292 - Regression Is Too Much

**292 – The Battle of the Overseer (11)** It took three days for the arena managers to relent. They ignored public opinion once, then twice, and yet again. Finally, they dispatched a messenger. "Here is the contract." Spoke the android sent by the arena managers. (This android was not shaped like a regular human. It had more hair than typical androids, after all.) "Do not harm Guntar... Just give him the medicine and come back right away... Try not to talk to him much... There are many things to deal with." "With the condition that I only deliver the medicine. If you don't agree, you're forbidden from seeing Guntar." "Okay." While Jiwon gazed at the android with a weary expression, I promptly signed the contract. They warned that if I failed to adhere to the contract, I could face various repercussions, including legal action, but I was determined to proceed. "Is that all right?" "Let's go now. Did you bring the medicine?" "Here it is." The situation was resolved smoothly. I could finally meet him. Guntar. ** The android led us down a lengthy corridor. Doors lined the left and right at intervals, half ajar and half shut. "This is the special accommodation provided by the arena." The android said as we walked. "The deeper you go, the better the facilities. It’s the arena’s way of distinguishing itself, though some dislike it because the path is so long." The android proceeded, walking and walking, until the seemingly endless corridor came to an end. At last, there was only one door left. "This is it." "Indeed." Guntar's residence was the finest of them all. Perhaps because I had come such a long way, I hesitated slightly without realizing it. "Let's go." Thanks to Jiwon's gentle grip on my hand, I stepped forward with confidence. -Wow. The door opened automatically. Looking closely, it wasn't just a door but some sort of hologram. "…" Inside... it was dark. All the lights were off, and although the room was spacious, there were no windows or furnishings, with leftover food strewn across the floor like unlaundered clothes. In short, it resembled a dump, devoid of lights. "No, you said it was the best?" "This space can be modified to the user's liking. Good facilities mean there’s ample room for modifications." "Then what’s this?" "This is its original state." So this is the ground level of the players' quarters. Does that mean Guntar didn't alter anything? If he ate, I hoped he'd clean it up. Or at least finish it all. What’s the point of the food he leaves behind? Nevertheless, because the room was so vast and empty, finding Guntar wasn’t difficult. "… Why is he like that?" Guntar was sleeping in the dark corner of the room, curled up like a ball. I heard that beastmen usually use beds. Why was he behaving like a puppy in that corner? "Mr. Guntar. We have visitors." "…" The android called out to Guntar while tidying up leftover chicken legs, but Guntar merely rolled over, not stirring. "Mr. Guntar?" "Leave." From within his curved body, his wild yellow eyes shone brightly. "Leave now." "Hey, we came to help." I raised both of my palms to show that I meant no harm. "Leave. Didn't you hear me?" He threatened us now, baring his teeth. The scent of meat wafted from his open mouth. "I heard you lost your memories. Aren't you frustrated? We can help you." This time, Jiwon, who had been observing silently, stepped forward. She mentioned 'memories' right away, moving closer. "Let's talk. How much do you remember, and why are you choosing people and killing them…" "Get out before I kill you!!!" Whoosh! Guntar leapt like a spring, swinging his claws, but Choi Jiwon evaded the attack by stepping back. "Hah. Hah. Hah." "…" "I don't know… I don't know…" Guntar fell back to the ground. "What it is that I don't know… I… I… I don't know anything… I just… I hate humans… So just hurry and leave…” The man covered his ears with his hands and curled up in the corner, as if trying to block out everything. "Sigh…" I sighed, but at the same time, I felt relieved. The worst I imagined was him drawing a weapon and charging at me as soon as he saw me, but this was better than that. Above all, we were both human too. Just because we are humans doesn't mean we will kill everyone. There was room for regeneration. "Wow, wow. I already sensed that you're not in a good condition." "…" "Drink this." "…" "Do you actually want to die?" "You don’t know what you don’t know? If you drink this, you will get better." "…" "No, seriously. Didn't I say I'm a fan of water? I want to help you. That's how we got here, right?" "…" Guntar, who had been staring at me without answering, spoke quietly. "Give it to me." He suddenly snatched the potion from my hand and drank it in one gulp. As he finished the entire bottle, "…" His previously lackluster fur now gleamed again. The hollow bags under his eyes gradually filled out. Vitality. His vitality was returning. He was no longer a dying Guntar. The Guntar of his prime, vibrant and shining, had returned…!!! "No effect." "Huh?" "It… didn't work. I still don't remember anything." Yet the man's eyes… remained brightly lit. There was no difference from before. They hadn't changed. Why? What I gave him was indeed a 'low-grade miraculous potion.' Though its quality was low, it was nearly akin to an elixir. – Low-Class Elixir [S] ‘A highly diluted version of the Tears of God.’ If you drink the entire bottle, it remedies all physical deficiencies. Unlike the real deal, the curse's effect is weak. Not only does it heal physical deficiencies, but it also makes your body healthier, enhances your magical power, clears your mind, and provides numerous additional benefits, doesn't it? “… Is this a curse?” No. That can't be it. I didn't sense any magical anomalies, and if there were any, Guntar himself would have noticed. If that's the case. "Hold on, wait a minute." I slowly closed my eyes, focusing on my own soul. My proficiency in this technique wasn’t very high, but it was enough to at least perceive the general outline of someone else’s soul. "… Huh?" Guntar’s soul… didn’t quite align with the shape of his body. There was something oddly twisted, writhing, and again, again… "Ouch…" I stopped focusing as my eyes began to hurt. If I pushed further, I’d surely suffer backlash. My eyes, my brain, my soul throbbed. Guntar's soul was not in a normal state. “Are you okay?” “Uh… just give me a moment…” Jiwon and I exchanged concerned glances. "…" Guntar stared at the potion bottle in futile silence. Something had altered within Guntar's soul. Was it the emperor? Or something else? I couldn’t discern precisely, but one thing was clear: the situation was exceedingly complex. The potion didn’t work. Guntar couldn’t be healed by it. I thought this would be simple, so why is it so convoluted? Without realizing it, I muttered in frustration. “This is really annoying. Should I ask the angel?” "…" “If I ask Jake, he would give me a good answer… Huh?” Suddenly, a chill ran up my spine. Guntar stared at me with his bright yellow eyes, unmoving in the same posture as when he held the potion bottle. A vacant stare. With a murderous intent. As if intent on killing me. "…" "…" "Excuse me?” "…" “An angel?” “Die.” As soon as the word ‘angel’ ended, everyone moved simultaneously. Guntar's eyes widened at the mention of 'angel.' Choi Ji-won panicked, drawing her sword. I tried to step back, but realized I was missing something at my waist. Wait. Hold on. I want to make a little excuse here. I'm most comfortable with a sword, and because of that, I consider myself a ‘swordsman.’ I don’t have the extraordinary attachment to it like Jiwon and BoongBoong do, but it’s a weapon I truly cherish. I am fond of it. “Huh?” “Watch out!” So, the fact that Guntar was able to snatch the sword from my waist wasn't due to any extraordinary weakness on my part, but rather because of Guntar's mysterious movements. I understand that having your sword taken is a disgrace for a swordsman, but Guntar's maneuver was difficult to counter, even with my guard down. It was as if he had spent his whole life mastering the art of seizing others' swords at close range… those peculiar hand movements. Because I was caught off guard and the proximity was too close, I lost my sword. Choi Jiwon was also too close to activate the Heart of the Flash. If she activated it here, lightning would strike and she would have to retreat. However, it was too late for BbungBbung to swing in my defense. The sword was aimed under my chin. It shot up ferociously from below. A sharp attack like that of an assassin. No weapon to parry. No time to cast magic. Could I use the transparent gloves? Or another defensive measure? “… Transform!!” In the very last moment, a final resort. The oriental cloth clothing transformed into a form enveloping my entire body! From the outside, it appeared no different than regular cloth attire, but its defensive strength was like that of dwarven armor! Even Guntar didn't have time to channel magical power! If it had the defensive power of armor, it wouldn’t be pierced…!!! -Boom. “Ah.” As I predicted, the cloth armor wasn't pierced. However… my jaw was broken. “… Damn.” But I realized one thing. There was something in Guntar’s nonsense… an angel. [You have taken damage.] [You have returned to the point when you first entered the 28th floor.] *** Jake, commonly known as the ‘Newbie Lover.’ Even though he appears fierce, rumors suggest he treats newcomers kindly, but the truth of such rumors remains unverified. In fact, no one has ever seen this man fight before. "Isn’t he ranked 10,000?" "Huh? I thought he was 200,000th." "Isn't he just some fool always hanging around the 700,000th rank?" "Don’t you wield a sword?" "Isn’t it an axe?" His reputation is high, but the way people identify him varies greatly. His true nature remains unclear. At this point, it's fair to consider him an urban legend, but for some reason, no one seems interested. Despite it all, Jake is simply Jake. "Hey." "…?" "Follow me." No. There was someone. A regressor who was interested.