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I'm an Infinite Regressor, But I've Got Stories to Tell
Shin No-ah
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961 chapters
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The Undertaker has repeated the end of the world 1,183 times. Having stopped trying to force a happy ending, he tells stories of countless lives, people, disasters, and the cost of trying to save the world.
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Audio chapters (485) · 331–360
331
Chapter 331
The Undertaker, narrating from his 777th life, explains that his approach to ending the apocalypse was not a single event but a patchwork of actions from multiple cycles. He recounts commissioning over 400 memorial portraits from Sim Ah-ryeon for the nameless dead of the White Night. A caravan, led by Noh Do-hwa and Yu Ji-won, transported these paintings to the Han Riverbank in Seoul to confront Ten Legs, a massive monster formed from the unburied corpses of those who died without proper funerals. Ten Legs roared, terrifying the National Road Management Corps troops, but the Undertaker held his ground, conserving his Aura to keep Leviathan dormant. He laid out the portraits and chrysanthemums, recalling how he used his Complete Memory to restore the faces and memories of hundreds of victims by traversing fairy dreams, forcing Ah-ryeon to paint their likenings despite her exhaustion and the physical toll on her hands. When Ten Legs charged, the Undertaker knelt and bowed, mentally replaying the daily lives of the painted subjects. The monster began to shrink and shed its constituent corpses, realizing it had been mourned. The core of Ten Legs revealed itself as Professor Adele, wife of Emit Schopenhauer, a patchwork entity with two hearts who had died in the White Night while giving a lecture. The Undertaker offered her an urn containing Emit Schopenhauer’s ashes, promising to wait for her husband’s return. Adele pressed the urn to her hearts, uttered his name, and collapsed, causing Ten Legs to disintegrate into a pile of miscellaneous materials and bones. Noh Do-hwa noted that this elaborate solution was a waste of resources compared to simply killing the monster with Aura, but admitted she preferred this method. Later that night, Yu Ji-won visited the Undertaker’s tent. She had modified her Mini-Map skill using antique electronic watches to display real-time population counts across the globe, which were dwindling. She placed a watch over their location, showing a count of 78 survivors. Ji-won confessed that meeting the Undertaker at age 14 was her greatest fortune, transforming her from a monochromatic chess player into someone who could create color. Her Aura rose from her hand, painting the night sky with a cosmic aurora. She declared that while the Undertaker believed Awakener power stems from misfortune, meeting him was her exception. She asked to be his 'error,' choosing coexistence over his solipsistic 'Void.' The Undertaker accepted her choice. The chapter concludes with the system announcement that Leviathan is being subjugated.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
18:05
Chapter 331
The Undertaker, narrating from his 777th life, explains that his approach to ending the apocalypse was not a single event but a patchwork of actions from multiple cycles. He recounts commissioning over 400 memorial portraits from Sim Ah-ryeon for the nameless dead of the White Night. A caravan, led by Noh Do-hwa and Yu Ji-won, transported these paintings to the Han Riverbank in Seoul to confront Ten Legs, a massive monster formed from the unburied corpses of those who died without proper funerals. Ten Legs roared, terrifying the National Road Management Corps troops, but the Undertaker held his ground, conserving his Aura to keep Leviathan dormant. He laid out the portraits and chrysanthemums, recalling how he used his Complete Memory to restore the faces and memories of hundreds of victims by traversing fairy dreams, forcing Ah-ryeon to paint their likenings despite her exhaustion and the physical toll on her hands. When Ten Legs charged, the Undertaker knelt and bowed, mentally replaying the daily lives of the painted subjects. The monster began to shrink and shed its constituent corpses, realizing it had been mourned. The core of Ten Legs revealed itself as Professor Adele, wife of Emit Schopenhauer, a patchwork entity with two hearts who had died in the White Night while giving a lecture. The Undertaker offered her an urn containing Emit Schopenhauer’s ashes, promising to wait for her husband’s return. Adele pressed the urn to her hearts, uttered his name, and collapsed, causing Ten Legs to disintegrate into a pile of miscellaneous materials and bones. Noh Do-hwa noted that this elaborate solution was a waste of resources compared to simply killing the monster with Aura, but admitted she preferred this method. Later that night, Yu Ji-won visited the Undertaker’s tent. She had modified her Mini-Map skill using antique electronic watches to display real-time population counts across the globe, which were dwindling. She placed a watch over their location, showing a count of 78 survivors. Ji-won confessed that meeting the Undertaker at age 14 was her greatest fortune, transforming her from a monochromatic chess player into someone who could create color. Her Aura rose from her hand, painting the night sky with a cosmic aurora. She declared that while the Undertaker believed Awakener power stems from misfortune, meeting him was her exception. She asked to be his 'error,' choosing coexistence over his solipsistic 'Void.' The Undertaker accepted her choice. The chapter concludes with the system announcement that Leviathan is being subjugated.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
18:05
332
Chapter 332
The narrator, previously known as the Undertaker and now referred to as Mr. Matiz, reflects on his dynamic with Yu Ji-won, noting that while he has changed his persona, she has remained constant, preserving a deep personal connection symbolized by her use of his past title. The scene opens in the National Road Management Corps headquarters, where Yu Ji-won greets Mr. Matiz with intimate familiarity, offering him chamomile tea and recalling his past insomnia. This public display of closeness draws the attention of Cheon Yo-hwa, who asks why Yu Ji-won uses the alias 'Mr. Matiz' instead of a formal title. Yu Ji-won dismisses the question as an expression of exclusive personal connection, akin to Yo-hwa calling the narrator 'Teacher,' though she teasingly notes her seven-year advantage over Yo-hwa in establishing this bond. The tension in the room, where other alliance members like Noh Do-hwa and Seo Gyu watch, is lightened by Oh Dok-seo’s whispered excitement about the 'rivalry' between Yu Ji-won and Cheon Yo-hwa. Noh Do-hwa interrupts the banter to resume the meeting, outlining the crisis of the Hollow and the limitations of the Alliance's funeral rites. She introduces a new Missing Persons Board on SG Net, facilitated by Seo Gyu, which utilizes memorial portraits by Sim Ah-ryeon. The meeting then shifts to a letter from Venerable Seok-hwa, a renegade monk seeking to conduct a 'Trans-Korean Joint Funeral Service.' The narrator provides extensive exposition on Seok-hwa’s history. In previous cycles, Seok-hwa led the massive New Buddha Church, a cult worshipping the Udumbara virus that spread across East Asia, rivaling even Dang Seo-rin’s influence in Busan. The monk’s power was initially unassailable until the narrator, as the Undertaker, discovered the virus's source in the 41st run, exposing the cult as a fraud. Simultaneously, the rise of Mo Gwang-seo, a literal resurrecting 'Jesus' figure, siphoned away most of Seok-hwa’s followers who preferred flashy miracles. Finally, the appearance of Sim Ah-ryeon, a healing entity, decimated the remaining faithful. Stripped of his power and wealth, Seok-hwa now resides in a shabby hermitage. The narrator visits him in the 802nd cycle, where the once-arrogant monk grovels in gratitude for the visit. The narrator confronts him about the funeral procession, ending the chapter with the realization that Seok-hwa’s current misery is a direct consequence of the narrator’s existence as a regressor who dismantled the monk’s empire.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
14:46
Chapter 332
The narrator, previously known as the Undertaker and now referred to as Mr. Matiz, reflects on his dynamic with Yu Ji-won, noting that while he has changed his persona, she has remained constant, preserving a deep personal connection symbolized by her use of his past title. The scene opens in the National Road Management Corps headquarters, where Yu Ji-won greets Mr. Matiz with intimate familiarity, offering him chamomile tea and recalling his past insomnia. This public display of closeness draws the attention of Cheon Yo-hwa, who asks why Yu Ji-won uses the alias 'Mr. Matiz' instead of a formal title. Yu Ji-won dismisses the question as an expression of exclusive personal connection, akin to Yo-hwa calling the narrator 'Teacher,' though she teasingly notes her seven-year advantage over Yo-hwa in establishing this bond. The tension in the room, where other alliance members like Noh Do-hwa and Seo Gyu watch, is lightened by Oh Dok-seo’s whispered excitement about the 'rivalry' between Yu Ji-won and Cheon Yo-hwa. Noh Do-hwa interrupts the banter to resume the meeting, outlining the crisis of the Hollow and the limitations of the Alliance's funeral rites. She introduces a new Missing Persons Board on SG Net, facilitated by Seo Gyu, which utilizes memorial portraits by Sim Ah-ryeon. The meeting then shifts to a letter from Venerable Seok-hwa, a renegade monk seeking to conduct a 'Trans-Korean Joint Funeral Service.' The narrator provides extensive exposition on Seok-hwa’s history. In previous cycles, Seok-hwa led the massive New Buddha Church, a cult worshipping the Udumbara virus that spread across East Asia, rivaling even Dang Seo-rin’s influence in Busan. The monk’s power was initially unassailable until the narrator, as the Undertaker, discovered the virus's source in the 41st run, exposing the cult as a fraud. Simultaneously, the rise of Mo Gwang-seo, a literal resurrecting 'Jesus' figure, siphoned away most of Seok-hwa’s followers who preferred flashy miracles. Finally, the appearance of Sim Ah-ryeon, a healing entity, decimated the remaining faithful. Stripped of his power and wealth, Seok-hwa now resides in a shabby hermitage. The narrator visits him in the 802nd cycle, where the once-arrogant monk grovels in gratitude for the visit. The narrator confronts him about the funeral procession, ending the chapter with the realization that Seok-hwa’s current misery is a direct consequence of the narrator’s existence as a regressor who dismantled the monk’s empire.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
14:46
333
Chapter 333
The narrator reflects on the decline of once-powerful factions, focusing on the renegade monk Seok-hwa, who refuses to accept his fall from grace and seeks to revive the glory of Joseon Dynasty monk-armies. This attempt fails spectacularly because modern monks lack the hardened survival instincts of their ancestors, leading to a disastrous 'monk-warrior' movement. Consequently, Seok-hwa’s cult collapses, leaving him abandoned with only a handful of frail elderly followers. The narrator, having previously subdued major pseudo-religious threats like Mo Gwang-seo’s Resurrection Church (neutralized by Sim Ah-ryeon) and Cheon Yo-hwa, now deals with the remnants of these groups. Seok-hwa, now a low-level figure, attempts to curry favor with the narrator by serving tea and proposing a cross-country pilgrimage to perform funeral rites for Hollow entities. The narrator observes the eleven elderly believers, noting their devotion and their reliance on Noh Do-hwa for medical support, specifically Shin Su-bin, who requires an ankle brace. Su-bin expresses guilt over burdening Do-hwa with his medical needs and intends to join the pilgrimage to find purpose before his time runs out. Moved by Su-bin’s selflessness and recognizing that helping patients is Do-hwa’s true source of fulfillment rather than a burden, the narrator urges Su-bin to stay, framing it as therapy for Do-hwa. Seok-hwa offers temple fare, but the narrator refuses, insisting the resources feed the elders. He then physically silences Seok-hwa by pressing a pressure point, delivering a stark warning: Seok-hwa is not saving others; he is surviving because of the companionship of his followers. The chapter concludes with the 'Unite in Buddha-Heart, Cross-Country Funeral Tour Squad' departing Busan, a fragile group of a monk and eleven seniors facing a dangerous journey north.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:58
Chapter 333
The narrator reflects on the decline of once-powerful factions, focusing on the renegade monk Seok-hwa, who refuses to accept his fall from grace and seeks to revive the glory of Joseon Dynasty monk-armies. This attempt fails spectacularly because modern monks lack the hardened survival instincts of their ancestors, leading to a disastrous 'monk-warrior' movement. Consequently, Seok-hwa’s cult collapses, leaving him abandoned with only a handful of frail elderly followers. The narrator, having previously subdued major pseudo-religious threats like Mo Gwang-seo’s Resurrection Church (neutralized by Sim Ah-ryeon) and Cheon Yo-hwa, now deals with the remnants of these groups. Seok-hwa, now a low-level figure, attempts to curry favor with the narrator by serving tea and proposing a cross-country pilgrimage to perform funeral rites for Hollow entities. The narrator observes the eleven elderly believers, noting their devotion and their reliance on Noh Do-hwa for medical support, specifically Shin Su-bin, who requires an ankle brace. Su-bin expresses guilt over burdening Do-hwa with his medical needs and intends to join the pilgrimage to find purpose before his time runs out. Moved by Su-bin’s selflessness and recognizing that helping patients is Do-hwa’s true source of fulfillment rather than a burden, the narrator urges Su-bin to stay, framing it as therapy for Do-hwa. Seok-hwa offers temple fare, but the narrator refuses, insisting the resources feed the elders. He then physically silences Seok-hwa by pressing a pressure point, delivering a stark warning: Seok-hwa is not saving others; he is surviving because of the companionship of his followers. The chapter concludes with the 'Unite in Buddha-Heart, Cross-Country Funeral Tour Squad' departing Busan, a fragile group of a monk and eleven seniors facing a dangerous journey north.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:58
334
Chapter 334
Following the departure of a ragtag funeral procession led by Monk Seok-hwa from Busan, Yu Ji-won reflects on her failure to personally eliminate the cult leader, admitting she overlooked them due to their insignificance. She seeks validation from Mr. Matiz (Oh Dok-seo) regarding her willingness to silently kill such 'loaches.' Matiz firmly rebuffs her, asserting that she does not need to prove her worth through violence and is not abandoned by the regressor. He explicitly denies wishing for her to kill the group, causing Ji-won to leave with a confused, stony expression, puzzling over why he refuses what seems like a convenient solution for him.
Meanwhile, Seok-hwa attempts to gain public attention for his 'National Buddhist Pilgrimage Mass Funeral Procession' by spending his secret funds on extensive advertising agencies across the SG Net. He promises that ordinary people can perform exorcisms and comfort the dead, aiming to bypass the need for Awakeners. However, the campaign fails spectacularly. The posts receive zero engagement, with the only interaction being a hostile dismissal from Sim Ah-ryeon ('OldManGoryeo'). The narrative explains that Seok-hwa's strategy is obsolete; unlike previous cycles where anti-Awakener sentiment fueled such movements, the current society, dominated by reliable and accessible figures like Matiz, Ji-won, Cheon Yo-hwa, and Ah-ryeon, offers superior funeral and relief services. The 'Awakener vs. ordinary person' conflict is no longer a viable marketing angle because the current powers are integrated into daily life and trusted by the public. Consequently, Seok-hwa’s budget dries up as the group travels north.
