CH 17

Chapter 17: Status window is too unfriendly (4)

"Phew... Relax..."

Even though I regressed in such a ridiculous way... well, what's done is done.

A regressor must always take care of their mental state.

As a regressor, with a sound mental state, you can do anything. But the moment your mental state falters, you fall into eternal hell.

Moreover, haven't I encountered numerous success stories through novels and webtoons?

Instead of getting angry and creating unnecessary obstacles, I should always calmly gather information. That's what being a regressor is about.

Furthermore, there's something I need to check first.

"Status Window."

Name: Kim Jun-ho [LV: 5]

Attributes:

- Regression [EX]

- Awe [C]

Just as I expected.

Traits and LV are maintained even after regression.

I made a wise choice. If I had chosen something like 'disgust,' I would have become a regressor who is disliked by everyone.

Now, there's one more thing I need to confirm.

"The system will provide a detailed explanation... Tutorial, begin!"

After the fairy dropped the weapons and disappeared, I stood up hesitantly.

"Could everyone please listen to me for a moment?"

Was I trying to win the favor of Choi Ji-won again?

No, it's not that.

I'm planning to try something different this time.

"I can't explain it in detail, but I used to be a secret agent for the government. Naturally, the Korean government has some understanding of this place as well."

Although I was a little embarrassed, I continued my words.

"We have a rough understanding of the escape method. I need 20 volunteers. Those I'm pointing at, please stand up."

With a serious expression, I pointed at a man with a cool face.

"Please stand up. The two people next to you too."

"..."

"Am I not clear? Did I not say to stand up?"

"..."

A chilly atmosphere settled in the vacant lot - A subtle silence, similar to when you cross the line with a joke at a drinking party.

Everyone looked at me as if I was a complete idiot.

"...F*ck."

The experiment failed.

To cool down my heated cheeks, I slapped myself hard.

Smack!

Status: Injured

Regressing back to the time when you first entered the 0th floor.

***

"Hmm..."

What I just experimented with was the newly acquired attribute, 'Awe.'

When I press Awe in the status window, this description appears:

Awe [C]

- Praise for your greatness. Fear of the incomprehensible.

Awe roughly refers to the feeling of admiration and reverence while also harboring a sense of fear. 

So what about the people in the clearing just now? ‘Should I do what he said?’ was the response.

Their reaction did not resemble that of someone who admires and fears. If the ability of awe had affected them extensively, I believe they would have hesitated a little and stood up from their seats, unable to resist my words.

But that was not the case, which means that the ability of awe either didn't work on them or had a very weak effect due to its low grade.

"What could be different..."

Let's think about the reactions of the three survivors and the scrawny man.

The three survivors, who were so tense to the point of breathlessness, relaxed and cooperated with me when I gained the trait. The trembling scrawny man, who was cowering in fear, suppressed the terror and obediently followed me.

What is the difference between them and the people in the vacant lot?

"...Emotions?"

I still don't know what conditions I satisfied to acquire this trait, but it is clear that I obtained it from the scrawny man.

Three emotions that he harbored towards me… Since I acquired one of them as an attribute...

"Ah."

Speculatively speaking, could this trait amplify emotions?

The disgust and fear that the scrawny man had towards me were relatively diminished, while the emotion of awe became stronger. 

That seems to be a reasonable explanation.

I also think that the three survivors must have felt a certain level of awe when they witnessed my display of power.

The fact that the people in the square were still confused even after hearing me speak can also be explained. They had never seen me before, and they had no preexisting emotions towards me. My speech wasn't an excellent oration that would instill awe. 

It seems more accurate to say that it would amplify awe only if there was already a sense of awe toward me.

"...Should I confirm it?"

Of course, this is all just my speculation, so I decided to conduct a simple experiment.

"The spear would be better. It's relatively long."

“No. Don't you know that the king of all weapons is a sword?”

A group of men stood in front of the pile of weapons, pondering which one to pick.

I approached them - the same group I had received excess clothes from earlier.

"Hello?"

"...Ah, yes. Hello."

"Would you like to see how to use a sword?"

I casually grabbed a sword from the ground and skillfully rotated my wrist.

My current LV is 5.

I'm not sure what achievement I obtained to raise it, but after killing the bully, my LV increased from 3 to 5.

That means my physical abilities also noticeably improved.

Shoo-ahk! So-ah-ahk!

My sword swung, scattering sparks and slashing through the air.

With a splendid display, I swung the sword vigorously in various directions.

Swish!

For the finishing pose, I exaggerated it to look cool. And as I finished, I was sure of one thing: it would have really looked cool.

"Oh, wow..."

"...Wow."

