The Regressor Only Protects Me [EN]: Chapter 159

159. The King of the 3rd Ward (1)

Jin Jaehee exhaled softly.

Just then, the prisoner beneath her groaned.

“Ugh…”

Jin Jaehee didn’t care whether he was in pain or not.

She stared at her palm, stained with blood.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve felt this exhausted.’

The greatest advantage of an Artifact Player was their body’s rapid recovery.

Their recovery abilities were far beyond those of ordinary people; even a broken bone would heal in a day.

But once the Artifact ability disappeared, everything changed.

The battle had continued all night, and now she was as exhausted as any ordinary person.

Of course, she was also hungry.

She swept her blood-stained bangs back and looked down at the prison guards.

Meanwhile, the senior guard, who was also looking up at Jin Jaehee, couldn’t hide his surprise.

“No way… are you saying she single-handedly defeated all the prisoners in the 3rd Ward? In one night?”

“…That’s amazing. Haha.”

The blood from the prisoners had gathered and pooled on the floor of the ward.

Most of them had lost consciousness and collapsed, but some were dead.

It was impossible to believe this had happened in just one night.

Just then, the guard from the previous shift approached the senior guard and said.

“Well, what can we do? We can’t stop it.”

Basically, the guards couldn’t control what happened inside the iron bars.

This Nest was an institution that ‘encouraged death’.

As Ha Yunha had strongly intended, the state did not execute individuals.

So, the judicial officers of Mangyeong came up with a clever idea.

If they gathered the prisoners in one place and locked them up, they would fight and kill each other.

That’s why there was a huge criminal faction within this Nest.

The 3rd Ward was the largest of those criminal factions.

But in one night, the faction had collapsed.

By one woman.

“What is her identity?”

“Sir… Didn’t you say yourself not to ask ‘why’?”

“…What about the other two who came in with that woman?”

“They were similar. Those people, Choi Hyunji and Choi Myungjoon, went to the 1st Ward together. That Choi Myungjoon… he’s a complete monster, though not as much as this woman.”

“Choi Myungjoon? Are you talking about the originator of the Elite Squad?”

The senior guard asked the previous shift worker in surprise.

The worker shook his head.

“No way. I heard he disappeared five years ago.”

“Damn it… What the hell is going on? Even the gladiator who was supposed to compete in today’s summit is in that state.”

“Yes?! Sir, then aren’t we screwed?”

“Damn it.”

The senior guard looked up at Jin Jaehee with fear-filled eyes.

Jin Jaehee also kept her eyes on him.

‘What should I do?’

The senior guard had received two packs of cigarettes from an anonymous person and was asked for a favor – in short, a bribe.

The anonymous person wanted Jin Jaehee eliminated here and her existence kept secret from the outside world.

But right now, the gladiator who was supposed to go to the match was incapacitated, and the only person left in the 3rd Ward was that woman.

‘But I can’t *not* send a gladiator to the summit.’

It was truly a dilemma.

The senior guard, lost in thought, came up with an idea.

The senior guard called Jin Jaehee.

“Hey, come down here for a second?”

Gulp-.

His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.

* * *

The days at the pension were like paradise.

Every day, new food and entertainment arrived.

Several times a day, people came and went, asking if there was anything she needed.

The pension had a total of four floors, and there was also a huge swimming pool in the basement.

It was like the house of a *chaebol* [conglomerate family] in that drama I saw with the construction workers in the cafeteria, wearing helmets and gloves.

Living in a house like this wasn’t exactly a dream, but from the beginning, if something couldn’t be achieved even a little, I didn’t even dream of it.

My dream was to have a 200 million won *jeonse* [long-term lease deposit] villa in the metropolitan area, and to be able to eat three meals a day without worry.

If I wanted more, it would be my younger sibling’s college tuition and wedding expenses, and *jeonse* funds.

‘That alone is over 500 million won. I think I saved 300,000 won a month back then.’

That was 300,000 won that I barely managed to save by scraping together money that I didn’t have.

3. 6 million won a year.

36 million won in 10 years.

360 million won in 100 years.

Even if I saved for 100 years, it was impossible to save 500 million won.

A ridiculous thought made me chuckle.

But right now, what’s in front of me is truly paradise.

Four exclusive chefs were preparing dinner in the restaurant.

A professional masseuse was organizing massage gels and beds for the next massage.

