Not A Regressor - Chapter 298

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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 298
The Sky Mountain Range (4)
“Oh my, oh my, oh my!”
Spica flapped her mouth like a goldfish, repeatedly gasping “oh my” as if she had no idea what to say.
“I never would’ve thought it, but this kid’s got a pitch-black heart inside!”
Spica’s body trembled as though she were having a fit.
When I saw her proxy battle with Deneb, I shuddered at what a pair of lunatics they were.
But when we met later so she could be selected as a member of the Seven Stars and given the title of “Destroyer Star,” my impression shifted somewhat.
There was something about her that felt like the bearing of a hero.
Once I learned that Kwon O-jin was the Fate-Reversing Star, even the insane actions she’d displayed during the proxy battle seemed like heroic deeds rooted in unwavering resolve and conviction.
After various events unfolded, the image of Kwon O-jin that had taken root in her mind became that of an ascetic monk—one who departed on a path of hardship, holding lofty convictions in his heart while remaining aloof from the mundane world.
But he didn’t have one lover; he had two.
So he wasn’t detached from the mundane world—he was a fallen monk fully immersed in it.
[A pitch-black heart, you say? What do you know of that child to speak such nonsense?]
Vega’s tone grew harsh, and a sharp killing intent emanated from her.
On a dark night when everyone slept.
The image of Kwon O-jin, wielding a spear alone in that darkness and pushing his body to the brink of self-harm, flashed through her mind.
Kwon O-jin, who continued his training while carving away at his own flesh to protect those dear to him.
How could she hurl such crude insults at a child like that?
“Ah… I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Calm down, Elder Sister. I was wrong.”
This Elder Sister is seriously severe.
Spica swallowed the words trying to escape her lips and laughed awkwardly.
[…Very well, then.]
“Anyway. Let’s organize the situation first. What do you intend to do about those two?”
[Those two?]
“Why, those two lovers of his. If you want to win his heart, you’d have to deal with those two first, wouldn’t you?”
[….]
Deal with those two first.
Did that mean she’d have to forcibly separate Ha-eun and Isabella from Kwon O-jin?
[I will do no such thing.]
I have watched all along what Kwon O-jin has done to protect those dear to him.
Even as he retched, writhed in agony.
The way he staggered to his feet.
“Hmm. Then I’ll have to make his heart naturally turn toward you instead.”
[There is no need for that.]
Vega smiled faintly and shook her head.
A bitter emotion dwelt in her golden eyes.
[Did I not tell you? I have no desire to be bound to that child.]
“Come on now. A Constellation and a human becoming lovers is entirely possible….”
[That is not the reason.]
Vega shook her head one last time.
“It’s not because of that? Then what is it?”
I knew that Constellations and humans could form bonds.
The only difference lay in the responsibilities and power we each bore.
In essence, both Constellations and humans were creations born from the Titan, after all.
Just as Kwon O-jin had accepted Isabella, perhaps I too could form a bond with him if I made the effort.
Perhaps I would surrender to the blissful emotion of love and nestle in his embrace.
But.
That could never be.
It must not be.
[I cannot bear to burden that child any further.]
Had I not witnessed it with my own eyes?
How mercilessly he drove himself forward. How much he sacrificed as he pressed onward.
How could I possibly place an even heavier burden upon such a child?
[This one holds that child infinitely dear.]
And so.
Therefore.
Thus.
[I wish only for that child’s happiness.]
Even if someone other than myself stands at his side.
I wish for his happiness.
“…Elder Sister.”
Spica clamped her mouth shut against the suffocating density of emotion.
There was so much she wanted to refute.
She wanted to demand what would become of Elder Sister’s heart, to argue that he could be even happier with her presence—not without it.
But.
Gazing upon the unwavering resolve etched in those golden eyes, she could be certain.
No matter what she said now, Vega’s conviction would not waver.
[If only this one could do something for that child….]
Vega lowered her head with a melancholic expression.
Spica’s eyes, which had been watching her, suddenly gleamed.
“There’s plenty you can do!”
[Hmm? But surely you know there is no way to grant an Awakener the power of a stigma.]
“Come on, there are other things you can do for that child besides that, aren’t there?”
[Ho. Then what might that be?]
To her as well, Vega was a precious existence.
Vega, who scarcely exchanged words with any other Constellation, had permitted only Spica to call her by the intimate title of “Elder Sister.”
And so.
I do not wish to see Vega rot away with her emotions buried so deeply in her heart.
‘If not me, then who could possibly help that stubborn Elder Sister?’
Persuading her through normal means was impossible.
Vega would definitely refuse with those sharp, piercing eyes of hers.
So there was only one way.
To create a tiny little “excuse” for that frustratingly rigid way of thinking.
“All you need to do is give your Elder Sister encouragement! Comfort! Support! Things like that!”
[…Was that what you meant?]
Vega pouted her lips in disappointment.
She had been secretly hoping for something more, only to have encouragement, comfort, and support suggested.
Of course, it wasn’t that those things weren’t important, but they didn’t provide any practical help, did they?
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Elder Sister! If you do as I say, just encouragement and comfort alone can double or triple an Awakener’s power!”
[Is there such a method?]
“Of course, of course! Especially if it’s a male Awakener, it’s even more effective!”
Seeing her nod with such confident expression, it seemed she truly had a definite plan.
[What is this method?]
Vega asked with sparkling eyes, her interest piqued.
Got her.
Spica chuckled to herself and swayed closer to Vega.
“Elder Sister. You said you went to the Beastkin Kingdom recently, right?”
A sinister smile played at the lips of the goddess of chastity and love.

