REGRESSOR INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Chapter 1120: A Comrade Whose Trustworthiness is Uncertain (5)

Old Warrior Trait 1: Full of regrets...

Old Warrior Trait 2: Wants to correct past mistakes...

This old man was living in the present, but the ghost of his past was still haunting him. It wasn’t something he could just talk to anyone about, but I could see that he was still consumed by what happened in the Tower of Pain.

Isabel Sunstrider’s legacy had appeared out of nowhere.

Obviously, she and I were different, and our signature lines were different as well. Isabel Sunstrider’s famous line was, “I just want to be someone who can shine a light on those who stand in the shadows.”

However, it would be kind of strange if I used the same line as hers, so I said a line that held a similar meaning, and it was very effective.

The old man was immediately consumed by his memories, and regardless of his own will, tears welled up in his emotional eyes. He was likely recalling his first meeting with Isabel Sunstrider or the memories he had with her.

He could probably hear Isabel saying “Grandpa!” in his head. To add to that, I was sure that his memories with her were playing in his head like a panorama.

‘Come back to reality, gramps.’

“...”

“Mr. Raymond Bolt?” I said.

“It’s…” Raymond paused.

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing. I just got… dust in my eyes,” Raymond continued.

‘How can you get dust in your eyes when the wind isn’t blowing? Those are classic words.’

It was a good thing that it wasn’t raining.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“I’m okay. I’m fine… I’m fine…” Raymond answered.

‘Do I need to give him time to recover mentally?’

He was already lost in his memories. He was looking into the distance, seemingly in a daze. It had to have been hard for him to look ahead as he was staring at the ground to hide his face from me.

However, the way his shoulders were shaking told me that he was feeling emotional.

“Mr. Raymond Bolt…” I mumbled.

“It’s… nothing… Raymond said.

Had he finally realized that he was acting out character in front of Flower Ki-Young, who could be his grandson?

‘At least he’s mentally healthy.’

I’d understand if he started crying because I was sure he was in denial right now.

‘That child isn’t her.’

He probably thought something along those lines.

It was an undeniable fact that I was intercepting the bond he had with her, but it didn’t take long for the old man to come back to his senses.

As an old man with a ton of life experience, it seemed like he was able to calm down his racing heart and confusion. He was aware that Isabel and I were two different people, and we had no connections with each other.

I was sure there were things he wanted to say to her, but regardless of how much he cared about her, thinking that she and I were the same person was completely meaningless, and he knew it wasn’t good to think that way.

Despite that, he couldn’t forget about Isabel Sunstrider.

Our behavior, expression, and personality were similar, including the fact that we were shining brightly.

I hadn't done much research on her, but I knew the most important information about her, and it was her nature. Her nature was an idealist.

She believed that the world was warm and filled with light and that everyone thought the same way as her. In fact, the Shaded Sun Crown Familia was a group of followers who were captivated by her will, and as she said, she was like the sun that warmly illuminated those in the shadow.

In other words, we had many similarities.

One of them was the fact that she had yet to realize the truth that evil existed in the world. She'd blame the evil she had seen on the environment rather than the people.

She believed that if good people came together and spread goodness to the world, the world would change. She dreamed that one small flap of her wings could change the continent.

I was sure the Shaded Sun Crown Familia had suffered a lot because of her nature, and Isabel herself likely had to endure a ton of injustice and malice. The reason a mid-sized familia that had the potential to become a major familia stopped growing at some point was hidden somewhere there.

Like many other idealists, she was well-liked, but her surroundings weren't helping her at all.

“I should… get going now, Mr. Raymond Bolt,” I said.

“Already? Is something wrong?” Raymond asked.

“As I mentioned earlier, I need to start heading south,” I replied.

“To the south?” Raymond asked.

“Yes.”

“...”

“...”

“Hey,” Raymond said.

“Yes?”

And that was why Grandpa Raymond just couldn’t leave Flower Ki-Young alone…

“If… you don’t mind, could you tell me what kind of commission you accepted?” Raymond asked.

“Of course. It’s a simple herb-gathering commission,” I answered.

“Herb gathering…” he mumbled.

“That’s right. I’m actually interested in herbal medicine. Of course, it’s nothing to brag about, but I studied a bit when I was at the academy, and personally… I like herbs,” I told him.

“What about your other party members?” Raymond asked.

“Party members?”

“I’m talking about the other party members who agreed to work with you. Where are they? Are they back at the inn?” Raymond asked.

“Ah…”

“Are you… are you trying to enter the forest alone?” Raymond questioned.

“To be exact, I’m not trying to enter the forest. I heard the entrance has been stabilized… and monsters rarely appear there. I did some research before coming here, so you don’t have to worry,” I reassured him.

“...”

“Arnia Leaves are usually found on the outskirts rather than inside the forest, and that includes Mego Mushrooms and Talina Roots. Those are all the items listed on the commission and the guild actually…”

‘Yeah, I know I sound ridiculous right now, so don’t look at me like that, gramps.’

