The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 167

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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 167
167
The Ancient Tower.
And the Tower Master.
Just as it was true for the Ancient Empire of old, the current Empire found the Magic Tower and the Imperial Family inseparably bound together.
Simply put, the Tower Master was the highest authority within the Magic Tower and the most exceptional mage.
But in the Empire, it was different.
A member of the Imperial Family bloodline capable of wielding magic.
That was what the Tower Master truly was.
Rather, an irony—the most skilled mage of the Imperial Palace serving as chief archmage.
Ultimately, it funneled all power to the Emperor.
The Ancient Tower operated under the same principle.
-….
The Tower Master of the Ancient Tower.
He too was no exception.
Of Imperial bloodline.
Simultaneously, the most brilliant mage the Empire had ever produced.
But what use was any of that now?
Unable to perceive the Empire tearing itself apart from within, it had ultimately fallen to ruin.
Was this not a tragedy worthy of lamentation?
For countless ages, I have guarded this place, preserving the imperial seal.
Yet no one has ever sought me out.
Is this truly the end?
Lost in such thoughts.
For the first time since the Tower Master’s death, I sensed the presence of an intruder.
-…An intruder.
What purpose could it serve now?
I harbored no faint hope that our bloodline might have endured.
Surely it was merely some foolish tomb raider.
I had assumed the spirits and monsters dwelling within the tower would dispose of them readily.
But what is this?
One of the mages who once served under me.
Bringing the intruder directly to my presence?
What could this possibly mean?
So many ages had passed that I had long since abandoned all expectation.
Could some unforeseen change have occurred?
I cannot say for certain, but surely not enough time had elapsed.
Yet I doubt my subordinate would have made such a blunder.
What in the world is happening?
Not long after that moment.
Soon I could see those standing confidently before me.
All of them bore appearances I could never have witnessed in my era.
Should I examine them more closely?
The Tower Master thought this as he scrutinized them intently.
I could tell the knights in the rear were unremarkable.
They possessed the strength of merely ordinary knights from my own time.
And so I dismissed them immediately.
Judging by the knights, the man standing at the very front might also be unremarkable.
I should harbor no great expectations.
But then.
—Hmm.
Upon seeing the man at the front, my thoughts shifted entirely.
Truly, an astounding power.
Can one even call it power?
Even as I found myself nearly mistaking him for a god, I could discern an aura far more supreme than any strength I possessed.
Yet I cannot fathom how that alone brought him to this place.
But then.
I beheld the soul of the man standing at the front.
Truly, a noble soul.
But that was not all.
I witnessed a soul resonance far too familiar.
A soul’s resonance like that of my own elder brother.
In other words.
—The soul of an emperor.
—Indeed so, Tower Master.
A conversation between the Tower Master and his subordinate Mage.
And the man standing at the front smiled.
But that was not all.
As I gazed upon the token the subordinate Mage presented.
I could discern it was the Emperor’s token.
The very token my elder brother, the Emperor, once possessed.
What are the odds that one bearing an emperor’s soul could obtain the Emperor’s token?
—Hah.
I thought this had all ended long ago.
The Tower Master closed his eyes as his eyelids began to tremble.
How long I have awaited this moment.
Yet I cannot know if this man is the legitimate Emperor of the Empire.
But with such a soul’s resonance and this token.
—It is difficult.
Truly, it was difficult.
One who carries the Emperor’s seal and resonates with the Emperor’s very soul.
Yet he was not of Imperial blood.
I, who possessed the bloodline of the Imperial Family more than anyone else, knew this truth better than anyone.
What was I to do about this?
The cursed Duke Baroque had brought about the Empire’s downfall.
I needed to topple the new Empire he had established and rebuild my own Empire anew.
The absence of a legitimate bloodline was truly a sorrowful matter.
How could I possibly resolve this?
It was while the Tower Master was lost in such melancholy contemplation.
That Jin-woo, standing at the very front, stepped forward.
* * *
Jin-woo could sense the Tower Master’s soul quite clearly.
He had never encountered such a powerful monster before.
If he faced Barkal again now, he was confident he could defeat him with ease.
But this Tower Master’s soul?
‘This won’t be simple.’
A competitive fire burned within him.
But if he were to unleash his full power, he might actually ruin the Quest itself.
[Ancient Empire Ruins]
*Description: After Count Zapin learned of his true identity, he conducted extensive investigations.
Through these efforts, he discovered ruins, and according to what is known, these ruins are said to contain an imperial seal left behind by an ancient Emperor.
Only Count Zapin, who carries the bloodline of the Ancient Empire, is said to know of this fact.
Before it is too late, please retrieve that seal from the ruins and present it to Count Zapin.
Should you do so, all other artifacts within shall become your possession.
*Mission: Find the imperial seal in the Ancient Empire Ruins and bring it back.
*Reward: Ownership of all artifacts from the ruins, and the ability to request one favor from Count Zapin.
This was an opportunity to extract even more artifacts or additional favors from Count Zapin, was it not?
That was precisely why I needed to be more cautious.
To fight once and reveal my full strength?
That would be far too advantageous for him.
It might be truly entertaining.
But the losses would be far greater.
It would be far better not to think about it at all.
Instead, as I watched the Tower Master wrestle with his dilemma, I too found myself contemplating.
‘It seems he is worried that I am not a legitimate successor.’
Certainly, that would be a problem.
But.
There was actually a way to resolve this.
I gazed at the Tower Master with a subtle smile playing at my lips.
And.
