The Regressor Can Make Them All

Chapter 248

Arriving at the intensive care unit of Askus, Se-Hoon found Sung-Ha standing idly at the entrance and hurriedly approached him.

“How’s his condition?”

“...Complications from old age. And his mana circuits have started to necrotize.”

Se-Hoon's expression tightened. Unlike mana impairment, which only hinders one’s usage of mana, that was life-threatening.

“What’s the cause?”

“They say it’s because his body has weakened.”

There were usually two major reasons why mana circuits would begin to necrotize. The first was the collapse of a hero’s synesthetic mindscape, rendering them unable to sustain mana. And the second... was physical frailty, which made controlling mana impossible.

Those two reasons were similar yet fundamentally different. If the former was likened to gaining trembling hands that continuously spilled water from a cup, the latter could be likened to the cup itself shattering.

If the necrosis was due to injury, there might be a way to fix it, but...

If it were due to illness—or old age in particular—curing it was practically impossible. With a new understanding of the severity of Jin-Hyun’s condition, Se-Hoon glanced at the ICU.

Although he didn’t live long even before the regression... it shouldn’t be this soon.

What caused it to speed up so much? Deliberating the cause, Se-Hoon’s thoughts soon arrived at the Flame Sect’s assault before Babel went on vacation.

That must be it.

The dream mana, which had been silently accumulating in Jin-Hyun’s body through regular drug intakes, was the problem. Unlike before, when it had slowly eaten away at Jin-Hyun over a long period, the stored dream mana had been triggered early because of the butterfly effects of Se-Hoon’s actions, which worsened Jin-Hyun’s condition.

I guess this is also ultimately a problem I caused...

Although Se-Hoon had eliminated the threat that endangered both Jin-Hyun and Sung-Ha, he could do nothing about Jin-Hyun’s body being too frail to withstand even the aftermath.

Pondering what he could do, Se-Hoon looked up upon hearing Sung-Ha, still staring at the ICU door, calmly declaring, “You don’t have any fault in this. Master’s body reached its limits long ago. All of this was bound to happen someday.”

Sung-Ha never turned to face him, just continuing to talk.

“So don’t feel guilty about what happened. That’s also what Master said before he collapsed,” he finished, his voice deeper than usual.

Upon hearing that Jin-Hyun thought the same, Se-Hoon massaged his eyes.

That’s not entirely wrong, but... letting go isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Se-Hoon wasn’t simply aiming to save Jin-Hyun, his goal was to prevent Sung-Ha from going astray and ending up like the Mad Dog. With Jin-Hyun alive, Sung-Ha had been more cooperative than his crazed former self, but if Jin-Hyun died, there was no guarantee as to how he’d change.

Even if Sung-Ha had once said he would follow his own path even if his master died, Se-Hoon simply couldn’t believe that Sung-Ha could be unaffected by it all.

Even if he doesn’t live as long... it shouldn’t be like this.

The best case would be if Jin-Hyun stayed alive until Sung-Ha grew to the point where he rivaled the sect master of the Flame Sect.

Determined to do something, Se-Hoon considered every possible treatment he knew.

“Seems like there’s already another guest.”

Turning around at the heavy voice behind him, Se-Hoon recognized a familiar face. It was someone Se-Hoon had seen before on TV, a middle-aged man with short red hair and a flame-shaped scar carved on his left cheek.

Lee Won-Ryong...

He was the current Sect Master of the Flame Sect and practically the culprit behind Jin-Hyun’s current state—an unwelcome visitor.

“I came here today merely as a disciple... but it seems that this isn’t the ideal timing,” Won-Ryong remarked, unaffected by the hostile look Se-Hoon was giving.

He then turned to look at the ICU, prompting Se-Hoon to glance at Sung-Ha, who silently stared at the door.

“...”

Sung-Ha was completely ignoring Won-Ryong’s presence, aside from the fact that his body was tense enough to leap at him at any moment.

This might turn really ugly.

While any fight would likely be quickly quelled, there was no need to create unnecessary trouble in the first place. Sighing, Se-Hoon stepped between the two.

“If you’re here for a visit, you should come back another time. If you have other matters to address, we can talk outside.”

Mulling over the suggestion, Won-Ryong eventually nodded willingly.

“Very well.”

With his decision made, Won-Ryong turned and briskly walked away, leaving Se-Hoon watching his retreating back. Then, after a moment, Se-Hoon told Sung-Ha, “I’ll be back. Stay here.”

“...”

Without even waiting for a reply, Se-Hoon followed Won-Ryong to the parking lot, and they soon stopped in a secluded spot. The area was perfect for an ambush, but no signs of anyone hiding could be found, indicating he at least respected boundaries.

Tsk, I could have made short work of him here if I knew he had come with any escorts.

Regretting the missed opportunity, Se-Hoon waited until Won-Ryong turned and spoke first.

“You don’t seem keen on having a long conversation, so I’ll keep it brief.”

“Go ahead.”

“Give me half a year.”

“...Half a year?”

Taken back by the unexpected request, Se-Hoon looked questioningly at the serious Won-Ryong.

