Chapter 55

I am not a Regressor Chapter 55

A Game I Can't Lose (2)

After leaving the sanctuary.

Oh Jin returned home first.

Haeun, who was burning incense on the stairs, got up when she noticed him.

"Really, you came back so soon?"

"I said I'd be back soon, didn't I?"

"You always lie, so how can I believe you?"

Haeun smiled and approached.

"How was Vega?"

"Well, she was similar to you."

A few days ago.

When she woke up after being unconscious for three days, she had hugged him tightly, sobbing.

"Similar? Bullshit!"

Whack.

Haeun's face turned red as she kicked his calf.

"Oof."

"Stop whining. Oh, right. Someone from the Association came by while you were gone. His name was Han Junman... a guy who looks like a gorilla."

The section chief must have come by.

Indeed.

Lately, he has been checking on Oh Jin's condition every day.

"What did he say?"

"What could he say? He said you're still not fully recovered and can't meet him, so he sent him away."

"Okay. Good job, sis."

He was still avoiding contact with the Association by pretending he hadn't fully recovered.

'There were things I needed to do in the meantime.'

If it were known that he had regained consciousness, given his central role in the extermination incident, he would have been flooded with calls.

Currently, only Haeun and Vega know he's fine.

'Oh, and there's Reik too.'

Anyway.

Thanks to this, he was able to take care of things he needed to do in the four days since he regained consciousness.

"What are you going to eat for lunch?"

"Calorie bar."

"No way."

Haeun frowned.

"Ha ha! Just kidding. I have some things to do today, so I'll skip lunch."

"Really? Well... then I'll eat later too."

"Really?"

"I have things to do too."

Haeun said this and headed out the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Secret."

"Since when do we have secrets?"

"Who are you to say that?"

Haeun raised her middle finger.

"Anyway, I'll be back, so stay put at home."

"Okay."

It's not a situation where I can stay put, but...

"Oh, right. Sis."

"Hmm?"

"Don't worry if anything happens to me."

"...What are you planning to do?"

Haeun approached with a stiff expression.

"Ha ha! I have some things to do. I'm just letting you know in advance so you don't worry."

"What kind of things?"

"Secret."

"Damn."

No matter how much Haeun pestered, he didn't tell her the details.

"Ha. Well, it's not something to really worry about, right?"

"Right."

"Then I'll trust you and go."

Haeun looked back a few times, looking anxious, as she walked away.

'If I said this much, she'll figure it out.'

She knows him better than anyone.

No matter what happens, there's nothing to worry about.

"Then... before we start."

He recalled the things he had organized in the past four days.

'First, the thing buried in the center of Sokcho.'

Haeun hadn't figured out the identity of the black mist that shattered the sword.

When he went to check later, it had already disappeared without a trace.

'Was it related to the demon hand hidden under Seoul Station?'

This time, the demon hand didn't appear, but they both had the common point of being hidden under the city.

"...I really don't know."

There wasn't enough evidence to connect them just because they were both hidden under the city, and he couldn't make hasty assumptions without knowing exactly what power was buried.

'But both are definitely related to the power of the Black Star.'

Of course, the 'Black Star' mentioned by the Black Star Society isn't just one.

Just as there are multiple constellations, it's likely that the Black Star's constellations are also multiple.

'Vega also said that the energy felt under Seoul Station was different from the energy felt at the Mokdong Gate.'

Anyway, let's move on.

"Next is..."

Oh Jin opened the skill window.

The three skills he obtained from this extermination operation: Exceed, Transformation, and Hydro-Affinity.

'Exceed... I can't really test it.'

As Vega said, it's a skill that shouldn't be used recklessly.

'Transformation is exactly as I thought.'

Oh Jin looked in the mirror and used Transformation.

Crack, crack!

His body could shrink or grow, his face could be completely changed to look like someone else, and he could even adjust his vocal cords to change his voice.

"This is really insane performance."

The mana consumption was considerable, but it wasn't too burdensome.

This ability has endless uses if used well.

'Especially for me.'

It's not just giving wings to a tiger, but adding a jet engine.

Honestly, getting this Transformation skill might be a bigger achievement than getting the Aquarius constellation.

"Very good."

He smiled brightly, satisfied.

'And the last one.'

Oh Jin's expression slightly distorted.

"...This skill is a bit of a white elephant."

He sighed deeply, thinking about the Hydro-Affinity skill.

'When I read the description, I thought it was some kind of scam skill.'

But when he actually experimented, it was completely different from what he expected.

It's true that it can absorb water to heal wounds, as described.

"The water... it needs way too much."

A deep sigh escaped him.

The amount of water needed to see the effect of the Hydro-Affinity skill was way too much.

'Tens of liters to heal a scratch.'

Hundreds of liters were needed to heal a wound that was bleeding.

'And there's no way to cheat by absorbing moisture from the air or anything like that.'

The range of absorption is quite wide, but it's not practical to carry hundreds of liters of water around.

'This isn't a game where you have an inventory.'

The effect itself is good, but the resources needed to see the effect are too much.

It would be more efficient to carry a high-performance potion than to carry hundreds of liters of water.

"This is only useful in a real battle if you're near a river or the sea."

But it could be useful for quickly healing wounds after a battle.

If you go to a nearby bathhouse and soak in hot water, most wounds should heal.

'But it only heals external injuries.'

From the experiments, it didn't heal internal injuries caused by excessive mana use.

"Che... But it's better than nothing."

