The Regressor Can Make Them All
Chapter 351

Chapter 351

In a secluded corner of the hospital cafe, Se-Hoon took a sip of his coffee and reviewed the documents in his hand once again.

Name: Ryu Meilin. Specialty: Mana-infused Metallurgy. Born in Guangzhou. Worked at UD Group’s Guangzhou research lab for three years.

Age:...

Scanning through the personnel file, Se-Hoon glanced at the person sitting across from him. Her hair was tied back into a simple ponytail, and she wore oversized glasses that were perched on her nose. She looked like she’d just woken up, and her loose-knit sweater, paired with a long skirt that reached below her calves, gave her a soft, unassuming impression.

By all appearances, she was an average beauty. But knowing who she truly was, Se-Hoon couldn’t help but make a baffled expression.

What’s going on here...?

While his master, Ryu Meirin, officially held the title of a blacksmith, her role was actually closer to that of a handyman. Operating both legally and illegally, she had a knack for handling any task with precision. Because of that, Se-Hoon had considered the possibility that he might run into Meirin in disguise someday, but...

I did think it could happen, but... damn.

Se-Hoon’s expression grew complicated as he turned his gaze back to the file and the attached photo. The lazily created alias of “Meilin” paired with her completely unaltered face in the photo, left him speechless. Although her hairstyle and outfit were different, anyone who knew her could recognize her immediately.

He couldn’t help but wonder what she was thinking by showing up so blatantly, but after reflecting on it during the walk to the cafe, he had come up with some guesses.

She probably thinks her bare face makes her identity less conspicuous.

In his memories, she only went bare faced when it was just the two of them. Around others, she always used Soul Honing to alter not just her face and physique, but even her biometric rhythms—she was incredibly skilled at disguises.

So perhaps, for someone like her, using her genuine face was the most natural way to blend in.

Nobody ordinary would recognize her, though Perfect Ones might still figure it out...

Thinking back, her decision to attend the last conference without a disguise likely stemmed from a similar line of reasoning. When his thoughts reached that point, he was able to regain some of the composure lost by Meirin’s sudden appearance and could begin contemplating why she had sought him out instead.

The most likely reason is her affiliation with Offering... but she might have another motive.

Although the recent large-scale operation had severely uprooted the foundations that the Demon Force took decades to establish—which, even now, was being slowly uprooted by smaller search-and-destroy missions—such an approach didn’t seem likely to align with the methods of Watchers, considering their meticulousness.

Lost in thought, Se-Hoon eventually tore his gaze from the file and turned to Meirin.

“So... Ms. Meilin?”

At the call of her name, she turned her head lazily from where she had been staring off, her expression asking what he wanted.

Se-Hoon met her gaze.

“May I ask you a few questions?”

“As you wish.”

“Alright then...”

Glancing at the file again, Se-Hoon’s eyes caught something in particular, prompting him to speak almost involuntarily. “The file says you’re twenty-eight.”

“It sure does.”

Se-Hoon’s expression twitched subtly at her casualness. While her youthful appearance made it plausible, he thought it was ridiculous for her to lie so blatantly.

Wait... am I really one to talk though?

Recalling his own regression of thirty-one years, Se-Hoon chuckled wryly. And upon noticing, Meirin’s eyes narrowed, her expression turning both wary and displeased.

“I assumed you were closer to my age when I saw you in the hospital earlier. My apologies if I offended you,” Se-Hoon quickly said, making an excuse.

“...There’s no need for apologies. I hear that often enough.”

Perhaps flattered by the subtle compliment about her bare face, Meirin let out a small laugh and sipped her drink through a straw.

Relieved that her face lightened up, Se-Hoon continued the conversation. “So, can I ask why you applied to Babel? I heard the UD Group’s Guangzhou research lab is just as impressive.”

“My motives are written in the file. Isn’t that enough?” Meirin asked, giving him a puzzled look.

She had written the generic reason of wanting to work at Babel, the world’s premier educational and research institution, which was common. But before Se-Hoon, who knew her true identity, it was an obvious lie.

“I just feel like there must be a more important reason.”

“Hmm... what if I’m embarrassed to say it?”

But to her reluctance, Se-Hoon just nonchalantly replied, “Then an error in the system will probably result in your rejection notice before the day is over.”

On paper, Se-Hoon was simply a first-year student, but in actuality, his influence at Babel was akin to that of a vice chairman. And Meirin, who was aware of that, would definitely realize his words weren’t just a joke.

“...You’re bolder than the rumors suggest.”

“It’s a sensitive time. I appreciate your understanding.”

“Hmm. Well, my contract said to keep certain things secret, but... I guess I have no choice.”

Shrugging, Meirin took another sip.

