Theatrical Regression Life

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In Lee Jaehun’s opinion, the most important things for survival in the wilderness boiled down to just three.

‘Shelter, fire, water.’

Sure, there were plenty of other necessities, but without those three, your chances of survival plummeted. If you wanted to live, you absolutely had to have shelter, fire, and water.

‘First off, human stamina is a finite resource, so you need a place to rest and recuperate.’

But even that wasn’t just a matter of picking any spot. Simply declaring, ‘I’m staying here!’ wouldn’t do any good if you didn’t have at least a minimum of stability.

Basically, you needed a ceiling to keep out rain or debris from above, and walls to keep out dangerous animals or prying eyes. Whether you laid down soft grass or whatever else, establishing the framework of a shelter was the most fundamental aspect.

While providing such shelter and maintaining a fire to keep warm were essential…

‘That’s already taken care of.’

Lee Jaehun thought as he gazed at the steadily burning campfire.

‘So, water is definitely the most pressing need.’

Luckily, the one saving grace was that this place wasn’t entirely wilderness.

Sure, if you were stranded on some uninhabited island in the middle of the Pacific, you’d be tearing your hair out trying to find fresh water, but even though this world might be post-apocalyptic, it wasn’t entirely wild. It meant you didn’t have to go through the ordeal of distilling seawater.

‘Of course, larger lakes might have poor water quality due to algae blooms, but…’

At least, it was said that the small lakes nearby were clean enough for fish to live in. In reality, it was like a park.

Moreover, such details wouldn’t go unaddressed in this world, so even in the worst-case scenario, boiling the water over a fire should prevent any stomach issues. For those who couldn’t go to convenience stores or supermarkets, it was the best option available.

Lee Jaehun glanced over at his companions.

“…”

In truth, perhaps unsurprisingly, the best course of action would be to visit such convenience facilities.

‘It feels like there’s a 90% chance of death if we go, though. That’s the problem.’

He swallowed a sigh.

It wasn’t like all the survivors in novels were chilling in parks. It was more likely that regular people without basic survival skills went into monster-filled buildings and ended up dead.

This was a fact that could be easily grasped with a bit of thought. It wasn’t like all the people consumed by the other world were gathered in one place, and it wasn’t as if the parks were smeared with honey or gold, but ultimately, all the survivors depicted in the novels were in parks.

‘It means that the only space where scattered survivors could survive was the park.’

Of course, it could be an excessive inference, and parks weren’t entirely safe either. At the beginning of the episode, the monsters’ activities weren’t that lively, so they were able to preserve their lives only at that time.

Sure, if it were just Lee Jaehun himself, he could go to the convenience facilities and bring back several water bottles, but at the moment, his condition wasn’t that great, and it didn’t seem like his companions would allow it.

‘They’ll nag me about where I went in that state.’

Therefore, the most efficient thing he could do was to follow the group and reap the benefits.

Well, that’s how it was.

“…Can’t I just go with you?”

“Please, Director.”

“I’m just anxious, that’s all. I know it’s not possible, but I just said it once.”

Honestly, I felt more at ease doing it myself. That’s why I changed the plan to going along the honey route to avoid being torn apart from all sides.

For the sake of the teammate who inefficiently begged, worrying about himself, Lee Jaehun took some special measures.

Doctor Ha Sungyoon murmured with a voice deeply impressed.

“…Why can you stand up?”

“Are you picking a fight?”

“Please understand the sentiments of a 21st-century doctor who has encountered an inexplicable phenomenon in front of him.”

It was to inform them directly from the seat that there wasn’t much hindrance to their movement.

Although limping on one leg, it was enough to look like a flu patient who was quite sick, as long as it wasn’t a body covered in spots to the point of screaming in shock. It meant he didn’t look like he just emerged from a soon-to-be-dead body or a zombie freshly out of the grave.

In fact, this part was largely due to him recalling his past life.

‘…Can such things be possible if mental strength is reflected?’

