"You're right . I am trapped in here . "

His real, pure voice was heard for the first time .

That prompted Yu Mi-Ah to reply with a bright smile . "Ask my oppa to free you . He's super strong, you see?"

She spoke in an innocent voice, but he replied with a slow shake of his head . " . . . . I can't leave this thing . "

"What? Why not?"

The 'Secretive Plotter' didn't reply .

"Wait, did my oppa do something to you? He threatened you with scary words, didn't he??"

" . . . . No, that's not it . "

"It's not? What then?"

The Plotter didn't reply again . Without saying anything, he stared at Yu Mi-Ah . He stared for a long time at the one person that no longer existed for him .

And for the first time ever, a faint smile formed on his lips .

"It's because I chose to be in here . "

Yu Jung-Hyeok saw that smile and couldn't say anything . Yu Mi-Ah was busy asking what he meant, and meanwhile, the Plotter quietly stared back at her .

The latter slowly raised his hand, and his palm overlapped with hers through the thin transparent layer . Their hand sizes were fairly similar . These two palms may have overlapped after transcending time and s.p.a.ce, but they could never truly meet .

"Uh? Uhm . . . "

It was then, Yu Mi-Ah blinked slowly and began faltering a little .

"Why am I so sleepy . . . . ?"

Her body slowly fell to the ground . Yu Jung-Hyeok quickly dashed to her side and embraced her .

"You b.a.s.t.a.r.d, what have you done . . . . ?!"

[[… . I only helped her dream of nice things . ]]

Yu Jung-Hyeok studied his little sister . For sure, her Incarnation Body showed no signs of any strange symptoms . No, she simply was in a deep slumber, softly murmuring indecipherable sleep-talk like "beach volleyball" and "squid party", etc .

He glared at the 'Secretive Plotter' with a complicated expression . No matter how weakened he was, by using Yu Mi-Ah he would have been able to escape from this situation pretty easily . However, he didn't do that .

He simply stared longingly at the sleeping face of the girl, instead .

" . . . . What happened to Mi-Ah in your world?"

[[She survived . ]]

He answered immediately .

[[And also died . ]]

That too was immediate .

"What does that even . . . . . "

Just as Yu Jung-Hyeok opened his lips, he understood what those answers meant . So, he shut his mouth right away .

Seemingly-crying sparks ever so faintly danced around . Under the pretext of the [Disconnected Film Theory], the memories of these two beings trembled and their Fables s.h.i.+fted .

⸢In one world-line, Yu Mi-Ah survived for a long time . Even after he died . ⸥

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The world of a man who lived 1864 lifetimes – just what kind of a world would that be?

⸢However, in another world-line, she died . ⸥

A Regressor might have lived far more 'presents' than anyone out there, but in reality, he was nothing more than a ghost of the past . He was an existence that had to move onto the next turn because he failed to alter the past .

0th turn, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th . . . . . and 1863rd .

This being was not a 'Yu Jung-Hyeok' from any of those regression turns . But, he was the 'Yu Jung-Hyeok' that belonged to all the worlds, the man who carried all the worlds as his burden .

And that was why he was more Yu Jung-Hyeok than any other Yu Jung-Hyeoks .

[[You're pitying me . ]]

"Who would do that to a . . . . . "

[[Do you believe that my life was a misery?]]

Yu Jung-Hyeok couldn't tell if that was a form of sympathy directed at himself . The blade of the [Dark Heavenly Demon Sword] he held tightly was faintly trembling .

Why was he hesitating now? He had come this far already, so what was left to hesitate? Just because he heard a bit of this b.a.s.t.a.r.d's past history . . . .

The 'Secretive Plotter' opened his lips . [[Did you know? There was this young boy in the front-most subway car that always died during every regression turn . ]]

That question came out of nowhere . Yu Jung-Hyeok naturally recalled the events of the subway train . The very first scenario, the very first encounter with h.e.l.l that he had to experience every single time .

However, Yu Jung-Hyeok didn't know anything about such a boy . Because, there were simply too many people who died in that manner back then .

[[While regressing several times, I tried to prevent his death, but it was impossible . ]]

" . . . . . "

[[He was really a young boy . Younger even than Yi Gil-Yeong . However, even such a child had to 'prove his credentials' . For all of the 1863 lives, that child couldn't even put up a proper fight and had to die . He died, and died, and died over and over again . ]]

Yu Jung-Hyeok couldn't say a single word .

