Regression is Too Much - Chapter 52

WeTried Translations

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Editor: Abstract

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Regression is Too Much

Chapter 052

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Choi Ji-won is too strong (3)

Zhuge Liang. Sima Yi. Zhou Yu.

The commonality among competent strategists was that they gained two or three benefits from a single move.

Even if I cannot become a phoenix, I think I am at least a stork…

The core of this plan is for Ji-won to follow the exact same path I took in the past to liberate the 2nd floor.

Being able to make the master of the city let her guard down is the most basic benefit.

Putting Ji-won at the forefront to clear the 2nd floor instead of me has an additional three whole benefits.

First,

I can hide my identity.

It would be fine for me to step forward and be revered as the hero of Korea, but…

Again, the problem is Regression.

First of all, what would I say my trait is? Even if I could pass it off with a lie at first, what if a machine that can inspect traits like in hunter stories is invented later? Or what if there is someone with the ability to perceive other people's traits?

Let's say I get incredibly lucky and somehow manage to gloss over the trait issue.

When I obtain useful information using Regression, sharing that information is also extremely troublesome.

If I were in the position of an outsider, I could just throw the information out there and run away, but… if I am a complete ally, I will be questioned about the source of the information and the process of obtaining it.

At first, I might be able to get by with excuses like it was a coincidence or what have you… but that cannot last forever.

Because Koreans, who have become familiar with the Tower as a medium through webtoons and web novels, will inevitably think of the existence of a 'regressor'.

The only weakness of an infinite regressor is getting caught for being a regressor. Acting on the front lines has more losses than gains.

Therefore, putting Ji-won forward was an extremely attractive option. She is going to be revered as the hero of Korea anyway, so it’s not like it will be noticeable if she gets a little more added to her reputation.

From here, the second benefit.

I can strengthen the relationship between myself, Choi Ji-won, and the firefighter Park Cheol-jin.

This does not mean becoming companions like in the previous turn. It means deepening the business relationship.

Right now, our relationship is just that short connection from the Tutorial, and that is it.

The gratitude for being saved remains, but nothing more… a literally ambiguous relationship.

But let's look at the two people in front of me again.

Ji-won is set to become the undisputed representative player for Korea, and the firefighter Cheol-jin was also a player who would make a name for himself.

So if I make a strong impression on them right here, right now?

It is certain to be of great help later, whether in the Tower or in reality.

Kim Jun-ho, the aide to Choi Ji-won, who is cherished by the government like a precious gem? Whoa. Just imagining it is mind-boggling.

Finally, the third benefit.

I can get Ji-won the diamond reward.

Of course, it would also be a huge merit for me to ultimately take an Elixir with me when I go up to the 3rd floor.

But I believe investing in Choi Ji-won has more value than that.

If I form a good relationship on the 2nd floor now, I will be able to receive Choi Ji-won's help in the future.

I could even outsource fights against enemies I cannot overwhelm, like now… (In the first place, the master of the city is a really bad matchup for me.)

I was also curious to see how strong the already-strong Ji-won could become if she got her hands on an S-grade trait.

Also, it has the meaning of repaying her for her help.

I am not that much of a conscienceless bastard.

Shamelessly using Ji-won and then wiping my mouth clean and turning away saying, 'Good work?' pricks my conscience.

Since I have already gotten everything I need from the diamond rewards anyway… it would be fine to let Ji-won have the last one. I'll pass the platinum reward to firefighter Cheol-jin.

"First… let's start working on the bronze-grade residents of each street."

And so, I, Choi Ji-won, and the firefighter Park Cheol-jin scattered to the streets we were each assigned to.

Now, it truly begins.

We collect the sigil boxes of the bronze-grade residents. And with their cooperation, we sweep through to the silver-grade residents in one go.

Is this not just a repeat of what I have been doing so far? That is correct.

But if there is a difference, it is that the one leading the work is Ji-won. I just help from time to time from the back, with my hat pulled down low.

"Everyone. Let's fight. Let's change this unreasonable system with our own hands!"

If I used the Curiosity and Awe traits to move people as I wished, Ji-won captivated people with her natural charisma.

A confident attitude. An upright gaze. A radiant appearance.

The magically charming leather armor, which would make even Vin Diesel look like a total novice, looked neat and tidy when draped over her body.

"...Oh."

The way she dealt with the nobles was also different.

Unlike me, who hid among the residents, afraid of getting hit, and attempted one-sided attacks, Ji-won just smashed the noble's mansion head-on.

Ji-won probably has no level right now. She cleared the Tutorial without catching a single goblin, and even though her bonus stats rose through achievement levels, it would not have been enough to match her stats from the time when she used to slaughter goblins.

