Chapter 11

I Am Not a Regressor Chapter 11

Registration Review (3)

Zing.

A blue lightning bolt clung to his right arm.

His arm, which had deflected the blade, was not moving properly.

‘This can’t be.’

Team Leader Han Junman’s eyes trembled slightly.

The brand he had just confirmed was clearly two strokes (劃).

How could his arm, which had deflected an attack from a mere 2-star Awakened, be so difficult to move?

‘What is this…’

Before he could fully grasp the situation, a sharp spear thrust aimed at him again.

“Hiss!”

Bang!

He stepped forward with a rough movement, thrusting his shoulder forward.

The blade was violently deflected, exposing the space around his chest.

He swung his gloved fist roughly.

-Smack!

“Cough!”

O Jin’s body, hit squarely in the chest, flew backward like a baseball hit by a bat.

He tumbled pitifully and crashed into the wall of the training hall.

“Cough, cough!”

He couldn’t breathe properly.

It felt more like being hit by a car speeding at full power than by a human fist.

‘What the hell.’

What kind of insane strength is this?

A chill ran down his spine.

“Are, are you okay?”

“…Yes.”

He got up, leaving behind a flustered Team Leader Han Junman.

His legs were trembling, and his arm, which was gripping the spear, was shaking slightly, but—

‘Still.’

He could fight.

He could move.

-Hum!

The brand on his left chest emitted light.

The pressure that had been heavily pressing on his chest slightly decreased.

‘Just a thrust won’t do it.’

A direct attack wouldn’t penetrate those strong arms.

Then.

-Hum!

He lowered his body and swept the spear along the ground.

His target was the ankles.

The blade, with blue lightning attached, swept low across the ground.

“Haa!”

Team Leader Han Junman kicked at the blade aiming for his ankles.

It was a movement like kicking a soccer ball.

‘That’s right.’

O Jin’s lips curled upward.

He thought—Han Junman wouldn’t dodge.

-Bang!

Just before the sweeping blade was kicked, he released his grip on the spear shaft.

The kicked blade spun around.

He caught the flying spear in mid-air,

“Haaaaa!”

and struck it downward toward his shoulder!

-Smack!

“Gasp!”

Team Leader Han Junman curled his body and retreated.

He chased after the retreating figure, gripping the spear.

“Haa, haa!”

A burning sensation.

His head felt hot as if it were burning.

A shiver ran down his spine as his lips curled upward.

‘A little more.’

He wanted to enjoy this burning sensation in his body.

He wanted to feel this thrilling shiver.

-Hum!

The brand burned brightly.

Crackle!

Blue lightning flared up fiercely, just like when he received Vega’s blessing.

[The ‘Lightning (雷電) Lv1’ skill has been upgraded to ‘Lightning (雷電) Lv2’.]

A blue blade appeared before his eyes.

He ignored it.

“Sigh.”

He took a deep breath.

━The strong smell of sweat invaded his nose.

The smell of air, dust, and iron.

His senses sharpened as if he had used the Vega constellation brand.

‘Just a little more.’

He swung the spear.

He thrust the spear.

More persistently, more viciously, more cruelly!

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

“Gasp!”

Team Leader Han Junman crossed his arms to protect his face, blocking the rain of spear thrusts.

‘What is this?’

The growing doubt.

The initial surprise had faded, replaced by a profound shock that shook him to his core.

‘What is this?’

-Clang! Clang!

The fierce blue lightning, the violently swung spear, were not the shocking parts.

More than that.

More than anything.

‘Why—why are you getting stronger and stronger?’

Uncontrollably, unpredictably.

Like a drop of black ink spreading in clear water.

A sticky, ominous feeling enveloped him.

-Hum!

The brand on Team Leader Han Junman’s left chest flared up fiercely.

It was absurd for a 6-star Awakened to use his brand against a 2-star Awakened, but,

“Haaaaa!”

now was not the time to question that.

-Bang!

“Cough!”

His gloved fist, filled with the power of the Taurus constellation brand, swung fiercely.

A wave of force that crushed the air exploded with terrifying momentum.

-Boom! Boom!

O Jin’s body, caught in the explosion, flew like a pebble and rolled on the ground.

“O, O Jin!”

A flustered Team Leader Han Junman rushed to his side.

“Medical team! Bring the medical team quickly!”

As Team Leader Han Junman urgently called out, an Awakened waiting outside the training hall rushed in.

“A, ah….”

“I’ll start with the bleeding!”

The brand on the Awakened’s left chest emitted light.

The bright brand.

The blue light that shot out from his arms flowed into O Jin’s body.

“Haa, haa.”

His rough breathing returned to normal.

“Fortunately, there are no major injuries.”

“…Phew.”

Team Leader Han Junman swept his hand across his chest, breathing a sigh of relief.

“Bring a potion too. The best one.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

The Awakened, who had rushed out, soon returned with a bottle of potion.

It was a potion made by an Aquarius Awakened, infusing finely ground holy stones with water.

