Everyone Else is a Regressor

Chapter 30

◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (30)

"You're too slow, Flame Spirit!"

Is KiJun an incarnate of ruthless evil for abducting a person?

Is he so indifferent to the rampaging spirit’s wrath that he casually decides to explore a ruin instead?

Of course not.

Honestly, KiJun was somewhat disgruntled by this RPG-like setup, with forced entry into intense quests starting with unavoidable screams. However, as his tutorial experience showed, this otherworld was filled with unpredictable dangers.

Anyway, KiJun’s strategy to deal with the rampaging spirit, or should I say minefield, centered on provocation.

"You’re too slow, even for a flame!"

Thanks to his unique-grade Blinding Taunt skill, KiJun, flashing incessantly, carrying the offering NPC, and sprinting through the forest, looked like a madman.

Lucy briefly wondered if the 'blinding' in Blinding Taunt meant madness rather than light. But she was as annoying as KiJun, mockingly extinguishing the ghosts summoned by the rampaging spirit every time they appeared with her beams of light.

A perfect partnership.

The spirit must have been seething with rage.

"We found him! The boy is over there!"

"Aah! A madman flashing all over is abducting the offering!"

As KiJun continued his mocking escapade, the villagers, likely the ones who had offered the boy as a sacrifice, appeared. Dressed in shabby clothes from all directions, they seemed more like monsters than NPCs.

To an outsider, KiJun, flashing while running with the boy, would undoubtedly appear the most monstrous.

"Stop right there! That boy is this year’s offering to the spirit!"

"We have no choice, let’s shoot!"

The villagers' barbarity was evident as they immediately resorted to violence without attempting proper communication. Unique-grade provocation indeed!

Frustrated, KiJun lamented his decision to head to the ruins immediately, as the villagers began firing arrows from their worn-out bows. Surprisingly, the arrows caught fire mid-air, turning into flaming arrows.

Perhaps the villagers gained the power to manipulate flame as a reward for their offerings to the spirit?

Disgusted by the thought, KiJun muttered.

"We need to enter the ruins quickly."

As KiJun lightly swung his shield to deflect the arrows, Lucy screamed in panic.

—No, KiJun, we need to take the broth!

"Right, I almost forgot."

"Broth?"

KiJun, about to enter the ruins, changed direction and headed to the riverside, scooping up the pressure cooker, still bubbling over the fire, into his inventory.

Just then, the campfire exploded fiercely, targeting KiJun, but a light shield appeared at the last moment, neatly blocking the attack.

—We must protect the hostage too.

"Hostage..."

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"The boy is over there!"

"Retrieve the offering! Hurry!"

Chased by the relentless spirit and the villagers desperately seeking KiJun, it was a nuisance, but he couldn’t attack them. Resigned, KiJun readjusted the dejected hostage on his back and ran again.

Upon reaching the ruins, KiJun noticed a change. Dozens of flame pillars that weren’t there before now surrounded the ruins.

"Oh, could this be…?"

—The ruin might be related to the spirit. Even better, let’s go in!

"That man is entering the master's sanctuary!"

"Stop him, now!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

Ignoring the villagers' outcry and a threatening female voice, KiJun charged through the pillars of fire.

Protecting himself with Adamant, and focusing all the light spirit power on the hostage to prevent any harm.

—Your proficiency in using Adamant (L) has increased!

—Lucy’s proficiency has increased!

In just one second, breaking through the red pillars, KiJun smiled at the dramatic response. It seemed like he had found a hidden route in the quest.

The trees and rocks around melted from the intense heat, revealing the entrance to the ruins.

"That man is entering the master's sanctuary!"

"The spirit's wrath will descend!"

"Aah, aahh…!"

"Sanctuary, a human in the sanctuary… Master…"

The villagers, unable to cross the flame barrier, glared at KiJun, screaming in horror and anger.

Feeling a chilling intensity, KiJun muttered.

"It's like some sort of cult."

—People ready to sacrifice a child wouldn’t be sane. But they are… unusually odd.

"No, it’s a disaster. If we enter, we’ll never be able to leave."

The boy, who had seemed resigned, now trembled with instinctive fear and resistance as they approached the ruins. But quest NPCs often warn of danger when close to the crux of the situation.

KiJun firmly held the boy and opened the ruin’s door.

"Let's go!"

—Ah, this ruin was triggered by spirit power, Contractor!

—Stop at once!

Ignoring the despairing cries of the spirit, KiJun burst through the entrance into the ruins.

