Chapter 30

I am not a regressed person, Chapter 30

Under World (3)

Before entering Seoul Station, I stopped by a nearby shop to get the equipment I would need in an emergency.

'First, two smoke grenades and two flares.'

I attached the smoke grenades and flares to the belt around my waist.

These smoke grenades and flares were the only things that could be effectively used against the monsters, for whom modern weapons were almost useless.

'Next.'

I put on knife holsters on my left and right thighs and inserted three throwing knives into each.

"Oh, I need to get this too."

I picked up the headlamp from the corner of the display.

It was an essential item for exploring the sewers.

"Lastly…."

My hand trembled pathologically as I reached for the display.

Just looking at the price tag made me feel nauseous, but I had no choice.

'Medium potions, three bottles.'

No matter what, I had to buy these.

"Two smoke grenades and two flares. Six coated throwing knives. One LED headlamp and three medium potions."

I brought them to the counter, and the clerk scanned the barcodes to calculate the total.

"That will be 73,200,000 won."

"Hey, you highway robbers."

The price was so high it made my stomach churn.

Moreover, about 60,000,000 won of the 73,200,000 won was for the potions.

'Damn drug dealers.'

What kind of price is this for a potion that's barely as effective as Madecassol?

'Shit.'

Still, I had no choice.

After all, having them made a big difference.

"Huh? What did you say…."

"Oh, the blades and the sharpness are really good."

-Ding!

Shut up.

"Ha ha! Our store is famous for the quality of our products~"

The clerk, who apparently didn't hear my mutter, smiled brightly and nodded.

"Will you pay by card?"

"I'll pay in cash. Ah! But I only have exactly 60,000,000 won…."

I fumbled with the envelope of cash I had withdrawn in advance, feigning surprise.

The clerk smiled.

"That will be 73,200,000 won."

"But even if I pay in cash…."

"Exactly 73,200,000 won."

"Are you treating regular customers like this? I've been coming to this store for years!!!"

"Our store opened a week ago."

Shit.

"I'll be a regular customer for the next few years, you know."

"…Ha."

The clerk sighed deeply and nodded.

"I'll give it to you for 70,000,000 won."

"65,000,000 won."

"No, I really can't go any lower."

"Let's meet in the middle at 66,000,000 won."

"Why is that the middle?"

After a few more haggles, I finally managed to buy the equipment for 67,000,000 won.

'Damn, I could have haggled more.'

But the time spent here was too precious to waste.

[…You are really ruthless when it comes to money.]

"Save when you can."

For 'Paradise,' I wouldn't hesitate to spend money, but for such trivial equipment, the more I save, the better.

[Hmm. If I had known money was so important to you, I would have tried to get it somehow… I'm sorry I couldn't help.]

"Ha ha. I've already received enough."

It wasn't just empty words; after becoming her apostle, I had earned a fortune.

[Still….]

Bega frowned, clearly disappointed.

'This lady's love for her apostle is immense.'

Ojin smiled and turned around.

"Let's go."

With his preparations complete, Ojin followed the sewer map provided by the association and headed underground at Seoul Station.

[By the way, can you really handle the flesh monster under Seoul Station?]

Bega asked worriedly.

The image of the flesh monster from Lee Shinhyuk's memories naturally came to mind.

The body was over 20 meters long, with eight destructive arms, and it had controlled hundreds of monsters to destroy the entire Seoul Station.

'Well, if I fight that monster now, I'll definitely die.'

But.

"The monster is currently sealed."

[Sealed?]

Even if the monster is extremely threatening, being sealed changes things.

Sealed means it's bound somewhere, unable to resist. How powerful could it be then?

'It's just a big punching bag.'

Ojin once again organized Lee Shinhyuk's memories in his mind.

'Lee Shinhyuk said that if he had known it was sealed beforehand, he could have prevented it.'

If that's the case, there's no reason I can't do it.

Even with only fragmented information, I'm far stronger than Lee Shinhyuk was during the first cycle.

[Oh, I see. You were planning to deal with the sealed monster before it could break free!]

Bega nodded, acknowledging that regressors have a different approach.

"Anyway, let's find the monster."

[Do you not know the exact location?]

"During the first cycle, the seal was broken, and the entire area collapsed."

[Indeed. That would make it difficult to know.]

"Still, I'm sure it's somewhere under this Seoul Station."

If I search hard enough, I might at least find a clue.

"Then."

Creak.

He opened the manhole cover and entered the sewer.

"Ugh."

As soon as he entered the sewer, a foul odor assaulted his nose.

[Truly an unpleasant smell.]

