188 – The Returner Reflects (3)

To summarize my tower strategy, it is as follows.

First of all, you can either spend a long time, repeat a lot of regression, or even wait for someone else’s help… Anyway, I stay on each floor for a long time and find a reasonable strategy.

And as experience and information accumulated, when I felt that I had established the perfect strategy, I returned and conquered that layer in one go. From the perspective of an outsider who has not experienced regression, they were using a method that made it seem as if they would immediately destroy the tower as soon as they entered it. Climbing the tower as quickly as possible will also reduce variables.

“Why am I so unlucky?”

However, if the standard for calculating ‘how strong you have become’ is based on the time you first entered this floor, then from my perspective, it is really disadvantageous. Like Zeno’s paradox, as I become stronger, won’t the standard for clearing this floor rise?

“Uhm… “

Of course, it does not mean that there is no solution. It might be possible if I give a little variation to the strategy I have been using.

“What is that variation?”

Choi Ji-won asks while tilting his head. I was willing to share my plans.

“Exactly… “

“Right?”

“You’re not practicing at all.”

“… ?”

In the end, the problem is that my standard of strength increases through training.

But what if I don’t practice at all? What if I don’t do anything and just stay on this floor?

I am given ample time to gather information. After chewing, tearing, tasting, and enjoying all the hidden elements of the 16th floor, you can begin training only then.

“… But then, wouldn’t that mean a loss in terms of ‘strength’?”

“I think it’s too arrogant to try to beat this floor multiple times anyway.”

Other people overestimate me, but I know myself. I am not a genius. Of course, it is not Dunjae either. If I were to ask you exactly… Just below the level of prodigy. It is literally impossible for me to gain enlightenment by swinging a sword alone.

“So, just once. “Clearing this floor properly must be done only once.”

The more the regression is repeated, the longer it will take to clear the 16th floor. Therefore, you must clear it at once.

“Of course, this is all just my guess. In fact, the standard may be lower than you think.”

“That’s right.”

“So I need your help. “Jiwon, please roughly find out the standard for this floor.”

“… I?”

“Uh. “You are a genius.”

The more time a dunjae like me spends on this floor, the more he loses… What about Choi Ji-won? For her, the more she repeats this floor, the more likely she will become infinitely stronger. Also, give me some information.

“So, let me summarize my role from now on… “

Like Choi Ji-won’s Pillar Seosang, it means doing nothing.

**

A week after entering the 16th floor.

It’s been a long time since I said that friendly word.

“… Status window.”

[Name: Kim Jun-ho] [LV:68]

[Characteristics]

-Regression [EX]

– Flash beam [S]

-Heart of Seomjeon [S]

-Curiosity [A]

-Awe [A]

-Hero [C+]

-Meditation [C]

-Swordsmanship [A] [Specialization recognized]

-Cold Affinity [A]

– Strange atmosphere [E]

-Fast reflexes [C]

-Excellent cardiorespiratory endurance [C]

– Passion [C]

“Uhm… “

Not much has changed. The achievement level has increased (I’m still not sure how it increases), and several characteristics have been added.

Ah, it is a bonus that the level of hero characteristics and swordsmanship characteristics have increased. I don’t know what the specialization recognized next to the swordsmanship trait means.

“But am I already grade A?”

I’m only on the 16th floor, but my swordsmanship is level A. Am I that good? Later, when I get to EX level, I wonder if I will be able to save time. What is Choi Ji-won’s grade? It will be S-class, right?

Oh, among the added characteristics, there is one that you haven’t seen before? That is the trait called ‘Passion’ that I received as a C-class trait option on the 15th floor.

– Passion [C]

-A right mind that moves straight toward the goal. You are unwavering.

If you read the explanation, it does not seem to be the theory of passion that Descartes speaks of, but an explanation closer to the passion theory of Buddhism. It is similar to the mental-type auxiliary trait called ‘Indomitable’, which I had been considering in the past when choosing an A-class trait. Is your name Indomitable? Well, it’s not important. I just need to know that it will help me.

“Hwiwoo.”

As I lay down on the fallen leaves as a bed and enjoyed the scenery, I fell into a deep sleep. The swaying orange trees are beautiful.

This is a small side road near the training cave. I am enjoying my leisure time here.

There are a few things I learned while staying on the 16th floor.

