Chapter 150. 42%
[System Notification: Still, please be more careful next time.]
Even though things had gone well this time, Thirteen still seemed quite dissatisfied.
[System Notification: …It’s something that hurts Kang Hajin-nim. There’s no guarantee that it will always end this well.]
Since the reason he added this timidly was out of genuine concern for me, Hajin nodded his head obediently.
“I know. This time, it was like a hopeful story in a sandpit.”
This time, everything wrapped up neatly because of the timely incident involving the Loving You team, but there was no guarantee that things would always turn out so well in the future.
However, Hajin thought that this was precisely why it was a good time to do this.
“Either way, I needed an opportunity to shift the fandom atmosphere before the debut. I said it knowing I’d get flak for it… I’ll have to find safer and more effective methods from now on.”
Even more significant incidents might happen after debuting, and I can’t just pick fights with the fans like a street brawler every time something happens.
Realizing once again that the debut was just around the corner, Hajin sat up from where he was sprawled out on the sofa. Anyway, the reason he entered the space of unconsciousness today was for another matter.
“Let’s talk about work now. First, the rewards.”
Hajin simply manipulated the system window, bringing up the most recent quest tab.
[System Alert: Sudden Quest!]
Content: The basic of an idol group is teamwork!
Let’s clear up any uncomfortable feelings among the team members and have a time to listen to each other’s true feelings.
It might be an opportunity to reflect on my own feelings?
Success rewards:
– A beautiful harmony from the fantastic teamwork among the members♬
– Unexpected luck ^♡^
– One-time cancellation of side effects upon entering the space of unconsciousness
[System Alert: Would you like to receive the remaining rewards? (Y/N)]
As Hajin nodded, a loading screen appeared with a message indicating the rewards were being collected. However, aside from the cancellation of side effects, which would be used up this time, the ‘unexpected luck’ was a reward that was impossible to predict, so he didn’t have high expectations.
“Well, even the Cat’s Grace reward didn’t turn out too badly….”
There wouldn’t be any loss this time, either.
In fact, the reason things had gone so well this time was likely due to this ‘unexpected luck’….
Seeing that it was still unclaimed, it seemed that this event was truly due to sheer fortune.
“Now, I just have to wait for this. Only the most important issue remains.”
Hajin crossed his arms and placed his legs up on the sofa, sitting cross-legged as he looked at Thirteen.
“It seems that Dan Haru is the Chosen Regressor. So, what should we do now?”
Although it wasn’t yet 100% certain, Hajin’s suspicions had almost entirely shifted toward Haru.
With a strong suspect identified, it was time to consider the next step.
[System Alert: The most important thing is to take away the time management authority from the Chosen Regressor.]
[System Alert: To do that, you first need to draw out the personality of the Chosen Regressor.]
Bringing out the guy who had been slipping away from the time managers’ eyes until now wouldn’t be easy from the start.
Hajin leaned his head back and grumbled.
[System Alert: Once the personality of the Chosen Regressor is revealed, I’ll officially register that personality with the system.]
[System Alert: After that, there are various methods.]
[System Alert: The simplest is to forcibly erase the personality of the Chosen Regressor….]
[System Alert: But since we need to capture not only the Chosen Regressor but also the Returning One, it’s going to be a rather tricky strategic battle.]
No matter what, the conclusion was that the most urgent task was to bring out the personality of the Chosen Regressor and engage in conversation.
The problem, then, was how to draw out that coward who was hiding so well….
Hajin, who had been deep in thought and rolling his eyes, slowly lifted his head.
“The Chosen Regressor doesn’t know my identity yet, right? That I’m regressing alongside him and am aware of the timelines he’s been through.”
[System Alert: Considering how the Returning One tried desperately to hide your existence, I think it’s unlikely.]
[System Alert: If he knew, the infinite regression incident last time wouldn’t have occurred.]
“Then I should let him know now.”
[System Alert: …Excuse me?]
[System Alert: (๑•̌.•̑๑)ˀ̣ˀ̣]
Thirteen stared at Hajin with eyes that seemed to ask, ‘What’s this guy plotting now?’ But Hajin, unfazed, leaned his arm on the sofa and propped his chin, smiling brightly.
“It doesn’t matter how I get there, as long as I get to Seoul. Instead of provoking Dan Haru to bring out the Chosen Regressor’s personality, it’s better to make the Chosen Regressor want to talk to me first.”
[System Alert: Hmm…. That makes sense.]
“The most likely option is revealing my identity to the Chosen Regressor…. But the problem is whether the Returning One will stay quiet. Honestly, I’m really uneasy about how quiet he’s been so far.”
Hajin muttered as he habitually tapped his fingers.
It certainly felt like the ‘Finding the Chosen Regressor’ quest was nearing its end, but there were still too many question marks in Hajin’s mind. It was like the feeling you get in a detective manga when the reveal of the culprit is near, but none of the clues have been collected yet.
“Usually, in situations like this, it’s one of two things. Either everything is revealed in a rush at the end, or just when you think it’s the end, something big happens, and the culprit escapes.”
If it’s the former, great; if it’s the latter, it’s a big problem.
‘I need to meet the Chosen Regressor before the Returning One tries something.’
Hajin’s mind was filled with various possible scenarios, and his expression became quite serious.
