The Regressors are Trying to Kill Me

[Translator - Hestia]

[Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 12

'No. You're going to make your brother study for the civil service exam while you go traveling?'

'No, that's not it.'

'What do you mean it's not it! There's no other way to interpret it!'

'I'll just get some fresh air and come back! Okay?'

'Don't tell me you're still hung up on that and planning to go into some Tower or gate?'

'Of course not. Do you think I'm that stupid?'

Inside the taxi.

Vroooom.

I chuckled, recalling the conversation from yesterday.

Maybe telling my brother I'd leave him to study for the civil service exam while I went traveling was a bit too much.

If I think about it as leaving Siyeol to handle the National Assembly audit while I went to a hotel buffet...

Wouldn't he have pulled out a knife and attacked me by then?

Maybe Wolha's reaction was actually quite mild.

But no matter what, I need to distance myself from him.

It's for my sake, but also for his.

As a Ranker myself, I know.

How much Rankers look down on ordinary people.

If necessary, they're the kind of people who would carpet bomb my entire neighborhood without a second thought.

He probably wouldn't want to get involved with me and end up getting hurt.

"We're almost there."

The taxi driver spoke up.

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked out the window.

In the distance, green smoke and thick fog were swallowing up a reservoir and several hills.

Unlike normal fog, it didn't clear even at midday and was so dense that you couldn't see an inch ahead.

A Grade 2 gate in Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province.

'The Ghost Princess' Castle'.

It had been sitting there for months, a few kilometers away from the city hall and apartment complexes.

As if feeling tense just by looking at it, the taxi driver gulped and asked.

"It's so eerie just looking at it. I hope it's being controlled properly, right?"

I intentionally responded cheerfully.

"Yes, it should be. That's what I told them to do."

The whole way here, I tried to give off the impression of someone working for the government, from my tone of voice to my attire.

"Oh my, you must be a high-ranking official."

"Just a messenger."

"Haha. If there's any problem..."

I knew well that gates were the embodiment of fear for ordinary people.

I needed to reassure him.

"It's nothing serious, so don't worry too much."

Gates are one of the symbols of the Aitel era.

The white towers rising in the capitals of each country, the Awakened with colorful rings above their heads, and the gates.

Of these, the two that directly harm humanity are the Towers and the gates.

Of course, the Tower has a bit more light than shadow.

Once a floor is successfully cleared, it becomes friendly to humans, and climbing the floors and achieving feats grants both individuals and the country large and small rewards.

On the other hand, gates are just darkness— tragic ghost stories.

From the moment they are created to the moment they disappear, they harm humanity through three stages: absorption, emission, and collapse.

If a Grade 1 or 2 gate erupts, an entire country could literally disappear overnight.

Countries with weak administrative power like Africa and South America, or places with vast wilderness like China, India, and Russia, suffered the most damage.

And that place, the 'Ghost Princess's Castle,' has already entered the second stage, 'emission.'

* * *

"Have a good day."

"Thank you."

I got off in front of the city hall.

The taxi disappeared around the corner.

I took off the cheap name tag necklace I was wearing and shoved it into my pocket.

I also ruffled my hair, which I had styled to look gentle.

Of course, I didn't pretend to be a government Awakened for the sake of that taxi driver.

It's just in case that taxi driver posts something on some community site.

An unidentified Hunter is heading to the Ghost Princess's Castle.

The moment such a post goes up, the Hunters who have been keeping an eye on me would start moving.

I really wanted to avoid that.

I walked towards the reservoir, which had been encroached upon by the gate.

Until I left the city, I didn't feel any problems, but the moment the large buildings disappeared, the atmosphere changed completely.

[Warning! No Entry]

The road leading to the reservoir was completely blocked by barricades.

Layers of safety tape fluttered in the wind.

But even without such signs, no one would want to enter that path.

The temperature and the wind were different.

The temperature seemed to be more than 10 degrees lower than the surroundings, and the wind felt like a clammy tongue licking my skin.

Multiple layers of sacred ropes, large and small talismans, and iron pillars engraved with spells could be seen everywhere.

Seals.

