The Regressor Only Protects Me [EN]: Chapter 84

#84. Devil’s Drink

The player system has grades and rankings.

From F to S.

From 1st place to the last.

These weren’t grades and rankings that players gave themselves, but were defined by the system.

Of course, the system’s grade didn’t determine everything.

An A-grade player could be weaker than a B-grade player, or stronger than an S-grade player.

No matter how strong the ability, the result could vary depending on combat proficiency.

In that respect, Choi Hyun-ji was an A-grade player, but she was incredibly strong.

In her previous life, Jin Jae-hee was Choi Hyun-ji’s subordinate.

And the order Choi Hyun-ji gave Jin Jae-hee at that time was to protect Lord Kang Si-on.

The relationship between Kang Si-on and Jin Jae-hee may have started with Choi Hyun-ji.

“That woman was your right-hand?”

Si-on asked Jae-hee.

She nodded and replied.

“In my previous life, I was just your guard, and Choi Hyun-ji’s subordinate. Her power is overwhelming. She will play an outstanding role in the war against Do-an. We have to catch her now.”

“…She doesn’t seem to be originally from our town.”

“Choi Hyun-ji is a wanderer. She can enter Mangyeong anytime if she passes the checkpoint. I’d have to check the records to know exactly when she came.”

Choi Hyun-ji was joking around with the manager Ha Yoon-ha, whom she had just saved.

They seemed close, teasing each other and exchanging jokes.

Si-on looked down at the central street of Mangyeong from the police station, and then asked again.

“Can we recruit her into our forces?”

At that question, Jae-hee took a deep breath.

She seemed to be smiling slightly.

Jae-hee dispelled the artifact she had summoned and put her hands in her pockets.

It was reassuring that Choi Hyun-ji was in Mangyeong.

She was truly one of the strongest.

If they could recruit her, Mangyeong could take the lead in the third round.

Si-on examined Jae-hee’s subtle expression and asked again.

“Why? Do you think it’s not possible?”

“…No. It’s very easy. The Captain is crazy about ‘it.’ If you lure her with that, she’ll come right over.”

Looking at Jae-hee like that, Si-on continued to ask.

“What is it?”

“…The thing we started collecting since the league started.”

“Cigarettes? Canned goods? Ramen?”

“Something better than that.”

“Better than that?”

Something better.

In fact, that was also the reason why Choi Hyun-ji came down to Mangyeong.

* * *

“Hiccup…!”

Ha Yoon-ha had a habit of hiccupping when she saw something amazing.

It was the same with horror movies, and the same when someone suddenly surprised her.

The scene unfolding before her eyes was surprising enough for the girl.

Ha Yoon-ha had only thought of her as an immature adult, but Choi Hyun-ji was a player.

A overwhelmingly strong one.

Choi Hyun-ji leaned an umbrella on her shoulder and clicked her tongue as if she was in trouble.

“Ah—really. I have to redo my identity laundering because of you. It’s become troublesome.”

Ha Yoon-ha pointed at Choi Hyun-ji with a trembling hand.

“No… you… that… how…?”

“What.”

“No… that giraffe monster just now.”

“Why? Did you piss yourself?”

Choi Hyun-ji squatted down and smirked, resting her chin on one hand.

One hand was in her jeans pocket.

Originally, she wouldn’t have stepped in like this.

But Choi Hyun-ji couldn’t leave Ha Yoon-ha to die.

Now, Choi Hyun-ji is planning to run away before the Lord appears.

Because players who have revealed their power are vulnerable.

Whatever it is, the revealed artifact will inevitably become a target of *攻略* [capture or exploitation].

Besides, even after searching the market area of Mangyeong, Choi Hyun-ji couldn’t find what she was looking for.

There’s no reason to stay here anymore.

Residents of Mangyeong were gathering one by one in the surrounding area.

And their attention was soon focused on one place.

“The Lord is coming—!”

“It’s the Lord…!”

“Lord!”

Choi Hyun-ji slowly turned her head at the urgent voices of the crowd.

