In Taesang.
The reason I came to think that he might know about my regression ability was because of a familiar melody that first echoed from a teacher of the Void cult.
Judging by his clueless expression back then, it didn't seem like it was his original ringtone.
That ringtone, one I heard during a certain incident in the past, was impossible to forget, no matter how hard I tried.
It was a mystery why it rang at this particular moment, but in any case, thanks to that ringtone, I was able to instantly recall an experience similar to the current situation.
The science teacher's rampage.
The Void cult's teachers rushing to kill me.
The ringtone with its eerie melody.
And the school.
All of that was eerily similar to the deadly quiz game that took place during the midterms.
Back then, the middle-aged science teacher used a ghost story to try and kill me, but it backfired on him instead, and the entire Void cult's teachers were dragged into a bloody fight.
Back then, the ghost story I had to deal with was a quiz game, where you'd die if you couldn't answer by the time you turned twenty.
I managed to counter it cleanly at the time and get through it safely, but even after resolving it, there was always one question lingering in my mind.
'Why did the Void cult send me a ghost story like that?'
Why?
For what reason?
It was an overly complex attack tosimply kill me.
To be blunt, if the goal was simply to kill me, they could have just hit me over the head with a brick in the middle of the night and run off.
"The Void cult is full of fanatics capable of doing things like that."
But out of all the countless methods
available, the Void cult chose to attack through a ghost story, and even that ghost story was part of an incredibly complex plan, intertwined with multiple methods and procedures.
Even the teachers themselves didn't seem to know why they were doing such things.
'Seeing how stupidly they died makes it clear. They didn't know anything; they just followed orders.'
Then what was the intention of the one who gave those orders?
And furthermore, why didn't the Void cult attack again after being counterattacked by us?
In fact, after the midterm exam incident, the cult members showed no further signs of trying to harm me.
Why?
'Were they scared?'
That couldn't be it.
Then the reason was clear.
'Because they had already achieved their goal!'
Even though the middle-aged science teacher died of a heart attack after having his own ghost story turned against him.
They had still accomplished their goal.
'No, that's not right. It wasn't them who achieved their goal.'
I corrected my thinking.
Here, it was "Taesang' who achieved his goal.
The cult members were merely his pawns.
they have of that day, of the midterm exam competition?
'The quiz competition was over because I died at the end and time went back, so it seemed like nothing.'
So, from the Void cult's perspective, what happened that day was simple.
The middle-aged science teacher, following orders, used a ghost story and ended up getting killed by our Ghost Story Club instead.
The end.
So, what information did the cult leader Taesang glean from this single sentence?
'....The fact that ghost stories are being used.'
A ghost story that only triggers upon becoming an adult, at the age of 20.
It triggered for me, a high school freshman.
In other words, the ghost story perceived me not as a 17-year-old, but as a 20-year-old adult.
A three-year gap.
Regression.
'He knows.'
I couldn't say about the other subordinates, but at the very least, the mastermind who gave the order clearly wanted to know.
Of course, such thoughts had only remained as circumstantial evidence until now, but seeing this person's attitude today made it clear.
He tried to dilute my hostility by generously giving one of his subordinates away.
This guy.
He was acting like this because he knew about my regression ability.
"It was you, wasn't it? The one who ordered them to tamper with my midterm exam paper."
[Hahaha....]
The moment I revealed that, his atmosphere and tone changed in an instant.
[Ah.]
"....."
[As expected, the young man's skills are indeed remarkable...]
Tension flowed again in the teachers' office.
I felt a chill run down my spine as I stared at the phone.
...What the.
This strange tone of voice this person had been using since earlier.
Hayoon called this person 'grandfather', but.
This was... beyond a grandfather, beyond even the generation above that.
Some distant, far-removed ancestor.
It was a tone that felt almost... like a 'forefather, evoking a sense of distance.
[Yoony.]
"Yes, Grandfather."
Hayoon smiled faintly, aiming the gun at me.
[Tell this young man to tell you everything when he goes back...]
"Okay."
Still smiling, Hayoon pressed the gun barrel to my head.
"Joon, when you get back, just tell me everything."
"Everything you saw and heard today. If you tell me all of it, I'll take care of the rest."
I clenched my teeth and muttered to Hayoon who spoke as if telling me it was over and I could go back now.
"...Wait. There's still a lot I haven't heard answers to."
I glared at the phone.
