The Regressor Can Make Them All-Chapter 341

“...”

On the desolate, frozen ground shrouded in ice, devoid of even the faintest warmth, Amir stood alone with his eyes shut tight.

Despite the frigid environment that was cold enough to make even the term “extreme cold” feel insufficient, Amir did not shiver.

Without a single movement or even a white breath escaping his lips, one would even suspect he had frozen to death—at least until they noticed the slow rise and fall of his chest proving otherwise.

As Amir was calmly steadying his breathing amidst that bone chilling cold, something began creeping in.

Swish-

Black mist came from all directions, as if surrounding him. The darkness of the Netherworld, slithering across the ground like a predator stalking its prey, seeped into the transparent ice and stained it black.

Soon, the encroaching darkness even enveloped Amir, dragging him, as well as everything else, into the abyss.

But just then—

Woong!

A beam of light pierced through the darkness. From multiple points, more pillars of pure white light shot into the sky simultaneously, all emitting a black smoke as if something within the darkness was being burned away.

■■■■─

Like clusters of incomprehensible characters tangled together, smoke spewed forth through the pillars. The smoke, the pervasive darkness of the Netherworld, had been changed. Its sticky, oppressive flow had turned smoother, and the sinister energy emitting from it had visibly diminished.

Then, when the darkness seemed ready to disperse, having lost its anchor, Amir finally moved.

Frost Alchemy: Dark Ice Pillars

Pillars of white ice surged up from every direction.

Crash!

The surrounding darkness was erased in an instant. Only then did Amir, now visible once more, open his glowing silver eyes, his gaze ahead.

“Phew...”

A pale white breath escaped his lips. After casting his Frost Alchemy, the chill in his body temporarily vanished, slightly raising his temperature and allowing the creeping cold to approach him.

“Hmm...”

Feeling discomfort tugging at him, Amir adjusted his body temperature before forcing on the ice pillars he had created. The white pillars, which absorbed the dispersing darkness, now glowed faintly with a soft black hue.

Satisfied with the flawless result, Amir allowed a small smirk to creep onto his face.

“This looks like a succ—”

Bang!

“SUCCESS!!”

Lea’s shrill voice echoed through the room with a bang.

“This pure yin energy without a trace of resentment... this is it! This is exactly it!”

Having slammed open the door to the cultivation room, Lea rushed in, nearly pressing herself against one of the ice pillars Amir had just created. Her excitement was bubbling over.

And just like that, the satisfaction Amir had felt mere moments ago popped, causing him to frown at Lea’s uninvited intrusion.

“I’m pretty sure I told you not to come in here without permission.”

“But it’s over now, isn’t it? Besides, how’s your body holding up? You’re not hearing voices or anything, are you?”

Ignoring Amir’s complaint, Lea examined every ice pillar with intense focus while throwing out casual questions. Seeing her complete lack of decorum, Amir, irritated, was about to retort but ultimately sighed and let it go.

Everyone close to my brother is like this, aren’t they?

In times like now, he thought it fell to the most mature person—himself—to endure and mediate the situation. Smoothing over his frustration like that, Amir finally answered her question.

“There are no issues with my body, meaning your enchantment worked as intended.”

The pillars of light that had appeared when the cultivation room was engulfed by the darkness of the Netherworld were from Lea’s enchantment, which she developed based on prior data. Its function, though simple, was groundbreaking.

Extracting the resentment of the dead from the Netherworld’s darkness... I can’t believe it was actually possible to pull off with just enchantments.

Amir had believed it was more feasible to just purify the darkness entirely than to extract only the resentment. Yet here it was, executed flawlessly.

Confirming Lea’s talent with his own eyes, Amir stared at her back with a subdued look.

I remember my brother told me he helped her out of her slump.

Her synesthetic mindscape, visible through his Winter Sky Eyes, suggested she was unlikely to betray them, but still, he couldn’t afford to let his guard down completely.

Anyone who might hinder or obstruct Se-Hoon’s path would have to be dealt with, no matter the cost. That was his resolve.

“You have pretty good eyes.”

A voice suddenly resounded from a void. It was Wurgen, his calm tone carrying an air of detached amusement.

“It’s rare to see someone with such loyalty in this day and age. That bastard really does have a knack for finding talent.”

Seeing Wurgen’s crescent-shaped smirk, Amir smiled.

“Your compliment is far too kind. My brother would be thrilled to hear it as well.”

Yet, even with his true feelings exposed, Amir refused to show his hand. Although he was naturally cautious, he tried to be even more restrained, knowing that any misstep now could harm Se-Hoon’s reputation.

“Hmm... The more I look at you, the more valuable you seem. Why not come and work under me?”

