Regressor Instruction Manual

Chapter 1265. Gone with the Wind (5)

The Regressor Instruction Manual was a one-sided system. Their partner could only access information permitted by the user, while the user could see and manipulate everything about their partner.

They could move freely through their partner’s mind... and if they wanted to do so, they could even push them to take their own life. It went without saying that the power to sever or reconnect that link was in the user's hands.

To put it simply, it was like a shared program where the user had all the permissions and unlimited control permissions to boot.

It wasn’t that Kim Hyun-Sung had never resisted before, but this was fundamentally different. It felt like staring at a tightly shut locked safe that refused to open. It was as if Kim Hyun-Sung’s unconscious mind was rejecting his first life.

That was exactly what was happening here.

‘He doesn’t even know that I’m digging through his head right now...’

A quick glance at Kim Hyun-Sung through the Telescope showed that he didn’t seem to be feeling any sense of discomfort. He was drawing something with his therapist, and in my view, he was smiling at a messy little sketch that looked like a kid’s doodle.

‘At least he likes it.’

As I said, he wasn't resisting. His subconscious was refusing to let me in. I thought about trying again, but I didn’t know what kind of damage it could cause, and the possibility of injuring him made me feel hesitant.

The Regressor Instruction Manual felt almighty, but that was only from the user’s perspective. From his side, there was no telling what kind of side effects could occur.

However, the fact that he had put up such a thick barrier made it clear that the first life was full of memories that Kim Hyun-Sung wanted to forget.

“Sir? Is something wrong?” Ahn Ki-Mo asked.

“No, it’s nothing, Mr. Ki-Mo,” I answered.

“I think we’re almost there. We arrived faster than I thought,” Ahn Ki-Mo said.

“...”

“...”

“Was there anything else unusual in the area?” I asked.

“No, it was pretty quiet all the way to the destination. Miss Gook Minji from the Friendship Guild went on a scouting mission with the rangers. I couldn't sense any presence, either,” Ahn Ki-Mo answered.

Yoo Ah-Young, who was listening to Ahn Ki-Mo, mumbled, “Th-That aside... this place really gives me the creeps.”

“I agree,” Ahn Ki-Mo said.

“The ground’s so sticky, too, and I had no idea that... a place like this even existed. I knew there were still plenty of unexplored regions on the continent, but I didn’t expect a ruin like this to be tucked away so close to us,” Yoo Ah-Young said.

Ahn Ki-Mo must’ve been bored because he continued the conversation.

“But sir... what exactly is this expedition about? Isn’t it time you told us?”

‘I don’t know either, damn it.’

But...

“Rafael’s party is missing, and we’re the rescue party. That’s all I can tell you right now,” I answered.

“Ugh... If Rafael’s party went missing... then this is no ordinary incident... Shouldn’t we request support from the guild?” Ahn Ki-Mo asked.

‘He’s more careful than he lets on.’

“You may think I’m being cautious, but that’s not it, sir. What am I supposed to do if something happens? I came here thinking it was a simple task... but if there’s another episode that marks the beginning of the continent’s destruction... the guild master will surely have my head,” Ahn Ki-Mo said.

“...”

“Don’t get me started on Miss Jo Hye-Jin... More importantly, I don’t want to be hated by the other guild members. I just don’t,” Ahn Ki-Mo added.

“Do you feel the same way, Miss Yoo Ah-Young?” I asked.

“No. I just assumed... you had a plan... sir...” Yoo Ah-Young answered cautiously.

“...”

“...”

“Haha... I was honestly thinking the same thing, sir. It was just something I said out of concern, so you don’t need to worry about it. Were you feeling uncomfortable during the trip? You seem thirsty, so I’ll get you some water,” Ahn Ki-Mo said.

“...”

“...”

‘He's always been like that.’

Yoo Ah-Young looked at Ahn Ki-Mo with an exasperated face, but she still recognized him as her senior. However, it seemed like she had lost some respect for him. Ahn Ki-Mo seemed like he couldn't care less, though.

He was smiling as usual and made jokes every now and then, which was great. After all, it made things pretty interesting, but things were becoming quite noisy because of him.

“Hyung,” Rafael said.

“Looks like we’re finally here, sir,” Ahn Ki-Mo said.

“Please let me down,” I requested.

“Yes, sir.”

The ruins I had seen in the video came into view. A large hexagram dominated one wall, along with traces of battle scattered throughout the site. The mages and investigators from the Friendship Guild had already been briefed on the matter, so they immediately started their investigation and pulled out various pieces of equipment.

They used what looked like extremely expensive magic instruments to measure things like abnormal magic reactions, while older-looking mages stood in front of the wall marked with the hexagram, casting unknown spells.

Of course, they wouldn’t get any significant results, but it was better than doing nothing. At the very least, a basic inspection was necessary.

“What... do you think, hyung?” Rafael asked.

“I’m not sure. I need to inspect a little more...” I answered.

‘There really are no traces.’

Whether they had vanished into the earth or ascended into the sky...

“Is there... no passage leading underground...” I asked.

“Yes. We already checked everything, but there are no other structures in the ruins. There are no magic reactions either,” they answered.

‘It clearly looks like the magic circle could be triggered with some kind of catalyst...’

There was no other way to explain what had happened. Aside from the tentacled monsters and the hexagram up ahead, there were no other clues. The most plausible theory was that some of their blood had splashed onto the hexagram during battle, and it accidentally activated the magic circle.