“I… don’t know what to say… Were you really thinking about going alone?” Raymond asked.

“Huh? Yes…” I answered.

“Aside from the monsters, did you know there are wild herbs near the southern forest?” Raymond asked.

“What?”

“What I’m saying is that players like you and bandits are roaming around targeting merchants. They’re not just petty thugs. They’ve grown into a formidable group. Did you check to see who made the commission?

"Even if the Adventurer's Guild has notarized it, you shouldn’t think all missions are normal missions. That’s the same for commissions notarized by familias as well. The thugs in the mountain could have actually made the commission,” Raymond explained.

“T-That can’t be,” I stuttered.

“I know it sounds like I’m exaggerating, but it has happened on the Rohen Continent before. A similar incident occurred a few years ago. What are you going to do about the monsters that will definitely appear outside the forest upon being abandoned by their group?

"And What if you get lost? Have you thought about what you’ll do if you encounter a group of bad people or slave merchants?” Raymond questioned.

“I haven’t…” I mumbled.

“Wheeew… I can’t believe you thought of this as a simple herb-gathering commission… and… came all the way here alone,” Raymond said.

Flower Ki-Young had learned about the Rohen Continent through books.

“But—”

“And your armor is in a pretty poor state,” Raymond interrupted me.

“...”

“I want to ask if you have a way of protecting yourself,” Raymond asked.

“I do… have a sword… but I left it in my room…” I replied.

“What’s your level… Did you advance your job to a swordsman?” Raymond asked.

“I’m Level 2… and a priest…” I answered.

“But you’re wielding a sword. Consider yourself lucky that it's still on you. And let me give you some advice. If someone asks for your level, don’t tell them so easily like that.

"Don’t tell them anything that could give them clues about your abilities, and the same goes for your equipment. You shouldn’t just show off your newly bought equipment like that. Are you trying to tell people that you’re a wanderer?” Raymond questioned.

‘What the hell do you want me to do?’

“Whoo…” Raymond sighed.

I couldn’t help but lower my head.

I was just a young boy with a dream.

Many people praised Flower Ki-Young for being a genius, but he was just a rookie who knew nothing about the world.

I was sure the old warrior thought I was going to lose my life soon.

It wasn't going to happen right now, but he was almost certain that I would lose my life if he were to leave me alone. Normally, he wouldn’t interfere in something like this because the old warrior wasn't a fan of forming a deep bond with others, but this was different.

‘He can’t leave me alone.’

Isabel Sunstrider and I were two completely different people and had no relationship with each other at all, so Raymond Bolt had no reason to worry about me, but…

‘He can’t leave me alone.’

“Lead the way,” Raymond said.

“What?”

“I’ll help you until you complete this commission,” Raymond said.

“I-I don’t want to trouble you with this. I appreciate the offer, but I’ll complete this on my own, Mr. Raymond Bolt,” I told him.

“Didn’t you hear me just now? You don’t know anything. Of course, I heard rumors about you being smart and that people have high expectations, but the world isn’t what you think. I'm sure this looks like a simple commission, but there are many things you need to worry about. An expedition is…”

‘Yeah, yeah.’

“Actually, let me give you some advice. If you want to work on the Rohen Continent and survive until the end, avoid working alone as much as possible. I won’t say anything cliche like, 'Join a familia,' or anything like that, but it’s important to at least have comrades who will have your back,” Raymond continued.

‘That’s what I’m doing right now, Gramps. Getting trustworthy comrades.’

“No matter how small a task may be… it’s important to share and overcome them together,” Raymond added.

‘Yes, yes, of course.’

“Gather your belongings,” Raymond instructed.

“B-But I don’t want to… trouble you…” I mumbled.

“Whoo, then let’s do this,” Raymond said.

“...”

“I’m actually free right now, so how about we create a temporary party? I don’t know how to look for herbs, and you don’t have a way of protecting yourself, so let’s split the reward in half. Will you feel less burdened?” Raymond asked.

“...”

“...”

“What do you think?” he asked.

“W-Well, when you say it like that…” I said.

“...”

“...”

“Thank you, Grandpa Raymond,” I said.

“...!”

'Oh no, I made a mistake.'

“I-I mean… Mr. Raymond Bolt. I’m sorry. It just came out…” I apologized.

“...”

“You suddenly… reminded me of my grandfather back on Earth,” I told him.

Of course, it was a white lie because I had no grandfather.

“Haha…”

“...”

“Hahaha!” Raymond laughed.

“Again, I-I’m sorry, Mr. Raymond Bolt,” I said.

“It’s fine,” Raymond said.

“Excuse me?”

“You can call me whatever you want. It doesn’t matter to me,” Raymond answered.

Despite saying that, the old warrior was smiling faintly. He looked as if he was looking at his actual grandson.

‘He’ll get a heart attack if I tell him I’m going to die in three years.’

Of course, that was a small secret of mine. The boy, driven by purity and resolve, sang a hymn about humanity while quietly bearing a small but painful secret.

It was a very small secret… that people couldn’t find out.

“O-Okay…” I answered.

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