Not A Regressor - Chapter 230

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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 230
The Seven Star Council (6)
“W-what are you doing, Kwon O-jin?!”
Namgoong Hui stared at Kwon O-jin with his mouth agape, his expression filled with shock.
He had kicked the guard blocking the entrance and forced his way inside?
It was an act of madness so audacious that even seeing it with his own eyes, Namgoong Hui could scarcely believe it—and this in a place where all the candidates to become the next Seven Stars had gathered, not some back alley in a marketplace.
“That’s precisely what I’d like to ask you.”
His voice had turned glacial.
Seated now, Kwon O-jin regarded Namgoong Hui with eyes as cold as winter frost.
“Did you order them to do this?”
“…I ordered them?”
“When I tried to enter the Conference Room, they attacked me without warning, claiming I had no right to enter. They even used a Mark.”
“What?”
Namgoong Hui’s expression suggested he was hearing nonsense.
He had instructed them to block the entrance as a matter of timing, but he had never ordered them to attack.
And not only had they attacked—they had used a ‘Mark’.
Regardless of any perceived lack of qualifications, such an action against a candidate representing an entire nation was unthinkable.
“I gave no such order.”
“Is that so? Yet they attacked me claiming it was your command.”
“That’s absurd!”
Namgoong Hui slammed the table with a sharp bang, his eyes flashing dangerously.
“Do you have proof?”
“There’s a CCTV camera in the hallway. You need only review the footage.”
“You’d better be prepared to answer for those words.”
Namgoong Hui twisted his expression into something savage and contacted Wei on his smartphone.
Shortly after, Wei entered the Conference Room carrying a tablet containing the CCTV footage.
“Play it.”
“Y-yes, understood.”
Wei, who had rushed over with beads of cold sweat dotting his forehead, pressed play on the video.
-You can’t pass through here!
The footage showed a security guard, positioned before the Conference Room door like some enforcer of a martial arts sect, throwing a punch toward Kwon O-jin.
A faint blue light emanated from the guard’s left chest—evidence that a Mark had been activated.
“What in the…”
Namgoong Hui’s mouth fell open, his expression one of utter bewilderment.
The sight of the guard, as though he had consumed some dangerous substance, struck Namgoong Hui like a hammer blow to the back of his skull, leaving his mind reeling.
-You lack the qualifications to sit at the same table as Namgoong Hui!
In the recorded audio, Namgoong Hui’s name rang out with unmistakable clarity.
“….”
Silence descended upon the Conference Room.
Kwon O-jin turned to face Namgoong Hui and spoke in a low voice.
“Even now, you still don’t understand what’s happened?”
“I… I never issued such an order.”
“How strange. Then are you saying that bodyguard acted on his own initiative?”
“That is…”
Namgoong Hui’s face had gone rigid, his words trailing off.
“I believe it would be best if the two of you resolved this matter privately at a later time.”
At the front of the conference room.
A woman standing before a vivid holographic projection that appeared to be crafted from sacred relics spoke with measured composure.
“Isn’t this the time we’re meant to be discussing the tournament rules and schedule?”
A voice so relentlessly businesslike echoed through the conference room.
The woman adjusted her thick horn-rimmed glasses and swept her gaze across the room.
Twenty-eight Awakeners seated around the table turned their attention toward her.
She continued speaking with unflappable calm, utterly indifferent to the commotion before her.
“I am Olivia, serving as the overall director of this Seven Star Council. In my regular capacity, I work as an aide to Allen Oskal.”
After her brief introduction, Olivia continued in her clipped tone.
“Since we have a new arrival, I’ll summarize and reiterate what was discussed earlier.”
The holographic image shifted, creating a broad aerial view.
“This is what the Dungeon where you’ll be competing will look like.”
Olivia pointed at the holographic aerial map with a laser pointer.
“The Dungeon contains various terrains—Mountain Terrain, Underwater Terrain, Desert Terrain, and more—and your starting positions will be determined randomly.”
Twenty-eight pillars of light materialized across the hologram.
“Rankings will be determined by a points system. The candidate who earns the most points within the time limit will claim first place.”
Kwon O-jin nodded as he took in the aerial view of the holographic Dungeon.
“There are two ways to earn points. First, you can defeat the monsters roaming the Dungeon and earn points based on their rank.”
“What’s the other way?”
“The Council has arranged for ordinary civilians to be hidden in specific locations throughout the Dungeon.”
Ordinary civilians?
“Of course, we’ve implemented all necessary safety measures.”
Olivia continued with an unruffled expression.
“If you successfully rescue these civilians and bring them to a ‘Safe Zone’ within the Dungeon, you’ll earn points. However, in this case, the points you gain won’t be fixed—they’ll vary based on the evaluation given by the civilians you rescue.”
In other words.
Each civilian in the Dungeon would serve as a sort of evaluator.
“From the perspective of ordinary people, you’ll be tested on whether you deserve to be called humanity’s hope.”
“May I ask a question?”
Namgoong Hui quietly raised his hand.
Olivia nodded.
“What’s the difference in points between defeating monsters and rescuing civilians?”
“Since points vary depending on the monster’s rank, I can’t give you an exact figure. However, if the civilian you rescue gives you the highest evaluation, you could earn a substantial amount of points all at once.”
“…So it’s a choice between hunting monsters to accumulate points steadily, or attempting rescues to gain a large amount of points in one go.”
“Precisely.”
Namgoong Hui nodded as if he understood.
Kwon O-jin regarded him with a slightly surprised expression.
‘I thought he would have known the contents of the test in advance.’
When I discovered that an incorrect schedule had been provided, I naturally assumed the Council had some connection to it, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
“Are there any other questions?”
At Olivia’s inquiry, a blonde young man raised his arm.
