Chapter 58
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The Controller I
Shin Noah
1
The genre of this episode is a somewhat bizarre mystery.
2
I occasionally use the term 'route.'
This is because I often liken my journey to prevent the world's destruction to mountain climbing.
Alpinists ascending the Himalayas call the paths they climb 'routes.' I too borrow their terminology to express my own strategies as routes.
The grand proposition of a regressor.
'How exactly can one prevent destruction?'
How can one conquer the summit of that 'Everest of Time' that no human has ever set foot upon before?
During my 1183 regressions, there existed truly countless routes.
For instance, the climbing path I attempted to pioneer from the 35th to the 107th iteration was the 'Civilization Reconstruction Route' or 'Resurrection Route.' As a sort of supplies needed to ascend this path, my climbing team's companions were as follows:
1) The existence of a 'Saintess' who can observe all Awakened within range and holds very high moral standards.
2) SG Net, a community where all Awakened can participate anytime, anywhere, even if their activity ranges are fragmented. In other words, the existence of 'Seo Gyu' who possesses ubiquity ability.
3) An administrator who minimally connects each city stronghold by road, maintains and manages the road network, and does not become politically corrupt. In other words, the existence of National Highway Management Chief 'Noh Do-ha.'
4) Someone who can mediate and lead all of them, an always sincere existence, the white-horse-riding superhero of this era, in other words, me, the Undertaker.
Those of you who have followed my story so far will empathize, but my preparation work proceeded steadily and systematically.
Even having lost the strongest swordsman and best joker, Old Man Sho, I take pride in having done my utmost.
However, the 'Resurrection Route' collapsed in an instant.
- Please remember, Mr. Undertaker.
- An Awakened's ability is not purely a blessing. It is a double-edged sword.
Alias, Saintess.
Codename after corruption, Executor.
It would be no exaggeration to say that this being's emergence completely disrupted the route I had been constructing.
- When Awakened become so accustomed to their abilities that they are devoured by them, they become like me, approaching aberrations.
- 20 years. Before 15 years arrive if possible, you must return the world to its original form. Please remember, Mr. Undertaker.
That is correct.
Awakened were never beings opposite to aberrations. They were the same species. If aberrations were beings born from the void, then Awakened were raising aberrations in their own heads and in their hearts.
Dang Seo-rin. Noh Do-ha. Cheon Yo-hwa. The Sword Empress too.
The abilities they possessed, miracles that ordinary humans could never achieve... were not only blessings but simultaneously curses.
By now, some readers may be getting a sense of why I had to roll through 1183 iterations.
Yes. To catch aberrations, you need Awakened, but when Awakened become powerful, they transform into calamity-class aberrations. Just like the world.
'By any chance... do you also like despair? Actually, I like it very much too. Despair.'
'Here, the despair stew I made is quite delicious, would you like to try just one spoonful......?'
As if forcing one's tastes upon others while shyly asking.
You might think what kind of crazy person this is, but unfortunately the world's harassment doesn't end here.
But let's leave the regressor's grievances at that for now.
Today, I'd like to briefly mention the very first route I established.
Code name 'Route A.'
The first route of my regressor life, detailed name 'Academy Route.'
3
Unlike other routes, 'Route A' was uniquely created through collaboration between me and Old Man Sho.
In other words, this was a route from before Old Man Sho left on his damned vacation (just let this old bastard come back, I swear).
"Hey, Yeomjang."
Old Man Sho spoke while lifting dumbbells.
If you asked me why he suddenly lifted dumbbells, I would only be troubled. Because Old Man Sho generally did iron work 24 hours a day, always.
For reference, Yeomjang was another term for undertaker, and Old Man Sho occasionally called me that. Of course, not out of respect for my alias, but simply to subtly infuse the pronunciation 'Yeomjang-ah' with the nuance of 'Yeombyeong-ah' (sick bastard). Damned old man.
"What is it?"
"Did you hear the news?"
"What news?"
