Regressor Instruction Manual-Chapter 1158. Suspicion (2)

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it...’

Basically, I was advertising that I was a dummy, and the deathly silence was telling me the answer. I was sure she felt that something was off, and right now, she was probably thinking about whether to press the reset button or not.

Of course, if I was really a dummy.

‘It’s more like I had no other choice rather than a mistake.’

In my head, Lee Ji-Hye was still Ji-Hye noona. Editing the memories in my head was impossible. She was just Ji-Hye noona, not the creator of Dummy Ki-Young, and the Demon King of Sunset wasn’t an enemy but the regressor whom I had created.

It was absurd, but the doubts made me feel bad.

The truth that Lee Ji-Hye and Kim Hyun-Sung couldn't recognize me made me feel a throbbing headache. This emotion was unfamiliar, but I could feel myself yearning for a bond.

Despite trying not to think about it, the anxiety wouldn’t go away. The thought of possibly getting abandoned filled my head. The question of what I ought to do if I wasn't the real Lee Ki-Young wouldn’t go away.

‘Shit...’

“...”

‘What... kind of ridiculous situation is this?’

That psychopathic jerk...

— So you're curious about that?

"..."

— Ah, there’s no special reason behind it. I just thought you didn’t like it, oppa. Do you want me to call you Oppa from now on? Geez... you’re the one who complained before about how you were younger than me and didn’t want me to call you oppa.

— You’re a strange one. Also, you said you’re twenty-three years old there. I shouldn’t call you Oppa when you’re that young.

‘Did she catch on?’

I had no idea what she had caught on to, but I felt that something was off based on her tone of voice.

"It’s fine... I just thought something was strange, but it’s nothing important. Even I thought it was a strange question, noona. Don’t worry about it."

— You’re more timid than you seem. Why are you curious about something so ridiculous? If I tell you something, just accept it and move on. Don’t ask questions like that and make me feel flustered. Or... did you think that... I no longer liked you? Did that worry you that much?

"No..."

— Did you feel distant over something as trivial as that? This is pretty nice. We should play hard to get from time to time. Don’t you agree?

"It’s nothing like that. I asked because I was simply curious. I thought you had a change of heart because you’re kind of—"

— I didn't have a change of heart. The thought of having to clean up after you again made me feel angry for a moment. That's it. You know that I get cranky when I’m stressed. It’s nothing new... but if you got hurt, then I’m sorry.

"No, I’m the one who feels bad. Also, I’ll clean up my own mess, noona. You don’t have to worry about it too much."

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— That’s a completely different thing. If there’s anything you need, you need to tell me. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I have my own things to prepare.

"Okay."

— Are you done asking your strange questions? Are you sure... there’s nothing else?

"..."

— So, there are no more problems, right? I’ll look into the issue with Kim Hyun-Sung. Are you sure there isn’t anything else?

‘Is this what I think it is?’

Was she just trying to brush it off as if there weren't anything wrong? Was she telling me to accept it? She was hinting that we ought to skip that question and forget about my suspicions.

"Yeah, you should rest, noona."

— You too. If you have any other questions, contact me right away and don’t keep it in. You understand... what I’m saying, right?

"..."

Perhaps I was too fixated on the possibility that I was Dummy Ki-Young, but it felt like she was telling me to ignore what I had realized and continue my work. However, I wasn’t sure whether it was related to the possibility of how I could be a dummy.

It was highly likely that Lee Ji-Hye also had no idea what I was thinking. It was possible that we were having different thoughts despite being in the same situation.

Naturally, exploring various possibilities would come after confirming the hypothesis, and the hypothesis was that I could be Dummy Ki-Young.

‘No matter what anyone says, there’s no way Kim Hyun-Sung won't recognize me.’

Unless Lee Ki-Young had decided to prank Kim Hyun-Sung before crossing over.

Of course, rather than finding a reason to prank Kim Hyun-Sung, it was easier to figure out why Dummy Ki-Young was sent to Rohen.

‘Because of the lack of certainty.’

There were likely many factors that made it difficult to truly commit to the Rohen expedition. Actually, that wasn’t it. Even I thought there were many risks and uncertainties in this expedition.

The higher-ups were fighting amongst each other and couldn’t come to an agreement, and a few insignificant beings couldn't care less about the fate of the continent. The ones who were thinking straight were just too caught up in fighting off poverty.

And what about the plan to make Woo Hyo-Yeol the regressor?

Not only was it one-sided, but it also lacked practicality. There wasn’t a solid plan, either. If I were an investor, I would never invest in Rohen.

Unless I was taking full control and reforming it, it wasn’t worth handling.

Yeah, this was the right decision. I was sure he had taken this path. Rather than taking it seriously from the start, he had to have decided to test it out first. If it wasn't working, then he’d just take his hands off it.

‘It wasn’t Lee Ki-Young who got into a contract with Jupiter.’

To be exact, it was Dummy Ki-Young who got into a contract with Jupiter.