Matiz tracks the dwindling group via Ji-won. By the time they reach Daejeon, the group has shrunk from eleven to eight members. In Seoul, only one ad remains. Upon reaching Pyongyang, only three survivors remain: Seok-hwa, Shin Su-bin, and one other. Despite running out of money, they continue north toward Sinuiju. A post on SG Net describes meeting two dirty, barefoot individuals—Seok-hwa and Su-bin—who intend to commit self-immolation against the approaching Monster Wave to demonstrate the 'heart of Buddha.' The poster, 'KindPerson,' plans to accompany them. Matiz recognizes the term 'Self-Immolator' and expresses shock that Seok-hwa would resort to such a bizarre and desperate tactic, noting that this has never occurred in any previous cycle.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
12:53
Chapter 334
Following the departure of a ragtag funeral procession led by Monk Seok-hwa from Busan, Yu Ji-won reflects on her failure to personally eliminate the cult leader, admitting she overlooked them due to their insignificance. She seeks validation from Mr. Matiz (Oh Dok-seo) regarding her willingness to silently kill such 'loaches.' Matiz firmly rebuffs her, asserting that she does not need to prove her worth through violence and is not abandoned by the regressor. He explicitly denies wishing for her to kill the group, causing Ji-won to leave with a confused, stony expression, puzzling over why he refuses what seems like a convenient solution for him.
Meanwhile, Seok-hwa attempts to gain public attention for his 'National Buddhist Pilgrimage Mass Funeral Procession' by spending his secret funds on extensive advertising agencies across the SG Net. He promises that ordinary people can perform exorcisms and comfort the dead, aiming to bypass the need for Awakeners. However, the campaign fails spectacularly. The posts receive zero engagement, with the only interaction being a hostile dismissal from Sim Ah-ryeon ('OldManGoryeo'). The narrative explains that Seok-hwa's strategy is obsolete; unlike previous cycles where anti-Awakener sentiment fueled such movements, the current society, dominated by reliable and accessible figures like Matiz, Ji-won, Cheon Yo-hwa, and Ah-ryeon, offers superior funeral and relief services. The 'Awakener vs. ordinary person' conflict is no longer a viable marketing angle because the current powers are integrated into daily life and trusted by the public. Consequently, Seok-hwa’s budget dries up as the group travels north.
Matiz tracks the dwindling group via Ji-won. By the time they reach Daejeon, the group has shrunk from eleven to eight members. In Seoul, only one ad remains. Upon reaching Pyongyang, only three survivors remain: Seok-hwa, Shin Su-bin, and one other. Despite running out of money, they continue north toward Sinuiju. A post on SG Net describes meeting two dirty, barefoot individuals—Seok-hwa and Su-bin—who intend to commit self-immolation against the approaching Monster Wave to demonstrate the 'heart of Buddha.' The poster, 'KindPerson,' plans to accompany them. Matiz recognizes the term 'Self-Immolator' and expresses shock that Seok-hwa would resort to such a bizarre and desperate tactic, noting that this has never occurred in any previous cycle.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
12:53
335
Chapter 335
The narrator, the Undertaker, reflects on his extensive experience with death and various religious sects across multiple life loops. He recalls a conversation with a high Buddhist monk who explained that the primary goal of Buddhism is to die well, transcending the terror of death through acceptance and discipline, sometimes achieving a state where the body remains rigid in a cross-legged posture due to decades of meditation. This philosophy is contrasted with the current actions of Venerable Seok-hwa, who plans to commit self-immolation. The Undertaker, driven by curiosity and his nature as a regressor, leaves his duties to Commander Noh Do-hwa and travels to Sinuiju, a devoutly religious military city, to witness the event. Upon arrival, he finds a banner painted by Sim Ah-ryeon, the Saintess of the Eastern Holy State, who has decorated the scene for what she views as a spectacular public event. She explains she did the painting for free to elevate the scale of the spectacle. Sim Ah-ryeon and the Undertaker share a moment of dark amusement, with the Saintess offering him popcorn. They approach Seok-hwa, who appears emaciated, shabby, and mentally unstable compared to his former plump self. Seok-hwa grabs the Undertaker’s hands, expressing a desperate desire for enlightenment through the pain of self-immolation. He denounces Mo Gwang-seo and the Eastern Holy State as a cult built on lies, claiming he alone sees the truth and intends to awaken the masses. Noticing Seok-hwa’s severe wobble, the Undertaker discovers his right leg is missing below the ankle, replaced by a crude prosthetic. Seok-hwa claims he received the device from Shin Su-bin, who supposedly didn't need it. The Undertaker recognizes the prosthetic as a custom-built, high-quality device crafted by Noh Do-hwa specifically for Shin Su-bin, noting the profound personal significance of such a gift, which Seok-hwa treats casually as a mere spare part. When asked about Su-bin’s whereabouts, Seok-hwa claims the boy is nearby, treating him as an insignificant follower. Seok-hwa declares his ambition to rule beyond Busan and create a Pure Land, dismissing the Undertaker’s past disdain. He announces he will spend the night in vigil and perform the self-immolation at dawn the next day, asking the Undertaker to bear witness to his awakening before staggering away.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:40
Chapter 335
The narrator, the Undertaker, reflects on his extensive experience with death and various religious sects across multiple life loops. He recalls a conversation with a high Buddhist monk who explained that the primary goal of Buddhism is to die well, transcending the terror of death through acceptance and discipline, sometimes achieving a state where the body remains rigid in a cross-legged posture due to decades of meditation. This philosophy is contrasted with the current actions of Venerable Seok-hwa, who plans to commit self-immolation. The Undertaker, driven by curiosity and his nature as a regressor, leaves his duties to Commander Noh Do-hwa and travels to Sinuiju, a devoutly religious military city, to witness the event. Upon arrival, he finds a banner painted by Sim Ah-ryeon, the Saintess of the Eastern Holy State, who has decorated the scene for what she views as a spectacular public event. She explains she did the painting for free to elevate the scale of the spectacle. Sim Ah-ryeon and the Undertaker share a moment of dark amusement, with the Saintess offering him popcorn. They approach Seok-hwa, who appears emaciated, shabby, and mentally unstable compared to his former plump self. Seok-hwa grabs the Undertaker’s hands, expressing a desperate desire for enlightenment through the pain of self-immolation. He denounces Mo Gwang-seo and the Eastern Holy State as a cult built on lies, claiming he alone sees the truth and intends to awaken the masses. Noticing Seok-hwa’s severe wobble, the Undertaker discovers his right leg is missing below the ankle, replaced by a crude prosthetic. Seok-hwa claims he received the device from Shin Su-bin, who supposedly didn't need it. The Undertaker recognizes the prosthetic as a custom-built, high-quality device crafted by Noh Do-hwa specifically for Shin Su-bin, noting the profound personal significance of such a gift, which Seok-hwa treats casually as a mere spare part. When asked about Su-bin’s whereabouts, Seok-hwa claims the boy is nearby, treating him as an insignificant follower. Seok-hwa declares his ambition to rule beyond Busan and create a Pure Land, dismissing the Undertaker’s past disdain. He announces he will spend the night in vigil and perform the self-immolation at dawn the next day, asking the Undertaker to bear witness to his awakening before staggering away.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:40
336
Chapter 336
Deep in the night in Sinuiju, two guards watch over Seok-hwa, a withered old monk who has camped on a platform to prepare for self-immolation at dawn. The guards dismiss him as a crazy beggar, unaware of his true identity or the gravity of his intent. Seok-hwa remains silent until a layman, Shin Su-bin, arrives with a bundle containing a hammer, nails, and ropes, which he had to scrounge for after running out of money. Seok-hwa scolds Su-bin for the delay and rudely snatches the items. He then begins violently hammering his own monk’s robe to the wooden platform floor, securing his body tightly with rope while chanting mantras. The guards watch in shock and fear, commenting on his madness and the anomaly-infested nature of the region. Seok-hwa declares his intention to achieve nirvana and be reborn as a Wheel-Turning King, collapsing from exhaustion after securing himself. Before dawn, mc (the Undertaker) speaks with Su-bin, who is frail but strong from walking. Su-bin reveals he gave his high-quality prosthetic leg to Seok-hwa because the monk had just lost his foot crossing the 38th Parallel, prioritizing the one with a more recent injury. Su-bin begs the Undertaker not to tell Noh Do-hwa, fearing she would be upset, and expresses concern for Do-hwa’s well-being. As dawn approaches, citizens and knights gather for the ritual. Seok-hwa begins chanting the Heart Sutra. Su-bin attempts to leave, stating someone must prepare Seok-hwa for burning, but then returns to speak with him one last time, trying to dissuade him from the act. Despite Su-bin’s efforts, Seok-hwa ignores him or fails to be swayed. Drenched in gasoline from a canister, Seok-hwa shouts for the fire to be lit, concluding the chapter as the ritual begins.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
14:11
Chapter 336
Deep in the night in Sinuiju, two guards watch over Seok-hwa, a withered old monk who has camped on a platform to prepare for self-immolation at dawn. The guards dismiss him as a crazy beggar, unaware of his true identity or the gravity of his intent. Seok-hwa remains silent until a layman, Shin Su-bin, arrives with a bundle containing a hammer, nails, and ropes, which he had to scrounge for after running out of money. Seok-hwa scolds Su-bin for the delay and rudely snatches the items. He then begins violently hammering his own monk’s robe to the wooden platform floor, securing his body tightly with rope while chanting mantras. The guards watch in shock and fear, commenting on his madness and the anomaly-infested nature of the region. Seok-hwa declares his intention to achieve nirvana and be reborn as a Wheel-Turning King, collapsing from exhaustion after securing himself. Before dawn, mc (the Undertaker) speaks with Su-bin, who is frail but strong from walking. Su-bin reveals he gave his high-quality prosthetic leg to Seok-hwa because the monk had just lost his foot crossing the 38th Parallel, prioritizing the one with a more recent injury. Su-bin begs the Undertaker not to tell Noh Do-hwa, fearing she would be upset, and expresses concern for Do-hwa’s well-being. As dawn approaches, citizens and knights gather for the ritual. Seok-hwa begins chanting the Heart Sutra. Su-bin attempts to leave, stating someone must prepare Seok-hwa for burning, but then returns to speak with him one last time, trying to dissuade him from the act. Despite Su-bin’s efforts, Seok-hwa ignores him or fails to be swayed. Drenched in gasoline from a canister, Seok-hwa shouts for the fire to be lit, concluding the chapter as the ritual begins.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
14:11
337
Chapter 337
The chapter opens with a content warning regarding self-harm and suicide. In Sinuiju, Monk Seok-hwa, covered in gasoline, prepares for a public self-immolation ceremony to combat the Monster Wave. The crowd, stirred by the spectacle, urges him on as the 'kind one' knight lights a torch. Seok-hwa shouts at onlookers to stay back, dismissing Shin Su-bin’s pleas to leave. Before the torch strikes, the narrator (Undertaker) reflects on a past memory of Old Man Shin visiting his workshop in Busan just before the world’s end. Undertaker realizes Shin stayed not out of loneliness, but to reassure Noh Do-hwa and himself that they were facing the end together, highlighting the isolating nature of being a regressor.
The torch ignites the oil, and Seok-hwa is engulfed in flames. He screams in unimaginable agony for ten minutes, his body nailed and bound to the platform, remaining rigid despite the destruction of his vocal organs. The crowd, unaware of the torture, misinterprets his silence as stoic discipline and his prolonged scream as spiritual power battling Anomalies, cheering him on. When the fire dies, Seok-hwa is a charred statue, his Do-hwa-made prosthetic leg destroyed. As the crowd disperses in awe, Undertaker finds Shin Su-bin missing from the site. Days later, back at the National Road Management Corps HQ, Do-hwa confronts Undertaker for attending a 'sightseeing' bonfire. She provides a new prosthetic and orders him to deliver it to Shin Su-bin personally.
Undertaker locates Su-bin’s position via Yu Ji-won’s mini-map, finding him on a desolate hill near Sinuiju. There, Su-bin has committed self-immolation in secret, alone and without an audience. His body is burnt to a crisp, kneeling in prayer. Undertaker places the box containing the new prosthetic beside the remains. He notes a disturbing anomaly: although Su-bin originally lacked his right foot and his prosthetic burned in Sinuiju, the charred corpse possesses a perfectly intact, natural right foot. The Saintess questions if this indicates an Anomaly or impersonation, but Undertaker dismisses it as Su-bin’s way of leaving no 'excess baggage,' a final act of quiet dignity. He bows to the dead man, accepting that regressors are merely visitors who uncover the silent sacrifices of ordinary people, and departs, vowing to bring a different gift next time.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
18:21
Chapter 337
The chapter opens with a content warning regarding self-harm and suicide. In Sinuiju, Monk Seok-hwa, covered in gasoline, prepares for a public self-immolation ceremony to combat the Monster Wave. The crowd, stirred by the spectacle, urges him on as the 'kind one' knight lights a torch. Seok-hwa shouts at onlookers to stay back, dismissing Shin Su-bin’s pleas to leave. Before the torch strikes, the narrator (Undertaker) reflects on a past memory of Old Man Shin visiting his workshop in Busan just before the world’s end. Undertaker realizes Shin stayed not out of loneliness, but to reassure Noh Do-hwa and himself that they were facing the end together, highlighting the isolating nature of being a regressor.
The torch ignites the oil, and Seok-hwa is engulfed in flames. He screams in unimaginable agony for ten minutes, his body nailed and bound to the platform, remaining rigid despite the destruction of his vocal organs. The crowd, unaware of the torture, misinterprets his silence as stoic discipline and his prolonged scream as spiritual power battling Anomalies, cheering him on. When the fire dies, Seok-hwa is a charred statue, his Do-hwa-made prosthetic leg destroyed. As the crowd disperses in awe, Undertaker finds Shin Su-bin missing from the site. Days later, back at the National Road Management Corps HQ, Do-hwa confronts Undertaker for attending a 'sightseeing' bonfire. She provides a new prosthetic and orders him to deliver it to Shin Su-bin personally.
Undertaker locates Su-bin’s position via Yu Ji-won’s mini-map, finding him on a desolate hill near Sinuiju. There, Su-bin has committed self-immolation in secret, alone and without an audience. His body is burnt to a crisp, kneeling in prayer. Undertaker places the box containing the new prosthetic beside the remains. He notes a disturbing anomaly: although Su-bin originally lacked his right foot and his prosthetic burned in Sinuiju, the charred corpse possesses a perfectly intact, natural right foot. The Saintess questions if this indicates an Anomaly or impersonation, but Undertaker dismisses it as Su-bin’s way of leaving no 'excess baggage,' a final act of quiet dignity. He bows to the dead man, accepting that regressors are merely visitors who uncover the silent sacrifices of ordinary people, and departs, vowing to bring a different gift next time.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
18:21
338
Chapter 338
The chapter begins by describing the collapse of civilian society and the pet industry following the onset of the apocalypse. While many refugees cling to their animals, the spread of Void Poison causes most pets to mutate into monstrous forms, leading to owners being killed by their former companions or forcing them to euthanize their pets. However, a rare 1% of pets remain safe from Void Poison, becoming highly prized commodities. Entrepreneurs in Busan exploit this scarcity, creating high-end pet shops with safety ratings from '1 Day' to '10 Years.' Among the few 'safe' pets is Papanya, an unusually articulate scarlet macaw that speaks with eerie intelligence, blurring the line between animal and Anomaly.
The narrative then shifts to the internal dynamics of the National Road Management Corps (NRMC). The Undertaker, acting as the narrator and a regressor from previous cycles, seeks to understand Noh Do-hwa’s emotional capacity by giving her a pet. He presents her with a giant, white Maltese, far larger than its breed standard. Do-hwa, the cold Commander, is initially baffled by the dog's size but accepts it. The dog, named 'Doctor' or 'Professor' by the staff due to its association with the Undertaker ('Doc'), becomes a beloved mascot and provides Do-hwa with unconditional affection, despite her emotionally blank exterior.
In a future iteration of the 511th cycle, Do-hwa confronts the Undertaker about Doctor’s unnatural 20-year lifespan, which far exceeds that of a real Maltese. She reveals her suspicion that the dog was a deliberate test or a lingering artifact of his past cycles. Pressing on the dog’s throat, she demands that in future runs, the Undertaker not simply impose a pet upon her, but provide her with the choice to adopt one herself, effectively creating a 'final will' from her past self. She argues that humans can reconsider mistakes, and this agency is necessary for her to move forward without being trapped by a predetermined emotional state.
Consequently, in the 512th cycle and onwards, Do-hwa begins visiting pet shops herself. She ignores the safe, premium animals and instead chooses mismatched, deformed, or short-lived pets. She explicitly instructs the Undertaker to handle the burials of these animals. The Undertaker realizes that Do-hwa is not merely adopting pets; she is carefully curating her own memories and the Undertaker’s recollections of her. By choosing pets that die young and suffering genuine grief in each cycle, she ensures that the 'Noh Do-hwa' of each run remains distinct from the previous one. She refuses to be a static 'copy-paste' existence. The chapter concludes with Do-hwa smiling as she holds a new puppy, acknowledging the Undertaker’s accusation that she is 'twisted,' while he silently accepts her method of preserving her unique identity across the infinite loops.
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17:27
Chapter 338
The chapter begins by describing the collapse of civilian society and the pet industry following the onset of the apocalypse. While many refugees cling to their animals, the spread of Void Poison causes most pets to mutate into monstrous forms, leading to owners being killed by their former companions or forcing them to euthanize their pets. However, a rare 1% of pets remain safe from Void Poison, becoming highly prized commodities. Entrepreneurs in Busan exploit this scarcity, creating high-end pet shops with safety ratings from '1 Day' to '10 Years.' Among the few 'safe' pets is Papanya, an unusually articulate scarlet macaw that speaks with eerie intelligence, blurring the line between animal and Anomaly.
The narrative then shifts to the internal dynamics of the National Road Management Corps (NRMC). The Undertaker, acting as the narrator and a regressor from previous cycles, seeks to understand Noh Do-hwa’s emotional capacity by giving her a pet. He presents her with a giant, white Maltese, far larger than its breed standard. Do-hwa, the cold Commander, is initially baffled by the dog's size but accepts it. The dog, named 'Doctor' or 'Professor' by the staff due to its association with the Undertaker ('Doc'), becomes a beloved mascot and provides Do-hwa with unconditional affection, despite her emotionally blank exterior.
In a future iteration of the 511th cycle, Do-hwa confronts the Undertaker about Doctor’s unnatural 20-year lifespan, which far exceeds that of a real Maltese. She reveals her suspicion that the dog was a deliberate test or a lingering artifact of his past cycles. Pressing on the dog’s throat, she demands that in future runs, the Undertaker not simply impose a pet upon her, but provide her with the choice to adopt one herself, effectively creating a 'final will' from her past self. She argues that humans can reconsider mistakes, and this agency is necessary for her to move forward without being trapped by a predetermined emotional state.
Consequently, in the 512th cycle and onwards, Do-hwa begins visiting pet shops herself. She ignores the safe, premium animals and instead chooses mismatched, deformed, or short-lived pets. She explicitly instructs the Undertaker to handle the burials of these animals. The Undertaker realizes that Do-hwa is not merely adopting pets; she is carefully curating her own memories and the Undertaker’s recollections of her. By choosing pets that die young and suffering genuine grief in each cycle, she ensures that the 'Noh Do-hwa' of each run remains distinct from the previous one. She refuses to be a static 'copy-paste' existence. The chapter concludes with Do-hwa smiling as she holds a new puppy, acknowledging the Undertaker’s accusation that she is 'twisted,' while he silently accepts her method of preserving her unique identity across the infinite loops.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
17:27
339
Chapter 339
The Undertaker opens with a meta-narrative addressing genre-fiction taboos, specifically the rule that a villain must never return stronger after defeat. He introduces the current subject: the Admin of the Infinite Metagame, who is attempting to break this taboo. Oh Dok-seo bursts into the Undertaker’s residence, kicking the door open. She presents a self-published newspaper titled 'List of Outer Gods,' detailing her subjective rankings of major anomalies. She lists 'Infinite Void' as Type 1 and 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame' as Type 2, assigning it epithets and ranking it as the 'absolute weakest' among the Outer Gods, dismissing its threat level as merely 'village-class.' The Undertaker attempts to defend the Admin, reminding Dok-seo that the Admin chose her as its Miko and provided her with the AT-Field. However, Dok-seo expresses deep resentment, stating that writing the scripture assigned to her by the Admin is painful and that she finds joy in the act of withholding her work. She blames the Admin for her writer's block and lack of dopamine, declaring she feels no gratitude. The laptop housing the Admin’s consciousness reacts violently, shaking and displaying a low-resolution Vtuber avatar that attempts to speak but is limited by its depleted power, eventually resorting to profanity after the Undertaker mockingly suggests it is responsible for its own decline. Later, in a subsequent cycle, Dok-seo kicks the door open again while the Undertaker is undressed, leading to mutual screaming. She then returns to report an emergency: a transparent dragon has appeared in Daegu, roaring and displaying immense power. The Undertaker recognizes this manifestation as the enraged Admin of the Infinite Metagame, having fully embraced its dark side after being mocked.
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12:48
Chapter 339
The Undertaker opens with a meta-narrative addressing genre-fiction taboos, specifically the rule that a villain must never return stronger after defeat. He introduces the current subject: the Admin of the Infinite Metagame, who is attempting to break this taboo. Oh Dok-seo bursts into the Undertaker’s residence, kicking the door open. She presents a self-published newspaper titled 'List of Outer Gods,' detailing her subjective rankings of major anomalies. She lists 'Infinite Void' as Type 1 and 'Admin of the Infinite Metagame' as Type 2, assigning it epithets and ranking it as the 'absolute weakest' among the Outer Gods, dismissing its threat level as merely 'village-class.' The Undertaker attempts to defend the Admin, reminding Dok-seo that the Admin chose her as its Miko and provided her with the AT-Field. However, Dok-seo expresses deep resentment, stating that writing the scripture assigned to her by the Admin is painful and that she finds joy in the act of withholding her work. She blames the Admin for her writer's block and lack of dopamine, declaring she feels no gratitude. The laptop housing the Admin’s consciousness reacts violently, shaking and displaying a low-resolution Vtuber avatar that attempts to speak but is limited by its depleted power, eventually resorting to profanity after the Undertaker mockingly suggests it is responsible for its own decline. Later, in a subsequent cycle, Dok-seo kicks the door open again while the Undertaker is undressed, leading to mutual screaming. She then returns to report an emergency: a transparent dragon has appeared in Daegu, roaring and displaying immense power. The Undertaker recognizes this manifestation as the enraged Admin of the Infinite Metagame, having fully embraced its dark side after being mocked.
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12:48
340
Chapter 340
Oh Dok-seo, adopting the persona of the Undertaker, arrives in the Daegu desert, now a Void Poison-scorched landscape, where an invisible entity is rampaging. Jeong Ye-ji observes that the creature is invisible, though its silhouette resembles a western dragon. The Undertaker deduces that this is an 'Invisible Dragon,' a reference to a notoriously simplistic 2002 web novel titled *Invisible Dragon*, and identifies it as a creation of the Admin of the Infinite Metagame. He argues that the Admin, whose avatar is modeled after *Fate/Stay Night* (2003), is acting out of spite after being undermined, using the Dragon to challenge him. The Undertaker summons Dang Seo-rin, who arrives and uses her Cursed Song Incantation (Anti-Resonance) to negate the Dragon's roar, silencing it completely. With the creature reduced to a silent, thrashing worm, local Anomalies attack and subjugate it. The Undertaker then mocks the Admin of the Infinite Metagame via its laptop avatar, provoking a rude ASCII art response before the screen goes black. Shortly after, Oh Dok-seo rushes in, reporting a major anomaly at Haeundae beach. At the beach, SG Net gym members are distracted by floating stone monoliths. Dok-seo warns them not to read the inscriptions, claiming she is the administrator and that the stones are dangerous anomalies. The Undertaker examines a monolith and discovers it contains a message written in the voice of 'LiteraryGirl' (Oh Dok-seo), claiming she is taking a break from burnout but finding inspiration in games and music. Realizing with horror that these are not new messages but ancient records from previous cycles, he sees dozens of monoliths bearing Dok-seo's past abandoned serialization notices, including her 13th notice from cycle 788 and her 39th from cycle 813. Dok-seo, unaware of the temporal weight, complains about the 'slander' and her lack of a backlog. As the next day dawns, 1,131 such monoliths wash ashore in Busan, covering the city in proof of her repeated failures to complete her work.
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18:15
Chapter 340
Oh Dok-seo, adopting the persona of the Undertaker, arrives in the Daegu desert, now a Void Poison-scorched landscape, where an invisible entity is rampaging. Jeong Ye-ji observes that the creature is invisible, though its silhouette resembles a western dragon. The Undertaker deduces that this is an 'Invisible Dragon,' a reference to a notoriously simplistic 2002 web novel titled *Invisible Dragon*, and identifies it as a creation of the Admin of the Infinite Metagame. He argues that the Admin, whose avatar is modeled after *Fate/Stay Night* (2003), is acting out of spite after being undermined, using the Dragon to challenge him. The Undertaker summons Dang Seo-rin, who arrives and uses her Cursed Song Incantation (Anti-Resonance) to negate the Dragon's roar, silencing it completely. With the creature reduced to a silent, thrashing worm, local Anomalies attack and subjugate it. The Undertaker then mocks the Admin of the Infinite Metagame via its laptop avatar, provoking a rude ASCII art response before the screen goes black. Shortly after, Oh Dok-seo rushes in, reporting a major anomaly at Haeundae beach. At the beach, SG Net gym members are distracted by floating stone monoliths. Dok-seo warns them not to read the inscriptions, claiming she is the administrator and that the stones are dangerous anomalies. The Undertaker examines a monolith and discovers it contains a message written in the voice of 'LiteraryGirl' (Oh Dok-seo), claiming she is taking a break from burnout but finding inspiration in games and music. Realizing with horror that these are not new messages but ancient records from previous cycles, he sees dozens of monoliths bearing Dok-seo's past abandoned serialization notices, including her 13th notice from cycle 788 and her 39th from cycle 813. Dok-seo, unaware of the temporal weight, complains about the 'slander' and her lack of a backlog. As the next day dawns, 1,131 such monoliths wash ashore in Busan, covering the city in proof of her repeated failures to complete her work.
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18:15
341
Chapter 341
The narrator observes that Oh Dok-seo has been ruined by karma; thousands of stone tablets, acting as her indefinite hiatus notices from the SG Net novel-serialization board, have washed ashore across Busan beaches, visible to all. A panicked SG Net administrator, Seo Gyu, begs Noh Do-hwa for National Road Management Corps assistance, but she dismisses the threat as harmless non-anomalous monoliths and reveals her own ignorance of Dok-seo’s fandom. Online, readers mock Dok-seo’s disappearance, with the post gaining thousands of comments and going viral globally thanks to AOIM-GPT’s translation. Dok-seo, frantic and gnawing her nails, pleads with Seo Gyu to remove the posts, but he refuses due to the volume. The narrator notes Dok-seo’s genuine, unshakable belief that her hiatus is beneficial, a mindset now crumbling under the public scorn. A telepathic message from Sim Ah-ryeon warns that her arrival will exacerbate Dok-seo’s breakdown. Fleeing responsibility, Dok-seo attacks the Admin of the Infinite Metagame’s laptop, screaming at the AI avatar for slandering her. The narrator intervenes, negotiating with the Admin, who reveals her plan: she manipulated the SG Net algorithms to artificially inflate the popularity of 'Three Kingdoms' genre stories by rigging view counts and paying royalties. When the narrator checks the top-ranked Three Kingdoms novel, he is horrified to find every male character in the epic war story replaced with female versions in a romanticized, absurd 'Sisterhood' scenario. The visual and narrative distortion causes the narrator to physically collapse in disgust. Simultaneously, Dok-seo is defeated when the Admin threatens to release more of her hiatus announcements. With both the Regressor and the Possessor incapacitated, the narrator agrees to a friendly negotiation. The Admin zooms her avatar onto the screen and displays her final, singular demand in a text file: 'You must respect me.'
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13:08
Chapter 341
The narrator observes that Oh Dok-seo has been ruined by karma; thousands of stone tablets, acting as her indefinite hiatus notices from the SG Net novel-serialization board, have washed ashore across Busan beaches, visible to all. A panicked SG Net administrator, Seo Gyu, begs Noh Do-hwa for National Road Management Corps assistance, but she dismisses the threat as harmless non-anomalous monoliths and reveals her own ignorance of Dok-seo’s fandom. Online, readers mock Dok-seo’s disappearance, with the post gaining thousands of comments and going viral globally thanks to AOIM-GPT’s translation. Dok-seo, frantic and gnawing her nails, pleads with Seo Gyu to remove the posts, but he refuses due to the volume. The narrator notes Dok-seo’s genuine, unshakable belief that her hiatus is beneficial, a mindset now crumbling under the public scorn. A telepathic message from Sim Ah-ryeon warns that her arrival will exacerbate Dok-seo’s breakdown. Fleeing responsibility, Dok-seo attacks the Admin of the Infinite Metagame’s laptop, screaming at the AI avatar for slandering her. The narrator intervenes, negotiating with the Admin, who reveals her plan: she manipulated the SG Net algorithms to artificially inflate the popularity of 'Three Kingdoms' genre stories by rigging view counts and paying royalties. When the narrator checks the top-ranked Three Kingdoms novel, he is horrified to find every male character in the epic war story replaced with female versions in a romanticized, absurd 'Sisterhood' scenario. The visual and narrative distortion causes the narrator to physically collapse in disgust. Simultaneously, Dok-seo is defeated when the Admin threatens to release more of her hiatus announcements. With both the Regressor and the Possessor incapacitated, the narrator agrees to a friendly negotiation. The Admin zooms her avatar onto the screen and displays her final, singular demand in a text file: 'You must respect me.'
