Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: 39. The Yoo Family (1)
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From the local police station all the way to their current life in apartment 301.
The regressor couldn't help but think there was such a thing as a truly unfamiliar word.
"Thank you."
Yoo Ji-tae, freshly released from detention, met the two men separately.
In the end, the most efficient way to package the nonexistent "Yoo Family" was to borrow their prestige.
Myeong Yong-ha's visit had been top secret, but BM's was not. When he showed up, the Lair had erupted in chaos. Rumors spread like wildfire: that "BM" had come to defend Yoo Ji-tae.
Two names that worked anywhere in the world. They etched the fictional "Yoo Family" into the minds of the Lair's academic affairs office.
And at the same time, Yoo Ji-tae's name—who had jammed Sillard Leo headfirst into the ground—began to spread as well.
The value of the "Yoo Family" name would grow with time, swelling its reputation.
"...By the way."
Myeong Yong-ha addressed Yoo Ji-tae with uncharacteristically grave seriousness.
"The vice academic director at Lair. His name was Ma something. Korean guy."
It seemed this sharp-eyed transcendent had sensed something.
"Ma Nam-jun."
"Ah, yeah."
The friendly smile was gone. Myeong Yong-ha's face turned intensely serious, almost grim, as he met Yoo Ji-tae's gaze.
"That's the vibe I got. First time meeting him. Don't know the guy at all. But he felt like a demon for sure."
"......"
"This instinct has never been wrong once. Well, it failed me recently, so I hesitate to judge hastily, but......"
His eyes were fixed on Yoo Ji-tae.
"That Ma Nam-jun vice director. He reeked of filth."
"Hm......"
"Did you know? Must make academy life feel pretty uncomfortable."
Yoo Ji-tae nodded, and Myeong Yong-ha continued.
"I don't know how deep a demon he is, but if need be, shall I take him out for you?"
"No need. It's fine."
"...Fine?"
The druid's eyes sharpened further. He still didn't fully trust Yoo Ji-tae. It was a soldier's prudent stance.
There was no reason for suspicion, so Yoo Ji-tae decided to give a brief explanation.
"We can't just kill him offhandedly."
"Can't kill him?"
Demons were always pathetic and desperate. Cataclysm-grade ones were even more so.
It wasn't just Noah who thrashed in desperation to avoid death.
They borrowed the Abyss Lord's power to insure their lives multiple times over.
"If Ma Nam-jun dies, war breaks out."
"......!"
Myeong Yong-ha's face, and even BM's, stiffened at Yoo Ji-tae's words.
War.
Twenty years after the Great War ended. Those two letters carried immense weight in this era.
"...Why?"
Yoo Ji-tae didn't answer.
From here on, it was information he couldn't share lightly.
Ma Nam-jun as he was now was a limb-severed wreck. Like all demons with unyielding survival instincts, he'd bide his time and rebuild his power. All the way until the dragons finished their playtime.
So Yoo Ji-tae planned to simply observe him from close by.
"I'll handle it."
The regressor said that much and fell silent.
The two men were quiet for a moment, as if sorting their thoughts.
"...Ah. Right. Ji-tae."
When Myeong Yong-ha spoke again, his tone was a bit brighter.
"Yeah."
"Nothing much. Jun-il—that's my eldest—he really wants to see that blue-haired kid again. Winter, was it?"
Jun-il was Myeong Yong-ha's oldest son.
"If you have time, how about a trip together sometime?"
"Pretty busy right now. That okay?"
"No problem. My schedule's packed too, so I'll have to contact you separately anyway."
"Actually, I'm on an overseas tour right now and snuck away. Uhahaha!" Myeong Yong-ha laughed heartily.
Trip. Trip...
It sounded fine. The water from the Lake of Life still sat in Bom's room. He recalled the blue-haired back of Winter's head, staring blankly at the bottle now and then.
"Alright, let's coordinate schedules. I know some stunningly beautiful spots."
Come to think of it, looking back on past regressions, the Total Nature Society was a group dedicated to demon extermination, yet they spent more time traveling together.