It's a good achievement to have another way to quickly heal external injuries besides potions.

"Let's wrap it up here."

Now it's time to deal with the Pandinus Guild issue.

"Well, this shouldn't be difficult."

It's not just easy, but so simple it makes you sigh.

"Ah, ah."

He cleared his throat.

-Ring.

He called Han Junman.

[Oh, Mr. Oh Jin? Have you regained consciousness?!]

An urgent voice came through.

"...Yes. I'm still a bit dazed, but... I'm much better."

[Phew. That's a relief.]

There was a deep sense of relief in his voice, as if he was genuinely worried.

'This is actually quite touching.'

But that's not the important thing right now.

"I looked at some news after I woke up. A lot has happened in the past week."

[...Did you hear about the Pandinus Guild?]

"Yes."

[There are many things I want to ask you about that. Can you come to the Association right away?]

"No. There's something I need to ask you first."

[Ask?]

Oh Jin spoke in a low, serious voice.

"...Prepare a press conference. I have decisive evidence to prove the relationship between the Pandinus Guild and Choi Jongchul."

[What, what did you say?]

A voice of shock came through.

[Mr. Oh Jin. Wait... Is, is that true?]

"Yes. Choi Jongchul was not associated with the Starlight Lake Guild."

[That...]

Han Junman's voice trailed off, shocked.

If what Oh Jin said was true, it would be a huge deal that would completely change public opinion.

[I understand. I'll prepare it right away. Is Yoido okay for the location?]

"Yes. That would be safer and better."

[...Be careful, Mr. Oh Jin. We don't know what will happen once this news spreads.]

Han Junman's voice was stiff and serious.

It was a big issue to know who was backing Choi Jongchul.

"I know. ...In that sense, can you assign some bodyguards for the press conference? My body hasn't fully recovered yet."

[Bodyguards... I understand, Mr. Oh Jin. Trust me.]

Han Junman spoke with confidence.

[There's a really famous person for bodyguarding.]

Oh Jin knew.

He was one of the most famous among the Association's Awakened.

"I understand. I'll trust you and wait for your call."

[I'll call you back within an hour.]

The call ended.

"Then."

It's time for me to prepare a bit.

Not that there's much to prepare.

-Hum!

The constellation mark on Oh Jin's left chest glowed.

Without the usual blue lightning.

Quietly.

* * *

"I am Special Agent Choi Woojin of the Association."

"I've heard a lot about you."

Before entering the press conference room.

Oh Jin greeted Choi Woojin.

A man with a cold demeanor and sharp eyes.

'Choi Woojin, the Hunting Dog.'

A famous Awakened known for pursuing a case to the end once he takes it on.

"It's a bit ridiculous for a Special Agent to guard another Special Agent... but, well, given the situation, let's move on."

Choi Woojin looked at Oh Jin with a cold gaze, clearly not liking him.

Well.

From his perspective, Oh Jin is almost like a parachuted Special Agent.

'He can't see me in a good light.'

It doesn't matter.

He's not the type to neglect his duties just because he doesn't like someone.

"This way."

Oh Jin entered the press conference room under Choi Woojin's protection.

-Click! Click! Click!!!

Flashes from cameras.

"Mr. Oh Jin! A word about the situation at the time!!"

"Is it true that you've only been Awakened for half a year?!"

"Please share your thoughts on being hailed as a national hero due to this incident!!"

Ignoring the barrage of questions, he stepped onto the podium.

Oh Jin scanned the gathered reporters and spoke.

"Hello. I am Special Agent Kwon Oh Jin of the Association."

He bowed slightly.

"I won't be taking personal questions today."

"...What? You're not taking questions?"

The reporters looked confused.

If he's not taking questions, why have a press conference?

"I'm here to tell you a fact that must be known."

In a calm and steady voice.

"When I fought the demonized Choi Jongchul, I discovered a significant fact about him."

He continued in a low voice.

"What is the significant fact?!"

"Choi Jongchul... is not a member of the Starlight Lake Guild, but of the Pandinus Guild."

"Wha—!"

"Is, is that true?!"

The press conference room buzzed with Oh Jin's bombshell.

"Do you have evidence to prove this?!"

Evidence.

Of course.

"Of course I have it... Cough! Cough! Hack!"

Of course he doesn't.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!"

"Blood, blood!!!"

"What, what's happening!!!"

The screams.

"Hack! Hack! Cough! Cough! Hack!!!"

A dark red clot of blood spewed from Oh Jin's mouth.

He collapsed, convulsing and rolling his eyes.

"Damn it!!!"

Choi Woojin rushed over.

Boom!!

A powerful aura exploded.

"What, what the hell is going on?!"

"Surely he's not... dead, is he?"

"Quick, take pictures!"

The reporters, in a state of confusion, snapped photos.

"Mr. Oh Jin!! Are you okay, Mr. Oh Jin!!!"

"Cough... Hack! Hack!"

"Damn it! Emergency team!! Call the emergency team!"

Choi Woojin shouted fiercely and checked Oh Jin's body.

The dark red blood on the floor.

Choi Woojin dipped his finger in the blood and brought it to his tongue, his expression twisting.

"...This."

Spit!

He spat out the blood and spoke in a low, grave voice.

"Poison... He's been poisoned."

He looked around at the other Association members with a stern expression.

"Block the entrance."

His eyes glinted sharply.

"Everyone here is a suspect from now on."

His cold gaze turned to the reporters.