The Regressor Only Protects Me [EN]: Chapter 38

## 38. Edict (3)

“Let’s be honest. You just need a scapegoat, right? Someone to take all the blame. I’ll be that scapegoat.”

Sion’s words silenced the conference room.

He calmly waited for Gil In-ho’s response.

‘The bait is set.’

Now, he just had to wait for him to take it.

Leaning back arrogantly in his chair, Gil In-ho remained silent, watching Sion with his arms crossed.

The silence stretched on.

Then, the corners of Gil In-ho’s lips quirked upward.

“Puhuhu.”

Soon, his hearty laughter echoed throughout the conference room.

“Pwahahahaha! Ah, you got me, Sion.”

Gil In-ho covered his forehead with his hand and shook his head. He laughed as if the situation was amusing, then turned to Officer Lee Cheong-chun and said,

“The officer is right. Kang Sion is an amazing person. Honestly, when I first saw him, I thought, ‘Is that a middle schooler walking over here? Is he messing with me?’ But what is this? He’s a godsend. A real blessing.”

“Hahaha, I agree, Assemblyman.”

Only then did the police chief follow suit, laughing and matching the mood.

Gil In-ho took a sip of the instant coffee that was on the desk. It was coffee procured by the reconnaissance team from a convenience store. In addition, there were snacks, jellies, and other food items on the desk. They were living quite comfortably here.

“Honestly, if the situation weren’t like this, I would want to take Sion under my wing. There’s no one like you among the young people these days. Excellent. Ah, I really misjudged you. I really did. Just like you said, with just one word from me, I could make you a murderer or a hero. That’s right! Let’s be honest! I’m someone who has a lot to lose. That’s why there are things I can’t do myself.”

The police chief, sitting next to the assemblyman, watched him carefully and laughed along.

Sion stared at Gil In-ho without changing his expression.

“But Sion is different. You’re someone who has nothing to lose. I could make you a hero here. The media? The reporters? With just one word from me, they’ll be busy writing it down. ‘Hero of a Chaotic World’ on the front page! ‘Hero of the Citizens!’ Kang Sion! If you get a little older, I can even nurture you politically! Spreading your name to the world is nothing. Of course, the opposite is also possible.”

Assemblyman Gil In-ho emphasized the opposite when he said it.

“But don’t worry, Sion. I really like you right now. I love people like you. Ambition, confidence, conviction… and above all, spirit. I apologize for being rude. I’m sorry. I was very wrong about you. There are so many people trying to take advantage of this situation. After doing this political maneuvering for so long, I can tell a person’s caliber just by having a few conversations. Your caliber is enormous. I will make you a hero.”

After hearing those words, Sion secretly calmed his heart.

It seemed like he had succeeded in persuading him.

Gil In-ho clasped his fingers together and placed them on his philtrum [the vertical groove between the base of the nose and the upper lip]. His voice became calm again.

“I will appoint you as the manager. However, there is a condition.”

“Tell me.”

Gil In-ho immediately stated the condition.

“Solve the cold.”

“…”

Solving the cold without electricity was quite difficult.

But they couldn’t leave the cold problem unattended any longer.

One of the two whiteboards was filled with meeting notes about the cold problem.

But it wasn’t like there was no way.

“I’ll do it.”

Sion answered, and Gil In-ho emphasized again.

“Not ‘I’ll do it,’ but you *must* do it.”

Gil In-ho created a heavy atmosphere.

But now, Kang Sion had no intention of backing down.

To achieve great results, he needed appropriate authority.

“It depends on what authority you give me.”

“Puhuhu! You don’t back down even one step. Of course, Sion. Chief.”

“Yes, Assemblyman.”

“Issue the first edict.”

“Ah, yes! I understand.”

The chief waved his fingers in the air at the assemblyman’s words. It was the ‘monarch’s’ window that was invisible to others.

Sion recalled what Jin Jae-hee had told him.

Edict.

