Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: 21. Tremendous Misunderstanding
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Reina and Han Su-ji's stellar performance, combined with my own utter incompetence, had plunged me into a severe case of post-nut clarity.
"I think it's about time I let you girls go. Head back down the mountain."
"Huh?"
"No, keep fighting hard."
Why am I so damn weak?
Every time I watch the others battle, it hits me like a truck.
Forget Let's Go— at this rate, I'll just end up as a living love doll for Reina, Han Su-ji, and Lee Yoo-jeong, satisfying their sexual frustrations.
Come to think of it, the Divine Sword user Choi Si-woo trained with Reina and Han Su-ji.
That means they're stronger than in the original story.
Honestly, I'm still suspicious about him regressing, but considering all the variables with the ancient legacy, it kinda lines up.
Maybe I can just sit this one out?
Is it okay for me to be a weakling? If Choi Si-woo's strong enough, I won't have to die anyway.
"What're you thinking about so hard?"
There's always the option of quietly fading into the background among the heroines.
Besides, aren't I basically just mob cleanup crew right now?
If they were gonna stick me in this body, they could've at least given me some decent skills. Steam Pack is a bit overkill, don't you think?
"Hiya!"
Reina let out a spirited shout as she fired Spirit Arrows, striking the golem right in the eye.
The golem froze for a moment, its movements halting. Seizing the opening, Han Su-ji's Flame Spear pierced its eye and set it ablaze.
Krunch!
Lee Yoo-jeong had been using Electronic Warfare non-stop, so she'd opted to bow out until the boss room.
Who knew a C-rank dungeon would crumble this easily thanks to one Electronic Warfare skill?
In the original story, this place was a nightmare. We'd cleared it without a hitch.
And then a fork in the path appeared.
"A split path. Which way?"
"Right leads to the Giant Golem. Left goes straight to the boss room."
Giant Golem. The trap monster of mechanical dungeons.
According to the dungeon lore, killing it drops a nice core, but it leaves you too worn out for the boss.
Unless Choi Si-woo helps, that is.
"Yoo Eun-ha!"
"Choi Si-woo?"
The nagging boy who'd been making noise from behind finally showed up.
"Oh, it's the naggy boy."
Naggy boy. I wonder how it feels to get called that by a heroine.
"Let's go grab that Giant Golem. You can take it down easy, Eun-ha."
"You wanna see me turned into mincemeat?"
"Slice it with a magic-immune blade, and it's done."
Really? Why tell me something that useful now?
"How does Naggy Boy know so much? No strategy guide for this place."
"Divine Sword users know everything."
Yeah, this guy's definitely a regressor.
Still in the suspicion phase, but his lack of romantic interest in the heroines might be because he banged them so much pre-regression that he hit sage mode.
Wait, really?
Even if that's true, cornering him with "Hey, you regress?" would be risky—I have no idea how he'd react. Better to play it cool for now.
Wait a sec. If he did regress, where'd he come back from?
The original Yoo Eun-ha's world? Or my world?
I'll figure that out later.
"But why bother hunting it down?"
"Duh? It's the trap boss. Beat it, and you get a holy relic."
Was there something like that?
Now that I think about it, one of the villains got strong using a holy relic from Mechanland.
Back then, the opponent was already a munchkin Divine Sword user, so even relic-boosted villains got wrecked later on.
Could've grabbed it then, huh.
"This path is loaded with traps, though?"
"No need to Electronic Warfare them all. Destroy that red dot up top, and they're all done."
Pop!
Following Choi Si-woo's instructions, Lee Yoo-jeong zapped the red dot on the ceiling with Electronic Warfare.
"Divine Sword user sure is impressive."
"Nah, it's nothing. Kinda embarrassing."
Are you a girl or what? Blushing like that? Makes my skin crawl. Should I rip your crotch out?
[Intruder detected. Eliminating intruder.]
"Oh, what an idiot-looking golem."
Size-wise, it filled the entire wall.
Miniguns on both arms, missile pods on the shoulders.
No wonder this is a C-rank dungeon.
Whooshwhooshwhooshwhoosh!
Missiles poured from the golem's shoulders.
Fitting for a trap monster. Wonder how much power the villains wasted strategizing this.
Activating Acceleration and Parallel Circuits, the missiles' paths were crystal clear.
As I dodged, releasing Acceleration, Reina's Spirit Arrows blew them up, and Han Su-ji's Flame Spear incinerated the rest.
"Missiles keep coming?"
"They're magic-powered mana shells from the start, so pointless. The golem can churn them out endlessly from its circuits."
Then we'll just wait for its mana to run dry.
With traps cleared, its mana supply must be limited.
So, dodge or destroy missiles until then while attacking the golem.
Honestly, annoying.
Time to use my Lee Yoo-jeong card.
"Yoo-jeong sunbae."
"Yeah."
At my words, Lee Yoo-jeong severed the missiles on the golem's shoulders from its core.
Viewers watching strategy videos probably want more dramatic flair.
You know, hard-fought battles? But Choi Si-woo seems like a regressor, and I don't wanna slog like the original either.
Why bother when we've got a cheat character right here?
Can't wait for the comments after the video drops.
Boring? Skip it then.
Easier clear just proves we're top-tier hunters.
[Warning: Missile function halted. Switching to alternate attack: Kickboxing.]
[Warning: Kickboxing function halted. Risk of joint damage.]
The Giant Golem tried to move but screeched like a broken toy doll.
Ah, this must be what they call 'holding.'
"Still resisting with those arms, huh."
"Won't do it any good."
