Regressor Instruction Manual

Chapter 1356. Visit (6)

“B-but the timing is...” Kim Hyun-Sung trailed off.

‘What does that have to do with it? You're the one who said that you wanted to see me, you bastard...'

“Is that a problem?” I asked.

“...”

“Is that a problem?” I asked again.

“...”

Kim Hyun-Sung quietly looked at me. It looked like he had a lot to say, but there was no way he could say something in this situation. No matter how crazy this bastard had become, he wasn't so oblivious that he couldn't read the room.

Even I thought the atmosphere had gotten too tense, but it was only natural for it to be that way.

‘Kim Hyun-Sung actually talked back?’

“...”

I gnashed my teeth at the defiance of the one I had raised like a precious child. A certain thought stabbed into me—had I done all that hard work and support just to be treated like this? I hadn’t simply told him to come home. I also made sure to show him how tired I was feeling. I even built up to it brick by brick.

‘And he refused that?’

For a moment, I even thought about just throwing away the ungrateful bastard, but at the same time, something felt off. It wasn’t baseless confidence; it was the belief that this pathetic guy would never betray me when I was struggling so much.

Sometimes, Kim Hyun-Sung would lose control, and he wasn’t a yes-man, but he wasn’t trashy enough to ignore the pain of a brother with whom he shared a bond.

I believed he would never do that, not in a situation like this. The disappointment I felt toward Kim Hyun-Sung was there, but more than that, the thought that something had gone wrong hit me first.

‘There’s definitely something wrong here.’

I couldn’t grasp the exact details, but every crazy act had a reason behind it. I could say with certainty that if Kim Hyun-Sung had been in his right mind, he would have never made the decision he just made.

The only explanation was that the so-called doctor bastard truly was a villain and had done something to him.

Kim Hyun-Sung carefully assessed my reaction. Then, he finally opened his mouth just as I was about to stand up.

“Mr. Ki-Young—”

“Let’s go now. I need to see that doctor,” I interrupted him.

“Just to make it clear... this isn’t because of the doctor. Of course, he did tell me to take some time, but the reason I can’t go back to the guild right now... is purely personal,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

‘No, damn it. You got tricked. It is because of that bastard.’

“It’s my own decision. As you know—”

“What is it?” I asked, cutting him off.

“I’ve been avoiding it all this time, but I...” Kim Hyun-Sung paused.

“Yes?”

“You remember, don’t you? I’ve already hurt you once before. No matter what the reason was, it happened...” Kim Hyun-Sung continued.

“Why are you bringing that up now?” I asked.

“It’s not something I can easily forget. And not just that time—back in Rohen, too...” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“I told you, I don’t care,” I told him.

‘That’s even more suspicious. The way he’s trying to stop me like this... Damn it, it’s even more suspicious.’

It was like he was trying his hardest to stop me from meeting the doctor.

It wasn’t the most fitting analogy, but he looked exactly like one of those desperate husbands in a drama, frantically trying to prevent the wife from meeting the woman he was having an affair with.

Anyone could see it. This bastard was doing everything he could to ensure that the doctor and I wouldn't meet each other. Of course, I knew the timing was sudden and that arranging a meeting like this right now would be difficult, but still...

‘This idiot... has he been brainwashed?’

No, Kim Hyun-Sung wasn't stupid.

It was me. I was stupid for leaving this unstable guy alone here.

“If you don’t want to go, stay here. I’ll go on my own,” I told him.

“That’s not what I meant...” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“No, really. Don’t follow me,” I said and walked away on my own.

The quack doctor’s mansion was just ahead. As I moved toward the mansion close enough to reach with just a few steps, I felt Kim Hyun-Sung trailing behind me. When I turned slightly, I saw his pale face.

When I noticed him fiddling with the Goddess’s Hand Mirror, I could only conclude that the doctor bastard had indeed gotten to him. He

was probably using it to inform the doctor that I was on my way.

‘But there’s nothing wrong with the Regressor Instruction Manual.’

However, I had already confirmed that my eye was becoming dull, so nothing could be considered certain anymore. Kim Hyun-Sung was a fool, but he was no idiot.

His unguarded back looked tempting to stab, but at his core, he was a transcendent. The one they called the “God of Sunset.”

The line that Benigoa would always mutter, “Even gods aren’t perfect," was etched into my mind, but the idea that some random psychiatrist could manipulate a transcendent was still difficult for me to accept.

‘Maybe he’s not just an ordinary person.’

If he was connected to the higher-ups, involved in the Six Stars incident, and capable of evading Ji-Hye noona’s sight, then that would at least make some sense.

‘Should I prepare for battle? No, not yet.’

If his target was Kim Hyun-Sung, then he wouldn’t start a fight as long as Kim Hyun-Sung was around.

The Regressor Instruction Manual had yet to be severed. My eye color had faded, but the bond between Kim Hyun-Sung and me was still intact. It was just static; some interference, nothing more, nothing less.

Perhaps that bastard doctor wanted to shift the bond between Kim Hyun-Sung and me over to himself. He had to have realized that it would take some time and effort; it was something that couldn’t be done in a short while.

Telling Kim Hyun-Sung to keep his distance from me was probably just a ploy to buy more time.

