The Heroine Stole My Regression

23 – Vanquisher (1)

Higher than earth, closer to the heavens, the top floor of a mysterious skyscraper.

Within a luxurious room, four women were seated around a round table. Hair that shimmered with disparate hues accented their individual personas, dominating the space. Each possessed a face that could easily be considered peerless.

“So.”

The woman with long, sky-blue hair spoke first.

“Did it work out?”

She crossed her legs with elegant grace, folding her arms and scanning the others.

The one with black hair braided to one side responded. She subtly lifted her wrist, gazing at the obsidian bracelet she wore.

As the light that had been flickering on the bracelet faded, Hasion offered a satisfied smile.

“Seems it just finished. Perfect.”

“That’s a relief. It’ll change his fighting style.”

The woman with sky-blue hair nodded.

She respected him without reservation, but she also believed he’d move on without hesitation to better options, were they to arise.

“Of course, who do you think calibrated it?”

The woman with short-cropped hair, radiating a subtle, holy aura, finally spoke.

Her fingertips had been tracing the cross on the desk for some time now. More than just a decoration, its presence was distinctly imposing.

Almost as if to say, “Look at this,” she stroked the cross with possessive fervor.

“Showing off?”

The woman with sky-blue hair asked with a soft smile, and the woman with the bob cut subtly nodded.

“Wouldn’t you?”

The bobbed-hair woman chuckled lightly, pushing the cross further forward on the desk with her fingertips. An undeniable pride resided within that simple gesture.

“Hae-in even issued an official certificate under my name with the Order. ‘Owner,’ it plainly states, right there.”

She lifted the cross, displaying its softly gleaming surface as she continued.

“Thanks to that, the old geezers in the Order couldn’t say a word, just bobbed their heads.”

Even so, she carefully traced its contours with her fingertip. Her demeanor was that of handling a cherished treasure.

“Really… he didn’t have to go that far…”

Her voice trailed off, her expression painted with a hint of ecstasy.

“Can we just shut up for a moment?”

Suddenly, a sharp voice cut across the room.

The woman with her black hair tied back, scarlet eyes gleaming, spoke coldly.

“Can we please talk about something productive? How far are we with securing the supply of holy water?”

At those words, the bobbed-hair woman slowly turned her gaze.

“That area’s still in the old geezers’ territory, so it’s a little difficult?

She tilted her head slightly, setting the cross back down on the desk.

“But, we’re getting there.”

“Good.”

The black-haired woman gave a curt nod.

“Speaking of, he really did buy it all up the moment Kang Yu-seong died and the stock price plummeted.”

Yu Hana said quietly, with admiration.

Her eyes held a simple wonder and delight.

“That’s Jung Hae-in for you.”

Kang A-rin replied. In her voice, pure trust for him resonated.

“Killing that b*stard Kang Yu-seong and pinning the whole thing on Ma-in.”

She chuckled briefly as she continued.

“Boosts the stock, lightens Hae-in’s load, and makes money. How perfect is that?”

The other women in the room nodded quietly at her words.

All wore expressions of no small satisfaction.

“So.”

Kang Arin tapped the table lightly with her fingertips, continuing.

“Tell me everything you remember.”

Her voice, soft yet firm, resonated through the room.

“You all know, no matter what we do, we can’t pay off the debt, right?”

Though a brief sentence, the room instantly fell silent.

Her words settled like a heavy, lingering echo.

*

“Wow, again?”

[‘Glory’ Arcadia Signs Exclusive Holy Water Supply Agreement.]

Lately, exchange between the two groups is thriving.

Kang Yoosung dying young was a stroke of divine brilliance.

It felt like part of a snowball effect, born from his death.

Thanks to it, a huge snowball is rolling into my account today. Seeing the numbers climb so rapidly, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Nice.”

Good things have been happening in a row recently.

Today is Friday.

Just one more day, and it’s the weekend, so my steps feel lighter.

Of course, it’s not like I get to rest on the weekend… but my body, perhaps because I’ve become a student, feels like my mind has returned to my student days too.

‘I need to receive the Camellia Sword… and negotiate the amount with the syndicate…’

Besides that, there’s a lot to do. The list of serendipitous encounters I’ve lined up is piled up like a mountain, and even if I go to extract one a week, it won’t be enough.

And I need to pass on an appropriate martial art to Sung Siwoo soon…

I don’t know if that little b*stard has made up his mind.

He rejected joining the team last time, picking only the most boneheaded things to do.

If he continues to use the sword…

‘Do I need to beat him more?’

Anyway, let’s think about that when the time comes.

I’m walking to the Cheonmu Hall, where I have class today.

