◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (21)

Chapter 5. Caught on His Own (2)

KiJun doesn't hold any prejudices towards professions. While there are differences in income and qualifications among various jobs, he believes that there's no nobility or inferiority among those who work hard in their chosen vocations. However, if he had to express a preference, he’d choose Guardian over Dancer. It just sounded cooler.

“But obviously, it has to be the Dancer one.”

“Darn it!”

Fate, it seemed, always pushed him towards the opposite of his preferences.

The Demon Lord chuckled at KiJun's desperate expression, responding playfully, “You can’t help it. After all the effort you put into learning offensive techniques, choosing Guardian would be a waste. Didn’t I tell you? Classes can evolve. That’s why your initial choice is crucial. Honestly, as a starting profession, ‘Dancer of Light’ is as good as it gets.”

KiJun reread the class transition message, unable to refute the Demon Lord's irrefutable logic.

—[Guardian of Light (R)]: All defensive and healing abilities utilizing Light Spirit Magic increase by 30%.

—[Dancer of Light (R)]: All offensive and defensive abilities utilizing Light Spirit Magic increase by 30%.

Even KiJun had to admit, ‘Dancer of Light’ was a perfect match for his style of using shields for both offense and defense. But the title ‘Guardian of Light’ seemed to validate his identity from his 15 years of tutorial days, making it hard to let go. On the other hand, choosing ‘Dancer of Light’ meant a complete break from his past.

“Don’t worry too much about it. Your regeneration ability is already impressive. Except for races specializing in healing, few can match it,” the Demon Lord added.

“And which races specialize in healing?”

“Swamp Trolls, for instance. They’re Rare grade by birth but have Unique grade regeneration as a basic trait.”

“Those cheats.”

“In other words, you’ve surpassed such naturally cheating creatures. So…”

KiJun faced a choice: to abandon his newly developed offensive techniques and become a healing-focused steel zombie or to embrace a formidable all-rounder role as a tank, even without the enhanced healing. The answer was obvious.

Embracing his past, KiJun finally chose ‘Dancer of Light’.

At that moment, he felt a surge of energy and clarity.

—-You have become a Dancer of Light (R). All statuses increase by 10, but for Unique grade stats, the increase is 5.

—Light Spirit Magic (U) skill has increased by 5 levels.

He couldn’t believe the unexpected bonus! Checking his status, he was moved by the growth of his hard-earned stats.

Strength, agility, endurance.

The hope of reaching Unique grade for these stats, which seemed far off, suddenly ignited.

“Unique grade stats get only half the bonus.”

“That’s how it works. Since your new profession is Rare grade, it can’t fully boost your higher-grade stats. The same applies to titles and items. They provide full stat boosts up to their grade but give reduced bonuses for stats above their grade.”

Pointing to his main shield, the Demon Lord kindly explained, “If your strength and light magic reach Legendary grade, the Well’s King will provide only a +2 boost. And if it goes beyond that, even that small boost won’t apply.”

“Such unnecessary complications…”

Frustrated, KiJun suddenly noticed the sunlight. They had returned to the surface while discussing classes and stats.

“It felt so much shorter…”

The journey back, which took only a few hours, contrasted sharply with the four-year conquest of the dungeon.

“I shortened the distance with magic.”

“That figures.”

“Party time!” shouted Lucy, jumping excitedly. The Demon Lord probably shortened the journey just to have a party.

“Shouldn’t we finish everything first?”

“What do you mean?”

“My advancement.”

“Oh.”

That was it. His anxiety about clearing the dungeon and developing the bizarre skill ‘Glowing Provocation’ was all to evolve his race to Rare grade. However, the Demon Lord shook her head, “Remember what I said? Light Magic is originally a Unique grade stat.”

“So?”

“Why not evolve your race after reaching Unique grade?”

He couldn’t argue with her logic. His Light Magic was now at 85, 90 with the shield’s boost. But that was just a temporary enhancement, not his true capability.

‘It would have been difficult without the stat increases from leveling up. And now, I can't even level up...’

It would undoubtedly take years, yet KiJun, convinced by her reasoning, nodded in agreement.

“Let’s do it.”

“Excellent.”

“Now, the real party!”

“Party!” Lucy cheered. Was this all just to delay the troublesome task for a party?

While KiJun was skeptical, he took out his polished cooking shield from the inventory.

If KiJun hadn't acquired Light Magic and had continued to only manipulate regular mana, perhaps he wouldn't have even dreamt of reaching Unique grade. It was only because he deeply engaged with light through his overflowing Spirit Power and his contract with Lucy, leading to profound realizations, that he could grow his Light Magic to this extent.

“But still, it was a long journey.”

Over two years, KiJun deeply realized one obvious fact: the amount of effort required to grow stats to Uncommon compared to Rare grade was vastly different.

He wondered if he could have ever reached Rare grade in any stat on his own, without the Demon Lord as his supreme instructor.

[KiJun]

[Titles ― Discoverer of the Hidden Dungeon (Legendary) +7]

[Degraded Light Person (Uc), Light Dancer (R) Lv99]

[Strength (R) – 87]

[Agility (R) – 92]

[Endurance (R) – 88]

[Light Magic (U) – 1]

[Charisma (U) – 64]

[Spirit Power (U) – 70]

Checking his status and proudly gazing at his Light Magic that finally reached Unique grade, KiJun couldn't help but make an indescribable face at the two stats below it.

