Regressor's Instruction Manual Episode 912
Sera [12]
"Help me, help me,".
There was no change in his expression. He just stared at me quietly. No, it was more like a sympathetic face. He seemed to understand my feelings as well.
I had definitely conveyed my intention clearly.
'Benigore's body. You know all about it, hidden in your house basement. What are you going to do? The power you have now, it's because you drank Benigore's blood, right?' [Your basement= Underground of the Holy See AKA Benigore's Church.]
That's what I said.
I wasn't sure if they were pretending not to understand or if they genuinely believed they were not demons, but either way, they were not normal.
Come to think of it, these monsters were also transformed beings, having consumed Benigore's blood.
They might think that the demons I described were the monsters themselves and that their actions were some kind of sacred religious act.
If my assumption was correct, there were two possibilities:
First, these guys were crazy.
Second, they also knew the cause of this phenomenon.
These monsters must have been aware of why they turned into such beings.
One reason Templar Zen came here might be to hide this fact.
Perhaps one of his missions was to ask for ownership of the monsters...
'It's been a while since I had to use my head so much.'
I have many questions, so I can speculate in various ways.
If the headquarters of the Templars is indeed the resting place of Mole Saintess, where are these guys currently living?
They might be residing inside the dungeon, or perhaps they became part of the dungeon themselves. It's not common, but humans can become boss monsters in dungeons.
Alternatively, they might be in a state where they cannot enter the altar. They could be secretly trying to conquer the dungeon.
The longer he remained silent, the more closely I scrutinized his face. Human faces carry a lot of information.
Of course, I shed tears while doing so.
Should I change my stance a bit? I want to make the Templar feel that I am not a threat.
Maybe showing a weaker side would be better. Pitifully. A bit more vulnerable. Tragic.
I hope the sudden change in attitude doesn't seem too forced. He distorted the clear provocation I made, so there's still a chance.
And there it is, the reaction.
My appearance seemed like it could crumble at any moment. How many believers, devoted to their faith, could turn a blind eye to the tears of a devout saint?
Maybe it was right from the beginning to approach him like this. Although there was something twisted, there was no doubt that he was a believer in the Venigore sect.
"Are you okay, Your Eminence?"
I'm I okay? Are you really asking that?
"Yes. I'm okay... I'm fine."
"I think I can understand the heartache you are feeling, Your Eminence. Of course, the pain I feel will not even be a fraction of what you have to endure..."
Are you trying to console me?
Really... are you doing that?
"I'm sorry. I just... suddenly showed this side of me..."
"Don't be embarrassed, Your Eminence. It's an honest and sincere side of you. Those tears you shed are for her. Why should you be ashamed?"
"But..."
"You can think a little more comfortably."
"What do you mean?"
"Of course, even if I say this, I don't think I can truly comfort your troubled heart... but if you feel your heart is heavy and you need someone to talk to..."
Yes, you also had such thoughts?
"I consider it fortunate that I can be someone who can offer some comfort to you, Honorary Cardinal. So please, try to think more comfortably..."
"It's really strange."
"What?"
"Meeting someone for the first time and having this kind of conversation..."
" .... "
"To be honest, I wanted to share this story with someone..."
Yes, it was a story I was hiding deep inside. Frankly, how could I ever utter such impious words?
To think that demons were drinking the sacred blood of Benigore... a dreadful sight indeed.
I can't believe what I'm imagining. Can you even imagine it? How could I tell anyone about this?
Of course, we just met. And I know it's not appropriate to have this kind of conversation. But right now, the Honorary Cardinal is emotionally weakened.
I needed someone to confide in. Someone who is not a usual acquaintance but can listen without judgment. Someone who can understand the heart of the Saint of Light. Someone new.
"You must have had a difficult time."
"I'm more worried that Benigore may be going through hardships..."
"Benigore..."
"Actually, I haven't heard her voice recently. If I did something wrong..."
"You haven't done anything wrong, Honorary Cardinal. But if there were any mistakes..."
"What?"
"Nothing.."
"Just tell me more. Zen, do you know something?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking that there must be a reason for everything. We, the Church, or maybe even the entire continent might have done something to provoke her wrath."
"Are you suggesting there might be problems within the current church?"
Let's interpret it a bit more widely.
"Not necessarily."
He seems a bit uneasy. Is there something he doesn't like? Have there been discussions among the Templars?
Is he questioning the direction the Holy See is heading? Is it something related to the continent?
Whatever the case, there seems to be room for further consideration.
"...…"
In the end, it seemed I had concluded that it wasn't his fault. I can understand that. The process of gaining power from Benigore has been a long-standing religious practice.
If there haven't been any issues until now, there might be something wrong that happened recently. One of the most obvious possibilities is corruption within the Holy See.
