is..."
"The world needs luxuries too."
I whispered.
"Think about it. Adding a new attraction to Busan will elevate the status of the National Road Management Corps compared to other major guilds..."
"Isn't it impractical to grow coffee in Korea? It seems inefficient..."
"No need to worry. I'll plant various coffee trees from the void and eventually create a variety suitable for the Korean climate. I am a void expert, after all."
"Hmm..."
"There's also the matter of security. Isn't it better for me to manage the underwater tunnel than leave it unattended?"
"Hmm..."
"Moreover, Corps Chief, imagine waking up with a cup of coffee every morning. The headquarters is just a short walk away. Think of it as a 30-minute morning walk."
"..."
"It would boost the morale and welfare of the management team."
"..."
Contemplation. Consideration. Agony. Deliberation.
Finally, Noh Do-hwa muttered softly.
"Well, if it's just a small garden..."
"You've made a wise decision, Corps Chief! You truly understand me. Since you've agreed, I'll start building the café from the next run."
"..."
"Don't worry. You won't regret this decision. You always complain, but when I earnestly ask, you always help. I know how deeply you care for me..."
"Shut up."
"Yes, ma'am."
The café hideout was a grand success!
Naturally, the café hideout received enthusiastic support.
Despite the unease of stepping into the jaws of a continental-class anomaly for a delicious cup of caffeine, brave challengers never ceased.
The segmented access levels of 100 meters, 200 meters, etc., sparked a peculiar sense of competition among the awakeners.
-Anonymous: (300m) At 100 meters, you can only get espresso and Americano, but here, you can also have café latte lol.
-Anonymous: (400m) Ice coffee lovers must reach at least 400 meters. The barista said ice coffee is available from 400 meters onwards.
└Anonymous: I like espresso too, though?
└Anonymous: (400m) Yeah, right lol.
└Anonymous: Espresso is a sophisticated taste, you idiot.
└CookingQueen: (100m) Everyone, please don't argue over this. We should be grateful just for the existence of the café, shouldn't we?
-dolLHoUse: Pathetic.
-Anonymous: (100m) But I heard Baekwha Girls' High Guild members start at 200 meters by default. Is that true? If it is, isn't that unfair?
└FourthGrader: (1200m) ( >_<);;
Many subculture worlds assign grades like A and S to awakeners, but in reality, Korea had no such system.
I found the terms S-rank and A-rank problematic. How much stronger is an S-rank compared to an A-rank, exactly?
An evaluation based on precise figures is far more intuitive than playing with letters, in my opinion.
The invitations I issued were easily perceived as a form of 'grade' or 'level' among the awakeners.
-WitchJudge: The deep sea at 1,200 meters. The voice of the waves conveyed through the tunnel's walls. In an era where nature has been reduced to mere danger, it's a time to appreciate the value of 'viewing nature.'
(Certification shot. A photo of a coffee cup placed on a table with an 'invitation - depth 1200m' subtly displayed.)
The majority of awakeners received the '100-meter grade' invitation, and among them, only those proven in skill and character gradually updated their depth.
The grading criteria were entirely based on my judgment.
But judgment built over hundreds of runs, spanning thousands of years, becomes reliable data.
I was confident that this 'depth' system was more trustworthy than any other standard.
-OldManGoryeo: (1000m) The poor bastards comparing their dicks are cute lol.
-OldManGoryeo: (1000m) I tried an affogato for the first time. What's with the coffee and ice cream combo? You kids enjoy your school meals lol.
-OldManGoryeo: (1000m) Those with 100-meter grades can only use the café once a week. Honestly, I respect that. They seem like worms that would wriggle and survive no matter how tough the world gets. This brother would rather kill himself than go without daily coffee lol.
Hmm.
Let's ignore a few exceptions.
Sim Ah-ryeon regularly whined to raise her grade from 1000 meters to 1200 meters, or at least to 1100 meters, but I firmly refused.
It wasn't because I discriminated against her. She had the spirit of a mountaineer in her heart, and once I started accommodating her, she'd climb endlessly like she was ascending Mount Everest.
I will discuss the stories related to this 'awakener grade' in more detail in the next story.
When the café operation had somewhat stabilized, I sent an invitation message to the Saintess via constellation talk.
[Is this... an invitation?]
"Yes, Saintess. Remember I asked you not to use your 'Clairvoyance' to observe the scenery at a depth of 1200 meters no matter what?"
[Ah, yes. So, I have not gathered any information about that place at all.]
"I kept it a secret because I wanted to show you directly. You're always at your home in Yongsan, aren't you? Think of it as a short outing."
The Saintess was silent for a moment. In that silence, I strongly sensed the INTJ vibes of a lifelong hikikomori.
[...But isn't it too far from my home to Busan? Even if I could arrive quickly on your back, that's a bit...]
"Oh. It's okay. I've dug a tunnel to your place as well."
[What?]
This was another reversal of thought.
As everyone knew, the Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel was a fictional construction, yet it was completely devoured by Inunaki.
Then, wouldn't it be possible to create a 'man-made' tunnel and have it infected by Inunaki?
The result of my idea was located at the southern end of the Han River submerged bridge. I took the Saintess there.
"...My goodness."
The Saintess, wrapped in a white coat, opened her mouth slightly.
"Why is there a tunnel here...?"
Indeed.
Beyond the ruins of the convenience store where we first met, a small tunnel led down into the Han River.
This was the so-called 'Han River Submerged Tunnel.'
"I'll lead the way. Please follow me."
"...Wait a moment, Mr. Undertaker. Did you create an anomaly artificially?"
"No. There were several tunnels planned for the Han River. Some were never completed. I superimposed multiple tunnels and 'asked' Inunaki to infect them."
"'Asked'..."
"It's a communicative friend. Well, it's a kind of loophole, so I can't expand these 'portals' recklessly. The limit was creating emergency exits in only three places."
One in Gangnam, right here. Another in the coffee farm in Kyushu, Japan. The third location will be mentioned in another story.
Hearing my explanation, the Saintess was astonished.
"A limit? Even so, isn't that incredible?"
We entered the submerged tunnel.
All Inunaki Tunnels were connected.
However, to travel from the 'Han River Submerged Tunnel' to the 'Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel,' one had to follow several specific procedures precisely.
For security reasons, I won't detail them, but from the Saintess's perspective, it only took five minutes to walk leisurely.
After walking through the tunnel.
"..."
The Saintess paused.
"...Here."
"Depth 1200 meters. This is the deepest part of my hideout café. Welcome, Saintess."
Before us was an underwater tunnel.
But it wasn't made of concrete; it was made of glass.
The tunnel stretched 400 meters from a depth of 1200 meters to 1600 meters, all constructed like an aquarium's underwater tunnel.
Colorful fish swam in the azure water.
"..."
The Saintess's eyes widened. She stared blankly at the glass tunnel.
Water shadows gently swayed, casting ripples over her hair.
She always enjoyed keeping fish as a hobby. To her, this place must have seemed like Eldorado.
"Mr. Undertaker, how on earth...?"
"The Inunaki Tunnel is connected to the Samdo River. It's the concept of the underworld, the water flowing in the afterlife. That's why one can drown if walked incorrectly. It also matches well with underwater or submerged tunnels. Though it was tricky, as you can see, it was possible to manifest it as an aquarium's underwater tunnel."
"..."
In the 117th cycle.
When I confronted the outer god-class anomaly Infinite Void, I met the Saintess. Though it was merely an illusion.
On the silver moon in the night sky, the Saintess looked down at the Earth. She said this:
-Just a layer beneath that planet, it's all turned into hell.
Her words lingered like soot in my heart.
And now, in the 197th cycle, the Saintess was looking up at the sea from the depths of the Earth's surface.
Beyond the tunnel, starlight jellyfish floated. They were void creatures, making the deep sea look like the Milky Way.
An inverted universe.
"How do you find it?"
I asked her impressions of the hellish scenery.
"Do you like it?"
"..."
