The Heroine Stole My Regression-Chapter 80

A Pleasant Victory.

Team Yu Hana held a celebratory meal to mark their victory.

"Just like this, a spear drops down—"

Yoon Sanghyuk gestured dramatically, swinging his arms as he spoke, causing the students around him to burst into laughter.

Of course, they were in the school cafeteria, a place suited for students.

Nom nom.

From right beside him, Yoon Chaeha was eating diligently, catching my attention.

"Slow down a bit."

I muttered as I reached for her plate with my chopsticks.

Carefully, I picked off some soft white fish and gently placed it onto her plate. Yoon Chaeha paused, momentarily stunned, before looking up at me with wide eyes.

Her cheeks quickly flushed a deep red as she slowly wiped the sauce from the corner of her lips.

She looked almost happy.

"... Thank you."

Yoon Chaeha whispered softly, her voice unusually gentle. She quickly averted her gaze, embarrassed.

"Suddenly?"

I smiled faintly and asked, and she bit her lip, attempting to hide her feelings.

"Just... in many ways..."

She trailed off and hastily poked at the fish with her chopsticks before slowly eating it.

Interesting.

Her reaction was entirely different from her usual self.

It was likely due to the gratitude she felt for the Catennaccio technique I had shown her.

It had been a decisive help in her learning a new technique, as most heroes are reluctant to share their secret skills.

Already, the internet was buzzing with talk about the mock inter-school exchange competition that had taken place at Gaon.

"Hey, check this out. 'The Birth of the Divine.' 'The Blonde Mage is Insane.' This is crazy."

Posts on the bulletin board were showering her with praise.

Yoon Sanghyuk read aloud the comments on his smartwatch, and laughter began to spread around the table.

Yoon Chaeha, who was no stranger to being praised, didn't mind at all and continued eating.

Without saying much, I once again picked some fish and placed it onto her plate.

"...?"

Suddenly, the lively table fell silent.

I looked up, and the team members were all staring at us with strange looks.

After a brief hesitation, Go Minjoon cautiously spoke.

"Hey... I’ve been wondering about something."

He smiled awkwardly and glanced between Yoon Chaeha and me.

"Are you two... dating?"

"Huh?"

"No, you’ve been feeding her fish bones... honestly, that's something you don’t do unless you're close, right?"

Now that he mentioned it, it did seem like it could look that way.

I hadn't really thought about it before.

I'm not the type to worry much about other people's opinions.

"We’re not dating. Haein."

Before I could speak, Yu Hana cut in, interrupting Go Minjoon.

"Right?"

She tilted her head slightly, almost as if confirming, and flashed a smile at me.

"Yeah, we're not."

Even if Yoon Chaeha had an interest in me, it would only be on a technical level.

Yu Hana seemed satisfied with my answer and nodded with a smile.

Then, it happened.

"Hey... what’s that?"

Kim Daehyun made a sound of surprise, looking up at the TV on the wall of the cafeteria.

The students at nearby tables began to murmur, turning their attention to the screen.

We, too, instinctively looked at the screen.

[South Korean Hero Organization, Sado Vanquish]

A news ticker flashed across the screen.

The anchor, with an excited voice, was delivering a live report.

- Really?

- Sado? What’s going on all of a sudden?

The cafeteria buzzed with chatter.

It’s happening now.

I muttered to myself.

Now that the compensation plan had been finalized, the Hero Association had lifted the embargo.

The timing was a bit faster than expected, but it wasn’t a problem.

The anchor continued, his expression more animated.

"The four organizations that contributed the most during the Sado operation were..."

A new graphic appeared on the screen, showing the names one by one.

[Vanquisher]

[Arcadia]

[Cheongpungdae]

[Maengju]

"Wow... as expected."

Just seeing the list was enough to leave us in awe.

These were famous organizations, responsible for the front lines in South Korea.

It wasn’t surprising the students were impressed.

Then came the next graphic.

[Individual Hero Contributions]

The tone of the footage deepened, and bolder subtitles appeared.

At the very top of the list:

[Silent Ghost]

I was there.

Insane.

It seemed like the Hero Association had already begun building up stars.

- Silent Ghost? Who’s that?

- Oh, oh! That’s the one from last year’s monster wave!!

A small commotion spread among the students.

With so many famous heroes around, it was no wonder my name stood out at the top of the list.

"Silent Ghost...?"

Yoon Sanghyuk and Kim Daehyun muttered at the same time.

Slowly, as if hypnotized, they turned their heads toward me.

A few people at this school knew my true identity.

