Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 245



Only Krnovel

The Regressor’s Notepad 245

Opportunity cost, sunk cost (4)

The scenery reflected in the eyes is peaceful.

Somehow, it feels gentle and cozy.

A thought suddenly occurred to Soliet.

This place must be an underground place with nothing in it.

All you have to do is blow up the soul tank and descend to find the nightmare.

This underground space gradually becomes more colorful and varied, like paint spreading.

Natural objects are created and the climate changes vividly.

“… … It really never ends.”

It was Javed’s words. Soliet wiped the sweat and sand from her forehead.

This place, where the heat is raging, is now a desert.

“That’s right. But it doesn’t seem to be long. I guess this whole thing is a defense mechanism for the tank.”

Solliet kept saying such things.

It was all his own thoughts.

“It seems like they woven this landscape to protect against explosions.”

“… … .”

At that moment, Javed smiled faintly.

Kwakwakwa──!

A gigantic figure rose from the desert floor. Sand surged forward like a tsunami.

A scorpion as big as a house—a giant scorpion.

“!”

Solliet and Javed quickly took up a fighting stance. Scorpion struck first with his tail.

───!

A poisonous stinger like a stone pillar surged forward. Soliet blocked it with her sword, but her entire body was pushed back. The weight of the tail on the sword was heavy.

Whirlyrick──!

At that moment, a magical root rose from the air and wrapped itself around the scorpion’s tail. Then, sharp arrows rushed into the empty parts of its shell.

It was simultaneous support.

“?”

Soliet looked at Jiwon with a puzzled face.

Within seconds, people landed.

There were four people in total.

“What are you looking at, buddy?”

They all looked different than before, but I could tell right away by their speech.

Soliet’s early party.

[Carl], [Hans], [Jenny], and [Chris] respectively.

“… … .”

Solliet smiled silently.

After all, adventures require a party.

“Mr. Javed. This is my party.”

Solliet introduced the group to Javed.

“okay.”

Javed nodded.

“Let’s chat later!”

[Kal] moved first. Scorpion swung his pincers, but was blocked by [Kal]’s sword. [Chris] fired his arrow. [Jenny]’s magic assisted them.

With skillful coordination, the Scorpion was easily hunted.

“……after.”

Situation ended.

The group dismembered Scorpion’s corpse and built a small hut with its shoulder blades.

Gulp-

Solliet’s stomach gurgled.

“Just wait a minute. Scorpion meat dish is secretly delicious, isn’t it?”

[Kal], who caught the sound, spoke. Soliet scratched the back of her neck and looked at Javed. Javed looked somewhat lost in thought.

“… … .”

Solliet suddenly had a strange question.

The food you eat in Bedundan has no effect on reality. No matter how much food you eat, it doesn’t lead to real-world nutritional intake.

But it’s been quite a while since she came here.

Obviously, the food here is filling.

Is this because souls have gathered in Bedundan? Is it because Bedundan has already become a part of reality?

This explanation is somehow unclear, but… … .

That’s worth it.

Now, as if Javed was alive and breathing right before his eyes.

* * *

Edsilla Sanrama District.

Ten minutes before midnight on Saturday, as stated on the ‘cue card’.

Ludeniel went out for a walk, half in doubt. He walked along a dark road not far from the mine.

“… … .”

Tension grips my whole body, but I still walk anyway.

As the consultant said, there is no harm in it.

Because I had nothing to lose in the first place… … .

At exactly midnight.

Thud─.

A small vibration echoed through the mountains.

──Eww!

A thin scream flowed out.

Rudeniel flinched, but soon ran towards him.

As expected, it was a community mine.

“… … This can’t be happening.”

A sudden landslide blocked the tunnel. A fire broke out outside.

It was a cue card scenario.

Ludeniel looked around the area. A small crack appeared at the end of the tunnel.

That’s the place.

… … Gulp.

He swallowed and turned on the machete. It had been so long since he had used the machete that his blood vessels were aching, but he put his body into the crack first.

Wormwood- wormwood-

It was as smooth as swimming, just like the consultant said.

Ludeniel crawled for almost an hour before entering the tunnel.

“……there!”

When he emerged from the crack, he found a dozen miners huddled together. They looked at Rudeniel with exhausted faces.

“… …Rudeniel?”

A person who calls himself, someone he knows.

“Balta. Is that you?”

Old classmate Balta.

“… … .”

His face was so pale that he couldn’t even speak properly.

“Is this the end for the survivors?”

“Inside, inside, two more… … .”

Two. Ludeniel ran to where they pointed. Following the breathing of the stragglers, he carried one on his right shoulder, the other on his left.

Then he came back and put them down.

“Tie me up first!”

As it happened, there was a strong rope lying on the ground.

