Not A Regressor - Chapter 368

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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 368
The Black Star Constellation (4)
“Hahaha! So my younger brother Kwon O-jin became lovers with a Constellation! I never could have imagined this!”
“…Sigh.”
Thump! Thump!
Palms patting against my back.
I exhaled a deep sigh so profound it seemed the earth itself might cave in, my expression as withered as a rotting tree.
“By the way….”
Sakaki, who had been laughing boisterously, glanced toward Ha-eun and whispered near my ear.
“Wasn’t your sister-in-law Ha-eun?”
“Ah, well… there are some circumstances involved.”
“Hmm. Did you break up with Ha-eun then?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“…Hmm?”
Sakaki tilted his head in confusion, then snapped his fingers with a knowing laugh, bursting into hearty laughter.
“Ahahaha! So the saying about heroes loving beauty wasn’t just empty words!”
“…Let’s drop this subject now.”
I exhaled another deep sigh and turned my head toward Vega.
[Ugh… a misunderstanding… it’s a misunderstanding.]
Vega was sobbing with her face buried between her knees.
Having completely exposed herself in front of Regulus and Aldebaran, she was wilted like blanched spinach, unable to bear the overwhelming shame.
[V-Vega as a lover….]
[And to a human, no less….]
Regulus and Aldebaran stood speechless, their mouths agape in shock.
Among the Constellations, Vega was regarded as an object of reverence, so the news of her having a human lover must have been quite shocking.
‘I suppose I should just leave it as is.’
Going over there now and saying anything would only make matters worse.
I shook my head and approached Sakaki.
“May we head inside now?”
“Ah, my apologies. Come right in.”
Following Sakaki’s guidance, I entered the Kuroshi Organization Mansion.
Built in traditional Japanese style, the mansion exuded an air of refinement and elegance, as if I had stepped into a high-class ryokan.
“Then let’s eat first.”
“No, we could start with the story about the Black Star Constellation….”
“One must have a full stomach before attending to any matter.”
“I see. Understood.”
I decided to follow Sakaki’s suggestion and fill my stomach first.
“Come, sit wherever you’re comfortable!”
My group was guided into a spacious tatami room of the sort commonly seen in yakuza films, and we each took our places, sitting on cushions.
Sakaki naturally took the seat of honor and exhaled a short sigh.
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, so I’d like to share a drink… but let’s save that for after we’ve settled this matter.”
“Understood.”
“Heh heh. Instead, I’ve obtained some fine tea that aids in mana circulation. Let’s wet our throats with that for now.”
Sakaki called out toward the entrance, ordering someone to bring tea.
The door slid open with a soft rustle.
A woman dressed in a kimono entered gracefully.
She appeared to be barely twenty years old.
With silken black hair and skin so pale it seemed almost ethereal, she possessed an elegant, refined beauty.
‘Is she Sakaki’s wife?’
No.
She appeared far too young for that.
“I’ve brought the tea.”
The woman in the kimono moved around the table with an ornate teapot, pouring tea into each cup with practiced grace.
As she made her way around, when it came to my turn—
“Are you Kwon O-jin?”
The woman in the kimono looked at me and asked.
“Ah, yes. That’s correct, but—”
“I apologize for the trouble my incompetent older brother caused you before.”
“Older brother?”
As I tilted my head in confusion, Koshiro suddenly shot to his feet, his face flushed crimson.
“Y-Yoko! What are you saying in front of everyone!”
“Brother, please be quiet.”
The woman called Yoko fixed Koshiro with a cold gaze.
Koshiro flinched, his shoulders trembling, and quickly shrank back into his seat.
“If you’re Koshiro’s younger sister…”
“Yes. Thanks to you defeating Hasemari’s executor, I was able to have the poison removed from my body.”
Yoko offered a faint smile and bowed gracefully toward me.
I hadn’t expected her to go so far as to bow—a simple nod would have sufficed—so I offered an awkward smile and shook my head.
“I was simply doing what needed to be done.”