The Saintess remained silent.
Every aquarium was a lonely structure.
But a glass tunnel crossing a sea was the only aquarium where one could view fish without confining them.
Having a home while still being free.
I wondered if my metaphor reached her silently.
After a long time of closed lips, the Saintess nodded, and I wanted to believe the tunnel's significance was fully conveyed.
"...Yes. Very much."
"I'm glad."
"Thank you, Mr. Undertaker. ...I'll never forget this view for the rest of my life."
I smiled.
"Neither will I."
There are countless stories related to this 'café hideout.'
But today, I will end the story here without any epilogue.
Let me simply add that from that day on, there was one more stop added to the Saintess's morning walks.
-x-X-x-
The One Who Was a Companion I
Among the powers I had awakened, if I were to choose the most fundamental one, it would undoubtedly be the Time Seal.
This skill was the foundation for my alias as the "Undertaker" and also the very first skill I awakened.
However, the most routinely useful skill, the one I employed as naturally as breathing, was undeniably the Complete Memory.
Without this skill, how could I have possibly recounted thousands of years of tales to you all?
But, in truth, even Complete Memory didn't guarantee perfect recall of everything 100%.
There was a mere 0.01% of my long life as a regressor where a portion was left blank, as if forcibly deleted data.
So today, I want to talk about the 'Incomplete Memory' aspect of my ability.
This is the story of the 173rd run.
One day, the Saintess said.
[Mr. Undertaker.]
"Yes."
[I might have been holding a prejudice against the Constellations all this time. Shouldn't we consider revamping their image to be more approachable and kind?]
"Ah, sure. Do as you see fit."
[Last night, I suddenly had a great idea.]
Perhaps those of you with extraordinary memories will find the following conversation familiar:
[Hello, hello! Greetings to all the awakeners of the Korean Peninsula! Nice to meet you, meow!]
[I am the Constellation who will be constantly watching over you from now on, the Saintess of National Salvation, meow!]
[Meow! Please take good care of me, meow!]
"...."
Yes.
In the 173rd cycle, I deliberately did not subdue the "Butterfly Effect".
The flapping wings that began in Beijing moved not to America or Brazil, but to the neighboring country of South Korea, and wreaked havoc on the mental world of the Saintess, a guardian spirit of the peninsula.
"Saintess."
[Meow?]
"That's not it. Please stop..."
[Okay.]
The Saintess's deviation was quelled, leaving countless '?' on SG Net.
In any case, the Butterfly Effect caused such random, unprecedented events that could not have been seen in previous runs.
In creating an "unpredictable future for the regressor," the Butterfly Effect might have been my greatest adversary. Yet, conversely, it was also a gracious oddity that generated "new events that one could never tire of."
After all, one doesn't get to hear the Saintess's meowing tone all the time, do they?
I created a folder named "173rd Run - Saintess's Cat-Constellation Transformation" on the desktop of my mind, saved the recording, and returned to my routine.
A regressor's schedule is strictly defined. This period was just the 7th month since the start of the run, so I was quite busy with various tasks.
From subduing the World Tree Udumbara in Onyang, Asan, to proposing the establishment of the National Road Management Corps during my first meeting with Noh Do-hwa at a rehabilitation hospital.
But Noh Do-hwa was dead.
"...."
The location was the National Hospital, which also served as a rehabilitation center.
Hospitals, pharmacies, and supermarkets were the most likely to be raided in an apocalypse. As a public institution with weak security, the rehabilitation hospital was seen as easy prey for looters.
The National Hospital, while not boasting significantly better services than private hospitals, provided reasonably cost-effective care to patients, thanks to government subsidies.
Its ratings were good. The high ratings could be attributed in part to Noh Do-hwa's craftsmanship as a prosthetics maker in the hospital's assistive device center.
Noh Do-hwa's corpse was sprawled at the entrance to the inpatient ward, far from her usual workplace in the assistive device center.
If it had been just a looter attack, the damage wouldn't have been so severe. This was still early in the apocalypse, and looters, no matter how ruthless, were not yet desensitized to killing.
The looter attack coincided with the emergence of anomalies. When the hospital began to collapse, Noh Do-hwa had left her usual post and ran to the inpatient ward. And there, she died.
The attack seemed to have occurred just a day prior. The bloodstains on Noh Do-hwa's favorite white coat hadn't yet lost their crimson hue.
"Why...."
I muttered, swallowing my words.
This was the first time. Never before in the early stages of a run had Noh Do-hwa died.
Therefore, it was immediately apparent what had caused such an outcome.
The Butterfly Effect.
When left unsuppressed, this anomaly deviated from the usual causal loop, generating random variables. One of those variables had somehow caused the looter and anomaly attacks.
As a result, Noh Do-hwa was dead.
Leaving the Butterfly Effect unchecked could lead to such routes being observed.
"…The gift has become useless, Noh Do-hwa."
I sat next to her corpse, leaning against the wall, and placed the gift box from China beside me.
Pu'er tea, Bingdao Laozhai, first flush. A luxury item worth around 20 million won.
It wasn't fake. I had used my knowledge and connections as a regressor to obtain the genuine article. Every run, I presented this to Noh Do-hwa, who preferred tea over coffee.
Noh Do-hwa rarely opened up to others. But upon receiving this gift, she would furrow her brows and say, '…Well, where should we start the conversation?' leaving room for dialogue.
Like this:
-Haah? A regressor? Excuse me. Are you seriously asking me to believe such nonsensical rubbish...?
-There is plenty of evidence. We've had this conversation countless times. That's why you created the [If they know this much, I have no choice but to believe! 'I believe, you are indeed a regressor' 100 Questions List].
-What kind of bullshit....
-I'm not a prophet, nor am I from the National Intelligence Service. Before that, let me convey the words from the previous Noh Do-hwa of the former runs to the current Noh Do-hwa.
-What is it...?
-Do you enjoy reaping the sweet benefits?
-Huh...?
-The material I just handed over contains not only the question list but also records of failures from previous runs. In other words, the current Noh Do-hwa is in a far more advantageous position than the Noh Do-hwa of previous runs. Hence, the former Noh Do-hwas are pointing this out. Do you enjoy reaping the sweet benefits?
-...
-By the way, the phrase 'fucking bastard' is also included after this sentence.
-Bullshit.
After conversing all night like this, Noh Do-hwa would accept her role as the leader of the National Road Management Corps.
But today, such a conversation wasn't possible.
-Undertaker...
-Yes?
-Your profession is to conduct funerals, right? If I die, please don't bury me. Ah. This isn't just a request for this run, but for all time to come...
-It's not difficult, but why don't you want me to conduct your funeral?
-Hah, I don't want you embalming me.... Just leave my corpse where it is. Don't look at it. Don't inspect it. Don't even bid farewell. Do you understand...?
-Sure.
-We'll meet again anyway. Just tell me why I died when that time comes...
I sat next to her corpse, not even glancing at her dead face, merely looking up at the hospital corridor.
For a while.
"…See you next time, Do-hwa."
There was no response.
But I would carry this scene and memory into the next run. Then, Noh Do-hwa would undoubtedly react with her characteristic "Hmmm" and that distinctive laugh.
Imagining that scene made me smile a little.
I left the gift and exited the hospital.
Afterwards, with the Saintess's cooperation, I tracked down and exterminated the looters who had attacked the hospital. It might not be of much significance, but the looters operated in loosely organized cells reminiscent of the 72 Bandits of the Green Forest from wuxia stories, and one of their groups included Lee Baek.
This was proof that people don't change easily.
After uprooting the large looter group that was just starting to establish itself domestically, I crossed over to Beijing to eliminate the Butterfly Effect.
[That person seemed important to you, Mr. Undertaker.]
"Yeah. Though she must have been quite fed up with me."
[...]
From then on, the Saintess and I never mentioned Noh Do-hwa again. We continued the 173rd run as if nothing had happened.
And to add, the idea of committing suicide to start a new run didn't cross my mind.
