"What's happening? We were just on our way to a workshop..."
Director Rowe, looks around and stands up.
I try to recall my memories, figuring out where we were in time.
'The first day! It's the first day we landed in this Insane world!'
I remember how we ended up here.
"We were in a car, going to the workshop, then a landslide... We got caught in a landslide... and then something flashed suddenly...'
It's a 45-year-old memory, so it's a bit hazy.
I can't remember clearly.
"Hey, Deputy Manager Alex."
'Now that I've regressed... How should I live...?'
"Deputy Manager Alex."
'Usually, in regression novels, people live well using their future knowledge. But all I know about the future is trivial stuff like Mr. Si's daughter being born 30 years later...'
"Alex, Deputy Manager!!!"
"Ah, Section Chief Jeon. Sorry, I was a bit startled."
I snap out of my daydream at Section Chief Jisoo Jeon's shouting.
Deputy Manager.
It's a title I haven't heard of in so long. I couldn't help but be startled.
Then, I remember the face I haven't seen in a long time.
Section Chief Jisso Jeon .
Jisso Jeon.
The executive director of the company I worked for, SDJ Company.
He's 32, three years older than me, but had already snagged the section chief position through nepotism.
'I remember disliking him quite a bit 45 years ago...'
But thinking of it as a face I haven't seen in 45 years, I'm actually quite happy to see him.
After all, isn't he a fellow countryman from my homeland that I'm seeing again after 45 whole years?
It's time to get along well, I thought.
Swish!
Suddenly, Section Chief Jeon slaps me across the face.
"Deputy Manager Alex! You bastard, didn't you drive the car properly?!"
"Ah..."
I stand there dazed, having been slapped, and quickly erase the thought of him as a fellow countryman.
I had forgotten.
This guy is a bastard.
"You bastard, it's because of you that we're in this mess! Stranded! This, this bastard...!"
It's when Jisso Jeon is about to charge at me in anger that Chief Torres stands up and stops him.
"Look here, that's enough. That landslide wasn't something Deputy Manager Alex could have done anything about."
I remember that incident from 45 years ago.
Yes, I was definitely... assigned the role of driving the company Car.
"Aren't you angry, Chief? Because of this jerk Deputy Manager Alex, we're in this disaster! Where are we now, and where did our CAR go! We're stranded here because of this guy!"
And then, I remember.
I definitely dozed off while driving.
'But, the reason I was dozing off was...'
Jisso Jeon.
That guy dumped work on me the day before the workshop. Work he had been putting off, forcing me to stay up all night.
"If you were going to doze off, you should have handed the wheel to someone else! What kind of mess is this?"
Thinking about it again.
'Wasn't Jisso Jeon originally the one in charge of driving?'
That's right. Originally, Jeon was supposed to drive. But he, wanting to hit on the female employees in the backseat, forcibly put me in the driver's seat.
"This stupid bastard! We're stranded because of him!"
Ah.
The memories from 45 years ago are coming back clearly.
Back then, I was so flustered and didn't understand what was happening.
So, unwittingly, I apologized to Jeon.
I even thought it was my fault.
But looking back on that memory from 45 years ago...
'Has Jeon never felt anything like conscience or shame?'
I definitely asked Jeon and the female employees a few times to take the wheel for a while.
But Jeon , who refused to drive, also prevented the female employees from driving, even though he knew I was sleepy due to overnight work.
As the Deputy Manager, I couldn't ask the chief and director to drive.
I had to drive for four hours without rest despite being sleepy because of Jeon.
So...
"Section Chief Jeon... I have something to say."
"Look at him, acting all high and mighty. Yeah, since we're stranded because of Deputy Manager Alex, if you have any conscience, you should apologize..."
"I was extremely sleepy, yes. But to my recollection, I drove the car correctly until the end, even fueling myself with coffee. When the landslide happened, I tried to avoid it. But it was too big to evade, and our car was swept away as it was."
