Not A Regressor - Chapter 111

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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 111
Hunting the Owls (2)
“This is….”
A single silver gauntlet resting inside the case.
Not some absurdly oversized gauntlet from a hero movie, but a gauntlet with a rather refined and elegant design.
“Try putting it on.”
“Yes.”
Kwon O-jin hesitated for a moment, wondering where to equip a single gauntlet, before slipping it onto his left arm.
—Click.
‘Oh.’
The moment he put it on his left arm, the size automatically adjusted to fit him perfectly.
‘This is way more comfortable than I expected.’
The fit was so comfortable that, exaggerating slightly, it felt like he wasn’t wearing anything at all.
It felt less like wearing a metal gauntlet and more like wearing one made of soft padding.
“Si-hu was watching some hero movie that was popular back then and got so excited that he made this.”
Han Manager chuckled softly as he added the explanation.
‘So he really did make it after watching a movie.’
That was so typical of Kim Si-hu.
“But why is there only one?”
“He insisted that wearing only one gauntlet looks cooler and refused to listen to reason.”
“….”
This style-obsessed little brat.
“Well, it seems he concentrated all the materials and craftsmanship into just this one piece.”
“What’s its effect?”
Kwon O-jin tilted his head curiously and tapped the gauntlet on his left arm a few times.
It was obvious at a glance that it possessed tremendous durability, but I couldn’t tell what other functions it might have.
“Hmm… Could you help me for a moment, Lee Woo-hyuk?”
“What would you like me to do?”
Lee Woo-hyuk nodded and rose from his seat.
“Please swing your sword at this gauntlet. Of course, channel as much mana as you can into it.”
“…Are you serious?”
Lee Woo-hyuk looked at Han Manager with a surprised expression.
He was a master on the verge of reaching 9-star rank.
If he unleashed his full power with mana, he could tear through a five-meter-thick iron plate like tissue paper.
“Yes. Kwon O-jin, try blocking Lee Woo-hyuk’s attack with the gauntlet.”
“Understood.”
Seeing Han Manager, who was usually quite cautious, speak with such confidence suggested the gauntlet’s durability was considerable.
Kwon O-jin rose and took a stance opposite Lee Woo-hyuk.
“Are you absolutely certain about this?”
“Well, since you’re saying it so confidently, let’s give it a try.”
“But….”
Lee Woo-hyuk regarded Kwon O-jin with conflicted eyes.
Kwon O-jin was the benefactor who had captured the enemy of his brother—someone he’d nearly foolishly overlooked.
He hesitated, worried that he might inflict a grave wound upon this invaluable savior.
“Haha. You needn’t worry!”
Thump!
Han Manager struck his sturdy chest with confidence and declared boldly.
“…Very well then.”
Lee Woo-hyuk nodded and drew his sword from his waist.
Whoooosh!!!
A violent gust of wind swept through the office.
The swirling tempest condensed upon the blade,
-Shwaaaack!
and was unleashed toward Kwon O-jin with terrifying momentum.
“Tch!”
Kwon O-jin felt the intense mana prickling his skin as he raised his left arm to meet the incoming gust.
-Shuuuuck!
“What…?”
With a sound like air escaping a balloon, the wind was sucked into the gauntlet.
The silver gauntlet glowed red-hot as if it might melt at any moment.
‘This is…’
Kwon O-jin’s eyes gleamed as he felt the dense mana flowing from the gauntlet.
Uuuuung!
The red-hot gauntlet vibrated fiercely as though about to explode.
“Ugh!”
Kwon O-jin reflexively thrust his left arm forward.
“Wait… p-please wait, Kwon O-jin!”
Han Manager tried urgently to stop him.
-Shwaaaack!!
But before he could, an intense gust erupted from the gauntlet and was unleashed toward Lee Woo-hyuk.
“…!”
Lee Woo-hyuk deflected the incoming gust with extraordinary reflexes.
Craaaaaash!
One wall of the office shattered and collapsed.
“Phew. Fortunately, no harm done. My apologies—I didn’t anticipate it would fire so immediately.”
“What is this…?”
“It’s a sacred relic that can absorb mana-infused attacks, store them, and then release them.”
“Heh.”
A hollow laugh escaped Kwon O-jin’s lips.
‘This is completely broken, isn’t it?’
To think that even Black Lion Lee Woo-hyuk’s all-out attack could be absorbed.
The gauntlet that Kim Si-hu created possessed performance so absurdly broken that it far exceeded my imagination.
