ATMOSPHERE [8]

Regressor's Instructions Manual Episode 957

Atmosphere (8)

"Why... Damn it! Why did I..."

'You don't know why I brought you here?'

"For heaven's sake... I knew this would happen... Damn it!"

'No, really, I didn't expect this to happen this time.'

His overly excited state made me glance around awkwardly. If I could turn back time, I would want to reverse it. Although the murmuring voices were difficult to comprehend, the intent of our conversation was clear.

'why did this jerk bring me along? I felt like something was going to go wrong again this time. He said it's fine, but it wasn't. I didn't believe it, and something felt off. Look at this. In the end, didn't it become dangerous again?'

Interpreting to this extent might be accurate.

'This guy's really turned wicked.'

Naturally, he didn't yell me. After all, he has experienced multiple times that there's no point in arguing with me.

Besides, he knew that he rashly did something, Lee Kiyoung would retaliate.

Kicking the ground or venting at the already motionless Gerk to let off steam is all, of course, it's right for him to act like that.

It feels like his demonstrating his actions of insisting he was right, that he expected things to turn out this way.

'No, there's no room for that.'

This guy is desperate in his own way, too.

"Whew... Whew..."

'The expedition members are all watching you... I need to see what item it dropped.'

"Damn it..."

Literally, it was no different from pressing the seizure button.

Shortly after the Saint of Light, who sacrificed himself to swallow all the suffering of the continent, was resurrected, of course, not much time had passed since that point.

Naturally, the painful memories he experienced at the time are firmly attached to Kim Hyun-Sung's mind.

Just as he were looking forward to a happy future after all the stories were over, the sudden kidnapping incident would have set ablaze, and when he actually heard about the sacrifices for the continent, the button was pressed.

The word 'sacrifice' might sound good to someone, but to Kim Hyun-Sung, it's a word terrifying enough to evoke fear.

Being demanded to sacrifice was so frightening to me that even similar words would trigger a seizure.

To him, the continent was always a place demanding sacrifices. Whether it was himself or others, whether it was Lee Ki-young or Kim Hyun-Sung, the continent always demanded sacrifices.

At the moment he thought that only laughter and happy days were left, the time for sacrifice came unexpectedly.

he time of sacrifice we had thought wouldn't come back suddenly arrived.

'Shit. But I really didn't know this time.'

Kim Hyun-Sung's reaction to encountering that word looked like that of a mentally ill patient suffering from anxiety.

'This guy sometimes has nightmares too.'

I felt it many times when Kim Hyun-Sung woke up from nightmares and seizures. He probably wouldn't be in a state where he could judge rationally.

And just then, when the officers were gathered, he started spouting nonsense.

"We have to go back up."

11

"The expedition is canceled."

"Cancel my ass."

"We can't endanger Kiyoung any further. This dungeon is weird. It's not an ordinary dungeon. We need more preparation."

Naturally, I couldn't just stand there.

"There's no way the expedition will be canceled."

"....."

"The expedition will continue."

"Didn't you just hear? You heard what the monsters were saying."

'Yeah, I heard. But that doesn't matter.'

"As Hyun-Sung said, this dungeon is strange. A temple of this size, statues, and the Mole Saintess's sanctuary, in the basement of the Holy See... It's all just too unusual. Among the Holy See, or rather, during the time that has passed, there must be myths that the church is missing. This place is where we can uncover the truth. Where things went wrong, what mistakes we made, why the Templars turned against the Holy See... There's an unknown history of the continent, secrets that the church had to conceal."

"That... That has nothing to do with Kiyoung!"

"I am an Honorary Cardinal of the church, and a follower of Benigore. The events happening here are closely related to me. I believe there's a reason why he guided me here."

"What do those bastards want!"

About to get worked up again, I shoot he a look, and he quiet down.

'Yes, we have Holy Knights and priests/priestesses here, so you shouldn't curse.'

After calming down, he hesitates before opening his mouth.

"Didn't you hear the prophecy...?"

"...."

"A story about the Mole Saintess, who lived her life underground. Don't you think it's odd that someone resembling the Mole Saintess, who sacrificed her life for the continent, has emerged? Those above don't care about individuals' suffering. They only want the continent to function well. They're willing to sacrifice anyone for that purpose."

"...."

"The sudden appearance of the dungeon here is also strange. This is a trap. It seems like a trap set to lure Kiyoung. Everything is part of a trap."

'No. I don't think so...'

"Undoubtedly, there's a problem with this system. To deal with that problem, Kiyoung is necessary. After the Mole Saintess, those above clearly intended Kiyoung to succeed."

'This guy's delusional thinking is too severe. He might have some persecution complex or something. Maybe one of those guys above is me.'

Some of the things he says actually make sense.

If a real crisis were to hit the continent, sacrificing one individual to seek stability might not be a bad idea.

While I don't think one of the gods above actually sacrificed an individual, if their sanctity was lacking, they might have placed such conditions.

Summoning a saintess with sanctity strong enough to stabilize the continent. Of course, up above, they would have to endure enormous losses.

The only way to reduce the initial investment costs is to impose penalties, and for a saintess like the Mole Saintess, a penalty might be restricting her access to light.