Mechanical monsters like golems have overwhelming defense and strength but are slow as hell.
Just need a way to lock 'em down, and strategy is a breeze.
Spherical golems popped from the walls; Reina and Han Su-ji handled them.
I strolled up casually, like on a picnic, and rammed my sword into its neck.
Krunch!
The sword pierced straight to the core.
With the circuits fried, the body collapsed, leaving only items behind.
"So, what's this?"
[Learning Device: Golem Crafting Technology]
The description said it grants the power to craft golems made by the ancients.
Tempting, sure. But I don't really need it.
If anyone's using it, it'd be Lee Yoo-jeong. She lacks combat skills, but golem support would suit her.
"Whoa, cool."
"Yoo-jeong sunbae, you take it."
"Yeah, that works. With Electronic Warfare, golems might synergize well."
I handed [Learning Device: Golem Crafting Technology] to her.
[S-Rank Golem Core: Can turn living beings into golems or process them into valuables.]
"This one's better for Eun-ha, right?"
"You think?"
Choi Si-woo handed it over, so I took it.
"You caught it, Eun-ha. Sell it later for big bucks."
"You think?"
Can't stay in Yoo Jin-seok's shadow forever. This core'll help.
Passing the trap room led straight to the boss room.
This one looked legit: vast dome space. Then out came a robot resembling a kid-pleasing Gundam.
Other golems attached as parts, forming a monstrous Gundam.
Whirr-clank-clank!
[Intruders confirmed. Mission target confirmed. Annihilate enemies.]
"Trap room straight to boss, huh."
Worst case. I'd love to say, but we've got regressor-lite Choi Si-woo and Lee Yoo-jeong with Electronic Warfare ready.
In the original, this boss fight left Choi Si-woo a bloody mess.
Mechanland's boss, 'Golem of Chaos,' has absolute defense with hard-to-find weak points. Lee Yoo-jeong burned out supporting without proper Electronic Warfare.
Choi Si-woo couldn't sync fully with the Divine Sword, no ultimate available.
Plus, that golem knows how to humiliate people. Choi Si-woo got beaten to a pulp and shamed here originally.
His reaction now will confirm if he's regressed.
But me? I'm hyped as hell.
"Sunbae, Electronic Warfare still good?"
"Yeah."
Chest-thumping boss fight incoming.
This is what I've been waiting for.
Gundam. My fave from toy robot days. A giant Gundam come alive.
Who wouldn't get pumped to fight it?
"No need for Electronic Warfare."
"Huh?"
Krunch!
The synced Divine Sword cleaved the boss in two instantly.
"Nooo! My Gundam!"
The dreams and hopes of boys! My ultimate fantasy!
[Choi Si-woo!]
"Don't stop me, Divine Sword. Thinking of what this thing did to me!"
Choi Si-woo snarled, ignoring the sword and smashing the golem.
Yup, regressor confirmed. I'll play dumb.
The humiliation he suffered here turned him into a ragdoll.
From the dead Gundam burst a brilliantly glowing orb.
This the ancient legacy?
[Ancient Legacy (SSS): Holy relic containing ancient knowledge. Bind to gain ancient wisdom.]
The item that let Black Dragon Guild grow huge, plaguing Cheonsan Group till late-game.
Thinking about it, no need for Cheonsan's help.
Lee Yoo-jeong's a genius already, and Cheonsan's Im Yoo-jin nearly got played by villains—shaky ally at best. Original used her for early info, but pointless now with his regression.
"Whoa, jackpot. Why's a dungeon like this untouched? C-rank should've been cleared, items aside."
"Right? Thought it was recent."
Han Su-ji and Reina's reactions were normal.
C-rank dropping SSS item and learning device? Wild.
"Mechanical dungeons suck cost-wise. Traps everywhere, tough monsters, maze-like. Rewards meh."
"But Mechanland gave us tons?"
"Mechanland's the exception. Others? S-rank hunters stream 'em sometimes, that's it."
Original lore on mechanical dungeons.
Zero cost-performance, life-risking hellholes.
Probably need Lee Yoo-jeong-level to breeze through.
"If mechanical dungeons are piling up, we'll need Yoo-jeong sunbae's help big time."
Even if low cost-performance, her easy clears mean massive first-clear rewards.
Huh, not a bad idea.
"Anyway, ancient legacy—sell or what? Too good to."
"I say Eun-ha takes it."
Choi Si-woo suddenly shoved the ancient legacy at me.
"Me? This?"
"Yeah. It'll help."
Help my ass—what's he planning feeding me this?
Oh. Got it. Raising my affinity.
Pre-regression, he sampled all heroines but me. Now he wants a taste of my untouched hole.
Sleazy bastard. Innocent face hiding dirty thoughts.
Still, free stuff's free.
Ancient legacy boosts survival odds.
"What about you sunbae, Su-ji, Reina?"
SSS-grade. Can't decide solo.
"Uh, sell it?"
"Yeah. Boss drops get split evenly—unspoken rule."
"Eun-ha looks burdened. Don't get shady ideas."
Heroines varied. Why the death glare at Choi Si-woo specifically?
He looked wronged, glancing between us, then huddled the heroines.
"No, not like that."
Whispering ensued; they shoved him aside and turned to me.
"Well, for Eun-ha's sake, no choice."
"Yeah, Yoo Eun-ha. I'm yielding specially—take it humbly."
"I was fine with you having it from the start."
Protagonist vibes. Persuasion skills on point.
And this damn protag's going all-out gift offensive to eat me post-regression.
Am I gonna get jumped? Need a chastity belt or something?