#22 #Regression #Inventory #6th Floor

When Jin So-yul opened her eyes, the first thing she did was check her email. Her inbox was flooded with all sorts of messages. But the response she was waiting for still hadn't come. Finally, she set her smartphone down and stared up at the ceiling.

She knew it wouldn't come right away. Even though someone from the military had come forward, it would take time to reach the higher-ups. There was no need to rush in the first place.

"……You're back."

"Good morning to both of you."

She got ready to head out and made her way to the convenience store. A cup of instant ramen and a triangle kimbap would be breakfast today. While pouring hot water and waiting the three minutes, she pulled out her smartphone.

My balance is getting tight.

What she'd earned in the tower was only TP and magic stones, and her real-world bank account followed Korea's regulations. One-room rent, food, phone bill, and so on. There wasn't any spare cash left to call savings.

She recalled how the early days had been the toughest even in the past. Balancing tower climbs with living expenses. She had to hold out until she could convert magic stones to cash.

Or ask the government for help.

Steam rose gently as she peeled back the ramen lid. Staring at it, thoughts of her parents suddenly crossed her mind. The trigger that had sent her into the tower. She could contact them anytime now, but...

It just felt awkward. This was a time to steel her resolve. The nine-year gap existed only for her; for her parents, their daily lives continued uninterrupted.

......It's all just excuses.

She could call right now. She still remembered their number years later. But the moment she heard their voices, it felt like everything would come crashing down at once.

After finishing the ramen, her footsteps led her back to the one-room. The inbox was still empty when she checked again.

"Then, as I mentioned yesterday, I'll head into the 6th floor."

She manipulated the interface floating in the air. The scenery around her began to shift. The one-room walls vanished, the floor melted away, and her entire field of vision filled with light.

The air on the 6th floor felt different. The damp, earthy scent of nature, the rustle of leaves, the gentle trickle of water somewhere nearby. All around was a dense forest, and beyond it, a village.

Jin So-yul's steps halted.

It's exactly the same.

Memories from nine years ago overlaid the scene before her eyes. The position of the fences, the shape of the roofs, the layout of the buildings—nothing had changed.

Aritas Village on the border, the starting point of the orc-themed floors from 6 onward. The goblin theme had been a breeze. Just go in, kill, and come out. It was all about measuring the distance between monsters and herself. But from here, things changed.

Now there are things to protect.

There were buildings. Residents living and breathing. The village itself became the battlefield, with the lives of NPCs weighing on the climber's shoulders. One reason so many climbers crumbled early on: getting used to smashing goblins, then suddenly having to deal with people dying right in front of them.

As she caught her breath, blue text appeared in the air.

The well must not be destroyed. In other words, the scouts were targeting it.

"……As expected."

Floors 7, 8, 9. The scenarios grew more complex with each floor ascended, the things to protect multiplying. And the pain of loss deepened accordingly.

"It's nothing. Just lost in thought. Let's head to the village first."

Jin So-yul followed the path through the forest toward the village. The presence of people grew stronger. Beyond the fence, residents hung laundry, drew water from the well, elders chatted under tree shade. It was a tower-generated scene, yet it looked utterly alive. Maybe it really was.

Entering through the narrow gate by the fence, an elderly man approached.

"Traveler, can you help us? Enemies are coming from beyond the forest."

It was the Village Chief. Wrinkled face, hunched back, hand on a cane. Jin So-yul studied his face closely.

NPC roles—chief, blacksmith, herbalist, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠etc.—were fixed, but the individuals were randomly assigned upon first entry to the theme's initial floor. She'd met the chief in the past too, but no guarantee it was the same person. Indeed, this old man's features differed from her memory.

"Beyond the forest."

"Yes. From the northern woods, big and fearsome brutes. The villagers are terrified."

"Have you gauged their numbers?"

"More than five or six, from what I saw. Not sure exactly... but with you here, it must be fate."

"From the north side of the village?"

"That's right."

The info from the chief was basic: direction, rough numbers, villagers' status. But Jin So-yul knew more. Four scouts, four warriors. Total eight. Scouts were fast but weak. The warriors were the problem—their size three to four times goblins, with overwhelming single strikes.

As she was about to reply affirmatively—

"Traveler sis! Is that sword real?! So cool!"

A small shadow dashed from the village entrance. Tiny and skinny, with long brown hair whipping wildly in the wind. Time froze for Jin So-yul.

The child ran up panting. Same face, same voice, same first words. A voice she could recall anytime. She'd never forgotten it, not once.

For a moment, visions overlapped. The same face appeared—but bloodless. Blue lips, blood dripping from limp arms, clutching a grass bracelet.

"Sis...... Did I...... help......?"

Jin So-yul couldn't answer. Even now, nine years later, that question lingered in a corner of her heart.

"Sis? Can I touch it?!"

Vision cleared. The girl before her was smiling. Alive. Cheeks faintly flushed, eyes sparkling at the one-handed sword at Jin So-yul's waist.