Even I’m a bit surprised by this.

The ability Lee Jaehun possessed in his past life was none other than regeneration, and his recovery ability seemed to evolve little by little based on the memory that dying itself was difficult.

‘Or maybe it just appears that way.’

After informing the others that Lee Jaehun himself wasn’t close to collapsing as if he were unconscious, he assigned separate tasks to the rest of the group.

“Director, Team Leader Kang, Noh Yeonseok, could you fetch some water? It’s still early afternoon, and Team Leader Kang seems to be getting the hang of using the hammer… Oh, and if there are cans around, bring them to fill with water.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Kwon Yeonhee, you two need to gather a bit more firewood. Don’t go too far. Even if it’s a bit damp, it’ll dry out by the fire. Remember where you hear animal or insect noises.”

“I’m good at that kind of thing.”

He divided the team into groups for gathering firewood, fetching water, and maintaining the campfire.

Perhaps because Lee Jaehun himself had fallen asleep like he had fainted, there was no extra firewood at the campfire they had painstakingly built. Also, since they didn’t know what might happen in this other world, they needed someone to tend to the fire they had lit with care. Moreover, since his condition wasn’t that great and he had difficulty moving, it was an inevitable choice for him to become the standby.

Of course, even if they sent them out like this, it didn’t mean there wasn’t any concern about what kind of monster they might encounter…

“Team Leader Kang seems quite reliable, doesn’t she?”

“Yes, indeed.”

Surprisingly, Kang Mina was trustworthy.

Anyway, Team Leader Kang was the type of person who felt even more down if she couldn’t find her own usefulness. It would be okay for her to hold the hammer properly, and besides, they needed combat personnel other than Jung Inho or Lee Jaehun, so it was also a good choice to wander around the nearby area and improve her skills.

There was also an opinion to move together, but it was quickly rejected.

“Why?”

“Because I told you to practice thinking. If we all move together, it’ll be difficult to guard.”

“I’m good at running away, though…”

“That’s enough.”

Kwon Yeonhee seemed to have some conscience burden, trying to stick to Kang Mina, but no matter how bright it was, it was unrealistic for them to move together in this state.

In plain terms, it meant that if kelp monsters appeared, there wouldn’t be anyone left to protect them.

‘I’m not fit, I have no combat skills… How could someone like me protect anyone?’

Even among the rookies, Kwon Yeonhee was just a burden.

The gathering team organized by Lee Jaehun was set up to have a high chance of survival in this other world. It consisted of the subtly discerning Yoon Garam, hammer-wielding Kang Mina, and physically sturdy Noh Yeonseok.

“The lake isn’t too far away, so it should be fine, and I…”

“I’ll be by the Director’s side.”

“….”

“Oh, and the doctor too.”

Suddenly, he felt worse.

“…Alright, then, go and come back safely.”

For Lee Jaehun, who couldn’t move, what remained were Doctor Ha Sungyoon and the protagonist, Deputy JungInho.

Doctor Ha Sungyoon had basic rationality, and Jung Inho was just as grotesque as he wasn’t the protagonist. These two would protect Lee Jaehun, and he himself had some experience in survival. With the doctor and protagonist present, he felt confident that he would survive at least until the rest of the group returned.

Fortunately, Kwon Yeonhee easily understood, and Lee Jaehun consciously expressed relief.

“Take care and, if possible, um…”

“….”

“…The kids too.”

“Oh.”

Lee Jaehun spoke as he watched her sigh.

“Actually, it’s difficult for anyone to protect in this situation. It’s hard just to stay still, you know?”

“….Yes.”

“Just… the kids too… um. Yeah.”

He gruffly trailed off, turning his head.

‘Might as well use the image I’ve got.’

They probably would have roughly understood to some extent. It meant something like, ‘Anyway, I’m worried about you guys, especially since they’re kids, so just take care of them a bit,’ you know?