An awakened being with a uniquely shaped bow slung across his back, as if crafted from leaves.
“You must be Orlando Hardy. Yes, please go ahead.”
“You mentioned that monsters receive different points depending on their rank. How many ranks are there?”
“There are a total of five ranks of monsters within the Dungeon, and you can identify their rank through the color of the necklaces around their necks.”
The holographic image shimmered, revealing five colors.
White, green, blue, red, and black.
“The lowest rank is white, and black represents the highest rank of monsters.”
Olivia, who had been explaining calmly, stopped her laser pointer on the black color.
“There is only one black-ranked monster within the Dungeon. And… the moment you defeat this monster, you will immediately claim first place in the competition.”
“…Immediately first place?”
Orlando’s eyes gleamed with intrigue.
“Yes. However, even for all of you, defeating a black-ranked monster will be quite difficult.”
“Hmm.”
At her warning, the candidates’ eyes instead gleamed with competitive spirit.
A monster so formidable that she would openly issue such a “warning” at a competition attended only by high-ranking awakened beings—excluding Kwon O-jin.
“Heh. Did you perhaps capture some sort of named monster?”
The bald man with a square jaw and sturdy build grinned widely.
Jason Hardy.
Known as the Iron Fist, he was a skilled awakened being and a leading candidate for selection into the Seven Stars in this competition.
“I cannot provide those details.”
“Ha! Excellent! I’ll be targeting that black rank!”
Jason clenched his fist as if to intimidate the other candidates.
“Are there any other questions?”
No other candidates raised their hands.
Olivia nodded and turned off the holographic image.
“The competition will take place on the 100th Floor where the opening ceremony was held, and we will transport you there using a warp device we’ve prepared. You have six hours. During that time, please rescue as many people as possible and hunt as many monsters as you can.”
The competition rules were refreshingly simple.
‘In fact, it’s so simple I’m almost concerned whether this will work.’
Regardless, I appreciated that it wasn’t overly complicated.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow at noon in the Banquet Hall. Since there will likely be many spectators coming to watch the competition, please arrive early and wait.”
With nothing left to say, Olivia walked out of the Conference Room.
“Ah, and one last thing.”
She turned back just as she was about to leave.
Her eyes, deeply shadowed, swept across the candidates.
“Don’t forget. You’ve gathered here to become heroes who will light the way forward for humanity.”
With those final words, Olivia stepped out of the Conference Room.
An awkward silence settled over the space.
But only for a moment.
“Black-grade monsters! If we just hunt black-grade monsters, we can become Seven Stars right away!”
“No, we should play it safe and hunt other monsters here….”
“If we rescue civilians properly, we could rack up some serious points, right?”
The remaining candidates huddled in small groups, beginning to strategize for the competition.
Even Namgoong Hui, who had been glaring at me moments ago as though he wanted to tear me apart, had his attention diverted by the competition and was now huddled with the Chinese candidates, discussing their approach.
‘He’s completely forgotten about his bodyguard duty.’
I chuckled softly, recalling the bodyguard who had been carried away to the medical tent.
Well, from my perspective, it had worked out perfectly.
‘If he keeps watching the footage, he might discover that I manipulated it as a phantom.’
Since I hadn’t grown close to any of the other candidates and there were no representatives from my country, I rose from my chair and left the Conference Room.
“A hero.”
I muttered that awkward word as though grinding sand between my teeth, then stepped into the Elevator.
* * *
“Come back safe, O-jin!”
The next day.
In front of the warp leading to the Dungeon, Ha-eun embraced me and kissed my cheek.
“I’ll be back.”
“If you don’t come in first, you better swim home.”
“What, is this the World Cup?”
“Something like that.”
Ha-eun giggled and patted my shoulder.
“I’ll be cheering you on, so let’s have a party when you get back!”
“We haven’t even started and you’re already celebrating.”
“That’s just because I believe in our O-jin so much.”
I smiled softly as I watched Ha-eun shrug with confidence.
[My child.]
Vega fluttered down and perched atop my head.
[Are you certain I should not accompany you?]
“The rules say I have to go in alone.”
[But are we not essentially one?]
Vega pouted, clearly dissatisfied.
I reached up and gently grasped her.
“If I win and you’re with me, people might talk. I’ll go alone this time.”
[Sigh. Very well.]
Vega sighed reluctantly and nodded her head.
[When you return as a member of the Seven Stars, I shall bestow my blessing upon you.]
Kwon O-jin nodded and moved toward the warp device installed in the Banquet Hall.
Whirrrrrr!
Light flowing from the sacred relic enveloped his body.
‘This feels different from entering a Gate.’
My stomach churned more intensely this time.
Either way, it wasn’t a pleasant sensation.
“Let me see what we have here.”
Kwon O-jin gazed down at the silver bracelet adorning his wrist.
The bracelet provided by the Council displayed the number 0.
‘So this shows my current points.’
I pressed the red button beside the bracelet.
Whirr.
A hologram materialized, unfolding an aerial view of the Dungeon I’d seen in the Conference Room yesterday.
“It’s like a minimap.”
My current location appeared as a red dot on the holographic map.
Only my position was marked.
There was no function to detect nearby monsters or indicate the civilians hiding in the area.
“This direction… it’s Mountain Terrain.”
After determining my approximate location from the holographic map, I moved forward slowly.
‘I’ll head toward the Underwater Terrain first.’
With my Hydro Affinity skill and the stigma of the seahorse, I excelled in underwater combat—but most Awakeners dreaded it.
If I went to a water-rich terrain, I could monopolize the monsters there.
“Perfect.”
Twang!
Using the wire shooter, I soared between the towering rock faces and trees.
As I moved at high speed toward the Underwater Terrain,
“Kyaaaaaaah! P-please save me!”
A piercing scream echoed through the Forest.

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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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