As soon as the ruin's door closed, all the pillars of fire surrounding it disappeared. The atmosphere vibrated intensely as the flames' magic converged, forming a massive figure.

"Futilely sacrificing offerings I've nurtured for years…! I'll burn you to ashes, I will!"

"Spirit, please calm your wrath. Forgive us…"

"Our lord will never forgive us if we fail. We'll all be turned to flame…"

The villagers, trembling and bowing their heads, listened to the harsh reprimands of the enraged female voice.

"I'll go punish that brute. You return to the village and raise a new offering. Immediately!"

*    *    *

Meanwhile, KiJun, having fully entered the ruin, was overwhelmed by its oppressive heat.

—First entry into the undiscovered ruin [Wounded Nest of Flame (U)]. Awarded 5,000 Reta Points as a discovery reward!

—Entering the ruin triggers the [Discoverer of Hidden Dungeon (L)] title effect. All statuses and skill effects increase by 20%.

Although these welcome notifications popped up, there was no time to count points.

It was incredibly hot.

Not just warm, but scorching!

Like being inside an oven.

"Wow, this is…"

Had KiJun not activated Adamant, his skin might have been scorched.

He quickly deployed his unique magic circulation method, Salutaris, drawing in surrounding mana for recovery, and intensified the strength of Adamant.

It was then he remembered the hostage on his back.

"Are you okay?"

"Me? Oh, I'm quite heat-resistant."

The boy, who had been terrified until entering the ruin, now oddly calm. Or perhaps resigned?

'Such a joke,' KiJun thought.

Sacrifices, offerings.

These were unacceptable to KiJun. Surrendering control, sacrificing innocents to delay situations.

The anger towards the boy, who resigned himself as a sacrifice, and those who sacrificed him was immense, but KiJun calmed himself for now.

As the spirit reacted to this ruin, proceeding deeper would surely reveal something.

—The spirit’s energy is strong… KiJun, be cautious. A rampaging spirit is often stronger than its original rank.

"I've never let my guard down entering enemy territory."

KiJun cautiously moved forward, noting the walls adorned with flame-like symbols.

Though he expected traps, the straight corridor showed no signs of traps or monsters.

Not knowing when a fight might break out, KiJun let the boy down.

"Are you sure you're not hot?"

"Hot, yes… but I'm okay. I'll follow carefully."

—Maybe he has a talent for fire… Ah.

Lucy, seemingly interested, looked at the boy, then suddenly narrowed her eyes.

When KiJun inquired, she paused, then said,

—Not sure yet. Let's go further in.

"…Alright, take care of him."

Of course, the boy wasn't ordinary.

Sighing, KiJun hastened his pace.

Soon, larger flame ghosts, similar to those in the forest, attacked. They resembled airborne slimes, except for the fiery exterior and a spherical core at the center.

"Pierce the core and it's over, but…"

—Contractor, try to avoid the core, chip away from the outside!

"Leave it to me."

A bloody tinge mixed with light enveloped the shield KiJun raised.

His unique attack technique, even formidable with a single shield.

The legendary skill [Moonlight Blood Fang], evolved after the battle with the Demon Lord, imbued with her blood.

"Kyahaha!"

"Gathering experience?"

KiJun relentlessly struck with the shield, forming bloody fangs. The shapeless enemy kept firing flames, but KiJun, trusting Adamant, took the hits, focusing on shaving off the flames around the core.

The boy, entrusted to Lucy, watched in awe.

—How is it?

"Amazing… He’s so strong! I thought so when he broke through the fire pillars…"

—…Right.

Lucy nodded quietly, then looked at KiJun.

Meanwhile, KiJun, having almost entirely diminished the ghost, leaving only the core and faint flames, saw the red core drop to the ground.

—You have defeated an Uncommon Flame Ghost and earned a small amount of experience for defeating a lower-ranked enemy.

—Skills used in combat have slightly grown.

The experience, while modest, was appreciated.

More important was the core Lucy intended to collect.

"Is this a good find, Lucy?"

—We need to gather these, Contractor.

"Not thousands of them though, right?"

Recalling the 4-year dedication to the tutorial dungeon, KiJun asked, pale-faced. Lucy chuckled, shaking her head.

—No need for that many. Just collect what you find. It's like an energy supplement.

"You suddenly sound like an expert."

—Well, it is a spirit-related ruin!

Lucy, feigning cheerfulness, then looked at the boy following them.

—So I know quite a bit... even things I wish I didn't, too clearly.

The boy suddenly looked up, locking eyes with Lucy, despite her not being physically manifested.

In his eyes, a faint flame flickered.

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