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13:08
342
Chapter 342
The Admin of the Infinite Metagame reveals her grand design to the Regressor (Undertaker). She explains that she viewed the Monster Wave, Nut, the Mastermind, and Infinite Void not as rival Outer Gods, but as mere game mechanics or data to be devoured and reinterpreted. By framing the world as a video game, she positioned herself as the supreme player and raid boss, binding herself to the 'shackles' of fiction: she had to remain a boss figure and could not directly defeat 'main character' irregulars like regressors or prophets. She explains that she eliminated the six Prophets because they could read the future, which would cause a stalemate. She destroyed them by forcing their minds to process the entire cosmos's data, causing their brains to explode. With the Prophets gone, she focused on the Regressor. She initially underestimated him, dismissing his Complete Memory (perfect recollection of pain and happiness) as an F-rank skill and his Time Seal as a help to her. She believed he would collapse under the psychological weight of regression like the Swordmaster Schopenhauer did. However, the Regressor persisted for hundreds of cycles. The Admin realizes her first miscalculation: his Complete Memory prevented the psychological decay typical of regressors by preserving happy memories. To counter this, she deployed Oh Dok-seo as a 'Book Possessor' (similar to a Prophet) in the 555th cycle, subtly biasing the book's narrative to make Dok-seo hate and fear the Regressor. She intended for them to clash, allowing her to manipulate their dynamic. However, the plan failed because the Regressor had acquired 'Mind Reading' in the 554th cycle. The Admin is enraged, realizing that Cheon Yo-hwa (Infinite Void) had interfered. Cheon Yo-hwa, acting as a tactician, guided the Regressor to acquire Mind Reading to see through Dok-seo’s manipulated thoughts. A flashback reveals that in the 554th cycle, Cheon Yo-hwa asked the Regressor for help cleaning out her family’s cult estate. While exploring, they discovered a headless statue with a Buddha head and an eye patch. The Regressor touched the statue, triggering the acquisition of Mind Reading. Cheon Yo-hwa had orchestrated this discovery specifically to ensure the Regressor would have the skill to counter Dok-seo’s prophetic insight before the Admin could fully execute her manipulation. In the 555th cycle, when Dok-seo approached the Regressor, he used Mind Reading to see her true, non-hostile thoughts. Instead of clashing, they built trust, causing the Admin’s carefully constructed 'game' to collapse. The Admin concludes that the Regressor was undone by a strategist who fell in love with him and manipulated the timeline to protect him.
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16:33
Chapter 342
The Admin of the Infinite Metagame reveals her grand design to the Regressor (Undertaker). She explains that she viewed the Monster Wave, Nut, the Mastermind, and Infinite Void not as rival Outer Gods, but as mere game mechanics or data to be devoured and reinterpreted. By framing the world as a video game, she positioned herself as the supreme player and raid boss, binding herself to the 'shackles' of fiction: she had to remain a boss figure and could not directly defeat 'main character' irregulars like regressors or prophets. She explains that she eliminated the six Prophets because they could read the future, which would cause a stalemate. She destroyed them by forcing their minds to process the entire cosmos's data, causing their brains to explode. With the Prophets gone, she focused on the Regressor. She initially underestimated him, dismissing his Complete Memory (perfect recollection of pain and happiness) as an F-rank skill and his Time Seal as a help to her. She believed he would collapse under the psychological weight of regression like the Swordmaster Schopenhauer did. However, the Regressor persisted for hundreds of cycles. The Admin realizes her first miscalculation: his Complete Memory prevented the psychological decay typical of regressors by preserving happy memories. To counter this, she deployed Oh Dok-seo as a 'Book Possessor' (similar to a Prophet) in the 555th cycle, subtly biasing the book's narrative to make Dok-seo hate and fear the Regressor. She intended for them to clash, allowing her to manipulate their dynamic. However, the plan failed because the Regressor had acquired 'Mind Reading' in the 554th cycle. The Admin is enraged, realizing that Cheon Yo-hwa (Infinite Void) had interfered. Cheon Yo-hwa, acting as a tactician, guided the Regressor to acquire Mind Reading to see through Dok-seo’s manipulated thoughts. A flashback reveals that in the 554th cycle, Cheon Yo-hwa asked the Regressor for help cleaning out her family’s cult estate. While exploring, they discovered a headless statue with a Buddha head and an eye patch. The Regressor touched the statue, triggering the acquisition of Mind Reading. Cheon Yo-hwa had orchestrated this discovery specifically to ensure the Regressor would have the skill to counter Dok-seo’s prophetic insight before the Admin could fully execute her manipulation. In the 555th cycle, when Dok-seo approached the Regressor, he used Mind Reading to see her true, non-hostile thoughts. Instead of clashing, they built trust, causing the Admin’s carefully constructed 'game' to collapse. The Admin concludes that the Regressor was undone by a strategist who fell in love with him and manipulated the timeline to protect him.
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16:33
343
Chapter 343
The Admin of the Infinite Metagame, reduced to a degraded, static-filled avatar on a laptop, formally surrenders to the Regressor Undertaker. In a final, bitter monologue, the Admin reveals that she had initially suspected the Regressor’s true power, Mind Reading, came from Infinite Void. However, she confesses that Cheon Yo-hwa was the true puppet master, having stolen the Mastermind’s authority to grant the Regressor Mind Reading, thereby sabotaging the Admin’s plans from the start. The Admin laments her failure, blaming the Regressor for trusting his comrades too much, which prevented her from manipulating them as disposable pawns. The Regressor dismisses her lament, viewing her strategic flailing as futile. The Admin then kneels, begging for her life in exchange for total capitulation. Oh Dok-seo pleads for acceptance, fearing the Admin will resume meddling with her novels, while Sim Ah-ryeon vehemently objects, declaring that an Oh Dok-seo who writes daily is not the real, flawed character she cherishes. Lee Ha-yul joins the chaotic scene, adding to the disorder. The group determines they need a neutral, timeless venue for the surrender. Cheon Yo-hwa appears in the Divine Realm of Infinite Void, a sealed classroom where time stands still, and mocks the Admin, inflicting psychological torment through otaku insults. Afterward, the Regressor confronts Cheon Yo-hwa, who confirms she did indeed gift the Regressor Mind Reading after absorbing the Mastermind’s powers. She explains this was necessary because the Regressor is a constant in a world of variables, protected by his indelible memories linked to Go Yuri. Cheon Yo-hwa argues that her victory stemmed from her own humanizing factors, whereas the Admin lost hers through pettiness and insecurity. A Surrender Agreement is drafted: the Admin relinquishes control over creative works, guarantees Oh Dok-seo’s freedom from interference, and poses no threat to the Regressor, while the Regressor grants the Admin autonomy and preserves her laptop as an Ark. The pact is sealed via a blood oath, with fingerprints displayed on both the screen and blackboard. In a brief epilogue, Oh Dok-seo complains about being unable to write, revealing her writer’s block was partly self-inflicted due to her desire for leisure time.
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15:42
Chapter 343
The Admin of the Infinite Metagame, reduced to a degraded, static-filled avatar on a laptop, formally surrenders to the Regressor Undertaker. In a final, bitter monologue, the Admin reveals that she had initially suspected the Regressor’s true power, Mind Reading, came from Infinite Void. However, she confesses that Cheon Yo-hwa was the true puppet master, having stolen the Mastermind’s authority to grant the Regressor Mind Reading, thereby sabotaging the Admin’s plans from the start. The Admin laments her failure, blaming the Regressor for trusting his comrades too much, which prevented her from manipulating them as disposable pawns. The Regressor dismisses her lament, viewing her strategic flailing as futile. The Admin then kneels, begging for her life in exchange for total capitulation. Oh Dok-seo pleads for acceptance, fearing the Admin will resume meddling with her novels, while Sim Ah-ryeon vehemently objects, declaring that an Oh Dok-seo who writes daily is not the real, flawed character she cherishes. Lee Ha-yul joins the chaotic scene, adding to the disorder. The group determines they need a neutral, timeless venue for the surrender. Cheon Yo-hwa appears in the Divine Realm of Infinite Void, a sealed classroom where time stands still, and mocks the Admin, inflicting psychological torment through otaku insults. Afterward, the Regressor confronts Cheon Yo-hwa, who confirms she did indeed gift the Regressor Mind Reading after absorbing the Mastermind’s powers. She explains this was necessary because the Regressor is a constant in a world of variables, protected by his indelible memories linked to Go Yuri. Cheon Yo-hwa argues that her victory stemmed from her own humanizing factors, whereas the Admin lost hers through pettiness and insecurity. A Surrender Agreement is drafted: the Admin relinquishes control over creative works, guarantees Oh Dok-seo’s freedom from interference, and poses no threat to the Regressor, while the Regressor grants the Admin autonomy and preserves her laptop as an Ark. The pact is sealed via a blood oath, with fingerprints displayed on both the screen and blackboard. In a brief epilogue, Oh Dok-seo complains about being unable to write, revealing her writer’s block was partly self-inflicted due to her desire for leisure time.
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15:42
344
Chapter 344
The chapter begins with a flashback to the rainy day of the Busan Station tutorial dungeon. The narrator, reflecting on the many comrades who died too soon—including Oh Dok-seo, Sim Ah-ryeon, Lee Jae-hee, Uehara Shino, and Seo Gyu—recalls his state of mind: possessing nothing but anger, hatred, and no name. A figure approached him in the rain, offering an umbrella and recognizing him as the sole survivor of the high-difficulty tutorial. This stranger assigned him the alias "Undertaker," explaining it as a person who buries corpses in their heart. The stranger, who later revealed his name to be Dang Seo-rin, invited the nameless narrator to join his guild, Samcheon World. The narrator, seeing the stranger's breath as a signal of hope in the desolate world, accepted. They shook hands, with the stranger helping the narrator up from a puddle, and declared they were going "home."
The narrative shifts to the present, where the narrator, now Guild Leader of Samcheon World, contacts Jeong Ye-ji. He asks her to refrain from using her Clairvoyance on him for 24 hours because he intends to meet someone from a past life, finding it embarrassing to be watched. Jeong Ye-ji hesitates but agrees to respect his wish for one day. The narrator reflects on their short alliance and their shared code of ending calls with a tongue click.
The story then recalls two specific interactions with Dang Seo-rin regarding the narrator's appearance. First, Dang Seo-rin criticizes the narrator's dullness and unkempt long hair, calling it a "capital offense." When the narrator cuts it too short, Dang Seo-rin complains about the lack of moderation and formal speech, threatening him until he apologizes and promises to maintain his appearance. Second, Dang Seo-rin confronts him about wearing a barista uniform instead of the guild's mandated witch hats and brooms. The narrator deflects with flattery and offers a stolen Ford Anglia as a tribute. Dang Seo-rin, amused but firm, insists he find a uniform that sets a proper example, playfully threatening to dress him in one of her siblings' school uniforms. The narrator promises to comply.
The chapter concludes with the narrator preparing for the present-day meeting with his past self. He selects a white cotton shirt with rolled-up sleeves, black pants, and a simple black apron to resemble a barista stepping out of work rather than playing one. He reflects on the importance of imperfection and the intersection of their fates. Having made his choice, he accepts the invitation to meet the person he once knew, signaling the start of the encounter.
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14:27
Chapter 344
The chapter begins with a flashback to the rainy day of the Busan Station tutorial dungeon. The narrator, reflecting on the many comrades who died too soon—including Oh Dok-seo, Sim Ah-ryeon, Lee Jae-hee, Uehara Shino, and Seo Gyu—recalls his state of mind: possessing nothing but anger, hatred, and no name. A figure approached him in the rain, offering an umbrella and recognizing him as the sole survivor of the high-difficulty tutorial. This stranger assigned him the alias "Undertaker," explaining it as a person who buries corpses in their heart. The stranger, who later revealed his name to be Dang Seo-rin, invited the nameless narrator to join his guild, Samcheon World. The narrator, seeing the stranger's breath as a signal of hope in the desolate world, accepted. They shook hands, with the stranger helping the narrator up from a puddle, and declared they were going "home."
The narrative shifts to the present, where the narrator, now Guild Leader of Samcheon World, contacts Jeong Ye-ji. He asks her to refrain from using her Clairvoyance on him for 24 hours because he intends to meet someone from a past life, finding it embarrassing to be watched. Jeong Ye-ji hesitates but agrees to respect his wish for one day. The narrator reflects on their short alliance and their shared code of ending calls with a tongue click.
The story then recalls two specific interactions with Dang Seo-rin regarding the narrator's appearance. First, Dang Seo-rin criticizes the narrator's dullness and unkempt long hair, calling it a "capital offense." When the narrator cuts it too short, Dang Seo-rin complains about the lack of moderation and formal speech, threatening him until he apologizes and promises to maintain his appearance. Second, Dang Seo-rin confronts him about wearing a barista uniform instead of the guild's mandated witch hats and brooms. The narrator deflects with flattery and offers a stolen Ford Anglia as a tribute. Dang Seo-rin, amused but firm, insists he find a uniform that sets a proper example, playfully threatening to dress him in one of her siblings' school uniforms. The narrator promises to comply.
The chapter concludes with the narrator preparing for the present-day meeting with his past self. He selects a white cotton shirt with rolled-up sleeves, black pants, and a simple black apron to resemble a barista stepping out of work rather than playing one. He reflects on the importance of imperfection and the intersection of their fates. Having made his choice, he accepts the invitation to meet the person he once knew, signaling the start of the encounter.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
14:27
345
Chapter 345
The narrative opens with a brief, intimate internal monologue where Go Yuir (the narrator) makes a solemn promise to the 'Undertaker' never to die before them, setting a tone of deep attachment. The scene then shifts to the present: June 24, midday in Centum City, Busan. Dang Seo-rin stands motionless in the center of a diagonal crosswalk, staring blankly at the sky, still mourning the recent deaths of her parents, siblings, and friends. She is unaware of her surroundings until a stranger calls out to her.
The stranger warns her not to move, revealing that the traffic lights are blinking red and dripping blood, with bloody handprints crawling across the white stripes of the crosswalk. He explains that the anomaly is an 'Inviter' trap; pedestrians who have lost their entire families are summoned here. To survive, one must coat their hands in blood and hold them up while crossing, avoiding eye contact with the handprints which would otherwise strangle those who lower their hands or fail to match the signal's color rules. The stranger, wearing a barista apron, cuts his palm to bleed on his hands, explaining the rules to a curious Dang Seo-rin. They cross the dangerous intersection side-by-side, holding their bloodied hands high.
