I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 81

Chapter 81

“I just got lucky. The three of us went to warm up and found the inside had changed, you know?”

“Really?”

“I’m not some kind of psychic. How would I know it would become an A-rank dungeon in advance?”

“Isn’t it too strange to be a coincidence?”

“It’s so strange that no one would call it a coincidence.”

“Well, it’s not like Shin-hwa is a time traveler, is he?”

Innocent Jin Bo-mi didn’t ask me any further questions. It was probably because even if she did, it would just be a repeat of the same answer.

She seemed to have dropped her doubts about that part, as Jin Bo-mi threw out another question this time.

“Shin-hwa, what’s your relationship with Byul-ie unnie [older sister]? I know her because she’s Tae-ho oppa’s [older brother’s] younger sister.”

“We’re nothing. I just went with Choi Ji-hyuk to get a feel for our teamwork.”

“Teamwork…?”

“Yes. I went to test what her skills were like as a fellow Awakened. I was also interested in her skills.”

“Hmm…”

A strong sense of jealousy was evident in Jin Bo-mi’s darkening expression.

Perhaps because she was still young, she seemed unskilled at hiding her emotions.

Or rather, she was more obvious in the process of trying to hide it.

A considerable silence passed.

Sitting in the passenger seat, I looked at her profile, and she kept pouting her lips, looking very displeased.

She must know about the Jeju Island incident too.

She might have heard from her older brother, Yoon Tae-ho, that I treated her separately at the villa.

Her jealous reaction was understandable enough.

But she soon cleared her throat a few times and turned on classical music to break the awkward atmosphere.

The subtly spreading music was quite to my liking.

As the atmosphere softened slightly, Jin Bo-mi quickly changed the subject.

“I think I should thank Shin-hwa again.”

“Suddenly?”

“Ever since Shin-hwa solved my mana emission disorder, my body has improved so much that it feels like my second prime.”

“Was there a meaningful change?”

“Of course! I can use my spellcasting abilities much faster than before. There’s a 0.3-second difference in time, even with the increased average of the samples.”

“That’s definitely faster.”

“Compared to the past, the only change that has happened to me is Shin-hwa’s treatment! This is all thanks to Shin-hwa. Thank you so much.”

“Well, I’ve been sufficiently compensated for my gratitude through the group, so you don’t have to thank me any more.”

“But I still want to say it again. It’s all thanks to Shin-hwa, and Shin-hwa is my savior!”

“I also think it’s one of the best things I’ve done in my life.”

I said honestly.

In any case, by saving Jin Bo-mi, I gained a lot of special privileges and financial benefits.

The ripple effect from that incident was by no means small enough to be called a butterfly effect.

Jin Bo-mi’s treatment was also the first opportunity for my name to become widely known among the Awakened.

“Shin-hwa!”

“Yes?”

“Do you have any thoughts about dating? When was the last time you had a girlfriend?”

I was momentarily startled by the sudden question and looked at her.

Usually, this kind of question is mainly asked by a man to a woman he is interested in. Somehow, it feels like we’re reversed.

“Um.”

It might have been a light question, but I became thoughtful for a moment and made a groaning sound.

It was because the memories of my past life suddenly came to mind.

“My girlfriend is a pretty old memory for me. It was a bereavement, so I can’t forget it even as time passes.”

“Ah…”

This was not a lie.

I omitted all the detailed explanations, but there was definitely a woman I loved. It was in my previous life, around 2032.

Thanks to Nicholas’s knowledge, I gained great power, and I was very active, roaming around many dungeons.

As a result, I naturally accumulated wealth, and I also thought that I could take responsibility for my lover’s future.

I promised to marry her, whom I had been dating for two years, and our wedding was scheduled for Christmas.

Everything was going smoothly.

Our love and my life as an Awakened were only going to be smooth sailing.

But a terrible thing happened behind her back as she waited for me at the place where we were supposed to meet for a date.

It was an outbreak.

This was such a small-scale outbreak that even the regressor Nicholas could not have predicted.

But for her, a normal person, the monster that suddenly appeared was a monster that she could never handle, even if it was the lowest rank.

In the end, when I arrived at the scene, I saw her lying dead, a cold corpse.

After that.

I really don’t remember a few months. Because it was the saddest and most difficult time in my life.

I experienced a tragic tragedy of losing my father and mother, and even my lover who was about to get married, due to the outbreak.

What I decided after calming down was that I didn’t want to love anyone sincerely anymore.

If I give everything to someone, I’ll want to be with them for the rest of my life.

You might say I’m a coward, but I didn’t want to go through the tragedy of losing someone next to me again.

So, there were a few times when I had some flings, but they all fizzled out in the middle, and I voluntarily lived a single life.

It was the same in this life.

I’m getting involved with connections that are better than I imagined, but I’ve always had a question mark about whether I should be in love.

‘Yoon-ah. If someone good enough to make me forget her appears, then I might think about it again.’

That was my long-held thought.

And I haven’t met anyone who can push her out of her place yet. That was all.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring back Shin-hwa’s painful memories with my question.”

A deep embarrassment was felt in Jin Bo-mi’s expression, which was at a loss.

That would be the case.

Losing a loved one to ‘death’ would not be a common experience for her, who is now twenty years old.

“It’s okay. Anyway, that’s why I’m not ready to accept someone into my heart yet. To be exact, it’s like I don’t have a room in my heart to make for that person.”

I said seriously.

Jin Bo-mi is a really good person.

Frankly, I’m the only one like this, but there are more than a few men who express their liking for her.

Male idols, the sons of chaebol [conglomerate] chairmen, male Awakened who are known by name… It’s too much to list them all.