She'd believed she'd never see this face again. Other girls had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠appeared on later 6th-floor runs. Was this luck, fate, the tower's final gift? Or the arrangement of her constellation, the Observer of the 0th Dimension?

The girl tugged her sleeve.

"Sis? Hear me? Sis?"

Jin So-yul stepped back, then stopped. The warmth from the child's hand was almost too much.

This time, for sure.

The chief coughed and spoke.

"That child's full of energy. Yerina, an orphan I took in."

"Took in...?"

"Her parents died in the last raid. She's lived with me since... tsk."

She knew. Same backstory as before. Yerina clung to Jin So-yul's sleeve, eyes brimming with curiosity, mouth running nonstop.

"Sis, where you from? You know how to use that sword? Seen orcs? You strong?"

"......From far away. I can use the sword, and I've seen orcs."

"Whoa! I've never seen one! Scary?"

"Could be."

"But you can beat 'em, right sis?"

"Yeah."

"For real?!"

Yerina beamed as Jin So-yul nodded. Giggles burst out—kyaruruk, kyaruruk.

"The kid really takes to you, traveler."

"......Seems so."

"You said orcs are coming. From the north."

"Yes. Don't know why, but I just sense it. They're getting closer—should strike before sunset."

The chief's gaze turned north. Shadows hung thick beyond the fence. Jin So-yul asked about the village layout: fence height, building positions, distance to the well, shelters for residents. As he answered, a plan formed in her mind.

"Traveler sis! Want me to show you around?"

Yerina shot her arm up. It was phrased as a question, but her face said the answer was set.

"Sure. Lead the way."

Yerina's eyes widened. She paused, then grinned and grabbed Jin So-yul's hand, pulling her along.

"This way! This is Karunda uncle's smithy!"

A broad-shouldered man wiped the anvil in front of the smithy. The blacksmith called Karunda nodded at Jin So-yul.

"A traveler, huh. Good if you can fight. Bring your sword if it needs work."

"Thank you."

"No need for thanks. My smithy survives only if the village does."

"Karunda uncle looks scary but he's nice! I asked for a wooden sword, but he said no."

"Swords aren't toys."

"Tch. Hmph, hmph!"

Sticking out her tongue, Yerina tugged Jin So-yul again.

"Next! This is Leisha sis's herb garden!"

A young woman emerged from the small house by the garden. Long hair tied back, apron on—Leisha.

"I'm Leisha. I handle herbs here, so come anytime if you're hurt."

"Leisha sis's medicine ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠works great! My knee scraped last time, and it healed right up!"

"If you didn't run around so much, you wouldn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠need it."

"That's 'cause you worry too much!"

"Can't help it. Who runs crying to me every time they fall?"

"Th-that was before, so keep it secret!"

Blushing, Yerina hid behind Jin So-yul.

"She really likes you, traveler."

"......Yeah."

"Take good care of her. She's the village treasure."

Jin So-yul nodded at Leisha's words. Yerina stuck close after that, scampering ahead to guide, then returning to tug sleeves when Jin So-yul walked slowly. Thanks to her, the village layout clicked quickly.

Sixteen buildings, only two sturdy stone ones: chief's house and smithy. Rest were wood. Fences waist-high for an adult—scouts could hop them easily, warriors smash without effort. Roughly 50m from north forest to central well. Structure meant blocking scouts while facing warriors.

#Inventory ejection range: about 12m. Not enough for whole village, but smart positioning could handle both.

"Sis, whatcha thinking?"

Yerina peered up from below.

"Memorizing the terrain."

"Oh, battle prep? Can I help?"

"No."

"Aww, why!"

"Dangerous."

"I can throw rocks!"

Jin So-yul's steps faltered. Past Yerina had thrown rocks too. At an orc rider. Got mauled by wolves. Died.

She knelt to meet Yerina's eyes.

"Yerina."

"Yeah?"

"When fighting starts, don't come out."

"But—"

"No."

Yerina's shoulders jumped at the firm tone. Short silence, then she bit her lip, looked down, then up.

"......Okay. But don't get hurt, sis."

"I won't."

"Promise?"

Yerina held out her hand. Jin So-yul hesitated, then hooked her pinky.

"Stamp!"

The lingering warmth at her fingertip. Jin So-yul's mouth curved slightly. No such promise in the past. She'd never even spoken to the girl.

No time. Move. That was it. Even if the child left flowers or watched from afar, she never looked back.

"......"

"Sis! Grandpa chief's calling over there!"

"Alright, let's go."

"Wait!"

She darted into roadside grass, plucked some blades and a small white flower, and returned.

"I'll make you a bracelet later! Wait for it!"

Jin So-yul gazed at Yerina for a long moment. Same child, same habits. Even the habit of weaving grass gifts for others.

"Sis?"

"......"

"Siiiis!"

"Yeah, I'll wait."

"Whoa, you answered!"

"Should I look forward to the bracelet, Yerina?"

"Yeah!"