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I have a reputation for having good eyesight, and it has helped me interact with many people more smoothly.

As I’ve lived my life, I’ve noticed that the gap in how people treat each other varies greatly.

Some encounter new people with an open heart, while others meet them with a closed mind.

And this person was particularly toxic among them.

“…Hello?”

“Yes. Hello.”

A monotonous voice flowed from his lips.

He was like a wall.

Not a shred of emotion could be felt. It felt like I was conversing not with a person, but with a machine reciting a predetermined script.

I was careful to choose my words.

A reincarnator.

From my perspective, a person from the future. And I had no idea what impression he had of me.

I was already enough of a hassle as an immortal, but now I was supposed to deal with a reincarnator too?

Sometimes, when I would unconsciously glance above Yu Da On’s head, a phrase would occasionally flutter through my mind.

“If you had to name two types of superhumans to never make enemies of in this world, they’d be reincarnators and immortals.”

People you should never make enemies with.

With all my heart, I prayed that my future or past self wouldn’t make a fool of themselves as I opened my mouth.

“Well then, I apologize, but could you… please move aside? I’d like to sit back there.”

I spoke in as polite a tone as I could muster.

Was I too rude?

Countless thoughts raced through my mind. Would Kim Jae Heon from the future and the past be annihilated just for being rude?

Who knows.

“…”

The man stared at me intently.

My head spun. Should I be careful with every word? But wouldn’t my past or future self have thought the same? I pondered and opened my mouth again.

“…Could you… move aside… please…?”

A completely courteous phrase came out, even if unintentional. I had to admit it. I felt an immense threat from this man.

“…”

Remaining silent, the man looked at me, then said, “I’m sorry.”

He moved aside again, dryly.

“Thank you.”

I rushed to say as I passed him and sat in the farthest back seat possible.

My heart raced, and cold sweat rolled down my forehead.

As if nothing had happened, I opened the window and stared outside, desperately trying to clear my thoughts.

The first number I’d seen was 326. The number I saw now was 358.

While I and the three others got tangled up with the weirdness, that man had reincarnated 32 times.

“…Are you okay?”

Before I knew it, Jang Chae Yeon sat next to me, studying my face while fanning me with her hand.

“Do you know that man?”

“…”

I couldn’t say I didn’t know him, nor could I say my other timeline selves would. I just slowly shook my head.

“No. I just had a hard time because of what happened earlier.”

“…Okay. Just tell me. I’m right here.”

Jang Chae Yeon looked at me worriedly before turning back to her seat.

I sank into thought again.

Reincarnation.

Thirty-two times in a short period.

I subtly shifted my gaze to the spot where the man had sat.

With a dry gaze, he was looking out the window again.

I tried to piece together hypotheses with limited information.

First, thirty-two. That’s not a small number.

In other words, he likely got entangled in similar incidents while I was on my community service stint.

Thirty-two. When I first boarded this bus, his number of reincarnations was a total of 326, so this is not a trivial amount of reincarnation.

So would it be easier to think he has no abilities other than reincarnation? Or maybe if he does, they’re not useful enough to escape death.

I recalled what Song Ah Rin had said on the way to community service.

“You’re similar to me. When I was in a different branch, there was an incident there. They said I was the only survivor.”

The only survivor.

At first, it probably wasn’t the case.

So where’s the “point” of reincarnation?

Is it the beginning? Or is there a save point? Looking at the reincarnation count suggests there could be, but it seems more plausible.

Lack of information is overwhelmingly lacking.

This part shall be temporarily pushed into the realm of hypothesis.

The most important question.

Why did he greet me? What on earth did I do to him in the future?

My head started to ache.

Or maybe I did something to him in the past? But then, I haven’t had a single memory of being entangled with him.

A sigh escaped me.

“…Are you in pain? Want to lean on me?”

“I’m fine.”

I awoke from my musings at Jang Chae Yeon’s voice.

Let’s be cautious for now.

It’s just a gut feeling, but I think I might get entangled with him from time to time.

A reincarnator, and a hospital outfit. There were enough things to keep me on edge.

—

<Management Agency.>

In the end, I spent the whole bus ride wide awake, unable to drift off.

Because of that, Jang Chae Yeon couldn’t rest properly since she was worried about me.

I felt somewhat guilty.

With weary steps, I got off the bus.

I need to go home.

“Are you heading home?”

Jang Chae Yeon called out to me worriedly, and I nodded and replied to her.

“I’ll head back first.”

“…Okay. Take care.”

“See you!”

“Go on.”

I received various goodbyes on my way home.

Walking down the sunset-lit street for the first time in a while, carrying my bag alone.

Soon, I reached the entrance of a luxurious apartment, swiped my card key, and entered automatically.

One of the perks of working at the Management Agency.

Free meals and a place to live.

The apartments rented indefinitely by the Management Agency could easily be described as luxurious, and on top of that, meal expenses were paid separately from my paycheck.

