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

Chapter 302

Discord: https://dsc.gg/reapercomics

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

──────

The Agitator I

「Noh Do-hwa has very few friends.」

The above sentence actually contained a bit of a lie. In Noh Do-hwa’s interpersonal relationships, the category of “friends” simply did not exist. Therefore, the correct statement was as follows:

「Noh Do-hwa has no friends.」

That’s right.

As clearly revealed in the previous story, there were quite a few forces that resisted Do-hwa’s commands. The only person who could even remotely claim to be her friend (excluding me) was Ha-yul, whom Do-hwa often called upon to drink together.

- Because I’m mute, and she likes that.

That was the reason Ha-yul gave when asked.

- She liked just drinking quietly with me instead of having to deal with useless small talk over drinks.

“Wait. Isn’t that discrimination against the disabled?”

- If anything, it’s closer to discrimination against the non-disabled. The Commander just hates people.

Of course, the bleak state of Do-hwa’s interpersonal relationships had their advantages. As a politician, she was immune to the inevitable fate of being criticized for giving special treatment to her personal connections.

There was a time when she began to garner fame as the commander of the National Road Management Corps. People claiming to be her relatives flocked to her, trying to catch even a whiff of her success.

“Do-hwa, it’s me, your uncle!”

“Ah, my mother’s brother...”

“Huh? Uh, yeah, that’s right.”

“Welcome. You’ve come to repay the 130 million won you borrowed from our family after claiming you’d strike it rich in a Chilean mine. Such reliability makes me love my relatives even more...”

Many people.

“Oh, Do-hwa! I’m your uncle! Remember me from your high school graduation?”

“Ah, Uncle. Heh, welcome...”

“Yeah! You see, I came all the way from Seoul, and I thought I was going to die! Oh, my dear Do-hwa, you’ve been through so much! I knew all along you’d make something of yourself!”

“Thank you. I also have fond memories with you, Uncle. Like when you were arrested for running an illegal casino in the Philippines and begged me, a public official, for help...”

“Huh? Oh, right! Yeah, that happened!”

“Yes. When I told you I couldn’t help you, you cursed so vividly. Even though we’re all of the same bloodline, you spat on your own face so skillfully...”

Many.

“Sis!”

“Get lost.”

People.

Enemy defeated!

I’ll just drop here that Do-hwa’s extreme distrust of people was rooted in her family environment and upbringing.

Perhaps there was another reason why she kept Ha-yul close? After all, Ha-yul was no stranger to messy family dynamics.

“Commander Noh. It seems you and I share a great many similarities. I, the unworthy Yu Ji-won, truly had an unfortunate childhood.”

“No, damn it... You’re that infamous middle schooler who locked your parents in the basement, tortured them for 24 hours, tore them to pieces, and then tossed them, right? I’m not that bad. Please stop pretending to be close to me...”

“What a shame.”

Anyway, Do-hwa’s personality had many advantages, but it also had clear disadvantages.

As revealed in the previous story, in the event of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula, the “all gather” command under Do-hwa didn’t go smoothly. The southern part of the Korean Peninsula, which had always been heavily dependent on the National Road Management Corps, followed Commander Noh’s leadership without question. However, the further you got from Busan, the weaker these practical interests became. Didn’t Pyongyang and Sejong immediately form an anti-Noh coalition?

In short:

“Commander Noh.”

“What now...?”

“Hmm. Do you find it difficult to go out to places with lots of people and build relationships? Is it hard for you to get close to others by nature? Ah, you’re quiet. Please feel free to speak. Even if you’re a total loner, I won’t judge you for it. Why not take this opportunity to get some counseling and gradually improve your loner tendencies?”

“You fucking bastard.”

https://dsc.gg/reapercomics

After a near-death experience, I skipped over the details and got to the point.

“Let’s make a propaganda documentary.”

Do-hwa adjusted her black gloves and frowned. “What the hell...?”

“It’s impossible for you to build personal relationships with guild leaders from other regions at this point. It’s not Noh Do-hwa, but NO Do-hwa for them. It’s self-denial everywhere you look.”

“Do you really want to die...?”

“But it’s entirely possible to increase your standing with the general public, both Awakeners and ordinary people alike.”

That’s what the propaganda was for.

For example, when we defeated the Ice Age Anomaly, the reason we stubbornly brought Do-hwa, who had zero combat power, was also for this purpose.

「Commander Noh is as weak as an ordinary person.」

「Yet, whenever a crisis strikes the Korean Peninsula, Commander Noh is always there!」

We could plant this kind of sentiment in people’s minds. No matter how much power the guild leaders held, they couldn’t completely ignore public opinion. Do-hwa’s approval rating would undoubtedly have a positive impact on the political situation.

“No, damn it. There are so many things to nitpick...”

“Go ahead.”

“First of all, aren’t you underestimating people’s intelligence? Even if you blatantly spread propaganda like that, it’s not going to improve my reputation.”

“That’s why we need an expert’s touch.”

I took Do-hwa to the scene of the Inunaki Tunnel conquest. After filming the entire subjugation process with a smartphone and editing it, this promotional video was born.

*Narration: A dark tunnel.

*Narration: A terrifying Void where a single misstep could crush your limbs. Into this, the prisoners of the National Road Management Corps are thrown.

(Prisoners screaming)

*Do-hwa: Ignore them.

(Prisoners being dragged away)

*Narration: The one giving the firm command is none other than Commander Noh.

*Narration: Behind her expressionless face lies a will of steel.

