The Regressor Only Protects Me [EN]: Chapter 170

170. Reorganization (2)

The cheers of the citizens echoed through the sky from sunrise until noon.

The Throne Room.

Until now, it had been a sacred space, a seat that no one from the faction could occupy.

But after the hero returned, that significance diminished.

Sitting on the throne, Kang Si-hyun rested his chin on his hand, looking down at the executives bowing before him.

Kang Si-hyun’s gaze held a power that could overwhelm everything.

The one with absolute power simply listened to the voices of his subordinates without offering suggestions or comments.

The subordinates only sought their lord’s opinion, and the lord made all the decisions and judgments.

“Compared to five years ago, the number of Ogres has increased approximately fivefold, totaling 512. Except for the 10 Ogres under Commander Jung Hyun-soo stationed outside the city, all are being used for defense or construction,” Ha Yoon-ha reported.

“There are a total of 310 accomplices. Among them, 31 leaders have been dismissed and are awaiting punishment in the Nest’s [prison] isolation cell.”

Discussions continued regarding the punishment of accomplices and traitors.

While Ha Yoon-ha was reporting, Commander Hwang Min-jae spoke, “The leadership associated with Land Minister Lee Seok-jin held key power in the faction. While their punishment is obvious, we must also find replacements for them.”

“I agree, but I believe rectifying the hero’s status is more important than finding their replacements right now. It’s the right thing for Man-kyung to do,” Ha Yoon-ha replied to Hwang Min-jae, then looked up at Kang Si-hyun on the throne and carefully asked, “What should we do with Lee Seok-jin? I await your instructions.”

At Ha Yoon-ha’s question, Kang Si-hyun lowered his gaze.

He had been observing the assembled citizens visible from the throne.

Then, the Construction Minister, a key figure in the conservative faction, spoke. “Why use a dragon-slaying sword to catch a rat? [Why use excessive force for a minor task?] Tear him limb from limb and display him in the market as an example. Similarly, we must eliminate all of the rat’s subordinates.”

At the Construction Minister’s words, conservative faction members voiced their agreement. “That’s right! Daring to mock the hero! It’s unacceptable!”

“The world is in an era of upheaval. Even uniting the faction to defeat a single enemy is difficult enough, yet they dared to imprison the hero and divide the faction.”

“We need to eradicate all the progressives and set an example for future generations.”

The atmosphere was chaotic, but their intentions were aligned.

Usually, the conservative faction supported Ha Yoon-ha and awaited the return of the hero, Kang Si-hyun.

Over the past five years, they had provided resources for the hero.

The conservative faction members had personally funded those enormous resources.

However, the 3rd generation citizens of Man-kyung and their leadership had never seen Kang Si-hyun up close, so they were skeptical about the support.

But Kang Si-hyun’s overwhelming performance in Man-kyung this time had completely subjugated their doubts.

The progressive faction had completely collapsed, and Kang Si-hyun, who had ascended to the throne, once again ruled everything in Man-kyung.

It was Kang Si-hyun himself who ultimately quelled the chaotic atmosphere.

He simply raised a finger, and Hwang Min-jae silenced everyone.

A suffocating silence followed.

All the leaders, who held power within the faction and had been vehemently arguing, fell silent at the hero’s raised finger.

No one within this faction dared to oppose Kang Si-hyun any longer.

They remembered.

When steam first rose from the faction [referring to its initial growth and power].

And when they found out who had created that steam.

They also remembered when they had neutralized the surrounding factions using Ogres, and when they found out who had tamed those Ogres.

They also recalled when he had overcome the overwhelming power difference with Dong-an with his outstanding intellect and leadership.

Finally, they shuddered as they remembered when someone’s artifacts had filled the territories of all factions just a moment ago.

Everyone bowed their heads to that ‘someone,’ realizing that he was the only light in the destroyed world.

Kang Si-hyun was a man qualified to be at the pinnacle.

He, who had been a day laborer, was now an emperor ruling over 100,000 people.

Having become an emperor, he was now going to move forward.

His goal was now one.

To end this league.

With his own hands, according to his own will.

As always.

“……”

As Kang Si-hyun descended from the throne and walked, the ministers parted to both sides.

Brilliant rays of light illuminated his path.

With every step he took forward, the cheers of the crowd grew louder.

When he finally stood in a position to look down upon the entire crowd, they roared.

The crowd rejoiced at the return of their lord.

Their roar contained respect for Kang Si-hyun, who had returned to his rightful place.

Kang Si-hyun looked around the cityscape.

The cheers poured out only for him.

The crowds that filled the streets were looking only at him.

He stood before everyone and declared.

That he had returned.

* * *

As the cheers of the crowd filled the city, Jin Jae-hee was watching Kang Si-hyun as he stood before the crowd.

As he controlled the entire crowd, she finally realized that he had returned to Man-kyung.

“Is he your friend?” Lee Ho-seung asked.

