Regressor's Instructions Manual Episode 920
Sera (20)
"Did Ha-yan get punished?"
"Not yet. It's not the right time for that... Although it was reported in a simplified manner, we are currently considering what kind of punishment should be given within the guild."
"I think it's best for me to handle it."
"That's what I thought too. The Vice guild Master seems to understand it better, but considering the current situation, it's better to lower the level of punishment personally..."
"Yes. I understand what you mean."
'We need to take care of her mental health.'
"Since Ha-yan is a little sensitive to other guild members' involvement..."
"Yes."
'It's a bit ambiguous.'
It's not that I am discriminating against Jeong Ha-yan compared to other guild members, but she stands above the rules of the guild when it comes to Ha-yan.
Although people like Seon Hee-young, Hwang Jung-yeon, and Cho Hye-jin have higher positions and more authority than Ha-yan, they cannot issue any disciplinary action against Jeong Ha-yan.
No, to be precise, it is more accurate to say that they respect Jeong Ha-yan. She held more power than the Top Rank in the Tower and ranked in the top tier of the continent's power.
I did consider creating a position that suits Jeong Ha-yan, but at that time, I couldn't anticipate what role Jeong Ha-yan could play in the position, so I postponed the decision.
As time went on, Jeong Ha-yan became someone untouchable within the guild. While she holds a formal position within the guild, practically, there is no one else besides me and Kim Hyun-sung who can touch her.
If I really had to pick one more person, it would be Cho Hye-jin, but even she doesn't care about Jeong Ha-yan.
She didn't participate in missions or quests unless she chose to, and she didn't take any specific guild duties.
Sometimes she would concentrate on the research I asked for, or she would participate in operations without showing any signs.
In fact, it seems that Han Sora has been handling these tasks on her own, so in practical terms, there is no one in the guild who can touch Jeong Ha-yan.
'And amidst all this, the assassination attempt on the Saint of Light happened...'
In a guild that usually resolves matters promptly, it seems unnecessary to drag things on like this. The guild members, as well as the guild staff, are probably watching carefully.
Look, I've not even getting in touch with Team Leader Kim Mi-young. She must think I'll handle it.
"I received the report from Sora."
"Yes. I heard she depleted most of her mana during recent magical experiments. The experiment was of such a large scale that it will take a long time to recover. The reason for not reporting it separately is as you expected. And I apologized to Ha-yan separately."
"What?"
"She said she was sorry for causing trouble."
'It's not something common.'
"Then... I'll call her now. You can handle the matters in the office... I assume."
"Yes. I'll handle it quietly here. Don't forget to let the guild members know that Ha-yan will be punished. We don't want anyone feeling deprived."
"Probably won't happen."
Yeah. Who would feel that way?
"And, Vice Guild Master, are you really okay physically?"
"The priests said so. I just briefly lost consciousness due to shock. It's not a big deal. I know why you're worried, but there's nothing else. It disappeared completely after being resurrected, so you can relax."
"That's a relief, then."
As Cho Hye-Jin smiled briefly and left the room,
I thought of the time when she heard that I fainted for no reason, and she was posting something on BenigoreNet, crying and making a fuss for no reason.
Even though it was known that the burdens on my body disappeared after my resurrection, her reaction suggests that the incident was quite shocking. It might not have been just because the story was on a large scale, but I still thought she was overreacting.
"Oh! And don't forget about the task I asked you to do."
"Yes."
'We need to wait for our informants to come up with questions.'
Of course, it's more important to restore Jeong Ha-yan's self-esteem than to wait for that. Today was also the day when the potion's effects wore off, and continuing to drag on could lead to other side effects.
'She must be quite scared.'
She must have been mentally exhausted during that time... Above all, this was an event that she thought must be kept secret.
It's no wonder she was anxious that she might be discovered, and right now, just before being exposed, there's no need to say anything.
Seeing her face as she entered the room made that thought even more apparent.
"Yo-you, you called me? Oppa?"
Not having slept properly, she looked tired, and it seemed like she had been under a lot of mental stress.
It might not be as bad as when Han Sora was around, as she didn't bite her nails or mess up her hair, but I couldn't judge just by appearance. There was an indescribable fierceness in her eyes.
I couldn't leave her like this; she absolutely couldn't let herself be discovered. Whatever it takes, she must hold her ground for now.
It's like a lawyer preparing for the final defense of a lifetime.
"For now, sit here. Ha-yan. Would you like something to drink?"
"No. I'm fine."
"How about a cup of tea? I'll make one for you."
"Yes... Yes. That'll be fine."
