Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 47. A Deal I Can't Refuse
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It's a fact acknowledged by others too, but my eyesight is sharp. Thanks to these eyes, I've been able to interact with people more smoothly many times.
One thing I've realized while living like this is that everyone has different gaps when dealing with others.
Some people approach new faces with open hearts, while others meet them with closed ones.
And this guy was one of the worst.
"...Hello?"
"Yes. Hello."
A dry, emotionless voice flowed from his mouth.
He was a wall.
I couldn't sense even a shred of emotion. It felt like talking to a machine reciting a preset script, not a person.
I chose my words with utmost care.
Regressor.
By my standards, a human from the future. Someone whose impression of me was unknown.
I was already an immortal—what was this, dealing with a regressor on top of that?
Sometimes, when I unconsciously glanced above Yoo Daon's head, a phrase that occasionally popped up in her weakness section flashed through my mind.
'The two superhumans you absolutely must never make enemies of in this world are the Regressor and the Immortal.'
A human I absolutely must not make an enemy of.
I prayed sincerely that the future me or the past me wouldn't do anything stupid and opened my mouth.
"Then, sorry, but could you... move aside a bit? I want to sit behind you."
I spoke in the most polite tone possible.
Was I too rude?
A flurry of thoughts raced through my head. Could the future and past Kim Jaeheons get wiped out just for being rude?
Who knows.
...
The man stared blankly at me.
My mind grew chaotic. Should I watch every single word? Or did the past or future me think the same and still end up in trouble? I agonized again before speaking.
"...Could you move... please...?"
The words came out incredibly polite without me even trying. I had to admit it—I felt a tremendous threat from this man.
...
The man stared at me in silence, then
"Sorry."
He spoke dryly again and stepped aside.
"Thank you."
I hurried past him and sat in the farthest back seat.
My heart pounded, and cold sweat dripped from my forehead on its own.
Pretending nothing was wrong, I opened the window and stared outside, desperately organizing my thoughts.
The first number I saw was 326. Now it was 358.
While me and three others got caught up in the anomaly, this guy had regressed 32 times.
"...You okay?"
Jang Chaeyeon had sat next to me at some point and was peering at my face, fanning me with her hand.
"Do you know that guy?"
...
*I don't, but the me from another timeline might.* I couldn't say that.
I just slowly shook my head.
"No. I guess I'm just worn out from what happened earlier."
...
"Okay. Tell me if you need to. I'm right here."
Jang Chaeyeon looked at me worriedly before turning back to her seat.
I sank back into thought.
Regression.
32 regressions in that short time.
I glanced slightly toward where the man was sitting.
He was staring out the window with that same dry gaze.
I pieced together hypotheses from the limited info.
First, 32. Not a small number by any means.
That means this guy probably got caught in similar incidents during my volunteer activity with high frequency.
32 times. When he first got on this bus, his total regressions were 326, so this wasn't a small number either.
So, is it easier to assume he has no abilities besides regression? Or if he does, they're not useful enough to avoid death.
I recalled what Song Arin said on the way to volunteering.
*He's like you. When he was at another branch, there was an accident there. They said he was the only survivor.*
Only survivor.
Not at first, probably.
So, where's the 'point' of his regression?
The beginning? Or does he have save points? Given the regression count, save points seem plausible—more credible that way.
Info's too scarce.
This is hypothesis territory, so I'll shelve it for now.
The biggest issue.
Why did he greet me? What the hell did I do to him in the future?
My head started to ache.
Or did I do something to him in the past? But I have zero memories of ever crossing paths with him.
A sigh escaped me naturally.
...
"Hurts? Want my shoulder?"
"I'm fine."
Jang Chaeyeon's voice snapped me out of my reverie again.
For now, I'll be careful.
It was instinctual, but I had a feeling I'd cross paths with him occasionally.
Regressor, hospital gown—everything was nerve-wracking.
*
[This is the Management Bureau.]
In the end, I couldn't even close my eyes on the bus and just stared blankly the whole time.
Because of that, Jang Chaeyeon couldn't rest properly either, fussing over me.
Sorry for making her worry.
I got off the bus with weary steps.
I need to head home.
"Going home?"
Jang Chaeyeon called out worriedly, and I nodded in response.
"See you first."
...
"Got it. Get home safe."
"Get home safe!"
"Go on."
Exchanging varied farewells, I headed home.
For the first time in a while, I walked the sunset streets alone with my bag.
Soon, I arrived at the entrance of the luxury apartment, tapped my card key to open the automatic door, and went inside.
One perk of working at the Management Bureau.
Free food and housing.
