The Regressor Can Make Them All - Chapter 548
Chapter 548
“So, you suddenly heard a message from Se-Hoon while training?”
While the sudden arrival of Terra surprised the two, they both grasped the situation quickly.
“Yes… he sounded just like he usually does when he contacts me.”
“Hmm…”
Thinking, Lea made a complicated expression before turning to Meirin.
“What do you think, Ms. Ryu?”
Meirin glanced between Terra and Se-Hoon, still idly chewing on her lollipop.
“Given the circumstances, it’s likely real. It’s also unlikely that the Demon Force interfered inside the barrier.”
“That’s true.”
“And above all, the idea that completing the Planetary Reinforcement Project will solve the problem seems plausible.”
Given that the Planetary Reinforcement System had created the barrier, it was highly likely that the problem also originated from there. If they helped Terra properly complete the plan, Se-Hoon might regain consciousness as well.
“Given the situation, it’s best to assume it’s real and act accordingly. Terra.”
“Y-Yes!”
“What’s left for the Planetary Reinforcement Project? I thought all the preparations were done.”
“Well…”
Seeing Terra hesitating to answer, Lea took over.
“The only thing left is up to Terra.”
“Terra? You mean her?”
“Yes. More precisely, her realization…”
Lea launched into an explanation of what she’d heard before about Terra’s incompleteness, and afterwards, Meirin nodded in understanding.
“I see. So the equipment’s ready, but the user isn’t.”
“I-I’m terribly sorry…” Terra apologized, trembling as if everything had gone wrong because of her shortcomings.
She looked so pitiful that Meirin waved her hand.
“No need to apologize to me. Don’t worry about it.”
“But…”
“Of course, I’m not saying you did well. If you had finished preparing earlier, maybe that guy wouldn’t be in this state.”
Due to Meirin’s blunt reproach, Terra lowered her head further.
“Um, she’s already under a lot of pressure, so maybe don’t push her so hard…” Lea cautiously said, intervening.
“I’m not pushing her. I am simply presenting the truth. Don’t you agree?”
“W—”
Lea caught her words, stopping herself from shielding Terra. She had noticed Meirin blinking one eye—a subtle signal—and immediately understood that she was trying to provoke a reaction from Terra. Playing along, she changed her words.
“—ell, I don’t disagree, but you’re being a little too harsh.”
“…?”
Terra noticed something was off, having been watching for cues. But the two ignored her and just continued their conversation.
“She’s been part of this project for a while. If she understood her role and still made no progress, then of course she should be criticized.”
“She didn’t mess things up on purpose. You’re just hurting her by claiming that this is all her fault.”
“If she felt like she was inadequate for the task given, she should’ve quit early. Instead, she clung on like she could handle it and ruined everything.”
“Hey, maybe she just didn’t know. She lived cooped up inside the planet for decades. Isn’t it a bit harsh to scold her for being a little clueless?”
“…”
To anyone else, it would have sounded like Meirin was berating while Lea was defending. To Terra, the subject-in-question though, it was clear one side was beating her senseless with blunt honesty while the other was smacking her from behind under the guise of protecting her.
Naturally, that made a whirlwind of emotions swirl within Terra: guilt toward Se-Hoon, shame over her incompetence, and remorse for those harmed by her failings. The negativity piled on and on, dragging her further into herself—a raw emotion suddenly pierced through it all like a dagger.
“…Fine, whatever.”
Her murmur cut through the argument. And of course, Meirin didn’t miss that opportunity.
“What did you just say?”
With Lea then turning as well, Terra flinched under the weight of both gazes. Then, clenching her fists, she burst.
“If you don’t trust me, I’ll just quit!!!”
Whoosh!
Frustrated, Terra ripped open a portal and stormed out of the Netherworld.
Watching her go, Lea had a conflicted expression on her face. “I went along with it for now, but… are you sure this is okay?”
Was it really the right call to push her that hard when she clearly needed comfort?
“If you could attain the Perfect Ones’ powers just from being cheered on, the world would be full of them by now,” Meirin nonchalantly replied, taking her lollipop out of her mouth.
“I guess that’s true…”
“And this is just my philosophy, but if you really want to understand yourself, it’s best to be selfish.”
Meirin unwrapped a different candy and popped it in her mouth, twirling it with her tongue.
“Because genuine desires are always self-directed.”
A wish crafted while hiding from another’s eyes and lying to yourself held no power. That was why she deliberately pushed Terra to release what had built up inside her.
“Hmm…”
Mulling it over, Lea eventually sighed.
“I still don’t quite get it.”
“Just watch for now. That girl knows what I’m like. Se-Hoon wouldn’t have arranged this meeting without a reason.”
If Se-Hoon had sent Terra to Meirin, then it was all likely orchestrated by him. It was sound enough logic that Lea couldn’t disagree, instead making her look between Meirin and Se-Hoon with mild amusement.
“You and Se-Hoon… are kind of alike.”
The two of them were both outwardly reckless but simultaneously inwardly cautious and deliberate. At least, Lea realized why Meirin had always felt familiar to her; it made her chuckle.
