Chapter 69: Who Killed Park Jeong-yong?
“Hmm… The residual memory is too far away.”
As soon as I regained consciousness, I activated Izanami’s Heart.
The direction was towards the plains heading from Kern towards the capital. However, the lantern’s light was too dim, and there was no heartbeat. That means it’s quite a distance away.
Based on my experience so far, it would take me about half a day just to reach it.
“…Did I rush too quickly towards the capital? Or did I die after a long time had passed?”
At least, if I died due to a sudden threat while in Kern, the possibility of me dying after a long period is low.
While I was deep in thought, the Demon King, who had been quietly inching closer beside me, tugged on my collar.
“Hey there, hero. Looks like another regression has occurred, huh? What’s wrong?”
I looked at the Demon King. She had a look of confusion on why she was back in Kern.
Yeah. Now I remember. That’s right. Only then did I recall Ruci, and I asked her.
“Hey, Ruci.”
“What?”
“How many days did we last in the previous life?”
“Just one. I went to sleep one night and woke up back here.”
“Only… one day…?”
That settles it.
I died while trying to escape Kern in a hurry.
“Alright, I understand for now. I need some time to think, so leave me alone for a while.”
“What nonsense… Hmmph. Anyway! What’s the matter this time? I was sleeping, so I didn’t know what happened!”
“Are you teasing me?”
Right now, you’re the one I’m most curious about.
As usual, I stretched her cheeks, then suddenly asked while looking at her face.
“Come to think of it, you know the answer. Where was the last place I went in my previous life?”
“Ahhh! Stop it, my face hurts!”
“What did you say?”
“It hurts! Let go, you!!”
Oops. I forgot I was holding her cheeks while asking the question. It felt so natural that I didn’t even notice.
I released Ruci’s cheeks, and she began to rub her now bright-red cheeks, speaking in a surly tone.
“Even if I knew where you went, how would I know exactly where on the plain?!”
“Hmm… Do you remember how far you walked?”
“Of course. I walked all day until I collapsed and passed out!”
“Al…l day…?”
Looks like I set off in quite a rush.
Something must have happened here.
But without knowing what it is, I can’t prepare for it. It’s enough to drive me crazy.
“Threat…”
Then, what kind of threat could it be?
After carefully considering my current perspective, I came to the following conclusion.
‘The regression points changed at certain events.’
Three times.
Since entering this city, the regression point has been updated three times already.
The first was when I encountered the stalker Germe Valkin from the unknown group ‘Cassas’.
The second was when Seop Baek pulled out an unknown ring called ‘Omen of Isgrath’ from a gacha.
And the third was just now, when I met the red-haired vagrant.
Though updating the regression point isn’t that uncommon, having it happen three times in one day is unusual.
This frequency is certainly abnormal. At least, at least one of the three is evidence of danger.
‘But the stalker is dead…the ring from Seop Baek provides no information… and the red-haired vagrant ran away…’
That’s the problem.
All three are currently beyond my reach. Even if I wanted to clean up the mess, there’s nothing left to clean up.
No. To begin with, I’m not even clear on what I need to clean up.
‘What I can do right now is…’
Seop Baek pulling that mysterious ring. I need to take it from her first.
Regardless of anything else, taking immediate action is the right thing to do.
I nodded and stared directly at Seop Baek.
“Seop Baek. Can you give me back the ring I bought you earlier?”
“…Huh? Why?”
Seop Baek looked at me very oddly for suddenly demanding the ring back.
She slightly pulled her hand back, covering her left hand, like a child who doesn’t want to give up a toy.
“Hmm… It’s just that…”
I was slightly shocked by her reaction.
She’s resisting more strongly than I expected. I thought she wasn’t disappointed because it was a “noob miss”?
This is different from my expectations. I thought it would be easy, but now it seems like trouble.
“It’s not like it’s a good thing anyway. I’ll buy you a new one later, just give it to me for now.”
“Ah, well… but…”
Right on cue, Seop Baek refused me again. While I anticipated this, it’s still extremely frustrating.
I raised my eyebrows and began trying to persuade her.
“Why not? You were pretty disappointed when you first pulled the ring out, weren’t you?”
