Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Eco-Friendly Scroll (2)
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There was a moment when I wanted to quit DAT.
No, actually, there were more than a few days when I didn’t even want to look at it.
[GAEM OVER]
Staring at that red screen while gazing at the wreckage of my deleted character.
Bang!
‘I’ll never touch it again. This fucking trash game.’
Rage and post-nut clarity always crashed in together.
Regin had shut down the game in fits of intense emotion plenty of times while playing.
He’d even hit delete and sworn not to take it back.
‘...What if I swap out the material items? They’re barely mentioned, but they seem theoretically usable...’
But whenever he lay in bed and closed his eyes like that, some lingering regret would inevitably pop into Regin’s head.
Ideas he hadn’t considered until then would flash by.
What if I’d done this? What if that?
Or what results would different items bring?
‘...Should I try?’
Even on the verge of sleep, he’d bolt upright and redownload the deleted DAT.
Then he’d pull another all-nighter, carrying out the playstyle he’d dreamed up, refined in a slightly better direction.
Falling into the game itself wasn’t something to laugh about.
“Haha!!”
Regin burst into bright laughter at the sight of the completed scroll before him.
It worked.
The core weapon he’d crafted by reinstalling the deleted game and researching through the night.
“This is it. A scroll you can tear and use more than twice.”
The moment it came to fruition once more in this world.
Sss—
Mana from the surroundings began gathering toward the torn scroll.
The scroll, split in half, reverted to its original form, as if a wound were regenerating.
If it was made right, it should cast magic one more time.
Fwoosh—!
Without hesitation, he tore the scroll again, and the Flame Ball from moments ago activated.
He’d adjusted the formula just as Clina taught him, dialing the firepower down so it wouldn’t burn anything in the lab.
Once verification was complete, Regin nodded.
‘Works exactly like in the game.’
He’d confirmed that all the theories he’d slaved over for this scroll held true in this world too.
“You’re out early. No sleep—what... Huh?”
Creak—
Bauman entered through the opening door, eyes widening as he stared at Regin.
“That in your hand... You completed it?”
“Yes. Pretty much as I intended.”
“That semi-permanent regeneration scroll from before?!”
Regin smirked and nodded.
“Not semi-permanent yet. At best, two uses—that’s it.”
“You say that so casually. A twice-usable scroll. That alone is already something the world’s never seen.”
“Want to take a look?”
Regin handed the regeneration scroll over to Bauman without hesitation.
Bauman examined it from every angle, clearly fascinated.
“Durability, mana flow—everything’s different from a normal scroll... Incredible. The materials in this... No, let me guess.”
“Yes.”
“Right. Rafflesia for the scroll base? And Gargoyle tendon layered on top.”
“Correct.”
“Common combo in a way. Leather and wood are ideal together. But this... Haha! Why didn’t I think of it?”
Bauman burst into admiring laughter.
“The key is that both regenerate! And Rafflesia because...”
“Rafflesia absorbs surrounding mana when it regenerates.”
“Right. Using that to restore the mana stored in the scroll.”
“Exactly.”
“...Heh heh.”
Bauman alternated between admiration, surprise, and deep thought.
“You. Just maybe... Really...”
“Yes?”
“Are you Carlos’s secret disciple?”
“Yes...?”
“No, you’re definitely Nuada’s disciple. Which means you figured this out solo from basic magic...”
Bauman shook his head and muttered to himself.
“The kind of talent Carlos talked about might be something like this.”
A familiar name to Regin.
Someone he’d eventually cross paths with in the tower.
Of course, hearing it from Bauman carried a different weight.
‘That’s originally something Carlos should say himself.’
A perfect clear.
With a bit of luck, you’d run into Carlos’s event pretty quickly.
He’d said it back then.
In the countless playthrough records from the now-vanished DAT.
He’d always said those words.
Was this place a game after all?
Or...
Regin could only smile.
* * *
After tinkering with the completed regeneration scroll every which way, Regin boldly clocked out.
He’d nailed down the outline, after all.
And he had backlog to tackle.
“Right. Planning to climb the tower again?”
“Yes. Prep feels solid. Time to tackle it once more.”
His first stop was his master Nuada’s residence.
The tower portal would open again soon—he needed to discuss plans ahead of time.
‘He’s my supporter too.’
Nuada was Regin’s master and the one providing financial and logistical backing.
Beginners often missed how crucial that subtle support was early on.
‘Nuada’s opinion of me becomes a bigger factor the higher you go.’
He was one of the world’s top powerhouses to begin with.
Rumor had it his combat prowess outstripped even Chimihi.
Which meant maintaining favor with him was as vital as with any other NPC.
Visit Nuada before heading to the tower. Don’t forget.
One of the攻略 tips.
‘Fooling someone like him won’t get me anywhere.’
Regin paused in thought.
There were things he’d never put in those攻略 guides.
The regeneration scroll.
Normally, you’d just run the planned discussion here and move on.
‘...This isn’t a game.’
He could say things outside the dialogue tree.
Like mentioning he’d made a regeneration scroll.
