novelraw Chapter 227 : Late Bloomer Model Student (2)
Chapter 227 : Late Bloomer Model Student (2)
Chapter 227: Late Bloomer Model Student (2)
However, unfortunately, the conversation was cut off midway.
It was because the model student, who had urgently asked to wait, suddenly became unreachable.
This was due to being chased by the Black Guard—supposedly upholding the order of the Dimensional Group, though suspicious in reality.
Since neither side could stably maintain their holy power, communication was impossible, and all they could do was wait.
As a result, the conversation paused for a while, and Sanghyun and Lee Siyeon stood facing each other.
Lee Siyeon's expression showed a mix of emotions after listening to Sanghyun recount the past plainly.
“I never imagined such a thing could happen. Regression… manipulating time has been considered impossible, even for the Constellations.”
“Handling time and space could never be easy.”
“You’ve really been through a lot. It must’ve been painful, keeping a secret you couldn’t tell anyone.”
“It wasn’t that extreme, but yes, I did feel the urge to talk. I wanted to share the frustration with someone.”
“You’ve done well.”
Lee Siyeon embraced Sanghyun tightly and patted his back.
Though the hug was intimate, it held a pure sincerity, devoid of any sensual or emotional undertones.
“What happens now?”
At Sanghyun’s question, Lee Siyeon's gaze deepened.
Had she not known there was a problem within the Dimensional Group, she wouldn’t have needed to think so deeply.
Of course, had she lived on without any thoughts, satisfied with the present, she would’ve been blindsided by disaster.
But now that she knew the problem clearly, she couldn't just let it pass.
“The Dimensional Group doesn’t belong to any one person. It belongs to all Constellations and Deities. That’s what order means.”
“But judging by what the model student said, it definitely felt like someone was trying to monopolize it.”
“You’re right. That’s something we absolutely can’t allow. But we mustn’t respond emotionally either.”
“Hmm.”
“We need to think cool-headedly, focus only on the core, and stay cautious until we uncover their intentions.”
“We need to remain rational.”
“Yes. Whew… regression that defies time and space. I don’t even know where to start or what to think.”
Lee Siyeon clutched her throbbing forehead. Countless thoughts too heavy for a human mind flowed through her.
Among the Constellations of the Dimensional Group, how many understood the current crisis?
Likely none.
That’s why only the model student was singled out as a dangerous Constellation and being relentlessly hunted.
In the end, ‘that guy’s’ plan succeeded.
The model student was unable to reach even a single other Constellation and failed to relay any message.
‘That guy’ was thoroughly pushing the model student out to the outskirts of the Dimensional Group—possibly aiming for eternal exile.
“For now, let’s wait.”
“Yes, we should. I’ll also organize my thoughts for when we reconnect. A lot is coming to mind.”
“Mm, get some rest for now. We’ll have another chance to talk.”
At her words, Sanghyun nodded and headed to the bathroom.
He wanted to shower in hot water and soak in a half-bath to calm his tangled thoughts.
* * *
They reconnected with the model student three hours later.
It was when a slightly exhausted Lee Siyeon had dozed off, and Sanghyun was also nodding off.
Just like before, Lee Siyeon served as the intermediary, relaying their words to each other.
She first delivered the model student’s message.
“I’m still being chased by the Black Guard. They won’t give up until I’m dead.”
Sanghyun asked,
“Is there no way to shake them off?”
“No. There’s only one being chased, but dozens, hundreds chasing. Even with strategy, there’s a limit. Heh.”
To be able to laugh in the worst situation—was it composure, or madness?
Sanghyun believed it was the former. Or perhaps, the model student was trying to put Sanghyun at ease.
“Please tell me about the situation. I also want to know what I can do.”
Sanghyun opened up his heart.
A sense of duty? No, it didn’t feel that grand.
But from the moment he regressed, he felt a weight of destiny had been placed on him.
He always believed there must be a reason why he alone experienced regression.
That’s why he tried everything through the Goddess of Luck to find the model student—to understand why.
But once he made contact, he realized the situation was more serious than expected.
Something felt deeply twisted in the world of the Constellations, far beyond human understanding.
“This moment might be our first and last chance. No, more precisely, it’s my first and last chance. I need to ask a lot of you, my contractor. It’s terribly irresponsible, isn’t it?”
Considering the model student was quiet in the previous timeline, this current talkative demeanor felt alien.
Perhaps the model student had always been in hiding or on the run, thus careful with words back then.
“No, not at all.”