Officials from South Korea's Gate Management Department, working alongside Awakened from various guilds, had sealed off this entire mountain.

It was a solid seal that ordinary people couldn't enter even by mistake.

But I'm not an ordinary person.

With the help of my constellation, I broke through the anti-personnel boundary magic designed to keep out drunkards and YouTubers who were trying to illegally enter the gate for incomprehensible reasons.

【Your constellation 'Sunny' has successfully defended against the mental magic 'Ah, I remember that promise.'】

【Successfully defended against the mental magic 'Ah, I need to use the bathroom.'】

【"Don't worry about such trivial things."】

I also broke through the barrier designed to keep out Awakened who were trying to illegally enter the gate for incomprehensible reasons.

【Entering the Eight Gates Sealing Formation for Awakened.】

【"Because I'm still by your side, watching over you."】

【Your constellation 'Sunny' points to the Life Gate.】

I even crossed the seal that confined the Ghost Princess.

【Would you like to cross the 'Artificial Samdocheon'?】

【Beyond the Samdocheon is not 'this world'.】

【The government of the Republic of Korea takes no responsibility for any incidents that may occur to individuals who enter beyond this point without permission.】

The last place I had to cross was the guard post.

Guild Hunters, subcontracted by Seongnam City, were stationed in the watchtower inside the Artificial Samdocheon, monitoring any abnormal phenomena occurring in the 'Ghost Princess's Castle' 24/7.

Of course, there's no chance of getting caught.

This gate should have been closed more than a month ago, and the personnel should have been withdrawn.

The chaos in the industry caused by my death is severe.

There's no way the handover of the management of this gate was done properly.

I want to applaud those Hunters just for showing up to work.

As expected, I was able to approach the watchtower without any hindrance.

I eavesdropped on their conversation for a moment.

"...So when is this place closing?"

"Wasn't Baekya supposed to come and close it? But with him dead, it's just been left hanging."

"There's no way anyone would take over..."

"They say all the Rankers and high-ranking guilds are suspicious of each other and on edge right now."

"There's even talk of a civil war."

"Tanks are rolling into Seoul, you know? Heh heh."

"You think this is funny?"

"So, is this seal really safe? I've been having nightmares every day lately."

"You don't trust the seal made by the Magic Tower?"

"No, but still, we've never left an unconquered Grade 2 gate open for over a month, have we?"

It was 100% as I expected.

Leaving their anxious voices behind, I walked into the thick fog.

"Huh? Didn't something just move?"

"Must be a false alarm. No one was scheduled to come today."

Green smoke rose from various spots.

All the trees, big and small, seemed to have turned pale— their bark bleached white as they crumbled and collapsed.

Their bare branches swayed as if screaming.

If Hunters specializing in Spirit Summoning had come, they might have actually heard the screams.

I went deep enough that the watchtower was no longer visible.

The sound of waves from the reservoir could be heard in the distance.

【"The energy of the dead is strong here."】

【Your constellation 'Sunny' advises caution.】

I nodded.

Yes, my star.

I think so too.

Translucent green figures flickered among the trees.

【'Ghost (D)' appears.】

At the same time as the Aitel system notification rang out.

Whoosh!

The figure lunged at me.

"-----!"

A snake-like tongue shot out from between its four long, green jaws.

* * *

Ghost-type monsters are generally considered difficult to deal with, regardless of their rank.

Since physical attacks don't work on them, the majority of Awakened, who are physical types, become useless.

There are consecrated bullets and swords, but it's impossible for 'everyone' to have 'enough' of them 'all the time'.

'Possession' or 'Bewitchment' can also lead to allies fighting each other.

If ghosts were to pour into a city in masses and start possessing non-Awakened people indiscriminately, ending the situation would become increasingly difficult.

As a result, ghost-type monsters are enemies that Awakened find tiring just to imagine.

That was usually the case.

【"That's right! That's my contractor!"】

【Your constellation lets out a refreshing cheer.】

But not for Baekya.

"Come."

He swept both hands grandly, like a veteran orchestra conductor.

Red magical power surged, and the white halo above his head blossomed into a radiant red mandala.

【Law of Light】

Faaaaa!

A white light burst forth, engulfing the ghost.

