The Regressors are Trying to Kill Me

[Translator - Hestia]

[Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 13

Kuru-ru-rung!

A thunderous roar echoed through the misty forest created by the 'Ghost Princess's Castle.'

A translucent pirate ship crashed into the decaying forest, billowing green smoke.

The broken mast dissolved into the air.

"---, ---?!"

"-----!"

The ghosts tied to the ship scattered in confusion, only to be pulled back into the ship as if bound by invisible chains.

Thud.

I trampled across their deck, heading towards the captain's cabin.

A triangular captain's hat bobbed up and down inside the round window.

Knowing it was listening, I gestured provocatively.

"Come out."

"..."

"A captain should go down with his ship."

Just as I had— Fate, whether good or bad, must be met.

There was no running away forever.

Creak!

As if it understood, the door to the captain's cabin swung open boldly.

【Ghost Captain Kidd (C+)】

【Even in death, Kidd is an object of fear and respect to his crew.】

Thud.

Eyepatch, hook hand, peg leg, coat, and all.

A man who looked like a collection of pirate stereotypes stood before me, a green pipe in his mouth and a cutlass in his hand.

"Captain, forgive my rudeness for boarding without permission."

I pretended to take off my hat and bow.

"Get off my ship!"

Ghost Captain Kidd shouted, kicking off the deck.

Thwack!

His charge was so powerful it felt like he was folding the ground beneath him, and the three successive sword strikes he unleashed while spinning his body were executed with masterful precision.

The distance closed in an instant.

The soul-cutting cutlass swung at my neck, side, and thigh in turn.

Chwaaaaak!

But I was a veteran of veterans, having conquered 20 floors alone.

The attack trajectories a creature with two arms and two legs could display were already predictable.

A lightning-fast strike was coming from my 2 o'clock.

Whoosh!

I deflected the flat of the cutlass with the back of my right hand and spun my entire arm.

Snatch!

I tucked the cutlass under my armpit, twisted my body, and bent my wrist to force the sword to drop.

Of course, Captain Kidd, being a ghost, tried to phase out of my grasp at that moment.

【"Now!"】

"Yes, I know."

【Law of Light】

I ignited a white flame in my left hand and thrust four fingers into Captain Kidd's heart.

"Hello and Goodbye!"

Stab!

"Urgh!"

Captain Kidd's single eye contracted.

Shock and admiration towards me raced across his wrinkled face.

Bang!

His green astral body and the fallen ghost ship burst like balloons pierced by needles.

The story of a pirate captain had ended.

【Captain Kidd has been defeated.】

【The ship and captain share the same fate.】

As expected, the captain also served as the ship's core.

Tssss.

I landed on the ground beneath the vanished deck, feeling the mana returning to my heart.

"---, ---! (Run away! Run away!)"

"-----!? (You'll disappear forever!)"

The ghosts, banshees, wraiths, and phantoms no longer dared approach me, only screaming incomprehensibly as they flew through the fog.

'That's a relief.'

When I use Law of Light, a portion of the annihilated enemy's mana returns to me.

Also, since my constellation was sharing a third of the mana consumption, it wasn't a particularly difficult battle.

However, unlike my past body with its endlessly overflowing mana core, the mana in my heart was now running low, like clothes getting soaked in a drizzle.

'That's enough for today.'

Considering the journey back, it was time to retreat.

I opened my status window to check today's gains.

I zoomed in on the important classes and stats for now.

+

【Status Window

2. Class: Pyromancer (D+ ‣ C-)

7. Stats:

【Strength 185 ‣ 195】 【Agility 205 ‣ 220】

【Health 220 ‣ 230】 【Mana 240 ‣ 255】】

+

I raised my eyebrows in satisfaction.

It was a decent— no, an excellent result.

【"You've already reached C-rank, even though I didn't help much."】

【"At this rate, you might even aim for A-rank within this year."】

【Your constellation 'Sunny' praises you.】

【"I'll sponsor you with some stat points. It's only a single digit, but be satisfied, as I'm a 7th-rank Ascendant."】

Ding.

【Mana +5】

【Mana 255 ‣ 260】

Receiving the bonus from my constellation made me shrug my shoulders proudly.

I carefully examined my class and stats.

Even with the '-', being C-rank meant I was officially a 'Hunter'.