“One thing’s clear. If we do nothing and let time pass, both the Dimensional Group and the player world will head toward an extreme.”
“What exactly is happening in the Dimensional Group?”
“A distortion is about to occur. The balance of good and evil is on the verge of collapsing.”
“The balance of good and evil?”
“The meaning is simple. A perfect equilibrium between Constellations of good and evil alignment—kept at five to five.”
“Ah…”
In that moment, Sanghyun gasped in realization.
He recalled his past life.
As time passed, more players contracted with evil-aligned Constellations.
And the balance of the hunter world began to shift. Evil began to dominate the landscape.
Players who had contracts with good-aligned Constellations began to lose strength. It was the beginning of regression.
By the time Sanghyun regressed, the world had already become a hopeless hell.
In a way, regression felt like the greatest gift—there had been no saving that world.
And it seemed the seed of that misfortune was now. The balance of good and evil had collapsed.
“The mediator has already been neutralized. The general administrator of the Dimensional Group can no longer do anything.”
“Is that an important figure?”
“There are no kings or emperors in the Dimensional Group. But there’s always someone who maintains balance—an entity that leans neither way. That existence has lost its power.”
“……”
“If the balance collapses, the qualifications for Constellations and Deities all become meaningless, and one-sided alignments will explode in number. Which alignment that is depends on the one who broke the balance.”
“Who is it?”
“The Eye of Calamity.”
Sanghyun’s eyes flashed.
The Eye of Calamity.
A familiar name.
[Because you’ve slain many players under evil-aligned Constellations, ‘The Eye of Calamity’ harbors greater hostility toward you.]
[‘The Eye of Calamity’ has begun preparing special measures to pinpoint your location and identity.]
Sanghyun had previously recognized that hostile presence through these messages.
A being that stood in direct opposition to the God of Storms. That being was the culprit behind the Dimensional imbalance.
The model student continued.
“Constellations themselves can’t break the Dimensional Group’s balance directly. But they can do it indirectly.”
“By using a contractor?”
Sanghyun asked, sensing a clue, and an immediate answer came.
“Yes. That contractor is already active. The stronger he gets, the worse the imbalance will become. And that time isn’t far off. Measured in human time… maybe a month at best. Possibly less.”
The word “month” sounded like a death sentence. Sanghyun’s chest tightened.
“So in other words, if we can prevent that contractor from acting, the future could change?”
“At the very least, we could slow the progress. That way, we might avoid the worst-case collapse of balance.”
“So… you’re saying the answer is for me to kill the contractor who made a deal with the Eye of Calamity.”
“Yes. If that happens, at least the first stage of neutralization will…”
Zzzk—
Just as he was about to finish his sentence, loud static interrupted, and the communication was cut off.
The sudden silence without warning suggested something urgent had occurred.
Lee Siyeon, who had heard everything as the middleman, now wore a serious expression, just like Sanghyun.
Perhaps that’s why—even though the conversation had ended—she didn’t try to speak or meet his eyes.
She knew that anything said or done in this moment could become a burden to Sanghyun.
She believed it was right to let him think, worry, and decide on his own.
Thanks to her consideration, Sanghyun was able to gather his thoughts alone.
‘I think I finally understand the reason for my regression. When I contracted with the model student in my past life, it was already too late. But from that point on, the plan was set. Regression must’ve already been considered.’
Though the model student hadn’t said it outright, Sanghyun could easily infer it.
The model student had wanted to change the past timeline. That’s why he was sent as far back as possible.
Whether it was trust in Sanghyun, or just a reckless gamble, the regression was carried out.
And the model student’s plan succeeded.
The current Sanghyun had grown incomparably stronger than in his previous life, with overwhelming skills.
If it were the Sanghyun of the past, the thought of killing a powerful player wouldn’t even have occurred.
But now, he had enough power to fight anyone.
‘I have many personal goals, but they’re not urgent now. Given enough time, I can reach them.’
His personal goals.
Like rising to the Top 5 swordsman players in Korea.
Or gaining power and fame rivaling Jerron Decay, the world-renowned player.
These were his ambitions, but they weren’t time-sensitive. He could chase them slowly.
But the situation he learned from the model student was changing by the minute.
The more active the contractor of the Eye of Calamity became, the worse the situation would get.
And time would shrink.
The faster Sanghyun moved, the more time he’d have to prepare.
‘The hidden quest related to the Eye of Calamity didn’t appear for nothing. The Eye’s attempts to lure or threaten me weren’t random either.’
The past events clicked together like puzzle pieces.
The wheel of fate had already begun turning long ago.