“Once Sung-Ha graduates from Babel, he will aim for the sect master position. And, after weighing out all the odds, I don’t believe a fight against you two would end well for me.”

They had already been in a precarious situation with Se-Hoon’s involvement, and with the elimination of the Dream Demon, the Flame Sect’s position in society became extremely shaky.

Not only had all of their secret connections to the underworld, established through the Barmuths, been severed, but the Seraphim Guild had pulled out of their alliance upon realizing that the Flame Sect had been involved in underhand businesses.

On top of all that, the UD Group, which now backed Se-Hoon, had started to exert pressure on them, destroying any chance Won-Ryong’s faction had to recover.

“There are already rumors spreading about our conflict with the UD Group. We’re losing connections everywhere. It’s as if we’ve already lost.”

No matter how renowned the Flame Sect was in Korea, they couldn’t compare to the influence of a Perfect One, and with the Sect Master only being A-rank, they stood no chance at all.

Processing Won-Ryong’s words, Se-Hoon summarized it down. “So, you’re saying you want half a year to liquidate what you can before quietly hiding from this world, conceding defeat?”

“I have no intention of embezzling assets. I just need time to secure my escape route.”

So all Won-Ryong wanted was a peaceful exit in exchange for time. Se-Hoon considered it.

It really does seem like he’s given up.

It made sense. After all, considering their involvement with the Dream Demon, even the Heroes Association would be keeping a close watch on them. And with the UD Group sniffing around as well, the Flame Sect likely felt the walls relentlessly closing in, inch by inch.

That’s probably why he’s desperate to erase all traces and slip away quietly within half a year.

Instead of clinging to what remained of the Flame Sect, Won-Ryong had decided it was best to get out while he still could.

However, that decision had come too late.

“I can’t agree to that.”

“If you just help me escape, I could offer something in return—”

“It’s not about the reward. Honestly, unless you’re bringing the corpse of one of the Ten Evils, I’m not interested.”

“...”

“Also, the final decision is not up to me. Above all else, I don’t think Sung-Ha intends to let you go.”

Won-Ryong’s expression darkened. He had assumed Se-Hoon held the authority to make the decision, but it turned out that Se-Hoon had no plans of interfering in the internal matters of the Flame Sect at the moment.

“While I said I’d help him become the head of Flame Sect, I never intended to hand it to him on a silver platter. I’m sure Sung-Ha wouldn’t like it that way either.”

“...”

“His goal is to eliminate all the traitors, become the Sect Master, and prove that his master’s teachings were not wrong. However, to him, the privileges that being the Sect Master offers is just a side matter.”

Destroying Won-Ryong’s faction was a given to Sung-Ha, so if Se-Hoon helped them escape, all the trust they’d built would crumble.

“...So you’re telling me to sit quietly and wait to be killed?”

“That’s right. He’s mellowed out a lot compared to before, though, so he probably won’t kill you straight away. But, you might not be able to keep all your limbs with you.

Perhaps Sung-Ha would be satisfied with just breaking Won-Ryong enough so that he’d never wield the Inferno Ring again.

Won-Ryong’s expression twisted

How dare he...

Understanding that any chance of a peaceful negotiation had evaporated, Won-Ryong glared at Se-Hoon coldly.

“I think you’re underestimating us quite a bit.”

“I mean, people grow through battles. If anything, you’re all too weak for Sung-Ha as of now, so make sure you train hard until then.”

The stronger Won-Ryong’s faction became, the more motivated Sung-Ha would be to train. Realizing that implication, Won-Ryong clenched his teeth. Se-Hoon’s tone clearly suggested that he saw them as mere training tools.

“I assure you... you’ll regret today’s choice.”

“Yeah, yeah. You should focus on becoming an S-rank yourself, as it might be your only chance.”

“...”

Se-Hoon’s nonchalant jab had touched on a sore subject that was taboo even within the Flame Sect. Feeling his anger grow, Won-Ryong tightly clenched his fists before reluctantly releasing them.

There’s no point in fighting here.

Even if the parking lot seemed deserted, they were still inside the Emperor of Ascension’s home. Any hasty moves would likely lead to a swift defeat, all subjugated by Ludwig’s space magic.

So, putting a lid on his simmering anger, Won-Ryong shot a fiery glare at Se-Hoon.

“We’ll meet again,” he warned in a low voice.

Turning, he made to leave, but then Se-Hoon’s cold voice stopped him.

“Hey.”

Won-Ryong paused.

“If you want to die with any dignity, you should just wait quietly in that little dojo of yours.”

Although Se-Hoon’s voice was devoid of any mana or killing intent, Won-Ryong felt his entire body tense—with the kind one felt when facing an opponent they couldn’t possibly handle.

Sweating, his heart pounded wildly, urging him to react, but he couldn’t move his body.

What the hell...?

Bewildered by the incomprehensible situation, Won-Ryong remained still. Seeing that, Se-Hoon turned around as well.

“This will be your last warning.”

Leaving behind those words, Se-Hoon headed back to the ward.

And once his figure disappeared, Won-Ryong finally felt his body slowly regaining movement.

