ALTANUS [20]

Regressor's instructions Manual Episode 983

Altanus (20)

The precious secret I've held in my heart for a long time, I wonder how Kim Hyun-seong felt just before confessing to me.

Hands and feet tremble, struggling to maintain a normal expression.

Revealing a secret known only to oneself is not an easy task.

The anxiety of whether this person can believe me, the worry that I might seem insane, forming expressions was not difficult.

'Just mimic Hyun-seong.'

A facial expression that feels like a whining puppy. A face that might trigger anxiety three seconds later.

Acting calm, but it's clear tension is present, the behaviors that seem poised yet anxious are faithfully conveyed. The unease of being rejected is essential.

Of course, more important than anything else is the gaze. After living for a long time, the suffering is vividly felt in the eyes, the most significant feature.

The method acting that unfolds through experience is chilling even to me, reaching its peak.

Does tension show on Benigore's face as she listens to nonsensical babbling?

The atmosphere as if walking on a tightrope possesses a skill to make even nonsense not sound like nonsense.

'Yeah, Lee Ki-young was a Regressor.'

Lee Ki-young, who worked as a priest on the surface, coincidentally meets Benigore, and their deep narrative creates a story.

In the end, Lee Ki-young, who remained underground for her, was not the happy love story with Benigore, but the tragic hurricane of destiny.

Unable to prevent the fall of Saint Altanus, unable to protect her tragic ending... Lee Ki-young takes his last breath.

The regression that started due to an unknown power began a few days ago when he received an invitation. Momentarily troubled by the fate he was given, Lee Ki-young starts to plan.

Yes, a plan to save Benigore and Altanus.

"Right now, that is..."

"I know that not believing me is natural. Even if someone you've barely met says such things, it sounds absurd, I understand that. I'm not asking you to believe me. I'm not asking you to trust and follow me. Just..."

"What do you mean?"

"Just... I hope you understand that I'm here to protect Benigore. For now, I hope you've understood that much. At least, to hear the story... I hope you've listened to the story."

"Such a thing... Regression... Such an absurd thing..."

The first reaction, naturally, a bewildered face, an expression denying reality. I hadn't hoped she'd believe it right away, but his response wasn't bad.

At least her gaze didn't show madness. Benigore seemed shocked, not bursting into laughter but appearing astonished.

"You calling me Benigore..."

"Benigore didn't want to be called Altanus. At the very least, when I'm with her, she wanted to be called Benigore."

"In the library!"

"Our meeting at the library wasn't intentional. I tried not to cross paths with Benigore, but..."

He had to meet her. It was the Wheel of God's design.

A fate you can't avoid even if you want to avoid it. Though I initially called her Benigore due to unresolved emotions, Lee Ki-young and Benigore were tied by invisible threads of souls.

"I can't believe it. Priest. I'm sorry, but I can't believe..."

"I'm telling you this not because I want Benigore to believe. Just let me tell you what I know..."

"…."

"Saint Altanus loses her power."

"…."

This is lucky.

"For reasons unknown, the power of Saint Altanus gradually fades."

The expression becomes stern.

"Currently, it is locked beneath the water's surface ((( means that it's been kept a secret))), but as time passes, everyone will come to know that Saint Altanus is losing her power."

Even at this moment, Altanus is losing her power.

She is aware of that.

"The continent is starting to collapse."

"…"

"Will Lucifer ... Will Lucifer abandon the continent?"

"That's not true! Lucifer... Lucifer would never abandon us..."

"She won't respond to the Saint's voice."

"…"

"Have you heard it before?"

"…."

"Lucifer's voice... Have you felt her?"

".…"

"Th... That's... That's unbelievable! How can you ask us to believe that?"

"If you've felt her, please tell me."

No. Lucifer has already made up her mind to abandon the continent. After a binge, there's nothing else to think about.

"The continent will collapse, and unimaginable events will occur. Saint Altanus... Saint Altanus will decide to sacrifice herself. Entering the Iron Maiden, locking herself away, to protect the continent, to become the pillar of a continent without pillars..."

The timing to shed tears. Lately, it feels like my tear ducts have gone on strike.

"It's impossible..."

"…."

"It's a lie..."

"Templars will covet your blood, and chaos will descend upon both the underground and the surface. That's as much as I know."

"Lie..."

Yes, it's a lie.

A bold... No, a white lie.

"Priest..."

"I struggled to free Benigore from the Iron Maiden... but I couldn't stop it. "

The memory of it is still vivid.

The world was compelling her to sacrifice herself. If Benigore were to emerge from the Iron Virgin, the continent would be doomed. She had been accumulating divine power inside the Iron Maiden, using that power to protect the continent.

