The Heroine Stole My Regression-Chapter 97
In the middle of Seoul’s skyline, sunlight shimmered through the glass walls.
Lotus HQ had been busy since early morning.
Today was the day the Gaon experience program students would visit.
The PR team, HR, and every department moved swiftly to prepare for the arrivals. But Vice Guildmaster Yu Serin sat at her desk for a slightly different reason.
“Hmmm...”
On her desk was a freshly printed financial flow brought in by her secretary.
In her hand, a tracking record of Director Choi—one of the guildmaster’s closest allies.
At the tip of her delicate fingers, a line was quietly drawn under a single name.
“At this rate, Director-nim might really end up getting stabbed.”
The muttered joke cut through the office’s stillness.
Yu Serin’s gaze drifted toward the window.
Between the distant buildings, clouds floated faintly beneath the rising sunlight.
A moment later, she pressed the intercom.
Beep.
A soft chime followed, and her secretary answered.
“Yes, Vice Guildmaster?”
Yu Serin set the documents aside and spoke gently.
“Can you send an interview request to Jeong Haein? Something simple, just a meal. As politely as possible—but not too much. Just...”
Her sentence trailed off as her eyes returned to the clouds outside.
With a faint smile, she added,
“Like a curious senior casually asking for lunch.”
Before the secretary could respond, she raised her hand to cut her off.
“Oh, and no need to push it. If he declines, leave it at that. Absolutely no—absolutely no follow-ups.”
She tapped the desk with her finger, just a beat too late.
“He feels like the type to pull away if you press too hard.”
She murmured that last part softly. Probably too quietly for the intercom to catch.
“Well then, I’m counting on you.”
Yu Serin rose from her seat.
“Time to go meet the kiddos~”
It was time to welcome the students.
***
Saturday morning.
With summer approaching, the sun was already beating down hard.
Since I hadn’t exercised that morning, I’d deliberately skipped the shuttle and jogged to the building... but now I was regretting it.
I’d never been good with heat.
It was the first day of the experience program.
I was on my way to Maengho’s headquarters.
[belief_]: Where are you? I’m out front.
I messaged Kang Arin while approaching the building.
We were the only two first-years on the list—it only made sense to go in together.
She’d suddenly given me her number yesterday.
[RIN]: Haein, something came up. I think I’ll be a bit late today... I already told the supervising hero.
[belief_]: Something happened?
“...What the?”
I couldn’t think of any reason she’d be late.
But it was a busy time for everyone, so... I figured, maybe it couldn’t be helped.
I turned back toward the building.
Ding-ding.
An alert suddenly rang out from my watch.
[Jo Seoyoon]: Hello, Jeong Haein. This is Lotus. We’d like to invite you to an interview.
Just a light meal—please don’t feel pressured. We can match your availability.
“......”
Lotus?
I froze for a second.
It wouldn’t have been hard for them to get my contact info...
Jo Seoyoon.
Jo Seoyoon...
“Oh.”
I remembered.
The woman who stood quietly behind Yu Serin during the presentation.
That was her.
She was on Yu Serin’s side, and if she was reaching out now—
It meant they’d picked up on the guildmaster’s maneuvering.
Sharp senses.
I had tossed out a line back then to Yu Serin.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
She could’ve ignored it as nonsense, but apparently, she’d picked up on it.
Not that I planned to respond.
[belief_]: I’m fine, thank you.
[Jo Seoyoon]: Understood. Have a great day.
Her reply was immediate.
Unexpected.
I thought they’d push a little harder, but they backed off cleanly.
I liked the way they handled that.
Still, I didn’t have time to dwell on it.
The clock was ticking.
I closed the message and headed toward the building.
In front of the tower.
A glass-covered entrance and a front checkpoint blocked my path.
I raised my watch to display the access code—beep, and the gate slid open.
“Wow.”
The admiration slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
From the outside, it just looked tall.
But inside—was a whole different world.
A vast lobby with a seemingly endless ceiling.
It was closer to a palace.
In the center of the hall, groups of students were gathered.
Even without instructions, it was obvious—that was today’s starting point.