Even within religious groups, there are bound to be some rotten individuals.
Although Pope Basel is sensitive to such matters, one cannot cover the sky with a palm.
At the Black Market we visited during Ki Yeon's time, there were officials from the Holy See as well.
"In that case, may I ask what you think about the current church's direction?"
"Strictly speaking, we do not have the authority to speak about the direction of the church. We are a military group tasked with protecting the Cardinals..."
"That was until now."
But now it's not.
"That is..."
"I'm not a fool."
Although Ki Young, the Honorary Cardinal, is innocent, fragile, and pitiful, he is not an ignorant fool.
Wow, you're even smart. Of course, to those knowledgeable in politics, it might seem amusing, but the Honorary Cardinal was wise and had the courage and determination to protect his beliefs through his own methods.
"Why did you reveal yourself like this, Zen? Why have the Templars, who have been hidden until now, started to act? I don't know the details, but I believe there has been a change in her mindset. There must be a reason why Benigore has empowered you. I don't think people like you would reject her will."
"....."
"Are you involved with the Church?"
"If it's uncomfortable for me to ask such questions..."
"...."
"No, that's not it. It's just that..."
He still hasn't opened up his heart?
"It's just that I believe it's not the right time to tell you."
"I see."
Let's express disappointment.
"Yes, I understand."
It would be best to make him feel like I'm drawing a line and not getting involved in the Church's issues. I am just a Honorary Cardinal and an outsider to the Church.
Of course, he didn't mean it that way, but it's important to make him feel that way.
"I want to take a walk for a moment..."
"I'll accompany you."
Yeah, that's better.
I still don't know what this is about when I haven't even resolved the issues with Hayan and Sera. Should I punish Cherubim? Maybe it's better if he leaves.
As I tried to go outside, Rafael followed me, but I shook my head as if saying he didn't need to come.
"Hyung."
"It's okay, you can trust him."
"But..."
"I really am okay, Rafael."
Don't be so guarded. He wouldn't dare to kidnap me here, would he?
"Then..."
"I have something to discuss with Zen alone, Rafael. Of course, you are not an outsider, but..."
"Hoo..."
Well, what can you do? You'll have to lose.
Of course, Rafael won't let his guard down. He will focus on my safety more than ever, but there's meaning in bringing up this topic while this guy is here.
It's better to give him a slight sense of trust and make him feel that we are going together.
There's no proper walking path here; the forest is rough, and the road is not properly paved.
But it doesn't matter to me and this guy. I spread my wings slightly, and he nodded silently.
For a moment, the dense forest felt bright. Even Thronus and Dominions in the distance were looking at me.
Wings of light that were not only sacred but also beautiful. It felt like a symbol reminding him that I was not human but a son of a god, different from what he possessed.
Whenever I flap my wings lightly, a shimmering light falls, and it feels like all the evil in my heart disappears just by looking at it.
I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but no one who sees this can resist being impressed.
"Shall we go then?"
The guy nodded absentmindedly. Although I, being inexperienced, slowly ascended into the air, he would soon adjust to my pace.
This is how we let people know that we are bound by the same destiny.
"I feel a little happy."
"What?"
"I'm genuinely glad to meet someone who sincerely thinks of Benigore."
"...."
"Perhaps Benigore would also be pleased. I'm sure she would be glad to have a new believer for the continent's sake."
"That's true..."
"I'm inadequate. Though I am called the Son of Light, the God of Sacrifice and Resurrection with such grand names, I'm weak, foolish, and a fool. I owe my current self not only to my own efforts but also to the many people who supported and helped me. Yes, I am one of those who together protect faith and belief."
"....."
"Perhaps there might be a new crisis coming to the continent. The situation unfolding right now is far from normal..."
"Lee Ki-Young-nim..."
"But I believe we can overcome it. Benigore will never bestow upon us trials we cannot endure. She always give us the strength to overcome."
This time it's your wings. [don't know why it's translated like that.]
"The continent has always been like this. We have faced dangers many times, but we have become stronger and more resilient. Those trials may hurt us and make us suffer, but I believe that the beautiful continent we see now, this blue sky we look upon, is a result of the past pain we endured."
The starlight of Thronus and the twilight of Hyun Seong have been put to good use.
"It's a magnificent view, isn't it?"
"Yes."
The blue sky, the sunlight pouring through the clouds. An incredibly beautiful sight that can blind the eyes.
"After everything is over, we will be able to see this view again."
Of course, this guy won't be able to see this sky again.
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Spoiler ~~~
I like telling people spoilers so always skip it if you don't like it.
[[I cried by the end of the Zen arc.]]
Also, I'm surprised that I translated this much chapters, thought I wouldn't get this far.