Chapter 266 – The Sealed Regressor’s Memory (2)

Min Do-jun nodded his head.

That he would regress and stop Adam.

Then a sudden curiosity arose.

“Is there a specific reason you chose me among so many people?”

[Well, you’re the only human who harbored revenge against Adam’s subordinates. Plus, you’re the most skilled human I’ve ever seen.]

“But if I regress, what happens to my current soul? What about Ye-rin’s soul?”

[Everyone will return to their original bodies. Not just you two, but all the souls that have died so far.]

When Min Do-jun looked surprised, God spoke as if asking didn’t he know.

[Regression is rewinding the axis of time. It nullifies everything that has happened so far. The risk is so great that even I can only use it once. I’m using it with great resolve to save Earth. The 10 years is also the maximum time I can manage.]

“So it’s not something you can just use casually.”

[Of course not. It’s such a burdensome task that I have to use all my energy.]

“Energy?”

[It means even gods aren’t omnipotent.]

“Hmm, rewinding time by 10 years…”

As Min Do-jun was pondering, an ominous thought crossed his mind.

“Surely my memories won’t disappear just because you rewind time?”

[Don’t worry about that. If you’re designated as a regressor, all your memories from the living world will be preserved.]

“Right? If memories aren’t maintained, it wouldn’t be regression.”

[However, all memories after death will disappear.]

“What? That means…”

[It means you won’t even remember the conversation we’re having now once you regress.]

All memories from the afterlife would disappear?

“Th-that means I won’t remember the order to kill Adam either?”

[That’s right. But don’t worry. Min Do-jun, with your vengeful spirit, you’ll surely be able to discover the mastermind while dealing with Shin Kyung-min and his subordinates.]

“Still, it’s fortunate that memories from the living world remain.”

If he had memories from before regression, he could achieve overwhelming growth compared to now with hidden pieces and veteran-level skills.

‘It’ll take some time, but I should be able to catch up to Shin Kyung-min.’

Since the coup would take 10 years to happen, there was plenty of time.

‘Most importantly, they don’t know about me. It’s a good situation for a surprise attack.’

But the real purpose of regression wasn’t to eliminate Shin Kyung-min’s group, but to find and kill Adam.

‘As God said, I should be able to discover the mastermind by methodically proceeding with revenge…’

Then a fact that Min Do-jun had been overlooking flashed through his mind.

“W-wait a moment. If Adam’s trait is mind control…”

Min Do-jun, who had committed murders while proceeding with revenge, would inevitably fall under mind control.

“As someone who has committed murder, I have no means to resist him?”

Even if he regressed and became stronger, he couldn’t defeat Adam.

One shot of mind control would make him Adam’s ally.

[I know. With your current traits, you can’t face Adam. That’s why I prepared this. An EX-grade trait called Hunter Slayer.]

“Hunter Slayer?”

God explained about the Hunter Slayer trait.

Min Do-jun, who had been listening quietly, nodded.

“It’s certainly a cheat-like trait, but… can I defeat Adam with this? It doesn’t provide immunity to mind control.”

[Of course that alone isn’t enough. But if you kill a human named Gil Chung-su and obtain his trait, you won’t fall under mind control.]

“If that’s the case, why not just add an immunity option to this trait…”

[That’s impossible. Min Do-jun, changing system settings requires energy, and after engraving the trait on your soul, the 10-year regression, and system adjustments for when we meet again someday, there’s no energy left.]

In other words, there was so much energy needed for various things that there was no capacity to add options.

[Just killing Gil Chung-su will allow you to resist Adam, so don’t wish for more options.]

“Will I, with my memories erased, try to kill Gil Chung-su?”

[You, burning with revenge, should be able to do it.]

“…I understand.”

Now that he knew the mastermind behind the coup, his vengeful feelings toward Shin Kyung-min’s group had subsided.

‘But probably after the memories from here are erased, I’ll burn with revenge again.’

Right after being killed by Shin Kyung-min, he would try to kill the hunters one by one.

‘If I just kill up to Gil Chung-su, I can resist Adam.’

With the Hunter Slayer trait, the time to complete revenge could be further shortened.

[Min Do-jun, I ask you once more. Will you choose regression for revenge?]

“Of course. I absolutely have to do it. What kind of opportunity is this?”

Not only could he live a new life, but he could also complete the revenge he so desperately wanted.

He could save Cha Ye-rin and prevent Earth’s destruction.

There was no reason to refuse.

But God’s request wasn’t finished yet.

[Don’t decide hastily. There’s still a condition I haven’t mentioned.]

“What condition?”

Min Do-jun’s eyes widened when he heard God’s additional condition.

[Now, if you’re prepared to keep this condition I just mentioned, I’ll send you back 10 years. How about it?]

