“Curious what this is?”
<[Vintage Clock (EX)]: ( ́?ω?`)??????>
[Speak. Curious.]
Yu Jitae stared at the bird and the cat.
These guys had no idea what this was. He already assumed that they couldn’t see it but their reactions made him all the more certain.
He gestured to the bird. Vintage Clock flew, drawing a refined curve behind its flight and sat on his hand, as he whispered into its ears.
<[Vintage Clock (EX)]: ( ́OωO`)!?>
The white bird nodded its head.
[What.]
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] asks for your permission.>
Yu Jitae shook his head in response.
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] states that it cannot tell you!>
[What. Tell me. Too]
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] refuses to do so.>
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] clarifies that it is a secret between the two of them.>
[Why. You not tell. Me.]
The black cat showed its white fangs as its yellow eyes turned a level sharper.
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] asks of the size of the curiosity.>
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})[Curious. Very.]
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] bragfully demands for a more desperate request.>
[Please. Desperate. Tell me. Curious.]
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] refuses to do so!>
<[Vintage Clock (EX)]: (๑>ꇴ<๑) Lol>
[Kill.]
The white bird started running away into the distance. Letting out a growl, the black cat dashed out and chased the white bird for tens of metres in circles. While narrowly escaping from the claws and teeth of the cat, the white bird swung its wings and teased the cat. It resembled Bom in the sense that it had another being on the top of its hand.
Meanwhile, he thought to himself that they looked like mischievous kids. Authorities that surpassed the human world seemingly didn’t need fake faces or unnecessary dignity.
There was also something new he understood. Perhaps the thing called honest joy only occurred from childish acts like this.
Joy has a common aspect with childishness…
However, he didn’t have the time to quietly watch kids play around. While the two of them were in the middle of a fight, Yu Jitae glanced through the obelisks located in front of him.
The two playing next to him were genuinely solemn beings who decided on the world’s standards. And yet Vintage Clock and Key did not know what these obelisks were.
That was the core clue.
Authorities in charge of the management of the world’s Providence were in contact with several truths. His experience told him that things those authorities weren’t aware of could be classified into two categories.
1. Works of another authority.
2. Something instigated from outside the Horizon of Providence – works of the Non-providential World.
Vintage Clock was the type to have a seizure whenever things were influenced by the Non-providential world and it was also fairly displeased when ‘basement’, which it had no idea of, suddenly appeared.
What did Vintage Clock say back then?
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})– The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] feels slightly displeased by the uncertain element nonexistent inside Providence.
– ‘So what if you’re displeased’.
– ‘Go do something if you have the time’.
– [Vintage Clock (EX)]: (´•̥ω•̥`)]
…Right. That was what happened.
However, the fact that it wasn’t necessarily displeased after its identity was revealed meant that this was not something instigated by the Non-providential World.
Thus, it was safe to assume that these obelisks were caused by a different EX grade authority outside of the two of them. With that in mind, Yu Jitae called the two of them that were still fighting and asked them.
“How many authorities are there that regulate the world’s system like you, and what are they.”
[Impudent.]
The cat revealed its claws alongside its displeasure.
[How dare. Outside your right. Mortal. Cannot say.]
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] states that there are 7 authorities in total!>
[Stop. You crazy. Stupid clock.]
<[Vintage Clock (EX)]: (๑>ꇴ<๑) Lol>
<[Vintage Clock (EX)]: (๑>ꇴ<๑) Lolol>
“Can I ask what those 7 are?”
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] states that apart from [Vintage Clock (EX)] and [Key (EX)]…>
[Stop! Shut it. Stop!]
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})It seemed that this time, they could not answer the question no matter what. In fright, the black cat grabbed onto the white bird with its four legs, bit its head and rapidly scratched with its claws.
<[Vintage Clock (EX): (´ᗒωᗕ`)!!>
[Can never. Say it. Give up. Your curiosity.]
