YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW [7]

Regressor's Instructions Manual Episode 1000"

You reap what you sow (7)

[Ooohhhhh!!!!]

'Shit... Shit...'

[Oooohhhhh...]

Quaaaahhhh!!

There was no choice but to immediately turn my body. Anyone seeing such a thing would undoubtedly come to the same conclusion.

"D... Draktaris...."

-Protect the Priest of Prophecy...

Thud!

With a single gesture, everything in sight is swept away in an instant.

Where the repulsive creature's hand touches, not even a trace of form remains; it simply disappears. The ears are filled with a clamor that won't stop, and a chilling voice that seems capable of paralyzing the body makes the feet come to a halt.

As if a massive storm is crashing down, the remnants of violence fly in with a wind that threatens to carry the body away.

Park Deok-gu raises his shield to brace against the aftershock, but he too is pushed back and tumbles on the ground.

With more than half of Draktaris' priestly ranks swept away by the creature's attack, if not for the ghosts, most would have retreated due to injury. It was an attack that could only leave a bitter taste, as it wasn't the forces that should have been wasted here.

"Should have positioned them in the rear, shouldn't I have?"

Damn it. Those priests...

"I can't afford to lose any more."

"Raphael!"

"Yes!"

Even in a flustered situation, a solution to the problem was somehow found in the head.

The creature's aim isn't the ghosts troops.

Seeing that it's still breaking apart the remains of the fallen Templar spider, it's obvious what it wants. It's probably the feather that was safely hidden away in the treasure trove, right?

With wings of gray unfurled, Raphael passes by Cha Hee-ra's side, and the feather is passed to him...

"I will trust only... Trust only Raphael."

The brat's voice immediately resounded.

For a moment, he hesitated, then smiled brightly and nodded his head.

"Yes-- Yes! I won't disappoint you."

"What is this..."

Of course, I shouldn't forget to hand over something to rely on with the feather. It could be a mission that could potentially lead to one's death if not handled carefully; a place to lean on is necessary.

Even if defeated like an insect, a sense of accomplishment must be given when one succeeds.

With the feather, a small rosary that was in my pocket was handed over.

With a start, Raphael received it and in his eyes was the determination to complete this mission even if he had to sacrifice his life.

"Even if I have to... sacrifice my life..."

'You don't have to die for it, but I like the spirit.'

Raphael's mission was obvious.

He himself knew what he had to do.

'Bait.'

Sure enough, Raphael's party members were surprised and tried to stop him, but...

"Raphael! That's--"

"Ra... Raphael."

My younger brother, my reliable and precious younger brother, Raphael, without looking back, began to head to the battlefield.

'It won't be that easy to catch him.'

No, I won't make it easy for him to be caught.

Raphael bit the feather with his mouth. Afterwards, he slowly looped the rosary I had given him around his own neck.

As if provoking the creature, he spread his gray wings and looked directly at it.

[Uwaaaahhhhh!!]

Although I held onto Cha Hee-ra's embrace even tighter, hiding my presence in case the creature might look my way, there was no way I could perceive any trace of Bahamut retaining his sanity.

Still, it's best to prevent any accidents, so it's better to keep myself as concealed as possible.

Unlike Templar Simon or Templar Extra, who retained some semblance of consciousness, he seemed like a being driven solely by instinct.

'He's just operating on pure instinct...'

Quite literally, a monstrous being driven purely by instinct, and that's the current state of Templar Bahamut.

The result of selling his soul to a demon, he had become a creature over the years, living off one feather and inflicting wounds upon himself.

I didn't know what had transpired during that time, but I knew one important thing: he had become a repulsive creature. No... he's obsessively attached to those feathers.

[Uwaaaahhhhh!!]

Kwaaaaaaang!!

The moment he moved, the colossal figure launched himself toward Raphael faster than the blink of an eye; his speed was almost unbelievable.

Raphael, also extending his wings, attempted to evade the creature's range.

It was a struggle akin to a mighty beast chasing a tiny prey, or a fleeing bird's fight. If it were in a confined space, Raphael would be defeated, but this wasn't a confined space.

There was ample room to maneuver and escape.

'Use the entire underground temple.'

The chosen location for the confrontation with him was the entire underground temple.

Kwaaaaaaang!!

Walls crumbled, and the surroundings were filled with a deafening noise. The creature reached out with its hand, but Raphael managed to evade it by a mere sheet of paper's worth.

Both of them, no, my precious brother and the repulsive creature vanished from sight in an instant. While this created a moment for the front line to regroup, I couldn't afford to rest.

Raphael needed to be my eyes. I'd guide him through the route, mark the escape path, and provide the most efficient directions.

The massive hand slashed through thin air.

-We will descend underground.

-Yes...

-You don't have to respond. Raphael-nim, concentrate only on the enemy.

-Yes.

-Be careful.

-Yes!

At the same time, I sent a glance to Seon Hee-yeong. She nodded in response.

While it seemed like she wanted to rush toward the creature, the injured Saint of Sacrifice couldn't be left alone. It would be more efficient for her to focus on the rear support with Seon Hee-yeong.

'It's fortunate.'

Cha Hee-ra was reliable when it mattered.

Naturally, she didn't take her eyes off the repulsive creature.

It resembled a massive lion, standing on its hind legs. No, honestly, I wasn't even sure if calling it a lion was accurate.

One characteristic feature was the mane extending from its head down to its neck.

It had four eerie eyes and sharp teeth that gave an unsettling appearance, oozing black saliva. It seemed as if its whole body was decaying.

Did it do this to itself intentionally?

Black blood flowed from various parts of its body. The tail had a creature resembling a snake clinging onto its sharp end, complete with two eyes.

