A Regressor's Bucket List Chapter 91

The Guild's Territory belonged to the Order's domain, but it was a separate region that did not fall under the jurisdiction of any Constellation.

This had two major implications.

One was that, since it wasn't under a Constellation's jurisdiction, it was not subject to the interference of the Constellations' Satellite Magic.

In other words, while belonging to the Order's domain, it was a 'blind spot' where one could evade the eyes of the Constellations.

The other was that, for that very reason, the basic things that could be taken for granted in a Constellation's jurisdictional area were not a given here.

- Halt! You Magical Beasts!!!

The most representative of these was 'security'.

Although the systems established varied slightly depending on each jurisdictional area, one thing they all possessed without exception was a security organization directly under the Constellation.

An organization specialized in preventing internal chaos within the jurisdiction and blocking invasions from external Magical Beasts.

The great sects of the Murim Empire were such, and the divine corps of the Olympus Republic corresponded to this.

However, this dormant Territory, which lacked such a security organization, was not protected from Magical Beast invasions.

And since it shared a border with the Kunlun Zone where Magical Beasts existed, it was not a rare occurrence for them to actually raid the area.

“She’s working harder than I thought.”

“…It’s like that almost every day. They appear more frequently than you’d think.”

While I was away from this Territory, I had entrusted the role of security to Cheong-yi.

It was a conclusion I reached based on the judgment that she needed to heighten her physical senses to assimilate the still-immature power of the Heavenly Demon, and hunting the Magical Beasts that appeared near the Territory on the side wouldn't be a bad idea.

Of course, since Cheong-yi was still unskilled in combat, she would need a leader who could provide some level of guidance.

But even if I wasn't there to guide and discipline her, I knew the Demonic Sword fellow could more than fill that role, so I could trust him with it.

‘…….’

In the first place, it wasn't as if I, facing imprisonment in the Darkest Dungeon, was in a position to choose.

“…Was it really okay to do that?”

Loxy, who was standing next to me watching Cheong-yi, suddenly threw a question at me.

When I turned to look at her face, her eyes were still fixed on Cheong-yi, who was chasing the Magical Beasts.

“What was?”

When I feigned ignorance and asked back, she replied, her gaze still fixed.

“What do you mean, what?”

“……”

“…The fact that this isn’t your first life. Weren’t you supposed to hide that?”

Scratch scratch—

“Was I?”

When I answered with another question, she sighed and wiped her face.

“…I get that your concept is to be an idiot, but I’d appreciate it if you’d stop there since someone is about to die of frustration.”

Shrug—

Shrugging, I asked her back, and she added her reason.

“Are you that curious?”

“It’s not so much that… as it is that I can’t seem to understand it with my own head.”

“……”

“The reason you revealed ‘that fact’ now, and the reaction of ‘that woman’ earlier, none of it makes sense.”

‘That fact’ seemed to refer to my Regression, and ‘that woman’ likely meant Eliya.

Nod—

“…Well, that much.”

Smirk—

“It’s simple.”

The reason I could confidently reveal that this was my second playthrough in front of Eliya was simple.

“The kind of people priests are, they’re structurally designed not to believe in something like Resurrection.”

It was because I knew full well that even if I revealed it, she would not believe my words.

『…What? A second playthrough?』

『Yep.』

『…What kind of nonsense is that? Stop saying such blasphemous things and tell me properly.』

『It’s true.』

『I mean… it's not some flimsy, false doctrine from a heretical religion. Theologically, it's nonsensical. Are you saying you're a Regressor or a Reincarnator, Hero?』

『…….』

『Geez… If you don't want to say it, just say so. Why say something like that? Don't you think that's too much?』

As I had expected, she did not easily accept my words about having regressed.

No, rather than saying she couldn't accept it, it was more accurate to say she denied it.

…She had, without a moment's hesitation, treated my statement of ‘Regression’ as a lie I was telling because I didn't want to reveal the truth.

‘…….’

Even though it was something worth being suspicious about at least once, the reason she immediately dismissed my Regression as a lie followed a surprisingly simple principle.

Doctrine.

It was because the doctrine of the ‘Guardian Cross Order,’ which not only Eliya but all priests believe in, denies ‘Resurrection’.

“…What do you mean by that? Structurally unable to believe in Resurrection……”

“It means exactly what it says. One of the most powerful truths embedded in the minds of the Guardian Cross Order’s priests is that ‘Resurrection is impossible’.”

“……”

“Well… strictly speaking, Resurrection and Regression are different concepts, but it’s true that it’s a concept based on it to some extent.”

Loxy, who tilted her head as if she still didn't understand despite my added explanation, added a question after a brief pause.

“…I don’t quite get it. I mean, I also thought something like Regression couldn't possibly exist, but I'm not such a half-wit idiot that I'd believe it at face value.”

“……”

“…But seeing the things you’ve done, it’s at a level that’s impossible to explain otherwise, so I have no choice but to believe…”

I cut off her words, as she seemed to be taking the word ‘deny’ a bit too lightly, and corrected her.

