The Heroine Stole My Regression-Chapter 89

The Heroine Stole My Regression-Chapter 89

—“The winner!! Yoon Chaeha!”
The final match of the exchange tournament—the individual final—had ended.
And in the end, the final victor was officially declared:
Yoon Chaeha.
Whether it was simply that she had always been a gifted genius,
Or that Gaon’s training system was exceptional—
No one could say for certain.
But either way, this exchange tournament was another win for Gaon.
With victories in both the individual and team events, it was a fitting outcome.
The awards ceremony began.
1st place: Yoon Chaeha.
2nd place: Ju Seojun.
3rd place: Gael.
Despite getting crushed by Yoon Chaeha, Gael had apparently put on a solid performance in the 3rd place match.
I quietly watched from the stands.
Yoon Chaeha stepped up onto the podium.
She slowly raised her head and looked off somewhere.
Our eyes met again.
She keeps looking over
Her gaze lingered on me for a few seconds. Then her lips moved just slightly.
“Don’t leave.”
I didn’t have anything urgent to do, so I stayed and watched the awards ceremony.
As I looked at Yoon Chaeha receiving her medal on the podium, I reflected on how much she’d grown throughout this tournament.
She’s good.
Even calling her “good” was starting to feel like an understatement.
She absorbed things fast.
She didn’t just mimic what I taught her—she internalized it, restructured it, and made it her own.
She analyzed the techniques I showed her, altered them, and sometimes even layered her own intuition over them—turning them into something completely new.
I had originally assumed it would take some time to get her into the right rhythm.
She had a stubborn personality, and unlike others, she didn’t seem to have a neatly mapped-out plan.
But that assumption was wrong.
The talent and instincts “programmed” into her far exceeded my expectations.
Right now, if I had to describe her state—
She was flowing entirely under her own momentum.
Good.
There was no need to push her any further now.
If anything, trying to teach her more might only interfere with her current growth trajectory.
That’s how on-point she was right now.
She was like a rocket, fitted with multiple boosters, accelerating precisely in the direction she chose.
I’d seen everything I needed to see.
I quietly stood up from my seat.
Then, without a word, I turned and walked away.
***
“Wha… where… Where’d he go…”
The moment the awards ceremony ended, Yoon Chaeha rushed toward the stands.
Her steps quickened before she even realized it, and only one face filled her thoughts.
But—
The seat was empty.
Jeong Haein was nowhere to be seen.
“……”
Just a moment ago, he’d been there for sure…
He was smiling… she saw it…
So then why—
Why did her chest feel so hollow now?
“Chaeha.”
Just then, a familiar voice called to her.
When she turned, her parents were walking toward her.
Her father, neatly dressed with the air of an academic. Her mother, smiling gently.
Her father was a well-known scholar in magical academia, and her mother was a professor at a magic university.
Both were highly respected in their fields—so much so that they’d been invited as judges for the International Magic Conference.
Yoon Chaeha’s talent wasn’t born from nowhere.
There was a gentle warmth in their smiles.
“You did wonderfully. We’re so proud of you, sweetheart.”
“You worked hard.”
Her mother’s words were kind. Her father’s were short, but heavy.
Yoon Chaeha paused for a moment, caught off guard, then quietly nodded.
“Yeah… thanks.”
Compliments still felt unfamiliar.
Her mother—fine. She was always expressive.
But praise from her father was always a little stiff and awkward.
That had never changed since childhood.
At that moment, the sharp click of high heels echoed from behind.
“Hellooo~ Miss Chaeha, and hello to your lovely mother and father~ It’s been a while~”
A bright, familiar female voice.
When Yoon Chaeha turned her head, she saw a woman approaching in a sleek, modernized blue robe.
On the woman’s shoulder, a sigil—three overlapping circular magic arrays.
That symbol meant only one thing.
Magic Tower.
The Magic Tower held absolute authority in the magical world.
This woman was one of its high-ranking members.
A mid-tier decision-maker, involved in both experimental development and diplomatic coordination.
The Magic Tower only accepted those with truly exceptional magical gifts.
Even among the countless geniuses sent by various nations and institutions, half were eliminated in the first screening.
Of those who passed, only a few cleared the second stage: practical and interviews.
Yet Yoon Chaeha—despite not being formally affiliated—was already internally classified within the Tower as a “prospective member.”
Even without formal ties, her recent techniques had been discussed in internal Tower documentation.
“I watched today’s final match with great interest.”
The woman spoke casually, clearly already well acquainted with Yoon Chaeha’s parents.
Long ago, during her time as a professor, Chaeha’s mother had participated in academic exchanges with her.
