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◈ I’m an Infinite Regressor, But I’ve Got Stories to Tell
The Mastermind XI
My hand jumped to my waist, only to grasp at nothing but thin air. Something that should have been there had vanished without me noticing.
“Hmm.”
From across the room came a playful laugh.
“Looking for your cane-sword Do-hwa, sunbae?”
“......”
“A blade that transcends regression and always ends up in your hands. It’s a god-slaying weapon specialized in killing me. But alas! That method—I’ve already seen it before, you know? A long, long time ago, when I collected the data.”
“Infinite Void...”
“Don’t be so tense, sunbae. Honestly, I’m overflowing with kindness right now and just wanted to give you a warning.”
Infinite Void jumped to its feet with an exaggerated “Oooshyaa!” It walked between the desks in the classroom, its hands clasped behind its back. I readied myself for battle, watching its every move.
“You’ve been a little impatient lately, haven’t you?”
Warily, I asked, “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, I get it. You and I both know the Mastermind is a tricky opponent. But using an Outer God like me for the hunt, and even going as far as to involve that pink entity... It’s like you’ve got nothing left to lose.”
“......”
“Ah, I suppose that’s a virtue for regressors, though. Unlike regular humans, you can afford to experiment with everything. But sunbae, Outer Gods are dangerous.”
Indeed. I thought I’d prepared for every eventuality, yet there were still gaps in my defenses.
I’d let my guard down. I’d made a mistake.
“You didn’t let your guard down.”
With unnerving ease, Infinite Void read my thoughts.
By now, it had gathered enough data about me. Countless simulations of the regressor Undertaker’s simulation had given it mastery over the cosmos itself. My way of thinking, my behavior, my expressions, even the faintest breath or pose—I had been completely decoded.
“It wasn’t carelessness... just a logical failure. Who would have imagined that a sealed Outer God could become the Miko of another Outer God? Neither I nor the Mastermind could have foreseen this.”
“What are you planning to do with me?”
“Hehehe... Oh, that’s simple! I’ll use the powers of the Outer God to wreak havoc, scrambling everything into chaos until I turn you into a Miko who obeys only me!”
“......”
“Oh, relax. I’m kidding. Kidding! Sunbae, your face has been so stiff. You pretend to be human, but you don’t seem to understand human emotions.”
Something felt off.
‘Why hasn’t it attacked me yet?’
It was both an Outer God and the Miko of one—a being at the peak of monstrosity and transcendence.
Never before had I faced such a formidable adversary.
If it wanted, it could easily deal with me.
‘If I kill myself now, will I move to the next cycle? No... the risk is too great.’
At this point, I had to assume Infinite Void could persist across cycles, given that it had already consumed the Mastermind.
Or was I wrong?
Could it be that Infinite Void’s absorption of the Mastermind proved its superiority, meaning it couldn’t enhance its essence any further? Or was it the opposite, that the Mastermind had become a part of its essence, inheriting all of its properties, including the inability to recognize regression?
I didn’t know.
Nothing was certain. The only thing I was sure of was that pressing the reset button now would be extremely dangerous.
I had to assume the worst-case simulation. If the worst was true, Infinite Void might manipulate the causality of the “simulation” to summon a monster wave from beyond the Urals the moment the next cycle began.
Not just in the next cycle. Or the one after that. Forever.
‘Checkmate? Is that why it’s acting so smug, knowing it can’t lose no matter what I do?’
“That’s not it.”
“......”
Infinite Void stopped walking. It didn’t specify what it was refuting.
“Sunbae.”
Its hands were still clasped behind its back. With the poise of a former basketball ace, it tilted slightly and glanced at me.
“Did you not have fun?”
What?
“What are you talking about?” I countered, baffled.
Cheon Yo-hwa (天寥化), named for the desolation of heaven itself, mimicked throwing punches into the air.
“When the world was obliterated by the monster wave. When I, Infinite Void, the joker card you played at the last moment, yanked the hair of the oh-so-elusive Outer God.”
Jab, jab.
“And after that? A grand search of the Great Void! Oh, the hidden research facility of mad scientists mimicking you and your comrades’ appearances! You infiltrated it, pretending to be one of their researchers, taking them out one by one. But alas! Destroying the lab only led to another lab cropping up somewhere else?! Truly tragic!”
“...Infinite Void.”
“Silent comprehension. A truth that transcends words. You, who embody such principles, could be said to have reached the realm of gods.”
I couldn’t move.
Of course I couldn’t. This was Infinite Void’s playground.
Ordinarily, it wouldn’t have been able to exercise such dominion, but having reduced five thousand simulated universes to 666, it had taken full control―
Ah. Ah!
“Yes, that’s right.”
The reason the Mastermind’s divine realm, the self-proclaimed Heavenly Kingdom, had transformed into 666 Hells!
I had ridiculed it, saying it was proof the Outer God’s power had diminished and its true nature was exposed. Infinite Void had countered, claiming, “This is the result of your actions, sunbae.”
And Infinite Void had been right.
“Do you remember? The name you gave me was Infernal Hell.”
The transformation of the so-called heaven into hell was definitive proof that control over this divine realm had passed from the Mastermind to Infinite Void!
Yet despite this glaring evidence, I had failed to notice.
“Aha! I was so nervous back then, worrying that you’d figure it out. Lucky for me, your overflowing hatred toward the Mastermind worked in my favor.”
“......!”
“I’m sorry, sunbae.”
The wind blew.
Infinite Void untied its hair. The ponytail that had symbolized Cheon Yo-hwa scattered, loose strands fluttering in the breeze.
“I’m not here to debate strategy. This is right, and it’s perfect. You can’t logically refute it.”
“......”
“Oh, don’t worry too much. I’m not planning to sacrifice my ‘younger sibling.’ I intend to seal myself in time. This is the best simulation for you, sunbae. And honestly... it’s the best for me too.”
I didn’t understand.
“You’ll understand soon.”
The wind stopped.
A globe rested on the desk between us.
I immediately recognized it as the model of Universe 107, our one and only reality.
“So, sunbae.”
Cheon Yo-hwa of heaven’s desolation (天寥化) smiled.
“Make me... a happy human.”
My vision darkened.
.
.
.
.
.
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Simulation.
Set Undertaker’s perspective to the 1st cycle.
.
.
.
Cheon Yo-hwa of heaven’s desolation (天寥化) set as the twin sister of Cheon Yo-hwa of the hundred tales (千謠話).
Searching for the most natural connection between Undertaker and the twin sisters... Connection established.
Causality in progress.
.
.
.
Starting point set as Gangnam Void Incident, Gangnam White Night, or one year before Seoul’s Summer.
Causality established.
.
.
.
Simulation, commence.
Footnotes: