The Regressor Can Make Them All

Chapter 226

The puppet’s voice, filled with conviction, resounded loudly in Lea’s ears. Its countless eyes were all fixed on her.

Lea froze. How to defeat the Puppeteer, how to escape, how to survive—what did she have to do? All of those questions swirled in her mind, and she couldn't come up with an answer to any of them, making her stiffen.

What if... I can't get out of here...?

If she couldn’t, then she should just strike now. At that impulsive thought, Lea reached for the hairpin holstered at her thigh. But then, just as her fingers touched it—

Tap, tap.

Se-Hoon's fingers lightly tapped her cheek.

Startled, Lea looked to the side and met Se-Hoon’s calm, steady gaze. He stood there composed like nothing was wrong, so Lea calmed down and turned her gaze back to the puppet in front of her.

Like before, the black puppet’s eyes were all fixed on her in silence. The pressure she felt staring back made her want to drive the hairpin into one of them immediately, but she suppressed the urge.

Like that, the strange standoff continued until the puppet eventually lifted its head.

“...Did I mishear it?”

Still staring in the general direction where Lea was standing, the puppet slowly stood up.

“But I did feel something off...”

Still suspicious, it took another look around the room, scanning the area with its darting eyes. Then, when it saw nothing unusual in the room again, it reached for the air.

Woong!

Responding to his gesture, a celestial body on the ceiling began to move, and soon a massive presence was felt throughout the facility.

Se-Hoon’s eyes narrowed.

Is it... assimilating itself with the entire facility?

It seemed the puppet was going to survey the entire facility by treating it as an extension of its own body for a brief moment. Se-Hoon had never encountered any method like it even before the regression, but he didn't let it rattle him.

He had already done everything he could since stepping into this place. Now, even if he felt uneasy about the unfolding situation, it was best to just trust his intuition and wait.

Rustle-

It felt like countless eyes swept across them. Staying still, they waited until the black puppet that had stopped began to move again.

“I guess I was wrong...”

Shaking its head, the puppet slowly turned away and walked past Se-Hoon and Lea. Moments later, the sound of a door closing and footsteps fading into the distance reached their ears. Only then did Se-Hoon remove his hand from Lea's mouth.

“Let's get out of here,” he quietly whispered to Lea.

Seeing Lea nod in response, Se-Hoon grabbed the Sphere and moved toward the door behind them. He decided it was best to escape through the corridor they had entered, wary of what traps might lie in wait elsewhere.

Swish-

Covering the door with another Veil of Whitespace, Se-Hoon pulled Lea into the corridor.

“!!”

The black puppet was right there, its face pressed right up against the door. It had only pretended to leave, stealthily returning to inspect the interior again.

Se-Hoon broke out in a cold sweat.

She’s a thorough one, alright...

Though it had convinced itself that there weren't any problems in the room, the puppet still killed its presence and doubled back, just in case. And it would have paid off had they gone through the door without going through the Veil of Whitespace first; they would have been instantly detected.

Swish-

Skillfully avoiding the puppet, the two of them slipped out of the door. Se-Hoon then quickly attached a Veil of Whitespace to the corridor ceiling and exited outside to the sight of the ground surrounding them.

“Phew...”

Unknowingly letting out a sigh of relief, Lea found comfort in the sensation of being in the ground. Originally, it was unpleasant, like she was being buried alive, but now it felt like the earth was hiding them.

Feeling the overwhelming fatigue and weakness that had overtaken her begin to lift, Lea vigorously shook her head to clear the remainder and looked at Se-Hoon.

“We won’t get caught, right?”

“Probably not. She only did a quick check after all.”

If Puppeteer had been certain of their presence, she would have completely sealed the entire facility or brought in a Single Number to search. So while she was highly sensitive, it was likely she ended up dismissing it as her own mistake.

Judging by her meticulous nature, it’s probably not the first time she’s done something like this.

Just like how someone would turn on the light to check when they sensed something in a dark room, Puppeteer would briefly examine the facility whenever she had a hunch. It would have been disastrous if they had left any traces, but they made sure they took care of that so that there wouldn't be any further problems.

