REGRESSOR INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Chapter 961. Item Distribution (2)

‘I really want to hit him. I want to flick his forehead.’

“Will you really be okay with that?” I asked.

The people sitting at the table smiled.

It seemed that they were imagining something good.

They were probably imagining themselves acquiring the Semi-Mythic item. An item like that ought to belong to the Blue Guild, and there was no need to calculate the contributions, as the Blue Guild would definitely be at the top.

Park Deok-Gu was the main tank, Han Sora ensured that Gelk would not be able to recover at all, Jung Ha-Yan bombarded Gelk with her powerful spells, and Kim Hyun-Sung sliced up the other entities like tofu. The remaining guild members also showed an impressive performance compared to the other adventurers.

Kim Hyun-Sung's declaration that he would like the bag made it seem like the Blue Guild was willing to give up on the Semi-Mythic item. The Blue Guild was a major guild with an excellent public image, and it was known for having friendly policies toward small and medium-sized clans and guilds.

“Thank you very much, Guild Master.”

“As expected from the Blue Guild...”

“Thank you for being considerate.”

‘Stop with the nonsense.’

“Would you like to see it, Mr. Ki-Young?” Kim Hyun-Sung asked.

‘Get that bad away from me, you psycho.’

“Any item inside the bag will never suffer any damage to their durability. It's one of the bag's effects,” Kim Hyun-Sung added.

‘Seriously, go away.’

“It’s not that big, but it's not that small, either...” Kim Hyun-Sung continued.

‘Crazy bastard.’

“It'll be great to have this kind of bag in dungeons. It’s practical... It also has a vintage, yet luxurious feel to it,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

‘Just shut up.’

“So you bid to give it to him as a gift. Congratulations on obtaining a great bag, Commander,” Floretta said.

“It’s kind of reassuring to see that you two are still on good terms. The atmosphere between you two wasn’t that great yesterday... so we were kind of worried... Hahaha,” an adventurer said.

“...”

“We heard that you have a few hobbies, Commander... and that seems to be true. My fiancée has the same hobby as yours. Could you show us your collection one day?” asked the same adventurer.

‘This isn't my hobby, you fools.’

“Congratulations!”

The atmosphere was improving, and it was getting positive to the point that the tense mood earlier felt like it had never happened at all.

I really wanted to say, “The Blue Guild is not giving up any items. We’re going to take this, that, and that one over there,” but it was getting harder to say that.

Under everyone's gaze, Kim Hyun-Sung gave me the bag.

The bag looked like a vintage item, but the material wasn’t bad, and it looked like it was made to withstand dangerous situations rather than a daily driver. I actually liked it. I did have a few expedition bags, but Chanelia Hermes wasn’t exactly made for expeditions.

“Try it out,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“Yes, Commander. Try it.”

The female managers looked at me as if they really wanted me to try the bag out. When I accepted the gift awkwardly, I heard people clapping around me.

'Damn it, I want to get out of here. I want to throw this bag—no, I want to throw a chair at his face and run out.'

“It looks good on you, Mr. Ki-Young,” he commented.

“T-Thank you,” I said.

‘How should I say it? Would it be better if I just ignore their requests and say the boots are ours as well?’

The problem was that I needed to protect my honor as the honorary cardinal. In addition, greed was bad for the Saint of Light's image. In the end, I had no choice but to look at Park Deok-Gu.

‘I trust you.’

I wanted to see him stand up and shout, “Boots!”

Unfortunately, he was too busy eating his snacks.

'From now on, I’m going to get rid of all snacks during meetings.'

I tried to execute my next contingency plan and glanced at Han Sora, but she intentionally avoided my gaze, which made me think that she wasn’t going to help me at all.

‘What’s wrong with her...’

I had to find another way, so I faked my smile.

At a glance, it seemed like nothing, but those familiar with my real smile would know that this wasn’t my real smile. It was a smile to move on to the next subject. Obviously, my target was Kim Hyun-Sung, and things would be easier if I made him look like a crazy bastard.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

As expected, he was waiting for my reaction.

Of course, I nodded as if I was telling him that I was grateful and that I liked it.

‘I do like it... but I don’t think I’ll be carrying a lot of stuff.’

I didn’t tell him my true feelings.

‘I’ll store it for now since it really is helpful during expeditions. I’ll probably use it a lot more if I had the boots to match.’

I liked matching my bag and boots.

I felt bad, but this was normal for those with this kind of hobby.

‘Come to think of it, it’s about time I change my boots. The boots I wear for expeditions are all old, and they hurt my feet...'

The worried Kim Hyun-Sung cast a surprised gaze at me.

I looked at him and "smiled" again.

“I... really like it. Thank you,” I said.

“Hahaha. I’m glad to hear that you like it, Commander. Now, how about we continue with the item distribution?” an adventurer suggested.

“Wait...” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“...”

“And...” Kim Hyun-Sung trailed off.

“Huh?

