Regressor Instruction Manual-Chapter 1154. Operation: Dawn (3)

‘Lee Ki-Young is an interesting person.’

He was a really interesting person.

That was all I[1] felt when we first met, but he was truly an interesting person.

I wasn’t just talking about his abilities or the puzzling incidents that occurred around him. The person named Lee Ki-Young was someone I couldn’t understand by my own logic.

“Mr. Lee Ki-Young, the order,” I reminded him.

“...”

“...”

“Yes, Mr. William,” Lee Ki-Young answered.

Now that I thought about it, there wasn’t a person more humane than him. He was a warm and kind-hearted person. He liked people to the point that he seemed kind of naive, and he was weak to the point that he looked stupid.

It wasn’t because he hadn't been here for long. I believed it was all because he was just that type of person.

Lee Ki-Young was weak, cried easily, and easily swayed by his emotions.

I was sure his young age affected him as well, but he was more emotional than he looked, and he was true to his emotions, too.

It was the same during the ceremony before our departure.

Despite knowing that he was going to get hurt, he etched the faces of many into his mind as he looked at them. Despite knowing that he was going to fall apart, he was willing to take responsibility.

Despite losing someone important to him not that long ago, he decided to memorize the faces and names of the people who would probably die on the battlefield.

Obviously, it wasn’t normal behavior.

Regardless of whether he was strong or weak, people normally wouldn't try to experience the same pain again or acknowledge their responsibilities.

However, he was different—Lee Ki-Young was the weakest person I had ever met, but ironically, he was also the strongest. He was scared of getting hurt—he was scared of it more than anyone else, but he didn't hesitate to accept the pain.

Despite knowing that he was going to get hurt, he had chosen to face it.

Despite knowing that it was going to be difficult, he embraced everyone and moved forward. Despite knowing that he could fall apart... he had chosen to accept the pain and suffering.

I thought he was the most humane out of everyone that I had met, but...

‘...Is he really human?’

I couldn't help but think that way. Obviously, I wasn’t questioning his character. Although Lee Ki-Young was a compassionate person, anyone would have the same thoughts as me, especially once they had considered his abilities. Basically, he was...

‘A genius.’

Describing him as a talent bestowed upon us by the heavens wasn’t enough to describe him. There wasn’t any sign of hesitation in his eyes as he looked at the dozens of large mirrors the mage named Jung Ha-Yan was showing toward him.

He was taking in dozens—no, hundreds of information at once and was picking out the most useful ones. I couldn’t understand how he was able to absorb all that, to begin with.

“Charge! Charge!”

“Everyone! Forward!”

The objective for this operation was simple.

It was to purify the areas tainted by the Ashen Sunset and create a safe zone.

That was it.

Of course, I knew it wasn’t that simple. Not only was the difficulty of this mainstream even really high, but we also had quests we needed to complete.

Overall, there were three quests, twenty-four quests when broken down, and more than a hundred quests when further broken down. The operation that seemed impossible—the same operation that seemed like only a miracle could clear it—seemed like it was being cleared really easily.

The name of the operation was Dawn, and the location where the light of hope was going to spread was the holy city of Saint Bell.

I looked up and saw troops heading toward the city.

It was built as a satellite city to house temples, so it had no high walls or any real means of defense, which stayed true to its reputation as a religious city. If one was wondering whether this city had economic value, it had no such thing.

If the influential figures of Rohen were asked the same question, they’d all give the same answer.

‘Besides its symbolic meaning, there’s nothing here.’

That was what they’d say, and I felt the same way.

It wasn’t the ideal location, and it wasn’t a fitting place for establishing a safe zone. The city itself possessed a large amount of holy power, so it was advantageous for purifying the Ashen Sunset region, but Saint Bell wasn’t the only satellite city that had a religious influence.

The major cities of Rohen had this type of satellite city within their city. Obviously, the question about why it had to be Saint Bell was answered a few minutes after the battle started.

“Charge! Charge!”

“There are no walls! Enter the city as quickly as possible!”

“Get ready! They’re low-ranking monsters!”

As soon as the troops entered the city, the monsters made disturbing noises and tried to block the troops. After clashing once, spells rained down, and I heard screams everywhere.

The monsters immediately retreated, but it wasn’t because they lacked the power to fight.

It was details like this.

I couldn’t see it, but Lee Ki-Young could see it. No, ordinary people couldn’t see it, but he could see it.

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‘Are commanders... normally capable of doing things like this?’

Was it possible to synchronize things like the timing of the incantations and the speed at which the mages in each squad could cast them?

Was it possible to prepare holy power spells immediately when the vanguards were injured?

Was it possible to predict the trajectory of the enemy’s ranged attacks?

Was it possible to calculate the variables down to the second and give commands?

Probably not, and it was all because the people who called themselves commanders were looking at Lee Ki-Young in a daze.

“No... way.”

“Just now...”

It was like we were watching a well-written play.

It was like watching a scripted war.

Holy power rained down on the injured vanguards, and shields were created in places where the enemy’s spells were raining down.

