The Regressor Can Make Them All-Chapter 342

Finished with his meeting with Gregory, Se-Hoon returned to his dorm in Babel and sat on the sofa to review documents given to him by Gregory.

“...”

The documents contained evidence of corruption involving renowned heroes, guilds, and corporations from around the world, including photographs of people meeting suspicious individuals and transporting questionable items.

However, as Se-Hoon read through it, his eyes narrowed more and more.

This is all just circumstantial.

While some were based on concrete evidence, there wasn’t any concrete proof of collusion with the Demon Force.

Regardless, a faint smirk appeared on his lips as he skimmed through the file.

Still, most of the people identified in this document really do betray humanity later on.

The material Gregory provided included the names of people Se-Hoon had heard of as traitors or had dealt with personally before regressing. While he didn’t have a perfect memory like the Frost Dog, he could still match over sixty percent of the names with those he knew.

If I can take care of just the ones I know, I can at least stop worrying about being stabbed in the back.

Reviewing the rest of the documents, which exceeded a hundred pages, Se-Hoon sat in thought once he finished. Dealing with the traitors hidden among humanity was something he had planned to tackle anyway, so the information wasn’t entirely unwelcome. However, one thing bothered him—the fact that Gregory had prepared the material in advance.

He handed it over to me without even confirming that I would help him.... This is nothing like the Gregory I remember. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

In his memories, Gregory was a person who would never move without certainty. His cautious nature had often led to delays and criticism, but it was thanks to that steadfastness that humanity once narrowly avoided annihilation.

Even with the difference in age, his fundamental character, especially as a high-ranking hero, shouldn’t have changed easily. Which means...

It meant that whatever the reason, Gregory had developed a level of trust in Se-Hoon. But the realization brought a complicated expression to Se-Hoon’s face.

Sure, I’ve done a lot of good things... but can that alone be enough to earn his trust?

He had defeated two of the Ten Evils, dismantled one of the Six Great Demon Realms, and achieved countless other feats. Objectively, he was the ideal hero of humanity.

But ironically, such perfection sparked suspicion.

If it were me, I’d never trust someone like me. Gregory should probably feel the same.

What could have convinced Gregory? Pondering over it, Se-Hoon was soon struck by a thought.

Is it the Perfect Ones?

One of the biggest differences between before and after his regression was how the Perfect Ones had all rallied around him. In fact, they had already lent him their power to resolve numerous incidents.

If Gregory was someone who valued that influence, then his trust wasn’t entirely inexplicable.

In the past, Gregory avoided contact with the Perfect Ones, so I assumed he didn’t like them... but maybe things are different this time.

Deciding to investigate later, Se-Hoon went back to the documents.

The ones I need to watch out for are the Flame Sect and Barmuths.

The Flame Sect was tied to Sung-Ha and Jin-Hyun, while the Barmuth family created grudges involving Luize and Helena. In particular, the Barmuths were impossible to overlook because of Helena’s sole focus on avenging herself against them.

I’ll deal with Barmuths alongside the two of them. As for the Flame Sect, I can assign Kwang-Soo to protect Sung-Ha.

Although Kwang-Soo had been busy tracking Doppelganger recently, Se-Hoon thought he could spare a day for the task.

The remaining issue is how to handle the rest...

Among the suspects Gregory listed were names of branch leaders and investigators of the Heroes Association itself. Because of that, even if he covertly planned the operation alone, there was still a risk that those in the association could uncover it through unknown channels.

He needed a large-scale force, one that even the Association couldn't monitor, to ensure the success of the purge of the traitors.

...Then the answer is so obvious.

Deciding on his course of action, Se-Hoon activated the power of Boundaries, summoning the Eternal Nocturne’s Phalanx connected to his body.

Swish-

Words inscribed themselves along the left index finger. Confirming that the Eternal Nocturne’s Phalanx was fully summoned, he drew a line in the air with it before lightly pressing the Phalanx into the center.

Woong-

The darkness of the Netherworld surged within the line. Then, moments later, the gap widened horizontally, revealing an eye that gazed at Se-Hoon.

“What do you want?”

Seeing Wurgen’s floating eye, Se-Hoon held up the document.

“I have something I’d like you to review.”

To the naked eye, the document was just blank, but Wurgen narrowed his gaze and nodded without missing a beat.

“Flip through it for me.”

Following his instruction, Se-Hoon turned the pages one by one. And after reading everything, Wurgen focused on him with interest.

