The Regressor Can Make Them All

Chapter 478

Once everything had been settled at the Muren Monastery, Se-Hoon collected Kwang-Soo’s body and officially announced Doppelganger’s successful subjugation through the Heroes Association.

「Yesterday, at 6:00 a.m., Doppelganger of the Ten Evils infiltrated the Muren Monastery and attempted to murder all the monks. However, this plan was discovered preemptively and thwarted by Lee Se-Hoon and Ma Kwang-Soo. Unfortunately, Ma Kwang-Soo has fallen in the line of duty…」

Following the deaths of the Dream Demon, Apostate, and Demon’s Edge, Doppelganger marked the fourth member of the Ten Evils to die—sending not just the hero industry but the entire roar into a bigger uproar than ever seen before.

After all, until just last year, humanity had never thought the number of the Ten Evils would decrease. But now? Nearly half were gone.

“Now that Doppelganger is dead, that leaves the Elder Lord, Golden Wheel, Tuner, Beast King, Heaven Eye, and Puppeteer, right?”

“No one has seen Elder Lord or Golden Wheel in over twenty years, and Tuner and Beast King have disappeared since the Black Tower incident. So, realistically, doesn’t that mean only Heaven Eye and Puppeteer are left?”

“Isn’t that being a bit too optimistic…?”

“Hey, good news either way. Even if there are six left, this is something we couldn’t have even imagined in the past.”

Those nightmare-like monsters—beings that even the Perfect Ones couldn’t easily kill—were fading one by one. Humanity’s victory was drawing ever closer, making the world buzz with excitement. However, that naturally meant Kwang-Soo’s death drew far less attention than it should have.

“So, who is this Ma Kwang-Soo? I heard he used to be a famous hero before.”

“They say he used to work with the Emperor of Ascension before he became a Perfect One. Eh, when he comes back to life later, we’ll get interviews and articles about it then.”

Most believed without a question that Kwang-Soo would receive the Blessing of the Eternal. He, a high-ranking hero, was the one who took down one of the infamous Ten Evils. Surely, such a person would be revived, meaning they could just postpone their attention until that day arrived.

“Hm… I’m pretty sure it was around here.”

While one man’s death faded quietly into obscurity, Se-Hoon was leisurely drifting through the skies near Seoul. His brow was furrowed, having difficulty comparing the surroundings to the scenery he had seen in Kwang-Soo’s memories.

It should have been easy, considering he remembered the terrain and ridge news in detail, but nothing matched now that he had come.

I guess it makes sense. If two A-ranks went all out, they could easily blow away a small mountain…

It had also been forty long years, and considering how many battles had likely occurred in the area over that time, it made sense on second thought that trying to locate the spot by terrain alone was practically impossible.

I guess the only way left is to wait until sunset and use the stars.

So now what? Thinking that since he had come all this way and returning to Babel empty-handed just didn’t sit well with him, Se-Hoon decided then and there to spend the rest of the day wandering around Seoul while searching at a relaxed pace.

…Things have really changed, huh? Though it’s a little weird for me to think like that.

The thought filled his mind as he gazed down at the city below, watching the people between the buildings.

A child holding their parent’s hand, heading somewhere; students playing with friends on a school field; office workers rushing to hail a taxi with half-dried hair; elderly folks sitting on benches, deep in thought—each scene would have been unimaginable in the chaos after the upheaval that he was familiar with.

I wonder if this is what the first-generation heroes felt like back then?

Although he had seen the end of the world as a regressor, those who lived through the era from the very beginning had seen even more: the crumble, the rebuild, and the changes in real time. For them, Se-Hoon couldn’t help but think that the peace in his eyes was something they had longed for—and yet was also unfamiliar and distant.

It’s a bit hard to put into words… but this is a strangely lonely feeling.

Lost in thought, Se-Hoon was wandering around in the air, feeling like a castaway from the past, when his eyes caught sight of a child.

That’s…

Seeing the familiar flower in the child’s small hand, Se-Hoon immediately turned toward the direction the child had come from. Luckily, there were scattered flowers as markers that he could follow.

Wooosh-

He flew past the city, leaving it and arriving at an ecological park.

Swish-

A deeply familiar scene spread beneath him. The hill hovered over was covered in countless flowers in bloom, a vast spread even wider and more vivid than what he remembered from Kwang-Soo’s memories.

Taking it all in, Se-Hoon blinked in mild surprise before letting out a quiet chuckle.

Of course. No way a romantic like him would just leave a place of beautiful memories neglected.

Smirking, Se-Hoon headed toward the park entrance with the crowd of visitors.

“One ticket, please.”

Purchasing his entry normally, Se-Hoon walked in and strolled slowly up the hill. He passed by families, couples, and friends wandering the flower fields with joy. But he didn’t stop, heading straight toward the summit: the park’s most densely flower-filled spot.

Unlike the lower areas, the top was protected by fences and magic circles, with dedicated guards stationed nearby. But Se-Hoon just blended into the surroundings and quietly snuck in, not wanting to cause a scene.

