Chapter 124

 

[…Wait.]

 

“…Huh?”

 

I have no idea how many times I’ve regressed by now. I never counted, and even if I had, I would’ve forgotten by now.

 

“…You… you can talk?”

 

But this was the first time my clone had ever spoken to me. Literally the first time. Until now, he’d just muttered to himself. Suddenly, he was speaking human words, so naturally, I was shocked.

 

“Why… why now, all of a sudden?”

 

I didn’t even consider the possibility that he might be pretending to talk as a trap. Traps or one-time betrayals don’t hold much meaning for a regressor. And besides, my opponent is myself. If he were going to set a trap, he wouldn’t have done it so crudely.

 

[…]

 

“…Hey, why’d you start talking and then stop?”

 

The clone fell silent again, but this silence was different. It wasn’t the usual silence filled with madness; it was the kind of silence where he seemed to be carefully choosing his words as if language itself was foreign to him.

 

[…]

 

“…”

 

After a long pause, he finally spoke again, and his question was simple.

 

[…Is this your first time?]

 

“…What do you mean?”

 

[It’s your first time.]

 

The clone slowly nodded as if understanding something. This might be the first time he’d spoken to me, but it felt like he was talking about something else entirely.

 

[Sit.]

 

With that, he plopped down onto the ground. I hesitated, but eventually, I sat down as well. After making sure we were both seated, the clone began to speak.

 

[Why are we fighting?]

 

“…Because you attacked me?”

 

[And why did I attack you?]

 

“…How am I supposed to know that?”

 

[That’s what I want to talk about.]

 

A faint smile spread across the clone’s face.

 

[My memory is hazy… but I’ll explain as best as I can remember.]

 

The story my clone began to tell… was nothing short of shocking.

 

***

 

Clone’s Perspective:

 

 

[…1st floor?]

 

When I came to my senses, I found myself surrounded by darkness. I stretched out my foot and tapped at the space in front of me, feeling something solid. Looks like I’m trapped somewhere.

 

[Sss…]

 

Just moments ago, I had sliced through a Minotaur with a single slash and stepped into the portal that had formed above the Goblin Shaman’s corpse. And now, I’m here, suddenly, in this dark space. 

 

This tower really doesn’t give you a moment’s rest, does it?

 

[It’s okay. Let’s calm down.]

 

There’s no need to panic. Just like I handled the tutorial, I can overcome this if I take it one step at a time. After all, it’s only the first floor. Surely, it won’t be anything too extreme.

 

I took a deep breath and waited quietly. Gradually, the darkness around me faded, replaced by a bright light shining from all directions.

 

[Ugh…]

 

As my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw what appeared to be a white temple. The pillars surrounding me resembled something out of ancient Greece, though slightly different—pure white columns supporting a grand temple.

 

[…]

 

Just a moment ago, I was in an open field in the tutorial, and now, a temple? I stood there, slightly dazed by the drastic change in environment, when a message appeared in front of me.

 

 

[…A monster?]

 

In the distance, I spotted a silhouette. Is that supposed to be the monster that looks like me? It seems my task for this floor is to defeat that creature over there.

 

[Hmm…]

 

Reluctantly, I twirled my wrist, gripping my sword tightly, and began to approach the silhouette. I didn’t know much about the structure of this floor yet, but following instructions seemed like the best course of action. As long as I clear it adequately and don’t move to the next floor, there’s still a chance for a flawless completion.

 

At the same time, it seemed like the creature had noticed my presence, as it began to walk towards me as well. We both approached each other and in no time, the distance between us closed.

 

[…]

 

“…”

 

Finally, we were close enough to reach each other with a swing of the sword.

 

“…Ha, really? How cliché.”

 

The monster let out a scoffing laugh, as if amused. It looked exactly like me, down to every detail, except for its clothing. On closer inspection, its expression seemed darker, more intense.

 

[Uh, uhh…]

 

“Yeah, I can feel it. This is real.”

 

Just as the creature tightened its grip on its sword, ready to charge at me—

 

[W-wait a second.]

 

“…?”

 

I instinctively held out a hand, stopping the creature in its tracks. The aura it exuded was no joke.

 

If we fought, I would lose. There was no question. I’d be crushed without a doubt.

 

[How about we… try to settle this with words instead?]

 

After all, solving everything with violence is the way of beasts.

 

For those with intelligence, there’s a more sophisticated way to resolve things.

 

***

 

[So, you’re saying you’ve already cleared up to the 4th floor?]

 

“Right.”

 

[And this is the 5th floor now?]

 

“Exactly.”

 

[And I’m just a clone created based on your memories?]

 

“Precisely.”

