The Heroine Stole My Regression-Chapter 81

Everyone held their breath in unison.

The atmosphere became still.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on her.

And at the center of it all, Cheon Yeoul was quietly closing her eyes.

It was the moment when Eriel's divinity settled within her.

She was no longer just a candidate; she would now gradually accumulate that power, as the vessel of the goddess.

"How do you feel?"

I asked, looking at Cheon Yeoul.

Cheon Yeoul slowly opened her eyes.

She looked up at me with a soft gaze and whispered, barely audibly.

"... Ecstatic."

Cheon Yeoul softly murmured.

Her flushed face, eyes slightly glazed, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a faint smile. Her breath was slightly quicker.

For someone with her deep faith, this must have been the highest fulfillment. No wonder she felt happiness.

Tap.

At that moment, a sound of footsteps came from behind Cheon Yeoul.

The rustle of robes brushing the floor.

It was Bishop Luke.

He briefly looked at Cheon Yeoul before kneeling silently.

"... Saint."

His voice trembled, and tears gathered at the corners of his eyes.

"Eriel’s will has remained within you."

He placed his hand over his chest and bowed deeply.

"On behalf of the Arcadia Order, we celebrate that you have now become a true Saint, no longer just a candidate."

As he slowly lifted his head, disbelief and joy were written all over his face.

In that moment, the members of the order who had supported Cheon Yeoul began clapping, while the Hero faction across the room could not hide their displeasure, clapping reluctantly.

For both the Saint and the Hero to be officially acknowledged, they had to fulfill the prophecy.

However, Cheon Yeoul had already surpassed that step. Of course, she would still undergo the ritual, but it was merely a formality.

Johan had not yet shed his "candidate" label.

With this, Cheon Yeoul’s position as the Saint became even more solidified.

But then, at that moment.

The sleeve of my robe was gently tugged.

"Haein..."

A familiar voice.

She carefully grabbed my sleeve, gently shaking my arm with both hands.

"Do you have a promise after this?"

She looked at me with moist eyes.

Her tone was more like a request than a question.

The ends of her words rose slightly, and her gaze was sharper than usual.

"Ahem!"

The Bishop of the Hero faction on the opposite side of Luke cleared his throat loudly, interrupting.

"Now that you are a Saint, you must carry yourself more modestly..."

But Cheon Yeoul didn’t respond at all. Instead, her gaze stayed fixed on me.

"Is there a promise?"

She stretched her words, pouting slightly as she asked again, shaking my arm gently.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Yeah, I’ve got things to do."

At my response, Cheon Yeoul lowered her head slightly and stuck out her lips.

"Alright...."

A brief silence.

I turned my gaze to the side and looked at Bishop Luke, who had not moved from his position.

I spoke to him.

"You probably noticed, but this is Eriel’s tiara. It seems like the absorption went well, but..."

I turned my gaze back to Cheon Yeoul.

She had her eyes wide open, tilting her head in curiosity.

"Yes... It might need «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» some care."

I casually stated, and Bishop Luke slowly nodded.

"... I can never thank you enough."

His voice was somewhat thick with emotion.

"You’ve always been of great help to us."

The Bishop lowered his head and spoke cautiously.

"Arcadia will never leave a debt unpaid. In the near future, we will certainly... repay you in a manner that will satisfy you."

"Alright, I look forward to it."

I responded, though honestly, I didn’t really care.

At least when it came to the important individuals I was personally nurturing, no compensation was needed.

I could be seen as a fool, but that wasn’t the case.

I was trying to survive. To survive.

The Bishop bowed his head in response.

Then, the clergy from the Saint faction behind him also bowed in unison.

"May the grace of the gods be with you."

Even Cheon Yeoul, in front of me, smiled softly and tilted her head.

She brought her hands together in front of her chest and gently bowed.

I also nodded slightly in return.

"Take care."

I didn’t find this atmosphere uncomfortable, but it wasn’t my preference.

I silently turned and quickly walked out.

***

In the association’s lowest floor, Yoon Chaeha entered, marveling at the sight.

"Wow...."