The Plotter asked him again . [[Between a man who regressed 1863 times, and a child who has to repeatedly die for 1863 times with no recollections of it, which one do you think is actually more miserable?]]

"That is . . . . "

The Plotter was implying this – that your pity had no meaning, no value whatsoever .

Even then, Yu Jung-Hyeok couldn't readily accept that . Indeed, there was no meaning in comparing the importance of different miseries . However, that also didn't mean that 'misery' didn't exist .

[[The tries to make the lives of everyone into 'Gi-Seung-Jeon-Gyeol' . However, a life was never supposed to be that . No, it's an unreasonable thing that can end at any time, whether it's 'Gi(beginning)', 'Seung(development)', or even during 'Jeon(climax)' . And that's why, even if my life comes to an end here, it shouldn't come as a surprise . ]]

Did the boy from the subway make the same expression as this man? Yu Jung-Hyeok couldn't tell .

The 'Secretive Plotter' stared back at him with a pair of quiet, still eyes .

Yu Jung-Hyeok stared back into those eyes for the longest time, before averting his gaze away while lowering the [Dark Heavenly Demon Sword] .

" . . . . . You'll end up seeing that boy's death for the 1864th time if you regress again . "

In the end, he returned his sword back to its scabbard . This could be the wrong decision . Even then, Yu Jung-Hyeok had made up his mind .

Maybe he too didn't expect such a choice, because the 'Secretive Plotter' remained speechless for a long while .

[[You've been greatly influenced by Kim Dok-Ja, it seems . ]]

"Shut your mouth . I can kill someone like you at any . . . . "

Multiple presences were drawing near . Voices were calling out to him . They were Kim Dok-Ja and Han Su-Yeong, plus those of the 's people .

[[Although it irks me to admit this, let me say that one thing is for certain . This world-line is different from any that I have lived through so far . It's possible that you and your group can truly witness what's beyond that 'Wall' . ]]

" . . . "

[[However, do not keep your hopes up, thinking that you'll see the Conclusion you desire . And also – even if that Conclusion wasn't what you initially wanted . . . . ]]

The Plotter's true voice suddenly grew fainter . His eyelids were slowly closing up . He was falling into another bout of deep slumber .

Just as Kim Dok-Ja emerged out from the thicket, the Plotter finished what he wanted to say .

[[… . Do not think of this world as a failed turn . ]]

*

"We played beach volleyball . "

That was Yu Mi-Ah's answer after I asked her about what happened here .

"I'm telling you, we grilled squids, and I played beach volleyball with my oppa . Could it be that one's power of comprehension is lower if you're ugly?"

I wanted to tell her that there were three things wrong in her statement . One, we were not near an ocean . Two, I wasn't ugly, and my power of comprehension was . . . .

" . . . . Well, I guess nothing serious has happened here . "

Han Su-Yeong muttered in relief .

Indeed, we couldn't see any traces of Yu Jung-Hyeok causing an accident, and the 'Secretive Plotter' was still stuck in a deep slumber .

I put the Plotter back inside the [X-grade Ferrarghini] . There were a few things that didn't sit well with me, but now wasn't the time to grill the one responsible .

"Okay, everyone, please gather around! Let's start the campfire!"

The flames rose up thickly and brightened the darkness of the campsite . Time was approaching closer to midnight . Only then did I remember something important .

"H-hang on! My scenario hasn't . . . . !"

Dammit, I forgot all about it because of Yu Jung-Hyeok .

I could hear Biyu humming "Baht, baht" just above my head .

[Scenario time limit has elapsed!]

Would I really get killed like this?

[Sub Scenario – 'Workers' Off-day' has ended!]

[You need to resolve a total of 5 complaints . ]

[You have currently resolved 1 complaint . ]

[You have resolved all of your employees' complaints . ]

[New Fable related to the is being generated . ]

… . Uh?

"Seriously, man . It's like you forgot your wits somewhere or some such . . . . " muttered Han Su-Yeong, as she stared at the side of my face .

Companions were giggling to themselves while looking at me .

It was then, I recalled their replies whenever I tried to talk to them .

- I don't have any particular complaints .

That was for real?

"No one here will blame you, you know . "

Han Su-Yeong's disinterested voice spread out . We sat around soaking in the bonfire without saying anything else . I thought I could sense their hearts contained in this silence and that caused my emotions to well up for some reason .