“You are both my savior and the one who prevented my foolish brother from walking down a darker path. Ideally, I should offer you proper gratitude, but I’m ashamed to say the only thing I possess is this humble body.”
Yoko gazed down at herself with sorrowful eyes.
Though she claimed to be humble, the sight of her—with glistening eyes and a subtle downward glance—was so breathtakingly beautiful that it left me momentarily speechless.
“If you have need of anything during your stay here, I would like to serve you.”
“No, that’s not necessary.”
I hastily shook my head and declined her offer.
With Sakaki already eyeing me with that look—the one that suggested he thought I was some kind of womanizer or something equally absurd—I couldn’t possibly accept Yoko’s proposal.
Besides, I wasn’t in a position where I needed such assistance.
“I see…”
Yoko bit her lip, her eyes growing sadder.
“Is my help… truly not needed?”
“Your gratitude is more than enough for me.”
“Sigh. Yes, if that’s what you wish, Kwon O-jin, I’ll respect it.”
Yoko carefully rose to her feet and bowed deeply toward me once more.
“Then I’ll take my leave now. I’ll be waiting outside, so please don’t hesitate to call if you need anything else.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
Unaccustomed to such attentive treatment, I nodded awkwardly.
After filling the teacups, Yoko paused before leaving and approached Koshiro, who was seated.
“Your shirt is wrinkled, big brother.”
“Ah? Oh, is it?”
“Really… you’re so careless.”
Yoko knelt gracefully before Koshiro and smoothed out his wrinkled shirt with her hands.
A faint smile graced Yoko’s lips as she adjusted Koshiro’s shirt.
“Thanks, Yoko.”
“Hehe. As expected, big brother, you really can’t do without me.”
Yoko gently pinched Koshiro’s cheek and rose to her feet again.
“Then, everyone, enjoy your meal.”
Yoko backed out carefully and closed the sliding door behind her.
“Hmm. Something about their dynamic doesn’t feel like siblings at all.”
Ha-eun narrowed her eyes and glanced at me sitting beside her.
She pinched my side sharply and asked pointedly.
“So you don’t wag your tail for her either?”
“What do you mean, wag my tail?”
“Hmph.”
Ha-eun snorted and picked up some braised potatoes with her chopsticks.
“Wow, what is this? It’s delicious!”
“Hehe. Yoko made all of it. Ever since Koshiro returned, she’s been managing our organization’s kitchen.”
“Hmm.”
Ha-eun frowned, clearly displeased about something.
The image of Yoko’s face—a beauty as if painted from a traditional Japanese portrait—lingered unnecessarily in my mind.
‘Surely… that’s not it?’
I shook my head vigorously, desperately trying to shake off the creeping sense of unease.
“Come on, let’s eat quickly and talk about that bastard’s situation!”
Ha-eun stuffed rice into her mouth eagerly, thinking she needed to wrap things up and leave Japan as soon as possible.

* * *
After the meal concluded.
I sipped the tea Sakaki had prepared—supposedly excellent for mana circulation—and moved on to the main topic.
“Everyone saw the footage?”
“Yes, we did.”
“According to Aldebaran’s account… it appears the Black Star Constellation has manifested in Japan.”
A manifestation of the Black Star Constellation.
Though not in a complete state, a transcendent being fundamentally different from humanity had appeared on Earth nonetheless.
And leading an army of demonic beasts that appeared to be his subordinates.
“Do we have any idea where those bastards are located?”
“Not precisely, but we do have a suspected location where they might be.”
Sakaki withdrew a tablet from his pocket and opened a map application.
“Hmm? Why that expression?”
“…Oh, no reason. I just had the impression you’d be the type to use an analog map.”
“Ha ha. Who uses such outdated maps in this day and age?”
Coming from someone in a country where fax machines are still actively in use, that’s quite the statement.
Well, regardless.
“See this small village along the coast?”
He pointed to a village captured in satellite imagery.
It was a modest fishing village that probably didn’t exceed two hundred households in total.
“It’s the closest village to the coastal area where they appeared.”
“Are they hiding there?”
