Not A Regressor - Chapter 235

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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 235
A Hero for the Small Ones (5)
“….”
A silence as profound as death itself.
The candidates, their faces drained of color—paler even than the snow that lay gently upon the Snowy Field—stared at the Blue Knight with trembling eyes.
More precisely, they stared at the shattered remains of the black collar lying beneath the Blue Knight’s feet.
“The collar….”
“He broke it, didn’t he?”
The collar had served more than merely as a safety mechanism to protect ordinary people.
The black collar fastened firmly around the monster’s neck had also functioned as a psychological safeguard for the candidates participating in the tournament.
It was a symbol that this was a competition to select the Seven Stars, not actual combat.
Because of it, even when facing ferocious monsters, they could participate with a sense of playing a game.
But now.
“Ah, ugh.”
Everything had changed.
From the moment the Blue Knight shattered the black collar around its own neck.
This was no longer a ‘game’ of any kind.
“Insane.”
Terror spread like poison through their veins.
The candidates who met the Blue Knight’s blood-red gaze trembled pitifully, their legs shaking as they stumbled backward.
A monster that had overwhelmed Jason Hardy and Orlando Veil—the tournament favorites—without a single scratch.
Could everyone here possibly stand against such a creature?
Especially now that the restraint of the collar was gone?
“P-please, save us!”
“Aaaaaaaah!”
There was no need for lengthy deliberation.
The candidates turned and fled, their faces a sickly shade of blue.
“….”
For some reason, the Blue Knight did not pursue the fleeing candidates, instead gazing blankly into the distance.
Because the Blue Knight remained motionless, the candidates were able to successfully widen the distance without a single one falling behind.
“Gasp, gasp! You damned Council bastards! How the hell were you managing the monsters?!”
Namgoong Hui abandoned his usual refined manner of speech and spat out curses.
Perhaps his terrified cry had been heard.
[E-emergency broadcast!]
An urgent voice poured from the silver bracelet on his wrist.
It was the voice of Olivia, who had explained the tournament rules.
[For reasons unknown, all the collars controlling the monsters have ceased functioning!]
Was this really the same Olivia I had seen before?
Her voice, which had been clipped and businesslike as if drained of emotion, now trembled with urgency and fear.
[As of this moment, the Seven Star Council is suspending the tournament! Candidates, please return immediately!]
“…What?”
Olivia’s voice flowed from the bracelet, and my expression hardened like stone.
‘Withdraw? What does she mean?’
If that were the case.
What would happen to the ordinary people hiding in the Safety Zone?
“Wait, then what about the ordinary people?”
Another candidate who shared my thoughts challenged the bracelet with an accusatory tone.
Surprisingly, the candidate who had challenged the bracelet was none other than Namgoong Hui.
“At the very least, we have to save the ordinary people in the Safety Zone, don’t we!”
Even he, who seemed willing to sell his own parents for a chance at becoming one of the Seven Stars, still possessed a shred of conscience.
After a brief silence, Olivia’s slightly subdued voice emanated from the bracelet.
[A protective barrier has been installed in the Safety Zone.]
Bullshit.
I glared at the silver bracelet, my eyes narrowing.
Even if a protective barrier existed, it was nothing more than a temporary measure.
If the Blue Knight were to reach the Safety Zone.
‘The barrier would shatter in a single strike.’
And all the ordinary people hiding within would be slaughtered without even having a chance to flee.
[Furthermore, all ordinary people participating in the Council have sworn to prioritize the Council’s directives in case of emergency.]
Right.
They had prepared oaths in advance for such contingencies.
If the ordinary people participating in the tournament died, there would be criticism, but no legal liability.
“But….”
As Namgoong Hui trailed off with a trembling voice.
-Boom! Roooaaarrr!
A deafening noise erupted.
It wasn’t coming from this area.
The sound came from the silver bracelet.
It was coming from ‘outside the Dungeon’ where Olivia was.
[M-Monsters are warping over here right now!]
Faint screams and roars echoed through.
[Hurry! Candidates, come out of the Dungeon and defend the Hotel!]
Olivia’s voice rang out in urgent desperation.
“….”
“….”
The candidates exchanged uncertain glances.
Even Namgoong Hui, who had been challenging Olivia moments ago, bit his lip with a conflicted expression.
[If you do not come out, I will permanently revoke your candidate status!]
Olivia’s sharp command cut through the hesitation.
[Do you not see how many sponsors gathered to watch this tournament! I will take full responsibility for the ordinary people in the Safety Zone, so hurry! Come out now!]
There was no more gentle persuasion.
Olivia wailed with a shrill, hysterical voice.
“Ugh….”
“L-let’s go! There are people outside!”
“The Council said they’d take full responsibility!”
The other candidates pushed the hesitant Namgoong Hui forward.
Namgoong Hui, still deliberating, soon nodded and raised his fan.
“Wind! Create a path!”
In the exact opposite direction from where the Safety Zone was located.
A path of wind materialized toward the warp device that led outside the Dungeon.
“Hurry! We’re running out of time!”
Namgoong Hui and the other candidates moved swiftly along the wind path, exiting the Dungeon.
All except one.
Kwon O-jin remained behind.
“Ha.”
A dry laugh escaped my lips.
I recalled the crowds gathered like clouds around the warp device.
The Banquet Hall had been packed with famous politicians from abroad, celebrities, journalists—everyone imaginable.
