210 – The Returner Endures (7)

Today’s amusement park was in a suitable condition for playing. Although it wasn’t as crowded as on weekends, there were enough people that it felt crowded. However, it can be said to be bad news for those of us who went to the amusement park to hide from the crowds.

“Wow, wow… !!”

I feel sorry for the girl who likes me with her eyes wide open, but we didn’t come here to have fun. To be precise, I came here to ‘pretend to have fun’.

To be able to see your surroundings clearly, to be able to run away if necessary, and to be alert without feeling awkward…

“Let’s go over there.”

“The line is really long?”

“That’s why I’m going.”

We lined up for an inflatable ride that goes around the ceiling. Many say that it is not fun, but it is a popular device for couples and children because it allows you to spin around the room all the way around and is great for taking pictures. In addition, it is an amusement ride that has long lines because the turnover rate is so terribly slow.

“Wow, wow…” “

Although it’s just a matter of waiting in line, Areum absolutely loves it. The cheap children’s clothes I bought on the way here suit me very well. It was cute to see him constantly expressing admiration.

“Do you like it that much?”

“Yes! It’s so nice to actually see things I’ve only heard about… !!”

“… “

I heard it ‘only in words’. A rough scenario is drawn in my head. Cold laboratory. Poor girl. A painful experiment. A researcher who couldn’t help but be treated warmly. My eyes, which were wide with caution, unconsciously become filled with pity.

“After riding this, can I eat the tornado potatoes over there? Yes?”

“… “I’m not going to buy this, but I’ll buy you the tornado potatoes.”

“Wow!”

Areum jumping around in place. The couple standing in front looked at it and whispered that it was cute.

“Is this your daughter? Or your younger brother?”

“Oh, it’s my cousin.”

“Oh my. Can you please take off your mask? Your eyes are so pretty… “

“Oh, that’s a bit…” “

As I was taking care of the couple, an announcement started with a chugging sound coming from the indoor speakers.

“We are looking for a missing child. We are looking for a missing child. This is an urgent matter, so we ask for your full cooperation from our staff. Thank you.”

“This is the police. Do you mind if I check on your daughter for a moment? “It won’t take long.”

At the same time, a group of police officers can be seen entering the amusement park. No, it’s not just the police. Although they are wearing casual clothes, there are also people who clearly exude sharp energy. It looks completely like an ordinary person, but its sharp spirit is different. They are ‘experts’.

“Uhm… “

Less than an hour had passed since we entered the amusement park. No matter how excellent the investigative skills of our country’s police are, I don’t think they are so good that they can reach the answer of ‘amusement park’ in just 40 minutes. I also chose to move only on routes with few CCTVs. This is a speed that is generally impossible.

“Huh? Beautiful. “You want to go to the bathroom?”

“Yes?”

“I can’t help it. Let’s ride next time.”

I took Areum with me and hid in an easily visible restroom for the disabled. I believed that this would buy me some time.

“Teacher. “Please come out.”

“… “

“You probably don’t even know what you’re doing. “Please come out when I have good words to say.”

I was discovered within 5 minutes. When I opened the door, the ‘agent’ wearing casual clothes that I had seen earlier was waiting for me. The machine in his right hand points in this direction and emits a beeping light.

“What do you say I’m doing?”

“I’m sure it’s better not to know.”

As the man gestured, other agents standing behind pointed their Tasers at him. Yes, it would be a burden to openly shoot something like a sniper rifle here.

“… “

Shall we fight? If you fight, you win. But what after that?

“It is a failure.”

After organizing my thoughts, I lightly chewed my cheek. I’ll have to try a few more experiments.

[You have suffered damage.]

[Return to the moment you first entered the 21st floor.]

***

Several regressions were repeated. I used my imagination to experiment with the number of possibilities, and the results were all the same.

Amusement park. Arboretum. Department store. Cafe. Mountain valley. Beach.

I walked around busily, regardless of whether it was a place with a lot of people or a few people. Sometimes they acted like brother and sister, sometimes like father and daughter, and sometimes like strangers. Sometimes I wore a mask, sometimes I just wore regular clothes, and sometimes I just carried it in a sack.

“Whoa.”

Everything, everything was useless.

It doesn’t matter where you go. They will definitely come. Of course the police. They are influential in large corporations, and their ability to act is extremely fast.

“I’m sure we’re being tracked.”

