The Heroine Stole My Regression-Chapter 102

Before I knew it, the sun had fully set.

The Maengju’s private limousine came to a quiet stop in front of the gate.

I was already dressed in my suit.

I opened the door first.

“After you.”

I let Kang Arin in first.

Maybe it was because of her outfit—but for some reason, it just felt like the right thing to do.

“Thank you.”

Kang Arin grinned and lightly placed her hand on mine as she stepped in.

Her movements radiated confidence.

I closed the door and got into the back seat after her.

In the front sat an older man with a white beard.

“We’ll depart now.”

A calm voice.

The limousine glided forward smoothly.

Our destination: the top floor of Seoul Sky Tower.

A venue reserved by the Hero Association.

Outside the window, Seoul’s nightscape spread out.

Floating highways ran across the cityscape.

Holographic signs shimmered through the air in perfect formation.

It was the same Seoul I used to live in.

But the Seoul of this world shone brighter—far more glamorous.

"......"

I fell into a quiet reverie.

The closer we got, the higher and wider the view became.

*

A short while later.

The limousine came to a gentle stop at the private road on the top-floor terrace.

As the door opened, the soft notes of classical music, bright lighting, and quiet murmurs of conversation flowed out.

The party venue occupied the entire top floor—ultra-luxurious.

Most of the guests had already arrived, gathered in small groups chatting amongst themselves.

As we stepped out of the limousine—

Countless eyes turned our way.

The center of attention was, of course, Kang Arin.

Her black dress shimmered softly beneath the lights.

To anyone watching, she was clearly the star of the night.

She stood beside me without a word.

"......"

“...?”

A short silence.

“Ahem.”

Kang Arin gently cleared her throat.

Then, with a careful motion, she reached for my arm.

Her lips barely moved—almost like ventriloquism.

She whispered softly,

“Give me your arm.”

“What if they think we’re a couple?”

I didn’t care if they misunderstood—but Kang Arin, as an heiress, probably couldn’t afford that.

“It’s fine.”

She replied firmly.

I sighed and slowly offered my arm.

Her soft fingertips gently wrapped around it.

“Perfect.”

Kang Arin nodded, satisfied, a smile playing on her lips.

The night air slipping in through the glass felt cool—but her warmth, pressed against my arm, felt oddly comforting.

“Shall we?”

Kang Arin asked.

With her arm linked in mine, she took the first step.

I nodded and walked alongside her.

The inside of the venue was even more extravagant than I’d expected.

Scattered throughout were Association officials in suits, guild representatives in dazzling gowns, and foreign corporate figures whose affiliations were unclear.

Everyone smiled as they spoke.

But all of them maintained a polite distance, quietly assessing each other.

“Lady Arin!”

“You look stunning tonight.”

A few passersby greeted her cheerfully.

Kang Arin acknowledged them with light nods, replying with formal yet flawless smiles.

But her feet never stopped.

And she led me slowly around the hall.

“That person over there is the Association President. The core of Korea’s hero society.”

“That’s the Mugung Guildmaster. He’s very conservative—be careful around him.”

She explained everything calmly, clearly, one by one.

“President, it’s been a while.”

“How have you been?”

And she didn’t stop at explanations—she personally introduced me.

Honestly, when she first asked me to come to the party, I thought she had some ulterior motive.

But surprisingly, she stayed true to her goal of ‘developing the team leader’s abilities.’

Getting familiar with the key figures was something I genuinely needed.

I already knew their faces and titles, sure—but meeting them in person and establishing connections was a different matter entirely.

She diligently introduced me around, bringing me deeper into the party’s core.

We spent dozens of minutes making our rounds throughout the hall.

For me, it was simply a great opportunity.

Soon after, the Association President—the host—began his speech.

“To all the pillars of our great nation gathered here tonight...”

It wasn’t entertaining.

Not particularly insightful, either.

"......"

Beside me, Kang Arin was watching him with bright, focused eyes.

She seemed to think even this was a part of politics.

I leaned in quietly and said,

“Thanks.”

At that, Kang Arin blinked in surprise.

Then, unexpectedly, she blushed and turned her head away.

“...What for.”

“You’ve done a lot for me. I haven’t done anything for you.”

That was especially true.

Of all the key characters, I’d probably done the least for Kang Arin.

Whenever I tried, she was already handling things herself—so capable and put-together.

But I won’t make excuses.

If I had tried, I probably could have done anything.

“...You think you haven’t done anything?”

Kang Arin turned her head.

Her wide, red eyes locked onto mine.

She took a deep breath—and spoke slowly.

“Don’t say things like that.”

Her voice was calm but tightly held in.

“You’re the one I’ve chosen.”

She murmured.

“And when it comes to the people I choose... I give them everything.”

Her voice was firm.

And that was just who she was.

Then she dipped her head slightly—before raising it again.

“From now on, I’ll show you. From the beginning... to the end. Every last piece.”

Kang Arin grinned.

“So...”

She turned to look at me.

“Treat me well.”

The corners of her lips curved up playfully.

