WeTried Translations

Translator: ZEROSUGAR

Editor: Abstract

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Regression is Too Much

Chapter 072

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The Regressor racks his brains (3)

The solution surfaced in my mind.

Just one.

A solution as narrow as the eye of a needle.

"But before I tell you this, there's one thing we need to clear up first."

"...What is it?"

"That fist of yours. I need to know the exact conditions for its use."

In truth, Chan's ability, in terms of sheer attack power, was the strongest I had seen among any player so far. The impact of a single blow was comparable to the master of the city when she had activated the Heart of Lightning Flash.

Naturally, Chan's fist was also the most crucial ability for clearing Floor 3-5.

For now, I was only guessing that he could use it 'about once,' but understanding the detailed conditions of its use was also important.

"...In that case, I'll need an explanation from you as well."

Chan countered my question with a question of his own.

"I can surmise... that you're not the kind of regressor who can only regress once. You're probably the type who regresses repeatedly. After all, the moment you entered Floor 3-5, you came to talk to me instead of surveying your surroundings."

“…”

"I need to know the condition that changes your regression point. Do you control it? Or is it determined by some sort of condition? Can it not be updated again?"

Chan was asking about my regression ability. I had forgotten, because of how readily he had shared his ability, that I had not revealed anything about my own regression.

"...Why are you curious about that?"

"Aren't you just going to regress anyway? What's the problem with telling me?"

“…”

He was right, and I had nothing to say. It was a memory that would disappear once I regressed anyway, so there was no reason I couldn't tell him.

But even so... revealing that I 'regress upon taking a hit' felt a little unsettling. It was not a rational thought, but a rejection that arose on an instinctive level.

"...I regress when I meet a certain condition. The regression point is fixed to the moment I first enter each floor."

"You tell me to reveal the penalty of my fist, yet you hide your own detailed conditions."

“…”

"Let's just agree not to reveal them to each other."

Chan shrugged once.

"...Well, fine. Next, I'd like to hear in detail what you experienced after entering Floor 3-5."

"Why that?"

"Shouldn't I at least be able to judge whether your plan is realistic or not? I've already told you my whole story."

"Um, everyone..."

In the middle of our tense war of nerves, Gyeong-jun tactlessly cut in.

"There's a woman waiting for you... You should probably come now..."

"...Go on ahead. We'll be there soon."

"O-okay..."

Chan, who had instantly subdued Gyeong-jun with a glare, shifted his gaze back to me.

"If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to. Or you can lie. It won't matter, since I'll forget everything if you 'regress' anyway. Ah, it would also be fine to regress right this instant. You got the information you wanted from me, after all. But you are alone. A plan that seems perfect to you might have its flaws exposed when seen through a third party's eyes. And I have things to tell you as well."

“…”

Kang Chan.

Contrary to my first impression, this guy seemed to have a pretty good head on his shoulders. Moreover, he was being cooperative right now.

I didn't know what his intentions were... but he would probably be helpful.

"...Let's start from when I first entered the 3rd floor."

And so, I slowly laid out for Chan the events that had transpired since I entered Floor 3-5.

I felt a strong aversion to confessing my regression and talking about the past... but Chan was right. A plan that seemed perfect to me could have its flaws exposed when seen through a third party's eyes.

"...After confirming the blood on the golem's fist, I regressed."

About ten minutes must have passed.

I finished my story, Chan was pondering something with a hardened expression, and Gyeong-jun, who had probably peeked over wondering why the hell we weren't coming, retreated again due to the heavy atmosphere.

"...I've heard you out."

Though not entirely expressionless, Chan nodded with a face that was difficult to read.

"First of all... it seems I can only use my 'fist' once on the 3rd floor."

"Are you sure?"

"To be honest, it's true that I'm uncomfortable giving you too much information. But I'm not lying. Floor 3-5... has very bad compatibility with me."

"...I see."

Chan seemed to understand what it meant to give information to a regressor. And he didn't seem to be lying.

If he could use his 'fist' twice, things would become very, very easy. But he could do it only once. It was impossible not to feel disappointed.

"More importantly, it seems the other three, including you, are exceptionally strong."

Chan turned his head, looking in the direction where Su-hee and Gyeong-jun were likely waiting.

"...For me, the 'fist' is something of a last resort. After using it, it's no different from having my neck on the line."

"And yet you used the ability at the arrow trap?"

