Chapter 32
Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Tower 10th Floor Conquest Reward [A Regressor's Memory]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The sight that greeted me right after I came to was all too familiar.
A vast courtyard stretching out wide, with a scruffy country mutt always chained up there.
It was my family home.
'What the hell? Why am I here?'
I was floating around like a ghost. Just like a dead person.
'Is this my memory?'
True to the knight's words, it was a memory I didn't know.
I hadn't been back to my family home recently anyway.
Even if I did go, it was only once or twice a year, so scenes like this weren't familiar to me.
"Yes, Auntie. Yes, yes, it's me, Chang-gi."
"Hahaha! Of course! I'm doing well~!"
"And you, Auntie?"
"Oh, really? That sounds tough~!"
While I was bewildered, an unfamiliar scene from the memory played out.
Me, who should have been in the tower, was holding a phone at my family home.
Right in front of myself, no less.
...And Auntie?
Did I have someone I called that affectionately?
It couldn't be Big Sis Bridgetta—I'd never called her Auntie.
Even if I did, would there be any reason to call her that, given her speech patterns?
"How's that kid doing these days?"
"Seong-yeon's the one."
"The girl who used to call every day hasn't been in touch lately."
"Oh, really?"
"No wonder! She hasn't been picking up!"
From the flow of the conversation, it was a check-in call about someone.
But Seong-yeon's name popping up threw me off.
Was my conversation partner Seong-yeon's mom?
Why?
I hadn't spoken to her since I was a kid, let alone seen her face.
"Wow, that kid's amazing. How'd she climb that far already?"
"What a talent. Who would've thought one of my friends would make it that big."
"Should I send some fruit to celebrate? It's in season and super sweet these days."
"Nah, what're you talking about between us~!"
The me in the memory was chattering away happily.
Calling Seong-yeon's mom and laughing my ass off, slapping my knee.
Looking at my body, it was much slimmer than now.
Was the me in this memory... not a hunter?
"...Yes? Yes, what about Seong-yeon?"
"──Me?"
"What the ■■? Huh? No, what kind of bullshit──"
Bang!
"…………."
Right after, my head exploded.
"………?"
It exploded.
Me.
"………???"
My head.
Exploded.
What the hell.
What did I just see?
"...Huh?"
My mind returned. The knight was sprawled on the floor, looking down at me with his red crest feathers.
"You're dead."
The knight was straightforward. As if stating plain truth. Like there was no reason for lies.
"Wait, me?"
"How many times do I have to say it? You died. I don't know which death it was, but what you just saw was one of your many deaths."
"What does that even mean!"
"There's more. Keep watching."
"Wait─...!?"
My vision darkened again, then imprinted a new scene. This time, it was a bedroom. I was naked in the corner of a room glowing pink like a love hotel. 'Who'd I come here with?' I'd just finished doing it, apparently, sitting on the edge of the bed enjoying a smoke. There were clear nail marks on my back, and next to me was a woman... .......... ......Ceres?
"Can I call you oppa?"
"Trying to act cute at your age?"
"Yes. At least in front of you."
"Well, you've been through a lot. Must've been tough all this time."
"...Oppa."
"It's fine. You can do it whenever in front of me."
"Thank you. Really."
Wait, no, what the fuck is this? Why was Ceres calling me oppa!? How the hell did I end up sleeping with that stoic European butler girl!!
"So, about what I asked last time..."
"You're asking now?"
"...Sorry. I was just too curious. You know, right?"
"Yes."
"Tell me. What's with the ■■ having ■■■?"
"That's because... ■■■...." ─Bang!
"Eh?"
"O-oppa? Oppa? O, ooooooh, huaaaaaah!!!!"
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!"
My head exploded again. Ceres got hit with a fountain of blood and wailed. It was pure horror.
"─Kuhak!"
My head again... Ughhh!!
"Wh-what? I have no idea why my head exploded again─!"
When I came to, I was clinging to the knight's feet, my earlier composure gone. What a filthy sight. This would traumatize me.
"You learned 'information' you weren't supposed to know, so 'the tower killed you.' It's tricky—the condition is that you have to figure it out yourself, but in both prior cases, you relied on others' help."
What bullshit. What did I learn? What secret did I uncover that they had to kill me for!
"I'm still alive, though?"
"You died and came back. In your words, regression. Understand now?"
Regression. Hunters were all the rage with it lately, and it was huge in novels too. Novels and webtoons—I loved comics, so I knew the tropes.
"J-jeez, am I a regressor?"
"No. Someone around you is. You already have an idea, don't you?"
"………."
Cold sweat trickled down. The one who told me how to clear this was Milky... but behind her was Seong-yeon. Milky couldn't say anything but told me to trust Seong-yeon... Wait, so really? Seong-yeon is the regressor? 'So, whenever I learn some inexplicable info and my head explodes... Seong-yeon rewinds time and saves me?' Did I even survive? Isn't it just rewinding time? Am I the same as the dead me? I don't get it. How exactly did she save me...?
"You alright?"
"Give me a sec. Head's spinning. You're not messing with me, are you?"
"I don't lie to a comrade. Especially not with a clear reward memory. Why would I lie?"
"H-how many times did I die?"
"Around 18? I can't know the exact number. It's blocked by the Tower Lord's authority."
"Tower Lord?"
While I was panicking, the tower shook. Like the world itself was quaking.
"...What?"
