Infinite Regressor, Chapter 426 - I’m an Infinite Regressor, But I’ve Got Stories to Tell

---TL NOTE: I wasn't prepared for this one. You'll see why at the end of the chapter.--- 1 Introducing a person named Go Yo-il. "Wow, how can someone's name be Go Yo-il?" "?" "Really. Don't you think your mother went too far? Naming you Yo because it's a repeat character, and Il because you're the first? It's almost like naming conventions from the Joseon Dynasty. At least the Chinese characters are different, thank goodness." "??" "But I actually like it. My brother's name. Go Yo-il (高曜日). It can be read as a 'tranquil day' or seen as a 'high and sparkling day.'" At a local hospital. A funeral. Yo-il, a middle schooler quietly taking on the role of chief mourner at his mother's funeral, was quite taken aback. "Brother...?" "Yes?" "Uh, sorry. But aren't you older than me? You look like a high schooler." "Oh, whenever my brother calls me 'sister,' it feels so nice. Please call me sister ten more times." "......." If one had to name just one thing that should never happen at a funeral, without hesitation, the answer would be resurrection. However, young Yo-il had just realized that "a mourner claiming to be your sister whom you've never met" should also be included. "Don't be too shocked." The person in front of him smiled gently. It was a smile that was quite bad for the heart. "This isn't a story of this life. It's about connections from past lives." "Oh, is that the setup?" A sense of calm rapidly returned. Indeed, anyone born in Korea instinctively developed resilience the moment they realized the person before them was a cultist. "Hahaha. Your expression, brother, is amusing." ...But the person seemed rather adept. Despite his gaze clearly marking her as insane, she nonchalantly sat at the memorial table, showing no sign of embarrassment. It was a pretty rude act, considering there were no other mourners at the moment. "Excuse me, I'm sorry to say this on our first meeting, but please leave. Otherwise, I'll call someone." "Don't feel lonely because there are no mourners. Someone will come in three minutes." "What?" "She was a colleague of your mother's from the hospital where she used to work. Next will be in 16 minutes, and then in 60 minutes." "......." It turned out to be true. "Gosh, Yo-il. I saw you when you were just a newborn. Do you remember me, auntie?" "Yes. Of course I remember." "You've grown up so well!" "Thank you so much for coming." "......." Even the self-proclaimed sister who came out of nowhere naturally greeted the mourners with him. There was something even more peculiar. Both Yo-il and the mourners found her bowing beside him to be quite 'natural.' "Excuse me." Finally, as the promised 60 minutes passed, Yo-il had no choice but to cautiously ask. "Sister... Who exactly are you?" "Oh dear. That's both a question with many answers and one with no answers." "......." "It's fine. We have plenty of time. No more mourners will be coming until tomorrow morning." The person smiled demurely. "Shall we take our time and talk?" Yo-il suddenly thought that her smile was incredibly beautiful. Time was passing. 2 Her name was Go Yuri. "Wow, how can someone's name be Go Yuri!" "Doctor. Attempting to get revenge by recalling a line I heard when we first met makes you seem so petty." "......." She was typically addressed as "Guild Leader" or "Doctor." Regrettably, this timeline's Yo-il didn't form a sibling alliance with his sister to engage in quirky antics from a young age. Thus, he had no immunity to otaku culture whatsoever. For a normal person, just hearing the four-syllable sound of "brother" would be enough to twist their entire life's energy as if they'd encountered a spell from the Necronomicon. If he wanted to re-enter subculture, he would need a lot of time, many years. "Besides, regardless of whether we were siblings in a past life or whatever, you're older here. Even if I use formal speech, it should be me doing it..." "Ugh." "?" "Oh, I'm sorry! Doctor. Hearing you formally address me with my brother's face and voice unintentionally triggered a reflex from my stomach." "......." "For my mental well-being, could you please use informal speech? Also, I’m unlikely to use your real name often." "Why is that?" "Because you occupy a really, very important position in my master plan. I need to keep your real name hidden as much as possible." "...Such a strange person." Time was passing. "You can do it, Doctor! Fighting!" "Arghhhhh." "You were