The Status Window Is Too Unfriendly (1)
The Status Window Is Too Unfriendly (1)
[You can acquire a Trait.]
"...Trait?"
Out of nowhere? I can acquire a Trait?
The moment I thought that, my body froze right in the middle of scratching the back of my head.
"..."
No, I wasn't the only one frozen.
Anchovy, prostrate and begging.
The woman clutching her throat with both hands, as if the sight of the collapsed Punk had stolen her breath. Ahn Gyeong-nam, trying his best to stay calm but unable to hide his trembling legs. And even that extra guy, whose legs had given out and who had slumped to the ground.
None of them moved a muscle. Not a single sound could be heard.
It wasn't that I had frozen; it was more accurate to say that time itself had stopped.
[You can acquire a Trait.]
"...So what."
Stopping time so I can pick a Trait at my own pace is all well and good. But it just told me to choose and gave me zero actual options.
If it laid out choices like, 1. A good skill.
2. A slightly better skill.
3. A skill that looks like trash at first glance, but is actually overpowered if used well and will be the obvious pick for the protagonist.
Then I could mull it over and make a decision.
Where the hell did they learn their manners, telling me to pick a Trait without explaining anything?
I can't move anything but my eyeballs. What is that bastard who made the Status Window even doing?
"...Hm?"
While I was venting my complaints internally, I sensed a strange energy and flinched involuntarily.
An energy that was repulsive... yet sublime... and terrifying.
To my surprise, the energy was slowly seeping from the prostrate Anchovy's body. Three distinct energies were mixing and repelling each other, painting a bizarre picture.
"..."
No one taught me, and the Status Window didn't notify me, but I knew instinctively.
That's an emotion. The emotion Anchovy feels toward me.
Just by looking at it, the feelings each energy held were as clear as if I could taste them.
The red energy was Fear.
The emotion of being scared of me, who possesses the power to slice Punk in half with a single blow.
The blue energy was Disgust.
The feeling of revulsion toward a murderer who callously takes the lives of other humans.
Finally, the yellow energy was Awe.
The instinctual reverence one shows toward someone with great power. Admiration. Surprise. A touch of fear.
"..."
So, Anchovy thought of me like this.
An amazing and terrifying murderer.
Personally, I think anyone with a regression ability should be capable of at least this much, but from his perspective, not knowing about that, I must look impressive.
And the murderer part... well, that's true. But you tried to kill someone a moment ago too, you hypocrite.
So, why is the Tower showing me these emotions?
It's obvious. Choosing one of those emotions will probably become a Trait. The system said [You can acquire a Trait.] at the start.
"Hmm..."
Now that it was time to actually choose a Trait, I was conflicted.
If Traits disappeared upon regression... picking whatever here wouldn't matter at all.
I could test out all three Traits, see which one was best by direct experience, and then choose properly in the cycle where I was determined to move past the Tutorial stage.
But what if the Trait was fixed the moment I chose it? What if the Trait followed me even after regressing?
What if, even by going to another cycle, I couldn't get a Trait from this Anchovy again?
It was my first acquired Trait. Let's think about this while setting aside Regression, my original Trait.
Even in games, the Trait you get at the start dictates the rest of your playthrough.
If I chose Fear here... I'd likely get a Trait that suppresses enemies with fear. Or maybe I get stronger when an enemy feels fear. It seems like the simplest yet most powerful option.
If I chose Disgust... well, I'm not sure. Does it manipulate instinctive revulsion? This one's effects aren't intuitive, so it's hard to get a bead on it.
Since the disgust stems from murder, maybe I'd get a Trait that makes me better at killing people. That explanation makes me sound like a real psychopath.
And finally, Awe. To be honest, this one is also not very intuitive.
It felt slightly different in focus from the simple 'intimidating aura' you get from illusion-type abilities.
The dictionary definition of awe is 'a feeling of respect combined with fear.'
If it was just respect, that'd be one thing... I wanted to complain about why fear had to be mixed in there.
But if someone suddenly cut down a person right in front of me, I think I'd be terrified too.
"Hmm..."
Fear. Disgust. Or Awe.