“Okay... that's a relief...” said Lea wearily, clinging to Se-Hoon’s arm.

With their business done, the two of them slipped out of the ground and returned.

Woong!

Now back in their quarters, the dream mana that had enveloped their body dissipated, and Lea breathed in the air of reality. Forcefully steadying her trembling legs, Lea barely managed to sit down on the bed.

“I don't think I'm cut out for infiltration or this kind of stuff...”

Though she had known from the start it wouldn't be easy, now that it was over, she finally realized she was sweating and trembling so much that she could hardly remember what she had just done.

It had been a perilous infiltration, one where a single mistake could have led to the infamous Puppeteer discovering them.

Watching Lea trying to calm her trembling, Se-Hoon spoke calmly from his seat on a chair. “Do you really think so? You were quick to respond when you thought we were caught instead of just giving up. That kind of boldness is crucial in infiltration missions.”

Of course, making wrong choices could make things more dangerous, but it was far better than freezing up and doing nothing. More dangerous or not, it could significantly increase their chances of survival.

“You did well this time. You have a knack for it.”

At the unexpected praise, Lea made a sheepish smile. “Ahem. It's not that big of a deal...”

“I'm serious. I'd trust you with this kind of mission any time.”

“Alright, alright. That’s enough flattery for today... oh, wait...”

At the sight of her expression abruptly changing to one of slight frustration, Se-Hoon looked at her curiously.

“What's wrong?”

“It’s just that... should I really be happy about being praised for my infiltration skills instead of my enchanting skills?”

She had almost forgotten after being dragged into the Puppeteer's base but hadn't she scored only ninety points on an enchantment she thought deserved ninety-five, maybe even a hundred points?

Should I just give up enchantments and become an assassin or something?

Just because one knew how to enchant didn't mean they had to become an enchanter, right? Such random thoughts crossed her mind.

“Your enchantment skills are a given. That's why I didn't mention it. The enchantment you inscribed back there was excellent, too,” Se-Hoon said with a chuckle.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Then how many points would you give it?”

Under her scrutinizing gaze, Se-Hoon seriously pondered it.

“Ninety-one points.”

“Shouldn’t you be giving me ninety-five or even a hundred points during moments like this?”

A score of ninety-one was too low to be encouraging but too high to be disappointing.

Noticing Lea’s dissatisfaction, Se-Hoon decided to give her an explanation. “You should be proud of scoring a ninety-one, since from this point onwards, it's out of my hands.”

“What does that mean...?”

“It means your enchantments have reached a level that I can't even replicate.”

Her enchantment was beyond Se-Hoon’s power to reproduce—that was what an enchantment scoring ninety-one or higher meant, and Lea had just succeeded in reaching that level.

“...”

Speechless, Lea processed Se-Hoon's words and a smile soon began tugging at the corners of her mouth. Her tiredness had completely vanished now, replaced by a new surge of energy.

Feeling a surge of confidence, Lea declared in a proud, assertive tone, “Ahem. If you ever have something difficult to handle, just let me know. I'll help you out as your caring sunbae.”

[Subject ‘Lea Claudel’ feels superior.]

[A Fatestone has been formed for the subject ‘Lea Claudel.’]

Dismissing the notification messages that popped up before his eyes, Se-Hoon saw how Lea had regained her confidence and energy and decided to take her up on her offer.

“Then there's something I'd like to discuss with you.”

“What is it?”

“Do you have any insight on how Puppeteer is using Celestial Magic?”

Falling into deep thought, Lea ended up shaking her head.

“I have no clue either. From what I know, she used to despise Celestial Magic... and she wasn't very compatible with it either. It's strange to see her handle it so skillfully.”

“So she wasn't compatible with it...”

Typically, mastering a field of expertise one wasn't compatible with was no easy feat. But knowing what Puppeteer was capable of, Se-Hoon naturally considered one possibility.

...The Box?