The place was named Cheonmu Hall, though astonishingly, it served as a lecture room for theoretical studies.

Moreover, a currently active Hero had been specially invited today to lead the class, or so they said.

A certain anticipation bloomed within me; I hadn’t yet seen any first-rate Heroes with my own eyes.

The time was precisely nine in the morning.

Isn’t arriving at school precisely on time a student’s fundamental duty?

-Screech-

I opened the back door of Cheonmu Hall.

-Bang!

And closed it again.

“What the hell?”

Why was that man here of all places?

I wondered if my eyes were deceiving me.

I cautiously peeked inside, opening the door slightly once more.

Despite the loud bang from the door closing, every student’s gaze was fixed on the Hero standing on the platform.

A man with slicked-back hair and sunglasses even indoors.

The specially invited Hero was someone I, too, knew. Quite well, in fact.

Our eyes met.

Even though he wore sunglasses, I could feel his gaze precisely.

Then, he flashed a grin, exposing his gums.

He was the very person who had requested an analysis of Seong Si-woo some time ago,

Park Gwang-cheol.

*

The professor in charge of theory stood next to him on the platform, gesturing and speaking.

“He’s taken time out of his busy schedule today, so please give him a round of applause!”

-Clap clap clap clap!

The lecture room erupted in thunderous applause.

“Hello? I’m Park Gwang-cheol.”

Park Gwang-cheol lifted his sunglasses slightly as he spoke.

His single sentence unleashed a wave of cheers, regardless of gender.

He deserved it. He wasn’t just a Hero; he was a star, beloved by the masses.

He smiled as he spoke.

“My affiliation is… well, you all know, don’t you? Vanguisher.”

His words were met with another burst of applause and cheers.

I watched the spectacle, sinking back into my seat and letting out a small sigh.

Then I sent a message to Zion.

[Jung Hae-in]: Zion, Park Gwang-cheol is here.

And in less than five seconds, a reply arrived.

[Zion]: Huh? Where?

[Jung Hae-in]: Right in front of me.

[Zion]: ?? Why is Uncle Gwang-cheol here?

Exactly my damn words.

[Jung Hae-in]: I don’t know, apparently some special invited lecture….

[Zion]: Ah, I think I heard Grandpa mention something? Asking who wanted to go~ or not~ something like that.

So, it’s that guy who came.

[Jung Hae-in]: He hasn’t stopped staring at me since I walked in. What should I do?

[Zion]: Wow… that sucks. Good luck….

I lowered my head and focused on my desk.

Staying invisible was my top priority.

But contrary to my fears, he conducted the class with surprising diligence.

He even mentioned newly established theories, continuing his lecture.

Objectively speaking, his lecture was interesting. Even I was getting absorbed in the lesson.

“Oh, has time already flown by like this? Shall we take a ten-minute break?”

Park Gwang-cheol said, checking his watch.

Usually, when a lecturer announces a break, students would rush out of the lecture hall.

But today, no one moved.

Then, a female student timidly raised her hand.

“Lecturer, may I ask a question?”

“Yes, of course.”

Park Gwang-cheol answered heartily.

“It’s not related to the class content…”

“Aish, it’s alright.”

“Then, perhaps… what does one need to do to join Vanquisher?”

Though she voiced the question, it was, in truth, a kind of taking up the gauntlet.

The question surely resided in the hearts of all the students.

Even Sung Siwoo, seated in the very front row, was watching him with sparkling eyes, awaiting his answer.

Vanquisher, a team led by the Inspired, was among the best in the world.

But befitting their reputation, they were notoriously selective in choosing their members.

Therefore, joining Vanquisher was more or less equivalent to proving oneself the ultimate hero.

Regrettably, however, one rarely had dealings with them during gameplay.

‘In the original story, they were wiped out early on.’

Vanquisher, in the early stages of the original, were annihilated by a surprise attack from the Minds.

They were merely tools to herald the story’s tragic beginning.

-The best hero team was massacred.

Their deaths were depicted with just this one, short line of text.

They existed to emphasize the overwhelming strength of the enemy and the desperate situation.

However.

‘Things are different now.’

I slowly exhaled.

That incident hadn’t occurred yet.

And, this time, I can prevent it.

I have enough information and a plan.

If I prevent their deaths, they will surely become a great strength in the future.

But frankly speaking, that wasn’t the only reason.

From some point on, they were no longer just characters in a story I had crafted.

Vanquisher, who were merely represented by a single line of text, were now deeply woven into my life.

Even for Zion’s sake.

No, wait.

Just for my own sake.

I would not let them die.

Absolutely.