295 - Regression Is Too Much

295 – Battle of the Regressor (14) “I intended to tell you, but this floor has a hidden prize, an ‘Elixir.’ Of course, it's a top-tier gift, and it's not easy to obtain.” “But?” “If someone obtains this top-tier prize, the Archangel will be able to recognize it immediately. And given the nature of our Archangel, if someone acquires this high-level gift, he will come at once to investigate. How did it happen, and what exactly occurred?” “Ah.” So, the potion itself wasn't the primary concern. The fact that ‘someone received it as a prize on the 28th floor’ was what truly mattered. “As far as I know, the Archangel is always aware when someone receives a top-tier gift. So, if the Archangel sees this message, he might return from his journey…!” “Oh…” It’s fine. That’s a great idea. It's also the best course of action in our current situation. If the Archangel’s return can resolve everything, then summoning the Archangel is the task at hand. The method is straightforward, intuitive, and most efficient. “For that… I intervened in the tower like this.” Jake showed the golden accessory hanging around his neck. “Honestly, the reason I approached Junho… was to leak information about the potion. I hoped someone would obtain the potion before the Heavenly Demon awoke.” “…Is that okay?” “No. Of course not. I'm ready to accept punishment… perhaps more.” He folded his wings and put on his loose jacket once again. “But I can't let this continue as it is. If we just sit back and do nothing, all the players ascending to the 28th floor will die. It’s not merely punishment; it’s a catastrophe for the entire tower. It’s an act that defies the will of the Archangel and the God who designed this tower. Someone has to act.” His eyes burned with determination. He was filled with a sense of responsibility. Seeing an angel like this made me feel uneasy for no apparent reason. “But you know.” “Hmm?” “What is God doing right now?” We don’t climb the tower because we want to. The tower was built, so we climb it for the survival of our species. It’s all due to the actions of that grand deity. She decided to judge humanity. If you impose moral standards that put human lives at risk, shouldn't you avoid the mistakes made by angels? If you judge us, shouldn't the judge be flawless? Because of the discomfort and resentment stemming from this, I blushed unknowingly. However, I simply sighed because I thought this angel might not mean it that way, so I didn’t intend to imply that either. Isn't it wrong to question the mistakes of a superior being to a subordinate? “I don’t know. But I’m sure she has a purpose.” Jake, the angel, responded with sparkling eyes, indifferent to my sighs. “No matter how this situation unfolds, the Almighty knows everything. Everything proceeds according to His will. It’s just that I am too small and weak to fully comprehend His intentions. There must be a greater purpose that we can't even imagine.” “…” “Even my mistake must be part of His will. That’s why I won’t give up and will do my utmost.” “What if the Archangel doesn’t come?” “Huh?” “The Heavenly Demon awakens. The Archangel doesn’t come. What if the players coming here are in danger of death?” “… I will do everything in my power until the very end. In accordance with His will.” “…” Just before, on the 27th floor, I mentioned doing one's best. To do one's best means to exert all effort with all one's will and ability. It means doing whatever one is capable of within their capacity. If the situation goes beyond their capability, it also means there's nothing more they can do. That’s the best. “Ha.” If the Archangel doesn't appear, we must deal with it in the name of the players. No, it’s up to Jiwon and me to resolve it. Even when barely awake, the Heavenly Demon is equivalent to an emperor. I hope we don't have to fight. I hope my grim speculation doesn’t become reality. ** Jake, the angel who concealed his identity, said that “direct intervention” was not possible. I don't know if all angels speak this way, but it suggests that “indirect intervention” might be feasible. “I’ll help you raise your rank.” “Didn’t I tell you I can’t intervene?” “This isn’t intervention.” Jake then went on to explain various complex angelic rules, but most of it was beyond my comprehension. In context, he said he couldn’t make visible changes but could slightly adjust the situation to his liking. “First… I've slightly modified the entire arena system.” “How?” “To put it in human terms, I've recalibrated the weight vectors of the multivariate regression model applied in point calculations…” “Alright, alright.” I don’t know much about the lifespan of angels, but surely it far exceeds that of humans. And Jang Saeng-jong realized that with diligent learning, he could discuss some painfully intricate narratives with ease. “So, you mean the high ranks have a reason to fight me?” “That’s right.” Why couldn’t he rise through the ranks quickly before? He ranked up by fighting money-driven fools and beastmen, but the true elites wouldn’t battle him. However, the angel adjusted the arena system, providing them with a reason to face him. And it didn’t end there. “Take this.” “This is…” "This is the analysis dossier of my current opponent." Jake had sent me a file that detailed everything from my opponent’s martial arts style to her physical specifications, even down to her little habits. “I’ve placed a bet in Jun-ho’s name. This will increase your reputation further.” “…Is that okay?” “It’s not direct intervention, so it’s fine.” He had engaged in every possible form of intervention short of ‘direct’—like manipulating money. You could say he had mastered every trick that wasn’t illegal. With the full backing of the angel, who could be considered the tower's manager, my ranking surged exponentially. 