The Regressor Only Protects Me [EN]: Chapter 166

The Return of the King (2)

“Stay still.”

“Ow. That hurts.”

Jin Jaehee gently combed Lee Hoseung’s long hair with her fingers, contemplating her plans for the immediate future.

In two days, a slave market would be held inside the Nest.

Jin Jaehee had two goals.

First, to memorize the faces of the Mangyeong [a fictional corporation or organization] executives involved in buying and selling these slaves.

Second, to get chosen by them and escape this damn Nest.

To do that, she had to make Lee Hoseung presentable.

Jaehee stared at Hoseung’s face and said,

“I need blood.”

“Why, why, why, why?!? Why?!”

Lee Hoseung shook his head, more terrified than necessary.

“Because your lips need to be red.”

Jin Jaehee looked around.

She couldn’t bring herself to put the blood of criminals on Hoseung’s lips.

But if she hurt Hoseung’s body more, there would be no point in making him look good.

Jin Jaehee bit her index finger. Then, blood trickled down her finger.

“What are you doing?”

“Stay still. Lift your head.”

Jin Jaehee began to smear her blood on Lee Hoseung’s lips.

In fact, she didn’t know how to do makeup.

She found it too bothersome, and she didn’t think it was important. [This sentence was rephrased for better flow.]

Who knew she would be putting makeup on someone else’s face like this.

Jin Jaehee diligently applied blood to his lips.

“Eomma, try it. Eomma.”

“What’s that?”

“Rub your lips together.”

“Eum……. Mamma-”

“Do it properly.”

Thwack-!

Jin Jaehee hit Hoseung on the back of the head and scolded him.

“Damn it……. I’m doing it properly.”

Hoseung rubbed the back of his head and reapplied blood to his lips.

Jin Jaehee lifted his cheeks with her hands, checking Hoseung’s overall condition.

‘Not bad… I guess?’ [Internal monologue is indicated with single quotes.]

“What did you do?”

“Makeup.”

“Why? Here?”

“I have no choice if I want to be sold as a slave.”

Jin Jaehee did her best.

It was absurd and strange that this was the only way to get out of here.

Then, Jin Jaehee lifted Lee Hoseung’s top.

Whoosh-.

His skinny upper body was clearly visible.

“What, what are you doing?!? Are you a pervert?!”

“I think it would be better to gain some weight. No matter how much that bastard likes skinny people, who would like someone with visible ribs?”

“Who the hell? Who is that person?”

“Eat five meals from now on. Eat everything you can get your hands on every day.”

“Is that possible? We only get rations twice a day.”

“I can make it possible.”

Jin Jaehee put his top back down and stood up.

Then, she looked at him still sitting there.

With bright red lips and clear eyes, he was decent enough.

“Go to sleep quickly. We have to wake up early tomorrow.”

“…….”

Lee Hoseung sat still and looked up at her.

Then, he carefully nodded and replied.

“……Okay. I understand.”

She listened to Hoseung’s answer and walked to her space.

Meanwhile, while the two were talking, uninvited guests arrived at the Nest.

* * *

In the dark hallway, armed forces holding torches stormed into the Nest’s prison.

The guard on duty closed the book he was reading and asked the approaching group.

“Who are you? Civilians are prohibited from entering this area.”

But at that moment, the stranger took out a small dagger from his chest and aimed it at the guard’s neck.

“Just try to open your mouth.”

The stranger following behind gagged the guard to prevent him from screaming, laid him on the ground, and tied him up.

After that, dozens of people began to infiltrate the prison one by one.

Their target was not Section 2, where Choi Hyunji and Choi Myungjoon were, nor Section 3, where Jin Jaehee was, but Section 1.

The men knocked down the guards on duty one by one and entered Section 1.

The prisoners in Section 1 woke up one by one in the chaotic atmosphere.

The leader of the strangers slowly walked and looked around.

He lowered his mask.

It was Gil Daeheon.

Gil Daeheon used the keys he had taken from the tied-up guard to open the prison doors one by one.

Clank! Squeak…….

As dozens of doors opened, the prisoners inside only looked at each other, bewildered.

Were they really letting them go?

No, it was the opposite.

Gil Daeheon glared and ordered.

“Kill them all.”

“Yes.”

Gil Daeheon’s men charged into the prison with knives.

The prisoners in Section 1, caught off guard, were flustered.

“What the hell are these guys……!!!”

“You guys! Wasn’t it the law that you never interfere inside the prison?!”

“You son of a bitch! Argh!!!”

A horrific scene followed.

The strangers with weapons killed all the prisoners inside the section without exception.

Screams, groans, and dull sounds echoed everywhere.

Gil Daeheon dragged a wooden chair and sat in the center, lighting a cigarette.

Chik-.

