Theatrical Regression Life-Chapter 21

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Of course, he said it was a regression, but whether that was really the case was uncertain.

In the first place, Lee Jaehun himself had just experienced a regression.

With the foundation of his past lifes experience, he quickly accepted reality, thinking, I might not be able to die. However, how could he know if Jung Inho, who is a completely different person, had undergone regression?

Lee Jaehun frowned as he watched Deputy Manager Jung Inho fixing the monkey wrench.

But no matter how much I think

That guy seems a bit off right now.

Since the otherworld is closely related to mental strength, Jaehun was pouring his heart into managing the teams mental state.

As the mental state is crucial, he naturally saw through the teams mental condition, and in his judgment, the current protagonist was not in the right state of mind.

And for no apparent reason, he wouldnt have gone crazy.

As befitting the protagonist of an 19-rated gritty survival story, Jung Inho had quite a strong mental fortitude.

Even before being engulfed by the otherworld, he had some twists, but excluding that, his basic mental strength was robust.

Unless something extraordinary happened, this guy wouldnt have his eyes rolling like this.

However, if thats the case, would Deputy Jung Inho really lose his mental stability?

Even Yoon Garam and Dr. Ha Seongyun, who went out together, returned as healthy as they left.

Moreover, the subtle tension from the protagonist towards the siblings was an impossibility based on the objective facts known to Lee Jaehun.

In other words, the protagonist experienced a very subjective time, not an objective fact.

Directors words seem right. The vines seems to have some intelligence.

Well, monsters could be intelligent too.

He swallowed a sigh.

Regressed.

But it didnt seem like it when he was exploring the surroundings. Ill say it again; the protagonist was still a chick.

Right now, he seemed like a teenage chick, and its hard to believe he mastered all the skills in just the time it took to pick up a piece of wood.

Moreover, even though he seemed unaware, the way he spoke now felt like he was saying something he already knew. The tone and demeanor gave it away.

However, two regressors under the same sky. Even Lee Jaehun, who had read some novels, hadnt heard of such a thing. The reality might not be a novel, but arent we living in a novel in some way?

Certainly, even if some unrealistic events were to happen, one tends to accept them. But

No, more importantly.

Where the heck does that guy know up to?

While there was talk about regressors under the sky, ultimately, there was nothing more critical for Lee Jaehun than this.

His usefulness also stemmed from the survival skills displayed since falling into the otherworld, but on closer inspection, all of that survival instinct came from Lee Jaehuns own knowledge.

For him, information was more valuable and threatening than any weapon. However, if the protagonist did indeed regress, how much did he know? Whats the last situation Deputy Jung Inho remembers? How on earth did the regressor in front of him achieve regression?

As he bit down on the flesh inside his mouth, the not-yet-healed wound burst, and blood trickled. That familiar yet bitter taste brought a sense of cold reality to Lee Jaehun.

Through the dimming thicket, the protagonist walking ahead came into view.

Hey.

Since time was pressing for them anyway,

Yes?

Why have you been acting strange since earlier?

The task assigned to Jaehun was clear.

Anyway, I need to build a trust relationship with this guy.

He tried to maintain a somewhat indifferent expression. While he couldnt fully convey genuine concern with the personality of Director Lee Jaehun, he could at least muster an expression that conveyed some level of unease and worry, feeling the need to find out what was bothering the other.

Lee Jaehun, feigning an anxious demeanor, gripped the pipe.

The sensation of rusted iron on the unsoiled pieces of metal was palpable.

What happened while you were picking up wood? Encountered a corpse on the way?

Whats that

I dont know whats going on with your state right now, but you dont seem in your right mind.

As if Lee Jaehun wanted to subtly show that he was quite taken aback by the sudden change in the other, he tightened his grip on the pipe, and there was a subtle distortion in his forehead.

Slowly settling his expression, he continued speaking.

Mr. Jung Inho.

Yes?

The Jung Inho I know seems to be the right one.

He changed his tone.

It wasnt the typical light and forced tone of Director Lee Jaehun, but rather the voice of someone inside the protagonist who hadnt yet defined themselves. The voice settled calmly.

We need an explanation of why your condition is like this, considering what youve done.

The protagonists eyelids trembled under the almost oppressive tone.

Given the protagonists personality, even if he did regress, he wouldnt just passively accept things as Lee Jaehun intended. After all, Jung Inho was quite an unpleasant guy.

Then,Director Lee, you must have a lot to say as well.

Why would you be curious about that?

Why are you interested in my condition,Director?

Lee Jaehun, with a twisted forehead, answered as if asking why it was even a question.

Cant I be concerned too?

Deputy Jung Inho momentarily lost words.

Perhaps, according to Lee Jaehuns thoughts, the protagonists mental state was likely very delicate at the moment.

Even though the protagonist managed to gather wood, Lee Jaehun couldnt be sure of the situation after his death. Just the fact that he regressed was enough for someone to go insane.

