The Heroine Stole My Regression-Chapter 26

The white haze that had filled my vision gradually faded and returned to normal.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on the floor of the cabin. The cold wooden floor felt distinctly real beneath me.

“Ugh!”

As soon as I tried to sit up, a wave of dizziness hit me, and I fought back the urge to vomit.

I barely held in the nausea and scanned my surroundings.

The cabin, which had appeared so old and ready to collapse just moments ago, now looked brand new, exuding a fresh, vintage wooden scent. It was as if it had just been built.

The appearance was the same, but the feeling was entirely different. Instead of decay, there was cleanliness, and instead of an unsettling sense of imminent collapse, there was a sense of sturdiness.

‘It’s the past.’

I hurriedly got up and checked the calendar hanging on the wall.

If the cabin had truly reversed time, the date should be January 1, 1979, the exact day the shard of harmony was created.

“Please.”

However, the date in front of me was slightly different.

[December 26, 1978]

Exactly six days before the shard was created.

I sighed deeply.

“...That’s cutting it close.”

In the original story, the time travel limit was seven days.

If it exceeded that, the timeline would collapse, automatically returning to the original time.

And there would be no second chance. The cabin would disappear.

‘Looks like I need to get it on the last day...’

As I was pondering this, a voice from behind me slowly made me turn my head.

“Ugh....”

The soft, languid voice reached my ears.

I slowly turned my head.

There, Kang Arin was stretching leisurely.

She slowly turned her head to look at me and flashed a familiar smile.

"Did you sleep well?"

"...."

I briefly closed my eyes, forcing back the rising confusion and questions.

I had no idea where to start fixing this situation.

Whether she knew I was confused or not, Kang Arin remained completely calm.

I let out a deep sigh as I looked at her.

"...How did you know?"

She had been calm all along, but just before midnight, she had come in and locked the door behind her.

I know it doesn’t make sense, but her actions without knowing the mechanism of the cabin make even less sense.

My mind was spinning in confusion. I had no choice but to wait for her answer instead of overthinking it.

She narrowed her eyes slightly and tilted her head.

Her expression seemed to say it wasn’t a big deal.

"It’s an honor, isn’t it?"

Kang Arin casually stretched and replied.

"Wouldn’t you think so?"

I frowned ever so slightly at her words.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

It was true that Glory was an organization with a reliable information network.

But discovering hidden mechanisms, like this cabin, in a place like the original game didn't seem possible.

"Glory?"

I nodded slowly and responded.

"I'm not joking around right now."

My tone inadvertently became sharp.

Kang Arin smiled slightly, as if amused by my reaction, the corners of her lips curling up.

"I understand your doubt. But you can trust me."

Kang Arin slowly pointed her finger down, toward the ground.

"This is Baekdu Mountain. There are two shards of harmony buried here, one of which is one of the rarest found in the world."

I tried to steady my slightly trembling heart as I listened to her words.

"And this cabin."

Kang Arin glanced around and continued slowly.

"This cabin is a space influenced by the timeline of the shard. Simply put, the shard's energy twisted time to create this space."

‘How...?’

That was a perfect answer.

That’s exactly the setting.

"How about it? Do you still not believe me?"

She smiled and stepped closer to me.

She knew even the tiniest details, and I couldn’t help but believe her.

My head grew even more confused. How did the information even reach her?

Could this be a snowball effect triggered by Kang Yuseong's death?

If so, it only proved once again how terrible his management skills were...

"And actually, I want to ask you something."

Kang Arin leaned closer to me. Her crimson eyes shimmered faintly as she gazed at me, her gaze deep and meaningful, as if trying to see through me.

"How did you come to know this information, which is treated as a top secret even in Glory?"

Now, it was my turn to explain.

As she said, there were very few people who knew this information, even within Glory. So, how was it that I knew?

It made sense that she would be suspicious.

It wasn’t as if I had any obligation to answer her, but...

Without answering her question, I turned and headed out of the cabin.

"Where are you going?"

Her voice called out behind me. It sounded a bit urgent, but there was still a relaxed undertone to it.

I didn’t stop walking but turned my head slightly to glance at her.

"Aren’t you here to find the shard too?"

It was still evening outside.

I took one step after another through the snow-covered landscape, adding, "That’s why I’m here."

The cabin, which had been covered in rain earlier, was now blanketed by pure white snow. The cold, crisp air pricked at my skin.

"I see."

I felt her gaze on me from behind. But I intentionally ignored her reaction and kept moving forward.