“It’s not on the level of simply lacking conviction or not believing.”

“……”

“In the minds of the priests of the Guardian Cross Order, ‘Resurrection’ is a non-existent concept, and furthermore, it’s something that exists in the realm of ‘necessity’—it ‘must not’ exist.”

“……”

“So…”

Shrug—

“Except for just one person.”

* * *

As with all religions.

The ‘Guardian Cross Order,’ which could be called the largest in the Upper Plane, also had a founder who established the Order.

…To be precise, it would be a more accurate explanation of the sequence of events to say that his followers established the Order and installed him as the founder, rather than him establishing it himself.

In any case, the fact that he was the founder of the existing Guardian Cross Order was an undeniably clear fact.

‘Messiah.’

The savior whom the Guardian Cross Order follows.

A hero who saved this vast Upper Plane from ruin in the distant ancient times before the Order existed.

It is said that he, who holds the greatest influence in the long history of the Upper Plane even to this day, left behind several prophecies for future generations before his Ascension.

One of them was a prophecy concerning Resurrection.

『…In the last days, false prophets will appear and deceive many people, performing signs and wondersnto deceive you if possible…….』

『…However, no one except me and those sent by my will shall attain Resurrection. Even the myriad stars in the sky are not eternal; they are but a fleeting twinkle of a half-day that will eventually fade.』

His prophecy, which he proved by demonstrating the reality of the Resurrection himself, became the truth that the Guardian Cross Order, his followers, believed in and served.

And as he prophesied, it was only natural for the priests of the Guardian Cross Order that no one but him should possess the 'power of Resurrection'.

…Of course.

That wasn't to say that Eliya had dismissed my words as lies by blindly relying 100% on the realm of faith.

The ‘divinity of Resurrection’ was not an abstract concept that simply appeared in a flash, but a factual concept that had been verified and solidified numerous times throughout the long history of the Order's existence.

There was more than one fact that proved its absoluteness.

The Constellations, who boasted a higher standing than any other existence as the core axis of the Order and wielded great influence enough to sway the War against Demons with their pure power, were proof.

Just as the Messiah had said, none among them possessed a power that infringed upon the divinity of Resurrection.

And the fact that the Order's magic, which had established and developed its system over thousands of years, had tried countless times to grasp the clue to Resurrection but had never once even approached the concept, was proof of its divinity.

“…Wait a minute.”

Loxy, who had been listening quietly, cut in.

“Something’s strange.”

“……”

“It's not like I don't know. About that person called the Messiah… but according to you, that Messiah person didn't say Resurrection was completely impossible.”

“Well, yeah.”

“Then isn’t it more logical to think that you are the Resurrected One mentioned in that prophecy?”

She wasn't wrong.

Indeed, if one were to follow the logical sequence, Eliya had skipped that necessary stage of suspicion and immediately treated my words as a lie.

However, considering the data the Order had accumulated through experience, it was somewhat understandable.

Shrug—

“They’ve been burned too many times until now.”

“……?”

It wasn't as if there had never been anyone who invoked the Messiah's prophecy and challenged his legacy before.

“…There have been too many of them until now. Those self-proclaimed Resurrected Ones.”

The Saint Messiah, the only one who had proven the reality of Resurrection.

There were many who stole his name and claimed to be the resurrected one from the prophecy 'Messiah' spoke of.

But just as he had said there would be many false prophets.

All of them ultimately failed to prove that they were the messengers of the prophecy.

Unable to prove Resurrection themselves as the Messiah had done, they were eventually identified as heretics or witches and disappeared into the back alleys of history.

Such empirical evidence accumulated over the years.

Eventually, the notion became so entrenched that those who first claimed to be resurrected were the first to be suspected as heretics.

It was ironic.

The belief they revered the most had become the most taboo word.

“……”

Therefore, the image Eliya would conjure in her mind upon seeing me was also more or less predetermined.

‘A self-proclaimed Regressor.’

She had no choice but to judge me on the same level as the ‘self-proclaimed Resurrected Ones’ that had existed until now.

『…I'm saying this just in case, but don't you dare say that anywhere else. Especially when you're already being treated as a major criminal…….』

The fact that she had hastily concluded the topic and warned me was likely a problem along the same lines.

For any ordinary person, especially a priest working for the Order, it wouldn't be strange to immediately connect me with heresy at the mention of being a Regressor.

Moreover, it was even more so in the current atmosphere where the heresy trial of the former Saintess, considered the greatest risk factor since the Order's founding, was underway.

“……”

It seemed my subsequent explanation had answered some of her questions.

She did not immediately throw any additional questions at me.

She simply remained silent, watching Cheong-yi from a distance as she had at first, as if replaying our recent conversation in her head.

And then.

After some time had passed.

“…Then.”

She asked softly.

“Are you really the Resurrected One from that ‘prophecy’?”