Infinite Regressor, Chapter 479 - I’m an Infinite Regressor, But I’ve Got Stories to Tell

6. The undertaker’s lower realm faced a decisive cut. Who could have predicted that, at the very end of a narrative spanning nearly 500 chapters, a physical gender swap would provide the climax—only to breathe a sigh of relief when it didn’t? No one could foresee such a development, not even Oh Dok-seo. Thanks to this, the undertaker narrowly avoided being recorded in history's annals as the ultimate icon of a drastic drift. However, the current situation didn’t exactly spell triumph either. “Ah, no! Sister Seo-rin!” “Let go...! I said let go!” Chaos erupted. “This is the only solution for a happy ending!” “Please, calm down, Ms. Dang Seo-rin. While I too am fond of Matiz irrespective of gender, operating outdoors without proper medical facilities is inadvisable.” “Y-yes. Taking that away from the guild leader...? Oh, just think of the craftsmanship. It's a shame... really...” “?” “?” As often happens with the Regression Alliance's tantrums, once again, the scapegoat villain drew all the attention, allowing the undertaker to narrowly escape thanks to his team's remarkable tanking abilities. The problem was, there was no paradise where he fled, only hotels. The only difference was in their booked rooms; the undertaker’s accommodation was at the same hotel as the rest of the group. ‘This is dangerous. Truly dangerous…!’ Being the only man on the trip, the undertaker had a suite to himself and thus couldn't consult with anyone. Who could he invite to this room and ask, ‘What should I do?’ Really, who? He ran through a quick simulation in his mind. Though not to the level of Cheon Yo-hwa, the undertaker had personally experienced thousands of life simulations, making his imagination quite vivid. Naturally, the first person that came to the undertaker's mind as a counsel was a trusted and traditional ally. 1. Commander. “Noh Do-hwa. What should I do? At this rate, everything will fall apart. You're the only one I can trust!” “Hm. Well, I don’t really see what has you worried…” “Pardon?” “Would it really matter if things fell apart…?” “…” “…” They merely exchanged glances for about six seconds in silence, yet oddly, tensions rose, and suddenly Noh Do-hwa grabbed the undertaker’s tie, twisting her lips— ‘Absolutely not!’ The undertaker was aghast. No matter how he tried to continue the conversation, he could only foresee a future where he and Noh Do-hwa plunged straight into something akin to a Made in Abyss scenario. ‘She’s someone who would ignite the problem rather than solve it!’ With that thought, the undertaker considered another candidate. Besides Noh Do-hwa, there was another whom the undertaker traditionally relied on as a confidant. This was a companion who could mimic any character at any place and time, and thus was an unexpectedly SSS-grade conversational partner! 2. Literary Girl “Dok-seo. Judging by your tone earlier, it seemed like you were up to something! Explain this situation! Huh? What should I do?” “U-uh. I’m sorry, uncle. It’s just, I felt sad if neither you nor our companions remembered anything when you were all so desperate. A true happy ending should be an autumn where nothing remains unharvested. So, I just wanted the time capsule to open… But, wow, Cheon Yo-hwa had stored more memories than I thought!” “You knew and still did nothing! You scoundrel!” “No! I’m just as frustrated! How was I supposed to know you were the angelic reader always cheering me on from behind! S-plus, such…!” “Such?” “…” “…” “I-I can’t say. But I realized I was wrong about you, uncle.” “What do you mean wrong? What misunderstanding?” “Uncle… M-my affection level was higher than I thought, wasn’t it? So… that’s…” “…” “…” They avoided each other’s gaze in silence for about twelve seconds, only for Oh Dok-seo to tentatively touch the undertaker’s hand, her eyes filled with uncertainty— “Let’s die.” The undertaker murmured, sitting on the edge of the bed, clutching his head with both hands, muttering in utter sincerity. “Right. Witnessing that mess with bare eyes, I'd rather just die.” Once again, Yu Ji-won’s honest advice proved correct. Oh Dok-seo? Oh, Oh, Oh Dok-seo? Oh Dok-seo, really? Even if humanity were down to just the two of them after the world’s utter destruction, the undertaker was resolute in his refusal of being the last Adam with any Eve. It was only now that he truly understood the final line of the Evangelion