Is this also a prepared item?

Rudeniel tied the miners’ bodies together like sausages, leading the way.

“… … We’ll go through this crack. I’ll make a way out. You just crawl and follow me. Keep your wits about you!”

slap!

He slapped their cheeks, making their eyes close from lack of oxygen.

“Follow me, everyone! Unless you want to die a dog’s death!”

Ludeniel led them, inserting himself into the crack leading to the outside. The miners followed his example.

They crawled through the walls like worms writhing.

Slowly. Slowly.

He crawled through the gap in the collapsed tunnel. Rudeniel constantly encouraged the people behind him, the miners.

“Move! If you want to see your family, keep moving! Take care of the people behind you!”

So, how many hours did we advance?

Finally, the outside air began to flow in.

Ludeniel reached out and pulled himself out of the ground.

Thud thud──!

He escaped from the tunnel by breaking through the earth.

Outside, people were already crowding in. There were ambulances, fire trucks, residents, and miners’ families.

They came running, calling for their fathers, brothers, friends, and husbands. The miners hugged them with tired faces.

In it, Rudeniel was alone.

He had no family.

“… …Rudeniel.”

But soon, one, two, footsteps begin to approach him.

Miners covered in soot, blood, and tears.

Their families.

The old classmate who had betrayed him in the past hugged him tightly and said he was sorry with tears in his eyes.

“… … It’s okay.”

Rudeniel looked over his classmate’s shoulder at someone.

He was a consultant at [Jin Consulting].

He looked at himself and smiled.

* * *

Tiddik─ Tiddik─

The alarm clock woke me up.

I took a tour of Quantum Mechanics’ factory.

“… … Hwaaam.”

Synthetic magic stones are everywhere. This is the result of Growl and I working hard on the equipment for three days.

“Should we take a rest now?”

I came out of the factory.

“Are you going?”

Of course there were bodyguards.

“I’m going to take a break now.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work for the past three days. We will take care of you.”

They were very guarded and pointed at the vehicle, but I just smiled and shook my head.

“No, it’s okay. Just go home.”

“There were orders from the boss.”

“Well… … I guess so.”

Because I’m going to disappear anyway.

I got into the car.

The guards led me to the villa Jesco had previously used.

The facilities of this villa are not bad, but the picture of Jesco in the middle of it is annoying.

“… … Are you a narcissist?

Jesco is the epitome of a desert man. Long-haired, with a strong, stocky, bronze body. But he’s so over-glamourized that showing it to Jade would be a death sentence.

Tiring-

Just then the phone rang.

─Master!

“Don’t say ‘master’ when you call.”

─Yes.

Growl coughed in vain.

─Mr. Zion. This is Jake.

“uh.”

─The proceeds from the sale of the magic stone were sent to the desert, my hometown, in the name of Belkman.

I nodded.

Actually, ‘Belkman’ is the name of a person who actually lived in that desert.

He actually came to Seoul from the desert, but lived as a homeless person and died.

“Operation complete.”

Now Belkman has disappeared without a trace, and Quantum Mechanics will fall into disarray due to infighting and suspicion.

* * *

“Hey! Break time is over!”

While Quantum Mechanics was focused on expanding its power, Lithium Corporation was growing rapidly. They had secured a solid mercenary connection in preparation for battle, and brought in extreme magic stones that were twice as effective as synthetic magic stones.

“We have a company dinner today, so let’s finish up quickly and go!”

R&D was also successful.

Thanks to this, Lithium’s catalog now includes not only simple pistols, but also magic knives, magic swords, etc., easy-to-carry weapons, etc.

It’s like the future before the regression, no, it’s developing faster than before.

[Office of the Manager]

I knocked on the manager’s office door.

dripping-

The door opened immediately.

“Oh, you’re here. Chaser Zion.

Sonya laughed. I sat down on the chair.

“Yes. Quantum mechanics will now split.”

“Really? I’m looking forward to it. We’ve finished everything. We can eat up the Midwest with just the amount of supplies we’ve prepared.”

I nodded and looked at the TV in the corner. The Edsilla 9 o’clock news was on.

“Oh, how’s the election campaign going?”

“Just a moment. I’m sure it’ll come out at least once.”

He pointed to the TV screen.

Sonya looked at him too.

─Here’s the news. Former San Ramon Councilman Ludeniel has miraculously rescued thirteen miners trapped in a collapsed mine shaft… … .

“Is that him?”

“yes.”

Rudeniel gained a support base in an instant.

People who live off of ore like a member of parliament who knows the field well and is hands-on.

“Is Sirimus next?”

“The preparations are complete. Now, I plan to hire a reporter.”

“reporter?”

“yes.”

There is one person who has been decided in advance.

