Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

Around Ranker’s Palace. Just because Ranker’s Palace was located here, it boasted the highest real estate values in South Korea.

Naturally. An extensive infrastructure had developed to cater to the affluent around Ranker’s Palace. And among that infrastructure, in a café.

Matching the needs of the wealthy with a private room.

“It’s a relief that you’re alright.”

A middle-aged man with sharp eyes. Was having a conversation with a woman who bore a striking resemblance to him. More accurately.

“Hah! Did you call me here just to ask about that?”

“Dozens of people died and even rankers were killed in that guild war, right?”

“So what?”

“Even though I heard the news, I wanted to see with my own eyes if you were really okay.”

“Bullshit!”

It would be more accurate to say the middle-aged man was trying to initiate a one-sided conversation. The woman who resembled him.

“Don’t pretend to be worried. It’s disgusting.”

Go Malsuk hadn’t touched the coffee, which cost tens of thousands of won per cup. Instead, she glared at the middle-aged man before her. Despite her fierce words.

“Yes, it’s fortunate to see you looking well.”

Go Changjin, the master of Myth Guild, one of South Korea’s top guilds. And a ranker from the first generation, wore a gentle smile.

Considering his nickname ‘Iron-Blooded,’ and the image he projected both in the arena and reality, it was a surprising smile.

But to Go Malsuk, he might as well have been a worthless pebble on the street.

Bang!

“Hey! Are you even listening to me?!”

The coffee swayed violently as she slammed the table, seething with anger. However, despite her aggressive demeanor.

“Of course. I haven’t forgotten a single word you said.”

Go Changjin responded with an unwavering smile. A demeanor fitting of his ‘Iron-Blooded’ nickname. Yet, this didn’t sit well with her.

“…Really?”

Go Malsuk’s eyes narrowed further.

“Then you must remember what you said to me 10 years ago?”

She asked with a slight tilt of her head. For the first time since meeting Go Malsuk.

“…”

Go Changjin lost his composure. Whether she liked his reaction. Or was overwhelmed by the emotions of that moment.

“You did say it, right? Any time, anywhere. You said you’d come if I called. No, you said you’d fly to me.”

Go Malsuk’s voice grew more like a beast’s growl.

“So why did you ignore my call back then? Why did you ignore mom’s call too?!”

Her eyes flared with hatred.

“…”

Go Changjin couldn’t say a word. The smile had vanished from his face, and he was not angry.

“I have nothing to say except that I am truly sorry.”

His face was full of remorse and guilt. Why was that?

It should have been satisfying to break his composure.

“… Don’t make that face.”

Instead, Go Malsuk felt uncomfortable and clenched her fists tightly.

Then.

“Enough. Don’t approach me again through Yujeong like this. Consider this a warning.”

She spat out coldly, pushing her chair back.

Bang.

She left, slamming the door behind her. Watching her silently, Go Changjin’s expression didn’t change.

“She really… takes after you completely.”

A tall middle-aged man appeared behind him.

“Especially that fiery temperament.”

“Hwang-Il, you’ve grown brave, haven’t you? Mocking me so openly. I might as well hand over the guild and retire.”

“Haha! Come on, hyung, it’s just a joke to say she’s determined and steadfast.”

Myth Guild’s vice-guildmaster, hwang-Il, shrugged and laughed.

In response.

“Anyway, it’s a relief she’s safe.”

Go Changjin sighed in relief.

“Indeed. Kim Shimun must have played a big role in that.”

Nodding in agreement, Go Changjin replied to Hwang-Il’s query.

“Certainly, with the Galaxy Arena trying to keep things under wraps, and even the assassination of the Russian Federation representative and rankers involved.”

“It must have been an exceptionally dangerous situation.”

“Absolutely. So, hwang-Il, you should investigate this matter as thoroughly as possible.”

Although Hwang-Il wanted to say, ‘How am I supposed to investigate when even the host is keeping mum?’

He swallowed those words out of respect for Go Changjin, who was still staring at the door from which Go Malsuk had exited.

So.

“Understood.”

He gave the expected affirmative response, regardless of potential outcomes.

Click.

Go Changjin took a sip of his now-cold coffee.

‘There won’t be a next time. Never again…’

As if repeating a mantra to himself, he silently repeated those words several times.

*

With a staff member’s farewell.

“Have a good day.”

Go Malsuk was leaving the café.

‘A good day, my foot…’

She muttered, pouting as she walked out.

Then.

“Malsuk.”

