338 – The Past (17)

“Nice to meet you.”

Jitter, who had moved to Jiwon Choi’s house, looked no different from before. As always, he was expressionless, firm, and drank a lot of water.

‘…I am.’

But inside, he was as shaken as the sea in which a typhoon was raging. Up until now, all of Jitter’s actions had been based on confidence. He had the belief that he was right, that the path he was taking was right, and that everything would be fine if he did as he pleased. Now that that belief had been broken, Jitter was unsure of how to move forward.

Because of the adaptive trait, the emotions themselves have become diluted, and it is fortunate that various signals from wavering emotions are covered up. If the trait had not been there, his complexion would have been pale, and his voice would have trembled slightly.

“… Kim Jun-ho, no. Mr. Jun-ho.”

Jitter quickly regained his senses and extended his hand to ask for a handshake. Choi Ji-won naturally accepted the handshake, and Kim Jun-ho seemed to be taken aback for a moment, but did not refuse the handshake.

Rough palms. Hard calluses. They have disappeared now because of ‘adaptation’, but Jeter had calluses like these too. How many bruises did he get on his chest from shooting practice, and how many torn wrists did he have from climbing ropes? The traces of training brought back nostalgia for Jeter.

“I believe you know the general situation. The current association is rotten and needs to be removed.”

Even as he said that, Jeter didn’t believe what he was saying. Is the association really rotten? Wasn’t Jeter wrong to create a players’ association in the first place? Didn’t the bureaucrats do their best in their positions? If they were kicked out, the association would run a little more smoothly, according to Jeter’s wishes. But is that really the ‘best’ and ‘efficient’?

“The reason I came to you all like this… is to ask you a favor.”

Whether Jitter was thinking or not, his mouth moved mechanically. He had already decided what he wanted to say. He had also decided how he would treat the regressor. He just had to do it.

“Please?”

“Yes. This is a request that came to me as I cleared the 29th floor and decided to overthrow the association.”

“… Wait a minute. You cleared the 29th floor?”

Kim Jun-ho looked surprised that he had already cleared the 29th floor. In reality, it wasn’t that long ago, but to Jitter, it was much longer. It was partly because of the events that had occurred in between, and partly because Jitter’s brain had accelerated while he was thinking.

Anyway, the conversation went very much as Jitter intended.

“Hey, did Dok Soo-hee come with you? I can’t get in touch with her.”

“… Are you talking about Ms. Dok Soo Hee?”

Even when the regressor asked about Dok Soo-hee, he wasn’t flustered at all. That’s because he had prepared an answer in advance.

“… How did you know that Soohee was a member of our association?”

Let’s start by asking the question in return.

“I see. If Ms. Soo-hee had said it herself, I believe there would have been a good reason for it.”

Show that you trust Dok Soo Hee.

“Ms. Su-hee went up to the tower. She is the type of person who, once she climbs a tower, keeps climbing.”

I will answer without saying a ‘lie’. It is true that Dok Soo-hee entered the tower, and it is also true that she usually did so. I just did not mention what happened on the 26th floor and the conflict with Jitter.

“Oh, is that so… ”

So, the regressor quickly put his doubts aside and started to control his facial expressions so as not to be caught as a regressor.

“Rather than that, didn’t you say you had a favor to ask?”

Finally, Kim Jun-ho asked the question he had been waiting for.

“Please, I will tell you right away.”

Before speaking, Jitter opened the refrigerator and drank some water, and suddenly this thought occurred to him.

Is this the first time this has happened? What if the regressor is testing me? What if I’m saying something different than I did the ‘last’ time?

No. You don’t have to worry. Just say what’s on your mind.

Originally, I was going to suggest, “How about we act together when the monsters invade?” In the process, Jitter’s goal was to show off his power, observe the power of the regressor, and at the same time naturally show the conflict with the US government, and have the regressor cooperate in creating ‘order for the players’.

But the more I talked to them, the more I felt that Kim Jun-ho and Choi Ji-won were great people. They should not be used. They were not used for their own gain but for the public good, and they should not be used for Jitter’s selfish desires.

“People like us… seem to go down the wrong path. It has to be me. I, the special me, have to show it now. I am the chosen one, so I have to solve the problem.”