I definitely tried to stop and reverse the car when I saw dirt falling in front of us.
But the side of the mountain next to us almost completely collapsed. It was a disaster I couldn't have avoided no matter how much I tried.
"Section Chief Jeon, I understand you're angry, but it doesn't seem like the time to blame someone."
"This guy... giving lectures in front of who! You don't even know what you did wrong..."
"Sigh..."
I take a deep breath.
In the life where I didn't know about regression.
For 45 years, I learned how to endure while living tenaciously.
Learning to endure when strong bandits trampled over me and took my money.
Learning to endure when vicious martial artists insulted me.
Learning to endure when local officials took everything I had, even things I didn't have, to collect taxes.
Yes.
In front of those I couldn't handle, enduring was the truth.
But
"Hey."
"What, what? Hey? Alex , you bastard, what now?"
Bowing down unnecessarily in front of those I can handle...
Is not what a man does. I learned that too.
"I said it wasn't my fault. Enough is enough."
"Chief, let go of me. This guy is really..."
Thud!
Jeon charges at me and strikes my face.
But as soon as he attacks me, I step forward and headbut him.
Boom!
"Aaah...!"
In my past life.
How many times have I been beaten by martial artists?
How many times have I been beaten while gathering herbs in the mountains and encountering bandits?
How many times have I been beaten when a band of robbers invaded during a famine?
Beaten, beaten, and beaten again.
During that senseless violence, I learned something that Jeon Myeong-hoon and others didn't have.
Violence.
Boom!
Thump!
Boom!
As soon as the first headbutt connects, I charge and mercilessly pummel Jeon.
"Ugh, wait, wait...!"
"You. Bastard. I. Said. It wasn't. Me."
When beating someone.
When you hit someone in the face, the person being hit feels an immense sense of fear.
The sight obscured by a fist, and the pain that follows in that moment.
The terror of the merciless attacker.
I punch around the eyes of Jeon to obscure his vision.
'If you don't know what you did wrong, at least keep your mouth shut!'
With every punch, the grudges I have against Jeon without even realizing it seem to be refreshingly resolved.
Even though 45 years have passed, the vicious bullying Jeon inflicted on me in the company was still unforgettable.
I did, I did something wrong.
Sigh
By the time an apology came out of the arrogant Jeon's mouth, I stopped beating him and looked around.
Director Rowe, Chief Torres, Deputy Manager Vale, Deputy Manager Grant, and Manager Chen...
Everyone is looking at me with fearful eyes.
Among them, Director Rowe speaks to me with a trembling voice.
''Deputy Manager Alex, no matter what, beating a fellow colleague to that extent...''
''Yes, you're right. I'm sorry. But I was so angry at the moment. I apologize for startling everyone. And after all, I was the driver, so I apologize for not doing more at that time.''
I bow neatly to Director Rowe and the other employees and apologize.
In fact, except for Director Rowe, I will see none of the other people again.
But, Director Rowe, I will stay together with.
'Director Rowe, if you learn martial arts, you will reach the pinnacle of the world.'
Of course, only in the world of martial arts.
Even though I have returned to the past, I gave up on the idea of joining a cultivation sect.
'What cultivation sect? I don't have that ability.'
The ability, also known as spiritual roots.
Without it, it's impossible to learn the methods of immortal practitioners or even to sense the spiritual energy they cultivate.
If there is something I wish for in this life.
Just...
'I hope I get even a little more opportunity to work harder than in my previous life.'
In the previous life, after Director Rowe learned martial arts and left.
She would come to drink with me occasionally.
Even that stopped completely after she reached the peak of her skills.
But this life is different.
'If I actively support Director Rowe, maybe some benefits will fall to me.'
To do so, I need to be good to her from now on.
Right, everyone is in a confusing situation, and Section Chief Jeon pushed too hard. Of course, Deputy Manager Alex also reacted too harshly. Apologize.
Yes, Director. You are right.