The apartments they lend out indefinitely are luxurious enough to call opulent, and meal allowances come separately on top of salary—not included in it.
Enough that I could order chicken for every meal and still have leftover.
I got off the elevator and opened the door to my place.
The dark house greeted me.
I stumbled into the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed without even thinking about washing up.
I'm exhausted to death.
Without time to think, I passed out into sleep.
In my dream—for some inexplicable reason—I was preparing to enter a fancy theater to watch a play.
*
"Why do you want his number, mister?"
The next day, I went straight to Song Arin at her desk and asked for the sunglasses guy's number. She gave me a puzzled look as she answered.
"I need to ask him something."
...
"Not sure if he'll pick up. Here."
I'd expected something like *Why?* or *That's a secret.*, but she handed over the number surprisingly straightforwardly.
"Nothing else?"
"Nope."
"Then I've got bonuses to sort, so go call him and come back."
Song Arin shooed me away with a hand gesture.
I stepped out and dialed the number she'd given me.
After exactly two rings, a familiar voice picked up.
"Isn't this HR's Kim Jaeheon?"
"Can we talk?"
"Conveniently, I'm at the Gangseo Branch. Perfect timing."
"Then after work—"
"Come to basement level 1. Meet me in front of the elevator."
And the call ended.
Basement level 1. Really don't wanna go. That's where the containment rooms are.
I pressed the elevator button and went down.
Last time, during the Butterfly's Dream incident, following the manual to come down here had me trembling in terror.
The elevator reached basement level 1, doors opened, and the sunglasses guy waved hello.
"You made it."
"Why call me down here specifically?"
"If you called, you must have a good reason."
He gave an evasive answer and started walking, so I slowly matched his pace.
"Thinking about it, you've made plenty of contributions but never properly been down in the basement, so..."
"Instead of gifts like this, couldn't you just pull us off field work?"
"Sorry about the workshop. That was unexpected for us too."
"So you knew about the volunteer activity and sent us anyway?"
"Surprisingly, other office workers did similar things."
They all survived that hell too?
Seeing my shocked expression, he quickly added,
"To be precise, it was containment object management. Completely safe. You turned a 30-point question into a 100-point answer."
In the army, they told me never to come first, and here I go messing up again!
I kept following him deeper inside.
"So, what's on your mind?"
"First off, we're not really Containment Team, right?"
That was my top curiosity. It felt like I'd unknowingly been rolled into actual Containment Team 2.
"No. You guys just have a habit of stumbling into incidents. You're doing your best for the HR Team name. We're trying to lighten your load as much as possible."
Human and Containment Incident Response Team, huh.
He casually met my gaze and kept walking.
"I'll take two more questions. Next one's for later."
What to ask.
God's existence? Containment objects?
No.
...
"How do you know Yoo Daon?"
"She was a bit of a mystery even to us. She wasn't supposed to be Management Bureau material. Should've been 'hospital' side."
The man shrugged lightly as he spoke.
Hospital?
"Thanks to you. Always grateful."
"That's it?"
"Ask her yourself if you're curious. No courage, huh."
He had no intention of telling me.
"Last one?"
...
"Are there regressors in this world?"
The man shrugged and replied.
"This scene isn't the second time around, is it?"
"Pardon?"
"You read too many novels?"
He looked at me like I was ridiculous.
"For now."
He stopped, looked at me, and smiled.
"Then, mind helping me with one thing?"
"No thanks."
Am I crazy? Why would I?
As if he'd anticipated my response, he grinned broadly and nodded.
"Help out, and I'll tell you more about that Yoo Daon you're so curious about. Including the 'hospital' info."
...
Nothing comes free.
I pictured Yoo Daon in patient clothes, pictured her weeping endlessly after I flicked her forehead.
...
"Let's hear it. What is it?"
"Seems you've done Containment Team work but never Management Team stuff."
"Why are you working me like this?"
Even with all these people around?
...
"Someday, as you live, you'll need the Management Bureau's help."
The man's face suddenly turned serious.
"We'll always do our utmost to assist then."
"Hand over the nuclear missile button."
"That's a no-go, but I can gift you a long-term rental pass for a tool-type containment object."
He said it lightly, stood before a steel door, and opened it.
Before my eyes was a turntable with an LP record on it.
"Appreciate it."
He bowed 90 degrees with an apologetic expression.
"Always think highly of you."
...
"Fine. Just keep your promise."
"On the Management Bureau's name."
Thud.
With that, the door closed, and gentle classical music flowed out.
Hospital, huh.
As I listened to the music, my temples began to throb.
"Let's do it."
It'll be over quick.