Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Summoning
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Regardless of my mood, the sleep had been the absolute best.
It felt like rebooting a computer for the first time in ten years—one I'd always left running, just turning off the monitor.
Like the body of a soldier pumped full of stim packs and buzzing with adrenaline.
"...".
[Summoning you briefly for identity verification.]
The conversation with the Wanderer had left my mind in turmoil. Some words were incomprehensible, while others brought sudden insight.
The Wanderer wanted the same things I did.
One of my desires was to separate from the Grimoire. But that couldn't be what the Wanderer intended—it was the Wanderer who gave me the Grimoire, after all.
The Wanderer's purpose lay along the path I would take after gaining power from the Grimoire.
"Then there's only one option."
Conquering the Tower.
More precisely, preventing the Tower from collapsing and bringing destruction. But why would that be the Wanderer's goal?
Could I even speculate on the Wanderer's thoughts to begin with?
The Wanderer wasn't even a living creature.
The more I pondered, the more tangled my thoughts became.
In the end, time slipped away without any real breakthroughs.
The world outside Korea buzzed with frantic activity.
America pressed on with assaulting unknown floors, while other nations studied the solutions America uncovered to build their strength.
The few countries without S-Ranks were already preparing for mass emigration, and mercenaries' fees skyrocketed even higher.
Korea's situation was a little different. With the Tower under inspection, they had ample time to prepare.
"We're the only ones with some breathing room."
"Swish."
"That won't last. In the end, we'll have to train climbers qualified for the highest floors too."
I often used So Seori's guild master office like my personal lounge.
Surprisingly, a Guild Master didn't have much to do.
"It's just lately, okay? I'm usually swamped."
"Isn't it better when you're not busy?"
I shrugged off So Seori's piercing glare.
Everyone carried on as usual. But deep down, they harbored a quiet unease.
My next meeting with Alex came four days later. He was caught up in a whirlwind of international lawsuits.
We sat at an open cafe terrace and talked.
"You're taking this calmer than I expected."
"Huh? Oh, it'll take at least five months for any verdict anyway. By then, the courts will be practically frozen."
Alex waved it off casually, looking utterly unconcerned.
Was this the composure of a regressor?
According to Alex, two Conquerors would appear before the 70th floor.
One was a knight-like Conqueror emerging from England. The other was an Egyptian Conqueror wielding sorcery.
"A knight?"
"That one's manageable. If King and Khan team up, they can take it down with minimal losses."
Alex said as he sipped his cola.
"The Egyptian sorcerer's the real problem."
The Egyptian Conqueror wielded power similar to Alex's own. If not defeated swiftly, its summons would multiply, turning the raid into a nightmare.
"England's got about a month left. Egypt needs at least three."
"And until then, we just... let it sit?"
"Pretty much."
When I gave him a puzzled look, Alex elaborated.
"We can't protect the entire planet. Some countries are destined to collapse."
More than half the Towers would crumble. The current global highest floor was 66.
From Phase 2 onward, all Towers accelerated toward destruction—no way to save every nation, Alex explained.
Even solo-climbing to 70 quickly would just accelerate Conqueror appearances, putting humanity at a disadvantage.
"Like I said, releasing this info would only cause chaos. Things would get worse. You might see me as heartless, but I've tried everything. This way saves the most lives."
By his account, nations without S-Ranks had zero hope. You couldn't hire mercenaries forever.
A one-month deadline jacked up the opportunity cost for S-Ranks way too high.
Korea was barely keeping pace with America.
"You really won't talk about your first and second runs?"
"Of course not! I already told you plenty last time."
Alex drew a hard line between info I could handle and what I couldn't, despite acting like he'd spill everything before.
"Should've pried more on day one if I knew."
"Haha, would've been the same. What, you think I'm stupid?"
Alex grinned at me.
What was regression's greatest strength?
Information. Foreknowledge of future events to prepare.
Naturally, info lost value when shared.
That's why Alex invested so much effort avoiding variables.
"I've given you everything helpful. But I can't reveal it all. That'd poison us both."
He'd agonized over it plenty, he said.