At that time, no one in the underground temple would have wished for her to come out of the Iron Maiden.

Those who nailed the Iron Maiden were the Templars who followed her. Lee Ki-young, who tried to extract her, also meets a miserable end.

"So... I've died."

"…."

"If... If your words are true..."

It seems half of it has come through?

"What exactly was the relationship between me and the priest?"

"Lovers... we were lovers."

Just a known sign, yet you dedicated your life to it?

"How... How did we become... become like that?"

Using fittingly realistic elements, I opened my mouth naturally, although in torment.

Recalling memories was painful, but being able to share stories of old times with her was more joyful than anything else.

Of course, it's essential to sprinkle in some lies.

'She always wanted to go outside.'

"You always... said so."

'She wanted to be ordinary.'

"You always wanted to live normally..."

'She didn't want to become a Saint.'

It was obvious what she, who disguised herself as Atenta, was thinking.

I'm just adding some flesh to the story. I talk about things she doesn't know, tell her stories she wants to hear.

From the meals we shared to the nights we stayed up, from our prayers to even the trivial conversations.

'I'm spending too much time in this dimension, aren't I?'

While I was growing more anxious, Benigore, who was listening to the story, seemed to be getting happier and happier.

Whether the stories I've fabricated are true or false is separate from the act of confirming.

'I understand. This must be the story she hoped for, so listening to it should be interesting.'

"I expected it, but did the priest have a knack in frustrating people?"

"…."

"If I had been stubborn, would I have pushed you away? When you need to push, you should push."

"…."

"Curiously, when we first met, you seemed oddly proactive... So it was because you regretted your past life. Ah! I still don't fully believe what you're saying. I'm telling you this under the assumption that it might be true."

It felt like it was reaching the point where it was almost like going back from Altanus to Benigore. What more was there to say?

"Haha..."

I returned a laugh...

"Yes. That's right."

A response. In the middle of that, a quest completion message arrived again.

Ten hours.

Two hours had passed since we started laughing and chatting.

"Really..."

"So..."

"Yes."

"So if... If what you're saying is true, what should I do?"

"You don't have to do anything."

"Yes?"

"Just as I mentioned earlier, you don't have to do anything. You can simply enjoy your life, Benigore."

"Where did you come up with that?"

"That's why I'm here."

"How exactly are you planning to do that? Well... of course, it's a question based on the assumption that what you're saying is true..."

"I won't just let Benigore sacrifice herself."

"…."

I will sacrifice myself instead.

Sacrifice, damn it, mine. I won't give it to anyone.

It's not a bad deal from my perspective either. You won't have to do anything.

I spread my wings slightly.

It meant that I could take the place of supporting the continent.

Of course, Benigore's pupils started to dilate.

"Huh?"

A sound reached my ears.

My divine wings and regression had nothing to do with each other.

Actually, I just tried it, but depending on the viewer, it might seem related.

'Have you ever seen a chick with wings like this lie?'

Would someone radiating such divine light shed tears and tell lies?

I gently stroked her head.

Perhaps due to my habit of occasionally stroking Benigore's head, even to me, it felt astonishingly natural.

Altanus, who was in front of me, didn't strike a vague pose like Venigore, but from her recent appearance, I could sense frustration that couldn't be put into words.

An action that had been done many times in the first cycle. Even she felt it was a familiar, natural action.

"…."

"It was real..."

I nodded and kissed her forehead. It might have felt surprising like she was taken aback, but Benigore didn't shy away as if possessed by something.

"Ah..."

You should quietly suck honey.

"It's regrettable that we have such a short meeting... We don't have much time to spend together."

"...."

"No..."

"…."

"When we meet again, there was something I really wanted to tell you."

"…."

"I love you."

Wearing a sad smile.

"I... I..."

"I love you."

"I..."

Without saying a word, the girl blinks her large eyes.

She seems innocent.

Tears well up in her eyes, as if she's immersed in the story.

"This time, I will protect you, Benigore."

I should deliver a typical cliché line.

And once again, a loud explosion resounds.

"I'll be back soon."

Remaining time: 10 hours.

'Damn it... Remaining time is 10 hours.'

Quaaah!

"10 hours remaining."

No, it might be even shorter. Since I've chosen the correct route...

'I might be forgotten.'

Even in this moment, in someone's memory, Lee Ki-young could be disappearing.

It might be due to my mood, but... while running, my one eye reflected in the glass... felt like it was losing its light.

——

Hyunsung is forgetting our Ki-young.