The Regressor Wants to Become a Hero

Chapter 138

Whump!

A ball of fire ignited mid-air, illuminating the dark and desolate interior of the ruins.

The sudden burst of light painted the surroundings, forcing the darkness to retreat like scurrying insects.

If this were truly a place of worship, even in its decrepit and ancient state, it should have exuded an air of reverence and mystery. Yet, this place was the exact opposite.

The cold, eerie atmosphere, combined with the ominous energy seeping from the walls, provoked an overwhelming sense of discomfort and loathing.

“Ugh.”

Rease let out a faint groan. As a priest, she appeared far more sensitive to the sinister energy than the others.

Seeing her shrink away, Diem stepped closer to her side protectively.

Just as Cyphry had described, this place truly felt “defiled.”

Gawain, who had entered the tense interior of the shrine ready for a fight, seemed disappointed when there was no need to swing his greatsword.

“I thought being in the Outer World meant monsters would be swarming everywhere. Guess that’s not always the case.”

“Who knows? Maybe at the bottom of these ruins, there’s a writhing mass of thousands, maybe millions, or even billions of bugs,” Audrey replied casually. While it was the worst-case scenario, such speculation wasn’t entirely unwarranted.

Gawain chuckled at her words.

“What’s there to worry about? I’m here. We’ve got our comrades. Fire and ice—polar opposites—joining forces. You could say we’re unstoppable. If something bursts up from below, I’ll freeze it all.”

“And if they swarm us from all sides?”

“That’s what comrades are for. Burn them all to ash. Clean and simple.”

“Wouldn’t we end up as ashes, too?”

“No way I’d let my companions get burned alive.”

With a dramatic gesture, Gawain extended a hand toward Audrey.

A cold chill enveloped her. Briefly intrigued, Audrey soon scowled and shouted.

“It’s freezing!”

“Hahaha! Of course it is.”

Gawain roared with laughter as he withdrew the magic he had cast on her.

The playful exchange lightened the tense atmosphere. Watching this unfold, Ian reminded the group.

“Relaxing is fine, but don’t let your guard down. This is a shrine—one that’s been corrupted into an Outer World ruin. Who knows what kind of traps might be lurking.”

—There are no traps.

Without turning his head, Cyphry spoke.

“You expect us to believe that? You must think we’re gullible.”

—This is a shrine.

“Was, you mean.”

—Do not speak so irreverently. While it may no longer serve its purpose, it was once a place dedicated to worship and praise of a god. That truth has not changed.

“And?”

Ian interrupted Cyphry’s solemn tone.

—Its structure hasn’t changed. At the very least, you won’t find the ground collapsing, spears shooting up, poison gas spewing, or boulders rolling toward you. There are no such traps here. The layout remains intact.

“So, ambushes are still a possibility? Why not share more?”

—The name of this shrine is ‘La Ciel.’ It means ‘to praise the heavens.’ Once, dozens of priests, hundreds of devotees, and thousands of visitors frequented this place.

“Interesting. Even in the eras of Terramin and Rogolrod, when the Lords ruled the world, you worshipped a god instead of the Lords?”

—That’s correct. The Lords are undoubtedly great beings, unlike the lesser ones. They protect our world from the Outer World. But we believe in something greater—a singular, omnipotent existence.

“And yet, such a being shows no interest in us mere creations.”

Cyphry glanced back at him briefly.

—…Blasphemous.

“I know. But what can I do? A Lord who’s present and dependable is far more reassuring than a silent god who doesn’t react to my declarations of faith. Don’t tell me this is all some kind of trial. I hate those.”

—Very well. I won’t force you. Faith is a choice.

“You’re surprisingly open-minded. Better than priests who label non-believers as heretics.”

—Faith born of coercion is no faith at all. It’s merely a waste of time, yielding nothing in return.

“You make it sound like pure faith in a god offers something.”

—It’s not entirely devoid of merit. Unlike the Lords, gods don’t grant blessings, teachings, or voices. But they allow us to wield divine power. The warmth and sanctity we feel is our reward—a reminder that the god hasn’t completely forsaken us.

As they conversed, Ian’s gaze fell to the ground.

Dust lay undisturbed as though the area had long been untouched, save for the footprints marking the passage of those who entered before them.

“Come to think of it, I forgot to ask earlier. Can you tell what became of the mercenary group that entered before us?”

—As I said, I’m no prophet. I don’t know everything.

“Fine, I get it. You’re not omniscient. Now, answer the question. Must I make you repeat yourself twice?”

—There might be survivors. At most, one or two.

“Based on what?”

—Screams and wails. How could I not? Oh, but don’t get your hopes up. That was several days ago. By now, they’re likely all dead. Even if there are survivors, don’t expect them to be of any help.

“Isn’t it your duty, as someone who was once a priest, to save them?”

Cyphry chuckled dryly.

—Even if I save them, what can I offer? I can’t guide them out, nor can I provide sustenance. The best I could do is temporarily extend their lives, but only by a little.

