The Regressors are Trying to Kill Me

[Translator - Hestia]

[Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 4

【"Is there such a way?"】

【"I'll sponsor you with stat points to the limit every day, so how about being content with that for now?"】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' expresses doubt.】

As my Constellation said, raising stats was extremely difficult.

There were three main ways for an Awakened to increase their stats.

1. Purchase them from the Aitel System using Achievement Points earned through various methods such as killing monsters.

2. Equip Artifact gear.

3. Consume potions.

Naturally, none of these were easy.

To reach the ranker level through methods 2 and 3, even the wealth of a chaebol wouldn't be enough.

Method 1 wasn't easy either.

It wasn't just 'not easy' in a casual sense, it was 'not easy' even if you put in enough effort to die and come back to life.

If it were that easy, Awakened chosen by Constellations in South Korea wouldn't be valued higher than those born with a silver spoon.

The reason this 'being chosen' was important, was simple.

Once the tutorial was completed and the class and stats were finalized, it became extremely difficult to get stronger.

Some people are finalized as A-rank, others as F-rank.

It's final.

Awakened live in this Aitel era with the basic stats and skills determined at that time.

In other words, the initial evaluation was the most important.

And the constellations weren't stingy about showering their chosen apostles with various skills, titles, traits, and Achievement Points.

Of course, you could also achieve various feats and use those Achievement Points to buy stats from the Aitel Shop.

But meticulously collecting points to raise stats little by little and increase your rank... that was near impossible.

Maybe some hardworking genius could succeed, but frankly, I wasn't confident.

At first, it seems easy.

You get points for just about anything you do at the beginning.

【You have defeated a Goblin.】

【First Kill! You have earned 100 Achievement Points.】

【'Hunt Goblins' quest completed. You have earned 100 Achievement Points.】

Since your stats are still low, the value of each stat point is also cheap.

【Would you like to spend 1 Achievement Point to purchase 1 Mana?】

If I keep buying stats with the points I earn, maybe I can catch up to those chosen ones?

That's the illusion you fall into.

But after just one month of activity, your perspective changes.

You've cleared all the easy achievements, and the points required to raise a stat by 1 have increased significantly.

【Would you like to spend 100 Achievement Points to purchase 1 Strength?】

The Aitel System demands kill scores in the hundreds of thousands to achieve new feats.

【'Goblin Slayer' title. 34,503 / 100,000,000】

And those who start with those titles and skills given by their constellations from the beginning.

Ding!

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' gifts the 'Goblin Slayer' title to their beloved contractor, Hong Baekya.】

【Attack Power increased by 150%, Defense Penetration increased by 50% against Goblins.】

Ding!

【Gifts the 'Orc Slayer' title to their beloved contractor, Hong Baekya.】

【Attack Power increased by 150%, Defense Penetration increased by 50% against Orcs.】

Ding!

【You have collected both the 'Orc Slayer' and 'Goblin Slayer' titles. Great achievement! Hong Baekya has been awarded the 'Greenskin Slayer' title. 10,000 Achievement Points have been awarded.】

【Attack Power increased by 250%, Defense Penetration increased by 80% against all Greenskin monsters.】

This is the chosen one of this era.

And I was the one chosen by the most powerful constellation.

I know very well how difficult it is to raise stats with Achievement Points.

I'm living proof of that.

The reason I was stronger than those who worked harder than me was because of that.

【"What strange thoughts are you having again?"】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' inquires, resting her chin on her hand.】

"They're not strange thoughts."

【"That can't be true."】

"I'm going to take potions."

【"Where is a guy who's 850 million won in debt and has to pay 30 million won in interest every month going to get potions?"】

【"The Comet Shop is closed, and personal quests are blocked. All I can do for an Ascension Level 7 is provide insignificant combat assistance and chatter like this."】

【"...I'm sorry. You must be having a hard time."】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' squeezes her eyes shut.】

"No. Open your eyes. I'm thinking of going to the 'warehouse'."

It's true that I don't have the wealth of a chaebol right now.