“Haha. Didn’t I tell you? That kid Si-hu may be eccentric in personality, but his skills are second to none wherever he goes.”
“Even so, I never expected it to be this effective….”
“Of course, there are limits to the mana it can store. If mana exceeding the absorption capacity floods in all at once, it can cause damage.”
“Even accounting for that, it’s incredible.”
I hadn’t harbored expectations of unlimited absorption capacity from the start.
‘If it can block Lee Woo-hyuk’s attack, then the absorption capacity is quite respectable.’
Had a few more attacks followed in succession, I likely wouldn’t have withstood them, but in a battle where victory hinges on the finest margins, being able to neutralize an opponent’s attack even once was extraordinary.
‘And it’s not merely neutralizing either.’
I gazed at the shattered office wall and let a smile spread across my face.
It was a sacred relic boasting flawless performance for both defense and offense.
“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”
“Haha. Aren’t you the ace of our Association? This much reward is nothing at all.”
Han Tae-ho deliberately emphasized the two words “Association” and chuckled.
“Hmm… this puts me in a difficult position.”
Lee Woo-hyuk gazed at the gauntlet adorning my arm and exhaled a short sigh.
“A difficult position?”
“I also prepared something to give you today, Kwon O-jin.”
“Ah.”
Was it the sacred stone he’d requested before?
‘I don’t really need that anymore.’
Having unexpectedly cleared the Quest, I no longer needed high-grade sacred stones.
“Hmm. It’s nothing compared to that gauntlet, but…”
Lee Woo-hyuk produced a rectangular box.
Inside were three sacred stones the size of a fist.
‘Insane.’
My eyes widened as I examined the sacred stones.
“They are 8-star grade sacred stones of the highest quality.”
“Huh….”
8-star grade sacred stones were quite rare items.
Especially if they were of the highest quality.
‘Just because a monster is 8-star grade doesn’t mean it always drops 8-star grade sacred stones.’
While difficult to find domestically, 8-star grade monsters themselves weren’t particularly rare.
The problem was that most 8-star grade monsters possessed lower-quality sacred stones.
Because of this, even when hunting 8-star grade monsters, actual 8-star grade sacred stones dropped rarely.
‘And not just one, but three of them.’
I had requested high-quality sacred stones, but I never expected him to prepare something of this caliber.
“Thank you. I never imagined you’d prepare something this valuable.”
“While you’re not officially a member of our Guild, you’re essentially a comrade with the same objectives, aren’t you?”
“Of course.”
Though strictly speaking, it was more like the relationship between a trainer and a hunting dog.
If they saw it that way, I couldn’t ask for anything better.
‘But where should I use this?’
It would be such a waste to just absorb it.
It wasn’t as if I was lacking in magical power.
‘Now that I think about it, didn’t the Awakened Users of Aquarius say they could create elixirs using high-grade holy stones?’
The creation itself wasn’t particularly difficult, or so I’d heard.
The hard part was obtaining the high-grade holy stones.
‘Then…’
My eyes sparkled.
Ha-eun’s current shortage of magical power.
I felt like I could solve that to some degree.
‘If I make an elixir for my sister, that would be perfect.’
Imagining Ha-eun bouncing around with joy, a thick smile already spread across my face.
“Then shall we get down to business?”
The reward time was over—it was time to achieve the purpose we’d gathered here for.
“First, let me explain the general situation.”
Han Manager brought out a projector and started the presentation.
“Since the Black Star Society’s atrocities were made public, various guilds have been issuing statements vowing to eradicate the Black Star Society.”
Where the laser pointer indicated, the names of large and mid-sized guilds that had issued statements were densely packed.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that all of South Korea is moving to wipe out the Black Star Society.”
Well, that made sense.
They were an organization that had committed terrorism against civilians in the heart of Seoul.
They had no choice but to issue a statement, if only for appearances’ sake.
“Among them, what’s particularly noteworthy is the fact that even the Cheonhye Guild has moved.”
“…The Cheonhye Guild?”
The Cheonhye Guild.
Led by Cheon Sang-gil, one of the Seven Stars, it was called the strongest guild in South Korea in both name and reality.
‘They’re famous for not getting involved in anything that doesn’t happen in Paradise.’
Ganghwa Special Autonomous Zone.
The place commonly known as Paradise, where they reigned like kings.
Though even calling them kings didn’t mean they ruled through tyranny and oppression like medieval monarchs.
‘It’s just that the state’s authority doesn’t reach that place at all, so we describe them as reigning like kings.’
