Regressor Instruction Manual

Chapter 1457. Continental War (37)

An inexplicable sense of embarrassment filled me up.

‘No matter how I think about it, playing as Yuriel is just a bit too much...’

It was absolutely not a route I liked. No matter how I looked at it, the idea that Jin Yoo was Yuriel lacked plausibility.

Of course, the Holy Sword Hero was already supplying the plausibility on his own, so there probably wouldn’t be any real problems. If he hadn’t been hoping for it first, I would have thrown out the idea of Jin Yoo and Yuriel being the same existence without even considering it.

Even now...

“Yuriel... heuk... kgh...”

I could still hear his tearful sleep-talking from inside the tent.

‘Thinking about it again, this is seriously cringey.’

The most ridiculous part was that he was already imagining a parting scene with Jin Yoo. Normally, beings like this were destined to fade someday, but I had never expected him to jump straight to imagining a goodbye in such a short period of time.

“...”

“...”

‘Damn it, I’m going to go away for now.’

He looked like he fainted, but with his current mental state, there was no way he was sleeping deeply; his exhausted body had just shut down on its own. He would probably wake up in a few hours at most.

Naturally, I decided to take that time to organize my thoughts.

I knew I would have to face him eventually, but for now, I wanted to buy as much time as possible.

‘Why is the atmosphere so nice?’

A particularly large full moon hung in the sky, and faint noises drifted in from somewhere. It was the sound of troops clashing on the 4‑2 Front. Distant screams, spells clashing, and shouts blended into the beautiful scenery like an orchestra.

When I turned my gaze farther out, I even saw explosions in the distance. They were almost like a small fireworks display, making everything feel even less real. Just a few steps back, and the war suddenly felt like something happening in another world.

Boom.

The small explosions kept echoing in my ears. Naturally, I wasn’t the only one watching the distant battlefield; others were standing nearby doing the same. I was curious what they were thinking, but I didn’t feel the need to talk.

They probably needed time to organize their own thoughts. What they ought to do from now on, and what they were even fighting for, as each of them was carrying their own burden.

‘It would be nice if that idiot Sung Ji-Hoon could overcome this on his own.’

Unfortunately, he couldn't think for himself and grow by himself. No, he definitely seemed to have that ability up to the mid part, but it vanished somehow.

We already held the full moon event dozens of times, and I had thrown out a couple of dramatic speeches, but in the end, perhaps all that idiot cared about was simply staring at the big full moon and finding peace of mind from it.

‘Still, he listened to me, damn it. He said he wanted to be someone who could illuminate the way for others. He said he could do it. We made that promise together.’

It was true that I had given the idiot a flag of purpose, but the ground was unstable, and the flag didn’t seem to be properly anchored. His mind was so unstable that even the slightest breeze made it sway back and forth.

He gained courage and conviction points thanks to the ladies, but seeing Ryu Han kill people without a second thought instantly reminded him of his former self and stirred his fury.

He was like some kind of bipolar soundtrack, hopeful music would play for a moment, and then the fear of possibly losing his Nameless Hyung would bring up a sad background music.

His emotions swung up and down like a teenage boy’s. Of course, given everything he had gone through, it was understandable that he was confused and shaken, but damn it, the lack of consistency was really stressful.

‘Seriously, that bastard’s imagination and thought process are just next level.’

One couldn’t get that vibe without spending countless hours daydreaming in class. The major battle had just ended. He ought to focus on how to beat Ryu Han, how to grow, and how to push himself, but he was suddenly crying and whining over the absurd theory that Yuriel was Jin Yoo.

Perhaps the conviction to become the moonlight that illuminated people and to stop the war had already been thrown away somewhere.

Fortunately, the flag was still planted somewhere.

‘It’s the same with Ryu Han, damn it. Honestly, he’s not the type to get defeated that easily.’

He was a genius, too. Sure, Ryu Han could be called a monster, but Sung Ji-Hoon’s talent was undeniable either. He had just lost control of himself at the sight of Ryu Han’s face. He allowed his emotions to run wild and became a complete mess, so it was almost surprising that he didn’t get beaten up.

‘That’s why even Yuriel is wavering. It's because you can’t keep your center. Yuriel is probably wondering whether to acknowledge you again or not.’

My blood boiled when I was reminded of how his pathetic self still couldn't summon Yuriel. I was walking somewhere isolated, and out of habit, I watched Sung Ji-Hoon through the Telescope.

Just then, he opened his eyes, and his face appeared in the Telescope. For some reason, I felt like he could somehow sense my gaze.

— Jin Yoo... Yuriel...?

His immediate look to the side was a spectacle to behold.

— Yuriel... Yuri...

Half-awake and still disoriented, Sung Ji-Hoon wandered around, searching for me like a child who had lost their mother. It was obvious how pitiful he looked. He looked like an idiot who had already convinced himself that I was Yuriel.

— Yuriel! YURIEL!!!