Jeong Haein had been right. Yoon Chaeha definitely wasn’t the type to sit quietly in a café.

She wandered around the lobby, and eventually, her neck was grabbed by his hand and she was dragged down to the lowest floor of the association.

She had been complaining about there being more to see on the first floor, but when they arrived, her mouth fell open in awe.

On the other side of the wall, a single sphere hovered quietly.

"Magic? Phenomenon? What is this...?"

Yoon Chaeha’s eyes flared with interest.

According to the association’s thorough inspection, no magic energy was detected.

The residual magic around it had naturally disappeared.

Still, we have to be careful...

But Jeong Haein couldn’t be reassured by that alone.

This sphere was, after all, a remnant of the Evil God.

There was a high likelihood that there was something incomprehensible inside.

That was why Jeong Haein had brought Yoon Chaeha here.

Her powers could analyze it without interfering.

From a distance, with her power A Priori, it was possible.

Now, it was her turn.

"Try analyzing it yourself."

Jeong Haein said quietly.

Yoon Chaeha, almost as if entranced, walked briskly to the glass wall.

"Just don’t touch it."

At his warning, she nodded briefly.

Humm...

The sphere vibrated, reacting as if it were alive.

"Analyze it with your eyes only. If it seems impossible, you can give up."

Yoon Chaeha’s eyes widened, and her pupils burned with focus.

A mass of magical energy.

It was a paradoxical mass of magic, neither good nor evil, just magic in its raw form.

Yoon Chaeha narrowed her eyes and began analyzing the structure slowly and carefully, as if she was trying to disassemble it.

Her powers followed the intention, and just as she was about to dissect it...

Crack!

The sphere vibrated suddenly.

And in the next moment.

"Hey!"

Jeong Haein’s shout rang out.

Yoon Chaeha’s vision went black.

***

She opened her eyes again.

When her consciousness returned, she found herself in an unfamiliar space.

White clouds. A ceiling filled with light. The fragrant scent of flowers.

Beneath her feet, a dazzlingly beautiful flower garden stretched out.

She was standing in the center of a grand paradise.

Heaven?

That was Yoon Chaeha’s first impression.

Her mind had cut off while she was analyzing the sphere, and when she opened her eyes, this was where she was.

Everything around her was bathed in radiant light, and small angels flew through the air.

White pillars, a golden ceiling. This place could easily be called Heaven.

She felt a sense of calm wash over her.

A strangely comforting feeling.

At that moment.

[You have arrived.]

A soft and warm voice echoed inside Yoon Chaeha’s mind.

In front of her, sitting on a high and majestic throne, was a goddess.

Golden long hair and a compassionate smile.

And a holy robe, surrounded by golden embellishments.

The goddess slowly descended from her throne and approached Yoon Chaeha.

[The one with the Eye of Wisdom, I commend your courage.]

[You are worthy of being the protagonist of this world.]

"...Me?"

Yoon Chaeha asked in a bewildered tone, taken aback by the sudden praise.

[Yes.]

[Your coming here is also part of a great fate.]

With a smile, the goddess took another step closer.

[Realize your own justice with your will.]

And the goddess quietly extended her hand, as if waiting for a choice.

Yoon Chaeha was suddenly placed at a crossroads of choice.

She squinted her eyes, thinking deeply.

It was a sudden situation—something she had occasionally heard of.

The story about special individuals receiving the ‘blessing’ of the system.

She, too, had received the system's favor when she was young and obtained her power.

That power was [A Priori].

But something felt distinctly different.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

An exceptionally soft space. An exceptionally warm atmosphere. And the kind goddess.

Yet, deep inside her chest, a strong warning bell rang.

It was too perfect; it felt almost fake.

Don’t touch it!

The energy that Jeong Haein had planted inside her flared up, responding.

The meaning was clear: rejection.

She quickly turned her head away.

But Jeong Haein wasn’t there.

At least, without him by her side, she didn’t feel like making a decision.

Lately, she had relied on him for many things, and strangely, at this very moment, she had the feeling that he should be here beside her.

"I’m fine."