Living diligently despite Noh Do-hwa's disappearance was my own form of funeral and tribute to her death.
Taking advantage of such variables, I would actively gather data that couldn't normally be collected.
So that in the next run, I could make Noh Do-hwa say, "Hmmm, well, at least my pointless death had some merit…."
That was the reason.
The reason I decided to explore a more radical path in the 173rd run.
"National Road Management Corps?"
Dang Seo-rin tilted her head.
"So, you want to create such an organization, and you want me to lead it?"
"Exactly."
Noh Do-hwa was the top candidate to lead the National Road Management Corps. And having a first choice naturally implied there was a second choice.
As expected, my second choice was always Dang Seo-rin.
"Hmm.... There are many things I want to ask, but let's start with this."
"Feel free."
"Why me?"
It was a straightforward question.
There were numerous reasons why Dang Seo-rin was suitable for the position of National Road Management Corps leader.
"I anticipated your question and prepared some materials."
"Huh? Materials?"
"Yes. Please take a look at this PPT."
"…Oh no, I suddenly have a very bad feeling that I've asked something I shouldn't have."
Leadership:
Dang Seo-rin had already elevated Samcheon to the most powerful guild on the Korean Peninsula across countless cycles.
Not only that, she had magnificently governed the city of Busan, which had become the de facto capital after Seoul's fall.
While other guild leaders relied on AI judges, Dang Seo-rin used the 'Equivalent Exchange' magic to govern Busan's judiciary in her own way. Her guild members and the citizens of Busan accepted this method.
In terms of leadership, there was no one who could rival Dang Seo-rin.
Noblesse Oblige:
When some guild leaders were busy establishing their own kingdoms within the cities they occupied, Dang Seo-rin threw herself into the battlefield without hesitation. She went to the front lines to fight against anomalies.
Ten Legs. Udumbara. Meteor Shower. Each time these powerful anomalies swept through the Korean Peninsula, Dang Seo-rin sang her magical songs on the battlefield, literally at the cost of her lifespan.
Dedication to the public good.
The ability to turn dedication into results.
The charisma to gather supporters and establish authority by packaging and spreading those results.
Dang Seo-rin possessed these extremely rare and valuable qualities.
As previously mentioned, in this apocalyptic era, there was a bizarre trend called 'Awakener Supremacy'.
Like Noh Do-hwa, I always referred to awakeners simply as 'awakeners.' But there were many who called the same beings 'transcenders' or 'ascendants.'
Dang Seo-rin didn't attach her identity to such wordplay. She just bore endless responsibility along with her immense power.
There was no one more qualified than Dang Seo-rin for the position of the National Road Management Corps leader, who must not only unite the awakeners but also consider all the humans on the Korean Peninsula.
Personal Charm:
In addition to the charisma required for leading a group, even in one-on-one situations, Dang Seo-rin was...
"Wait, wait! Stop! Stoooop!"
"Hmm?"
In the middle of my enthusiastic presentation on the "101 Reasons Why You Should Lead the National Road Management Corps," Dang Seo-rin waved her hands in a frenzy.
"Undertaker, that's enough! I get it! Please stop! I beg you!"
"Why? I haven't finished yet."
"I said stop! Are you trying to kill me by making me die of embarrassment? Seriously, you're crazy!"
Judging by the fact that Dang Seo-rin usually carried a pointy hat and a witch's broom, one could deduce that the part of her brain responsible for feelings of embarrassment or shame had atrophied.
However, if you bombarded her with compliments in a non-magical, non-witchy, non-singing context, it would cause her brain to panic, much like overworked leg muscles shaking after a strenuous squat.
And during such times, unreasonable demands often worked very well.
"Alright. So, can I take that as you accepting the role of the National Road Management Corps leader?"
"Yes! I'll take it. I'll take it, so shut up before someone hears you!"
See? This is the technique of a former Dang Seo-rin secretary.
Thus, Dang Seo-rin's Samcheon Guild merged with the National Road Management Corps. Or rather, it evolved into the National Road Management Corps from now on.
The process was smooth.
There were few concerns about the concentration of too much power in Samcheon, which was just a guild. Dang Seo-rin's reputation had the power to turn concerns into expectations.
If you ask why I hadn't assigned the role to Dang Seo-rin in previous runs despite its simplicity――besides minor excuses, the core reason was just one.
-If possible, don't tell the next version of me that you're a regressor.
I couldn't confess to Dang Seo-rin that I was a regressor.
Because of her own will.
In the run where we first succeeded in subduing Ten Legs, the 10th run where I revealed I was a regressor, Dang Seo-rin had imposed a binding curse on me.
-I'm a greedy and impulsive person. I can never think like, 'I'll give up this run for the sake of the next one.'
-If I know that I have hundreds of years of lifespan left, I'll definitely use it all up for the current run.
-Until the very final crisis, make sure my lifespan is saved.
I kept that promise.
From the 10th run to the 173rd, I never once disclosed my secret to Dang Seo-rin.
And this meant that, unlike Noh Do-hwa or the Saintess, Dang Seo-rin could never join our regression alliance.
While I could share the information I gained from regression with Noh Do-hwa without reservation, with Dang Seo-rin, I always needed a bit of packaging and acting… in other words, a lie.
A lie. Something I would never do to Dang Seo-rin under normal circumstances.
But in the 173rd run, the shocking early departure of Noh Do-hwa made me resolve to experiment with the IF route of [What if Dang Seo-rin led the National Road Management Corps?].
Unsurprisingly.
In this newly explored route, Dang Seo-rin showcased her talents to the fullest.
"Undertaker. You know that Equivalent Exchange magic you helped develop? I was thinking yesterday, this magic has limitless potential for use."
"Yes. When sending National Road Management Corps members on patrol to other regions, always include one who has participated in the Ten Legs subjugation. That way, if they get into a fight with another guild, we can smooth things over by saying we're all comrades, right?"
"Hmm- The AI judge that guild leader Cheon Yo-hwa provided is convenient, but sometimes people are dissatisfied with the AI's verdict. So, I think the final judgment should be made here at the Busan National Road Management Corps headquarters..."
My judgment was not wrong.
Though aided by the data Noh Do-hwa had accumulated and my advice, Dang Seo-rin led the National Road Management Corps with astounding speed, as if it were natural.
And it wasn't long before she came up with ideas that neither Noh Do-hwa nor I had considered.
"Hey, Undertaker."
"Hmm?"
"Isn't it possible to record the songs I perform with my Cursed Song Incantation and play them softly throughout the city all the time? For example… developing magic that makes people feel a bit happier."
That was the beginning.
-x-X-x-
The One Who Was a Companion II
"Hello, teacher!"
"Oh, it's Yo-hwa."
"Yes! Hehe, it's been a while!"
One day, Cheon Yo-hwa descended to Busan with a few of her close aides.
As expected of Baekhwa Girls' High School, all of them were dressed in white sailor uniforms. Now that Cheon Yo-hwa was no longer a senior but roughly a ninth-year high school student, she should be graduating soon.
The top guild master of the Korean Peninsula was in a witch cosplay, and the second-in-command guild master was in a school uniform cosplay. The future of this land was grim.
"Have you been well?"
"Of course. I'm always doing well."
"Haha. Indeed, it seems like even if you were dropped in the middle of the Sahara Desert, you'd come back just fine. By the way—"
As we chatted, the rest of the Baekhwa Girls' High School guild members had already moved away. In the plaza, only the two of us remained, and Cheon Yo-hwa glanced around.
"Busan has changed a lot."
"Hmm."
Cheon Yo-hwa was right.
The 173rd cycle's Busan boasted a city view unseen in past runs.
Previously, even though Busan was the premier city of the Korean Peninsula, it wasn't very glamorous, fitting the apocalyptic times.
Red-light districts might have adorned themselves with expensive electricity in yellow and pink lights, but most buildings didn't exceed two stories. The elevator and sewage systems required to maintain high-rise buildings had completely collapsed.
