Infinite Regressor, Chapter 469 - I’m an Infinite Regressor, But I’ve Got Stories to Tell

In truth, Cheon Yo-hwa was well aware of it. To put it metaphorically, the sect she presided over was akin to a demonic cult, and she was its supreme leader. As a ruler, it was customary for someone in her position to triumph over her predecessor, often through force, seizing power solely on her own strength. She too had simply emulated the traditions of her sect with great fidelity. And just like other high-ranking members of the sect, she faced a challenge she could not avoid. That challenge was the Heart Demon. - The fact that I now like someone can end up hurting that person, don't you think? - So, hurt them. "...What the hell!" Since when, she wondered. There had been a voice that whispered in her heart, mimicking her own. At first, she thought it was truly her inner voice. But no matter how she looked at it, such vulgarity didn't resonate with her. Probably. No, definitely. This Heart Demon must be influenced by the 'Outer God.' - Really? Every time you hang out with Go Yo-il, you secretly fantasize about stealing a kiss. Isn't that shameless of you? "Kyaaa!" - Maybe Go Yo-il has already noticed. Of course, he has. Remember when he suddenly switched from his usual lip gloss to Vaseline? It's probably because he noticed you staring at his lips and thought there was something wrong with the product... "Kyaaa! Die! Just die already! Please, just die!" Her sisters heard loud crashing sounds coming from the leader's room. Her younger sister burst through the door. "Sister?! What happened? An assassin?!" "No, nothing... It's nothing..." Cheon Yo-hwa groaned, sprawled on the floor. "By the way, have you also been hearing mischievous demonic whispers from your heart lately?" "Ergh." Her sister took a hesitant step back. "Sister, having a midlife crisis at your age is a bit... You've always had a slight otaku streak, but failing to maintain your dignity even after becoming the leader is a problem." - Are you an idiot? The Heart Demon mocked her again. - This is a Heart Demon, Cheon Yo-hwa. It means your spiritual heart is distorted, creating a gap. It's like weeds growing through a crack in the asphalt. Do you think a diligent person like your sister has room for a Heart Demon to interfere in her path? "..." After dismissing her worried younger sister, Cheon Yo-hwa was left alone once again. Alone, but not truly alone. She whispered inside her heart. ‘I’ve given up on Go Yo-il. At least, I'm trying to make an effort to give up. It's not like my heart is shattered or anything.’ - Ahahaha. An annoying laughter resonated within her eardrum. A noise vibrating from within, not from outside. - Could you say that again after opening the second drawer? You know, the engagement agreement you crushed and then carefully smoothed out as if it were some sacred idol. Giving up? "..." - Did you know, Cheon Yo-hwa? I’m not deceiving you. You’re deceiving yourself. I'm merely a representation of you, which is why you can't kill me. Because I'm honest. ‘Shut up.’ - You shut up. I'm not some separate personality. I am you. You're the reason I exist because you can't give up. Cheon Yo-hwa’s hair became disheveled. The hair, which her attendants meticulously styled every dawn, was now ruined, and a groan escaped from beneath it. "...Then what should I do?" - Just admit your feelings. Her voice became gentle. - Whether you call it a god or an Outer God, you can't deny that it’s inextricably linked with you. The more upright and strong your heart becomes, the stronger its power grows. ‘Aha.’ Cheon Yo-hwa sneered. ‘So all this nonsense was just to lure me in to become a living sacrifice for the god? How cliché.’ - That’s your cliched interpretation. - Enticement. Sacrifice. Robbery. These words are nothing more than a superficial interpretation from third parties who have never experienced the relationship between a god and a priestess firsthand. - It's not like that, Cheon Yo-hwa. It's really not. - The god has no intention or purpose, especially not an intention to mock you. The priestess in you should be able to sense it, no? - The god merely wishes to set you free. "..." Cheon Yo-hwa remained silent and also did not remain silent. - Has the progress on the 'Time Capsule' project, which Go Yo-il requested, been slow lately? - That's because your power hasn’t matured enough yet. You still can't run simulations as freely as you wish. - As long as you treat me as a Heart Demon, you'll be stuck in a perpetual loop. So then? - Acknowledge your heart. Don't walk away from it under the guise of giving up but look it straight in the eye. - Would you like to repeat after me? What should I? - I love Go Yo-il. "..." - Just try it once. Even a whisper in your heart will suffice. If you do it just once, you'll notice the sudden growth of your power tonight. - And this isn’t just for you; it’s for Go Yo-il too. For Go Yo-il? - Of course. You need to enhance your powers to complete the Time Capsule as soon as possible. With the world’s end approaching, are you going to remain preoccupied with your own dignity? "..." - Repeat after me. - Come on. Now. Cheon Yo-hwa's lips pressed tightly together. ‘...I love Go Yo-il.’ And then? ‘I probably won’t be able to give up. Ever.’ Well done. Well done, Cheon Yo-hwa. - Now, I’ll prove to you that my words aren’t a devilish lie. That night. Cheon Yo-hwa dreamt a lucid dream. Lucid dreams were nothing new to her; they surfaced as simulations manifested in dream form, a result of the growing power of the Outer God. Yet the lucid dream from this night was slightly... no, vastly higher in resolution than usual. 「People are dying!」 「This is the way to save them. Yes, I know it sounds like sophistry. But the moment I decided to spoil things for my brother, this life became a ‘discarded card’ for me.」 Rain began to fall in the narrow alleyway. In the dimly lit roadside, Go Yo-il and Go Yuri were engaged in a heated argument. The scene played out from a distance. Cheon Yo-hwa felt as if she had become a ghost. She could see the two of them, yet they were completely oblivious to her presence. ‘What is this?’ The Heart Demon whispered. - The night of Go Yuri’s death. This is a simulation reconstructing the murder scene from then. Look, do you see the person wearing a raincoat over there? ‘Ah.’ - That’s Yu Ji-won. Hidden by the sound of rainfall, the girl ambushed Go Yuri. A kitchen knife, its blade imbued with aura, pierced precisely between bones, penetrating the chest. - That was the moment everything changed. You might call it a crossroads in the path. “...” - Try rewinding a bit further into the past. “Is that… possible?” - With your current ability, yes. You've heard the story from Go Yo-il dozens of times, and you know all the main characters. Give it a try. Rewinding time. It was a mystery how such a feat was possible, but Cheon Yo-hwa’s brilliant mind quickly discerned the method. ‘This isn’t reality but a human dream. A simulation. It’s like observing the world in a [form you can comprehend].’ ‘Then how about considering a format that is easier to understand and manipulate... like a [video]?’ With a slight buzzing sound, the world’s image quality degenerated a bit. But in exchange, Cheon Yo-hwa could now ‘fast forward’ the scene in front of her, as if skipping through a video. -Heh. The Heart Demon admired. - Without anyone teaching you, you’ve grasped the principle of your power? Indeed. You need to weave the world into a form (form) that is easy for you to control. - The more cumbersome the form becomes, the weaker the power grows, but it becomes easier to use. As the form diminishes, the power strengthens, but it becomes harder to wield. - You must maintain balance between the two, young priestess. - Remember. You must discover for yourself what form suits you best, unhindered by shape or place. "..." Time was rewound. What unfolded before Cheon Yo-hwa was no longer the alley. It was a cost-effective business hotel, the lodging where Go Yo-il and Yu Ji-won were staying. - This is the situation right before the paths diverge. Cheon Yo-hwa furrowed her brows. ‘This? It doesn’t look particularly special.’ - Soon, Go Yo-il will reveal a secret to Yu Ji-won. He'll divulge information about the reincarnated. - Foolish, foolish, foolish. At this point, Yu Ji-won has reached the pinnacle of unity with the Outer God gentirely on her own. - From both Yu Ji-won’s and the Outer God’s perspective, they wouldn't miss the best opportunity to eliminate the reincarnated. - You need to stop it, Cheon Yo-hwa. How? - It’s simple. Just prevent Go Yo-il from staring at Yu Ji-won continuously, divert his gaze. ‘Huh?’ Cheon Yo-hwa was momentarily at a loss for words. ‘Diverting his gaze? ... You’re saying just that can alter the path?’ - Don’t question me. The tone of the Heart Demon lowered. - I’m not conveying information you don’t already know. You’ve just comprehended the method of using your power yourself. - I merely reorganized the facts you've realized and reiterated them. I didn’t create something from nothing. - Knowing this, don’t refute. - Prevent Go Yo-il’s gaze from fixating on Yu Ji-won. It’s dangerous. “...” Clink! A glass rolled off the table. “Oh.” Go Yo-il was taken aback. Yu Ji-won, who had been sitting at the desk, quickly stood up. “I'll fetch a towel and gloves, Mr. Matiz. Don’t pick up the glass.” “Oh, oh. And the socks!” “Yes.” Yu Ji-won and Go Yo-il, seamlessly synchronized, swiftly cleaned up the glass. The subtle tension that had existed between them just moments ago had dissipated. Right then, Go Yo-il’s smartphone buzzed—upon confirming it was a message from Go Yuri, he quickly left the lodging. - Follow him. She sprinted after him. “Anyway, congratulations on your overseas trip, brother. It’s a trip you’ve planned for an entire year, isn’t it?” “Well. That's right.” “Just to be safe and to preemptively address my concerns, you must keep my existence a secret from Yu Ji-won.” “...Oh, oh. Naturally.” A warm conversation between siblings. Unlike the ‘past’ where they had a fierce argument, in this newly branched ‘current path,’ Go Yo-il and Go Yuri were having a perfectly ordinary dialogue. Moreover. ‘… Yu Ji-won’s surveillance is gone.’ - Yes. The Heart Demon concurred. - If the glass hadn't fallen just now, Go Yo-il would’ve continued staring at Yu Ji-won, and they would’ve had an important conversation. ‘Was that conversation related to Professor Go Yuri’s death?’ Cheon Yo-hwa swallowed nervously. ‘Could her life and death hinge on a single conversation?’ - All inevitability is coincidence. Coincidence is inevitability. Inevitability is the world. Now fast forward to check what changed. She checked. On the world line where the reincarnated hadn’t died, Go Yo-il soon became an adjunct teacher who appeared before Cheon Yo-hwa and her sister. And. Yu Ji-won was not by his side. - He moved to Sejong to teach us sisters. ‘And Yu Ji-won...?’ - She stayed in Seoul. The Heart Demon analytically noted. - They occasionally keep in touch by phone, but they aren’t inseparable as they were before. Naturally, in a world where Go Yuri is alive, the intent to save the world hasn't been abandoned. - Yu Ji-won’s influence has concluded. Now it’s our sisters’ turn. So for ‘years,’ without Yu Ji-won, our sisters are building a camaraderie with Go Yo-il. “...” Before her eyes. The relationship between Cheon Yo-hwa and Go Yo-il was quite different from what she originally knew. - Senior! She no longer addressed him formally as ‘Mr. Go Yo-il.’ Under the pretext that they would soon both be enrolled at the same university, she used the term ‘senior.’ - Yes, yes. Don't purposely score a zero on this exam. How would I face your father then? - Eh-heh-heh. Go Yo-il, too, no longer addressed her with distant titles like "Miss" or "Leader." Instead, he spoke in a casual tone, much like how close friends would converse. The gaze with which he looked at Cheon Yo-hwa, though not filled with romantic affection, was warm, as one might look at a close pupil or friend. - My father needs a bit of a wake-up call when he becomes complacent. It’ll undoubtedly make your value as a senior rise too, right? - You’re particularly full of nonsense today, my apprentice. - Woof woof? - Grrrr. - Gasp. Recognizing that I mimicked a Shih Tzu and immediately embodying a bulldog…?! As expected of you, senior. Your quick wit is unparalleled… I can't outdo your ability to act like a puppy. - You little rascal. Casually, she looped her arm through his and he, also casually, patted her head. Right before her eyes. Such a vastly different conversation. Such a vastly different air. Such a vastly different smile. "..." Cheon Yo-hwa could do nothing but watch the scene in a daze, for a very long time. Until she awoke from the dream. "…" Her eyes met the ceiling. The ceiling blurred. Cheon Yo-hwa used her forearm to cover her eyes. - How is it? Your power has grown, hasn’t it? - This is the simulation the ‘senior’ mentioned. It is the essence of the Outer God's power. The more information you possess, the clearer your heart, the higher the resolution of the simulation becomes. - Naturally... you can simulate landscapes vastly different from the ‘reality’ you live in now as well. - But. The Heart Demon whispered. - The farther you stray from reality, the higher the power level required of you becomes. This is because the calculations consumed by the simulation change. - Acknowledging your love for the senior is nice, but it’s just enough to get you ‘here.’ - To engage in more diverse, longer simulations, you’ll need to strive harder. Yes. Silence lingered. Dawn. Outside the window, it remained dark. Beneath the face obscured by her forearm, Cheon Yo-hwa’s lips slowly parted. ‘...To further strengthen the power, what should I do?’ The Heart Demon responded in a low voice. - When conversing with me, verbalize your thoughts instead of just having them internally. - The human mind is ambiguous, refracted like an object submerged underwater. - Refine your heart into language. Bring your heart into the open. Expose your feelings to the sharp air. Cheon Yo-hwa’s lips opened once more. “...What should I do to further strengthen the power?” The Heart Demon answered softly. - Use respectful language. Your heart is an altar for yourself. Your tongue is the tool placed upon that altar. Your language will thus become a ritual for yourself. Once more, Cheon Yo-hwa’s lips parted. “To enhance my power further from here... how should I proceed?” The Heart Demon responded gently. - A ritual is not a daily occurrence; it is a ceremony held at a designated time and place. - Time and space. The attempt to grasp dimensions that humans cannot hold with their fingers is, in essence, the core of rituals. This is the form. - When speaking with me, maintain formality. As you refined your heart with language, refine my activities with material. This is the measure. - Uphold proper decorum when dealing with me. - In your room, at a location where no one, not even your sister, can interfere, place a mirror. For the mind is ultimately a mirror, an abyss no one can approach. That she did. In the innermost part of the room where the leader resides, where no footprints dare step without permission from her sisters or attendants, Cheon Yo-hwa placed a vanity mirror. - Well done, Cheon Yo-hwa. From within the mirror. - Now, I shall become a god solely for you. At that, Cheon Yo-hwa’s lips twisted into a grimace.