“…”

Until just a moment ago, there was no reason to hesitate, but after hearing the condition, he was deeply troubled.

‘There was a risk…’

The risk just presented was too concerning to accept readily.

‘But if I stop the coup, I can save Ye-rin.’

Min Do-jun, having made up his mind, nodded seriously.

“I’ll do it. Regression.”

[Good. Then I’ll engrave the Hunter Slayer trait on your soul. This is the only way to have the trait even after rewinding time.]

Soon, a pure white light lingered near Min Do-jun’s head before disappearing.

[It’s done. Now when you awaken, you’ll discover you have two traits.]

Min Do-jun nodded.

The regressed version of himself would be surprised to have two traits, but wouldn’t go around bragging about it.

‘Given my personality, I’ll just think it’s great and use it for revenge.’

He had gained both the opportunity for revenge and power.

Now only regression remained.

[I don’t know how you’ll act after regression with your memories of the underworld erased. You might get revenge on Adam and prevent destruction, or you might end your revenge after just killing Shin Kyung-min. That’s why this regression is an adventure for me too.]

Min Do-jun nodded.

“Trust me and leave it to me. I’ll kill Adam and save the world.”

[I’ll look forward to it. Min Do-jun, I don’t know when it will be, but I’ll wait for the day we meet again.]

* * *

Min Do-jun slowly opened his eyes that had been closed.

“So that’s how it happened.”

[That’s how it happened.]

Min Do-jun, who had seen the sealed memories using the box, looked at God.

“I originally regressed to kill Adam.”

[That’s right. And you did it splendidly!]

“Not knowing this, I thought you regressed me out of pity.”

[I definitely gave you the choice. Whether to regress or not. In the end, it was your decision.]

“I acknowledge that.”

God spoke excitedly.

[Hehe! Choosing you was indeed my best decision! To think you’d complete revenge so perfectly!]

“…”

[Thinking about all the mental anguish caused by that damn mind control trait, I could almost cry. You saved billions of humans, Min Do-jun!]

Though he learned he had prevented destruction, Min Do-jun didn’t even smile.

He was just bewildered and displeased to learn there was such a background.

‘In a way, he used me to clean up the mess he made.’

Killing Adam to prevent the coup was what Min Do-jun wanted too.

Because he could save Cha Ye-rin.

‘The goal of killing Adam was the same, but if I hadn’t succeeded, God would have been in trouble too.’

Anyway, God owed him a debt.

“I have a question.”

[Ask anything!]

“If you were watching everything from above, why did you create such trials?”

[I couldn’t watch.]

“What?”

[I used all my energy rewinding the time axis. Min Do-jun, while you were proceeding with revenge for 10 years, I had to rest above and gather strength.]

“So that’s why you appeared in such an unsuitable form?”

[Huh? This is an angel form that any human male would like.]

Min Do-jun frowned looking at the angel figure striking seductive poses.

“Are you male or female, God?”

[Gender only exists for creatures with physical bodies. Do you think a spiritual being like me would have such things?]

“Then please take your usual light form. It’s uncomfortable to look at.”

[If it’s a request from the hero who saved humanity, I can’t refuse.]

The angel’s form soon changed to the light form he had seen in the underworld.

[Is this better?]

“Yes. Much better to look at.”

That’s when it happened.

Tsuuuut-

Suddenly a portal appeared in the center of the platform.

[It’s the exit. It appeared because I designed it so you could escape after reading the memories.]

Min Do-jun belatedly realized.

The identity of the conquest objective that had been hidden by question marks.

“The conquest objective must have been to escape the dungeon using the sealed regressor’s memory.”

[That’s right.]

“What would have happened if I didn’t read the memory and endured for the time limit?”

[Enduring for 999 hours?]

“Yes.”

[Then you would have received the failure penalty and been kicked out of the dungeon.]

“What’s the penalty? It was hidden by question marks.”

[The highest level curse of pain. Duration is until death.]

“…”

He felt chills and relief at the same time.

‘I’m glad I didn’t get the penalty.’

He thought it would be better to die than receive that penalty.

“Now that everything’s finished, can I leave?”

[Min Do-jun, didn’t you see the memory with me?]

“I did.”

[Then you know there’s still a promise remaining, right? Why are you suddenly pretending not to know?]

“…”

[Are you planning to break the promise now?]

“…No.”

Min Do-jun knew too.

That it wasn’t over yet.

[You heard my condition then and still chose regression. Right?]

“That’s right.”

[So you can’t complain.]

“Of course.”

He answered readily, but Min Do-jun’s expression wasn’t good.

It was a condition so difficult to execute that even his past self had hesitated.

[You’ve finished your revenge, so now you must keep your promise.]

“…”

[Come on, hurry up and kill yourself.]