A graceful beauty who immediately caught the eye. Lee Yujeong welcomed her. Some passersby seemed to recognize her, glancing curiously.

“Hey! Isn’t that Lee Yujeong?”

“No way, it really is!”

“They said she had returned to Russia… What’s this? Go Malsuk is there too?!”

“Hope she didn’t get hurt. I heard a ranker was assassinated over there.”

The surroundings quickly grew noisy. Aware of the attention, she smiled at Go Malsuk and said, “Get in quickly.”

She motioned to a high-end luxury car behind her, its price unimaginable. As onlookers continued to gather their gazes, Go Malsuk hastily climbed into the passenger seat.

Then.

“What? Are you driving?”

Seeing Lee Yujeong settle into the driver’s seat, Go Malsuk widened her eyes.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Lee Yujeong started the car with a nonchalant expression.

“No… I mean, for someone like you, shouldn’t you have a chauffeur or something?”

“Do I look like a princess?”

“Well, aren’t you?”

“Whatever.”

Lee Yujeong chuckled at Go Malsuk’s words and focused on the road.

“Actually, we do have a chauffeur, but I prefer being alone.”

“True…”

Go Malsuk nodded. She rested her elbow on the window sill, propping her chin, staring out the window.

“Since when did you know?”

She asked without turning her gaze.

“Since we went to the black market with orabeoni.”

Lee Yujeong answered while keeping her eyes on the road.

“Sigh…”

Go Malsuk let out a deep sigh. Lee Yujeong glanced at her but said nothing and continued driving.

“I’m sorry, Yujeong.”

Go Malsuk soon apologized.

“It won’t happen again.”

Though there was no subject, Lee Yujeong seemed to understand.

“No, I’m the one who should apologize.”

Instead, she watched Go Malsuk for any signs.

“I didn’t realize it would be this hard for you. I just…”

Luckily.

“Oh, it’s obvious. That guy must have barged in and got involved. Don’t worry about it too much, I know everything.”

Go Malsuk replied nonchalantly.

“But keep it a secret from Kim Shimun. If it’s to be told, I’d like to do it myself.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Silence fell inside the car again. Then.

Ding.

Notifications sounded from both Lee Yujeong’s and Go Malsuk’s phones. Since Lee Yujeong was driving, Go Malsuk checked hers first.

“Seriously. He’ll never learn.”

She snorted and shook her head.

Precisely, “How long has it been since the guild war and now he’s… Wait a minute!”

She stopped shaking her head.

“What the heck? Diamond Promotion Match?!”

Until she saw the title of Shimun’s broadcast. Lee Yujeong, hearing her shocked exclamation,

Screeeeech!

“What, what did you say? Is that true?”

Suddenly slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a halt.

*

『Would you like to be assigned the promotion match to the regular arena? (Yes / No)』

The choice popped up in front of him. Without hesitation, Shimun touched the ‘Yes’ option. The reason was simple.

‘No matter how it’s a promotion match, the rewards between non-regular and regular arenas are different.’

All the arenas he’d fought in so far were non-regular arenas. Therefore, they were arenas where lives weren’t at stake.

This further reduced the already meager rewards of the promotion matches. Of course, ‘Well, the rewards don’t drastically increase just because it’s a regular arena…’

The rewards didn’t significantly change just because it was a regular arena. But since it was an arena where lives were at stake, it was distinct from non-regular arenas.

Decisively, ‘After the opening of the Semi-Arena, I’m the first to face a promotion match, right?’

There was the first achievement reward related to the promotion match still untouched.

『The promotion match will be assigned to the regular arena.』

『Syncing.』

『Please wait a moment.』

Perhaps because it was closer to the Diamond rank, there was a slight waiting time for the match of the promotion round.

Shimun, waiting a bit, seeing the messages still not responding, “It’s taking a while. I’ll turn on the broadcast.”

He activated the broadcast of Arenia.

– What? A notification during the King’s era?

– Man, didn’t you just return home a few hours ago?

– A real iron man!

– More like tougher than an iron man, lol, almost a human golem, right?

– Truly beyond human.

– Si-ha!!

As if they had been waiting, viewers flooded in.

“Good to see you all.”

Shimun greeted lightly.

– No! Shimun, you’ve been through a lot, you should rest!

– True, true. I’ve heard they even mentioned it in the Galaxy Arena?

– Have you had much rest? Is it okay to broadcast like this?

– The match isn’t done yet, right? Hyung, take a break.

