The 7th-Run Regressor Collects Calamities - Chapter 29

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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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Episode 29. Incheon Gate (2)
As the news spread from the scene, Song Jihoo’s standing was rippling out across the world in real time.
‘His intentions are transparent, but… it’s not bad.’
Song Jihoo suppressed a quiet laugh. Rick Wesley was no fool.
He was going beyond mere assistance—using this moment to imprint the relationship between USAA and Song Jihoo onto Korean Hunters and the press.
He was elevating Song Jihoo while simultaneously planting USAA’s influence in Korea.
Of course, it was a performance that benefited both sides, so there was nothing wrong with it.
“Have you decided on a method to handle the Gate?”
Rick Wesley joined the operational briefing naturally. He took a seat beside Song Jihoo and spoke as if nothing were amiss.
“We were just discussing whether Song Jihoo should enter the interior. The risk is that a C-rank Hunter would be entering an A-rank Gate….”
Park Jung-ho’s point had merit, so Rick Wesley turned to look at Song Jihoo.
“The chairman is right. The danger level is simply too high. Is there a compelling reason you must go in?”
“This is a Mental Contamination Dungeon. I’m the only one here with the means to defend against mental contamination. And there are three Hunters trapped inside.”
Rick Wesley tilted his head.
“Three? Weren’t all the C-rank strike teams that entered initially accounted for when they came back out?”
“Well… that’s….”
Seeing Park Jung-ho’s reaction, Rick Wesley nodded as if he understood.
“Hmm… If we can’t get in, Gate Breaking is the only option—but that carries too much risk.”
Rick Wesley seemed to contemplate something, then looked at Park Jung-ho.
“USAA will guarantee Song Jihoo’s safety. We’ll assign two A-rank Hunters for his protection.”
Park Jung-ho’s eyes flickered slightly. Now there was no pretext for refusal.
With the world’s number one guild taking responsibility, it would look absurd for the chairman to obstruct them on safety grounds.
‘These bastards….’
Setting aside outright refusal, what troubled him more was the erosion of his own role and influence.
‘At least the risk is reduced….’
Park Jung-ho swallowed a groan. Song Jihoo and USAA—when those two coordinated, there was nothing he could do.
“…Approved.”
Park Jung-ho ground his teeth, clinging to the last shred of his pride.
The roster of thirty personnel was finalized.
Eighteen Korean Hunters, ten USAA Hunters, and Song Jihoo. Eun Seo-jin went with him as a matter of course.
***
Ten minutes before entry. All the Hunters gathered before the crimson portal.
“Then, I’ll cast Mental Barrier.”
Song Jihoo wove the Mental Barrier around all the Hunters.
“Ooh… so this is what it feels like.”
“It’s strange—that fishy sensation the Gate normally has is really dampened.”
“Man, seriously… does this one skill keep your stats from rising?”
The Hunters examined their own bodies with curiosity, offered thanks to Song Jihoo, then dispersed to their positions.
“For those entering the Gate, I’ll maintain the Barrier from inside as well.”
Heavily armed Hunters began checking their weapons, confirming potions, exchanging final glances with their comrades.
“All units standing by for entry! We go in sequentially, leading element first!”
The commander’s voice echoed across the space.
Song Jihoo gripped the leather sheath of the Compass hanging at his waist once, hard, then released it—steadying his breath.
The cool texture of metal transmitted through his palm, gathering his scattered focus.
Eun Seo-jin positioned herself half a step behind Song Jihoo, with USAA’s Hunters flanking her side.
“Entry!”
The crimson portal swallowed all thirty.
***
Vision blazed white, then returned.
The first thing felt was solid stone beneath their feet and the cool, damp chill that only underground caverns produce.
“Ghastly….”
One of the Hunters who had entered first covered his nose, muttering as the fishy stench pressed against his nostrils.
It was a vast Stone Plaza, spacious enough to accommodate dozens of personnel and still have room to spare.
