Chapter 1

[Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 1

‘My idol, my hero, my sun.’

‘Yes. Why do you call?’

‘Before you fall, before you cease to be my idol, my hero, my sun, I will kill you with my own hands. For your honor!’

‘What kind of nonsense... Ugh!’

I chuckled dryly, recalling the conversation I had with my longtime comrade and disciple about a month ago.

Damn him.

I fed him, clothed him, raised him, and he backstabbed me with such absurd words.

“It still hurts like hell.”

I lifted my shirt to check the wound on my heart from that day.

The scar, spanning over a hand's length— nestled between the white chest muscles, was terribly gruesome.

Tzzzzt.

Crimson and turquoise electric sparks flew from the cracked crevices, leaking mana.

“…”

Cheong Siyeol, that bastard— was clever, just like his master.

He seemed to know well that stabbing me with an ordinary sword wouldn't work.

I don't know where he got such an artifact from.

But the artifact he pierced my heart from— 'Chronos' Hand'— a weapon that slices through the very fabric of time of its target.

This wound only grows larger with time.

Tssss.

It's much longer and wider than it was a month ago, and now it's spreading root-like cracks into the surrounding skin.

It's a miracle I've lasted a month.

If I were an ordinary Ranker, I wouldn't have made it past that day.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

At that moment, the Great Constellation shouted at me like thunder in my head.

【“Stop with the melodrama and prepare to fight. Why aren't you using the *‘Law of Light’ I gave you? I don't understand.”】

【“Do you think I've been sponsoring you to see such a pathetic ending? How could you do this to me? Are you really thinking of giving up on life so easily?"】

【“The second protective barrier has been breached. If the third one falls, it's game over.”】

“I know.”

I forced a bitter smile and looked ahead.

Thud! Thud!

The ornate, modern-style door, tightly sealed with red chains and mana circles, shook violently.

“It’s the third barrier! Just a little more!”

“What a tenacious bastard. It's been a month, and he still has this much mana left.”

“Don't let your guard down. He's Hong Baekya, after all.”

Beyond that door, countless enemies were waiting to kill me.

My former disciple, the 4th ranked Swordsman Cheong Siyeol— leading them.

I know, because I raised him.

In my current state, defeating him is impossible.

“But Constellation, you know this too, don’t you?”

I spoke to the Great Star.

【“…”】

“I can’t win. Maybe if I hadn’t been stabbed in the first place. But the more mana I use, the larger the wound grows, and the more mana I’ll lose. I just… want to be with you until the very end.”

【“Don’t talk nonsense. I’m going to hit you for real.”】

【Your Constellation ‘Sunny’ slaps you across the cheek with all their might.】

Slap.

A gentle spring breeze brushed against my cheek.

To think that my Constellation's physical influence on this world is so limited— a testament to how weak I've become.

But my sorrow was brief.

【"Have you truly given up?"】

I smiled confidently and shook my head.

"No. I have no intention of dying quietly."

I have to survive and reach the top of the Tower.

That was my promise to my fallen comrades, and the honor of Baekya.

【"Then what do you intend to do?"】

【Your constellation 'Sunny' expresses her doubt.】

[TL/N: I’m not yet sure what ‘Sunny’s’ gender is, so I’ll be referring ‘Sunny’ as a female until and unless confirmed otherwise]

Ding.

I opened my status window and inventory, then took out the artifact ring I always carried.

【Ring of the Returnee (Legendary)】

【1. Revives the user in the body of the most recently deceased Awakened within the user's server.

2. This artifact is single-use.

3. If a suitable deceased Awakened is not found within 3 days of using this artifact, the user's soul will be erased.】

I put the ring on my finger and addressed my Constellation.

"Don't worry. I have no intention of dying. I was careless a month ago, and I won't make the same mistake twice."

【"So you had a plan all along."】

【"Then you're giving up on that body?"】

"It's a shame, but what can I do? The inside is already patched up like a quilt. I've used it for too long, and it's broken in many places. It might be better to start anew this time."

【"What if no suitable Awakened dies within those 3 days for your soul to inhabit?"】

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The door shook violently.

The red chains and mana circles shattered.