The monarch’s privilege to use reward points earned by completing monarch-only quests.

For some reason, Sion was able to perform quests in the pre-monarch stage, but originally, it was a system that only the monarch could have.

In the first round, he could only check the monarch’s temporary status window items, and the system was fully added from the second round.

Ultimately, it was a system that he had to eliminate the chief in front of him and take over someday.

If he could get that system, he could operate the forces as he wanted, instead of persuading others.

Sion wanted that system.

Gil In-ho said to Sion,

“Originally, I didn’t issue any edicts. Because I didn’t want to negotiate with the terrorists. But now the situation is different. We have to do something. The authority you’re talking about. Is it this edict?”

Sion nodded.

They had been looking for someone to take responsibility.

And now they were trying to pass all the responsibility to Sion, whom they had just met.

In the end, it was a responsibility shift, but it was beneficial to Sion.

“From this moment on, I grant Sion control over all personnel except for the police officers and those here.”

“Edict. Article 1, Section 1 declared.”

At that moment, a notification window appeared in the air.

Declaration by the monarch.

It was the monarch’s first power defined by the system.

Absolute power.

Using the power defined by the system, monarchs can control their forces.

[Manan 1st Force, Monarch Park Geon-woo]

[Edict Declaration]

[Declarant: Park Geon-woo]

[Article 1, Section 1: All management authority over personnel included in the force, except for those designated as police officers and VIPs, is delegated to ‘Kang Sion’.]

The declaration of the edict appeared in front of all members of the force, except for the monarch.

Gil In-ho, who was looking at the declaration notification window, said to the police chief,

“Let’s add an exception.”

“Yes, tell me.”

“That we can revoke the position at any time if the chief and I want to.”

This was Gil In-ho’s clever move.

The power given to Kang Sion was only lent, so it could not be above their position.

Gil In-ho was putting in place a minimum insurance policy for Kang Sion with this clause.

“I understand.”

The chief, accepting Gil In-ho’s proposal, added additional information.

[Article 1, Section 1: All management authority over all citizens included in the force, except for those designated as police officers and VIPs, is delegated to ‘Kang Sion’. However, the position can be revoked if Monarch Park Geon-woo and citizen Gil In-ho wish to do so.]

[Please set the level of punishment for violations.]

“Level of punishment?”

“Let’s make it detention in the detention center.”

“Let’s do that.”

[Violation details have been entered.]

[Would you like to declare the written edict?]

“Declare.”

The moment the police chief spoke.

Flash-!

Golden light began to flicker on the bodies of the people inside the conference room.

As the police chief declared, it was stored in the interfaces of the internal members included here.

Sion looked at his flickering palm.

Now he was a person bound by the edict.

It was a great power.

Clearly human, yet the edict was stored inside like a game character.

And that power came solely from the monarch.

The power to subdue hundreds of people with just one word.

It was truly the power of God.

Gil In-ho said with a faint smile.

“Now, Mr. Sion, please come up here every day at 6 PM to report on your work. And we will also prepare a private room for you.”

“A private room?”

“Yes. Those with power should be in a proper place. I’ll give you an office. Don’t worry. It will be much larger and more comfortable than the cramped place downstairs. Ah, and now, for things like restrooms and food, please tell our officer in charge, and you can use them without any restrictions.”

It was a privilege.

The people here were living a different life from ordinary citizens.

It couldn’t be said that they were wealthy, but there was wealth and poverty even here.

Sion had no reason not to accept this benefit.

For his purpose, he needed assured rest.

“Yes.”

Kang Sion accepted it.

“Mr. Sion.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t disappoint me. I have high expectations.”

Gil In-ho said with a sly smile.

Sion glared at him and thought.

He was also looking forward to it.

Because eventually, he would kill both Assemblyman Gil In-ho and Police Chief Park Geon-woo and seize this force.

* * *

I left the conference room and followed Lee Cheong-chun.

He led me to the duty room for the on-duty police officers on one side of the 5th floor.

