Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

Chapter 79. Ambush (1)

TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader

“Argh! So annoying!”

A woman with attractively upturned eyes.

“The misunderstanding has been cleared up. What’s the problem?”

“The problem is why that misunderstanding occurred in the first place.”

Go Malsuk crossed her arms and chewed on her lips irritably.

“How could anyone think we were dating just from looking at us?”

“I was pretty surprised myself.”

Shimun let out a laugh, though not putting his life on the line for it. To think they were dating simply because they had a serious fight?

Even more so, “‘Spending heated moments together’ – how could anyone say that with a straight face?”

It would have been understandable if Park Jinwook and Kim Shihyuk were joking about it. Men’s banter could be dismissed as such.

However, “I never dreamed that even Yujeong would think that.”

How should I put it? A true misunderstanding?

Yujeong’s misunderstanding was a considerable shock to Shimun, given her usual logical and honest demeanor.

Yet, “If you think about it, it was quite a situation to misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand what! Since when does beating each other up mean we’re dating? Huh? Did we sleep together?”

“Think, Malsuk, think.”

Shimun gently pushed the forehead of the excited Malsuk.

“Walking out of a room in nothing but a shirt, especially my shirt, how could that not be misunderstood?”

Could it be that she found the explanation convincing?

“…Well, I couldn’t just walk out naked.”

Malsuk’s agitation slightly eased at Shimun’s words.

“Then, you could have waited or called for me.”

“With all that noise, how could I hear your voice?”

“Don’t you have a phone?”

“……”

Go Malsuk was at a loss for words. People often thought she was incredibly stubborn and argumentative.

“But now that I think about it, it was indeed a situation prone to misunderstanding.”

She was quick to acknowledge when there was clear evidence. Shimun, who smirked at the sheepish looking Malsuk, then moved on.

“But it’s all resolved now. She even lent you clothes.”

“Yeah. She gave me such expensive clothes that it feels burdensome, but the kid’s sweet.”

Right after the misunderstanding with Malsuk was cleared up, Yujeong became exceedingly friendly. She promptly took Go Malsuk and even lent her own clothes.

‘It was the first time Yujeong had been this nice to a complete stranger.’

Contrary to appearances, Yujeong was very clear about boundaries with others. Probably because of her background, she had a considerable sense of wariness.

But right after the misunderstanding was cleared, For some reason, Yujeong was exceptionally friendly towards Malsuk.

‘Is there a world of women I don’t know about? Maybe because they’re the same age.’

Though, only Yujeong seemed to act affectionately, while Malsuk appeared more bewildered by Yujeong’s overly familiar attitude.

Anyway, “Doesn’t this mean we get along after all? But why insist on buying clothes at this hour?”

“I told you. The clothes are damn expensive.”

“Is it too much for you?”

“Yeah. I’m terrified of spilling something on them.”

“Really? Despite that, you seem quite…”

Quite natural about it?

Shimun swallowed the rest of his words.

“Despite that, what?”

“Never mind. Let’s hurry, the department store’s about to close.”

“It’s just up ahead, besides, didn’t Yujeong say she already called ahead?”

Being the granddaughter of Holy Trinity, or perhaps because she’s among the top celebrities in South Korea, Yujeong managed to perform the miracle of delaying the closing time of the Gangnam department store with just one phone call.

“Does she know someone at the department store? Anyway, she told us to take our time.”

“That may be so, but what about the employees waiting to close up?”

“Oh my, look at you? Kim Shimun. Worrying about the employees now, that’s unexpected.”

“Is it really something to be surprised about?”

“Is it natural for someone who lives in the Ranker’s Palace to say something like that?”

When you put it that way, it does seem surprising. Shimun agreed, but quickened his pace.

“We still need to be quick. I have a lot to do. I have to run the Arena too.”

“I want to go to the Arena as well. I feel like I’ve been reborn this time.”

Go Malsuk, having an SSS-Rank trait Heavenslaying star, obtained the sponsorship of the Constellation Heavenly Demon and mastering the Heavenly Demon Divine Art

Naturally, she was eager to test out the extent of her newfound power.

Shimun said, Exactly.

“Malsuk, I guarantee you’ve got a freepass until gold…”

He was about to say.

-Oppa!

A chill swept down the back of his spine. Before he could sense the murderous intent.

Click.

Kim Shimun instantly turned around and flicked his finger towards the direction from which the killing intent emanated.

Scraping sounds.

A pillar, sharply hardened, shot up towards where the killing intent was felt.

Boom!

An intense explosion. The hardened pillar shattered, and someone landed not far from there.

“As expected, not just at the gold level.”

Perhaps in his thirties? The bass-voiced man swept back his hair marked with a snake scratch. Kim Shimun frowned.

“Hey, are you out of your mind? There are civilians around, and you’re pulling off this stunt?”

One.

“Sing!”

Ignoring Kim Shimun’s words, the man shouted towards the sky he had descended from.