The arrows of the archers landed on the weakest spots amidst the enemies' ranks, while the enemies' attacks landed on the allied forces’ shields.

This was even more ridiculous than watching a sparring match where one side was holding back. Unless this was all scripted, there was no way the timing of everything could be this perfect.

When the two forces collided, his one word changed many things.

“Push forward! Push!”

“Break through! Break through them! You baaaaastards!”

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaah!”

“Move your head, you idiot!”

“We’re going in! We’re going in!”

“Go in! Go into the city!”

Watching from afar, the troops easily entered Saint Bell.

Whenever he said something, I would see an explosion. His words were immediately transmitted to the receiver, helping the troops open up a path. Even though it was only a small-scale battle, the troops entering the city and engaging in urban warfare moved as if they were living and breathing in perfect coordination.

Everyone moved swiftly to their designated spots and without any hesitation at that.

When the allied and enemy forces faced each other and entered battle, the troops nearby joined the battle as well. Each temple was marked with area-of-effect spells, and those spells constantly dealt damage to the enemy forces

— The fight has started! Squad 2, engage.

“Yes, I’m aware,” Lee Ki-Young said.

— Your command!

“Squad 31 will maneuver around and support Squad 2. The magic squad will cast spells at the coordinates I provided...” Lee Ki-Young instructed.

— Yes, sir.

“And.”

— We have secured the temple, Commander.

“Zone A will now be in defense mode. I’ll be resending the mission to all units, so please confirm,” he told them.

— Yes, sir.

— Understood.

“Mission report,” he requested.

— We have cleared it, Commander.

— We're done setting it up as well. We’re moving to the next location.

— We’re still fighting. Requesting reinforcements... Actually, reinforcements have arrived. Thank you, Commander.

“Sure.”

— Squad 8’s mission failed. Again, Squad 8’s mission failed.

“Confirmed. I will change Squad 8’s mission,” Lee Ki-Young remarked.

— Confirmed.

Despite it being a battle taking place in a small city, it felt like a large-scale battle in the plains. It was the same as the mock battle I had witnessed at the academy. Not only was he fully aware of the battlefield that was changing in real-time, but he was controlling it as if it were under his command.

At first, the troops trembled in fear at the sight of the grotesque-looking demons, but now, their eyes sparkled with both certainty and awe. Some of them were probably aware of what was going on, but they likely sensed that they were putting something together.

They were starting to realize that their small actions had a huge impact on the battlefield.

‘The commander’s competence isn’t the problem.’

He was basically looking into the future. Saying that he was simply commanding the troops didn’t fit the situation. I was more like he was ruling the battlefield. It was so amazing that...

‘I want to fight with them.’

I found myself thinking that... I wanted to be on the battlefield with them.

“Mr. William?” Lee Ki-Young called out.

“...”

“Mr. William?” Lee Ki-Young repeated.

“Yes? I’m sorry, Mr. Lee Ki-Young,” I answered.

“It’s a named being.” Lee Ki-Young pointed out.

“What?”

I turned and saw a demon that looked even more grotesque than the other demons. It looked so grotesque that it didn't look like it was still alive. It looked like a monstrous heap of flesh, blood, and intestines, standing on two feet.

[I’m... a high-ranking demon. Chalkis of Flesh and Gore...]

‘It’s strong.’

[Foolish mortals... how dare you step foot into the domain of the Monarch of Sunset? Your punishment is death. Hooow... dare you ignorant fools set foot in the land of the 21st Legion’s commander?!]

Its aura was even more intimidating than its appearance.

“...”

“It must be the one in charge of this area,” I said.

“Yes, you’re right,” Lee Ki-Young said.

[I will offer your flesh and blood to him. I shall offer it beneath the feet of the true Demon Monarch, the Great Demon King of Sunset.]

“I think it’s a Level 5, no, maybe close to a Level 6,” Lee Ki-Young said.

“Really?” I asked.

“Yes, Mr. William,” Lee Ki-Young answered.

“In that case... the troops...”

“No, I won’t order a retreat. Can I... leave that demon to you, Mr. William?” Lee Ki-Young asked.

“...”

“...”

“It’s not that I’m scared, Mr. Lee Ki-Young. However, handling it alone—”

“No, you’re more than capable of handling it. Can I open the path for you? You can think of it as us fighting together,” Lee Ki-Young interrupted me.

“I don’t quite understand it, but...”

“You can do it. It might seem impossible... but with your skills...” Lee Ki-Young trailed off.

“In that case... I look forward to working with you,” I said.

“You can think of it as being similar to last time,” Lee Ki-Young said.

“When you say last time...” I asked.

“When you sparred with Mr. Hyo-Yeol. Don’t think too much about it. No matter what my orders are, you just need to follow them. Don’t question them,” Lee Ki-Young instructed.

“What?”

“You should get going,” Lee Ki-Young said.

He sounded certain and...

— Time to get going, Mr. William.

“What the... this doesn’t make any sense...” I mumbled.

— ...

“Haa... What in the world...” I said.

Something unbelievable was happening right before my eyes.

‘Is this... really possible?’

1. William’s POV ☜