“Are you familiar with the internal situation of the UD Group?”

“I’ve heard that they’re divided into factions fighting over the next president position.”

The traditionalists, led by the children born while Wurgen was still human, and the reformists, composed of children created through necromancy, were fiercely competing for the UD Group’s succession while Wurgen fanned the flames by refusing to intervene.

“It’s always been a mess between those two, but... things have recently escalated due to a dispute over the rights to manage the Danger Zones granted by the Heroes Association. Now, it’s almost a full-blown war.”

“A war?”

Surprised, Se-Hoon furrowed his brow. He had expected some chaos within the UD Group, but not to such an extent.

“Apparently, Wurgen said something that provoked it, but I don’t know the details. I’m just an outsider.” Finishing her drink, Meirin bit on the straw idly as she continued. “Anyway, the most intense fight is over the project for developing special equipment to be used by undead managing those zones.”

“Special equipment...”

“They’re competing to meet Wurgen’s performance demands. And that was when the traditionalists realized they lacked skilled blacksmiths.”

Meirin’s lips curled into a sly smile as she placed the straw back in the cup.

“So, they hired me.”

Known around the world as the Blood Master, Meirin had been brought in to secure the project.

Ruminating over her explanation, Se-Hoon asked, “If that’s the case, why didn’t you go straight to Gehenna? Why apply to the Department of Blacksmithing?”

“Because, along with the development project, they asked me to spy on you. So, I figured I’d kill two birds with one stone.”

She had said it so casually that it was obvious she didn’t think much of the spying task.

And with that piece of information, Se-Hoon pieced everything together.

“So the traditionalists believe I’m allied with the reformists.”

“Gehenna’s head, Richard Kruger, is part of their side, and we heard rumors about your interactions with him.”

“Hmm...”

Technically, Richard wasn’t officially aligned with either faction, but he was widely seen as part of the reformists. Given the circumstances, it wasn’t surprising that the legitimate faction decided to probe Se-Hoon.

In this situation...

Weighing his options, he glanced at Meirin, who was gnawing on her straw again.

“I don’t mind you guys developing the special equipment, but accepting a spy into our department is a different story...”

“Hmm...? Then, how about this? I’ll only report the information you allow.”

“Only the information that I allow?”

Seeing the puzzled look on Se-Hoon’s face, Meirin smiled faintly and nodded.

“I was tasked with reporting anything I discover about you. As for whether that information is true or not... is for them to decide.”

“So, you get your payment and I get the chance to mislead the traditionalists. Is that what you’re saying?”

“Don’t you think it’s a good deal?”

It seemed Meirin’s cunning hadn’t changed; she had no qualms about exploiting loopholes in her assignments to fulfill her objectives. It made him hesitate, but before long, he nodded.

“Fine. But if I see even the slightest sign that you’ve broken our agreement, I’ll take care of you immediately. Keep that in mind.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not reckless enough to try something here,” Meirin calmly answered. Then, after stopping herself from chewing on her straw again, she asked, “So, is that all?”

Seeing her demeanor, which suggested she was irritated by something, Se-Hoon recalled it was her usual behavior when she couldn’t smoke for a while.

“Yes, this will suffice.”

“Then, if you’ll excuse me. I still have some unpacking to do.”

“Until next time.”

Standing, Meirin headed toward the exit of the cafe, but when she passed by Se-Hoon, she paused as if something had just occurred to her.

“Ah, I forgot to ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“The special equipment. Which side do you think will win the bid?”

Her question was a thinly veiled provocation, considering that Meirin represented the traditionalists, while Se-Hoon was seen as the representative of the reformists.

Yet Se-Hoon didn’t so much as bat an eye, plainly answering, “I’ll win, of course.”

“...Oh?”

There was neither doubt nor hesitation in his voice—only unshakable confidence.

It was a response that brought a crooked smile to Meirin’s lips.

“Now that’s something I look forward to.”

With that, Meirin left the cafe.

This is the best move for now, Se-Hoon thought, letting out a small sigh once he was alone.

On the surface, Meirin was working for the traditionalist faction of the UD Group, but knowing her, it was highly likely she had also taken on other assignments from Offering since she was at Babel, anyway.

Of course, Se-Hoon could easily alert Ludwig and resolve the issue, but he had decided against it.

If I make the wrong move here, Master could end up dead.

While he genuinely believed Meirin wouldn’t cross a critical line even in her dealings with the Watchers, the same couldn’t be said for others, especially the Perfect Ones. They were completely unpredictable and might not share his perspective.

That wasn’t the only reason he had, though: there was also no concrete evidence tying Meilin to the Watchers. Besides one thing, that was.

If she had disguised herself, I could have claimed to have identified her based on that. But coming here bare-faced nullifies any such pretext.