But now it was different.
Most buildings were four or five stories high, with some even exceeding ten stories. Civilization wasn't fully restored, but the most expensive real estate was still on the ground floor.
Living in a five-story building and going up and down the stairs to the restroom each time was a workout many were willing to endure, as more people desired to live in Busan.
"It's quite splendid."
"How's Sejong these days?"
"Ah—well, it's the same. Since we have a strong grip on Sejong, people still gather there, but other cities are in dire straits. The other guild leaders often complain when we meet, saying all the specialists have been snatched up by Busan."
Cheon Yo-hwa's eyes narrowed as she looked at the new capital of the Korean Peninsula.
"But it's hard to focus on those complaints. There isn't a guild leader strong enough to confront the National Road Management Corps leader, right?"
"Who knows. You're here, Yo-hwa."
"Haha. The guild leaders always say that."
Cheon Yo-hwa laughed awkwardly, waving her hand dismissively.
"Why would I engage in a power struggle with the management leader? I'm content feeding my kids, hunting anomalies, and occasionally traveling to meet you!"
"That's very like you."
"Hehe..."
But for someone with such a humble lifestyle, the aura of the guild members accompanying Cheon Yo-hwa was extraordinary.
She must have formed the delegation with the best elite members of Baekhwa Girls' High.
I glanced at the waist of Cheon Yo-hwa. Like a Pokémon trainer with Poké Balls, anomaly master Cheon Yo-hwa wore a custom belt with hourglasses attached.
One particularly white sandglass stood out. Despite its appearance, it was an indestructible anomaly seal.
The Infinite Void.
It was Cheon Yo-hwa's most powerful weapon. Perhaps recognizing me even from inside the hourglass, her doppelgänger 'Cheon Yo-hwa (天寥化)' stirred the sand.
Sensing the vibration from her waist belt, Cheon Yo-hwa's gaze turned icy. The vitamin-like smile that had been radiating in all directions evaporated instantly.
"Shut up."
The hourglass trembled briefly before settling down. It might have been my imagination, but the vibration felt like mockery.
At that moment.
- Ah, ah—
From the speakers erected like utility poles throughout Busan, a small song began to play.
It was an acapella recording of Dang Seo-rin's voice.
- Ah... Ah... Ah... Ah... .
The melody resembled a children's song but it was bright enough not to irritate anyone's nerves.
As the quiet song briefly washed over us, Cheon Yo-hwa's eyebrows relaxed.
"Ah—this is. The famous Busan specialty, right?"
"Yes. It's the song of the National Road Management Corps leader."
"Hehe... it really makes you feel at ease listening to it? No, I should say it makes you feel good. Is this a drug?"
It actually had a drug-like effect.
'The song of the National Road Management Corps leader' was broadcast every hour from 7 AM to 10 PM daily. The effects of Cursed Song Incantation subtly changed with the time of day.
For example, at 7 AM, it was a song that had the effect of waking you up feeling refreshed and clear-minded. At 10 PM, it made you pleasantly sleepy and ready for a good night's rest as soon as you lay down.
"Thanks to it, there are no insomniacs in Busan. No one in the world sleeps as healthily as Busan citizens."
"Hmm..."
"And during work hours, songs that invigorate and energize play, while songs that reduce stress and create a slightly excited atmosphere conducive to enjoyable conversation play during dinner time. Labor productivity and overall life satisfaction are at their highest."
"It's a happy city."
Even now, dozens of citizens were huddled under the speakers. Once the song ended, they wore refreshed expressions and returned to their workplaces in groups.
'A city made of songs.'
That was the current Busan.
"It's no wonder other cities keep losing their population to Busan."
To establish this system, Dang Seo-rin and I worked tirelessly for six years.
We developed five types of magic tailored to various situations, and used anomaly artifacts to ensure the magic effects were preserved in recordings.
"Well, teacher. I have a meeting scheduled with the owner of that song. I'll excuse myself!"
"Ah, sure."
"Yes! See you later!"
Dang Seo-rin and Cheon Yo-hwa, the representative of white magic and the representative of black magic, the de facto ruler of Busan and the warlord of Sejong, the leader of the National Road Management Corps and the student council president of Baekhwa Girls' High School.
A secret meeting between the two awakeners, considered rivals in many respects, was held. Of course, thanks to the Saintess's Clairvoyance, I could eavesdrop on all the main details of the secret meeting.
The Saintess was reluctant to share the detailed nuances of the negotiations for some reason.
As a result of the meeting.
"Hehe. Now we're neighbors. Please take care of me from now on, teacher!"
"..."
Baekhwa Girls' High School decided to move its headquarters from Sejong to Busan.
Yeongdo District was allocated as Baekhwa Girls' High School's territory, and Sejong's citizens were freely allowed to relocate.
Cheon Yo-hwa maintained her title as student council president of Baekhwa Girls' High School but was also appointed as the deputy leader of the National Road Management Corps.
Anyone would interpret this as Cheon Yo-hwa leading her guild to a dramatic surrender to Dang Seo-rin.
That was the final blow.
Let's accelerate time a bit more.
When Cheon Yo-hwa, the only one considered a rival to Dang Seo-rin, easily bowed her head, the other guild leaders couldn't hold out either.
One by one, the guild leaders, who ruled like kings from their respective bases, bowed their heads. They flattered the leader of the National Road Management Corps to maintain their value and status.
Dang Seo-rin was generous.
"Undertaker. You said that underwater tunnel could be connected to Kyushu, Japan, right?"
"Hmm."
"There are many famous hot springs in Kyushu. Can't we extend the tunnel near there? If we build luxurious villas around them as gifts, the other guild leaders should be reasonably satisfied."
And so it was.
Some warlords tried to cling to power until the end, but it was futile. The National Road Management Corps had the Sword Marquess. Unless Sword Marquess trampled the farmlands, the sovereignty of the Korean Peninsula's food supply rested entirely in Dang Seo-rin's hands.
Dang Seo-rin lightly swirled her wine glass.
"I always respect your thoughts, Undertaker, but I think differently about the operation of the National Road Management Corps."
"Do you?"
"Yes. There's no need to inefficiently leave multiple cities unattended and order the management members to patrol until they die. There's only a handful of people left on the Korean Peninsula anyway. Busan alone is enough."
"..."
"I'm going to make Busan the premier city on the Korean Peninsula… No, the world. No place in this post-apocalyptic world will be as good as this city."
"If you do that, the entire Korean Peninsula will be consumed by the void. There's a high probability of a 'monster wave' occurring. You'll witness near-infinite anomalies invading from beyond the horizon whenever you feel like it."
I warned her.
"To be honest, it's unpredictable what will happen. Monster waves are practically impossible to exterminate. Do you plan to play an endless defense game in reality?"
"That's frightening but… Yes. We can do it. With your power and my magic, it's possible. Undertaker, will you follow me?"
"..."
I hesitated for a moment.
Perhaps it was an instinct honed through my time as a regressor, but I sensed this moment was a point of no return.
Even so, my answer was already decided.
"...Of course."
Dang Seo-rin beamed brightly.
"As expected of you, Undertaker! I trust you!"
Acceleration.
Four years later, only the city of Busan remained on the Korean Peninsula.
Ironically, the world of a certain witch, who wished more than anyone to travel and wander around, had become narrower than in any other run.
The average height of buildings in downtown Busan increased. It was enough to call it the last metropolis of humanity.
Even the Saintess, who always stayed in Yongsan, Seoul, moved to Busan. There was no longer a need to stay there and monitor the awakeners of the Korean Peninsula.
In the center of Busan, where land prices skyrocketed, a plaza without any buildings astonishingly spread out.
A plaza designed to seat tens of thousands of people. The center was hollowed out so that everyone could watch what happened below.
Like the Colosseum.
That was Dang Seo-rin's 'courtroom.'
Dang Seo-rin sat at the top seat of the judge's bench. Beside her was Cheon Yo-hwa, who had dyed her white sailor uniform black at some point.