I think he is a very honest and three-dimensional person.

A person who was our enemy before the regression, then our comrade, and eventually killed by Libra.

“There is a reporter at the Edsilla Post.”

“Edsilla Post? Oh, there’s a Libra source on that desk. Are you talking about him?”

“no.”

I think I know who Sonya is talking about.

A bald editor named ‘Frank’.

He is Jedrick’s man, but he is also not.

There are a lot of double agents in this world. Opportunists who only chase the sweet stuff of money and fame.

“I’m thinking of someone else.”

What I’m trying to accomplish while serving Zia is to gradually reduce the power of the direct line, including Sheilok and Jedrick.

In return, if Jia were to rise, and Jia were to eventually win over everyone and monopolize Libra, then…

I will kill Jia myself.

“I am a regular reporter.”

“Plain reporter?”

Sonya frowned.

* * *

Hannah Erendt is a modest beauty.

Well, that’s what he said.

I don’t have time to put on makeup or blow dry my hair, but guys often chase after me, asking for my number.

“……ha.”

But in reality, I’m much more interested in work than in love.

You could call it ambition.

Considering the size of her breasts, her recent actions are truly pathetic.

“Mr. Erent?”

A senior female reporter appeared from somewhere and said.

“Could you please revise this manuscript and upload it?”

My doctor, without even asking, slammed the manuscript down on my desk.

“answer?”

“……yes.”

As such, these days I’m only doing dictation and spelling corrections.

Because of the previous accident, they don’t even let me go on site for reporting and just keep me stuck in the office, which is driving me nuts.

“Thank you~”

Erent glanced at his female senior.

That girl is definitely messing around with Frank.

But, even if there’s a lot to gain, would you want to do it with an old man like that?

“… … .”

Erent was silently proofreading his manuscript when he suddenly saw a mission sign lit up with LED lights in the middle of the hallway.

[Edsilla Post]

When I look at those letters, I feel dizzy.

This is not why I studied so hard in college. How long am I going to rot away here, working on my senior’s manuscripts while sticking with my bald boss?

──That was when.

“It’s quick.”

“Ugh!”

Erent shivered at the sudden voice. It was a man wearing a motorcycle helmet turned upside down.

He put a thick envelope down on the desk.

“… … What are you?”

“It’s quick.”

Quick went straight out, and Erent blinked and looked at the envelope.

“… … ?”

There is no sign.

Just a simple scarlet envelope with no recipient or client.

Erent opened the mouth first. He turned it upside down and emptied the contents. A small cell phone and a bundle of documents spilled out.

She picked up the documents first.

[Sirimus Report]

Sirimus Report?

Sirimus, as far as she knows, is a local councilor for the Sanrama District. A man who is quite prominent in the political world these days, supported by the Boltak family. He is already 90% certain to be elected… … .

“… … !”

Her eyes were fixed on a certain part of the document. The hairs on her head stood on end in horror.

“Who the hell is this──”

No, there’s no need to be so excited.

Erent quickly calmed himself down.

The most important virtue for a journalist is fact checking. If you are blinded by non-facts, your career as a journalist will evaporate into ashes.

This is such nonsense. This kind of flyer is only suitable for a securities firm.

“… … Ahem.”

She looked around.

Fortunately, no one cares about him. He is busy moving around during the election season, or he is on the phone and editing articles.

Tiring-

Suddenly the cell phone rang.

“… … .”

Erent saw it.

Tiring-

A ringtone from a tiny, ladybug-like cell phone.

I answered the phone with trembling hands.

─Have you received the information?

A calm tone that moistens the ears.

Erent asked quietly.

“… …Who are you?”

─All the information I have given you is true, Reporter Erent.

“… … .”

I felt a slight gasp at the voice saying my name.

There was no mention of why he was telling me this, what he did, or where the source was.

Stop-

She hung up the phone without realizing it. She packed the envelope into her bag and hurriedly got on the elevator.

As I got on the elevator to the 57th floor, the moment the door was about to close.

“Ah. Just a moment.”

A person came inside.

He was tall and handsome.

A man in a suit with blond hair and a blue tie that goes well together.

Erent glanced at him without realizing it and pressed the close button on the first floor.

Wheeing… … .

On the way down in the elevator, a man suddenly said something strange.

“It will be a rare opportunity.”

“……what.”

Erent’s face hardened. She looked back at him with wavering eyes.

The man continued, his gaze fixed solely on the elevator door, that is, straight ahead.

“Don’t you want to go up?”

Ding─

Meanwhile, the elevator reached the first floor.

“The value of that information is up to you.”

The man went straight out.

Erent was unable to say anything to him, and he disappeared into the crowd of people in the lobby on the first floor of the building.