Chapter 520: Rising Light (3)

Regressor Instruction Manual

“You did… really well.”

I had no idea what to say in response to Kim Hyun-Sung’s words. However, it wasn’t because I couldn’t think of what to say, it was simply because I was too embarrassed to think of any words to say due to how he was acting like a fifteen-year-old teenager.

I had just awakened as well, so I wasn’t really sure about what were the best words I could say. Should I tell him that I could remember everything, or should I tell him that I was suffering from amnesia?

The former path would require me to cry a lot while asking for forgiveness. I was an attention seeker, so I wanted to cry while asking for forgiveness, but I was sure that doing that would ruin this touching moment.

‘I’ll just have to grovel for forgiveness in three days.’

I figured that it would be better for me to act like I had no idea what was going on right now. I thought it would be better for me to bask in the victorious atmosphere before bawling my eyes out.

I slowly looked up and saw the darkness of the night being vanquished by the sunrise.

Kim Hyun-Sung had already turned his back on the light, but the clear sky caught my attention. It was probably born from the collision between Kim Hyun-Sung and Belial’s mana, and it was such a beautiful sight.

The dust of light falling from the sky was glittering, and it felt as if the heavens were congratulating us.

Meanwhile, Kim Hyun-Sung was staring at me with his tear-filled eyes. I could see many different emotions in his eyes as well. I hadn’t even said anything just yet, but he was already prickling my conscience.

The way he extended his hand over to me as if he was telling me that everything was over and fine now and that I no longer had to wander in the darkness made me tear up.

When I saw his smile on his bloodied face, I suddenly recalled that I still had no idea what I looked like right now.

Anyway, Kim Hyun-Sung didn’t look handsome this time; he actually looked kind of ugly. Half of his face was covered in injuries and blood, and he couldn’t open one of his eyes properly.

He was also riddled with injuries from head to toe. Now that I was looking at him up close, I realized that his condition was worse than I thought.

I knew that I wasn’t in the best condition, but since I was under Belial’s protection, I didn’t look that bad on the outside.

However, I felt proud of the fact that he was worried about me more than himself because it basically meant that I was the apple of his eye.

‘He needs to get treated as soon as possible…’

“Are you… are you okay?” Kim Hyun-Sung asked.

“I… right now…” I mumbled.

“Do you know who I am?” he questioned.

“Right now… this is…” I mumbled again.

“We should get you examined…” he suggested.

‘Take care of yourself first, man.’

“Can you stand up?” he asked.

I nodded slowly, and he grabbed my hand to help me stand up. He examined me to see if I was safe, and he finally heaved a sigh of relief after seeing that I would be fine.

I thought that perhaps this was the time for us to share a friendship hug, but he seemed bothered about how unclean he was right now. We didn’t share a hug, but I felt his emotions through his hand when he helped me stand up.

‘I’m really proud. Damn it, this is what I’m talking about.’

Of course, I was proud, especially of his god-like performance today. The Hyun-Sung Coin finally went to the moon, and it made me feel like I had made the right decision investing in the coin.

“O-Oppa, oppa…”

‘Our Ha-Yan…. You did great, too. Damn it, why does she look so pretty today…’

I knew it was strange to feel that way when it hadn’t been that long since she sent a literal fireball crashing to my head. However, I was happy because Jung Ha-Yan had managed to make a crucial and reasonable decision by herself.

Of course, I was honestly worried that she would attack Kim Hyun-Sung earlier, but it seemed that she had made the decision to trust Kim Hyun-Sung. Firing that fireball was a small step in everyone else’s eyes, but for her, it was definitely a huge step.

I was convinced that she was still being affected by what she had done because her hands were still trembling. However, it seemed that Ha-Yan was still Ha-Yan because she pushed Kim Hyun-Sung away and hugged me tightly.

“I’m… heuk! sorry. It’s my fault… heuk… heuk…” Jung Ha-Yan cried.

“Ha-Yan, let’s…”

“I’m sorry, heuk…” she repeated.

“Ah…” I grabbed my head to feign injury so that Jung Ha-Yan would let go of me, but Kim Hyun-Sung and Jung Ha-Yan stared at me in worry instead. It seemed that I wouldn’t be able to casually grab my head anymore.

Still, their reaction looked pretty funny to me.

Everything was over, but it seemed that things still weren’t over in Kim Hyun-Sung’s eyes because he sounded worried when he said, “I think we should take you back to the wall right now. Miss Ha-Yan, please move Mr. Ki-Young right away.”

“...”

“Why…” I asked.

“I’m sure they’ll attack again. This fight isn’t over…”

‘You can’t fight in that condition, man. Don’t even try to wander around; just come home with me, man.’

I was getting kind of tired of seeing him stagger while trying his best to raise his sword.

‘I understand how you feel, I’m seriously proud of you.’

“Right now, kgh…”

“You don’t have to think about many things right now, Mr. Ki-Young. Getting out of here is the top priority right now. And your current condition—” Kim Hyun-Sung started.

“No, you’re—” I interrupted

“I’m fine.” He interrupted me as well.

‘He had made up his mind.’

Kim Hyun-Sung looked like he was prepared to die just to send the demons back to Hell. However, if my calculations were right, another fight would probably not happen because I was sure…

…I was sure that Benigoa would finally make her move. I reckoned that she had been waiting for an opportunity to do so all this while, and the Swordsman of Light’s victory against the Corrupted Saint made the people’s belief in the gods become even more solid than before.

I even thought that perhaps Benigoa didn’t have to sacrifice her holy power anymore just to descend here, but it was naturally just an assumption on my end.

Whoosh!

A massive light descended on me and enveloped me.

The heavens seemed to have opened their gates as intense light shone from the skies.

“Benigoa.”

It was a bit funny to see Benigoa trying her best to look as holy as she could when she was bankrupt until recently. If it hadn’t been for me, she wouldn’t have been able to manifest herself here.

Anyway, she definitely stood out because her appearance looked similar to what her statues looked like. She was enveloped in dazzling light along with a vast amount of holy power that I couldn’t quite comprehend, but I could see her clearly.

At the sight, I felt an unknown sense of awe at the dumbass and childish Benigoa.

- This is to Belial and the demons of the 27th Legion.

Her voice sounded elegant. It seemed that she knew how important it was to uphold one’s public image. I nodded when I saw that she had to have made her preparations before manifesting here.

- Return to where you came from. You don’t belong here.

[Looks like it’s time to part ways…]

‘Oh, Belial, thank you very much.’

[I want to stay longer and enjoy the real world, but I can no longer remain here. That dumb bitch must’ve been able to fix the situation somehow since even she is a god as well.]

‘This is very sad. If the system…’

[It’ll probably think of you as an external advisor, but it seems that you already know that. The system is finally working properly, so I need a reasonable amount of mana as fuel and merits as payment to stay in the real world, and I’m sure that you’ve already noticed that I won’t be able to maintain the 27th Legion and my summons. Weren’t you worried about me backstabbing you?]

‘No, no! How could I have such a scummy thought like that? I already know that you can see through this stupid human’s heart. I have never had a nauseating thought like that.’

[Hahaha! Don’t worry, you nauseating human. That’s part of your charm. I’m looking forward to seeing you again. I can’t wait to work with a nauseating human like you. The Demon Lords are applauding you for today’s events They complimented you and said that you’re a shitty human…]

[S-Stop saying rude things, Belial!]

[It’s been a while, but don’t you think you got here too late, incompetent Benigoa? Although I must say that you did well in saving your face just now.]

[F-Father Lee Ki-Young will never work with the demons.]

[I have already planted my seed inside of him. He belongs to me more than you.]

[Your dirty demon! H-How dare you say that about my loyal and lovely Father Lee Ki-Young…!]

What’s wrong with them? I understood why Belial was acting that way, but I was surprised by Benigoa’s attitude. She had been calling me a piece of trash, but now, she was using flowery words like loyal and lovely while complimenting me.

‘I think she’s doing that because she’s afraid that Belial might really take me away?’

I wasn’t sure about the details, but it seemed that she was worried that Belial might take me away. She was probably thinking of doing her best to keep me by her side. She had manifested in the real world, and I could see her glancing at me.

I couldn’t help but smile upon seeing that because she looked like she was trying to read my expression. Of course, I wasn’t really sure what was going on, but one thing was for sure. I was in an advantageous position.

I was just one person, but the two of them wanted me for themselves.

‘Being a celebrity is painful.’

It was exciting, but this was something I had to think about while having a conversation.

The system was finally stabilized, and Belial was right; Benigoa could manifest in the real world for a short period of time. As expected, the two started talking using my mind as the proxy, and I could see that they were in a hurry.

[I don’t think you have the time to talk about things like this right now, Benigoa.]

[What? How dare you…!]

[Right now, we must discuss other things rather than your lovely priest and the nauseating human that I have my eyes on, you incompetent Benigoa.]

[That’s…]

[What can you do for me?]

[What are you talking about? You can’t remain long in this world either. I don’t understand why you’re talking as if you’re doing me a favor by going back to where you had come from…]

[I’m telling you that I’m willing to go back in a peaceful way. Aren’t you interfering because you don’t want the real world to suffer any more damage? And you also want to protect Altanus’s will, right? The continent has returned to its original state, but it’s still a fact that this is my workplace. I can damage the continent whenever I want, you know better than anyone that I am capable of doing that.]

[Well, I’m sure you don’t want to damage your workplace… Anyway, you’ve done enough, so isn’t it time for you to go back?]

[As a member of the 72 Legions, I have honor. If I go back like this without gaining anything after you just told me to go home, my children will lose face. I’ll make sure to provide my services so that you’ll benefit as well. Let’s end our discussion here. You know very well that we don’t have much time left. I’ll give you ten seconds to think.]

[We never make deals with demons, Belial.]

‘I’m sorry to interrupt your conversation, but could I suggest something?’

[...]

[...]

[Let’s hear it, Advisor.]

[My lovely and precious priest, L-Lee Ki-Young…! Of course, I’ll hear it since it’s your suggestion!]