Chapter 47: Regressor in Action (4)

I’m aware… I realize that what I’m doing now is a bit forced.

This isn’t how I usually operate. Up to this point, whenever I regressed, I’ve always considered the well-being of those left behind.

After each regression, I took great care to act with the remaining world’s possibilities in mind, which greatly limited the scope of my actions.

But now, I’ve decided not to bother with such concerns. Once again, it’s because I’ve chosen to act on emotion rather than reason.

Who knows, maybe this world will just regress with me. In any case, I’ve decided not to dwell on unsolvable problems.

What my heart compels me to do now is to have a word with the master of the city.

“Are you coming or not?”

Just as I was getting worked up, and the angel was pondering whether to just let me advance,

“Huh?”

As I simply blinked, a woman I hadn’t seen before appeared in front of me. Like a glitch in a game, something that didn’t exist a moment ago had come into being.

A longsword at her waist. A full-body armor that seemed custom-made with a sleek design, yet without a helmet, showing her beautiful face and letting her radiant blond hair dance in the wind.

“…Pleased to meet you. According to the rules, I can’t show myself unless someone commits a crime or seeks me out. It’s nice to finally greet you.”

Her voice was melodious. It wasn’t loud, but it carried an overwhelming charisma that commanded attention.

The excited expressions of the townspeople had already turned stern.

The feverish atmosphere of the square had, at some moment, gone ice cold.

“I am the master of this city.”

And there stood the city’s master.

“…”

Even at a glance, I knew. That this woman was unmistakably the owner of the ‘Flash’ set from the platinum rewards.

Electricity crackled in streams from the fantasy-style full-body armor she donned, a sight so conspicuous that not recognizing it would be the real surprise.

“Shall we start with a handshake?”

The city’s master extended a hand with an impassive face.

“Ah... That would be problematic.”

If I grasped that buzzing hand, I’d regress instantly…

She was like a sparking electric mouse, with surges crackling all over, even if I didn’t have the ability to regress on being injured, I wouldn’t have taken her hand.

“First… Let’s put that bag down and talk. I knew climbers were a wildcard, but I never imagined someone like you. What is it that you want?”

The city’s master pointed towards the sack in my hand.

“Those tools are useless outside of the second floor. Why would you need to take them?”

“…I can’t stand to watch the people of this city suffer.”

“Suffer? That can’t be right. They are in the midst of ‘understanding’ each other. Don’t you see this perfect structure?”

“…What?”

The city’s master scanned the square filled with the gathered townspeople.

“Everyone in this city is a sinner. Or rather, they were.”

“…”

“Lazy and selfish nobles. Commoners who only pretended to be polite on the surface, unconcerned with anything beyond their own well-being. The city’s resources were finite, and because of their low birth, the beggars were left to consume rotten food and muddy water. Hatred thrived among them.”

It’s a scene all too familiar on Earth.

Slandering those better off, suspecting they must have dirty secrets; dismissing those worse off as merely lazy. No one tries to understand those in circumstances different from their own.

“The city was so fraught with conflict that it was nicknamed ‘The City of Endless Screams.’ Gathering in the square to gossip in cliques was a daily occurrence.”

“…So what happened?”

“I was deeply troubled. The class conflict had reached a breaking point, and I feared the city would turn upside down. There was even talk among the nobility of using magic to massacre all the commoners.”

Distrust. Loathing. Contempt. The city was rife with negative sentiment.

This isn’t right… According to divine teachings, people should live in mutual understanding and consideration. She had a duty to lead the city bequeathed to her by her parents on the right path.

But there seemed to be no solution to this conflict. Should she intimidate them with force? Take the political risk and completely replace the corrupt nobility? But what would be the point? The citizens would just divide into factions and fight all over again, wouldn’t they?

Could there be a way to eliminate the root of the conflict?

Amidst her anguish, one day, a divine whisper came to her.

Offer the city to the tower the divine was building.

Dedicate her life to the divine.

Then, the divine would bring a peace where everyone could truly understand each other, a peace in the truest sense…

“...I dedicated this city to the divine Luminous. What you see now, this splendid city, is the result of that offering.”

“...Luminous?”

“Human beings are incapable of understanding each other. We differ in our backgrounds, our life journeys, and our personalities.”

The city’s master continued, undeterred by my skepticism.