Yu Jitae tried to persuade them a bit more but Key (EX) was dead stubborn. He wanted to tell the Key what the obelisks were in return for the answer to that question but that too was refused.
Listening to these seemingly mischievous and childish responses despite his own destiny being on the line slightly drained him of energy.
“I see…”
In any case, the two of them noisily bickering with each other had nothing to do with him.
By earning daily life, he had changed. Admitting the fact that certain elements could touch his emotions, he decided to have a brief look over the other obelisks.
He felt it the moment he looked at them.
The second obelisk gave the illusion of the time he had been dancing with Yeorum. Although he didn’t show it on the outside, it seemed that he was also quite enjoying it at the time. This was therefore [Pleasure] or [Enjoyment].
The third obelisk was an overlapping repetition of the time he had spent with Kaeul. In the 7th iteration, the person he was thinking about the most was Kaeul, and the person he was the most concerned about was also Kaeul. This would therefore be [Thought], or [Worries] or [Concern].
Seeing the fourth obelisk brought him to the first time he saw Bom. He couldn’t tell what this was, because his emotions back then were quite muddled and complex.
Lastly in the fifth obelisk was an unexpected person. The short Chinese girl who fumbled for words – memories of Ling Ling wanting to apologise for her guardian’s wrongdoing as well as her guardian, Lyun, treating her like a small prostitute appeared in his mind. Looking back, Yu Jitae realised that it was the first time he got angry for a private matter, and this was therefore [Anger].
Every one of them made him guess that each was the starting point of those emotions.
Then what were the 6 remaining obelisks with no lights on?
One of them was slightly flashing, as if it was about to be lit on. He touched it as an illusion of Bom’s face appeared right in front of his eyes, as well as her lips.
This seemed to be [Affection].
He thought to himself.
Humanity defined human emotions as joy, anger, sorrow and pleasure or with 7 emotions, namely joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, affection, contempt and greed.
What if it was a continuation of that with 11 emotions? Things like greed and sorrow were turned off and he had no idea what the rest of the four obelisks could be.
“…”
It suddenly appeared very meaningless.
The biggest problem was that there was no way that he would feel the likes of sorrow or depression.
Why?
It’s because he was always depressed.
There were a lot of things to be sad about in the times passed, but he couldn’t specify the last time he felt sad or depressed let alone remember it. From a certain point in time, depression attached itself to his life without ever letting go.
It was the same even when living together with the hatchlings. There were times he felt happy and times where he enjoyed himself, but those were simply momentary feelings. He endlessly wished for the 7th iteration that he achieved with extreme difficulty to not crumble and had never at all considered the entire process comfortable.
Although it might be a happy daily life for the kids of the 7th iteration, this was simply another test for him after more than a thousand fails.
If it went south, that would eventually lead to the start of the 8th iteration. All the connection he zealously built with the kids and the world he protected would leave him behind all alone and vanish…
He didn’t know what principles these obelisks used when regulating his emotions but if these did not find his current emotion to be sorrowful, it meant that he would never feel sorrow in his entire life.
Because he was already depressed.
Pushing those futile thoughts behind, Yu Jitae turned around and spoke to the white bird.
“Done. We have seen everything there is to see. Take me to the top floor.”
In that instant, the white bird turned stiff.
And was silent.
He gave a frown, thinking what was wrong with this guy this whole time.
“What’s wrong. Take me there. Do you not hear me?”
White Bird was silent and simply looked back into Yu Jitae’s eyes.
“Oi.
“Why aren’t you saying anything.
“I’m asking you to take me there. Am I not?”
White Bird did not move or say anything.
“Are you refusing to do so? Why? Are you not attached to my memories? You should also clearly know the reason behind my request.”
The silence went on. The black cat who was next to them stealthily buried itself into darkness and vanished, leaving only Yu Jitae and Vintage Clock inside the dark workshop.
“If you know the situation, then how can you ever refuse my request? Answer me. Or do I have to persuade you now? Or threaten you?”
It was still silent.
He felt extremely irritated.
