184 – The Anguish of the Returner (6)

There is a saying that only when you climb to a high place can you see clearly. I think I probably saw it in a motivational video somewhere. The point of what he said was that you have to climb to a high place to get a better view, so first try hard and get into a good school or good company.

I strongly agree with this statement. This does not mean that I sympathize with the ills of modern society, where people only look for the best schools and the best jobs, but because climbing to a high place actually opened my eyes.

The body that has been forged through the Tower is still flesh… The ability given to me, regression. This ability truly opened up endless ‘possibilities’ to me. To put it bluntly, nothing is impossible for me now.

If you suddenly feel that your spear looks cool, you can forge it. It may take a very long time, but one day, your skill with the spear will surpass that of the sword.

If there is someone you want to get close to or get rid of, just take action. Do you think it will be difficult because that person’s personality is warped, or because their power is too strong? Would it be difficult to repeat it not just once, but dozens or hundreds of times? In reality, there is no such thing as a Heavenly Demon who has reached the state of being beyond heaven. It’s too easy for me to mess with the fate of another human being.

What would it be like if we were a society, not just humans? If I decide I want to be the president of Korea, can I do it? It’s probably possible. What if they get rid of Michael Jeter and aim for the Players Association president? It would also be possible.

Nothing is impossible. If you put in the time and effort, anything is possible. Mental power is not infinite? All you have to do is give up your humanity. All I have to do is risk my personality being distorted.

To add a little bit of exaggeration, it is safe to say that the history of mankind depends on my will. So many things change depending on how I decide to move forward. In other words, the direction of humanity is in my hands.

But is it because so many things are possible? I was completely overwhelmed by the endless possibilities.

I didn’t feel much pressure until I was watching past tutorials or returning from within the tower. The only time I really thought about it was when I was deciding on someone’s fate or just before I went through numerous regressions. The inside of the tower is a closed space.

However, as I live in real life and meet many people, I begin to feel the weight of the burden I am carrying. No matter how much regression there is, I keep wondering whether it is an issue that can be decided so easily. Humanity is affected by my actions. You can’t simply empty your brain and decide as you please.

It is still like that.

“That’s… “I think this is a question I cannot answer.”

“… Is that so.”

William Smith is capable of so many things. He overcame cancer, the final destination of modern humanity, and also successfully treated physical defects. The level is not low thanks to the player’s consumption of experience elixirs obtained from the tower. It’s not that there aren’t other outstanding healing abilities, but the best healing ability in humanity currently is William Smith. He is a saint, an embodiment of miracles, and a symbol of human hope.

And now, his excellence, his splendor, and the inexhaustibility of his abilities are binding him.

William Smith also knows it deep down. That we have to stop here. If I continue like this, my body will become more damaged. If this continues, I might die. That is a rational and correct decision.

But the reason I’m worried is… Because I don’t feel refreshed. This is because I can see patients on the verge of death waiting outside for William Smith’s touch.

William Smith stands at the crossroads of an important choice. I think there is only one thing I can say here.

“… “If there’s one thing I’ve learned along the way, I think the right answer is to make choices you won’t regret as much as possible.”

“It’s a choice you won’t regret… “It’s a basic story, but since Junho said it, it seems to have a different weight.”

William Smith nodded slightly.

“Actually, I have already asked people around me for advice. To my wife, children, and friends. Everyone stopped me. “Think wisely.”

He took a sip of the potion in the mug and then gently held my hand.

“I will make a choice that I will not regret. Thank you “I’m a little sorry because I just gave you good advice, but could you please give me some alone time?”

“… All right.”

I thought I knew what choice William Smith had made, so I left the room in silence.

The next day, an article was published saying that William Smith resumed treating patients.

In the photo, William Smith was smiling brightly.

**

It has been a month since he stayed in the United States. There was some commotion along the way when the Korean government found out that Choi Ji-won was in the United States, but thanks to Michael Jeter’s appropriate actions, it did not spread into a major issue.

