Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

Chapter 46. Unexpected Reunion (1)

TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader

“Kyahaha! Benefactor!”

With a bright laugh, she soars into the air and—

Wham.

Dived into his embrace. Not quite an embrace, rather—

“Cough!”

It felt more like a ‘thud’.

Whether it was due to the massive hammer she had on her back, or her innate strength, the pressure from the girl was considerable. Perhaps she realized this as well.

“Oopsie! Look at me not paying attention!”

Quickly, the girl scrambled out of Kim Shimun’s embrace.

“I’m so sorry! I’ve even been scolded recently for not controlling my strength well… I made a mistake because I was too happy to see you!”

“Ah, no, it’s okay. But who are you…?”

Kim Shimun’s inquiry is sharply cut off.

Re-examining the girl’s appearance—braided hair, large eyes, small frame that belied her strength, and a giant hammer—it immediately reminded him of a certain race.

“No way!”

A name came to mind.

“Marnel?”

The girl’s face brightened at Kim Shimun’s question.

“That’s right! You remembered me!”

So joyful she was, Marnel hopped up and down, the ground cracking with her every jump, though Kim Shimun had no time to worry about that.

The reason was simple.

‘Why is Marnel here?’

The last time was in the special arena called. ‘Fervent Nightmare Mine’ when they entered through [Doria Mountain Mithril Ore].

He had thought the dwarf girl, Marnel, was just a character appearing exclusively in special arenas. After all, characters that aid players often appeared in higher-ranked special arenas.

But this time was different.

‘This is a 100-player survival… What’s happening?’

This wasn’t a special arena; at most, monsters might appear in a 100-player survival game. Moreover, this wasn’t a map related to dwarves, so how did Marnel suddenly pop out from behind a wall?

As he pondered this,

“Hold on.”

A hypothesis flashed through Kim Shimun’s mind.

‘What if this map has something to do with dwarves?’

Like, what if a dwarf constructed this sewer system? Just like the now-vanished abandoned mine maps. If the sewer map was also related to dwarves, then Marnel’s appearance could somehow make sense.

Above all,

‘Marnel was supposed to have died in the Nightmare of the Frenzied Mine.’

Kim Shimun, who almost matched Platinum specs, massacred the drakans with overwhelming combat power, advancing quickly through the special arena to meet Marnel before her demise.

And he saved Marnel, who even a Platinum-ranked healer couldn’t have healed.

‘Has that event caused some change in the arena?’

The response at the time indicated as much. Such a prolonged silence in the Galaxy Arena was unprecedented. Additionally, the system had explicitly stated that fate had greatly changed.

Whatever the case might be,

“Sorry. You’ve changed since then, so I didn’t recognize you. You’ve grown a lot, huh?”

“Really? Have I really grown a lot?”

“Yeah.”

As Kim Shimun nodded silently, Marnel began hopping and cheering again.

“Kyahaha! He said I’ve grown! He said I’ve grown so much!”

“Uh… Marnel?”

While Marnel expressed her joy through various actions,

‘It seems she can’t even hear me.’

Could being called a “grown-up” really bring such joy? Shimun scratched his head as he watched Marnel, unable to contain her delight, demolishing the surroundings.

Then, his eyes drifted towards the chat window, incessantly flashing with notifications.

-“What’s going on here again?”

– A dwarf? Suddenly a dwarf?

– Aren’t dwarves something you’d only encounter in the upper ranks of Platinum?

– Right. Dwarves, along with beast-folk, usually appear in the Platinum Arena…

– Were there ever dwarves in the sewer map? At most, we’d see ratmen or lizardmen, right?

– The way she broke through the wall, it looked like some secret passage.

– Didn’t he just scrutinize the wall earlier? Seems like there’s related information or something.

The sudden appearance of a dwarf flooded the chat with countless questions. But discussing among themselves wouldn’t unveil why a dwarf showed up in the Silver Arena. Thus, the chat began to connect the dots to Shimun and Marnel’s friendship.

– But they seem to recognize each other, this person and the dwarf?

– Definitely called her a benefactor earlier.

– A dwarf and a benefactor, lol. Next thing we know, he’ll have some kind of benefactor relationship with beast-folk too.

– For real, lol. But considering how inherently hostile dwarves are, isn’t that odd?

– True. I got wiped out by a group of dwarves in a dungeon recently, lol.

Naturally, the conversation in the chat shifted towards Shimun and Marnel’s acquaintance.

– There’s a lot of newcomers here. That dwarf is the one from the special arena he saved before.

