Please consider leaving a good rating and review of I’m a Max-Level Regressor, But…? to show your support if you like the series. It will encourage me to work on more chapters and increase release rate.
Chapter 35
Pa-ak!
I leaped towards the location where the voice was coming from in one bound.
This was because the instant death fog zone was so close that the person who called for help could potentially lose their life.
I did not forget to use my steel reinforcement ability just in case.
Although saving a human life was important, I could not guarantee that the person was not an enemy.
Especially since this was a Red Zone, I had to be extra careful.
“Ugh…… I’m sorry.”
“Let’s get out of here first.”
I immediately embraced him and jumped with all my might, moving away from the original location.
Whoosh!
At that moment, after a slight time delay, the instant death fog expanded and instantly wrapped around the spot.
If I had hesitated even a little, the man could have lost his life.
After securing a sufficient distance, I put the man down and tried to check his condition.
But then.
“Oh?”
A familiar face was in front of me.
‘Father Choi?’
A former colleague who was more often called Father Choi instead of his real name, Choi Ji-hyeok.
He was a debuffer skilled in curse and summoning magic, who was very compatible with me.
A colleague who lost his life to Mad Bear in the Sindorim Battle, who made me cry for days and nights.
“I’m sorry. I was just curious and looking around to see how serious the situation was…”
“It seems you’ve been hit by a poison needle.”
“Yes. Fortunately, I’ve driven away the one who shot the needle…”
The priest’s right calf, where blood was flowing, was severely swollen.
It was a paralyzing needle often used by terrorist organizations based in the Red Zone.
It wouldn’t threaten one’s life, but it would instantly paralyze the area it touched.
It seemed they were planning to ambush and steal money or artifacts from the Awakener-looking man.
Looking at the deep tear on his left index finger, it appeared a ring had been stolen.
“First, let’s release the paralysis. If we do nothing, the paralysis will spread to the entire lower body.”
“Do you… Have an antidote?”
The priest was breaking out in cold sweat.
I wanted to express the joy of reuniting with someone I had a past life connection with.
But this is not a past life, this is the present.
I have returned, and naturally, at this point, the priest does not know who I am.
“I have something better than an antidote.”
I immediately condensed magic into the salivary glands and instantly transformed the contents into a healing needle.
“Huh, is this folk medicine?”
As he looked like he was about to spit, the priest burst into laughter.
It seemed less like disappointment and more like a laugh at my unexpected approach.
A typical reaction I see when first encountering an awakened person with such an ability.
I didn’t pay it any mind.
“Thank you sincerely for saving me. Ten years’ worth of karma. I was absolutely about to die.”
The priest leaned against the signpost beside him and closed his eyes tightly.
His complexion was not good, seeming like he had been left in the same spot for quite a long time.
“Just think of it as applying ointment. Don’t try to remember what was applied.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I spread the needle applied to my entire palm evenly on the priest’s calf wound.
Sha-aa-ah.
Then, a clear emerald light burst out, quickly seeping into the skin. A healing response.
“Ah?”
As expected, the priest’s expression changed as he seemed to immediately feel the effect.
“How do you feel?”
“A slightly tingling feeling, but the paralysis is quickly dissipating!”
“That’s not all.”
“My stamina is also increasing!”
“I guess this folk medicine seems to be effective.”
I cracked a witty joke.
In any case, it was fortunate.
After returning, he was the first person I truly wanted to save.
In fact, the actual point of meeting Father Choi would be 7 years from now. That’s quite far in the future.
When I first met the priest, I noticed he was distinctly limping on his right leg and asked about the reason.
‘There’s an unspeakable story behind this. It’s a legacy left by my shameful past.’
I didn’t ask further, thinking it was a past he wanted to hide, but it seems it was because of today’s events.
‘This must be the inflection point of regression that Nicholas talked about incessantly.’
An inflection point of regression.
It means that when I, who returned to the past, do something I didn’t do before, the future changes.
Nicholas said that the more these inflection points accumulate, the more the future would differ from the history he knew.
Trivial inflection points have no impact, but significant ones definitely change the future.
‘Nicholas, you’re too calculating. What’s wrong with some changes? It’s not like the entire future is changing.’
I didn’t think much of it.
If you’re truly afraid of history changing, wouldn’t you have to live exactly like your previous life?
Then what would be the point of regression?
“Wow… Thank you so much! Could it be that the saliva you applied has both detoxification and healing effects?”
Before I knew it, the priest had sprung up from his spot and was bowing at a right angle towards me.
Being naturally polite and good-hearted, this action seemed very natural to him.
“That’s correct.”
“I don’t know how to repay this kindness. I don’t have cash on hand… I’ll give you this instead.”
The priest suddenly pulled out a ring from his right hand and held it out to me. It was an artifact.
It wasn’t a particularly efficient artifact. If my memory is correct, it’s a ring that assists debuff abilities.
In other words, it wasn’t necessary for me.
To begin with, I was fundamentally different from buffer or debuffer types.
My style is to feel alive by experiencing pain in close-quarter combat, sweating and bleeding.
