Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 150

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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150.
42%
[System Alert: Still, you should be more cautious next time.]
Despite how well everything had turned out, Thirteen still seemed deeply dissatisfied.
[System Alert: …It’s Kang Ha-jin who gets hurt in situations like this. And there’s no guarantee things will always end this favorably.]
Since his concern was entirely for my sake, I nodded readily in agreement.
“I know. This time was just a stroke of luck.”
This situation had wrapped up nicely when the Loving You team’s incident conveniently erupted, but there was no guarantee that similar situations would resolve so smoothly every time in the future.
However, I actually thought this timing was perfect precisely because of that uncertainty.
“We needed some catalyst to shift the fandom’s mood before debut anyway. I spoke up prepared to take the criticism…. From now on, I need to find safer and more effective methods.”
After debut, there would be even more situations like this, and I couldn’t possibly provoke fans like a fighting cock every single time.
Suddenly realizing that debut was right around the corner, I lifted myself up from where I’d been sprawled across the sofa. Anyway, I’d entered the Unconscious Space for a different reason today.
“Now let’s talk business. First, the rewards.”
I manipulated the system window simply and pulled up the most recently received Quest from the Quest tab.
[System Alert: Sudden Quest!]
Content: The foundation of an idol group is teamwork!
Clear away uncomfortable feelings between team members,
and share a time to hear each other’s true hearts.
Perhaps it will become an opportunity to reflect on my own heart?
Success Rewards:
– Beautiful harmony♬ from perfect team chemistry
– Unexpected fortune ^♡^
– One-time negation of side effects upon entering the Unconscious Space
[System Alert: Will you receive the remaining rewards? (Y/N)]
As I nodded, a loading screen appeared with a message confirming the rewards were being received. But honestly, the side effect negation would be used up this time, and that “unexpected fortune” was such an ambiguous reward that I didn’t have particularly high expectations.
“Well, things didn’t turn out badly last time with the cat’s gratitude either….”
There shouldn’t be any losses this time either.
I even wondered if this whole situation went so smoothly precisely because of this “unexpected fortune”….
Seeing that it was still in an unclaimed state, it seemed this situation really did have heaven’s favor on its side.
“So that’s something we just wait on. Only the most critical matter remains.”
I crossed my arms and looked at Thirteen while sitting cross-legged on the sofa.
“Dan Ha-ru really does seem like the Chosen Regressor. So what do we do now?”
I still couldn’t say it was 100%, but my suspicion was leaning heavily toward Ha-ru.
Now that a prime suspect had emerged, it was time to consider the next steps.
[System Alert: The most important thing is to strip the Chosen Regressor of their time management authority.]
[System Alert: To do that, we first need to draw out the Chosen Regressor’s true personality.]
Drawing out someone who’s managed to evade the Time Management Authority’s eyes so skillfully all this time—it’s not going to be easy from the start.
I tilted my head back and groaned.
[System Alert: Once the Chosen Regressor’s true personality is revealed, I will officially register that personality in the system.]
[System Alert: After that, there are several methods available.]
[System Alert: The easiest solution would be to forcibly erase the Chosen Regressor’s personality, but….]
[System Alert: Since we must capture not only the Chosen Regressor but also The One Who Returns, this will likely become quite a complex numbers game.]
Regardless, the conclusion was that drawing out the Chosen Regressor’s personality and communicating with them had to be the top priority.
But then the real problem was—how exactly could I drag out that cowardly bastard who’d buried himself so deep?
As I pondered this, my eyes darting back and forth, I slowly lifted my head.
“The Chosen Regressor still doesn’t know who I am, right? That I’m regressing alongside them, and that I’m fully aware of all the timelines we’ve regressed through.”
[System Alert: Given how desperately The One Who Returns tried to hide your existence, I suspect that’s the case.]
[System Alert: If they’d known, we wouldn’t have had that infinite regression incident last time.]
“Then I guess it’s time to let them know.”
[System Alert: …Pardon?]
[System Alert: (๑•̌.•̑๑)ˀ̣ˀ̣]
Thirteen looked at me with an expression that screamed ‘what’s this guy plotting now?’, but I didn’t back down. I draped my arm over the sofa, propped my chin up, and smiled slightly.
“All roads lead to Seoul anyway. Rather than poking Dan Ha-ru to draw out the Chosen Regressor’s personality, it’s better to make the Chosen Regressor want to talk to me first.”
[System Alert: Hmm…. That does make sense.]
“The most likely option is revealing my identity to the Chosen Regressor, but the question is whether Dol-ja will stay quiet. Honestly, I’m already anxious about how silent they’ve been.”
I tapped my fingers rhythmically as I spoke, a habit of mine.
This hunt for the Chosen Regressor seemed to be reaching its climax, yet my mind was still drowning in question marks. It was like that feeling in a mystery manga when you’re approaching the culprit’s reveal, but none of the plot threads have been resolved yet.
“Usually in situations like this, it’s one of two things. Either all the loose ends unravel at the ending, or you think it’s the ending but then something major happens and the culprit escapes.”
The former would be great, but the latter would be a disaster.
‘I need to meet the Chosen Regressor before Dol-ja pulls any tricks.’
My mind filled with countless scenarios, and my expression grew serious.
I habitually drummed my fingers as I fell into thought. Then, cautiously, Thirteen sent me a message.
