SERA [9]

Regressor's Instruction's Manual Episode 909

Sera [9]

-Is it really true?

-...

-Will Father be pleased?

-H-he will definitely be pleased. He might forgive us. Th-Thronus and Dominion said they will speak for us. Mother might also be p-pleased and... come looking for me again... I think.

'He seems desperate.'

I have a feeling like this is the only way, and it feels somewhat new.

Like the anxious behavior dogs display when separated from their owners, they seemed to enter a similar state.

They resisted my will with enthusiasm, but it was an abnormal behavior that they themselves knew better than anyone else. A perfectly normal reaction.

Though only a few hours had passed since the events of the day, their spirits seemed significantly tired. They tried to rely on each other to endure, but even that had its limits.

Fortunately, it seemed they found a refuge that they could use as a shelter.

Seraphim was always the type to seek refuge, so it was understandable for him to react this way. But to see even Cherubim, who always made rational decisions, behaving in the same manner... it was baffling.

'Something must have happened.'

Still, Cherubim...

-He won't forgive us.

At least he made a reasonable judgment.

-But he might reconsider his decision. Right, Serah?

-Yeah. Th-that's right... If Mother helps...

-Mother...

As he thought of Cha Heera, Cherubim's eyes reddened, and he eventually nodded with a troubled expression.

The problem was whether they could handle the newly appeared monster. While a party of four might not know for sure, my personal judgment leaned towards it being impossible. No, it might not even be easy for a murder party. The newly appeared monster seemed quite formidable at first glance.

As the boys exchanged glances, having completed their preparations for the hunt and were about to rush forward, a voice came from the side.

Oh, this kid is doing it again. I've already finished talking.

"Hyung."

"...."

"Hyung, are you really coming with us?"

"Haha... You don't have to worry too much, Rafael."

"Of course, I'll do my best not to let you get hurt, but... still... I'm worried. In case I make a mistake..."

"I was once an adventurer too, Rafael. I didn't even leave a single footprint when conquering dungeons, and I've been camping in the woods. At least, I won't be a hindrance."

"Even if you say that so confidently..."

What the fuck?

"I'm sorry, hyung. I didn't mean to offend you with my words..."

"No. I can understand Rafael's mind. But I want to see it with my own eyes. "

"Then promise me that you will follow me until the end of the expedition. "

Rafael had grown quite a bit. To say something like that, he must be quite confident.

"Yes, I will do so. After all, this mission belongs to Rafael's party. Oh, and I'm not sure if you heard, but there have been reports of a similar monster appearing in the capital as well. It seems rumors about this dungeon have spread among the adventurers in the country..."

"Yes, I'm aware. Hyung."

"If you want, we can apply for protection right now..."

"No, you don't have to go that far. In fact, I'm just happy to prepare with you... the rest was just a side goal."

He's really good at touching people's hearts. A perfect example of a pushover.

"Also, you said you would help, Hyung. We can't afford to be late."

We seem quite late already.

I feel like a turtle with our current marching speed.

Of course, compared to an ordinary party, we were entering the forest at quite a fast pace, but the problem was our excessive focus on safety. This little guy is tapping each stone of the stepping stones one by one.

The rangers leading the way are probably already thinking about having a cup of coffee and waiting for us to catch up, and Cho Hye-Jin must be getting impatient.

'Although it's perfectly FMP...'

It's a bit too much.

The basic formation of the camp is a method of enclosing all the outsiders who participated in the expedition.

To exaggerate a little, it's a way of not knowing what's happening outside.

It would be enough to reply "probably" if asked about the situation outside.

It was a rare sight to see magical soldiers and summoned by a good summoner in the same camp. This showed how solid and stable the camp was.

One could confidently say that it would look like an impenetrable wall against monsters or even against human foes.

Though Jung Ha-yan couldn't use warps due to a condition issue, she still wanted to participate in the expedition, so she walked with Han Sora.

With Thronus and Dominion, and even Cho Hye-Jin, they maintained the camp like a royal escort would protect important personnel.

Amidst this, it seemed like Raphael wanted to appeal that he had changed. He was either giving unnecessary instructions or listening to the situation with a heavy expression.

