Grab the Regressor by the Collar and Debut - Chapter 556

—————

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

—————

556. In the Chaos (9)
After slipping out of the Restaurant, I headed straight for the First Floor Entrance.
The blueprints we’d discovered didn’t have names labeled for each location, but the Exit Entrance was marked separately, making it relatively easy to navigate.
“Since this is the Restaurant… it should be this way.”
As I made my way toward the Exit Entrance using the Restaurant as my reference point, I marked every location I’d passed through onto the blueprint. It turned out to be useful that I’d grabbed a pen when leaving the Office.
“Found it. The entrance.”
I arrived at the Research Facility entrance relatively quickly, evading the patrol routes of the security robots stationed throughout the corridors.
I looked around hoping to find some small gap or opening to slip through, but true to its abandoned status, the Exit Entrance was sealed shut.
‘Well… it’s not like I came here for that anyway, so it doesn’t matter.’
Without hesitation, I turned away from the Exit Entrance and began exploring the surrounding area.
Walking slowly through the Hallway while checking the blueprint in my hand, the place I’d been searching for soon came into view.
【Security Room】
【※ Authorized Personnel Only ※】
The reason I’d come straight to this location was because the first means of neutralizing those terrifying security robots—robots I had no idea when I’d encounter again—was contained within.
I recalled the conversation I’d had with Nam Sa-ra and Ha Tae-jin in the Office earlier.
-Ah, here it is. The security robots are programmed to attack anyone who isn’t authorized personnel, so researchers must always wear designated uniforms and employee badges.
-So we need to find those uniforms and badges?
-But where do we get those? Everything here is already destroyed.
-Wait, wait… It says ‘Employee badges must be stored in the First Floor Security Room without fail.’
-Then we need to find the Security Room.
Though my mind had been working overtime since morning, the information I’d uncovered in the Office had proven invaluable so far.
I bit down on the lollipop that had been rolling around in my mouth, and with a sharp crack, it snapped in half. I chewed the small sugar fragment thoroughly and swallowed before examining the lock mechanisms attached to the Security Room door.
“Wow… this Security Room’s security is insane.”
The massive Iron Gate of the Security Room had three different locks: one was a standard keypad, and the other two were wooden puzzle mechanisms.
From what I could tell, solving the wooden puzzles would reveal the password hint.
[System Alert: This looks quite difficult!]
‘Still have to solve it though. What else can I do?’
[System Alert: The System is curious what the other method for disabling the security robots might be!]
[System Alert: (｡・ω・｡)?]
‘A second method?’
Just then, one of the security robots patrolling the Hallway spotted me and began rushing toward me at a terrifyingly rapid speed.
Instinctively holding my breath, worried it might call other robots to its aid, I quickly assumed a sniper stance with the laser gun in my hand and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
This laser gun was the very one I’d taken from a security robot earlier, and Ha Tae-jin had handed it to me before we parted ways in the Restaurant, saying it seemed like I’d need it more.
Bang—!
The shot connected perfectly, and the circular sensor mounted in the center of the security robot’s body lost its light. The security robot (or rather, the extra actor playing one) then stopped moving as if its power had truly been cut off and collapsed to the floor.
If it had been a real robot, there would have been a loud crash, but since there was a person inside, it was different.
The way it fell—safely to avoid injuring the knee joints, yet dynamically enough not to break immersion—was quite human(?) in nature.
‘See? That’s the second method.’
[System Alert: Ah…!]
[System Alert: So you can just shoot them all with this gun, right!?]
[System Alert: The System eagerly anticipates an awesome action scene from the Fixed Returner.]
[System Alert: (ʃƪ〃ﾟ3ﾟ〃)]
‘I’d prefer that approach too, honestly… but the charge is nearly depleted.’
Laser guns like this were typically rechargeable, but the one I held had less than 30% battery remaining. If I relied solely on this weapon and pushed forward with brute force, only to have the battery die at a critical moment, that would be disastrous.
‘And… regardless, I absolutely need to get inside the Security Room.’
If the Security Room managed the entire Research Facility’s security, there was a high probability of finding clues about the CCTV system throughout the building and the “System” that countered Void.
Gripping the laser gun firmly in my right hand in case the security robot returned unexpectedly, I began slowly examining the wooden puzzle with my remaining left hand.
“Hmm….”
