The Regressors are Trying to Kill Me

[Translator - Hestia]

[Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 5

I approached the greenhouse.

Thud.

With each step I took, the surrounding space rippled ominously.

Thump.

A sensation as if something was burrowing deep into my body— resonating intensely, then fading away.

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' has successfully defended against the mental magic 'Ah, I had that appointment.'】

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

【"This is the limit for a 7th Rank Ascender."】

"No, this is more than enough. I'm always grateful."

The low-level mental defense magic I had set up in my previous life was still working fine.

If an ordinary person approached this place, they would suddenly remember something urgent and turn back.

Of course, it was at a level that most Awakened could withstand.

I had focused more on concealment than effectiveness.

It didn't matter.

I had separate countermeasures in place for Arch-Awakened.

Creak.

I opened the door of the old greenhouse and stepped inside.

The moment I took a step, the surrounding space transformed.

Rustle.

The piles of dry leaves and shriveled vegetable scraps on the floor vanished as if they had never been there.

The ceiling, so low I couldn't straighten my back— rose until its peak was out of sight, and the rusty iron pipe frame transformed into ancient Greek-style stone pillars.

In an instant, I stood before a majestic marble temple in an endless expanse of darkness.

【Would you like to enter the 'Warehouse of the Sun'?】

【Y / Y】

The only choice here was 'Yes'.

I moved my finger.

Ching!

A golden magic circle engraved with countless ancient characters and numbers appeared in multiple layers before my eyes.

Authentication.

If I made a single mistake, all the A+ Rank Guardians I had brought from the Tower would be alerted, and even the me before this transformation would have to fight with everything I had to escape alive.

Of course, unlike a public certificate, it wasn't that complicated.

"By the stars."

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' has prepared Halo authentication.】

Ching.

A miniature version of the same brilliant halo that floated above my head appeared on my palm.

I pushed it forward and inserted it into the center of the golden magic circle.

Click.

【Halo authentication in progress....】

【3. 2. 1.】

【Authentication complete】

The notification I was expecting followed, and the golden magic circle disappeared.

Once again, a sense of relief and satisfaction washed over me.

Even in this state, I was still me.

I climbed the stairs and entered the temple.

Ding!

【"Was your warehouse always this big?"】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' exclaims in awe.】

【"As expected, you had it all planned out."】

"It's all thanks to the Star's grace."

I replied humbly, looking around.

Standing at the entrance of the warehouse was the A-grade artifact, 'Mirror Reflecting Desires.'

Currently, my only desire was to yell at the self-proclaimed Regressors, asking how the so-called Rankers could be collectively cursed to the point of not recognizing their own master's face. So, I closed my eyes and passed by it.

...For some reason, I thought I saw a reflection of myself burning a certain clock, but I must have seen it wrong, right?

That thought quickly vanished.

Because the Great Constellation had asked a question.

【"Really?"】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' asks with a sly grin.】

"How could I dare lie in front of you?"

I answered cheerfully and opened the bag I had brought.

Between the marble pillars of the temple, stacks of 50,000 won bills, 3 kg gold bars, and high-purity refined mana stones were piled up like a pyramid.

The easiest thing to liquidate was, literally, cash.

But Hong Wolha didn't seem like the type to simply say, 'Wow! Brother, you're amazing! How did you do that?' if his brother suddenly brought a wad of cash.

I don't mind it being troublesome.

If Hong Ilha was that simple-minded, he would have died a long time ago.

I carefully stacked the refined mana stones in the bag and took only one bundle of cash.

"Ugh."

The bag full of mana stones was too heavy for this body to carry.

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' sheds tears at your weakened state.】

【Focuses on the veins bulging in your arms.】

Such a disgrace.

I put it down for now and went further inside.

The core of my warehouse wasn't this petty cash.

* * *

Baekya quickly passed by the display cases filled with artifacts and various consumables.

【"Wouldn't one of those be useful?"】

'This is where I store items that were appraised as high-grade but whose functions remain a mystery to me. They possess potent magical energy, so mishandling them could lead to catastrophic consequences. If I were to wish to become the strongest again and all the Awakened stronger than my current self perished, the nation I've dedicated 13 years of my life to protect would be left vulnerable and defenseless.'

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' is impressed by your deep thoughts.】

He stopped in front of a display case filled with various elixirs.

"I'll start here."

He opened one display case and took out what looked like dried jerky, which was actually dried tree bark.

【Dried Giant's Tendon】

【Effect: Increases Strength by 1 each time it is consumed.】

【*This effect only applies when Strength is below 99.】

Strength increases by 1 every time it is consumed.

It was a tremendous effect, but the key was the sentence after the '*'.

'*This effect only applies when Strength is below 99.'

Strength 99.

It seemed like a high number, but in the Hunter industry, a mere 100 Strength wouldn't even be considered combat-ready.

However, if he could somehow process this to raise the upper limit to 200 or 300, or even higher, the story would change completely.

Even now, countless mages and alchemists were striving to erase or overwrite that sentence.

And Rankers like Baekya, believing that such a day would come, stored these elixirs with ambiguous effects.

Creak.

Baekya quickly opened a few more display cases.

【Remnants of a Spirit】

【Ownerless Shadow】

【Lungfruit】

They were all elixirs similar to the 'Dried Giant's Tendon.'

Each increased mana, agility, and health, respectively.

"..."

He grabbed a handful of them and poured them into his mouth.

Crunch!

Once more, and then again.

Energy spread throughout his body.

His blood ran hot, his forehead turned cold, and his heart pounded.

Crack, crackle!

He could hear the sounds of his joints stretching and growing.

