The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 164

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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 164
164
After Count Zapin made his request of Jin-woo, I waited for a moment outside Lord’s Castle.
I could see a group that appeared to be knights approaching me.
Their numbers weren’t particularly large.
Exactly five.
The Count had mentioned it would be difficult to deploy a large force, after all.
Five seemed like a reasonable number.
From the look of things, the one standing at the very front appeared to be the commander.
Though he didn’t seem to be the Knight Order captain.
He looked far too young.
A knight captain serving Count Zapin, a noble belonging to the military faction, couldn’t possibly look that young.
Even in other lords’ castles, when someone is called a knight captain, one typically imagines seasoned veterans.
At minimum, they should appear to be in their late thirties to early forties, yet the one who looked most like a commander among the approaching knights appeared to be at most in his late twenties.
In this world of Pantheon, not everything follows that rule, but generally speaking, age was almost always a reliable indicator of ability.
From what I could tell, he was definitely not the knight captain—perhaps a candidate for the next captain?
He didn’t even seem to have the rank of vice-captain.
Though given the situation where they couldn’t send their main forces, this was probably the best alternative they could muster.
While I was thinking such thoughts,
the one in heavy armor standing at the very front of the knight group stepped forward and looked at me, his eyes narrowing as he looked me up and down.
Well, well, well?
This is interesting.
I could tell exactly what kind of personality he had just from looking at him.
Well, let’s see how this plays out.
I decided to observe how things would unfold.
As expected,
“I am Legard. I hold an important position in the Blue Lion Shield Knights serving Count Zapin.”
“Ha, pleased to meet you. Let’s do our best.”
Even though his favorability should have increased as a noble, such words came out of his mouth.
He was clearly quite lacking in manners.
Moreover, Count Zapin must have given him some hint beforehand, yet he came out so carelessly—that said everything.
Surely he was feeling that he couldn’t understand the situation?
From the look of him, it seemed he didn’t even have the rank to be called directly by Count Zapin and receive orders.
Count Zapin must have spoken to the knight captain, and the captain relayed it appropriately.
Yet he came out like this despite his superior clearly having given orders.
It was utterly exasperating.
And look at his attitude now.
When I responded in kind, his expression twisted and he clearly showed displeasure for anyone to see.
This is really amusing.
‘Since the ruins are within the territory, the level should be manageable.’
In other words, those knights were also of that level.
Well, Count Zapin said various things, but ultimately…
It all came down to the Count systematically sending knights of an appropriate level—not high-level ones he could command—which was what it meant.
So I thought to myself.
A level that could be resolved within my territory?
Frankly, that meant I could handle it alone.
With that assessment in mind, I could push back against this rude knight who might become my ally.
If he acts disrespectfully, I’ll simply return the favor.
“Well then, let’s make this a good expedition.”
I didn’t dwell on my attitude, but…
Look at the way I spoke, as if I were the superior here.
This was getting more interesting by the moment.
“Shall we go?”
I spoke as if asking why they were hesitating, and all the knights looked to a man named Legard.
Seeing how they all deferred to him, regardless of skill or position, he seemed like the heir of quite a prestigious house.
Then I’d find out soon enough.
Those heirs of prestigious houses always advertise their origins like country-of-origin labels on pork.
And sure enough.
“Hmph, listening to you from the start is grating. I tolerate this only because the Knight Commander asked, but how dare a mere commoner treat me, the second son of House of Count Philia, so casually.”
Words dripping with pride and a sense of superiority.
Seeing that, I nearly burst out laughing, but barely held it in.
No, I couldn’t.
I had to endure this.
Endure what?
My laughter.
If I was going to act, I needed to commit to the role.
I steeled myself and turned my body to glare at Legard.
At the same time.
“What did you just say?”
I unleashed the most menacing aura I could muster.
The knights behind Legard trembled and retreated backward.
But Legard, consumed by his pride, didn’t cower at my display—instead, he burst out indignantly.
“How dare you!”
Ah, there it was.
That “how dare you” they loved so much!
This was it.
I laughed inwardly while putting on the most menacing expression I could, and began my act.
And it was none other than.
“Hmph, to utter ‘how dare you’ before me. How pathetic.”
“What did you say?”
“Merely the second son of some count, and yet you dare raise your voice before me.”
“…?!”
Legard’s expression shifted to one of bewilderment.
And seeing Legard like that, Jin-woo spoke once more.
“True nobility is not proven by words. How foolish.”
It was a statement that carried unmistakable dignity.
The other knights swallowed hard, while Legard still clung to his stubborn pride.
Did he refuse to accept the truth?
Or was it simply the obstinacy of not wanting to lose ground in this moment?
Either way, he remained a man consumed by arrogance.
Watching this unfold, Jin-woo chuckled softly, exactly as planned.
Almost mockingly.
Seeing that, Legard’s fury reached its peak, and he drew his blade.
“I’ll make it abundantly clear who holds superiority on this expedition. A mere adventurer playing at nobility—I’ll show you the difference when facing true aristocracy!”
He drew his sword and shouted such words.
Did knights truly lack all sense of decorum?
Jin-woo shook his head in disappointment and clicked his tongue.
Of course, it was all an act.
In any case, as Jin-woo reached for his own blade, he spotted a fallen branch nearby and picked it up instead.