50,000, 3,000, 100. My rank climbed so rapidly that at one point, I received a challenge from the mass-murderer, the Heavenly Demon. I ignored it and kept my focus on other battles. Fighting wasn’t just about clashing. After receiving the angel’s dossier and training myself mentally to consider it, if the odds weren’t in my favor or the opponent was too strong to defeat right away, I’d simply pass. Since I was in a position where a single mistake could knock me out, I had to choose my opponents carefully. That's how I reached rank 80, then 50, then 10, and finally 5. Now, I received calls from the Heavenly Demon every day, no, every hour, almost every minute, yet I continued to cheerfully ignore them. “You have to reach first rank to receive the elixir.” 4th, 3rd, 2nd. Now, there was no one above me except the name 'Emperor.' But even that was just an empty shell of someone who had departed. It was all thanks to my own strength and the assistance of an angel who was like a trickster. There were also moments when I simply battled those I wished to fight. “Is this the final match?” 1 win. If I won one more time, I'd be in the first rank. Just one more step to the magical elixir. “This time, you’ll lose!!! Eternal one!” “Kill that fur-covered bastard!” -Ladies and gentlemen!!! Since I hadn’t done anything resembling an ‘animal lover’ this time, my nickname became ‘Eternal.’ It was all due to the stylish oriental attire I wore. (For some reason, there was still a force slandering me as a fur-covered bastard.) Since I would be crowned champion of the first rank if I won this match, all eyes were on me. My opponent wasn’t an easy adversary either. “Kill her!!!” “Burn her!!!” The opponent was a human female swordmaster with fearsome sword skills and outstanding physical prowess, but above all, she was famed for her unique blue lightning technique. It's said that she had never been defeated by anyone until now, and she was considered one of the rising super rookies, alongside me, 'Shin-sun,' and 'Massacre,' who currently held the second rank. Her name was Choi Ji-won. "Ah. Why now? My back hurts." -T, what's this! Choi Ji-won is really being pushed back!!! Of course. It was a trap. -S, the winner is Shin-sun! Shin-sun!!! That's how I managed to remove the title of Emperor and rise to the first rank. My level of achievement increased, and I was granted various rewards. Afterward, the arena management called me and I was taken to a suspicious place. “Oh, here, you just have to press this button. And then this…” There, Angel Jake appeared and handled everything himself. Initially, it was supposed to be a place to evaluate courage and strategy, but right there beside me, he fed me all the answers. It felt as if I was allowed to do anything except move ‘directly.’ “Wow, wow…” “Done!” – An incredible achievement! – You have received a ‘mid-level elixir’ as a reward! Even though it was somewhat challenging. In the end, I managed to obtain the intermediate elixir. It was an achievement I reached without a single setback, solely through my effort. “Done! Done!!!” “You did it?” “I did it!” At that moment, I think I hugged Jake and jumped with joy without realizing it. Afterward, Jiwon congratulated me, and we feasted on delicious food. And… And… Three months passed. The Archangel did not return. Bad imaginations always become reality. ** In the silent room. I checked the terminal on my wrist. All players except Jiwon and me had lost contact. No, more than half the beings listed were offline. Angel Jake had proven to be completely useless. “…” “…” We were in the same spot but didn’t say anything. It was because we felt the presence of someone approaching slowly. Initially, I thought a bomb had exploded. No. It was merely… the magical power of a single being, the killing intent it radiated, spreading like a bomb. The Heavenly Demon. The energy of the Heavenly Demon, who had regained his body… made me question the sanity of the angels who thought of sealing it. How strong must an angel be? How powerful must they be to believe they could ‘control it’ once unleashed? “This is truly… a catastrophe.” It was not an opponent to fight. It was an opponent to avoid. There was a reason he was called the ‘Heavenly Demon.’ An overwhelming existence, certain death, a being manifested by destruction, was heading toward this place. I knew one thing. Three months had passed, and the Heavenly Demon had fully awakened… There was no way I could win. Not at all. Facing him head-on, there was no chance of victory. So. “Let’s try again.” I'll handle this with the approach of a regressor. [You have taken damage.] [You will return to the moment you first entered the 28th floor.]