WeTried Translations

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: Abstract

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◈ Regression is Too Much

Chapter 029

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The boss is too weak (9)

"My dad was a kendo instructor. My mom passed away while giving birth to me."

Ji-won spoke calmly.

"Strong... righteous... kind... funny... Dad was a better father than I ever deserved."

Choi Cheol-sun, a promising kendo artist snd his only daughter, Choi Ji-won.

Because she had a respiratory illness as a child, Choi Ji-won spent more days resting at home than she did going to school.

She would often lie blankly in her room, listening to the laughter of her peers from outside.

Perhaps her father felt sorry for her.

"Dad... suggested I try learning the sword. He said if I started to enjoy exercising, my health would naturally improve."

Within a range that wouldn't strain her lungs, Choi Ji-won was able to learn kendo.

It started as a simple pastime in the backyard. As time passed, the sword became Ji-won's one and only hobby.

Moreover, whether it was thanks to kendo or the medicine from the hospital, Ji-won's body regained its health.

When she went to middle school, she was able to make many friends thanks to her pretty looks.

But no matter how many friends she made, the most precious time for Ji-won was practicing the sword with her dad.

To her, her dad was a parent, a teacher, and a role model.

"Dad used to say. Don't play around even with a bamboo sword. Always be humble. Those who have power must be generous. An upright mindset completes an upright martial artist. You can't save everyone, but don't turn away from the person in front of you. Don't do things you will regret."

Ji-won's dad, Choi Cheol-sun, was a man who fit the title of a 'righteous person' well.

After the incident where Cheol-sun subdued a robber in a convenience store, there was no one in the neighborhood who didn't know him.

When he walked through the market, merchants would offer him food, and students he passed by would give him a deep, respectful bow.

Everyone respected Choi Cheol-sun.

Until the incident happened, in the year Ji-won became a high school senior.

"Dad... passed away while saving someone."

Ji-won cautiously fiddled with the handle of Bung-bung.

"A gas explosion caused a fire in a villa... and Dad was the first one to discover it..."

The average time it takes for a fire truck to arrive at the scene is five minutes.

As soon as he finished reporting it on his phone, Cheol-sun rushed into the flames without hesitation.

He succeeded in saving a total of four citizens from the blaze.

But he couldn't save his own life.

"..."

This story. I remember seeing it on the internet. I even wrote a 'Rest in peace' comment on YouTube.

I just didn't know it was Ji-won's father.

"...Are you okay?"

"I'm okay."

Ji-won's face was far too serene for someone who had just confessed the death of a parent.

"To be honest... I resented Dad. Saving other people is one thing, but shouldn't he have taken care of his own life?"

He had saved countless people but he failed to save himself and his own daughter.

"Are other people precious, but I'm not...? I just couldn't understand it at all..."

Along with praise from the media, an endless line of mourners followed.

But none of it had any effect on the heart of Ji-won, who had lost the most precious person to her.

And so, she closed the doors to her heart and confined herself at home.

The backyard where traces of her dad remained. The room where traces of her dad remained. The closet where traces of her dad remained. The sword where traces of her dad remained, Bung-bung.

For over a year, that was Ji-won's entire world.

"I hated Dad. He must have known there was a high chance he would die. He could have just lived, even if it was cowardly, and then atoned by saving more people."

"..."

"But suddenly... I became curious."

Why did Dad make such a choice?

Even though he knew there was a high possibility he would die, why did he rush into the flames without hesitation?

Ji-won, who had been lost in thought in the corner of her room, hugging Bung-bung to her chest, woke up in the Tower.

"I had a 'whatever happens, happens' mindset."

Ji-won let out a small laugh.

"Defending the clearing? I just... had the ability to protect it. The strong have to protect the weak."

"..."

"Saying I would lure the Minotaur? I was simply... curious. What it felt like to sacrifice your life for others."

"...I see."

"But, after we pushed back the Minotaur together this time... I came to understand Dad. It wasn't that Dad didn't care about me."

Ji-won grinned.

"It's just... There are moments when you know you'll regret it for a long, long time if you don't step up. Moments when it feels better to bet it all, no matter what's on the line, than to regret it later."

"So, the reason you're so calm now is..."

"That's right. I don't regret my choice. We were defeated, but we did our best."

"..."

This was the reason why the Ji-won I spoke with in this clearing felt much more human than the Choi Ji-won I had known until now.

"Hoo. That's a load off my mind."

Ji-won said jokingly.

"Alright, now it's your turn."

She passed the lead of the conversation to me.

"...Hss. What should I say."

I had to say something, but my mouth just moved without any sound coming out.

Because I didn't have any special circumstances or a sad backstory.

"...My life is really nothing special."

"Tell me anyway. I'm curious."

"...Alright."

I also began my story, but the content was really uninteresting.

Born in Korea.

Went to school. Made a moderate number of friends.

Took the CSAT, and went to university.

The story of a man in his 20s born in Korea, the kind you could find anywhere.

It was, literally, an ordinary life.