Had he already convinced himself that Yuriel was no more? He was pounding his chest, unable to contain his anxiety, and then he suddenly bolted out of the tent.

“Yuriel!! Jin Yoo!!! Yuriel!!” Sung Ji-Hoon shouted.

“M-Mr. Ji-Hoon?”

“Did you see Yuriel? Did... did you see Jin Yoo?” he asked.

“I-I haven’t...”

“Where are you?!” he shouted.

After shaking the shoulder of some random extra, he started running away again, using the moonlight as a backdrop.

“Heuk... heuuuuuk...” he cried.

‘W-why the hell does this piss me off so much?’

'If you just looked at him, he’d seem like a high school kid worried that a friend might’ve vanished without him. So why the hell am I getting so pissed?'

I felt like it was the absurd way he was running. He was reenacting the perfect anime-style youth sprint, and he even faceplanted into the mud halfway through.

“Ugh!”

Considering his stats, there was no way he could fall like that. Sure, he was exhausted, but the sight of him burying his face into the dirt was like a scene straight out of a light novel.

I wondered whether it would be better if he just stayed down, but he stubbornly stood up and began his youth sprint again.

I wouldn’t say it was a relief, but his signature topknot became a mess, making him look somewhat human.

“Aaaahhh!” He screamed, “Jin Yoo! Jin Yoo!"

‘Wow. Damn, I actually want to run away now.’

It had been a while since I wanted to flee like this. It was even more intense than dealing with Drunk Kim Hyun-Sung.

‘We’re hiding right now, you idiot.’

“Jin Yoo, where are you?! JIN YOO!!! YURIEL!!! Heuk... YURIEL!!!”

‘Please...’

I wished I could just avoid him, but there was no way I could avoid him. In the end, he found me and slowed down. The full moon was behind him, and even though he kept his mouth shut, even a third party would notice that he looked somehow... not quite human.

If he realized I wasn’t human, the scene would look even more mysterious. Sung Ji-Hoon trudged toward me with his lips pressed tight, and then he gradually sped up, showing the textbook version of the youth sprint.

He wobbled slightly, almost tipping over mid-run.

I couldn’t tell if that was intentional.

'Please don’t think you’re the main character of some light novel.'

‘He must be exhausted, so I’m probably just overreacting.’

“Heuuuk... Yuriel...” Sung Ji-Hoon cried.

Finally, he grabbed me tightly.

“Heuuuuuuung... Jin Yoo... Yuriel...” he sobbed.

To him, it was an emotional reunion.

“I thought you were gone... heuk... I thought you abandoned me...” he muttered.

‘Geez, I can’t even deny it.’

It was impossible to pretend that I couldn’t hear what he was saying.

“Yuriel... heuuuk... I’m sorry. I’m so sorry...” he said.

‘What the hell are you so sorry for? Damn it.’

“Mr. Jin-Ho... please... calm down,” I told him.

“Don’t disappear. You can’t disappear. Please... heuuuuuk...” he begged.

I can’t just say I don’t remember. It’s like I’ve been cornered by this idiot’s plan with no escape.

“I’m sorry that I noticed it too late... heuk... I... I...”

‘How am I even supposed to explain this?’

My options were running out fast. Just a few minutes ago, I was thinking of all the possible ways to handle this, but now, every single one of them was no longer viable. I was sure he would never listen to me, even if I were to tell him that he was mistaken.

‘Wow.’

“Heuuung... heuk... We can stay together, right?” he asked.

“...”

“You’re not going to go back to being Yuriel, right? You’ll keep staying with me, right?” he asked.

“...”

“Answer me, please... heuk... Tell me you’ll stay with me. Tell me you won’t disappear!” he begged.

In the end, I could only manage a faint smile.

‘Ah, whatever. I don’t even know anymore.’

It was a sorrowful, lonely kind of smile.

Naturally, a faint light emanated from me as if my true identity had been exposed.

“...”

“...”

“...”

“You...” I trailed off before continuing, “You caught me."

‘Damn it, I want to jump off a cliff.’

Even knowing this was the right path, it was so cringey that I couldn't breathe.

“Heuuuk... kgh...” he sobbed.

“...”

“I thought I was hiding it well... but in the end... you still caught me,” I said.

“...”

“When... did you realize it?” I asked.

“...”

“...”

Even if he had expected it, actually hearing it with his own ears had to hit differently. His pupils shook nonstop, and the fact that I didn’t answer his question and deliberately deflected it made his tears turn into a full-on waterfall.

His breathing was so uneven that it was hard to tell if he was even breathing properly.

“It’s a lie... heuuung...” he muttered.

‘Come on, you were the one who called me Yuriel, so why are you saying it’s a lie now?’

“It’s a lie... It’s... heuuung...”

“Mr. Jin-Ho,” I said.

“Yurieeeeeel...” he cried out.

He looked as if the full moon itself had exploded, and the sky was collapsing around him.