The Hunted Regressor: My Heretic Saint System-Chapter 53: Too Late?

’One day, our House will have that same ripple.’

Ignotus chuckled softly at Eris’s near-mind-reading comment.

’Don’t set your sights so low, Goddess. Our name will have this realm shaking.’

Especially when the heads of those three sat on their manor’s gates as decoration... bastards deserving of a most painful death.

Before She could reply, the clerk returned carrying the rucksack with both hands.

"Here!"

She thrust it out but barely, almost dropping it.

Ignotus snatched it open with one hand, easily able to carry it now, dug through, and pulled out a coin pouch. His eyes quickly flicked inside, scanning the contents.

There were the same number of coppers as last time. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

’Good.’

The clerk’s lips trembled.

"Did... did you think I’d steal gold from you?!"

Ignotus looked up at her for two full seconds.

’Gold.’ She didn’t check the contents.

She’d assumed he was rich.

...pity.

"Yes."

She gasped but quickly shook her head at the insult.

"Whatever, um, if you would please pa—"

"Send a letter to my House."

Ignotus cut her off.

"Tell them to pay you, and demand a little extra while you’re at it. You know, for the trouble."

Her eyes popped wide.

"W-What? You can’t; our system doesn’t—"

He was already turning away, the bag swinging over his shoulder.

"Yes. Yes, you can, and they’ll pay."

She ran after him, shrieking:

"I’ll report you! I’ll—"

But Ignotus was already gone.

No Hierophant stopped him; they knew better.

...

Ignotus’s next stop was a dingy second-hand shop that reeked of incense and dust. He walked in and dropped his alchemy book onto the counter, alongside all the armor and weapons he’d... borrowed on his journey.

"I need clothes. Trade me for all of this."

The owner didn’t look surprised by all the stuff appearing out of nowhere, perhaps assuming that Ignotus had a Dimensional Item. Besides, this clearly wasn’t his first insane customer.

He scanned Ignotus once and casually pointed to a stack of clothes on a nearby shelf, alongside a good set of armor.

Ignotus walked over and checked them out: the lightweight armor looked decent, much better than what he gave the owner, though a bit too... theatrical, or rather, ceremonial.

The clothes were the same: black pants, a long shirt, both embroidered with charcoal black, a belt, a hooded cloak that sat at the shoulders, and an odd mask.

It caught Ignotus’s eye, an empty thing with smiling slits, straight out of a horror play.

He lifted it up.

"...Is this a prop from some acting group?"

The shopkeeper chuckled.

"How’d you know?"

"Hm."

Ignotus grabbed the lot and bolted to the changing room.

Stowing his rucksack and mask in his inventory, he got naked, throwing away his clothes in a pile to the side. Then he closed his eyes for a second and recalled a tiny amount of water through his palm, using it as a makeshift showerhead.

It had become a small art where he opened his hand at an angle and let a thin stream fall, washing off his sweat, his cheeks flushing as he finally felt human again.

Ignotus was already clean by this realm’s standards, having scrubbed off all the blood and grime at any chance that he got, but his standards were much higher. Plus, wearing new clothes while all sweaty really irked him.

And yes, he had saved water directly into his inventory, the liquid returning no different.

His inventory was truly incredible... no wonder many loved the Space Element so much.

After a minute, he looked up at the mirror and saw himself in his new fit, looking ready for battle—too ready, one might say.

And for a moment, he was sure that he saw his eyes turn red, a familiar red that materialized all around him.

It was Eris having a look, something that would’ve scared the daylights out of almost everyone.

’I look good, don’t I~?’

She responded with a satisfied hum.

’That’s good to hear.’

Turning around, Ignotus stepped out and waved at the store owner.

The poor guy waved back before quickly standing up.

"Wait! You forgot your—"

But then he blinked, realizing that Ignotus was already gone.

Confused, he stepped towards the changing room—

"WHAT THE HELL?! WHY IS IT SOAKING WET?!"

Ignotus, now halfway down the street, chuckled.

"Good thing I saved all that water. I really needed a bath."

Eris’s voice hummed warmly.

’You really clean up well.’

Ignotus picked up his pace.

’You took your time, but thanks.’

But Her next words slowed him down:

’Why do you only wear black? Other colors would look wonderful on you as well.’

Her question in itself wasn’t what surprised him; Ignotus wasn’t some ten-year-old punk, so it was a pretty valid thing to ask. A question that he should’ve expected, but...

’...’

Ignotus didn’t answer, and Eris, expecting that, didn’t follow up.

Though he ’didn’t answer’ only at first.

’It’s...’

He looked down, seemingly struggling to find the words.

’It’s my own way of mourning...’

Words to answer a truly personal question for the first time.

’My only way.’

Eris revealed a soft smile, something that he felt.

’Thank you for telling me.’

Again, She didn’t follow up and ask what he was ’mourning.’ He struggled to reveal what was vague; it was too soon to ask for more.

But anyhow, his answer only confirmed what She knew full well by now: Ignotus had a lot more going for him than one might think, especially after witnessing even an inkling of his absolutely unhinged self.

’Yeah...’

With that, Ignotus returned to running. The hours bled away with grass and dirt flying underfoot until at last, Saint Academy’s great gates rose before him.

He took them in: white stone and heavy marble, their columns standing tall, some even built as statues.

Beyond them was much the same; all the buildings were massive and similar in shape, connected by wide courtyards, surrounding the Colosseum. A structure bigger than any he’d ever seen in this realm, rising high in the sky.

The structure was just too beautiful.

It was likely where everyone was, at the moment, as, besides the white armored guards, no one was before him, making the Academy seem quite empty. A fact that he was sure the Academy was far from, especially not today.

He stepped in and paused in the center of the main marble walkway.

Indeed, he could hear the cheers from out here; everyone had already gone to be judged.

The acceptance of Seekers was well underway, making him unable not to think that...

’Am I too late?’