The intense growing pains made his joints scream, but he didn't stop.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

【Mana has increased by 1.】

【Strength has increased by 1.】

【Health has increased by 1.】

【Agility has increased by 1.】

【Strength 18 ‣ 30】

【Health 17 ‣ 29】

【Agility 18 ‣ 30】

【Mana 15 ‣ 27】

Notifications about his stat increase filled one side of his vision.

"Annoying."

Baekya waved his hand to dismiss the notifications, but he was smiling.

Until just the other day, raising a single stat point required an astronomical amount of achievement points.

He couldn't remember the last time he had seen these notifications so refreshingly.

Then his Constellation spoke.

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' is curious about the taste and wants to try a bite of your elixirs.】

'No. Please don't.'

【"After all I've done for you, you can't even do this much?"】

【Rolls their eyes and rummages through their pockets for artificial tears.】

Baekya hesitated for a moment, then grabbed a handful of the mixed elixirs and held them up in the air.

'If you insist, then try it. But remember, I warned you!'

3.

2.

1.

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' spits out the fragments of the lowest-grade elixir in disgust. Frantically searches for water, turning everything upside down.】

'I told you not to.'

Hong Baekya let out an awkward laugh.

The Dried Giant's Tendon was sticky like taffy and had no taste.

The Remnants of a Spirit tasted like chewing on styrofoam, the Ownerless Shadow was like boiled seaweed, and the Lungfruit was spicy and bitter.

Combined, they were utterly disgusting.

【"To think I let my Chosen One eat such things! This is an excessive trial. What is the point of my existence!"】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' is filled with guilt and anguish.】

"No, please don't blame yourself. From now on, I need your help."

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' senses what you're thinking.】

【"Are you crazy?"】

Baekya shook his head.

【Strength, Mana, Health, and Agility have reached 99.】

【You can no longer increase your stats with the lowest-grade elixirs.】

A notification appeared in the corner of his vision, stating that all his stats had reached 99.

[PR/N: This quick?! 💀💀]

His eyes now held an intensity distinctly different from that of an unawakened person.

Those eyes were fixed on another drawer.

"Did you think I came all this way just to reach a measly 99 in all stats?"

【"...."】

"At the very least, I need to be strong enough not to get beaten up everywhere."

Baekya held his miniaturized holographic Halo up to the drawer to unlock it.

'Huh?'

【%#@?】

【Correcting error....】

Since it was an artifact drawer, it displayed the number of times it had been opened so far. The numbers briefly appeared jumbled before returning to normal.

He was momentarily flustered but relieved that the contents were fine.

【Fallen Dragon's Heart (C)】

It was a twisted, heart-shaped lump of red flesh covered in pebble-like scales.

Even though it had been extracted a while ago, it was still pulsating.

【Description: The heart of a fallen dragon who retreated underground.】

【Effect 1: Increases all stats within a maximum of 300.】

【Effect 2: Grants a skill related to dragons.】

【Effect 3: May contract 'Scale Disease,' a curse of the fallen dragon.】

The stat increase was significant, and the random skill granted was usually something decent related to dragons.

However, the side effect was the possibility of contracting 'Scale Disease,' which gradually transformed the consumer into a scaled monster before ultimately killing them.

It was an elixir that no one dared to consume due to the high risk.

Like the previous elixirs, efforts were continuously being made to remove Effect 3, but there had been little progress so far.

Of course.

"You'll help me, right?"

【"I will always be by your side, watching over you."】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' nods.】

This didn't apply to him, the world's number one, chosen by the most radiant star.

* * *

"Huff, huff."

Baekya laid on the warehouse floor, breathing heavily.

Sweat dripped down his forehead.

Ding.

【You have successfully undergone Body Transformation (Unorthodox).】

【Congratulations! You have not been afflicted with the fallen dragon's curse.】

【You have acquired the passive skill 'Hot Blood (C+)' as a dragon descendant. Increases Health and Speed by 25% at the start of combat.】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' praises your tenacity and boldness.】

A message announcing his success blinked in the corner of his vision and then disappeared.

Sizzle!

The waste products that Hong Ilha's body had accumulated over the years seeped out and burned away with a sizzling sound.

"Success."

Baekya said with a cheerful smile as he slowly rose to his feet.

Swish.

Armor-like abs flexed between the burnt and torn clothes.

Baekya's eyes shimmered with a faint red light.

His facial features had also undergone a noticeable transformation.

His forehead became more prominent, his brow bones more defined, his eyes deeper set, and his jawline sharper— giving him a more distinct overall impression.

His entire body was now covered in muscles that bulged like ship ropes, and his height had increased by more than a handspan.

But the most striking change was the halo that appeared above his head.

Hum! Hum! Hum!

The simple, white ring-like halo had transformed into a complex pattern resembling a red mandala.

The symbol of the world's number one, 'The Sun' Baekya.

From F-rank to S-rank, all Awakened had a white halo made of light above their heads as proof of their connection to the 'Aitel System.'

It was a way to clearly distinguish Awakened from non-Awakened with the naked eye.

Moreover, when an Awakened forms a contract with a Constellation, the color and shape of their halo change according to the Constellation's emblem.

Ding.

【"It seems the time for the sun to rise again is approaching."】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' puts on a villainous air and lets out a sinister laugh.】

"Of course."

Baekya felt the power pulsating in his heart and slung the bag over his shoulder.

"There's no such thing as an eternal night, is there?"

The bag, which he couldn't even lift properly earlier, now felt so light he couldn't tell what was inside.

'Siyeol, it seems I won't need to wait that long. I will definitely find out who cursed you and made you betray me.'

It seemed his story wasn't over yet.

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]