First, there is no need to leave immediately just because you clear the 16th floor. To be precise, the method is to scratch the rock, satisfy the clear conditions, and then talk to the angel.

The reason I became aware of this condition was because there were quite a few players who did not leave even though they had already beaten the 16th floor. Are they a training ground? Playground? He used to stay in and teach his enlightenment to other players, but of course it was not out of pure kindness.

“Potions are a thing, everyone who comes here is full of potions.”

“Ugh… “

They received items in return and spread their enlightenment to others. However, because a great warrior was not synonymous with a great teacher, there were those who took items for granted but failed to provide proper teaching.

And since the great teachers quickly left the 16th floor in order to quickly climb the tower, it is safe to say that those who remained were all wasted. They’re bad guys trying to prey on innocent guys.

Oh, speaking of other people, they said that clearing the 16th floor takes about a month on average. However, there is a lot of individual variation, and if you are currently progressing to the 16th floor, you must be considered a high-level player, so I don’t think this can be generalized.

“I heard that Michael Jeter left in one day.”

“One day? Hey, he’s the president of the association for no reason.”

“… “

This is a story I stole while eating, so it cannot be considered a complete fact.

And the second. This temple is blocked by a large spherical protective shield.

Roughly three days after coming here, I was wondering if this floor was a world incorporated into the tower, or if it was something like a piece that the tower had randomly removed. If this were a world, wouldn’t there be other people besides angels and players?

If there was a high mountain peak, I would climb it and look around, but overall, this is a gentle forest. Since it was impossible to climb somewhere high, I left the temple and ran in a straight line. I thought that if I kept going forward, something would come out.

“… Are you stuck?”

As I ran like that, a semi-opaque white protective shield blocked my path. It wasn’t that I couldn’t see beyond the shield at all; I could perceive that it was a forest beyond, but it was impossible to pass through.

Should I cut it with a sword? It’s not that I didn’t think about it, but… There was a high possibility that it would be impossible anyway, so I just calmly returned. If I were a crazy munchkin from the far future, I would give it a try.

Lastly, this floor was not a floor that prevented ‘conflicts’. It is not a floor where murder is impossible like the second floor.

In fact, in the past, there was a crazy person who wanted to gain enlightenment by killing people… He was quickly suppressed by other players’ coordinated attacks.

Even if he was crazy enough to be on the 16th floor at this point, he would have been a crazy person with good sense, so it is said that there were almost no intentional murders. Since they were all brilliant geniuses, the culprit was quickly caught.

So what is unintentional murder? It’s obvious. It was an unfortunate accident during sparring.

Among the people currently staying on the 16th floor, the proportion of martial artists was not high. If someone who had nothing to do with combat came this far… Those people should be seen as actual warriors who trained by rolling around in the process of climbing the tower.

To those warriors of the actual fighting school, you are told to train by giving them a special reward? Not only were they not familiar with it, but there were many people who did not understand the mystery behind it.

“If this happens… “How should I become stronger?”

“Hmm… “

The answer given by players who were concerned is simple.

“Hey, do you want to fight?”

That’s right, I wanted to become stronger through actual combat, just like I had done so far. Those who had reached an agreement would go into a dark forest and fight for their lives, and in the process, many people unfortunately died.

Actually, I don’t think this is a problem. The real problem is… Choi Ji-won.

“Choi Ji-won. Can we fight just once? “I think I can gain enlightenment if I fight with you.”

“Can I ask you to spar just once? It’s the same woman… “

“Take out the knife! Come on!!!”

“… Please turn it off… “

People wanted to raise their status through the sudden appearance of Golden Goblin Choi Ji-won, but Choi Ji-won had no intention of doing so. Because of this, Choi Ji-won fled to a private cave in the mountain. Fame is inherently painful.

The reason I stay near the personal cave is because my role is to chase away those who try to interfere with Choi Ji-won. There were some crazy bastards who came to the cave and wanted to fight.

Oh, so what is Choi Ji-won doing now?

“aaah!!!”

Kang!

Hysterical screams and sharp metal sounds heard from behind.

This is the sound I hear inside the cave I am guarding.

That’s right. Hero. Genius. Choi Ji-won, the pride of Korea…

“It’s so annoying!!!”

Surprisingly, it was blocked by a wall.