movie. It felt... off-putting! Who on earth benefits if an Oh Dok-seo-undertaker route becomes reality? And who could narrate such a scenario? The undertaker? Certainly not. Oh Dok-seo? No. Infinite Metagame? Even Infinite Metagame wouldn’t tackle this. Ultimately, the undertaker’s final choice for counsel was already decided. “Seo Gyu. It’s your brother…” -Huh? Brother? Why are you calling so early? Oh, right. You’re in the States. It must be afternoon there. “Yeah. Did you eat breakfast? I have a little dilemma, and I’d like your opinion, is that okay?” -Oh... My brother? Consulting me? Of course, it’s fine. I’ve had breakfast. But this makes me anxious. What kind of problem could you possibly consult me about? Skip explanation. With the visual novel analogy, [CTRL]. -Hmm. Beyond the phone, after receiving the complete explanation, Seo Gyu fell silent in deep thought. It was the siren of an incredibly uneasy quiet. “What do you think, Seo Gyu?” -Hmmm... As the silence stretched, the undertaker grew increasingly impatient, but in truth, Seo Gyu was silently expressing deep gratitude. The recipient of that gratitude was, of course, Oh Dok-seo. Seo Gyu made a vow. As soon as Oh Dok-seo returned to the country, he would immediately issue her a lifetime gym membership. Considering the fact that Seo Gyu, currently sweeping competitions, earned at least 200,000 won per hour, it was an enormous favor. At least, that was what Seo Gyu thought. (Note: Oh Dok-seo’s opinion didn’t matter.) "You've experienced all sorts of madmen and crazy situations while working as an SG Net admin, right? I’m asking this favor with respect to your experience as an operator." -No, well. Honestly, the most difficult trolls I had to deal with... three of them are in your group right now. I don’t think I’d be much help... "Three? One is Ah-ryeon and the other is Dok-seo. Is there really another troublemaker among them?" -It’s nothing. Seo Gyu's tone became oddly urgent. -More importantly, brother, the most crucial thing in times like these is the heart of one-on-one connections. Isn’t it all about understanding each other’s true feelings? “Hm.” -I never thought a day would come when I’d have to ask my brother this, but… who do you like? It was a straightforward question. And the undertaker was neither lazy nor obtuse when it came to understanding his own feelings. He obviously had posed this question to himself several times, so his answer flowed effortlessly from his lips. “I like them all! Of course!” -I’m sorry, but that answer sounds completely trashy, brother. “No, there’s a part you need to understand and overlook. My idea of ‘liking’ is somewhat different from others. I’m simply ready to accept and support whatever path they choose in life. Heck, I like you too, Seo Gyu!” It was an exceptionally perilous statement. The undertaker faced a near-drift twice just today, but thankfully, Seo Gyu understood his intention. -Then, brother, is there no one you’d want to marry? Someone you’d want to share your life with exclusively, ignoring everyone else? “Do you think there is?” -Why not? It’s a natural feeling. “Think about it, Seo Gyu. If there were someone I wanted to monopolize or someone to monopolize me, would I have lived my life as a regressor normally? I’d have spent my days happily with her, disregarding whether the world was ending.” -Ah. “I couldn’t live favoring just one person. I was forced to like, love, and cherish everyone so that, even if absurd scenarios happened, I’d remain insured and could continue my life as a regressor.” -I guess that does make sense… Wait a moment, brother. “Sure.” -What's with this text… Oh, great. Sensing a troubling vibe, the undertaker felt uneasy. "Why? What’s going on?" -It’s… nothing. No, actually. Brother, it seems that your conversation with me has been discovered. “What?! How could that be?!” -“It’s only logical. If there’s a call going on your smartphone and none of the members are dialing, there would be only two people you’d possibly be talking to: me or Sister Go Yuri. It seems they’ve figured out it’s not Go Yuri.” “…” The undertaker became fearful. He glanced around instinctively, but his periphery was blocked by walls. What sort of schemes could be unfolding beyond his sight? -They’re subtly asking me to say favorable things. However, regardless of what I do, can your heart be swayed, brother? “Seo Gyu…” -In fact, this is a blessing. From the looks of it, they’re just waiting