WeTried Translations

Translator: ZEROSUGAR

Editor: Abstract

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◈ Regression is Too Much

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Chapter 282

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The regressor fights (1)

I believe in the butterfly effect. I believe the smallest difference in action can create a massive change down the line.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

That was why I focused on repeating every single action exactly the way I had in the previous cycle. Floor 27 cleared without a hitch. I showered, waited around for a while, then had Ji-won contact firefighter Park Cheol-jin. The team dinner mattered, sure, but what mattered more was keeping the promise Michael Zetter had made to support us.

Still, boring was boring, I guess. Drinking stories are fun the first time you hear them. Hear them again and there's no way to muster the same delighted, refreshed reaction. I tried anyway. I did my best to mirror the same responses as last time.

"Did I say something wrong, by any chance?"

"N-no. Not at all."

Of course, human focus has its limits, and at one point I lost concentration while Michael Zetter repeated a story, causing him to frown at me — a minor slip. But overall I managed to repeat the previous cycle without much trouble. No variables. The world would unfold exactly the same way.

And speaking a little more about gear.

"Keep saving up contribution ranking?"

"Let's think about it after we clear Floor 30."

"Sure."

We decided to keep saving contribution ranking a little longer. Since we weren't short on Strength right now, it seemed better to hold onto it and spend it all at once when we actually needed the boost.

My level... still hadn't moved. Honestly, I'd expected something after killing the dragon, but no level unlocked. If killing a dragon that impressive didn't open up my level, then what, did I need to kill a god to level up? No idea.

Still, since I didn't feel short on strength right now, it probably didn't matter.

"Ready?"

"Obviously!"

We were ready. Condition: peak. Mentality: solid.

28. 29. 30. Only three floors left until 30. Three steps left toward the future.

"Let's go."

Probably. It wouldn't take long.

-You have entered Floor 28.

"What's this. A newbie?"

"Hey, newbie, don't just lie there acting cocky, get up—"

-Thud.

"Uh, huh?"

The moment I came to, I caught the kick swinging toward my head. Felt like this had happened before. This time I blocked it.

"Uh. Um. My apologies."

"...Why's a bastard that strong lying around like an idiot... could've at least struck a decent pose while doing it..."

I opened my eyes and looked around. A long-bearded, bald giant of a man quickly lowered his head, while a bunch of shaggy furred figures muttered to each other, watching me. Wait, shaggy? They looked kind of like yetis. Not human.

Either way, their bodies were all trained, muscular builds, and their weapons sat close by. Warriors.

Yeah. I could tell at a glance. The dumb-but-strong type. The way they gossiped loud enough for me to hear confirmed it. With this crowd, coming on strong actually worked better.

"Where is this."

I hardened my expression and asked them in the most obnoxious tone I could manage. The bald man flinched slightly and answered obediently.

"You... didn't know when you came here?"

"No."

Wooden flooring. Potted plants. Several plush-looking sofas. A massage chair. A TV. A water cooler. It looked like some kind of office, or maybe a break room. Except the overall design was avant-garde, definitely not Earth style. The furniture didn't match, felt mismatched and off.

I glared at the bearded bald man again. He hesitated, then answered.

"Well, I guess it's possible not to know."

"Explain it in detail."

"...You talking to me?"

"Yeah."

"...Shit."

Muttering a small curse, the bearded bald man glanced around nervously, checking the room, then started explaining. Why did his hair grow downward instead of up, I wondered.

"This is... the Colosseum."

"Colosseum?"

"You don't know what a Colosseum is? A Colosseum is..."

"No. I know. Just be more specific."

"...Right. So, this is the largest Colosseum in the universe, and we're the ones who fight here. Make money. Earn honor. If you're lucky, get a woman too."

"Universe?"

"Universe."

Fine, so the setting was universe-scale.

"Win a fight and your ranking goes up... higher ranking means bigger rewards for winning... lose too much and you get kicked out... also..."

"Got the gist. Fights are one-on-one?"

"Th...that's right."

So this was basically like PvP rankings in a game. Fight one-on-one, win, your rank climbs. Prize money climbs. Fame climbs too. That kind of space.

"Tell me more."

"Ugh..."