"I probably developed a sense of trust. A belief that even if I used my ability, you guys could survive until the end."

He said that the past Kang Chan had likely observed the others carefully. Chan, who was nothing without his 'Intimidation' trait, always had to observe others.

From their personalities to their strengths and ways of thinking. When he synthesized all of that, Chan must have concluded that our party was trustworthy and used his ability midway through. (Kang Chan was also not in a position to pass through the trapped corridor easily.)

Besides, with his 'Intimidation' ability as a final fallback, he would have been confident he could survive most situations.

"...He just didn't expect a golem that was immune to killing intent to pop out."

However, the end was not good.

"...With this, I think I've laid all my cards on the table. Now it's your turn."

Chan looked me straight in the eye with his dark pupils.

"Let's hear that plan of yours."

"...Alright."

After a moment of thought, I finally opened my mouth and began to explain.

My plan.

Its essence was simple.

It was to grasp what the four of us currently had, analyze the obstacles before us, and use our assets in the right place at the right time.

It wasn't such a grand plan. It was a simple paradigm shift.

"...It's a plan where your will is the most important thing."

That was Chan's reaction after hearing my plan to the end.

"The probability of success seems high. As long as you don't break, that is."

To be honest, that was the biggest problem with this plan.

It was a battle of whether my willpower could endure or not. But among the plans I could think of right now, I couldn't see any other answer but this one.

"...I'll be rooting for you."

Chan gave a small nod, then slowly rose from his spot.

He loosened his shoulders once, then got into a stance and glared at me.

"Now then, regress."

His fist was enveloped in light. Killing intent poured from his body.

These were the warning signs of Chan's 'fist'.

"...I was planning to regress anyway, but is there really a need for this?"

Of course, I had been planning to regress, but his sudden change in attitude felt a little disappointing.

"Not at all. Try thinking about it from my perspective."

Chan shook his head.

"You could have a special skill that let you peek at my status window, or you could have deduced my ability through reasoning and then engaged in psychological warfare."

“…”

"Why do you think I told you my past story and ability so readily?"

Just like a regressor, the moment his true nature was revealed, Chan had a clear counter.

Numbers.

You could win by just overwhelming him with numbers. There would be some sacrifices, but once you got past that one punch, he was nothing more than a powerless being.

In other words, from the moment Kang Chan revealed his ability, he had no intention of letting me go quietly.

"...If I'm not a regressor, you'll be trapped on the 3rd floor, you know? You can't proceed here without four people."

"Now that my 'true self' has been exposed, I'm as good as dead anyway. I'm making my own gamble..."

Chan stopped talking and let out a smirk.

"No, I'll just be honest. At first, I was suspicious, and I threw a gamble just as I said... but now, I believe in your regression. This is partly my intuition, and also the result of synthesizing everything you've shown me."

"...Then why are you doing this?"

"I'm trying to score some points."

"...What?"

"Have you never thought about it from another person's perspective? What would it feel like to meet a regressor?"

“…”

"You are a kind of natural disaster, or something that cannot be resisted. Unless there's a way to seal you away forever, making an enemy of you is no different from committing suicide."

Chan raised one corner of his mouth.

"I am appealing to you right now. I am not an empty-headed idiot. I am a person who can be of help to you, and furthermore, a person who can be of help to humanity."

Chan was saying it.

That he had figured out this entire situation this quickly. That he was a person with his own insight.

That it would be more rational to leave him be and use him, rather than exposing his ability everywhere and causing his complete downfall.

"...No wonder you were so willing to talk at first."

So you had a plan all along. I just thought you were thoughtless.

"No, it wasn't simply that I told you because I had no intention of letting you go."

But Chan shook his head.

"There was also an intention to see how you would react to my story. Just as you were observing me, I was observing you too."

“…”

"And from what I've seen... you're a trustworthy guy."

I think so now, and my past self would have thought so too.

Chan said this, smiling awkwardly for the first time.

"...So, I'll be rooting for you."

The moment the light from Kang Chan's fist slowly died down.

"...Thanks."

I gave a small nod and then regressed.

[You have taken damage.]

[Returning to the moment of first entry on Floor 3-5.]

"...Wake up, brat."

"...Hoo."

Before executing the 'plan'.

First, there was something I had to test.

"Let's go."

The golem.

I had to face that thing one more time.

Footnotes:

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