Regressor Instruction Manual-Chapter 1192. The Demon King of Sunset’s Castle (12)

It wasn’t that I wanted to question William’s decision. If I were in a life-or-death situation, then making the troops retreat would be a more reasonable decision. There would be some minor sacrifices during the retreat, but we could easily replace them by just looking at the bigger picture.

Unfortunately, no one...

‘...can replace Lee Ki-Young.’

To put it a bit more extreme, even more than half of the troops couldn't compare to me.

If we use our resources to train troops like them by creating a training curriculum and supporting them with powerful items, then we could create those troops in just three to four years... Basically, they were tools that could be replaced at any time.

Basically, a genius like me couldn't be replaced. I was an angel who suddenly dropped from the heavens. It was thanks to my abilities that these hopeless savages of Rohen managed to reach the Demon King of Sunset’s Castle.

In addition to overturning a system that was basically popular only during the Stone Age, I had also proven to them just how powerful a commander could be.

They had seen many shocking sights thanks to me, so I was sure my accomplishments had made an impact on these primitive Rohen humans.

They probably saw me as someone who had changed, saved, and advanced Rohen.

‘So, how much longer are you going to take advantage of me?’

The problem was that I was running out of time. It was really sad news for William, who was reminded of the radiant golden light that I had brought to Rohen.

As expected, he looked devastated.

“Excuse me? I-I... don’t really understand...” William said.

“...”

“Are you... really... I don’t get... what you’re saying...” William mumbled.

“...”

‘Just accept it.’

“Ha... haha... You took the joke... a little too far,” William said, chuckling hollowly.

I just looked at him quietly. He was looking at a man who had already accepted his death. It wouldn't take him long to realize that I wasn’t joking because I was going to explain things to him.

“I’m not joking,” I said.

“I’m sure... you’re mistaken,” William argued.

“...”

“If it’s because of that being inside you... I’m sure we’ll find a way to get rid of it. It’s too early to come to that conclusion... How about we get you checked out or find a different way instead of staying here?” William suggested.

“...”

“As you already know, Rohen is vast. There may be powers we’re not aware of or other ways to treat your condition. No, I’m sure of it. This place—”

“It’s not because of that. My life force is burning away even as we speak. I know that better than anyone, so there’s no reason to make the troops retreat or give up on this expedition. No, we can’t give up,” I interrupted him.

“What you’re saying is... nonsense. You keep...saying things I don’t understand... You’re still...” William muttered.

“You have to believe me,” I told him.

“...”

“It’s unclear, but I’m starting to see why I was summoned here, why they want me, what the being inside me is, and why it’s inside me,” I said.

“That can’t be...” William mumbled.

“Even if I don’t want to think about it... or understand it, I have to accept it. Like I told you earlier, my life force is burning even as we speak. The end is almost near,” I added.

Pretending to be a saint destined for a tragic ending was easier than eating for me.

William was denying my words by saying that it couldn’t be true or that he couldn’t understand it. However, he couldn’t ignore my resolute and composed face.

‘It’s actually a bit over the top.’

There was a being inside me capable of destroying the world... and now, he was being told that I was dying. Even I thought it was a bit excessive, but if there was someone who could support my argument, then it would be a different story.

And that was when Woo Hyo-Yeol entered the room quietly as if he had been waiting for his moment.

I had no idea when he got here, but he was leaning on the wall with his arms crossed as if he were here from the start.

As expected, he chimed in while looking at William and me.

“How long do you have left?” Woo Hyo-Yeol asked without any hesitation.

‘That put the nail in the coffin..’

William asked, “You're aware... of it?”

Woo Hyo-Yeol didn’t answer.

“I asked how long you have left, Lee Ki-Young,” Woo Hyo-Yeol repeated.

“...”

“...”

“I’m not sure,” I answered.

“...”

“But I’m sure I’ll be able to hold out until the end of this expedition,” I added.

“...”

“Woo Hyo-Yeol... you knew about this?” William asked.

“...”

‘He’s confused.’

“So what?” Woo Hyo-Yeol questioned.

“You knew... and you didn’t say anything when he joined the expedition?!” William yelled.

‘He’s upset.’

“It has nothing to do with you,” Woo Hyo-Yeol said.

“Why did you do that? Why?” William asked.

“Do you need a reason?” Woo Hyo-Yeol asked.

“You—-”

“It's what Lee Ki-Young wanted,” Woo Hyo-Yeol interrupted.

“...”

“He’s the one who planned this expedition, and he also said that he's going to join. No one is in the position to tell him what to do,” Woo Hyo-Yeol added.

This drama was fun.

“Did you know that he was on borrowed time?” William questioned.

“That’s...”

“And did you know that he was losing his memories?” William added.

“...”

“This is the final decision he made on his own, so is there any reason not to respect it?” Woo Hyo-Yeol asked.

I couldn’t believe that Woo Hyo-Yeol was saying those lines.

‘As expected, he’s cold-hearted. My life force is slowly burning away, and it was exacerbated by the fact that I saved him.’

“Still!” William shouted.

