Chapter 4
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Day the Regression Memories Returned
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Just moments ago, I’d been in a comfortable position, but now no matter how I shifted, it felt awkward. He was my brother, familiar enough to recognize at a glance, yet the three-year gap had apparently been longer than I’d thought—my mind blanked on how to even start the conversation.
It was a two-person room, but luckily the other patient was out somewhere. Who would believe we were brothers if they saw this?
“…….”
It was obvious this would be torture until Mom and Dad arrived, so I held my breath quietly. But soon, something unexpected happened.
“How’s your body feeling?”
“Huh?”
That was because my brother spoke first.
I barely hid my surprise at his question and answered.
“Uh…. Seems okay.”
“That’s a relief.”
“…….”
I opened my mouth, fumbling for words. The guy who aced job interviews was stuttering now—ridiculous. Especially since it was him.
“…Um…….”
“What?”
“Thanks for saving me. Really. I thought I was done for.”
I gave an awkward smile, and he smiled faintly back. I flinched, my expression stiffening a bit.
“What?”
“No, it’s nothing…. Never mind.”
I fidgeted with my fingers, sorting my thoughts. He tilted his head curiously, but it was hard to spit out the words.
‘How do I even ask this?’
I tapped my nails together, staring into space. In the silent room, only that clicking sound echoed.
‘…….’
I quietly traced back through my memories. From past to past.
And the memory I arrived at was from that day when he said he’d been possessed by a novel.
「This is inside a novel. And I’ve been possessed…」
‘Possession.’
I’d never been into creative stuff because of all the gaming, but I knew what that meant. It wasn’t like I’d never seen any.
‘Possession means…….’
A real-world person possessing a novel character. That’s what I remembered, anyway.
In other words, someone else had possessed my brother’s body.
‘Then this person is…….’
I swallowed hard. Unconsciously, I tapped my nails even harder.
The more I thought, the deeper the worry and anxiety grew. It wasn’t just anxiety—it was fear. Maybe even scarier than when I’d nearly died to that monster.
‘No.’
I carefully reviewed the memory again.
My brother had always been steady as a rock since we were kids, sometimes more mature than our parents. That personality had carried on unchanged. Even now, he just stood there calmly, waiting while I said nothing.
‘But he’s never acted strangely before.’
My head spun. It made sense and didn’t at the same time.
As my chaotic thoughts swirled, my brother’s voice cut through.
“I’ve got things to do, so I’ll head out. I told Mom and Dad separately.”
“Huh?”
“Take care of yourself.”
‘He’s leaving just like that? I haven’t asked anything yet?’
My spinning head felt like it exploded. My mind buzzed wildly.
Screw it. On impulse, I grabbed his arm as he turned to leave.
“What?”
“…….”
The sudden movement sent pain prickling across my skin like goosebumps, but I ignored it and looked up at him.
What was I going to ask? No, how should I even phrase it? He did save me. But I’m not even sure about the possession thing starting midway.
“Han Ji-eon?”
“…….”
But what if, just what if, he’d been possessed midway? If that was true.
“…….”
I lowered my head and slowly released his arm. Then I looked up again and spoke.
“At least keep in touch, will ya?”
I grinned sheepishly and patted his arm.
“How can family go three years without a single call?”
“Ah…. Sorry.”
“No need to apologize. What, did you go live in the mountains or something?”
“Just. Had some work.”
“A job?”
“…Something like that?”
“I was wondering what you’d do after dropping out of college, but you got a job, huh.”
I laughed haha, keeping my smile steady as I continued.
“Oh, right, you said you had work. Sorry for holding you up. Go on.”
“No need to apologize…. I’ll get going.”
“Yeah. And call!”
I waved him off until the door clicked shut, and my hand dropped limply onto the bed.
“Stupid idiot.”
I buried my face in my palms, sighing deeply over and over.
A few minutes later, I turned my head and saw the sunset outside the window. Looking down below it, I spotted crumbled buildings in view.
It was all real. Nothing else registered. Me getting attacked by a monster, lying here in this hospital bed, the collapsed buildings—everything was real.
And my long-distant brother felt one step further away.
‘He’s the same as ever, so he’s probably the same person, whatever.’
My head just wouldn’t turn. I was exhausted, that’s all. So I just went with the simplest thought I wanted.
‘…Better sleep it off.’
I tossed and turned, rustling the sheets, then settled in and closed my eyes quietly. Hoping my tangled head would clear up after some rest.
♧♣♧
Nothing changed after that. Not just our country— the whole world was a mess. The good news was that people with awakened Patterns could use their abilities, so the monster crisis settled quickly.
Once the rampaging monsters were mostly cleared, Gates started appearing next. The unknown Gates caused another panic, and when it got out that people could enter them, some crazies actually tried.
Then one country threw death-row criminals with awakened Patterns into a Gate. A few prisoners came out alive, and days later, the Gate vanished—broadcast worldwide. That brought light back to the grim world.
