Chapter 46: Regressor in Action (3)

“…Don’t come close. You’ll catch the stench.”

Like someone drowning in self-loathing, the beggars would step back for every step I took toward them.

“…Why. Did. You. Call me…”

They emerged, shambling forward like the 1/3 taunt minion from a card game, reminiscent of a dark wizard.

“…What are you looking at? If you’re not giving me food, then buzz off.”

The moment I tried to speak, they aggressively retorted, spitting on the ground repeatedly.

But after a quick wash, a haircut, and a change of clothes, they looked just like any ordinary citizen.

Who would have thought they were beggars before?

It’s indeed true: Everyone born is equal. It’s only the environment that makes people appear different.

I went around collecting bronze-tier mark-creation boxes from everyone from one street.

Then, I actively assisted in helping the beggars return to a normal state.

I relieved beggars from their pain, and as a result of my ‘awe’ ability being activated, a massive crowd stood orderly before me.

“What did we do wrong? Who’s the villain that’s deprived us even of a decent meal and sleep?”

“It’s that damn box!”

“What’s the root cause of this city’s distorted structure?”

“It’s that damn box!”

“Don’t you think we need to rescue the citizens from the clutches of this box?”

“We dooooo!”

“Let’s go! Let’s save the people!”

“Yaaaaaaaaa!”

Once the ‘awe’ ability was activated, making these people follow my command was as easy as pie.

Under my direction, people swarmed out, heading towards the silver-tiered citizens.

They acted per the instructions I had given them beforehand, each sticking to a resident and performing their assigned tasks.

The first step was persuasion.

“Excuse me, Mr. Miller.”

“Who... Wait? Aren’t you that beggar? Your name was...”

“That doesn’t matter now. More importantly, don’t you want to break free from the oppression of the ‘tier’ system?”

“...Oppression of the tier?”

“Don’t you ever wish to discard that damn mark-creation box and live a free life?”

“...Well, yes. To be honest, I never wanted to run a vegetable store. I... I wanted to be a singer...”

“Then come with us. You’re already one of us.”

The plan was to have my supporters collect the boxes, guiding other residents to come to me by the lead of their peers.

“Take me with you.”

“Let’s go... Where should we head to?”

There were more residents than I expected who resented the life imposed on them by the system.

They willingly approached me, opening their pockets, offering their mark-creation boxes for collection.

However, not everyone was so cooperative.

“Get lost.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said, get lost. I’m content with my life right now. Why bother when I can live without a care, just doing as I’m told? I even like this mark-creation box. Isn’t it symbolic of our relationship with the divine?”

“...”

Although they were only of the silver tier, there were frequent residents who, satisfied with their current lives, refused to return the boxes.

In such cases, the operation had to advance to phase two.

“Wait... Who are you people?”

“Stay calm. He will be here shortly.”

“What do you mean ‘he’? Get out of my way!”

“We can’t let you pass. Just wait here patiently.”

About five people would gather, surrounding the resident who refused to return the box.

In essence, their role was akin to thugs blocking the alley.

Using the rule that no violence was permitted, they restricted the individual’s actions.

Just as players couldn’t engage in violence with one another, residents couldn’t harm other residents either.

The man surrounded by this human barrier soon had no choice but to surrender the box he had treasured when I arrived shortly after.

Step by step, as we gathered more boxes, we gained full control over an entire street.

“Let’s move on. To the mansion.”

I led the people towards the mansion where nobles with gold-tiered mark-creation boxes resided.

“...Climber. What on earth is this about? What are you plotting?”

Baron Licht asked, glaring at me with gritted teeth.

Let me reiterate: the nobles are powerful.

If we were to face off with no restrictions, I might have the upper hand at a ratio of 7 to 3. However, given the disadvantage of my “regression”, the odds are I’d lose in most scenarios.

But no one willingly enters a fight they’re likely to lose.

So this time, I used the residents as a human shield and pushed into the mansion.

Though they were nobility, they too were residents bound by the rules. One resident cannot harm another. Baron Licht’s magic was sealed.