Right then.

Drrr. Drrr.

A phone call came at just the right time.

I was worried that the heavy atmosphere would be a burden to Jin Bo-mi, but it was a welcome call that brought a change in the atmosphere.

The caller was Yoon Byul-ie.

‘What’s going on at this hour?’

* * *

“Really? Of course, you’re welcome. Isn’t that what I suggested?”

“I’m sure you’ll be a good partner with Father Choi.”

“If Byul-ie can take care of the external parts, I can focus more on conquering the dungeon.”

‘I see… It’s in progress.’

Jin Bo-mi unintentionally listened to Shin-hwa’s phone conversation from the driver’s seat and made a bitter expression.

Jung-hoon had told her a while ago. It seems like Shin-hwa is trying to form his own team.

In other words, he said that he was going to become an independent force as a separate team.

I thought something was unusual when he brought an Awakened named Choi Ji-hyuk to the Ye-hwa training room.

It became clear with today’s phone call.

It seemed that he had made an offer to Yoon Byul-ie about the team.

And Shin-hwa didn’t seem to be trying to hide it, even though Jin Bo-mi was listening next to him.

“I’m glad I found a good worker. Oh, of course, I don’t mean I’m only going to make you work. Hahaha.”

Even a friendly conversation.

Even though I was sitting right next to her, I felt like a completely alienated third party, and I didn’t feel good.

As soon as Shin-hwa’s call ended, Jin Bo-mi asked immediately.

Her head was full of various thoughts, but she spoke as calmly as possible.

“Shin-hwa, are you not considering any further guild activities after the contract expires?”

“I’m thinking that way for now.”

“Listening to your conversation with Byul-ie unnie… are you trying to form a separate team?”

“That’s right. My thoughts on this part are almost settled.”

Shin-hwa said emphatically.

He had made his name known to some extent, and he had saved quite a bit of money.

Of course, he was planning to use a large amount of money to buy a few islands soon!

In the future, the additional profits from the sale of top-grade mana potions and enhancement potions would be by no means small.

On the other hand, he was also confident.

Even if he wasn’t affiliated, he was confident that the Yang-hwa Guild would continue to maintain its relationship with him.

Perhaps if they consistently guaranteed the exclusive sales rights for top-grade mana potions, the current relationship would not be broken.

‘Being affiliated means that in the long run, even if you receive a lot of consideration, you will eventually be affected by the affiliated guild.’

Shin-hwa didn’t like the influence and burden.

He would owe a debt of gratitude, and he would have to worry about repaying it… The push-and-pull process was honestly a headache.

“Can’t you think about the guild in a forward-looking way? We need Shin-hwa.”

Jin Bo-mi’s words were restrained, yet contained a sense of urgency.

However, Jin Bo-mi did not emphasize it in order not to put pressure on Shin-hwa.

That’s because she already knew too well that Shin-hwa was not the type to change his mind.

However, from the standpoint of someone who recognized Shin-hwa’s infinite potential, he was the best card she could never give up.

The mana potion sold by Shin-hwa.

The detailed strategy for the Madillo dungeon, which was perfected and systematically established thanks to Shin-hwa.

In addition, the enormous promotional effect that the Yang-hwa Guild enjoys just by the fact that an Awakened named Kang Shin-hwa is affiliated with it.

From the Yang-hwa Guild’s point of view, Shin-hwa was no different from a goose that lays golden eggs, not just golden eggs.

As Shin-hwa showed signs of leaving, she felt desperate and anxious, while trying to appear as calm as possible.

If Jin Sung-tae had heard these words, he would have run out to the road barefoot in an instant.

When there was no answer, Jin Bo-mi carefully asked again.

“Do you have to leave?”

Shin-hwa nodded silently.

“Just because I’m not affiliated with the Yang-hwa Guild doesn’t mean I won’t be with the guild.”

“Um…”

A feeling of half resignation was evident in Jin Bo-mi’s voice as she made a groaning sound.

“And there are still almost fifteen days left in the contract period. There’s still plenty of time to be together.”

“We want a continuous relationship, Shin-hwa.”

“I feel the same way. Our relationship will always be valid. I’m not that cold-hearted.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, that’s all. That’s what I want. A life that is not bound or swayed by people or organizations.”

Shin-hwa’s words were firm.

Jin Bo-mi could feel it.

This was not an impulsive thought, but a firm thought that Shin-hwa had from the time he first signed a contract with the Yang-hwa Guild.

So Jin Bo-mi didn’t add any more words.

However, from the guild’s point of view, which did not want to miss him, she had the idea of preparing a ‘second plan’.

This is a problem that the executives, including her father Jin Sung-tae, will have to rack their brains over.

* * *

The first safe house that Jin Bo-mi followed to was ‘Yang-hwa Ruby City’, which stood tall near Sadang Station.

In keeping with the name Ruby, the sparkling red waves on the outskirts of the complex were dazzling and beautiful.

Jin Bo-mi pointed to my house on the top floor and emphasized the progress she had made so far.

“SS-rank security construction has been done! All of Yang-hwa Construction’s top personnel rushed in to carry out the construction!”

“I’m honestly very excited. Actually, that’s why, can I do one experiment?”

“Yes, Shin-hwa! What kind of experiment?”

“Can I check the condition directly with my fist?”

“Shin-hwa, you personally?”

“I just need to be able to produce SS-rank power, right? Because it’s SS-rank construction.”

“That’s right, but can Shin-hwa do that?”

“Of course.”

Shoddy construction is unacceptable, even for the world-renowned Yang-hwa Construction.

Whoong! Whoong!

I vigorously loosened my hands.