Chapter 385
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 385
Chapter Title: The Regression Decision
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There was a problem.
Then what happens to my companions?
For now, all the power theyve achieved up to this point will disappear. More precisely, theyll revert to the level of strength they had at that point.
Lee Na-yeon, Kim Bong-gu, Jang Ha-jin, Yeo Sun-woo, Yeo Min-ji.
All of them had barely managed to complete up to the 6th Cataclysm.
To turn all that hard work into nothing...
If I take this, does the regression happen immediately?
No. Itll activate automatically the moment your breath stops.
It was the same as the first time he regressed.
Master...
Even so, since were connected to you, we can go along as we are, right? It should be fine.
Mukho and Anima seemed shaken.
Even as countless dimensions were destroyed, the Divine Realm couldnt deal with the Named Ones.
Just sending Tenebris and Psyche as spies was proof of that.
It was practically impossible for Jeong Hoon to handle them alone.
Wouldnt the chances be even slightly better if he regressed here and allowed the Divine Realm to intervene?
But why does regressing make intervention possible? Cant they do it now?
Precisely because youre not the true owner. You only temporarily seized their authority. Isnt that why you were isolated?
So?
To put it simply, their influence has spread far too long. Even if you gain divine energy and reach the demigod realm, you cant open the Divine Realm. From the moment the game became reality, all external intervention became impossible.
Jeong Hoons face hardened.
After all that effort, was there truly no escaping their grasp?
Master, at this point, lets just regress.
I dont like that guys proposal much either... but its better than sitting here and getting slaughtered!
Mukho and Anima had also died by their hands.
So they couldnt just watch Jeong Hoon, their masters link, suffer the same fate.
Yeah. I have no choice.
Refusing once more here would just be stubbornness and obsession.
He felt sorry for those who had reached the 6th Cataclysm, but reclaiming this power and rewinding to properly set things right was more important.
Jeong Hoon reached out toward the Creation Engine.
As if waiting, the orb burrowed into his right hand.
The immense energy began fusing with the Creation Engine inside him, soon swirling wildly.
A heavy pain throbbed near his heart, but it wasnt unbearable.
You have completed the quest.
With the quest notification, his eyes slowly closed.
In his fading consciousness, Uriel gazed at Jeong Hoon and smiled faintly.
That power is now etched into your soul. No one will ever notice it.
When he came to again, his mothers worried face came into view.
Mom... Ugh!
He tried to sit up quickly, but a throbbing headache hit him.
Hoon, are you okay?!
He had never shown any weakness after regressing, so she was understandably flustered.
Jeong Hoon hurriedly used Divine Healing to suppress the headache.
Hey, you collapsed right after starting the quest. You sure youre okay?!
I got scared. Your body turned ice-cold so fast, I thought you were dead.
Good thing your breathing was faint...
Tenebris and Baal didnt know he had gone to the Divine Realm.
To them, it just looked like he had fallen into a coma.
Im fine.
Phew, do you know how worried I was? I shook you, but you wouldnt wake up.
I was actually progressing a quest.
A quest?
Yeah. It mustve looked that way because my soul moved.
What kind of quest was it?
Demigod.
Jeong Hoon told his mother the truth about the quest.
Hearing that her son had regressed once already left her momentarily stunned, but she soon composed herself and listened to the whole story.
...I see.
Now she understood why her son could repeatedly pull off those monstrous performances.
There had been times she found it suspicious, but she never imagined he had experienced it all before.
Lee Na-yeon hugged her weary son.
Jeong Hoon held his mother tightly for a long while.
Finally pulling away, he scratched his cheek and said,
Mom, Im sorry for hiding it all this time.
Yeah. You went a bit too far with that.
Ahem.
So, youre going to regress again?
Tenebris and Baal also awaited Jeong Hoons answer.
Probably.
Okay. If thats what you think, Moms all for it.
His mother agreed to the regression without a moments hesitation.
...If I do, youll lose your power as the Genesis Sniper.
Its fine. I can always get this job back later.
Still...
Hoon, we only got this far thanks to you. So Im okay.
Jeong Hoon nodded.
Afterward, he called the others one by one and explained everything.
Damn, I knew it!
Even after learning about the regression, Ha-jin reacted as if he had expected it.
When did you figure it out?
From the moment your words started hitting 100 right. I thought it was weird, though I didnt think it was real...
So Im doing it again.
...You greedy bastard. Doesnt that mean we wont even get to do Round 2?
Thats the plan.
Bummer... We barely scraped up to the 6th Cataclysm.
Sorry.
He had no words for that, even if he had ten mouths.
Hey, its fine. Better than dying, right?
Yeah. Ill definitely save everyone.
Good. Just keep that promise, and were square.
Next, Bong-gu.