"In Fukuoka...... No, what kind of manner is that for a young brat? Hm? Answering back prickly when an adult asks something."
The timing was exactly the 18th iteration.
At this time, Old Man Sho's mentality was still intact. Of course, Old Man Sho being intact only meant adding a German curmudgeon to the world.
Here, let me tell you an amazing fact: that old bastard graduated from art school.
Doesn't that seem fishy?
Those who have studied history would guess what sentence emerges when the subject 'Germany' combines with the predicate 'art school.'
"Did you leave your brain cells behind when you regressed last time......? Anyway, so what about Fukuoka?"
"Ah, right. Apparently a quite interesting Awakened has appeared in Fukuoka. Alias is Puppeteer or something."
"Puppeteer? What kind of ability?"
"That I wouldn't know. Awakened usually hide their abilities tight. Only information came that the association tried recruiting them several times with great effort."
Old Man Sho tapped his nose tip. Annoying.
"But I have a feeling. A feeling. The Puppeteer is definitely going to be an outstanding one."
"Oh my, that feeling of yours."
"What? My feeling is usually right, isn't it?"
In subculture works, there is a concept called 'Academy Drift.'
It refers to cases where a perfectly fine work suddenly goes astray with the protagonist entering an academy. With quite high probability, as it falls into the side path, the work's quality also drags down like a water ghost.
However, there was a very rational reason why Old Man Sho and I established and operated an academy.
"Let's recruit them."
It was precisely to collect promising talents.
Anyway, it was nearly impossible for just Old Man Sho and me, only two people, to prevent the world's destruction.
Then shouldn't we assemble a powerful party to at least flip off our world that keeps boiling despair stew every day?
But even when recruiting the same talent.
-How about joining our guild and doing grunt work?
-How about entering the academy and taking classes from experts?
There was quite a difference in nuance between these two invitations.
Especially for Asians. Asians, including Koreans, were born with a perverted libido that gets them excited when hearing words like 'education,' 'entrance exam,' and 'prestigious school.'
Is it not pleasant to learn with timely practice? The ambition to succeed in a guild may be mere desire for power, but the aspiration to enter an academy and learn well is self-cultivation, filial piety toward parents, and loyalty to the nation, is it not?
There was no reason not to use such excellent culture.
Old Man Sho hung the nameplate 'Academy Principal' instead of the stiff title of guild master. I also took the position of vice principal.
Here we added seasoning too.
-Academy operated directly by a German!
-Ability proven in the Ten Clans Subjugation Battle. Guaranteed by the Sword Master and the Undertaker.
The promotional phrase that a pure-blooded foreigner operates an academy had practically an Asian-limited brainwashing hypnosis beam cast on it.
For reference, our educational institution's name was Free Academy, in German, Freiheit Academy.
If actual Germans saw it, their eyebrows would have twitched at this 'freedom' institution that strangely emphasized 'pure blood.' The entrance to the most famous building constructed by Germans also had the phrase 'Work will set you free' written on it.
Fortunately, Old Man Sho was a Social Democratic Party supporter. People sent passionate trust to the Awakened-specialized foreign academy without any burden.
Creating an institution written as guild but read as academy, and plucking out promising Awakened from various countries one by one.
This was the true nature of 'Route A.'
"Well. If it's truly an outstanding talent, we should recruit them. So are you going to Fukuoka to recruit this Puppeteer kid? Do ships still run these days?"
"Oh ho, where there's a will, there's a way. If a scholar goes, he goes. How could he not secure even one ship?"
"Even if you safely cross the Korea Strait, the Japanese won't willingly send their Awakened. They're quite desperate too."
"It's fine. They're not Japanese, they're Korean."
"What?"
"Originally from Busan, it seems they fled quickly when the Gate burst."
"No, even if they fled, why especially...... Monsters aren't North Korean soldiers. Both there and here are the same hell."
"Who would know that now? It's still year 3, you rascal."
"Ah."
