WeTried Translations

Translator: ZEROSUGAR

Editor: Abstract

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Regression is Too Much

Chapter 110

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The regressor gets to work (5)

“Hmm… is that so? Go ahead and ask. By the way, do you want some of this beef jerky? It’s a bit shriveled from the cold, but it’s more edible than you’d think.”

Eom Hong-jun offered me the beef jerky with an innocent expression. I could feel the pure goodwill in his face.

“…”

The problem was, this wasn't a situation where he should be feeling pure goodwill toward me.

I was currently holding a sword in my hand. My expression was completely stiff. My voice was cold.

A normal person in this situation would be scared or feel pressured and get into a fighting stance, not offer beef jerky like that.

“Thank you.”

I took the beef jerky first and roughly shoved it into my mouth. I’d eaten it so many times while repeating my regressions that I felt like I would throw up, so I just swallowed it whole.

“What, you can just swallow it like that? I wanna try too!”

Hong-jun looked at me, surprised, and likewise gulped down a piece of beef jerky.

“Keck, keck…”

It immediately got stuck in his throat, and he coughed and pounded the floor before he finally managed to catch his breath. I watched him silently, and only then did I get to the point.

“Hong-jun-ssi.”

“Oh. Yeah?”

“Where are you going right now? It looks like you’re packing your things.”

“Me? I’m planning on going over theeere.”

Even though we were inside the castle and couldn't see outside, Eom Hong-jun pointed into the air. But since this wasn't my first or second day here, I knew immediately what he was talking about.

“…The mountain range?”

“Yep!”

Eom Hong-jun tied his leather pouch with a bright smile. He meticulously checked the condition of his cold-weather clothing, then immediately got up from his spot.

“No, no. Why are you suddenly trying to go to the mountains?”

I had only thought of him as a suspicious person, but I never imagined a crazy person who suddenly wanted to go to the mountains would appear. We were in the middle of a survival mission, and he was suddenly going to the mountains? Why?

“Because… I want to?”

Eom Hong-jun looked dumbfounded, as if I had asked the most obvious thing. It was as if I was the strange one.

“It’s cold outside.”

“I have cold-weather clothing, don't I?”

“What are you going to do at night? You might freeze to death.”

“Uh… I guess that could happen.”

Hong-jun rolled his eyes once.

“But what can I do if I want to do it?”

“…”

“It's not like I'm hurting anyone, and it's not causing any problems... so it doesn't matter, right? If I die... well, can't be helped. Well then, I'm off.”

Hong-jun headed out of the castle, laughing cheerfully.

Doing it because he wants to…

That man was not normal.

It was snowing outside. It was dreadfully cold. On top of that, a significant 'survival mission' had just appeared.

In a situation like this, he was suddenly going to climb a mountain? Just because he wanted to?

He was nothing more than a madman. Just a lunatic who had luckily survived up to the 4th floor.

“…”

And yet, I couldn't say a single word.

The Eom Hong-jun before my eyes was truly free. I didn't know if this man would live or die, but he would most likely die. But he didn't care. He had no fear in taking on the challenge.

Why were most people reluctant to take on reckless challenges? Even if an inexplicable longing burned within their hearts, they couldn’t bring themselves to try—afraid of the alternative cost they might have to pay.

But this man… he didn't care about such things at all. Even on the verge of death, this man would probably be climbing the mountain.

If this man, who only lives once, was like this, then what was I so afraid of?

Why did I think the 4th floor was a defense mission? Because it was cold outside? Because there was a sturdy castle? Because the monsters changed their form every time?

Why did I follow the established rules? Was going outside the castle really, truly impossible? Was it really impossible even if I wracked my brain?

Of course, going to the mountains was 100% a suicide mission. There was the terrain to consider, it was colder at higher altitudes, and there were variables like altitude sickness. There was even a history of winged monsters appearing, so there was no guarantee that monsters wouldn't come.

However…

Just going outside the castle itself seemed like a gamble worth taking.

I immediately took a portal back to the real world, gathered a ton of necessary information, and promptly bit my lip.

[You have taken damage.]

[Returning to the moment of first entry on Floor 4.]

-117 : 11 : 00

Not even three hours had passed since the 4th floor began.

After finishing all my preparations, I stood before the people.

“From now on, we will prepare to leave the castle.”

“…?”

“…?”

Everyone tilted their heads in confusion, but I paid them no mind.

“The things we need to make are sleds, tents using the leftover cold-weather clothing, and snowshoes. If we prepare quickly, I expect it can be done within six hours, and we will aim to depart before the sun sets.”

“…”

“We will survive. Outside this castle. Are there any questions?”

“…Is he crazy?”

“Can't you see it's snowing? It's freezing to death out there.”

The players stared in astonishment, their mouths agape. It seemed they had only known me as a strong person and never expected me to drop a bombshell like this.

“No, this is a bit…”

Even the great Joong-hyun seemed to have trouble accepting this at face value, immediately showing his displeasure. This much backlash was within my expectations.

“I know what you all are thinking. But I have clear evidence.”

