ALTANUS [24]

Regressor's Instructions Manual Episode 987

Altanuss (24)

To be precise, the situation was not optimistic. The difficulty of the refuge of the Dual Saints classified outside the grades was beyond what was imagined.

It exceeded the expectations of dungeon researchers and power analysts, and all the planned events went awry.

This dungeon cannot be conquered through conventional means. Everyone who entered the expedition would likely feel the piercing sensations they were experiencing.

'It's not just about defeating monsters to conquer.'

Dungeon bosses utter incomprehensible words, bizarre phenomena... And more than anything else, the spaces that split apart like mosaics caught my attention.

Describing it accurately is difficult; the scene is so alien that finding an answer is hard.

The spaces seen throughout the dungeon repeat splitting and merging or assembling and disassembling.

Even Priests and magicians with degrees related to dungeons can't pinpoint the symptoms exactly. An inexplicable phenomenon.

It's not magic, nor even divine power.

"If we assume the continent is one massive program, those spaces are probably modifying that program."

"Is that so?"

"Well, I, I can't say for sure... I, I need to investigate a bit more, um, I mean, I don't know exactly how to put it..."

"Jung Hayan, how about explaining using magic as an example?"

"Oh! Y-yes. Thanks, Sora. Um... let me see. You can think of it like a situation with summoning magic. But in this case, it's not summoning creatures here. It seems more like we're summoning the entire space... No, maybe 'summoning' is the right word... or perhaps it's more like 'moving,' or it could even be 'sending out.' If not that, it might be that spacetime is being inverted... I can't say for sure. It looks like we need more research..."

"You've already looked into it enough, Jung Hayan. I'm a bit worried because it seems like you're obsessing over these strange spaces..."

"Oh, no, Sora. I'm not... well... um! Anyway, those peculiar spaces Hyun Sung and I are stepping on, it's possible that they're not the places we know. They might be beyond the crack we saw at the Crack Museum... They could even be from a different world in the same timeframe or something we can't comprehend like the past or future. Of course, this is just a hypothesis. It's not magic."

"Can we assume that it's happening during a change in spacetime?"

"Yes. Probably..."

Perhaps the dungeon itself has some unique bizarre aspect. It could be the side effect of the dungeon's long existence. Maybe it's a decisive clue for conquering the dungeon. Or maybe...

"More than that, did you not hear Altanus' voice, Hyun Sung?"

It might be the reason Altanus' voice isn't coming through.

"Yes. So far... there's been nothing else. Even Jung Hayan... and Hyun Sung, too..."

"Yes. I'm the same way... um, is he perhaps busy?"

"Hyun Sung, did you do something to anger Altanus again?"

"..."

"Perhaps that might be the case."

"Hee-young n-nim seems to think so too. She nearly got herself killed by stubbornly acting against Lord Altanus's advice... During that time, Lord Altanus didn't speak to her for a whole year. He told her not to offer unnecessary offerings, but she continued to present those strange bags. He never said he liked those bags..."

"Although he didn't express it directly, I felt that Lord Altanus seemed pleased. Especially because Lord Altanus didn't personally choose those offerings?"

"Well, there's no need to give offerings like that. I just told him to give me one if he wants to give me something. Our Commander is flexible in other situations... but when it comes to Lord Altanus, it seems like his flexibility disappears. Of course, it's the same with Lord Altanus..."

"I... I have unwavering faith. A firm belief. It's different from a lack of flexibility..."

"No one here lacks unwavering faith. We've all gathered under Lord Altanus's guidance."

All they could do was nod their heads.

"Hayan-nim, you too... I am too, and So-ra is a bit different... Hee young-nim, Hye Jin-nim, the new guild members... all of us have gathered under Lord Altanus's guidance. He bestowed many things upon us and made us different. Others have grown too, but... especially our Commander has changed a lot." "Please refrain from impolite behavior toward the Commander..."

"Right. Hye Jin, you're being a bit too strict. Don't you remember when Altanus told you to loosen up?"

"It's okay, Hye Jin-ssi. Though a bit embarrassing... right now, we can laugh while listening, can't we?"

"Hahaha."

"Hahaha."

Everyone started showing small smiles in my field of view.

Perhaps it's a story from the tutorial. The story from when I crawled into a tight space and hid.

It's not a story that one can just laugh about, but it's a good story to share with family, or rather, with these family members.

The gap between the tutorial and now must be interesting. It was embarrassing, but even listening to the story now, it's interesting.

Being able to laugh together while sharing minor faults is possible precisely because they're like family.