I had a moment of silence.
"...But if it's Fukuoka, are they perhaps involved with the provisional government people? It'll be troublesome if you get entangled with those bastards for nothing."
"I don't know. Do you think I'm omniscient?"
"Hmm. So when are you leaving, old man?"
"That's what I'm asking. When are you planning to go?"
"......?"
"......?"
Eye contact was established.
"......?"
"......?"
Communication, failed.
We both silently raised our swords. We thoroughly respected the method humanity has traditionally chosen when communication failed since ancient times.
5 minutes passed.
"Go well, Yeomjang."
"Son of a......"
"Where are you trying to beat a Sword Master with such shoddy swordsmanship? Ah. On your way back, buy some instant ramen if there is any. Tonkotsu if possible. I heard Fukuoka is famous for tonkotsu? I need to oil my stomach too."
Unfair, but what could I do? At this point, I was still inferior to Old Man Sho.
I dragged my bruised body and miserably left the principal's office.
['The Saintess of National Salvation' cheers for you.]
I smiled bitterly.
'As expected, only the Saint is on my side.'
Of course, in the 18th iteration, I didn't know the fact that the Saint was an Awakened. My relationship with the Saintess was, in technical terms, close to parasocialism, a quasi-social relationship.
"Only the Saint recognizes me. I'll be going to Japan for a short business trip, so please take care of that old man while I'm gone."
['The Saintess of National Salvation' cheers for you not to worry.]
"Saint......!"
To give the most similar example, it could be said to be like a VTuber and a fan who became overly immersed.
Why. Well. Saint content originated from internet broadcasting platforms anyway. This much could be considered a healthy hobby.
Hmm.
...It was an immature time in many ways.
4
Even if in my memory it was close to dark history, from others' perspective, 'Undertaker' was undoubtedly a figure to watch.
Old Man Sho. Dang Seo-rin. Undertaker.
No matter what anyone said, the protagonists of the Ten Clans Subjugation Battle were the three of us.
And we were the world's first case of subjugating a boss-level monster purely through private initiative rather than government leadership.
Originally, the Korean Peninsula had a tradition of buffs going to righteous armies rather than regular armies, so it wasn't strange.
Of course, if ranking purely by popularity regardless of domestic or foreign.
Dang Seo-rin > Old Man Sho ≧ Undertaker
This was the order.
If Old Man Sho's and my reputations fluctuated, Dang Seo-rin always maintained firm 1st place.
She was the leader of the Korean Peninsula Guild Federation (the name changes slightly depending on the iteration). Above all, her character completely crushed the likes of Old Man Sho and me.
A witch singing on the battlefield? Isn't that cheating? How can two swordsmen beat that?
In vulgar terms, once you see Dang Seo-rin performing a 4-stage a cappella on the battlefield, everyone can't help but think it's amazing. Even more so if the singing voice injects buff doping without side effects.
Ah, the Awakened of the Korean Peninsula had already become bodies that couldn't go to boss subjugation battles without Dang Seo-rin's song......
Anyway.
In the Korean Peninsula, my position was second place, sometimes dropping to third when Old Man Sho exploded with legendary potential.
"We sincerely welcome your visit to Japan! Mr. Undertaker!"
But even that status alone was sufficient for all sorts of flies to cling on.
"Waaaah!"
"Welcome to Busan!"
"Undertaker! Undertaker! Undertaker!"
As soon as I disembarked at the harbor, nearly three hundred people cheered in unison. A great army for flies.
These ones flapped banners fiercely instead of fly wings. The banners bore these inscriptions:
[★Pride of Korea, Awakened Undertaker★]
[Welcome to Busan!]
[The entire cabinet of the Republic of Korea 2nd Provisional Government]
Ah.
The back of my head throbbed.
'What Busan, you crazy bastards......'
Let me explain.
First of course, I took a boat from Busan and headed to Fukuoka, Japan. I absolutely did not tour the Korea Strait for a week and return to Busan.