Upon reaching safety, they discuss the nature of the anomaly. Dang Seo-rin interprets the crosswalk as a spiritual destination for the lost, a place where dreams and reality blur for those who have lost their homes. The stranger, identifying himself by the alias 'Undertaker,' invites her to coffee. The scene transitions to a café setting where Dang Seo-rin, acting as the 'Great Witch' and Guild Leader of the Samcheon World, has attempted to brew coffee herself using old beans. She serves it to the Undertaker, who reacts with theatrical outrage, calling it 'friggin' awful' and insulting her brewing skills, causing her to blush and feign distress. He then produces his own 'trump card' drink: an affogato made with real vanilla bean ice cream and high-quality coffee. Dang Seo-rin is delighted by the taste, praising him as the 'World's Best Coffee Master.'
The two exchange introductions. She reveals her name, Dang Seo-rin, and he reveals he has lost his true name to the anomalies and goes by 'Undertaker.' They playfully discuss their ages and identities, eventually agreeing to drop formal honorifics. The chapter concludes with this first meeting establishing a rapport between the grieving witch and the mysterious barista, hinting at a deeper connection and future interactions.
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12:55
Chapter 345
The narrative opens with a brief, intimate internal monologue where Go Yuir (the narrator) makes a solemn promise to the 'Undertaker' never to die before them, setting a tone of deep attachment. The scene then shifts to the present: June 24, midday in Centum City, Busan. Dang Seo-rin stands motionless in the center of a diagonal crosswalk, staring blankly at the sky, still mourning the recent deaths of her parents, siblings, and friends. She is unaware of her surroundings until a stranger calls out to her.
The stranger warns her not to move, revealing that the traffic lights are blinking red and dripping blood, with bloody handprints crawling across the white stripes of the crosswalk. He explains that the anomaly is an 'Inviter' trap; pedestrians who have lost their entire families are summoned here. To survive, one must coat their hands in blood and hold them up while crossing, avoiding eye contact with the handprints which would otherwise strangle those who lower their hands or fail to match the signal's color rules. The stranger, wearing a barista apron, cuts his palm to bleed on his hands, explaining the rules to a curious Dang Seo-rin. They cross the dangerous intersection side-by-side, holding their bloodied hands high.
Upon reaching safety, they discuss the nature of the anomaly. Dang Seo-rin interprets the crosswalk as a spiritual destination for the lost, a place where dreams and reality blur for those who have lost their homes. The stranger, identifying himself by the alias 'Undertaker,' invites her to coffee. The scene transitions to a café setting where Dang Seo-rin, acting as the 'Great Witch' and Guild Leader of the Samcheon World, has attempted to brew coffee herself using old beans. She serves it to the Undertaker, who reacts with theatrical outrage, calling it 'friggin' awful' and insulting her brewing skills, causing her to blush and feign distress. He then produces his own 'trump card' drink: an affogato made with real vanilla bean ice cream and high-quality coffee. Dang Seo-rin is delighted by the taste, praising him as the 'World's Best Coffee Master.'
The two exchange introductions. She reveals her name, Dang Seo-rin, and he reveals he has lost his true name to the anomalies and goes by 'Undertaker.' They playfully discuss their ages and identities, eventually agreeing to drop formal honorifics. The chapter concludes with this first meeting establishing a rapport between the grieving witch and the mysterious barista, hinting at a deeper connection and future interactions.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
12:55
346
Chapter 346
The narrator, Go Yuir (Undertaker), reflects on the 10th cycle, in which Dang Seo-rin died heroically after leading the subjugation of the Ten Legs. Her funeral was a massive national event attended by thousands, including Sim Ah-ryeon, whom Yuir initially perceived only as a healer despite her later revelation as the 'OldManGoryeo' villain. Yuir recalls making a solemn promise to Seo-rin: he would never die before her, a vow rooted in her trauma of outliving her family and her fear of him becoming a corpse. This chapter then flashes back to their first meeting at a crosswalk, where Yuir navigated Seo-rin's shyness with humor. Their relationship deepened during a second meeting under a willow tree on June 28, where Yuir used culinary skills—specifically homemade bacon sandwiches and Earl Grey milk bubble tea—to captivate her. This display of 'regressor' knowledge and charm secured her trust. They discussed shared interests in Anomalies and the creation of a public guideboard on Constellation Net. Beneath her lively exterior, Yuir recognized Seo-rin’s profound grief over her family’s death, which had occurred in a botanical garden greenhouse. He noted that she only laughed in his presence, using him as a refuge from her suicidal despair and murderous rage. The flashback culminates in a poignant scene where Yuir guides a trembling Seo-rin into a greenhouse filled with withered, Anomaly-affected plants. By reframing the tragic site as the 'Garden of Fallen Flowers,' Yuir provided a space where Seo-rin could face her trauma without breaking down, allowing her to find solace in the beauty of decay rather than the pain of loss.
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11:58
Chapter 346
The narrator, Go Yuir (Undertaker), reflects on the 10th cycle, in which Dang Seo-rin died heroically after leading the subjugation of the Ten Legs. Her funeral was a massive national event attended by thousands, including Sim Ah-ryeon, whom Yuir initially perceived only as a healer despite her later revelation as the 'OldManGoryeo' villain. Yuir recalls making a solemn promise to Seo-rin: he would never die before her, a vow rooted in her trauma of outliving her family and her fear of him becoming a corpse. This chapter then flashes back to their first meeting at a crosswalk, where Yuir navigated Seo-rin's shyness with humor. Their relationship deepened during a second meeting under a willow tree on June 28, where Yuir used culinary skills—specifically homemade bacon sandwiches and Earl Grey milk bubble tea—to captivate her. This display of 'regressor' knowledge and charm secured her trust. They discussed shared interests in Anomalies and the creation of a public guideboard on Constellation Net. Beneath her lively exterior, Yuir recognized Seo-rin’s profound grief over her family’s death, which had occurred in a botanical garden greenhouse. He noted that she only laughed in his presence, using him as a refuge from her suicidal despair and murderous rage. The flashback culminates in a poignant scene where Yuir guides a trembling Seo-rin into a greenhouse filled with withered, Anomaly-affected plants. By reframing the tragic site as the 'Garden of Fallen Flowers,' Yuir provided a space where Seo-rin could face her trauma without breaking down, allowing her to find solace in the beauty of decay rather than the pain of loss.
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11:58
347
Chapter 347
The narrative opens in the VIP car of the train operated by Samcheon World, where Guild Leader Dang Seo-rin suffers a violent breakdown. The Undertaker (Go Yuir) discovers Seo-rin trembling amidst shattered mirrors, her body infested with the Udumbara virus, a pathogen from the New Buddha Church that causes plant growth within the host. Vines and buds erupt from Seo-rin's flesh; when she tears them out, her skin regenerates instantly, revealing that the infection is systemic. The Undertaker orders guild members led by Yu Ji-won to quarantine the area, warning that ripping the plants accelerates their growth. Over the following days, the Undertaker cares for the isolated Seo-rin, who is traumatized by the blooming, as she harbors a deep aversion to flowers due to past family tragedy involving her flower shop. Yu Ji-won manages the guild's external affairs, allowing the Undertaker to focus on Seo-rin's psychological state. Seo-rin confesses to secretly burying a New Buddha monk alive and expresses a desire to exterminate all cultists, prompting the Undertaker to embrace her and promise it won't happen again. A transition occurs: the scene shifts to the Garden of Fallen Flowers, where the pair strolls together. The garden, previously wilted, begins to bloom as the Undertaker uses his Dark Aura to revive dead flora, restoring them to life while Seo-rin identifies their species. This act of resurrection brings Seo-rin to tears, triggering a confession about her guilt over failing to save her family and her dream of founding a guild. She questions why flowers remain beautiful despite the world's destruction, ending with a profound, human cry of emotion rather than magical or strategic resolve.
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11:41
Chapter 347
The narrative opens in the VIP car of the train operated by Samcheon World, where Guild Leader Dang Seo-rin suffers a violent breakdown. The Undertaker (Go Yuir) discovers Seo-rin trembling amidst shattered mirrors, her body infested with the Udumbara virus, a pathogen from the New Buddha Church that causes plant growth within the host. Vines and buds erupt from Seo-rin's flesh; when she tears them out, her skin regenerates instantly, revealing that the infection is systemic. The Undertaker orders guild members led by Yu Ji-won to quarantine the area, warning that ripping the plants accelerates their growth. Over the following days, the Undertaker cares for the isolated Seo-rin, who is traumatized by the blooming, as she harbors a deep aversion to flowers due to past family tragedy involving her flower shop. Yu Ji-won manages the guild's external affairs, allowing the Undertaker to focus on Seo-rin's psychological state. Seo-rin confesses to secretly burying a New Buddha monk alive and expresses a desire to exterminate all cultists, prompting the Undertaker to embrace her and promise it won't happen again. A transition occurs: the scene shifts to the Garden of Fallen Flowers, where the pair strolls together. The garden, previously wilted, begins to bloom as the Undertaker uses his Dark Aura to revive dead flora, restoring them to life while Seo-rin identifies their species. This act of resurrection brings Seo-rin to tears, triggering a confession about her guilt over failing to save her family and her dream of founding a guild. She questions why flowers remain beautiful despite the world's destruction, ending with a profound, human cry of emotion rather than magical or strategic resolve.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
11:41
348
Chapter 348
The chapter opens with a visceral flashback to the 'Inviter V' incident, where seven hundred Awakeners in a suicide squad plummeted from the sky as the last remnants of starlight, representing the final stand of true humanity against extinction. The narration contrasts this tragic, beautiful destruction with the protagonist’s deep-seated hatred for the world’s cruel logic and his love for humankind, culminating in a poignant internal dialogue with 'Undertaker' (himself), reaffirming his commitment to humanity despite the pain.
The narrative then shifts to the present, where Dang Seo-rin is crying on a bench after visiting the Garden of Fallen Flowers. She attempts to blow her nose on the protagonist’s sleeve, leading to a flirtatious exchange where she questions if his perfect date choices imply mind-reading or manipulation. He corrects her, claiming she seduced him first through her open flirting and tailored appearance. Despite the banter, the mood turns serious as the protagonist reveals his plan to establish the 'National Road Management Corps' to replace the failing government, seeking her help. Seo-rin admits she is fascinated by him, feeling a familial comfort and lack of need for pretense in his presence.
At a nearby crosswalk, Seo-rin confesses a secret she had hidden for 998 previous timelines: she possesses synesthesia, hearing distinct 'songs' or sounds from people and places. She explains that while the world usually screamed in pain, the protagonist’s actions—specifically reviving a peony—produced a beautiful, clear melody that reminded her the world was still worth loving. She vows to help him, even to 'set the world on fire,' trusting his song above all else. The chapter concludes with a retrospective exposition on their long-term strategy to defeat the Monster Wave. Having realized that relying on Aura and Awakened powers inevitably leads to Corruption, the protagonist and Seo-rin devised a 'grand magic of Equivalent Exchange.' While others relied on power that grew with use (leading to destruction), Seo-rin’s 'Cursed Song' consumes her lifespan, making her weaker as she uses it but preventing Corruption. The narrator reflects that their path was one of mutual decay, a singular route to save humanity by gradually dying as ordinary humans, ending with the promise to fast-forward through their years of failure and sacrifice.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:46
Chapter 348
The chapter opens with a visceral flashback to the 'Inviter V' incident, where seven hundred Awakeners in a suicide squad plummeted from the sky as the last remnants of starlight, representing the final stand of true humanity against extinction. The narration contrasts this tragic, beautiful destruction with the protagonist’s deep-seated hatred for the world’s cruel logic and his love for humankind, culminating in a poignant internal dialogue with 'Undertaker' (himself), reaffirming his commitment to humanity despite the pain.
The narrative then shifts to the present, where Dang Seo-rin is crying on a bench after visiting the Garden of Fallen Flowers. She attempts to blow her nose on the protagonist’s sleeve, leading to a flirtatious exchange where she questions if his perfect date choices imply mind-reading or manipulation. He corrects her, claiming she seduced him first through her open flirting and tailored appearance. Despite the banter, the mood turns serious as the protagonist reveals his plan to establish the 'National Road Management Corps' to replace the failing government, seeking her help. Seo-rin admits she is fascinated by him, feeling a familial comfort and lack of need for pretense in his presence.
At a nearby crosswalk, Seo-rin confesses a secret she had hidden for 998 previous timelines: she possesses synesthesia, hearing distinct 'songs' or sounds from people and places. She explains that while the world usually screamed in pain, the protagonist’s actions—specifically reviving a peony—produced a beautiful, clear melody that reminded her the world was still worth loving. She vows to help him, even to 'set the world on fire,' trusting his song above all else. The chapter concludes with a retrospective exposition on their long-term strategy to defeat the Monster Wave. Having realized that relying on Aura and Awakened powers inevitably leads to Corruption, the protagonist and Seo-rin devised a 'grand magic of Equivalent Exchange.' While others relied on power that grew with use (leading to destruction), Seo-rin’s 'Cursed Song' consumes her lifespan, making her weaker as she uses it but preventing Corruption. The narrator reflects that their path was one of mutual decay, a singular route to save humanity by gradually dying as ordinary humans, ending with the promise to fast-forward through their years of failure and sacrifice.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:46
349
Chapter 349
The chapter opens with a metaphorical reflection on a woman solving a four-dimensional puzzle in the night sky, representing the complex temporal mechanics of the scenario. The focus shifts to Oh Dok-seo, who is identified as a writer specializing in historical fiction. Despite her reputation for inconsistency, she decides to use her ability, 'Side Story Creation,' to investigate a specific past event: the interaction between the Regressor ('Mister') and Dang Seo-rin in the 173rd cycle. Dok-seo argues that because Dang Seo-rin's corruption in the recent cycles involved unusual romantic tension that was omitted from official records, she must uncover the truth. Lee Ha-yul, initially contemptuous of Dok-seo’s laziness and intrusive nature, is persuaded to spy on her 'father's' romantic life. Dok-seo manipulates the situation by appealing to Ha-yul’s curiosity, eventually striking a deal. Jeong Ye-ji, the Saintess, intervenes with her Time Stop ability but ultimately permits the investigation, rationalizing it by noting Dang Seo-rin’s unique behavior and dismissing privacy concerns due to her own surveillance habits. The Saintess’s decision is subtly manipulated by Dok-seo, who hints at shared interest in the Regressor’s romantic history, pushing Ye-ji closer to Corruption. Yu Ji-won, Noh Do-hwa’s loyal subordinate, and Cheon Yo-hwa, the student council president and bully of Dok-seo, join the group in the hideout. Sim Ah-ryeon also arrives. The chapter concludes with the activation of Side Story Creation, summoning Dang Seo-rin from the 173rd cycle, marking the emergence of the third shard of starlight as the characters prepare to witness the past.