– Oh? Really? Marnel. Remember her? She’s grown quite a bit?

– Seriously. Couldn’t recognize her because she’s grown, lol. It’s really her, right?

– Damn! Wasn’t she just an NPC or something? And she’s here again?

Initially, like Shimun, they failed to recognize her due to how much she had grown. But gradually, the chat realized she was the dwarf girl Shimun had saved in the special arena.

“Fervent Nightmare Mine.” Naturally, just like the confusion Shimun had, Marnel’s sudden appearance threw everyone into chaos, buzzing with speculation.

[Achievement ‘Reach 50,000 viewers’ accomplished.]

[5,000 achievement points earned.]

Shimun’s eyes widened at the unexpected news, his gaze naturally drifting to the viewer count next to the chat window.

[51,271 viewers watching.]

“When did it surpass 50,000?”

Although the news was shocking, Shimun quickly grasped the situation. It wasn’t too difficult to figure out.

“Is it because of the promotion match and the appearance of a dwarf?”

Already boasting nearly 10,000 regular viewers for a deep sphere broadcast, the addition of hot content like the promotion match and the appearance of a high-ranking entity like a dwarf naturally boosted the viewer count past 50,000.

“I thought the chat was unusually active.” The chat was moving so fast, even an awakened one’s eyes could hardly keep up. But that wasn’t the end.

[Constellation Odin. ‘Wow, seems like the assembly wasn’t only noisy over a single stigma,’ sparkles his eye looking at Marnel.]

[Constellation Heavenly Demon. ‘You must be regretting not seeing those days. How about disappearing quickly then?’ smiles regretfully.]

[Constellation Zeus and the Black Goat nod vigorously.]

[Constellation Odin. ‘Nah, I dislike that~. Plus, the rumor has already spread, and many are waiting,’ smirks playfully.]

As the response of the constellations flowed in, Shimun was certain.

“Marnel’s revival must’ve triggered some change.”

Then, into Shimun’s ears,

“Oops! Look at me getting carried away! Uncle always told me to keep my mind sharp. Sorry, benefactor!”

Marnel, having ceased her destruction of the sewers, folded at the waist, apologizing repeatedly. Seeing her like this after witnessing her previous rampage felt quite odd to Shimun.

“No, it’s alright. I was lost in thought too,” he decided wisely without showing his feelings.

“Hehe! Thank you. But…” Marnel’s laughter softened as she glanced at the broken wall she had emerged from. “I’m so happy to have met my benefactor like this…but it seems I must go because of some business.”

“Business?”

Shimun tilts his head in confusion.

Soon, his gaze falls upon drakan, buried in the debris of a collapsed wall.

“Is it because of the dragonkin?”

“How did you… Ah… Right, of course.”

Startled at first, Marnel lets her shoulders sink upon seeing Shimun’s gaze directed towards drakan.

“Thanks to the benefactor’s help last time, I was able to save my life and drive away the dragonkin…but in the end, I couldn’t protect Doria.”

Her lips remained curled in a faint smile, yet

Marnel’s large eyes were slowly starting to moisten.

“We managed to hide in the northern sewage system with the survivors…but then they attacked again!”

Marnel’s hands clenched tightly.

Shimun remained silent, listening attentively.

“But it’s okay! I’ve properly learned how to use a hammer, and I’ve dug many escape routes. Plus… like the benefactor said, I’ve grown a lot. Hehe!”

She quickly wipes her eyes and responds energetically, fists clenched.

Before Shimun,

[A mission from Grand Seer Odin reaches you.]

The mission window pops up.

[Mission]

-Grand Seer Odin and his domain. ‘Asgard’ wish for the Dwarfs’ safety.

Assist Dwarf Marnel in dealing with the attackers.

Reward: Achievement Points 5,000

After reading the mission, Shimun looks at Marnel.

“So, benefactor, it’s unfortunate but I should take my leave now.”

“Marnel, I’ll help you.”

“Eh?”

Marnel blinks in surprise.

But instead of answering, Shimun starts walking towards the broken wall.

It wasn’t just because of the mission Odin had tasked him with.

Of course, the 5,000 achievement points were a tempting reward from Shimun’s perspective.

Combining it with the reward from a previous audience achievement, wouldn’t it essentially recover the value of Odin’s eye?

However,

“Benefactor? Wait a moment. I’m really okay! I can handle the dragonkin alone…”

“Marnel.”

Before talking about the reward assigned by Odin’s mission,

“I want to help because I want to.”

He simply wanted to assist.

What was thought to be a fleeting connection through a special arena had changed.

Now, as they were reunited and sharing their reunion, the situation was completely different.

‘I’ll keep meeting Marnel in the future.’

Maybe they’d meet again upon reaching the Platinum rank.

Races officially start appearing from the Platinum section.

‘Entering the regular arena will inevitably lead to encounters with other races.’

Having experienced the regular arena in his previous life, Shimun knows.

That the races appearing in the arena are not simply virtual entities created by the Galaxy Arena.

It’s not always a monster outbreak.

Besides,

‘I’d feel uneasy if something happened to Marnel.’

She wasn’t a bad kid, and they had overcome the special arena together. Both outwardly and inwardly, Shimun genuinely wanted to help Marnel. Perhaps that sincerity was conveyed.

“Benefactor…”

Marnel’s eyes and body slightly quiver.

Then,

“Alright! If a strong ally like the benefactor is willing to help, of course, I’m happy! I was actually feeling a bit overwhelmed on my own. Hehe!”

Returning to her usual lively demeanor, Marnel quickly stepped in front of Shimun.

“Let’s go! I’ll lead the way.”

“Okay.”

Shimun smiled faintly, following Marnel.

[Entering here will remove you from the arena in progress.]

[The rewards for the arena will be determined based on your current record.]

[Would you like to enter?]

‘With so few survivors left and having dealt with Choi Jinsu, securing first place shouldn’t be a problem.’

Glancing at the arena leaderboard that popped up in the system window, he nodded.

[Exiting the current arena.]

[Moving to the Arena. ‘Northern Sewage Facility’.]

[Due to special circumstances, all broadcasted conversations will be muted.]

* * *

“You idiot!”

The sound of an impact bursts violently.

“Kuak!”

With a short scream, the hefty bulk of drakan’s upper body was slammed into the ground.

“How many times must I tell you! I clearly said to attack simultaneously!”

“Ku, kuk…”

As the angry shout continued, drakan shivered in fear.

It wasn’t just because his opponent was significantly larger in build.

“That’s enough.”

A voice sounded lowly. It was due to the owner of the voice, which was much clearer than the prior shouting.

“Kuk! I’ll go again. I’ll go back to those little…”

And drakan’s anxiety hit the mark.

“Again? Who said you’d get another chance?”

Crack.

Drakan’s head bursts instantly. The towering figure halted his shouting, pressed his forehead momentarily, and then turned around, kneeling.

“My apologies for making you take matters into your own hands, Lord Sarku.”

There stood a man, covered with blue scales, arms crossed and leaning on one leg.

“You always expect too much from drakan. Don’t you know their intelligence?”

“I am aware. It’s all due to my lack of ability.”

“How curious. For a drakan, you possess such remarkable intelligence while the others… Well, it’s no wonder you’re a mutant.”

His gaze was filled with curiosity, as if looking at a monkey at the zoo, despite the clear disrespect.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

The nearly 6-meter-tall drakan simply bowed his head to the smaller individual.

“Tch. I guess it’s not my place to say, being a half-breed myself.”

Seeing this, the blue-scaled man clicked his tongue and waved his hand through the air.

Complex blue energies quickly sketched something out.

“It’s the filthy tunnels of those lowly earth-dwellers. . I’ve created it using detection magic from the moment we arrived until now, so there shouldn’t be any errors.”

“Truly a Draconian.”

“Hmph. It’s just that I didn’t trust the minds of those inferior beings.”

Perhaps it was because the usual ‘half-breed’ descriptor was omitted? The blue-scaled man, contrary to his words, slightly lifted the corners of his mouth and handed over the drawn map.

“Take this and capture them all. Doing so might even catch Lord Sargas’s eye.”

At those words, the huge drakan’s eyes lit up. The undefeated Sargas. He was one of the few dragons in the dragon society, which valued hierarchy and lineage, who prioritized ability above all.

And it was also the reason the great drakan had volunteered for this mission.

“I will heed your command.”

With a determined expression, the huge drakan bowed. Then, unexpectedly.

Keeng.

A grating noise emanated from the mana map provided by the half-dragon. The cause was the two red dots marked on the mana map.

“Ho? To think they were so close and only detected now.”

Upon seeing this, the half Draconian raised an eyebrow.

“A dwarf of all things, perhaps in possession of an artifact that evades detection magic, it seems.”

“I will take care of it immediately.”

“Don’t kill them. They will be useful in the Black Forge.”

“Yes. I will just shatter their limbs.”

The huge drakan immediately turned and headed in the direction indicated by the mana map.