"It's starting."
It moved.
My name echoed out.
Shoving me into this bewildering situation.
"In the first memory you showed... I wasn't a hunter, right?"
"No. It was a world where you lived an ordinary life."
"But I died?"
"Mm-hmm."
He nodded.
"The second one?"
"The timeline with the blonde? You were a hunter then."
"Why was I in a hotel with her?"
"………."
"Can't say more?"
"Tower Lord's authority blocks it. I'd love to spill everything and make you happy, comrade, but circumstances aren't ideal."
I got anxious.
Just moments ago, I'd been chill from the clear, but now it felt like fire was at my feet.
"Am I gonna die again?"
"If you watch your mouth based on today's memories, you won't."
The knight grabbed my shoulders.
Serious, no smile, conveying his earnest intent.
"Don't forget my words, comrade. You've figured out who the regressor is, so cooperate but don't pry into secrets. You'll piece it together from today's memories eventually, but don't speak it aloud. Not until you've conquered this tower and lifted your curse."
"What if I do?"
"...You won't die right away, but I don't know how the Tower Lord will react. She's got a nasty temper. She might not even honor her own promises. Then your friend will cry. Wail in grief. And it'll start over."
I swallowed hard.
He explicitly called her my friend.
The regressor was Seong-yeon.
And I had a curse on me?
So the flow implied she regressed because of me...
"To lift this curse where my head suddenly flies off, I need to team up with Seong-yeon?"
"That's why you're climbing the tower from the start."
"Did you know I'd come here?"
"Not everything. I'm under the Tower Lord's thumb too. So, comrade, hang in there. No need to hold back. Punch her good if you want. She's feeling guilty anyway, so vent and make up. It's fine to tell her you know about the regression—just don't overthink it."
"Why should I trust you?"
"I'm the Knight of Pure Love. On my proud constellation and name. I truly support you both."
He got excited, then serious, switching tones to spill the truth—this enigmatic knight.
His solemn plea ended, and the tower's shaking stopped.
"Tomorrow?!"
"Even I need rest days. Time for a drink to celebrate the breach, then back to work tomorrow! Wahahaha!"
His speech returned to normal, and his body began to glow.
Like when I entered the Golden Tower, or transferred—particles of light enveloped the knight.
"Whoops. The Tower Lord is calling. Probably punishing me for running my mouth. Heh, we'll meet again on the 20th floor, so see you then."
'Running his mouth?'
Maybe even knowing about regression would've made my head explode anyway?
And the constellation's words kept me safe...
"Oh right. Let me check your mind. Almost forgot to give you this."
With his lower body half-dissolved, he shoved a card into my chest.
"Your clear reward. Nothing fancy for the 10th floor, but it'll let you talk back to our wild Tower Lord!"
"Y-yeah... Not sure if I'll make it to 20, but let's meet again."
"You better come~! Definitely! I'll be waiting with burdock tea~!"
Wahaha!
He laughed heartily, his head vanishing.
A clown you wouldn't approach normally, but knightly when serious—this constellation.
He vanished happily.
I returned amid the blaring announcement that rang who-knows-how-many times.
Of course, with Ceres and the others waiting on the 9th floor.
-That's the guy.
-D-rank! Hong Chang-gi!
-That dude cleared the 10th floor!?
-The infamous gimmick?
-No way!
-What the hell is this guy...?
As expected, the plaza in front of the 1st floor was swarming with hunters who'd rushed over.
The already crowded area was chaos with spectators mixed in.
Were they from outside? Reporters snapping shutters made my eyes hurt.
What did they think they could do in this info-locked zone anyway...
"Mr. Chang-gi. This way."
Ceres had been curt since the clear.
Skipping celebrations, she led me to safety first, heading toward the guild camp in the plaza corner.
"Oooong, you really pulled it off~! You rascal, impressive!"
"Ugh, Big Sis Bridgetta!"
She greeted me first.
In her usual jumpsuit, freckles dotting her chest, she hugged me tight and praised me.
The others around were guildmates, I guess.
Thanks to them, we barely held back the surging crowd.
"How was it? That damn knight talks a ton, right!? Messes with your head~?"
"Yeah. He's a weird constellation you wouldn't believe unless you met him."
"Heh. You handled that bastard well. I was half-doubting when you said you'd climb today, but damn, you did it. What cheat did you use? Spill for Auntie too~!"
Rub rub rub~!
Her tits were cool and felt great.
Lust bubbling up, but today's events kept me from getting hard—such a shame.
"Ugh, just got a ton of help from folks around. They explained the strat so nicely, impossible not to clear."
"Hehe, is that so? Plenty failed even knowing that, but anyway, you did great! Let's grab drinks first! Auntie and Iian are buying tonight~!"
Sounds perfect.
Sandwiched between the Copper Witch and the master tool for drinks? Ultimate honor.
I'd wash my dick right now and go.
But...
"Got something to do first."
"What?"
"Gonna go chew out that bitch Seong-yeon."
This was priority one.
Sure enough, my declaration bloomed a smile on Big Sis's face.
"Wanna go with Auntie?"
"Sounds good. Escort me through this crowd, Sis?"
"What can't Auntie do for her sweet boy~? Alright, lads! Escort to Chomok Guild home, now~!"
Big Sis Bridgetta yelled, and the guildmates cheerfully cleared a path.
Truly reliable.
After the turbulent yet short climb, we headed home.