My deliberation was short, and my choice was quick.
Swoosh—!
The moment I made my decision, the yellow energy was sucked into me, as if it had read my mind.
What I chose was 'Awe'.
The reason was simple.
Fear? Disgust? They seem like abilities that could make me stronger easily and quickly.
Take Fear alone; the applications would be endless.
After learning future information through regression, if I tell someone, 'I know everything about you. You will die tomorrow,' and instill fear in them, even the toughest person would collapse and wet themselves.
Just getting stronger? That's important, sure. But I was painting a bigger picture for the future.
Someday, when I conquer this Tower.
When I emerge from this Tower.
When I become a world-renowned hero.
If my ability was simply one that caused fear or disgust... would I really be treated like a proper hero?
Instead, wouldn't some handsome, upstanding guy snatch up all my achievements, and I'd just become a sort of urban legend only a few people knew about?
Even ignoring that, the emotions of fear and disgust make cooperating with others incredibly difficult.
And that means I'd be forced to act as a lone wolf forever.
Considering the nature of this space called the 'Tower', that didn't seem like a great option.
If a floor came up requiring a shared objective, fear and disgust would act as a critical weakness.
Ultimately, I'm convinced that choosing 'Awe', which is safe and makes me look cool, was the right call.
"...Ugh."
The slow stream of yellow energy stopped.
I didn't feel any noticeable difference in my body. It felt exactly the same as usual.
But I had one excellent means of self-reflection.
"Status Window."
[Name: Kim Jun-ho] [LV:5]
[Traits]
-Regression [EX]
-Awe [C]
"...Hm."
I lightly tapped 'Awe' with my fingertip.
-Awe [C]
-Praise to your greatness. Fear of the incomprehensible.
"...What the hell is this."
Did the bastard who made the Tower major in Korean literature?
Or is his hobby watching people agonize over vague, ambiguous options?
The so-called explanation was just a list of words that felt like grasping at clouds.
I'm not expecting a game-like description that says, 'Deals 160% of Attack as damage'.
But shouldn't it at least tell me what this is and how it works?
I started to grab the back of my neck without thinking, then realized my hand was moving.
Ah. Come to think of it, I tapped the Status Window with my hand too...
"..."
The time stop had been released. It happened so quietly that I noticed late.
"Spare... Sp..."
Anchovy was still prostrate on the ground, trembling uncontrollably...
But the reactions of Ahn Gyeong-nam's group had changed quite a bit.
Ahn Gyeong-nam, whose legs had been shaking, had regained a degree of composure.
The extra guy, who had collapsed when his legs gave out, had managed to get back on his feet.
And the woman who had been gasping and struggling to breathe was now red in the face.
Her face had flushed so deeply red, I worried she might be about to die.
"...Are you alright?"
I ended up asking after her well-being without thinking. She looked like she was in such bad shape.
"..."
But the woman didn't answer.
She brought both hands up to cover her mouth and then whispered quietly.
"...He's cool."
"...?"
Wondering if I had misheard, I lightly poked my ear.
Cool? Me?
I'm covered head to toe in blood right now. The stench of iron is overwhelming.
No one knew better than I did that my appearance was a far cry from 'cool'.
Then the answer was simple.
So, this is the power of 'Awe'.
To other people, I really do look cool—thanks to a great Trait.
It wasn't the effect I initially expected, but I felt like I had chosen the right Trait.
Could it be that I finally get to experience the popular-kid life?
"Oh, really?"
I took a step toward the woman in front of me.
Step.
At the same time, the others took a step back.
"..."
It was as if they were wary of me approaching.
Wait, but she said I was cool earlier? Why are they backing off?
Maybe my flustered expression showed without me realizing it, because the woman started waving her hands wildly as she looked at my face.
"No... it's not that I don't like it... you're just on a different level from us... you're amazing... so, it's just a bit much."
"..."
I subtly shifted my gaze and glanced at the Status Window still floating open.
-Awe [C]
-Praise to your greatness. Fear of the incomprehensible.
"...Fear."
Weren't the options Fear, Disgust, and Awe?
Fuck, so it was unblockable damage...