195 – The Returner Eats Raw (3)
“Are you going to be okay?”
This was the first thing Choi Ji-won said after hearing my plan. When she returned to reality, Choi Ji-won was waiting, as if it was natural, and I explained her plan to her.
For reference, the 17th floor that Choi Ji-won experienced was exactly the same as mine, but it is said that there were only women there. I don’t know why, but it seems like they were divided by gender this time.
“So… On the 15th floor, they said there was a problem because she was repeating her regression. “Is there even an angel waiting there?”
Of course, I am aware of Choi Ji-won’s concerns. The old man she met on the 15th floor said she had warned me, ‘Don’t overuse regression when you have angels.’ They say my return may be exposed to those who use the power of God.
“I also have a plan.”
But this is a fact that I am fully wary of. To be precise, I think we can get through this without a major crisis.
“First of all… I will never get close to an angel. “Anyway, you have to walk a little bit from the starting point to see the angel.”
“… And?”
“And there is no need to get involved with angels in the process. Does it just repeat the regression as soon as you enter the 17th floor? “You’ll never even see the angel’s face, let alone talk to him?”
“Hmm… “
“To be honest, I’m a little scared. “If you can manipulate your magic well enough, you can plant images into other people’s heads.”
If you use your imagination a little, you can say that you can incapacitate others with magical power from a distance… Planting memories that don’t exist… In severe cases, it could kill you. I also think it is absurd to discuss the impossible with the power of ‘magic power’ in the fantasy world.
“I am sure that if you develop resistance here and now, it will be of great help later. What if there is a place where the basic background is that the magical pressure is high? You just have to deal with it. “It’s better to train your resistance when you have the chance.”
“Hmm… “
Choi Ji-won is worried. I noticed that her mind was already leaning toward ‘let’s do it.’
“If I don’t do it at this time, when will I do it? Is not it?”
“Hmmm… “
“Do it? Are you fine?”
“… Okay.”
It was like a married man who got permission from the Minister of Home Affairs… Then what is it?
“Joase.”
After leisurely preparing, I returned.
To understand the power called ‘mana’.
[You have suffered damage.]
[Return to the moment you first entered the 17th floor.]
***
I can’t see anything. There is no smell. Nothing is touched.
“… “
No, no. Even if you can’t see it or touch it, there’s something you can feel. It’s me.
Even while floating in a completely colorless space, I can feel my own body. Is it because I have already experienced this situation? Or is it because I’m concentrating on magical power?
Something feels strange. It’s quite awkward to be in a situation where you feel nothing but yourself.
“How much do you know about yourself?”
A voice rings at just the right time. The man’s voice felt like a direct hit to my brain. Well, we have to resist this from now on… What should I do?
“Humans usually fall into the illusion that ‘the person who knows me best is myself.’ Usually it is just an illusion. Again, how much do you know about yourself?”
If you hear a sound with your ears, just block your ears, and if you see with your eyes, close your eyes. So, how can we stop language from being magically embedded in our brains?
“Ugh…” “
I tried to wrap the magic around the outside of my body, put it on my head, and moved it around, but nothing changed. Rather, the feeling of nausea and dizziness only worsens.
Then I remembered one fact I had forgotten.
I… Not a genius.
“Not a handful of people have a complete understanding of themselves. Are you included in that handful?”
The man’s words will soon end. Feeling impatient, I poured magical energy into my head, creating a kind of shield. Whatever it was, it was an action taken with the idea that the brain was the key.
“… !”
I felt extreme dizziness that was incomparable to anything I had experienced before, and I felt like blood was flowing from my nose.
“… Ah.”
I lost consciousness in an instant.
[You have suffered damage.]
From Noble mtl dot com
[Return to the moment you first entered the 17th floor.]
***
“How much do you know about yourself?”
Try blocking your ears.
Failure.
“How much do you know about yourself?”
Brain… There’s a risk in touching it, so just try blocking the magical power all around the outside of your body.
Failure.
“How much do you know about yourself?”
The power of magic is strange. Even though it has no substance, if you put your will into it, it can have an effect in reality. Where does this subtle difference come from?
“How much do you know about yourself?”
In the first place, the formless force changes into fire, ice, and even causes lightning. How is this possible?
“How much do you know about yourself?”
I don’t know about magic. No, you don’t know much about me. I don’t even know how this regression works in the first place. The more I think about it, the more I realize that there are many things I don’t know.
“How much do you know about yourself?”
“I don’t know… “
“Not a handful of people have a complete understanding of themselves. Are you included in that handful?”
“I don’t think so… “
Now, I have become somewhat accustomed to this space where I feel like I am the only one. This feeling of floating in space is quite addictive, and it has now reached a level where one can enjoy it. What should I do about the dizziness?