The floor and pillars were all fashioned from ancient stone, and the ceiling soared so high it disappeared from sight.
“The entrance is that way.”
Once the strike team leader confirmed everyone had entered, he nodded and spoke to the assembled Hunters.
“Final preparations, everyone. Since it’s a Labyrinth, especially make sure your communication equipment is secure.”
“The entrance… is over there. Ugh… can’t shake the creeping dread.”
Roughly two hundred meters ahead from the center of the safe plaza.
A massive Stone Door stood towering before them.
It towered easily several dozen meters high, its surface densely carved with symbols that defied interpretation.
What chilled the blood was the sight of blood-red energy crawling across those inscriptions like insects.
“Sigh… Of all things, a Labyrinth Dungeon….”
“Yeah. And it’s openly a Mental Contamination dungeon on top of that.”
Through the narrowly opened gap of the Stone Door, nothing was visible.
“Ugh…!”
“Ah, aah….”
Less than a minute had passed since they’d set foot in the safe zone.
Groans of anguish began erupting from various points in the formation.
Strange whispers resonated from all directions. They weren’t language.
Hatred, despair, murderous intent, pleasure.
Raw, viscous masses of emotion.
“Even in the safe zone, it’s this bad?”
“We’re finished… This is no joke—an A-rank Mutation Gate for real.”
One Hunter gripped his temples.
“It’s a Mutation Gate… the power level is different….”
Even the Hunters’ pupils trembled with unease.
As their minds began to paint a picture of what horrors awaited if they crossed the Stone Door and ventured deeper into that abyss.
Thud-thud-
Song Jihoo pushed through the rearmost ranks and stepped toward the center of the plaza.
“Mental Barrier.”
A soft silver radiance bloomed from Song Jihoo’s body, gathering around him before unfurling outward in concentric circles.
Whoosh—!
An enormous translucent barrier expanded to envelop all thirty Hunters.
In an instant, the whispers that had been gnawing at their minds faded to a murmur.
“…Wow.”
“Is this….”
“Is this that Mental Barrier?”
Life returned to the Hunters’ expressions, replacing the indescribable revulsion of moments before.
Several of them stood with mouths agape, examining their own bodies in wonder.
“Insane. Seriously…….”
“I’d only heard rumors, but experiencing it firsthand… there are no words.”
Amid the Korean Hunters’ astonishment, the eyes of the USAA Hunters—who had maintained their poker faces throughout—twitched faintly at the corners.
They had heard news of Song Jihoo since they’d come along to apprehend him.
That was precisely why they could lend their hands to clearing this dungeon.
Song Jihoo casually ignored the flood of gazes and approached Eun Seo-jin.
“Just a moment.”
Song Jihoo’s palm rested lightly on Eun Seo-jin’s shoulder.
Mental Connection.
Hum—
Eun Seo-jin blinked several times, accepting Song Jihoo’s senses into her own.
“Okay.”
With confirmation exchanged, Song Jihoo moved on, approaching the leader-tier Hunter from USAA.
An A-rank Hunter who appeared to be in his thirties, with close-cropped brown hair and a pronounced jawline. His name, he’d heard, was Marcus.
“You’re Marcus, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Would it be alright if I used just one skill? It should prove quite useful for clearing the Labyrinth Dungeon.”
“What? Yes.”
A skill useful for clearing a Labyrinth.
Curiosity flickering across his face, Marcus nodded, and Song Jihoo placed his hand on the American’s shoulder.
“……?”
In the moment Marcus looked at Song Jihoo, bewildered.
Hum—
A second channel opened.
“Ugh….”
Establishing a Mental Connection with two people simultaneously was new; Song Jihoo shut his eyes briefly, solidifying the channels.
“…What the hell?!”
As Song Jihoo’s vision overlaid itself across Marcus’s mind, the American—usually so composed—erupted in astonishment.
“I’ve never seen a skill like this in my life… No, if it’s a skill like this… even in places where communications fail…!”
Befitting an experienced USAA Hunter, Marcus immediately grasped the practical potential of this ability.
