Regressor's Instructions Manual Episode 975
Altanus (12)
"Truly an impressive story."
"You're too kind. I merely did what was expected of me as a servant of Lucifer. Your Highness Delia."
"So, you mentioned you were active in the Nesca Kingdom? Exactly where was it...?"
"It was a nameless, small village."
"I'm embarrassed. In truth, the prolonged conflict stemming from the Nesca Kingdom... Deliha Empire was partially involved..."
"Your Highness."
"I don't intend to discuss the flaws of the Empire. Lord Lien Burg. I'm simply stating the facts as they are. I'm not giving you false information. The fact that the dispute in the Nesca Kingdom arose due to the petty pride of the Deliha and Ballinaria Empires is a fact even a child knows. Isn't that right, Viscount Clakin?"
"This is embarrassing."
"Even the magical Viscount of the Ballinaria Empire is saying so. The two empires had an unsung priest helping them, as it turns out."
"Although it's regrettable how the actions of the two empires unfolded..."
"Yes?"
"The so-called petty pride Your Highness mentioned is not simply a petty pride fight in my view. Competition is the greatest driving force behind human progress. From a small perspective... though it's quite regrettable... on a larger scale, I wouldn't be able to list all the ways in which the two empires benefitted humanity. Hasn't the advancement of magic brought comfort and security, and technological advancement brought convenience and prosperity?"
"Are you saying that it's not the fault of the two empires?"
"If you're asking for my personal opinion..."
"I asked you the obvious."
"Of course, I believe sacrificing a cow for the sake of a generation is a wrong act."
"Yet, despite that... you're saying quite pleasing words."
"The important thing is sharing."
"Perhaps there was a reason for buttering up your face. Isn't that right, Viscount Clakin?"
"Haha. I've been feeling this since earlier, but you seem to be anything but ordinary. Are you asking the kingdom for support?"
"I assume bad news won't reach the two empires. If it can enhance the pride and self-esteem of the citizens as subjects of the empire, that's what I mean. Furthermore..."
"...."
"Didn't you mention that earlier? Competition is the greatest driving force behind human progress."
"Hahaha."
"You're touching on the petty pride of the two empires, Priest. Are you suggesting that they compete to see how much they can support the kingdom?"
"I don't know."
"It seems like there's a snake in the grass. Priest. Hahaha!"
'Shit, keep laughing without understanding others.'
"Come to think of it, did you mention there's a beauty in alchemy?"
"Yes. Of course, in the eyes of Lord Clarkin, who is known as the magical viscount, it might seem like nothing..."
"It's difficult to talk without interruption. Lord Clarkin. Priest Lee Ki-Young has something to discuss with me regarding theology."
"Oh... I'd love to join if possible... How could it not work?"
"I'd be even more delighted to have you join. However, that might have to wait. It seems like we've been monopolizing our precious guest..."
"...."
"Haha. That's true."
'That's why being popular is exhausting. Despite being surrounded by Princess Deliha, the stern knight Lord Lien Burg, and the magical Viscount Clarkin—basically the three hottest figures on the surface—many are looking at this place with a hint of disappointment. The underground temple is full of prominent figures, and even the prominent figures are only looking for opportunities to enter. Of course, the lower ranks of the church are no different. Seeing Metel approach me yesterday in a crowd makes it seem like they want to pick up fallen beans and eat them.'
Rather than getting no information, that is probably better.
"It seems like Princess had a lot to say to Priest Lee Ki-young."
"Archbishop Drakttarius."
"If it's not too much trouble, may I borrow the priest for a moment?"
"Well, I was planning to release the priest now anyway. The cold looks were getting to me."
"Hahaha."
Laughter blossomed. It really blossomed.
"We didn't make things difficult for the priest, did we?"
"Well..."
"He's just being mischievous. Your Highness. Hahaha. Didn't the priest's face turn as red as a radish?"
"Oh my."
"Hahaha!"
They were playing their little games among themselves. This side was getting restless.
Of course, I couldn't show that. There might not have been any immediate results, but this buildup was important.
I hadn't wasted a day for nothing, doing my acting and show with Metel.
'Sometime tomorrow, I can try prying some information about the Templar.'
I had to season it so that it wouldn't sound too sudden and out of place.
Actually, it felt like Dracttarius next to me was moving in a place where I couldn't see, but I needed to be more direct...
'I need to create divisions within the group.'
Honestly, I hadn't reached a proper conclusion yet. No, I had to reach a conclusion. The problem was the uncertainty, though.
'I'm not Altanus.'
It's impossible for Lee Ki-young to be Altanus.
Of course, it's not entirely impossible.
After entering the lron Maiden, I might have set up the past and present to fit properly.
Watching the first round's Kim Hyun-sung... Creating my avatar... Playing the hero of the first round's mask trash, and finally, regressing Kim Hyun-sung and inserting myself.
