The Way to Save the Crazy Returnees – Chapter 2 – The 365th Regression Begins (1)

Author: CleiZz

“Yoon-hoo, are you sure you’re okay to be discharged?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

I was on my way home from the hospital with my grandfather.

As soon as he heard I’d regained consciousness, he dropped everything and rushed over—probably leaving an important meeting halfway.

Even after hundreds of regressions, Grandpa never changed.

“I’m sorry. I must’ve worried you a lot.”

“Forget it, you rascal. I’m just relieved you woke up safe and sound.”

With his wrinkled hand, Grandpa gently ruffled my hair and asked the familiar question.

“Is there anything you want?”

He always asked the same thing, no matter how many loops I went through.

In the beginning, I always declined. Said I didn’t need anything. But after repeating the regression so many times, I eventually started accepting his kindness.

And this time, I gave him the answer I’d prepared.

“Actually… there is something.”

“Really?” Grandpa looked surprised.

Well, of course he was. The version of me he remembered wasn’t someone who asked for much.

But that memory belonged to me alone.

Despite his curiosity, he looked at me with anticipation.

“What is it? I’ll get you anything.”

Without hesitation, I replied.

“A club.”

“Huh?”

“A nightclub.”

I pulled out a business card and handed it to him.

[T.U : Take Up]

That was the name of the club I wanted.

Grandpa looked puzzled, probably wondering where I’d gotten something like that. I spoke before he could ask.

“While you were handling my discharge paperwork, I asked Chief Choi.”

Chief Choi had been by Grandpa’s side for many years—a trustworthy man. Even more so because his son eventually became one of my people. Not from the start, but after the 100th regression or so, I started relying on his help.

Anyway…

“…A club?”

I could still picture the shocked look on Chief Choi’s face when I first brought it up.

For the record—

“T.U is located in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. I heard it’s one of the cleanest clubs in Gangnam.”

“Hmm.”

Grandpa furrowed his brows. I mean, how clean can a nightclub really be?

Still, I had to get my hands on T.U—no matter what.

Even though he hadn’t asked yet, I started rambling to justify my request.

“I want to experience a few things before joining AMA. After being unconscious for a week, I realized I want to live without regrets.”

Wandering through death? Please. I’d just been lying there with my eyes shut, looking like a corpse.

But Grandpa had been really worried during that time. So, understanding as always, he asked:

“Are you regretting not partying like most kids your age?”

“Grandpa, I’m still young.”

I’m twenty-seven.

Sure, I was an unpaid undead laborer for a thousand years, but here in South Korea, I’m just a young man with a future.

“Anyway, that’s not what I regret.”

“Oh? Then what is it?”

“Business.”

I smiled faintly and continued.

“My goal is to eventually take your place, but before that, I want to start something of my own. Thinking back, I realize I’ve been a bit too comfortable with the status quo. I should’ve taken more chances.”

Utter nonsense.

My real goal is to live a peaceful, effortless life—free from labor.

Everything I just said was just a script to help achieve that.

Luckily, Grandpa seemed to believe it.

“Yoon-hoo, if anything, I thought you’d go into publishing.”

I gave a stiff smile.

Starting a publishing company was my childhood dream. Yes, that’s in the past. But regardless of whether it’s publishing or anything else, my current dream is the peaceful and comfortable life without labor I mentioned earlier.

To make that happen, I had to convince Grandpa completely.

Sure, I could’ve sold my shares in AMA without him knowing and used the money to buy T.U, but getting his support meant everything would go smoothly—no loose ends, no complications.

That’s what I’d learned through countless regressions.

And so, to win him over…

“I’m sorry, Grandpa.”

“Hm?”

“I must’ve been talking nonsense. Maybe I hit my head during those near-death moments last week.”

That should do it.

Of course, I hadn’t actually come close to death. But Grandpa—

“I see… alright.”

—was convinced.

He hated seeing me act like I was throwing away my pride, so he backed down easily.

I felt guilty for lying to him, but it was necessary.

Finally, Grandpa looked down at the business card I’d handed him, his expression serious.

“I’ll make sure you get this club as soon as possible.”

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

T.U.

There was only one reason I wanted that club: the junkie returnee.

That guy always showed up at T.U. It was his regular hangout—and his main source for getting drugs.

Sure, I knew everything about him. His home address. His daily routine. Even his favorite food.

But no matter how many times I tried to confront him at home in past regressions, I always ended up getting stabbed—mistaken for a burglar or some kind of cult member.

Seriously, it was exhausting.

But not this time.

‘Just wait.’

A grin crept across my face.

Grandpa must have noticed, because he asked:

“Yoon-hoo, should we expand it? Renovate the place completely, maybe?”

“No need, Grandpa.”

I had no intention of actually running the club.

***

Exactly two weeks later, T.U. was mine.

It might seem like a long time just to buy a club, but considering all the behind-the-scenes work needed to keep things discreet, that was the bare minimum.

If word got out that the only grandson of Kwak Jin-tae—the head of the world’s largest conglomerate—was running a nightclub, it would definitely stir up trouble.

Still, Grandpa eventually handed Take Up over to me.