The Box was a bioweapon that granted the abilities of its previous owner by using their flesh as material. And considering that it was completed, it wouldn't be surprising if Puppeteer had used it to gain knowledge of Celestial Magic.

...I'll have to investigate this further.

There were ways to confirm it right now, but it could make Puppeteer suspicious. It would be best to look into it with Lea after the Dream Demon was killed.

“Alright, let's leave that for later. Speculating without enough information might lead us astray.”

“Okay. Are we all set now?”

Nodding in response, Se-Hoon confirmed. “The preparations are all in place now.”

If the Pleasure District and the Dream Demon were as he remembered, then his plan was flawless. However, Se-Hoon decided to hold off on executing the operation for a little longer.

I still don't know what variables might arise, so I should observe and wait for the best opportunity.

His plan would only become more effective as the Expansion neared completion, so there was no harm in biding his time until then. For now, he would just keep a close eye on the situation in the Pleasure District through Amir, patiently waiting for the perfect moment.

The ideal scenario would be if nothing unexpected happens during the plan... but that’s basically impossible.

Considering how many changes his regression had caused already, it seemed improbable that the Pleasure District and the Dream Demon would remain unaffected. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

I have no choice but to trust him for now.

The direction of the upcoming battle against the Dream Demon would depend heavily on the information Amir managed to gather. With the day of the decisive battle drawing near, Se-Hoon looked out the window.

“I wonder how this will play out.”

***

The Nightmare Tower stood in the heart of the Pleasure District’s Zone One. Being the Dream Demon's stronghold and the Pleasure District’s center of command, it was an imposing building.

And within it, on the first floor, was Amir. Ignoring the demons and criminals on the wanted list filling the lobby, Amir headed straight for a specific wall.

Wobble-

Passing through the wall, Amir stopped in a private elevator room accessible only to authorized personnel. Stepping into the elevator, which had just arrived on the first floor, Amir pulled out a purple card and held it up to the panel beneath the buttons.

Ding!

The doors quietly closed with a clear sound, and the elevator began descending deep underground instead of rising. Its movement was so quiet and smooth that it was impossible to gauge how fast or how deep it was going. It even made Amir wonder if the entire elevator had frozen in midair.

Ding!

When the doors opened again with another clear chime, a hallway decorated in an antique style, reminiscent of one in a grand mansion from the Middle Ages, was revealed.

Noting something different, Amir’s eyes narrowed.

The density of dream mana has increased since last time...

The violet haze swirling the area was now more intense, enough to make him feel dizzy. So, Amir decided to just suppress his unique skill, Winter Sky Eyes.

Woong-

The haze clouding his vision instantly vanished, and he steadied himself before proceeding down the corridor to a certain door.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

Hearing the voice inviting him in, Amir cautiously opened the door and saw the Dream Demon standing in the center of the lavishly decorated reception room.

“Sorry to call you while you were working. Were you very busy?”

“Not at all. It was just some simple paperwork.”

“That's good to hear. Please, have a seat.”

“Understood.”

Obeying the Dream Demon's instructions, Amir sat on the sofa, and the Dream Demon walked over to him slowly.

“How’s work been going lately?”

“I’m doing my best to handle everything perfectly.”

“I know. I've heard nothing but praise about you from your colleagues.”

The compliments from the secretarial office and the increase in the zone chiefs’ wariness of Amir proved that his work had been flawless. Truthfully, the Dream Demon was surprised at how quickly Amir had adapted to his new responsibilities.

“Thank you.”

“Well, you’re just getting the recognition you deserve. So, I'm a bit curious.”

Resting a hand on the back of the sofa Amir was on, the Dream Demon posed a question in a soft voice. “How would you rate the current project through your eyes?”

“...”

Amir hesitated to answer. The Expansion was the Dream Demon’s brainchild, so the safest answer would be to lavishly praise the project while carefully suggesting a few minor improvements.

But considering that she's asking me this now...

What was the Dream Demon's true intention? How could he answer without arousing suspicion? His mind racing, Amir considered his options.

“It seems a bit rushed,” answered Amir in the end.