The bearded bald man had no talent for explaining things, but fortunately, I could piece it together perfectly well anyway.

Anyone could register at the Colosseum. After registering, wait a bit and you'd get matched with an appropriate opponent. Win that match, your ranking rises. Money got paid out to the account you registered at signup, and if your ranking climbed high enough, your fights got broadcast, and you got a cut of the broadcast fee too... that was roughly how it worked.

"Can you die fighting?"

"Well, technically killing's allowed... but we're all in the same business, so hardly anyone kills on purpose. Bad reputation spreads fast, and then people start refusing to fight you."

"Hm."

So trying to kick my head in a second ago didn't count against that whole business-partner spirit? Or was it just because I was new and they wanted to knock me down a peg? No idea. Either way, the mood didn't seem as vicious as I'd expected. More like 'entertainment,' maybe. Sports-like, even.

Probably, this floor's goal had something to do with this Colosseum. First, I needed to register.

"So, where do I register?"

"...This is the waiting room. If you're already here, registration's probably already done..."

"I see."

"..."

So registration was already finished. Getting the general idea, I looked toward the TV flashing noisily on the far wall. One screen showed numbers like a bank queue ticket, while another showed people about to fight right now. And the roaring crowd watching them.

<Floor 28>
-Clear the floor by ranking within the top 100 of the Colosseum.
-Your unique number is 67271711.

"Top 100, huh."

Only then did the message window quietly reveal itself. Rank within the top 100, got it.

"Baldy. What's your rank?"

"...241,104."

I focused mana into my eyes and looked him over. He had mana, but not much. His soul didn't look particularly bright either. Roughly the peak of an average person's class, and he was ranked 240,000-something.

"What's my rank, then?"

"How would I know that... probably, since you're new, you might be over a million."

"Okay."

If that guy was somewhere in the top 25 percent or so... I got a rough sense of the scale. What kind of world this was.

Once I felt I'd grasped the situation, I nodded, and then the door opened and something like a small spherical drone flew in and scanned my face. I almost dodged on instinct but let it be when it didn't seem harmful.

"It is Kim. Jun. Ho. -nim's turn."

Once the face scan finished, a smiling emoji lit up on the drone's spherical surface. My turn had come, and this drone seemed to be here to guide me.

"I follow you?"

"That is correct."

"Fine."

I got up from my seat, gave the shaggy yeti-like creatures near the exit a light scratch through their fur, and followed the drone out of the waiting room. I hadn't noticed from a distance, but those yeti things reeked of animal. Filthy.

Anyway, I opened the door and stepped out, and black space greeted me. The corridor walls were transparent, structured so space and glittering stars were fully visible. This really was some kind of sci-fi world after all.

"New guy?"

"Ooh."

"A human."

The corridor was packed with things that weren't human. Something slick and slimy grinned at me. Something fish-faced widened its eyes. Something cat-like made a huge fuss. The fact that this wasn't Earth hit me hard, and honestly, I felt like making a fuss too... but since I was heading straight into a fight, I kept as cool an attitude as I could manage.

"This is the place."

"Right."

How long had we walked? The drone stopped in front of a small door. I didn't hesitate, I opened the door and walked in. No reason to hesitate.

"Ho."

Inside was a dirt-floored space, something like a sports field. Or maybe not quite. A little narrow for a sports field. Roughly the size of four classrooms put together, maybe.

Walls and ceiling made of metal. Dirt floor. On the far side, a small door, same design as the one I'd entered through. Probably where my opponent would come in.

"Bit different."

The footage I'd seen on the TV earlier showed a huge space packed with spectators and tons of cameras. This being my first real fight, though, there was nothing here but a single drone floating in the air.

"Hah."

Well, this floor wouldn't take long either.

-Number 67271711. Entry complete.

I had no doubt I'd lose to no one. Whoever came out as my opponent. I'd climb to the top hundred as fast as possible.

Clank. The door on the far side opened. I steadied my breathing and readied for combat. I'd end it in one shot.

-Number 67271710. Entry complete.

"...huh?"

"Ah?"

That was what I thought.

"...Ji-won?"

Right up until I confirmed the woman standing there was Choi Ji-won.

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