After bowing to Director Rowe again, I help Section Chief Jeon up and say,
'I'm sorry, Section Chief Jeon. I was too harsh. I truly apologize.'
"You... you son of a…"
As I show humility again, Jeon , who seems to have regained his spirit, glares at me.
But as my eyes turn fiercely cold, he eventually avoids my gaze and shuts his mouth.
"Anyway, it looks like a forest for now, how about we walk out and find a nearby village?"
Director Rowe looks around and suggests.
The sky is dyed crimson, looking like the sun would set soon, and the wind is getting colder.
Logically, Director Rowe's words make sense.
But, in this place, conventional wisdom must be discarded.
'In a world where cultivators become immortals and fly around, and martial artists fight for wealth and honor.'
That is this world.
And, the forest we have fallen into...
I recall the memories from 45 years ago and think of the name of the forest.
'Ascension Path.'
It's said to be the best place for many demons and cultivators to ascend to immortality.
A place where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathers the most.
There are no villages, cities, or states near Ascension path.
Therefore, what Director Rowe is trying to do is meaningless.
What's more important right now is.
Night is coming. We need to start a fire.'
I finish my thoughts and speak to Director Kim,
"Director, do you have signal?"
"Hmm... It seems the signal is dead."
"I think if the signal is dead, it will be hard to get rescued, and hard to find our location. Since it's getting dark, instead of looking for a village we don't know the location of, it might be better to prepare to stay here tonight."
Hearing my words, Section Chief Jeon, who had been quiet, refutes softly,
"What are you talking about... Deputy Manager Alex. On the contrary, it's more dangerous at night, so we need to find a village…"
"Hmm, in my opinion, it's more dangerous to move recklessly. How about this?"
I point to a tall tree nearby.
"Why don't you go up that tree and see if there's a village or even a road nearby? If there's nothing around, how about we do as I say?"
"Go up that tree? Who's going to climb... it? You, Deputy Manager Alex?"
'Well, if no one else knows how to climb a tree, then I'll do it.'
I nod easily and grab the trunk of the tallest nearby tree, slowly climbing up.
I once encountered a wild boar while picking herbs in the mountains.
At that time, I climbed a sturdy tree nearby in a life-or-death situation.
Modern people don't usually climb trees, but having experienced all sorts of hardships in my previous life before returning, I easily climbed to the top of the big tree.
"What do you see? Deputy Manager Alex!"
Below, Director Rowe shouts.
As expected, the vicinity is an endless forest.
There are no roads or villages, let alone any traces of humans.
"Rather, monsters and demons are probably swarming among those trees."
Instead of shouting back from the tree, I pretend to look around for a while and then climb back down.
"Ha, Deputy Manager Alex. You're really good at climbing trees. That tree looked about 11 meters high."
"By the way, what kind of tree is this? It looks unfamiliar, like it's not from around here."
Director Rowe pats me on the shoulder, and Manager Torres looks curiously at the tree I had climbed.
I dust off my hands and tell them what I saw.
"There are no roads or villages nearby."
"Huh, that's strange. Even if we were swept away by a landslide, there should be a highway nearby…"
Director Rowe strokes his chin as if it's strange, and Section Chief Jeon looks at me suspiciously.
"Deputy Manager Alex... Did you really see properly? Are you sure you're not just saying there's nothing there... on purpose?"
"Why would I lie about that? I'd rather sleep in a house than camp in the forest. If you don't believe me, Section Chief Jeon, you can climb up and look for yourself."
Section Chief Jeon backs off with a face like he had eaten something bitter.
"I think even if we explore the surroundings, we should first set up a base and light a fire, since it's getting dark."
"That makes sense. Then... oh, let's look for our car too. We were swept away by a landslide in the car, but logically, our car should be nearby."
Director Rowe claps his hands and says.
But...
"This is a place where common sense doesn't apply…"
Our Car is gone.
It won't be anywhere.