“Alright, I’ll keep watch for now.”
With that, Lea bowed lightly and left to check on the Sphere.
“…”
Looking away once she left, Meirin, now alone, turned to Se-Hoon. She kept rolling the candy in her mouth.
“Do I really seem that mean…?”
***
Having stormed out of the Netherworld, Terra was flying off in a random direction instead of returning to the workshop. She didn’t have a specific destination. All she knew was that she’d rather die than go back and continue the Planetary Reinforcement Project.
If I’m really going to die, maybe then I’ll go back. But until then, no damn way!
She had had enough of both the Planetary Reinforcement Plan for humanity and the Administrator who burdened her with it. Desperate to just escape it all, she flew aimlessly above Babel.
A grim realization struck her not long later though.
Is there even a place in Babel not tied to the Administrator?
The very chairman of the academy, the Emperor of Ascension, was an ally of the Administrator. Countless others there also worked with him. In other words, if word got out she was running away, she’d likely get found and captured in an instant.
“…”
She felt suffocated. With one thought, the place that once gave her safety now felt like a prison that she couldn’t escape. Terrified she might be caught by the Emperor of Ascension at any moment, Terra summoned the Warhound stored within her body.
Clack- Chunk!
The silver armor emerged and enveloped her entirely. Then, once fully equipped, immense power surged through her. The elemental mana Se-Hoon had infused, his powers imbued within, and the legendary-tier materials all enhanced the armor’s capabilities.
I should be able to escape whenever I have to with this.
Terra was honestly tempted to flee right away, but she restrained herself. No matter how powerful the armor was, its power was finite. It’d be all over if she recklessly used it up.
…Actually, it’d be even worse than running out if people find out I used it without permission.
Anyone would be questioned for misuse. As a fragment of the Seeker, though, Terra was certain she’d be outright condemned.
“You betrayed me.”
Terra flinched at the deep voice of the Administrator when she was dragged before in her imagination. She immediately glanced around meekly.
“…It’s fine. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
She hadn’t done anything yet. It was just a little tantrum… surely the Administrator could forgive that… right? Like that, Terra tried to comfort herself—
“What are you doing out here?”
“$#@!%$#@!%!?”
The sight of the scarlet-haired woman—Eun-Ha—appearing before her made Terra scream in a voice no human should be capable of.
Thankfully for Terra, when she descended to the ground after some commotion, she eventually found out Eun-Ha wasn’t here to capture her.
“You just happened to see me and came over?”
“Yes,” Eun-Ha said, nodding calmly.
“…”
Terra blinked, dumbfounded. She had been flying thousands of meters up to avoid detection… yet Eun-Ha had still spotted her and reached her in a single leap?
No wonder the Administrator favors her…
She didn’t know how Eun-Ha had found her, but if she were here to detain her, she would’ve attacked instead of starting a conversation. Understanding that, Terra tried to act as naturally as possible.
“Th-that’s amazing. You must have great eyesight.”
“It’s due to a good nose.”
“Nose…?”
“Se-Hoon’s equipment has a distinct scent. I caught it and looked up—and there you were.”
She could smell Se-Hoon’s equipment through the sky and reach it in a single bound??? Terra desperately resisted the urge to scream and flee again.
Stay calm… stay calm…!
She had to get away naturally, no matter what. Resolving, Terra looked up at Eun-Ha—and froze. Eun-Ha’s expressionless gaze was locked onto her.
Terra, who was never that socially adept to begin with, no longer knew how to handle such a situation.
Should I just run? That might actually be easier than lying—
“Are you free right now?” Eun-Ha asked as Terra was hesitating.
“Y-Yes?!”
“I meant: do you have any other appointments?”
“Not really, but I might… maybe…”
Afraid her lie would be exposed, Terra answered vaguely.
Alas, Eun-Ha nodded knowingly.
“So you’re free for now.”
“Excuse me?”
“I happened to need some help. Consider this fate. Let’s go.”
“W-wait—!”
Before she could object, Eun-Ha picked her up and, with her hair blazing red, launched into the sky.
Boom!
Terra could only let herself be dragged along at terrifying speeds, shooting past the clouds, speechless. Then, when they finally landed in a field on Babel’s outskirts, Terra saw a familiar old man.
“Well now… this is an interesting pairing.”
Before the curiously smiling old man, Terra gaped and dumbly muttered, “…The Emperor of Ascension?”
“Yes, the Chairman.”
“Don’t tell me the help you needed was…”
“A sparring partner.”
Woong!
Like Terra needed no further explanation, Eun-Ha’s hair and eyes ignited with crimson light. Seeing that, Ludwig casually waved a hand to seal the area off from the outside.
Unfortunately for Terra, she’d just been thrown into a duel between a Perfect One and an S-rank hero on the verge of ascension.
I guess… this is what they call divine punishment… she thought, looking up at the sky.
BOOOOM-
And then, with a thunderous roar, her body was sent flying off somewhere.
