Not A Regressor - Chapter 377

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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 377
Sisters (1)
“Well then, we should be heading back.”
“Hmm. I was hoping to share a drink with Kwon O-jin, but what a shame.”
Two days after leaving the Intensive Care Unit.
Sakaki, who had come to see off Kwon O-jin’s group at the airport as they returned to South Korea, wore an expression of lingering regret as he smacked his lips.
Kwon O-jin offered a faint smile and clasped Sakaki’s hand in return.
“Surely we’ll have another chance to meet soon enough, won’t we?”
“Hahaha! I’ll make time and visit South Korea before long!”
Sakaki nodded enthusiastically, his characteristic hearty laughter ringing out.
After exchanging farewells with Kwon O-jin, he turned his gaze toward Lee Woo-hyuk, who was being supported by Kim Sun-young as he made his way to the Valhalla Guild’s private aircraft.
“Woo-hyuk, you’ve endured much this time. The Kuroshi Organization will never forget the debt of gratitude we owe to the Valhalla Guild.”
“Endured… though I must confess I failed to land a single proper wound on him.”
Lee Woo-hyuk offered a self-deprecating smile, his expression downcast.
Perhaps the confrontation with Anselladus had dealt him a considerable blow—the keen, predatory edge that once characterized his aura had dulled, as if its claws had been filed down.
Sakaki patted Lee Woo-hyuk’s shoulder and burst into a hearty laugh.
“Haha! By that measure, haven’t I done nothing but get knocked around and sent flying?”
“That’s…”
“What matters is that you drew your blade for those without strength. And you did so for a foreigner, no less, despite the distance between our lands.”
Kwon O-jin could be said to have come because he had established prior acquaintance with Sakaki.
But Lee Woo-hyuk had no such obligation—yet he had set foot on Japanese soil following Kwon O-jin regardless.
And he had done so alone, refusing to drag his guild members into the affair.
“I too lead an organization. I understand well how difficult such a decision must be.”
To save those without strength.
How many people could truly uphold such words, which sound so obvious when spoken aloud?
Humans are fundamentally creatures of calculation and mutual interest.
Just as people praise volunteers who sacrifice themselves and travel to distant lands, yet only a tiny fraction would actually donate even a single coin—such is the nature of humanity.
People instinctively recoil from endeavors that demand sacrifice without any reward.
“Yet you did such a thing.”
Whether Lee Woo-hyuk had accomplished much or little, his actions deserved reverence.
“….”
Lee Woo-hyuk’s eyes wavered.
He lifted his gaze briefly toward the sky before continuing in a quiet voice.
“…I had an older brother.”
“An older brother?”
Sakaki blinked at the sudden change of subject.
“When my brother had just become an Awakener, I neglected him half-heartedly, claiming I needed to focus on growing the guild.”
Lee Woo-hyuk continued, his expression tinged with bitterness.
“And my brother died. He was kidnapped and killed by the Black Star Society.”
A sharp intake of breath.
Kwon O-jin’s shoulders trembled as he quietly listened to Lee Woo-hyuk’s words.
“After my brother died, I thought about many things. If I had been someone more aware of my surroundings, someone who could look out for others, my brother would never have died.”
I made a vow before Lee Shin-hyuk’s grave.
That I would never live the way I had before.
That I would become someone capable of drawing my blade for the sake of others.
“Hmm. So you came all the way to Japan alone?”
“Part of it was to repay the debt I owe to Kwon O-jin, but… well, that wasn’t the biggest reason.”
Lee Woo-hyuk smiled faintly and unclenched his fists.
He straightened his hunched shoulders and stood tall with confidence.
“Thank you for your words. Thanks to you, Sakaki, I’ve remembered something I’d forgotten.”
The severed claws of the beast began to grow back.
“Ha ha ha! So you’re not just a pretty-faced gentleman after all!”
Sakaki slapped Lee Woo-hyuk on the back and burst into hearty laughter.
“….”
The future changed by Lee Shin-hyuk’s death—was it not just my own future that had been altered?
Kwon O-jin smiled bitterly and shook his head slowly.
“Well then, we should be heading back.”
“Ha ha! Safe travels!”
I bowed to Sakaki and turned to leave.
After exchanging farewells with Sakaki, Kwon O-jin’s group boarded the Valhalla Guild’s private jet and returned to South Korea.
As Lee Woo-hyuk and Kwon O-jin exited Incheon International Airport, he asked a question.
“Where are you headed, Kwon O-jin?”
“I’m planning to head home for now.”
“Would you like us to give you a ride in one of our guild vehicles?”
“No, that’s alright.”
Besides, I could always take the vehicle provided by the Association to get back.
Lee Woo-hyuk nodded and extended his hand to Kwon O-jin.
“Next time, I’ll be strong enough to be of help to you.”
“Next time…?”
“The Black Star Constellation isn’t just Anselladus, is it?”
“….”
As Lee Woo-hyuk said, there were a total of seven Black Star Constellations.
‘So I’ve only dealt with one of them so far.’
Kwon O-jin exhaled deeply as he recalled the fact he’d been trying to forget.
Though it was uncertain how many more Black Star Constellations would cross over to Earth, the fact that the Heavenly Demon had intervened directly suggested that the situation would not be resolved easily.
