Chapter 254

Editor: echo

Discord: https://dsc.gg/reapercomics

◈ I’m an Infinite Regressor, But I’ve Got Stories to Tell

Chapter 254

The Mastermind V

“Fine. I'll admit it... The Mastermind’s traps are more elaborate than I thought,” Infinite Void muttered irritably.

The way it spun its ponytail nervously with its fingers reminded me of Yo-hwa's habitual mannerisms.

I had to maintain an objective perspective.

If I ignored the fact that it called me "sunbae" instead of "Teacher," that its uniform colors were reversed, and that it used casual speech instead of honorifics—it had truly become difficult to distinguish between it and Cheon Yo-hwa.

“To deceive your enemies, you must first deceive yourself.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“Nothing.”

“Hmph. Anyway, you’ve figured it out too, right? No matter how hard we try to break through the simulation universes in this state, it’s pointless.”

I nodded. “I think the same. Even if we destroy the simulation research center again, we’ll just end up in a ‘higher-tier’ simulation lab.”

“Exactly... What a frustrating bastard. How annoying.” Yo-hwa—or rather, Infinite Void—sighed deeply. “I did wonder why they were letting me hack them so easily. Now, I see why.”

“They don’t care if they get hacked.”

“Yeah. That’s the strategy.”

Even if every simulation universe was destroyed, it wouldn’t matter. As long as the premise of “This too is only a simulation” held true in that very last moment, the Mastermind would claim ultimate victory.

From the lower simulation to the higher one. Higher and higher. An endless hell of ascent.

“......”

“......”

A moment of silence lingered between us.

It felt like being trapped in a maze with no exit.

“...Seriously, why is this guy so cowardly? Even that so-called Infinite Metagame at least handed Oh Dok-seo a dagger to stab you whenever the chance arose! This one is just squatting until the end to steal the final blow!”

“Well. I see it differently.”

“Huh? How differently?”

I turned to look back. What remained was a broken model of the universe, reduced to rubble.

“There’s something I want to test. Infinite Void. Earlier, the research lab was transformed by your Filter, correct?”

“Huh? Yeah, that’s right.”

“Is it possible to overlay the filter with something other than a research lab?”

“Of course it’s possible, but...” Infinite Void tilted its head. “Do you have something specific in mind? For the record, the research lab is the most convenient. Researchers don’t like to meddle or be meddled with, so those NPCs allowed both you and me to roam relatively freely.”

“It’s fine. I only intend to make a slight modification. Also, there’s no reason for us to split up anymore, so let’s stick together.”

“Oh. Alright.”

I explained the Filter I had in mind to Infinite Void. Then, we immediately set out into the hallway.

It seemed that Infinite Void had lost the enthusiasm to shape the Divine Realm into a "believable research lab." The outer landscape was as desolate as when I had first encountered it. Only, the research rooms lining the endless corridor now had "doors" attached to them—an element that hadn’t been there before. Beside each door hung a nameplate.

Room 108: Oh Dok-seo

Room 109: Dang Seo-rin

Room 110: Sim Ah-ryeon

Room 111: Undertaker

.

.

.

This was the filter I had requested.

For example, inside the research room labeled “Room 110: Sim Ah-ryeon,” a simulation revolving around Sim Ah-ryeon was running. Similarly, “Room 111: Undertaker” was likely conducting experiments centered on me.

“I’ve set it up just like you asked for now, but what’s the point of this?”

“Just follow me without question.”

“Tch. You’re so cold to me!”

I had lived in the lower-level research center for nearly a hundred days. I remembered exactly which simulations ran in which rooms.

It didn’t take long to find our destination.

As it trailed along, Infinite Void continued spewing meaningless chatter so inconsequential that I won’t even bother narrating it.

Finally, it tilted its head in surprise.

“Huh? Here? That’s an unexpected choice.”

Room 1537: Sword Marquess

That’s right. In this research center, there were mad scientists dedicated to running simulations centering on the Sword Marquess.

I kicked the door open.

“Huh? Wh-who are you?”

“It’s none of your concern.”

The researcher, startled, turned toward us—and was immediately split into two halves. Behind me, Infinite Void whistled.