Ha Yoon-ha was the same.

Even though she had been lying down and panting, she quickly got up and knelt down when she found ‘him.’

Choi Hyun-ji canceled her artifact, and the black umbrella turned into a handful of ashes and scattered in the air.

After that, she looked at ‘him.’

She had been suffering for the past few days just to see the Lord, but she never thought she would meet him so easily.

The Lord of Mangyeong, whom Choi Hyun-ji faced, was truly an absolute monarch wielding untouchable power.

Just by him appearing here, all the residents voluntarily knelt down, praised him, and cared for him.

Why do they go so far?

She had seen many people fear the Lord set by the system, but this was the first time she had seen them respect him.

The reason why Choi Hyun-ji was staying here was also to find out the reason.

“L, Lord…”

Ha Yoon-ha, who was next to her, also knelt down and bowed her head.

Only Choi Hyun-ji stood upright, waiting for Kang Si-on.

The two finally met.

* * *

Past life.

Lord Kang Si-on of Mangyeong had a total of three key personnel.

Jin Jae-hee is not included in these key personnel.

All three of Si-on’s subordinates were among the top 10 most powerful players in the league, but Choi Hyun-ji was the strongest.

She might not be the best in one-on-one situations, but she excelled in one-versus-many situations.

To the extent that the Lord of northern Seoul offered Si-on 100 million gold, the highest transfer fee of the time, to recruit Choi Hyun-ji.

But now she is a wanderer.

She probably traveled around Seoul and Gyeonggi until the third round, gathering information about the league.

In fact, almost all of the ‘league information’ that Jin Jae-hee currently has was information she heard from Choi Hyun-ji in her previous life.

Jin Jae-hee thought that she must catch her here now.

Especially since the war against Do-an was not far away.

If she could recruit her into the force, she would be a powerful asset for Si-on.

And Jae-hee already knew what Choi Hyun-ji was looking for as she wandered around.

Jin Jae-hee thought, looking at the flustered Choi Hyun-ji.

‘…The Captain has already appeared.’

With this, the future has definitely changed.

An undeniable, unquestionable change was unfolding before Jae-hee’s eyes.

No, in fact, the future had changed from the moment she followed Si-on from Anyang to compete in the league.

And now, as the third round began, Choi Hyun-ji finally appeared.

Jae-hee slowly approached her, following Si-on.

* * *

Choi Hyun-ji’s expression did not change as she looked at Kang Si-on, but her insides were complicated.

‘…He’s coming. He’s definitely coming to me… Ah… annoying. How do I shake him off?’

Choi Hyun-ji glanced around.

She wanted to get out of Si-on’s attention.

She just wanted to confirm who the Lord was.

And if possible, she just wanted to get information from him, but she didn’t want to become his subordinate.

That’s what the ‘Lords’ of southern Seoul, who had seen her overwhelming abilities, did.

They tried to get her on their side and recruit her into their forces.

That’s why Choi Hyun-ji had thoroughly hidden her power from the moment she entered Mangyeong until now.

Besides, it was legally forbidden to possess or use weapons in Mangyeong.

Of course, she could stay in a strong force, a city like Si-on’s Mangyeong, but Choi Hyun-ji had to keep moving to find something more important than anything else.

‘I can’t do it until I find that… even if they give me a fortune.’

Flutter!

Choi Hyun-ji quickly approached the fallen young man and lifted him up.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes…?”

Then she pretended to nurse him.

But that wouldn’t work on Si-on.

“Heiii…! You’re badly hurt? I’ll treat you quickly!”

“Yes…? No, not really…?”

The young man’s injuries were just bruises.

Choi Hyun-ji quickly hugged the young man and tried to move to another place.

“Ugh…!”

“Patient! Patient!”

But it was Jin Jae-hee who stood in her way.

‘Ike…!’ [Damn it!]

Kang Si-on even if she turned to the side.

Jin Jae-hee in front.

To the right, soldiers from Mangyeong were gathering one by one.

