The Regressed NoBody

“How come you are here?” Jihye asked with taking a single step forward covering the distance between us. I focused my eyes over my sister and observed her.

Her glossy black hair gleamed just as I had remembered when seeing her the first time. Her dark obsidian eyes shone with warmth, as her face shifted to a smile.

“I was just passing by, so came to see you,” I looked at my sister with a bright smile. “And nice suit, you look cool.” I pointed out.

She lifted her chin slightly and gave me a cheeky grin. “So you finally recognized my coolness, Oh Little Brother? A little too late, I guess.”

The smile over my face widened as I heard Jihye.

But her eyes darted from my head to my toes a moment later, after examining my body for an entire minute, she finally let out a sigh of relief.

“You aren’t pushing yourself are you?” Jihye's eyes displaying a concerned look in them, which made a subtle warmth to shroud my heart.

I crossed my arms and leaned an inch over as I muttered. “You really don’t trust me, huh?”

Jihye turned with a quick placement of her heel over the marble floor and stepped forward.

“Then whose fault is it? You are the one who loves to get injured every now and then, or am I wrong?”

An awkward smile flashed my face, as I scratched the side of my cheek. Jihye walked up to Mr. Butler and greeted him.

“How are you Mr. Baek-Hyun?” She asked with a slight respectful bow.

With a thin smile the old Butler replied. “I am as healthy as ever, Miss Jihye. How about you?”

“I am also fine.”

Mr. Butler looked at me for a moment then took a half step back.

“I should get going now, I need to take care of some tasks assigned to me by the Guild Master.” He turned over his heel and stepped out.

I walked up to Jihye and looked at her.

Her condition looked much better than I had remembered. Her eyes didn’t looks as exhausted as they had used to, and her face looked fresh.

Seeing this made my mind at peace. If she was fine then that is all I wanted.

“I heard you are working pretty diligently here,” I muttered.

She pulled a hair band out of her pocket and tied her hair into a ponytail, which exposed her nape. “Unlike my previous workplace, this guild is leagues above that place. This workplace has a much better environment and the people in my team are all good and kind people.”

But momentarily a sorrowed expression covered my face as I looked at Jihye. She was clearly pushing herself in the past, and hid her true self. Her previous workplace was like a cage which had bound her inside. I tightly formed my hand into a fist.

I didn’t want Jihye to live a hard life. I would certainly do anything for her. She was my family now. And protecting her was now my solemn duty.

My eyes softened, as I saw Jihye tap over the screen of her watch which she wore over her left wrist.

But I was grateful for Park Yujin for providing her with this opportunity. I could tell just by looking at her that she was enjoying herself here. She wasn’t trying to hide her feelings like last time.

“Did you have breakfast yet?” Jihye asked as she tapped over her watch and her dark eyes focused over me.

“I did,” I answered as I caught her gaze.

“I am free for the time being, so should we go down to the cafeteria?” She cocked her head towards me and asked.

“You don’t have to make time for me if you are busy? I just came here to take a quick look at you.” I exclaimed.

Jihye nodded her head a few times as she thrust her hand forward and pointed her index finger near my face.

“Don’t worry, after finishing that hunter's evaluation test, I am free for the time being so don’t feel burdened." She pulled her arm back and with a quick step forward she exited through the door. I followed her from behind.

Soon both of us reached the elevator and I pressed over the panel on the side. Soon with a low ding, the doors opened and we entered.

The doors closed and Jihye pressed on the twenty-seventh floor over the panel on the side. Soon the elevator descended and after a few more seconds the doors once again opened.

Both of us stepped outside and Jihye took a right turn and both of us stepped inside the cafeteria.

Rather than a cafeteria this place looked more like a restaurant. Tables placed over the wide floor, the wooden texture of the floor was smooth and shinny. The dark oak wood tables and chairs adorned the beauty of the cafeteria.

The wide glass windows on the left side allowed sun light to illuminate the inside of the cafeteria. A calming smell of jasmine evaded my nostrils as I inhaled the rich aroma.

