223 – Returner is mentally weak (2)
“… Miss Suhee’s whereabouts must have been a top secret… “Do you mind if I ask where the information came from?”
Michael Jeter asks in a hard voice. It’s an obvious mistake. Now I had to know Dok Su-hee’s whereabouts. Because I was momentarily embarrassed, the blood drained from my head and my eyes started spinning for no reason. The so-called brain freeze has occurred.
“Oh? Was it a secret? “That’s strange.”
However, unlike my condition, my mouth was moving on its own. To be precise, it is giving the brain time to come to its senses.
“No, but… Hmm… “
“Please tell me.”
“So?”
Think about it. What’s a good excuse? In this situation, I have no choice but to sell Doksu-hee. I have to say that Dok Soo-hee told me this. But what if Michael Jeter knows about my relationship with Dok Soo-hee? What if I knew we were in a bad relationship?
Then, well, we have to go back.
“Soohee told me. “We are colleagues who joined forces on the third floor.”
The quick worries are over. I’m betting that Dok Soo-hee didn’t reveal all the information to Michael Jeter. We are actually colleagues who joined forces on the 3rd floor. It was a good relationship, and we still keep in touch to this day.
“… Okay. “If Suhee had said it herself, I believe there would have been a good reason.”
Fortunately, perhaps the excuse worked, Michael Jeter just accepted it and moved on without much reaction. Certainly, he appears to trust Dok Soo-hee.
“Then, we will return to square one. “Did you ask about Miss Suhee’s whereabouts?”
“Yes. “I couldn’t contact you at all.”
“Miss Suhee entered the tower.”
“… “The tower?”
If you entered the tower, you will soon clear one floor and come out.
“Because of that, it may be difficult to contact you for quite some time.”
“… Yes?”
Michael Jeter looked at my shocked reaction and furrowed his eyebrows as if he didn’t know about this.
“Miss Suhee is the type of person who climbs the tower without stopping. “After gathering all the necessary items, including daily necessities, in her ‘inventory’ ability, she does not return to reality and continues to concentrate on climbing.”
“… “
“One time I said, ‘That’s not efficient,’ and he said… She said she had a good reason. “I want to become stronger and there is someone I want to show it to.”
I don’t like it, but doesn’t everyone have their own way?” Added Michael Jeter. I felt choked up after hearing Jeter’s words.
The person I originally really hated, the person who betrayed me… What should I do if he consistently shows interest in me? How should I react when someone appeals to me that I have changed?
Actually, you can just skip it. Just think, “That’s it.” And accept it as fact. Coldly. Like I don’t care.
However, a favor that is not repaid is a pathetic thing, and I am not the type of person who can coldly refuse. Above all, people are designed to like people who like them. It may be a natural physiological phenomenon for Dok Soo-hee to develop a slight affection for him.
“Didn’t you say you had a favor to ask?”
Of course, I didn’t want to admit that I had feelings for him, so I quickly changed my mind.
“Are you asking me a favor? “Then I will tell you right away.”
Michael Jeter naturally opened the refrigerator and drank a whole bottle of water before finally getting to the point.
“A month ago. Do you remember when I said I was going to bring out the player’s era?”
“Yes. “I remember.”
“The reason I said that is simple. Because I thought that was the most efficient. We believed that increasing the player presence was the fastest way to save people. Efficiency is always my top priority.”
“Efficiency… “What do you mean?”
“Yes. I joined the military right after my birthday and became the youngest member of the special forces ever. From then on, I only chose the option that would serve my country most efficiently. It was the same at the tower. My goal was not to become stronger, but to climb the tower faster. I thought that was the most efficient way to conquer the tower. It is in the same context that I accepted the position of president of the association.”
Michael Jeter, who emphasized that he always values efficiency, took out a shiny medal from his pocket and placed it on the table.
“Thanks to living so efficiently, I was the most special person wherever I went. “It was the same at school, in the military, and at the tower.”
“Isn’t that true to some extent?”
“Let’s just say it’s partly true. Not only me, but most players think of themselves as special. It’s not an absurd idea. Because the number of players is small. But since ordinary players also develop a sense of privilege, what about special people among special players?”
“… “
“Maybe that’s why… It seems like we tend to go down the wrong path. It can’t be done without me. I have to show my special self now. “I am the chosen one, so I must solve the problem.”
Although he did not refer to anyone, it was easy to read his sincerity in his voice. Probably because he’s telling his own story.
Michael Jeter’s words touched me too. Because those words were somewhat similar to the thoughts I actually had.
As a regressor, I have to do it. I have to change it. Only I can do it.
Me, Dok Soo-hee, Michael Jeter… Maybe Choi Ji-won too.