Yu Hana put down her steak knife, silently pausing her meal.

Then, she brought a finger to her lips...

Slick.

She mimicked zipping her lips.

Then, as if nothing had happened, she quickly returned to her meal and put a piece of steak into my mouth.

"Are you going to the association this week?"

Yu Hana whispered softly.

"Yeah, Saturday morning."

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

I mumbled with my mouth full of steak.

Yu Hana watched me, smiling faintly, hiding her mouth behind her hand.

- The operation to vanquish Sado began three weeks ago...

The anchor's calm voice flowed over the screen.

Just then, across from me, Yoon Chaeha quietly muttered something.

"Three weeks... Arcadia... Glory Hospital... Silent Ghost...?"

Her eyes darkened.

It was as if she was piecing a puzzle together in her mind.

As soon as the certainty in Yoon Chaeha’s eyes sharpened, her head snapped toward me.

Her gaze was sharp and intense. I paused in chewing my steak.

She had visited the hospital where I had been unconscious before.

She had also met with the Saint and even made her way up to the top floor of Glory Hospital.

Her reasoning had quickly put all the pieces together.

Now, she just needed confirmation.

"... Is it true?"

Yoon Chaeha suddenly asked me.

Both of us were thinking the same thing.

I quickly swallowed the food in my mouth and smiled faintly.

"Yeah."

A short and definite answer.

Her eyes trembled.

***

Time passed, and it was Saturday morning.

The area in front of the association was bustling with people.

The conclusion was simple.

"So, who exactly is 'Silent Ghost'?"

The fact that the hero's accomplishments were great, and that they were highly promising, was fine.

But the problem was, who exactly was this person?

The association had released no information other than the hero name "Silent Ghost."

But since it was clear that I would eventually show up at the association, people were waiting here, camped out, for that moment.

"But do we really have to go this far?"

Right now, I was sitting in the passenger seat of the old man’s car, disguised as a food supply truck.

"You didn’t want to be recognized, did you?"

That was true. There was a big difference between having a few people know and having it be public knowledge.

We were heading for the back parking lot of the building again.

The group wasn’t just me and the old man.

Through the rearview mirror, I glanced at Yoon Chaeha sitting in the back seat.

It was her first time visiting the association, and she seemed a little excited.

"Go rest in the café. I’ll be back soon."

She now knew my true identity.

It didn't matter much.

After all, I needed to reveal who I was if I was going to show her the Evil God's precious artifact.

"Okay."

Yoon Chaeha nodded shortly in response.

After parking the car, the old man let us out and headed toward the main entrance.

He needed to follow the official procedure to enter, as a formality.

As soon as we got out of the car, an association staff member rushed toward us.

"Haein, you’ve arrived!"

It was Kim Gilgyu, the person who had been assigned to assist me.

It felt like he had almost become my personal assistant.

"But, um... who’s this?"

He noticed Yoon Chaeha and tilted his head in confusion.

"Oh, she’s a friend. She’ll be waiting on the first floor."

"I see. Please have your friend use the elevator."

"Go ahead first. I’ll be there soon."

"Okay."

Yoon Chaeha nodded lightly and headed toward the elevator.

Although it was called a café, she would probably just wander around restlessly.

I silently made my way to the private elevator.

The association’s reception room.

A space that most heroes would only visit once or twice in their lifetime.

And this time, I was entering that room.

Sitting at the desk in front of me was Park Seo-hee.

However, it wasn’t her who truly caught my attention.

It was what was behind her. Rows of glass display cases.

Each case was perfectly aligned, and although the insides were obscured by magical barriers, the aura radiating from within could not be hidden.

‘They’ve really prepared this well.’

It seemed the association was not holding back this time.

"Hello, Hero Haein. Or should I call you Silent Ghost?"

Park Seo-hee nodded with a smile.

She seemed confident, having made thorough preparations.

"Hello."

I greeted her lightly.

"First, your official achievement records were released a few days ago. Of course, at your request, all personal details about Silent Ghost have been kept confidential. You are truly unparalleled. I believe an entire page of the news will be dedicated to you."

"..."

Park Seo-hee spoke as she took out a neatly arranged envelope from the table.

"And today, the key issue for negotiation is the additional compensation."

I silently reached out and took the envelope. The association’s logo was elegantly embossed on it.

Upon opening it, there was a single neatly folded document inside.

"Among the five treasures, you may choose one."

I looked down at the document, then naturally turned my head toward the glass display cases behind her.

Park Seo-hee smiled as she gestured toward the first display case.