“Huff... huff...”

Staggering, he realized that his body had been drenched in cold sweat in just those few moments. Looking down at his own body, Won-Ryong felt disbelief creep onto his face.

He had heard that Se-Hoon was training under Wurgen, but to think he could overpower someone near S-rank with just a few words was hard to believe.

Staring toward the direction Se-Hoon disappeared, Won-Ryong came to a realization.

...It’s over.

There was no way for them to survive.

***

“Whew...”

Se-Hoon loosened his muscles and checked the Mad Dog’s lingering aura in his body.

Metamorphosing Dreams is far more versatile than I imagined.

Reproducing the entirety of the Mad Dog’s power seemed too challenging, so Se-Hoon tried only recreating his aura, and it went far more smoothly than he expected.

The downside is the high mana consumption, but... it should be fine if I use it sparingly when needed.

If it worked even against an experienced hero like Won-Ryong, it was likely also useful during battles for intimidation or creating openings. Organizing everything he had learned in his mind, he recalled his conversation with Won-Ryong.

The warning seems to have hit home, but... it’ll probably only make them cautious for a while.

He knew for a fact that those who allied with the Demon Force out of necessity wouldn’t back down just because they were scared. They would either find another way or flee in the dead of night.

Well, if he really runs for it, it’ll be a valuable experience for Sung-Ha. I guess I should just keep an eye on him, then.

Sending a message to Amir and Seon-Woo about monitoring the Flame Sect’s movements, Se-Hoon returned to the ICU.

“...”

Seeing that Sung-Ha hadn’t moved an inch from his spot, Se-Hoon approached him and asked, “Are you going to stand there all night?”

“They said tonight’s the critical point, so I’m staying.”

“...You should’ve mentioned that first.”

Unintentionally painting himself as the bad guy, Se-Hoon awkwardly stood there until he saw Jung-Wan exiting the ICU.

“Oh? Se-Hoon, you’re here too?”

“Yes. I arrived when I got a call.”

“I see. Shall I explain to both of you, then?”

“I don’t mind.”

Gaining Sung-Ha’s approval, Jung-Wan nodded and began. “Thankfully, he’s made it through the worst of it. The necrosis of his mana circuits has stopped, and the leakage of mana is gradually subsiding.”

“...That’s good to hear.”

“But that’s all. The parts that have already necrotized cannot be restored, and there’s no telling when it might flare up again. Even if he stays hospitalized for treatment, slowing down future necrosis is the best we can do.”

Se-Hoon made a bitter expression.

He’s already at his limit.

From now on, any “treatment” was nothing more than forcing a dead body to keep going. And from his hardened expression, it seemed Sung-Ha knew that too.

“Did Master say anything else?”

“He said that keeping him alive any longer would just hold you back.”

Sung-Ha’s eyes twitched.

Staying in the ward for treatment would only mean endless suffering, and Jin-Hyun didn’t want to keep living like that. And Sung-Ha had also vowed to keep moving forward, even after his master was put to rest.

But even though Sung-Ha knew all that, he just couldn’t bring himself to say those words so easily. Saying it out loud felt... like he was directly condemning his master to death.

I...

Lost in endless turmoil, Sung-Ha’s mind drifted to the figure in his dreams—the madman who claimed to be his future self.

“Focus solely on getting stronger, and cut off all other attachments.”

Remembering how the man claimed he couldn’t grow stronger if he got entangled in matters such as the current one, Sung-Ha clenched his fist tightly.

“I’ll give up on the treatment—”

“What if”—Se-Hoon stared at Sung-Ha—“there was a way to treat him?”

Hearing words he never thought he would, Sung-Ha urgently asked, “Is there really a way?”

“I’m not sure.”

Nonchalant, Se-Hoon met Sung-Ha's glare without flinching.

“But, if you give me some time to look into it, I might be able to find something. However, I won’t look into it if you think you don’t need it.”

“...”

“So, tell me. If I find such a thing, what will you do?”

Would he respect Jin-Hyun’s wishes and let Jin-Hyun die for the sake of his own goals, even if a treatment existed? Sung-Ha clenched his fists even tighter. Even though he knew the right answer, the mere mention of a possible cure had made it impossible to voice his choice.

So, upon seeing Sung-Ha’s conflicted expression, Se-Hoon pressed further.

“Let me ask something simpler: if your master dies because of this, will you be able to live without regrets?”

At that question, Sung-Ha’s eyes widened and he seemed to have found an answer.

“...No,” he responded hesitantly.

“Good. Then, if you don’t want to leave any regrets here, follow me.”

If one felt like they would regret not trying, the best thing they could do was try everything. Unhesitantly turning around, Se-Hoon started walking somewhere without looking back.

“Where are we going?” Sung-Ha asked, hurrying after him.

Thinking about it again, how would Se-Hoon treat a condition that even one of the world’s top three hospitals couldn’t handle?

Chuckling at Sung-Ha’s naivety, Se-Hoon decided to give him the answer.

“We’re going to see the top authority in the field.”

It was time to hear some wise words.