Once again, back to magic…
How do I control magical power? Brain? No. Heart? No. Anyone who directly manipulates magical power can tell. The power to control magical power is ‘will’.
“How much do you know about yourself?”
Then again.
Where does will come from? Is it just brain chemistry? Or not.
“Soul.”
Is it the sound of the soul?
Soul.
Soul.
Why can I be familiar with magic even though I regressed?
Why does the more I regress, the more my ability to manipulate magic increases?
In this space where there is nothing, in this space where nothing is felt, what is the subject that allows me to feel myself?
“How much do you know about yourself?”
I feel like my vision is slowly opening up.
I learned about my body while training in martial arts. Through repeated regression, I figured out my self.
However, during that long period of time, how indifferent I was to the soul that could be my true self.
“Soul.”
Savoring the sound, she closed her eyes. The body’s eyes are not closed. I have shut down my senses of my surroundings in this space.
Because this space is empty of anything, it feels even better.
I am spread throughout every corner of my body. A thin line of magical power connected near the back of the head. That line pulsates and shakes my magical power.
I didn’t know much about myself. But if you don’t know, wouldn’t it be okay to find out? It’s not too late now.
As soon as I open my eyes, I cut off the magical power line.
“Ah.”
And it was reality. A reality where you can feel the wind blowing, the trees shaking, and the beating of your hands, feet, and heart.
I am satisfied. It was like this.
I didn’t have to block my body. I didn’t have to cover my ears, I didn’t have to cover my head, and I didn’t have to protect my brain.
Soul.
I had to protect my soul, which was spread throughout my body, in order to protect myself from magical power.
What was the reason I was able to handle magic so well in the first place? If it were to manipulate magic power with the body, the proficiency would have been reset even if the regression was repeated.
“Whoa…” “
With a pleasant exhalation, I trace my soul with magical power.
I’ve never seen another person’s soul, so I can’t evaluate what this is like… It’s a little twisted, a little damaged, and a little worn out.
Fundamentally, it was shining brightly. The minor wounds were shining brightly enough to be overlooked.
Yes, how can a person be perfect? In the big picture, what’s important is that we’re moving in the right direction.
My direction was not wrong. I haven’t twisted yet. The way I move forward is the right answer. At the same time as confirming this, I was satisfied that I gained a better understanding of the power called ‘mana’.
Being recognized for the steps I have taken so far was more enjoyable than I expected.
“Uh, uh… “
But the joy did not last long. This is because the arrogant angel guarding the rock was seen running towards me from afar.
“Oh my… ?”
She rushed over and looked around the area, but it seemed like she couldn’t find what she was looking for. After looking at the fallen people and feeling the ground and trees around her, she finally spoke to me.
“Hey… Climber?”
“Yes?”
“By any chance, was there anything unusual happening here? “Space is distorted, people are disappearing, or something like an ominous tentacle is sticking out.”
“… No?”
Suddenly? That didn’t happen. I felt like it was business as usual here. It’s a quiet and cozy forest, isn’t it? Is there something wrong?
“Hmmm… “
The angel, who made a divine voice filled with deep sorrow, seemed to give up soon and raised her index and middle fingers to her ears and began to mutter something.
“That… Manager? Yes yes. I apologize for using this line carelessly. But that… ah. They say you’re not there. Uh… “
From the looks of it, it looked like he was talking on the phone with a superior, but seeing as his expression got worse, it seemed like a problem was growing.
“Yes. I’ll be waiting. Yes… “
An angel ended the call like that. After a while, a white light appears in the air, and a stern-looking angel wearing glasses appears.
“Nice to meet you. “I am the Archangel’s representative and administrative angel.”
“… “Is there a position called management angel?”
“The positions and systems are different for each Archangel, so I can’t say anything. “Then excuse me for a moment.”
The strict angel looked at me intently and at the same time tapped something in the air and tilted his head from side to side as if he couldn’t understand.
“Uh… uh?”
The facial expression of the expressionless management angel also gradually deteriorates. The original angel’s face, which was not good at first, turns to an earthy color.
“Okay… Of course, at this time… “
“Why? “What’s going on?”
“So… “The climber is the problem.”
“… “Am I the problem?”
“Yes.”
A management angel nods his head with difficulty.
“The decision is now… “It appears that the climber has not yet entered the 17th floor.”
“… Yes?”
“It is exactly as you heard. According to the current system, the climber cleared the 16th floor and did not enter the 17th floor.”
A management angel scratching the back of his head as if he has a headache. I didn’t understand so I asked again.
“Ugh… What do you mean?”
“So, even if we want to open a clear portal back to the first floor… This means it’s impossible because you’ve never been on the 17th floor in the first place… “
“… Does that make sense?”
“I don’t know either… “
What does this mean… ?