The judges looked down.
In the magnificent courtroom, a defendant knelt.
"I committed violence against a passerby."
The defendant's low self-confession echoed throughout the wide courtroom. A feat of Dang Seo-rin's [Amplification Magic].
"Sometimes I can't control my body. It's rage, I guess. It wells up. When I come to my senses, it's always like this. This time, if others hadn't stopped me, I would've beaten someone."
Boo, boo— jeers erupted from the audience of tens of thousands.
But when Dang Seo-rin lightly tapped her gavel, the entire city fell silent as if it had never happened.
"Continue."
"…Yes. I hate this side of myself. I apologize and repent to all those I've harmed. Above all, please, Your Excellency the Judge, correct this character of mine..."
The defendant bowed their head.
Dang Seo-rin shook her finger coldly. A golden scale glowed in the air.
The magic of Equivalent Exchange.
"Defendant. Do you repent your wrongdoing?"
"Yes."
"As you wish, [from now on, you will be stripped of your inner violence]. Under this condition, the victim has graciously offered to forgive the violence you committed."
The victim had received a judgment in the same place a year ago to [forgive anyone who wrongs them with a compassionate heart].
"Do you agree to the victim's proposal?"
"Yes, of course. Thank you. Thank you, Your Excellency. Thank you..."
"Executioner, please proceed."
Cheon Yo-hwa, in her black uniform, stood up.
She approached the defendant and placed her hand on their head. Cheon Yo-hwa's murmured words were muted, not echoing in the courtroom, but I guessed she was 'brainwashing' the defendant.
Personality alteration. Infusion. Distortion.
That was Cheon Yo-hwa's ability.
"Ah..."
Finally, the golden scale shimmered.
On the left pan was the victim's forgiveness, and on the right pan was the defendant's violence.
The scale, having gained the consent of both sides, balanced itself and granted their wishes.
The defendant stood up abruptly.
"I can't feel it... I can't feel it! The emotion that's tormented me all my life, it's no longer there! Ah! Thank you! Thank you! Your Excellency, the Judge, thank you!"
The audience of tens of thousands clapped in unison. Cheers of encouragement for the defendant and praises for Dang Seo-rin and Cheon Yo-hwa's powers echoed.
They, too, were citizens who had received something [in exchange] at the courtroom for trivial or significant reasons.
"Ah, Protector."
Suddenly, a voice came from beside me. I turned my head to see Yu Ji-won standing there.
"Ji-won."
"Yes. Why are you watching the trial from such a remote place? As the Protector, you could watch it more closely."
By the way, 'Protector' was the title given to me. The city's protector.
It was a title dripping with Dang Seo-rin's preference, one I personally didn't like. I almost missed the days when Yu Ji-won exaggeratedly called me 'Your Excellency.'
"I was just passing by. I have to leave to block the monster wave again anyway."
"Ah... as expected. You're really busy."
Yu Ji-won smiled.
A natural, warm, and thus completely uncharacteristic human smile that the original Yu Ji-won would never have made.
"But thanks to Your Excellency's efforts, the citizens of the city can live in peace, right? I always support you. If you ever need my guidance, just let me know."
"..."
I felt the sincerity in all those words.
In a situation where it was difficult to find truth in sincerity, I was momentarily at a loss for words.
Yu Ji-won had also recently had her psychopathic tendencies erased by Dang Seo-rin's [Equivalent Exchange] and Cheon Yo-hwa's [Brainwashing].
Yu Ji-won had a long-standing habit akin to an incurable disease: she secretly hunted and butchered small animals like cats, dogs, and birds.
But unlike the normal Yu Ji-won, she was caught in the act, and eventually, she was brought to Dang Seo-rin's 'witch trial.'
"Ji-won."
"Yes?"
"Are you satisfied with your life these days?"
Yu Ji-won blinked.
"Of course. I've never spent more fulfilling days. Since the day of the trial, I've felt like I'm truly living as a person."
"..."
Was that really so?
I had a slightly different interpretation.
I had never heard of Yu Ji-won enjoying such a stress-relief method of butchering small animals.
Even if it was a new hobby acquired in this run, it was hard to believe that someone like Yu Ji-won would 'accidentally' expose the scene of butchery.
Perhaps it was a deliberately disguised hobby and an intentional exposure.
The person before me had fabricated acts that made her look like a psychopath. And then she underwent a witch trial to correct her personality.
To survive here and continue to live as a city's power, she had judged that 'this way' was advantageous.
Yu Ji-won could see the world as a maze with set entrances and exits. Even her personality and way of thinking were just means to reach the 'correct answer.'
"…I see. That's good. Keep up the good work, Chief Yu."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
I walked down a passage with no visible exit.
Waaa—! A cheer erupted from the far-off audience. A tremendous roar.
Dang Seo-rin! Dang Seo-rin! The courtroom vibrated as if struck by a rushing train.
Before leaving the courtroom, I looked down once more.
At that moment, another part of a defendant's personality was placed on the golden scale for exchange. Dang Seo-rin whispered something to Cheon Yo-hwa, who nodded.
Then Dang Seo-rin and I made eye contact.
"..."
"..."
But only for a moment. As the ruler of the city and the judge of this space, Dang Seo-rin turned her head to continue her duties.
I did too.
Even as I walked down the corridor, the cheers from behind did not stop. Dang Seo-rin! Dang Seo-rin! Dang Seo-rin...
Cheers never ceased in the courtroom, and the songs never stopped playing from the city's speakers.
I walked, trailing the dual melodies like shadows at my feet.
-x-X-x-
The One Who Was a Companion III
It had already been 15 years since the start of the 173rd run.
"Guild leader…"
Even after more than a decade, Sim Ah-ryeon, our guild member who still didn't grasp the concept of personal growth, made a face.
"Why the long face again?"
"Please don't get rid of it…"
"...Get rid of what? Are you smoking?"
"...Ugh, this is why non-players... Anyway. Um, SG Net is down…"
Sim Ah-ryeon sniffled.
SG Net, an advanced technology website, had its servers located in Seo Gyu's brain and heart.
Unless our manly guy SG Man got himself killed in a street fight, there was no chance SG Net would shut down.
Though statistically, that was quite likely, it hadn't happened yet. So, Sim Ah-ryeon's use of the word 'down' was purely metaphorical.
"Sniff. Look at this…"
Sim Ah-ryeon showed me SG Net on her smartphone.
-OldManGoryeo: Today's café mocha.jpeg
-Anonymous: I wrote a novel, please review it
-OldManGoryeo: Today's café mocha.png
-Anonymous: Do you believe in God?
-Anonymous: Anyone want to go to a hot spring trip?
-Anonymous: Why are there only idiots here? LOL
-OldManGoryeo: Today's café mocha.jpg
I tilted my head. After glancing a few times, there was only one thing out of place.
"Ah-ryeon, why are you drinking so much coffee?"
"Aaagh! There are only two posts on SG Net today! Two! Just two posts and that's it! Today's coffee, yesterday's coffee, and the day before yesterday's coffee!"
"Ah…"
"Do you know how many posts are usually made on SG Net per day? Four! Four posts! Unbelievable! Guild leader! I can't live like this! I can't stir up any drama. Out of the four daily posts, one is mine, and the other is my anonymous post…"
"Hmm."
Indeed, SG Net had died.
The only thing still active was the [Library Society's Encyclopedia of Anomalies] that Sim Ah-ryeon and I ran. The ghost users of the community had been purged.
There was always a cause for every effect. There was a clear reason why SG Net's ecosystem had been destroyed.
"Well, that was when everyone lived scattered across the country, but now we all live here. This city has many plazas and rest areas. There's no longer a dire need for an online community like before."
"But still, this is too strange… I swear, even in ancient Vatican City, they had internet communities. It makes no sense that an internet community dies just because people live together in Busan. Guild leader! This has to be an occult phenomenon! An anomaly! Wow! You love anomalies, guild leader…! Please, exterminate it quickly!"
