The Regressor Wants to Become a Hero

If the diary had continued, one could roughly guess how it would have progressed.

It would have led to ruin. Of course, there would have been results—that’s the nature of deals with Outer Gods.

However, seeing how the research facility ended up in this state in just a month, it’s likely they either broke the contract or failed to fulfill it.

“Could it be the same Outer God?”

The name of the Outer God Garavan made a pact with was unknown, but it didn’t seem like there would be many Outer Gods trading knowledge in this manner.

“There’s no need to look around here any further. Let’s move to the next building.”

They had checked a few more rooms on the second floor, but there didn’t seem to be anything worthwhile.

Thinking it was a waste of time, Bellen headed toward the passageway leading to the next building. While doing so, Ian noticed Bellen staring intently at him.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“I was just wondering what you’ve been so deep in thought about since earlier.”

“…I’ve been speculating on why the research facility ended up like this.”

“Do you think you’ve figured it out?”

“To some extent.”

Ian shared his thoughts.

“Hmm,” Bellen murmured, placing her smoking pipe in her mouth. Her gaze, as if praising him, felt burdensome.

“You figured all that out just from reading a single diary?”

“Bellen, didn’t you already know this as well?”

“That’s correct. That’s why the research facility ended up this way, isn’t it?”

At the end of the passageway, as they turned the corner, they saw a woman standing idly on the mucous-covered ground.

Dressed in a white lab coat, she was breathing slowly, her gaze fixed on the floor.

“So, you didn’t send that electric eel here?”

“Electric eel? Hmm, is that how it seemed? Eel doesn’t quite fit. Should I lock its form to a wolf?”

“……”

“Well, anyway. It seemed like each building served a different purpose, so I adjusted accordingly. For something like the experimental wing, I figured meddling with other equipment could cause problems.”

Electricity, by its very presence, has residual effects on its surroundings.

They didn’t know what might be in the experimental wing, but even a brief pass could introduce variables, so caution was necessary.

Amid their trivial conversation, the woman, who appeared to be a researcher, turned her head to look at them.

Her gaze was hollow.

“Ah.”

As she made a sound, hostility filled her empty eyes.

The moment she shifted her weight, stepping forward with her right foot, Ian drew upon his mana.

In an instant, the woman closed the distance, her mouth wide open and arms outstretched.

Her attack was primitive compared to her physical capabilities—there was no technique, nor any consideration for potential counterattacks.

Her only intent was to grab and bite. The openings were glaringly obvious.

Thwack!

Ian mercilessly kicked her in the side. The sensation transmitted through his foot wasn’t of soft flesh but something as solid as wood.

The woman’s expression didn’t change. It was as if she didn’t feel pain, as her face remained unaltered while her body was sent flying into the mucous-covered wall.

Boom!

Though it seemed like a light kick, Ian had infused it with power by enhancing his body.

Even if her bones had been shattered, it wouldn’t have been surprising. Yet, the woman struggled to free herself from the wall.

Ian, watching her, pulled out a dagger and threw it.

Thunk!

The dagger embedded itself in the woman’s forehead, her head slamming against the wall before she slumped down limply.

If left alone, she would likely rise again and attack, just like the creatures they had seen in the garden.

Sure enough, her fingertips began to twitch. She was already starting to recover.

“Sa…”

Huh?

Just as Ian was about to summon flames to burn her entirely, he noticed tears welling in the woman’s eyes.

Had her consciousness returned? Was it because she hit her head just now? Or perhaps due to brain damage?

Whatever the reason, Ian hesitated.

“Sa… Save… me…”

Her stuttering plea caused Ian to retrieve the dagger lodged in her forehead.

If her regenerative abilities were anything like the monsters in the garden, she would heal soon enough. As expected, her breathing quickened, and she raised her head.

Though hostility remained in her gaze, there was a glimmer of intelligence suppressing her violent impulses.

‘This level of regeneration… could it rival that of purebloods?’

Only ancient beings with pureblood could regenerate even after their brains and hearts were destroyed.

Ian couldn’t determine whether this level of regeneration was exclusive to the specific environment of the Outer World, but it piqued his curiosity about the elixir said to be under development at Mathis’s research facility.

“Please, save me.”

Perhaps fully recovered, the woman now spoke with a clear voice.

“Can you understand me?”

“…Yes. How much time has passed?”

Her intelligent gaze suggested she had regained enough clarity to converse.

“That’s what I want to ask you. Why has this facility ended up like this? Keep it brief—we don’t have much time.”

“The… the director went insane! He claimed to have received a revelation from Ajin and started using monsters in experiments. Then he even began using the researchers as test subjects!”

Ian’s eye twitched slightly at the mention of a particular name in her explanation.

Ajin, the Eleventh Lord. Known for his mastery of alchemy, he was considered the progenitor of fields like pharmacology and metallurgy.

It wouldn’t be strange for pharmacists or blacksmiths to revere and follow him.

However, if Ajin had imparted knowledge to the director, the facility wouldn’t have ended up like this.

Ajin was a Lord. In this case, it was more likely that an Outer God had impersonated the Lord.

