The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 114

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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 114
Episode 114
Jin-heon couldn’t help but lack understanding of this situation.
He had never imagined that someone would show up driving a better car than his own.
As all eyes turned toward Jin-woo, he couldn’t maintain his composure.
For a moment, he ground his teeth before catching himself and restraining the impulse.
He managed to hold back, but the irritation was unavoidable.
How could he possibly afford such a nice car?
He had financed his own through a lease, but even that was a burden on his finances.
Yet Jin-woo’s car was better than his?
More than twice as expensive?
“Did Jin-woo’s family originally have money?”
“I doubt it.”
“We weren’t super close, but I knew his family wasn’t that wealthy.”
“They say truly rich people show off less, right? Maybe that’s what this is?”
Hearing the chatter from a few of the others, Jin-heon found himself wondering the same thing and studied Jin-woo more carefully.
Had his family originally been wealthy?
He scrutinized Jin-woo from head to toe.
He was dressed entirely in luxury brands from head to foot.
At first glance, they were clearly extremely expensive designer brands.
And moreover.
‘Insane!’
Jin-heon recognized the watch Jin-woo was wearing and swallowed hard involuntarily.
An Omega watch. A fairly prestigious watch brand with a considerable price tag.
Most of them cost at least 500, but the one Jin-woo wore was over 1,000.
Since Jin-heon had begun researching luxury watches right after signing with the Han-sung Guild, he could identify it immediately.
In contrast, what did he have?
A Tissot watch.
Tissot wasn’t really an inferior brand, to be honest.
But it was definitely a tier below the Omega Jin-woo was wearing.
Perhaps because of that.
He felt diminished somehow.
But Jin-heon refused to be discouraged by such things.
He cleared his throat and spoke to the others.
“Alright everyone, let’s gather up. We can head into that room over there.”
“Oh! Sounds good!”
“Let’s go, let’s go.”
“We shouldn’t overstay our welcome here anyway.”
They all filed into the room they had reserved in advance.
It was a spacious room, easily accommodating the roughly twenty people present.
When the kids gathered and each took their seats.
Jin-woo sat down beside Young-jin, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
I never expected to draw this much attention.
At least it was fortunate that many of them didn’t recognize the luxury brands Jin-woo was wearing.
So I was grateful not to attract notice on that front.
Still, feeling apologetic for arriving later than expected, I spoke to Young-jin.
“Hey, sorry I’m late.”
“Didn’t expect you anyway, bastard.”
“Haha, must’ve been awkward sitting alone?”
“Nah, not really. The kids and I just talked since it’s been a while.”
I see.
Jin-woo muttered that and glanced around.
I hadn’t noticed while talking with Young-jin.
But most of the kids were watching Jin-woo rather than talking among themselves.
The concentrated gazes could have felt burdensome.
Yet Jin-woo found it more awkward than anything, given how long it had been.
“Haha, it’s been a while, everyone.”
The moment Jin-woo spoke, they all bombarded him with questions as if they’d been dying to ask.
What happened.
Was your family always wealthy.
What have you been doing.
With everyone asking relentlessly, I couldn’t gather my thoughts.
That’s when Jin-heon stepped in first.
With an expression that didn’t look particularly pleased, he stood up and spoke as if to calm everyone down.
“Guys, you’re putting Jin-woo in a tough spot.”
“Oh! S-sorry!”
“We got too excited.”
“We weren’t thinking straight, were we?”
“Sorry, sorry.”
Everyone calmed down at Jin-heon’s words, which was a relief.
Jin-woo also let out a sigh of relief and shook his head.
That startled me.
Really.
But then.
Suddenly Jin-heon smirked and opened his mouth.
“Since everyone seems curious, let’s take turns asking questions one by one.”
A slightly mischievous expression.
But the reality was different.
If Jin-woo showed even the slightest weakness, he would subtly attack.
And Jin-heon intended to be the first to exploit it.
“Then let me ask the first question!”
“Oh! Jin-heon?”
“Sounds good!”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Jin-woo also gave a nod of consent.
With his approval secured.
Jin-heon asked first.
