WeTried Translations
Translator: ZEROSUGAR
Editor: Abstract
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Regression is Too Much
Chapter 101
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The regressor is under maintenance (2)
“…”
“…”
For a moment, we just stared at each other blankly. The first thought that came to mind was… is this for real?
Yoon Joong-hyun. This guy was a very aggressive type on the internet. His tone had been so cocky.
“…Please, have a seat.”
“Yes, well.”
I don't know what Joong-hyun was thinking as his lips twitched, but he offered me a seat. I did not refuse either.
“Your coffee is here.”
Perhaps the order had been placed in advance, as two cups of coffee were naturally placed on the table. Ah, I don't drink coffee. I only drink sweet Frappuccinos or ades.
Because of that, I had no intention of even touching the coffee, but Joong-hyun’s expression hardened in real-time, however he chose to interpret that.
“…”
“…”
Inside the cafe, which wasn't loud but filled with the low murmur of voices, the two of us just sat there in silence, staring at each other as the coffee grew colder by the second.
By that time steam no longer rose from the coffee.
“First… allow me to reintroduce myself.”
Joong-hyun finally broke the silence.
“I am Yoon Joong-hyun, a former agent of the NIS, and I will soon be the department head of the ‘Player Management Department’ at the Player Association's Korean branch.”
“…”
NIS? The Player Association's Korean branch? A more grandiose name than I expected popped up. Wait, is an NIS agent allowed to say he's from the NIS? But I didn't say anything.
Part of it was that my exhausted mind and body made me indifferent to such grand titles, and there was also a slight bit of arrogance, a sort of ‘I'm a regressor, so what are you to me?’ attitude.
“Ah, for reference, the Player Association is an organization that will be formed starting with the US branch in a month…”
“I know.”
The Player Association. It was an organization that the United States Government would create a month from now. I just didn't know there was a Korean branch as well.
“…You know?”
“Yes. Isn't Michael Zetter the association president?”
“…”
This time, it was Joong-hyun’s turn to be silent. Ah, right. That was information that would only be released in a month.
“Was I not supposed to say that? I apologize. I'm a bit out of it right now.”
“…It’s alright. Then, to cut to the chase, the information is here.”
He opened his black briefcase, and Yoon Joong-hyun took out a thick stack of papers from inside. It was so thick that when he placed the report on the table, Thud, it was enough to make it shake.
<Floor 4 Survivor Report>
The title was straightforward. All the information I was looking for would probably be contained within this.
Slide.
Joong-hyun pushed the report toward me. His attitude was as if I could take it at any time.
“What's the price?”
This was information from a former NIS agent. There was no way it was collected easily. There was sure to be a price.
And as if my guess was correct, Yoon Joong-hyun gave a small nod.
“The price is simple. I am supposed to persuade you to join the Player Association. You just have to listen to that for exactly ten minutes. How does that sound.”
“…”
I didn't answer, instead leaning my back slightly to get into a more comfortable position. It was an attitude that said, go on and start.
At first, I did think, ‘Huh? Is that all it takes?’… but on second thought, I am incredibly strong. And I am also a regressor.
A chance to persuade a regressor? I think that was a sufficient price to pay. My time is quite precious, after all.
“Thank you. Then I will begin immediately.”
Joong-hyun took a laptop out of that same briefcase and placed it sideways so we could both see the screen.
Click. Click.
A PPT was displayed on the laptop screen. Joong-hyun boldly skipped the title, table of contents, and the introduction.
“My apologies. I was expecting some fearless, unemployed person to show up, I didn't realize someone of your caliber would come, Jun-ho-nim…”
Joong-hyun explained that the original target was an ‘unemployed person with ambition’.
The beginning of the PPT was filled with things like what economic benefits are provided upon joining the association, what kind of support one can receive, and how one can get stronger quickly.
He really must not have known I would come.
“In truth, I was observing you the entire time on the 4th floor, Jun-ho-nim.”
Yoon Joong-hyun said as he flipped through the PPT slides.
“I felt a sense of goodness, fatigue, and responsibility. It's said that with great power comes great responsibility, but great power also allows one to evade great responsibility. If you had chosen to survive alone, Jun-ho-nim, no one would have been able to blame you.”
Tap.
He pointed at the laptop screen.
“Take a look.”
“…Excel?”
Displayed on the screen was a rather densely packed Excel sheet. Thanks to my enhanced physical abilities, reading it was not a problem, but the visibility was a complete wreck.