“You’ve brought something quite intriguing. Did you get this from Gregory?”

“Yes. I just met him.”

“That’s a bold move for someone like him. Or perhaps... a calculated one.”

Studying the document further, Wurgen asked, “So, what do you want me to do?”

“The Association President suggested I only borrow your name, but I think that won’t be enough. I was hoping you could lend a hand.”

“You want me to use my undead to capture these scumbags?”

Wurgen’s undead army could fill the manpower needed to arrest all the traitors listed in the document in one one go. Not only were they trustworthy, but their involvement would serve as evidence that the Perfect Ones were supporting the operation, minimizing unnecessary conflicts.

Of course, those that have colluded quite a bit with the Demon Force will resist fiercely... but that works to my advantage.

Anyone who fought back, despite knowing the Perfect Ones were involved, was essentially confessing their guilt, making the investigation easier.

“Fine. I guess I can do that much.”

“Then—”

“But there’s a condition: only if you hand over the management rights to half of the Danger Zones.”

“Half?”

“Yes. And if the other Perfect Ones also agree to this condition, I’ll help you.”

It wasn’t a random demand. Wurgen had long coveted those management rights, however, he had always been thwarted by other Perfect Ones’ opposition.

Considering it for a moment, Se-Hoon then nodded. “Understood. I accept your condition.”

“...Are you serious?”

“Of course. If you don’t believe me, we can settle it right now.”

Wasting no time, Se-Hoon used the Veil of Whitespace to contact Ludwig and explain the situation. Promptly after, he conveyed the details to Karl through Pilgrim’s Prayer.

Then, soon after, two golden beams of light descended from the void, delivering the responses of the two Perfect Ones.

“Do as you see fit.”

“I trust in your judgment.”

“That’s what they said.”

“...”

Wurgen gazed at Se-Hoon with slight surprise, caught off guard by such a swift conclusion of the situation. He had thought it was possible to persuade Se-Hoon, but he hadn’t expected the matter to be resolved so effortlessly.

This brat... he’s getting scarier as every moment passes by.

In the beginning, Wurgen had seen their relationship as mutually exploitative. Now, however, he was starting to suspect that he was the one being used. For the first time since becoming a Perfect One, Wurgen found himself in such a situation.

He stared silently at Se-Hoon.

“...Call me when the time comes.”

Leaving behind those words, Wurgen’s eye slowly closed and disappeared.

What’s with that reaction? Se-Hoon tilted his head in puzzlement.

Considering the gain—an achievement that had been a long-time goal for the UD Group—Wurgen should have been overjoyed. But instead, his reaction seemed oddly lukewarm.

Perhaps it felt anticlimactic because it had been resolved too easily? Regardless, Wurgen had agreed to help, so Se-Hoon wasn’t too concerned.

Now all that’s left is the preparations on my side.

Uncertain how long the Heroes Association could keep the matter confidential, Se-Hoon resolved to make his final preparations swiftly and without delay.

But just as he started thinking about what tasks he could address immediately, he heard a voice.

“Ahem. I forgot to mention something.”

Wurgen’s eye reappeared in the air.

Wondering what it could be, Se-Hoon looked up, his curiosity evident.

“The enchantment for the Winterglass is complete.”

***

Fwoosh!

Dark crimson flames engulfed the building, roaring furiously. Drawn to the hauntingly familiar sight, Sung-Ha moved forward as if entranced.

“...”

The training grounds he had played in as a child were drenched in blood, the walls and buildings bearing countless scars of battle. How fierce must the fight have been?

The metallic tang of blood mingled with the smoke, filling the air with an ominous weight. Feeling an inexplicable dread, Sung-Ha pressed deeper into the chaos.

Boom!

The annex where his room once stood had collapsed entirely, and the main building was likewise aflame, crumbling in places. Could anything in the world extinguish the cursed flames?

Then, as if to answer his silent question, raindrops began falling from the sky.

Drip... drip... drip...

A torrential downpour hammered down, seemingly intent on quelling the fire. Yet even under the relentless rain, the dark crimson flames didn’t wane—they flared up even fiercer instead.

Fwoosh!

The flames consumed the falling rain like fuel, their tenacity almost grotesque. Stunned, Sung-Ha stared blankly at the relentless inferno.

“Master...” he unconsciously muttered.