'But that's not it.'

Those guys aren't devils. Their moral perspective might be different from humans, but...

'There won't be that many trash like them. My children are dearer to me than anyone.'

For the Mole Saintess, there might be a backstory. Demons could have been involved, or perhaps the Templars fabricated the prophecy.

"In the first place, it was a non-sane monster. You don't have to be so uneasy. For sure, whatever Hyun-Sung thinks won't happen."

"If their target had been someone else, I wouldn't be this anxious. Kiyoung. Think about everything you've been through until now. Can you assert that this... this is nothing? Something's definitely off. Damn it..."

The voice doesn't grow louder, it doesn't become bigger.

'I wish he had gotten angry. It would have been easier to handle...'

If I just closed my mouth.

But this guy isn't getting excited again.

"It will be okay."

"It won't be okay. You've always said it'll be okay. That everything will be fine... But look at the results. Think about what's happened until now. Do I have to explain everything one by one?"

'Get angry a little more. Hyun-Sung. Raise your voice a bit.'

"It was necessary."

"It definitely wasn't necessary."

'Damn it, if you're going to come out like this all well-behaved, I'll have to press the seizure button again.

"Whether Hyun-Sung thinks whatever way, I believe all of these events were necessary."

Taking a deep breath here...

"Even this time... Even this time, if it's necessary..."

"...."

If... If the situation arises where I'm needed..."

"Damn it!!"

Did he lose it?

"What the hell is your problem?!"

Is he venting? Was he getting worked up?

"What the hell is the problem that it's always like this! Why, why do you always think of others first! Damn it! Seriously!!"

The guy spews out a loud voice as if he's pressing a button in protest. Probably, the situation was frustrating in various ways. I thought I should endure it, but his words were too much to bear.

It felt like reason had flown away with his outburst.

He continued speaking loudly in frustration, but there's no way he wouldn't realize he made a mistake. His gaze that was fixated on me gradually lowers, and the voice that had grown louder starts to wane.

"Since you seem overly agitated, maybe it's better to continue this discussion another time."

"That... That's not it. I just... Just..."

"I told you this was the safest place. Even ifI go up, nothing will change. If the purpose of this dungeon is really to find a sacrifice, they will eventually come out."

Messenger Gerk also tried to come out.

"You can't keep blocking the entrance to the dungeon forever. The abnormal phenomena of the dungeon are intensifying throughout the continent, and if we don't conquer it... something we wouldn't want to imagine will happen. As Hyun-Sung said, this place isn't an ordinary dungeon."

"...."

Conquering it is the top priority."

"That's the purpose of this expedition. Many have gathered for that purpose. It's not just me who wants to protect the continent, willing to sacrifice ourselves. Everyone gathered here shares the same thoughts."

Of course, there are some participants who joined just to play a game. But I'm sure most of the supporters are driven by noble intentions.

"They didn't want to recall the wounds of the continent that had suffered so much. Those who want to protect what they cherish have gathered here. I'll say it again, the purpose isn't to protect me. The reason for forming the expedition is to conquer the dungeon. Everyone is fulfilling their responsibilities from their respective positions."

It seems like they're doing some kind of after-action review. Those who haven't yet relaxed their fighting spirit are those who are tending to the wounded or fixing their armor.

Some are checking the loot from Messenger Gerk. I'd like to check that quickly, but because of Kim Hyun-Sung, I can't.

There are also alchemist wizards collecting samples. Our proud expedition members are working diligently in their respective roles.

Our expedition members are giving us refreshing sweat at just the right time. Work harder, sweat more.

"I'm worried that Hyun-Sung will lead this expedition and end up hurting others due to a wrong judgment."

"I..."

It's the decisive blow.

"Taking a little break might be a good idea."

"Huh?"

"Maybe cooling your head would be a good idea."

I feel sorry for making you emotional... I feel sorry for pressing your seizure button... You seem too emotional right now. It doesn't seem like a good situation to keep serving as the raid leader...

It's a temporary demotion. You understand my feelings, right? If you come to your senses, I'll reinstate you.

Of course, I'm not in a position to make unilateral decisions.

At most, it's just superficial.

Kim Hyun-Sung has the right to refuse. However, there's no way he can say that he was right.

Kim Hyun-Sung is currently emotional. He knows he's not in a state to make rational judgments.

He's too excited, and thoughts about the dungeon raid seem to have disappeared from his mind.

"Yes... Yes..."

He looks utterly exhausted, but it's okay.

I'll let him relax a bit later, maybe at dawn.

Probably, Kim Hyun-Sung won't be able to fall asleep tonight.

This guy... Kim Hyun-Sung... he'll definitely have a nightmare tonight. He'll wake up screaming after having a nightmare.

'I bet he'll have a nightmare for sure.'

"...."

"...."

After setting up the minimum watch shifts, it's 3:28 AM, and everyone is deep asleep.

Lo and behold...

Sitting in front of the campfire, Kim Hyun-Sung, who's shaking off sleep alone, comes into view.

---

Why I'm I just realizing this? Kim Hyun Sung of the past's motivation after starting the second timeline [the current one] was to save and protect the continent. Now, it doesn't even seems like he cares about it lol 😂.

What should we do?