The 7th-Run Regressor Collects Calamities - Chapter 69

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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 69. A Stroll (1)
At the same moment, somewhere beyond Korea.
Tap, tap, tap.
In the lightless underground, a measured rhythm of footsteps echoed through the darkness.
Yet the man navigated through that blackness as though the depths were his own home, moving with practiced ease until he reached the deepest point, where he knelt and raised his head slightly.
“A report has come from the Korea branch. First—those heretics will be entering the Gate soon, we’re told. A B-Rank Gate in Korea called Echo Cave.”
“Excellent… Have someone verify it directly. Confirm whether they actually enter that dungeon at that specific time. We ought to verify the truth of it, of course.”
“Shall we not handle the heretics separately, then?”
The kneeling shadow carefully opened his mouth. As the Priest’s eyes gleamed, the one making the report bowed his head as if pressing it to the earth.
“If we act hastily, the existence of the Seed may be exposed. Do not commit the error of losing sight of what is great while fixating on what is small.”
“My apologies! As for the second matter… a report states that the critical element of his treatment appears to be the equipment in a specialized treatment facility. A special ward is in operation, and access to that sector is under strict control.”
In the darkness, a set of pristine teeth glimmered faintly.
“Mechanical equipment, then….”
The Priest’s voice remained as gentle as ever.
“So that’s how it was… I had wondered how a mere human could enter an Ordinary-Rank dungeon at all… It never made sense.”
Both what the Shepherd suffered and what the Collector suffered must have been accomplished through some method discovered via this machinery.
‘Could it be that field of Magical Engineering that’s been spoken of recently in America?’
Mental Corruption was the prerogative of a Sovereign—the process of distinguishing the Chosen.
Yet the very notion that a mere human could heal it was an unsettling variable that grated not only against the Priest, but against the Apostles themselves.
But if it were a machine, the matter changed entirely. If human technology had happened to touch something by chance, that was merely an accident.
After all, the development of this planet’s scientific civilization had often produced results beyond their own predictions.
‘Yes. That should have been the case from the beginning.’
Not a miracle, then, but something that could be destroyed and seized at will—a tool.
“Humans are truly wondrous, aren’t they? Machinery, no less… And at the same time… I find myself curious about the equipment in that facility. Where was it made? What does it look like?”
As the question was resolved, certainty hardened, and arbitrary interpretation began to layer upon it.
“And we should refine the quality of the intelligence coming in.”
“I will increase the network accordingly.”
If the vital point were a facility or a tool rather than a person, it could be seized or destroyed and that would settle it.
‘Still, we must verify. Certainty is dangerous. There are too many variables. We’ve never received information about such machinery existing.’
The Priest did not know that he was swallowing a needle that Song Ji-hu had laid for him, and he swallowed it whole.
“Give that child more water.”
The Priest commanded softly.
“The Seed is growing very well indeed.”
That meant Han Do-yun. The Priest’s words were an order to elevate Han Do-yun’s rank within the sect.
“All things for His glory… And… a message has arrived from the United States.”
“Speak.”
The Priest’s head tilted slowly.
“The field is nearing ripeness, we are told.”
The field. An euphemism used among the Apostles.
A vast farm for the Sovereign—where fragments were sown into human souls and nurtured on the fertilizer of despair.
That one field, now, had ripened on the opposite side of the globe.
“The Harvest approaches, they say….”
A faint excitement tinged the voice delivering the report.
A great Harvest. The long-cherished desire of the Apostles, the gathering of the greatest tribute to the Sovereign, was finally drawing near.
“Indeed, indeed….”
In the darkness, the smile at the Priest’s lips deepened further.
“The great Sovereign has waited so long….”
The Priest’s two hands came together as if in prayer.
“May this offering ripen most rich and crimson.”
The Priest’s prayer echoed low through the darkness.
“To the Seed, water; to the field, Harvest; to the Sovereign, glory….”
He believed without doubt that all things were unfolding according to their rightful course.
***
At last, the day of Gate entry had dawned.
The destination was a B-Rank Gate in Pyeongtaek, south of Gyeonggi Province—Echo Cave.
In the early morning parking lot before the Guild building, preparations for the expedition were in full swing.
Yim Jae-hyeok, fitted in new breastplate armor, twisted his body this way and that to test it, while Eun Seo-jin silently checked the sword at her waist.
