***
Late at night.
“Oppa, stop now… Aaht!”
In a certain entertainment bar, a man was roughly pushing a woman. With disheveled hair covering his eyes, shabby clothing, and a cigarette held in his mouth, he strangely exuded a peculiar charisma.
The woman was already exhausted.
Beep-beep— Beep-beep—
At that moment, the phone rang, and the man answered it with a scowl. However, his movements still did not stop.
“Why? Got it. Send the address.”
The man spat out the cigarette, checked the text message, and left the place without hesitation.
“Ah, fuck. They won’t even give me time to drain the tank.”
A short while later.
Arriving at the destination, the man parked the car roughly, put another cigarette in his mouth, and walked sluggishly toward his goal. The place he headed toward was an accident scene cordoned off with police tape.
He looked around from outside the junk shop, and when he stepped inside, the patrol officers standing guard naturally opened the way for him.
“You’ve arrived, Kyung-wi-nim Seo!”
When one patrol officer ran over and greeted him, the man called Kyung-wi Seo stared at him intently. Only then did the officer realize his mistake, scratched his head, and spoke again.
“Ah, I’m sorry. Detective Seo.”
The man hated the word ‘Kyung-wi.’
“Recite it.”
The man spoke while looking around the accident scene.
“Yes. It’s a case with one deceased, 15 seriously injured, and 50 with minor injuries. The deceased has been identified as Yang Kyung-min, the boss of the Yangkkaengi Gang in Mi-hyeon-dong. It seems the Yangkkaengi Gang and the Chunseop-i Gang of Sang-buk-dong had a clash.”
“‘It seems’? ‘A clash’?”
When the man glared slightly, the officer quickly changed his words.
“Ah, I’m sorry. There was a collision between the Yangkkaengi Gang and the Chunseop-i Gang. It is said there has been much friction between the two organizations recently due to territory disputes. There was friction even an hour before the accident occurred; the Hold’em bar operated by the Chunseop-i Gang was attacked, and then 30 minutes later, the illegal prostitution establishment operated by the Yangkkaengi Gang was attacked. It seems— no, it appears to be retaliatory attacks against each other.”
“Hmm…”
Even while listening to the story, the man continuously glared at the accident scene with a sharp gaze.
“The deceased, Yang Kyung-min, had head trauma and abdominal stab wounds, and the cause of death was excessive bleed—”
“Was that light broken when you arrived?”
At that moment, the man interrupted the officer’s words.
“Pardon?”
“That light, I mean.”
He pointed with his index finger toward the headlight of a van standing in a line at the entrance.
“Ah, well. Could it not have been broken by chance during the fight?”
The man narrowed his eyes and glared at the officer.
“By chance? What is it that I always say?”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
The officer quickly bowed his head in apology.
“What is it?”
“Ah, yes. There are absolutely no coincidences at a crime scene!”
The officer spoke as if shouting a slogan while in a fixed posture.
“Turn the lights on here.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, turn the lights on in the junk shop.”
“Ah, understood.”
After running to the junk shop office for a moment, the officer returned with a troubled expression and said:
“They say all the lightbulbs are out.”
“Ssshp… Hmm…”
The man took out a new cigarette, put it in his mouth, and fell into thought for a while. Then, around the time he finished the cigarette, he asked again.
“Where did Yang Kyung-min die?”
“It’s this way. It seems he eventually died here while bleeding and trying to enter the office. Here is the photograph.”
The officer showed a pre-prepared photo on his phone. After looking at the photo, the man tilted his head while comparing it directly to the scene.
“Yang Kyung-min, who held out until the end, bled and headed toward the office before collapsing and dying while looking toward the outside? Not toward the office side?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…”
The man closed his eyes and fell into thought for a moment, then suddenly opened them wide and asked.
“Were there any other individuals here by chance? Those unrelated to the gangsters.”
“There was no such information.”
“What about CCTV?”
“There is some, but it seems it was deleted immediately. It seems the gang members normally set it to delete automatically after 30 minutes to avoid leaving evidence.”
“What about the surrounding CCTV?”
“We are currently checking that.”
The man fiddled with his scruffy beard and then opened his mouth again.
“That case from before… the one where someone was chased by the Yangkkaengi Gang and fell from a motel to his death, right?”
“Ah, yes. I know of it.”
“Did you secure the surrounding CCTV footage then as well?”
At his question, the officer thought for a moment and then answered.
“I will check on that.”
“Check it and bring both the CCTV from then and the CCTV from around here, all of it.”
“But why that?”
“Don't talk back and just do as you're told.”
“Yes! Understood!”
The man stepped outside again and began to wander around sluggishly, searching for traces from the time of the accident. He was humming something as he did so.
“Hide and seek, I see your hair.”
<><><>
The next morning.
The morning news reported heavily on the conflict between the organizations that had taken place at the junk shop the previous night. Disclosing the photo of the deceased Yangkkaengi Gang boss, Yang Kyung-min, they explained it as a dispute over interests between the two organizations.
