Not A Regressor-Chapter 339: Black Sky (3)

Time passed quickly. After sending Riarc to the Khan Kingdom, Kwon Oh-Jin’s group returned to the Dragonian Kingdom and immediately prepared for war.

When Kwon Oh-Jin declared his intention to directly strike the Niflheim Kingdom, some of the dragonkin objected and called the idea absurd. Once Song Ha-Eun stepped forward, they all took up their weapons as if they had never disagreed at all.

They had no way to contact Riarc’s side, so Kwon Oh-Jin worried whether Riarc would arrive in time. Thankfully, the beastkin warriors managed to join the main force without delay.

A month passed just like that. Finally, the day before the ritual to break the Heavenly Demon’s seal in Niflheim arrived.

Kwon Oh-Jin was completing his final preparations before the decisive battle.

He repeatedly took a few breaths in and out. “Haaa.”

His Stigma’s mana flowed from his heart to the rest of his body. The vast amount of mana he had felt like it would never run out. What he had absorbed through the Black Heaven had grown to rival the Milky Way Spring in the Sanctum.

It’s too bad I can only use a limited amount at a time even though I have so much of it.

His mana circuits had expanded significantly ever since the Stigma of Lyra reached nine stars, but it still wasn’t nearly enough to wield all the mana slumbering within him. Like trying to drain the ocean with a hose, it would be impossible no matter how thick the hose was.

Still, the Black Heaven’s tenth enlightenment improved the quality of my mana a lot.

Before, he simply possessed a large volume of mana. Now, its quality had increased.

Even with the same amount of mana, he could unleash more power now. This would make the upcoming battle more advantageous. However, no matter how much stronger he had become, just thinking about tomorrow weighed him down.

“Haaa.”

If we fail, the Heavenly Demon’s seal will break.

He still didn’t know the Heavenly Demon’s true objective, but one thing was certain. If the seal broke, Kwon Oh-Jin stood no chance against him.

I have to stop it no matter what it takes.

Kwon Oh-Jin bit his lip anxiously.

“There you are,” a beautiful voice called out.

He turned and saw Vega floating through the air toward him.

“How are you feeling, Vega?”

“The restrictions haven’t completely vanished yet, but I’m still able to manifest.”

Vega had been unable to manifest since granting Kwon Oh-Jin her blessing during his battle against Deimos. It had only been a week since the battle. She had forcefully manifested even though the restrictions hadn’t completely disappeared.

“If it’s too hard, you could sit this one out—”

“How could I possibly do that?” Vega shook her head firmly.

Though the restrictions of the Law still lingered, she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing during such a critical mission.

Kwon Oh-Jin faintly smiled and nodded. “Thanks.”

Truthfully, her absence would’ve been just as troubling for him. Even without her blessing, Vega’s presence alone provided him with massive support.

“What about Ha-Eun and Bella?”

“They both went to sleep early.”

“Really?”

Despite being Awakeners, they were still human at their core. Sleep was essential, not just for their body, but for keeping their minds in top shape as well.

“By the way, I heard about the plan from Bella. Isn’t it too dangerous for you to take on that role alone?” Vega asked worriedly.

Naturally, Kwon Oh-Jin’s group didn’t have enough forces to go all out and face the enemies head-on. At the same time, they also didn’t have time to devise an elaborate tactical plan since they only had time for one joint training.

The difference in races makes things even worse.

The dragonkin and beastkin had never interacted much before now, so their relationship was suffocatingly awkward. Even though the enemy of one’s enemy was a friend, how could they fight with strangers they had only known for two weeks?

At the very least, they needed a simple plan that allowed them to infiltrate Niflheim with minimal casualties. And so, they came up with a plan.

“How are you planning to infiltrate the kingdom alone?!” Vega jumped onto Kwon Oh-Jin’s head and sharply tugged at his hair in frustration.

“O-Ow! That hurts!”

Vega lectured him sternly like a scolding mother disciplining a reckless child, “You deserve worse!” Even though she said that, her grip gradually weakened. “Haa. Why do you always make me worry?”

“Sorry.” Kwon Oh-Jin raised his hand above his head and placed Vega in his palm.

He saw her puffing out her cheeks and snorting as she sharply turned her head away.

“There’s no other way,” he said.

“But what will you do once you sneak into the kingdom alone? Even if you're lucky and don't get caught, the rest of it—”

“I have a plan for that.” Kwon Oh-Jin smirked confidently.