The last protective barrier of the sanctuary was breaking.

"Then I guess I'll really die."

I muttered, drawing my beloved weapon from my inventory.

Hoping that this wasn't the end of my story.

* * *

Bang!

With a loud sound, the sanctuary door burst open.

"We're going in!"

Cheong Siyeol, Korea's 4th ranked High-Ranker, the 'Sword Saint', led the charge into Hong Baekya's sanctuary.

At the top of a 100-story skyscraper in the heart of Seoul.

Hong Baekya's sanctuary was as magnificent as his reputation.

It was filled with the purest mana stones, statues and pillars with various magical effects, and artifacts designed to anchor Constellations to this world.

In the center, surrounded by 12 pillars.

Atop a triple platform where sunlight poured in from the surrounding glass windows.

He sat on a massive golden throne.

"It's been a while, Master."

"You're here. I thought I was going to die of boredom waiting. It took you days to break through just three barriers?"

The first thing that caught the eye was the holy ring, the halo, floating above his head.

Its color was like blazing crimson flames, its pattern as intricate as an Indian mandala.

It was the symbol of Hong Baekya, the Awakened who had held the world's number one position for 13 years.

Beneath that, a face where intense masculinity coexisted with a sharpness like broken icicles— held an irresistible charm.

His body, clad in a multi-million won suit crafted by a world-renowned tailor, hinted at physique-competitor-like muscles even beneath the fabric, showcasing its beauty.

To think he still looked this formidable a month after being struck by Chronos' Hand... In his prime, he must have been truly untouchable.

"It seems I still have much to learn."

"Didn't I teach you to betray only after you've sucked everything you can out of someone?"

"This isn't betrayal. I swear it. No one respects you as much as I do."

"I guess the definition of betrayal has changed while I wasn't looking. Or maybe the definition of respect has."

Hong Baekya burst into laughter and rose from his seat.

Fwoosh!

His longsword glowed a faint red.

"I cherished you."

"I know."

"I thought that when I die, I could rest easy thinking of you, entrusting the future of this country— my unfinished dreams, to you."

"You said that."

"Was that not enough?"

"No."

"Or was the responsibility too heavy? Or was it too hard being expected to live up to my expectations? Did you start to feel it was unfair for Awakened like us to risk our lives protecting the weak— the non-Awakened?"

Cheong Siyeol looked up at Hong Baekya with an inexplicably sorrowful expression.

"That's absurd! I've been able to live until now thanks to the expectations you placed on me, the words you spoke, your recognition! So... please don't say that. At least until now, you were right."

A wave of rough, navy-blue bangs covered his teary eyes.

Hum.

A blue halo spun above his head, and in an instant, a longsword appeared in his hand.

"My idol, my hero, my sun. Before you fall, before you cease to be my idol, my hero, my sun, I will kill you with my own hands."

Cheong Siyeol's sky-blue eyes shone brightly as he pointed his sword forward.

Clang.

Though his stance was filled with hesitation, the tip of his sword remained steady.

"I don't understand what you mean."

Hong Baekya raised his longsword above his head and took a step forward.

His low voice was tinged with bitter regret.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

【Skills... are activated.】

【Traits... are activated.】

Immediately after their countless skills and traits activated—

Boom!

The two clashed with a roar like a supernova explosion.

Cheong Siyeol's sword soared like a salmon leaping over a waterfall, while Hong Baekya's longsword attacked from all directions like the sun's rays.

"N-No way. It's been a month since he was stabbed. How can he still have that much power left?"

"Siyeol is going to lose. We need to help."

"Get in the middle of that? Are you kidding me? That's suicide!"

Cheong Siyeol's comrades cried out in shock and dismay.

Whoosh!

Hong Baekya, wielding his longsword in his right hand and a blazing fireball in his left, leapt towards Cheong Siyeol like a rising sun.

It was a strike powerful enough to cleave Cheong Siyeol, the 4th-ranked swordsman, in two with a single blow.

"No!"

Just as his comrades were about to intervene, thinking they absolutely had to this time.

'...As expected, you can see through all my techniques. But you won't know this one. It's a skill I shouldn't have learned yet.'