“Shouldn’t you have either escaped or reported this to higher authorities?”

“There was no way to!”

The woman immediately countered, as though indignant.

“Do you think we didn’t try? We couldn’t even leave! No, if it weren’t for her, we might have been able to escape.”

“Her? The director?”

“No, a woman the director brought here about a week ago. She said she was here as a project inspector. She was incredibly beautiful, even from another woman’s perspective. Every movement she made exudes elegance, and her speech was so refined.

She was the one who isolated the facility. She surrounded it with a barrier so none of us could escape.”

“And then?”

“After that… we could only cooperate with the director, hoping it wouldn’t be our turn next….”

The woman’s eyes began to grow dull again.

The hostility within her started to resurface. Though she seemed to be fighting it, there was no way to help her.

It might have been a miracle that she had regained her senses, even for a moment. Clenching her teeth, she struggled to continue speaking.

“The far end of the building… sealed lab… inside… outer gate… director… Level 5… flow… magic….”

“Close your eyes.”

Bellen suddenly stepped forward and spoke. The woman, trembling, obeyed and shut her eyes.

“You don’t have to say anything more. The Lords of the Pantheon will ease your fear. I’m not a priest, but I’ll pray for your rest. Close your eyes and count to three.”

Crackle—

Bellen placed her hand on the woman’s head and activated her magic.

A lightning bolt pierced through the woman. Her tense muscles relaxed as she slumped down.

Bellen finished her brief prayer and stood up.

“Let’s go. There’s still much to check.”

Ian nodded and dropped a spark onto the dead woman’s body.

Flames roared to life. The fire would consume only her corpse before extinguishing.

The next building they entered appeared to be a laboratory.

Each room was divided into several zones, containing dozens of tanks. Inside those tanks were trapped beasts.

They appeared to be in a deep slumber, though their faint breathing suggested they were in a state of suspended animation.

On a desk lay scattered documents in complete disarray.

The mess likely resulted from the shock that occurred as the Outer Gate rampaged and the Outer World settled into reality. It wasn’t something that could have been intentionally made to look this chaotic.

Bellen began picking up everything, sorting through the necessary materials.

Ian skimmed a few pages, but the contents were incomprehensible. Lacking expertise in the relevant field, he couldn’t make sense of it.

“Shouldn’t we focus on closing the Outer Gate first? We can review the materials later.”

Bellen was busy going through the massive collection of data that must have taken years and numerous personnel to compile.

At this rate, one might doubt whether she was truly reading them properly.

Though time is said to be equal for everyone, that’s not the case for the superhuman. Their one second is like ten for the ordinary. Their vision and perception are entirely different, making equality impossible.

Without even glancing at Ian, Bellen replied.

“The Outer Gate likely has that so-called director guarding it.”

“He could’ve fled outside.”

“If that were the case, monsters would have already overrun the area. The fact that their numbers are this low despite the successful manifestation of the Outer World into reality suggests someone is managing the situation. There’s also a significant chance that more of them are being generated in the Sealed Laboratory.”

The two had explored two buildings so far, encountering nothing but mucus membranes and monsters.

“If we end up fighting the director, some of the materials here might be destroyed. It’s necessary to secure a certain amount of data first.”

At that moment, a voice came from the ceiling.

“Ah, so that’s what it was?”

“……!”

The voice was mature and male.

“I wondered what you were doing lingering around here. Did you really think you could check all the data stored there with just the two of you?”

It was one person, not two. The man let out a derisive laugh, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Fools. It would take over a week just to go through all the materials there—three years’ worth of research. If you’re determined to waste your time, I won’t stop you.”

Ian exchanged glances with Bellen before directing his voice toward the ceiling.

“Who are you?”

“That’s a rather obvious question. Judging by the fact that I’m speaking to you through this broadcasting system, you should already know the answer.”

“The director?”

“Indeed, the director of this facility, responsible for Project C: Superhuman Elixirs. My name is Tagroa. Now, let me ask in return—who are you? Don’t give me nonsense about being lost wanderers.”

“Cleaners from Mathis.”

Bellen’s eyes widened as she watched, but her expression remained icy.

“Didn’t I tell you not to spout nonsense? Cleaners? The next supply run is 11 days away, and the routine report is due in 14. There’s no way anyone could have noticed anything unusual here for at least two weeks. Your claim is a lie.”

“Oh?”

“Besides, if they were from Mathis, they wouldn’t have entered so noisily. They would have slipped through the barrier undetected. In any case, I’ve figured it out. You’re just petty thieves after Mathis’ research data.”

“…….”

“Do you need my research data that badly? Then stop wasting time and come find me. I’m not far from the laboratory you’re in. Sifting through that trash won’t give you even a fragment of my organized research. Come to the Sealed Laboratory at the far end of this building. I’ll be waiting there.”

Click—

The voice from the ceiling cut off. Without hesitation, Bellen dropped the stack of papers in her hand.

Rustle— Dozens of sheets of paper scattered onto the floor.

“Bellen?”

“Perfect. If they’re going to save us the trouble, there’s no point in staying here any longer. Let’s go.”

———-