“That’s still unclear, but we received a report that vehicles transporting food supplies to this village have gone silent since two days ago.”
If that were the case.
“…Then there’s a high probability the entire village has already been compromised.”
“That’s our assessment as well.”
Sakaki nodded gravely.
“I think we should begin our investigation starting with this village.”
“Understood.”
With information so limited, there was no choice but to go and see for ourselves.
“I apologize for not providing proper hospitality upon your arrival, but could we depart immediately?”
“Of course.”
I would have preferred to gather information more gradually and conduct a thorough investigation, but with the likelihood of civilian casualties, I couldn’t afford to hesitate.
Even as Kwon O-jin, I wasn’t so cold-hearted as to callously watch ordinary people without stigmas being slaughtered by demonic beasts.
“Ha ha ha! I knew you’d say that!”
Sakaki burst into hearty laughter and rose to his feet.
“The vehicles are already prepared outside! Let’s depart at once!”
“Understood.”
My group followed Sakaki toward the exit of the Mansion.
“W-wait, you’re leaving already?”
Yoko followed after him, asking with a worried expression.
“Yes, there’s no point in just sitting around here waiting for things to resolve themselves.”
“But you just arrived and immediately….”
“I’ve already been treated to a wonderful meal, so that’s more than enough.”
“Sigh.”
Yoko gazed at Kwon O-jin with an expression of lingering regret.
Ha-eun stepped forward and snatched Kwon O-jin’s arm, pulling him along.
“I’ll take care of my Ojini, so don’t worry about it.”
Ha-eun glared at Yoko with a guarded gaze.
Yoko felt the wariness in Ha-eun’s eyes and tilted her head curiously.
“Ah, yes. You must be Kwon O-jin’s wife? Please take good care of our benefactor.”
“Huh? Uh, well. But we haven’t gotten married yet?”
“Hehe. Looking at the two of you, you already seem like a happily married couple to me.”
Yoko smiled brightly and glanced back at Kwon O-jin and Ha-eun.
“Really?”
Ha-eun, who had thought Yoko was showing interest in Kwon O-jin, tilted her head at the unexpected response.
‘Did I misunderstand something?’
As she was pondering this question.
“Please be careful too, big brother.”
“Yeah! Don’t worry!”
Yoko approached Koshiro, her eyes glistening with tears as she grabbed his collar.
“You can’t come back injured again, big brother.”
“Haha. Have you forgotten what stigma I bear? I’ll come back without a scratch, so don’t cry.”
Koshiro smiled brightly and wiped away the tears gathering at Yoko’s eyes with his hand.
“Ah….”
Yoko bit her lip and embraced Koshiro.
“N-No, I can’t let you go! Don’t go, big brother!”
“W-Why are you suddenly saying that?”
“I saw that video too! When I think about you fighting those horrible monsters….”
“Haha. You too, Yoko.”
Koshiro stroked Yoko’s hair as if he couldn’t stop her.
“It’s about protecting people.”
“…Big brother.”
“Since the boss has taken me back, I have to do my best in this fight. Don’t you think so, Yoko?”
“Sniff. I understand.”
Yoko wiped away the tears flowing from her eyes and cupped Koshiro’s cheeks in her hands.
And then.
“Come back safely, my love.”
She kissed Koshiro’s lips.
“…Huh?”
“What, what is this?”
Sakaki showed no reaction as if accustomed to the sight, but Kwon O-jin and Ha-eun stared wide-eyed with dazed expressions as though they’d been struck on the back of the head with a hammer.
“Wait, weren’t those two siblings?”
“Yeah… that’s what I thought too.”
The way they pressed their lips together so intensely looked nothing like a relationship between mere acquaintances—it was unmistakably the embrace of passionate lovers.
Ha-eun grabbed Kwon O-jin’s arm frantically, her eyes wide with shock.
“Kwon O-jin! What is this! Is this some kind of Seongjin culture?!”
No, it isn’t.
“So this is what they call it… Foyer fusion! Foyer fusion, right?!”
No, it’s not.

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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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