I Regressed and the Genre Changed - Chapter 40

Chapter 40 – Reunion

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 40 – Reunion

It has been hundreds of years.

The rampage of disaster.

The engulfment of the Black Mist.

And, the destruction of the world.

All of those things that had been treated as mere legends in history.

Finally, the dreadful reality struck the Founding Festival.

“Aaaaah!”

“This way! This way!”

“Don’t push! Please stop pushing!”

The once peaceful garden had turned into a chaotic scene with nobles rushing out in a frenzy.

The situation was rapidly deteriorating to the worst.

Diana sat still, observing the situation.

Despite scanning the surroundings tirelessly, she couldn’t find Kyle anywhere.

“…”

Without hesitation, she stood up.

There was no explicit order to hold her position, so she had no qualms about making a judgment call.

She perked her ears, activating her highly developed hearing to the extreme.

The cacophony of screams, frantic footsteps, and the distant rumble reached her ears.

A flood of overwhelming information poured into her mind.

At that moment, Diana’s brow furrowed.

“…!”

There was no mistaking it.

It was the voice of her master.

Diana ran.

Her elegant dress, now dragging on the ground, getting tattered, didn’t concern her in the urgency of the moment.

In a situation as dire as this, such a dress mattered little.

Her breaths, now ragged and irregular, echoed with determination.

She must protect her master.

A single-minded resolve dominated Diana’s mind.

And then, it happened.

Graaahh-!

A low, ominous growl reverberated in the air.

Diana slowly raised her head.

“…”

Skin oozing pus like tree bark in various places, exuding a putrid stench.

Giant fangs jutting out like thorns.

It looked like a grotesque amalgamation of all the world’s horrors.

A demon.

The origin of evil, a monstrous entity harboring disease.

Diana’s throat tightened at the sight of the creature, unlike anything she had ever seen before.

Thud-thud-thud-!

With each heavy step the monster took, the ground shook, and thunderous roars erupted.

Tents woven into the earth trembled, and the thunderous cracks made her ears itch.

“D-Demon! It’s a demon!”

Screams echoed through the air.

The thick Black Mist began spreading at an alarming rate.

There’s no time for this.

She must reach her master beyond.

Diana infused her steps with magic and pounded the ground.

Yet, there was no sign of nearing her destination.

At that moment, a flash erupted from somewhere, swallowing the darkness.

“…!”

Beams of light shot up into the sky.

Simultaneously, golden radiance tore through the darkness, bursting with divine light.

Clang—

The lumbering movement of the demon came to a sudden halt.

The writhing Black Mist, which had been expanding its territory, also began to gradually dissolve into the pouring light.

“What is this…”

A brilliant light that covered the sky.

It was a spectacle closer to divinity than anything else.

A sigh burst out of Diana’s mouth, as she witnessed the stunning display of divine intervention unfolding before her eyes, while the nobles who had been fleeing in haste were equally astonished.

The bulky body of the demon began to crumble.

However, unlike the Black Mist that melted away in an instant, the demon still maintained its form.

With one final act of defiance, the demon raised its fist, resembling a cauldron, into the air.

And then.

Whooo—

The massive fist began hurtling towards the ground with a thunderous roar.

“Dodge!”

“Aaaah!”

The nobles within range screamed in terror.

At that moment.

Swoosh—

Above the descending fist, dozens of crimson threads drew lines across the air.

And with a bang—, the fist slicing through the air shattered like a watermelon exploding.

“…!”

Diana’s tightly wound bun of hair shook violently from the rushing wind pressure.

The darkness engulfing the Founding Festival began to gradually fade away.

The staggering demon also lost its form under the pouring rays of light, melting away.

Diana blinked her eyes dumbfoundedly.

A moment later, two women began to walk towards her, bathed in sunlight.

Their faces were familiar.

“Isabel Yustia… Luna Winfred…”

****

The first wave was indeed menacing.

Deathly mist writhed everywhere, and the emerging demon was quite formidable.

To be honest, it was quite dangerous.

It was slightly dizzying when the demon came too close.

“…This is unbelievable.”

Isabel Yustia.

And Luna Winfred.

Two women, who were strong even prior to regressing, it was practically cheating.

They were like key characters predetermined by the world.

The force they displayed was truly astonishing.

Although it was slightly odd that they both appeared in the same place at the same time, there was something else important going on.

[ Scenario Progress: 55% ]

Before I knew it, the progress had skyrocketed like crazy.

“Tsk.”

There were two probable reasons.

The encroachment of the Black Mist.