The first puzzle had a red steel ball in the center blocked by rectangular wooden blocks. It seemed I needed to slide these pieces around to make the ball fall through the passage below.
The number ’15’ written above it was probably the number of moves allowed for the blocks….
“…?”
When I shifted my gaze to the second puzzle on the opposite side, it was similarly filled with wooden blocks of comparable shape.
The difference was that instead of a red steel ball, the wooden blocks in the second puzzle had mysterious patterns carved into them.
“If I solve this, will it form some kind of sentence…?”
I placed my hand on the second puzzle first.
I slowly moved the pieces from the edges, but the mechanism was stiff and the patterns were difficult to discern—trying to match each one felt like my eyes would pop out.
I’d done these constantly as a child and played with them so much my hands were practiced, but after such a long time, I had to admit it felt somewhat tedious.
“Hmm….”
Was there some other way to do this?
While I stared at the puzzle in contemplation, I set down the laser gun and pulled out the blueprint and pen. Then I flipped one of the blueprints over and folded it in half to reveal the blank side.
[System Alert: …?]
[System Alert: What are you doing?]
[System Alert: ( ? O ? )]
‘A shortcut.’
Despite Thirteen’s bewildered response, I steadfastly continued with my task.
I held the blueprint paper against the wall and began tracing the patterns on the wooden pieces directly with the pen. The simple shapes were quick to copy.
“Now, if I place this here….”
With all the patterns transcribed, I laid the blueprint and puzzle side by side and racked my brain earnestly.
Since the wooden puzzle’s shapes weren’t overly complex, I could estimate by eye where at least one or two pieces belonged.
“…this line breaks off here, so this piece must go at this end.”
Based on those precise positions, I began calculating where the remaining pieces should go. Then, using those approximate locations as hints, I tried combining the patterns on the wooden pieces in various ways.
After all, whether it was a password made of letters or numbers, the possible combinations were all variations of the same thing.
[System Alert: Wouldn’t it just be easier to solve it normally?]
‘Stay quiet before I ask you to solve it.’
[System Alert: Yes… – 3-]
Honestly, I could just open a System window, copy the data identically, run through a few permutations, and have the answer.
It was unfortunate that the cameras recording me from all directions prevented me from using that excellent shortcut.
[System Alert: Does this Returner really think I’m some exclusive AI for Returners….]
[System Alert: (ﾒﾟ皿ﾟ)]
‘Well… there’s not really any difference, is there?’
When I stared blankly at Thirteen, who had been chattering away beside me out of sheer nervousness, Kim Thirteen displayed a contemptuous ellipsis effect (…) beyond the cyan System window, as if to say how absurd this all was.
It was undoubtedly a System window, yet somehow it conveyed emotion so effectively every single time—truly, it was beyond comprehension.
“Alright, that’s enough.”
Though I’d missed the System chance, there was no difficulty in discovering the puzzle’s answer.
Once I figured out the first pattern, the rest came easily.
From the second wooden puzzle, I could extract the answers ‘EIGHT’ and ‘SIX’.
“So now the problem is this….”
To be honest, if someone asked me to solve it within fifteen attempts, I felt confident I could manage it somehow, but the real issue was time.
I could already hear footsteps—whether from security robots or stragglers—growing steadily closer from the distance ahead.
“It looks like the password might be written inside this metal sphere….”
I examined the first puzzle once more.
Seeing that something was engraved inside the small sphere, it seemed likely that those were the remaining two digits of the password.
[System Alert: You should really try solving it quickly right now…!]
I casually dismissed Kim Thirteen’s chatter, who was just as tense as I was.
Yeah, if I solved this puzzle within fifteen attempts looking incredibly cool right here, the editing would definitely look spectacular.
I peered around the corner beyond the security robot still lying on the ground. The footsteps of some unknown stranger drew progressively closer.
Having made my decision, I quickly picked up the laser gun I’d set down on the floor.
[System Alert: So you’re going back to an awesome action scene route after all…!?]
‘No.’
[System Alert: Pardon?]
Firmly defying Thirteen’s expectations, I immediately turned the laser gun around and brought it down hard against the wooden puzzle using its sturdiest part. The crude mechanism, unable to withstand the force of the blow, cracked apart with a sharp snapping sound.
[System Alert: …?]
With a clear tinkling sound, the metal sphere wedged between the puzzle pieces fell to the floor.
‘When you have a good body, your brain doesn’t have to work so hard.’
With the password I’d obtained so easily, I quickly dashed into the Security Room.

—————

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

—————