She was completely surrounded.

Choi Hyun-ji sighed deeply as she was cornered.

Now there was really no choice.

Swoosh-.

Choi Hyun-ji threw the young man she was holding onto the ground and turned to look at Kang Si-on.

And she raised both arms.

“Surrender. It’s a surrender. Lord. Can I… just leave? I don’t want to cause… trouble….”

She said, looking at Si-on.

The Lord of Mangyeong, Kang Si-on.

He had black hair and a small build.

But the dignity he exuded was by no means ordinary.

Facing Si-on in front of her eyes, Choi Hyun-ji felt like she knew a little why the residents here praised him.

It was then.

“L, Lord…!”

Ha Yoon-ha rushed over and blocked the space between Si-on and Hyun-ji.

And she bowed deeply to Si-on.

Yoon-ha continued, her voice trembling.

“I’m Ha Yoon-ha, from the Immigration Control Office… belonging to the 2nd Division. I greet the Lord…! And… this wanderer is my responsibility… and it’s my fault that she used weapons within the force as a wanderer. Please punish me…! I’m sorry!”

Choi Hyun-ji was a little surprised at Yoon-ha’s trembling voice.

Ha Yoon-ha was thoroughly obeying the Lord’s decree.

Kang Si-on was preventing criminal acts caused by the use of weapons in advance.

Basically, wanderers and residents who do not belong to a force cannot use weapons in Mangyeong.

Soldiers also could not take out their weapons carelessly, and could only take them out when the enemy’s attack was certain or when they sensed danger.

Therefore, it was clearly an act against Si-on’s will for the wanderer Choi Hyun-ji to use ‘weapons’ to defeat the enemy within the force.

For example, a wanderer who came here took out a weapon without permission and threatened a resident, and was immediately executed.

The wanderer’s head was hanging on the guillotine, and it was only lowered after the crows had eaten all of his eyeballs.

So Ha Yoon-ha had no choice but to be nervous.

Ha Yoon-ha wanted to protect Choi Hyun-ji.

Because she had saved her life anyway.

But the Lord’s answer completely deviated from her expectations.

The Lord, who let out a short breath, opened his mouth.

“…Punishment for a hero who protected the residents? That’s absurd. Treat her with great respect. Mangyeong welcomes you.”

After saying that, Si-on stepped back.

As he walked back to the police station, the residents parted to both sides like the Red Sea.

Ha Yoon-ha slightly raised her bowed head.

“Yes…?”

It was an impossible answer.

Choi Hyun-ji scratched her cheek behind Yoon-ha.

‘Is it… a good thing?’

* * *

There have been many things that have happened so far, but Si-on has been even more strict about wanderers complying with the law in Mangyeong.

They are outsiders.

He was thorough with outsiders.

But Si-on readily forgave Choi Hyun-ji.

Moreover, he even ordered her to be treated with great respect.

Si-on’s orders were always processed with the highest priority.

Choi Hyun-ji, who was facing the table, exclaimed.

“Wow-!”

Food set up to break the table [so much food it could break the table].

Sausages, eggs, canned sea snails, 5 kinds of snacks, spaghetti, and tuna cans with mayonnaise squeezed on top.

Originally, they were common ingredients, but now they have become too precious luxury goods.

Choi Hyun-ji started stuffing food into her mouth indiscriminately.

A candle was lit in the middle of the table, emitting a subtle light.

In the dark restaurant, Choi Hyun-ji devoured the food voraciously, relying on the candlelight.

“Eat slowly….”

Ha Yoon-ha was picking at a sausage with a fork in front of her.

But Choi Hyun-ji didn’t know how to stop.

“You eat quickly too!”

“You eat a lot….”

“It’s delicious? It’s been so long. Especially the sea snails! Wow. Chewy.”

Wagyu-. Wagyu-.

Their feast continued.

But the Lord’s gift was not the end of this.

The highlight of this feast.

And that ‘thing’ that Choi Hyun-ji had been looking for so desperately.

Clatter-!