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18:35
Chapter 349
The chapter opens with a metaphorical reflection on a woman solving a four-dimensional puzzle in the night sky, representing the complex temporal mechanics of the scenario. The focus shifts to Oh Dok-seo, who is identified as a writer specializing in historical fiction. Despite her reputation for inconsistency, she decides to use her ability, 'Side Story Creation,' to investigate a specific past event: the interaction between the Regressor ('Mister') and Dang Seo-rin in the 173rd cycle. Dok-seo argues that because Dang Seo-rin's corruption in the recent cycles involved unusual romantic tension that was omitted from official records, she must uncover the truth. Lee Ha-yul, initially contemptuous of Dok-seo’s laziness and intrusive nature, is persuaded to spy on her 'father's' romantic life. Dok-seo manipulates the situation by appealing to Ha-yul’s curiosity, eventually striking a deal. Jeong Ye-ji, the Saintess, intervenes with her Time Stop ability but ultimately permits the investigation, rationalizing it by noting Dang Seo-rin’s unique behavior and dismissing privacy concerns due to her own surveillance habits. The Saintess’s decision is subtly manipulated by Dok-seo, who hints at shared interest in the Regressor’s romantic history, pushing Ye-ji closer to Corruption. Yu Ji-won, Noh Do-hwa’s loyal subordinate, and Cheon Yo-hwa, the student council president and bully of Dok-seo, join the group in the hideout. Sim Ah-ryeon also arrives. The chapter concludes with the activation of Side Story Creation, summoning Dang Seo-rin from the 173rd cycle, marking the emergence of the third shard of starlight as the characters prepare to witness the past.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
18:35
350
Chapter 350
The narrative opens with a flashback to the 692nd cycle, revealing a conversation between Oh Dok-seo and an unnamed 'mister' (Go Yuir/Undertaker). Dok-seo, then a novice 'LiteraryGirl,' proposed creating side stories from alternate perspectives as a creative vacation, promising one every 100 chapters. The mister granted her permission to write without proofreading, a concession she had secretly longed for to bypass Regressor oversight. Now, in the 999th cycle at Chapter 350, having accumulated 3.5 'side story' credits, Dok-seo seizes the moment after unlocking the Infinite Metagame's shackles. She initiates her first side story, titled 'The Missing,' set in the 173rd cycle, from the first-person perspective of the Undertaker, requiring no proofreading.
The perspective shifts to the Undertaker and Dang Seo-rin drinking late at night in Busan’s Dream Casino district. The Undertaker notices eerie anomalies: the sky clouds twitch like a dragon, a streetlamp explodes, and all human presence—including staff and other patrons—vanishes without a trace. Communication with the Constellations and SG Net fails completely. Realizing humanity has disappeared, only he and Seo-rin remain. They suspect an anomaly, possibly linked to Go Yuri or a Void entity, but the scale and lack of warning are irregular for the 999th cycle.
Seo-rin, initially intoxicated, takes an anti-hangover pill to sober up. She proposes flying to check for survivors but confirms Busan, and presumably all major cities, are empty. They return to their bar to strategize. The Undertaker deduces the inverse: rather than the world ending, they themselves might have been removed from it, a scenario Seo-rin finds oddly comforting, recalling their first meeting in a similarly isolated crosswalk. Suddenly, Seo-rin interrupts his analysis, suggesting the simplest explanation is that it is all a dream. She leans in, pressing her hands to his face and asking if this is his first kiss, implying they can wake up from this 'dream' by sharing one. As they close the distance, the Undertaker recalls memories of their past, specifically the 173rd cycle when she fell into Corruption and he vowed to stay by her side. He closes his eyes, expecting a resolution or escape.
Instead, the silence is replaced by the sound of fireworks. Upon opening his eyes, he sees the sky filled with red and blue explosions and witches soaring on brooms. A golden constellation-like scale hovers above Seo-rin. She is no longer the Seo-rin of the 999th cycle but the Fallen Great Witch from the 173rd cycle, smiling softly. The Undertaker realizes he has not escaped the anomaly but has been pulled into a utopian pocket dimension of the past, trapped in a loop of their shared history with this version of Seo-rin.
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12:42
Chapter 350
The narrative opens with a flashback to the 692nd cycle, revealing a conversation between Oh Dok-seo and an unnamed 'mister' (Go Yuir/Undertaker). Dok-seo, then a novice 'LiteraryGirl,' proposed creating side stories from alternate perspectives as a creative vacation, promising one every 100 chapters. The mister granted her permission to write without proofreading, a concession she had secretly longed for to bypass Regressor oversight. Now, in the 999th cycle at Chapter 350, having accumulated 3.5 'side story' credits, Dok-seo seizes the moment after unlocking the Infinite Metagame's shackles. She initiates her first side story, titled 'The Missing,' set in the 173rd cycle, from the first-person perspective of the Undertaker, requiring no proofreading.
The perspective shifts to the Undertaker and Dang Seo-rin drinking late at night in Busan’s Dream Casino district. The Undertaker notices eerie anomalies: the sky clouds twitch like a dragon, a streetlamp explodes, and all human presence—including staff and other patrons—vanishes without a trace. Communication with the Constellations and SG Net fails completely. Realizing humanity has disappeared, only he and Seo-rin remain. They suspect an anomaly, possibly linked to Go Yuri or a Void entity, but the scale and lack of warning are irregular for the 999th cycle.
Seo-rin, initially intoxicated, takes an anti-hangover pill to sober up. She proposes flying to check for survivors but confirms Busan, and presumably all major cities, are empty. They return to their bar to strategize. The Undertaker deduces the inverse: rather than the world ending, they themselves might have been removed from it, a scenario Seo-rin finds oddly comforting, recalling their first meeting in a similarly isolated crosswalk. Suddenly, Seo-rin interrupts his analysis, suggesting the simplest explanation is that it is all a dream. She leans in, pressing her hands to his face and asking if this is his first kiss, implying they can wake up from this 'dream' by sharing one. As they close the distance, the Undertaker recalls memories of their past, specifically the 173rd cycle when she fell into Corruption and he vowed to stay by her side. He closes his eyes, expecting a resolution or escape.
Instead, the silence is replaced by the sound of fireworks. Upon opening his eyes, he sees the sky filled with red and blue explosions and witches soaring on brooms. A golden constellation-like scale hovers above Seo-rin. She is no longer the Seo-rin of the 999th cycle but the Fallen Great Witch from the 173rd cycle, smiling softly. The Undertaker realizes he has not escaped the anomaly but has been pulled into a utopian pocket dimension of the past, trapped in a loop of their shared history with this version of Seo-rin.
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12:42
351
Chapter 351
The protagonist observes the epilogue of the 173rd regression cycle, realizing that Dang Seo-rin did not kill him after their kiss but instead survived and ascended to a nearly omnipotent state as the "Great Witch." The Undertaker (the protagonist's past self in that cycle) confronts Seo-rin, who reveals her Golden Scales of Equivalent Exchange can grant any wish if the price is matched. She demonstrates this by having erased the Undertaker's memories of the kiss to make it his "first," a manipulation previously exploited by Cheon Yo-hwa.
The Undertaker seeks to use this power not to fight current threats, which he lacks the knowledge to handle, but to summon his future self from the 1000th cycle to gain crucial wisdom. Seo-rin is skeptical, noting that if the summoning fails, it implies the future self failed to save the world. She places the future self's weight on the scale, which tips violently, indicating an immense price. After a bickering exchange about their failed romance and the "Anomalies," they struggle to find a sufficient equivalent to balance the scales for the summoning.
Realizing no material or lifespan sacrifice is enough, the Undertaker confesses his acceptance of death and offers his own memories as the price. By erasing his consciousness and all future events from this cycle, he ensures the summoning isn't viewed as a "cheat" that alters history's flow from his perspective. He asks Seo-rin to watch over his death as he forfeits his right to remember the interaction or the outcome. Seo-rin agrees, placing his body, mind, and the entirety of their shared time onto the left side of the scales. The golden scales finally balance, completing the Equivalent Exchange and setting the summoning in motion.
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13:23
Chapter 351
The protagonist observes the epilogue of the 173rd regression cycle, realizing that Dang Seo-rin did not kill him after their kiss but instead survived and ascended to a nearly omnipotent state as the "Great Witch." The Undertaker (the protagonist's past self in that cycle) confronts Seo-rin, who reveals her Golden Scales of Equivalent Exchange can grant any wish if the price is matched. She demonstrates this by having erased the Undertaker's memories of the kiss to make it his "first," a manipulation previously exploited by Cheon Yo-hwa.
The Undertaker seeks to use this power not to fight current threats, which he lacks the knowledge to handle, but to summon his future self from the 1000th cycle to gain crucial wisdom. Seo-rin is skeptical, noting that if the summoning fails, it implies the future self failed to save the world. She places the future self's weight on the scale, which tips violently, indicating an immense price. After a bickering exchange about their failed romance and the "Anomalies," they struggle to find a sufficient equivalent to balance the scales for the summoning.
Realizing no material or lifespan sacrifice is enough, the Undertaker confesses his acceptance of death and offers his own memories as the price. By erasing his consciousness and all future events from this cycle, he ensures the summoning isn't viewed as a "cheat" that alters history's flow from his perspective. He asks Seo-rin to watch over his death as he forfeits his right to remember the interaction or the outcome. Seo-rin agrees, placing his body, mind, and the entirety of their shared time onto the left side of the scales. The golden scales finally balance, completing the Equivalent Exchange and setting the summoning in motion.
Guest access includes first 49 of 485 audio chapters. Sign in for Free access.
13:23
352
Chapter 352
On the terrace of the Tower of Babel, the Undertaker of the 173rd cycle speaks with Dang Seo-rin, who is visibly distressed by the impending end of their cycle. He attempts to comfort her by reframing the transition not as a final separation, but as an opportunity for her to meet his future self in the 1000th cycle, claiming that people and personalities evolve over time. Seo-rin remains skeptical and tearful, noting the lack of romance in his pragmatic farewell. As the Undertaker accepts his fate, golden scales absorb his essence, leaving him as a vacant shell. Simultaneously, the narrator—the Regressor from the 999th cycle—is pulled into the Undertaker's body, reawakening with full consciousness. Seo-rin, initially wary of this unknown entity possessing her old friend's form, tests him with a highly specific, eccentric anecdote about defending a corrupt governor. When the new Undertaker recites the story flawlessly, proving his identity and sincerity, Seo-rin accepts him, and they begin a strategy meeting. The narrator theorizes that his arrival has created a "bonus stage" or 1000th cycle, allowing him to utilize abilities like infinite Aura. He reveals shocking truths about the National Road Management Corps: Yu Ji-won is the master of all Aura in the world, and Cheon Yo-hwa is not just a student council president but an Anomaly linked to the Hidden Mastermind. Their discussion is interrupted by a commotion as Oh Dok-seo, a young woman with short red hair, bursts onto the terrace, claiming to have been pulled from a different timeline. She recognizes the narrator as "Mister" and expresses relief that he appears normal. The narrator deduces that Dok-seo has also been brought from the 999th cycle, explaining her familiarity and informal address to Seo-rin, who is confused by the anachronism. The chapter concludes with a major divergence from the narrator's memories: Seo-rin states that Baekhwa Girls' High has two deputy directors, both Cheon Yo-hwas—older and younger twin sisters. This contradicts the narrator's memory of a single president, indicating a significant alteration in history prior to his arrival.
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13:51
Chapter 352
On the terrace of the Tower of Babel, the Undertaker of the 173rd cycle speaks with Dang Seo-rin, who is visibly distressed by the impending end of their cycle. He attempts to comfort her by reframing the transition not as a final separation, but as an opportunity for her to meet his future self in the 1000th cycle, claiming that people and personalities evolve over time. Seo-rin remains skeptical and tearful, noting the lack of romance in his pragmatic farewell. As the Undertaker accepts his fate, golden scales absorb his essence, leaving him as a vacant shell. Simultaneously, the narrator—the Regressor from the 999th cycle—is pulled into the Undertaker's body, reawakening with full consciousness. Seo-rin, initially wary of this unknown entity possessing her old friend's form, tests him with a highly specific, eccentric anecdote about defending a corrupt governor. When the new Undertaker recites the story flawlessly, proving his identity and sincerity, Seo-rin accepts him, and they begin a strategy meeting. The narrator theorizes that his arrival has created a "bonus stage" or 1000th cycle, allowing him to utilize abilities like infinite Aura. He reveals shocking truths about the National Road Management Corps: Yu Ji-won is the master of all Aura in the world, and Cheon Yo-hwa is not just a student council president but an Anomaly linked to the Hidden Mastermind. Their discussion is interrupted by a commotion as Oh Dok-seo, a young woman with short red hair, bursts onto the terrace, claiming to have been pulled from a different timeline. She recognizes the narrator as "Mister" and expresses relief that he appears normal. The narrator deduces that Dok-seo has also been brought from the 999th cycle, explaining her familiarity and informal address to Seo-rin, who is confused by the anachronism. The chapter concludes with a major divergence from the narrator's memories: Seo-rin states that Baekhwa Girls' High has two deputy directors, both Cheon Yo-hwas—older and younger twin sisters. This contradicts the narrator's memory of a single president, indicating a significant alteration in history prior to his arrival.
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13:51
353
Chapter 353
The narrator (Undertaker) is awakened at 2 AM on the terrace of the Tower of Babel to a chaotic scene. The twin Cheon Yo-hwa sisters arrive with manic energy, engaging in nonsensical banter about 'Teacher' and their own identities, confusing the attendees. Seo-rin sighs at the disturbance, while Ha-yul sleeps and Ah-ryeon appears confused, asking who the narrator is. The twins' demeanor shifts instantly from hyper to coldly predatory when Ah-ryeon questions the narrator's identity, though they revert to clinging to his arms and demanding to be identified as 'Yo-hwa.' Ah-ryeon fails to recognize him, prompting the narrator to address the group. He asks the Regressor Alliance how many cycles remain, receiving vague estimates from the twins and a precise count of 200 from Yu Ji-won via chat. The narrator dramatically announces the failure of all previous attempts, causing silence before Oh Dok-seo interprets the moment as a meta-reference. Cheon Yo-hwa (younger) clarifies the mechanics: Oh Dok-seo was pulled from the 999th cycle to the 173rd via 'Side Story Creation,' and the narrator sacrificed his current life and memories to bring back future knowledge. Jeong Ye-ji uses telepathy to explain the strategic implication: the clear conditions are worsening, Aura is restricted, and losing the elder Yo-hwa (Infinite Void) is critical. Yu Ji-won questions the limits of Oh Dok-seo's power, and the narrator reveals his hidden identity as 'Mr. Matiz,' the Miko of Leviathan, though he notes he will forget these events soon. He redirects the focus to their immediate threat: Hecate (Nut), the Goddess of Night. He argues for a surprise strike against her now, citing her power to treat regression as a virus. Seo-rin agrees with the strategy despite her own corruption. The chapter ends with a warning that Yu Ji-won is dangerously close to Corruption herself.
