196 – The Returner Eats Raw (4)
“… Does that make sense?”
“I see… wait a minute. Let’s find out a little more about this. Could you please wait a moment? This is the first time something like this has happened… “
“Ah, yes.”
Leaving behind the management angel who was pounding the air in concentration, I walked up to the already stiff, arrogant angel and nudged him with my elbow.
“That… hey.”
“Yes, yes…” “
A haughty angel nodding his head with a pale face. At first, I was going to ask, ‘Do things like this happen often?’, But based on the angel’s reaction, I thought that couldn’t be possible. Well, if this happens often, it would have been fixed a long time ago.
Even if I tried to ask the reason, they said they were checking, and if I tried to ask what to do, it would have not been sorted out yet… In the end, I had no answer other than to sit next to him and wait.
After about 10 minutes. The cool wind tickles my head.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know… There are two angels… “
Around this time, one or two players who were training came to see what was going on.
“Hmm… The cause was roughly figured out… “
The management angel approached me, stroking his chin.
“First of all, I need the climber’s help to check… “Will you please cooperate?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Could you please open the status window?”
“… Status window?”
When an angel, a ‘management angel’ at that, told me to open the status window, I got scared. What if I open the status window here and the angel also sees my status window, and upon seeing the characteristic called ‘reversion’, he suddenly changes and threatens me?
“Oh, it won’t happen like you imagine. “If we go to the Archangel level, we can’t check the status window with our level of authority.”
As if my worries were evident on his face, the management angel reassured me. I’m ready to cut off your finger with a sword at any moment.
“… Status window.”
He muttered the magic word softly.
[Name: Kim Jun-ho] [LV:74]
[Characteristics]
-Regression [EX]
– Flash beam [S]
-Heart of Seomjeon [S]
-Curiosity [A]
-Awe [A]
-Hero [C+]
-Meditation [A+]
-Swordsmanship [A] [Specialization recognized]
-Cold Affinity [A]
– Strange atmosphere [E]
-Fast reflexes [C]
-Excellent cardiorespiratory endurance [C]
– Passion [C]
Status window with no significant changes from before. What is unique is that the achievement level has risen slightly.
“Huh?”
No. Meditation skill level has risen to A+. Was what I just did a type of ‘meditation’?
On the one hand, I quickly checked my status window, and on the other hand, I checked the two angels’ reactions out of the corner of my eye. Judging by the lack of response, it appears that my status window is not really visible.
“Does the status window open?”
“Ah, yes. “It opens.”
“Then it’s not a tower connection problem… “It’s a decision issue when you come in.”
A management angel scratching the back of his head as if in trouble, but at the same time looking relieved.
“Do you have any characteristics related to magical power? “In terms of sensitivity.”
“Uh… “
“I think that’s what caused the problem. It seems like he instinctively felt a strange sensation and cut off his connection with the 17th floor. The decision to enter the 17th floor is to ‘watch the angel’s video until the end.’ “I’m glad it’s a case of caution.”
“… “
The management angel explained it to himself, then nodded in understanding. I didn’t have anything to say, I just chimed in.
“But what should I do about this…” ? This is an issue that we cannot take action on right now. I think action will be possible only when the Archangel comes… You’re away right now. “I’ve contacted you, so could you wait a moment?”
From Noble mtl dot com
A management angel who explains things calmly, like a manager who steps in to resolve a claim.
“Oh, of course.”
Of course, they said it was okay, but I had no intention of meeting the archangel in person. Although the angels are showing a friendly attitude towards us, it is half certain that the God who created this tower in the first place has evil intentions towards humans. Archangels, who can be said to be God’s direct subordinates, are likely to have similar thoughts.
So we have to go back immediately…
Regression.
Indeed, how will regression work in this situation?
There are two possibilities.
First. My entering the 17th floor becomes like nothing that ever happened, and I return to the moment when I first entered the 16th floor.
However, this is unlikely. Why? This is because the regression I think of is the concept of ‘record’.
The regression is always based on the moment I first entered that floor. However, it is also strange that the regression standard has now been changed to the 16th floor just because ‘the 17th floor has never been entered.’
“Uhm… “
However, if the regression is based on the last time you entered the tower, then my opinion is correct… If regression is based on ‘my current state,’ the story is a little different.