a medical school achiever even in timelines where I wasn't your family. It was losing a sister like me that caused disarray in your timeline and made you falter. Sigh. This sister's heart aches... Doctor, please recall the passion for studying from past lives." "So you're saying it's your fault! I stopped studying since sixth grade!" "Hahaha. That's why I'm here for an after-service visit to help you out! Just memorize a little more, and perfect scores on college exams won't just be a dream. Fighting! Fighting!" "Give me back my life! Return it, you culprit!" Time was passing. "As I mentioned before, entering the Cheon-hwa sect undercover requires very good college exam scores. It's not widely known, but the sect leader has a bit of a complex about his educational background." "...So creating Baekhwah High School under a school corporation wasn't purely for the future of the sect. It was also personal desire?" "That's how the world works." "Hmm? Why did you pronounce it so strangely?" "Ugh. That's why I call you a Muggle." "?" ---TL NOTE: They actually have an image for this, here is the link: https://dn-img-page.kakao.com/download/resource?kid=dUnsn9/hAL2idFgms/OqvWAulWlBtDJ4EPOrc630 --- KakaoTalk Message Go Yuri (Sister?) : How are things going these days? Go Yuri (Sister?) : I think everything's going well, but I’m slightly worried since I haven’t heard from you. Is everything okay? "It's okay. Everything's going well." Go Yuri (Sister?) : That's a relief! You're so dependable. I'll come see you soon. Ding-dong. "Ha-ha, oh no." "What happened?" "I just pressed the doorbell, and somehow the button got stuck, and it keeps ringing!" "Seriously? You have teleportation powers. Wouldn't it be much easier to just teleport directly into my room instead of wandering around the alleys?" "Well... I tried that once in the past." "And?" "You begged me while crying to please respect your privacy. I also ended up seeing things I really didn’t want to." "......." "I actually don't mind. Knocking on someone's door, even if it means walking a bit, feels romantic, like a genuine visit." "Romantic, huh." "First of all, let me compliment you. You've done well! It's incredibly challenging to instill humanity into Yu Ji-won. Thanks to what happened this summer, eventually in the future...". Ding-dong-. "Huh?" "Hmm." "Oh, it’s Yu Ji-won. Was her visit scheduled today?" "Sorry, I forgot to notify you. She made way too much food and said she'd deliver some." "This is a disaster! If Yu Ji-won discovers just the two of us in here, she'll murder us for sure, and the world will end!" "No, she wouldn't――." "Yap! Teleport." "...You're quite capable at times like these." "Hmm. You seemed a bit slow opening the door today, Mr. Matiz. It sounded like there was a conversation going on inside. Was someone here?" Time was passing. And then. "Brother. Wake up. It's morning." "...I don't get why I have to see your face right when I open my eyes. And why I've got to hear that weird wake-up sound." "Oh? Are you sure you should be so relaxed?" "Hmm?" "Tomorrow is finally D-Day." "...Oh." That day was approaching. "Yes." That summer. D-Day. June 17th. "I'm sorry, but tomorrow is the day you and I have to say goodbye, Doctor!" "......." A time came when he and she prepared for a funeral. 3 That day was full of wonders from the morning. "Taking the train down?" "Yes. It's a space where we might lean on, perhaps hundreds, or even thousands upon thousands of times in the future. I thought it would be nice to take a look before losing our memories." "......." "Now, Doctor." Go Yuri extended her hand. "Alright, Go Yo-il." "......." "Let's go together." They set off. Feeling embarrassed holding hands all the while they walked, yet Yo-il had no real reason to be shy. No one was watching them. No, there wasn't even the sound of a 'third person's' footsteps on the path Go Yo-il and Go Yuri walked. "Is this another trick of yours?" "Yes. On only June 16th, I can manipulate a few things to ensure there are zero passersby on this path." "What an amazing coincidence." "Exactly! That's why I purposely set the implementation date to tomorrow. I just wanted to journey all the way to the destination without using [Teleportation], at least this once." "......." Just like ordinary humans. Departing from home, arriving at the station, passing through the gate, boarding the train, and finally reaching Busan. They really met no one on their way. Even though it wasn't yet time for the world to end, it seemed