This kid... sharp as ever.
"Ah-ryeon, do you really want to hear the other reasons from my mouth?"
"Wh-What do you mean…?"
"Look. There are no unemployed or homeless people here. Everyone has a job and leads a healthy daily life. After work, people have small parties or go to clubs and have real-life community activities. They relieve all their stress there, so naturally, they don't need to go online. Just look at Seo Gyu; he went out to a TRPG meeting tonight, didn't he? But Ah-ryeon, you're always holed up in the guild building alone…"
"Aaah! I don't want to hear it! I don't want to hear it!"
Sim Ah-ryeon covered her ears and rolled on the floor. Well, not exactly rolled... she rubbed her back against the ground. Actively, like backstroking, she had a meltdown.
If Gregor Samsa had seen her, he would have been ashamed of the degrading display of insect dignity.
"Reality? Reality? You're saying people don't need the internet because they're happy in the moment? Are you stupid? Guild leader, you're really stupid! This smartphone screen, this is reality! This is the truth! People quitting the internet is inhumane, impossible on this Earth, in this universe!"
"But it has actually happened."
"Eek…!"
OldManGoryeo collapsed.
Even if the world were to end tomorrow, Sim Ah-ryeon would post nonsense on the internet today, but her power Grudge Orb was bound to decline.
It had become increasingly difficult to attract people's attention.
Present-day Busan was becoming closer to an ideal city.
Everyone wanted to become a better version of themselves. And Busan had a way to grant people's wishes.
- I'm tired after work but still have a habit of staying up late doing other things. It ruins my daily life. Great Witch, can you remove this habit?
- Of course. Insomnia is such a torment. Just provide one month's worth of your salary.
It wasn't a deal with the devil but with a witch.
Dang Seo-rin's Equivalent Exchange magic and Cheon Yo-hwa's Brainwashing magic. When these two powers worked together, people could conveniently extract the parts of their personalities they wished to remove.
It wasn't just personalities.
- I was abused by my family as a child. Even now, traumatic memories surface and torment me. This personality of mine burdens those around me. Great Witch, can you remove the memories of my family's abuse?
- Of course. But you must also offer the negative emotions you have towards your family as a price.
Memories, emotions, personality.
The Great Witch accepted anything as material for negotiation and received anything in exchange.
Busan's crime rate plummeted. Naturally, the criminals' personalities had been completely reformed.
Dang Seo-rin's 'witch trials' became increasingly open to the general public. Once a week, the golden scale was hoisted in the grand plaza, and dozens of people transformed into better versions of themselves each time.
As Tolstoy said, happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
There are many ways to revert to unhappiness, but the path to happiness is always singular.
The same was true for this city.
As people systematically eradicated their miseries, their auras gradually became similar.
Healthy. Waking up early and going to bed early. Regular exercise. Valuing those around them. Polite. Kind. Honest. Avoiding hurting others and getting hurt.
Utopia.
"What do we do, guild leader…? Sniffle, now I can't heal you if your arm gets cut off or your legs get broken… I'm sorry. If another monster wave invades, I can't heal you…"
"Ah, don't worry about it. You were going to be fired soon anyway."
"…What?"
"The monster wave will soon be over."
I will cover the detailed explanation of the anomaly known as 'monster wave' in another story.
For now, it sufficed to imagine it exactly as the name suggested.
A tsunami of anomalies. Endless waves of monsters rushing from the horizon.
Even anomalies that would never coexist due to overlapping territories would swarm together like a giant legion.
Why this phenomenon occurred remained unknown, but its timing was clear.
When the void grew excessively large.
For instance, if the entire North Korean area turned into a void, a 'monster wave' would inevitably appear.
The tsunami lasted about 20 hours.
Thousands, tens of thousands of anomalies surged like a wave, covering the ground still held by humanity.
This phenomenon compelled me to create the National Road Management Corps.
The reason we didn't abandon the various cities of the Korean Peninsula and maintained our territory by connecting the national roads was to prevent being swept away by the near-infinite monster waves if we allowed the void to encroach further.
Dang Seo-rin chose the exact opposite.
-Undertaker! Undertaker! Undertaker!
-Waaaaa!
And today.
With all resources and manpower concentrated in Busan since the reunification of the Korean Peninsula, the fear of the monster wave, which had always threatened the city's security, was finally ended.
-Everyone! Please welcome with applause! Our hero who protected Busan, no, the Korean Peninsula! No, the city's guardian who protected the world! Here comes the Undertaker!
-Long live the Undertaker! Long live Busan!
A parade was held in the city.
It was a kind of festival. Just like a general who won a victory in Rome paraded through the triumphal arch to boast of his achievements to the citizens, I too marched slowly, escorted by the awakeners around me.
I rode in an open car, but in the sky, members of the Samcheon Guild (now part of the National Road Management Corps) formed a decent aerial squad on their brooms.
Victory songs poured ceaselessly from the speakers installed throughout the city. The melody was stirring and moving.
Liquor, a major luxury item, was distributed without limit today. We would burn through five years' worth of reserves in one day.
-Until now, our city has always been threatened by the despicable waves of anomalies! But thanks to the Undertaker and many warriors' brave fights! The monster wave has finally been eradicated! Rejoice, citizens! Our city is free!
-Waaaaa!
The climax of the festival was when the parade reached the headquarters of the National Road Management Corps.
The plaza where the 'witch trials' were held weekly. Overlooking the plaza, the headquarters towered like the Tower of Babel.
At the grand staircase one had to climb to enter the headquarters, the ruler of the city, the master of the Korean Peninsula, the one in the black conical hat, Dang Seo-rin, was waiting.
"Welcome, Undertaker."
Dang Seo-rin smiled. Her smile and voice were broadcasted throughout the city by a special magic designed for this day.
"You finally did it."
"...…"
"Once, you warned me. You said the path we chose would be blocked by countless anomalies. But I said, with your power and my magic, we could overcome it."
Dang Seo-rin pouted playfully.
"Can we now say that we've proven who was right?"
"Take the correctness. I'll take the blood and effort invested to make your words right."
"Whatever. Always showing off."
Laughter rippled through the crowd surrounding the plaza.
Despite the ruler's overly casual language and conversation, it didn't matter. Maintaining power and authority in this city no longer required grand political rhetoric or exaggeration.
Every citizen was complete.
"Anyway, the hero who defeated the greatest enemy deserves a fitting reward. I swear on my golden scale that I'll grant whatever you wish. Now, our hero. Make your wish."
"Thank you. Then… I noticed Yu Ji-won was handling the mic for today's event. Replace her. Even though her personality changed, she still overdoes it. I almost died of embarrassment getting here."
-Undertaker? Protector?
Laughter erupted from the plaza again.
Dang Seo-rin also chuckled and took a step closer to me. Thump. For some reason, her footsteps weren't broadcasted through the city's speakers, but only reached my ears.
I understood that Dang Seo-rin had momentarily cut off the 'broadcast magic.'
"Is that enough? Really? I meant it when I said I'd grant any wish."
"My wish is to stay by your side till the end, and it's already being fulfilled."
"...…"
"So fire Yu Ji-won. Now."
Dang Seo-rin chuckled.
"Really…"
What words followed, I didn't know either.
Dang Seo-rin extended her right hand, and I, as per her taste, kissed the ring on it. Then the cheers of the whole city drowned out all other sounds.
Night fell.
Fireworks exploded.
In the night sky of the city, all sorts of witches flew around. The National Road Management Corps members, who had been granted a three-day leave starting today, soared on brooms, firing fireworks spells at will.
Dang Seo-rin and I sat on the high terrace of the headquarters, looking up at the night sky's festival.
On the table were some famous Haeundae Bakery bread and two empty wine bottles.
"Now then."
Dang Seo-rin's long fingers traced the rim of the wine glass.
"Are all the anomalies threatening us gone?"
"Who knows. The greatest threat is gone, I'd say. There might still be outer god-class anomalies I haven't detected yet but at least the monster wave won't target this place again."