"And I never planned to reveal the regression anyway! You sniffed it out first."
Since I'd clocked it from the start, he couldn't treat me as an enemy or shut me out.
Better to share intel and secure my cooperation.
"Moon Byul, the world's about to change drastically from what we've known. Hard to sense now, but... the world we live in isn't a utopia. It's a dystopia."
Crunch, crunch.
Alex finished his cola and chewed the ice.
"You're strong enough to go solo, and that'll lead things in a better direction. Even if we screw up, there's always the next round, right?"
Regressors always thought ahead. Another chance awaited.
Alex knew it too—if it came to another regression, I'd likely tag along.
"Alex, there's no next round for me... or at least, that's how I see it."
But I had no intention of relying on that. Non-regressor though I was, I could imagine regression's agony.
No friendly Han Yu Seong in the next round. No goodwill from the White Tiger siblings. No ties to Mangul Guild.
All those little connections—gone.
"...".
"Even with regression, making excuses to give up means the end never comes."
"Not saying slack off. Don't worry."
His tone carried real sincerity, unlike before.
"Alex, you're... incredible, really. Impressive all over again. Just imagining it chokes me up... I can't fathom the pain of losing all those bonds. How did you endure?"
Alex stopped chewing ice.
My words seemed to weigh on him.
"I wanna ask you the same. Grandpa Moon Byul, how are you still sane? Your story made my pain feel like nothing."
He'd leaked heaven's secrets to me.
In turn, I had to explain why the regressing world left me untouched.
My tale wasn't long like his. Just 118 years spent inside the Grimoire.
I laid it out plainly, no more, no less. Alone in the universe, passing time.
I skipped the soul-grinding details. Unpleasant memories, and I didn't want him doubting my humanity.
"That's not pain a human can endure. You can say it now because you're out—it's in the past. Think the you back then would laugh hearing this?"
No comfort, no full empathy. We could only guess at each other's hearts.
"Different kinds of pain from yours, Alex. Mine was solitude. Yours, loss."
I downed the rest of my coffee.
"And don't call me Grandpa. I'm 28."
"Fine, fine."
Alex grimaced but nodded in agreement.
"Weird, though. Never told a soul about the candy till now. Why'd I spill to you? It was just a hunch back then."
"You asking 'cause you really don't know?"
"Dunno. Hard to put into words."
His expression was oddly ambiguous—curious, or maybe he knew but played coy.
"People usually think regression's some amazing superpower."
"It is, though?"
I shook my head.
"Anyone else, maybe. Not you, Alex. For you, it's a curse."
"...".
A chance to restart life is a blessing—only if the world stays whole.
Unfulfilled dreams, life's choices, unspoken courage, words left unsaid.
Everyone carries regrets, yearning to fix them. Regression grants those wishes—the most beautiful power in this world.
But inevitable collapse, loved ones' deaths, happiness with a set end, eternal oblivion.
What meaning in a doomed world? For the regressor, it's hell.
"You wanted to lighten the load. At first, I thought regression was your innate power. But the candy changes everything. No need for you to regress."
Not to mention the side effect of defying heaven, antagonizing the world until death.
"Maybe."
"And you worried. Afraid some unworthy soul would snag the candy."
"Mm."
"Guess you figured I was worthy."
"Won't deny it."
The tea time between regressor and prisoner wrapped up there.
[30... 29... 28...]
I was starting to stand when the Tower message hit.
"What the...?"
"Huh? What's up?"
I glanced at Alex in panic. He clearly couldn't see it.
"Message from the Tower."
"What'd it say?"
"16... 15... 14..."
"Eh?"
Thirty seconds flew by in a blink.
"If something happens to me, please tell Mangul Guild for me."
"Out of nowhere?"
"No idea what'll happen. 5... 4... 3..."
"Wait, hold on! Explain properly!"
Fwoosh.
The same light as entering the Tower enveloped me, and I vanished on the spot.
Alex stared blankly at the empty space where I'd been.
"...You're the one who's supposed to survive."
Until Nana arrived, Alex stayed seated at the cafe.