ACHIEVEMENT [2]

Regressor's Instructions Manual Episode 963

Achievement (2)

Even if Kasugano Yuno didn't explicitly say it was dangerous, the current situation was thoroughly nonsensical.

'What the...?'

It was a scene that left me speechless.

My kids were visible amidst the dark ruins.

Not just my kids. The expedition force was essentially in a state of destruction.

Flags were broken and scattered all around... Numerous corpses lay on the ground.

Though unseen, General Jin's bodies were probably scattered somewhere as well.

Of course, my concern isn't in that direction. The live of thoat guy weren't under my jurisdiction, and JinCheong's life or death wasn't particularly important either.

What's noticeable is my kids.

My kids, with their heads and bodies separated.

The pig's entire bodies were embedded with crossbow bolts. Unlike the rear guard, who were relatively clean and had their eyes closed, their bodies were heavily damaged.

His right arm was on the ground, but the remaining left arm was still holding onto the shield. He probably took the most attacks. His role was probably to take hits until the end.

Jung Ha Yan wasn't any different. Her hair was completely white, a side effect of using magic to the extreme.

It was unimaginable that Jung Ha Yan's magic would be depleted, and I thought it might even be impossible, but the scene unfolding before my eyes was undoubtedly real.

Enveloping Jung Ha Yan was Han Sora. She was dead, hugging her with arrows sticking all over her body.

The rear guard seemed to have been wiped out in one fell swoop.

Sun Hee Young, Elena, Hwang Jung Yeon. Perhaps they couldn't respond to the sudden attack or even manage to dodge properly.

An Ki-Mo and Yu Ah-Young, who were responsible for protecting the Blue rear guard, seemed to have lasted longer than them, but they couldn't withstand the subsequent attackers.

Newcomers Valerie and Alps were the same.

Kim Ye Ri and Kim Chang Ryeol, Park Li An, weren't visible. Since their specialty is reconnaissance, the likelihood of them dying while performing scouting missions is high.

Kim Hyun Sung...

Kim Hyun Sung had his wings torn off and collapsed. He was dead, lying on the ground with swords and spears impaled all over his body, blocking my path.

A sight reminiscent of the foreign war, to the point that you couldn't even see his neck.

In the world guided by Katsugano Yuno... I looked at Kim Hyun Sung's severed head with wide-open eyes.

With a scream, the background changes again.

I see a vast Kiln, but it doesn't make me feel better.

Katsugano Yuno is breathing heavily and looking at me with tears in her eyes.

I shook my head as if to shake it off, but the memory of being stabbed once still lingers in my mind.

'Both Heera and Yuno must have died.'

It was practically the defeat of the entire raiding party and the most gruesome form of expedition failure.

We were cornered to the point of being unable to retreat properly, and even in the last battle where we went all out, we were completely torn apart.

I don't know in what direction the battle occurred, but it's not important. Given the overwhelming difference in power, it was understandable that such a situation could arise.

'The Kiln feels a bit stifling.'

When I open the window to check outside, I see the troops marching as usual.

Everything is still normal. Jung Ha Yan and Han Sora are sticking closely together in the Kiln, An Ki-Mo and Elena are talking.

Though not very clear, I can hear Park Deok-Gu's voice.

"So, it's not like Hyung told me back then. If I could do it... you could do it better. Deok-Gu-ya, I believe in you.... Actually, it didn't really resonate with me at the time, but I think I started to change my mind a bit from then on. I realized that I can do it too... I can also grow more..."

"Kreuh... so Hyung had such a story."

"That's right! The reason I could grow this big is all thanks to Hyung-nim."

Why are these big guys chattering so much amongst themselves?

Tankers of other Guilds seem to have started talking already.

Is it because they noticed me staring off into space? From a distance, I could also hear Sun Hee Young's voice.

"Vice guild master?"

"Yes, Hee Young."

"Are you okay?"

"Yes? What..."

"...."

"I shouldn't be saying this, Hee Young. Could you call Hyun Sung for me?"

"Yes, I will do that. Vice guild master... just a moment..."

"Yes."

It didn't take long. Kim Hyun Sung's voice could also be heard.

"I heard you called, Ki Young-ssi. Is something wrong?"

I need to resolve this first.

"Park Li An, Kim Chang Ryeol, Kim Ye Ri, retrieve all the scouting missions assigned to them."

"What?"

"Do not assign them any missions until I say otherwise."

"Perhaps they've done something deserving of punishment... Chang Ryeol might understand, but with Ye Ri..."

"No. It's not like that. Not punishment either... I just want you to know that I have separate tasks for them."

"Understood. I'll handle it that way. But... Ki Young-ssi... Are you... okay?"

'Why is everyone asking if I'm okay?'

"Yes?"

"Your complexion doesn't look good at all. If you're feeling unwell, wouldn't it be better to rest a bit?"

"No, I'm fine. Don't delay the march."

I turned my head slightly and saw my reflection in the mirror.

My pupils seemed to shake. I could see that my hands were trembling a little.

Taking a deep breath for a moment, I felt like everything returned to normal, but the lingering thoughts in my head still hadn't disappeared.