The light that rose roundly from the end of the lighter faded again.

The scene of carnage continued in all directions, but Gil Daeheon brazenly smoked.

Soon the horrific sounds gradually subsided, and before Gil Daeheon could even finish one cigarette, all the prisoners in Section 1 were dead.

A stranger stained with blood approached Gil Daeheon and said.

“Everyone is taken care of.”

Gil Daeheon put out his cigarette on the floor and looked around.

The blood from the corpses gathered and flowed out into the hallway beyond the iron bars.

Gil Daeheon ordered.

“A total of 35 people. Fill them all with our agents without exception.”

“Understood.”

Gil Daeheon’s plan was this.

Kill all the prisoners in Section 1 and replace them with his own people.

In the upcoming game, they will go out and kill Jin Jaehee and her companions.

The reason why they couldn’t directly strike Section 2 or Section 3 in this operation was one.

If they recklessly mobilize troops to subdue the remaining Sections 2 and 3, all the Nest Colosseum games will be suspended.

The Colosseum is a huge market.

If the game is suspended even for a single day, the resulting loss is equivalent to the monthly production of a small force.

Therefore, they could not afford to take such losses.

It was also not easy to smuggle out gladiators from the section.

They could buy them through the slave market, but Gil Daeheon was not as rich as any wealthy man.

Buying Choi Myungjoon would not be a problem, but it would cost a considerable amount of money to buy the remaining two ability users.

That was impossible.

This was the only way left.

Legally infiltrate his subordinates into Section 1 and send them out to the game.

Gil Daeheon was confident that the targets in Sections 2 and 3 would bleed and die in tomorrow’s grand melee.

Because his subordinates were strong and ruthless.

* * *

The next day.

From early morning, the gladiators were preparing to go out to the game again.

Jin Jaehee armed herself and looked at the guards in the hallway.

They all had flushed faces and were hanging their heads.

‘What happened?’

The guard she had talked to yesterday was nowhere to be seen.

Anyway, it wouldn’t be a problem to go out to the game, but it was clear that something had changed.

Jin Jaehee finished arming herself and looked at Lee Hoseung.

He was now wearing the lightest clothes possible, as she had advised.

Jin Jaehee tightened Hoseung’s belt and asked.

“Are you ready?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“I don’t know how today’s game will go, but whatever happens, don’t stand out. We only have to endure two more times.”

“But what’s with the makeup today?”

“Because today is the day the guests come.”

“So, what is that guest?”

“You don’t need to know. Just do it.”

“Hey, you.”

At that time, a Nest guard approached Lee Hoseung with a small headband.

“Wear this on your head.”

“What is this?”

“Just wear it without asking. This is an order.”

Jin Jaehee glared at the guard once, but there was nothing she could do.

Lee Hoseung tied the blue headband around his forehead.

All the gladiators finished their preparations and were now ready to enter the arena.

Most of the gladiators in Section 3 today were ordinary prisoners who were not originally assigned to the role of gladiators.

The strength may have weakened a lot, but even with just Jin Jaehee, they would be able to withstand most difficulties.

The gladiators walked through the dark hallway towards the arena where the light poured in.

Again, the sound of drums and the cheers of the audience began to be heard.

Jin Jaehee arrived at the iron bars in the front row and looked at the arena.

The arena reflected in the iron bars was desolate.

But the stands were different.

As the guard had said, many ‘guests’ were already sitting in groups.

It was clear at a glance that they were rich people.

Their tables were filled with all kinds of fruits, food, and alcohol.

It was clear that a different kind of game would unfold than before.

Jin Jaehee looked at the opposite hallway through the iron bars and had no choice but to frown.

“Lee Hoseung.”

“Huh?”

“Stay close to me.”

Opposite section hallway.

There was no way she could have seen it wrong.

Choi Myungjoon was definitely standing there.

The moment she saw Choi Myungjoon, Jin Jaehee felt no joy or relief.

At that time, the host appeared in the arena again.

He shouted, looking at the audience.

“Welcome-! We sincerely welcome everyone who visited this Nest today. Today, we have brought a slightly special game rule. It’s called ‘Protect the King’. Among the gladiators in each section, a king is randomly selected, and the gladiators belonging to that section must protect their king for any reason. Section 1, Section 2, Section 3. A total of three groups will participate, and the winning condition is that the section that captures or kills the king wins. It’s quite familiar, isn’t it? That’s right! It’s the very first round we all experienced!”

People cheered at the host’s words.

On the other hand, Lee Hoseung’s face turned pale, and Jin Jaehee felt disgusted.

Is this why higher-dimensional beings hosted the League on Earth?

A death game where they kill each other is a sport that provides the best pleasure and fun for spectators, not participants.

The spectating citizens were now enjoying and feeling thrilled by the hell they themselves had experienced.