"That's good. No more seeing those disgusting anomalies swarm in. Really, that's good."
Fireworks exploded again.
Even the sound of fireworks being launched seemed to have been magically implemented, echoing pleasantly in the sky.
The red and yellow backlighting illuminated Dang Seo-rin's profile as she watched the night sky.
"Ah, I feel good. Yeah. Undertaker, make me a cup of coffee. I want some."
"If you drink caffeine at night, you won't sleep."
"What's the difference?"
Dang Seo-rin propped her chin on her left hand and smirked. Her right hand stroked Blackie, curled up on her lap.
"I'm not sleeping tonight anyway. I'll skip work tomorrow too. You're free starting today too, aren't you?"
"…Indeed. Just one cup then."
The rooftop terrace, virtually Dang Seo-rin's private bar, had all the tools a barista needed. The beans smelled freshly ground.
There was even ice cream in the icebox. I made affogato and handed it to Dang Seo-rin with a wry smile.
"Here. Hangover coffee."
"Ah, thank you! Mmm. As expected. Coffee made by you tastes the best."
Fireworks exploded.
Meow— Blackie meowed on Dang Seo-rin's lap.
"But… how did you subdue the monster wave? Didn't you say it was something that couldn't be eradicated, more a phenomenon than an anomaly?"
"I didn't subdue it."
"Huh?"
"I didn't subdue it. Near Seoul, monster waves of tens of thousands of anomalies still appear, disappear after 20 hours, and reappear endlessly."
"...…"
I had seen it with my own eyes.
Dang Seo-rin, who had been enjoying the affogato, froze.
"…Wait. Really? You're not kidding? Then that's a big problem!"
"No, I've never lied to you, Seo-rin. The monster wave will never push down here again. Your city is safe."
"Uh… hey, Undertaker?"
Dang Seo-rin looked confused.
"Sorry, I can't follow this conversation. Wasn't the monster wave a phenomenon that pushed from the void to the non-void, human territory? You said that before."
"That's right."
"And the monster wave is still appearing, not eradicated?"
"Yeah."
"Then why do you claim with such certainty that the monster wave will never strike Busan again?"
"Because this is the void."
Fireworks exploded.
"――This place is no longer human territory but anomaly territory. Busan is no longer Busan but Utopia. Literally, 'no place,' the void."
"..."
"So there's no reason for the monster wave to target this place. Dang Seo-rin. As long as you, the anomaly, rule this area."
Fireworks exploded.
-x-X-x-
The One Who Was a Companion IV
How much time had passed?
In the night sky devoid of the ticking of clocks, only the periodic, extravagant explosions of the fireworks measured the length of the silence.
"An anomaly... me? I, Dang Seo-rin?"
It was after the fourth firework painted the sky red that Dang Seo-rin finally opened her mouth.
"That can't be true. What are you talking about, Undertaker? I'm the same as before, nothing has changed. How could I be an anomaly…"
"Yes, nothing has changed. But our abilities themselves are a kind of anomaly. Awakening, transcendence, ascension—no matter how grand the words, they are inherently alien phenomena in the real world. You must have had some inkling."
"...…"
I sipped my coffee. While giving Dang Seo-rin her affogato, I made myself a café au lait.
"I don't particularly like the habit of comparing a human to a small universe, but a human is indeed a small space. Just because one awakens their ability doesn't mean they instantly become a complete anomaly. It happens slowly. Like the void eroding the land, the process of becoming an anomaly goes through many procedures and stages."
"…What nonsense procedures and stages?"
"I don't claim to know everything. But in your case, it's clear. Your rapid transformation into an anomaly began when your golden scales started influencing other people's personalities."
"That doesn't make any sense…"
"Let's delve into a more complex concept."
Let's compare an anomaly to a force.
We say that water falls, that a coffee can spills on the floor, that a ball drops from the Leaning Tower of Pisa—all due to the force of gravity.
Anomalies and the Void are the same.
'Why does walking to the right in the Inunaki Tunnel result in drowning?' 'Why did the area where the Meteor Shower fell turn into an ashen zone?' 'Why do all objects and spaces lose their boundaries in the Infinite Void, reduced to mere qualia?'
The answers to these questions are clear.
'Because it's the Inunaki Tunnel.'
'Because it's the Meteor Shower.'
'Because it's the Infinite Void.'
Each anomaly has the power to create its own events.
Just as objects are drawn to gravity, the Meteor Shower has the property of turning its surroundings into ashes.
Anomalies become the causes that produce strange results in this world.
It's as if one can only say, 'The reason for this bizarre occurrence is because of that anomaly.'
Conversely, the method of subduing an anomaly follows this line of analysis.
'The reason part of the Inunaki Tunnel is flooded is because it is mixed with the mythology of the Sanzu River.'
'The myth of a river flowing in the afterlife is found not only in the Sanzu River but also in the Styx.'
'Therefore, if one carries gold or silver coins to pay the ferryman of the underworld, they will not drown in the Inunaki Tunnel.'
One analyzes the anomaly.
By dissecting the anomaly, which was pinpointed as the ultimate cause of the incident, one interprets it as 'even an anomaly is just a result established by other causes.'
This is the method I declared as certain around the 100th run.
To restore the world to the proper chain of causality. To eliminate the voids scattered like holes in the world.
This was the essence of the 'method to fight anomalies' that I established.
"Dang Seo-rin. Among the people living in this city, is there anyone who doesn't owe you?"
"..."
"At the top of that four-story villa lives a young man named Yoo Chul-won. He suffered from insomnia. Five years ago, he received a witch trial from you, and thanks to that, he spends every day and night, and thus his entire daily life, refreshingly. The cause of 'Yoo Chul-won's daily life' is you, Dang Seo-rin."
"….."
"The reason a psychopath like Yu Ji-won can genuinely care for and like others, to the extent of holding small parties with friends every week, is what? Dang Seo-rin, it's you."
"…"
"The reason all the people in this city wake up happy in the morning, work diligently throughout the day, spend time happily with loved ones in the evening, and sleep peacefully at night without worries—this is true for not just one or two people but for all the citizens of the city. It's solely because of you, Dang Seo-rin."
"..."
"Simply ruling a city doesn't turn you into an anomaly, but this city is now indistinguishable from you."
Why is this city so happy?
Why do such and such events occur in this city?
The answer to these questions.
—Because it's Dang Seo-rin.
"This place is Utopia."
"..."
"A land ruled by a witch who can render perfect judgments in any trial and eternally send beautiful songs through the city. The most benevolent void in the world. If my words don't seem credible… you can test it. Your Equivalent Exchange magic will now work even on anomalies."
"That…"
"You could give anomalies self-awareness, implant past memories, and bestow human forms. Of course, it would require many trials and even more time... But if luck is on your side, you might be able to turn the entire world into your domain, a void called Utopia."
"...…"
Silence settled.
The fireworks stopped exploding.
It was as if the entire city had held its breath. Even the distant, pleasant humming of the drunkards and the laughter of the witches subsided.
As Dang Seo-rin breathed, the lights across the city flickered. When the yellow lights all blinked simultaneously, Dang Seo-rin smiled strangely.
"Then… are you going to subdue me now?"
"...…"
"It's a common story. The hero defeats the Demon King, but the real mastermind was the king who supported the hero all along, leading the hero to the final stage. The greatest ally turns out to be the ultimate last boss. Isn't that a worn-out cliché?"
"..."
"Right, Undertaker. Come to think of it, I don't remember you calling Busan 'Busan' recently. You always referred to it as 'this city' or 'here.' You've suspected it for a while, haven't you? That I would turn into an anomaly, that Busan would become the void."
"Yes."
"You're really a bad guy. But then again, you did warn me. You said it was unpredictable what would happen. I caused the current situation."
Dang Seo-rin stood up. Blackie jumped down.
With a snap, a broom flew to her hand from the terrace. Dang Seo-rin donned the conical hat she had placed on the table.