Yoon Chaeha quietly and firmly shook her head.

[Impossible. Would you reconsider? There isn’t much time.]

The goddess’s voice remained soft, but her gaze was no longer kind.

The small angels surrounding her suddenly came up close.

Those tiny hands, but with spears clutched tightly in them, now aimed directly at Yoon Chaeha.

"...I said no."

Her voice trembled, but it was a definite refusal.

Then, slowly, her breathing became labored.

The scent of the flowers in the garden clouded her mind.

What had once smelled pleasant was now turning into a nauseating sweetness.

The goddess stepped closer.

Her hand was still extended, but her eyes had darkened with coldness, and her gaze sank into darkness.

A cold sweat trickled down her back.

Her fingers began to tingle, and her legs were starting to betray her.

No...

The [A Priori] power tried to resist, but it was as if she were sinking into a deep swamp, quickly being pulled down.

Yoon Chaeha was slowly crumbling under an unstoppable force.

Then, it happened.

Whoosh.

A small, clear energy that had been burning in her chest suddenly exploded upwards.

The flames spread in a circle around her, and a transparent barrier enveloped Yoon Chaeha.

Screech! Ting! Ting!

Dozens of spears flew toward the barrier, but as they touched it, they veered away.

"Haa... Haa..."

Her breathing returned to normal.

With each breath she took, the familiar scent filled her nostrils.

It wasn’t the flower scent, but his scent.

[Ah... this.]

The goddess in front of her sighed softly. Then,

[He... will be disappointed again!!!]

With a shout, she grabbed her head with both hands.

Her once compassionate face twisted into a distorted grin, and her eyes began to turn red.

Once those words ended, Yoon Chaeha’s eyes widened.

[Ability: A Priori is now activated!]

The massive paradise began to shed its shell.

The once beautiful flower garden became a poppy field stained with blood.

The smiles of the angels tore apart, and inside them, tentacles and teeth began to writhe.

[If you hesitated even for a moment! It could have been avoided!!]

The goddess’s golden robe was torn apart, transforming into a black veil, and red markings bloomed on her skin as her eyes turned completely red.

[You resist the temptation of Apostle Aria!]

[We praise your trial and feats.]

A message appeared before her.

It was the first time since the moment she had awakened her power as a child.

But she knew intuitively.

This was real. The system.

The boundaries between Yoon Chaeha’s body and this strange world began to blur, and they started to separate.

The crack of light.

Through it, someone reached out and forcefully woke her.

"Wake up!! Yoon Chaeha!!"

A sharp yet familiar voice.

In front of her was Jeong Haein’s face.

His mouth was slightly open in surprise, his eyes filled with worry.

As she raised her head, words appeared in the air.

====

[Ability: A Priori]

① Penetrating Gaze

Nothing can be hidden, nothing can be concealed.

② A Priori Knowledge

The essence has already been determined.

③ ??? (Unfreed)

====

The previously sealed third slot.

The seal was released.

The sphere, which had been quietly floating behind the glass wall, suddenly vibrated.

A beam of light shot through the wall and straight into Yoon Chaeha’s chest.

In that moment, Jeong Haein’s eyes widened.

"!"

He quickly turned his head, trying to understand the situation before him.

[You have acquired Paradox Spectrum.]

[You have absorbed the essence of energy that is neither good nor evil, but a contradiction itself.]

[It resonates with A Priori!]

[③ The Devourer of Hunger – Eats, analyzes, and absorbs everything as it is.]

"Ah..."

A sigh escaped Yoon Chaeha’s lips.

Jeong Haein immediately reacted to the sound.

"Yoon Chaeha! You were unconscious!"

His voice was mixed with confusion and concern.

Yoon Chaeha looked at him.

For a moment, silently.

She knew who had protected her.

Who had surrounded her with their presence in that maddened space just moments ago.

It was clear to her, if she wasn’t a fool.

Yoon Chaeha briefly lowered her gaze, then nodded slightly.

She slowly raised the corners of her mouth, offering a careful smile.

"Yeah... I’m fine."

She said, and quietly looked at Jeong Haein.