Regression is Too Much - Chapter 45

WeTried Translations

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: Abstract

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Regression is Too Much

Chapter 045

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The Regressor takes action (2)

“That was easy.”

That’s how you clear Floor 2.

What do you think? Simple, right?

All you need is the intel that you can beat up a noble, the physical power to actually do it, the creativity to think of changing your clothes to avoid the eyes of other players, and at the very, very end, the physical ability to push aside the thug blocking your path and reach the angel within three seconds.

Honestly, I wonder how anyone who isn’t a regressor could figure all of this out… but from what I heard the thugs saying earlier, it seems someone has actually cleared the 2nd Floor this way before.

Or, you could just stock up on about four gold grade sigils beforehand and happily make your way to the angel along with the three people blocking the path. Aside from having to share the same benefits as the bastards who tried to screw me over, it's also the most rational option.

It's true that the structure is incredibly unreasonable, but they did make it so that you can get good rewards if you're determined to get them.

“Whew.”

I used the ability of Floor 1 to imagine a soft bed, then immediately flopped down on it.

This feeling, it's been a while. So healing. It's so soft, it feels really good.

“…My mental state has gotten a little weaker.”

In truth, during the tutorial, I regressed far more often and for much longer, yet I still challenged it again with tenacity.

There were several reasons for that. There was the clear goal of clearing the tutorial, there was an enemy blocking the path, and I was also brimming with determination.

But now, my mental state has become much softer, just like this plush bed.

Even though there are thugs blocking the way, they aren't enemies. They're just freeloaders trying to get a little something for themselves. If I had to name an enemy, it would be the god who created this unreasonable system.

Clearing the 2nd floor? It's easy. But the moment you decide to clear it properly, it becomes endlessly difficult. The rules were just so damn complicated.

On top of that, I’ve already had a good taste of modern civilization. Trying to bash my head against a wall again, it's inevitable that I'd feel a sense of fatigue.

I had been so wary of it, but the comfort of Floor 1 had encroached upon my heart without me even realizing it.

“…Let’s get the rewards first.”

When I willed myself to see the message window floating faintly in the corner of my vision, the shyly hidden window slowly grew, filling my sight.

“Hmm…”

[Platinum Reward List]

After scanning the list of rewards, I was able to narrow down the options I found attractive to three main choices.

-Steps of Flash [B+]

Once a day while wearing these shoes, you can momentarily move about 2 meters at super high speed.

-Sword of Flash [B+]

Once a day while this sword is equipped, you can call down a weakened bolt of lightning to a desired location. Consumes the user's mana.

-Fists of Flash [B+]

Once a day while wearing these gloves, you can bestow a Lightning attribute enchant on a weapon. The effect lasts for 5 minutes.

They were all good items.

The Steps of Flash were specialized for creating distance in an instant. No matter how skilled someone is in combat, it's difficult to imagine an opponent suddenly moving about 2 meters at super high speed. It practically allows you to land a finishing blow. Personally, I think it's the equipment with the highest potential.

The Sword of Flash also has a ridiculously powerful ability. A lightning bolt suddenly falling from a clear sky? It would be nearly impossible to dodge. For me, in particular, it's a weapon that's a perfect counter. If someone else were to get that sword… I would never be able to beat them. I'd regress before I could even react.

Finally, the Fists of Flash was also an attractive option. I don't know exactly what effect the lightning attribute enchant has… but just imagining lightning sparking with every attack sounds cool as hell. Lightning has always had that romantic appeal, you know. I'm not sure about its practical effectiveness, but its appeal is off the charts.

The items in the platinum rewards are only B+ grade, but they are such high-performance items that it's hard to believe they're from the 2nd floor.

Or maybe a B+ grade itself is something that's nearly impossible to obtain on the lower floors. In the first place, the platinum rewards themselves are rare rewards with a limited number available. Only about 30 people in all of humanity can obtain this reward.

They're all good items… really good items… but the problem is that they are items.

I can't take them with me when I regress. Since I wasn't planning on moving to the next floor this time around, they were literally a pie in the sky.

-Pill of Flash

Increases the agility stat.

“…Another pill?”

In the end, what I chose was another pill.

Of all the rewards on the list, the pill was the only one whose effects would remain even after regression.

I had a faint hope that since the nobles used magic, there might be a magic book in the reward list, but my expectation was betrayed.

The things on the reward list were all either doping-type consumables or high-performance items.

“Tsk…”

[Your Agility stat has increased by 10!]

