189 – The Returner Reflects (4)
What is a genius?
Knowing everything from birth is not a genius. It should be seen as one of regression, possession, and reincarnation. I would seriously suspect possession or reincarnation if my 6 year old child behaved like an old child.
So what is a genius? It refers to a person who learns faster than others. It refers to a person who can derive more information from the same situation.
In other words, geniuses are people who always use the 3x experience coupon. Even if you invest the same amount of time, it is inevitable that there will be a difference. Since the world is friendly to geniuses, it can be said that they are receiving a +200% drop rate buff as a bonus. As we age together, a situation arises where the genius has much better levels and items.
“Why… “Why not?”
However, it is also common knowledge that the higher the level in the game, the slower the experience points increase. There is a difference between level 10 becoming level 11 and level 100 becoming level 101. There is a difference between a grade 9 in the CSAT becoming grade 8 and a grade 2 becoming grade 1. Moreover, Choi Ji-won is at the peak of his age group when it comes to swordsmanship.
“Why not? “
At first, Choi Ji-won was also relaxed.
On the contrary, I began my training with great joy, saying that it was good to be given the opportunity to reflect on myself. He also said that there was something he had trouble with.
“I think this is enough.”
When a full day had passed, Choi Ji-won confidently challenged the rock.
Kang!!!
“… Uh?”
There wasn’t even a small scratch on the rock.
“… “Is it because it’s not at full power?”
“Well, try using Seomjeon’s heart once. Equip all the items.”
“I should do that.”
Choi Ji-won’s power is not like this. After equipping all of her items in addition to the various characteristics she obtained from her tower, she once again challenged the rock.
Kang!!!
“… “
She failed again. The rock… It was fine.
“That… “Jiwon?”
“Jiwon asked me to give him some time to think.”
Thanks to this, I got to eat with Bungboong instead of the shocked Choi Jiwon. Maybe it’s because she’s a sword, but she eats just about anything.
A day passed, another day passed, a week passed and today.
“Ugh… “
Choi Ji-won emerges from the cave with her ponytail undone and her hair in disarray. She told me earlier that she was secretly (I’m not sure if she was really secret) that she was working on removing the clutter from the sword.
As an A-level swordsman, I dare say that Choi Ji-won’s swordsmanship is flawless. She always chooses the standard, but it must be said that she is a case where the quality of the standard has been raised to the limit. In fact, when she sparred with her, she felt as if she was slowly suffocating. Every time we clashed swords, I suffered a loss, and in the end, I was forced to gamble.
She takes the unnecessary things out of the sword? I don’t know… Choi Ji-won must have flaws that can be felt. When it comes to her sword, she knows better than me, so I just decided to trust and wait.
“I believe in our support! Go for it!”
“… Thank you, I appreciate it, but… Why do I feel so sick… “
And so, another week passes.
**
The thing I did the most while staying on the 16th floor for the past two weeks was human observation. Since I have nothing else to do, I just watch other people rushing around. It was quite fun to look at the new people coming in every day and imagine when that person would leave.
There were various types of people.
“This is it.”
There were also people who gained enlightenment while thinking about something alone and left the 16th floor in an instant.
“Heaven!!! Why! I am! Still!!!”
There were also people who cried out in despair because they were working hard but had no results. When I secretly asked him why he was doing that, he said that he would try harder if there was some hope, but he felt at a loss because he couldn’t see anything ahead.
“I… You’re an idiot… He’s just an idiot with good characteristics… If this continues, I may never be able to leave here… “
As I watched the man whimpering that he had ruined his life, I had a question.
“Anael.”
“Yes, Junho!”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Feel free to ask!”
“If a person is really, really untalented… If you feel like you can’t get out of here even if you try your whole life… “Do I just have to be stuck here forever?”
The worst case I could have ever imagined. I wondered if it was actually possible for me to use up all my growth potential and become permanently trapped on the 16th floor.
“No, there is a way out!”
However, Anael’s answer was surprising.
“There is one?”
“Yes! Here, you can sign this contract!”
Anael takes out a shining silver contract out of thin air and shows it to me. Even though I squint and concentrate, I can’t see anything. Should I say that it just looks like a blank piece of paper?
“… “What is this?”
“Oh, you can’t see it! Let me read it for you! The signature (hereinafter referred to as A) enters into this contract in a completely rational state… “
“That… “Can you just summarize the main points?”
“I understand! To put it simply, if you sign here, you will lose everything you earned from the Tower!”
“… “You’re going to lose everything?”
“That’s right!”
Status window. Stat points. Level. Characteristic. The first floor was freely accessible. And all the items obtained from the tower.
“You will return to the state you had before entering the tutorial, to a completely normal person! Oh, the memories will be maintained, so you don’t have to worry about that!”
It is said that if you give up all the power you have gained, you can escape from the 16th floor. In fact, it could be said to be a better option than being trapped on the 16th floor forever…
“I don’t think I’ll ever choose it.”