“Let’s get started right away.”

Tteudeung-! Deudeudeudeu…….

The iron bars were raised and the gladiators poured into the arena all at once to capture the king.

Among them, the most prominent group was not Jin Jaehee’s Section 3, nor Choi Myungjoon’s Section 2.

It was the gladiators of Section 1.

* * *

Before a fierce battle even broke out between the three sections, Choi Myungjoon immediately found Jin Jaehee and ran towards her.

“Hey! You’re alive?”

As he approached, the gladiators of Section 3 behind him shrank back in fear.

That’s because Choi Myungjoon’s physique was truly overwhelming.

If they didn’t know each other, they would immediately lower their eyes. His physical was that good.

Jin Jaehee raised her hand to calm them down, and they followed her words.

“I thought you were dead, and I was happy. What’s with that mask again? Is it a concept? Haha.”

Even though he said that, Choi Myungjoon’s lips were hooked to his ears. ‘What a simple man.’ Jin Jaehee only thought to herself and asked.

“How’s your section? Who’s the king?”

“Her.”

Choi Myungjoon pointed to behind his shoulder with his thumb.

Choi Hyunji with the red ribbon, running around in a fuss.

“Waaaaaaaah-!!! Get away!”

She was running around like a young girl being chased by a swarm of bees.

‘What is she doing.’

Choi Hyunji, who was running away, found Jin Jaehee in the distance and ran over.

“Dongsaeng [Korean term for younger sibling or friend]-!!!! Save meee-! Hwaaaa!!!”

She tried to hug Jaehee in one breath, but Jaehee twisted her body to avoid it.

Jin Jaehee looked up at Choi Myungjoon and asked.

“Any contact with Zion?”

“None at all. You neither?”

“Yeah. But Zion has probably started moving. We just need to do our job.”

Jin Jaehee looked at the gladiators of Section 1.

Their behavior was a little strange.

Rather than capturing the king, they seemed to be committing a ruthless massacre.

At that time, Choi Myungjoon pointed to Lee Hoseung behind Jin Jaehee and asked.

“Who are you?”

“My friend.”

Jin Jaehee answered instead. Lee Hoseung was already trembling after seeing Choi Myungjoon’s physique.

“You had a friend? Was there anyone who could put up with that shitty personality? Amazing. Hey. Friend. Nice to meet you?”

“Ye……. Yes.”

Lee Hoseung answered, terrified.

Leaving Choi Myungjoon, who was talking nonsense, Jin Jaehee tilted her head.

It was strange.

They weren’t the gladiators from Section 1 that she had fought once before.

Most sections have assigned roles, so the people who come out to the game are usually similar.

For some reason, all the gladiators in Section 1 had changed.

‘Is it related to the commotion last night?’

Jin Jaehee thought for a moment, but soon gave up.

She judged that thinking didn’t suit her.

To be exact, she was a rhinoceros.

A style that just charges headfirst.

Sseueung-.

Jin Jaehee lowered her sword.

“Choi Myungjoon. I’m going to capture the king of Section 1. Just help me. Lee Hoseung. You see that woman with the red ribbon over there. Run next to her.”

“You’re asking me to help you. Damn it. The sun will rise in the west.”

“……The sun always rises in the east. Moron.”

Taat-!

Jin Jaehee ran forward, and Choi Myungjoon, who was left behind, opened his mouth.

“The sun rises in the east? What the hell is that supposed to mean. Hey friend. Does the sun rise in the east?”

“Y, yes.”

“Ah……. Is that so?”

Choi Myungjoon scratched his cheek and then walked forward with an ax in his hand.

“Whatever.”

He was smiling.

Numerous gladiators were tangled and tangled, pointing their weapons at each other.

This was truly a mess.

It was a different image from the large-scale battles seen in movies or media.

This was like a tug-of-war.

The front-line infantry of each group collided and struggled.

There was no fancy or unmatched appearance, no strategy or tactics, just collision.

Judging by numbers, the Section 2 and Section 3 alliance was much larger, but the combatants of Section 1 were on a different level.

The combatants of Section 1 were Gil Daeheon’s closest aides.

They were truly machines born for slaughter.

The situation was gradually flowing towards Section 1’s victory, and many gladiators fell and bled.

And at that moment.

The cheering audience, the host, the gladiators with swords and spears, the guests looking around at their merchandise.

A single ‘sphere’ began to appear in the eyes of all of them.

Like a swarm of fireflies scattered deep inside a dark forest.

They weren’t exactly spheres.

They were ‘bells’ made of artifacts.

Numerous bells slowly began to fill the Nest.

‘He’s here.’

Without hesitation, Jin Jaehee was certain that he had returned.

And the bell rang twice.

Dding-. Dding-.

(Continued in the next episode)