Not a porter, a laborer, or some half-baked bodyguard, but someone who could make a living hunting monsters and climbing the Tower.

Now, except for Strength, all my stats were in the 200s, and Mana had even surpassed the 250 mark.

I still had a long way to go to reach my former prowess, but this was a solid step in the right direction.

I turned towards the exit of the gate.

That's when I noticed the ghosts fleeing from me.

* * *

The ghosts weren't scattering in all directions but were gathering in one place.

Among them, I noticed a few Phantoms glancing at me.

Their gazes weren't the kind that said, "We'll deal with you later," but rather the eyes of scouts gathering information on their opponent.

They were clearly relieved.

The enemy's relief meant our tension.

I needed to check it out.

"My Star."

【"Can't you wait until tomorrow or the day after and check when you're fully prepared?"】

【Your constellation 'Sunny' is displeased.】

"Doesn't every second count in matters of life and death?"

【"Even 1 or 2 points of mana can mean the difference between life and death. Don't even think about taking risks until you get another ring for returning."】

I thought for a moment.

My constellation was right.

I only have one life.

So.

"I'll just check it out."

【"Then why did you even ask!"】

【Your constellation 'Sunny' writhes in agony, twisting their body in all directions.】

I felt sorry for my constellation, but I've lived like this for 15 years.

I never overlooked even the smallest risk factors.

I always made sure to thoroughly resolve any issues that arose.

And I never ran away from my duty, no matter what.

Baekya's pride was too strong to cower and tremble in fear even after falling to this state.

Tadadadak!

With movements honed on countless battlefields, I dashed across the fog-covered ridge.

【Insight】

I used the skill to see through the thick fog.

"!"

My face hardened involuntarily.

Not only was I short of breath due to the considerable mana consumed, but the scene before me was too devastating.

The vast reservoir was filled with ghost ships.

The wide valley between the two hills was teeming with ghostly warhorses and knights.

And at the forefront of those knights stood a Dullahan commander.

He was giving some kind of speech to the knights.

Judging by the atmosphere, I could understand it even without my constellation's interpretation.

"---! -----!"

Every time the headless knight shouted something, the ghost knights and captains cheered, waving their spears and swords.

It was just like when I led my disciples on Tower raids.

They were clearly trying to break the seal and get out.

The emission itself... had already begun.

The sealing ritual, the 'Artificial Samdocheon,' was merely preventing them from coming out.

This situation itself, where the gate had been left unconquered for months, was unusual in the first place.

Then why hadn't anyone closed this gate?

The answer was obvious.

Because I wasn't there!

I remember receiving a schedule report from my secretary.

Originally, there was no need to send in other Hunters; I was supposed to erase them all with a single blast of Law of Light.

The budget and manpower for the sealing were planned with my participation in mind.

But then I died overnight.

It was inevitable that the tasks related to this gate would be left in limbo.

Siyeol, couldn't you have waited just until the schedule for closing this dungeon?

I shook my head, recalling the face of my beloved disciple and irreplaceable comrade.

"-----!"

The Dullahan commander shouted something and then raised his longsword to the sky.

Poooo!

A Banshee trumpeter blew a long, charging horn.

The pirate captains unfurled the sails of their ghost ships, and the ghost knights grabbed the reins of their skeletal warhorses.

Clack. Clack. Clack.

The Ghost Princess's army began to move.

I pondered for a moment.

If an incident occurs in a Grade 2 dungeon, a Ranker, someone within the top 100, will definitely come.

As far as I remember, this city is under the jurisdiction of the 5 major guilds, the 'Iron Blood Legion.'

And the guild master of the Iron Blood Legion was one of the regressors who followed Cheong Siyeol.

If he comes and sees my halo, I'm finished.

I can't hope for the optimistic outcome of getting away with it.

A natural question arises in my mind, one that any human would have.

Do I really have to report this?

Isn't there a watchtower just a bit further ahead?

But my hand, contrary to my thoughts, was already preparing the 'Fire Arrow' signal flare.

"..."

It can't be helped.

In the end, everything proceeds according to inertia.

This is how I live as myself.

I can't just rely on that watchtower.

I can't turn a blind eye to the potential crisis of a city being destroyed.

"My star."

【"Why seek advice you won't even listen to?"】

"I'm not seeking advice, but help."