“Well, um…”
“I’ll hold onto it for now, and later, I’ll buy you something shinier and more expensive, I promise.”
“But… but!”
She kept trailing off and hesitating.
Here we go again, pulling out the ‘Kings.’ Isn’t that a foul play? Alright, let’s hear your reason. Why can’t you give me the ring?
As I stared at Seop Baek with intensity, she glanced away and continued explaining.
“I, this is the first gift from Jung Yong, you see.”
“… What?”
“I don’t care about the design or price. It’s the first gift from Jung Yong, so I want to keep it.”
“… Ah, I see…”
How is she giving me this overly emotional answer with a flushed face?
I have no idea how I should respond. Ugh.
Does she like me or something? She’s making me uncomfortable. I just feel sorry for her; don’t misinterpret it as something else.
“…No. No matter what, this is a matter of life and death for me.”
I steeled my resolve.
Then, I extended my hand more firmly towards her.
“Enough. Give it here quickly. We don’t have time for this.”
“Why? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
“‘Why? Why?’ Isn’t the reason important?”
“Yes, it is! I’ll give it to you if the reason is reasonable.”
Suddenly, I had no words and just stared at the ground.
That firm gaze. This wasn’t simple obstinacy about giving and taking gifts. She was suspicious.
“I’m being doubted, huh?”
It’s not suspicion, but worry, to be precise.
She’s probably noticed that my behavior has been strange since a while ago. She wants to understand.
I want to tell her about the time regression.
An impulse surged, but I shook my head.
There’s no reason to involve her in this troublesome situation by revealing the truth. This secret needs to stay with me alone.
“Mr. Jung Yong… Am I not dependable?”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Seop Baek said this.
I abruptly raised my head. Seop Baek muttered with a dejected look on her face.
“Ever since earlier, you’ve been acting really strange. At first, I thought you were just excited because it’s our first time in a different country… but what’s making you so scared? Why are you asking for the ring back all of a sudden?”
“…”
“Tell me. Shouldn’t I know? Aren’t we teammates? Right?”
Am I showing that much anxiety? Honestly, it’s quite a shock.
I’ve never been good at coming up with excuses. Even with higher intelligence and more magic power, my real IQ hasn’t improved.
I feel this frustration every time my mind goes blank.
“…It’s just because something feels off.”
In the end, the only thing I could say was this pathetic excuse.
Seop Baek hesitated for a while, then leaned towards me and said,
“Of course, I’m not as great as Mr. Jung Yong. I don’t have the insight like how you defeated Eldritch at Halzenberg Castle.”
“Yeah… That wasn’t because of my insight.”
No. That was because I kept dying, came to my senses, and worked harder.
Though I wanted to say that, I just kept my mouth shut and continued silent.
“Can’t I share some of Mr. Jung Yong’s burden?”
Her earnest gaze shook me.
I slowly opened my mouth. The words I had held back started to flow out.
“If you really want to know… then listen carefully. The truth is, I…”
“Cut the drama already. If you want it, just take it without making so many excuses, woman.”
A single phrase shattered the heartfelt atmosphere.
My head and Seop Baek’s head turned at the same time. There stood the Demon King, who had been quiet until now, with a frown on her face.
Her expression was one of deep disapproval as she wiggled her finger.
“No more talks. Just hand it over. There’s an urgent need for it.”
“Eww…!”
Seop Baek instantly bit her lips in annoyance at Ruci’s snobbish attitude.
Although she wasn’t the best of friends with Ruci in everyday life, it was rare to see her react this way.
“Hmph. Do you, Miss Ruci, know why Mr. Jung Yong wants the ring back?”
“Of course I do. I know. Hand it over.”
“What did you say…?”
Seop Baek’s eyes widened and turned towards me.
She decided. It seems the Demon King interrupted just because she doesn’t like messy conversations. Unfortunately, it was the worst timing.
“Mr. Jung Yong! Why does Miss Ruci know but not me? Right?”
Seop Baek pushed the ring forward to me and raised her voice.
“Ah.”
Alright. I’ve got a headache now and don’t want to think anymore.
I rested my forehead and sighed.
