Not A Regressor - Chapter 108
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Am Not a Regressor Chapter 108
The Elder Sister and the Queen (3)
“Isabella…?”
Kwon O-jin’s pupils trembled.
‘What?’
Why was Isabella here?
‘She should be busy right now vying for a position within the Marco Family.’
On top of that, she was maintaining her public facade as a saint by running dozens of centers.
There was no way she had time to come see me.
“How did you…?”
“Hehe. I missed Kwon O-jin so much that I just had to come.”
“…”
Surely not.
‘Did she really abandon everything and come here?’
Cold sweat trickled down Kwon O-jin’s spine.
“Hmm? You two knew each other before?”
Han Tae-ho looked back and forth between Kwon O-jin and Isabella in surprise.
Isabella offered a gentle smile.
“When I was suffering from assassination attempts, Kwon O-jin protected me.”
“Ah, I’ve heard about that on the news. So that incident really happened…”
Han Tae-ho clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“Attempting to assassinate the Saint of Rome. That country certainly has its share of despicable people.”
The warm deeds of the Saint of Rome were renowned even overseas.
A saint who had saved thousands upon thousands of lives.
To attempt assassination against such a person—they were truly villains deserving of universal condemnation.
“By the way, how did you know about it and end up going to Italy?”
“I didn’t know beforehand. I went there for separate investigative work, and I happened to discover her being pursued by assassins.”
“My. What a remarkable coincidence.”
“No.”
Isabella shook her head.
With a tender smile gracing her lips, she gazed at Kwon O-jin and gently touched her chest.
“I believe meeting Kwon O-jin wasn’t coincidence—it was destiny.”
Her cheeks flushed crimson like apples.
With her hands clasped respectfully before her, she sent a fervent gaze like a lovesick girl.
“Uh, yes.”
Han Tae-ho wore an awkward expression, clearly not expecting such a response.
Though only for a moment.
“Hahaha! To receive such passionate attention from the young lady of the Colgrand Family. You certainly have a way with people.”
He burst into hearty laughter and patted Kwon O-jin’s shoulder repeatedly.
“…”
Unlike Han Tae-ho, who smiled broadly, Kwon O-jin’s expression was far from pleasant.
‘The Saint of Rome.’
A woman with a warm heart who offered shelter to the homeless and a meal to the hungry.
An Awakened User renowned not merely for her beautiful appearance and virtuous nature, but also for her exceptional abilities.
‘I’m not sure how she’s managed to mimic an Awakened User of Gemini, but.’
In the public eye, she was a super rookie who had climbed to a 6-star Awakened User of Gemini in just a year, and she was frequently compared to me.
‘However.’
My eyes narrowed to slits.
“Kwon O-jin?”
Innocent, guileless eyes.
A gentle smile at the corners of her lips and an aura as soft as a spring breeze.
A woman whose very presence made one’s lips naturally curve upward in a smile.
‘It’s all a con.’
I know her true identity.
Only I.
Know it.
‘The Leech Queen.’
The Black Star Society’s third-ranked executive and a monster who tore apart a 9-star Awakened User with a mere gesture.
A blood-hungry witch.
That was Isabella’s true identity.
‘I must never be exposed.’
That I know.
That I’ve glimpsed the face behind the mask of sainthood.
No matter what happens, I must keep it hidden.
“Ah… I apologize. I never expected Isabella to come to South Korea.”
“Did I cause any trouble?”
“Not at all. How could you?”
I shook my head and smiled gently.
“It’s an honor to see you again, Isabella.”
“An honor? Please don’t say such things.”
Isabella stepped forward and took my hand.
“You said it back then, didn’t you? That you’d always be by my side.”
“That was.”
No.
I certainly did say such things.
‘Damn it. If I’d known it would come to this, I never would have said it.’
My eyes twitched slightly.
“Hehe. I haven’t forgotten those words for a single moment since that day.”
“….”
This is driving me insane.
“That’s too much, Kwon O-jin.”
Isabella pouted adorably, her lips jutting out.
“I gave you my contact information, but you didn’t send me a single text or call….”
A pang of guilt.
I offered an awkward smile and averted my gaze from hers.
“My apologies. I’ve been quite occupied since returning.”
It was a weak excuse, admittedly.
But it was true that I’d been busy since coming back to South Korea.
“Hehe. The Association President mentioned it to me. Apparently, you’ve accomplished something remarkable this time.”
Isabella beamed brightly and leaned closer to me.
“You must have been busy saving people, just as you saved me.”