“While I appreciate the offer, I already made a promise to my brother. My apologies.”

“Then how about giving me a piece of your soul?”

“I think I’m a bit too young to be considering parenthood right now...”

Though swiftly rejected, Wurgen was completely unfazed.

Both of them refuse to yield, huh? Wurgen narrowed his eyes.

Though not one to dwell on rejection, Wurgen found Amir difficult to let go. He could already imagine the extraordinary offspring born from the combined talents of Amir and Se-Hoon. Such progeny would be able to resolve the internal issues plaguing the UD Group easily, perhaps even taking over the company before Wurgen himself passed down the reins.

It was an extremely tantalizing prospect, but with no current way to achieve it, Wurgen swallowed his disappointment and turned his attention back to the ice pillars.

“Is that the finished product?”

“Yes. All resentment has been removed—”

“It’s a failure.”

“...Excuse me?”

“What?”

Hearing Wurgen’s abrupt declaration, Amir and even Lea, who had been clinging to the pillar, turned to him in shock.

“The feeling of resentment isn’t something that can be so easily extracted,” Wurgen flatly said, his eyes gazing at the ice pillars.

And not a moment later, cracks began spreading across their surfaces, the darkness boiling over from within.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh”

“What the...!”

“Eek!”

Hearing the ghostly wails erupting from the supposedly purified darkness mana, Amir went wide-eyed while Lea jumped back, screaming in fright.

“By completion standards, it’s about ninety-five percent complete. But that brat requested I scrap it all and make you guys start again unless it reaches one-hundred percent.”

Thud!

The door to the cultivation room closed on its own, and the darkness from the Netherworld began creeping in once more.

“Ugh...!”

While Amir quickly readied himself thanks to dealing with such situations repeatedly over the past few days, Lea, caught off guard, was in a panic.

“Wait! I’m just an enchanter!”

“Ah, don’t worry about that.”

Wurgen’s eyes curled into crescent shapes as he chuckled.

“Death is the greatest equalizer, after all.”

The overwhelming darkness engulfed them both.

***

Sitting in a small two-story cafe by the riverside in Washington, Se-Hoon was gazing at the calmly flowing river from the terrace, deep in thought.

I wonder if Wurgen is teaching them properly...

Considering how Wurgen was the founder of necromancy, he should be decent at teaching it, but Se-Hoon couldn’t shake the unease. After all, Perfect Ones were notorious for their peculiar values, and Wurgen’s, in particular, were dangerously unorthodox.

I’m afraid he’ll drill them like they’re expendable because the power of Boundaries lets him shrug off the factor of death.

Even Se-Hoon himself had been torn apart by undead multiple times during his first visits to the UD Group’s headquarters. Most people would have been broken by such traumatizing experiences.

I told him to avoid those extremes, but knowing him, he might think that it’s fine as long as there’s no pain.

It was a risky choice on his part, but tolerable. After all, there were lessons only death could teach.

Oh well. One can’t live their life doing only good things.

Sipping his coffee, Se-Hoon imagined that even if the two would initially be flustered, they would eventually find joy in the situation.

Step, step.

He heard footsteps echoing from the stairs.

However, the second floor of the cafe was entirely reserved by Se-Hoon, meaning that there could only be one person who would come up the stairs. With that in mind, he didn’t bother turning around, continuing to gaze out at the river as he waited.

Step, step, step.

Eventually, the footsteps ascended and stopped behind him.

Creak-

Only when he heard the faint squeak of a chair being pulled out as someone sat down did Se-Hoon turn his head to look at the person.

There, in the seat behind him, was a man with a hulking, muscular frame that seemed on the verge of bursting out of his suit. He was wearing round sunglasses and had a jagged scar that stretched from his cheekbone to the crown of his head, across his right eye. He had a shaved head as well, making the scar even more prominent and giving him an especially menacing appearance.

Still as intimidating as ever, Se-Hoon thought to himself.

The man before him was Gregory Nelson, a former S-rank hero and the lifelong president of the Heroes Association. His face was one Se-Hoon had seen so many times during his time with the Human Alliance in his past life that it was almost tiring.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“...”

Remaining silent, Gregory observed Se-Hoon for a while before slowly responding, “I already ordered one downstairs.”

He had a deep tone that made his already imposing stature feel even more enormous.

His presence hasn’t changed a bit. Se-Hoon chuckled to himself.

He still remembered how, even though Gregory exuded a natural sense of dominance even before the regression, it wasn’t the kind that crushed others under its weight. Rather, it was the type of charisma that embraced and guided those around him—truly the epitome of leadership.

Reminiscing, Se-Hoon observed Gregory’s unchanged demeanor quietly until a waiter approached, setting down a coffee in front of Gregory.