Back then, uninterested in trips, Yoo Ji-tae had always been on the outside looking in.
"Then we'll meet again. Take care of your health."
Myeong Yong-ha left first.
His long, slender crossed legs unfolded. BM pushed up his sunglasses.
"Jeong Bong-man."
"Argh, don't call me that."
"...Already housing thirty of you lot. Might need to jack up the rent."
"......"
Behind the sunglasses, BM's expression grew grave.
"You mean that? For real?"
"What."
"The heart. That's no ordinary organ."
"......"
"Mimicking the shape is easy. Forming a functionally similar one isn't hard. Building internal tissues that size is child's play. The issue is combining all three. Making it work in a human body that's not transcendent."
The regressor nodded nonchalantly.
"Got it. Whenever."
BM let out an incredulous chuckle.
"...You're insane. No way you're bluffing. What the hell are you? A god?"
"Not quite."
Yoo Ji-tae pondered his answer, then shook his head.
"When should I help?"
"Not now. Got things to do. I'll let your aide know when."
"Whatever works."
Until now, Yoo Ji-tae had minimized direct and indirect influence on all rankers, including BM. And that mindset would continue.
Yoo Ji-tae didn't fully trust humans.
In the 7th regression, a book he'd read posed the question: could the adjective "trustworthy" ever precede the noun "human"?
No such thing. That was the conclusion after endless long regressions.
Ordinary humans were fine. What threat was a homeless guy with a knife?
But BM was different. He was a powerhouse, one who could shape the world's currents himself.
Still, Yoo Ji-tae agreed to help with the chimera partly because BM had succeeded in making that heart far in the future. And shown no odd signs after.
"See you next time."
After sending BM off, Yoo Ji-tae returned home.
The first to greet him was Winter. She hadn't done this lately, but today she sat anxiously by the shoe rack, glaring at the door.
"What's up?"
"......"
She didn't speak, but scanned him head to toe. Then, with a face like she might cry, she held out both arms.
He picked up the child and lifted her.
Her tiny mouth worked silently. Then, very slowly, she bit her lower lip and looked up at him.
Was this anger? Worry? Not knowing the reason, the regressor just met her gaze.
It was just like the time tensions rose with the Yong family.
"......"
Necklace check: All clear.
Winter let out a small sigh. Even her sigh was short and faint.
"...Don't get mad."
For a moment, Yoo Ji-tae thought he'd misheard.
"What?"
"......"
But Winter said nothing more. She just buried her face in his chest.
By evening, Bom and Gaeul returned. Yoo Ji-tae told them what had happened that day. Like it or not, they needed to know.
"Whaaaat?!"
Gaeul jumped in shock, fussing over why he'd done it, if he was hurt anywhere, how pitiful Unni Yeoreum must be. Bom nodded with slightly drooped eyes. Fortunately, none spiraled into excessive panic.
"If anyone asks about the family from now on—which probably won't happen—just say you don't know."
Bom thought for a moment and asked,
"Or how about this?"
"What."
"Like......"
Bom stared blankly into Yoo Ji-tae's eyes. It was a gaze laced with draconic pressure. To him, it seemed amateurish, but anyone else would gasp in awe.
"Similar?"
He knew who she was imitating without asking.
Gaeul nodded vigorously.
"Whoa, scary, Unni......"
"Was it?"
"...Why do that?"
"So they'll fear us on their own."
Bom smirked.
"What about me? Me?"
Gaeul's turn. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. As her golden eyelashes trembled, the air grew heavy. Her low, deep gaze fixed on the floor. Then her eyelids lifted, and her eyes slowly rose.
"......"
Boredom filled eyes slowly focused. Up close, his reflection gleamed within.
This one was pretty convincing.
"Gaeul. You're actually scary......"
"......"
But Gaeul didn't respond.
He realized his mistake. She'd immersed herself in the exact emotion she'd felt before, projecting it onto him.
He pinched her soft cheek. "Ow ow! That hurts!" Only then did she snap out of it, like a bucket of cold water over her head.
"Don't do that normally."
