Chapter 301
Chapter 301
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 301. Promotion
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"Heave-ho!"
The Branch Manager pushed the door open with a cheerful voice, revealing Kim Wanwoo's form—now familiar after seeing it a few times.
To be precise, it was just Kim Wanwoo's brain.
And beside it loomed a mountain of stacked papers.
"We've extracted a fair amount of information."
"You said you'd gotten it all."
"We did, but this isn't everything."
What kind of nonsense is that?
I looked at the Branch Manager, who scratched her cheek with an apologetic expression as she met my gaze.
"It's not like pulling out info gives you a neat video. It comes out as a novel instead."
"Yeah."
"And it's full of personal thoughts and biases."
"So, it's a mess."
"Plus, there might be false information mixed in."
The Branch Manager nodded and pulled out the top sheet of paper from the pile.
Why paper, of all things?
"Look here..."
"Is there a reason you're using paper instead of a computer?"
"You think containment objects don't use the internet? Or that they can't hack?"
We have to watch out for that too?
I nodded, and the Branch Manager smiled.
"Thanks to that, we've gathered a ton of info."
She handed me the top sheet.
"There was info on the moon, too."
"...How did he stop it?"
"He couldn't."
"Huh?"
What do we do if he couldn't stop it?
"Thanks to that, whenever the moon incident hit, he always ditched everyone and vanished."
...
No sense of responsibility at all.
"Anyway, we found plenty of fascinating stuff in there."
"Like what...?"
"This is basically the Management Bureau's wrong-answer notebook."
Wrong-answer notebook.
Something you jot down in school: when you get a problem wrong, note why and how to avoid it next time.
Especially for similar problems down the line.
"His memories were always tied to apocalypses. Thousands of times."
...
"And he stopped them with methods beyond imagination. And suffered them, too."
"So without him, the future gets even tougher."
No one's left to stop the apocalypses if the regressor who blocked them is gone.
Did we kill him for nothing?
"No, not at all."
The Branch Manager shook her head, as if my question missed the mark.
"If you know the method, it's always easier to block."
"...Ah."
"Exactly."
She smiled and nodded at my murmur.
"We've already placed countermeasures at all the key points. Nothing too tough—they should be easy to handle."
"That's... a relief."
Yeah, knowing the method means anyone can pull it off.
As I let out a sigh of relief, the Branch Manager continued.
"But that's what I wanted to talk about."
"What do you mean?"
She stared straight at me.
"Digging through his memories, there's one person who was always by his side during the apocalypses. Guess who?"
...
The fact that she's asking me means it's obvious.
"Me, right?"
"Spot on."
She nodded at my answer.
"Kim Jaeheon, you were there most of the time."
...
"And there were times you two clashed, or never crossed paths at all."
"I see."
"The amazing part? Whether you were with Kim Wanwoo or after he left, you always stuck it out to the end."
...
"The vanguard who blocked apocalypses, the focal point who held people together even after betrayal, fighting till the finish."
"Me?"
"That's what it says."
She handed me the paper.
I read what she'd given me.
[Red light, vanishing air and Ailin, Kim Jaeheon.]
[Attempt failed, retry. Judgment error.]
[Abandon and withdraw.]
"...What is this?"
"It's how Kim Wanwoo saw the incident."
I had no clue what it meant.
The Branch Manager laughed and nodded at my confused look.
"No idea, right? Makes sense. But we have a dedicated extraction team in the Management Bureau—they're decoding it all and issuing orders."
"That's good to hear, then..."
So why call me?
I eyed her, and she smiled again.
"We already had eyes on you, but upper management is taking even more interest now."
...
"You solve tough cases left and right. Plus, you're a favorite."
She pulled a manual from her pocket, waved it, then tucked it away.
"And you're always there in the regressor's memories."
...
"So, what do you want from me?"
Sudden unease bubbled up.
Use me if needed, or pile on harder jobs—
"Don't tense up."
She waved her hands hurriedly.
"Upper management made a decision."
"Okay."
"It's tied to that test we saw last time."