"Have the Rangers reported in yet? "

For example,

"Please conduct a more thorough perimeter search. If the third one appeared, there's no guarantee the fourth won't. The top priority is my Hyung's safety,"

or

"How long do you think it'll take to settle? How about the hunting preparations? Have you checked other variables? Report immediately as soon as this incident occurs. Can't we deploy the Rangers to find out at least what type it is?"

He called his closest aides, Juhyuk and Marien, to refine the tactics.

Of course, information gathering was one of the most crucial elements. This wasn't a game, after all. No matter how high level they were, one mistake could lead to death. In the case of monsters whose outcome couldn't be accurately predicted, thorough investigation was even more essential.

But in Raphael's eyes, there was something more.

'Look at this.'

It felt like he was shouting, "Look at what I've done!" It seemed like he was desperately trying to appeal that he had grown, that he was different from his unkempt past self.

He probably didn't want to show any undesirable side during the hunt to his team and the person who had made him who he was now, similar to his current self, someone like his benefactor.

The atmosphere within Raphael's party was so stiff that it seemed excessively rigid. It felt like they didn't want to miss even the smallest details. Of course, I felt the same way.

"Thrunos."

"Yes, Father?"

"I think you've brought some investigation results. I want to hear your opinion."

"Yes."

The more information gathered, the better.

"The monster's habits were fundamentally similar to the trolls commonly found in this forest."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Rather than being similar, they were exactly the same... It was a process of confirming what we already knew based on the information Thro brought. Claw marks, footprints, fur stuck to trees, and various other things..."

"That's interesting. Dominions. Did you find anything?"

"I'm not at the stage of providing a definite answer yet..."

"....."

"I want to hear your incomplete opinion."

Actually... I can see some hesitation in their eyes. I guess they're worried about making mistakes. I'm not that cold-hearted.

"Yes. Thanks to Dominions, we were able to obtain samples of a common sacred artifact found in the monsters."

'Good.'

"The problem is, we haven't been able to identify the base component of this sample..."

"How can we find out?"

"To be straightforward, I'm thinking that the two monsters may have been influenced by the blood of some transcendental being. If obtaining sacred power became a common feature of these monsters, then perhaps..."

"Domi!"

Startled, Thrunos turned to look at her. Although Dominions hadn't spoken directly, her tone suggested that she would be able to find the answer relatively quickly if she compared it with my blood.

"If you have my blood, we can compare it."

"That, that's..."

"I'm not saying you're a tree. I just want to compliment you."

Even though it's a little scary to watch blood, well, scary.

Pulling out a dagger, I slightly cut my finger and took out a small vial, and started collecting my blood, which started to drip into the vial. The children's faces began to turn pale as they were shocked.

It seemed they really didn't expect this to happen. Especially Thronus seemed to be genuinely surprised, which made it amusing.

Dominions seemed to know what she had to do, and she filled the small vial with her blood while trembling.

"I, I also want to keep some..."

Why are you hesitating, Ha-Yan? Go ahead.

"I, I want to keep some as well."

Sure, take some.

"Cho Hyejin have a bit too?"

"Stop saying impure things and get treated, Vice guild master."

It seemed like we have hit upon something they hadn't anticipated.

'Unbelievable.'

Perhaps, Thronus and Dominionsare not wrong. Especially Dominions, even more so.

It's not likely they would demand their father's blood in such a desperate state, and Dominions is even stronger in this area.

Raised in the Black Swan, they excel in experiments and information gathering, starting from nothing and arriving at conclusions, much like Lee Ji-hye.

Anyway, if Dominions is correct, then the thing that transformed those two, the blood of a god must be what transformed those two monsters.

There's a dungeon under the Holy See, the cozy sanctuary of the Mole Saintess.

Somehow, I feel like I could figure out whose blood is responsible for transforming those monsters.

'Benigore?'

Considering the situation, it seems plausible that the monsters transformed due to Benigore's blood. It's quite amusing. I had a few personal doubts about the Holy See, and they seem to become clearer.

First, the Templars.

'Have you guys drunk it too? '

I don't know why, but I have suspicions. Deep in the depths of the Holy See...

Ha...

Is there even Benigore's corpse?"

.....

Please try to ignore the errors, see you tomorrow.