Chapter 23

I am not a Regressor, Chapter 23

Release the Hounds (4)

When I was young.

My older brother was better at everything than me.

Academics, sports, even art and music.

No matter how hard I tried, my brother always made it look easy.

To my young eyes, my brother, who was only three years older, seemed like a superman.

—But.

After the real superhumans, the Awakened, appeared, things changed.

The twelve constellations of the Zodiac.

Unlike me, who was chosen by the Leo constellation, my brother was not chosen by any constellation.

'I can beat my brother.'

The inferiority complex that had built up from my childhood, which I can't even remember, became my driving force.

I worked harder than anyone and honed my strength with great effort.

That's how.

-Haha. Eighth Rank... Eighth Rank, you say? And of Leo, too?

I reached a realm that my brother could never touch.

Without knowing how he felt, how desperate and hopeless he must have been.

-What's wrong with you, brother?

My brother grew thinner day by day.

He didn't eat properly and locked himself in his room, falling into a state of apathy.

-No, it's nothing... nothing.

Though he said it was nothing, I soon realized that the cause was me.

My brother couldn't bear it.

In a world overrun by monsters.

In this brutal world where blood and flesh fly, the fact that he could only be protected by his younger brother.

The self-loathing of being protected by someone he should have protected.

It made my brother sick.

-Brother... please.

I could understand my brother.

After all, it was the inferiority complex towards my brother that had brought me to this level.

But.

Because I understood.

Because I empathized.

I also knew that those feelings wouldn't easily disappear.

-...I'm sorry.

The distance between my brother and me grew wider.

The deep emotional chasm began to rot and stink.

-Uh-hyuk!! I've awakened too!! I have the constellation mark of the Compass!

Then, my brother awakened.

I was genuinely happy.

My heart raced at the thought of returning to the good old days when we got along well.

Of course, with the mark of the Compass, it would be a long shot for him to reach the same level as me, who has the mark of the Zodiac.

But I was happy.

I hoped he would regain some confidence.

—I bought him expensive spears and equipment.

Though I was busy with guild affairs and couldn't spend much time with him, our relationship seemed to improve a bit.

I held onto that hope.

I dreamed of the future.

But,

But,

But.

[Mr. Lee Shin-hyuk is currently in our custody.]

What... are you talking about right now?

[What, nonsense? Hmm. Then I should send you some evidence photos, I guess.]

Ding.

A photo arrived.

A chill ran down my spine.

"...This photo, it's..."

A spear with a faint blue glow emanating from the blade.

The hilt was intricately engraved with the roaring lion symbol of the Valhalla Guild.

-Thump, thump.

My heart beat roughly.

A hot wave rose up my neck and heated my brain.

'This is...'

The spear I had given to Lee Shin-hyuk.

A custom-made, one-of-a-kind spear.

My brother's spear.

"Who are you?"

A feeling like my head was burning white.

A torrent of emotions exploded within me.

"Who the hell are you?!"

I shouted as if wailing.

[My name is... Eugene.]

Eugene, Eugene, Eugene.

I etched that name into my mind.

Of course,

I knew it wasn't his real name.

A kidnapper wouldn't reveal his true identity.

But one thing was certain.

—Lee Shin-hyuk, my brother, is in his hands.

"What do you want?"

[Prepare 30 billion won in cash by the 25th and come to the observatory near the summit of Baegun Mountain.]

30 billion.

So that's why you kidnapped my brother.

'No.'

That can't be it.

30 billion is a lot of money, but it's not enough to kidnap the brother of 'Black Lion' Lee Woo-hyuk, a candidate for the Seventh Rank.

'The target is... not my brother, but me, right?'

That's why they're calling me.

They want me to fall into their carefully laid 'trap'.

[Of course, come alone. If you bring anyone else... you know what will happen, right?]

A clear laugh came through the smartphone.

Crack!

I clenched my teeth and barely suppressed the urge to curse.

"You... if you touch a single hair on my brother's head, I won't let you off."

[Oh my! How scary! Hahaha!]

"..."

Lee Woo-hyuk closed his eyes tightly.

Whoosh!!

The Leo constellation mark on his left chest emitted a blue light.

Savage magical power boiled up.

[Oops! I've talked too much! So, remember what I said? 30 billion by the 25th. To the summit of Baegun Mountain. Hahaha! What time? Let's see, since it's an observatory, how about evening, when we can see the stars?]

"..."

[Then, see you then.]

Click.

The call ended.

-Crash!

The table I gripped shattered.

"Yoo-jin."

Crack! Bang! Crack!

The surging magical power extended outward, shattering all the expensive decorations in the office.

