Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: [Regressor] Song Seong-yeon's First Love and First Regression
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──I had a dream.
A dream from a very long time ago.
A dream from before [that skill] had manifested.
"Oh, Chang-gi ya, long time no see~! Meeting up like this in person instead of just on the phone—feels like it's been years, right?"
"Years? Come on, we met up right after vacation ended, so it's only been a few months, you idiot. And during break, we came down together with our parents."
"Our folks started arguing over old stories while drinking and went back up right away! Every time we meet, they fight about the past, and they never get sick of it~!"
"My mom clings to it like glue. I can't believe she's still going on about that burn scar after all these years."
We were chatting away in our high school uniforms.
Even after we moved, we kept in touch a lot, and our parents would bicker all the time, but we still visited frequently.
Elementary, middle, high school... There were more days we did meet than didn't.
The distance was there, but not enough to keep us apart. By middle and high school, we were hanging out in the city almost every day.
"Still, I jump every time I think about that incident. Who would've thought you were a girl?"
"I never dreamed you'd go through all of middle school year three without noticing."
"But you were flat-chested! How was I supposed to know?!"
"Even if you didn't know, you have no excuse for inviting me to the bathhouse. I was about to go into the women's side when you suddenly tried dragging me to the men's—do you know how shocked I was!?"
"I already said that was my bad. Whew, but seriously, comparing back then to now? Night and day everywhere. How'd you grow so much in just a few years?"
"Hmph."
"Aw, don't pout. Hey, aren't your shoulders heavy?"
"They are. My bras don't even fit right anymore; I have to keep buying new ones."
"...For real?"
"Don't look at me like that. You're not using me as jerk-off material, are you? If you are, I'll kill you!?"
"You're crazy. Who'd use a mountain girl like you for that? If I'm gonna do it, might as well go for a beauty with a plump ass~!"
"Eww, pervert."
I poked his side.
Chang-gi always talked dirty like that, but if I said I didn't like it, he'd respect my boundaries. He was a good friend—and my lifesaver.
I knew he was pretty turned on by my body, but teasing him about it because he looked so ridiculous was fun.
"You're putting out all these vibes that you wanna do it... so why don't you get a girlfriend?"
"Girlfriend? Our class queen shot me down after I confessed last time, dude."
"Why? You're big and handsome!"
"Handsome my ass. You're just overrating me 'cause you know me. To outsiders, I'm a total loser. My size just keeps me from getting bullied, but I spend all day reading comics, so I got no friends. And girls hate my burn scar; says it's gross."
"Bet you won't say sorry even now~! Bleh!"
"I didn't say it to hear you apologize. Just stating facts."
"Scars are badges of honor to guys. What a girl with no eye for quality."
"Tell me about it."
We burst out laughing and clung to each other.
When Chang-gi put his arm around my shoulders, my heart would race just from that.
I didn't want to date yet. Not quite.
I just loved those innocent times, so we'd hang out often, and I'd snuggle up to him like a friend.
"Come to think of it, do your parents say anything about you hanging out with me?"
"They grumble sometimes. Like, 'You've already hurt him enough; don't burden him more.'"
"Our parents said the same. Told me not to impose on yours. Don't sell favors carelessly."
"Whenever they meet, they fight about the old days, but they say pretty much the same things."
"Yeah. Dads even drink together, so maybe they're not as bad as we think."
At that point, I vaguely knew what our parents were talking about.
They'd fight at the drop of a hat, but they weren't really on bad terms.
They were even subtly bringing up matchmaking between me and Chang-gi.
It felt old-fashioned for the times... but I liked that about our parents.
"We're adults now, kinda. Everyone's prepping for college entrance or certifications—what about you?"
"I've been doing basic training at an aura gym lately."
"Aura...? Wait, that's hunter training!"
"Yeah."
"Your family's not hurting for money! Why jump into something so dangerous all of a sudden!?"
"Remember the nationwide hunter aptitude test? They said I have crazy talent. Like S-rank or higher? It's rare to get a hunter grade without climbing a tower yet, so they pushed me to give it a shot."
"So you're becoming a hunter? Dude, even so, that's way too risky..."
"It's S-rank~! Top of the top! So I figured, even if it's a scam, why not try the aura gym? And boom—it manifested right away!"
"F-For real? That superpower stuff you only see on the internet!?"
"Yup~! It's real! They told me not to use it carelessly outside, so I can't show you now, but I'll sneak a peek later!"
"Holy shit... that's badass...!"
"Hehe~! What rank did you get, Chang-gi?"
"Ahem. Just D, I guess. They said training could get me to average."
"Hey, that's good! Most people can't even hit E—starting at D means potential~!"
"...Is it?"
"People have trained up to S, y'know? Depending on the skill, you can make it work~?"
"Hmm..."
I wanted to stop myself from back then.
Because I knew exactly what came next.
But instead, I clung to the man I loved and rubbed up against him.
To an outsider, I looked like a beast in heat pretending to be pure. Disgusting.
"Perfect timing. Wanna be a hunter with me?"
"With you? Uh, outta nowhere like that?"
"You got nothing else going on~! I'm S-rank and I've learned aura, so I can train you too!"
"Even so, hunters are a stretch. Our parents would flip."
"Just say you're doing it with me. If they get mad, we run away together."
"Run away...? You and me got reason to go that far?"
"You weren't studying anyway, right? No college prep, no certs. After graduation, you were just gonna follow your parents into farming?"
"Well, yeah..."
"Come with me~! Don't aim too high—just snag mid-tier spots, rake in cash, and treat our parents right~!"
"Treat them right..."
"Can't let them farm forever. They're not getting younger."
"…………."
I knew his weak spot.