Then he spoke.
“This should suffice.”
“Wha—?!”
Feeling utterly disrespected, Legard charged forward with blinding speed.
His skill was indeed formidable, just as his confidence suggested.
Clean, precise movements rarely seen among those in the mid-to-late Level 100 range.
It was no empty boast that he held a position of responsibility in the Knight Order.
But what did it matter if his technique was polished and his strikes powerful?
His opponent was Jin-woo.
I watched Legard push off the ground and charge toward me.
His speed was remarkably exceptional.
Clad in full plate armor—the symbol of knighthood—his weight was equally formidable.
Most would be crushed and sent flying backward upon impact with such a charge.
But Legard was wielding a sword as he charged.
Swinging a blade at that weight and speed?
The destructive force would be considerable.
Most notably, light erupted from his blade.
Sword aura?
Considering the power level of his tier….
He was coming at me with lethal intent.
Then perhaps I should meet him appropriately.
Jin-woo infused the Dark Light Sword Technique’s aura into the branch as he thought this through.
Indeed, it was the strongest skill among basic attacks.
The branch quickly turned black.
It was swung toward Legard’s blade as he charged forward.
They were about to collide.
“Repay your insult with death!”
Unlike Legard, who shouted those ominous words, Jin-woo simply moved the branch with a subtle grace.
To any observer, it looked as though the branch would snap and Jin-woo himself would be cut down.
Only then did the other knights move to stop Legard, but—
It was futile.
The moment had already passed.
The distance was too great, and Legard had charged forward in a critical instant.
What kind of knight charges in so recklessly?
Jin-woo watched the moment the blade and branch collided with that thought.
Then—
Remarkably, the branch stained with black aura struck the blade and remained completely intact.
More than intact, even.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
Legard barely caught his blade as it was sent flying, his grip torn by the impact.
Had he truly felt such recoil from a mere branch?
For a moment, his expression became blank with incomprehension.
Had his sword aura wavered?
No, that couldn’t be.
Look at the ominous light still radiating from his blade.
And yet—
He had merely gripped his sword.
He could see the long line traced in the ground as he was pushed back.
Gulp.
What was this?
An incomprehensible, bizarre result.
His opponent Jin-woo wasn’t even holding a sword—just a branch—and yet this collision had occurred.
How could such an outcome be possible?
He couldn’t understand it.
But one thing was certain.
Jin-woo was extraordinarily strong.
Legard recognized this truth in his mind.
But recognition and acceptance are different things.
“Hiyah! Die!”
Without fully comprehending, Legard charged forward again.
But watching Legard, Jin-woo shook his head.
I couldn’t believe he was this far gone.
Normally, by this point, he should have come to his senses.
With that thought, Jin-woo let out a soft chuckle and gripped the branch again.
The branch still brimmed with dark energy.
Legard flinched at the sight of it.
He had witnessed tremendous power.
But he didn’t believe it was Jin-woo’s own strength.
‘M-magic. Yes. If I just avoid that, there’s nothing to fear.’
That’s what he believed.
Or rather, what he wanted to believe.
Seeing Legard like that, Jin-woo looked at him with an expression of considerable surprise.
For someone with such a foolish mind, his swordsmanship was quite exceptional.
No wonder he’d risen to such a prominent position in the Knight Order at his age.
He lunged forward with an extended foot, wielding his sword with rigid force.
Should I humor him a bit?
With that thought, Jin-woo stepped back slightly to appreciate the swordplay unfolding before him, observing the technique.
Then.
He charged based on an overhead slash, and Jin-woo evaded it.
He advanced his foot again, steadied his stance, and thrust forward once more.
The movements were clean, flowing like water.
Jin-woo lightly parried the thrust with the branch and slipped past the attack.
He breathed steadily, withdrew one foot backward, and used it as a pivot to spin his body rapidly.
A remarkably clean horizontal slash.
Jin-woo thought that if he weren’t who he was, he might have taken this blow. He grinned widely and swung the branch upward, meeting the sword mid-slash and lifting it.
Piiiiiiing!
The sharp metallic ring echoed out as the sword was thrust upward.
But Legard’s eyes gleamed ominously as he cried out.
“Falling Slash!”
At the same moment, the sword aura blazed like lightning, and the raised sword began to descend.
The blade fell with speed like a ray of light.
If struck directly, it seemed no one would escape unscathed from such power.
Legard’s arm, whipping like a whip, seized the descending blade and brought it down in a cutting motion.
It was an extraordinarily fierce attack.
A sword strike with enough force to cleave through stone.
But Jin-woo, watching this, simply angled the branch diagonally to deflect it, then spun his body and thrust the end of the branch swiftly toward Legard’s solar plexus.
Thud!
A very gentle thrust of the branch.
But.
The result was anything but gentle.
“Gaaahhhhh!”
Legard shrieked as the branch pierced him, sending him flying backward in a tumbling arc.
The front of his armor was completely caved in, crumpled and dented beyond recognition.
Truly, a devastating display of power.
Jin-woo watched Legard with an amused smile, then turned his gaze toward the other knights.
The knights flinched, trembling visibly.
Observing their reaction, Jin-woo posed a question.
“Does anyone else wish to try?”
Seeing the knights shake their heads rapidly, Jin-woo broke into a deeply satisfied laugh.

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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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