Other than calling it demon-like in appearance, it was hard to find suitable adjectives—beyond being eerie. The structure of the muscles, so different from a human's, felt more grotesque than simply eerie.

Even though it was revered as a demon, it fell short of the image it presented: an appearance that gave insight into why Templar Simon had blind obedience and fear of it.

'Doom Doom Hyun-seong must have been part of the handsome faction.'

There was no need to say much about that creature. Ah, now that I think about it, there is one hopeful aspect.

'At least we avoided the "Doom Ending".'

Since he didn't appear to possess a technique capable of wiping out the entire expedition at once, we had that going for us.

Though I hesitate to call it an advantage, the likelihood of us surviving an ending where he overwhelms us all at once seems high.

As repulsive as he is, he's strong, and at that moment, I couldn't think of any strategy that would immediately change the tide.

-I will change the route.

-...

-You need to move faster than you are now. Four minutes, just for four minutes. After that, we will provide support. Raphael-nim.

-Yes... Yes. Ugh!

Kwaaaaaaang!!

'He learned.'

He had learned that Raphael was affected by the shockwave of his own attacks, but I could make use of this.

Since I could see the direction of the wind, I could anticipate where it would flow. Even his midair trembling lasted only a moment, and the creature who caught the wind soared away from Raphael in no time.

Of course, it was a mere moment. The staggering creature closed the distance in the blink of an eye, pushing through any resistance to latch onto my brother.

Everything happened in an instant. Raphael navigating the confined space, the creature forcing its way in while extending its arm.

The resounding noise and cries filled my ears once again. This game of cat and mouse was brutal, so violent that it felt as if the underground temple might collapse.

The backdrop surrounding Raphael changed in an instant, but the towering arm pursuing its prey remained unchanged.

Let's head underground. A massive arm descended from the ceiling.

The ceiling continues to collapse and debris showers down, but there's an escape route.

The creature tries to follow Raphael with its tail, but Raphael shoots back towards the ceiling.

The creature's body rises again, and Raphael descends back into the underground.

'Now, 50 seconds'

Though only 50 seconds had passed, I was already feeling physically drained.

Raphael was also nearing his limits.

- General, order all troops to retreat immediately.

- What nonsense is this again?

- The Templar Extra Raid ends here. We've encountered Templar Bahamut, and Raphael is using himself as bait to lead the creature. From now on, I'll be conducting the Bahamut Raid. You have exactly 4 minutes until retreat, and the first troop deployment is in 4 minutes. After that, I'll provide a sequential schedule.

- What? What is this...?

- Troop deployment will be at your discretion, General. I've transmitted Raphael's escape route. Please review the information and related videos.

-Noona. I know you're mad, but please help me this time. I'm out of options.

- ...

-.....

- Please, Noona.

-Lee Ji Hye? The cute and beautiful Ji Hye.

-.....

- Ji Hye...

-.....

- My love?

-...

- Master? Ji Hoo-nim?

- Well... I'll lend you a hand.

-....

- If I mess up, my lover might end up looking like a banshee. I guess I should help a bit this time. I'll also reserve a wish token for you this time.

- Thanks, noona. Ah! General, you don't have any wish tokens.

- I don't need any. You inadequate guy.

Without a lengthy explanation, looking at the escape route should give you an idea of what I'm planning.

'Use Raphael as the tank and proceed with the raid throughout the entire underground temple.'

I'll pave the way, and the tactical forces will deploy troops to each floor and section based on the creature's movement. They're better at manipulating people like chess pieces than I am. My noona will block errors and variables and approve the final decisions of the ongoing plan in real-time.

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have done this. Both JinCheong and I have preferred not to seek approval for our strategies, especially not from my noona, or anyone else for that matter.

Each person's plan had to remain their own, and any adjustments to variables had to pass through their hands. In other words, we shouldn't encroach on each other's territories. However, this time...

'The situation is different.'

There's no room for even a tiny cog to be misplaced; the entire expedition would collapse. Only the ominous creature, as much as its repulsiveness, felt the danger it posed.

'There can't be any mistakes.'

All the gears need to mesh correctly for everything to run smoothly. I immediately conjured a mirror. In an instant, the screen filled with the surrounding view.

The devil summoner likely had a screen resembling a 3D replica of the underground temple, and my sister was probably locked in her office, legs crossed as she stared at her screen.

"...."

"...."

- Begin the operation.

- Agreed.

- Confirmed, Oppa.

"Let's have some fun, the three of us."

Aside from the screen before my eyes, my field of vision gradually blurred.

****************

#Author's Note

Hello. It's been a while since I greeted you, and I'm the author of Regressor's Instructions Manual.

I definitely didn't plan to write this spin-off for so long... But as I continued to write, I ended up reaching 1,000 episodes.

I had some concerns about it getting too long, but I felt like it was still a significant milestone, so that's why I'm making an appearance like this!

There's a lot I want to say, but I think it's better to save the long story for later. Right now, it's better to focus on the chapter I'm currently working on.

Once the spin-off is finished, I'll come back to greet you all again.

I always want to express my gratitude to all of you who read and love the "Regressor Instructions Manual".

Especially during the span of around 1,000 episodes, I want to thank all of you who have been with me unchanged. If it weren't for all of you, I probably wouldn't have made it this far... Thank you so much for always loving the Regressor Instructions Manual.

TT TT. As much as you read it, I'll make sure to keep writing and improving as a writer!

P.S. If conditions permit, I'll share some illustrations to commemorate the 1,000th episode! Thank you all once again!

~~~~~

Thank you so much for updating this wonderful story author.

600+ more chapters to go.