Her father had collaborated with her on a research project.
“If you’re free, how about grabbing a meal together sometime?”
The woman waved a hand as she added lightly,
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
“Nothing formal~ I just thought maybe I could help offer a bit of guidance as a senior mage, regarding Chaeha’s future. These days, kids are so sharp and quick to learn, and I think I have a few things I could pass along~”
Her tone was casual, but the message inside was anything but light.
We’re interested in your daughter.
And Chaeha’s parents clearly understood that unspoken meaning.
Her mother smiled and nodded slightly.
Her father didn’t show any reaction, but it was obvious he was satisfied.
That’s what the Magic Tower was like.
But the person in question—Yoon Chaeha—
Was still staring intently toward the stands with her head tilted up.
‘What is she doing now…?’
A senior member of the Magic Tower, Ruina, knew Yoon Chaeha’s personality well.
A whimsical girl who could bounce in any direction at any moment.
That peculiar unpredictability—common among geniuses.
And now, Yoon Chaeha’s eyes darted restlessly, as if she had no interest in being here at all.
She turned her head slowly in a full circle. Then once more.
Finally, she puffed her lips out in a small pout and mumbled,
“…He really left. I wanted to eat with him…”
The words came out softly, like a sulky child muttering to herself.
The faint blush on her cheeks and the way her toes tapped the ground spoke volumes about her emotions.
Then she turned and met Ruina’s gaze.
“I’m not joining the Magic Tower.”
A firm declaration.
Ruina’s smile stiffened just a little.
Then, as if to make her intentions even clearer, Yoon Chaeha turned toward her parents and added,
“I’m going to join Vanquisher.”
A declaration no one expected.
Her parents drew in a short breath.
A silent exchange of glances passed between them. And after a brief pause, they nodded without a word.
At that moment, Yoon Chaeha turned her gaze once again toward /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ the stands.
To the empty seat.
The seat where he had been sitting.
It’s okay if you run.
She slowly lifted the corners of her mouth.
I’ll just chase you down.
It was the moment the blazing sun made a choice—
To follow the cold, distant star.
***
I was walking through the grounds of Gaon Academy.
Yu Hana had told me earlier that the prize for the team event would be delivered soon.
Most likely, it was prize money.
I sat down on a bench.
I needed a moment to organize my thoughts.
Ever since Yoon Chaeha absorbed the remnants of the Evil God, it felt like she’d fully hit her stride.
I was glad.
It was a good thing—that she had grown enough that I could stop worrying.
A major milestone, complete.
All that was left now was the upcoming final exams.
Given the timing of the exchange event—wedged between midterms and finals—
The final exams were practically already underway.
Until then, I needed to keep growing too. Especially in researching the Authority of Fragment Expansion…
Then—
Ding.
My smartwatch vibrated.
I looked down. The sender was listed as Arcadia Order.
Most likely related to the reward from the Tiara incident.
I don’t really need anything…
If it was some forced token of appreciation, I planned to decline.
Thinking that, I opened the message.
“…Huh?”
[Luke]: Greetings, Brother Haein. Regarding the matter of your reward—though I would have preferred to deliver this in person, allow me to first inform you briefly.
What followed—
Was enough to genuinely stun me.
[Permission to Enter the Holy Sanctuary]
[Entry Condition: Accompanied by the Saint]
“…You’ve got to be kidding.”
I blinked, doubting my own eyes.
I hadn’t expected to receive anything meaningful.
But this—this wasn’t just meaningful.
The Holy Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary was the sacred heart of divine power, hidden by the Arcadia Order for centuries.
A place permitted only to the Hero and the Saint.
At night, the Saint.
By day, the Hero.
No one else was allowed to enter. A space completely sealed.
An hour within that place—where divine power itself breathed—
It could accelerate a person’s growth as though days—or even weeks—had passed.
The Order’s explanation was simple.
[Luke]: The Saint has achieved full qualification through her accelerated growth via the Tiara. In recognition of your role in that growth, the Sanctuary will be opened to you under special circumstances, as an appropriate reward.
The Sanctuary’s divine power is finite.
That’s why access to it is considered a sacred privilege—granted only to the Hero and the Saint.
And now, that privilege was being extended to me.
This wasn’t something I could refuse.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I looked down at the watch again.
The designated entry time: late at night.
The Sanctuary was located deep within the Temple’s inner sanctum.
Entry would consist of two people.
Myself.
And the Saint—Cheon Yeoul.
I took a quiet breath.
I have to go.
There was no decision to be made.
This was a chance I couldn’t let pass.

Chapter 89