Hajin absentmindedly tapped his fingers, lost in thought. Then, Thirteen carefully spoke up, displaying a speech bubble.
[System Alert: Also, there’s something else I need to tell you.]
“Yeah? What is it? Go ahead.”
[System Alert: Once you take away the authority from the Chosen Regressor, your role in this matter will also come to an end.]
“I know.”
Hajin tilted his head curiously at Thirteen’s words, wondering why he was bringing up something he already knew. Thirteen continued to speak calmly.
[System Alert: The fact that the end is approaching means the time for Kang Hajin-nim to make a choice is also near.]
“…….”
My choice?
Before he could even form that question, Thirteen brought up the two choices he had seen before.
SAVE OR DELETE
[System Alert: ‘Fixed Regressor’ Kang Hajin and ‘Original Personality’ Kang Hajin.]
[System Alert: Have you thought about which one you will leave behind?]
‘My’ erasure and ‘my’ restoration.
Another huge question mark was thrown onto the sea of Hajin’s mind.
* * *
42%.
Looking at that figure, the man called the Chosen Regressor showed a hint of confusion.
‘Indeed…. This is strange.’
The boy’s anxiety level, which was about to soar to 99%, suddenly dropped below 50% in an instant.
This was definitely something he hadn’t experienced before.
‘If it were like before, I would’ve already turned back time with that level.’
Moving slowly, the Chosen Regressor turned off the water in the sink and wiped his freshly washed face with a soft towel. Returning to the room, he saw a face mask placed on the bed as if it were meant for him.
‘…How kind.’
The new roommate, whom he met after merging rooms when the previous one left the dorm, was quite affectionate. It was almost pitiful to think that someone so kind hadn’t been able to nurture his dreams and had withered away in the unkindness of the world in countless timelines before this one.
‘Could things really be different this time?’
Could it really?
But he had long since given up hope in the world.
He was managing to endure this timeline because the ‘child’ was still satisfied with it, but if the world ever cast this ‘child’ aside, he was prepared to abandon this world first.
‘…I’m tired.’
Now that he thought about it, the time he had promised ‘him’ was approaching.
The Chosen Regressor, lying on the bed, closed his eyes for a moment.
He was slowly beginning to feel that the end was near.
“Hey? Haru, are you sleeping?”
At the sound of the door opening, the new roommate, Taehyun, entered the room.
Hearing the voice calling out to him, the Chosen Regressor… no, Dan Haru slowly opened his eyes and turned his head.
“No, I was just closing my eyes.”
“I left a face mask here for you, did you see it?”
“Oh, I saw it…. But I’m so tired I can’t even lift a finger.”
“Geez. You didn’t even apply any skincare, did you? Come here.”
Taehyun, as if exasperated, took out some skincare products from his pouch and approached Haru’s bed. As he sat on the bed, Haru naturally rested his head on
Taehyun’s lap and closed his eyes.
Soon, the cool sensation gently seeped into Haru’s face.
“You don’t do it yourself because I always do it for you.”
“…Hehe. You caught me.”
“You’re lucky you’re cute. Seriously, people with good skin like you and Hajin-hyung are the ones who don’t care about it at all.”
When Hajin’s name was mentioned, Haru’s lips briefly stiffened but quickly relaxed again.
Kang Hajin. That name.
Of the countless people he had met across countless timelines, Kang Hajin was the one who had changed ‘Dan Haru’ the most in the shortest amount of time.
The person who kept shaking Dan Haru’s world, yet another variable.
“Okay. Now just leave this on until it dries. You can sleep if you’re tired. I’ll take it off for you when I come back after practice.”
“Mmhhmhhhghh… huh huh ghrff?” (Hyung, are you going to practice again?)
“Oh, I forgot to take off the mask on your lips. Just a second.”
Taehyun, who had carefully arranged the mask pack that had been thoroughly applied even on Haru’s lips, slipped off the bed and placed a pillow under Haru’s head.
That gentle care was quite comforting and welcome, so Haru didn’t refuse and simply relaxed as he looked up at Seo Taehyun.
“Well… the group unification ceremony is coming up soon. If I stay in the room, my head just gets all cluttered, you know.”
“You’re number one, hyung. You’ll be able to debut.”
“If that really happens, I’ll have no more wishes left.”
Taehyun’s bitter smile carried the subtle traces of past failures.
The loneliness reflected in that smile was likely just the remnants of the disappointments caused by Boy’s World and the Director….
“It’ll definitely happen.”
But Dan Haru knew.
He knew about the many failures and disappointments that even Seo Taehyun was unaware of.
The countless times Seo Taehyun’s dreams had been shattered in the many timelines that Dan Haru had turned back.
“…Let’s definitely debut together, hyung.”
“Yeah. I have to debut with our precious Haru. You’ve worked hard today, get some sleep.”
“Yes. You should get some good rest after just a little practice, too, hyung.”
“Sure~”
Taehyun smiled as he packed up his practice gear and left the room.
Heavy darkness and silence settled in.
Dan Haru forcibly closed his eyes, trying to forget the tidal waves of memories that kept flooding his mind.
The only comfort in this moment was knowing that the one to greet the beautiful sun tomorrow morning would not be his own worn-out self.