"How about looking for the car and sleeping in it? There were a lot of supplies in the car since we were going to a workshop…"
This workshop was practically a picnic.
So, there were lots of camping tools and food loaded in the Car.
However, the car is gone.
'Of course, I know because I returned to the past, but they wouldn't believe me if I said the car is gone.'
Instead of draining my energy trying to convince them, it's better to just let them look.
"Then let's split into teams. One team will look for a place to stay, and another team will look for the car. Let's meet back here before the sun completely sets."
I suggest dividing into teams.
I, Deputy Manager Torres, and Manager Rowe are in the team looking for a place to stay.
The rest of the people were in the team looking for the car.
We split up and look around.
''Um, Deputy Manager Alex. You said to look for a place to stay, but how do you usually find such a place?''
Deputy Manager Torres cautiously asks.
She seems a bit awkward because I beat up Jeon.
"Sleeping in the mountains or forests is dangerous. Wild animals and beasts coul attack and if you light a fire just anywhere, it could cause a forest fire. The best thing would probably be a small cave. Ah, like that place over there."
"Oh my, a cave?"
"You found it right away? You're lucky!"
Of course, the cave I had naturally led them to was one I had visited 45 years ago.
"In my past life, it was a refuge I had barely found after wandering for hours."
To Deputy Manager Torres and Manager Rowe, it seems like good luck, but in reality, it's not a coincidence but an inevitability.
"Even in my past life, it was the perfect place to stay without any danger inside."
I look at the cave and gather twigs and leaves from nearby.
"Wow... Mr. Alex, you're really skilled."
"Did you do something like Boy Scouts?"
"Ah, well... something like that."
Although it isn't Boy Scouts, but rather a 45-years experience in Old Scouts.
"We can light the fire later with the Director lighter. Shall we gather some firewood for the bonfire?"
"Oh my, it feels like when I went to a training camp as a kid."
"Right, right. It feels just like that time."
The two female employees chatter happily as they join me in collecting dry sticks and branches for firewood.
Later, as the sun is setting,
"Now, let's slowly head back to the clearing we were at earlier. The others will be gathering there too."
"Alright~"
"Yes~"
I head back to the clearing with the two female employees.
Soon after, we are reunited with others.
"Did you find the Car?"
"..."
Director Rews shakes her head with a gloomy expression.
Chief Torres and Section Chief Jeon also have worried looks on their faces.
Deputy Manager Elena Vale also speaks with a tense face.
"There's no sign of it anywhere. We circled around looking for it, but it's like it vanished into thin air. Logically, if the car was swept away by a landslide, why are we out of it and the car gone?"
She looks around with a worried expression, as if the forest itself is frightening.
"There's nothing we can do now. We've found a place to spend the night, let's stay there. We'll continue the detailed search tomorrow."
"Okay."
The six of them follow me to the cave with somber faces.
"Oh my, what's this?"
"Mr. Alex made it."
"Huh, Alex is really capable. Did he live in the wild or something?"
Deputy Manager Elena Vale is surprised by the windbreak and cave door I made.
Chief Nathaniel Grant quietly expresses his admiration and praises me.
Director Rowe also nods in satisfaction, and Jeon ...
He seems unsatisfied but, too tired to say anything, just enters.
"Chif , the lighter please."
"Oh, right."
Chief takes out a lighter from his pocket and lifts the dry sticks I had gathered.
We sat around the fire inside the cave.
The smoke perfectly escapes through the hole I had made in the windbreak.
"Wow... what a situation we're in."
"This is hardly logical..."
"..."
Everyone sits with gloomy expressions, seemingly worried. That's when it happened.
Gurgling
The sound came from Manager Leon Chen His face turns red with embarrassment.
"Oh, that's..."
"Haha, it's okay. We all missed dinner..."
I grin and take out berries I had picked while gathering branches.
"Everyone must be hungry. Try these. I picked them earlier."
"Are these safe to eat? They're not poisonous, are they?"
Jeon, his tension easing, casually asks me.