To Choi Ji-won, it might have seemed like a clownish display, but to an ordinary person, it would have appeared impressive, and as expected, their mouths were agape in awe.

Thwack!

After plunging the sword I had been holding into the ground, I calmly stepped back like a gallant hero.

"How was it?"

I deliberately kept a blank expression on my face.

After showing off something good, the coolest thing is to remain composed. If the person says, "Wow, that was amazing! Did you see that?" the coolness fades away.

"Wow, it was really impressive."

"Can you teach us swordsmanship? We will definitely show our gratitude!"

Indeed, it seemed like they were completely absorbed in my performance as they approached me with sparkling eyes.

At this point, it's safe to say that they definitely harbored the emotion of 'awe.'

"Well, I can teach all of you swordsmanship, but there is one condition."

"...What is it?"

As soon as I mentioned the word 'condition,' the group of men seemed slightly uneasy.

"Please tell me your traits. That's the only condition."

"Uh..."

The atmosphere that had heated up as if a female idol was coming turned as cold as ice.

"When I read webtoons... they say to hide those things... I'm sorry..."

The atmosphere became incredibly awkward.

However, I obtained the information I wanted.

Seeing the instant change in the men's expressions, it was clear that 'awe' had an effect.

But they immediately rejected my request to disclose their traits.

Let's think about the case with the scrawny man in the previous round.

Even though I openly took him along and told him to copy the status window onto the ground, he followed without even showing signs of resistance.

Perhaps he had a much stronger sense of awe toward me, so the effect of the trait was stronger as well.

And although these men considered me impressive and feared me to some extent, their level of awe was weaker.

It seems like my speculation was correct.

Now that my curiosity is satisfied, it's time to move on to the next stage.

Smack!

Status: Injured

Regressing back to the time when you first entered the 0th floor.

***

I decided to focus on becoming stronger instead of exploring the inside of the tower and searching for the base of the boss and the Minotaur.

Once I realized that there was a formidable enemy called the mutant goblin, I couldn't be confident in my safety with my current power.

If I fight until the end, I should win, but I am in a position where I cannot fight until the end.

I have to become stronger.

And in the current situation, there are a few main ways for me to become stronger.

First, somehow raise the level of LV that I don't know the conditions for.

Second, learn swordsmanship from Choi Ji-won.

Third, acquire traits.

The second option is what I want to pursue.

Because if I set the traits as my goal, I first need to find out the exact conditions for obtaining them... and I also want to shock Choi Ji-won a little to gain another trait and extract more information from her.

Choi Ji-won is not only a benefactor who taught me swordsmanship, but she is also a psycho who would kick me without hesitation if she suspects something suspicious.

From the beginning, it is not normal for her to guard the vacant lot where the losers gather considering her strength.

Of course, whether Choi Ji-won is a psycho or a sword enthusiast doesn't matter.

What's important is that she is the strongest person I have ever seen in my life.

In order for me to become stronger, I have to use Choi Ji-won in some way.

I can repeatedly regress and steadily learn swordsmanship... And if the traits can be obtained from someone else's emotions, I might be able to gain a new trait from Choi Ji-won.

Even the trait gained from the mediocre scrawny man seems quite useful, so how strong the trait I would gain from Choi Ji-won be?

To know that, I’ll have to get a strong reaction out of her… At least, that’s what happened with the scrawny man.

Regardless of what happens, there is a clear need to understand her better in order to use Choi Ji-won.

What was her family background like?

Why did she become a lunatic who uses violence as soon as something suspicious happens?

Where did she learn swordsmanship, and what abilities does she possess?

Choi Ji-won.

I’ll unravel everything about you.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Once again, Choi Ji-won was swinging her sword in a corner of the vacant lot without fail.

What should I say to make her flustered?

What actions can I take to extract information from her?

A good idea came to mind, and I decided to put it into action immediately.

With confident steps, I approached Choi Ji-won.

"Excuse me."

"..."

She didn't even look in my direction and continued swinging her sword.

Alright, let's see how long she can maintain that expressionless face.

I decided to use a powerful line.

"By any chance, do you have a boyfriend?"

"...What?"

Her swinging arm stopped.

Choi Ji-won's face distorted rapidly.

"...You crazy bastard."

Thud!

Status: Injured

Regressing back to the time when you first entered the 0th floor.

***

"Ugh..."

I was hit in the stomach with an elbow.

"What kind of nonsense is that!" I expected a development where she blushes and says, "What, what are you saying?!"...

Choi Ji-won just acts tough on the outside but actually has a soft heart and no immunity to men…

Was this just my delusional imagination?

"...No, it's fine."

It's okay to fail.

After all, I have an infinite number of attempts.

Let's see who will win the war in the end.

--- END OF THE CHAPTER ---