The Heroine Stole My Regression-Chapter 13

The interior of the dungeon was completely different from the shabby exterior.

The massive pillar crossing the center and the marble floors perfectly replicated the grandeur of an ancient temple.

Elegant patterns were etched all around, enveloping the space in a divine aura.

It would have been different if this had been a Skeleton Cave, but this was a double dungeon.

“Hmm, this is good. My condition’s improving.”

Cheon Yeoul said quietly as she took a deep breath.

Her expression softened, and a subtle glow radiated from her face.

Her hair shone with luster, flowing like silk.

This dungeon—no, should I even call it a dungeon?

It was the tomb of the legendary Japanese priestess, Iano.

About five years ago, Japan was turned upside down.

This was because a will left behind by Iano during her lifetime had been discovered. The contents were as follows:

‘Fake in the homeland, real abroad.’

According to the will, she had left a fake tomb in Japan to prevent grave robbing, hiding the real tomb in a remote foreign land that no one knew about.

The prediction proved correct. The fake tomb of Iano in Japan was soon looted.

The problem lay in the revelation brought about by the will.

The tomb that Japan had guarded for centuries was ultimately a fake.

Japan scoured the world in search of the real tomb, based on the will, but they failed.

And now, the real tomb lay before my eyes.

“What tier was it?”

That was the question I asked Cheon Yeoul.

Iano didn’t just leave her tomb abroad, she had hidden it securely.

Only those with the proper divine power would qualify to even approach it, and it would never reveal itself unless the power was at least tier 3.

However, the aura Cheon Yeoul had just released didn’t seem to be of tier 3 quality.

“Well... I thought it was fully tier 3?”

Cheon Yeoul paused, putting her finger to her lips thoughtfully.

“Why? Doesn’t it seem that way?”

With a relaxed smile, she turned the question back to me.

I looked around the dungeon again.

This was a double dungeon. Normally, it would be filled with complicated puzzles and obstacles.

‘It’s too clean.’

There wasn’t a speck of dust on the marble floor, and the paths, which should have been tangled, were instead straight and orderly.

This was the kind of state that would occur only when cheats had been used in the game, bringing out priests of tier 7 or higher.

A regular tier 3 priest wouldn’t have been enough.

‘...Could it be?’

I had used a high-grade holy water. The old man had treasured it immensely; it was very precious.

And Cheon Yeoul wasn’t an ordinary priest. Even if she was a tier 3 priest, her divine power’s quantity and quality would have been different from that of others.

In fact, this was a good thing. It was a good thing, but...

“I memorized everything...”

The night before, before going to bed, I had memorized all the strategies and puzzles.

Now that I couldn’t use them, I felt a bit frustrated.

“This ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ is amazing. I didn’t expect something like this behind such a small dungeon.”

Cheon Yeoul casually looked around as she spoke.

We walked along the straight path as if a red carpet had been laid down.

At the end of the path was a massive door, firmly closed.

The distance was considerable. Normally, this path should have been filled with traps and puzzles.

‘Good thing.’

I would forget my foolishness from earlier.

“How did you know?”

Cheon Yeoul asked as we walked.

“You brought the holy water and seemed to know everything.”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at me.

It made sense she’d be curious. I turned my head slightly and prepared the answer I had ready.

“This is Iano’s tomb.”

“Really?”

Cheon Yeoul’s eyes widened slightly.

She seemed to know something about Iano.

“I found a record that Iano had visited Taebaek in the past while going through some texts.”

In fact, Japan had come all the way here to search for it. They didn’t find it, though.

“Taebaek is filled with divine energy because of the mountain range, but it’s an undead dungeon. Doesn’t make sense, right? So I guessed it could be here.”

Cheon Yeoul nodded and listened intently to my words.

“Well, 90 percent of it was luck.”

Cheon Yeoul chuckled quietly.

“How humble.”

By the time our conversation ended, we had arrived at the massive door.

The scene before us took my breath away once more.

Once all the traps were overcome, this door would open automatically.

Kugung...It seemed we were now considered to have overcome all the traps.

The massive door slowly began to open with a grand sound.

As the door opened, a soft and warm breeze flowed out from within, carrying a faint scent of flowers.

“Wow...”

A spontaneous exclamation escaped my lips.

The scene unfolding beyond the door was an entirely different world.

There were traditional Eastern-style houses, with black-tiled roofs and red pillars, and a neatly manicured garden was visible at a glance.

Especially, the cherry tree standing beside the house was so large that it could block the sky.

Petals from the cherry blossoms fluttered down like snow, adding to the peaceful atmosphere.

“The mood’s completely changed.”

Cheon Yeoul also seemed surprised as she looked around.

It was a tomb modeled after Iano’s birthplace.

And in the center of the yard stood a massive statue.

It was the figure of a samurai in armor, with a sword stuck in the ground, standing beside it, looking like a guardian watching over the tomb.

It felt as if we had entered a space that transcended time, where everything harmonized perfectly.

At the moment we were admiring the tomb’s surroundings...

Bang!!!!The massive door behind us slammed shut as if it were about to break.

“Up ahead!”

Cheon Yeoul shouted.

The enormous statue in front of us suddenly began to move, as if it had gained life.

I instinctively stepped back and gained some distance.