I swallowed the pill, which had a zinging taste, in one gulp and after confirming the message that my agility stat had increased, I threw a light punch into the air and could definitely feel that my body had become more nimble.

“Nice.”

Yeah, in the end, stats are what last, and a regressor's best friend is always an elixir.

It's not too late to get flashy items like those some other time.

I desperately wanted to lie down a little longer on the soft bed, but I knew all too well that if I gave in at times like this, I would lose the momentum to move forward.

“This time… should I try being a little disruptive.”

There was one more thing I wanted to try.

The structure of the 2nd floor was similar to a class system.

What would happen if I were to completely destroy that class system here?

I bit the inside of my cheek, then rolled my tongue over the wound and closed my eyes.

[You have taken damage.]

[Returning to the moment of first entry on Floor 2.]

It is a city that lacks vitality due to its repetitive life, but it is still a prosperous one.

This city received god's grace from the very beginning. The moment one crossed the city walls, the Garden of Eden unfolded before their eyes.

There were more than enough clothes to wear, more food was thrown away from spoiling than was eaten, and everyone had a home to lay their body in.

Recently, some grim rumors had been circulating because of some climbers, but once the residents formed a vigilante group, the rumors quickly died down.

The city was so peaceful it was embarrassing to compare it to the time before it was incorporated into the Tower, when it was called the 'City of Unending Screams'. God's grace lurked in every corner of the alleys. People had some minor complaints, but on the whole, they were happy.

“Ugh, ughh…”

If you exclude this beggar, who was lying in the gap between buildings.

Wearing clean clothes makes his whole body itch as if hundreds of insects are crawling on him. Even when he eats delicious food, it has the taste and smell of chewing on filth. A soft bed feels more painful than thorns. Water on his body sends chills running through him, so he couldn't even wash.

This beggar didn't want to be a beggar.

He just chose the less painful and less agonizing options over and over, and the result just happened to be that of a beggar.

He knows the cause. The bronze box in his pocket. This was compelling his actions.

But just knowing doesn't change anything. He was still a beggar groaning in the darkness, and exchanging the box was one thing, but throwing it away entirely was against the city's rules.

“Ughh…”

The beggar, who was groaning while lying on the ground, immediately flipped over, prostrated himself flat on the ground, and stretched out his hands as soon as a man wearing leather armor and carrying a bucket full of water stopped in front of him.

“Please… please spare some food… I can give you a sigil if you want…”

He knew from past experience.

He could never figure out why, but the food thrown by climbers tasted like normal food. It had the fragrant smell of food, not the rotten smell of something fished out of a sewer.

Therefore, it had become this beggar's routine to prostrate himself and extend his hand to beg for food whenever someone in leather armor approached.

“Please, please…”

But there was no sign of anyone.

Was the heartless climber in too much of a hurry to waste time on him? Did he not have the mercy to bring just one piece of food from that prosperous street?

“Get up.”

But unexpectedly, the climber grabbed his filthy arm and helped him up.

“Uh, uhh…”

Before the bewildered beggar could even react, the man reached into the beggar's pocket and pulled out the familiar bronze box.

"Stand back."

Crash. Crash. Crash.

The climber, holding a hammer he must have gotten from somewhere, repeatedly struck the box, then clicked his tongue and put the brown box into a sack tied at his waist.

“…”

A series of baffling situations. While the beggar, who still hadn't grasped what was going on, was frozen, the mysterious climber looked at him and gave a cool smile.

“How is it?”

“…What?”

“Your body. How does it feel.”

“…Even if you ask how it feels… Agh!”

The climber poured the water from the bucket over the beggar's head.

Knowing that a piercing chill would wash over him if water touched his body, the beggar cringed as much as he could, but…

“Huh?”

For some reason, the water wasn't cold. It was actually refreshing. When he pressed a finger into the dirty water covering his skin, he felt a pleasant dampness that he hadn't enjoyed in a long time.

“H… how…”

“I took it, didn't I? The box. You're free now.”

“…”

“First, wash up a bit… fill your stomach… change your clothes, and get a haircut too. There must have been things you wanted to do, right?”

That's right.

How many things had he wanted to do?

How many things had he been forced to give up because he had to live as a 'beggar'?

“Instead… once you’ve done all that, please help me out a bit.”

The climber smiled brightly.

Because the beggar was sitting weakly on the ground, the brightly shining sun overlapped with the climber's head, shining down like a halo.

The climber had figured out the rules of this city.

That this box… compelled the actions of the residents.