Chapter 850: The Last (83)

Of course, not all problems would be solved. No matter how much I buttered him up, he would still suffer from feelings of guilt and shame, and even after a long time, he still wouldn't be able to get rid of his past regrets.

Perhaps he would go on fighting his sins like that for the rest of his life.

Even if a demon had psychologically attacked him, the memory would remain even though it wasn't his intention. However, I thought it might be of some comfort to him.

He had been forgiven twice by Lee Kiyoung, the other one as a god.

Of course, it was painful, but the light that symbolized tolerance and sacrifice always gave warmth to those who repented.

When I forced a smile, saying that it was okay, I could see him finally raising his head after having sobbed for a long time.

"Everything is okay."

"…"

"Everything."

"…"

"Now, shall we walk a little more?"

"Yeah…"

'What comes next is important.'

First, the purpose of coming here had to be achieved. Whatever the method, it was Kim Hyunsung who should finish Rag Kiyoung.

He seemed to have forgotten about it for a moment, but I didn't have to remind him at this point. There was no way he would kill him just because I told him to.

'I just have to coax him.'

Rather than constantly pressuring him mentally to finish the work, the most reasonable way to get it done was to soothe him little by little.

I didn't know exactly how long it would take for things to happen, but maybe there would be a harbinger when the time came. It was no different than an event that would draw the end of the continent, so Jihye had to have been paying attention from her point of view as well.

Until then, I felt like I had a bit of extra time.

There was no specific destination. For now, we walked slowly.

Kim Hyunsung also seemed to have many questions while following my steps, despite remaining silent. Eventually, though, he spoke up, seemingly unable to keep it in any longer.

"How is it… over there?"

"It's not terribly bad. The feeling of being above is still surreal. There are many things I want to tell you, but… it seems that doing so would violate the laws of the continent… I just want you to remember that I am doing well."

"By any chance, are you being oppressed… or is someone making you uncomfortable…?"

"No. There is no such thing. I'm treated rather well. I'm positioned as the saint who saved the continent, after all."

"You were used as a sacrifice."

'Don't go the wrong way.'

"No. It was my choice. They are neither omnipotent nor perfect. It wasn't something they could've stopped."

"Of course they would say that. They deceive us like demons do…"

"Hyunsung."

"I… I'm sorry."

"I won't ask you not to resent people like Benignore, Lauren, or Elune. Because I know that it's impossible for you but please… try to understand them even a little bit, as far as your heart allows. They, too, are pitiful. They're not the ones bad feelings should be directed at. Of course, I also resent them."

"What?"

"They gave a burden too great for humans to bear…"

"As expected… you also…"

"No. It's not about me. This is about you."

"Ah…"

He looked moved.

He wore an expression that said, 'How could such a person exist? How could there be such a kind and pure person?'

"Whatever the reason, they deserve to be condemned for placing such a heavy burden on you. They dragged you into a battle you didn't want to fight. The pain you suffered and the hostility it inevitably created were as they made it. If it had been me, I wouldn't have made that choice."

"…"

"Haha. I'm sorry that I keep talking about serious stuff."

"No, it's fine."

"Can I sit down for a moment?"

"Ah. If you want to take a break…"

Actually, there was no suitable place to do that. We were in the middle of a snowy mountain, after all.

However, he guided me to a small cave nearby.

It was a pretty decent place to rest in for a while. Kim Hyunsung didn't need to, and the same usually went for me, but it was still difficult to walk due to the weak physique of my vessel.

I didn't know if I was physically exhausted, but I was definitely mentally tired. It was best to sit down if possible.

We even lit a small campfire, so it felt like a pretty plausible camp had been created. Of course, it was bad in terms of the current Blue's standards, which had developed in various ways, but there was no better camp than this for beginners to use.

It was clunky, but it seemed to have everything… and most of all, I liked the cup of hot coffee.

"Being like this, I remember the time you revealed that you were a regressor."

"Ah… Yes…"

"The small town of Heren. I've heard it's more advanced now than it was back then… After what happened in the North…"

"Yes. A lot has changed. It has been transformed into a cultural city and a tourist spot… The State and Lindel also invested in it… you will probably be surprised when you see it."

"Have you ever been there?"

"Yes. I've been in that hut…"

"You seem to have been leaving the guild for too long."

