Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: 54. Massive Malice (2)
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There was no particularly revealing information from the 'Analysis at 2%'.
Yoo Ji-tae had to piece together his thoughts using only the messages, images, and past memories delivered by the Apocalyptic Clock.
Who. How. Why.
Even if he could accept the 'why' for now, there were plenty of angles to consider for the 'who' and 'how'.
Tales of events beyond the Providence Horizon—that is, the Non-Providence World—were unfamiliar even to Yoo Ji-tae of the 7th regression.
To easily analogize his current situation:
Yoo Ji-tae hailed from Korea (Earth). The dragons came from America (Ascalifa). They had been out on a little raft for some water fun when a storm from space (the Non-Providence World) swept them to Korea by chance. Yoo Ji-tae only had his own raft, so he couldn't take the kids back to America. Meanwhile, the presidents he'd killed from nearby dimensions like Japan (close dimension) and China (close dimension) had fled into space and were now firing missiles.
It made sense that the dead ones harbored malice. Mana was the manifestation of will, and even if a being died, its will could linger and persist.
The problem came next. How could someone's malice originate from the Non-Providence World?
In other words, how could those guys from China or Japan be launching missiles from space?
That was impossible for Yoo Ji-tae right now, even if he unleashed all his power.
Yoo Ji-tae was a human who had grown to the limits imposed by the Providence World's rules.
A being from the 'Non-Providence World' would have no point of contact with him, so it wouldn't hold grudges against him.
A being from the 'Providence World' couldn't accomplish what Yoo Ji-tae couldn't.
Thus, he had to explore this contradiction-filled situation from every angle.
In the process, the regressor's attention finally turned to Bom, a beat late.
"......"
Bom was staring at Yoo Ji-tae with vacant eyes.
He waved his hand in front of her face. Her focus was off; she just stared blankly, looking like her soul had left her body.
Was she searching for Providence?
If his guess was right, she should find it.
Bom had synchronized with his emotions and thoughts by holding his hand.
In Yoo Ji-tae's mind, the Apocalyptic Clock had peered into the distant reaches of the Providence World, discovered a massive malice there, and given it a name to define it.
The Apocalyptic Clock could interfere with Providence. The moment it was defined, the malice became part of Providence, so Bom—receiving Yoo Ji-tae's memories and emotions—should witness Providence at the instant the Clock named it.
And it seemed his thinking was spot on.
Focus slowly returned to Bom's eyes. At the same time, her expression brightened.
"Bom. You okay?"
Bom nodded.
Her smile grew a bit brighter.
"You can see Providence now, right?"
Bom nodded more vigorously.
It wasn't her usual subtle smile; it was vibrant, filled with joy.
"Good. That's great."
"Thank you......"
He felt a sense of relief wash over him.
The matter with Bom had been resolved peacefully.
Late into the night.
Bom, who had hesitated several times as if wanting to say something, toyed with the ends of her hair thoughtfully.
Then, just before dawn, she spoke.
"Ajusshi."
"Yeah."
"Everything you say to me or give me is good, right?"
Bom's voice was more serious than usual.
"Yeah."
"Even if there's something you don't tell me, I don't need to be curious about it, right? Like why you're protecting us. Why you're working so hard to make us happy. It's all for me and us anyway."
"Right. You don't need to know."
"So, even if it looks bad on the surface, there must be a reason for it, right? Like suddenly kidnapping a perfectly happy me?"
He had to think a bit before answering that one.
"I'll only give you good things, but you're right."
"I thought so."
Bom murmured, bowing her head.
"Now, even if you give me something bad... it might be okay..."
It was a loaded statement. Her gaze was downcast. Bom fidgeted with her fingers.
He answered nonchalantly.
"No need to overthink it. Just relax and enjoy your leisure time."
"Okay. But Ajusshi, my belly's full, so I wanna lie down."
When Bom looked up at him again, her eyes were slightly droopy.
"If there's a super sweet, delicious cake... exactly four pieces..."
Her gaze held a hint of pathos.
Bom whispered in an even more subdued voice.
"I can't eat it all by myself, right? There are four pieces of cake. And people to share it with."
"So?"
"Trying to eat it all would be greed. Childish greed."
The regressor felt an odd vibe from Bom's words.
He didn't know what form emotions took, but he understood how human desire worked and what her expression meant.
"Bom."
"I didn't realize it, but I'm greedy too."
Embarrassment welled up in him. Even though they weren't close. Much more than if they were.
"......I want to eat it all alone."
But Bom didn't smile.
'But can't I just do what I want? Adults have to hold back.' Bom said that and flopped down. He didn't reply.
The short dispatch ended there.
The next day, the two returned to the dorm.
The whole way back, his mind was a mess. The massive malice was complicated, and Bom's words were complicated too.
He'd gotten that feeling occasionally before.
Does she maybe have feelings for me?
Feelings beyond mere fondness between persons?
They'd spent plenty of time together. Even Yoo Ji-tae, still insensitive to daily life, had noticed subtle differences a few times in how Yeoreum, Gaeul, and Winter treated him versus Bom.
But once back at the dorm and resuming daily life, Bom reverted completely to normal.
"Hi. Good morning."
"Yeah. Sleep well?"
"Yes."
In her role helping Yoo Ji-tae care for the kids, she kept a proper distance while always suggesting new things. She'd tease him now and then thanks to seeing Providence, bursting into laughter. Bom's demeanor was unchanged.