Jin Jae-hee nodded, and Lee Ho-seung smiled helplessly, saying, “He’s really a crazy guy. When you first said you were following that man, I honestly didn’t believe it. You weren’t the type to follow someone.”

“Si-hyun proved who he was, and I’m just following that. We’ve been dreaming the same dream for a while now, and I’m just helping him.”

“You didn’t know him from the beginning, did you?”

“It’s complicated. But why?”

“What are you going to do from now on? Are you going to keep playing the league with him?”

“Yeah. That’s what I’ve been thinking from the start.”

Only then did Jin Jae-hee take her eyes off Si-hyun, turn to Lee Ho-seung, and ask, “What about you? What are you going to do now?”

It was a complicated question.

Until now, he had been wandering around, just waiting for the day he would die, without any purpose.

But now he had regained a meaning in life.

Jin Jae-hee, whom he had met again, was steadily paving her own way.

Lee Ho-seung looked at her and asked, “Will you tell me what I should do?”

At his question, Jin Jae-hee felt a little calmer.

She felt strange.

Jin Jae-hee had to kill everything to survive in her past life. It was thanks to Ho-seung and her friends that she was able to live somewhat humanely.

Because she was with them, she didn’t lose her reason, and she was able to survive until the end.

When even those friends lost their lives, Jin Jae-hee couldn’t find the meaning of life.

She recalled the last words Lee Ho-seung had said to her before he left.

-Kang Si-hyun, only he can win this league. Protect him.

That was also the reason why Jin Jae-hee had come up to Anyang in this life.

In fact, Jin Jae-hee had to say the words that Lee Ho-seung had said, now that Lee Ho-seung was at a loss.

Jin Jae-hee smiled and said, “Only care about Kang Si-hyun, and only protect Kang Si-hyun. Only he can end this league. There will be something you can do. Do your best. You have to go back. Back to when we were making music together. You said you’d make me a singer, right? Keep your promise, Ho-seung.”

Jin Jae-hee finished speaking and looked at him.

Lee Ho-seung’s eyes trembled at her smile.

* * *

Meanwhile, Choi Hyun-ji looked at Kang Si-hyun and commented, “Ooh, looking like that, he really does have the dignity of a king. But is it really necessary to go that far? Even Yoon-ha? Huh?”

Choi Myung-joon, who was rummaging through his pockets, warned her, “Hyung-nim [term of respect for an older brother or male friend] has always had dignity. You should think about serving Hyung-nim well. You’re always so flighty and frivolous.”

“Yeah, yeah. You serve him a lot,” Choi Hyun-ji retorted and turned her head away from him.

Then, she approached Jin Jae-hee and sat down next to her. She was sitting on a chair, waiting for the meeting to end.

“What are you doing, Dongsaeng-nim [term of endearment for a younger sibling or friend]?”

“Nothing.”

Jin Jae-hee also left those words and moved away from Choi Hyun-ji.

Then, Choi Hyun-ji frowned and shouted, “Why does everyone treat me like a child?! Aren’t I the oldest here?!”

Choi Myung-joon lit a cigarette and asked, “How old are you?”

“I’m about the same age as you, you idiot.”

“Ahem, ahem.”

The conversation between the two was interrupted by the Gangnam executives who were standing side by side in the opposite hallway.

As the Gangnam executives looked at them with fierce expressions, Choi Myung-joon quickly frowned and retorted, “Aren’t you going to lower your eyes?”

At Choi Myung-joon’s fierce expression, the Gangnam executives quickly turned their heads.

The Gangnam executives whispered among themselves. “He doesn’t look as fearsome as the rumors say, except for that Choi Myung-joon.”

“That’s right. I heard that Jin Jae-hee is an S-class player who can take on a hundred people by herself.”

“And what about Choi Hyun-ji? I heard she’s also a great player.”

“Damn it. I thought we had almost caught up with Man-kyung’s national defense, but the gap between Gangnam and Man-kyung has widened even further with the hero’s return, hasn’t it?”

“Hey, be quiet. Chattering away. Did you come here to play?”

“……”

“……”

As Choi Myung-joon warned them again, the Gangnam executives shrank back.

At that moment, a woman dressed neatly walked out of the Throne Room.

Choi Hyun-ji didn’t know who the woman was at first.

The woman was Ha Yoon-ha.

“Yoon-ha……!” Choi Hyun-ji, who recognized her belatedly, greeted her and held her hands tightly.

Ha Yoon-ha forced a smile and hugged Choi Hyun-ji.

Choi Myung-joon didn’t even greet her, and Jin Jae-hee only nodded, nothing more.

Choi Hyun-ji looked at Ha Yoon-ha’s face, whom she was hugging, and asked, “I really have to call you Unnie [term of respect for an older sister or female friend] now? When did you grow up so much?”

“I’ve grown a lot.”

“What’s with the honorifics? Puhaha. It’s funny. But is it over?”

“No. Not yet……. Ah.”

Ha Yoon-ha was looking around with her eyes, as if she was very embarrassed.

