The Heroine Stole My Regression-Chapter 77

The lights in the auditorium were off.

Only the screen on the ceiling emitted a faint blue light, casting a dim glow across the space.

"Didn't you tell me to trust you?"

"...Hmm, hmm."

Kang Arin and Cheon Yeoul sat side by side, leaning their arms on the desk, silently staring at the screen.

The team composition for the exchange event was being displayed on the screen.

Since neither of them participated in the mentor-mentee activities, the only way to end up on Jeong Haein's team was to be randomly assigned into one of the four-person slots.

However, just like with the past class assignments, they were wondering if Kang Arin’s influence would play a part this time as well...

[Jeong Haein / Yoon Chaeha / Yu Hana / Jo Yuri / Kim Daehyun / Yoon Sanghyuk / Han Iri / Go Minjun]

It was a clear failure.

Kang Arin squinted and let out a short sigh.

“...Hah.”

Cheon Yeoul buried her head into her arms on the desk.

Her fingertips tapped lazily on the desk.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

A rhythm without emotion, without rules, just a lifeless beat.

"The method’s random, but they said they selected students who’ve fought together at least once for the team formation," Kang Arin mumbled. Cheon Yeoul remained silent.

"The instructor in charge of the draw is a new face, so they don’t have any connections with Glory, either."

Instead of responding, Cheon Yeoul buried her head even deeper.

"...Maybe we should’ve just done mentor-mentee."

Kang Arin mumbled to herself.

"What else could we do?"

Cheon Yeoul responded without raising her head.

"The few girls were snatched up by Yu Hana like a ghost. The others rejected it. So, what’s left is the boys, but..."

She slowly raised her head.

There was no smile in her eyes.

"Are you telling me I should do mentor-mentee with another guy? Are you trying to kill me?"

"Agreed."

Kang Arin nodded.

The two of them turned their gaze back to the screen.

The blue light illuminated their faces.

A moment later, another team composition appeared on the screen.

"But where’s Ha Sion? Don’t tell me she’s in the dorm again..."

Just as Cheon Yeoul was about to get up, Kang Arin pointed at the bottom of the screen with her finger.

"There she is."

Upon closer inspection, there was a small text floating.

"Mock Exchange Team Leader [Ha Sion]"

Cheon Yeoul’s movements froze for a moment.

Her gaze became fixed on the lower part of the screen.

The screen slowly transitioned, revealing the list of the opposing team formed by Gaon.

Ha Sion had been included in that team.

Gaon had selected some members to form the opposing team for the mock exchange event.

Cheon Yeoul’s eyes narrowed.

Right next to Sion's name, Jeong Haein’s name was clearly visible.

"...Are they teaming up with Haein?"

"Looks like it."

The mock exchange event seemed like it would start soon as the screen darkened.

The countdown to the start appeared, and the matchups between the two teams became clear.

***

My mind was a mess.

Because of the fitness test, the schedule got messed up, and Gaon decided to handle both team formation and the mock event on the same day.

Because of that, we ended up preparing our gear before we even got to memorize everyone’s names.

The silver lining was that everyone, except for one person, was someone I already knew.

Since the schedule was pushed back, it seemed they tried to form teams with those we had trained with before.

"Same team again."

I said as I looked at Kim Daehyun and Yoon Sanghyuk in front of me.

Yoon Sanghyuk grinned and gave a thumbs up.

"Well, it’s good for me."

The reason he was so excited was simple.

Being included in the exchange event meant he would get some media attention.

They were all next-generation heroes, and they needed to attract as much attention as possible.

Moreover, Gaon had decided to create the ‘opposing team’ to give students who hadn’t been selected a chance to participate indirectly.

The idea was to offer them an experience that would let them gain public interest.

If they hadn’t been selected for the opposing team... well...

‘It’s fate.’

That’s just how it was.

There wasn’t much time to introduce ourselves.

In ten minutes, the teleporter would activate, and we would be transported to our assigned zones.

Just then, a stranger’s face approached.

It was Han Iri.

"Hey... hello...."

He was a student from the opposing team during the mock dungeon practice.