"First, let’s start with this one."

At her command, the association staff member began to operate the mechanism for the first display case.

With a click, the glass panel slid open, revealing its contents.

At that moment, I almost spat out the water I had been drinking.

Inside the case was a platinum tiara, sparkling brilliantly.

I knew instantly what it was.

Erieltium.

‘What the hell.’

A holy relic left by Eriel, the god worshiped by the Arcadia Order.

The order had repeatedly requested its return, but had never even received a response—this was that very tiara.

‘Why are they showing this to me?’

I did my best to act nonchalant and placed the glass down, though it probably didn’t show on my face.

"Next."

Park Seo-hee continued, unfazed.

I tore my gaze away from the tiara and shifted to the second display case.

To be honest, the second one didn’t even matter.

It was all about the tiara. Of course, the target for use was Cheon Yeoul.

The mechanism for the second display case opened, revealing elegant and majestic armor.

‘Ah, forget it.’

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

It seemed that Park Seo-hee took my smile as a positive sign because she confidently proceeded to open the mechanisms for the third, fourth, and fifth display cases one after another.

One contained a sharp spear.

Another, an ancient warrior’s helmet.

Another, an ancient spellbook.

All were magnificent treasures.

‘This is fun.’

The association had clearly assumed I wouldn’t choose the tiara.

This artifact was so unknown outside the association and the Arcadia Order that it hadn’t even been acknowledged by the general public.

It was far more symbolic than practical, a relic with value in its significance, rather than its actual performance.

Even the association hadn’t fully understood its true power or functionality.

They likely thought it was "flashy but useless," just something to eventually sell off at a temple.

So, they placed it first.

They intended to induce disappointment by showing it first, and then present the more practical treasures to guide my choice toward one of them.

But.

‘What if I choose it?’

The decision seemed to be based on symbolism rather than value, so they probably thought it was okay to offer it.

I had no intention of selling it, of course, but if the association only measured market value, it would probably be considered less useful than the other treasures.

Of course, the other items were also exceptional, hard to acquire even with money.

But that wasn’t important to me.

Park Seo-hee continued with a soft smile.

"Which one will you choose? You have plenty of time to decide..."

"That one."

I interrupted her and immediately pointed to the first display case.

There was no need to think twice.

"Please give me that one."

In an instant, Park Seo-hee’s eyes flickered slightly.

"Is it available for takeout?"

There was no time to waste.

***

I walked out of the reception room with the tiara in a transparent, high-end glass case, hidden from view.

Park Seo-hee seemed stunned, probably not expecting me to choose the tiara.

Good deal. Very good deal.

I mentally celebrated.

There had been other options, but I hadn’t expected the association to present something like this.

‘It’s not practical?’

That’s just what they think.

"Huh?"

As I left the reception room, I felt a familiar presence at the end of the hallway.

It was the Arcadia members. But strangely, it wasn’t just the Paladins who had been active before; this time, the Crusaders were also with them.

Johan.

And beside him, the Bishop.

It seemed they had also come to the association for negotiations.

Cheon Yeoul, who had been frowning slightly, immediately brightened when she saw me and ran over.

"How did the negotiation go? What did you get? What did they offer?"

She asked innocently.

Behind her, Johan and the Bishop exchanged looks, glaring at me.

"Perfect timing."

It was ideal timing.

Without saying a word, I silently opened the glass case.

Screech.

As the case opened, a soft light radiated.

From a distance, I could see the Bishop’s eyes sharply darting toward the light.

"What...!"

A short scream escaped his mouth.

Realizing something, he hurriedly rushed toward us.

Before he could reach me, I casually reached out and took the tiara from the glass case.

Then, I gently placed it on top of Cheon Yeoul’s head, who was still looking up at me in confusion.

At that moment.

Whooosh...

The light shimmered, and the tiara emitted a holy aura.

Cheon Yeoul’s hair was enveloped in a radiant glow, and the surrounding air seemed to purify instantly, becoming clearer.

"Huh... what...?"

"......"

The priests around us instinctively held their breath.

The Saint looked on with a mixture of joy and awe, unable to tear her eyes away, while Johan, the Hero, bit his lip, his face growing darker.

The Bishop clenched his lips tightly and stood frozen, unable to move closer.

In front of their eyes, I quietly chuckled.

"It suits you."

Cheon Yeoul’s cheeks flushed red as she carefully ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ closed her eyes.

The tiara absorbed the light, slowly losing its form.

The pure white aura dispersed like vapor, seeping into her body, like a breath.