Chapter 206 - The World After Destruction

# US Association Headquarters

Deep underground, hidden from the surface, lies a subterranean bunker.

Only a select few know of its existence, and even the President of the United States cannot enter freely.

Cut off and isolated from the outside world, it was equipped with every type of security measure to prevent infiltration by any ability user.

In case anyone might try to teleport here—there are no mirrors, no TVs. Since there are ability users who can move freely through darkness, this place is always brightly lit, and basic countermeasures against teleporters are installed throughout.

This is where the most important hero in America—no, in the world—resides.

It was the residence of "Ex Machina," the only person in the world with the ability to turn back time.

And he...

Was currently leaning against the wall, coughing up blood.

"Cough, cough."

Haa, haa.

Taking deep breaths while gasping for air.

His once brown hair had turned yellow, and his skin had turned pale, perhaps from fear.

He staggered as he walked down the corridor deep underground.

"...I stopped it."

He muttered in a hoarse voice without realizing it.

Cough. Another spurt of blood.

Desperately clutching his trembling hands, dragging his legs, he barely managed to walk to his room.

The path he walked was stained with blood.

"Haa, haa."

Cough.

Finally reaching his room, he collapsed onto the floor.

Ex Machina. Real name, James Machina.

Coughing up blood, he placed his hand on his chest and muttered.

"...With this, it all ends."

Too much time had passed. It exceeded the range of time his ability could handle—could rewind.

If he were to turn back time now, he would have to risk his life. The life he had been protecting to prevent danger to humanity.

But.

"...Kuk. How ironic. What's the point when humanity has already perished?"

Yes.

As he was presumed to be the last survivor, nothing mattered anymore. He had preserved his life to prevent the end? Yes, this was that end. He had lived until now to prevent this.

However.

"Next time..."

James muttered with trembling eyes, a face gripped by terror, pale.

...He had figured everything out. The cause of this catastrophe and its solution. Now he would turn back time and activate that "device" he had finally discovered to prevent the extinction, fulfilling his duty.

Although he would lose his life in the process.

It didn't matter.

Because he was a hero.

A hero who protects people, who must save the world.

His own life...

He could gladly sacrifice it.

However.

Though he had somehow managed to stop it now, had sent it back...

...if that thing returns next time.

Who will stop it then?

Will anyone be able to stop it?

"God... save this world..."

He unconsciously muttered those final words.

To his god, not the God.

Then he clutched his heart more tightly.

At that moment, the white underground room filled with a blinding yellow light.

And so,

Not just the underground facility, but the entire world was filled with yellow light.

The destroyed world was completely engulfed in yellow light.

And then...

Time rewound.

***

Ego-Base, the main house.

"Yaaawn..."

"Oppa, what are you doing?"

"Hm? Oh, just watching TV."

"...What on earth are you watching that has you so focused?"

Seo-eun asked me with a puzzled expression while eating a piece of apple with her fork.

Morning in the living room.

With everyone gathered there.

I was intently watching the TV.

To feel the moment of destruction.

[At this moment, America is still celebrating the anniversary of the US Association's founding in front of the Statue of Liberty.]

The image of the Statue of Liberty appeared on screen with the anchor's words.

I was watching it intently.

Yes, it's almost time.

The moment that will determine whether I'm caught in the timeline of destruction or not.

[[The head of the Statue of Liberty suddenly exploded, marking the beginning of the tragedy.]]

That line clearly mentioned in the original work.

If the head explodes, it means the destruction is beginning.

But.

"......"

What if it doesn't explode?

That would mean the destruction has already happened, and time has been rewound through Ex Machina's sacrifice.

I've already experienced the entire destruction, but time has rewound and I'm sitting here without any memory of it.

So, the question is.

Will it explode or not?

That is the question.

I watched the TV intently.

Finally, as the minute hand pointed to the hour.

"...."

...Nothing happened.

[Yes! Even though quite some time has passed, people are still enjoying the festival in front of the Statue of Liberty. This was Kim Yu-mi reporting from nighttime America.]

"Phew..."

I collapsed back onto the sofa.

...Fortunately, it seems I don't have to deal with this timeline.

Well, technically, my past self already dealt with it. But since that's now an erased event, it's not my concern. I'm sure my past self handled it well.

"...Da-in oppa, are you feeling unwell?"

"Huh?"

"No, you've been sighing so much..."

Eun-wol looked up at me with a worried expression from across from me.

I told her not to worry and patted her head. It was a sigh of relief, Eun-wol.

I leaned back against the sofa and put my hand in my pocket.

...I felt something round like a ball.

If the Statue of Liberty's head had exploded and destruction had begun, I would have first set off this sleeping gas.

But since we're not in that timeline anymore, there's no need for that now. I should put it back somewhere in my room.

"Ja-young unni, that was what I was eating...?"

"Come on, Seo-eun. What's yours is mine. It's all ours."

"Hmm. The apple tastes sweet. I don't remember it being this sweet the last time I ate one."

"Mr. Shinryeong, would you like me to cut another one for you?"

Amidst the bustling living room.

I quietly sank into thought.

"....."

...Looking at the internet, there's no unusual news, so it seems the destruction has indeed been averted. Ex Machina probably sacrificed himself to turn back time on a large scale.

The original work never properly explained what caused this situation or how Machina stopped it, so there's no way to know... but it's fortunate nonetheless.

Anyway, it happened. Now I need to think about what to do next.

...Soon, the news of Ex Machina's death will suddenly be announced worldwide. I remember that his identity, which had been kept strictly secret, was somehow revealed due to his sudden death.

Well, that's a matter for a few days from now.

There was something more important to think about.

"....."

Namely, what I did in that timeline of destruction.

According to my plan, I was going to meet Stardust, who would be suffering without knowing time had been rewound, and comfort her so she wouldn't be distressed. I'm not sure if I succeeded. Stardust might not have listened to me. It's probably something I'll never know.

...But if things went well.

If she believed me and stayed by my side.

I probably would have told her all my secrets without hiding anything. Since it was a timeline that would disappear anyway.

Memories that would be forgotten.

"Haha... I wonder how Stardust reacted."

"Hm? Stardust?"

"Ah. It's nothing."

When Seo-eun turned her head wondering what was going on after hearing my quiet muttering, I smiled, brushed it off, and excused myself to go to my room.

...I wonder how Stardust reacted.

Was she angry? Did she despise me? Or was she surprised? Maybe she laughed while being bewildered.

Well. It's something I'll never know now.

Of course, I don't remember anything either.

However.

"......"

As I grabbed the doorknob to my room, I felt a slight ache in my chest without knowing why.

As time passes... moments accumulate...

"....Tsk. What's wrong with me? Is it an arrhythmia?"

I...

I, you.....

"....."

I don't understand.

Why my chest keeps aching.

Why I feel like I've forgotten something I shouldn't forget.

Why my heart keeps racing.

"I really don't get it."

I sat in the chair and muttered.

Is it a side effect of time regression? ...But I didn't regress. Strange. Maybe it's just because I feel empty inside.

But. A thought suddenly occurred to me.

For some reason, a sudden thought.

I unconsciously muttered aloud.

"...I miss Stardust."

***

-Click, click.

Korean Hero Association Headquarters.

Stardust's office.

Shin Ha-ru, sitting there clicking her pen, looked at the calendar and unconsciously pouted slightly.

"...Liar."

...Well, he said we'd see each other again soon.

It had already been a month since Egostic came riding a dragon during the last terrorist attack.

He said we'd see each other again soon, but a month has already passed. What's "soon" about that? Is he planning to show up three months later as usual and call that "soon"?

"Sigh..."

Shin Ha-ru sighed slightly, leaned back in her chair, and looked up.

Her eyes fell on the TV screen hanging on the opposite wall of the office.

[At this moment, America is still celebrating the anniversary of the US Association's founding in front of the Statue of Liberty.]

The screen showed Americans enjoying the festival.

And.

"......"

For some reason, she couldn't take her eyes off the screen.

She unconsciously kept watching the scene.

As time passed.

[Yes! Even though quite some time has passed, people are still enjoying the festival in front of the Statue of Liberty. This was Kim Yu-mi reporting from nighttime America.]

"....."

Well, nothing particularly special happened.

Just a normal news broadcast showing people celebrating a festival.

...Why did I want to watch that?

She turned her gaze away and went back to her work.

And.

At that moment.

-Drip.

"....Huh?"

Surprised by a water droplet that suddenly fell on her document, she tilted her head in confusion. ...Where did this come from?

With that question in mind, she brought her hand to her eye, feeling something strange.

"....What's this?"

And only then did she realize.

Looking at her reflection in the turned-off computer screen.

A tear was rolling down her cheek from one eye.

"....What's going on? Why am I, hic. Why is this happening?"

...Am I going crazy?

Shin Ha-ru thought as she wiped her eyes.

Even so.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her.

...It feels like I've forgotten something.

This isn't the end.

Even if time turns back. In the end, it's just the two of us.

Some emotion settled in a corner of her heart.

"....Really, what's wrong with me..."

...I wanted to remember. I didn't want to forget.

If I forget like this. Will we never know each other forever?

This feeling that I've forgotten something I desperately wanted to remember.

And.

Along with that feeling.

She suddenly felt a strong impulse.

...I can't let go like this.

Please remember at least this feeling.

Please.

Someday, we'll be able to talk like this again.

And so.

Confused by the sudden thoughts she didn't understand.

Eventually, she stopped crying. Cleared her confused mind. Sorted out her chaotic emotions.

Then. She quietly leaned back in her chair.

...I don't know why I'm acting like this. I wonder why I suddenly cried. Maybe it's because I've been under a lot of stress lately.

However.

A thought that had been lingering.

At the end of those confused, incomprehensible thoughts, her heart realized.

Shin Ha-ru quietly muttered.

"Egostic... I miss you."

For some reason, suddenly. Though she didn't know why.

She missed Egostic.

Right now, at this moment.