I was honestly grateful—and a little guilty.

…But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t also a bit excited.

—I’ll send over the ledger through Chief Choi.

“What about the employees?”

I asked as I absentmindedly toyed with a stun gun.

—I left them as they are. I wanted to fire the whole staff and start fresh, but you told me not to.

“Thanks, Grandpa.”

—Think nothing of it. If anything comes up, or if you run into problems managing the place, let me know. But I’m sure you’ll handle things just fine, Yoon-hoo.

“Got it. Thanks for always looking out for me.”

Grandpa chuckled softly at my words.

—My grandson wants to try running a business. Of course I’m going to support you. Well then, I’ll hang up now.

“Okay. Take care, Grandpa.”

Click. The call ended.

The time was 7:42 PM.

It was about time for the club to start opening.

After checking the time, I left the mansion right away. As usual, a black sedan or SUV was waiting just outside the gate with a driver inside. Today was no different.

Though I wasn’t especially close to the driver, after 365 regressions, I had quietly developed a sense of familiarity with him.

I even knew his full name and background.

His name was Koo Do-ha.

Thirty-seven years old, newly married, and a former special forces police officer.

He had no idea how much I knew about him.

“Where to, sir?”

“T.U., please. I’d like to stop by and take a quick look.”

“Understood.”

Whether Grandpa had briefed him or not, Koo Do-ha didn’t ask any questions. He simply pulled smoothly onto the road. We arrived at the club shortly after. It had just begun accepting guests.

“Please wait nearby.”

“Understood. Call me if you need anything, sir.”

“Will do.”

As you might’ve guessed from his résumé, all our family drivers were more than just chauffeurs—they had near-bodyguard-level combat skills. Drivers in name, but bodyguards in function.

Not that I needed protection.

Hardly anyone knew I was the sole family member of AMA’s CEO, Kwak Jin-tae. And even if something did happen, I could handle it myself.

‘More importantly…’

Based on all the data I’d gathered, the biggest threats to me weren’t ordinary thugs or businessmen.

They were the returnees.

Those damn bastards.

I was silently cursing them when a familiar voice rang out nearby.

“I came in wearing this exact outfit yesterday with no problem! So why the hell won’t you let me in today?!”

At the loud complaint, I turned toward the club entrance.

There was a man standing with bright red hair and a flashy Hawaiian shirt—completely out of season. He looked like a total punk.

And frankly, that’s exactly what he was.

He’s a real thug, involved in all sorts of thug-like activities—except he doesn’t steal money.

I had seen this guy in the previous round, and yet… I couldn’t help but feel weirdly glad to see his face again.

A smile crept onto my lips as I approached them.

“What’s going on here?”

The burly security guard blocking him looked over and asked cautiously,

“And you are…?”

“Kwak Yoon-hoo. I’m managing this club starting today. You didn’t hear?”

“Ah—!”

The guard immediately straightened up and bowed apologetically.

“I’m terribly sorry, sir! I didn’t realize you’d be here tonight.”

“No problem. So, what’s happening here?”

“Nothing major, sir. Just standard operational protocol. We’ll handle it smoothly—you don’t need to worry about anything.”

But the man being denied entry butted in with an aggressive glare.

“And who the hell are you supposed to be?”

The guard tried to stop him, but I held up a hand to signal it was fine. I calmly replied,

“I’m the owner.”

“Owner? Of this place?”

“As of today, yes.”

The man gave me a crooked smirk.

“You look about my age. Must be living large, huh?”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

Still smiling, I turned to the guard.

“Let him in.”

The guard hesitated.

“Sir, the club has a policy. We don’t allow guests to enter if they’re wearing the same outfit two days in a row.”

So that’s why he was being blocked. No matter how many regressions I went through, this guy always showed up at T.U.—but the reason he was refused entry changed every time.

“Then make an exception. Just for tonight.”

“But sir—”

I cut him off with a gentle smile.

“I really appreciate employees who follow the rules.”

I glanced at the name tag on his chest and added,

“Like you, Mr. Kim Chul-man. But…”

I stepped closer and whispered so only he could hear:

“I don’t like repeating myself. And I’d rather not have to fire anyone tonight. What do you say, Mr. Kim?”

It might’ve seemed like an abuse of power, but I couldn’t let this guy mess up our first meeting. Like buttoning the first button on a shirt, first impressions mattered.

The guard looked like he had a lot he wanted to say, but in the end, he just stepped aside with a bitter expression.

“I apologize. I may have overstepped.”

I gave him a kind smile, then turned back to the red-haired man.

“Shall we go in?”

He blinked at me a few times before letting out a dry chuckle.

“Damn. How am I supposed to thank you for this?”

“If you’re really grateful, how about booking a VIP room? Help boost our revenue a little. You look like someone with deep pockets.”

“Whoa, how’d you know I was loaded? You got mind-reading powers or something, boss?”

Yeah, sure. Rich, my ass. And ‘mind-reading’? That’s not even the right phrase for this.

But I swallowed my thoughts and kept smiling pleasantly.

The drug addict returnee and street thug, Seo Do-hwan.

One of the poorest of the returnees.