If I had used Benigore as a proxy to drop the remaining shell to the ground and start the second round...
If we assume that after the second round started, she remembered nothing instead of knowing nothing, then the hypothesis "Lee Ki-young = Altanus" fits.
The recurring hero in the mask that kept coming to mind, the fragments of the past and the 1st round's Ki-young that I saw, can also be interpreted as remnants of annihilation.
Of course, it's not that there aren't details that need to be sorted out. The memories of Earth haven't disappeared.
'Is this possible? Can I intervene on my own?'
The possibility that Benigore doesn't remember anything.
'If Benigore isn't unable to remember but doesn't want to, if there's a possibility that she, like me, sealed her memories? If I, as Altanus, made some kind of deal to lift her up?'
There's a slim chance.
But that's just a slim chance.
'It's just a forced fit.'
There are two main reasons for this judgment.
First... There's no way to present an avatar called the hero of the 1st round.
'This is impossible.'
Even a simple advent or entrustment requires tremendous sanctity. It's practically impossible to control the 1st round from start to finish with an avatar.
Even if I'm thinking of pulling out a sacred spirit like a straw to console the 1st round's continent that's going to fail anyway, I still don't have the confidence that this is possible.
There's a possibility that I put the dummy's personality into Homunculus, but that's out of the question as well.
'The emotion and memories I felt are too distinct to simply inherit the dummy's memories.'
The second reason is that the hypothesis "Lee Ki-young = Altanus" is more convincing than the "Benigore = Altanus" hypothesis.
The Altanus hypothesis is a forced fit. There's no need to mention which one more obviously suggests possibility and which one is more blatant.
All the evidence and circumstances that have come up so far have been suggesting that Benigore is closer than Altanus, and personally, the Benigore hypothesis has more weight in my judgment.
'It has to be Benigore. There are no other variables here. Even if my head gets cracked, it's Benigore.'
That's the original, predetermined timeline.
This is where my headache starts.
Because of the hypothesis that I forced into place, the puzzle that didn't fit in the first place, I could only reach one conclusion here.
'There's no way Lee Ki-young is Altanuss.'
However.
"...."
"...."
[Lee Ki-young can become Altanus.]
Past, present, and future can be changed. If I enter the Iron Maiden faster than Benigore, I can become Altanus.
I'm not just replacing Benigore; I can finish everything she can't do. By crawling into the Iron Maiden myself, I can assemble the future as I desire from start to finish.
Of course, there will be risks. As I mentioned earlier, I might not be able to create Ki-young's avatar.
Jeong Ha-yeon, Kim Hyun-sung, Park Deok-gu, and Lee Ji-hye might finish the 1st round without meeting the Masked Hero.
'That's not the only thing.'
Even if I failed and started, only Ki-young would be missing.
Continental War, 27th Division Summoning Incident, Foreign War, I can finish all quests.
The Masked Hero would never have had the opportunity to appear in the first place.
The Ki-young of the unchanged world was an incapable person stuck on the ground, but the changed world's Ki-young, as an all-powerful god, would start.
Handling all the events that will happen from start to finish, handling the variables that might happen unexpectedly.
'It's a piece of cake.'
I don't know if it's possible or impossible, but if I call the Blue Guild members back to their sanctuary after the Foreign War, they might rescue me from the Iron Maiden.
The only problem is that those bastards won't remember me.
If the past changes, the butterfly effect begins, and the round starts with Ki-young disappearing, no one will remember me.
They might not even be the people I know. Their personalities might change, and they might develop different habits.
The results might be the same, but their lives will be completely different.
'That doesn't make sense.'
It's not necessary to go to such lengths to do this. I don't need to become Altanus by taking on a penalty that I might be forgotten by everyone.
"Priest. There's someone I want to introduce to this side."
"Yes, Archbishop Dracttarius."
But I couldn't help but think of it. The moment I confirmed the doll approaching this side, I couldn't help but recall what I had seen before coming here.
A pig covered in mud. Jeong Ha-yeon with all-white hair, Han So-ra turned into a hedgehog.
Sun Hee-young, Elena, and Hwang Jeong-yeon, who were swept away in an instant.
An Ki-mo and Yu Ah-young, who fell down, unable to hold on any longer. Kim Ye-ri and Kim Chang-ryeol, whose corpses couldn't even be found, Park Li-an.
Kim Hyun-sung, who met death with his wings torn off.
"...."
I realize once again that I came here to change the predetermined future.
"Greetings. Priest Lee Ki-young, I've heard a lot about you. This is Templar Simon. I am..."
"...."
"I am... Templar Bahamut."
The one who created that future is likely the asshole right in front of me. I could instinctively sense that.
"...."
"...."
----
~Ki-young looking at a random templar....~
Ki-Young: Yes, this B*tch right here is the villain.