The Regressor Only Protects Me [EN]: Chapter 202

202. Ruler of Seoul (2)

Rainy day.

On a day without daily labor or a late-night convenience store job, nineteen-year-old Kang Si-on stayed home.

He had no friends and no plans.

He made sure Jun-ho had breakfast early, quickly finished the chores he hadn’t been able to do, took out a notebook from Jun-ho’s shabby schoolbag, checked his homework, and wrote out the answers to the incorrect math problems one by one.

He could have rested on the weekend, but Kang Si-on didn’t. He didn’t rest until after he had made and fed Jun-ho lunch.

He went into the only room in the basement apartment where sunlight came in and lay down. A sweet nap.

He covered himself halfway with a shabby blanket and turned on an old fan that made strange noises, like it was from the 80s.

Kang Si-on lay there and slept soundly.

Young Kang Jun-ho rubbed the floor with a small fire truck toy that he had been playing with for years, then looked at his brother’s face.

The sunlight on his brother’s face was heartbreaking.

Young Kang Jun-ho crawled over and observed his brother sleeping.

Even though he was young, Kang Jun-ho knew.

What kind of life his brother, who sacrificed himself for him, was living, and what kind of life he would live in the future.

After the bathroom incident, Jun-ho didn’t want to see his brother struggling. So he tried harder and smiled more cheerfully.

He smiled more and talked more in front of his brother, doing everything he could to keep his brother from having bad thoughts again. He did everything he could at a young age to prevent his brother from having bad thoughts again.

And when his brother collapsed and fell asleep like this, Jun-ho finally burst into tears.

He looked at his sleeping brother and shed the tears he hadn’t been able to shed.

The world is unfair.

Do the children who have lived with good parents, in good homes, and in good environments know how these two brothers feel?

Those who want to change their lives need bone-crushing effort.

Was his brother’s effort lacking?

Not at all.

The most pitiful people in the world are those whose quality of life does not improve despite their desperate efforts and bone-crushing pain.

And that was Kang Si-on.

Kang Jun-ho swallowed his sobs.

“…….”

The older Kang Jun-ho was the same.

The way his brother collapsed looked just like his face back then.

When he poured everything out and was so exhausted that his body couldn’t take it anymore, he collapsed. His brother always fell asleep with that expression.

With the happiest expression in the world.

It didn’t make sense.

‘Why… why?’

Why does hyung [older brother/term of endearment for an older male] look happiest when he’s asleep?

It’s absurd.

It’s unreasonable.

The world must change.

Isn’t it too much?

Kang Jun-ho couldn’t control his emotions as he looked at his brother’s life with deep pity and sadness.

“Hyung, let’s live… our way now.”

Even though he couldn’t hear it, Kang Jun-ho said what was on his mind.

Even if the world changes so boringly, Kang Jun-ho has created a world for his brother.

A utopia for the two brothers where his brother can live without suffering anymore if he ever comes back.

He doesn’t know how his brother will live, but Kang Jun-ho will now protect his brother.

That is what Kang Jun-ho swore and resolved.

“Hyung has protected me so far, so now I’ll protect you. Please… rest easy now. Please… enjoy yourself.”

Kang Jun-ho hugged Kang Si-on in his arms a little tighter.

……And then a woman came running.

* * *

“Jun-ho!”

Chae Chae-yeon rushed over and said to Kang Jun-ho, who was hugging Kang Si-on.

Chae Chae-yeon shouted without a sense of awareness.

“This man… this man was so mean to me! Punish him!”

Because this place was a huge underground area, her voice echoed every time Chae Chae-yeon screamed.

The back of the large Kang Jun-ho, who was holding Kang Si-on, was trembling slightly.

Then, another man entered this place.

In fact, it felt more like he was barging in than entering.

Swoosh- Kwaaaang!

The man who flew in like a missile smelled strongly of blood.

Kang Jun-ho’s tearful eyes were looking at the man in the rising dust cloud.

A man walking through the dust cloud.

His physique and height overwhelmed Kang Jun-ho.

And blood vessels were flowing from his muscles, which looked like they were about to burst.

The man was Choi Myung-joon.

Choi Myung-joon finally killed the Northern King’s monster and the Western King’s monster and arrived here again.

In fact, he was the strongest power in Mangyeong at the moment.

The Berserker ability is an artifact that becomes stronger as damage accumulates.

So, Choi Myung-joon’s combat ability, who has been fighting, fighting, and fighting, surpassed Jin Jae-hee.