The team that set the traps.

It seemed like he had something on his mind due to what happened last time.

"I’m sorry for what happened last time."

Han Iri spoke hesitantly.

"It’s fine."

I answered briefly. Honestly, I wasn’t too concerned.

I knew he’d been carrying bad opinions about him for a while because of that incident.

Yoon Sanghyuk and Kim Daehyun also nodded quietly, accepting his apology.

A moment later, another figure approached.

Go Minjun. A face I hadn’t seen before, but he had a friendly demeanor.

"Heh, I don’t even know why I’m here, but... anyway, nice to meet you."

He scratched the back of his head and smiled, extending his hand for a handshake.

His personality didn’t seem bad.

-Ding!

At that moment, the screen in front of us lit up, showing the opposing team’s roster.

We all shifted our gaze, and a brief silence followed.

"Ugh."

I muttered.

I thought the mock exchange would be easygoing, but...

"That’s going to be tough."

The opposing team included Ha Sion’s name.

Sion and I grew up under the old man’s tutelage, sharing every step of our development.

We trained so hard that we knew each other’s methods by heart, to the point where we could read each other’s breathing.

Therefore, she knew everything about me—and I, her.

This made it impossible for me to be the team leader.

It would be too easy for her to read me.

The setup for the mock event was simple.

"A Dungeon Break has occurred. Rescue civilians."

We were on the Hero side, and the opposing team was the Demon side.

Dungeon Breaks often occur due to internal mana surges, but they can also be forcefully triggered by demons or villains.

In such cases, the goal of the heroes is to protect or evacuate civilians, while demons focus on taking civilians hostage or causing greater chaos.

Ultimately, the key is this:

Who can reach the civilians first?

"Who will be our leader?"

Yoon Sanghyuk asked carefully.

For a moment, everyone’s gaze turned toward me.

"Haein..."

"Haein..."

Yu Hana and Yoon Chaeha spoke at the same time.

But before they could finish, I quickly pointed toward Yu Hana.

"How about you take the lead, Yu Hana? You’re the highest-ranked among us."

Yu Hana widened her eyes for a moment but then nodded.

"...Okay. Then, I’ll give it a try."

Yu Hana glanced around, took a short breath, and began the briefing.

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

True to Gaon’s style, the roles within the team were balanced.

"First off, the main team will have Kim Daehyun, Yoon Chaeha, Jo Yuri, Yoon Sanghyuk, Go Minjun, and Haein."

I’m glad I left it to her.

Her speed in organizing and the flow of her explanation were smooth.

"Haein and Kim Daehyun will be at the front. Yoon Sanghyuk and Go Minjun will stay close, protecting the central mages, and I’ll take the left side. Han Iri, you’ll handle the right side."

It was a standard, effective composition that played to each person’s strengths.

The eight of us were now forming a single unit.

A separate side team was formed, distinct from the main force.

This was the basic tactic of modern heroes, designed to avoid inefficient clustering.

When a group comes together, it can focus better, but the control over space diminishes, so side operations are entrusted to those with high mobility and excellent judgment.

Yu Hana followed this principle thoroughly.

Everyone silently nodded. There was no need to say more.

"The teleportation device will be activated soon. Everyone, prepare yourselves!"

The instructor's voice rang out.

The magic panel on the wall of the mock practice room suddenly glowed.

The surrounding space was enveloped by a thin, cyan-blue wave, and the teleportation circle beneath our feet slowly began to rotate.

-Whirrr.

A sense of space distortion was felt. My ears rang, and a heavy pressure weighed down on my body.

"Eh?"

Someone gasped.

As the brief dizziness passed...

What unfolded before my eyes was a dense urban area overrun by bushes.

Moss climbing up the walls of buildings.

Vines growing through the glass windows.

Wild plants and shrubs pushing through the cracked roads.

Dungeon Break.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

The moment the boundary between the inside and outside collapsed, the inherent characteristics of the dungeon began to seep into and spread across the outer world.

"Nice execution."

Gaon's mock dungeon flawlessly recreated such details.

Our mission was simple.

To secure civilians.