It was also a choice that anyone who had tasted the sweetness of top would never choose. No matter how many days it takes, you’ll hit your head and go back to the way you were before you entered the tower? First of all, I thought I would never be able to do that.
“Has anyone signed this contract in the past?”
“Never before!”
Less than half a year has passed since the tower was built, so if it were natural, would it be natural? He said no one has signed this contract yet.
“… “
When I thought about it that way, I felt very sorry for the person crying over there. It’s not that I’m truly willing to help, it’s just that I want to help out as I have time.
“What weapon do you use?”
“Ah, the sword… Write… “
“Would you like to hold your position for a moment?”
The man’s movements were strangely fast and accurate, but the direction was actually very poor. Even to me, a mid-level student, the problem is clear enough.
“Now, the power keeps getting dispersed here. It has to move with your waist. “You understand, right?”
“That’s definitely true… ?”
After swinging his sword in the air for about 10 minutes, the man carefully approached the rock and slashed his sword.
Kang!
“K, ke, I heard you cleared it? Thank you! Thank you!”
Soon he bowed his back to 90 degrees and expressed his deep gratitude. He was so thankful that his awe trait was activated.
“I will not forget this grace! “Could you at least tell me your name?”
“That… “Because it’s a secret.”
“Do you have any circumstances?” Still, I won’t forget it! Thank you!”
A man with a smiling expression immediately passed through the portal and disappeared.
“Well, maybe I too…” “
“That person is Choi Ji-won’s colleague, and he is the number one instructor.”
“Hey! Hey! “I will give you the item!”
“Don’t do this… “
The person who ‘achieved Buddhahood’ thanks to me was a celebrity in his own right, so I had to run away because it attracted unwanted attention.
Still, my teachings are working in some way. Thank god.
**
Another week has passed. It’s been three weeks since I entered the 16th floor.
“Whoo, whoo, whoo…” “
While the remnants of ‘Heart of Seomjeon’ were crackling on the floor, Choi Ji-won was lying on the dirt floor, breathing heavily.
This time, it was a failure again. Choi Ji-won… He hasn’t made a cut on the rock for three weeks.
At this point, Choi Ji-won is Choi Ji-won, but I can’t help but feel impatient. If the memory is maintained like this, how much time will Choi Ji-won have to spend in the next episode? If this is the case, how long on earth will it take me?
“Jiwon, it’s okay. What do you think? “I just need to use this opportunity to become stronger.”
Of course, without showing it on the outside, I helped Choi Ji-won up and patted her on the back. She was not a woman who would be depressed if she failed, but she knew that comforting her at times like these would be of great help.
“Huh? What if I have a little rock like this? Just… “
I deliberately pulled out my sword in an exaggerated manner and struck the rock. I didn’t cut it with force, I just knocked it to make a loud noise.
Tiring.
-Cleared the 16th floor.
“… Eh?”
A message window suddenly appears before your eyes. I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I had seen something wrong, but the message remained there. Really, really clear?
I looked for Anael without realizing it, wondering if something had gone wrong.
“Hey… Anael?”
“Yes! Junho!”
“Did I clear it?”
“Yes! Want to go out? “We will open the portal!”
“No, no, that’s not necessary…” “
When I looked at the rock closely again, there was a scratch the size of millet. In fact, it’s not even worth calling it a scratch; it’s just like a stone falling off. It’s like a crumb fell out of a cake.
However, the wound is a clear wound. Surprisingly, I succeeded in clearing the 16th floor. Even though I didn’t do anything.
Now what you need to think about is… why? The question is: Why did I succeed in clearing it? Why didn’t I do anything?
Something must have changed. So where? What has changed? Has it been determined that my mental state has changed and I have become stronger overall? Or powerlessness? Has your achievement level just gone up?
“Ah.”
No, there was just one.
Awe characteristics. This trait has evolved so that it doesn’t just stop at awe-inspiring others.
This characteristic is… Copy the characteristics of the person being revered. In fact, thanks to this, I was able to copy the Shinigami’s hiding ability. Of course, the Awe trait brings other people’s abilities in a very degraded form, so I didn’t pay much attention to it until now…
Even though it is a deteriorated version, it is clear that it is stronger than when it entered this floor. It appears that the clear conditions for this floor have been met.
“Even though I have become slightly stronger… “Does becoming stronger mean that you have become stronger?”
If this happens, the 16th floor will no longer be a problem for me. No matter how much time I waste here, I can escape the 16th floor if there is someone who can copy the fear trait immediately after returning.
If you do this, you will feel much more at ease. You can explore new possibilities by looking at the martial arts skills here, or you can stay in the cave and meditate. You can even dig into the chill that has been half-hearted since the 12th floor.
Now the real problem is…
“… Jiwon?”
This is Choi Ji-won’s side.