Chapter 103

Who exactly is Choi Ji-won?

To be honest, I still don’t really know. There’s quite a gap between the Choi Ji-won I imagine and the real Choi Ji-won.

First and foremost, the Choi Ji-won I imagine is just. She wields a sword expertly. She has an unwavering will. Even if it’s dangerous, she’s the type of person who would readily risk her life to save others.

In summary... the Choi Ji-won I imagine is a hero. She possesses great strength, and with it, the responsibility and mental fortitude befitting a superhuman.

“…”

“…”

That’s why I never imagined her looking so haggard.

Dark circles slightly drooping under her eyes. A messy ponytail. Eyes that have lost their usual sparkle.

“…It’s been a while.”

“…Yeah.”

In the quiet café, Choi Ji-won fiddles with her cup. There’s no confidence in her gestures.

This isn’t the radiant Choi Ji-won I know. The disparity felt overwhelmingly significant to me.

Choi Ji-won, who had been spinning her empty mug on the table, finally speaks up.

“…How was the 4th floor?”

A trembling voice. A cautious tone. Only then did I understand what had happened.

Choi Ji-won is fundamentally just. She doesn’t back down in the face of a crisis. She even has the outstanding abilities to uphold that justice.

But the 4th floor is a place where the more you struggle, the more miserably you fail.

I gave it my all, and I failed. Choi Ji-won probably experienced the same. Countless people must have died right before her eyes.

“…I… failed...”

Choi Ji-won barely manages to utter, her head deeply bowed.

Even if I fail, I can just regress. I can start over from the beginning. Yet, this time, my mental state was significantly shaken.

If I’m like this, what about Choi Ji-won?

What does the worst failure feel like for someone who can’t start over? Just as she can’t empathize with me, I can’t empathize with her.

“Jun-ho, did you… succeed? Did you conquer the 4th floor?”

Choi Ji-won’s hand grips her cherished sword. Her voice quivers. Choi Ji-won is clearly shaken.

“…I failed too.”

“…I see.”

“We were perfectly prepared, but on the fourth day, slimes that melt bricks appeared and ambushed us…”

“For me… suddenly black-lit orcs appeared… the otherworlders were massacred...”

“…”

The somber mood makes the silence awkward, so I ramble, but the situation only worsens.

Sitting here are two failures. Even if we try to form a bond of empathy, it offers no comfort.

“In the end… the tower was too difficult. I just wasn’t skilled enough…”

Choi Ji-won murmurs softly, her voice resigned. Her eyes reflected the gaze of someone who had given up.

“…”

It’s frustrating.

In my memory, Choi Ji-won was a woman who could smile even in the worst situations. She was the woman who comforted me when I was trembling with fear. She was the woman who never gave up and kept trying until the very end.

“If only… if only I had done better...”

She was… my idol in the tutorial. My beacon. My goal. That hasn’t changed even now.

She’s not someone who would sit here, pathetically despairing like this. Even though none of this was Choi Ji-won’s fault, an inexplicable frustration welled up inside me.

Of course, Choi Ji-won will rise again. With her characteristic mental fortitude, she will brush off the dust and move forward once more.

But the memory of defeat embedded in her heart will not fade. She won’t be able to shine as brightly as before.

“Ji-won.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Wait a moment.”

I abruptly stood up, announcing my departure as if giving an order, and immediately headed back to my apartment. I deeply regretted not waiting for Choi Ji-won and entering the 4th floor right away.

“Sigh, ha.”

I buried my head in the pillow. The familiar musty smell helped my brain start working again.

Choi Ji-won. I can’t leave her like this. I’ll regress and change things.

I’ll make sure she conquers the 4th floor and smiles triumphantly. I’ll restore the brilliant Choi Ji-won from my memories.

“...Is there a way?”

I’m not sure. Maybe there is.

If I jump into the portal right after being summoned to the 4th floor...

What if I return to reality, rest for two days, and then meet Choi Ji-won right after she clears the 3rd floor? Even if I can’t directly inform her about the 4th floor, there must be indirect ways. If I look hard enough, there could be a chance.

