EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school - Chapter 842 - Side (7)

‘I expected it, and I prepared for it.’

I felt like I couldn’t breathe when I made eye contact with my fake siblings.

In countless ways, I remembered the last time I saw my dead siblings, some of them contradicting one another.

I feel glad that I got to see my siblings’ faces when they woke up.

But then, I think I wouldn’t have had the chance to be harsh with them if they slept in that day.

It’s useless thinking about that now.

So I shifted my mind to something important.

‘I can’t be fooled by what’s in front of me. I know what kind of power this is and I know how to destroy it.’

The light skill of the former head of the association is being used right now, which can take control of the target’s mind by simulating the past, their regrets, their future, and things that they fear.

It’s painfully clear how to defeat this kind of power.

I just have to choose to be in the present.

Instead of distorting my memory of the past and dwelling in regrets, I just have to accept that things happened the way they did, and I can’t be caught up in the fear of a future that hasn’t happened yet.

Easier said than done.

People get themselves stuck in a hole of regret and fear all the time even without this kind of light skill attacking them.

“…”

I looked down at my siblings in silence.

They were both wearing the pajamas I gave them as a gift.

My younger siblings never complained about hand-me-downs, but I felt sorry for them so I gifted them clothes whenever I could.

Considering that they were growing up I bought pajamas of bigger size, but they already fit in them perfectly.

I didn’t think much of it at the time, but I realized how quickly my siblings had grown up.

Still, they were much shorter than me.

And the time when they are taller would never come.

“There’s chocolate chips in the fridge too…”

“Oppa…”

They looked at me anxiously as I continued to be silent.

I got angry over something so trivial back then.

I was very sensitive before my competitions, and because I wasn’t feeling okay, I ended up spending my last day with my siblings like this.

‘I won’t do it again. I’ll be back. I’m sleepy but I’ll get some sleep… That’s what I thought back then.’

Something came up from my guts and onto my tongue, and if I didn’t force myself to swallow, they would materialize as words.

I think I would’ve been able to keep my cool if I sensed energy waves or enemies around me, but it really felt like I had returned to the past and that my family was the only one there.

If I let my guard down even a little, I might get tricked to thinking that I went back in time.

I sobered up, reminding myself that these are not my siblings.

‘It’s much stronger than the old otherworld simulator. Is it because Unsa’s power was added?’

I tried to feign calmness, but what came out was an excuse for me to be swayed by the illusion.

Of course, I knew that real-life abilities would be more powerful than artificial intelligence and old simulators.

While my thoughts were sporadic, I remembered the Replay where Sung Gukeon won over this ability without any prior information or training.

‘In the scenes in PMH where Sung Gukeon had to face his past regrets, the game always had only one option.’

The strong-spirited Sung Gukeon doesn’t hesitate.

He made the same choice even before he realized that he’d fallen victim to a psychic attack.

And now, in this world, Sung Gukeon was in danger yet trusted me and my plan.

I came to my senses when I reminded myself that my past and regrets would endanger Sung Gukeon’s life.

‘The Fomorian demons would’ve made contact with Sung Gukeon by now. If things go as I planned with Ryu Jang, there won’t be any problem.’

I thought about the other people involved in this operation.

And then, my overloaded head began to settle.

My stomach burned because of the fake younger siblings in front of me, but my head was cold.

I was able to keep my mouth shut and just observe.

“Oppa…”

“Hyung…”

My younger siblings started crying when I continued to keep silent.

I felt bad seeing them crying back then too, so why did I didn’t say anything?

As I felt sorry for my past self, the place where my siblings’ gaze landed had hurt me as if I had been stabbed with a knife.

“Oh, I think your hyung isn’t eating anything because he has to catch a plane.”

My parents gently comforted my siblings.

I felt sad about it back then too.

Instead of scolding them, my parents would tell me to give way to my siblings when they took my share of snacks.

There were times when I thought they cared for my siblings more than me.

Sometimes I even thought they didn’t like me very much.

‘I can’t believe I had such immature thoughts even after seeing their faces.’

My parents had shadows around their eyes, probably from lack of sleep.

Their hands that patted my younger siblings’ heads lacked strength.

There wasn’t much time left until both of them had to go to work.

Nevertheless, they prepared me breakfast and made sure my suitcase was all prepared, and they went to check on me and say goodbye.

Even though it must’ve been very difficult to raise three children, especially since one of them was a chess player who received media attention, my parents were always kind.

They probably thought they were doing the natural thing as parents, but it wouldn’t have been easy to do what they did if they didn’t love their children.

‘…I have to go now.’

Just like I did in the past, I kept my mouth shut and left.

I know I’m headed to a competition, but what if I brought along my family?