“Going together like this feels fresh and pleasant, doesn’t it? Almost like an outing.”
Ayase Haruka, on the eve of her first Gate entry ever, looked around with her eyes bright with mingled nervousness and curiosity.
Only Matsumoto Leo, who had appointed himself her bodyguard, was frowning as though bearing the weight of all the world’s worries.
“We can do it because our guild is understaffed.”
“Exactly. Most guilds this size would’ve expanded their roster to hundreds by now.”
It was the path every major guild in the world was taking: bigger, wider, more.
“We prefer a small, elite force.”
“That suits Zero Point well enough.”
“Just to be thorough, I’ll brief you again. The Pyeongtaek Echo Cave is a limestone cavern dungeon with maximized acoustic properties. Mostly bats and crustacean-type monsters spawn there.”
Yoon Young-su continued the briefing before departure.
“The louder the combat noise, the more monsters from across the entire cave converge on you. The more noise you make, the more waves snowball in.”
Conversely, if they cleared it quietly, it would be a textbook B-Rank difficulty—except that fighting without making any noise was impossible.
“Since you can’t just throw S-Rank hunters into a B-Rank dungeon, the Association was stuck. That’s where we came in.”
Three parties had entered ahead and been forced to retreat, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of reinforcements.
“We should prepare for considerable numbers pouring in.”
Yoon Young-su’s reason for taking on this Gate was crystal clear: solve the Association’s headache while extracting whatever he wanted in return.
“We’ve already told the Association that we’ll handle troublesome Gates like this one first. They had no reason to refuse.”
Using that as leverage, Yoon Young-su had secured for Zero Point Guild the condition that they could skip the Gate-Clear obligation in exchange for Song Ji-hu providing the Mental Barrier—and even extracted approval for overseas deployment in the bargain.
“Then, please take care out there.”
A satisfied smile played at the corners of Yoon Young-su’s mouth.
“Excellent.”
Song Ji-hu gave a short nod. This was what it meant to put people in their proper place.
“We’ll report back when we return.”
In the end, Yoon Young-su decided not to accompany them into the Gate, remaining at the company building instead.
Someone needed to watch how Han Do-yun moved, and they needed the image of Yoon Young-su—now of Zero Point Guild, not the Association—guarding the guild.
By the time the car departing from the underground parking garage passed through the main gate,
“Safe travels!”
Han Do-yun, having come out past the gates, bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle to send them off.
Through the car window, Song Ji-hu gave a light nod in return.
“He’s quite conscientious.”
“That’s not a bad thing.”
The employee driving, unaware of the details regarding the Apostles or Han Do-yun, smiled warmly and continued the drive.
***
Several people were already waiting at the Pyeongtaek Gate.
A supervisor dispatched from the Association, and the “hunters to guard outside the Gate” that Song Ji-hu had requested.
Mostly C and D-Rank hunters of lower grades, yet their eyes gleamed with anticipation.
They’d volunteered, hoping that perhaps the famous Zero Point Guild Master might grant them a Mental Barrier, or at least they might gain his acquaintance if fortune smiled.
And beyond them, lurking in blind spots invisible to ordinary sight—shadows of Kage and watchers of the Abyss.
While Song Ji-hu was inside the Gate, they would see, hear, and report everything happening outside.
“Thank you for your cooperation. It means much that you’ve volunteered your time.”
Song Ji-hu approached the hunters around the control line with a gentle smile.
With a light wave of his hand, each gathered hunter was enveloped in a translucent silver barrier.
“Oh!”
“Is this—is this that rumored—!”
As the tinnitus and ambient noise that had always gnawed at the back of their minds lessened, the hunters struggled to find words.
They were nameless C and D-Rank hunters. Large guilds would never have spared them a glance, yet Song Ji-hu had woven barriers around them without asking anything in return.
“T-thank you, Guild Master! Just give us an order! We’ll hold the line with our lives!”
“I simply ask that you keep things quiet.”
“Yes, sir! Don’t worry!”
None of them knew yet what butterfly effect this small kindness would eventually return.
But Song Ji-hu already knew, through several regressions, that such minor favors accumulated into a shield of tremendous power.
“Guild Master, procedures are complete. Shall we enter?”
The Gate entry procedures concluded amid favorable regard.
“Then let’s go in.”