Then, Choi Hyun-ji rubbed Ha Yoon-ha’s cheeks with her palms, teasing her. “Cute. Are you embarrassed? Huh? What are you embarrassed about? What are you embarrassed about?”

“Get off.”

“Oooooh. A threat. Yoon-ha’s threat is also cute. It’s been a while.”

“Ugh……”

Ha Yoon-ha wanted to get angry, but there were also Gangnam executives here.

She had to maintain her dignity.

Yoon-ha put strength into her hands, shook off Choi Hyun-ji’s hand, and sighed deeply.

“It’s break time now. The hero is still on the throne. No, rather than that.”

Ha Yoon-ha glanced at Jin Jae-hee.

Jin Jae-hee, aware of her gaze, asked, “Why?”

“No……. That.”

Yoon-ha couldn’t speak easily.

To her, Jin Jae-hee was someone she couldn’t easily approach.

She was clearly a powerful force at the center of the faction, and in fact, Man-kyung might have been destroyed immediately if it weren’t for her.

The value of Jin Jae-hee in Man-kyung was truly great.

In fact, Ha Yoon-ha had learned how to use artifacts from Jin Jae-hee.

She was like a teacher, but that made it even more awkward.

Besides, the issue of titles between the two was ambiguous.

If Jin Jae-hee had a position in Man-kyung, she could just call her by her position, but she wasn’t performing any role.

Unnie, Jae-hee-ssi [formal title], Jae-hee-boon [honorific title], Teacher.

None of them fit.

Of course, not only Ha Yoon-ha, but almost everyone in the faction was uncomfortable dealing with Jin Jae-hee.

Jin Jae-hee had never given her heart to anyone other than Kang Si-hyun.

“Why? What’s wrong?” When Jin Jae-hee asked again, Ha Yoon-ha finally answered, “……The hero isn’t opening his mouth easily. I wanted to ask you how to make him feel better.”

At that question, Jin Jae-hee’s eyes sparkled.

“Yes! I’ll do it, I’ll do it.”

Yoon-ha smoothed her hair, tidied her clothes, and went back into the Throne Room. Looking at her, Jae-hee smiled faintly.

In Jin Jae-hee’s eyes, Yoon-ha still looked like a child.

At that moment, a black shadow fell into Jin Jae-hee’s vision.

It was Choi Myung-joon standing next to her.

His height was so tall that a shadow fell for a moment.

Jin Jae-hee quickly frowned and looked up at him, asking, “What?”

“I have something to ask too.”

“Get lost.”

Jin Jae-hee refused his request at once and turned back.

Then, Choi Myung-joon strode forward and blocked Jin Jae-hee’s path.

“Please!!! It’ll only take 5 minutes!”

‘What’s wrong with this bastard?’

It was the first time Choi Myung-joon had called Jin Jae-hee for personal matters.

When Choi Myung-joon couldn’t get Jin Jae-hee to come over, he changed his words.

“It’s something that will help Hyung-nim! It’ll only take 5 minutes! Please!”

Choi Myung-joon bent down in front of her and asked. He was a man who wouldn’t bend down unless it was a big deal.

But the fact that he had something to ask Jin Jae-hee even while abandoning his pride meant that it was a pretty important story.

“……Okay.”

Jin Jae-hee had no choice but to nod.

Besides, since it was something that would help Si-hyun, she was thinking of giving him about 5 minutes.

* * *

The Nest, Colosseum.

The gladiators of the 3rd Ward were starving beasts.

Everyone who entered there lost their ego and became corrupt.

Of course, that wouldn’t apply to someone like Jin Jae-hee, who could subjugate everything with force.

Others were different.

The prisoners who entered the 3rd Ward all said the same thing.

Just kill me.

The starving gladiators surrounded ‘him.’

He shouted at the top of his lungs. “Do you know who I am?!?!! You dirty bastards!!! Get out of here!!! I said get out!!!”

He was Lee Seok-jin.

No matter how much he shouted until he was naked and spitting blood, the gladiators kept coming.

“I’m!!! The Land Minister of Man-kyung!!! I’m so noble that you guys can’t even touch me!!! You bug-like bastards! Criminals! Do you know who I am! Get out! Get out! Get out!!!”

At Lee Seok-jin’s desperate cries, the gladiators giggled and mocked him.

Among them, a serial killer walked out from among the group and said, “Captain Jin Jae-hee gave a special order. She said you can eat as much as you want~. I don’t know if you’re the Land Minister or whatever. Kkya ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!”

The serial killer, who was a puppy in front of Jin Jae-hee, was a tiger in front of the Land Minister himself.

The serial killer lowered his pants.

At that time, a huge guy walked out from their group.

It was a pygmy [likely a mistranslation and should be Ogre, given the context].

“Delicious…… I’m hungry……. Ah……. Thank you…….”

Tears welled up in Lee Seok-jin’s eyes as he looked up at the guy.

“Just…… kill me…….”

Numerous shadows fell around Lee Seok-jin.

He was tormented until his last breath, and his end was to become food for the Ogres.

(To be continued in the next episode)