ALTANUS [2]

Regressor's Instructions Manual Episode 965

Althanuus (2)

"I thought no one was here... I-I'm sorry."

"Benigore?"

"Huh?"

Unconsciously, I blurted out the thought that was in my mind.

It wasn't a mumble. I pronounced "Benigore" accurately, but the woman in front of me only looked at me with a bewildered expression.

From her reaction, I quickly realized that the woman's name wasn't Benigore.

The way she stood there in confusion, causing the tower of books I had so carefully organized to collapse, and her flustered demeanor, unable to do this or that, it was all just like how I knew Benigore to be.

The difference lies in hair color and attire. Instead of the white and golden clothes she usually wears, she now had a modest maid's outfit, and her usually radiant, shiny hair had turned into a brown mess.

There were smudges on her face, and her overall appearance seemed somewhat downcast.

Faint freckles were visible near her nose, and she appeared to have lost some weight.

The appearance of Benigore had often led me to think that she was a transcendent being, closely resembling the ideals of the devotees. Apart from looking slightly strange, that was the only difference.

The atmosphere between the woman in front of me and Benigore is contrasting.

Nevertheless, I couldn't erase the feeling that this woman is Benigore.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

She tried to do something about the books she had knocked over, but in the process of turning around, she ended up collapsing the tower of books with her bottom.

"Oops!"

Startled, she pushed her body, accidentally toppling the nearby books again.

Engaging in a futile attempt of movement, she eventually ended up falling backward.

"Ah!"

"...."

"I'm sorry! Priest! I'm sorry!"

It was the same hapless Benigore.

"How... how could this... Priest... I'll tidy this up. I'm sorry."

'No, don't. It's obvious. Like watching a video without sound, I can already guess what's going to happen...'

"I..."

'Please, just don't do anything.'

"This book, where was it?"

"...."

"Cough, cough! Sorry... cough! Suddenly dust... cough!"

'I feel like I'm about to cough too.'

"Priest... just a moment, water... cough, cough!"

'Don't drink my coffee. Damn.'

"Whew... th-thank you. I think I'm better now."

After the noisy parrot, now a troublemaker has arrived. The feeling that even I'm becoming foolish makes the maid in front of me seem pitiable.

But there's no way to avoid her. First, I needed to go through the confirmation process.

"It's okay."

"No! It's my fault, so I'll tidy up. Priest, please continue reading..."

"I'll tidy up, so you can leave it as it is. I was trying to clear my head anyway."

"Well... but..."

"If you're uncomfortable, how about being my conversation partner for a while?"

"Yes?"

"Just sit down for a moment."

"....."

"May I ask your name?"

"....."

"My name is Lee Ki-Young."

It's best to minimize any sense of caution. I remember that Benigore used to be quite timid.

As always, I should smile and create an atmosphere where she can feel comfortable.

However, there's a hesitating expression on her face. Could it be that spending time with someone she's meeting for the first time in her life is burdensome?

For a moment, she seemed slightly tense, perhaps thinking that I might have made a mistake. But that stiffness in her expression began to soften.

No, more than just softening, her face started to brighten, as if she was smiling brightly.

It appeared as if she was desperately restraining her facial muscles, to the point that it seemed a bit eerie, almost as if she was trying to suppress them.

"That, um... right now..."

"Yes?"

"Are you asking me out on a date? Or... did you give me a task to do?"

'What kind of nonsense is that?'

"I... I suppose people from the surface are proactive."

'What are you talking about?'

"I'm not mentally prepared yet... I'm sorry. Oh! It's not that I don't want to spend time together. It's just that I haven't had this kind of experience before... and I don't really know what to do, so..."

'This one, seriously.'

"To be honest, your appearance isn't really my type... Oh, please don't misunderstand. Priest, it's not that you're ugly... It's just that you're not my type... Well, fundamentally, you look pretty. But... well, I don't really like... I mean... someone who's deeply absorbed in reading in a big library, that intellectual look, might be somewhat appealing..."

"...."

"Maybe it's the atmosphere that's appealing... Subtly sexy, perhaps."

'What's with her? Seriously...'

She seems lost in her own thoughts.

"Being a priest, you must radiate some sort of holiness... Of course, being a priest doesn't mean you can't date... But still, there's a feeling that priests are like that..."

'Don't talk to yourself.'

"If things go well, would we live on the surface? Or maybe it's better to live underground... Priest, you seem a little frail... Are you in good health? I don't want to become a widow at a young age... If you have some kind of terminal illness..." [[Benigore is so cute my gog!!!! Hahaha]]

Her murmuring seems like a facade, as if she doesn't even realize she's doing it. She's pouring out inappropriate comments one after another.

Seeing her act this way is irritating, even if she appears to be giving fresh reactions. I never expected Benigore to show an interest in love.

Perhaps it's a natural response. She was a deity up there, but now she's just a regular human.

She might have had her own fantasies, just like the others, about this type of romance. The problem is that the information I gave her was too much.

'Widow my foot...'

"Sure... Priest."

"...."

With a shy appearance that seems to have concluded her thoughts, her face armed with embarrassment is repulsive.

It's like she's already lost in her own calculations.

As someone invited to the church, she's undoubtedly a capable person. Even though she doesn't appear that weak, she may even be thinking that trying something enjoyable briefly might be alright. I heard all of her murmurs.

Her face turns slightly red as she suddenly pretends to be innocent about such topics.

Her voice has become even softer, and it sounds as if there's an indistinct playfulness mixed in.

'I'm not that into it either.'

Becoming involved with Benigore in that way is impossible, even if the sky were to fall.

'I'm not that into you either...'

I feel like denying it right now and trying to reassure her, but that wouldn't be effective.

Although it's a bit irritating that there might be some misunderstandings, it's enough material to bring us closer. So, I'll give her a smile that appears to be content, and a composed expression remains on my face.

'Really?'

Could it be that I think my own fatal charm has been revealed? Although she's looking at me with what she considers the most alluring smile, I don't feel any attraction, but rather the opposite.

"I work as a maid in the underground world... I'm responsible for various tasks, for the convenience of the devotees. My hobby is taking walks... I was born and raised here. You must be the one invited to the church this time, right? Oh! And my specialty is... my specialty is..."

'You don't have any special skills. And who talks about hobbies and skills as self-introduction during a blind date these days?'

"I am Lee Ki-young. Just as you might think, I came down from the surface to attend this church event. From the Neska Kingdom..."

"Yes. I've heard of it! The Neska Kingdom!"

It was the perfect identity. A priest from a remote kingdom. The region that was busy recovering after a recent war, and where wandering priests often visited for volunteer work since the war's end.

If I'm a priest who's actively engaged in missionary work in an overlooked area on the surface, I might appear credible.

"You're a wandering priest."

"Yes. That's correct. I don't know why such an opportunity has come my way..."

"Because you've been doing great things, you've been invited. You've become a role model and a source of inspiration for many. You can be pleased about that. It's a bonus point, you know."

'I don't need bonus points, so keep them. And don't wink. Seriously.'

"Haha. I'm glad."

"Since you love books so much, your hobby must be reading. It's the first time I've met a priest who has piled up books like this and is engrossed in reading. By the way..."

She continued the conversation, but I didn't catch the important parts.

"Excuse me for a moment..."

"Yes, Priest."

"May I ask your name?"

"Oh! You must not know since you're a priest of the surface! ."

"Yes?"

"We don't have separate names."

"What do you mean?"

"We are called 'Atenta,' meaning practitioners, or born to serve the gods. It's a noble mission. We can only do what we were born for."

I could only confirm her with my minds eye.

"...."

'it's true.'

She truly doesn't have a name.

It was incomprehensible to the point where I was tongue-tied. Although the basic rights of the continent were already on the floor, I didn't expect it to be this ridiculous.

Even slaves have names.

Born to serve the gods? What does that even involve? In any case, it wasn't important to me.

Whatever she's called or the state of human rights on the current continent is entirely irrelevant to my concerns.

There's only one thing I need to focus on and consider.

'It's not just a simple invitation.'

It might not just be an invitation for dungeon conquest.

To attribute it all to coincidence would be too much. Benigore, who remained silent, the other higher-ups who didn't explain anything...

Of course, this is likely an extension of the dungeon strategy, but... the purpose of this invitation probably isn't something trivial like gathering information about the named boss.

I had no choice but to address her.

"Benigore."

"Yes? What is Benigore? Now that I think about it, you mentioned Benigore earlier..."

"May I call you Benigore?"

I'm here to piece together the remaining puzzle fragments.

----

One of the most exciting arcs.