WeTried Translations

Translator: ZEROSUGAR

Editor: Abstract

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◈ Regression is Too Much

Chapter 137

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The regressor is cunning (4)

If someone who had cleared Floor 11 in the past were to visit this fortress again, they would say, "Wait, is this really the same place?"

The dwarves, realizing that storing all their supplies in a single warehouse was unstable, had built two more warehouses. Now, even if one warehouse were raided, they could rest easy knowing the others remained.

And then there was the barrier. The physical height of the barrier itself had increased. At first, the players wondered how on earth they could raise the sharp wooden barrier any higher, but by carving grooves and fitting the pieces together with a little tinkering, it actually worked.

"What you guys did was just lay the foundation, you brats. The real beauty of that barrier is carved into the inside."

Moreover, various magical circuits had been newly inscribed within it, so the barrier's defensive power had improved beyond comparison to before. The dwarves were confident that even the infamous Skeleton Slayer would no longer be able to cross the barrier.

But that was not all.

"Wait, how did you catch such a huge bear?"

"Hehe, those climber fellows helped out a bit, didn't they? I heard bear meat is good for stamina, so let's have a taste today."

Over the past five days, the dwarves and humans had realized that the Skeleton Slayer would not appear if many people moved together in groups. Of course, this was entirely Jun-ho's intention, but people simply thought, "I guess even if you're strong, you can't win when you're outnumbered?"

So when they went to fetch water, they went together. When they went hunting, they went together. When they went to cut down trees, they went together. As a result, an atmosphere of mutual respect began forming between the dwarves and humans.

"The dwarves definitely have good technical skills. Should I call it know-how? The attention to detail is impressive. A craftsman is a craftsman."

The humans acknowledged the dwarves' handiwork. The meticulousness and care that came from the dwarves' unique craftsmanship had reached a level that humans found difficult to match.

"Those climber bastards sure are strong. How do they carry that by themselves?"

"They really are climbers, I suppose. Their minds are sharp too. They know a lot of interesting things."

The dwarves acknowledged the humans' combat abilities and creativity. Of course, their physical abilities were thanks to the stat windows gained from the Tower, and the creativity was also the achievement of "some" science and engineering major players, but still, what mattered was that they had been acknowledged, right?

"Nobody's going hungry now, right?"

"Of course not. In fact, we have leftover meat, so I think they're going to make jerky."

"What about beer? What happened to my beer?"

"That, well, you'll have to wait two more days. You think getting barley from the forest is easy?"

"Fuck..."

The fortress had now regained its former vitality. The supplies were even more abundant than before, and the fortress's defenses had advanced a step further.

Moreover, as they spent time together, the humans and dwarves came to understand each other better. The dwarves were naturally good-natured people, and the humans also had friendly personalities without any rough edges, so there were even those who became close while sharing meals.

"They fought? I can't tell at all."

The people who had recently entered Floor 11 had no idea there had been conflict in the past, so you could imagine the general atmosphere.

"I still can't forgive the humans."

"..."

"But I understand that the humans here are not at fault. They are fundamentally good people. My friend must have gone to a good place, right?"

"Of course. Absolutely."

The dwarves' funeral, which had continued for ten days, had also ended two days ago. The conflict melted away in the time they spent together.

"When this situation ends, I'll sell goods to the humans again."

"Thank you."

They could not return to being as carefree as before, but the dwarves forgave the humans. The humans also forgave the dwarves. They acknowledged that neither side had done anything wrong.

"Then now..."

Now there was just one problem remaining.

"We need to find the Skeleton Slayer."

The Slayer was still alive somewhere in the forest. Right now, the players were moving in groups, so the beast did not dare extend its vicious claws, but the players would have to leave Floor 11 eventually.

"It has no way to obtain a passage stone."

Without a passage stone, one could not leave Floor 11. No, even if they gave it a passage stone, whether it would leave was a complete unknown.

In the end, for the sake of the dwarves and for the sake of the players who would enter in the future...

"We need to kill it."

The Skeleton Slayer had to die. That was a clear and obvious fact everyone agreed upon.

But how? And who?

First of all, finding it was the problem. If they continued moving in groups of five like now, it would take ages to find it. But if they split up, they would obviously be picked off one by one.

Even if they somehow found it, that was also a problem. If they found it, could they win in a fight?

Sure, as top-tier players, they could probably win in a fight. However, "whether they could win without casualties" was another matter entirely.

"..."

"..."

Though no one said it aloud, everyone knew deep down. Winning without sacrifice was impossible. If the Slayer began using its mysterious skills with full power, significant casualties would follow as surely as night follows day.

And so, as everyone fell silent before the anticipated sacrifice...

"I have a method."

There was one hero who stepped forward alone. Her name was Ji-won.

