Chapter 178

"At the last moment when I was erasing your memories, this life's me unconsciously pushed the power that was lacking. If I develop my ability now, something similar might be possible. Since you're incomparably stronger anyway, even if I develop my ability to the maximum, it probably won't affect the Great Rift."

Soram made a confused face as if a difficult problem had suddenly been presented to him. What did he mean...

Tae-un pulled Soram's waist towards him and gently embraced it.

"With the ability I've gained now, I think I can push memories embedded in power into the next life."

Soram couldn't say anything.

"..."

After staying stiffly frozen for a moment, a trembling that he didn't know where it started spread throughout his body.

Thump, thump, thump.

His rapidly increased heartbeat dizzily shook his head.

"Han Tae-un..."

His mouth, which had barely opened, spat out a short word and lost speech again. After a long while, his stiffened hand moved rigidly to grab Tae-un's arm.

"That's impossible, that, is it really possible, h-how..."

"I've been awakening with the wish to help you. If my previous life self had the ability to erase everything and give a new chance, this life's me."

"..."

"Seems to have the ability to not leave you alone."

The ability to pull back Soram who tries to run away, and to chase after him to his side if Soram is forcibly sent far away.

"I'm going to try my best to survive here as the top priority, since this round is the happiest for both you and me. I won't say we'll definitely be able to live. Instead."

Instead. Soram couldn't take his eyes off Tae-un's face as he numbly swallowed every word he uttered.

"Even if we fail by any chance, I'll come back to you again, even if I have to gather all the miracles left in the remaining lives."

"..., ...Ah, uh. ...Heup..."

It was bigger than any confession Soram could hear. His hands gripping Tae-un desperately applied strong force.

"Really, will, will you come?"

His voice trembled so much that its original form was unrecognizable.

"Yeah."

Han Tae-un sometimes lied. He said he wouldn't shout at Soram but got angry when he hurt himself with the magic stone, and he had promised not to save Soram but ended up standing in front of the gun aimed at Soram.

But even if it was an empty promise, he would stubbornly keep reckless words like a contrary person. It seemed like Han Tae-un would really come back to him somehow. In a way he couldn't even imagine, to the point where he would exclaim, "Hey, you crazy bastard!"

Earnest wishes cause miracles.

The person who created the miracle was Tae-un. He held it out to Soram intact.

Emotions surged. His thoughts were covered by what Tae-un had said and crumbled away.

The next life would be more desperate, and it might drag Tae-un to a painful place. But Soram could never refuse the hand extended to him.

"Thank you..."

For that, the existence of his first understanding savior in the long time was too desperate.

Tae-un touched the corner of Soram's eye that was about to contort.

"You promise too."

"...What?"

"In any case, all your remaining time is mine. If we fail to stop the 4th Great Rift, I'll follow you. If we succeed."

Tae-un held out his pinky finger in the very narrow gap between them.

"If we get to stay in this life, let's get married here."

"..."

Soram had to clench his jaw so hard that he felt a spicy taste in his mouth. Tae-un was too close to make an expression matching the overwhelming emotion. Though he lowered his head deeply, he couldn't help the tears falling drop by drop from his chin onto Tae-un's clothes. But his finger approached without hesitation.

As he hooked his finger and intertwined it tightly, he seemed to understand the meaning of what Tae-un had said earlier.

He said he felt like he could do anything when he confirmed that Soram loved him. Soram's mind now drew the future for the first time.

Ah, I really want to live.

His heart didn't calm down but beat bigger and bigger. The resonance was so great that he could feel the pounding outside his chest. Han Tae-un had always been the person who made him want to live, but this time he made him desperate enough to forget even the fear of failure.

Soram slowly pulled the pinky finger he had hooked towards himself. He pressed his lips firmly on the back of the hand he had brought to his mouth.

And he opened his closed eyes. It was the painful gaze of someone who had fallen and been wounded many times. But he was looking ahead.

"I'm done with regrets too."

***

It had already been two years since Ayoung set foot in the corridor of the floor where the Field Operations Bureau's office was located. Yet today her heart felt unsettled.

The previous night, the Team 7 group chat that had been silent for a while finally rang.

Jin Soram: [I'll be back tomorrow. ^0^]

Thanks to that, Ayoung walked past the Team 1 office where she had been staying for a few days and went to the end of the corridor. The Team 7 office was lit up like it used to be when welcoming Ayoung after she finished school.

When she opened the door, a low-voiced greeting immediately welcomed her.

"Ayoung-ah, it's been a while."

Tae-un was sitting at the round table for three. He was in his impeccably worn suit and posture as always.

"Hello! Wow, it really feels like it's been a long time since I've been in our team's office."

But... the figure of someone who should be occupying the main seat, in complete contrast to the neat Tae-un, was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Soram oppa?"

"Director's office. He had something to report."

"Ah. When did he go?"

"Not long ago."

Then he'll be back soon. An excited smile spread across Ayoung's face as she hurriedly found her seat. It was a very good opportunity that had come at just the right time. Ayoung propped her chin on both hands and pulled her body towards Tae-un.

