190 – The Returner Reflects (5)

A day like any other on the 16th floor.

“Anael.”

“Yes! Junho!”

I was talking to Anael while leaning against a huge rock located in the center of the front yard.

“No matter how much I think about it, it’s because it’s strange… My swordsmanship trait has the phrase [Specialization Recognized] Attached to it. “What does this mean?”

“Is that him?”

“Hey, I can hear you.”

Naturally ignoring the whispering players passing by, I slightly bent my neck to the right.

“Actually… I don’t think my swordsmanship has improved much. The basics of the sword I use now are all established when I was fighting the clone on the 5th floor. That was applied to Hangi. But now, why is there a strange modifier added at the end? Oh, if it’s okay for you to tell me.”

The past days were enough time to look back on the person named Kim Jun-ho, and I once again reconsidered the weapon I possessed. What do I have and what do I not have? And the question that arose in the process was, ‘Why did my swordsmanship become A-level?’

“Hmm… It’s true that I don’t know the context, and there are some things that make it difficult to give a complete answer!”

Anael answered my questions energetically.

“So, I will answer as much as I think is okay! “Is that okay?”

“Okay then. “I just appreciate you letting me know.”

“First of all, traits are never completely independent!”

“… What are you talking about?”

I leaned over and focused a little more on Anael’s words.

“Just as it is impossible to move only the ring finger of the hand, the characteristics also influence each other! As one trait grows, other traits may grow with it, or if one trait disappears, the other traits may disappear too!”

“… Okay?”

“Yes! You said you already had the basics of swordsmanship… “Have you not gained new powers or done something recently?”

“There was. To be precise, I should say that I was aware of my fate.”

“It is clear that being fully aware of that power has influenced my swordsmanship characteristics! In fact, Junho is a swordsman, so wouldn’t he use that ability along with his sword? As a result, it can be said to have the same effect as improved swordsmanship!”

“Aha… “

Like the characteristics, everything is connected. If it’s obvious, it’s obvious, and if it’s interesting, it’s an interesting perspective.

“Thank you. This might help. “I’ll have to tell Jiwon later.”

“No! “I’m glad I could help!”

“Okay, okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes! All right!”

This is worth remembering. After saying goodbye to Ana El, I got up, patted his butt, and started walking.

“Whoa.”

Everything is familiar now. This forest with autumn leaves fluttering as if it were forever fall. Refreshing and cool air. These clothes also tickle my skin.

“Woah! Have you reconciled with your girlfriend? “I heard you go around separately these days.”

“Even if you’re not my girlfriend.”

“hahahahaha! Would you believe that? “See you later at dinner!”

“Wow… is it so. See you later.”

Other players naturally say hello.

“The air is nice… “

It has been four and a half months since I moved to the 16th floor.

Choi Ji-won still hasn’t scratched the rock.

**

I just waited for the first month. I had faith in Choi Ji-won and had hope that if I waited, results would come out.

In the second month, I started to feel a little anxious. As familiar faces left one by one, it was inevitable that I would become more impatient. The people around me talking about Choi Ji-won weren’t very healthy. Still, even at this point, I wasn’t in a hurry.

Even people who are much worse than Choi Ji-won overcome. Those so-called geniuses leave in a week. I never imagined that ‘the’ Choi Ji-won I knew would collapse here.

Her age, her trajectory, and the things I have seen prove that Choi Ji-won is a person. I never doubted her.

And finally, when three months had passed…

“That… “Jiwon?”

“Uh, uh… Junho… “

Choi Ji-won swallows the vegetables with a quick glance at me.

Looking at Choi Ji-won, who has become wrinkled… To be honest, she had some doubts.

“Is everything going well?”

“… Junho, should I learn the spear? “Then can we clear it?”

“No. “It won’t work anyway.”

“… “

“… “

“Hey, you know it’s a joke, right? Sincerely.”

“Really… ?”

“Okay then. I trust you. Oh, I meant it when I said that learning the spear would be of no use.”

Honestly, the silence that just passed was a joke, and I was looking at this situation from a slightly different perspective.