Bega also frowned and covered her nose.

"If it's too difficult, you can stay outside."

[No. The original might be able to help. The restrictions aren't that severe yet, so I'll stay with you.]

That works for me.

"Let's go down first."

[I understand.]

He followed the complex maze of sewers.

He wanted to use the Hunter's Constellation to track, but he couldn't bring himself to use it in this overwhelming stench.

'If I can't find it, I'll use it then.'

Let's go further down.

-Splash, splash.

The sensation of touching the filth with his shoes was extremely unpleasant.

'I should have bought boots.'

He hadn't thought of that.

He followed the light of the headlamp down the sewer.

When he was almost at the lowest level,

[My child. I sense something ominous from that direction.]

"Hmm?"

Bega raised her hand to point.

He checked the map.

'There's no path in that direction?'

According to the map, it was a dead end.

"Let's go check."

Still, if Bega sensed something ominous, he had to investigate.

"But is it the same kind of aura you felt in the cave before?"

[Not exactly the same, but similar.]

Bega nodded.

She crossed her arms and continued.

[The aura I felt in the cave was a sticky, unpleasant sensation, but this one feels like a sharp, piercing unpleasantness.]

"Got it."

Both were unpleasant auras.

'…Then.'

Perhaps the power of the Black Star was involved this time as well.

'The holy stone embedded in the flesh monster's head was black, after all.'

The recent frequent discovery of the rare variant holy stones might also be related to the power of the Black Star.

"Let's go and check."

He drew his spear and took a step forward.

When he reached the dead end,

-Gurgle.

"This is…."

Instead of a wall, a passage made of dark red flesh was visible.

Ojin's lips curled into a smile.

'Bingo.'

It seemed he had found the right place.

At that moment,

-Creak, creak.

Two dark red lizards emerged from the flesh passage, making low growls.

Though called lizards, they had only the head of a lizard; their bodies were similar to humans.

'Reptilians.'

A rare 3-star monster that occasionally appeared at the gate.

'…Are these variants too?'

Compared to the usual green Reptilians, these had blood-red skin.

"Krrrrrrrrrr!!!"

Before he could finish his thoughts, the two Reptilians let out a roar and flicked their long tongues.

Whoosh!

Spikes of white bone protruded from the backs of the Reptilians' hands.

"Well, they're perfect for a light warm-up."

Ojin smiled and gripped his silver spear.

The debut of his new weapon.

The anticipation made his heart race.

"GuRuuuuuu!!"

With a strange roar, the two Reptilians ran up the wall.

Their speed was definitely faster than something like an Ant Horn.

'But.'

It wasn't enough to threaten him, who had grown so rapidly that even the Northern Star constellation was amazed.

-Whoosh!!

A silver trajectory aimed for the Reptilian's neck.

Hop!

The Reptilian running up the wall jumped, extending its bone spike forward.

-Clang!!

"Krrrraaaaaaa!!"

While blocking the silver spear with its bone spike, the Reptilian tried to strike Ojin with its long tail.

"It won't work."

Crack!!!!

"Kaaaaaaa!!!!!"

Blue lightning wrapped around the spear, burning the Reptilian through the bone spike.

With a terrifying scream, one Reptilian was thrown back.

"Karu…!"

The other Reptilian, which had been charging, stopped.

Its yellow eyes darted around as it slowly retreated.

"Well, are you already scared?"

"Karaaaa."

As Ojin approached with a smile, the Reptilian turned and fled through the flesh passage.

[Are you not going to follow?]

"There's no reason to."

[Hmm?]

Bega tilted her head, looking at him.

"Just wait a bit."

Reptilians are monsters that live in groups.

They are somewhat organized and have a decent level of intelligence.

The two at the entrance were probably guards.

'In that case.'

The obvious action after one of them died and the other fled without looking back was clear.

"A perfect setup for a trap."

[Trap?]

"Well, more like a gang fight."

Ojin chuckled and aimed his wire shooter at the wall.

-Twang! Twang! Twang!

Three shots from the left and three from the right.

Six wires were set.

[Indeed. That's what you meant.]

Bega smiled, understanding what Ojin was planning.

After waiting for about three minutes,

-Thud! Thud! Thud!!!

"KAraaaaaaaaa!!!"

"GruAaaaaaa!!"

With terrifying roars, the passage shook.

Dozens of Reptilians ran up the walls from the end of the passage.

"Well, even if they have some intelligence, they're still monsters."

Ojin smiled as he watched the charging Reptilians.

He crossed his arms in an X and infused them with the power of the constellation.

-Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss