WeTried Translations

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ I'm an Infinite Regressor, But I've Got Stories to Tell

Chapter 404

──────

The Bereaved XII

There is an epilogue.

"Yay-hey!"

"The two sisters are troublemakers, but they're the strongest!"

"The tradition of the ten million cultists of the Korean peninsula! The essence of heresy! The last remaining prodigies of Taoism!"

"Yo-hwa-Yo-hwa☆Sisters! Descend!"

"Yeeaaahhhhh-hey!"

Clap!The sound of a high-five rang out.

“…”

There were two audience members who had been watching the spectacle from start to finish. Noh Do-hwa. And Yu Ji-won.

Both of them belonged to the National Road Management Corps, and this was certainly no coincidence.

The place where the Yo-hwa-Yo-hwa☆Sisters had just appeared was none other than the innermost sanctum of the National Road Management Corps headquarters, the 'Tower of Babel', specifically the office of the corps Director.

"Wonderful…"

Noh Do-hwa muttered with a face that looked anything but wonderful.

"Alright. Fine, so the Cheon family had a pair of twin sisters. I heard the stories, so I understand that much. But… I was told one of the twins was time-sealed or something. Then shouldn't she not exist in reality? So why is it that right before my very eyes, both sisters are physically present and putting on this goddamn sideshow…?"

"Gasp. An interesting point!"

"As expected of the National Road Management Corps Director. Were the fine wrinkles etched on your brow not only proof of a foul temper but also of a highly evolved intellect?"

"It can't be helped, Unni. Please show them your true form!"

I released my aura.

Shwaaaa.

My orange hair was bleached to black, and my sailor uniform reverted to a barista's outfit. The aura that had been writhing around me had been released.

It was just like a magical girl transformation sequence played in reverse.

The result was simple.

Cheon-hwa became the Undertaker.

"?"

Noh Do-hwa's head tilted.

"Trans! Form!"

I flared my aura again with a snap. Sensorially, it felt like finishing a strength workout and striking a pose.

Then, my appearance, not just my face but my height and fashion as well, distorted entirely, and wouldn't you know it, I reverted to being Cheon-hwa once more.

“…”

"Yay-hey!"

Clap, I high-fived Yo-hwa. A dacapo.

"The two sisters are troublemakers, but they're the strongest!"

"The tradition of the ten million cultists of the Korean peninsula! The essence of heresy! The last remaining prodigies of Taoism!"

"Yo-hwa-Yo-hwa☆Sisters! Descend!"

"Yeeaaahhhhh-hey!"

“……”

Silence flowed through the conference room.

"Mr. Matiz, here."

"Ah, thank you, Ji-won."

"You're most welcome."

Yu Ji-won poured black tea from the thermos she always carried and handed it to me. I had just been testing the limits of my vocal cords with Yo-hwa, so I was craving a hot liquid.

Slurp.

As I was peacefully drinking my tea, words finally burst from Noh Do-hwa's lips.

"Has this son of a bitch completely lost his mind—"

Once again, there is an epilogue.

Of course, I would have loved to end the epilogue just by playing the part of Cheon-hwa and teasing Noh Do-hwa, but this episode had a problematic part that absolutely needed to be revised and reviewed.

"I see. In short, you're proposing a hypothesis that there might be a regressor who exists separately from you, Mr. Matiz."

"Yes."

I said, having thrown off Cheon-hwa's aura farming a moment ago. I restrained myself, feeling that teasing her any further would just needlessly increase Noh Do-hwa's kill count.

As someone who dearly loved Noh Do-hwa's distorted facial muscles, it was a rather difficult thing to endure, but I managed. This was why mental cultivation was so important for a regressor.

"However, it's unclear whether Go Yuri is truly a regressor or not. But it is certain that she is at least in a 'position comparable to a regressor'."

"Hmm."

The testimony I paid particular attention to.

No, it was more of a transcript, and this was the part.

――――――――――

Go Yuri: Really. I thought it would be like this.

Go Yuri: Nothing in particular should have changed this time. Why has Miss Cheon-hwa become so clever?

Go Yuri: Did her DNA change? No way. I didn't touch a single thing concerning the surrounding environment so that Miss Cheon-hwa and Miss Yo-hwa could be born.

