WeTried Translations

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: Abstract

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Regression is Too Much

Chapter 047

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The Regressor takes action (4)

I know what I'm doing right now is just being difficult.

It goes against my usual way of doing things. Up until now, I always acted with caution, worrying about the safety of the people who would be left behind when I regressed.

My range of actions was quite limited as a result, as I always had to consider the possibility that this world would remain as it is after I regressed alone.

But I have decided not to care about such things anymore. As I’ve said, it’s because I chose to act on my feelings, not on logic.

Who knows, maybe this world will regress along with me. I decided not to think about problems that have no answer no matter how much I ponder them.

What my heart is telling me to do right now is to have a talk with the master of the city.

“I said, bring out the Boss, didn't I?”

Just as I was in the middle of throwing my tantrum, and the angel was contemplating whether they should just pass this bastard (myself) and clear the stage.

“Huh?”

I had simply blinked, but now there was a woman standing in front of me whom I hadn't seen before. It was as if a bug had occurred in a game, something that wasn’t there before had appeared in the span of a blink.

A longsword was fastened at her waist. A full suit of armor with a remarkably sleek design, as if it were custom-made. However, she wasn't wearing a helmet, allowing her brilliant blonde hair to flutter in the wind.

“…It’s a pleasure to meet you. According to the rules, I cannot reveal myself unless someone commits a crime or specifically seeks me out. So I am only able to greet you now.”

Her voice was a pleasant mezzo-soprano. It was by no means loud, but it was imbued with a charisma that subdued the crowd.

The expressions of the excited residents had already stiffened. The heated atmosphere of the plaza had cooled down in an instant.

“I am the master of the city.”

It was the master of the city.

“…”

I knew it the moment I saw her. That this woman was the owner of the ‘Flash’ set from the platinum rewards.

She was emitting streams of electricity from the fantasy-style full plate armor she wore, so it would have been strange not to know.

“Shall we start with a handshake?”

The master of the city extended her hand with a stoic expression.

“Ah… that might be a problem.”

If I grabbed that electrifying hand, I wouldn't last a moment before I was forced to regress.

In the first place, I was reluctant to even get close to her. Sparks were crackling all over her body like an electric mouse, so even if I didn't have my regression ability, I wouldn't have shaken her hand.

“First… why don’t you put that sack down and we can talk. I knew climbers were a variable, but I never imagined someone like you would exist. What is it that you want?”

The master of the city gestured with her eyes toward the sack I was holding.

“The sigil boxes are completely useless outside of the 2nd floor. There should be no reason for you to take them, should there?”

“…It’s because I hate to see the people of this city suffering.”

“Suffering? That can’t be. They are in the process of ‘understanding’ one another. Can you not see this perfect structure?”

“…What did you say?”

The master of the city scanned the crowd of residents gathered in the plaza.

“The people of this city are all sinners. No, they were sinners.”

“…”

“The nobles were lazy and selfish. The commoners pretended to be polite on the surface but cared for nothing but their own well-being. The city’s resources were limited, and the beggars had to eat rotten food and drink muddy water because of their humble origins. They all despised one another.”

It's a common sight on Earth, too.

People slander those who are better off, assuming they must have dirty secrets, and they ignore those less fortunate, claiming they simply don't try hard enough. They don't even make an effort to understand those whose circumstances are different from their own.

“No wonder the nickname for this city was the ‘City of Unending Screams.’ It was a daily spectacle for people to gather in the plaza in their own little groups and gossip about someone.”

“…So?”

“I had many worries. The conflict between the classes had reached its peak, and I felt that the city would be overturned if things continued as they were. There was even a noble who threatened to use magic to kill all the residents.”

Distrust. Revulsion. Contempt. Negative emotions were rampant in the city.

This wasn't right.

God taught that it is only right for people to live while understanding and caring for one another.

She had a duty to lead the city she had inherited from her parents in the right direction.

But there was no way to resolve this conflict. Should she use force to intimidate them? Should she take the political risk and replace all the corrupt nobles? But what would be the point of that? The residents would only divide into factions and fight again anyway.

Isn't there a way to eliminate conflict at its source?

To her, who was in agony, a god whispered to her one day.

To offer this city to the Tower he was creating.

To offer her life to her god.

In return, the god would bring about peace in its truest sense, where everyone could understand one another.

“And so, I offered this city to the god Luminus. The result of that is this beautiful city you see now.”

“…Luminus?”

“Humans cannot understand others. It’s because the backgrounds they are born into are different, the lives they have lived are different, and their personalities are different.”

The master of the city casually ignored my question and continued speaking.

“That is why… this city is beautiful. Because here, one can truly become another person and understand them from the depths of their heart.”