Of course, he would die if he took even a little more damage.

And he was Kang Si-on’s most loyal dog.

A loyal dog only has the existence he has devoted his loyalty to and does not care about family relationships.

He just snarls and protects his master.

“Haa…….”

When Choi Myung-joon opened his mouth, the bright red smoke that spewed out from inside scattered in the air.

Choi Myung-joon slowly and surely approached Kang Jun-ho.

“Hiiiik……! Jun-ho, J, Jun-ho. H, him. Him.”

Chae Chae-yeon was startled and hid behind Kang Jun-ho.

Choi Myung-joon said to Kang Jun-ho.

“……Get lost. He is not someone you can touch carelessly.”

Kang Jun-ho looked at Choi Myung-joon and said.

“……Hyung’s subordinate?”

“……Hyung? Hyung said……?”

The atmosphere around Choi Myung-joon became heavy.

“Then are you hyungnim’s [honorific for hyung] younger brother?”

“……If so.”

“……If so?”

The atmosphere around Choi Myung-joon became heavy.

“You’re talking way too casually, you little brat……. I won’t say it twice. Get out of here.”

“I don’t want to hurt hyung’s subordinate.”

“If you know, get out. Fucking.”

Choi Myung-joon is not rational right now.

Choi Myung-joon couldn’t be in his right mind right now.

His brain was filled with the thought that he had to be by Kang Si-on’s side, no matter who was there.

Kang Jun-ho’s eyes narrowed sharply.

‘Judging by his strength, he’s emitting a powerful life force, but his body is so weak that he’ll die in a hit or two. What’s keeping him going is… his mental strength.’

“Are you deaf? Can’t you hear me?”

Then, Choi Myung-joon punched Kang Jun-ho without asking or questioning.

Taat-! Booooom!

Without any hesitation, Kang Jun-ho created a strong gravity around him for defense.

Choi Myung-joon’s fist collided with Kang Jun-ho’s gravity barrier.

Kwaaaaang!

It was an enormous power.

Gravity is basically the power of a planet.

An individual cannot defeat a planet.

But right now, Choi Myung-joon’s physical strength is undoubtedly superior to anyone in the League.

The power that Choi Myung-joon emits is so great that Kang Jun-ho was momentarily pushed back.

But Kang Jun-ho didn’t lose.

‘He’s good as a meat shield. There’s no harm in keeping him alive.’

Kang Jun-ho began to lift the surrounding ground and stick it all over Choi Myung-joon’s body.

Thud-! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Choi Myung-joon’s body began to collide with the ground, and soon it completely covered his body.

He made sure to leave a hole so he could breathe.

Kang Jun-ho was cleaning up now.

He was dividing people into those who would be helpful to Kang Si-on and those who would not, saving those who should be saved and kicking out those who should be kicked out.

In Kang Jun-ho’s judgment, Jin Jae-hee was someone to be kicked out. Choi Myung-joon was someone to take in.

And…….

“Jun-ho! Jun-ho! No, he was mean to me! First, tie me up the same way and get revenge. I was really having a hard time……. Uh……. Uh……?”

……Chae Chae-yeon was also an unnecessary person for Kang Si-on.

When Kang Jun-ho divided the gravity into two with his hand, Chae Chae-yeon’s neck was separated from her body and floated in the air.

Chae Chae-yeon’s eyes glanced down, looking at Kang Jun-ho, who had been her lover.

“……Honey?”

“…….”

“Why… why. Why? Ugh…….”

But Kang Jun-ho ignored Chae Chae-yeon.

Her neck fell to the ground and rolled away.

Thud. Turururu…….

Even if they were teammates from the last round, even if they were lovers who had been intimate with each other.

To Kang Jun-ho, everything less than Kang Si-on was just a tool.

A useless tool is discarded.

That’s what a tool is.

Kang Jun-ho murmured with a faint smile, looking at Si-on.

“I’ll never be separated from you again. No one in the world can interfere. To do that, I need to clean up around hyung a bit. It’s for hyung’s sake.”

* * *

“To survive, prove that he needs you.”

“……What?”

Jin Jae-hee frowned and looked at Lee Joo-yeon.

Lee Joo-yeon was sitting on a bent street lamp, looking at the ruined city.

Lee Joo-yeon only turned her eyes to the side, looking at Jin Jae-hee.

“……But if it’s you, you have a record of protecting him so far. It might not be dangerous. But if you’re completely useless, it might be dangerous.”

“…….”

