-Derek was in a very awkward position.
What’s so difficult?
What if your identity is discovered and you are cornered or surrounded by enemies?
…I wish it were like that.
‘I think it would be more comfortable that way.’
When Derek smiles so bitterly.
[Are you listening to me!]
“Ah, d, I’m listening.”
[Then tell me exactly what I said.]
“That, that….”
[I knew this would happen. Derek, you know you’re really too much! How could you forget your promise to me!]
“… Rather than saying I forgot, it was just a promise that Youngae made unilaterally.”
[What did you say-?]
“… It was all my fault, Young-ae. Please calm down.”
[joy!]
“Hmm…!”
Derek had to swallow his saliva, feeling an indescribable sense of embarrassment and bewilderment.
I came all the way to the tunnel and wondered what they were doing.
If others had seen it, it would have been nothing but a fight between lovers that would have resulted in fistfights, and it was fortunate that Lee Han did not see it.
… … If he had seen it, there was a risk that he would be stabbed in the butt.
It couldn’t have been more fortunate.
It goes without saying that there is no such thing as communication technology in this world.
However, the reason Derek was able to have a romantic relationship, or rather, a conversation, with the young lady of the royal palace hundreds of kilometers away from the tunnel was only thanks to the artifact.
An item obtainable at the Academy, [Blue Bird’s Chirp].
It was an artifact in the form of an earring that could only be used when shared by a man and a woman, and Derek had retrieved it in advance because he knew that it was an event-specific item.
Although there is a condition that men and women must share it, everyone will admit that its utility is enormous.
Even if we only look at modern warfare, can’t we see that the nature of the battlefield is changing as communication technology is secured?
It’s quite a scam item for an event item.
Well, it’s now.
[So, when are you coming back?]
“Ah, maybe around the time the Academy break is over… .”
[Does that mean summer is almost over? You mean you won’t keep your promise to come to my mansion?]
“That’s not it….”
However, I ended up in a position where I had to relieve the feelings of a woman I was friends with.
Derek felt regret.
‘… I gave it to you for nothing.’
I entrusted her to me because she was the closest of all the women I knew and I trusted her more than anything, but I never imagined that she would have such a shortcoming(?).
Derek held back his sobs as he spoke to her, Karin.
“Young-ae, no, Karin, please just look at me once. I will apologize next time we meet.”
[Hmm, I really can’t believe it…]
“Ha, just once.”
[Ugh! Just this once.]
“Oh, thank you.”
I don’t know why, but she often calmed down when I called her by her name instead of Yeong-ae, and I was relieved that this method worked well today.
‘thank god.’
Considering how angry I had been the day before and how I had been struggling all day, I was able to get over it rather quickly.
At that moment, I was trying to catch my breath and feel relieved.
[Since you contacted me first, I guess you are curious about the situation in the capital?]
“… … .”
[Anyway, I hate it.]
“Uh, I’m sorry.”
[joy!]
As expected of a smart woman, Karin quickly figured out why he contacted her first.
It was a pity for Derek.
Because I was relying on her favor to gather information about what was happening in the capital.
However, for him, it was not just the tunnels that needed to be focused on, but even the capital, the center of all things, was a target of interest.
‘Because Prince Roen and Princess Irene are in the capital right now.’
If it were the original, she would be the main character and villainess of the original work.
But now, … the instructor is making an estimate.
‘A person predicted to be a regressor and a possessed person… .’
These were clearly the unpredictable fluttering wings of a butterfly, no less than the instructor.
Derek couldn’t help but wonder what was going on with them.
[Ugh, using me as an informant is going to be expensive.]
“…I know.”
[Phew, for now, there’s nothing much going on in the capital. ‘Externally’, at least.]
“What do you mean…?”
[There are a lot of things going on internally. For example, there is news that His Excellency the Marquis Tristan has officially registered Young Lady Levi.]
“W-Wow, adoption! Are you saying that you’re not only accepting me as an adopted daughter, but are also giving me Tristan’s last name?”