It wasn’t difficult to imagine the chaos that would ensue if monsters began rampaging there.
“So right now….”
As the chief coordinator of this Seven Star Council, she had no choice but to be desperate.
The moment even one of the famous guests gathered to watch the tournament suffered casualties due to the Council’s negligence, they would face enormous criticism.
‘Abandon those inside to save those outside—is that what this is?’
In a way, it was a logical decision.
Ordinary people with no power or influence who had signed waivers absolving the Council of responsibility in emergencies, versus the famous guests who had paid substantial sponsorship fees to gather in the Banquet Hall to witness the birth of the Seven Stars.
There was no need to deliberate which lives were ‘valuable.’
“….”
Unlike what textbooks say, the value of human lives is not equal.
Not once.
Never has it been.
-What did your parents say?
-I don’t have any.
-….
-I heard Mom and Dad went on a long trip and left me behind a very, very long time ago!
The life of a girl from the Orphanage with no parents wasn’t even worth protecting.
Wasn’t that right?
If one had to discard either a bundle containing trash or a bundle containing precious jewels, naturally one would discard the trash.
Outside were lives incomparably more valuable than hers.
If I rushed out quickly and defeated the rampaging monsters, I could receive hero’s treatment amid the acclaim of the famous guests.
Perhaps that would be my chance to become one of the Seven Stars.
I could seize fame and power that no one could ignore, and I could even go to the Milky Way Spring and absorb the dragon veins.
But.
But.
But.
If that were to happen.
“Ha, haha.”
Kwon O-jin’s shoulders shook as I covered my face with my hands.
I knew it.
I had realized it since childhood, a time I could barely remember.
There are no heroes for the small ones.
One cannot be called a hero for protecting the small ones.
The world is not a comic book or a novel.
No matter how much trash you pick up from the street, you cannot be treated as a hero.
“Forget it all.”
I am not a hero.
Not the hope of humanity, nor the Fate-Reversing Star that could overturn the world’s destiny.
I am nothing but a mere con artist who knows how to lie and deceive.
But.
-You really mean it, mister?! You promised me!
The image of Io, extending her pinky finger with a smile as radiant as spring blossoms, came to mind.
Promises meant nothing to a con artist like me.
“Occasionally indulging in a whim wouldn’t hurt.”
Kwon O-jin let out a soft laugh and turned my body around.
The opposite direction from where Namgoong Hui and the candidates had rushed.
‘Toad Constellation Mark.’
The power of the Toad Constellation Mark amplified my leg strength.
Crack, crackle!
Blue lightning surged fiercely and gathered at my legs.
Boom!
I sprinted forward, kicking off the ground with such force that the glacier shattered.
The frigid wind scraped sharply across my cheeks.
“Kieeeek!”
“Grrrrgh! Kergh!”
Monsters that had been hiding in the Snowy Field rushed at me as I passed.
The necklace was nowhere to be seen.
“I don’t have time for you bastards.”
Twang!
I fired the wire shooter at the towering glacier and leaped over the monsters.
My body soared upward.
In the distance, I could see the rocky cliff that had collapsed from Namgoong Hui’s attack.
‘Lightning Step.’
Crack!
I kicked off the empty air and soared upward, heading toward the Safety Zone.
The biting cold wind that had felt like it would flay the skin vanished, replaced by a warm breeze as if spring had arrived, brushing against my cheek.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
“P-please, save us!”
Screams echoed through the air.
Among them, I recognized a familiar voice.
“E-everyone, prepare to escape! The protective barrier will shatter soon!”
A horde of monsters clung to the barrier made of green light.
“Grrrrgh! Kiiik!”
“Kuoooooh!”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Monsters shrieked and brutally hammered their fists downward.
Their eyes gleamed with excitement at the thought of tearing into the prey before them.
“Charge.”
Still airborne, I gripped the spear upside down.
Fierce blue lightning blazed and coalesced at the spear’s tip.
“Charge, charge, charge, charge.”
One wouldn’t be enough.
Twice, thrice, four times.
Five bolts of lightning condensed at the spear’s point in total.
“Th-this is the end. W-we’re all dead now!”
“Please calm down! You’re an adult!”
“How can you stay calm in a situation like this?!”
“J-just hold on a little longer! Someone will come to help!”
Io cried out toward the panicked people.
“Who, who’s coming to help! You heard the broadcast too!”
Though the form was somewhat different from what the candidates had worn.
Silver bracelets adorned the wrists of those gathered here as well.
“Who are the people gathered here! Orphans, the homeless, debtors! Just a bunch of lowlifes scraping by at the bottom!”
People flinched, their shoulders trembling.
“Nobody cares if we die!”
“That’s….”
Io’s words trailed off.
She clenched her small fists and bowed her head deeply.
She knew it well.
No one would come to save them.
A hero for the small ones was nothing but a fairy tale—
“Discharge.”
A deafening rumble tore through the sky.
Lightning struck down from the cloudless heavens.
Condensed blue electricity erupted and swept across the monsters like an unleashed beast.
“…Oh.”
Io turned her head, her small mouth falling open in awe.
Within the torrent of blue lightning, a young man gripping a black spear stood resolute and unshaken.
“Mister…?”
Kwon O-jin raised his pinky finger toward Io, who stood beyond the fractured protective barrier.
“I kept my promise.”
This time.
I didn’t lie.

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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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