Ah.

Remembering a fact he had forgotten, Riaks blue pupils dilated.

Kyahaha!! Yeah! Thats right!!

His expression was as if he had discovered a thread of light inside pitch-black darkness.

Riaks body trembled from thrill as he opened his mouth.

You were a Regre

Flinch

Riak, who was going to shout out of joy, suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked at Ha-eun with a surprised expression.

I already told her that Im a Regressor.

Ah, I I see.

Riak exhaled a deep breath of relief from the stroke of good luck.

Y-Yeah! Ohjins a Regressor!

Ha-eun suddenly looked at Ohjin and nodded her head like a broken machine.

Please dont do anything, Ha-eun.

Ohjin grasped his forehead like he had a headache as he looked at how overwhelmingly awkward she looked.

So, what exactly is this thing called Adams Apple? Riak asked as he gulped.

Ohjin continued explaining.

When we fought with the Heavenly Demon, he was so strong that even celestials directly participated in the battle. The star relic we used to weaken the restrictions back then is Adams Apple.

But Ive never heard of a star relic like that before

Of course you havent. Its a star relic no one had been able to discover yet at this point in time.

Hmm.

Riak narrowed his eyes.

But according to what Ive heard from Lady Vega, she said that the future has started to change does that thing called the Adams Apple exist for certain?

Were able to obtain it right now because the future has changed. Originally, the omen of the Divine Tree is supposed to appear in the distant future.

Omen of the Divine Tree?

You said that the chains of light restraining Vega suddenly reduced to fifty, right?

Ohjin looked at the tightly shut door and continued.

That is the omen that indicates that the Divine Tree bearing Adams Apple has grown. Its also something we discovered back then after looking for the cause of the Commandments Restriction decreasing for no reason.

I I see.

Riak nodded his head with a dumb look.

It wasnt easy to believe, but Ohjin was a Regressor who went against the currents of time.

He was the Heaven-defying Star who would save the world.

No matter how groundless it sounded, the amount of trust varied infinitely depending on who told the story.

He doesnt have a choice but to accept it, even if its hard to believe.

Ohjin recalled a psychological experiment hed seen a while back.

An experiment where they tested if patients who came to be diagnosed by a doctor would spin around on the spot with their nose blocked if they were told it was needed in order to diagnose the illness by the doctor.

Despite knowing that spinning on the spot with their nose blocked had no relation to diagnosing an illness with their common sense, surprisingly enough, most people listened to the doctor and conducted the absurd order.

Was it because the patients were simply stupid?

It cant be.

The authority the profession Doctor held.

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They had naturally followed the order because of that authority.

Riak obviously wasnt a human, but he had the same intelligence and sociability as humans.

He couldnt help but succumb in front of the authority that a mere doctor couldnt compare to, the Heaven-defying Star.

And this isnt even as out of the blue as diagnosing an illness by having to spin around with their nose blocked on the spot.

Riak also knew that there were fifty chains instead of what was supposed to be one hundred. Not even Riak thought that the phenomenon happened for no given reason.

For a phenomenon with an unknown cause, it was natural to believe when an ostensible reason was presented.

Then are you saying that well be able to save Lady Vega from the restriction if we obtain Adams Apple?

Most likely.

But from where are we going to obtain such a precious star relic?

Leave that to me.

With his eyebrows slightly raised, and unwavering eyes

Shoulders spread wide, and a voice full of conviction

It was basic expression acting that was used in job interviews, but an ambitious spirit as if a veteran general was on his way to take over enemy territories emitted out when Ohjin used it.

Ill obtain Adams Apple at all costs.

Rookie

Riak looked at Ohjin with shaking eyes like he was touched.

Grrr! I cannot stand idle when youre doing this much! I will lend my hand in the quest to obtain Adams Apple!!

Huh? Fuck, this isnt going as planned.

No. You should stay here, Riak.

What do you mean!

Isnt a lot of your power restricted since Vegas affected by the Commandments Restriction?

Th-Thats

And we cant leave Vega alone here in that state.

Ugh.

Riak, who couldnt think of any words of refute, groaned silently and dropped his head.

Ill leave Vega to you while Im out obtaining Adams Apple, Riak.

Grrrr.

Riak growled fiercely and nodded his head.

Do not worry. This Riak shall personally rip apart anyone who dares come to the sanctuary with the intent of harming Lady Vega.

I trust you.

Ohjin laughed heartily and extended out his hand.

Riak put strength in his hands and grasped Ohjins lent-out hand.

Crunch

My bones are going to break, you insane bastard.

The pressure on his hands felt like it was going to break his skin, but Ohjin desperately maintained his smile and turned around.

Then Ill start trying to find Adams Apple right away.

How long do you think itll take?

I dont know, either.