We spent our time eating and sleeping in a building provided by the Players Association, and the adage that you can see far from high places applied here as well. As I stayed in the association’s building, I was able to observe the changing situation more vividly than anyone else.

That’s right. The world is changing. Beyond the simple appearance of superpowers and monsters, there was a real movement toward changing the social system.

It started with the impeachment of the U.S. President.

“The government is doing its best.”

“Get out!”

“Die! “You’re such an incompetent food bug!”

The President continued to appeal that he was doing his best and that it was beyond the government’s capabilities, but public opinion was extremely cold. This is because the president went underwater in the early stages of the incident.

“According to this transcript here, I am curious about what you said when you said, ‘We are conducting research that will change the fate of the world.'”

“What is the ‘book’ that is constantly mentioned? What kind of pseudo-religion are you obsessed with? “Where on earth did the budget go?”

“Please explain!”

In addition, when it was further revealed that the President had been siphoning off tax money for suspicious research, the fire spread to the point where no one could cover it. Ruling party lawmakers also asked, ‘Is the president crazy?’ It was an act of suicide to the extent that people openly said,

“… Maybe I was wrong. Sorry.”

The president, who had been quietly holding on in the White House, held a press conference one day and resigned from his presidency. Rumors later circulated that he gave up after hearing that the research he had been pushing so hard that the president had siphoned off taxpayer money to support it had failed.

When the U.S. Government, which had great influence over the Players Association, fell, it was Michael Jeter who naturally seized all power.

“No one knows when or where a monster will appear. Are you going to shoot missiles over the city every time a dragon appears in the sky? Or are you going to send a tank through a narrow alley? I’m not saying the military is useless. Instead, a strong player is much more ‘suitable’ for defeating monsters.”

Americans, groaning over the countless casualties, listened to the words of Michael Jeter, who defeated the dragon of New York. This is not just a problem in the United States. As time passed, monsters appeared in other countries, and people died each time. An example of this is when they were unable to subdue a large elephant in India and fired several missiles at it.

“It’s a matter of efficiency. The number of players has to be much bigger than it is now. I dare to suggest that the governments of each country should purchase the by-products of the tower at a higher price. We need to give people motivation to climb the tower.”

-Michael Jeter is right.

-Are you going to fire missiles at the city center every time? It’s right to nurture strong players.

-What would it have been like if Michael Jeter wasn’t there? Maybe we should have shot a nuke in the sky.

Americans sympathized with Michael Jeter’s speech. No, people all over the world sympathized. Human society finally began to cry out for the need for strong players.

-Disadvantages should be given to those who stay on the first floor instead of climbing the tower.

-Reasonable benefits should be given to those who work hard to climb the tower.

Michael Jeter’s ‘era of players’, which seemed somewhat absurd at first, really took shape. People who initially looked at players as if they were looking at sports players or celebrities now looked at players as if they were really looking at heroes. It’s only natural that their lives depend on it.

-Countries with strong players are safer. Look at America. Didn’t we overcome the worst crisis thanks to Michael Jeter? Look at India. They fired missiles at their land.

And the culmination of this is the Players Association’s ‘Player Ranking’ system. As the perception spread that countries with more strong players were safer, the association announced the Player Academy System and Player Rankings.

“2Nd place in S-class ranking… Choi Ji-won?”

“Is our country ranked second in the world? Beating out so many countries?”

Korean people couldn’t come to their senses from the sudden pouring of soup. Choi Ji-won, the ‘world’s number two’. Doesn’t it make you full of energy just listening to it?

Actually, since the situation had come to this point, I was planning to wait and see how reality played out. It was interesting to see society change, and the appearance of strong monsters gradually became less frequent.

“Junho.”

However, variables always appear in unexpected places.

“Can’t we go back now?”

Choi Ji-won was the first to suggest a return.