But I did until just the other day.

* * *

"Brother, where are you going at this hour?"

"To, Icheon."

"Icheon? Why are you going there in the middle of the night?"

"There's something I need to get."

"Get a grip! We need to get to bed early and conserve our energy if we're going into the dungeon tomorrow."

Hong Wolha couldn't believe his ears when he heard Hong Ilha's words after he knocked on his door late at night.

'Right. People don't change that easily!'

Was this guy really saying he was going to take a taxi to a mountain valley in the outskirts of Gyeonggi-do at 11 pm?

"I'll be back by tomorrow morning. If I sleep on the way there and back, it won't affect my work tomorrow."

"Don't be ridiculous. How can I trust the guy who was partying on the Han River today..."

"I know I haven't been the most reliable person until now."

"Don't try to set the mood. It's not working."

"Just this once, let me go. We'll go to the mining-type Gate together tomorrow morning, holding hands. Okay?"

"...I can't even hit you for this."

Honestly, Wolha couldn't trust him.

It wasn't just a matter of not trusting him; it was exhausting.

But inwardly, something tugged at him.

"Don't even dream of going to Uncle or the aunts for help. I'd rather starve to death than get help from those people who abandoned Dad."

A few of their father's relatives lived in that area.

"I know, I know. So please, just give me some money for the taxi. Please?"

Hong Wolha was a conscientious person, but he was also realistic.

If it were his own debt, he'd rather starve than ask them for help.

But he couldn't stop his brother from trying to solve his debt in his own way.

Besides, it wasn't entirely unpleasant to see his brother acting realistically.

He had worried countless times about how Illha would survive without him.

So the sight of him seemingly transformed overnight was both unfamiliar and welcome.

"...Alright. But answer your phone immediately if I call."

"Okay."

"And take the bus back!"

"Thanks."

Hong Wolha took out some money from his wallet and handed it over.

Hong Ilha took the money and smiled maturely.

Click.

And the moment the door closed, Hong Ilha's face turned cold, hardly recognizable as the same person.

'Out of loyalty for keeping this body alive until now, I'll at least clear all the debts this guy racked up in his lifetime.'

Hong Ilha, no, Baekya immediately set his destination and called a taxi.

"Driver?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"Have we met before?"

"Get out."

"I have money."

"...It's a long trip, so I need to get paid upfront. 100,000 won to get there."

"Sure."

The money he got from Hong Wolha was 150,000 won.

Wolha had told him to take the bus back.

'I can even take a helicopter back if I can.'

As long as he could go, that was enough.

11:30 PM.

A taxi departed for the outskirts of Gyeonggi-do.

Vroom.

Baekya watched the streetlights flashing by outside the window and continued his conversation with his Constellation in his mind.

【"How did you even come up with that idea? It's a bold and satisfying development."】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' gives you a thumbs up.】

【"It's definitely not because I completely forgot about the warehouse and almost made my contractor lower their skill levels for nothing that I'm exaggerating like this."】

'They're not things worthy of a Constellation's memory. Even the me before entering this body didn't consider the warehouse that important.'

Warehouse.

Any high-ranking Ranker with a full inventory has one or two of these scattered around.

He had so many that he gave one to each of his disciples when they became independent.

The memory of him patting Cheong Siyeol on the back and saying, "Now you're a proper Ranker too," was as vivid as if it happened yesterday.

'Thank you so much.'

'You're welcome.'

'How can I ever repay this kindness?'

'Don't die. Live a long life.'

'Of course I will...'

'Because I'm the only one among the first generation who managed to do that.'

'...Ah.'

'Live a long life, take on many disciples, and become a Ranker who can give a warehouse or two to a decent disciple.'

'Yes, Master.'

'And come visit me sometimes.'

His mood soured instantly.

Anyway.

Rankers used warehouses for a variety of purposes.

They hid slush funds like Artifacts, cash, and Mana Stones acquired through less-than-legitimate means.

They also stored various monster byproducts.

The Mana Stone industry was advancing day by day.

