Regressor's Instruction Manual Episode 920
Sera (21)
"What... What does that mean?"
Look at me in the eyes.
"O-Oppa, what are you saying... I-I don't understand. M-Magical power..."
Look at me in the eyes, please.
"I-I've never lost it... H-hehe..."
I thought I would be able to let go easily.
"Hehe... H-hehe..."
She laughs, trying to lighten the mood, but it sounds forced and awkward. It seems like she is trying to distract from the situation with her laughter. Her whole body is sending signals, and I can't help but notice.
"I've never lost it. Really... I've never lost it. You might be mistaken. Oh... Maybe it's because my condition is not well... It might look like that."
'This might take all day.'
She seems to be trying to divert the conversation by turning it into a joke or pretending to be in pain, hungry, or wanting more tea. Her attempts to avoid the topic are obvious.
"Anyway... So, So-ra..."
Call her name again.
"Ha-yan."
Don't avoid my gaze.
"I'm worried about you. Did you think I wouldn't know about this?"
"Yes... Yes?"
Maybe Ha-yan knows better than anyone else.
Ha-yan probably knows it better than anyone else. She's one of the people who know me the best.
She knows who I am, what kind of person Lee Kiyoung is. I didn't really think she would deceive me. I didn't think she could really fool me.
When I sent a slightly cold glance, Ha-yan's body seemed to shrink.
What to do. What to do. What to do. It's as if she's saying that.
Whether she suddenly recalled the image of Lee Kiyoung she had forgotten or not, her face turned paler than before.
I judged that things were escalating. I'm a little worried about how I must be seen in Ha-yan's eyes right now, but... No, it even looked like she was afraid, like she did when I first met her.
She didn't even notice that her breathing became rough, and she was breathing heavily. Sweat started to flow down her forehead, and her eyes trembled. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
'This won't do.'
I should speak a little more gently.
"Our relationship shouldn't have any secrets."
"Yes? Uh..."
"We promised to share everything between us."
"...."
"I'm not mad at you. Why did you feel the need to hide it from me? Why didn't you tell me beforehand? I want to know everything, Ha-yan. I want to know everything about you."
Yes. I want to have a comfortable conversation.
"Ah... Well..."
"If something like this happened, I wanted you to be the first to tell me... I want to know everything. Ha-Yan."
"....."
"Ye... Yes."
She seems somewhat positive about my words, but it's hard to tell.
"I don't want you to hide anything from me."
"Ye... I shouldn't lie..."
"I think trust is more important than anything else in our relationship."
It may feel a bit one-sided, but trust is essential.
"Yes... Trust... Yes, that's right."
"More than anything else, not lying to each other is important."
"Yes... We shouldn't lie..."
I'm really more into you than you think. Why would I hate you just because you don't have magic? You are smarter and more attractive than you think. Magic or not doesn't matter.
I gently stroke her cheek. Her expression seems to be softening little by little. Her tense body seems to relax gradually.
This time, I gently brush my lips against her cheek, and her body trembles visibly.
I draw her closer...
"Can you tell me?"
"Yes... Yes... I'll do that."
Ha-yan opened her mouth as if she were possessed by something. Of course, she seemed very nervous. It must have been a huge thing for Ha-yan.
For someone who thinks her existence value is magic, confessing that she has lost everything must not have been easy.
She is not the only one. I am the same as Ha-yan. How can I say one day that I have lost everything?
Telling Kim Hyun-sung that I lost the Regressor's Instruction Manual or telling the gods that I lost my divinity.
Neither of them is an easy story to tell. That's why I can understand Ha-yan's feelings right now.
Nervous, scared, afraid, and unwilling to do it. Especially for Ha-yan, it must be even scarier. Because it was everything to her.
After taking a deep breath, she began to speak.
"A few... days ago... suddenly. Huhu..."
"...."
"The reason, I don't know... but suddenly, everything started to disappear... Hic... sob..."
It's cute how she's glancing at me while talking.
She continues to cry loudly while trying to speak.
"I keep trying... c-c-continuing... sob..."
"Really?"
"I-I'm sorry... hic... sob..."
There's nothing to apologize for. Not at all.
"Why would you apologize? There's nothing wrong with your body, right?"
"Yes... yes..."
"Are you feeling okay?"
Well done.
Taking care of her body is more important than lost magic. It's touching.
"Maybe you should get a check-up from Hee-young or Elena?"
"What?"
Of course, Ha-yan looks bewildered. The situation is unfolding differently from what she expected, and she doesn't seem to be adapting well.
Perhaps she thought of a cold reaction or a dramatic development. Maybe she thought I'd say, "Really? You're useless now." I can't tell if she worried about that.
I might have felt a little like that in the beginning. But that was a long time ago, and I couldn't help it. It was just her misconception. That's all, right?
"Why didn't you tell me until now?"
"Uh... that... well..."
'I didn't expect this to happen. Right?'
I should hold her hand tightly. It's a bonus to keep looking at Ha-yan with a concerned expression.
"Is it because of me?"
It's time for some self-reflection on whether I burdened her too much.
It's possible because she's Ha-yan. In fact, if she were just an ordinary magician, she would be exhausted from various missions.
Like installing warp gates on the entire continent, or filling magic spots, for example.
"No, No, it's not because of you"
Actually, it is because of me.
"I don't know the reason... but I don't think it's because of you. Um, I think it's a temporary thing... I feel okay... So-ra checked me... Don't worry."
"....."
"Ah, no... I do feel a little unwell. My head and chest feel stuffy."
'Look at this.'
"I also feel a little dizzy... Yes, I think so. I guess I might be in pain."
"You should have told me earlier."
It's so simple.
'I guess she's realizing it.'
She seems to be catching on slowly.
She realizes that whether she has magical abilities or not, it doesn't matter, and it was all her misunderstanding. There are still doubts on her face, but gradually, I can see her feeling relieved and even...
'She's smiling.'
A faint smile starts to appear on her face.
Smile.
"Ha... Hehehe..."
She should smile happily.
"Hehe... hic... sob... hehehe..."
Why are you crying?
"Hic... H-hic... Hic... hehehe..."
I have no choice but to hold her tight.
"Hu... He... Hehehehe..."
This is a little scary.
"He... Hehehehe..."
Why are you like this? You.
"Pu... Hehehehehe..."
Stop...
For quite some time, she keeps laughing strangely. This might be the process of realizing that her assumptions were wrong. She might be aware that I'm looking at her with a strange expression.
She thinks she loves herself, her worth is not determined by her magic, she doesn't need accomplishments to receive rewards, and she can't stop her seemingly hysterical laughter.
It may be because there's so much piled up, but this is a natural process that takes time.
Her values weren't formed when she entered the continent. It's a process of regaining the self-esteem that had eaten away at her.
"Ha... Hehehehe... hic... hehehehe..."
"Hehehe... Hehehehe..."
Then suddenly, the laughter stops.
"Ah...."
I felt like I could understand what Ha-yan was thinking. As if acknowledging my guess, she whispered quietly.
"Sera."
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Crazy Chapter. I feel rewarded by this simple chapter. Anyways, Sera arc is done. I think I will finish the next arc first before uploading, I think...Cause it has lots of chapters.