Go Yuri: If I had made one wrong move, you twins, you would have miscarried so easily.

――――――――――

Miscarriage.

This part was so excessively significant that I printed it out like a transcript and handed it out to my colleagues.

"Though I can't be 100% certain, Go Yuri spoke as if she also knew of a world-line where Cheon-hwa and Yo-hwa were never even born."

“…”

I glanced to my side.

Nod.

Yo-hwa, who had been working with me to test Noh Do-hwa's murderous intent until just a moment ago, now wore a serious expression.

"Originally, my mother was a bit… frail. After she gave birth to me, no, to us, the image I have of her is of someone who was always lying in bed."

"Hmm. So you're saying it wouldn't be strange even if she had miscarried you."

"Yes."

Yo-hwa affirmed Yu Ji-won's question without hesitation.

"So if Teacher's reasoning is correct, and ah, I think it's correct too. Anyway, then my 'first teacher', that Go Yuri person, probably induced it so that twins would be born on purpose."

"What would be the reason for that?"

"Ahaha. That, I'm not so sure about either…"

Yo-hwa scratched the back of her head with an awkward face.

Why, for what reason, did it have to be twins?

It was a question that could not be easily answered without being able to look inside Go Yuri's heart.

"Hmm."

Noh Do-hwa had deliberately sat a short distance away from us, propping her chin up at a crooked angle.

"What if you think about it in the exact opposite way…?"

I tilted my head.

"The opposite way?"

"You don't know the reason it had to be twins. In that case, wouldn't it work to try and guess the problem that would arise if they weren't twins…?"

Indeed.

I began to brainstorm back and forth with Noh Do-hwa.

"First of all, if only one was born instead of the Cheon-hwa-Yo-hwa twins, then calling them by separate names like this would become meaningless. In the first place, she would just be one person, 'Cheon Yo-hwa', so there would be no risk of confusion."

"Well, from my perspective, there is still only one Cheon Yo-hwa… In any case, that would leave only a single Cheon Yo-hwa. Is there some kind of problem with that…?"

"The thing is."

My mouth opened.

"Yo-hwa was designated as the sacrifice for Infinite Void, and Cheon-hwa was chosen as the sacrifice for the Mastermind. Therefore, the conclusion is that the Outer Gods that were supposed to be divided between the two of them respectively would become concentrated on one per—"

At that moment.

"Ah?"

My mouth and tongue stopped.

“…?”

"Teacher?"

"Mr. Matiz?"

The gazes of the three focused on me.

But I had no time to worry about each of their expressions. A sort of realization, a thrill like a lightning bolt, was piercing through my spine.

I said.

"Taegeuk."

"Taegeuk?"

"Let's try to think about it in reverse. What if it wasn't two Outer Gods from the beginning. What if originally, there was only one Outer God?"

Blink. Blink, blink.

The others still didn't seem to understand my words, their eyebrows twisted uncertainly.

But as I continued to speak, I myself was being swept away by a violent wave of electricity.

"It's Taegeuk. Taegeuk. It's not an Outer God of Yin or an Outer God of Yang. Let's assume that the two were originally one, and that in this world, there was originally only a single Outer God named 'Taegeuk'."

“…”

"That Taegeuk god treats all of creation as equal data. And it runs infinite simulations of the ways all of creation can be combined. Constantly, endlessly, so that a world-line advantageous to itself will always emerge… It keeps running simulations, so that the 'world most advantageous to itself' will come about."

"Ah?"

“…!”

Only then did the expressions of my colleagues begin to change.

Infinite Void. The Mastermind. Aberrations that were Outer God-class even when separated… What if they had been fused into one?

"In other words, from a human perspective, that Taegeuk god itself possesses the power of regression. It would be impossible to win, no matter how much one struggled. It's only natural."

"Because that side… would just run simulations until it wins."

Yo-hwa said, hesitating.

"Even if humanity were to achieve victory, it wouldn't be a true victory. The Outer God would just have to move on to the next cycle. Just like… Teacher."

That's right.

My voice also became low.

"It's useless even if a regressor exists. It's bound to be a draw forever. No, even a draw cannot last forever."

"Why is that? Teacher?"