"Perfect. If you fabricate news about the monster wave being defeated, the entire city would obviously celebrate. I'd take time off to drink with you. My personal guards are all scattered, and most are probably drunk. Perfect timing, isn't it? Have you already recruited Cheon Yo-hwa to your side? …Ah. I see. No wonder she quietly withdrew from today's meeting."
"..."
"Still, Undertaker, I can't give up my city. It's an oasis painstakingly created in this wretched world. No matter what anyone says, I, my citizens, are human. No, I'll make us the only human species from now on. So if you plan to subdue me and this place—be prepared for death."
I stood up as well.
"No."
Unlike Dang Seo-rin, I had no weapon in hand. The cane sword made by a blacksmith no longer existing in this world remained tilted beside me.
Because this story doesn't end that way.
"I won't subdue you."
"…What?"
I lightly grasped Dang Seo-rin's hand.
There was a slight tremor, but I didn't mind and pulled her closer.
In the exact opposite direction from a thousand years ago.
-You've got a fierce look in your eyes.
-...
-You're that person, right? The only survivor from Busan Station. The eccentric who always asks strange questions.
A long time ago during the 4th run.
My first meeting with Dang Seo-rin was before I had the Complete Memory Ability.
I couldn't guarantee if our meeting really happened that way, if it was raining around us, or if we had this exact conversation.
-Name?
-…Undertaker. It's a pseudonym.
-You're someone who buries people? Not bad. The depth of a person depends on how many corpses they've buried in their heart.
But one thing was certain, remembered as an indelible truth even if it faded.
-How about it?
Back then, Dang Seo-rin extended her hand to me.
Call it a regressor's intuition. The moment I looked up at the black-haired witch with a broom in one hand and a conical hat on her head, I already knew that a continuous line of my endless life had intertwined with hers.
-Wanna join our guild?
I took that hand.
Just like now.
Only the direction had changed.
"I will never, no matter what, hurt you."
"..."
"I don't care if you become an anomaly. Even if you turn this city, the world, into the void. Even if you burn the entire world, Dang Seo-rin. I will still be by your side."
"Ah."
We were alike.
My ability, Time Seal, the reason I was called Undertaker, also merely handed people an eternally happy day.
Even if it was a fake, as long as no one noticed, it was no different from the real thing.
The Utopia Dang Seo-rin created was the same. Even if people's happiness was obtained through deals with the witch, perhaps it was the best happy ending this world could achieve.
This route was never a bad ending.
A world where Dang Seo-rin lived to the end, where her dream city was realized, could never be recorded as a bad ending for me.
"If you ever get tired of ruling the city and want to leave, we can leave together anytime."
"..."
"If you want to turn the entire world into your Utopia, I'll gladly be your sword and lead the way."
Her hand trembled.
Dang Seo-rin.
My guild master.
"You allowed me to stay by your side even after becoming an anomaly. Whether it was conscious or unconscious doesn't matter. It doesn't matter at all. You are the reason I live."
You are the cause of my existence.
To inherit each other's place and still be together. That was the only difference between anomalies and humans.
No matter how deep we fell into the void, it wouldn't turn into hell.
"So don't worry."
"...…"
"We can go anywhere."
Dang Seo-rin hugged me.
The city lights came on. Witches flew crisscross in the night sky. The noise of drunkards and the song from the speakers intertwined.
Fireworks exploded.
"…I want to travel."
"Okay."
"Maybe I shouldn't have given up on the national roads. No, railways. The Railroad Management Corps or something. Instead of staying in Busan, I should've built a fortress train like the one in 'Snowpiercer' and kept traveling around the country. That would've been much more fun."
"Okay."
I hugged Dang Seo-rin's shoulders. I patted her back.
"Dang Seo-rin."
"Yeah…?"
"I'm actually a regressor."
Dang Seo-rin looked up at me.
"A regressor…?"
"Yes. I actually repeat the world endlessly. My life has ended over a hundred times. Every time I wake up, it's always the tutorial dungeon at Busan Station."
"..."
I told her.
The magic called Cursed Song Incantation burns life to spread the song, but actually, the lifespan accumulates with each run.
"But you told me in the tenth life not to ever tell you the secret that I'm a regressor. Because you're greedy, if you found out such a secret, you'd use up all the remaining lifespan to create a happy ending in the current run."
"Ah… indeed. That makes sense."
Despite knowing I was a regressor, Dang Seo-rin quickly understood. She probably had her own thoughts about my identity.
Soon, Dang Seo-rin smiled.
"You're foolish."
"Who? You from the 10th run?"
"No, you."
When I looked at her in confusion, Dang Seo-rin's smile deepened.
"Why didn't you kill me immediately at the start of each run?"
"…What?"
"You fool. The sooner I die, the longer my 'original lifespan' accumulates for the next run. If my original lifespan was 60 years, you could've transferred all 60 years to the next run each time… Why didn't you kill me?"
"Wait, what? You're saying that now—"
I couldn't continue my rebuttal.
Dang Seo-rin's face was right in front of me. Her breath was close. The coffee taste, mixed with ice cream flavor.
The scent of grass after a summer rain.
Dang Seo-rin slowly pulled back.
"...…"
"Was that your first kiss in this life?"
"That…"
"Ah. No, don't answer."
Dang Seo-rin parted her lips and sang. Above us, a small golden scale hung.
Dang Seo-rin whispered playfully.
"Undertaker, put all the memories of your kisses on the scale. Whether they exist or not. In this run, in all runs."
"...…"
"Hurry up."
I did so.
I couldn't know what Dang Seo-rin placed on the right side of the scale in exchange for my memories on the left. Nor could I mention what memories I lost anymore. The golden scale in the air shone brightly, deeming the balance achieved.
"Okay. Now close your eyes."
In the old night sky, with the golden light illuminating like fireworks, Dang Seo-rin pulled me by the arm.
"—This is now our first kiss."
Our shadows overlapped.
While fireworks scattered in the distance, a thought occurred to me.
As Dang Seo-rin was the cause of my existence, perhaps I was also the cause of Dang Seo-rin's existence.
If so, tonight might be the moment when the gentlest 'strategy' against an anomaly temporarily existed.
And…
Though I would never remember it, the memory Dang Seo-rin erased with the golden scale was probably no different from the person in front of me now.
There is an epilogue.
When I opened my eyes, I was staring at the ceiling of the tutorial dungeon at Busan Station, not the terrace of Utopia.
The 173rd run had ended.
"..."
Why?
What led to my death?
Regarding the reason for my death, I have the following hypotheses.
First hypothesis: Upon hearing that her lifespan accumulated across runs, Dang Seo-rin resolved to die with me.
'Utopia' Busan wasn't established without cost. The songs from the speakers, the Equivalent Exchange of the golden scale, everything originated from Dang Seo-rin's Cursed Song Incantation.
The price of Cursed Song Incantation was lifespan.
Even the smallest magic in Utopia ran on Dang Seo-rin's life as fuel.
Of course, the resource had secured thousands of years, but it was certain that the end would come someday.
Dang Seo-rin decided to save that fuel.
For me.
For a better true ending we hadn't yet reached.
…But there's also a completely different second hypothesis.
Perhaps Dang Seo-rin didn't die immediately after the kiss.
We might have lived the 173rd run as if nothing happened, spreading 'Utopia' not just in Busan but across the entire Korean Peninsula, and eventually the world.
After many moments of happiness and unhappiness, luck and misfortune—after concluding a grand epic, when Dang Seo-rin's lifespan finally burned out.
For some reason I can't imagine now, perhaps Dang Seo-rin asked me to forget 'the memory from the kiss to now.'
As a result, I regressed with only the memory up to our kiss.
Both interpretations can be valid.
I have no intention of digging into which hypothesis is correct. After all, neither is a bad ending for me.
I intend to leave that moment of blankness, the 'imperfect memory' part, the night sky of fireworks—gladly within me as a space of void for Dang Seo-rin.
Forever.