"Yoo-jin, Yoo-jin, Yoo-jin...!"

Burning eyes.

The boiling rage in his mind consumed his reason.

-Knock.

"Guild Master?"

Kim Seon-young cautiously opened the door and entered.

She shuddered at the sight of the devastated office.

"Is something wrong?"

The usual calm and composed Lee Woo-hyuk, who led the guild members, was nowhere to be seen.

He looked like a wounded beast.

Shiver, shiver.

The intense killing aura made Kim Seon-young's legs tremble.

"..."

Lee Woo-hyuk bit his lip, his mouth tightly shut.

-If you bring anyone else... you know what will happen, right?

The kidnapper's voice echoed in his mind.

"It's nothing..."

No, he stopped himself mid-sentence and fell into thought.

He closed his eyes tightly and repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists.

"Guild Master? Are you okay?"

"..."

After a long moment of contemplation,

Lee Woo-hyuk slowly opened his eyes.

"Contact the Association immediately."

"The Association?"

"Yes."

He nodded and continued.

"And."

His narrowed eyes glinted sharply.

"Recall all the guild members from the gate."

He had no intention of falling into the trap as the kidnapper wanted.

"—It's war."

His voice, cold as ice, echoed in the room.

* * *

"Alright."

After ending the call, Oh Jin smirked.

The bait was set.

Now, it was time to wait for the enraged hound to tear into the enemy's throat.

'How will he react?'

It wasn't hard to predict.

"He'll contact the Association first."

The Valhalla Guild and the Association are allies.

Even if not for direct support, he would need to contact them to use their excellent information network.

Given the nature of a small, elite guild, their information network would be limited.

'And then...'

He would naturally learn about the Awakened named 'Eugene'.

'He'll also hear about the Black Star Society.'

He would realize who his true enemy is.

"He might suspect why the kidnapper revealed his name as 'Eugene'."

But it doesn't matter.

He can't afford to hesitate with his brother's life on the line.

A cornered lion will bite even a straw.

'He'll contact me eventually.'

I was the one who provided the Association with information about the Awakened named Eugene.

Whether through the Association or directly from Lee Woo-hyuk, he will contact me.

'He'll probably ask for a general description or appearance.'

If that happens, it's simple.

I'll just describe Eugene as I saw him at the gate.

And.

"We'll meet."

On the evening of the 25th.

Lee Woo-hyuk and Eugene will have their first encounter on Baegun Mountain.

In the worst possible way.

'After that...'

He chuckled.

"The war will begin."

Though I told him to come alone,

He won't come alone.

He's not stupid enough to walk into a trap laid by the enemy without thinking.

He'll gather all the guild members and mobilize as much strength as possible.

He knows that's the smartest way to save his brother.

"Let's clean up a bit, then."

-Crack! Crack!

He sent an electric current through the smartphone he used to call Lee Shin-hyuk, destroying it completely.

'You have to be thorough when destroying evidence.'

Crunch! Crunch!

He threw the smartphone on the floor and stomped on it until it was unrecognizable.

He then scattered the remaining pieces into several drain holes.

Not even a resurrected Jobs would recognize it as a smartphone.

"Then, the spear and...?"

He turned his head slightly and picked up the body of the Black Star Society member he had carried in.

"Hmm... the body type is similar."

There were no noticeable physical characteristics.

"Good, I'll take this too."

This body had a use.

He picked up the body and the spear and turned around.

'I need to go to a weapon shop tomorrow and buy a suitable spear.'

He had planned to order several pieces of equipment soon, but he couldn't afford to wait for custom orders now.

"Well, when will he contact me?"

He smiled deeply and took a step forward.

* * *

—Late evening.

Ring!

"Hmm."

The sound of the smartphone ringing woke him from a light sleep.

He pushed aside the blanket and got up from the narrow floor.

"...Ugh. What is it at this hour?"

Rustle, rustle.

Song Haeun, who had been sleeping soundly in bed, stirred and pulled the blanket over her.

"Go back to sleep."

Click.

He put on his slippers and went outside.

"Hello?"

[Sorry to call you so late, Oh Jin. I have something urgent to tell you.]

The voice of Team Leader Han Jun-man, stiffer than usual.

"What is it?"

[It's hard to explain over the phone...]

"I understand. I'll come to the Association right away."

He hung up, went back inside, and got dressed.

"What... where are you going at this hour?"

Haeun sat up and asked.

"To check if the hound I set loose is hunting well."

"...Huh? What nonsense are you talking about?"

"I'll be back soon."

"What is it?"

Click.

He closed the door and stepped outside.

'Less than a day?'

He smiled.

"I seem to have found a good hound."

He chuckled and headed to the Association.