Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 388

388―――――

Right Here

Sha was speechless, watching Zion discuss light in front of the 천족 [Cheonjok, literally “heavenly race,” often translated as angels or celestial beings], who were known as the descendants of light.

She couldn’t believe how confident and unafraid he was.

Other beings, even her own kind, were intimidated by the sight of the pure white wings fluttering on her back and couldn’t voice their opinions properly, but this man was different.

He was different, so very different.

And that difference didn’t feel so bad.

‘I never thought such a human still existed… I really didn’t.’

He knew everything about the 성언 [Seong-eon, sacred words or divine pronouncements] that the 천족 valued, and unlike the reports from the 요정 [Yojeong, fairies or sprites], he wasn’t denying the light but rather worrying about it.

His words and eyes, which sought to prevent them from continuing in the wrong direction and ultimately falling into a deep abyss together, were a very fresh shock to Sha.

“…Became arrogant, and in the end, became conceited and took the wrong path.”

Sha muttered the words without realizing it.

How could she not have had doubts about the current actions of the 천족?

However, all the beings in this world were too corrupted to have hope, and they were rejecting belief themselves, so she had abandoned that hope and tried to create a new world, a gray world, to turn back into light.

But this man directly refuted the decisions of her fellow 천족.

If they were the true light, if they were truly the descendants of that warm light that embraced them.

Shouldn’t they not despair no matter what happened, but rather have faith and guide them?

They, who were shouting that they were corrupted and that there was no hope, were betrayed by those they believed to be light and were trying to go the right way even while believing themselves to be light, so what on earth were those great descendants of light doing?

“Zion Clauzen, you know that your words are contradictory.

Why did we rise up?

It was because you humans and other races directly refuted the meaning of light.

Isn’t it possible that you are the ones who have become arrogant, not the descendants of light?”

“I will not deny it.

It is true that we brought great chaos and great sorrow to this land.

Yes, that is true.

It is us.

We have sinned, shed blood, and shed tears.

But, isn’t that not the end?

We, though we may be floundering in the darkness, strive to reach the light.

Sha, you must know that too.”

“…”

“We didn’t rise up against 신성 프러센 [Shinseong Peureosen, Holy Prussen] because we didn’t acknowledge our sins or because we were corrupted.

How could those who were still trying to live in this chaotic and painful world not sin?

For that reason, everyone wants to be forgiven for their sins.

For that reason, they believed in the 교리 [Gyori, doctrines or teachings] of light and, even if they didn’t officially accept it, tacitly accepted it.

Even if everything in the world scratched and cut them, they wanted the light, as its name suggests, to always shine on them and tell them that it was watching over them.”

The reason why humans believe in religion is ultimately because they need a sanctuary.

It is rare for people to believe because they have truly experienced a miracle and are convinced that there are spiritual beings.

The same is true here.

The reason why people believe in the 교리 of light is simply because they think it is light.

They thought of such a light that would illuminate the path if they were lost, and warmly embrace them and tell them to cheer up if they were tired and collapsed.

But the 천족 abandoned such actions of light.

There were only a few sinners, but they branded everyone, both guilty and innocent, as sinners.

If that is the case, who would follow and believe in that light as light?

Belief ultimately starts from the idea that it will be beneficial to oneself, that it will not cause harm, and such basic things.

If it is not beneficial but harmful, and even if that loss is not money or wealth but life, anyone would naturally think that their belief has been betrayed.

“Sha.

This is a kind of grumble.

Why do those who call themselves light push us into deeper and darker darkness instead of illuminating the path?

Why do they try to burn us to death instead of warmly embracing us?

They are saying, why do you abandon us, who cannot live without sin in this world and are trying to live righteously in order to be forgiven for it?”

“Is that the current situation?

Isn’t it too much to see it as a grumble?”

“You must think about who drew the sword first.

Just as we are not without sin, you have also sinned.

But we acknowledge that, while you do not.”

Zion picked up a blanket from inside the tent.

Then, he approached Sha, who was still on guard even though she had relaxed her vigilance, and quietly covered her with it.

“If you are the descendants of light, wouldn’t you bear that much responsibility?

Not giving up for the sake of someone, even just one person, who wants to go to the light.

That is your duty and destiny.

Don’t abandon us.

Don’t cast them out.

Light is ultimately a being that must illuminate even the darkness, so how can you reject the shaded areas?”

With those words, Zion gestured slightly towards 릴리트 [Lilith].

“Do you know why this 마족 [Majok, demon race] woman is here?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Sha, she came here to seduce me and the humans here, as you think, and make us completely turn away from the light.

