Not A Regressor - Chapter 222

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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 222
Interlude – Reunion (4)
“Haaaaaah.”
Kwon O-jin stretched languidly from atop Poppy’s back, releasing a yawn that seemed to go on forever.
“We’re almost there, aren’t we?”
Kwon O-jin grasped Poppy’s mane and pulled himself upright.
The landscape of the Demon Realm came into view.
A densely overgrown Forest.
The interior of the Forest, which should have been pitch-dark without sunlight, was illuminated by luminescent insects that drifted about like fireflies, casting their ethereal glow across the canopy.
If anything, the dreamlike atmosphere made the scenery quite beautiful to behold.
‘The Demon Realm isn’t as desolate as I imagined it would be.’
The interior of the Demon Realm that I’d observed over several days riding atop Poppy was far different from what I’d envisioned.
I’d originally imagined an endless wasteland like the nine hells of damnation, filled only with blood and slaughter.
“…There are actually villages and cities of sorts.”
Though I hadn’t ventured close enough to properly explore them, only observed from a distance.
Surprisingly, the interior of the Demon Realm contained villages and cities organized to a degree worthy of being called ‘civilization.’
‘Now that I think about it, they mentioned there are beings called kings.’
The existence of kings meant that hierarchy and society existed among the demonic beasts.
‘I haven’t encountered many demonic beasts with that level of intelligence.’
Most of the demonic beasts I’d encountered so far were little more than animals driven by primal instinct.
I hadn’t imagined that such creatures could build villages and cities, serve kings, and establish nations.
“Then again… it’s not as though intelligent monsters don’t exist at all.”
Named monsters—those called by that designation, bearing unique names rather than being identified by species alone—typically possessed intelligence equal to or exceeding that of humans.
Though their activity had diminished recently, before the Black Star Society emerged, the greatest threat to humanity had been the Named monsters that led vast hordes of beasts.
“…Named monsters.”
A hint of killing intent crept into Kwon O-jin’s voice.
Cheon Joo-ryong Barbatos.
The monster that had taken Ha-eun’s eyes was also one of the Named.
“Grrrrr?”
Poppy turned her head to look back at Kwon O-jin, sensing the bloodlust.
Kwon O-jin smiled as though he hadn’t just released that killing intent, gently stroking Poppy’s mane.
“Is that it over there?”
While stroking Poppy’s mane and traversing the Forest, I spotted something in the distance.
A massive black Dimensional Rift loomed ahead.
A Rift of staggering proportions, spanning fifty kilometers in diameter.
‘So this is where it connects to the First Rift.’
The Rift was so enormous that it appeared less like a rift and more like a vast black curtain stretched across the landscape.
“Time to head home.”
Kwon O-jin sprawled across Poppy’s back and tore open a bag of potato chips that Cassia had given him.
I’d initially thought I’d need to endure a grueling survival ordeal before escaping the Demon Realm, but thanks to Cassia, the journey had been as comfortable as traveling in business class.
“…I wish I could see them soon.”
Ha-eun, Isabella, Vega, and Riak.
Only after being left alone did I truly realize how significant they had become to me.
“Grrrowl!”
Did Poppy hear my murmur?
The creature let out a low growl and quickened her pace even further.
My body jolted up and down with each thunderous step, but my superhuman sense of balance kept me steady.
Whoooosh!
As I crossed the black Dimensional Rift and returned to Earth, what greeted my eyes was.
“Shrieeeek!”
“Grrrowl!”
Allen and Isabella, along with the sisters Xiaolin and Xiaoran, locked in combat with thousands upon thousands of demonic beasts.
And.
“O-O-jin! O-jin… huh?”
Ha-eun, who had been urgently calling out to me, suddenly froze mid-word.
“…Huh?”
My expression hardened as I lay sprawled across Poppy’s back, munching on potato chips.
‘What the hell is this?’
I had no time to leisurely assess the situation.
The moment the thought ‘This is bad’ flashed through my mind, my body reacted on instinct.
“Ugh! Cough!”
I clutched my chest and immediately rolled off Poppy’s back.
I created wounds through transformation and triggered lightning within, rupturing my internal organs.
“Hack!”
Dark crimson blood spilled from my mouth.
“O-O-jin?!”
Catching the scent of my blood, Isabella, who had been fighting demonic beasts on my right, urgently turned her gaze toward me.
“W-what are you all doing here…?”
I lifted my head with an expression of disbelief.
I cried out urgently toward Isabella as she rushed toward me.
“No, stop!”
Crawling frantically across the ground, I looked back at Poppy with a terrified expression.
“Everyone, run!”
“O-jin…?”
Isabella’s footsteps came to a halt.
[Poppy! Attack me!]
Taking advantage of the brief moment Isabella had stopped, I activated the stigma of Capricorn.
Using the power of the stigma that governed ‘sound’, I sent my voice to Poppy alone.
“Grr?”
Poppy tilted her head in confusion as my voice suddenly echoed within her mind.
[Attack me now! Right this instant!]
“Grrrrr.”
Poppy nodded and swatted Kwon O-jin, who had tumbled to the ground, with one massive foreleg.
Boom!
Kwon O-jin’s body, struck by the paw of a demon beast tens of meters tall, flew like a cannonball and skidded across the floor.
“O-Kwon O-jin!”
Isabella rushed toward him with an expression of shock.
Even as his entire body throbbed with pain, Kwon O-jin issued his next command to Poppy.
[Good. Stay still there and don’t move. Keep your head raised while aiming at me.]
“Grrrrrrr!”
Poppy faithfully followed Kwon O-jin’s instructions, raising his head and glaring down at him sprawled on the ground.
“Running all the way here… you’re a persistent one.”
