Regressor's Instructions Manual Episode 958"
Atmosphere (9)
The time I opened my eyes was around 2:30 AM.
I could have ignored it if I tried, but today is the day I promised to wake up and comfort the guy, so I had no choice but to move.
Whether it was due to a particularly intense nightmare or various anxieties, Kim Hyun-Sung is visibly affected.
Although I didn't bother looking through telescope, I could clearly see the situation inside his tent.
He's probably tossing and turning as if he just woke up from a nightmare, drenched in sweat.
He'll likely get up, catch his breath, and then reach out for the water jug he left under the bed, only to realize that he's still inside the tent. He'll let out a quiet sigh while splashing himself with cold water.
Even so, the unease probably won't disappear. He can't sleep anymore, and he might even wash his face before going outside to check the situation.
After quietly checking the campfire, wiping his chest, and then possibly wandering around the camp in a gloomy mood.
'I should probably go out too.'
I should be ready to move, but my body doesn't respond properly.
It's not that there's another issue.
Jung Ha-Yan, who's sleeping on the next bed, is the issue. She's even stretched out her legs and is sound asleep.
Actually, it's a familiar sight. It's not the first time Jung Ha-Yan crawled into bed with me.
The person to pay attention to isn't Jung Ha-Yan.
'Why is Han Sora here?'
I notice someone curled up beside Jung Ha-Yan. Moreover, it looks like she's awake.
Whether this happened at a similar time or she's been awake for a while, I'm not sure, but she seems to be in a similar situation as me.
I try to push Jung Ha-Yan to the side, but...
'Why is she so strong...?'
She doesn't budge, and I can't move her either. I can't help but think that Han Sora probably needs to help me get out of this situation.
"Could you please help me, Sora-ssi? No, actually, why are you even here?"
"Jung Ha-Yan said we should come together..."
Thanks to Sora, who's crouching beside Jung Ha-Yan and trying to move her, I manage to get out after struggling a bit.
I naturally free myself from Jung Ha-Yan's grasp, but in the process, she unintentionally become entangled with Hayan, leaving her in a bundled-up state.
"Please, help me too, Vice guild Master."
"..."
"I want to use the restroom. I... I've been awake for 30 minutes. I couldn't move because of Jung Ha-Yan. I'll be right back."
"...."
"Vice guild Master."
It would be troublesome if Ha-Yan wakes up now. She'll surely try to follow me.
"Vice guild Master?"
'Sorry.'
"Vice... guild..."
"...."
"Damn bastard..."
"...."
"Shh..."
I instinctively realized that the person who was on the right side is now gone, so she must be clinging to Sora on the left.
Sora might have a bit of a tough time, but right now, stabilizing Kim Hyun-Sung's mental state is more important than Sora's personal situation.
As I prepare to leave, I continue to hear murmurs, but I need to step out for the sake of the continent.
'The night air is chilly.'
Everyone is sound asleep at 3:28 AM.
Sitting by the campfire, Kim Hyun-Sung is the only one still awake.
As it comes into view, the person that was naturally highly sensitive to his surroundings, Kim Hyun Sung, appears to be lost in deep thought. He didn't even notice me approaching until I was quite close.
Perhaps he's contemplating the nightmare he just had. I'm not sure of the specifics of the dream, but I can make an educated guess.
It might have been a dream about a blissful continent, where everyone laughs and enjoys peaceful days.
The reason it turned into a nightmare might be due to the absence of his united brother in that dream.
In the dream, Kim Hyun-Sung might be frantically wandering around, feeling that something has gone wrong. Ultimately, he might end up at the Tomb of God of Sacrifice and Resurrection.
He could be screaming and yelling, only to wake up from the dream. On the other hand, it might be a dream where his brother is screaming in agony.
Considering the location, he might have heard agonizing cries, trapped deep underground, confined in the Iron Maiden, pleading for help. Naturally, he might have sensed that someone was shouting wildly down there.
Of course, in the dream, Kim Hyun-Sung wouldn't be able to reach Lee Kiyoung.
Regardless of how much he runs around or whatever methods he employs, he can never save the Saint of Light.
Eventually, the screams subside, and the dream comes to an end...
It's a variation of the outcome. If Kim Hyun-Sung had restrained Lee Kiyoung. If the Gods of Sacrifice and Resurrection, the Saint of Light, and everyone else took no action, resulting in the continent's destruction.
If Kim Hyun-Sung, Lee Kiyoung, and the Blue Guild members survived, but the continent was consumed by the dungeon. The story might start with the Saint of Light resenting Kim Hyun-Sung and the Blue Guild members who stopped him...
The Saint of Light, engulfed in a deep sense of guilt and powerlessness, might end up hanging himself in front of everyone.
'one-act play has emerged.'
It could be more intense or a bit less, but it was probably a dream of this kind.
A shocking nightmare that wakes him up in the middle of the night, making it impossible for him to fall asleep again.
An occasional nightmare that torments Kim Hyun-Sung mercilessly.
Once again, He sensed my presence. I see the guy who quickly grabs his sword.
After confirming my appearance, his expression relaxed, but honestly, I couldn't help feeling a little nervous.
"Ki-Young?"
"...."
"I'm, I'm sorry. This is..."
"No, it's okay. I probably approached too silently. I didn't intend to startle you..."
"No, it's not that..."
'No, I'm not here to pick on this. What could Kim Hyun-Sung have thought about me...?'