It wouldn’t hurt to experiment, but the anxiety of not knowing what could happen made it difficult for me to take action right away. Still, I’d have to try eventually. When one had no clues, pushing forward was the only option, and no one knew that better than me.

‘If this is really the passageway that connects to the first life...’

There was still a way back. After getting pulled in, Rafael somehow managed to come back, so there had to be a way to come back. It was unfortunate that I couldn’t confirm exactly what was happening right now, but I had a general idea of the situation, so I ought to be able to figure it out quickly.

“H-Hyung?” Rafael said.

“...”

“What’s that?” Rafael asked.

“It’s a catalyst. It might activate that hexagram...” I replied.

“When did you...”

“I made it with the sample you gave me,” I told him.

“W-Will that be okay?” Rafael asked.

‘I don’t know either, damn it.’

Who could say what would happen or what kind of disaster could strike?

However, the puzzle pieces were falling into place so perfectly. Sometimes, one ought to volunteer to be the lab rat, especially in a situation like this. Right after brushing off Rafael’s question, I had the party step backward. Even the members of the Friendship Guild looked a bit unsettled as they stared at what I was trying to do.

For the first time in a long time, I cast a spell, and the liquid catalyst inside the small potion vial began glowing.

Seeing that, I was convinced that my guess was right.

Rafael hadn’t been able to move, as he skipped a critical step. I quietly popped the cork and let the liquid spill on the ground. Following the spell, the liquid flowed slowly toward the hexagram. Once it resonated with the magic circle and filled the pattern.

Swoosh!

A sudden strong wind blew across us.

“H-Hyung?” Rafael said.

“Sir... is this... really okay? Sir?” Ahn Ki-Mo asked.

‘Be quiet, man. I can’t focus.’

“Everyone, hold hands,” I instructed.

“What?”

“I want everyone to gather in the center and hold hands!” I yelled out.

“Y-Yes, sir!”

“Huh?”

The wind suddenly stopped, but nothing seemed to have changed. The party members, who had just been frantically holding hands moments ago, were now looking at each other in confusion.

‘Did nothing happen?’

“No... that’s not it,” I mumbled.

Unlike earlier, when we couldn’t find even a single trace, there were all sorts of traces around us. There was no need for a range or a rogue to confirm it.

Even an ordinary person could clearly see the difference. Dried bloodstains were scattered throughout the ruins. There were weapons here and there, and the trees surrounding the ruins were flattened.

In addition...

‘This is warm.’

Some of the blood looked fresh. Though the ruins appeared unchanged at a glance, subtle differences were beginning to show. One by one, those confused noticed that something was wrong.

“Wh-What happened? S-Sir... what happened here...” Ahn Ki-Mo asked.

“Hyung?” Rafael said.

“...”

“It’s definitely the same place... but it’s different... Was what we saw earlier just an illusion? There was no magic reaction at all...” an investigator said.

“Should we begin investigating the area? It looks like there was a battle... though I don’t think it was Mr. Rafael’s party...” someone else said.

It’s only natural to lose composure...

‘Because they don’t know that we’ve entered the first life—the past life.’

I couldn’t say with confidence that we really arrived in the first life, but all sorts of strange theories started appearing among the party members. Some insisted that we were trapped in an illusion, while others were visibly anxious after noticing the traces of a recent battle.

The world around us had changed all of a sudden, so it was no wonder that they were unsettled. To make matters worse, I heard voices not far from where we were located.

“Damn it!”

“Are you sure they're here?”

“Kill them! Kill them! It’s the brigade! So this is where you were hiding, you bastards!”

‘Shit.’

“Ahhhhh!”

“Requesting reinforcements right now! It’s the brigade! They’re running away!”

The voices were getting closer. I hadn't expected to run into people so quickly. Before we could decide whether to prepare for battle or hide, we sensed movement nearby.

Of course, we weren’t completely unprepared. After taking off some clothes, I rolled around in a dirt pit. My abruptly bizarre behavior made Yoo Ah-Young mumble, “S-Sir?”

Of course, I had to ignore her words.

After all, dozens of people suddenly stormed into the ruins.

“What the hell are you guys doing here?! Didn’t you get the report that the brigade bastards appeared?! Move now, you scums!”

“...”

It was a slightly irritable tone... and then...

“What the... Which organization are you affiliated with?” the stranger asked.

They cast a doubtful look at us.

I couldn’t help but grab Ahn Ki-Mo’s pants right away.

“...”

“...”

As expected... Ahn Ki-Mo scratched his head while holding my hand tightly.

“I’m sorry. I found a child... nearby...” Ahn Ki-Mo said.

“What did you say?” they asked.

Yoo Ah-Young was also holding me tightly. Anyone could tell it looked like a group of adults surrounding and protecting a single child, and even the group that had suddenly come to the ruins nodded in acknowledgement.

“They seem to be survivors from a nearby village, sir,” the stranger reported.

“Damn it... those damn demons... they even got children involved...” they mumbled.

“Sir, we should move for now...” Ahn Ki-Mo suggested.

“Okay,” they answered.

“Take the child and return to the camp. Be cautious, as there might be an ambush along the way. Given the size of the group... reinforcements probably won’t be necessary,” they ordered.

“Yes, sir!” a soldier answered loudly.

There wasn’t a single hesitation in his answer, and his acting skills supported his answers, too.

‘Wow...’

It wasn’t my intention... but bringing him with me seemed to be the right answer.