In front of us was the counter where two people were taking orders. Above the counter was a big panel where the menu items were being displayed.

“What do you want to drink?” Jihye asked as he looked at the menu in front.

“I'll just have a green tea,” I replied.

With that Jihye stepped forward and walked up to the counter.

The place wasn’t that crowded, only a few people were present. I stepped forward and sat on the table on the middle row on the right side.

The couchened seats made it feel like I was sitting over features. I leaned back in the seat and placed both elbows over the dark oak wood table.

“Here,” Jihye said as she handed me my green tea and took the seat opposite to me.

She placed the tray which had a cup of tea over it and leaned back in her seat comfortably.

I took the cup by its handle and took a sip of the green tea. The green tea was rich in aroma and flavour. The tea leaves used for making the tea must be high quality.

“Jiwoo...”

I lifted my gaze and looked at Jihye. Her brows were slightly knitted, with a concerned expression over her face.

“What?” I hurriedly asked. Confused.

She looked at me for a moment, her eyes displaying the same warmth which they always did.

She clasped her hands and held them close. “I don’t know how you were so injured but...,” she paused for a moment. Her dark eyes bore into my own. “I want you to be careful. I know perfectly well that you are mature enough to make your own decisions now, but, despite that... I want you to be more careful. When I heard about your condition my heart almost stopped.”

She lowered her head a little, and placed her hands over her cup. Wrapping her hands around the body of the cup, she looked at me with a sorrowed expression over her face.

“I don’t want to lose you too.”

I couldn’t say anything back. Her last sentence made a realization to dawn into my heart. I remembered the hardened expression Jiwoo and Jihye’s Father had made inside that memory, which I still vividly remembered.

Jihye had lost her parents at a young age and I could only image the worry she felt when she must have heard about my condition. Her only family which was her brother, me... but I had taken over her Brother’s body. In truth I was merely a stranger to her.

“Don’t worry, I won’t do something reckless to make you worry again,” I reassured. All I could do was reassure her with words. I felt like these words were losing their value every time I spoke them.

I don’t know myself just what kind of challenges await me.

I wanted to sigh but held it back. This second chance that I miraculously received. I wasn’t going to waste it. All I wanted was the people I cared about to live a long, happy and fulfilled life.

Jihye placed her cup down after taking a sip. She didn't look at me. Her sharp features displayed a hardened expression.

I felt like my heart was being pinched. I couldn’t just share my burdens and problems with anyone. Why would I want to trouble them with my problems?

I finally let that sigh out.

“Jihhhyyyyeeee!” I saw from the periphery of my vision, a woman approaching Jihye. She tightly hugged Jihye from behind, wrapping her arms around near her neck.

“Eh, YooSung?" Jihye said, startled.

The woman named YooSung loosened her grip, and pulled her arms back. She brought her mouth close to Jihye’s ear and whispered something.

With my heightened senses I clearly heard what she had whispered into her ear.

“Who is that guy? Is he your boyfriend? He looks cute. I didn’t know you were into younger guys?”

I simply drank my green tea as I exchanged a few glances with YooSung.

“No, he’s my Brother, YooSung,” Jihye explained. Turning her head slightly to her side and looking at her.

YooSung took the seat beside Jihye and exchanged glances between me and her.

“YooSung, he is my brother, Jiwoo,” Jihye introduced. She waved her hand towards me and I greeted YooSung, placing my cup down on the table.

My eyes laid on her wavy dark brown hair which cascaded down her shoulders, as her green eyes locked on to me.

“Now that you say that, there is a similarity between you two,” YooSung mused, changing the placement of her hand from the armrest to her chin. “The male version of Jihye.” She joked with a humorous expression.

“Shouldn’t you be helping team leader Daeho from the third team by now?” Jihye asked.

YooSung nonchalantly waved her arm in the air as she replied. “Already finished. There was simply just some misplacement of data in the records that needed to be taken care of.”

“Seriously who the hell even made that guy a team leader?” YooSung grumbled as she leaned in her seat and crossed her legs.

“YooSung you shouldn’t talk like that about someone,” Jihye exclaimed.