[System Alert: Um, and… there’s something else I need to tell you.]
“Yeah. What is it? Go ahead.”
[System Alert: Once you strip the authority from the Chosen Regressor, your role in this matter will also come to an end.]
“I know that already.”
At Thirteen’s words about something I already knew, I tilted my head in confusion. Thirteen continued calmly.
[System Alert: The end approaching means the moment when you must make a choice is not far away.]
“….”
My choice?
Before I could even process that question, Thirteen showed me those two options I’d seen before.
SAVE OR DELETE
[System Alert: The ‘Fixed Regressor’ Kang Ha-jin and the ‘Original Personality’ Kang Ha-jin.]
[System Alert: Have you given thought to which one you’ll keep?]
The erasure of ‘me’ and the restoration of ‘me’.
Another massive question mark was cast into the sea of my consciousness.
* * *
42%.
Looking at that number, the man called the Chosen Regressor revealed a hint of curiosity.
‘Certainly…. How intriguing.’
The boy’s anxiety index, which had been climbing toward 99%, plummeted below 50% in an instant.
This was certainly something he’d never experienced before.
‘In my previous timelines, I would have already rewound time and had plenty left over at a number like this.’
The Chosen Regressor turned off the water at the sink with unhurried movements and dried his freshly washed face with a soft towel. When he returned to the room, he spotted a sheet mask placed on the bed as if waiting for him.
‘…Really, what a kind person.’
After his previous roommate left the dormitory and they consolidated rooms, his new roommate turned out to be quite affectionate. It was almost heartbreaking to think that someone so kind to the world had withered away in countless timelines before this one, unable to nurture his dreams amid the world’s indifference.
‘Will things really be different this time?’
Could they be?
But I had long since abandoned my expectations of the world.
In this timeline too, I was managing because the ‘boy’ seemed to like me, but I was already prepared to abandon this world first if it ever rejected him.
‘…I’m exhausted.’
Now that I thought about it, the time I’d promised with ‘him’ was drawing near.
The Chosen Regressor collapsed onto the bed and closed his eyes for a moment.
The reality that the end was approaching was gradually sinking in.
“Huh? Ha-ru, you awake?”
As the door opened, his new roommate, Tae-hyun, stepped inside.
At the sound of his name, the Chosen Regressor—no, Dan Ha-ru—slowly opened his eyes and turned his head.
“No, I was just resting my eyes.”
“Your hyung left a sheet mask here. Did you see it?”
“Oh, I saw it… but I’m so tired right now I can’t even lift a finger.”
“Ugh. You didn’t even apply toner, did you? Come here.”
Seo Tae-hyun, unwilling to let it slide, pulled out skincare products from his pouch and approached Ha-ru’s bed. As he settled onto the mattress, Ha-ru naturally rested his head against Tae-hyun’s leg and closed his eyes.
Soon a cool sensation gently seeped across Ha-ru’s face.
“You just don’t do it yourself because I always do it for you.”
“…Mmm. Caught.”
“It’s cute, so I don’t mind. You and Ha-jin hyung both—people with good skin never pay attention to it, do they?”
At the mention of Ha-jin’s name, Ha-ru’s lips stiffened subtly before relaxing again.
Kang Ha-jin. Kang Ha-jin, indeed.
Among all the people he’d met across countless timelines, the one who had changed ‘Dan Ha-ru’ the most in the shortest amount of time.
Yet another variable constantly shaking up Dan Ha-ru’s world.
“There. Just stay like this until it dries. If you get tired, you can sleep. I’ll take it off when I come back from practice.”
“Mhm, hyung, you’re going to practice again?”
“Oh, I didn’t peel your lips properly. Hold on.”
Seo Tae-hyun carefully peeled the sheet mask away from Dan Ha-ru’s lips, then gently rose and placed a pillow behind his head.
Such tender care was something he found both nostalgic and welcome, so Dan Ha-ru didn’t resist and simply relaxed his body as he looked at Seo Tae-hyun.
“It’s just… the final evaluation is coming up soon anyway. If I just stay in the room, my head gets all muddled, so…”
“You’re ranked first, hyung. You’ll be able to debut.”
“If only it could be that simple, I’d have no regrets.”
In Tae-hyun’s bitter smile lay the faint traces of failures he’d endured.
The loneliness etched in that smile surely stemmed from frustration caused by Boy Heaven and the Executive Director, but….
“I’m sure that’s what will happen.”
But Dan Ha-ru knew better.
The countless failures and disappointments that even Seo Tae-hyun didn’t know about—all that he had endured.
Within those immeasurable stretches of time that I had rewound again and again, Seo Tae-hyun’s dreams had crumbled dozens, hundreds of times over.
“…Let’s debut together for sure. Hyung.”
“Yeah. I’ll definitely debut together with our wonderful Ha-ru. You worked hard today—get some rest.”
“Okay. Hyung, just practice a little more and get some good sleep too.”
“Will do~”
Seo Tae-hyun smiled, gathered his practice materials, and left the room.
A heavy darkness and silence settled in.
Dan Ha-ru squeezed his eyes shut, desperately trying to forget the torrential cascade of memories that threatened to overwhelm him like a tidal wave.
The only solace in this moment was the knowledge that when he opened his eyes tomorrow morning to greet that beautiful sun, it would not be this tattered, worn version of himself who would meet it.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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