103 – The Returner Reorganizes (4)
What kind of person is Choi Ji-won?
Actually, I still don’t know. There must be quite a gap between the Choi Ji-won I think of and the actual Choi Ji-won.
First of all, I think Choi Ji-won is just. He is good at using a sword. The will is strong. Even if it is dangerous, he is a hero who is willing to sacrifice himself to save others.
To summarize… I think Choi Ji-won is a hero. Not only does he have great strength, he is a superhuman with a sense of responsibility and mental strength to match.
“… “
“… “
That’s why I’ve never imagined him looking so emaciated.
Slightly lowered dark circles. Untidy ponytail. Eyes that have lost their unique sparkle.
“… Long time no see.”
“… “That’s right.”
Choi Ji-won fiddling with a cup in a quiet cafe. There is no confidence in those hand gestures.
This is not like Choi Ji-won, who shines no matter what he does. That sense of disconnection felt incredibly big to me.
Grumble. Grumble.
Choi Ji-won, who was spinning his finished mug on the table, barely managed to get his words out.
“… 4Th floor. How was it?”
A trembling voice. Cautious tone. Only then did I understand what had happened.
Choi Ji-won is basically just. Even when a crisis comes, it does not give in. It even has outstanding abilities to enforce that justice.
However, the 4th floor is a floor where the more you struggle, the more you fail.
I tried my best and failed. Choi Ji-won was probably the same way. Many people would have died before her eyes.
“… Jeon… I failed… “
Choi Ji-won barely lets out a word while lowering her head.
Even if I fail, I just have to go back. You can start again from the beginning. However, this time my mentality was quite shaken.
I’m like this, but what about Choi Ji-won?
What does the worst failure someone who cannot start over feel like? Just as she can’t sympathize with me, I can’t sympathize with her.
“Junho… Did you succeed? “Have you conquered the fourth floor?”
Choi Ji-won’s hand is tightly holding his beloved sword, Bungbungi. Her voice is shaking slightly. As for Choi Ji-won, she was clearly shaken.
“… “I failed too.”
“… “I see.”
“The preparation was perfect, but on the fourth day, a slime that melted bricks appeared and we got caught up… “
“I… Black-colored orcs suddenly appeared… And the aliens were annihilated…”
“…”
The gloomy atmosphere feels awkward, so I try to say anything, but the situation gets worse.
Sitting here are two losers. Even if you try to say something that will build consensus, it doesn’t comfort you at all.
“In the end… The tower was too difficult. I was not good at practicing… “
Choi Ji-won mutters softly in a resigned voice. Her eyes were those of someone who had given up.
“… “
It’s annoying.
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 a woman who never gave up and worked hard until the end, even when faced with a crisis.
“I… If only I had done better… “
She… He was my idol in the tutorial. It was my lighthouse. It was my goal. That remains the same even now.
This means that I am not the type of person who despairs like this. Even though this whole situation wasn’t Choi Ji-won’s fault at all, her inexplicable irritation rose up in her chest.
Of course, Choi Ji-won will rise again. With his unique mental power, he will shake off the dust and move forward again.
But the memory of defeat embedded in her heart will not be erased. It won’t be able to sparkle like before.
“Mr. Jiwon.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Wait a moment.”
After speaking as if giving a unilateral notice, I got up from my seat and went straight back to my room. I never thought I would regret so much that I went straight to the 4th floor without waiting for Choi Ji-won.
“Seup, ha.”
Bury your head in the pillow. The familiar musty smell makes my brain start working.
Choi Ji-won. I have no intention of leaving her like this. We will go back and change it.
It will make her conquer her fourth floor and smile triumphantly. I will bring back the brilliant Choi Ji-won in my memories.
“… Way.”
Is there one? I don’t know. There may be.
As soon as you are summoned to the 4th floor, take the portal straight away.
How about returning to reality, resting well for two days, and then meeting Choi Ji-won right after clearing the 3rd floor. Even if the information on the 4th floor cannot be shared directly, there must be an indirect way. Even if you don’t see it right away, there is a possibility if you look for it.
Besides, I decided to mess around with mana a bit. After somehow leaking the information to Choi Ji-won, you can take your time and train your mana. No, you could just train your mana like Choi Ji-won. It would be good to observe how reality is changing.
“… “
But then… What should the people on the 4th floor do? Baron Jorge, what should Sir Thomas do?