What twisted was not my destination but their minds.
Fukuoka.
Read in Chinese characters, it means 'Bukgang.' Here, 'gang' means hill or mountain.
So the flies before my eyes agreed to call Fukuoka 'Busan.' Leaving aside a perfectly fine city name.
It was no different from the act of telling the indigenous people of the American continent 'From now on, you are Indians.'
What made it even more maddening was the fact that a city called Toyama already existed in Japan, which could be read as Busan in Korean pronunciation.
In short, the humans before my eyes were committing triple nuisance to Busan, Fukuoka, and Toyama.
Why on earth?
"Heheh. Welcome, Mr. Undertaker!"
The answer was fully explained by the middle-aged man standing at the very front of the welcoming crowd.
Mayor Jeong.
Real name Jeong Sang-guk.
Though called mayor, he was not a current mayor. In the Korean Peninsula, the profession of civil servant had long been deleted along with elementary, middle, high school, and university students.
Jeong Sang-guk was a 'former' 'Busan' mayor.
Currently, he was also the head of the Republic of Korea 2nd Provisional Government.
When a large-scale void descended south of the Han River, the Blue House and parliament reconciled and began a grand coalition government toward heaven. At that time, Sejong and Busan were the only cities that could somewhat stabilize the situation.
The civil servant group in Sejong City at least tried to bring the military under control (and they also went on a restaurant tour to the Ten Clans' stomachs together).
In contrast, Busan's Mayor Jeong Sang-guk decided to follow a slightly more traditional method.
-Citizens, what kind of people are we?
-Um...... A delivery people?
-No. We are the Terran people.
Jeong Sang-guk picked up his supporters and organization entirely and relocated his command center.
The citizens could only marvel at a joke befitting that generation.
If Kim Il-sung, the founder of the Daitonggang faction, only knew how to shrink earth by himself, Jeong Sang-guk had actually attempted group teleportation. This was proof that the orthodox lineage of Samhan martial arts lay with the Nakdonggang faction. Literally, the footwork was different.
Koreans now acknowledged that Busan Mayor Jeong Sang-guk's name value was equivalent to Won Gyun of the Three Provinces Naval Command and Lee Wan-yong of the Korean Empire Cabinet Prime Minister.
Considering Koreans are particularly picky in evaluating politicians, this was no easy achievement.
All politicians by nature are thorough conceptualists.
Polititians believed that even if their legitimacy in reality was somewhat lacking, they could always withdraw loans from concepts. Jeong Sang-guk was the same.
The exile group somehow became an 'exile government,' and the exile government suddenly transformed into the 'Republic of Korea 2nd Provisional Government.' Jeong Sang-guk's business cards were newly printed each time, and now he had become 'Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea 2nd Provisional Government.'
And on the day of the Prime Minister election, Fukuoka was also renamed Busan. Thanks to this, Jeong Sang-guk also held the title of 'Busan City Representative' as the representative of the Fukuoka Korean Federation.
In short, it was a shitshow.
And now I was invited to the stage of this shitshow.
A politician with a broken leash sucking up to a war hero was a grammar that applied worldwide.
"I have respected Mr. Jang for a very long time!"
Jeong Sang-guk, a Terran user who had once hit 2150 points in StarCraft ladder, embraced me with a bright smile on his face.
Following the Prime Minister of the 2nd Provisional Government, the Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, Justice Minister, and Interior Minister poured out endless handshake requests. The hugs were highly disciplined, mechanical hugs.
I also smiled a mechanical smile. And internally, I gave the provisional government cabinet members modern MZ-style nicknames in order: damn it, fuck, shit, etc.
'Damn old bastard. This is why I didn't want to come to Fukuoka on a business trip.'
Kkeul- Kkeul- Kkeul-
From afar, I seemed to hear Old Man Sho's laughter along with the auditory hallucination 'Yeah, your swordsmanship is shoddy.' Dammit.
Infinite Regressor Telling Stories