“Here’s your triple chocolate chip ultimate caramel latte with whipped cream and marshmallows.”

The sheer size of the mug was one thing, but the excessive sweetness emanating from it was enough to make Se-Hoon grimace.

...His taste is still the same.

Gregory, burdened by his intense workload as chairman, was famous for indulging in extremely sweet drinks during his breaks. He didn’t just have them as an occasional treat either—he was on an entirely different level compared to others.

Of course, as a former S-rank hero, his strengthened body could handle it, but Se-Hoon still often wondered how his taste buds hadn’t completely numbed.

Well, at least this means he really did come for a casual chat.

Though Se-Hoon had been wary of Gregory’s unusually friendly demeanor compared to their interactions before the regression, seeing the sweet drink reassured him.

In the meantime, as Se-Hoon was organizing his thoughts, Gregory had picked up one of the marshmallows on top of his drink and popped it into his mouth.

“I imagine my sudden proposal must have taken you by surprise. Thank you for agreeing to meet me,” Gregory began after chewing.

“It’s not that big of a deal. Also, since this is a casual meeting, feel free to speak comfortably.”

“Okay.” Dropped the formalities immediately, Gregory took a sip of his overly sweet drink before continuing. “I’ve wanted to speak with you for some time now, but one incident after another kept getting in the way. Arranging the time has been a real challenge.”

“Ah, yes. Things have been pretty chaotic lately.”

“Particularly recently. Each incident has been so serious that... haa I can’t even remember the last time I was able to step outside like this to catch my breath.”

“Haha...”

Sensing Gregory’s weariness, all Se-Hoon could respond with was an awkward laugh. After all, most of the recent incidents were the unintended consequences of his own actions due to the butterfly effects of his regression.

I guess I’ve made things pretty hard for him...

Regardless, sympathizing with the Heroes Association wasn’t reason enough to adjust his upcoming plans. He did feel some pity for Gregory, but it was time to steer the conversation to the main topic.

“So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Hmm. There's a lot to say, but in a nutshell...”—Gregory removed his sunglasses, revealing a serious expression as he locked eyes with Se-Hoon—“Would you consider taking on the position of the president of the Heroes Association?”

“I refuse.”

“I understand that this must—wait, what?”

Having expected confusion, Gregory began speaking as if understanding, but the unhesitant reply made him pause mid-sentence, his expression shifting into one of confusion himself.

“What did you just say?”

“Thank you for the offer, but I’m sorry to say that I must decline.”

“...”

Se-Hoon firmly repeated himself, leaving no room for doubt.

“Why...?” Gregory stared at him, taken aback.

“Even as a student, I’ve heard enough to know how much of a burden you bear as the president of the Heroes Association. I also know how hard you work.”

The president of the Heroes Association had to shoulder the weight of a colossal organization, having to apologize for and address every incident happening across the globe. If the Perfect Ones weren’t in the picture, the position might have wielded unchecked authority, but since they were, being president was more akin to being a punching bag, a mere middle manager.

And if one does their job too well, they can’t even resign.... Only a fool would take this position.

Besides, accepting the role would make it harder for Se-Hoon to operate covertly. For him, the drawbacks far outweighed any potential benefits.

“...I see. If that’s the case, then there’s no helping it.” With a deep sigh, Gregory gulped down his drink in a single motion.

He looked so dejected that Se-Hoon felt a twinge of pity and was compelled to speak. “Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?”

While he had no interest in the position, he was willing to cooperate if the proposals offered mutual benefits.

“Something else, huh...”

Gregory fell silent, pondering something, before rising from his seat a moment later.

“Wait here a moment.”

Descending to the first floor of the cafe, Gregory returned shortly after with a cup of pitch-black coffee brimming with caffeine.

Then, after sitting back down across from Se-Hoon, he spoke gravely. “As we saw with the recent incident at the Washington branch, the Association and hero industry as a whole have become deeply corrupt, riddled with the machinations of the Demon Force.”

“...”

“While there are countless reasons for our association to become this corrupt, the biggest issue is that while the enemy can sever our ties with a single strike, our responses are excruciatingly slow.”

Gregory looked at Se-Hoon with a bitter smile.

“Even though the Association is doing its best, if things continue this way, we’ll only keep rotting, eating away at our strength bit by bit. That’s why...”

Pausing, Gregory finished his coffee in one gulp and, with the dignity of a leader, earnestly made his plea.

“I want to borrow your name and the names of the Perfect Ones to root out the suspects—including the Flame Sect and the Barmuth family—once and for all.”

***

In the secluded countryside, the abandoned main hall of the Flame Sect—once bustling with disciples—housed only a single occupant. Its interior, devoid of any human warmth, felt eerily desolate.