Beneath the rough talk and crude behavior, he respected his parents deeply.
I used that to lure him in.
I knew he wasn't thrilled about farming itself, and dangled big money to pamper them.
I exploited his pure, dream-filled side—the kid who loved comics.
...And for the finisher.
"Hey, Chang-gi ya, know this?"
"What?"
"About hunters. Hit a certain rank, and you get military exemption."
"No way, really?"
"Brass Tower's 60 floors. Silver's 40. Gold's 20."
"Heard Brass gets brutal from 50, Silver from 30—aren't the hurdles kinda high?"
"They say I could clear 70 easy. Come with me. I'll carry you."
"Damn, can't say no to that."
It was the cheat code.
The dirty pitch that dragged him into hunting no matter what.
All because of one 'womanly desire' to adventure together.
Back then, I didn't even realize I felt that way.
Just vaguely thought it'd be fun hunting with Chang-gi.
What an idiot bitch.
"Shit, we're screwed. Parents are pissed. Says if I don't crawl home now, they'll pluck every hair from your pussy."
"What, treating our pure Chang-gi like you seduced him or something?"
"They got you pegged as a fox spirit stealing men's souls. 'How dare you drag our precious son into danger?' Total meltdown."
"Our parents too. 'Where does this guy get off playing house husband?' Talking about killing me."
"We're fucked?"
"Too late now~! Anyway! I scouted a good guild!"
"Which?"
"Maan Guild. Brand new, run by a mom-daughter duo. And get this~! Their vice guild master's a girl our age! Super skilled! We'll skyrocket there for sure! Perfect time to join wide open—grab an officer spot!"
"Hunting with parents...?"
"They've got their reasons. Met 'em for an interview—both super nice and chill. Whaddya say, wanna go?"
"You got good eyes for people. Alright, let's check it out."
"OK! This way. Let's go go go~!"
We became adults, left home, and started living together.
First guild was Maan—before they blew up, we nailed the early coins.
We grinded step by step, skills shot up fast, and Chang-gi got strong too.
D-rank, but like he'd faked his power level.
His natural physique was nuts—stronger than me in some ways—and we crushed it.
"Hey, aren't those two Maan officers?"
"Yeah. The young couple who hit 75 floors recently."
"Man, so fresh and cute."
"If I were a few years younger..."
"Wanna party up since it's rare?"
"Nah. Heard they stalled at 80. Moving to Silver Tower for hunts?"
"Not fully cleared yet?"
"Yup. Obviously chasing rewards."
"Huh. Young but steady..."
People started recognizing us.
We knew our growth had plateaued, so time to move.
No skills, me and Chang-gi.
"You okay with this?"
"With what?"
"Feels too hasty no matter how I spin it. We're raking it in here comfy. Why switch hunting grounds?"
"Exactly—we're too comfy, no crisis sense. Hunters need that pressure to spam skill cards, right? Visiting another tower could be good experience."
"Silver Tower, though...? Guild master and vice opposed it."
"Not fully—they said they'd shift soon too. Just thought it's early for us."
"Same diff. Don't go rogue."
"That's why we're scouting ahead~! Please, Chang-gi ya! Just a quick peek~! Pretty please?"
We were decently strong.
But I couldn't stop my desires there.
Simple reason.
One day, I overheard someone badmouthing my beloved.
Chang-gi was my lifesaver and lover—plenty to go berserk over.
'Fucking assholes... dismissing our Chang-gi just 'cause no skill...'
'Cleared Brass 70 but no skill...'
'Got his exemption, but... wanna give Chang-gi a skill so bad...'
And I had this thing about tributing my man.
Truly a dumb, rotten love sickness...
It's worse now with the ramparts, but even then, when I was tame, I thought like that.
"Just to 30! Deal?"
"30's comfy for our level, but..."
"Right? Got a map ready!"
"Damn, you planned this from the start? No wonder you told me to gear up!"
"Hehe~! Yup!"
"You're getting an earful when we get back."
"Why? Hoping for naughty stuff~?"
"...Shut up."
"Heehee~!"
We were lovers, but no sex yet.
Not long dating, but the mood was ripening—maybe time.
So I was hyped for this guild-home escape event.
Book a spot near Silver Tower, seduce him sneaky... or something.
If only that hadn't happened...
"Run... away..."
"N-No... can't leave you! How could I leave you!!"
"We'll both die like this..."
I came to on Silver Tower floor 51.
Way higher than planned.
I seduced. I pushed. I fucked up.
Enemies seemed weak, skipped mechanics, stepped in blind.
'If I hadn't dragged Chang-gi!'
'If I hadn't begged to climb higher!'
'If we'd quit at 30! No skill greed!'
The mountain-sized golem crushed his lower body.
My love's corpse sank into the ground.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!"
"I'm sorry! It was my fault!"
"I got greedy! Punish me instead—kill me if you want! Just save Chang-gi, please!"
"Tower lord! Please, are you listening!?"
"He's not someone who should die here! He's a really good guy!"
"My lifesaver! Such a kind soul!"
"Give him back!!"
"Punish me instead, pleeeease!!!!"
I'd snap out begging.
Pathetic.
Meanwhile, the golem that stomped Chang-gi closed in.
Figured we'd both die. And we did.
Got crushed, after all.
"Hey."
"Hey, what're you doing?"
And hell began.
"Meeting day's today, and you're still passed out? What do we do?"
"...Huh? Chang-gi ya? For real, Chang-gi ya?"
"Yeah, it's Hong Chang-gi. Get up already? Guild master's been waiting."
I came to sprawled on the bed.
The man who'd died was shaking me awake.
I should've gratefully accepted that miracle for what it was.