His mind raced.
What happens if he talks about the regeneration scroll now?
‘...Damn it.’
He should’ve come here planning to lie from the start.
The moment he started waffling on whether to spill, endless what-ifs chained together.
In the end, Regin made his call.
Did he really need to follow the game beat for beat?
‘Bauman already knows—sooner or later, word’ll spread. And honestly... this might be the lowest-risk moment to come clean.’
If he had to talk to Nuada anyway, better before it snowballed.
Regin decided to trust his gut instinct.
He trusted the experience from countless Nuada encounters—picking the right responses every time.
“...A regeneration scroll?”
The moment he explained the results.
It was unexpected.
Nuada’s eyes brimmed with interest.
“Yes. Thanks to Bauman and the other seniors’ advice.”
“...Heh.”
“Rafflesia... and Gargoyle tendon?”
“Spot on.”
“Crazy.”
“Thanks.”
“My disciple, but properly crazy.”
“Gotta be something I learned from you, Master.”
He went bold for now.
If the guy blew up, he’d pivot then.
“You damn punk... Who said you were praiseworthy?”
“Wasn’t it?”
“Rafflesia... Yeah. With your curiosity, you must’ve caught wind of the first-floor rumors. Makes sense you snagged one.”
“Correct.”
“But Gargoyle tendon? That’s not something you just ‘get.’ Bauman lending it... His lab isn’t big enough to stock useless stuff like that.”
“...”
“You must’ve joined the Nemede school.”
...
He was honestly a bit shocked.
The tone was the usual.
The scolding felt familiar.
“Picking headaches from Skull Island on. My damn disciple.”
But his lips refused to turn down.
Nuada stared into space, lost in thought for a moment, then continued slowly.
“And well done. Crafting a scroll like that...”
“...”
“And telling me ahead of time—well done.”
* * *
The next evening.
Nuada dressed impeccably and headed out.
People in formal attire and gowns filled his view.
A banquet hall for the western noble houses.
“Lord Preton. Keeping well?”
“...Haha, no need for titles, Lord Nuada.”
There, Nuada zeroed in on one man without hesitation.
Amid nobles hunting for advantageous chats.
The man named Preton, standing alone and observing the crowd.
Pale skin, long white hair, sharp features.
“Your solitary vibe holds strong as ever, Lord Preton.”
“Haha. Just euphemizing ‘the loner shunned at noble gatherings’?”
“Some stand independent. We call them solitary.”
Plenty recognized Nuada here and there, but they weren’t his focus tonight.
Preton sensed there was business and spoke up.
“Keep honoring me, and it gets awkward. Shall we relocate?”
Step. Step.
The two crossed the hall to an outdoor balcony.
Unlike the chandelier glow inside, this spot relied solely on moonlight.
But it suited baring their true selves.
“Still adjusting to you using titles with me, Lord Nuada.”
Nuada smirked as he gazed at the moon.
“Wasn’t it part of the deal? Preton.”
“I’ve been steeled for it since I was ten... since the day Father passed.”
“...”
“But steeling yourself doesn’t make it familiar.”
“Still?”
“Denying my bloodline, only to lean on it to hold noble status... I can’t stomach that.”
Nuada regarded Preton with understanding.
“Anyway, how about you, Master?”
“Hm?”
“The kingdom won’t shut up about it. Noble council agenda too...”
Preton glanced around, voice cautious as he continued.
“Was about Regin. One of your disciples. You’ve heard the rumors.”
“Lycanthrope, eh? They’re awfully keen on my disciple.”
“Yeah. It’s temporary. But with the kingdom stirring, he’s a rising explorer now.”
Preton let out a sigh.
“...If explorers could just explore in peace, how nice. But these folks have no such plans.”
“Either rope Regin into their fold or...”
“Or make sure he joins no one’s.”
Preton pressed on, noting Nuada’s sour expression.
“Might lean harder since he’s your disciple.”
“True. Plenty of houses quietly resent me.”
“Why not link up with other families now?”
Nuada smirked and shook his head.
“What nonsense?”
“Huh?”
“You’re talking like I haven’t already taken your hand.”
Preton looked at Nuada in surprise.
Nuada had always stayed neutral, allied with no house.
This was the first informal admission.
Preton shook his head, face tinged with guilt.
“No. You tying to a mess like our house would never...”
“One condition instead.”
“A condition...?”
“I won’t back out of this promise. In exchange, I want one thing from you.”
“What is it?”
Nuada had mentored exactly two disciples so far.
First was Vinicis. Second, Regin and Manannan.
Not a huge tally, but he had no intention of repeating mistakes.
“Help Regin. I won’t ask you to fend off other houses—that’s on me.”
“...Then what do I do?”
“Your sibling.”
Preton’s white hair fluttered in the wind. Nuada met his red eyes and went on.
“Keep your black market sibling from meddling. He might cross paths with Regin.”
“Got it. I’ll swing by the black market soon. And...”
After a moment’s thought, Preton nodded with resolve.
“On top of that, I’ll make sure no other houses hassle him. That’ll make it worth our while.”