It felt like I had become the Kim Hyun Sung who had a nightmare, making me feel like an idiot.

Taking another breath, I felt somewhat calmer. I looked at the guy and spoke.

"Anyway, treat those three as excluded from all missions. And... I always mention this, but the top priority in the strategy is safety, both for the first and second."

"Yes. Even if Ki Young-ssi isn't worried, the safety of the expedition..."

"No. I'm not talking about the expedition, but the Blue guild members including Hyun Sung. Safety is the highest priority in the strategy. I'm saying it again, it's safety."

"Yes."

"Then..."

"Yes, when we get closer to the camp where the 6th Assault Unit is stationed, I'll talk to you again. Ki Young-ssi..."

I wanted to say something reassuring. However, I couldn't think of an appropriate remark.

Though it might sound absurd, I lightly tapped my eyes with my fingers.

The guy seemed a little taken aback but soon smiled and nodded.

"Yes."

"Don't forget."

"Yes, I will definitely not forget."

"Never forget."

"Yes."

With the guy's last words, I closed the window. From now on...

First, I need to create operational instructions. Originally, I had moved with safety in mind, but the situation had become so serious that everything needed to be rebuilt.

'Damn it.'

Of course, I still didn't understand. While others might not know, what will happen to Kim Hyun Sung, Jung Ha Yan, and Cha Hee Ra is hard to imagine.

These three were already something beyond human... Even though it might be an understatement, they were individuals who could be called demi-gods.

If it's just brute strength, they might even surpass those above.

My reassurance also stemmed from the fact that there was nothing these three could do to harm me.

'Still hard to understand...'

Things will unfold. Based on the results from the messenger Gerk, considering the current Templars and the ones from the past, I knew they were different.

The power of the Mole Saintess has been consumed, but Zen and Simon need to be dealt with more. They're like half-finished products. It's accurate to think of them as mere vessels for the real beings.

'I'm in the middle of cleaning up the vessel.'

In the end, whether they succeeded in succeeding themselves or failed is not stated in the Templar development experiment report, but this experiment is probably still ongoing at this moment.

Up to now, the Templars that have emerged, the ones I know, it's unreasonable to consider them as successors.

The previous Templars' level of power, even if we generously say so, would only be at the level of an Eighth Seat of Lindel , barely able to contain a soul close to a god.

I don't know how, but there might be remnants of consciousness in the minds of the Templars, and their bodies might be waiting for completion. At this moment, they have wings... I guess you can consider it ready.

The reason the expeditionary force was annihilated is probably due to this. The old ghosts took advantage of the innocent Zen and the somewhat cunning Simon.

There's one more that hasn't been seen, and the one who wrote this report has also succeeded in succeeding.

It's difficult to measure their exact combat power, but at the very least, we have to consider that Hyun Sung's power has reached that level, and in the worst case, it's safe to think that they're above these three.

'Damn it. Benigore?'

Yeah, it's hard to say it's your fault. This was bound to explode someday. If it wasn't now, it might have been even harder.

I understand that too. And you probably have reasons you can't tell me, and you might even be under a geas... But still, if this goes wrong, I will blame you. Keep that in mind.

"Lee Ki-Young nim... Are you okay?"

"...."

"Lee Ki-Young-nim."

'Yes, I'm fine. Is there something you want to show separately?'

"I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize too much. I already knew anyway. I asked just in case... Anyway, please take this."

"Yes?"

"When you meet the 6th Assault Unit, please give this to Hye Jin. And when you join the 1st Assault Unit, also tell General Jin. There's still a lot to edit, but they'll handle it on their end. The same goes for Yuno. Safety first, and safety second. And these are letters for Ha Yan and Sora, this one is for Ji Hye of the Black Swan. There's also one for Hee Ra-nuna. When I'm gone, please show this to Hyun Sung immediately. Just in case Yuno becomes suspicious..."

"What are you saying right now..."

There's a lot to take care of. Small pension kits, various potions, restraints, and even items that came out as achievements. I hurriedly put the things I needed in my bag. Of course, I wouldn't be happy to use these things. Next, I change my clothes.

'I can't go into the church like this.'

It's a gathering place for religious figures, after all. It's probably better to wear formal attire.

Just in case, I opened the wardrobe and luckily found a set of white formal attire. There's no heavy ornamentation... It's not very flashy, so it probably won't draw much attention.

It's a bit loose, but it's easier to move in, which is good. Since I need to move around briskly.

'Is this the right thing?'

I had doubts, but there's no way I could just stay still. I knew that to change the future, I had to move. When I opened the window again, various voices mixed in.

[Will you accept the invitation?]

I nodded my head. And...

.....

....

"Hello, Priest."

"...."

"I am Templar Jenny, here to assist you with guidance."

What caught my eye was a little boy who looked about 15 years old.

"I will be at your service."

I was a little surprised, but I had no choice but to raise the corner of my mouth.

Well, of course.

Well, this brat... The worst criminal in history.

With a face almost identical to Templar Zen's.

I could almost believe it was his appearance from a previous life.

"Thank you for accepting the invitation of Saint Altanus."