"Answer all the questions I asked. The Demon King, the system, the Void cult.
Everything"
[.....]
"'And you, when and how did you come here? What was that high-frequency
sound? Is that the sound of you coming?"
[Just go back, young man....]
The old man dismissed my questions, as if they weren't worth answering.
But I pushed forward with the single-minded determination that I couldn't let this go now.
"Answer me."
"..."
"If you don't answer...."
I clenched both fists tightly.
The fact that I was a regressor must be a pretty significant revelation.
Why was he speaking as if, since I'd already found out anyway, he'd just let it slide?
I had to find out before going back.
No matter what it took.
"..If you don't answer, I'l just keep turning back time and colliding with your cult."
[...]
"I have connections with detectives. No matter how many times I die, I'll keep coming after you and dig up everything about your organization."
The most universal method: threats.
I decided to try that first.
"I know well that your organization has a shady background. Aside from this school, you run multiple institutions like alternative schools, and even conduct experiments on children with nowhere else to go."
[.....]
"Answer me. If you don't, Ill make the Void cult disappear tomorrow."
It was a bluff to some extent, but with my regression ability, it wasn't entirely impossible, I could come back a hundred times in a single day and make it happen.
Soon, he slowly replied in his aged voice.
[Young man...]
[How could you still.. You should really stop arguing....]
But he showed no sign of listening at all.
"Answer me!"
Thump!
As if I was throwing a tantrum, I slammed the desk again, harder.
"Do I look like I'm joking!? I'll really destroy you all!"
[.....]
"I'll keep coming, even ifI die, over and over! And I'll do it tomorrow, first thing in the morning!"
[.....]
"You should be scared! Seriously, tell me even if you're not scared!"
Seeing that he didn't seem scared, I slammed the table again, making a show of force.
"If you don't want to get tangled up in a nuisance, you'd better answer nicely! Everything!"
[...]
"Tell me... huh? I'lI..."
I eventually let out a sigh, hoo.
[.....]
"....."
[.....]
I was not usually like this, so forcing my voice to be loud just made everything feel awkward.
The teachers were already looking at me with awkward expressions.
And the club members were looking at me with faces that seemed to ask what they should do now.
In the end, I stopped my forced threats and just returned to my usual tone of voice.
"Yeah. Judging by your reaction, I don't know what sh*tty trick you're hiding, but you don't seem scared at all. Good for you, In Taesang, leader of a pseudo-religious cult. Amazing."
[.....]
"But Taesang, what I'm saying now isn't Some strange bluff, it's the real deal. Just know that I'm a person with some serious personality issues."
[.....]
"I may not be good at making big plans pushimg forward, or forcing thngs, but I'm tenacious when it comes to finding gaps through sneaky, sly, and cowardly means. If you ask Hayoon here, she'll tell you ll about it. About the way I go about handling situations."
[.....]
"Don't expect me to think like a normal person. I'llbe poking every part of the Void cult in the strangest, unimaginable and bizarre ways you can't even imagine, so I hope you enjoy the show. I'm not saying this to scare you, just stating a fact. Setting aside the Demon King and everything else, just
your cult right here, whether the world ends or not, I'll be stabbing it as many times as you've twisted it until the very last moment. So you should know that. Good luck. Now, Hayoon. Shoot."
Saying that, I spread my arms wide, but
just as Hayoon was about to pull the trigger.
[Even if I long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, I will not be able to see it...]
A somewhat hurried voice flowed from the phone that had been silent until now.
A tone that sounded either slightly flustered, or perhaps like a reluctant sigh as he gave in to answer.
I lowered my arms and looked at the phone.
[just as lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west... so will my coming be.....]
"....."
[Why do you ask the miracle of my coming, oh mankind... you will never see the moment I return... so abandon that thought...]
I wondered if he was actually engaging in conversation.
I tilted my head slightly and glanced at Hayoon out of the corner of my eye.
The corner of her mouth as she pointed the gun was subtly raised.
Judging by her reaction, I can push a little more.'
If something were to happen, Hayoon would shoot me in the head right away and send me back, just like before.
In Taesang, I didn't know what his abilities were, but as long as I have Hayoon as a safety device, I should be able to drag out this conversation a little longer.
"..I see. So in the end, you're saying you won't tell me. That I won't be able to see it, so I should give up. Is that what you mean?"
[.....]
"Then, setting aside the matter of who you are, Ill ask you directly. Please tell me how to defeat the Demon King buried beneath the school."