He had already made a big mistake. He no longer had confidence in himself.

But there is a solution. Jitter himself must not take responsibility. If Jitter himself cannot do it, someone better, more powerful, and more responsible must take charge of everything.

He would always say during meetings with his team members that he would always give up his seat if there was someone better than him.

“But now I know. There are people in this world who are better and more special than me. I don’t have to shoulder everything. If there’s something I can’t do alone, I can rely on someone who is more special.”

“…”

“So, I have only two requests. First, please continue to climb the tower as fiercely as you are doing now. Become even stronger, and protect our humanity when the time comes for an invasion. Is that possible?”

Choi Ji-won and Kim Jun-ho simply took these words as a compliment, but Jitter’s true intentions were literal. He really wanted Kim Jun-ho and Choi Ji-won to conquer this tower. He had decided to stop at supporting the regressors like all other ordinary people.

Michael Jeter was not the protagonist. He was more of a villain. If so… shouldn’t he be of help now? Rather than not admitting his mistakes and going even further astray, wouldn’t it be more efficient to repent and try to make things right, even if it’s late?

“Please, take care of this medal.”

That’s what it meant to give them the medal. Really… to cheer them on.

“I won’t be in a position to climb the tower for the time being. You guys will catch up to me in no time.”

With those words, Jeter left for America again.

To correct one’s mistakes.

**

“Wait. Just a moment.”

Jiwon Choi cuts off Jitter’s long speech and grits her teeth.

“…”

Kim Jun-ho, who had been unable to bear the pain and groaning intermittently, was staring blankly into space at some point. His eyes were looking beyond the space, at something more than that.

“So… from then on, you were planning to leave everything to us?”

“…you’re right.”

“Then why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

From Choi Ji-won’s perspective… no, it was a situation that would have made anyone angry. If she had told him earlier. If she had revealed the truth a little sooner. Kim Jun-ho could have returned, and she might have found a solution that would have resolved all of this conflict.

But Jitter hid his true intentions and tried to solve it on his own, so it was too late. The point of return was already fixed, so now? Are you talking about this?

“Calm down.”

“Can you calm down now? Can you calm down now?”

-bang!!!

The Wi-Fi machine, which was already half-broken, was shattered to the point where it was difficult to recognize its shape. Despite the loud noise, Kim Jun-ho did not react, and the surroundings of the studio were still incredibly quiet. It was creepy.

“I apologize. I was reluctant to reveal the whole truth. And I thought I could handle it on my own. I was wrong.”

“Now that you’ve come…”

“Yes, I know. It’s pointless to apologize now. But could you please calm down a little and listen to my story until the end?”

“but…!”

“It’s almost over. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I just thought it would be polite to tell you what happened. Please. Junho, you may not be responding, but I’m sure you’re listening to the story.”

“…”

Jiwon Choi bit her lip so hard that it bled, then sat back down. Jitter, who hadn’t had a sip of water until now, was getting paler, but he started talking again without showing any sign of moving.

“I headed straight to the White House…”

**

Jeter headed straight to the White House. All his past experiences had changed him.

The regressor didn’t need Jitter’s help. He was already doing well enough, and he would continue to do well. Dok Soo-hee was right.

Therefore… there would be no need to ask the book for answers. If there was ever a chance of using the book, it would have to be done at Kim Jun-ho’s request. I knew that the idea that “the regressor will need our help” was an extremely condescending and arrogant view.

I was thinking of scrapping all the ‘plans’ I had been working on so far. I was thinking of finding another way, of saying I was wrong.

“Visits are not permitted.”

“…Why?”

However, Jeter could not meet the President. It was possible to break through by force, but Jeter asked why.

“The President has a schedule in China. He will probably be there for about a week.”

“…”

Yes. At such an important time, China. It could happen. Of course it could happen. But.

“Could I possibly meet Ronald?”

“Oh, Ronald also went with the President. I heard it was for training purposes.”

“…”

Not only did the president disappear, but the book’s owner, Ronald, also disappeared.

Yes, the president did not go there just to fulfill his schedule.

“Team Alpha. All hands on deck.”

No matter what happens… he disappeared to write the ‘Book of Truth’.

“We need to find the president.”

To stamp the eyes of the regressor.