Squeak-.

When I opened the door and went inside, there was a bed and a desk.

Several cardboard boxes were piled up in the corner, and there were no windows.

“I’ll bring another bed. Ms. Jin Jae-hee has to come too, right?”

“Yes.”

It was definitely a spacious room for two people to live in.

It was on a different level from living with people crammed together downstairs.

The treatment he received within the force changed dramatically with just one reconnaissance mission.

“I can’t do anything about the cold, but I’ll bring you a few thick blankets.”

Lee Cheong-chun said, picking up the cardboard boxes in the corner and taking them out.

I gave him a light bow.

“Thank you. For recommending me.”

“Yes. Well.”

Lee Cheong-chun put all the cardboard boxes out and leaned against the threshold.

He let out a small sigh and said to me.

“That’s because I have expectations for Mr. Sion. And you saved my life, so this is not enough. If you have anything else to ask, please call me anytime.”

I bowed to him again, and Lee Cheong-chun smiled, then closed the door and disappeared.

After he disappeared, I slowly walked over and sat on the bed.

‘Is it a success for now?’

The plan to gain the trust of Officer Lee Cheong-chun and approach the leadership was achieved more easily than expected.

In any case, it was true that the alligator turtle almost took our lives, but thanks to him, he also gained the trust of Officer Lee Cheong-chun.

Now I had to think about the next move.

I had to gain the trust of the leadership.

To do that, I had to solve the ‘cold’ problem that Gil In-ho had ordered me to solve.

‘The cold.’

I leaned back and laid down on the bed.

It was soft.

When I closed my eyes, I felt like I could sleep right away.

Before the world was destroyed, I was someone who had never laid down on a bed.

My sister and I were always on the floor.

We laid several layers of blankets on the floor and slept with pillows.

My sister and I never had a decent personal space since we were young.

In fact, even when my parents were around, our family was still poor, so it was difficult to expect education, and eating out was a dream.

I always slept with my sister under one blanket.

Summer and winter.

When I was young, my dream was to have a comfortable bed where I could sleep alone.

And now.

Only after the world was destroyed could I get my own bed.

I was lying there, looking at the ceiling.

It was so damn soft.

I had a mountain of things to do, but sleep poured out before anything else.

I hadn’t slept since last night’s battle with the alligator turtle.

Something felt strange, but for some reason, I felt like my life was getting more affluent even though things had come to this point.

I was negotiating with the older generation of society, whom I wouldn’t normally even talk to, or persuading others to be on my side.

Unlike when I regretted sleeping only 4 hours a day, I can now sleep comfortably.

Even the bedding was better than in the original world.

The only thing missing in my current life was my sister by my side.

Everything was according to plan.

First, gain the trust of the leaders of the power.

Gil In-ho said he had high expectations for me, but I was also looking forward to the power I would receive.

This was just the beginning.

Eventually, they would hand over their power to me.

I will first maximize the approval rating within the internal forces.

For the citizens, I will change everything.

Internal systems, activities, food, restrooms, heating systems.

Anyway, Gil In-ho and the chief will be too busy worrying about their own safety to know the external situation.

“The cold.”

I thought about how to solve it.

Then, I heard a sound.

The door opened, and I felt a few movements.

I heard a dull sound of a bed being placed, and a few people left, and then one person came back in.

Silence returned.

But the silence didn’t last long.

“About 2 hours until the artifact opens.”

“…”

It was Jin Jae-hee.

I slightly opened my eyes and looked at her sitting on the opposite bed.

She was sitting demurely on the end of the bed, gathering her legs.

She was swaying the tips of her toes.

I closed my eyes again and asked.

“Didn’t you sleep?”

“Yeah. Because the opening isn’t far away.”

“…”

I didn’t continue the conversation after that.

I kept silent for a while.

A sound of something being rubbed.

And rough breathing.

They were sounds that stimulated curiosity.

I opened my eyes again and looked at her.