[Ahh...]
The old man groaned softly again.
I thought the mask he had been wearing until a moment ago was finally slipping, but it seemed that wasn't entirely the case, as his tone became languid again.
[That matter... I will leave it entirely up
to you, young man...]
"...What did you say?"
I narrowed my eyes as if I had
misheard.
"Leaving it to me?"
[..Everyone must fulfill their own
mission...]
"..Mission?"
I bit my lip.
"..Then what is your mission?"
[...]
"You suddenly pop up two years later,
become president, and live in luxury, is
that your mission? Huh?"
[...]
"So, is seizing power like that your
mission?"
[...Ah, well... ha ha ha...]
At my question, the old man suddenly
started laughing.
[I see... so I succeeded...?]
"Yes, damn it! You succeeded!"
I slammed my hand on the desk, my
tone half-resigned.
"You're going to become the king of South Korea. So tell me. The way to defeat the Demon King."
[.....]
"You become president, and Dogma of Void becomes a state-level religion. But what's the use of all that? If the Demon King revives and the world ends. Huh? Then what use is all that grand power, wealth, and glory? So please just..."
[.....]
"....Please tell me."
For a moment, I swallowed my pride and made a request that sounded almost like a plea.
There was a brief silence over the phone, then Taesang replied.
[Can you see... the guidance of God...?]
"....System?"
[Just do.. as you have been... There are
still thirty months left...]
"....."
[Don't be too impatient... You are... a noble person...]
"Noble person?"
As I scoffed and mumbled 'as if', he added.
[Yes... You are an important person. No one can fulfill your mission in your place...]
"....."
[Endure.. persevere to the end... You
can do it, young man...]
Encouragement from the leader of a
cult trying to kill me.
Was this also a trick to dull my hostility, just like how he offered up Vice Principal Jang Yeok? But since I was also in a position where my pride had been quite wounded by having to beg an enemy for answers, his words, which lifted me up instead of insulting me, subtly sank into my heart.
'..Don't be fooled. This guy is not only a cut leader, but also the future president.'
He would try such rhetoric without hesitation, as he had nothing to lose.
And from that, I managed to grasp a
glimmer of hope.
'..I see.'
This man, he didn't fear me enough to be intimidated by threats.
But at the same time, he didn't particularly want to turn me into an enemy by insulting me.
'Somewhere... in the middle.'
There was a reason why the
conversation suddenly became
possible earlier when I was about to
give up and turn back.
To this person, I was not a fearsome
presence, but I could be a considerably troublesome one, and my frank self-introduction had precisely highlighted that aspect.
And that was the same for me as well.
Thanks to my regression ability, I wasn't particularly afraid of the Void cult either, but not knowing the abilities of this man, In Taesang, would continue to weigh on my mind.
In the end, we were both troublesome
existences to each other, in a position
where we must continue this uncomfortable cohabitation under this school.
I let out another sigh, Hoơ' and leaned on the desk.
"..So."
[.....]
"Are we just going to leave it at that?"
[...]
"Me with my mission, and you people with yor mission?"
It was a dangerous deal.
Handing over the entire South Korea to a cult.
But for my part, I didn't want to be at odds with the Void cult until I found surefire way to defeat the Demon King.
After all, we belonged to the school, and the school belonged to the Void cult.
If Nakseong High School ever used some pretext to shut down our club, what would we do about our future activities?
[Ah... yes... let's do that....]
And it seemed the other party felt the same way about those awkward points, as the old man on the other end of the phone answered, slowly nodding his head as if in agreement.
[The young ones will fulfill their mission... and I will do what I must do...]
"....."
[That way... let's not interfere with each
other.....]
"..But how can I trust that? You've already planted your people everywhere."
I agreed, but I stared at the phone, making sure to address all the points that needed to be addressed.
"The teachers who recently transferred here, and the transfer students. Aren't they all part of your cult? And somehow, they all seem to have connections with the members of our club."
[....]
"What about this part-"
[Ah, that's enough. Stop for now...]
The old man cut me off, as if tired of further conversation.
[All those things... you can just tell Yoony... Just do that.]
"You're not ignoring me, you're offering to come to an agreement, right? You agree, right?"
[Yes... I'll do that....]
His tone sounded genuinely tired, perhaps because the conversation had gone on too long
It seemed that his earlier voice, which sounded like he was on the verge of death, wasn't entirely an act.
