The Regressor Only Protects Me Chapter 213

Episode 213. Reaching the Top

A building covered with blue tiles.

A building that once housed the president, now a ruin.

The Metro forces abandoned the existing Blue House and created a new base to live in, so the Blue House inevitably became a shabby ruin immediately after the war ended.

However, the Blue House was rebuilt with Ha Yoon-ha at the center, and was now reorganized into a living space worthy of a proper commander-in-chief.

A huge crowd of people gathered around the Blue House.

A crowd of thousands of people were all calling out to one man.

Choi Myeong-jun's elite unit blocked the road leading to the Blue House and stood guard.

A black sedan entered the controlled intersection.

The sedan being pulled by a pair of giant deer was driven by none other than Kang Shi-on, the new ruler of Seoul.

As the vehicle stopped in a controlled alley, two men approached and opened the car doors for him.

The first one to get off there was Ha Yoon-ha, and Kang Si-on followed her.

He started walking along the blocked road, following Ha Yoon-ha's guidance.

As Kang Shi-on appeared, the citizens' magnificent cheers echoed throughout the square even more powerfully.

The crowd was so huge that it far exceeded his expectations.

Even that was said to be a controlled number of people.

It was said that a similar number of people gathered in the square were unable to come here and were watching from afar.

Two huge ogres stood guard at the main gate with their legs crossed.

It was completely different from the existing weapons.

From shoulder pads to body armor, iron helmets, and even the huge iron sword and spear carried on the back.

He had the appearance of a warrior.

Ha Yoon-ha explained to Kang Shi-on, who was looking up at the two.

“This is a newly planned and created warrior ogre. While the existing ogres would passively fight against enemies, these individuals are equipped with superior intelligence and can engage in active combat.”

Ogres have gone through many generations since they were first tamed.

In the process, the dumb ones died quickly, while the smart ones survived and reproduced.

An ogre's growth cycle is incomparable to that of a human.

Those hatched from eggs are nearly 3 meters long at birth and become adults in 4 months.

“These two are the most intelligent of them all, and are currently in the testing phase.”

“Then do you recognize me?”

“Yes. It knows who its master is. And it understands what the orders are.”

“… … .”

It's definitely a great achievement.

Not only can you tame a monster, you can also turn it into an entity that recognizes its owner and engages in active combat.

The Ogre forces have accumulated combat data through the past few wars, and have already become so powerful that they cannot find any opponents within the peninsula.

“… … .”

Zion looked up at the two of them and naturally moved his steps.

At the entrance to the Blue House building, a man with a familiar face was waiting for Kang Si-on.

It was his younger brother, Kang Jun-ho.

* * *

“It’s a really nice day. Isn’t it? Brother.”

“That’s right.”

I entered the Blue House building with my younger brother.

Even after entering the building, the cheers of the citizens in the square did not diminish at all.

On the other hand, there was no one inside the building.

There was no one else there except for the occasional gatekeeper.

My brother and I entered the room through the door that the doorkeeper opened for us.

This is the President's office.

This is the place used by the person who ruled South Korea in the past.

Ha Yoon-ha took a step forward and pointed to the nameplate on the desk.

“Chairman Kang Si-on of Seoul. What do you think? The craftsman personally engraved your name on it.”

“… … I’m telling you clearly, it didn’t have to be like this. It was just a show.”

“Politics is a show. That’s what the chairman taught me.”

… … That’s right.

When I first taught Ha Yoon-ha about the throne, I told her that politics requires something to show.

There is no need to ask whether it is actually efficient.

Since everything related to politics in the Seoul area flows through Ha Yoon-ha, I just follow whatever show she plans.

At that moment, Junho put his hand on my back and said.

“Sit down, hyung.”

Junho acted as if he was visiting an amusement park.

I had no choice but to approach the chair.

Even though the world had been destroyed, everything from the desk to the chair was new.

It must have cost quite a bit to get a new one.

I sat down on the chair slowly.

Junho and Yoonha were standing side by side in front of me.

“… … .”

At that time, Junho said.

“Brother. How does it feel to be sitting in the best seat?”

