WeTried Translations

Translator: ZEROSUGAR

Editor: Abstract

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◈ Regression is Too Much

Chapter 144

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The regressor is training (5)

Currently, Intermediate Potions are more expensive than most decent apartments in Gangnam. But thinking about it from the opposite perspective, they're traded quite actively since they can be bought for roughly the price of one apartment. From a corporate standpoint, that amount wasn't really considered big money.

But what about elixirs? How expensive would elixirs be, those true 'panacea' remedies in every sense of the word? The fact that I've never heard news about elixirs proves their value well enough. Really precious things are always traded in secret, after all.

"..."

Why didn't I think of this before? Choi Ji-won and I had completely cleared floor 4. That means at least 200 people received Lowest-grade Elixirs as rewards.

In other words, excluding the elixirs we had, there were 198 elixirs out there... During all my regressions, I never obtained any information related to elixirs. This meant they were kept thoroughly secret in the public sphere. Was this even possible?

At the very least, at least one person should have posted some story about elixirs on the internet. No, it would be normal for people to post online about that mysterious madman they encountered on floor 4. But strangely, information about my actions on floor 4 hadn't spread at all.

The answer to 'why?' was simple. There were people who wanted to control this information. Then the question became 'how'. How did they control information on the modern internet?

"Anyway... about 8 elixirs were released at underground secret auctions... but... sniff... if you post elixir stories on the surface web... sniff... they get deleted immediately... so... sniff... people were talking about it on the deep web. Wondering where the hell these things came from."

It was natural for people to search for the source when an unprecedented 'elixir' panacea appeared in large quantities. Through various reverse tracking efforts, they must have concluded that these were obtained from floor 4.

"That's how... sniff... Ji-won-nim and Jun-ho-nim's names came up. Even the fact that you can obtain elixirs by saving all players and all NPCs on floor 4."

Yuuki continued speaking while sniffling, unaware of my inner thoughts. But thinking about it, there was a gap in the logic that caught my attention.

"Wait... so you're saying elixirs were released in large quantities because of my actions on floor 4... and while digging into those elixirs, people on the deep web ended up paying attention to me as a result. I get that."

"Yes."

"But how did they find out my name?"

My actions on floor 4? They were definitely attention-grabbing. Actually, thinking about it now, it would be strange if I hadn't drawn attention with what happened on floor 2 and floor 4. I'd drawn tons of aggro while countless people were watching.

But my name? How did they find out my name? Wasn't there insufficient evidence to deduce that the eccentric on floor 4 was 'Kim Jun-ho'? In the last regression, no one except Yoon Joong-hyun had told anyone my name.

To my valid and sharp question, Yuuki answered like this:

"That... I don't know either."

"...What?"

"Someone just... posted Jun-ho-nim's name and face. It got deleted quickly, but I saw it."

"..."

How did the people on the deep web find out my name? The answer... would be 'I don't know'.

This was a world where superpower users called trait holders had appeared. There were regressors, abilities that made sword and person become one, stealth abilities. In such circumstances, could I be certain there wasn't an ability specialized in finding people? If some search-type ability user discovered my personal information, I'd just have to take it.

"Hmm..."

So what's the problem with becoming famous? As I've said repeatedly, problems arise if I'm found out to be a 'regressor'. Regressors were far too vulnerable to sealing techniques.

'Jun-ho. Isn't worrying about being exposed as a regressor just because you become famous an overreaction...?'

'You don't need to openly reveal your abilities... but I don't think you need to forcibly hide them either.'

At the same time, Ji-won's words also circled in my head. Was I really overreacting? No, I absolutely don't think it's an overreaction.

They're people who control 'elixir'-related posts on the internet, though I don't know their methods. Whether it's money, power, or technology, it's probably safe to assume they're beyond imagination. Perhaps I've caught the attention of those at the pinnacle of human power. Elixirs are worth that much, after all.

Under such circumstances, thinking that my regression wouldn't be caught is far too complacent. There are many people in the world smarter than me. If I start using regression in earnest, it becomes quite obvious.