‘Or perhaps…’
It was possible that not just Anselladus, but other Constellations had already crossed over to Earth.
The reason I could detect Anselladus’s manifestation was only because the Kuroshi Organization had fortunately discovered the abnormal mana fluctuations beforehand.
“Yes, then I’ll see you next time.”
After parting ways with Lee Woo-hyuk, Kwon O-jin returned home with Ha-eun.
“Hm?”
As I arrived home, I spotted an elderly man in a pristine butler’s uniform standing before the entrance.
It was Roberto—Isabella’s closest confidant and the de facto second-in-command of the Colgrand Family.
“Oh? Grandfather, what brings you here?”
“I heard you had arrived in South Korea, so I’ve been waiting to receive you both.”
“Us?”
“Yes.”
Roberto bowed with movements so precise they could have been lifted from a textbook, then retrieved a tablet from his bag and extended it toward me.
The tablet’s screen illuminated, revealing Isabella’s face twisted in fury.
-I’ve heard the news, Kwon O-jin. You fought against a Black Star Constellation, I hear?
Word of my encounter must have reached her through the Association.
Isabella’s eyes gleamed with fierce intensity as she glared at me through the screen.
-Why didn’t you contact me?
“Bella was swamped with work. The distance from Italy to Japan is simply too vast.”
There was no Gate connecting to the Sanctuary in Japan, so I had no choice but to fly there directly.
Besides, even if such a Gate existed, it would be difficult for Isabella, bearing the stigma of the Seahorse Constellation, to traverse between nations using the Sanctuary.
-But still! A Black Star Constellation?! You should have at least contacted me!
Isabella’s voice cracked as she cried out, her eyes glistening with tears.
Her trembling lips and ashen complexion conveyed just how deeply she had worried for me.
“…I’m sorry.”
I lowered my head, finding myself without excuse.
Even if the circumstances had forced me to rush to Japan, I should have at least given Isabella advance notice.
-Sigh. Do you have any idea how worried I was when I heard?
“I have no excuse.”
-Anyway.
Isabella continued, her gaze piercing through the screen.
-I’m returning to South Korea tomorrow, so be aware of that.
“You’ve finished all your business there?”
-That’s not something you need to concern yourself with.
“….”
So it’s not finished.
Sigh.
I exhaled deeply and shook my head.
“I’m fine, so if there’s still work to be done, you can handle it later….”
-I. Will. Go. Understand?
Isabella smiled sweetly, emphasizing the word “tomorrow” with deliberate precision.
Faced with that breathtakingly beautiful smile and the eerie chill it carried, I found myself instinctively straightening to attention.
“I will pick you up at the airport tomorrow.”
-Well… you’ve only just returned, so get some proper rest.
Had her anger finally subsided somewhat?
Isabella exhaled softly, telling me to rest, her lips curved with a smile as serene as a still lake.
-Tomorrow, you won’t have a moment to spare.
Hmm.
It seemed I’d need more time before my anger fully subsided.
-Oh, and you should know—Kwon O-jin, you need to come alone.
“Alone?”
I’d been planning to pick her up with Ha-eun, so why insist I come by myself?
As I looked at Isabella with questioning eyes, she continued with an utterly radiant smile.
-Yes. I’ve already booked a hotel near the airport.
A hotel?
“Why a hotel…?”
-See you tomorrow, Kwon O-jin.
Click.
The video call ended.
“I will inform you of the young lady’s arrival time tomorrow.”
Roberto bowed respectfully and tucked the tablet back into his bag.
As he turned to leave, Roberto glanced back at me with pitying eyes.
“May you… remain safe.”
“Wait, hold on.”
What was that expression—like he was looking at a condemned man about to mount the gallows?
“P-please rest easy!”
“Wait a moment…!”
Before I could protest, Roberto hurried away with quick strides.
I turned my head toward Ha-eun like a drowning man grasping at a final rope.
“Noona, let’s go to the airport together tomorrow.”
“Oh, how lonely~ It’ll be hard to see our Ojin’s face for the next few days.”
“No.”
I glared at Ha-eun with a look full of betrayal.
Ha-eun offered an awkward smile and turned away, avoiding my gaze.
“I… well, I don’t have the confidence to handle an angry Bella.”
It seemed I couldn’t count on Ha-eun’s help.
“Sigh.”
I exhaled and turned around at the entrance.
“What, what? You’re not actually running away, are you?”
“Are you insane? How would you handle the aftermath if you ran?”
“Then where are you going right now?”
“The Star Palace.”
Originally, I’d planned to rest today and depart for the Star Palace tomorrow, but my plans had fallen through.
“Are you going to see Vega?”
“Yeah, I should check on her. Besides, there are a few things I need to ask her.”
Vega and the three other Constellations who had invoked the Constellation’s blessing were all in a state where they couldn’t manifest again due to the constraints of the Divine Law after being summoned back to the Sanctuary.
“You’re asking about it?”
Ha-eun tilted her head and looked at Kwon O-jin.
Kwon O-jin pulled a single sheet of paper from his pocket.
The same paper he had given to Sakaki—a sketch of a man with hair as white as a snowy field.
“Maybe Vega would know something about this guy?”
Why was it?
Lee Woo-hyuk’s words suddenly struck me: “The Black Star Constellation is not just one.”

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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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