Chapter 32: The Regressor is Conditionally Strong (1)

“The number of people gathered in this vacant lot, at a rough glance, is well over 50. This means not everyone can swallow the golden bead to advance to the next stage. This tower is fueling our division.”

Familiar lines. A familiar situation.

If it feels like you’ve seen this before, you’re probably right.

In the past, I once pretended to be a good person to catch Choi Ji-won’s attention.

I succeeded in learning swordsmanship from her by acting as a man with lofty ideals but negligible power.

And this time, I’m going to do the same.

I will masquerade as a virtuous person.

“However, it’s said that if we defeat the boss, a portal will be created. This clearly means that there is a way for all of us to survive together.”

Am I a good person? A hero?

No.

I lack the qualities of a hero like Choi Ji-won’s father, and I’m just a mediocre person who sometimes can’t even stand myself.

However, there’s a reason why someone like me is going to great lengths to pretend to be virtuous.

Cooperation.

For my plan to succeed, I needed everyone’s absolute cooperation.

To gain that cooperation, I judged that playing the role of a ‘hero’ would be far more effective than acting like a deranged psychopath.

...Moreover, if I were to clear this tutorial this time, wouldn’t it be better for my reputation to remain positive rather than negative?

“Everyone. Instead of fighting amongst ourselves, we must join forces.”

The response I received when I gave the same speech in a previous round was complete disregard and mockery.

But this time it’s different.

“Um...uh...”

“Hmm...”

People are deeply engrossed in my speech, hanging on every word with fervor and passion.

Even Park Cheol-jin, the firefighter who hadn’t believed in the existence of the tower or the status window, was nodding his head slightly.

It’s only natural. With an A-tier trait like ‘Curiosity,’ he couldn’t help but pay attention to my speech.

If the old me was a ‘young man with high ideals but lacking in power, thus leading to frustration,’ the new me is a ‘young man both with high ideals and strong capabilities.’

I now possess the power to act decisively.

Well, now’s time to add a twist.

After all, I have my own objectives.

“Everyone. I am strong.”

With that, I raised my sword toward the sky.

“I am probably stronger than all of you here combined.”

These are people who don’t even have levels yet. Except for Choi Ji-won, it’s obvious that I am stronger than everyone else.

Now, let’s put on a performance.

Be awed.

“Huuu...”

I gather my momentum.

Tensing my muscles, widening my eyes, I focus on my long-standing adversary.

Now.

“Phew!”

Swoosh!

With a full-force swing, my sword cleanly bisects the grass.

To the average person’s eyes, the blade probably moved too quickly to see.

But ending it here would lack impact.

Slice. Cut. Thrust. Spin. Slash.

I utilize my physical capabilities to their limit.

Just as I had demonstrated with all my might in the previous round against a small fry, I did the same this time, and my swordsmanship leaves the onlookers gradually widening their eyes.

Astonishment. Admiration. Surprise. Fear.

Although I couldn’t obtain any special traits from their emotions, I could vividly sense their emotions.

“Haah…”

Finally, my sword dance came to an end, and I forcefully stabbed my blade into the ground.

The look in people’s eyes had changed.

If initially their gaze was filled only with curiosity, now it held respect, awe, and a faint trace of fear.

The ‘Awe’ trait had been activated.

So far, everything has gone according to plan—starting with the ‘Curiosity’ trait and transitioning into a crazy combo with the ‘Awe’ trait. I’ve succeeded in taking control of the atmosphere in the vacant lot.

The only variable would be Choi Ji-won intervening... but for now, she seemed content to observe, her arms crossed.

Alright, it’s time for the finale.

“Everyone... I can sense it.”

I picked up a new sword from the pile of weapons and pointed in the direction where the Minotaur would be sealed.

“Because I am stronger than all of you, I can feel it. Over there, there’s an incredibly formidable foe. He’s targeting us.”

If things had gone as usual, people wouldn’t have believed me if I said I sensed a monster.

However, due to the combined effects of the ‘Curiosity’ and ‘Awe’ traits, they were overwhelmed by my presence.

“He... he’s targeting us. Sharpening his blade to harm humans. He’s coming to claim our blood!”

“Uh... ughhh...”

So absorbed were they in my narrative that a man’s legs gave out, causing him to slump to the ground.

“But... It’s okay.”

Now, it’s time to put their minds at ease.

