352 – Catastrophe (13)

Surprisingly, the first thing that Kim Jun-ho of this world did was to voluntarily reveal his identity. Well, his intentions were clear.

“A regressor? The one in that web novel…?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“No, what… Even if you say that…”

“Well, it’s natural that you don’t believe me. That’s why I’ve prepared a few things. First, in a week, there’s a stock called Holy Delta Tech…”

“Uh… um…”

“And then three days later, it was revealed that a famous YouTuber was actually gay and had s*xually assaulted someone of the same s*x.”

“Wait, wait! What are you talking about! PD!”

As soon as a celebrity blurted out that he was going to go to hell, the live broadcast became chaotic in an instant. Afterwards, posts with titles like ‘A psychopath who thinks he’s a regressor’ started circulating in the community.

-Famous influencer charged with same-s*x s*xual assault…

-Holy Delta Tech upper limit… Superconductor theme ‘Tteoksang’ one.

-Is this real?

-What is he? Is he really a regressor?

As all those statements came to light, they slowly began to gain attention.

“Cutting a rock with a sword? Easy. I’ll show you right away.”

-Isn’t that a fabrication? Even pretty good players can’t do something like that.

“You think it’s a fabrication? Where do you live? Let’s merge.”

-ㅋㅋ You know how to take it out? Come to Incheon.

“… You really came?”

“Pick any rock.”

He abandoned his previous mystical behavior and instead moved around here and there as if he was showing off his power.

“Why are you causing so much trouble when you’re a regressor? I need to become famous.”

There were many suspicious eyes and people who cursed at him, but he steadily began to build up his fame. Of course, he had one goal. Activating the hero’s trait.

Unlike before, there was no cooperation from the US President or the Korean government. It was true that he had completely cleared the 4th floor alone, but it was not known that he was an individual named ‘Kim Jun-ho’. Therefore, the process of becoming famous was much slower, and the suspicion was much more severe than before.

“If you handle your magic carefully, you can even fly.”

Overwhelming skill.

“Oh, that’s information that was released in the future. Here’s how it happened.”

Information power that transcends time.

“I will protect you. Using this ability, I will definitely save you.”

Sweet words that are pleasant to hear.

All of this led to fame, and my power grew stronger and stronger.

In fact, this was not a wise move. The moment when the regressor shines the most is when its identity is not revealed. If people are not stupid and notice the regressor’s existence, there are ways to deal with it. Mix in false information, or execute the plan completely relying on randomness…

But in this world, I didn’t care about that. In the first place, becoming famous and strong wasn’t a goal, it was just a process.

“good.”

The key is what to do after becoming ‘strong’. In this world, I checked my plan one last time, and then suddenly started flying towards the sky. Higher, and higher.

What is the intention? What is the experiment they are trying to do? Even though they are the same person, the time given and the environment are different, so it is impossible to guess at all.

“Let me guess.”

There were several possibilities. Indeed, how could a human being clear the 25th floor?

Since I’m a decent player, I should be able to hold my breath for about 5 minutes. If I can shorten those 5 minutes, I should be able to make a plan.

But can I create a ‘magic filter’ like Choi Ji-won in those short 5 minutes? No. I can say for sure that it’s impossible. I’m not that kind of genius, and I’m not a great person who can create something in a state of lack of oxygen. If there’s even a possibility.

“… I should have done something before going in.”

Before entering the 25th floor, I was perfectly prepared for something. However, this was also a problem because I didn’t fully understand the situation on the 25th floor. Was it poison, or were there blades pouring down from all directions as soon as I entered, or was there a monster waiting in front of the portal… I knew there was a crisis, but I didn’t know what kind of crisis it was.

In the meantime, investing time in advance to prepare for possible poison? It’s not that it’s unreasonable, but I don’t think it’s something I would do given my personality.

Well then… how… I don’t know how I actually cleared the 25th floor, and I don’t know what my intentions are in this world. What does flying into the sky have to do with a maze?

“…Shall we go?”

While I was lost in my thoughts, I, who had flown high enough in this world, suddenly released my magic and began to fall freely in the air. The sound of the wind brushing past my ears was truly loud.

What the heck? What the hell is going on? I still have no idea… but that’s okay. Given enough time, I’m sure I’ll be able to figure out what he’s up to…

“uh?”