That test...
"The Team Leader one?"
"Right."
She nodded with a grin.
"We're granting you team leader-level access, info rights, and perks. But no actual team leader title."
"Why not?"
"Figured you'd hate it."
"You're right."
The Management Bureau knows me well.
"So, stick with us going forward—"
"But do I even have a reason to accept?"
More grueling work ahead?
I'm already swamped. More incidents, and I might actually die.
Sure, I'm braced to die anytime an incident hits, but still.
"...Hmm."
She looked flustered at my question.
"I told them you'd say no... Should I report the rejection?"
"Yes, please—"
Another thought hit me.
She's right—no need to get dragged into more. I've done enough.
But...
"Wait."
"Yes?"
I stopped her as she carefully lifted her phone.
"So, how much info does that access cover?"
"...Um..."
She blinked at my question.
"Not everything, but you can access anything except the truly restricted stuff."
"Like what...?"
She stared at me.
"...Kim Jaeheon. There are too many secrets out there that could rock society if people knew."
...
"For example, something lurking under that popular riverside spot folks love visiting. Or realizing the universe isn't what you think—that'd just make life miserable."
...
"We can grant access to everything except those life-ruining non-essentials."
So, everything but top secrets.
My little sister's face flashed in my mind.
"Then... Branch Manager."
"Yes."
"...Ever heard of a woman with abilities like mine?"
"Uh..."
She tilted her head, blinked, then closed her eyes as if recalling.
"Nope, nothing."
"I see."
So, my sister doesn't exist here—in this world, this timeline, whatever.
In that case...
"I'll do it."
"Huh?"
She stared at me wide-eyed, phone mid-tap.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Wow, I'm thrilled, but... why?"
"You proposed it—now you're asking why?"
"No, I just thought you'd never go for it."
She shook her head at my words.
"So why even ask?"
"Subordinates do what the bosses say."
She gave a wry smile.
"Anyway, you'll get team leader treatment from now on. I'll notify the others."
"No, please don't spread it around."
"Avoiding incidents?"
"Exactly."
She nodded with another wry smile.
"Fine. It won't change much anyway. Just come to work as usual next time."
"Same duties?"
"Yes. Though your salary's going up."
"How much?"
She whispered the figure.
"...That much?"
"You're risking your life—gotta get paid. Hurry up and get married. Your spouse and kids would be set."
"What about you, Branch Manager...?"
"Hey now."
"Sorry."
Right. Forgot—someone who's lived centuries alone might struggle sharing life now.
"Never mind."
She waved it off with a laugh, then bowed her head slightly.
"Here, take this."
She handed me a smartphone.
"This is..."
"Management Bureau database. You can browse if you want. Most is in the manual, but this makes interviews and appendices easy."
"Got it."
I pocketed the phone she'd given me.
"Looking forward to working with you. You'll probably ship out again once you're in."
"...Now you're just straight-up telling me."
"This one's not too bad. Think of it like what HR went through—easy by comparison."
"...Understood."
I nodded, looking away from her still-smiling face.
"And this info goes straight to Jaeheon's database—"
"No."
"Huh?"
Info from the regressor's brain.
It'd just weigh on my mind.
Except for one thing.
"You can keep everything except the church info."
"...If that's what you want, Kim Jaeheon."
She shrugged.
"That's it."
"Can I go?"
"Yes. Get home safe—see you next time!"
She waved with a smile as I turned and left the room.
A promotion. More authority.
And my sister.
...
My head just ached more.
*
I told the other three nothing happened, then we parted.
Back home, I immediately checked the smartphone.
Church, church...
[Management Bureau Records - Church]
In the dark room, the phone's white glow lit my eyes.
I tapped the screen, and info poured out.
[The Church is the root of all rational existence.]
[Which means...]
I fiddled with the phone until sunrise.
Until I'd absorbed every bit.
Days later, vacation over.
"Call from the broadcasting station."
The Branch Manager rang right away.
"Come to the station instead of HQ."
...
Ah, I'm so tired.