Regressor Instruction Manual

Chapter 1248. Blue Guild’s Youth Center (17)

‘Who... the hell is he?’

What kind of life... did that guy named Jin Young live?

I[1] couldn’t move. As soon as the terrorist attacks on the International Academy began, my mind went blank.

All the lessons I learned and the spells I practiced... they all disappeared from my mind. I wasn’t trying to make excuses, but I knew I didn’t stand a chance against them.

There was a clear gap between the elite adventurers and myself... and the terrorists who attacked the Blue Guild’s International Academy were the real deal. They were monsters with murderous intent—murderers who thought nothing of taking lives.

They reminded me of the monsters I had seen beyond the wall.

They were like those monsters that made my blood run cold.

The thought of not tarnishing the Hanest Family's reputation kept echoing in my head, but my body refused to heed my orders. My lips, which I trained to cast spells, were frozen, and cold sweat wouldn’t stop breaking out all over me.

Even breathing itself had become a struggle.

‘They're real... murderers.’

They even killed their comrades without hesitation.

‘I have to run.’

Facing them was basically suicide, and I was sure everyone here felt the same way, but...

‘Why... Why is he the only one...’

Why was he the only one standing so boldly? How was he able to stand against them like that? I could see the twins charging at him at blinding speeds.

Even when everything visible became nothing but faint afterimages streaking across the air, the child prodigy of the Republic didn't flinch.

With a thunderous stomp, he slammed his foot into the ground and stretched out his arm in a bizarre pose. I learned hand-to-hand combat as well, or at least the basics. I studied enough basic martial arts to know that what he was doing was absurd, exaggerated, and completely unnecessary.

His moves made no sense in a real fight. The way he waved his arms in the air and clenched his fists in odd ways didn't make it look like he was performing martial arts. It was more like a performance akin to gymnastics or a dance.

However, the outcome was way different than what I had in mind. It looked like the twins were drawn toward him helplessly.

The moment his soft-looking fist struck their stomachs, those terrifying monsters—who seemed scarier than ghosts—coughed up blood and were sent flying away.

Jin Young assumed his stance again, coolly drawing a circle with his arms and legs before raising the back of his hand.

“I’ll admit it. I underestimated you a bit,” said the girl. She was one of the twins.

“Don’t let your guard down, sis. That kid’s not like the others,” said the boy.

“I know Chinese martial arts. There’s a limit to how much you can belittle us. If you wanted to learn Tai Chi, you should have asked your dad to teach you,” the girl said.

“This isn’t your average Tai Chi. It’s a martial art exclusive to our family,” Jin Young said.

“I never asked for your opinion. Be quiet if you don’t want to get hurt,” the girl threatened.

“You must’ve forgotten the fact that I’m a mage,” Jin Young reminded her.

“We can actually use a few spells as well,” the girl revealed.

The Flames of the Black Ember Dragon I saw last time materialized around Jin Young.

As Jin Young drew a circle with his hand, the corrosive flames mirrored the same motion, forming a circle as well.

When he lifted one leg as if he were dancing in place, the flames rippled and danced as if they were alive. The terrorists were surprised, but they quickly shielded themselves with their own spells. The moment their spells clashed with the black flames, there was a loud explosion, and white smoke engulfed them.

The smoke shrouded my vision, and I heard coughing everywhere.

‘Mist magic?’

No, it probably wasn’t that. It was more accurate to say that this was a smokescreen rather than Professor Cheon Kwan-Wi’s mist magic.

‘They’re targeting the other students.’

Jin Young wasn’t their only target. They were most likely after all the students in the academy. The moment I realized that, my face went pale without me realizing it. The thought that the two crazed murderers were after me filled me with fear, leaving me frozen.

Just then, a scarred hand broke through the white smoke and grabbed me.

“Hehehe. Got ya.”

“Aaaaah! Let... Let go of me! Let go!” I shouted.

“Would you let go?” one of the twins asked.

“Let go of me!” I yelled.

I struggled, panicking. Then, I saw someone breaking through the smoke.

‘Jin Young...’

For a brief moment, it felt like our eyes met. However, what I saw in his eyes wasn't mockery or smugness, but a desperate, almost frantic urgency.

I wanted to yell something, anything, as he vanished back into the smoke, but no sound came out of my mouth. Instead, the air became filled witha discordant mixture of noises, and it sounded like something was being torn apart.

Moments later, the smoke thinned out, and I saw him.

He was from the Republic, and he was the last person I wanted to see right now.

“Th-That jerk...” I mumbled.

He was covered in blood. One of his shoulders was in bad shape, and his once-clean face was now covered in wounds. Standing seemed like a miracle in itself. The crazed murderers were injured as well, but anyone could tell that Jin Young's injuries were far more severe.

‘Is it because of us?’

“...”

“...”

‘Did he do that... to protect us?’

“Not looking so tough now, are you? Cocky little brat,” the girl said.

“Hmph.”

“He seems a lot more warmhearted than he looks. Keke,” the boy said.

“...”

I was just standing like an idiot while he was fighting for his classmates.

“Mr. Jin Young, are you... okay?”