like the two were rehearsing for an impending apocalypse alone. "Speaking of which―." Busan station's waiting area. Yo-il asked her why she chose to portray their 'first meeting' at his mother's funeral. Go Yuri gave an awkward smile. "You were so young back then, Doctor. Though, even from my perspective now, you're still incredibly young." "So?" "No matter how mature you are, meeting mourners alone as a middle schooler isn't easy." "......." "There are moments when a person just wants someone to be by their side. Once upon a time, long ago, you confessed that you felt so lonely and weak at that time." Yo-il wanted to ask. Then do you, at times, also wish for someone to be by your side? "But now you'll remember that day differently. Even though it was a sad day where you bid farewell to your mother―." "It's also the day I met you." "Yes. Isn't it fascinating?" With a faint smile. "When comforting someone, it isn't about erasing the sadness. It's about layering it with another memory." "...Is that so." "Yes. At some point, I'll disappear, and you'll be fated to lose all memories. But before that day comes, I wanted to give you as many happy memories as possible. Oh." Souvenir shop. As they were browsing an empty store, Go Yuri pointed at something. "This. It's surprisingly pretty despite being so cheap." It was a silver bell. It seemed to be an old product, as it was inexpensive, and had gathered some dust. Go Yuri found just two left in the corner of the display case. "Do you like it?" "Yes!" Without a word, Yo-il picked it up. After placing a ten-thousand-won bill on the vacant counter, he returned to Yuri. She tilted her head in curiosity. "What's this?" "A gift." "Oh my." "It would have been better to give you something grander since it's the last day... But I'm sure you've enjoyed luxuries beyond my imagination in countless reincarnations. So." Gently. Setting the silver bell in Go Yuri's hand, Yo-il covered her hand with his palm. "As a keepsake from the place that will be our shared tomb." "......." "According to your 'plan,' one day I’ll forget about you." "Yes." “I swear right here.” Casting a glance at the remaining silver bell on the display shelf, Yo-il looked at her. “Tomorrow, the day when everything ends and everything begins. Even if I forget you, no matter what, I’ll make sure to get that remaining half of the silver bell.” “…….” Go Yuri’s eyebrows gently furrowed. “I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. I have become, and will become, an irreplaceable existence for you. So when I disappear, you will awaken as an unprecedented multi-awakener. It's all part of the planned destiny.” “Yeah, it would be impossible.” His grip on her hand did not loosen. “So consider this a sort of test.” “A test?” “If tomorrow comes and I don’t have that silver bell, then what you deemed ‘impossible’ truly is an impossibility. Everything flows according to your plan. You and I will vanish, leaving just traces.” However, Yo-il continued. “But if I do not forget.” “…….” “If I’ve forgotten you, but I still have this toy, plain and without brilliance, in my hand. Wouldn’t that be a small miracle?” If such a thing were to happen. “Hold onto hope.” “…….” “Even if it’s only a tiny bit, even if you deemed something impossible, I wish for you to just slightly consider that maybe it could be possible.” Silence followed. Yo-il let go of her hand. The silver bell he had given her still rested in Go Yuri’s solitary palm. “…Yes.” Holding it tightly. Go Yuri embraced the ragged leftover, the bell remaining at the edge of this world for someone who would finally cherish her. She clasped it with both hands over her heart. “I’ll believe.” That was a promise. “I’ll be waiting.” A vow merging the hour and minute hands as one. “For however long it takes.” And the void descended―――. . . . . . . “――I’m, the savior of your world.” To the misaligned hour and minute hands. “Come on, Mister!” The youngest and swiftest second hand extended its hand gleefully. With a wide smile. “Let’s go save your love together now!” And time resumed. -The one who was reborn. End. ---TL NOTE: See what I mean? How the heck should I name the Undertaker??? I'm waaay too underqualified for this! Should it be just left as-is (Go Yo-il)?--- ---PS NOTE: His Japanese name: 高曜日 pronounced: Takaiyōbi. Which seems to be a combination of high (takai) and day (yōbi) lol. So his name literary means "High Day" as mention in the chapter's beginning. Maybe that's what we should call him lmao.---