“Wow. It doesn’t matter if they look like comrades, huh? You show no mercy once you judge them as foes.”

“Shut it.”

I approached the simulation device the researcher had been operating and began manipulating the hologram interface. I had already learned how to handle these devices on the lower levels.

“I didn’t pay much attention to the specific contents of the simulations in the lower lab. Since they were all false worlds created for the Outer God’s amusement, watching them would only lead to disgust.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Now, I realize the content of these simulations might be just as important as the proposition that ‘This world is entirely a simulation.’”

“......?”

With a flick of my hand, I began adjusting the simulation device. Countless options appeared as holographic selections.

[Scenario: Weakening the Undertaker’s Mental State]

[Scenario: Adjusting the Undertaker’s Cycle]

[Scenario: Weakening the Saintess’s Morality]

[Scenario: Killing Yu Ji-won]

[Scenario: Large-Scale Explosion of the Sand of the Ganges]

[Scenario: Invasion by the City Devourer]

I suspected these were the types of scenarios the Mastermind liked to use frequently. But I ignored all the options entirely.

Without adding any additional scenarios or using any kind of editor, I initiated the simulation in what could be called “vanilla mode.” Soon, the simulation began running from the perspective of the Sword Marquess.

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: echo

https://dsc.gg/reapercomics

“Huh?”

Yo-hwa—no, Infinite Void—who had been observing smugly, as if to gauge how clever my discovery was, suddenly blinked in confusion.

“Wait... What is this?”

It moved closer, practically leaning over my shoulder to peer into the simulation. Even from the perspective of someone who had partially regained their authority as an Outer God, the sight unfolding was astonishing.

“The Earth... is still Earth, but something feels off. There are terrains here and there that aren’t recorded in my Akashic Records. Where is this? It’s not the real Earth, is it?”

I tipped my chin in a slight nod. “This is the martial realm.”

“The martial realm? As in, the alternate historical fantasy setting from wuxia novels?”

“...You’ve picked quite the description, one that would make Infinite Metagame or Dok-seo choke if they heard it. But yes, it’s that fictional space. This is my first time seeing it in person too.”

Of course, this too was nothing more than a fabricated simulation created by the Mastermind.

In the hologram, the Sword Marquess was advancing through the simulation. He joined the Mount Hua Sect, trained for decades, and eventually became the sect leader. His long journey flashed by in accelerated time.

With each major milestone, new scenario options popped up on one corner of the hologram, like bubbles bursting to the surface.

[Scenario: The Return of the Heavenly Demon]

[Scenario: The Blood Sect's Rebellion]

[Scenario: The Great Orthodox-Demonic War]

[Scenario: The Emergence of Demonic Creatures]

The locations for these scenarios were mostly situated in the “edges of the map,” where the Sword Marquess had not yet explored. It was in these uncharted territories that the Blood Sect’s schemes were conceived, the forces of the Demonic Path flourished, and variables capable of toppling the Martial Alliance were introduced.

‘So, I was right. If the Mastermind wants to manipulate causality, they need as much unperceived space as possible.’

It was the concept commonly known as the “fog of war.”

In video games, any part of the map that hasn’t been scouted would remain shrouded in darkness or mist. Similarly, in this martial arts world, there were many “unknown regions” that the Sword Marquess had not yet perceived.

To us, this concept was all too familiar. If one replaced “the areas unperceived by the Sword Marquess” with “the areas unperceived by humanity,” it essentially became what we called the Void.

Even in our world, the Void was abundant.

‘When I tried to plant signal beacons beyond the Ural and Himalayan Mountains, the Mastermind had a fit because it was trying to preserve as much Void as possible.’

Why? Because if it allowed me to claim that space, the “scenario options”—or in other words, the “causality manipulations” visible before me—available to it would shrink significantly.

Like any other Anomaly, the Outer God was deeply committed to defending its domain.

“This is nothing but a paper-thin world...” Infinite Void murmured beside me. “If you look closely, every space unrecognized by the Sword Marquess is covered in darkness. The moment the Sword Marquess perceives it, the background is generated, and NPCs are created on the spot.”