“No need. I didn’t save you expecting a reward. I happened to be there, and since I had the ability to save you, I did.”
“But.”
“If you really want to repay me, let’s have a drink later. You’re a priest, so you do drink, right?”
“I do like it.”
“Then it’s settled. How about receiving my thanks with a delicious drink and some side dishes?”
“But that would make me feel so shameless. Is it really okay with just that? You’re the benefactor who saved my life.”
To be honest, I was much happier about meeting the priest again.Â
Of course, he doesn’t know that.
Except for Nicholas, the priest was one of the colleagues who genuinely took care of and supported me in my previous life.
He lost his life in the Sindorim Battle while trying to stop Mad Bear, who was attempting to ambush me.
He was a precious colleague who remained a lifelong debt in my heart.
‘Maybe I was sent back to repay the emotional debt from my previous life. Of course, that’s not all.’
I didn’t have much desire for people after my regression, but I wanted to save this priest.
To do that, it might be good to start building a connection now. Not seeing him again after 7 years like before.
“If you make a delicious soju, I’ll gladly accept it as payment for my life. What do you say?”
“Sounds good! Really good. In that case, would you mind sharing your number with me?”
“Are you hunting for men?”
“Haha. What a thing to say to a priest!”
I know a few behind-the-scenes stories about Father Choi. Of course, that’s all.
There’s nothing problematic about our relationship.
Ten minutes later.
After confirming that the Seongbuk Line 1 Express train Father Choi was on had safely departed,
I finally let out a sigh of relief and continued with my original task.
Land purchase inquiries.
There was still work to be done.
* * *
At the same time.
Choi Ji-hyeok watched the back of the gradually disappearing Kang Shin-hwa, not taking his eyes off him until he was no longer visible.
At first, I thought it was an injury that couldn’t be easily recovered with ordinary antidotes.
So, if possible, I was planning to ask the Kang Shin-hwa to take me to the nearby Mosan-gol Cathedral.
There was a priest I knew there who was somewhat proficient in detoxification techniques.
However, Kang Shin-hwa easily treated me on the spot without needing to reach out anywhere else.
The paralysis was instantly released, and vitality quickly circulated through my body that was near exhaustion.
This was achieved by the special power created through the Kang Shin-hwa’s saliva.
“Have I been too insensitive to recent news?”
An Awakener with this level of healing and recovery power would be at least A- rank.
For Choi Ji-hyeok, who was still struggling to reach D- rank, this was an unimaginably high world.
“Thank you again to my lifesaver.”
Choi Ji-hyeok offered a word of thanks to Kang Shin-hwa who was already far away and out of sight.
Just then.
The dark clouds filling the sky cleared, and warm sunlight began to shine through the gaps.
“…”
Choi Ji-hyeok carefully moved back from the window.
* * *
8 PM.
Although I had come 30 minutes earlier than the promised meeting time, everyone except me had already arrived at the scene.
‘Looking at the team composition, it’s clear they intend to test me.’
I let out a chuckle seeing the group guarding the dungeon entrance with the porters.
A- rank, Jeong-hoon.
A- rank, Jin Bo-mi.
S- rank, Yoon Tae-ho.
S+ rank, Seo Ye-hee.
All the core guild members had arrived. The remaining guild executives were probably at most B+ rank and couldn’t be part of this meeting.
“Kang Shin-hwa!”
Jin Bo-mi was the first to make eye contact with me.
“Hmm?”
She was supposed to just greet me, but instead, she was running towards me, eagerly waving both hands.
Was it yesterday?
She had asked if she could call me ‘oppa’, and I had maintained appropriate distance, saying it was more comfortable to keep things proper.
As a result, while her way of addressing me remained the same, her attitude towards me had become more friendly.
Of course, I understood her feelings well.
She was grateful to the one who saved her at the brink of despair. It was likely due to that gratitude.
“I arrived early to prepare in advance. You’re here quite early too?”
“I’m more comfortable waiting than making others wait. It’s kind of a routine for me.”
This wasn’t a lie.
Arriving at the dungeon entrance early, feeling the surrounding atmosphere and drawing up my magical power had long been a ritual for me.
“You don’t need to feel pressured about today’s clearing. Leave the main role to us and just provide appropriate support.”
“Are you saying to just watch?”
“We’d appreciate if you could handle the small monsters. The movement paths are quite diverse.”
‘Look at this.’
They’ve clearly called me to test my abilities while hiding their true intentions.
Well, it didn’t matter.
It was natural to demonstrate my skills in a dungeon where they’ve called me to assess my abilities.
If they need self-promotion, I should definitely provide it clearly.
Looking alternately at Jin Bo-mi, Jeong-hoon, Seo Ye-hee, and Yoon Tae-ho, who were staring intently at me, I smiled.
‘Just know that your reputation will rise because of me too.’
The conclusion was simple.
Hi guys, please check out the second novel I am translating “Not All Heroes From Earth Are Bad“
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! If you would like to support me or read advanced chapters, you can do so by unlocking chapters.
Schedule: [Mon – Fri]
