192 – Reflection of the Returner (7)

Martial arts are the most efficient way to win over the enemy.

Everything from the waiting posture to the way to move and even the parts of the body to attack are created under thorough calculation.

Knock the enemy over and shock them using their body weight. Hit with centrifugal force with your trained legs. Use your waist to aim for a vital spot with your fist. Hit the torso and make it shake at the spinal level.

Martial arts using weapons are not far removed from this.

The biggest advantage of the spear is its long range. Therefore, the key to martial arts using spears is to maintain the distance. The biggest advantage of the sword is its stability in attack and defense. Therefore, defense is also key to longsword swordsmanship.

In addition to this. Mace. Ax. Javelin. A whip-type weapon. Every weapon has its pros and cons, and martial arts using that weapon develop in a way that hides its shortcomings and maximizes its strengths.

But what if a superhuman uses that martial art? The story is a little different.

There are three main variables. The speed of the battle becomes much faster, posture restrictions disappear, and an enemy called Mana intervenes.

Spread your legs wide for a stance of attack and defense? A superman can turn his entire body over with just the tips of his toes. A quick and agile posture is better than a stable posture.

A whip that hits so fast that you can’t avoid it? If you go to the superhuman level, you will experience excessive air resistance and it will only be a hindrance.

Existing martial arts and weapon techniques were not created with the assumption of superhuman combat. Movements aimed at bringing about maximum utility within human limitations are useless beyond human limitations.

“If you think about it, it’s similar to what I did with my alter ego.”

Therefore, Choi Ji-won dismantled the martial art he knew called ‘kendo’, analyzed it, and reassembled it again. The necessary parts were brought in, and the unnecessary parts were boldly removed.

What was completed was Choi Ji-won’s new sword technique, similar to but different from kendo. It is a swordsmanship that can maximize the use of ‘bungbung’ by raising the low points and raising the high points even higher… That was Choi Ji-won’s explanation.

“So… Even if I regress and go back to the 16th floor, I can wake up right away, right?”

“That’s right. “My swordsmanship is still unfinished, and there is still a lot of room for improvement.”

If you think about it, what Choi Ji-won did is not much different from what other players did. Other players who had no basics learned the martial arts usually provided on the 16th floor, and although these were low-level, they were fundamentally martial arts tailored to superhumans.

“It’s rather good… Should I say that?”

Because I am overflowing with confidence. Or, people like me who had low standards and quickly cleared the 16th floor would not have been given a chance to reflect on themselves like this. Personally, I consider this fortunate.

“So… “

Anyway, the commotion that continued on the 16th floor ended with SSR-class Choi Ji-won evolving into UR-class Choi Ji-won.

Now what we need to think about is our future steps.

“Actually… “It gets a little ambiguous from here.”

“Which part?”

“It’s a problem whether I give you time to grow, or it’s a problem if I don’t.”

After returning from here, you go straight to the 17th floor? What if the 17th floor is a very difficult floor? What if you have to invest a huge amount of time again? In the worst case scenario… What if I or Choi Ji-won are in danger?

Considering this case, it is right to give Choi Ji-won time to organize his realization here and now.

Conversely, what if Choi Ji-won is given enough time to grow?

First of all, the first thing to worry about is the 16th floor. If Choi Ji-won grows too much, Ji-won Choi’s subconscious may wonder, ‘Is this what it means to be stronger? Hmm… There is a possibility that they may think, ‘That tidyer.’

The concept of the 16th floor itself is also problematic. The concept of the 16th floor was to train oneself and grow as a task.

The 16th floor is like this, but what about the 17th floor? Wouldn’t a similar topic be presented?

“You have to be careful about becoming too strong.”

If ‘growth potential’ is considered a resource, becoming stronger means consuming that resource. There is also a risk in training indiscriminately.

“First of all… “Junho, there’s something you misunderstand.”

Choi Ji-won shakes his head at my worries. She continues her speech while eating potato gnocchi ordered through her delivery app.

“Actually, I don’t have the option of ‘training’ right now.”

“… No? Wouldn’t it be better to sort out things like enlightenment, experience, etc. And move on? “Isn’t it too urgent?”