"Eung... It hurts... Then when?"
"When someone pries about the Yoo Family or makes you uncomfortable. Only then."
"Okay."
They seemed to accept the situation without much fuss.
Yoo Ji-tae felt a needless doubt. Maybe Bom had warned them ahead. But when their eyes met, she just glanced briefly and looked away, as if nothing happened.
"Come here, all of you."
That evening, Yoo Ji-tae called them. Bom and Gaeul ran over and sat beside him. Winter claimed his lap.
The most important part was about to begin.
Every day at 9 PM.
The Lair app aired highlight reels of the B+ grade underground rift raid.
B+ Grade Underground Rift Raid was a three-day operation. The first two days had highlights like today. The final day—boss battle—was live-streamed.
"Huh?"
As Yoo Ji-tae went to play the video, startled Gaeul grabbed his arm.
"N-no, I can't watch."
"Why."
"Yeoreum Unni's doing great, right?"
The regressor pulled his hand from the display.
"I don't know yet either."
"E-eh, then how can we watch...!"
"Why? What's the reason you can't?"
"Unni worked so hard. Like, no sleep. Vomiting in the bathroom."
He nodded. Yeoreum had trained with desperation beyond "hard work."
"Sparring's one thing since Unni's strong, but this isn't just her carrying. She put in so much effort, and if she's struggling now......"
Imagining the worst, Gaeul's face fell into gloom.
He thought she was over-worrying. But no. Even Bom, leaning in the sofa corner, and empathetic Winter showed concern.
Having watched closest, they hoped Yeoreum's efforts wouldn't be betrayed.
So the regressor subtly tried to check the results. Gaeul lunged and grabbed his arm.
"Ah...! Nooo! Don't!"
"We'll find out eventually."
"I don't care! I don't wanna know now!"
He ignored her and moved. Even gripping with all her might, she couldn't stop him.
"Nooo...!"
"Yes."
"Waaah!"
He pressed play. Before the highlights, scores for 25 teams appeared.
Farther up wasn't needed.
Atop cocky kid team names dripping with bravado. The brashest one stood out.
"Whoa! First place! But why three tied for first?"
"Rules say days 1 and 2 are absolute scoring."
"Really?"
Yes.
Base 20 points.
Day 1: 20 points.
Day 2: 20 points.
Day 3 boss dungeon arrival: 20 points.
The final 20 from boss fight went by relative scoring. Among top cadets risking lives for a mere "10 points," this 20 was huge.
Gaeul let go of his arm, and Yoo Ji-tae immediately played the highlights.
No need for other teams. Skipped straight.
Finally, familiar red hair appeared.
"Unni!"
Yeoreum and Sophia charged ahead. Targets: underground orcs with stone-like bodies. When orcs blocked, Yeoreum shattered their skulls with unbelievable force and pressed on.
Yeoreum swung her sword upward. Orc blocked? She snapped the axe at the haft. Then sliced horizontally across its neck. The sturdy greatsword tore through stone-hard orc flesh, ripped muscle, snapped bone—the scene filled the screen.
By then, chat flooded the side of the highlight reel.
The two gifted bows and muskets by Yoo Ji-tae gritted their teeth, syncing with Yeoreum and Sophia's flow.
Level 1 artifacts, but basic weapons to these cadets.
But when the camera close-up'd Kim Ji-in and So Ji-ro, opinions flipped.
Kim Ji-in wrestled monsters while crying, holding her ground.
So Ji-ro's bloody blisters showed as he loosed arrows desperately. His thick hands were shredded, yet he didn't stop.
With their help, Yeoreum smashed monsters effortlessly.
Thus, day 1's mid-boss: "Underground Twin-Head Orc." Spewing poison and filth from its mouths.
Yoo Ji-tae's eyes narrowed.
Yeoreum maxed Pulse.
Breath intertwined. Revealing the first technique of Kal-Gulakwa Standing Combat Style.
Yeoreum's sword cleaved the Twin-Head Orc vertically in two.
Whoa! Gaeul clenched her fist.
And the highlights ended there.