Not A Regressor - Chapter 275

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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 275
Into the Demon Realm
[This is Choi Gyeong-mi, reporting for World View International News. At approximately 2 AM local time on June 8th, a large-scale organization trafficking in illegal sacred relics was apprehended in France.]
[All apprehended members sustained third-degree burns or worse and were immediately transported to local hospitals. Suspicions have been raised that the organization is connected to the Duberman Family, which holds significant influence within France. In response, the Duberman Family has stated that these allegations are entirely false and announced they will respond firmly to these baseless rumors.]
[Over the past month, a series of arsons targeting illegal operations across Europe has continued, and the EU has….]
Click.
Kwon O-jin turned off the television and clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
“The world’s just as grim here as anywhere else.”
Over the past month, rumors of a serial arsonist actively operating across Europe had reached Kwon O-jin’s ears frequently, despite being too preoccupied with preparations for the journey to the Demon Realm.
Eight illegal operations reduced to ash in just one month, if the reports were accurate.
The scale seemed far too vast to attribute to a single arsonist.
“It seems like something only a high-ranking Awakened User could pull off… right, Elder Sister?”
“Huh? Oh, y-yes. That’s right!”
Ha-eun, who had been packing beside Kwon O-jin, suddenly lifted her head and laughed awkwardly.
“…Why do you look so strange?”
“Oh, it’s nothing! Um, more importantly, are you done packing?”
“Yeah. This should be more than enough.”
Kwon O-jin patted the black backpack on his shoulders and grinned.
Despite his claim that it would be “more than enough,” the backpack’s actual size was quite modest.
It was merely the size of a small hiking backpack one might use for climbing a nearby hill.
It seemed far too insufficient for venturing into the unknown land of the Demon Realm.
“That’s the item you received from Sihoo, right?”
“That’s correct.”
A month ago, when Kwon O-jin visited the Association upon hearing that there was something to be given to him, he received this backpack as a gift.
A sacred relic with space-expansion capabilities, like the infinite pouches commonly found in fantasy tales.
It even had a function to reduce the weight of items inside, making it a practical sacred relic that never felt particularly heavy no matter how much was packed into it.
“How much is inside?”
“Around 400 to 500 kilograms? I packed six months’ worth of provisions, emergency potions, a tent, a portable bed—basically everything we might need.”
With this much, we shouldn’t have to worry about food, clothing, or shelter once we reach the Demon Realm.
“Wow, you really crammed a lot in there.”
“Is there anything else you might need? Just say the word, and I’ll have Roberto fetch it right away.”
Isabella, meticulous as always, had organized an inventory of the backpack’s contents and was double-checking whether anything else was needed.
“This is plenty. Besides, we can source anything else once we’re there.”
“Understood. Oh, and Elder Sister, is there anything you need?”
“Me? Not really anything in particular.”
I had already packed all the clothes I’d need and other necessary items.
“What about skincare, lotion, and face masks?”
“Huh? Why would I need those for the Demon Realm?”
I wasn’t going to the Demon Realm to leisurely enjoy a vacation.
The purpose of going to the Demon Realm was solely to defeat the Demon Kings and thwart the Heavenly Demon’s plans.
There was no reason to bother with cosmetics.
“You absolutely must!”
Isabella furrowed her brow and scolded her sharply.
She reached out and gently traced Ha-eun’s flawless skin as she continued.
“No matter how powerful an Awakened User you are, you can’t let your guard down. If your skin gets damaged, how heartbroken would Kwon O-jin be?”
“Uh, what? I… I suppose?”
“They don’t take up much space anyway, so you really should pack them. Especially in a harsh environment like the Demon Realm—your skin is at even greater risk of damage.”
“But it’s not like we’re going on vacation…”
“Come on! Follow me, Elder Sister. I have some portable products that aren’t the highest quality, but work wonderfully.”
“Wait, just a moment!”
Ha-eun was dragged into the room by Isabella.
[It seems their relationship has grown much closer since I last saw them.]
“Indeed.”
I wasn’t sure what had happened during the month since they’d visited the Association.
But until then, Ha-eun and Isabella, who had been growling at each other like they might devour one another, had begun growing remarkably close.
They’d even gone abroad together under the pretense of preparing for the Demon Realm, disappearing for days at a time, and when at home, they were often together.
Sometimes they’d enter the bathhouse together and chat for hours.
With Ha-eun and Isabella becoming so inseparable, I found myself feeling rather left out.
“Feeling a bit lonely?”
I turned to look at Vega, who was perched on my shoulder.
If I was feeling left out, how must she feel?
[Ahem. I-It’s not like that!]
Vega let out a nervous cough and shook her head.
The flustered expression on her face suggested she was indeed quite disappointed.
“Still, once we enter the Demon Realm, we’ll have plenty of time together.”
Until now, we’d all been busy with various preparations.