Our country hurried to accept Gate entry applications from Pattern awakeners too. They didn’t know what would happen if they left them alone, so it was the safest option at the time.
And among the volunteers, naturally, was my brother.
‘…That was years ago already.’
Four years ago, to be exact.
Amid all that chaos, I lived well. I took a year off school, but anyway—the world regained peace like nothing happened, and now it was stable.
Only Pattern awakeners—Hunters entering dungeons—and support types like blacksmiths with weaker combat abilities but technical skills had changed. Ordinary people without abilities or Patterns just returned to normal society.
Yeah, just like now……
I lifted my head slightly, and a banner reading ‘Congratulations on Your Graduation!’ fluttered in the breeze.
“If the flowers are heavy, tell Dad to carry them.”
“A bouquet’s not that heavy—why bother Dad.”
Today was my college graduation. My family had come for it. Not the whole family, though.
My brother still didn’t keep in touch much after that, and now he was busier than ever. I hadn’t even asked him to come, and I didn’t want to. It wasn’t like a college graduation was that big a deal—no need to call him.
“Ah.”
Moving my wrist holding the bouquet sent a throbbing pain through it. I let out a small sound without thinking. Mom asked, as if used to it.
“Wrist hurting again?”
“Nothing for it.”
It’d been aching for a month. The hospital said nothing was wrong, so I’d been enduring, but today it hurt especially bad.
“Hey, does your wrist hurt, sunbae?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Oh…. Good, then.”
I lied to my close underclassman. My classmates and even strangers were all hyped for this long-awaited day—didn’t want to kill the vibe by mentioning my wrist.
Of course, I’d been looking forward to it too, so I shoved the pain aside and attended the uneventful ceremony, savoring the joy. Too bad it was short-lived.
“Eek!”
First came a small scream from somewhere.
“Aaaahhh!”
“What the hell is that!”
Then screams that drew everyone’s eyes.
“Someone call the Association……!”
Next, a monster big enough for anyone to see entered my view.
“…….”
The graduation was ruined in an instant. But no one complained—they all scrambled to flee.
Amid the fleeing crowd, I whipped my head around to find Mom and Dad. Bad timing—they were off taking pictures with friends, separated from me.
Gotta get to Mom and Dad and run……!
I turned and called out to them.
“Mom! Da―”
Before I could finish, my brain froze cold. My chest heaved.
Slowly, so slowly, a massive shadow loomed over their heads, swallowing theirs.
After seeing that, no thoughts came. No sounds, no sensations. My close underclassman seemed to call me from behind, but the words faded without registering.
The growing pain in my wrist throbbed, but I ignored it and kept running. My speed was pathetically slow, though. Fear made my legs shake—I could barely run properly. Each step forward felt weighted down, barely advancing.
If I could just reach them—no, beyond reaching, if I could just erase that thing.
A sob rose to my throat but stayed trapped.
‘Please.’
The monster raised its long arm, posing like it was about to snatch a bug.
‘Please.’
Instead of the sob, a scream burst out.
“Aaaah!”
Why dump disasters like this only on me? It was unfair. Frustrating. I shouldn’t have strayed far. Should’ve stuck by them. Got too excited for no reason, causing this. Should’ve protected them. Right by their side.
‘Just stay like that. Please!’
Ridiculously, I stared at the frozen monster with my hand raised, pleading with it.
I even prayed to a god I didn’t believe in. I’d believe now—just answer this prayer.
But the prayer went unanswered.
Whoosh!
The monster’s arm swung, its huge palm plummeting toward Mom and Dad. For some reason, it looked agonizingly slow.
My ragged breaths lightened. My right wrist—precisely the inside—tingled like static building to a lightning strike. Or like sparks flying.
But I didn’t care what happened to my body. If I could just reach it, just shove that thing away, anything.
“Anything! I don’t care what!”
Boom! A massive roar echoed.
It was instantaneous.
“…….”
My eyes burned with an unfamiliar sensation. Something gripped in my hand, my gown shifting into another form, and in one swing, I brought the monster down at my feet—all in a flash.
Other monsters saw the fallen one and screeched weirdly, charging me. Five or six lunged at once, but I leaped high into the air.
Crash! They tangled and toppled. I seized the gap, jumping through the air and reaching skyward just before landing. Pop, pop. White Stars began forming one by one, soon multiplying disgustingly fast.
“…Tch.”
My head throbbed from the influx of info—I clicked my tongue without thinking.
I pushed memories aside and fired countless stars at the tangled monsters. Boom boom boom! Buildings seemed to crumble as gray smoke billowed.
I landed lightly on the ground—precisely, on the dead monsters’ corpses.
‘…What I hate most is how it never gets familiar.’
I spun the scythe familiarly with a whoosh and planted it firmly on the ground.
Today was a truly special day. My first—and probably last—joyous college graduation.
“…….”
And the day my regression memories returned to their place.