He looked so energetic and vigorous when he was president, but now, even though this was far back in the past, he sounded like he was struggling quite a bit.
The moment I sensed in the old man's voice that he wanted to end the conversation.
I quickly pressed my demand, thinking
that this was exactly the opportunity.
"One more thing. We each have our own way, but considering everything that's happened so far, I've been the one taking more losses from you guys."
[.....]
"Shouldn't you pay that back to make us even? So, how about this: you grant me one favor next time, whatever it is. Any single favor. How about it? Then we'll be square, right?"
[Oh dear...]
The old man muttered slowly.
[You have a strangely persistent side to you...]
"...."
[But you've got a point there...]
My self-introduction and request, filled with sincerity.
It seemed it made quite an impression
after all.
Hayoon smiled at my pettiness, harassing an elderly grandfather who was exhausted from the conversation.
"Say you agree, hurry up. If you don't, I won't tell you about Teacher Choi Jungim betraying you when I get back."
[Since you're demanding on your own accord... Why does it matter if I agree or not..?]
"Still, I need to hear it from your mouth. When I go back, should I tell Hayoon that you promised to help me with just one thing I need?"
I frantically urged him on, like a grandson pestering a tired grandfather, and in the end, In Taesang answered in a tone that suggested he was utterly fed up.
[You know...]
"So you agree?"
[.....]
The old man on the phone fell silent again.
Through the unstable call quality, all sorts of chaotic noises echoed around.
[Thump- clatter, chirp-cock-a-doodle-doo. Honey. Creak-screech. Crash, thump, slap- Aaaagh...]
"....."
[Hello. Nice to meet you.Creak-screech ]
I waited for a moment, then pressed him again.
"This is really, truly the last thing, but I actually have something else to ask. Do you happen to know Chun Seungjae from Clover-"
[Stop.]
At the old man's voice, Hayoon quickly aimed at my head.
I nodded rapidly, signaling her to do it
immediately.
[Special ability, Lip Reading has activated.]
["See you later, Joon."]
Before an irritated Taesang could say
anything, Hayoon fired the last shot from the shotgun with a bang.
Bang!
I squeezed my eyes shut tightly.
"....."
"....."
".... ?"
Feeling something strange, I opened my eyes again.
The teachers were on their knees, looking at us with blank expressions.
Sunah was collapsed on the floor, and Hayoon was aiming her gun.
Gyeongwon, Dukhun, and Jinhee were
frozen in place.
And in the hallway lay the monster,collapsed and aged.
Nothing had changed.
I was still alive.
"...!?"
Did the bullet miss?
But the gun was definitely aimed at my head, and I even heard the gunshot.
I quickly looked at Hayoon.
But Hayoon also had a surprised
expression.
"....."
".....Ugh."
With a surprised haa, Hayoon aimed the gun at my head again.
She pulled the trigger once more.
Bang!
"....."
"...."
The sound of the last bullet's gunshot echoed loudly again.
But nothing happened.
Hayoon's expression, as she aimed the
gun, slowly became tinged with fear.
Her black hair and pale face, her large, beautiful eyes filled with shock, and her lips began to tremble.
An expression she had never once shown before.
Fear.
Seeing Hayoon's expression, my face
hardened too.
What.
What was happening?
Bang!
She fired the gun again, and the 'last shot,' ringing loud enough tO make my ears ring, was discharged once more.
But nothing happened.
"....."
"....."
"....!?"
Bang-!
Bang-!
Bang-!
The last Shot that kept repeatng, fired over and over without end.
Everyone's faces turned to expressions of disbelief, and even Hayoon's usually calm, pretty face became tinged with fear.
As I felt cold sweat trickle down my forehead and slowly turned to look at the phone on the desk.
[Oh dear...]
[Alright. I'lI let it slide.]
At those words, Hayoon gasped 'Haa... haa... haa...:' catching her breath, and
then suddenly jabbed my head with the gun again.
And her lips trembled as she spoke her final, last goodbye.
[Special ability, Lip Reading has activated.]
["See you again, Joon. And... I love you joon."]
Bang-!
Only then, along with a feeling like my head was bursting, my vision turned black, and a familiar message surfaced from somewhere in my consciousness.
[ you are dead.]
[You'll restart from the previous checkpoint.]
[Loading...]
I slowly lost consciousness, feeling a deep sense of relief.