While saying that Lee Kiyoung can sometimes be absorbed in his own world, he's not psycho enough to throw a tantrum just because he didn't recognize me.
Looking at the guy who's being cautious even now when I'm here to comfort him, I can't help but feel a bit bitter.
But wasn't he the hero who saved the continent?
Though I've given him a hard time today, he looks as if he's been through hell. Even if he died, he would still seem like he's dead.
Now he has no title, no power, and nothing left. He seems even more pitiful now. His shoulders seem to have drooped, and he still seems to be cautious...
'Why does he look so pitiful?'
He looked so happy when he was whining about organizing the bags.
"It seems you're having trouble sleeping."
"You too, Ki-Young..."
"Yes... I couldn't stop thinking about what happened today, so... I guess I was a bit harsh."
First, I need to show that I'm a bit sorry. I'm not actually that sorry, but just the fact that I'm showing that I care is enough to make him feel better.
"No, it's not like that. You made a reasonable decision because I was in an emotional state. If I had continued the expedition, an accident might have happened."
"But still..."
"You made the right judgment."
"No, it's... Actually... The incident that happened yesterday afternoon... I think I reacted emotionally to it as well..."
"Really? What happened?"
"To be honest, it's a bit embarrassing to say... but... all the things that have happened until now..."
"Yes?"
"I got a little mad when you said it wasn't necessary."
"...."
"...."
For a moment, the sound of a crackling campfire filled the air. It's because I said that everything that had happened until now wasn't necessary.
Of course, Kim Hyun-Sung's intention wasn't that. He probably meant that what happened didn't require Lee Kiyoung's sacrifice.
But accepting it from Lee Kiyoung's standpoint was different.
'Yeah, Kiyoung was upset.'
Would the Saint of Light want to remember all these things? It was a difficult time.
There were painful and undesirable moments. He suffered wounds on his soul, and he carried the aftermath of those experiences throughout his life.
They were memories that pushed him to his limits mentally and physically, but were they not the memories that made the present Kim Hyun-Sung and Lee Kiyoung?
Those difficult memories turned us, who started as strangers, into comrades... into friends... into brothers bound by a bond.
In retrospect, the reason why yesterday's Lee Kiyoung got upset was probably due to that.
'It felt like everything was being invalidated. All the things that happened until now seemed to turn into things that never happened.'
Lee Kiyoung didn't explain everything in detail. It seemed he was upset, felt unjust.
Because of Kim Hyun-Sung's assertion that the narrative with the Blue Guild members and all the events they experienced together wasn't necessary, he got mad.
Kim Hyun-Sung wasn't completely clueless, he wasn't foolish either. Just saying I was upset was probably enough, right?
Kim Hyun-Sung's face gradually relaxed.
'He's really easy to handle.'
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"I didn't mean it that way. Not at all... it's just that... even though I knew you didn't have that intention..."
"Yes. But for me, even painful and unwanted memories are all precious memories. They're memories of the Blue Guild members, of Hayan and Deokgu, of you, Hyun-Sung. I knew you didn't have that intention, but... there seemed to be a small misunderstanding between us."
"Yes. That's true."
"Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"Of course."
I busied myself with the campfire. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's poking around campfires.
Kim Hyun-Sung took out an iron mug and placed it on the campfire before sitting back down.
It might not make him forget the nightmare, but he seemed a bit relieved.
The little secret hidden behind his somewhat bitter attitude towards himself was enough to make him feel better about being an outcast who had lived a solitary life.
Of course, it might also help Kim Hyun-Sung with the trauma he carries.
'Yes, because of those incidents, we grew to this point, and now we can share a cup of coffee together.'
From now on, he couldn't just dismiss what wasn't necessary. Because we are here now thanks to those crises.
Maybe it's a form of self-assurance, saying that we're here now because those incidents happened.
Of course, I didn't think that positive effects would come so easily. Kim Hyun-Sung would still have memories he didn't want to recall, memories he wanted to forget.
But maybe this could ease some of the discomfort he feels.
"Aren't you tired, Hyun-Sung?"
"I'm okay. There have been times when I couldn't sleep for a week after a first round. More than anything, didn't we get rid of burdensome baggage? The expedition should be a lot easier from now on."
"Are you mocking me?"
"Mocking? No."
"I was just kidding."
After a brief chuckle, I got back to the main topic.
"But... Hyun-Sung, how come you're not sleeping until this hour?"
What did you do instead of sleeping? Lee Kiyoung couldn't sleep because of what happened today, so why did you come out here and brood?
Because of a nightmare.
However, Kim Hyun-Sung remained silent.
It's understandable why he kept his mouth shut. The reason behind his silence might be due to the nightmare.
Because of that, he woke up from sleep. Saying something like that might sound childish or unnecessary.
And revealing the truth would require explaining the content of the dream, so I probably didn't want to expose myself and create unnecessary tension.
"Yes?"
"I... actually..."
"Yes."
He started rambling.
"According to your perspective, do you think I'm a selfish person?"
"Well..."
"I was a bit bothered by what you said. That everyone here has gathered in this place for the sake of the continent."
"...."
"I don't think that way. I've never thought like that even once."
Did the crackling bonfire strike a chord with Kim Hyun-Sung's youthful sensibilities?
'Is this brat going through puberty again?' [[Lol he's almost 25.]]
The sudden self-critique had reached a point where a sigh was appropriate.
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It is taking so long to translate these chapters, I wonder why?? I was able to translate the entire SERA arc in 2 days, but this one is taking longer.