“Was your family originally wealthy?”
The question that had been nagging at him most.
If the Kim family had been wealthy from the start.
Then he wouldn’t be falling behind at all.
After all, he had made his own fortune.
It was only natural that he couldn’t compare to someone born into wealth.
He tried to console himself with that thought.
But unfortunately, that consolation was about to shatter completely.
“No, my family was just ordinary. I just succeeded at what I’m doing now.”
“Ah.”
Jin-heon answered and slumped into his seat as if his legs had given out.
It was over.
That bastard was also self-made?
Then there was nothing to fall back on.
As Jin-heon sat down, the person next to him stood up.
It seemed they were going to ask questions in clockwise order.
Jin-woo nodded as if he understood.
The questions continued one after another.
Like a press conference.
“You said things went well, but can I ask what kind of work you do?”
“Oh, I work for Pantheon?”
“Wow! That’s insane!”
“Didn’t Jin-heon join the Han-sung Guild?”
“We have two classmates who hit it big with Pantheon!”
“But honestly, this guy’s success is even bigger than Jin-heon’s.”
Everyone was amazed.
Hearing that, Jin-heon could only think that he had lost.
How was it that this guy also made it big the same way?
Could it really be such a coincidence?
He wondered if the man was just forcing it with luxury goods or a nice car.
But it didn’t seem that way.
You could tell from a person’s expression and behavior.
At first glance, he looked completely at ease.
That wasn’t the kind of thing one could force or fabricate.
Watching Jin-heon’s expression—so reminiscent of his own guild master, Yuna—he found himself shaking his head without thinking.
There was no way around this.
But then.
“Oh! Jin-heon joined the Han-sung Guild?”
Jin-woo suddenly turned the tables and asked a question instead.
Hearing those words, Jin-heon lifted his head blankly.
He soon collected himself and answered.
“Yeah, uh. I did join the Han-sung Guild. Why?”
“Oh, I know someone from the Han-sung Guild too. I should ask them about it next time I see them.”
“I see.”
Someone he knew was also in the Han-sung Guild?
He’d never felt this helpless before, no matter how absurd things got.
Jin-heon lost all motivation right then and there.
Even as his friends continued to shower Jin-woo with attention afterward, Jin-heon could do nothing about it.
Most of all.
The meal cost for the reunion that Jin-heon had originally planned to pay for.
Jin-woo volunteered to cover it himself.
“Ah, since I’m late, let me treat everyone to the first round!”
“Wow! Insane! Absolutely insane!”
“Hehehehe! Jin-woo, thanks for the meal!”
“Really, thanks for the meal!”
“We can order as much as we want!”
“Yesss!”
“Hey! Everyone, loosen your belts!”
“Crazy, we’re eating like it’s our last meal!”
“Ahhh!”
Everyone erupted in excitement and chaos.
They began ordering this and that.
The reunion had truly descended into pandemonium.
Jin-heon wanted to enjoy himself too.
But watching Jin-woo, he couldn’t find any joy in it.
Meanwhile, Jin-woo remained completely oblivious to Jin-heon’s expression.
He simply sat beside Young-jin and spoke to him with a mischievous grin.
“Hey, isn’t Hye-jung over there?”
“Are you insane?”
“Go talk to her~.”
“I said no, so back off, please.”
“Hehehehe.”
Jin-woo laughed and spent a good time with his friends after so long.
Of course, most of my friends’ attention was focused on me.
They’d all tried Pantheon before.
So they were genuinely curious about how I’d struck it big in Pantheon.
My friends asked me all sorts of questions.
Like how to obtain good skills.
How to choose good Dungeons.
How to hunt effectively, and so on.
They asked about many things.
And naturally, I answered each question thoughtfully.
While everyone was thanking me, I could see it.
Young-jin and Hye-jung talking with each other.
Watching them, I remembered something.
‘That guy needs to make things work with Hye-jung.’
Before my regression, Young-jin had even married Hye-jung.
So even without my help, they’d probably work things out on their own.
But I still wanted to help them get together a bit faster.
That was the feeling I had.