“Kang Jun-ho is that kind of man. I thought Kang Si-on was the most ruthless person, but his brother is worse. You wouldn’t know what Kang Jun-ho did to find Kang Si-on during the last round.”

Lee Joo-yeon clenched her fist.

Her shoulders were also trembling slightly.

Kang Jun-ho.

He might have been a demon.

To find his brother Kang Si-on…….

The things he did…….

Were things that God could never forgive.

Jin Jae-hee was silent for a moment and asked.

“Your brother.”

“Don’t say that. I’m already expecting it.”

Lee Joo-yeon cut off Jin Jae-hee’s words again.

The first thing she learned when she came to Mangyeong was that her younger brother Lee Se-beom had died.

The reason she wandered around the city aimlessly was perhaps just because she wanted to deny it.

Thud-.

Lee Joo-yeon covered her face with both hands.

She seemed to be sobbing a little.

Lee Joo-yeon asked.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Because she was burying her face in her hands, her voice was slurred.

“Are you human? Or a demon?”

Jin Jae-hee couldn’t understand the meaning of the question.

She was about to ask back, but Lee Joo-yeon said again.

“Really… is there even a little… humanity… left in you guys? You or Kang Si-on or……. Let me just ask this.”

Is there any humanity left?

Jin Jae-hee couldn’t answer easily.

Lee Joo-yeon said.

“There was the Cheonan battle. I met an old man there……. The old woman told me. Good people……. Humans……. All died in the first round. Do you also think you’re human……? I think I’m human. I’m……. I’m human, right? I’m different from you. I’m different from you. I’m different from you.”

Her voice trembled.

Lee Joo-yeon covered her mouth and said again.

“I’ll say it again. You shouldn’t have let the two brothers meet. A destructive end is coming.”

“What do you mean?”

“Kang Jun-ho is…… Kang Jun-ho is……. Kang Si-on…….”

But before Lee Joo-yeon could finish her words, there was another change.

It was that Chae Chae-yeon’s power had disappeared.

Lee Joo-yeon was startled and looked around.

And Kang Jun-ho, who was holding Kang Si-on, had already arrived here.

Kang Jun-ho was treating Kang Si-on as precious as a parent holding a child.

Also, there was a mud prison nearby that was holding something.

“Lee Joo-yeon.”

“……!”

Lee Joo-yeon jumped up at his voice.

Kang Jun-ho looked at Lee Joo-yeon once and Jin Jae-hee once, then continued.

“I’m taking hyung to Suwon. Heal this man.”

Kang Jun-ho released the mud prison.

Choi Myung-joon, who was spitting out a lot of blood, popped out from inside.

Choi Myung-joon, who came out of the mud prison, was so badly injured that he couldn’t even think he was alive.

“……Okay.”

Lee Joo-yeon obediently followed Kang Jun-ho’s words.

She quickly approached Choi Myung-joon and examined his wounds. They were much worse than they looked.

It was a miracle that he was even breathing now.

Lee Joo-yeon began surgery, emitting green threads.

Kang Jun-ho stared blankly at Choi Myung-joon and floated again.

Then Jin Jae-hee shouted.

“Wait!”

It was difficult for Jin Jae-hee to even utter those words.

Even though she had been treated by Lee Joo-yeon, she had fought Woo Ji-hye.

It was a miracle that she was even standing.

Kang Jun-ho stopped in the air, about to fly somewhere, and looked at Jin Jae-hee.

In Kang Jun-ho’s eyes, Jin Jae-hee looked like a wet puppy.

She was really shivering.

“……I. No. I’ll go with you.”

“…….”

Kang Jun-ho was silent.

And he turned his body completely and looked down at Jin Jae-hee.

Jin Jae-hee said again.

“……I have to go with you.”

Kang Jun-ho still frowned and asked.

“What reason do I have to take you with me?”

“……Because. I don’t know what you’re going to do.”

At those words, Kang Jun-ho was silent for a moment and laughed softly.

“Puhuhu…….”

Kang Jun-ho didn’t even find Jin Jae-hee’s actions funny.

What is this woman even saying?

He is Kang Si-on’s younger brother.

Nothing will happen to Kang Si-on, and if something does happen, it will happen to Jin Jae-hee.

Following Kang Jun-ho was like Jin Jae-hee walking into a tiger’s den on her own.

But at this moment, Kang Jun-ho liked Jin Jae-hee.

Even if he liked her, it doesn’t change the fact that Jin Jae-hee is someone Jun-ho will kick out.

“Okay. Follow me.”

(Continued in the next episode)