And the chilling truth relayed from Rudine.

‘It was definitely Korean.’

Ludine recited about the strange phenomena that occurred after Kyle’s death.

The issue was, the content was shockingly unfamiliar, especially to me, who had never thought about what happened after Kyle’s death.

‘The world stopped…’

She had definitely said that.

The entire world came to a halt as if time itself froze after Kyle died.

What was even more astonishing was that Rudine was the only one who could move in that frozen world.

As she stroked the Relic hanging from her neck.

‘Black Mist…’

Yes, she said she saw beyond the Black Mist in that frozen world.

And she whispered to me.

— Lee Seung-jun.

My name.

Not in the Imperial language, but clear Korean.

“…”

She saw me beyond the Black Mist?

How is that possible?

If that’s true.

Could it be that the Black Mist is a passageway to my world?

“…Ha.”

The fragmented pieces of information began to fall into place like gears meshing together.

I shivered with a chilling sensation, my eyes widening.

‘What on earth…’

My stomach churned, rendering me speechless.

Countless possibilities raced through my mind in confusion.

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Then Diana, standing beside me, cautiously spoke.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m okay. You?”

“I’m fine.”

Diana bowed her head with a solemn expression.

“…I’m sorry.”

There was a deep sense of guilt in her eyes.

It was probably self-blame for not being able to protect me.

I smiled wryly in response.

“It’s okay. Nothing happened in the end, right?”

“But… you were in danger.”

“Were you worried?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I simply wanted to hear.

I was curious to know what answer would come.

A moment of silence passed between Diana and me.

Diana slowly spoke up.

“You’re supposed to return to your original world.”

“…?”

I met Diana’s gaze.

There was not a hint of wavering in her steady expression.

Blind loyalty, a sincere gaze, and a firm tone.

Diana was as unwavering as always.

And so.

My restless heart slowly settled.

It was a moment of strange relief, catching my breath.

“Kyle!”

A familiar voice sounded from behind.

As I turned around, Isabel approached me with a smile.

“You’re safe!”

Isabel came closer step by step.

I barely managed to compose my contorted expression.

“Thank goodness, really.”

Isabel smiled with a soft voice, squinting her eyes.

There was a strange sense of satisfaction in her smile.

As if she felt proud of having saved Kyle.

“I missed you terribly.”

“…”

“Did you know? I’ve been thinking about you every single day, Kyle.”

She’s spouting nonsense, utter nonsense.

I barely managed to swallow my words.

I have to endure it.

There’s still something I need from her.

“The Sacred Solvent?”

I asked directly, and the corners of Isabel’s eyes curved like crescent moons.

She reached into her pocket and pulled something out.

“Here it is.”

I smirked.

Then, with a brighter tone, I said,

“Thank you, Isabel.”

Isabel’s face flushed red.

“As expected, remarkable.”Fiind upd𝒂ted 𝒏ovels on n𝒐/v/elbin(.)co/m

“Ah…”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Kyle…”

Sob—

Tears silently fell from the corners of her eyes.

Isabel handed me the Sacred Solvent with a trembling voice.

“Finally… my feelings have reached you.”

Nonsense spilled from Isabel’s lips.

Whether it was true or not, I carefully examined the item she handed me.

Ah, it’s certain.

It’s the Sacred Solvent.

“As expected, Kyle, you need me too…”

“Enough.”

Isabel’s face blurred for a moment.

“Ky-Kyle…?”

Isabel’s eyelids trembled.

Her face showed a sense of betrayal, as if she had been slapped.

I glared fiercely at Isabel’s dazed face.

“Step aside. If you’re done, that is.”

“…This can’t be…”

“What?”

“I’m… not needed…?”

What’s she saying?

I furrowed my brow and let out an irritated voice.

“No, you’re not needed.”

A stifled sound of sobbing burst from Isabel’s lips.

I ignored her and moved away.

At that moment, Isabel grabbed my arm.

“…What are you doing?”

Isabel remained silent.

No, it seemed like she had something to say as she hesitated with her lips.

Her expression was even confused.

As if she were someone facing an unexpected situation.

“Isabel.”

“…”

“Let go.”

Isabel’s pupils shook roughly.

I gritted my teeth and roughly shook off her hand.

Then, it happened.

“Paha.”

An elegant laughter scattered into my ears.

As I turned my head, Luna, leaning against the wall, met my gaze.

“Oh, I couldn’t help it.”

Luna slowly straightened up.

Her jet-black hair gently swayed.

“How have you been, Kyle?”

[Translator – Peptobismol]