Cheong Siyeol's eyes flashed sky-blue once more.

Swoosh!

Cheong Siyeol's blue sword, like an event horizon, warped space and pierced Hong Baekya's side.

Thud!

The sword, thrust beneath his left ribs, pierced diagonally through his body and emerged from behind his right shoulder blade.

"Huh?"

Baekya, surprised rather than in pain, lost his grip on the fireball he'd raised.

Fizzle!

The incomplete sun fell from his hand, losing its light and eventually fading away.

His legs weakened.

Unconsciously, he reached out and grabbed his former disciple's shoulder.

Thud.

'Damn it.'

The shoulder that once felt like it would break if he held it too tightly was now quite firm.

"You... could use a skill like that?"

"Not originally."

"...Originally?"

"I don't know if you'll believe me, but no. You don't have to believe me. I don't want to lie to you, even in this moment."

"Alright. Tell me. I deserve to know at least... the reason why I'm dying, don't I?"

Cheong Siyeol's kind and upright face contorted with guilt.

Two streams of tears silently flowed down his jade-like cheeks.

"I'm not the person you knew."

"What do you mean?"

"I, and my comrades, have returned from the future. We are all Regressors."

"Regression?"

"And you, in the not-so-distant future, will become the worst Awakened, betraying humanity and setting the whole world ablaze. I—! I couldn't bear to let you! Be remembered that way!"

"What kind of... dreamlike nonsense are you spouting?"

Baekya couldn't believe his ears.

Ever since the Tower appeared, there had been many who claimed to have regressed or seen the future.

Ninety-nine out of a hundred were frauds, and the remaining one, due to the Tower's 'laws', could only speak in riddles, offering no real help.

But to hear that Cheong Siyeol, of all people, and his other comrades were Regressors...

'So you won't let me die peacefully after all.'

These weren't words that should be coming from the talents who were supposed to take charge of Korea's Tower after his death.

'I will bring you back to your senses.'

He took a deep breath and raised his head.

He could feel the mana dissipating within his body.

【The Ring of the Returnee is ready for activation.】

A notification popped up in his mind, indicating that the preparations for his revival were complete.

"I see. Whether it was some curse or mental attack, I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision to kill me."

"What?"

"So don't cry. I'm sorry for dying in front of you. I'm sorry I couldn't remain the great idol, the invincible hero, the unchanging sun."

"That's not it. I did it for your honor...!"

Hong Baekya's halo flickered above his head.

His eyes, once burning like coal, cooled.

His disciple cried out urgently.

"Just one, I have just one question!"

"...What is it?"

"Why didn't you kill us all? You had several chances to use Law of Light."

"You call that a question?"

Hong Baekya's answer was already decided.

"Let's say I killed you all. I would have died too, right? Then who would protect this country, who would climb the Tower? With neither me nor you..."

Half of it was an act, a performance for his staged death.

Therefore, the other half was his true feelings.

After finishing his words, Baekya's arms went limp.

'Aitel' Rank 1 in Korea, Rank 1 in the world. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the NøvᴇlFirᴇ(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

The sole survivor of the first generation of Awakened.

'The Sun' Hong Baekya.

Deceased.

* * *

Splash!

【Return successful.】

【There is a high possibility of danger near the deceased. Please be careful.】

The 'Aitel System' message rang out, and I felt a sense of relief mixed with a slight chill.

Regression?

I don't know how my disciple fell into such a delusion, but I couldn't turn a blind eye after seeing him in such a state.

If I find and eliminate those behind this, the curse will disappear as well.

Siyeol, just wait a little longer.

I'll bring you back to your senses.

And then, let's climb the Tower together again.

Rustle.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around.

Perhaps my eyes were injured when I died, as my vision was blurry.

As I tried to take a deep breath, something caught in my throat.

Gurgle! Gurgle!

Bubbles rose above me.

Huh?

"Ugh!"

Only then did I realize I was drowning!

This Awakened had drowned!

I desperately reached for the surface of the water I could see above, but my arms flailed helplessly, unable to break through.

Huh?

This can't be happening.

This ring is single-use, isn't it?

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]