(The subjugation progresses as the prisoners die)

*Yu Ji-won: Commander, according to the Mini-Map, Squad 11 is almost at the exit.

*Do-hwa: Proceed.

(The National Road Management Corps members cheer as the tunnel is successfully subjugated)

*Narration: The members cheer as they conquer the Inunaki Tunnel, which could have devoured the entire Japanese archipelago.

*Narration: Yet, the Commander’s expression remains unchanged.

*Narration: She knows better than anyone that countless Anomalies still threaten our world.

(Do-hwa’s back as she walks away)

~END~

The screening ended.

I turned to her with an extremely confident expression.

“So, what do you think?”

“It’s idiotic...”

Do-hwa’s responding expression was sour.

“Get your eyes checked,” I countered. “As you can see, this propaganda video is like a strategy guide. It’s packed with useful and practical information on how to subjugate Anomalies and Voids.”

“Hmm...” she hummed, resting her chin on her hand. “So it’s not just a simple propaganda video, but one that provides both dopamine and practical information while beating the shit out of Anomalies...?”

“Exactly.”

Plus, it didn’t portray Do-hwa as a perfect saint. There were no exaggerated advertisements of her eating mud cookies at the dawn market or comforting the sorrows of ordinary people.

‘A leader who remains calm and never lets her expression crack no matter what Anomaly she faces or what Void she falls into.’

That alone was more than enough to appeal to people. And if we subtly added a clip of Do-hwa making assistive devices for patients?

Ah, I could hear it. The sound of Do-hwa’s approval rating rising!

“Wait, Undertaker. Hold on. Even if we make the video like this, how are we going to screen it? Aren’t video files too easily Corrupted by Anomalies...?”

“We’ll upload it to SG Net, and then the National Road Management Corps members on business trips in each city can connect their smartphones to a projector to screen it. That way, the expiration date is a bit more generous, and the chance of Corruption is lower for about a week.”

“Expiration date...?”

“It’s a thing. Anyway, I’ll be in charge of the National Road Management Corps’s PR team for the time being, so leave it to me.”

I was rarring to go. After all, I had already turned Dang Seo-rin into the number one idol on the Korean Peninsula.

“Hey, Undertaker. Can’t we just not do this...?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make you the most beloved leader in the history of the Korean Peninsula.”

“Fuck. This still feels sketchy...”

Six years later.

As if to prove that Do-hwa’s worries were meaningless, the propaganda plan was a huge success.

“Hey, did you see the Meteor Shower conquest video?”

“I saw it over the weekend. The sight of stars falling from the sky was mesmerizing.”

Everyone was abuzz. Now, in any city on the Korean Peninsula, you could easily find people chatting about the propaganda documentary videos.

These days, the only new releases in theaters were propaganda videos, so it was a natural outcome.

“That Dang Seo-rin, she’s really amazing. How does her voice sound so beautiful?”

“I know, right? I heard she’s the most famous in the south.”

“I was most impressed by Cheon Yo-hwa breaking stars with her bare hands. Oh, of course...” The market vendor turned his head, looking over the makeshift shop under a tent. Hanging from the ceiling was a portrait of Do-hwa. “The most moving part was definitely when Commander Noh held the radio and gave the order for all Awakeners to come out and attack!”

“Ah! That scene!”

“My heart raced when I saw that part!”

Then, the market vendor jumped to his feet. “Isn’t it thanks to Commander Noh’s hard work in the south that we’re able to live today? Everyone, salute Commander Noh!”

“Salute!”

The chant echoed from one corner of the market to the next, spreading like a wave of contagious disease as the other vendors stood up one by one.

“Long live Commander Noh!”

“Long live!”

“Thanks to Commander Noh’s grace, we’re able to live steadfast lives in this harsh land. How can we not shed tears?”

“Thank you, Commander!”

“May you live a long and healthy life!”

Watching all this silently from a distance, I glanced around other places in Pyongyang.

Do-hwa’s portrait was in schools, in government offices, and in civilian homes. In the square of Mo Gwang-seo Christ’s Cathedral, the heart of Pyongyang, next to the statues of Mogwangseo and Sim Ah-ryeon, stood a statue of Do-hwa, three times larger for some reason.

And every passerby saluted Do-hwa’s statue.

“Long live Commander Noh!”

“Under Commander Noh’s leadership, let’s unite and defeat those damned Anomalies!”

“Ah, the Commander’s grace is like the heavens!”

I remained silent.

In my place, Telepathy chattered.

[Did you see it all, Mr. Undertaker?]

“...I’ve confirmed it.”

[Yes. In Pyongyang and the northern regions under the influence of the Eastern Divine Kingdom, a kind of mental brainwashing phenomenon—]

[If we were to name it, Big Brother, or in this case, Big Sister? Or perhaps Big Mother would be more accurate?]

“Let’s just call it the Supreme Leader...”

[Yes. The Supreme Leader Anomaly has been observed,] the Saintess recited indifferently. [Those infected by this Anomaly show absolute favorability and loyalty towards Commander Noh, regardless of whether they are ordinary people or Awakeners.]

“The cause is....”

[Probably the propaganda videos you produced and distributed, right?]

I didn’t answer.

[Oh. Do-hwa said to return to Busan as soon as possible. And she asked me to relay this message to you.]

Hmm.

[“When you get back, you’re dead, you bastard.”]

Me, the Undertaker.

For the first time in thousands of years, I felt an overwhelming sense of impending doom.