100%, Really 100%, it is clear that Areum has a chip or something implanted in her body. No matter which route I took, they found us quickly, and there were no exceptions. That’s why she asked her, ‘Are there any square-shaped protrusions on her body?’, But the only answer she got back was that there were no. It’s too difficult for me to check it myself, and it’s really difficult. First of all, it appears that the chip is not implanted in a visible way on the skin.

It would be possible to explore in more detail by injecting magic power into the body, but I could not bear to do so because it would affect my frail body. What if my organs are damaged? My magic power is already cold. It is obvious that you will probably get frostbite in one or two places.

“The gun quality is… “There was none.”

Another unique feature is that, except for the first episode, I have never seen a ‘sniper rifle’. There have been times when I went to a deserted mountain valley or beach, and even then, police and agents only showed up and there was never a single sniping from afar. At this point, I can’t shake the suspicion that there is something on the mountain I went to. The problem is that I don’t know exactly where it is.

“But this is not a problem.”

Since the time is fixed anyway, you just have to take the same bus. I remember the bus number, and I know that I can make money through hard work. If you have to, you can use the luggage compartment. Let’s visit that mountain again later.

Another question is Areum’s movements.

No matter where I am, she always comes to visit me. Whether in the city, in the mountains, or on the beach. Although she was a bit late in coming when we were too far away, she walked to the spot next to me as if drawn by her magnet. Of course, she has never been abroad because she does not have a passport, but she has never been on a ship on the sea… What is important is the ‘fact of following’ itself.

“You said you felt some strange attraction… “

What does he feel from me that makes him keep coming back to me? And what does the government want that makes it so obsessed with Areum? For me, who had already tried countless ways, the option of ‘running away’ had already disappeared.

No matter who comes, this is not allowed. Choi Ji-won? Michael Jeter? Can not be done. No matter what Areum does, she has no choice but to be caught. If I, the regressor, can’t do it, other people won’t be able to do it either.

“… “

But are you going to give up? No, I don’t. If running away doesn’t work, you have no choice but to try another method.

“Let’s negotiate.”

First, let’s find out why the government wants Areum. You need to know the reason to be able to respond, and only by being able to respond can you lead the story in the direction you want. There will be no answer if you run away and get hit with a Taser repeatedly, like now.

However, in order to negotiate, you need a table appropriate for it. If I want to create an environment where I can talk without getting shot at all times…

“There must be more eyes.”

There should be as many eyes as possible.

I looked down for a moment at the iPad in my hand.

These days, more people look at the cyber world than in reality.

**

Inside a police station. The police chief was leisurely drinking a cup of coffee and waking up in the morning. I woke up early today and my eyelids were very heavy.

“Whoa… “

Retirement age is soon approaching. He was not well-connected enough to be offered an honorary position, nor was he ambitious enough to enter politics. Fortunately, he had some money saved up so he wouldn’t go hungry, but for an old man who had worked all his life, ‘retirement’ was a very scary thing.

Let’s retire without leaving a blemish on the career we have built up step by step. It was a small wish that came to the chief after seeing other colleagues taking off their clothes in an ugly manner.

“Hmm, hmm… “

The chief imagines himself retiring with honor and congratulations from everyone.

“Chief!”

At that time, the manager burst open the door and came in, and my happy imagination was instantly disturbed and disappeared.

“That… This is an urgent matter. “I think you should see this.”

“Emergency? What?”

The police chief puts down his coffee and jumps up from his seat. When I hear the word ’emergency’ in the police profession, cold sweat breaks out on my back without me even realizing it.

“Look at this.”

The manager opens YouTube on his cell phone and shows it to the chief. The chief takes off his glasses, frowns, and stares intently at the screen.

“What crime is our Areum guilty of? Are the police coming to persecute you? “The government must apologize!”

“Apologize!”

A man wearing a red string on his head and screaming loudly and a cute girl screaming ‘Apologize!’ To the beat. The girl has a ribbon tied in her hair instead of a string.

“Uh, uh, that…” “

But the girl’s face looks somewhat familiar. I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere…

“Yes… “She’s that girl from the news.”

“Where is it broadcasting?”

“It is a park within our jurisdiction.”

“Oh my God.”

The police chief jumps up from his seat and quickly puts on his coat.

“Would you like to go in person? A team has already arrived… “

“Call all the kids who don’t have anything urgent to do. No, just tell everyone to come. “It’s an emergency.”

He recalled an official document from this morning that said, ‘Burn it after you finish reading it.’ Attached to it was a photo of a girl, with an emphasis that it must be returned alive.

“What is this in my later years…?” “

The sender is the President of the Republic of Korea.