This really is beautiful.

Under the night sky, the scenery felt mysterious. In the sunlight, though, it was like something out of heaven. Everything was warm, peaceful, and full of life.

Se-Hoon walked toward the center, brushing past flowers, enjoying it all until he stopped at the spot where Kwang-Soo and Ha-Rin had once stood side by side.

“Hmm. Not bad at all.”

Appreciating the view himself, Se-Hoon then melded his presence with the environment and pulled out several items from his void pocket: three swords, one colored jet black, one grey, and one pure white. And though they were only Rare-tier and Perfect-grade, each was finely crafted and looked impressive.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Se-Hoon stabbed each sword into the ground side by side—careful not to damage the surrounding flowers—and looked down at the headstone he had made himself.

“The Heroes Association president offered to clear your name and hold a state funeral, but I turned him down. I just couldn’t see you being happy with that, no matter how I thought about it.”

In life, Kwang-Soo had never sought attention for his deeds. That was just his nature. But more than that, Kwang-Soo had been deeply hurt by how Ha-Rin was publicly slandered with false accusations of collusion with the Demon Force, despite her fame.

That was why Se-Hoon forwent honoring Kwang-Soo as a hero and instead arranged things so Kwang-Soo could quietly leave with just the three of them.

“If you’re asking when you ever asked for this either… well, I don’t have an answer. I just wanted to do it for you. So please forgive your disciple’s little mistake.”

Smiling playfully, Se-Hoon took out a small wooden box from his dream storage and lit a flame in both hands.

Fwoosh-

Se-Hoon quietly watched the box and the ashes inside turned to smoke, scattering into the sky. He just watched and watched until the final ember died out.

Then, with the informal funeral—similar to the ones he gave fallen comrades before the regression—complete, Se-Hoon looked down at the three swords again.

“Oh, and starting today, I’m going to try following your advice.”

Revealing everything when the war against the Demon Force wasn’t even over yet… was no easy feat. Still, as Kwang-Soo had said, it was something he’d have to eventually do.

So, starting with the person he would meet today, Se-Hoon thought he would reveal the thoughts in his heart.

“Then again… maybe I’ll end up chickening out and glossing it over. But I’ll do my best. For now, at least.”

Before Kwang-Soo’s grave, Se-Hoon made a vow with a wry smile before transferring the barrier magic he’d set up around the area onto the three swords.

Woong-

The swords buried in the ground naturally vanished among the flowers.

“I’ll come again sometime.”

With that farewell, Se-Hoon turned to activate the power of Boundaries to head to his next destination: the Netherworld.

Cling-

A soft, clear chime rang in his ears. Hearing that familiar sound, Se-Hoon turned his head.

The flowers swayed gently in the breeze.

“You again with… your weird plays.”

Chuckling faintly, he turned back and vanished beyond the boundary.

Swish-

The flowers fluttered quietly in the wind, as if seeing him off.

***

Having crossed into the Netherworld, Se-Hoon made his way straight to the shoreline.

Swoosh-

Gentle black waves lapped against a beach of pristine white sand. It was the place where those granted a chance by the Blessing of the Eternal first set foot—a place colloquially known as the Shore of the Dead.

He gazed out over the black sea stretching beyond the horizon.

This is the last option left… I wonder how it’ll turn out.

The theory held up, and the last signs he observed had been encouraging. But whether it would actually succeed depended entirely on the will of the person involved. That alone made it impossible to speak with certainty.

In the end, all I can do is wait.

It would be boring, sure, but he’d experienced similar moments before regressing. With that thought, Se-Hoon simply sat down on the sandy beach and waited for a certain someone to appear.

Swoosh-

The slow crashes of waves filled the surroundings. To some, it might’ve sounded as soothing as a lullaby. But to Se-Hoon, that sound was no better than a funeral march.

To him, it was the sound that had accompanied both the world’s destruction and his own death. In short, it was nothing but an unsettlingly ominous melody.

It would’ve been better as a gate or something instead of an ocean.

Now that he was thinking about it, maybe, just maybe, the ocean too was a result of Wurgen’s authority reflecting his synesthetic mindscape—and thus causing the dead to appear from the sea.

As idle thoughts passed through his mind, Se-Hoon remained seated in wait. In the meantime, hundreds of people had emerged from the ocean and walked inland alongside the undead.

“…”

Se-Hoon watched them. Even with the Demon Force lying low, people still died from accidents. Still allowed to resurrect, though, their faces filled with both relief and joy. Everyone obediently followed the instructions given.

However, the one Se-Hoon awaited was not among them. And before he knew it, six full hours had passed.

“…”

Yet Se-Hoon kept waiting. That—despite his expressionless face—made the undead nearby grow visibly anxious.

“Um… Sir, rather than waiting here like this, wouldn’t it be better to make use of us?”

“We may not know who you’re waiting for, but if you give us a description, we’ll go look right away.”

The undead all shifted restlessly, unsure how to handle Se-Hoon sitting there motionless. They were clearly worried about him from their tone, making Se-Hoon gently wave them off with a faint chuckle.