I smile and eat one of the berries.
"I learned about herbs when I was young. I know what's safe to eat and what's not."
Although saying 'when I was young' is a bit of a stretch, I had indeed learned it in the past.
Seeing me eat the berries without hesitation, Leon Chen also cautiously tries one.
"Wow, these taste like raw chestnuts."
"They're crunchy, right? I picked plenty, so everyone can have some."
Watching this, Director Rowe and Deputy Manager Torres start eating the berries I had picked. Deputy Manager Vale and Chief Grant also happily ate them.
Only Jeon looks at the berries with displeasure and lies down first, claiming he's tired.
"Haha, this is something. We should be serious, but thanks to Deputy Manager Alex, we're having a good time."
"I always knew from the company how diligent he is. I heard he was tired from driving because he worked the night shift the day before."
"Our deputy manager is really diligent~"
"Ah, thanks to Deputy Manager Alex, it feels like we're camping."
"Indeed."
We all spend the night in a lively and friendly atmosphere.
I too laugh heartily, chatting with my colleagues.
It's a night to laugh and chat because it might be our last.
The next morning.
As soon as I smell the dawn air, I wake up earlier than anyone else.
Memories from 45 years ago begin to come back vividly.
'The first day, after wandering through the forest all night, we barely found the cave and collapsed. The next morning, it came.'
Despite 45 years passing, the fear, shock, and pain from that time is still vividly terrifying.
I open the windbreak outside the cave and start heading out.
It's just before dawn.
I wander nearby, gathering herbs good for stopping pain and bleeding.
The herbs are in incredible condition, thanks to the forest full with energy from heaven and earth spiritual energy.
These are more like spiritual herbs than just medicinal ones.
And after a while, the owner of this territory arrives.
With a leap!
A creature as big as a house.
With three tails and eyes burning with blue fire, it's a white-furred Tiger.
Shiver...
The intimidation of the forest's owner, and the events from 45 years ago, make my body tremble with fear.
[Ding!]
[You have encountered the owner of the forest: The White Tiger.]
[You've come into contact with a high-level Divine Sense.]
[Will +1]
What…?
A system? How is that even possible?
It took me a moment to snap out of it. This wasn't the time to be shocked or overwhelmed. I had just come face-to-face with the ruler of this forest . If I didn't show proper respect, I might end up as his next meal.
"Gr-greetings to the owner of the forest."
I stutter, biting my trembling lips, and slowly bow to the Tiger.
Once, twice, three times.
It's the triple bow required when meeting the owner of the forest.
The Tigers, as large as a two-story house, looks at me with its fiery blue eyes and speaks.
[A unique scent from a human. In my thousands of years, I've never encountered a human with such a scent.]
"..."
Click, clack, click...
I tremble in anticipation of what this monstrous tiger might do.
That's when it happened.
The Tiger's presence wakes the others.
Director Rowe, Chief Torres, Section Chief Jeon, Deputy Manager Vale, Deputy Manager Grant, and Manager Chen emerge from the cave in turn.
What follows is inevitable.
"Aaahhh!"
"A monster!"
"It's a monster!"
At that, the monstrous Tiger rolls its large eyes in displeasure.
[You humans always seem to possess pitiful intelligence and terrible rudeness. Normally, I would tear off one limb from each of you...]
Shiver...
[But since one of you knows how to respect the owner of the forest, I will forgive you.]
The monstrous Tiger's gaze fell on me, who had knelt and bowed respectfully.
"Everyone! Show respect to the owner of the forest! Don't just stand there, kneel down!!"
As I shout, the others blankly stand there and then awkwardly kneel down like me.
The tiger's eyes meet mine.
[A human who knows respect. I will not punish you hastily, but... your scent is too unique...]
Drip, drip...
From the corner of the tiger's mouth, a sticky liquid flows.
Saliva.
[One of your limbs. Let me taste just one. Then I will allow you to stay in my territory for a while.]