285 - Regression Is Too Much

Chapter 285 – Return to Battle (4) I may not be the best judge of my own life, but I believe I've led a more comfortable and joyful existence than the average person experiencing regression. The reasons have been extensively covered before, so I'll skip over them. Nonetheless, due to this, distrust and fundamental hatred of humanity, alongside an unquestioning trust in those who have once earned it, have become rarer phenomena for me. Unlike the regressors who lose expectations and grow cynical towards all living beings except themselves, I still feel a tinge of nervousness whenever encountering someone new. This long explanation boils down to my observation of this man with wide-open eyes. "Hey. My arm's going to fall off. Why don't you just give me a hug?" His legs shook. Golden teeth gleamed. His tongue occasionally poked out. A sinister smile played on his lips. To anyone, he would appear to be a person of poor character. It was a preconceived notion and rightly so. "Did you take another photo of someone?" "Yeah." It might not just be a narrow human perspective, but other living creatures seemed to click their tongues in disapproval as well. Their gazes were filled with contempt. (I think.) Interpreting it a bit, it seemed like, 'Oh, that jerk is at it again.' "Yes. This is Kim Jun-ho." "That's an unusual name. Who’s this lovely lady here?" "..." "You seem a bit sensitive." Thus, I found myself suspicious of this man named Jake. He was just too 'typical.' It wasn't some regressor's intuition, just a thought spurred by my rebellious hipster temperament. Like how a student grows suspicious upon seeing the student council president leading an overly honest life. Or how parents become wary when a child suddenly starts living virtuously. Similarly, I had reservations about this man named Jake. "Go ahead. Speak your mind." "Whoa. Whoa. Calm down. I’m not that kind of person." On the other hand, Choi Ji-won, more than just being hostile, gazed at Jake with cold disdain. She had mentioned disliking men who had a gangster vibe, and now she displayed that 'dislike' with full intensity. "Junho, let's go." "Hey. Just hear me out. There's nothing to lose." "Hmm..." It seemed unfortunate for Choi Ji-won. "Let’s just listen." I was a bit more inclined to hear him out. ** The transition didn’t take long. All we had to do was move to a nearby lounge. For the record, from the fact that he relocated there, Jake was also a registered fighter in the arena. “Whoo… Mind if I grab a drink first?” “Yeah, go ahead.” "Alright. Just a moment." Jake disappeared momentarily. "Junho, I did a quick check and he doesn't have a good reputation." Choi Ji-won remarked, showing her terminal. "His nickname is 'Beginner's Lover.' I've heard he's approached beginners on several occasions." "But why 'lover' instead of 'hunter?'" "That's my point. He did mention something useful to me. And above all, that guy just now..." "..." "...Alright. I understand we need to talk to gather some information. Be aware of that." "Of course." Around that time, Jake returned, holding three cans of coffee in his hands. "Do you like coffee?" "We don't drink coffee. Right, Junho?" "Uh, yeah." It's not that I don't drink it, I just don't really like it. I nodded in agreement. "Oh? That's a shame." Saying that, Jake pulled two bottles of water from his back pocket. "I thought that might be the case, so I brought some water instead." "..." "..." The space between Choi Ji-won's eyebrows narrowed, and I squinted my eyes. What is with this guy? What's his game? "You seem to be in a bad mood, so I'll get straight to the point. Is that alright?" -Hiss. Jake opened a can of coffee, took a sip, and set it back down. "Let's cut to the chase. I watched videos of your fights. From the second video where you both abstained, to the video of your very first fight. Oh, not through illegal means. Anyone who pays can watch them, and there aren't many like me who look up beginner videos one by one." He shrugged and took another sip of his canned coffee. It seemed like he only pressed his lips to it rather than actually drinking, but the slurping sound was quite loud. "So? Did you come to trample on Ssaksu because you saw it?" "Wow. I'm here to offer advice. No need for that." Choi Ji-won spoke sharply. Jake held up his hands in a gesture of innocence. "As you might guess, I make my living here. Fight money is my income, retirement fund, and bonus. I've eaten here for quite a while. Just experiencing this once is more than rewarding." Another sip. Now I was beginning to wonder when this guy would finish his canned coffee. "In my opinion, you guys are going to rise quickly. So-called monsters. Unpredictable. Powerful. However, the time spent in this arena isn't enough. I can fill that gap. Starting with information." Jake slightly turned his back, trying