[It seems that His Highness the Marquis is quite fond of Youngae Levy. If this news is officially spread, there will be an uproar in social circles for a while.]
“Ugh… .”
They say you never know what will happen to a person, but who would have thought that an unfortunate hero would achieve such a rise in status?
‘If this continues, won’t all the information I have become useless?’
The fate of each and every person has changed so much.
Derek had no idea what kind of torrent this flow would bring, and his head was already starting to hurt.
However, Karin’s mouth continued to open as if there were still many more complicated things left to do.
[And recently, it is said that the existence of an ‘illegal slave auction house’ operated by a certain top was revealed.]
“… … .”
[I also heard that it is rumored that the person who revealed the existence of the auction house to the world, destroyed the auction house itself, and freed the slaves is a certain black-haired inspector. Huh, it seems like he has no intention of hiding his identity.]
“…Prince Roen.”
[It’s probably true. Thanks to that, there are many people who praise Prince Roen as a hero now. … Although he himself still denies it.]
“hmm.”
‘… went to save them.’
Derek listened to Roen’s movements and realized that the slave auction house he had raided was the one.
The slave auction house that appears in Chapter 17.
It is impossible to predict where the auction will take place as it is run by the ruler of the underworld.
So, Derek also knew of its existence, but its whereabouts were still unknown.
However, as expected of someone who is presumed to have regressed, he seemed to have come to the auction house, and his purpose can be roughly guessed.
‘Is this to eliminate Count Nolan, the master of the underworld, recruit the talented people held captive in the auction house, and promote friendship with the dwarves?’
Count Nolan, the lord of the underworld, will still be a troublesome enemy in Chapter 30, so now is the time to deal with him in advance.
Because of the unexpected terrorist attack, the perception of crime in the royal capital is fierce, and the masters of the underworld are at their weakest at this time.
And if you just deal with the surprised Count, the hidden funds you can get are enough to feed an army of over ten thousand men for half a year.
It’s probably a guess, but I had a feeling that he was denying himself credit in order to get his hands on all of the hidden funds.
However, the real benefits that can be gained from hitting the auction house are none other than ‘talent’ and ‘connections.’
‘There was definitely a twin half at the auction house, right? If I could just get it, it would be a tier 1 talent… .’
These are talented individuals who can easily grow to Lv. 7 if raised well.
This is an opportunity to obtain [Hero Class] that cannot be obtained even with power and money.
Additionally, among those held captive in the auction house, there will be a ‘dwarf’.
A mysterious race that repays enemies twice as much and kindness tenfold.
They are a race known for their dexterity and excellent craftsmen, but they are also known for their great wisdom.
Being connected with these people is something of astronomical value.
‘That guy killed two birds with one stone, no, four birds with one stone.’
Fame, money, talent and connections.
Isn’t this a classic example of what the privileges of a regressor are like?
But Derek didn’t look upon what Roen had gained with envy or resentment.
‘But I didn’t do anything bad.’
To be honest, I have never had a proper conversation with Prince Roen.
Moreover, unlike what he knew, the regressor is a mixed element of uncertainty, so he does not know what his personality is like.
However, although he gained his own benefit, he deserves bonus points for being the only one to raid and destroy the auction house among the other hidden pieces.
In the case of the auction house, the longer it is left alone, the more the suffering of those who were kidnapped will increase, so we saved them.
‘If I was going to make a profit during this time, I could have targeted something like [dungeons], but instead, it was an auction house. I don’t think he’s a bad person.’
Derek, who had a positive opinion of Roen, thought that maybe he could let go of his doubts about him.
… Of course, given his personality, he may not be able to get rid of all his doubts.
“Ka, Karin, or, if it’s okay, please keep me informed of Prince Roen’s whereabouts. You don’t have to go into too much detail.”
[Hmm, you have some doubts about that?]
“…haha.”
Anyway, you can’t hide anything from a smart person.
[Haha, that’s good. I was interested in that person anyway.]