"---, ---!"

The ghost let out a shrill scream, its entire body contorting.

The translucent green form melted like cotton candy caught in the rain.

Baekya smiled faintly and walked deeper into the forest.

Originally, the power of flame was closely associated with purification and dispelling evil.

Moreover, Law of Light was a skill that could even distort laws.

He could burn ghosts as he pleased.

Ding!

【'Ghost (D)' appears.】

【'Wraith (C)' appears.】

【...... appears.】

【The number of hostile entities is overwhelmingly large. Please be careful.】

As if to rebuke his arrogance, Aitel notifications flooded his vision.

"---, ---!"

Ghosts in green hoods, wraiths resembling corpses draped in rags, banshees with mouths gaping open to their stomachs.

Countless ghosts rose from the ground, the sky, and between the trees.

Saaaaa.

The forest, once filled with white mist, now seemed to be overflowing with green ghosts.

But Baekya looked at those ghosts not as enemies, but with eyes that saw sweet honey jars.

'In this world, there are matchups that cannot be overcome by numbers.'

【"I'll assist you, so go wild. Don't you need to relieve some stress too?"】

'Would that be alright?'

【"Do you know who I am? Even as a 7th-rank Ascender, I can provide some mana assistance."】

【Your constellation 'Sunny' will bear 20% of the mana consumption.】

【"It's been a while since I've seen such a lively scene."】

Being chosen by a constellation and having the 'Ascension Level' rank displayed on the status window meant that.

Even now, at the 7th rank, he could communicate with his constellation and receive various sponsorships and assistance in battle.

'Thank you, my star.'

Now there was nothing to hesitate about.

'Just like in the old days.'

【Law of Light】

Hwaaaaak!

White beams of light shot out explosively from Baekya.

There were so many that it looked like a hemispherical force field was expanding.

"----!?"

"---, ---?"

The ghosts that touched the light scattered like fireflies and crumbled.

The spirit energy generated from the ghosts' demise transformed into mana.

That mana flowed directly into Baekya's body.

One side of his vision filled with Aitel messages.

【Mana increases by 1.】

【Mana increases by 1.】

【Mana increases by 1.】

In the past, he would have waved his hand irritably to dismiss them, but today he welcomed them with a satisfied smile.

'This is it.'

Perhaps that smile was provoking?

【Phantom (B) appears.】

【There is a large difference in rank with the hostile entity. Please be careful.】

A powerful entity, significant enough for Aitel to send a notification, emerged.

Saaaaa.

The ghosts and wraiths parted to the left and right, as if to welcome the Phantom's procession.

An impressive entity with a medieval-style cloak and a masquerade mask covering its eyes.

Just as the high-ranking ghost was about to reveal its true form.

"Spit out your mana!"

Hwaaaaak—!

The Phantom's head was erased, as if bitten off in one large chunk, by the light of Law of Light.

Baekya walked past the falling Phantom towards his next target.

'Completely annihilating a B-rank is still too much, but this much is nothing.'

White light surged upwards.

Aitel notifications once again filled his vision.

【You have hunted a high-ranking entity with a significant rank difference.】

【You have acquired the skill (passive) 'Underdog (C+)'.】

【Attack power and defense penetration are increased by 10% against enemies with a rank difference of 2 or more.】

Baekya had rarely encountered enemies stronger than himself in his life.

'What a strange skill to give.'

He briefly felt a strange sense of wonder at the unfamiliar skill type.

【Warning! Warning! Warning!】

【'Ghost Ship' appears.】

Kugugugugu—!

A medieval-style sailing ship emerged from the reservoir.

A translucent green ship, like the other ghosts.

Its sails were tattered, but the deck was filled with ghosts wielding cutlasses.

[TL/N: Cutlass— a type of saber, a slightly curved sword.]

【"Looks delicious."】

【"I'll support you one more time. Just for 10 minutes, 25%."】

【Your constellation 'Sunny' licks their lips.】

"Thank you, my star."

But neither the constellation nor the contractor showed any fear in their eyes.

Above Baekya's head, the red halo hummed, as if expressing his exhilaration.

"I'll reach C-rank today."

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]