156 – The returner becomes stronger (1)
The blue ticket held in my hand. This was the A-level attribute option, the reward for [40] Difficulty.
“Oh, there’s more. Here.”
This is not all. From the ‘All-Purpose Herb’ that can be received by selecting [10] In the first test, to the random characteristic box (unique) that can be received by selecting [20] In the second test. Choi Ji-won, he gave me all the rewards he received.
“You… “Did you beat them all on the highest difficulty level?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“… “I see.”
Well, there is no way ‘that’ Choi Ji-won could be blocked on the 12th floor. I had forgotten such a basic fact. After being able to handle ‘Seomjeon’s Heart’, Choi Ji-won became stronger than me. Moreover, there was no penalty for returning if hit once, so the 12th floor was cleared as easily as cake.
“Actually, the difficulty level of [40] Wasn’t that difficult. ‘Heart of the Battle’ wasn’t activated either. Although the mannequin’s swordsmanship itself was good, it was not as good as mine, and his physical ability was also much lacking. “I think a top-tier player would probably be able to get to [40].”
Choi Ji-won shrugs his shoulders casually. Judging by the slight vibration of the buzzer placed near the entrance, it seemed like he agreed with her words.
“Take this and become stronger, and after you regress, I can use it. That’s the advantage of regression, right? “The characteristics remain.”
Choi Ji-won hands me various rewards with a bright smile. I knew how helpful her support would be and how much goodwill it represented.
“… “
I couldn’t bear to accept the reward with a smiling face.
“That… “Jiwon.”
“Yes.”
“If I say this, you might be disappointed or think it’s really pathetic… “
Still, I have to say it. Because I didn’t want to lie to Choi Ji-won.
“I’m scared.”
“… What?”
“I’m scared because I feel like I’m getting too much help from you.”
Despite her full support, my weakness is revealed. Choi Ji-won just silently listens to me without any reaction.
“You probably felt it too… My mental state is currently not normal. “Thanks to you, I’m holding on at least for now.”
I felt it on the 12th floor this time. My current condition is critical. More than once I thought about killing all the trolls on the 12th floor. If you had actually killed them all, there was a high possibility that you would have obtained all the rewards a long time ago.
However, this tower was created by God to judge mankind. I don’t know if it’s anyone else, but I must follow the right path. I fully understand that, but… I keep falling into the temptation of wanting to take the easy path.
Except for my narrow personal relationships now, everything is close to other people. Because they were like robots that repeated the same actions when I regressed. No, if you look at it this way, everyone except Choi Ji-won is a stranger. Actually, I still don’t know the names of the players I met on the 12th floor. I wasn’t even interested.
Just as some players treat aliens who appear in the tower as NPCs… I was also treating everyone else except Choi Ji-won as NPC. That is why he casually thinks of the heinous method of murder. Because no one felt guilty after killing an NPC in the game.
“And my talent… “It is correct to say that I am far inferior to you.”
Excluding regression, my current strength is one level below Choi Ji-won. However, Choi Ji-won is a genius in name and reality. I would say she is rather talented for an average person, but she is way behind her. Now I’m following her, repeating her regression… What if one day you hit a wall? What if the difference in power becomes so great that I can’t even come close to Choi Ji-won?
It must be acknowledged. Choi Ji-won is not the flawless hero I pictured when thinking of ‘Choi Ji-won from Tutorial’, but she is still an all-rounder who is gifted with the highest level of talent in the human race. Kim Jun-ho is just an ordinary person who was lucky enough to receive EX-level characteristics.
I rely heavily on Choi Ji-won on such topics. Not only does it depend on the mental part, but now even the brute force part is dependent on it.
Feelings of regret, gratitude, guilt, and inferiority were swirling within me. I was afraid that no matter how hard I tried, I wouldn’t be able to repay her for what she was giving me.
“So, what I’m saying is, how about taking a good rest for about a year before training? Eat delicious food, let go of the burden of saving the world… Just playing without thinking. Won’t my sanity come back in about a year? “I also observe what’s going on in the world and get information.”
That’s why I want to run away. I want to settle for this present happiness. I want to enjoy this moment when our relationship is equal. I handed Choi Ji-won a proposal with such intentions in mind.
“Junho.”
“Huh?”
“Do you know that you said something similar to me in the tutorial?”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. “You asked me if we could just move on to the next stage together with my memories.”
“… “I think it was like that.”
“We are lovers, but I also think of ourselves as colleagues climbing the tower together. Oh, including Bungboong.”
Choi Ji-won gets up from his seat for a moment and comes carrying Bungboongi, which was left at the entrance.