Because they are special, they try to achieve something by going beyond their means. In essence, if you are just a human being, it is the result of mistakenly thinking that you are something more than a human being.
“But now I know. There are many people in the world who are better and more special than me. I don’t necessarily have to carry everything. “If there’s something I can’t do alone, I can rely on someone more special.”
Michael Jeter fiddling with the medal placed on the table.
“So, I have just two requests. First. Please climb the tower as fiercely as you do now. Please become stronger and protect our humanity in the event of invasion someday. Is that possible?”
“That’s… “Even if you didn’t ask for it, it was our original goal.”
“I feel so fortunate to have great players like you. “Then this is my second request.”
Jeter swiped the medal on the table towards us.
“Please, take this medal.”
“… “What kind of medal is this?”
“It is proof that I lived fiercely during my younger days.”
“… “It’s too burdensome.”
“… hahahaha.”
Michael Jeter bursts out laughing. I think it’s the first time in my life that I’ve seen this man smile.
“I… From now on, we want to change history. There are grateful people who help you, but things may not go your way. To be honest, I’m scared. I’m nervous. “I just don’t show off like a soldier.”
“… “
“Even if everything goes wrong… I wish I had at least this medal left. “If it’s too burdensome, you don’t have to take it.”
“No, no…” “I will accept it.”
Okay, I forgot about it for a moment. Michael Jeter now wants to deal with the U.S. Government. Through the ‘Book of Truth’, he tries to fight and win against those who can predict the future.
You’re fighting against those guys, but you can’t guarantee that you’ll be fine. He is… Even if he himself died, he would have wanted to leave a mark on the world.
-Bibibig. Beep beep beep.
An electronic sound rings out from Michael Jeter’s chest.
“It’s time.”
Michael Jeter stands up and walks into a large living room with no objects around him.
“For the time being, I am not in a condition to climb the tower. I will stay on the 29th floor. “You guys will catch up with me in no time.”
“… Sure.”
“We’ll see you again when you clear the 29th floor.”
With those last words, Michael Jeter disappeared.
To go to war that will change the fate of the world.
**
“Honestly, wasn’t being nervous a little bit of a fuss? “His expression didn’t change.”
“No? “He said Michael Jeter was really nervous.”
“… “It’s kind of cool.”
After Michael Jeter left, I was feeling warm emotions for the first time in a while.
Michael Jeter, the ‘most famous player’, admitted that he cannot achieve something alone. He realized that even if he himself fails, there are others who will strive for humanity.
It’s not just Nana Choi Ji-won, there are so many great players in the world who are working hard to climb to the top. I don’t necessarily have to do it. If I can’t do it, we can join forces and do it together. All you have to do is support each other.
While I was thinking about it, I contacted people I know.
-I’m doing well. Would you rather join our guild than that?
A blunt man, Kang Chan.
-We get along well! What about Junho?
Brothers Ahn Kyung-jun and Kyung-nam Ahn are currently focusing on training to manage their abilities.
-Me? It’s always the same for me. Come visit sometime. I want to buy you meat.
Firefighter Park Cheol-jin has been rescuing people without even waking up recently.
-Just doing something. What do you need to get along with?
-Why are you doing that? What’s wrong? I’m always fine, man.
Even friends who have adapted well to the era in which TOP appeared.
I couldn’t say hello to American healers William Smith or Dok Su-hee, who I couldn’t contact at this point… They were doing their best in their respective positions.
They are all good and wonderful people. People who are fun to be with.
The tower that induces good people to suffer and fight is wrong.
A tower created to judge humans induces evil deeds. It causes people to fight. Induces despair.
The most disgusting part here is that they are wearing a mask of goodness on the outside.
On the surface, T.O.P says, ‘Isn’t it okay if you are good? They are taking the stance of ‘Are you causing problems because you are trash?’ As if humans were really the problem.
People have no problems. There is no need for us to fight among ourselves in the first place. What could be more unsightly than internal strife breaking out while the main enemy’s eyes are wide open?
Even if conflict arises between people, I will mediate. For a greater goal, I am willing to sacrifice myself.
We can do it. We will not give in. We won’t give up.
Humanity will survive from the tower.
“Is it okay if I don’t return?”
“Uh. It wasn’t a long delay anyway, and more than anything… “Because I received this medal.”
After placing Michael Jeter’s medal in a visible place.
“Let’s go.”
After making up my mind, I headed to the tower with Choi Ji-won. Not simply for climbing one floor, but for the victory of all humanity.
-I entered the 23rd floor.
**
This decision of mine, a warm heart longing for humanity…
“No, it’s not really me?”
“Do you have any evidence? “Do you have any proof?”
“Do you know who I am? “In Turkey, people can’t even look at my face, you bastard!”
“… Ah.”
It entered the 23rd floor and was instantly destroyed.