– Viewers immediately began pouring out concerned messages.

Of course,

– Turned it on quickly before the guild war’s hype dies down, lol

– Just wants to boost viewer count.

– Come on, we’ve been watching him for how long?

– There were a few snide remarks here and there.

– Already more viewers than most Diamonds, LOL

– Just leave ’em. They’re jealousy bait.

– Ban please.

Having gone through plenty of such bait before, Shimun’s viewers:

『Manager ‘Black Goat’ has kicked out user dlfjsdkdlel.』

『Manager ‘Odin’ has kicked out user aksemsmsrp.』

『Manager ‘Baal’ has kicked out user wpdlfdjfudnj…』

There was no mercy from the higher-ranking constellations disguised as managers.

“I’m fine with the guild war. Honestly, I didn’t do much.”

Shimun replied with a relaxed smile. And he wasn’t lying.

‘The Czar Guild was something I could handle by myself…’

As apologetic as it might sound, the promising members of the Czar Guild were not even appetizers.

Meanwhile, ‘The biggest problem, Etra, was dealt with by Aracrea.’

Etra, an Ancient Dragon, was a dangerous entity even for Shimun, but an even stronger, extraordinary being had taken care of it.

So, considering the scale of the guild war’s damage, Shimun hadn’t suffered much actual harm.

In response to his answer,

– Even so…

– He said he’s fine, why are you guys making a fuss?

– LOL, haven’t you seen his streams? This guy isn’t human.

– Hahaha, saying he’s not human is quite harsh.

– Well, he’s not. Look, he’s already in a Diamond Promotion Match, lol.

– Agreed, I doubted my eyes when I saw the stream title.

The chat soon eased their worries, and normal conversation resumed with jokes about Shimun.

At that moment,

『Sync complete.』

『Assignment complete.』

The notification from the Galaxy Arena appeared before Shimun’s eyes.

Then,

Whoosh.

The empty waiting room transformed in an instant.

A blue sky.

This place resembled a part of paradise, fitting the description of the azure expanse.

The pale blue filled all corners.

Possibly,

Ripple.

If that blue hadn’t subtly quivered.

‘Is this… underwater?’

It was almost impossible to guess that this place was underwater.

– Whoa…

– Where is this now?

– This is sick. Is this really underwater?

– Since he’s in sub-regular, could it be a new map we don’t know about?

– What? A promotion match in a sub-regular arena?

Viewers couldn’t hide their amazement at the overwhelming scene. But Shimun’s amazement lasted only a moment.

‘Wait. If this water is so clear it’s indistinguishable from the sky, then maybe…’

A memory from his past life resurfaced, causing a slight furrow on his brow.

‘Azshita?’

As if to confirm his suspicion,

『Welcome to the Diamond Promotion Match.』

『The location is the ‘Entrance to the Bloody Abyss’ in the Azshita dimension.』

『The event for this arena is ‘Survival,’ and the number of participants is 1,000.』

『The arena will commence once all participants are visible.』

The messages provided the exact answer Shimun was thinking.

However,

– Holy crap! 1,000 people?

– Look at the scale, lol, that’s 10 times Earth.

– For real, this is insane.

The viewers were fixated on the sheer number of 1,000 participants.

And for good reason,

– How are there 1,000 people in a Diamond promotion match?

– Is this the level of a regular match?

– Considering other dimensions too, I guess that’s how many Diamonds there are, lol.

– True, even if they pick 100 from each dimension like Earth… Wow, that’s wild.

After all, Shimun was in a Diamond promotion match.

The fact that a thousand Platinum rankers were trying to get into Diamond was astonishing.

However, the bigger surprise was yet to come.

『Due to the player’s sync status, broadcasts will be streamed to some regular dimension arenas with similar media.』

Sudden messages popped up.

『The chat will be divided.』

『Player Kim Shimun belongs to a non-regular arena dimension.』

『Communication between both sides will be impossible until promoted to a regular arena.』

『Only the dimension of Earth can view other dimension’s chats.』

With that announcement,

– Oh? The chat split into two!

– What? The chat is being divided in real-time?

– Holy crap, what kind of crazy technology is this?

– Is this… the technology of Galaxy Arena?

Shimun’s chat divided into two in real-time, and within seconds,

=?????… What kind of species is this?

=???… It’s a Diamond promotion match, why are there so few viewers?

=?… Wait a minute. Is that a human?

= A human?

Rapidly translated texts from previously unseen languages appeared before Shimun and his viewers.