‘I know the location and the exact time the shard will be created.’

Baekdu Mountain, January 1st. The shard would be created exactly on that day, at that place. It had appeared suddenly in the original game, without any prior warning.

What I was concerned about was how much information Glory in the world line where Kang Yuseong died had.

If I allowed for the possibility that Glory knew there was a shard inside Baekdu Mountain...

But there was no way they could know the specific time when the shard would be created.

I looked up and stared into the empty space.

I was mentally sorting out my plan and scanning my surroundings. The next thing I needed to do was simple—pretend to search while separating her from me.

Just then, as I was moving toward the snowy plains—

Heh.

A small laugh came from behind me. The sound of it cut through the cold air, causing me to stop in my tracks.

Turning around, I saw Kang Arin trying to stifle her laughter, covering her mouth with one hand. Her shoulders were shaking, and despite her attempt to hide it, her eyes were already gleaming with amusement.

"Ah, sorry."

She lowered her head slightly, but the smile on her lips was impossible to hide. Then she looked up at me with a pure, innocent smile.

"Your little dilemma... it’s so cute."

I narrowed my eyes slightly, but her nonchalant smile didn’t fade.

"But you know," she said slowly, walking closer to me. She took a few steps through the snow and stopped right beside me. She then looked up at me as she spoke.

Her lips moved softly, each word clearly enunciated.

"Baekdu Mountain, the sky and earth, and January 1st. What do you think?"

At that moment, my mind went blank.

"...."

She smiled softly, tilting her head slightly.

"It’s cold and dark. Don’t go wandering around."

She took my hand firmly.

"Let’s just stay inside the warm cabin and talk."

Kang Arin tightly gripped my hand and, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) with a gentle tug, began leading me back toward the cabin.

I could have shaken her off with force, but I, having given up on thinking, had no choice but to let myself be pulled along by her hand.

***

Glory's information network was beyond what I had imagined.

Honestly, it made me want to quit everything right now and just get a job.

Every plan I came up with was getting shattered one by one because of her.

Maybe it's because our thought processes are similar, but she's an exhausting opponent in many ways.

"...So, you also need the shard, right?"

There was nothing left to hide now.

"Yep."

At my response, she smiled and lightly tapped my arm.

Isn't it usual to keep some distance in negotiations like this?

But, because the area by the heater was warm, she was sticking right next to me.

When I tried to move to the other side, I was grabbed.

"Should I give you the shard?"

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

Is she for real...?

I wasn’t after the shard for my own benefit. It was all for the world’s sake.

Even if I get it, it’s meant for Sung Siwoo, so I can’t even absorb it.

If I could absorb the shard, I might have already done so and started planning to break the cycle with infinite regressions.

Of course, the regression ability is gone now...

“...I’d love that."

I grumbled silently in my mind.

I had to earn that shard with my own hands, so I was in the most subordinate position here.

If she was determined to get the shard, it would eventually lead to a conflict of power between us.

But clashing with the character I created like that was something I wanted to avoid as much as possible.

Seemingly satisfied with my answer, Kang Arin looked at me with a playful gleam in her eyes and smiled.

The slight upward curl of her lips almost seemed like she was teasing me.

"I’ll give it to you."

Kang Arin nodded, speaking casually.

As if she could hand it over right away.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

"But there’s a condition."

"A condition?"

If there were no conditions, that would be a scam.

What was she going to ask for?

The Dongbaek sword?

Iano’s cross?

She smiled as she watched my reaction, amused, before speaking.

"After you graduate... join Glory."

For a moment, my mind stopped.

Glory was a subsidiary guild of Glory itself.

The undisputed number one guild in the world.

In other words, it wasn’t just a condition; it was a massive proposal.

"Are you serious?"

"Mm-hmm."

Kang Arin still wore her calm expression.

She moved a bit away and leaned against the heater before continuing.

"I know you're Silent Ghost."

"And I know how you've come here, from the Iano Tomb to the shard’s location, using your own intelligence."

She spoke with ease, smiling lightly.

"Rather than a shard with no knowledge of how to use it, I thought a properly skilled person would be more valuable."

Then, she paused for a beat and narrowed her eyes slightly.

"And, if you become mine, the shard would naturally be mine as well, wouldn’t it?"

Kang Arin smiled, raising one side of her mouth in a smirk.

"So, what do you think?"

Honestly, it wasn’t even a proposal I needed to think about.

"Sounds good..."

I had already planned to join Glory after graduation anyway.