* * *
“Ugh… I’m dying here.”
“Hehe. Is it over already?”
Exhausted groans poured out like those of an office worker arriving Friday morning after Thursday’s company dinner.
Kwon O-jin felt the fatigue crushing his entire body as he released the “lie” he had cast upon himself.
The figure of Kalike that had been sneering before his eyes vanished.
‘Now I can use it without needing to create illusions anymore.’
Previously, to use the “lie” of hypnotizing himself, he had needed to prepare various things like creating the enemy’s appearance through illusions and mimicking their voice with Capricorn’s stigma.
But after doing this repeatedly, he had somehow become so accustomed to it that he could now create a nearly perfect virtual opponent with mere imagination alone.
‘Thanks to that, I can focus more purely on combat.’
By dedicating all his mental energy that had gone into illusions and voice manipulation entirely to combat, he could engage in more realistic battles.
Well, that did mean he sustained more injuries during training because of it.
“…I should have skipped dinner.”
Kwon O-jin clicked his tongue while looking down at the vomit spread messily across the floor.
His record against the imagined Kalike was five wins, five losses.
It was a time that made him acutely aware of how much Vega’s blessing had contributed.
‘Actually, even with the blessing, I couldn’t overwhelm him.’
He had pushed forward to some degree, but it couldn’t be called overwhelming.
If he had been overwhelming from the start, Kalike wouldn’t have had the leisure to focus so much on Horus.
“There’s still a long way to go.”
Kwon O-jin exhaled a light sigh and pushed himself up.
Lost in his training, he hadn’t realized how much time had slipped away.
‘I need to get back before Elder Sister finds out.’
If she discovered he’d been sneaking out at night to train alone, she’d launch into another endless lecture.
Kwon O-jin, his body heavy with fatigue, turned and made his way back to where the tents were pitched.
‘Are they asleep?’
Listening at Ha-eun and Isabella’s tent, he heard soft breathing from within.
Kwon O-jin entered his own tent, stripped off his sweat-soaked clothes, and tossed them into a corner.
After removing the pendant he’d received from Vega, he grabbed fresh clothes and stepped back outside.
The stream here was far smaller than the one that flowed beside the Silver-maned Wolf Tribe Village, with water rising only to about knee height, but it would be more than sufficient for washing.
“Ah… that feels better.”
As he submerged his body in the knee-deep stream, his Hydro Affinity skill activated, healing him.
The image training utilizing “Lies” was undeniably effective, but precisely because it was so potent, the toll on his body was severe.
Even today, without the potions he’d brought directly from Earth and the power of Aquarius’s stigma, he wouldn’t have been able to fight Kalike five times.
“…But I have to keep going.”
No matter how agonizing, no matter how painful.
Without pushing himself to this extent, there was no way to pierce through the deep darkness that loomed ahead of him.
He didn’t know the exact nature of the Heavenly Demon’s power.
But at least it wasn’t something he could face at his current level.
“Phew.”
After washing thoroughly and recovering his stamina, Kwon O-jin changed into the clothes he’d prepared.
“Man… I’m dying of exhaustion.”
The Hydro Affinity skill only healed external wounds.
It couldn’t address internal injuries from excessive mana consumption or physical fatigue.
“Let’s see… if I sleep now, I should be able to get about three hours.”
It was woefully insufficient sleep for true recovery, but what choice did he have?
He couldn’t afford to compromise the schedule heading toward the Sky Mountain Range just to rest.
‘At least with Poppy around, I can sleep while we travel.’
With that thought, he approached his tent.
“…Huh?”
He sensed movement from inside the tent.
‘What?’
Kwon O-jin gripped Dantalian, which he’d brought along even while bathing, and carefully opened the tent flap.
Ready to respond instantly to whoever might emerge, what met his eyes was—
[Y-you came?]
Vega, dressed in what was commonly called a “bunny girl” outfit.
High heels, black stockings, a leotard that clung to her body.
This outfit, with her bare shoulders boldly exposed, was something he’d rarely encountered in reality on Earth except in special places like Halloween events or cosplay shops.
Yet here he was, seeing a bunny girl outfit in the Demon Realm of all places.
[I-I am your r-rabbit, after all!]
The goddess, wearing rabbit ear headbands on her head, bounced up and down with each energetic hop.
Since she was in her true form rather than a small avatar, something substantial swayed dramatically with her movements.
Kwon O-jin rubbed his eyes and walked toward where his sleeping bag lay.
“I must be more exhausted than I thought.”
I never expected to start seeing things that weren’t there.

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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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