The real Ki-Young had no obligation to take responsibility or keep the promise that was made through the contract. It’d be better to say that he created a way out by taking the contract he had made with Chanelia Hermes and renewing it to a higher-level contract with Jupiter.

I couldn't overlook the possibility of him having a connection with Jupiter, but if I were in his shoes, I would escape using Dummy Ki-Young, as there was no way the real Ki-Young would trust Jupiter.

He would probably use Kim Hyun-Sung to take over Rohen, use the remaining two demon lords, or demand a one-sided contract at the critical juncture. Anyway, he had countless ways and tools to...

‘To oppress Rohen.’

The system and the higher-ups couldn't interfere with the step-by-step process that would allow him to take over Rohen the backdoor. It was highly likely that he was repeating the same thing even at this moment.

It was strange that Jupiter’s group couldn't feel anything strange about the homunculus, but when I recalled how incompetent they were, I realized that it wasn’t all that strange.

The Outer children hadn't noticed anything strange about me. It wasn't all of them, but it was likely that they had some people helping them.

Only Lee Ji-Hye and Kim Hyun-Sung noticed that I was strange.

They noticed that something was off because of my soul, not my body.

The homunculus was that perfect. Of course, in order to maintain its quality so that it would be extremely close to the real thing, he had to make some sacrifices, such as the lifespan and physical functions.

If it was a body meant to be used and discarded in just a short period of time, it was possible to maintain the same quality as the original.

I wanted to check my body, but this body had no alchemy skills that would allow me to examine it closely.

'Did he intentionally stop me from performing alchemy?’

I couldn’t say that the chances were low. In that case...

‘What about Jung Ha-Yan?’

I wonder what Ha-Yan thought about me.

If Lee Ji-Hye and Kim Hyun-Sung had caught on, then perhaps Jung Ha-Yan...

‘Perhaps she has caught on as well.’

Even if that wasn't the case, then she had to have gotten in contact with the real Ki-Young. She was probably looking at me the same way she would look at her favorite doll.

I sensed someone and turned my head to find her staring at me.

I had no idea when she arrived behind me.

“O-O-Oppa,” Jung Ha-Yan said.

“...”

“I-I-Is... something wrong?” she asked.

“No, I just—”

“Y-Y-You’re not sick, are you?” Jung Ha-Yan interrupted me.

Jung Ha-Yan's gaze seemed off.

'Has she always looked like that?’

Had she always been like that in my memories? I was talking about her gaze. I wasn't sure.

“I want to be alone... Is that okay?” I asked.

“Ah! S-Sure. I-I’ll wait for you outside,” Jung Ha-Yan stuttered.

I heard a creak, but the door was still open.

I saw Jung Ha-Yan watching me through the narrow gap in the door.

“...”

Jung Ha-Yan's gaze shifted. I couldn’t see her face clearly, but I was sure that she was giggling.

“...”

“...”

“Ha-Yan,” I called out.

“He... hehe...” Jung Ha-Yan giggled.

“...”

“...”

“I-I-I got caught,” Jung Ha-Yan said.

I was getting nervous. The situations I didn’t even want to think about kept on happening. I wanted to believe that it was all in my imagination, but it felt like I was being watched.

Perhaps Lee Ki-Young was also...

‘Perhaps he's watching me as well.’

'Or could it be one of the GENIUSES? Who is it? Abyss? Golden Throne? Guardian? Gatekeeper? Boy? If they’re watching, how much can they influence me? Can they reset me, or do they have some kind of influence on me?'

At the very least, they had to have prepared a safety measure, so they definitely had a way of controlling a dummy. If they felt like they needed to move me in the direction they wanted, they could definitely do that by interfering with my subconscious.

‘Are they reading my mind as well?’

'Are they aware of the fact that I discovered that I'm a dummy?'

‘If they’re aware, how come they’re not doing anything?’

Perhaps it didn't matter whether I had realized it or not.

Perhaps the only thing they cared about was that I was playing my role properly.

Lee Ji-Hye seemed to be acting that way as well.

“Whatever you’re suspicious of or question, just stay committed to your role...”

“...”

“Is what you guys are saying, right?” I mumbled.

“...” “You’ll have no choice but to be committed. That’s what you guys are thinking, right?” I questioned.

It was such a ridiculous and ruthless thought, but I didn’t think it was strange.

‘Those jerks don’t think of dummies as people. They think of dummies as nothing but programs.’

Kim Hyun-Sung, Lee Ji-Hye, Jung Ha-Yan, Park Deok-Gu, Rafael, Han Sora, Hwang Jung-Yeon, Elena, Lee Chang-Ryeol, Yoo Ah-Young, Kim Ye-Ri, Ahn Ki-Mo, Park Lian, Belier, Alps, Kasugano Yuno, Oscar, Benigoa, Belial, Smith, Gen, Thronus, Dominions, and Cherubim...

If all these connections were made up...

If it felt like none of those memories were my actual experiences or memories...

If I ended up feeling suspicious that nothing was truly mine...

“Does that mean I’ll be forced to stay true to what I consider to be real?” I asked.

It felt like the Lee Ki-Young being reflected on the window was talking to me.