The door to the only lit room creaked open, and Jin-Hyun slowly stepped out into the inner courtyard from the lifeless place.

“...”

The courtyard was pitch dark, shrouded by thick clouds obscuring the night sky. For Jin-Hyun, who had lost all his aptitude in magic, the darkness was even more oppressive. Despite that, however, his sharp gaze was fixated on something beyond the visible.

And then, from the embrace of the suffocating blackness which seemed to swirl ominously, a calm voice resonated through the courtyard.

“Losing your sense of mana must have heightened your other senses. To think a broken man like you would notice me.”

The black vortex spoke, its tone carrying genuine admiration. The swirling mass then slowly took shape into Doppelganger, hardening Jin-Hyun’s expression.

Among the Ten Evils, Doppelganger was especially feared by heroes specializing in martial arts. Encountering it meant not only death but allowing Doppelganger to copy their unique techniques—what they had honed their entire lives.

“Ugh...”

Jin-Hyun’s body trembled uncontrollably. Doppelganger hadn’t even unleashed its aura, but he was staggering simply under its ambient mana.

Noticing, Doppelganger stepped back. “Oops. Allow me to apologize.”

“...”

However, even though the suffocating pressure emanating from Doppelganger lessened, Jin-Hyun clenched his fists even tighter. Humiliation swirled within him, surpassing fear or confusion. To think that he had been shown such consideration by his enemy—it was utterly disgraceful.

Battling the storm of emotions in his heart, Jin-Hyun spoke in a strained voice. “Why are you here? I have nothing left for you to take.”

Unable to use mana, Jin-Hyun could no longer wield the Inferno Ring.

“I am aware of it. It’s a regret I revisit often,” Doppelganger replied, giving him a slight nod.

“...”

“If you had been just a little weaker at that time, I could have taken it from you and left it at that.... Alas, I ended up forcing upon you the indignity of a martial artist’s ruin instead.”

It was not their first encounter. Back when Jin-Hyun was just starting to make a name as an S-rank hero, Doppelganger, intrigued by the Inferno Ring, had come looking for him.

Though Jin-Hyun had somehow held out until Kwang-Soo’s arrival saved him, the injuries he sustained that day had forced him into retirement.

“...”

And now, the being responsible for his downfall was... gazing at him with pity. The look stung worse than the scorn he had faced from his disciples in the Flame Sect.

Overwhelmed by the sting of humiliation, Jin-Hyun trembled as he opened his mouth.

“If you’ve come to kill me... do it quickly.”

“Don’t be too hasty now. What I have come to offer will benefit both you and your disciple.”

“...What?”

The mention of his disciple, Sung-Ha, startled Jin-Hyun. But before he could ask further, Doppelganger continued in its calm tone. “The Flame Sect has chosen to awaken.”

Its voice echoed through the courtyard, lingering in the stillness.

Shocked, Jin-Hyun tried to process it, and then, steadying his voice, he asked, “How many of them are awakening?”

“The sect master, his son, and a couple of mentors—a total of thirty-two. It seems they made their decision once the Heroes Association’s investigations were closing in on them.”

The Flame Sect had chosen to betray humanity and embrace the path of demons—an outcome Jin-Hyun had known was inescapable ever since he was attacked by followers of the Dream Demon months ago.

Unsurprised, Jin-Hyun could ask the next question in an even tone. “But what does that have to do with us?”

“Their plans were disrupted because of you, for one. As for your disciple, they plan to hand him over to Tuner and Puppeteer to be used as material for their experiments. It’s the sort of plan only talentless cowards could conceive.”

“And if I give this information to the Association...”

“You’ll be able to stop them this time.”

Doppelganger stared at Jin-Hyun with an unflinching gaze.

“But next time, I’ll be the one knocking on your doorsteps.”

“...”

Knowing how adept Doppelganger was at assuming any form and penetrating any security system, Jin-Hyun couldn’t help but wonder if anyone could even protect them from it. The question gnawed at him, making him clench his fists tighter.

The tension rose in the air as Doppelganger calmly finished its words.

“However, if you agree to help me this time, not only will I take care of the Flame Sect’s filth, but I will also ensure your safety going forward. Your disciple shows great promise as a rising talent.”

“...”

“I’ll return in a few days. Make sure you decide whether you’d rather die...”

The swirling darkness began receding, but Doppelganger’s voice lingered in the courtyard.

“...or betray Lee Se-Hoon by then.”

With the dark clouds dispersing, the moonlight illuminated the now-empty courtyard, devoid of even a trace of footsteps.

Standing alone amidst the silence, Jin-Hyun stared blankly at the desolate scene before him.

Drip-

A bead of blood fell from his tightly clenched fist.