There was no time to figure it out. The next moment, I was falling from the sky and was slaughtering monsters on the 29th floor. I had definitely regressed, but I didn’t know that the middle process would be completely skipped. Why did I regress? Did I fail?

“What is it, what is it?”

Time begins to run. It flows faster than ever before. It begins to run so recklessly and violently that nothing can be guessed.

“Wait, wait!”

I wanted to look a little closer, but only brief images flashed like fragments of memory. Me gritting my teeth. Me giving a speech in front of the crowd. Me sitting on the street because I was tired. Me with bloodshot eyes, thinking about something. Me crying. Me meditating while being splashed by a waterfall. Me completely losing my mind and having fun with women. Me waking up the next day with a sense of shame. Me meeting various scientists and writing complicated equations on paper.

Me… who is trying.

As if skipping through training scenes in a movie, short scenes appeared and disappeared repeatedly. I wanted to guess the passage of time based on my condition, but it wasn’t easy. The images I saw were extremely chaotic and random.

I couldn’t say that I was going straight toward my goal in this world. There were times when I seemed to have lost my mind and committed bizarre acts, and at other times, I seemed to be consumed by madness and was smoking a cigarette among hundreds of corpses. The arrow I drew in this world was bent here and there and was also dented.

“If you think about it, it’s really easy. Just don’t skip to the next level. Then you’ll succeed someday.”

Me, completely drunk, screaming into the air.

“No, actually, if only I hadn’t rejected the book’s offer back then. If only I had just quietly given him the elixir. No, what? Right now? Me?”

The guy couldn’t overcome his drunkenness and collapsed on the floor, but got up again after a while. Even though he suppressed his magical power and got very drunk, he couldn’t sleep comfortably.

“… What did you decide to do next?”

Even though it was crumpled and twisted, the arrow was clearly moving toward one goal. It was steadily moving forward, step by step.

Towards the goal of Jiwon Choi, towards one human being.

In the midst of all these diverse images flashing.

“Waaa …

“Wow!!!”

Suddenly, a tremendous roar shakes the heavens and the earth. All around is joy, pure delight, and bright, positive energy.

“Kim Jun-ho!”

“Kim Jun-ho!”

“saver!!!”

“I love you!!! I love you!!!”

Broadcast helicopters flying in the sky. Cell phones in everyone’s hands. It’s like every broadcast camera on Earth has been brought to you.

A huge crowd of people, tens, thousands, tens of thousands, maybe even more. A huge crowd of people of all races, ages, genders, and ideologies, waving their hands in the air. It was common to shed tears of joy, and some even fainted and collapsed.

The crowd, engulfed in the madness called joy, were all looking up at the sky and chanting the name ‘Kim Jun-ho’.

“everyone.”

At the end of all those gazes, I am floating in this world, enveloped in a brilliantly shining aura. At first glance, I look ordinary, but anyone who sees me can tell that I am filled with a ‘mystery’.

“thank you.”

“Thank you very much!!!”

“Junho!!! He said thank you to me!!!”

I smiled brightly as I saw that reaction.

“Thanks to you all… I realized.”

It was a genuine smile, one that I could tell was mine.

“The answer is not far away.”

The guy put his index finger and thumb together, then snapped his fingers.

“uh?”

The next moment. Everything darkens again, and complete darkness follows.

-Whoaaah.

What slowly became visible as the light began to shine was the park from before. The park where I had collapsed in despair in this world.

There is only one difference.

“The weather is really nice.”

“I know.”

I wasn’t alone. We were holding hands and walking together in the park.

Choi Ji-won. It’s Choi Ji-won. The real Choi Ji-won, with her eyes dripping with affection as she looks at me, her considerate strides as she matches my pace, and her ponytail swaying. I don’t know how or what she did, but the Kim Jun-ho of this world succeeded. She got Choi Ji-won back.

“Junho, what’s wrong?”

“Huh? What?”

“No… Your eyes look a little sad.”

“Just. We had a hard time at the top. That’s why it’s like this.”

“… Really? Was it really hard?”

“on the sly.”

“Come closer.”

A man and a woman walking down the street, sticking close to each other.

“Are you still sad?”

I have no idea how to do this.

“No, I’m happy.”

He succeeded in getting Choi Ji-won back.