I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 199

The gazes that had been fixed on Shinwha now reflected something closer to strategic retreat than anticipation of success.

Given the notorious conditions inside, identified during the preliminary investigation, they anticipated Shinwha would face significant challenges.

“Eyes full of suspicion. I don’t like that very much.”

Shinwha joked with a smile, a natural reaction that seemed perfectly normal.

He was certain.

That anyone other than himself entering would be riddled with holes and killed.

This wasn’t about the Awakened’s rank being high or low, but about their ability to endure the intense crossfire.

Undoubtedly.

Among Awakened below SSS-rank, no one could withstand that level of concentrated fire based on talent alone.

Shinwha was certain of this, drawing on his 32 years of experience, including his past life.

“…What happened?”

A relaxed smile contrasted sharply with his tattered suit.

Marina, puzzled by this juxtaposition, questioned Shinwha.

“Let’s all go in for now. I’ve cleared the path ahead and around us sufficiently. We won’t be attacked.”

“You… cleared everything out?”

Everyone wore surprised expressions at Shinwha’s confirmation, as if struggling to believe the unbelievable.

Not only Marina, but even the pessimistic Toshio was gaping.

Shinwha relished their reactions, curious to see what other expressions they might reveal.

However, unlike Toshio and Marina, who showed genuine surprise, Mishell’s expression seemed noticeably forced.

She seemed surprised, but her reaction lagged a beat behind the others.

It was a fleeting misalignment, but it didn’t escape Shinwha’s notice.

“I was able to clear it out because of my talent. It’s not just because it’s me, but if you three had my ‘Liquefaction’ talent, you could have done it too.”

“As expected of Kang Shinwha! I believed in you from the start!”

“Marina, weren’t you the one who was worried about something happening?”

“When? I don’t remember at all, Oppa [term of endearment used by a younger woman to refer to an older brother or male friend]?”

“Anyway, you’re really amazing. By the way, looking at Shinwha’s suit, it seems you absolutely couldn’t have survived inside with just the suit.”

“Yes. They had set up traps designed to kill anyone crossing the dimensional gate.”

Shinwha retrieved a new, reinforced suit from his subspace, a spare he had prepared.

‘I hope Hwang Seok-cheol’s special suit is completed soon. Since it uses top-grade dimensional stones, its durability will be on a different level from the others.’

At this thought, Shinwha smiled, picturing Hwang Seok-cheol working tirelessly, sweating bullets, on the production.

With Hwang’s expertise, the suit would be far more reliable than anything Shinwha could create himself. A truly quality product would emerge.

“Now, let’s all go in… No. I’ll go in first. Just in case.”

As Shinwha hesitated to lead his companions, Marina asked,

“Is it in case there are any remaining attacks?”

“It’s always good to be careful. Just let me change my suit quickly. Everyone, just turn your heads for a moment! There’s nothing to see, but still.”

“Kyaaak…!”

With Marina’s cute exclamation, everyone turned away, and the change of clothes was completed in an instant.

Having changed suits so many times in the past, he could finish changing in a ‘5-second cut’.

He stripped off in 1 second!

And in 4 seconds, he pulled the new suit up from his legs to his neck in one fluid motion—a quick change honed with skill.

“Let’s go in. Now everyone can step onto the proper ground of the Secret Dungeon for the first time.”

“It’s only possible because Shinwha is here. I sincerely thank you.”

“If Shinwha wasn’t here, we wouldn’t have even dared to come.”

Toshio and Marina took turns giving Shinwha a thumbs up, a sincere acknowledgment of his abilities.

“You’ve worked hard. I was surprised. I didn’t think internal exploration would be easy, even for prepared Awakened.”

Mishell added.

Unlike Toshio and Marina, who seemed emotionally excited, she appeared quite restrained.

‘Who are you? Who are you and what are you hiding?’

Shinwha couldn’t help but scrutinize Mishell with an even more intense gaze.

Hidden claws.

He hadn’t seen those claws yet.

5 minutes later.

“Wow! Such devices were placed focusing on blind spots? With this design, a crossfire was bound to erupt at the dimensional gate entrance.”

Marina wore a surprised expression as she examined the magic bullet discharge devices aimed at the dimensional gate entrance.

Of course, Shinwha had destroyed them all, rendering them useless.

However, even in their ruined state, it was clear they were discharge devices linked to numerous dimensional stones.

They were like automated cannons that would fire continuously at regular intervals.

There were over 100 of these facilities around. Naturally, no Awakened could withstand such an onslaught.

“In explorations like this, Shinwha is an irreplaceable, high-level asset.”

Toshio nodded.

It was embarrassing to admit, but it was also why he couldn’t help but praise Shinwha.

Even Toshio, an SSS-rank Awakened, couldn’t have withstood that attack with his ‘Freezing’ talent.

“You’ve cleared out all the monsters around too. Were there any peculiarities?”

“There couldn’t be. They were goblin engineers in charge of equipment maintenance and repair, so I took care of them right away.”

Shinwha shook his head, answering Mishell’s calm question.