Besides, I had decided to dabble with mana. After subtly feeding Choi Ji-won information, I can take my time training mana. Or better yet, I could train mana together with Choi Ji-won. It would also be a good opportunity to observe how reality changes.

“…”

But then... what about the people on the 4th floor? What about Baron Jorge and Sir Thomas?

Even with my presence, I couldn’t protect even half of the 300 otherworlders. It’s obvious what will happen if I’m not there. The players’ casualties will also be much higher.

One person, Choi Ji-won, who is close to me. Four hundred people I am relatively less close to.

“...Haa.”

Saving both is impossible. While I’ll be progressing through the 4th floor, Choi Ji-won will clear the 3rd floor and enter the 4th floor the next day. Our timelines overlap.

Talking to Choi Ji-won by using the portal means I can’t stay with the otherworlders until the 5th day. Two events happening simultaneously put me in a bind.

Should I send Ji-won a text in advance? Or maybe a note? No. Due to the divine information control, it would be useless. Meeting her in person is the only way to create even a sliver of a chance.

But I can’t give up on the people on the 4th floor or Choi Ji-won.

Is there really no solution?

“...Wait.”

Training mana together? With Choi Ji-won?

“...Is this possible?”

An idea struck me. Maybe I could save Choi Ji-won and the people at the same time. Should I try it?

No, I must try. Even if it’s just a possibility, I need to grasp it.

Resolute, I finished reading the report Yoon Jung-hyun had given me, then bit my lip for the first time in ages.

***

Former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Level 2 Agent Yoon Jung-hyun prided himself on his ability to read people.

When people think of NIS agents, they typically imagine black suits, sunglasses, and a pistol holstered at the waist... but there are far more office workers than field agents in the NIS.

Yoon Jung-hyun’s job was simple: handling people.

He had dealt with countless individuals, from spies to mentally ill patients, drug addicts, serial killers, and cryptocurrency fraudsters. Thanks to his unique insight, he quickly rose through the ranks within the organization.

“Mister.”

“...”

“What’s your name?”

To Yoon Jung-hyun, this man was no ordinary person.

He had just been summoned to the 4th floor, yet his body was completely relaxed. His breathing was steady. His eyes did not waver.

Confidence is a measure of skill. While many novices have baseless confidence, anyone who saw this man’s demeanor would not dismiss him as a rookie.

“My name is Yoon Jung-hyun. Nice to meet you.”

“...”

There was no response. He had expected as much.

This man is peculiar. His posture, his aura, and his gaze are anything but ordinary. He exudes a similar vibe to the MI6 agents Yoon Jung-hyun had encountered before.

However, his entire body is unusually smooth. He lacks the large scars typical of those who walk on the edge, as well as the calluses seen on martial artists. It’s strange not to be intrigued by him.

“Wow, we’ve already gathered 99 people. What do you think will happen when it hits 100? What are you planning to do?”

Despite knowing he wouldn’t get an answer, Yoon Jung-hyun kept talking nonstop. Whether ignored, glared at, or answered, it all provided information. Someone as skilled as this man would soon stand out. Any piece of information, no matter how small, would be a valuable asset for the association.

“Teach.”

But information, even without substance, varies in quality.

“...What?”

“I’ll teach.”

“...?”

Random babble can’t be considered valuable information. It only serves as evidence that this man’s mind has snapped. While Yoon Jung-hyun was momentarily flustered, a message appeared before his eyes.

“Attention!!!”

-Attention, attention, attention, atten...

The moment the message appeared, the man’s lion-like roar echoed resoundingly.

“What, what is this?”

“What’s going on?”

Everyone reading the message turned their gaze to him. His roar commanded that kind of presence.

“My goal is to disappear in two days. I need to train mana and relay information to Choi Ji-won.”

The man continued speaking in a language they couldn’t understand, but his serious demeanor and sharp aura were undeniable. Overwhelmed by his presence, everyone listened without a word.

“Leaving you behind and just going on my way wouldn’t be a big problem... but I’ve decided to take moral responsibility. Therefore, I will do my best. In return, you must follow my lead.”

Boom!!!

The man stomped his foot hard, solemnly declaring.

“From now on, I will teach you how to survive.”

– – – End of Chapter – – -

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