‘Who is he, then? A demon?’

When I reached the mansion, I finally saw the doctor’s face. He looked so plain, so ordinary.

“...”

“Nice to meet you, Father Lee Ki-Young,” he greeted.

“...”

“...”

I saw the same face I’d seen earlier through the telescope—a man who looked to be in his early forties, sporting dirty-blond hair that one could see everywhere.

Just as before, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him beyond that. If anything stood out at all, it was the fact that he wore glasses.

The atmosphere around him. Well, I couldn’t honestly say it was bad. He looked ordinary, yet not quite. There was a certain calmness about him, and his overall impression was warm, even kind.

He looked like the sort of man one could trust. He was the kind of person someone like Kim Hyun-Sung would find reassuring, even dependable.

‘He’s just a regular guy, isn’t he? Damn it.’

Just to be sure, I stared at him again using Mind’s Eye, but nothing about him set off alarms. His unique habits and tendencies were normal. His stats and traits were ordinary. His job wasn't even a combat-type job.

I half-expected Mind's Eye to end up getting blocked somehow, but nothing of the sort happened. He wasn’t a transcendent or anything close to it. He was just a human being.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Doctor Michele,” he greeted.

“...”

“...”

“Sorry to come at such a late hour, Doctor. Mr. Ki-Young really wanted to see you...” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“...”

“...”

“...”

‘What the hell is with this quack?’

Perhaps it was because I had been expecting someone impressive, but I felt oddly deflated. It wasn’t that my conviction about him being dangerous had crumbled. He just looked too ordinary.

There wasn’t even a hint of a demonic presence trying to manipulate Kim Hyun-Sung.

For a moment, I wondered if there was something wrong with Mind’s Eye—but really, what more could be said? This guy wasn’t special. And that made it all the more baffling. How come Kim Hyun-Sung was looking at him with such trust and faith?

If another transcendent were the one influencing him, I'd understand it.

But this? This made no sense at all.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Mr. Hyun-Sung, Father Lee Ki-Young,” Doctor Michele said.

“...”

“I’ve heard quite a bit about you, too, Dr. Michele,” I said.

“In fact, I’ve been meaning to speak with you,” he said.

“The feeling is mutual. If you don’t mind, that’s also why I came at this hour. Could you spare a moment?” I requested.

“On the contrary, I was the one hoping to ask a favor. Shall we go together, then?” Doctor Michele asked.

“Yes. I think it’s better for Mr. Hyun-Sung to wait here,” I suggested.

Nodding slightly, I followed him. Once we entered the room, I immediately took a seat.

“Please, have a seat, Dr. Michele,” I said.

“Sure,” Doctor Michele answered.

“...”

“...”

Before long, a heavy silence filled the room.

The man didn’t seem intimidated by the sudden meeting with someone in power.

Instead, he looked at me calmly with a faint smile tugging at his lips. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was studying me, but it was probably because of the nature of his job. If he were truly committed to his work, there would be plenty of things he was curious about. One of them had to be why Kim Hyun-Sung was so obsessively attached to me and what was really going on inside that head of his.

“If my guess is correct...” Doctor Michele trailed off.

“...”

“You’ve come to talk about Mr. Hyun-Sung, haven’t you?” Doctor Michele asked.

“Why else would I come here, Dr. Michele?” I questioned.

“...”

“I’d like to know how his treatment is progressing and in what direction it’s headed. If you have any relevant notes or records, please show them to me. We can talk after that,” I requested.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t share personal information about my patients,” Doctor Michele refused.

“Dr. Michele,” I said.

“...”

“...”

“I understand that your professional ethics are holding you back, but that’s exactly what I came here for, and I’m going to see it,” I told him.

“...”

“I completely understand that you’re worried about Mr. Hyun-Sung, but please try to see that everything I’m doing is for his treatment. I’m sure you’re aware as well that there’s a problem with him, and that the reason behind—”

“You seem to be implying that I'm the reason behind it,” I interrupted him.

“I wouldn’t say that directly, but yes, we are proceeding with the program under the assumption that your influence on him, whether direct or indirect, is significant. Mr. Hyun-Sung relies far too much on you. Feeling psychologically stable only when he’s around one person is not exactly healthy,” Doctor Michele explained.

“...”

“Of course, I can’t claim with certainty that my knowledge can truly help the two of you. This isn’t Earth, and there are many aspects I can’t properly judge. For example, the rumor that your souls are connected,” Doctor Michele added.

“...”

“...”

“How much psychological stability that connection brings, and how much it sustains you both... I can’t even begin to measure it. At the very least, I believe some degree of distance is necessary. That way, Mr. Hyun-Sung will be able to lead a healthy life,” Doctor Michele said.

“...”

“It's not just Mr. Hyun-Sung, but you as well, Father Lee Ki-Young. You two should work together on this. That way, the time it'll take him to return to normal life will go down considerably,” Doctor Michele said.

‘Is there really nothing wrong with him?’

No, he had to be hiding something.

‘There has to be a reason behind it.’

There had to be a reason why Kim Hyun-Sung was acting like such an idiot.

‘I believe in our Hyun-Sung. I have no choice but to believe in him.'