“I understand what concerns the Tower Master.”
-…Hmm.
A look that invited me to continue.
Jin-woo immediately grasped the Tower Master’s expression and pressed on.
“You’re worried that I’m not of Imperial bloodline, aren’t you?”
That was certainly it.
I understood this well too.
The Tower Master must have noticed that I bore the mark of the Ancient Emperor, and with the First Title of Ancient Emperor, my soul resonated with the Emperor’s wavelength.
At the same time, they would have sensed that my blood did not carry that lineage.
In such circumstances, the concern was obvious.
But hadn’t that already been resolved?
-…That’s right.
“If that’s your concern, there’s no need to worry. That bloodline has continued unbroken.”
-What!?
“The bloodline of the Ancient Imperial Family has persisted. They’ve managed to survive as nobility within the Baroque Empire.”
-Hah! To bow before Duke Baroque and his ilk! I cannot even fathom the hardships they must have endured!
The Tower Master’s eyes blazed with fury.
Yet even as they spoke, it was clear they could scarcely imagine the depths of Count Zapin’s suffering.
Watching the Tower Master, I continued.
“I have no intention of becoming Emperor. It is only right that the legitimate heir inherit the throne. Yet I too have received the grace of the Ancient Empire. I will do whatever I can to aid them.”
-Aah.
The Tower Master nodded deeply, moved by my words.
To think I could obtain the Seal of Bi-won in this manner.
And then they asked.
-Then what is the name of this bloodline?
“They bear the name Zapin.”
-Ooh! Zapin!
-Aah!
Hearing the name Zapin, both spirits marveled, and I realized the lineage had indeed been preserved well.
Watching them, I smiled.
And the Tower Master, seeing my smile, seemed to reach a decision and opened their mouth.
-I shall entrust you with the Imperial Seal, placing my faith in you.
It was a momentous decision.
But seeing the Tower Master thus, I regarded them with considerable dissatisfaction.
As if asking whether there was nothing more.
In that instant, the Tower Master flinched in surprise.
Then, clearing their throat, they pondered carefully.
And suddenly, it came to them.
-And we too shall break free from the Tower’s bondage and lend our strength to our descendants.
For a departed spirit to break free from the Tower’s bondage is an extraordinarily difficult feat.
But why?
“Ah, I’m truly grateful for this. I’ll accept it with thanks.”
He spoke words of gratitude, yet.
Why was he sighing like that?
The Tower Master swallowed hard, still unable to comprehend the situation.
In truth, Jin-woo’s reaction shouldn’t have mattered much.
Yet for some reason, I had a nagging premonition that if I failed to satisfy Jin-woo, everything would fall apart.
Was that why?
My mind raced faster than ever before.
What exactly did Jin-woo want?
-Ah! I mustn’t forget to offer proper compensation to you for bringing me this information.
“Oh!”
Seeing his brightened expression, the Tower Master smiled as well.
And then.
-While these texts have become useless to us, I shall transfer all the books recording ancient techniques and the ancient grimoires to you.
“Ohhhhh!”
A most satisfactory negotiation came to its conclusion.
Along with the imperial seal, I had acquired a new faction.
* * *
“So now the Ancient Tower has come under your forces?”
“….”
“The Ancient Empire Quest seemed like it would be difficult, but if things go like this….”
“Sigh.”
Lee Yeon exhaled a sigh without thinking upon hearing the Secretary’s words.
Above all, Count Zapin was gathering various factions to strike at the Imperial Family.
Was it perhaps to balance things out that the current Imperial Family was written as corrupt?
He had managed to gather quite a number of nobles.
Perhaps because he understood Count Zapin’s favor so well?
They all appeared ready to move against the Emperor.
Among them were even dukes and marquises.
I could tell his faction had grown considerably larger.
But now the Ancient Tower was being added to the mix?
“This is insane.”
Wouldn’t the point come sooner than expected when the Imperial Family’s forces were overwhelmed?
Of course, for now it was still nowhere near that level.
But the most important thing was that I couldn’t know when this delicate balance would snap.
I had worried that Jin-woo was breaking things too easily.
But now, well, it didn’t matter anymore.
It felt more comfortable to think that the game had now slipped from my hands, regardless of how it would unfold.
What mattered now was ensuring that players could enjoy the game without inconvenience.
Of course, seeing what Jin-woo accomplishes makes my chest ache.
But when I think about it, isn’t it natural?
Content created with such tremendous effort, countless sleepless nights poured into its construction.
Only to have it shattered so easily in mere days?
How could my heart not burn with frustration?
Sometimes he doesn’t even take days—he obliterates it in a single day.
In those moments, I truly feel the fire of indignation.
But what can I do?
Jin-woo’s excellence is undeniable.
Once I acknowledged that, I could feel my heart finding some peace.
But then this happened.
[Divine Sword, Typhoon’s Isis has been completed.]
“…?”
“What?”
In that instant, both Lee Yeon and the Secretary stared at the message that appeared on the screen with bewildered expressions.
A sword they had all forgotten about.
Divine Sword, Typhoon’s Isis.
Both of them swallowed hard at the sight of it.
In that moment, Lee Yeon’s mind raced rapidly.
Divine Sword, Typhoon’s Isis.
Demonic Sword, Gram of Wrath.
And above all, the Dark Light Dual Sword capable of enhancing both of them.
The power gained from a single blade had transcended imagination itself.
“Ah.”
I had sworn countless times that I wouldn’t concern myself with this.
So why does my chest still burn?

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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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