"Get into formation, let's move."

There was no time to hesitate.

Yu Hana, having already checked the map, quickly directed the formation.

At that moment, I turned my head towards Yu Hana.

"Yu Hana."

"Yeah?"

"I’ll take the side."

I surveyed the area.

Massive trees were emerging from the sides of buildings intertwined with dense bushes.

For her, with her long sword, this side of the field had both vertical and horizontal space restrictions.

Not to mention, she would need to climb the trees, which would be burdensome for her.

It's common to adjust the formation by confirming the field.

Yu Hana, understanding my intentions, nodded.

As the team leader, she accepted the suggestion.

"Okay, I’ll leave the left side to you."

Her acceptance was swift.

I had left my "Catastrophe" back in the dorm.

Since the use of personal equipment was restricted during the exchange event, all I had in hand was a standard spear provided by Gaon.

Although both a sword and spear are long-range weapons, their application in combat is completely different.

A sword requires space to swing.

You need to account for straight lines, curves, and continuous movements.

But with a spear, you just need to pierce in one direction.

A direct breakthrough. That alone was enough to deliver excellent efficiency.

I was also quite adept at climbing trees.

-BANG!

A loud explosion echoed from a distance.

With smoke rising from the earth, the break had fully begun.

The main force, led by Yu Hana, maintained formation as they advanced.

I veered into the left-side forest, while Han Iri took the opposite side.

-Crunch.

The sound of stepping on the underbrush. The fallen leaves were lightly pressed.

I was moving between trees and buildings.

The first role of the side team was simple.

To secure basic visibility, spread out to widen the encirclement from the main force’s position, and eliminate potential threats early.

I kept my gaze fixed on the main force while moving.

Then, something popped out in front of the main team.

A Green Giant.

A massive golem, covered in stones and moss.

A typical elemental monster.

It must have appeared with the Dungeon Break.

‘That should be...’

The main force could handle it easily. No support was needed from me.

I just needed to clean up the smaller monsters approaching the combat zone.

-CRASH!

Yoon Chaeha’s fireball hit the Green Giant's abdomen directly.

The heavy stone body of the golem shook.

The flow was good.

Now, if we push forward a bit more...

Then.

"!"

-SSHHHHH!

[All Sensory Perception activated!]

Regardless of the direction of my sight, I felt the deadly intent flying toward me.

An arrow.

Precisely aimed at the main force, in a straight line trajectory.

Without hesitation, I drew my spear and threw it.

-CLANG!

The spearhead collided with the arrow mid-air.

The trajectory of the arrow was twisted, and it bounced off, embedding itself deeply into a nearby tree.

I jumped, catching the spear mid-air.

Turning my body, I shifted my focus.

And spoke.

To someone who must be watching me from somewhere...

"Have you come?"

The second role of the side team.

When encountering the opposing side, victory is a must.

Normally, a side team would protect the main force, but they also preemptively attack the enemy's flank.

However, this is usually done when you have numerical superiority.

To be here already, despite an equal number of forces... This wasn’t a typical tactic.

"Sion."

She had disregarded everything else and came straight for me.

She was coming to face me, on the left side.

‘She read me.’

Once again, I had been read by Sion.

As expected, I couldn’t fool her.

I stomped hard on the tree trunk and leaped.

The direction my senses led me... she was definitely there.

A few bushes parted, and soon I saw her, aiming her bow toward the main force.

Her sharp gaze, the black pupils revealed through her braided hair.

Her lips parted.

"It’s been a while since we faced each other, huh?"

"Yeah."

-SSHHHH!

-CLANG!

The second arrow was released.

Once again, I reflexively threw my spear.

This time, ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the spear accurately hit the arrow’s path, deflecting it.

"How about we play just the two of us?"

I said as I retrieved my spear.

Sion didn’t loosen her stance.

Yet, she slowly tilted her head and spoke.

"I..."

The tip of her bow was precisely aimed at me.

The corners of her mouth slowly lifted.

A dangerously relaxed, almost seductive smile.

"I’ve always liked it."

And with those words, the third arrow ripped through the air.