Regression is Too Much - Chapter 107

WeTried Translations

Translator: ZEROSUGAR

Editor: Abstract

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◈ Regression is Too Much

Chapter 107

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The regressor gets to work (2)

[The effect of the Hero trait has been activated!]

"Whoa! What is this aura..."

"He was hiding his strength all this time...?"

Ah, this cool and heavy sensation.

I could feel power surging through my body, but I didn't feel particularly happy or joyful about it.

-Hero [C]

-In a moment of crisis, people think of you. You become stronger when you fight to protect someone.

The Hero trait doesn’t activate randomly. It activates only when the people being protected realise, 'This person is protecting me.'

In other words, it meant that they trusted me.

This power was not given casually, it was granted out of a clear necessity. Realizing that, I felt the weight of the burden.

"Now, as you can see, the monsters are swarming in. We are in a position where we must survive."

But this pressure was the very driving force for success. I wouldn't entertain the thought that it was okay to fail. I had to do my best every single time. That was the only courtesy I could show to those who might die.

"I have already selected five team leaders. There are six passages in total, so the team leaders and their team members will each take charge of one passage and defend it."

"Then that leaves one passage."

"I will block that one by myself."

There was a reason I had chosen exactly five team leaders. The castle had six passages in total. Five team leaders. Considering that I would be defending one passage alone, it could be called a truly appropriate deployment of personnel.

"Joong-hyun-nim will inform you of the team member lists. It should probably be well-balanced."

The team member lists were based on the room assignments that Joong-hyun had made in the previous turn. Since there were no complaints about the personnel in the last turn, it would likely be the same this time.

"...It's true."

"This seems pretty appropriate..."

When the players were divided into their respective teams, there was a strong sense of acceptance. As expected of Yoon Joong-hyun. He really had a good eye for people.

"Then I will now give you some points to be aware of. You don't need to be particularly careful with the goblins... Ah, the wolves and orcs will come mixed together, and they aim for different heights... And sometimes, a monster that looks like a black cat will..."

The next thing to address was the combat. Drawing on my past experience, I explained in as much detail as possible what they needed to watch out for.

"I will be fighting alone, but you all will be in groups. Always be careful not to injure your comrades, and if there are any injuries, have them fall back behind the passage. William-nim, who has healing abilities, will be patrolling the first floor. As long as you don't die instantly, you can be saved. Survive, even if it means giving up a limb."

To put it simply, it was twenty players to one passage. Twenty players defending a single passage? It wouldn't be easy, but it wasn't so difficult that it was impossible.

"While we fight, the otherworlders will take on support roles, procuring weapons and checking on the injured. Protecting them is part of the 4th floor itself, so don't have any unnecessary complaints. That is all. Do you understand?"

"..."

The players, with dazed expressions, did not answer.

"No answer?"

"Yes, yes!"

When I pressed them for an answer, they responded with a start, as if waking from a trance. It was understandable that they'd be flustered to see the person they had considered a psycho suddenly acting like this.

"Alright, then..."

Snap!

I snapped my fingers.

"Move. What are you all doing?"

"Grrrrrrrrr!!!"

"Kieeeeeeek!"

Shrill cries. The monsters' chorus echoed thunderously through the mountain range. An aura of death descended upon the castle, and people's faces turned pale. Unilateral killing intent was just that terrifying.

But for me, who had become thoroughly accustomed to it, it wasn't a big problem. No, the problem was actually something else.

"Someone is missing?"

"...Yes."

"Hmm."

After organizing the teams according to the list, it turned out that one person was missing.

His name was Eom Hong-jun. A middle-aged man whose hair was starting to go gray.

"He was definitely here until the first day..."

Now that they were trying to find this person, he was gone. Judging by the fact that a pile of food had also disappeared, he must have headed outside the castle.

"So from the timing, it doesn't seem like he ran away after seeing the monsters, right?"

"No..."

I think I had heard a similar story in the previous turn. Someone had said that a person had packed their things and disappeared outside the castle.

"One person is fine. But make sure the rumor doesn't spread. We can't have some foolish story going around that everyone can survive if they run away together."

Eom Hong-jun-ssi had left the castle long ago. I didn't know if he had gone in the direction of the approaching monsters and been instantly torn to shreds, or if he had gone in the opposite direction and was continuing his own adventure, but... from my perspective, leaving the castle was a suicidal act.

