Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: If Only I Hadn't Been There
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Management Bureau Hospital.
It had a notorious reputation among employees, especially office workers.
Office staff rarely had any reason to visit, so there was a lot of talk shrouded in mystery about what really went on there.
Things like using obsolete field agents as guinea pigs for human experiments, or bringing in criminals to test Containment Objects for the Risk Management Team.
Whether those rumors were true or false, the hospital inside the Management Bureau was a place employees avoided, a hotspot for rampant gossip.
"Here, take this."
Lost in pointless thoughts with my dizzy head, a round, dark red pill was suddenly popped into my mouth.
"Urk, cough!"
As the round something slid down my throat, and I shuddered at the metallic taste of blood spreading in my mouth, someone spoke to me.
"It's for when you've lost a lot of blood suddenly. Side effects are minor insomnia and that blood taste when you swallow it."
"Th-the wound..."
"I patched that up on the way here. No scar either."
I looked up to find the source of the voice.
Brown hair, eyes still seeming half-closed. And warm sunlight shining from behind.
"...Branch Manager?"
"Feeling a bit better?"
With the sunlight at her back, the Kangseo Branch Manager stood in front of me, staring right at me. Or at least, it felt that way.
"The medicine works fast, so your blood should be circulating already."
"..."
She was right.
What the hell had she done to that pill? Just as she said, my foggy head cleared instantly, and my vision sharpened bit by bit.
"...Where did you get medicine like this?"
"You think this is medicine?"
"...Isn't it?"
"Hehe, digging into it won't do your mental health any good. But it's good for the body. Clinical trials are done, and lots of people have taken it."
What the hell did this lady feed me?
I coughed at the lingering fishy taste in my throat, and she handed me some water.
"You did great this time too."
"...Branch Manager."
"You've got a lot of questions, huh?"
She smiled with her eyes as she looked at me.
"Where should I start?"
"The orphanage."
Right, the orphanage.
"Are the others okay?"
"Others?"
"Those people who became walls using the pinwheel..."
"Oh. Don't worry."
She smiled softly.
"They're back to normal."
"...Good."
They were just kids, after all. Leaving them like that would've left a bad aftertaste.
"Anyway, I looked into why Kim Chanhho targeted the orphanage."
The Branch Manager pulled out the shattered rosary.
"You know what this is?"
"...I do."
I died and came back once thanks to that thing.
"This... hmm. Where to start explaining."
"The church?"
"Oh, if you know about that, it'll be easier."
She clapped her hands and continued.
"By now, after going through so much, Mr. Kim Jaeheon must know about the organizations hostile to the Management Bureau."
"Yeah."
Extremists, or the hospital folks.
"The church is different."
"Different how?"
"They don't directly oppose us. Even if we attack, they just take it."
"...Right."
"But we can't just leave them alone."
"..."
"They have their own goals. Something about God this and that, but whatever..."
The Branch Manager trailed off, then continued.
"Anyway... to achieve them, they need sacrifices from others."
"Sacrifices."
"Yes. For example."
She held out the shattered rosary to me.
"To use this rosary, you need the lives of ten humans."
Total scumbags with shitty cost-performance too.
"So he went to recharge the rosary?"
"No."
She shook her head.
"Remember those hands that appeared when you were leaving?"
"...Yes."
I ended up like this because they tore into me.
Looking down at me, the Branch Manager went on.
"They probably made a deal."
"A deal."
"Recharging the rosary, or something bigger in exchange."
"What it was exactly..."
"We'll find out in time. Our ace went this time, so she'll be back soon."
"...Can we trust them?"
"...I get that after this string of incidents, Mr. Kim Jaeheon has trust issues..."
She gave a wry smile and continued.
"But the one who saved you earlier was that person."
"Oh."
The guy who rolled in.
"So don't worry."
"Got it."
If it was him, he'd handle it without issue.
"Well then..."
With a little "up you go," the Branch Manager stood from her seat.
"I'm off? Got something else to smash on a dispatch."
"You didn't have to push yourself to come while so busy."
"Nah. Looking after this stuff is part of being the boss."
"...Right, Branch Manager."
"Yes?"
She looked at me.
"...Hold on a sec."
Song Arin had told me.
If too many people learn about the regressor, the plan falls apart.
But this person might be okay to tell?
Overwhelming strength compared to me, and years of experience.
If she knew, she could really help me, right?