An errand runner who had found the novel I had requested came with books in both hands and organized them on the bookshelf.

A woman who introduced herself as a secretary came into my bedroom naked last night, but I refused.

Once an hour, someone comes and asks if there is anything uncomfortable or if there is anything else needed.

All of this is the leisure of the haves.

The luxuries that the wealthy can enjoy.

The pleasures that I couldn’t enjoy while living my current life were right next to me after the world was destroyed.

“…”

A slightly dangerous thought came to mind.

My younger sibling is strong anyway.

It is a given that my younger sibling is strong.

Being strong in this world means that they will live well wherever they go.

Then the reason why I have to find my younger sibling fades.

If my younger sibling is alive, the day will surely come when we will meet again, and then we can just meet again.

I am now being treated as a hero by a faction, and the state is using all means to support my comfort and stability.

Was this the dream I wanted?

I was confused.

Maybe I have lived in too small a world until now, so I cannot accept a big world.

I don’t know.

I really can’t answer my own questions right now.

I looked at the sky.

It was a clear sky without a single cloud.

I looked at the sky and said.

“Secretary.”

“Yes, please speak.”

They came and bowed their heads to listen to my orders anytime, anywhere.

“Where are my companions?”

“…Which companions are you referring to?”

“I’m talking about the three people who were with me.”

“…I will ask the Executor.”

She bowed to me again and tried to step back.

But I didn’t let it go like that.

“I command you.”

“…”

They are the people of Mangyeong.

The man called the Executor may not be able to receive orders because he is not a citizen of Mangyeong, but those who work here are different.

I can ‘command’ them.

“Information about my companions. If you know everything, tell me, and if you don’t know, find out.”

The secretary was a little dazed, but soon bowed her head and said.

“…I understand.”

She stepped back obediently.

One thing was certain.

I am trapped here, and no one inside Mangyeong could treat me like this.

Finding out information was a priority.

The guy who trapped me here must be no pushover.

If I gather information while trapped here, I will throw bait to see how they react.

* * *

Mangyeong Palace, Anyang City Hall.

The palace security is stricter than usual.

This is because they have obtained a piece of intelligence.

-Circumstances of an assassination attempt on the King of Mangyeong by the Metro forces have been detected.

This was a telegram collected by a spy belonging to the King’s direct special forces, and it was an official document that could never be manipulated by an individual.

This intelligence was a great stroke of luck for Land Minister Lee Seokjin.

It was a very good opportunity to confine Ha Yunha in the palace under the pretext of protecting him.

Royal Palace interior corridor. Hall of Humility.

Lee Seokjin, dressed in a suit, looked at the murals that filled the walls.

Manaan Police Station trembling in the cold.

Anyang citizens flocking to the Manaan Police Station following the rising beacon.

Kang Si-on executing the police chief.

Citizens oppressed by Dong-an.

Citizens cheering for the army that finally won the victory and returned in triumph.

The trials and tribulations of Mangyeong after the war, and the footsteps of salvation.

……And the hero, Kang Si-on.

All of this was a mural to commemorate the past 7 years.

Lee Seokjin had a slightly unique idea.

This is not just a game, but a new world has been pioneered after the end.

So, the modern society that refers to the 21st century is now over, and a new era has begun.

New Age.

Land Minister Lee Seokjin’s idea was that the unit of time that was counted as AD (Anno Domini: the year of Christ) should now be changed to NA (NEW AGE).

He got a hint from the history of mankind. The initial members who built the ancient kingdoms held overwhelming wealth and power and passed it down from generation to generation. That way, they were able to engrave their names in history.

What Lee Seokjin wanted was clear.

The city of Mangyeong.

Leaving the name Lee Seokjin as one of the initial founding members.

Also, to accumulate enormous wealth and become a prestigious family.

The rounds will be eternal.

After the 3rd round, there will be the 4th round, the 5th round.

Furthermore, up to the 30th round and the 50th round.

It’s a reasonable guess since we haven’t broken through the 3rd round even after 7 years.

At that time, someone called Lee Seokjin.

A man with a huge physique walked from afar.

Hwang Minjae.

He was said to have been the strongest of Choi Myungjoon’s subordinates in the past.

Now, he has become the supreme commander of Mangyeong after going through the Elite Squad leader and repeated promotions.

“Ah, Commander. Nice to meet you.”