Likewise, Ha Yoon-ha also added a word.

“That position is one that you have created all by yourself, Chairman. It looks really great.”

Their sweet sounds seemed to bewitch me.

The best seat.

This seat is reserved for only the most outstanding people in the world.

That fact alone weighs heavily on my shoulders.

However, let me express the feeling I got when I sat in the best seat.

I felt empty, as if one side of my heart was completely emptied.

Although it was clearly a position of supreme power that everyone coveted, the feeling of emptiness that was not fulfilled still remained.

As I thought about that, it felt awkward to even be sitting here like this.

What is this emptiness?

This emptiness that cannot be filled.

I said to the two in front of me.

“Just a moment. I want to be alone. Could you wait outside for a moment?”

The two children nodded immediately and went out.

* * *

Ha Yoon-ha came out of the chairman's office and waited for a while.

Then I glanced at Kang Jun-ho.

'That person is the chairman's younger brother.'

Although they were brothers, there was a big difference in their height.

But even so, what made me certain that the two were brothers was the sharp, piercing eyes.

'I heard from the chairman that he's the same age as me.'

If we were from the same Anyang city, we might have gone to the same elementary school.

In reality, Ha Yoon-ha and Jung Hyun-soo did not know each other, but they attended the same elementary school.

Of course, Ha Yoon-ha didn't remember Kang Jun-ho.

Yoon-ha asked Jun-ho in order to become closer to him.

“Junho, which elementary school did you go to?”

When Ha Yoon-ha asked that, Kang Jun-ho answered without even looking at her.

“Don't talk to me.”

“… … .”

… … There’s no shame in that.

Ha Yoon-ha thought to herself.

After a few minutes, Kang Jun-ho went back into the office after being called by Kang Si-on, and Ha Yoon-ha went back.

* * *

Zion was sitting across from Junho on the sofa in one corner of the office.

And his gaze was on the vase containing small yellow flowers on the desk.

Junho looked at the window that was still filled with cheers and spoke to Zion.

“What a tremendous roar. That many people have been shouting tirelessly all morning. Their loyalty is incomparable to that of my citizens. Amazing, brother. You’ve grown your power to this level with nothing. Your approval rating must be close to 100.”

Even to Junho’s question, Zion did not answer right away.

Instead, he reached out to the vase and gently lifted the petals with his fingers.

Zion gently stroked the petals.

Junho, who was watching his brother's actions, felt a little uneasy.

Because for some reason, my brother's silence was scary.

If you clearly had something to say and you weren't saying anything, it meant something was wrong.

To Kang Jun-ho, Kang Si-on was a father, an older brother, and a mentor in life.

Junho asked cautiously.

“Brother. What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”

This time Zion did not answer.

He just stroked the flower petals silently and tore them off.

Zion let go of the yellow petals, and they fluttered and fell to the ground.

Zion, who had been silent, finally opened his mouth.

“It is often said that if a cup breaks and the water spills, it can never be picked up again.”

“… … .”

Junho just listened to his brother's words without saying anything.

“That phrase is used to mean be careful not to break the cup, but the cup breaks. Being careful doesn’t mean the cup won’t break. So the spilled water can never be filled in the cup.”

“Right, hyung.”

“In this short story, why do people focus only on the spilled water? It’s the glass of water that’s important.”

Junho couldn't understand what his brother was saying.

It was a truly difficult and complicated story.

But Zion did not give a definitive answer.

Mysteries are more valuable when left as mysteries.

Only then did Zion look at Junho.

There was a hint of sadness in her eyes.

“Speak frankly. What do you want to do? Tell me what’s really on your mind.”

Jun-ho was rather calm in response to Zion's fastball.

Junho looked at his hands, avoiding Zion's eyes.

I found myself fidgeting with my fingers without realizing it.

The silence lasted a long time.

Five minutes, ten minutes.

Zion waited for his brother to speak for himself.

Until then, the shouts in the streets had not diminished at all.

The two brothers were now at the most complex and difficult crossroads.

Junho took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

“I wish my brother would stay in this league.”

“I’m still in this league?”