Not even Ohjin himself knew how much time would be required to be able to use Heaven Unfolding with his own strength.

However

In the least, it wont take fifty years, so dont worry.

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Fifty years? He was confident that it wouldnt even take a year.

I probably wont need to raise the awakening stage that much.

The amount of power hed absorbed from Ha-euns Dragon Eye was an extremely small portion in the first place. It was likely that there werent many steps left until he could use Heaven Unfolding on his own since he was able to use Heaven Unfolding with just that.

Then Im going now, Riak.

Hmpf. Dont mess up like a rookie because youre not with me, Riak said bluntly as he puffed air out of his nose.

Ohjin smirked and started to walk away from the sanctuary with Ha-eun.

* * *

* * *

Riak stood in front of Vegas room like a gatekeeper and stared at Ohjins back as it gradually grew more distant.

Ill be waiting, rooki no.

Like a knight bowing to their king, he got down on one knee and respectfully dropped his head.

Oh, Heaven-defying Star who will brighten the Black Heavens darkness.

* * *

Ohjin.

On the way back home after leaving the sanctuary, Ha-eun, who was walking silently next to him, opened her mouth.

That Adams Apple thing. Is it real?

Of course not, its a lie.

Hah.

Ha-eun chuckled with a look that expressed how absurd she thought it was.

Wow, youre seriously crazy. That was a lie? I believed it despite knowing all about you.

As Ohjin had said it with an expression filled with such conviction, even Ha-eun, who knew the truth, ended up falling for it.

This guy was born with a gift to a scam.

Ominously, a worrying thought crossed her mind.

Ohjin you saying that youll take responsibility for me wasnt a lie, right?

What are you talking about?

Ohjin smiled and pulled Ha-eun, who was walking next to him, in by the hip.

Even if I live off lying, I wouldnt do that to you.

K-Khm. Th-The people who say that always end up being scammers.

Even while poking Ohjins side, Ha-eun smiled sheepishly.

Well, anyway. So what are you planning to do? You said that the Adams Apple thing is a lie. Then how will you get rid of the restriction on Vega?

I just need to use Heaven Unfolding.

Ohjin passed on the truth he found out recently.

But arent you able to use Heaven unfolding if you absorb a bit of my eye? Then

No.

Ohjin firmly shook his head.

As long as we dont know what kind of side effects it could cause to you, I refuse to use that method.

But there was nothing like that last ti

Theres no guarantee that there wont be any side effects because it didnt happen once.

Just because you passed across a frozen river once didnt mean that the ice would be able to endure the load next time.

Its not like theres no other method.

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Hmm. That Black Heaven thing; is there a method to increase its stage?

Of course.

The edges of Ohjins lips tilted up.

A smile of a hunter at a prey was placed on his mouth.

There has only been one method to increase the Black Heavens awakening stage until now.

Devouring more stigmas and devouring stronger stigmas.

You arent planning to indiscriminately ambush any Awakener, right?

Why would I do something so inefficient?

There was no way that the Black Heaven would awaken by devouring low-rank stigmas.

Then putting the efficiency problem aside, what are you going to do?

Ha-eun tilted her head and looked at Ohjin.

Ohjin shrugged his shoulders.

Ha-eun, have you ever eaten seahorses?

Would anyone have eaten something like that?

Right?

Ohjin licked his lips while his eyes shone.

So I was planning to use this opportunity to try them out.

The Hippocampus faction that was said to be energetic recently in Japan was the prey Ohjin was aiming for next.

Hmm. I dont know what youre thinking of doing, but you arent going to say that youre going alone this time as well, right?

Ha-eun stared at him sharply.

I need your help this time.

Oh, wait! Those Hippocampus guys arent in Korea but Japan, right?

Thats right.

Ooooooh!!

Ha-euns eyes sparkled.

An overseas trip!! Finally, Im going on an overseas trip!!

And with Ohjin, at that!

Ha-eun shouted out of joy and suddenly raised her arms up high.

She was feeling distressed because of the guilt she felt about Vega becoming sealed just moments ago, but it appeared that she was able to return to her original condition once she found out there was a method to get rid of the seal.

Hehehe. Ill have to take a bunch of photos and tease Vega once she wakes up~.

Though were not going there to have fun.

Ohjin put on a bitter smile and walked out of the sanctum.

At that moment

Are you Gwon Ohjin?

an old man wearing a white garment approached him.

Ah, yes. Thats correct.

Ohjin tilted his head and looked at the old man.

The old man had a gentle face that made one reminiscent of a Taoist.

It was a somewhat familiar face.

Hoho. Its nice to meet you like this.

The old man respectfully bowed his head and extended out his hand.

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Im Cheon Sanggil.

Star of the Celestial Pivot, Cheon Sanggil.

One of the strongest Awakeners known as a Seven Star had come looking for him.