The only slim chance would be if someone claimed to have seen Meirin’s bare face at a location connected to Watchers. And, as far as Se-Hoon knew, the only places she had appeared without a disguise were meetings and conferences attended exclusively by Watcher executives.

I need to keep my infiltration as Dawn a secret for now.

Considering all of the factors, there was only one viable course of action for Se-Hoon: persuade Meirin to his side before she became too entangled with Offering.

The best way to pique her interest... are probably weapons.

All he had to do was just overwhelm Meirin with his skills for the special equipment project. Before regressing, he had failed to surpass her, but now a far different story.

Gazing at the spot where Meirin had just been, Se-Hoon chuckled quietly to himself.

“I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if I became her master this time,” he murmured.

***

“Phew... What a pain.”

Meirin let out a deep sigh as she opened a packing box and began taking out her belongings. She had insisted on handling the task herself, unwilling to leave it to anyone else, but now that she had started, the sheer tedium made her groan.

Maybe I should’ve made that cheeky kid do this for me...

As she grumbled to herself, her thoughts drifted to Se-Hoon, the same cheeky kid she had just spoken with. He had suddenly begun making flattering remarks, only to follow them up by awkwardly and repeatedly glancing at her face.

Then he had tried to hide it by shifting his gaze elsewhere, but Meirin had seen through the entire charade already.

I was wondering how I’d approach him... well, you never know what the world has in store.

While she wasn’t entirely certain, his blatant actions suggested her assumptions were likely correct. Realizing one of her trickiest challenges might resolve itself, Meirin smirked.

Wait... does that mean all those rumors about his scandals were nonsense? She wondered suddenly.

Perhaps the supposed rumors stemmed from one-sided assumptions by the other party. With such stray thoughts continuing to cross her mind, Meirin continued unpacking until she abruptly stopped.

“...Forget this.”

With a thud, she collapsed onto her living room sofa as if her battery had run out, just lying there motionlessly. Eventually, however, she reached into her pocket, pulled out a sleek silver cigarette case, and lazily flipped it open.

“Time to recharge...”

Taking out a cigarette, she lit it with a small flame conjured at her fingertip, and gazed at the familiar glow of the fire flickering gently.

Now that I think about it, I haven’t heard from them since.

She had expected it would be some time until they contacted her again, but the complete silence was still surprising. Idly rolling the cigarette between her lips, her expression turned thoughtful.

Did they not use the Blood Crystal yet? Or did they use it and find it worthless?

Between the two, Meirin considered the former more likely. The person in question had been as adept in the Blood Arts as she was, so surely, they would recognize the crystal’s value.

Oh well. If they don’t contact me, that’s that.

If they were too dull to grasp its worth, there wasn’t much to gain from them, anyway. Shrugging off the thought, Meirin lit her cigarette and smoked absentmindedly.

A while passed, and her gaze shifted to the clock on the wall.

“Ah, it’s this late already,” she muttered softly.

Standing up, Meirin retrieved a small device resembling a microscope from one of the nearby boxes. Then, placing her finger on the lens stage, she created a tiny cut and allowed a few drops of blood to fall onto the plate. After, she adjusted it so moonlight streamed through the outer lens, filtering into the blood through the inner lens.

Watching the process as she smoked, Meirin checked the plate after a moment. The blood was faintly glowing, as if imbued with moonlight. Confirming it was ready, she reabsorbed it into her finger.

But after a brief silence, she sighed.

“Failure, again.”

Frustrated, she slumped back onto the sofa, cigarette in hand. Nothing had changed at all. However, deep within her synesthetic mindscape, a strange scene was actually unfolding.

A circular table emerged from the darkness, its surface reflecting the moon and stars as if it held the night sky. Then, shadowy figures appeared, wavering beyond the table’s edges.

Meirin focused on this mysterious gathering—the scene her blood had just attended.

“Thank you for gathering at this new conference venue. Hmm? Get on with it? How cold.” With a grumble, the voice—Tuner, the leader of Exuviation—continued. “Lately, the Perfect Ones have been quite a pain in the ass, haven’t they? Teaming up suddenly and blocking our hunt.... It’s getting unbearable.”

Echoing across the table, Tuner’s complaint was met with silent agreement from the gathered figures.

Seeing that, Tuner nodded in satisfaction and made a proposition.

“So, what if we join forces too and strike back?”

The idea of the Ten Evils, Watchers, and Demon Force uniting seemed ludicrous, but recent events had created a shared interest.

“Everyone in favor? Good. Then...”

From the shadows, the masked face of Tuner leaned forward.

“Why don’t we start by killing Wurgen Kruger?”

There was a sinister smile in his voice.

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