“And do you think that I, whom you praise as ‘amazing’, is the kind of person who would abandon a colleague just because he or she has become weak?”
“… “No.”
“There was a time when I had the same concerns as you.”
Choi Ji-won gently places Bungboong on his lap.
“I think I was born with quite a talent, but… My dad was greater than me. Because people came from all over the world from time to time. He was very famous in the kendo industry. So do you know what I was most afraid of?”
“What is it?”
“My biggest fear was disappointing my dad. Although others praised me for being a genius and for being a quick learner even though I entered kendo late, I was never satisfied. I’m afraid I won’t be able to satisfy my father at this level. “There was a time when I thought about giving up kendo because of that pressure.”
“… “
“Of course, my dad would have loved me even if I wasn’t talented. It was just me that was scared. I think the same is true in your case. Just give it a try. “There’s no reason for me to hate you even if you fail.”
“What if I fail so completely that no matter how hard I try, I can’t fix it? “What if I can’t handle the cold magical power even if I try everything possible?”
“Then you can just give up. “You just have to find another way.”
Choi Ji-won casually discusses giving up.
“You think I’m some kind of invincible superhuman… “Don’t you remember that I also failed on the 4th floor?”
“… “I remember.”
“At the time, I felt sad and self-destructive… I wouldn’t regret it. Because I did the best I could. “I gave it my all, so I can be confident even if I fail.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Even if you fail, you can be confident. Since I am a regressor, the hurdle for ‘failure’ is much higher for me, and the meaning of ‘best’ is also ridiculously different… What Choi Ji-won wanted to say was fully conveyed to me.
“Actually, I don’t care if we take a year off, 10 years, or until we die of old age. Just, if you are faithful to each moment and do your best, that’s fine. You have a lot of time because of regression, right? How can anyone just work hard? Sometimes you need to rest. Instead, I think that even when you rest, your gaze should always be focused on your goal.”
“… “
“Then, I’ll ask again. Do you really want to rest? Or are you just afraid of disappointing me?”
“… “It’s both, but I think the latter probably has greater meaning.”
Choi Ji-won was right. Even if it takes a few twists and turns, or even if you stumble over a rock and fall, you just have to keep doing your best. What if I can’t handle cold magic? You can fight without using magical power. What if you lack talent? Just tap on the item or its characteristic.
Choi Ji-won will not be disappointed because I am not talented. Rather, I will be truly disappointed when I get scared and give up.
And I didn’t want to disappoint Choi Ji-won. I didn’t want to be disappointed in myself.
“Thank you, Jiwon. “I think I came to my senses thanks to you.”
“What? It’s natural. Later, when I’m having a hard time… You can help me then. “That’s a lover, right?”
Choi Ji-won smiles kindly. If you think about it, Choi Ji-won was also my teacher. Because I learned her swordsmanship from her.
So you are her teacher, colleague, and lover? There’s something strange about it.
“But Jiwon.”
“Huh?”
“How about taking just two weeks off?”
“Ha, indeed.”
After resting for exactly two weeks with Choi Ji-won, who burst out laughing like that.
“… “I’ll go and come back.”
“I’ll wait.”
I have completed all preparations.
[You have suffered damage.]
[Return to the moment you first entered the 12th floor.]
***
“… Phew.”
A room with an entirely white interior. This is the starting point of the 12th floor, which I was used to but now feel a little tired of. If I had to compare it, it felt like returning to the military dormitory after a long vacation.
For no reason, move your neck left and right to gently relax it, turn both shoulders slowly in a circle, and then straighten your back to complete the stretching.
Tduduk. Tdu-duk-duk.
I cracked my knuckles and made full preparations. In fact, up until now, I had consciously refrained from cracking my knuckles for fear of regressing, but now that I had nothing to lose, I just gave it a go. Even if this happens, there is no going back.
Anyway, my mental preparation was complete, so I took out the elixir from subspace and drank it without delay. A clear energy spreads right away. The coldness around the solar plexus also feels like it has eased.
What to do from now on is decided.
Uses cold magic power. It can be placed on the body, wrapped around a weapon, released outside, and in any case, it does everything possible with magical power. In the process, regression is inevitable. It is a future that has already been planned.
However, I will not give up just because I return. As long as my willpower holds out, I will do my best to learn how to ‘properly’ handle this magical power.
I have a goal.
My goal is to climb to the top of this tower and save all humanity.
Because it just looks cool at first. Since I was given a fraudulent ability called regression ability, I moved with a sense of responsibility. But now it’s different.
“Let’s see who wins.”
I try to be confident in myself. Until I conquer this magical power.