A low voice emanated from Poppy’s mouth.
Of course, it wasn’t Poppy speaking directly—it was a false voice Kwon O-jin had created using the stigma of Capricorn.
[Scan everyone around us and snort loudly.]
Poppy’s gaze swept across Allen, the Xiaolin sisters, and Isabella, who were engaged in combat with the demon beasts, before releasing a powerful snort.
“Snort!”
[Not enough to spray snot everywhere, you idiot!]
Poppy raised his foreleg and wiped away the mucus dripping from his nostrils.
“…You’re a lucky bastard.”
The low voice resonated through the air.
“But no matter how much you struggle, it will be futile.”
With a savage glint in his eyes, he clicked his long beak together menacingly.
“This world will find a new order under the name of the Black Star.”
Whoooosh!
Black light coiled around Poppy’s body, burning with ominous intensity.
A murky, sinister magical aura so oppressive it made one’s stomach churn enveloped the surroundings.

“Are you one of The Snake’s servants?”
Allen, who had just severed the Basilisk’s neck, fixed Poppy with a cold, piercing gaze.
Poppy’s eyes narrowed harshly as he glared back at Allen, his voice turning savage.
“Do not speak of him so carelessly, human.”
“…As I thought.”
Allen gripped his sword hilt, his eyes flashing with sharp intensity.
“So the rumors were true—The Snake has even enthralled the demonic beasts within the Demon Realm.”
When I heard that information from Cheon Gwon-seong, I had doubted whether even The Snake would extend his reach to the creatures dwelling within the Demon Realm itself.
But now, witnessing this, the rumors appeared to be fact.
“Did you… do this to Kwon O-jin?”
Isabella, who had been cradling the bleeding and collapsed Kwon O-jin, slowly rose to her feet.
A crimson aura engulfed her body, shaking the surrounding space.
“How dare you, how dare you, how dare you harm Kwon O-jin…!”
As Isabella lunged toward Poppy, gripping a crimson scythe in her hand.
“Cough! Cough!”
Kwon O-jin convulsed again, blood spilling from his lips.
“Ah…!”
Isabella hastily pulled him close and retrieved a potion from within her embrace.
Having brought along a supreme-grade potion in preparation for his critical condition, she uncorked it and poured the contents into Kwon O-jin’s mouth.
“Isa…bella.”
“It’s alright, Kwon O-jin. I’m here now… I came to rescue you, so please don’t worry anymore.”
Tears streamed down Isabella’s cheeks.
“Hmph.”
Poppy, observing the scene, let out a dismissive snort and turned away.
[You may leave now.]
“Grrrrr….”
Before entering the Dimensional Rift.
Poppy turned his head slightly, letting out a reluctant growl.
[It’s alright, Poppy. There will come a day when we meet again.]
“Grrr!”
Poppy, swishing his serpentine tail, disappeared into the Dimensional Rift.
“…Let us leave this place for now.”
Allen, watching Poppy’s retreating form, clicked his tongue and slashed through the surrounding demonic beasts with his blade.
Perhaps because The Snake’s servant had departed.
The ferocity of the demonic beasts that had been swarming violently suddenly waned, their movements becoming sluggish.
“Please climb onto my back, Kwon O-jin.”
“Thank… you.”
“…No need for thanks.”
Isabella gently caressed Kwon O-jin’s gaunt cheeks, which had become unrecognizable from the hardships of the past several days.
“I… was so terrified.”
I cradled Kwon O-jin’s head in my arms, my voice trembling as I continued.
“I was so terrified that I might never see you again, that we might never meet again… I was so scared.”
Tears streamed down her pale cheeks, gathering at her chin before falling away.
“Thank you for staying alive… thank you, Kwon O-jin.”
Tears fell like dewdrops clinging to dawn leaves, wetting his forehead.
“I won’t let go now… not ever.”
Isabella tightened her grip around him, etching a quiet resolve into her embrace.
“…”
And Ha-eun, who had been watching the entire scene unfold,
“There she goes again with her theatrics.”
pressed her fingers to her temples as if her head ached, exhaling a weary sigh.
* * *
After Kwon O-jin’s safe return to Earth,
he was placed in a hospital room operated by the Colgrand Family rather than returning home immediately.
Though his injuries were minimal to begin with, under the care of top-tier medical professionals, he recovered swiftly and was soon able to stand without difficulty.
“Yawn.”
A VIP hospital room decorated like some luxury hotel suite.
After sleeping soundly for ten hours on the plush bed, I opened my eyes with a long, languid yawn.
Lying in bed, I gazed at the ceiling and let my thoughts wander.
‘Still, I managed to pull through that one.’
Until the moment my eyes met Ha-eun’s, I thought my life was over.
Fortunately, it seemed no one except Ha-eun had witnessed me lounging comfortably atop Poppy’s back, casually munching on potato chips.
‘At least I got some proper rest for once.’
Perhaps it was the aftereffects of using the Heavenly Authority.
Fatigue had accumulated without my realizing it, so the premium medical care Isabella had arranged actually felt welcome.
“Time to get back to work.”
The moment I tried to rise from the hospital bed,
a metallic clink echoed.
“…Huh? What is this?”
Only then did I notice the crimson chains binding my wrists and ankles.
The chains refused to yield even when I applied force to break free.
“You’re awake?”
At that moment,
the hospital room door opened and Isabella entered.
She wore the maid outfit she had once shown me from a trunk, approaching the bed where I lay restrained.
“Isabella, what is this…?”
“I told you, didn’t I?”
Isabella sat on the edge of the bed and gently caressed my cheek.
“That I won’t let you slip away anymore.”
Her eyes gazing down at me gleamed with a vivid, blood-red 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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