Anyway, while I was enjoying the reunion like this.
I noticed Jin-heon, whose expression had been gloomy the whole time.
‘Hmm, he looks really discouraged.’
I looked at him with concern, wondering if it was because of me.
I thought to myself.
‘I should ask Yuna about this.’
Of course, I’d need to know Jin-heon’s nickname first.
But I’d already heard it earlier when someone asked, and I remembered it vaguely.
It was Vain, I think.
I’m sure I remember correctly.
Thinking I’d ask Kong Yuna once I got home and logged in.
The reunion night deepened.
Well, it goes without saying.
Though I received most of the attention.
Unfortunately, I had no romantic encounters with any women.
‘Is he trying to court someone too?’
‘But if he becomes that successful, would he even want to see us?’
‘Doesn’t it seem like it’s out of reach?’
‘Let’s all just leave him alone.’
‘That sounds good.’
Whispered conversations exchanged secretly among the women.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t possibly have noticed.
So once again, I was a lonely man.
* * *
The class reunion yesterday went on until the third round.
Jin-heon tried to loosen up and enjoy himself partway through.
But it wasn’t particularly fun.
It couldn’t be helped. When was the last time I felt this pathetic?
Even looking at my guild master Han Yu-na didn’t evoke such feelings.
She was someone who had always lived an overwhelmingly successful life.
Rather, the fact that Jin-woo was a classmate made the blow all the more severe.
I had done well enough myself.
But there was no comparison between me and Jin-woo.
Those who boasted and showed off like this had a stronger tendency to compare themselves with others than anyone else.
So feeling more pathetic was inevitable.
‘Don’t worry about it.’
Somehow, I’d shake it off and move forward.
That’s what I thought as I tried to move on.
Guild attendance time would be coming up soon anyway.
So I checked my capsule to prepare.
I needed to enter in the best possible condition.
Just as I was making these preparations.
My phone began ringing urgently.
It appeared to be my team leader.
“What’s the matter?”
I had informed them in advance about yesterday and taken the time off.
Had some problem come up?
Since I was still new, I felt a sudden chill of fear.
In the past, I wouldn’t have been afraid.
But ever since meeting Jin-woo yesterday, my self-esteem had plummeted.
It couldn’t be helped.
With slightly trembling hands, I answered the phone.
Then came my team leader’s agitated voice.
-Vain!?
“Yes, Team Leader. I was just about to log in anyway. What’s the matter?”
-Yuna said for you to come in right now.
“Yes, yes!?”
What was this about?
The guild master suddenly summoned me?
This made no sense.
It was like a company chairman calling in a new employee who hadn’t even been there a week.
I felt bewildered, wondering what this could mean.
A moment of instinctive tension.
Jin-heon quickly regained his composure and responded.
“Y-yes. I understand.”
-Hurry and log in, then head to the Guild Headquarters.
“Yes!”
After answering with vigor, he ended the call and hastily connected to the capsule.
Then he rushed toward the Guild Headquarters.
As if everyone had known beforehand, they cleared a path for him.
Most notably, Yuna’s exclusive guild members—those known as her personal guard—escorted him to the Guild Master’s Office.
What on earth was this about?
Jin-heon entered the Guild Master’s Office in bewilderment.
There, Yuna, with her striking beauty, greeted him with a subtle smile.
“Ah, you’ve arrived.”
“Y-yes! G-Guild Master! I heard you were looking for me!”
“There’s no need to be so tense. Someone I know asked me to take good care of you. You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
“Huh? Y-yes?”
Anyone could see he hadn’t understood at all.
And in that moment.
A memory surfaced.
-I know someone at the Han-sung Guild.
‘Damn! That person was Yuna!?’
Jin-heon’s eyes widened dramatically.
Watching his reaction, Yuna smiled subtly and spoke.
“I look forward to working with you going forward.”
“N-no, that’s not it!”
“And please don’t forget to speak well of me.”
“Y-yes! Of course!”
Jin-heon answered thus, and with his mind reeling, he thought of Jin-woo.
He had come to realize, with painful clarity, that he was nowhere near Jin-woo’s level.

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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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