But after entering the Demon Realm, there wouldn’t be many occasions for us to be separated.
[Didn’t I just say that wasn’t the issue?]
Vega flicked my forehead and pouted.
“What about Riak?”
[Wait a moment.]
Vega pressed her hands together as if in prayer.
Silver light sparkled and radiated into the empty air.
What emerged from the light was a wolf with beautiful silver fur.
Riak.
The Holy Spirit who had inherited a portion of Vega’s soul turned to me and spoke in a low voice.
“…Boy, are you truly determined to enter the Demon Realm?”
“I have to.”
“…”
Riak clamped his mouth shut and averted his gaze slightly.
His eyes had grown dark and sunken, and his drooping ears emanated a melancholy aura.
“That’s not like you. What’s wrong?”
“…It’s nothing.”
Riak shook his head quietly.
It was a far cry from the fiery temperament he usually displayed.
“So you’re heading straight to the Kan Kingdom?”
The Kan Kingdom—a realm of beastmen that existed within the Demon Realm.
It was the kingdom of demonic beasts closest to the First Rift that connected Earth and the Demon Realm, and it was Riak’s homeland.
“No, before that I want to meet with the Heavenly Authority and hear about the Kan Kingdom. You don’t know what the situation there is like right now, do you?”
Riak had become Vega’s spirit guardian over a hundred years ago.
Since becoming a spirit guardian, the constraints of Divine Law made it difficult to leave the Sanctuary, so it was inevitable that he would be ignorant of his homeland’s circumstances.
“…Yes, I don’t know what the situation is there now.”
Riak lowered his head weakly and gazed quietly at the floor.
I could see his front paws, pressed against the ground, trembling faintly.
“Riak?”
Kwon O-jin furrowed his brow and tried to approach Riak.
Crackle.
In that instant, my vision twisted and a memory surfaced in my mind.
-How did a beastman come to the Sanctuary…?
-Growl, growl.
-Your wounds are severe. Are you alright?
Within the Sanctuary made of starlight.
A silver wolf drenched in blood, and a goddess gazing down at him with concern.
-I’m sorry. I failed to protect… I’m sorry…
The wounded wolf muttered deliriously, tears mixed with blood streaming down his face.
The Silver-haired Goddess frowned delicately as she looked down at the collapsed wolf.
-I shall summon Albaile. Wait a moment.
The goddess rose to seek the Aquarius Constellation.
Soon, the Constellation known as Albaile appeared and healed the wolf’s wounds.
As soon as his wounds were treated, the silver wolf staggered toward somewhere.
-Your wounds have not fully healed yet. You must rest.
The goddess carefully restrained the wolf and asked.
-Ah, I realize I haven’t even asked your name yet.
-….
The silver wolf turned to face the goddess without speaking and opened his mouth.
-…Riak.
His voice was filled with regret and guilt.
-A warrior of the Silver Mane Tribe, Riak.
He spat out the words.
Crackle.
My twisted vision cleared and returned to normal.
I could see Riak with his head hanging limply, just as he appeared in the memory that surfaced in my mind.
‘This is….’
Kwon O-jin’s eyes narrowed.
A memory—not his own, but belonging to another existence.
More precisely, it must have been Vega’s memory.
‘Did Déjà Vu activate?’
Déjà Vu was a trait where fragments of memories inscribed upon one’s stigmas were transmitted.
It wasn’t limited to reacting only to Lee Shin-hyuk’s memories.
‘Still, Vega’s memories have never flowed into me until now.’
Had something changed when Heukcheon underwent structural enlightenment?
Kwon O-jin furrowed his brow in thought for a moment before shifting his gaze toward Riak.
In the memory, Riak hung his head just as he did now, his expression steeped in self-reproach and regret.
“Is it because of something from the past?”
“…What?! How could you possibly… Ah.”
Riak let out a short exclamation, then released a low groan.
It had occurred to him that if this was Kwon O-jin—a regressor who had returned against the flow of time—then he might indeed know about his past.
“It’s not your concern, youngster.”
Riak turned his head coldly away.
“Rather, how much longer do you intend to dawdle? A true warrior must act with swift decisiveness!”
“…Got it, you bastard.”
Kwon O-jin didn’t press further into his past.
Everyone carried at least one or two painful memories they’d rather not discuss.
“Elder Sister! Isabella! Let’s get going!”
“Ah, yes!”
“Just a moment, please!”
Ha-eun and Isabella rushed out of the room, their arms laden with cosmetics.

* * *
Kwon O-jin boarded the private aircraft prepared by the Colgrand Family and headed toward the North Pole.
As always, demonic beasts swarmed near the First Rift, but their numbers posed no insurmountable obstacle for Kwon O-jin’s party to push through.
“Then.”
Kwon O-jin stepped into the black Dimensional Rift, which stretched fifty kilometers in diameter.
With a sensation of weightlessness, his vision faded to black.
And then.
Before his eyes unfolded the world known as the Demon Realm.
A land not of humans, but of demonic beasts.
-You’ve arrived.
Upon reaching the Demon Realm, a voice tinged with mockery resonated within my mind.
-I’ve been waiting.
Kwon O-jin stepped forward without hesitation.
“…Yes.”
When I first set foot in the Demon Realm, I couldn’t discern whose voice it was.
“I’ve come.”
Now I know.

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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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