The statue rumbled heavily, drawing its sword from the ground, and pointed it threateningly toward us.

“...This place is beyond time—there are no distinctions between past, future, and present.”

Red light flashed from between the helmet’s eye slits.

And the massive sword slowly turned, aiming at Cheon Yeoul.

“You... Do you have... the qualifications?”

The energy from the sword swirled, surrounding Cheon Yeoul.

The air around us seemed to tremble.

The statue’s red eyes briefly dimmed before slowly opening its mouth again.

“...Qualification accepted.”

“You have a good eye.”

Cheon Yeoul answered nonchalantly.

Even with her teasing, the statue didn’t react at all. Instead, it aimed its sword at me.

It wasn’t surprising that she, a candidate for the next Saint, was being acknowledged.

But the problem was me.

“Do you... have the qualifications?”

The energy this time enveloped me.

I gripped the spear at my waist tightly.

It seemed like it was time to fight.

“Battle preparation.”

I muttered softly, and Cheon Yeoul gave a slight nod.

“If you want.”

She closed her eyes, clasped her hands, and began to pray.

The statue would likely bring down its massive sword on us soon.

My muscles contracted, ready to spring into action at any moment.

“...The qualifications have been recognized.”

“...Huh?”

The statue lowered its sword and withdrew the red glow from its eyes as it spoke again.

‘What’s going on?’

The statue began to mumble in an incomprehensible voice.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

“Those who defy the heavens, have you finally set down your burden...?”

Heaven? Burden?

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

This wasn’t the usual way things played out.

Usually, you fought fiercely, won, and then earned the statue’s acknowledgment. That was the typical progression.

“And you, who share the burden...”

Cheon Yeoul slowly opened her eyes.

“...Feel the weight.”

Kwagagagaga!

As the statue finished speaking, it sliced itself open with its massive sword.

Like a cracked stone, it slowly began to crumble, revealing glistening objects inside.

“...Hmm.”

Cheon Yeoul quietly repeated.

“I’ll feel it.”

Her expression was filled with some kind of resolve.

At the base of the statue was a cross and a transparent bottle.

I slowly moved toward them.

The sparkling cross and the liquid in the transparent bottle.

One was Iano’s cross, infused with divine power beyond imagination.

And the other was a legendary elixir.

An elixir that forcibly expands the mana channel and maximizes its efficiency, a legendary concoction from stories.

I had planned to leave the cross for Cheon Yeoul and the elixir for Sung Siwoo.

And if I were to liquidate their respective values...

‘I can’t do that.’

The value of these artifacts was beyond imagination.

“It’s a shame. If I had known, I would have requested a share.”

Cheon Yeoul spoke casually.

I hesitated for a moment, holding the cross in my hands.

‘Should I give it to her now?’

Even if she accepted the divine power of the cross, it would take time for her to fully absorb it.

Handing it over here was simpler in many ways. Once we left, the Association would be all over it, and time would inevitably be wasted.

After making up my mind, I raised the cross and offered it to her.

“You take it. I didn’t expect a reward like this.”

“If it weren’t for you, I might not have gotten this far.”

She gave me a momentary, tender look after hearing my words.

But then, she shook her head, and with her usual mischievous smile, she changed the subject.

“That’s nice, but would you like me to show you a better way?”

She walked over to me, lowering her voice.

“We can sell this at our temple for a high price.”

Then she whispered in my ear.

“Anyway, the order will give it to me without hesitation.”

She took a step back, flashing an alluring smile.

“How about it?”

...She was a genius.

I was momentarily speechless by the unexpected idea.

“...Is that okay?”

“Mm.”

She nodded, smiling brightly.

In the end, I placed both the cross and the elixir into my bag.

“What will you do with the elixir? Are you going to drink it?”

“No, I have a place to use it.”

I’ll give it to Sung Siwoo. It would give him the wings to match his innate magical capacity.

“...Really?”

Cheon Yeoul nodded as she walked alongside me toward the dungeon entrance.

“Wait.”

She suddenly grabbed my arm, halting me.

“Maybe it’s dangerous. Let me see the elixir. I’ll check it out.”

I knew it wasn’t dangerous. But her suggestion was reasonable, so I nodded and took the elixir out of my bag.

“Don’t open the lid. The effect could disappear.”

As long as the lid stayed closed, the energy that had been condensed for so long would remain. If opened, it would dissipate unless consumed immediately.

I carefully handed her the elixir.

Then, I turned my head and began walking ahead.

Pong

?

What was that sound?

Startled by the sound of the lid being opened, I quickly turned around.

Pook

And she shoved the elixir directly into my mouth.

“Ugh!”

Gulp

The hot liquid slid down my throat.

She held me tightly from behind and spoke.

“Good... good... drink it all.”

An uncontrollable energy exploded inside me, spreading like wildfire.

My body relaxed, and my legs lost strength. I couldn’t hold myself up without leaning on her.

“Mm, our Haein... is so good, right?”

She whispered softly in my ear.

“Why don’t you rest in my arms... and sleep soundly until morning?”

At that moment, the surging mana flow made my mind dizzy.

It was a signal that the elixir was beginning to circulate in my body.

Hmph, how precious this is... Who are you going to give it to now...

Her voice echoed beyond my fading consciousness.