“I’ll decide depending on the situation, so don’t worry about it.”

“Still…”

“I said it’s fine. Ah, someone new just came out—go guide them instead.”

Seeing his gesture, the undead hesitated before obediently leaving in the end.

Then, another six hours went by.

“…”

The blue skies of the Netherworld were gradually turning a dusky crimson, eventually fading into the same pitch-black darkness as the sea. Devoid of even a single star, the night sky should have made it so dark that not even a foot ahead could be seen. Yet it wasn’t.

Just like how the Netherworld’s day had a blue sky without a sun, its night, too, was similar to the surface but subtly different—one of the place’s many peculiarities.

It’s almost like someone half-assed the design…

Glancing briefly at the sky, Se-Hoon turned back toward the sea to resume his endless wait—

“Thirteen hours and twenty-five minutes… you’re really persistent, aren’t you?”

Arriving by his side, a woman’s—Meirin’s—calm voice sounded.

“I figured you’d stick around for maybe an hour before giving up. Why waste so much time on something this pointless?”

Without even greeting him properly, she began with scolding. Despite her unusually sharp tone, though, Se-Hoon was nonchalant.

“Because it’s not pointless.”

“What?”

“My master is a very important person to me. No amount of time spent here would be a waste.”

It was an uncharacteristically direct response, making Meirin pause before giving him a strange look.

“…You’ve changed.”

“How so?”

“You’ve gotten disgustingly sentimental.”

“…”

Hearing the genuine distaste in her voice, Se-Hoon narrowed his eyes.

Even when I’m trying to speak seriously for once…

He grumbled to himself. Whether it was before the regression or now, her habit of breaking the mood hadn’t changed.

Meanwhile, ignoring his annoyance, Meirin pulled out a silver cigarette case from her coat. She tried to take a cigarette from it—only to find the case empty. Her expression darkened.

Tsk…

Had her smokes vanished when she died?

Smacking her lips silently, she resignedly slipped the case back into her coat and moved on.

“Anyway, how did you bring me back? No matter how I think about it, I wasn’t in any state to receive the Blessing.”

The Nameless Sword that she’d sacrificed herself to create had become a weapon entirely independent of the Golden Ring. In that form, she shouldn’t have been able to revive under the system governed by it and the Blessing of the Eternal.

And yet, here she was.

Instead of answering verbally, Se-Hoon pulled the Nameless Sword out from his dream storage.

“That’s…”

The sword, cracked from Kwang-Soo’s final strike, had red vein-like patterns wedged into the gaps—which allowed Meirin to understand immediately.

“I see… You used the blood you got from me.”

Se-Hoon had gotten Meirin’s blood twice. Once when he attended the academic conference disguised as Dawn, and another when forming a blood pact after returning from Russia with her.

The latter had vanished when she broke the pact to gain half the Vessel crafted from the Seeker’s heart back in China. But the former—used to stabilize his collapsing synesthetic mindscape alongside the Verdant Spear—had been near his heart the entire time since.

All he had done was extract that portion to use in the sword’s repair.

“You used that to trick the system into thinking I still belonged to the world?”

“Something like that. But that wasn’t the decisive factor.”

“Then what was?”

“You, Master… no, Meirin—you still had the will to live.”

Rising from the sand, Se-Hoon turned to look her in the eye.

“That’s what let us meet again.”

Even if someone qualified for the Blessing of the Eternal, they wouldn’t return without the will to live—like Kwang-Soo. And originally, that should have been Meirin as well. However, thanks to their final conversation, she’d regained a flicker of that will.

Still… she’s not stable yet.

Although she looked fine on the surface, internally, Meirin was still someone who had just watched her life’s pursuit collapse. No matter how hard she’d tried, she would inevitably feel hollow. If things went poorly again, Meirin could easily abandon that lone spark of will and choose death one more time.

That’s why, just like she helped me before the regression, I’ll need to give her a serious push.

Seeing the odd expression flicker across her face, Se-Hoon fixed his gaze on her.

“Master—Meirin.”

“…Yes?”

“There’s something I’d like to ask.”

Se-Hoon’s tone was earnest, making her tense and immediately avert her gaze.

“Ugh… I know you’re from the future, but still, the age gap is a bit…” she mumbled uncomfortably.

“…Huh? Age gap?”

“…” The sight of Se-Hoon tilting his head in confusion made Meirin’s face harden, glaring at him in annoyance. “You’ve done this before. If you’ve got something to say, just say it already. Don’t stop halfway—it’s really misleading, you know.”

“Ah, yes. Sorry about that…”

He quickly apologized, sensing her inexplicable frustration… though that just made Meirin sigh.

“So, what is it? Just get to the point already.”

“If you just want the main point…”

Pausing, Se-Hoon quickly organized his thoughts to condense his proposal.

“Then would you be interested in creating a new facility with me—one that isn’t affected by the Towers of Heroes or the Abyss of Demons?”

It was a challenge directed at the Golden Ring itself.