I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 284

284

After That.

The subjugation of the monsters that appeared due to the Russian cataclysm continued.

Although Shin-hwa originally enjoyed wandering alone, he also enjoyed being with his comrades.

Han So-joon and Choi Ji-hyuk went to support the KSA’s [Korean Special Ability Association] elite forces at their request.

The two, with their top-notch healing and debuff abilities, had a tremendous impact simply by being present.

Confidence that they could recover from most injuries. Belief that even minor attacks could maximize damage.

The synergy between these two factors allowed the KSA agents to maximize their potential and increase their destructive power.

It goes without saying, but the people who felt the impact most strongly were Lee Ha-sung and Na Mi-na.

Meanwhile, Shin-hwa and Yoon Byeol-i formed a duo and quickly eliminated monsters.

And during a break, they sat on a rock and talked.

“Noona [term of endearment for an older sister or female friend], you really practiced with gritted teeth, didn’t you? Your skills have improved so much compared to just two weeks ago.”

“I ate a flower earlier. I think it’s thanks to that. Maybe the monsters keep getting tricked by seeing my afterimages?”

“No. The flower is secondary. Your attack accuracy has improved, and your mobility is very high. Your ability to create variables in your movements is also excellent.”

“Really?”

“If you improve just a little more here, my life would be in danger, wouldn’t it? I’d be assassinated in an instant.”

“Hoho, it’s not that bad.”

“No, it is. You know I can’t say empty words, right? Noona, it’s obvious that you trained really hard.”

“…I worked hard because I didn’t want to disappoint Shin-hwa. I’m glad. It seems like it shows a little.”

Yoon Byeol-i said, twisting her hair with a shy expression.

It was a habit she unconsciously showed when she felt genuinely embarrassed.

‘My eye for people wasn’t wrong. It’s rewarding that she awakened her abilities earlier than in my past life. If she continues to grow well like this, she probably won’t die like she did in my past life.’

Shin-hwa wore a satisfied expression.

What he had in mind in the early days, to raise her to the level of a ‘new Nine Lord,’ had now become a reality.

If they continue to grow steadily, all three of them will become skilled enough to easily dominate the country by next year.

They have grown so rapidly compared to my past life, so even if they face the same fate, they will never die.

Moreover, they all followed Shin-hwa’s words well, and at the same time, they valued what Shin-hwa asked and advised.

In other words, even if he wasn’t there, they would cooperate with the KSA or the Yanghwa Guild and maintain a smooth relationship like now.

Besides, there was no one with a lacking personality who acted arrogant and conceited, so he was even more relieved.

Rather, all three of them were so kind-hearted that he was worried, unlike their outwardly blunt expressions and appearances.

“I’m sorry that the KSA brought you here and keeps making you work. You’ve really suffered a lot because of me.”

“What are you confessing? You’ve been saying sorry all day, talking like you’re going to die tomorrow. Don’t do that, Shin-hwa. It makes me uneasy for no reason.”

“Haha, did it sound like that? I’m just saying things I couldn’t say before, to get them off my chest. It’s like an awkward expression of my inner feelings?”

“If that’s the case, it’s okay, but… don’t just say self-reproaching or apologetic things that make me uneasy for no reason.”

“Okay. Anyway, thank you so much. Thanks to Noona being my hands and feet, I didn’t have to worry about any complicated matters.”

“No. I came to Team Mystic because I can be with you. So I enjoyed it, and I’m so honored to be entrusted with such an important mission.”

“Hey, it’s not that honorable.”

“I’m serious. And it’s still ongoing. I feel proud to be a member of Team Mystic.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I’m sincerely grateful.”

Seeing Yoon Byeol-i looking intently into his eyes and speaking with emphasis made Shin-hwa feel good.

Was this the feeling Nicholas had when he formed the Nine Lords?

The words of Yoon Byeol-i made Shin-hwa’s heart burn.

“Shin-hwa.”

“Hmm?”

“I have a favor to ask. It’s a bit out of the blue, but… I feel like I won’t have a chance to say it if it’s not today.”

“What is it?”

“Just without any meaning, just warmly… can you hug me just once?”

Shin-hwa could feel it.

That the words he kept leaving meaningfully, with the final battle against Leccetro in mind, had also had some impact on her.

Although she didn’t show it outwardly.

Yoon Byeol-i seemed to have somehow realized that something would happen to him after today.

In Yoon Byeol-i’s eyes, shining clearly even in the cold wind, many emotions were intersecting.

So.

“……”

He hugged her tightly without a word.

He hugged her tightly so that she could feel his body temperature completely. As if time had stopped.

“……”

Shin-hwa couldn’t take his eyes off Yoon Byeol-i’s gaze, which looked up at him with a faint feeling.

What should I say?

He was just going to give her a warm hug and carefully let her go, but his heart wouldn’t let him.

In the end.

Without either of them saying anything first.

Without even having time to think differently.

The lips of the two men and women, relying only on each other’s body temperature on the battlefield where the cold wind was blowing, overlapped.

Swept away by emotions? You could say that. But it wasn’t a kiss without any emotion.

For someone, it was conveying a desperate love that they had been holding in their heart for a long time through their lips.

For someone else, it was taking out the inner feelings that they could have expressed a long time ago, but had no choice but to endure because of past trauma.