"Humans do not have infinite mental fortitude."

It was simple logic.

Humanity has a regressor. Even if they are destroyed by the anomalies, they can challenge the next cycle until they win.

The anomalies have the Taegeuk god. Even if humanity is victorious, it can run the next simulation. Until humanity is destroyed.

However, unlike humanity, the anomalies have no intellect. No mind. No ego. No mental fortitude.

Neither stress nor trauma.

"...That is the worst-case scenario."

Yu Ji-won said with a blank face.

"The fact that humanity has been able to reach this point is entirely thanks to the existence of a regressor named Mr. Matiz. To think that the same power was given to the enemy as well. I don't even want to imagine it."

"Just by us being born as a single child, instead of twins, the Taegeuk god would emerge…?"

Yo-hwa muttered, dumbfounded.

Literally cornered on all sides.

A labyrinth and a maze that could never be broken through.

A trash game where no matter which option you choose, it will eventually lead to a bad ending.

If I, the Undertaker, were to face such an impregnable fortress, what would I do?

'I'd give up.'

Like Old Man Scho.

'But what if I don't give up?'

The problem is that the Taegeuk god exists.

'Simply getting rid of Cheon Yo-hwa cannot be the answer. Then another sacrifice will just be chosen as the miko.'

'Rather, it becomes even more impossible to control the variables, as it becomes unknown which human other than Cheon Yo-hwa will be designated as the priestess.'

Leave Cheon Yo-hwa alone.

'If the problem is that the Outer God is too strong…'

Split the Outer God.

“…”

Twist it by force.

Insult nature.

Artificially split what was naturally one into two.

The Way follows nature.[1]

– I interpret that phrase in the opposite way.

A memory.

– Even a single path ultimately culminates in a single person. If that is the case, then I ask you.

If there is no route…

– What reason is there that a single person cannot change that path?

Create a route.

Taegeuk.

The concept of Taegeuk had one loophole. Even though it was ultimately one, it could for the time being be divided into two extremes, yin and yang.

That's why it could be split.

Devise a way to split the originally single 'Cheon Yo-hwa'. The priestess of the Taegeuk god. Into a being that is one yet two.

'Twin sisters.'

It's simple. You just have to roll the coin until Cheon Yo-hwa's mother gives birth to twins. It's a low probability, but it's a possibility that obviously exists.

'Simply being twins is not enough. The two have to be made as if they are truly one… As if they are beings that reflect different aspects, yin and yang. And so.

Even their names were unified.

Cheon Yo-hwa. The same pronunciation.

In writing, Cheon-yo-hwa (天寥化). Cheon-yo-hwa (千謠話).

When calling them, the same pronunciation is segmented into one, one side is Cheon-hwa. The other side is Yo-hwa.

'No way.'

A person. A mere human.

Succeeded in splitting the invincible anomaly, the 'Akashic Records that runs infinite simulations', the impregnable Outer God, into two?

– There is only one way to reach that point.

– It would be to become a human as vast as the path of nature, as vast as the universe.

“…”

– To put it another way, The Way follows inyeon.

– Inyeon both as 人然 (“human nature”) and as 因緣 (“causes and conditions”).

The fact that one anomaly was split into two did not simply mean its combat power was reduced to 50% like in an RPG.

For example, think about separating 'Regression' and 'Complete Memory' from me, the Undertaker.

It wouldn't be a 50% reduction in power. 80%. No, maybe even 99%.

It would bring about a result where almost all of my advantages are lost.

The 'Taegeuk god' that had driven all of creation into fear no longer existed.

Only the mere, incomplete yin and yang. The traces of that separation called Infinite Void and the Mastermind.

Only some echo of fear faintly chirped in the universe.

The once-perfect Outer God had declined. It had fallen.

Only anomalies that were somehow incomplete, lacking something crucial, came to roam the earth.

'What if.'

A sinister thought suddenly occurred to me.

'What if the difficulty of this world that I have been challenging for over 1,000 cycles… the difficulty that I have thought of as Hard or Lunatic all this time, was actually adjusted to Normal by someone?'

Adjusting the difficulty of the world.

This feat, close to impossible, a being called Go Yuri might have accomplished it.

A fight that was originally a confirmed defeat.

