Chapter 32: The Regressor is Conditionally Strong (1)

Chapter 32: The Regressor is Conditionally Strong (1)

“The number of people gathered in this vacant lot, at a rough glance, is well over 50. This means not everyone can swallow the golden bead to advance to the next stage. This tower is fueling our division.”

Familiar lines. A familiar situation.

If it feels like you’ve seen this before, you’re probably right.

In the past, I once pretended to be a good person to catch Choi Ji-won’s attention.

I succeeded in learning swordsmanship from her by acting as a man with lofty ideals but negligible power.

And this time, I’m going to do the same.

I will masquerade as a virtuous person.

“However, it’s said that if we defeat the boss, a portal will be created. This clearly means that there is a way for all of us to survive together.”

Am I a good person? A hero?

No.

I lack the qualities of a hero like Choi Ji-won’s father, and I’m just a mediocre person who sometimes can’t even stand myself.

However, there’s a reason why someone like me is going to great lengths to pretend to be virtuous.

Cooperation.

For my plan to succeed, I needed everyone’s absolute cooperation.

To gain that cooperation, I judged that playing the role of a ‘hero’ would be far more effective than acting like a deranged psychopath.

...Moreover, if I were to clear this tutorial this time, wouldn’t it be better for my reputation to remain positive rather than negative?

“Everyone. Instead of fighting amongst ourselves, we must join forces.”

The response I received when I gave the same speech in a previous round was complete disregard and mockery.

But this time it’s different.

“Um...uh...”

“Hmm...”

People are deeply engrossed in my speech, hanging on every word with fervor and passion.

Even Park Cheol-jin, the firefighter who hadn’t believed in the existence of the tower or the status window, was nodding his head slightly.

It’s only natural. With an A-tier trait like ‘Curiosity,’ he couldn’t help but pay attention to my speech.

If the old me was a ‘young man with high ideals but lacking in power, thus leading to frustration,’ the new me is a ‘young man both with high ideals and strong capabilities.’

I now possess the power to act decisively.

Well, now’s time to add a twist.

After all, I have my own objectives.

“Everyone. I am strong.”

With that, I raised my sword toward the sky.

“I am probably stronger than all of you here combined.”

These are people who don’t even have levels yet. Except for Choi Ji-won, it’s obvious that I am stronger than everyone else.

Now, let’s put on a performance.

Be awed.

“Huuu...”

I gather my momentum.

Tensing my muscles, widening my eyes, I focus on my long-standing adversary.

Now.

“Phew!”

Swoosh!

With a full-force swing, my sword cleanly bisects the grass.

To the average person’s eyes, the blade probably moved too quickly to see.

But ending it here would lack impact.

Slice. Cut. Thrust. Spin. Slash.

I utilize my physical capabilities to their limit.

Just as I had demonstrated with all my might in the previous round against a small fry, I did the same this time, and my swordsmanship leaves the onlookers gradually widening their eyes.

Astonishment. Admiration. Surprise. Fear.

Although I couldn’t obtain any special traits from their emotions, I could vividly sense their emotions.

“Haah...”

Finally, my sword dance came to an end, and I forcefully stabbed my blade into the ground.

The look in people’s eyes had changed.

If initially their gaze was filled only with curiosity, now it held respect, awe, and a faint trace of fear.

The effect of the ‘Hero’ trait has been activated! The effect of the ‘Hero’ trait has been activated! The effect of the ‘Hero’ trait has been activated! The effect of the ‘Hero’ trait has been activated! The effect of the ‘Hero’ trait has been activated! The effect of the ‘Hero’ trait has been activated! The effect of the ‘Hero’ trait has been activated! The effect of the ‘Hero’ trait has been activated! The effect of the ‘Hero’ trait has been activated!

“We might barely win if we combine our strengths. But you’re saying you’ll bring everyone here along? It’s hard enough to just win, but you intend to fight while protecting them? Do you have the strength to protect them?”

She was telling the truth.

Even though I had stacked my ‘Hero’ trait nearly 200 times...

I was still a few steps behind Choi Ji-won.

The Minotaur was a formidable foe that even Choi Ji-won couldn’t guarantee victory against.

In this situation, there’s no way I could defeat the Minotaur without sustaining any injury.

“If you want to fight, go by yourself. Don’t drag these people into it.”

Choi Ji-won tells me this with a stern face.

“...”

The elation I felt, as if I could soar into the sky, plummeted to rock bottom in an instant.

The plan was to stack my ‘Hero’ trait to an enormous degree and take down the Minotaur in one fell swoop.

My plan had failed, simply because I wasn’t strong enough.

But now there was no way to become any stronger.

I had acquired all the traits available, and I had already maxed out my achievement levels.

Since I couldn’t even grind levels by hunting Goblins, it was clear that this was the limit of my growth.

My limit... had been reached.

“...”

Should I just give up?

Despite all my hard work, the result was simply a lack of ability.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to just save those I can and move on.

There’s no need to save everyone, is there?

‘No. I won’t give up.’

Think.

Rack your brain.

There has to be a way.

But the only combat trait I possess is... the ‘Hero’ trait.

And I’m already protecting everyone in this vacant lot.

There were no more people left to protect. In other words, there was no way for me to become stronger.

I must find a good method.

A way to become stronger.

A way to protect even more people.

Hero [C] - In moments of crisis, people think of you. You grow stronger when fighting to protect someone.

Someone. Isn’t there someone?

A person? Someone?

“There is.”

Smack!

You have been injured You will regress to the moment you first entered the 0th floor.

***

It’s a familiar space.

“Grrrrrr...”

The Minotaur, tightly bound by seals, glares at me.

“Heh... heh-heh, heh-heh...”

The Goblin Shaman breathes laboriously, coughing from time to time.

I cautiously sit cross-legged next to the Goblin Shaman.

“Heh? The scent... the scent of a human...”

“Hello?”

I lean close to his ear and greet him.

Upon hearing my voice, the Goblin Shaman startles and opens his mouth wide.

“Human! A human is here! Hu... help...”

In the past, he had asked for my help to bring down the Minotaur.

However.

“Goblin Shaman. I need your help.”

This time, it was I who needed help.

– – – End of Chapter – –

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