Regressor Instruction Manual

‘Ah, is this bastard not mentally okay? Be strong, Kim Hyunsung. Fuck.’

I didn’t think he was okay.

Confusing emotions were transmitted to me immediately. I could feel a huge swirl of feelings that were hard to explain hitting our regressor.

If I were to exaggerate it a bit, it felt as if tens of thousands of maggots were eating my entire body.

He hated himself and seemed to be taking the current situation too negatively.

Although I was embarrassed because he seemed to be overreacting…

“…”

‘Is it natural?’

When I thought of what Kim Hyunsung had to go through to come here, I thought his reaction wasn’t particularly strange.

‘Because a lot has happened.’

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the second timeline’s Kim Hyunsung’s growth process was actually based on his ties with Light Kiyoung.

Although physical growth was important, mental growth should’ve been the top priority.

The light that melted Kim Hyunsung’s heart, which was as cold as the harsh north wind, was warmer than anyone else’s. That light was Kiyoung.

That guy was always at the center of the incident and was at the center of Kim Hyunsung’s few remaining human relationships. At one time, they misunderstood each other, doubted each other, and even met as enemies. Still, in the end, it developed into a relationship that he trusted the most, contributing to his growth and the formation of a new personality.

That was also a part of psychotherapy, and it was also a course of education to kindly teach Kim Hyunsung, who was worn out by the first round, about true relationships.

‘Right. Fuck. That’s right. It’s understandable.’

Didn’t we blow up all doubts when our souls communicated? In Kim Hyunsung’s point of view, it was understandable to think he was trash.

I couldn’t even imagine how in pain he would’ve been when the suspicions he thought he had already brushed off came back.

‘Aren’t I a lifesaver? No, I’m a mental lifesaver. Honestly, I did Hyunsung’s mental cardiopulmonary resuscitation. I still remember Kim Hyunsung’s eyes when we just started the second round. I saved a person, treated him, and even paid the hospital fees. But now he’s suspicious of me… How much shame would he feel?’

I could see his pupils shaking. He didn’t seem to have a clue about what to do.

I knew his mind was weak, but it really seemed like he will collapse anytime soon.

His hand that held his sword was trembling, and it was noticeable that he forcibly bit his lips tightly.

He probably thought that he should prevent the mental breakdown. Since it was an important moment for him, it was understandable.

‘Ah, is it correct to proceed as it is? Honestly, the war…’

Sure, we were in an advantageous situation, but…

“Hyunsung? Did anything happen?”

-…

“Hyunsung?”

-It’s… it’s nothing.

All the important pigeons had already been dealt with, and the troops weren’t in bad condition… What should I do if Kim Hyunsung became mentally ill at this rate?

Of course, there was a possibility that the war situation would suddenly change. Still, even if that were the case, I thought it would be right to present a mental illness to Kim Hyusung.

His condition looked bad enough that he had such useless worries. However…

‘If this is the end, there’s no way Lee Kiyoung could do such a plan.’

If that was really the end, Lucifer and I had no reason to make a meaningless bet.

Wasn’t it obvious?

‘There is a reason to do this.’

There might be something more left after this war.

Of course, it wasn’t something that could be concluded with certainty, but wasn’t it worth thinking about anyway?

After the pigeons were dead, a pigeon boss or a pigeon parent might appear.

The continent might collapse out of nowhere, or something that I couldn’t imagine might happen.

I knew it might be absurd, but I didn’t think that Lee Kiyoung would have signed a contract with Lucifer and would offer his stomach for nothing before erasing his memory.

‘The most likely thing… their creator?’

The outer god.

Not imperfect like the pigeons.

But a truly flawless being.

In short, if Lucifer didn’t cover it, there might be a monster waiting for us.

I didn’t know what arrangement I’d put on, but it wasn’t small enough to ignore it.

Although I suffered an inner conflict for a while, I wondered if it couldn’t be helped.

Lee Kiyoung wasn’t a psychopath. Why wouldn’t I worry about the mental health of the lovely regressor? However, if I were to go back now…

“We’ve come too far.”

It was no different from crossing a river that we couldn’t cross again. While I was lost in thoughts, one guy was enjoying it.

-Do you remember now?

-…

-You’re just denying it, Kim Hyunsung. Wouldn’t it be better for you to accept it? He is not your savior. He’s the demon himself that twists and squeezes your soul.

-…

-You’d better ask him yourself. The demon is still wondering what to do with you in the palm of his hand.

‘You got me there.’

-No, you don’t even have to ask. You already know the answer. Your expression is telling me everything… Am I wrong?

‘It’s almost as if he’s in his element.’

It was funny to see that he was mistaken that his eloquence was working on Kim Hyunsung, but that was helpful. I had to help a little there too.

