Chapter 118: The Reason for Actions (5)
〈03. Who is the ‘Core Personality’ of the Chosen Regressor?〉
**Current Clues Confirmed (Based on Abandoned Timelines)**
– Orphan
– Doesn’t know who their parents are
– Has a special bond with the orphanage director
– The director’s death triggered the regression
**Only Child Living with Wealthy Parents**
– Genius intellect
· Enrolled in university and became the first class representative
– Joined the military
Didn’t join the military
– Traveled abroad
Didn’t have a passport
– Learned to play a musical instrument
– Exercises regularly
······.
“What… is this?”
From beginning to end, the conditions listed were utterly inconsistent, and they seemed endless. It was as if the list was visually showcasing the insane number of times that lunatic had regressed.
Moreover, some of the items on the list were either impossible for a human to change or outright contradictory.
For example…
“Wasn’t that person an orphan? Then how could they live a life with parents? And what does it mean that they joined the military but didn’t join the military? How can someone travel abroad without a passport? What in the world….”
As I frowned in confusion at the clues that didn’t make any sense, I suddenly recalled what Thirteen had said earlier.
Thirteen mentioned that the ‘Returning One’ seemed to be targeting the ‘abandoned timelines.’
“…No way.”
A hypothesis came to mind, causing me to frown even deeper.
If that’s the case, could it be that the reason we haven’t been able to properly identify the Chosen Regressor until now is because….
And as if confirming my hypothesis, Thirteen’s response came back immediately.
[System Alert: Yes, I think what you’re thinking is probably correct.]
[System Alert: The ‘Core Personality’ of the Chosen Regressor seems to be stitched together from pieces of abandoned timelines.]
[System Alert: In other words… Although they don’t realize it themselves, there’s a high possibility that all the background of the life they’re living is entirely false.]
[System Alert: The ‘Returning One’ seems to be using the Chosen Regressor to abandon countless timelines and then utilizing those timelines to…]
[System Alert: Well, this is really just a hypothesis, but…]
Thirteen hesitated for a long time, as if even they were being cautious about what they were saying.
And finally, Thirteen revealed the motivation behind the Returning One’s actions.
[System Alert: The ‘Returning One’ is probably…]
[System Alert: For some reason, they seem to be trying to become human by using those timelines.]
[System Alert: That’s why they used the Chosen Regressor and attacked you, Hajin.]
[System Alert: …Because they need to abandon enough timelines to become human.]
That was a twisted motivation fitting for this insane loop.
An infinitely repeating regression.
Within that, countless abandoned timelines.
A ‘Chosen Regressor’ who pursues false happiness by stitching together those abandoned timelines, and a ‘Returning One’ who seeks to become human by using those timelines.
According to Thirteen’s theory, this bizarre relationship must have continued perfectly balanced for a very long time.
[System Alert: Since the Chosen Regressor’s Core Personality is unaware of the regression, they could live happily in each new timeline.]
[System Alert: But just in case, it seems they’ve left traces of their experiences as the Chosen Regressor in the unconscious mind of their Core Personality, so they wouldn’t repeat the same failures as before.]
[System Alert: Therefore, the Core Personality instinctively makes different choices each time to find happiness, and when that happiness runs out, the Chosen Regressor’s personality initiates the regression.]
After all, the Chosen Regressor’s goal is ‘happiness.’
Even if it means sacrificing their already shattered mental state, emotions, and reason, they’ve been repeatedly running away from life through infinite regression to ensure their ‘Core Personality’ could be happy.
But then, out of nowhere, someone appeared and shattered that perfect balance.
[System Alert: That person is you, Hajin.]
“…?”
[System Alert: This regression has made it clear. The Chosen Regressor is heavily influenced by you.]
[System Alert: I told you before. This regression occurred ‘for the Blueflare Team.’]
[System Alert: Aside from the very first regression, the Chosen Regressor has never repeated the same timeline to resolve anything.]
A Chosen Regressor who should have run away from misfortune didn’t run away.
Because of me.
That was a hypothesis I’d considered when I first met the Returning One.
[System Alert: Perhaps… the Chosen Regressor has developed a strong attachment to this life.]
[System Alert: To the point where they want to protect this timeline, even if it means regressing infinitely.]
[System Alert: Maybe they’ve found some kind of possibility through you, Hajin.]
If the endlessly repeating hell of infinite regression was actually the desperate struggle of the Chosen Regressor, who wanted to protect this life for the first time…
As that proposition came to mind, the puzzle pieces that were jumbled in a mess finally began to fall into place.