“Is that so?”

“While the expansion of the Pleasure District itself is progressing successfully, the verification process for the new residents has become too lax.”

“Hmm.”

The Dream Demon made no further comment, a signal for Amir to continue. So, Amir drew on the information he’d gathered while working in the secretarial office to elaborate further.

“While it’s sort of understandable, as the resident population has increased by more than five hundred percent compared to last year, if things continue as they are, there's a high risk that spies from the Heroes Association or other factions could infiltrate. And also...”

“You think the zones could suffer a significant blow if someone exploits the gaps created by this project?”

From how the Dream Demon finished his words, she was already aware.

“Yes... That’s at least what I think.”

“Hmm... These are all very obvious points.”

There was a hint of disappointment in the Dream Demon’s murmur. She then stood behind Amir, naturally placing her hands on his shoulders.

“But they are also things that no one else dares to bring up.”

While the zone chiefs and the Dream Demon’s direct subordinates would also have noticed such flaws, they never pointed them out, fearing that there might be some hidden intention behind them.

“Obeying my orders without question and avoiding unnecessary doubts—things used to be simpler that way, but... it's tiring to have to issue orders for every little thing.”

Sighing, the Dream Demon began gently massaging Amir's shoulders, sending a cold shiver down his body.

If that was still her preferred approach... it would have been the end of me.

Tools that outlived their usefulness were discarded—that was the Dream Demon's philosophy, and Amir had just narrowly avoided crossing that dangerous line.

The Dream Demon spoke again, her tone even. “That’s why I’m thinking of giving a few capable people more autonomy. What do you think?”

“I will do my utmost if entrusted,” replied Amir, having managed to steady his emotions.

Once the Dream Demon made an offer, there was no option to refuse. The Dream Demon smiled with satisfaction.

“That’s good to hear. Then, let me show you the project we’ll be working on after the expansion is completed so that you can take the lead when the time comes.”

Whirr-

Violet butterflies suddenly appeared in the room, fluttering around it before coming together to form a large purple mirror that displayed multiple scenes simultaneously.

Whoosh! Clang!

Surprised by the scenes of dozens of people engaging in one-on-one combat, Amir just watched quietly.

“This new project is called Projection. We're using dream mana to create a variety of enemy specimens. Right now, it's just being used for training, but the ultimate goal is to summon them as an army in the real world.”

At those words, Amir's breath caught in his throat.

An entire army...?

An army created purely from dream mana—if such a thing were truly developed, the Dream Demon's forces would become even more formidable.

Amir focused. This is something to worry about after the Expansion is complete. But perhaps there's a gap I can exploit here...

Taking a closer look, Amir observed the various combat scenes in the mirror and something strange caught his eye. While one side consisted of various people fighting, the other side featured individuals who, despite using different weapons and techniques, all seemed oddly similar.

And for some reason, that familiarity unsettled Amir.

At that moment, the Dream Demon's voice interrupted his thoughts.

“But right now, we don't have many suitable specimens, so I'm mass-producing the best and most capable person I have right now. That’s why you might find some of them familiar.”

“What... do you mean?”

“Ah, you haven’t noticed yet?”

At those words, the mirror promptly zoomed in on one of the scenes, showing a battle where a demon was brutally slashing a subdued opponent with a sword.

“Die!!”

The victim, a young man with bronze skin, lay helplessly beneath the onslaught.

Recognizing the face, Amir's eyes widened in horror. It was his cousin, Zayed, who had been taken hostage by the Dream Demon.

“...”

Glancing at the frozen Amir, the Dream Demon smiled.

“Don't worry,” she whispered. “It's just a copy.”

“...”

“I'm thinking of using him until we find a more suitable specimen.... What do you think?”

Feeling the Dream Demon's hand resting on his shoulder, Amir quietly swallowed his emotions. Though Zayed’s copy was being savagely beaten by dozens of opponents in the mirror, Amir steeled himself once more.

“It would be an honor.”

And once again, he swore to himself that he would slaughter the Dream Demon.