“Just accept reality. This world you have, this position you have. This life and the benefits we can have. Brother. I never think I can go back and live a better life than this. It’ll be more hellish. More miserable. That place where cockroaches and mosquitoes swarm in the summer. Isn’t this place different? Look at Brother. You’re in a position where you rule the Korean peninsula. You want to leave that great position behind and go back to a semi-basement?”

“This world is fake. It’s a made-up world.”

“It’s not fake, bro. This is what happened. It happened to us. How could life be any better?”

Zion closed his eyes slightly and thought at Junho's sincere words.

Junho continued to speak to Zion.

“Going back is the same as giving up. That is. That is… … .”

Junho had a hard time continuing his speech.

What should I say?

What should I say so that my brother will understand what I mean?

I don't know anything.

Killing monsters or subduing others was an easy task for Junho.

That's because all you need is strength.

But persuading someone is about changing their mind.

The moment that someone became his older brother, Kang Jun-ho didn't know what to do.

Of course, Kang Shi-on was different.

He leaned back comfortably on the luxurious sofa and looked at one wall.

It was a wall with nothing on it.

Zion continued speaking softly.

“As you said, we can be in a slightly higher position than others in this world. This position may be a dreamland for some, a lifelong wish for others, and a place to which others can simply look up and surrender. I agree. If we go back, we will never be able to achieve this social position again.”

“Okay, then.”

“But. If the world is ruled by fame, power, and strength. If only those are the absolute standards that define each person’s dreams. I… … I don’t think I can accept it.”

“You can’t accept it?”

In response to Junho's question, Zion took a deep breath and said.

“I dreamed of you going to college.”

Junho's heart sank at those words.

Kang Shi-on was still staring at the meaningless wall.

“You make things better, and you become an adult and go out into society and interact with other people. That’s how… that’s how… that’s how you live. In a way, it’s a trivial dream. The dream of hundreds of thousands of people becoming college students every year? I don’t know. Maybe I’m just stupid.”

Kang Jun-ho's lips trembled as he looked at Kang Si-on.

'What is that?'

Kang Jun-ho's eyes were distorted with sadness.

Kang Jun-ho looked at his brother who was saying such things and thought.

'That's stupid.'

That's so stupid.

It's a really trivial dream.

At best, his dream is for his younger sibling to go to college.

Isn't college something you can go to just by giving it money?

If that were just your dream, I could make it come true a hundred, a thousand, f*ck, a hundred million times.

If that was a dream, why did you live so complicatedly? Why did you live so hard and torture your body?

Three o'clock in the morning.

Junho, who woke up to the sound of someone, crawled out on his feet and stared at the ray of light streaming in through the gap in the door.

At this time of the day, my brother would always be sitting hunched over in the hallway, tying his safety shoe laces.

It was dawn and the streets were dark.

It's a time when drunk people roam the streets, and my brother always goes to work.

That's it. That kind of life.

Just to send myself to college… … !

Bam!

“You sound like a retard!”

Junho couldn't stand it anymore and got up and shouted.

Junho's eyes were filled with tears.

“You’re really an idiot, hyung. You’re really an idiot! What the… … ? What the fu*k is that… … ? I can do that by myself. You said you didn’t have to!”

“… … .”

“What the f*ck… … . What the f*ck! Risking your life like that… … . Huh?!”

Junho was struggling to swallow his tears and even his breathing was rough.

The younger brother pleaded with his older brother.

“Just live comfortably. Just live here. Here, we can both live comfortably… … ? All the people in the world! Bow down to you! Follow you! This is the ideal life… … . I made it. I prepared it. I’ll make it all happen! University… … ? Just make a university. We can make it. Let’s make it. Us. Uh, uh, uh, where should we make it? Should we make the whole of Seoul a university? Yes? I can make it in a day.”

“… … .”

Zion closed his eyes and just quietly listened to Junho's words.

Looking at Zion like that, Junho asked in an awkward tone.

“… … Say something.”

“… … .”

“fu*k. Say something.”

“… … .”

“Just one word. Just one word… … .”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Zion never answered.

(Continued in the next episode)