YooSung leaned closer to her side—enough for her to lean her head against Jihye’s shoulder.

“I know, I know,” she muttered. “But that guy is just a little... too clumsy, that’s all.”

“I have to agree to that,” Jihye’s lips curled upwards as she replied to YooSung.

Seeing Jihye like this made me reassured that she had made good friends in her workplace.

“Anyways, how come your brother is here?” YooSung asked.

“I was passing by so I came to visit her,” I replied.

“Quite the considerate Brother you have.” YooSung placed her hand over her mouth and with her brows weirdly risen, she grinned at Jihye. “I hope I had a little brother like that.”

She shifted her face toward me and with a weird sensual expression over her face, she crossed her arms and slightly lifted up her cleavage, as she spoke. “Or I can be your Noona?”

I felt a smile creeping up my lips as I looked at YooSung.

“I am sorry but I am not into older women,” I bluntly commented as I finished my green tea and placed the cup down on the table.

“And honestly, you are simply not my type.” I crossed my arms, slightly leaning into the comfortable chair.

YooSung chuckled a few times, as she held on to her stomach. Wiping the edge of her left eye, she spoke.

“I really like your Brother, Jihye.”

But Jihye's watch vibrated and she tapped over it. Reading through the message, she looked at YooSung and spoke.

“Team leader has called us back, there seem to a few hunters coming in for their evaluation tests.”

YooSung got up from her seat and so did Jihye. I also got up and took the tray, putting both mine and Jihye's cup over it.

“I am sorry I need to go,” Jihye apologised.

I cocked my head in her direction and spoke. “I am the one who came to see you in your working hours, there's nothing to be sorry about,” I looked at my watch and continued. “I guess I should also get going by now.”

YooSung placed her hands over Jihye’s shoulders and pushed her forward towards the elevator.

“Goodbye,” Jihye said.

YooSung brought her hand close to her mouth and gestured a flying kiss at me, as he spoke with her crisp voice.

“See you later, Little Brother.”

I walked up to the counter and handed the tray to the employee there.

Afterwards, I spun over my heel and walked up to the elevator.

I pressed my finger against the touch panel on the side and after a few seconds the elevator opened.

Just as I was about to enter, I saw Jiyoung standing inside the elevator.

Surprised, I kept looking at her. A second later, she gestured for me to enter and I did.

“How come you are here, Jiyoung?” I asked. My eyes focused on her. She was wearing a pair of black jeans with a loose fitted white shirt. Her jet black hair done into a ponytail.

She tilted her head toward me and answered. “I just came to meet my Father after a while.”

Then as silence descended, both of us kept quiet until the elevator stopped descending and with a low chiming sound the doors opened.

Both of us stepped outside and made our way out of the reception, and exited through the entrance of the guild.

We stepped outside and the same guards which had stopped my arrival inside the guild stood post. They turned their face away from me. With a sneaky smile over my face, I waved my hand at them and spoke. “Bye, Blondie, Bye Brownie.”

Jiyoung looked at me curiously as we walked passed them and a car stopped in front of us on the road ahead. A black Mercedes—different from the last one I had rode here. Its black colour reflected the sunlight, as the car’s exterior gleamed expensively. The driver of the car stepped out and opened the door.

“Lets go,” Jiyoung said as she step foot inside the car and scooted to the seat further.

I did as she said and entered after her. The driver closed the door and went to drive the car. He started the engine and soon the car drifted into the busy streets of Seoul.

“Oh yeah,” I suddenly remembered as I smacked my fisted arm lightly over my palm. “Jiyoung, can you do me a favour?” I snapped my head at her and asked.

Jiyoung fastened her seatbelt and so did I. She cocked her head toward me, then asked. “Its rare for you to ask for a favour? So what is it?”

“Can you let me use your private training room installed in your dorm room for a few days?” I requested.

She nodded her head and opened her mouth to speak. “I don’t mind, but, why for only a few days?”