“Um… no. “It has no meaning.”

Choi Ji-won dips a piece of gnocchi with a fork and puts it in her mouth. I take it calmly and listen to her words.

“What I lack right now is experience. Practical experience. You have to experience more situations and fight with more people. “The rate of growth is too slow if you stay locked up somewhere and sharpen yourself.”

“… Okay?”

“Okay then. Do you know how I was going to get past the 16th floor? “I was going to spar with you briefly.”

The swordsmanship created by Choi Ji-won is a swordsmanship created based on the assumption of a battle between superhumans. All the possibilities that a person named ‘Choi Ji-won’ can imagine are already present, and he is at the stage of accepting experiences from the outside.

“Rather, I think climbing the top quickly will help my growth. When we return, let’s go straight to the 17th floor.”

“I see… “

This time, I rolled up the marbled pasta I was eating and put it in Choi Ji-won’s mouth. The baby on her chair was shaking, looking like he was angry.

“But… It’s been four and a half months now, right? “Isn’t it a waste to go back right away?”

“What do you mean?”

“America. Since it’s been a while, how about investing some time in that area?”

That’s right. This is because in just about a month from now, the secret warehouse will be built in the United States.

“See if there are any useful items there… Take some elixirs with you… “Why don’t you make some profit?”

It is not that there is no guilt about stealing, but there is also a perception that things come back to you when you return. No, I’m not saying I’m going to take it. If you regress, it will come back, so let’s share it.

“A warehouse is a warehouse… The book that was said to have failed in America? Research? “I think it would be good to collect some information about that as well.”

In addition, I wanted to know about that strange book that the president had studied but failed. Since we’ve come this far, shouldn’t we take advantage of all the benefits we can get?

“Yes, I think that’s right too. “Because the timing has been delayed to this point.”

Choi Ji-won nods. However, she also seems to be a bit anxious.

“But the problem is… “For now, I only know the approximate location, but I don’t know the exact location.”

The warehouse is located somewhere in the Arizona desert. They say they know where the Daejaechung is, but it won’t be easy to find it because the desert is so large and it’s essentially a secret warehouse.

“Besides, since it is an important warehouse, there will be security… There is a need to conduct a more thorough preliminary investigation. “If you go and get caught, you have to return immediately.”

“That’s right… “

“So, can you wait a moment? “I’ll contact you now.”

“To whom?”

“To the person in the US who received this information. “Wouldn’t he know better?”

“Okay. “Then I’ll organize it in my own way.”

We have already taken care of urgent contact, but we have not yet contacted the Shinigami. Four months have passed, so the people he was watching must have produced some results.

Indeed, what choice did the people who would kill make? What choice should I make? All connections made with Kang Chan and other Korean players in previous episodes have disappeared, but the connection with the Reaper still remains.

“Where…” Is there… “

It’s been a while since I’ve been going through emails, so I can’t even remember my ID. The reason is that an unfamiliar ID was created on an unfamiliar site to avoid tracking. When we repeat regression, we sometimes forget unimportant memories like this.

“Ugh… “

“… “

While I was struggling to find the ID, Jiwon Choi hesitantly came back.

“Uh, Jiwon. What did they say there? “Do you know where it is?”

“Uh… that is… “

Choi Ji-won is very rarely embarrassed. She looked like she never thought she’d say this, and she told me the truth.

“There… I can’t tell you… “

“… “What?”

“Information.”

“… Why?”

It’s ‘that’ Choi Ji-won. She is Choi Ji-won, the association’s best friend, whom America woos, China trembles at, and Japan is jealous of?

But there was one thing I hadn’t considered.

“That… There was a rumor that I was blocked on the 16th floor… I guess people are ignoring me now… It’s a waste… So I can’t give you any information… “

“… “

That’s right. Players on the 16th floor also have eyes and ears. Moreover, the celebrity everyone was paying attention to was Choi Ji-won.

The rumor that Choi Ji-won struggled for a very long time after she entered the 16th floor spread so widely and naturally. As a result, Choi Ji-won’s reputation plummeted.

“… “

“… “

Going to America is on hold…