That is why the strongest Ji-won I remember is the Ji-won from the time she pushed the Minotaur and made it fall into the swamp.

But the current Ji-won looks stronger than she was at that time.

Of course, the Ji-won of that time was faster, stronger, and sharper.

However, while her current physical abilities may be lacking compared to the Ji-won who caught the Minotaur, the precision and detail of her movements are on a different level.

'Has she completely adapted to her changed physical abilities?'

The genius named Choi Ji-won was given three weeks' time.

During that time, Ji-won grew steadily. And Bung-bung would have also matured over those three weeks.

There is a reason why Ji-won clears Floor 10 one month and one week from now.

"...I've improved a lot, haven't I?"

After snatching the sigil box from the unconscious noble, Ji-won turned her head to look at me.

"...I worked like crazy on the 1st floor. To become stronger than the you I saw that day. I revised my swordsmanship too—to fit my current body's condition."

Ji-won slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

The result of her fully adapting to her changed physical abilities and modifying her swordsmanship accordingly was… truly overwhelming.

Of course, for now, I am stronger when I have my Hero trait stacked.

But… if Ji-won steadily accumulates levels and arms herself from head to toe with high-quality traits and items.

Perhaps Choi Ji-won is the strongest in the world. Such a thought occurred to me.

"Nice to meet you. I am the master of the city."

Finally, we faced the master of the city.

"Now, I'll give you a diamond sigil, so… just leave that sack and go. Or will you fight me and win freedom for the residents?"

It would be normal to be flustered if someone suddenly suggests a fight, but since I had told her about the master of the city beforehand, Ji-won was not greatly flustered.

"...Ji-won-ssi?"

"..."

No. She was damn well flustered. Choi Ji-won's eyes were lost.

"...I do not think I can win against that."

Ji-won lightly bit her lower lip.

"That person is… a monster."

To think the word 'monster' came out of Ji-won's mouth.

Even Choi Ji-won, who has completely adapted to her physical abilities, cannot dare to match up against the master of the city?

"It's alright."

But it is fine. Because the goal is not to win the fight.

"That woman… She is the type to enjoy the fight itself. She will not go all out from the beginning."

Am I crazy enough to drive Choi Ji-won to her death? I have a plan.

I trusted Michael Zetter's story.

The master of the city does not use her full power from the start. He said she played around with Zetter as if teasing him, then hit him hard with one blow at the very end.

I will aim for that moment when her guard is down.

"But..."

"You remember the plan, right? Do your best, but subtly aim for the place I told you about. As stealthily as possible. In the moment she's flustered, I will drive the final wedge. Please trust me."

If something really seems like it is going to go wrong… I will regress before Ji-won gets seriously hurt.

"...I will trust you."

Having made up her mind after hearing my words, Ji-won stepped forward.

"You want to fight? Good. I do not dislike people with spirit."

The master of the city nodded with a satisfied smile, and the angel became extremely flustered.

"Uh, uh uh...! If you fight here..."

"This much should be fine, right? Angel-nim? I will control myself well so as not to cause harm to the residents."

"Uh… Argh! I'm not taking responsibility!"

The angel, struggling with the wooden board that listed the rewards by grade, disappeared somewhere.

"F-Fighting? With the master of the city? Wasn't this supposed to be resolved with words? If you threaten them with the sigil boxes…"

"Let's just scram for now. This ain't it."

The residents, who had gathered in the plaza like a swarm of clouds, hastily fled to their homes at the news of a fight breaking out, and the players who grasped the situation mixed into the gaps between the residents and peeked their heads out.

"If I win, you will have to leave that sack behind and go."

"...If I win, let's stop this class game."

"Well, if you can win, that is."

The empty plaza.

At its very center stood Choi Ji-won and the master of the city, facing each other.

The terrified residents had long since hidden themselves away in their homes, and the alleyways were filled with players who had taken up spots to watch the fight.

Although quite a lot of people were watching the two figures, the plaza was endlessly quiet.

However, that silence was not a cold silence, but a hot silence that seemed ready to explode at any moment.

"...Is this fight for real?"

One player swallowed his saliva without realizing it.

He had felt it vaguely since the residents started showing strange behavior. That something was going strangely on Floor 2.

And then a sudden riot? A revolution? Anyway, something happened.

At first, he wondered what this was all about…

But now, all the players realized the reason.

That woman. That pony-tailed woman is the main culprit.

She is the culprit who turned the 2nd floor upside down, and right now she is about to have a go with the master of the city.

As people who had experienced a battle of life and death in the Tutorial, they understood instinctively.

What they were about to see would be a fight unlike anything they had ever seen in their lives.