Hyung-nim... So thats why youre a monster.
Well, experience counts for a lot.
If you go back, you have to get me up to this point again.
Ill do my best.
Yes!
Then Yeo Min-ji.
...Is that even possible?
Yeah. It worked.
Got it. If you regressing again is what it takes to save Earth, Im for it.
Thanks.
Its a shame... I got close to your mom, but going back means well be strangers again.
Ill work on that. Well get close again.
Hehe, okay. Thanks for telling me like this.
She could have regressed silently, but Jeong Hoons honesty meant the world to her.
Finally, Yeo Sun-woo.
Are you alright?
After hearing everything, the first thing he asked was if Jeong Hoon was okay.
Knowing it was his way of comforting him for bearing the burden alone, Jeong Hoon smiled and nodded.
Yeah. Im perfectly fine.
...Thank you for your hard work, Hoon. I pray for your success.
Ill definitely succeed.
Having come clean to everyone, Jeong Hoon walked through Hangang Park.
Reality manifestation and the renewal had hit one after another, nearly collapsing everything.
It looked like peace had returned after deleting the Great Rift, but a closer look revealed it was still precarious.
My ball!
Lost in thought, a soccer ball slowly rolled up to Jeong Hoon.
Not a real soccer ball, but a bouncy ball shaped like one.
Jeong Hoon bent down and picked it up.
Then a middle-aged man, apparently the childs father, came running over.
Oh dear, sorry about that.
He was a level 900 ice mage.
The child, meanwhile, wasnt even level 50.
Likely one who had scraped by in shelters daily until monsters weakened, then power-leveled.
Jeong Hoon smiled and handed the bouncy ball back.
Its fine.
Wow! Big bros over level 10,000!
The childs eyes sparkled after reading his info.
Gasp!
The father jolted in surprise, inhaling sharply.
Jeong Hoon quietly raised a finger to his lips, gesturing for silence.
I dont like noise.
Ah... Yes. Sorry. Come on, Seung-hyun! Lets go play ball with Dad again.
Okay!
After the child and father left, Jeong Hoon sat alone on an empty bench.
Master, isnt it about time to start?
Yeah. Were ready whenever!
Even if he regressed, Mukho and Anima could come along, but Tenebris and Baal were the issue.
What? Why are you staring like that?
Tenebris tilted his head.
If I regress, what happens to you two?
What do you mean? Well go back to how we were.
Tenebris to his sealed state, Baal to his lord position.
You okay with that?
...It was a hopeless fight from the start. And we have to follow the higher-ups decisions.
Yeah.
But you have to unseal me for sure?
Ill see when the chance comes.
Whoa... Youre really gonna do that?
Unlike the unexpectedly cheerful Tenebris, Baal looked like hed eaten shit.
Why the long face?
You joking right now? After all Ive been through to get here... back to groveling under Escannon?
You can betray him again once youre back.
Hah... Easier said than done. The return points right before New World and Earth merge.
Yeah.
At that time, I hadnt even approached you yet!
What Baal feared was that their current relationship might not reform.
Staying like this means we all die.
Hah, I know...
Well, when the time comes, Ill beat some sense into you and reform you.
...Dont hit too hard.
Hit lightly, and will you listen?
Ahem.
Alright then.
Jeong Hoon stood up.
Heading out right now?
Yeah.
His destination was set.
Would you like to move to the Divine Realm?
Not regressionmovement to the Divine Realm.
Hed regress if he had to, but he wanted to spit in their faces first to vent.
Kukuku, I thought youd regress right away. You really are a fun human.
Tenebris laughed, clutching his belly.
Why run when I have insurance?
Jeong Hoon grinned.
Divine Realm.
Before Round 2 began, the Named Ones sat together passing the time.
Suddenly, Beelzebub shot up from his seat.
Hes here!
That damned human had come to the Divine Realm.
The others sensed it too, and Harmagedon said with a smirking face,
Psyche, you okay?
......
Psyche glared at Harmagedon silently.
What? Not happy that things arent going according to plan?
Youve been talking nonsense for a while now?
Countless blades hovered before Psyche.
Blades that sliced and erased anything they touched.
Gonna keep denying it? I think I gave you plenty of chances.
Bullshit.
Bullshit... I know everything. You sided with Tenebris, didnt you?
The divine artifact Escannon wielded.
It was one Harmagedon had bestowed himself.
Through the granted artifact, Harmagedon could see and hear everything.
Including the fact that Psyche had been helping the human.
Yeah? Thanks for the info.
Psyche smiled and snapped her fingers.
The blades aimed at her vanished in an instant.
Gonna tell that human? Too late for that.
Harmagedon turned and left with Beelzebub to hunt the human.
Psyche, well settle this later.
Logos glared at her murderously and followed them.