Her eyes sparkled with warmth.
“…It wasn’t I who saved Miss Isabella.”
“Oh, don’t say such things.”
Isabella shook her head and grasped my hand firmly with both of hers.
“You are my savior, after all.”
“….”
“By the way, what was it called? The Black Star Society? They’re truly… dreadful people.”
She scrunched her eyes in distaste, as though the very name left a bitter taste.
From my perspective—knowing her true identity—her reaction was chilling.
“Yes. I never imagined such a terrible organization existed in South Korea.”
I couldn’t pretend otherwise.
I continued the conversation naturally and released a deep sigh.
“…Actually, there are rumors that an organization called the Black Star Society has been active in Italy recently as well.”
Isabella’s expression darkened.
“Even the Colgrand Family has been tracking them, but we can’t seem to catch their trail.”
Of course they couldn’t.
After all, the hunters themselves were the tail they were chasing.
“I see.”
“Anyway! I’m just relieved you’re safe!”
Isabella’s smile bloomed like a flower in full spring, and she attempted to pull my hand toward her ample bosom.
That was when—
“━O-jin?”
Slap!
Ha-eun roughly brushed Isabella’s hand away and wedged herself forcefully between us.
“Who the hell is this?”
“…And you are?”
Isabella and Ha-eun’s gazes locked.
Crackle!
Though neither had invoked the Lyra Constellation stigma, it felt as though blue sparks were dancing in the air between them.
‘This is insane.’
A chill ran down my spine.
I looked at Ha-eun with anxious eyes.
‘No, sister!! That woman isn’t in her right mind!’
I wanted to scream.
Recalling how Isabella had brutally torn apart hundreds of Awakened Users from the Marco Family, I urgently grabbed Ha-eun’s arm and pulled her back.
“Sister, this is Isabella, the girl I mentioned to you before.”
“…For someone you described that way, you two seem quite close?”
Ha-eun narrowed her eyes and looked Isabella up and down.
“Hmm. Are you O-jin’s older sister?”
“No, seriously? Can’t you tell from the hair color?”
She provocatively waved her reddish-brown hair in front of Isabella’s face.
“…Oh my. If you’re not his older sister.”
A sinister crimson gleam flickered momentarily in Isabella’s eyes.
“Could you perhaps be O-jin’s lover… or something like that?”
“Well, you could say something like that.”
Ha-eun puffed out her chest proudly and lifted her chin.
“Sister!”
I urgently pulled Ha-eun toward me again.
Normally, I wouldn’t have cared much if someone said Ha-eun and I were lovers.
‘But not now…!’
Isabella was showing an oddly obsessive attachment to me.
If I introduced Ha-eun as my lover, I had no idea what reckless action she might take.
“What, what is it?”
“Sister and I have grown up together since our days at the Orphanage.”
“Ah! So you’re like childhood friends?”
Isabella clapped her hands and laughed brightly.
“…That’s not quite it.”
Ha-eun pouted her lips in clear displeasure.
But seeing my unusual reaction compared to normal, she seemed to sense something and said nothing more.
‘Phew.’
I let out a breath of relief and nodded.
“Well, that’s right.”
“Hehe. I didn’t have many friends when I was young, so I envy the bond between you two.”
Isabella smiled warmly and looked between Ha-eun and me alternately, as if she truly meant it.
“Ahem.”
Han Tae-ho, who had been standing a step away without joining the conversation, let out a short cough.
“In any case, since you already know Isabella, that works out well. O-jin, could you show Isabella around Seoul for a bit? If there’s anything you need, the Association will provide support.”
Han Tae-ho’s eyes gleamed with anticipation as he looked at me.
The Colgrand Family was a prestigious house famous throughout Italy—or rather, a family with power and influence that ranked among the top in all of Europe.
If the young lady of the Colgrand Family developed a deep friendship with Noe-rang, the Association couldn’t ask for anything more.
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Besides, even if I tried to drive them apart, it didn’t seem like it would work anyway.
‘There’s something I need to verify, after all.’
I needed to confirm whether she really came to South Korea just to meet me.
“Then I’ll entrust Isabella to your care.”
“Thank you so much for looking after me, Association President.”
Isabella bowed respectfully to Han Tae-ho, then scurried over to me.
I left the Association with Isabella and Ha-eun.
“Is there anywhere you’d like to go?”
“Hmm… there is one place.”
Isabella’s eyes sparkled as she continued.
“I’d like to see your home, Kwon O-jin.”
“…Pardon?”
My home?
