Regressor Instruction Manual Chapter 617: Negative Public Opinion (3)

Chapter 617: Negative Public Opinion (3)

‘Raphael isn’t getting caught…’

I didn’t think he did anything sneaky. Considering the timing of his appearance, he couldn’t have been caught already.

It seemed like he cleaned up his tracks in the past too… There was no evidence or trace of his activities even within the five districts.

If he had been so stupid in the first place, then he couldn’t have done such a bold thing. I didn’t know a lot about him, but I was pretty sure he had already erased his past ident.i.ty.

I could a.s.sure anyone that I wouldn’t have been able to identify him instantly if it weren’t for the Mind’s Eye. Nevertheless, Kim Hyunsung had a complicated expression and a clear feeling of caution.

I couldn’t exactly explain it, but… Perhaps that was…

‘Is it his instincts?’

Perhaps the regressor’s instincts honed experiences had been triggered.

I wasn’t certain because I’d never experienced the same things, but it wouldn’t be wrong to say I felt as if something dangerous was about to happen, just like Park Deokgu.

Did the Mind’s Eye grow through experience?

Or was the light some sort of hazard sensor?

How did I know what Kim Hyunsung was thinking just by knowing that he had some form of intuition?

‘I’ve never been the kind of human being like Kim Hyunsung is…’

There seemed to be something in me that allowed me to detect things at a certain level.

‘What am I supposed to do?’

Although I had worries about it, it wasn’t at all considered bad.

Of course, we had to refrain from over-pus.h.i.+ng and ostracizing behavior, but it was better to have a little caution than none.

I just finished organizing the idea of recruiting Raphael to our side, but he hadn’t even become my subordinate yet. I needed to exercise enough caution and selection since there was a chance that he would stab me in the back with his Holy Sword.

Especially considering…

‘I can’t keep watching him myself.’

I naturally welcomed Kim Hyunsung for that role.

What was a little surprising was that Jung Hayan didn’t react.

In one way or another, she seemed to think that it wouldn’t matter even if a strange man joined the group because it was confirmed that she would still spend most of her time with me.

Wouldn’t it be better to describe it as perfect indifference?

As some expressed hostility and others expressed indifference, Raphael seemed extremely uncomfortable. I didn’t think he’d receive a highly welcoming situation, but their reactions seemed more unexpected.

He must’ve been relieved that the committee had set up his destination by that time.

‘I wonder what he’s thinking.’

Although his expression revealed embarra.s.sment, I wondered how he was judging the atmosphere.

“It’s nice to meet you, for now. I’m Kim Hyunsung, the master of the Blue Guild.”

“Hmm… I’m Park Deokgu. You’re pretty good-looking.”

“h.e.l.lo, I’m Ahn Ki-mo.”

“Kim Ye-ri.”

“My name is Elena, member of the Blue Guild. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“I’m Sun Hee-young. That’s all you need to know.”

“N-n-n-nice to meet you. My name is Jung Hayan.”

They slowly exchanged greetings.

“It’s an honor. To be able to meet the people I’ve always seen through the G.o.ddess’s Mirror… I feel as if I’m dreaming right now. When I first saw Kiyoung, I already felt fl.u.s.tered, but seeing all the blue guild members gathered together like this… I’m so thrilled that I can’t put it into words.”

“You seem to be good with words.”

“What?”

“I said that you seem to be good with words.”

“Why are you embarra.s.sing him…?’

“I ask for your understanding, Raphael. This is the first time that an outsider has joined a guild meeting… I didn’t have time to prepare for it.”

It sounded like he was being questioned why he joined the guild meeting.

“No… it’s all right. I… Do… I feel like I’m visiting you too suddenly? I’m sorry, I’m afraid I’ve done something rude. I feel embarra.s.sed.”

“You don’t have to be sorry. We should treat you as if you’re a guest.”

“I apologize for only having a meal to offer you.”

Perhaps they were trying to tell him to ‘just eat and leave.’

It had been a while since I saw Kim Hyunsung’s old self. He still wore that expression whenever he dealt with others, but he seemed to have a thorn in his words that day.

It was so blatant that even the most tactless person would immediately notice it.

I thought Raphael would definitely feel that he wasn’t welcome unless he was a fool.

Of course, I was looking forward to seeing how the situation would carry on, and Ahn Ki-mo was trying to fix the mood by throwing useless jokes, but the atmosphere couldn’t be easily turned around.

‘Kim Hyunsung really is just Kim Hyunsung. What would you do without me?’

If I were Kim Hyunsung, I wouldn’t have acted that way.

Just because he had a little doubt and was worried…

‘It’ll cause us more harm than gain.’

He showed that he was suspicious of Raphael.

It was as if he was instilling his vigilance for no reason. From my perspective, it would restrict Raphael’s movements. Hence, I could guarantee that it would make it harder for him to execute his plans.

As expected, the chosen warrior’s embarra.s.sment was all over his face.

In other words, the plan to gain the favor of the Blue Guild members and lay the foundation for their activities had been shattered from the beginning.