At least within Paradise, they were the law and justice.
Perhaps because of that.
The Cheonhye Guild rarely involved itself in matters that occurred outside Paradise.
‘So even the Cheonhye Guild has moved.’
Did that mean this incident was that significant?
‘…I need to think about this carefully.’
I couldn’t be certain whether they had moved purely to eliminate the Black Star Society.
After all, it was a guild shrouded in secrecy and closed off from the outside world.
“The problem is… even with so many guilds rising up against them, the Black Star Society’s trail remains elusive.”
Han Manager continued, his expression hardening.
“Some branches were exposed based on information Kwon O-jin provided earlier, but the location of their main headquarters remains a complete mystery.”
“You couldn’t extract any information from the Black Star Society members you captured before?”
Lee Woo-hyuk asked, furrowing his brow.
“We interrogated them as harshly as possible, but… whether they’re under some kind of curse or not, they absolutely refuse to talk. Some of them even had seizures during interrogation.”
As Han Manager said, few organizations could match the Black Star Society’s ability to thoroughly conceal information.
“I heard there’s a Black Star Society in Italy as well—could it be that their main headquarters doesn’t actually exist?”
“No.”
Han Manager shook his head.
“The Black Star Society in Italy and the one in South Korea are different factions entirely. Their movements are far too different to suggest either faction is taking orders from the same source. Honestly, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they’re completely separate organizations that just happen to share the same name.”
That was accurate.
“And… while we don’t know the location of their headquarters, we have obtained information about their approximate scale.”
“How large?”
“…According to our estimates, there are at least 3,000 or more Black Star Society members at their headquarters.”
“…!”
Lee Woo-hyuk’s eyes widened significantly.
Large-scale guilds typically had an average membership of roughly 200 to 300 members.
Mid-sized guilds usually had at most around 50 members, so 3,000 or more was staggering.
In terms of scale alone, it was more than ten times larger than a major guild—an absolutely enormous number.
“If we include the branches we haven’t discovered yet, the total would be far greater.”
“…Where could they possibly be recruiting such numbers?”
Even if they could awaken non-awakened individuals, secretly converting thousands of people into Black Star Society members was no simple feat.
“We have some theories about that.”
Han Manager advanced the presentation as he continued speaking.
The screen displayed the image of a massive prison facility.
“Do you remember the incident from three years ago? The Cheolwon Prison mass disappearance case.”
“I’ve heard of it.”
It was a fairly famous incident from three years ago.
‘It was the case where thousands of vicious criminals vanished without a trace.’
Following the Gate crisis, crime rates skyrocketed globally, and the number of criminals soared exponentially.
Cheolwon Prison was a facility that housed only the most heinous criminals—those convicted of murder, robbery, human trafficking, and similar atrocities.
“Among the Owls we captured this time, a significant number were criminals who went missing during that incident.”
“So the Black Star Society was behind that mass disappearance case.”
“Yes. That’s our current assessment.”
If that were true, then the Black Star Society was primarily composed of those criminals who had vanished back then.
‘That makes sense.’
Looking at what they’d done so far, much of it would be difficult for a normal person to commit.
‘So Jang Seok-ho was a special case.’
It would be more accurate to say that not many people were forcibly following the Black Star Society.
“Then the Black Star Society began expanding its influence in earnest in South Korea two years ago?”
“That’s correct.”
Good.
Now the outline was becoming clear.
‘The Owls’ stigma left records immediately after the Gate incident occurred, but afterward vanished without a trace.’
And according to Jang Seok-ho’s account, the Black Star Society had been hiding in the Demon Realm.
‘In other words.’
Nine years ago when the Gate incident occurred, the Black Star Society crossed over into the Demon Realm—the world of monsters—and spent six years there building their strength in hiding.
‘And three years ago, they began emerging and expanding their influence.’
I was gradually piecing together the identity of the Black Star Society.
‘Well, their identity matters less than something else.’
I turned my head toward Han Tae-ho.
“You mentioned the interrogation of the captured Owls has made almost no progress, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Would it be alright if I attempted to interrogate them myself?”
“You personally?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Since you’re a Special Investigator, you certainly have the authority to interrogate captured criminals… but given the restrictions in place, it will be difficult to obtain significant results.”
“It’s worth a try anyway.”
I rose from my seat with a light shrug of my shoulders.
‘Difficult to obtain significant results, he says?’
We’ll see.
‘Will it really be so difficult?’
My eyes gleamed with an eerie light.

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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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