Vega deeply sighed and shook her head as if there were no stopping him. “Haaa. Alright, I trust you. Go to bed early tonight. Don’t you have much to do tomorrow?”

“I’ll sleep in a bit.” He planned to rest today and skip training, but couldn’t sleep from thinking about tomorrow.

Maybe I’ll get sleepy if I move around a bit.

He was about to resume training when Vega cautiously floated up and placed her hand on his cheek. “My child...”

Her fingertips touched his rough cheeks. In just one month, his skin had become dry like a parched desert. Vega's face filled with sadness as she gently caressed him.

Even with a superhuman physique as a high-ranking Awakener, just how much training had he done for his skin to become this coarse? She couldn’t even scold him because she knew exactly why he kept pushing himself so hard.

“Try not to worry too much.” She brushed his cheek and softly kissed his nose. “After all, you’re the Heaven-Defying Star.”

Kwon Oh-Jin’s eyes trembled. “Vega...”

From Vega’s perspective, she probably meant it as an encouragement.

But the problem is I’m not the Heaven-Defying Star.

A bitter smile crept across his face as he looked at the goddess who still believed, without a doubt, that he was a Regressor.

How much longer...

Could he keep deceiving her? No, how much longer would he have to go on living a lie?

“Vega... what if, just what if...”

A sudden impulse welled up inside him.

“What if I...” His lips dried up.

His heart pounded so violently like it would burst, and he swallowed hard. What kind of face would Vega make if he told her the truth right now? The thought sent a chilling fear down his spine.

“Never mind. It’s nothing.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Vega cocked her head and flicked Kwon Oh-Jin’s nose.

“You can't just stop midway. Now I’m curious. Come on now, say it.”

“I said it’s nothing.”

“Your face is far too gloomy for it to be nothing, don’t you think?” She placed her hands on her hips with a stern expression. “What secret could possibly exist between you and me that you can’t tell? Don’t hesitate to say it.”

At her words that there could be no secrets between them, his chest throbbed like it had been carved with a sharp blade. He couldn’t tell her. It was impossible. At this point, he had piled on too many lies to ever reveal the truth.

Lies were like a runaway truck with broken brakes barreling off a cliff. Once it started, it couldn’t slow down or be stopped.

Until it crashes and shatters into pieces.

He could only add more lies.

It’s alright...

Kwon Oh-Jin had lived his entire life spitting out lies. Therefore, he didn’t know any other way to live, so it would be fine. It wouldn’t matter if he added another handful of lies onto the mountain he had already built.

“What if I told you I wanted to spank your butt, Vega?” He hid his true expression with a mischievous grin.

Vega shot into the air, blushing intensely. “W-What?! H-Here?! N-No, wait, why did you suddenly mention my butt...” she stammered as her eyes darted around. After a moment of silence, Vega shut her eyes tightly and firmly said, “Very well. I-If that is what you really want...”

“I was joking.”

“J-Joking?”

“You seemed too worried, so I wanted to lighten the mood.”

“Ugh!” Vega flailed her tiny limbs and smacked his nose repeatedly. “Y-You insolent fool! How dare you say such a thing to a Celestial?"

“Hahaha. Sorry.” Knowing he was in the wrong, Kwon Oh-Jin obediently let her hit him until her anger died down.

“Haa, haa...” Breathing heavily after tugging his hair and smacking his nose, Vega abruptly turned her head away. “I’m returning to the Sanctum.”

“Are you upset?”

“Ugh...! I-Isn’t this all because of that weird joke you made!”

“I said I’m sorry.” Kwon Oh-Jin carefully placed Vega back in his palm. “Nothing bad will happen, Vega.”

Yes, just like always, he would endure and overcome whatever he faced.

“Please, don’t get hurt, my child.” Vega faintly smiled and gently stroked his nose that she had just smacked. “I shall return to the Sanctum. You should sleep early too.”

She dissolved into the air with a shimmer of silver light.

Kwon Oh-Jin stared blankly at where she had vanished. Then, he slowly turned around and climbed a jagged rock. He looked out at the distant Niflheim Kingdom.

Despite being a kingdom, he couldn’t see its shape clearly. Dark storm clouds shrouded Niflheim like the fog that blanketed the Sky Mountains.

“He said we’d meet again soon, right?”

Sorry, but—

“You and I won’t meet again.” Kwon Oh-Jin stared at the black clouds covering the kingdom and clenched his fist.