Right… it was strange that it wasn’t trying to open the doors. And it was also strange that it took him to the basement when he was trying to go to the top floor.
“Who is the one that forcefully regressed me. Isn’t it you, Vintage Clock? I have never in my entire life chosen to live in such a stupid way. I’m but a mortal chosen by you to complete your goal as your substitute. Am I wrong?”
Even now, it was silent.
Lowering his back, Yu Jitae grabbed the white bird that was on the ground. Without running away from his touch, the bird was obediently raised by him.
With the bird in front of his face, Yu Jitae continued.
“The world regressing with my death is because the Earth you’re trying to protect inevitably meets the Apocalypse if I die. I’m nothing but a scapegoat. Can you deny that?
“So how could you possibly refuse me here. Huh?”
His voice slowly became louder.
In fact, he didn’t resent the bird that much. The times he had cursed and hated Vintage Clock were all in the past and it was just that he couldn’t understand Vintage Clock’s decision as well as its silence.
“Why is it that I must be anxious in front of the opportunity that I’ve barely found. Why is it that the 7th iteration is so unstable? Isn’t it all because you couldn’t deal with the Non-providential problems?
“You couldn’t foresee that damned Hostility and you’re still clueless because of your powerlessness. You said Hostility cannot directly impact reality that much? What kind of irresponsible attitude is that? …What if.”
The worst case scenario he could imagine appeared in his mind.
He had a past he could never erase.
What if.
“If the memories of the kids get connected to the previous iterations, how are you going to handle it…”
The Regressor’s eyes turned bloody.
From time to time, he felt it. The more value he placed in it and the more precious he found it, the more worried and anxious he became. The world turning brighter made his shadow all the more darker.
He hadn’t been planning to hide such a past until now. He was simply silent about it because there was no reason to tell them.
However, as he slowly started retrieving the lost daily life, he noticed his own thoughts changing.
He had to hide his past. It was a must.
“It’s not nonsense either. Don’t you know yourself. Ha Saetbyul received memories of the 2nd iteration.
“If memories get sent in fragments, it might be better off for the others. There were more times I spent worrying and working for the Gold Dragon, and I had less contact with Red and Blue. Imprisonment alone might not even be that detrimental.
“But what about the Green Dragon. Don’t you know what I did to that young thing to know more of that damned Origin Fragment? The higher the connection between me and her, the steeper the fall will be when it all falls apart.
“The past is already out of my hands. It’s pointless to regret and there is nothing I can do.
“A regressor? A regressor? Am I not also one of the fools that can’t do anything about the past?
“Say something. Why am I like this? Who made me into this. Who made me into a sinner!”
Like a howling beast, he shouted.
“There’s nothing I can do other than change whatever I can, and yet you’re refusing even that? How far are you going to drive me into the gutters till you’re content. Vintage Clock—!”
His shout echoed across the basement, but was in vain in front of the broad outer space of the workshop.
His hand holding the white bird clenched along with his scream. However, Vintage Clock was still silent and the gaze of the bird and its black eyes were the only things coming back to him.
Soon, after his irritation and rage settled.
“Let me say it for the final time. Open the top floor.”
He continued with a calm and lowered voice.
“Before I resent you again.”
At last,
Only then did the Vintage Clock start showing its will.
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] refuses to listen to your request.>
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] has something to tell you.>
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] uses up all the spare authority it had been building up for a long time for this moment.>
In that instant, a large sense of presence started emanating out of the white bird’s body. It was an overpowering pressure that he couldn’t dare hold with his hand and was the same status that he felt from the encounter with Key (EX).
A presence that shakes the outer space,
One that overwhelms even the transcendent who has reached the limits of an existence.
<The Authority, [Vintage Clock (EX)] looks into the prohibited world of [Definite Providence]. And alerts you of the inevitable future revealed within.>
Soon after that, Yu Jitae heard something he had never heard before.
The true voice of Vintage Clock.
[You will. Definitely. Become happy.]