The price of Mana Stones, and the efficiency of various potions made from elixirs found in the Tower, were incomparable to the past.

'Using refined Troll blood and Slime cores, we can mass-produce low-grade healing potions! This will significantly reduce civilian casualties.'

'Mage-nim, we've successfully extracted sap from the Spirit Tree that increases Spirit Affinity!'

'Using the wing powder of the Illusion Butterfly can be effective in treating PTSD in Gate survivors and high-ranking Awakened...'

Resources that seemed useless at first glance turned from trash to treasure as technology advanced.

Artifacts that seemed useless now but might find their purpose someday.

【Rank (A) Name ??? Function ???】

Elixirs that could be sold at exorbitant prices if technology improved absorption efficiency.

【Sky-Blue Stone Oil (S): A single drop of water formed in the depths of a cave where the energy of nature intertwines without dispersing. It has an excellent effect on increasing Mana, but the absorption rate varies greatly depending on the user's skill.】

Rankers' warehouses were filled with such resources.

Needless to say, the warehouse of Hong Baekya, who reigned as the world's number one for 13 years, was overflowing.

【"Isn't it a waste to consume them all now?"】

'Yes. But to see tomorrow, we must survive today, right? The sun can't decide not to rise tomorrow just because it wants to stay in the sand all day. Also, this is the only way to solve both my problem and Hong Ilha's at once.'

【"As expected of the Awakened I chose."】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' smiles warmly.】

'Since I've gained a body, I should at least do this much.'

【"Tell me your next plan."】

'My plan, you ask?'

Baekya's plan was as follows.

'First, I'll use the elixirs to recover enough stats to use Law of Light. With the money and gold bars I get from there, I'll solve Hong Ilha's debt problem and also compensate Hong Wolha for taking over his brother's body.'

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' nods.】

'After that, there are many options. I can delay re-entering the Tower— disappear like a cloud, or sneak into a Gate. I can even do all three. The important thing is to keep using Law of Light, killing enemies, and absorbing Mana. That way, I can build up my skills as Hong Ilha, not Hong Baekya, and announce Hong Baekya's return when I'm strong enough.'

The night deepened.

'And I'll find the bastard who cursed my disciples and kill him in the most painful way possible.'

But the sun, as always, will rise again.

* * *

"You want me to drop you off in a place like this?"

"Are you going to or not?"

"Are you... thinking of doing something strange? A few days later, when the police call me in as a witness, I'll feel terrible for not stopping you now."

"You just did."

"No, but at this hour, in this dark..."

"Should I jump out then?"

The taxi driver pulled over to the side of the road after hearing Baekya's harsh words.

'Oh dear.'

Even for the countryside, this was something else. There were no buildings around, only abandoned fields overgrown with weeds and half-collapsed greenhouses.

And this young man— even though he was an Awakened, claimed to have business in a place like this.

On top of that, he was telling him to just go back.

He had some sense and a conscience.

When the young man got in earlier, he was wrapped in a blanket, looking like he'd just come from the river.

Loan sharks had come out of his house.

And now he wanted to be dropped off in a mountain valley where monsters that had escaped the Gate's erosion zone might appear.

If he couldn't sense something ominous in this situation, he wouldn't have lasted as a taxi driver.

"I'm saying this because you seem like a nice young man, almost like my own son, but I won't charge you for the return trip, so..."

"Driver."

Baekya smiled faintly and shook his head.

He was about to get annoyed, but he knew the driver was acting out of good intentions.

He had even offered not to charge for the ride earlier, which was a memorable act of kindness in today's harsh world.

Swish.

He reached over to the front seat, grabbed an A4 paper and a pen that were wedged between the seats, and wrote his name in elegant cursive.

His hand, which was about to unconsciously write 'Baekya', paused.

"..."

He tore the paper in half, put one half in his pocket, and the other in the drawer of the taxi's front seat.

"If I ever appear on TV, come find me with that."

"What? Wait."

Thud.

He closed the door without waiting for a reply.

In the distance, he could see the greenhouse that concealed the warehouse.

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]