But just telling this story of an ordinary life to Ji-won made my heart feel much lighter.

A person feels at ease just by having someone to relate to.

"I listened well. I feel like I understand you a bit more."

Ji-won nodded with her eyes closed.

And the sunset glow that cast itself upon her face.

The setting sun is quite beautiful.

I watched the sun for a short while like that, then shifted my gaze back to Ji-won.

"...Hey. Ji-won."

"Yeah?"

"You don't happen to have a Golden Marble stashed away, do you?"

I fumbled in my clothes and took out a single Golden Marble.

I had a total of three Golden Marbles stashed away. I had returned the one Ji-won had thrown me, and I gave two to the Goblin Shaman, so I had one left.

"If you have one... should we just swallow these?"

"...What?"

If Ji-won has even one hidden Golden Marble left.

What if we both swallow the Golden Marbles and move on to the next stage?

I don't know if the next stage will be easy or difficult.

But what is certain is that I can gain Ji-won's full support.

Of course... Everyone else besides us will starve to death.

I know that rationally, regressing is the right thing to do.

"But what if, when I regress, this timeline remains as it is?"

Then whether I move on to the 1st floor or regress, these people will starve to death anyway.

The result is the same, is what I'm saying.

Besides, I didn't want to give up my connection with Ji-won.

She is the first person I've ever told my life story to. The first person who ever told me their life story.

The first person in the Tower to understand me for who I am.

"If I regress... you'll become a complete stranger, won't you? You'll forget all the stories we've shared until now."

In the midst of repeating regressions, I was always alone.

I hadn't noticed, but I was slowly being worn down.

The bond with Ji-won that I had slowly built up in this run. I didn't want to tear down that tower I had built with such effort.

After feeling the warmth of another person, I was afraid of being alone again.

"..."

Ji-won didn't answer.

"Look, think about it. Even if I regress and get close to you again based on the knowledge I've gained this time, do you think I can get the same kind of all-out cooperation? In fact, from a long-term perspective..."

Just as I started pouring out words to persuade her.

"Pfft... Puhahahahahahaha!"

Ji-won suddenly burst out laughing.

"Jun-ho, Kim Jun-ho. Do you know what your expression looks like right now?"

"...What does it look like?"

"It's the face of someone who doesn't even believe the words they're saying as they're saying them."

"..."

"I think I finally understand you completely now."

I unknowingly touched my face. What kind of expression was I making for her to say that?

"Kim Jun-ho... You're really fascinating. At first, I thought you were a good person like my dad, but the more I listened to your story, the more I felt that wasn't it."

Ji-won smiled faintly.

"Sometimes you seem kind, sometimes you seem like a psycho, sometimes you're smart and calculating... and right now you're pathetic and selfish."

"...That's just how people are."

"That's right. That's how people are."

Ji-won stood up, and with the sunset at her back, she plopped down next to me.

"But what's fascinating about you... is that you're always thinking through it all. In the stories you told me, you were always thinking."

"..."

"Thinking about the detailed conditions of traits or regression. Thinking about how to escape the clearing. Thinking about how to win my favor. Thinking about how to defeat the Minotaur without any casualties. Thinking about what happens to this world if you regress."

Tap.

Ji-won gently placed her hand on my shoulder.

"I'm impulsive, but I push through with what I've decided until the end. But you think and worry until the very last moment if there isn't a better way. I think we have polar opposite personalities. That's what's fascinating."

Ji-won took out a single Golden Marble from her clothes as well.

"Alright then, Jun-ho. Let's think about it. Let's say we each swallow a marble, pass all the prepared trials, and move to the 1st floor... Will you regret it?"

If I regress, no one knows if the others will starve to death or if they will regress with me.

But... if I just swallow the marble and head to the 1st floor, they will be annihilated, 100%.

The memories with Ji-won, obtained at the cost of the certain deaths of others.

Would I... regret it?

"...Now that I think about it, I think I would regret it."

I barely managed to utter the words in a trembling voice.

"I thought so too."

Ji-won met my eyes.

An emotion was flowing in from her.

"I think that's your strength. Always worrying. Thinking. Trying to find a better way."

-Curiosity[A]

-Opposites tend to attract. People feel an unexplainable curiosity towards you and are instinctively drawn to you.

"You're wavering right now. Get a grip. Don't stop thinking. Don't give up. I'm sure you'll be able to find an answer you're satisfied with."

She was smiling a bright and radiant smile I had never seen before.

It must have been Ji-won's rejection, her farewell, and her sincere encouragement, all at once.

"I'll... be looking forward to it. How you'll find the answer you want. I'm so very curious about the future you will create."

Her smile was so beautiful, and the sunset was so dazzling. I squeezed my eyes shut without realizing it.

"...Yeah. I'll definitely show you."

I already knew what I had to do.

Thwack!

[You have taken damage.]

[Returning to the moment of first entry on Floor 0.]

-The Regressor's emotions have exceeded the threshold.

-Storing the target's memories.

-Target: [Choi Ji-won]

-The memories will be returned when the conditions are met.

Footnotes:

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