 

[Hmm…]

 

Honestly, I’m completely thrown. I went through all that effort to finally clear the tutorial, only to find out that I’m actually just the clone of the original?

 

From my perspective… it’s hard to believe.

 

[But are you ‘sure’ I’m the clone?]

 

“…What?”

 

[Think about it. What if you’re actually the clone based on my memories, given implanted experiences of fake 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors? I mean, come on, where would you find a tower that just lets you breeze through one floor for free?]

 

In every story, clones never know they’re the clones. When I pointed this out, the one who insisted he was the original suddenly looked very serious.

 

“…True, now that you mention it, the twist of realizing I’m the clone is a classic…”

 

[Isn’t there some way to check?]

 

So, we two identical figures, differing only in clothing, sat down and began to go through each other’s memories in an attempt to figure it out.

 

[Same childhood home, same first crush in elementary school… even the same favorite actor?]

 

“Ugh…”

 

The problem was that our memories were completely identical. There weren’t even any “memory gaps” that clones in stories usually have. Except for memories post-tutorial, there were simply no differences at all.

 

[Hmm…]

 

“Mmm…”

 

As we both pondered ways to determine who the real one was, an idea suddenly struck the 5th-floor Junho.

 

“Regression.”

 

[Huh?]

 

“What would happen if one of us regressed?”

 

The 5th-floor Junho posed a question that made my head spin.

 

[Wouldn’t we both regress at the same time?]

 

“Hmm… That does seem likely…”

 

And so, an unexpected debate ensued, with countless hypotheses surfacing and then fading. But with little evidence to support any of them, we couldn’t reach a conclusion. When it comes to this kind of problem, the solution is simple: just test it.

 

[I’ll try regressing first.]

 

“Alright.”

 

One of the perks of being a regressor is that there’s no real cost to trying something risky. Stopping the 5th-floor Junho, I clenched my fist and struck my chest.

 

-Smack!

 

With the sound of impact, I regressed.

 

 

***

 

[So, you’re saying you don’t remember any of this?]

 

“That’s right.”

 

[Looks like we don’t share each other’s regressions…]

 

Surprisingly, the 5th-floor Junho didn’t remember any of this. When he tried to cut me down instantly, just like before, I barely managed to calm him down enough to talk.

 

[Now it’s your turn to try regressing. If you’re the clone, you won’t be able to regress, right?]

 

“That’s true… but, hold on. Something’s bothering me.”

 

5th-floor Junho propped his chin on his hand, lost in thought, his eyes darting around as he pondered something. Suddenly, he jolted upright.

 

“Hey.”

 

[…?]

 

“How are we supposed to clear this?”

 

[Huh?]

 

Come to think of it, he was right. If both of us can regress regardless of who’s the clone, this fight could go on forever.

 

To defeat the other, we’d inevitably need to resort to violence, but since we both regress whenever we take damage, an actual fight would likely result in an endless loop.

 

“Hm…”

 

[Hmm…]

 

I started to feel like we were seriously screwed… but then, a decent idea popped into my head.

 

[But does victory really have to be physical?]

 

“?”

 

[What if… we count it as a win if one of us gives up?]

 

“Let’s test it.”

 

Both of us, having reached an agreement, dropped our swords to the ground, focusing entirely on conceding defeat to the other in earnest.

 

‘I lost. He won. I am the clone. I am defeated.’

 

As I closed my eyes tightly and concentrated, I felt a light tap on my shoulder.

 

“Hey.”

 

[…?]

 

“Try touching that.”

 

5th-floor Junho gestured with his thumb over his shoulder. Following his gaze, I saw a blue portal hovering in mid-air. That portal must lead to clearing the 5th floor.

 

“If you ask me, I’m a hundred percent sure you’re the clone. I just got a message saying I cleared the floor despite my thoughts of losing. Did you get anything like that?”

 

[…No.]

 

“Go ahead, touch the portal.”

 

[…]

 

I reached out toward the blue portal, just as he suggested… but nothing happened. Was the portal broken?

 

No. Deep down, I already knew. I knew that I was the clone.

 

5th-floor Junho’s memories were too vivid, too real. They weren’t something the tower could have fabricated on a whim.

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

[…]

 

“Listen… should I clear the floor and then come back after regressing? Maybe there’s a way I can bring you out with me…”

 

He looked at me with a hint of sympathy, his expression a bit somber.

 

But whether he felt sympathy or not didn’t matter. A terrifying idea had just crossed my mind.

 

[Wait.]

 

“…Huh? What?”

 

[Don’t go yet.]

 

A way to use this situation to ‘my’ advantage.

– – – End of Chapter – – -

 

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