“I know.”

As the woman known as Sing uttered, a series of geometrical shapes flowed from her hand.

Woong.

Kim Shimun, along with everyone in the vicinity, vanished as if it were all a lie.

* * *

In downtown Gangnam.

“What the. Nothing’s happening, right? Were those jerks just bluffing?”

The scene around them, even including the view of Ranker’s Palace, hadn’t changed before the unidentified line struck.

“No, there is.”

Kim Shimun knew. An unidentified energy was filling the surroundings. More precisely, the entire area was completely trapped.

-Oppa, this is!

‘Right.’

Kim Shimun affirmed upon hearing the urgent voice of the Philosopher’s Stone.

“Never thought I’d see that rare barrier ability user.”

“Eh? A barrier, you say? This?”

Go Malsuk’s eyes widened in bewilderment. Conversely.

“Oh? You know about barrier traits?”

The woman who had erected the barrier. Sing, the woman referred to, looked at Kim Shimun with interested eyes.

“I know quite a lot about them. It seems you possess an S-rank barrier trait or higher.”

“Ho-ho! Surprising that you figured that out? Yes, that’s right.”

Sing licked her dry cheeks with a snicker.

“S-rank trait, Mirror Illusion. That’s my ability.”

“Sing.”

“What? What’s wrong with telling him? He’s going to die soon anyway.”

The man with the snake scratch muttered lowly, and Sing retorted with a sharp voice.

‘Are they using some sort of arena translator?’

Kim Shimun realized that the mouth shapes and the words he heard from the two people were different. Adding to that the unique facial features and mouth movements of East Asians, the backers were obvious.

‘Continental, perhaps? Well, it has been quiet since the last Desperado incident.’

Whether they knew their identities had been figured out or not, shing licked her lips and swept her eyes over Kim Shimun’s entire body.

“But it’s too precious to kill. Too precious.”

“Sing, we’re on a mission.”

“I know. But, can’t I have a taste before I kill him? We’re completely cut off from the outside anyway.”

Sing leisurely swayed the sphere she held in her left hand. Kim Shimun immediately realized it was the core of this barrier.

“Heh, look at him. He’s already noticed the core of the barrier?”

“Sing, I won’t tolerate this anymore.”

“Gong Yeolryun, don’t be so stiff. Just cut off his limbs for me. Let me have a taste, okay? Then I’ll grant you a favor next time.”

“Sigh. There’s no helping it then.”

The man known as Gong Yeolryun, with the snake scratch, let out a small sigh.

“Heehee! That’s why I like you, Yeolryun~. I’ll make sure to put it in a document after this!”

Knowing that was an affirmation, Sing smiled sinisterly. Gong Yeolryun, stepping forward, pulled out his phone to check it.

“Name Kim Shimun, 28 years old, of Korean nationality, gold rank. Correct?”

“Didn’t you already know everything before pulling all this?”

They had already ambushed and trapped them with a barrier. And now asking for confirmation? But perhaps, it wasn’t a question intended to get an answer in the first place.

“Confirmed.”

Gong Yeolryun simply stated his piece and then pocketed his phone. Simultaneously.

Boom!

An explosive sound erupted. It was the sound produced by Gong Yeolryun’s descending strike, having reached Shimun’s location in an instant.

Then.

Whoosh.

A slicing wind noise followed Gong Yeolryun’s spinning kick into the air.

However, failing to hit anything, he repositioned his leg and swiftly brushed his side hair, scratched as if by a snake.

“Indeed, fast. Just as reported.”

His gaze shifts towards Shimun, who lands not far away with Go Malsuk in tow.

“Damn! That scared me!”

Go Malsuk spewed a hearty curse. Nestled by Shimun’s side, she had escaped the attack and now smoothly extricated herself from Shimun’s embrace.

“Hey, this guy is damn fast. If it wasn’t for you, I’d have been done for.”

“Yeah. It looks like he’s a Diamond rank.”

“Crazy!”

Amazed by the mention of ‘Diamond’, Go Malsuk exclaimed.

“A Diamond came personally for assassination. What sins have you committed?”

“Does it appear so?”

Shimun responds nonchalantly amidst the situation.

“Well, you don’t seem the type to harbor enmity against anyone.”

Go Malsuk looks solemnly at Gong Yeolryun.

“So, what now?”

“There are two ways. One is to break the barrier core held by this lady named Sing.”

If a battle of Awakeneds occurs in the middle of the night, the Awakened response team will be deployed immediately.

Such a situation would complicate matters for the entire continent.

“And the other?”

“Kill the assassin in reverse.”

“Ha!”

Having just verbally acknowledged the opponent as a Diamond player, Go Malsuk lets out a scoff at Shimun’s unfazed shrug.

However.

“I quite like the second option.”

Spitting out her disdain, Go Malsuk added, “But, considering the situation, we should aim for both. Given the opponent.”

