Chapter 17: Lost Memories and Secrets
As they walked, Joon Woo's expression turned thoughtful, and he slowed his pace. Sijun matched his stride, curious about what was going through his mind.
"Hey, Sijun?" Joon Woo said, his voice low. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course," Sijun replied, his eyes locked on Joon Woo's.
Joon Woo hesitated, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Do you think...do you think it's possible to go back to who I used to be?"
Sijun's guide system alerted him:
_Guide System Alert_
- Joon Woo's humanity: 45/100 (increased)
- Relationship with Joon Woo: Trusted Ally
- Reminder: Encourage Joon Woo to open up about his past.
Sijun's current status:
- Health: 100/100
- Hunger: 50/100
- Thirst: 75/100
- Energy: 80/100
- Guide System: Active
Joon Woo's status window updated:
- Name: Joon Woo
- Level: 87 (Regressor)
- HP: 1000/1000
- MP: 500/500
- Skills: Combat Mastery, Strategic Thinking, Regressor's Instinct
- Humanity: 45/100
Sijun nodded, trying to appear nonchalant. "I think it's possible, Joon Woo. But it's not going to be easy. You've been through a lot, and it's going to take time to heal."
Joon Woo's expression turned introspective, and he began to walk again. "I remember...I remember being happy, once. I remember laughing, and loving, and living. But it's all so fuzzy now. I don't know if I can ever go back to that."
Sijun's heart went out to him. He knew that Joon Woo's regression had erased his memories, leaving him with only fragments of his past. But he also knew that Joon Woo's humanity was still there, buried deep beneath the surface.
"Tell me about it," Sijun said, his voice gentle. "Tell me about who you used to be."
Joon Woo's eyes clouded over, and he looked away. "I don't know if I can," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sijun placed a hand on Joon Woo's shoulder, trying to offer comfort. "You can trust me, Joon Woo. I'm here for you."
Joon Woo's expression softened, and he took a deep breath. "Okay," he said, his voice shaking. "I'll try."
As they walked, Joon Woo began to open up about his past, sharing memories and emotions that he thought were long lost. Sijun listened intently, his guide system alerting him to the subtle changes in Joon Woo's behavior.
_Guide System Alert_
- Joon Woo's humanity: 50/100 (increased)
- Relationship with Joon Woo: Trusted Ally
- Reminder: Continue to encourage Joon Woo to open up about his past.
Sijun's current status:
- Health: 100/100
- Hunger: 50/100
- Thirst: 75/100
- Energy: 80/100
- Guide System: Active
Joon Woo's status window updated:
- Name: Joon Woo
- Level: 87 (Regressor)
- HP: 1000/1000
- MP: 500/500
- Skills: Combat Mastery, Strategic Thinking, Regressor's Instinct
- Humanity: 50/100
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the ruined landscape, Joon Woo's expression turned peaceful. For the first time in a long time, he looked like he was at peace.
"Thanks, Sijun," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thanks for listening."
Sijun smiled, feeling a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could help Joon Woo regain his humanity and prevent the destruction of the world.
As they walked back to their makeshift camp, Rachel greeted them with a warm smile. "Hey, guys! How was your day?"
Sijun nodded, trying to appear nonchalant. "It was good. We had a good talk."
Rachel's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Oh? What about?"
Sijun hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But Joon Woo spoke up, his voice firm, " we're trying to figure out the best way to move forward."
Sijun added , "So we discussed some strategies for rebuilding," he said, trying to keep the conversation light.
Rachel nodded, seeming to accept the explanation. "That sounds great. I've been thinking about that too. Maybe we can discuss it over dinner?"
As they sat down to eat, Sijun caught Joon Woo's eye, trying to convey a message without alerting Rachel. Joon Woo's expression remained neutral, but Sijun sensed a hint of understanding.
Sijun's guide system alerted him:
_Guide System Alert_
- Joon Woo's humanity: 55/100 (increased)
- Relationship with Joon Woo: Trusted Ally
- Reminder: Continue to subtly guide Joon Woo towards regaining his humanity.
Sijun's current status:
- Health: 100/100
- Hunger: 25/100
- Thirst: 50/100
- Energy: 80/100
- Guide System: Active
Joon Woo's status window updated:
- Name: Joon Woo
- Level: 87 (Regressor)
- HP: 1000/1000
- MP: 500/500
- Skills: Combat Mastery, Strategic Thinking, Regressor's Instinct
- Humanity: 55/100
Rachel's status window remained unchanged:
- Name: Rachel Kim
- Level: 50
- HP: 500/500
- MP: 200/200
- Skills: Leadership, Tactics, Resource Management
As they ate, Sijun tried to keep the conversation light, avoiding any topics that might reveal Joon Woo's true nature. But he couldn't help feeling a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he could help Joon Woo regain his humanity and prevent the destruction of the world.
As the night wore on, Joon Woo excused himself, saying he needed to take a walk. Sijun nodded, understanding.
"I'll join you," he said, standing up.
Rachel looked up, concerned. "Be careful, guys. It's not safe out there."
Sijun nodded, smiling. "We'll be fine. We just need some fresh air."
As they walked away from the camp, Joon Woo turned to Sijun, his expression serious. "Thanks for listening earlier," he said, his voice low. "I feel like I can finally start to heal."
Sijun's guide system alerted him:
_Guide System Alert_
- Joon Woo's humanity: 60/100 (increased)
- Relationship with Joon Woo: Trusted Ally
- Reminder: Continue to support Joon Woo's growth and development.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Mitch_A_Grave
Mitch_A_Grave Last one for today, so I decided to make it longer that the others.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone