Regressor Instruction Manual

Chapter 1440. Continental War (20)

Time didn’t exactly fly by. With my basic sleep schedule constantly interrupted, each day felt incredibly long, and whenever the full moon rose, I would have to stare at the sky all night long. I wanted to smash that damn moon so badly.

“Mr. Ji-Hoon... you’ve grown a bit taller,” I said.

“Oh, really?”

“Your body looks bigger too,” I added.

“Yeah, I’ve been putting on some muscle. It’s the first time I’ve done proper training along with weightlifting, but it’s going better than I expected. The nameless hyung is teaching me well, and I’m learning a ton from Oksana...” he explained.

“But why did you try to keep it a secret at first? Everyone is going to find out anyway,” I asked.

“I-it just... looks dumb, I guess,” he replied.

“What are you talking about? It doesn’t look dumb at all. Trying hard is actually cool,” I said.

The only consolation I could take was that the Hero Project was clearly working. His eyes seemed sharper, and he even looked a little taller. After all the training, his muscles were growing, and he was getting more scratches and bruises than before.

Overall, one could say he was changing from a boy into a man. Of course, he was still in that awkward transition phase, but the fluffy little chick phase was over. Unlike what I had expected—I thought he would quit after a week—he had been keeping up this pace for over two months, so such changes were inevitable.

It wasn’t just his body. His mind was growing along with his frame. Even during his breaks, he would spend time reading the books Lady Brush had brought over for him, and they had long become part of his routine.

“R-really?” he asked.

“Yes,” I answered.

It was often said that humans were highly adaptable creatures, and indeed, he was adapting to his new life. He still went out to see the moon at dawn, but he no longer groaned or cried alone at night.

Occasionally, he'd shed a few tears, but it was far fewer than before.

“By the way, you’re going out a little later than usual today,” I said.

“Yeah, the nameless hyung said he had something to take care of...” Sung Ji-Hoon said.

“Ahhh.”

“And it seems like it’s something to do with that girl. He looks quiet and like he can’t carry on a proper conversation, but he seems to get along with her just fine. And it looks like she likes him too... It’s probably the mask. That’s what makes him cool... I wonder if I wore a mask around, would I be more popular too?” he questioned.

‘Not likely.’

“Anyway, that’s why I thought I’d go out with you today, Jin Yoo... You got anything to do?” he asked.

“Well, recently Lady Brush brought a few other people to the salon,” I answered.

“Ah, right.”

“It seems like there are a lot of people who could use some help,” I added.

“Really? Then I’ll come along too,” he said.

“Weren’t you busy, Mr. Ji-Hoon?” I asked.

“No, I said I had some free time in the morning. Stopping by for a bit is fine,” he answered.

“Then let’s go together,” I said.

As he changed, so did the way people looked at us.

At first, there was no way the senior staff at the salon would suddenly look at us favorably. After all, our arrival was far too sudden, and there were like a ton of us.

Naturally, they were suspicious, wondering if we were planning to take over the salon or if we had come with some other goal in mind. However, it didn’t take long for those wary eyes to shift.

First, the salon guards saw me pull Yuriel out of the Holy Sword Hero, and secondly, they'd occasionally witness the saint’s holy power. The first reason probably carried the most weight. Even on a continent where all sorts of incomprehensible things happen, seeing a sword made out of literal light being drawn out of someone wasn’t something people would get to see every day.

It wasn’t some cheap iron sword either. It was Yuriel, bestowed upon the hero by the higher-ups. Those who saw it had a predictable reaction. Soon, it became clear to everyone that I was the Saint, and he was the Hero.

Word of it spread like wildfire.

‘Just walking down the hall...’

People naturally became polite toward us. Even the young ladies running the salon bowed respectfully. It was as if he and I were the final rays of hope that would save this chaotic continent.

“It’s the Haint!”

“...”

“The Hero is here too!”

The extras started calling out lines.

“Hello. Are you feeling all right?” an extra asked.

“Yes. Thanks to you, I’m much better,” Sung Ji-Hoon answered.

“And the newcomers who arrived yesterday...” I asked.

“They’re resting for now.”

‘Yeah, even I could tell that they look better than before.’

The newcomers were already aware of us.

Apparently, someone in the salon had already told them about the Saint and the Hero. Even if they hadn’t heard anything, they probably realized they needed to be careful around us.

After all, so many people were bowing toward us, and the guards were always around us, so it was clear that we held some kind of high position. Compared to the regular members of the salon, the newcomers had a much stiffer, more formal air.

Just then, a little kid darted through the crowd. The guards were startled and tried to stop him, but Sung Ji-Hoon simply said, “It’s okay,” and they stepped aside.

The kid’s gaze landed on Sung Ji-Hoon.

“...”

“...”

“The other grown-ups said...” the kid paused.

“Hmm?”

“They said you’re the Hero,” the kid continued.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. They said you’re the one who will save the continent,” the kid added.

“...”

“A-are you really the hero? Are you really the hero?” the kid asked.

“...”

“...”

Silence stretched for a moment.

Sung Ji-Hoon reached out and ruffled the kid’s hair. “Yes, I’m the hero.”

It felt different from the way he used to say it casually, like he was just repeating a habit. This time, there was weight behind his words, and his eyes were serious. One could even feel a hint of tension in his words.

‘This kid... has actually grown up.’

Honestly, I thought it was a bit too early...

‘But he’s ready.’

I couldn’t deny that he was ready to step out into the world.

I didn’t know whether the timing was good or bad.

“Sir...” a soldier called out.

“Yes?” I answered.

“Are you available for a moment?” they asked.

“Yes.”

“...”

“...”

“There’s news that the Republic’s forces are approaching their destination,” they reported.

‘I already knew that.’

Jin Cheong had already reached the battlefield where First Ki-Young and First Ji-Hye were stationed. I wasn’t sure if Lady Paint and Kim Hyun-Sung were on that front as well, but...

‘Something big is about to happen.’

It was obvious to anyone that a major battle would erupt within days.

“...”

“...”

“They’ve already arrived,” I said.

“Yes. Small-scale skirmishes are happening in many different locations,” they said.

Sung Ji-Hoon, who had been talking with the little kid, now quietly joined the conversation. Usually, when discussions like this came up, he would stay completely silent as if he had gone mute, but now, he was even asking questions.

The sight nearly brought me to tears.

“Why are they fighting even though they haven’t arrived yet?” I asked.

“They’re probably trying to secure every advantageous position possible. The Republic’s forces are so massive that they’re still taking positions along the front line. The allied forces would want to prevent the Republic troops from gaining a tactical advantage,” they answered.

“Ah, so it’s like people rushing to grab a parking spot before the cars even arrive,” Sung Ji-Hoon commented.

‘Do you really think they’ll understand if you explain it like that?’

“Yes... I think so.”

“...”

“...”

“A full-scale battle just hasn’t broken out yet,” they added.

“...”

“Ranged spells are fired constantly, and the damage is spreading not only along that front line but to the surrounding areas as well. Even those who arrived yesterday...” the soldier paused.

“So they’re the victims,” I said.

“That’s right.”

I turned slightly to use the Telescope, and I saw a scene that was exactly as described. A myriad of troops lined up along the front line, and the Empire and the Union of Kingdoms’ troops were trying their hardest to hold them back.

Raising the Telescope high to look down at the ground allowed me to witness a spectacle. I saw soldiers moving constantly amidst the spells and arrows. It looked like a modern long-range artillery battle, but in a way, it really was that kind of battle. Small-scale skirmishes erupted in many different places as troops struggled to push the lines forward.

‘Damn, the fights are too intense.’

It wasn’t just the clash of forces.

‘The fight of brains is amazing as well.’

Just before a major battle, it seemed inevitable that each side would try to gain even the slightest advantage over the other.

From a big-picture perspective, the difference was minimal, but in order to gain even the smallest advantage, entire units were being maneuvered across the field.

Hundreds could die, but if it meant gaining a small informational or tactical advantage, lives apparently didn’t matter.

This wasn’t something built overnight, either. Whoever created this battlefield had to have spent months shaping it. The past two months had to have been hell for those at the front lines, as Commander Jin’s army was moving the troops toward their objectives.

Every day, the strategic maneuvering continued—First Ki-Young and First Ji-Hye acted in their own ways, Jin Cheong responded in his, and neither side gave an inch to the other.

It was to the point that the troops almost felt like living organisms. They were constantly moving, splitting, pushing, and merging. Most of the ordinary soldiers inside probably had no idea why they were moving or why they had to fight at that particular location.

No time was given to set up camps or rest.

I could say with certainty that the soldiers on this battlefield were treated like nothing more than cogs in a machine.

In other words, the strategic maneuvering felt so intricate and brutal that if it weren't for them pushing these humans to their limits, the whole thing would collapse like dominoes.

I could see it from above. The entire system teetered on the edge of collapse.

“...”

“...”

I was pretty sure First Commander Jin called this war a boring one.

‘He’s going to have to take that back. There’s no way this is boring.’

I wondered how he was sizing up the situation right now. He was aware of First Ki-Young and First Ji-Hye, but this was the first time he was going against them head-on. I wondered what he thought about them.

‘No doubt he’s loving every second of it.’

I adjusted the Telescope.

Sure enough, I could see First Commander Jin with the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

— So it really was you guys.

— ...

— Parasites.

Shifting my gaze again, I caught sight of First Ki-Young and First Ji-Hye on the opposing side.

— Looks like the Republic’s commander is pretty fired up.

— ...

— Oppa, we can’t bring Commander Jin over to our side, right?

— No, Commander Jin has to die here, noona.

— Hmm... couldn’t we think about it a little longer?Isn’t it kind of a waste?

— Stop with the pointless talk and just move, noona.

— Alright... let’s just think about it later... Let’s do that, my soulmate.

— Yeah, soulmate.

Tap, tap, tap.