【"I knew it."】

"Don't you always want to see me doing this?"

【"...I won't answer that."】

I heard a chuckle, "Ahaha."

【Your constellation 'Sunny' rises.】

"Thank you."

I shot the 'Fire Arrow' into the sky.

Peeeeeeeee!

The fire arrows soared upwards in succession, making a loud noise.

A few seconds of silence passed.

Eeeeeeeeeng!

A dizzyingly loud siren wailed in response.

Signal flares announcing the emergency shot up from the watchtowers all around.

The sharp sound felt like cheers supporting my choice.

"---, ---!"

Was it because their surprise attack was discovered before it even began?

Big and small ghosts rushed towards me.

Wraiths, ghosts, phantoms, banshees, ghouls...

"Kraaaaah—!"

The sight of their dance alone was enough to distort my vision, and their screams threatened to cloud my consciousness.

【Your constellation 'Sunny' successfully blocks the status abnormality 'Confusion'.】

【Your constellation 'Sunny' successfully blocks the status abnormality 'Fear'.】

But my constellation, as always, illuminated my path.

I, too, stepped forward along that path.

"-----!"

A skeletal soldier charged at me with a mace in hand.

A zombie soldier thrust its long spear.

Even a ghost with its jaws split open to its waist.

To block the enemies surging like angry waves...

【Wall of Fire】

I raised a wall of flames.

Boom!

An explosion devoured dozens of ghosts in an instant.

Five banshees flying overhead crumpled and fell, their whole bodies contorted.

Whoosh!

The flames, their momentum now somewhat subdued, stretched left and right, creating a wall spanning over ten meters.

"-----!"

A group of ghost soldiers, charging at me, danced in agony within the flames before melting away.

"Hah."

A sigh of relief escaped my lips.

Saaaak!

The wall of fire split open, two meters wide, creating a path for a massive ghost to emerge.

【Dullahan (C+)】

Clack.

The headless ghost knight, the commander Dullahan, pointed its longsword at me, its head tucked under its arm.

Once, my gaze alone would have forced it to submit.

But now, it was an enemy that could kill me.

* * *

Our fight didn't last long.

I had no intention of going head-to-head with a C+ rank monster in my current state, with my mana nearly depleted.

Even with the same C+ rank, this was a different league compared to someone like the pirate captain, Kidd.

I didn't rely on honed skills, but on the skill bestowed by my constellation to finish this.

The moment the Dullahan swung its sword down, I used 'Descent from the Crimson Flame.'

Boom!

As my body transformed into flames...

The Dullahan's sword stopped mid-air.

Keegik!

It was an outstanding technique, rivaling its immense strength.

But I was one step ahead.

I sprung from the 'Wall of Fire' blazing behind the Dullahan, my body arced like a bow.

Whoosh!

I reached out and snatched the head the Dullahan was holding under its arm.

Without looking back, I dashed outside the gate.

The enraged torso followed, shaking the ground, but its massive body wouldn't be able to catch up to me easily.

I threw the Dullahan's head into the sealing barrier, the 'Artificial Samdocheon.'

The barrier might be crumbling, but it should have enough power left to incinerate a single entity.

Splash!

The dead man's head trembled, then sank into the bottomless water.

The Dullahan's body stiffened, then went limp and collapsed.

I, too, collapsed on the spot.

"I'm dying."

Thump! Thump! Thump!

My heart screamed.

Not a drop of mana remained.

Beads of sweat trickled down my temples, past my ears, and down my neck.

My lungs ached as if they were tearing.

As my vision blurred, a sweet notification sound reached my ears.

Ding!

【Skill Acquired: Dullahan's Gaze (C)】

【The knight Dullahan, who carries its head under its arm, possesses a wide field of vision. Using this skill, you gain flaming eyes that function as an 'Observer'.】

It was a new skill.

【"You've done really well. You're amazing, my contractor."】

【Your constellation 'Sunny' praises you.】

A gentle breeze carrying the scent of sunshine brushed past my cheeks.

It was a welcome respite.

I murmured, "Thank you," under my breath.

Beeeeeep!

A mana signal flare shot up in the distance.

The Iron Blood Legion hunters were coming.

Their guild master, the Regressor who was there when I was killed, would be with them.

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]