The angel said that my current state is that I have cleared the 16th floor and have not entered the 17th floor. But what if the regression feature is based on my current state? Uh? This guy hasn’t gone to the 17th floor yet? What if it functions like, “I need to send it to the 16th floor?”
Then it really returns to the 16th floor. This gives you a lot to think about, but since it hasn’t happened yet, stop worrying here.
The second possibility is that even if it regresses, it is on the 17th floor.
This is when regression comes into play in the form of ‘record’ I thought of. Even if something strange happens now, regression works based on the moment you entered the ’17th floor’, so if you get injured, you will return to the moment you entered the 17th floor.
However, even within this, it is subdivided into several possibilities.
The standard for ‘regression’ is absolute and lies above the tower’s system, so it cannot affect the system to the point of failure.
Or, if the same phenomenon happens from the beginning when I enter a different floor, will it really go back to the previous floor?
If not, is the point of regression determined by complex and subtle processes that occur at stages that I cannot perceive?
In the worst case, the regression may suddenly break down and not work… Let’s not even think about it. Because it’s really f*cked up.
In the end, everything is just speculation. And there is one way to check your guess.
Crack.
A returner is not supposed to buy himself.
[You have suffered damage.]
[Return to the moment you first entered the 17th floor.]
***
“How much do you know about yourself?”
“It’s the 17th floor.”
Should I say that I am fortunate? Should I say it’s disappointing? As soon as I returned, I heard a familiar male voice.
I instinctively felt into my soul and, just like before, I could perceive the thin threads of magical power.
If we cut this off here, a management angel will appear and say, ‘It’s a bug,’ just like in the previous episode. Since I had no intention of repeating the same thing, I just calmly listened to the man’s explanation.
“The house you live in. How much do you know? You probably have some idea about your living space. But under the bed. Between wall and wall. Or under the floor. Do you even know those parts that are hard to see?”
But… Judging by the management angel’s attitude, it seems that angels cannot intervene in the tower’s system itself. Exactly, the tower is a machine? Should I say that it feels like it operates as a device and the angels maintain it? Just as an employee cannot fix a kiosk at a fast food restaurant if it breaks down, it feels like a management angel is also waiting for someone in charge when the system breaks down.
After stuffing the information into my head that the tower operates like a machine, I briefly summarized my thoughts on how I should act in the future.
“Prove it.”
As I was wasting time thinking about random things, the images in my brain ended and I returned to reality. The thread of magic that was thinly connected to the soul has also disappeared. If you wait, it will go away on its own.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Ah, yes.”
I walk to the center of the village with great strides and say hello to the angel. Just as I was about to explain something, the proud angel awkwardly accepted my greeting.
There is no need to hesitate. Without wasting time, I placed my hand on the large rock and injected a lot of magical energy into it.
-Chi Ik.
The area touched by my hand turns bright blue and makes a sound like meat being grilled. At first, the angel was watching what this bastard was doing, but his eyes gradually widened.
“Okay, I’m awake. “Please open the portal.”
Characteristics of a manly man.
Don’t waste time.
-Cleared the 17th floor.
**
After returning to reality.
“This happened.”
When I sat at her table and explained my experience to Choi Ji-won, her face immediately frowned.
“… “Aren’t we going to be in big trouble?”
“It’s always like that with me.”
“Hey!!!”
“… Sorry.”
Immediately after comforting and stopping Choi Ji-won from getting angry. I started talking about the new realization I had gained.
“So, this magical power comes from the soul.”
A story about looking back at myself in a void where there is nothing.
“So should we call it a link? That’s what I felt. “It was really subtle, but how could you have noticed?”
A story about realizing the shape of my soul.
“And since the soul seems to be maintained even if it returns, I think we need to be careful. “This is a permanent scar.”
How valuable and helpful will the experience I have been through this time be? Accordingly, the importance of Choi Ji-won also reaching this level. I compiled all the experiences I gained on the 17th floor and instilled them in Choi Ji-won.
“… Aha.”
Of course, Choi Ji-won did not seem to understand at all. She didn’t expect her to understand right away, because she wouldn’t have understood if I hadn’t invested so much of her time.
“Oh, and about the judgment of regression… “
Now comes the main point.
“When entering the 18th floor… I’m trying to intentionally disconnect the connection once. “If only I could quit.”
“… It’s crazy?”
“No, listen. “Is this really amazing?”
I would like to test the possibility of going back to the previous floor.