not to let Choi Ji-won see. "There's something called 'technique' which is a way to boost your score." He wiggled his fingers suggestively out of Choi Ji-won's sight. Naturally, Choi Ji-won felt this, and her expression grew colder. "..." And once again, I realized that hand movement seemed quite conceptual. A bit awkward. For now, I nodded, signaling him to go on. "And most importantly, I have secret information that's exclusive to me. If we form a partnership and you don't spill the beans... I can share it with you." "Help without a cost does exist, but not with us. You don't seem like a philanthropic sort." "Cost? Why not? As I mentioned, I make my living here." He tapped on his terminal and pulled up his latest record. "This is my record. Last 20 matches. 20 wins. I'm on the best winning streak of my career. They say the number of good fighters in the arena is as many as the stars in the universe, but a 20-win streak is impressive enough. It's a record that could be useful in the future." "...Hmm. So?" "I've intentionally climbed slowly. That way, you can reap various additional benefits, and most importantly, avoid facing any powerhouses that aren't in your best interest. But look?" He held out his palm and gestured to the two of us. "Are there powerhouses here that don't fit the criteria? Two of them? If I stumbled into a match with both of you, a defeat is certain, right? Wouldn't that end the winning streak? Oh. Maybe I could even die." "..." "Do you understand me now? It's mutually beneficial. I give you information, and in return, you avoid the times when I'm scheduled to fight. I have good insights on others. Individuals like you rise through the ranks swiftly. You could potentially fight up to 10 times a day. I don't want to get caught up in that, hence this." Sure. It made sense. To manage my career and avoid missteps. We give information that could be immediately actionable and capitalize on our benefits. "Alright. Let's work together." "Yeah, it's nice having this chat. Can you add me as a friend on your terminal?" "But what's this information?" "Information? Ah, that..." Making sure there was no one else in the lounge, Jake spoke softly. "Save up enough money... Also, if you reach the top ranks, you can meet the 'management' of this arena." "The operations team?" "Shh. Your voice is too loud. Anyway... if you pay enough to these operators..." What followed was rather shocking. "The legendary healing potion... You can get the elixir." Elixir. The ultimate potion that can revive even a dying dragon. You can get it on this floor? Choi Ji-won, who was beside me, nodded. Only then did I realize. Why so many players linger on this floor. Why are you racing towards the top spot? Why did I continue to struggle even after surpassing the 100th position? What is their goal? Their target is the elixir. To obtain the elixir, they'll remain on the 28th floor and continue to fight. "But Mr. Jake." "Huh?" "What are you?" And at that same moment, I was certain. He claimed he would provide me with useful information on a topic that came to me quite unexpectedly. Despite his appearances, he seemed likable. There was also a lot to learn. In games, such creatures are often regarded as helpful NPCs. If you were a typical player, you would simply pass by and think, 'Ah, his role is to give me a useful mission.' "First and foremost, it doesn't make sense to watch all the beginner videos." Said the bald man in the lounge. It's mentioned that there are about one million registered. If the scale is this large, obviously the number of new registrants in such an event would be overwhelming. Are you managing all of them? "There's something peculiar about how you act. Most importantly, Ji-won?" "Hah. I'm not lying." "That's the strangest part. The detail about the elixir wasn't a lie." I have Choi Ji-won, a human lie detector. The strong initial refusal wasn't solely due to appearances. Because he was lying. "But when the topic of the elixir came up, Ji-won's eyes changed. That information was true..." A man who lies about everything, yet the information he provided about the elixir is accurate? This is deliberate. It's an attempt to prompt us into action. Who is this man? What is this unsettling feeling I have? Within the tower, who suddenly provides information about the potion... A shocking intuition hit me like lightning. Alright, this guy isn't just a beginner's lover. Clearly, he's someone who intentionally approaches players, leaking information about the elixir. Disregarding existing orders and sharing such information isn't a typical NPC role. And I know there are people within the tower that play that very role. If I'm mistaken, there's nothing that can be done. "Hey. Are you an angel?" Jake's body flinched. It was his excessively loose clothing that caught my attention. Take off your clothes. Let's see the wings.