“I don’t know the reason either. I don’t know... why he’s going this far. I'm not sure if he wants Rohen to remember that he was alive, or if he wants to do something for the idiots on this continent.

"I also don't know whether he simply wants to make his final decision by himself. I don't know any of that, as he keeps a lot of things to himself... but...” Woo Hyo-Yeol paused.

“...”

“That’s not a good enough reason to stop him,” Woo Hyo-Yeol continued.

William's fist was shaking, and it was telling me that he was furious. He looked like an actor from a soap opera. I was bothered by Woo Hyo-Yeol’s extremely calm attitude, but at the same time, I wasn’t really bothered about it.

Why? It was all because Woo Hyo-Yeol clenched his fists, and he looked anxious, which told me that something was bothering him.

Even though he had basically said that he respected my final decision for myself, he looked more upset than anyone else.

“Yeah... that’s not a good enough reason to stop him. Even if there is a way to save him... can you guarantee that you can find a way to do so within the time limit? And are you sure that it will even save him?

"His soul is already rotting away... and his physical body has reached its limit. He has sacrificed many things to come here. Making all those sacrifices mean nothing is really an insult to him,” Woo Hyo-Yeol explained.

“That’s...”

“He has already decided,” Woo Hyo-Yeol said.

“I-I can’t accept it. That’s—”

“You’re not getting it. It doesn’t matter whether you accept it or not, idiot,” Woo Hyo-Yeol interrupted him.

“People like you... will never understand it. A heartless person like you... don’t care about how others feel... You do whatever you want... and you only look at what’s in front of you...” William told him.

Woo Hyo-Yeol glared at William.

‘You’re right.’

Although Woo Hyo-Yeol hadn't said it, his eyes seemed to be saying, “Do you really think that I’m not being affected by this?”

‘Really? Is that true?’

His eyes looked like they were expressing his fury, and I could feel that he felt really pathetic and resentful of himself for not being able to do anything about all this.

‘Is that how you truly feel?’

Blood was dripping from his clenched fist, and this was the most intimidating face I had seen of Woo Hyo-Yeol so far. He wasn’t being hostile toward William. It was more like he was furious for no reason.

It was probably just me, but it felt like he was taking out his anger on William.

William also glared at him, but he looked dumbfounded at the same time. He then bit his lips and stormed out of the room. I was kind of worried because his behavior reminded me a bit of Kim Hyun-Sung. His mind understood it, but his heart couldn’t accept it.

Of course, it was understandable. After all, he had just heard that the comrade with whom he had spent over five hundred regressions was dying of a terminal condition. Even an ordinary person wouldn't be able to accept something like that.

He already considered me a family member of the Flower and Fertility Familia, so I was sure that the news was particularly hard for him.

Lawful good—the fact that he was lawful good was somewhat reassuring, but people like him tended to become more troublesome upon breaking bad.

‘I should comfort him.’

“Lee Ki-Young,” Woo Hyo-Yeol said.

Ah, what now?

“...”

“Is your loss of lifespan somehow connected to the fact that you saved me?” he asked.

“No,” I answered.

“...”

“I simply told him that my life was burning away, so you don’t have to worry,” I added.

‘Worry about it.’

“Helping and keeping you alive is my role,” I reminded him.

‘That’s the saint’s shocking ending...’

“As you said, I want to be faithful to my role. I want everyone to remember that... I once lived on this continent... and that a man named Lee Ki-Young once existed,” I told him.

“Idiot. You’re—”

“Even if I really disappear, I don’t want Rohen to forget about me,” I said.

‘Especially if I end up not being the real Lee Ki-Young.’

I staggered to show them that I was physically unwell.

“You....”

I stood firmly again as if I were fine. I breathed heavily and bent one knee slightly to show that I was having a hard time walking.

Woo Hyo-Yeol noticed and approached me, but I obviously wasn’t expecting help from him. As if to prove to everyone that I could still stand on my own, I grabbed my trembling knees and started walking away.

And that was when I saw our party members outside the room...

Nam Goong-Seon, Lim Chae-Ryeong, and No Dam-Hye.

“So you were listening,” I said.

“...”

“...”

Lim Chae-Ryeong was crying.

‘Now this is what I call peak melodrama.’

Nam Goong-Seon’s head was lowered, and No Dam-Hye’s eyes were already red.

“M-Mr. Lee Ki-Young... heuk... heuuuk...”

“Sniff!”

They were all crying. They were being a bit too emotional that I was getting kind of worried about them.

It seemed like Woo Hyo-Yeol had told them to come here. Perhaps he wanted to comfort me this way since he had no idea how to comfort me on his own, but the timing wasn’t bad.

‘It’s about time they learn this. If it happens too abruptly, the emotional impact won't be that great.’

They even hugged me quietly.

It had been a while since I felt this kind of warmth, so it put me in a good mood.

“Mr. Lee Ki-Young... I’m sorry. I’m really... really...”

‘Yeah, yeah. But what are you apologizing for?’

“Heuuuk...”

'Okay, okay. Stop crying, everyone.’

“Heuk... heuk.”

‘Pain helps you grow... and it makes you stronger, too.’