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15:08
Chapter 353
The narrator (Undertaker) is awakened at 2 AM on the terrace of the Tower of Babel to a chaotic scene. The twin Cheon Yo-hwa sisters arrive with manic energy, engaging in nonsensical banter about 'Teacher' and their own identities, confusing the attendees. Seo-rin sighs at the disturbance, while Ha-yul sleeps and Ah-ryeon appears confused, asking who the narrator is. The twins' demeanor shifts instantly from hyper to coldly predatory when Ah-ryeon questions the narrator's identity, though they revert to clinging to his arms and demanding to be identified as 'Yo-hwa.' Ah-ryeon fails to recognize him, prompting the narrator to address the group. He asks the Regressor Alliance how many cycles remain, receiving vague estimates from the twins and a precise count of 200 from Yu Ji-won via chat. The narrator dramatically announces the failure of all previous attempts, causing silence before Oh Dok-seo interprets the moment as a meta-reference. Cheon Yo-hwa (younger) clarifies the mechanics: Oh Dok-seo was pulled from the 999th cycle to the 173rd via 'Side Story Creation,' and the narrator sacrificed his current life and memories to bring back future knowledge. Jeong Ye-ji uses telepathy to explain the strategic implication: the clear conditions are worsening, Aura is restricted, and losing the elder Yo-hwa (Infinite Void) is critical. Yu Ji-won questions the limits of Oh Dok-seo's power, and the narrator reveals his hidden identity as 'Mr. Matiz,' the Miko of Leviathan, though he notes he will forget these events soon. He redirects the focus to their immediate threat: Hecate (Nut), the Goddess of Night. He argues for a surprise strike against her now, citing her power to treat regression as a virus. Seo-rin agrees with the strategy despite her own corruption. The chapter ends with a warning that Yu Ji-won is dangerously close to Corruption herself.
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15:08
354
Chapter 354
Chapter 354 opens with the narrator, Oh Dok-seo, reflecting on the fading outrage over the SG Net hiatus, which has been reduced to a joke amidst the rising tide of Corruption. Under the dawn sky of Utopia, Dok-seo expresses a sense of freedom from serialization, a feeling emphasized by her relaxed demeanor after an all-night strategy meeting with the Regressor Alliance. The group’s primary objective is established: attack Nut, the Night Goddess, an Outer-God-class Anomaly. Cheon Yo-hwa, the elder of the twin Cheon sisters and a member of the alliance, discusses the tactical challenges. She notes that Nut’s compatibility with regressors is particularly hostile, having previously required the Saintess, Jeong Ye-ji, to Fall and sacrifice herself merely to seal Nut away, not defeat her.
Yo-hwa demonstrates her sharp intellect and deep knowledge of Dok-seo’s regressive abilities. She proposes using the 'Time Seal'—a power capable of freezing time and sealing anomalies—as a potential solution. Her initial plan involves sealing Nut and potentially sacrificing the Saintess in the final cycle to ensure Nut’s destruction. However, Dok-seo rejects this, citing a hunch that Time Seal is not omnipotent. Yo-hwa tests this hypothesis, pointing out that she herself retained her identity within a sealed realm, suggesting the seal is not absolute. She also questions the reliability of sealing Nut without losing other critical powers like Clairvoyance or Telepathy, drawing parallels to the loss of power associated with Aura, who was revealed to be an avatar of Leviathan.
Shifting tactics, Yo-hwa suggests a radical alternative: instead of relying on seals, use overwhelming brute force. She argues that Dok-seo’s hesitation stems from trauma regarding the Aura-Leviathan revelation, causing her to underutilize her current immense power. Yo-hwa calculates that in the current cycle (simultaneously the 173rd and 1000th), the combined might of the Regressor Alliance, empowered by the Great Witch, Infinite Metagame, and Infinite Void, should theoretically surpass Nut. She proposes a 'bonus stage' strategy: intentionally triggering the Fall of the entire Regressor Alliance to unleash their full power and crush Nut through sheer strength. This plan is highly dangerous, risking civil war among regressors and unknown temporal ripple effects. Despite the insanity, Dok-seo feels a sense of adventure and agrees. The chapter concludes with the initiation of 'Project Collapse,' a gambler’s bet to make the world messier by unleashing chaos against the Outer Gods.
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10:41
Chapter 354
Chapter 354 opens with the narrator, Oh Dok-seo, reflecting on the fading outrage over the SG Net hiatus, which has been reduced to a joke amidst the rising tide of Corruption. Under the dawn sky of Utopia, Dok-seo expresses a sense of freedom from serialization, a feeling emphasized by her relaxed demeanor after an all-night strategy meeting with the Regressor Alliance. The group’s primary objective is established: attack Nut, the Night Goddess, an Outer-God-class Anomaly. Cheon Yo-hwa, the elder of the twin Cheon sisters and a member of the alliance, discusses the tactical challenges. She notes that Nut’s compatibility with regressors is particularly hostile, having previously required the Saintess, Jeong Ye-ji, to Fall and sacrifice herself merely to seal Nut away, not defeat her.
Yo-hwa demonstrates her sharp intellect and deep knowledge of Dok-seo’s regressive abilities. She proposes using the 'Time Seal'—a power capable of freezing time and sealing anomalies—as a potential solution. Her initial plan involves sealing Nut and potentially sacrificing the Saintess in the final cycle to ensure Nut’s destruction. However, Dok-seo rejects this, citing a hunch that Time Seal is not omnipotent. Yo-hwa tests this hypothesis, pointing out that she herself retained her identity within a sealed realm, suggesting the seal is not absolute. She also questions the reliability of sealing Nut without losing other critical powers like Clairvoyance or Telepathy, drawing parallels to the loss of power associated with Aura, who was revealed to be an avatar of Leviathan.
Shifting tactics, Yo-hwa suggests a radical alternative: instead of relying on seals, use overwhelming brute force. She argues that Dok-seo’s hesitation stems from trauma regarding the Aura-Leviathan revelation, causing her to underutilize her current immense power. Yo-hwa calculates that in the current cycle (simultaneously the 173rd and 1000th), the combined might of the Regressor Alliance, empowered by the Great Witch, Infinite Metagame, and Infinite Void, should theoretically surpass Nut. She proposes a 'bonus stage' strategy: intentionally triggering the Fall of the entire Regressor Alliance to unleash their full power and crush Nut through sheer strength. This plan is highly dangerous, risking civil war among regressors and unknown temporal ripple effects. Despite the insanity, Dok-seo feels a sense of adventure and agrees. The chapter concludes with the initiation of 'Project Collapse,' a gambler’s bet to make the world messier by unleashing chaos against the Outer Gods.
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10:41
355
Chapter 355
The narrator, Go Yuir (Mr. Matiz), reflects on the mechanics of regression, realizing that while it benefits him, it grants anomalies a form of immortality by resetting their existence. In the 173rd cycle, with Noh Do-hwa absent, the Saintess holds veto power over their plan, Project Collapse, which requires Alliance members to voluntarily fall into Corruption. Go Yuir telepathically persuades the Saintess by arguing that regressing is a hardship and that Anomalies like Infinite Void and Nut gain infinite life-coins, whereas Outer Gods suffer permanent scarring from wounds dealt during a cycle. He proposes sharing his 'heart' with comrades to protect them, securing the Saintess’s conditional consent to prevent world-ending chaos. Go Yuir then navigates the complex social fallout of revealing his regression identity to Yu Ji-won. Despite her enhanced humanity from the Golden Scales, she remains resentful, forcing Go Yuir to employ elaborate, apologetic theatrics and finally gift her a specific seven-note perfume to appease her. With the Alliance secured, Project Collapse initiates at midnight on June 6. Yu Ji-won climbs the Tower of Babel wearing a Shinseo Middle School uniform, a symbolic return to her time of Leviathan’s possession. She kneels and prays to the Outer God, expressing gratitude for the senses of sight and smell Leviathan granted her, which allowed her to distinguish individuals. She requests to retain only the 'color and scent' of the people precious to her, specifically Go Yuir. Leviathan’s power manifests as an upward-flowing rain of hair from the population below, stripping humanity of all individual hues and odors, turning their hair white and leaving them distinctively indistinguishable, like AI. The Aurora in the sky captures these stolen attributes. Crucially, the Alliance members on the rooftop remain exempt, retaining their unique signatures. Ji-won, now reverted to her younger appearance, confirms she has preserved Go Yuir’s essence. Recognized as Awakener and Corrupted alias Despot, she formally joins the party.
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9:58
Chapter 355
The narrator, Go Yuir (Mr. Matiz), reflects on the mechanics of regression, realizing that while it benefits him, it grants anomalies a form of immortality by resetting their existence. In the 173rd cycle, with Noh Do-hwa absent, the Saintess holds veto power over their plan, Project Collapse, which requires Alliance members to voluntarily fall into Corruption. Go Yuir telepathically persuades the Saintess by arguing that regressing is a hardship and that Anomalies like Infinite Void and Nut gain infinite life-coins, whereas Outer Gods suffer permanent scarring from wounds dealt during a cycle. He proposes sharing his 'heart' with comrades to protect them, securing the Saintess’s conditional consent to prevent world-ending chaos. Go Yuir then navigates the complex social fallout of revealing his regression identity to Yu Ji-won. Despite her enhanced humanity from the Golden Scales, she remains resentful, forcing Go Yuir to employ elaborate, apologetic theatrics and finally gift her a specific seven-note perfume to appease her. With the Alliance secured, Project Collapse initiates at midnight on June 6. Yu Ji-won climbs the Tower of Babel wearing a Shinseo Middle School uniform, a symbolic return to her time of Leviathan’s possession. She kneels and prays to the Outer God, expressing gratitude for the senses of sight and smell Leviathan granted her, which allowed her to distinguish individuals. She requests to retain only the 'color and scent' of the people precious to her, specifically Go Yuir. Leviathan’s power manifests as an upward-flowing rain of hair from the population below, stripping humanity of all individual hues and odors, turning their hair white and leaving them distinctively indistinguishable, like AI. The Aurora in the sky captures these stolen attributes. Crucially, the Alliance members on the rooftop remain exempt, retaining their unique signatures. Ji-won, now reverted to her younger appearance, confirms she has preserved Go Yuir’s essence. Recognized as Awakener and Corrupted alias Despot, she formally joins the party.
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9:58
356
Chapter 356
In a candlelit safe room, Sim Ah-ryeon voices concern that the upcoming ritual lacks proper hierarchy because she holds no status in Go Yuri’s current cycle, fearing she will be left behind as a low-level outcast. Dang Seo-rin dismisses this, noting that Go Yuri’s citizens no longer harbor negative emotions toward the previous villain, OldManGoryeo. Seo-rin and Ah-ryeon trade insults, with Seo-rin defending her own city’s state while Ah-ryeon argues that a life free of suffering is inferior to her reality of being hated. The narrator, Go Yuri (Undertaker), reflects on the toxic internet culture of SG Net, where Seo-rin and Oh Dok-seo were vilified, contrasting their reputations with his own 'wholesome' image as ZeroSugar. To resolve Ah-ryeon’s existential crisis regarding her need for negative emotion (aggro) to sustain her power, Go Yuri promises to resent her. He clarifies that this resentment is an illusion, contingent on a contract with Seo-rin. Go Yuri proposes a deal: he will accept any illusion Seo-rin presents as absolute truth while in the room, provided he retains no memory of the illusion upon waking, ensuring the illusion cannot alter external reality. Seo-rin agrees, and Go Yuri instructs Oh Dok-seo to act as the anchor for the dive. Seo-rin begins casting the illusion, narrating a traumatic future involving the deaths of comrades and Go Yuri’s own failures. Go Yuri’s consciousness fades. Upon waking, he finds himself face-down, crushing Sim Ah-ryeon’s throat with his grip. His Aura control is lost, and he brutally breaks her neck and trachea. However, Ah-ryeon’s healing power instantly repairs her injuries, and she smiles, telling him it is okay as she feeds on the interaction. Go Yuri releases her. Oh Dok-seo enters, exhausted and dirty, revealing she maintained the illusion for a week without rest. She confirms Dang Seo-rin is shaken and resting. Dok-seo reaffirms their mission to save the Saintess stuck in the 267th cycle. Go Yuri and Ah-ryeon rise, and the group exits into Utopia, which has been transformed into a field of flowers by Ah-ryeon, marking her official joining of the party.
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10:29
Chapter 356
In a candlelit safe room, Sim Ah-ryeon voices concern that the upcoming ritual lacks proper hierarchy because she holds no status in Go Yuri’s current cycle, fearing she will be left behind as a low-level outcast. Dang Seo-rin dismisses this, noting that Go Yuri’s citizens no longer harbor negative emotions toward the previous villain, OldManGoryeo. Seo-rin and Ah-ryeon trade insults, with Seo-rin defending her own city’s state while Ah-ryeon argues that a life free of suffering is inferior to her reality of being hated. The narrator, Go Yuri (Undertaker), reflects on the toxic internet culture of SG Net, where Seo-rin and Oh Dok-seo were vilified, contrasting their reputations with his own 'wholesome' image as ZeroSugar. To resolve Ah-ryeon’s existential crisis regarding her need for negative emotion (aggro) to sustain her power, Go Yuri promises to resent her. He clarifies that this resentment is an illusion, contingent on a contract with Seo-rin. Go Yuri proposes a deal: he will accept any illusion Seo-rin presents as absolute truth while in the room, provided he retains no memory of the illusion upon waking, ensuring the illusion cannot alter external reality. Seo-rin agrees, and Go Yuri instructs Oh Dok-seo to act as the anchor for the dive. Seo-rin begins casting the illusion, narrating a traumatic future involving the deaths of comrades and Go Yuri’s own failures. Go Yuri’s consciousness fades. Upon waking, he finds himself face-down, crushing Sim Ah-ryeon’s throat with his grip. His Aura control is lost, and he brutally breaks her neck and trachea. However, Ah-ryeon’s healing power instantly repairs her injuries, and she smiles, telling him it is okay as she feeds on the interaction. Go Yuri releases her. Oh Dok-seo enters, exhausted and dirty, revealing she maintained the illusion for a week without rest. She confirms Dang Seo-rin is shaken and resting. Dok-seo reaffirms their mission to save the Saintess stuck in the 267th cycle. Go Yuri and Ah-ryeon rise, and the group exits into Utopia, which has been transformed into a field of flowers by Ah-ryeon, marking her official joining of the party.
