The Regressor Wanders (6)
The Regressor Wanders (6)
"Of course, the Age of Players doesn't mean we players should rule over ordinary people. I'm an American, after all, and I value freedom above all else."
Michael Jeter spoke dryly, his expression utterly unchanged.
"But right now, humanity isn't investing anything in climbing the Tower. Governments pick out one person to prop up as a hero, then shirk responsibility with the attitude of 'That person will take care of everything.' I imagine you can relate, Ms. Choi Ji-won."
"..."
Choi Ji-won, our nation's representative player, had even received a medal from the President and was a celebrity known to every citizen. Yet she had never actually received material support from the government. When they were supposed to give her something, they'd slyly brush it off with, 'Active support is impossible due to lack of relevant legislation. We apologize.' And when they needed her help, they'd drag the public into it, saying, 'The people will only feel at ease if you attend.'
They must have realized Choi Ji-won was a good person. And to be fair, the lack of relevant legislation was certainly part of it.
"This isn't just a problem for Korea or the United States. No country in the world is seriously considering the Tower issue. Their focus is solely on using players, not on conquering the Tower itself."
Michael Jeter pulled a phone from his pocket and placed it on the table. The screen was a jumble of text.
"These are conversations I've had with governments around the world. From the very beginning of my term as Player Association chairman, I have insisted that support for players must increase. But the responses I received were cold. They must have realized that I'm nothing more than a figurehead."
Jeter swiped the screen, and a player distribution chart the Association had independently compiled appeared.
"I believe that every single human who passed the Tutorial should climb the Tower. I believe they should grow stronger. The term 'player' was part of that. The goal was to give it a game-like feel, reducing the burden on those climbing the Tower and fostering a sense of challenge. Not that it worked."
"So... what exactly are you suggesting? I understand you want to nurture players to hold back the monsters that will appear later. But how exactly do you plan to make people climb the Tower?"
"Money and fame. We have to give them both. You can already get one-dimensional pleasures on Floor 1. We have to offer something beyond that."
Michael Jeter sent a weighty document to Choi Ji-won's email.
"You can read this later. It's a document where I've organized my plan in my own way. I doubt it'll be hard to understand."
"...Fine. I get it. I understand your plan. I get what you're trying to do."
The conversation kept shifting back to Michael Jeter, and I felt it was time to cut in.
"But in the first place, why did you seek us out? Didn't you say you needed help?"
"That's correct."
"But does your 'plan' actually need our help? You're the Player Association chairman. If monsters appear, your influence will naturally grow."
"...This is covered in the document I gave you, but I think it's fine to explain in advance. I would like you all to lend your strength to the Player Association. More precisely, not the current Player Association, but the one I intend to build going forward."
"Explain more concretely."
"I intend to create Player Ranks and establish rankings."
"...Ranks?"
"Yes. The highest rank will be S-rank, and the lowest will be F-rank. I'll create a system where high-ranked players are treated like celebrities and receive treatment befitting that, while low-ranked players are not treated as well. It will become a structure where everyone craves a higher rank and climbs the Tower for it."
"..."
"The Player Association will function as an organization that controls players while simultaneously supporting their ascent of the Tower. The final goal is to redirect every bit of Earth's tax money currently wasted on national defense toward players."
Wasn't this... the Hunter ranking system straight out of a web novel? The kind of ranking system you see in novels like 'From F-rank Hunter to SSS-rank Hunter!'
"Plans also include governments paying premiums to buy items from the Tower, and creating specialized educational institutions to teach combat. You'll understand the details once you read the document."
Vrrr. As his phone buzzed, Michael Jeter naturally rose from his seat.
"I hope you'll all trust me. Joining forces to prepare for the future would be best... but even if that's not the case, I hope you won't get in the way. If you have a better method, I'll listen. But as it stands, I believe this is the best option."
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes. I have another appointment."
He stood in the exact same spot where he first appeared in the living room and gave us a polite nod.
"I am moving for the sake of all humanity. That is all. If you have any suggestions, please send them to the email address I contacted you from before."
The moment he finished speaking, whoosh—Michael Jeter vanished. Silence settled over the living room in the wake of the storm.
"Hmm..."
"Hm..."
Choi Ji-won and I both let out low murmurs, quietly staring down at the table. We badly needed time to collect our thoughts.
Michael Jeter's plan was simple. To create a world where players are treated well. Like one of those web novels where simply becoming a hunter sets you up for life.
But where would the money for that grand plan come from? From existing governments, probably. But would governments around the world really just hand over massive funds so easily? Wouldn't they try to handle things with the missiles and guns they already possess, rather than investing money in players?
I'm no expert in politics... but I can tell this won't be easy.
"...In the end, he'll either wage a public opinion battle or stage a show of force."
Michael Jeter hadn't stated it directly, but he was undoubtedly preparing for a war to seize the initiative. He'd even mentioned changing the very "Age." What choice should I make here? Would the monsters really appear? What exactly was Michael Jeter trying to do? The future was utterly opaque.
The best option here... was to wait ten months and watch how the world changed.
"Which brings me to my suggestion. How about we just take ten months off this time? We can observe how the world changes, see whether the monsters actually appear or if we were wrong. Isn't that the rational move?"
To be honest, I'd been wanting to rest lately. Maybe it was exhaustion. I was sick of the massive boulder called responsibility crushing my shoulders.
"I've been kind of tired lately too. You too, right? Let's just use this chance to do everything we've wanted to do. If monsters appear... we might not be able to rest anymore after that, you know? People will die, too. Think of this as our last vacation, and..."
"Jun-ho."
"Yeah?"
Choi Ji-won cut me off. There was an unusual tone in her voice.
"Jun-ho. I'll be honest with you. I don't want you to stay in reality for ten months."
"...What do you mean?"
"What were you going to do while resting?"
"Well... set aside my sense of responsibility for a while... play some games. Eat good food. I can't just drop everything and rest, but... I figured I'd just exist with a sort of vacation vibe."
"With me by your side?"
"Of course. We're companions."
Saying that was a little embarrassing, but I still thought it needed to be said. I'd considered using an even sappier expression, but that felt too embarrassing.
"I think that's the problem."
But unlike me, whose face was reddening, Choi Ji-won softly bit her lip.
"I... wish we wouldn't stay together for too long."
"...You know that sounds really weird, right?"
"That's not the meaning you're thinking of. What I'm worried about... is the regression."
"The regression?"
"The reason I can be your companion is because of the regression, isn't it?"
Clutching Boongboong-yi tightly, Choi Ji-won spoke while staring at the floor.
"The reason we regress together... is because you feel intense emotions toward me. And it's the same for me. Because we love each other."
"...So?"
"I'm happy too. Sleeping together, waking up together, eating good food, going to fun places... every single moment is precious to me. I prefer seeing you enjoying yourself over seeing you suffer and break down. But..."
Choi Ji-won's hand, which had always been so strong, trembled faintly.
"Someday... when we've repeated the regression so many times, and all those precious moments become a familiar routine... if they no longer feel special..."
"..."
"What if it's no longer a heart-pounding love... but just the comfortable affection of family? What if we become too familiar with each other? Would I still be able to regress then? Would your regression even consider that an 'intense emotion'?"
Choi Ji-won.
She was worrying about a situation where the accompanied regression would end.