It wouldn’t be long before he realized that I was the only place he could go.

As expected, he started to rely on me a lot.

Although it wasn’t an act that could be described in any particular way, he kept mentioning me or asking for my opinion when conversating.

I felt as if he was desperately shouting:

‘You don’t have to be so vigilant. Your Vice Guild Master, Kiyoung, and I are so close. Look at this.’

It didn’t seem to be a bad move, but it didn’t work that well. Rather, more attention was being paid to Tamer Alps.

Kim Ye-ri and Park Deokgu, who used to be teachers, took care of her a lot. And since she was a new guild member, they were always interested in her.

“Well, the shepherd seems to be adjusting well. What do you think?”

“Woof! Woof!”

“Huh? What…”

“So this is how it feels to be in the Blue Guild.”

“It’s just… everything is amazing. I really didn’t expect that I’d be coming into the Blue Guild… I didn’t know I’d see the Honorary Cardinal in person… Above all, it’s amazing that I’m in the same guild as Kim Ye-ri and Park Deokgu…”

“Now you’ll see us often! You don’t have to be so amazed. Oh, come to think of it, Alps took the Holy Sword test, didn’t she? But unfortunately, she failed… I really thought that Alps would be the chosen warrior.”

“I thought so, too…”

“Out of curiosity, what exactly did you feel?”

“I don’t know. I can’t really describe it as a feeling… It’s a little embarra.s.sing to say, but it was really hard to resist nausea. It’s ambiguous to call it evil. Just dirty trash or gross… The… maggots… I felt as if I was holding something similar with my bare hands. I knew the moment I held it that I wasn’t meant to be the owner of that sword… I tried to hold on, but as you know, it didn’t end well.”

“…”

“I feel guilty about the elders back home and all the people who believed in me. It was heartbreaking to think that I failed to meet the expectations of my teachers. But I’m glad the chosen warrior showed up. How was it for you?”

‘She’s just too nice.’

Even the newbie was feeling bad for Raphael because he was being left out.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way… I was so hectic and nervous that I can’t remember what went wrong. It just felt like a huge shock, and when I came to my senses, I had a sword in my hand.”

“It really was a sword with a fixed owner…”

Alps also seemed to be disappointed since she had worked hard for the Holy Sword test.

Anyway, I could see everyone nodding their heads at Raphael’s remarks. They must have remembered that he pulled out the Holy Sword when no one else could.

‘That achievement alone is enough to be called the holy warrior.’

The result itself was plausible.

It was then that Kim Hyunsung suddenly spoke up.

“I don’t know about that.”

“…”

“Originally, these kinds of swords lose their black light and choose their owners again. If the sword thinks that he or she is not the person it wants, it loses power. Just because the Holy Sword chose you doesn’t mean the test is over. Rather, it would be fair to say that this is where the test truly begins.”

I think I heard something similar to that before.

The dark and evil masked trash had indeed caused the Holy Sword to lose its light.

I didn’t want to think about the viciousness of pus.h.i.+ng a warrior into a corner by using a deadly, nasty, and cowardly method.

“I… I feel the same way, Blue Guild Master.”

“Have you read all the names and information of the Holy Sword?”

“…”

It probably wouldn’t be available even after months.

It was already an item that Lucifer put her hands on. However, Kim Hyunsung’s sudden remarks seemed to have come as a shock to Raphael.

Usually, high-graded items’ status windows didn’t include a lot of details unless the users were qualified or connected with the owner’s consciousness.

If the restriction was tight, not even the Mind’s Eyes could read it.

Only the owner could check all the information and utilize it. The same was true of Durendal, which Kim Hyunsung had.

I thought the first Holy Sword was most likely similar…

“It’s great that you’ve been chosen by it, but if you really can’t see any information about the sword… It’s going to be hard to be fully recognized by it.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m still lacking in many ways…”

I noticed that Raphael’s expression had changed.

Of course, it didn’t seem to have changed much, but I thought he had become a lot more worried.

The fact that the Holy Sword didn’t tell him the truth about it and its function… Regardless of whether he still wasn’t qualified or there’s another reason behind its behavior, it was a subject that deserved a lot of thought.

Kim Hyunsung was indeed sharp.

“You don’t have to worry too much, Mr. Raphael. Of course, Hyunsung has a point, but aren’t you chosen by the Holy Sword? Naturally, there’s a lot to be unlocked. It’s normal not to be fully worthy yet.”

“…”

“If you study, learn, and train, you’ll soon see the real name of the grey Holy Sword.”

Of course, the day he would see it wouldn’t come even after a lifetime.

‘No… Is that right?’

If Raphael truly expressed his desire to be with the light, perhaps the Holy Sword would give him more information.

“If you truly follow the light, something might change. Everything is as the G.o.ds will.”

The most important condition for him to use the Holy Sword was to realize the meaning of divinity.

Raphael had to get out of the cage in his head as soon as possible.

That was how that day’s dinner ended.

“I had a great time today. We’ll try to make time again soon.”

It was also Kim Hyunsung who announced the end of the short meeting.