A single sigil box symbolizes a single human being. When a resident takes a sigil box into their possession, their way of life is completely transformed.

Humans cannot understand others. Therefore, the insane idea was that they could understand if they lived the lives of others.

“Even if the climbers have no influence, the residents’ sigils are designed to be shuffled every ten years. There is no such thing as aging in this city, so someday, after a very long time has passed… everyone will be able to understand everyone else. Since they will have lived each other’s lives. As resources are also abundant, this city will be able to be reborn as a utopia in the truest sense. When that time comes, there will be no need for sigil boxes.”

A Garden of Eden where everyone understands each other perfectly. It seemed that the master of the city desired such an ideal world.

“…What do you think?”

The master of the city stared straight at me with her blue eyes. My impression after hearing everything was simple.

“…Why should I care about that?”

I dropped the polite speech. I have no interest in her bullshit philosophy.

All the people in this city are sinners? It’s true that they were selfish and had bad personalities… but I’m not so sure that they were all sinners.

But well, if that’s what she thinks, I have no intention of stepping up to persuade her otherwise. In the first place, the look in her eyes is strange. What do they call it these days? A crazy bitch with clear eyes.

“What I don’t like are the nobles of gold grade or higher. I don’t like that those bastards give out such shitty tasks. The structure is such that players have to forcibly commit crimes to get stronger. And I feel sorry for the residents who have to forcibly live someone else’s life.”

“…”

“Can’t you just get rid of this stupid class-play and give out reasonable tasks yourself, with rewards based on the difficulty? Is it really necessary for the residents to understand each other?”

But the master of the city simply shook her head.

“…There is a need. A need that you cannot understand.”

The master of the city pondered, placing a finger on her chin.

“I really need that sack… but due to the rules, I can’t just beat you up for it first. How about we do this instead?”

She rummaged through a pouch at her waist and took out a sigil that shone with the light of a brilliant diamond.

“I will give you this. It is the highest-grade reward. Archangel Raphael-nim said, ‘Give it when you want to give it. But, there is only one.’”

“…”

“I was originally planning to give it to someone talented enough to capture my heart… but the situation is what it is. I’ll give you this, so please leave all the sigil boxes and go. I am content with the current structure of the 2nd floor, and I have no intention of changing it. So let’s just each look out for our own interests.”

“Are you… trying to buy me off right now? With that diamond-colored reward?”

“Think what you will. Aren’t these residents people who have nothing to do with you in the first place?”

“…Kuh.”

The reward of a brilliant, diamond-colored sigil. And the freedom of the city's residents, who are bound to the 2nd floor because of the master of the city's dogmatism, forced to live out their assigned roles faithfully.

Which of the two should I choose?

It was true that the residents were selfish. It was also true that they had no consideration for others and slandered one another.

But… did they really do something wrong enough to have to endure all this suffering?

Should they have to live their lives acting out someone else's life, under the pretext of having to understand others?

“I’ve decided.”

I untied the knot I had fastened at my waist and put on the leather gloves that were provided when I first entered the 2nd floor.

The texture wrapped smoothly around my hands. This should be enough.

“…Are you planning to fight? Well, fine. I don’t dislike a man with spirit.”

“…No.”

I stretched my hands out slightly in front of me and cupped my palms into a rounded, triangular shape.

“Please toss the sigil from over there. I think I’ll get electrocuted if I get too close.”

I don't know if the diamond sigil is a real diamond or if it's just the color…

But wouldn't it be a futile thing to get regressed while receiving the sigil? As far as I know, leather is a non-conductor.

“…Yes, well. Let’s do that.”

The master of the city tossed the sigil to me with a soured face, while the numerous residents stared at me in disbelief and despair.

I paid them no mind and handed the diamond sigil to the angel, and the angel, too, opened the portal with a reluctant expression.

Before entering the portal, I didn’t forget to make a request to the residents.

“Uh… just wait a little bit. I’m going to regress.”

I was planning to regress anyway. If I really took all the sigil boxes and went up, wouldn’t the later climbers, including Choi Ji-won, all be trapped on Floor 2?

I did try to change the structure in a somewhat reasonable way for the residents before regressing... but that woman is just too stubborn. It feels like I'd get beaten up if I pushed it any further.

In that case, wouldn't grabbing the diamond reward in this run be the right choice, a hundred, a thousand times over?

I felt sorry for the residents... but I hope they can wait a little. I plan to regress soon.

I smoothly pushed my body into the portal.

[You have cleared Floor 2.]

[Please select your diamond reward.]

Now, it was time to check the hidden reward I had been looking forward to.

Author Note:

There are people saying they've already seen this chapter before I even posted it...

Could it be that you've regressed?

Footnotes:

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