“Here you go.”

“Swallow, swallow.”

O Jin took the potion from Team Leader Han Junman and drank it obediently.

The intense pain in his body quickly subsided and returned to normal.

‘Wow, how much does this cost?’

Looking at the empty potion bottle, he felt a sense of regret first.

A potion made by an Aquarius Awakened.

It easily costs over ten million won per bottle.

“I’m sorry!!!!”

Team Leader Han Junman bowed deeply.

“No, it’s fine.”

He shook his head with a smile.

Although he didn’t win, it was satisfying enough to have pushed a 6-star Awakened to the point of using his brand.

“Anyway, is the evaluation complete now?”

“…Of course.”

Team Leader Han Junman nodded with a heavy expression.

The Vega constellation, Vega’s apostle, was an even more absurd existence than he had imagined.

“I shouldn’t be saying this after making such a big mistake….”

He hesitated, then cautiously opened his mouth.

“Can you spare me a moment?”

“A moment?”

“Yes. I have a proposal to make.”

A proposal.

‘Should I listen to it?’

O Jin nodded and got up.

* * *

“Would you like coffee or tea?”

“Aquarius.”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, coffee, please.”

He had been drinking it all the time, so he had spoken without thinking.

Sitting in the chair, he waited for a moment, and Team Leader Han Junman brought two cups of coffee with steam rising from them.

“What did you want to say?”

“First… Is there a guild that Mr. O Jin plans to join?”

“No, there isn’t.”

He shook his head firmly.

He had gone through the registration review, but joining a guild was not his goal.

“Then…?”

“I plan to work as a mercenary.”

“Ah.”

A short exclamation escaped Team Leader Han Junman’s lips.

Mercenary.

Awakened who take on and resolve tasks that are difficult for guild members to handle.

It was a high-risk job due to the lack of affiliation, but if you had the ability, it could be a highly profitable job, making even high-ranking officials of large guilds look insignificant.

‘It’s like the difference between a salaried employee and a freelancer.’

If he received a high evaluation in the registration review and lived up to the name ‘Apostle of the North Star,’ it wouldn’t be difficult to raise his value.

“…Do you have any plans to join the Association?”

Indeed, a recruitment offer.

“I think it would be difficult to affiliate with any organization.”

Being affiliated with a group inevitably restricts your actions.

And he was in a situation where he absolutely couldn’t have his actions restricted.

‘I don’t know what I might have to do to become a regressive.’

He placed the empty coffee cup on the table and stood up.

“Then I….”

“The affiliation will be with the Association, but you don’t need to work as a regular employee. Of course, even if you don’t come to work, you will still receive a salary, though it will be much lower than in large guilds.”

What?

You’ll give me a salary even if I don’t come to work?

“What do you mean by that?”

“It means exactly that. You can keep the name of being affiliated with the Association and work as a mercenary freely. If you’re okay with it, we can also introduce you to suitable commissions.”

It was a tempting offer.

If he accepted commissions through the Association, he wouldn’t have to worry about being cheated out of his payment.

‘It’s a good condition, but…’

Still, he couldn’t easily bite the bait.

“Hmm….”

He furrowed his brow and pretended to be deep in thought.

“Do you have any specific conditions?”

“Two months… no, one month. Can you prevent my information from spreading for that long?”

He didn’t plan to hide his strength.

But he couldn’t rashly use the title ‘Apostle of the North Star’ without any preparation.

‘The title of Apostle of the North Star is undoubtedly powerful, but power comes with responsibility.’

‘I need time.’

He needed time to build the skills and track record worthy of the name of the North Star.

“I understand. We will do our best to prevent the information from spreading through the media or the internet.”

Good.

With that, he could prevent the information from spreading explosively.

‘So, in summary, if I only affiliate with the Association, you’ll prevent my information from spreading and introduce me to good commissions?’

And even give me a salary without requiring me to come to work.

‘Damn.’

A condition that made his balls tremble.

While it seemed one-sided from his perspective, he could understand the Association’s position to some extent.

‘An opportunity to have the Apostle of Vega as an affiliate.’

For an Association that was losing its authority to the pressure of large guilds, this was an unprecedented opportunity.

“…What do you think?”

Swallow.

Team Leader Han Junman swallowed hard and asked.

His expression was tense.

O Jin leaned back on the sofa and crossed his legs.

Although he had already decided to accept the Association’s offer in his heart.

‘I need to maintain a strong presence here.’

If he rushed in like a horny dog, it would be a disaster.

He would end up becoming a dog of the Association.

‘I can’t become a dog.’

He had lived like a dog for the past 8 years.

No.

He had lived like a dog his entire life.

‘Not anymore.’

He wouldn’t live like a dog anymore.

He wouldn’t submit or obey anymore.

‘From today, I am.’

━‘The Master.’

“I see. I need a little more time to think….”

“I will exempt you from all taxes as well.”

“From today, I will be the Association’s dog.”

“Pardon?”

“Grrr! Cough! Bark!”

“No.”