"It's a story that can make us laugh now. Thinking about how you were trembling in that narrow space and comparing it to our leader now, it doesn't match. Is this really the same person as the one who used to be so timid? It's only natural that such thoughts would come to mind. Seeing how much we've grown, the Golden Knight is truly legendary. Just recalling past events makes my heart swell."

"Haha. If Lord Altanus hadn't called me, I probably wouldn't have come out for the rest of my life. This is a story I'm telling... What about you, Deokgu? When you lost the shield Lord Altanus gave you and you cried your eyes out..."

"Well, that's a bit... Isn't that story a bit embarrassing?"

"At that time.... Seriously. I was so embarrassed."

"Yes, yes, Ye-ri felt the same way."

"Where the Paladin who lost the relic is in the world. It was a relic that Lord Altanus himself gave... I can't imagine how astonished Lord Altanus must have been... He probably couldn't say anything..."

"...."

"I... At that time... I almost got interrogated by Deokgu."

"Hahaha."

"Oh, no. If Lord Altanus didn't care for Deokgu, he probably would've faced severe punishment. I don't know why he's particularly weak toward Deokgu."

"Well, I also secretly thought... that the loss of the relic might not be that bad."

"Even Hayan-nim..."

Though it was a similar pattern every time, it was always a scene that brought laughter. It seemed like a scene that had become a precious part of their daily life. The distant voice came back at that time.

"Are you sharing old stories again?"

"Jung... Yeon." [[[Jung Hwa Yeon.]]]

"It seems like the Commander is giving my adorable husband a hard time again. And dear, you're still calling Leader.' It's been a while since we got married... dear, aren't you embarrassed to call yourself that?"

"...."

"Well, he's so big and clumsy, so he's embarrassingly shy..."

"Kuk kuk..."

"Anyway... um... I think the meal is ready."

"Already? Is it that time already?"

"It seems like the others... how are they?"

"General Jin seems a bit off... he's lurking around saying he needs to investigate something... and Queen of Mercenary seems like she'll deal with it quickly. She probably didn't like retreating before."

"I see."

"Oh! And today, the meal seems to have turned out well. The Pope seemed to have put some effort into it..."

"Well, before we go for the meal..."

"Yes. I'll call the other members too."

Always the same event.

Before a meal, before leaving for an expedition, before going to sleep, whenever we were about to do something, the Order of Altanus' Paladins always started a small event.

The other members, who finished their tasks and came back as if waiting, returned.

Elena, who had been a priestess of Elune but decided to live as a follower of Lord Altanus. Ah young, who joined the guild around the same time and is now an Inquisitor. Chang Ryeol, who is active as a sword and a judge. Alps and the new guild member Valerie.

As guild members gathered one by one and took their places, they chatted until all the guild members were there. Even though it was a difficult situation, they all smiled, seeming to be in good spirits.

"Is everyone here?"

"One person... isn't here..."

"Oh! Lian-nim, she's over there."

To others, it might seem a bit strange, but now it was familiar. People who considered it part of the Paladin ritual stepped aside as the others who were near the circle made space.

We held hands and formed a circle. We closed our eyes and quietly recited the prayer together.

Gratitude for Lord Altanus, for choosing us and being with us, for not letting us lose hope even in desperate situations.

We poured their gratitude and emotions into each word, words that couldn't fully express our feelings.

"Always grateful for your care over the continent and us..."

"Always grateful for your care over the continent and us..."

"Forgive the sins of those who follow you and those who don't..."

"Forgive the sins of those who don't..."

"Help us to follow your words..."

"Help us to follow your words..."

Perhaps everyone was remembering.

They were probably reciting the words Lord Altanus said every time, over and over in their heads.

'My little lambs.'

"Please hear our prayer."

'No, my children... my children. I hope you are happy...'

"...."

'I hope you live like a family, supporting each other. Even though challenging times may come, even if you face difficulties that you cannot bear, I will always believe in you. I believe that if you all move forward together in the same direction, you can overcome any trials. So, my children, always laugh together, cry together, and empathize with each other. Remember that even I, insignificant as I am, am always with you.'

"Lord Altanus."

'I want to see you always smiling...'

"Always..."

"Always... thank you."

'I hope you live happily... and enjoy your everyday life. That is my consolation and my wish.'

"Always thankful."

'I hope you haven't forgotten my words. I hope you always remember my words and my sincerity deep within your hearts, and don't forget that I cherish and love you.'

"...."

"Never... never again... I hope you don't forget."

"...."

"Yes, my Lord. I will never forget."

"...."

"...."

"Absolutely... I will never forget."

"...."

"....."

"I won't forget."

-----

I don't know if this is the un-regressed Hyunsung's point of view or Ki-young so please don't ask.