"I… I'm sorry."

"No, I didn't say that to get an apology. However, please pay a little more attention to the guild. They won't say it, but everyone's having a tough time. Oh. Especially Ye-ri."

"Ah…"

'I think this bastard has realized it now. He was the one that brought her along.'

"She pretends to be strong, to feel nothing, but she needs attention more than anyone else. She may feel that the person who used to take care of her is gone. Oh, and the guild finances…"

"I'm… sorry."

"I didn't take a closer look, but the guild's business and financial status seemed to be in a really bad condition."

"I'm… sorry."

"If it weren't for manager Kim Mi-young, everything would have collapsed immediately. You've completely let go of the Blue Guild."

"…"

"The guild spends too much money on useless things."

"I'm sorry…"

"It was stupid to send requests to the information brokers' guilds spread across the continent. In a situation where the guild's finances are in turmoil, the cost of using the auction house… and the cost of building the temple was the biggest problem."

Thinking about it made me angry again.

"Speaking of which, what do you think people thought when you built that temple? Neither the Church of Benignore nor the Church of Elune is that fancy."

"That's…"

"Just because the temple is large and fancy does not make it a place where I can rest. It's rather uncomfortable."

"I'm sorry."

'Of course, it would be nice if it were big and fancy. But they went too far.'

"Do you know how much debt the guild owes? And why did you buy the bag that…?"

No, fuck, I shouldn't say that since he wouldn't understand anyway.

"I'm really sorry."

"I love the continent, but you need to know that I have a great attachment to the Blue Guild. To be honest, it didn't make me happy. Do you have any financial plans?"

"There are many things I have in mind…"

"Let's hear them."

"That's…"

"…"

"…"

"First, through dungeon explorations…"

"The Blue Guild is not a small or medium-sized clan. Don't you understand that the scale of the dungeon has grown too large to aim for one quick hit?"

"…"

"You must remember that we're a guild capable of exerting influence not only on Lindel but also on the whole State—no, the entire continent. Considering the number of guilds and subcontracted guilds and clans, let alone the guild leaders, this is by no means an absurd statement. My death must not affect their daily lives. Some people have a hard time every day."

"I'm really… really… really sorry."

"And above all else…"

"Yes."

"Isn't this a place I will return to someday?"

"…"

"I don't know when it will be, but it's the place I'm coming back to."

"Can you come back?"

He took the bait.

"Yes. Or… it's hard to explain, but maybe I can go back. I am working on it."

"Ha… Hahahahaha."

I could see him laughing as if he couldn't believe it.

"If only this could be resolved smoothly."

However, underneath the laughter, there was doubt. He suspected that this might be a lie.

He suspected that this saint, who always wanted to sacrifice himself, was lying to him in order to make another sacrifice. After that, even while talking about various things, his skepticism didn't disappear from his eyes.

He had realized how this event should end.

'He's pretty quick.'

"When I go back, it would be nice to go for a ride or go out together. The continent is so wide, and there are still many places I haven't seen properly, so I want to visit them all at least once."

"Will you be okay?"

There'd definitely be excuses like…

"You know more about the continent, so please."

"Most of the places I went to were battlefields… so it won't help. I'll check other locations out."

Or…

"There are a lot of things I haven't done. In fact, I think the most urgent task is to restore the guild to its original state."

"…"

Or perhaps…

"Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever been over the sea."

"You will probably be surprised."

We continued to chat about those things. His eyes were fluttering even while we were talking. He seemed to be trying to get my attention as much as possible.

He kept talking, and he kept bringing up new topics, not like his usual self. Of course, I could see why.

'It's coming.'

A harbinger was coming. I glanced up at the sky and saw a group of deformed clouds.

Kim Hyunsung, who bit his lip tightly, spoke with a smile as if nothing was wrong.

It was, of course, banality. It was something about a new bag or whatever.

He continued to catch my attention, exaggerating the ridiculous lie that a new series had been found in the dungeon. However, there was no way he didn't know how meaningless it was.

As he slowly turned his head to the sky and smiled as if he understood, he probably already realized how useless his lies were now.

Hence, he spoke again, this time with his eyes trembling.

He spoke of the truth this time around.

"I… I had a dream."

"…"

That's why he avoided my gaze.

"It was a dream of a new beginning."

'Look at this bastard testing me.'