At the point when she couldn't be with spokesperson Han Sora, she must have gone through various simulations and prepared excuses for all the questions that might come up...
"Do you know why I called you?"
"Yes... Yes."
Ha-yan is not very good at telling lies herself.
"I got a rough report from Hye-Jin. About the magical experiment..."
"Yes. Yes! Yes... I conducted a... a very remarkable experiment. I, I wanted it to be a secret from you, so I, I didn't tell you in advance. I, I wanted to surprise you... The experiment... the experiment didn't go well in the end... Yes, but it was really remarkable. I want to explain everything to you..."
"..."
"Due, due to the side effects of the experiment, using magic was... was difficult... No, I mean, I can use it, but I wanted to recover faster... So, yes. I decided not to use magic for a while."
"I see. What kind of experiment was it?"
"It was an experiment to merge various conflicting magical powers directly into my body..."
The answer comes out without hesitation or stammering.
"Sora was involved in it too. If you ask her, you'll probably get a rough idea."
A witness appears.
"When did you do it?"
"Um... Before you went to the Raphael Party Camp. Everything is written in the experiment log."
A precise alibi is secured.
'She's more sophisticated than I thought.'
It's probably double or triple layered. It must be an alibi created by Han Sora, not Jeong Ha-yan.
"Normally, I wouldn't make this kind of mistake. I guess my condition wasn't very good at that time. I might have been... I might have been sick. Actually, I thought it wasn't a big deal. I'm sorry I didn't tell you in advance. I, I apologized to all the other guild members as well. I went with Sora."
"Really? Then..."
"I, I have to receive punishment... Oh! Oh! Before the punishment, I caused trouble. Of course, I need to apologize. I did something wrong."
She even had an adult-like attitude of accepting her mistakes.
"I don't want to give you a separate punishment, Ha-yan, but I can't completely ignore the others' feelings. Isn't that right?"
"Yes... Yes!"
"In guild life, there are things that need to be upheld... and this is for Ha-yan's safety. I hope you understand."
"Yes...."
'It seems like she thinks she wasn't caught.'
Why. It's adorable.
The face of success. Without realizing it, I find the tightly clenched fist somehow cute.
The innocence of a beginner at lying is showing. Actually, I wanted to wrap it up at this point, but....
"But... was the experiment real?"
"Yes?"
"I checked the experiment log a few days ago. I check Ha-yan's experiment log almost every day. I remember that there was no other experiment before you came to the Raphael Party Camp. Could my memory be wrong?"
"Oh... well, you see, I forgot to upload it..."
"The guild staff and other members of the Tower Guild have already checked and confirmed it, you know."
"I don't know what kind of experiment it was, but if it was such a risky experiment, there's no way I wouldn't know about it. Besides, you don't look normal in my eyes right now. Are you really telling the truth, Ha-yan? Are you sure you're not lying?"
"L-l-lying...? I... I don't lie to you, oppa."
Why can't she meet my eyes?
The tightly clenched fist has now opened. I can see her body shrinking little by little. There's even a cold sweat on her forehead. She keeps licking her lips, and it seems like her saliva is drying up.
Her pupils seem to be moving to the side. She can't bring herself to look straight at me and keeps shifting her gaze to the side where some object is.
"My... my... I don't feel well...."
Let's take a break, okay?
Maybe this is the operation that's going back to Han Sora for a strategy meeting, but unfortunately, there's no break.
"Everything else is okay, Ha-yan."
"Yes? Wh-what is it... what is it..."
"Everything else is okay. But I really hope you didn't lie."
"I..."
"Especially when it comes to your health or physical condition, I hope you didn't lie."
Of course, I send a warm gaze.
As if there's nothing more precious than you, I gently stroke Ha-yan's cheek. This will probably be an expression that Kim Hyun-sung and Jeong Ha-yan vaguely know.
"You know I like you, right?"
"Really..."
"You know there's nothing more precious than you, right? That's right. What else could there be."
A smile that I don't even realize I'm sending comes out in a serious situation, though it won't show. Right now, it was a pretty serious situation.
Why is it that sometimes people can't help but laugh just by thinking about them? Ha-yan is that kind of person to me. She's just so precious.
"I, I, I... so, you see...."
If you were to be harmed, or if anything happened to you, I really wouldn't be able to bear it.
"I hope you'll keep being with me."
Forever.
"I really hope you'll be with me forever."
"Ah... Aaah... oppa...."
But.
"When did you lose your magic powers?"
"..."
In an instant, a pale expression appeared before my eyes.
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This chapter was soooo Cute 😍, It was the easiest and sweetest chapter I've translated yet.
Now I want to keep translating lol. And I should really start paying attention to my own novel.