It's too late to worry about already drawing attention. From now on, I need to be careful. Originally, conspiracies are conspiracies because the person involved doesn't notice them. Didn't I not know until now that I was famous in the underworld? Maybe it's already too late.

"Phew."

After organizing my thoughts, I finally let out a long sigh. Right, what's already happened can't be helped. How I act going forward is more important. Even if I take action, I should hide my name as much as possible. Or I could create a new alias.

Now, the last thing I need to decide is...

"Grim Reaper. No, Yuuki."

"Yes."

"Go outside for a bit."

"...This is my room though."

"Go to the living room. Ji-won and I have something to discuss."

"...Okay."

It was deciding how to deal with the Grim Reaper. What should I do with him going forward?

This guy's ideology is far too radical. He'd kill 100 innocent people to save 10,000? Could he say such things if he were included in those 100 who would die? When he actually became a target, the Grim Reaper abandoned his family and ran away. He wasn't prepared to face the consequences himself.

Should I manipulate this guy cleverly and use him? Or should I kill him to nip this in the bud? What's the right answer?

"Jun-ho."

Seeing me rubbing my forehead with the back of my wrist, Ji-won gently patted my back.

"You're worried, right? About what to do with the Grim Reaper."

"...Yeah."

Ji-won’s and my gazes met. We were having the same concerns right now.

"I... don't know. In truly unavoidable situations, we might have to kill people. But should we be the ones to judge who deserves to die and who deserves to live?"

Ji-won continued speaking softly while stroking my back.

"Once you kill someone... you can't undo it. That's the end. Even if it was a mistake or misunderstanding, dead people don't come back to life. That's why those who wield swords must always be careful. That's what my father always said."

"..."

"So... Jun-ho, when you kill someone too, I really, really want you to be careful. Even if you have regression, I don't want you to become accustomed to murder. When you absolutely must kill, I want you to think hard through multiple regressions. So you won't regret it later."

Usually Ji-won showed a rough-and-tumble side, but she was extremely careful in the face of 'death'. Come to think of it, had Ji-won ever killed anyone? She was the complete opposite of me, who had killed people in the tutorial without much shock.

"..."

Ji-won was right. If I decided the Grim Reaper's life or death... would that be any different from the Grim Reaper choosing who should die? Do I have the right to judge someone else? Was my action of killing that thug in the tutorial without much thought justified? Even if regression made it as if it never happened?

No. I can't kill the Grim Reaper. That would only make me no different from him.

But I can't leave the Grim Reaper alone either. If I leave him be, innocent victims will continue to pile up. Then should I disable him without killing? His abilities are too valuable for that. That stealth ability had truly endless applications.

A method that stops the Grim Reaper while leaving room to use him. There was one way.

"The Grim Reaper has some strange expectations about me, right?"

"...Right?"

"How about satisfying those expectations?"

It was using his delusion.

Before regressing, I first returned to Korea. It was to check on how people around me were doing.

"Park Cheol-jin-ssi is doing well. He said he's planning to challenge floor 5 soon."

Including Park Cheol-jin, Kang Chan, Ahn Gyeong-jun, Ahn Gyeong-nam, William Smith, and others... people who had any connection with me seemed to be doing well in their own ways. Especially Kang Chan's fame was spreading rapidly these days. It seems he showed off that famous 'punch' on floor 4 as well.

After confirming people's situations... I read that manga about killing people by writing names in a notebook from beginning to end. It seemed the 'Grim Reaper's' ideology was deeply influenced by this.

After that, I focused on gathering information by reading news diligently, searching through internet communities, and briefly contacting Yoon Joong-hyun. After compiling all this information, I concluded that there would be no problem even if the Grim Reaper suddenly stopped his activities. The real hardcore villains were already dead or missing.

Anyway, my preparations were complete. I decided to temporarily take in the Grim Reaper. Whether this guy was a villain who deserved to die, or a middle schooler who got swept up in hot blood and did crazy things, I would observe and decide later. After watching him enough, I would make my decision.

But right now, I would stop his activities.

In a way that would satisfy him too.

[You have taken damage.]

[Returning to the moment of first entry on floor 11.]

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