"I think you all know that I defeated the master of the city on Floor 2."

"Right?"

"I obtained one trait as a reward for that."

-Heart of Lightning Flash [S]

‘For a Knight of Thunder to use this technique means they are prepared to die.’

Upon activation, consumes all possessed mana and replaces it with Lightning attribute mana. All physical abilities, including reaction speed, are drastically increased, and all attacks inflict additional lightning attribute damage. The user continuously takes damage for the duration, and 'Heart of Lightning Flash' persists until all Lightning attribute Mana is depleted.

"With this, I can win."

"Are you saying you'll fight alone right now?"

"No, I must fight alone. The moment I activate this trait, lightning will fly in all directions. I'd feel more comfortable fighting by myself anyway."

"Well, in that case..."

The players swallowed their pride and decided to entrust everything to Ji-won. Not only had her performance so far been impressive, but they were also afraid to risk their lives.

"Then, I'll be going."

And so, Ji-won and the Skeleton Slayer, the decisive battle between the two was right around the corner.

"You came?"

"I missed you."

"Me too."

Of course, everything up to this point was staged theater. After all, there was no way I could beat Ji-won in a fight, was there?

This was the core of my plan this time.

The so-called "Ji-won, You're the Hero of the Fortress!" strategy.

I could not play the role of the Skeleton Slayer forever. I would have to exit at some point, and if I was going to lose anyway, wouldn't it be better to lose to Ji-won and at least raise her name value?

What about Heart of Lightning Flash? Ji-won had not yet activated Heart of Lightning Flash before.

It was a technique with such high risk, and since she had never felt a lack of power without using it, that was why. But this was an opportunity to gain fame and also accumulate experience by testing out Heart of Lightning Flash, so wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone? There was also the intention to leave traces here and there to express that the battle between Ji-won and the Skeleton Slayer was legendary.

"Wow, you worked hard."

"You worked hard too, Jun-ho. Have you been eating nothing but grass this whole time?"

"It was better than the raw meat I ate on Floor 10."

After Ji-won and I unpacked our long bundle of stories from being forcibly separated for the past five days...

"Okay, I've rested enough. I'm fine now."

Finally, the time to test out Heart of Lightning Flash had arrived.

"So, are you activating it?"

Ji-won, who sent me a signal, closed her eyes and began concentrating.

"Wow."

Gooooooo.

The moment she began concentrating, the surrounding air started churning, and grains of dirt on the ground began floating one by one. Leaves drifted through the air, and the clear sky made a rumbling sound.

And so, when the strange flow centered around Ji-won's body reached its peak...

Kwarururung!

A bolt of lightning fell from somewhere, dyeing my entire field of vision white.

"Uhhhhh..."

I tried closing my eyes, but even with them closed, the blinding light was the same.

After suffering from the aftereffects for a moment, my vision returned to normal. I rubbed my eyes and called out to Ji-won.

"J-Ji-won?"

"..."

Crackle! Crackcrackle!

Ji-won stood motionless, blue sparks flashing from her entire body.

Where a person's eyes should be, brilliant blue light poured out in streams, and lightning surged around her body, constantly flicking out blue tongues.

"You're okay, right...?"

Seeing that fierce appearance directly, a needless anxiety crept over me. I had never used it myself, but wasn't this a kind of last resort? The grade was even S-grade.

It would not be strange at all if Ji-won suddenly lost her reason and went on a rampage. After all, when the protagonist uses a desperate last-ditch reversal technique, going berserk is the standard trope.

Of course, the master of the city had controlled this ability without any problems, but if you said that was because the guy was familiar with the technique through the power of the sigil, it would make sense.

"Ji-won...?"

Ji-won still did not answer. As I fidgeted, wondering whether I should regress or maybe throw a potion from a distance...

"Shut up. I'm fine."

Ji-won spoke curtly in a flat voice.

I could not see her eyes because of the brilliant light, but her brow was furrowed and the corners of her mouth were coldly turned down.

"Uh, uhh..."

I was relieved that it did not seem to be the rampage I had feared, but Ji-won's mood was not normal. Had I done something wrong? Of course, we had acted separately for five days, but that was all according to plan. Maybe she did not like the plan to begin with?

"You stupid bastard."

"..."

"You perverted bastard."

"..."

Whether I was flustered and stayed still or not, Ji-won continued pouring out curses. It seemed like she was venting the feelings she had been holding inside to me, so my heart ached for no reason. Had I really treated her so poorly all this time?

What great wrong had I committed for the usually carefree Ji-won to be this angry? No, wait a minute.

Ji-won was not the type to say such things to me in the first place, so...

Could it be, could it be...

"Bung-bung?"

"..."

Ji-won, no, the sword that was about three months old, nodded silently.

That was right.

The one who had taken control of the body now was Bung-bung.

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