Turned into a 'manageable difficulty' if one bashed their head against it enough times.

It was nothing short of a miracle.

'Wait. Then why on earth, if she was such an incredible being, is she now wandering around as if transformed into an anomaly?'

'In the first place, why was she deleted from Cheon Yo-hwa's memory on June 17th… No. There's not enough material to make a judgment on this.'

I shook my head.

Even though I might have succeeded in deducing the existence of the Taegeuk god, there were still too many mysteries regarding Go Yuri's actions.

I had to get more clues.

"For now. I have figured out how to approach the secret of Go Yuri this time."

Fortunately, I knew where the clues were hidden.

"If I hadn't entered Yo-hwa's dream and delved into her past, I wouldn't have known that a hole of the heart, a void, a '□' was pierced there."

"And you're saying you found that out after more than 1,000 cycles? Isn't this dereliction of duty for a regressor…?"

"Ahem. I have frequently wandered through my own dreams. I was just being careful to protect my privacy and to avoid contact with the Go Yuri residing in the world of the unconscious as much as possible."

Come to think of it, all the dreams about my past were also riddled with holes. Like the memories of my mother.

Everywhere I looked, only the [404 - Not Found] sign had appeared.

To think that it wasn't just me who was peculiar, but that Yo-hwa was similar too. I never would have imagined it in my dreams.

"But it's different now. I have definitely verified a method to deal with Go Yuri, a strategy to face her without getting brainwashed."

"Hmm…"

"So, this is something I'm saying to all of you."

I opened my mouth.

"I think that perhaps not only in Yo-hwa's past but in all of our pasts, including my own… there might be a similar empty hole (□) pierced."

"Yes…?"

"It's just a hypothesis for now. A hypothesis. So, just as Yo-hwa did, would it be alright if I took a brief look into your pasts?"

"No. I fucking hate that idea…"

Noh Do-hwa made a face of utter disgust.

But there was only one personality-disordered person like Noh Do-hwa in the world. Yu Ji-won coolly accepted.

"In the first place, the only scenery from my past worth cherishing is the summer I spent with you, Mr. Matiz. I don't care about the rest."

"Thank you, Ji-won."

"You're most welcome."

That very day, with the help of the Tutorial Fairies and Cheon-hwa, I infiltrated Yu Ji-won's dream.

Into the dream beyond the 4th stage. Into the past. And thus, to the precarious danger zone from which fragments of the unconscious world where Go Yuri resides flow out.

The result.

[404 - Not Found]

It was discovered.

The same void of memory as Yo-hwa's. A '□'.

“…”

A 'trace of the existence called Go Yuri having been deleted' also existed in Yu Ji-won's past.

'How?'

Right after that….

In Saintess's past.

[404 - Not Found]

In Lee Ha-yul's past.

[404 - Not Found]

In Sim Ah-ryeon's past.

[404 - Not Found]

Even Seo Gyu, Kim Ji-soo, and Dang Seo-rin.

A '□' was discovered in every single one of the people around me. Their pasts, a part of their past memories, had been 'cut out'.

Whenever I wandered the edges of that void pierced in their hearts, something that looked exactly like Go Yuri appeared.

"Why…?"

It didn't stop there.

I persuaded others as well. I infiltrated Lee Ju-ho's dream. I accessed the Sword Marquess's past.

Lee Baek, Lee Jae-hee, Uehara Shino, the Great Priestess, Manyo Neko, Phantom Blade, Obsidian Qin, Jo Yeong-su, Shin Su-bin, Cecelia, Kwon Ryong, Nenets, Manav, Akash.

[404] [404] [404] [404]

[404] [404] [404] [404]

[404] [404] [404] [404]

[404] [404] [404] [404]

Everyone. Every last one.

In the past of every person I looked into, perhaps in all of humanity, there were empty holes pierced like a void.

It was all 'the result of forgetting the existence called Go Yuri'.

“…”

No one in this world.

Not even I, who possessed Complete Memory…

Could remember the someone who had vanished from their respective pasts.

Footnotes:

[1] A phrase originating from Chinese Philosophy, first seen in the book The classic of The Way and Virtue.It is one of the Daoist interpretations of how the universe operates, saying that all things in the world must follow their natural course.

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