“Alright, alright. You can keep it.”
At my casual dismissal, both Seop Baek and the Demon King looked at me with wide eyes.
“… What?”
“What’s with you?”
I waved a hand at the two who were staring oddly at me.
“Just take it. Taking it back without a clear reason based on intuition alone is strange too. Sorry, Seop Baek. I was overreacting.”
“Hero! Don’t give up so easily!”
As I moved forward, the Demon King followed me hesitantly from behind.
She looked at me with an unrelenting gaze. After a long pause, the Demon King quietly whispered to me.
“Is it alright? That obviously wasn’t an ordinary ring. Didn’t I personally warn you?”
It was a surprisingly serious tone for Ruci. Her sharp eyes made me feel a chill.
I shrugged at her question.
“Sure, I’ll take care of it later when the reason for regression becomes clear.”
“… ‘Later’?”
“Yeah. We’ve always managed somehow until now, haven’t we? Don’t think too seriously about it.”
“…”
Ruci slightly tilted her lips upward with disdain. She stared at me for a while.
She then quickly turned her head away and muttered.
“Well, alright. Do as you wish. I will watch for now.”
“Okay. Then let’s go get the residual memory.”
“Whatever. Hmph.”
Thus, the three of us—me, Ruci, and Seop Baek—immediately set off towards the direction of the capital where the residual memory was.
Though both the Demon King and Seop Baek looked somewhat dissatisfied, I ignored it and kept walking.
‘Alright, sure, we’ll manage somehow.’
Even that seemingly impossible Eldritch, we somehow managed back then.
Recalling that event at Halzenberg, I was vaguely thinking positively.
…
.
.
But because of this lazy, complacent, and peaceful moment right now.
Tens of versions of ‘me’ will unjustly lay their bones buried, having forgotten this very instant.
What can I do?
The previous life is the previous life, and this life is this life.
To the version of me in the next life, it will just be a forgotten incident buried in time.
*
[The Immortal Regression Point has been renewed.]
[Date – Continental Calendar 1108, January 12, 11:30 AM]
[Location – Markeuteuriseu. Upper Region of the Plains of Promise, Kern Residential District]
“Wait! Stop right there!”
The panel appeared belatedly, and only then did I widen my eyes and chased after the red-haired vagrant.
The vagrant briefly glanced back at me before slipping into a secluded alley.
I clicked my tongue and was about to quickly follow, but then—
“Stop, Hero! No, Park Jeong-yong!!”
A woman with white hair suddenly came charging and blocked my way. I had to stop.
I swallowed hard and called out, almost hypnotized,
“…Ruci? What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
“What’s wrong? That’s what I should be asking you, you idiot!!”
With a fierce kick, Ruci rushed toward me, her white hair flying, and delivered a sidekick straight to my side.
“Cough…”
With an embarrassing scream, I fell to the ground.
Huh, does this woman have such strength? Such thoughts passed through my mind but only briefly.
As I fell, Ruci jumped on top of me, grabbed my collar, and began shaking me violently.
“You useless guardian! This is the how many times now?!”
“… Cough. Did I eat rat poison? What suddenly…”
“How many times have you resurrected here so far, you fool!!”
Huh? What is she talking about?
Did I die and come back to life? Could it be… time regression happened just now?
I desperately thought through the situation despite the shaking and countered while blocking her punches.
“What, people can sometimes die and come back, right (?!)? Why are you freaking out?”
“That’s been going on for days now, you idiot! I’m tired of this and can’t stand it anymore! How many times have we looped today already?”
“What? How many times have we looped?”
“33 times, you lunatic!”
“… What are you talking about?”
I lost my words momentarily at the staggering number.
Pak, Phak. Ruci’s punches landed on my head while I blankly stared at her.
“Mr. Jung Yong, are you alright?! Miss Ruci! What are you doing all of a sudden?!”
“Let go, woman! This guy needs to get beaten more! He needs to clear his head!”
Seop Baek finally caught up, intervened between me and Ruci, and looked worriedly at us.
I blankly exhaled in silence for a while as if my soul had left me.
‘Breaking the record for regressions…’
I absently thought this with a vacant smile.