Of course, it didnt show on the surface, but inversely, it meant that much attention and care were being poured in. Being unable to express emotions in any way made a person uncomfortable and sensitive.

Therefore, the current Deputy Jung Inho was likely to be irritated, angry, sad, or on the verge of madness, even if it didnt outwardly show.

Therefore, for the protagonist, regression became a sort of trigger, and it was enough to make him angry that the old-fashioned manager messed with that point.

Because of this, Deputy Jung Inho touched the only trigger of Director Lee Jaehun that he knew.

And yet, he says its concern,

It was strangely reassuring and unsettling at the same time. He had poked at a vulnerability in annoyance at the others words, but in reality, it was all an act of consideration.

Perhaps the lukewarm emotions he could feel right now were all part of the experience.

Maybe by now, hes even considering the choice of location.

Lee Jaehun deliberately waited until they were quite far from the group sitting around the bonfire to bring up the topic.

It was a kind of declaration to those people that he would never disclose the protagonists state, and the protagonist, who had become increasingly sensitive and agitated, must have only just realized it.

Lee Jaehun, who keenly noticed the trembling of the protagonists pupils, opened his mouth to appear as natural and casual as possible.

Speaking in a deliberately rough manner, he said, I know Im acting weird too, so you all tried your best to avoid this situation

Avoid this situationwhat a load of crap. Screw it, I just wish all of this would end.

Lee Jaehun naturally had a somewhat unpleasant personality, and he found solace in the idea that if he suffered, others should suffer too to ease his conscience.

The only reason he was currently pleading so altruistically was to build trust with them and escape numerous hardships that might come later.

But for that reason, Lee Jaehun was definitely on the kinder side. After all, regardless of the reason, he was managing the teams mental state and ensuring they avoided unnecessary harm, right?

But whats up with your state right now?

There was a strange sadness in Lee Jaehuns voice, surprisingly genuine.

Yeah, you, you bastard.

I saved you, managed you, and now youre acting like this. It felt as if my heart was being crushed and tears were about to flow, as if a stock I invested 100 million in had crashed.

Lee Jaehun quickly suppressed the sadness and spoke.

If youre curious about why Im acting strange, Ill tell you later.

I

You dont need to say it now. I just asked because your condition seems off

If you ever find theres nowhere else to vent your emotions, then talk to me.

He spoke.

Its better than going crazy alone.

Lee Jaehun had a mental illness, and in his past life, there were quite a few such individuals.

However, the reason Lee Jaehun could hold a regular job and engage in activities like normal people was because it was perfectly natural.

In a world where people going insane was considered normal, it was a deficient world where people were once again going crazy due to that normalcy.

However, at least because of that, there was no loneliness or despair in going crazy alone.

There was no reason to compare oneself to others and degrade oneself, and there wasnt even a reason to place value on that.

Living in a dystopia while dreaming of a utopia, they knew it was just a dream.

Thats why Lee Jaehun, as the only person who knew about his oddness, created a place to vent for the protagonist.

This was a world where mental illness was not considered abnormal, and Deputy Jung Inho would spiral further into the abyss by swallowing his own mental illness alone.

There was no room for doubt, as it was the same in the novel.

But the protagonist couldnt afford to go crazy like that. Not even for the sake of Lee Jaehuns own life.

Youd be better off that way too.

The protagonist, whose lips had been sealed for a moment, asked,

If I talk will you listen?

When theres time.

If I ask, will you tell me?

If you want.

Thats how Lee Jaehun responded.

It wasnt that extraordinary or secretive a story.

I just didnt want to be treated like a lunatic.

Having spat out those words, Lee Jaehun secretly admired himself and mentally applauded.

Laid the groundwork.

Yeah, might as well make use of the setup Ive created thats impossible to get out of. Until now, it was fine to just end everything by dying, but now the story is different.

Lee Jaehun, who had survived as much as he could in his past life, wanted to live a better life. If that was the case, even if it meant dealing with an annoying play, he had to do what needed to be done.

The story we both have to tell right now isnt the one, right?

Yes.

Lets talk again when its bright.

With this, he built at least a minimum level of trust, and the protagonists mental state was somewhat stabilized.

For now, Lee Jaehun used the term we, creating a sense of camaraderie by acknowledging each others mental vulnerabilities.

In reality, forcing this camaraderie when their foundations were fundamentally different fit quite well.

Moreover, Lee Jaehun provided the protagonist with a minimal refuge.

Certainly, the current setting was that Lee Jaehun didnt know exactly what state Deputy Jung Inho was in.

However, even if that were the case, the difference between having no one aware of that something and having at least one person aware of it was a completely different issue.

Perhaps the protagonist felt a peculiar sense of relief just by having someone with whom they could vent their state without burden.

Furthermore, this meant they could build trust more solidly, and Lee Jaehun was feeling a sense of pride in that.

Considering the rushed closure due to the lack of time, the protagonists state had likely improved quite a bit.

However, if there was one thing Lee Jaehun had overlooked,

Uh?

It was the fact that the protagonist was even more of a novice than imagined.

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