for some time to pass, thinking you’ll eventually stop being obsessed with them and they'll meet someone better and move on… “Yes! I only wish for their happiness! And for them to flourish, building careers along the way.” -I see that as the problem. “What?” -Finding someone better than you, brother, is next to impossible. Unbelievably difficult. Seo Gyu spoke calmly. -Even if I miraculously ended up dating and marrying someone from the members, which I assure you won’t happen, let’s just entertain the thought. “Yeah? And?” -Then I… I’d probably go insane because of you, brother. “And why is that?” -Because inevitably, from the members’ perspective, if anything goes wrong, they'd compare me to you. “Compare?” -Yes. They’d think, “Brother did this for us” or “Brother never acted that way.” While such thoughts might crop up in everyday life, your level of care is almost excessive. His lowered tone continued. -I mean, you saved their lives, fought battles alongside them that seemed impossible, treated the one-time monstrous bosses as humans, and helped them fight at the vanguard for humanity, brother. “Oh…” -The comparison is simply too much. The benchmark is unreasonably high. It’s not about specs or anything. Honestly, it’s impossible! “…” -Even if you try to encourage them to find someone who suits them better and live a happy life, it’s impossible! They might force a meeting, sure. But forcing it brings more problems! Not only will the member be unhappy, but so will the person compared to you. Damn it! What did a person suddenly being compared to you do in their past life to deserve that? It’s a nuisance! Seo Gyu’s outcry seemed… Surprisingly resonant with the undertaker’s own heart. ‘Right, exactly.’ It was an angle he hadn’t considered before. ‘Was I about to unintentionally cause harm to someone I didn’t even know?!’ Even amidst his shock, Seo Gyu continued speaking. -Brother. Think thoroughly. The people around you—our members… Were they meant to live a mundane life, meet normal people, and fall in love that way? “…” -No, they weren’t. If they were, they wouldn’t have awakened or fallen. You wouldn’t have had to help them as much. Originally, you only gathered those who would have lived cursed lives, almost dying somewhere. “…True.” -Just because the world has returned to normal doesn't mean those people have become normal. And, uh... what was I about to say? Ah, yes. Perhaps it was because he had witnessed the Regression Alliance's antics firsthand for so long. It seemed Seo Gyu had quite a bit to say. -I know your emotional discipline is at a level beyond anything I could even imagine. For you, being obsessed with someone or wanting sole possession is likely a thing of the distant past. “……” -But get attached. “What?” -I’m saying, be attached to them. Don’t treat the members like you're some enlightened sage. Granted, it’s true that thanks to your attitude, we’ve come to rely on you a lot. But in a situation like this, especially now, you just need to show some attachment. Seo Gyu's voice was filled with utmost seriousness. -Everyone will probably appreciate it if you do. “…I seriously don’t understand.” -I bet you a hundred percent, they’ll all accept it if you show some attachment. Hmm. Or not? Is Ji-won different? I honestly have no clue about her vibe. “……” -We're all like children, deep down. Surely there’s a child inside your heart as well. You can do it, brother. “Wait, wait, don’t hang up!” -I’m hanging up. If I get further involved, I’ll really be screwed. Man up and face it head-on. Oh, and just so you know, I’ve been rooting for the Saintess since the old days. Click. The line went dead. “……” Already in the most luxurious suite of a five-star hotel, the sudden silence became oppressive after the call. ‘Get attached?’ Alone in the now very silent room, the undertaker’s mind spun with Seo Gyu’s recent advice. ‘Attachment. Be attached? Will they really appreciate and accept if I show my attachment…?’ Just then. Ding—dong. The undertaker jumped at the sound. You might say his reaction was a bit jumpy, but then again, anyone would be on edge if they'd been through an experience where their physical wellbeing was nearly compromised. He approached the door cautiously, leaning toward the intercom. “Wh-who is it?” -It's me. Upon hearing the voice, the undertaker’s complexion instantly grew pale, and his pupils contracted. -It’s Dang Seo-rin. We need to talk. The captain of the ship had arrived.