“Hehe. I want to see how my lifesaver lives.”
“Hmm.”
I scratched my head with an awkward expression.
I never expected that the place she wanted to go would be my home.
“Tch. What’s with the house? If she came from abroad, just dump her at Myeongdong or Namsan Tower, right?”
Ha-eun narrowed her eyes and glared at Isabella fiercely.
“Eek, eek!”
Isabella flinched and hid behind me, away from Ha-eun.
Peek.
She poked her head out slightly from behind my shoulder and spoke in a cautious voice.
“D-did I do something wrong…?”
“Huh?”
“It seems like you’ve been angry with me since earlier.”
“Th-that’s…”
Ha-eun flustered.
Isabella’s eyes glistened as she cried out.
“If I did something wrong, please tell me!”
“Ah, no. It’s just that…”
“If I’ve been rude without realizing it, I’ll apologize!”
Bow.
Isabella bent deeply at the waist.
“Ugh!”
Ha-eun tore at her hair in frustration.
If she had just charged at me to fight, that would be one thing, but with Isabella taking such a submissive stance, there was nothing left to say.
“…Tsk.”
Ha-eun glanced at Isabella once more, then exhaled deeply and turned away.
“Fine, let’s go.”
“…What?”
“You said you wanted to go to Kwon O-jin’s place, didn’t you? Let’s go!”
“Really?!”
A radiant smile bloomed across Isabella’s face.
The tears that had glistened in her eyes moments before vanished without a trace, as though they had never existed.
‘She’s a cunning one, that’s for sure.’
I watched Isabella work her charm on Ha-eun and clicked my tongue in disbelief.
‘She’s definitely not someone to let your guard down around.’
With that thought, I headed toward my apartment.
-Boom. Screech!
The construction in front of my building was still in full swing, the noise echoing loudly.
“Oh! I almost forgot!”
Isabella clapped her hands as if remembering something.
“A gift! I brought you a gift, Kwon O-jin!”
A gift?
“What gift are you talking about?”
“Hehe. I wanted to repay you for saving me before, so I got something really nice.”
I tilted my head and looked at Isabella curiously.
Her hands were empty for someone claiming to have brought a gift.
‘Surely she’s not going to say something ridiculous like “the gift is me” or pull some tired old trick like that.’
I briefly imagined Isabella smiling seductively with a red ribbon wrapped around her body, but I quickly shook my head.
This wasn’t some outdated romantic comedy manga—something so absurd couldn’t possibly happen.
“I hope you’ll really like it, Kwon O-jin.”
“But where is this gift you’re talking about?”
“Huh? It’s right there in front of you. Over there.”
“What?”
What is she talking about?
I furrowed my brow and looked around.
Her hands were clean and empty.
There was no bag or luggage she had brought with her.
The only thing in front of me was━
“…Wait.”
My gaze turned toward the apartment building where construction was still ongoing.
A mixed-use apartment complex with such a luxurious exterior that one might mistake it for a five-star hotel.
“Ehehe.”
Isabella fidgeted bashfully, her fingers twirling nervously.
“I did some research on what Korean men like, and apparently they love houses the most! They save money their whole lives just to buy one place.”
Wait, that’s━
That’s not wrong, though.
“So I prepared a suitable house as a gift!”
“….”
That luxury mixed-use apartment complex was a ‘suitable’ house?
“…How, how many square meters is the house you purchased?”
“Pardon? Square meters?”
“…?”
What?
Do foreign countries calculate differently instead of square meters?
“I purchased the entire apartment complex, you see?”
“What?”
What the hell?
“You, you purchased the entire apartment complex?!”
Not a house of a certain size.
She bought the entire apartment complex?
And she’s giving it to me as a gift?
“Yes. Hehe. It wasn’t that expensive.”
That’s absurd.
A single apartment in the 300 square meter range in central Seoul would easily exceed 1.5 billion won, so I couldn’t even imagine how astronomically expensive it would be to purchase an entire apartment complex outright.
‘This is insane.’
So this was the wealth of the Colgrand Family, which wielded influence among the most prominent powers across all of Europe.
Gulp.
I swallowed hard, my gaze burning as I stared at Isabella.
An irresistible impulse pushed at my back.
“Um… Miss Isabella.”
I stepped forward and grasped her hand firmly.
I brought my face close enough for our noses to nearly touch.
“O, Kwon O-jin…?”
Blush.
Isabella’s cheeks flushed red.
“Would it be too much trouble to ask if you could buy me an ice cream?”
“…Yes?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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