“The other stats are so hard to grow, yet my Charisma keeps soaring on its own, which is kind of strange.”

Unlike the inexplicable Charisma, Spirit Power seemed to have a high starting point and had grown steadily, stimulated by his talent in communicating with spirits.

He even discussed with the Demon Lord the possibility of attempting to reach Legendary grade in Spirit Power before the tutorial ended.

He felt that Strength, Agility, and Endurance could comfortably reach Unique grade as well.

“Once my race grade rises, I’ll get a bonus.”

Feeling energized by these positive thoughts, KiJun stood up briskly.

Perhaps due to his Light Magic growth, the flow of mana swirling rapidly through his body seemed to lighten and empower his every move.

The Demon Lord once said that mana is the greatest power that transcends humanity. Now with his Light Magic at Unique grade, KiJun felt he could understand her words.

“Now, to the Demon Lord…”

“Done!”

Before KiJun could call out loudly, the Demon Lord popped her head through the tent’s entrance and shouted.

She looked the same as two years ago, perhaps a bit more frail, but her face was filled with joy as she looked at him.

“You did it faster than I thought! You may not have much talent for mana, but your talent for light is impressive!”

“Either insult me or praise me, not both!”

Embarrassed yet again.

KiJun remained silent, and the Demon Lord stuck out her tongue in a playful smile.

“I've been preparing, expecting you'd grow soon. We can start right away.”

“Contractor, you’ve already grown your Light Magic! With the extra tools, we can finish this in no time!”

Lucy exclaimed, then seemed to ponder before flying up over KiJun’s head and out of the tent.

“I’ll go check! There might be something else we can do!”

Both the Demon Lord and Lucy were buzzing with activity, delighted with his growth.

Feeling slightly amused by their enthusiasm, KiJun was interrupted by the Demon Lord’s teasing words.

“Once your grade rises, you’ll get even stronger. Maybe you can even defeat me soon?”

“That’s still going to be difficult.”

Yet, inwardly, KiJun wondered if, with a bit more growth, he might defeat the Demon Lord at least once in ten tries. Considering the Demon Lord now was unrestrained compared to her tutorial days, that would be an incredible feat.

But recently, he had begun to suspect that the Demon Lord might be weakening.

“Demon Lord, are you sick or something?”

“What are you talking about?”

The Demon Lord looked genuinely puzzled. KiJun reached out silently and took her hand. Unusual for her, she widened her eyes in surprise, then narrowed them into a smile.

“Are you nervous? Trying to comfort me?”

“A bit. If I fail, all those ores will go to waste.”

KiJun slightly exaggerated his anxiety to mask his inner thoughts.

But he noticed something: the Demon Lord’s hand was trembling ever so slightly. Maybe she was lying to him.

This realization pained him somewhat.

“Don’t worry. If by any chance you fail, we’ll just order more from the moth. Let’s get started.”

His poker face was quite good, but the Demon Lord’s words actually made him a bit more nervous. So, if he failed, everything would be wasted.

KiJun, hiding his renewed determination from the Demon Lord, stood up to join her outside.

“Ah.”

He couldn't help but smile upon seeing the large glass box from years ago, with Lucy busily flying around it, seemingly performing some sorcerous act – spreading and adjusting light energy.

“Contractor!”

Lucy flew to him and perched on his head.

“It’s guaranteed to succeed, I’ve poured so much Spirit Power into it!”

“Thanks.”

He was slightly nervous but felt more a sense of loss, similar to when he evolved his Double Turtle Fangs into the Unique grade Moonlight Fang. It was an inexplicable melancholy at the thought of nearing the end of his tasks in this constrained world.

Had he grown attached to this absurdly limited world?

Shaking off the bittersweet feelings, KiJun turned to the Demon Lord, who was feigning ease while watching him.

Sigh.

He let out a deep breath, releasing all emotions, and focused solely on becoming one with the light, stepping into the box with Lucy.

“Let’s begin.”

As the crystals glowed and emitted light, and Lucy released her Spirit Power in response, KiJun followed suit with his Spirit Power, harmonizing with her light while releasing his own Light Magic to draw all the light towards him.

He realized naturally that the setup to guide external light was unnecessary now that he had achieved Unique grade Light Magic.

“But that’s not what matters.”

The effort the Demon Lord put into preparing these tools for his growth, the care Lucy put into comforting him with her Spirit Power, KiJun felt like he was absorbing their intentions along with the light.

Amused by such cheesy thoughts, he chuckled, and at that moment, his entire being was reconstituted by the light filling him.

—You have transcended the limits of your race to become a Rare grade [Light Man]. You can now pursue pure light, but its ultimate end is still far and distant.

—Level 1 achieved. All stats increase by 5, and Light Magic (U), Charisma (U), Spirit Power (U) additionally increase by 5!

—Light Spirit Magic (U) skill level increases by 10 to level 95!

Having become a human made of Light Magic, KiJun had completely transcended the human realm.

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