“Protect Mr. Jin Young!”

The Republic bastards finally channeled their spells. Their eyes were filled with tears, as if they were forcing themselves to swallow their fear.

“D-Don’t let... Mr. Jin Young... get hurt... anymore... heuk...”

They were trying to finish their spells with trembling voices, but in the end, not one of them managed to channel their spells.

Victor Galia, who knew nothing besides brute-force spells, gave up on casting spells altogether. With trembling hands, he raised his self-defense dagger and pointed it at the twins.

“I-I’ll take care of this place. Run, Mr. Jin Young,” Victor stammered.

Slava, the cunning little fox who was only ever good at scheming, calmly channeled his spell and cast a translucent barrier. The crazed murderers’ swords landed on the shield, and it shattered with a clang!

Despite that, Slava went on to channel another spell.

“Don’t you dare touch, Mr. Jin Young! You dirty murderers!” Slava shouted.

Xiaolan also drew a whip-like weapon and stood in front of Jin Young.

“Don’t do anything stupid and move out of the way,” Jin Young said.

“What?”

“We can’t... do that. Heuk... heuuuk...” Victor cried.

“...”

“I, Victor Galia... kgh... will make sure you escape safely from this palace, even if I die here,” Victor continued.

“It’s useless,” Jin Young said.

“Mr. Jin Young, please don’t be like that. You don’t need to—”

“You guys are no help. Don’t get in my way and move aside,” Jin Young interrupted him.

‘Why isn’t he running away?’

He could definitely run away. It wouldn't be easy, but if he were to prioritize himself, he'd be able to find a way out of here. Actually, he could take just the Republic bastards away with him, and they would be able to escape.

‘So why...’

There was no way it was for the sake of his classmates or friends. Despite that, the students here were making Jin Young stay instead of retreat.

“What a truly touching display of friendship,” the male twin said.

“Hmph. It’s all useless anyway,” his sister remarked.

“I think it’s about time,” said the male twin.

“You’re right. Let’s wrap things up and head to the training room,” the girl remarked.

The twins with a hexagram drawn on their cheeks revealed a sinister smile, but before they could make a move, I heard someone shouting from somewhere.

“Yaaaaaaaaaaah!”

I turned and saw an idiot charging in while holding up a long stick.

‘Kim Myung-Won.’

Upon seeing the "failure," I muttered, “It’s... useless.”

“...”

“I said it’s useless...” I repeated.

“Who’s this?” one of the twins questioned.

Thuuuuuud!

As expected, the loser holding a long stick fell flat on his face, but he got back up while casting a spell. It was probably some kind of physical enhancement spell, but no one knew if it was even working.𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

It most likely failed, as he was an idiot who couldn’t even control his mana.

Thud!

“Ah, you’re annoying. Should I just kill him?”

He got kicked in the stomach and was forced to the ground once again. On his third charge, however, the students from the Republic joined the fight. Jin Young would definitely survive this ordeal, but I couldn't say the same for Kim Myung-Won.

It would be a miracle if he survived this. Fortunately, he knew basic swordsmanship, which was a bit helpful, but a mage charging at the front lines was just ridiculous.

I was certain that he was only causing more trouble.

“Th-That... stupid loser...” I mumbled.

'But... But I’m sure it’s better than not doing anything.'

“That... idiot is fighting hard...” I said.

'What if I die? What if I get seriously hurt?'

He was better than me, who was cowering away in fear. He wasn’t the real loser.

‘It’s me.’

Among everyone here, I was the biggest loser and idiot.

“Don't make me laugh...” I mumbled.

‘I’m the real loser.’

“Don’t make me laugh! I’m a... Hanest!!” I roared.

“...”

“I’m the eldest son of the Hanest Family... I’m Felis Hanest... the next head of the Hanest Family, one of the twenty-four pillars of the Democratic Country. I-I...” I stammered as tears suddenly streamed down my cheeks.

I knew I was crying out of fear. My hands were shaking so much that I couldn’t summon my beasts. Perhaps it was because of the crazed murderers' killing intent, but even breathing was difficult for me, so I couldn’t channel my spells properly.

Despite that, I didn't stop chanting for the sake of my pride.

I had to keep chanting for the pride I had been protecting since I was young.

It was definitely not because of that idiot who got wounded in place of my rivals or that loser struggling to stand up.

This was all for the sake of my pride as one of the twenty-four families who fought alongside Miss Oscar during the Sacred Democratic Country's revolution.

This was all for the sake of the responsibility that came with dedicating myself to the nation. This was all for the honor of being one of the sixty-six children blessed by Father Lee Ki-Young.

Holding back my tears, I stretched out my hand and roared, “Griffon of Sunset!!"

A massive griffon got up, and the one that I thought I would never be able to summon...

“Whitefall?” I said.

Whitefall, the griffon that belonged to the Saint of Sacrifice and Revival, and...

“Blackburn...” I mumbled.

Blackburn belonged to the Sword of Sunset, and it actually appeared. The two griffons blending together were exactly the same as the scene I saw in Lindel when I was still a child, and they were... bathed in the light of the sunset.

1. Felis Hanest’s POV ☜