A soft, dragging sound followed.

“……”

Ian’s eyes turned to Cyphry’s robe, noting how it trailed behind him without disturbing the dust on the ground.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen what lay beneath Cyphry’s robe—not even his face, despite their conversation.

“It’s odd to ask now, but are you a ghost?”

Cyphry tilted his hood upward, as if in thought, taking a moment before replying.

—I suppose I’m closer to a wraith. I’ve been dead a long time. Though I vowed to protect this shrine as its guardian, I was a failure in the past, and I remain one now.

“Unfortunate.”

—Spare me your pity. Focus. If your skills are inadequate, you’ll meet the same fate as me. Be prepared. Beyond this point, monsters will swarm.

“They’ll swarm?”

Ian barely finished his question when the air changed. Faint presences grew stronger, surrounding them from all sides.

—The passages connected to the Outer World periodically spew out monsters.

“The outer gates?”

—Precisely.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“Their Level?”

—Level?”

Ah, of course, he wouldn’t know. While their conversation flowed smoothly, Cyphry belonged to an earlier era, one unaware of modern conventions.

“Color!”

—Red.

Hearing that, Gawain grinned.

“Level 3, then.”

“Dangerous, sure, but manageable.”

Audrey nodded, visibly relieved. Diem and Reese also showed expressions of reassurance.

However, the next words from Cyphry made everyone’s face wrinkle.

– One must listen to a person’s words until the end. Right now… it’s changing to purple. That’s what I last saw a week ago. I don’t know how much it’s changed now.

“What?”

Ian’s face stiffened. Both Gawain and Audrey were momentarily lost for words.

Growl—

The sound of a monster’s roar slowly echoed from not far away. Cyphry also slowly surveyed the surroundings, bitterness evident in his gestures.

– For now, consider it a warm-up. The monsters from the outer world can’t survive without feeding, so their numbers have been steadily growing. But there’s no way to find food in this confined space. The food that had been stocked in the temple rotted away a long time ago.

“They didn’t even eat each other?”

– Interestingly, they didn’t prey on their own kind. They all hid in secluded corners and went into hibernation. Do you know why I spoke so negatively about the mercenary group’s survival? It’s because of them. When prey appeared to relieve their long hunger, would any of them give it up?

The presence of creatures entering the detection range of the dark ruins was felt. The number surpassed several dozens, and it was continuously updating in real-time.

The scale of the ruins was already large, but this was a bit unexpected.

Kyaaaah!

“They’re coming.”

Gawain calmly stepped forward, drawing his greatsword. In contrast, Cyphry turned around.

– I’ll step back for now. I’d like to help in the battle, but I must conserve my strength.

Offering an excuse that didn’t make much sense, he disappeared. Despite being exasperated by the sight, Ian knew that they had to finish the battle first.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward what lay beyond. Green eyes shook violently in the distance and began to approach.

Ian made a small gesture with his hand.

Whoosh—

Two streams of fire sliced through the air, clearing the sight. The pitch-black darkness receded, revealing the famished monsters.

They were emaciated and drooling as they swarmed toward them.

Just because they didn’t prey on their own kind didn’t mean they valued each other. They didn’t hesitate to push and shove past one another. It was terrifying.

“There’s a few too many.”

“Feeling pressured?”

“We’ll need to reduce their numbers a bit.”

His tone was calm, filled with confidence that they could handle it.

The monsters’ appearance was disgusting, but after such a long period of hunger, their strength had diminished.

It was simply a numerical advantage. With pure physical prowess, they could be overwhelmed.

However, Ian and Gawain were different from the others. They could wield special powers.

“I’ll bind their legs first.”

Gawain’s greatsword began to glow with a blue light.

At the same time, the air around them turned cold. And with a powerful swing towards the air, a cold aura surged and stretched violently.

What remained where the sword passed was a chillingly cold ice.

Creeeek!

The monsters at the front were startled and jumped off the ground, while those who couldn’t avoid it froze on the spot.

The front row turned into statues, and the frozen area decreased as it went further back. However, in an instant, dozens of monsters were subdued.

Kyaaaah!

Ian watched the scene and reached out his hand.

Two streams of fire that had been brightening the darkness twisted and from them, dozens of swords formed.

Whoosh!

It was a technique used by the Judgment of Fire, Eor, when fighting the white owl.

Although the name was unknown, the sight of weapons made from flames being fired was quite impressive.

It was somewhat familiar. Shaping formless fire to give it physical power was something Ian had already done.

It was a part of the techniques of the Bane of Evil. It wasn’t just about using heat and explosions.

Tting ting ting!

Flaming swords rained down like a storm, striking the monsters below.

The monsters frozen by the ice couldn’t dodge, and even those who could move freely had no way of escaping.

The monsters pierced by the flaming swords screamed in agony as they were engulfed in flames.

“Is this enough?”

In response to Ian’s question, Gawain readjusted his grip on the greatsword.

“Of course!”

———