So, as time passed, he was able to set aside his complications about Bom.
Even without Bom, he had plenty to do.
An image floated in his mind.
Thousands of rifts spreading across the entire Earth. Monstrous hordes pouring out from them.
An assault beyond humanity's current defenses. Colossal beasts swarming like insect plagues, overwhelming continents and seas.
The scale felt akin to three adult dragons descending upon the present world.
'Whoa, that's grim...'
'Without preparation, half the world's continents would be gone.'
'Jeez...'
His two clones, who had received the memories, responded.
It was true. Yoo Ji-tae was an individual. He could command legions, but he couldn't single-handedly stop a planet-wide catastrophe.
Ridiculously, the Apocalyptic Clock's insight into the Massive Malice's goal wasn't Yoo Ji-tae's personal death.
Apparently, during his possession of the Morning Star, getting slapped had thrown off their plans.
But since the Clock had foreseen it early, preparation was feasible.
'Listen up, both of you.'
After the massive war passes and the world reverts to power logic.
'One of you joins the International Superhuman Alliance. There, meet Jefferson Antonio, the chief advisor to the Alliance Leader.'
The regressor was stronger than anyone.
'Jefferson spent his life amassing power but never got recognition through it, living as an advisor until death—a Korean guy.'
'Show Jefferson your power and make him your follower. He has a hobby on weekends: hiding his strength at underground fight clubs, beating up the weak to boost his ego. That's your chance.'
'Don't kill or cripple him.'
And through six prior regressions, he'd learned how to move the world as an individual.
'The other goes to East Asia. Enter the Isolated Dungeon Namha Forest and find Valentine, the hermit there.'
Former world rank 1. Valentine. Alias: 'Witch'.
Officially missing, but those in the know were aware. Valentine hadn't vanished; she was in hiding.
But only Yoo Ji-tae knew the Witch's hideout.
'Bring what the Witch wants and build a relationship. She proposed seclusion but surprisingly gets lonely and needs company. No rush. The Massive Malice arrives years from now at earliest—take it slow.'
Responses came from his two clones.
'Understood.'
'Understood...!'
While they seized the Alliance and Valentine, Yoo Ji-tae had to move too.
From now on, without disrupting daily life, he'd persuade the National Assembly of All Things.
Awaken the militaries' vigilance worldwide.
Call idle superhumans back to the battlefield after the war's leisure.
Protecting the dragons was his duty. Protecting Earth was everyone's.
Those who could protect themselves must do so.
Also, devise a way to gather the spreading rifts into one place.
For that, he'd need the wisdom and power of heavyweights like the 'Witch' and the 'Tower of the Sorcerer'.
He'd prepare everything possible.
And thus, shatter the incoming malice head-on.
Having walked seven regressions. Lived thousands of lives.
The regressor was confident.
"Hey. Yoo Gyeoul. Ready?"
"......"
Yeoreum spoke to Winter with a brusque expression.
Winter nodded reluctantly, a water cup in hand.
What they were doing now was Yeoreum's 'anger management training'.
To control her constant uncontrollable irritation, she'd drag Winter into various annoying situations.
"Do it when I give the signal. Got it?"
"...Yeah."
"Signal is 3, 2, 1, buzz—"
Splash!
Winter splashed the water cup over Yeoreum's face. Caught off-guard, Yeoreum snorted water out her nose.
"What the fuck, I was explaining—!"
She'd tried to explain the signal, but Winter mistook it and splashed anyway.
Yet Yeoreum suppressed the rising curse. She wiped her drenched face.
"...Not the signal?"
"No, you idiot. I was explaining what the signal is."
"...Uh-huh."
Yeoreum peered into Winter's face. The blue-haired kid offered a towel, but her lips twitched faintly.
Did this brat do it on purpose? The suspicion irked Yeoreum.
"Hoo......"
Yeoreum closed her eyes, regulated her breathing, and calmed down.
"...Again?"
"Yeah. Sand this time."
Anger management wasn't to be taken lightly.
If someone pissed her off, Yeoreum would snap. But in situations where she couldn't, she had to hold it.
Especially in fights. A few hits, and she'd lose reason, her body going out of control.
A clear weakness. Against equals, it'd always disadvantage her.
Thus, Yeoreum decided to practice holding back anger.
"Go. 3, 2—"
Swish!
Winter dumped sand before the signal. Yeoreum startled; sand filled her open mouth meant for 'one,' making her spit repeatedly.
Winter stifled giggles. Since she was controlling anger anyway, might as well provoke more.
"...Mad?"
But when Yeoreum got serious and held back words, it scared her a bit. Winter smiled awkwardly and backed away.
Yoo Ji-tae watched them through the window, then looked away.
*
A few minutes later. Yeoreum burst through the dorm door.
Winter, clutched in her arms, grimaced, clutching her chest.
"Hey. I think she's hurting."
"What happened?"
Yeoreum approached with a slightly alarmed look.
"Did you hit her?"
"Crazy? It's not like that."
Yeoreum carefully handed Winter to Yoo Ji-tae. He took her. She was groaning, struggling to breathe.
"Winter. You okay?"
The child, aware of what was happening, nodded. But she couldn't hide the anxiety in her blue eyes.
"...Chest... feels weird."
It seemed.
The molting period was right around the corner.