TRPM 30

chapter 30

Yeon Mirae and Lee Haeun were like fish in water at the amusement park.

The two were far more energetic than usual, moving busily as if to make up for all the playtime they had missed.

Since they were normally active anyway, they spent the entire day roaming the park, endlessly riding attractions without rest.

… To think we rode this many rides in just a single day…

Perhaps because society had been unstable lately due to criminal organizations, the amusement park had few visitors, meaning no long waits in line. Even with that advantage, we still managed to ride an impressive number of attractions.

Of course, there were some we couldn’t enjoy.

Like the roller coaster, for example.

“Aw… I really wanted to ride the roller coaster…”
“Be satisfied with the small one.”

Lee Haeun hadn’t met the height requirement for the big roller coaster.

For the same reason, she was unable to ride many attractions with height restrictions.

Haeun is small for her age… there’s no helping it.

Her future self—Serenity—had an average height. Maybe her growth spurt just comes late.

Haeun was disappointed, but there was nothing to be done. Safety regulations exist for a reason.

Although… as long as Mirae and I are next to her, she’s perfectly safe anyway.

But it wasn’t worth making a scene or pressuring the park staff to let her ride. We moved on.

So, while we couldn’t ride every single attraction, we rode most. After having both lunch and dinner at the park, we decided to head home.

Apparently there was also a nighttime parade, but…

“Mm….”
“Sleepy?”
“Yeah…”

Haeun looked exhausted after playing so energetically all day. There was no way she could enjoy the parade like this.

“Let’s head back. Mirae, carry her.”
“Okay.”

At my words, Mirae hoisted up the half-asleep Haeun. She drew out her inner energy, wrapping it around Haeun like a sling to keep her secured on her back.

“You seem better at controlling your qi than yesterday.”
“Yes. I had a small realization. I can’t form sword-gang (Sword Force) yet, but I can at least shape and alter sword-qi now.”

I told her not to rush.

“Once you reach the point of forming Sword Force, enlightenment becomes more important than physical growth or internal energy. But your body and qi must still be strong enough to contain that enlightenment.”

Mirae, being a genius, had insights far ahead of her body’s and qi’s growth.

“So for now, focus on laying the foundation to stabilize those insights. If you do that, reaching the realm of Sword Force won’t be difficult.”
“Yes.”

We talked like this as we left the amusement park and headed toward a nearby bus stop.

It was an off hour, so only one person was waiting there.

“?”

Wrapped tightly from head to toe, that person gave me a strange sense of déjà vu.

… I’ve definitely felt this energy before…

Not in this life. In this life, I hadn’t met many people due to my training, and none of them had this aura.

Which meant it was someone I had met before my regression.

… Pardon me.

I sent a wisp of inner energy toward him, probing for information.

Male. Mid-to-late thirties. An Awakened. From his brain activity, either an Esper or a Spirit Master.

But judging from the unusual toughness of his skin and bones…

An Ironman.

Not perception-based abilities like ESP or psychokinesis like PK, but a physical enhancement ability.

Ironmen were the most common type of ability-user, their skin hardening and bone density increasing—simple, but powerful.

… And because it’s so common, it’s impossible to tell exactly who he is.

If he had crossed paths with my future self, it could’ve been anyone.

In my previous life, there were dozens of Ironmen in their 40s and 50s. Some allies, some enemies, some neutral.

… No idea.

If I couldn’t recall, then he likely hadn’t been deeply connected to my past life. He was probably just a stranger waiting for the bus like us.

I turned away just as our bus pulled up.

Pssshh—

The brakes hissed, the doors opened, and we boarded.

The wrapped man got on as well, quietly taking a seat after scanning the bus interior.

I glanced at him once, then turned to the TV screen inside the bus. The ride home would take a while—might as well watch.

But then—

Pssshh—
“?”

The bus stopped abruptly, far short of the next station. The doors opened, and someone stepped inside to speak with the driver.