Song Ji-hu, Eun Seo-jin, Yim Jae-hyeok, Ayase Haruka. And Matsumoto Leo.
Those watching from outside the control line swallowed hard.
“Another speed run?”
“Probably. Even if it’s supposedly tedious… their firepower is overwhelming.”
Finally, Song Ji-hu entered the Gate, hearing the murmurs of the crowd.
“It’s quiet.”
The safe zone was silent—as if it had swallowed every sound.
Milky-white limestone pillars stretched upward in the darkness, luminous as bone.
A single droplet of water fell from the ceiling.
Tap.
What should have been a single drop of water amplified manifold, echoing long and hollow through the cave.
A space where even light footsteps or breathing carried with startling clarity.
The scrape of armor meeting armor, the clang of a scabbard swaying—sounds so trivial and minute that under normal circumstances they’d go unnoticed became threats here.
“Not the most welcoming place, is it?” Eun Seo-jin murmured, her voice barely audible.

“May blessing reach us all.”
Ayase Haruka was the first to move. A gentle chime sounded as her buff enveloped the entire party.
“What the—?! My body feels like it’s going to float away!”
Yim Jae-hyeok flexed his body this way and that, amazed at how light his armor, shield, and weapon felt—several times lighter than usual.
“Mental Link.”
Song Ji-hu’s Mental Link connected to Eun Seo-jin and Yim Jae-hyeok.
“Let’s move out. Try to keep the noise to an absolute minimum,” Song Ji-hu said.
The party left the safe zone and crept slowly toward the mouth of the cave.
The moment grotesque, chitinous monsters emerged from the dim darkness—
“I’ll—!”
Yim Jae-hyeok’s voice burst out loud, a reflex born from habit.
I’ll—I’ll—I’ll—
His words echoed through the entire cavern.
“Oh…”
And in that instant, dozens of gleaming red eyes snapped open simultaneously from the darkness all around them.
Yim Jae-hyeok clapped his hands over his mouth a moment too late.
Despite what they’d been told in the briefing, the habit ingrained in his body had escaped before he could stop it.
[Jae-hyeok.]
Then Song Ji-hu’s quiet voice sounded in his mind through the Mental Link.
[…Sorry.]
What followed was the Wave Amplification mechanic unfolding in real time.
“All of you, prepare for combat.”
The sound had been released and couldn’t be taken back. At Song Ji-hu’s command, Yim Jae-hyeok raised his shield to face the oncoming swarm.
Boom—boom—crash—
There were too many monsters to count, yet they shattered like waves against a cliff.
Eun Seo-jin had already drawn her blade and was cutting through their ranks with fluid grace.
Though she was wielding her sword, the sound it made was so faint you’d almost miss it if you weren’t paying attention.
[Little sister’s sword work is incredible. Hoo… at this level, isn’t that more like the Blade Dance than actual combat?]
Before Eun Seo-jin could even properly showcase her new blade, the battle was already over.
[Everyone, stay silent. We need to coordinate as much as possible.]
Just as described—sound calls forth sound. Endlessly. If they continued like this, monsters would pour out without limit.
And meanwhile, an unexpected problem had begun to surface in the Mental Link.
Though Yim Jae-hyeok had closed his mouth, he hadn’t stopped his thoughts—and his endless internal chatter was broadcasting through the Mental Link network to the entire party in surround sound.
[Man, being quiet is so weird, right?]
[Look at little sister’s back of the head. Even there, the blade work is flawless.]
Eun Seo-jin’s temple twitched.
[Jae-hyeok. Can you… think quietly too?]
[How am I supposed to think quietly?!]
Yim Jae-hyeok’s mind was never quiet for even a moment.
[But those monster shells didn’t look quite like crabs, you know? Now I’m suddenly craving soy-marinated crab.]
[……]
Song Ji-hu suppressed a quiet laugh and pushed deeper into the dungeon.
7th Return Reincarnator Collecting Calamities
Author
: Song Tan
Date of Production
: August 14, 2026
Publisher
: A.C.I.S. Media
Editor
: A.C.I.S. Media Editorial Team
Address
: 10F Urban Bench Building, 325 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Email
: [email protected]
※ This work is published by Acesis Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with the copyright holder’s contract,
and its contents may not be used in any form or by any means without the permission of the company and the author.
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UCI
: G720:N+A129-20260709064

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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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