There were no peculiarities yet.

Usually, dungeons with hidden meanings often reveal their true value only when you delve deep inside.

The group had only just entered the beginning. He thought it unlikely that there would be clues so early.

“I’ll take the lead first. From now on, the three of you should only follow the path I take.”

Mishell naturally stepped in front of Shinwha, reversing their positions.

Since that was the role they had discussed in the preliminary briefing, no one, including Shinwha, objected.

Thus, the advance began.

As with all dungeons.

As they moved away from the entrance, monsters naturally began to appear.

As a result of fighting while exploring, the average rank of the normal monsters was above SS+ level.

In other words, the rank of this dungeon itself could be considered at least SSS-rank.

If they were to encounter a boss monster, it was reasonable to infer that it would be at least SSS+ rank.

The strategy itself was straightforward.

Shinwha’s overwhelming power was commonplace, and Toshio was an SSS-rank Awakened.

Mishell was also an SSS-rank Awakened according to the report—although Shinwha himself had doubts about the report’s accuracy.

Marina also possessed at least SS+ rank firepower when using dummies to the maximum in a fully buffed state.

So it was easy to deal with normal monsters that weren’t boss monsters and didn’t appear in large groups.

However, due to the team’s composition, Shinwha had no choice but to take on the role of tanking [drawing enemy attention and absorbing damage].

As a result, the eyes of the three were constantly focused on Shinwha.

Thanks to this, the dungeon unintentionally became a showcase for Shinwha, with his three teammates observing his every move throughout the battles.

As expected.

While moving along the path secured by Mishell after the battle.

Marina and Toshio, walking beside Shinwha, took turns praising his performance.

In particular, Toshio was deeply impressed by Shinwha’s skillful tanking.

Although he was from Team Osaka Guild, a top guild in Japan, they had no ‘perfect’ tanker like Shinwha.

It was a very difficult task to stably attract the attention of monsters and maintain one’s position.

“Team Mystic, to which Shinwha belongs, must not have to worry about tanking. The supporters won’t have any difficulties either, since Shinwha sets the stage for them.”

“It’s easier for me to create situations proactively. To do that, I have to take on the role of tanking.”

“Shinwha’s movements are very solid. What should I say… It feels like I’m seeing the image of a complete Awakened.”

“Haha, you flatter me.”

“I wish Team Osaka had even half, no, even a fraction of Shinwha’s tanker.”

“I think so too, Shinwha. There were no unnecessary movements at all during the battle, and you perfectly controlled the monsters’ movements. It wasn’t 99%, it was 100%.”

“I’m going to fly into the sky like this. Please stop appropriately. I have a bit of a low resistance to praise.”

Shinwha smiled brightly, only slightly showing that he didn’t dislike the attention.

Although it was the first time the four had worked together, their teamwork was quite good.

In particular, Marina and Toshio boasted fantastic teamwork, perhaps because they were siblings. He quickly felt like part of the team.

However, Mishell could not escape Shinwha’s sharp gaze.

‘I don’t think reconnaissance and assassination are Mishell’s specialties. There are flaws in calling it her main talent.’

Shinwha was certain.

It wasn’t that Marina or Toshio were insensitive and missed it, but that they lacked experience.

If it was the ‘main talent’ used by an SSS-rank Awakened, it would definitely guarantee a certain level of proficiency.

For example, if you’re a professional baseball player, you’ll naturally acquire basic skills and senses through years of training.

But what if you suddenly ask a celebrity to ‘act’ as a professional baseball player?

They would imitate it plausibly in the parts they were coached on, but they would miss a lot of minor details.

Mishell was exactly like that.

She definitely presented the image of an Awakened specialized in reconnaissance and assassination.

But…

There were subtle gaps that made it seem like she hadn’t used it as her main talent for many years.

It was a ‘subtle’ level, so it was a gap that Toshio and Marina’s eyes would not have caught.

But right then.

-Guaaaaa!

Completely invisible to the eye.

From somewhere far beyond the hill, the sound of something roaring reached them.

At that moment, he felt his whole body turn cold and stiffen.

It was a mental pressure using the opponent’s unique murderous intent, separate from mental resistance.

“Could it be a boss monster?”

“Too early. There are more than one or two mountains to cross before we reach the end of the dungeon.”

Shinwha pointed to the distant horizon, answering Marina’s question, who seemed slightly nervous.

It was probably an intermediate boss monster. However, judging from the power he felt, it didn’t seem ordinary.

Papap! Pat! Pat!

Soon, Mishell, who had gone out for reconnaissance, returned.

“According to the system window, there is an intermediate boss monster here. SSS+ rank. It doesn’t seem easy.”

Right then.

Next, they heard the Nas Continent language, which was unfamiliar to Marina and Toshio, but familiar to Shinwha and Mishell.

It was the cry that the SSS+ rank intermediate boss monster roared and spat out.

-Where is my hometown!

-My hometown is…!

Soon, the identity of the opponent who appeared on the hill was revealed.

[Agaut.]

It was a monster called Agaut. But its appearance was somehow familiar.