“First of all… In my opinion, Jiwon, you have become incredibly strong. At least much better than when we fought in the mountains before.”

“Really? I think I’m still lacking… “

“Well, that’s just how I feel. But isn’t it strange that I gained a new, insignificant trait I didn’t even know about and beat the 16th floor, but you’re still like this?”

If there is a problem, it is not with Choi Ji-won. This is the condition of the 16th floor.

“I think the conditions for ‘strength’ are something different.”

I haven’t been idle for the past three months. Rather, he moved around diligently and focused on gathering information.

“Actually, the conditions for clearing this floor are unclear.”

At first, I assumed that there should be a change in the status window. Next, I guessed that I needed to get stronger in percentage terms. Otherwise, I thought that growth should be achieved both mentally and physically.

Of course, all of this was just speculation, and truthful information was needed to come up with a proper answer. And the place to get information is obvious.

“Should we call it an interview while giving some items to people who are about to leave the 16th floor and explaining the story? “I heard various stories.”

The fame, not the fame, of being Choi Ji-won’s colleague was a great help to me in this reporting activity. Basically, people treated me with kindness, so it wasn’t difficult for me to become friends with them.

As a result of talking to all players except for a few rebellious ones… I was able to come to a truly surprising conclusion.

“The clearing speed of the 16th floor is… “It doesn’t have much to do with talent.”

By my standards, there were people who were ordinary people who broke the 16th floor in a week, and there were people who were great no matter how you looked at them but barely managed to get out after more than a month. There is even a rumor going around that the president of the association, Michael Jeter, cleared the 16th floor in one day, so there is no way that clearing the 16th floor can be determined by talent.

“A person who abandons the spear early and switches to the ax, saying he has no talent, takes a month to get out… Those who raised their level by drinking the stored experience elixir will soon leave. Also, the person who saw it and followed it will not be able to leave. But I got a little stronger again and cleared it.”

The more information I gathered, the more I realized that the criteria for ‘getting stronger’ were very unclear.

“Even if you ask Anael, he says he can’t answer this… “It is clear that the core of the 16th floor is this standard.”

A temple with a peaceful atmosphere. What did the person who designed this floor want from us? What did they want by locking us in this forest?

“The tower is a test for humanity… “

I repeat what the angel said in the tutorial. The archangels who designed each floor had some kind of philosophy.

From the 1st to the 5th floors, human will to develop was highly valued. Accordingly, there were a lot of hidden pieces, and the better I did, the more rewards I could get.

From the 6th to the 10th floor, the ability to judge the situation was tested. If you simply try to face it head on, you are likely to be killed by the fantasy monster, but if you look around carefully and use your brain, it was an easy floor to clear.

From the 11th to the 15th floor… Cooperation was emphasized. These layers were layers that could be easily broken when the human community joined forces and functioned as one. It makes sense if we assume that the monster on the 15th floor is also testing the cooperation of the human species. The monsters that appear on Earth are close to a structure where players who have acquired great power must take the lead in protecting ordinary people.

Then what about the 16th floor? What does the 16th floor want?

What value did that noble archangel want to see in us when he designed this layer? Training? Choi Ji-won got tired of training.

‘Discipline is a fight with yourself. ‘I am a process of tempering, tormenting, and sharpening existence.’

If training is a battle with yourself… The standard is…

“Each individual standard… “

Choi Ji-won, who was muttering to herself, suddenly grabbed Bungbung and jumped up from her seat.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“Junho.”

“Huh?”

“I think I understand now.”

“… No way?”

Seeing Choi Ji-won smiling as if she realized something, I felt like my vision was slowly opening up.

The criteria for clearing the other 16 floors is like stretching a rubber band. If different standards are set for each person, what determines them?

Why was Choi Ji-won trapped on the 16th floor for such a long time?

There was one answer that came to mind.

“The 16th floor… “

Choi Ji-won is strict with herself, never stops trying, and is fair and just.

“Isn’t one’s own unconsciousness the layer that sets the standard?”

She may have been strangling herself.

And this realization made us stay on the 16th floor for another month.