In the video, the appearances of the apprehended gang members and the seized tools laid out in a line were shown.
After returning from morning exercise, Woo Do-hwa and I watched the news in silence while drinking milk.
“The world is coming to an end. To think there are still bastards using tools. Tsk, tsk.”
At my words, Woo Do-hwa drained the last of the milk carton into his mouth.
At that moment, the computer room door opened, and Jo Sang-nim, looking like a total wreck, came out while stretching.
“Huaaam… I couldn't sleep a wink because of you guys. You bastards.”
“You handled it cleanly, right?”
“Bullshit. Of course! Do you have any idea how much I had to wander around last night? Do you know how much I struggled to delete the footage?”
“Your skills haven't died. You worked hard. Truly.”
When she was in school, she was an unrivaled talent in the hacking club and had demonstrated her skills quite a bit in competitions. If only it hadn't been for those coins… ah, I mentioned that before.
“What do you want to eat? Just say the word. I’ll buy it all for you.”
When I asked while spreading both hands.
“Hanwoo, King Crab.”
Jo Sang-nim spoke as if there was no need to even deliberate.
She certainly knows the expensive stuff.
“Wow. You know a thing or two. All right! Tonight’s dinner is Hanwoo and King Crab!”
Now, I can return to two minutes ago with the Taste of Regression. Compared to when it was one minute, it was the difference between heaven and earth. Naturally, the income would also jump more than double.
Hanwoo? King Crab? I’ll let you eat until you’re sick of it. I’ll buy it all, so eat a lot, Jo Sang-nim. It’s much better than dying of malnutrition.
In the morning, I went to the gym and worked out with Woo Do-hwa. After lightly warming up and doing strength training, we sparred in earnest in the afternoon.
Having traded blows with all our might until we felt like vomiting, we eventually lay spread-eagled, breathing heavily.
Woo Do-hwa’s face looked complex and subtle.
It could only be so.
Since my Awakening Stage had reached Stage 2, my Physical Enhancement and Cognitive Enhancement abilities had each risen by one level. Although it was a slight difference, it was enough for an opponent to feel it significantly.
Thinking of it that way, Woo Do-hwa, who hadn't even awakened, seemed truly amazing. To think our skills were still neck and neck.
“Ha… ha… What are you? Does it make sense to suddenly get this strong? Explain yourself.”
Woo Do-hwa asked while still lying down. He didn't even have the strength to move a finger.
I sat up abruptly and looked at him.
“Do you remember Dragon Ball that we watched a long time ago?”
“I do. Of course.”
“In there, Son Goku awakens as a Super Saiyan. You can think of it as being similar to that.”
I spoke while crossing my arms and nodding. Even to me, wasn't that a perfect metaphor? Or not? Then, Woo Do-hwa also sat up abruptly and said:
“Bullshit. Then since I haven't awakened, am I Krillin?”
“Hey, don't ignore Krillin. He’s a fairly strong character among humans. And doesn't he marry a beautiful woman later?”
“She’s an Android, you idiot.”
Woo Do-hwa spoke as if I were pathetic. Was that how it was?
“Ah, really? I thought they had a kid and he grew out his hair and lived well…”
It’s been so long that my memory is fuzzy.
“Let’s wash up quickly and go grocery shopping. Jo Sang-nim will throw a fit again.”
“Hey, don't change the subject and speak clearly. Don't give me that Super Saiyan nonsense.”
“I’m serious. I said I was awakened!”
I stood up and shouted as I headed straight for the shower.
Between Jo Sang-nim and Woo Do-hwa, why does no one believe what I say?
I took a quick shower and changed my clothes. Checking my phone, there was a text from my wife.
[When are you coming home? Can't you stay with me today?]
Hmph. Bullshit. Since Yang Kyung-min was stabbed to death and it even came out in the news, she must have suddenly become frightened. She only looks for me when she needs me. I sent a reply immediately.
[Sorry, I’m in Pohang right now. They said there’s some work, so I think it’ll take a few days.]
I made an excuse as I had prepared in advance. Go ahead and shiver in anxiety by yourself for a while.
Of course, it won't last long.
Before the regression, after she became a prosecutor, she thoroughly squeezed Yang Kyung-min, arrested him, and had her performance recognized. Then, once she had solidified her position to some extent, she immediately met a new man. She really is something else.
Of course, I know very well who that man is.
In order to give that guy a taste of bitterness, this time I needed ‘money’ instead of ‘fists.’
Since the future has changed compared to before the regression, I do not yet know when my wife will meet that man.
Until then, I have to grow the money as much as possible.
But I am not worried. If I use the Taste of Regression, it won't take that long.
A situation where a fair amount of time remains.
In the meantime, I intend to enjoy my life a little, which I couldn't enjoy before the regression.
Eating delicious food, going on trips, enjoying leisure, enjoying entertainment, and picking up wom—
Hmm?
Come to think of it, a way to use Mental Control usefully occurred to me. To experiment with how much effect it has as well.
I’m absolutely not doing it to satisfy my own selfish interests.