Some cooks came into the room and put down a glass and put in a few pieces of ice.

And Choi Hyun-ji, who faced it, was so surprised that she even dropped the spaghetti she had on her mouth.

Thud-.

“Ah. No way.”

Gurgle gurgle- Charrrrrr….

Black water was poured into the ice glass, and then carbonation rose indiscriminately.

Choi Hyun-ji couldn’t believe it now.

She had been confidently saying that it was all gone.

About 2 years after the world ended.

Most of the existing foods have disappeared, and even if they remain, they are mostly luxury goods monopolized by the Lords.

Among them, the best and most luxurious thing for Choi Hyun-ji was that black drink.

“Cola…?”

That name that she calls out pitifully as if she were a lover she had been separated from for a long time…!

Cola.

The devil’s drink that no one has tasted only once, but no one has tasted only once.

Doctors say in unison that it’s bad for your health, but it’s still an irresistible drink that combines the tangy carbonation and the sweetness that lingers on your tongue.

In fact, Choi Hyun-ji didn’t need cigarettes, alcohol, or men, but this cola was different.

Choi Hyun-ji recalled the past.

The days when she wandered around the snow-covered city, rummaged through convenience stores full of corpses, slaughtered all the approaching monsters, and rummaged through large marts [supermarkets].

Her cola expedition was a complete failure.

She found cider, Fanta, Pepsi, and McCor (these were also great luxury goods), but this cola…! Cola! Cola!

There was only damn cola missing.

She was a powerful fighter as a wanderer, but she couldn’t find cola.

Every time she made up her mind to find it, the cola disappeared as if it had legs.

But now, there was cola in front of her eyes.

Could she stand it?

She wouldn’t be able to stand it.

Especially if it was Choi Hyun-ji, who had been looking for cola for nearly two years.

“Ah…!”

Choi Hyun-ji was about to pick up the cola glass.

But then, someone gently blocked the glass of cola.

Thud.

Choi Hyun-ji carefully raised her head and looked at the man.

Si-on was blocking the cola glass and looking down at Choi Hyun-ji.

And he smiled kindly and said.

“By the way, your power that you showed in the city. It was quite amazing, wasn’t it?”

Then, as if to show off, he drank the cola in front of her eyes.

Gulp, gulp.

Si-on’s Adam’s apple moved up and down regularly.

Si-on didn’t leave a single drop of cola and drank it all up, then put the empty can back on the table.

“…Ugh. Co, Cola… My Cola….”

Choi Hyun-ji pitifully called out to the cola that had disappeared before her eyes.

Si-on had a talent for exploiting people’s emotions.

Within reach, yet out of reach.

Cola was refilling the ice cup.

Gurgle gurgle.

The ice swirled in the rising carbonation.

Charrrrrr….

Si-on blocked the cup with his hand so that she wouldn’t take the cola quickly.

And he started talking.

“As you know, Mangyeong is in a very precarious situation right now. It is threatened by enemy forces and is in danger of war breaking out at any moment. As a Lord, I have a duty to protect the residents of Mangyeong. To fulfill that duty, I need a lot of power. Choi Hyun-ji… was it? Your power is….”

Si-on hadn’t even taken out 10% of the words he was going to use to persuade her yet.

But Choi Hyun-ji couldn’t stand it anymore.

Wanderer or whatever.

I clearly said it, didn’t I?

Humans are animals of pleasure.

Choi Hyun-ji could never resist this cola.

In fact, Choi Hyun-ji was just wandering around to try cola once.

The system was calling it a wanderer on its own.

So now she had no reason to resist.

Choi Hyun-ji lowered her head as if she had lost and said.

“…I, I will give my loyalty.”

Choi Hyun-ji could never give up cola.

Grab!

A smile was drawn on Choi Hyun-ji’s face as she held the cola glass in her hand again.

She drank the cola in one go.

Gulp, gulp.

Then she pursed her lips and exclaimed.

“Ah… crazy! It’s so delicious!”

(To be continued in the next episode)