I could order chicken three times a day and still not run out of money.

After getting off the elevator, I opened the door to my home.

The dark house greeted me.

I collapsed onto the bed without even thinking of washing up.

I was dead tired.

Without a moment to spare, I fell into unconsciousness.

In my dreams, I was preparing to enter a magnificent theater, completely clueless about what was going on.

—

“Why did you ask for his phone number?”

The next day, as soon as I got to my seat, I rushed to Song Ah Rin to ask for the phone number of the man in sunglasses, and she looked at me incredulously before answering.

“Why ask him?”

“…I don’t know if he’ll accept it, but here.”

I expected her to say something like “That’s a secret,” but to my surprise, she handed the number over quite freely.

“Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“Well then, I need to sort out my bonus soon, so you should go call him.”

Song Ah Rin motioned me to leave.

I stepped outside and called the number she gave me.

After just two rings, a familiar voice answered the call.

“Is this Human Resources Team Kim Jae Heon?”

“Can we talk?”

“I was just at Gangseo Branch. Good to hear from you.”

“Well, if you finish up—”

“Come down to the basement level 1. I’ll meet you in front of the elevator.”

And then the call ended.

Basement level 1? I really don’t want to go there. That’s where the isolation rooms are.

I pressed the elevator button and descended.

When I followed the manual down to that place during the Butterfly Dream incident, I trembled in fear.

When the elevator doors opened on the first basement level, the man in sunglasses waved to greet me.

“You made it.”

“Why did you call me here?”

“If you called, there must be a reason.”

As he gave a non-answer, he began to walk, and I slowly matched my pace to his.

“Thinking back, you’ve contributed quite a lot, yet I don’t think you’ve come down here properly.”

“Surely it would’ve been better to let us take a break instead of giving us gifts?”

“I apologize about the workshop. That was something we didn’t foresee.”

“So you knew about the community service?”

“Surprisingly, other office staff probably did similar things too.”

They all came back alive from that hellhole?

Maybe it was because he saw my shocked expression that he quickly added.

“Technically, you were managing containment objects. You only needed to get 30 points, yet you brought back a perfect 100.”

I remember being told in the military not to aim for first place, and look, I messed up again!

I continued to walk after him deeper inside.

“So, what are you curious about?”

“First, we’re definitely not the real isolation team, right?”

That was the thing I was most curious about. I felt like it was only a matter of time before I ended up being pulled into the real Isolation Team without realizing it.

“No, that’s not it. It’s just that you have a tendency to seek out trouble. In line with the name of the Human Resources Team, you’re doing your best. We’re also trying to minimize your workload.”

The team responsible for human and containment incidents.

As I relaxed my gaze, he moved forward.

“I’ll take two more questions. The next one, you can answer later.”

What should I ask?

The existence of a deity? Things about containment objects?

No.

“…How did you know Yu Da On?”

“She seemed a bit peculiar to us. She wasn’t exactly someone to be in the Management Agency. She should be someone from the ‘hospital’ side.”

He casually shrugged his shoulders.

The hospital?

“Thanks to you. I’m always grateful.”

“Is that all?”

“If you’re curious, feel free to ask directly. You lack courage, it seems.”

He didn’t seem inclined to share anything.

“What’s the last question?”

“…Are there reincarnators in this world?”

He shrugged again.

“Is this your second time experiencing this scene, or something?”

“Yes?”

“Haven’t you read too many novels?”

He looked at me as if I was ridiculous.

“Just for now.”

He stopped and smiled at me.

“Well, I’d like you to help me with something.”

“No, thank you.”

Am I crazy? Why would I do that?

As if he anticipated my response, he smiled brightly and nodded.

“If you help me, I’ll provide more information about the notorious Yu Da On that you’re so curious about. Including information from the ‘hospital’ side.”

“…”

Nothing comes for free, does it?

I recalled Yu Da On in her patient outfit and the time I slapped her lightly, and she sobbed endlessly.

“…Let’s hear it. What is it?”

“Thinking about it, I’ve done isolation team work, but I don’t think I’ve handled management team tasks.”

“Why are you putting me through this?”

With so many important figures around, why?

“One day, you might find yourself needing the help of the Management Agency.”

He suddenly wore a serious expression.

“Then the Management Agency will always do its best to assist you.”

“Please hand me the nuclear missile button.”

“Can’t do that, but I can offer you a long-term rental permit for a tool-type containment object as a gift.”

He said casually, then stopped in front of a steel door and opened it.

Before my eyes was a turntable with LP records.

“I’m counting on you.”

He bowed at a 90-degree angle, looking apologetic.

“I’m forever grateful.”

“…Fine. Just keep your promises.”

“I’ll stake the name of the Management Agency on that.”

Boom.

As those words finished, the door closed, and soft classical music began to play.

A hospital, huh.

As I listened to the music, my temples throbbed.

“Let’s do this.”

It’ll be over soon.