She whispers softly then trudges off to the side.

Her sudden movement draws the assassins’ eyes towards her.

“Hey.”

Go Malsuk beckoned with a tilt of her chin towards a direction.

There stood.

“What. Me?”

A lean woman.

Sing, holding the core of the barrier, was there.

“Who else would be there if not damn you?”

“What? Damn?”

“Should I call you a god instead? Stop acting dumb and come out here.”

“Ha. Are you insane?”

Sing’s voice was incredulous.

After all.

“You dare to challenge me, a mere Bronze-rank?”

Unlike Shimun, a person of interest. A player not even worth being listed by the guild. A Bronze-rank player, was she not?

Yet daring.

“I’m Platinum. Got that?”

For her, a Platinum player, to hear such nonsense?

Yet, as if that fact held no weight, “So what?”

“What?”

“You’re Platinum, so what? Scared, god? Come out here.”

All Go Malsuk does is nonchalantly tilt her head.

“That’s insane!”

Enraged, Sing grinds her teeth and turns towards Go Malsuk.

“Sing, that’s a clumsy move.”

Gong Yeolryun quietly grabs her ankle, but.

“Don’t touch me! That damned abyssal woman will be torn apart!”

Already seeping with murderous intent, Sing pays him no heed and steps forward.

Gong Yeolryun, watching over Go Malsuk, murmurs, “A Bronze-rank provoking a Platinum.”

He sighs lightly and turns away.

“Kim Shimun, you really keep crazy company.”

“Is that something for you to say?”

Was Gong Yeolryun not expecting such a retort?

He remained speechless. Shimun, meanwhile, surveyed those standing behind Gong Yeolryun.

‘So, this woman named Sing is a Platinum, and the rest are all Gold.’

Those standing by without taking action, clad in black suits, emanated an aura of power that ranked them all at gold level. Kim Shimun’s gaze became steadier.

‘Though the presence of the diamond-rank Gong Yeolryun is slightly troubling, if I give it my all, he won’t be too difficult to handle.’

Hadn’t he already dealt with two of the highest-ranking dragon species, naga and Dvali, himself? With a mythic weapon, even a diamond-rank opponent wouldn’t be too difficult.

‘The real problem is the civilians…’

Kim Shimun glanced around. Even the notorious villain organization Desperado avoided involving civilians easily. Yet, these people showed no fear, imprisoning dozens of civilians within a barrier without hesitation.

‘Fighting at full power here could lead to a catastrophe.’

As that thought crossed his mind, Kim Shimun paused.

‘Wait a minute.’

He scrutinized the civilians.

‘Caught up in a fight between awakeners, yet not a hint of panic among them?’

There should be screams of terror or frantic attempts to escape—some kind of reaction. But the civilians around merely watched quietly.

‘Could it be, these civilians are all in league with them?’

“You’ve noticed, it seems,” came a low voice close to his ear. Kim Shimun immediately executed a maneuver from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, thrusting his elbow back.

A shockwave burst forth. Propelled by the force, Kim Shimun swiftly put distance between them.

“Clearly adept in magic, and yet both your speed and strength are considerable,” noted Gong Yeolryun, brushing his temple before nodding.

“I’ll need to deal with you using full force. Everyone, move in.”

Then, in unison, those ranked at gold level behind him drew their weapons and charged forward, maintaining a specific formation. Kim Shimun’s eyebrow lifted slightly at their approach.

“A combined formation?”

“Impressive perception for a gold-ranked. It’s clear now why you’ve attracted so much attention from above,” remarked Gong Yeolryun, now equipped with long claws, assuming position. And then, “I’ll make sure you die.”

Gong Yeolryun’s form shot forward at an incredible speed. Could he possess a trait related to speed? Whizzing through the air, Gong Yeolryun seemed to slice through the wind itself. But then, twang, a sharp sound rang out from a finger, followed by a thunderous boom.

“Ah!”

Gong Yeolryun’s charge was abruptly halted by a lightning bolt from above. A blinding white staff recognized by Gong Yeolryun widened his eyes in shock. Yet that was it.

“But it ends here!”

He resumed his charge, stepping forward with determination.

‘It’s a well-known fact that he wields the strongest lightning magic.’

The entire Continental was already well-aware of Kim Shimun’s capabilities and had prepared countermeasures.

Crackling, fierce lightning enveloped Gong Yeolryun. Nevertheless, he dove through the lightning, his form rippling through. Passing through the lightning of Astrape, Gong Yeolryun, with a slightly surprised look on his face, lashed out with his claws at Kim Shimun.

“Die now!”

At that moment, another bolt of lightning struck.

“Useless!”

“I know.”

But the lightning had struck not Gong Yeolryun, but Kim Shimun’s own palm.

“But this will be different,” Kim Shimun remarked, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

Wave Annihilation Cannon.

The white staff in his hands transformed into a beam of light. The dark barrier was brightly illuminated by the blast.