I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 277

277

In a private jet heading to Moscow, Russia.

Among the numerous private jets flying along the same route, the first one to depart for Moscow carried Lee Hah-sung and Na Mina, representing KSA’s [Korean Special Ability Association] top-tier power, along with members of Team Mystic.

They were already acquainted.

Thanks to Shin Hwa bridging the gap, the three members of Team Mystic actively collaborated with KSA in dungeon raids.

Especially since Yoon Byul was from KSA, their understanding of each other was high, making it easier to integrate.

Choi Ji-hyuk and Han So-joon had also been personally curious about and admired Lee Hah-sung’s skills.

It didn’t take long for them to become close.

“Byul, how is it? Being a colleague alongside an Awakened being called a monster?”

Na Mina playfully poked Yoon Byul’s side as she sat next to her in the spacious private seat.

“Ah, Branch Manager.”

“Hehe, it’s fun because Byul’s reaction is always the same.”

“My belly fat has also increased noticeably… I’m embarrassed.”

“You don’t even have enough fat to pinch with your fingers, what do you mean belly fat? Anyway, you didn’t answer my question?”

Na Mina and Yoon Byul conversed without any formality.

They had been close like sisters since long ago, regardless of their positions.

Moreover, now that they were no longer in a superior-subordinate relationship at work, they could treat each other even more casually.

“It feels like becoming a monster together.”

“Becoming a monster together… Is that a bad thing? Or a good thing?”

“It’s a good thing. It’s like courage wells up just by staying still? I feel confident that I can do anything.”

“And it’s actually like that?”

“Yes. That’s right. Since the word ‘impossible’ doesn’t exist for Shin Hwa, I also feel like I can dare to do anything.”

“You’ve never been in a dangerous situation even once, have you?”

“That’s right. Actually, it’s not because I’m good at it, but because Shin Hwa usually faces the danger alone.”

“Shin Hwa is truly an amazing person.”

“That’s why I feel so inadequate. I always feel sorry too. I wonder if I’m just freeloading without doing anything properly.”

“I don’t think so? Looking at Shin Hwa, he only keeps people around him who are essential to him.”

Na Mina was right.

The people around Shin Hwa were those who could be helpful to him in some way.

In other words, the people who haven’t formed a connection with Shin Hwa now are unnecessary to him.

“Anyway, Byul.”

“Yes?”

“When are you going to date Shin Hwa?”

“Pfft!”

Yoon Byul was absentmindedly drinking water when she choked and spat it out forward.

If she hadn’t lowered her head, the spray would have landed directly on Han So-joon’s head in the front seat.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“Cough! Cough, cough! Branch Manager. Shin Hwa and I are nothing. We’re perfect colleagues.”

“Who would believe that?”

“It’s the truth.”

Yoon Byul’s face flushed.

The moment she said it so assertively, she felt bitter because she still liked him.

Of course, she didn’t resent or feel bitter towards Shin Hwa.

He had already explained to her why he couldn’t easily give his heart to someone.

And those words made the listener understand and also broke their heart.

The loss of his former girlfriend.

The door to his heart that had been closed because of it.

It was clearly a heavy burden that couldn’t be taken lightly. Yoon Byul understood Shin Hwa’s heart, so she felt sorry for him.

Maternal love… perhaps?

She thought that such emotions might be mixed in her heart.

When she looked at Shin Hwa, she felt awe as an Awakened, but at the same time.

She always wanted to embrace and hug him.

There were times when she wanted to act like a mother, or an older sister, or a mischievous younger sister.

“Then is he having a fling with Kang Se-mi? No, a healthy man can’t just be practicing asceticism, right?”

Yoon Byul’s expression darkened slightly at Na Mina’s words.

Kang Se-mi is Shami’s Korean name.

Yoon Byul, who didn’t know the detailed backstory, knew Shami as a friend from abroad.

She had lived in Korea for quite a long time, and this time, her naturalization was accepted, and she became a formal Korean citizen.

This was all Yoon Byul knew about her.

“Sorry. I was insensitive.”

“No, it’s okay. You don’t have to worry about it. Shin Hwa and I really are nothing.”

Yoon Byul said firmly.

The more she said this, the more her feelings for Shin Hwa grew in her heart, but she didn’t want to show it.

Because the more she showed it, the more Shin Hwa would feel burdened. She really didn’t want to be a burden to anyone.

If she couldn’t ease his burden but instead kept adding to Shin Hwa’s feelings of guilt…

She felt like she couldn’t bear that. It wasn’t something a person who liked Shin Hwa should do.

“When I first saw Shin Hwa, I thought he was just a reckless brat who suddenly gained tremendous power.”

“Your first impression wasn’t very good, was it?”

“But now, he feels like someone who is diligently preparing for the future. Like a superhero, you know?”

“I think so too. The Cheongyeon and Hongyeon Guild incidents, the Joo Cheon-ho case, and this incident too.”

Yoon Byul agreed.

Shin Hwa waved his hand each time, saying it was nothing, and spoke casually, but.