A model garden of sorts, tailored by and for the Sword Marquess. That was the true nature of this simulated universe.

However, the simulation’s dynamics soon changed.

In the hologram, the Sword Marquess engaged in a life-and-death duel with the Heavenly Demon. Gravely injured, he had to tap into his innate energy, destroying his dantian in the process. Immediately after, a parallel projection of “modern Earth,” which we knew, appeared next to the “martial realm.”

“...The Sword Marquess has washed ashore on Ulleungdo.”

“The aftereffects of the intense battle with the Heavenly Demon have left his intelligence and memory unstable.”

“Wait. So, that’s why the Sword Marquess ended up like that?”

I shook my head. “No. This is how the Mastermind defines the Sword Marquess.”

“......!”

“Whether or not the Sword Marquess was truly a sect leader from the Mount Hua Sect, no one knows. But just now, the Mastermind used the simulation to declare, ‘The Sword Marquess is a martial artist who returned from the martial realm.’ And then...”

I sped up the simulation. Wherever the Sword Marquess walked, the fields turned lush with crops. Simultaneously, the lands in the “Martial Realm,” which shared geographic similarities with Earth, withered into barren deserts.

“As you can see, when the Sword Marquess cultivates crops, the martial realm undergoes desertification.”

“Ah.”

“One world becomes abundant at the cost of the other’s desolation. The Mastermind has defined the Sword Marquess’s Plant Growth Awakening ability in this way.”

I looked at Infinite Void.

“Doesn’t this remind you of something?”

“...The same way the Mastermind degraded your Regression ability into mere simulation data. It’s twisting the Awakeners’ abilities into its own definitions.”

“Exactly.” I glanced around the research lab. “I thought this place existed solely to kill me. But it’s not just that. This is a factory built to define the identities of all Awakeners on Earth and even the identities of Anomalies like you.”

“...”

“Regression, Plant Growth, the Saintess’s Telepathy, Dang Seo-rin’s Cursed Songs—all of it. The Mastermind is probably reducing them all to mere ‘simulation data.’ Even your Akashic Records, Infinite Void.”

It was impossible to dismiss the Mastermind as just a cowardly squatter waiting to steal the final blow. From beginning to end, it had focused only on bringing the world under its control.

Look. Even now, every human and Anomaly was being reduced to simulation data.

After a long silence, Infinite Void mumbled, “How do we win against this?”

Was it just my imagination, or was it slightly intimidated by the Mastermind?

“Destroying the research lab just pushes it from a lower to a higher level. If we leave it alone, no matter how much we struggle, we’ll only end up as part of the Mastermind’s ‘calculated simulation.’ Isn’t this a complete checkmate?”

“Hmm.”

“S-so, the only way might be for us to have a child together and create a brand-new variable—!”

“No. Hold on.” I placed my hand on Infinite Void’s shoulder, stopping it before it spiraled further. “From what we’ve seen, the Mastermind isn’t just my enemy. It’s not just humanity’s enemy either. It’s also the greatest rival of you Outer Gods.”

“And so?”

“We’re in the same boat. The enemy of my enemy is my ally. Don’t you think it’s time to revisit that ancient truth?”

Blink.

“Ugh. Don’t tell me, sunbae...”

Another cycle passed.

In the simulation universe research center, our party now consisted of myself, Infinite Void, and the slime Fairy King. But now, there was one new addition to the team.

Of course, calling it a "party member" might not have been entirely appropriate. The newcomer didn’t even have a mouth to eat food with.

To put it more concretely, our new member resembled nothing more than a laptop.

“Introduce yourself, Infinite Void. This is Admin of the Infinite Metagame.”

“......”

“And Infinite Metagame, this is Infinite Void. It’s probably the first time the two of you are meeting face-to-face—or rather, face-to-screen—while each of you is sealed in your respective forms.”

[...]

“As I explained, the Outer God we’re up against this time is no joke. Even if this is your first encounter, I expect you two to work together to overcome the crisis. Now, shake hands.”

Beep-beep-beep.

The laptop in my arms displayed a message on its screen.

[AOIM – Query: May I power off now?]

“No.”

[AOIM – Profanity filter overridden.]

The Outer God party was complete!

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