The Regressor Wants to Become a Hero

“Don’t worry. It’s not that difficult.”

“May I ask one question first?”

“Go ahead.”

“Is there a particular reason you’re asking me to handle this instead of the guild?”

Considering she called Bishop Gawon ‘Elder,’ it was clear she wasn’t entirely without connections.

If she maintained good relations with her patrons, hiring someone even more skilled wouldn’t be difficult.

He wasn’t suspicious, but he couldn’t help his curiosity.

Especially given that she was a Level 6 Mage.

Without an extraordinary innate talent like a hero, reaching such a level was only possible through remarkable achievements and elevating one’s spiritual presence.

This meant she had naturally developed expertise in her field, building her foundation in a systematic way.

“Ah, you thought it was something big? It’s nothing like that. Going all the way to the guild is bothersome, and I prefer someone I can trust. A wandering knight is better than a mercenary, and a proper knight is better than a wanderer, right?”

“I’m not exactly a proper knight, though.”

“Haha, that was a fun joke.”

“…Excuse me?”

“You’re practically a knight, aren’t you? You might not wear heavy armor, but you’re affiliated with the House of Berger, wield their emblematic flames, and you handle a sword. The only difference is that you’re doing mercenary work. You must be quite particular if you were called in for a specific request and didn’t ask about compensation first.”

Her golden eyes fixed on Ian.

Although she usually seemed drowsy, in that moment, they sparkled.

Ian took the box she had given him and stored it in the spatial ring, Gratius, which he had received from the Mage Tower.

“You need an elixir, don’t you?”

“…”

Ian glanced at her curiously.

Just now, she had said ‘elixir,’ hadn’t she?

In a world like this, where survival depended on power and wealth, health was a top priority.

Elixirs, whether for enhancing stamina, restoring vitality, or dramatically increasing physical or magical capacity, never lost their appeal.

People sought them out even in auction houses, paying fortunes just to acquire one.

And now, she was offering one as compensation?

“Not interested? I’d think you would be.”

“As if.”

The woman’s knowing response revealed she had expected his interest.

Ian’s curiosity only deepened.

“So, you’re offering an elixir as compensation for the request?”

“To be precise, it’s something akin to an elixir. I made it myself.”

Of course, it couldn’t be that easy. Just doing a simple task wouldn’t warrant a genuine elixir.

The corners of her eyes twitched as she took another puff of her cigarette holder.

“What’s with that lukewarm response? Are you disappointed?”

“Not at all. I’ve simply let down my guard.”

“Oh, I see. So, you thought I was some kind of fraud, huh? That’s a bit insulting.”

“I hope you understand it’s just caution. I’ve been burned many times before.”

“Hmm, fair enough. Still, my elixir might even surpass the ones you find on the market. Wigner Gamma, which you’ve already taken, and the Delta you’ll try next—both were crafted by me.”

Ian leaned on the counter, resting his arms as he leaned forward.

“So, what exactly does this elixir do?”

“It boosts your stamina, removes accumulated toxins from the body, and most importantly, permanently enhances your magic recovery rate. How about it? If you accept my request, I’ll give you the chance to buy it.”

“…I thought you were giving it to me?”

“If I put it up at an auction, it would easily fetch twenty gold coins. Sure, you could afford it with your resources, but the real question is availability. Who knows when the next batch will appear? My elixirs are fully booked in advance. So, still not interested?”

“If it’s an elixir, then I’m in. What’s the task?”

“Guard duty. There’s a forest—a remote place rarely visited by people. I used to go there alone, but recently I found signs of others. I’d like to have someone in the front, just in case.”

Accompanying a Level 6 Mage should make it manageable.

“Typically, a place that secluded is where Dark Mages tend to be.”

He couldn’t help but wonder if he’d be tangled up with them again. However, he couldn’t just hide away in the family estate forever. Even if it felt unsettling, he would press on.

And if he did encounter Dark Mages again, he felt he could accept it as fate.

In a way, he might even be a natural enemy to them.

“If I accept the request, when do we depart?”

“As soon as possible. There are ingredients I need to gather. It should take about two days. Let’s meet at the station tomorrow morning.”

—

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, birds chirped from afar, and the air held a serene stillness.

With his eyes closed, Ian could almost picture a scene of endless peace. But once he opened them, reality told a different story.

The scattered trees bore dark leaves, twisted branches jutted out, and the whole place exuded an eerie, oppressive atmosphere, despite it being morning.

‘No wonder people stay away from this place.’

Even Ian, who had roamed as a treasure hunter before his return, had never ventured here. The reason was simple: the Empire had left it untouched, deeming it worthless land.