The burning building was the Flame Sect’s old headquarters: his home. Where was his master amidst the chaos?

Sung-Ha sprinted toward the main building—even though he vaguely recognized it wasn’t reality—where Jin-Hyun’s room was located.

He’s not here.

But inside the blazing structure, there was no sign of his master. Desperate, Sung-Ha turned toward the inner courtyard.

And there, in the center of the courtyard, knelt an unfamiliar man. Seeing the figure’s back, Sung-Ha instinctively moved closer before stopping abruptly.

That’s...

Two broken spears were embedded in the ground beside the man, emanating flames and darkness in equal measure. Their resonance produced the same crimson flames that were consuming the main building.

Is he the one who caused all this?

Who could this man be, to wield such power? Why did he feel a sense of déjà vu as he looked at him? His mind clouded with confusion, Sung-Ha furrowed his brow and cautiously approached.

Swish-

At that moment, the kneeling man set down what he had been holding to his chest, and Sung-Ha’s gaze was naturally drawn to the object—his master, Jin-Hyun.

Shocked by the sight of his master lying motionless, devoid of life with his eyes closed, Sung-Ha immediately lunged at the man.

“You son of a—!”

Dream or not, he couldn’t forgive anyone who had killed his master. Gripping the two spears that had materialized in his hands, Sung-Ha swung them with all his might at the man’s back.

Clang!

But before the spears could land, the man had pulled the broken ones from the ground and swung them, intercepting. The collision sent a shockwave rippling outward.

Woong!

A resonant hum echoed between them—a phenomenon that only occurred when two identical forces clashed. Eyes wide with disbelief, Sung-Ha looked again at the man before him.

It was himself.

A version of him tainted with blood and madness, his eyes stained crimson with tears, stood before Sung-Ha.

Frozen by the sight, Sung-Ha stood there, unmoving.

“...Still not enough,” the version of himself muttered.

The Mad Dog’s spear pierced his throat.

Crash!

The world around Sung-Ha shattered like glass. The burning scene dissolved, replaced by a frozen white chamber.

Dazed, Sung-Ha pieced together fragments of his memory.

This... this must be the cultivation chamber Se-Hoon told me about.

He had received a call saying the new spear was ready, responded that he’d come right away, and soon found himself in an undead-infested laboratory. And after a series of unintelligible explanations, he had been dragged to the freezing cultivation chamber.

“Try to come up with a decent weapon.”

He was handed over a wooden staff and pushed inside.

Lee Se-Hoon...

Finally remembering why he was here inside the chamber, Sung-Ha scowled.

Just then, Se-Hoon’s voice rang out from outside.

—Hey, what are you doing? Don’t just lie around and keep stabbing.

Hearing his instruction, Sung-Ha turned his attention to the object before him.

Woong-

A white frost flower bloomed on the ground, surrounded by black ice pillars. Of them, only one pillar had a hole punctured through it, its color faded.

His memories slowly coming back, Sung-Ha looked down at the wooden staff in his hand. Its tip, made from the Verdant Lotus Spear, bore a sharp black ice shard.

Right... I had to pierce the Winterglass with this staff and absorb the darkness mana within to forge a blade suited to my synesthetic mindscape.

Why, then, had he dreamed of such a bizarre scene? Though unsettled, Sung-Ha shook off the thought and thrust the staff into another pillar of Winterglass.

Woong!

The darkness mana that had gathered around the Winterglass flowed into the blade, causing it to grow thicker and more defined. Unlike before, there were no strange dreams or visions, yet an inexplicable sense of unease lingered.

Was that truly just a dream?

The vividness of the burning scene felt too real to dismiss. Shaking his head once again to dispel the thought, he tightened his grip on the staff as if to reaffirm his determination.

I’ll make sure that will never happen.

His master would not die in vain, and he would not succumb to despair.

And as if responding to the fleeting nightmare, Sung-Ha stabbed the staff into the final bud of Winterglass with renewed resolve.

Crack!

The large bud, full of darkness mana that fueled its size, trembled.

It then began shrinking, compressing the darkness mana within, until it and the mana fused together to form a blade that glowed with a chilling light.

[Weapon ‘Shadowgrief’ has been completed!

A transcendent weapon crafted by a master blacksmith, imbued with profound grief. When refined to its limit, the weapon will unleash immense power.

The tier evaluation for ‘Shadowgrief’ is ‘Aspirant’.]

Sung-Ha’s new spear was born.