Jin Jae-hee was raising the end of her pants and unwrapping the bandage.

Swish-, swish.

There was a long cut on her calf.

Whether the blood had not completely stopped yet, the bandage was full of blood.

Jin Jae-hee was changing the bandage.

It was a wound caused by protecting me from Nepenthes [a genus of carnivorous plants, also known as tropical pitcher plants].

Whether Jin Jae-hee was conscious of my gaze, she carefully pulled down the end of her pants slightly.

Then she said.

“I checked the edict. It’s good.”

“Yeah.”

“With this, we can carry out the remaining quests well.”

I got up from the bed and sat on the end.

Jin Jae-hee rolled up the bloody bandage and put it back in her bag, saying,

“Let’s start training in earnest from tomorrow. I hope your abilities are the same as my past life, but they may not be. I’ll prepare for the training. Now that we have a room like this. We can do a lot of things…”

“More than that. Is your leg okay?”

I asked about the wound, and Jin Jae-hee raised her head as if a little surprised.

After making eye contact for a while, Jin Jae-hee smiled a little and lowered her head.

I didn’t know why she smiled, so I asked.

“Why are you smiling?”

“No. Just.”

Ziiik-.

Jin Jae-hee closed the bag zipper all the way.

“You were someone who didn’t worry about anyone.”

There was bitterness in those words.

I thought about what it meant to be someone who didn’t worry and asked her again.

“Is it weird?”

“No. Just. Just. No.”

Jin Jae-hee was more flustered than necessary and slurred her words.

Her appearance was a little strange, but I didn’t think much of it.

“It’s two hours until the opening, right?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

“Okay. I need to get some sleep.”

“I’ll wake you up when it’s time.”

“You sleep too.”

I lay down on my side.

And I pulled the thick blanket that Lee Cheong-chun had brought up to my neck.

A cozy sensation enveloped my whole body.

Jin Jae-hee kept talking to me.

“No. I can’t do that. Someone might come looking. You have to grow quickly. You have to find your sister too. I’ll make sure to wake you up when it opens.”

“Jin Jae-hee.”

“Yeah.”

I said with my eyes closed.

I couldn’t read her expression or thoughts.

But she must be more tired than I am now.

“Go to sleep. I don’t care much if the artifact opening is a few hours late.”

“Uh…?”

“So go to sleep. I won’t wake up even if you wake me up.”

I put my body further into the blanket and turned around.

Jin Jae-hee needed rest.

She was more concerned about my surroundings than I was, detecting dangers in advance, and guarding the place even when it was deemed safe.

She would be suffering from physical and mental fatigue.

Whether she trained a few hours earlier or not wouldn’t change whether she found her sister or not.

Above all, she had to rest.

Sleep poured out, and my mind became hazy.

I had to sleep right away, but the reason I was holding on to my mind was to hear her answer.

Before I fell completely asleep, I heard her low and beautiful voice.

“…Okay. Thank you.”

Only after hearing her answer did I let go of my mind and fall into a sweet sleep.

* * *

In the early morning when everyone was asleep.

Jin Jae-hee still couldn’t sleep and was looking at Sion’s sleeping back.

She was squatting with her legs gathered.

Whenever she looked at Sion, she seemed to hear ‘his’ voice from anywhere.

-You must protect him.

A man with a face full of fatigue and a dying expression.

-You know.

Herself, crying while embracing the man.

-Only he will return us all… to where we were originally.

The man’s hand, losing strength from his cheek.

-…Meet in the original world.”

She wept, holding the body of the dead man.

Even now, her body trembled with longing. Perhaps he was playing in the league around Busan by now.

Maybe they would meet as enemies. But she had to be here.

As he said, only he would return us all to where we were originally.

And meet again in the original world. In that original world where we made music together and dreamed.

Jin Jae-hee still felt the temperature of the man who had become a cold corpse in her arms.

It was exactly as cold and chilly as it is now.

(Continued in the next episode)