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10:29
357
Chapter 357
In the seasonal-less city of Utopia, Dang Seo-rin sits motionless on a beach bench, surrounded by blooming flowers despite her intense phobia of them. She remains silent as her companions suffer Corruption, appearing entranced by the surreal, timeless environment. The Undertaker (mc_narration) approaches and sits beside her, initiating a quiet conversation. Seo-rin acknowledges the pain she caused during the week Ah-ryeon was Corrupted, admitting she was shocked by her own feelings and the realization that she was merely one failure among the Undertaker's 999 previous cycles. She expresses guilt for not foreseeing the cruelty of his quest for a 1,000th life, where she would be a burden. The Undertaker dismisses her self-reproach, affirming she is not a burden. Seo-rin reveals a past incident where the Student Council President, Cheon Yo-hwa, attempted to kill Oh Dok-seo while Seo-rin was isolated, but Dok-seo blocked the attack with an Absolute Barrier. Seo-rin probes the Undertaker’s priorities, noting his immediate focus on saving the Saintess (Jeong Ye-ji) in the 267th cycle when the world became a 'bonus stage.' He confirms this, revealing he carries a silver bell from Busan Station as a constant reminder. Seo-rin expresses her own contradictions: wanting him safe from pain but also wanting him to think of her, even if it means thinking of her death. The Undertaker accepts his own weakness and contradictions. Seo-rin then offers him a flight on her broom, a rare gesture of intimacy. They ascend through the atmosphere, bypassing hostile auroras that part ways for the Undertaker. They reach space, where the Earth below is unnaturally flat, a result of the Outer God Nut’s contamination. Upon landing on the moon, which is described as a pristine, mirror-like silver platter rather than a cratered rock, Seo-rin asserts their privacy, noting even the Saintess’s Clairvoyance cannot reach them. She confronts the Undertaker with her deductions: Nut, the Night Goddess, behaves differently in this cycle because the Monster Wave did not destroy Utopia, yet Nut still attacked them before the wave arrived. Seo-rin points out that Nut can enter his sealed Time Seal while others cannot, and that Leviathan reacted violently to Nut’s influence in the Pacific. She concludes that Nut feeds on the Regressor’s time just as she does, and asks him if Nut is essentially just like her.
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12:49
Chapter 357
In the seasonal-less city of Utopia, Dang Seo-rin sits motionless on a beach bench, surrounded by blooming flowers despite her intense phobia of them. She remains silent as her companions suffer Corruption, appearing entranced by the surreal, timeless environment. The Undertaker (mc_narration) approaches and sits beside her, initiating a quiet conversation. Seo-rin acknowledges the pain she caused during the week Ah-ryeon was Corrupted, admitting she was shocked by her own feelings and the realization that she was merely one failure among the Undertaker's 999 previous cycles. She expresses guilt for not foreseeing the cruelty of his quest for a 1,000th life, where she would be a burden. The Undertaker dismisses her self-reproach, affirming she is not a burden. Seo-rin reveals a past incident where the Student Council President, Cheon Yo-hwa, attempted to kill Oh Dok-seo while Seo-rin was isolated, but Dok-seo blocked the attack with an Absolute Barrier. Seo-rin probes the Undertaker’s priorities, noting his immediate focus on saving the Saintess (Jeong Ye-ji) in the 267th cycle when the world became a 'bonus stage.' He confirms this, revealing he carries a silver bell from Busan Station as a constant reminder. Seo-rin expresses her own contradictions: wanting him safe from pain but also wanting him to think of her, even if it means thinking of her death. The Undertaker accepts his own weakness and contradictions. Seo-rin then offers him a flight on her broom, a rare gesture of intimacy. They ascend through the atmosphere, bypassing hostile auroras that part ways for the Undertaker. They reach space, where the Earth below is unnaturally flat, a result of the Outer God Nut’s contamination. Upon landing on the moon, which is described as a pristine, mirror-like silver platter rather than a cratered rock, Seo-rin asserts their privacy, noting even the Saintess’s Clairvoyance cannot reach them. She confronts the Undertaker with her deductions: Nut, the Night Goddess, behaves differently in this cycle because the Monster Wave did not destroy Utopia, yet Nut still attacked them before the wave arrived. Seo-rin points out that Nut can enter his sealed Time Seal while others cannot, and that Leviathan reacted violently to Nut’s influence in the Pacific. She concludes that Nut feeds on the Regressor’s time just as she does, and asks him if Nut is essentially just like her.
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12:49
358
Chapter 358
The Regressor (Undertaker) investigates the origin of Magic, hypothesizing that it stems from an Outer God similar to Aura. He reasons that the optimal environment for a Miko to survive and level up is near him, pointing to his allies as potential candidates. He interrogates several individuals: Cheon Yo-hwa denies being the Magic Miko, claiming she merely manipulates data and commands corpses; she rejects the elder Cheon Yo-hwa (Infinite Void/Mastermind) as a wizard, viewing him instead as a strategist or AI. She also dismisses Oh Dok-seo, noting that the Infinite Metagame can only overlay fictional elements onto existing things, not create magic from nothing. The Infinite Metagame confirms there are no hidden Outer Gods beyond the known seven. This leaves the Regressor with a terrifying hypothesis: the Saintess’s seal on the Outer God Nut was imperfect, or Nut was never the Saintess’s patron at all. The Regressor realizes the Saintess usurped Nut’s position to stop time and prevent the world’s destruction. The true conduit is someone else—a being who hates flowers, pioneered 'Cursed Song Incantation,' and operates on strict exchange/fairness. The narrative shifts to the moon’s surface, where the Regressor confronts Dang Seo-rin. She admits her identity is ambiguous, possibly both human and Anomaly, and challenges the Regressor’s distinction between Outer Gods and Mikos, suggesting the classification is a projection of his own hopes. She reminds him of his promise to stand by her side regardless of her actions, asking if he still intends to keep that vow even as she embraces her role as the Lord of Utopia and the true judge of the world.
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12:24
Chapter 358
The Regressor (Undertaker) investigates the origin of Magic, hypothesizing that it stems from an Outer God similar to Aura. He reasons that the optimal environment for a Miko to survive and level up is near him, pointing to his allies as potential candidates. He interrogates several individuals: Cheon Yo-hwa denies being the Magic Miko, claiming she merely manipulates data and commands corpses; she rejects the elder Cheon Yo-hwa (Infinite Void/Mastermind) as a wizard, viewing him instead as a strategist or AI. She also dismisses Oh Dok-seo, noting that the Infinite Metagame can only overlay fictional elements onto existing things, not create magic from nothing. The Infinite Metagame confirms there are no hidden Outer Gods beyond the known seven. This leaves the Regressor with a terrifying hypothesis: the Saintess’s seal on the Outer God Nut was imperfect, or Nut was never the Saintess’s patron at all. The Regressor realizes the Saintess usurped Nut’s position to stop time and prevent the world’s destruction. The true conduit is someone else—a being who hates flowers, pioneered 'Cursed Song Incantation,' and operates on strict exchange/fairness. The narrative shifts to the moon’s surface, where the Regressor confronts Dang Seo-rin. She admits her identity is ambiguous, possibly both human and Anomaly, and challenges the Regressor’s distinction between Outer Gods and Mikos, suggesting the classification is a projection of his own hopes. She reminds him of his promise to stand by her side regardless of her actions, asking if he still intends to keep that vow even as she embraces her role as the Lord of Utopia and the true judge of the world.
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12:24
359
Chapter 359
Four days into his self-imposed isolation following the moon excursion, the MC breaks his solitude when Cheon Yo-hwa, disguised in a black sailor uniform, tracks him down to a café in the abandoned Baekje Hospital. She playfully adopts a familial tone, claiming a bond akin to father and child, though the MC remains guarded, questioning how she found him despite his request for privacy from the Saintess's Clairvoyance. Yo-hwa reveals she relied on intuition and proceeds to analyze the MC's internal conflict regarding his regression and his resemblance to the deceased Regressor, Emit Schopenhauer. The conversation turns critical when Yo-hwa discloses the true nature of Udumbara, linking it directly to the Saintess, Sim Ah-ryeon. She explains that Udumbara is not merely a corrupting curse but a manifestation of Ah-ryeon's Grudge Orb, designed to gather scars and grant a wound-free existence by transforming victims into plants. This realization shakes the MC, who admits his fear that treating his Regression as a curse will only accelerate Udumbara's influence, potentially erasing hundreds of cycles of memories instantly. Yo-hwa reflects on the immense time gap between their cycles, noting the MC's advanced knowledge, before confronting him about the morality of Project Collapse and the deliberate Corruption of their allies. The MC internally confesses that this strategy is a desperate rebellion against Utopia, intended to preserve their individuality from Dang Seo-rin’s Divine Realm, ensuring they can retain their sanity to fight if Seo-rin falls to the Outer Gods. To lighten the heavy mood, Yo-hwa performs a transformation, revealing she was mimicking her younger twin sister. Now in a white uniform, she offers profound support, stating her identity is defined by the MC’s perception and trusting him to view her as she truly is. After a brief, humorous exchange involving a joke at Oh Dok-seo's expense, the MC scolds her playfully. The chapter concludes with a narrative skip confirming that Lee Ha-yul has successfully Fallen into the Corrupted Alias 'The Tuner' through the MC’s illusion, freeing her from Utopia's influence and completing the Night-Goddess Raid Team.
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9:47
Chapter 359
Four days into his self-imposed isolation following the moon excursion, the MC breaks his solitude when Cheon Yo-hwa, disguised in a black sailor uniform, tracks him down to a café in the abandoned Baekje Hospital. She playfully adopts a familial tone, claiming a bond akin to father and child, though the MC remains guarded, questioning how she found him despite his request for privacy from the Saintess's Clairvoyance. Yo-hwa reveals she relied on intuition and proceeds to analyze the MC's internal conflict regarding his regression and his resemblance to the deceased Regressor, Emit Schopenhauer. The conversation turns critical when Yo-hwa discloses the true nature of Udumbara, linking it directly to the Saintess, Sim Ah-ryeon. She explains that Udumbara is not merely a corrupting curse but a manifestation of Ah-ryeon's Grudge Orb, designed to gather scars and grant a wound-free existence by transforming victims into plants. This realization shakes the MC, who admits his fear that treating his Regression as a curse will only accelerate Udumbara's influence, potentially erasing hundreds of cycles of memories instantly. Yo-hwa reflects on the immense time gap between their cycles, noting the MC's advanced knowledge, before confronting him about the morality of Project Collapse and the deliberate Corruption of their allies. The MC internally confesses that this strategy is a desperate rebellion against Utopia, intended to preserve their individuality from Dang Seo-rin’s Divine Realm, ensuring they can retain their sanity to fight if Seo-rin falls to the Outer Gods. To lighten the heavy mood, Yo-hwa performs a transformation, revealing she was mimicking her younger twin sister. Now in a white uniform, she offers profound support, stating her identity is defined by the MC’s perception and trusting him to view her as she truly is. After a brief, humorous exchange involving a joke at Oh Dok-seo's expense, the MC scolds her playfully. The chapter concludes with a narrative skip confirming that Lee Ha-yul has successfully Fallen into the Corrupted Alias 'The Tuner' through the MC’s illusion, freeing her from Utopia's influence and completing the Night-Goddess Raid Team.
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9:47
360
Chapter 360
In Chapter 360, the Regressor Alliance finalizes their high-stakes strategy to defeat Hecate and rescue the Saintess of the 267th cycle. The team, comprising Go Yuir (the Undertaker/Mr. Matiz), Yu Ji-won, Sim Ah-ryeon, Cheon Yo-hwa, Lee Ha-yul, and Oh Dok-seo, agrees that five members must willingly fall into Corruption to weaponize it against the Outer God, leaving Go Yuir as the sole uncorrupted anchor. The Saintess requests assistance, but Go Yuir refuses her suggestion to self-sacrifice to avoid a temporal doppelgänger paradox, prioritizing her safety despite her own willingness to die. Cheon Yo-hwa initially attempts to opt out of Corruption, claiming she cannot risk being brainwashed into Hecate’s minion. However, she reveals a terrifying alternative plan: to infiltrate Hecate’s consciousness as a parasitic entity. To secure Go Yuir’s trust, she presents a vial of her own blood, performing an extreme, comical ritualistic bow (dogeza) to compel him to consume it, a act Go Yuir reluctantly accepts. Oh Dok-seo explains her unique status, noting that she has already fused with the Admin of the Infinite Metagame, rendering her permanently Corrupted and immune to standard fall mechanics. She clarifies that the Admin has been absorbed into her, allowing her to retain memory across regressions where others would not. Yu Ji-won inquires about Dang Seo-rin’s whereabouts, and Go Yuir reveals she is exiled on the moon, a strategic move to protect Earth while she struggles for control against Hecate’s instinct to dominate. The team ascends to the moon via Ji-won’s auroral Leviathan net, traveling in silence and awe. Upon arrival, Go Yuir spots Dang Seo-rin standing alone on the lunar surface. Seo-rin acknowledges Go Yuir’s presence with a calm, gentle greeting. However, the serene moment is shattered when Go Yuir notices her left hand. Clutched in that hand is the severed, pink-haired head of Go Yuri. Dang Seo-rin casually explains that she found Go Yuri’s presence annoying and decided to remove her, smiling as she holds the severed head, indicating that the Outer God’s influence is already claiming her humanity.
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13:53
Chapter 360
In Chapter 360, the Regressor Alliance finalizes their high-stakes strategy to defeat Hecate and rescue the Saintess of the 267th cycle. The team, comprising Go Yuir (the Undertaker/Mr. Matiz), Yu Ji-won, Sim Ah-ryeon, Cheon Yo-hwa, Lee Ha-yul, and Oh Dok-seo, agrees that five members must willingly fall into Corruption to weaponize it against the Outer God, leaving Go Yuir as the sole uncorrupted anchor. The Saintess requests assistance, but Go Yuir refuses her suggestion to self-sacrifice to avoid a temporal doppelgänger paradox, prioritizing her safety despite her own willingness to die. Cheon Yo-hwa initially attempts to opt out of Corruption, claiming she cannot risk being brainwashed into Hecate’s minion. However, she reveals a terrifying alternative plan: to infiltrate Hecate’s consciousness as a parasitic entity. To secure Go Yuir’s trust, she presents a vial of her own blood, performing an extreme, comical ritualistic bow (dogeza) to compel him to consume it, a act Go Yuir reluctantly accepts. Oh Dok-seo explains her unique status, noting that she has already fused with the Admin of the Infinite Metagame, rendering her permanently Corrupted and immune to standard fall mechanics. She clarifies that the Admin has been absorbed into her, allowing her to retain memory across regressions where others would not. Yu Ji-won inquires about Dang Seo-rin’s whereabouts, and Go Yuir reveals she is exiled on the moon, a strategic move to protect Earth while she struggles for control against Hecate’s instinct to dominate. The team ascends to the moon via Ji-won’s auroral Leviathan net, traveling in silence and awe. Upon arrival, Go Yuir spots Dang Seo-rin standing alone on the lunar surface. Seo-rin acknowledges Go Yuir’s presence with a calm, gentle greeting. However, the serene moment is shattered when Go Yuir notices her left hand. Clutched in that hand is the severed, pink-haired head of Go Yuri. Dang Seo-rin casually explains that she found Go Yuri’s presence annoying and decided to remove her, smiling as she holds the severed head, indicating that the Outer God’s influence is already claiming her humanity.
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