No artifacts had been discovered here, nor were there any ominous rumors about it. Just an ordinary forest.

But for Bellen Cordelia, the owner of the Milky Way Magic Shop, it was a land brimming with valuable resources.

She was meticulously examining a nameless herb, carefully digging it up with magic.

Tap, tap.

She gently dusted off the soil from the roots to avoid damaging them, then placed the plant in the bag hanging from her waist.

She had collected dozens of plants this way, yet the bag remained the same size, likely enhanced by spatial expansion or pocket space magic, indicating significant capacity.

Without a word, Bellen continued her task, and Ian naturally fell in step behind her.

Her full attention was on gathering.

Ian, having a basic knowledge of herbology, noticed a few useful herbs but chose to ignore them since there was no urgent need.

‘This is tedious.’

Hours passed since they entered the forest, but no monsters appeared, nor did he see any traces of the people she mentioned.

He spread his mana over a wide radius to detect anything within range, but all he sensed were small animals like birds.

The lack of even a single monster was surprising.

He didn’t wish for trouble, but the monotony was enough to make him stifle a yawn.

He quietly exhaled, but somehow Bellen noticed and glanced back.

“Are you tired? Shall we take a break?”

Ian gave a wry smile.

“I’m fine. Just feeling a bit stifled.”

“Isn’t that right? If you’d already been exhausted, we’d have a problem. There’s still a mountain of things to gather.”

Herbs, tree bark, sap, and even insects—she seemed intent on taking everything from the forest.

Yet, her expression remained unimpressed, as though she hadn’t found what she was really looking for. They gradually ventured deeper into the woods.

As they walked in silence, Bellen Cordelia, pipe in mouth, finally spoke.

“If you’re having trouble breathing, don’t let pride get in the way. This place is saturated with tainted mana, so it’s completely natural.”

“Should I be grateful you’re telling me now?”

“Of course. If it were someone else, they’d probably criticize you for being weak…”

Kyaaah!

A shriek from deep within the forest cut through her words. Ian and Bellen both turned their heads in sync.

They could hear flapping wings rapidly approaching.

As Ian narrowed his eyes, he saw something flying through the trees.

It was a bird, resembling a crow but with a single grotesque eye that stood out.

“A Single-Eye, huh~.”

A type of monster commonly found in battlefields strewn with corpses.

Like crows, it shared a fondness for corpses and attacked people without hesitation. It wasn’t strong individually, but in numbers, it could be quite aggressive.

Still perched on the rock, Bellen smirked and asked, “Need help?”

“No, please stay seated.”

As the creatures closed in, the crows swooped into the sky and then arched down like arrows.

Ian watched their descent, drawing his holy sword and swinging it through the air.

The moment the blade left its sheath, scorching flames erupted and surged along its path.

Fwoosh!

Though his swing was casual, the flames grew like a giant stretching awake.

“Oh?”

Bellen’s eyes widened in admiration. For such a light swing, the flames rose to an impressive scale.

Even from her distant position, the heat seeped through her protective magic, making her skin prickle.

If it felt this intense from afar, it would be even more devastating up close.

The flames were powerful enough to directly harm the monsters; creatures like the Single-Eye had no chance of enduring it.

Kyaaah!?

The creatures, startled by the sudden flames, tried to turn or stop, but it was already too late.

A few quicker ones folded their wings to try to break through, accelerating, but once they passed through the intense flames…

They emerged in a miserable state. Only something with fire resistance could endure that heat.

The intense heat melted the monsters’ single eye, and their sleek, black feathers burned away, exposing charred flesh as they fell to the ground.

Thud, splat!

Unable to die instantly, the creatures writhed pathetically on the ground.

“The flames… you should put them out.”

Ian didn’t need the reminder. He gathered the flames, which had started to spread among the leaves and branches, concentrating them in one spot before extinguishing them.

The roaring blaze seemed like it had been a dream, though the lingering heat proved it wasn’t an illusion.

“Shall we continue?”

“Of course, let’s go. You know, the presence of a Single-Eye often means there’s a corpse nearby.”

“That’s why I asked. I had a feeling… sigh, never mind. Let’s go.”

Unwilling though he was, he had no choice but to follow his employer’s wishes.

Bellen smiled, tapping her pipe with satisfaction.

“Good call. What’s there to worry about?”

There will be, Ian thought with a bitter smile as he took the lead.

Moving cautiously through the forest, they finally came across what he had been anticipating—human traces.

Faint footprints. They weren’t old, but he couldn’t detect anything within his range.

As he noted the oddness of it, a metallic scent of blood drifted in on the wind, and a grisly scene unfolded before them.

“A corpse.”

———-