Several house servants tried to use the rules to their advantage, blocking the corridors with their bodies. However, once I took away their mark-creation boxes, these once loyal servants quickly turned their teeth toward their own masters.

When the mansion’s hallways were filled to the brim with residents, even Baron Licht, who had locked himself behind doors in protest, found himself surrounded by them.

“Why?! Why are you doing this?! There must be a reason for this madness!”

“Isn’t it your duty to mediate between the players and the residents?”

“...”

“You shirked your responsibilities and got entangled in personal desires, didn’t you?”

Perhaps there was still some pride left in him, for Baron Licht’s face reddened with shame.

Given that even this bastard was under the influence of the box, I supposed I should cut him some slack.

Using the residents as a shield, I approached him and knocked him unconscious with a swift stab to his vital point, then collected everything I needed.

Just as some were about to shout in elation over the defeat of a detested noble, I calmed them with a gesture.

“Don’t celebrate just yet. We’ve only cleared one street. There’s a long way to go.”

This was only the beginning. Countless boxes still remained.

“Let’s move on. We’ll shatter this unjust system.”

The flames of revolution hadn’t died down yet.

.

.

.

“Is that all?”

“Yes. From the gold ones to the bronze ones. I double-checked the list of people, and no one is missing.”

“Whew... Good.”

I wondered how much time had passed.

Thanks to our diligence, we successfully collected all the boxes.

Except for a near miss with a noble who could fly in the sky, everything went smoothly, just as I had planned.

Now, there was no class or rank imposed upon the people. There was no system forcing actions upon them; they simply lived as they desired.

I had truly brought genuine equality to this city.

However, that was from the perspective of the residents.

Being a player, I still had a role to fulfill.

With the help of some residents, I dragged a heavy sack toward the square.

There were hordes of players overwhelmed by the massive crowd, retreating. I could feel a sense of ‘awe’ for me emanating from some of them.

“...”

By the time I reached the center of the square, I came face to face with an angel, who looked at me sternly.

The angel’s eyes darted around, seemingly confused by the situation.

“Hello?”

I smirked and met the angel’s gaze without flinching.

“...What are you thinking, Climber? What you’re doing now doesn’t seem to have anything to do with personal growth.”

“Well, you don’t need to worry about that...”

I confidently thrust the platinum mark towards the angel.

“I brought this mark. Let me through now.”

“...”

“Oh, this sack? This is just... a trophy? It’s okay to take this, right? There was no specific rule saying I can’t take it with me, right?”

“... It’s possible, but I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“...Huh? Why?”

I made the most sardonic face I could muster and leaned in closer to the angel.

“Is there such a rule in the stage guidelines? I don’t see any. So why do you not recommend it?”

“... If you take all of that away, no one will be able to clear the 2nd floor ever again. Humanity will be one step closer to annihilation, and this city will become a massive prison.”

The angel, as if questioning whether I’d still go through with it, raised an eyebrow.

The archangel, Raphael, it seemed, truly did have a superficial love for humanity, given how the angel, despite its celestial nature, was concerned about our future.

“That’s not my concern. But, well, if there’s proper compensation, I might consider leaving some behind...”

Still, I shrugged nonchalantly, as if the future of humanity had nothing to do with me.

The angel was right.

If I were to carry away all the boxes and proceed to the next floor, then no one could clear the 2nd floor in the future.

Everyone who ascended to the 2nd floor would be trapped indefinitely, forever hoping someone would clear the 66th floor of the tower.

Would I be pushing humanity towards its doom?

Indeed. If the angel were to let me advance now, humanity would be near its end. Those who come after me would be doomed.

But I was certain.

That there’s at least one person who wishes this system to remain unbroken.

Someone who had personally reported the city’s circumstances to God, taking responsibility for this entire situation.

And because everything I’ve done hasn’t broken any rules, there’s one rule-loving entity who hasn’t intervened.

“Are you listening?”

She probably was - Hidden somewhere unseen, monitoring the entirety of the city.

I gathered my strength, looked up to the sky, and yelled with all my might.

“Come out, Hidden Boss!!!”

It was time to confront the master of this city.

– – – End of Chapter – – -

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