“Originally, I made the font intentionally small to test the abilities of the player I met here… but there's no need for that with you, Jun-ho nim.”
Joong-hyun enlarged the screen to make it easier to see. The content of the Excel sheet was simple. Records of the people who had entered the 4th floor were organized in detail.
“This is the ultimate goal our association pursues.”
Swoosh.
He ran his finger over the numbers.
“God controls information, urging people to enter the Tower unprepared. But just because of that, we can’t just stand by idly, can we?”
“…”
“If we approach it systematically, there is definitely a solution. Even if God controls all the information, it's not entirely impossible to prepare in advance.”
Clack.
The ‘Time’ section on the Excel sheet was highlighted.
“First, statistics. Statistics have great value in and of themselves.”
It's impossible to share what happened on each floor. But you can at least let people know when you entered and when you came out. This itself is already excellent information.
How many people entered each floor? What was the average clear time, and how many of the people who entered came out alive? If we compile statistics, we can create information that others can refer to.
Based on this index, we would be able to predict the risk level of each floor. People could use it as a reference for how thoroughly they need to prepare, and it would have a positive effect on people's survival rates.
“…Aha.”
I remembered a news article that was promoting how ‘Floor 2 has an incredibly high survival rate’, back when I had just cleared the tutorial and was waiting to enter the 2nd floor. The Association must have had some influence there.
“The idea is pretty good.”
If almost every player in the world joined the association, the possibilities would be endless.
Not only could they effectively prevent player crimes, but they could also operate their own vigilante corps. Or, instead of scattering and sharing opinions on the internet as they do now, players from all over the world could gather in a single community to hold discourse.
Seeing as an NIS agent had a position in the association, it was clear that they had secured cooperation from various nations. Yes, the possibilities were endless.
“But… there's a lack of motivation for people to join.”
Joong-hyun clenched his fist.
The Player Association would spread rapidly once it gained momentum. But as is often the case, the beginning is always the hardest part.
They could offer money and honor, but the players did not yet trust the government. Rumors about human experimentation on players were still openly circulating. Maybe they weren't just rumors.
“That is why the existence of a ‘Hero’ is necessary.”
They desperately needed someone like Michael Zetter, a figure who could draw others in.
“And in my view…”
“It’s been ten minutes.”
I picked up the thick report and got up from my seat.
I understood what these people were trying to do. I also understood why they wanted me. But I am not that kind of person. Rather than a shining hero… I was more of a grub, writhing desperately.
Also… I didn't think this organization would be all sunshine and rainbows. That's how large organizations usually are.
“I have no intention of joining any organization. But if it's necessary in the future, I will offer my cooperation.”
“…I understand.”
Joong-hyun seemed to have understood what I meant, looking convinced. I tucked the report under my arm and left the cafe…
“Ah, Joong-hyun-ssi. May I ask one last thing?”
“…Go ahead.”
“Was your acting according to my words on the 4th floor… related to association activities?”
“Haha.”
Joong-hyun burst out laughing, shaking his head.
“You remember the empty box on the third floor, right?”
“…You mean the box in the hidden room?”
“Inside that box, there was a ‘Solo Escape Ticket’.”
“Aha.”
So he was saying that even if things went wrong, they had insurance. That finally made sense.
I was suspicious of why people who weren't just purely good-hearted like William Smith or Baek Da-hye had consistently followed my words. I wondered if they had some ulterior motive.
But they searched the third floor without me knowing? It was a bit irksome, but they played their parts, so I had no intention of blaming them.
And people who are a bit shrewd are often the best to make deals with.
I crammed the newly obtained information into my head and left the cafe with light footsteps.
I returned to my studio apartment and threw the report onto my bed.
He was dressed in a black suit and acting suspiciously, so I thought ‘maybe’, but it seems they aren't the type to play that dirty.
“There’s three things I have to do.”
First, talk to Choi Ji-won when she returns.
Second, train my mana.
Third, read the report.
Right now, the only thing I could do without any preparation was the third one, reading the report.
I had gotten hungry coming and going (there weren't many opportunities to eat in the Tower, and even when I did, it was only food that tasted awful, so my craving for delicious food was huge), so I ordered two whole chickens and devoured them where I sat.
“Hoo.”
Finally, I picked up the report titled <Floor 4 Survivor Report>.
It was time to start planning in earnest.
Footnotes:
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