Even though I was there, there were about 300 aliens who could not protect even half of them. It’s obvious what would happen if I weren’t there. The damage to players will also be much greater.
Choi Ji-won, a person who is close to me. 400 Relatively unfamiliar humans.
“… Ha.”
It is impossible to get both. While I was working on the 4th floor, Jiwon Choi cleared the 3rd floor and entered the 4th floor the next day. Time overlaps.
However, if you go through the portal and talk to Choi Ji-won, you cannot stay with the otherworldly people until the 5th day. A miscommunication that occurs when two events occur simultaneously.
Should I send a text message to Choi Ji-won in advance? Or even a note? No. It would be of no use because of God’s control of information. Only by meeting in person can there be even the slightest possibility.
Neither the people on the 4th floor nor Choi Ji-won can give up.
Is there really no solution?
“… For a moment.”
Training Mana together? With Choi Ji-won?
“… “Is this possible?”
An idea occurred to me. At the same time as saving Choi Ji-won, we might be able to save others. Should I try it?
No, let’s do it. Even if it’s just a possibility, let’s hold on to it.
After making my decision, I finished reading the report handed to me by Yoon Jung-hyeon, and for the first time in a long time, I bit the inside of my mouth.
[You have suffered damage.]
[Return to the moment you first entered the 4th floor.]
***
Former second-level agent of the National Intelligence Service, Yoon Jung-hyeon was confident in his eyes when looking at people.
When you think of a National Intelligence Service agent, you usually think of a black suit, sunglasses, and a pistol worn at the waist… The National Intelligence Service has far more office workers than front-line workers.
What Yoon Jung-hyeon did was simple. Dealing with people.
Yoon Jung-hyun has been a lot of people, from a spy to a psychopath, a drug addict, a serial killer, a coin fraudster, and more. Thanks to his unique insight, he was able to achieve success within the organization.
“Hyung.”
“… “
“What is your name?”
And in Yoon Jung-hyun’s opinion, this man is not an ordinary person.
Although I was just summoned to the 4th floor, my body was infinitely relaxed. Steady breathing. Eyes that don’t tremble.
Confidence is a measure of ability. Of course, there are many newbies with unfounded confidence, but no one would be able to dismiss this man as a newbie even after seeing his aura.
“My name is Yoon Jung-hyeon. Nice to meet you.”
“… “
No answer comes back. He did suspect that might be the case.
This man is unique. His posture, mood, and eyes are like that. It is definitely not that of the general public. He gives off a similar vibe to the MI6 agent I met before.
But for some reason, the whole body is smooth. Not only are there the large scars that are common on people who walk the firing line, but there are not even calluses that are visible on people who say they have practiced martial arts. It’s strange that I’m not interested.
“Wow, 99 people have already gathered. What happens when there are 100 people? “What are you going to do, brother?”
Even though I know there will be no answer, I keep talking non-stop. It doesn’t matter whether you ignore it, glare at it, or respond. It’s all information. A strong person like this would quickly stand out. It doesn’t matter if it’s trivial information. Because everything will become a valuable asset to the association.
“Education.”
However, although there is no substance to information, there is a difference in quality.
“… Yes?”
“I will educate you.”
“… ?”
Nonsense suddenly spewed out can never be valuable information. It just serves as proof that this man’s head was spinning. While Yoon Jung-hyun was momentarily embarrassed. A message appeared before his eyes.
＜4Th floor＞
-Clear conditions: Survive for 5 days. As soon as the timer ends, it is automatically cleared and moves to the first floor.
-120:00:00
“Attention!!!”
Attention, attention, attention, attention, attention….
At the moment the message comes to mind, the man’s lion’s rear echoes loudly.
“What, what?”
“What is this?”
Everyone who was reading the message focused their attention on him. After the Lion, there was a lot of power.
“My goal is to disappear in two days. “I need to train my mana, and I also need to convey information to Choi Ji-won.”
A man talking something incomprehensible. But he had a serious atmosphere and a sharp spirit. People who are overwhelmed by the momentum cannot say anything and just listen.
“It wouldn’t be a big problem if I abandoned you right now and just went away… I decided to take moral responsibility. Therefore, I will do the best I can. Instead, you too must submit to my control.”
Boom!!! The man who stamped his foot solemnly declared.
“From now on, I will teach you how to survive.”