“And... Gelk’s Boots. We’ll take that as well,” Kim Hyun-Sung added.

“...”

“...”

‘You adorable fool!’

Kim Hyun-Sung was a crazy fool.

I had never seen someone so shameless to say something like that in this kind of situation. I knew Kim Hyun-Sung hadn't been able to adjust to life in society, but he wasn't actually dumb.

He was having a hard time getting along with people, but I was sure he at least had the ability to read the room.

Unfortunately, he didn't read the room. As if he were a new recruit, he announced confidently that he was going to leave for home, even though everyone was going to stay and work overtime.

“What?” I asked.

Of course, we had the right to take it.

It just didn’t make sense that the Blue Guild would back off after taking just one item.

“We have the right to take it, Mr. Ki-Young,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“...”

“We should definitely take that item. Just think about our contributions to the fight. I understand that you’re trying to be considerate of other guilds, clans, and expedition members. I also understand that you want to distribute the items objectively and fairly as their leader, but you don’t have to be considerate all the time.

"I’m... I’m the guild master of our group, and the Blue Guild has contributed a lot in the fight, so we deserve to get this reward,” Kim Hyun-Sung explained.

‘Since when did he get so good at talking?’

“...”

“...”

“Y-You’re right, Master,” Floretta said.

“I won’t apologize for what I said, everyone,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“Haha. You don’t need to apologize for anything,” an adventurer said.

“But Mr. Hyun-Sung...”

“Right now, I’m talking as the Guild Master of the Blue Guild, not as the leader of a strike squad, Mr. Ki-Young. If you're going to allow it... I’ll formally claim ownership of Spirit Gelk’s Boots,” Kim Hyun-Sung declared.

‘He’s like a runaway train that just can't be stopped.’

I made eye contact with the other expedition members as if I was trying to tell them that I wanted to give them the item, but I simply couldn't do anything about it. I was worried that they might react negatively, but they all seemed like they understood my feelings.

“We’re fine with that. We would feel uncomfortable if fewer items were distributed to the Blue Guild, Commander,” an adventurer said.

Who could go against Hyun-Sung’s words? Sometimes, it was best to be stubborn and push through with your opinion. Thankfully, the meeting went a lot smoother from then on.

“Marlemonroe’s Ceremonial Dagger... will go to the Lime Guild,” I announced.

“Thank you.”

“I think it’s best if the Underground Order of the Holy Knights’ Radiant Shield is given to the Beast Guild. They have a strong vanguard, after all.” I suggested.

“We’ll do our best to fulfill our mission.”

No one objected to my decisions, even though my way of distributing the items was different from how items were normally distributed. Even if the items were distributed fairly, there would always be those who'd object and talk nonsense.

That was exactly why I couldn't help but nod in satisfaction when these people simply accepted what they were given without any word of complaint.

“The remaining are monster samples and items that are hard to appraise. The samples will be handed over to the researchers. The items that can’t be used right now will be stored for the time being,” I instructed.

“Understood.”

“Please prepare for the next leg of the expedition. We’ll join the sixth strike squad. We’re going to head to the ninth floor as fast as possible,” I added.

“Yes, Commander.”

The expedition group was done with their preparations. As soon as I exited the tent, I saw people getting ready, and I saw the palanquin in the distance. Before I could walk into the palanquin, I heard a voice calling for me.

“Mr. Ki-Young!" Kim Hyun-Sung called out.

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry... for disappointing you just now,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

“...”

“But these boots—”

“That’s yours, Mr. Hyun-Sung,” I interrupted.

“What?”

“You should use that item. It suits you better, Mr. Hyun-Sung,” I said.

“B-But...”

“I’m not trying to be sarcastic here...” I told him.

“...”

“I really want you to use it,” I added.

“What?”

“It’s my gift to you,” I said.

I didn’t buy it nor did I earn it, but I wanted to show it off.

I smiled at Kim Hyun-Sung, who was staring at me with a dumbfounded face as if he were a broken robot.

“Thank you,” Kim Hyun-Sung said.

‘Just listen to me and you’ll profit like this.’

'Do you understand?'

“Thank you, Mr. Ki-Young,” Kim Hyun-Sung repeated.

“...”

“...”

And...

[Secret Report About the Mole Saint]

[Document Written by Spirit Gelk]

[Templar Training Experiment Report]

[Underground Gathering Invitation]

I examined the rest of the items that we had obtained from Gelk.

Underground Gathering Invitation

We’d like to thank everyone who has been supporting the Underground Temple and has been keeping our existence a secret all this while.

To show our gratitude, we prepared a gathering just for you. We hope to discuss our future with those who have been doing their best to protect the continent.

May the infinite glory of the God of Light be with all the attendees.

We hope that you’ll attend and grace us with your presence.

[Would you like to accept the invitation?]

Obviously, I immediately put away the invitation.

‘What the hell was that?’

I could still remember seeing blood upon accepting an invitation like this before...