I took out the old book I had prepared in advance and waved it in front of the people.

“You all know that I found a secret library on the 1st floor, right? Some of you may have even seen it with your own eyes…”

“That’s…”

“I did see it…”

After confirming that the people were nodding their heads, albeit confusedly, I continued speaking.

“This book says this. 'An irresistible death approaches. Flee straight in the direction the sun rises. That alone is the only way to survive.' We've discovered a hidden piece, a cheese route. We've hit the jackpot, so what are you hesitating for?”

Of course, it was a complete lie. This book was a book of etiquette that taught the dining manners of nobles. What I just said was something I made up.

“How… how can we believe that? It's a language we've never seen before, so aren't you just spouting nonsense?”

“No. There's a witness right here, how long are you going to deny it?”

When I gave the signal, Gyeong-nam hesitantly approached. He cleared his throat and declared solemnly in a slightly cracking voice.

“Um… what this person said is all true. My trait is an A-grade trait called 'Analysis Complete'… by any chance, is there anyone here from a country other than Korea?”

When Gyeong-nam demonstrated his ability by analyzing English, Spanish, French, and even the otherworlder language used by the otherworlders on the spot, people finally began to murmur.

“…Is this for real?”

“Then did we really get lucky and find a hidden piece?”

Watching this, Gyeong-nam trembled with guilt. Of course, he also knew that I had lied. It just took a little 'persuasion' process.

“I've heard a lot about you, Gyeong-nam-ssi.”

“Yes? Who are you?”

“I saved you during the tutorial. Don’t you remember? The Minotaur’s neck, I just snapped it…”

“Uh… Ah? Could you be the one from back then…!”

“And on the 3rd floor, I’m also friends with Gyeong-jun…”

“Oh, really? Wow, what a connection…!”

“And I heard you’re in a relationship with Da-hye-ssi? Here, I’ll give you two intermediate potions. I got them on the 3rd floor, but I have no use for them…”

“…Thank, thank you…! I want to do something for you, but I don't have anything on me right now…”

“Hey, what do you mean you don't have anything to do for me.”

That was the process I went through to persuade him. Truly gentlemanly, wasn't it?

Also, while Gyeong-nam was proving his ability, I secretly approached Joong-hyun and fed him a line about 'being friends with Michael Zetter!'. At the same time, I briefly mentioned the Player Association, and immediately, trust began to drip from his eyes.

The players' perception had changed from 'Is this person crazy?' to 'Did this person see something I didn't?'.

Just as the general consensus was shifting towards 'So going outside is the right answer?'.

“Wait, wait. Fine, let's say we can somehow manage to hold on. But what about the otherworlders?”

The woman with the jutting chin, who handled fireballs, stepped forward with a deep frown.

“For now, we can see the dirt ground… but when the snow piles up and the climate worsens, normal people won't be able to survive. Are you suggesting we leave the otherworlders behind in this castle?”

No, that woman… in the past, she used to complain, asking 'Do we have to take care of the otherworlders?'. Now she was complaining for the exact opposite reason.

But what she said wasn't wrong. In an extreme situation, the weak are the first to die. And the weakest here were the otherworlders. If my plan proceeded as I intended, the most vulnerable would be the otherworlders.

Of course, I had also prepared for this.

“We will take a lot of wood with us. We just need to build a fire. And why are you worrying about the otherworlders?”

“No, what does that mean…”

“We are fine.”

Baron George nodded with a warm smile.

“I also think that the strategy of escaping the castle is a good one. The same goes for my subjects.”

When I first explained the plan to Baron George, he fell into deep thought.

Escape from the castle? The idea itself was good. Monsters could appear inside the castle, after all.

But it was cold outside. The environment itself threatened their lives. At the very least, if they stayed inside the castle, they wouldn't freeze to death.

Should they take the safe route inside the castle? Or should they go outside and hope for a lucky break? Both arguments had merit, so while Baron George was deep in thought.

“This… Do you know what this is?”

“What is that? Its color is sparkling… c-could it be… an elix…”

“That's right. I will give you this.”

“…”

“This may be the lowest-grade, but its effect is certain. Even a single drop can instantly heal a shallow wound. With just this… wouldn't the chances of your subjects surviving increase significantly?”

“I will cooperate.”

A small gift was exchanged, and Baron George was also 'persuaded' by me. There was no doubt that I was overflowing with the qualities of a leader.

“The otherworlders say they're fine with it, is there any reason to object?”

“…”

The woman with the jutting chin shut her mouth like she was a mute who had eaten honey. Now that I had subdued her, I looked around at the players again and finished what I had to say.

“For the record, those of you who don't want to come with us simply because of your personal beliefs… you'll have to have a talk with me. We have to stick together to survive. I will not tolerate individual actions.”

Just like in the previous cycle, I stomped the ground hard with a ‘crash!’ to show off my strength, then grabbed the scruff of Hong-jun-ssi's neck as he was trying to sneak away.

“Ah, no… I have to go to the mountain…”

“Cut the crap and just come here.”

“Okay…”

This time for sure, I will save every single one of them.

Footnotes:

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