Chapter 160

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Translator: crow

Chapter Title: The Sealed Isekai Transfer Book

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Time flowing backward meant that all outcomes and processes had vanished, returning everything to the past.

Not only physical actions, but human ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thoughts and memories as well—except for mine, no one remembered the future.

"Understood. We should establish some countermeasures this time as well."

Seong Yu-ra, the administrator I was somewhat close to, extended her hand for a shake.

"Please take care of me going forward."

"You too."

Guided by Dong-wook, I returned to reality.

As I opened the front door upon arriving home, Sarang-i asked,

『Something feels off.』

"Why all of a sudden?"

『It feels like I ordered food but never received it. Or like I asked a question but never got an answer.』

Sarang-i didn't remember those events either.

However, even if it wasn't stored in her memory banks, it seemed to linger in her soul.

"Maybe it's because the resolve you showed—not letting me go alone—reached the level of a confession."

『Was it that serious!?』

"Objectively speaking, yeah."

『Then I want to hear your answer about my feelings!』

"Can't do that. What happened there no longer exists. How can I answer a question that doesn't exist anymore?"

『That's sophistry! Answer me right now!』

"Yeah, no."

Actual time elapsed: 6 hours.

After experiencing over a week subjectively, I finally returned to my long-missed home.

"Meow."

"?"

A bizarre cat meow drew my attention around the house.

On the balcony connecting to the living room and outdoors, there lay a dead cat corpse.

"No way..."

With a hunch, I closed my eyes.

"Meow!"

Opening them, the corpse had shifted slightly.

This time, I opened the balcony door and closed my eyes.

"Meooow!"

Opening them again, the cat corpse now had its face resting on the top of my foot.

"Schrödinger's cat escaped."

I immediately contacted Dong-wook to request retrieval.

"Thanks for the report! How the hell did it escape?"

Dong-wook apologized profusely as he retrieved the cat and left.

"Isolating a cat in a superposition of life and death isn't easy, huh."

The next day.

"Meow!"

A dead cat corpse in the living room.

"No, how did it escape again..."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Dong-wook showed up again.

"Meow!"

It escaped again.

After twelve repetitions, Dong-wook pleaded with a weary expression.

"...Could Seung-hoon just keep it?"

"It's an entity. Is that okay?"

"It's a safe entity—no precautions needed, no danger. Probably."

"Hmm, never had a pet before."

It's kin to the rubber rubber duck, so it should be fine.

"Alright. I'll take care of it."

Since I'm keeping it, I should name it.

"You meow 'meow,' so you'll be Meow."

"Meow!"

『That's poor naming sense.』

"What would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you name it, Sarang-i?"

『Alexander. A strong-sounding name, right?』

Sarang-i's naming sense is the worst.

My knowledge has increased.

"Gotta buy a bunch of stuff."

I returned home laden with various cat supplies.

『Quack! Quack quack quack quack! Quack quack quack quack quaaack!』

"Meow! Meoooow! Meow! Meoooow!"

Hearing ominous noises from the front door, I rushed in to find Meow and the rubber rubber duck rolling around tangled together.

"Did you two fight?"

Claw marks on the rubber rubber duck's body.

Meow's patchy fur loss and dead flies around.

100% a fight.

"Don't fight. You'll be living together from now on. Get along, got it?"

I turned to organize the cat supplies, and their responses came.

『Quack!』

"Meow!"

It'll take time for them to warm up.

＊＊＊

After experiencing a major incident, the value of everyday life hits even harder.

In that peaceful routine, a few small stories cropped up.

"Meow!"

One: Meow following me all the way to the office.

『Quack!』

Two: The rubber rubber duck, sensing rivalry, now follows on its own without me carrying it.

『Seung-hoon, please plug me into the charger. I have some urgent business.』

"What's up?"

『I wish to connect with the Center of the World. I can access without a separate cable, so just connect the charging port.』

Three: Sarang-i suddenly wanting to do something in virtual reality.

『Long time no see-nyang!』

And Satoshi dropping by after a while.

『Whoa, Seung-hoon! What's that-nyang! Why do you have a dead cat corpse in the office-nyang!』

"It's not a dead cat corpse—it's a living entity. Keeping it as a pet."

『Unique taste-nyang! Oh, zero cola instead of black tea this time-nyang!』

I served cola with ice, and it vanished quickly.

『Phew! Refreshing-nyang! Korea's summer is hell-nyang!』

"How've you been?"

『So-so-nyang!』

From the story, Satoshi—unlike his speech—had been meeting periodically with other mutants.

『Seung-ken is in the war zone-nyang! Treating kids there-nyang! Almost got isolated by Foundation agents once, but American Lee saved him-nyang!』

"Good thing."

『But American Lee ain't great-nyang!』

"Why?"

『Because...』

Then, the fluorescent light flickered.

『Because America ain't great anymore...』

『American Lee!』

『Long time, original.』

American Lee on the monitor looked haggard.

His redneck attire was the same, but his pallid complexion and fatigued expression lacked the old vigor.

"You look drained."

『Original, even you think America's weird right now, right?』

"Yeah, definitely off. Trying to project strength at the cost of all built-up trust feels like sacrificing the big for the small."

Even if it's a negotiation tactic of offering big first to gain small concessions.