If the Chosen Regressor trusted me to that extent, it makes sense why the Returning One tried to shake my mental state. If I completely broke down or if this incident failed, the Chosen Regressor would fall into despair and try to run away again.
[System Alert: That’s correct.]
I fell into thought for a moment.
‘…Could it be?’
It sounded absurd.
I didn’t want it to be true.
…But the strong warning alarm was ringing in my head, which had devoured every single regression web novel after scraping together every cent I had and installing every event app.
“Thirteen, by any chance…”
I couldn’t easily bring myself to say it.
Because if this hypothesis were true…
“…Could it be me? The Chosen Regressor.”
That would mean my entire life is fake.
My heart pounded, and I felt my hands tremble as they instinctively tightened.
Wasn’t it already unsettling that the Chosen Regressor’s timeline was entangled with mine?
What if my mental state in the previous life was as weak as a cookie, and that’s why I kept repeating the regression?
What if, after countless regressions, I became the Chosen Regressor, and as my Core Personality began to recognize the regression, a separate personality as a fixed regressor was created…
[System Alert: What? (‘◇’)?]
[System Alert: No way.]
[System Alert: (Shaking their head vigorously with an incredulous expression)]
Ah, not this genre?
I was slightly embarrassed by Thirteen’s vehement denial, which was emphasized by a large X mark flashing on the display board (I have no idea where that came from).
“No, kid. You don’t know the trope where ‘the protagonist who first recognizes the anomaly turns out to be the mastermind,’ huh? It’s a huge cliché, you know. The so-called Oedipus-style development. The whole ‘the culprit was me all along’ thing.”
[System Alert: There’s no way. Don’t worry.]
“What’s with the reassurance? It’s making me really comfortable.”
Thirteen, who was shaking the system window left and right with confident denial, made me feel completely at ease.
Honestly, I was really scared. I wondered what would happen if it really was ‘another me.’
Sensing my thoughts, Thirteen continued their explanation.
[System Alert: A life stitched together from abandoned timelines inevitably has flaws.]
[System Alert: But there are no such flaws in the life you’ve lived, Hajin.]
[System Alert: Everything you’ve created, experienced, and were born with is real, Hajin.]
[System Alert: Even the experiences of failure that made you unhappy in the past.]
What I created, made, and experienced.
All of it is truly mine.
Hearing that reassurance again, I felt a strange sense of relief.
At the same time, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy for that fragile fool caught in such immense misfortune.
[System Alert: We still need more investigation to understand how exactly the ‘Returning One’ is trying to gather these timelines to become human, as well as their specific methods and motivations.]
[System Alert: After all, this is the first time a time manager has attempted to become human….]
[System Alert: But through this battle, we’ve managed to deal a significant blow to the ‘Returning One’ as well.]
[System Alert: So for now, please rest easy and focus on the survival show and your debut!]
Thirteen suddenly switched into enthusiastic fan mode, displaying sparkling effects all over.
‘No matter how you look at it, this guy seems like he’s playing an idol training game with me.’
I nodded, still filled with suspicion, even though I had no hard evidence.
It was about time to wake up.
[System Alert: Oh, and…]
Just as I was about to get up from the sofa, Thirteen carefully opened the system window again.
[System Alert: Due to forcibly restoring the mental care system this time, we’ve used up all the cash you had saved up, Hajin.]
[System Alert: Also, due to various system issues, it seems you won’t be able to use the cash skills for a while.]
[System Alert: And I might have to step away for a while for further investigation as well.]
[System Alert: So, I recommend refraining from doing anything that might incur penalties for the time being!]
Thirteen’s cautious advice made me nod rather coolly.
“Alright. Got it.”
[System Alert: (…A bit flustered by the unexpectedly
cool response.)]
[System Alert: Z(‘0-0’)]
What does this guy think I am?
“Well, the skills will disappear eventually anyway. I should start getting used to the ‘real’ me without the skills.”
I’d been thinking about this ever since the infinite regression incident.
Now that I realized there was no need to rely too heavily on the system and skills, and that I shouldn’t, I felt much more at ease.
“I think I’ll be okay. I feel like I’m going to be okay now.”
[System Alert: ……….]
“I want to be recognized for the person I’ve become now.”
After sharing my honest feelings for the first time in a while and finally getting ready to wake up, Thirteen fell strangely silent again.
“….…..?”
Wondering what was going on, I turned back to look…
[System Alert: (口)]……
[System Alert: Hajin, you’re such an amazing person………]
[System Alert: 0 ಡ……~]
Tears were dripping out of the system window. Good grief.