And then, arm still linked with mine, she leaned in ever so gently.

***

A woman in a navy dress sat quietly at a rooftop table outside the venue.

Just moments ago, she had greeted numerous guests with poised smiles—graceful and courteous to a fault.

Now, with the President’s speech over, she’d found a brief moment to slip away.

Yu Serin had climbed up to the rooftop in silence.

She kicked off her heels and tapped her bare foot against the chair leg.

“Heh.”

She chuckled softly and pulled two cans of beer from her pocket.

She preferred cheap beer—more familiar to her—over high-end wine.

Her fingertips traced the droplets clinging to the can.

“This is exhausting~”

Her lips smiled, but her voice was weary.

She was sick of all this.

Yu Serin.

Vice Guildmaster of Lotus—and in truth, the one who handled everything.

Normally, she should’ve been back at HQ, measuring and organizing student data.

She was the vice guildmaster. The scouting officer.

Events like this were usually for the Guildmaster.

But—

‘You’re the pretty face, aren’t you?’

That was all her guildmaster said.

And just like that, she was pulled off scouting duty.

‘Have fun out there.’

Still, she was the type who carried out any task perfectly once assigned.

Even so...

This party wasn’t fun.

What she truly enjoyed was always—

Beyond the party.

Beyond this bleak world.

In a place a little clearer, a little more vivid.

But now, the data and analysis of visiting students wouldn’t go through her anymore.

Instead of her reports, someone else’s referral letters would take their place.

Ability no longer mattered.

Connections. Money. Influence.

And so...

Little by little, Lotus—the flower—was starting to rot.

Passing over the Maengju? Only accepting students who want to be the best?

It was a joke.

“No wonder they didn’t come...”

Yu Serin leaned her head quietly against the beer can.

‘I’m not going.’

As expected, Jeong Haein had refused the interview.

His secretary said they’d try again later.

But Yu Serin had shaken her head.

Not coming was the right answer from the start.

When did it all go wrong?

Second place no longer felt real.

She raised the can to her lips.

The dull, cheap taste rolled down her tongue and throat.

But at least—

This wasn’t fake.

BANG!

“Ugh, seriously! I’m so pissed off!!”

She finally snapped.

Kicking the chair in front of her, she downed the rest of her beer in one gulp.

Her insides roiled.

It was rare for someone like her, who rarely showed emotion.

But then—

CREAK!

“Pfft!”

The rooftop door slammed open.

Startled, Yu Serin spit her beer out.

“God, I was seriously suffocating in there.”

She scrambled to put her heels back on and fix her appearance.

She was sick of how even in a moment like this, she instinctively tried to look presentable.

She raised her head.

And to her surprise—there stood the man she’d been hoping to see.

Tie half-loosened.

Top button undone, catching his breath.

Their eyes met.

Jeong Haein.

“...Huh?”

She wasn’t the only one surprised.

Jeong Haein also froze, unable to speak for a moment.

“...Didn’t expect anyone to be up here.”

He laughed awkwardly, scratching his head.

A flash of hesitation crossed his face—unsure how to process what he was seeing.

Yu Serin came into focus.

Half-worn heels.

A dress slipping past her knees.

A cheap beer can in her hand.

A toppled chair.

Clearly, there was a story here.

He’d just come up for some air—but instead walked into this.

“W-Wait a second...!”

Yu Serin instinctively placed the beer can on the table and rushed to put on the other heel.

She paused to straighten her dress and swallowed.

‘Why now of all times...’

Beautiful looks. Polished outfit. Carefully chosen words.

That was her default setting.

But right now, everything was a mess.

This was the last situation she should’ve met that student in.

She was supposed to be elegant. Refined.

He deserved that kind of treatment.

Where had he even come from?

She hadn’t seen him once inside the hall.

And for good reason.

Kang Arin had deliberately kept him far from Yu Serin.

It was her instinct.

A woman’s gut feeling that those two should not meet.

But despite her efforts, they had.

Yu Serin’s mind was in # Nоvеlight # chaos.

If she wasn’t going to see him inside, he could’ve at least shown up before she yelled like that.

Then she could’ve played the part of the beautiful vice guildmaster on the rooftop—mysterious, alluring...

But no. It was ruined.

Muttering curses to herself, she awkwardly reached for the fallen chair.

But before she could—

Jeong Haein stepped forward.

Click.

He opened the untouched beer on the table.

With his large, firm hand—not a delicate one.

Jeong Haein.

Holding the can in one hand, he righted the chair with the other and spoke.

“That interview I turned down earlier.”

His tone was calm, but without hesitation.

He turned the chair toward Yu Serin and sat down with a heavy, relaxed motion.

Then took a sip of the beer.

With a quiet smile, he said—

“Should we do it now?”

The words caught in her throat.

She had always lived within a frame—and hated when that frame cracked.

But Jeong Haein—

Was someone who didn’t care about any of that.

“Just three questions. Quick ones.”

His appearance, his atmosphere, his manners—

He didn’t seem to care about any of it.