Lee Seokjin extended his hand, but Hwang Minjae ignored it.

Hwang Minjae did not trust Lee Seokjin.

He had a few beliefs, one of which was that he did not trust people with slit eyes.

Lee Seokjin slowly withdrew his outstretched hand.

‘You rude bastard. When am I going to take care of this bastard?’

But Lee Seokjin smiled while managing his expression, and Hwang Minjae opened his mouth.

“I’ll keep it short. If you’re worried about the king’s safety, shouldn’t you call the current Elite Squad leader? The leader dispatched to the lawless zone.”

“Elite Squad leader? Ah-. Are you talking about Jung Hyunsoo?”

“That’s right. If it’s Jung Hyunsoo’s skills, wouldn’t the king’s safety be guaranteed for sure?”

Jung Hyunsoo, Elite Squad leader.

He was one of the hero’s faithful servants who received player training from Kang Si-on.

The current leadership of Mangyeong is 60% conservative forces, who support the hero and pledge allegiance.

On the other hand, the progressive forces who want challenges and changes suitable for the new era are evenly matched at 40%.

Jung Hyunsoo and Commander-in-Chief Hwang Minjae are the leaders representing the conservative forces.

And Lee Seokjin was the sole leader of the progressive forces.

It was only natural that the two were not on good terms.

Anyway, Jung Hyunsoo returning to the force and being active was not a welcome thing for Lee Seokjin.

Jung Hyunsoo was truly a war hero of the new era.

Three years ago, there was a legendary event in the turbulent era.

A total of 28,000 people.

That was the number of soldiers that the Metro forces brought down to conquer Mangyeong.

On the other hand, Mangyeong, which was going through a time of adversity, did not have even 3,000 regular troops.

However, Jung Hyunsoo.

He led only 3,000 people and crushed the Metro forces.

He didn’t just crush them, he almost annihilated the enemy.

After this war, the Metro forces changed their course, gave up Mangyeong, and invaded the Gangnam forces.

Jung Hyunsoo grew even more through that incident and has now become a player that Mangyeong cannot do without.

‘That Jung Hyunsoo is coming back to the force? No way. No way. How hard did I work to get Jung Hyunsoo out of the force?’

Lee Seokjin had to desperately stop that.

Lee Seokjin calmly explained to Hwang Minjae.

“At this point, Jung Hyunsoo is the only leader who can protect citizens from the murderers in the lawless zone. Besides, if we call Jung Hyunsoo back, the honor of the palace guard will suffer. This intelligence is important, but we will definitely find the cause and solve it. Trust the guard. And, if you make a fuss over just one piece of intelligence… wouldn’t it look strange?”

The palace guard is originally an institution belonging to Hwang Minjae’s unit.

So, Lee Seokjin provoked Hwang Minjae by touching his pride.

Of course, Hwang Minjae frowned.

“Of course, there is no problem with the guard. But I said it thinking about the king’s safety. And above all, I think Jung Hyunsoo needs a rest. He has been subjugating without rest for 2 years, so this is an opportunity to give him a rest.”

“Rest? Commander, I’m sorry to say this, but we don’t rest just because we’re in the internal administrative position of the force. Just yesterday, three employees in the land department collapsed from overwork. Even if Jung Hyunsoo returns, he won’t have time to rest. He might be busier. He had free time in the lawless zone, but now he won’t even be guaranteed that free time here. For that reason, the credibility of his return is low.”

“Hey, Minister Lee.”

“Commander, I know we are pursuing different directions, but we have the same roots. The fact that we are living in this city built by Mangyeong’s great first king, ‘Kang Si-on’, does not change. I myself only want to do things that are beneficial to the force.”

Hwang Minjae’s expression softened.

This is because Lee Seokjin’s words are correct.

They are ultimately from one root.

When the steam heated by the boiler rose from the Manaan Police Station for the first time.

People saw hope and endured the cold, believing that only the person who made that steam could save them.

Hwang Minjae recalled.

The frigid weather. The steam of hope that rose from the Manaan Police Station while leaning against the streetlights and freezing to death.

Hwang Minjae never wanted to deny the existence of the hero Kang Si-on.

Rather, he wanted to believe that he was alive.

But the good news that was conveyed to the force ended as just such a happening, and now it has become zero again.

“…Okay. I think my thoughts were short. I’ll do as you say.”

Hwang Minjae nodded obediently.