I headed over.
“Oh? You must be Jeong Haein?”
A woman in a neat suit approached from the center.
A thin badge on her shoulder, a tablet in her hand.
She looked like a field operator at a glance.
“You’re the first-year participant, right? Welcome!”
She greeted me with a bright smile, but I paused for a moment, sensing the atmosphere around me.
Behind her—upperclassmen were glancing in my direction.
And their outfits... were over the top.
Combat uniforms with ornate designs, plated armor on their shoulders, gleaming weapons.
Even rings on their fingers.
They looked like active heroes.
Overkill...
Even if there were real assignments ahead, they’d be limited.
Still, they dressed up like this—probably to leave a good impression.
It made sense.
By comparison, I was in something casual.
Just a shirt.
Maybe a little too plain.
The moment I noticed that, the stares felt sharper.
Some gave amused smirks.
Others scanned me ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) from head to toe, noting the absence of any visible equipment.
“Tch.”
Even a scoff slipped from somewhere in the group.
At that moment, the woman in front clapped her hands lightly.
“Alright, everyone, may I have your attention? Before we begin, I’ll walk you through today’s schedule.”
She wore a neat suit, and though her tone was gentle, her voice was clear.
“I’m Kim Haeun, an A-rank hero. I’ll be guiding you today.”
With a relaxed smile, she tapped her tablet a few times.
“For the first day, we’ll be touring various departments to experience Maengho’s organizational structure. You may get to participate in actual operations—though whether that’s a good thing or not... well, that’s up to you.”
She smiled again.
“You’ll be supporting active heroes in the field. There will be some combat situations... so stay alert.”
A subtle tension spread through the students.
Some straightened up, adjusting weapons at their hips.
“Our first stop is the research wing. Please follow me.”
She turned naturally, leading the group.
The research wing was on the second floor.
As we climbed the stairs, she continued explaining.
“The research wing is the foundation of Maengho’s technology—dungeon analysis, battlefield map design, weapon testing, artifact restoration. It’s the core of our guild.”
She went on, but her voice wasn’t the only one I heard.
Behind me, whispers.
“...He actually came?”
They didn’t say a name, but it was clearly about me.
“Well, Arin-nim is one thing, but don’t they usually not pick first-years?”
Another student muttered quietly.
Quiet—but loud enough.
“He’s not even ranked... not affiliated with anyone either... Maybe I should’ve just gone and killed Medusa too.”
Pretty low.
Just the kind of petty trash talk students trade.
Seriously...
I was a little stunned.
Were these guys really worthy of Maengho?
What they didn’t know was something terrifying.
From the moment they entered this building, all their conversations were being recorded.
Kim Haeun, the hero walking ahead of us with a smile—was hearing it all in real time through the earpiece in her ear.
Maengho’s core principle is simple.
Strength—and discipline.
Which meant, even now—
Their scores were being marked down.
Quietly.
Tch.
I didn’t need to say anything.
But... I figured I’d step in just once.
I turned my head.
I recognized the face.
Second year. I’d seen him before.
“Excuse me, senior.”
I smiled faintly.
“Shut it.”
The simplest and most direct way to silence someone.
The upperclassman’s face instantly turned red.
“Pfft!”
Up front, Kim Haeun burst into laughter.
Every student turned toward her.
“Ah, sorry. Pffft. Something just crossed my mind.”
Meanwhile, the senior stared daggers at me, stunned into silence.
“Hey... you little—”
But the student beside him—another guy behind him—tapped his shoulder.
“Drop it, Hyunsoo.”
Then, glancing my way, he smirked and added quietly,
“Our junior said—drop it.”
His tone was easygoing.
But his eyes weren’t.
The type that doesn’t move himself—but gets others to act.
So he was the one pulling the strings.
“Everyone, let’s keep it down and keep moving~”
Kim Haeun’s cheerful voice rang out ahead.
A polite cue to stop the noise and get back in line.
I turned my gaze back forward.
And at that moment, I met her eyes.
There it was—in Kim Haeun’s gaze.
Interest.
.
!
Chapter 97
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