"Looks like you've got something to say."
"...Yes."
The Branch Manager smiled softly at me.
"I'm ready."
A warm breeze blew in through the window.
"...Whew."
I let out a deep breath and opened my mouth.
"Branch Manager, I'm fighting a regressor."
***
The Branch Manager smiled softly at me.
"I'm ready."
A warm breeze blew in through the window.
What the hell just happened?
"Go on, tell me."
"Branch Manager, didn't you hear what I just said?"
"Yes?"
"I'm fighting a regressor."
***
The Branch Manager smiled softly at me.
"I'm ready."
A warm breeze blew in through the window.
"Branch Manager, I'm fight-"
***
The Branch Manager smiled softly at me.
"I'm ready."
A warm breeze blew in through the window.
"...No. It's nothing."
Something's happening.
This is weird. It was fine when I talked to Song Arin.
It's not just any regressor. Whenever I try to hint at it, time rewinds like a spring.
Let me sort my thoughts first. And consult others besides her.
"Oh dear, your face looks awful. You sure you're really okay?"
She looked at me worriedly, and I could only nod.
"...Yes."
"Alright. See you later then."
She smiled, waved as she passed me, and walked out.
"The others will be here soon, so talk well with them."
"Got it."
With a click, she left through the door.
What the hell is going on?
"...Ugh."
I tried to sit up, but the tearing pain in my side forced me back down.
"Jaeheon!"
She said they'd come soon. And here she is.
With a bang, the door flew open, and Yoo Daon rushed in.
"Jaeheon...! Are you okay right now?"
Right. Let's test it on Yoo Daon.
"Daon. This is important."
"...Yes."
Yoo Daon straightened up at my words.
"I'm fighting a regressor right now."
Silence flowed.
No way, did time rewind agai-
"...Regressor...?"
Yoo Daon tilted her head with a puzzled look after hearing me.
"Regression? Like the regression I know?"
"Wait, Daon. Can you hear me?"
"...I can?"
She stared at me like I was a seriously ill patient.
"I'm fighting a regressor right now."
"Uh..."
Yoo Daon blinked, looked at me, and nodded.
"Regressor... Got it. What do you need me to do?"
"..."
She can hear it.
"No, just remember it."
"Yes!"
Yoo Daon smiled and nodded.
But why only Yoo Daon?
"Daon."
"This wound- Yes?"
Yoo Daon looked up at my words and at me.
"Where are Chaeyeon and Song Arin?"
"Uh... Why those two?"
For some reason, her voice seemed a bit devoid of emotion.
"No, just... You're here, but why not the others?"
"...No idea."
She smiled and sat on the edge of the bed.
"I'll keep you company until the other two arrive!"
She beamed at me.
"Sure, if you insi-"
-Rattle!
The door opened, and Jang Chaeyeon entered.
Jang Chaeyeon stared straight ahead with an expressionless face.
It must've been my imagination that Yoo Daon's smile cracked slightly.
Yoo Daon turned her head toward Jang Chaeyeon, and Jang Chaeyeon met her eyes briefly before slowly walking to my side.
"...You okay?"
Breaking the silence, Jang Chaeyeon looked at me worriedly and asked. I nodded in answer.
"Not... perfect, but okay."
"Good. Glad to hear it."
Jang Chaeyeon let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh, right. Chaeyeon."
"Yeah."
"I'm fighting a regressor."
"Yeah?"
"Can you hear me?"
"Yeah."
"What do you think?"
"No thoughts."
What the hell is going on?
"Something happened."
"Yeah."
"Got it. Just say the word."
With that, Jang Chaeyeon shut her mouth again.
That was so her.
"...So, where's Song Arin?"
"...Dunno."
Jang Chaeyeon slowly shook her head.
"Why?"
"...No, she might be hurt too..."
"She didn't get hurt as bad as you, Jaeheon."
Yoo Daon replied in a cold voice.
"It's her fault for not managing her own safety and getting others hurt."
"..."
What should I say here?
I looked at Jang Chaeyeon, but she met my eyes then looked away.
"Me and her... we'd have done better."
"...That doesn't mean Song Arin was wrong."
At my words, both turned to look at me.
"People get hurt sometimes."
"...Still, I don't want it to be you, Jaeheon."
Yoo Daon muttered as if spitting it out.
"...For now, let's talk when Song Arin gets here."
And until the next night, Song Arin never came to see me.