I crossed my arms and answered. “I am guessing in a week or two, the results of the tournament will be out. And the student ranking would be changed based on the individual performance of the students in the tournament.” I explained as I leaned in my seat. “And judging by the way the ranking system judge’s a student, I have estimated that I might jump to the top hundreds, or so.”

She nodded her head and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Well yes, the ranking system doesn’t judge’s students taking into account their entire skill set or battle proficiency.” Jiyoung mused, placing her elbow on the window's edge. She pressed the button on the door panel, and lowered the glass window.

“Why not the top ten then?” She asked. “You could easily take the first rank position if you wanted to?”

A warm and refreshing breeze blew inside the car, which made both my hair and Jiyoung’s bangs to flutter slightly.

I nodded my head in a repeative manner before speaking. “I could but, my current goal is to change dorm buildings after ranking up, so I would be provided a private training room for myself.”

I could reach the top ten rank easily, but that would mean, me needing to reveal parts of my strength, and it will also bring unwanted attention my way. And I couldn’t openly train my abilities in the public training facility which most students used—which applied to those who didn’t have a private training room in their dorm room. So training had been a problem for me. All I could do in my current dorm room was simple stretches and some muscles work out.

But I was sure after my performance in the tournament, I could at least reach the top hundreds rank easily.

Soon the car came to a sudden halt, and the driver again got out of the car to go open the door. I thanked the driver as I stepped outside the car.

He nodded his head as he went back to the drivers seat.

Soon the car drifted off and Jiyoung and I stepped inside the Portal house. After registering our departure from Korea we made our way towards the portal room.

We entered a wide white marble room, where the portal frame stood on top of a platform, which was let to by a flight of stairs.

We ascended up to the platform and stood a few feet away from the portal frame.

The greenish oily shine of the portal breathtakingly emanated a beautiful hue which rippled like tiny specks of lightning. Soon we stepped forward, and the converged mana which sharply rippled and surged through the portal sucked us in.

A bright white light momentarily blinded me, as my body lost its touch with its senses and I felt my consciousness drifting into the inside of the portal.

***

I walked up to the entrance of the Ashura building, where only the top ten from each respective years were residents, along with Jiyoung.

No student except for the top ten could enter the premises of the Ashura building. But they could willingly invite their friends to their dorm room.

I watched the guard which stood post outside the entrance, intimidatingly stand with an eerie air around him. The mana around him swirled as I searched him. His rank was on the threshold of .

Jiyoung stepped forward, and I followed suit. But the guard stopped me, then asked.

“Who are you?”

Jiyoung looked at the tall guard and spoke. “He is my friend.”

The guard nodded his head and stepped to the side, allowing me to step inside.

Both of us passed through the entrance, and made our way inside. My head snapped left to right, as I observed the inside of the dorm.

Their were shopping centres inside here, on my left was a cafe and on my right was a gaming centre. In the middle of the pavement was a beautiful fountain, which sprinkled water out with sudden pumps.

“Lets go.” Jiyoung said from my side and both of us made our way to her room.

***

Flashing her student card against the panel on the right side of the door. The door slid open with a low hum and Jiyoung entered. She gestured for me to enter.

I stepped inside and took my shoes off and followed Jiyoung from behind.

The wide entrance let to an even wider and larger room. A king sized bed was placed on my left side. The marble floor was smooth and I could perfectly see my reflection in it. On the further edge was the entrance to a wide balcony. The room had a sweet smell.

There was a big TV attachment to the wall. And a few feet away from the TV was a table on which a mirror and a few other things rested.

On my left was a beautiful kitchen and bathroom, and on my right were two rooms. One was the training room, and the other I guess where the time accelerator device was.

One more reason for me to come here was to use the time accelerator device which was given to each individual top ten in their rooms.

I saw Jiyoung push the door of the training room open and stepping inside. I also did. I saw the inside of the widely spread training room. It was as big as a hall. The lights brightly lit the inside of the room.

The entire room was covered with state of the art material, and I could feel the condensed mana flowing in the air in here. The materials used to create the training rooms, allowed mana to be converged to the inside faster, which made a perfect place for training. To create a vortex like room rich and full of condensed mana.

“Alright, time to train.”