The unbelievably cold weather was a given, and the monster horde was by no means slow. Even if he had run in the opposite direction, he would probably be caught before the fifth day was over. In the end, there was nothing but ruin awaiting him.

"So besides that Eom... whatever his name is, there are no other issues, right?"

"Nope."

"Understood. You can go now. They will be here soon."

I twirled the wrist of the hand holding my sword and cracked my neck from side to side.

"Just don't die, just don't die..."

Except for Mr. Eom, every situation has been set up just as I wanted. From now on, I just have to do my best. If I fail, it is one of two things, either I come up with a new strategy or I try again after changing the conditions.

"Uh, uhh!!"

A frightened man's voice echoed from a passage in the castle. I turned my gaze toward the castle wall and saw a wolf standing on top of it.

"Awoooooooo!"

No, two of them. Three. Ten.

The monsters squirmed and climbed up the castle wall. Simultaneously, they fell down below it.

Many monsters died, but many also survived by using the dying ones as cushions. Their blazing gazes were fixed on the castle.

"Grrrrrr!!!"

"Woof! Woof!"

A pack of wolves charged toward me. Their eyes were flashing, and drool dripped from their mouth. The raw killing intent of the wild aimed for my neck.

"Come on."

The flaming sword I had used before regressing was gone. I hadn't even grasped how to use mana yet.

But even without such things, I could block this much just fine.

I'd done this before, so what was there to fear? With such a heavy burden on my shoulders, how could I possibly break in a place like this?

I gripped the sword with both hands, and my feet placed slightly wider than my shoulders. I straightened my back, and my gaze forward, moving with my shoulders rather than my wrists.

I slash.

Rip! In an instant, four wolves were split in half. The act of 'cutting something in two with a single stroke' was already incredible on its own, but slicing through four of them at once was no longer in the realm of human capability. It was also proof that my strength and agility had far surpassed that of an ordinary person.

"Nice."

Using the scattering particles of light as illumination, I checked my body's condition. In truth, I could have done this much in the previous cycle as well. The important thing was that the burden is much lower now.

I swung with optimal efficiency, finding the optimal path at the optimal timing. It was an instinctive control of power that I had acquired from fighting day and night for three days.

-Swordsmanship [C] >>> Swordsmanship [C+]

As if the status window was acknowledging my growth, my Swordsmanship, which had been C, rose to C+. However, there was no time to be happy.

The reason the pack of wolves arrived first was because they were the fastest. Countless monsters, including orcs and goblins, were rushing in.

I had to keep this up for the next five hours. It was only now that I truly felt like I was back on the 4th floor.

"Kkieeeeek!"

A goblin, gripping a blunt dagger, threw its body at me. Thanks to it, I was able to snap out of my thoughts.

"I'm not the same Kim Jun-ho who used to regress from a leaf scratch."

Without even needing to use the blade, I smashed the creature's head with the pommel.

Repetitive work is what I hate the most, but…

A person can't live their life only doing what they like, can they?

The morning sunlight sparkled.

There were at least seven swords scattered on the ground. A pile had formed from me using one, tossing it, using another, and tossing it, over and over all night.

"Hoo..."

My body was still full of vigor. It was my mind that was tired. The sense of unease was so strong that I wanted to collapse onto the ground, but I couldn't bring myself to do it because I felt a presence behind me.

"You really... succeeded. To think you blocked a passage all by yourself..."

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Joong-hyun approached, clapping lightly. He seemed quite exhausted, but he looked better than I expected.

That aside, it was now time to see whether I would regress or not.

"What is the damage situation? Is everyone safe?"

"Ah, I will give you the situation report. There are a total of twelve seriously injured... William-nim is treating them now and..."

Twelve. Considering there were a hundred players in total, it was a number that could be seen as large or small. No, more importantly...

"What about fatalities? Are there any? Or not?"

"As for fatalities..."

Joong-hyun's lips curled into a wide grin.

"There are none."

"..."

The morning sunlight streamed down on my back. The cold leather armor on my body slowly began to warm up.

The perfectly constructed team balance. The combination of monsters I already knew about. The fact that I had taken on the most difficult passage and defended it perfectly.

There was plenty of evidence to suggest we could get through the third day without any casualties. In terms of probability, it was over seventy percent.

But despite all that.

"Good."

Success always made me smile.

Footnotes:

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