“It’s a skill that shares my field of vision with yours. Not just sight, either—sensory information as well.”
Song Jihoo explained calmly.
“It’s bidirectional. During combat, my judgment will reach you too. Whatever happens in there, it’ll definitely be helpful.”
Marcus blinked several times, his expression dazed, then nodded.
Though he couldn’t fully grasp a skill he’d never encountered before, one thing was certain—it was powerful support.
“Everyone, prepare for entry!”
When all preparations were complete, the raid leader signaled readiness, and Eun Seo-jin gave Song Jihoo a small nod.
“I’ll remain in the safe zone and prepare for any variables. I’ve already applied my skill to you and Marcus—it’ll definitely improve your chances of survival.”
Having just witnessed Marcus make a fuss over everything, the hunters nodded in agreement.
Not a single person harbored doubt. Song Jihoo had already done everything he could with just the Mental Barrier skill alone.
The most crucial thing at that.
“All units, begin entry!”
At the lead hunter’s cry, twenty-seven people began moving toward the massive Stone Door.
“Entering!”
Song Jihoo watched the entire column vanish into the darkness beyond the Stone Door, then walked toward one of the stone pillars at the edge of the plaza.
Without bothering to brush away the dust on the ground, he simply dropped down and sat.
He placed both hands neatly on his knees, rested his back against the cold stone pillar, and slowly closed his eyes.
Two windows activated in Song Jihoo’s consciousness.
The right showed Eun Seo-jin’s vision. The left showed Marcus’s.
As a flood of sensations and vast quantities of information poured unfiltered through the two Mental Connections at once, his neural pathways screamed and throbbed.
“Keep watch, would you? I need to concentrate.”
“Leave it to me.”
But it was manageable. Song Jihoo narrowed then relaxed his brows, using the motion to regulate the strain on his mind.
The Labyrinth as seen through the Mental Connection was grotesque, unlike the safe zone.
The ceiling was impossibly high, and the walls bore crimson stains as though saturated with blood.
The hunters’ footsteps bounced off the walls and scattered in all directions, but the echoes refracted abnormally, making it impossible to judge direction.
While everyone moved tensely down a very long straight corridor toward its end.
Song Jihoo organized his memories from previous runs through this Labyrinth. If it started with a straight passage….
‘Everyone, get ready to scatter. The Labyrinth’s going to split us apart.’
The moment Song Jihoo’s instruction was relayed through Marcus and Eun Seo-jin to the entire raid.
Boom…!
A tremendous mechanical sound echoed up from deep underground, as if massive metal gears were grinding together.
Boom… Grrr-grrr-grrr….
“Stay tight! Remember the Labyrinth protocols! Check communication the moment you scatter!”
In Eun Seo-jin’s vision, blood-soaked stone walls began writhing and moving like living creatures.
The hunters formed groups with whoever was closest, and as the walls moved, they began carving the hunters apart.
“Everyone, ready!”
The hunters’ murmurs reached Song Jihoo through the hearing of Eun Seo-jin and Marcus.
Walls rotated, advanced, and crossed, warping the very structure of space itself.
The previously open passage ahead sealed shut in an instant, while blocked walls cracked open and formed a spiral staircase.
Despite their efforts to stay together, the formation fragmented into groups of four or five almost immediately.
“What… what’s happening in there?”
“The Labyrinth has begun to move.”
“Ugh….”
The hunters gripped their weapons tightly at the faint sounds drifting through from beyond the gate.
Fervently hoping that everyone would return unharmed.
The Seventh Return’s Collector of Calamities
Author
: Song Tan
Publication Date
: July 13, 2026
Publisher
: Asys Media Inc.
Editor
: Asys Media Editorial Team
Address
: 10F Urban Bench Building, 325 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Email
: [email protected]
※ This work has been published by Asys Media Inc. in accordance with the copyright holder’s agreement,
No part of this content may be used in any form or by any means without the permission of the publisher and author.
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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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