My younger siblings would’ve loved it.

While my parents would’ve disapproved, they might’ve allowed it since they were worried about me.

I had that urge, but reason held me back.

As soon as the desire to stay in this fantasy becomes strong, my mind becomes tied to it.

I can’t even say goodbye.

“Be careful. Listen well to your coach, and call us if anything happens. Don’t mind the time difference.”

“…Have a nice trip!”

My siblings tried to talk to me until the end.

I didn’t know how I managed to keep up such a harsh attitude towards such nice kids.

Now I’m more careful in dealing with younger people, especially children.

I try to think twice and be more open-minded too.

That’s why I can’t understand my past self even more.

“…”

I looked back at my family, nodded, and turned away.

When I opened the front door and went outside, I was alone.

My heart ached whenever I saw my family, but the moment they disappeared from my eyes, I felt empty inside.

I tried to fill the pit in my stomach with my thoughts.

‘The regrets part isn’t over yet.’

The illusion didn’t shatter even after I walked out the door.

I succeeded in reenacting my farewell to my family, but it wasn’t over.

I left the country with my coach, did interviews with local reporters, and prepared for my games.

I had to suppress an impulse.

‘The incident hadn’t happened yet. My fake family is still alive. If I contact them or go back now, things could be different.’

If I do that, even if my games would be a mess, my family would survive and I could be with them.

My mind and memories would be tied to this fantasy created by an ability.

I’d be fed happy illusions forever.

One mistake and there’s no way out.

It’s possible to realize that it’s an illusion, but things would simply reset and I’d be shown my past and regrets again.

“Wait, Euishin-ah. Wear this.”

Eventually, the final round of the World Junior Chess Championship arrived.

Just before my last match, my coach handed me a uniform studded with sponsor patches, telling me to wear it instead of my school uniform.

My coach was trying to hide the accident from me as per my parents’ will.

His attitude was different from usual.

I might’ve been able to realize what happened to my family if I took more notice.

I might’ve been able to attend their funeral.

“I concentrate best when I wear my school uniform. You know this.”

“I know that, but there’s a request that you should wear this in the final round, so…”

“I didn’t hear of that.”

I heard him call my name again as I walked away.

That man tried to take advantage of the situation too, but I had a bigger problem.

‘The regrets part isn’t complete yet. I’ll definitely be forced to play chess. They must’ve sensed that my weakness was chess, so it’s natural for them to try to take advantage of it.’

The game started as I expected.

Now, I guess I have to finish the game to clear this.

I came to this place after cruelly leaving my family, and I had to play chess without knowing what they went through.

My fingers that moved the chess piece suddenly felt cold.

‘I didn’t know what cold hands felt like before.’

It was different until I lost my family.

My hands were always warm, so when it was cold, my younger siblings would hold one hand each and not let go.

Maybe it’s because they’re gone that my hands have gone cold.

The game wasn’t over yet, but I felt like they were frozen.

‘…Which one did I move?’

My head didn’t function properly even though I memorized the notation of the entire game.

When a crisis arose, I desperately searched through my memories to find a way to overcome it.

My mind went to the great chess players that I encountered after entering Eungwang High.

Ma Jinseung, Yeon Garam, Yeom Junyeol, Park Seunghyun, Cheon Dongha, and even Baekho-gun.

And then I remembered something very important.

‘The kids in our class came that day. I would’ve lost if it wasn’t for their support.’

I had almost collapsed after only a few moves in my second game the day I started playing chess again.

Then, the moment my Destiny skill activated and I looked up, I saw the kids in our class who had come to cheer me on.

Seeing their support, I was able to make my next move.

Starting with the kids in our class, I thought of the people I met in this world.

Suddenly my hands felt warm.

“Check.”

I finished the game as I remembered it, and at that moment, the space collapsed.

The ability that recreated my past almost perfectly had begun to falter.

Now I have to fight against this enemy as a player.

“It must be strange. Even though I was so mentally shaken, I stuck with it until the end.”

Fwiijiiiiik…!

Huge cracks appeared throughout the chess tournament venue.

The space distorted and changed.

“I know that once a decision is made, it cannot be undone. Even if I have regrets, things would remain the same.”

Crack…!

The more I spoke, the more the illusion shattered and clouds rose through the cracks.

The light skill of the deceased former head of the association was crushed, and the power of the living Unsa intervened.

The opponent seemed to be preparing for the next move.

“I won’t let anyone peek into my future or fears.”

The clouds stopped moving for a moment as if asking how I knew what it planned.

I aimed for this moment and immediately activated my skill.

<Skill Glare of Life and Death activated.>

The eyes that separated life and death pierced through the clouded illusion.