“If you’re going to be like that, wouldn’t it be better if you could somehow become human or at least a living being?”
[System Alert: Time managers can’t take on the form of living beings by principle… But wait, is that really important right now!?]
[System Alert: Hajin, are you T?]
[System Alert: (´`)]。
“I’m half and half. F 51%, T 49%.”
I chuckled, amused, and playfully patted Thirteen’s system window, which had become quite endearing over time. The window was semi-transparent, so I couldn’t actually touch it.
“I’m really going now. Ugh, just thinking about dealing with the side effects again is already scaring me.”
[System Alert: …We’ll try to research more quickly so that the side effects can be eliminated.]
[System Alert: (Feeling down because they couldn’t be more helpful…)]
“Don’t be cute, you’re growing on me.”
…The problem is, I think I’ve already grown attached.
—
* * *
—
As soon as Hajin woke up from the space of unconsciousness and opened his eyes, he couldn’t suppress the overwhelming nausea, leaped out of bed, and rushed out of the room.
Without any sense of how much time had passed or what time it was, he ran straight to the bathroom and threw up.
—
“Ugh!”
*Beep!*
Despite emptying his stomach, the pain and burning sensation persisted.
It was as if his inner ear had malfunctioned, with tinnitus and severe dizziness overwhelming him.
“Ah! Damn, it hurts.”
Unable to maintain his balance, Hajin stumbled and reached out to grab something, only to scratch his hand on something sharp.
He had rushed into the bathroom without even turning on the light, making it difficult to see in the dark.
“This is driving me crazy….”
Even in the darkness, he could feel the room spinning, making him feel like he was dying. Clinging to the sink, Hajin closed his eyes and took slow, deep breaths. He pressed his eyelids and held his forehead, waiting for the side effects to pass.
…How much time had passed? Gradually, his vision and physical condition began to return to normal.
“If I do this a few more times, I’m really going to die.”
It felt like the longer he stayed, the stronger the aftereffects would be.
Hajin resolved to avoid using the space of unconsciousness as much as possible for the time being and fumbled to turn on the faucet. In his rush to get into the bathroom, he hadn’t even turned on the lights, so he couldn’t see anything properly.
‘The kids probably didn’t wake up, right? What time is it now?’
With those thoughts in mind, Hajin rinsed his mouth with cold water and splashed some water on his face.
Click!
“……?”
The bathroom light turned on by itself without him touching it.
‘What, what’s going on?’
Did someone hear him? Or did someone try to come in, not knowing he was inside?
Startled, Hajin turned his head toward the door. The slightly ajar door creaked open completely.
And standing there…
—
“…………? What are you guys doing?”
—
The youngest members were huddled together with serious expressions, staring at Hajin.
The ones who had been playing games with Joo Eunchan in the lounge earlier.
As soon as the youngest members, with worry written all over their faces, met Hajin’s eyes, they immediately began screaming,
—
“Ahhhhh!!!!”
“Hajin hyung!!!! Hyung, you can’t die!!!!!!”
“Call 119! Call 119 now!!!!!!”
“Hajin-san!!!!!! Daijobu!???”
“Hyung, you’re bleeding!!!!!!!”
—
…And pointing at Hajin, they started screaming?
“What’s going on!?”
Barely having time to feel confused by the youngest members’ screams, Siwoo, who had been holding a toothbrush as if he was about to brush his teeth, rushed in and asked about the situation. When he saw the terrified youngest members and Hajin standing inside the bathroom, his eyes widened in shock.
“Hajin, are you okay?”
“…Ah, I was just a bit dizzy, but now I’m okay—, whoaaa! What the heck is this!?”
As he raised his hand to reassure them, he noticed that his hand and arm were covered in bright red blood.
‘No way?’
In a panic, Hajin turned his head to check himself in the bathroom mirror and screamed.
“Ahhhh! No, no! This is a misunderstanding!!!”
The blood from the deep cut on his hand had smeared all over Hajin’s face.
Without thinking, he had washed his face and touched everything in sight, turning the bathroom sink into what looked like a bloodbath.
The bloodstained pajamas and the mess he had made in the sink looked terrifying, even to himself.
“Jae, Jaeyoung! Jaeyoung, get a hold of yourself!!!”
“Call 119!!!”
“Hajin hyung! You weren’t thinking something bad, were you? I’ll report all the trolls who leave mean comments!!!!”
…Guys, please calm down.
This is all a misunderstanding….
Hajin sent a desperate, pleading look to the only person who could possibly mediate the situation—Siwoo.