Infinite Regressor, Chapter 460 - I’m an Infinite Regressor, But I’ve Got Stories to Tell

1. It was summer. "......" A young man. Go Yo-il suddenly looked up at the sky. The sky was blue. But if those white clouds hadn't cast their shadows, how deep would that blue appear? Everything was a shade for the sky. The cicada's sounds echoing distantly as if hastily born. The green leaves being scorched crisply by the sunlight. The hazy wind chimes brought by an indeterminate wind. "Mr. Matiz." Clip, clop. Footsteps and a voice came from behind. Go Yo-il turned around. "I finished packing the bicycle. Using the bike carrier you gifted me, Mr. Matiz, made it quite convenient. It seemed easy to transport. With this, all preparations for the trip are complete." "...Ji-won." "Yes, Mr. Matiz." A girl, Yu Ji-won tilted her head in curiosity. "Your voice lacks energy. Did something happen?" "Yes. Actually, an unexpected issue arose. It's the Japan trip we've planned for a year, but it seems I can't go due to schedule conflicts. I'm sorry." "I see." Yu Ji-won nodded. Expressionless. "That's a lie." "Tch. How did you figure that out?" "Because you've fooled me 41 times with the same type of lie, I'm accustomed to it. Moreover, there's no way a trip really got canceled." "Why?" "Because it's a trip planned a year ago. If it were Mr. Matiz, you would have controlled all variables from the beginning. I trust in your abilities." Go Yo-il lamented. "Ah. Where has the adorable Yu Ji-won gone, who couldn't tell if I was lying and would sulk..." "I feel at ease knowing Mr. Matiz's friend will take care of my grandmother. I'd like to meet and thank him in person." "No. I recommend not meeting." "Is there a reason?" "No comment." In truth, Go Yo-il didn't know the reason. ‘She adamantly refused meeting Yu Ji-won for some reason.' She, who held a peculiar position as his mentor, colleague, and little sister(?), was avoiding Yu Ji-won. It was unexpected from Go Yo-il's perspective. It was the first time he'd seen her avoid anyone so much. - Beep! Absolutely not! If we meet, variables get distorted! - No, then at least explain the reason... - Sigh. Do you know how many times I've tried to mold Go Yo-il into a better person? When he falls in love, he becomes blind. If explaining would make things better, I would have explained already. - ...You're very irritable, aren't you? - Hahaha. Someday, Go Yo-il, you'll understand. Someday. Such was their peculiar exchange. "Hmm." Though Yu Ji-won’s face betrayed some confusion, she didn't express dissatisfaction. Minor dissatisfaction didn’t matter much. It was her first overseas trip. Moreover, the event of traveling across the Japanese archipelago by bicycle with Go Yo-il was just a day away. "Then I'll see you early tomorrow morning." "Yeah. Oh, Ji-won." "Yes?" "Remember your flight etiquette? When students like you are on their first flight, it tends to get chaotic. Make sure you’re well-prepared, so you don’t embarrass me." "Of course. You’ve reminded me several times." As if anticipating this conversation, Yu Ji-won, maintaining a calm demeanor but with confident tone, raised her left hand. Slide. A shoe bag was hanging there. "Taking off shoes right before boarding the plane is etiquette. I've got it down." "Indeed, you are. I don't recall meeting a kid as smart as you." "I, too, have some trust in my own intelligence. I'll see you tomorrow, then." "Alright. Sleep well." "Yes. Good night, Mr. Matiz." It was summer. 2. "Hm, heh, huh. Hahaha—." "......" "Pfft. Pfftph, pft. Pwft." "......" "Hahahahaha! Ah, ahaha, hahahaha!" "........." Poke. Yu Ji-won silently poked Go Yo-il. One shouldn't expect something as cute as an elbow poke from Yu Ji-won. She poked with a pen tip. A metal ballpoint pen. Yu Ji-won always practiced self-defense. The unfortunate truth was Go Yo-il was the same. Predicting when and where she'd strike, he skillfully deflected her continuous attacks. Poke. Poke. Poke. Pooooke, poke. "Did you see, really see? The flight attendant's face. Oh, sorry. Ji-won, I forgot you can't recognize faces, so you don't get facial expressions. Oh, how I wish I were a poet to describe it eloquently to you." "Mr. Matiz." "Ah, excuse me, sir. I'm sorry, but our airline encourages wearing shoes indoors—." "Is this amusing to you?" "It's hella amusing." "Did you really build up to this childish prank for a whole year?" "They say a lion uses all its strength to catch a rabbit. I have the heart of a lion." "Please, just die from heartworm already." "Kekekekekekeke!" Despite several incidents, they somehow managed to enter the country safely. The purpose of this trip was simple. 'Yu Ji-won’s ability is [Mini Map]. And the condition for the Mini Map to activate is to step on locations like a convenience store or city hall in the area.' According to a certain reincarnated individual's theory, when an apocalypse arises in the future, it'd be wise for organizations in the Korean Peninsula and Japanese archipelago to collaborate closely. 'Once the world starts ending, there won't be time to leisurely travel around. This is essentially the last chance to illuminate the [Mini Map].' Of course, it wasn't all about official purposes. Stealthily glancing, Go Yo-il looked back at Yu Ji-won, who was in her pajamas in the hotel room. Even on the trip, Yu Ji-won was diligently dedicating her spare night hours to studying Japanese. Scribble, scribble—the sound of the pen writing gently stripped away the night’s silence. ‘...I just want to give Ji-won a moment to breathe.’ Go Yo-il thought that this might be closer to his true purpose. Yu Ji-won had killed her biological parents. She dismembered their bodies and disposed of them. Alone, she was managing both her studies and a modeling career while also supporting her grandmother with dementia. ‘Ji-won herself acts as if it's nothing and genuinely manages everything skillfully...’ The weight of her life was too heavy for a child to bear. ‘There could be another life for you, Ji-won. You’re a child with countless possibilities.’ Honestly. If Yu Ji-won wanted, Go Yo-il was even prepared to abandon the reincarnation project at any moment. ‘A child tormented by parental violence her entire childhood. Just a kid.’ ‘After barely escaping from that, she’s now getting entangled in the schedules of strange reincarnators and regressors... I feel ashamed.’ So they took a trip. If the sole purpose was to activate the mini-map, it would’ve been much simpler to put Ji-won to sleep and use Go-yori’s [Teleportation]. There was no need for the hassle of flying. If she wanted to leave, she could. If stopping the so-called ‘world’s end’ meant deceiving and taming the child in front of him, then such a world could end for all Go Yo-il cared. He truly believed that. "..." Abruptly. Yu Ji-won’s pen stopped, the notebook filled with neatly written Kanji. "...Sigh." A small sigh escaped her lips. "It’s too noisy. Really." "Hm? I don’t hear anything." "I’m referring to you, Mr. Matiz." Yu Ji-won put her pen down and furrowed her brows. It was a deliberate expression of her attitude. "With you staring so intently, how am I supposed to focus on studying?" "?" Go Yo-il was taken aback. "What, are you practicing mind-reading now? Can you read my thoughts with your eyes?" "There’s no need to read. If you’ve been looking at me for over two minutes, it means one of two things." "And what are those?" "One. Though you’ve fooled me well for the past year, you’re actually interested in my looks and using the excuse of saving lodging expenses to live together, trying to build a romantic relationship with me." "Are you nuts?!" "Two. You’re lost in unnecessary serious thoughts, contemplating my future." "......" "I have already chosen my destiny. Mr. Matiz. While I am grateful for your continued consideration, holding those thoughts to yourself is meaningless." "...I see. You’re right." "Please share with and counsel me." Yu Ji-won looked at him directly. "Without conversation, I can't understand." "......" "I know that some people believe that silence and the absence of conversation mean deeper understanding. But that’s not the understanding I need." "...I’m sorry." "It’s nothing." Yu Ji-won stood and sat on the couch. The small rented Airbnb was cutely and efficiently furnished, probably reflecting the personality of the host, despite its limited space. Tap tap. She patted the spot next to her on the couch. Quietly, Go Yo-il rose and sat beside her. "From the day before we departed, you’ve been behaving differently. I’ll ask again. What’s on your mind, Mr. Matiz?" "...This stays between you and me." "Is it more significant than the secret that I killed my biological parents?" It was a statement that inquired what secrets could possibly matter between them now. Go Yo-il chuckled softly. "Actually, you see." "Yes." "There’s a reincarnator named Go-yori, who claims to have been my younger sister in a previous life." "Hmm." Yu Ji-won nodded. "Is it a storyline? Or a delusion?" "No. Surprisingly, it’s true." "That’s quite a surprising truth. I'm asking just in case, but how many years of build-up has this revelation had?" "Oh! Guess I didn’t quite heed the lesson of the Boy Who Cried Wolf." Although they bantered like this, Go Yo-il knew well. That the other party was already accepting his words as 'truth.' For Yu Ji-won, Go Yo-il’s claims were absolute. It wasn't because she objectively verified them but because she trusted him, assigning them absolute value. "Please continue." "Being a reincarnator, she knows what will happen in the future. The reason I ended up meeting you also came from her." "......" "In the end, she and I may have been imposing a certain fate upon you. That’s been weighing on my mind." "I see." Yu Ji-won nodded her chin in understanding. "That’s truly a needless worry. But now I understand. Why Mr. Matiz always seemed eager to grant me this so-called ‘freedom’." "Are you disappointed?" "Not at all. In fact, it’s given me clarity." Go Yo-il tilted his head. "Clarity?" "About how I can repay Mr. Matiz." Yu Ji-won rose from the couch. "I’ll go to bed first. You should rest soon as well. We start riding early tomorrow, don’t we?" "Oh? Ah, yes. Sleep well then." "Have a good night." Saying this, Yu Ji-won lay down on one of the beds in the room. Unable to grasp the meaning behind what she said, Go Yo-il tilted his head in puzzlement. ‘What? A way to repay?’ But as Yu Ji-won suggested, they needed to start their cycling trip tomorrow, so Go Yo-il tidied up before lying down on the couch. Buzz. About thirty minutes later, just as he was drifting into sleep, his smartphone vibrated softly. "...?" He checked his phone. - Younger Sister(?): Please come outside for a moment!