“?”
[Tea, don’t get me wrong! It’s not a rational meaning, okay? I’m not the type of man who feels that way, and I like men who are cautious and miserable like a puppy that got wet in the rain. Okay?]
“yes…?”
… Aren’t men’s tastes just too peculiar?
For a moment, that thought crossed Derek’s mind, but he didn’t dare say it out loud.
I just respect her tastes.
But he is a very cautious man, and as pitiful as a puppy that got wet in the rain… .
‘Was there anyone like that around her?’
On the one hand, I also had doubts about whether such a person actually existed.
[Oh, and. Irene Youngae.]
“… … .”
Karin was clearly trying to change the subject, but Derek focused on the word Irene regardless.
Irene Windler.
A girl who is clearly destined to be a chieftain.
However, Derek’s judgment was that, unlike the regressor, the woman seemed to have no information about this world.
Because I’ve never seen him do anything on his own initiative.
I thought she would be a girl who literally felt like a typical heroine in a romance novel, and I was right.
[It seems that she is receiving attention from many big names. It may be because she is Galahad’s adopted daughter, but the magic she showed the day before was really amazing. Maybe because of that, there is also talk that the successor to the Imperial Magic Tower will come to see Irene in person. Additionally, the Sultan of the Western Continent is also interested in the water magic she possesses and plans to visit the kingdom.]
“……her.”
The successor to the Magic Tower, which exists only in the Central Continent, and the Sultan of the Western Continent visit in person?
And you’re interested in a woman too?
‘Wow, it feels like everything that was supposed to happen to the female protagonist is happening to Irene Youngae… .’
The original story was supposed to start next year, when Derek was a sophomore.
But because the original work had been so damaged, not everything was accurate, and events that were supposed to happen next year were already happening.
So Derek.
‘This is awesome… .’
I felt like more than 70% of the information I had was useless.
The regressor (estimate) will probably be similar.
‘This is why it is said that having too many captains is not good.’
I wonder if the ship is going to the mountain or even the sky.
“ha….”
[Why the sudden sigh?]
“Oh, I’m sorry, Karin. I’m a little confused.”
[… Don’t worry too much. It’s not like there aren’t people around you who can help you, I have them too.]
“… … .”
[I told you not to suffer alone. Tsk, I can’t understand this at once.]
“… No, I understand. Thank you, Karin. Thanks to you, I feel a little better… .”
[Just a little?]
“Oh, so much…!”
[Haha, that’s right.]
“…haha.”
I couldn’t help but smile bitterly at her confident remark, but it actually made me feel a little better.
Is it because, unlike me, he is always confident and positive?
‘You’re a good person, Karin Youngae.’
And he was also the one who gave him a positive mind.
Yeah, what’s the point of suffering alone like she said?
‘Let’s focus on the present.’
Rather, let’s look at it positively.
It’s not that he can’t use his information, but that there are ‘two’ more people who can handle things on his behalf.
‘They’ll take care of their own business.’
Derek tried to keep a positive mindset and ultimately believed that whatever disaster or trouble he brought upon himself would be resolved on his own.
Of course, aren’t they the regressor and the possessed person, the three biggest clichés in the culture industry?
‘Of course I’m the final boss (status window).’
Honey, I just have to do my job well.
As long as I do well, that’s enough.
With this mindset, Derek exchanged a few more words with Karin before returning to his trusted ally.
I want to share the information with him quickly and get this resolved.
… … It was definitely like that.
“Oh, you’re here?”
“…?”
“Oh, that? Don’t worry about it. Think of it as just decoration.”
“… … .”
“That’s right. I found out something. It seems like those Blood Cult fakes are up to something weird.”
“… Huh? Yes?”
“So let’s just settle this and go home. It seems like it’ll be over quickly.”
“??”
… Derek suddenly began to wonder if maybe he wasn’t needed that much.
‘You’re doing it all by yourself… .’
Derek was overcome with a strange sense of disappointment.