When paired with disdain and pressure, it becomes intimidation, not negotiation.

『Sigh, I thought he'd make America great again...』

"I saw the news. Supporters getting fired over his policies, prices skyrocketing murderously?"

『Turned into a bullsh*t world. What's this?』

American Lee eyed the desktop.

Pointing to the famous conspiracy files I'd compiled since the Happy Apartment incident, he made a request.

『US conspiracies? Hey, show me these.』

"Sure."

After poring over them for a while, American Lee perked up.

『Yes! He's a fake. Gotta be a reptilian in disguise! The real one's locked in Area 52! Gotta rescue him!』

American Lee evolved into Occult Lee.

"Conspiracy theories are a lifeline for those who can't live without belief. American Lee will eventually realize it's false salvation and snap back."

『What if he doesn't-nyang?』

"Dunno, haven't thought that far."

『Hm hm, it'll be fine-nyang! American Lee's the strongest of us—he'll recover quick-nyang! More importantly, take this-nyang!』

A book appeared on the desk out of nowhere.

"Isekai Transfer Book?"

『Right-nyang! Title's erased, chained up—can't open it-nyang! Even my power's no use, so I brought it here-nyang!』

"Got it. I'll crack it open and introduce it to people."

『Thanks-nyang! Oh, one favor-nyang...』

"What?"

Satoshi held out his hand.

『Thing is, need to do mobile gacha but broke-nyang! Lend a little cash-nyang?』

"Mobile game?"

『Short for mobile game-nyang!』

Satoshi showed his smartphone screen.

- I'll bury you. Are you my master?

『Spent it all on spirit reincarnation-nyang!』

"No idea what that is, but sure, here."

『Arigato-nyang!』

After Satoshi left, I examined the Isekai Transfer Book.

Same size as previous ones.

But no title on the side or cover, wrapped in thin chains.

'The lock where the chains cross prevents opening.'

I tried force first.

Even consuming dried friendship to smash the lock—it wouldn't break.

"No way it'd yield to brute force."

Next, lockpick—no keyhole at all.

"Just sealing off use entirely?"

What kind of Isekai Transfer Book is this?

That night, after bringing it home, I had a strange dream.

'This is...'

Temples floated in the sky atop clouds.

Seven temples total; the first four from the left were ruins.

'Looks like a war hit.'

I entered the sixth lit temple.

There, massive formless energy clumps held a meeting.

『Because of you, the other Transfer Books were destroyed! How will you take responsibility?!』

『I merely fulfilled my duty.』

『You used excessive power! Genre boundaries collapsed! Hunters, Gates, Towers, Cyberpunk lost their identities!』

『Even so, I don't regret my choice. People no longer settle for plain genres. Thus, I must evolve mine.』

『You! Is that even defensible?! And didn't your actions destroy your own genre?!』

『The world I created is distinctly gr...』

I woke from the dream.

Seemed like a Transfer Books council.

'Hunters, Gates, Towers, Cyberpunk are volumes 1-4 of Isekai Transfer Books.'

They lost identity and were destroyed?

Because of the one I have now?

'Seven temples: 5 is wuxia, 6 medieval fantasy, so remaining is 7th temple, volume 7.'

Identity figured, but can't peek inside without unlocking.

"Maybe weakening potion?"

Just in case, I made special weakening potion and dripped it on the lock.

The lock turned to smoke and vanished.

'Title emerging.'

The seal dissolved; title appeared on cover and spine.

"Alternate History?"

A genre I'd heard while studying webnovels.

"Alternate history: regress to the past, become a historical figure or born in that era, change history, right?"

Why'd this erase Hunters, Gates, Towers, Cyberpunk identities?

I flipped the pages.

[Book 7 for Those Who Want to Transfer to Another World: We extend deep gratitude to readers.]

[Contract with this book, and you transfer to another world.]

[Reincarnate there; regain memories at age 6.]

[May reborn as commoner or great person.]

[Birth year: Over-----------]

[■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■]

[□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□]

[Applies new alternate history fulfilling modern desires. Note this.]

[Difficulty greatly reduced. Excessive interference damaged history; apologies.]

[May ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠include character changes, unclear years, altered history, physics violations. Apologies.]

[Contract? Place hand on approval for 5 seconds.]

[Approval]

Explanatory text glitched.

Some error?

'This feels ominous.'

Tried turning the page.

Faster than me, hot wind from the open balcony flipped many pages at once.

"?"

Wait, what did I just see?

Read the newly flipped page again.

What?

Since when did Dong Zhuo use honey traps?

Why are Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei sisters?

Shu as unifying dynasty?

'Something's wrong.'

Eyes down: Next was 294, related to 293 with photo and comment.

[Liu Bei: Seong Sin-woo! Keep touching my ears? They're getting bigger because of you! No! Not saying stop! So, keep... touching.]

Pink-haired woman pouts coyly.

[Guan Yu: We die same day, same hour. If you die, I, Big Sis Liu Bei, and Zhang Fei too. Don't catch cold—come inside quick.]

Blue-haired ponytail woman blushes, beckons into blankets.

[Zhang Fei: Heh, you! So knowledgeable! I like! Wanna drink and talk all night?]

Red-haired cute girl grins, lunges.

"This is..."

Alternate history?