Then he turned to address the passengers.

“Apologies. We’ve had reports of a serial killer in the area, so we’re conducting checks.”

An Association officer. With police.

A serial killer, huh…

“Please, everyone take out your IDs. We just need a quick verification and then—”

The officer trailed off mid-sentence, his eyes fixed…

“….”

On the man wrapped in layers of clothing.

Bang!

The man realized he was exposed. He bolted for the back door, smashing through it and vanishing.

“Damn…!”
“Checkpoint 17 reporting! Suspect fleeing! Request immediate backup!”

The Association officer and police gave chase, calling for reinforcements.

The remaining passengers broke into chatter once the three vanished.

“Wait… then that means the serial killer was on our bus?!”
“Ugh… goosebumps…”
“If they hadn’t stopped us for a check just now…”

They were horrified by how close they’d come to danger.

Meanwhile…

“….”
“….”

Mirae and I exchanged uneasy looks.

That man who smashed through the bus doors and fled—

He was strong, wasn’t he?
Yeah. Strong.

Not on our level, but strong enough. He could’ve easily killed the officer and police and escaped at leisure.

So why did he choose to flee instead?

Was he hesitating to kill?

But that didn’t add up. A serial killer who hesitates? That’s illogical.

Best to shelve this question for now.

A strong Ironman… someone my past self once met…

And now, suspected to be a serial killer.

One face came to mind.

A man I’d encountered in my thirties, who had then been in his fifties. He was essentially a hitman for a crime syndicate, later captured during a joint guild operation.

“….”

Comparing his aura with my memory… it was a close match.

Still, I shouldn’t judge him solely by what he did in my past life.

I remembered him as a serial killer back then.

Yet, considering his power, his position in the syndicate had been strangely low. Perhaps there was more to the story.

“….”

I stretched a hand toward the shattered bus door.

From the dimensional artifact bracelet I wore…

Shhk—

A puppet emerged, vanishing into the shadows to pursue him.

Mirae, noticing this, asked quietly:

“Are you planning to catch that serial killer?”
“Depends.”

In my past life, he had been a criminal hitman.

But now? I didn’t know. He might not even be the killer they were after.

So—

“If he’s guilty, I’ll capture him. If not… I’ll investigate further.”

Perhaps this time, instead of letting him sink into crime, I could guide him toward the right path.

That was my thought.

“… This is rough…”

The man who had fled the bus muttered as he caught his breath.

But he had no choice.

He’d been ordered to show himself at the amusement park, board the bus, and then flee during a checkpoint.

And then—

[Even if it’s rough, remember the hostage. Right?]

“…”

A voice spoke in his ear. The voice that gave him orders.

He couldn’t disobey. Not while there was a hostage.

[So keep moving. Maintain just enough distance so the Association and police don’t give up the chase.]
“… I know.”

He replied, and at that moment—

“There he is!”
“Target sighted! Escaping through the back alley!”

“…”

He shut his mouth and ran.

Not at full speed. If he did, they’d lose him.

His role was to lure the pursuers, buying time.

So the other criminals could slip past the checkpoints.

“….”

It wasn’t what he wanted to do. But he had no choice.

As he dutifully led them on, a strange thing happened.

[Next alley, turn—@$%! wha&%!@…!]
“?”

The commanding voice broke into static.

Whoever was giving orders sounded rattled too.

The man was startled, but kept to his task. He couldn’t risk giving them an excuse to endanger the hostage.

[Ahh, so this is what you criminals were up to… messing around like this, huh?]
“… Who… are you?”

The voice in his ear changed.

[Hey, mister. Want some help?]
“What…?”
[Mister, honestly, I don’t know you. I don’t know why you’re following the orders of these criminals, or why they’re bossing you around.]

But one thing I can tell you—

[I have the power to help you. And I’m willing to use it.]

So if you need help, just say it.

[Give me a reason to help you.]

“….”