When Kwon Yeonhee nodded, the atmosphere improved, and then the two gathering teams left their positions.

“…”

“…”

That suffocating silence dissipated.

‘…It’s tough to make a living.’

He felt like he wanted to just rush out right now, regardless of organizing or anything else.

Lee Jaehun slowly leaned his upper body back and rested his back against the tall, straight tree. The tree, which seemed thin at first glance, as if it could touch the sky, could also be felt as excessively large.

As he gazed at the sky tinged with the color of dusk, a grotesque voice veiled in sincerity reached him.

“Director.”

“…..”

I hated it most when he called me like that.

“…Why.”

“I’ve been thinking.”

“…..”

“…Well.”

“There’s not just one or two strange things.”

Damn guy…

Confirming that Doctor Ha Sungyoon was just quietly listening to Deputy Jung Inho’s words, Lee Jaehun inwardly cursed the protagonist while swallowing it down and shaking his head. The protagonist was gradually building up the atmosphere, trying to gain control over him.

Should I pretend to hand over control here, or should I pretend not to be taken away?

“Your skill with the pipe is unusual. Where did you learn it?”

“…Well.”

It was better to let the other party think they had control in this case.

“I used to swing a bat when I was a kid.”

As if acknowledging that he made an amusing joke, but also knowing it wasn’t funny at all, Lee Jaehun easily calmed down his voice and expression.

He gradually let out the boredom he felt from his memories of his past life.

“Just kidding.”

“I see.”

“…”

“I thought you didn’t particularly like us, Director, but it seems that’s not the case.”

“I don’t like you guys.”

Honestly, that was genuine.

“Not listening, not having anything in your head. Wondering if guys who’ve been around as long as you even know how to do anything on your own…”

But, it shouldn’t feel 100% genuine.

“…”

“I feel like I want to try parenting now.”

He injected a bit of self-deprecation into his tone.

While he was thinking this rationally, he wanted to show that his emotions weren’t exactly aligned.

‘I can’t let it seem like I genuinely hate them, it goes against everything I’ve set up so far.’

Throughout this, Lee Jaehun had a lot of considerations.

How should I approach them? Should I make the protagonist think of me differently?

Yeah, if he’s the protagonist and we’re supporting characters, and everyone else in the world is just an extra…

If this world were a novel, what role should I play for the readers?

“…You’ve been keeping us safe.”

“I couldn’t just let you die.”

“Is there a reason?”

“Well, there’s not exactly no reason.”

Lee Jaehun laid out his thoughts plainly.

“First, it’s because of conscience. Even though my personality might be a bit twisted, I couldn’t just let people who could be saved die.”

He smoothly mixed self-reproach into his words.

Before regressing, Lee Jaehun had unknowingly reproached himself in the place where Jung Inho left. Of course, it wasn’t really self-reproach but rather an objective perspective from memories of his past life. Even if it was, he truly loved himself, but at least to the others, it would have sounded quite self-deprecating.

Now, showing signs of loving himself would be amusing, so Lee Jaehun mixed self-reproach into his words. It wasn’t something he liked, but if necessary, belittling himself wasn’t a big issue.

“…”

“Secondly, it’s efficiency. How many times have I said it? People need to consider efficiency. If there are too many people being a burden, isn’t it natural for at least one of them to be comfortable?”

“…Director, you didn’t seem particularly comfortable.”

“Someday, I’ll be comfortable.”

“Are there any other reasons?”

“There are many reasons…”

Lee Jaehun sighed along with his words.

He didn’t need to force it out, but perhaps because of memories from his past life, he was actually tired, and the protagonist observed him with pitch-black eyes. It was such an overt stare that it almost seemed like it wasn’t there before.

Lee Jaehun glanced at him for a moment, erasing even the tiniest hint of contempt from his face.

“Jung Inho-ssi.”

A tired voice.

“…”

“What do you want to say?”

At the same time, it was a mechanical tone.

This much is easy.

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