To make us fight, not just grumble.”

“…!”

In an instant, Sha’s expression turned sharp and she glared at 릴리트 as if she would kill her.

But 릴리트 only yawned, as if wondering where a dog was barking.

“The more the light casts us out, the more darkness will creep into the gap.”

“…Are you threatening me, threatening us, the descendants of light?”

Perhaps it sounded that way.

Like a threat that if they didn’t stop here, he would side with the 마족 and fight them to the end.

But Zion showed a very sad expression, as if that was absolutely not the case.

In addition, Zion succeeded in making tears well up by thinking all sorts of sad thoughts.

The moment a drop of clear water flowed from his eyes, Sha couldn’t help but gasp.

“I’m not threatening, I’m begging.

Please don’t abandon us, don’t cast out these pitiful people who have no choice but to do so even though they know it’s darkness, even though they know they’re sinning.”

“…”

Zion’s appearance, facial expressions, and all the sacred words he had been saying before.

Even the tears that struck a fatal blow, really gave a feeling of desperate begging.

Thanks to that, Sha couldn’t say anything and could only look at Zion.

No matter how much she looked, it didn’t seem like he was lying.

It was a confession, a plea, and an honest answer from none other than Zion Clauzen, the one who might hate their 천족 the most.

‘…Really, were we really too much?’

As Zion’s attacks hit Sha, who was originally a moderate, it was only natural that the wall would gradually crumble.

He didn’t seem to be lying, and seeing him treat her with such courtesy, even though she could barely support her own body, she seemed to be a person with a strong belief in the light.

Decisively, it was very admirable that he was enduring even though a 마족, a succubus queen who was said to be skilled at seducing reason, was kneeling and seducing him.

‘I can hear the sound of her falling for it, I can hear it very well!’

Unlike Sha’s heart, which was full of pure and sacred thoughts, Zion was chuckling inwardly, hoping that this 천족, this woman who had a slightly innocent and foolish side, would fall for him soon.

He had already succeeded in giving Sha the feeling that he was truly a representative of God with the phrases he knew and the information about the 천족 he knew from reading novels.

He still didn’t know what that gray was, but that was something he could find out later.

Above all, as a moderate of the 천족, she saw the 모습 [moseup, appearance or figure] of those who were trying to live in this right direction, and although she was disappointed and angry because of a few, she was conflicted when she heard a plea-like request not to give up and to guide them for the sake of other few.

‘If you add a drop or two of tears there, it’s the icing on the cake.’

Some people say that men’s tears are ugly, but that’s just a matter of face value.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s a woman or a man, if they have a face that can captivate reason, there’s no problem.

The tears shed there are enough to make you think, ‘Oh, was I wrong?’

“You seem to have moved too much.”

“Yes?

Ah, ah…”

At Zion’s words, Sha was finally able to realize that blood was seeping out again from the bandages around her chest.

“I did use a little healing magic, but the magicians said they didn’t want to do the foolish thing of showing off their abilities in front of the descendants of light, so they didn’t heal much of it.”

Sha was not without pride in the 천족, so Zion subtly praised the 천족 at times like this, proving that they were not demons trying to harm all the 천족.

“But it seems like you’ve healed the urgent wounds.”

“It would be best to rest for now.

Let’s talk about the rest later.

Then I’ll be going…”

“Wait a minute, Zion Clauzen.”

Sha suddenly grabbed Zion.

Zion was a little excited, wondering if this woman had already fallen for him, but he couldn’t help but be disappointed when he heard the words that came out of Sha’s mouth.

“That woman, 릴리트.

Leave that woman here.”

“Huh?

Why me?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?

I’m going to watch you.

The thought of a 마족 who doesn’t know what she’s going to do stirring up this place makes me feel angry just imagining it.”

“If Sha keeps the 마족, I’m welcome.

I had a headache because she kept seducing the people here.

But are you okay?

I’m worried that she might try to harm you.”

“Even if I’m pushed back a lot due to my injuries, I’m not at a level where I’ll be helplessly defeated.

If you are truly those who want to go the right way, follow my words.”

At Sha’s words, Zion nodded as if he understood.

Then, he moved his steps and approached 릴리트, who was sitting obediently on her knees.

Squeeze―.

릴리트 glanced at Zion, who was gently holding her hand, and smiled.

She immediately noticed what her man wanted, that he wanted her to stay here and play the role of a 바람잡이 [baramjapi, literally “wind catcher,” someone who stirs up or instigates], and showed that reaction as a sign that she understood.

“People are waiting nearby, so if you have any inconveniences or need anything, please tell them.”

“…Okay.

I will express my gratitude for your kindness, Zion Clauzen.”

It was a 모습 that could be said to have progressed a lot compared to the very cold and stiff atmosphere when they first met.

After Zion disappeared outside the tent, Sha fiddled with the blanket that Zion had covered her with for a while, and then felt the gaze looking at her and made a fierce look.

“Is it you guys after all?”

“What?”

“Those who seduce them and make them commit all sorts of sins, and thus make our descendants of light have wrong thoughts about them.”

“Oh my, what kind of ridiculous imagination is that?

The chest is wide open, but why are you making a sound that sounds like your brain is hurt, not your heart, Sha?”

“Such an abominable thing…”

Sha had to frown as she was about to get angry.

The 격통 [gyeoktong, intense pain] that was transmitted from her chest had once again scratched her body.

“Puhut.

How pathetic.

To be whimpering after being cut by a human.”

“Better than you kneeling before a human.”

“I can do even more than this to survive.

To bring you down, and at the same time, to make those poor things who have been betrayed by you and have lost their way into the darkness.”

“Impossible.

As long as I and we are here.”

“What kind of 개소리 [gaesori, dog sounds; nonsense or bullshit] is that again?

Your job is to burn this whole world.

So you’re going to turn it all into a handful of ashes and dye it gray, right?

You have to do that to be proven as light.

But it’s a funny thing, right?

If you turn the world into ashes, light and darkness are meaningless in the end.

There are no beings to call you light, so why do you insist on that path?”

“…”

She was truly pathetic for not being able to refute the 마족’s words, but Sha couldn’t open her mouth because there was nothing wrong with 릴리트’s words.

If the 천족 really burned the world and turned it into ashes, what would be left?

She had completed her task, but who on earth would prove that word, light?

‘Maybe gray is really talking about that man.

No, furthermore, it could mean all those who are struggling to live in this world.’

Even if they sometimes turn darker than usual and move away from the light, if they don’t be disappointed or angry and continue to guide them, they will return to gray, and in the end, they will become 새하얀 모습 [saehayan moseup, pure white appearance], right?

The real content of the task given to them is not to burn the world, but to guide the things of the world to the right path.

Even if the 대상 [daesang, target or subject] is only one, just one, if even one person reaches the light, they will prove that they are the descendants of light, those who teach the way.

“If another battle breaks out with you soon, the hearts of the humans here will become more and more black.

Then the world that our 마족 want will come.

We’re going to eat what you’ve given up, so you’re not going to complain, are you?”

“I’ve never given up.”

“Oh my, the top 천족 is lying now?

If you’re not giving up by 몰고 [molgo, driving or herding] all the humans here as sinners and trying to burn the whole world, then what else is it?

Really, you guys who pretend to be light are abominable.

The humans here who are still 기대 [gidae, expecting or hoping] to you are so stupid.

The guys who say they follow you are already blind and deaf, and they’re just screaming and fanning the flames instead of giving advice on where the light should go.”

릴리트 깔깔거리며 열심히 도발했다 [Lilith cackled and provoked Sha diligently], but it looks like she’s doing it.

In reality, she was subtly emphasizing that the humans here are not those who reject the light and enter the darkness, even if they are fighting with 신성 프러센, the 요정, and the 천족.

She was paying attention so that Sha wouldn’t notice.

“Shut up, 릴리트.

I may be injured, but I won’t be 무력하게 당하지 [muryeokage danghaji, helplessly defeated] to you.”

“Stop it.

If you do anything here, 김유현 [Kim Yu-hyeon] will draw his sword and run at you again.

Let’s stay quiet if you don’t want to hold hands and be 썩둑! [sseokduk, sound of something being cut cleanly] and cut in half.”

At 릴리트’s words, Sha suddenly remembered one more thing.

Next to the representative of God, there is always the sharpest thing in the world to protect him.

Something that is neither light nor darkness that can 갈라버릴 [gallabeoril, split or divide] any darkness or any light.

‘…Light, what path have I been walking on?

And what path should I walk on now?’

Sha, who only thought that she would be caught by sinners and suffer humiliation, but now has a question that is twice as 머리가 아프고 답답한 [meoriga apeugo dapdaphan, head-aching and frustrating].

But for some reason, she felt a sense of relief.

It’s not too late yet, there’s still a chance left.

Above all, the best opportunity to carry out their task has now come.

―When you stand before the gray, you will finally be light.

―

Sha thought that the words, ‘You will finally be light,’ might not mean proving yourself as light, but rather fulfilling your duty as light.

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