Jeong Hui-Won added something on top . "Well, if you want me to find something to talk to you about, then I can think of one, but it's not a complaint, so . . . . "

Even though the warm bonfire was before me, why did a chill creep down my back just then?

"In any case, we rested really well today . Someone didn't seem to have gotten any rest, though . "

Yu Sang-Ah spoke, and Yi Ji-Hye followed her up on that .

"But, is it over like this? Aren't we going to, like, light candles and start sobbing, or write stuff on a 'rolling paper'?"

"This ain't even a real school trip, so why should we? Besides, the paper . . . . "

While listening to Han Su-Yeong's retort, I began thinking .

'Rolling paper' written by her, was it . . . . That might be quite interesting, indeed .

Han Su-Yeong suddenly stopped talking there and looked at me before asking a question . "You want me to write one for you?"

"Not really . We aren't little kids anyway . "

"Wait a minute . Didn't you say you never had any friends and didn't even go to 'members.h.i.+p trainings' either? I guess you've never received one before, then . "

If the total reserve of my mental energy declined during this trip, then it was all Han Su-Yeong's fault .

A few members of blessed with strong drive had already purchased pens and large papers from the [Dokkaebi Bundle] . Seriously, though, these greedy Dokkaebis even charged Coins for something like that . . . . ?

Yu Jung-Hyeok sitting across me on the other side of the campfire seemed to be angry as well .

"I won't partic.i.p.ate in something like this . "

… . Although, his reason for anger seemed to be different from mine .

Nevertheless, seeing my companions gathered around closely and scribbling on their papers gave me this fresh perspective on things . It's like this was a writing get-together for the poor, friend-less Kim Dok-Ja .

While everyone was writing their names on the papers and pa.s.sing it along, Yi Gil-Yeong suddenly raised his hand up . "Hyung, I bought this off the [Dokkaebi Bundle], so can I fire it?"

s.h.i.+n Yu-Seung discovered the toy in the boy's hand and her expression brightened up instantly . "Uh? Isn't that the same thing people were firing around the Han River?"

"Yeah, I remembered that so I bought it . "

"Let me try it, too!"

"No way . You buy your own . It's 2000 Coins, you know . "

Yi Gil-Yeong was currently holding onto a 'Parachute Helicopter' . I had seen that a couple of times before, too . It was a toy that, when you pulled hard at the attached string and then let go, it'd fly up into the sky while emitting bright light .

His toy seemed a bit special though, as it featured four large wings shaped like a square .

… . Besides all that, though, that thing cost 2000 Coins??

"Okay, I'm gonna fire it!"

Yi Gil-Yeong fired the 'parachute helicopter' into the air . The toy flew up and while spinning around vigorously, dyed the surroundings with bright light . The light scattered as if it was fireworks going off . Even though they should've been familiar with far more spectacular sights than this, the group still looked on genuinely impressed .

The square-shaped wings of the helicopter spun around quickly and formed a circle .

I thought it looked like a portal . A portal, that led to the world we used to live in . We might not be able to go back anymore, but still, I felt the nostalgia of that world from it .

It was around then that a system message resounded out .

[Incarnation, 'Yi Gil-Yeong', has used the item 'Parachute Helicopter (Extrlarge optical screen)'!]

The spinning wings of the helicopter grew larger and larger, and eventually, changed shape to that of a huge screen .

Yi Ji-Hye frowned deeply . "What the heck . It was a hologram panel? We now have to watch a scenario even in this place?"

"Yi Gil-Yeong, did you even read the user's manual before . . . . "

"N-no, I thought it was just a helicopter, so I . . . . "

Just as the boy tried to make his excuse, a small earthquake suddenly rocked the vicinity . The expressions on the companions hardened instantly .

"What kind of c.r.a.p is it this time . . . . ?"

Accompanying Han Su-Yeong's words, we all focused our attention on the screen in the air . And when we did, we understood the reason for the earthquake . First of all, it didn't belong to the Korean peninsula .

The 'optical screen' was now displaying the American continent . And right before our eyes, that large continent was disappearing in its entirety .

Because of a gigantic island rising up from the deepest part of the Earth .

Along with the entrance of that island, the American continent was being erased from the map itself .

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[The applicable world-line has reached its critical point!]

[Elevation of the forgotten islands has begun!]

Yu Jung-Hyeok, his expression hardened, quietly muttered out .

"The end has begun . "

Fin .