“That’s why this city is beautiful. It allows you to truly become someone else, to deeply understand others from within.”

Each box represents a single human being. When a resident takes one into their possession, their way of life is completely transformed.

Humans cannot understand one another. So, this city is based on the lunatic notion that if one were to live another’s life, one might come to understand them.

“Even without the influence of the climbers, the boxes of the residents are designed to be reassigned every ten years. In this city, aging is non-existent, so eventually, after a very long time... everyone will understand everyone else. Having lived each other’s lives. With abundant resources, this city can truly become a utopia in every sense of the word. By that time, the boxes will be unnecessary.”

A Garden of Eden where everyone perfectly understands each other.

That seemed to be the utopia the city’s master was envisioning.

“...What do you think?”

The city’s master looked at me squarely with blue eyes.

My response was straightforward.

“...Why should I care? What’s that to me?”

I dropped the formalities. I had no interest in her absurd philosophies.

Everyone in this city is a sinner? Sure, they’ve been selfish and not the kindest of souls... but I’m not sure if they’re all sinners.

But hey, if she thinks so, it’s not my place to argue. From the get-go, there’s something off about her gaze. What do they call it these days? A ‘lunatic with clear eyes’?

“What bugs me are those high-and-mighty ‘Gold’ nobles. I can’t stand the crappy tasks they set up. To get stronger, players have to sin by force, and the residents are forced to live others’ lives... it’s pitiful.”

“...”

“Why not ditch this class hierarchy, assign sensible tasks directly, and reward based on difficulty? Is it really necessary for the residents to understand each other?”

But the city’s master just shook her head.

“...It is necessary. A necessity you cannot comprehend.”

The city’s master pondered, her finger resting on her chin.

“I really need that sack... but because of the rules, I can’t just snatch it first. How about we do this instead?”

She rummaged through the pouch at her waist and pulled out a mark that shone like a polished diamond.

“I’ll give you this. It’s the highest reward. Archangel Raphael himself said, ’Give when you wish to give, but only one exists.’”

“...”

“I intended to give it to someone whose talents could capture my interest... but given the circumstances, I’ll give this to you if you leave all the boxes behind. I like the structure of the second floor as it is, and I have no intention of changing it. Let’s just each look out for our own benefit.”

“Are you trying to bribe me now? With that diamond-tier reward?”

It was the very hidden reward I had been trying to get since I first entered the 2nd floor.

“Think what you want. These residents are none of your concern, right?”

“...Ugh.”

The dazzling diamond reward. And the freedom of the city’s residents, constrained by the autocracy of the city’s owner, bound to the second floor, forced to live out their predetermined roles…

Which to choose...

It’s true the residents were selfish. They lacked compassion and were quick to tear each other down.

But... does that mean they deserve all this suffering?

Should they have to live out someone else’s life in the name of understanding one another?

“I’ve made my decision.”

I untied the knot at my waist and slipped on the leather gloves given to me when I first entered the second floor.

The gloves fit snugly, a smooth caress against the skin.

This should be enough.

“...You plan to fight? Well, that’s fine. I don’t dislike a man with spirit.”

“...No.”

I extended my hands slightly forward.

“Toss the symbol from there. I feel like I might get shocked if I get too close.”

No matter if the diamond-tier mark was actually diamond or just colored to look like it… It would be quite anticlimactic to regress while just taking the mark from her hand, wouldn’t it? But as far as I know, leather doesn’t conduct electricity.

“...Yes, well. Here you go.”

The city’s master, her face souring, tossed the diamond mark to me, while the multitude of residents watched with a mix of disbelief and despair.

I, unfazed, handed it to the angel, who opened the portal with a hesitant hand.

Before stepping into the portal, I did not forget to offer a word of advice to the residents.

“Just… wait, please. I’ll come back.”

I had intended to regress anyway. If I truly brought all the boxes with me to the next floor, wouldn’t newcomers, including Choi Ji-won, end up trapped on the second floor?

I tried to change the system for the residents in a rational way before regressing... but that woman is just too inflexible. If I push her further, I feel like I might take a hit.

Wouldn’t it be a hundred, no, a thousand times wiser to secure the diamond reward first?

I felt sorry for the residents, but... I hoped they could wait just a little longer. I was planning to regress soon.

Gently, I pushed myself into the portal.

It was time to check the hidden reward I had been anticipating.

– – – End of Chapter – – -

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