“Noona.”

“No. Don’t say anything. I just want to remember this moment like a still screen.”

Yoon Byeol-i stopped Shin-hwa from continuing the words he was about to say.

She felt like she knew what was going to come out… but she didn’t want to hear it. No, she wanted to make Shin-hwa feel comfortable.

“Hmm……”

“It’s okay. Even as it is now.”

Yoon Byeol-i hugged Shin-hwa again and slowly savored the sound of his heartbeat.

It was really warm.

She felt like everything could stop as it was.

It was a short but happy time.

* * *

After a week-long journey, the Russian cataclysm quickly entered a phase of stabilization.

This was thanks to the large-scale support from the KSA, as well as the dispatch of support troops from neighboring countries.

The monsters, which initially coveted the areas of civilization, were soon driven out to the Siberian plains.

And in the face of the organized response of the Awakened, the monsters, who had no clear leader, were defeated one by one through piecemeal attacks.

The gains were quite significant.

Shin-hwa also swept through the battlefield, collecting dimensional stones worth at least 500 billion won [approximately $400 million USD].

In particular, he killed more than fifteen boss-level monsters.

Unfortunately, he did not gain any additional flowers or buffs, but he was able to experience a definite increase in magic power.

As a result.

[Judgment Grade: EX+]

‘Life is all about one big hit.’

The end of the grade allowed for Awakened.

He was able to reach the highest level, even with a ‘+’ in the EX rank! Of course, he kept it a secret.

‘Is this the triumph of the 5th month of regression?’

Looking back.

It had been exactly 5 months since he regressed from 2052 to 32 years ago at the end of January.

When he first regressed, he wondered when he would reach A rank or S rank… It was a worry.

Now, there was no next level that he could reach as an Awakened. He had reached the pinnacle.

“Dmitry Vedorov, the head of the RSA [Russian Special Ability association], expressed his sincere gratitude to Kang Shin-hwa, who made the greatest contribution to this matter.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Kang Shin-hwa refused to accept the award and prize money prepared by the RSA.

Instead, he asked that the prize money be used for the cost of recovering from this disaster, and that the award be given to the recovery workers who are suffering on the front lines.

This heartwarming news is giving a ray of hope and light to the Awakened world, which has been flowing only harshly recently.”

“Anyway, the media’s packaging.”

Beep.

Shin-hwa, who was watching TV, could no longer watch the Awakened news, which was full of embarrassing praise, and turned it off.

“The last rest is over too.”

And he got up.

Shin-hwa had spent almost 24 hours in bed, just sleeping, today. It was for recharging.

“Let’s see……”

The front of the bed was full of suits and drugs that had been laid out in advance.

A total of 10 special suits were prepared.

Because they are consumables, there is a high possibility that the durability will wear out quickly if you fight fiercely with the enemy.

The opponent was not one or two people, but the entire Dark Order led by Leccetro. One suit was not enough.

In addition, he took a number of painkillers and stimulants. He had already packed drugs with definite effects, although there were considerable withdrawal symptoms.

In a battlefield where you must win, where would you have time to worry about withdrawal symptoms or side effects?

You had to win at all costs, regardless of the means.

According to the information received from Marina, the reset of the Secret Dungeon was finally nearing completion.

It was certain that it would end in about 10 hours, so he could take the reserved plane and move.

“Just in case, let’s save the space movement buff……”

He also prepared to move, judging the situation more calmly.

From now on, you have to be careful.

If you make the wrong choice with a hasty heart, all your efforts may be in vain.

“I’m going, Nicholas.”

Shin-hwa headed to the bathroom.

Today will be the last day he can comfortably take a warm shower.

In the Nas Continent, every minute and every second will be a time of death where you have to move and fight fiercely.

Leeway?

If there is such a thing, it would mean that the plan has failed.

* * *

‘X발 [Korean profanity, similar to “fuck”]……. Disgusting bastards.’

Liquids mixed to the point where it was hard to tell whether it was blood or tears flowed down his face.

Nicholas didn’t even have time to wipe them away properly, and gritted his teeth in the darkness.

‘Twice……. Ha, it’s too short. But I can’t help it.’

Nicholas finally gathered his thoughts.

Two messages to send to Shin-hwa in the name of revelation.

It was the solution to the Great Change, and the use of the Black Necklace, which could be a definite counterpunch to Leccetro.

‘It’s… all done.’

He barely recalled the last message to convey, and overcame all kinds of interference and sent it flying.

The next moment.

Shaaaaa.

‘Hoo, hehe, heh heh……. Damn it, my talent has now run out of fate, is that it? Anyway, life is so dramatic. It’s a novel, a novel.’

The green aura surrounding Nicholas disappeared.

It was perfect evidence that he had lost Nicholas’s unique ability to transcend time and space, dimensions, and the past and future to deliver messages.

Now, no message, revelation, or even a small hint can be sent back in time.

‘Please, please……. Succeed. I’m sorry for entrusting you with such a heavy and difficult task.’

He bit his lip tightly.

If Shin-hwa changes the past.

All the timelines derived from it are reversed. The most important ‘time point.’

But what if you can’t change it?

‘All timelines will flow according to Leccetro’s will.’

The worst of the worst worlds will unfold.