“Hyunsung? What…”

-It’s not something that you should be concerned about. It’s not something for you to be… I’m fully recovered, so I should immediately…

-You know that just because you look away doesn’t mean the reality will change. Why don’t you ask yourself who was the one that held your life and shook it in the first round, who you hated so much, who slaughtered your colleagues and the humans of the continent and destroyed your soul? Who’s the one that wields your life at will, who deceived you from start to finish and fooled you? Ask yourself.

I had to add another spoonful of doubts there.

-Shut… Shut up.

-Open your eyes and look at who your real enemy is!

-Shut… Shut up!!!

Kim Hyunsung grabbed his sword and started to fly.

In an instant, the men who faced each other continued to draw lines in the air, their swords clashing.

However, couldn’t that be considered meaningless? Seraphim thought that the situation was an opportunity to screw me, and Kim Hyunsung’s heart was also constantly shaken.

The main points I was constantly picking up weren’t getting into his head properly, and his movements could be said to be messy.

In the meantime, seeing that he dominated Seraphim, it seemed that he was physically complete, even…

‘Fuck, won’t Seraphim die at that rate?’

Of course, that bastard was a pigeon that had to die, but he had to fulfill his duty first. The doubts in Kim Hyunsung’s mind should be turned into certainty.

There was a little problem…

‘Ah… This is more difficult than I thought.’

It wasn’t easy to fully root his doubt.

-I… sniff… I never thought of that.

“Hyunsung?”

-Please believe in me. I really never thought of that. R-Really… Really… Ugh…

He seemed to be talking to himself, not me.

-I… I think someone entered my head. Something… Something’s weird, Kiyoung.

“I couldn’t confirm…”

-Get out of my head! Sniff… You motherfucker! You filthy bastard!

‘I think what’s in your head is me…’

-Sniff… no! No! No!

Seraphim shouted.

-Open your eyes! Kim Hyunsung!

-Shut up! Shut up!!!! No. No! Get out of my head! Shit! Get out, Lucifer!!!

‘It’s not Lucifer. It’s me.’

He was wielding his sword ignorantly. It felt like he was fighting something in his head. He looked so miserable that it was difficult to say anything. To be honest, it was hard for me to witness that.

-I have never had any doubts. I… I’ve never doubted.

‘You’re okay, right?’

It seemed that he was resisting the Regressor Instruction Manual. I didn’t really think it would be possible to resist it.

-Sniff… Ugh…

‘Don’t refuse it, Hyunsung. You have to accept it. You, say something, crazy pigeon.’

-Accept it, Kim Hyunsung!

‘Fuck. Don’t just say such shallow lines.’

It was hard to expect something from him.

Kim Hyunsung, who continued to collide with him, stopped moving when I put in doubt once more.

‘Don’t resist. Shit.’

When I felt a little urgency, thinking that Kim Hyunsung might really be ruined at that rate, he grabbed his left horn.

-Damn! Damn!

‘What are you doing?’

“What are you doing… Hey…”

-Shit… Damn!

“You crazy bastard! What are you doing?”

-Damn!!!

Kim Hyunsung didn’t answer, but I thought I knew what he was trying to do at that moment.

I could see his arm getting tense. There was a cracking, awful sound.

Kim Hyunsung, who didn’t even whimper against most types of pain, spat out a bizarre scream.

I didn’t feel pain, but I could feel how painful that was to Kim Hyunsung. Still, he didn’t stop what he was doing.

Seraphim’s face became distorted when he saw the scene. Without knowing it, he sympathized with the pain.

“Don’t do it, you idiot! Don’t do it!”

A scene that gave me goosebumps all over my body. Eventually…

Crack!

Along with that sound, Kim Hyunsung pulled his left horn.

-Sigh… Sigh… Sigh…

Blood continued to spill from the place where the huge horn was forcibly removed from. I didn’t know if it was because of the blood that completely covered Kim Hyunsung’s half face, but that sight just felt unrealistic. My face crumpled unknowingly.

Kim Hyunsung, covered with sweat, continued to mutter to himself.

-Get… Get out of my head, Lucifer. I don’t doubt… I…

“This bastard…”

-I… I have never doubted. I-I had once before, but not now. Believe. Believe. Believe. I believe. I believe…

‘Fuck… What should I do? Is it right to go on like this? Should I keep going?’

-I know now. Now…

‘What should I do? What should I do? Fuck… Fuck… What should I do? Fuck… Fuck… I didn’t know it would turn out like this. I didn’t expect it to be like this. Really…’

He was still resisting the doubts in his head. The suspicion didn’t go away by the action he had just done, after all. Not long after, he grabbed his right horn.

-D… Disappear from my head right away, Lucifer.

‘What should I do? What… What… Fuck, what should I do? Fuck… What should I do?’

-Leave… Ugh…

“Ahhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhh!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhh!”

He stopped moving.