"Tae-un oppa."

"Yeah."

"Who liked the other first? I think it was you, Tae-un oppa. Right? Did you confess first too? What did you say when you confessed?"

"..."

"When was your first kiss?"

"Kup."

Tae-un had to swallow a cough that went down the wrong pipe. Knowing well that while Soram might be able to smoothly get past this, Tae-un didn't have such skill, Ayoung loaded a bomb of questions in her mouth.

Meanwhile, at the same time Ayoung sat across from Tae-un.

Soram was sitting face to face with Director Park Jae-seon upstairs.

The color of the oolong tea in the paper cup had deepened. Soram swirled the tea bag to steep the tea and pushed it towards the director. Then he took out the tea bag from his own cup too. Because he had sent out Min Yu-ra, the secretary, saying there was something to talk about just between the two of them, Soram had brought the tea saying he would do it. Even though tea drops were scattered on the table, Soram was confident. The director, finding the attempt endearing, brought the bland tea to his mouth.

"I'd like to conduct training to prepare for the 4th Great Rift."

And Soram said something as unexpected as his unexpected behavior. The director put down his paper cup and answered.

"I felt the need since the interval between the 1st and 2nd was short."

3 years between the 1st and 2nd, 8 years between the 2nd and 3rd. How long would the interval be this time? As long as this country had the possibility of a Great Rift breaking out at any time, they couldn't complacently remain in the current peace.

"For our lazy one to mention this first, you must have thought about a lot of things while resting."

"Hmm... Yes. I made various resolutions too..."

"We've been continuously discussing training methods anyway. Completely unexpected lava came out during the 3rd one, right? Since we can't predict what kind of mutants will appear next..."

"Without changing anything, it would be best to go with the existing training method focused on siege dungeons, but make them learn combat methods in urban areas. Places like tall buildings, elevated roads, large bridges."

Director Park Jae-seon threw a question at the voice filled with certainty.

"Do you know what kind of dungeon will break out where and how, through what process this country will fall?"

The paper cup Soram put down had clear teeth marks from biting the rim. He smiled docilely like when he was called here after causing a lot of trouble.

"I'm sorry. For making you bear this burden together. I guess I really am a bastard after all."

***

After a series of events were organized, the Rift Phenomenon Management Headquarters began a large-scale training schedule under the director's leadership. The locations included not only internal training rooms but also external facilities and outdoors, and all Field Operations Bureau hunters were put into systematically organized programs by the research lab without exception.

At first, the hunters were determined to work hard, remembering the terrible 3rd Great Rift, but as time passed, screams for help abounded due to the tremendous intensity of the training. But the training continued without stopping.

Not only Park Jae-seon, who continued the training mercilessly with a gentle face, but there was one more person tormenting the Field Operations Bureau hunters.

Kakang, kang, kang, kuung!

"...!"

The attack went a bit off target and scraped the surrounding area. Ga-eul's eyes, which had paused after making a mistake, wavered left and right as if checking the situation.

―Ah, Chief Kim Ga-eul, what on earth happened during that time? We're so young and in our prime, could it be you already have tremors?

"Shit, did you see that..."

―Hunter Lee Ayoung, you said you wanted the team leader position, right? It's Team 1. There seems to be someone who's about to retire soon. I thought I'd get kicked out first for causing trouble, but it looks like they'll be faster.

"Hey! You come down!"

Ga-eul shouted angrily towards the control room above. A face peeking out the window there, carrying a megaphone, was making cheeky remarks.

Ga-eul kicked the target in the middle of the training ground with her back foot. The heavy target was smashed into the corner over there. Forget everything else, sparring was the real training after all. Purple afterimages rose as if receiving countless camera flashes. Along with a terrifying killing intent.

Hmm, that's right. Ga-eul is scariest when she's angry. Soram floated down still carrying the megaphone. The purple light surrounding the person standing opposite intensified as she saw the leisurely appearance of the person facing her.

"Oh, oh. They're going to fight."

"Oh, it's been a while since this happened."

As an interesting spectacle arose during training, excited hunters formed a circular audience. Even Director Park Jae-seon allowed the situation with a resigned face.

Hoo, Ga-eul exhaled deeply as she gripped her weapon tightly.

"If I win, I'm going to blow that megaphone into your mouth to shut you up for a while."

―Ah, then if I win, I should ask for a 24-hour dedicated line to be opened on Ga-eul's in-ear, right?

"Uwaaaaah!"

Metal paper airplanes circled round and round above the spinning head. Soram raised blue mist to send the megaphone back, then drew the sword at his waist.

At some point as the regressions accumulated, he had stopped using weapons. But Soram picked up again the weapons he had developed and fitted in this life.

He decided to live this round. Though he didn't know the result, he would try to believe this life was the only one until the very end at least.

Then it would be right to live as the Jin Soram who lived this life.

The movement of the airplanes was a little different from what he knew, and gathering mist on the sword was also a bit awkward. But these memories ingrained in his body soon found the knack. After sparring with Ga-eul, it would become more familiar.

Soram kicked the ground. Life returned to the brown eyes that had decided to try living.