I tried my best to flash the most reassuring smile I could muster.

“I will protect all of you.”

“I will be your shield!”

“So... please, trust me.”

A cascade of messages obstructs my view.

Yes, this was my gambit all along—A real threat endangering people. And me, protecting people from that threat.

The ‘Hero’ trait can stack.

So, what if I were to fight now, protecting everyone in this vacant lot?

I could stack the trait nearly 200 times.

I feel an invigorating rush surging through my entire body.

I feel light, my muscles brimming with power. Right now, I feel like I can achieve what was once only in my imagination.

Excitement. I feel excitement.

With the me that I am now... It’s possible.

I can defeat the Minotaur!

“Alright, everyone, follow me. Now, let’s go slay the boss…”

Clang!

“Ah…”

I barely managed to deflect a sudden sword strike.

Had it not been for my stacked traits, reacting to such a swift blow would have been impossible.

There’s only one person here capable of attacking me like that.

“...You. What’s this about?”

Choi Ji-won. She’s the one who swung the sword at me.

“Setting aside where you learned that swordsmanship… What are you planning to do, leading these people?”

Choi Ji-won glares at me, as if I’m some sort of cult leader.

“...You should feel it too. The presence of the monster.”

Choi Ji-won nods.

“Right, I can feel it too. But why do you have to go with everyone?”

“...It’s because of my trait. The more people I protect, the stronger I become. I’m not leading them to their deaths.”

“You’re protecting them? You?”

Choi Ji-won chuckles sarcastically.

“Ha… Sorry for the misunderstanding. And sorry for speaking informally. But look at me closely.”

“...?”

“Look at me and feel it.”

“…”

Instead of responding, I did as Choi Ji-won said and looked directly at her.

Because I was stronger now, I could sense it—how stable her stance was, what her extended right foot meant, what significance there was in the way she held her sword.

And… just how strong she was.

“You’re right. You are strong. But you’re weaker than me. And that monster, it’s even stronger than I am.”

“…”

“We might barely win if we combine our strengths. But you’re saying you’ll bring everyone here along? It’s hard enough to just win, but you intend to fight while protecting them? Do you have the strength to protect them?”

She was telling the truth.

Even though I had stacked my ‘Hero’ trait nearly 200 times…

I was still a few steps behind Choi Ji-won.

The Minotaur was a formidable foe that even Choi Ji-won couldn’t guarantee victory against.

In this situation, there’s no way I could defeat the Minotaur without sustaining any injury.

“If you want to fight, go by yourself. Don’t drag these people into it.”

Choi Ji-won tells me this with a stern face.

“…”

The elation I felt, as if I could soar into the sky, plummeted to rock bottom in an instant.

The plan was to stack my ‘Hero’ trait to an enormous degree and take down the Minotaur in one fell swoop.

My plan had failed, simply because I wasn’t strong enough.

But now there was no way to become any stronger.

I had acquired all the traits available, and I had already maxed out my achievement levels.

Since I couldn’t even grind levels by hunting Goblins, it was clear that this was the limit of my growth.

My limit... had been reached.

“…”

Should I just give up?

Despite all my hard work, the result was simply a lack of ability.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to just save those I can and move on.

There’s no need to save everyone, is there?

‘No. I won’t give up.’

Think.

Rack your brain.

There has to be a way.

But the only combat trait I possess is... the ‘Hero’ trait.

And I’m already protecting everyone in this vacant lot.

There were no more people left to protect. In other words, there was no way for me to become stronger.

I must find a good method.

A way to become stronger.

A way to protect even more people.

Someone. Isn’t there someone?

A person? Someone?

“There is.”

Smack!

***

It’s a familiar space.

“Grrrrrr...”

The Minotaur, tightly bound by seals, glares at me.

“Heh... heh-heh, heh-heh...”

The Goblin Shaman breathes laboriously, coughing from time to time.

I cautiously sit cross-legged next to the Goblin Shaman.

“Heh? The scent... the scent of a human...”

“Hello?”

I lean close to his ear and greet him.

Upon hearing my voice, the Goblin Shaman startles and opens his mouth wide.

“Human! A human is here! Hu... help...”

In the past, he had asked for my help to bring down the Minotaur.

However.

“Goblin Shaman. I need your help.”

This time, it was I who needed help.

– – – End of Chapter – – 

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