In fact, there were more than one or two incidents that were able to avoid great disasters because of Shin Hwa’s involvement in 2020.

In the case of the Cheongyeon and Hongyeon Guild incidents, it was questionable whether KSA would have survived until now without Shin Hwa.

The same goes for Joo Cheon-ho.

If Shin Hwa hadn’t eliminated the executives early on, KSA’s damage would have increased exponentially.

And this incident was on a completely different scale.

This ‘disaster’ was clearly a huge ‘catastrophe’ that could engulf not only Russia but also neighboring countries.

Shin Hwa said he found out about this through future sight. And when everyone saw it become a reality, they admired it and didn’t think beyond that, but…

Na Mina had a slightly different thought.

“Byul.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever thought that Shin Hwa might not be from the future sight, but from the future?”

The words Na Mina brought up.

It was something that people around Shin Hwa had thought about at least once, but hadn’t asked the person himself.

It was about the secret that seemed to be hidden from Shin Hwa, who knew everything.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Shin Hwa, who had entered the heart of the tundra, was literally carrying out a large-scale massacre.

Iosif also wielded the Iron Fist of Annihilation against the monsters that were running towards the end of evil, but watching Shin Hwa next to him instantly blow the heads of two or three monsters at once, his own figure felt infinitely small, and even the shouts he let out with strength felt like useless bluster.

That’s how overwhelming Shin Hwa’s power was.

‘Is he some kind of killing machine?’

That was Iosif’s honest overall assessment.

The reason why Awakened people fear monsters is because they are monsters. They don’t die easily.

Of course, lower-level goblins, called ‘national punching bags,’ die from just a whip, but when you face trolls or ogres, you can’t help but sigh first.

Their tough outer skin, amazing recovery speed, and regeneration abilities are almost terrifying.

These monsters also have considerable strength, so if you recklessly attack them and get counterattacked, you can end up completely destroying the durability of your suit.

But in front of Shin Hwa.

Boom! Bang! Crunch!

Most monsters received equal results.

Whether they exploded, were crushed, or shattered.

Or even if they didn’t end up in such a gruesome state, they died horribly broken.

They unconditionally died.

There was no fancy back-and-forth in the process. One shot, one kill. Everyone was like that in front of Shin Hwa.

Monsters that rushed at Shin Hwa in a one-on-one or one-on-two situation usually ended up with a punch.

When a group started to rush in, Shin Hwa transformed his right arm into a sword.

Iosif couldn’t help but be surprised once again by the power of that sword.

Because even the ‘enhanced troll,’ which couldn’t be properly cut with a ‘steel’ sword, died as it was.

Iosif, who didn’t know about Stellard ore [a fictional, exceptionally strong metal], couldn’t help but be shocked by the sword Shin Hwa made.

Enhanced trolls, which have an outer skin five times harder than trolls, were avoided by even SS-rank Iosif.

The standard way to deal with these guys is for multiple Awakened to pour firepower at once, in a so-called pinpoint strike.

But Shin Hwa boldly rushed in and split the enhanced troll’s crown in half with the Stellard sword.

With a normal sword, this level of attack would only tear the enhanced troll’s scalp and hit the skull with a thud!

But.

Sizzle!

What unfolded before Iosif’s eyes was a scene where the troll was cut exactly in a straight line from the head to the middle of the uvula [the fleshy extension at the back of the soft palate].

The face of the enhanced troll, which was split exactly in the center by Shin Hwa’s attack, was divided into the left and right sides, respectively.

That means.

‘Damn… he’s completely crazy. He splits enhanced trolls in half to kill them?’

It was cut in half.

Iosif felt a thrill running up his nerve endings from the tips of his toes to the top of his head.

He was scared and terrified.

He wondered if Shin Hwa, the person next to him, might change his mind and attack him.

He was confident that he would never lose to anyone in terms of strength, and even he, an SS-rank Awakened!

Shin Hwa was the only person who had caused him this much fear so far. He was sweating all over.

‘Is this… a realm above SS-rank?’

He thought, looking at Shin Hwa.

Shin Hwa’s publicly known rank was SS-rank. It was because Shin Hwa didn’t bother to update his past information.

Of course, there had been talk before that he was an SS-rank who didn’t seem like an SS-rank.

So, the general expectation was that he was a SSS-rank level powerhouse.

But looking at Shin Hwa now, even SSS-rank was low. At least EX-rank? There was no other explanation.

The reason was simple.

The enhanced troll that was split in half by Shin Hwa’s attack just now was a SSS-rank monster.

Enhanced trolls are also divided from S to SSS depending on their skin color.

The one he faced this time was a SSS-rank enhanced troll with red skin.

A monster that would require about six or seven Awakened like Iosif to barely achieve a stalemate had died a miserable death in a single blow.

“Mr. Iosif?”

“…Yes?”

“What are you doing? It’s all over.”

Shin Hwa, covered in blood, turned around and looked at him, then smiled and raised his thumb.

Shiver.

Iosif barely held on to his legs, which were losing strength without him realizing it, and trembled.

The monster was not far away, but standing closest to him.